Sell High‑Basis Shares, Gift Low‑Basis for Tax‑Free Inheritance
Bob has a $5M brokerage account which he will pass down to his 2 kids A smart tax move for him is to sell the right lots It's best to sell stocks with high cost basis (= low capital gains tax) to live off for Bob, and pass down the low basis stocks (high capital gains) to his kids This is because his kids will receive a step up in basis and stocks can be sold tax free
Wealthy Families Ditch 60/40 for Smarter Strategies
Most $5M+ portfolios look exactly like a $200K portfolio. Same 60/40. Same S&P 500 index. Same bond allocation nobody wants anymore. The wealthiest families don't actually invest like this. Here's how they actually do it. 🧵
Direct Mutual Funds Beat Regular Plans on Returns
Mutual Fund Tip You Shouldn’t Ignore 👇 Always choose Direct Plan, not Regular Plan. 🔹 Direct Plan – Pros ✅ Lower expense ratio ✅ No distributor commission ✅ Higher long-term returns (compounding works better) Cons: ❌ You manage investments yourself (needs basic knowledge) 🔹️ Regular Plan –...
Overspending to Impress Leads to Financial Ruin
This been going on for a long time. I knew traders making $1m plus/yr foreclose on their brownstones & declare bankruptcy into the credit crisis. Spending to impress others or to fill a hole in your soul are recipes for financial...
Tiny Return Edge Doesn’t Justify Higher Volatility
You have two options: Option A: An FDIC-insured bank account that returns 10.99% percent a year, with a realized volatility of zero. Option B: An S&P 500 index fund, that returns 11.00% (on average) a year, with a realized volatility of about...
4% Rule Fails: Inflation Undermines Retirement Savings
The 4% rule your financial advisor told you is wrong. Commonly they will tell you if you live off $100k/year then you need $2.5m to retire. $100k in 10 years likely will not have $100k of purchasing power. Inflation ruins...
Turn 3% Raises Into Over $1M by Retirement
You got a raise this year. What did you do with it? If the answer is "spent it," you're not alone. But here's what that decision is actually costing you: A 3% raise every year, invested at market average, is worth $1,130,000...
Repair Costs and Low Savings Drive Negative‑Equity Car Rolls
I sold Nissans as a freshman in college. I was shocked when a customer who owed more than what their car was worth asked to roll that difference into a new car purchase I later realized that there’s actually a...
Renting Beats Buying When You Sell Early
Most people think renting is throwing money away. But the math tells a very different story. You buy a $400k house today. You pay massive interest for the first decade. Then life happens. Data shows most people sell after just 8 to 12 years. You leave...
Avoid Fear‑Driven Missed Gains, Size Positions Wisely
Peter Lynch got it right decades ago. The real risk in investing isn't a crash. It's the years you spent hiding from one that never came. 1️⃣ Economists predicted 33 of the last 11 recessions. 2️⃣ Six right out of ten? That's a...
Avoid FOMO; Build Wealth Through Consistent Compounding
I’ll never tell someone they can’t make money chasing FOMO, meme stocks, or hot trends trading at unjustified valuations. In bullish markets, it can work…. Can’t argue with that. But what happens (almost every time) is that when the market finally breaks,...
Structured $100 Portfolio Guarantees Bounded Losses
I manage my wealth this way in general and I am positioned this way within this framework today 101 I take $100 of cash And invest in DSSmart Beta which is always long global stocks bonds, gold, and commodity indices. ...
Keep Expenses Steady, Save Extra Earnings
Important one Gentlemen, ‼️ Don’t make the mistake of increasing your costs when you start to earn more money. Rather keep your expenses the same and save the difference instead.
Invest in Few ETFs, Stay Long‑term, Use Tax‑advantaged Accounts
5 principles to follow to become a successful investor: > no individual stocks, 1-2 ETFs only > stay invested regardless of media clickbait > have a long term mindset > invest consistently > prioritize tax advantageous accounts Anything you would add?
Spot Real Signals, Not Retroactive Expert Noise
My best investing advice is: “Pay notice to which experts gets it right and who gets it wrong” - aka identify signal and noise and stop wasting time and money on noise. Pay notice to which experts thought: - There was an AI...
DWP’s Algo Strategy Offsets 401k Fees, Boosts Returns
DWP handles 401k rollovers into self-directed IRAs and charges AUM fees. What offsets that is a proprietary algorithmic trading strategy layered across four candlestick timeframes. Back tested five years, worst year was 6%, best year over 60%. Other custodians like...
Pick Roth if Future Taxes Exceed Today’s Rate
Roth vs Traditional 401k is all about taxes. Say you are in a 32% marginal tax rate and you put $20k in Trad 401k. It doubles to $40k, which is $27.2k after taxes Same example, but contribute $13.6k to Roth (after 32%...
Dave Ramsey Warns Against Home Equity Loans
Financial guru Dave Ramsey is adamant about avoiding debt, so it’s no surprise to hear that he’s not a fan of home equity loans. https://t.co/K3HMRpmev0
Prioritize Business Fundamentals over Short‑term Price Predictions
The wrong mindset - "I think the stock will be up/down 10% tomorrow, next week, next month." The right mindset - "I don't care what the stock does tomorrow, next week, next month. I think the business will be worth...
Stop Saving, Start Strategizing: Scale Real Estate Quickly
If it feels like it’ll take you a decade to buy the next property, it’s because you’re relying only on savings. The people you see scaling fast aren’t “lucky.” They understand: • How to structure partnerships • How to choose high-margin models •...
Homebuyers Must Budget for Two HVACs and Roofs
Bought a brand new HVAC system for my house in 2015. It’s had seven major repairs in the 11 years since (parts under warranty but not labor) including an almost complete replacement of most of the internals two years ago....
European Dividend Investors Often Just Ride Currency Risk
One thing that makes Dividend Growth Investing as a European person interesting: you're often managing two currencies at once 🇪🇺🇺🇸 My portfolio is roughly split between EUR and USD payers. $AMS:SHELL, $ETR:ALV, $BME:IBE on one side. $XOM, $JNJ, $ABBV on the...
Members Facing Profitable Dilemmas Thanks to Proven System
Two messages I get every week from BuyTrigger members: "I wish I'd bought more $CRDO." "My $ALAB position is bloating. Do I take profit?" These are the good problems. The kind most investors never have. Here's how my members built them 👇 https://open.substack.com/pub/dralexkoh/p/13-stocks-one-system-heres-how-i?r=4zq7nk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Long-Term Bull Market Rewards Disciplined, Diversified Investing
Long term the bull market does win. $spx monthly flows. Or big cap funds in a 401k 403b 529 can help build long term wealth and pay for college. BOS account is good to have when it’s pouring...
Index Funds Usually Outpace First Rental for High Earners
You’re 32, Software Engineer, Denver. $240k income. Single, no kids. $180k retirement, $220k brokerage, $60k cash. You want to build wealth faster. Do you: Keep investing in index funds OR buy your first rental property?
Attention, Not More Money, Drives Financial Success
I pulled together the most compelling research I found on money behavior for a practical guide that will change how you think about your finances. You do not need more money, you just need to start paying more attention to...
ETFs: Steady Long-Term Wealth Builders, Not Hot Picks
ETFs aren’t the next "hot stock" but they'll build wealth for you over the long term
Caution: Record‑High Markets May Not Be Wise Investment
Should we invest when the stock markets are at record highs? The UK government and big investment platforms have launched a campaign helped by a Savvy squirrel 🐿️ but the Bank of England says financial markets are too high....
Cut Costs Ruthlessly to Truly Pay Yourself First
everyone wants to talk about the “pay yourself first” part of profit first, but no one wants to take the steps to implement the ruthless elimination of expenses part that actually allows you to pay yourself first & well. (most...
Rethink 60/40: Adopt 60/20/20 with Uncorrelated Assets
With bonds and stocks once again positively correlated (per the chart below), the current/recent market episode served as another reminder to look beyond the 60/40 for that balance between returns and risk. Since 2022 I have been advocating for a 60/20/20...
Many Resist Early Retirement Despite Craving Freedom
Today I was talking to a friend turning 50 who works long grueling hours, but may be getting a new job that pays much more. So I talked to them about retiring early which I help thousands do who...
Credit Score Influences Home Insurance Like Disaster Zones
Your credit has as much of an impact on your homeowners insurance premium as whether or not you live in a disaster-prone area. https://t.co/PQ2K1kvGSE
Affordable Home Budget on $10/Hour, 21‑Hour Weeks
How Much You Can Afford For a House If You Make $10/ Hour working 21 hours per week
AI Tools Can Streamline Your Retirement Planning
Want to use #AI to plan your retirement? Here’s how to proceed by Betsy Vereckey @MITSloan Learn more: https://t.co/950iah57tk #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #ML https://t.co/NGJF9uqj4l
Five Tax‑Smart Accounts to Grow Your Child’s Wealth
5 ways to build wealth for your kid: 1. 529 plan. Get tax deduction for contributing in many states. Grows tax free and withdrawals are tax free for education. 2. UTMA account. Taxable account that child owns. Reduces financial aid. 3. Trump account....
Retiring at 55 Requires More Than $1M Savings
45 year old (+wife & 2 kids) has $1 million saved Spends $12k/month Saves $130k/year Wants to retire at age 55 b/c he hates his job Can he retire early? How much does he need? https://t.co/18Hm2FUrJG https://t.co/GEsbZqyuqw
Pre‑tax Contributions Still Win Despite Future Tax Hikes
While the idea that we currently live in an anomalously low-tax environment that will inevitably reverse course has its appeal, basing one's tax planning decisions around that assumption is still risky. Because even if taxes do creep up nationally, individuals...
25% All‑
BofA on Asset Allocation: - The “sleep like a baby” portfolio (25% Stocks/Bonds/Commodities/Cash) is having the best year since *1933*. - Up 26% YTD, its third-best outperformance versus 60/40 (Stocks/Bonds) in a *century*. - Commodities have shined, despite remaining a significant underweight in...
Advisers Add Value by Preventing Costly Mistakes
Where advisers really add value Good advice is about avoiding costly mistakes, not picking winners. #FinancialPlanning #InvestorBehaviour https://t.co/LQ2FOLhpBT
Whole Foods Meal Prep Hack: $35, No Cooking, No Cleanup
I’m late but I just tried the Whole Foods family meal prep hack for the first time and I feel like I got away with something. All of this was $35. No cooking, no cleaning. Four 6-oz pieces of salmon. Cajun...
Simplify to $100k: One Account, No Credit
Money advice I wish someone gave me at 22: Set a goal to stack $100k cash Until you have $100k cash, you are broke. The mainstream media will not tell you this because they want to keep you that way. Luckily, you have a...
Stay Calm: Habits of Top Investors in Volatile Markets
The best investors stay calm when markets are volatile, and these financial habits can help you stay the course. https://t.co/hO1oDA3Gyi
Can't Pay Taxes? Explore Free IRS Payment Options
Filed your taxes but can’t pay? You’ve got options. ➡️IRS Direct Pay (free) ➡️Payment plans ➡️Offer in Compromise (sometimes) Not sure what fits? Try the IRS Tax Debt Help tool—it walks you through your options. No login. No personal info required. More: https://t.co/4C7lp1Enk5
Know When Backdoor Roth Is Worth the Tax Risk
When Is The Backdoor Roth Even Worth Doing? While backdoor Roth conversions can be a valuable strategy, it comes with significant rules and nuances that, if not fully understood, have the potential to cause onerous tax complications for clients in...
Enough Isn't a Number—Money Can't Define Satisfaction
💥 Enough is not a number. Clients often ask how they’ll know when they have enough. There’s a version of that answer that lives in a financial plan. You run the numbers, you look at the projections, and someone tells you,...
Financial Planning: Lifelong Journey Through Three Core Questions
Financial planning isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifelong process. And it keeps coming back to three questions: …Where are you today? …Where do you want to go? …How will you get there? My new book, Your Money, is just a collection of ways...
Legally Exploit Tax Code to Minimize Your Taxes
You get taxed on your income... To then get taxed on your home... To then get taxed when you buy... And when you invest your money... You get taxed when you profit. Here's how to LEGALLY use the tax code to pay as little as...
Buy‑and‑hold Global Index Outperforms Most Strategies over Life
When it's all said and done - if we're being totally honest - by the time one reaches a ripe old age, most stock investors will earn more money in a buy-and-hold total global equity index portfolio than doing anything...
True Parental Love Means Health and Financial Security
Saying you will die for your kids is performative. If you actually love your kids, you will: ➡️ Stay healthy so you can be with them longer ➡️ Invest your money so they don’t have to support you ➡️ Save and invest...
Bitcoin Sharpe Ratio Signals Generational Buying Opportunity
#Bitcoin is a generational opportunity, right now. The Bitcoin Sharpe Ratio has hit a level that's comparable to any broad market bottom. This early in 2026. If you flip that measure, it's actually the best time to be investing in the...