We cover how much of a portfolio should go into private markets versus public markets (and what "accredited investor" and "qualified purchaser" actually mean), how early retirees can reduce sequence-of-returns risk, when refinancing or restructuring debt makes sense, how to measure financial resilience beyond just having savings, and the questions to ask to find out if your advisor is really working in your interest.

In this video:
 ✅ Private markets vs. public markets — typical allocation ranges for accredited investors and qualified purchasers.
 ✅ What sequence-of-returns risk is and why the "4% rule" isn't one-size-fits-all.
 ✅ The "bucket strategy" and four-part approach to structuring retirement income.
 ✅ Productive debt vs. consumptive debt — and when refinancing actually helps.

 ✅ Building a financial "go-bag" for job loss or unexpected life events.
 ✅ How to tell if your advisor is fee-based, commission-based, or a full-time fiduciary.

🎙 Have a question for the show? Submit it at TrajanWealth.com/5QIQ

Trajan Wealth an SEC registered investment advisor. Additional services through Trajan Estate & Trajan Tax. Information discussed during this program is intended for illustrative and entertainment purposes, and is not investment advice, or an offer to buy or sell any investment. Please consult your financial advisor for questions about your financial situation. All investments involve risk, and the potential for loss. Any examples given are strictly hypothetical. Your results may vary. Additional disclosures at Trajan Wealth.com.

In this episode of 5QIQ Financial Power-Ups with Trajan Wealth, Chief Investment Officer David Busch, along with Family Office Fiduciary Advisors Marti Bryant and Corbett LaDuke, tackles five listener-submitted questions that cut straight to the heart of smart, emotionally disciplined investing.

Question 1: How do I detect and avoid behavioral biases that silently erode my returns?
From loss aversion to overconfidence, the hosts break down the emotional traps. Between panic-selling at the bottom and chasing Magnificent 7 returns — that cost investors far more than any market downturn ever could.

Question 2: How do I use leverage responsibly, and when is it too risky?
Mortgages, HELOCs, margin accounts, bridge loans, and debt can either build wealth or destroy it. David, Marty and Corbett lay out the key question every borrower must answer: Can I service this debt even if things go wrong?

Question 3: How do I design an emergency fund that balances liquidity, returns, and inflation?
Your emergency fund doesn't have to sit idle in a checking account losing value. The hosts walk through a tiered approach, from cash on hand to high-yield savings to short-term bond ETFs, so your safety net actually works for you.

Question 4: How do I plan for major once-in-a-lifetime expenses without derailing my long-term goals?
Weddings, elder care, and special needs planning are predictable and unpredictable at the same time. Marty shares how she's personally preparing for her daughter's 2027 wedding, and the conversation opens up into ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and why debt-funded life events can leave lasting damage.

Question 5: What's the best way to coordinate company stock, tax timing, and diversification after a liquidity event?
RSUs, ISOs, AMT, net unrealized appreciation — if your compensation includes company equity, the tax and concentration risk decisions you make (or don't make) could cost you.

Whether you're an everyday investor fighting your own instincts, a homeowner wondering about your equity, or an executive navigating a complex stock option package, this episode gives you the framework to make smarter, calmer decisions with your money.

🎙 Have a question for the show?
Submit it at TrajanWealth.com/5QIQ