Dollars&Sense Nelson Financial Planning

Dollars&Sense Nelson Financial Planning

💵 About Dollars & Sense: 💵 Hosted by Joel Garris, a Certified Financial Planner and Fiduciary at Nelson Financial Planning, Dollars & Sense is one of Central Florida’s longest-running radio programs and a top 25 financial planning podcast. Each week, Joel and his team provide expert insights to help you make sense of all your financial decisions. 💥 Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an update. 👉 Visit our website: NelsonFinancialPlanning.com for more resources and to connect with our team of Certified Financial Fiduciaries. About Joel Garris: Joel Garris is a Certified Financial Planner and Fiduciary at Nelson Financial Planning. He’s dedicated to providing comprehensive financial advice to help you achieve your retirement goals. With a team of expert advisors, Nelson Financial Planning is committed to delivering personalized and effective retirement and financial planning solutions. Offering securities through Nelson Ivest Brokerage Services, Inc, Member FINRA, MSRB & SIPC. Advisory services through Nelson Advisory Services, Inc., a State of Florida registered investment advisor. Please note that these broadcasts are intended for general informational purposes only as individual situations may vary. The views expressed are those of the speaker and are subject to change at any time. Statements made should not be relied upon as a recommendation or solicitation. When discussed, past performance is no guarantee or indication of future results.

Episodes

August 31, 2026 • 38 mins
The U.S. national debt has crossed $40 trillion — but what does that actually mean for everyday Americans? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris and Zach Keister of Nelson Financial Planning break down the headlines in plain English and explain why the debt conversation is important, but not necessarily a reason to panic.

They also discuss one of the most common retirement planning questions: How much can...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris of Nelson Financial Planning discusses three important topics that can affect your financial life: knowing your income numbers, understanding the risks of financial advice on TikTok, and preparing for the responsibilities of caregiving.

    Joel begins by explaining why retirees and those over age 65 need to pay close attention to income thresholds that may affect Medicare cost...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Rob Field and Joel Garris discuss how everyday financial decisions are shaped by both market conditions and personal money habits. They break down the latest market themes, including record highs, corporate earnings, interest rates, inflation, and why investors should review their portfolios even when things seem optimistic.

    Rob and Joel also explore how mindset and behavior can i...
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    Retirement planning is about more than simply saving enough money. In this episode of Dollars and Cents, Joel Garris breaks down several important issues retirees and pre-retirees should understand before making major financial decisions.

    First, Joel discusses the continued surge in annuity sales and why investors should be cautious before signing a long-term insurance contract. With record amounts of money flowing into annu...
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    Major student loan repayment changes are here, and borrowers on the SAVE Plan may have only 90 days after receiving their notice to choose a new repayment option. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Chet Cowart and Kristin Kalley break down what happened to the SAVE Plan, why doing nothing could automatically move borrowers into a Tiered Standard Repayment Plan, and how that choice could affect monthly payments, ...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris of Nelson Financial Planning breaks down three timely money topics that can impact everyday financial decisions. First, he looks at the Bilt card and whether earning rewards on rent is really worth it—or whether the credit card risks outweigh the marketing hook.

    Then, Joel explains key Florida Retirement System choices, including the Pension Plan, Investment...
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    The One Big Beautiful Bill has been in effect for a year — but are taxpayers actually seeing the benefits? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris and Christina Lamb break down the latest tax changes, including larger standard deductions, new rules for tips and overtime, the senior deduction, charitable giving updates, and the expanded SALT deduction. 

    They also explain the newly launched Tru...
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    Summer is the perfect time to pause, reset, and make sure your money is still working for you. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Zach Keister and Kristin Kalley walk through practical midyear money moves that can help you review your financial goals, get organized, and protect your household from costly mistakes. 

    First, they cover how to run a simple midyear money reset by reviewing what came in, what went out, w...
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    Is Social Security really running out? And if changes are coming, what should you be doing now to prepare for retirement? 

    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Rob Field and Chet Cowart of Nelson Financial Planning break down the latest Social Security Trustees Report and explain what it may mean for future retirees. They discuss why Social Security is not expected to disappear entirely, what could happen if no ...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris of Nelson Financial Planning covers a packed lineup of financial topics—from market volatility and index changes to summer travel planning and a potentially significant tax refund opportunity.

    First, Joel discusses the recent uptick in market volatility, including how AI-related spending, semiconductor stocks, and market concentration are affecting investor conversati...
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    As parents, it’s natural to want to help your children—especially when they’re facing financial challenges. But when that support becomes open-ended, it can create serious risks for your retirement, your emergency fund, your credit, and even your family relationships.

    In this episode of Dollars and Sense, Joel and Zach discuss five ways helping adult children can unintentionally hurt your retirement plan. T...
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    In this episode, we look at three forces that can shape—or sabotage—an investor’s long-term success: exciting investment stories, nonstop financial headlines, and everyday money habits. 

    From the hype around companies like SpaceX to the emotional pull of market news, we discuss why compelling stories and breaking headlines don’t always translate into smart portfolio decisions. We also explore the...
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    Are today’s market highs a sign of strength—or a reason for caution? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris breaks down what investors should pay attention to as stocks sit near record levels, inflation remains sticky, and interest rate uncertainty continues to shape the financial landscape.

    Joel also tackles one of the biggest quiet risks in personal finance right now: holding too much cash. While c...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Kristin Kalley and Christina Lamb tackle two important financial topics that can have a big impact on your family’s future. First, they break down which accounts parents should prioritize when they have a baby, including 529 plans, custodial accounts, and newer savings opportunities that could help build long-term, tax-advantaged wealth for children. Then, they shift gears and unpack so...
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    What investment habits can quietly hurt your retirement plan? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Chet and Rob break down 7 common investor behaviors that can create unnecessary risk for retirees—from holding too much cash and trying to time the market to ignoring taxes, chasing yield, skipping rebalancing, overreacting to headlines, and failing to adjust your strategy over time. 
     
    If you are retired or g...
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    Tax season may be over, but tax scams are not. In this episode, Joel Garris and Christina Lamb break down the IRS’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of the most common tax scams targeting taxpayers right now—from phishing texts and AI-powered phone scams to fake charities, ghost preparers, identity theft, and misleading social media tax advice.

    They also unpack the IRS’s ongoing digital shift and expla...
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    Join Joel Garris on this insightful episode of Dollars & Sense, where he explores the top questions you should ask your financial advisor, planner, or wealth manager.  

    Discover why it’s crucial to understand how your advisor is compensated, the importance of the fiduciary standard, and how to evaluate investment philosophy, communication practices, continuity planning, portfolio details, risk management,...
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    Actionable Advice for New Grads and Their Families 

    Ready to celebrate graduation season with a dose of real-world financial wisdom? 🎉 Join Certified Financial Fiduciaries™ Chet Cowart and Zach Keister for a lively, informative episode as they step in for Joel—who’s off attending his son’s college graduation in Boston. Whether you’re a proud parent or a fresh grad, this show ...
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    In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris tackles two of the most misunderstood—and most impactful—areas of financial and estate planning.

    First, Joel breaks down a common myth: your will does not control where most of your money goes. Instead, beneficiary designations quietly determine who inherits retirement accounts, life insurance, annuities, and many investment and bank accounts. With trillions of ...
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    April 15 is in the rearview mirror—but what did we actually learn from this tax season? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Joel Garris and CPA/CFP® Kristin Castello break down the biggest takeaways we saw on real tax returns, plus what the latest IRS/Treasury stats may be signaling for households heading into the rest of the year. đź§ľđź’ˇ 
     
    We also connect the dots to the markets: a reminder ...
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