Tax Traps to Avoid, Cash Mistakes, & Smarter Year-End Planning (12/20/2025)
The Real Money Pros
As 2025 winds down with markets near all-time highs, we focus on how investors can stay disciplined, tax-efficient, and emotionally grounded heading into 2026. Jeremiah Bates and Nic Daniels unpack why market volatility—driven by headlines, politics, and forecasts—shouldn’t dictate financial decisions, and how time-based “bucket” strategies help protect lifestyle spending regardless of market swings. The guys go into common mistakes made by high-income earners, including excessive cash holdings, poor tax withholding, misreported backdoor Roth contributions, and costly surprises from...
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Gift Tax Explained: Do I Pay Taxes For My Christmas Giving?
The Real Money Pros
It’s the season of giving—but does generosity come with a tax bill? Not exactly. In this solo episode, Nic Daniels breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: the gift tax. From helping your kids with a down payment to giving cash to grandkids, he explains exactly how much you can give without involving the IRS. You’ll learn how the annual gift limit works, what Form 709 actually does (hint: it’s not a tax payment), and how the lifetime gift and estate exemption keeps most people completely in the clear. With current limits set at $19,000 per person and no...
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Self-Employed Retirement Plans, BetterBuckets & Investing Through Market Volatility (12/13/2025)
The Real Money Pros
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...
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Trump Accounts, Educating The Next Gen, & Best Year-End Tax Moves (12/6/2025)
The Real Money Pros
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,...
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Must Do's Before Dec. 31st: Taxes, Markets, & Planning Deep Dive (11/22/2025)
The Real Money Pros
This last weekend, Jeremiah and Nic walk through everything investors should be thinking about heading into year-end. They open with the uptick in market volatility and why short-term swings (especially after years of strong returns) should be expected rather than feared. From S&P 500 movement to speculation-driven selloffs and margin trading, the guys explain what’s actually happening under the hood. They then shift into the biggest year-end priorities: maxing out 401(k) contributions, coordinating Roth strategies, and using HSAs the right way—including the little-known double...
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Why the Market Feels Crazy: Insights from Profitscore
The Real Money Pros
This week’s Money Hour dives into one of the most volatile stretches the market has seen in months — and why investors are reacting the way they are. Brian welcomes Richard Davila of Profitscore Capital Management to break down the real drivers behind the market sell-off: stalled Fed rate cuts, a crypto crash shaking retail investors, shaky labor data, and sky-high expectations for Nvidia’s upcoming earnings. From there, the conversation shifts to what volatility actually signals, how ProfitScore uses “volatility regimes,” and why the current neutral regime makes investing especially...
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Roth Conversions, ACA Subsidy Changes, & Smart Real Estate Decisions (11/15/2025)
The Real Money Pros
This episode tackles some of the biggest financial decisions listeners are facing right now. Brian starts with a breakdown of upcoming ACA subsidy changes—why many families may see higher health insurance premiums next year and what planning steps to consider before open enrollment closes. We also cover challenges around financing a CBD/hemp-related business, why traditional banks often won’t lend, and what alternative paths may still be available. From there, we dive into real listener questions. One caller wants to know whether a Roth conversion makes sense alongside pension income and...
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50-Year Mortgages: Debt Until Death
The Real Money Pros
You've heard the controversial new idea making headlines — the 50-year mortgage. What started as a proposal from national homebuilders sparks a bigger conversation: Are we solving housing affordability, or just stretching debt for another generation? Brian breaks down how amortization works, why stretching payments can look appealing but cost hundreds of thousands more in interest, and how it impacts the broader economy. He also shares personal stories about real estate mistakes, mortgage decisions, and how inflation and rising rates are reshaping homeownership for Millennials and Gen Z....
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Social Security Secrets, Home Sale Tax Breaks, & Hidden Money You Forgot About (11/8/2025)
The Real Money Pros
This week, Jeremiah and Alex tackle the questions that real retirees are actually asking. From how to file for Social Security the smart way to how to unlock forgotten retirement money hiding in old accounts. They dig into Social Security myths and strategies, including how to decide when to file, the difference between spousal and survivor benefits, how income limits affect your payments, and what happens when SSDI converts to regular benefits. Callers share real-world dilemmas: a 64-year-old in cybersecurity weighing when to claim; a woman in California discovering a secret credit card in...
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Roth Conversions: You May WANT To Pay Taxes
The Real Money Pros
Pay taxes now or later? It’s one of the biggest decisions in retirement planning and the Roth conversion strategy sits at the center of it. We break down how Roth conversions work, why timing is critical, and how they can transform your retirement strategy. They explain how to move pre-tax dollars into a Roth account, what the short-term tax hit really means, and how to avoid common pitfalls such as triggering Medicare surcharges or penalties under the five-year rule. We also touch on how to use Roth conversions strategically for long-term tax savings, including how they help protect...
info_outlineIn this solo-hosted episode, Jeremiah Bates explores the week’s financial news and practical planning strategies—anchored by real-world client conversations. While Wall Street processed more volatility, led by Nvidia’s $5.5B hit and Apple’s China-related struggles, Jeremiah explains how index weighting magnifies the market impact of tech giants and why understanding portfolio construction matters more than ever.
But markets are only part of the story. Long-term care costs are skyrocketing—like a $12,000/month surprise bill for a client’s mother—and how families can prepare. He discusses tools like Miller Trusts, Medicaid planning rules, and how some families might self-fund care without sacrificing their financial stability.
Plus, tax-efficient strategies like Roth conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) for retirees facing RMDs they don’t need. It's important to understand your tax brackets, filing status, and charitable intent when making these decisions.
Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask!
https://www.therealmoneypros.com
Host:
Jeremiah Bates
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SPONSORS:
Guild Mortgage:
Ataraxis PEO
Tree City Advisors of Apollon:
https://www.treecityadvisors.com
Apollon Wealth Management:
https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/
Formations:
https://get.formationscorp.com/real-money-pros
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