In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Brett Bernstein, CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group, and an active financial advisor assisting clients with his holistic approach to goal-setting and problem-solving.

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Today's guest, Brett, discusses budgeting for the holidays – simple ways to balance gifting, entertaining, and travel while staying on track with year-end goals. He also shares how to avoid holiday debt traps, how to plan ahead and sidestep overspending, and year-end planning opportunities including tax and investment moves to consider before December 31st.

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Brett Bernstein is the CEO and Co-founder of XML Financial Group, where he manages firm operations and leads its M&A strategy.

As an active financial advisor, Brett brings a holistic approach to helping clients set and achieve their goals.

Before founding XML in 2004, he was a Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, serving as a Producing Sales Manager for a multi-billion-dollar complex.

Brett is also a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) and a serial entrepreneur with investments in multiple start-ups.

His insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Financial Advisor Magazine, Investment News, and Forbes.

Beyond business, Brett is deeply involved in philanthropy, serving as Board Chair of So What Else for over 12 years, a Trustee for the Bullis School, and an advisor at the University of Maryland’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.