In this episode of EWA's FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt and Ben explain why, with the federal exemption at an all time high of 15 million per person, families who expect meaningful future growth can move assets out of their taxable estate before these limits may decline. They simplify how estate taxes work and why taking action now can prevent significant future tax exposure.

They outline the key differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts. A revocable trust helps avoid probate but does not reduce estate taxes. An irrevocable trust, however, can remove assets permanently from your estate. Matt and Ben also highlight how the grantor, trustee, and beneficiary roles work together and how a grantor structure allows the trust assets to grow more efficiently over time.

The episode covers which assets belong in an irrevocable trust and which do not. Life insurance, direct indexed investment portfolios, business interests, rental properties, and high growth private investments often work best because they can appreciate outside your estate. Retirement accounts, primary residences, cash reserves, and assets with debt generally create tax or administrative issues and are better kept out.

Matt and Ben wrap up with practical examples for both high earners and already high net worth families. They explain how annual exclusion gifts and SLATs can help younger families begin planning and how those above the exemption may benefit from using their full limits now. The message is clear. Once exemption limits fall you cannot reclaim todays higher amount, and early planning can protect more of your wealth for future generations.

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In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt and Ben tackle a question that makes or breaks long term financial independence for high achievers with sizable balance sheets. Is your balance sheet truly healthy, or is it one bad year away from stress and hard choices? Drawing on real client scenarios, they break down why headline net worth is not the full story and how liquidity, concentration, and debt all interact when markets shift or your business hits a snag.

They explain why big wealth is often created through concentration in a business, a single stock, or real estate yet preserved through thoughtful diversification and accessible reserves. You will hear practical guardrails you can apply right away: limit any one stock or business interest from dominating your net worth, build a personal liquidity buffer so you can become your own bank in a downturn, and right size real estate so it supports rather than strains your plan.

Matt and Ben also explore the emotional side of rebalancing concentrated winners, why stealth wealth and reverse budgeting help owners stay disciplined, and how lines of credit secured by investment accounts can provide flexibility without forcing sales at the wrong time. They outline key takeaways such as holding 5 to 10 percent in true liquidity like cash, T bills, or short CDs with fast access, keeping your primary residence near or below 20 percent of net worth and total real estate near or below 40 percent, maintaining total personal debt near or below 15 percent, and monitoring concentration so no single position puts your plan at risk.

Whether you are a business owner, an executive with significant RSUs, or an investor with meaningful real estate, this episode offers a clear framework to turn a chaotic collection of assets into a simple, resilient balance sheet that works for you. Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN LYT Podcast, Matt and Ben discuss why budgeting becomes even more important the higher your income grows and how traditional budgeting often fails high earners.

They introduce Reverse Budgeting, a system designed to eliminate decision fatigue, reduce financial stress, and help families at all income levels enjoy life while staying on track for long-term goals. Rather than tracking every expense, Reverse Budgeting uses automation and structure. By splitting paychecks into fixed and variable accounts, setting up “money temperature” controls, and aligning short-, mid-, and long-term savings buckets, this ensures you're saving and spending intentionally.

From helping over-spenders regain control to giving under-spenders permission to enjoy what they’ve built, Matt and Ben break down practical steps to organize cash flow, prevent lifestyle creep, and create peace of mind. With simple guardrails in place, you can protect your wealth, spend confidently, and live without financial regret.

Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN LYT Podcast, Matt and Nick tackle a question that keeps high earners and business owners up at night — "How do you audit proof your tax strategy while still minimizing what you pay legally?"

They break down what triggers IRS attention, why detailed documentation is essential, and how proactive planning throughout the year can help you avoid interest, penalties, and months of back and forth with the IRS. From missed K1s and W2G gambling slips to Schedule C losses that look more like hobbies, they explain where audits often start and how to build a clean, defensible paper trail before April.

The discussion also explores emerging issues like crypto reporting and the new 1099 DA, along with practical guidance for executives holding concentrated company stock or RSUs. Matt and Nick share real world examples of how small oversights can become five figure surprises and explain how aligning your tax, cash flow, and investment strategies under one team can help prevent them.

Whether you are a physician entering higher income, an executive managing equity compensation, or a business owner juggling multiple filings, this episode provides a clear roadmap to reduce audit risk, protect your time, and stay fully compliant.

Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt sits down with Nick to cut through the hype around “real estate tax hacks” and reveal what actually works. They explain how real estate investors, business owners, and high-income professionals can use proven tax strategies like cost segregation, bonus depreciation, and the real estate professional election, to save big the right way.

You’ll learn how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to TikTok tax tips, understand the difference between active and passive income, and see real examples of how the right structure can unlock significant tax efficiency while staying fully compliant.

What we cover

• Active vs. passive income and how to avoid the “passive trap”

• Cost segregation, bonus depreciation, and Section 179 explained

• Real estate professional and grouping elections that unlock tax savings

• Short-term rental rules and common IRS audit red flags

• Owner-occupied real estate setups and 1031 exchange strategies

• Why proper recordkeeping protects your deductions

Whether you’re a real estate investor, physician, executive, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you understand how to structure real estate the smart way and maximize your tax benefits with confidence.

Join us each week as we share practical ways to align your wealth with the life you want to live. This conversation is meant for educational purposes only—it’s not tax, legal, or investment advice. If you’re looking for guidance specific to your situation, give us a call or schedule a time to talk with our team at EWA so we can help you build a plan that fits your goals.

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt and Devin break down the often-misunderstood world of private markets and why high-net-worth investors are increasingly turning to them for diversification and long-term growth.

They unpack the fundamental differences between public and private markets, exploring why companies like SpaceX, Stripe, and OpenAI are choosing to stay private and what that means for investors. The conversation covers the rise of private credit and private equity, the growth trajectory of this $12 trillion market, and why these opportunities were once limited to institutions but are now opening up to accredited investors.

Matt and Devin explain how private investments fit within a comprehensive portfolio strategy, including how EWA structures allocations for qualified clients by balancing risk, return, and liquidity tradeoffs. They also discuss why these strategies are best suited for investors with $10 million or more in net worth, and how disciplined access to private markets can serve as a “smarter risk” rather than a higher one.

Whether you’re curious about expanding beyond traditional markets or want to understand the mechanics of private investing, this episode offers a clear, high-level framework for how these asset classes can complement long-term wealth strategies.

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt and Devin dive into one of the most personal and complex financial questions: How do you know when you’ve saved enough?

They explore why traditional rules of thumb like “you need $10 million to retire” often fall short, and how defining “enough” depends on your lifestyle, goals, and values. It's not a static number. Through real client examples, they illustrate how over-saving can quietly rob families of joy and time, while under-saving can create long-term financial stress.

The discussion covers key assumptions behind a sound financial plan. This includes spending habits, inflation, taxes, and investment returns, and why constant recalibration is essential as life evolves. They also share how intentional spending and well-structured savings can eliminate future regret, ensuring clients enjoy today while staying financially secure for tomorrow.

Whether you’re a high-income professional, physician, or business owner, this episode offers a practical framework for balancing present enjoyment with future independence while finding confidence in knowing you’re truly on track.

Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

Connect with EWA:

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Matt and Ben uncover the hidden costs that quietly drain financial plans. These are not just money leaks but regrets, delays, and unnecessary stressors that can erode wealth and peace of mind over time.

They discuss how lifestyle creep, fragmented financial advice, tax inefficiencies, illiquidity, and unmanaged risks all show up in real client situations. The conversation also highlights the dangers of holding too much cash, as well as the reality that most wealth fails to last beyond two generations without intentional legacy planning.

Whether you are a physician, business owner, or high-income professional, this episode offers practical ways to avoid these silent killers and ensure your financial plan supports both your independence and your vision for life.

Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

Connect with EWA:

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this early Q4 market commentary, EWA provides timely insights into recent portfolio rebalancing and the evolving market environment. Matt Blocki shares a comprehensive overview of tactical shifts, policy expectations, and structural investment themes shaping portfolios as we close 2025. The commentary highlights how EWA is selectively leaning into opportunities while maintaining risk management amid policy uncertainty and geopolitical complexity.

The update reaffirms EWA’s disciplined, long-term investment approach, focused on resilience, diversification, and high-conviction ideas. Staying selective yet bold, especially where signals are clear, remains central to the firm’s philosophy.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Tactical asset allocation and equity positioning (0:29)

2. Cooling labor market and Fed policy outlook (3:00)

3. Inflation trends and expected rate cuts (4:54)

4. U.S. earnings strength versus international markets (7:07)

5. Artificial intelligence and national resilience themes (11:17)

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https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977

In this episode of EWA’s FIN LYT Podcast, Jamison and Ben explore why the IRS shouldn’t be your biggest heir. They break down how estate taxes and state inheritance taxes work, why liquidity issues with real estate and businesses create problems, and what families can do to protect wealth across generations.

From trusts that act like a prenup, to lifetime gifting strategies, Roth conversions, and the smart use of life insurance or charitable planning, this conversation highlights practical ways to reduce taxes, safeguard assets, and ensure your legacy benefits your loved ones and not the IRS.

Join us each week as we share insights to help you align your wealth with the life you want to live.

Connect with EWA:

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EWA Disclosures and Firm ADV:

https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/308977