Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management

Trump Accounts Are Coming July 4th — Here’s What You Need to Know — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management A new tax-advantaged savings vehicle for children is launching this Independence Day. Here's a practical breakdown of what Trump Accounts are, how to enroll, and importantly, where they fit in your overall savings strategy. What Is a Trump Account? Trump Accounts are a new, custodial-style tradition

The $300,000 Tax Mistake Hidden Inside a Quitclaim Deed — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management “I just want to make things easier for my kids someday.” That’s what Diane told me when she explained why she added her two adult children to the title of her home using a quitclaim deed. No lawyers. No real planning. Just paperwork at the county office and a belief that this would help the ho...

Employee Stock Purchase Plans: Great Benefit or Financial Trap? — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management When people review a new job offer, they tend to focus on salary first. Then maybe the bonus. The health insurance. The retirement plan. And somewhere buried in the benefits packet is something called an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or ESPP. For some employees, this can be an excellent wealth-build

NIL Money Is a Business, Not Just a Paycheck: What Student-Athletes Need to Know (Part 2) — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management One of the biggest mindset shifts student-athletes need to make in the NIL era is this: You are not “just getting paid.” You are operating a business. The moment money starts coming in through sponsorships, appearances, social media deals, camps, autograph signings, affiliate partnerships, or br...

Smart Financial Decisions for NIL Money: What College Athletes Need to Know Before the Money Starts Flowing (Part 1) — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management For years, college athletes generated enormous value while making very little money themselves. Now the NIL era has completely changed that. Student-athletes can earn money through endorsements, appearances, sponsorships, social media, autograph signings, camps, and brand partnerships. One of the bi

Are you a business owner looking for tax-savings strategies that also build your net worth? Consider a SEP IRA plan and learn how you can transition business wealth into personal wealth while keeping more of your hard-earned money in your pocket (and out of Uncle Sam's 😉)!

Why Every Self-Employed Business Owner Should Consider a SEP IRA — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management If you’re a business owner or solo entrepreneur, retirement planning can feel like juggling flaming swords; figuring out how much to save, when you can save it, how much to reinvest back into your business, and how to minimize taxes all at the same time. That’s exactly where a SEP IRA can come i...

Incentive Stock Options (ISOs): What They Are, How They’re Taxed, and How to Use Them Wisely — Cassandra Smalley Wealth Management Incentive Stock Options, or ISOs, are a type of equity compensation that give you the right to buy shares of your company at a fixed price in the future. Incentive Stock Options can be a powerful wealth-building tool, but they also come with complexity, timing rules, and tax traps that can’t be ig...

Just returned from a continuing education conference for financial advisors in Austin and feeling energized! Picked up some great takeaways around estate planning solutions, estate planning and long term care planning for childfree folks, tax planning resources for US expats living abroad, and enjoyed a session on having deeper conversations through asking better questions with clients. I also got a chuckle out of this year’s shirt: “I Give A FIDUCIARY!” Given how much I say this word… it’s appropriate. Haha! 🤣

It’s not just “nice” for women to be part of every financial conversation… It’s critical to her success.

Too often, the stats are sobering:
✨ 80–90% of women will, at some point, be solely responsible for managing their wealth or someone else’s. No one should have to start the learning curve at age 85. I've seen it happen all too often, and it's heartbreaking to watch.
✨ The gender pay gap persists, and career breaks for caregiving hit retirement savings hard. The numbers are out for 2024, and the gap widened for the 2nd year in a row to $0.81.
✨ Divorce—especially gray divorce—is leaving many women financially vulnerable.
✨ Women live longer and need portfolios that can last 30+ years.
✨ Too much cash sitting in savings instead of being invested widens the gender investment gap. Don't make it harder on yourself to catch up.
✨ Social Security gaps can leave women with less protection in later years. If your benefit is less, you only receive 50% of his benefit if you divorce, and 100% of his benefit if he predeceases you.

⚠️ And if you’re married and wealth isn’t being built in your name (your investment accounts, your IRAs), you’re not just missing out, you’re building a future liability.

A financial plan isn’t truly successful unless it works for both partners independently, in the case of death or divorce. Financial planning is non-negotiable for women.

✅ Start investing consistently, even small amounts compound over decades.
✅ Build retirement savings in your own name, even if you step out of the workforce for caregiving.
✅ Discuss estate plans, Social Security strategies, and long-term care openly with your partner and advisor.

Because financial independence isn’t optional, it’s essential. And your future self is counting on the choices you make today. 💪💼