Afford Anything

Tag: ask paula

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#374: Ask Paula: Watch Out! Here’s How Lowering Your Investment Tax Bill…Might Increase Your Risk

Jake wants investment cash flow until he’s eligible for his military pension in 10 years.  Should he buy small multifamily properties right now, wait a few years and invest in syndications or should he invest in index funds through taxable accounts?

Andy in Palm Springs is shoveling money into a taxable brokerage account. He wants to use these investments to create another stream of income. But there’s a problem: his tax bill is going to be high. What should he do?

Anonymous is a U.S. citizen, lives in London, and can’t invest in index funds. Can he emulate the index fund experience by directly buying a huge number of individual stocks?

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

Enjoy!

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#372: Ask Paula: I’m 33 and Want to Retire at 45 – What Should I Do?

Eve has been investing in her brokerage account and the tax liabilities are starting to add up.  She wants to retire in 12 years and is wondering if she should invest in after-tax contributions and plan on a Roth conversion.

Anonymous has rental properties and wants to start building his kids credit histories.  Is it a good idea to add them as co-borrowers on the mortgage?

Lily is really excited about investing in real estate, but househacking wasn’t the right fit.  She’s looking for advice on investing in opportunity zones through crowdfunding platforms.

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#370: Ask Paula: My Income Is Dropping From $190,000 to $40,000; What Should I Do?

Michelle makes $190,000 and is going to switch to a career that pays $40,000 on average. To prepare for this lower salary, she’s selling her current home and buying a different one. Should she pay off her new home with the proceeds from the old one? Or should she invest her profits?

Kristen is 32, and she and her husband want to retire in less than 20 years. They make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA. Should they use back door Roth conversions to speed along their path to early retirement?

Anonymous lives in a high cost-of-living area and is wondering where to keep her down payment and emergency funds. Should she use I-bonds, TIPS, or some combination of these two?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough situations.

Enjoy!

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

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#368: Ask Paula: Talk Crypto To Me

Alex is curious about cryptocurrency. How should she analyze the returns promised by different platforms and where can she go to  learn more about crypto in general?

Grace wants to buy a manufactured home for rental income. Should she calculate her returns differently for a manufactured home?

Thomas and his wife have parallel goals of saving for a down payment and contributing to retirement accounts.  How should they balance both of these goals?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

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#366: Ask Paula: How Do I Invest For My Parents’ Retirement?

Micheal’s parents just sold their home to pay off debt and fund their retirement. How should he invest the profits?

Ryker would like to understand what it would take for cryptocurrency to be considered as a good investment option for a diversified portfolio.

Megan has qualified for her employer’s 401k and needs help deciding between […]

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#364: Ask Paula: No Spouse, No Family, And Thinking About Getting Old – How Do I Prepare?

Hypothetical from the Hampton Inn is curious about whether he should keep his 30 year term life insurance policy or let it lapse with 12 years left on the policy.

Ramon asks us about the details behind infinite banking.

Anonymous Emily is wondering which financial products would work best to cover care and expenses as she ages.

Max is thinking through real estate and stock market returns as they relate to future population trends.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

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#362: Ask Paula: Okay Seriously, Why Hasn’t Anyone Solved the Budgeting Issue?

David is questioning how to better manage his spending. He’d like a stronger framework to think through budgeting challenges.

Elisa and her husband bought a home, and now they’re saving extra income every month. She has a pension and her husband is an entrepreneur. How much should they be saving for retirement and how should they invest their extra money?

Geoff invested primarily in taxable brokerage accounts for the last twenty years. He’s built a $6 million portfolio and reached financial independence. He wonders about the smartest strategy for withdrawing from those taxable brokerage accounts to efficiently manage capital gains?

Jenna and her husband are planning on buying their next home in a few years. She wants to know if I-bonds are a good way to save for the down payment and closing costs.

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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#360: Ask Paula: I’m Worried My Parents Are Getting Ripped Off By Their Financial Advisor … Help!

I’m worried my parents are getting ripped off by their financial advisor. What should I do?

My wife is trying to qualify for student loan forgiveness … but we might lose a bunch of tax benefits in the process. Is it worth the risk?                       

I’m enrolling in grad school, and I want to optimize how to pay for rent and groceries. Should I use money from a 529 plan?

Three callers. Three questions.

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough Q’s.

Enjoy!

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. 

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#358: Ask Paula: Should I Invest in Index Funds More Actively?

Where is the balance between the risks and potential returns of actively and passively investing in index funds?

Where do you place your savings after you max out your retirement and HSA accounts?

How do you finance building a rental unit when there’s already a home on the lot?

Is it more beneficial to buy back pension time with post tax deductions or a 457b plan? Or should I not buy back pension time at all?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I discuss the purpose and practice of mindful money.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

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#356: Ask Paula: FIRE vs. FOMO — How Do You Balance Between These?

How do you find balance between smart money management vs. missing out on opportunities?

Should you pile money into investments or take that dream trip to Tanzania?

What should you do when your heart leads you to a decision that doesn’t make sense on paper?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I discuss the purpose and practice of mindful money.

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