Afford Anything Podcast

Build Financial Independence, Escape the 9-to-5, and Live Your Boldest Dreams

#163: Ask Paula – The Future of Index Fund Investing

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Ask Paula and Joe - Should I Choose a Roth vs Traditional IRA and 401k for Early RetirementDoes my employer match count against my 401k contribution limits? Should I invest in a Traditional or Roth TSP? Should I invest more aggressively in stocks right now, or should I hold cash and bonds until the next downturn? Should I get a mortgage or keep renting until I can buy a home in cash? Do you think index investing will dramatically change in the coming decades?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer these five questions in today’s episode.

Sydni asks:
I’m trying to maximize my retirement savings this year. I’d like to max out my 401k to the maximum contribution limits of $18,500.

I also have an employer Safe Harbor contribution that equals three percent of my salary. Does this count towards the $18,500 limit?
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#125: How to Gain a Competitive Edge, with Morgan Housel

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How to Gain a Competitive Advantage, with Morgan HouselMorgan Housel has spent thousands of hours reading about investing.

As a former columnist for the Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool, he’s spent more than a decade reading, interviewing, thinking and writing about how to manage money.

And he’s come to a simple conclusion: less is more.

Doing nothing is often the best course of action.
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#108: Ask Paula – I Don’t Know How to Invest

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Ask Paula and Joe - Afford Anything Podcast #108 - I don't know how to investFormer financial advisor Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer audience questions about investing strategies, early retirement, and tax planning.

Whitnee asks:

I’m 31, and my husband and I save half of our combined income. We’ve maxed out our H.S.A. accounts and we’re getting an employer match in our 401k. We have $80,000 stashed as cash in a checking or low-yield savings account.

We’re paying nearly $2,000 per month for insurance policies, most of which is a whole life insurance policy. We have a rental property that cash flows $210 per month; we pocket $150 and use the other $60 as an extra principal payment.

What should we do differently? How can we learn about investing? What funds should we focus on? Should we sell our rental property and invest the proceeds, or hold onto this? If we hold, should we focus on repaying the mortgage as quickly as possible?

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