About Do It For Yourself with Stephen A. Taylor, JD, CFP®
Join Steve Taylor and his professional business owner and entrepreneur guests as they have those discussions on the challenges around starting and growing your own business. From starting his law firm from the ground up, to appearing on ABC's Shark Tank with his wife to the successful growth and creating of his independent Registered Investment Advisory firm, Steve's experience as a professional business owner and entrepreneur gives him a unique perspective to the challenges and struggles of truly doing it for yourself that very few financial advisors posess.
Smart Strategies for Paying for College Without a Lifetime of Debt
When I talk to families every week, I hear the same concern: how do we build Smart Strategies for Paying for College Without a Lifetime of Debt? The cost of college is going up, student debt is piling higher than ever, and yet most parents don’t have a clear plan.In this episode, I break down practical steps around college savings, student loans, and college funding so you can protect your family’s future. We’ll talk about college savings plans, how to pay for college without wrecking retirement, and the realities of college applications and college admissions today.You’ll learn why a merit aid strategy matters more than ever, how college merit scholarships actually work, and what you need to know about FAFSA tips 2025. I’ll share the same college financial planning conversations I have with clients, covering college financial aid, student aid, and why state school admissions are becoming so competitive.I’ve been through this process myself with my kids, and I’ve worked alongside college planning experts who know how to guide families through the noise. Whether your student has Ivy League dreams or is focused on finding the right fit closer to home, this conversation will help you make better choices with real college counseling advice.If you’re looking for clarity on college applications, student loans, and how to align your resources with your goals, you’re in the right place.00:00 College Admissions Trends Overview03:57 Test Scores: Importance and Trends08:19 Optimal Number of College Applications11:46 "Smart Financial Planning for Med School"15:40 "Rising State School Applications"17:22 State Universities Prioritize In-State Students20:00 Prioritize In-State College Applications23:15 Navigating Acting School Finances26:59 "Choosing the Right School Matters"29:54 Avoid College Advice PitfallsFollow Collegesharks:Https://www.facebook.com/collegesharkshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/collegesharkshttps://www.instagram.com/collegesharks/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leenorwoodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@collegesharks
13 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
When and Which to Hire First: a Bookkeeper, Controller, or Fractional CFO for Your Business?
When and Which to Hire First: a Bookkeeper, Controller, or Fractional CFO for Your Business?Too many entrepreneurs confuse revenue with profit and neglect their accounting until it’s a mess. In this episode, Steve Taylor, CFP® and host of the Do It For Yourself podcast, sits down with Matt Tatum, the CEO of Decimal, to unpack how small business owners can scale their accounting and financial systems as they grow. They dive into the operational side of bookkeeping, the true cost of tools (time + price), and when to bring in a fractional CFO.0:00 – Introduction & the revenue vs. profit myth0:42 – Matt Tait's background and why Decimal was founded1:54 – Early signs that your accounting systems need to grow4:06 – Bookkeeping vs. operational processes: beyond QuickBooks5:12 – Automating collections and paying bills seamlessly7:07 – Understanding your numbers: monthly reporting & forecasting9:16 – Gut feel vs. data: scaling beyond your intuition13:18 – Outsourcing vs. insourcing: bookkeeper, controller, or CFO?20:35 – Fractional CFOs, peer groups & business coaching28:38 – How to start fixing your finance systems & finding the right advisor30:59 – Final thoughts and where to learn more about Decimal
30 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Big Beautiful Bill Update! What It Really Means for Your Taxes in 2025
Hello Friends, Steve here, and welcome back to the Do It For Yourself Podcast! The moment we've all been waiting for is finally here! The "Big Beautiful Bill" has been finalized, and it's a big one. In this episode, I'm sitting down with my good friend and tax expert, Brett Landsman, to break down exactly what this new legislation means for you, your family, and your business.We're cutting through the noise to give you the real story on the changes that matter most. From the new standard deduction for seniors and the increased SALT cap to the surprising new rules for charitable giving and the "no tax on tips" provision, we're covering it all. We'll also dive into what's new for small business owners, how 529 plans are changing, and what you need to know about the latest updates to opportunity zones.Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, planning for retirement, or just want to understand how your taxes will be affected in 2025, this episode is for you. We're here to give you the clear, practical insights you need to navigate these changes and make the best decisions for your financial future. So grab a coffee, and let's get into it!⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️📩 Join Our Mailing List – https://www.meritedwealth.com/join-ou... (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2pkSnVFQk1fbllITl93M1JYVXNNWjBNcWdHZ3xBQ3Jtc0tucU5kR19JeFE0VWtZLUZYdWVqOEN6MldNNnRlaU5SMGRSZnpkNmNJZm5XOFVGc0R1ODN3NjJIOUFtb1lfU0NEOHdWeXBkdXE1TnFKc3hSU0h2cldrUk9GeHpUcXFTR2k5bkRNT01wOFJveWlRWVJnQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.meritedwealth.com%2Fjoin-our-mailing-list&v=NYqyV3-1bQA)📱 Follow Us on Social Media – https://linktr.ee/meritedwealth (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2ctU0IzajFXVVdub1c2dDNORGlKRWJGdEpOZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuVWZzZnZwM2xKN1pleFZENlBlSmk2X3RUZUQ4TVI2TTVrQVB5bVNWck5FaGpoV0ZhX3BqaXlmV0lwYlM1Sk9LNjU0ZktMMVpsdjd4ajNTZW9Xa2FyRFlHSGZwMndPLVJacGFDTkw3UmFUeVhkSXFfcw&q=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fmeritedwealth&v=NYqyV3-1bQA)🎥 Subscribe on YouTube – / @meritedwealth (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA14Rd2ytz1nUAfC000kxWQ)🎙 Be the next Guest on the Do It For Yourself Podcast – ✉️ Marketing@meritedwealth.com⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️
Inside a recent episode
Smart Strategies for Paying for College Without a Lifetime of Debt
Published 14 Sept 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And then that can go out to way more schools. So it's application inflation, definitely. Test optional. Made kids just roll the dice and more schools. Yeah, why not? Because they weren't being held up by, oh, my test score is not in that middle range. Great inflation. There's a lot of easy A's. A is the most popular grade right now. Yeah. We used to fight for A's. Now they're just stolen out A's. So a lot of kids may feel they're more qualified for a certain school based on the school statistics. And they're really not. So I think it's application inflation. Kids are applying to 10, 15 schools. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
