Willis Johnson Wealth Blog

What is Your Shell Pension Plan Really Worth? Here’s How to Calculate It.

along@wjohnsonassociates.com (Alexis Long, MBA, CFP®) — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Shell pension plans provide supplemental retirement income for all Shell employees. To incorporate these income sources into your retirement planning, you’ll need a good understanding of the different variables involved in their calculation.

Have you ever wondered if there’s a way you can determine the pension benefits you’ll earn after retirement from Shell?

Whether you’re enrolled in the Shell 80 Point Pension Plan or the Shell APF Pension plan, it’s important to understand how to calculate your average final compensation (AFC). Why does this matter? In a nutshell, the higher your AFC, the higher your retirement benefits will be.

6 Strategies to Reduce Taxable Income for High-Earners

lcessna@wjohnsonassociates.com (Leah Cessna, CPA) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:53:33 GMT

It's an old adage, but one that especially rings true as we gear up for tax season: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Tax planning is a crucial component of any comprehensive financial plan and plays a significant role in wealth accumulation over time. There are a few strategies that we've used with our clients to help reduce their tax burden and increase their savings over the years, helping them pursue their financial goals. You don’t want to miss these simple tax planning opportunities since each one can have a huge impact on your taxes. Let's dive in.

Willis Johnson & Associates Rebrands to Willis Johnson Wealth Continuing Its Commitment to Fee-Only Financial Planning

njohnson@wjohnsonassociates.com (Nick Johnson, CFA®, CFP®) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:05:26 GMT

After more than 30 years of serving clients, Willis Johnson & Associates is proud to announce its rebrand to Willis Johnson Wealth. While the name has changed, the foundation of the firm remains the same: making the complex simple by delivering fee-only financial planning in its clients’ best interest.

For individuals and families searching for a financial advisor in Houston or evaluating wealth management firms in Houston, this transition reflects both where the firm started and how it has evolved to meet increasingly complex financial needs.

How to Choose your Chevron Retirement Date

along@wjohnsonassociates.com (Alexis Long, MBA, CFP®) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:15:57 GMT

You’ve worked hard for your retirement. After a long career at Chevron, you deserve to enjoy your retirement to the fullest. A big part of maximizing your retirement enjoyment depends on skillfully planning the disbursement of your benefits.

How Mega Backdoor Roth Contributions Can Boost Your Retirement Savings

Sarah Sikorski, CFP®, CPA, PFS — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:48:31 GMT

When thinking about retirement, a few essential to-dos come to mind as you work toward financial independence to ensure you're on track. If you're checking your investment allocations and managing capital gains, making pension elections, and maxing out your pre-tax contributions to your 401(k) each year, you'd probably say you're doing everything possible, right? By focusing on these elements of your financial plan, you're already ahead of most professionals. But many employees at large energy companies have opportunities for additional savings in their 401(k) on top of the usual pre-tax contributions 401(k) plans allow using a source called "after-tax." Using the after-tax bucket in the 401(k) can provide exciting opportunities for increased savings and financial planning strategies to enhance what's available to you in retirement.

The Importance of Diversification: How Much Company Stock is Too Much in Your Portfolio?

njohnson@wjohnsonassociates.com (Nick Johnson, CFA®, CFP®) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 19:26:06 GMT

Earning restricted stock from your company can be very rewarding, figuratively and literally. In a figurative sense, stock options give you a stake in the company and encourage long-term loyalty. And in the literal sense, they are awarded with faith that the company’s value will grow over time and increase wealth for the purchaser. But can you have too much of your own company’s stock?

BP Stock Outlook: What Should You Do Next?

njohnson@wjohnsonassociates.com (Nick Johnson, CFA®, CFP®) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:15:00 GMT

Not long ago, BP was sitting in the mid-$30s. It felt steady.

Now, as I write this, BP plc is trading around $45.41—well above its 200-day moving average near $35.

We were hoping it was stabilizing as it slowly pushed towards $35--nowhere near the all-time high of mid $70’s that we saw in 2007 before Deepwater Horizon Oil spill changed the company’s trajectory, but progress nonetheless.

This sudden spike changes the question.

A few months ago, the question was whether what we were seeing was a recovery, and whether it was sustainable.

Now it’s something different: should I do something with my BP stock now?

Shell Stock Crossed $90: Should You Hold or Sell in 2026?

njohnson@wjohnsonassociates.com (Nick Johnson, CFA®, CFP®) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

A few weeks ago, we were talking with clients about Shell in the $70s. And then, it actually happened: Shell crossed $90.

It felt strong. It felt like progress. But it didn’t feel like a defining moment.

Now, as I write this, Shell plc (SHEL) is trading around $91.88—well above its 200-day moving average of roughly $74.

And now we’re having a different conversation with clients: what should you do with your Shell stock after a major market run-up like this, and is now the time to start selling Shell stock?

Chevron Stock Moved Past $200: What Should You Do With It Next?

njohnson@wjohnsonassociates.com (Nick Johnson, CFA®, CFP®) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:56:49 GMT

Just last year, we were talking with clients about Chevron in the $150–$160 range.

It felt like Chevron had a good run.

It felt constructive.

But it didn’t feel like a major moment.

Today, Chevron Corporation (CVX) is trading around $205—well clear of its ~ $160 200-day moving average.

No one realistically thought we’d be above $200 / share in early 2026.

Now the real question is: how do you turn this into something real—after taxes and in terms of what you actually keep?

4 Ways to Invest Your Chevron Incentive Plan (CIP)

along@wjohnsonassociates.com (Alexis Long, MBA, CFP®) — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:51:52 GMT

Bonus time can be exhilarating – a large lump sum of cash that Chevron employees can use for many expenses – paying off debt, taking a vacation, or hiding under the mattress for a rainy day. But for Chevron super-savers, there are many additional strategies to help you optimize your bonus payout.