Phil's Tax Hacks

Financial information has never been more available — TV, podcasts, YouTube, Reddit, and now AI that will answer any question in about three seconds. And yet some of the worst financial decisions we see come from people who did a ton of research first. Today Phil’s talking about why this happens and what good research actually looks like. Being informed is a good thing. Being confidently misinform...

Over the past year, one retirement video on YouTube pulled in 3.7 million views. The title: "Sell These 5 Things Before You Retire." We thought it was worth a conversation, not to tear it apart, but to react honestly. Does Phil agree? Let's get into it: 3.7 million people watched this video for a reason. It touches something real. Retirement isn't just about what you've accumulated. Sometimes it's...

What happens when retirement arrives sooner than expected? In this episode, Phil and Marc walk through the real-life scenario of “Fran,” a former teacher whose career change and unexpected job restructuring forced her into retirement earlier than planned. They discuss the financial decisions many people make under pressure, including claiming Social Security early, relying on part-time work, and t...

Summer's here. And somewhere between the excitement of planning a big trip and the anxiety of what it costs, a lot of retirees end up doing something that surprises us… they feel guilty about it. They worked hard, they saved, they planned for decades, and then they second-guess a beach vacation. Today, Phil talks about how travel fits into a real retirement plan and how to enjoy it without guilt....

A larger pension check today can look incredibly tempting, but what happens if your spouse outlives you? Phil breaks down one of the biggest pension decisions couples face and explains the tradeoffs between maximizing monthly income and protecting a surviving spouse. This is a permanent retirement decision and deserves much more thought than most people give it. Here’s some of what we discuss in t...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment We're doing something a little different today. Three listeners wrote in with variations of the same question- am I ready to retire in 2026?...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment   Phil gives the full scoop on what it actually feels like to work with a financial advisor, pulling back the curtain on the entire experienc...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment   In this episode, Phil explores what financial protection really means beyond investments and returns. You’ll hear about how planning decisi...

You’ve done a great job managing your money, so why change anything now? That’s the question Phil’s tackling in this episode. As retirement approaches, decisions get more permanent, and the margin for error gets smaller. This conversation is about understanding how the game changes and what it looks like to have the right kind of support in place. Because doing well up to this point doesn’t guaran...

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25), Phil talks about why volunteering is an important part of life, especially in retirement. Retirement isn’t just about stepping away from work. It's an opportunity to step toward the things you've always cared about, with more time and freedom than you've had in decades. National Volunteer Week is a good reminder that all of it can keep doing good...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment A new proposal out of Washington is adding a fresh angle to the Social Security solvency debate. Today, Phil’s breaking down what's proposed,...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Most retirement conversations focus on saving enough, but very few talk about what happens next. What if you’ve done everything right and sti...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment A listener recently made a career move that looks great on paper, but it left them wondering if their retirement savings strategy could keep...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all- and for many people in their 50s, it raises more questions than answers. In this episode, Phil breaks...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment You've seen the headlines. The IMF says AI is hitting the labor market "like a tsunami." Elon Musk says work will be "optional" within 20 yea...

Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Nobody likes tax season, but for new retirees, the rules can feel completely different. Income changes, required withdrawals begin, and decisions that once lowered taxes can create bigger bills later. Phil unpacks some of the most common retirement tax mistakes and how...

Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment For many business owners, the company isn’t just work; it’s the retirement plan. No 401(k). No diversified portfolio. Just years of sweat equity tied up in one asset. So, what happens when you finally sell? Phil explains what really happens during a business sale and ta...

Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Financial media loves simple answers: always do this or never do that. But real financial planning doesn’t work that way. Most of the biggest decisions people face in retirement live in the gray. Phil pulls back the curtain on the sensational advice dominating YouTube a...

Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Inheriting a home often brings more questions than answers, especially when taxes enter the conversation. Many families delay decisions because they’re afraid of making an expensive mistake. Phil clears up common misconceptions and explains why the tax outcome is often...

Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Big-name financial personalities make bold claims that sound smart, but should you actually follow them? Phil reacts to some of the most talked-about money advice from well-known figures and puts it under a real-world lens. What happens when headline advice meets real p...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment In the financial world, there’s no shortage of shiny objects, and most of them look a lot better than they actually are. Phil talks about the...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment If you’re weighing a Roth versus Traditional 401(k), you’re not alone and the right choice isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds. Phil breaks d...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟ https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟ https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment One of the biggest retirement decisions people make has nothing to do with the stock market, it’s buried inside their pension paperwork. In t...

A new year doesn’t just bring new headlines, it brings new rules that can quietly impact your money. Phil walks through the most important financial changes coming in 2026, and shares what you need to know if you want to start the new year informed instead of surprised. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 📈 COLA & Inflation: What the Social Security adjustment really means 🏥 Medi...

Want to learn more about financial planning? Please subscribe to our channel and you won't miss a video ➟  https://bit.ly/33RO6mV Book an appointment with Phil to get your customized planning process started ➟  https://www.afswealthmgt.com/schedule-appointment Daycare costs are out of control, and for many families, grandparents feel like the only safety net left. But should your retirement plan b...