First Step Wealth Planning

04/01/2026

Social Security claiming strategies are the subject of more heated debate than almost any other retirement decision.

After watching this play out countless times with people facing it firsthand, I wrote down what I think is really going on here.

Link in comments.

03/24/2026

There’s a part of retirement that doesn’t get talked about very often.

Most of the focus is on whether you’re financially ready. Whether the plan works.

But even when that part is handled, something else can show up. And it’s harder to explain.

I wrote something about that side of the transition.

If you work with people approaching or entering retirement, or you’re there yourself, this may resonate.

Link in the comments.

03/17/2026

We live in a time where there’s more financial information available than ever before.

But I’ve found that for a lot of people, that hasn’t made decisions easier. It’s made them harder.

At some point, more information stops being helpful and starts becoming noise.

Curious if others have felt this. Does having more financial information actually make things clearer or more confusing?

I wrote a piece on this if you’re interested:

Why more financial information hasn’t made financial decisions easier

03/16/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JYCk1TEBH/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Most people think money problems start with money.

They don’t.

They start with choices.

Who you let influence you.

What habits you repeat every day.

How you treat your health and your time.

Those decisions compound quietly for years.

Good ones build freedom.

Bad ones build consequences.

Money just magnifies the direction your life is already heading.

03/12/2026

What do you do when the calendar that once organized your life suddenly sits empty?

Many people imagine retirement as freedom. But the loss of structure can create an unexpected challenge.

I wrote a short essay about this transition and how people begin learning how to use freedom once working life ends.

You can read it here:
://firststepwealth.substack.com/p/learning-how-to-use-freedom?r=1t6svd

Why retirement is often harder than we imagined

03/02/2026

In this edition of Money Matters, I share reflections from our recent trip to NYC. It was a powerful reminder that financial planning extends beyond numbers; it's about creating meaningful experiences. As we navigate life's uncertainties, the focus should be on building confidence in our decisions rather than merely chasing tactics. Let's ensure our financial strategies support the life we want to lead.

https://conta.cc/4r5DxkE

Email from First Step Wealth Planning Tactics Don't Equal Answers   Money Matters March 2026 Erik Nero, CFP®️, RICP® Founder & President of First Step Wealth Planning, LLC www.first-stepwealth.com e

02/27/2026

Most people think they want better financial answers.

What they really want?

To feel better about the choices they're making.

Most people think they want better financial answers.What they really want? To feel better about the choices they're making.So we chase tactics for relief—be...

02/09/2026

Many people feel uneasy about their money even when nothing is obviously wrong.

The issue often isn’t performance. It’s how much attention money demands, and why.

I wrote this piece to explore how tactics-first financial advice can pull focus away from what money is meant to support in the first place.

“Money does not need to explain itself through constant performance. It needs only to support a life that feels lived with intention.”

02/05/2026

Retirement is often treated as a financial milestone.

But after years of working with people nearing this transition, I’ve learned that the emotional shift is often the harder part to navigate.

Many people are surprised by the loneliness and uncertainty that can show up after work ends, especially once the congratulations fade and daily routines fall away.

I wrote this piece to give language to that experience and to acknowledge the emotional work of becoming someone new in retirement.

If this resonates, I hope it feels like permission to slow down and meet this stage of life with a little more honesty and patience.

01/06/2026

I had the pleasure of being Amanda Blanton's guest on the "I'm in with the ARCC" radio show this week. I greatly appreciate coming back on the show for a second year!

It was a great chat on money, motives, and what really drives our behavior with money. Check it out!

On the first episode of "I'm In with the ARCC" of the new year, host Amanda Blanton sits down with Erik Nero, founder of First Step Wealth Planning to chat a...

12/09/2025

Many struggle to retire, not because they saved too little, but because they oversaved and now fear spending. This article explains why financially secure retirees still feel anxious, how identity and habit shape retirement decisions, and what it takes to confidently shift from saving to living. Learn how to redefine “enough” and step into retirement with clarity and purpose.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eriknero_many-struggle-to-retire-not-because-they-activity-7404247652739002368-nhmE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABUFWLABHhHHqmCMABWUuK17090xbbHfV0E