Finerate

When it comes to vacations, do you pay first, budget later? Bill and Anastasia discuss their favorite vacations (which happen to be their most expensive vacations) and their least favorite unexpected vacation expenses before diving into Bill's process in budgeting for a vacation. What are some ways to save money while traveling? How do you factor in unexpected expenses? What travel luxuries may be...

In practice of having an abundance mindset, Bill and Anastasia return to their end of year tradition (for the third year in a row!) to take stock of what they and others are grateful for in the past year. A special thanks to those who shared their messages of gratitude with Creating Wealth, and to healthcare workers who made sacrifices and risked their lives through the worst of the pandemic. For...

You've heard of them in the news - what is a merger and why do they matter? Are mergers good for shareholders, managers, employees, or society? What is important to understand about mergers as an investor? Bill and Anastasia discuss Penguin Random House's bid to merge with Simon & Schuster, Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, and DuPont and Pioneer's merger. Our next episode will be our annual reflec...

How do you buy a car? Is it better to buy a new car or a used car? How much should you spend? In what cases should someone lease a car instead of buying? How do you negotiate with a car salesperson? What fees are attached to the car aside from the sticker price? Should you consider electric? Bill talks about his recent and past car purchases. Anastasia explains why she's glad she didn't listen to...

What type of investor should hire a financial advisor and what can you expect from that relationship? Bill and Anastasia turn the spotlight on TABER Asset Management to discuss what services the firm offers and how they differ from other financial advisors. Anastasia asks whether investing in index funds is useful advice and Bill explains his active approach and how he avoids "diworsification." Be...

What has been the impact of rising interest rates on the economy? Will a recession happen and when? Should you buy a house now or wait until interest rates go back down? Bill and Anastasia revisit a topic covered in "Why Are Interest Rates Important to Investors?" from December 2021 to discuss the Federal Reserve's actions this year and their plans to continue bringing inflation down. Anastasia di...

Bill and Anastasia expand on a recent blog post on www.taberasset.com  titled "How I Invest My Own Money" to provide three money management tips before discussing how Bill manages his own investments, which is the same approach he applies to clients' portfolios. Anastasia relates Bill's concepts to the Netflix reality TV show Bling Empire and George R.R. Martin's writing style. To submit questions...

In Part Two of this two part episode series, Bill and Anastasia continue to discuss findings from The Millionaire Next Door and its follow-up, The Next Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and his daughter, Sarah Stanley Fallaw. Which of the following three variables is the best predictor of consumption - income, net worth, or market value of your home? What kind of cars do millionaires drive a...

In Part One of this two part episode series, Bill and Anastasia discuss findings from The Millionaire Next Door and its follow-up, The Next Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and his daughter, Sarah Stanley Fallaw. Is wealth creation really about spending control, or how much wealth you start out with? Bill and Anastasia define and cover characteristics of "the millionaire next door" and what...

In this episode, Anastasia shares the breadth of research she compiled on maternity leave policy in the United States. What is the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? How does family leave policy differ in the U.S. from other countries? What are the benefits of maternity leave? What should you look for in a parental leave policy? Is it generally paid or unpaid, how long is it, and is it flexible when...

Anastasia and Bill cover the psychology of investing aka behavioral finance. Anastasia explains how behavioral finance differs from traditional finance, and Modern Portfolio Theory, before diving into a discussion of common biases and how they can affect individual investors' decisions. Why is it important to be aware of potential biases? Bill relates several biases to what he has seen in his care...

Bill and Anastasia cover a listener requested topic regarding the student loan debt crisis in the U.S. They tackle this issue through the lens of financial advisors looking at it on a macroeconomic scale--addressing how student loans grew into a crisis, the contributing factors, consequences, potential solutions, and what they think consumers should know. Bill and Anastasia debate the policy sugge...

There are over 200 designations and certifications that a financial services representative can hold, making it difficult for consumers to understand the differences between them. When did advisor credentials become so popular and why? What is the difference between a securities license and a certification? What should you be aware of when hiring a financial services rep? Anastasia explains the ba...

Bill and Anastasia cover a concept everyone is familiar with but might not know how to explain - specifically, what are corporations? How are they related to other business entities like sole proprietorships, LLCs, LPs, etc? Who runs a corporation? What's the difference between a CEO, a COO, and a CFO? What power do shareholders have? Bill also provides insight into what he considers about a corpo...

From the perspective of a financial advisor, Bill and Anastasia tackle the meaty topic of U.S. health care in this two-part episode series. In Part Two, Bill offers strategies that consumers can use to help mitigate the cost of health care. Bill and Anastasia touch on different health insurance options and the benefits of a HSA (Health Savings Account). If you haven't yet, be sure to listen to Par...

From the perspective of a financial advisor, Bill and Anastasia tackle the meaty topic of U.S. health care in this two-part episode series. In Part One, Bill covers reasons why the U.S. spends more on health care per capita than any country in the world. Additionally, why are Anastasia's friends receiving bills before insurance kicks in of $38,000+ for a baby delivery without complications? Why is...

With the recent stock market volatility, Bill and Anastasia set out to provide some perspective on persevering during the ups and downs. Bill discusses how investors and the overall market are feeling, how he is feeling personally, and how this volatile period compares to the rest of his career. Bill analogizes Mito Pereira's recent PGA Championship loss to what is needed to weather difficult mark...

Bill explains the basic concept behind inflation, why core CPI is lower than actual inflation, how often inflation occurs, and how governments may stop it, before outlining steps that individuals can take to reduce the impact of inflation on their budgets. Bill answers the question of whether investing in the stock market is still a good way to combat inflation while markets are trending downward....

Bill and Anastasia continue answering listener questions in this second of a two-part series. In Part Two, they discuss what to do if your significant other has different spending priorities, why a 401(k) plan is named "401(k)," how to know whether you are saving enough for retirement, when is a good time to set up a checking or savings account for children, and what exactly is an inverted yield c...

Bill and Anastasia tackle several questions from listeners in this two-part series. In Part One, they discuss rolling over a 401(k) account, how to prioritize credit card repayment, contributing to a Roth vs. a traditional IRA and how to prioritize contributions to various retirement accounts, and whether to get a second credit card. Bill and Anastasia have covered each of these topics generally i...

Bill and Anastasia discuss the many different kinds of stocks (stalks?) out there. For questions and comments, you can email us at  askcreatingwealth@taberasset. com .

What are paper hands versus diamond hands, and is it effective to think in these terms when it comes to investing? Bill and Anastasia use these terms to dive into several recent questions they've been receiving from nervous or curious investors. Should you change your investment strategy in anticipation of a downturn? Are there certain strategies that work better in an upmarket than a down-market?...

What should you know about credit scores? What actually affects your credit score, and what doesn't? Bill and Anastasia dive into the evolution of credit lending and offer advice and information for those with credit or looking to start. Bill and Anastasia also briefly covered this topic in "Life Advice From Financial Experts," as well as the pros and cons of credit cards in "Cash vs. Credit," so...

Bill and Anastasia take advantage of Anastasia's recent personal experience to talk weddings. How much money do you need to plan a wedding? What vendors do you need and how much do they cost on average? How do you find out if your family will help pay for the wedding? How do you prioritize the cost of a wedding vs. a down payment on a first home? What items are worth spending more on, what are wor...

Bill and Anastasia answer questions they have been receiving from individuals recently related to the U.S. stock market downturn in January 2022. Was the market drop a correction and how often does this happen? What does the level of volatility in the market mean for you? Is it time to buy the dip? Why are these questions arising now? Bill and Anastasia also address the recent Bitcoin downturn and...