“So to me, this is not a money management question.” That’s what I told Jamie, a 42-year-old PA with $686,000 saved, right after she described her plan: quit the job she loves and take her husband and kids on a family gap year while they’re still young enough to remember it. She wasn’t asking if…
“Joe, I want to first talk about the elephant in the room.” Before we get into any retirement math today, I need to talk about something personal: the disaster that just hit Nepal, my home country. My family is safe, but I’ve spent the last several days thinking, oddly enough, about why a country with…
“Joe, if you had to choose between retiring as soon as possible or paying off a mortgage, what would you go for?” I ask Joe that right at the top of this episode, and his answer ends up being more prophetic than either of us realized. Joe and I help Carol figure out whether paying…
“Joe, have you ever had a stock that’s grown way beyond what you expected?” I ask Joe that right at the top of this episode, half because I already know his answer and half because it’s exactly the situation today’s final caller is in — and her question turns out to be messier than “just…
Sarah O Sahara’s parents sold their rentals and business of 24 years. They’d like to create a trust for their grandkids with boundaries in place to avoid entitlement. How should they structure this trust?
Renee and her husband are in their 60s, and most of their retirement funds are in pre-tax accounts. They have federal tax credits they’d like to use to move these funds into taxable accounts. Is this a sound strategy?
Anonymous “Yvette” in Canada has a fully paid off condo that she wants to turn into a rental once her new townhome is ready. Should she mortgage against the condo to reduce the mortgage on her townhome? Are there any tax benefits to having a mortgage on a rental?
Luis’s wife wants to start moonlighting in her field. Can she open and contribute to a Solo 401k even though she has a TSP account with her 9-to-5 employer?
Russell and his partner want to emigrate to Canada in the near future. Should they move their investments into Canadian funds?
My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me once again to answer your questions. Enjoy!
(Have an investing, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, or decision-making question you’d like us to answer? Submit it here!)
Jeffrey is curious: if I were to interview Suze Orman today, would I agree more or less with her thoughts on the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement?
Matt wants to know: if a property cash flows really well, is it worth paying significantly more than the appraised value to purchase that income stream?
Sara and her husband are returning to the states after living abroad for a few years. They’re moving to an expensive area where homes cost $800,000+. They have $150,000 saved for a downpayment, but a $600,000 mortgage isn’t what they had in mind. What should they do?
Eva and her partner are squirreling away money before the birth of their baby. They’d like to pay off their $90,000 mortgage in three years, but they’re afraid to use the money in case of unexpected baby expenses. What’s their best move?
Justin and his wife want to take a gap year with their children in three years. They plan to visit Spain and London for six months each. What are unexpected expenses that they should factor into their budget?
I answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy!
Avie is looking for help in deciding between two good options: paying off a rental property, or funding a retirement account. Which option should she go with?
Sofia’s parents have been living with her for the past few years, but her job is taking her out-of-state. How should she transition her home to a rental property for her parents?
Lisa has a question about HSAs: when do you actually fund your HSA account?
Jim grew up frugally and has no qualms with this lifestyle, but his wife doesn’t share his views. He’s curious about how he can bring her to the frugal side, and how he can approach opening her eyes to starting a business so that she can stay at home with their kids.
Candice asks: what are your thoughts on online real estate investment crowdfunding platforms?
Kristen has a mortgage on her primary residence and a rental property. They’re both at similar interest rates. Which one should she focus on paying off first?
I answer these questions in today’s episode of the show. Let’s dive in!
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.
Alex makes $168,000 per year, combined between her full-time job and her side hustle. Her company pays for breakfast, lunch and dinner during the work week, plus a cell phone subsidy, health, dental and vision insurance, a gym membership, and commuting costs. She also househacks, so her living expenses are only $400 per month. What should she do with her ample savings?
Christine is 38 and earns $70,000 per year running her own business. She holds $70,000 in investment accounts, has another $16,000 in savings, bought a condo with 20 percent down, and has no debt. What can she do to fast-track her path to financial independence?
Amy is unsure whether she should pay off her mortgage, downsize to a smaller home, or invest.
Katherine is 23 and househacking into a duplex. How much should she set aside for cash reserves?
Miriam started a podcast and wants to know how to morph a passion into a lucrative income stream.
Nick wonders if the FIRE movement should plan an annual gathering … you know, like a FIRE Festival. (But not like the Fyre Festival.)
I tackle these six questions in today’s episode.
Lori is behind on retirement savings, as a result of being a full-time student for more than a decade. She makes good money and lives frugally, but she’s aware that she’s behind for her age. What should she do?
Sierra wonders whether she should apply her savings towards paying off her mortgage or building investments.
Jenessa plans to retire at age 35, and she’s wondering if the 4 percent withdrawal rule applies for such a long time horizon. Her friend swears that it’s designed to cover a 30-year retirement, not a 60+ year retirement. Is that correct?
Jacqui is 24 and recently married. She’d like to open a 529 College Savings Plan for her future children, which she doesn’t plan on having for another 8 to 10 years. Should she do this?