“When you understand taxes, there’s so much that you can do that when you add them together, they really do make a difference.”

Today, Joey breaks down 15 key changes in the new 900-page tax bill—what’s already in effect, what’s changing, and how it impacts your income, investments, business, and retirement.

First, the big picture: the U.S. deficit sits at $36 trillion. This tax bill, while aimed at economic growth, is expected to add another $5 trillion to the deficit in the next decade.

Joey walks through three possible deficit solutions—print money (hello, inflation!), raise taxes (bad for growth), or cut taxes and encourage spending. The bill leans into the third. Tax brackets stay low, tips and overtime see new exemptions, and universal deductions for charitable giving finally throw a bone to the 90% who don’t itemize.

Adjusted gross income (AGI) gets a break with smarter 529 rules and the new MAGA account—a $500–$1,000 government-funded growth account for each US Citizen born between 2025 and 2028.

Seniors win big with a bonus standard deduction that effectively erases taxes for those living on Social Security. Business owners can breathe easier with a now-permanent 20% QBI deduction. And if you’re living in a high-tax state, the SALT cap just jumped from $10K to $40K.

Caveat: EV credits vanish after September, so act fast. Meanwhile, the estate exemption stays at $15M per person, avoiding massive tax burdens for wealth transfers—at least for now.

Tax policy may be nerdy, but smart planning can meaningfully boost your nest egg over time. Don’t ignore the small stuff—it adds up.

Key Topics:

• U.S. Deficit & Economic Strategy (00:05)
• New Tax Brackets & Income Planning (06:58)
• Tips, Overtime & Investment Income (10:37)
• Universal Charitable Deduction (12:50)
• 529 Expansion & MAGA Accounts (14:40)
• Senior Deductions & Social Security (19:31)
• QBI Deduction & SALT Cap (21:54)
• EV Credit Expiration (25:50)
• Estate Tax Exemption Made Permanent (26:53)

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

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• LinkedIn
• Twitter (X)

Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.

When the economy zigs, the headlines zag.

Our hosts, Joey Loss and Adam Van Wie, decipher today’s market highs and trade war fears, revealing why the market keeps trending upward, even as tariffs dominate the news cycle.

They zoom in on more than just tariff talk. They explain how policies limiting chip exports to China are part of a bigger play: keeping America competitive in AI and defense. It’s not just about taxing imports—it's about national strategy.

Enter the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a proposed stimulus-style tax policy favoring immediate deductions on capital expenditures. The logic? Make 2025 look too good to delay. It’s a bet on growth—manufacturing, employment, and GDP—all without waiting on the Fed to cut rates.

Speaking of which, inflation remains low by global standards (1.84%), and though rate cuts aren’t imminent, Joey and Adam caution against overconfidence in predictions. What’s truly surprising is that the job market’s still chugging along, even as government jobs dip. Wage growth at 3.9%? That’s nothing to sneeze at.

Their advice? Don’t let politics—or panic—drive your portfolio. Diversification and long-term thinking are winning again. The drama may be noisy, but the fundamentals remain quietly strong.

Key Topics:

• Tariffs, Chips, and Strategic Trade Policy (02:04)
• Business Stimulus and the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (05:14)
• Inflation, Fed Cuts & Global Comparison (08:41)
• Jobs Report: What's “Just Right”? (17:34)
• Long-Term Investing & Staying the Course (21:56)
  
  

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter (X)

Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.

“The healthier you are, the cheaper it is. The younger you are, the cheaper it is. When you get some sort of disease, the more premium you’ll have to pay. There is no workaround for that.”

Our host, Joey Loss, interviews Peachie Thompson, founder of Peach Insurance Services, on why life and disability insurance are foundational for sound financial planning, especially for young families.

Peachie makes it clear that the younger and healthier you are, the cheaper insurance is. Yet, many delay action until it’s too late.

She tells the story of a 24-year-old woman who qualified for top-tier rates but delayed payment. When diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, she lost eligibility for affordable coverage—an avoidable outcome. Another example includes a COVID-era surge in insurance interest when people suddenly faced their mortality. Unfortunately, many were uninsurable by then. Without a doubt, timing is everything.

Peachie also gives her thoughts on disability insurance and how it protects income when illness or injury prevents work. It's crucial for single-income households and is often misunderstood. Many rely on employer-sponsored group plans without realizing limitations, like caps and tax implications. Private coverage, Peachie explains, is portable, customizable, and often essential to supplement group plans.

It’s important to build your foundation during those “boring” healthy years—before triggering events force reactive decisions. This also includes structuring insurance payouts through trusts to protect beneficiaries from future spouses, lawsuits, or creditors.

After all, the cost of ignoring life or disability insurance can far outweigh the premiums. It’s not just financial coverage—it’s peace of mind and protection for the people who matter most.

Key Topics:

• Why You Need to Be Thinking About Life Insurance Now (00:00)
• What Happens When You Take Too Long to Buy Insurance? (10:00)
• Disability Insurance: What It Covers and Why It’s Misunderstood (20:20)
• Group vs. Private Disability Coverage (24:42)
• How Insurance Complements Estate Planning (36:17)

Resources:

• PeachInsurance.net
• Peachie Thompson on LinkedIn

This podcast is brought to you by Joey Loss, CFP®, Adam Van Wie, CFP®, and Strivus Wealth Partners. Through Strivus, Joey and Adam provide financial planning and investment management services to clients across the country from their home base in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.

You can find show notes and transcript of the conversations here: Strivus Wealth - Wealth Unplugged.

Follow Joey & Strivus on Social Media:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Twitter (X)

Read our audio, video, and written content disclaimer here.