The Gerri Willis Podcast

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. I’m Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network. Tax Day 2019 is fast approaching and this year, more than ever, you'll want to take special care with your filing as this is the first year that tax reform takes effect. Kathy Pickering, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block, says tax filers should be prepared for many changes. First off, tax rates were lowered across the board in every tax bracket. New marginal tax rates go from 10%, 12%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35% and 39.6% to 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. Check out https://taxfoundation.org/2019-tax-brackets/ for bracket details. Here are the takeaways: While many people were looking for a big refund, the reality is that refunds are about on par for a normal year. If you failed to change withholding to account for the tax rate changes, however, you could find yourself owing money to the federal government rather than getting that refund, she says. Pickering said it was easy to overlook the difference in income because the savings were spread out over the course of the year. A secondary goal of reform was to encourage filers to complete the short form rather than taking deductions. Any reliable tax software package can help you decide whether to skip the long form. Small business owners should be sure to take advantage of a new 20 percent deduction on qualified business income. Business owners with 2018 income below $157,500 if single or $315,000 if married and filing jointly may qualify.  The tax break applies to owners of “pass-through” entities, including sole proprietorships, S-corporations and partnerships. Finally, Pickering suggests watching the details of your filing. Avoid simple mistakes like failing to sign your form, or getting the incorrect names or social security numbers for members of blended families. If you can't make your payment in full, file for an extension using IRS form 4868. This will give you until Oct. 15 to file, but even so, you'll have to make at least a partial payment on your tax bill. H&R Block research, she says, shows that anxiety associated with tax season runs high. That may be why respondents in an H&R survey said their favorite companion when filling out tax forms is a glass of wine. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. I’m Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network. This week golf history will be made as the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur event gets underway at Augusta National , the home of the season-starting PGA major, the Master's Golf Tournament. It will be the first time Augusta's famed park-like setting will be home to a women's competition. It's been just seven years since the club allowed women as members. Augusta is hosting 72 women ages 14 to 24 and representing 25 countries vie to win the 54-hole tournament. Competition will start at the Champion's Retreat course and the final round is scheduled for Saturday on the course that hosts PGA legends. The event featured reprises of some of the classic events that made the men's event famous, a Drive, Chip and Putt Championship as well as an opening tee shot ceremony. That event for the men is typically hosted by Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus, but the women's event will be hosted by champions Annika Sorenstam, Nancy Lopez, Lorena Ochoa and Se Ri Pak. Lopez, a winner of 48 LPGA tour events and three championships, said, “What an honor. The best players from all over the world are playing there. It's just a fantastic event for these young women.” Tournament contenders and amateurs, Sierra Brooks and Maria Fassi, said they were excited to participate in the inaugural event. Fassi said the tournament will be transformative not just for women's golf but for all of the sport. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. I’m Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network. Ellen Latham is the co-founder  of Orangetheory Fitness, the highly successful gym franchise that is taking the country by storm. Latham, an Exercise Physiologist, is attempting to help members remake their bodies from the ground up to be healthier and better off. I spoke with her recently about building the business. Here are the takeaways: Focus on what you have, not what you don't have. Starting the business was equal parts desperation and inspiration for Ellen, who started pursuing her own business after she was let go from a high-end Miami Beach gym, where she was manager. When that happened her father told her to focus on what she could do and what she had, and she soon got back into the fitness mix offering her own Pilates class. Start simple. At first, Latham was looking to develop a workout that she could offer a small number of clients. In the early years, she didn't even dream of starting a company that would ultimately have 1200 franchised locations and a high profile around the country. Don't just show up. Go out to perform the best you possibly can in everything you do. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!  

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. I'm Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network. This week, I'm talking to Rob Franek, Editor-In-Chief of the Princeton Review, about the college admissions scandal. Prosecutors announced that 50 people took part in a scheme that involved cheating on standardized tests or bribing college coaches and school officials to accept students as college athletes even if the student never played that sport. Two Stanford University students have also filed a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status against the universities named by prosecutors. Franek, who counsels students and parents about how to gain admission to highly competitive Ivy League schools, described the scandal as “despicable and deplorable.” Here are the takeaways: If you're the parent of a student applying for admission for next fall, don't despair. Seventy percent of the three million students applying for admission will get into their first-choice school. Statistically, college grads earn two million dollars over the course of their careers – much more than non-grads. What's more, college grads have lower rates of unemployment. Watch for college admissions administrators to provide more clarity and transparency into admissions protocols. There will be changes to the systems to make sure such cheating cannot happen again. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hello and welcome to Rich Is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet.  I'm Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network. Today my special guest is Veronica Dagher, Wall Street Journal wealth management reporter and the host of the podcast, Secrets of Wealthy Women, a series of fascinating conversations with successful women talking about how they made it and how they manage their money. Here are the takeaways: Financially successful women take an active role in their finances. They know what they own and what they owe. No one is going to pick you out and make you a star – you have to put your hand up and be able to ask for what you want. Another thing that really differentiates these women is that when they fall down, they get back up. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. I’m Gerri Willis with the Fox Business Network and today I’m talking with Tom Zgainer, CEO and founder of America’s Best 401(k) about market volatility. What should retirement savers and 401(k) investors do when the market posts big swings? And, how can you identify the fees and costs that are robbing your precious savings? Zgainer knows a lot about this because his company advises small business about how to set up high quality retirement programs. Most small business operators don’t have the time or interest in fully vetting retirement programs and that is where America’s Best 401(k) comes in. Zgainer advises that savers who aren’t close to retirement — more than five years away — should forget the noise. And, everyone should continue investing, no matter what. Remember, if the market tanks, you’re buying assets on sale; always better than overpaying. Two things are critical for small investors, he says. Start early and make sure your costs are low.  He says that an investor who starts saving at age 25 and only continues saving for 10 years will have more money at retirement than someone who starts saving at 35 and saves til 65. Giving your money time to grow is essential. Reducing costs is also key. He says that 70 percent of participants in 401(k) plans believe they pay no investment related fees. That, says Zgainer, is wrong. To find out what your plan is charging, go to the providers’ website and get a copy of the fee disclosure. Even easier, check out the website Zgainer shares on the podcast to find out — pronto — if you are overpaying!   Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Welcome to Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. Every year about this time, I start thinking about how I can organize my work life and my private life better. How can I never miss an appointment, plan for the future and get my to do lists done for both home AND work? I’ve bought expensive organizers, tried organizing apps and even used a white board in my office at home. But none of that has seemed to work, until now. What’s my secret? Its the Bullet Journal or BuJo as the insiders call it. And, it’s an analog method for planning your life in the digital age. More than just a way of organizing the week’s to do list, BuJo incorporates long-term planning, journaling and even hopes and dreams. On today’s podcast, you’ll meet the developer of BuJo and the author of the new book, The Bullet Journal Method, Ryder Carroll, who’ll share tips and tricks for organizing your life. Carroll developed the idea to help cope with his attention deficit disorder, but as he perfected the methodology, he began to be asked to share his ideas with others. Today, there is a book, called, The Bullet Journal Method, and a video  to help people understand exactly how to BuJo. Check out other Bullet Journals on Instagram to get a sense of how some folks push the envelope. And, don’t be intimidated when you see some of the elaborately decorated journals. You can, in fact, use a BuJo to simply make all your planning details crystal clear — and leave it at that. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!   View this post on Instagram   #Repost @mygianthandwriting with @get_repost ・・・ Some dailies from this week

On this special holiday edition of the “Rich Is Not A Four Letter Word” podcast, Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network is reporting from the New York Stock Exchange, but not on what you might think. She was joined by her brother and sister, Steve and Frankie, to reminisce on their favorite holiday traditions, memories, gifts, etc. The Willis siblings share stories about their long car trips to visit family as children, how they like to celebrate the holidays now, and Frankie even shares a story about a young Gerri misleading her about a potential gift under the tree. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word. Up 500 points one day, down 500 the next. The stock market has been incredibly volatile. Has it got you down? Well, on this episode I spoke with legendary markets newsletter writer Dennis Gartman about his views on the market and what individual investors should be doing right now. Gartman, whose newsletter The Gartman Letter is read by many of the leading banks, brokerages, and energy trading companies, is not optimistic about the prospects for markets in 2019. He shares his concerns about volatility, markets, and trade with China. Want to know what to do next? Take a listen: Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word. I talked to legendary supermodel and businesswoman Christie Brinkley on the New York Stock Exchange floor about her new product Bellissima Bambini. As an entrepreneur and owner of multiple businesses, Brinkley is proud to offer the only zero sugar, all natural, certified organic prosecco in the marketplace. She reiterates the importance of offering a 100% natural product by sharing that there can be over 52 chemicals in your standard prosecco, including chemicals once deemed safe that are not considered so anymore. Brinkley also offers up a piece of advice for young women, something she writes on the neck of every Bellissima bottle: “Dream big Bellissima dreams and may they all come true.” Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word. The holidays are coming up, and I was happy to be joined by Matt Granite (@TheDealGuy) on the podcast! Matt breaks down everything you need to know about Black Friday deals, from which vendors to check out, which categories have the biggest markdowns, and which types of deals to avoid. Listen to the podcast to find out how to get the best bang for your buck this holiday season! Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word. I was joined by Ted Rossman, an Industry Analyst for CreditCards.com, and he gave me the scoop on the best credit cards for YOU! Whether you’re a travel fanatic, own your own business, are a college student, etc. the range of options is massive. The average consumer has 3.7 credit cards, and picking the card that best fills your needs is no easy feat, but Ted does a great job at breaking it down for us! Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich is Not a Four-Letter Word. Volatility. That’s what we’ve got in the stock market these days and whether you’re an active investor in stocks or simply a set it and forget it 401(k) holder, you need to understand what to expect. Fortunately we have Lindsey Bell, CFRA investment strategist, in to talk about what you need to do during these volatile times. Navigating rocky markets can be frightening but as Lindsey will show, a little information can make the trip easier. Here are the takeaways: Understand the in insider market talk. It’s really not that hard. A pullback is a market decline of 5 percent to 9.9 percent. Pullbacks are common, happening once every nine months, and recovering takes a mere one and a half months. According to CFRA, we’ve had 56 bull-market pullbacks since World War II. A correction is a pullback of 10 percent to 19.9 percent and a bear market is a decline of 20 percent from highs. Lindsey says a bear market is usually caused by the economy falling into recession and, she says, that doesn’t appear to be in the cards, not now, anyway. Stay faithful to tech. According to Lindsey, technology stocks still have the best growth potential among major stock sectors. Even though so-called FANG stocks, Facebook, Apple, Netflix and Google, have led the markets for sometime now, their fortunes are more secure because their fundamentals are sound, she says. The biggest threat to the market? Lindsey says it’s the Federal Reserve, and higher interest rates. The Fed is on target for at least one more rate hike this year, and Lindsey says that over doing the rate hikes to wring inflation out of the economy is the biggest potential problem for markets. Higher rates clip stock performance as companies face higher operating costs. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Gerri Willis joined Fox News’ Shepard Smith today to discuss how much people spend on Halloween candy and costumes, and a new petition that proposes Halloween be moved to always fall on a Saturday, in order to be safer for children. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, or Stitcher!  

Hello, I’m Gerri Willis and welcome to Rich Is Not A Four Letter Word, the podcast for your wallet. One word to focus on today – volatility. That’s what the stock market has been all about and what traders down on Wall Street are talking about. I spoke to one of them on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Stephen Guilfoyle, also known as Sarge, about what to make of the extreme ups and downs plaguing the market now. Here’s what he told me. Here are the takeaways: When the volatility becomes extreme – take a breath and step back. The truth is, this volatility is making traders with lots of experience nervous. The market these days moves more quickly and in larger waves than ever before largely because of computerized trading and algorithmic trading. Also, we are at higher levels in the market – so a 100 point swing isn’t as big a deal as it used to be. Algorithmic trading is not your friend. Guilfoyle says that this type of trading, automated and pre-programmed, aims to make money by anticipating what small investors will do. If the large moves both up and down have you unnerved, he suggests looking at dividend paying stocks because even if your stock plummets, you’ll still get a quarterly payment, a distribution that can make the pain of a lower stock price a little less hurtful. Guilfoyle says don’t bet against tech yet. He says that sectors like semiconductors and cloud computing will continue to grow. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Fox Business Network’s Gerri Willis joined “The Story with Martha MacCallum” last night and opened up about her battle with lobular breast cancer, a type of cancer that represents just 10 to 15 percent of breast cancer cases. After being diagnosed in April 2016, Gerri underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments, but it took her a little while to fully come to terms with her diagnosis. Now, cancer-free, Gerri shares how she is happier than ever. Listen to more about Gerri’s inspiring journey below:

Hi, I’m Gerri Willis from the Fox Business Network and host of the podcast, Rich Is Not a Four-Letter Word. Today, we’re talking to Jonathan Stein, the founder and CEO of Betterment, an online service that automates investing. Some folks call Jonathan’s business a robo-advisor. But as you are about to find out, his business does much more than that. Here are the takeaways: Betterment automates investing using an online interface that allows investors to make their own choices. This new age brokerage has no account minimums and charges a quarter of a basis point in fees. In other words, if you kept $100 at Betterment, you’d be charged a quarter for the privilege. These days, though, Betterment is doing more than just offering low costs, providing users with financial advice developed for their specific situation from certified financial planners. The key to Betterment’s business model is that it removes the conflict that was at the heart of many of the brokers’ businesses. Advisors were paid commissions for selling product, setting up a situation where commissions could drive advice. Stein says he has solved that problem by putting advisors on salary, freeing them up to recommend whatever makes sense to customers. Stein says that too many Americans are still shy of investing in the wake of the financial crisis ten years ago. In a survey conducted by betterment, two-thirds of folks said they were investing less now than before the crash. In the interim, stocks have embarked on the longest-running bull market in history and those that stayed home, well, they’ve missed out. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

Millennials coming to the rescue of the great institution of marriage — thanks to younger couples getting married later, say experts — the nation’s divorce rate is on the decline, dropping by 18 percent between 2008 and 2016. The researcher Philip Cohen says millennial marriages are more stable because their lives are in greater order when they tie the knot. “We see people getting married at older ages, people getting married with college degrees already. They are less likely to be already divorced or have children when they get married, both of which are risk factors for divorce.” Here are the takeaways: The University of Maryland study shows that a 35-year-old millennial today is more likely to hit his or her fifth wedding anniversary than a 35-year-old gen x-er was in 2008. The researcher Philip Cohen says millennial marriages are more stable because their lives are in greater order when they tie the knot. “We see people getting married at older ages, people getting married with college degrees already. They are less likely to be already divorced or have children when they get married, both of which are risk factors for divorce.” The divorce rate could decline even more in future years as marriages become more selective, rarer and more stable. Recent divorce rate increases have been fueled by the “gray divorce boom” among baby boom Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

She’s the host of “The Daily Briefing” with Dana Perino, a co-host of “The Five” and mom of Jasper – Dana Perino – is an inspiration to many Americans because of her hard work and smarts. And, yet, as a former White House press secretary – she famously worked for George W. Bush – she’s not someone you think of as being interested in money. That’s all wrong. Dana has thought a lot about money and faced her own financial anxieties. Here are the takeaways: One of Dana’s earliest money memories is associated with her mom, a frugal woman, who bought a large “D” applique to sew on young Dana’s pants pocket so the grade-schooler could have a pair of “designer jeans.” Her parents both schooled Dana in keeping her spending under control. And, she saw women in her own family wrestle with financial issues. When her grandfather died, leaving behind her grandmother to cope alone, she didn’t even know how to write a check. By the time Dana was a young adult, her anxiety was such that she would stay three car payments ahead – just in case. That attitude would cause friction with her husband, Peter, who would time payments for the last possible minute before the deadline. The early years in Dana’s marriage weren’t easy financially. They moved to the West Coast with nothing but a dog. She remembers consulting her husband about whether they could afford a dinner out. These days, Dana allows her husband to handle money matters, turning over the checkbook to Peter. That, she says, allows her to focus on her job and hectic schedule. It’s an arrangement that seems to work well for both of them. But even today, Dana still talks about her concern about financial anxiety – especially among recent college grads and young families. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word!

Women face unique financial challenges that men will likely never encounter. Consider that at retirement women have a third less in retirement savings than their male counterparts. That’s typically because women earn less and work less over their lifetime compared to men. In the 20th edition of “Smart Women Finish Rich,” author and Co-Founder of AE Wealth Management, David Bach sounds the alarm for women to alert them to this issue and incentivize them to make changes. Here are the takeaways: 80 percent of men die married; 80 percent of women die widowed. The average age that women are widowed is 59. That means women need to be better prepared financially for life on their own in old age. First steps first, couples need to share their financial information. Men need to let them know about any and all 401(k) plans, insurance policies, bank accounts. That information will be critical for women who may be on their own for the first time in their lives. Now’s the time to be conservative. Stocks (if you reinvest dividends) are up 400 percent since the end of the financial crisis in 2009. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, is Komen NYC’s 28th Run for the Cure! This year Fox News and Fox Business Networks will field their biggest team ever to run/walk the race and bring awareness to the issue of breast cancer. One in eight women in this country will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Two years ago, it was my turn. I was diagnosed with stage three lobular breast cancer. Fortunately, I had incredible caregivers and support from my families at home and at Fox. Not everyone does. Komen is there to fill the gap. Join us if you are in New York at the race Sunday. You can register as late as race day. If you aren’t in the area and want to participate, contribute at www.komennyc.org/fox.Together let’s make Komen’s objective a reality: No one should die of breast cancer.

Last month the bull market officially became the oldest ever as it surpassed 3,453 days. But it raises the question, are you too late to the party to invest now? Are stocks too expensive? And of course, where should you put your money now? Those are some of the questions I put to Jack Otter, Associate Publisher of Barron’s and a long-time personal finance expert. Here are the takeaways: Yes, the market is up 320 percent from its lows, and that’s a concern for Otter, who reminds small investors that the market can stay irrational longer than the individual can stay solvent. What do you do if you’re worried that a sell-off is imminent? He says a well-balanced, diversified portfolio is the best defense. That means an allocation of assets appropriate for your age. In other words, the closer you are to retirement, the more your portfolio should be away from high octane investments like technology and other growth stocks. Like a lot of avid market watchers, Otter believes that it’s time to consider moving beyond the so-called fang stocks, big cap, high growth companies like Facebook and Netflix. Although, he says, a handful of these still have room to run because they aren’t that expensive compared to their earnings streams. Finally, Otter recommends two sectors for consideration – healthcare and commodities – as good options for investors worried about the inevitable fall market choppiness. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

If you are looking for a job with high pay, Glassdoor has your number. The employment website Glassdoor ranked job titles by average base salary. For a job to be considered it had to receive at least 100 salary reports. The company used a statistical algorithm to standardize base pay numbers, controlling for factors like location and seniority. Here are the takeaways: It’s all about healthcare and especially technology. Out of the top 25 jobs listed 13 were in technology, two more than last year. To be sure, some of these jobs require years of training, but many of these career paths are set to reward workers for years to come. Weigh the pay against the costs of education to be in that field. Physicians may earn a median salary of $195,000, but they typically are in school for eight years, internships add to the length of that education experience. Pharmacists and pharmacy managers earn top pay and their educational requirements are far less. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

With growth spiking above four percent for the second quarter, it’s hard to argue that the economy is on fire and it’s a great time to be looking for a job or starting a new business. But there are dangers even in this upbeat economy. In fact, a recent Federal Reserve report shows consumer debt will hit $4 trillion by the end of the year and that 26 percent of Americans owe more than a quarter of their income to this debt. So, I spoke with Greg McBride, chief financial analyst with Bankrate.com, about what consumers should be watching out for and what they should be doing now to boost their bottom line. Here are the takeaways 1)   Wages may finally be moving higher but they are not keeping up with inflation. No doubt about it, even if you’ve seen an improvement in your pay, you may still feel like you’re making no headway against higher prices for everything from housing to groceries. 2)   Moreover, higher interest rates on variable loans, even credit cards, are “water torture” for consumers and McBride says consumers can expect rates to continue rising as the Federal Reserve boosts rates this fall. 3)   McBride sounds a warning on taking out long-term auto loans. He says that loans for cars and trucks that stretch seven and even eight years can lead to financial troubles as the value of that asset depreciates more quickly than consumers pay down the loan. 4)   With rates rising as the economy expands, McBride recommends “making hay while the sun shines” by paying off variable rate debt and expanding emergency and retirement savings. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisFBN and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoyed this podcast, leave a review!

Not all banks are created equal. If you’ve shopped banks at all to find the best deals, you know the offerings can be very different depending on where you go. Fortunately, the personal finance magazine, Kiplinger’s, has taken a deep dive into the nation’s banks to determine which institutions make sense for you. Miriam Cross, staff writer for the magazine, helped comb through the data and research to decide which banks are the best fit for different categories of consumers, from retirees to millennials. Here are the takeaways 1)    If you’re a millennial, Kiplinger’s chose Ally Bank for the second year in a row as the best option, because it requires no minimum deposit to open an account and no maintenance fees. It’s rates on even low balances are attractive compared to competitors. 2)    For small business owners who need convenience and easy access to nearby branches, Kiplinger’s recommends TDBank. For those whose personal and business account balances total at least $1,500, monthly fees of $25 are waived for their Business Convenience Checking Plus accounts. Plus, they get a combined 500 free checks or electronic transactions deposited and paid per month. 3)    High net worth families demand a lot from their bank and Kiplinger’s says Citibank delivers. Minimum account balance requirements are $200,000, but customers that do that get unlimited reimbursement of out of network fees, free standard checks, incoming wire transfers and money orders. International travelers with the Citigold account will appreciate the free next-day delivery of foreign currencies to your home. 4)    USBank is Kiplingers’ choice for retirees, delivering no monthly fee for premium checking for their customers 65 and older, free paper statements and copies of checks, and no charges for the use of out of network ATMs. Take a listen to the podcast! Follow me on Twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on Facebook, where my handle is GerriWillis. You can also find me on Instagram at Gerri_Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you! What money issues do you want to explore? Tell me, and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four-Letter Word! If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review!

Greetings Rich is NOT a Four Letter Word podcast fans! This week, we’re doing things a little bit differently. If you follow me on Facebook or twitter, you know that I haven’t been shy about sharing the story of my struggle with breast cancer. Two years ago, I was shocked when I was diagnosed with stage three Lobular cancer. For the nine months that followed battling that disease would be my life’s focus. I’ve heard from many of you who have friends or family in treatment and from many who have beat the disease – I dedicate this podcast to YOU. You can’t have any idea how much your support through those nine months meant to me. Just hearing about other people’s success stories inspired me to fight on. And, ultimately, I began to learn so much more about myself and others. Cancer taught me to be more open, to appreciate all that I have. Life’s gifts come in surprising packages and cancer, for me, was one. This month, the people at Komen Greater New York gave me their Impact Award at a luncheon in New York – a gift that bowled me over. The Susan G. Komen Foudnation has raised a total of three billion dollars to find a cure for breast cancer and to help women to get diagnosed and fight the disease. In this podcast, I’m sharing the speech I delivered. First you’ll hear me thank Fox for standing by me during my treatment and recovery. And, then I tell my story of battling the disease. Listen. I always want to hear from you. Share your stories and give me your thoughts. Follow me on twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on facebook, where my handle is gerriwillifbn. If you have an idea for the regular money-focused podcast, then tell me. We will get it on! Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT a Four Letter Word!

Fox and Friend’s Ainsley Earhardt is not just a talented journalist; she’s also not afraid to talk about her faith in public. In her new book, “The Light Within Me,” Ainsley details her journey as a Christian and how faith plays a significant role in her life on air and off. The story starts in South Carolina where she grew up and documents how her successes have been shaped by family and faith. Ainsley shared with me her attitudes about that faith, but also about money, debt and financial success. For me, it was Ainsley’s grace and persistence that most stood out as she sought to climb the television career ladder while maintaining her personal integrity. Here are the takeaways Ainsley describes the very moment that she decided she would become a more devout Christian. As she says, “I met Jesus at a fraternity party.” While she doesn’t want to force her religion on listeners, she says, she does want to share the story of her own journey. Growing up in South Carolina, Ainsley’s best example on how to manage her life and her money came from her father, who taught her by example by making double payments on the mortgage, paying cash for cars and by rarely using his credit card. Keeping debt at bay proved difficult when she came to New York to work for Fox. Facing higher living costs and legal fees from a divorce, Ainsley’s debts mounted. Her credit card bill totaled $20,000. By following a strict plan to pay down that debt, she got rid of that burden in just three years. Now, Ainsley is pondering how to raise a money-responsible child. Her daughter, Hayden, she says, will be discouraged from stressing about money, but will have a choice: enroll in sports or get a job. Follow me on twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on Facebook, where my handle is Gerri Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you – what money issues do you want to explore? Tell me, and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich, is NOT A Four Letter Word! If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review!

Military families face an enormous number of challenges when it comes to their finances. And, few decisions will be as important as whether they opt for a new retirement plan that is equal parts pension and matching contributions or stick with the old-fashioned pension arrangement. The option is offered to those who joined the military from 2006 to late 2017. My guest Kim Lankford isn’t just a columnist for Kiplinger, she’s also a military spouse who has first-hand experience as dealing with military financial issues. Here are the takeaways: 1.)    If you are a member of this special group who joined the military from 2006 to late 2017, Kim says the best way to decide which option to pick is to consider how long you plan to stay in the military. If you are staying less than 20 years, you’d be well served to opt for the blended plan. Otherwise, you may find yourself walking away from service with no retirement benefits. 2.)    Don’t miss out on the freebies. Take advantage of the Thrift Savings Plan, a low-cost retirement savings option that is similar to a 401(k). Low-cost life insurance is also available for military members. Kim says her family plans to take advantage of a program that allows the transfer GI Bill benefits to a family member, a spouse or a child. 3.)    Avoid the scams! Watch out for people who prey on our military because of they have a regular income and few contacts in local communities. Kim suggests checking lists of problem companies at base offices to make sure you don’t do business with an organization that has a record of troubles with our military men and women. Take a listen to the podcast and for more information, check out Kim’s new publication, Kiplinger’s Financial Field Manual: A Personal Finance Guide for Miltary Families. The guide is chockablock full of relevant and detailed information and FREE! Yes, I said, free! Here’s the link. Follow me on twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on Facebook, where my handle is Gerri Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you – what money issues do you want to explore? Tell me, and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT A Four Letter Word! If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review!

Now that the Great Recession is in our rearview mirror, financial stability for the nation’s households is improving, right? Nope, in fact, it’s going the other way. Household debt is growing at its fastest clip in 11 years. We are awash in debt, again. Dave Ramsey, personal money management expert, author of the best selling book “The Total Money Makeover” and popular national radio personality, has some advice on that topic. Having built a $4 million real estate portfolio by age 26 only to lose it four years later and file for bankruptcy, Ramsay has made it his mission to help people get out of debt and on sound financial footing. In this podcast, Ramsey describes the mindset it takes to overcome personal debt and shows you how to conquer the toughest financial hurdles families face. His words are not just illuminating, but inspiring. I listened to this podcast twice just to make sure I took it all in! Here are the takeaways: 1.) Coming back from high levels of debt, what Ramsey calls a “Depression-era moment,” is possible. He says the trick is to learn your lesson and change your behavior. “Debt doesn’t take you anywhere, it exposes your stupidity,” he says. 2.) Cutting debt gives you the personal freedom to live a life that is more principle driven and less tactically driven. And, even what may seem like small financial decisions can have big impacts on your bottom line. As an example, he says the average American makes a $504 monthly car payment. Were that money to be invested instead in a growth mutual fund for 40 years, those car payments would amount to $5.8 million at retirement. 3.) Parents don’t have to choose between their retirement and funding their child’s education if they choose to keep debt at bay. However, if they are forced to pick one thing to fund, Ramsey says choose your retirement. “Fifty-two percent of kids will graduate from college, but 100 percent of us will retire,” he says. 4.) Buying your own home is a good investment. Fully a third of a typical millionaire’s net worth is their house, and if you retire with your home paid off, you’ve stabilized your biggest monthly cost. There are many more takeaways in this important podcast and even more inspiration from Dave. Take a listen! Follow me on twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on Facebook, where my handle is @GerriWillisFBN. Bottom line, I want to hear from you – what money issues do you want to explore? Tell me, and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, “Rich, is NOT A Four Letter Word!” If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts!

Are you ready for retirement? Chris Hogan, author of the best-selling book “Retire Inspired,” and a member of the Ramsey Solutions team is passionate about inspiring people to achieve their best retirement. The challenges are huge. According to a recent survey by GoBankingRates, fully a third of Americans have no savings for retirement at all and 23 percent have saved less than 10 percent. Hogan says if you haven’t gotten started, it’s time to get serious about retirement. The good news? Hogan says it’s never too late to get started. Here are the takeaways: #1) First things first, you can’t count on Social Security. According to Hogan, “Government’s not going to save the day, we have to pave the way.” In other words, start thinking about how you can be more self-sufficient in retirement just in case our elected officials in Washington decide to change Social Security funding or taxes related to retirement savings. #2) If the idea of making investment choices on your own sends a chill up your spine, no problem. Just as you wouldn’t operate on yourself, so you should think about hiring a pro to manage your retirement money, he says. As a general rule of thumb, he suggests that investment fees should be less than one percent. #3) Wondering what your target should be? How much to save? Hogan suggests checking out his retirement calculator at his website, www.chrishogan360.com. Looking for some fresh inspiration to getting to your retirement goals? Chris Hogan’s got your back.  Take a listen! Follow me on twitter @gerriwillisfbn and on Facebook, where my handle is Gerri Willis. Bottom line, I want to hear from you – what money issues do you want to explore? Tell me, and we will get it on the podcast. Have a great day and remember, Rich is NOT A Four Letter Word! If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review!