Financial scams are getting smarter. AI-generated voices. Fake investment apps. Phishing texts that look like real alerts from your bank. These aren't minor threats—they're sophisticated, fast-moving, and harder to spot.

In 2024, scam losses topped $1 trillion globally. And in most cases, the money's gone for good.

Most people build their financial beliefs on things they’ve heard—online, from friends, or even from parents. The problem is, a lot of that advice is wrong.

Bad information leads to bad decisions.

In this issue, I’m breaking down 10 common money myths that keep people stuck. These are the ideas that sound smart on the surface but fall apart when you look closer.

Time to clean up the noise.

These two terms get used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same. Risk tolerance is emotional. Risk capacity is financial. If you confuse them—or ignore one—you can end up with an investment strategy that either keeps you up at night or runs out of money too early.

A tax planning review isn't just a box to check. It's a key part of managing your financial life—especially if you're a business owner, high earner, or someone with complex income streams.

Here's how we approach it, combining financial planning expertise with digital marketing insights to keep you informed and in control.

Buy, Borrow, Die is a common wealth strategy used by ultra-wealthy families to grow assets, access cash, and avoid income and capital gains taxes—legally. It's less about tax loopholes and more about understanding how the tax code treats borrowing and inheritance.

If you plan to leave money to your children or heirs, you need to think about taxes. Without a smart plan, a large part of your wealth could go to the government instead of your family.

Here’s what you need to know about tax-efficient wealth transfers...

If you're sitting on a large pre-tax retirement account, you've probably heard of Roth conversions. The idea sounds appealing—pay taxes now to enjoy tax-free growth later. But the reality is more nuanced.

Roth conversions can be a smart move. But they’re not for everyone, and not at every time.

Capital gains affect your investment returns—and your tax bill. Whether you're an average investor or a high-income earner, understanding how gains are taxed and how to plan around them can save you money.

Here’s what you need to know, plus planning strategies to consider.

Most people set their contributions once and never revisit them. That’s fine if nothing changes—but income, taxes, and goals usually do.

Now’s a good time to check if your current setup still makes sense. You might be missing tax savings, leaving room in your plan, or putting money in the wrong account type.

If you want to make smarter moves with your retirement savings this year, let’s review it together.

Most people confuse tax filing with tax planning. They’re not the same—and if you’re only focused on filing, you could be paying more than you should.

Some think that tax season ends in April. If all you're doing is filing, it does. But filing isn’t planning. Filing just records what happened. Planning is how you control what happens next.

However, both are very necessary and should be working hand in hand.

Retirement planning isn’t about hitting some magic number. It’s about building enough flexibility to control your time, income, and choices. At the end of the day, money is just a means to an end, but it's what that money can do for you during your lifetime. This guide gives you the basics—clear and updated for 2025.

Most people struggle with money not because they don’t earn enough.

It really comes down to critical lessons about personal finance, taxes, investing, protection etc. The difference between those who build wealth and those who stay stuck often comes down to a few key principles. These topics are often more complex than needed. It's my job to simplify them and help people take action.

These ten lessons aren’t just theories—they’re practical, time-tested strategies used by financially successful individuals.

The one market tip you need is... downturns are normal.

Market downturns are inevitable, but they aren’t a reason to panic. Historically, declines are a natural part of investing and often present opportunities for those who stay disciplined. Here’s why downturns happen, how they fit into long-term market cycles, and how you can position yourself to benefit.

Believe it or not, I am actually talking about Augusta, GA, and the masters.

The Augusta Rule is a tax strategy that allows homeowners to earn rental income without paying taxes on it. Under IRS Section 280A, you can rent your home for up to 14 days per year and exclude that income from your taxable earnings.

For business owners, this presents a unique opportunity: your business can rent your home for legitimate business purposes, providing you with tax-free income while your business gets a deductible expense. However, to stay compliant, you must follow the rules carefully.

A Roth IRA can be one of the best planning tools as it relates to saving for retirement. It's so good; there are regulations preventing high-income earners from contributing...

in the traditional sense.

A Backdoor Roth IRA is a powerful strategy for high-income earners who want to take advantage of tax-free growth and withdrawals provided by Roth IRAs but exceed the income limits for direct Roth IRA contributions. This guide walks you through the process, tax implications, common pitfalls, and advanced strategies.

Charitable giving is a big part of plans for our clients. It can be a powerful way to support causes you care about while also reducing your tax burden. Win-Win situation.

By using tax-efficient strategies, you can maximize your impact and take full advantage of deductions, exclusions, and exemptions available under U.S. tax law.

Right now, almost 90% of people who give do not get tax credit for the giving they do. This is because of the standard deduction. If all of your deductions total are less than the standard deduction, then, of course, you are going to take the standard deduction. Because of the increase in the standard deduction included in the TCJA, most people do not get above it.

A big topic we discuss with business owners is whether it is practical for them to file as an S-Corp.

"If you move to S Corp, you will save a ton in taxes because of how much less self-employment taxes you pay."

Or on the other side of the argument

“Don’t move to S Corp, you will need to pay yourself a reasonable salary at or above social security wage base so it won’t help much.”

One of the biggest expenses in people's lives is taxes. This is not just from your salary while working but often carries over into retirement. We see a lot of individuals who retire actually be in higher tax brackets than they were while working. [see 2025 brackets here]

Taxes have a big impact on your investment returns. Where you put your money—taxable, tax-deferred, or tax-exempt accounts—determines how much you keep versus what goes to the Government over your lifetime. Understanding these three tax funnels helps you decide the best place for your next investment.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 brought sweeping changes to tax laws. It added and removed a lot of strategies people use related to tax filing. After 8 years of this tax law, it seems like the new normal.

At this point in time (1/27/2025), many of these provisions are set to expire on December 31, 2025. Below, I created an organized breakdown of how this impacts you on the individual level and at the business level.

This is a question with a simple answer, right... But 98% of small business owners didn't know the value of their companies.

At its basics, a business valuation is the process of determining the economic value of a company.

It's a critical step for understanding how your business fits into the market and where opportunities or risks may lie. Valuations aren’t just for when you’re planning to sell. They serve as a roadmap for decision-making, helping you align your strategy with your goals.