Studdard Financial, LLC

09/02/2026

Did you know the IRS caps who can contribute directly to a Roth IRA?

For 2025, once your income crosses $150K (single) or $236K (married filing jointly), you're locked out — unless you use the "backdoor" strategy.

It's a completely legal, IRS-sanctioned way for high earners to still get money into a Roth IRA. The catch: there's a rule (the pro-rata rule) that trips up almost everyone who tries this without checking their other IRA accounts first — and getting it wrong means an unexpected tax bill instead of tax-free growth.

We broke down exactly how it works, step by step, including the mistake that catches most people off guard 👇

Read the full guide: https://studdardfinancial.com/backdoor-roth-ira-conversion/

This is educational content, not individualized tax, legal, or investment advice. Talk with your advisor before making any moves.

Learn how a backdoor Roth IRA conversion helps high earners bypass income limits, avoid pro-rata pitfalls, and file Form 8606 correctly.

09/01/2026

Retirement-focused families deserve estate plans built with tax efficiency, fiduciary discipline, and transparent fees—not generic “set it and forget it” assumptions. In this 2026 guide, Byron Studdard lays out fee-only, fiduciary-minded strategies to help preserve wealth through retirement and during transfer, with legal responsibility and ethical conduct front and center. Byron’s approach is personal and protective: your portfolio should be managed actively and thoughtfully, not passively “parked” while taxes and timing quietly erode outcomes. If you’re planning ahead for your spouse, kids, or business legacy, this is the kind of planning that puts people first.

08/31/2026

Retirement should reward the decades you spent saving — not get quietly eaten away by taxes you could have planned around.

I put together our top 5 tax reduction strategies for retirees heading into 2026, from Roth conversion timing to a lesser-known charitable giving option that just increased to $111,000/year. As a fee-only fiduciary, I don't get paid more for recommending any one strategy over another — so this is genuinely just what tends to work.

Take a look, and if you want to talk through your own situation, my info's at the bottom. 👇

https://studdardfinancial.com/top-5-fiduciary-retirement-tax-reduction-strategies-for-2026/

08/31/2026

CFP credentials matter—but what matters most is whether you’re getting fiduciary, client-first guidance you can trust. In “CFP Versus Financial Advisor: What Matters Most,” Byron Studdard breaks down the ethical differences and the real-world question behind every recommendation: transparent compensation, legal responsibility, and protecting your interests. He also explains why “buy and hold” isn’t the only sensible approach—his daily, active trading strategy aims to pursue upside while working to limit damage in bear-market downturns. If you’re tired of vague advice and opaque fees, this is a grounded way to evaluate who should manage your financial future.

https://studdardfinancial.com/cfp-versus-financial-advisor/

08/30/2026

Retirement isn’t something you “set and forget”—it’s a plan you actively manage, with fiduciary responsibility and transparent, client-first guidance. In Your Retirement Readiness Planning Guide, Byron Studdard breaks down what readiness really means for your cash flow, risks, and timeline, and why a passive “buy and hold” approach often leaves people underprepared. As a CFP® who actively trades and combines technical and fundamental research, Byron’s goal is simple: protect your future with clear, principled steps you can trust. If you want retirement planning that respects your goals and prioritizes you over generic portfolio recommendations, this is worth your time.

https://studdardfinancial.com/retirement-readiness-planning-guide/

08/28/2026

"Delay Social Security and it's basically a guaranteed 8% return." I hear this all the time — and it's not wrong, exactly, it's just incomplete.

In my new video, I walk through the comparison most people skip when they're deciding when to claim: what happens if you take it early and invest every dollar, versus waiting for the bigger check. Run both scenarios out to the same age, and the answer isn't always as obvious as "always wait."

Take a look:

Should you take Social Security early or delay it for a higher mont...

08/28/2026

Market volatility has a way of testing your confidence—and your plan. In our latest post, Byron Studdard breaks down how to respond when swings make “buy and hold” feel tempting, and why an investment strategy should be actively managed with your fiduciary interests first. As a CFP® and a daily, active trader—not a passive allocator—Byron explains how technical levels and fundamental strength can work together to help protect portfolios in rough markets. If you want a disciplined approach grounded in transparent, client-advocate decision-making, this one is worth your attention.

https://studdardfinancial.com/market-volatility-investment-plan/

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

At 12 years old, I wanted a stereo so that I could make a mix-tape to impress a girl I liked. I didn’t get the girl, but I bought Walmart stock — and fell in love with investing.

"At twelve years old, I had one mission: get a girlfriend. I never got the girl — but I got ten shares of Walmart, and it changed the way I invest to this day."

08/26/2026

Market order vs. limit order: What’s the difference—and which should you use when buying or selling a stock?

A market order is designed to execute quickly at the best available price, but the final price is not guaranteed. A limit order lets you set the highest price you’ll pay or the lowest price you’ll accept, but the trade may never execute.

That distinction becomes especially important when:

• The stock market is moving quickly
• A security has limited trading volume
• You’re placing a large trade
• You’re buying or selling outside regular market hours
• Controlling the price matters more than immediate ex*****on

Choosing the wrong stock-order type can lead to an unexpected purchase price, a lower sale price than anticipated, or a trade that never happens.

Our founder, Byron L. Studdard, CFP® explains how market orders and limit orders work, their advantages and risks, and what investors should consider before placing a trade.

Read the complete guide:
https://studdardfinancial.com/market-orders-vs-limit-orders/

Educational content only. Investing involves risk, and no order type can guarantee a profit or prevent a loss.