Talk Credit Radio with Gerri Detweiler

Many small businesses fail because they don’t understand the critical financial details of their business, says Mitchell D. Weiss. His goal is to help entrepreneurs avoid the traps he’s seen entrepreneurs run into in his many years as a financial services executive. He explains how in his new book, Business Happens: A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurial Finance for Small Businesses and Professional Practices. In this interview he shares why he wrote the book, and then provides his advice on what small business owners can do if things don’t go according to plan and their venture runs into financial problems. But ultimately he wants business owners to learn to protect themselves before they experience financial difficulties. This interview aired live October 21, 2013.

Most of us know we can get a free copy of our personal credit reports, but business credit reports are still a mystery. In this podcast, I discuss how these reports work. Who are the major corporate credit reporting agencies? How can you get copies? How are they different from personal credit reports? And what kind of information do they contain? You’ll get a solid overview of these reporting agencies in this podcast. This episode aired live October 21, 2013.

As states start allowing the legal sale of marijuana, some investors and entrepreneurs are going to get very rich. And others are just going to see their savings go up in smoke. If you plan to cash in on the “Green Rush,” you’d better make sure know how to steer clear of the scammers and swindlers. In this interview, The Consumer Man Herb Weisbaum warns about the potential risks of these investments, including why they are so volatile and not very liquid. He also warns about the #1 risk investors are overlooking. This episode aired live October 28, 2013.

My guest Amanda Grossman got $2800 in free products at CVS over four years. That's about $700 in free stuff every year! In this interview she teaches you how to play the CVS Drugstore Game so you can save big bucks too. We discuss how to roll your ExtraCare Bucks (ECBs) and how to use multiple coupons/ExtraCare Bucks on a single purchase and more. As Amanda says, “This is not your grandmother’s couponing. It is focused couponing.” Once you learn how to play the game it can take just a few minutes a week. I saved $22 on a purchase before I even finished her book, and learned how I could save even more. Needless to say, I am a fan! Amanda Grossman is founder of the blog FrugalConfessions.com and author of the ebook, The CVS Drugstore Game. This episode aired live November 25, 2013.

Bob is just an average guy. He got lucky and landed in a job as a travel journalist, traveling the world and staying in very nice properties. But in his world travels, he saw poverty all around him and felt the urge to do something. He's not become a philanthropist, gathering a group of investors who are lending (not giving) millions of dollars to people around the world who are trying to improve their lives. And he's doing it with as little as $25 a pop. Of all the exciting things he's done, he says this is the best. Want to be inspired? Find out how you can help. This interview with Bob Harris, author of the book The International Bank of Bob (great read) aired live July 8, 2013.

Retailers and lenders use a variety of tactics to encourage spending during the holiday season. In the first part of this interview with Cambridge Credit President Christopher Viale we discuss the tricks and traps of holiday shopping. Then in the second half of the interview we discuss strategies for getting out of debt after the holidays - or any time of the year. Cambridge Credit Counseling has helped more than one million people get out of debt, and Viale shares his insights from all the work his agency has done to help consumers. This episode aired live November 18, 2013.

Retirement has changed. Baby Boomers are looking for more, but what really makes for a satisfying retirement? In this interview I talk with Dan Kadlec, co-author of A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement, and Success (co-authored with Ken Dychtwald). We talk about what the research shows about a meaningful life, how boomer's definition of retirement is changing and the surprising relationship that could make a huge difference in life satisfaction. This interview aired live November 4, 2013.

Your Medicare Supplement policy is likely a waste of money, and joining me to explain why is Dr. David Belk, a practicing physician, patient advocate and founder of TrueCostofHealthCare.org. If you are paying for one of these policies find out why it is unlikely your benefits will be larger than the premium you pay - even if you end up in the hospital. Do you want to make another insurance company richer? If not, listen to this interview that aired Sept 30, 2013.

Really want to save money? All You set out to find the best shoppers in America - at least when it comes to saving money - and received over 200,000 submissions. Their winners saved a lot of money and share how you can save big bucks yourself. In this interview with All You magazine senior editor Amanda Kelly, she shares some of the strategies used by their contest winners. One is saving thousands of people in her town $80 a month and another took an $8000 world trip for $800! Learn the secrets of these super shoppers. This episode aired live Sept 9, 2013 but the strategies are still very relevant today.

Soldier of Finance is one of my favorite books of 2013 and here I talk with the author, Jeff Rose, who shares some of his advice and experiences that helped him transform his financial life. He explains how one $75 parking ticket almost derailed his life, and how he turned things around. He also shares the concept of a Battle Buddy and what it can do for your financial future. This episode aired live Sept. 9, 2013.

How will Obamacare affect your taxes - and your pocketbook? In this interview with Lisa Greene-Lewis, lead CPA for TurboTax.com, we discuss, tax implications of the Affordable Care Act "Obamacare'), what kind of documentation will be required when you file your taxes, what the penalty will be if you don't get health insurance, how to avoid scams, what happens if you already have health insurance, and how the tax credit for certain income groups works. This episode aired live Sept. 23, 2013.

Grayson Bell started an e-commerce business in college. While it would be considered successful by many standards - revenue exceeded $1 million - he shut it down. When he did, he found himself $50,000 in debt on seven credit cards. But instead of filing for bankruptcy, he paid it all off. In this interview he shares what happened and how he paid back this debt, including his unique method of tackling his debt, and the one thing he believes is key to getting out of deep debt. His story is both enlightening and inspiring. This interview with Grayson Bell aired live November 11, 2013.

She’s a credit card expert and well-known financial journalist now, but years ago, Beverly Harzog was in credit card trouble. She had maxxed out seven credit cards, was missing minimum payments and bouncing checks, and had even stopped opening her mail. But she dug out of debt and shares her story as well as her advice in her new book, Confessions of a Credit Junkie: Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Mistakes I Made. In this interview, she shares how she got into debt, as well as the strategies she used to pay off about $20,000 in credit card debt in approximately two years. She also shares answers to some of the most common questions she hears, including how to find the top reward cards and how to rebuild credit. She also explains how she now profits from her credit cards. She has truly transformed her experiences into a way to help consumers. Get inspired and informed in this conversation with Beverly! This episode aired live November 25, 2013.

She's on a mission to help girls and women make sure they don't sell themselves short. Sara Grillo, CFA, is an Italian-American entrepreneur, investment manager, award-winning financial author, and professor of finance. She is the original Queen Bitchionnaire and the founder of the Bitchionnaire Nation. She has a background in financial services, a BA from Harvard College and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business. As a CFA® charterholder, Sara is required to follow a rigorous set of ethical standards which guides her to put the interests of her clients before her own and those of her firm. She is an adjunct professor of finance and economics. Sara actively mentors others, especially younger women, through the Professor Sara Grillo Alumni Group on LinkedIn, which has more than 100 members. This episode aired live October 14, 2013.

College is hard enough, but what about when you are an adult trying to juggle a job or family while you try to get your degree? Joining me to explain the challenges of adult learners is Dr. Ebersole, an expert on the higher education system and competency based learning and assessment by credit examination. He is author of the book, Courageous Learning: Finding a New Path through Higher Education, Dr. Ebersole has been in the industry for more than 25 years and understands the evolving education system and needs of those seeking a degree. This interview aired live October 14, 2013.

If you reach retirement age with funds in a 401(k) account you’ll have to make decisions about what to do with that money. In this interview with Stretcher.com founder Gary Foreman, we discuss the five options available at retirement. We discuss how to avoid expensive penalties and common mistakes. In the second part of the interview we talk about reverse mortgages and when they may – or may not – be useful for supplementing retirement income. This interview aired live October 7, 2013.

As Americans, we aren't doing a great job saving money. 40% of Americans haven't saved anything and only 55% have more in savings than in credit card debt. How can we improve those numbers? My guest Ben Taran with SavedPlus.com shares simple solutions for increasing your savings. Imagine what would happen if you saved 5% of your spending each month. This interview aired live October 28, 2013.

Brian O'Connor had a mission: to see if he could cut $1000 a month from his family's spending without sacrificing the essentials. But it wasn't enough to just save: he gave himself 10 weeks to accomplish his goal, and documented his attempts in his very popular column in the Detroit News. He turned his experiences into one of the funniest personal finance books I've read. Hear what he did and how he did it in this interview that aired live October 28, 2013.

My guest Brian Kelly caught the rewards points bug when he was only 13 years old and help a family trip to the Grand Cayman Islands using mostly reward points. Since then, he’s become an expert who shares his advice for backing up rewards, and he does that here in this in-depth interview.

A young woman in high school was told she couldn’t donate blood because she had AIDS. But she didn’t. It turns out she was the victim of a fast-growing crime: medical identity theft. In this interview with The Consumer Man Herb Weisbaum, you’ll learn about this dangerous crime and what you can do to protect yourself.

We celebrate Labor Day in different ways, but how much do you really know about this holiday? In this interview with David Zonderman, professor of History at North Carolina State, you'll learn about how this holiday came to be. And you'll learn what the labor movement means to American workers and their financial futures. Zonderman is an expert in American labor history, author of two books and numerous articles and reviews and an award winner for his classroom teaching and outreach work across the state of North Carolina.

Whether it’s starting a business, planning for retirement or even helping to raise money for a cause you care about, it’s going to be crucial to have good partners. And my guests in this interview know about that firsthand. They’ve used their powerful partnership to create one of the coolest LEED-certified banks in Florida and they are going to share with you strategies for partnerships that can help you succeed. Shaun Merriman is president and CEO of Gateway Bank, a community bank here in Sarasota and Bradenton. A 27-year banking veteran, Shaun began organizing Gateway Bank in November, 2006, during the most adverse banking climate seen in Southwest Florida in decades. Gateway Bank reached sustained profitability in just 31 months of operation which is virtually unheard of in the banking industry. But even more importantly, its serving our community as a truly local bank. I am truly honored to have Gateway Bank as a sponsor of Talk Credit Radio. David Sessions is Owner and President of Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc., a Sarasota-based construction management firm. He has more than 29 years of multi-disciplined experience in educational, healthcare, religious, green sustainable, industrial and commercial construction. And under his leadership, Willis Smith Construction received several awards.

Are you getting close to retirement? If so, then you'll want to listen in as Tom Roberts, CFP and founder of A New Approach Financial Planning shares tips for preparing for retirement. We discuss strategies like trying a practice budget, transitioning from work to something else - and whether to pay off your mortgage. This episode aired live November 11, 2013.

Did you know that Florida is one of the top three states in the country for human trafficking? It's a modern form of slavery that encompasses a wide variety of situations and victims. In this interview with Lisa Murray, managing attorney for Gulf Coast Legal's Bradenton office, we talk about this horrific crime and what Gulf Coast Legal is doing to help. Learn about the red flags, vulnerable populations, and T visas. Find out what you Gulf Coast Legal is doing to help - and what you can do.

What does eating less junk food and exercising have to do with being rich? Plenty says my guest Tom Corely who spent five years studying the habits of the wealthy versus those of the poor. His insights resulted in findings published in his book, Rich Habits - The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals. Listen to his advice and see what habits you can adopt to improve your financial future! This interview aired live on July 22, 2013.

Attorney Anna Marie Mitchell from Gulf Coast Legal joins me to share advice for taxpayers with problems handling their tax bills. We talk about: 1) What can I do if the IRS is garnishing my Social Security; 2) Can I try and settle my tax liability with the IRS for less than I owe; 3) What can I do if I can not afford to pay the IRS the money I owe them; 4) Where can I get my taxes done for free; 5) Does debt forgiveness affect my taxes; 6) Should I file taxes if I am only receiving social security? Anna provides a wealth of information for my all my listeners - not just those who live in Florida, including how to take advantage of a free tax help program available nationwide! This interview aired live October 7, 2013. Gulf Coast Legal is a sponsor of Talk Credit Radio.

With the wild swings in the markets, some investors are looking at annuities as a way to guarantee income during retirement. But they have their pros and cons, and joining me to explain them is Tom Roberts, CFP. Tom is a fee-only financial planner and his firm is A New Approach Financial Planning. In this interview, we first discuss market volatility and how investors should react to news out of Washington that throws the markets into potential turmoil. Then in the second part of the interview, we discuss annuities and what every investor should know about this option. Since Tom is a fee-only financial planner he does not make commissions selling these products and he is able to bring an unbiased view of when these may plan an appropriate role in someone's retirement planning.

Don't have a lot of money saved for retirement? You may still be able to have a great future by retiring overseas. Kathleen Peddicord joins me to share how. She explains how you can save money on housing and healthcare - two of the biggest costs of retirement - and still get excellent medical care and a beautiful, safe place to live. We discuss what happens if you have Medicare - can you use it overseas? Or if you come back to the US? Then we talk about some of the best places to retire, including top picks in South America, Asia and Europe - including France and Italy. (Yes, they can be very affordable too!) Kathleen also shares her tips for choosing the right place for you. Learn how to balance cost and quality to make the best decision for your future. Kathleen is one of my most popular guests and once you listen to this you'll understand why. After you listen, check out her website at LiveAndInvestOverseas.com and see if you don't find it as addictive as I do! This episode aired live September 16, 2013.

Union Plus is the "AARP for working Americans" and they offer numerous financial benefits including the consumer-friendly Union Plus credit card, loans with hardship assistance, and educational scholarships. Learn about these programs and how they can benefit you! (Many are available to both labor union members as well as non-members.) This interview with Leslie Tolf aired live on Labor Day 2013.

Do you have a special needs or gifted child? Then you may be worried about how you are going to get them the help they need in school - without going bankrupt. Here to offer advice is Jane Windsor. She's a former teacher, a mom and now an attorney who helps families navigate the complex world of testing, IEP's and more. She also has a learning disorder herself so she knows where you are coming from! She practices in Sarasota FL but some of her advice will help parents all over the country. This episode aired live August 26, 2013.

How does the Supreme Court's DOMA decision affect taxes for same sex couples? It can be significant. Joining me to discuss what this means - and what couples who may be affected should consider is Joseph Henchman Vice President of Legal & State Project for the Tax Foundation. We discuss how this impacts state and federal taxes for these couples, and how it may retroactively save them money as well. This episode aired live July 8, 2013.

You work hard to be able to save and invest for your future. But one lawsuit could wipe all of that out, if you haven't prepared properly. Learn where to start with an asset protection strategy and hear about some of the excellent vehicles for asset protection in Florida. This interview with Rick Torrington, CFP and founder of Edward Kennedy Mason aired live on August 26, 2013.

No one can afford to be a full-time stay at home parent, says my guest Emma Johnson, founder of WealthySingleMommy.com. In this interview she explains why she believes no parent can afford to stay out of the workforce full-time to care for children. She examines the history of stay at home parents, and says that "too many women are making decisions based on a fantasy." She also shares her ideas for how to handle the juggling effort between parenthood (especially single parenthood) and work. She even offers tips for outsourcing the household chores you hate. Listen and decide for yourself whether you agree with her. This episode aired live July 15, 2013.

Do you have any idea how much your auto insurance rates go up with a teen driver? It's probably more than you think! InsuranceQuotes.com's Laura Adams joins me to share tips for saving money on teen auto insurance. Find out which state has the lowest increase (and why) and learn about discounts that may save you 25% or more on premiums. This episode aired live July 15, 2013.

New legislation changes student loan rates. It's a good deal for borrowers today, but tomorrow those rates will rise quickly and become quite expensive. Here attorney and student loan expert Heather Jarvis, founder of askheatherjarvis.com, joins me to explain what's going on with student loan interest rates. We talk about what's happening in Congress as well as the frustration many students are experiencing when they try to pay off, consolidate or refinance these loans. Jarvis had a lot of debt herself and has experienced this problem firsthand. Her insights are both personal and professional. This episode aired live August 5, 2013.

When it comes to student loan rates, Congress has it wrong, says my guest Mitchell D. Weiss. A former financial services executive, Weiss has a unique perspective on the student loan rate debate and he shares it her. Listen and find out why I vote we make him Student Loan Czar! This episode aired live July 1, 2013.

If you need a small business loan and are having trouble getting traditional financing you'll want to learn about Community Development Financial Institutions and how they can help. You'll find out what CFDI's are, what kinds of loans they make and for what amounts. You'll find out how some make loans to the unbanked or underbanked, and the flexible financing they offer. You'll also learn how they offer more than just a loan. Even if you've been turned down for a loan from a traditional financial institution, you may be able to get a loan from a CFDI. This interview with the Opportunity Finance Network's President and CEO Mark Pinsky aired live on July 29, 2013.

Want to make sure you get the best deals on back to school clothing, supplies and technology? ConsumerMan Herb Weisbaum will show you how! And you'll learn about a new website that not only can help you save on kid's clothing but can raise money for your school as well! This episode aired live August 12, 2013.

It's happened to me and I am sure it's happened to you: you've wasted money on something you never intended to pay for. Americans are wasting $14.3B in grey charges, according to a study by the Aite Group for BillGuard.com. What are grey charges? Find out in this interview with BillGuard.com CEO Mary Keegan. The average consumer can save $200 a year by spotting and stopping these charges, so stop throwing your money away! This episode aired live July 29, 2013.

Like so many people, Leah Ingram found her family had to become suddenly frugal during the economic downturn. In this episode she shares here story, what she learned from it, and how she and her family are turning their financial lives around. Plus hear how to get a great freebie from Leah - free is good, right? Leah is the author of Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less, which compiles Leah’s unique money-saving advice, including how a family can save $25,000 a year. Her second title in the Suddenly Frugal series is Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In. This episode aired live August 12, 2013.

Mike Sante is the managing editor of Interest.com, a website that helps consumers make smart financial decisions. He previously spent 13 years as the business editor for the Detroit Free Press. He joins me to explain what retirees are up against when it comes to retirement income.

The Baby Boomer generation grew up feeling powerful, relevant and able to effect important change. The future looked good -- if they worked hard and did all the right things they were guaranteed a comfortable life. But for many of us, things did not go as planned. Converging forces - the recession, longer lifespans, and the disappearance of traditional retirement funding - have forced many to face a very different reality than the one they expected. George Schofield, PH.D. and author of After 50 It’s Up to Us, Developing the Skills and Agility We’ll Need joins me to share his insights for those feeling lost and overwhelmed. We discuss how many of us over 50 are pioneers without role models for the interruptions we have experienced. Why it can be so hard to know who we are independent of our roles. The difference between lifelong learning and lifelong development and why it’s so important to distinguish between the two. This episode aired live June 24, 2013.

Medical bills are one of the leading contributors to bankruptcy, and even those with good insurance aren't immune to the financial stress these bills can create. Ariana Vargas of GiveForward.com joins me to share the unique way this site is helping people raise money to help friends, loved ones - and in some cases complete strangers - get the financial help with medical bills they need. Find out how it works and how it may help you or someone you care about. This episode aired live April 22, 2013.

In her early 20's Jill Beirne Davi found herself deep in debt, living in one of the most expensive cities in the country: New York City. She had $30,000 in debt and no idea how she would pay it off. But she did, and today she lives debt-free, while helping others through her website AbundantFinances.com. In this interview she talks about: How she took that first (difficult) step toward conquering her debt, Her strategy for making her budget work all month long, Why flossing her teeth helped her finances! (And that's not just because it saved her money on dental bills.) Jill's advice is both practical and inspiring so be sure to listen. This episode aired live April 22, 2013.

Sandy Smith is digging out of debt - a lot of debt. More than $100,000 in fact. Here she shares how she's tackling it. She explains how she went from barely making a debt in her balances one year to wiping out a huge chunk the next. She also shares her experience with going radically cashless; paying cash for everything, including her bills! Be inspired and get great tips on how to get out of debt yourself from the founder of YesIAmCheap.com. This episode aired live June 10, 2013.

Are you ready to buy another car or truck? Of course you'll want to make sure you get the best deal and Mike Rabkin, professional vehicle negotiator, will help you do just that. Here he shares some of his best strategies for buying a car or truck. He explains what invoice and sticker prices really mean to car buyers, and shares ways that dealers make money even when they sell below those prices. He shares his insights into the best way to test drive vehicles, and what to look for when you do - including things you might not automatically think of. We also discuss the monthly payment trap and why it can sink your deal from the start if you're not careful. Finally, he shares resources and tips you can use to make sure you are getting a great deal when you shop for a vehicle, including a resource he likes for getting top dollar for your trade in. This episode aired live June 3, 2013.

Online identities are being compromised every day. Mark Fawcett from iVerifly.com joins me to discuss some of the most pressing online security issues facing consumers and introduces his company's online privacy tool to help consumers protect themselves. This episode aired live May 20, 2013.

Warren and Betsy Talbot are living the life many of us only dream about - traveling the world! They share how they managed to save the money for a year-long world trip then turned it into a full-time life on the road. Find out how much it really costs to travel internationally (a lot less than you think!), how to save money for a really big goal and what to do when things don't go the way you planned. This episode aired live May 20, 2013.

If you've ever decided to cosign for a loan, or if you are thinking about asking someone to cosign for a loan, you will want to make sure you listen to this interview with attorney Cathy Moran where she shares the real risk of cosigning. She'll also explain what your rights are when you cosign and what happens when you want to remove a cosigner from the loan. In the second half of the interview we discuss why some lenders refuse to report mortgages after bankruptcy. This episode aired live April 15, 2013.

Do you and your partner have somewhat different views on money? Oh yeah, most of us have been there. Joining me to share her strategies for getting on the same page about money with your honey is Deborah Price, founder of the Money Coaching Institute. Deborah has many years of experiencing coaching individuals and couples, and has trained others to do the same. This episode aired live October 27, 2013.

A mortgage is the largest debt many of us will ever have. How do you know when to refinance that debt to save money - without going deeper in debt? And what about those who have tried to refinance in the past few years, but haven’t been able to due to their home’s value. What options do they have? Joining me in this interview to share his expert insights is Joe Kelly from YouCanRefi.com. This episode aired live March 5, 2013.