I am thankful for the original Kemp-Roth tax reduction act of 1981, and the creation of the personal before-tax savings plan alternatives to Social Security known as Roth IRA's and 401(k)'s, signed into law by Reagan. Reagan's policies squeezed the Carter-era inflation/stagflation out of the US financial system, and laid the groundwork for a booming economy while he bankrupted the USSR and won the Cold War all at the same time.

Pension plans are only so good as the company paying them continues to exist. Self-employment has Self Employment Plans (SEP's) for those who choose to enter a suitable line of business for them, but S-corps have more built in advantages for my type of work.

I am an S-Corp (2 employees: me and my wife). Structured in Nevada (no state Income or corporate tax), though I operate as a "foreign corporation" in my state of residence which is not Nevada. In only 20 years our retirement plans have grown to $2MM, we own a house worth $1MM, and we paid off the mortgage on it 10-years ahead of time and in its entirety 10 years ago, and we have $1MM cash on hand.

We reared 4 children of our own and put 3 of 4 of them through college, 3 as company employees. One was GI Bill the whole way and another who started as my employee and was GI bill only partially, but using the rest at this time doing his Masters degree program.

The Reagan era was great for career development and capital formation. Trump's 2nd term will bring explosive growth and spur the creation of more small busnesses, structured likemine, who can benefit from savvy 401(k) management.