192. Tess Zigo, CFP, CPA - Are you Making These Financial Mistakes?
Sep 26, 2023
auto_awesome
Tess Zigo, financial professional, discusses financing options, student loan mistakes, understanding investments, term vs full life insurance, cultural differences in retirement saving, backdoor Roth IRAs, tax diversification, and flow-through income in this episode.
Dentists should seek guidance from financial planners or certified loan specialists to make informed decisions about managing their finances, especially when dealing with student loan debt.
Dentists should consider investing their accumulated cash in high-yield savings accounts or exploring other investment options to maximize their wealth.
Dentists should understand and maximize their contributions to various retirement accounts, such as 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE IRA, SEP, to lower their tax liability and save for retirement.
Deep dives
Importance of Seeking Financial Guidance
One of the common mistakes dentists make is not seeking guidance when it comes to managing their finances. Many dentists graduate with significant student loan debt and instead of seeking advice, they make financial decisions on their own, such as refinancing federal loans into private loans. It is essential for dentists to consult with financial planners or certified loan specialists to make informed financial decisions.
Holding Cash in Low-Interest Savings Accounts
Another common mistake dentists make is keeping large amounts of cash in low-interest savings accounts. Dentists often accumulate cash over time without knowing what to do with it, resulting in missed opportunities to grow their wealth. Instead, dentists should consider investing that money in high-yield savings accounts or exploring other investment options that align with their financial goals.
Understanding Retirement Account Options
For dentists, it is crucial to understand the retirement account options available to them. Depending on their employment status, dentists can contribute to 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE IRA, SEP, and other retirement accounts. By maximizing contributions to these accounts, dentists can lower their tax liability while simultaneously saving for retirement.
Exploring Tax Strategies
Tax planning plays a vital role in dentists' overall financial strategy. Dentists should explore tax strategies such as maximizing deductions, understanding tax brackets, and utilizing retirement contributions to lower their tax liability. Working with a certified financial planner and CPA can ensure dentists make the most of available tax strategies.
Considerations for Business Owners
Business owners, including dental practice owners, have additional retirement account options, such as cash balance plans and the ability to contribute to their own 401(k) or SEP. They can also take advantage of deductions specific to their business, such as equipment costs and continuing education expenses, to reduce their taxable income. Understanding the specific tax implications and options available to business owners is essential for maximizing tax savings.
I obtained my B.S. in Finance from Northern Illinois University, and later returned to get my M.A.S in Accounting Science and my CPA after the company I worked for filed for bankruptcy during the 2008 recession. That experience taugh me a valuable lesson in being aware of concentration risk since our 401(k) match was in company stock. I started investing on my own at 20 and it’s been one of the most rewarding and empowering areas in my life- seeing the results of compound interest in over a decade gives you a great level of confidence and financial flexibility to pursue your passions in life. I spent almost a decade in corporate finance and decided to become a Financial Advisor to help others who want financial independence and individualized guidance when it comes to their money. I obtained my CFP® designation in 2018 and actively study all topics related to personal finance that affect not only my clients but also my family’s finances. I'm a self proclaimed money nerd! In my spare time you can find me at the beach, with my kids and husband living my best life. I also love to drink coffee (it’s a habit I developed in college cramming for my exams), cooking (I love experimenting with recipes and ethnic food-currently on an Indian curry binge), listening to podcasts (mostly personal development or personal finance related) and traveling with my family. My dad is a retired surgeon and my mom is a retired teacher/musician and Daycare center owner. I attribute this fact to my ability to be both a logical thinker and a creative-I believe Financial Planning is part Art, part Science and luckily I got a little of both genes. I grew up in Bulgaria in Eastern Europe- we didn’t have a lot of money growing up, however we did openly discussion our family's finances at the dinner table-so I never shy away from money conversations. I lived in Botswana Africa where my parents started a daycare business-I was very involved with helping them grow the business-and those formative experiences influenced me to want to be a business owner. I immigrated to the US in 2002 in pursuit of the “American dream” and truly believe our country has more opportunities for those seeking to risk it all in the pursuit of a Truly Wealthy Life. So whether you’re feeling stuck in your career or already found your dream career/business but just unsure how to manage your money, let’s talk!
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode