Financial Freedom Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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  

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

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

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    

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

One of the budget line items I often discuss with my bankruptcy clients is their utility bill. The gas, electric, water, and sewer bills can get out of hand and threaten their fresh start after they get their discharge. But even if you aren’t filing bankruptcy, getting a handle on that expense can help balance a budget and free up funds for more long-term financial goals. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about ways in which you can get these numbers down. I wanted to provide guidance on how to negotiate your bill as well as how to implement some tips and tricks around the house to reduce usage, and therefore your bill. In this episode you will learn: Tips on Negotiating Your Bill Home Tweaks and Hacks Tips on Lowering Your Water Bill

In Episode 96, I talked about getting your money ready for marriage. But what if you’re already married and have been for years? If you are both of the same mind when it comes to money, then great! But what if you have different money mindsets? What if you are having trouble coming to agreement on spending? That is why, as we round out a series of episodes on preparing personal finances for 2021, I wanted to address this issue and discuss ways in which you can come to an agreement going forward and end up going in the same direction together. In this episode you will learn: The Importance of Communication in Financial Decisions 7 Great Tips for a Healthy Financial Relationship Whether You Should Split Finances or Keep Them Joint How to Reconcile Your Spending Differences

In previous episodes I’ve talked about budgeting and how it’s important to have one to keep your spending in line with your income and help you towards your long-term financial goals. I also discussed in the last episode setting goals and being more strategic in how you handle your finances. In the process of researching that episode, I ran across personal finance coach Tim Jordan who, by his own admission and branding, takes an atypical approach to the subject with his clients. After learning more about what he does, I knew I just had to have him on the show to talk about why you should be atypical in handling your finances. In this episode you will learn: The 5 Best Budgeting Methods Why No One Budgeting Method is Right for Everyone How to Pick the Best Budget How to Think About Your 2021 Financial Goals  

As the year 2020 comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about our financial goals for 2021. This year has presented some challenges and shown us how important it is to plan for bad times, so that when they come, we are ready, and our financial freedom isn’t threatened. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I step you through what you need to do to look over this past year, learn from it, and use that information to create a solid financial plan going forward. In this episode you will learn: Strategies and Goal Setting for 2021 The Importance of "Finding Your Why" in Your Finances Tips on Reducing Income Taxes in 2021 Tips on Increasing Income

In Episode 114 I started a series of episodes around reducing expenses in your budget in order to help you live within your means and have money left over to save for the future. It was also in follow up to Episode 113 in which I talked with “Tightwad Todd” Miller about living below your means. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I take on that expense that seems to get bigger, your cell phone bill. It’s a budget line item I discuss a lot with my bankruptcy clients, and one that can be tough to keep under control. But with these tips and tricks, you should be able to tame that beast. In this episode you will learn: Ways to reduce the monthly payment with your carrier Smarter strategies for getting a new phone How changing your usage can save you money

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have lost their jobs because their employer had to close up shop; the work could not be done remotely. Some of them were able to pivot successfully to other jobs or transfer their skills to one that can be done from home. Unfortunately, many others are still looking. That may be because they haven’t been able to figure out how to apply their skills in a different context, or they aren’t looking in the right places. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about where to look for remote work, who’s looking for remote workers, how to handle the application process, and how to succeed at that job once you get it. In this episode you will learn: Where to Look for Work from Home Jobs What Kind of Jobs Are Available How to Apply for Them How to Succeed at Them

Way back in Episode 13 of the podcast I did a review of an app from personal finance guru Dave Ramsey called EveryDollar. It is an app my wife and I have been using since then, and it’s great! But there are a lot of other apps out there that can help you keep your finances straight, and one of them might be better for you than EveryDollar. Which is why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to look at three other apps that might be more up your alley: Pocket Guard, YNAB (You Need a Budget), and Personal Capital. There are even more out there, and that could be the subject of another episode, but hopefully one of these will be just right for you! In this episode you will learn about: Three different personal finance apps of varying complexity and sophistication How to choose a good personal finance app

People trying to achieve personal financial freedom are often initially struggling with debt and trying to get out of a financial hole. They are getting letters from collection agencies and law firms that are demanding that the debt be paid. They have to get out of debt before they can ever hope to achieve their goal. But people in debt, in my experience, are often dealing with collection lawsuits that result in judgments, and these judgments can be very problematic when the lawyers who obtained it start trying to enforce it. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about the three biggest collection tools the lawyers have, and what you can do once they start to use them. In this episode you will learn: What an Information Subpoena Is and How to Deal with It How to Fight Back When Your Bank Account is Levied How to Deal with a Wage Garnishment

In Episode 113 of the podcast I talked with “Tightwad Todd” Miller, a personal finance consultant and coach on the subject of spending below your means. I did this because reducing spending as much as possible to free up money to save and invest for the future is a key part of achieving long term financial independence and freedom. So, I thought it might be a good idea to follow up with some episodes on how to reduce spending in various budget categories. One big one is the cable bill, and with a technological revolution going on in how we consume video content, there are lots of opportunities to cut costs while not sacrificing entertainment value. In this episode you will learn about: Hardware Options (Smart TVs and Boxes) Cable Replacement Services Streaming Services Sports Watching Options

Achieving financial freedom in the short term requires living within your means. In other words, your monthly expenses need to total no more than your monthly net income, so that you don’t sink into debt. But achieving long term financial freedom requires even more discipline; you need to live below your means. By doing this you generate unused income every month to put towards savings and long-term investing, so that you will have a net worth to support you in retirement. But how do you do that? To give you some tips, I brough personal financial services consultant Todd Miller onto the show to tell you about them. In this episode you will learn: Ideas on setting up a budget How to cut your expenses How to handle unexpected expenses How to track your spending to stay on budget How to resist the “urge to splurge”