Insights, Advice, and Conversations to Shape Your Financial Future

DISCUSS WITH RUSS

“Discuss With Russ” is your go-to resource for navigating the complex world of personal finance. Whether you’re looking to manage risk, seize new opportunities, or avoid common financial pitfalls, our blog offers insights to help you succeed at every stage of your financial journey.

We’re here to provide actionable strategies and thoughtful guidance to help you take control of your financial future.

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Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

How to Prepare Your Finances for Natural Disasters

Wildfires, floods, and storms make headlines almost every year, but is your financial plan actually ready for one of them? A little preparation now can make recovery far less stressful once disaster eventually hits close to home.

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Financial Wellness Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Financial Wellness Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

The Financial Skills Your College Student Needs Before Move-In Day

College students face more financial decisions in their first few weeks on campus than they did their entire four years of high school. From budgeting and credit to student loans and investing, this article walks parents through the essential financial skills their college student needs and how to start the conversation before small mistakes become expensive lessons.

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Retirement Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Retirement Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

Are Your Investments Ready for Retirement? Key Adjustments to Make Now

The investment strategy that built your retirement savings may not be the right one to carry you through it. This article covers the key adjustments to consider as retirement approaches, from managing sequence of returns risk to Roth conversions, catch-up contributions, Social Security timing, and healthcare planning with an HSA.

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Retirement Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Retirement Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

What to Do When You're 50 and Behind on Retirement Savings

What happens when you hit 50 and realize retirement savings took a backseat? In this video, Russell Rivera shares how one client turned that moment of panic into a plan of action. He walks through strategies like catch-up contributions and investment adjustments that can make a real difference when you're starting later than you'd hoped.

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Investment Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Investment Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

AI Knows a Lot, But It Doesn't Know You

A lot of people are using AI to get financial information, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. But there's a gap between getting information and getting advice that's actually built around your life. Russell walks through why that gap matters and what real financial planning looks like when someone actually takes the time to understand who you are.

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Videos, Tax Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA Videos, Tax Planning Crystal Lee Butler, MBA

What to Do When the IRS Comes Knocking

Most people don't call a tax resolution specialist until things are already bad. In this conversation, Russell Rivera and Ron Friedman break down the situations that lead people there, and what those people wish they'd known sooner. If you've had a gap in filing or received an IRS notice, this video covers the basics you need to make sense of your situation.

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