You've opened the 529. Now what? In Part 2 of this series, Tom and Ann Garcia pick up where they left off and get into the practical side of college savings: how much to actually put away, how to invest it, all the ways you can get the money out, and the question every parent asks, "does this hurt my kid's financial aid?"

Ann walks through her savings benchmarks, explains why the gifting page is one of the most underused tools in a college plan, and breaks down exactly how 529s are treated on the FAFSA. The short answer: better than almost any alternative.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How much to save (and how to think about it if the full amount isn't realistic)
• Why small annual increases compound into big results
• How to invest inside your 529 as your goals evolve
• Every legitimate way to get money out -- qualified and non-qualified
• How to handle a 529 if your child attends private K-12
• How 529 assets and distributions are treated on the FAFSA

Resources mentioned:

• How to Pay for College by Ann Garcia - available on Amazon
• Ann's website: howtopayforcollege.com
• Utah My529 plan: my529.org

Missed Part 1? Start there -- we cover what a 529 is and how to pick one.

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

529 plans are one of the most powerful tools in a college savings strategy -- and one of the most misunderstood. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Tom sits down with Ann Garcia, author of How to Pay for College and one of the most respected voices in college planning, to break it all down.

They cover what a 529 actually is, how it compares to a Roth IRA and a 401k, and where it fits alongside your other savings priorities. Ann shares her 10 percent rule for balancing college and retirement savings, makes the case for why college is still worth it (even with everything changing), and gives a dead-simple framework for picking the right plan.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• What a 529 plan is and how it works
• How to balance college savings with retirement savings (the 10 percent rule)
• Why college still delivers strong ROI financial and otherwise
• The two-plan framework for picking a 529: your state plan or Utah My529
• How to use a gifting page to get family contributions into the account
• Why advisor-sold 529 plans are almost never the right choice

Resources mentioned:

• How to Pay for College by Ann Garcia -- available on Amazon
• Ann's website: howtopayforcollege.com
• Utah My529 plan: my529.org
• Morningstar annual 529 plan ratings

This is Part 1 of 2. Part 2 covers funding strategies, growing your balance, qualified distributions, and the FAFSA question.

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

When one stock makes up a disproportionately large portion of your portfolio, knowing what to do with it, especially if it's highly appreciated, can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, Tom talks Lauren through considerations when looking at a portfolio with a highly concentrated stock position. They walk through what concentration actually means, why context matters more than any single percentage threshold, and a range of strategies worth knowing about.

Topics covered in this episode:

• What a concentrated stock position is and when it typically signals a need for closer attention
• Why there is no universal answer, and how the bigger financial picture changes everything
• Tax loss harvesting and how losses elsewhere in a portfolio can help offset gains
• Direct indexing as a technology-driven way to generate losses at scale
• Exchange funds and the trade-offs that come with them
• Options overlays, including collars and covered calls, as tools for managing risk
• Slow selling as a straightforward, often underused approach
• Charitable gifting, direct stock donations, and donor-advised funds
• Estate planning considerations, including the step-up in cost basis at death

Many of these strategies involve significant tax and legal considerations. Throughout the episode, Tom emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively with your financial planner, CPA, and estate planning attorney before taking any action.

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

When it comes to aging and caregiving, clarity ahead of time can make all the difference.

In this first episode of our on-going series, Building Your Team, we introduce one of the most overlooked and valuable professionals in aging in place, the occupational therapist.

Dr. Brandy Archie, OTD, OTR/L, CLIPP, occupational therapist and founder of Ask Samie, joins us to explain:

• What occupational therapy actually is
• When it makes sense to get an OT evaluation
• The difference between reactive and proactive home assessments
• How OTs help reduce fall risk and improve daily independence
• What certifications to look for when hiring an OT
• How to access occupational therapy through insurance or private pay

If you are helping a parent stay safely at home, or hoping to plan ahead before you are in a crisis, this conversation will help you understand when and why occupational therapy belongs on your team.

Resources Mentioned:

AskSamie - AskSAMIE is a digital health ecosystem that connects older adults and those with a disability to expert guidance from occupational therapists to make daily living easier. We do this by empowering them both with vetted adaptive equipment, services, and resources that are specific and available 24/7 through SAMIE, our AI tool.

For aging in place specialists, look for certifications such as:

• Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS)
• Certified Living In Place Professional (CLIPP)

In this episode of the Sandwich Bread Podcast, Tom Kaminski is joined again by Danny Schwartze, CEO of Your Cyber Life, to continue their conversation on cybersecurity — this time with a specific focus on aging parents and elders.

Building on the fundamentals covered in the prior episode, Tom and Danny walk through practical, realistic steps families can take to reduce the risk of fraud, identity theft, and scams targeting older adults. The discussion covers both technical safeguards and behavioral changes, with an emphasis on solutions that are effective without being overwhelming.

Topics covered include credit freezes, securing key accounts, document shredding, social media risks, AI-powered scam calls, and the importance of trusted contacts. While the focus is on elders, many of these strategies apply just as much to younger families and caregivers navigating an increasingly sophisticated cyber threat landscape.

Resources discussed in this episode include:

• NetCetera
• Your Cyber Life Login PIN 3803
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Identity Theft & Scam Resources
  Federal Bureau of Investigation – Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
  Report cybercrime and learn about emerging scam trends.
• Credit Freeze Information*
  • Experian
  • Equifax
  • TransUnion

*you do NOT need a paid subscription to freeze your credit with any of these credit reporting agencies

Helping aging parents stay safe at home often feels overwhelming, especially when families wait until a fall or health crisis forces decisions.

In this episode, Tom Kaminski, CFP®️, is joined by occupational therapist Emilia Bourland, OTR, ECHM, to talk about how families can take a proactive approach to aging in place. Emilia explains what occupational therapy really is, how home environments impact safety and independence, and which areas of the home deserve the most attention as we age.

They also cover realistic caregiving considerations, including dementia, the limits of family caregiving, and how to think about the financial side of home modifications and long-term care. The episode wraps with a clear, four-step framework families can use to start planning now rather than reacting later.

All of the resources discussed in today’s conversation are linked below.

Resources mentioned

• CareLab Podcast
  
  
• Ask SAMIE
  Virtual occupational therapy assessments and aging-in-place support
  
  
• Rosarium Health
  Occupational therapy assessments and guidance on benefits and home modifications
  
  
• USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
  Executive Certificate of Home Modification graduate directory
  
  
• LumaLink
  Voice concierge connecting people to aging-in-place and senior support services
  
  
• What Do I Do When...An Occupational Therapist’s Guide to Solving Daily Dementia Care Problems by Emilia Bourland
  This daily guide to dementia care gives practical tips and strategies for common challenges like eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, sleeping, wandering, agitation/aggression, fall prevention, and more
  
  

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.

Cybersecurity has quietly become part of everyday life, whether we like it or not. In this episode, Tom Kaminski is joined by Danny Schwartze, CEO of Your Cyber Life, to talk through practical, real-world steps families can take to better protect themselves online.

From fraud texts and phishing emails to AI-driven scams, this conversation focuses on building awareness and putting simple safeguards in place without feeling overwhelmed. This episode is designed for families who want to strengthen their digital defenses, with a follow-up episode planned that will focus specifically on cybersecurity support for aging parents.

Resources discussed in this episode include:

• NetCetera
• Your Cyber Life Login PIN 3803

When elder law planning is delayed, families often find themselves in crisis mode.

In this episode, Tom Kaminski and elder law attorney Maureen Lester discuss common elder law “horror stories,” what actually goes wrong when planning happens too late, and how families can avoid these outcomes. They cover outdated estate documents, guardianship proceedings, and the financial and emotional costs of court involvement.

The conversation also highlights positive planning strategies, including care contracts, Medicaid considerations, and how clearly defining roles among siblings can reduce conflict. Maureen shares practical ways families can start conversations early and take small but meaningful steps before a crisis occurs.

This episode offers realistic guidance for navigating aging, caregiving responsibilities, and long-term care decisions.

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Please consult qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.