Insights & Financial News | Oak Road Journal

Insights

Financial Planning that Gives You Confidence

“What if I said you’ll have $1 million at retirement? Sounds great—but what will it actually mean? Financial planning used to focus only on building wealth.”

The Stock Market Has Outperformed Expectations!

A $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 40 years ago could be worth about $377,000 today.

Cryptocurrencies Can Be Highly Speculative and Risky.

Many investors are exploring cryptocurrency, but the risks can be significant.

Investing Through Market Volatility: It’s Going to Be OK

Every year, financial experts make predictions about where the markets are headed next.

How To Setup A Retirement Plan For Your Small Business

Less than half of small businesses offer retirement plans, making it harder for many people to start saving for retirement.

Help Your Employees Understand Their 401K

Many employees lack guidance on their 401(k), making it harder to maximize their retirement savings.

Why You Should Consolidate Your Old 401(k)s With a Financial Advisor

If you’ve changed jobs, you may have old 401(k)s left behind—and managing them often gets overlooked.

Your Money, Their Target: How to Stay One Step Ahead of Scammers

It often starts with a simple click or a moment of distraction. A convincing email, a friendly-sounding voice on the phone, or a deal that seems too good to pass up. However, these official looking messages are actually scammers.

Are You Following the Financial Herd?

Herd mentality is the tendency to follow the actions of a larger group, even when those actions might not be in one’s best interest. When it comes to finances, herd mentality can have significant implications for your investments and retirement planning.

Why We Put Our Assets At Risk

Why We Put Our Assets At Risk

Why You Should Have A Fiduciary Financial Advisor

Why You Should Have A Fiduciary Financial Advisor

Now is the time to start a retirement plan for your company

Now is the time to start a retirement plan for your company

Financial Planning that Gives You Confidence

Financial Planning that Gives You Confidence

The Stock Market Has Outperformed Expectations!

The Stock Market Has Outperformed Expectations!

Cryptocurrencies Can Be Highly Speculative and Risky.

Cryptocurrencies Can Be Highly Speculative and Risky.

Investing Through Market Volatility: It’s Going to Be OK

Investing Through Market Volatility: It’s Going to Be OK

How To Setup A Retirement Plan For Your Small Business

How To Setup A Retirement Plan For Your Small Business

Help Your Employees Understand Their 401K

Help Your Employees Understand Their 401K

A paper titled 'RMD — Required Minimum Distributions' resting on financial statements, with reading glasses and a pen — representing retirement account withdrawal rules.

Required Minimum Distributions: How They Work, How They're Taxed, and How to Lower Them

Required Minimum Distributions: How They Work, How They're Taxed, and How to Lower Them

Senior man working on a laptop at home, representing someone who continues working full time while collecting Social Security at age 70.

Can I Collect Social Security at 70 and Still Work Full Time?

Can I Collect Social Security at 70 and Still Work Full Time?

Yellow 'Retirement Ahead' road sign in a rural field, symbolizing the decision of when to claim Social Security at 62, 67, or 70

Is It Better to Take Social Security at 62 or 67 or 70?

Is It Better to Take Social Security at 62 or 67 or 70?

What Will Be the Social Security Increase in 2026?

What Will Be the Social Security Increase in 2026?

Roth IRA and 401(k) retirement account paperwork with a calculator and question mark note, representing the question: how can I avoid paying taxes on my retirement account

How Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on My Retirement Account?

How Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on My Retirement Account?

A ceramic jar labeled "Retirement Fund" surrounded by coins, dollar bills, and dice — illustrating the uncertainty and planning involved in retirement savings.

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

Two professionals meeting at a desk for a free financial advisor consultation in Lee's Summit, Missouri

Can You Speak to a Financial Advisor for Free?

Can You Speak to a Financial Advisor for Free?

A $10 bill representing the importance of financial planning — Oak Road Wealth Management, fee-only fiduciary advisors in Lee's Summit, Missouri

Is $500,000 Enough to Work With a Financial Advisor?

Is $500,000 Enough to Work With a Financial Advisor?

Calendar with a pen highlighting a date, alongside text reading "Why Parents, Not Grandparents, Should Own 529 Savings Plans"

Why parents, not grandparents, should own 529 savings plans!

Why parents, not grandparents, should own 529 savings plans!

Close-up of a "Latest Updates" file folder tab among other filed documents

What Are the New 2026 RMD Rules?

What Are the New 2026 RMD Rules?

Required Minimum Distributions binder next to a financial report with pie charts and a calendar, representing 401k RMD planning at age 73

How Much Do I Have to Withdraw From My 401k at Age 73?

How Much Do I Have to Withdraw From My 401k at Age 73?

A paper titled 'RMD — Required Minimum Distributions' resting on financial statements, with reading glasses and a pen — representing retirement account withdrawal rules.

Required Minimum Distributions: How They Work, How They're Taxed, and How to Lower Them

Required Minimum Distributions: How They Work, How They're Taxed, and How to Lower Them

Senior man working on a laptop at home, representing someone who continues working full time while collecting Social Security at age 70.

Can I Collect Social Security at 70 and Still Work Full Time?

Can I Collect Social Security at 70 and Still Work Full Time?

Empty leather wallet held open by two hands, symbolizing reduced income from claiming Social Security at age 62

How Much Do I Lose If I Take Social Security at 62?

How Much Do I Lose If I Take Social Security at 62?

Calculator, glasses, and financial charts with rising line graph, illustrating the word 'Benefits' — representing analysis of potential Social Security benefit cuts and retirement planning.

Are Our Social Security Benefits Going to Be Cut?

Are Our Social Security Benefits Going to Be Cut?

Yellow 'Retirement Ahead' road sign in a rural field, symbolizing the decision of when to claim Social Security at 62, 67, or 70

Is It Better to Take Social Security at 62 or 67 or 70?

Is It Better to Take Social Security at 62 or 67 or 70?

What Will Be the Social Security Increase in 2026?

What Will Be the Social Security Increase in 2026?

Social Security Benefits Application form with a pen, calculator, and glasses, representing how to calculate the highest possible Social Security payment per month

How Much Is the Highest Social Security Per Month?

How Much Is the Highest Social Security Per Month?

Accepting market cycles and focusing on the process

Accepting market cycles and focusing on the process

Who really benefits from complex financial products?

Who really benefits from complex financial products?

Physical gold Bitcoin coins scattered over a pile of US dollar bills, featuring a prominent green text box with the headline: "What Happens When Too Few Own Too Much? Bitcoin, Intrinsic Value, and a Warning for the Average Investor."

What Happens When Too Few Own Too Much Bitcoin?

What Happens When Too Few Own Too Much Bitcoin?

Why Simple, Disciplined Investing Builds Real Wealth

Why Simple, Disciplined Investing Builds Real Wealth

Calendar with a pen highlighting a date, alongside text reading "Why Parents, Not Grandparents, Should Own 529 Savings Plans"

Why parents, not grandparents, should own 529 savings plans!

Why parents, not grandparents, should own 529 savings plans!

Hands holding a glass charity jar filled with coins. Text overlay: Gifting Appreciated Stock: The 2026 Tax Strategy for High-Net-Worth Portfolios.

2026 Stock Gifting: Avoid the 23.8% Tax Trap

2026 Stock Gifting: Avoid the 23.8% Tax Trap

Graphical overlay titled "Qualified Charitable Distribution: The Premier 2026 Tax Strategy for Retirees" next to a glass jar filled with coins labeled "IRA," representing a tax-efficient retirement donation strategy.

Tax Shortcuts: Why QCDs Are the Ultimate 2026 Strategy for Retirees

Tax Shortcuts: Why QCDs Are the Ultimate 2026 Strategy for Retirees

Title card: Wills for Retirees with $1 Million: The 2026 Guide to a Simple, Secure Legacy. Background shows blurred eyeglasses and legal documents.

Is Your Will Heading for the $50,000 Probate Trap? (2026 Guide)

Is Your Will Heading for the $50,000 Probate Trap? (2026 Guide)

What is the biggest mistake with wills? A judge's gavel resting on a Last Will and Testament document, representing estate planning errors and probate risk.

What Is the Biggest Mistake with Wills?

What Is the Biggest Mistake with Wills?

Why Does Everyone Want to Avoid Probate?

Why Does Everyone Want to Avoid Probate?

What assets should not be in a will — financial documents, gold coins, and an umbrella representing estate planning and asset protection — Oak Road Wealth Management

What Assets Should Not Be in a Will?

What Assets Should Not Be in a Will?

Living trust and estate planning form on a clipboard — what is the major disadvantage of a trust | Oak Road Wealth Management

What Is the Major Disadvantage of a Trust?

What Is the Major Disadvantage of a Trust?

A gavel, scales of justice, and legal document on a desk — illustrating the main purpose of having a trust in estate planning.

What Is the Main Purpose of Having a Trust?

What Is the Main Purpose of Having a Trust?

Financial advisor signing retirement tax planning documents, representing Big Beautiful Bill Social Security tax changes

What Does the Big Beautiful Bill Do for Social Security?

What Does the Big Beautiful Bill Do for Social Security?

Roth IRA and 401(k) retirement account paperwork with a calculator and question mark note, representing the question: how can I avoid paying taxes on my retirement account

How Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on My Retirement Account?

How Can I Avoid Paying Taxes on My Retirement Account?

Tax rate schedules highlighted on IRS tax table, illustrating federal tax brackets for retirement income

What Tax Rate Do You Pay in Retirement?

What Tax Rate Do You Pay in Retirement?

Social Security cards representing how Social Security benefits are taxed in 2026

How Is Social Security Taxed?

How Is Social Security Taxed?

Hand dropping a coin into a glass jar labeled "Pension," illustrating how pension income is taxed

How Is My Pension Taxed?

How Is My Pension Taxed?

Wooden dice spelling "TAXES" stacked on rising piles of coins, representing retirement tax planning

What Taxes Go Away When I Retire?

What Taxes Go Away When I Retire?

Person reviewing tax documents and using a calculator to calculate the new $6,000 senior tax deduction

What Is the New $6,000 Tax Break for Seniors?

What Is the New $6,000 Tax Break for Seniors?

IRS Form 1040 tax documents — understanding federal taxes on retirement income

Do I Have to Pay Federal Taxes on My Retirement?

Do I Have to Pay Federal Taxes on My Retirement?

A flat-lay photograph of a leather briefcase, a notebook with the handwritten words "Roth IRA Conversions," a pair of glasses, and a leather journal on a wooden desk.

You Should Want to Pay More Taxes — Here’s Why Roth Conversions Can Save You a Fortune

You Should Want to Pay More Taxes — Here’s Why Roth Conversions Can Save You a Fortune