Financial Sentiments

Investing for Children: It's Not About the Account

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Financial Sentiments, Nick Haberling explains why investing for a child’s future is not simply a matter of choosing the account with the biggest tax advantage. The right choice depends on what the money is intended to accomplish—and how much flexibility the family wants to preserve.

Nick compares several common options, including 529 plans, custodial UGMA and UTMA accounts, Roth IRAs, and the newly created Trump Accounts. He walks through how each account handles taxes, financial aid, education expenses, access to funds, and long-term growth. Rather than treating one account as universally best, Nick explains how families can match different accounts to goals such as college, a future home purchase, retirement, or opportunities that cannot yet be predicted.

Read the original article here:
https://financialsentiments.com/blog/2026/5/27/investing-for-children-its-not-about-the-account

Have a question or want to talk about your financial plan?
Email Nick at nhaberling@hfgtrust.com or book a meeting here:
https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/HFGTrustNickHaberling@HFGTrust.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

This episode is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, investment, or legal advice. Please consult your own professional advisors before making decisions about saving or investing for a child.

Same Gift, Smarter Plan: How to Leave More to Family and Charities

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Financial Sentiments, Nick Haberling walks through a simple but powerful estate planning idea: when leaving money to both family and charity, which assets go to whom can matter just as much as how much they receive.

Using a real-world-style example, Nick explains why pre-tax retirement accounts like IRAs can be costly for heirs but highly efficient for charities, while appreciated assets such as a home or brokerage account may be better suited for family because of the step-up in basis. With the right structure, a charitable estate plan can potentially reduce taxes, simplify the transfer process, and increase the impact of every dollar left behind.

Read the original article here:
https://financialsentiments.com/blog/2023/11/16/maximizing-your-charitable-legacy-smart-strategies-for-tax-efficient-estate-planning

Have a question or want to talk about your financial plan?
Email Nick at nhaberling@hfgtrust.com or book a meeting here:
https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/HFGTrustNickHaberling@HFGTrust.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

Is the S&P 500 Really Diversified?

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0700

In this episode of Financial Sentiments, Nick Haberling, CFP®, discusses the hidden concentration inside the S&P 500 and why investors may not be as diversified as they think.

The S&P 500 is often described as a broad basket of 500 of America’s largest companies, but the index is weighted by market capitalization. That means the largest companies can have an outsized impact on performance. This episode explains what that means, why the Magnificent 7 have mattered so much in recent years, and how investors should think about diversification beyond simply owning “the market.”

Read the original article here:
https://financialsentiments.com/blog/2026/5/27/the-hidden-concentration-inside-the-sampp-500