Tom Cock and Apella Wealth advisor Roxy Butner team up for a lively listener Q&A episode covering everything from the new wave of penny-stock IPOs to retirement readiness and tax traps. Tom opens with a warning about the surge in risky penny-stock offerings, then the two dive into listener questions about annuity sales pressure at Fidelity, portfolio diversification mistakes, CD taxation myths, Roth conversions, and one standout 21-year-old listener getting her financial life off to a stellar start.

0:05 Tom opens with a warning about the explosion in penny-stock IPOs

1:26 Why “lottery-ticket” stocks nearly always burn investors

2:21 Diversify, stay tax-efficient, and skip the hype

2:30 Roxy joins for listener Q&A

3:38 Fidelity’s annuity pitch — a listener wonders if it’s time to leave

5:05 Who’s truly fiduciary: Fidelity vs. Vanguard vs. Apella

6:14 Vanguard dipping a toe into crypto

6:51 Quabina from Ohio: $2.2M at 47 — diversified enough to retire at 55?

8:14 Missing global diversification and bonds in an all-U.S. portfolio

9:57 Early-retirement planning challenges and healthcare costs

10:20 How to design the right stock-bond-international mix

11:36 Daniel from California: Are long CDs taxed as capital gains?

13:04 Why CD interest is always ordinary income — and muni bond alternatives

13:29 Year-end planning: RMDs, Roth conversions, and tax optimization

14:45 Common tax mistakes and mis-placed assets

15:19 Emily from Ohio: “Young and Dumb” — a 21-year-old investing the smart way

18:51 Building a first Roth IRA and why bonds don’t belong yet

20:00 One-fund simplicity: AVGE vs. VOO

21:41 Long-term mindset: global diversification and patience pay off

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