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Tag: 401k

April 22, 2025By Paula Pant

#601: Q&A: The Stock Market Sucks. Is Private Equity Any Better?

Nick and his wife have $100,000 to invest, but they’re worried about the volatility of the current stock market. Should they look into alternative investments such as private equity?

Even though Roth IRAs come with tax-free withdrawals in retirement, Josh is worried about his tax bracket going up and neutralizing the benefits. Is he right to be concerned?

The retirement portion of Cindy’s financial three-legged stool is set, and she’s now focused on her taxable brokerage. What investment strategy will allow her to be work optional in 10 years?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

January 21, 2025By Paula Pant

#575: Q&A: The Roth Decision at Every Income Level (And Why It Matters Now!)

Krish is fascinated by cryptocurrency and its impact on global investing. What opportunities should he capitalize on, and how?

Apar’s income has more than doubled after he started his own business. His advisor recommends Roth contributions but he’s skeptical due to his high income. Who’s right?

Keith is frustrated by the conflicting advice he’s heard about Roth conversions. Is it better to do it while he’s young and earning a lower income, or should he wait until closer to retirement?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

September 18, 2024By Paula Pant

#541: Your Dream Retirement Might Hinge on This One Choice, featuring Katie Gatti Tassin, host of Money with Katie

Ever wondered if you’re making the right choice between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)? You’re not alone.

In this episode, Katie Gatti Tassin, host of MorningBrew’s Money with Katie podcast, joins us to tackle this common retirement savings dilemma.

We deep-dive into the debate between using Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) accounts for retirement savings, in the context of:

Future tax rates
Tax complexities for small business owners and high earners
Social Security uncertainty
Stock-based compensation
Incentives for business owners vs. employees

Katie explains her strategy for maximizing retirement savings while minimizing taxes. She suggests that for some people in higher tax brackets, maxing out a traditional 401(k) and then investing the tax savings elsewhere might be the way to go.

But as we dig deeper, it becomes clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

We explore the Traditional vs Roth question, discussing how your current income and expected retirement spending can affect your choices.

It’s not just about the math, though. The unpredictability of future tax rates and policies adds another layer of complexity to the decision.

Social Security plays a major role, as well. We discuss its current funding situation and the challenges it might face in the future.

This leads to a fascinating discussion about how AI might impact future costs and lifestyles. Could things actually get cheaper in the future?

Taxes for high earners and small business owners is another focus. We break down some misconceptions about who falls into high tax brackets. It’s not always as simple as it seems.

Stock-based compensation is another hot topic. We discuss how it affects corporate decision-making and the wider economy. This leads to an interesting comparison of the incentives for business owners versus employees.

Throughout the episode, we keep coming back to one key point: no matter which type of account you choose, the most important thing is to contribute as much as you can.

Your contribution amount has a bigger impact on your retirement savings than the type of account you use.

By the end of this interview, you’ll have a better understanding of the factors that go into choosing between a Traditional and Roth 401(k). More importantly, you’ll see how this decision fits into the bigger picture of retirement planning and overall financial health.

Keep reading...

June 5, 2024By Paula Pant

#511: Q&A: “I’m Scared of Running Out of Money in Retirement!”

Sara is five years from retirement with a paid-off house. But she’s worried that her money will run out before she turns 80. What does she need to do now to protect her future self?

Lauren is a personal finance nerd who gets it. But one question perplexes her: When should she choose an ETF […]

Keep reading...

May 22, 2024By Paula Pant

#507: How One Ex-Inmate is Building a Better Future

Suzy is excited to deploy her first corporate bonus but scared to invest everything in a lump sum. Should she stick with what’s worked in the past and just dollar cost-average?

Meghan doesn’t understand how stock pricing affects capital appreciation. Is it always better to buy when share prices are low?

Robert was recently released from prison and wants to start his life on the right foot. What’s Joe and Paula’s advice for him?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

February 21, 2024By Paula Pant

#489: Ask Paula: What to Do with a Six-Figure Windfall?

Cara made $100,000 in commissions this year, her biggest bonus ever. What should she do with the money if she wants to retire early?

An anonymous caller and his partner have lived in an RV for years. They’re ready to settle. Should they sell most of his investments to purchase raw land and build an off-grid home?

Remy and her husband need to come up with $30,000 for IVF treatments. How do they build their family without breaking the family finances in the process?

Another anonymous caller is upset that the 401k plan he sold his boss on is charging him an Assets Under Management (AUM) fee. Should he keep the 401k at all?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

April 12, 2023By Paula Pant

#436: Ask Paula: How Do I Pay for Grad School?

Jeremy wants to attend graduate school. Should he take student loans or cash out his investment portfolio?

Andy is wondering if the 4 percent rule stands up to high inflation. (There’s a shockingly simple answer!)

Did Rudolfo discover a hack to supercharge his 401k investing?

Nandini is overwhelmed by her investing choices. What accounts should she use? What funds should she pick?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

Keep reading...

April 5, 2023By Paula Pant

#435: Ask Paula: How To Prepare for A Layoff

Lee is 30 and facing a tech layoff. She can live for a year on her savings. She’s thinking about taking the rest of the year off. How should she prepare her investments?

Stacy wants to buy an Airbnb but she’s scared she’ll regret selling her company stock to do it.

An anonymous caller is tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck as a freelance artist. How can she stabilize an inconsistent income?

Danelle is a DIY investor. She can’t find a financial advisor who gives advice without insisting on managing her investments. Is she looking in the wrong places?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!

Keep reading...

November 23, 2022By Paula Pant

#414: Ask Paula: I Think I Can Retire Early. Am I Delusional?!

Natasha thinks she and her husband have saved enough to retire early, but they’re scared. Are they ready or are they delusional?

Should Krista tap into the equity from one of her rentals to rebalance a portfolio that is weighted heavily in real estate?

Anonymous is a savvy investor who wants to retire early. She wonders if she should hire a financial advisor, or if she can manage her investments herself.

Amanda is worried that her recently diagnosed health condition might force her to stop working.  How should she financially prepare her family?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

Keep reading...

October 27, 2022By Paula Pant

#409: Ask Paula: Should I Sell My Rentals to Buy More Stocks?

Liz and her husband are planning to retire in 5 to 10 years. They have rental income properties, but Liz is bored of managing these, and she’s intrigued by the idea of buying stocks at a discount when the market is low.  Should she sell her rental properties and use the money to buy stocks instead?

Rebecca is a high income earner and thinking about investing in a Roth 401k … but she’s scared of how much she’ll have to pay in taxes. Should she do it anyway?

Anonymous made big changes last year: she got a new career AND sold a house! Now she needs help figuring out capital gains and lowering how much she’ll have to pay in taxes … and she won’t have access to her company’s 401K for most of the year.

Kyle and his wife are moving into their dream home! What should they do with their current place?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

Keep reading...

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Afford Anything

  • Start Here
    • About
    • Team Afford Anything
    • Media
    • Questions?
  • Blog
    • Binge
  • Podcast
    • Binge
    • Sponsors
    • Ask a Question
    • Guest Guidelines
  • Community
  • TV
  • Explore
    • Your First Rental Property
    • Travel
    • Start a Blog
    • Earn Extra Income