Your Money, Your Wealth

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...

Why Market Corrections Are a Good Thing - 193

30 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The market has been in correction territory more than once over the past week, and Joe and Big Al explain why that's a good thing. Plus, is the three ...

Jean Chatzky on the Big Shift to Women in Financial Power - 192

23 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jean Chatzky (NBC's Today Show) talks about HerMoney.com, her new project giving women the confidence to lead the charge into the financial future. Pl...

Tempted to Panic and Sell? Do These 3 Things Instead - 191

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brian Perry and Larry Swedroe on market volatility, whether, as President Donald Trump said, the Fed is crazy, and what 3 things you should do next to...

4 Roth Conversion Options for Tax-Free Portfolio Growth - 190

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Trump tax cuts are slated to sunset in 2025, but the House has passed the GOP bill to make them permanent. Life insurance settlements, or "Death Bonds...

IRA Basics: What You Need to Know About Individual Retirement Accounts - 189

02 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How much do you know about the individual retirement account, also known as an IRA? In today's podcast, the basics: contributing to an IRA, SEP IRAs a...

Risks and Rewards of Vacation Rentals and Real Estate Investing - 188

25 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cubert from AbandonedCubicle.com shares his plans for using real estate, including AirBnB and VRBO vacation rentals, on his path to financial independ...

Trump Retirement Security Executive Order: Small Business Opportunities and Concerns - 187

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jeffrey Levine (Forbes, Kitces.com, BluePrint Wealth Alliance) on President Donald Trump's executive order on Multiple Employer Retirement Plans and r...

Stop Spending Money the Wrong Way: 77 Days to Financial Happiness - 186

11 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

HumbleDollar.com's Jonathan Clements (former Wall Street Journal) helps us stop spending money the wrong way and shows us how to enrich our financial ...

What You Need to Know About Social Security and Making Money - 185

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Answering your questions on how collecting a paycheck or investing during retirement might affect your Social Security benefits. Plus, "the Goddess of...

How to Manage 8 Risks That Can Derail Your Retirement - 184

28 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Plenty of risks threaten retirement, and today we focus on managing risks from longevity, inflation, sequence of returns, taxes, interest rates, and...

Your 2018 Taxes: 10 Ways to Prepare and Save - 183

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

2018 taxes will be very different than previous years. We've got 10 ways to make sure you're properly prepared, and perhaps even reduce your 2018 tax...

Morgan Housel: How to Cure the Investing Disease of Fear and Greed - 182

14 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Morgan Housel (Collaborative Fund, former Wall Street Journal and Motley Fool) offers practical ways to determine your actual risk tolerance and perha...

Are More Trump Tax Cuts and Big 401(k) & IRA Changes On the Way? - 181

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

More possible tax cuts from the Trump administration, and big changes coming to our 401(k)s and IRAs? Plus, If you had to buy and hold one stock for t...

Why Do You Need To Understand Financial Markets? With Marc Levinson - 180

31 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Marc Levinson, author of The Economist Guide to Financial Markets: Why They Exist and How They Work explains how understanding financial markets can h...

Can Risk Revolutionize How You Work? With Joel Comm - 179

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Joel Comm (best selling author, entrepreneur and co-host of the Bad Crypto Podcast) talks about his new book, The Fun Formula: How Curiosity, Risk-Ta...

Michael Batnick: The Best Investors and Their Worst Investing Mistakes - 178

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Even the best investors make terrible investing mistakes. Michael Batnick talks about his new book, Big Mistakes: The Best Investors and Their Worst ...

50 Or Older? Don't Skip These 5 Key Retirement Questions - 177

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

7 Steps to Retire in 10 Years, 5 Key Retirement Questions You Need To Answer When You're 50 Or Older, 10 Frequently Asked IRA questions, and some ques...

Use This Quick Calculation to See If You're on Track for Retirement - 176

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Are you on track for retirement? Big Al Clopine, CPA created a quick retirement calculation to help you find out. If you're a little behind in your sa...

How to Rock Retirement With The Retirement Answer Man - 175

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Retirement Answer Man, Roger Whitney, CFP® talks about his book, Rock Retirement: A Simple Guide to Help You Take Control and be More Optimistic ...

Will Cryptocurrencies Disrupt Real Estate Investing? - 174

19 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cryptocurrencies have taken investing into risky, adventurous new territory over the past few years, and now a new blockchain-based real estate invest...

Life Insurance, Long Term Care, Annuities, and Ranting About Reddit - 173

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A Reddit thread about getting sold life insurance when going to a life insurance company for financial planning gets Joe Anderson, CFP® ranting! To ...

How Much Can You Really Spend in Retirement? - 172

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Wade Pfau on the 4% rule for retirement withdrawals. How a risk-filled burrito can earn up to 11%. Joe & Big Al take on Dave Ramsey's advice to pay de...

Jonathan Clements on The Secret to Defeating Ingrained Financial Failure Instincts - 171

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Jonathan Clements (HumbleDollar.com, former Wall Street Journal columnist) on how to get from here to financial happiness and success, defeating the i...

Can Market Predictors Make You a Better Investor? - 170

22 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Larry Swedroe, Director of Research at Buckingham Strategic Wealth and columnist at ETF.com, talks about how his views on active vs. passive investing...

Sell in May and Go Away: Can You Time the Market? - 169

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nationally recognized mutual fund, index investing and asset allocation authority Paul Merriman gives us the truth on market timing versus buy and hol...

3 Ways a Reverse Mortgage Can Supercharge Your Retirement - 168

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Wade Pfau of RetirementResearcher.com returns to Your Money, Your Wealth® to share some incredible reverse mortgage strategies that can superch...

Money & Divorce: 14 Disastrous Mistakes That Will Steal Your Financial Dignity - 167

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The financial lifeguard Christine Luken talks about her new program, Financial Dignity After Divorce, which will be especially useful if you make any ...