https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/ Educational articles and videos on financial planning, investing, retirement, and taxes from ClearMind Capital, a fee-only fiduciary RIA in Columbus, Ohio. en-us Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:20:22 +0000 © 2026 ClearMind Capital LLC https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/ohios-collegeadvantage-529-plan-and-how-the-dollar4000-deduction-works/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/ohios-collegeadvantage-529-plan-and-how-the-dollar4000-deduction-works/ Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article Ohio's CollegeAdvantage 529 gives every contributor a $4,000-per-child state tax deduction with unlimited carryforward. Here is how it works, who can claim it (grandparents included), and how to make sure you are getting the most out of it. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-ohios-new-flat-275percent-income-tax/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-ohios-new-flat-275percent-income-tax/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article Ohio moved to a flat state income tax rate in 2026, down from a graduated system that topped out at 3.125%. Here's what you need to know. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/when-should-you-hire-a-financial-advisor-sooner-than-you-think-and-here-is-why/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/when-should-you-hire-a-financial-advisor-sooner-than-you-think-and-here-is-why/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article You do not need a large portfolio to work with an advisor. Starter engagements exist. Here are six life moments where planning done early changes the outcome, plus the ages that carry rules. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/picking-your-price/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/picking-your-price/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article Every outcome you envy has a price tag. A look at the five-year tax on ignorance, why sudden wealth so often unravels, and choosing the price you'll pay. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-the-fairness-act-changed-for-columbus-public-employees-opers-strs-sers/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-the-fairness-act-changed-for-columbus-public-employees-opers-strs-sers/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article OPERS members don't pay into Social Security, which used to mean two federal rules cut their check. Not anymore. Here's what the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act changed for Ohio public employees. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/should-your-ohio-business-start-a-401k-here-is-the-2026-math-in-plain-english/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/should-your-ohio-business-start-a-401k-here-is-the-2026-math-in-plain-english/ Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Workplace Retirement Article What it costs an Ohio small business to start a 401(k) in 2026, the three federal tax credits that can cover most of it, and what the owner personally gets out of it. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/financial-advisor-near-me-in-columbus-how-to-compare-your-local-options/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/financial-advisor-near-me-in-columbus-how-to-compare-your-local-options/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article A search for a financial advisor near you returns three very different kinds of firms wearing the same label. Here is how to tell them apart and get a long list down to the two or three worth contacting. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/it-started-with-a-water-heater/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/it-started-with-a-water-heater/ Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Mike and Jess make over $500,000 a year. They have no financial system. This video is about the foundation, what it looks like, what it costs you to not have it, and how to build it. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-a-401k-really-costs-a-small-business-and-who-pays-for-what/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-a-401k-really-costs-a-small-business-and-who-pays-for-what/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Workplace Retirement Article There are two bills inside every 401(k). One comes to the business. The other comes out of employee accounts. Here is what each costs and how to find your real number. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/is-your-company-401k-any-good-seven-things-you-can-check-this-week/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/is-your-company-401k-any-good-seven-things-you-can-check-this-week/ Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Workplace Retirement Article Seven checks a small business owner can run on their own 401(k), what document to pull for each one, and what the answers tell you about what your employees are paying. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/five-signs-it-might-be-time-to-switch-financial-advisors/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/five-signs-it-might-be-time-to-switch-financial-advisors/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article Most advisor relationships do not end badly. They just drift. Here are five things worth checking, what a good version of each looks like, and how to tell a fixable gap from a real mismatch. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/collecting-dividends-25-feels-responsible-but-is-it-the-right-move/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/collecting-dividends-25-feels-responsible-but-is-it-the-right-move/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short Collecting dividends @ 25 feels responsible but is it the right move? https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/new-video-on-dividends/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/new-video-on-dividends/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short New Video on Dividends https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-you-need-to-know-about-dividends/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-you-need-to-know-about-dividends/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Dividends are one of the most misunderstood concepts in investing. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-does-fiduciary-and-fee-only-mean/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-does-fiduciary-and-fee-only-mean/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article Fiduciary is a legal duty. Fee-only is a business structure. Here is what each one actually protects you from, what neither one fixes, and the standard of care worth holding out for. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/would-you-want-this-from-your-financial-advisor/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/would-you-want-this-from-your-financial-advisor/ Sun, 07 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video In this video I walk through the Planning Roadmap we use with every new client at ClearMind Capital, a document that lays out the full planning experience so clients always know where they are, where we're going, and why. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-to-choose-a-financial-advisor-in-columbus-9-questions-worth-asking/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-to-choose-a-financial-advisor-in-columbus-9-questions-worth-asking/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article Nine questions to ask before hiring a financial advisor in Columbus, what a good answer sounds like, and how to verify any of it yourself in about ten minutes. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/markets-at-an-all-time-high-our-mood-is-at-an-all-time-low-what-gives/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/markets-at-an-all-time-high-our-mood-is-at-an-all-time-low-what-gives/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short Market’s at an all-time high. Our mood is at an all-time low. What gives? https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-happens-to-your-401k-when-you-leave-a-job-and-the-mistake-that-costs-the-most/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-happens-to-your-401k-when-you-leave-a-job-and-the-mistake-that-costs-the-most/ Fri, 29 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article Four options for an old 401(k), what cashing out really costs an Ohio resident after tax and penalty, and the rules that quietly move your money if you do nothing. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-do-people-who-can-already-afford-to-retire-keep-working/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-do-people-who-can-already-afford-to-retire-keep-working/ Thu, 28 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short Why do people who can already afford to retire keep working? https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/are-you-working-longer-than-you-need-to/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/are-you-working-longer-than-you-need-to/ Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video A lot of people delay retirement because of fear, not money. They've just never had someone walk them through what's possible. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/fee-only-fee-based-or-commission-how-to-follow-the-money/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/fee-only-fee-based-or-commission-how-to-follow-the-money/ Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article Three ways financial advisors get paid, who writes the check in each one, what each model is genuinely good at, and the one question that tells you which you are dealing with. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-much-does-a-financial-advisor-cost-in-columbus-ohio-2026-fee-breakdown/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-much-does-a-financial-advisor-cost-in-columbus-ohio-2026-fee-breakdown/ Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Private Wealth Article What financial advisors charge in 2026, the four ways they get paid, and the second fee almost nobody notices. Written in plain English, with the questions to ask. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/appreciated-stock-dafs-and-qcds-explained/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/appreciated-stock-dafs-and-qcds-explained/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Most people give to charity the same way their parents did. Write a check, send it off, feel good, move on. Nothing wrong with that. But if you've been investing for a while, there's probably a smarter way to give the same amount and keep more money out of Uncle Sam's hands. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/donating-cash-vs-appreciated-stock/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/donating-cash-vs-appreciated-stock/ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short Donating Cash vs. Appreciated Stock https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/do-you-make-too-much-money-for-a-roth-ira/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/do-you-make-too-much-money-for-a-roth-ira/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Short Do you make too much money for a Roth IRA? https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-much-cash-should-you-keep-in-retirement/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-much-cash-should-you-keep-in-retirement/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video In this video, I walk through a simple framework for thinking about cash in retirement and how an Income Reserve can fit into the plan. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-past-money-experiences-can-shape-decisions-today/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-past-money-experiences-can-shape-decisions-today/ Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short How past money experiences can shape decisions today https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-other-people-shape-your-financial-life/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/how-other-people-shape-your-financial-life/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Short How Other People Shape Your Financial Life https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-does-financial-independence-mean/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-does-financial-independence-mean/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article Financial independence has a clear definition. But the definition doesn’t tell you what life is supposed to look like once you get there. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/3-medicare-decisions-that-can-cost-you-thousands-explained-simply/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/3-medicare-decisions-that-can-cost-you-thousands-explained-simply/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Medicare can get confusing fast. And if you’re getting close to 65, this stuff matters. Here are 3 Medicare decisions to understand early. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-you-always-feel-behind-even-when-youre-doing-fine/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-you-always-feel-behind-even-when-youre-doing-fine/ Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Over time, our expectations shift based on the environment around us. A home, career, or lifestyle that once felt like stability can start to feel insufficient simply because the reference point has moved. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/we-forgot-markets-rotate/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/we-forgot-markets-rotate/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article For the first time in years, owning the world beat owning just the S&P 500, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-a-trust-actually-is-and-what-one-looks-like/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/what-a-trust-actually-is-and-what-one-looks-like/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video When people hear the word trust, they often assume it’s about complicated tax strategies or something only the ultra-wealthy need. In reality, most revocable living trusts are much simpler than that. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/trump-accounts-explained-what-parents-need-to-know/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/trump-accounts-explained-what-parents-need-to-know/ Wed, 25 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Shane Duckworth Video You may have recently heard people talking about “Trump Accounts”, but there’s a lot of confusion around what they actually are and how they could relate to families and long-term saving. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/the-feeling-behind-every-financial-decision/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/the-feeling-behind-every-financial-decision/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400 ClearMind Capital Video Most financial advice focuses on numbers... returns, accounts, and strategies. But real financial decisions rarely happen in a spreadsheet. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/when-an-uncontacted-tribe-walked-out-of-the-amazon/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/when-an-uncontacted-tribe-walked-out-of-the-amazon/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article When an uncontacted tribe emerged from the forest, two worlds briefly met. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/if-you-have-a-pension-this-changes-retirement/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/if-you-have-a-pension-this-changes-retirement/ Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video Getting close to retirement usually means facing one big shift: your paycheck is going away. When that happens, the real question becomes what replaces it. https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-we-care-so-much-about-what-other-people-think/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/why-we-care-so-much-about-what-other-people-think/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Article We spend more energy than we'd like to admit on what other people think, and it quietly shapes our money decisions. Where does that instinct come from? https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/the-chart-every-investor-should-understand/ https://clearmind-capital.com/clarity-corner/the-chart-every-investor-should-understand/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0400 Nick George Video This video walks through a simple visual often referred to as the asset quilt.