Section Insights
Introduction to the Podcast
What is the focus of the Afford Anything Podcast?
The podcast covers financial psychology, increasing income, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that while you can afford anything, you cannot afford everything.
- The podcast aims to educate listeners on financial decision-making.
- It introduces the concept of tax gain harvesting as a luxury problem.
- Listeners will hear from callers about personal finance dilemmas.
Flexibility in Financial Planning
How can flexibility in career choices impact financial security?
Flexibility allows individuals to manage their careers and finances more aggressively, enabling them to prioritize family time while maintaining the option to work when necessary.
- Flexibility is key to achieving financial security.
- Spending time with family should be prioritized while children are young.
- A bucket strategy can help manage finances effectively.
Identifying Market Needs
What factors contribute to successfully identifying a viable business idea?
Successful business ideas stem from recognizing market needs, effectively laying out a business plan, and having passion for the industry.
- Finding a market need is crucial for business success.
- Effective business planning can enhance the viability of an idea.
- Passion for the industry can drive business growth.
Importance of a Solid Business Plan
Why is a solid business plan essential before launching a business?
A solid business plan helps ensure that the entrepreneur is prepared for the various aspects of running a business and can mitigate risks associated with jumping into entrepreneurship too quickly.
- A well-thought-out business plan is critical for success.
- Time urgency is important in business; delaying decisions can hinder progress.
- Testing concepts before full commitment can provide valuable insights.
Understanding Tax Implications
What is the kitty tax and why is it relevant for gifting to children?
The kitty tax applies to minors and full-time students, affecting how and when gifts can be given to children, particularly in relation to tax liabilities.
- Understanding tax implications is crucial for financial planning.
- Timing gifts can help avoid unnecessary tax burdens.
- The kitty tax affects minors and students differently.
Tax Strategies for Investments
What are the benefits of using a Roth solo 401k for tax gain harvesting?
Using a Roth solo 401k allows for tax-efficient growth of investments, but requires careful planning regarding contributions and asset allocation.
- Tax gain harvesting can optimize investment returns.
- Contributions to a Roth solo 401k must be made in cash, not stock.
- Diversifying investments is important to mitigate risks.
Transcript
0:00 stock that has super appreciated in your in your portfolio. >> I have on a few occasions. Isn't that fun? >> Yeah, it's great. Although, it puts you in a golden handcuff scenario when it comes to taxes if it's in a taxable brokerage account. >> Well, and not just that, also just the when do I sell it? Do I sell it? Is it too much? Do I let it ride? Like, what do I do? >> I know. So, we're going to talk to a caller at the end of today's episode who has a question about tax gain harvesting. You've heard of tax loss.
0:32 This is tax gain harvesting. The the opposite. It's the It's the luxury problem that we all hope to have. >> How do I how do I separate my tax by paying a little today? >> Right. Exactly. So, we're going to answer that at the end of the episode. In the middle of the episode, we're going to talk to someone whose side hustle is blowing up and she's wondering, "Do I quit this corporate job to go full scale into my side gig?"
0:58 >> You know, a lot of people have dreamt about this one, >> right? Exactly. The middle caller today, her question is your dream. But before we get to that, we're going to answer I was about to say this question, which comes from Mike and then go straight into it. But I should I should introduce the show first. >> Oh, that's crazy talk. You introduced the show last week and the week before that. >> We always do it the same.
1:22 >> But for the people who have never heard this before, welcome to the Afford Anything Podcast. The show that knows you can afford anything, not everything. This show covers five pillars. Financial psychology, increasing your income, investing, real estate, entrepreneurship, acronym double fire. I'm your host, Paula Pant. I trained in economic reporting at Colombia. Every other episodeish, I answer questions from you and I do so with my buddy, the former financial planner, Joe Salahhigh. What's up, Joe?
1:49 >> I feel inadequate today. I'm supposed to, if you're new here, I'm supposed to have some dad joke and I I I dropped the ball. I I don't have one. >> Oh. Oh. why did the dad decide to buy a boat? >> I don't know. >> There was a sale. >> Oh my. She's here all week. She's here for the next hourish. >> with that said, we go to our first question which comes from Mike.
2:19 >> Hi Paul and Joe. This is Mike from Boyisey and my wife and I who are 37 are blessed to be in an incredibly great situation. We're a doctor and a nurse and we're positioned to have gainful employment kind of whenever we want and we can always go back to that even if we need to take a break. We have some great income and we've currently got 1.2 million in investable assets. So I project that this is going to grow to close to four million in 8 to 10 years and that's of course depending on markets and everything like that.
2:52 However, our inflated expenses around that time should be about 5% of the assets. And I bring up that because it seems like a really perfect opportunity to take a break and reassess. I've got two daughters who won't quite be in college. We'd love to travel during the summers with them extensively, do some slow travel, do some projects around the house and see if maybe markets cooperate and we can just continue into retirement, but also we could always go back if necessary. My question is around asset allocation during that time. I've been looking into some ris parity portfolios, but I'm honestly a little worried they're too conservative. in my situation, I could easily see myself going back to work because it might be fun or at least a part-time amount and I'd have plenty of years to make it up if the markets tanked being only 45.
3:48 Am I crazy to do something like 80% stocks, mainly split between small cap value and large cap growth, 10% long-term treasuries, and 10% gold? When I do this with my $4 million potential portfolio in my inflated expenses, Portfolio Visualizer says I've got about a 90% success rate on a Monte Carlo. That seems plenty good enough to me. I think as long as I have enough cash on hand to cover my travel and lifestyle, I don't necessarily need to be too scared of market volatility and sequence of returns risk. I'd also love to get any input on what markers you would use to decide that you needed to return to work or add on part-time income. Is it a percent portfolio drop, a failure rate on a Monte Carlo, or something else?
4:36 Can't wait to hear what you guys think. Appreciate everything you do. Have a great day. Mike, I love this question. and so to jump straight into it, first of all, I am I'm with you on the thinking risk parody is a little bit too conservative. I'm totally there. So, we've had Frank Vazquez. So for for people who are not familiar with the risk parity portfolio, it is popularized by a guy named Frank Vazquez who he derives the research from Bridgewwater Associates which is a big hedge fund. Ray Dalio and the risk parody portfolio.
5:15 listen, we'll link in the show notes to that episode. You can listen to that for people who are not familiar with the risk parity portfolio. You can listen to that episode for a a deep dive explanation. We won't go into it here, but it is a method of portfolio draw down that I I'm with you, Mike. I think it's too conservative. it requires an allocation that might be a bit not ideal. I think there's some other issues with risk parody which is have mostly been outlined in a recent piece very recent piece from our friend Big E Karsten Jesy wrote pretty much a takedown of risk parody and talked about why he does not like risk parody.
6:03 For me, my biggest question around risk parody has nothing to do with the math. I'll leave that to minds like Karsten. For me, it's much more behavioral. When I see practitioners in the space, they don't use asset classes in nearly in at all the way that you see risk parity people use these asset classes and then you wonder why that would be. And you know, if you ask Frank, it's because they're a bunch of morons. And if you ask if you if you >> I was about to say Frank wouldn't say that, but then I thought and I you know what, Frank Frank actually would. Yeah, Frank would say that.
6:45 >> Yeah, 100% he'd say that. they're all morons. But then I think these are some of the smartest people I've ever been around who who manage large amounts of money for very smart people, you know. So if all these smart people aren't doing it, what are we all missing? And I think I think that worries me as well. I I also don't like being locked into a single philosophy because everything works until it doesn't. I want to know how my money's invested and I want to be able to from a behavioral standpoint, I want to be able to adjust when I need to, which is the crux of Mike's question, right? How do I know when it's not working and I have to do something different? So, I I really it isn't that I'm not a fan of risk parody. It's that I think there's a ton of caution flags that I feel like especially the inner circle of the personal finance community kind of have chosen lately not to pay attention to that they really should.
7:42 >> And and so Mike, I like your approach of design an aggressive portfolio that you know that that you've tested and that you know has a high probability of success. especially because you're so young, you're still in your 40s, right? So you you need to design a portfolio that could stay with with you and your wife for the next 60 years. So design that portfolio while also using a bucket approach so that one year's worth of expenses at at I would go with one year at a minimum a one year's worth of expenses is kept in cash so that that way you've got some buffer from sequence of returns risk. we have another 2008 calamity, you've got enough cash on hand, you've got enough dry powder on hand to get you through the next year. And then within that one-year time span, you can reassess to decide what you want to do, if you want to return to work or not. But given the flexibility and opportunity that both you and your wife have with the work that you do and especially if you have a year's worth of expenses held in cash, I would under those two conditions, I would feel free to go as aggressive with your portfolio as you want.
9:02 >> I feel like Yeah, I feel like there needs to be an emerging middle bucket though. there needs to be this midground between very aggressive and cash because the big the the crux of the problem is how do I transfer cash? How do I transfer funds from more aggressive positions systematically into a cash position and especially during market downturns I don't know that the stuff that's on the bleeding edge I want to take out during these downturn times. So, this is where I really like the middle bucket where maybe I'm taking the the riskiest percentage of my portfolio and any money I take out of that, I'm only moving it over the short run to a spot where I have an opportunity to maybe recapture some of it. I know I probably won't recapture all of the loss, but I may recapture some of the loss, let's say, by moving it from small company value stocks, which traditionally are very volatile, into a into a a large cap growth or large cap value fund, you know, and then from there in my middle bucket. So, I would see most of the money on that that much more aggressive portfolio that you're talking about. I'm 100% with you. But then I think there needs to be a middle bucket too for maybe that 5 to 10 years out period.
10:32 >> What what surprises me, Joe, when you talk about that middle bucket is what initially when you said middle bucket, I was imagining that you meant T- Bill and Chill or Jinny Mays or something very conservative. But when you say middle bucket, you are still referring to large cap equity stocks. >> Yeah, I'm I'm referring to to stocks and still a ton of equity, but a spot where my standard deviation, which is how we talk about volatility, right? My my roller coaster ride is a little bit more mellow.
11:10 the issue is if we get into an extended downturn and this is where being incredibly conservative or excuse me incredibly aggressive with most of his assets can really land you in trouble if you don't have some sort of mechanism to possibly when the wind starts blowing again and if the economy continues it will right >> because of the fact that these stocks are the economy they don't it's not voodoo and when people say things like play the play the stock market or man it feels like a casino. They don't understand that this is a reflection of economic conditions. And when economic conditions reverse and things are great again, which eventually through history has always happened, well, we have to have something in the sale to be able to make the wind blow, you know, to be able to get back some of it. So, I have to give away >> Joe's taking my J dad joke to heart.
12:07 something in the sale. >> I know >> the guy who bought the boat, the dad who bought the boat because it because there was a sale. >> Cuz there was a sale. Yeah, we need to have some of that. so I think that there has to be a a lever that will help you recoup some losses during that downturn. So would you then conceptualize the plan as the one-year bucket, the years 2 through eight bucket, and then the year 8 plus >> if I'm staying if I'm staying aggressive. I don't think I'm going a one-year bucket in cash. I think I would look at a two-year bucket.
12:47 >> A two-year bucket. >> And and and maybe not all cash. I mean, I could see some treasuries in there, Paulo, >> you know. I could see that being added to that bucket, but there's got to be two years, I believe. >> Yeah, I was I was thinking right before I the I 3, two, one. I was thinking, you know, I I said minimum one year. one year is the minimum, but I was also thinking between one to two years.
13:13 >> Yeah. And I know a lot of financial planners that are love the idea of 100% equities or high percentage of equities and they'll use the big-time barbell which is a three-year allocation. >> Okay. That's that's a bit much. >> Yes. Well, it depends. I mean, if you're going 100% equities on one side, balancing that out with three years of cash, cash cash equivalents, short-term obligations, and treasuries is, you know, also historically has modeled very well.
13:47 >> Yeah. But one year would be the minimum that I would go. Absolutely. the other thing about if you commit to a minimum of one year, then when times are good, you can continually replenish the year. So it can be a rolling one year and that rolling one year will persist until times change at which point you then have one year from that point forward to reassess. So, as long as you make it a rolling one year, then then you'll always have the 12 months of runway from the point at which fortunes turn.
14:30 >> And and there's another way to solve that. You know, Mike also said he might want to go back to work part-time, right? He might if he I if he thinks that he has the ability if he's a physician there's you know locom tenums where he takes on a role for 6 months and in his specialization maybe there's a high need for that so he could go back to work fairly quickly and there's a very high probability that that would happen quickly then he could solve the cash problem not from having excess cash on hand, he could solve it from sporadically going back to work for a while if he's not averse to it.
15:11 >> Right. Exactly. Yeah. And it sounds like both he and his wife are very open to going back to work from time to time if a need arises. So that that's a big part of the reason why I think that they have the ability to be more aggressive is because to quote JL Collins, flexibility is the true security and from the plan Mike that you've described there's a lot of flexibility in your plan. So, I would optimize for two things. Number one, I would optimize for spending time with your kids while they're before they go to college.
15:42 Spend time with your kids while they're still young and while they while they don't have pressing obligations that would preclude them from being able to spend time with you, right? I would I would optimize around that first and foremost. And and in order to do that, the flexibility that you've described around how you will manage your career, you and your spouse will manage your careers, that combined with a bucket strategy, I think is the way to go.
16:13 >> Yeah. 100%. And I and I think so. What do you what do you think about his question around when >> Yeah. >> when you know it's going a foul? >> Exactly. What markers would you use? you know, the the two hypotheticals that he threw out. He he asked, "Is it after Monte Carlo falls below a certain threshold? Is it when the portfolio balance falls below a a certain level?
16:46 What's enticing about both of those proposals is that they are quantifiable. But I think the single biggest marker is probably going to be qualitative and not quantitative. I think the single biggest marker is when you start to feel enough anxiety about the future that you cannot enjoy the present. That goes, I think, directly to where I was headed, Paulo, which is, you know, how I love my timeline. I I love building a timeline. And I think on that timeline that I would build out, Mike, I would, if you and I were working together, we would build out a timeline of where we want to be a year from now, 18 months from now, two years from now, two and a half years from now, three years from now. So, every six months, what what do we want that portfolio to be to feel, Paula, exactly the way that you said like? what is that number? This this amount I need minimum to to feel safe and then I'm going to I'm going to just measure against the marker and then every three or four years I'm going to redo those markers.
17:56 because things change my not only does the market change but also my feelings change about what's happening. You're going to find that as you begin to slow travel there's going to be some things that you love and some things you don't love. Maybe you start out, as an example, by thinking that you're going to be a world traveler, but you find your time in the United States, you enjoy that a heck of a lot more, and you find that you like, let's say, camping in the United States more. So, your travel costs are a lot less, your hotel stay costs have been slashed, and now your expense expectation is through the floor. And that's just because you found what makes you happy. Or you flipped that, right?
18:35 You thought you were going to like camping and in turns you like bougie hotels in Bali, you know, you like being halfway around the world. So, as you get more experience doing this, those markers are going to change. And I like the thoughtfulness of that approach because it takes a little more time to do it that way. But I feel like Paulo, that's time well spent because you're not thinking about the marker as much as you're thinking about what you alluded to, which is what makes you happy.
19:02 >> Right. Right. also age in in many ways changes your your risk tolerance and correspondingly the the level of anxiety that you feel. I know my my dad has talked a lot about how, you know, when he when he got to his 60s and 70s, he was like full of energy and full of optimism and and then in when he got to his 80s, he started to feel a lot of anxiety because he became so aware of his vulnerabilities, you know, and he became hyper aware of the fact that >> you know, simply catching your your toe on a a step having a a little fall, right? Something that it would be a non-event in your 40s would be a major event in your 80s, >> much bigger consequences, >> right? Exactly. Exactly. And so because the stakes of small things became higher, it correspondingly really raised his level of anxiety. And so in order to counterbalance that, he then dedicated more of his time to meditation, right? And so so it's like all of these things change. and yeah, he's spending more time meditating. He's spending less time traveling because he doesn't want to go through the the stresses of travel.
20:20 so yeah, I mean, all of these things kind of change your, you know, not only how you fill your time, but also the level of anxiety that you feel about your life. and that that's just going to track differently over time, often in ways that you don't expect or that you can't predict. and so for that reason, I I wouldn't state an arbitrary portfolio balance because what does that portfolio balance represent? fundamentally, at the end of the day, your net worth is is only relevant in so far as it generates some type of an income stream. And that income stream is relevant in so far as it covers expenses needed to have the type of life that you want. And so I would I would start with the type of life that you want. And because that is dynamic the the downstream of therefore how big should that portfolio balance be also is dynamic.
21:57 all of that said, I think this is a fantastic goal. >> Yeah, >> I think I think it's a great goal. I would do it I would do it in a heartbeat. I think you've achieved this level of financial independence. Even if it doesn't work out and nothing ever works out the way you think it's going to work out, I would I would jump on this. >> Yeah, absolutely.
22:45 But Mike to to give you a more concrete because there's a part of me that's like did we give Mike a concrete enough answer to his question about the markers? So to summarize into a the most concrete answer that I would want to give you while still remaining truthful. I I think the most concrete answer is have a dynamic goal portfolio balance and that dynamism should be based on lifestyle cost, expected lifestyle cost.
23:23 But make sure that it's a dynamic number that is routinely updated. Yeah. So, thank you Mike for the question. We're going to take a moment to hear from the sponsors who allow us to bring you this show at no cost to you. And when we return, we're going to hear from Olivia, whose side hustle is totally blowing up. It's such a cool story.
24:07 very excited. Oh, like her question is your dream. So, we're gonna hear from her next. Welcome back. Our next question comes from Olivia. >> Hi Paula. My name is Olivia. I am a huge fan. Last month my husband and I got married and when I went to look for a secondhand wedding dress, I found that there just really weren't many options in my city. and I live in a a major southern US city. And so I out of frustration decided to start a secondhand wedding dress popup. We just had our second event a few days ago and it went extremely well. We source our inventory a few different ways.
24:56 So most of our inventory comes from Facebook Marketplace where I buy these dresses and then I restore them and then I store them in my home. And then the other about 25% comes from recent brides who will bring in their dresses on consignment. to the event and we make about a 40% cut. So at our most recent event, we had about two to 300 people attend. There was a 30 person line to get into the event at 10:00 a.m. We were open for 4 hours and we made about $5,500.
25:38 we also partnered with a wedding venue, so we got to use the space for free. they would like to continue this partnership and we're planning on hosting more events this fall and the beginning of next year. The wedding the same venue is planning on opening another venue in another major city and would love for us to host events there as well. So what I'm trying to get at is that I think this idea has legs. I have paid back all of the inventory that I purchased, racks, mirrors, and I still have about 70 dresses left, which is about 8 or $9,000 of inventory.
26:17 And why I'm calling is because I I currently work a pretty soul sucking corporate job. I am 30 years old. been in the workforce for about 8 years and I've just really struggled to to find my place in corporate America and I am struggling to balance my corporate job, my civic engagement and this side hustle. And what I'm wondering is how do I assess when it's appropriate to to quit my corporate job?
26:53 Just for some context, I have more than six months of my salary saved. My husband and I split the mortgage on our house, so I pay about $1,500 a month, and I am expected to inherit between 50 and $100,000 in the next few months from a family member. I would appreciate any of Did it cut off?
27:27 >> And there it stops. Yes. >> Oh, >> we'll never know the rest of what she said. >> We'll never know what she would appreciate. >> I'll appreciate nothing. Yes. >> this is a great >> Steve obviously cut off cut cut the question cut the question before it cuts off >> but but those of you watching on YouTube live you got to see that >> and we're done.
28:03 >> All right. three, two, one. >> Oh, did you want to start it, Joe? >> sure. Yeah. Oh yeah. Or I can start it. Okay. >> So Olivia's question ends. 3 2 1. Joe. >> Olivia. I absolutely love this. Paula, isn't this amazing? This this is like Joe and I both got so excited Olivia when we heard your question because your I know I keep saying your question is everyone's dream but what you've done what you have built already is number one it's the hardest part getting started is the hardest part number too because it's there are a lot of people who they have negative selft talk and they convince themselves that it's not possible I couldn't do it I'm too busy I blah blah blah blah blah blah and so they never get to the point that you're at I I just I can't emphasize enough how much getting to the point where you're already at getting from zero to where you are right now. That's the hardest step. So, the fact that you've done this tells me that you have fuel in the tank.
29:31 You've got the potential. You've got what it takes to take this like way further. >> And I love the, you know, and the idea the idea and the fact that you found the idea that has legs and you are, >> you know, there's there's actually three different things going on here. You have ideas, some have legs, some don't. >> Then you have the laying it out as a business and sometimes people lay that out in effectively and so they kind of killed the the original piece. And then the third is there's this there's this idea that it's a great time, it's a great place, and you love that portion of the industry. You love doing it.
30:15 and you're able to lay out the business correctly. Like that's that's That's the That's the wheelhouse. It's very very difficult to get to where you are right now. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Find your finding your thing that also pays the bills, >> right? Because you found So, what I love about the question, sorry, Olivia, we just keep talking about how much we love your question. we're we're not even answering the question yet. We're just telling you why we love the question so much.
30:44 you found a need in the market like and I want everyone who's listening to this to go back and relisten to the beginning of Olivia's question. Actually, Steve, can we just play the first couple of sentences so we can hear that again? Because notice how the idea generated because Olivia spotted a need in the market. Joe, will you just for our YouTube audience, will you replay? Will you just restart? Yeah.
31:17 >> Okay, fine. >> Thank you. >> My name is Olivia. I am a huge fan. Last month, my husband and I got married. And when I went to look for a secondhand wedding dress, I found that there just really weren't many options in my city. and I live in a a major southern US city. And so I, out of frustration, decided to start a secondhand wedding dress popup. >> There it is. >> There it is. There it is. So notice what she said. Here's a need in the market.
31:53 there there is she lives in a major city. So there is a large market and inside of this large market there is a need that is not being filled and so she stepped in to take care of a need that the market had not yet covered. Right? That is exactly how a good business begins. Too many people say, "Well, I'm really passionate about cupcakes or I'm really passionate about, I don't know, Post-it notes or whatever." you know, I'm really passionate about X. They make it about themselves.
32:32 Olivia didn't make it about herself. She made it about this gap that exists in the market. So, she >> But in some ways, it was about herself because she was frustrated with the fact that there was a gap in the market. She she noticed it because it came like she was able to see that there was a gap in the market from her own life, but she's already married. She doesn't need a secondhand wedding dress anymore. She doesn't she didn't start this by saying I've always had a passion for wedding dresses or I've always had a passion for cost, you know, I did I was in the costume department in high school theater and I wanted to work with with big fancy gowns. Like she doesn't start by saying any of that. She said, "I was searching for something. I noticed I couldn't find it. I live in a major city with a large population. So, if I can't find it, that means all of the rest of the inhabitants of this city also cannot find it. And I'm betting that there is a significant enough population that is also looking for the same thing that I could fill that need.
33:40 >> And then she proved the concept. >> Yeah, exactly. >> So, you ready to start answering? >> Yeah. Olivia, as long as you've got You said you've got a emergency fund. Let me check your You've got more than six months of salary saved. you have a very reasonable monthly mortgage. You have some more money coming in. I'm going to assume you can maybe maybe or maybe not get health insurance from your husband's job. If you can, great.
34:13 If you can't, that's fine, too. Don't let that stop you. But you've got between the fact that you have an emergency, I'm also going to assume that you're debtree or at least free of any highinterest debt. so I'm going to assume that you don't have any double-digit debt. You don't have any credit card debt. maybe you've got a maybe you might have a student loan, maybe not. That's fine if you do, but I'm going to assume that either you're debtree or your debt is low interest.
34:43 You've got all the the conditions are right. like the conditions are totally right. Great savings, presumably no or low debt, low cost of living, influx of money coming in, and you've already proven out the concept. I say go for it. >> I don't >> what >> I do just I think there's a lot more ramp building that still needs to be built. as a guy who's counseledled many people on beginning businesses.
35:18 Let's talk about not now when it's an exciting venture for Olivia. We want to we want Olivia to think about six months from now, nine months from now when it's a grind because every business at some point is a grind and it's not working the way that you think it's going to work, which is going to happen. Mhm. >> And nearly every business that I have ever watched get off the ground.
35:49 Number one, you have to build a lot of projections about where I'm going to be, where am I going to be for the next 6 months, year, two years, three years. In fact, when you work with the SBA, the SBA will coach people on this locally. So, you can find SBA offices and SBA mentors. A lot of the time, these are retired entrepreneurs who will help you at no cost to you. to begin building out these projections. But I think you need to begin projecting how is this going to flow? How is the business going to float? And the cool thing is you have a business you work in now. It's not where you want to be, but you have this you have this life preserver that the second you jettison it, it's gone. Like it is gone. So, I want to take advantage of the life preserver time to do all of the little eye dots and tac crosses just to ensure that this is as badass as Paulo and I and you think that it is. So, I would build out projections and then what I would do is I would 3x those projections. Meaning, it's going to take you three times longer than you think for this to get from point A to point B.
36:59 Almost every single business that I ever counseledled took three times as long. It also takes three times the resources to get from point A to point B. And it's not because your projections were wrong. It's because stuff comes out of from the blue. Like you're like, I didn't think about this one expense that now as a business owner I realize is a piece of running the business. And each one of these expenses is a mosquito bite, but it's hundreds of mosquito bites. It's hundreds of them. And you just you feel like what's that that phrase death by thousand paper cuts, right?
37:35 >> And so it's a lot of paper cuts, but I would 3x the amount of money that it's going to take to run the business. >> So I would do those things. So when I hear sixmonth emergency fund, I think phenomenal year and a half. Let's get to let's get as close to a year and a half as I as I can. The second thing is is what can I do because we want to lower overhead as much as possible. Can your husband and I'm just going to throw this out there. This is and this this could be a yes, could be a no. I just think this would be incredibly helpful. Can your husband pay your part of the mortgage for a while?
38:14 Can you pay your part of the mortgage so that you have the flexibility to withstand times that don't go the way that you want them to go? If if you can lower your overhead by relying on his income stream to pay the mortgage if you can and he's open to it, that's phenomenal. Doesn't mean you're going to do it right now. It just means you have another lever that's going to help you if things get bad and you know that you have this ace in the hole for later. But she said the mortgage that they split is $1,500. So her share of that is $750 a month. I have zero doubts in my head that she can come up with $750 a month.
38:57 >> I think everything's on the table. I think every single thing's on the table. I think that I have seen can't lose businesses that lose and it's partly because of the fact that we were too optimistic. I want to be way way way more pessimistic. I love what Mike said earlier about I think that my, you know, my projections are too conservative, right? This is a time to be incredibly conservative. Let's be as conservative as possible so that when you get into a cash flow crunch, you've got the ability to withstand that because you see some great businesses that go out of business because they didn't have the ability to do that.
39:37 I would also look at how you set up your business. There's a fantastic book and for people that are longtime fans of the show, it's not the book you're thinking. So relax. >> Oh, it's not it it's not the E-Myth because Joe talks about that every episode. >> It isn't the E-Myth. And in this case, I think the goal is more appropriate, but I'm not even going to reference the goal. >> I think there's a book by a guy named Mike Malowitz called Prophet First. Mhm.
40:06 >> Profit first. That I think for for you, Olivia, is one of the most important reads because if you can set up your business in a profit first manner from the very beginning, then you're not going to have to re-engineer that later. And what Mike will tell you and I'll tell you and I think Paula will tell you is that you find it at a point comes along when you realize your business is so awesome that now you've gone from being an employee of a soul sucking job somebody else owns to becoming an employee of a soul sucking job that you own.
40:44 >> And you you have to flip that. And if you work from a profit first mentality, you're not going to get in that position. When I was a financial planner and I worked with with entrepreneurs, the very one of the first questions I'd always ask them was, "Are you working for your business or is your business working for you?" And you know exactly what people would say, Paula. >> Yeah. The the other phrasing that I've heard of that is, "Do you own your business or does your business own you?"
41:14 and and and 100 and these were great entrepreneurs that have been doing it for 20 30 years and they're like, "Yeah, my problem is my business owns me." >> But but okay, so I because I disagree with you, Joe. So she right now she uses the term we I notice. So she has contract help, but she's not talking about hiring full-time employees and signing up to give them workers comp and retirement and health insurance and all of that. you know once you start doing that it becomes a much bigger obligation right now I notice she's using the term we so there are other people who are being brought in but it's very projectbased it's popup based she's not renting her own place she's making partnerships with other venues right so her overhead in terms of running this business is incredibly low and so goal number one that she's trying to solve for is replacing her own salary, employing herself. And if she's employing herself, then it's perfectly fine to own your own job. Often times that step of you know, this isn't a sustaining business in the sense that I can pull myself out of it. Yes, this is a job that I own. Getting to the point where it's a job that you own is step number one in being a bootstrapped soloreneur or who then turns into a bootstrapped entrepreneur.
42:44 >> So I would take advantage of this time while she's still employed as much as I possibly can before I jettison the lifeboat. >> I just don't I don't see any reason to stick around in the corporate job any longer. Man, I don't see a reason to let the free money train go. I mean, I truly don't. Why am I gonna Why am I going to get rid of the fact that I have a consistent paycheck? I have health insurance. I have all of these things.
43:11 And I'm excited about the new venture. I might not be excited about my job right now that I have, but but I think there's a huge amount of of opportunity here to make a wonderful wellthoughtout business plan versus go jump in the deep end and figure out how to swim once you're there >> because it costs your most valuable assets which are your time, your energy, your focus. >> So, you're making best use of that time.
43:37 >> So, it's it's not free money. It's money that comes at the highest possible cost. The cost of the one asset that you cannot replace, which is your time. >> I I I know very few very few entrepreneurs that would say that would say just jump. Now, I would I would I don't know what type of business planning she's done, which is my advice. My advice is have a solid business plan for this to work >> your business.
44:13 >> How long do you think that would take? Are we are you talking like one month, two months, or are you talking like a year? >> I'm talking Well, initially when you said how long? >> I was thinking six months. I was thinking a six-month time frame to build this out to find out where my help is to to actually, you know, and the administrative stuff that you have to that h >> there is so much there's so many aspects of being of being a business owner that are that I would love it if I had a steady paycheck coming in from X place and I have the ability to use then my free time around that to be able to make a better plan. I don't know. I don't know why that's bad. I don't know why that's bad. I think that's that's perfect.
45:10 >> Six months is it's un she's already tested this out. She's already built out the concept. She's she already has proof of concept. She already has not just a venue in her own city, but venues in other locations don't keep working inventory. Like she already had she's done all of that leg work initially. if she kicks the can down the road by another six months, that's just delaying it. Like when as a business owner, urgency is everything. Time is an edge, right? Urgency is an edge. Speed is an edge. like she needs to get out in front of this and give it her all. So, I mean, if we're talking about delaying by one month, okay, I don't have any objection to a month. Even two months, fine, whatever. But anything that's longer than than two two months, that just seems like procrastination at that point.
46:04 >> I don't think it's procrastination at all. I think it's I think it's prudent business planning. It's 100% prudent business planning. Make sure I know what the hell I'm getting myself into. Talk to some people that are entrepreneurs that have done that. Read Profit First and set up your Profit First system. Make sure that you've got the that you've got the life preservers in place. You need to replace your HR benefits. Not all of them. Some of them are ones that you don't need, but there's going to be other benefits that you want to have that you want to port out. How am I going to do that? Like everything just said, everything that you've just read profit for that takes 10 hours to read a book. So, you're saying you're saying get rid of the get rid of the life preserver and then do all this planning?
46:47 >> 100%. No. No. No. >> I I look, she's got a six-month emergency fund. She's got a low cost of living. I'm assuming that she has no debt or very low low interest debt. that's so assuming that the no debt stipulation. Then I don't see any reason to delay. There you have it. There you have it, Olivia. Yeah, there you have it. I'm not changing >> because Yeah, but because the moment that she the moment that she leaves that corporate job, she frees up 40, 50 hours a week plus not just the time, but also the the cognitive bandwidth. Your job takes up the most cognitively precious hours of your day. And when all of that is free, you can go wholehog into all of this.
47:41 And when you've got maximum enthusiasm around a a business, like when you pour all of that into the business that you're running, like you become an unstoppable force. I wouldn't squander that. She's 30. She's she has a level of energy now that frankly most of us are not going to have at the age of 50 or 55, right? Like pres preserve this chapter in your life when you've got low expenses, low overhead.
48:18 You're the the energy of a 30year-old, right? Like and you've already tested out the concept and you know there's a market for it. Speed is an edge and and I think fear can disguise itself as procrastination. >> I don't think this is procrastination at all. I don't think she wants to procrastinate. I think my advice to take this more prudently. I don't think should be interpreted as slower.
48:54 I don't think it's slower. I think it's I think it's better because of 3,000y old advice from Sun Sue. The best battle is the one you never fight. And if I know what some of the battles are going to be before I get out there with all my enthusiasm, that's going to be wrecked on the rocks the second that the BS train starts hitting. And because of the fact that I didn't set up any of these markers ahead of time or any of these this network ahead of time of other entrepreneurs that maybe have been there before me, I know don't even know who to talk to about my situation. So I don't know I I still would take I still would take six months. I would run projections. I would have those projections be 3x what you think they're going to be. And I don't I don't consider that being pessimistic either. I consider that being a realist.
49:46 I consider it I consider it pretty badass that I can I can then have numbers that are unbeatable. I'm not going to beat myself that way. I'm going to get in it with a solid plan that I know works. And then every month when I beat these numbers that are three times worse than what most initial projections are, and I'm kicking their butt because of the fact that I made sure that even at a conservative basis that I was going to be okay and I'm not going to have to do this differently, I think is a great way to great way to go into business.
50:24 >> All right. Well, well, Olivia, there you have it. So, you've you've heard both sides. You decide. >> And we know, Olivia, which one's right? And this is coming from two people who have both quit quit our jobs. quit our jobs and gone into the extremely volatile and highly unforgiving world of business ownership, small business ownership, bootstrapped small business ownership.
51:02 And honestly, I would I would never do anything else. >> Me neither. >> Yeah. Yeah, sometimes the hardest things are the best things. I was writing about this the other day. Living in New York City, it's, the winters are brutal. It's expensive. They're high taxes. There are rats everywhere. There are cats in the lunch deli to scare away the rats. Like, we all live in a big Charles Dickens novel. so on in all of those ways, it sucks. And also, I would never want to live anywhere else.
51:45 >> The fact that I get to deal with the problem in the way that I think is best. >> Yeah. >> And I don't have to disagree with a boss. >> Yeah. >> Who who gives me some halfbaked idea that is just not even meant to impress the customer. It's meant to impress their boss because you can see right through them that all they're looking for is a promotion. Oh god. I don't have to deal with any of that. I can go right to the consumer, make the consumer as happy as I possibly can.
52:13 >> Super fun, >> direct feedback. >> Yeah, I think there well there's a certain level of agency when you're like, I I make the choices and I bear the consequences. And so the fact that you so directly bear the consequences of every single choice that you make makes every choice that much more real, that much more important. But there's a there's a huge level of agency and autonomy when you're like, "All right, this this this is adulthood.
52:45 I make the choices and I bear the consequences." And that's what being a grown-up is. Joe's laughing at me now. >> Yeah. And and and also remember Paula wouldn't take six months to make sure that we weigh any of those ahead of time. >> I don't think six months is not one month. Fine. Even two months fine. I wouldn't go beyond two months.
53:17 >> Oh, she went two months. We got her from one month to two months. >> That's That's 100% more months. >> She's coming >> and see and we think like entrepreneurs. Paula, now with 100% more months. >> All right. Well, thank you Olivia for the question. We're going to take one final break to hear from the sponsors who make the show possible. When we return, we're going to hear from an anonymous caller who has a question about tax gain harvesting. You've heard of tax loss, but what is tax gain and should she use it? That's up next.
54:06 Welcome back. Our final question today comes from Anonymous. Hi Paula and Joe. I this is anonymous. I have two questions about my taxable brokerage account. The first is about tax gains harvesting. I'm totally new to this concept, but I'm wondering if it might benefit me. About 11 years ago, I invested a few hundred in a stock that's grown to about 25K. I know. I hold it in my taxable brokerage and would like to continue holding it.
54:39 Should I sell it now? pay the 15% capital gains tax and then repurchase it and continue to hold in order to reduce the cost basis. Additionally, should I or can I even buy it through my solo or reby it through my solo Roth 401k so it grows taxfree? More on asset location in my second question. Side note, I hold very few stocks and almost all of my investments are in most index funds since finding your podcast which was after I purchased that stock. I have used the efficient frontier modeling assuming that I hold the stock in question and I'm rebalancing by purchasing new investments moving forward. My second question is about the best use of the taxable brokerage account, especially that one so far very lucky stock. We have two young kids and don't have much saved for their college funds. So, I was thinking about letting those taxable investments grow, having them take out student loans for college, and then doing inind transfers when they graduate, and at a time they might be able to take advantage of the 0% capital gains tax rate. Does that make sense?
55:43 And if it does make sense, should I repurchase the stock I mentioned in the first part of my question in my taxable brokerage instead of through my broth for 1K so that I can more easily transfer it to my kids? For context, I'm 40 years old. My partner is 44. He makes 132K and I'm self-employed and make about 90K. We currently have 410K in our pre-tax accounts, 47K in Roth accounts, and 46K in our taxable brokerages. We also have 60K emergency fund and 40K in various syncing funds. And I have 47K in student loans that I plan to have paid off in five years. We have a 600k mortgage in a high cost of living area.
56:26 My partner will have a small pension when he retires and we're planning to work until he's 64 and I'm 60, hopefully retiring with about 2.7 million invested. And so far we are not counting the taxable brokerage as part of our retirement. so we're investing without that being part of it. I hope these questions make sense. I can't thank you enough for all you do. Your podcast has truly changed our lives. And as you can tell from this question, the lives of our kids as well. Thank you so much.
56:59 >> Anonymous. Thank you for your question. And before we answer, we need to give you a name. >> We have to. >> Those of us who are watching this on YouTube live, you're you're about to see how the sausage is made. Joe Joe, are you thinking something from a movie or a show? Are you thinking like >> I'm not thinking anything? >> I don't have one.
57:56 Who was one second up that I'm consulting a book.
58:29 I'm just searching all the aspects of this question and I I'm not coming up with with anything. >> Who is was her name? Sylvia. What was her name?
58:59 okay. Oh, okay. Actually, this is this wasn't who I was originally thinking of, but Okay, I got one.
59:55 All right. let's lead into that. Joe, you say, let's ceue it up again. Joe, you say, thank anonymous for the question. Tell her we need to give her a name. Throw it to me. >> Yes. Okay. Thank you, Anonymous, for the question. I can't wait to cover this one. But Paula, we can't cover this one until you have a name. You have a name. >> Exactly. So anonymous because you have done so well in the stock market. I wanted to name you after someone who also had early success in the stock market. And in the year 1870, >> we're going back.
60:40 >> Oh yes. In the year 1870, Victoria Woodhull opened a stock brokerage on Wall Street with her sister that ended up doing very well. So, in honor of a Wall Street stock broker pair of sisters who were Wall Street stock brokers in 1870, >> we're going to name you Victoria. >> Victoria. All right. Well, it it it's interesting because, you know, initially I think a lot of a lot of people listening might be thinking, why would you take out student loans and wait to gift this to children after after college versus just doing it now? And so, I think maybe Paula, we should answer that first because there is a simple rule that she's trying to get around using this device and it's called the kitty tax. They call it the kitty tax. And so if you are under 18 years old or you are between 18 and 24 and you're a student, you're a full-time student, then you are going to be subject to the kitty tax, which is why she wants to wait until her kids get out of school because then they're no longer kids and then they're not subject to the kitty tax.
61:59 >> Is it 24 or 23? I thought it was 23. >> It is age 20. I have it right here. Just It is 23. I you know what's funny is that is that I'm thinking 24th birthday is when they're no longer applicable. So yes, it's 23, >> right? >> so the the deal is and what the government's trying to do here is very simple. They're trying to get people like Victoria not to do what Victoria is talking about doing because as an example com states have these things called UTMA or UGGMA rules.
62:35 Uniform gift to minor act or uniform transfer to minors act. These were enacted I believe in the 1980s but the reason is the same right? people with money were transferring the money to their kids' name so that they could avoid these that they could avoid taxes. so that's the reason to take student loans and then to gift the money because you can give stocks and kind to your kids. You can do that. Your kid in this case, by the way, is going to is going to have the time that you purchased it as the beginning of your cost basis time. So, this would have long-term capital gains treatment.
63:17 >> Yeah. Exactly. So, because gifted stock carries the original basis. So, so your kids are likely going to be in a lower tax bracket. That's the benefit. But they're still going to have your original cost basis, >> which is >> and you have to wait until if they're 23 or under, like Joe just said. if they're 23 or under, they're subject to the kitty tax anyway. So, >> which is different than inherited tax. And Olivia as an example was talking about getting inheritance. If that inheritance includes >> stocks, the second that your relative passed away, that becomes whatever the stock was on that day, that becomes your cost basis, >> right? So you avoid much of your the person that inher the person that built up the the position. You you forego a lot of their their basis or excuse me their capital gains exposure and then you if you sell it on the same day they pass away, you'll have none. now when somebody is then over the age of 23 and not working, they have zero income coming in. Well, then there would be zero tax ramifications of then selling the stock. So that's what she's trying to do. So the answer for us, Paula, is it worth it?
64:47 >> Yeah. Well, cuz it's go that assumes that straight out of college your kid is going to be a low income earner. I don't know if you want to make that assumption and I don't know if you want to base your plans around that assumption. Like what you don't want to be in a situation where you're like, "Darn, my kid ended up being really successful straight out of college." like darn they created this like AI company from their college dorm room when they were sophomores and now it's doing super well and now now at 23 they're actually in a higher tax bracket. Well, and the piece of this plan that I don't like, because I certainly don't like any of the things that that you talked about, and 100% agree, is we're also then hanging on to this stock and we're projecting it into the future, which is much easier to do with an index. I could see doing that. But with an individual stockpa, they change they change leadership at the company. The marketplace changes the overall stock market. I mean, there's so many different things that could happen to an individual company that we don't have to worry about when we just spread the risk among a bunch of different companies that I think projecting that this stock's going to be okay until your child is 24 is also an additional risk that people worried about tax ramifications don't consider enough.
66:16 Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> So, I wouldn't I wouldn't play this game. And I think I think you're feeling the same. >> Yeah. I'm I am not a fan of the college the inind transfer plan. Like there there are too many holes in it. There are too many things that can go wrong. >> one of the biggest things that goes wrong, Paula, is that you're going into debt to do it as well. >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah.
66:44 You're you're leaving assets in an individual stock which is inherently risky then t then then taking on a whole bunch of debt just so you can wait for your kid to turn 24 and then assume that your kid is going to be a low-inccome earner at the age of 24 >> which is what we all want for our kids. >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. >> And I hope I hope my kid doesn't have a job right now.
67:10 >> Yeah. Yeah. Right. So, but let's go to the other part of your question, Victoria, which is the part about tax gain harvesting. there are a few there are a few problems here as well. So what you've described so you'd be selling the position realizing the gain and then in your question you you talked about that would reduce the cost basis but I think what you actually meant is it would raise the cost basis. So the whole purpose of tax gain harvesting would be to raise the cost basis at a higher >> tax liability.
67:56 >> Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. that only makes sense if you can realize that gain at 0%. And you and your husband right now. So, so, okay, in 2026, if you're married filing jointly, you can have up to $98,900 in taxable income and pay 0% on long-term capital gains. But, but you and let me pull up their numbers.
68:37 Okay. 3, two, one. But your husband is making 132,000, you're making 90,000. So together, the two of you are making 222,000. Subtract out the standard deduction. So for joint filers, so that puts you at 190,000. That is double the ceiling of what you would need in order to be at 0%. So, you are like you're you're not going to you're not even close is what I'm trying to illustrate. Like unless one of the two of you stopped working, you're not going to get to that 0% band. So, so you're going to be paying 15% on this. And Let me pull up.
70:06 Okay. 3 2 1. So, you're going to be paying 15% on this right now. So, then the question becomes, why pay 15% right now unless you think that you would be paying a higher rate in the future because if you're paying 15% on this now that and then reinvesting it, you necessarily are going to be reinvesting less money unless you were to like just pay that tax out of pocket and put the same amount in, in which case you're just making additional contributions.
70:40 >> And I think that's what she's thinking about. By the way, most of the time when people are contemplating this, they have the money to pay the tax sitting someplace else and they're just going to sell, you know, 500 shares and then reby 500 shares. >> So, so functionally then she's talking about making additional contributions into the same stock. >> Yeah. >> In that case, it it becomes an asset allocation question like do you want to be that exposed to a single stock?
71:06 >> Well, and that is >> but let me just to put a point in that. >> Sure. If she does if she doesn't do that, so if she takes that 15% haircut right now, then that means that the total amount invested is reduced and then that has a compounding effect. So the one way or the other, the only reason to do it is if you believe that that rate that you're going to be paying capital gains taxes at is going to be a lot higher in the future than it is right now because you're not locking in 0% no matter what.
71:40 That's where I was headed was that tax deferral is a great thing and if this stock doesn't pay a dividend then it's tax deferred. you're just going to pay more and more money but the percentage is going to be the same. >> The percentage is going to not bump up. It's not going to change if she just rides it out. So while it's could be and hopefully is more money, right? Everybody's hoping for the stock to keep growing. if it keeps growing, it the the percentage tax she pays doesn't change. So there's there's no efficacy, I think, on paying part of the tax today.
72:15 >> Yeah. >> I I mean, the one thing that that does is maybe psychologically it makes it easier to look at a stock that's only gained X versus X plus all the gain it used to have, you know? So maybe psychologically, but that's that is that's that's the problem with buying individual stocks is that even when they do well, Paulo, you get in these emotional conundrums because the stock did so well. You know what the management did, you'd understand the reasons why the marketplace did great things and you you feel a little beholden to, you know, the magic that happened, hoping that it could lightning hits again.
72:58 I also want to draw attention to the the net investment interest tax, the NIT tax. so that hits when you are above 250,000 modified adjusted gross income for if you're a joint filer, as we've already established, between what your husband makes and what you make, you're at 222,000. If you then have a gain of almost $25,000, that puts you pretty darn close to the $250,000.
73:32 So, and and once you get there, then we're talking about a capital gains tax rate of 18.8%. What do you think that about the asset location about though selling it off and moving it to a tax deferred account like the solo 401k to me it feels very close to the thing if it doesn't pay a dividend.
74:17 >> Yeah. in general, I love assets in a solar Roth 401k. That I'll make that blanket statement. >> Big fan. >> Yeah, exactly. But to harvest gains, pay taxes on them now, replenish the taxes out of pocket, which means make additional contributions and then because you all contributions into a solar Roth 401k have to come in the form of cash. You can't just transfer the the stock over. So, you'd have to turn it into cash in order to move it into that Roth solo 401k.
75:17 Again, either you're paying the taxes out of that, in which case you're investing less, or you're paying the taxes out of pocket, in which case you're contributing more, but you're contributing more money. If you're going to put that money into the same individual stock, you you're contributing additional money into a non-diversified asset. I would actually like it better if she assuming that she's not otherwise going to max out the solo Roth 401k. I would like it better if she sold enough of the asset to be able to max out the solo the Roth solo 401k, but the new contributions went into an index fund or went into a more diversified broad market rather than an individual stock. Because if if she if we're talking about her making new contributions, which is effectively what paying the tax bill out of pocket is how about those new contributions going to a something more diversified than one individual stock?
76:24 >> And this is the way Paula what you just described is the way CFP handles it all the time which also frustrates people because they get involved in the emotional argument. what happens if the stock keeps going up and the index, you know, is going to be less volatile, which means it would go up slower. Like, what if what if all these great things happen to me? But a CFP will go back to the original piece. This was $500.
76:51 It was a great win. Don't try to project what you think it's going to do in the future. Ask yourself what would what is a use of this new money that I have that will make my lifestyle better? And once you do that, then lock in the lifestyle. Don't think about locking in the individual stock. Think about locking in the lifestyle and you're going to make much better decisions. So yeah, they come to that same conclusion that you just did. Let's let's let's put more money in the solo 401k. The second you said that, like I don't know about you, I got a little dopamine hit. Like I got this little That's cool. Yeah.
77:28 >> Yeah. And again, that is assuming that you based on your budget would not otherwise be able to max out your solar Roth 401k independent of this. So, which is another way of saying if you can keep this stock where it is, if you can not touch it and based on your budget, you could still max out the Roth Solo 401k, do that because then that's the ultimate in more contributions.
77:59 >> It's a great problem to have. Love this problem, Victoria. >> Yeah. Yeah, it really is. It's a It's the problem that everybody wants. I, you know, oh, I put a few hundred dollars into a stock and it turned into 25,000. Like, wow, what a what a massive massive gain. >> Yeah. Oops. >> Yeah. >> there is there's also one more thing. If you do decide to give this to a child at 24, even though that was not our guidance, remember that if it goes to a single child that the maximum amount that you can gift without filing a gift tax return is $19,000.
78:39 So, you want that will change the amount that you can gift over your lifetime without having to pay federal estate taxes. for 99.9% of our affordters listening, not a big deal. We're not going to hit these huge huge numbers that are now where the federal tax is and where it's going to be in the future. Most most probably. So, I would be cognizant of if you gift more than $19,000 of stock to a child, there's going to be some IRS forms that you're going to need to fill out.
79:15 There will be zero tax due today, but it'll just affect the amount that you can give federally taxfree later. You know, V Victoria, I'm in a similar boat in that I have an individual stock that's in a taxable brokerage account that I put a relatively small amount of money into and it has grown into a relatively large amount of money over the span of the last decade.
79:48 And my approach has been to leave it alone. I do similar to you. I do believe in this particular company and I do want to keep holding on to the stock. But as I was this is just for myself as I was thinking through it the first question that I asked myself is does this money have any particular purpose or is this just random bonus money? And so if I assign a purpose to every bucket of money that I have this money does not have a purpose. This money is just random surprise money that has no no life goal associated with it.
80:38 >> Back when I was a financial planner, that was always job one. >> Mhm. >> What is the purpose now? >> Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And so because this particular individual stock does not represent any purpose, it does not represent any goal. It's just a random surprise money that I wasn't expecting to exist. because of all of that, I'm leaving it alone. But in the meantime, I I also have a Roth Solar 401k as well as a backdoor Roth IRA as well as an HSA. And I in years when I don't produce enough income to be able to contribute to those directly, I do harvest not not the individual stock, but I do harvest index funds from other taxable brokerage accounts sell those into cash and then put those make those contributions into my retirement accounts. So I am losing liquidity when I do that, but I'm gaining the tax advantage.
82:16 Well, thank you, Victoria, for the question, Joe. I think we've done it again. >> I can't believe it. And what great questions. and sadly, you were wrong on one of them. Just >> that that was we came to blows on that one on Olivia's question. I think that's that's the most fiercely we have disagreed on any of these recent episodes >> in a long time. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's been a minute. It's fun to spar with you, >> which is which is fun, especially when you're wrong. So, it makes it a great time. But, but I think that I think she knows the lay of the land. She knows why we both feel so vehemently about our positions, which I think is the important part of the answer.
83:01 >> Yeah. And actually, our positions were only four months apart. Like my position was two months max, yours was six months. That >> it started off as we were five months out, then we're four. If I kept talking, we could have gotten you to two months. >> Nah, nah. If I kept talking, you would have pushed up to seven or eight. >> Probably. Oh, yeah. Paula, six years. >> All right. Well, Joe, where can people find you if they'd like to hear more of you being wrong?
83:33 >> I've got a I've got actually it's funny that you say that because when we were talking to Olivia there is an there's an interview we did back in the archives. It's maybe just over a year old now and it's with a wonderful woman named Julie Wayne. And if people don't know who she is, she was the CEO of a company called Pets.com, >> which wow >> is the poster child of everything that was wrong in the early 2000s. Right. So, we talked to her, but what's amazing about her and about the strength of being an entrepreneur and how cool this can be is she had a whole second life where she was the founder and former CEO of a company called The Real Real, which is a luxury consignment company.
84:24 >> I've shopped at the Real Real >> doing what Olivia is, you know, a not the same thing, but doing something close to what Olivia is doing. So Olivia, for you just go to Stacking Benjamins and look up Julie Waywright, real real stacking Benjamins and you'll find our interview with Julie and that's some of that guidance that I was talking about earlier. Listen to as many things from entrepreneurs that have been there and ones that have been through some crappy stuff. Julie, as you can imagine, Paula went through a place after Pets.com where she was toxic.
84:58 Nobody wanted to talk to her. Nobody wanted to be associated with her. They wanted nothing. and she still found a way to succeed which is pretty cool. >> Amazing. Amazing. So all of that is on the stacking Benjamin's podcast >> wherever the finest podcast are found. >> Nice. we, you know, in for Victoria's question, we talked about asset location. We have a free asset location cheat sheet. So, it is a simple four-page cheat sheet that shows you what to put in your taxable brokerage accounts, what to put in your tax exempt accounts, and what to put in your tax deferred accounts. So, what types of assets belong in what types of tax treatment buckets? simple reference guide. It's completely free. You can download it at afford.com/assetlo.
85:47 Thank you to all of you for tuning in. If you enjoyed today's episode, please share it with friends, family, neighbors, colleagues. Share it with the person at the secondhand confinement store. >> We haven't done this in a long time. >> Yeah, it's been a minute. >> Think share it with your stock broker from the 1800s. I don't know. >> Share it with the people at the college. admissions office.
86:24 >> Share it with Share it with that family that's slow traveling with their two high school kids. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good one. Share it with the people at the hotel or the Airbnb or the campground where they're staying. >> Oh, yeah. The campground. That's right. Or share it with the people at the bougie hotel that you've decided in By share it with all of those people and more because that is the single most important way that you spread the message of firere.
86:59 make sure that you open your favorite podcast playing app, hit the follow button so that you don't miss any amazing upcoming episodes. And remember afford anything.comassetloation for our free cheat sheet on what assets to put in what types of tax treatment buckets. Thanks again for tuning in. And I'm Paula Pant. >> I'm Jose. >> And we will meet you in the next episode. All right. And thanks to all of you who joined us live on YouTube. Thank you all for being here. it's so much fun to see a live audience. Thank you for joining us.
87:35 >> Yeah, Lauren, thanks for sharing the link with your sister and telling her to subscribe. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Cool.
Summary
- **Tax Gain Harvesting**: The concept involves selling appreciated stocks to reset the cost basis, but it may not be beneficial if it incurs capital gains tax without a clear strategy for reinvestment.
- **Investment Strategy**: Listeners are encouraged to consider the implications of holding individual stocks versus diversified index funds, especially regarding risk and potential returns.
- **Entrepreneurship vs. Corporate Jobs**: A caller, Olivia, grapples with whether to leave her corporate job to pursue a successful side hustle. The hosts emphasize the importance of planning and having a solid business strategy before making such a leap.
- **Emergency Fund Importance**: Maintaining a robust emergency fund is highlighted as crucial for financial security, especially when transitioning to self-employment.
- **Asset Location**: The hosts discuss the best types of accounts for different investments, stressing the importance of tax-efficient investing.
- **Long-Term Planning**: The conversation encourages listeners to think about their financial goals and how current decisions will impact their future lifestyle and financial independence.
- **Market Volatility**: The hosts remind listeners to be cautious of market fluctuations and to have a plan for managing investments during downturns.
- **Flexibility and Adaptability**: The importance of being flexible in financial planning and career choices is emphasized, as personal circumstances and market conditions can change.
Questions Answered
What is the focus of the Afford Anything Podcast?
The podcast covers financial psychology, increasing income, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that while you can afford anything, you cannot afford everything.
How can flexibility in career choices impact financial security?
Flexibility allows individuals to manage their careers and finances more aggressively, enabling them to prioritize family time while maintaining the option to work when necessary.
What factors contribute to successfully identifying a viable business idea?
Successful business ideas stem from recognizing market needs, effectively laying out a business plan, and having passion for the industry.
Why is a solid business plan essential before launching a business?
A solid business plan helps ensure that the entrepreneur is prepared for the various aspects of running a business and can mitigate risks associated with jumping into entrepreneurship too quickly.
What is the kitty tax and why is it relevant for gifting to children?
The kitty tax applies to minors and full-time students, affecting how and when gifts can be given to children, particularly in relation to tax liabilities.
What are the benefits of using a Roth solo 401k for tax gain harvesting?
Using a Roth solo 401k allows for tax-efficient growth of investments, but requires careful planning regarding contributions and asset allocation.