Budgeting often fails because it relies on willpower and constant tracking—life gets busy and discipline wears out. In this episode Rob Lovaglio and Trevor Bell explore why traditional budgets crumble and why it’s often a system problem, not a personal failing. The solution they recommend is automation: treat savings and investments like monthly bills by "paying yourself first," use automated transfers and dollar-cost averaging, and keep realistic fun money so your budget is sustainable.   🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xscesU... 🔹 All Platforms: https://bestadvicepodcastguys.com

This episode explains why risk tolerance often reveals itself only when markets fall, not when they soar. Hosts Rob Cavaglio and Trevor Bell discuss how emotional bias and hot sectors like tech and AI can make portfolios riskier than investors realize, and why a proper risk-tolerance questionnaire (scored 1–99) matters. Using a real example, they show how a misaligned portfolio can turn a moderate loss into a catastrophic one, and offer practical steps: take a comprehensive risk assessment, realign allocations (stocks vs. bonds), diversify, and work with a financial planner to manage both investments and emotions.   🤝 Get Personalized Financial Guidance: 📌 Learn about the SFM process: https://www.sfmadvisorgroup.com/ 📌 Schedule a consultation with our award-winning team 👉 https://go.oncehub.com/SecurityFinanc... 🔔 Subscribe for More Expert Insights:    / @bapodrob  

Rob and Trevor answer Stacey’s question by walking through a CFP-style framework: start with an honest budget, build an emergency fund (3–6 months of expenses), then invest according to specific goals and time horizons. They explain bucketed strategies for retirement, down payments and short-term goals, the value of liquid taxable accounts versus locked retirement accounts, and why purpose-driven planning and a specialist team matter more than simply “investing first.” 🤝 Get Personalized Financial Guidance: 📌 Learn about the SFM process: https://www.sfmadvisorgroup.com/ 📌 Schedule a consultation with our award-winning team 👉 https://go.oncehub.com/SecurityFinanc... 🔔 Subscribe for More Expert Insights:    / @bapodrob  

How College Athletes Are Really Managing NIL Money (Real Talk from Joshua Raymond, FSU Football) ‪@teamcounsel‬ In this episode of the Ba Podcast Guys, we dive into the real conversation around NIL money and how college athletes are actually managing it behind the scenes. With NIL deals becoming a major part of college sports, many young athletes are earning serious income for the first time in their lives, often without clear guidance on taxes, budgeting, or long-term planning. Our guest, Joshua Raymond of FSU Football, shares candid insights on receiving NIL payments, resisting reckless spending, and building a sound financial foundation early. Alongside experienced Financial Advisor Dan LaForest, who breaks down the realities of NIL income, common mistakes college athletes make, and why having the right team and mindset matters more than the money itself. This conversation goes beyond sports. It touches on personal finance, financial literacy, investing basics, tax planning, and how young earners can think like business owners instead of short-term spenders. Whether you are a college athlete, student, parent, or simply interested in money management and wealth building, this episode offers practical lessons that apply far beyond the field. If you want real talk, real experiences, and real financial education without hype, this episode is for you. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Timestamps: 00:00 – College athletes & money mistakes 00:44 – Podcast intro & guest Josh 01:24 – Josh’s football role & strengths 01:58 – Beating Alabama experience 03:40 – Discipline & NIL balancing act 05:19 – NIL money & financial risks 07:39 – Building a business with NIL 11:53 – Compound interest explained 15:39 – Managing monthly NIL income 24:43 – Advice for young athletes ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 📈 Welcome to Best Advice Podcast Guys! We bring you expert financial advice, success stories, and insights from top industry leaders. Hosted by Robert Lovaglio and a panel of experienced financial professionals—including Frank Lovaglio, RFC®, David Allen, CFP®, Mitchell Walk, AAMS®, Austen Jacks, CFP®, and Mitch Allen, CFP®—we break down the strategies that drive wealth, success, and financial freedom. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xscesU... 🔹 All Platforms: https://bestadvicepodcastguys.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🤝 Get Personalized Financial Guidance: 📌 Learn about the SFM process: https://www.sfmadvisorgroup.com/ 📌 Schedule a consultation with our award-winning team 👉 https://go.oncehub.com/SecurityFinanc... 🔔 Subscribe for More Expert Insights:    / @bapodrob   ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Related Phrases Financial advice from industry experts, smart investing strategies for beginners, market updates and economic insights, how to grow wealth and manage money, the best financial podcast for investors, breaking down stock market trends, expert tips for financial freedom, understanding taxes tariffs and trade policies, wealth-building secrets from financial advisors, how to protect your investments in a volatile market Related Hashtags #401k #401kallocation #retirementplanning #financepodcast #investingtips #marketnews #stockmarket #wealthbuilding #financialfreedom #moneymatters #tradingstrategies #economicnews #financialplanning #securityfinancialmanagement

In this episode Rob and certified financial planner Trevor Bell walk through how 401(k) allocations work, comparing target-date retirement funds with self-allocated options and explaining the pros and cons of each.They cover basics like fund lineups, risk and time horizon, expense ratios, rebalancing responsibilities, and when to consider rolling a 401(k) into an IRA or a professionally managed account.

Sequence of Return Risk: The Hidden Retirement Danger No One Talks About explores one of the most overlooked threats to your financial future. In this episode, the BA podcast guys break down how the timing of market returns can impact your retirement income, even if your overall investment returns look strong on paper. You’ll learn what sequence of return risk really means, why it matters most in the early years of retirement, and how smart strategies like bucketed investing and dynamic withdrawal planning can help protect your savings. Whether you’re approaching retirement or just starting to invest, this video will help you make smarter, safer financial decisions. If you’re serious about building long-term wealth, avoiding costly retirement mistakes, and creating a stable income for the future, this episode is for you. Subscribe to the BA podcast guys for more real-world investing advice, retirement planning tips, and financial education content. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 01:27 – Listener question about retirement risk 01:40 – What sequence of return risk mean 04:31 – Retiree A vs B real-world example 05:30 – How bad early years drain savings 08:24 – Strategies to reduce retirement risk 09:31 – Cash reserves and safe investments 10:46 – Ongoing risk monitoring and guardrails 11:24 – Final advice and episode wrap-up ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 📈 Welcome to Best Advice Podcast Guys! We bring you expert financial advice, success stories, and insights from top industry leaders. Hosted by Robert Lovaglio and a panel of experienced financial professionals—including Frank Lovaglio, RFC®, David Allen, CFP®, Mitchell Walk, AAMS®, Austen Jacks, CFP®, and Mitch Allen, CFP®—we break down the strategies that drive wealth, success, and financial freedom. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🔹 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🔹 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2xscesU... 🔹 All Platforms: https://bestadvicepodcastguys.com ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🤝 Get Personalized Financial Guidance: 📌 Learn about the SFM process: https://www.sfmadvisorgroup.com/ 📌 Schedule a consultation with our award-winning team 👉 https://go.oncehub.com/SecurityFinanc... 🔔 Subscribe for More Expert Insights:    / @bapodrob   ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ Related Phrases Financial advice from industry experts, smart investing strategies for beginners, market updates and economic insights, how to grow wealth and manage money, the best financial podcast for investors, breaking down stock market trends, expert tips for financial freedom, understanding taxes tariffs and trade policies, wealth-building secrets from financial advisors, how to protect your investments in a volatile market

Hosts Rob Lovaglio and Trevor "Truck" Bell walk through a concise year-end financial checklist for closing out 2025. They explain tax loss harvesting to offset gains, the importance of maxing out qualified accounts (IRAs/Roth IRAs) before deadlines, required minimum distributions for those 73 and older, and running a portfolio stress test to reassess risk and allocations. Listeners will learn practical actions to reduce taxes, avoid penalties, and ensure their portfolio allocation and contributions are in order before the new year.

Episode explains major Affordable Care Act changes for 2026: significant premium increases (around 18%), the end of excess subsidies for those above 400% of the federal poverty level, and Aetna leaving the marketplace.Good news: bronze and catastrophic plans will be deemed HSA-compatible starting 2026, allowing pre-tax contributions and investment growth; HSA limits and catch-up rules are discussed. Bad news: higher premiums and a subsidy cliff that can leave many without financial help.Takeaway: review doctors and prescriptions when choosing plans, consult a tax or financial advisor about HSA strategies, and contact your insurance agent to compare options before open enrollment.

In this episode Rob and Trevor discuss how market gains can make investors overestimate their risk tolerance and the importance of a proper risk analysis.They explain how a risk questionnaire and financial planning help align your portfolio with your psychological comfort, using an example showing large differences in potential losses when risk is mismatched.Listeners are encouraged to review their risk score with an advisor and regularly reassess as life and markets change.

Rob Lovaglio and the founders of Security Financial Management explain direct indexing and how it can create tax savings by harvesting capital losses while closely tracking an index like the S&P 500. The founders of SFM walk through a real example, describe intraday loss-harvesting and loss carryforwards, and explain when this strategy can be useful for reducing future tax on big gains.

This episode explores how artificial intelligence is rapidly spreading into everyday life and the markets, from widespread ChatGPT adoption to massive corporate spending on AI infrastructure.Guests discuss the investment implications—why buying the latest AI winners can be risky, the slow adoption curve that mirrors past tech revolutions, and the cybersecurity and fraud risks that demand new protections.The conversation also emphasizes the human side: responsible use, maintaining relationships and balance, and the long path from early experimentation to meaningful productivity gains.

Rob Lovaglio and Steven Young break down the essentials of employer 401(k) plans — how to enroll, contribution recommendations, employer matches, investment choices (including target-date funds), tax differences between traditional and Roth contributions, and withdrawal rules. They explain vesting, contribution limits for 2025, and why a 401(k) should be treated as long-term retirement savings rather than an emergency fund. Whether you’re new to workplace retirement plans or want a refresher, this episode makes the 401(k) simple and actionable so you can start making smarter retirement decisions.

Business owners: if you don’t offer retirement benefits, you risk losing top hires to larger companies. This episode explains the three common small-business options—SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA and 401(k)—and why a 401(k) with an employer match often provides the best balance of recruitment value, flexibility and tax benefits.Hosts walk through a real example where a safe-harbor 401(k) with a 4% match helped a boutique firm grow from seven to ten employees while allowing the owner to save significantly for retirement. Step one: sit down with an advisor to pick the plan that fits your business goals and budget.

Independent business owners walk through practical retirement options for sole proprietors, including Traditional/Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s, with clear differences in simplicity, flexibility, and contribution limits.The hosts explain how choosing a Solo 401(k) over a SEP IRA can dramatically increase yearly contributions without changing salary, using a real-client example to show the long-term impact.

Most people think that once you max out your 401(k), the game is over — but that's where the game begins. This episode lays out the exact playbook for what to do next so your money can grow tax-free, beat inflation, and build multigenerational wealth.We cover high-impact moves like the backdoor Roth IRA, mega backdoor Roth, the triple-tax-advantaged HSA, taxable brokerage strategies, real estate and private equity alternatives, and insurance-based options — explaining when and why each one makes sense.Simple, practical sequence and considerations are provided so you can prioritize the right buckets for your goals, taxes, and flexibility.

Discover how a teen’s summer earnings can grow into a seven-figure retirement by using a custodial Roth IRA. The episode explains the math behind compound interest (example: $2,300/year from age 15 at an 8% return grows to about $1.3M), contrasts starting early versus starting at 30, and shows how much more you’d need later to catch up.It also reviews alternative savings options—529 plans, UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts, and high-yield savings—and outlines the Roth IRA basics, requirements (earned income and a custodian), and the tax benefits of tax-free growth and withdrawals.

This episode breaks down the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy: how self-employed individuals can use a Solo 401(k) to push far beyond standard Roth contribution limits by combining employee and employer contributions and performing in-plan Roth rollovers. Hosts explain contribution limits, step-by-step mechanics, a real example, and why this approach can create significantly larger tax-free retirement savings over time.   🤝 Get Personalized Financial Guidance: 📌 Learn about the SFM process: https://www.sfmadvisorgroup.com/ 📌 Schedule a consultation with our award-winning team 👉 https://go.oncehub.com/SecurityFinanc...

This episode explains the backdoor Roth IRA—how high earners who exceed Roth contribution limits can use a traditional IRA contribution followed by a conversion to secure tax-free growth and withdrawals.Hosts cover contribution limits, the conversion process, a real client example, and practical tips for doing the strategy safely with a financial planner.

In this episode we explain the step-up in basis: when you inherit assets, heirs receive them at current market value instead of the original purchase price, often wiping out decades of taxable gains. Using a real case where land bought for $40,000 in the 1970s was worth $1.8M at death, the step-up reduced a potential $362,000 tax bill to roughly $10,000.We cover how the rule applies to real estate and stocks, why account type matters, and why you should consult a Certified Financial Planner to apply the strategy correctly.

This episode explains the key difference between a fiduciary financial advisor (IAR/RIA) and a financial representative (registered rep), the legal standards they follow, and how those differences can affect your wallet and long-term plan.It also covers practical steps to tell who you’re working with — registrations, standards of care, compensation models, and disclosures — and when a fee-only fiduciary or a commission-based rep might be the right fit.