What happens when financial planning goes far beyond investments?

In this episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone sits down with Erin Niehaus, founder of Planning Paths and a wealth management professional with experience spanning institutional asset management, tech investing, and private banking.

Together, they discuss the emotional and practical realities of managing money across generations — from helping aging parents and preparing children financially to navigating caregiving costs, estate planning, and the difficult conversations families often avoid until it’s too late.

Erin also shares how personal experiences shaped her mission to help families prepare for life’s biggest transitions, why stewardship matters in financial planning, and how AI is transforming the wealth management industry.

This is an insightful conversation for executives, business leaders, caregivers, and anyone trying to build a richer, more intentional financial life.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why financial planning should go beyond investments and portfolios
• The biggest financial risks families face with aging parents
• Why beneficiary designations and estate documents matter so much
• How to start difficult “kitchen table” conversations with family
• What the “sandwich generation” needs to prepare for financially
• How AI is changing financial planning and wealth management
• The difference between being wealthy and living a rich life
• Why stewardship and trust are critical in financial advising
  
  🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com
  
  Hashtags
  #MakingSenseOfYourMoney #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #Caregiving #AgingParents #EstatePlanning #RichLife #PersonalFinance
  
  Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

What happens when you’re hitting your numbers, earning well, and still quietly wondering, “Is this it?”

In this episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone sits down with Armen Avanessian — fintech sales veteran, Head of Sales & Partnerships at Anthem, and author of Selling Senses — to discuss a completely different approach to sales, leadership, and life.

Armen shares how the best sales professionals go beyond data and logic to create deeper human connection by engaging all five senses — and even a “sixth sense” rooted in intuition and purpose. They also dive into imposter syndrome, leadership growth, intentional living, and how healthy fear may actually be a sign you’re pursuing the right opportunities.

This conversation is packed with insights for sales professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build a richer, more meaningful life beyond financial success.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why the best salespeople create sensory experiences, not just presentations
• How active listening can transform relationships and sales outcomes
• Why data alone isn’t enough to influence decision-making
• The role of emotional connection in sales and leadership
• How “healthy fear” can signal growth opportunities
• Lessons Armen learned from 25+ years in fintech and sales leadership
• Why intentionality matters more than achievement alone
• The financial lessons Armen wishes he learned earlier in life

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

Hashtags
#MakingSenseOfYourMoney #SalesLeadership #SellingSenses #Fintech #PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #FinancialWellness #RichLife

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Most financial advice is only as good as the information behind it. In this episode, Dan Pascone sits down with Kevin Knull, founder of TaxStatus.com and former leader at MoneyGuide Pro, to discuss why incomplete data can lead to incomplete planning.

Kevin explains how advisors can miss key pieces of a client’s financial life, why tax planning is one of the biggest opportunities for high earners, and how better access to IRS data can help create more accurate, proactive advice.

They also discuss how AI is changing financial planning, why tax planning should begin long before year-end, and what becomes possible when advisors have the full picture.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why many financial plans are built on incomplete information
• How IRS data can reveal a fuller financial picture
• Why tax planning is a major wealth-building lever
• How filing an extension can support better planning
• What AI may change for advisors, CPAs, and clients
• Why better data leads to better advice
  
  🎧 If you're a high earner who's crushing it on paper but quietly wondering "is this it?" , this episode was built for you.
  
  🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com
  
  #MakingSenseOfYourMoney #FinancialPlanning #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #HighEarners #AIinFinance #TaxStrategy #PersonalFinance
  
  Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

What happens when financial planning goes far beyond investments?

In this episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone sits down with Erin Niehaus, founder of Planning Paths and a wealth management professional with experience spanning institutional asset management, tech investing, and private banking.

Together, they discuss the emotional and practical realities of managing money across generations — from helping aging parents and preparing children financially to navigating caregiving costs, estate planning, and the difficult conversations families often avoid until it’s too late.

Erin also shares how personal experiences shaped her mission to help families prepare for life’s biggest transitions, why stewardship matters in financial planning, and how AI is transforming the wealth management industry.

This is an insightful conversation for executives, business leaders, caregivers, and anyone trying to build a richer, more intentional financial life.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why financial planning should go beyond investments and portfolios
• The biggest financial risks families face with aging parents
• Why beneficiary designations and estate documents matter so much
• How to start difficult “kitchen table” conversations with family
• What the “sandwich generation” needs to prepare for financially
• How AI is changing financial planning and wealth management
• The difference between being wealthy and living a rich life
• Why stewardship and trust are critical in financial advising
  
  🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com
  
  Hashtags
  #MakingSenseOfYourMoney #FinancialPlanning #WealthManagement #Caregiving #AgingParents #EstatePlanning #RichLife #PersonalFinance
  
  Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

What happens when you’re hitting your numbers, earning well, and still quietly wondering, “Is this it?”

In this episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone sits down with Armen Avanessian — fintech sales veteran, Head of Sales & Partnerships at Anthem, and author of Selling Senses — to discuss a completely different approach to sales, leadership, and life.

Armen shares how the best sales professionals go beyond data and logic to create deeper human connection by engaging all five senses — and even a “sixth sense” rooted in intuition and purpose. They also dive into imposter syndrome, leadership growth, intentional living, and how healthy fear may actually be a sign you’re pursuing the right opportunities.

This conversation is packed with insights for sales professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to build a richer, more meaningful life beyond financial success.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why the best salespeople create sensory experiences, not just presentations
• How active listening can transform relationships and sales outcomes
• Why data alone isn’t enough to influence decision-making
• The role of emotional connection in sales and leadership
• How “healthy fear” can signal growth opportunities
• Lessons Armen learned from 25+ years in fintech and sales leadership
• Why intentionality matters more than achievement alone
• The financial lessons Armen wishes he learned earlier in life

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

Hashtags
#MakingSenseOfYourMoney #SalesLeadership #SellingSenses #Fintech #PersonalDevelopment #Leadership #FinancialWellness #RichLife

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Just filed your taxes and shocked by the amount you owed? You’re not alone.

In this solo episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone breaks down how high-earning executives and business leaders can use their tax return as a strategic planning tool instead of just a filing requirement.

Dan walks through 11 practical tax planning moves to make right now while the numbers are still fresh — from reviewing withholding mistakes and equity compensation exposure to optimizing charitable giving, retirement contributions, and investment account structure.

If you’re a W-2 executive, business leader, or high-income professional looking to avoid repeating the same costly tax mistakes next year, this episode gives you a framework to start planning proactively instead of reactively.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

Why your tax return is a powerful financial planning document

How to review your effective tax rate and withholding strategy

Common tax mistakes executives make with bonuses and equity compensation

How capital gains and investment structure impact your taxes

Tax-efficient charitable giving strategies using appreciated stock and donor-advised funds

Why mid-year tax planning matters more than year-end planning

How to build a proactive tax strategy for future wealth creation

Why retirement contribution strategy and asset location matter

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

#MakingSenseOfYourMoney #TaxPlanning #ExecutiveCompensation #PersonalFinance #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #EquityCompensation #HighEarners

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Most financial advice is only as good as the information behind it. In this episode, Dan Pascone sits down with Kevin Knull, founder of TaxStatus.com and former leader at MoneyGuide Pro, to discuss why incomplete data can lead to incomplete planning.

Kevin explains how advisors can miss key pieces of a client’s financial life, why tax planning is one of the biggest opportunities for high earners, and how better access to IRS data can help create more accurate, proactive advice.

They also discuss how AI is changing financial planning, why tax planning should begin long before year-end, and what becomes possible when advisors have the full picture.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why many financial plans are built on incomplete information
• How IRS data can reveal a fuller financial picture
• Why tax planning is a major wealth-building lever
• How filing an extension can support better planning
• What AI may change for advisors, CPAs, and clients
• Why better data leads to better advice
  
  🎧 If you're a high earner who's crushing it on paper but quietly wondering "is this it?" , this episode was built for you.
  
  🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com
  
  #MakingSenseOfYourMoney #FinancialPlanning #TaxPlanning #WealthManagement #HighEarners #AIinFinance #TaxStrategy #PersonalFinance
  
  Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.
  
  

In this episode of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone sits down with Ashish Khanna, Partner at Hightower Signature Wealth, to talk about legacy planning, estate strategy, family communication, and why passing down wealth without passing down values often leads to failure.

Ashish shares his journey from attorney to wealth advisor and explains why true legacy planning goes far beyond wills, trusts, and legal documents. Together, Dan and Ashish unpack the real reasons generational wealth disappears, including poor communication, lack of trust, unprepared heirs, and the absence of a shared family mission.

They also explore how families can start having better conversations around money, why stories matter just as much as financial structures, and what it means to live a rich life with real intentionality.

If you are building wealth and want to ensure your family inherits wisdom, purpose, and preparation alongside financial assets, this episode is packed with valuable perspective.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

1. Why generational wealth often disappears by the third generation
2. The biggest communication mistakes families make around money
3. Why wills and trusts do not transfer values or wisdom
4. How to prepare heirs, not just assets
5. Why high-income professionals should not delay estate planning
6. How family stories can shape purpose, identity, and stewardship

What intentional living has to do with building a lasting legacy

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

#LegacyPlanning #EstatePlanning #GenerationalWealth #WealthTransfer #FinancialPlanning #FamilyWealth #AshishKhanna #DanPascone #MakingSenseOfYourMoney #RichLife

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

The bigger paycheck came. Then came the bigger house, the nicer car, the upgraded lifestyle. And suddenly the golden handcuffs were on, and nobody noticed until it was too late.

In Episode 55 of Making Sense of Your Money, Brandon Fluharty, founder of The Purposeful Performer and former top-1% enterprise sales executive, unpack why high-income earners are often the most financially trapped, and what it actually takes to design a career that buys back your freedom.

Brandon's story is raw and real: a bankruptcy at 28, a stroke at 32, a $1.5M W2 year that changed everything, and the one question his advisor asked that he couldn't stop thinking about for years, "If you're that good for somebody else, imagine what you could do on your own."

💡 What You'll Learn

• Why lifestyle inflation is the silent killer of long-term optionality for high earners
• The three career phases (Level 1, 2, 3) and how to know which one you're in right now
• Why success itself can become the trap, and how to recognize it before it's too late
• How Brandon went from bankruptcy and a stroke to a $1.5M W2 year, without a college degree
• The K-shaped economy and what AI is really doing to today's knowledge workers
• Why top performers need a coaching staff, not just a boss and a paycheck
• How to use a high-income sales career as a launchpad, not a life sentence
• The "enough game" vs. the "more game", and why the shift changes everything
• Why your financial advisor, CPA, and personal brand all need to work together
  

🎧 If you're a high earner who's crushing it on paper but quietly wondering "is this it?" , this episode was built for you.

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

#MakingSenseOfYourMoney #DanPascone #BrandonFluharty #PurposefulPerformer #HighEarnerLife #SalesCareer #LifestyleInflation #FinancialFreedom #CareerDesign #AIAndWork #KnowledgeWorker #AutonomyArchitecture #WealthMindset #TailoredWealth #EnterpriseSales #IncomeOptimization #CareerStrategy

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

You're maxing out your 401(k). You think you're done. You're not even close.

In Episode 54 of Making Sense of Your Money, Dan Pascone, CEO of Tailored Wealth, breaks down the three tax buckets every high earner needs to understand, and the powerful (and IRS-approved) strategy called the Mega Backdoor Roth that could unlock up to $72,000 in retirement contributions per year.

This is a solo, listener-requested episode built specifically for corporate leaders and high earners who want to stop leaving tax-free money on the table.

Dan walks through exactly how to structure your 401(k) contributions, how to calculate your remaining capacity, and how to put that extra bandwidth to work building a future tax-free retirement war chest.

💡 What You'll Learn

• The 3 tax buckets (taxable, tax-deferred, tax-free) and why all three matter
• Why the IRS contribution limit isn't $24,500, it's actually $72,000
• What the Mega Backdoor Roth is and why most high earners don't know they have access to it
• The exact math to calculate how much after-tax capacity you have left
• Why tax-free retirement income matters more than most people think (especially for big purchases)
• The two questions to ask your HR or 401(k) platform to activate this strategy today
• Why paying taxes now on Roth contributions could save you far more later
  

🎧 If your income is high, your tax bill is painful, and you want your retirement savings working harder, this episode was made for you.

🔗 Learn more: makingsenseofyourmoney.com

#MakingSenseOfYourMoney #DanPascone #401k #MegaBackdoorRoth #RetirementPlanning #HighEarnerFinance #TaxStrategy #RothIRA #WealthBuilding #TaxFreeRetirement #TailoredWealth #FinancialPlanning #CorporateLeaders #TaxDiversification

Tailored Wealth is a marketing name used when offering advisory services, however advisory services are conducted exclusively through Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. Services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sovereign and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.