Learn investment and tax strategies to help you achieve financial security and prepare for a prosperous retirement. How can you balance saving for emergencies and investing for the future? What strategies can you employ to maximize your tax benefits and build a secure financial future? NerdWallet’s Kim Palmer and Alana Benson discuss investment strategies and tax planning to help you understand how to navigate your financial journey effectively. They begin with a discussion of investment strategies, with tips and tricks on understanding different investment accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, leveraging compound interest, and the importance of starting investments early. Then, Alana discusses tax planning and filing in-depth, covering the intricacies of different tax forms like W-4s and W-2s, the significance of estimated taxes for freelancers, and strategies for managing capital gains taxes. Kim and Alana delve into retirement planning and the challenges of active versus passive investing. They provide a framework for prioritizing your finances, emphasizing the creation of an emergency fund, taking advantage of employer 401(k) matches, and understanding the role of asset allocation based on age and risk tolerance. Additionally, they tackle the decision-making process in personal finance, such as choosing between paying off debt and investing, and the pros and cons of having a financial advisor. In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: getting started with investing, tax strategies, retirement planning, financial advisors, Roth IRA, 401(k), individual retirement accounts, compound interest, investment accounts, passive investing, active investing, index funds, emergency funds, capital gains taxes, how to build wealth, investment strategy, tax filings, W-4 and W-2 tax forms, estimated taxes, freelancing, financial goals, saving money, risk tolerance, asset allocation, tax planning, financial planning, investment tips, tax tips, financial decisions, savings account, and brokerage accounts. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected]. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices