Deidre Fernald, CFP

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Deidre Fernald, CFP We create a plan around your life, with support to help you live for today & achieve your goals

I think we need to adjust your mindset here....Happy FriYAY!
10/23/2026

I think we need to adjust your mindset here....

Happy FriYAY!

We have less than THREE MONTHS left in 2026! 😳I know. I don't know how that happened either.But now is the time to start...
10/22/2026

We have less than THREE MONTHS left in 2026! 😳

I know. I don't know how that happened either.

But now is the time to start thinking about year-end financial planning. Not December 30th!

Here are a few things worth reviewing:

✔️ Your 401(k) contributions. Are you on track to maximize what makes sense for you?

✔️ Your taxes. Have you had a big income change, started a business, or realized investment gains?

✔️ Your investments. Does your portfolio still match your goals and risk tolerance?

✔️ Your charitable giving. Would making contributions before December 31 provide any tax benefit?

✔️ Your FSA. Do you have money that needs to be used before your plan's deadline?

✔️ Your required minimum distributions, if applicable.

✔️ Your Roth conversion opportunities. Would converting some money this year make sense?

✔️ Your health insurance and employee benefits. Open enrollment is coming!

Not every strategy applies to every person, and some decisions can have consequences for years.

That's why we start planning NOW.

I help families look at the whole picture rather than making isolated financial decisions.

If you've been meaning to get your financial house in order, this is a great time to start.

Is deodorant being stolen a sign of a recession?Or is it a sign that companies have absolutely LOST THEIR MINDS with the...
10/21/2026

Is deodorant being stolen a sign of a recession?

Or is it a sign that companies have absolutely LOST THEIR MINDS with these prices?!

I was in Publix for the THIRD time last week. Don't tell my financial planning clients. 😂

And I walked past the deodorant aisle.

Native deodorant was advertised at a *surprisingly low price* of $14.99.

WAIT. WHAT?!

FIFTEEN DOLLARS FOR DEODORANT?!

What exactly are we paying for here? Does it apply itself? Fold my laundry? Make dinner?

And I used to love the idea of Native being a smaller company offering a different type of product. Now it's owned by a major corporation, and I'm questioning whether the premium price is worth it.

Look, I understand inflation. I understand the costs of manufacturing, distribution, and running a business.

But at some point, consumers are going to say ENOUGH.

Are we in a recession? The price of deodorant certainly doesn't tell us that.

But are people exhausted from paying ridiculous prices for everyday necessities?

ABSOLUTELY.

Imagine retiring and deciding it's time to DOWNSIZE.The kids are grown. You don't need four bedrooms, stairs, or that gi...
10/20/2026

Imagine retiring and deciding it's time to DOWNSIZE.

The kids are grown. You don't need four bedrooms, stairs, or that giant yard anymore.

You're excited to sell your house, simplify your life, and hopefully reduce your monthly expenses.

Then you start shopping.

Wait a minute.

That little condo costs HOW MUCH?!

Between today's home prices, mortgage rates, HOA fees, property insurance, and taxes, your smaller home might actually cost MORE per month than the larger home you're leaving.

And don't forget moving expenses, closing costs, and possibly giving up a mortgage with a very low interest rate.

I've seen how surprising these numbers can be.

This is why downsizing isn't always a money-saving decision.

Sometimes it's about accessibility, less maintenance, being closer to family, or simply enjoying a different lifestyle.

And those can all be great reasons to move!

But before you put that house on the market, run the numbers.
A smaller house doesn't automatically mean a smaller housing expense.

Florida has a BIG property tax debate happening, and I can understand both sides.Should Florida increase the homestead p...
10/19/2026

Florida has a BIG property tax debate happening, and I can understand both sides.

Should Florida increase the homestead property tax exemption?

On one side, homeowners are saying ENOUGH.

Home values have skyrocketed, insurance costs have increased, and the cost of maintaining a home has become ridiculous.

Some homeowners feel like they're being punished for simply owning a home that has appreciated in value.

On the other side, property taxes help fund services we all depend on.

Fire departments, police, roads, and other local services need funding. If property tax revenue is reduced, where does that money come from?

And here's another issue.

What about renters? What about people who own second homes? What about businesses?

Would reducing taxes for one group shift more of the burden onto another?

As a financial planner and Florida resident, I think affordability matters. But so does understanding the long-term impact of a tax change.

I don't think this should be a simple yes-or-no conversation without looking at the numbers.

I'm curious where you stand.

Should Florida homeowners get more property tax relief, even if it means local governments have to make significant budget changes?

Trump Accounts are officially here! And some parents may have FREE money waiting for their kids.Here's what you need to ...
10/17/2026

Trump Accounts are officially here! And some parents may have FREE money waiting for their kids.

Here's what you need to know.

Children born from 2025 through 2028 may qualify for a $1,000 federal contribution.

And thanks to a donation from Michael and Susan Dell, millions of older children may qualify for $250, depending on their birth year and ZIP code.

So should you open one?

If your child qualifies for free money, I'd absolutely look into claiming it!

But here's where my financial planner brain kicks in. 🤓

Just because an account is new doesn't mean it's automatically better than the options we've had for years.

A 529 plan can provide tax-free growth and withdrawals for qualified education expenses.

A custodial Roth IRA can offer significant tax advantages, but your child needs eligible earned income to contribute.

And a Trump Account? It has its own contribution limits, investment restrictions, and withdrawal and tax rules.

My strategy would be to claim any available free contribution FIRST, then evaluate where your own savings dollars should go.

You don't have to choose just one account.

The important thing is understanding what you're saving FOR and choosing the account that makes the most sense.

Have you checked whether your children qualify?

Large incoming transfers are super spooky! 👻 Happy FriYAY!
10/16/2026

Large incoming transfers are super spooky! 👻 Happy FriYAY!

Your family needs a secret code word. Seriously.Scammers are getting REALLY good.They can use AI to imitate someone's vo...
10/16/2026

Your family needs a secret code word. Seriously.

Scammers are getting REALLY good.

They can use AI to imitate someone's voice and spoof a phone number so a call appears to come from someone you know.

Imagine getting a frantic phone call that sounds exactly like your child, spouse, or parent.

They're in trouble. They need money. And they need it NOW.

Your first instinct is to help.

That's exactly what scammers are counting on.

Here's something simple you can do TODAY.

Pick a secret family code word. Something that isn't easily found on social media.

If someone calls asking for emergency money, ask for the code word.

If they can't give it to you, STOP. Hang up and contact your family member through a number you know is legitimate.

Even if they know the code word, independently verify the emergency before sending money.

Five minutes of preparation could save your family thousands of dollars.

Think about one tonight and make a plan.

Dave Ramsey gets a lot of things right. But there's something about his approach that I think can leave people financial...
10/14/2026

Dave Ramsey gets a lot of things right. But there's something about his approach that I think can leave people financially vulnerable.

Imagine this.

You work hard, pay off all your debt, pay off your mortgage, and never borrow money again.

You're doing everything right. You have healthy retirement accounts, a paid-off house, and several months of emergency savings.

Then life happens.

You get sick. You lose your job. Your emergency fund starts disappearing.

And just when you think things can't get worse, the plumbing needs replacing and your car needs work.

But that's okay! You have hundreds of thousands of dollars in home equity.

Except when you go to the bank for a home equity loan, you discover that qualifying without income is incredibly difficult. And because you haven't used credit in years, your credit history may not help either.

Your retirement accounts have money, but accessing it could create taxes, penalties, or other complications.

You're wealthy on paper but struggling to access cash.

This is why I don't believe being debt-free should be the ONLY goal of financial planning.

Liquidity matters. Credit matters. Flexibility matters.

I'm not advocating for unnecessary debt. I'm advocating for having options when life doesn't go according to plan.

Financial planning isn't about following someone else's rules. It's about building a financial life that can withstand the unexpected.

I've been MIA on here for a little while. I know, I know, you noticed. 😂My social media scheduling tool went down, and w...
10/13/2026

I've been MIA on here for a little while. I know, I know, you noticed. 😂

My social media scheduling tool went down, and while I was looking into other options, life just kept happening.

Between running two businesses, school, doctor appointments, family, and everything else, posting kept getting pushed to the bottom of the list.

But here's the thing. I really LOVE posting content.

I love sharing little pieces of my life, financial tips and tricks, things I've learned, and hopefully teaching you something along the way.

I don't post just to find new clients. I post because I enjoy connecting with all of you. And when someone tells me they loved a post or learned something from it, it makes my day!

So thank you for following along with little ol' me. ❤️

I may not have thousands of followers, but I have the BEST hundreds of followers!

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....😉

Address

Clearwater, FL

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18135502133

Website

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