Today, we focus on building smarter financial strategies for business owners, retirees, and long-term investors navigating a changing market environment. Jeremiah Bates and Alex Lundgren break down retirement plan options for the self-employed, including SEP IRAs, Individual 401(k)s, and SIMPLE plans—highlighting contribution limits, employee requirements, vesting rules, and costly mistakes business owners often overlook. The conversation expands into the BetterBuckets® System, explaining how aligning cash, income, and growth assets can reduce emotional decision-making and create clarity during market volatility. The hosts discuss why understanding why you own certain investments matters just as much as what you own—especially when markets fluctuate. They also examine recent market movement, interest-rate cuts, rotation between growth and value stocks, and what volatility really means for long-term planning. Rather than reacting to headlines, the episode emphasizes disciplined strategy, time horizon alignment, and using market pullbacks as planning opportunities—not panic moments. Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask! https://www.therealmoneypros.com Hosts: Jeremiah Bates & Alex Lundgren ————————————————————— Ataraxis PEO https://ataraxispeo.com   Tree City Advisors of Apollon: https://www.treecityadvisors.com   Apollon Wealth Management: https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/ —————————————————————

We're in December so you know what that means... Actionable planning as the year closes — from Required Minimum Distributions to Roth conversions, backdoor Roth execution, QCD mistakes, and avoiding IRS withholding penalties. Jeremiah and Nic unpack overlooked tax traps, including misreported charitable transfers, improper Roth documentation, Form 8606 errors, and how retirees get hit with avoidable interest and penalties. Also something new to look forward to: Trump Accounts. The guys break down how these federally seeded children’s investment accounts work, eligibility timelines, contribution rules, investment limitations, tax treatment, distribution penalties, automatic setup, and whether politics should influence planning. They compare these to 529 plans, UTMAs, custodial IRAs, trusts, and simple brokerage accounts while showing when each shines — and when giving an 18-year-old control can be dangerous. Plus, we get practical strategies for gifting, legacy planning, educating children about money, and using investment accounts as tools for skill-building rather than entitlement. Everything from tax efficiency, Social Security concerns, behavioral finance, and new policy mechanics. Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask! https://www.therealmoneypros.com Hosts: Jeremiah Bates & Nic Daniels ————————————————————— Ataraxis PEO https://ataraxispeo.com   Tree City Advisors of Apollon: https://www.treecityadvisors.com   Apollon Wealth Management: https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/ —————————————————————