Tag: Diversification Tips

Retirement Red Zone EP. 23

Retirement Red Zone EP. 23

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Retirement Red Zone: The 20-Year Game Plan (From the 20 to the Goal Line) 🏈

You can’t “cram” for retirement. That’s not a plan—that’s a Hail Mary with a flat football.
In this video, I (Nick St. George, CFP®) lay out a clear, yard-by-yard blueprint from 20 years out to 24 months before retirement—so you’re not guessing at the goal line.

What you’ll learn

  • How to set your savings rate, kill high-interest debt, and build smart tax buckets (pre-tax, Roth, brokerage)

  • When to use Roth strategies, avoid concentration risk, and optimize benefits (HSA, ESPP, deferred comp)

  • How to defend against sequence-of-returns risk and start income design early (pensions, RSUs, options)

  • Why Social Security timing (62 vs. FRA vs. 70) is a math problem, not a vibe

  • The 5-to-2-year “two-minute drill”: targeted Roth conversions, Medicare/IRMAA planning, mock paychecks

  • The final 24-month checklist: cash reserves, withdrawal guardrails, paperwork order—so Day One feels boring (which is beautiful)

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What to do with RSU’s

What to do with RSU’s

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🎓💸 Got RSUs and college-bound kids?

Then you might be playing a dangerous game of financial Jenga — and Uncle Sam is just waiting to topple your tower.

In my latest video, I break down two real-life families navigating college costs, RSUs, and the ever-persistent tax goblin that shows up uninvited (and never brings snacks).

👨‍👩‍👦 The Daltons? College bills are now.
👶 The Simmons? Planning way ahead.
Different stages. Different strategies. One simple truth: planning always wins.

And yes — in the spirit of Law & Order — the stories are real, but the names have been changed to protect the innocent (and the occasionally tax-confused).

If you’ve got RSUs vesting and aren’t sure whether to sell, hold, or hide…
Watch this before you let the tax tail wag your financial dog.

📦 Bonus: I explain RSUs in plain English — no CPA required.

🎥 Watch the full video or catch the podcast version — your future self (and your accountant) will thank you.

#FinancialPlanning #RSUs #CollegePlanning #TaxStrategy #SmartMoneyMoves #FinancialAdvisor #HighIncomeFamilies #DunDun

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Volatility Isn’t the Enemy

Volatility Isn’t the Enemy

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Volatility Isn’t the Villain—Your Reaction Might Be

⚠️ Breaking news: The market went down.
🎉 Also breaking: It went back up. And down again. And… you get the idea.

If market swings give you anxiety and make you want to cash out faster than a kid with birthday money at Target—this one’s for you.

Because here’s the truth: Volatility isn’t the enemy. Panic is.

📉 The Market Is a Roller Coaster—Not a Death Trap

Yes, it goes up and down. But like a roller coaster, unless you jump off mid-ride, you’ll end up back on solid ground. Investors who stay buckled in, even through the loops and dips, historically come out ahead.

🧠 The Cost of Freaking Out

Missing just a handful of the best market days can crush your long-term returns. And spoiler alert: those “best days” often come right after the worst ones. Selling out during chaos feels safe… until you realize you locked in your losses and missed the rebound party.

🛟 What Should You Do Instead?

  • Stick to your plan.

  • Don’t try to outsmart the headlines.

  • And for the love of compounding interest—don’t turn your portfolio into a panic button.

🎙️ In the latest Real Talk audio, I break down exactly why staying invested matters, how volatility can actually be your friend (yep), and why your financial future deserves more than emotional decision-making.

Bottom line:
The market will swing. That’s its job.
Your job? Stay grounded. Stay invested. Stay smart.

Let’s un-eff your finances—one mindset shift at a time.

#UnEffYourFinances #VolatilityIsNormal #StayInvested #GameChangersAndWealthBuilders #RealTalkMoney #BehavioralFinance #LongTermWins

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Navigating Market Pullbacks: What You Need to Know

Navigating Market Pullbacks: What You Need to Know

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What can market pullbacks teach us about investing?

Tune into this round of Un Eff Your Finances, Nicholas St. George dives into the intricacies of market pullbacks. Buckle up as Nick unravels the chaos and gets to the heart of why these pullbacks aren’t just unavoidable but can actually work in your favor!

Nick discusses:

  • (00:03:00) The normalcy of market pullbacks and how history shows they’re nothing to fear
  • (00:06:04) Strategies to use pullbacks to your advantage through smart planning
  • (00:08:16). Keeping emotions in check during volatile times and sticking to your plan
  • (00:14:3) The impact of inflation on spending power and why long-term growth is vital
  • (00:25:20) The importance of having a solid and adaptable financial plan in place

Connect with Nicholas St. George:

 

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Avoiding Financial Train Wrecks with Eric Woodraska (Ep. 8)

Avoiding Financial Train Wrecks with Eric Woodraska (Ep. 8)

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Ever wonder why your retirement portfolio might resemble a messy clearance aisle at TJ Maxx?

In this episode, Nick St. George sits down with Eric Woodraska, Client Portfolio Manager from Helios, a financial wizard who knows his way around a portfolio like no other! They dig into the good, the bad, and the downright “what were they thinking” moments of investment management. This conversation is brimming with real-life portfolio mishaps and tips to steer clear of those financial train wrecks. Plus, it’s not all business – find out their bourbon favorites, because hey, life’s about balance, right?

Nicholas and Eric discuss: 

  • (02:12) The risks of concentrating investments in one fund family and how diversification should really look  
  • (06:28) A simple guide to understanding fund performance metrics, from flashy returns to actual sustainability 
  • (13:45) How to avoid the ‘latest-and-greatest’ investment traps and stick to what’s proven 
  • (22:01) The impact of risk tolerance on portfolio choices, especially during unpredictable markets 
  • And more

Connect with Nicholas St. George:

Connect with Eric Woodraska:

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Nicholas St George, CFPÂŽ, CRPCÂŽ, CPFA Direct 828-481-8836

www.stgeorgewealth.com

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The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

The financial professionals associated with LPL Financial may discuss and/or transact business only with residents of the states in which they are properly registered or licensed. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident of any other state.

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