Your Money, Your Wealth
Episodes
Backdoor Roth Conversions and Investing for Kids - 293
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you screwing up your Backdoor Roth IRA conversion? Find out. Plus, tax on mega-Backdoor Roth conversions, Medicaid spend-down rules and your Roth ...
Will Estate Tax Law Changes Affect Your Family Financial Plan? - 292
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How might Joe Biden's or Donald Trump's changes to the lifetime estate tax exemption impact your estate plan? Plus, is there any reason to have pre-ta...
Roth Conversions, Annuities and Inherited IRAs - 291
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Answering questions across the financial and retirement spectrum, with topics like when your traditional IRA is growing faster than you can convert to...
Market Timing and Day Trading in a Roth IRA? - 290
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is timing the market and day trading in your Roth IRA in retirement a good idea? How are you taxed if you collect dividends vs. reinvesting? Plus, tax...
Backdoor Roth IRA Conversions, Stimulus and Self-Employed Retirement -289
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you report a backdoor Roth IRA conversion over two tax years, and is there a point at which the backdoor Roth doesn't make sense? Plus, more st...
YMYW Spitball Analysis 2: Retirement and Social Security - 288
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The YMYW Retirement Plan Spitball Analysis was so popular that it's time for part 2! Where do Roth IRA conversions, primary residences, and rental rea...
Roth Conversion Tax Planning Strategies and Annuities - 287
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tax planning for Roth IRA conversions with itemized deductions, dividends, and long term capital gains, a Roth conversion vs. investing a 401(k) distr...
Dividend-Paying Stocks and Investing Strategies at All Ages - 286
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Investing strategies for dividend-paying stocks and how the pro-rata rule for Roth conversions work with dividends. Plus, Wealthfront, M1, Paul Merrim...
New Stimulus Check & Coronavirus Relief Package On the Way? - 285
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With CARES Act provisions expiring, Joe & Big Al recap the two new stimulus bills - the HEALS Act and the HEROES Act - now being negotiated in Congres...
What Is Your Retirement Number? YMYW Spitball Retirement Analysis - 284
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Big Al spitball retirement plan considerations, including: - investing in brokerage and Roth instead of pre-tax - getting tax diversification ...
Tax Gain Harvesting, Active vs. Passive Investments… and Roth Conversions - 283
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Should you tax gain harvest or do a Roth IRA conversion? Should active or passive investments go in retirement accounts? If you're on the younger side...
How to Do a Roth Conversion and Pay Taxes On It - 282
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have to transfer from a 401(k) to a traditional IRA before you do a Roth IRA conversion? Does the pro-rata rule apply? Also, the logistics of p...
Will These Three Things Affect Your Social Security? - 281
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What impact do ex-spouses, income, and early retirement have on collecting your Social Security benefits? Plus, indexed universal life insurance, esta...
Are These Retirement Investment Strategies On Track? - 280
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Big Al take a look at an investing strategy a listener set up for his parents, and they run the numbers on their variable annuity. They also k...
Real Estate, Roth Conversions, and Social Security - 279
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Reducing real estate taxes, leveraging new rental income properties, coordinating Social Security benefits with Roth conversions, and bragging about y...
Can You Do a Coronavirus-Related Distribution to Roth Conversion? - 278
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is it possible to do a Roth IRA conversion with a Coronavirus-Related Distribution from your retirement accounts? Joe and Big Al will explain whether ...
Roth IRA Conversion and Contribution Rules - 277
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Roth IRA contributions and conversions come with plenty of rules: contribution rules, withdrawal rules, safe harbor rules, pro-rata and aggregation ru...
Pre-Tax or Roth Contributions for Retirement Savings? - 276
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Should market volatility and the economic downturn due to COVID-19 change where you save for retirement? Should contributions go to pre-tax accounts o...
Social Security WEP, GPO & Roth IRA Conversion Strategies - 275
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The windfall elimination provision (WEP), government pension offset (GPO) & spousal Social Security benefits. Also, Roth IRA conversions and Medicare,...
CARES Act: Distributions, RMDs & Dependents - 274
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Financial planning strategies around Coronavirus-Related Distributions from retirement accounts and required minimum distributions (RMDs). Plus, liste...
Real Estate, Roth Conversions & Annuities - 273
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A mixed bag of questions on everything from spousal solo 401(k) contributions and inherited IRAs to house-buying strategies, to the fan-favorite, ripp...
Asset Location: Where Should You Hold Retirement Investments? - 272
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What types of investments you keep in your taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts can play a big part in how much tax you pay over time. In this ...
4 Financial Strategies from the Stimulus Package - 271
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this jam-packed episode of the Your Money, Your Wealth® podcast, stimulus payments for self-employed, dependents, and those who message us on Face...
In Market Volatility, Beware of Annuity Pitches - 270
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In these volatile markets, pitches for fixed indexed annuities will be on the upswing. Here's how to analyze them for yourself. Plus, CARES Act stimul...
Revisiting Roth IRA Conversion Strategies - 269
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Roth IRA conversion pro-rata rule considerations with RMDs on an inherited IRA, tax bracket planning to account for the loss of a spouse, and the stat...
CARES Act: What's in the Coronavirus Stimulus Package - 268
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Recovery rebates, new rules for retirement account distributions, stimulus checks for those on Social Security & unemployment benefits. Plus, should a...
Analyzing 5 Investing Strategies for Volatile Markets - 267
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In these volatile financial markets, are you reconsidering your investing strategies? Joe and Big Al discuss cash, selling stocks in taxable accounts ...
Tax Brackets Explained: How Much Are You Really Paying in Taxes? - 266
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you're in the 22% tax bracket, does 22% of what you make go to the IRS? How does capital gains tax work with ordinary income tax? Joe & Big Al expl...
Bear Market Investing Strategies and Revisiting the 5-Year Roth IRA Withdrawal Rules - 265
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tax loss harvesting, Roth conversions and more: Joe and Big Al explain how bear markets like the one we're in now are the time to utilize these invest...
How Much of Your Net Worth Should Be in Cash? - 264
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How much of your money should you keep in cash? Should you buy VBK, the Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF? Plus, asset allocation and asset location, the ...
7 Roth Conversion Strategies - 263
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When to do a Roth IRA conversion, the pro-rata and aggregation rules, spousal conversions, Roth contributions and more. Send in money questions, read ...
What's the Right Retirement Asset Allocation for You? - 262
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With volatility, should you time the market and change the asset allocation of your investment portfolio, your pension, or your Thrift Savings Plan (T...
Real Estate Investing: How to Find Bread & Butter Rental Properties - 261
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you run the numbers to find a good, profitable rental property? Should you pay off the mortgage, buy more real estate, or save for retirement? ...
When is the Tax Deadline for a Roth Conversion? - 260
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Tax Day approaches, you've got taxes on your mind. When do you have to pay the tax on your Roth IRA conversion? Is converting beyond the current ta...
"Collect Social Security at Age 70" is Common Advice. Why? - 259
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We address a challenge to the advice to wait until age 70 to take Social Security and we tackle your questions on making the most of your benefits, wh...
International Funds, Safe Investments, 1031 Exchange: Email Round-Up - 258
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How to choose international funds in a diversified portfolio, a momentum investing strategy called The 12% Solution, and safe retirement investments l...
Why Not Just Go All in On VTSAX, Vanguard's Total Stock Market Index Fund? - 257
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) comes very highly recommended by JL Collins in his book, The Simple Path to Wealth. So why not put ...
Your SECURE Act Retirement Questions Answered - 256
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Big Al tackle your SECURE Act retirement planning questions: how minors can distribute inherited IRAs, whether a trust should be your IRA bene...
Breaking Down the Confusing 5-Year Roth Clock Rules - 255
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe & Big Al explain, once and for all, the 5-year clocks for Roth conversions and Roth contributions and pro-rata rules. (Well, hopefully it'll all m...
Roth Conversions from a Thrift Savings Plan TSP? - 254
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The thrift savings plan (TSP) explained, and the rules around Roth conversions from TSPs. Plus, Joe and Big Al answer your questions about, what else,...
Rules for Your Retirement Savings and Distributions Are Changing - 253
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Just in time for the holidays, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, or SECURE Act, has been made law, effective January 1, 2...
Strategies for Social Security, Annuities, and Inherited Assets - 252
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Big Al answer questions about coordinating Social Security benefits with Roth contributions and required minimum distributions, weighing the S...
Should You Convert to Roth IRA All at Once or Over Time? - 251
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How much of a Roth conversion should you do and when? Does it make sense to convert to a Roth IRA all in one year, or to do it over time, based on you...
Tanja Hester on the Flexibility of Financial Independence - 250
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tanja Hester (called the Matriarch of the women's FIRE movement by the New York Times) returns to YMYW to discuss the value of our time, how it's conn...
What's the Break-Even on a Retirement Roth IRA Conversion? - 249
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How do you figure out the break-even point on a Roth IRA conversion? Joe and Big Al discuss whether to convert, how much to convert, and when. Plus, t...
Is a Roth Conversion Affected By Social Security? - 248
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Will a Roth IRA conversion be impacted by your Social Security benefit or vice versa? Plus, today we're talking Social Security spousal and survivor b...
How to Talk to Mom & Dad About Their Money - 247
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Huddleston discusses her book, Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. But f...
Why This Life Insurance Is for the Most Part a Scam - 246
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We tackle Indexed Universal Life Insurance one more time. And you may have heard that millionaires "buy term and invest the rest" to pay estate taxes,...
Is It Time to Fire Your Financial Advisor? - 245
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Should you stay or should you go? Joe and Big Al weigh in on whether a couple of listeners who are dissatisfied with their financial advisors should d...
5 Unique Social Security Questions Answered - 244
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Social Security strategies if you are married to a younger spouse and have a minor child, affected by the windfall elimination provision, considering ...
The Truth About Indexed Universal Life Insurance - 243
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Is indexed universal life insurance good for estate planning, investing or as a tax shelter for high-income earners? Should you pay down debt or save ...
Investing the Money from a Real Estate Sale - 242
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You've sold your primary residence or your rental property. How should you invest real estate proceeds for retirement? When do Joe and Big Al say you ...
Answers to Your Top Roth Conversion Questions - 241
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Your Roth IRA questions answered: when should you do a Roth conversion? Should you wait until you're in retirement to convert? What kind of income is ...
How to Choose Your Own Financial Independence Adventure - 240
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence authors Chris Mamula (CanIRetireYet.com), Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa (Choose FI podcast) s...
How Should You Invest? As Always, It Depends - 239
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week's questions all revolve around what to do with your money - and everyone's circumstances are different. What to do with a 401(k) after you r...
Roth Conversions, Life Insurance & More: Email Round-Up - 238
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An entire episode dedicated to money questions that run the gamut: we're talking about using indexed universal life insurance to insure future income,...
Mad at the Roller Coaster? Then You Don't Understand the Ride - 237
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Back to investing basics: what makes for a wise investing philosophy while on the market volatility roller coaster? How do you find a financial fiduci...
How Much Can You Spend When You're On FIRE? - 236
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What's a safe withdrawal rate from your investment portfolio when that money has to last 50 or 60 years because you're part of the FIRE (financial ind...
Recession and the Inverted Yield Curve - 235
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An inverted yield curve has often led to a recession. Pure Financial Advisors' Executive Vice President and Director of Research, Brian Perry, CFP®, ...
Tax Postcard, Stretch IRAs & Life Insurance for Education - 234
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
ENTER TO WIN A $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD! US residents, fill out our podcast survey by August 18: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2019ymyw The revamped 2...
Using Alternative Investments to Boost Portfolio Returns? - 233
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and angel investing: Joe breaks down what these alternative invest...
Time to Dial Down Risk and Do a Roth Conversion? - 232
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jonathan Clements (founder, HumbleDollar.com, former Wall Street Journal personal finance writer) on portfolio rebalancing, reducing risk and doing a ...
Appreciate How Good the Economy is Now - 231
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
According to Dr. Chris Thornberg of Beacon Economics, the US economy and real estate market are currently extremely healthy, so we should appreciate i...
The Effect of the Media on Financial Markets - 230
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does the media impact financial markets and the economy? Oliver Renick (TD Ameritrade Network) has ideas on how we can best make use of what the media...
Strategies for Social Security, Gifting, and Estimated Taxes - 229
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Anderson, CFP® and Big Al Clopine, CPA answer your questions on Social Security disability, the file and suspend strategy, IRA contributions and ...
Liz Ann Sonders: Investing in the Face of Recession - 228
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
"If we're heading to a recession, we're already in it." Liz Ann Sonders (Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Schwab & Co.) shares her mid-year market...
This Retiree Helps Golfers Reach the Big Time - 227
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rick Durso tells us what his retirement hustle is like as a caddy for the Symetra golf tour, helping golfers make it to the Ladies Professional Golf A...
Medicare Beginner's Guide: What You Need to Know Now - 226
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Kunkle Roberts of BoomerBenefits.com on Medicare basics, parts A to D, signing up, common mistakes, Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage, recent im...
Real Estate Investing: Should You Buy Raw Land? - 225
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Land Geek Mark Podolsky shares his method for turning unwanted dirt and "rock farms" (aka raw land) into cash. Plus, can you aggregate rental prop...
New Retirement Legislation: Death to the Stretch IRA? - 224
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Jamie Hopkins (Carson Wealth & Heider School of Business/Creighton University) talks about impacts the SECURE Act could have on retirement p...
Financial Independence Retire Early Hits the Big Screen - 223
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Travis Shakespeare, Director and Executive Producer of Playing with FIRE, talks about making the first-ever documentary about the Financial Independe...
How to Be Like the Millionaire Next Door - 222
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sarah Stanley Fallaw (co-author, The Next Millionaire Next Door) shares her research into how millionaires become wealthy, and what has changed si...
How to Hedge Risk From the Brothel to the Surfboard - 221
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Economist Dr. Allison Schrager, the author of An Economist Walks Into a Brothel, explains how the risk management techniques of surfers, prostitutes,...
Social Security, TSP Changes, & Maintaining Your Tax Bracket - 220
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joe & Big Al answer your questions: from filed-and-suspended Social Security, living off of your investments overseas before taking Social Security, a...
Standup Comedy: Gid Pool's Retirement Hustle - 219
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Gid Pool took a standup comedy class 13 years ago at age 61 on a lark. He shares the story of his retirement hustle, traveling the US and 50+ countrie...
3 Ways to Turn Your Financial Negatives Into Positives - 218
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Wong (author, Get Money, columnist, Joint Accounts @ Medium.com) talks about relationships and money and how communication, specificity, and ...
How to Use Rental Real Estate to Build Legacy Wealth - 217
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Top apartment broker Terry Moore, CCIM talks about using rental real estate not just to build wealth, but also to create a life worth imitating. Joe a...
Here's What to Do When You're a Victim of Debit Card Fraud - 216
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley Patrick (former police detective and creator of BudgetsMadeEasy.com) on how debit card fraud happens, what to do when your ATM card is compromi...
Will Trump's Latest Proposals Reduce Student Loan Debt? - 215
02 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David Carlson (author, Student Loan Solution) discusses the student loan debt crisis and President Donald Trump's plan to fix it, and Joe and Big Al a...
The Real Keys to Being Rich and Truly Wealthy - 214
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Portnoy, Ph.D., CFA® (author, The Geometry of Wealth) on the difference between being rich and wealthy, and how to achieve both. Plus, what abo...
Social Security Changes in 2019 - 213
19 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Joe and Big Al discuss 7 changes to your Social Security for 2019. No, wait, six changes. Well actually, it's more like 5 changes and a useful tidbit....
Problems With the Arguments Against Roth IRAs - 212
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ric Edelman has some strong arguments against the Roth IRA. Joe & Big Al, aka "The Roth Brothers," offer their thoughts. Plus, understanding basis whe...
Retire Early Without Pinching Pennies - 211
05 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Tanja Hester (OurNextLife.com, award-winning financial independence blog) talks about her new book, Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching...
"Hold It" Until You're Purple to be a Better Investor - 210
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby talks about his latest book, The Behavioral Investor and cracks us up with stories of how "having to go" a...
Are These Two Funds the Only Ones You Need for Life? - 209
19 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nationally recognized investing expert Paul Merriman makes the case that owning just two funds for life is a "home-run" investing strategy for some i...
Spousal Social Security Claiming Strategies You Need to Know - 208
12 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know there are over 2,700 rules governing Social Security benefits? File and suspend vs restricted claim... the list goes on! Mary Beth Frank...
This Myth is the #1 Barrier to Financial Freedom - 207
05 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Grant Sabatier (author, Financial Freedom) share some of the steps that led him from $2.26 in the bank to over a million bucks in just 5 years, and th...
How to Avoid the Five Horsemen of the Retirement Apocalypse - 206
29 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Larry Swedroe (Buckingham Strategic Wealth) talks about his 16th book, Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement, the two biggest reti...
5 Key Attributes That Make Millionaires Successful - 205
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Hogan of Ramsey Solutions talks about his brand new book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – and How You ...
Liz Ann Sonders: Recession Inevitable, the Question is When? - 204
15 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Ann Sonders (Chief Investment Strategist, Charles Schwab & Co.) provides insight on what happened in the market in 2018 and her outlook for 2019....
Sex and Immigration: How Do They Affect Social Security? - 203
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Devin Carroll (Big Picture Retirement podcast, Social Security Intelligence blog) explains how sex could save Social Security and the surprising effec...
4 Simple Ways to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions - 202
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus Garrett from Paychecks and Balances and author of Debt Free or Die Trying: How I Buried Myself in Over $30,000 in Debt and Dug My Way Out by A...
7 Benefits of the Federal Reserve Interest Rate Hikes - 201
26 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What do the increases in the Federal Reserve interest rates mean for the economy and our portfolios - and how can we benefit from the rate hikes? Lind...
How to Avoid the Top 8 Holiday Scams of 2018 - 200
18 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Wang from ValuePenguin.com tells us which holiday scams are all the rage this season - and how to be smarter than the scammers. Joe and Al answe...
How to Use Leverage to Reduce Risk and Increase Returns - 199
11 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Todd Tresidder of FinancialMentor.com shares the surprising ways to reduce risk and increase returns as outlined in his new book, The Leverage Equati...
7 Tips and Financial Benefits for Military Families - 198
04 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ellie Kay and Bethany Bayless (Heroes at Home, The Money Millhouse podcast) share some of the financial challenges America's military families face th...
Mobile Home Parks: Is This Undiscovered Real Estate Investment Right For You? - 197
27 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jefferson Lilly from Park Avenue Partners and the Mobile Home Park Investors podcast and LinkedIn group tells us why he thinks mobile home parks are t...
Living Beyond Your Means Now? You'll Live Beneath Your Means In the Future - 196
20 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
JP Morgan Chief Global Strategist Dr. David Kelly discusses the mid-term elections, market volatility, interest rates, tariffs and trade wars, Brexit,...
Do These 9 Simple Things to Improve Your Retirement - 195
13 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Stephen Wendel, Head of Behavioral Science at Morningstar, talks about the challenges that keep us from making good investing decisions, and 9 sim...
Apple, Spotify and RMDs Feeling Volatile Markets - 194
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How the most volatile month of the year affected Spotify and Apple, and how to avoid volatile markets and sequence of returns risk affecting your requ...