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Best In Wealth Podcast

Best In Wealth Podcast

By: Scott Wellens
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 This is the best in Wealth podcast – A show for successful family stewards who want real answers about Retirement and investing so we can feel secure about our family’s future. Scott's mission is simple: to help other family stewards build and maintain their family fortress. A family steward is someone that feels family is the most important thing. You go to your job every day for your family. You watch over your family, you make sacrifices for your family, you protect your family. I work with family stewards because I am one; I have become an expert in the unique wealth challenges family stewards face. Scott Wellens is the founder of Fortress Planning Group - an independent, fee-only, registered investment advisory firm. Fortress Planning Group is dedicated to coaching clients toward a holistic view of wealth and family stewardship. Scott is a certified financial planner, a fiduciary and has been quoted in the industry’s leading websites including Forbes, Business Insider and Yahoo Finance. Scott is also a Dave Ramsey Smartvestor Pro in the greater Milwaukee and Madison areas.Copyright 2025 Scott Wellens Economics Parenting & Families Personal Finance Relationships
Episodes
  • The Most Important Changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Explained, Ep #264

    The Most Important Changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Explained, Ep #264
    Oct 3 2025
    Tax laws may not be flashy, but understanding them can tilt the balance for your family’s finances and peace of mind. I’m digging into the details of the much-talked-about “One Big Beautiful Tax Bill”, a huge piece of tax legislation that’s set to impact families, retirees, and investors across the country. I break down the most important highlights from the massive 870-page bill, focusing on what really matters for everyday listeners: permanent income tax brackets, bigger standard deductions, expanded SALT limits, and significant new deductions for seniors. Tune in for clear, actionable insights on the changes coming to your taxes, and learn how to make these updates work in your favor. Outline of This Episode
    • [04:27] Tax act extension highlights.
    • [07:22] Inflation adjustment for tax brackets.
    • [10:38] Tax deduction and SALT cap changes.
    • [13:23] Maximize your deductions and minimize taxable income.
    • [18:53] Estate tax and deductions update.
    • [22:08] Permanent deductions and brackets.
    • [23:45] Tax benefits for families.

    Tax Brackets and Standard Deduction: More Certainty, Bigger Benefits One of the most interesting aspects of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is the permanent extension of the income tax brackets Americans have become accustomed to since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. Instead of the cliff that was looming at the end of 2024, current rates (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, and 32%) are now here to stay. This certainty means families, investors, and business owners can plan with clarity, knowing that the 10% and 12% brackets won’t suddenly vanish. But there’s more: in 2026, the 10% and 12% brackets will receive extra inflation adjustments, leading to a few hundred dollars of potential tax savings just for staying under those thresholds. While many American households may not climb out of the 12% bracket, those who do will benefit even more. Another major win is the increase in the standard deduction, now $31,500 for married couples filing jointly and $15,750 for single filers, starting in 2025. Add in automatic inflation adjustments, and the vast majority of taxpayers are now better off taking the standard deduction rather than itemizing, unless big deductions, like SALT, tilt the scale. The Expanded SALT Deduction Under OBBB, the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap explodes from $10,000 to $40,000, restoring much of the pre-2017 advantage. For married couples with large property and state income taxes, this unlocks greater ability to itemize rather than default to the standard deduction. But this expanded cap begins phasing out for adjusted gross incomes above $500,000 and is gone by $600,000. Smart, ongoing tax planning, tracking income, maximizing deductions, and timing bonuses or retirement contributions can make the difference between using the full deduction or losing out. Enhanced Deductions for Those 65+ For retirees, the bill introduces a temporary enhanced standard deduction: if you’re over 65, you can...
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    25 mins
  • Balancing US and International Stocks to Diversify Your Investments, Ep #263

    Balancing US and International Stocks to Diversify Your Investments, Ep #263
    Sep 19 2025
    Most investors have been ignoring international stocks lately because the US market has been performing so well—but that strategy might backfire this year, with international markets significantly outpacing American stocks. In this episode, I dive into why diversifying globally isn't just smart investing; it's essential for long-term wealth building. We explore how the US currently dominates 61% of world market capitalization, but history shows this wasn't always the case—and it won't necessarily continue. I share four key reasons international investing should be part of your portfolio: it reduces geographic risk when any one country hits turbulence, gives you access to high-growth emerging markets that have delivered spectacular returns, protects you through currency diversification, and helps overcome the natural tendency to only invest in familiar companies. The numbers tell a compelling story—while the S&P 500 is up around 12% this year, international developed markets are up nearly 30%, and some individual countries have delivered returns of 50-90% in recent years. Whether you're completely US-focused or wondering how much international exposure makes sense for your situation, this episode provides the data and reasoning you need to build a more resilient, globally diversified portfolio. I also touch on an interesting parallel between portfolio diversification and gut health—turns out both benefit from variety and balance. Outline of This Episode
    • [01:12] The importance of the gut microbiome for health.
    • [03:42] International markets surpass US performance right now.
    • [06:24] International diversification mitigates geographic risk.
    • [10:25] A globally diversified portfolio balances volatility and gives opportunity for growth.
    • [13:49] invest internationally to protect against domestic currency depreciation.
    • [15:13] Why to overcome a behavioral home country bias.
    • [17:06] Review your health and financial diversification.

    Building a healthier, more resilient investment portfolio. Broadening your approach—whether it’s what you eat or where you invest—can improve your long-term outcomes. Did you know that we all have an ecosystem of microbes living within our intestines? Science increasingly shows that a highly diverse gut microbiome is linked to better health, well-being, and more healthy years well into old age. A thriving gut health requires at least 30 different types of plant-based foods each week. The greater the diversity, the more kinds of helpful bacteria can flourish, supporting everything from digestion to immunity. Just as variety improves gut health, diversity is equally essential in investing. Many Americans have opted to remove international stocks from their portfolios, citing the recent dominance of U.S. markets. I want to push back on this trend, with these important points:
    • The Shifting Sands of Market Dominance:

    As of early 2024, U.S. markets make up approximately 61% of the world’s capitalization. The next-largest...
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    19 mins
  • The Secret to Stress-Free Investing, Ep #262

    The Secret to Stress-Free Investing, Ep #262
    Aug 22 2025
    We all have some worries, those everyday anxieties that creep into our lives—money, kids, jobs, and adding more stress to your life in the form of an investment portfolio can seem like too much at times. So this week, I am sharing how understanding one key financial theory can transform your approach to investing and seriously lower your stress. This episode takes you through the groundbreaking work of Eugene Fama and the efficient market hypothesis, explaining why trying to outguess the market is usually a losing game. I am also sharing how, by trusting the power of the market and building your strategy around solid, evidence-based principles, you can ditch investing anxiety and set your family up for long-term success. So if market swings keep you up at night or you are looking for a more peaceful way to manage your portfolio, tune in for a fresh perspective and actionable advice on taking the stress out of investing—once and for all. Outline of This Episode
    • [00:00] Your foundation of knowledge to experience stress-free investing.
    • [05:58] Understanding Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH).
    • [09:40] The power of market consensus.
    • [11:55] How fast does the stock market react?
    • [13:12] Efficient market hypothesis simplified.
    • [17:27] The myth of market-beating funds.
    • [19:22] Reduce investment stress by demystifying the market.

    Does Investing Have to Be One More Worry? Retirement account fluctuations, big market drops like those in 2008, COVID-19, and trade war-related selloffs are enough to send anyone’s blood pressure soaring. One of the most important concepts in modern finance: the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), developed by Nobel laureate Eugene Fama. In simple terms, the EMH says that all the available information about any publicly traded company is already reflected in its stock price. Let’s use Apple as an example. Every day, millions of shares, worth billions of dollars, change hands, each trade representing someone who thinks Apple is fairly priced, and someone else who disagrees. Crucially, both buyers and sellers have access to the same information. No one has a crystal ball; everyone’s predictions about future sales and profits are just that—educated guesses. Why Beating the Market Is So Hard In a 20-year analysis of actively managed mutual funds, those run by managers trying to beat the market through skillful stock picking. Of the 1,667 funds analyzed on January 1, 2004, just 48% were still around 20 years later (the rest closed or merged after poor performance). Of those survivors, only 16% managed to outperform the market—a sliver of winners, and no guarantee that their outperformance was due to skill rather than luck. Over longer periods, the odds get even worse. The market’s efficiency means that news, good or bad, gets priced in fast. By the time you read about a hot tip or see a...
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    21 mins
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