Tag: investing in the market

June 7, 2019By Paula Pant

#197: Ask Paula – Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA — What Should I Choose?

Should Bret invest in a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA?

If Amanda gets married, how will her child support be affected? What about her student loan forgiveness?

Joe is investing in bonds, which average a rate of return that’s equal to the interest rate on his mortgage. Should he switch to all-equities and redirect his bond investments into mortgage payoff, instead?

Taunia has a car loan, a 401k loan, a home improvement loan, a primary mortgage, and a second mortgage. She also has an emergency fund that only covers two months of expenses, and she’s trying to save for college for her two children. What should she prioritize?

Mickey has a six-month emergency fund. Should he leave it in a savings account or invest in bond ladders?

David made $10,000 from a side hustle last year. Can he open a Solo 401k or SEP-IRA for his side hustle business? If so, which one should he choose?

Should Andy invest in a Target Retirement Date fund, or should he split his money between a U.S. index fund and an international index fund?

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

Keep reading...

January 14, 2019By Paula Pant

#172: Ask Paula – Should I Buy a Nice Car or Save My Money?

Should a 25-year-old homeowner with healthy savings and no debt (other than his mortgage) upgrade his car? Should he make this choice if his current car is fine, and upgrading puts him into new debt?

Should a couple without access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan put their savings into a taxable account, or should they save for a downpayment on a rental property?

The market is fluctuating like mad; if someone has a lump-sum of cash, should they invest it now or should they slowly meter it in?

Should someone without an emergency fund enroll in an HSA-qualified health insurance plan? Or should they stick with a plan that has a smaller deductible?

How should a husband-and-wife team that’s self-employed and running a company together handle their health insurance?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer these five questions on today’s podcast. Enjoy!

Keep reading...

December 7, 2018By Paula Pant

#165: Ask Paula – Should I Invest in Index Funds or Rental Properties?

Should Kim, an entrepreneur, invest in index funds or rental properties?

Should Nick, an MBA student, househack into a more-expensive home with stronger cash flow, or a cheaper home with more budgetary wiggle room?

Should Kelly, who is getting married soon, sell her current home and use the proceeds to buy multiple rentals? Or should she use her current home as a rental property?

Should Trayci and her sister invest in rental properties or bare land?

I answer these four questions in today’s episode.

We’re a weekly show, but on the first Friday of the month, we air a bonus episode. This is our December 2018 First Friday Bonus Episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

November 26, 2018By Paula Pant

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

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.

Keep reading...

April 9, 2018By Paula Pant

#124: Ask Paula and Joe – Should I Sell My Brand-New Car (and Lose $6,000 in 4 Months)?

This week, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer five questions about investing, retirement, insurance, travel and selling an expensive car.

Eliana is 25 and makes $63,000 per year, plus a little extra from freelance work. She holds $95,000 in cash, $67,000 in retirement investments, and no debt. She doesn’t necessarily hold early retirement […]

Keep reading...

December 18, 2017By Paula Pant

#108: Ask Paula – I Don’t Know How to Invest

Former financial advisor Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer audience questions about investing strategies, early retirement, and tax planning.

Whitnee asks:

I’m 31, and my husband and I save half of our combined income. We’ve maxed out our H.S.A. accounts and we’re getting an employer match in our 401k. We have $80,000 stashed as cash […]

Keep reading...

July 3, 2017By Paula Pant

#84: Ask Paula – No, Really, I’m Asking for a Friend! — How to Crush $500,000 in Debt

This week, I tackle your questions with my good friend, recovering financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy. Here’s what we answer:

1. I’m asking for a friend — no, really, I’m asking for a friend!

My friends are married and buried. They’re a married couple, buried in $500,000 of debt.

Some is federal student loans, some is […]

Keep reading...

April 24, 2017By Paula Pant

#74: Ask Paula – How to Repay $50k in Student Loans on a $31k Income, What’s the Deal with Bonds, and Do I Really Need Insurance?

This week, my friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me for another round of Q&A in our (newly!) biweekly segment called Ask Paula!

Kicking off today’s episode, Nicky asks:

I’m young and healthy. My car is old and not-worth-much. And my personal property isn’t exactly fancy-pants.

Do I *really* need health, auto and […]

Keep reading...

January 2, 2017By Paula Pant

#58: Ask Paula – Death, Taxes, Crushing Debt and Moving in with Mom

Happy 2017!

It’s the first Monday of the month (and the year!), and I’m kicking off 2017 with answers to your questions.

Our first question comes from Ashley. She’s a single mom setting aside $150-$200 per month in a savings account for her two-year-old son.

She realizes this money could grow faster elsewhere … […]

Keep reading...