Most 401(k) advice stops at "contribute enough to get the match." But your 401(k) can hold far more than the number most people have memorized — and if you're a high earner, that gap could be worth millions by retirement.

In this replay episode, Eric and Kali break down the layers of a 401(k) that go beyond the standard employee contribution and explain:

• After-tax contributions
• Employer profit-sharing
• The mega backdoor Roth conversion strategy that lets high earners move a much larger amount into tax-advantaged accounts than most realize is possible

And if you're wondering if your 401(k) can help you retire before the standard withdrawal age, the answer is yes: using legitimate strategies like 72(t) distributions and the rule of 55 for accessing that money early without triggering a penalty.

But there are some pitfalls to watch out for, including vesting schedules that can cost you employer contributions if you leave too soon, the job-switch math error that leads to accidental over-contribution, and why your plan document (not HR, not your provider's call center) is the only place to get a straight answer.

This is a replay of a past episode. The specific dollar figures and IRS contribution limits referenced were accurate at the time of original recording and have since increased, but the strategies and planning principles remain fully relevant today. Friendly reminder to check current-year IRS limits before applying any numbers to your own plan!

Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule

Financial planning for a new baby isn't about hitting some magic savings number — it's about knowing what your cash flow can actually absorb, and building enough flexibility into your plan that a major life pivot doesn't derail everything else you're working toward.

We bringing back one from the archive today, to talk about our own financial and personal planning conversation we had before deciding to have a baby. We break down how we separated the emotional question ("do we actually want this?") from the financial one ("can we afford it?"), why "how much should I save?" is the wrong starting question, and what actually determines financial readiness for a kid.

We also cover:

• Stress-testing your cash flow with a pretend baby budget
• Understanding the difference between your insurance deductible and out-of-pocket maximum before the hospital bill arrives
• The one-time costs that catch new parents off guard
• Why estate planning — specifically naming a guardian in your will — becomes urgent the moment a child enters the picture

This episode also digs into the strategy we used to create real flexibility when deciding to have a child shifted our initial financial plan: using an aggressive early-retirement target as a "guardrail," not a hard goal, to create built-in wiggle room.

Plus: we reveal why sizing your mortgage off your current cash flow, without factoring in future child-related costs, is one of the most common — and expensive — planning mistakes new and expecting parents make.

Whether you're actively trying to decide if kids are right for you, or you're already home with your new baby and want to make sure your plan is solid, this episode gives you a real, lived-in framework.

Looking for legal ways to reduce your tax bill before you're caught off guard again next spring? In this classic Money for Life episode, hosts Eric and Kali break down five tax reduction strategies for high earners.

These 5 money moves are all designed to lower what you owe the IRS. By being proactive and strategic, you can lower your tax burden and avoid unpleasant surprise tax bills next year

We talk through:

• How to use a securities-backed line of credit against your brokerage or bank account to access cash without triggering capital gains from selling investments
• How to treat your HSA like a stealth IRA for triple tax-free growth
• The financial tradeoffs of relocating to a state with no income tax
• Why tax-loss harvesting is more strategic than the robo-advisor marketing suggests (and where the wash-sale rule trips people up)
• Why high income earners might want to consider using a backdoor Roth IRA conversion to get money into a Roth despite income limits… plus the pro-rata rule mistake that can quietly create a tax bill (and IRS penalties) down the road

This is a rerun of a fan-favorite episode, so as an important note for listeners: some of the figures mentioned are from when this originally aired in 2022. Account limits and specific numbers have been adjusted since then, and some numbers may be different for the 2026 tax year (and beyond).

Other than specific IRS limits, the guidelines here are still valid and the strategies are solid for reducing your tax burden with some proactive planning.

This is a great mid-year listen if you want to make adjustments before you file again next spring.

Ready to create, use, and enjoy money for life? Request a complimentary consultation with us at BYH and discover how to optimize your investments, reduce your tax burden, and grow your wealth: https://beyondyourhammock.com/schedule