Tia Pappas, Financial Services Professional with Nylife Securities LLC

09/01/2025

Today we recognize the hard work and dedication of workers everywhere. Enjoy a well-deserved break!

07/04/2025

Celebrating the spirit of freedom and unity this Independence Day. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday!

06/19/2025

Today we celebrate Juneteenth by reflecting on the history, culture, and achievements of African Americans everywhere.

05/25/2025

Today we honor and remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. We are forever grateful for their sacrifice and the freedoms they have secured for us.

09/08/2024

Annual Greek Festival Days in downtown SLC wraps up today - final day to eat delicious food and pastries, enjoy Greek dancing and support your local Greek community! 🇬🇷 όμορφη Ελλάδα, beautiful Greece!

05/21/2024

One of my clients, a married couple in CA, is retiring in July.

We are working on their distribution plan, aka the plan for how to turn their hard-earned savings into a sustainable retirement income.

They've done so many great things to prepare for this moment - the main one being that they're portfolio is tax diversified.

Why does this matter? They have so many more options than they would have if all of their retirement income was taxable upon distribution.

Not to mention, it gives us the flexibility to design an income strategy that keeps their social security tax under 50%.

Most people would be so proud of their situation, but not these clients.

They have what Jon Acuff calls a "soundtrack".

Every time we meet, they open the meeting saying things like, "were so stupid during our working years," "we should have paid more attention," and "we're just not good with money."

Hindsight is 2020, and if we could go back, we'd likely all do a few things differently when it comes to our finances.

"Soundtracks" are very common in personal finance. We are attached to stories about ourselves and our relationship with money, and despite what we want for ourselves and our lives, those stories, when verbalized over and over again, become our reality.

During our last meeting, asked them the following questions in response to their unremitting soundtrack:
- Is it true?
- Is it helpful?
- Is it kind?

The answer to all three of these questions was a resounding "no".

They have the opportunity to enter retirement proud of what they've accomplished with a plan for how to manage their money responsibly and without fear.

Or, they can spend the next 20 years waking up full of regret, fearful that they will outlive their money.

Those are two very different retirements!

Change your soundtrack, change your life!

12/15/2023

I've spent the last 15 years studying how environments shape who we are and who we become, from studying evolution at the cellular level to helping massive organizations scale habit change across their global teams...

If there was one takeaway, it would be this: We are products of our environment.

The context that we live in – the systems we follow, our social interactions, physical environment, and, most importantly, our mindset – determine who we are and who we will become.

To be wealthy starts with a belief that we are wealthy. And who says wealth is measured by the numbers in our accounts?

It requires that we create systems in our lives that wealthy people follow.

It means surrounding ourselves with people who hold an abundance mindset.

And all of these things can happen before we're *actually* wealthy.

We can (and must) speak our future into existence.

And if there is any doubt, I give you Travis Kelce, everyone. This man straight up manifested his relationship with Taylor Swift right in front of our eyes.

Wealth starts with a genuine belief that we are deserving!

12/12/2023

🌟 Open Position in Salt Lake City, Utah - Administrative Assistant 🌟

I'm looking for my right-hand person to support me in all areas of my fast growing business.

I am hiring a part-time Administrative Assistant (opportunity to turn into full time in the future), offering the flexibility to work virtually while being available for in-person collaboration at our New York Life office in Sandy, Utah and at my home in Sugarhouse.

While experience in financial services is not mandatory, a passion for delivering exceptional service and a keen interest in learning are a must.

As an integral part of our team, your first and most important jobs will be to:
📅 Manage scheduling
🤝 Attend client meetings, take notes, and handle administrative action items
🎯 Assist in marketing efforts
🎉 Organize events and campaigns
🔧 Tackle various tasks related to serving clients at a top-tier service level

I value the following qualities in my ideal candidate:
🌐 Ability to work virtually and in person in SLC
🌟 Exceptional customer service skills
🤖 Openness to incorporating AI into daily workflows
🧠 High emotional intelligence (EQ)
🤔 Proactive problem-solving skills
💡 Resourcefulness and confidence in your abilities
📈 Commitment to continuous growth and development

How to Apply:
If you or someone you know embody these qualities and are excited about the opportunity to contribute to a modern, female-led, and fast growing business, I would love to hear from you!

Please call me directly at 435-820-2331.

Call now to connect with business.

12/06/2023

Did you know that you (often) have the choice between contributing pre-tax and post-tax dollars to your 401k?

This is one of the first things I look at when working with a new client.

Unlike a ROTH IRA, there are NO income limits to contribute post-tax to your 401k.

If you aren't sure what you're contributing, it's worth looking into.

When I entered the workforce, like many of us, I was advised to contribute 100% of my 401k pre-tax. Why? Because "you will likely be in a lower tax bracket when you retire, so you should pay taxes then, instead of now."

But the US debt and the history of taxes suggest otherwise.

And, if you're like me and many of my clients, I am not yet in my highest earning years and I have no intention of living significantly below my average lifetime income in retirement.

Not to mention, I likely won't have the big deductions we enjoy today in retirement: children and mortgage interest.

While you lose the deductions, you gain so much more when your money grows tax-free and you don't have to worry about paying taxes when you withdraw in retirement.

Other things to consider:

✔️ Work with your CPA to determine whether there is an amount of deductions that would take you down a tax bracket. If so, consider making that amount of contributions pre-tax.

✔️ If you do have a large amount of pre-tax retirement savings, consider converting some of that to post-tax in a low-income year. NOTE: you'll pay ordinary income taxes on the amount you convert, hence doing this in a year when your income is lower than normal.

12/04/2023

In 2016, I quit a job that I hated, sold my car and 2 weeks later boarded a one-way flight to Chicago.

I had no job waiting for me. Just a few friends that offered me a place to stay while I figured things out.

I had over $30,000 dollars of student debt and $2,000 in my checking account, $1,000 of which was a loan from my sister. (S/O Ang)

A result of the change, stress and discomfort I was feeling, I started getting panic attacks every night when I laid down, and those stayed with me for the next 6 months.

And despite all of this, I can confidently say that booking that flight was, no question, the best thing I ever did.

I have often thought about that choice and wonder if I have the guts to do something that risky again.

High risk = high reward, so they say.

The reality is, I made this move because I had a solid safety net. I had a community of people that believed in me, that were making introductions and referrals for work. I had a place to live, rent free, if I needed. And my worst-case scenario, I move back to Utah, move in with my parents for a few months while I decide what to do next.

So, while it was risky, I was able to do it because I had the right protection in place.

We’re conditioned to believe high risk = high returns, that the only way to make money and grow wealth is to invest in high-risk products (that we often don’t understand) – but no one ever talks about the safety net that wealth people have in place that allows them to take those risks.

We make different decisions when we know we’re protected, when we have a safety net in place.

There is economic value to certainty.

Financial certainty comes in the form of:
• Emergency savings
• Cash flow
• Insurance
• Keeping more of what you have – reduce fees and taxes
• Financial education

12/02/2023

My childhood dream was to escape Carbon County to the big city. Ironically, 2021 saw me leaving Chicago to secure a piece of land right across from my childhood home.

Over the course of that year, I created an business plan to acquire 100 acres of agricultural land, complete with water shares and a farmhouse nestled amid three alfalfa pastures.

This investment isn't just a long-term property play; it's a dynamic mix of a cash-flowing short-term rental, an investment in my family who still calls the area home, and a sanctuary for those moments when I need to escape the city chaos and revel in the tranquility of the countryside.

Guided by the Farmers Service Agency, I secured a first-time farmer loan, allowing me to finance the purchase with $0 down and an extraordinary low interest rate – yes, lower than the 2021 average.

For anyone familiar with the rigors of ranching (yes, watching Yellowstone counts), you know it's not just about the physical and mental challenges; it extends to the intricate financial aspects that are unique to farming.

The Farmers Service Agency (FSA) became my superhero in this adventure, armed with incredible resources capable of turning dreams into actionable plans. While I continuously and heavily rely on the fantastic agents in the local office, I put in substantial effort on my end to leverage every available financial resource.

What truly excites me, and the reason I'm sharing this on LinkedIn, is discovering how many of you share the dream of owning a farm or embracing homesteading.

The good news? There are real strategies to turn that dream into a reality. Strategies exist, there's support available, and the FSA is your secret weapon.

However, and it's a significant however, it's not a stroll in the park. It's a journey, complete with its highs, lows, and a bit of a maze to navigate.

So, if you're one of those dreamers or someone deeply engrossed in the process, let's connect. I've walked this path and would love to share experiences, swap stories, and maybe offer some insights into navigating the complexities of it all.

Here's to dreams realized, hard work, and the rewarding journey of turning aspirations into achievements! 🌾✨