We talk about net worth like it’s the ultimate scoreboard. Hit a certain number and you’ve “made it.” Track it long enough, and you’ll feel secure. But here’s what I see in real life: you can have an impressive net worth on paper and still feel financially constrained. That disconnect matters. The goal is to have control, flexibility, and options in your life. The number you should be tracking is liquid net worth.

Gold had a moment. In 2025, it was one of the best-performing assets, up nearly 65%, its strongest run in decades. And yes, that kind of return gets attention, especially when it wasn’t driven by the usual tech darlings. But strong performance doesn’t automatically make something a great investment. And gold, in my view, still isn’t special.

If you’re a small business owner or solo entrepreneur, a Solo 401(k) is one of the most powerful retirement savings vehicles available. It combines high contribution limits with flexible tax strategies, including the ability to take advantage of the much-talked-about mega backdoor Roth.

Most people think of HSAs as "money to pay medical bills." That’s true, but it’s only scratching the surface. In reality, a Health Savings Account (HSA) is one of the most tax-efficient accounts available for long-term planning, especially if you think about it over decades instead of just year-to-year. Let’s unpack what makes HSAs so powerful, and how you can take full advantage of them.

Why having options matters more than finding the “perfect” tax strategy. Most people think retirement planning is about one big question: “How do I pay the least in taxes right now?” That’s a good question… but it’s not the right one. The better question is:
“How do I give my future self the most flexibility?”

Sorry Boomers, but Millennials aren’t waiting around for Social Security to save the day. We learned early that retirement is a personal responsibility, not something an employer or government pension system will automatically provide. Unlike many of our parents’ generation, we rarely had the safety net of a pension, so we had to take matters into our own hands.

When most people picture a millionaire, they imagine a flashy lifestyle. Luxury cars. Big homes. Designer labels. Expensive vacations, carefully documented on social media. But in reality, many millionaires don’t look anything like that. In fact, some of the wealthiest people quietly lived right next door, drove older cars, wore unremarkable clothes, and never once talked about money. Often, it wasn’t until they passed away that friends and family discovered just how much they had accumulated.

If you’ve spent any time scrolling financial blogs, Instagram, or Reddit threads about retirement planning, you’ve probably run into the term FIRE, which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. The core idea of FIRE is simple:
Save aggressively, invest intelligently, and reach a point where your investment income supports your lifestyle, so you don’t have to work unless you choose to. But within the FIRE community, there are different flavors, and one common goal I hear is: FAT FIRE.

From an investor’s perspective, I can’t tell you how often I hear this phrase: “Real estate is passive income and the best way to build wealth.” Social media makes it look easy. Buy a property, collect rent, let tenants pay the mortgage, repeat. The problem is this. Most people dramatically underestimate the work, risk, and friction that come with owning real estate, and overestimate how “passive” it really is. Let’s talk honestly about what gets glossed over.

If retirement is starting to feel real, but savings don’t quite look the way you hoped, 2026 brings some very good news. Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, a new “Super Catch-Up” contribution becomes available starting in 2026, specifically designed for people in the final stretch before retirement. This could be one of your best saving years yet thanks to the expanded catch-up contribution rules. The change gives high earners and late savers a powerful opportunity to accelerate retirement savings during what are often peak earning years.

Maxing out your 401(k) is a big deal and something many people never quite get to. It means you’re earning well, saving intentionally, and thinking ahead. But once that box is checked, the next question almost always follows: “Where should the next dollar go?” The good news is that you have options. And the best choice depends on your income, family situation, tax picture, and what kind of flexibility you want down the road.

If you’re a business owner or solo entrepreneur, retirement planning can feel like juggling flaming swords; figuring out how much to save, when you can save it, how much to reinvest back into your business, and how to minimize taxes all at the same time. That’s exactly where a SEP IRA can come in as one of the simplest and most powerful retirement tools available. A SEP IRA (Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account) is built for people who own their own business and want both tax savings today and tax-deferred growth for the future.

Working at Google (Alphabet) often means a competitive salary, great perks, and a significant portion of your compensation in Google stock — specifically, Restricted Stock Units, or GSUs (Google’s name for RSUs). These can be a powerful part of your financial life, but they come with rules and tax implications that are important to understand.

Restricted Stock Units, or RSUs, are one of the most common forms of equity compensation, and also one of the most misunderstood. RSUs are company stock awarded to you as part of your compensation, usually tied to a vesting schedule or performance requirement. The easiest way to think about RSUs is this: RSUs are very similar to a cash bonus. They’re just paid in company stock instead of dollars. That framing alone can completely change how you approach them.

Incentive Stock Options, or ISOs, are a type of equity compensation that give you the right to buy shares of your company at a fixed price in the future. Incentive Stock Options can be a powerful wealth-building tool, but they also come with complexity, timing rules, and tax traps that can’t be ignored.

The Mega Backdoor Roth is a way to contribute significantly more to Roth retirement savings than you're typically allowed. It works through your employer's 401(k) plan and can unlock tens of thousands of dollars in additional tax-free retirement growth each year.

Exit planning is a strategy to leave your business when you want, in the way you want, for the amount you want.  With a solid exit plan, you’re more likely to maximize the value of your business and meet both your personal and professional goals down the road. A well-thought-out exit plan can also allow you to reduce or delay the total taxes you owe and keep more money in your wallet. 

RMDs may force you to deplete your tax-advantaged retirement plans faster than you need or want. There are at least 7 ways to reduce or delay your RMDs. This article explores options that show an innovative approach to the one RMD exception letting owners of small businesses legally sidestep RMDs for as long as they want if they’re planning to sell their business.

Exiting your business is a monumental step that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. One option that can provide significant benefits is an installment sale. This method not only offers financial advantages but also simplifies the transition process. Let’s dive into the basics of what an installment sale is, how it works, and why it might be the ideal choice for your business exit.

National 529 Day, celebrated on May 29th, is the perfect time to focus on one of the smartest ways to save for your child’s education: the 529 College Savings Plan. In this article, I’ll explain the basics of these plans, how they work, their tax advantages, and why they might be the best choice for your family’s educational savings.