Why doesn't everyone keep a budget? The truth is budgeting is a skill, and it's not easy to acquire! That's where budget coaches come in. Budget coaches are incredibly helpful but they are also hard to access. Limited time availability, high cost, and language barriers make coaching inaccessible to many.
RSU and ESPP employer stock programs serve as valuable wealth-building tools, each presenting unique advantages and challenges, including complex taxation. Both programs require careful consideration of participation, trading windows, vesting schedules, and concentration risk. Understanding the nuances of qualifying vs. non-qualifying dispositions, wash sales, and tax withholding strategies can significantly impact client outcomes. Financial professionals play a vital role in helping clients understand and navigate these complexities.
Military families often build real estate portfolios through VA loans and PCS moves, but managing properties can eventually become impractical or unpleasant. This breakout session with Ian Gates will explore strategies for stepping back while minimizing tax impacts, starting with simple solutions and progressing to more advanced approaches. Ian will discuss the personal residence capital gains exclusion for Military Members under 26 U.S. Code § 121(d)(9) and provide tips on shopping for property managers. He will then explain property exchanges allowed by §1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, highlighting how to enable heirs to benefit from a step-up in basis. Finally, Ian will describe how Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) can provide passive income and diversification, plus allow transitioning into UPREITs to avoid repeated reinvestment requirements.
We are familiar with “wounded” warriors and “homeless” veterans but less so with student-veteran graduation rates, veteran entrepreneur success rates, and the impact of veteran volunteerism. This lens of military and veterans creates misperceptions that lead to adverse outcomes for veterans. First is negative self-perception. When veterans self-identify with negative narratives, they feel disconnected from the workforce, their financial success, and even their communities. Second is the misperception of a veteran as not belonging to the “traditional” veteran community. Veterans may perceive others as having done more, suffering more, or needing more. This disconnect can lead to a lack of service utilization as someone “needs it more.” We need to address these stigmas by altering our language to describe veterans and the services they receive. We also need to frame our services with empathy, recognize veterans' inherent value, encourage benefit utilization, and maximize our service to a unique client population.
Passing standardized exams for certifications, licenses, and designations is a vital step in advancing within the financial services industry. Yet, many professionals face significant challenges with test anxiety, ineffective study habits, and a lack of preparation strategies tailored to their needs.
You can attend this session and start a blog from scratch the same day. If you're a financial coach, financial planner, or other professional, you'll gain a lot. I'll share lessons from starting two blogs before my current blog, Enlisted Money. You'll also learn how I used my blog as a stepping stone to paid opportunities. I'll bust common myths about blogging (it's too expensive or time-consuming).