Does your family’s primary financial caregiver hold their cards close to their chest? Maybe the following story sounds familiar about a parent keeping your family financials a secret: Dan has always handled the family’s money. He organized the budgets, took care of the investments, and maybe even set up investment portfolios for the now-adult children. While he had a lot of work to do, he understood it all, and wanted to save everyone else in the family the burden of financial organization. Here...
Dec 17, 2020•20 min
Make sure your financial plan accounts for what you don’t want to happen A good financial plan takes into account the 4 Ds (death, disability, divorce, debt) and plans around them. Doug and John Ross, estate planner and elder law attorney, stress the importance of planning for the unexpected. John is a co-host of the weekly podcast Big Picture Retirement. He shares some insights on what many people fail to do when preparing for retirement and old age. Chief among these failures is not choosing a...
Dec 10, 2020•25 min
Want to guess who normally initiates a financial planning meeting – men or women? Doug and Brittney Castro, founder and CEO of Financially Wise Women, discuss differences in how men and women approach financial planning and investing. What do these two CFPs ® (Certified Financial Planners) notice about the gender differences in investing? Brittney delves into the common problems women face when making financial decisions. She shares how women can overcome these issues and create a more secure fu...
Dec 03, 2020•23 min
Do your financial values guide your investment decisions? Financial values are the things that are important to you: the goals you have for your money. Before any investment or purchase, ask yourself, “What do I value?” Certified financial planner Michael F. Kay explains how a person’s background affects their financial choices. He asserts that our parents are our first models of fiscal behavior. We can rise above the nature vs. nurture debate, and not blindly follow the path of a fiscally poor ...
Nov 26, 2020•25 min
How can you design an investment portfolio to account for uncertainty? Every leadership change creates insecurity. Investors pull out and buy into markets simply because of election results. How should the political climate affect the way you design your investment portfolio? David Rosenberg, the chief economist, and strategist at Gluskin Sheff and Associates explores why people believe political changes affect the economy and answers the burning question: When does politics actually change the ...
Nov 19, 2020•24 min
People first, then money, then things. Suze Orman, one of America’s most recognized personal finance experts, and I discuss why men and women have different financial priorities. Why is that men and women tend to handle money differently? Is it true that women are better at investing than men? Learn why fear, shame, and anger are the internal obstacles to wealth, and why your self-worth and your net-worth are connected. Can money make you feel more secure? Do you agree with Suze when she says, “...
Nov 12, 2020•29 min
Can having a bad or good day affect your investment choices? Before you decide to buy or sell that next stock ask yourself why you are doing it. Dr. Kate Levinson, author of Emotional Currency: A Woman's Guide to Building a Healthy Relationship with Money and a licensed family therapist, shares the role that emotions play in financial decision making. She and Doug explore the question of why many women avoid financial responsibilities in their day-to-day life. She tries to empower women to take ...
Nov 05, 2020•24 min
Your IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a great retirement tool. Are you using it in the most efficient manner? Kirk Chisholm, Principal of the Innovative Advisory Group, shares some common misconceptions and mistakes people make with their IRA account. Kirk explains the difference is between a standard account and a self-directed account. He encourages investors to consider the self-directed approach because of its flexibility. He stresses the importance of understanding your investments an...
Oct 29, 2020•24 min
How much money do you need to be happy? In other words, can financial stability bring happiness? Bestselling author of The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die , Dr. John Izzo and Doug explore what happiness really is and the underlying question, “Does money make a person happier?” Dr. Izzo spoke to 250 people with 18,000 years of cumulative life experience and found one thing in common: your internal mindset about how you see money impacts your happiness more than the dollar amount in ...
Oct 22, 2020•22 min
Most people think of networking as a good way to find a job or make other type of connections. J. Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World , shares how networking can help or hinder your financial decisions. This is because networking is based on trust… a necessary ingredient in any financial advice you get. Kelly offers advice to listeners about how to build a trustworthy network that may open up new financial opportunities. Suppo...
Oct 15, 2020•21 min
What is the difference between a stock’s price and intrinsic value? Learn how to determine a stock’s intrinsic value, and how to make sure you pay less than the value you receive. John Szramiak of Vintage Value Investing joins Doug to discuss the importance of knowing the intrinsic value of your stock selections. John is a firm believer that the intrinsic value of a stock is its real strength. Should you look at a stock’s current price or the stock’s potential? You don’t even know how aggressive...
Oct 01, 2020•24 min
Do your elderly parents need help with managing their finances? This is a difficult realization both for child and parent, and accepting and giving help needs extreme sensitivity. Letting go of the reins of a financial account is a process. Since this is a difficult conversation to have, consider inviting a financial professional to be an objective voice. Doug gives advice for adult children – and their parents - who find themselves in this challenging position. If you and your parents are at th...
Sep 24, 2020•22 min
Bobbi Rebell, author of How to be a Financial Grownup: Proven Advice from High Achievers on How to Live Your Dreams and Have Financial Freedom discusses how to be a financial grownup. Bobbi uses her journalist background to offer a how-to guide for responsible money habits. Although the book was originally intended for the millennial generation, Bobbi soon discovered that people of all ages need practical money advice. Bobbi suggests automation as a tool for making sure you have the necessary di...
Sep 17, 2020•20 min
Stig Brodersen, host of The Investors Podcast, joins Doug on this episode to discuss exactly what gives a stock its value. Many times people are shocked are by an expert’s valuation of a home, a car, or other personal item. The reason behind the surprise of a professional evaluation is because folks’ emotional attachment to items tend to inflate their value. Follow Stig and Doug’s discussion to learn why stocks value reflect investor expectations. Stig offers guidance about how to take the emoti...
Sep 10, 2020•25 min
The S&P 500 is an index (collection) of 500 broadly traded large-cap stocks. If your portfolio includes it, will you be properly diversified? Doug explains why even though historically the S&P 500 has had positive returns over long periods of time, past performance can’t predict future results. Moreover, he explains why most people are mistaken in their understanding of how diversified – or not – the index actually is. Listen for tips on how to make sure your portfolio is well-diversifie...
Sep 03, 2020•21 min
Does it seem as if more cash flows out of your wallet than into it? Is cash flow the key to growing wealth? If so, what is the best way to optimize cash flow? Doug and Al Zdenek, author of Master Your Cash Flow: The Key To Grow and Retain Wealth , examine why you should broaden your definition of “cash flow” beyond having just enough money to pay bills, to include participating in a regular savings program. Learn how to manage your cash flow now , in order to better prepare for retirement. Make ...
Aug 27, 2020•21 min
One often overlooked sign of aging is your signature. As people age, often their handwriting and signature change. What does handwriting have to do with investing? Quite simply, if your signatures don’t match it may be harder to move money. Doug talks about the importance of keeping up-to-date records with your financial institutions – including your (aging) signature. Learn about other financial implications that may affect senior citizens and get practical workarounds for some of the financial...
Aug 20, 2020•19 min
If you want to get out of debt, should you pay off your smallest debts first or those with the highest interest rates? Deacon Hayes, debt expert, joins the show to discuss how to build wealth when you are in debt. He share his personal experience and presents the steps he took that enabled him to get out of debt. Deacon’s proven debt reduction approach may surprise you. Budgets do not have to be strict or complex, says Deacon. A simplified process is more likely to lead to financial discipline. ...
Aug 13, 2020•20 min
Brian Preston and Bo Hanson, co-hosts of the Money Guy Show , share the microphone with Doug, our favorite Money Guy, to discuss why and how should you evaluate, and re-evaluate, your investment risk profile as life changes. “How much risk can your situation handle?” is a very different question than “How much risk can you handle?” There’s a significant difference between risk tolerance and risk capacity. Learn what the difference is, and how to adjust your portfolio and emotional expectations f...
Aug 06, 2020•22 min
How can you know which is the best retirement planning tool in the market? When the stakes are high, there is little room for error. Find out Dr. Wade Pfau’s favorite retirement planning tools and strategies. He’s the Professor of Retirement Income at American College and a CFA©. Wade and Doug debate the wisdom of using reverse mortgages in order to use your home as a way to generate retirement income. They also discuss the benefits of using a “time segmentation strategy” or a “bucket strategy” ...
Jul 23, 2020•21 min
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have been gaining popularity among investors for years since they are an easy way to get into the market and their fees tend to be lower than those of mutual funds. But how about leveraged ETFs? Are leveraged ETFs an easy way to increase your portfolio’s return or are they one of the least understood, riskiest investments that people are using today? Tune in to learn what a leveraged ETF is, and whether including them in your investment portfolio can boost your retur...
Jul 16, 2020•7 min
Should dual citizens have one will for assets they own in both countries, or will one will cover their global assets? Albert Goodwin, a New York attorney, speaks with Doug about the importance of Americans in Israel having an Israeli will. Albert has experience with helping people in New York, Miami, and Israel with estate plans. Albert advises, if you live in Israel, to definitely have an Israeli will. There is more red tape involved with trying to use a U.S. will in Israel, as foreign document...
Jul 02, 2020•19 min
Your labor assets (your salary + future potential salary) might be your most important financial asset. Doug McCormick, the author of Family Inc ., joins the show and explains how the CFO of your family should manage financial decisions, from labor decisions to estate planning. Are you the CFO of your family? Do you know how to take a big picture view of your family’s assets? Doug McCormick takes a holistic view that includes all aspects of family finances, including your labor asset – how much ...
Jun 25, 2020•20 min
Looking for exponential growth in your investments? The secret may be to start saving early. Beth Kobliner, The New York Times bestselling author of Get a Financial Life shares insights into millennials and their money. Beth and Doug discuss the financial pitfall of student loans and how having better information can help prevent unnecessary debt. They also talk about how millennials can grow their nest eggs by beginning saving and investing while they are still young. Why it’s important to have...
Jun 18, 2020•19 min
Corona is casting a giant shadow over all aspects of life. Even though the market may have begun to recover from its initial crash, nothing is smooth sailing. If you are too nervous to invest in the stock market now, bonds may look more enticing. While an expanded bond portfolio may lower your exposure to stock market risk, it may be difficult to invest in bonds when rates are low. Why interest rates are low The U.S. Fed set interest rates to about zero. If the interest rates on bonds is low, th...
Jun 11, 2020•20 min
Should investors increase portfolio risk and always look for the highest yielding products? Every investment has risk – the question is what level of risk is best for you. Smart money decisions are based on your personal tolerance for risk, and having a conservative view on investing is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it may be wise to increase your portfolio risk in order to make more money, but more frequently than not, Doug advises clients against needlessly increasing risk in their po...
Jun 04, 2020•19 min
Most investors think they have “safety of principal” in their portfolios… do you? Did you tell your broker you want to focus on safety in your investments? If so, does your portfolio reflect your ideal risk/safety level? Doug stresses the importance of having clear communication with your broker. An investor must understand their own investments, and make sure they are appropriate. The best tool for a conservative investor may be CDs (certificates of deposits.) Doug lays out the benefits and dif...
May 21, 2020•22 min
Can a conservative investor find predictable investments? An investor who wants to limit risk has two options for predictable investments: CDs (certificates of deposit) and bonds. Doug explains what bonds are and the pros and cons of owning bonds. Although bonds are frequently considered one of the safer types of investments, there is a catch… the institution could call the bond back. Doug clarifies what that means, and asks if that’s a risk you want to take. To learn more about bonds, watch the...
May 14, 2020•23 min
Believe it or not, common investing mistakes that can come back to haunt even the most conservative investor. Doug shares the story of a couple who were financially secure in their investments, but still made 3 very common mistakes. Listen to hear these mistakes and how Doug suggests to avoid them. Most importantly, he stresses the need for a licensed financial advisor who works with people who have similar needs to your own. Get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle! The Financial Rock Star and...
May 07, 2020•19 min
Many Israelis come to Doug’s office and ask, “Am I ‘allowed’ to own a US brokerage or IRA (Individual Retirement Account?)” The answer to the question is yes. Doug discusses how a non-US citizen can own a U.S. financial account and why international investors may want to keep money in dollars. Doug explores the benefits of having a U.S. brokerage account. If you want to learn more about opening a U.S. brokerage account go to Doug’s corporate website profile-financial.com . Morningstar’s rating s...
Apr 30, 2020•21 min
