Afford Anything

Tag: financial independence

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#489: Ask Paula: What to Do with a Six-Figure Windfall?

Cara made $100,000 in commissions this year, her biggest bonus ever. What should she do with the money if she wants to retire early?

An anonymous caller and his partner have lived in an RV for years. They’re ready to settle. Should they sell most of his investments to purchase raw land and build an off-grid home?

Remy and her husband need to come up with $30,000 for IVF treatments. How do they build their family without breaking the family finances in the process?

Another anonymous caller is upset that the 401k plan he sold his boss on is charging him an Assets Under Management (AUM) fee. Should he keep the 401k at all?

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

Enjoy!

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#482: Ask Paula: Should We Drain Our Brokerage to Make a HUGE Down Payment?

A caller named “M” wonders if liquidating stocks for a larger down payment makes sense in a high-interest rate environment.

An anonymous caller wants to take a pay cut to pursue his passions. But 75 percent of his net worth is in real estate. Is this too risky?

Tiffanie hasn’t saved enough for early retirement, but she has a plan to use home equity to accelerate her goals. Is this going to work?

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

Enjoy!

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#478: Buy the Damn Guac, with Jamila Souffrant

Ever skipped that extra drink, pricey cheese, or a night out for the sake of your wallet?

If this feels familiar, then you’ll appreciate today’s episode with Jamila Souffrant.

Jamila is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, podcast host, and author, guiding us on making savvy choices to save while still having fun.

Jamila explores the power of understanding our “why not,” staying motivated on our financial paths, shaping a success-bound mindset, and posing THREE crucial self-assessment questions for goal alignment

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#468: How MICE Impacts Your Money, with Bryan Kuderna

Money management is all about setting priorities.

Maybe you have the twin goals of sending your kids to college while also saving enough for retirement.

And maybe you’re struggling to figure out how to balance the two.

Today, Bryan Kuderna, a certified financial planner, shares a framework for helping us set priorities.

We talk about the importance of economic literacy, in addition to financial literacy. We discuss how retirement has changed throughout history. And we apply those broader lessons to how you think about retirement.

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#463: Ask Paula: Student Loan Deferment HACK – How Christina Saved $60,000 in Interest

Christina recently slayed her debt and put herself on track for financial success. But now she’s bored. How can auto-investing be more exciting?

Speaking of debt, Christina shares a creative HACK to SAVE $60,000 in student loan interest payments. 

Mary is struggling to compare two job offers: one from a large corporation and another from a tiny business. How should she decide?

An anonymous caller wants to buy a different home, and convert his current home into a rental. How should he finance this move?

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

Enjoy!

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#457: Ask Paula: I Sold All My Stocks Last Year. Now I’m Kicking Myself.

Angie sold all the stocks in her retirement account last year. And now the market’s climbing. What should she do with her $500,000 cash position?

Christina will be graduating with six figures of student debt. Should she refinance out of a federally protected loan to lower her interest rate?

An anonymous caller wonders how Paula and Joe handled their primary residences when they moved out of state.

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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#449: Ask Paula: Should You Buy Real Estate in Today’s Economy?

Jackie is a 42-year-old paralegal with two rental properties. She wants to buy three more. She asks for Paula’s thoughts about today’s economy. Should she buy under these economic conditions?

Jen’s husband will retire with a pension that pays twice their living expenses. Does she still need her own retirement account?

Rachael just bought a duplex, which she wants to househack. But she’s having second thoughts. Did she bite off more than she can chew?

“Minouche” is a return caller with new information: she believes that borrowing from Dad is her only path to home ownership. Does this change Paula and Joe’s advice to her? (And is it even true?) And Molly, a concerned mom, shares some thoughts about this situation.

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

Enjoy!

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#448: Ask Paula: We Make $300k. Why Are We NOT Financially Independent?

An anonymous caller is dealing with guilt over spending a large cash gift. What’s the best use if she doesn’t have an obvious financial goal to throw at it?

Eric reached financial independence a few years ago but he hesitates to quit his job. What the heck is a Roth conversion ladder and how can he overcome his psychological barriers?

Another anonymous caller and his wife earn $300,000. He feels like they should be financially independent but they’re far from it. What’s going on?

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

Enjoy!

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#446: Ask Paula: How to Build a New Career After Adversity

Paul suffered a stroke at 48. He’s on disability and feeling lost. How does he figure out what’s next?

Should Ashley’s aging parents spend a third of their retirement savings on a house?

Margaret is wondering if she could use her 401k for a down payment and save on her taxes.

An anonymous caller is concerned she won’t have enough access to cash if she retires at 50. Is an Indexed Universal Life policy the right solution?

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

Enjoy!

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#440: Ask Paula: Am I Saving Enough For Retirement?

“Barbara,” an anonymous caller from Episode 422, is struggling with a scarcity mindset. How does she stop worrying about the future and build the confidence to enjoy life now?

Samantha and her partner have lived out of their truck for 20 years. They sorta-kinda feel ready to buy a house and settle down. But they’re hesitating. What if they hate it?

An anonymous caller wants to retire and travel in 20 to 30 years. How does she know if she’s saving enough?

Trace plans to take a mini-retirement next year. Where should she keep her savings until then?

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

Enjoy!

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