The Show

Apollon Wealth Management, LLC (“Apollon”) provides advice and make recommendations based on the specific needs and circumstances of each client. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial advisor with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. Please visit our website http://apollonwealthmanagement.com for other important disclosures.

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Financial problems don’t always come from bad decisions—they often come from not understanding the rules. Jeremiah Bates and Nic Daniels break down the costly financial mistakes people make when acting without a clear strategy. The conversation starts with the growing threat of AI scams, wire fraud, romance scams, and why even younger, financially savvy individuals are getting caught off guard.

From there, the show moves into retirement planning mistakes—how improper 401(k) rollovers can trigger unnecessary taxes and penalties, why understanding account rules matters, and when consolidating scattered retirement accounts makes sense.

The hosts also tackle highly appreciated stock positions, Roth conversion strategy after age 65, Medicare premium impacts, Social Security coordination, and tax-efficient ways to unwind concentrated positions.

The broader theme throughout the episode is simple: many of the most expensive financial mistakes are completely avoidable with proper planning…


Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask!
https://www.therealmoneypros.com

Hosts:
Jeremiah Bates & Nic Daniels
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Ataraxis PEO
https://ataraxispeo.com
 
Tree City Advisors of Apollon:
https://www.treecityadvisors.com
 
Apollon Wealth Management:
https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/
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Apollon Wealth Management, LLC (“Apollon”) provides advice and make recommendations based on the specific needs and circumstances of each client. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial advisor with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. Please visit our website http://apollonwealthmanagement.com for other important disclosures.

Apollon Wealth Management, LLC (“Apollon”) provides advice and make recommendations based on the specific needs and circumstances of each client. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial advisor with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. Please visit our website http://apollonwealthmanagement.com for other important disclosures.

Jeremiah Bates and Alex Lundgren spent Mother's Day weekend tackling one of the biggest financial issues many families avoid until it’s too late: long-term care and the cost of aging.

The show opens with Brooke Baker and Jessica Young, Co-Founders of Legacy Navigation, breaking down how Medicaid actually works, what it really covers, and the biggest misconceptions families have around qualifying for benefits. The conversation covers in-home care, assisted living, memory care costs, spousal asset protection strategies, the five-year lookback rule, and why certain estate planning decisions can accidentally create Medicaid problems later on.

Going into the second hour, Jeremiah and Alex pivot into another major planning blind spot: letting taxes dictate investment decisions. They discuss concentrated stock positions, large unrealized gains, rental property sales, 1031 exchanges, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, and why many investors hold onto assets longer than they should simply because they fear the tax consequences.

Throughout the show, the bigger theme remains the same: most financial problems become significantly harder when planning is delayed. Whether it’s long-term care, estate coordination, taxes, or investment decisions, this show focuses on why proactive planning matters before life forces the issue.


Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask!
https://www.therealmoneypros.com

Hosts:
Jeremiah Bates & Alex Lundgren

Guests:
Brooke Baker, RN & Jessica Young, MSW
Co-Founders of Legacy Navigation
https://legacynavigate.com
—————————————————————
Ataraxis PEO
https://ataraxispeo.com
 
Tree City Advisors of Apollon:
https://www.treecityadvisors.com
 
Apollon Wealth Management:
https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/
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CHAPTERS
00:00 Long-Term Care, Medicaid, and Aging Parents
02:51 Meet Legacy Navigation
03:39 What Medicaid Actually Covers
08:13 Assisted Living, In-Home Care, and Real Costs
11:22 Common Medicaid Myths
15:18 Income Limits, RMDs, and Miller Trusts
18:31 The 5-Year Lookback and Trust Planning
21:01 Estate Recovery, Probate, and Asset Protection
24:57 Gifting Penalties and Medicaid Eligibility
29:58 First Steps for Long-Term Care Planning
33:28 Medicaid Beds and Facility Availability
39:36 Hour 2: Taxes, Estate Planning, and Medicare
43:27 Selling Appreciated Property or Stock
49:34 Trusts, Probate, and Estate Planning Choices
58:52 Medicare, IRMAA, and One-Time Income Events
1:12:26 Social Security Timing, Tax Credits, and Planning Tradeoffs
1:20:29 Hour 3: Social Security and Retirement Income
1:22:51 Spousal Benefits vs. Survivor Benefits
1:33:50 Building Your Retirement Paycheck
1:42:00 Social Security Fear, Delaying Benefits, and Taxation
1:49:57 Selling Rental Properties and Capital Gains
1:53:53 1031 Exchanges and Delaware Statutory Trusts
1:59:02 Final Thoughts

What happens when your 401(k) suddenly surges and your lifestyle starts rising with it?

This week, Brian and Jeremiah uses a real example of Micron stock climbing over 600% in about a year to show how quickly investor behavior can change.

They break down how rising account balances lead to increased spending, more confidence, and a shift away from the original concern many had just a year ago: how to generate reliable income in retirement.

The conversation centers on a key idea: Growth doesn’t solve income. Without a plan, big gains can actually increase risk by creating dependency on account values rather than sustainable cash flow.

A caller dealing with Boeing stock highlights another real-world issue: confusion around ownership, dividends, and managing investments held outside traditional custodians. Plus, when to reassess, how to convert gains into income, and why protecting what you’ve built matters just as much as growing it. The guys also introduces the concept of “insuring” investments and recognizing the cycle between fear, growth, and overconfidence.


Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask!
https://www.therealmoneypros.com

Hosts
Brian Wiley & Jeremiah Bates
—————————————————————
Ataraxis PEO
https://ataraxispeo.com
 
Tree City Advisors of Apollon:
https://www.treecityadvisors.com
 
Apollon Wealth Management:
https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/
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A simple tax question turns into a bigger realization: even if you don’t owe income tax, you can still owe thousands in self-employment tax. Brian and Alex break down why a new graduate’s tax bill didn’t disappear after the standard deduction—and how Social Security and Medicare taxes quietly hit 1099 income at ~15%, catching a lot of people off guard.

They shift into the real math behind Social Security—how a system that started at 1% contributions grew to over 15%, why it’s under pressure, and what would actually have to change to keep it functioning. They challenge common fears around “running out of money” while explaining why the system is more likely to be altered than disappear.

The duo also tackles concentrated stock risk, using a long-term Micron example to illustrate the tension between holding winners and having a plan to exit. A standout segment features a recent widow navigating retirement with limited assets, raising key questions around survivor benefits, Social Security timing, and turning $250K into sustainable income.


Listen, Watch, Subscribe, Ask!
https://www.therealmoneypros.com

Hosts
Brian Wiley & Alex Lundgren
—————————————————————
Ataraxis PEO
https://ataraxispeo.com
 
Tree City Advisors of Apollon:
https://www.treecityadvisors.com
 
Apollon Wealth Management:
https://apollonwealthmanagement.com/
—————————————————————

Apollon Wealth Management, LLC (“Apollon”) provides advice and make recommendations based on the specific needs and circumstances of each client. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Please contact your financial advisor with questions about your specific needs and circumstances. Please visit our website http://apollonwealthmanagement.com for other important disclosures.