Financial Freedom Podcast

A major part of any effort to attain financial freedom is establishing and maintaining a good credit score. It can make the difference not only in whether you get a loan, but the interest rate that you will pay if you do. It can also decide many times whether you will get a particular job or affordable car insurance. But how can you work to establish and maintain good credit if you don’t know how it works? How can you increase your credit score if you don’t know what goes into it? That’s why in this episode of the podcast I talk about credit reports, credit scores, what they reflect, and what you need to do to maximize it and maintain it! In this episode, you will learn: What a Credit Score Is What the numbers mean about how good or bad your credit is What kind of information goes into calculating it Tips on building and maintaining good credit

Starting a new year, to a lot of people, means starting fresh. One popular new year’s resolution, in fact, is getting one’s financial house in order. The first step to doing that is to have a budget, so that you will know at the outset whether you are living within your means or overspending. But is there more than one way to budget, and if so, what are they and which one is best for me? That is why in this episode of the podcast I talk about the five budget types discussed in Erin Lowry’s book, Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together. Discover which budget will do the job for you this year, so that you can take that essential first step towards financial freedom.

Many people, at one time or another, have thought about starting a business, but don’t have the money to make a go of it initially. Others have started a business but need money or credit to solve a cash flow problem or fund an expansion. But how does a business get credit and loans? The entrepreneurial itch can be hard to scratch, and not proceeding properly and thoughtfully with running a business and handling credit can seriously harm your financial freedom. At the same time, doing it right can help you to be successful, make more money, and attain financial security. That is why, in this episode of the podcast, I talk with Ty Crandall, CEO of Credit Suite to talk about how business credit works and how you can use it successfully.

As with any goal in life, the sooner you start working towards it the better. That is certainly true of attaining financial freedom, since habits established when you are young tend to stick with you, and things like saving for a comfortable retirement are easier if you start tucking money away as soon as possible. That is why in this episode of the podcast I talk with a personal financial expert who has literally been there, done that, and is now spreading the word to others in an effort to, in more ways than one, share the wealth. She is a millennial speaking to millennials, who knows what she is talking about, and I encourage you to listen to what she has to say.

Now that Santa Claus came to town in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the holiday season has officially begun! However, this season can be rather treacherous from a financial standpoint if you do not keep a tight rein on the spending (not just the reindeer). Whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or some other December holiday, the “season of giving” can be a huge budget buster. Everything is great until those credit card bills come in in January!  That is why, in this episode of the podcast, as I did in Episode 45, I talk about some things you can do to be sure that you are celebrating the new year on a firm financial footing after having a wonderful holiday season.

According to CNBC’s reporting on a WalletHub study of taxes as a percentage of personal income New Jersey has the 9th highest tax burden in the country, with a total tax burden of 10.02%, with over half of it (5.12%) going to property taxes. New York has the highest tax burden of personal income overall (13.04%), but when it comes to property taxes, it is a lower 4.78% of income for residents. In fact, only Vermont edges out New Jersey in property tax burden at 5.2%, making our state the second highest in the country! With this in mind, it is no wonder that New Jersey residents are looking to lower their tax burdens as much as they can (assuming they are not leaving the state altogether). That is why in this episode of the podcast, I talk to local real estate broker and appraiser Lynn Stambaugh of Cardinal Real Estate Services in Woodbury on how you can appeal your taxes and give yourself the highest chance for success!

Having a smart and affordable strategy for college financial aid is critical to starting off on the right financial foot upon graduation and the start of your life. Getting it wrong can mean living with crushing student loan debt. The first step in this process is the completion and submission to the U.S. Department of Education their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (or FAFSA) form.   This can be a daunting task for those doing it for the first time (or even those doing it again). So with the 2019-2020 form having just been released on October 1, I wanted to discuss, in this episode of the podcast, some guidance and tips on how to handle the submission of the form. Hopefully, this will assist you in eliminating mistakes and doing it right the first time!   In this episode I will discuss: The myths about the form that lead to procrastination Preparing to fill it out Tips on filling out the form Biggest mistakes to avoid

Increasing income is key to maintaining financial freedom. It not only allows you to pay living expenses that are increasing with inflation, but it also makes saving for retirement and special life events like vacations that much easier. But sometimes the only way to get a raise is to ask, which is never easy to do. That’s why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about some tips and strategies to help you be more effective in making the ask. What do you need to do to prepare and execute a plan to get a raise and be paid what you are worth?

People with bad credit, living paycheck to paycheck, often find themselves with few options when unexpected expenses crop up, or they have a drop in income due to a reduction of overtime or their work hours but not a reduction in their living expenses. As a result, they become desperate for a way to pay the bills, creating a recipe for desperation. Three of the options they turn to are payday loans, car title loans, and pension loans. However, they have a tendency to make matters much worse, and as such, should be avoided at all costs. That is why in this episode of the podcast I wanted to talk about these loans, why they are the wrong solution, and why you should avoid them if at all possible.

Many of us get involved in activities outside our jobs. We volunteer for organizations like the Elks or the Masons, or we coach our child’s soccer or t-ball team. But did you know that being involved in those activities could possibly get you sued? Having to pay for a lawyer (and possibly damages, if you lose) can break you financially. The good news is that a little due diligence, and the right insurance coverage, can work to protect you. That is why, in this episode of the podcast, I talk with local insurance broker Dave Strout of Cettei and Connell in Woodbury about what you need to do to get the right coverage to protect your financial freedom!