financial planning headlines

Beyond the Headlines: Building Portfolio Resilience in a Volatile World

The 24-hour news cycle is a powerful machine.  It is designed to capture your attention, and nothing captures attention quite like a geopolitical crisis.  Currently, the conflict involving Iran and the broader Middle East is dominating every screen.  While the headlines are undeniably serious, successful long-term investing requires the resilience of your portfolio. Finding the “Off-Ramp” in the Noise While …

tax preparation chandler arizona

The “April 15th Audible”: Last-Minute Moves to Lower Your 2025 Tax Bill

Most people believe that once the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, their opportunity to impact their 2025 tax bill vanished.  While it is true that many big-ticket items require action before December 31, there are several powerful “retroactive” moves you can make right now.  At Wealthnest, we view the weeks leading up to the April 15 filing deadline as …

bitcoin and gold financial planning

The CLARITY Act: Growing Pains or Crypto’s “Grown-Up” Era?

What’s the Big Deal with CLARITY? Right now, the biggest headache for the industry is “regulation by enforcement.”  Basically, companies are guessing whether their tokens are “securities” (regulated by the SEC) or “commodities” (regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, CFTC).  The CLARITY Act aims to draw a hard line in the sand: When will it actually pass? Despite the …

retirement planning and taxes Chandler arizona

The Case for Aggressive Rate Cuts: Easing the Burden of Debt Service

The national deficit and debt service percentage are critical economic indicators that offer insights into a country’s fiscal health. As of January 2026, the challenges and opportunities around the U.S. national debt are particularly relevant, especially as interest rates and inflation data evolve. The data below highlights the dual pressures that the federal budget faces, servicing debt and fulfilling entitlements.  …

inflation and financial planning arizona

Ongoing Monetary Expansion and Inflation

The cumulative inflation since 2000 clearly reflects a dramatic increase in prices.  This paints a clearer picture of how irresponsible monetary policies and market conditions have affected the dollar’s value and consumer purchasing power over the past two decades. Historical Context: The Tech Bubble and Financial Crisis The journey towards the current economic landscape began with the tech bubble of …

economics trump financial planning chandler arizona

Trump Economic Policies in 2026

Trump’s focus on domestic growth and immigration policy sparks fierce debate among supporters and detractors alike.  Advocates argue that his strategies aim to bolster the American workforce, while critics caution about potential long-term repercussions.  Either way, here is a look at the current administration’s aim as we head into 2026.     Domestic Manufacturing: Fostering Economic Vitality Trump’s emphasis on boosting …

tokenization investing arizona

Understanding Tokenization for Novice Investors

Tokenization is revolutionizing how assets and transaction function.  By converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, it opens new avenues for investment, particularly in stock trading. What is Tokenization? Tokenization involves transforming the rights to an asset into a digital token stored on a blockchain.  This applies to various assets, such as real estate, commodities, and stocks. For …

roth conversions Arizona

Year-end Roth Conversion?

Roth conversions of pre-tax IRA’s have become a prominent topic in retirement planning, offering significant advantages such as tax-free withdrawals in retirement and no required minimum distributions (RMDs).  However, determining whether a Roth conversion is right for you depends on several pivotal criteria. Key Criteria for Roth Conversions Current and Future Tax RatesOne of the most critical factors in deciding …