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Equity Compensation: How to Maximize Your Benefits and Optimize Your Taxes, with Mike Holloway, CFP® (Ep. 16)

Equity Compensation: How to Maximize Your Benefits and Optimize Your Taxes, with Mike Holloway, CFP® (Ep. 16)

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Equity compensation is becoming an increasingly popular way for employers to reward and retain their top talent. But as enticing as this benefit sounds, it’s one of the most complicated and misunderstood forms of compensation—often triggering a tax bill employees aren’t prepared to cover. 

In this episode, host Jason and special guest Mike Holloway, CFP® explain the differences between incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, and the tax implications of each. Because only when you understand how to make the most of your equity compensation can you truly ‘Own Your Wealth.’ 

Listen now to learn:

  • How each equity compensation type differs
  • The tax implications of each form of equity compensation
  • Why an 83B election is often one of the best ways to enjoy significant future tax savings
  • When to meet with a financial advisor, so you have ample time to weigh your options
  • And more

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Why Your Last CPA Ghosted You — and Why Cook Wealth’s Won’t (Ep. 15)

Why Your Last CPA Ghosted You — and Why Cook Wealth’s Won’t (Ep. 15)

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If you’ve been ‘ghosted’ by your CPA, you’re not alone. The accounting industry is undergoing significant changes. Big tech is snapping up CPAs left and right, early retirement is becoming the new norm, and for the CPAs that are left, uninviting work environments and gruelling hours at traditional firms make it hard for these professionals to meet every client’s needs—or return your calls. 

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason reveals the real reasons why a traditional CPA may not be your best choice for proactive, comprehensive tax planning support, especially if you have a high income or complex tax needs. 

Listen now to learn:

  • Why traditional CPAs prioritize compliance over careful planning
  • Practical advice for individuals and businesses looking for a new CPA
  • The best time of year to start your CPA search
  • How Cook Wealth’s CPAs approach tax planning and optimization
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Spending With Intentionality (Ep. 14)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Spending With Intentionality (Ep. 14)

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When it comes to managing your money, the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact on your long-term financial health. Small choices, like reaching for your debit card first, making a monthly spending plan, and defining exactly what ‘enough’ means to your family can add up to quite a bit of added savings—without significantly impacting your lifestyle. 

In the last episode of our 5-part Uses of Money series, Jason talks about the intentional spending choices each of us can make to enjoy what we have now while securing a comfortable future. From smart spending plans to using credit cards responsibly, Jason explains how the right plan and tools can help your family live life empowered. 

Listen now to learn: 

  • The power of micro-money choices
  • Why spending is one of your most crucial lifestyle tools
  • What ‘enough’ looks like as your income increases
  • How budget tracking apps can help your family use credit cards to your advantage
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Growing Your Wealth With a Tax-Smart Savings Plan (Ep. 13)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Growing Your Wealth With a Tax-Smart Savings Plan (Ep. 13)

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The first step towards growing your wealth is a fairly straightforward one: Establish an adequate emergency fund. But it’s the steps to follow that can make managing and increasing your wealth complicated. Intentionally building your wealth requires careful financial planning and smart tax strategies—skills that may not come naturally to everyday savers.  

From putting all your savings in one risky basket, to keeping too much cash on hand, in this episode, Jason reveals a few surprising truths about maximizing the growth potential in every dollar. 

Listen now to learn:

  • Why your emergency fund may not look like your neighbor’s
  • How excess cash can limit your wealth growth
  • 3 tax-smart options to build your savings
  • The role your financial advisor plays in optimizing your portfolio

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Leveraging Debt and Taxes to Your Best Benefit (Ep.12)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Leveraging Debt and Taxes to Your Best Benefit (Ep.12)

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At first glance, debt and taxes may seem like two of the least empowering uses of money. After all, both functions can get in the way of your financial plan, if you’re not careful. But what if our understanding of debt and taxes is built on a handful of misconceptions? 

In this episode of Own Your Wealth, host Jason and special guest Zach Carver, CPA, CFP®, discuss the good, the bad, and the timely aspects of owing money. From timing your taxes to optimize your savings, to differentiating between good and bad debt, this conversation offers actionable insights worth considering today. 

Listen now for:

  • ‘Good debt’ vs. ‘bad debt’—and why good debt can sour
  • The advantages of minimizing your tax return
  • How timing your expenses can positively impact your taxes
  • When reducing your taxes can come back to bite you
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Generously Doing Good With What We Have (Ep. 11)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: Generously Doing Good With What We Have (Ep. 11)

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Ever wondered how to make a real impact with your money? It’s not just about saving or spending but also about giving back to your community in a meaningful way.

When you hear the word “generosity,” what comes to mind? Most people equate generosity with financial giving. But in practice, the true essence of generosity goes far beyond money—encompassing your time, talent, and treasures. 

In this episode, host Jason and special guest Richard Newton, the Regional Director of the National Christian Foundation’s Carolinas office, take a closer look at what it means to “do good with what we have.” From simple first steps any new giver can take, to advanced strategies for generous business owners and high-income individuals, this conversation underscores the transformational power of generous living.

Listen now for:

  • Smart ways to systematize your giving with a donor-advised fund
  • How to increase the intentionality and impact of large gifts
  • Why non-cash assets can be just as valuable as cash donations
  • The tax advantages of strategic giving
  • And more

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The Five Powerful Uses of Money: To Give, Live, Grow, Owe, and Cover Taxes (Ep. 10)

The Five Powerful Uses of Money: To Give, Live, Grow, Owe, and Cover Taxes (Ep. 10)

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Every person has the opportunity to put their wealth towards 5 key things: Living, growing, giving, owing, and taxes. You can think of these 5 uses as forming your own ‘money pie’—one you can slice any way you like, as you allocate more or less funds to each area.

The first step towards making your finances work for you is being intentional about how you slice the pie, and which financial habits you prioritize. Because how you spend your money, in many ways, is how you spend your life.

In this episode, Jason covers:

  • The role each money function plays in your financial plan
  • How to re-slice your ‘money pie’ 
  • The one slice many people struggle to control
  • Managing good, bad, and ‘okay’ debt
  • Why charitable giving is different from generosity
  • And more

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Achieving Life Balance in a Tech-Saturated World, with Marcey Rader (Ep. 9)

Achieving Life Balance in a Tech-Saturated World, with Marcey Rader (Ep. 9)

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“Rich, to me, is money. But wealth? That’s freedom and time.” – Marcey Rader, founder and president of RaderCo, business productivity consultants.

In this episode, host Jason Deshayes and special guest Marcey Rader discuss how the key to mastering work-life balance isn’t taking more vacations or shifting to a 4-day work week. It’s learning how to limit the influence of technology that never stops buzzing. By developing your health-powered productivity habits and proactively addressing your work-related stress, you can build a balanced, fulfilling professional life—and a deeply rewarding retirement. 

In this episode, Jason and Marcey cover:

  • The real meaning of work-life balance—and why tech-life balance is a better perspective
  • How microstressors at work damage your health and build up to burnout
  • The habits you need to set now to enjoy a purposeful retirement
  • What business owners can do to boost productivity without overwhelming employees
  • And more

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Small Business Bookkeeping: From Confused Chaos to Confident Clarity with Carleen Lamay (Ep. 7)

Small Business Bookkeeping: From Confused Chaos to Confident Clarity with Carleen Lamay (Ep. 7)

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Calling all small business owners! Don’t miss out on this episode that will equip you with the bookkeeping tools and knowledge to elevate your small business to new heights.

In this episode, Jason speaks with Carleen Lamay, CEO of C2 Accounting and Business Support. Together they dive into strategies business owners can use as Carleen shares invaluable insights on the importance of scalability, communication, and the power of collaboration between bookkeepers, accountants, and tax planners. Jason and Carleen also unpack the benefits of outsourcing bookkeeping services, such as freeing up time and mental space for business owners to focus on strategic thinking and leadership.

Carleen discusses: 

  • The key to successful bookkeeping for business owners 
  • The importance of educating small business owners about bookkeeping and accounting  
  • Carleen advises clients to put scalable processes in place from the beginning.
  • And more

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Cook Wealth Management Group, LLC is a registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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