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Tag: financial freedom

July 11, 2025By Paula Pant

#624: JL Collins Part 1: The Simple Path vs. The “Optimal” Path

JL Collins doesn’t know what the efficient frontier is. The author of “The Simple Path to Wealth” — the guy synonymous with VTSAX and chill — admits this right off the bat when we challenge him with advanced investing concepts.

Collins joins us for Part 1 of a two-part series where we skip the basics and dive straight into the complex stuff. We grill him on whether his simple approach actually beats more sophisticated strategies, and his answer might surprise you.

He concedes that Paul Merriman’s four-fund portfolio probably outperforms his one-fund approach mathematically. But Collins argues that execution trumps optimization every time. Most people can’t stick with complex strategies for 20 years, especially when those strategies require selling winners to buy losers – something that goes against human nature.

Collins prioritizes what works in real life over what looks good on paper. He calls index funds “self-cleansing” because they automatically rotate out failing companies and sectors while rotating in the new winners. You don’t need to predict which companies will dominate next – you’ll own whatever rises to the top.

The episode covers his thoughts on VTSAX versus VTI, international diversification, and why he’d rather put Tabasco than Cholula on his eggs — his quirky way of explaining personal preferences in nearly identical investment options.

Keep reading...

June 24, 2025By Paula Pant

#619: Q&A: My Company Is Going Public and I Have No Idea What to Do – Plus, Should I Fire My Advisor?

Dave is no longer happy with his financial advisor, but he’s nervous about switching over to self-management after being completely hands-off for so long. What should he do?

An anonymous caller keeps hearing about the benefits of Cost Segregation for investment property. What is it? And should he apply this strategy to his recently acquired duplex?

Another anonymous caller is eagerly anticipating a windfall from his employer’s upcoming IPO. How should he prepare for this, and what happens if it fails?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

May 14, 2025By Paula Pant

#607: Q&A: Remember When Money Advice Came From Just One Book at the Library?

George is a worried baby boomer, wondering if today’s generation is drowning in the noise of today’s financial landscape. How does one find a balance between information and overload?

Heather is stunned by the notion that renting could make more financial sense than buying. Where she’s from, the numbers seem to always swing in favor of owning. What’s she missing?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

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...

April 1, 2025By Paula Pant

#595: Q&A: The Scary Shift from Saving to — Gulp! — Actually Spending Your Money

Eva is finally closing in on her financial independence goals, but she’s grappling with how to make a smooth transition from accumulation to decumulation. What should she consider?

John has noticed a game-changing omission from recent discussions about traditional versus Roth IRAs. Is this as big of a deal as he thinks it is?

An anonymous caller is excited to convert his primary residence into a rental property. But he’ll only make a profit if he first sells some equities to pay down the mortgage. Is this a good idea?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

March 25, 2025By Paula Pant

#593: Q&A: You Made a Money Mistake. Now What?

An anonymous caller is brooding over a mistake he made in 2023 when he decided to contribute to his Roth instead of a pre-tax account. How does he get over this?

June is annoyed that she triggered short-term capital gains and wash sales when she sold assets in her taxable brokerage last year. How does she avoid these issues in the future?

Zerai wants to add mid and small-cap exposure, but his 457 plan has a limited selection of mutual funds. What’s the proper way to select the best fund among the available options?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

March 11, 2025By Paula Pant

#589: Q&A: How Much Risk Should My Mom Take in Retirement?

Kimmy is worried that her mom’s retirement portfolio is invested too conservatively. Is she right to advise her to take on more risk?

Peyton has heard the financial advice about staying away from Whole Life Insurance as an investment, but what about as a savings account for children? Is there good a use case for this?

Jeff and his wife are in a great financial position, but they fear that their retirement savings are too heavily apportioned in traditional IRAs. Will they run into tax problems in the future?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

March 5, 2025By Paula Pant

#587: Q&A: Should You Cash Out Your ETFs? The Hidden Consequences of That Decision …

Debi is stressed about saving a down payment to buy a house in her high-cost-of-living area. Should she cash out her brokerage account to speed up the process?

Lucas and his wife are high earners, but they’re tired and ready for a change. What strategies can they use to maximize their investments and confidently step away from their jobs?

Grant is thrown off by recent discussions about the efficient frontier. It sounds a lot like market timing to base an investment strategy on an arbitrary set of historical dates. What’s he missing?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

February 18, 2025By Paula Pant

#583: Q&A: Everyone Is Arguing About Roth IRAs And We Have Thoughts

Contrary to recent discussions, Jesse has concluded that a traditional IRA is the smarter way to go for most people once marginal tax rates are factored in. Is he missing something?  

An anonymous caller is four years away from early retirement but she’s unsure if her portfolio allocations are in the right place. How and when should she start converting equities to cash?

Luz is confused about how to handle company stock options. Is there an ideal spread between the exercise price and the stock price? And, what should she do once the stocks are exercised?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three 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...

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Afford Anything

  • Start Here
    • About
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  • Blog
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  • Podcast
    • Binge
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  • Community
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    • Your First Rental Property
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