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Tag: ask paula

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#461: Ask Paula: A Year Off Work, a Career Change, and a Divorce: How to Make It Work

Today we’re featuring a special episode recorded LIVE in front of an audience at Podcast Movement, an industry conference in Denver.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle two questions in today’s episode. Our first question comes from a soon-to-be-single-mother on the precipice of divorce. How should she navigate this financially?

Our second question comes from the spouse of a Purple Heart veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She and her husband would like to take a one-year sabbatical from work when they turn 40, which is in five years. They’d also like to pivot into lower-paying but more enjoyable careers. How should they map out their money for this transition?

Joe and I dedicate this episode, recorded live on stage, to answering these two questions. Enjoy!

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#459: Ask Paula | 10-Year-Old Asks: How Do I Save for My First Car?

Andrey is a savvy 10-year-old wondering what’s the best way to save up for his first car.

Ingrid wants to know if her parents’ preference for Retiring on Dividends is a better approach compared to the 4 Percent Rule.

Erica’s part-time work schedule will place her in an unusually low tax bracket this year. Should she take this rare chance to execute a Roth conversion? Or is it better to prioritize debt payoff?

Chloe is worried about the end of student loan forbearance. Should she pull back from making retirement contributions to focus on debt payoff?

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

Enjoy!

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#457: Ask Paula: I Sold All My Stocks Last Year. Now I’m Kicking Myself.

Angie sold all the stocks in her retirement account last year. And now the market’s climbing. What should she do with her $500,000 cash position?

Christina will be graduating with six figures of student debt. Should she refinance out of a federally protected loan to lower her interest rate?

An anonymous caller wonders how Paula and Joe handled their primary residences when they moved out of state.

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.

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#455: Ask Paula: I’m Recently Retired. Do I Pay Off My Rentals Or Buy More Real Estate?

Yvette recently retired with the goal of reaching a $10,000 monthly income from her real estate investments. Should she put her money toward debt payoff or portfolio expansion?

Carly wants to buy a second home and convert her current home to a rental. What are the pros and cons of tapping into existing equity versus saving cash for a down payment?

An anonymous caller plans to move back to her touristy hometown in six to seven years. Is it smart to buy something now and take advantage of a thriving Airbnb market?

I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#454: Ask Paula: Financial Disaster? How to Get Help Before It’s Too Late

Amy says she hit “rock bottom” with her finances. She says she struggled to ask for help before her situation became an emergency. How can others ask for help sooner?

Rebecca is a mother of four, which means she’s juggling four distinct college timelines and 529 plans. How does she make a withdrawal plan when there are so many unknowns?

Anne Marie switched jobs. What should she do with her old retirement accounts?

And Dylan wonders if the IRS Rule of 55 applies to Roth 401k accounts.

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

Enjoy!

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#451: Ask Paula: The Hidden Costs of Leverage

Rachel’s car is nearing its end of life and she’s short on cash. Should she sell before she’s hit with a major repair?

Kris has tried all the budgeting apps but they’re cumbersome and time-consuming. Is there a better way to track his monthly expenses?

An anonymous caller feels stretched thin with a high mortgage on a single income. Should she sell off some stocks to lower her monthly payments?

Cam wants to arbitrage a hefty low-interest loan with a three-year payback period. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime or a disaster waiting to happen?

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

Enjoy!

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#449: Ask Paula: Should You Buy Real Estate in Today’s Economy?

Jackie is a 42-year-old paralegal with two rental properties. She wants to buy three more. She asks for Paula’s thoughts about today’s economy. Should she buy under these economic conditions?

Jen’s husband will retire with a pension that pays twice their living expenses. Does she still need her own retirement account?

Rachael just bought a duplex, which she wants to househack. But she’s having second thoughts. Did she bite off more than she can chew?

“Minouche” is a return caller with new information: she believes that borrowing from Dad is her only path to home ownership. Does this change Paula and Joe’s advice to her? (And is it even true?) And Molly, a concerned mom, shares some thoughts about this situation.

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

Enjoy!

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#448: Ask Paula: We Make $300k. Why Are We NOT Financially Independent?

An anonymous caller is dealing with guilt over spending a large cash gift. What’s the best use if she doesn’t have an obvious financial goal to throw at it?

Eric reached financial independence a few years ago but he hesitates to quit his job. What the heck is a Roth conversion ladder and how can he overcome his psychological barriers?

Another anonymous caller and his wife earn $300,000. He feels like they should be financially independent but they’re far from it. What’s going on?

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

Enjoy!

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#446: Ask Paula: How to Build a New Career After Adversity

Paul suffered a stroke at 48. He’s on disability and feeling lost. How does he figure out what’s next?

Should Ashley’s aging parents spend a third of their retirement savings on a house?

Margaret is wondering if she could use her 401k for a down payment and save on her taxes.

An anonymous caller is concerned she won’t have enough access to cash if she retires at 50. Is an Indexed Universal Life policy the right solution?

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

Enjoy!

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#440: Ask Paula: Am I Saving Enough For Retirement?

“Barbara,” an anonymous caller from Episode 422, is struggling with a scarcity mindset. How does she stop worrying about the future and build the confidence to enjoy life now?

Samantha and her partner have lived out of their truck for 20 years. They sorta-kinda feel ready to buy a house and settle down. But they’re hesitating. What if they hate it?

An anonymous caller wants to retire and travel in 20 to 30 years. How does she know if she’s saving enough?

Trace plans to take a mini-retirement next year. Where should she keep her savings until then?

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

Enjoy!

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