Radical Personal Finance

Fun question today for our Friday episode...comes in from Chris: Joshua, Looking to see if you have any insight on emotional/psychological decisions versus logical decisions when it comes to finance. Back story - I have a paid for 20 year old Harley. I have not ridden it in three years, I spend $200/year on an insurance policy, each spring I do maintenance on it which costs about $30, and living i...

I thought about simply calling today's show, "On Hammers." You pick the title you prefer...but recognize the truth: tools are tools and their usefulness depends not on their inherent attributes but on their appropriate application. Joshua Please support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

Today's show rounds out a special series of live Q&A shows. Today we cover: 1:20 Should I put more money into my retirement plan or buy a house? 18:45 Can I use a donor-advised fund as a smart way to get a bigger tax deduction for my contribution to my local church? 32:30 Should I move from a commission-based job to a salary job which also means a salary cut? 39:10 Should I buy a joint universal l...

I've been doing a live Q&A series...today we cover these: 1:24 - Can I Pay for My Seminary Degree with Early Distributions from a Retirement Account? 13:30 - Can I Still Become Financially Independent if We Move to Paradise First? 25:45 - Should We Sell our Rental House Two States Away or Plan to Move Back to It In Order to Get the Tax-Free Gains on a Future Sale? 37:45 - Are Healthcare Sharing Mi...

As we all watch and process the mass shooting in Las Vegas this weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few lessons learned. I always try to process an event like this with an eye towards the lessons I can learn. The tactical situation in Las Vegas was impossible. I don't think you could imagine a worse situation to be in as a concert-goer. An absolute nightmare. But, I do have a few...

I'm hosting a special Q&A series this week which is open to the entire listening audience. Today we tackle: What Should I Do With a Large Bonus? How Can I Counsel a Young Lady Who Is Using Her Earnings to Support Her Poor Mother? If you'd like to call in for tomorrow's show, here are the details you need to know . Joshua

On Friday's, we do Q&A for our Patrons ! Today, we cover: Should I Use a Whole Life Insurance Policy as My Retirement Bridge? Should I Concentrate All of My Investment Accounts With One Manager? Joshua I forgot to mention at the end of the discussion...if you sign up for a free Personal Capital account with this link, I get a small commission. www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/personalcapital IRS ins...

I feel like I owe it to you to keep you semi-current on the state of tax policy in the USA. But, it's too early to have any serious details about the current Republican proposals. I thought instead we could have a useful philosophical discussion about taxation. My challenge to you today is to answer these questions, for yourself. Do you believe that a civil government has the moral right to tax an...

Today's question involves a generous financial gift from an in-law. How should this listener handle it to make sure it's a blessing and not a curse? Joshua Support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I'm just wrapping up a week and I've been off the mic for all of it due to being sick. Wanted to share with you a short motivational monologue to encourage you to keep pressing forward in the challenges you're facing today. This too shall pass. Joshua

I've been sick most of the past week and am especially struggling with my throat/voice. When Joshua no speak, RPF no happen. (And of course that's a good reminder of the value of disability planning!) So, in light of the Equifax breach, I'll issue this replay for you. If you skipped this episode when it originally aired as Episode 461 , don't skip it now. Enjoy. Joshua  

Today we tackle the Equifax security breach. This is the most damaging release of personal information ever. And you need to take it seriously. You must assume that you have been affected. At this point, I see no reason to even trust the official Equifax website. Here's why. Clark Howard's excellent credit freeze guide: http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/ Another...

I was inspired to do this show by watching a recent conversation thread in the RPF Facebook Group about where to store your emergency fund. I thought it'd be fun to share with you the things I think about with regard to emergency fund storage. Enjoy the show! Joshua www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

Hey Radicals! Thank you to so many of you who have inquired of our health and safety following Hurricane Irma. Here's my personal report for you! Short version: we are well. :) Joshua

I've been busy today preparing for Hurricane Irma here at the Radical Personal Finance Global Headquarters. At the moment, the National Hurricane Center forecasts the eye of the storm to pass squarely over HQ. So, I thought I'd record a podcast and share a few things with you: Based on watching the Hurricane Irma frenzy, I'm convinced that "societal collapse" scenarios are plausible. I learned thi...

It's Friday! On Fridays we do a live Q&A show. Today we cover: (2:30) What Should a New Expatriate Do With Their Investment Money? (18:30) What To Do With an Old Pension? (26:40) How Should a Newlywed Approach the Rent or Buy Question? If you'd like to join me for a future Q&A show, sign up to be a Patron at www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Joshua

Whenever there's a natural disaster, we have various articles on price gouging's lamentability, to wit, its harmfulness and illegality . But, is it really bad? I say not. "Price gouging" (or, more accurately stated, the adjustment of market prices to meet changing demand) has tremendous utility for the well-being of all involved and is absolutely upright, moral, and ethical. Of course, this guy sa...

I've been watching the #HoustonFloods this weekend and considering the lessons I can learn for my own disaster planning. Today, I share some useful ideas for you about how to plan for events like the Houston Floods. Joshua Episode 381 - Simple, Cheap, Practical Tips to Help You Prepare for a Coming Hurricane Episode 347: Disasters Happen – Make a Plan Now to Ensure You Have Plenty of Money Availab...

Yesterday I was watching the solar eclipse (up north in the 100% band) and I happened to have breakfast with an expediter. Not sure what that is? Basically, a truck driver who drives a van. (More in the audio show.) As we ate, I tried to lay out a few paths on how he could become financially free based on his current work. And, I promised him a show on the topic. So, you get to listen in as I tell...

Time for Friday Q&A! If you'd like to join for a future show, sign up here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron Today, we cover: 2:00 Should I refinance my credit card debt by moving it to a HELOC? 34:10 Do you have passion for a job before the fact or do you become passionate about it after you're good at it? 42:30 Should I drop the military's Survivor Benefit Plan for my pension in favor of bu...

As I celebrate the opening of the registration page for the beta launch of the new Radical Personal Finance Guide to Career & Income Planning, I intend to share with you a few simple lessons related to career and income. Today, we begin with the philosophical fundamentals: the interplay of human capital and financial capital. We all start with what we have (human capital) and use it to create fina...

I've had a tough summer. I have nothing to complain about. I've been richly blessed and, in almost every way outside of Radical Personal Finance, life has been sweet. But, RPF hasn't been so great for me. And, if it hasn't been so great for me, it might not have been so great for you either. I thought you might appreciate hearing the explanation and the story. It's important to me to share the goo...

On Fridays we do a live Q&A which is open to Patrons of the show. Become a Patron at www. RadicalPersonalFinance.com/patron Today we cover: Can I Have Both a SIMPLE IRA and a Traditional IRA What Personal Finance Books Does Joshua Recommend What Three Investments Would I Buy To Leave Alone for a Decade What Are the Rules of Thumb for Who Should Buy Long-Term Care Insurance And more! Joshua

On Fridays, I host a Q&A call. Patrons of the show are invited to call in and ask any question they want! Today, we cover: (1:57) What's the best type of retirement plan for my wife's side business? (SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k)?) (16:45) How can I help my sister-in-law who is asking me for financial advice? (30:20) Should I pay off my debt as fast as possible or save up and pay it off in larg...

There's been an interesting switch in the world of personal finance wherein some people are building financial plans based on extremely low spending projections. In essence, some people assume that if they can live on an extremely low budget per year today, they can build a long-term financial plan predicated on maintaining that spending forever. I think this is a dangerous assumption. And, in tod...