In this episode of The Liquidity Event, AJ Ayers hosts two Chief Investment Officers, Peter Lazaroff CFA, CFP® from Plancorp and Rubin Miller CFA from Peltoma Capital Partners, for a chat on cash management strategies, investment philosophies, and calling BS on industry trends.

Key Timestamps:

• (0:00) Introductions and background

• (2:48) Career paths in investment management

• (12:43) Cash management strategies in today's high-interest environment

• (13:57) Risk-free rates and building portfolios around them

• (30:00) Tax loss harvesting: overhyped or valuable strategy?

• (31:13) Direct indexing and SMAs - worth it or not?

• (37:01) Dumbest purchases - from $13k couches to levered ETFs
  

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🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com

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Welcome to Episode 146 of The Liquidity Event!

This week AJ and Shane talk FinTech corporate espionage and then focus on the proposed GOP tax plan.

To wrap things up, they address a listener's concern about preparing for a "coming economic storm," offering insights on why fear-based financial decisions are rarely the best approach.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 - Intro & What's Shane doing in AJ's house?

01:52 - Spies Are Everywhere: The Cutthroat FinTech Industry

04:54 - Remote Work & Cybersecurity: The New Frontier of Corporate Risk

06:07 - Non-Competes: Enforceable or Not?

06:33 - Decoding the New House GOP Tax Plan (Draft Details!)

06:53 - AJ's Favorite: 529 Plan Expansions for Certifications!

08:14 - Shane's Take: Standard Deductions, AMT, and the SALT Cap Saga Continues

12:23 - No Tax on Tips? Or Overtime? The Complications!

15:14 - Radical Tax Idea Corner: Capital Gains & Lifetime Exclusions

18:58 - Estate Tax Exclusion: Permanent and Higher?

19:48 - Listener Question: Preparing for the "Coming Economic Storm"

21:26 - AJ's Hot Take: Don't Make Decisions Based on Fear!

25:01 - Outro

🔔 Subscribe to The Liquidity Event on YouTube: YouTube Channel

🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com

✍️ Leave us a voicemail question for a future episode:memo.fm/theliquidityevent

📱 Follow Brooklyn FI:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brooklyn-fi/

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Welcome to Episode 145 of The Liquidity Event! This week, AJ and Shane tackle some big topics: Are individual investors smarter than the "smart money" hedge funds? Why are CEOs really heading for the exits at record rates (and what's the deal with that vasectomy shirt story)? Plus, we unravel the frustrating Catch-22 of credit card fees for businesses and consumers.

Tune in for our signature blend of financial insights and (mostly) educational humor!

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro & Shane's Renovation Woes

1:39 - Market Update: Pros Sold, Individuals Pounced – Who Was Right?

6:30 - Hedge Fund Reality Check: S&P 500 vs. "Expert" Performance

9:00 - The "Tiger in the Grass": Why We're Biased Towards Action in Markets

14:50 - AJ's Big News: Announcing Her Book "Creative Money"!

17:10 - Tipping Fatigue: Are We All Fed Up?

21:40 - The Real Reasons Tipping Culture is Out of Control

24:45 - The Great Credit Card Rip-Off: Fees, Oligopolies & The Catch-22 for Businesses

28:20 - CEO Exodus: Why Leaders Are Quitting in Droves

29:05 - Peak Ambiguity: AI, DEI & The Hilarious "Vasectomy Shirt" Anecdote

30:00 - Burnout is the New Black: The Serious Side of CEO Turnover

Connect with us:

Email your financial problems or questions: liquidityevent@brooklynfi.com

Leave us a voicemail (we might play it on the air!): memo.fm/liquidityevent

Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave us a REVIEW if you enjoy the show! Your support helps us expose more financial nonsense.

#FinancialPodcast #InvestingMyths #CEOBurnout #CreditCardFees #SmallBusinessFinance #MarketAnalysis #StockMarket #Leadership #BKFi #LiquidityEvent

Hear your host, AJ Ayers, share her expertise on equity compensation as a special guest on Peter Lazaroff’s podcast, The Long-Term Investor!

In this focused conversation, AJ shares insights on critical year-end tax planning, developing multiyear strategies for stock options and RSUs, managing risk, preserving gains, and simplifying selling strategies.

For the video recording, check out the Long Term Investor podcast on YouTube.

Key Moments:

00:37 - Year-End Tax Planning for Equity Comp

03:54 - Long-Term Equity Strategy & Diversification

09:24 - Exercising Private Company Stock Options

14:10 - Managing Equity Compensation Risk

22:27 - Advanced Tactics for Mixed Equity Packages

25:38 - Strategies to Minimize Taxes on Gains

32:49 - Automated Selling with 10b5-1 Plans

34:56 - Final Tips & Takeaways

In this episode of The Liquidity Event, AJ and Shane talk non-qualified stock options (NSOs), explaining the common mistakes people make, tax implications, and strategic approaches to maximize your equity compensation.

Key Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro and a few laughs

3:45 - The biggest mistake with NQSOs

6:45 - How taxation works upon exercise

10:15 - NQSOs and Alternative Minimum Tax

15:45 - Multiple grant strategies: the Goldilocks approach

19:45 - When to exercise and hold vs. wait

23:30 - The "least regret" strategy

26:15 - Overconfidence and substantial risk of forfeiture

28:45 - Real-world Reddit question about forgotten options

Connect with us: Email: liquidityevent@brooklynfi.com

Ask us financial questions via voicemail: memo.fm/liquidityevent

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#EquityCompensation #StockOptions #NQSOs #FinancialPlanning #TaxStrategy

Happy 7th Anniversary to Brooklyn Fi! 🎉 In this special episode of The Liquidity Event, Shane Mason & AJ Ayers reflect on the seven biggest lessons they've learned running a financial planning firm for seven years (though they might have come up with more than seven!).

From the surprising rewards (and demands) of entrepreneurship to navigating hiring challenges, managing relationships, and the power of 'disagree and commit,' they share candid insights for anyone running or thinking about starting a business.

Plus, they tackle a listener's question about handling an unexpected, large tax bill when income is lumpy – learn about IRS installment plans and other options.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro, Happy Tax Day & Shane's Stained Shirt

02:48 - Listener Voicemail: Handling a Surprise Tax Bill

05:11 - Brooklyn FI's 7th Anniversary: Intro to 7 Lessons in 7 Years

07:37 - Lesson: The Uncapped Reward of Entrepreneurial Hard Work (Shane)

11:28 - Lesson: Burn the Candle in Your 20s (Shane)

17:26 - Lesson: Entrepreneurship as a Creative Act (Shane)

20:03 - Lesson: Work on Relationships (Coworkers, Employees, Vendors) (Shane)

21:19 - Lesson: Why Hiring Your First Employees is So Hard (AJ)

23:05 - Lesson: The Power of 'Disagree and Commit' (AJ)

24:42 - Lesson: Steal Like an Artist (Borrowing Ideas) (Shane)

28:45 - Final Thoughts & Would They Do It Again?

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🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brooklyn-fi/

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Market shocks, crypto moves, windfalls, and punk rock?

Shane Mason & AJ Ayers unpack the latest financial news and listener questions in this episode of The Liquidity Event.

🚨 IMPORTANT NOTE: This episode was recorded on April 8th, 2025, before the April 9th pause on most newly proposed U.S. tariffs (excluding China). While our specific tariff critique reflects the situation known at that moment, the policy landscape remains dynamic and could change again.

Therefore, our discussion on the history of U.S. tariffs and the fundamental pros and cons of using them in economic policy offers valuable context for understanding potential future shifts.

In this episode, hear AJ's sharp critique of the initial approach to the widespread tariff proposal and the market uncertainty it created. We also break down the Circle (USDC) stablecoin IPO filing – what does it mean for crypto and digital dollars?

Plus, practical advice for tackling angel investing after an inheritance, and the story of how Henry Rollins got a Brooklyn FI Roth IRA t-shirt!

⏱️ Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro & Catching Up (Mexico, California, Remembering Grandpa)

(3:09) The Roth IRA / Henry Rollins T-Shirt Story

(6:45) Tariff Turmoil: Discussing the Initial Broad Proposal (Recorded BEFORE Pause News)

(8:15) Historical Tariffs & Manufacturing Job Trends

(10:40) Critiquing the Abrupt Policy Rollout Strategy

(13:50) Context: Existing China Trade Friction & Why Tariffs Elsewhere?

(16:40) Potential Business & Personal Impacts of Widespread Tariffs

(18:05) Circle (USDC) Stablecoin IPO Filing: What You Need to Know

(19:40) Explainer: How Stablecoins Like USDC Work & Generate Revenue

(21:15) The International Use Case for Digital Dollars vs. Traditional Banking

(24:30) Reddit Q&A: Angel Investing an 8-Figure Inheritance?

(25:40) Key Advice for Aspiring (or Accidental) Angel Investors

(27:10) Alternatives: Angel Investing ETFs & Pre-IPO Funds

(28:15) Outro & How to Connect

🔔 Subscribe to The Liquidity Event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brooklynfi/?sub_confirmation=1
🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com
✍️ Leave us a voicemail question for a future episode:memo.fm/theliquidityevent
📱 Follow Brooklyn FI:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brooklyn-fi/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooklyn_f.i/

#LiquidityEvent #BrooklynFI #PersonalFinance #Investing #Economics #Tariffs #TradePolicy #MarketVolatility #Crypto #Stablecoin #USDC #IPO #AngelInvesting #WealthManagement #Fintech #Podcast #FinancialPlanning

In this episode of The Liquidity Event, AJ and Shane dive into tech drama, AI disruption, and financial advice with a little spice.

Key Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro & Japan Travel Reflections
3:00 - Corporate Espionage: Rippling vs Deel
13:06 - Student Uses AI to Beat Amazon Interview
18:00 - Hinge Health: Revolutionizing Physical Therapy?
23:24 - Listener Question: Best Retirement Account for Musicians
28:00 - Reddit Question: 26-Year-Old Making $400K From Business

Like us? Have financial questions? Connect with us.
Email: liquidityevent@brooklynfi.com
Leave a voicemail: memo.fm/liquidityevent

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a review! New episodes every Friday.

#FinancialAdvice #CorporateEspionage #AIEthics #RetirementPlanning #Entrepreneurship