Friday Weekly Q&A Call - 5/29/2026 · 🏠 Lower Taxes w/ Ryan

Friday Weekly Q&A Call - 5/29/2026

Here's a summary of the key takeaways from this session:

Tax & Investing Basics

Crypto is taxed like any other capital asset: short-term gains (under one year) are taxed as ordinary income; long-term gains (over one year) are taxed at 0%, 15%, or 20%. No tax is owed until you sell.
If you're not earning dividends, there's no tax liability on most investments until you sell.

Real Estate Strategy

The long-term playbook: buy, depreciate, exchange via 1031 into the next property, and ideally hold until death so heirs receive a stepped-up basis, eliminating capital gains.
Cost segregation and partial asset disposition work together: cost seg accelerates depreciation on what you added; partial asset disposition writes off the remaining value of what you removed.
Consider involving your cost seg firm before and after renovations. For simple needs, Real Estate Cost Seg works well. For complex cases involving partial asset disposition, CSSI is the preferred option.

Cash & Emergency Funds

Three to six months of expenses (not income) is the target range for an emergency fund. Three months is often enough if your income is stable.
Anything beyond that sitting in a high-yield savings account is an opportunity cost. Put excess cash to work in markets, real estate, or retirement accounts.

Debt vs. Investing

If you're carrying debt above roughly 7% interest, paying it down likely beats investing — it's a guaranteed return equal to the interest rate.

Retirement Planning

Self-employed individuals can open a Solo 401(k) as long as they have no full-time non-family employees. Contributions are tax-deductible.
Automate contributions so investing is consistent and doesn't rely on memory or willpower.

Mindset & Financial Literacy

We aren't taught about money in school. Most people are left to figure out taxes, investing, and wealth-building on their own, which makes them vulnerable to bad advice or inaction.
Earning more money isn't enough on its own. The real game is learning how to protect it from taxes, grow it, and put it to work.
Cash feels safe but loses value over time. In an inflationary environment, money sitting still is money going backwards.
We're in a "K-shaped economy" where wages are losing ground but assets like real estate and stocks keep appreciating. Owning assets is what separates those moving forward from those falling behind.
The biggest financial mistake people make is inaction, waiting for the perfect time, or letting fear keep them on the sidelines. Time in the market consistently beats trying to time the market.
Treat investing like a bill you pay yourself. If it's not automated and budgeted for, it's too easy to skip.

Thank you all for joining!

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Friday Weekly Q&A Call - 5/29/2026