There's a lot that goes into giving money to kids (or receiving money as a child.) There are tax ramifications, behavioral impacts, and of course "spiritual" elements to consider. We'll talk about how to plan for giving or receiving a gift, the supposed tax "limits" to giving, and what not to do.

We'll also talk about:
• balancing generosity with grit and intrinsic motivation
• the coming wealth transfer and planning implications
• when to plan for expected gifts or ignore them
• annual exclusion myths and lifetime exemption rules
• gifting cash vs appreciated stock and basis tradeoffs
• adult vs minor gifting, control and timing differences
• 529 benefits, aid considerations, and K–12 uses
• UTMA/UGMA pros and cons, parent brokerage earmarks
• when trusts make sense and when they do not
• “Trump accounts” benefits, limits, and open questions
• the value of experiences as gifts
• transparency, changing priorities, and legacy beyond heirs

We explore why retirement is a true pivot point: identity shifts, new risks, and the move from one paycheck to many income streams. We share practical ways to plan with uncertainty, from guardrails to healthcare decisions, and how to retire to something with purpose.

• identity, structure and purpose beyond your job
• switching from saving to spending with multiple income sources
• taxes moving from reactive to proactive planning
• underspending bias and how to set guardrails
• sequence of returns risk and withdrawal design
• healthcare and long-term care trade-offs
• cognitive decline, decision-makers and family roles
• using the house: downsizing, reverse mortgage options
• flexibility, year-to-year reviews and practical next steps

We test the most common money rules of thumb and show how to adapt them to real life. From saving rates to Social Security timing, we map the assumptions under each rule and explain when to trust them and when to change course.

• saving 15 to 20 percent as a flexible target
• emergency fund size by income stability and risk
• stock and bond mix guided by time horizon and inflation
• retirement spending built from actual expenses, not income
• the 4 percent rule as a floor with dynamic adjustments
• total-return withdrawals vs living only on income
• renting vs owning trade-offs across time horizons
• marginal tax brackets and why “next bracket” fears mislead
• Social Security timing across health, cash flow, and spouses