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Financial Freedom Podcast

A semi-monthly podcast that brings you advice and interviews with experts on various important topics to help you make better and smarter financial decisions in order to improve or maintain your financial situation.
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Financial Freedom Podcast
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Now displaying: Page 3
Feb 25, 2022

Tax time approaches as we head into spring, so it's a good idea to start thinking about what to do once your return is prepared and ready to file. Do you owe money? If so, are you able to pay it? On the other hand, if you're getting a refund, have you thought about what to do with it once it arrives in your bank account?

So in this episode of the podcast I wanted to help you to answer these questions, so that when the time comes to either pay the piper or dance merrily to his tune you'll be prepared with a strategy in place. Think about these ideas and then take action.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Payment Plans with the IRS
  • Offers in Compromise
  • The Best Ways to Spend Your Refund
  • Why Stopping the Refunds is a Great Idea

 

Feb 11, 2022

At this time of year, high school seniors are trying to select a college or university for their higher education. They’ve made their applications, filled out the FAFSA form, and are starting to get financial aid award letters. It’s an exciting time!

But the decisions they make now can have far reaching consequences for their future, either good or bad. So in this episode of the podcast I talk about things you can do to increase the likelihood of success after graduation, and decrease the likelihood of a future with debt!

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to evaluate school financial aid offers
  • Whether Parent Plus loans are a good option
  • How to choose an affordable school
  • Whether you should take out private student loans
Jan 28, 2022

In Episode 136 I talked about how important it is to start planning and investing for your financial future as soon as possible, preferably in your 20s. In the last episode, Episode 144, I talked with Joe Okaly on the challenges families in their 20s and 30s face in achieving financial freedom.  Certainly, the earlier you start, the better.

But is it ever too late? What if you are in your late 30s or in your 40s? Is there still a way to invest and plan for financial freedom in retirement? So in this episode of the podcast I wanted to answer those questions and provide some ideas on how late starters can still live comfortably in retirement.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to Leverage a 401K
  • The Importance of Setting a Retirement Goal
  • How Annuities Can Help
  • Why Downsizing Might be a Good Idea
Jan 14, 2022

In Episode 136 I talked about how important it is to start planning and investing for your financial future as soon as possible, preferably in your 20s. Even if you can’t put aside that much initially, that money has the maximum growth potential between now and retirement.

But young families face some unique challenges that can make it difficult to “pay yourself first” (and not all the bills that fall due every month). That’s why in this episode of the podcast I talk to Joe Oakley, a Certified Financial Planner with a young family to talk about how it can be done!

In this episode you will learn:

  • The Financial Challenges That Face Young Families
  • The Biggest Financial Mistakes Families Make
  • The Most Important Steps to Financial Freedom for Young Families
  • The Importance of Life and Disability Insurance
  • Why Financial Mindset is So Important

 

Dec 24, 2021

Once the holidays are over and our attention is drawn to the coming new year, it is inevitable that we start thinking about New Year's resolutions. How can we make 2022 better than 2021 as far as our financial freedom is concerned?

That's why in this episode of the podcast, as in December podcasts in previous years, I wanted to talk about the resolutions you should be thinking about making in order to improve your financial situation and get that much closer to financial freedom.

In this episode you will get tips for resolutions to:

  • Control spending
  • Be prepared for financial emergencies
  • Create a financial strategy and long-term plan
  • Build or rebuild your credit
Dec 10, 2021

These days, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency is in the news quite a bit. People are talking about using it for online purchases of goods and services, as well as investing. It is, in effect, becoming the “next big thing.”

Buy what is cryptocurrency, how do you get it, and how do you spend it? Plus, is it safe or even a good idea to use? So in this episode of the podcast I get into the details of cryptocurrency and answer those questions!

In this episode you will learn:

  • What is cryptocurrency?
  • How does it work?
  • How can you get it?
  • How can you spend it?
Nov 26, 2021

With all that has happened with the pandemic to date, holiday shopping this year will be a challenge to say the least. Between supply chain problems, inflation, and employment shortages at retail establishments, staying within your budget and still getting the perfect gift for everyone on your list will not be easy.

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to give you a Top 10 list of tips (plus a bonus) on how to get through it all with the least amount of fuss and the most amount of holiday joy.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to Deal with Supply Chain Issues
  • Leveraging Loyalty Programs
  • Using Social Media to Find Deals

 

Nov 12, 2021

When it comes to the job market and the economy, the pandemic has created an interesting and unusual phenomenon. Called The Great Resignation (or the Big Quit), it is an ongoing trend of workers quitting their jobs that started in the Spring of this year. Characterized by Wikipedia as being in response to the pandemic, the government refusing to provide necessary worker protection, and wage stagnation despite the rising cost of living.

But those that quit still have to find another job to pay the bills, or they’ll have an even bigger problem! That’s why in this episode of the podcast I talk to Bonnie Negron, a certified career coach and resume writer, about the best way to succeed in this job market and find the perfect fit for a post-COVID life.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to get clarity on the job and income you want
  • Tips on preparing a killer resume
  • Great ways to find, and apply for, the kind of job you want
  • Preparing for the interview

 

Oct 22, 2021

In Episode 110 I talked about how to become a millionaire and discussed the book, The Millionaire Next Door by Dr. Thomas J. Stanley and Dr. William D. Danko. It showed that the vast majority of American millionaires are not who you think they are, and that becoming wealthy is something that can be done.

But the path to wealth is a choice and a mindset. You have to think the right way about money in order to acquire and grow it. That’s why I wanted to follow up on that topic in this episode by talking to my guest Tony Bradshaw about what he calls the Millionaire Choice and how you can make that choice with the right mindset.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why mindset is important to becoming wealthy
  • The Ten Keys of the Millionaire
  • How to Make the Millionaire Choice
  • How to Make the Millionaire Plan

 

Oct 8, 2021

In the last episode, Episode 137, I talked with Myles Gage about starting a business after graduation. We talked about whether you should take the entrepreneur path, what kind of business you should start, and how you should prepare yourself financially for this step. But starting a business is very risky, as most businesses fail.

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to address that fact and look into the reasons why these businesses fail, and how you can try to prevent this from happening to you. To get those reasons, I spoke with CPA and entrepreneur Joe DiChiara.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The three questions you should ask yourself before starting a business
  • The importance of positioning
  • Why it’s important to perfect your “message” or “pitch” to your audience
  • What your key metrics are
  • Where to spend, and more importantly not spend, your money
Sep 24, 2021

Those that graduate with a degree and enter into the real world face a challenge and a choice. How do they make a living? How do they start paying back their student loans? How do they make a successful start down the road to financial freedom?

In this episode of the podcast, I address that issue and whether you should get a job and work for someone else or create a job and work for yourself by starting a business. To give some insight on this choice, and some tips on how to prepare financially for starting your own business, I invited Myles Gage of Rapunzl Investments onto the show.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to Determine If You Have the “Entrepreneurial Itch”
  • How to Decide on What Business to Start
  • How to Start a Business and Still Pay the Bills
  • How to Prepare Financially for Starting a Business

 

Sep 10, 2021

When it comes to saving for retirement, there is no better time to start than yesterday. The sooner you start putting money away, the sooner it has a chance to grow and ensure your financial future. But most people, fresh out of school and into their first job aren’t thinking about something that will happen in 40 years or so.

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about why it’s always best to start retirement savings early and how starting early actually makes it easier to do and more likely to result in financial freedom in your golden years.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How starting in your 20s makes saving for retirement easier, not harder
  • How to find money to invest
  • What to do if you're starting after your 20s

 

Aug 27, 2021

Although we are slowly coming out of the pandemic, nobody knows when it will be over, especially with the delta and lambda variants out there. People are still hurting economically, especially couples with children. Even if they’re back to work, childcare costs can really eat into the increased income.

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about two tax breaks for families that can really ease the financial burden until we are fully out of the pandemic. Whether you need the money up front, in a big refund, or in a tax credit, these breaks can help!

In this episode you will learn:

  • How the Enhanced Child Tax Credit can help you
  • How to get the money if you don’t file a tax return
  • Why you may want to opt out
  • How to leverage the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
Aug 13, 2021

One of the most stressful parts of back-to-school season is making sure your children get everything they need, while spending on a budget and within your means. Teachers today seem to request more and more supplies than ever before. Whether physical or electronic, it’s a tall task to find and purchase the items at a reasonable cost.

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to give you some tips and ideas on how to save money while ensuring that your children are well-equipped for the school year to come!

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to Save Money on Back to School
  • How to Save Money on Back to College
  • How to Save Money at the Drug Store
Jul 23, 2021

It’s been a rough 17 months with the COVID-19 pandemic, but it looks like we are finally coming out of it. One sign that it is ending, though, are all of the end dates of CARES Act programs that have been helping people through the economic crisis, with two of them coming up at the end of this month!

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about how to plan for this shift back to normality. What can you do to plan for these changes? How can you get ready for a post-pandemic economy? Let’s get some answers together!

In this episode you will learn:

  • What assistance programs are ending and how to plan for them
  • What to do if you still can’t pay your bills
  • How to increase your credit score for post-pandemic life
Jul 9, 2021

There’s been quite a bit of talk in the media about how we are heading into inflation. With demand for goods being lower during the pandemic, a surge in demand could cause prices to soar. But how do you deal with this? What can be done to plan for inflation?

More importantly, how do you maintain your financial freedom and retirement plans with this on the horizon? That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about both short term and long term strategies for keeping inflation from threatening your financial freedom.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Short Term Strategies for Handling Increasing Costs
  • Cutting Costs in Your Budget
  • Long Term Investment Strategies for Inflation
Jun 25, 2021

There are only so many hours in a day. So, if you want to increase your income, but don’t have the time to work a second job, what do you do? How do you generate that income to meet monthly expenses, save for emergencies, and invest for retirement?

The answer is: passive income! I talked about this in Episode 91 but wanted to take a deeper dive into the subject. That’s why my guest on this episode of the podcast is Eric Martel, who has developed a turnkey system for generating passive income and getting you the money that you need!

In this episode you will learn:

  • The Best Investment Vehicle for Passive Income
  • How to Select Your First Investment Property
  • How to Reduce the Risk of Investment
Jun 11, 2021

For some reason, parents seem to have difficulty talking to their children about money. The mindset of good money habits doesn’t seem to get passed down to the next generation. This is why 7 out of 10 American millionaires are first generation.

That’s why in Episode 97 of the podcast I talked about this subject at length. However, as this topic bears repeating, I have brought on to this episode of the podcast Derrick Kinney, a fellow financial freedom advocate to share his thoughts on the subject.

In this episode you will learn:

  • The 3 Beliefs About Money No One is Teaching Their Kids
  • How to talk to young children about money
  • The pre-teen conversation about finances
  • How to prepare your teenager to leave the financial nest
  • How to launch your adult child into the world
May 28, 2021

Investing and saving for retirement is something that the earlier you do it, the better! But getting involved in the stock market (or even just mutual funds) can be an intimidating prospect, and many people end up putting off doing it for that reason.

But where do you go to learn about it? How can you get the information you need to feel confident and competent in investing for your future? To answer those questions, in this episode of the podcast I talk to stock trader Markay Latimer about how she can help you get started!

In this episode you will learn:

  • Classes on investing in stocks
  • The difference between investing and trading
  • How you can “rent out” your stock to make money
  • How to do this without making it a second job
May 14, 2021

The impending divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates has been in the news a lot lately, and journalists have been discussing whether or not they should have gotten a prenuptial agreement before getting married. I remember thinking at the time of the wedding that I hoped that he had one, but apparently not.

So with so much attention being drawn to the subject, I thought I would discuss in this episode all about what a prenuptial agreement is, the pros and cons, whether you might need one, how it might help you, and how you can go about getting one.

In this episode you will learn:

  • What a Prenup Is
  • The Pros and Cons of Having One
  • Whether You Should Have One
  • Whether You Should Hire a Lawyer to Draft It
Apr 23, 2021

People that are in debt are in a difficult situation when it comes to planning for their financial future. It can be difficult enough to amass enough disposable income to pay down their debt, let alone have any left over to put towards retirement! But if they concentrate on paying down the debt, they delay their retirement investing, which puts that retirement at risk!

That’s why in this episode of the podcast I talk to Jerry Fetta, a financial expert, who helps people to make and save money, even while they are paying down debt.

In this episode you will learn:

  • Negotiating Techniques with the Banks
  • How to Leverage Life Insurance to Pay Debt
  • Ways to Free Up Disposable Income

 

Apr 9, 2021

In many states, including New Jersey, the car insurance bill can amount to quite a bit every year. It can be a struggle to pay, and many Americans either get the bare minimum coverage or don’t get it at all, hoping that they never need it.

But having good car insurance is not only key to your financial freedom, in New Jersey and other states it is mandatory, and serious penalties can occur if you go without. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about tips for reducing the cost of your car insurance so that the savings can be put to better use towards your financial freedom.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How DUIs and Other Traffic Tickets Affect Your Rates
  • Tips on How to Reduce Insurance Costs
  • Why Your Credit Score Matters
  • Why Bundling Coverage May Make Sense to You
Mar 26, 2021

When it comes to retirement, the focus always seems to be on the saving and investing part of it. Will you have enough money to retire? Although this is a very important part of the process, and should not be taken lightly, it is not the only thing you should be thinking about when it comes to that topic.

Many people retire and are comfortable financially but are then at a loss as to what to do. Their jobs and commitments up to that point had given their lives meaning, but now what do they do? That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about that other part of retirement planning: How to enjoy it once you get there!

In this episode you will learn:

  • How to find meaning for your retirement
  • How to develop a retirement mindset
  • Ways to spend an enjoyable retirement
Mar 12, 2021

If you work for someone else, your income is what they pay you, unless you get a raise or a promotion that pays more money or get a better job. But if you own your own small business, your household income rises and falls with the profits of that business. So, if you want a raise, you have to do it yourself by increasing profits.

One way to do that is to learn from others and how they did it. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I talk with business coach and podcaster Joe Pardo on how he helps small business owners to give themselves a raise and be more successful in their businesses!

In this episode you will learn:

  • Why “Knowing Your Numbers” is Key to Profit Growth
  • The Importance of Building a Good Team
  • Why You Need to Perfect Your Offer, Messaging, and Positioning
  • How Optimizing Your Process Pays Dividends

 

 

Feb 26, 2021

As the pandemic continues to drag on, even though people are starting to receive a vaccine, lots of folks here in New Jersey and the nation are still suffering financially. Congress and the President are currently working on more economic relief, but as of this episode, nothing is definite.

As listeners may have a lot of questions about the relief currently being discussed, any long term strategies being planned by the President, and the tax implications of what has happened so far, I wanted to discuss those in this episode, so that you will be better informed and be able to make your own plans accordingly.

In this episode you will learn:

  • What Congress is planning in future COVID Relief
  • Whether you can expect to receive any of it
  • What the tax implications may be for relief already received
  • Long term plans of President Biden
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