The DOC Podcast

I'm excited to welcome Nicole Vento back to The DOC Podcast for the fourth installment of our five-part series with the Vento family on creating generational wealth. Nicole is a financial advisor, CPA, and CFP who leads the investment committee at her family's firm, and she brings a rare dual perspective with her CPA background combined with institutional trading experience at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. 

In this episode, we dig deep into the investment and tax-efficiency side of wealth planning, breaking down retirement accounts, ETFs vs. mutual funds, estate planning, 529 plans, the student loan crisis, Trump accounts, charitable giving strategies, and the discipline and mindset it takes to achieve financial freedom. Whether you're just starting out or you've been building wealth for decades, Nicole delivers practical insights you can apply to your own financial journey. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Vento family's book, *The Generational Wealth Code*, linked in the show notes below.

**Chapters & Timestamps:**
- 0:30 — Episode Intro
- 3:06 — Welcome Back, Nicole
- 11:09 — Why You Need a Fiduciary
- 16:50 — Understanding Retirement Accounts
- 47:02 — ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Tax Treatment
- 54:46 — Estate Planning & Step-Up in Basis
- 1:03:35 — Education Planning & 529 Plans
- 1:10:05 — The Student Loan Crisis
- 1:22:44 — Trump Accounts: A New Savings Vehicle
- 1:27:36 — Charitable Giving Strategies
- 1:33:11 — Discipline, Delayed Gratification & the Margin Mentality
- 1:37:39 — Closing & Contact Info
- 1:38:54 — Disclosure

**Links & Resources:**
Connect w/Dr. Mike:
Connect w/Nicole:

What is The DOC Podcast?

The DOC Podcast brings you unique educational content taught by Dr. Mike DeLuke, a Board Certified Orthodontist with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience. Dr. DeLuke built his orthodontic practice from scratch in the early 2000s and grew it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise in less than 10 years. He was able to retire from his private practice at the age of 46 years old, and now devotes his energy to teaching his colleagues how to succeed both personally and professionally. He also provides locum tenens coverage for colleagues in South Florida.

Dr. DeLuke has served as a faculty member at numerous hospitals and orthodontic residency programs around the country, including as the cleft craniofacial orthodontist at Albany Medical Center in New York, and as a clinical professor at The University of Connecticut in the Department of Orthodontics. He is presently an adjunct professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Healthcare Network and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Orthodontics at Montefiore Einstein Hospital in the Bronx.

The DOC Podcast will bring you in-depth discussions and interviews with industry leaders and experts on a variety of topics, including clinical excellence, practice management, finance and wealth creation, health and wellness, taxes and accounting, fitness, and much more!