Jennifer Walsh · May 19, 2026
A dad walked into my office last spring with a crumpled printout of his 14-year-old daughter’s first paycheck — $312 from a summer job at a local bakery. He wanted to open a Schwab custodial Roth IRA for her that same week. That question — “Can we do this at Schwab?” — is one I … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · May 9, 2026
A father walked into my office a few years ago with a simple question: his fifteen-year-old daughter had earned $3,200 that summer lifeguarding, and he wanted to know where to put it. I told him immediately — a Fidelity custodial Roth IRA. He had never heard of one. By the end of that meeting, we … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · April 29, 2026
Last month, I sat across from a couple in their mid-50s who had done everything right. They maxed their 401(k) every year, lived below their means, and had accumulated just over $1.4 million in tax-deferred accounts. On paper, they looked like retirement success story. In reality, they were staring down a tax problem that was … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · April 19, 2026
I still remember the client who came into my office in 2007 convinced she needed a traditional IRA because her coworker told her so. She was 34, earning $68,000 a year, and planning to retire early. She had never run a single projection. Neither had her coworker. After building out her full tax picture — … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · April 10, 2026
A few years ago, a surgeon came to me frustrated. She was earning just over $230,000 a year, had maxed out her 401(k), and kept hearing that she “made too much” to contribute to a Roth IRA. She assumed that door was permanently closed. It wasn’t. Within one meeting, we had a backdoor Roth IRA … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · March 31, 2026
About three years ago, I sat across from a 58-year-old client — a former hospital administrator with $1.4 million sitting in a traditional IRA — and told her something I would have said very differently a decade earlier. I told her to slow down on her Roth conversions. Not stop. Slow down. And the reasons … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · March 21, 2026
Last spring, I sat across from a 54-year-old engineer — let’s call him David — who had done nearly everything right. He maxed out his 401(k) every year for two decades. He had a diversified portfolio. He even had a Roth IRA. But when I looked at what he had actually put inside that Roth … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · March 11, 2026
Financial Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Key Takeaways What Is the Difference Between a Custodial IRA and a Traditional IRA? When comparing a custodial IRA vs traditional IRA, the most fundamental distinction is who can open one … Read more
How to Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number): What Parents Should Know Family Employment • 4 min read When launching a small business, establishing an LLC, or preparing to compensate your children for legitimate business-related tasks, securing an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS is one of the first essential steps you’ll need to … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · March 1, 2026
Financial Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Key Takeaways My pick: Understand why index funds outperform and stay committed to long-term growth — The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by John C. Bogle on Amazon → What … Read more
