Author: Derek Hensley, CFP®
How to Upload Documents in the Client Portal
At Sound Stewardship, we provide a document vault within your client portal that can serve as a repo
College Planning: A Year-by-Year Guide for Families
One of the biggest concerns our clients have is how to prepare for their children’s college expenses. We can relate! The parents in our office are acutely aware of rising higher education costs and ho
What is a Fiduciary?
Many people, when searching for a financial advisor, ask if we are fiduciaries. First, it’s helpful to understand what a fiduciary is. I’ll also explain why it matters for you when choosing a financia
Avoid This Estate Planning Mistake That Cost My Family Millions
I never met my Uncle Hank. To be honest, I don’t ever remember even hearing about him. But his death caused quite a stir in my family.
Occasionally people joke about having an unknown rich un
The #1 Habit Every Retiree Should Build
In his bestselling book, Atomic Habits, author James Clear makes the case that tiny consistent actions are the foundation of massive transformation. We intuitively understand that our habits influence
What Is Real Financial Freedom?
Two hundred fifty years ago this week, a small group of people signed their names to a document that meant risking their lives. Freedom was their rallying cry. Freedom from unfair taxes, a distant gov
Tax‑Efficient Giving Strategies to Support Your Favorite Charities
Giving is an important part of many people’s faith and financial life. For most, generosity means writing a check or giving cash on a regular basis, but what many people don’t realize is that cash may
8 Ways 529 Plans Are More Flexible Than You Think
529 Plans have long been one of the better tools for education savings.
The basic idea is simple: you make contributions, invest the money, and the earnings can come out tax-free when used for qual
What Are Trump Accounts? Should You Use Them?
Starting July 4th, 2026, the Trump Account, a new type of federally backed savings vehicle, will become available for children. In short, they are designed to accumulate assets for a child's future wi
Why Your Net Worth is a Powerful Financial Tool
One of the most helpful tools in your financial planning toolkit is your Net Worth Report. This simple report does a lot of heavy lifting behind the scenes of your plan. Understanding how to read it c