--- title: Blog - Tillman Hartley description: Tillman Hartley is a fee-only financial planning and wealth management firm serving successful individuals and multi-generational families. --- ## [7 Alternative Ways to Use Your 529 Plan Funds](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:7-alternative-ways-to-use-your-529-plan-funds&catid=8) 529 plans have evolved well beyond their original role as a narrow college savings tool. Recent updates through the SECURE Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have expanded how you can use these accounts, giving you more flexibility without triggering taxes or penalties. Depending on your situation, you can now use 529 plan funds for ongoing education, to pay down student loans, or even to support retirement savings. If you’ve built up a 529 balance and aren’t sure how it fits into your plan, or you want a more tax-efficient way to cover education-related expenses, here’s a fresh look at how these accounts can work for you today. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:7-alternative-ways-to-use-your-529-plan-funds&catid=8) ## [Why Oil Prices Are Rising and What It Means for Gas Prices](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:why-oil-prices-are-rising-and-what-it-means-for-gas-prices&catid=8) Oil prices have surged in recent weeks following U.S. strikes on Iran and Iran’s subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most crucial energy chokepoints. In March, crude oil climbed above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022, driving a noticeable jump in gas prices for many Americans. Oil market volatility doesn’t always draw the same attention as stock market swings, but higher prices at the pump tend to change that. To put recent moves into context, it helps to understand how the oil market works and how those dynamics flow through to gas prices. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:why-oil-prices-are-rising-and-what-it-means-for-gas-prices&catid=8) ## [Debunking Common Myths About Credit Scores](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81:debunking-common-myths-about-credit-scores&catid=8) As your net worth grows, it’s easy to assume your credit score will take care of itself—or that it matters less once you’ve built meaningful wealth. But that’s not how the credit system works. A high income or sizable portfolio doesn’t automatically translate into a strong credit profile. March is Credit Education Month, making it a timely opportunity to separate fact from fiction. Even financially successful people can slip into habits that quietly lower their scores or limit flexibility when borrowing. When you understand how credit actually works, you’re better positioned to finance real estate, manage liquidity, and plan for what’s next. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81:debunking-common-myths-about-credit-scores&catid=8) ## [Key Tax and Financial Planning Numbers for 2026](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:key-tax-and-financial-planning-numbers-for-2026&catid=8) Every year, the IRS revises contribution limits, income thresholds, and other planning benchmarks that affect retirement savings, tax strategy, gifting, and long-term planning. These changes determine how much you can set aside, how income is taxed, and where you may find new planning opportunities in the year ahead. Here are the key tax and financial planning numbers for 2026. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:key-tax-and-financial-planning-numbers-for-2026&catid=8) ## [How to Set Better, More Meaningful Financial Goals for 2026](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79:how-to-set-better-more-meaningful-financial-goals-for-2026&catid=8) The end of the year is a natural pause point. It gives you space to look at what changed over the past twelve months and decide what you want the next year to look like. If you’ve been setting financial goals for a long time, the process can start to feel routine, even automatic. But 2025 brought enough shifts that it’s worth setting your goals with fresh eyes. Prices stayed high. Healthcare costs kept pushing upward. Investment markets rewarded certain sectors while adding plenty of volatility along the way. And many people found themselves reconsidering not just what they want to earn or save, but how they want to live. If your financial life has evolved, your goals should evolve with it. Here’s how to set financial goals for 2026 that are meaningful, realistic, and aligned with the life you want. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79:how-to-set-better-more-meaningful-financial-goals-for-2026&catid=8) ## [Your 2025 Year-End Tax and Financial Planning Checklist](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:your-2025-year-end-tax-and-financial-planning-checklist&catid=8) #### Key Points: - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) ushers in sweeping tax changes in 2026, making this a pivotal year for high earners and business owners to take advantage of 2025 year-end planning opportunities. - Strategies include accelerating charitable giving, contributing to donor-advised funds, and bunching deductions like state and local taxes (SALT) to benefit from the increased SALT cap in 2025. - Business owners can also take advantage of reinstated 100% bonus depreciation and higher Section 179 limits to fully deduct qualifying assets placed in service before year-end. As 2025 draws to a close, high earners, business owners, and charitably inclined individuals have a unique window of opportunity. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings sweeping tax law changes beginning in 2026, some of which will sharply reduce the value of deductions and other tax-saving strategies that remain fully available through the end of 2025. With that in mind, now’s the perfect time to talk with your advisor about these eight strategic year-end planning opportunities. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:your-2025-year-end-tax-and-financial-planning-checklist&catid=8) ## [Generational Wealth Planning: How to Prepare the Next Generation for Success](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77:generational-wealth-planning-how-to-prepare-the-next-generation-for-success&catid=8) #### Key Points: - Generational wealth often disappears within a few generations, but teaching financial literacy and involving children in real-world experiences can prepare them to manage wealth responsibly. - Open communication, clear expectations, and guidance from trusted advisors can help prevent conflict and ensure inherited wealth strengthens rather than strains family relationships. - By combining financial education, values, and professional support, families can preserve wealth, foster harmony, and build a legacy that lasts for generations. For families who have built significant assets, preserving and passing down wealth isn’t just about money. It’s also about legacy, values, and ensuring harmony across generations. However, history shows that most fortunes don’t survive the passage of time. According to [a 20-year research project by the Williams Group](https://www.pwmnet.com/content/05895264-2d45-5af9-9abc-18ea93d20826#:~:text=The%20adage%20'shirtsleeves%20to%20shirtsleeves,per%20cent%20by%20the%20third.), nearly 70% of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation, and 90% lose it by the third. So, why does this happen? Too often, the next generation simply isn’t ready to handle the responsibility that comes with significant wealth. The good news is it doesn’t have to be this way. By taking time to educate and prepare the next generation, your family can build a lasting framework for generational wealth that supports financial stability and strengthens bonds across generations. [Continue reading](https://tillmanhartley.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77:generational-wealth-planning-how-to-prepare-the-next-generation-for-success&catid=8) ### More Articles … - [Maximizing Your Charitable Giving Before OBBBA Changes Take Effect](https://tillmanhartley.com/resources/blog/76-maximizing-your-charitable-giving-before-obbba-changes-take-effect.html) - [The One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Your Financial Plan](https://tillmanhartley.com/resources/blog/75-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-and-your-financial-plan.html)