A Personal Note from the Author A few months ago, my cousin, Adam, came to me with a simple yet important question: “How do I start saving for my future?” Like many people, he is self-employed, so he doesn’t have access to a corporate 401(k) plan or other retirement benefits. He admitted that he hadn’t done much financial study and wasn’t interested in actively trading or spending hours analyzing stocks. What he wanted was a straightforward plan—something simple, effective, and manageable—to set him on the right path for his retirement, savings goals and financial independence. Inspired by his request, I created this guide not just for him but for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation. Whether you’re self-employed, between jobs, or simply looking for an uncomplicated way to secure your financial future, this guide offers a step-by-step strategy that you can easily implement. In many ways, it’s the same strategy I use myself, and I truly believe it’s one of the most reliable ways to build a stable financial foundation for yourself and your family.

by Lan Turner

My hope is that, through this guide, you’ll feel confident and empowered to start investing for your future, knowing you’re taking the best steps toward financial security and peace of mind. If you ever feel ready to expand beyond this simple yet powerful formula, you’ll have a solid foundation from which to build. But the most important thing is to start now—take that first step and begin saving today. Sincerely, Lan Turner Part 1: Quick Study Guide Introduction Purpose: To provide a simple, easy-to-follow plan for saving for retirement and growing your income using a financial trading platform like Track ‘n Trade Goal: To help you maximize your retirement savings and create a balanced investment approach tailored to your age. This guide works with any financial app you prefer. If you already have one that you’re comfortable with, feel free to use it. Personally, I recommend Track ‘n Trade for this type of investing because it’s easy and intuitive. It’s a great option for those looking for a user-friendly platform to manage their investments and savings. Step 1: Download Track ‘n Trade and Open Two Accounts Action: If you don’t already have a stock market trading account and software, you can visit my recommended trading platform site here: www.TrackNTrade.com For the purposes discussed here, we’ll want the stock trading version. (It’s the version I use, so I’m more able to help you if you need help.) Accounts to Open: o Standard Trading/Investing Account: This account works similarly to a bank savings account when your money is in the cash balance. When your funds are in the cash balance, they are not affected by market ups and downs, meaning there’s no risk of losing money due to stock market changes. This cash balance acts as a staging area, where your money earns interest while you decide how to invest it. Once you choose to invest these funds in a stock or ETF (Exchange Traded

Fund), like SCHD, the money moves out of the cash balance and becomes invested in the market. At this point, the value of your investment can go up or down depending on how the stock or ETF performs. This means its value may change over days, weeks, or months. However, historically, the markets have generally trended upward over the long term, which can lead to growth for those who stay invested. The key difference is that while your funds are in the cash balance, they remain secure and earn interest. But once you invest them, they have the potential for both growth and loss, depending on market conditions. This flexibility makes the account suitable for both short-term goals and unplanned expenses, as well as for gradually moving money into long-term investments. o Roth IRA: This is a special type of retirement account designed to help you save for the future while giving you tax benefits. When you put money into a Roth IRA, you use money that has already been taxed (these are called after-tax dollars). Although you don’t get an immediate tax break, the big advantage comes later: all the money your investments earn inside the Roth IRA—whether through growth, dividends, or interest—grows tax-free. When you retire and start taking out money (called withdrawals), you won’t owe any taxes on those withdrawals, as long as you meet a few conditions (like being at least 59Ý years old and having had the account for at least 5 years). This makes the Roth IRA a powerful tool for building your retirement savings because your money can grow without being reduced by taxes over time. The Roth IRA is meant only for retirement savings, making it a great option for building a secure financial future while taking full advantage of the tax benefits it provides.

Step 2: Maximize Contributions to Your Roth IRA Why Consistent Savings Matter: o Contributing regularly to your Roth IRA is one of the most powerful ways to grow your retirement savings over time. The sooner you start, the more time your money has to grow through compound interest—a process where you earn interest not just on your initial investment, but also on the interest that your investment has already earned. This helps your money grow faster over time. Example: If you start contributing $500 per month at age 25, and your investments grow at an average rate of 7% per year, you could end up with nearly $1 million by age 65. But if you wait until age 35 to start, even if you contribute the same amount each month and earn the same return, you might have around $500,000 instead. Key Takeaway: The earlier and more consistently you save, the more your money can grow. Contribution Limits: o For 2024, you can contribute up to $6,500 per year to your Roth IRA (or $7,500 if you’re 50 or older). The higher limit for those over 50 is called a catch-up contribution, allowing you to save more as you approach retirement. o These limits can change each year due to inflation adjustments, so it’s a good idea to check the latest information on the IRS website or through Track ‘n Trade’s resources. Tracking Your Contributions: o Track ‘n Trade makes it easy to track how much you’ve contributed throughout the year, helping you stay within the allowed limits. If you have more than one retirement account, make sure that the total amount you contribute doesn’t exceed the combined annual limit for all accounts. Why the Roth IRA Should Be Your Priority: o The Roth IRA offers valuable tax advantages. When you contribute, you use money that has already been taxed (after-tax dollars), so all future growth in the account is tax-free. When you retire and withdraw the funds, you don’t have to pay taxes on those withdrawals, which is especially helpful if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement.

o Because of these benefits, it’s wise to max out your Roth IRA each year before investing in a regular trading account. The tax-free growth potential makes the Roth IRA one of the most effective tools for retirement savings. Automate Your Contributions: o To make saving easier, set up automatic monthly contributions to your Roth IRA. This way, the money is added automatically, making it a consistent part of your budget. It’s similar to paying a bill—you set it up once, and it happens each month without you needing to remember. Many people find this approach helpful for building disciplined savings habits. Step 3: Investing Made Simple - Choose Two ETFs What is an ETF? o An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is like a basket of stocks that you can buy and sell, similar to a single stock. It allows you to invest in a wide range of companies without having to pick individual stocks yourself, which helps spread out risk. ETFs We Recommend: o SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF): This ETF focuses on stable, well-established companies in the U.S. that have a track record of paying dividends (a portion of a company’s profits shared with its investors). Key Benefits: SCHD provides steady income through these dividends, which can be reinvested to grow your investment even further over time. Performance: Historically, SCHD has done well compared to other similar funds, while also keeping fees low. It’s designed for people who want steady income with moderate growth. o SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF): This ETF is geared towards growth, investing in big, fast- growing companies in sectors like technology and healthcare. Key Benefits: SCHG offers higher growth potential, which is ideal for building wealth over the long term. However, it can be more unpredictable (volatile) than SCHD, since

growth companies’ stock prices can go up and down more quickly. Performance: SCHG has shown strong returns, especially during times when the economy is growing. It’s great for those looking for a bigger boost in their portfolio’s value over time. How to Split Your Investment Based on Age: o To keep things simple and manage risk as you grow older, we recommend dividing your money between SCHD and SCHG based on your age. The idea is to adjust the balance from more growth-focused (SCHG) when you’re younger to more stability-focused (SCHD) as you get older. Example: If you’re 40 years old, you would put 40% of your money into SCHD (the stable, dividend-paying ETF) and 60% into SCHG (the growth-focused ETF). This way, as you age, you gradually shift towards the more stable option. How to Apply the Age-Based Split: o Every time you add money to your account, use your age as a guide to divide your funds. Example: If you’re 40 years old and you deposit $100: $40 goes into SCHD. $60 goes into SCHG. This helps keep your investments balanced according to your age and risk level. Why These Two ETFs Work Well Together: o Diversification: By investing in both SCHD and SCHG, you get a mix of income and growth. SCHD gives you steady income through dividends, while SCHG offers the potential for your money to grow faster over time. o Balanced Risk and Reward: SCHD’s stability helps balance out SCHG’s potential for higher growth. Together, they create a balanced portfolio that combines growth opportunities with steady income, making it suitable for building long-term wealth while managing risk.

Step 4: Rebalance Every 2 Years on your birthday Why Rebalancing is Important: o Managing Risk: As the market goes up and down, the balance between your investments can change. Rebalancing means adjusting your investments to bring them back in line with your original plan, helping you keep your risk level appropriate for your age and goals. o Staying on Track: As you get older, your investment strategy should shift to become more conservative (safer). Rebalancing ensures your portfolio gradually transitions to this safer mix, keeping it in line with your long-term goals. o Preventing Emotional Decisions: It’s easy to make impulsive decisions based on short-term market changes. By rebalancing on a regular schedule (like your birthday), you follow a plan that keeps you focused on your long-term success, instead of reacting to daily market swings. How to Rebalance Your Portfolio Using Track ‘n Trade: o Check Your Current Balance: Log into your Track ‘n Trade account and review how much you have invested in each ETF. Compare this with your age-based target to see if any adjustments are needed. o Calculate What Needs to Change: Figure out how much you need to buy or sell to bring your ETFs back to the right balance based on your age. For example, if one ETF has grown more than the other, you might choose to sell a bit of one and buy more of the other. o Make the Adjustments: Use Track ‘n Trade to sell and buy the necessary amounts of each ETF. This will bring your portfolio back to the balance you want. o Check Your New Balance: Don’t worry if the balance isn’t perfect, it’s okay to have a skew between your age and the balance. Tips for Rebalancing: o Set a Reminder: Schedule a reminder each year on your birthday for rebalancing. o ONLY Rebalance Roth or Traditional IRAs: If you’re investing through a tax advantaged account, such as a Roth, or Traditional IRA, we’re free to rebalance, or move our money between ETFs without triggering a taxable event. If you’re saving and investing in a standard account, you might choose not

to rebalance, which could cause a taxable event, and nobody wants that, right? o Rebalancing Strategy: Birthday reblanacing helps you stay consistent and ensures you don’t forget to check your portfolio. o Avoid Rebalancing Too Often: Rebalancing once a year is usually enough. Doing it too often could mean more trading costs and may reduce your returns. o Watch Out for Fees: While Track ‘n Trade isn’t free to use, it also doesn’t charge trading fees, you’re free to trade as much as you wish; if you use a different app or broker, track all trading fees from buying and selling. Benefits of Rebalancing: o Keeps Your Risk Level in Check: As you get older, it’s important to reduce risk. Rebalancing helps you do this by adjusting the balance between your ETFs based on your age. o Optimizes Growth and Stability: Rebalancing makes sure you’re keeping the right mix of growth (SCHG) and stability (SCHD), allowing you to take advantage of growth opportunities while still preserving your gains. o Locking in Gains: When you rebalance, you have the chance to "lock in" gains from ETFs that have performed well by selling a portion and spreading that value to other investments. This keeps your growth steady and consistent. Step 5: Apply the Same Strategy to Both Accounts Keep Things Simple by Using the Same Strategy: o To make managing your investments easier, use the same investment strategy for both your Roth IRA and your regular trading account. This consistency helps you stay organized and makes decision-making straightforward. The Difference Between a Roth IRA and a Regular Trading Account: o Roth IRA: This account is designed specifically for long-term retirement savings. Your investments grow tax-free, meaning you won’t pay taxes on them when you withdraw in retirement. However, there are penalties if you take money out before age 59. (with

some exceptions). It’s perfect for building wealth over the long term. o Regular Trading Account: This account is more flexible. There are no limits on how much you can contribute, and you can withdraw money at any time without penalties. However, unlike the Roth IRA, any gains (profits) you make are subject to capital gains taxes. It’s great for saving toward goals that are shorter- term or for investments beyond what you put in your Roth IRA. Rebalancing in your regular account can cause a taxable event, which is why I recommend limiting your rebalancing to your tax free Roth style accounts, or at least, rebalancing every two years if you choose to rebalance your taxable accounts. How These Two Accounts Work Together: o Standard Account (Taxable): This account is useful for short- to medium-term goals, like saving for a big purchase (e.g., a car or a down payment on a house), or for investing beyond what you put into your Roth IRA. While gains are taxed, you have easy access to your money without penalties, giving you flexibility. o Roth IRA (Retirement Only): This account is focused on long-term growth for your retirement. It has annual contribution limits and penalties if you withdraw early (before age 59), but the tax benefits make it the best choice for building your retirement savings. Your money grows without tax burdens, which can significantly boost your total savings over time. o Strategy Tip: Make sure to max out your Roth IRA first each year to take advantage of its tax-free growth. Once you’ve done that, use the regular trading account for any additional investments or savings beyond the Roth IRA limits. (Check the Internet each year for new updated government limitations.) o Retirement Flexibility: When you retire, having both types of accounts gives you options. You can withdraw from your Roth IRA tax-free, while the regular account can provide extra funds for any other needs. This combination allows you to manage taxes and withdrawals in a way that works best for your situation. Step 6: Always Prioritize the Roth IRA First Why the Roth IRA Should Be Your First Priority:

o The tax benefits of the Roth IRA make it one of the best tools for building your retirement savings. Your money grows tax-free, and when you withdraw it in retirement, you don’t owe any taxes. This means your investments can grow faster because you’re not losing money to taxes each year. Contribute as Early as Possible: o Try to contribute to your Roth IRA as early in the year as you can. The sooner you put money in, the more time it has to grow throughout the year. Example: If you contribute the maximum amount of $6,500 at the start of the year, your money has the entire year to grow, potentially boosting your gains even more through compounding. Use Both Accounts Wisely: o Max out your Roth IRA first to take full advantage of its tax-free growth. Once you’ve reached the yearly limit, you can use your regular trading account for any additional investments, following the same strategy. This way, you’re getting the most out of your tax benefits while still allowing for further growth beyond the Roth IRA limits. After Retirement: o Withdraw funds from your tax free, or tax deferred Roth style accounts last, allowing them to grow tax free for as long as possible. Conclusion Building a secure financial future doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these simple steps and staying consistent, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. Remember, the key is to take small, regular actions—like contributing to your Roth IRA, rebalancing your portfolio each year, and sticking to the plan. Over time, these habits can lead to big rewards and a more comfortable retirement. Take a moment each year to review your goals and see if any adjustments are needed. Life changes, and your plan should adapt with it. But don’t stress—this guide is designed to keep things straightforward and easy to manage, so you can stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. The most important thing you can do is start today. The earlier you begin saving and investing, the more your money can grow. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been thinking about getting serious

with your financial plan for a while, now is the perfect time to take that first step. Remember: “The best time to start investing was last year, the second-best time is today.” You don’t need to have all the answers right away—just start with one small action, like opening your Roth IRA or setting up an automatic contribution. Every step you take gets you closer to the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re actively working towards a secure and rewarding future. It’s never too late to start, and it’s always the right time to take control of your financial journey. You’ve got this! And you’ve got me here to help you along the way; just ask. Best of trades, Lan Turner About the Author Lan Turner is a seasoned trader, educator, and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience in the financial markets. As the founder and CEO of Gecko Software, Gecko Financial Services, and PitNews Press, Mr. Turner has dedicated his career to developing innovative trading platforms and educational resources for traders at all levels. His expertise spans across stocks, futures, forex, cryptocurrency, and options trading. He has also authored several books (found on Amazon) and numerous articles on trading strategies and financial education. (PitNews Magazine). In addition to running his companies, Lan, as of the writing of this document, 2024, has spent the last nine years as a finance instructor at Utah Tech University in St. George, and twelve years at Utah State University. He teaches courses on trading and financial markets, with a passion for simplifying complex financial concepts. This approach has made him a trusted mentor to thousands of students and clients seeking to build their financial futures. An advocate for practical, actionable financial advice, Lan believes in empowering individuals to take control of their financial journeys through education, discipline, and consistent planning. Whether through his live trading presentations, his live presentations at industry forums or his written work, Lan’s mission is to help people make informed and confident investment decisions. When he’s not trading or teaching, Lan enjoys aviation, motorcycles, biking, and spending time outdoors in Utah. He splits his time between Logan and St. George, Utah, where he continues to write, teach, and explore new ways to help others achieve financial independence.