253: Return of the S.A.L.T. – Big Tax Refunds, Big Distractions

It’s tax time and Americans are slated to receive a 25% increase in their tax refunds this year. But at what cost? Our government has also cut a number of social safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and important departments like the Environmental Protection Agency and National Science Foundation.This week we will break down all of the ways you can maximize your tax refund in light of the many tax cuts in place for 2025, including the return of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.

Studies show that the earlier you introduce a young adult to investing, the wealthier they become. This week, we break down the basic building blocks of investments — Money, Opportunity and Time. We also give kids, parents and rich aunties alike the tools for getting started with an investment account.

The year 2026 is kicking with both feet. In just a few short weeks, the US has captured the President of Venezuela, has threatened to defund sanctuary cities and is making plans towards “acquiring” Greenland. With so much change happening so quickly, what moves should you be making in your portfolio and financial life?

In physics, a single domino can knock over another domino that is 50% larger. If lined up properly, your single initial action could eventually knock over a piece the size of the Eiffel Tower. Instead of coming up with a laundry list of goals for 2026, what if you focused on one big thing that would have a monumental impact on your financial life? We will offer a few examples and stories as inspiration, but ultimately, your choice of domino is completely up to you.

As we wrap up another year, we start the show highlighting some of our major moments from 2025. But more importantly, we play a game to figure out whose Black Card will be revoked for Christmas – Andrea’s or Allan’s? Join us as we cut up with our special guest Baron Hilliard of Momentum Advisors.

Mortgage rates are finally becoming affordable again and there a range of options for existing homeowners and potential buyers. This week, we are joined by mortgage expert Makeda Fryson of Greenway Mortgage, who leads us through strategies for every borrower.

We recently met with a client family who was surprised to learn that they had become millionaires. Their ascension was not based on some singular great investment, but a series of tiny habits like avoiding credit spending, maxing out their 401ks every year, and not taking loans or withdrawals. The book Atomic Habits™ is about getting 1% better each day and creating small habits that lead to great results. This week’s show breaks down some key learnings from the book and applies them to building wealth.

Nearly 80% of Gen Z trusts the financial advice they receive on social media platforms like TikTok. While there are some good accounts to follow, some of the worst advice seems to get the most likes! This week, we will walk through some of the most egregious examples of bad advice we’ve seen online and outline a framework for separating the sage advice from the scams.

In a follow-up to last week's conversation with Repa Mekha, we are discussing the strategies Nexus Community Partners is using to uplift the Black community, including distributing $50 million in grants directly to Black families. 

We come to you today from “The Collective Sum,” a gathering of Black community leaders in Minneapolis. Join us in a conversation about community building through investing in “the Four ‘Ships” — Leadership, Authorship, Stewardship and Ownership.  Introducing Nexus Community Partners, a leading community building intermediary that is building engaged and powerful communities of color: www.nexuscp.org (https://nexuscp.org/about-nexus-community-partners/)