Money Guy Show

I’ve told you guys before that this show is a truly organic process. The topics come from various sources of inspiration and this week, it happened to come from one of you. We recently received an email from a listener wanting to know more about my experience with the vacation rental property that I own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home warranties are most commonly associated with the acts of buying or selling a house. But often times, they make sense for those of us who are too busy (or simply not handy enough) to do our own repairs around the house. Today’s show is focused on some of the advantages of home warranties, as well as some things to look out for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wouldn’t it be nice if choosing a credit card were as simple as doing some research, making an informed decision, and never thinking about it again? Unfortunately, changing rates, terms, and rewards mean that you have to stay on your toes in the evolving credit card market if you want to make sure your rewards are actually rewarding your good behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With graduation rapidly approaching for many college students, The Wall Street Journal just announced that the Class of 2011 will graduate with more debt than any class before! In today's show, we address common money mistakes that new alumni make and our guidance for new grads as well as anyone going through a major life change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That’s right…our last show, “The Money-Guy Tax Plan”, sparked so many comments, we decided to do a follow-up… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’ve heard solutions from the right. You’ve heard solutions from the left. You’ve even heard President Obama’s bipartisan debt panel solution. Today’s show introduces the “Money-Guy” solution to the tax code, and how I think we could make significant strides to fix the debt problem in this country and get back on track! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The income tax law is a lot of bunk. The government can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.” These are the famous words and unsound tax advice of notorious gangster, Al Capone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we are going back to the basics and talking about the importance of asset allocation. This podcast is meant to remind our devoted listeners, and reveal to any new listeners, some of the fundamentals of financial planning and how to best handle your assets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s show is an exciting one for all of us self-proclaimed nerds. After anxiously awaiting the release of Warren Buffett’s annual message to the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, we share some of the highlights that we took away from this year’s letter. In addition to being a legendary investor, we also consider Mr. Buffett to be a respectable source for life experiences... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s face it-groceries are a necessity for all of us, but more often than not, we’re left cringing at the checkout line over the impact on our wallets. In this week’s show, we dive head first into the world of smart shopping and coupon clipping in an effort to discover where you can really find the best deals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this day and age, it is hard to navigate the financial landscape. It becomes even more difficult when the waters are muddied. Therefore, many individuals seek the advice and counsel of professionals. What happens, though, when those waters are muddied as well? How do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...but I'm never wrong! Or at least that is how the old adage goes. This may not be the exact mantra of modern day economic "prophets", but it isn't too far off. It seems like (and the study we share proves) a forecaster only has to get one big prediction right and then their word is as good as gold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Boy does it feel good to be back! The holidays always seem to throw off our schedule just a bit but, with the New Year, comes a re-vamp for the Money-Guy and getting back on schedule. Today's show is a great one. There was a fantastic article in Consumer Reports' Money Adviser titled "15 ways to never run out of money"... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As is usually the case, the holiday season has caused our bi-weekly schedule to be slightly off. You could probably even say that the frequency at which we get these podcasts published during the holidays is somewhat "uncertain" (you will see how clever this statement is as you read on... : -) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's right! It's that time of year again. I think the name probably says it all... Black Friday is upon us. This is one of my absolute favorite days of the year because I love the challenge of seeing just how far I can stretch my dollars! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is very timely considering how much health insurance has been in the news lately. It is a topic that affects every man, woman, and child in this country and is not always a straight-forward and easy thing to understand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is a bit of a reset. Every now and then, it is good to get back to Money 101. For me, "Money 101" takes me back to a high school Economics teacher who very possibly changed the course of my entire life... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is a follow-up to a show we did back in February 2009 titled "529 College Savings and 'The 2009 Stimulus'". Now that we have had a decent run up in the financial markets, we have the ability to look back in time and see how well those "best" and "worst" plans have done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is absolutely amazing the things we can learn from history. Even more amazing is how, very ofter, history appears to repeat itself. No, not in the deja-vu type fashion; but more of a, "Hmm, I think I've been here before". Today's show comes from the minds of two great thinkers and theorists, Milton Friedman and Adam Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is kind of unique. Due to all of your positive feedback, I decided to sit back and let Bo take the lead. I asked him to come up with a topic that he felt was timely and even related to his life. The topic he landed on (which is no surprise if you the know the guy), was Creative Ways to Save a Few Bucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You have probably noticed that we are slightly off of our 2-week routine of getting you guys a new show this week. The reason is, well, because sometimes life just happens. So, over the last two weeks, life has been happening and it had me temporarily out of whack. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An unfortunate truth is that all of us, most likely, at some point in our lives will have to deal with being in a car accident. Of course the safety and well-being of all those involved is the most important thing. Assuming, however, there are no irreplaceable losses or injuries, the next thing most of our minds go to are 1) costs and 2) dealing with the insurance companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To say that 2010 and 2011 are going to be 'unique' tax years would be quite an understatement. With all of the changes, or potential changes, heading our way, I thought it would timely to discuss what some of these changes are and how they may potentially affect you and your family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have received a number of emails lately asking what steps can young people take to start getting their financial houses in order from the very beginning. In today's show, Bo addresses what decisions can be made early on to begin on the right track to financial independence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I told you there was an investment where you had a guaranteed rate of return when the stock market was doing poorly, but then you could make even more when the stock market goes up? Sound too good to be true? Well, it just may be... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While it comes as no surprise that it is a little harder to sleep at night when the stock market is bouncing all over the place, is there actually a way you can harness these big swings to benefit your portfolio and still get a decent night's sleep? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So we head to Chicago for a conference and the market decides to misbehave! The Euro-Zone deteriorates, there is an oil spill that can't be stopped, and the Korea's are fighting. Sure sounds like an emergency to me... But wait, is there hope? My answer is yes... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is about debt, plain and simple. It builds off of two shows we did last year titled "Legacy of A Generation...Not the Millionaire Next Door" and "Bringin' Simple Back". Our hope is to bring attention to the destructive nature that debt can have and potentially come up with solutions before we... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of us at some point in our lives have bought, or are planning on buying, an automobile. For many, however, this is not a very pleasant experience. This comes as no surprise when, according to Forbes, "Of the top 10 industries that received the most consumer complaints last year, three were auto related". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is a fun one! With it being the day after tax day, we thought we would do a very light-hearted and entertaining show. Don't worry, though, our next episode is back to the "meat". Our topic today is based off of an article in this month's Readers Digest titled "The Cheapest People in America". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all of the media coverage concerning the new health care legislation, it would be easy to focus on the ins and outs of the new bill. However, we thought we would go a different route and talk about your financial health. Just like you keep track of your blood pressure, weight, what you eat, and how much you exercise; you should also keep track of how well your finances are doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show was spurred by two things: 1) it's tax time and, therefore, thinking about taxes and tax planning is fresh on most people's minds, and 2) a letter we received from one of our Premium Subscribers. In the letter, he stated he would like to hear a show on the tax efficiency of mutual funds and how you select a fund that is tax efficient. So, we set out to answer his questions... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is on an issue that we all face, yet not many people know how to handle. It's happened to every one of us. You start a folder to house all of your "important documents", then maybe your folder turns into a binder, the binder turns into a drawer, the drawer becomes a filing cabinet, and next thing you know, you're up to your ears in "important documents". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show isn't exactly one of those that gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. The topic is, however, one of those that is a necessary evil and is a very real issue that needs to be addressed. The unemployment rate is, and has been, one of those statistics that the mainstream media has inundated us with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well here it is; we finally did it. You have been writing, calling, and asking for us to explain and go through the nuts and bolts of the Roth conversion and why 2010 is such an important year. You can't really turn on any financial media or read any financial literature and not come across something that at least mentions or alludes to the this planning opportunity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, I've missed you guys. We took a few weeks off for the holidays, and I can only hope that absence has made the heart grow fonder. I thought a great way to start out this new year of financial topics was to touch on an area that I think a lot of people are probably thinking about right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we wind down 2009, what sort of things should you be thinking about? Well, in my life, it seems like every December there are a million things going on both on the personal side and on the business side. In today's show, I want to focus on two things that I bet you and your family are thinking about, and if you're not thinking about them, maybe now is a good time to start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some people love Christmas or Thanksgiving or maybe New Year's or Valentine's day, but, while I do enjoy these holidays very much, there is one day each year that holds special significance for me. You probably guessed it... that day is Black Friday. [What do you expect? I'm the 'Money-Guy' :) ] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you pay attention to any piece of news, you no doubt have heard SOMETHING about health insurance over the last few months. Coincidentally, in the midst of potential health care reform, it is open enrollment for many individuals covered under employer sponsored health plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is on a topic that I feel is very easy to understand, but, for some reason, very often overlooked. While overlooking this seemingly small concept may not seem like a huge deal, the impact it can have on your investment portfolio as well as your ability to reach your long term goals in monumental! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you watch any piece of news, read any bit of financial commentary (which you probably do since you listen to this show), or have any sense of how financial markets work, then inflation has no doubt been a thought on your mind. If you go a little deeper, then you've probably come across many conflicting view points of inflation. Is inflation good? Is it bad? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There was a great article in my November edition of Consumer Reports. The title of the article was Take Control of Your Credit Cards: How to Fight Back Against Higher Rates, Fees, and Abusive Practices. It is no secret that credit card companies are not the public's favorite "service provider", especially over the past 6 to 12 months... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So it has been about two weeks since our last show and, if you have listened to the most recent shows, you know that the reason for this temporary absence is because my wife and I have recently added a new member to the Preston family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every so often we stumble across something so moving and so compelling that we feel we MUST share it with those around us. Well that is exactly what has happened to me over the past week. In today’s show I want to share a documentary done by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation titled “I.O.U.S.A”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's show is one of those nitty-gritty topics that may not always be the most fun or most exciting, but it is definitely one of the most important. Today I wanted share the significance of making sure that your beneficiary designations are up-to-date and still reflect your posthumous wishes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bo and I will be traveling to South Carolina for a conference this week, but I didn't want you to be without sound financial information for two whole weeks. This, combined with how excited I get about FREE money, made this week's show topic a no-brainer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So here we find ourselves. I won't go so far as to say that things feel good, but at least it doesn't appear as though the sky is falling any longer. Will we remain at this "comfortable" level? I'm not sure and I don't think that anyone knows for sure. What I do believe, however, is that we have made it through the worst of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is a prime example of how quickly things change in our current economic environment! We recorded this show on Thursday afternoon, 07/30, and planned on releasing it Friday morning, 07/31. To our amazement, when we came into the office on Friday, one of the very topics we did the show on no more than 24 hours before was no longer in existence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have been listening to this show for any length of time at all, you have no doubt heard me sing praise of the Roth IRA. The Roth IRA is an amazing planning tool for those individuals who qualify. Not only do you get tax deferred savings for retirement, but all of those earnings actually become tax FREE if certain requirements are met! For more, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/06/why-a-roth-401k-may-be-your-best-bet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes individuals have those moments where they wake up in the middle of the night, and it hits them! It's that thought, or idea, or realization that is so thought-provoking and so revolutionary that they can't shake it. This is what happened to me a few nights ago! For more information, see the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/06/legacy-of-a-generartion-not-the-millionaire-next-door Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices