Austin Francis

01/02/2026

Don't assume your money is being invested just because you have a 401k through your employer.

Give me a call at 660-414-5592 and we can check it together for free.

12/03/2025

If you're not sure if you could benefit from a financial advisor, just give me a call. It doesn't cost anything to talk to me, and it might just make your entire situation much better.

08/26/2025

Oak Trees and the S&P 500 grow around the same rate. Let your money grow like an oak tree. One day it will be large, strong and provide you great protection.

Give me a call anytime at 660-248-2223 and we can talk about growing your own oak tree. Either the actual plant or your money, unfortunately I don't know that much about the plant though....

06/18/2025

The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady but maintains outlook for two cuts in 2025.

In a widely anticipated move, the Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged. However, it reaffirmed its projection of two rate cuts before the end of the year, citing signs of cooling inflation and a slowing labor market. The decision reflects the Fed’s cautious approach as it balances inflation control with economic growth.

06/16/2025

The stock market is rallying today as reports emerge that Iran is seeking to end hostilities with Israel, according to the Wall Street Journal. This development has sparked optimism among investors, easing fears of prolonged geopolitical instability in the Middle East.

What’s Happening?
The conflict, which escalated last week with airstrikes and retaliatory attacks, had raised concerns about disruptions to global oil supplies and heightened tensions in the region. However, today’s news of potential de-escalation has calmed markets, with energy prices stabilizing and investor sentiment improving

06/12/2025

📉 Good news on the inflation front, for the 4th month in a row, inflation has come in lower than expected.

Despite concerns about new tariffs, there’s been no clear sign yet that they’re pushing prices higher. That’s encouraging for both the markets and your wallet.

If you're wondering what this means for your investments, retirement plan, or just your day-to-day budget, I’m always happy to chat.

Drop a comment, send a message, or give me a call. I’m here to help you stay informed and in control.

06/11/2025

06/09/2025

Do You Have Old Retirement Accounts Sitting Unattended?

Many people leave behind retirement accounts with former employers and lose track of how those accounts are invested. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and we would love to help.
Consolidating retirement accounts into a single IRA provides clearer visibility into your investments and allows for more strategic long-term planning. It also gives you the opportunity to work directly with a professional financial advisor who can align your investment choices with your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

When you leave a job, you generally have four options for your old retirement account. First, you can leave the money where it is. This may be fine for a while, but you may lose access to personalized support or face limited investment options. Second, if your new employer offers a retirement plan and allows roll-ins, you may roll your old account into your new employer’s plan, which can help keep everything in one place. Third, you can roll the money into a traditional IRA, which offers more investment flexibility and allows you to work with an advisor like us. And finally, you could cash out the account, though this option typically comes with significant tax penalties and potential early withdrawal fees, making it the least attractive route for most people.

When accounts are scattered across different providers, it can be difficult to see the full picture of your retirement strategy. You might have overlapping investments, outdated beneficiaries, or even be paying unnecessary fees without realizing it. Consolidation helps create a more efficient, organized investment plan giving you the clarity you need to make smarter financial decisions.

This process of consolidation is called a rollover, and when done correctly, it’s a non-taxable event. That means your retirement savings move from the old employer plan to your new IRA without creating a tax liability or early withdrawal penalty. From there we can work with you to create a personalized investment plan based on what matters most to you, not just a one-size-fits-all approach.
Most employer-sponsored plans automatically place you in what's called a target date fund. For example, if you’re projected to retire around 2050, you may be in a 2050 fund. These funds gradually shift your allocation over time, reducing exposure to stocks and increasing bonds as you approach the target year. While these funds can be effective for some, they often lack customization. Everyone’s situation is different. Some investors may want more growth potential and are comfortable with market volatility. Others may prefer more stability and less risk, even years before retirement.

That’s why working with a financial advisor can be so valuable. Instead of fitting into a generic mold, you get a portfolio tailored to your personal preferences, risk tolerance, and retirement goals. We believe in advising, not dictating. It’s your money, and you deserve to feel confident in how it's managed.

Unfortunately, many people are unsure where all their retirement accounts are, how they’re invested, or what fees they’re paying. Worse yet, some aren’t even aware they still have retirement funds with previous employers. If you’ve changed jobs over the years and left a trail of 401(k)s or similar plans behind, it may be time for a financial checkup.

Whether you’re looking to consolidate accounts, want help reviewing your current investments, or simply have questions about how your money is working for you, we’d be happy to help. Our goal is to simplify your financial picture and help you make informed, confident decisions about your future.
Give us a call, we’re here when you’re ready.

Securities are offered through LPL, Financial (LPL), a registered broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Investment advice offered through Convergence Financial, LLC, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial. Commercial Trust Company is not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Convergence Financial, LLC, and may also be employees of Commercial Trust Company. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Commercial Trust Company or Convergence Financial, LLC. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:
Not Insured by FDIC or Any Other Government Agency Not Bank Guaranteed Not Bank Deposits or Obligations May Lose Value

06/05/2025

Hello, fellow mid-Missourians! My name is Austin Francis, and I work alongside Cameron Byrd at Commercial Trust Financial Services. We build financial plans and investment portfolios for families throughout the Mid-Missouri area with office locations in Salisbury, Fayette, Boonville, Harrisburg and Columbia.
We’ve been given the opportunity to publish thoughts here in the Chariton Marquee once a month that we hope you'll find informative and empowering in your financial decision making. Our goal is to help you better understand capital markets, investments, and account types; and to help you find peace of mind about your own financial plan.
Future articles may be more specific to a topic, but those we’re meeting with today predominantly want to talk about one thing – Volatility. Markets have been roiled this month with tariff proposals (and implementation). In the time between submitting this for print, and you receiving your paper, any information we could put here would be out of date. Tariffs can have many direct and indirect effects on the business environment; reduced aggregate global demand, higher wages, layoffs, higher prices, higher interest rates, lower interest rates, lower fuel consumption, currency value fluctuations, reduced market liquidity, supply chains disruptions, and geopolitical realignments (to name a few). And any reversal of any proposals can change forecasts just as quickly, too. Capital markets don’t like ‘uncertainty’ and there are few things we know for certain, today.
This environment is a good reminder to be vigilant in understanding the potential volatility of your investment portfolio, and to make adjustments to keep those investments in-line with your long-term goals. For those who feel “fully invested”, remember that this is a long-term endeavor, and to make any portfolio adjustments with a long time horizon in mind. Consider the benefits of tax loss harvesting for non-retirement accounts, and review options for conservative investments to see what income they produce (and whether they are truly conservative or not).
For those who are young and saving (we call you “accumulators”), consider raising your contributions to retirement accounts or taking the step to start one today. If it helps to motivate, calculate the number of shares of your preferred investment you can buy today vs. how few shares you could have bought with the same dollars, 90 days ago. If you’re looking to invest larger sums for the first time, consider Dollar Cost Averaging – putting to work specific dollar amounts, incrementally, over a fixed period of time.
When sentiments shift, it’s a great time to review your financial plan. Are your investments aligned with your risk tolerance and time horizon? Do you have a tax-efficient strategy in place? Only one thing is certain – having a plan works better than no plan at all.

Call now to connect with business.

06/03/2025

Hi, I’m Austin Francis, a Salisbury native and financial advisor with Commercial Trust Financial Services.

I created this page so folks can easily find me, ask questions, and connect about their financial goals. Whether you’re planning for retirement, just getting started, or somewhere in between.

After years in the mortgage industry helping get Veterans into their first home with Veterans United, I made the transition into financial advising to help people with more than just one piece of their finances.

If you ever want to talk through your options, or just get a second opinion, I’m here.

📞 Call: 660-248-2223
🌐 Visit: commercialtrustfs.com
💬 Or message me here on Facebook!

Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to earning your trust.

06/02/2025

A few weeks ago, I had a discussion with members of my family about the difference between Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. The question came up during a conversation with my great-great-grandmother, who is in her 90s and still in great health. Her mother lived past 100, so we have good reason to believe she may be with us for many years to come.

She asked about my new job as a financial advisor and mentioned her IRA, which is currently managed by an advisor out of the area. Specifically, she brought up her required minimum distributions (RMDs) and asked how much she would need to withdraw this year.

I explained that for Traditional IRAs, RMDs are based on age and increase annually. Most people know that RMDs begin at age 73, but fewer are aware of the percentage involved. In 2025, the first-year RMD at age 73 is 3.77% of the account’s balance. For example, if someone has $100,000 in their IRA at age 73, their RMD would be $3,770 for that year. The percentage increases each year until age 104, when it peaks at 20.41%. These schedules are periodically updated based on actuarial assumptions and life expectancy tables.

The purpose of RMDs is to ensure that tax-deferred retirement funds are eventually taxed and not left to grow indefinitely. However, some individuals may not need the funds at that point in their life or would prefer to leave the assets to their heirs.

With a Traditional IRA, contributions are typically made on a tax-deferred basis. For example, someone earning $50,000 who contributes $5,000 to a Traditional IRA may be able to deduct that amount from their taxable income, resulting in only $45,000 being taxed for that year (subject to IRS rules and income limits). This approach may be beneficial for individuals in a higher tax bracket now who anticipate being in a lower bracket during retirement. In 2025, the top of the 12% tax bracket for a married couple filing jointly, including the standard deduction, is approximately $126,950.

By contrast, Roth IRAs are funded with after-tax dollars. Using the same $50,000 income example, a Roth contribution does not reduce taxable income. However, the benefit is that qualified withdrawals from a Roth IRA are tax-free in retirement. Roth IRAs also offer greater flexibility—there are no RMDs during the account holder's lifetime, and qualified distributions are not taxed.

Roth IRAs can also provide estate planning advantages. Beneficiaries of Roth IRAs are generally subject to a 10-year distribution rule, similar to Traditional IRAs, but withdrawals are typically tax-free if the account was open for at least five years. In contrast, Traditional IRA beneficiaries must pay ordinary income tax on any distributions they receive. For example, inheriting $100,000 in a Traditional IRA would result in taxable income for the beneficiary. If they withdrew the full amount in a single year, it could push them into a higher tax bracket.

It’s also worth noting that individuals may convert Traditional IRA assets into a Roth IRA. This strategy, called a Roth conversion, is allowed at any time but creates a taxable event. For instance, converting $100,000 from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA would result in $100,000 in taxable income for that year. While this can be a powerful tool in certain scenarios, it must be carefully timed and planned.

As you can see, account type matters just as much as investment selection when building a retirement plan. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—it depends on your income, tax situation, goals, and how you wish to pass on your assets. That’s where we come in.

If you have questions about which account type may be right for you or how to plan for your future, we’d be happy to talk. Please feel free to reach out anytime.