When most people think of a financial advisor, they think of investment management—stocks, bonds, portfolios. And while that’s certainly part of what we do, it’s just one piece of a much larger picture.

At InTrust Advisors, we believe true financial well-being comes from addressing all aspects of your financial life. That’s why we’ve built our practice around eight core pillars of service—each designed to support you through life’s transitions, challenges, and opportunities.

Here’s a closer look at how we help:

1. Wealth Management
Yes, we manage investments—but we do it strategically. From portfolio construction and rebalancing to retirement income planning and alternative investments, our approach is designed to align with your goals, values, and risk tolerance.

2. Risk Management
Life is unpredictable. We help you prepare for the unexpected with insurance reviews, liability assessments, asset protection strategies, and even limited cybersecurity guidance.

3. Tax Planning
Taxes touch every part of your financial life. We offer tax-efficient investment strategies, Roth conversion analysis, charitable giving planning, and coordination with your CPA to help you keep more of what you earn.

4. Estate Planning
Your legacy matters. We assist with trust structuring, will reviews, estate liquidity planning, and family governance—ensuring your wealth is transferred according to your wishes.

5. Cash Management
From budgeting and debt optimization to liquidity event planning, we help you manage your cash flow with clarity and confidence.

6. Philanthropy
Giving back can be deeply fulfilling. We support charitable giving strategies, donor-advised fund setup, and multi-generational philanthropic education to help you make a lasting impact.

7. Value-Added Services
This is where we go beyond the numbers. We offer concierge services, financial education for heirs, life transition coaching, and even financial therapy to help you navigate life with purpose and peace of mind.

8. Purpose Driven Planning
In depth planning to meet your deepest financial goals and desires.  Here we act as your guide to help you overcame obstacles, gain clarity and peace of mind and provide accountability.

Why It Matters?
Financial planning isn’t just about growing wealth—it’s about living well. Whether you're preparing for retirement, selling a business, supporting a family, or navigating a major life change, our services are designed to meet you where you are and help you move forward.

For a full list of the ever-changing list of services we provide our clients, click here for a list. 

What’s the RISE Score? Think of it like a credit score for retirement. It uses thousands of simulations to estimate how well your income will cover essential expenses in retirement. It’s fast, data-driven, and gives you a score from 0 to 850.  The RISE Score is one of the most advanced AI retirement tools available today, but it’s only one piece of a comprehensive retirement planning strategy.

But here’s the catch...

AI Is Smart—But It Doesn’t Know You. AI tools like the RISE Score are great at crunching numbers. What they’re not great at? Understanding your life.  According to InTrust's, Jeff Diercks, “AI can simulate thousands of retirement scenarios—but only a human advisor can ask the right questions.”

We’ve seen it firsthand: a client runs their RISE Score and gets a “green light,” but they forgot to include their mortgage, their plans to travel, or the fact that they’re supporting a family member. The AI didn’t know—and it gave a misleading answer.

That’s where we come in.

Enter the Human Advisor. Our 15-minute check-in isn’t just about the score. It’s about context. Our team of Tampa-based financial advisors brings context, empathy, and experience to your retirement planning journey.  We’ll review your results together, ask the right questions, and help you interpret what the score really means for your life.

No pressure. No sales pitch. Just clarity.

What’s the Catch? There isn’t one. It’s free. All we ask is:

• You show up with your RISE Score results
• You give us honest feedback
• If you love it, maybe leave us a glowing review on Google or Yelp (as soon as the damn regulators allow us to do so as state advisors.  I am told it's close).

Real-Life Example: When AI Misses the Mark. One client came in with a RISE Score of 780—excellent! But after a quick chat, we realized they hadn’t factored in their plan to buy a second home, their adult child’s tuition, or their desire to retire early. After adjusting for those, the picture looked very different.

AI gave them a number. We gave them a plan.

Schedule your free 15-minute retirement check-in with a fiduciary financial advisor in Tampa and discover how human insight complements AI tools like the RISE Score.​

When most people hear about the Big Beautiful Bill, they think of tax cuts—and yes, there are plenty of those. But this new law also includes non-tax changes that could affect your daily life in unexpected ways.

Here are 10 non-tax policies tucked into the bill that you might want to know about:

1. Faster Airport Security for Americans
The bill gives more funding to speed up TSA lines for U.S. citizens—especially frequent travelers. Expect shorter wait times at major airports.

2. Limits on Federal Funding for Abortion
Federal money can’t be used for abortion services, even indirectly. This could affect how some women’s health clinics operate.

3. Stricter Immigration Rules
The bill tightens rules for asylum seekers and increases border security funding. It also speeds up deportation for certain undocumented immigrants.

4. Work Requirements for Welfare
People receiving food stamps or Medicaid may now need to work or volunteer to keep their benefits, depending on their age and health.

5. More Transparency in Hospital Pricing
Hospitals must now clearly post prices for common procedures. This helps patients shop around and avoid surprise bills.

6. Ban on Federal Diversity Training
Federal agencies and contractors can no longer use taxpayer money for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training programs.

7. Funding for Opioid Treatment
The bill increases funding for addiction recovery programs, especially in rural areas hit hard by the opioid crisis.

8. Ban on Federal Funding for Gender-Affirming Care
No federal funds can be used for gender-transition surgeries or hormone treatments, even for adults.

9. New ID Rules for Voting
States that receive federal election funding must require voter ID. This could change how you vote in future elections.

10. More Power to States
States now have more control over how they run welfare programs, education, and health care—less oversight from Washington.

Sometimes blog posts come easily and sometimes they do not.  Over the summer, I seem to struggle with things to write about plus market volatility tends to pick up, which keeps me busier managing money. 

Remember this when you are taking your vacation.  Think of me as I am lugging my laptop wherever I go because Mr. (or Mrs.) Market never seems to take any time off.  It's a good thing I love this stuff!

First up in this special blog addition is a couple market updates.  Let's start with equities and then move to fixed income (i.e., bonds).

Here is the situation with equities:

We have a rising trend.  A recent stairstep down and elevator up correction may not be the end of the volatility though.  Expect some volatility in the period leading up to the election maybe as early as September.

Once the election is decided and the loser taken their shot at the fairness of the election, we should see favorable seasonality into the end of the year and possibly into early 2025.

​​My guess is that 2025 is no picnic for whoever wins in November.  

We have weakening economic conditions and rising unemployment levels as big and small companies continue to shed jobs.  On the flip side, we still have strong liquidity from past government programs, a Federal Reserve that looks ready to start easing interest rates and a recent history of magically being able to kick the can down the road.

My guess is a mild bear market in 2025 with equities struggling and bonds doing better, especially on the short to intermediate side of the equation.  In fact, in years where interest rates decline, this has been the time to own bonds historically as falling yields move inversely to rising bond prices.

You may be saying, but Jeff, you said that about 2024.  That is true, but this is not easy, and my crystal ball is about as good as yours.  We generally try to work with what the market gives us.  We have an opinion on the future (like above), but only move as the market confirms such opinions.  You know, it is a process!

​This is the Federal Reserve Dot Plot or where they think the Fed Funds interest rate is heading.  In case you cannot tell, follow the orange line and/or the blue dots.  
​

​​Next Up, Let's move onto some good news for those affected by Hurricane Debbie.  Your kind, much gentler IRS has granted you a series of filing and payment extensions.

Of course, at the same time they are hiring more auditors to make your lives, I mean the lives of the rich, more miserable.

Here is the skinny: 

Finally, a few financial lessons that I learned over time, but wish I would have put into practice a bit earlier.  You know a few thoughts from my younger me.

1. Start Saving Early: Begin saving and investing as soon as possible. Even small contributions can grow significantly over time due to compound interest. The earlier you start, the better.
2. Create a Budget: Establish a budget to track your income and expenses. Knowing where your money goes helps you make informed decisions and avoid overspending.
3. Avoid Debt: Debt can be a financial burden. Whenever possible, use cash, debit cards, or prepaid cards instead of credit cards. Prioritize paying off high-interest debts promptly.
4. Invest in Financial Education: Learn about personal finance, investments, and money management. Knowledge is power, and understanding financial concepts will empower you to make informed choices.
5. Pay Yourself First: Before paying bills or spending on discretionary items, allocate a portion of your income to savings or investments. Treat your future self as a priority.
6. Live Within Your Means: Avoid lifestyle inflation. As your income grows, resist the urge to increase your spending proportionally. Save the extra income instead.
7. Emergency Fund: Build an emergency fund equivalent to at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses. It provides a safety net during unexpected situations.
8. Invest Wisely: Diversify your investments across different asset classes (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.). Consider low-cost index funds and long-term strategies.
9. Prioritize Retirement Savings: Contribute to retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA. Take advantage of employer matching contributions—it’s essentially free money.
10. Focus on Experiences: While material possessions are nice, prioritize experiences over things. Travel, learn, and create memories—these enrich your life more than possessions ever will.

​Remember, financial planning is a lifelong journey. Start early, stay informed, and adapt as needed. 

I know I am preaching to the choir with most of you, but maybe someone you know could benefit from these ten financial lessons that I preach every day to my girls and Godchildren.

Can we help you with your investments or planning? 

Or why not get a Free Second Opinion on your planning? 

​Just contact us.

I finally got around to putting out a new blog post, I must say I struggled to come up with just the right topic that would both interest me and our readers.  I wanted to do a financial planning related post, but over the weekend I changed my mind. I was drawn to a video debate between Macro specialist Raoul Pal of Real Vision and Peter Schiff of Euro Pacific Asset Management.

This rather long video is posted, below. I thought the discussion was so important for investors over the next 6+ years that I would make it part of my discussion and forecast on what is coming in this very strange time in our country and economic future.  
​

​In case you don't have 3 hours to spend watching this video, let me give you the highlights.

The primary topic of this discussion was Bitcoin and its role in the current economic landscape. Let’s delve into some key points from their debate:
​

1. Bitcoin’s Role: Raoul Pal views Bitcoin as a solution to the challenges posed by inflation and currency debasement. He praises its scarcity and network effects as valuable attributes.
2. Skepticism from Peter Schiff: On the other hand, Peter Schiff expresses skepticism towards Bitcoin, citing its lack of intrinsic value. He questions whether it can truly serve as a reliable store of wealth.
3. Blockchain Technology and Stablecoins: The conversation also touches on the potential of blockchain technology for tokenizing assets and creating stablecoins.  Here again, Raoul Pal is constructive.  Peter Schiff is skeptical, especially of stablecoins.
4. Economic Landscape: They discuss the impact of debt, the economy, and the fear of worst-case scenarios.  Specifically, both men agree that we are pretty much screwed, but that the politicians will continue to do what they do best and that is kick the can down the road with more currency debasement and the Federal Reserve with more purchases of the related debt generated from that deficit spending.  They will try to mask the related inflation through yield curve controls and other means, but there will be inflation and it may become hyperinflation eventually.  
5. The Case for Crypto: Raoul Pal makes the case that the reason they will continue to print is that the Baby Boomers have all the assets.  If asset prices go down, this will kill the Baby Boomers and create a big problem for society.   He further makes the case that we had a very similar issue at the end of World War II with large debt relative to GDP and we worked our way out via productivity and savings gains.  He believes AI (i.e., artificial intelligence) will provide the productivity gains this time around.  Peter Schiff was not quite so sure and argued that the demographics and debt levels are quite different this time around from the period in history.
6. Crypto is the Only Option: Interestingly Raoul Pal believes the only assets that will outpace inflation will be technology stocks and crypto.  Crypto he believes has the best historical returns and therefore is the Big Opportunity for investors over the next 6 plus years to make big returns before the structure changes.  Specifically, Raoul Pal believes 2030 is when things change. 
7. Bitcoin Price Prediction: While Raoul Pal sees the potential for Bitcoin to reach $1 million, Schiff remains cautious and more constructive on gold and silver as a store of value.

So now let me put in my 2 cents. 

First, I am in agreement with both Raoul Pal and Peter Schiff that politicians will continue to print currency and tax us as a way of kicking the can down the road on the United States rapidly growing debt problem and poor demographics.  They will always do what is easy and gets them reelected.  Printing, spending and then taxing us is the easy path vs. austerity measures to fix our debt to GDP imbalance.

Second, I believe Bitcoin and Crypto are part of the solution, but not "the solution."  Why?  a) Bitcoin is correlated to the equity markets and is a very volatile asset type.  Pushing all your chips into this pile will definitely cause you some sleepless nights.  b) There is governmental risk here.  Any day we could wake up and the government has either outlawed crypto or mandated a conversion to a newly issued Central Bank Digital Coin (or CBDC); and finally, c) I still believe diversification has value and crypto is not a very large, or liquid market.

Third, I would make the case that 2030 is an important year in Raoul Pal's mind, even if he never explained why.  Allow me to speculate, it is the year that the World Economic Forums (WEF) 2030 Agenda is supposed to be in place.  This could mean a new economic system is in place by 2030 that changes/saves the developed world from a new universal problem with debt relative to GDP and poor demographics.

In case you are not familiar with the WEF 2030 agenda, here are the highlights:

1. Climate Action and CO-topia:
   • By 2030, they aim to win the fight against climate change. Imagine a world where CO2 emissions are significantly reduced, the air is cleaner, and nature is recovering.
   • In this vision, cities are green and live able. Private cars are banned, replaced by efficient mobility services. Electricity is entirely green, and single-use plastics are a thing of the past. Citizens have more free time and better quality products.
2. Reducing Violent Crime:
   • Over the next decade, they believe there is an opportunity to dramatically reduce violent crime.
   • To achieve this, they need the same energy and dedication that eradicated killers like smallpox.
   • Understanding how violence is distributed in time and space is crucial. By addressing lethal violence, society can halve most forms of violence by 2030.
3. UN’s 17-Step Plan:
   • The United Nations has resolved to end poverty and hunger everywhere by 2030.
   • Their agenda includes combating inequalities, building peaceful and inclusive societies, and promoting human rights and gender equality.

You can click on any of the links for more information.

Here are my thoughts on this WEF 2030 Agenda.  Basically, the WEF is composed a who's who of global leaders that think they know better than us or any individual government what is best for us and them.  It is the "them" part that worries me the most.

The above agenda sounds great in a vacuum, but the primary purpose of this agenda is the separate the elite from the serf (i.e., you and me) and make us subservient to the corporate elite.  The result will be a highly advanced, AI based society where every move you make, financially or otherwise, is scrutinized.  Every word or deed out of line with the thoughts of the elite will be penalized (i.e., social credit scoring).

My belief is that by 2030 a CBDC or series of CBDCs will be rolled out globally.  These CBDCs may not be universally utilized, as is now the case in China, but the infrastructure will be there.  Given that the backbone of the CBDCs will be blockchain based all activity will be captured, stored and reviewed using AI.  The only thing missing will be an event, a crisis pushing everyone into CBDC or the global system.  This I believe is the change that Raoul Pal sees in our future but was unwilling to speculate on it as I have done.

So why do I present this video, agenda and hypothesis to you? 

The answer is simple and that is so you can take advantage of what is available today to create wealth and provide yourself a greater runway to operate in a possible new financial system to come.  Further as a Christian believer, it is a bit of a warning as the Christian Bible talks about such a time where there is both a one world currency and a one world leader.  No one knows the timing on this stuff, but I can certainly see the seeds of what is potentially coming.

So now how do you prosper in the next six plus years to come?  

Here is my take:

1. You must have crypto in your portfolio.  Raoul Pal is correct it has generated and may yet continue to generate returns well in excess of inflation, which I expect the latter will likely increase significantly through 2030.
2. Unlike Raoul Pal, I do not believe in this as a sole investment option.  There are just too many risks.  So, I would augment crypto with gold, silver, commodities and other hard assets that will also go up in value with inflation and possibly by more than that inflation rate.
3. Equities have historically prospered in a hyperinflationary environment.  Those that produce significant free cash flows have historically done the best, while those negatively impacted by higher borrowing costs via higher rates have suffered.  That has become technology to a large extent, and they will certainly benefit from AI.
4. You must get out of debt.  The bible says the borrower is servant to the lender.  That will become increasingly true as we move into the latter half of the decade.
5. You must own assets.  Just earning a good wage will not allow you to stay ahead of rising costs.  If you are not saving today, now is the time to get started.
6. Finally, I do not believe this will be a smooth ride.  The ability to have both passive or buy and hold assets and those that are traded out of significant declines (i.e., active investment management) for the markets or crypto will be an advantage.  Again, it's about being diversified by both the assets you hold and the way they are managed. 

Where can we help?  We can help you with all of the above as well as financial planning.  Let's ConnectWant to start a conversation, click here to contact us.