Today we tackle the Equifax security breach. This is the most damaging release of personal information ever. And you need to take it seriously. You must assume that you have been affected. At this point, I see no reason to even trust the official Equifax website. Here's why. Clark Howard's excellent credit freeze guide: http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/ Another excellent one by the Justin Carroll and Michael Bazzell: https://privacy-training.com/CreditFreeze....
Sep 15, 2017•58 min
I was inspired to do this show by watching a recent conversation thread in the RPF Facebook Group about where to store your emergency fund. I thought it'd be fun to share with you the things I think about with regard to emergency fund storage. Enjoy the show! Joshua www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron
Sep 13, 2017•1 hr 37 min
Hey Radicals! Thank you to so many of you who have inquired of our health and safety following Hurricane Irma. Here's my personal report for you! Short version: we are well. :) Joshua
Sep 13, 2017•22 min
I've been busy today preparing for Hurricane Irma here at the Radical Personal Finance Global Headquarters. At the moment, the National Hurricane Center forecasts the eye of the storm to pass squarely over HQ. So, I thought I'd record a podcast and share a few things with you: Based on watching the Hurricane Irma frenzy, I'm convinced that "societal collapse" scenarios are plausible. I learned this at Costco yesterday. I'm also convinced we live in the greatest time to be alive and that there ar...
Sep 06, 2017•49 min
It's Friday! On Fridays we do a live Q&A show. Today we cover: (2:30) What Should a New Expatriate Do With Their Investment Money? (18:30) What To Do With an Old Pension? (26:40) How Should a Newlywed Approach the Rent or Buy Question? If you'd like to join me for a future Q&A show, sign up to be a Patron at www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Joshua
Sep 01, 2017•48 min
Whenever there's a natural disaster, we have various articles on price gouging's lamentability, to wit, its harmfulness and illegality . But, is it really bad? I say not. "Price gouging" (or, more accurately stated, the adjustment of market prices to meet changing demand) has tremendous utility for the well-being of all involved and is absolutely upright, moral, and ethical. Of course, this guy says it's wrong, morally and economically. I deal with his "arguments" in the show. Joshua Support RPF...
Aug 29, 2017•1 hr 36 min
I've been watching the #HoustonFloods this weekend and considering the lessons I can learn for my own disaster planning. Today, I share some useful ideas for you about how to plan for events like the Houston Floods. Joshua Episode 381 - Simple, Cheap, Practical Tips to Help You Prepare for a Coming Hurricane Episode 347: Disasters Happen – Make a Plan Now to Ensure You Have Plenty of Money Available to You to Solve the Problems Money Can Solve...
Aug 28, 2017•53 min
Yesterday I was watching the solar eclipse (up north in the 100% band) and I happened to have breakfast with an expediter. Not sure what that is? Basically, a truck driver who drives a van. (More in the audio show.) As we ate, I tried to lay out a few paths on how he could become financially free based on his current work. And, I promised him a show on the topic. So, you get to listen in as I tell him--and you--how any normal person can use a live-on-the-job opportunity as a trampoline to bounce...
Aug 22, 2017•41 min
Time for Friday Q&A! If you'd like to join for a future show, sign up here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Today, we cover: 2:00 Should I refinance my credit card debt by moving it to a HELOC? 34:10 Do you have passion for a job before the fact or do you become passionate about it after you're good at it? 42:30 Should I drop the military's Survivor Benefit Plan for my pension in favor of buying a 10-year whole life insurance policy? Enjoy! And remember! I have 27 seats remaining for t...
Aug 11, 2017•1 hr 11 min
As I celebrate the opening of the registration page for the beta launch of the new Radical Personal Finance Guide to Career & Income Planning, I intend to share with you a few simple lessons related to career and income. Today, we begin with the philosophical fundamentals: the interplay of human capital and financial capital. We all start with what we have (human capital) and use it to create financial capital, which we ultimately work to have in surplus. Once we have surplus, we get to deci...
Aug 08, 2017•36 min
I've had a tough summer. I have nothing to complain about. I've been richly blessed and, in almost every way outside of Radical Personal Finance, life has been sweet. But, RPF hasn't been so great for me. And, if it hasn't been so great for me, it might not have been so great for you either. I thought you might appreciate hearing the explanation and the story. It's important to me to share the good and the bad--the heights and the lows--with you in order to help you understand that we all share ...
Aug 03, 2017•1 hr 23 min
On Fridays we do a live Q&A which is open to Patrons of the show. Become a Patron at www.RadicalPersonalFinance.com/patron Today we cover: Can I Have Both a SIMPLE IRA and a Traditional IRA What Personal Finance Books Does Joshua Recommend What Three Investments Would I Buy To Leave Alone for a Decade What Are the Rules of Thumb for Who Should Buy Long-Term Care Insurance And more! Joshua...
Jul 28, 2017•57 min
On Fridays, I host a Q&A call. Patrons of the show are invited to call in and ask any question they want! Today, we cover: (1:57) What's the best type of retirement plan for my wife's side business? (SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k)?) (16:45) How can I help my sister-in-law who is asking me for financial advice? (30:20) Should I pay off my debt as fast as possible or save up and pay it off in large chunks of money? Joshua Become a Patron of the show and gain access to future Q&A shows he...
Jul 21, 2017•52 min
There's been an interesting switch in the world of personal finance wherein some people are building financial plans based on extremely low spending projections. In essence, some people assume that if they can live on an extremely low budget per year today, they can build a long-term financial plan predicated on maintaining that spending forever. I think this is a dangerous assumption. And, in today's show, I explain why. Joshua Earn up to 8.5% return on your money by financing solar energy proj...
Jul 20, 2017•36 min
Welcome to another Friday Q&A Show! Today, we cover: Is It Legit That You Can Find Missing Money That's Still Unclaimed Should I Take Free Housing With a Longer Commute How Do I Deal With Massive Medical Bills Do I Need a Personal Insurance Agent What Three Books Would Joshua Take to A Desert Island? If you'd like to join me for a future Q&A show, become a Patron of the show at www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Joshua Save $30 off a new subscription for awesome food at www.HelloFresh...
Jul 13, 2017•1 hr 25 min
Friday Q&A is back! Today: How does an LLC Protect My Liability and Help Me Save on Tax? How Can I Lower My Tax Bill on the Sale of My House? If you'd like to participate on a future show, sign up here! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Joshua
Jul 07, 2017•45 min
I've long struggled to know how to advise people with regard to debt. On the one hand, the use of debt can dramatically increase the financial returns of an investment. On the other hand, debt can have a dramatic negative impact on the lifestyle of the borrower when everything goes wrong. So, how do we reconcile these two things? I've come to see that they're two entirely different scales. Because they are two totally different scales (think: how do kilograms and degrees Fahrenheit interact with...
Jun 30, 2017•36 min
I've alluded to my long-term guess that the US Government will default on many of its current promises. But, I've never really supported that argument. I thought I'd kick that support off today by sharing with you a succinct and coherent description of the problem by reading Professor Laurence Kotlikoff's testimony to the Senate Budget Comittee in 2015. Enjoy, Joshua America’s Fiscal Insolvency and Its Generational Consequences: Testimony to the Senate Budget Committee http://www.kotlikoff.net/s...
Jun 21, 2017•43 min
I've never invested in raw land. My #1 reason? Since raw land has no utility, there's no way to pull income from it. And at this stage of my life, I value income-producing assets. But, my guest on today's show has a great system for solving that problem. He has parlayed raw land into a very helpful income stream leading to his own financial freedom. Enjoy my interview with Mark! Joshua Mark's website is: https://www.thelandgeek.com/ Please support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! www.radical...
Jun 19, 2017•54 min
Today's episode is Part 2 of a mini-series on the seasons of life. The world of work is changing rapidly. We find ourselves pressed on all sides to do more work and different work. And yet in personal finance circles, the focus of our conversation is quite frequently how to get out of work. I believe work is a blessing and not a curse. And that to run from work is the wrong answer. And yet how can we adjust our relationship with work so that it feels more meaningful and less ephemeral? Part of t...
Jun 14, 2017•45 min
Poverty is hard. Money helps to make life less hard. But, in our modern world, it's hard to figure out how much money is enough. As you go through the seasons of your life the usefulness of money will wax and wane. Money comes with a cost: time, labor, risk, attention. You need to think carefully about the season of your life you're in and consider the unique value of money during this particular season. Joshua Did you find value in this episode of Radical Personal Finance? Please sign up to sup...
Jun 12, 2017•55 min
Today I have an interview for you with Ben Higgenbotham, a funeral director who's also well in tune with the Radical Personal Finance philosophy. He's here today to share the inside scoop on how to effectively work with a funeral director so that you can get the funeral experience that your family desires without losing your shirt. Enjoy! Joshua p.s., If you didn't hear it, you might want to first go and listen to Episode 409, "How to Get Yourself Put 6 Feet Under Dirt Cheap!". https://radicalpe...
Jun 05, 2017•1 hr 17 min
What do dentists who shoot lions , publicists who make jokes in poor taste on Twitter and Indiana pizza makers have in common? Their lives were suddenly and irrevocably changed for the worst while doing something that they could never have predicted would lead to it.Avoiding catastrophe is an important pillar of the wealth building strategy that I promote through Radical Personal Finance . As personal finance enthusiasts, we are one of the most prudent groups of people on this planet: we build o...
May 26, 2017•1 hr 50 min
I frequently get this question: "Joshua, what should I invest my money in?" Well, that's a hard question to answer. I'm not you, so how should I know? But, here are the factors I think you should consider in answering that question for yourself: time money knowledge skill temperament timing opportunities tools Joshua p.s., did I miss any important factors? If so, let me know in the comments....
May 24, 2017•54 min
Many people are far too free with their personal financial information. This can be very dangerous. You cannot expect your financial advisor to keep your personal information private, secret, and secure. You've got to take steps to protect yourself. Joshua
May 22, 2017•29 min
I'm not sure how to explain this one to you via text...perhaps it's just better if you hit play and listen! :) Joshua
May 18, 2017•32 min
I'm a big fan of Cal Newport's work and I stumbled across this TEDx talk that he gave on the topic of social media. Consider his points and see how they might relate to your personal social media usage. It'd be a shame to look back at the end of the year and recognize an alternative use for the hundreds of hours that most of us use in social media activities. Always think about the opportunity cost... Joshua Original video: https://youtu.be/3E7hkPZ-HTk...
May 11, 2017•14 min
Hey Radicals! Today's show is a little audio ramble among friends to tell you that my wife and I are celebrating the birth of a new little baby boy! (I also tell you about my 3-year-old's first successful investment...and his 100% ROR!) Joshua Episode 212: Comments on Preparing for Child Birth with Mrs. RPF
May 09, 2017•23 min
Rounding out our theme this week of how to survive and thrive during police encounters so that you are not arrested and imprisoned, I bring you an important video by the Flex Your Rights organization. This one is best viewed as a video and is available for free here: https://youtu.be/s4nQ_mFJV4I It contains dramatic presentations and acting and is really well done. I recommend that you don't listen to the audio file here; I recommend you make the time to watch the video yourself, then again with...
May 04, 2017•38 min
This is the audio from a presentation at the CATO Institute by Law Professors James Duane and Randy Barnett. (original video: https://youtu.be/gpkc2FZFR5k) It is a follow up of the concepts outlined in James Duane's excellent book "You Have the Right to Remain Innocent." There is very little additional value from watching the video file, so enjoy the audio and you'll get the most important points. Buy James Duane's book "You Have the Right to Remain Innocent" http://amzn.to/2qgDFDF...
May 03, 2017•1 hr 26 min
