On Point CRNA

“Are you a fiduciary?” is a good question.

It’s just not enough.

A polished website can use words like *fiduciary*, *comprehensive*, and *holistic* before breakfast. What matters is whether the advisor can clearly explain:

• What they actually do
• How everyone gets paid
• What isn’t included
• Who handles tax planning
• Where your money will be held
• What happens if you decide to leave

That interview matters even more for CRNAs. W-2 income, 1099 work, student loans, multiple retirement plans, business decisions, and multi-state taxes have a habit of wandering into the same room.

I put together 12 questions to ask before hiring a financial advisor, plus a scorecard you can use during the conversation.

If the answers require 47 pages of fine print and an interpreter, consider that part of the answer.

Read the full guide:
https://onpointcrna.com/crna-financial-advisor-buyers-guide/



Disclosure: This content is for educational purposes only and is not individualized financial, investment, tax, legal, insurance, or accounting advice. Barnhart Wealth Management, doing business as On Point CRNA, is a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Credentials, registration, and compensation structure do not guarantee competence or results. Verify any financial professional’s background, services, fees, and disciplinary history independently before hiring them.

Most 1099 CRNAs ask, “Should I open a SEP IRA?”

Better question: “Should I be comparing the SEP IRA to a Solo 401(k) before I decide?”

In this video, I break down retirement-plan choices for 1099 and locum CRNAs in plain English — including SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, Roth contributions, after-tax contributions, and when a mega backdoor Roth strategy may become part of the conversation.

The big takeaway: a SEP IRA can be simple, but simple is not always the same as best. For many high-income solo 1099 CRNAs with no non-owner employees, the Solo 401(k) is often the plan worth understanding first because it may offer more flexibility around employee deferrals, employer contributions, Roth options, and advanced plan design.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/rifXAIJi1Is

Disclosure:
This content is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as individualized tax, legal, investment, insurance, or retirement-plan administration advice. Retirement-plan rules are complex and depend on your entity structure, income, employee status, payroll setup, existing retirement plans, IRA balances, and plan document terms. Consult your CPA/EA, financial advisor, attorney, payroll provider, and/or third-party administrator before implementing any strategy. Advisory services are provided through Barnhart Wealth Management LLC DBA On Point CRNA, a registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investments involve risk and may lose value. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Ever looked at a payroll report and thought, “Wait… why doesn’t this match the W-2?”

You’re not alone. This is one of those things that trips up a lot of S-corp CRNAs. The short answer: your W-2 shows taxable wages, not everything that ran through payroll. Pre-tax deductions, reimbursements, and benefit adjustments can all change the final number. 

In this quick breakdown, I walk through the most common reasons the numbers don’t line up and what it actually means (hint: it’s usually not an error).

If you run payroll or receive a W-2, this is worth a quick read.

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👉 https://onpointcrna.com/payroll-report-vs-w2-not-matching/

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Disclaimer:
Barnhart Wealth Management (DBA On Point CRNA) is a registered investment adviser offering services in Michigan and other jurisdictions exempt from registration. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advisory services or sales of securities. All views, expressions, and opinions in this communication are subject to change. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Comments and recognitions do not guarantee future results.

💡 Ever wonder if you could truly handle a financial curveball tomorrow — without panic, without tapping retirement, and without borrowing?

That’s what liquid term is all about.

Instead of just asking “Do I have savings?”, liquid term asks: how many months could you live on cash and liquid assets if income suddenly stopped? It’s one of the simplest yet most powerful financial stability markers you can measure, and honestly, most people don’t think about it this way until it’s too late.

👉 Your liquid term is your runway — money you can access without tax penalties or long processing times (like retirement accounts or home equity). Think checking, savings, money market funds, and brokerage cash.

Here’s how it works:

📌 Liquid Term = (Liquid Assets) ÷ (Annual Living Expenses)
So if you had $40,000 in liquid assets and spend $100,000/year, you’ve got a 0.4 liquid term — or about 5 months of runway.

But most planners suggest aiming for more runway than you think you need, because life is full of plot twists.

💡 The real magic?
Measuring this number gives you a clear picture of whether you’re “actually stable,” or just feeling stable. It’s a different lens than net worth — one focused on survivability. That’s financial resilience. ✨

👉 Read more about how to assess and improve your liquid term here: https://onpointcrna.com/understanding-liquid-term-financial-stability/

Disclaimer:
Barnhart Wealth Management (DBA On Point CRNA) is a registered investment adviser offering services in Michigan and other jurisdictions exempt from registration. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute advisory services or sales of securities. All views, expressions, and opinions in this communication are subject to change. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Comments and recognitions do not guarantee future results.

If you’re a 1099 CRNA and money is just moving from your business account to your personal account whenever you “need it,” we need to talk.

Because what you call that transfer actually matters.

Salary. Owner draw. Distribution.
Same dollars. Very different tax consequences.

I’ve had more conversations than I can count that start with, “I just move money over when I need it.” Totally normal. But if you’re an S-Corp, the IRS expects reasonable W2 wages before you start taking distributions. If you’re a sole prop, draws don’t reduce your taxable income. And if you’re mixing terminology, your bookkeeping, tax projections, and even mortgage applications can get messy fast.

This is one of those areas where small structural decisions create big downstream effects.

I broke it all down in plain English here:
https://onpointcrna.com/owner-draw-vs-salary-vs-distribution/



Disclosure: This article is for educational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Talk with your CPA or attorney about your specific situation.