Savings and Sense

Allie Howard and Katelyn Felker discuss the importance of periodically cleaning up your financial life, much like pruning a garden before a new season of growth. They explore practical ways to reduce financial clutter, including reviewing subscriptions, negotiating bills, consolidating old accounts, updating insurance coverage, and revisiting outdated financial plans. The conversation emphasizes that financial success is not always about adding more investments or accounts. Sometimes the biggest opportunities come from simplifying, organizing, and making sure every part of your financial life is still working toward your goals.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard discuss the forces currently driving markets, including interest rate expectations, inflation concerns, and the impact of rising Treasury yields. They then shift to a conversation about the Great Wealth Transfer and what families should be doing today to prepare the next generation. The discussion covers beneficiary designations, estate planning considerations, gifting strategies, and the importance of teaching financial habits alongside passing down assets. They emphasize that successful wealth transfer is about more than money and that preparing heirs can be just as important as building wealth in the first place.

Allie Howard and Daniel Czulno break down the fundamentals of estate planning and why having the right documents in place is an important part of any financial plan. They discuss wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations, explaining what each document does and why keeping them updated matters. The conversation highlights the importance of coordinating with both an estate planning attorney and your financial advisor to ensure your wishes are carried out and your assets are positioned the way you intend.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard break down one of the most important decisions investors face: saving in traditional retirement accounts versus Roth accounts. Using simple examples, they explain the tradeoffs between paying taxes now or later, how future income and tax brackets influence the decision, and why the timing of your savings can dramatically impact long-term results. The conversation also explores contribution limits, retirement planning strategies, and why building the right mix of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free assets can create more flexibility in retirement.

Logan Gilland and newly minted CFP® professional Katelyn Felker break down one of the most common questions in financial planning: how much life insurance do you need and what type makes the most sense? They explain the differences between term life, whole life, and universal life insurance, discuss when each strategy may be appropriate, and explore the tradeoffs between combining insurance and investing versus keeping them separate. The conversation also highlights how insurance fits into a broader financial plan and why protecting your family starts with understanding the purpose behind the coverage.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard discuss one of the most important retirement topics: the mental and emotional transition from working to living off your savings. They explore the challenge of moving from accumulation to distribution, planning for large expenses in retirement, managing taxes efficiently, and finding confidence in spending money you've spent decades saving. The conversation highlights why a successful retirement is about more than just numbers and how having a clear plan can help retirees enjoy the life they've worked so hard to build.
 

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard discuss some of the most common ways people unknowingly miss financial opportunities. They cover the importance of taking full advantage of employer 401(k) matches, using high-yield savings accounts for emergency funds, and regularly reviewing subscriptions and spending habits. The conversation highlights how small financial decisions compound over time and why paying attention to the basics can have a bigger impact than most people realize.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard break down a difficult week in the markets by discussing earnings from major technology companies, the impact of rising oil prices, and growing concerns about inflation and interest rates. More importantly, they step back from the headlines to focus on the foundational principles of successful investing: proper allocation, diversification, regular rebalancing, and staying invested for the long term. The conversation highlights why market volatility is normal, how investors can avoid emotional decisions, and why a solid financial plan provides the framework for navigating both good and bad markets.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard break down a challenging week in the markets as semiconductor stocks pull back despite strong earnings, inflation data continues to influence Federal Reserve expectations, and investors weigh the impact of rising interest rates. They also take a deep dive into the new Trump Accounts, discussing who qualifies for the government-funded contribution, how the accounts work, potential tax implications, and whether they make sense as part of a long-term strategy for children and young investors.

Logan Gilland and Allie Howard take a halftime look at 2026, reviewing the biggest themes that have driven markets through the first half of the year. They discuss the ongoing impact of the Iran conflict, the Federal Reserve's evolving approach to interest rates, continued strength in technology and AI-related companies, and the market's reaction to major IPOs like SpaceX. The conversation focuses on separating headlines from data, understanding how economic trends affect investors, and why a strong financial plan matters more than reacting to short-term market movements.