Afford Anything

Tag: financial independence

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#561: Q&A: Why Your Retirement Math Isn’t Adding Up

Joanne is confident that her short and long-term financial plans are set, but she’s not certain about the medium-term. What’s the proper way to allocate money for different time horizons?

Jessie is intrigued by Paul Merriman’s simple portfolio recommendations but wonders about his lean away from growth stocks. Are value funds generally better for everyday investors?

Nancy is worried she’ll miscalculate her financial independence number because her net worth includes pre and post-tax money, plus liquid and illiquid investments. What’s the right approach? 

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

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

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#553: The Brutal Money Truth No One Wants to Hear, with Dr. Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila

This is the third and final episode in a three-part series. Dr. Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila join us to share 21 harsh truths about building wealth.

This episode focuses on the final 11 harsh truths, following up on their previous conversations about the first 10 harsh truths.

The conversation begins with a key distinction: poor people buy stuff, while rich people buy time. They explain how wealthy people focus on building passive income streams rather than trading hours for objects. Brambila shares how he learned this lesson personally, discussing his pickleball court purchase through investment income rather than active work hours.

The duo challenges common assumptions about luxury brands, arguing that people who constantly show off designer items are usually compensating for insecurity. Klontz shares his own experience of buying an expensive watch early in his career to prove his success.

They examine whether college, marriage, and homeownership are necessary for wealth building. While data shows these traditional paths often lead to higher net worth, they acknowledge these aren’t the only routes to financial success.

On the topic of retirement, both guests argue that completely stopping work can be psychologically harmful, sharing examples of successful people who stayed active well into their later years.

They break down specific money-saving strategies like getting roommates, using public transportation, and cutting your own hair. Brambila demonstrates how women can cut their own hair during the interview.

The discussion covers specific side hustle opportunities, with detailed explanation of how to make money doing Amazon product reviews. Brambila shares how his videos have generated significant income, including $2,000 in a single day during Black Friday.

They address money myths about credit cards, particularly the misconception about carrying balances to improve credit scores.

Real examples and personal stories illustrate their points. Klontz shares how his 11-year-old son is making $5,000 monthly doing Amazon reviews, while Brambila discusses living in a van while earning six figures to demonstrate that wealth isn’t about outward appearances.

The episode concludes by connecting financial security to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, explaining how building wealth enables higher-level personal growth and positive impact

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#549: Am I Wrong to Worry About Retirement, with $2 Million Saved?

Steven is stuck on the question of financial stability. How do you know if you have it? Is there an objective answer based on net worth? Or is it a calculation relative to your income and age?

Jack isn’t sure how to factor his house into his net worth. It’s an asset, but he has a mortgage against it, and there are transaction costs associated with selling it. How should he frame it?

Patricia and her husband are debt-free with a $2.2 million net worth, but she’s constantly stressed about their finances. Are her concerns valid? Or is she a financial hypochondriac?

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

Enjoy!

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#541: Your Dream Retirement Might Hinge on This One Choice, featuring Katie Gatti Tassin, host of Money with Katie

Ever wondered if you’re making the right choice between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)? You’re not alone.

In this episode, Katie Gatti Tassin, host of MorningBrew’s Money with Katie podcast, joins us to tackle this common retirement savings dilemma.

We deep-dive into the debate between using Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) accounts for retirement savings, in the context of:

Future tax rates
Tax complexities for small business owners and high earners
Social Security uncertainty
Stock-based compensation
Incentives for business owners vs. employees

Katie explains her strategy for maximizing retirement savings while minimizing taxes. She suggests that for some people in higher tax brackets, maxing out a traditional 401(k) and then investing the tax savings elsewhere might be the way to go.

But as we dig deeper, it becomes clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

We explore the Traditional vs Roth question, discussing how your current income and expected retirement spending can affect your choices.

It’s not just about the math, though. The unpredictability of future tax rates and policies adds another layer of complexity to the decision.

Social Security plays a major role, as well. We discuss its current funding situation and the challenges it might face in the future.

This leads to a fascinating discussion about how AI might impact future costs and lifestyles. Could things actually get cheaper in the future?

Taxes for high earners and small business owners is another focus. We break down some misconceptions about who falls into high tax brackets. It’s not always as simple as it seems.

Stock-based compensation is another hot topic. We discuss how it affects corporate decision-making and the wider economy. This leads to an interesting comparison of the incentives for business owners versus employees.

Throughout the episode, we keep coming back to one key point: no matter which type of account you choose, the most important thing is to contribute as much as you can.

Your contribution amount has a bigger impact on your retirement savings than the type of account you use.

By the end of this interview, you’ll have a better understanding of the factors that go into choosing between a Traditional and Roth 401(k). More importantly, you’ll see how this decision fits into the bigger picture of retirement planning and overall financial health.

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#529: Q&A: The Unintended Consequences of Early Retirement

Anonymous, 60, recently lost her job and is worried about retirement. She owns a paid-off triplex, living in one unit and renting the others for $30,000 a year. She used her 401(k) funds to buy the triplex and now has $50,000 in retirement savings and $150,000 in cash. She expects only $2,400 a month from Social Security at age 67. After losing her son two years ago, she’s seeking advice on managing her underfunded retirement.

Noelle, 40, and her husband, 49, want to cancel his whole life insurance policy. They are debt-free, own their home, and plan to retire soon, relying on Noelle’s $80,000 income. They have $504,000 in retirement savings. Should Noelle keep her $100,000 term life policy until she retires?

Sleepless in San Antonio, age 35, plans to retire at 45 but is concerned about how this will affect Social Security benefits, which is calculated based on the top 35 earning years. Should they work longer in order to boost their Social Security benefits?

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

Enjoy!

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#528: The Stock Market is in Panic Mode and the Unemployment Rate Jumped – But Everything’s Fine

The Federal Reserve recently decided to hold interest rates steady, leading to significant shifts in the stock market. The Dow dropped over 850 points, and the NASDAQ entered correction territory, falling more than 10% from its peak.

But what do these numbers mean for you? We break down the latest jobs report, which shows a rise in unemployment to 4.3%, triggering a recession indicator known as the Sahm Rule. This isn’t just economic jargon; it affects real lives, impacting job security, investments, and financial planning.

We discuss potential ripple effects on various sectors, such as real estate, where interest rates influence housing affordability.

We also examine the technology sector’s volatility and how recent market corrections might influence tech stocks and the overall investment landscape.

Understanding this can help you make informed decisions about your investment portfolio.

Every First Friday of the month, we bring you our “First Friday Monthly Economic Report,” where we help you make sense of these trends.

We aim to make complex economic concepts accessible. Join us as we explore these pressing economic issues.

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#527: Q&A: Can They Be Financially Independent in Five Years … By Breaking the Rules?

Christina is worried. She’s retired with a paid-off condo in Florida. But rising fees, insurance rates, and a major HOA assessment are killing her cash flow. Is it time to become a renter?

Les is surprised by Paula and Joe’s allocation recommendations for international equities. Based on market capitalization, it makes no sense. What’s he missing?

Luke and his wife are breaking some personal finance rules in the name of financial independence. Are they right to take this approach or is there a better way?

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

Enjoy!

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#524: Q&A: Don’t Waste Your Inheritance! Here’s How

An anonymous caller and his girlfriend are musicians who dream of building a home with a monetizable recording studio. How do they untangle personal wants from business needs?

Will feels stumped about the options in his defined benefit pension plan. When should he choose a guaranteed annuity over a lump sum payment?

Mark and his partner will soon inherit an IRA worth over a quarter million dollars. With today’s elevated interest rates, would throwing it all at a primary residence be the smartest play?

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

Enjoy!

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#522: Q&A: Help! I’m STUCK On A Financial Tracking Hamster Wheel

Emily Anne is worried about her obsessive tracking behavior. She’s in great financial shape but struggles to shake the constant compulsion to check her accounts. What should she do?

An anonymous caller and his partner plan to use geo-arbitrage to retire early before reaching their financial independence number. Can they have their cake and eat it too?

Kevin and his wife are having second thoughts about their Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) real estate investments. How do they back out without compromising their estate plan?

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

Enjoy!

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