Looking to maximize your investments and build long-term wealth? In this episode of Money on My Mind, I break down an easy-to-follow investment framework that anyone can apply to their financial situation. A listener, Sherry, asks: “In addition to a Roth IRA, what else should I be maxing out annually?” With a $160,000 income as our example, I walk through the exact steps to prioritize investment accounts, from employer-sponsored plans to HSAs and taxable brokerage accounts.

Whether you’re just starting your investment journey or looking to optimize your existing strategy, this episode lays out the six-step investment framework to help you take control of your financial future. Plus, I share some key rules of thumb to ensure your money is working for you efficiently and automatically. Ready to build wealth? Let’s dive in.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:06] – Understanding investment frameworks and why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach

[2:26] – The three core accounts for most investors (401(k), IRA, and taxable brokerage)

[4:09] – How risk profile, age, and goals shape your investment approach

[5:04] – The first step: maximizing your employer match for guaranteed returns

[6:10] – Evaluating an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with a guaranteed discount

[6:47] – Choosing between a Roth and traditional IRA and when to prioritize each

[7:14] – Breaking down Sherry’s $160,000 income example – where every dollar should go

[9:35] – Calculating your ideal savings percentage and how to automate it

[10:58] – The power of an HSA and when it makes sense to prioritize it

[11:17] – Why taxable brokerage accounts can be a game-changer for flexibility

[12:39] – Step-by-step guide to calculating biweekly and monthly contributions

[13:51] – Key investment principles: index funds, reinvesting dividends, and long-term thinking

[15:17] – How Budget Dog Academy can help you personalize your investment plan

Links & Resources:

• https://bookwithbudgetdog.com/ped

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend who’s ready to level up their investments. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and keep taking bold steps toward your financial freedom.

In this episode of Money on My Mind, I dive into one of the most common (and urgent) financial questions: Is the market going to crash? One of our listeners, Stephen Lundy, asks whether he should be worried, how to secure his investments, and whether moving to bonds is the right move. Instead of focusing on fear, I break down what truly builds wealth: long-term strategy, understanding risk, and taking consistent action.

We’ll break down the Wealth Triangle, the risks of market timing, and why dollar-cost averaging is key—even in volatility. I’ll also share data on how missing a few top market days can cost you millions. If you’re unsure about investing, this episode will give you the clarity to stay the course and avoid costly emotional decisions.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Is the market going to crash?

02:23 Why fear-based investing leads to bad decisions

05:21 How market volatility tricks investors into losing money

06:45 The Wealth Triangle

09:23 The importance of mental fortitude

12:24 Building an automated system to generate cash flow

14:22 The real definition of the stock market

16:37 The fundamentals of investing that you should understand

19:16 Understanding the importance of risk management

24:21 How missing the best 10 days of the market can sink your money

28:01 Why market timing does not work

30:31 Developing the right mindset towards investing

32:27 How waiting could impact your returns

https://bookwithbudgetdog.com/ped

Quotables

“The market isn’t some mystical force—it’s people, businesses, and the economy. Unless humans stop working and innovating, the market won’t just disappear.”

“If you wait to invest because you’re scared, you’re literally throwing away millions of dollars over time.”

“You don’t build wealth by reacting to fear—you build it by making smart, consistent moves over time.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

In this episode of Money on My Mind, I answer a question from one of my Budgetdog Academy OGs, Joe Sullivan, about the step-by-step process of starting a business. Whether you’re dusting off an old business idea or just getting serious about entrepreneurship, this no-fluff episode breaks down six essential steps—from finding your niche to scaling—without the distractions of logos, websites, or admin tasks.

I’m sharing hard-learned lessons on why most people aren’t cut out for entrepreneurship, common mistakes new business owners make, and what truly matters when starting out. Ready to stop talking and start doing? This episode’s for you.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:29 The harsh truth: 95% of people aren’t built to start a business—and why that’s okay.

03:28 Why your niche, product, and real results matter more than branding

07:28 Proving your concept and providing services that will make money

09:30 Making your business repeatable without trading time for money

12:13 Simple scales, fancy fails: Why overcomplicating your business is a recipe for disaster

14:02 Focusing on sales and marketing

17:41 Hiring talent from networking instead of job boards

22:12 Learning to delegate to scale your business the right way

23:14 Systemizing your business through SOPs and other tools

31:36 The importance of communication within your team

Quotables

“Ideas are pointless. Everyone has them. What matters is who takes action and gets paid for them.”

“Simple scales. Fancy fails. The more complex you make it, the worse your product probably is.”

“If you can’t sell it more than once, it’s not a business. It’s just a hustle.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

Asana

https://asana.com/

Quickbooks

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/