Fiduciary – Un Eff Your Finances

The Parent 529 Playbook: EP 24

By Un Eff Your Finances | September 16, 2025

The Parent 529 Playbook: How to Pull Money the Right Way (and What to Do with Leftovers)

If you’re paying college bills with a 529, this is your 4-minute, no-nonsense guide. You’ll learn exactly when to take distributions, what actually qualifies, how to keep an audit-proof paper trail, and smart moves for leftover funds (yes, including the Roth IRA path). No fluff. No “my kid needed the laptop for Netflix.”

What you’ll learn

Timing rules: Match the 529 distribution to the expense in the same calendar year
Qualified expenses: Tuition, required fees, on-campus room & board, school-billed meal plans, required books/software
Off-campus housing: Eligible up to the school’s published allowance
Two clean payment paths: 529 → school (simplest) or reimburse yourself (with prompt, documented receipts)
Paper trail that won’t crack under audit: Bills, confirmations, housing docs, receipts, 1098-T, and a simple spreadsheet log
Leftovers: Change beneficiaries, use for grad/trade programs, scholarship exception, and the 529 → Roth IRA strategy (within rules)
Pro tip: Coordinate grandparent-owned 529s to avoid financial-aid landmines

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Retirement Red Zone EP. 23

By Un Eff Your Finances | September 2, 2025

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)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Helping Without Derailing Your Retirement

By Un Eff Your Finances | August 18, 2025

👮‍♂️ In the Retirement Unit, financially-motivated crimes against common sense are considered especially heinous…

These are their stories. DUN DUN.

Hi, I’m Nick St. George, CFP®, and in today’s episode of Retirement & Order, we meet Rob and Jen Langston. (Not their real names, of course—the names and some details have been changed to protect the financially innocent.)

They’re retired. Living the good life. Then BOOM 💥—curveball. One of their adult kids hits a financial snag.

Rather than torch their retirement plan with capital gains or mortgage stress, we got creative. No, not “hide your money in a coffee can” creative—strategic creative.

We used an asset-backed loan against their taxable investment account.
✅ No closing costs
✅ No tax returns or underwriting drama
✅ No capital gains
✅ No disruption to their portfolio

Just fast, flexible help—with structure, boundaries, and peace of mind.

🎯 Moral of the story: You can be generous without going broke.

If you’re in the same boat, don’t play financial detective solo. Book a quick call—let’s protect your retirement and your sanity.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

5 Money Fights

By Un Eff Your Finances | July 28, 2025

We’ve all been there:
🔹 Debating if your adult kids need another “loan” or just a reality check.
🔹 Arguing about who inherits grandma’s prized casserole dish.
🔹 Rolling your eyes at yet another Amazon box mysteriously appearing at your doorstep.

Money fights happen. But they don’t have to turn your relationship into a Netflix drama.

Here are 5 common money battles couples face—and how to fix them:

1️⃣ Supporting Adult Kids:
They’re adults, but somehow your payroll keeps growing. Time to draw some boundaries before your home turns into a wildlife preserve (you know, “Don’t feed the animals,” right?).

2️⃣ Inheritance Drama:
Decide together who gets what before your kids decide with lawyers. (Spoiler alert: No one enjoys a family feud sequel).

3️⃣ Opposite Spending Styles:
Whether you’re the “budget wizard” or the “flash sale aficionado,” create space for BOTH styles. A little compromise = fewer glares at dinner.

4️⃣ Hidden Spending:
If you’re hiding packages or credit card statements, you’re not hiding money—you’re hiding trust issues. Pour some bourbon, and have the talk regularly. No judgment, just honesty.

5️⃣ Conflicting Goals:
Camper vs. 401(k)? Retirement vs. adventure? It’s not “either/or,” it’s “yes, and.” Dream together, plan together, thrive together.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

Retirement is About Experiences

By Un Eff Your Finances | July 14, 2025

🎬 If you believe retirement is just about having enough money, then you’re missing the bigger picture.

Sure, money matters, but retirement isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about experiences. It’s trading your morning commute for sunrise tee times, swapping endless meetings for endless adventures, and replacing your daily grind with checking off your bucket list. 🏌️‍♂️🌴⛵

Retirement is the freedom to choose how you spend your days—making memories, traveling, and finally taking the time to truly enjoy what you’ve earned.

I’d love to hear what’s at the top of YOUR retirement bucket list. Skydiving? A month in Italy? Finally beating your personal best on the golf course?

👇 Share your dream retirement experience below! 👇

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More

How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor: Essential Questions (Ep. 11)

By Un Eff Your Finances | March 13, 2025

What questions should you ask before entrusting your finances to an advisor?

Dive into this episode where Nicholas St. George uncovers the essentials to choosing the perfect financial partner. Whether you’re a hotshot business owner or just getting started in the financial game, these insights will keep you on the straight and narrow.

Nick breaks it down with humor and honesty, so you don’t end up with regrets.

This installment of Un Eff Your Finances highlights:

(04:36) What is a fiduciary?
(06:05) How advisors get paid and why it matters
(11:09) Why knowing your advisor’s qualifications upfront saves headaches
(12:06) The real deal on financial planning licenses
(15:14) A philosophy that stands the test of financial time

Connect with Nicholas St. George:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS | More