Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

00:19 - The Dow Jones Index has its worst week since 2008. 02:16 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins us to talk about record low interest rates. How low does it have to go before you can justify a refinance? 08:16 - George in Lockport asks Gregory and Dwayne if he could or should refinance his reverse mortgage. 10:03 - With Treasuries breaking record low interest rates, the search for yield jus...

00:14 - John in Elmwood wants to know how much he will owe in taxes on his stock sales. Is it a Capital Gains tax rate? How long was the stock owned? Do you have more losses than gains? It's a complicated question. 04:34 - Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo is incredibly enthusiastic about the record low interest rates in the bond world that foreshadow lower rates ahead. 13:27 - Historically speakin...

00:11 - It's Mardi Gras!!! Hear our exclusive unplugged version of Benny Grunch and the Bunch singing Ain't No Play to P on Mardi Gras Day. 04:13 - The Corona Virus outbreak of 2020 is having cascading economic affects hitting China pretty hard, while the possibility of Iran wanting to affect the elections could set up the next black swan event. Are you prepared for a sudden drop in the market? 26...

00:10 - Just because CAN pay your taxes with a credit card doesn't mean you SHOULD, with one exception. 02:44 - Gregory resents a local business adding on a 2% surcharge for credit card purchases. Why make signs that trumpet your price increases? Just adjust the prices and move on. Surcharges feel petty. 07:44 - Which alcoholic drinks have the lowest calorie count. 09:39 - Gregory explains the upc...

00:35 - Does exercise make you happier than money? A new survey suggests people who exercise regularly are more likely to report being happy than wealthy people. 06:58 - Should you refinance your house to get lower mortgage payments? Scott in Long Beach has a 15 year mortgage and a little equity built up, and asks Gregory if it's a smart move to switch to a 30 year mortgage, because money is runni...

00:14 - How do you handle missing a few months of work? 02:32 - A report on proposals for student debt forgiveness doesn't seem to make sense from a financial or ethical standpoint. 11:55 - Are you living paycheck to paycheck? 32% of American households run out of money before the next paycheck on a regular basis. The higher income households are no exception. 15:23 - Gregory shares a warning from...

00:18 - Gregory shares a warning from Social Security about some scam calls that have been ravaging the public. Hear how to keep yourself safe. 04:18 - How to deal with the new rules on withholdings: Social Security clears up what's going on with the withholdings on your paycheck. 08:40 - Heidi in Hammond just got a new job with a bigger salary, and wants to play catch up on her retirement savings...

00:21 - Six Questions to ask if you're working in retirement. If you're not having to do it for the money, you can use your productive efforts to do some good. You may want to pitch your employer a phased retirement. 09:19 - What's the difference with a 403b and 401k? Chipper in Algiers Point asks Gregory about the company plan at his wife's new job, and how the rules may be different. 13:04 - The...

00:43 - How is your Social Security benefit calculated? Peter in Diamondhead is thinking about retiring early, and wants to know if that will hurt his retirement benefits much. 07:16 - How is your Social Security benefit taxed? Louise in Metairie is about to start receiving her benefit. 12:06 - Wayne on Periscope asks if he has to let Social Security he wants to delay turning on his retirement ben...

01:00 - Gregory hosted a couple of Social Security events, and tells some of the stories from people who were there. 11:07 - The State of the Union speech covers some financial territory. James is pretty excited about the Artemis Project and the Space Force. 16:20 - Matthew in Metairie jokes about the faces Pelosi was making during the State of the Union, but Gregory and James are sympathetic abou...

00:51 - Rush Limbaugh announces he has advanced cancer, and that should give us all a pause to examine your own affairs. 11:49 - Steve in Houma asks how an immediate annuity works, and how it compares to other annuity options. 17:46 - Are biweekly mortgage payments worth it? Larry in Biloxi asks if he should put that extra money to his mortgage, or invest it elsewhere. 25:00 - The team with the lo...

00:20 - The Mayor of New Orleans is under fire after local reports of her history of tax leins being put on her home. Gregory and James agree the criticism is a little premature considering tax disputes are common among those who itemize and have large complicated returns. 10:13 - Maxing out Social Security in the face of the Windfall Elimination Provision. Tom in Thibodaux has a spouse getting a...

01:25 - The SECURE Act changes the rules on your IRAs, and Gregory shares some scenarios on how he's helping couples rearrange their financial plan to get the best fit. 11:15 - What the heck is going on with Tesla's meteoric stock rise? They've been producing more cars, but this is ridiculous. 19:36 - Darren in New Orleans is on Social Security Disability benefits, and asks Gregory if he could pos...

00:39 - When the CBO report tells you that annual deficits above $1 trillion is the new normal, you need to start investing like you expect taxes to be higher in the future. What does that mean? 06:27 - What do you do with money sitting in the retirement plan of your old job? 09:19 - Should you buy a car with cash? 11:25 - Gregory's stats on oil, treasuries, and interest rates give you a good cont...

00:58 - Proposed changes in how the Social Security Disability benefit is evaluated could lead to the first big overhaul since 1986. 04:11 - Safe investing used to be easier when the 10 Year Treasuries were higher than inflation. Now, fixed annuities can fill some of that gap. 10:56 - When looking at a financial subplot of the Super Bowl, the two teams in the big game have the highest and lowest s...

00:41 - The Coronavirus is causing huge shutdowns, Starbucks, McDonalds 02:13 - The death of Kobe Bryant is a solemn reminder to cherish every day, and in times like these, it's a good chance for you to reflect on your own estate plan. Maybe it's time for an update? 11:42 - Casino stories. 21:37 - Justin in Summit is renting a trailer on a nice piece of land, and has been offered to buy the proper...

00:34 - Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland praises his roaring economy, and his pro-American message is in sharp contrast to previous administrations. 08:40 - France surrenders again! France backs off its digital tax that was clearly targeting a handful of American tech giants for billions, and in return they won't get tariff-bombed on their wine and cheese exports. 09:58 - Ja...

00:11 - Darrell in Baton Rouge asks why his wife's Social Security income suddenly became 85% inclusive on their taxable income. Is there a way to get under that taxable threshold? 07:56 - Keith in Baton Rouge was planning on maxing out his Social Security at age 70, but waiting to turn on Medicare could result in higher premiums. Does it matter if he continues to work? 11:27 - Tim in Jackson asks...

02:22 - The window has closed for Social Security strategies called: File and Suspend, or File and Restrict. 06:16 - Odell Beckham Jr. is on camera handing out cash to LSU players on after the championship game. Financially speaking, it's a generous gesture of support for his alma mater, but may have broken some NCAA rules. 09:21 - Gregory continues educating you on the changes in the SECURE Act,...

01:48 - Financial Football story: the financial backstory of the QBs in the final 8 NFL teams is amazing. None of the starting QBs in the NFC make less than $27 million per year. All of the starting QBs on the 4 AFC teams make less than $5 million per year. 11:00 - Gregory analyzes the dead salary cap space of each NFL team. Not surprisingly, those on the top on that list finished at the bottom of...

00:38 - Why Anthony Davis is smart to turn down a $146 million contract offer from the Lakers. Gregory points out a few fun financial lessons to be learned here. 08:33 - Financial Planning hinges on two key questions: 1. What are your concerns? 2. What do you need your financial advisor to help you with? Everyone's situation is unique, and there's a wide variety of financial issues your advisor sh...

00:50 - The new decade kicked off to all-time record highs on the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500, and a slew of new rules on your investments. The droning of an Iranian General in Iraq has some folks concerned, but the market moves on. 06:58 - The SECURE Act takes effect this week and makes some big changes to the rules regarding your retirement accounts: 401k, IRA, Roth IRA, etc. There's changes yo...

The laws changes regarding IRAs and 401ks. Here's what you need to know John in Metairie is upset about the effects of the new IRA inheritance rules on his financial plan. Gregory agrees this isn't a fair shake, but changes will happen, and how you adjust to them is what's important going forward. Andrew in Meraux asks Gregory if he should invest a pool of liquid assets he holds for regulatory req...

00:28 - The SECURE Act has been signed into law, with major changes is the rules for retirement accounts starting Jan 1. Gregory breaks down the new rules, and what you need to do to adjust your financial plans. 20:24 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com joins us to talk about the world of mortgages and credit, but we start with celebrating his huge'y succesfull toy drive. He then shares how he was...

00:44 - The SECURE Act passes the Senate and is expected to be signed by the President. Once he signs it, the rules for your IRAs and 401k change dramatically. 11:36 - New Orleans Christmas legend Benny Grunch joins the show for some Christmas cheer, and to talk about the business side of Benny Grunch and the Bunch. 22:48 - Gregory continues to update you on the details in the legal changes to you...