Elephant Wealth

02/09/2026

I've received quite a few calls and emails about the Trump Child Investment Account (530A account)
Here you go. I can help.

12/31/2025

Thank you for another year to be able to serve our clients with the highest quality service. We will never take it for granted. 🙌📈

09/11/2025

There's a 90.8% probability an interest rate cut of .25% - .50% bps will happen on Sept 17th.
Here are my thoughts.

U.S. equities rose in August, led by small caps and supported by expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts amid weak labor data and dovish policy signals. While volatility may increase in September, LPL Research advises maintaining a neutral stance on U.S. equities and core bonds, favoring large cap...

09/03/2025

September is historically a down month for the equities market.
Here's a short article outlining my thoughts.

The Federal Reserve is poised to cut interest rates amid a slowing labor market and receding inflation risks, with markets responding positively and corporate earnings continuing to impress, particularly in the tech sector. Despite potential risks such as tariffs and seasonal market weakness in Sept...

08/06/2025

I've been asked quite a few times about why I chose Elephant Wealth as the name for my firm. An elephant in the investment world is an investor that moves markets, an investor larger than a whale. But here's a summary of the personality of an elephant.

An elephant personality carries a natural air of calm authority and regal presence, embodying confidence in every deliberate movement. It exudes a spiritual dignity, moving through life with few obstacles able to hold it back. Known for its imposing stature, it inspires respect—the lion and crocodile personalities metaphorically steer clear in its presence.

Although generally composed, the elephant's personality can unleash formidable strength when provoked, demonstrating a temper both slow to ignite and powerful when it does. Driven by unwavering focus, once its mind is made up, it pursues objectives with steadfast resolve until they are achieved. Their high intelligence and strategic thinking make them effective communicators and capable long-term planners. Their honesty and straightforwardness foster trust, as they make their feelings and intentions clear. They thrive in leadership roles—often as executives, judges, or political figures—where calm resolve meets principled action.

In professional arenas, they typically avoid flashy displays of wealth even when successful, favoring quiet dignity instead. Elephant personalities tend to value the arts and intellectual pursuits, with particular passion for history, psychology, and music. Relationships with them are deeply emotional and protective—rounded by intense loyalty and strong connection. They are sentimental about the past and honor emotional bonds and lessons learned over time. Socially, they resemble the matriarchal herds of the wild—valuing community, empathy, and interdependence.

Their emotional intelligence allows them to sense and support those around them, acting as natural guides and caregivers. Overall, the elephant personality is defined by majestic composure, unwavering integrity, compassionate leadership, and resilient strength—calm yet commanding in every sense.
(https://animalinyou.com/animals/elephant/)

07/22/2025

Elephant Wealth offers Guided Wealth Portfolios for individuals who prefer a more digital experience. Investment models are built by research using exchange-traded funds (ETFs), each designed to help investors work towards specific goals, including:

Retirement - Major Purchases - General Investing

This is a digital, low-minimum investment platform that combines valuable advice with an online investor experience.
Give Elephant Wealth a call to inquire about Guided Wealth Portfolios to see if it's right for you. :)

07/01/2025

Entrepreneurship is the backbone of the world. It's the main component of the IRS tax code, and foundation of the stock market.

If you're needing assistance with opening a LLC or other structure, I can help. We can review Articles of Incorporation, Operating Agreements, Employer Identification Number, and bookkeeping to give clarity on proper systems of a business.

Elephant Wealth
Elephant Tax
Elephant Insurance

06/30/2025

Stock traders who seek to earn profits by frequently buying and selling stocks to capitalize on daily market movements can qualify as day traders for tax purposes.

Day traders are in the business of buying and selling securities—in other words, they are businesspeople, not investors.

There are many tax advantages to qualifying as a day trader instead of as a passive investor:

*Your trading expenses are fully deductible as business expenses from both your trading income and non-trading income, such as W-2 income. These include home office expenses, business property such as computers and software, seminars and other educational materials, subscriptions, and other miscellaneous expenses. Traders may also fully deduct margin interest as business interest—a substantial deduction for many traders.

* If you’re a trader, you can elect to use mark-to-market accounting, which allows you to treat trading gains and losses as ordinary income and losses, rather than as capital gains and losses. Investors can’t do this.

*You don’t have to pay self-employment tax on your trading income (this is also true for investors in securities).
How do you qualify as a day trader for tax purposes? There are two tests you must pass: the trading test and the substantial activity test.
*Trading test. You must seek to profit from daily market movements, not from dividends, interest, or capital appreciation. Your typical holding period for securities absolutely must be 31 days or less, usually much less. You must also make frequent trades: 720 trades per year, 60 trades per month, and 16 trades per week is a bare minimum—most day traders trade more than this.

*Substantial activity test. Your trading activity must be substantial, continuous, and regular. You don’t have to work full-time at trading, but it should be the primary way you earn income. You should trade throughout the year. The more you trade, the more you’ll look like a day trader.

As with any activity that you want the IRS to view as a business, you should behave in a serious, businesslike manner: keep good business records; study securities trading; and have all necessary computers, software, and other equipment to trade effectively.

Some day traders form S corporations to enjoy tax-free employee benefits such as a 401(k) and deductible health insurance. However, these benefits will be meaningful only if your trading business earns a profit.
If you'd like to discuss day trading, call our office line,337-484-3077, to schedule a phone conference or in-person meeting.
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Steven Barbosa, Financial Advisor, Tax Advisor

06/06/2025

Increasing your investment contributions by 1% each year can have a positive impact on your financial freedom.
Increasing your liabilities for short term gratification can cause stress, anxiety and longer working years.
Make good choices. Your older self will thank you.

06/06/2025

Down turns can be a great opportunity to buy. Dollar Cost Averaging can also be a great strategy to lower your average share cost. Call me :) I can help.

03/11/2025

In a study by Fidelity, "2025 State of Retirement Planning," 38% of retirees wish they had started saving for retirement earlier.
Every bit helps. My clients get a financial website that helps them with budgeting, projections, what-if scenarios, and more.
In the ages of 50-65, retirement planning should be at the top of your list to do. I can help.