Podcasts about Roth IRA

In this episode of ChooseFI, Brad Barrett is joined by Mindy from BiggerPockets Money and Chris from Can I Retire Yet? to explore the concept of the "middle-class trap." They discuss the challenges faced by many middle-class individuals who appear wealthy on paper, yet find themselves financially restricted due to their assets being tied up in home equity and retirement accounts. The conversation dives into financial independence strategies, the psychological aspect of personal finance, and how to navigate the feeling of being "trapped" financially. Key Takeaways: Understanding the Middle-Class Trap (00:02:37): Individuals may appear wealthy due to equity but feel financially restricted due to inaccessibility of funds in retirement accounts. The Role of Home Equity (00:14:18): Home equity should not be included in your financial independence (FI) number unless you plan to sell the house. Psychological Impact of Personal Finance (00:05:12): The emotional aspect plays a significant role in how individuals view their financial situations, often leading to feelings of being trapped. Multiple Financial Options Exist (00:11:42): It's crucial for individuals to understand the various strategies available to access their funds before retirement age. Timestamps and Topics: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the Middle-Class Trap Setting the stage for the discussion about financial independence and retirement strategies. 00:01:59 - Mindy's Perspective Mindy introduces the concept and discusses her experiences with clients caught in the middle-class trap. 00:04:27 - Chris's Rebuttal Chris provides insights and alternative views regarding the concept of feeling "trapped" financially. 00:11:42 - Importance of Education Discusses how understanding financial choices can alleviate the feeling of being trapped. 00:21:01 - Financial Independence Strategies Different strategies including the Roth IRA conversion ladder, allowing early access to retirement funds. 00:53:01 - Addressing the Feeling of Being Trapped Emphasizes the psychological aspect of finance and personal finance education. 00:55:12 - Conclusion Wraps up the episode with actionable takeaways and a focus on education. Actionable Takeaways: Evaluate Your Net Worth (00:41:02): Understand which assets you can access and how to plan for FI. Diversify Investments (00:29:40): Consider balancing investments in taxable brokerage accounts alongside retirement accounts. Learn About the Roth IRA Conversion Ladder (00:29:00): A significant strategy for accessing retirement funds early without penalties. Related Resources: Brandon's Article on Accessing Retirement Funds Early (00:28:19) ChooseFI Episode 475 - How to Access Retirement Accounts Before 59 and a Half (00:28:19) FAQs: What is the middle-class trap? The middle-class trap refers to individuals who seem wealthy but find their assets inaccessible, mostly tied up in home equity and retirement accounts. (00:02:37) How can I access my retirement funds before 59 and a half? Strategies include the Roth IRA conversion ladder and substantially equal periodic payments. Consult a financial advisor for personalized guidance. (00:28:19) Discussion Questions: How does the middle-class trap affect your perception of financial independence? (00:05:12) What strategies can you implement to better access your funds in retirement? (00:28:19) Does home equity play a significant role in determining your financial independence? (00:14:18)

In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast,  we are going to talk about  how much should you have saved in your Roth IRA by age. How Andrew Can Help You:  Listen to The Business Show here. Don't let another year pass by without making significant strides toward your dreams. "Master Your Money Goals" is your pathway to a future where your aspirations are not just wishes but realities. Enroll now and make this year count! Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! Learn to invest by joining  Index Fund Pro! This is Andrew's course teaching you how to invest!  Watch The Master Money Youtube Channel! , Ask Andrew a question on Instagram or TikTok.  Learn how to get out of Debt by joining our Free Course  Leave Feedback or Episode Requests here.  Car buying Calculator here Thanks to Our Amazing Sponsors for supporting The Personal Finance Podcast. Shopify: Shopify makes it so easy to sell. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at  shopify.com/pfp Chime: Start your credit journey with Chime. Sign-up takes only two minutes and doesn't affect your credit score. Get started at chime.com/ Thanks to Fundrise for Sponsoring the show! Invest in real estate going to fundrise.com/pfp Thanks to Policy Genius for Sponsoring the show! Go to policygenius.com to get your free life insurance quote. Go to joindeleteme.com/pfp20 for 20% off! Indeed: Start hiring NOW with a SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLAR SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to upgrade your job post at Indeed.com/personalfinance Turn your business dream into reality! Apply now at www.oneday.org/pfp  Go to Acorns.com/pfp and start automating your investments and get a $5 bonus today! Delete Me: Use Promo Code PFP for 20% off! Shop Data Plans and Save Big at mintmobile.com/pfp   Links Mentioned in This Episode:  The Mega-Back Door Roth IRA (How to Get an Extra $43,500 in Your Roth!) 10 Powerful Portfolio Strategies (And Which One is Right for You!) - Part 1 10 Powerful Portfolio Strategies (And Which One is Right for You!) - Part 2 Connect With Andrew on Social Media:  Instagram  TikTok Twitter  Master Money Website  Master Money Youtube Channel   Free Guides:   The Stairway to Wealth: The Order of Operations for your Money  How to Negotiate Your Salary  The 75 Day Money Challenge  Get out Of Debt Fast  Take the Money Personality Quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Beer and Money, Ryan Burklo and Alex Collins discuss the nuances of Roth accounts, focusing on when to contribute to them and the importance of understanding tax brackets. They explore the differences between marginal and effective tax rates, the significance of tax diversification, and strategies for funding Roth accounts. The conversation emphasizes the need for personalized financial planning and the impact of future income on tax strategies. Check out our website:  beerandmoney.net For a quick assessment of your current financial life go to: https://www.livingbalancesheet.com/lbsVision/lite/RyanBurklo Takeaways Roth accounts can provide tax-free growth and withdrawals. Understanding your tax bracket is crucial for Roth contributions. Marginal tax rates affect how additional income is taxed. Effective tax rates give a clearer picture of overall tax burden. Tax diversification can help manage future tax liabilities. Future income predictions are essential for retirement planning. Consulting with a tax advisor is important for personalized strategies. Roth accounts can be beneficial for unexpected expenses in retirement. Funding Roth accounts requires strategic planning and foresight. Financial planning should consider the entire balance sheet, not just individual accounts. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Roth Accounts 02:47 Understanding Tax Brackets and Rates 05:47 When to Consider Roth Contributions 08:59 The Importance of Tax Diversification 11:56 Funding Roth Accounts and Future Planning  

Tripp Limehouse discusses the challenges and strategies for navigating retirement planning amidst market volatility. They emphasize the importance of having a solid financial plan, understanding market dynamics, and avoiding emotional investment decisions. The conversation highlights the Green Line Principle as a safe money strategy and encourages listeners to focus on what they can control in their financial future. Tripp also highlights the importance of having a robust income plan that can sustain retirees through various market conditions, as well as the value of budgeting and strategic tax planning, including Roth IRA conversions. Visit Limehouse Financial to learn more. Call 800-940-6979See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You crushed your quota. Commission check hits the account.  Your first instinct? Celebrate! You earned it, right? Not quite. You've earned a reward, sure. But if every check disappears faster than a cold call prospect can hang up the phone, then you're just renting a lifestyle. Here's the truth: Top sales pros don't just sell like professionals—they manage their money like professionals. They know the high of a commission check can't replace long-term financial freedom. I've got the financial low-down. 1. Don't Spend It All in One Place—Or All at Once When a big check hits, it's tempting to splurge. New watch. Fancy dinner. Extra drinks on you. But here's the catch: commission highs come and go. Quarters fluctuate. Markets shift. Now more than ever, you can't treat every paycheck like a lottery win. Try this instead: Split your check. A solid money rule: 50% to lifestyle, 30% to savings/investments, 20% to debt. Set auto-transfers. Remove temptation. Have a percentage automatically move to savings or investments the minute you get paid. Living below your means is how you avoid feeling broke—even during dry spells. 2. Build the "Oh Crap" Fund Sales is high-risk, high-reward. One quarter, you're crushing it, the next you're staring down a dry pipeline and a mortgage payment. Enter your emergency fund. This isn't optional—it's survival. Ideally, you want 3–6 months of living expenses saved in a separate account, untouched unless it's a true money emergency. Having this cushion keeps you from making desperate decisions when things get tight—and keeps your mind clear to prospect fanatically. 3. Debt Doesn't Care About Your Commission Credit cards. Car payments. Student loans. Debt is a silent killer of long-term wealth. And the more you make, the more it sneaks in. Why? Because it's easy to think, “I'll just pay it off with my next check.” Then the check comes. And goes. Start taking control: List your debts. Highest interest first. Choose a strategy. Snowball (smallest balance first) or Avalanche (highest interest first). Stick to it. Automate payments. No missed due dates. No excuses. Pay with cash. And stick to it. If you can't afford to pay for it all now. You can't afford it, period. Freedom means having money that belongs to you—not a credit card company. 4. Your Future Self is Counting on You It's easy to feel invincible when you're 25, 30, 35—closing deals, stacking checks. But time moves fast. And if you don't start investing for the long haul, future-you will be making cold calls at 70. Start with your 401(k) if your company offers one—especially if there's a match (that's free money). If not, look into IRAs or Roth IRAs. Even small monthly contributions grow massively over time thanks to compounding interest. The earlier you start, the easier it is. The later you start, the harder it gets. 5. Plan, Don't Wing It You wouldn't wing a sales call with a high-value prospect, right? The same goes for your finances. You need a plan. Set financial goals. Pay off $10K in debt. Save $20K this year. Max out your Roth IRA. Track your spending. Use an app or spreadsheet. Know where every dollar goes. Meet with a financial advisor. Let a pro help map the path. Sales success without financial structure is just noise. You work too hard to have nothing to show for it in the end. 6. Discipline is Freedom This isn't about deprivation. It's about choice. When your money's right, you can: Stop chasing bad deals. Invest in coaching, property, or your own business. Sleep well, knowing you're not one missed quota away from panic. The people who look rich often aren't. The people who stay rich? They play the long game. Protect the Bank Account You already know how to grind. You already know how to win. Now it's time to build a life where that effort creates lasting freedom—not just fleeting dopamine hits.

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gains understanding, for her profit is better than silver, and her gain surpasses gold." - Proverbs 3:13-14Making wise financial decisions early in life can set the stage for long-term stability and generosity. But where should students and young professionals begin? Today, Bob Doll joins us to share practical financial advice to help young adults start their careers on the right foot.Bob Doll is the CEO and CIO of Crossmark Global Investments. He regularly contributes to Faith and Finance and other media outlets, such as Bloomberg TV, Fox Business, and CNBC. Building a Life of Faithful Stewardship from the StartFinances can feel overwhelming for students and young adults stepping into the world of work—budgets, debt, investing, generosity…where do you even begin? Yet these early years are some of the most formative when it comes to your long-term financial health and spiritual growth. That's why it's critical to lay a foundation not just of financial literacy but of biblical stewardship. Here are some timeless pieces of practical wisdom for young adults who want to honor God with their money from the beginning.1. Begin With a Plan—And a BudgetWithout a clear plan for spending, saving, and giving, it's easy to drift into debt or financial anxiety. A solid budget helps you take control of your finances before they start controlling you.And you don't have to do it alone. Tools like the FaithFi app make creating an intentional, faith-filled budget easy. It's not just about numbers—it's about aligning your finances with your values.2. Save for Emergencies—And Stay Out of DebtAfter budgeting, build an emergency fund with three to six months of expenses. Life is unpredictable, and this cushion can keep you from turning to debt when the unexpected hits.Also, make sure to pay off your cards in full each month and chip away at any student loans as quickly as you can.3. Learn from Others—and Find a MentorThere's no substitute for wise counsel. Watch those who are succeeding with money—and those who aren't. Learn from both.Having a mentor or a financial advisor who shares your values is essential. Surrounding yourself with godly counsel can help you avoid pitfalls like overspending or failing to save.4. Give Generously—Even When It's HardStart giving now. Like Randy Alcorn says, “God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but our standard of giving.” Even when budgets are tight, generosity opens your heart and reminds you that God is the true provider.5. Start Investing Early—and ConsistentlyCompound interest is a powerful force—either for or against you. The earlier you start investing, the more time your money has to grow. Even small, consistent contributions—what financial experts call “dollar-cost averaging”—can make a huge impact over time.Start with low-cost index funds or retirement accounts like a Roth IRA. And don't overlook your workplace benefits. If your employer offers a match, take it. That's free money.6. Align Your Investments with Your FaithToday's investors have more opportunities than ever to make faith-based investment choices. As the movement toward values-based investing grows, believers can increasingly steward their portfolios in ways that reflect biblical principles.7. Embrace Rhythms and Celebrate MilestonesThe journey to financial stability can feel long, especially when progress is slow. That's why we suggest setting milestones and celebrating small wins. God wants us to enjoy things. We're not meant to live like monks but are called to be wise.These rhythms of budgeting, saving, investing, and giving aren't just habits—they're acts of worship.8. Talk About Money—Especially in MarriageMoney fights are one of the top reasons for marital conflict. Get on your knees in prayer and ask the Lord to guide you both. Set goals as a couple and revisit them often.Being on the same page financially brings unity and builds trust. It's also a way of inviting God into your relationship in a very practical, day-to-day way.9. Grow in Wisdom—And Keep LearningStaying in God's Word and learning from wise voices is crucial. Some books that we recommend to help you discern what the Bible really says about wealth and generosity are:Money, Possessions, and Eternity: A Comprehensive Guide to What the Bible Says about Financial Stewardship, Generosity, Materialism, Retirement, Financial Planning, Gambling, Debt, and More by Randy Alcorn The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving by Randy AlcornStart StrongTo the student, recent graduate, or young couple just starting out: the best time to build wise financial habits is now. Begin with a plan. Learn from mentors. Avoid debt. Save for emergencies. Give generously. Invest consistently. Talk honestly. And let Scripture shape how you think about money.After all, financial wisdom isn't just about building wealth—it's about building a life that reflects the heart of God.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm 70 years old and have $112,000 in my checking account. I'm about to retire and unsure what to do with this money. Should I pay off my $110,000 mortgage or use the funds for home repairs and a new car?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineCrossmark Global InvestmentsMoney, Possessions, and Eternity: A Comprehensive Guide to What the Bible Says about Financial Stewardship, Generosity, Materialism, Retirement, Financial Planning, Gambling, Debt, and More by Randy AlcornThe Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving by Randy AlcornWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich 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.

Don and Tom explore the role of risk, resilience, and rational investing as they tackle stock market uncertainty, Roth conversion confusion, and Robinhood's attempt to lure new users. They mix in practical advice with plenty of caller questions—plus a detour into air-dried laundry, social media skepticism, and an appreciation for the film Tune Out the Noise. It's Talking Real Money in its purest form: smart, skeptical, and occasionally funny. 0:04 Intro: Making money more understandable 1:09 Tom's tech issues and growing role of the stock market 2:11 When you should sell stocks in retirement 3:31 Risk capacity vs risk tolerance explained 5:14 Funny promo: Financial Flinch Reflex (FFR) 6:32 Stock market participation then vs now 7:04 Caller: Gratitude for 'Tune Out the Noise' documentary 8:16 The real goal of the show: Tuning out the noise 10:45 Caller Paul on clothesline nostalgia and laundry talk 13:05 Documentary's backstory, David Booth's art & Dimensional's origins 14:30 Why market timing makes you crazy and poor 15:57 Caller Tom sees a Facebook Roth ad—what gives? 17:46 Breaking down legitimate Roth conversion strategies 19:31 Don's rant on Facebook, Tom's retreat to LinkedIn 20:39 Caller Roger: Can you convert RMDs into Roth? (Spoiler: no) 21:37 Clarifying RMDs vs Roth conversions—rules & misunderstandings 24:14 Direct 401(k) to Roth IRA conversion—confirmed 25:59 Q: Why add bonds if you're 20 years from retirement? 28:03 How real people react to 50% portfolio drops 29:16 The truth about emotional investing and loss tolerance 31:08 Why Robinhood's "free money" comes at a cost 32:56 Custodians vs Gamifiers: Schwab, Fidelity, and the Robinhood trap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This time, we're featuring financial insights from co-host Ryan Morrissey, who's here to help you navigate this turbulent financial landscape. We'll explore the recent volatility sparked by President Trump's tariff announcements and discuss the remarkable market rebound that followed. Ryan also lays out six strategic moves you can make to optimize your investment strategy during these downturns, whether it's buying the dip, rebalancing your portfolio, or taking advantage of tax efficiencies. Stay tuned for valuable tactics and practical advice to bolster your financial well-being and prepare for a successful retirement. Let's get started with Retire with Ryan! You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [0:00] Suggested market strategies for navigating a down market [5:45] Invest early in Roth IRA, IRA, HSA, and 529 accounts to capitalize on market declines and potential growth. [6:46] Rebalance your portfolio regularly to maintain target allocation and capitalize on market shifts without overthinking decisions. [8:37] Set your savings up so you put a certain amount in every month to take advantage of dollar cost averaging. [9:01] Cut your losses and sell underperforming investments [10:41] How to take advantage of tax losses inside your taxable investment accounts [15:00] Consider replacing mutual funds with ETFs for better tax efficiency when the market is down for long-term benefits. Smart Investment Moves to Leverage Stock Market Declines Market volatility is not uncommon, but it can be nerve-wracking for investors. Yet, as seasoned investor Warren Buffett famously said, "Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful." In times of market downturn, opportunities abound for those who know where to look. Here's a breakdown of six strategic moves you can make to take advantage of a down market: 1. Buy the Dip When markets decline significantly, it presents a unique buying opportunity. This strategy involves purchasing stocks when their prices are lower than usual, positioning yourself to benefit when prices rebound. It's important to remember that timing the market perfectly is nearly impossible, but by entering a 10% decline or more, you're likely to see gains as the market recovers. This can also be a great time to maximize your contributions to your IRA, Roth IRA, or HSA to take full advantage of the opportunity. 2. Rebalance Your Portfolio Portfolio rebalancing is crucial for maintaining your desired asset allocation, especially after market fluctuations. For instance, market dips might skew this balance if your target is a 60/40 stock-to-bond ratio. Rebalancing during market declines can ensure the original allocation is restored and takes advantage of lower stock prices. 3. Automate Your Investments Automating investments ensures consistent contributions to your portfolio, regardless of market conditions. Dollar-cost averaging mitigates the risks associated with market volatility. Whether through a 401(k), IRA, or other investment accounts, setting up automatic contributions allows you to buy into the market regularly without second-guessing the timing. 4. Sell Underperforming Investments Market downturns clarify which investments are not worth holding onto. If individual stocks or mutual funds consistently underperform, it may be time to cut losses and reinvest the capital into more promising assets. Clearing these underperformers cleans up your portfolio and allows you to focus on investments with better potential. 5. Harvest Tax Losses Down markets offer a chance to engage in tax-loss harvesting. Selling securities at a loss can offset taxable gains from other investments, reducing your tax liability. Additionally, you can claim up to $3,000 in capital losses against your ordinary income each year. When using this strategy, be mindful of the wash sale rule, which prohibits repurchasing the same or substantially identical security within 30 days to claim the tax loss. 6. Transition to Tax-Efficient Investments During a market downturn, re-evaluating your taxable investment accounts for tax efficiency can be advantageous. Mutual funds often distribute capital gains annually, potentially increasing your tax bill even if you haven't sold your shares. Consider exchanging mutual funds for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which typically offer greater tax efficiency by limiting capital gains distributions to shareholders until shares are sold. While market downturns can be daunting, they provide excellent opportunities for investors to reshuffle their portfolios strategically. You can navigate market volatility and improve your financial health by buying the dip, rebalancing, automating investments, selling underperformers, harvesting tax losses, and transitioning to tax-efficient investments. Resources Mentioned Retirement Readiness Review Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel Download my entire book for FREE  Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact   Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

Welcome to episode 84 of the One for the Money podcast. This episode airs on April 15 which means it's the tax filing deadline. Now no one likes paying more taxes than they have to, and a great way to accomplish this is by using a Roth Retirement account. In this episode, I'll share how everyone can have a Roth. In the tips, tricks, and strategies portion, I will share a tip on how for the same amount of money it may make more sense to complete a Roth conversion than a Roth contribution.In this episode...What is a Roth Retirement Account? [1:56]Direct Roth IRA Contributions [2:46]Roth 401ks, SIMPLE IRAs, and SEP IRAs [3:44]Roth Conversions [7:36]Backdoor Roth IRAs & Pro-Rata Rule [8:36]I remember years ago a coworker of mine shared with me that she and her husband hoped that their income would one day be high enough that they would no longer be eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA. It's true, that certain individuals, can make too much income to contribute to a Roth IRA. But in this episode, I will share how everyone, regardless of their income level can contribute to a Roth IRA or put differently, how everyone can Roth this way. Okay, that was pretty bad but I had to try. But first, it would be helpful to provide a brief explanation of what exactly a Roth retirement account is and how they came about. A Roth retirement account is merely a retirement account on which you invest monies on which you already paid taxes. Because you are contributing money after it's been taxed all of the growth and all of the distributions are 100% tax-free (provided you follow the required distribution rules; age 59.5, etc). These are a fantastic way for individuals to build a tax-free bucket of money that they can utilize in retirement that won't have any taxable implications.Roth IRA Contributions The first way to contribute to a Roth IRA is to make direct Roth IRA contributions. For the 2025 tax year, individuals who earn less than $150,000 or married couples who earn less than $236,000 can contribute directly to a Roth IRA. For those under 50, they can contribute $7000 and for those 50 and older they can contribute $8000. Roth IRAs are a fantastic way to build a tax-free bucket of money for retirement. I set these up for my wife and me early in our marriage and I'm so glad I did. These can be especially great for kids as well. I call them Kid Roths and I've set these up for our three boys. That way they can benefit from decades of compound growth. If you are early in your career it can be a great time to invest in a Roth IRA.Roth 401ks/Simple IRAs and SEP IRAsRoth 401ks/Simple IRAs and SEP IRAs are another great way for anyone regardless of income level to contribute to a Roth investment account. For whatever reason, Roth 401ks, Simple IRAs, and SEP IRAs have no income limits like Roth IRAs do. So regardless of one's income, they can contribute to a Roth 401k. Roth 401ks are great for lower earners as they can allow you to put away even more money on a tax-free forever basis. Individuals can put up to $23,500 in 2025 and for those 50 and older they can put away an extra $30,500. Oddly enough, for those specifically between the ages of 60-63 they can put away $34,750. Why especially those ages, not sure, you'll have to ask Congress.Roth Simple IRAs have lower contribution limits namely $16,000 for those under 50 and $19,500 for those 50 and older. Roth SEP IRA limits are based on a percentage of one's income. These all are great vehicles where individuals can put a lot more money away on a tax-free forever basis. These can make a lot of sense for individuals in their lower-income years such as those early in their career or for those that are late in their career when they are working part-time prior to retirement. However, these can also...

Today's caller is living the freelance dream—flexible schedule, creative freedom, but… zero employer retirement benefits. If you're self-employed and wondering how the heck you're supposed to save for retirement without a 401(k), this episode is for you. Nicole breaks down the best retirement accounts for freelancers, how to reverse-engineer your savings plan, and how to turn “irregular income” into “regular savings.” Because yes, you can have a dreamy retirement, even without a W-2. To open your Traditional or Roth IRA today, go to public.com/moneyrehab Paid endorsement for Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. This information is for educational purposes only and is not tax or investment advice. Consult your tax advisor for individual considerations. Visit the IRS website for more information on the limitations and tax benefits of Traditional and Roth IRAs. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. *Terms and Conditions apply.  All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Brokerage services for alternative assets are offered by Dalmore Group, LLC, member FINRA & SIPC. Brokerage services for treasury accounts offering 6-month T-Bills are offered by Jiko Securities, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Banking services are offered by Jiko Bank, a division of Mid-Central National Bank. Securities investments: Not FDIC Insured; No Bank Guarantee; May Lose Value. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. *APY as of 6/20/24, subject to change.

In this episode of ChooseFI, hosts Brad and Sean Mulaney dive deep into tax strategies crucial for financial independence, focusing on tax basketing, asset location, and effective use of retirement accounts. The conversation includes recent changes regarding 529 plans funding Roth IRAs and reassurances for those starting their financial journey at any age. FI Tax Guy | What to know about the ins and outs of the new SECURE 2.0 529-to-Roth IRA rollover provision Read Article  Fidelity's 529 Withdrawal Guide The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Schwab Guide on How to Sell Specific Lots Note from Sean Sean also wanted to clarify that in order to qualify to use the IRS Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy table to compute required minimum distributions for the older spouse, the older spouse must be more than 10 years older than the younger spouse and the younger spouse must be the 100 percent primary beneficiary. Key Topics Discussed: Question from Jay regarding tax strategies 00:00:53 Exploration of tax drag vs. tax strategies for high savings rates Discussion on Tax Basketing 00:01:38 Explanation of asset location and tax implications for early retirees Query about 529 Plans and Roth IRA Conversions 00:10:59 Recent changes in Secure Act 2.0 regarding 529 accounts Advice for Starting Financial Independence at Age 35 00:17:42 Encouragement that it's never too late to start financial independence Explaining Capital Gains and Taxation 00:25:23 Understanding tax on gains from asset sales and strategies for minimizing it Options for Late Savers 00:30:27 Discussion on optimal retirement account strategies at different life stages Final Thoughts and Resources 00:51:12 Recap and resources for listeners to further explore these topics Actionable Takeaways: Consider tax basketing to optimize your investment strategy in retirement accounts. 00:10:04 Explore Roth conversions annually to potentially minimize RMDs and tax burdens. 00:36:46 Start your financial independence journey today, regardless of your current age or financial situation. 00:22:10 Key Quotes: "Tax drag isn't really much of a thing at all." 00:03:07 "It literally takes $0 to start." 00:18:22 "This is an opportunity, not a problem." 00:10:04 "You do not need a backdoor Roth IRA." 00:24:11 "It's never too late to start on the path to FI." 00:22:41 Timestamps: 00:00:53 Tax Strategies 00:01:38 Tax Basketing Discussion 00:10:59 Roth IRA from 529 Plans 00:17:42 Starting at Age 35 00:25:23 Capital Gains Taxation 00:30:27 Strategies for Late Savers 00:51:12 Final Thoughts Discussion Questions: How can tax basketing improve your investment strategy? 00:10:01 What steps can you take to maximize the benefits of a backdoor Roth IRA? 00:24:11 What financial actions can individuals take today to start their path to financial independence? 00:22:10 FAQs: What is tax basketing? Tax basketing refers to the strategic allocation of various asset types (Roth, traditional, taxable) to minimize tax liabilities. 00:10:01 How does the Secure Act 2.0 affect 529 plans? The Secure Act 2.0 allows for up to $35,000 from 529 plans to be transferred to a beneficiary's Roth IRA. 00:11:21 Is it too late to start financial independence at age 35? Absolutely not; starting at 35 can still lead to successful financial independence with the right strategies. 00:22:10

It's Taylor Swift week in the basement, and we're kicking things off by looking at the business behind the beats. Joe, OG, and the gang pull back the curtain on the intentional, savvy moves that took Taylor from breakout teen artist to industry powerhouse—and why her playbook might just work for your financial life, too. We're talking about more than album drops. This episode covers: The power of controlling your own creative output Why strategic collaborations and timing matter How to avoid your own “sophomore slump”—in music or investing The underrated value of clarity, consistency, and small-but-steady improvements Then, we take a sharp turn toward the world of Roth IRAs, answering a listener question about the five-year rule and clearing up common misconceptions. If you've ever been confused by tax rules or unsure when you can touch your money, this one's for you. Plus, there's plenty more along the way: A local company stops making yardsticks (and we may be way too interested in that) Salutes to the troops, and a shoutout to basement podcasters A colonoscopy story you didn't ask for, but will absolutely remember Whether you're a Swiftie, an investor, or just here for the financial clarity, this episode brings strategy, insight, and unexpected takeaways you can actually use. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-strategic-genius-of-taylor-swift-1669 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keith introduces the three types of freedom: time freedom, money freedom, and location freedom, and how real estate investing can provide all three. He is joined by special guest, Loral Langemeier, a global wealth expert, who shares her journey from a $25,000 investment to becoming a millionaire through real estate and mentorship.  Debt is Not Negative: Loral emphasized that debt is simply the cost of money and can be a positive tool when used responsibly. Tax Strategies for Wealth Building: She introduced the "tax trifecta" - understanding how you make money, how to activate tax code deductions, and how to invest in alternatives like real estate to reduce taxes.  Active Engagement and Mentorship: Loral stressed the importance of actively engaging in your wealth-building journey, getting the right mentors, and continuously learning. She believes the difference between those who succeed and those who struggle is their level of active participation and willingness to learn from experts. Resources: Ask questions and make requests at AskLoral.com to receive free tickets, ebooks, and other resources. Show Notes: GetRichEducation.com/549 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching:GREmarketplace.com/Coach Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  You get paid first: Text FAMILY to 66866 Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review”  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Automatically Transcribed With Otter.ai    Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, it's the first time that we have a certain legacy finance personality on the show. We're talking about how you can cultivate your own personal wealth mindset, how to creatively add value to your real estate and how to put your kids to work for big tax deductions and more. Today on get rich education.    Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors, who delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show, guess who? Top Selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki, get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast or visit get rich education.com   Corey Coates  1:12   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:28   Welcome to GRE from the second state of Pennsylvania to the second to last State of Alaska and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm Keith weinholding. You are back for another wealth building week. This is get rich education, and coincidentally, they are the two states where I've lived my life. Every single one of us has a gap in our lives. There is a gap between who you are and who you could be. And today, my guest and I will talk about this some more. Look, there are people who should already be financially free, but they're not. Their residual income could exceed their expenses by now, yet they aren't financially free. It's not because they're lazy, it's not because they're stupid, it's because they're stuck in one of these three traps. Number one, they're working harder instead of smarter. Number two, they're playing small instead of playing to win, which is like paying off low interest rate debt instead of keeping their own money, like I discussed last week, or thirdly, investing in all the wrong things, or not investing at all. And the worst part is that these people don't even realize that they're doing it. Most people aren't even cognizant. They don't have any awareness of the gap. You're not going to make progress on closing a gap that you don't know exists, you've got no chance of hitting a bull's eye when you're aiming at the wrong target. And I think it helps to develop a structure in your life where you have to tell yourself, I better do a good job here, or else. Yeah, it's the or else part that's a motivator. Now, some people won't extrapolate that mantra beyond the workplace. The number one thing that keeps employees showing up at work is fear. They tell themselves, I better show up at work on time, or else, I better do a good job on this project, or else I better give a great sales presentation. Or else. Now that's all well and fine, but to close the gap between who you are and who you could be, tell yourself something on a higher level, like I had better get some residual income outside of work, or else I'm going to stay stuck in a soulless job forever, and I'll never get that time back. So you've got to set up the right for else consequence for yourself. And then, yeah, of course, there are smaller ones like, I better avoid eating kettle chips, or else I'll gain weight. Let's be mindful that there are three types of freedom. You've got three types time freedom, money freedom and location freedom. Real Estate Investing gives you all three. You can make an unlimited income. There's the money freedom part. You can remotely manage your property managers from anywhere. There's your location. Freedom. And since you're not directly responding to your tenant, your property manager is, well, there's your time, freedom, you've got a buffer from emergencies, once you get this dialed in, and it does take a few years, oh, now you've got the time freedom, the money freedom and the location freedom. What do you want to avoid only making a big income? It was recently reported that Wall Street bonuses were way up this past year. Okay, yeah, but how happy are those finance worker Manhattanites who wear an iron pressed button down shirt and a Patagonia vest for 14 hours a day. That's not time freedom for sure, and it isn't location freedom either, unless it's 100% work from anywhere. You know, in my life, I recently got a great reminder of this. It really hit me. I have this close friend. He was the valedictorian of our high school class. I think I brought him up before. He's still a tight friend. I mean, sometimes we go on vacations together. Well, we have a high school class reunion back in Pennsylvania this summer, and among him and our other like, closest group of friends, my tightest guys, I'm always encouraging everyone to, hey, spend at least a week together, because we can't all get together like this that often, and because I have the time freedom to kind of suggest that and even push for that. Well, my valedictorian friend, he is a surgeon in St Louis, and among this tightest knit group of friends, he's the only one that cannot get the week off so that we can all hang out together more after the reunion. Instead, he can only get three or four days. He's got to get back to work as a surgeon in St Louis. Now, I'm sure he's compensated really well, and he doesn't live a bad life, but as a surgeon, you know, it's just become blatantly obvious that he doesn't have either the time freedom or the location freedom. Yet I do as a remote real estate investor, even though it's not something that I studied in college, but my valedictorian surgeon friend, you know, he had a long educational path, you know, undergrad and med school and residency and a ton of training and all these years tied up in his medical education. Therefore, you know, sometimes when people do that, they feel obligated, like that's what they should do, that's what they have to do, because he's already put so much into it. But he only has one of the three types of freedom. And no matter what you went to school for, if you find out about something better, like a great business idea or remote real estate investing, you've got to consider pivoting into that and go into that if it makes sense for you, the world changes. It keeps getting faster, and you've got to change with it. So obtaining financial freedom through real estate helps you deal with an external locus of control issue where life is constantly happening to you, rather than something you can influence. When you're an employee, life happens to you more often than when you're the one pushing the buttons, when you control the three freedoms now, you are narrowing that gap between who you are and who you could be.    I didn't mention it previously. Two weeks ago, I brought you the show from Las Vegas, Nevada, last week, from just outside Colorado Springs. And today I'm here in Anchorage, Alaska, where I'll be for a few weeks before heading to London, England, and then from there, on to Scotland. I plan to visit the former home of the father of economics when I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland, of course, that is Adam Smith, the author of The Wealth of Nations. I might tell you more about that at that time.    Before we bring in our guest this week, a quarter recently ended.  Here is our asset class rundown. The NAR reported that the median sale price of an existing home rose 3.8% year over year in February, marking the 20th straight month that sale prices increased year over year. Mortgage rates fell from 6.9% to 6.6 per Freddie Mac this is all year to date. Q1, the S, p5, 100 was down four and a half percent. The NASDAQ down 10 and a half percent. That's officially correction territory, as those tariff years dominated. The quarter interest rates of all kinds are a little lower yield on the 10 year, Tino falling from 4.6 to 4.2 despite inflation concerns, inflation hovering just under 3% for most of the quarter, Bitcoin down 12% oil is still super cheap, beginning the quarter where it ended near 70 bucks. Gold has been the star performer this year. Are up 17% just in the quarter, and for the first time in history, has searched the over $3,000 an ounce, its best quarter since 1986 in fact, this century, gold has now outperformed the S, p5 100 by two and a half times. Just incredible. There's our asset class rundown. Let's speak with this week's guest.   This week's guest has been a long time, prominent, well known name, perhaps even a household name. She is a global wealth expert, six time New York Times, best selling author, and today, she runs integrated wealth systems and other alternative asset platforms since 1996 she's been involved in multiple areas of finance, mentoring, real estate investment, business development and gas and oil. And much like me, she teaches people her strategies on how to make money, invest money and keep money, but together, you and I can look forward to getting her spin today, and you've seen her seemingly everywhere over time, in the USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, the view Dr Phil in every major legacy network channel, many times she is on a mission to change The conversation about money. She was known as the millionaire maker from back when a million was actually a lot of money. Welcome to GRE Loral Langemeier.   Loral Langemeier  11:31   hey, thank you. It's great to be here. Look forward to talking with your audience,   Keith Weinhold  11:35    Laurel, though we're a real estate investing show and audience here, I think that you and I would agree that wealth building starts in the mind that most valuable six inches of real estate between our ears. What's your take on cultivating a wealthy mindset?   Loral Langemeier  11:50   You got to hang out with millionaires. I said the fastest way to become a millionaire is hang out with them. Is for me. I knew that's what happened. 1996 Bob Proctor introduced me to Robert Kiyosaki, Sharon Lechter, I flew down, sat at her kitchen table. I walked out that day. I flew in as an exercise physiologist for Chevron, building fitness centers in their blue collar like offshore oil rigs, refineries like the sexiest places in the world, Kazakhstan and goal Africa. I went in as an exercise physiologist. I went out the next day as a master distributor with a cash flow game. And I jumped, I quit my job and said, I'm going to go follow this Japanese kind of game around. And I was teased and teased and teased. Keith because, I mean, Rich Dad, Poor Dad didn't really hit until 1998 so sort of this risky proposition. But like with anything you say yes, you figure it out. And I knew people asked me over the time. They said, What would have happened if Rich Dad, Poor Dad didn't hit, if it didn't become as big? I said, we just opened up another door that's such a message for people, their need to see the path of how to do everything before they move is honestly one of their biggest saboteurs. So for mindset, I think mindset also goes with knowledge, because I just know, having taught this, you know, just this whole millionaire hold like a millionaire maker book. And for all your listeners, I can give them a ebook copy of the millionaire maker. So love to give that out to everybody for free. However. You want to do that in the show notes, but becoming a millionaire is the same thing as take like you said, you got to learn to make money. As an entrepreneur, even if you have a job, you've got to learn to make money. You've got to learn to keep it through better tax planning, and you have to invest in alternatives, which is why real estate was my first millionaire status. And I've been a millionaire now in nine industries. So that's kind of exciting new hit nine industries this last year. So done in a lot of different categories. Real Estate was my first in 1999 and during that period, if it wasn't hanging out with Robert Sharon, Keith Cunningham, like Bob Proctor. I mean the guys. I mean when you're living around millionaires, the fastest way to not only get your mindset, but then your behavior and your knowledge levels just skyrockets because you're around I mean people who live it, and they're living it every day. I think those who sit on the bleacher seats, I call it Keith, where they're just watching, reading, but never getting in the game. They're the ones who like they're sitting in the oyster seats, right? They're just watching. They're not actually get on the playing field.   Keith Weinhold  14:09   Sure, it harkens back to the classic Jim Rohn quote, you are the average of the five people that you spend the most time with. Laurel when it comes to mindset, one thing I think about is that every single day, 8.2 billion humans wake up, and every single one of us has this gap between who we are and who we could be, yet most of us make zero progress on this ever present gap. So when it comes to wealth mindset and finances, what can we do?    Loral Langemeier  14:38   You gotta get a mentor and a coach. And I got a mentor and a coach when I was 17, what shifted me and really changed the whole trajectory of my life. I grew up at farm in farm girl in Nebraska, and at 17, I was going off to university, also going to play basketball. And so I went to one of those pre sports seminars, and Dennis Whateley was a speaker. And. And I ran to the front of the stage, and I got the book, Think and Grow Rich, and that I can tell you, a farm girl 17, going like, there's a whole other way to live. So instead of going to school to get a law degree, which is what I went into, which I still think I'd be a heck of a little debater and negotiator, but I do that enough in business now, I got a finance degree, and I just studied. And my first mentor at 17, I walked into a bank, and I remember asking the bank president, will you mentor me? Because rich people put their money here. I need to understand money, because I don't understand it. And I was never really raised in that conversation, which I would say, 99% of the planets that way. And I have taught and traveled this work since, you know, 1999 when I became a millionaire, Keith, I've put this work into six continents, all but Antarctica. So I know it works in principle. Everything we will talk about today works in every continent. The benefit is the United States has the most corporate structure, the best tax structure, the best tax strategist, stack strategies. So even my high net worth international clients end up, typically in Nevada, with a C Corp or some sort of asset company or trust, where then they can buy us real estate, US gas and oil and activate our tax code for them. So we do a lot of really high, high level international strategies. Just because I bent all over to do that, when very blessed to do that, it's interesting, because I think mentoring, you're not going to be taught this. And what drives me crazy when people say, and I'm sure you've heard this a million times on your podcast too, Keith, schools should teach this. No, they shouldn't. Parents, you need to teach it. You need to be more active in your household than your family. And instead of letting Tiktok raise your kids, you need to raise your kids. So I do a lot of work in this category, because my kids are now 18 and 25 raised them a single mom, but legacy work is critical, and that's why I have a game. I have a millionaire maker game. So from the cash flow game, I have a game, and I think the parents have got to put the conversation about money in the household, and they got to monitor like, what they say, you know, don't ever, ever say to a child. Don't ask for it, or, you know, or we can't afford it, because you can afford anything you want if you learn to make money. And I think Keith is part of this. I know we're in a real estate show, but you know, how many people want to be real estate millionaires and never make it? How many people want to do like you said, whatever, the life they're really meant to live? But again, I think they're in I don't think I know their environment, who they hang out with, who they spend time with, what they read there. Are they binging your podcasts and my YouTube channel, or are they binging Netflix and Hulu and watching John like how you feed your mind and what content, how many books you read? I don't care if they're ebooks audiobooks, but you've got to put new content in your brain all the time and be around the people making it happen.   Keith Weinhold  17:41   Oh, that's great. Sure. To change yourself. You got to change your five, change your mentors, change your influencers, and, yeah, be that parent that teaches your children about money, and you don't have to teach that money is a scarce resource. I really just think that's one part of a mindset. That's where most people's mind goes when they think about money. They think about it as a scarce resource for one thing, and it's pretty counterintuitive with the mindset. I mean, if you want to be in the top of 1% you're probably going to be misunderstood and even iconoclastic.   Loral Langemeier  18:13   Yep, I would agree. And you know, another thing with mindset that I think is interesting is, and again, I'm gonna go back to knowledge, about consuming the right knowledge. And on my YouTube channel, which is, you know, Laura Langmuir, The Millionaire maker, it's family friendly. It's for five years old and up. We actually have a YouTube journal, Keith, that we did, where it says, What day did you watch the video? What did you learn? What will you do? And in 365, days, because I'm there every day, here is your this. And that's what I tell parents. I said, get yourself and get your kids a journal and at least one lesson from every recorded, you know, video. So I would say, give me five to 10 minutes a day just for a new piece of content. And the biggest one that is searched on my channel. I want to relate this to real estate is people's mindset and understanding with debt. They have such a negative, negative relationship to debt. And I want to start with this. Debt is the cost of money period. It is not negative. I think it's the most positive thing you could do. And as a real estate investor, arbitraging debt, meaning, if you can get debt for two, 3% or 0% I have over 500 sources, I can get 0% financing for 21,24 months, that's free money that's not hard money, that's not 13% 14,15, that's free. And I would go into a million dollars of 0% debt I have, and I will at the end if I can invest it and make 10,12, 20, 30% so people need to learn, debt is your friend. If you use it in a responsible, organized and educated way, it is absolutely your enemy if you're using it to buy lifestyle crap. So like, debt is such a weird thing. Keith and I don't care how long I've had clients, if they grew up with a lot of debt and a negative impact around money, they can be a millionaire and still have this weird relationship to death. Oh my god, debt, and it's literally. They tremor. It's like it's just money, and there's plenty of it. It's just the cost of it. Or is it being paid to you, or are you paying it out and arbitraging that that range could build. I mean, that alone, if you just learned that strategy and applied it on top of your real estate strategy, would triple, if not 10x your portfolio,   Keith Weinhold  20:19   like we say around here at GRE financially free beats debt free. You understand the difference? So does our audience. A lot of people don't. In fact, trying to retire your debt and slow your progress toward being financially free. I love it. Yep, you know what's funny, Laurel, just like you're coming on this show today, sometimes I'm a guest on other shows, and the way I've started to have the host introduce me to say, Hey, if you want your show to get some attention, say that our guest today, me has millions of dollars in debt, and he has from a young age that attracts attention. They think it's a negative thing. They don't know that my debt is outsourced to tenants. They don't realize a net worth statement. That's only the debt side of the column. We haven't talked about the asset side of the column, so it's really just an example of being paradoxical and iconoclastic. There we move beyond the mindset Laurel. I know you have some really actionable things on how you can help people build wealth quickly. Tell us about that.    Loral Langemeier  21:16   So again, using debt is a massive piece of it. I'll just talk about some of the stories, like when I got into real estate in 1999 real estate in 1999 I lived in Marin, California, Sausalito, specifically right on the water. I shouldn't be on one side, right the San Francisco Bay. And got pregnant at 19 January, 8 was like, Oh, little sticks like, Oh, I'm gonna be my mom. And I knew I'd be a single mom. So I entered parenting as single mom, and I struck that, you know, another check for $25,000 seems to be the number for a real estate mentor that I've been kind of putting off. And I said, Oh, it's time. I said, so right now let's go. I have nine months. And he said, Why do we have nine months? I said, I'm really close to being millionaire, but I gotta hit millionaire status. And I need this much cash flow by my 34th birthday, which was June that year. I said, because in September, I'll be having a baby. And he went, what dropped the phone, and so he said, All right, so I wired him the money, and he said, meet me in Oklahoma City the next day. Yeah, well, there's a ticking clock. Yeah, there was my timeline nine months. But we went straight to the streets. And I think for the for me, I was privileged to be with a whole team, and I don't think I am a massive advocate. If you don't know what you're doing and you haven't done it, why take 100% risk in any industry that you've never played so I only got 15 20% of that run. But here's what I came with. In 1999 I knew how to build a database because Bob Proctor taught me that. So during the cash flow era, I bought my own inventory, took out debt, bought $500,000 of games, put them in my own warehouse so I could collect my own database. So from 96 to 99 I had acquired 18,000 people who had bought Rich Dad, Poor Dad books, cash flow, cash flow, 101202, all his the products, and I had my own financing. So I was doing my own product. I had my own stuff. And all this is a big backstory, because a lot of you in real estate don't have a database. And here's the value I brought to that team that earned me another almost 10, 15% of equity is I brought 18,000 people, and when they saw that, they're like, you could help us raise the money, I said, I don't know to raise money. And they said, we do so again, I bought my way into a team for 25,000 in a mentoring program. There's about 10 of us that met in Oklahoma City, went down to Norman, and within less than a month, we raised $16 million out of that database. They did. I didn't know how to do it again. I sat on the sideline, but highly mentored and guided. So I was on a winning team from the beginning. We bought so much real estate, and then we went into the remodel. And so right then it's like, well, let's own the construction company, so that way we could get better buys. We can buy for the whole street. We can buy for the whole apartment. So we bought we started construction companies. We started being the distributor of the windows and doors in Oklahoma. We did that in Kansas. Now we do flooring as part of the distribution. We've done stoves. I mean, you name it, if you're going to buy it, buy it from yourself, or some way that you get paid extra. And then, like I told you before we went on the show, I would have the property management company. So we would start that, which was then came along with the cleaning companies. Gotta have the cleaning companies, the cleaning crews, the hauling crews. You're gonna pay one 900 got junk, buy your own truck, lease your own truck, haul your own stuff, and then rent it out lease it to others. So when we say cash flow fast in real estate, I went all in. So I own 51% of every property management company, and I put a ad in the paper for an electrician or a plumber, because they were mine most of two expensive things. And so they became partners. And I just made a lot of stuff, quite frankly, but I made it up with a lot of mentoring and guidance, of which those guys are still great, great friends of mine. We still own a little bit of property together. We went to Mexico and did a whole run through Mexico. The team was the most vital part. And what I say to folks in real estate, if you want to go big is you better get a database. I just find key that so many people in real estate don't understand. The Association of having a database, and the way I describe it is, today I might not want to buy, but if you don't have my name, phone number and email, and you don't continue to market to me the day, I am ready to buy or sell, you're no longer on my radar because you're not keeping in touch with me. Your job is an agent, a broker, an investor, I mean, is to build this database of people who then will go along with you on a journey. And I can tell you, it was a very blessed to have done it that way, but that 18,000 is what helped me become a millionaire. Because I had the people. I didn't know what to do with them. I didn't know how to raise my I didn't know anything about a PPM. I knew nothing, but I learned it all, and I was under a very, very successful. You know, decades and decades of success team. So, you know, they were 20,30, years my senior, but boy, I learned. I really leaned into it. And I think people do buy into programs and mentoring communities, but they don't do the work. And I see it all the time, I don't know how many people, and I'm holding up my millionaire maker book, and then this latest one, which is how I made my kids millionaires on paper at 10, again, by using trust real estate. Put them in my real estate company, shareholders,   Keith Weinhold  26:05   make your kids millionaires. Is the title of the book you just held on that second one.   Loral Langemeier  26:10   That one's a 2022, that was my latest best seller, and how I did it with my kids. And again, this back to The Parenting. So I can go a lot of ways, Keith, but I think the do it fast is go wider. I think so many people just go into buying just the asset, and they don't like I'm in the cannabis space right now in Nevada, legal. I'm an illegal cannabis I have licenses and very similar, if you're going to go in and you say seed to sale, you own everything like so I mean, the guy who's running my farm, he owns the label makers. He owns the, I mean, if you name it, he owns the nutrient company, because you need nutrients for the plant you're going to own. You're going to own. So the more you own of what you do and you have to pay, the more you keep your cash flow. And again, I see that mistake with real estate people subbing all the work to so many people. It's like there's so much cash that just went out that could be at least a percent of that could have stayed home with you. Sure   Keith Weinhold  26:59   100% there's an awful lot there. You're a big believer in vertical integration, in bringing in all these levels and stages of construction and management and so on, and bringing them in house. And yeah, it's interesting. You talk about the importance of the team. Here, we talk about how your team, whether that's your property manager, your mortgage loan officer, your 1031 exchange agent, how your team is actually even more important than the property itself. And yeah, when it comes to having a database these names Laurel, it's amazing, in a way, reassuring, in a high tech world with AI, that it still comes down to that primordial human connection of people and who you know you're the listener. As you've listened to Laurel, you could probably tell that she was a star student, which is why she's now a star teacher and mentor so much more when we come back with Laurel Langemeier, this is Get Rich Education. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold.   you know what's crazy? Your bank is getting rich off of you. The average savings account pays less than 1% it's like laughable. Meanwhile, if your money isn't making at least 4% you're losing to inflation. That's why I started putting my own money into the FFI liquidity fund. It's super simple. Your cash can pull in up to 8% returns and it compounds. It's not some high risk gamble like digital or AI stock trading. It's pretty low risk because they've got a 10 plus year track record of paying investors on time in full every time. I mean, I wouldn't be talking about it if I wasn't invested myself. You can invest as little as 25k and you keep earning until you decide you want your money back, no weird lockups or anything like that. So if you're like me and tired of your liquid funds just sitting there doing nothing, check it out. Text family to 66866, to learn about freedom. Family investments, liquidity fund again. Text family to 66866.   hey, you can get your mortgage loans at the same place where I get mine at Ridge lending group NMLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than any provider in the entire nation because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. You can start your pre qualification and chat with President Caeli Ridge personally. Start Now while it's on your mind at Ridgelendinggroup.com that's Ridgelendinggroup.com.   Hal Elrod  29:43   This is Hal Elrod author of The Miracle Morning and listen to get it rich education with Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream.   Keith Weinhold  30:01   Welcome back to get rich education. We have a well known name in the finance space. For decades, Laurel Langemeier with us. She has done an awful lot of real estate investing in her career, and as you can tell, she's got her own recipe, her own formula. She does things differently, she integrates. She brings things in house. Has multiple companies, and Laurel knows that you can be a profiteer when you serve the customer or the tenant, really, to the maximum amount. A lot of people have a gap there, and there's an opportunity cost. And Laurel, I know that one way you serve people is with Airbnbs in the Ozark region of Arkansas. Tell us about what you're doing there. That's really interesting.   Loral Langemeier  30:41   So we bought pretty big houses, and a few of them we actually the one we were remodeling it, and that's when we really got to know the Ozarks. And there's a lot of tentacles. And so to get, like, from the properties we were buying to where you would rent a boat or a jet ski or get your watercraft, it was all the way around the lake. I mean, that's two lane roads, and it just took forever. And I thought, well, let's so we have another LLC that we bought some boats and jet skis. And again, when you get to know what do people really go to the Ozarks part that we call it the Redneck Riviera. They go to party. They go to party more than they need some bougie house to stay in. That's not what they really come they want to stay on the docks. So instead of putting a lot of money, we said, how can we force Do we have one property has 22 beds, so 22 people can sleep, but they just barely sleep there because they party. So we put more money in rehabs, into the dock, expanding the dock, big sound systems, a big bar, refrigerators, just made it super fun. And then when the tenants come, they don't just rent for the night. We also give them. We'll get your groceries and booze. We'll stock your bar down on the dock if you want. We'll pull up our boats and jet skis. So we had our own small fleet. Again, we just stacked on more service. So when the tenants arrived, a we got, you know, anywhere between depending on the boats and the jet skis and the tubes and all the ropes and everything they wanted, water skis. I mean, whatever they wanted to rent. Basically, we became like a rental company, and everybody freaked out, and they said, Oh my gosh, you're going to get killed in insurance. You're not. I mean, yeah, it's a lot more planning, and it's more work to get all that prepared. But that was anywhere between 500 to 1000 more a night in just the Airbnb. So again, why? If you're going to do one thing, do more for them, the more you serve a client, I don't care what area it is, yeah, the more you serve people, the more money you will make, because they're going to buy it, they're going to have to go get their booze on their own. They're going to have to go get groceries like that's a whole day of getting all that gear to their property versus, let us just save you a day on your holiday and let us do it all for you. There's so many creative ways that you could just serve people, and if you don't know what to do, ask them, What a novel concept. I do surveys all the time, like always doing polling and surveys. Hey, I'm a money expert. What do you want me to talk about? That's what right now, if you really look at a lot of my YouTube and a lot of my social media, people want reduced taxes. So like, I'm doing a heavy, heavy lift, because it was a survey that told me to do it, not just because Laurel decided to do it. And I think so many of you don't realize your audience will tell you what they want and how they want to be served. If you're listening, that's how you make money. And so many people as you know too Keith, that come as the entrepreneur saying, This is what I'm going to teach you. Well, nobody asked, nobody asked for that content. You wonder why it's not working. Is because you're pushing your agenda versus pulling and giving and serving their agenda?   Keith Weinhold  33:23   Well, that is a great point. How do you know what people want? Two words ask them, which is exactly what you're doing there and the way that you're adding value and amenities onto a property there, like with what you're doing with Airbnbs in the Ozarks. It actually brings up a thought for another Jim Rohn quote. Jim Rohn said money is usually attracted, not pursued. Tenants are attracted to your rental units, new luxurious floors, and you'll soon profit when they compete over it.   Loral Langemeier  33:52   Yeah, it's a lot of this stuff. It's not difficult. It's just different. And I use that saying all the time because people are like, Oh my gosh, it's so scary. He said, It's not scary. The only reason why people put fear and risk and that kind of negative energy and words, you know, language around, I think real estate or money or any of that, is the lack of knowledge. Because if they don't know, anything that you don't know is scary, like you and I talked before the show about aliaska. I mean, if you don't know how to ski and you try to go to aliaska, good luck. You would be scared out of your mind. But once you learn, it's exhilarating. And I find out with everything. So anything you approach and just notice the hesitation, is it because you need to learn it then lean in and find the best in class to teach you and like, shortcut your learning curve. You don't have to study for years and years and years and years. Becoming an entrepreneur is a decision right now, today, in two minutes, make a decision, and then get to work on what your offers are. You say, Well, what am I going to offer? People ask them, and they'll tell you what they're going to buy from you, because they're buying stuff all day long in this economy, they are buying and going to continue to buy.   Keith Weinhold  34:56   If you yourself have a question for Laurel, you can always ask. Ask it at Ask loral.com L, O, R, A, L and Laurel, what are some of the more outstanding questions that you get over there, and how do you help them with some of the most important ones?   Loral Langemeier  35:12   I'd say the number the biggest flood of content and questions right now is, how do we reduce taxes? I made up this term called the tax trifecta, because what affects your tax return is how you make your money. If you're just an employee, meaning a w2 like in America, that's what it's called. And Kiyosaki said it best in Rich Dad Poor about there's two tax systems. You're an employee, you're going to get tax pieces. You live on what's left. You're an entrepreneur, and you make money inside of a company. You activate 81,000 pages of tax code, and then you pay tax. So you decide how, where you want to pay tax. I call this living corporate life. So when how you make your money inside, what kind of a company? Right? And then activate the 81,000 pages of code for the deductions. Like I teach my people, they'll never go on a vacation. They're gonna have a business trip. And when you're in real estate, you can go anywhere in the world legally on a business trip, as long as you do what's required to actually make it a business trip by looking at real estate, and it's not that difficult. I mean, the reason I'm in a lot of different businesses is my kids have never been on a vacation. I don't take vacations because they're not deductible. I take business trips. So I teach families how to employ their kids. How to do all of that, like, how do you activate your kids? I mean, when my son was born in 1999 he was employed day one. He had Roth IRA By the second day of his life, and he was funded every day. And he's 25 now, just that one move made him a millionaire, just the one move of maximizing your Roth IRA strategically using it to invest in real estate. So I use a lot of participating notes. I did all sorts of different plays to grow their Roths tax free, tax deferred. So I'm super active about the whole family being in a real estate business. I think real estate is it's the first one I went after, and it's still the first one I tell lots of families. I mean, it's got to be in your portfolio. I still own a lot of commercial real estate, some residential, I said, in the Ozarks, but most of mine went commercial within the last especially COVID, I went all commercial for the most part, besides a few pieces of residential. Back to what do I that tax trifecta, how you make money, how you activate the tax code. And then the biggest one that nobody in financial planners will not tell you about it, your tax, your CPA, won't tell you about it. TurboTax is never going to tell you about it. It's how you invest in alternatives. So real estate, obviously, is a big one. Gas and oil is a massive one. Aviation, water rights, mineral rights, conservation easements, carbon credits, those are the ones that affect your tax, because you get the depreciation schedules. So it's how you make it, how you use deductions and how you invest collectively makes up your tax. And so those are the kind of questions key some category of that, like I told you before the show, I have a new guy that just joined by over $20 million of real estate and only a few LLCs, no S corp, no C Corp, no trust. I'm like, and then you have these ridiculous insurance agents who say insurance will cover it all. You don't need to have an LLC or an S corp RC. You do? You do too. I would never live on just insurance that is such as 1960s conversation, like you guys got to grow up?   Keith Weinhold  38:17   Yeah? Well, you know, totally. And you mentioned Rich Dad, and it's really the Cash Flow Quadrant. And one thing that the Cash Flow Quadrant helps delineate is you touched on it your tax treatment. Tom wheelwright is the most frequent guest that we have ever had here on the show, being the tax guy coming from the rich dad school. And Tom wheelwright was really the first one to inform us that something like 98 to 99% of the tax code is actually a road map for where the deductions are. Only one or 2% of maybe are the tax tables and what you must pay almost all the rest of it, is this roadmap to give you a guaranteed ROI if you follow it, something that you don't usually get in investing. And you brought up a few interesting tax strategies there. I think one of them is how you employ your kids and get deductions that way, while your kids learn. Tell us more about that.   Loral Langemeier  39:11   I mean, when Logan was two, I put him out. He was painting buildings. He was around all sorts of, you know, title companies and closing tables. And then my daughter's same thing. So I take them with me. There's again, part of parenting is they have to be involved in your life. And I think so many parents just leave their kids home. They leave them with the device or their phone or some iPad. None of us have it like if they're gonna sit at a time, you know, a closing table, then I want them if they may not know everything at that moment, but that experience in that environment of just being a natural environment for them to know, to do business deals. It changes them. Changes your kids drastically. And then fast forward, when my kids are 18, they get an LLC for their birthday, and they're added on shareholders in a bigger way, because then I use again the roadmap. Because, you know, well, I always. Laugh, I say, but people read fiction novels and junk whatever. I'm reading the tax code. I think the tax code is the most creative, freeing body of work that has ever been done. It's fascinating. It's so creative. My son's becoming a CPA because of it. So when my son went to school, he was on a football scholarship. He played for Georgia, Southern starting center five years because I'm a single mom and I only make $42,000 I don't even own a phone. I don't own a car. I don't own a home, actually, because it's held in LLC It's an estate property   Keith Weinhold  40:32   I put or on paper or on papers.    Loral Langemeier  40:34   No companies own it all and trust on it all. So I own nothing like I literally live Rockefeller style, and I teach people that this really was beyond the millionaire maker stuff. But my point with the kids is then when he goes to school. So instead of going every Friday to watch him play football, on a Saturday, I went on a business trip to see my son, and he and I actually are looking again. That's in states pro Georgia, where Georgia's other is buying some apartments that we can then back into, and then then we go to the athletic department, and we know how much they will guarantee rent paying scholarship men to live in our apartment, like there are so many cool ways, and that that's how my son will get involved. So during all of my trips to watch him, Yes, I took one hour to watch him play football. Otherwise, I went to see my business partner. So my point is, and when he came home, he had to come home, not to just come home, but he came home to see his business partner happened to be his mom. So there's a way to put your kids into these businesses early and put them through school, have school that can't be written off. And even though he's done a scholarship, all that travel was still not a deduction, unless we structured it as a deduction to the real estate company. There's so many strategies that I honestly, Keith, I made a lot of these up. And I went to, you know, my top tax team, and I said, why can't we do this? I said, I want this to be done. Tell me the legal way to do it, and then they would guide me. So then I just turn around and I teach other people that when you do your own taxes, number one, you're not educated enough to do your own taxes, so why people do Turbo Tax or even H R Block? I mean, that's where kindergarteners play. And if you want to be a millionaire, you have to get experts around the table that really know what they're doing. I mean, a proper tax strategist at the level we have, and I have, like, 28 people on my financial teams that integrate. I mean, they have masters of accounting. So they've gone to school five and six years. They've sat for four exams and had 2000 hours of audit. So whenever, like an engineer or somebody, even a real estate investors, try and do their own taxes, I'm like, it's a highly, highly skilled expertise. So anyway, I could go into the team approach. I don't think Keith, I know so many people are so close to getting it really all right, but their sequence is completely out of order, and they're just at call tax and invisible paying. You're just used to it. You're just used to paying it because you think you have to. And you've been scared by the media that it's this big, scary thing, and the IRS is going to come get you. It's like, no, they're not. This is legal to do all this stuff. You just have to do it right and document it right   Keith Weinhold  42:57   right. And that's part of your team, your tax team, and that's another good ROI. If you pay a tax preparer and strategist 5k which is more than most people, maybe they're making you 10x that or more with their knowledge of the tax code. And for you, the listener that might find the tax code to be dry reading, you know, for a lot of people, you're probably right that it is dry reading. But if you think of it this way, if I act on what I read, then I am getting paid for what I'm reading here in the IRS tax code. Well, Laurel, do you have any just last thoughts, overall, whether that's about wealth, mindset or real estate or anything else, as we're winding down here   Loral Langemeier  43:35   any question ever you just go to ask Laurel, A, S, K, L, O, R, E, L, ask questions. Make a request you can ask about I have online events. You can ask for free tickets. You can ask her ebooks. So ask her whatever you want. We're super generous on giving gifts away to especially our new listeners and new folks. But a lot of it's, I'm going to say it's active engagement. That's a term I've used as I walked into 25 and I look at the people I've made over 10,000 millionaires, probably 12, 14,000 by now. But the difference between those who make it and those who still struggle is active engagement. I'm showing this on your screen just to have it on video, but I got this magic wand because people say I have a magic wand. I said, I do. I naturally now officially have one, and it comes with pixie dust. But it doesn't really matter. It won't work. I can't just, you know, anoint you with my little wand, and all of a sudden it's magically going to change. You have to actively, like you said, study the IRS code, study my books like my millionaire maker is a blueprint for how to be a millionaire. So there's seven families in the book. Pick which one you're closest to and what you've done to yourself, and then start the pattern, and there's a pattern and a sequence for everybody, for seven different kinds of family, and what you've done to yourself. And I also live the last kind of words I would say to people is that I've been doing this way too long. I have no judgment, no criticism about what you did to yourself. A lot of people are ashamed or embarrassed, like I can't believe I'm this old and I should be farther along. So what now? What is my. Saying, so what happened or how you got here? What do you want to do about it now? So we start with a new, fresh line and stand and let's go and you can create anything you want with the right team around you and the right initiative. So just know you'll be actively engaged in this. This isn't me, doing it for you or to you. It's with you, and you have to own it. You have to own your own wealth. Nobody else cares about it more than you.   Keith Weinhold  45:23   these strategies work as long as you do. Laurel, it's been a great mindspring of ideas for the listener here. Thanks so much for coming onto the show.   Loral Langemeier  45:32   Thank you. Appreciate it. Look forward to hearing from many of you and helping you out.   Keith Weinhold  45:35   Oh, yeah, a wide range of expertise from Laurel Langemeier there. And you know, we're talking about the awareness of the gap between who you are and who you want to be earlier. Really, there could be a gap between how you're utilizing your rental property currently and what it could be Laurel found more ways, for example, to serve her short term rental tenants in the Arkansas Ozarks with providing boats and jet skis dockside to her tenants. In fact, there's a book all about this called the gap and the gain. It was published about five years ago, and let me tell you what it's about and maybe save you 10s of hours of reading most people, especially highly ambitious people, are unhappy because of how they measure their progress. We all have an ideal. You have an ideal. I have an ideal. It's a moving target that is always just out of reach. Well, when you measure yourself against that ideal, you're in the gap. However, when you measure yourself against your previous self, you're in the gain measuring your current self versus your former self, that can have enormous psychological benefits. That's how you can feel like you're making progress, and that gives you confidence, and you make more progress. You might have only owned two rental properties last year, and you're going to have four this year. So you want to make that comparison, don't make the comparison that Ken McElroy has 10,000 units and you never will big thanks to the driven and experienced Laurel Langemeier, today, I feel like she has a narrow gap between who she is and who she could be.    There is a lot happening here at GRE in our newsletter called The Don't quit your Daydream letter. I recently let you know about what chat gpts ai updates mean for real estate investors, and I showed you that before and after photo of how you can now tell AI to just renovate your rental unit, and within just a minute, it shows a pre and post renovation, it shows what the renovation would look like. AI is also being used for fraud, like to generate fake receipts or insurance fraud that makes a property look damaged when it really isn't. And every few weeks, I like to send you a good real estate map, like the recent one that I sent you, showing the cost of living by county and how that map was almost like a cheat code on how you can find the best real estate.    Also here at GRE our free coaching is helping connect you with properties. Many of you are interested in BRRRR strategy properties lately, I recently reshot the entire real estate pays five ways course, and I updated it for today's times with today's numbers. I'm giving that away for free, those videos and even giving a free gift at the end of the course, I share those resources with you in the Don't quit your Daydream letter as well.    And then, of course, I sent you details on the Great Investor Summit at sea cruise starting in Miami, sailing the Caribbean June 20 to 29th and how you can have dinner with me and the other faculty, like Robert Kiyosaki, Robert Helms, Peter Schiff, Ken McElroy and more. And this particular cruise event is not cheap to attend, although I don't make any money from the event, but our Don't Quit Your Daydream letter is totally free. I would love to have you as a reader, and you'll stay informed on all these Real Estate Investing Insights and trends and events and more, otherwise, you're really missing out. See, the reason that I write the letter is that I have visual things to show you that I cannot do on an audio medium here, like this, like those real estate maps. And before and after photos. I write the letter myself. You know so many other letters are now AI generated. I write this myself. It is all from me to you. And if you aren't already a reader, you can get the Don't quit your Daydream. Letter free right now, just text text GRE to 66866, and by the way, we don't text you the letter each week. That would be intrusive. The letter is emailed. It's just a convenient way for you to opt in. You can do that while it's on your mind again. Text GRE to 66866, and I'll turn it alternative way to get the letter is to visit get rich education.com/letter that's get rich education.com/letter. I've got a lot more for you next week. Until then, I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 1  51:01   Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  51:25   You know, whenever you want the best written real estate and finance info, oh, geez, today's experience limits your free articles access, and it's got paywalls and pop ups and push notifications and cookies disclaimers. It's not so great. So then it's vital to place nice, clean, free content into your hands that adds no hype value to your life. That's why this is the golden age of quality newsletters. And I write every word of ours myself. It's got a dash of humor, and it's to the point because even the word abbreviation is too long, my letter usually takes less than three minutes to read, and when you start the letter, you also get my one hour fast real estate video. Course, it's all completely free. It's called the Don't quit your Daydream letter. It wires your mind for wealth, and it couldn't be easier for you to get it right now. Just text GRE to 66866, while it's on your mind, take a moment to do it right now. Text GRE to 66866.   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth, building, getricheducation.com    

Learn how to explore your money beliefs and take real steps toward saving and investing, even on a tight income. What's really behind your money habits? How can you build savings and invest if you're not earning much? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss how your relationship with money shapes your financial behaviors and what you can do to change that narrative. Joined by Shannah Game, host of Everyone's Talkin' Money and author of Unraveling Your Relationship with Money, they begin with a discussion of how money beliefs form in childhood, how your body gives clues about financial stress, and how weekly “money dates” can help shift your mindset, spending, and long-term financial outcomes. Then, Katie, a listener navigating a career change and major life transition, joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss budgeting on a lower income and how to make progress on both emergency savings and retirement. They discuss how to build an emergency fund with irregular income, when and how to roll over 403(b) accounts into an IRA, and how to invest small amounts without feeling discouraged. The conversation also covers tools like the 50/30/20 budget and NerdWallet's retirement calculator to help Katie — and listeners like her — build a path forward, even if they feel like they're starting late. Are you on track to save enough for retirement? Use NerdWallet's free retirement calculator to check your progress, see how much retirement income you'll have and estimate how much more you should save: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/retirement-calculator  NerdWallet's roundup of the best IRA accounts: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/ira-accounts  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to fix your relationship with money, money beliefs, financial trauma, budgeting on low income, how to start saving money, emotional spending, how to invest with little money, financial self-awareness, weekly money date, how much to save for emergencies, what is a 403b, 403b rollover to IRA, Roth IRA vs traditional IRA, how to track spending, how to set money goals, compound interest explained, how to save for retirement in your 30s, moving in with a partner finances, financial independence, personal finance for late starters, how to handle a career pivot financially, how to build an emergency fund, aligning spending with goals, how to start investing in your 30s, best IRAs for beginners, saving vs investing priorities, high-yield savings account, budgeting tools for beginners, financial planning on hourly wages, financial literacy basics, how to track expenses, how to make money habits stick, celebrating financial wins, how childhood affects money habits, somatic responses to money, financial therapy, how to stop money anxiety, 50/30/20 budget rule, NerdWallet retirement calculator. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

這集三腳貓新手村一起來聊聊大家開始怎麼漸漸習慣美國生活的呢？大家都是如何把美國當作自己的第二個家呢？來聽聽天豪、若晴及雯薇的經驗吧！ 大城市 vs 小城市 民以食為天！ 極度縮水的spinach 西方超市 vs 亞洲超市 Meal prep是讓人可以開始在家裡做東西的動力之一 一不小心吃的就講了一個小時 該如何為不同的美國氣候準備衣服呢？ Outlet及連假特價是購入衣服的好時機 圖書館有很多好用的資源！ 運動的資源很多，記得要多運動維持自己的身體健康 學會醫療保險及Student health的運作及使用方式 生小孩的帳單是多少？想知道更多的請留言！ 善用信用卡點數的點數玩家們 可以先從cash back開始累積信用 其實仔細找找也有學生票或是免費的藝文活動 大家當初想要給自己的一句話：請早點開始用退休金帳戶Roth IRA!!!! 貓與小孩 冥想 結尾：生活也是能讓自己長久追求夢想的重要因子之一 工作人員 內容製作：雯薇、若晴、天豪 後製：雯薇 文案：雯薇 音樂：雯薇 封面：雯薇 上架：雯薇 宣傳：Angel、雯薇 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

This week, we're bringing back expert investor Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington for a special mailbag episode. She's answering all of your excellent saving and investing questions—from how to start investing outside of a retirement account to making the most of a short college savings window to figuring out which account to draw from in retirement.  Whether you're just getting started investing or reassessing your strategy later in life, Jenny and Jean break down the decisions that matter most—and remind us that successful investing is more about time in the market than picking the perfect stocks. Mailbag Questions: [1:30] “Is 59 too late to open a Roth IRA, and what should I invest in?” [5:00] “We have 3 teens and not much saved for college yet. Where should we start?” [7:30] “I'm a retiree, and I'd like to start pulling money on a monthly basis. Which account should I pull from first?”  [11:30] “I make $150,000 a year and put $1,000 into my 401k every month. If I want to retire in 15 years, what else should I be investing in?” Looking for more financial confidence?

It's important to weigh the pros and cons of converting your tax-deferred retirement savings to a Roth IRA by considering factors like tax implications, financial goals, and long-term benefits. Today's Stocks & Topics: LLY - Eli Lilly & Co., Market Wrap, CVX - Chevron Corp., Should You Convert Your Tax-Deferred Savings to a Roth?, KPP Newsletter, Oil Stocks, Key Benchmark Numbers: Treasury Yields, Gold, Silver, Oil and Gasoline, The Role of the Dollar, Panic Sell, DRD - DRDGOLD Ltd. ADR, IAG - IAMGOLD Corp., VZ - Verizon Communications Inc., T - AT&T Inc., Tariffs and Cars.Our Sponsors:* Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

There are several actionable strategies and tools to maximize retirement savings in your 40s and 50s, including catch-up contributions, HSAs, Roth IRA conversions, and leveraging technology. Today's Stocks & Topics: LEG - Leggett & Platt Inc., Market Wrap, Roth I-R-A, PYPL - PayPal Holdings Inc., Supercharge Your Savings in Your 40s and 50s, FANG - Diamondback Energy Inc., Economic Indicators, Our Sponsors:* Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today we are answering more of your Roth IRA and 401(k) questions. We talk about the difference between Roth and Traditional IRAs and then answer a question about Roth IRAs for your kids. We talk about some things to think about when changing your business 401(k) plan administrator and then explain what to do if you over contribute to your 401(k). Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi, the folks who help you get your money right. Paying off student debt quickly and getting your finances back on track isn't easy, but that's where SoFi can help — they have exclusive, low rates designed to help medical residents refinance student loans—and that could end up saving you thousands of dollars, helping you get out of student debt sooner. SoFi also offers the ability to lower your payments to just $100 a month* while you're still in residency. And if you're already out of residency, SoFi's got you covered there too. For more information, go to https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Main Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

Don and Tom dive into how to properly build a diversified portfolio, using a listener question about Paul Merriman's “Four Fund Portfolio” as a launch point. They explore the essentials of asset allocation, including U.S. vs. international exposure, large vs. small cap, and value vs. growth, while comparing Merriman's approach to models from DFA and Avantis. Along the way, they bust myths around Social Security, early retirement, and the tax implications of tweaking existing portfolios. As always, a few detours into Mayberry and Chick-fil-A make the ride more entertaining. 0:04 Listener questions fuel today's deep dive into proper portfolio design 0:50 The basic building blocks: stocks and bonds, plus deeper diversification 1:57 Financial literacy fail: is a stock or a mutual fund safer? 2:43 Listener question: what about Paul Merriman's “Four Fund Portfolio”? 4:01 U.S. large vs. small, value vs. blend—and why emerging markets matter 6:50 Paul's long-term results: 12.1% annualized since 1970 with higher volatility 8:07 Comparing allocations: DFAW, AVGE, and how Apella does it 9:13 Which funds to use for large cap value, small cap value, and more 11:38 Rebalancing: the hard part most investors ignore 13:10 Summary: yes, Merriman's model works—and it's easier than you think 14:13 Retired at 34 with $30M—why early retirees still face emotional challenges 16:15 Social Security and early retirement: COLAs vs. your top 35 earning years 18:10 Listener with $500K in STAR fund: worth selling and buying AVGE? 19:36 Actively managed STAR fund isn't horrible, but there are better options 21:04 Can I use my Roth IRA for future family needs? (Short answer: probably not) 23:26 Mayberry trivia, candy, and the correct answer to Angela's Roth question 24:21 Final thoughts, calls for spoken questions, and the exhaustion post-RetireMeet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Money Mastery Unleashed Podcast! In this episode, host Adam Olson breaks down seven genius retirement hacks that will help you maximize your wealth and achieve the stress-free retirement you've been dreaming of. These aren't the typical tips you hear every day—these are strategic moves that can have a massive impact on your financial future. Discover actionable insights on how to: • Optimize your Social Security benefits for maximum lifetime payouts. • Use the Rule of 55 to access 401(k) funds early, penalty-free. • Diversify your retirement income with dividend portfolios, rental properties, and part-time work. • Max out Roth IRA contributions to enjoy tax-free growth and withdrawals. • Take full advantage of employer matching programs—even in part-time roles. • Leverage the power of HSA accounts with their unique triple tax advantages. • Plan for retirement taxes strategically, ensuring you keep more of your hard-earned money. Whether you're nearing retirement or just starting your financial journey, these retirement hacks will equip you with the tools to build a secure and abundant future. Don't miss out! Be sure to: • Subscribe to the channel for more tips on mastering your money. • Share this video with someone who could use these strategies. • Drop a comment below and let me know which hack you're ready to implement! If you're ready to take your retirement planning to the next level, contact me today to create your customized Red Zone Retirement Plan. Together, we'll build a strategy tailored to your unique goals and circumstances. Your financial freedom starts now! Hit that subscribe button and turn on notifications for more insights to help you retire confidently and live the life you deserve. “Delaying your Social Security benefits past full retirement age can mean an 8% increase in your monthly payout every year—it's the ultimate game of patience paying off.” - Adam Olson Key Takeaways: Optimize Social Security Benefits Use the Rule of 55 for Early 401(k) Access Diversify Income Streams in Retirement Max Out Roth IRA Contributions Learn more about Adam Olson by visiting the following links: Facebook Personal Website Business Website -- Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.    Be sure to understand the benefits and limitations of your available options and consider all factors prior to making any financial decisions.  Any strategies discussed may not be suitable for everyone.  Securities and advisory services offered through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.  Adam Olson, Representative.  Mutual of Omaha Investor Services is not affiliated with any entity listed herein.  This podcast is for educational purposes only and may include references to concepts that have legal and/or tax implications. Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its representatives do not offer legal or tax advice. The information presented is subject to change without notice and is not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or insurance product.Mutual of Omaha Investor Services and its various affiliates do not endorse or adopt comments posted by third parties.  Comments posted by third parties are their own and may not be representative or indicative of other's opinions, views, and experiences.

"Jim" (66) and "Karen" (64) both retired in the last six months. Jim has an IRA with $900,000, and Karen has a Roth IRA with $300,000. They inherited a brokerage account with $600,000 and a cost basis of $500,000. They have $100,000 in an emergency cash fund. Jim is receiving his Social Security benefits of $2,600 per month. He also has a pension of $1,800 per month. Karen is planning to start receiving her Social Security benefits at 67, for $1,900 per month. Their total net worth is $2.7 million. And now, just months into their retirement, Jim and Karen are wondering if they retired too soon. Do they need to jump back into the workforce to protect their financial plan against current market volatility? On today's show, we analyze "Jim and Karen's" situation in the context of our broader economic moment and comprehensive planning principles. I hope this case study will help anyone who's close to retirement gain some perspective about whether market movements should affect your short-term or long-term financial goals.

Will your taxes go up? Stay the same? Go down, even? Jeffrey Levine is Chief Planning Officer at Focus Partners, Professor of Practice in Taxation at the American College of Financial Services, and the Lead Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com. In other words, he's one of the savviest tax minds in the country. Jeff returns to the show today on Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast number 524 with Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA, with his thoughts on what will happen to taxes under the new administration, saving for retirement in a Roth IRA vs. a traditional IRA, managing inherited retirement accounts, and the future viability of Social Security. Plus, what should you do with required minimum distributions when you don't need the money to live on? How do you calculate the maximum amount you should convert from your retirement account to a tax-free Roth account, and how much should you convert - or not - to keep RMDs under control? Finally, how can minor beneficiaries avoid probate? Free financial resources & episode transcript: https://bit.ly/ymyw-524 LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER: DOWNLOAD The DIY Retirement Guide by Friday April 11, 2025! WATCH Take Control of Your Retirement Plan on YMYW TV ASK Joe & Big Al for your Retirement Spitball Analysis SCHEDULE your Free Financial Assessment SUBSCRIBE to YMYW on YouTube DOWNLOAD more free guides READ financial blogs WATCH educational videos SUBSCRIBE to the YMYW Newsletter Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: This Week on the YMYW Podcast 01:05 - Will These Historic Low Tax Rates Be Extended? Insight from Jeff Levine, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS, AIF, BFA™, MSA 19:54 - Make These 3 Investments for a Happy Retirement and Watch Take Control of Your Retirement Plan on YMYW TV 21:06 - What to Do With Required Minimum Distributions When You Don't Need the Money to Live On? (Judi, San Diego) 24:40 - How Much NOT to Convert to Roth to Keep RMDs Under Control? (DH from SoCal) 32:26 - LIMITED TIME SPECIAL OFFER: Download the DIY Retirement Guide by Friday, April 11, 2025! 33:39 - How to Calculate How Much Roth Conversion I Should Do? (Joe, voice) 38:42 - How Can I Reduce My Required Minimum Distributions? (Joel, CA) 40:18 - How Can Minor Beneficiaries Avoid Probate? (Esther, San Francisco) 46:04 - YMYW Podcast Outro

As you get closer to the age of 73, it's more and more important to understand the financial strategies you can use to avoid a "tax tsunami" or "tax bomb." In this episode, I break down the basics of RMDs, explaining how they are calculated and the importance of planning ahead. You'll want to make a note of these four key strategies to reduce your RMDs and ensure a smoother financial journey as you transition into retirement.  From starting withdrawals before the age threshold to considering Roth conversions and qualified charitable distributions, we share practical insights to help you navigate these financial waters. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) How to avoid a huge tax burden if you plan to work beyond 73 years of age (2:21) Please rate and review the Retire with Ryan podcast! (3:59) RMDs start at age 73 unless working past that age with less than 10% company ownership (9:02) Plan your IRA distributions considering tax implications (11:52) Consider a Roth conversion by moving pre-tax retirement funds to a Roth IRA (17:54) Use annuities for stable retirement income (18:59) Investigate using a QLAC to reduce RMDs, manage taxes, and provide additional income in old age Resources Mentioned Retirement Readiness Review Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel Download my entire book for FREE  Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

Join my Facebook group, Tax Strategies for Real Estate Investors, and become part of a community with 11,500+ high-level real estate investors► Join here: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/taxstrategyforinvestors⁠In this episode, I explore the best strategies to save for your kids' college education, breaking down the pros and cons of 529 plans, Roth IRAs, and taxable brokerage accounts. From understanding state-specific tax advantages to leveraging the flexibility of brokerage accounts, I explain how to balance tax benefits, investment control, and flexibility. Whether you're planning for scholarships, trade school, or a traditional college education, this episode provides actionable insights to build a smart, tax-efficient plan for your child's future.Timestamps:00:00:00 Intro: Why saving for kids' education is critical00:01:07 529 plans: State-specific options, pros, and cons00:03:49 Limitations of 529 plans and how to roll over unused funds to a Roth IRA00:06:41 Roth IRA for kids: Flexibility, benefits, and income requirements00:09:24 Why Roth IRAs are a powerful wealth-building tool for education and beyond00:10:19 Taxable brokerage accounts: The overlooked education savings option00:12:31 How gifting stocks to kids in low tax brackets can eliminate taxes00:13:25 Combining strategies: Creating a comprehensive savings plan00:14:05 Key factors: Tax benefits, flexibility, and control over investments00:15:00 Closing thoughts: How to align education savings with your financial goalsInterested in working with me? Apply here:► https://taxstrategy365.com/apply?el=podcastLet's connect!► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanbakkecpa/► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/learnlikeacpa/► Twitter: https://x.com/RyanBakkeCPA► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ryanbakkecpa► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanbakkecpa*None of this is meant to be specific investment advice, it's for entertainment purposes only.

In this episode, I break down the two main types of IRAs—the traditional (pre-tax) IRA and the Roth IRA (post-tax). Some highlights:Contribution Limits: Learn about the annual contribution limits and how they change based on your age and incomeTax Benefits: The advantages of tax-deferred growth with traditional IRAs versus tax-free growth with Roth IRAsWithdrawal Rules: Understand the implications of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and how they can affect your tax situation in retirementBackdoor Roth IRAs: How high-income earners can still take advantage of Roth IRAs through the backdoor methodSpousal Contributions: Find out how you can contribute to your spouse's IRA, even if they don't have earned income529 Plans: Learn about the new rules that allow you to convert 529 accounts into Roth IRAs for your children.---------Financial planning for 30-50 year old entrepreneurs: ⁠https://www.allstreetwealth.com⁠My personal blog & newsletter: ⁠thomaskopelman.com⁠Disclaimer: None of this should be seen as financial advice. It is just for informational purposes.

Joseph Lanza discusses the importance of tax-efficient strategies for retirement planning. They explore various financial tools such as indexed universal life insurance, annuities, and health savings accounts, emphasizing the need for comprehensive tax planning. The conversation also touches on the significance of charitable giving in managing required minimum distributions (RMDs) and draws parallels between retirement planning and lessons from literature, highlighting the importance of enjoying one's savings in retirement. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complexities of retirement planning, emphasizing the need for a sustainable and adaptable financial strategy. Call Eric Kearney 800-779-1942 Visit Retirement Wealth LLC to learn more. Text Eric to 600700.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn about the U.S. national debt and how it impacts economics and what options to explore if your employer-offered 401k plan seems limiting.  What exactly does it mean when you read about the enormous national debt in the United States? What options do you have if you're not happy with the 401k plan offered by your employer? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into investing options with NerdWallet personal finance lead writer June Sham. But first, NerdWallet senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins the show to break down what exactly is the national debt, who does the U.S. owe, and why it matters to everyday Americans.  Next, Sean, Elizabeth and June answer a listener's question about whether it's worth it to invest in their employee-offered 401k plan even if it feels limiting. The Nerds explain the pros and cons of a 401k as well as alternative options to explore, including a brokerage account or an IRA, and why you don't have to limit yourself to just one type of account.  NerdWallet's list of best IRA accounts: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/ira-accounts Choose the best retirement plan: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/best-retirement-plans-for-you  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: national debt, what is the national debt, how much is the US in debt, US debt ceiling explained, difference between debt and deficit, publicly held debt, intragovernmental debt, who owns the US debt, debt to GDP ratio, US debt crisis, what happens if the US defaults, national debt impact on economy, foreign holders of US debt, Congressional Budget Office debt projections, US budget deficit, treasury securities explained, debt ceiling vs national debt, federal spending and tax revenue, 401k vs brokerage account, should I invest in a 401k without a match, 401k managed by insurance company, 401k fees and disclosure rules, retirement investment options, Roth IRA vs 401k, traditional 401k benefits, taxable brokerage account vs 401k, 401k contribution limits 2025, early 401k withdrawal penalties, required minimum distributions 401k, investment fees and expense ratios, choosing a Roth IRA provider, best retirement account for long-term growth, retirement planning tips, comparing retirement accounts, 401k rollover options, best Roth IRA accounts 2025. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

“A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” — Proverbs 10:4At Faith and Finance, we believe the Bible offers timeless financial wisdom—and sometimes, that wisdom shows up in the form of gentle correction. Let's face it: we all make financial missteps—some intentional, others unintentional. But every mistake is an opportunity to grow in wisdom and stewardship.If you've made some poor decisions with your money, don't let Proverbs 10:4 discourage you. Instead, take heart in Proverbs 19:20:“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.”Let's walk through six money mistakes that can quietly erode your wealth—and how to avoid or correct them with diligence and wisdom.1. Living Paycheck to PaycheckOne of the most common financial traps is spending everything you earn. When there's nothing left over at the end of the month, you're missing an essential part of wise stewardship: saving.The solution? Pay yourself first.Start by setting up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings. Even if it's a small amount, consistency is key. Adjust your monthly spending to fit what remains. Yes, it might mean cutting back on things you've grown used to, but almost everyone can trim something from their budget.Aim to save at least 10% of your income. Over time, this will build your financial margin and peace of mind.2. Not Having an Emergency FundWithout savings, every unexpected expense becomes a crisis. And that leads to our next mistake—debt.Once you've begun setting money aside, build your emergency fund. Start with a goal of three months' worth of living expenses and work your way up to six. This financial cushion protects you from having to rely on credit when life throws a curveball.3. Paying Interest on Consumer DebtWithout savings, many people make the costly mistake of using credit cards to cover emergencies.If you carry credit card debt, the biggest mistake you can make is only paying the minimum. Take a close look at your statement—it may show how long it'll take to pay off your balance at the minimum payment. The number might shock you: 15 years or more.Reframe your spending by asking, "What is this really costing me?"A $30 dinner paid with a credit card could cost $60 or more by the time it's paid off. That's not good stewardship.4. Buying a New Car (When You Can't Afford It)There's nothing wrong with buying a new car—if you can pay cash for it. That's the key.Instead of taking on car loans, aim to pay cash for your vehicles, new or used. After you pay off your current car loan, keep making those same “payments”—but to yourself. Put them in a savings account and use that money to purchase your next car.It may take a few vehicles to get there, but eventually, you'll be able to pay cash—and that will be a glorious day.5. Not Opening a Roth IRAEspecially if you're young, not opening a Roth IRA is a missed opportunity for long-term, tax-free growth.Once your emergency fund is in place, consider contributing to a Roth IRA, even if you're already contributing to a 401(k) at work.In 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 annually to a Roth IRA—or $8,000 if you're age 50 or older. Because you're contributing after-tax dollars, your qualified withdrawals in retirement will be tax-free.That's a powerful way to build lasting wealth.6. Buying Too Much HouseHomeownership can be a blessing, but only if approached wisely. Spending too much on a house can strain your budget, robbing you of financial flexibility and peace.A manageable mortgage, combined with consistent savings, puts you on a path toward financial stability and positions you to honor God with greater freedom and generosity.We all make mistakes with money, but we don't have to stay stuck in them. God's Word is full of grace and wisdom. When we humbly receive correction and take steps toward diligence, we grow not only in financial strength but also in spiritual maturity.So, whether you're just beginning your financial journey or recalibrating after a few missteps, remember that wisdom is always available to those who seek it.“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” — Proverbs 19:20Let's walk in wisdom and let our money reflect our trust in the One who provides everything.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I have a disabled son, and I would like to leave him some money without attorneys or the government taking it away from him. Is there a way to do that?I'm retired but still working a few days a week, and my Social Security is deducted from my paycheck. What happened to that Social Security? Do I get it later? How does it work?I have a 401(k), and I'd like to know how I can invest according to my values with the options available in it. The only options are big companies that I'd rather not invest in. Do you have any suggestions?We recently sold our house for a good profit, and I'd like to know how we tithe on it. Do we tithe on the full amount we received or only on what goes above the initial price and the interest we paid on it?I left a job and rolled my 401(k) over to my current employer's account. I also have another 401(k). Should I combine them or keep them separate? I'm also getting a car accident settlement. Should I use it to pay off my car loans and credit cards or invest it and continue making payments?I'm 58 and still working, with my house and car paid off. When is it appropriate to redo my will? Is it time to do a trust? Or when is that the wise thing to do?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineList of Faith-Based Investment FundsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich 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.

At Talking Real Money, we emphasize fundamental financial principles like disciplined saving, diversification, and cautious investing—highlighted this episode through insights on wealth distribution in America, noting that successful financial outcomes depend heavily on diligent saving and investing, particularly in equities, businesses, and real estate. We caution against chasing high-dividend stocks, explaining their risks and why they're often poor investment choices compared to a broadly diversified portfolio. Listener calls explored common pitfalls with annuities, especially high fees in variable annuities, reinforcing our advice on avoiding expensive financial products. We discussed efficient strategies like Roth IRAs, clarifying rules around backdoor contributions, conversions, and inherited accounts, emphasizing the importance of strategic tax planning. Ultimately, the path to financial success involves consistent saving, smart asset allocation, and avoiding high-cost investment traps. 1:24 Wealth distribution and how Americans build wealth 2:19 Discussed alarming wealth inequality statistics 3:27 Key to wealth-building: working, saving, and investing 5:20 Listener call questioning high-dividend stocks 6:46 Risks explained about investing in high-dividend companies 9:31 Clarified misconceptions about dividends and cash flow 11:10 Historical examples of high-dividend stock failures 14:21 Listener call regarding variable annuity transfer 16:21 Benefits of transferring from high-fee annuities 18:20 Humorous mix-up about hosts' identities 21:43 Clarification on inherited IRAs and Roth conversions 24:34 Discussed tax deductions for home improvements 25:30 Listener concerns over annuity safety and risk explained 30:07 Caller advised on diversifying using Vanguard ETFs 31:45 Listener call clarifying Roth IRA contributions and eligibility Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Round Two of Money March Madness, and the financial face-off is ON! We're throwing down with the biggest money moves, pitting budgeting against heavy hitters like the Roth IRA and the Debt Snowball. Who's gonna slam dunk their way to the top? Will your favorite strategy get the buzzer-beater win? Tune in to witness the ultimate showdown and find out which financial champion will be crowned! Don't miss the madness!Send us a textSend your questions for upcoming show to checkyourbalances@outlook.com @checkyourbalances on Instagram

"Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it." — Proverbs 13:11This verse offers a powerful lesson on financial stewardship—true and lasting wealth isn't built through shortcuts or speculation but through steady diligence and faithful management. In today's fast-paced world, financial success is often measured by how quickly one can accumulate wealth. Social media is filled with stories of overnight millionaires, high-risk investments, and shortcuts to riches. But is this the right approach? Let's explore how this biblical principle plays out in real life.The Temptation of Instant WealthTo illustrate this principle, let's look at the real-life story of an executive at a major Western bank—we'll call him Brian to protect his anonymity.Brian began his finance career in the 1990s, confident in his ability to manage money. However, he now admits that he was living beyond his means and accumulating debt. This financial instability made him especially susceptible to the allure of quick wealth, particularly during the height of the dot-com boom in the early 2000s.When a coworker offered him a chance to get in on the ground floor of a "can't lose" tech startup, Brian didn't hesitate. He scraped together $10,000, convinced he was on the fast track to wealth. In his mind, success was inevitable—he was already preparing to celebrate.But before he could, Brian heard the sound of the dot-com bubble bursting. His investment vanished, lost in a company he knew little about. He had chased quick wealth only to face the painful consequences.His story echoes the warning of Proverbs 28:20:"A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished."The Consequences of Chasing Quick WealthIt's important to understand that God doesn't sit around waiting to punish people for making bad financial choices. Instead, He may allow those poor decisions to lead to their natural consequences. Proverbs 13:11 teaches that when money is gained too quickly—whether through reckless speculation, gambling, or unethical shortcuts—it often lacks a foundation of wisdom and discipline, making it easy to lose.1 Timothy 6:9-10 warns:"Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."Many people experience financial hardship because they prioritize speed over stewardship. But God has a better way.The Power of Slow, Faithful GrowthIf Proverbs 13:11 warns against hasty wealth, it also points us to a better way:"Whoever gathers little by little will increase it."This principle isn't flashy, but it's powerful. True financial growth happens gradually through wisdom, patience, and discipline.Rather than seeking quick riches, God calls us to:Work diligently and earn honestly (Colossians 3:23).Save and invest wisely over time (Proverbs 21:20).Be generous and steward money for His purposes (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).Financial success isn't about speed—it's about faithfulness over time. Or, as the late Eugene Peterson put it so well, it's about “long obedience in the same direction.”Brian's Financial RedemptionBrian's story didn't end with financial ruin. Instead of giving up, he decided to take a biblical money management class through his church. That's when things started to turn around.He learned to be more disciplined with his finances—budgeting, saving, and living within his means. Eventually, he began investing again, but this time, he avoided speculation and focused on something he understood: real estate. He started small, took his time, and remained patient.Because he wisely managed his investments, his real estate holdings survived the housing crash and the Great Recession. Over time, he even started a fitness-related business with his son—something he had always dreamed of. That business survived the challenges of COVID-19 and is still thriving today.Brian's financial recovery wasn't instant. It was the result of steady, faithful growth over many years. His story is a testament to the wisdom of Proverbs 13:11—building wealth little by little often leads to long-term success.If you've experienced financial setbacks, don't lose heart. The key is to keep moving forward. The world promotes shortcuts, but God calls us to faithfulness. If we embrace patience, diligence, and godly stewardship, we'll not only experience financial security but also the joy of honoring Him with our resources.So, instead of chasing instant success, let's follow God's way—one wise step at a time.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I received a notice from my bank about an arbitration provision and class action waiver for dispute resolution by individual arbitration. What does this even mean?I'm doing a remodel because my husband has Parkinson's, and I need to modify the bathroom to accommodate him. The bathroom renovation will cost about $25,000 to $30,000. Should I take the money from my 401(k), or would it be better to use funds from my home, which has been paid off for about seven years?My wife had open heart surgery at the end of 2023, and due to her portable bypass, she's unable to work continuously. I want to build retirement savings for her through a Roth IRA. I know I can open a spousal IRA for her since I'm working, but I'm concerned about whether this might affect her current disability benefits.I'm 65 and considering retirement in a couple of years. My friends suggest I take Social Security now, but I'm wondering about the best strategy. I'm currently 67 and don't need the money right now. Should I take Social Security now, wait until my full retirement age, or wait until I'm 70 to get a higher benefit? What are the investment implications of each option?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineMovement MortgageSSA.gov (Social Security Administration)Wisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich 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.

This week on "Financial Planning: Explained”, host Michael Menninger, CFP welcomes back Kyle Ryan CFP. ChFC. Kyle is a financial planner at Menninger & Associates Financial Planning. This is the final episode of a nine-part episode Q&A series. In this episode, Mike and Kyle discuss frequently asked questions regarding tax planning. The guys touch on tax implications of selling your home, Roth IRA conversions, when to start withdrawing for retirement, RMDs, HSAs, and charitable giving. This is a great episode for those looking to minimize their taxes. For more information on Menninger & Associates Financial Planning, visit https://maaplanning.com

Retirement planning can be a maze, and navigating Roth conversions is a crucial part of it. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Mike Douglas dives into the complexities of Roth IRAs, discussing deadlines for contributions and conversions, and the impact on taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Mike explains how to time your conversions to avoid pitfalls, especially for retirees who need to manage unpredictable expenses. Schedule your complimentary appointment today: MichigansRetirementCoach.com Follow us on social media: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn the truth behind myths about building wealth, plus hear from a couple looking to align on  financial goals and values. Can you build wealth without starting a business? How can couples figure out what to do with extra money in their budget? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola share their “money hot takes” and then talk to a married couple about how they can better align on financial priorities. Sean and Elizabeth kick off the episode with their thoughts on how to become a millionaire without needing to own your own business, and why they believe consistent investing from a 9-to-5 job can help you grow your wealth. Plus are Roth IRAs overrated? They might be when compared to Roth 401(k)s. Then, listeners Naomi and Andrew join Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how couples can align on their financial goals. They talk through how to define shared values, balance short- and long-term priorities, and decide how to use some new room in their budget wisely, including strategies for emergency funds, retirement, and kids' future savings. NerdWallet's list of the best savings accounts: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/banking/savings-accounts  Get matched with a financial advisor by using NerdWallet Advisors Match: https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/investing/financial-advisors  NerdWallet's investment calculator will calculate how much your investments will grow based on your planned contributions, timeline, rate of return and compounding frequency: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/investment-calculator  Are you on track to save enough for retirement? Use NerdWallet's calculator to check your progress, see how much retirement income you'll have and estimate how much more you should save: https://www.nerdwallet.com/calculator/retirement-calculator  In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to build wealth without a business, investing from a 9 to 5 job, becoming a millionaire from salary, Roth IRA vs Roth 401k, Roth IRA contribution limits, backdoor Roth IRA, Roth 401k benefits, emergency fund recommendations, short term financial goals, good debt vs bad debt, paying off debt as a couple, managing money in a marriage, budgeting as a couple, aligning financial goals with a partner, daycare budget reallocation, how to prioritize financial goals, saving for a home addition, using home equity loan, 529 plan alternatives, taxable brokerage for kids, feeling behind on retirement, retirement planning anxiety, compound interest retirement, how to save for multiple goals, financial planning for couples, building credit as a couple, margin in budget meaning, shared financial values, and daycare cost savings. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." – Psalm 127:3Children are a precious gift from God—a reward and a heritage to be cherished. With the incredible joy of welcoming a newborn also comes great responsibility, especially in managing finances wisely.To help new parents navigate this season, here's a New Baby Financial Checklist to ensure you're covering all the essential financial bases.1. Add Your Newborn to Your Health InsuranceIn the whirlwind of 2 AM feedings and endless diaper changes, don't let updating your health insurance slip through the cracks. Most plans allow a 30-day window after birth to add your baby to your policy.While you're at it, double-check that your plan covers:Pediatric careVaccinationsEmergency hospital visitsThankfully, welcoming a new baby qualifies as a “life event,” meaning you can make necessary adjustments to your plan.2. Secure Life Insurance CoverageLife insurance isn't for the baby—it's for you. Ensure you have a term life policy that provides at least 10 times the primary breadwinner's salary in coverage.Don't overlook the caregiving spouse, either! If something were to happen to them, the cost of childcare could be significant. Securing life insurance ensures financial stability for your growing family.3. Update Your BudgetIt's time to add a “Baby” category to your budget. When estimating how much to allocate, consider these new expenses:Diapers and wipesBaby clothes (that seem to shrink overnight!)Baby food and formulaMedical expensesThese costs add up quickly. You may need to adjust other budget categories to stay on track, but planning ahead will reduce financial stress down the road.4. Create or Update Your WillA will isn't just about distributing assets—it's about securing your child's future. One of the most critical decisions in your will is naming a guardian for your child in case both parents pass away.While this can be a difficult decision, it's essential to have a plan in place. Pray for wisdom and choose someone who shares your values and would provide loving care if the unthinkable happens.Proverbs 13:22 reminds us: “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children…” This inheritance isn't just financial—it includes faith, wisdom, and values that shape their future.5. Build or Strengthen Your Emergency FundIf you don't already have an emergency fund, now is the time to start. Aim for 3 to 6 months' worth of living expenses in savings.A new baby comes with many surprise costs, from medical bills to strollers that cost more than you expected. If a financial emergency—like a job loss—were to happen, having this cushion would be a huge blessing.6. Update Your TaxesWith the arrival of your baby, your tax situation changes:Child Tax Credit—You can claim your baby as a dependent on your tax return, which may qualify you for a $2,000 tax credit.Adjust Your W-4—Update your W-4 form at work to ensure your withholding reflects your new family size. You may be able to withhold less, increasing your take-home pay.7. Start an Education Savings FundIt may feel early, but saving for your child's education now can set them up for success. A 529 plan is a great option—it can be used for:Private K-12 tuitionVocational or technical trainingCollege education529 plans also offer tax-free growth on investments used for qualified educational expenses. Bonus: Recent tax law changes now allow unused 529 funds to be rolled into a child's Roth IRA (up to $35,000), making them even more beneficial!8. Freeze Your Child's CreditIdentity theft isn't just an adult problem—it can happen to children, too. If you've applied for a Social Security number for your baby, consider placing a credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus.This prevents fraudsters from opening accounts in your child's name, protecting their financial future.Welcoming a new baby is an incredible blessing, but it also comes with financial adjustments. By taking these steps, you can ensure a secure and stable future for your family.Have you checked off all the items on this list? Start today and take one step at a time—you've got this!On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:Can you recommend a burial insurance of any kind?I recently retired at 70 and have money in a 401(k) that I'm unsure how to handle. My wife keeps saying we should invest in gold, but I don't know much about the stock market. Should I get a personal advisor to help me reinvest this money?I'm a federal government retiree with a pension. I'm 61 years old and have no debt besides my house payment. I'm not currently investing in anything. What would you recommend as an investment path for someone in my retirement situation?We have a 22-year-old adult daughter who lives with us. She is only responsible for paying her car insurance. We would like to know if it's biblical to start charging her rent to live with us and, if so, how we should determine the right dollar amount.Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly MagazineSound Mind InvestingList of Faith-Based Investment FundsWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on Money (Pre-Order)Look At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich 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.

Carl shows up and explains to Jeff what a ROTH IRA is and how it helps.

➡️Check out https://bitcoinira.com/ - You can leverage tax-advantages of an IRA to maximize your retirement growth. If you're eligible for a Roth IRA, you won't owe any taxes — ever. That's right, you can trade 75+ cryptos completely tax-free

In this week's Ask Farnoosh episode, Farnoosh unpacks your top financial questions with the looming threat of a recession on everyone's mind. Should you prioritize paying off debt or building up savings? Is it ever wise to cash out a Roth IRA? What's the deal with doctor-specific mortgage programs? And how can you move money between brokerage accounts without triggering taxes?Farnoosh also breaks down the latest CNBC CFO Council survey, which reveals growing pessimism and recession forecasts.

Quint and Allie talk about the best type of retirement plan to utilize.

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: Whether the rule of thumb saying in retirement you'll need about 80% of what you were making in wages is on a gross or net of taxes basis ( 6:49 )Understanding why some dividends are "qualified" and some are not, why they're taxed differently, and why dividends from bond funds aren't qualified ( 14:15 )Whether the decision to start Social Security sooner vs later would change if Social Security were to no longer be federally taxable ( 22:09 )Whether spouses can combine their 401(k) balances ( 27:03 )What a Form 5498 is, and if you need it to do your tax return, considering it often isn't available until after April 15th ( 30:27 )If you can still make a 2024 Roth IRA or traditional IRA contribution in early-2025 ( 31:40 )Whether you can make a contribution to a Roth IRA via transferring shares "in-kind" from a brokerage account ( 37:23 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comMy company newsletter - Retirement Planning InsightsFacebook group - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes in Retirement)YouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

Tim Ulbrich and Tim Baker tackle questions from the YFP community on life insurance needs for expectant parents and eligibility for direct Roth IRA contributions. Summary On today's episode, YFP Co-Founders Tim Ulbrich, PharmD and Tim Baker, CFP tackle two important questions from the YFP community.  First, they dive into how to project your life insurance needs when welcoming a new baby into the family. Then, Tim and Tim break down how Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is calculated to help you determine if you're eligible for direct Roth IRA contributions. If you have a question you'd like featured on an upcoming episode, visit yourfinancialpharmacist.com/askyfp or email info@yourfinancialpharmacist.com. Mentioned on the Show Ask YFP a Question Email YFP a Question: info@yourfinancialpharmacist.com Life Insurance for Pharmacists: The Ultimate Guide YFP Rx Money Roundup #18: Can I do a backdoor Roth IRA myself? YFP YouTube Channel YFP Book a Discovery Call YFP Disclaimer Subscribe to the YFP Newsletter Tim Ulbrich on LinkedIn Tim Baker on LinkedIn YFP on Instagram YFP Facebook Group

In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen break down the mechanics of partnering your IRA with others in deals. Whether it's pooling funds from multiple IRAs, combining accounts within a family, or structuring investments to comply with IRS rules, they cover the do's and don'ts of co-investing. Tune in to learn how to structure partnerships, avoid prohibited transactions, and maximize your self-directed retirement investing strategy.Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news. Today Chris and Mike are joined by Nancy Hecht. Nancy started in the financial service business in 1983 as a registered Rep, moved to Certified Financial Group in 1988, and became a CFP in 1994. She is now a fee-based CFP where she provides comprehensive planning and investment management. [March 24, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Mike Holfeld Intro 00:46 - Today's Guest: Nancy Hecht 01:08 - Topic of the Day: Financial Advice 01:31 - The Ever-Changing Future of Taxes 02:51 - Roth IRA vs 401K 05:35 - The Difference Between Need and Want 07:54 - Prepping for Retirement 11:37 - Being Diversified 13:11 - Crypto 15:05 - Toe in the Sock Money 16:49 - The Big 5 17:41 - Pay Yourself First 18:37 - Basic Tips 19:11 - Don't Panic! 21:09 - Closing Advice 22:32 - Find Nancy Hecht Online -          Website: hechteffect.net -          Email: n.hecht@financialgroup.com -          Phone: 407-869-9800 22:52 - Wrap Up 23:19 - Next Month: Baseball Technology 24:12 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

Maximizing Your Roth IRA: When and How to Tap Into Your Retirement Treasure In this episode, financial advisor Jim Martin and Casey from Martin Wealth Solutions tackle the myths and realities surrounding Roth IRAs. You'll learn the pros and cons of Roth IRAs, why the industry often recommends not touching these accounts, and when it might actually make sense to withdraw from them. The hosts provide insights into strategic Roth IRA distribution, addressing topics like avoiding higher tax brackets, Medicare costs, and Social Security impacts. Additionally, they explore using Roth IRAs for legacy planning and achieving financial independence. The episode wraps up with a playful discussion on space travel, blending financial wisdom with a touch of fun.     http://retiresmartscore.com 

Tax season is back, and while it's no one's favorite time of year, getting ahead of it can save you a ton of stress (and money). We're breaking down tax planning tips, retirement contributions, and the sneaky mistakes that could cost you. Plus, some unexpected tax trivia — turns out, pro athletes and farmers have some wild tax rules. And because we can't talk numbers all the time, we're debating the ultimate question: bar soap or body wash? Grab a coffee, get comfy, and let's tackle this tax season together. Key moments: (03:33) A midyear tax check helps avoid surprise bills from bonuses, side gigs, or investments (15:07) Roth IRA mistakes happen when you ignore next year's tax situation — think ahead (21:37) Smart estate planning keeps more wealth with your heirs or charities, not the IRS (26:02) Home office deductions have strict rules — don't push your luck with the IRS (34:24) Maxing out retirement accounts is great for taxes and asset protection, especially for physicians (34:57) Tax loss harvesting can lower your bill, so don't miss market downturn opportunities (42:24) A tax extension can help student loan borrowers keep flexibility for income recertification Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Learn how to optimize your retirement planning by utilizing essential financial tools. Discover strategies for leveraging a COLA-adjusted pension, navigating 403(b) withdrawals while contributing to a Roth IRA, and minimizing taxes. Explore rolling I bonds into a 529 plan without triggering taxable events. Analyze switching funds while managing a 401(k) or how Fidelity's BrokerageLink might provide low-fee options without incurring taxes or penalties. Understand how to make the most of your retirement plan without worrying about tax implications. Enjoy all this and more as Wes Moss and Christa DiBiase take listener calls, help ease tariff fears, and marvel at the power of the American Army of Productivity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh made a mistake. Knowing his impending sticky situation, he wrote us: "I over contributed to my Roth IRA this previous year (2024) due to making too much. What should I do?"   Fear not, Josh, we're here to help answer your question. Stick around for the full livestream as we break down 9 questions from you - the financial mutants! Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary In this conversation, Courtney shares her journey to building a net worth of $2.7 million. Most of it is in real estate but does have some in other assets. She dives into her investing strategy, emphasizing the importance of diversification between real estate and retirement accounts. She discusses her evolving strategies to achieve financial independence, focusing on cash flow and ROI. Courtney is in her late 30's and also highlights the significance of aligning financial goals with lifestyle choices and offers insights for those starting their investment journey. She discusses the importance of networking, her decision to invest in Michigan, and how she balances her career in healthcare IT with her real estate endeavors. Courtney also touches on her experience with the stock market and her future goals for financial independence.   Takeaways *Started investing in various accounts and leveraging tax strategies. *Maxed out Roth IRA every year as salary increased. *Believes in not putting all eggs in one basket. *Sees real estate and stock market as separate avenues. *Focuses on cash flow to replace income gradually. *Does not have a target number of doors, prioritizes cash flow. *Aims to take home $85,000 a year for a comfortable lifestyle. *Enjoys her job but is open to part-time work. *Emphasizes the importance of networking in real estate. *Encourages starting early in investing. *Her investment portfolio includes both real estate and stock market assets. *She has 10 rental properties, primarily single-family homes and one duplex. *Networking played a crucial role in her success in real estate. *Courtney's initial investment was influenced by her father's advice. *She transitioned from considering grad school to investing in real estate. *Her first property was purchased during a market downturn. *Courtney balances her career in healthcare IT with real estate investing. *She aims to reduce her full-time work hours in the future. *Investing in the stock market has been a strategic choice alongside real estate.