Our Daily Show! With Cj Nasello Ft. Stephens Planning, and More!
ALTON - Community members who want to learn more about taxes in retirement can join an upcoming free lunch and learn.
Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
At 12 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, Stephens Planning will host a free informational lunch and learn at The Wedge in Alton. Financial planner Curtis Stephens will answer common questions about retirement planning and taxes. He encourages people to come out and learn more, adding that there’s no right or wrong place to start.
“It’s always one day at a time, one thing at a time. What happened in the past is the past,” he said. “It’s never too late to take a look at what you’ve got going on and see if there’s a way to stop bleeding money unnecessarily and unknowingly.”
As a financial planner, Stephens studies tax law and understands how taxes can affect people in different ways. He explained that everybody’s situation is unique, but there are a few common rules that people should keep in mind. He is there to help people understand their circumstances and how their money will be taxed.
“Not all money is created equally,” he said. “The IRS does not look at all money the same. It generally falls into a few buckets, and there’s always rules and exceptions.”
Stephens believes retirement becomes more possible when people understand how their finances will be affected by the decision to retire. He wants to demystify the tax process so community members can confidently make that decision.
It helps to understand some of the “tax consequences” you might face when choosing to retire or when setting up a retirement account. Stephens’s job is to help you foresee these consequences and make choices that will set you up for success.
“Money has different tax consequences,” he explained. “There’s money you’re taxed on every year…There’s money that’s deferred, and you don’t pull it out until you need it, and then you’re taxed at ordinary income. Tax-free money is a real thing. You can get there. It can grow tax-free, it can come out tax-free. Some people don’t know about that, and for some people, to be quite honest to you, it might not make sense to transition into that. So we just take a look. We follow our process to make sure that it makes sense that people are successful and they have a solid plan.”
Stephens understands his expertise isn’t for everyone. While he prides himself on being available for the entire Riverbend community no matter what your financial circumstances are, some people are hesitant to hire a financial advisor or confident that they can manage their money without help.
Stephens agrees that people can and do manage their finances alone. But his job is to make it easier for you. His time is devoted to understanding and studying tax laws so he can maximize your tax benefits. He is dedicated to helping people avoid overpaying or losing out on money that they could have saved.
“I’m relatively young for what I do. A lot of the people I’m talking to, they’re 60-plus, and they’ve been surviving for a long time without me,” Stephens said. “Most people don’t even need a financial advisor to survive, and they’re surprised to hear that from the financial advisor. You’ve been doing it for 60 or 70 years. At the end of the day, people can make it just fine. They’ll get through life without a financial advisor if they take a little ownership. But do they study it every day? Do they pay attention to the tax laws? The reason I’m in business is because we bring value to people.”
Stephens is focused on giving back to the community and using his experience to help people. By hosting the lunch and learn and similar free seminars, he hopes to empower community members to take charge of their financial goals and retirement plans.
The Sept. 3 lunch and learn is free to attend, though registration is encouraged to reserve your spot. To register, click here. For more information about Stephens Planning, visit their official website.
This featured article is sponsored by Stephens Planning. To get your business or organization featured on www.RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.
More like this:
