Finerate

Bill applies his perspective of decades as an investment advisor to what happened with GameStop (GME-nyse) stock in late January 2021. What fueled the rise of GME? What made the event so unique and what are the implications for the financial industry moving forward? Bill compares GME stock to what happened with tulips in the Netherlands in the 1600s. Anastasia relates one of the most poignant mome...

What is a trade deficit and should individuals be concerned if their country has a high trade deficit? What should the average citizen consider when it comes to how trade functions in their country and in the world? Bill and Anastasia discuss bilateral vs. multilateral trade deals, and also notable current and future trends in U.S. trade. For questions and comments, you can email us at  askcreatin...

Bill and Anastasia return to one of their favorite topics to discuss what goes into forming an annual household budget. How do you create a yearly budget? How do you budget for specific goals like going on a long vacation or a house renovation project? As a future-oriented thinker, Bill explains how he starts by visualizing goals before he sits down to crunch the numbers. Anastasia mentions her hu...

2020 has been a difficult year for most, and also an incredible year of change. As a practice in the abundance mindset, Bill and Anastasia read messages of gratitude in the past year from listeners and discuss what they are thankful for in a year that has thrown many curve balls. A special thanks to those who contributed a message, and to the many frontline workers and countless others who have ma...

What should you be doing to manage your 401(k)? How does active vs. passive investing apply to your retirement accounts? Bill provides some historical context for the rise of the 401(k) plan and a few important takeaways when it comes to saving for retirement. Anastasia discusses the various employer sponsored 401(k) presentations she's sat through and Bill gives his thoughts on the oft recommende...

Bill and Anastasia answer a listener question about credit reports before diving into a free-form discussion based on financial and lifestyle tips from famous experts known for their financial prowess. Bill talks about his career and finally achieving a role he loved. They discuss how hard work early in a career can open up opportunities later in life. Anastasia connects the Great British Bake-Off...

When should we focus on paying off debt and when can we start investing? Are there certain loans you need to pay down before you can really start putting money away towards investments? Bill and Anastasia discuss a common sentiment expressed by younger generations who are eager to build wealth and how to figure out what to prioritize. Bill mentions what the debt experts have to say on the topic. A...

How important is thinking positively when it comes to creating wealth? How can you retrain your brain to think abundantly? In this follow-up to the third episode, "Having an Abundance Mentality," Bill and Anastasia discuss what it takes to think positively about your finances. Bill mentions examples of negative thoughts you or family members may have about wealth and how to address them. Anastasia...

What kind of insurance policies can you buy and why should you have them? Are there policies you should avoid, or insurance that is only needed at certain points in your life? Both Bill and Anastasia share anecdotes from their careers. Anastasia somewhat reluctantly shares why she is glad she had wedding ring insurance and discusses the Taber curse.  For questions and comments, you can email us at...

What does risk tolerance mean and how important is it in forming your investment strategy? What should you keep in mind as you start to invest? How do you know when to listen to your gut feeling about an investment decision and when not to? Bill discusses at what point after the 2008-2009 financial crisis that he knew the financial markets were about to improve. Anastasia compares risk tolerance t...

How does Bill advise his clients when it comes to paying for adult children? What are the pros and cons of continuing to financially support children into adulthood? And for children, how important is it to discuss finances with parents, and when should that discussion begin? On the other hand, how do parents instill a sense of financial independence if their children know they can afford to pay f...

Which should you focus more on for wealth creation: Spending less money, or making more money? Bill and Anastasia discuss an example of buying a used car, as depicted in The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley. How important is it to learn how to spend less money? What are some examples of simple ways to save money? On the other hand, can you be too focused on saving money? Bill provides co...

What are the benefits of paying with a credit card vs. paying with cash? As society transitions to more and more cashless based transactions, what are some important things to keep in mind as a consumer? Bill gives a brief overview of the history of the credit card industry, discusses the pros and cons of using credit cards, and Anastasia mentions what one of her favorite science fiction writers,...

What should high income earners do once they have maxed out their tax advantaged accounts? What is a back door Roth? In what scenario should you invest in the stock market yourself and when should you consider hiring an investment manager?  Bill and Anastasia continue their discussion from Investing in Common Stock, Part One to answer more specific questions about how young high income earners can...

How do you invest in the stock market and what is really important to keep in mind as you do? Bill and Anastasia follow up on the Intro to Investing episode with specific questions related to how an investor should approach the stock market and how to get started. Bill analogizes his favorite sport baseball to common stock selection. This is Part One of a longer discussion between Bill and Anastas...

What are the different kinds of financial professionals you can work with and how are they compensated? Bill and Anastasia discuss the duties of a financial planner, investment manager, asset manager, and wealth manager, as well as the differences between a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and a broker. This episode serves as a basic introduction to the financial services industry. For question...

How do you approach a discussion of financial habits and goals with your life partner? Bill and Anastasia discuss the importance of being on the same financial page with your partner and what that might look like. What if one person is a saver and the other is a spender? Bill describes some of the obstacles he has seen couples face and his joy in being a father. For questions and comments, you can...

Everyone has a vague awareness that the U.S. national debt is a problem, but exactly how big of a problem is it and what does it mean for the average citizen? Bill and Anastasia discuss how the pandemic has exacerbated the issue and what steps people can take to address it. For those wanting a refresher on how the economy works, Bill mentions a highly informative 30 minute video done by Mr. Ray Da...

Bill and Anastasia discuss the basics of owning a savings account--the first step to building wealth. What is the difference between a savings account, a checking account, and an investment account and what should you use them for? What does it mean if your account is FDIC insured? What do you need to know about the different savings accounts you can own (e.g.- a money market fund) and what do the...

How do you begin the practice of investing if you're new to it? Bill and Anastasia discuss the basics:  How to get started with investments, when to hire an investment advisor (the three Ts), and why younger generations especially need to contribute to a 401(k) or other retirement savings account. For questions and comments, you can email us at  askcreatingwealth@taberasset.com .

What is having an abundance mentality and how does it relate to your finances? Bill and Anastasia discuss how thinking abundantly, or positively about money, can set you up for financial success. Bill shares a time in his life when he discovered the importance of having an abundance mentality and Anastasia shares her experience of thinking positively during her first ski lesson. For questions and...

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a series of questions of how people should approach personal finance. In this special episode, Bill and Anastasia discuss how their quarantines are going, how people should handle their finances during this time, and provide perspective on how this economic crisis relates to past ones. For questions and comments, you can email us at askcreatingwealth@taberasset.com...

When you're new to budgeting, it's hard to know how to get started. Bill and Anastasia provide insight in how to approach budgeting if you're new to the practice, or offer a refresher for more experienced budgeters.  For questions and comments, you can email us at askcreatingwealth@taberasset.com .