Positioning yourself for financial freedom early on in life is the best way to do it, and creates a greater chance of success. However, this can be done at any age through discipline and planning. Certified Financial Planner Eric Brotman has written several books on the process and helped countless people to achieve their goals.
That's why on this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk to Eric about his books, his experience, and the advice he gives to his clients to help them to build their path to financial freedom.
In this episode you will learn:
- How to Pay Yourself First and Ensure Retirment Savings
- How Saving for Retirement in Your 20s is Easier Thank You Think
- About the Importance of Tax Planning in Your Retirement Portfolio
- How to Leverage Your 401k If You Have Student Loans
- How to Pay Down Debt Through Financial Triage
2022 was a rough year with inflation and recession rearing their ugly heads and causing us concern for our financial freedom (at least in the short term). But gas prices have dropped significantly, and recession has not been officially declared, so there's reason for hope in the new year.
That's why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about what the financial and economic experts are saying, whether you should listen to them, and what you should do to prepare your finances for the 12 months ahead.
In this episode you will learn:
- What the Experts Are Saying
- Whether You Should Listen to Them
- How to Prepare for the Year Ahead
In Episode 128 I talked about the divorce of Bill & Melinda Gates, the fact that they didn't have a pre-nuptual agreement, and when these agreements might be a good idea. Although they are of particular importance in community property states, here in New Jersey and other equitable distribution states, it still might be a good idea.
But what if you got married without a prenup? What happens then? Is it too late to agree on certain issues, such as the division of property, alimony, and child custody? Maybe not. Which is why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about something called a post-nuptual agreement, what it is, what it does, and whether you should think about having one.
In this episode you will learn:
- What a Post-Nuptual Agreement Is
- How it Differs from a Pre-Nuptual Agreement
- Who Should Have One
- Circumstances That Could Trigger the Need for One
- The Pros and Cons
The Christmas of 2021 presented its own challenges. Shipping delays and supply chain bottlenecks made it difficult for stores to keep items on their shelves, which led to less than stellar deals and long delivery times. I talked about all of this in Episode 141.
But this Christmas is different and requires a different strategy. You, as the consumer, are more in the driver's seat when it comes to getting deals and getting your gifts in time for the holiday. That's why in this episode of the podcast, I wanted to talk about shopping tips for the current situation to help you have the best holiday ever!
In this episode you will learn:
- Money Saving Shopping Tips
- How to Make a Holiday Shopping Budgett
- How to Do Your Whole List for $500
- Holiday Shopping for Busy People
Becoming permanently disabled can be devastating to your personal finances and seriously challenge your financial freedom and independence. In Episode 28 I covered how to deal with this if it's a result of a job-related injury. But what if it's for some other reason, like an auto accident or a debilitating disease?
That's why in this episode of the podcast I bring back attorney Sam Gaylord to talk about how to get disability benefits, where you can get them, how you qualify for them, and how they can help you maintain your financial freedom.
In this episode you will learn:
- What disability benefits are available from Social Security
- What the requirements are to get those benefits
- How you apply for them
- How do pension disability benefits work
- What pensions offer them
- How these disability benefits interact with each other
Financial freedom and independence can be achieved by diligently implementing proven strategies and tactics that will get you there. But if you don't have the right beliefs about money, it will be difficult, if not impossible to be successful.
I discussed money mindsets in Episodes 34 through 36, but thought it was time to discuss it again. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with personal finance coach Derrick Kinney who has some great ideas, thoughts, and stories about having good money beliefs and how to get past the bad ones.
In this episode you will learn:
- How to keep fear of making an investment mistake from holding you back
- How to let go of money fears and mindsets from your childhood
- That you can still start investing for retirement in your 20s
With issues like inflation, recession, and student loans being hot issues this Fall, there are lots of items in the news discussing them. People are concerned with the rising cost of living, salaries at their jobs that might not be tracking with it, and student loan debt that they are struggling to pay, if they can afford to pay them at all.
That's why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to do a roundup of some of the stories in the news that discuss these issues in hopes that the information they provide will help you navigate the current financial landscape.
In this episode you will learn:
- How to Know Your Worth in the Job Market
- What to Look for in Your Credit Report to Help Increase Your Score
- How to Save on Groceries as Food Prices Soar
- How to Prepare for a Recession
- What To Do If Your Student Loan Forgiveness Application is Audited
With the pandemic essentially over with no more lockdowns of large gatherings, more and more people are setting dates and planning weddings. In Episode 96, I talked about getting your finances ready for marriage. But what about getting Ready for the Big Event itself?
Weddings cost, on average, $20,000 at least, even before you pay for the guests at the reception ($70 per guest, average, so 100 guests would be another $7,000). This is a big expense before starting a life together. That's why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about how to have a great wedding without mortgaging your future together!
In this episode you will learn:
- The Right Mindset for Wedding Planning
- How to Set a Budget for the Wedding
- Tips for Negotiating with Vendors
- Tips on Saving Money from the Flowers to the Reception
Now is an exciting and hopeful time for student loan borrowers. President Biden has announced a forgiveness program that will help many people struggling with payments. But there's more at work here than that.
There are programs already in place that could also allow you to pay off your remaining balances sooner or get out of default (and repair your credit) while getting an affordable monthly payment. That's why in this episode of the podcast I go into detail about these programs, which one will benefit you most, and when you need to take action.
In this episode you will learn:
- The details of the Biden loan forgiveness program
- How you might be able to repay your unforgiven balance much sooner
- How to get out of default after January 1, 2023
- The important deadlines for taking action
In the last episode, and in Episode 149, I talked about the credit myths that may be holding you beck from building good credit and FICO scores that reflect it. Good credit scores are key to financial freedom and a bright financial future.
But what can you expect when you get there? What does good credit look like and what are the advantages? Knowing the answers to these questions and what you are working towards, will help keep you motivated towards your goal, which is why I discuss these answers in this episode of the podcast.
In this episode you will learn:
- What constitutes a high credit score
- How better credit can help you get a job
- How to get better perks on your credit card
- How it will prepare you better for the future