asset allocation

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    #223: Ask Paula – Should I Choose This or That? How to Weigh the Tradeoffs

    ByPaula Pant
    [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/paulaandjaymoney/AA223.mp3" title="Ask Paula - Should I Choose This or That? How to Weigh the Tradeoffs" artist="Paula Pant" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_stumble="true" social_pinterest="true" social_email="true" ]

    Elizabeth is curious to know: what does a good net worth breakdown look like? Is it appropriate to have a lot of your net worth tied up in real estate?

    Marie wants to start her own business, but she’s living paycheck-to-paycheck. Is incurring debt her only option to make this dream a reality?

    Bria wants to take a second mini-retirement and has a good chunk of money saved up. She wants to come back to the workforce with a cash cushion. What should she do with her money while traveling?

    Anonymous is relocating from Southern California to Florida. She wants to know if she should rent an apartment and buy a rental property, or buy a primary residence with the $150,000 she has saved.

    Connor is facing a dilemma. Is he correct in not prioritizing 401k contributions given that his employer doesn’t offer a match, combined with his goal for financial independence? Is his strategy of using his savings for real estate investing better?

    Caroline is wondering: should she aggressively pay off her home and her rental properties, or use her excess savings to fund a brokerage account?

    Today’s episode is full of exploring and weighing tradeoffs. Let’s dive in!

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    #209: Ask Paula – Are Index Funds Unsafe?

    ByPaula Pant
    [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/paulaandjaymoney/AA209.mp3" title="Ask Paula - Are Index Funds Unsafe?" artist="Paula Pant" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_stumble="true" social_pinterest="true" social_email="true" ]

    Anonymous wants to retire early and often. They’re going overseas, where they’ll make their annual salary within six months. Where should they put their extra income?

    Anonymous also wants to know: how can they find a financial advisor they can actually trust?

    Another anonymous listener wants to know – is it possible to spend more while minimizing taxes in early retirement?

    JuanCarlos asks: is $20,000 too little to invest with a financial advisor?

    Angela is wondering how to create a Roth IRA account for a teenager.

    Rose is thinking about switching from mutual funds to index funds because it means encountering less fees, but her and her husband are in their 60s. Does this make sense?

    Ari has $700,000 to invest in a taxable brokerage account. He wants to know if a 90 percent total stock market index and 10 percent bonds is a good asset allocation.

    Dave and his wife want to use their defined benefit plans as their primary income stream in retirement, and supplement with Roth and 457 incomes. Where else should they be saving?

    Myself and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy answer these questions on today’s episode.

    Enjoy!

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    #189: Ask Paula – How Does My Net Worth Compare to Others My Age?

    ByPaula Pant

    [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/paulaandjaymoney/AA189.mp3" title="Ask Paula - How Does My Net Worth Compare to Others My Age?" artist="Paula Pant" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_stumble="true" social_pinterest="true" social_email="true" ]
    Julie, age 27, calculated her expected net worth based on the formula taught in the classic personal finance book The Millionaire Next Door. She’s concerned. Her current net worth is significantly lower than the number that the formula revealed. Is she on-track?

    Anonymous wants to save for a downpayment on a home. Should she reduce her 401k contributions in order to amass these savings? Should she store some of that money in a Roth IRA?

    Samantha is more than halfway finished with paying off her debt. In order to make this happen, she took on a second job. How much will she owe in taxes?

    Maxime works at a job in which his 401k only offers expensive choices. Should he put his money in a taxable brokerage account, instead?Leslie’s parents are going to retire in five years, but they’ve only saved $65,000. What should they do? How can she help?

    Clare is creating an estate plan. What should she be thinking about?

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    #183: Ask Paula – Should I Sell My Rental Property to Pay Off My Student Loans?

    ByPaula Pant
    [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/paulaandjaymoney/AA183.mp3" title="Ask Paula: Should I Sell My Rental Property to Pay Off My Student Loans?" artist="Paula Pant" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_stumble="true" social_pinterest="true" social_email="true" ]

    Should a newlywed couple with two cash flowing rental properties sell one to pay off $92,000 of student loan debt?

    What percentage of your portfolio should you have in rental properties?

    What’s the smartest way to approach rental property investing, particularly if you get anxiety thinking about tenant requests?

    How much should high interest rates impact your decision to buy a rental?

    I answer these four questions on today’s episode, plus, I have a big announcement regarding the future of real estate Ask Paula episodes, so check it out. 🙂

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    #163: Ask Paula – The Future of Index Fund Investing

    ByPaula Pant
    [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.cast.plus/57b04b389655d0cb71d77f6c/traffic.libsyn.com/paulaandjaymoney/AA163.mp3" title="Ask Paula - The Future of Index Fund Investing" artist="Paula Pant" social="true" social_twitter="true" social_facebook="true" social_gplus="true" social_linkedin="true" social_stumble="true" social_pinterest="true" social_email="true" ]

    Does my employer match count against my 401k contribution limits? Should I invest in a Traditional or Roth TSP? Should I invest more aggressively in stocks right now, or should I hold cash and bonds until the next downturn? Should I get a mortgage or keep renting until I can buy a home in cash? Do you think index investing will dramatically change in the coming decades?

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

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    #144: Ask Paula – What Do You Think of Real Estate Crowdfunding?

    ByPaula Pant

    Today I’m answering your real estate questions! First up, Rich asks: What are your thoughts on real estate crowdfunding versus investing in a traditional REIT and non-retirement account? He doesn’t want to give up the time it takes to manage a rental property. He wants to spend more time with family and friends, and his…

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    #137: Ask Paula – What the F**k Are Annuities?

    ByPaula Pant

    Today’s episode is an annuity sandwich: we answer one question about family and relationships, three questions about annuities, and one question about time management. My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer questions in what, I hope, is the most entertaining episode about annuities you’ll hear. Here are the five questions…

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    #128: Ask Paula and Joe – Should I Choose a Roth vs. Traditional IRA and 401k for Early Retirement?

    ByPaula Pant

    ​ Antonia, 27, wants to retire in 15 years. She’s trying to figure out whether to contribute to pre-tax or after-tax retirement accounts. Most financial advice for 20-somethings that she’s encountered says to contribute to after-tax (Roth) retirement accounts. These articles assume that a 27-year-old will continue earning money for the next 30+ years, presumably…