Fast and Finance

I know that I've mentioned emergency funds in plenty of my episodes, but I have yet to dedicate a whole episode to it – and I think that's appropriate. To simply put it, an emergency fund is just a cash reserve, or safety net, if you will, that is set aside for any unplanned expenses or in some cases, emergencies.

I want the purpose of this episode to ignite that spark in your mind, especially the younger generations who feel as if they don't need to be saving/investing for retirement. The idea is typically, “Well, I'm decades away from retirement so I don't really have to think about that now.” The earlier the better. And the earlier you start, the easier it is going to be to hit that goal. Regardless of your age, you should ask yourself: How do I envision retirement, and how important is that to me? 

If you're tuning into this episode because you feel guilty about not budgeting, confused about budgeting, lost, etc... I want you to know you are certainly NOT alone, infact there are thousands and thousands of individuals who are in the same boat as you. Budgeting can be a sensitive topic. In my personal opinion, budgets are kind of like tailored clothes. They should be sculpted precisely to fit you, and only you

I have had some past episodes on credit cards, you guys may remember the episode where I referred to them as tools... Right? Tools for building your CREDIBILITY! It's not meant to be a safety net to purchase things you wouldn't normally be able to afford... 

I think we all heard A LOT about interest rates over the past couple years – and even when they're such a huge part of our life, there are still many people who don't understand how they work, and how they can be holding them down. Interest rates do make sense for what they are – You need to borrow some money? Of course you can't borrow that money for free. You're going to get charged a percentage of the amount you borrowed, until the amount you borrowed is paid off. 

I'm sure you guys have heard the discussion of good vs. Bad debt before... And in my experience, a lot of people are under the impression that any debt, is bad debt. That's not necessarily true – and having a solid understanding of this will draw that line between good/bad debt within your financial decisions. Good debt can really help you achieve goals. What are some examples of good debt?  

The reason I wanted to dedicate an episode to debt-to-income, is because I'm personally around the age where a lot of my peers, including myself, are starting to make larger purchases, aka LOANS – And I'm mainly referring to buying your first home, but even purchasing a new car these days, DTI matters. To put it simply, debt to income is all your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income.

The dollar's continued climb higher has been predicated on a host of factors — including the rise in geopolitical risk and the dollar's safe haven status as inflows have picked up markedly, uncertainty with regard to the Federal Reserve's (Fed) interest rate move in December, a solid domestic economic landscape with inflation still “sticky,” a weakening euro as expectations suggest the potential for a stronger rate cut, and questions regarding the inflationary implications of the Trump administration's tariff agenda.

One of the most reoccurring trends that I see is how they view investing... and that rather viewing it as an investment, many of them feel that they're just spending money that could be spent elsewhere. And understandably so, as the cost of living has risen so high – but remember, I've had episodes in the past demonstrate that it's about consistency over time, even if those investments are on the smaller side.

I wanted to dedicate an episode to a common scenario that most likely hits home for most U.S citizens. With numerous lines of debt piling up, from credit cards to loans.. How does one get out of the hole that they've dug for themselves over the years? When will someone invest for retirement if all they can afford is to pay off their debt? Well, there's a certain process to it – or else individuals may find themselves just opening another line of credit when times get hard.

 We have a very special guest. Not only a friend of mine, but a friend to many, especially in our local area. Kelly Wernersbach with Adjust Your Sleep Mattress Boutique. I met Kelly at a Marlton Business Association lunch – a local business group. Before I even met Kelly, I would hear about the amazing things she was doing like partnerships with local nonprofits, networking events with a purpose/cause... I could tell, Kelly ran her business with her heart. And she truly is a wonderful human being – Welcome to Fast & Finance, Kelly!

I wanted to dedicate this episode to financial plans – and not just financial plans for the ordinary scenario – but financial plans for young adults. We normally only hear of people getting one together as they approach retirement, but what if I said it's never too early to start planning? Well, let's start here. What is an actual financial plan?  .....

I wanted to dedicate an episode to the idea of building a team of professionals to be on your side for a wide range of financial related topics. Whether that's finding the right financial advisor for you, accountant, attorney, or life insurance agent. Like in any profession, there are going to be individuals who genuinely care about your situation rather than make a quick dollar from you. It can be overwhelming, meeting with several professionals in the same industry and trying to pick the best one for you.

If you saw the title of this episode, chances are you're getting started with investing or maybe you're just considering it... but congratulations, because that's the first step! I always tell people that the hardest part is normally just getting started and learning how to be comfortable with having money invested in the market. Fear not, if you have a plan in mind and means of holding yourself accountable, you'll be alright.

I know in the past I have done episodes on employer sponsored accounts, and when I say that, think of 401(k)s. But what about the individuals who own their own business or possibly work for a smaller company, a startup, etc.. Some of those individuals don't have access to a 401(k), and they're unaware of the other options out there for them and their business. Hopefully after this episode – whether you're a small business owner or an employee at one, you'll know what option makes the most sense for your situation. 

I wanted to dedicate this episode to something that normally goes unnoticed, or unattended to over time. In past episodes, I've discussed the importance of having an emergency fund of cash, enough to last for 4-6 months of expenses. You see most people just leave that cash either in their checking account, or a savings account not getting the best interest. 

I wanted to dedicate an episode to a common belief that most individuals have about investing... And mostly younger individuals, but this can apply across the board. I think there's a general assumption about investing, that to do so, one must be wealthy or just have tons of excess cash to invest. And that's the stigma I want to break. It's not about how much you can invest. It's about what you invest in, how consistent you are, and how long you stay buckled up for. 

Some of you guys may be tired of hearing me talk about budgeting... But you might have to get used to it... because it's not going anywhere!  People create budgets/have a budget in the back of their mind, but if you're not checking in with that budget/doing your own sort of bookkeeping, that budget goes right out of the window.

Brought to you by LPL Research: Last week was a pivotal one for markets, with the S&P 500 coming off a 3% weekly decline the week before. In terms of economic data, we got our first look at first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) as well as the March reading of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) favorite inflation measure — the core PCE deflator. If that wasn't enough to digest, over 150 S&P 500 companies reported quarterly earnings last week, including the first batch of big tech names. 

I want to take this episode to talk about one of my favorite concepts when it comes to investing – and I'm sure you've heard me say it before – and I'll say it again, we cannot time the market. A french mathematician named Louise Bachelier first coined the random walk theory term – and he pretty much said that share price movement, or prices in the market, were like steps taken by a drunk.... unpredictable.

A lot of kids don't grasp the importance of money, and that makes sense. To them, it's just paper, right? At least in my early education as a child, there was certainly not any financial literacy courses. I think some of our school systems are changing for the better now, and there are more financial literacy tools available now than ever; but as individuals we can still do our job and try to teach the younger generations the fundamentals of money.

I wanted to make this episode just to outline the general thought process of an early withdrawal on a retirement account, whether that be a 401(k), IRA, etc. I think we all know that life can throw surprises our way, and sometimes we must use the resources that are there. But let's talk through this scenario before making any decisions...

Brought to you by LPL Research through the Weekly Market Commentary. (Jeffrey Roach, Chief Economist and Jeffrey Buchbinder, Chief Equity Strategist.)When we wrote the annual outlook last November, the data was mixed. Some metrics hinted at emerging cracks in the economy while others suggested the growth trajectory in capital markets and the economy had legs. So, the variety of the data produced the narrative that business activity in the New Year would grow on an annual basis but experience some bumps in the first half of the year. Now, enter the revisions.

If any of our listeners find themselves feeling “lost” in their finances, I think this episode should help. We all know that life can get really overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to finances. Job transitions, bank changes, ex-financial advisors, uncashed checks, unclaimed property... These things over time can certainly cause that “brain fog” we all know about. The first step in consolidating your financial situation is just becoming aware of what's out there.

For regular listeners of Fast & Finance, you know that I talk about budgeting A LOT... some may even be sick of hearing about it by now, but it's necessary! SO many people struggle with impulsive purchases today, and with how easy online shopping & checking out has gotten, there's no wonder. However, there ARE some ways to help stop yourself from impulsively checking out your cart.

You spend decades of your life investing and accumulating your hard-earned money. Wouldn't you want to ensure that your nest egg is built well enough to withstand certain inevitable risks within the market? Market risk, or systematic risk, is inherent to the entire market. Textbook definition is something like, a change or decrease in the value of investments due to uncontrollable market factors. 

I've mentioned in previous episodes, financial advisors can be of great benefit to ANYONE – not just the high to ultra-high net worth individuals. There are plenty of transparent, honorable financial advisors out there without high account minimums. Now that we have that established and clear – For those who have financial advisors now or any sort of financial professional assisting you with your situation... How well do you feel that you know them? Do they know you?

Brought to you by LPL Research - To say 2023 was challenging may be an understatement. While stocks had a surprisingly impressive year, there was no shortage of obstacles for investors to overcome, including historic interest rate volatility, recession risk, banking sector turmoil, and a game of monetary policy chicken played between the markets and the Federal Reserve (Fed). 

The famous question that thousands of financial advisors probably receive a year, is “Tell me why I should hire a Financial Advisor rather than watching a few YouTube videos, doing it myself and calling it a day?..” And my answer to this question might shock you... 

I wanted to take this episode to talk about something that goes unnoticed pretty often. There are so many people out there that just have poor relationships with their money. Not just spending problems, okay... but actual, poor relationships with their money. They don't know how much they have, how much they're spending, they don't think twice about any purchases, no goals they're working towards... And if you're one of those people, don't feel alone... it's okay. But let's see what we can do to change that.

I wanted to dedicate an episode to individuals wondering when “the best” time to invest is. Some people may be worried that it's too late due to age, or possibly the markets have been up for quite some time, and they're worried they “missed the run.” Well, you guys have heard me say before... you can't time the market. One of my favorite sayings related to wealth management goes, “It's about time IN the market, not timing the market.”  

As host of Fast & Finance, I'm super excited to announce a new series of guest episodes with a focus on local small businesses and their owners. I think we all know over the past few years; such a large number of small businesses took a hit from the pandemic. I mean, people who had just opened their doors, or opened during the pandemic – how did they stay afloat? It comes down to the hard-working, brave owners and employees that impact our lives in so many ways. I want to hear their stories, how they operate as a business, and overall, what goes on behind the scenes of these businesses. I hope that our listeners not only enjoy but learn about what it takes to operate a successful small business and the stories behind their owners.  

This week's episode is brought to you by LPL Research's Weekly Market Commentary:  After a difficult September for stocks, investors are surely ready to flip the calendar to October. That's the month that kicks off the historically strong fourth quarter. Expecting this pattern to repeat this year is tricky given the recent overhang of a government shutdown, interest rates near 16-year highs, a market still trying to digest the Federal Reserve's “higher for longer” message, and a consumer who is facing some stiff headwinds as excess savings are drawn down, student loan payments restart, and the effects of higher borrowing costs are increasingly felt 

I think we all know over the past few years; such a large number of small businesses took a hit from the pandemic. I mean, people who had just opened their doors, or opened during the pandemic – how did they stay afloat? It comes down to the hard-working, brave owners and employees that impact our lives in so many ways. I want to hear their stories, how they operate as a business, and overall, what goes on behind the scenes of these businesses. I hope that our listeners not only enjoy but learn about what it takes to operate a successful small business and the stories behind their owners. Let's give a warm welcome to our first guest on this series - Gabriel Stella, owner/operator of Tabboulee Gyros & Falafels!

There's a certain stigma around credit cards... Specifically, because of debt, right? Some people may struggle with credit cards and get intimidated by them due to accumulated debt over the years and high interest rates. But I wanted to talk about using credit as a tool this episode.. I'll go over the basics regarding what makes up your score, ways to boost/maintain that score, and how you can use that credit score that you worked so hard for to your advantage. 

If you tuned into the last episode here on Fast & Finance, you heard me talk about the concerns people have when their investments are down. And the theme of this episode also applies to having those down years – try not to strive for perfection, but progress. You're hearing this from a perfectionist.... So, I understand how difficult that can be, but we must focus on the smaller steppingstones, and track our progress. Look at where you started, how much you've done since then, and where it has gotten you now. Again, success in your financial life is not about perfection guys. It's progress. 

We're going to discuss a sensitive, yet timely topic today... Considering where the markets are at right now and what we experienced in 2022, a lot of people are facing worries regarding their portfolios being down in value. And of course, why would anybody be happy about that? Rather than panicking and possibly making some emotion-controlled, irrational decisions – it's important to look at your overall situation and see IF there can be any appropriate changes to your situation. 

So the past few episodes have had a theme if you haven't noticed... Budgeting, paying yourself first, and now.. Living within your means. I talk about these things often throughout different episodes, but I figured they all needed their own spotlight since the value that they hold in our financial lives. Now that you know how to structure a budget, and pay yourself first... Are you living within your means? 

I figured after the last episode on breaking down the 50/30/20, I wanted to take some time to speak about the concept of paying yourself first – also known as reverse budgeting. If you are still brand new to budgeting and haven't tried something like the 50/30/20 structure yet, I suggest you check out our previous episode before this one. The whole purpose of ‘paying yourself first' is to build your budget around your saving goals, like retirement, instead of locking in on your fixed and variable expenses.

I've had a prior episode where we touched on the 50/30/20, but I want to reiterate it and go a tad more in depth. One thing that I tend to talk about a lot throughout these episodes is budgeting – and the conversation can really go on and on about it, because everyone's scenario is different. For some people, their monthly income and expenses are very predictable, whereas others may need a more flexible budget to work with. 

I've had prior episodes breaking down the ins and outs of 401(k)s, as well as IRAs.. But some people may be in the position deciding which retirement account is the best for them? Or should they have both? Everyone's situation is going to be different but let me walk you guys through a few.

A lot of people may be conflicted when it comes to choosing an IRA type... Depending on one's situation, one may be "better" than the other... Tune in to find out!

With financial responsibility, comes a level of transparency with yourself that you have to maintain. Are you happy with where you are right now? If you are, that's fantastic, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop there...

I think we can all relate to stressful setbacks that at first, may seem nearly impossible to overcome. It's usually just our emotions that place that obstacle of getting over the setback, so the first step is getting those emotions under control. Accidents happen, emergencies happen, and unfortunately that's just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. Just as any other setback in life, we can break the situation down, try to learn from it, and move forward with new knowledge and a plan, right? 

If you guys are normal listeners to Fast & Finance, I'm sure you have heard me say the term “set it & forget it,” or “think long-term,” but I figured I would take this episode to dive into it a little bit more. Most people in the U.S are retiring between 65-70 years old... Now, for a lot of young people that just seems so far away, that there is no sense of urgency to begin saving for retirement. I think as a society we have to do a better job at teaching younger generations that it takes decades of properly saving in order to retire at a decent age.

A lot of people think that you need a HIGH net-worth to hire a financial advisor, and I'll be the first one to tell you that is certainly not the case. There are so many situations out there in the real world that could call for a financial professional to assist you.  I wanted to go over some of the most common scenarios in which people would benefit from hiring one.. 

I know we have talked about the basics of budgeting in prior episodes, but I want to dive in more to the actual structure of your budget, finding the balance that works best for you, and making any necessary changes as you move along. Before I get into the actual budgeting part, I want to talk about some mindsets that you should try to maintain while trying to find your balance. 

Before we dive into anything here, I just want to make a couple things clear. Don't make the assumption that just because you have debt, that you're bad with your finances. Of course, within moderation and a schedule to pay that debt back, comes responsibility. Let's try to break down a couple of methods that could help you pay off your debt faster – and also how to remain debt-free once you get to that point. 

In this LPL Market Commentary, we take a look at some of the biggest changes in the market environment so far in 2023 and what those changes could mean for investors over the balance of the year.Jeffrey Buchbinder, CFA, Chief Equity Strategist, LPL FinancialQuincy Krosby, PhD, Chief Global Strategist, LPL Financial

I think we all know that college isn't cheap these days. If you're part of the younger generations, I'm sure many of you listening right now have had a conversation with your parents about their cost of tuition being a fraction of what it is today. If only there was a way to get ahead of the game for these outrageous tuition prices…. Or maybe, there is.

Among the many milestones in our lives – buying your first home and retiring from your career, require a lot of planning, saving… and sometimes stress. But with considerate and careful planning, it doesn't have to be that complicated. I want to talk through these two scenarios to help individuals decide for themselves – which one comes first?