1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: It's time for the ba qa A the ba qa 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: what to say? The v a qa with Manday, the 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: va qa and Tiffany A the ba qa A. Okay, 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: I lie, Tiffany's not here, y'all, She's not here. She 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: left me solo today, but not for long, because I 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: am joined by our brilliant guest. If you haven't listened 7 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: to her episode about her brand new book, Your Journey 8 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: to Financial Freedom, why are you here? Going back to 9 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: Wednesday's episode and check it out. Jamila sous frant is 10 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,279 Speaker 1: in the house. Hey Jamila, hey girl, Hey, long time 11 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 1: nothing I know, right, so excited to have you on. 12 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: So in the baqa. First, we got to start with 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,599 Speaker 1: our disclaimer, okay, Jamila, because we ain't trying to get 14 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: you sued. You just got here. We are your financi 15 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: You can call us your financial sisters, your financial besties. 16 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: We are not your lawyer, not your financial advisor, not 17 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: financial planner, not your investment advisor, not anyone that you 18 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: would pay for advice. So take everything we say the 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: grain of salt. Okay, we got brains, we got smarts 20 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: and all of that juicy goodness. But no, please, you 21 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: can just send those you know, send those send those 22 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: legal fees somewhere else. Okay, we don't have time for that. 23 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: Let's jump into some questions, because Jimmy, let your book 24 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 1: is all about your journey to financial freedom and helping 25 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: others feel what is possible for them if they take 26 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: some steps in their lives today to get to their 27 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: own version of financial freedom. So we picked out a 28 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: couple of good questions from our BA fam that we're 29 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: going to read today listen. As a reminder, y'all can 30 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: submit your questions at Brand Ambition Podcast on ig slide 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: into our DMS, or you can go to Brandnambisson podcast 32 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: dot com and click ask us anything and submit your 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: questions there. All right, Number one? You ready? 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, let's go. 35 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: Little shoulder shimmy, little shoulder rub rub, I wish shoulder rub, 36 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: little shoulder stretch. All right. The first question comes from 37 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: IG from listen, Ana Anna says, hey, ladies, First, thank 38 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: you so much for creating this space. Finance credit savings 39 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: investing is so overwhelming to me that I just turn 40 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: away from it. But I can't afford to do that 41 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: any longer. I picked up Get Good with Money, Tiffany's book, 42 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: and I'm ready to put in work. Yes, My question 43 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: is should I invest in a four to oh one 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: K or a wroth I? Ray, I have zero dollars 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: in either of these right now. I'm an immigrant from 46 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: Dr Hey Mandy High girl Ola, and no one in 47 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: my family knows how to navigate American finances. I'm thirty 48 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: one years old and I want to retire comfortably around 49 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: fifty five years old ish. Any tips or reality checks 50 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 1: are welcome. Okay, Anna, Anna in the house. Okay, So 51 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: she's got this feeling that her family doesn't know how 52 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 1: to navigate American finances. She's on her own, but she's 53 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: ready to do something, all right. But the question itself 54 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: is pretty simple. One K or wroth Ira, what do 55 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: you say? 56 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 2: Okay, so this is gonna be Yeah, it's gonna depend 57 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: on a couple of things. So if you have access 58 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 2: to a four to one K through your job, so one, 59 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: you know, make check that out. Make sure that you 60 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 2: do have access. Do they give you a company match, 61 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: meaning if you put in a certain percentage or a 62 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 2: certain amount, do they also match you up to a 63 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: certain point? Because if you can, then you should be 64 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: investing up until that point in which they can max 65 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 2: or match you in your account. It's almost like free money. 66 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: I do air quotes because technically it's not free, like 67 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: it's part of your compensation package, so you should be 68 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 2: using it, and you know start there. So, do you 69 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: have a four to one K? Does it have a 70 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: company match? If it does, you should invest up into 71 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 2: that company match at the minimum. Also recognizing the difference 72 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: between a four to one. 73 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: K and a wroth IRA. 74 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 2: So typically the four to one K will be through 75 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: a company. It's a company sponsored pre tax retimement plan, 76 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: meaning the amount you put in reduces your taxable income 77 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: so you actually pay less in taxes or it makes 78 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 2: your net income less. And then a wroth IRA is 79 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: an after tax retirement vehicle that you can use and 80 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: open up separately with a brokerage company outside of your job. 81 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 2: And that's after tax money, meaning you pay taxes on 82 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: that money already and you're now putting it into this 83 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: roth iray to grow over time. So I always like 84 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: to think about what is your income level, So people 85 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: who are typically higher earners like to put money in 86 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: their four one K and pre tax retirement accounts to 87 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: reduce how much they need to pay in taxes. So 88 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: it's a smart tax strategy and just it's helpful to 89 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: put money away. Or if you're not earning a lot 90 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 2: of money and there is a limited amount, if you 91 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 2: do have that match, do up to the company match 92 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: in your four to one K. But then you can 93 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,640 Speaker 2: also take and use your after tax dollars to invest 94 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: in a roth ira if you're not earning a lot 95 00:04:58,080 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 2: At the moment. 96 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: I was just looking up the limits for four oh 97 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: one K because I haven't had a traditional job in 98 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: a few years, so I'm like, what is the limit now? God, 99 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: I miss my four to one K. It's so easy, y'all. 100 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: People make you know, business ownership looks so cute and sexy, 101 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: but it's more complicated. Okay, I miss my cute little 102 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: cozy four one K. I got my little auto payroll deposit. 103 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,119 Speaker 1: The limit right now is twenty two twenty two, five hundred, 104 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: but in the new year, which is just around the corner, 105 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: it's going to go up to twenty three thousand, So 106 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: if you get that match. I mean, I always kind 107 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 1: of went by the rule of max out the four 108 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: to one K or try to because it's hard to 109 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,040 Speaker 1: get up to that, like save twenty two something k 110 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: a year. That in and of itself is a huge, 111 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 1: you know, a huge accomplishment. And then my financial planner 112 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: was always like, you know, okay, once you get past that, 113 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: then let's move on to the ROTH because you can 114 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: save less in the ROTH. Ira there's and there's income limits, 115 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: so there's it's a bit more like complicated. And when 116 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: it comes to financial steps again, I'm not a financial planner. 117 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: I'm always like, what's the easiest path to entry? And 118 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: for so many of you listening, including you, anna go 119 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: to your payroll department, your HR and be like, how 120 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: do I enroll in the four one K? And make 121 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,360 Speaker 1: sure they tell you and they probably told you at orientation, 122 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: make them tell you again. That's their job. Okay, Jamila. 123 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: Now I'm curious because you're Jamaican and you were born 124 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: in Jamaica and your mom brought you here? How did 125 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: that work? But I want to know, because she obviously 126 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: wasn't from here, how did she navigate her finances in America? 127 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: Listen, my mom was a force because she came here 128 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: at twenty years old, and yeah, she left me behind 129 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: in Jamaica when she had me to establish herself a 130 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: bit and then I came to join her just a 131 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: few months later. But she did with no internet, no phone, 132 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: so quickly you type up to find something. She yellow 133 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 2: pages and showing up to places that said they would 134 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 2: be open, you know, looking into resources and getting on 135 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: government assistance in the beginning to help sustain herself. And 136 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: so it did take a lot of curiosity and tenacity, 137 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 2: and at such a young she was only twenty years old. 138 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 2: Like again, I can't imagine doing it by herself, for right, 139 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:13,000 Speaker 2: and so in a country. 140 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: She had to leave. 141 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: Right that part, So you know how it is being 142 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: a mom now, I mean, I get it. I talk 143 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 2: about this in the book Your Journey to Financial Freedom, 144 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: that you know, for her to forge a path like 145 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 2: go to the country she's never been, to experience seasons 146 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 2: she's never experienced for the first time with barely any 147 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: money in her pocket, how bold she must have been 148 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: to be able to do that. And so like the 149 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: the call for us to try to attain financial independence 150 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 2: is bold, right, Like Anna now is entering into this 151 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 2: stage where she's like needing to make a big decision, 152 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 2: and it is big for her, you know, and it 153 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 2: can change the course of her life. But It's just like, 154 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: think about what your parents or your your ancestors did 155 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 2: to put like to get you here, and how probably 156 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 2: you know it wasn't like their money that was at risk, 157 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 2: it was their lives and livelihood. And that always gave 158 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 2: me the courage. I'm like, you know what, I can 159 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 2: call hr, I could do this. Yeah, I can ask 160 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 2: this question and so use that as your motivation to 161 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 2: get you going to do something different because just because 162 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: no one in your family, look, I get it. No 163 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 2: one in my family also talked to me specifically about investing. 164 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 2: These are things I learned on the as I got 165 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 2: older and especially on my journey. But you can be 166 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: the first. You can change that and then be the 167 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 2: person that you know puts your family on and your 168 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,080 Speaker 2: cousins and you start to help other people when you 169 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 2: have the knowledge and information right. 170 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: And I just want to say too that when you're 171 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: on this journey and you know, I would say, gather 172 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: friends confidants as you go along who were on the 173 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: same path as you. Because family is amazing. But family 174 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: doesn't always understand the journey that we're on because they 175 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: have their separate journeys. So I just feel like the 176 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 1: more voices you have, whether it's hours from listening to 177 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,439 Speaker 1: the podcast. I'm happy that you found BA, but also 178 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: Jamila's podcast Journey to Launch. It's a great one to 179 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: add to the mix. So you yeah, we can be 180 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:10,559 Speaker 1: like your big sister friends who can give you these 181 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 1: ideas and help guide you a little bit of the way. 182 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: But to take ownership of your own journey. And you're 183 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: only thirty one, you're so young. Fifty five to me 184 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 1: does not seem like out of step with reality at all. 185 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 1: To have a goal of you know, being able to 186 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: retire or at least being used to say it's comfortable, 187 00:09:27,840 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: of course, like fifty five, Like that's twenty five years 188 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: almost that you've got to invest. I'm like, start now, Yeah, let's. 189 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 2: Go to it. You got you got a lot of time, 190 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: and it's never too late. You know, it's never too late. 191 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,079 Speaker 2: You'd be surprised how much ground you can make up 192 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 2: once you just start, because as you start, you may 193 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 2: not know everything you need to know right now, but 194 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,320 Speaker 2: as you start going, you start it's like picking up 195 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: gems you play in a video game, right and it's 196 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 2: just like you picking up these gems and tools and 197 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 2: it becomes like a big effect, a snowball effect, and 198 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 2: things start accumulating faster that you could have ever imagined. 199 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: So just start and this is a great start for 200 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: you asking the question. 201 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Okay, thank you, Anna, thank you so much for 202 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 1: sending in your question. We're going to take a quick 203 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: break and we'll be right back with more of the 204 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:20,400 Speaker 1: Baqa with our guest Jamila Soufront of Journey to Launch. Hey, 205 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 1: ba Fan, we are back with question number two. This 206 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 1: question comes from a listener who'd like to be called 207 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: Manifesting Wealth Babe. Okay, I feel that I'm excited to 208 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: hear from you, Manifesting Wealth Babe, because you've been a 209 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 1: long time listener. Let's get into this question. Hey, Mandy 210 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: and Tiffany. She says, I last wrote to y'all one 211 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 1: and a half years ago when I was seventy five 212 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: hundred dollars in credit card debt and seeking advice on 213 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: how to pay that down and buy a house. Well 214 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: now I am credit card debt free, yes, and I'm 215 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: getting the keys to my first row home next week, 216 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 1: which will be my primary residence. Come on, this is 217 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: amazing and just one and a half years that is phenomenal. 218 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: I'm also starting a new job where I'll be making 219 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: fifty k more than my last one. To me amazing, 220 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: like I shook it. Wow, you did the damn thing, girl. 221 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: This is incredible. Okay, starting a new job making fifty 222 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: k more. Since my mortgage interest rate is at seven 223 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: point three seven percent ooof yes, it's so expensive out 224 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 1: there right now, I'd like to pay now my house 225 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: as quickly as possible. I figure that I can put 226 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: that fifty k a year toward my mortgage by tripling 227 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: my monthly payment. What else should I be doing to 228 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: make my money work for me? I have several four 229 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:39,599 Speaker 1: to one ks from different jobs throughout the year, but 230 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: I don't keep up with them, and I don't know 231 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: the collective total. Should I start focusing on building that up, 232 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: put more money toward my emergency face savings, or start investing. 233 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: I've got a six month emergency fund, and since I'm 234 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: using some state grant programs, I'm technically not supposed to 235 00:11:55,720 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 1: rent out my house for the life of the loan. Okay. Interesting. 236 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: Any advice on next steps now that I've got my 237 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: head above water would be greatly appreciated. Things for all 238 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: you do ooh, Okay, got to celebrate those wins. Yeah, 239 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: but now it's the Okay, I did the dirty work, 240 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: paying down the debt, doing what I can to get 241 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: access to I love the idea that you use grants, 242 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: some state programs to get your first property, but fifty 243 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: k more and thinking about tripling her mortgage payments? Why 244 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: does my chest kind of do like it? When I 245 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: don't know, am I wrong? I kind of feel like, 246 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,440 Speaker 1: don't do that? But I don't know what. I don't 247 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 1: know what exactly I'm thinking yet, what do you think? 248 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 2: All right, there's a few things here. So the first is, 249 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,320 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, congratulations, you are doing the damn thing. 250 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 2: You'd be primed to like join me on this journey 251 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 2: to financial independence because you're the kind of person where 252 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 2: you're a journey to financial freedom because you have so much, 253 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: so many assets in terms of what can help you 254 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 2: on this journey leap frog you forward very fast through 255 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 2: these stages that I talk about to reach financial independence. 256 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 2: And so first this is going to just be technical, 257 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 2: but I would like you to go search down and 258 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 2: find where your several four one ks are, so you know, 259 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,080 Speaker 2: a task is to where are those four one k's located. 260 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 1: If you got in the book, honey, right. 261 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: Sit down, call those companies up, get the log in 262 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 2: information and it might be best served that might it 263 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 2: will be best served for you to probably roll those 264 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 2: all over into your own you know outside what would 265 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 2: happen is a traditional ERA. So because it's a pre 266 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 2: tax four one K, if you roll that and took 267 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 2: that out of your companies who's ever holding it and 268 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: put it into your own ERA account, you can roll 269 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: that over and combine everything just so you can have 270 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 2: it all in one place and be more direct or 271 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 2: active in knowing what the numbers are and where you're invested, 272 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 2: because you don't know if the company's charging you overcharging 273 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 2: you to help manage these investments when you can park 274 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 2: them on your own somewhere else in a mutual fund 275 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,040 Speaker 2: that has a low fees. So just one get that 276 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 2: information for all your accounts, consider rolling them over into 277 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 2: one and talk to a tax person. So at your 278 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 2: income level, I'm assuming it's a lot more now you 279 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 2: know it might be best to talk to someone who 280 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 2: can help navigate and manage this for you. The other 281 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 2: thing is that you're you're going to have a very 282 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:26,920 Speaker 2: huge increase in income, So investing in a four to 283 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 2: one K to help manage taxes, right, you're putting away 284 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 2: for your financial future and financial independence, but you're able 285 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 2: to lower your taxable income because you know, when we 286 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 2: make more, that's when the government comes in and they 287 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 2: tax us more, which is not always a bad thing. 288 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: You know. 289 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 2: I am for paying taxes because this country needs to 290 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: run some way. So but if you can then increase 291 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: your four one K contributions at your current job, that 292 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 2: will help to reduce how much taxes you pay and 293 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 2: put some money away for yourself that you can use. 294 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 2: I think the other thing I didn't want to mention before, Mandy, 295 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 2: I want to hear some of your feedback is that 296 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 2: you know, the biggest thing is that you don't have 297 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 2: to make this complicated. It seems like you pay down 298 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,240 Speaker 2: your credit card debt already. The interest rate is very high, 299 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 2: So I just keep your eye in the interest rate 300 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 2: to see when you can refinance at a lower rate 301 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 2: once they start dropping, because in a couple of years 302 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 2: they will. But for me, I wouldn't necessarily put all 303 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 2: of my money or additional money in the house just 304 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 2: because you know, it's a non liquid asset. You know, 305 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: to tap into that money. It would be a lot 306 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: harder if you need it or need to sell or 307 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: whatever the case like. In order to tap into the 308 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: equity of your home, you're going to either need to 309 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: sell it or to take out a home equity mortgage 310 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 2: versus you invest that money and you can maybe beat 311 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 2: I mean, this is a high interest rate, but if 312 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 2: you can beat the average of what you're paying any 313 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 2: of your mortgage, it maybe makes sense to do it 314 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 2: that way. But I wouldn't discourage you. I do the 315 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 2: math on how much do so would I pay or 316 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 2: how long will it take if I do triple these payments? 317 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 2: Does it shave off five years? Does it shave off 318 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 2: only like? What does that look like? And less cash flow? 319 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 2: Does that matter more to me versus increasing my assets 320 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 2: on the other side, versus increasing my equity in my house? Mandy, 321 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 2: what do you think? 322 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, I love a lot of what you said. I 323 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: think the reason my stomach was kind of turning when 324 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: it came to the idea of tripling their mortgage payments 325 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: is like the high of paying down debt. You know, 326 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,040 Speaker 1: you get that this is like the Dave Ramsey way 327 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: of paying down debt. Right, just like attack, attack, attack. 328 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: But I agree it's going to put you in a 329 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: financially vulnerable situation to tie up even more of your 330 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: money in a house, especially like like like Tiffany, Sorry, Jamila, Tiffany, 331 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 1: I miss you, Like Jamila said, you know, it's it's 332 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: something that you can It's not a piggy bank. People 333 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: treat it. They think you can treat like a piggy bank, 334 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: but it takes time. And even during the pandemic, banks 335 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: were like stopping giving home equity loans because everybody was like, oh, 336 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: my home, my home prices have gone up so high, 337 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,639 Speaker 1: my home values have gone up so high. I want to, 338 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: you know, tap into this. And thanks were like slow down, 339 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: so and and I like the idea because you have, 340 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,360 Speaker 1: you know, paid off your debt. I think that's incredible. 341 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: You can keep that good feeling going, the high that 342 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,040 Speaker 1: you get from paying it down, But don't put that 343 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: energy into your house. I would say, put it into 344 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 1: your investment account, in your in your emergency fund. Six 345 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: months is great, but you're a homeowner now, and these 346 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: homes be homing, okay, Like I moved into I bought 347 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: my house five years ago, and it's about that time, 348 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: the appliance has start breaking down on you, and I'm like, 349 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: wait a minute, didn't I just spend two thousand dollars 350 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: on this washer dryer, you know what I mean? And 351 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: it's like, oh, well, this is what happens. Now you 352 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: got to repair stuff. The prices, you know, the cost 353 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: goes up. Also to make your money work for you. 354 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,679 Speaker 1: I feel like there's no better place at this stage 355 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: for you then getting some of that money into the market, 356 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: and whether it's like getting all your four to one 357 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: ks all in one place, which I absolutely I would 358 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: even go further to say, girl, go round them up 359 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 1: and get them in one place. You can't be losing 360 00:18:12,400 --> 00:18:14,960 Speaker 1: track of money like that, like leaving money under the 361 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: couch cushions, because for example, I forgot about like a 362 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,200 Speaker 1: little tiny baby for one K I had from a 363 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: job that I was at for just a hot minute 364 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: a few years back, and it was like fifteen hundred 365 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: dollars and it was just putting a money market fund, 366 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: earning negative money, and I missed all the fun ups 367 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 1: of the pandemic. You know, I could I could have 368 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: gained a lot on that a little bit of money, 369 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: but it was just sitting there not invested. Excuse me. So, 370 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: I think if you want your money to work for you, 371 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 1: figure out a way to leverage your increase in pay 372 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: in a tax savvy way. I agree with Jamila about 373 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: reaching out to a tax professional, but you know, I 374 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,199 Speaker 1: think it is simple open up or start contributing to 375 00:18:56,280 --> 00:19:00,320 Speaker 1: your pre tax retirement account through your employer and start 376 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: letting that money continue accruing on the side while adding 377 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: a little bit more to that emergency fund. It's up 378 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: to you sort of what your magic number is. Six 379 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: months sounds good, but I'm honestly, like a as a homeowner, 380 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 1: I'm on that, like you know, nine to twelve month, yeah, 381 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,919 Speaker 1: expenses kind of train like I yeah, especially having survived 382 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 1: a couple of processions now. But that's that's really up 383 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: to you. But my message is, let's sink more money 384 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:31,960 Speaker 1: into your investment portfolio than into your house right now. 385 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 2: And if I could just add so One of the 386 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 2: things I tell people to do in the book to 387 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 2: help map out their journey to financial independence is that 388 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 2: you have to assess where you currently are. You have 389 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 2: to know your numbers and so you have to know 390 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: your income, You have to know your expenses. You have 391 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,879 Speaker 2: to know how much you owe sow your liabilities, and 392 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 2: you have to know how much you own your assets 393 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 2: because your assets and accumulating more eventually allows you to 394 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: retire early or quit that job, or do whatever you 395 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,800 Speaker 2: want because your assets will pay for your living expenses. 396 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 2: But if you don't know how much you have or 397 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 2: where they are, then you don't know your starting point, 398 00:20:04,760 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 2: So you don't know you might be further along that 399 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 2: you can even know to reaching financial independence or your journey, 400 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:12,439 Speaker 2: but you just don't know that you're not counting that 401 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 2: money because you don't know what it is yet. Versus, 402 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 2: sit down, get the numbers together, look at look forward 403 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,439 Speaker 2: on where you want to be in twenty years, how 404 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: much you would need to feel financially independent in your 405 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,719 Speaker 2: investment accounts, and that way you can map out what 406 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 2: it looks to what does it take to do that? 407 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,399 Speaker 2: You know, I have maybe fifty thousand dollars in the 408 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 2: four to one case combine now I want to maybe 409 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 2: have a million one point five million. You know in 410 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 2: ten fifteen years how much you need to invest over 411 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,439 Speaker 2: time to do that? Right, which if you can't do 412 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,520 Speaker 2: that if you don't know your starting point. So you know, 413 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 2: everyone assess where you currently are. You know, rip that 414 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 2: band aid off. If you've been avoiding it, it's okay. 415 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 2: You'd be surprised at how much further along you are. 416 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: Then you think, oh, in one little tidbit, I forgot 417 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 1: to mention that I popped into my head. If you're 418 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: going to pay extra on your mortgage down the line, 419 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:58,879 Speaker 1: you don't have to do it all right now. You 420 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: can do it down the line. I think that's generally smart, 421 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: because you know, it's generally smart because it could. It 422 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 1: could if you do it the right way, pay down 423 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: your principle a little bit faster. But I will. I 424 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,640 Speaker 1: do want to note you have to tell your bank 425 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: to apply it to the principle because, honey, amortization, I 426 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 1: hate that word. It always wants to stay stuck in 427 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: my throat. Amortization is basically how banks structure the payments 428 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: of your loans, and from the beginning it is like 429 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: almost all going toward interest, okay, and in your case, 430 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: probably all going toward interest. So unless you say these 431 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: extra dollars must pay down the principle, they won't. So 432 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 1: if you're going to do that, anyone listening just make 433 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:38,760 Speaker 1: sure that you check that marks on your check that 434 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 1: box on your mortgage payment, and make sure that you 435 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: talk to them to be sure it's being applied to 436 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: the principle. Okay, Manifesting Wealth Babe, I just want to 437 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 1: give you more snaps because it's incredible what your progress is. 438 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: I'm so excited for this new chapter in your journey. 439 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: Please keep us posted, all right, And it sounds like 440 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 1: I'm going to buy you a copy of Jamula's book 441 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: your address, Manifesting Wealth Babe almost send it to you. 442 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: Your Journey to Financial Freedom by Jamila su Front is 443 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: available now wherever books are sold in the website your 444 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: Journey to Financialfreedom dot com. I got it, I get 445 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: it right, Yeah, yeah yeah, Jamilus is so fun. Thanks 446 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: for joining us on the d a q A and 447 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: we'll see you all next week