1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 1: and today we're answering your listener questions. Oh yeah, Listener 3 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: Questions Monday episode lined up for you. I love hearing 4 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: from our listeners. Would say, Oh yeah, I like that. 5 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:33,320 Speaker 1: It makes me think of the cool ag guy busting 6 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 1: through the questions. We've got five great ones today, including 7 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: a listener she is asking about utilizing some special accounts 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: to pay for some upcoming baby expenses. We've got another 9 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: question where we might be dissuading a listener from going 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: with the beloved roth Ira because it may not make 11 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: sense given his situation, as well as a listener who's 12 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: wanting to choose the best life insurance plan. We'll get 13 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: to those three questions plus a couple others during this episode, right, 14 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 1: But before we get to that, Matt actually wanted to 15 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: do and we don't run first do this often, but 16 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: a follow up from another Listener Questions episode, which was 17 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: I guess this was maybe a month and a half 18 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: listener Matt, that's right. We took Matt's question and Matt 19 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: specifically was going through a period of unemployment which it 20 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: was really difficult for for him for his wife, and 21 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: we tried to give our best advice for how to 22 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: maybe extend those dollars to get through this time of unemployment. 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: And and it turns out we got an update for Matt. 24 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: We just I just had to share it with everybody 25 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: because it turns out Matt just got a job where 26 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: he a better job. He just doubled his pay, He's 27 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: got way better benefits, and it happened just in the 28 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: nickd time. So like really pumped for Matt. And his 29 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: benefits include the fact that his car is now paid for. 30 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: I've never had a car paid for. That sounds awesome. 31 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 1: What's what's up, Joel? Like, how come my car is 32 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: getting paid for? Well, I don't know. We we might 33 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: be able to. We'll talk to our tax person maybe 34 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: one of these days will do that. But also one 35 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: and of his health insurance premiums are covered. These are 36 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: some amazing benefits, not to mention higher matches when it 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: comes to retirement plans, more money in your paycheck overalls. Yeah, phenomenal, 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: phenomenal boost to Matt's career. So and he mentioned that 39 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: at some point he wants to go the entrepreneurial route, 40 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: but for the time being, Matt, this is just like 41 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: an incredible win to to have landed a job that 42 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: pays you twice as much. And and this is something 43 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: that we've talked about, Matt, the best way to get 44 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: paid more. Granted, you don't usually want to get laid 45 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: off in order to then pursue a job that pays 46 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: you more, because that's just a tenuous position to be 47 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 1: in for most folks. Um And but for Matt, you know, 48 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: all is well, that ends well, And so Matt, congrats 49 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: to you. And I think, just listeners, it's nice to know. 50 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: It's nice to hear how things ended up, especially when 51 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: it's a happy ending like this one. Yeah, And so 52 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: that being said, if we have spoken with you, or 53 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 1: if we've answered one of your listener questions before, we 54 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: would we would love to hear from you. Hopefully the 55 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: advice we have given you was able to benefit you 56 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: and your situation. But we don't always hear some of 57 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: those stories. We kind of save those honestly to like 58 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: the end of the year the listener money wins. But 59 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's also nice to kind of hear 60 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,839 Speaker 1: them along the way throughout the year as well, to 61 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: hear some of that good news. Some might even call 62 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: it a good word, which is the perfect lead into 63 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: the beer that we're having on this episode. Tu up 64 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 1: a good word. Brewing in public house is the There 65 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: are the folks who brewed this delightful beer that we're 66 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: having on the show today. This one's called no Wooden 67 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,920 Speaker 1: Shoes and it's a dunker beer which never heard of 68 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: that I never heard of it never had one. That 69 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: will give it a shot and we'll give our thoughts 70 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: at the end of the episode. It sounds the European 71 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: looking forward to enjoin it. It's got to be German, right, 72 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: So all right, let's let's get onto the listener questions. Matt, 73 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 1: and for everybody out there, if you have a listener question, 74 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: we would love to hear your question and tackle it 75 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: on an upcoming episode. Just go to how to Money 76 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: dot com slash ask their simple directions there for how 77 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: you can submit your voice memo to us UH and 78 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: hopefully appear on a future How to Money episode. But Matt, 79 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: let's get to the first one. This one is from 80 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: a listener who has house hacking phobia. Hi guys, thanks 81 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: for answering my question. My name is Maddie. I live 82 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: in Iowa. So I am getting married in July and 83 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: my fiancee is very interested in house hacking. I want 84 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: to be a supportive fiance and I've started listening to 85 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: podcast and trying to find resources to research it. But 86 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 1: I'm just finding myself pretty nervous. I cannot understand how 87 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:22,599 Speaker 1: we could get such a big home loan to start 88 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: something like that. UM. A bit of background about us. 89 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: We take home about fifty combined per year. We're in 90 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: our late twenties. We have about twenty dollars combined in 91 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: student loans, which we're not paying off right now because 92 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: they're still in the deferral, and we have about fifteen 93 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: to twenty in a combined savings account. UM, can you 94 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: send me any resources or ways I can help support 95 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: him on this? I love the idea, UM, the math 96 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: just feels really far fetched to me. I just love 97 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: how he wants to get ahead financially. I do more 98 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: of the day to day finances. He's kind of a 99 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: big picture and I want this to make sense in 100 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: my head. I'm just so nervous about it. So thanks 101 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: for any help. Guys. Hey, Maddie, congrats on getting married, 102 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: And first of all, I think it's super cool that 103 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: you are educating yourself in order to be supportive to 104 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: your your fiance. Here, you're not just doing this blindly. 105 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,720 Speaker 1: You're just taking him at his word what he thinks 106 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,640 Speaker 1: will happen. You're getting those details, You're getting that information. 107 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: And I totally get it because I am the same 108 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: kind of person. I am the kind of individual who 109 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: feels my fears are assuaged when I've got more information 110 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: right on hand, when when I understand what is happening, 111 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: which means and I don't think this means that there's 112 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: some sort of lack of trust here. I think this 113 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: is actually just smart on Maddie's behalf to say, I 114 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 1: want to understand what you're talking about, because this is 115 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,080 Speaker 1: this is both of our money together here that we're 116 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: talking about as we're getting married, combining finances in all likelihood, 117 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,239 Speaker 1: and so I want us to make a smart decision 118 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,719 Speaker 1: for us as a couple together. Exactly. Yeah, And Maddie, 119 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: I see the fact that you and your fiance, that 120 00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: you have different personalities here. I see this as a 121 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: massive advantage. I think it really does sound like that 122 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: you're gonna make a solid team be cause you have 123 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: complementary personalities and strengths. I'm not going to pretend to 124 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: be a psychologist here, Paul, but asleep on a holiday 125 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 1: and last night, Matt, I'm gonna pretend to be a counselor. 126 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 1: It does sound like that if it was just up 127 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: to you, Maddie, or if you weren't engaged to more 128 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: of a risk taker, that there might be a higher 129 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: chance that you wouldn't consider house hacking at all. He 130 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: might be a touch more conservative when it comes to 131 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: a big life choice like this. But because you're wanting 132 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: to dig in, you're wanting to learn the details. I 133 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 1: think this is going to be so important to your 134 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,839 Speaker 1: fiance as well. So this isn't just to your benefit, 135 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: but I think it's to his benefit as well, because 136 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: it sounds like if he was doing the solo, he 137 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: might be flying more by the seat of his pants, right, 138 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: Maybe he would be taking on unnecessary risks, and he'd 139 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: likely have fewer of the details figured out ahead of time. 140 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: Working together, it sounds like you'll be able to make 141 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: the best possible decisions when it comes to this investment. 142 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: That's right, I think so, Matt. I think there is 143 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 1: a benefit to different personality types of working together, they 144 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 1: can balance each other out. And let's talk about house 145 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 1: hacking in particular, because it is important to note that 146 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: house hacking is not risk free. It's you know, you're 147 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: buying a really expensive asset and you're becoming a landlord 148 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 1: at the same time, so there's like two major risk 149 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 1: factors involved when you're going down this path. There's also 150 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: just a big learning curve to like Maddie hinted at, 151 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,080 Speaker 1: But it's also important to mention that there are lots 152 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,679 Speaker 1: of far riskier wealth building routes that you can attempt, 153 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: like sticking all your money in cryplo currency right now, 154 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: that would be much riskier than going in the house 155 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: hacking direction. And part of the reason that house hacking 156 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: isn't terribly risky in our opinion, is because everyone needs 157 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: a place to live, and the real estate market is 158 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 1: actually it's pretty easy to understand. It's easy to predict 159 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: what your mortgage is going to be every month on 160 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,800 Speaker 1: the home that you buy. You know, let's say your 161 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: monthly note is going to be six but there's a 162 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: detached unit on the property that you could rent out 163 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: for eight hundred dollars a month. Well, you have a 164 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: pretty solid idea of what the numbers are gonna look like. 165 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: This isn't some sort of pie in this guy hoping 166 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: against hope that you're gonna make money or they're just 167 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: gonna cut your living expenses in half. You can know 168 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: with relative certainty what those numbers are gonna look like 169 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,400 Speaker 1: before you pounced. You know there there are things like 170 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 1: vacancy and repairs. You've gotta factor those things in. But 171 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: the ability to curb housing costs in a major way, 172 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 1: that's that's the main reason house hacking is such an 173 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: effective strategy in our opinion totally. And even repairs and vacancy, 174 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: these are all things that you can build into your calculations, right. 175 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: You can calculate, say one percent of the purchase price 176 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: of the home toward repairs every single year, or you 177 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,199 Speaker 1: can factor in two percent vacancy every year, that kind 178 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: of thing. These are risks that you can account for. 179 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: And I think that's what's key to Maddie is understanding 180 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: what she's stepping into. Knowing the risks that you're taking 181 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: on as opposed to the unknown risks that are floating 182 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: out there. It makes a big difference exactly, man, we 183 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: we think that house acting truly is one of the 184 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: best ways to get ahead financially because you get to 185 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: turn what what what's really just an expense into something 186 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 1: that is at least you know that that at least 187 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: offsets the chunk of that expense of your housing costs, 188 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: and in some case is it will actually generate income 189 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: above and beyond what your your housing expense is going 190 00:09:05,760 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: to be what your mortgagees. Living for free sounds pretty 191 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 1: great to me. This is one of the one of 192 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: the times in life when you get this one thing 193 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: right that you're likely going to reap the rewards for 194 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: years to come. Because housing is basically everyone's biggest expense, 195 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: house hacking has the ability to have an outsized impact 196 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: on your finances. Yeah, we don't want to sell a 197 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: bill of goods that isn't isn't real in existence, But 198 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: so many people have gone the house hacking route to 199 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 1: massively curb their housing costs or to actually create an 200 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: income stream in their lives every single month that it's 201 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: it's impossible to avoid and it's worth talking about. It 202 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,559 Speaker 1: is one of the best levers we know of to 203 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: build wealth in your life. And and yeah, it's so 204 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 1: customizable too. That's one of the cool things about house 205 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: hacking that's worth mentioning because you can kind of dial 206 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 1: up your house hacking strategy or dial it down depending 207 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: on how involved you want to be and how much 208 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: profit you want to see and also, oh, you know 209 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: how much cash you have on hand. For instance, if 210 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: you're going to purchase a single family home anyway, but 211 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 1: you opt from one with an unfinished basement, well, finishing 212 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: that basement out it shouldn't be too expensive, and then 213 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: renting it out shouldn't be terribly difficult either. You could 214 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: crank up how much you're gonna make by renting it 215 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 1: out on Airbnb, let's say, but it'll also mean that 216 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 1: you're a lot more involved as you're flipping the space 217 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: you know after every stay. So that customization aspect of 218 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: house hacking is really cool and it it's basically could 219 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: choose your own adventure. You can go a simple route 220 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: running out a space in your house to a friend 221 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: that you know, making it even less daunting potentially. And 222 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: then when it comes to how much money you want 223 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 1: to put towards house hacking, at one of the end 224 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: of the spectrum is the large down payment required for 225 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: a nice quadplex, let's say, but simply running out in 226 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,520 Speaker 1: a room on Airbnb isn't gonna cost you more than 227 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: just like an extra set of sheets right on the 228 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,359 Speaker 1: in the house that you're already owned, that very affordable 229 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: house acking right there exactly. There's there's an entire spectra, 230 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,200 Speaker 1: so the options their limitless. There's so many choices you 231 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 1: can make. You can opt for the one that feels 232 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,160 Speaker 1: most comfortable for you, Matt I, when I bought my 233 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: first house, I had a roommate in there and he 234 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: paid for more than half of the mortgage. And then 235 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: the house that we live in currently before we renovated it, 236 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: for four and a half years, we rented out the 237 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: back of our duplex. Now now it's a single family 238 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 1: home to a friend. And so there are lots of 239 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: options when it comes to house hacking, but it has 240 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: consistently been good for me, even though I'm not some 241 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: sort of house hacking maniac like Craig Kurlop who we 242 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: had on the show. That guy, He's done like every 243 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,400 Speaker 1: form of it possible, which is cool. But it's great 244 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,720 Speaker 1: to know that there are different options and you can 245 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: pick the one that you know suits you. Best totally. Yeah, 246 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 1: Craig care Lot that was episode four actually that we 247 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: had him on the show. But Maddie, generally speaking, you'll 248 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: have a great combined salary. Here doesn't sound like you 249 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: have much in debts, mostly student loans. You really are 250 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: off to a great start, and so I would just 251 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: encourage you to keep saving up more money for a 252 00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: down payment and for performing potential renovations while you are 253 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: learning more about house hacking. Like we said, there are 254 00:12:03,679 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: a bunch of different approaches and options available to you, 255 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: and you know, we can't detail them all here, but 256 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: we will send you a copy of our buddy Craig 257 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: here Laps book on house hacking, which goes into so 258 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: much more detail about the different strategies that folks can take. 259 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: We will reach out and get that on its way 260 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: to you, and for for not only you, Maddie, but 261 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 1: everyone out there. I think considering house hacking, it's so 262 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: important because it can have again, it can have such 263 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: a massive impact on the trajectory of your personal finances 264 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: in the years to come. Yeah, they always say if 265 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: you get the big things right, you don't have to 266 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: worry nearly as much about the little things. This is 267 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,200 Speaker 1: one of those big This is one of those big things. 268 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:39,760 Speaker 1: Think about all the coffees that you don't have to 269 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: worry about splurging on at the coffee shop if you 270 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:46,080 Speaker 1: were to get the every day. If you're a delightful 271 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: house hacker, like, if you know what you're doing, it 272 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 1: might eat into your profits once a week if you're great. 273 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: That sounds great. Yeah, but all right, so reasonable, Maddie. 274 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: Best of luck to you and your fiance as you 275 00:12:57,240 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: guys kind of continue to think through this. But Matt, 276 00:12:59,679 --> 00:13:02,959 Speaker 1: we've more questions to get to, including one about hiring 277 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 1: a financial advisor doesn't make sense and what do you 278 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: need to look out for. We'll get to that and 279 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: more right after this. All right, we are back from 280 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: the break taking listener questions, and we will get to 281 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 1: that listener question about a financial advisor. But first we're 282 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 1: going to hear from a listener who wants to know 283 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: how his student loan debt, how that's going to impact 284 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: his investing strategy. Let's hear that one. Hi, Joel, Matt, 285 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: my name is Dexter. I live in Athens, Georgia. I 286 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 1: am originally from Chicago. I have a student loan question 287 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,480 Speaker 1: for you currently, I'm en road in the TSP RALF. 288 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,199 Speaker 1: I also am a en road in the Public Service 289 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: Loanforgiveness Program. I was wondering, because I believe the Public 290 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 1: Service Loan Forgiveness Program is based on a justic growth income. 291 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: Does it make more sense for me to stop investing 292 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: in the RALF TSP and switching to traditional t SPOR 293 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: or how much money to invest into the studition of 294 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: TSP for it to make sense to stop investing in 295 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: a rough Thank you? All right, Matt, Your boy Dexter 296 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: is called from the classic city Athens, Georgia. All right, 297 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: it's a good town. I like going there, even though 298 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: I didn't go to school there. I went to a 299 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: much lesser school. But that's okay, that's much We don't 300 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: talk about that much lesser in It's all about where 301 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: it is in your heart. That's right. It's moved to 302 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: the nether regions of my heart. But let's get to 303 00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: Dexter's question, and let's talk about student loan payments and 304 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: how that affects how you invest and and and Dexter, 305 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: those p s LF payments are based on your income, 306 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: of course, right, you're adjusted gross income, that is and 307 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: so lowering that a g I is going to intern 308 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: lower your student loan payments. Anyone in the PSLF program 309 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 1: knows that it takes a hundred and twenty qualifying payments 310 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: to be eligible for loan forgiveness, right, and that means 311 00:14:55,400 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: working for the U. S. Military, a public school, or 312 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: certain government agency. That's what's going to get you qualified 313 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: for public service loan forgiveness. But the smaller your payment 314 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: is over the years, the great thing is that the 315 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: more debt it's going to be forgiven at the end 316 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: of those ten years of public service. So ideally, what 317 00:15:14,480 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: you want and I think Dexter this is the way 318 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: Dexter is thinking, you'd want to pay as little towards 319 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 1: that loan as possible in order to maximize the total 320 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:24,040 Speaker 1: debt that's forgiven right at the end of that decade. 321 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: And so that's why these payment waivers have basically been 322 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: just such an incredible windfall, especially for folks pursuing PSLF, 323 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: because that's like a couple of years worth of payments 324 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 1: they haven't had to make that still count towards that 325 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 1: overall time that you need to to basically receive forgiveness. Totally. Yeah, 326 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,040 Speaker 1: we're talking about two and a half years, maybe even 327 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: more in the future of zero payments that are helping 328 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: you to achieve complete forgiveness, Dexter. But your your your 329 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: question here is an interesting one because contributing to a 330 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: ROTH is something that we love to do, that we 331 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 1: love recommending for folks to do, and for the time being, 332 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: we still would love for you to take that route, 333 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 1: but only while these payments are still being paused. Once 334 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: those payments resume, we want to see you investing in 335 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: the traditional TSP instead, which, by the way, that stands 336 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: for thrift savings plan because when you invest in that 337 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: traditional TSP, that's going to lower your a g I, 338 00:16:17,880 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: which will then lower your payment, creating the best scenario 339 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: for eventual forgiveness. And again, the the TSP is basically like, uh, 340 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: it's the federal government's version of a four O one K. 341 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: It's actually really really good and the fees on those 342 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: funds are typically crazy low, incredibly minimal. But it has 343 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: the same contribution limits, same early withdrawal penalties. It's basically 344 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: like a standard issue federal government four O one K exactly. 345 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: And Matt, that's that's great advice too, because for right now, 346 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,360 Speaker 1: keep going with the wrath when those payments resume move 347 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: over to the traditional and it's one of those things, 348 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,200 Speaker 1: probably especially with the amount of folks and the amount 349 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 1: of how to money listeners who have student loan debt, 350 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: that's probably something a nuance we should throw in there 351 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: more frequently, because we do love the ability to save 352 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:00,640 Speaker 1: in a wrath, pay the taxes now and never pay 353 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: tax again. But if investing inside of the traditional TSP 354 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: or four O N K or I ra A is 355 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 1: going to lower your a g I and lower your 356 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 1: student loan payment, making you eligible for more forgiveness, then 357 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: that is something more people should be considering, and Dexter 358 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:18,119 Speaker 1: in particular should consider. And let's talk about ways to 359 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: lower your a g I even more, because one other 360 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: thing to consider is contributing to traditional IRA on top 361 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: of what you're already contributing to your TSP, Dexter, because 362 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: not only would you be investing more for your future 363 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: and lowering your tax rate, but you're also pushing that 364 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: a g I down further, which obviously pushes your payments 365 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: down even further, which means more forgiveness. And so uh. 366 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: The same thing is when it comes to saving in 367 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: something like an h s A if you have access 368 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,400 Speaker 1: to one health savings account, and then once you get 369 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: those loans fully forgiven, we want you to switch back 370 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: to the roth TSP. And that way you're gonna be 371 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: building up two different buckets of retirement money, both pre 372 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: tax and post tax, which is going to give you 373 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: more flexibility in retirement once you hit that age to 374 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: determine your personal tax rate because you've got these two 375 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: different buckets you can pull from. And so, yeah, but 376 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 1: it seems like once these payments resume, if they ever resumed, 377 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: that you should probably go towards the traditional because that 378 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: will have an impact when it comes to lowering that 379 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: payment and just you're you'll be eligible for for even 380 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: more forgiveness. And yeah, that's that's a good thing exactly. Yeah. 381 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I do think they're gonna be some folks 382 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,760 Speaker 1: out there who here is saying this, and they might feel, 383 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 1: I don't know, they might bristle a little bit at 384 00:18:31,880 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: the idea of like that is so much money. You 385 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,120 Speaker 1: you're talking about a massive amount of money to put 386 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 1: towards retirement, Like it feels like you're kind of losing out. 387 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: But I just want to remind folks, this is money 388 00:18:40,359 --> 00:18:44,200 Speaker 1: that you are investing and putting aside for yourself. This 389 00:18:44,280 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 1: is this is a win win situation where you are 390 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: frontloading the sacrifice. Now you're putting you're sacking that money away. 391 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: Not only is that money going to be there for 392 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: you years and decades down the road, uh times, whatever 393 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,919 Speaker 1: it's grown into, but you're also reducing the amount of 394 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: taxes that you're gonna be paying on that money on 395 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: your income now by reducing your income, it's a win 396 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,959 Speaker 1: win situation, even though it might feel day to day 397 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: like you're losing out because that's money that you don't 398 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: get to experience in a very tangible way. But just 399 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,680 Speaker 1: know that this is most definitely a win win situation. Yeah, 400 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: and it's a kind of a short timeline really when 401 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: we're talking about it. There's a decade here where dexter 402 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:23,320 Speaker 1: can maximize the amount and he pushes into those retirement accounts, 403 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: minimizing that gross income and then at the same time 404 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: minimizing those student loan payments. But it'll be over in 405 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: a blip, and forgiveness will be here before he knows it, 406 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 1: and then he can go back to roth contributions and 407 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,960 Speaker 1: incorporating some more of his earnings into his lifestyle totally. So. 408 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,400 Speaker 1: Our next listener is on the West Coast and she 409 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: wants to know whether or not she should be paying 410 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: for some financial advice. Good morning, Joel and Matt. My 411 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 1: name is Amy and I live in the Seattle, Washington area. 412 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 1: I have a few questions about financial advisors after listening 413 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:02,159 Speaker 1: to your podcast, it sounds as if I should get 414 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: a fiduciary who is fee only. I've been investigating Marriad 415 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 1: Financial Advisors and I recently interviewed someone who works for Vestry. 416 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: The lady with whom I spoke stated that her services 417 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: are fee based and she believes there's no difference between 418 00:20:20,280 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: fee only and fee based. What are your thoughts regarding 419 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: fee based versus fee only services? Thank you for your 420 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 1: anticipated response, and I hope you have a fabulous day 421 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: and enjoy your beers. In moderation, Thanks bye, Amy, Thanks 422 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: for your question. Moderation, Matt, if we don't say it enough, 423 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: it is key. I think we've got a good point there, 424 00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:48,120 Speaker 1: and we like craft beer, but we like craft beer 425 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: in small amounts, and actually today's we're not sitting here 426 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: on the show just like crushing beers left. There are 427 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: some podcasts do that you would probably hear it. If 428 00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: we were, you would understand that we're drinking more than 429 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: we should be. But that is not our m O. No, 430 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: not at all. So yeah, let's let's actually get get 431 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: to Amy's question though, And I want to stick stick 432 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: a big if in Amy's question because she said, like, 433 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: you recommend this, but well, the thing is, if you 434 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: decide that you think you need a financial advisor, then 435 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,600 Speaker 1: we would say hiring a fiduciary is very important. The 436 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: thing is Amy might not need one, and so Amy, 437 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: we would encourage you to think long and hard about 438 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: what it is you're looking for in an advisor before 439 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: you start interviewing them, or or whether you actually even 440 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 1: need one, And so questions like can I d I 441 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,639 Speaker 1: y this task instead of hiring someone else to do 442 00:21:38,680 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: it for me always a great question. Yes, I mean 443 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: the answer might be no, I can't. These are important questions. 444 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: I don't have the knowledge and I've got too much 445 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: on the line here, And so you might find that 446 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,480 Speaker 1: you need an advisor, but knowing what you want to 447 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: get out of the relationship, and then ensuring that this 448 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: particular person you choose can provide the service you need. 449 00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:02,680 Speaker 1: Is key to ensuring that you're hiring the right financial advisor. Yeah, 450 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,400 Speaker 1: that's right, and you know we will do our best 451 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: to give you enough information to make a wise decision. 452 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 1: But let's talk about your fiduciary question here for a second. 453 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: The reason that we stress hiring an advisor who is 454 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: a fiduciary is because that means that they are legally 455 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 1: required to do whatever it is that is going to 456 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: be in your best interest. It's not a like, it's 457 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: not a pinky promise or just like an honest pledge, 458 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,439 Speaker 1: although they promises go along way, Matt, this is a 459 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: legal designation. If they won't sign a fiduciary oath, then 460 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,920 Speaker 1: we would recommend for you to move on. Also, it's 461 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: a good idea to hire someone who has the CFP 462 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:43,080 Speaker 1: designation as well. That stands for a Certified Financial Planner, 463 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: and those letters after someone's name means that they have 464 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 1: passed a rigorous exam. I'd want to make sure that 465 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: my planner was both of those things before moving forward 466 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 1: at all. That's right, Yeah, I agree with that. And 467 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:58,720 Speaker 1: and then Amy asked specifically about fee based versus fee only, 468 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: and let's zero and on that for a second happen 469 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: because they're actually quite different. Potentially, they sound the same 470 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: the only fee based Okay, yeah, both have the word 471 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: fee in there, and I can see how someone might 472 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: get tricked by going to someone who said, yeah, I'm 473 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:14,200 Speaker 1: fee based, and they're like, all right, that's what Matt 474 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,440 Speaker 1: and Joel said, but no it's not. We said fee only, 475 00:23:16,680 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: and a fee only planner gets paid by you directly. 476 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 1: They make their money in one way only, and that's 477 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: the fee they charge, which could be a percentage of 478 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: the money you have invested with them, or it could 479 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: be a flat hourly rate, which is my preferred way 480 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,280 Speaker 1: for people to pay their advisors. But either way, it's 481 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:37,360 Speaker 1: easy to see how much money that advisor is being 482 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,480 Speaker 1: compensated for the work that they're doing on your behalf 483 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: fee based. It sounds really nice, but it's not the same. 484 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: And that's because your advisor can, if they're fee based, 485 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: make commissions for selling you certain products, which creates a 486 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: potential conflict of interest. Right, it's hard to know whether 487 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,160 Speaker 1: the advice they're giving you is based on what's best 488 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: for you or what's best for them. It's it's fee based, 489 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 1: but but it's not the same thing as fee only, 490 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 1: and so fee only is our favorite by a long shot. Exactly. 491 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: A fee based leaves the door open for them to 492 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 1: make money in a myriad of ways, or its fee 493 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: only it limits it's it's saying that this is how 494 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: it is that I am compensated UM. And the cool 495 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: thing amy is that it is easier than ever to 496 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: find an advisor that meets these qualifications. There are there 497 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: are a lot of sites out there like NAPVA dot 498 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,240 Speaker 1: org in a p f A, dot org stands for 499 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 1: the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. There's the x 500 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: Y Planning Network as well. But both of these folks 501 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 1: have these companies have created platforms that only allow for 502 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,400 Speaker 1: fee only fiduciaries to participate. You've already separated the wheat 503 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: from the chaff on your behalf, so that's not something 504 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,119 Speaker 1: you have to worry about. And one of the other advancements, 505 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: one of the other developments that we like seeing is 506 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,080 Speaker 1: the fact that advisors are specializing more than ever before 507 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: these days as well, and so depending on what you 508 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: do or what your specific needs are, you can find 509 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: an advisor who who fits that role. Sometimes they might 510 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 1: specialize in in age groups, or they might work with 511 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 1: folks in a particular industry. Uh, some will specifically serve artists, 512 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 1: or you know, some others might target like a generational 513 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: group of folks. So I might even just specialize in 514 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:14,879 Speaker 1: student loan debt. But finding someone who specializes in whatever 515 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:17,800 Speaker 1: it is that you are looking to receive the most 516 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:20,280 Speaker 1: assistance in is a great thing. Yeah. So if I 517 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:22,040 Speaker 1: was looking on x Y planning that work mat, I'd 518 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: be looking for someone who serves subpar podcasters, and I 519 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:29,200 Speaker 1: would say, listen, can you help me? Can you service 520 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: a group of individuals who know what they're talking about 521 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,680 Speaker 1: but may not be all that great at they're they're decent. Okay, 522 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:38,159 Speaker 1: we'll say decent and we pass. Yeah. So no, I 523 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: like that. I like that recommendation. I like both of 524 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,119 Speaker 1: those sites. It's a good idea to to interview a 525 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:46,440 Speaker 1: few different advisors before you settle on in one, because 526 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,800 Speaker 1: it's a really big decision, you know. Setting up setting 527 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: up a zoom call with a few different folks who 528 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 1: meet your qualifications amy and seeing which one makes the 529 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 1: most sense for you is a good route to go. 530 00:25:57,160 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 1: You want to You're gonna want to make sure you 531 00:25:58,520 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: feel comfortable with this person as an individual, because they're 532 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: helping you manage one of life's biggest components, your money. 533 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:08,159 Speaker 1: And another cool thing is that they don't even have 534 00:26:08,200 --> 00:26:10,399 Speaker 1: to be in your city or in your neighborhood. You know, 535 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 1: you live in Washington State, But if you find someone 536 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: in I don't know, let's say Iowa, it's still okay 537 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 1: to hire and to do business with that person if 538 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: they're the best fit for what you need. Obviously, the 539 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: world is just smaller than it ever has been in 540 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: so many ways, and so you can find that niche 541 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 1: advisor who's going to serve you the best, even if 542 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: they're you know, not right around the corner from where 543 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:33,919 Speaker 1: you live. That's right, So keep sticking with us. We've 544 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: got a couple of other questions we're gonna get to, 545 00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:40,320 Speaker 1: including a very creative, slash maybe overly complicated way to 546 00:26:40,359 --> 00:26:43,679 Speaker 1: invest your money that we wouldn't necessarily recommend. We'll get 547 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:55,880 Speaker 1: to that question plus one other right after this. All right, Matt, 548 00:26:55,880 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: we're back to the break. We've got a question actually 549 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 1: about planning for baby expenses. How to do that in 550 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: the most tax efficient method. We'll get to that interest 551 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: a bit. But for now, let's get to that complex 552 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,640 Speaker 1: investing question that we're not big fans of. Uh. Let's 553 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:11,600 Speaker 1: hear it, Hi, Matt and Joel. My name is Danielle 554 00:27:11,600 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 1: and I'm from Minnesota. I'm curious about your thoughts on 555 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:18,719 Speaker 1: Kaisen life insurance plans and on barring against permanent life 556 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,240 Speaker 1: insurance policies. In general. I see the upsides of being 557 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: able to accumulate tax free gains, especially with the kais 558 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 1: En plans. I am curious, though, who these plans actually 559 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: work for. For the kais En, it seems like I 560 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,160 Speaker 1: would be depending on the market to beat Kaisen's interest rate, 561 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: and for both that I would have a substantial amount 562 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: of money tied up for a while. Also, are these 563 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: policies only for retirement planning? And is the five percent 564 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,199 Speaker 1: interest rate worth it for the withdrawal or should I 565 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: pay tax on normal investments? And lastly, if I'm going 566 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: to get a life insurance policy anyway, is this a 567 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,080 Speaker 1: good option? Him? Thank you so much. Alright, So the 568 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: t l d R uh for for Danielle is no. 569 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: The t L d R is runn away back. This 570 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:11,719 Speaker 1: is not something we would recommend. Your your question has 571 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: kind of got the the alarm bells ringing. We would 572 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:18,080 Speaker 1: recommend for you to slowly cut ties with this insurance 573 00:28:18,160 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: salesman or this this line of products that you're looking at. 574 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:22,960 Speaker 1: Whoever it is that you're talking to, he's trying to 575 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: convince you that this is the right product for you. 576 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,480 Speaker 1: And that's because permanent life insurance policies make a nice 577 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:33,000 Speaker 1: chunk of change for insurance salespeople, but they leave you 578 00:28:33,320 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: with an inferior product that that's going to cost you 579 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: more money in premiums every single month, and not just 580 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: like a little bit more, where you're paying for just 581 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: the nicer version of something a lot more, a ton more, 582 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: like like fifteen times more every single month, and that 583 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: is a lot of money that you could be doing 584 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: much better stuff with, like actually investing that money. Yeah, 585 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 1: so let's look at maybe some make actual data points, 586 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: because for let's say a thirty five year old woman, 587 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: the difference between a million hour term policy versus a 588 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:05,000 Speaker 1: whole life policy like Danielle's looking at, well, it could 589 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: be something along the lines of forty a month versus 590 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: six d and twenty seven dollars a month, So you 591 00:29:11,080 --> 00:29:13,440 Speaker 1: have fifteen x and that's accurate, Matt, that the numbers 592 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: bear that out. It's a huge difference. And and the 593 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: question is why is there such a big difference, why 594 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: is it so expensive? Well, part of it is the 595 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: commissions that the person selling you that policy makes. When 596 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: you sign on the dotted line, they usually get at 597 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: a minimum, the entire amount of the first year's premiums 598 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,560 Speaker 1: as a commission, So you're not necessarily those dollars aren't 599 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: going to to fund your policy, They're going to the 600 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 1: person selling you that policy. And the heart of the 601 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: problem is that most folks don't need a permanent life 602 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: insurance policy at all. You know, most folks, even the 603 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:48,600 Speaker 1: insurance salesperson can't even understand or explain exactly how this 604 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: product works. It would there's a problem with that, right. 605 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,320 Speaker 1: If you can't explain, and even if the person is 606 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: selling it can't fully and accurately explain what's happening, then 607 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,520 Speaker 1: it's something we want you to avoid because in specifically, Daniel, like, 608 00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 1: if you're thinking about doing this but you can't you 609 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,040 Speaker 1: don't understand it, you can't explain it to like an 610 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,280 Speaker 1: eight year old, that to me is like the bar 611 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: that we need to cross. If I can't explain how 612 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: this thing works to to my eight year old daughter, 613 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,320 Speaker 1: then I don't need to be participating. That's a sign 614 00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: that it's probably too complex and that there are nefarious 615 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: things going on, you know underneath. Totally it's an overly 616 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,719 Speaker 1: complicated product. And the last thing that Daniel asked was 617 00:30:22,760 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: if you're going to get a life insurance policy anyway, 618 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,959 Speaker 1: whether or not this permanent life variety is a good idea, 619 00:30:29,360 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 1: And the answer is no. Like it kind of makes 620 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: me think back to the earlier question about house hacking, 621 00:30:33,200 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: where it does make sense to consider house hacking. It's like, Okay, 622 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,440 Speaker 1: we're going to get a house anyway, what if we 623 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: for that place that's maybe twenty dollars more, but it 624 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: happens to have this separate apartment that we could use 625 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:48,200 Speaker 1: to generate income, or it has a carriage house. That's 626 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 1: an instance where it does make more sense because there's 627 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,360 Speaker 1: enough of a benefit that you would be receiving from that. 628 00:30:53,840 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: But that is not the case when it comes to 629 00:30:55,680 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: this permanent life insurance. The best life insurance products out 630 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: there for for basically everyone, UH is going to be 631 00:31:01,400 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: a term life insurance policy. How much you need and 632 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:06,200 Speaker 1: how long of a term that you need depends on 633 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:09,400 Speaker 1: your specific life circumstances. For instance, you want to consider 634 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:11,320 Speaker 1: how much money you make, Yeah, you would consider how 635 00:31:11,360 --> 00:31:13,560 Speaker 1: old your kids are. Well. Actually, we can link to 636 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: an article that will help you to shop for term 637 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:18,520 Speaker 1: life insurance in in our show notes. But it is 638 00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: going to be so much cheaper to get a life 639 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:24,719 Speaker 1: insurance policy that way, which allows you to then optimize 640 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:28,800 Speaker 1: those additional substantial large amount of dollars that you would 641 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: have put towards insurance and instead to take those dollars 642 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 1: in to funnel that money towards investments. Yeah, when you're 643 00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:36,479 Speaker 1: talking about that, what's six seven forty one, matt, Those 644 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: are the two numbers that I gave earlier about the 645 00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: monthly cost of those policies, and I think that's that's 646 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 1: almost six dollars. That's like five and eighty eight dollars 647 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:48,880 Speaker 1: or something like that, right, And how much can be good? 648 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: Can you do with that much money a month? There's 649 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:52,800 Speaker 1: a lot you can do. There's a lot you can do. 650 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 1: And so we're big fans of keeping investing and insurance 651 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: products separate, right, because life insurance is about replacement of 652 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,920 Speaker 1: income and that's all the term insurance does. It does 653 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 1: one thing, and it does that one thing really really well. 654 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 1: And Danielle mentioned those tax free gains inside of that 655 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,320 Speaker 1: the whole life policy. Well, those sound nice, but the 656 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:15,600 Speaker 1: returns will almost inevitably be lower than investing in the 657 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 1: ways that we suggest. You know, there are better ways 658 00:32:18,440 --> 00:32:21,760 Speaker 1: to grow your money than in a liquid, non optimized 659 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 1: vehicle like whole life insurance. And even when whole life 660 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:28,800 Speaker 1: products work out, okay, they still take a long time. 661 00:32:28,840 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: We're talking like fifteen years or more to look like 662 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 1: even a reasonable choice in any way, form or fashion. 663 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:36,520 Speaker 1: And that's a lot of years. Most people actually give 664 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: up on their policies before they hit that point. They 665 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:41,920 Speaker 1: stop paying those premiums because they are exorbitant and they're 666 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:44,600 Speaker 1: hard to keep in your budget. And so yeah, look 667 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,120 Speaker 1: at the history of stock market returns, Danielle. And if 668 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:49,880 Speaker 1: your main goal is to generate wealth, stocking extra money 669 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:52,000 Speaker 1: in the stock market is a far superior choice, like 670 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,920 Speaker 1: Matt said, then accruing a cash value in your whole 671 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:57,200 Speaker 1: life policy. And and at the same time, you know what, 672 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:00,840 Speaker 1: you can still afford to have that any term policy, 673 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:02,800 Speaker 1: and you can I can actually be a big a 674 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: lot of coverage, a big coverage amount, but the premiums 675 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: are so tiny that it's easy to keep that on 676 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:09,960 Speaker 1: hand for the entire duration, whereas a whole life policy 677 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: you might find yourself balking just a few years in 678 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:14,719 Speaker 1: because it's so tank expensive. That's right, when one other 679 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 1: kicker on the cash value portion of your life insurance, Danielle, 680 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: that you're considering is that if you pass away the 681 00:33:20,840 --> 00:33:23,479 Speaker 1: cash value that you've built up, it goes to the 682 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,360 Speaker 1: insurance company, not to your survivors, getting kicked while you're 683 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: down and dead. Yeah. What one final note, we would 684 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 1: encourage you to to not let taxes be the tail 685 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 1: that wags the dog here. Like we do think it's 686 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:37,440 Speaker 1: a smart idea to do some tax planning and to 687 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,160 Speaker 1: have a holistic tax strategy to understand what's going on 688 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:42,920 Speaker 1: with your finances from a very high level. But paying 689 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:47,200 Speaker 1: higher fees and accepting worse returns and worse products in 690 00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,960 Speaker 1: an attempt to minimize your tax burden is just shooting 691 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:52,720 Speaker 1: yourself in the foot. Term life insurance and tax advantage 692 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 1: retirement accounts are the clear way to go. Keep them 693 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:57,800 Speaker 1: separate and you'll be much better off not only the 694 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: long term, but even next month, right, yeah, exactly when 695 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:04,760 Speaker 1: that premium comes to and you're like, yeah, exactly. All right, 696 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:06,800 Speaker 1: So Daniel, best of luck, and hopefully you just stopped 697 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: responding to the emails of this person who's trying to 698 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:11,640 Speaker 1: sell the posible ghost them exactly. And so all right, Matt, 699 00:34:11,680 --> 00:34:13,400 Speaker 1: let's get to our our next and final question. This 700 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: one is about preparing for a baby. Hi, Matt and Jel. 701 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 1: This is Sarah. I'm in Salt Lake City and contacting 702 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 1: you guys with some questions that I have about planning 703 00:34:23,320 --> 00:34:26,680 Speaker 1: for baby expenses. The episode that you guys did about 704 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,759 Speaker 1: child expenses a few weeks ago was really helpful, and 705 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:33,880 Speaker 1: then I had a couple of follow ups about daycare 706 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,839 Speaker 1: expenses and about our WT force. So I know at 707 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:40,280 Speaker 1: some point my spouse and I will want to update 708 00:34:40,320 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: our w force to reflect that we have a dependent 709 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:45,400 Speaker 1: so that they're taking out a little bit less taxes. 710 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:49,480 Speaker 1: Should we do that now or wait until the babies 711 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 1: officially here in a few months. We're also planning on 712 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:55,920 Speaker 1: having our child in daycare, and we know that some 713 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,719 Speaker 1: were all possibly of the that will be tax deductible, 714 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: and we both have access to dependent care, f says 715 00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:06,240 Speaker 1: through work. So I'm wondering if you have any guidance 716 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: on how to navigate that. Should we start contributing now, 717 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 1: start contributing later? Are there limits on how much we'll 718 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: be able to deduct um if we don't bother with 719 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,799 Speaker 1: the defeat? D c F s A. Can we still 720 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,759 Speaker 1: deduct daycare expenses when we file our taxes as long 721 00:35:21,800 --> 00:35:25,480 Speaker 1: as we keep our receipts and invoices? And would daycare 722 00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: expenses be deductible on on top of the standard deduction? 723 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,880 Speaker 1: Or is this potentially a case where I'd still end 724 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:35,480 Speaker 1: up taking the standard deduction and daycare expenses might not 725 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: change my refund. Thanks for listening, guys. I learned so 726 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:41,840 Speaker 1: much from your show and it's been really helpful. Sarah, 727 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:45,720 Speaker 1: congrats on the new baby, the new addition to your family, 728 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:48,759 Speaker 1: and I'm going to say that it's incredibly evident that 729 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:50,719 Speaker 1: this is a child that's going to be well cared for. 730 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:53,799 Speaker 1: I feel like you are on top of things, You're 731 00:35:53,840 --> 00:35:56,600 Speaker 1: asking the right questions, and hopefully we'll be able to 732 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:00,320 Speaker 1: provide you with a bunch of good answers today. So first, 733 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:02,960 Speaker 1: let's get to your your W four question. Whether you 734 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 1: should make that change now or after the baby is born. 735 00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: It feels me I'd go ahead and make that change now, honestly, 736 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,600 Speaker 1: just like now while you're thinking about it, before you 737 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: have the baby, before you're in the fog of changing 738 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:16,880 Speaker 1: diapers into the middle of the night, and like make feedings, 739 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:18,759 Speaker 1: that whole thing that will mess you up. You don't 740 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:20,960 Speaker 1: have to wait until a special enrollment period. So that's 741 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:23,279 Speaker 1: something you can go ahead and do now. It's also 742 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:25,400 Speaker 1: not a huge deal if you forget to make those changes, 743 00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: because that extra money, you know, like it will be 744 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:29,880 Speaker 1: withheld from your paycheck and then you'll just get it 745 00:36:29,880 --> 00:36:33,280 Speaker 1: back as a refund next April. But from a principled standpoint, 746 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 1: I would rather not be making interest free loans to 747 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: the government. Go ahead and make those changes now. Yeah, 748 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:40,360 Speaker 1: and by the way, Matt, just a reference for everyone 749 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,399 Speaker 1: else out there listening. If you heard what Matt said 750 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:44,680 Speaker 1: and you're realizing, wait a second, I get a massive 751 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 1: reefront every single year. Well, chances are you haven't updated 752 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:50,399 Speaker 1: your W four and you probably should. And so we'll 753 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,920 Speaker 1: actually link to in I R S Tax withholding estimator, 754 00:36:54,160 --> 00:36:56,319 Speaker 1: which can come in handy and help you figure out 755 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,960 Speaker 1: how much you should be withholding. Yeah, Typically that's something 756 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,200 Speaker 1: that folks fill out when they first are hired and 757 00:37:01,239 --> 00:37:04,160 Speaker 1: then they don't change, never going for years. And I 758 00:37:04,160 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: think sometimes folks like getting that big refund. But just 759 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: imagine what you could be doing with that money on 760 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 1: a month to month basis, as opposed to waiting for 761 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:12,880 Speaker 1: it to hit, you know, in the spring. Yeah, especially 762 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:16,040 Speaker 1: if you have higher interest rate debt, you could use 763 00:37:16,040 --> 00:37:17,920 Speaker 1: that money right now to be paying down that debt 764 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:21,920 Speaker 1: and not just waiting until next April in hopes of 765 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,680 Speaker 1: a bigger tax refund. And so yeah, is Matt. Sarah 766 00:37:25,760 --> 00:37:29,440 Speaker 1: had a similar question regarding whether she should start contributing 767 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: to that d c f s A, the Dependent Care 768 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:36,080 Speaker 1: Flexible Spending Account now or doing it later. And here's 769 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:38,799 Speaker 1: the thing, Sarah, if you're absolutely certain that she'll be 770 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:42,040 Speaker 1: utilizing that those funds in order to cover the cost 771 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:45,040 Speaker 1: of childcare, then it doesn't hurt to start squirreling away 772 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 1: some of those funds now. But as is typical with 773 00:37:49,160 --> 00:37:50,799 Speaker 1: f s A S, if you don't end up using 774 00:37:50,840 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: that money, you're going to lose it. So if you 775 00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: stick it in and then you don't actually get around 776 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:59,279 Speaker 1: to using it, it's gone, uh, and sometimes some of 777 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 1: it rolls over the next year, depends on kind of 778 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: how the employer handles it specifically, So you might you 779 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,160 Speaker 1: might be able to see five dollars of that rollover, 780 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: but the rest of it could just be it could 781 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:12,319 Speaker 1: vanish into thin air. And and they're definitely limits on 782 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: how much you can set aside for this year. It's 783 00:38:14,280 --> 00:38:16,960 Speaker 1: actually back to a normal five thousand dollars after Congress 784 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:20,040 Speaker 1: boosted that to over ten tho dollars for last year only, 785 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:22,239 Speaker 1: So that's important to note. That's the limit on what 786 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:25,239 Speaker 1: you can stick inside of that account. Yeah, you may 787 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:26,719 Speaker 1: have heard your friends being like, oh no, you can 788 00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:28,960 Speaker 1: put aside like over ten thousand dollars. Now that was 789 00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: last year. That's for the pandemic, not this year. But Sarah, 790 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,560 Speaker 1: you asked if you can still deduct childcare expenses if 791 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,680 Speaker 1: you don't want to mess around with the Dependent Care 792 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:41,120 Speaker 1: Flexible Spending Account, that is totally an option. But for 793 00:38:41,160 --> 00:38:43,160 Speaker 1: most folks, going with the d c f s A 794 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:45,759 Speaker 1: is likely going to be the best move. And some 795 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:47,440 Speaker 1: of this is going to depend on your income. It's 796 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:49,560 Speaker 1: gonna depend on your tax bracket. And since we don't 797 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:52,440 Speaker 1: know all of your detailed information. This is one of 798 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:54,960 Speaker 1: those instances where it would be a smart move to 799 00:38:55,120 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: check in with a tax professional to fully optimize and 800 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 1: to pay as little money as possible in taxes. But 801 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:05,279 Speaker 1: the good news is that you do have options, and 802 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:07,000 Speaker 1: like you said, if if you choose not to go 803 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:09,880 Speaker 1: with the d c f s A UH, the way 804 00:39:09,920 --> 00:39:11,920 Speaker 1: that you reclaim some of that money is through the 805 00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:15,479 Speaker 1: Child Independent Care Credit. And note that what I said 806 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 1: there is it's a credit, UH, and that is a 807 00:39:18,120 --> 00:39:20,759 Speaker 1: lot different than a deduction, And so you're asking about 808 00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:23,880 Speaker 1: the standard deduction that will not impact your ability to 809 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 1: claim that credit for you to receive that money for 810 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:30,400 Speaker 1: expenses that go towards childcare after you have this baby, 811 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:32,880 Speaker 1: and y'all are both looking to get back into the workforce. 812 00:39:33,160 --> 00:39:34,839 Speaker 1: That's right, and there's a lot to like about those 813 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 1: flexible spending accounts, Matt, But then they're like I said, 814 00:39:37,760 --> 00:39:39,839 Speaker 1: there are ways that it could trip you up if 815 00:39:39,880 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 1: you contribute too much and you can't use it all. 816 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,840 Speaker 1: And especially depending on what time of year that baby 817 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 1: is born, how much time you have off, whether you 818 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:50,920 Speaker 1: actually do have childcare needs or not. In two that's 819 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: going to impact on whether or not you're gonna want 820 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:55,440 Speaker 1: to stick money into that account or not. But it 821 00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:58,000 Speaker 1: depends on how much flexibility you're looking at, because if 822 00:39:58,040 --> 00:40:00,560 Speaker 1: you're not totally sure, then it's like, well, I don't 823 00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:01,920 Speaker 1: know if you you want to do it makes me 824 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,080 Speaker 1: think of five nine accounts right where it's like there 825 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:06,960 Speaker 1: is a tax advantage to doing this thing, but you 826 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:09,719 Speaker 1: got to use it for that thing. And luckily with 827 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:12,840 Speaker 1: it seems like there's more options to to do things 828 00:40:12,960 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 1: with that. If you're one kid doesn't end up going 829 00:40:15,200 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: to college, but with an F s A, that money 830 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:19,160 Speaker 1: just evaporates at the year's end. Yeah, that's right, So 831 00:40:19,239 --> 00:40:20,719 Speaker 1: you don't want to stick any money and that you're 832 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 1: unsure of whether you're gonna actually get around to spending it. 833 00:40:23,800 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: But otherwise, if you know that that money is going 834 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:28,359 Speaker 1: to be spend on childcare expenses, go ahead and use 835 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:31,040 Speaker 1: it up because it'll, yeah, help you help your bottom 836 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:33,239 Speaker 1: line come tax time. So all right, man, that's gonna 837 00:40:33,239 --> 00:40:35,000 Speaker 1: do it for listener questions. Let's get back to the 838 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: beer that we had on today's episode. This one is 839 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:40,960 Speaker 1: called No Wooden Shoes. It's a dunker beer style lagger 840 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:43,439 Speaker 1: by good word brewing all your thoughts on this beer, 841 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:47,359 Speaker 1: I'm assuming it's part dunkle, right, Like that's the type 842 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:50,960 Speaker 1: of beer you're asking the wrong. We we we know 843 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 1: American style craft beers well, but as far as some 844 00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:57,440 Speaker 1: of the European styles, we could definitely get schooled on 845 00:40:57,480 --> 00:40:59,919 Speaker 1: some of the different styles. But I that being said, 846 00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:02,920 Speaker 1: really like this beer. It's just a beer, like that's 847 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:05,040 Speaker 1: what it tastes like. It's just a standard maybe a 848 00:41:05,080 --> 00:41:07,839 Speaker 1: little more in the direction where it kind of had 849 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: some of those bready notes, medium bodied, refreshing beer to 850 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:13,960 Speaker 1: enjoy during the spring. Okay, so I'll agree with you 851 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:16,040 Speaker 1: on there. I thought I actually had like some amber notes, 852 00:41:16,719 --> 00:41:20,640 Speaker 1: which we're delightful, and it's interestingly enough reading the back 853 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:23,600 Speaker 1: of the can, this is a recipe that's based on 854 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:27,799 Speaker 1: an old Heineken beer that they released in ninety So 855 00:41:27,800 --> 00:41:29,439 Speaker 1: I thought that was kind of cool that this beer 856 00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:31,879 Speaker 1: has kind of some history to it, like almost coming 857 00:41:31,960 --> 00:41:33,440 Speaker 1: up on a hundred years of history. This is an 858 00:41:33,480 --> 00:41:37,160 Speaker 1: old school style beer, and I like it because it 859 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: is kind of light and refreshing but still has has 860 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: some sort of backbone. It's not like drinking a Budweiser's. 861 00:41:43,040 --> 00:41:45,200 Speaker 1: You know, this has a lot more going on than 862 00:41:45,280 --> 00:41:48,880 Speaker 1: just that, but it's still nice and chill and easily accessible, 863 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:51,080 Speaker 1: and I feel like even folks that don't really like 864 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:53,719 Speaker 1: beer could probably get down with this beer. Actually I 865 00:41:53,719 --> 00:41:55,680 Speaker 1: really dig the label as well. It's it's a it's 866 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:58,200 Speaker 1: an illustration like a cartoon, but it's got a black background, 867 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:00,760 Speaker 1: which anytime I see that. Have you ever seen Doctor Seuss, 868 00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:03,160 Speaker 1: so you know he'd make He's drawn all the things 869 00:42:03,160 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 1: for for kids books and whatnot, But he has an 870 00:42:05,239 --> 00:42:08,600 Speaker 1: entire series of paintings he did with the black background 871 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:13,279 Speaker 1: totally that have a very more mature adult not like 872 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 1: in a nasty or sexy way or whatever, but it's 873 00:42:15,480 --> 00:42:19,239 Speaker 1: just more visually appealing, I guess to adults, but specifically 874 00:42:19,239 --> 00:42:21,759 Speaker 1: the black background. So anytime I see that, I think, 875 00:42:21,800 --> 00:42:23,480 Speaker 1: I'm I'm drawn to that, because the first time I 876 00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:26,240 Speaker 1: discovered those, I thought, now, that's a Doctor Seu's painting 877 00:42:26,239 --> 00:42:28,520 Speaker 1: that I would put up on the wall like in 878 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:30,200 Speaker 1: my house. You know, like like you're not really thinking 879 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: about that when it comes to you know, cat and 880 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:33,759 Speaker 1: a hat or something like that. I'm not putting his 881 00:42:34,040 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: scissors as us on our walls, but I might put 882 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:38,160 Speaker 1: up one of those. Maybe if it was on a 883 00:42:38,160 --> 00:42:39,839 Speaker 1: black background, I would. I don't know, it would look 884 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:41,799 Speaker 1: quite cooler. There was a biography that I read about 885 00:42:41,880 --> 00:42:44,279 Speaker 1: him that was just completely fascinating, and I forget what 886 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:45,480 Speaker 1: it was called off the top of my head. But 887 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:48,839 Speaker 1: if you're like interested, interesting dude, very interesting guy. So 888 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 1: go listen to the Doctor Seus's biography. It was I 889 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 1: listened to on audio books, I say, but it was. 890 00:42:54,160 --> 00:42:55,759 Speaker 1: It was really good. So all right, that's gonna do 891 00:42:55,800 --> 00:42:57,960 Speaker 1: it for this episode. Just a reminder, if you have 892 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: a question you want to submit for Matt and I 893 00:42:59,600 --> 00:43:01,759 Speaker 1: to take on an upcoming episode, we'd love to hear it. 894 00:43:01,960 --> 00:43:04,000 Speaker 1: Just go to how to money dot com slash ask 895 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:06,560 Speaker 1: for the directions. It's pretty simple, and we can't wait 896 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 1: to hear from you. All right, Matt, until next time, 897 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:10,799 Speaker 1: Best Friends Out, Best Friends Out.