Tony lives in Chicago, where the returns on rental properties are so-so. He’s thinking about investing in Indianapolis, where he consistently finds rental properties with cap rates that are greater than 8 percent. Should he invest locally, so that he can get a primary residence mortgage and keep a closer eye on the space? […]
By Paula Pant
#121: How I Retired at Age 32 – with Liz Thames from Frugalwoods
After Liz Thames graduated from college, she couldn’t find a job.
“Nowhere would hire me,” Thames says. “I had what I thought was this nice resume, and I sent out over 50 applications. Nowhere called me back.”
She took a temporary job at a document-scanning agency, then joined Americorps to serve as a full-time volunteer […]
By Paula Pant
#120: Ask Paula – I’m Retiring at 53. How Will Early Retirement Impact My Social Security?
Roger Whitney, age 51, calls himself The Retirement Answer Man. As a financial planner, investment analyst and podcast host, he focuses on helping Baby Boomers craft a traditional (past-age-60) retirement.
Today, he joins me to answer two questions that come in from our community.
Our first question is from Emily, who says:
“I’m trying […]
By Paula Pant
#119: How Much Can I Spend in Retirement? – with Dr. Wade Pfau
Once upon a time, in southern California in 1994, there lived a man named William Bengen.
He read many claims, widespread at the time, that said that since the markets return at least 7-9 percent compounding rates on average, retirees could withdraw and spend 7 percent of their portfolio.
William had a hunch that this […]
By Paula Pant
#118: Ask Paula – How Do I Buy a Foreclosure? – and Other Real Estate Questions
Questions — I get questions! Today, I’m tackling four queries about real estate investing that come from the audience. Here are the details:
Sam says:
I work full-time and I’m not handy, so I definitely need a property manager. I’ve found an amazing property management company, but they only serve a small, specific […]
By Paula Pant
#117: How to Avoid Killing Your Spouse (and Should You Get Married in the First Place?) – with Farnoosh Torabi
My friend and financial expert Farnoosh Torabi joins me to answer a relationship & money question from a listener named Janice.⠀⠀
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Janice is engaged, and she calls to ask: Should she get married?⠀⠀
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She earns double what her fiancé makes. She has no debt except her mortgage. Her retirement […]
By Paula Pant
#116: Ask Paula – Help! I’m Underwater on My Car!
Stacy and her boyfriend would like to downsize to one vehicle. But they’re collectively $14,500 underwater on their car loans.
Stacy owes $11,000 on her car, but its trade-in value is $7,200. She’s paying a 12.74% interest rate and her payoff date is 2021.
Her boyfriend is in worse shape. He owes $18,500 on his […]
By Paula Pant
#115: How Dave Ramsey Taught His Kids About Money – with Rachel Cruze
Rachel Cruze was born the year her father, Dave Ramsey, filed for bankruptcy.
During her childhood, she watched her parents transition from struggling and rebuilding from their bankruptcy, to becoming debt-free multimillionaires.
Her dad went on to become the host of The Dave Ramsey Show, a money management radio show and podcast that reaches more […]
By Paula Pant
#114: Ask Paula – How Should I Invest $100K in Real Estate?
This week, I answer five questions about real estate investing from the audience.
Joelle asks:
I own a home outright on the West Coast. I’m thinking about taking out $100,000 from my home equity, and using this money to buy a rental property.
I found a community out east where I can buy a […]
By Paula Pant
#113: How I Run a Six-Figure Business and Host an Airbnb while Traveling the World — with Natalie Sisson
Natalie Sisson was tired of the corporate world. She wanted freedom, adventure and fulfillment.
In 2008, she quit her job and co-founded a tech company — but soon she discovered that running a company felt a lot like having a day job.
Two years later, she quit her own company in order to truly strike […]
