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Our memories—and sometimes our parents'—shape how we invest, often more than logic or data. Don and Tom break down how generational financial trauma, recent market trends, and asset class myths (like gold and U.S.-only investing) skew our thinking. They call out flawed stock picking contests, revisit the real long-term returns on gold versus stocks, and explain why short-term memory leads to bad long-term decisions. Listener questions hit everything from where to park house savings to bond fund risks, rebalancing strategies, and simplifying retirement saving using the TSP. Oh, and yes, the laundry room podcast myth lives on, and the Fyre Festival somehow still smolders in the background. 0:04 Don and Tom settle into the show—studio quirks, mic levels, and inviting questions 0:52 How memory bias—from the Great Depression to dot-com boom—influences investment behavior 2:07 Family stories from the Depression era and why stock picking games teach the wrong lesson 2:54 Why investors wrongly believe growth stocks always beat value—thanks to recent performance 5:20 Myths about market trends: U.S. dominance, buy-the-dip thinking, and time horizon confusion 7:46 Gold mania: Recent price surge vs. long-term returns—spoiler, stocks win 9:58 Long-term perspective: $10k in 1980—Gold vs. Treasuries vs. Global portfolio 10:28 Listener: Where to park house construction funds short-term—ETFs vs. money markets 13:30 Why those new ultra-short ETFs may be a trap 15:17 Listener: Should I buy callable bonds with 6% yields? And what's with PIMCO's “14%”? 17:36 Risks of leveraged bond funds like PDI—why they don't belong in a stable portfolio 19:46 Listener: How often should I rebalance in a 401(k)? 23:12 Listener in Albuquerque: Should I go all-in on the C Fund for simplicity? 25:39 Roth vs. TSP—what matters more: today's tax rate or the future's unknowns? 27:33 Future goals: quarterly travel in retirement and pizza roof update 28:22 Investing in “brands” like Fyre Festival—don't 32:30 $63 offer for the Fyre trademark, and a plug for free fiduciary advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book FREE WEBINAR: "The 7 Biggest FERS Retirement Mistakes": https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/7biggestmistakeswebinar Want to schedule a consultation? Click here: https://hawsfederaladvisors.com/work-with-us/ Submit a question here: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/question-submission I am a practicing financial planner, but I'm not your financial planner. Please consult with your own tax, legal and financial advisors for personalized advice.
Psychologist and educator Fitzhugh Dodson wrote, “Without goals and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.”Of course, goals don't amount to much unless you have a plan to reach them. That planning should involve more than building your net worth. Ron Anderson joins us today to discuss life planning— what is it, how to do it, and why you should.Ron Anderson is the Founder & President of Plan A Wealth Management in Lincoln, Nebraska.What Is Life Planning?Life planning goes beyond setting financial goals; it's about discovering and fulfilling your purpose. It involves asking yourself why you want to be financially successful and what you will do to accomplish your bigger goals in life. It's about making a difference and living out the reason God put you on this planet.The core of life planning is about introspection and alignment with God's purpose for your life. We were all created on purpose for a purpose, and life planning helps us ask the tough questions to design a life that truly matters. It ensures that your goals are in line with God's plan for you, helping you avoid the pitfall of pursuing the world's definition of success while missing out on the unique contribution you are meant to make.The Role of a Financial Planner in Life PlanningA financial planner can be instrumental in helping you navigate your life planning journey. They can assist in determining how much you need to live the life God is calling you to. This includes helping you set a reasonable lifestyle, preparing for God's nudges, and ensuring that you are ready to say "yes" when He calls. A planner can also help you clarify your goals, understand how major life events fit into your vision, and identify opportunities to make the most meaningful impact.Scripture provides a strong foundation for life planning. Ephesians 5:15-17 urges us to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity and understanding the will of the Lord:“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.”Ephesians 2:10 also reminds us that we are God's masterpiece, created to do the good things He planned for us long ago. This is why it's so vital to live purposefully and intentionally, aligning our lives with God's plans.If you're interested in exploring life planning further, you can visit PlanAWM.com, where you can schedule an appointment and speak with a member of their team.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I've been contemplating leaving my assets from a soon-to-be-settled divorce to my children, who are in their 20s, and I'm just not sure I'm going to do that. All that said, I am very ill and have been around the world eight times trying to get well. The main question is, with Social Security Disability, how do income and assets affect Social Security Disability?I've had a life insurance policy for about 20 years, which will expire when I turn 76 unless I choose to pay a significantly higher premium at age 82. This means I have around five years left on it. I wanted to "cash it in," but when I contacted the company, they informed me that this is not possible with my term life policy. I came across a company called Coventry on TV, which seems to buy life insurance policies and provide cash in return. Can you explain how this works?I'm in my early to mid-70s and have a small to medium investment account. I have it securely invested in a G-Fund within my TSP. I'm curious about the market's future, especially since it's at an all-time high and has performed well this year. Given that it's an election year, and I haven't researched historical trends during such times, do you think the market will continue to rise? I'm considering converting a significant portion of my G-Fund to the C-Fund, which tracks the S&P 500. What is your outlook on the S&P 500 for the rest of the year?A few months ago, my mom passed away, and I was initially told I needed to go to probate court. At the courthouse, I was given a list of documents to bring, including the title to my mom's house and property. After reviewing these documents for a few minutes, the probate office informed me that I have a life estate, so probate isn't necessary, which contradicts their earlier statement. They mentioned it needed rights of survivorship, which it didn't have. I'm now confused about whether I need to go to probate or not.A few months ago, I heard about Social Security benefits for those in their 60s. I visited the Social Security office last week and asked why the surviving spouse seems penalized after a spouse's death. I feel like I'm losing my benefits despite working for them, as I can only take survivor benefits if my husband passes before me. The representative couldn't explain the reasoning. How can I advocate for a change to this rule, as its purpose is unclear to me?Resources Mentioned:Plan A Wealth ManagementRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.
[Video below] Floresville City Manager Andy Joslin, city Councilman Donald Scee, and Floresville Economic Development Corp. board President David Del Bosque are scheduled to join Wilson County Judge Hank Whitman on a trip to Washington D.C. from Dec. 4-8. Their departure will be Dec. 3. The Floresville City Council, at its Oct. 26 regular meeting, voted unanimously to spend [post_excerpt],851.35 each to pay for Joslin's and Scee's hotel, flight, and meals. The Floresville Economic Development Corp. will cover Del Bosque's expenses, while the county will cover Whitman's costs. Joslin said the trip is being organized by EMC Strategy Group, LLC....Article Link
For those considering moving their TSP investments to an IRA, here are mutual funds and ETFs that mirror the C Fund, S Fund, I Fund and F Fund of the Thrift Savings Plan. We also look at the G Fund, which doesn't have an alternative.Join the newsletter: https://robberger.com/newsletter/?utm...
The York County, South Carolina government has announced a resolution on a settlement with a David Tepper-owned company in the fallout of the failed building project that would have seen the Carolina Panthers headquartered in the city of Rock Hill.In a news release shared Wednesday evening, York County said it would receive $21,165,000 from an affiliate of GT Real Estate (GTRE). That amount has been held in escrow since July 2022 as both York County and GTRE worked to reach the settlement.The county's statement said the receipt of the funds would be "in full and final satisfaction and discharge" of all claims York County had against the company, Tepper, and other related entities. Additionally, York County will withdraw any allegations that any Tepper-linked party involved in its suit violated the Pennies for Progress statute or C-Fund statute, or engaged in any other wrongdoing regarding the payment.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/gt-real-estate-york-county-settlement-money/275-9ce2c04c-5713-4961-85bc-f5fa08f57c24A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested with DWI early Wednesday morning, Chief Johnny Jennings announced. Officer Peter Lombardo was charged with driving while impaired (DWI) after another CMPD officer found his squad car parked on the grassy shoulder along Interstate 277 near 12th Street, Jennings said. Lombardo was off duty and not in uniform at the time of his arrest, according to Jennings.Lombardo was given a breathalyzer test and it was determined his blood alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Lombardo was immediately placed on unpaid leave and will be cited for termination in accordance with CMPD policy, Jennings announced. A final determination about Lombardo's employment status will be made by the CMPD civil service board.READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-police-officer-arrested-dwi-interstate-277/275-4cc6a448-40ee-438c-9e3b-190ab044bc14Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
The York County, South Carolina government has announced a resolution on a settlement with a David Tepper-owned company in the fallout of the failed building project that would have seen the Carolina Panthers headquartered in the city of Rock Hill. In a news release shared Wednesday evening, York County said it would receive $21,165,000 from an affiliate of GT Real Estate (GTRE). That amount has been held in escrow since July 2022 as both York County and GTRE worked to reach the settlement. The county's statement said the receipt of the funds would be "in full and final satisfaction and discharge" of all claims York County had against the company, Tepper, and other related entities. Additionally, York County will withdraw any allegations that any Tepper-linked party involved in its suit violated the Pennies for Progress statute or C-Fund statute, or engaged in any other wrongdoing regarding the payment. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/nfl/panthers/gt-real-estate-york-county-settlement-money/275-9ce2c04c-5713-4961-85bc-f5fa08f57c24 A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer was arrested with DWI early Wednesday morning, Chief Johnny Jennings announced. Officer Peter Lombardo was charged with driving while impaired (DWI) after another CMPD officer found his squad car parked on the grassy shoulder along Interstate 277 near 12th Street, Jennings said. Lombardo was off duty and not in uniform at the time of his arrest, according to Jennings. Lombardo was given a breathalyzer test and it was determined his blood alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Lombardo was immediately placed on unpaid leave and will be cited for termination in accordance with CMPD policy, Jennings announced. A final determination about Lombardo's employment status will be made by the CMPD civil service board. READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/crime/charlotte-police-officer-arrested-dwi-interstate-277/275-4cc6a448-40ee-438c-9e3b-190ab044bc14 Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!
Today's content comes directly from Brian O'Neill's recent blog post Top 10 TSP Quirks You Need to Know. Brian is a fellow Military Financial Advisor Association member , former Air Force fighter pilot, and Certified Financial Planner who writes a great weekly blog with a fighter pilot twist. Thanks, Brian.If you've ever compared the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to a civilian 401(k), you probably noticed the TSP has quite a few quirks:1. Minimum balance: As long as you leave at least $200 in your TSP when you seperate from service, you can keep your TSP account open. This is great because you never know when a change in employment or the tax law will make it advantageous to roll money into the TSP. 2. Accepts rollovers: Except for a Roth IRA dollars, you can roll a Traditional IRA, and most other employer plan (e.g., 401(k)) funds into the TSP. This can be great for simplifying your roster of retirement accounts.3. Three Withdrawal options after separation: Fixed or life-expectancy-based installment payments. For installments of less than 10 years, you can rollover the distributions to an IRA. Single withdrawal: The minimum is $1,000 and you can only do one every 30 days. Purchase an annuity. This locks in a fixed stream of payments for life, but you forfeit any right to leave the annuity balance to your heirs. 4. Roth or Traditional withdrawals: You can choose Roth, Traditional or pro-rata withdrawals. If you have contributions from a combat zone, your contribution is not taxable but the earnings are. Withdrawals from your Traditional balance will always be pro-rata from pre-tax and after-tax dollars. 5. Processing delays. Along with the military and civil service human resource bureaucracy delays, the TSP can be pretty slow processing any request. Plan ahead, it's not an ATM.6. Spouse rights. If you choose to receive your TSP as a separately-purchased annuity, your spouse will need to consent to anything other than a 50% survivorship feature.7. Death Treatment: Your balance will go to your beneficiaries on file with TSP, and NOT according to your will. And you must use form TSP-3 to change the d default beneficiaries. A surviviing spouse's TSP account is automatically invested in an age-determined Lifecycle Fund. A non-spouse beneficiary can't keep the TSP account and will need to receive the funds in an Inherited IRA. If your beneficiary then dies, the TSP will pay the balance directly to that beneficiary's beneficiary allot once, potentially creating a “tax bomb.” If you inherit a TSP account, roll it to an Inherited IRA so a successor beneficiary keeps the tax-advantaged status.8. The G-Fund. The G-Fund invests in special government bonds that its guaranteed to never lose principal value. But the G-Fund is usually the lowest performer of the 5 core TSP funds. It can make sense as part of a portfolio, but usually is NOT all.9. Withdrawals are pro-rata from all funds. You can't take a distribution from only the G-Fund or C-Fund, for example. A withdrawal is pro-rata across all them. For a work around after your withdrawal comes out, log into TSP and rebalance your funds to the allocation you want to keep. 10. Roth RMDs. A Roth IRA does not have a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, and the both Roth and Traditional TSP all require you to start taking RMD every year starting age 72. Evaluate moving of Roth TSP dollars into a Roth IRA prior to 72.
Join James as he covers the following topics: Cardano's VC C-Fund Funds Blockchain Payment Processor Developer COTI. Catalyst Voting Thresh Hold Lowered. Vic w/ SPRTA Stake Pool Discusses Cyber Incidents That Should Be On Your Radar Featured Guest Name: Vic Stake Pool: Sparta Ticker: SPRTA Website: https://spartasp.com This episode of Your Cardano Update is brought to you by United Stakes of Cardano [USA01], a premier stake pool on the Cardano network. ** Disclaimer ** Views expressed by program hosts and guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. This program is for entertainment purposes and is not for the purpose of, nor should be construed as, providing financial tax, accounting, or legal advice.
"While in the service, you are pawns of the government. We serve our nation against enemies foreign and domestic...when you decide to exit the military, either transition out or retire- the military is DONE with you." In this episode we cover bad debt and how to pay off debt along with the Blended Retirement System match. -Pay off debt using Debt Snowball (smallest to largest) - Each car should not be more than 25% of your yearly income or no more than 3 months of pay - If in Blended Retirement System, turn on your 5% match. - Contribute into ROTH TSP 70% C Fund/20% S Fund/10% I Fund within your TSP - Stay out of G Fund and Lifecycle Funds Connect with me: www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents www.instagram.com/timmemak
TESLA motors is moving the needle again today with nice gains. Boeing has successfully flown with passengers. "The U.S. House of Representatives passed a law to kick Chinese companies off U.S. stock exchanges if they do not fully comply with the country's auditing rules" - Fox Business Thrift Savings Plan Overview: "The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings and investment plan for Federal employees and members of the uniformed services, including the Ready Reserve. It was established by Congress in the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986 and offers the same types of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under 401(k) plans." - https://www.tsp.gov/about-us/ Dave Ramsey's suggesting for TSP is 40% C Fund ; 40% S Fund and 20% I fund and nothing to the F and G fund due to low returns. My suggestion is 10% the latest and greatest Life cycle fund and 90% C Fund. The only issue with my plan is that you have to keep moving it every 5yrs. :-) If you have no clue on what to do with your funds in your TSP and you are not about to retire in 10yrs? put all of it in C and ride the wave. Check out how you doing after 10yrs.. Remember, when the market goes down, the shares are just going on sale! Sponsors: Webull - Don't miss your chance of claiming free stocks! Sign up, open an account and make your first deposit and get 4 free stocks! (12/1/2020 - 12/7/2020) -- Please continue to support the show by subscribing, sharing and leaving comments on your favorite platforms. This help others like yourself find me. Supporting the show will allow me to continue to provide great content and special guests. Follow the About That Wallet: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboutthatwallet/ Website Landing page: https://linktr.ee/aboutthatwallet DISCLAIMER: I am not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in this audio are for educational purposes only. You must do your own research and make the best choice for you. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. I am merely sharing my opinion with no guarantee of gains or losses on investments. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, CFP, an attorney, insurance agent, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/aboutthatwallet/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/aboutthatwallet/support
Why do people seem so surprised when they discover that even experts fail to accurately and consistently predict the future?Should a caller diversify the funds in his TSP?Should you dollar-cost-average or invest a lump sum?
Most people know the rule is to buy low, sell high. If you buy that, the problem is knowing when the market has peaked or bottomed out. A growing number of Thrift Savings Plan investors are nervously wondering how much longer the current bull market — 10-plus years without a correction of 20% or more — will last, and can last. So many things could go wrong: Turkey and Syria, Chinese trade and the Hong Kong problem, post-Brexit Europe, or impeachment — a major disaster. Arthur Stein, a Washington, D.C.-area certified financial planner, weighs in on this episode of Your Turn with Mike Causey.
Effective Sept. 15, major changes will take effect in the TSP, changes that will make it more attractive for life-time investors and more convenient for people who need to withdraw different amounts over their retirement. Jessica Klement, NARFE vice president for advocacy and Mark Keen, certified financial planner and adviser gives us the details on this episode of Your Turn with Mike Causey.
On this episode of Your Turn, Arthur Stein, a Washington, D.C.-area financial planner with a lot of active and retired federal clients, discusses what people should not be doing with their TSP accounts. Your Turn with Mike Causey airs at 10 a.m. EDT on 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
When it comes to employer-backed 401k plans, most experts say that the federal Thrift Savings Plan, with its 5% match and super-low administrative fees, is the best deal around. At the end of March, the TSP had 5.6 million participants and was worth $561 billion. Arthur Stein, a Washington area financial planner, spent a day on Capitol Hill last month talking to Senate staffers about their investment options. Most of them were in the TSP, but in some cases, he said they should be investing less. Why? Find out on this episode of the Your Turn radio show. Your Turn with Mike Causey airs at 10 a.m. EDT on 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
If you’re like most people, you probably have, or will, spend more time deciding how, when and where you’ll retire than you did deciding how, when and where you would spend the majority of your career. Knowing what to ask is very important. Knowing the answers is critical. Where to start? Relax, we’ll come to you. Benefits expert Tammy Flanagan is the guest this week. The Your Turn radio show airs at 10 a.m. EDT on 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
So you’ve done well, now what? One of the first things you need to do is recognize your true financial value, living and dead, then have a plan. Having a will alone no longer works for many people. Some need a trust and medical directives. But what kind, and how do you know? Tom O’ Rourke, an estate and tax attorney and former IRS lawyer, answers these questions on this episode of Your Turn with Mike Causey. The Your Turn radio show airs at 10 a.m. EDT on 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
After significant declines during the fourth quarter of 2018, TSP funds rebounded during the first three months of this year. Patience has its reward, according to Washington, D.C.-area financial planner Arthur Stein. Many of his clients are retired feds. Several of them are TSP millionaires who did it by long-term investing without reacting to the market’s ups and downs. On this episode, he explains how a "safe" investment could be a higher risk in the long-term. The Your Turn radio show airs at 10 a.m. EST on 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
Would you give up a year of sex for a free year of college for your child? A crazy question with a somewhat surprising answer. Don discusses a study with some interesting facts about how parents save for their children's future educational needs. Plus how to emulate the total stock market in the US Government Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
For the vast majority of federal workers investing in the Thrift Savings Plan is a must, period. Chances are it will provide anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of the income they have in retirement, which is a very big deal. It may be the difference between steak and hamburger or, worst case scenario, cat food. And you don’t have a cat! So if you have a TSP account what did you do in December when the high-flying stock market, after wobbling a couple months, dropped big time? On this episode, financial planner Arthur Stein talks us through the highs and lows of investing in the TSP. He has a number of federal clients including several who are TSP millionaires. The Your Turn radio show airs at 10 a.m. EST on1500 AM in the Washington, D.C. area and www.federalnewsnetwork.com.
Everybody knows the expression what goes up also goes down. Repeat as necessary. We know the stock market retreats and advances. But after the longest running with the bull market for almost a decade, 2018, or at least the last half of it, was a bummer. Many feds, young, old or retired, invested heavily in the stock-indexed C, S and I funds are nervous in the service. On this episode of the Your Turn radio show, we asked financial planner Arthur Stein what’s going on. A majority of his customers are active or retired feds, and several of them are Thrift Savings Plan millionaires. Your Turn airs at 10 a.m. EST on 1500 AM.
When financial times get tough and a bull market rears its ugly head, many Thrift Savings Plan investors head for the safety of the bond index F Fund or, more likely, the super-safe never has a bad day G Fund. To many people, the U.S. Treasury-backed securities are the safest haven in an uncertain market. During the Great Recession many TSP investors pulled out of the stock market (C, S and I funds) into the G Fund. Although the market bottomed out March 9, 2009, and rebounded with a vengeance, many investors never returned. Certified financial planner Art Stein said there is safety and then there is “safety,” the latter actually used by people to mean a lack of volatility. Stein was the guest on this week’s episode of the Your Turn radio show and he discussed the price that investors pay for safety. Tune in to the show Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at www.federalnewsradio.com or 1500 AM in the D.C. metro area.
When it comes to the federal Thrift Savings Plan, the average annual returns don’t tell you everything because TSP stock funds do not have many “average” years. “The typical ways to view TSP returns is to look at the total return over a certain time period — annually, quarterly, year to date — or over a number of years,” according to financial planner Arthur Stein. He says patterns are easier to spot when returns are ranked by size. Your Turn is a radio show (Wednesday's at 10 a.m. EST) streaming on Federal News Radio or at 1500 AM in the D.C. area.
Did the recent stock market nosedive send you moving money from the stock indexed C and S funds into the G fund for safety? If so, was that a smart move? And what’s next? Are you waiting, as in sweating, a much bigger correction that many experts say is long overdue? We asked Arthur Stein, a Washington-area financial planner who tracks the Thrift Savings Plan what he thinks is going on. Did the recent stock market nosedive send you moving money from the stock indexed C and S funds into the G fund for safety? If so, was that a smart move? And what’s next? Are you waiting, as in sweating, a much bigger correction that many experts say is long overdue? We asked Arthur Stein, a Washington-area financial planner who tracks the Thrift Savings Plan what he thinks is going on. He’s our guest on this episode of Your Turn, a radio show (Wednesday's at 10 a.m. EST) streaming on Federal News Radio or at 1500 AM in the D.C. area.