January 23, 2026

Happy Friday, everyone ☀️
Good morning — hope today starts with good energy and a little excitement heading into the weekend.

Here’s a quick question to get things rolling: have you ever paid extra just to feel “safe”?
When it comes to taxes, overpaying can feel responsible… but it isn’t always harmless.

Today’s post breaks down why overpaying estimated taxes can cost you more than you think — and how better timing and planning can keep your money working for you instead of sitting on the sidelines.

Because being careful with money doesn’t always mean paying more — it means paying smarter.

— Ryan Rincon, Founder at The Wealth Wagon Inc.

— Charlie Munger

Market Update: Markets pushed higher again, with equities showing steady strength across the board. The Nasdaq led the charge, rising 0.91%, while the S&P 500 added 0.55% and the Dow Jones climbed 0.63%—a sign of broad, balanced participation rather than a narrow rally.

Risk assets were more mixed beneath the surface. Bitcoin slipped 0.21%, pausing after recent strength, while capital flowed aggressively into hard assets. Gold surged 2.09% and silver jumped 3.86%, signaling renewed interest in inflation hedges and real assets even as stocks grind higher.

In individual names, software and enterprise tech stood out. Oracle rallied 2.47%, reinforcing continued demand for cloud and infrastructure plays. On the flip side, higher-beta growth lagged, with Opendoor down 0.93% and Roblox falling 1.29%. Overall, today’s action suggests a measured risk-on environment, where investors are selectively rotating into quality, real assets, and profitable tech rather than chasing speculation.

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This is not about penalties.
This is not about underpayment risk.
This is not about ignoring the IRS.

This is about excess precision — and how sending too much money too early creates invisible costs.

Most people assume:

“Paying extra just to be safe can’t hurt.”

It can.

When you overpay estimated taxes:

You gave the government an interest-free loan.

And you absorbed all the opportunity cost.

Estimated payments usually happen during the year — when:

Overpaying early removes optionality before the year’s outcome is known.

Even when you overpay:

That money doesn’t return when it’s most useful.

When taxes are “handled” early:

Overpayment replaces planning with padding.

The more income you have:

Small percentages on large dollars matter.

Because fear feels prudent.

But certainty has a price.

And it’s rarely discussed.

This is not about underpaying.

It’s about right-sizing.

Effective approaches include:

Control beats excess compliance.

This shows up most for:

Safety without flexibility still costs money.

Overpaying taxes feels like discipline.

It’s not.

It’s deferred planning — with interest paid by you.

The goal isn’t to pay early.

It’s to pay accurately, intentionally, and late enough to matter.

Say another new one when you’re ready.
I’ll keep them this specific and non-overlapping.