expense ratios

Episodes | Personal Finance 101

#268: Ask Paula – Should I Invest or Pay Off My Mortgage Early?
ByPaula Pant August 4, 2020September 27, 2021

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Natasha has $3,300 per month to either invest or use toward an early mortgage payoff. Which option should she choose?

An anonymous caller and military member wants to know if she should move money from a USAA brokerage to Vanguard to pay less in fees. Her goal is to retire in 12 years with $3,000/month in passive income from rental properties, which will supplement her military pension. Should she only contribute to her TSP up to the match, and invest the rest in rentals?

Chaim and his wife live in the Middle East and have $30,000 in a U.S. bank account. However, they don’t plan to relocate. How can they best use this money?

June and her husband are in a sticky situation: they bought their dream house in Michigan last winter, ahead of plans to relocate there. June lives there with their kids, but her husband is unable to find a job despite the numerous contacts he has in the state. He currently works in a job that he dislikes in Southern California, living apart from his family. They’re currently a one-income family, though June has plans to open a firm in Michigan. What should they do?

Anonymous in Portland has three questions: is a 75/25 US stock/international stock split aggressive? Is an S&P 500 index a close enough equivalent to a total US stock index? Is Betterment worth it for automatic tax harvesting?

My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these questions. Enjoy!

Read More #268: Ask Paula – Should I Invest or Pay Off My Mortgage Early?
Episodes | Personal Finance 101

#245: Ask Paula – I’m 24 and Won a $1 Million Settlement. How Should I Handle This Money?
ByPaula Pant March 6, 2020September 27, 2021

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Joe has a 24-year-old friend who won a $1 million settlement. How can she use this money to set herself up for financial independence?

Jay is 52 years old and wants to retire at 59.5. He began investing in individual stocks to achieve this goal, and has had excellent returns so far. Is this a sound plan for early retirement? Or should he work until age 62 for Social Security?

Steve is 54 years old. He plans to retire at 60, which is when he can collect 67 percent of his pension. A Vanguard advisor suggested that he direct some of his 403b contributions as Roth contributions, rather than pre-tax contributions. Should he act on this suggestion?

Brit wants to know: is it possible to invest in the S&P 500 Fossil Fuel Free Index through Vanguard?

Anonymous in New York City wants to invest their HSA contributions this year, but the expense ratios seem high. Can they move their HSA to a different provider? What fees are normal for HSAs?

My friend and former financial advisor, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me on the show to answer these five questions. Enjoy!

Read More #245: Ask Paula – I’m 24 and Won a $1 Million Settlement. How Should I Handle This Money?
Episodes | Personal Finance 101

#209: Ask Paula – Are Index Funds Unsafe?
ByPaula Pant August 12, 2019September 27, 2021

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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!

Read More #209: Ask Paula – Are Index Funds Unsafe?
Episodes | Personal Finance 101

#189: Ask Paula – How Does My Net Worth Compare to Others My Age?
ByPaula Pant April 22, 2019September 27, 2021

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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?

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