Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

The financial world is a wild ride watching a movement of small investors try and take down a billionaire hedge funs with a short squeeze on GameStop stock. The little guy seems to be winning in the fact they made some big shorts get out of the game at heavy losses, but to what end? The stock will not be able to hold this level. This is a great chance for Gregory to explain how short selling works...

If you would like to retire in your 60s, but still max out your Social Security benefits, perhaps you could use a bridge fund to get you there. Jeff in Gretna is skeptical of Social Security's sustainability, and thinks major changes will happen pretty soon. We review a couple of callers from Dwayne Stein's guest appearance. Ron in New Orleans asks Gregory and Dwayne if Title Lock Insurance is a n...

Janet Yellen is our next Treasury Secretary. Her audio clips made regular appearances on our show when she was the Fed Chair. Gregory summarizes the financial rules for gifting assets to your heirs. Reviewing two callers and an email: How should you pass along money beyond the annual IRS gifting exclusion limits, and what happens if the Estate Tax rules change on you? Wayne in Slidell is buying a...

Gregory review: Carrie in Old Metairie wants to know how to give money to her kids beyond the normal annual gifting limit in the tax code. Byron in Metairie reminds you that gifting beyond the tax limits can be filed against the estate tax basis. If you turn Full Retirement Age for Social Security this year, you may want to take advantage of the different rules for your FRA year. Dwayne Stein of M...

Containers have been falling off of those giant container ships used for giant international shipments more than usual. Art Laffer is cautiously optimistic about the economy, and Gregory responds to his concerns. Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com explains how to navigate a real estate inventory that's the lowest in decades with historic low mortgage rates. People are staying put longer. If you tur...

The Mega Millions and Powerball are both near record high jackpots. Gregory and James have fun musing about whether to take the cash options or the annual payouts, and what the tax hit would be like. Biden signs 17 executive orders on his first day in office. Learn the ones that will affect your money. Gregory shares a wine etiquette story featuring a new waiter at a local restaurant. Are you turn...

Are you overlooking the bond world? Bonds have a solid history of making gains in good times and bad times. Gregory explains how they fit into his Invest 50-50 strategy. Gregory explains the math behind why timing the market is so difficult. Missing a handful of the good days has a huge affect. The one number you need to know when planning for retirement is: how long do you expect to be retired? O...

Are you overlooking the bond world? Bonds have a solid history of making gains in good times and bad times. Gregory explains how they fit into his Invest 50-50 strategy. Shannon asks on the Winning at Life app: will she be able to collect a Social Security Survivor benefit at age 60 on her husbands record if she gets remarried? Gregory goes into a little more depth from a caller's question about t...

What is going to happen with the economy this year? Gregory shares his thoughts on the economic outlook overshadowed by shakey jobs numbers and a continuing pandemic. The IRS has pushed back the date by which you can file your taxes into the middle of February. The deadline remains the same so far. Frank in Baton Rouge wants to exit the stock market completely, but where can his money go and get a...

The monthly federal deficit for December was a record breaking high. Expect taxes to go up. New fronts are opening up on the Chicken Sandwich Wars as KFC and McDonalds launch their new Chicken Sandwiches to counter the mighty Popeye's and ChickFilA. Paul in Illinois asks: What happens with your Social Security checks when you die? Sam in Gretna is trying to track down his stimulus check. http://ww...

Sheila in Bogalusa asks if she can receive a spousal benefit from her husband's Social Security record AND a check from her Social Security record at the same time. Mrs. Sims will be getting monthly check from her deceased husband's pension, and a lump sum for the last 15 years of missed payments. Can you retire if you only have $100,000 saved? Dustin in Houma has a great new job, so how does he g...

PPP is back, with some minor changes aimed at getting more of the money to smaller businesses. Terry in New Orleans wants to know if getting married will make his taxes go up. Three callers in a row ask about their options when it comes to Social Security spousal benefits. William on the Northshore may have gotten some bad advice on what to do with an inherited IRA, and it cost him on his taxes. G...

Even though the news is painting a picture of daily chaos and disaster, Wall Street isn't buying the hype and keeps pushing to new record highs. If you're concerned the country is falling apart, Gregory gives you some perspective that should ease your economic fears. Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, Gregory assures you the market has a solid history of powering through all...

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, all three stock indices notched a record high, it doesn't appear Wall St is concerned, either. Over the next few years your taxes are probably going up, and the federal government is going to spend money like crazy. Invest accordingly. Now is probably a good time to rebalance your portfolio. Should you put your gains back to work, or leave...

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, Gregory assures you the market has a solid history of powering through all of our previous challenges. No matter how you shuffle which party controls the White House, House, and Senate, things have worked out pretty well in America. As crazy as it was, 2020 was a good year for the stock market, with all three major indices finishing at reco...

Mike in Gretna asks Gregory to explain how the distribution rules work for his 457b. Scott in Biloxi wants to know what he should do with the funds in his TSP when he retires from the military. Oil reaches $50 a barrel. Can it last? Learn some of the perks of a Health Savings Account. http://www. WinningAtLife.com

Financial New Years Resolutions to help build wealth. Gregory gives you tips on how to save more money this year. Norman in Garyville has a life insurance policy through government work. Can he cash it in like a private sector policy? http://www. WinningAtLife.com

As this turbulent year comes to an end, Gregory shares some hope that 2021 should be better. Tony in Baton Rouge asks Gregory about the compounding nature of stock returns. Robert on the Northshore is planning on retiring this year, and wants to know if he should move more to single stocks or more to safety? James in Pontchatoula asks his spousal Social Security options. Mike in Marrero asks how h...

The good news about additional vaccines coming on the market pushes the markets higher, and Gregory reminds you to support your local small businesses to help keep as many afloat as possible. The Numbers segment features a record high close for the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500. Not everyone was a winner today, though. Charles in Gulfport is worried the policies from climate change activists could...

Some local acts of generosity are cheered by Gregory and James. Gayle Benson pays off the layaway bills for shoppers at three area Walmarts. A recent Supreme Court ruling clears up an IRS regulation about using Captive Insurance as a tax dodge. If you're thinking about a new creative way to lower your taxes, Gregory recommends you refer to Reilly's Laws of Tax Planning. http://www. WinningAtLife.c...

The news around the Coronavirus is driving market volatility. The vaccine rollout pushed the markets up, and the markets fell after several governors and mayors announced new restrictions and lockdowns. Pat in Slidell wants to know what's her best options for Spousal Social Security benefits. Riley's Laws of Tax Planning. If you're thinking of a way to lower your taxes, review these rules before y...

How can you write off stock losses? Hear a caller from one hour of Saturday's show right next to Jude Heath's answer from the next hour. And yes, there is a way to write off more than $3,000 in losses per year. Jocelyn in River Ridge asks what's the total cap on annual contributions you could make to an IRA, 401k, and Roth IRA combined. Time is running out on making contributions to your Roth IRA...

Learn 8 year-end tax tips to save money. Is college a bad investment? Gregory has some words of caution before going into debt to get a degree. Gregory shows your ways to keep you Social Security income at a lower tax rate. Will in River Ridge took some big stock losses last year. Can he write off the losses anyway other than the $3,000-per-year carry forward? Jude Heath, CPA joins the show and sa...

Students at Slidell High School are starting an Investing Club, and reached out to the show to ask where they should begin. Gregory thinks interest rates going up anytime soon is a myth. Invest accordingly. 2 of the best 3 months in the stock market in the last 30 years happened in 2020. Learn 8 year-end tax tips to save money. http://www. WinningAtLife.com

Another local restaurant shuts its doors forever, and Gregory offers some direction and support for those who have been recently unemployed. Keith in New Orleans asks about what to do with two old 401k accounts from previous emloyers. Could that money be used to pay off a mortgage early? Pay less in taxes during retirement by positioning your assets so your Social Security is taxed at a lower rate...