Schwallier Wealth Management

08/27/2026

September is College Savings Month, and if saving for a kid's (or grandkid's) future school costs is on your mind, a 529 plan is worth knowing about.

529 plans come with some nice tax perks and flexibility for school costs. They also come with a few things worth weighing, like investment risk, fees, and rules around when the money can come out.

Every family's situation looks a little different, so what makes sense for one household might not for another.

Curious how a 529 plan might fit (or not fit) for you? Happy to sit down and talk it through.

Disclosure: A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged education savings plan. Before choosing a plan, it's important to consider not only the state tax treatment but also any associated fees and expenses. Availability of a state tax deduction will depend on your state of residence, as state tax laws and treatment may vary from federal tax laws. If you make nonqualified distributions, earnings will be subject to income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax.

Sources: Internal Revenue Service, Investopedia, Investor.gov, Intuit Blog

08/12/2026

August is known as "Make a Will Month". But it would be better to rebrand it as "Estate Plan Month" instead. Here's why:

A will is a good start, but on its own it's really just a set of instructions for the probate court. When you're dealing with the death of a loved one, the last thing you need is a lengthy, expensive, stressful probate process.

A full estate plan is different. It can include a will, power of attorney, and medical directive, all working together so more can pass directly to family, without going through the courts, with less delay and cost along the way.

Think of a will as one piece of a bigger picture. What's in your plan? Share your thoughts in the comments.

08/07/2026

Markets navigated mixed signals in July. Inflation eased, tech faced pressure, and energy surged. Meanwhile, Americans are planning record travel spending in 2026: \$1.37 trillion. What's shaping your household budget this summer?

Stocks were mixed in July as investors navigated a cross-current of news on the outlook for AI spending and Q2 corporate reports.

08/04/2026

Life doesn't stand still, and neither should your estate plan. Putting a plan in place is an important first step, but it isn't a set-it-and-forget-it document. Here are a few moments that call for a second look:
1️⃣ Family Changes: Marriage, divorce, a new baby, or the loss of a loved one can all shift what your plan needs to say.
2️⃣ Relocation: A move to a new state can mean new laws to account for.
3️⃣ Financial Shifts: New accounts, a business, or new property should be reflected in your plan. 4️⃣ Executor/Trustee Changes: Make sure the people you named are still the right fit.
5️⃣ Law Changes: Staying current helps you stay compliant and avoid surprises.
6️⃣ Beneficiary Updates: Relationships evolve. Your plan should too.
7️⃣ Time: A good rule of thumb is to revisit your plan every 3 to 5 years.

If it's been a while since you looked at yours, now's a good time.

07/30/2026

The government just opened a new type of savings account for kids, and it comes with a $1,000 deposit from the U.S. Treasury.

If you have young children or grandchildren born between 2025 and 2028, this is worth two minutes of your time.

In the video below, we introduce Trump Accounts and flag one important detail about how the money can be used once your child turns 18.

As a fee-only fiduciary firm, we don't get paid by any provider to point you toward one savings option over another. If you want to talk through how this fits into your family's broader plan, reach out.

07/08/2026

Markets posted solid second-quarter gains as investors responded to upbeat economic reports, continued diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers. The S&P 500 rose 14.87%, the Nasdaq gained 21.41%, and the Dow picked up 12.90%, while Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 6.37%. Looking ahead, markets may continue to react to Middle East updates, oil prices, inflation trends, and the pace of global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. From U.S. home price growth to Canadian housing forecasts, this quarter’s by-the-numbers highlights the data behind one of North America’s most closely watched markets.

Stocks saw solid gains in the second quarter, riding a wave of enthusiasm over upbeat economic reports, ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, and strong first-quarter corporate numbers.

07/06/2026

Trump Accounts officially opened on July 4. Our team has gotten a handful of the same questions from clients and friends of the firm over the last few weeks, so we figured we'd answer them here too, in case you've been wondering the same thing.

➡️ "Our baby is 18 months old. Do we qualify for the $1,000?"

You do, but it's not automatic. You'll need to file an election (IRS Form 4547) on your child's behalf to claim it. Any U.S. citizen child born since January 1, 2025 is eligible.

➡️ "Is there an income cutoff we should worry about?"

No. This one comes down to your child's citizenship and birth date, not your household income.

➡️ "Our son is 7. Did we already miss out?"

Not entirely. You can still open an account for any U.S. citizen child under 18. The $1,000 federal deposit is only for kids born 2025 through 2028, but everything else about the account is still on the table for him.

➡️ "Can grandma and grandpa put money in too?"

They can. Contributions from everyone combined, parents, grandparents, other family, even the child, are capped at $5,000 a year.

➡️ "So what's the catch?"

A couple of things worth knowing before you jump in. State tax treatment isn't uniform (California, for one, doesn't currently conform), and the money is generally locked up until your child turns 18. Like any new savings tool, it's worth thinking about where it fits alongside what you're already doing for retirement and education.

That last question is really the one that matters most, and it's different for every family. If you're curious whether a Trump Account makes sense for yours, we'd love to talk it through with you. That's the kind of thing our team does best.

And since we're a fee-only, NAPFA member firm, you can trust that conversation comes with no strings attached. We don't sell products, earn commissions, or answer to a broker-dealer or insurance company behind the scenes. No divided loyalties, just advice that's actually about you.

Give us a call, send an email, or catch one of us at the office. We'd love to hear from you.

This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.



Sources
https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/investment-accounts/tax-advantaged-accounts/trump-accounts
https://www.irs.gov/trumpaccounts

07/04/2026

This year isn't just another July 4th for us. It's the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, the founders broke from a system where loyalty was owed to a crown, not to the people it was supposed to serve. That idea, that the person making decisions on your behalf should actually answer to you, is still surprisingly rare in a lot of industries.

It's part of why our firm is built the way it is. We're fee-only. We don't earn commissions, sell products, or answer to a broker-dealer or insurance company behind the scenes. We're fiduciaries and members of NAPFA, which means our only obligation is to the families we work with. No divided loyalties, then or now.

So this year, our team is celebrating two kinds of independence: the country's 250th, and the kind we get to help build for every family that walks through our door.

Happy 4th of July, from all of us at SWM.

This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

07/02/2026

This Saturday, July 4, a new kind of account becomes available for kids: the Trump Account.

It's a federally created investment account for anyone under 18 with a Social Security number. Every U.S. citizen child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 is eligible for a one-time $1,000 seed contribution from the government, on top of whatever a family chooses to add (up to $5k per year).

Our team has spent the last few weeks digging into the rules so we can talk through it with clients who are curious. A few things worth knowing ahead of launch:

The account isn't automatic. Families have to file an election (IRS Form 4547) to open one and to claim the $1,000 deposit.

Funds are invested in low-cost index funds only, and generally can't be touched until the child turns 18. At that point, the account converts into a traditional IRA.

There's no income limit to qualify, but contribution limits and state tax treatment vary, so the details matter more than the headline.

We'll have a full breakdown once accounts officially open. In the meantime, if you're wondering whether a Trump Account fits into your family's plan, that's a conversation worth having before you file anything.

As a fee-only, NAPFA member firm, our team doesn't sell products, earn commissions, or answer to a broker-dealer or insurance company. No divided loyalties. Just advice that serves you.



Sources

https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/investment-accounts/tax-advantaged-accounts/trump-accounts
https://www.irs.gov/trumpaccounts

06/05/2026

Markets continued their upward climb in May, supported by strong technology performance, positive economic data, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The Nasdaq gained 8.36%, the S&P 500 rose 5.15%, and Canada’s S&P/TSX Composite added 2.37%, while investors welcomed better-than-expected job growth and upbeat corporate earnings. With the Fed's next meeting scheduled for June, attention is turning to updated economic projections and what they may signal about the broader economy. From \$24 billion spent on Father's Day to the popularity of dining out and special outings, this month's by-the-numbers highlights how families celebrate the dads in their lives.

Stocks pushed higher in May, fueled by big tech names, positive economic news, and ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.