The Pilot Money Guy Podcast

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Pensions used to do the heavy lifting for retirement planning, but now, most workers are expected to figure it out on their own. In this episode, Scott explains why traditional pensions are disappearing and what it means to create your own retirement income strategy in today’s world. Retirement isn’t just about building wealth anymore; it’s about creating a paycheck that can survive decades.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

✈️ Pension Decline: Companies are reducing liabilities

📊 Retirement Complexity: Modern plans require strategy

💰 Income Streams: Retirement needs a reliable cash flow

🛡️ Safe Buckets: Stability protects against volatility

📈 Growth Buckets: Long-term growth still matters

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Scott tackles one of the most uncomfortable- but most important- topics every pilot family needs to address: what happens if you’re suddenly gone? Even highly successful people often leave behind confusion, stress, and financial chaos simply because basic systems were never organized. Scott walks through the practical side of estate planning and provides tips on how to make sure your family isn’t left scrambling during the worst possible moment.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

⚠️ Chaos Happens Fast: Families often struggle because systems were never organized

📋 Simple Systems Matter: Account lists, passwords, and instructions reduce stress immediately

📝 Estate Basics First: Wills, trusts, and beneficiaries should not be ignored

🧩 Planning Goes Beyond Documents: Day-to-day logistics can become overwhelming for survivors

🧭 Preparation Creates Clarity: Small steps now can protect your family later

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Pilots are facing tough headlines at Spirit Airlines, and this episode tackles how to survive career turbulence without blowing up your financial future. Scott shares a tough but important reality for pilots: career turbulence can trigger financial decisions that do more damage than the event itself. Uncertainty often leads to panic moves that create long-term setbacks, but Scott provides practical ways to survive difficult seasons without sabotaging your future.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

⚠️ Panic Makes It Worse: Emotional decisions often create bigger financial problems

💵 Liquidity Buys Time: Cash reserves create flexibility during career uncertainty

📋 Margin Matters: Lifestyle inflation can quietly increase financial vulnerability

🧭 Preparation Changes Outcomes: Contingency planning reduces stress and improves decisions

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Your 401(k) is likely the largest financial asset you’re building, but that doesn’t mean it’s set up the right way. Scott walks through three common mistakes pilots make that can quietly impact long-term results. This conversation is about making a few key adjustments that can keep your plan aligned with where you’re headed. Getting this right isn’t complicated, but it does require intention.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

⚠️ Default Trap: Target-date funds may hold you back

🎯 Lack of Strategy: Contributions should evolve over time

💸 Missed Efficiency: Tax planning impacts long-term results

🧩 Bigger Picture: One account isn’t a full plan

📈 Small Tweaks: Minor changes can drive major outcomes

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

There’s a point in your career where your 401(k) strategy should change, and for many pilots, it happens around $400K of income. Scott breaks down why that number matters and how it impacts both your tax strategy and where your money ultimately ends up. This isn’t about saving more; it’s about being intentional with how your contributions are structured. The way you handle this stage can have a major impact on long-term results.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📊 $400K Threshold: Income level changes contribution strategy

⚠️ Spillover Risk: Excess funds can land in low-return plans

💸 Tax Tradeoffs: Deferral vs long-term growth matters

📈 Front-Loading: More time in the market can boost results

🔄 Catch-Up Strategy: Extra contributions require planning

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Pilots have access to some of the best retirement benefits out there, but that doesn’t mean everything is set up the right way. Scott introduces a simple framework to help clarify how your money is structured and working for you. It’s about being intentional with what you have and making sure each piece is pulling its weight, because small adjustments today can make a big difference down the line.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

✈️ ACE Framework: Accounts, Contributions, Elections

📊 Account Setup: Multiple buckets create flexibility

💰 Contribution Strategy: Prioritize where dollars go

📉 Tax Efficiency: Structure impacts long-term outcomes

📈 Investment Choices: Allocation drives performance

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Your tax return isn’t just paperwork, it’s feedback. Every year, it shows you exactly how efficient (or inefficient) your strategy really is. The problem is, most people glance at the number they owe or get back, and move on, missing the bigger picture entirely. Today, Scott shares how to read your “tax report card” the right way and breaks down how to turn a backward-looking document into a forward-looking strategy.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📉 Effective Rate: What you pay matters more than your tax bracket

💼 Side Income: Additional income streams can create new tax opportunities

🔄 Contribution Mix: Balancing pre-tax and Roth impacts future flexibility

🧮 Income Planning: Different income sources are taxed very differently

⚖️ Tax Diversification: Reducing concentration lowers long-term risk

The Backdoor Roth: A Powerful Strategy For High-Income Pilots 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2384642/episodes/18713102

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

What does a mission to the moon have to do with your retirement plan? More than you might think. The Artemis mission is one of the most complex, carefully planned endeavors in the world, and it offers a powerful lens for thinking about your financial future. Scott explains how the most successful outcomes- whether in space or retirement- rarely happen by accident.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🚀 Mission Mindset: Financial success starts with a clear, intentional plan

🧮 Modeling Matters: Scenario planning helps prepare for the unknown

🛰️ Course Corrections: Small adjustments over time create better long-term outcomes

🛠️ Build Systems: Strong financial systems reduce reliance on guesswork

⏳ Start Early: The sooner you plan, the more flexibility and margin you have

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

March Madness brackets are fun… until they fall apart. But what happens when that same mindset shows up in your financial decisions? In this episode, Scott draws smart parallels between bracket predictions and investing behavior. From bias and recency thinking to chasing winners and betting on “Cinderella stories,” he breaks down how these habits can quietly derail your retirement plan.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🧠 Bias can quietly drive bad financial decisions

🎯 Predicting outcomes ≠ building a solid investment strategy

📉 Chasing recent winners often leads to poor timing

🏀 “Cinderella stories” don’t translate well to financial planning

🛠️ A disciplined process beats emotional decision-making every time

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ

📱 Get your customized planning started by booking a call: http://callosborn.com/ 

✈️ Order your no-cost “Wealthy Pilot Toolkit” today: https://retireairlines.com/pilot-retirement-toolkit/

Is successful investing about skill or simply being lucky? In this St. Patrick’s Day–themed episode, the conversation explores the popular idea of “luck” in investing and why relying on it can be risky. Scott explains how many investors mistake lucky outcomes- like a winning stock pick or perfectly timed trade- for strategy. Instead, he highlights the value of discipline, diversification, and a long-term process.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

🍀 Luck vs. strategy in investing – Why lucky outcomes can mislead investors into risky habits

📉 The danger of stock picking and market timing

🧭 Why successful investors follow a plan instead of chasing trends

📊 Diversification and rebalancing – Core practices that improve long-term results

⏳ The power of compounding – Staying invested allows dividends and growth to quietly build wealth over time

Resources:

Our website: https://pilotmoneyguy.com/

Phone: (419) 314-4139

Schedule an introductory call: http://callosborn.com/

Get your copy of “Cleared to Retire:” https://pilotmoneyguy.com/toolkit/

Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hNGqqVjqgtuoYZlu9i4yQ