Leading with Cents

Latest Episodes:

16: Don't Lose Your Shit! Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

Don't lose your shit right now. There is a lot going on in the market place and you might be tempted to do something.
In this episode I cover:

Post COVID Market
Housing Market
Supply vs Demand for Goods
Vehicle Prices
Protecting Against Inflation

Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
www.instagram.com/timmemak
tmcand22@gmail.com
NEW!! Book your coaching session!!
www.calendly.com/leadingwithcents

15: Don't Let Short Term Money become Long Term Problems May 18, 2021

Show notes

"Those who get rich quick, usually are not rich long" - Somebody Somewhere

So this is the time of the year where we see all the advertisements targeting your tax return or targeting your stimulus money from the government.
Businesses know how much you received through stimulus and they know that a majority of the people in the United States received some sort of tax refund from the IRS.
There are other cases that don’t apply to this time of the year exclusively, such as birthday money, graduation money, maybe you received an inheritance, or maybe you received a gift from a family member… who knows! How will you manage that money?
Money Marching Order Review

Head Count- Budget/Will/Life Insurance
Helmet Emergency Fund- $1-2k
Debt Assault and 5% Blended Retirement System Match
Body Armor- 3-6 months E-Fund from Pay Stub Net Pay
Pension Plus- 10% if in BRS and under 30, 15% if in BRS under 30, and 15% if not in BRS
Save/Invest 10% into NON-retirement savings/investments
Assess College Needs- GI BIll/529 Plans etc
House Purchase using at least 5% down.

Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/timmemak
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
tmcand22@gmail.com

14: MMO 8: Buying a Home- Buying a Home is NOT an Investment! May 06, 2021

Show notes

This is the last Money Marching Order to be covered!
MMO8: Buying a Home
Why is this the last MMO?

Need emergency fund before buying a home
Have retirement automated
Have non-retirement savings automated

When to buy?

Stable duty assignment of >2 years
Have down payment saved of at least 5%

How to buy?

VA Mortgage
- Funding Fee at closing of 2.15%
- No down payment required
Conventional Mortgage
- Required at least 5% down payment
- No funding fee (lower closing costs)
- Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) if less than 20% down

How much should monthly payment be?

25-35% of take home pay OR no more than Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

When NOT to buy?

No down payment saved
Unstable duty station (2 years or less)
Right before deployment

Connect with me:
www.linktree.com/timmemak
www.instagram.com/timmemak
https://www.veteransunited.com/va-loans/

13: MMO 7: College Planning- How to Fund College and How to Keep Costs Low Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

Planning for college can be A LOT to think about. In the video I break down a few different things.
Funding College (Where are we getting the money to go to college??)
1. GI Bill Benefits
2. Custodial Accounts (UTMA/UGMA)
3. 529 Savings Plan
Price of College (what can we do to get the price down for college?)
1. College choice (in-state vs private vs community college)
2. Tutoring to improve ACT/SAT Scores
3. Work while in college to offset living expenses

12: MMO #6- Save & Invest 10% of Income in Non Retirement Funds Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

"For every ten coins thou placest within thy purse take out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and bring satisfaction to they soul." - Richest Man in Babylon
We are SAVING NOW to build WEALTH and to avoid GOING INTO DEBT LATER!!!
In Money Marching Order 6, we are going to be investing 10% of your income into NON-retirement savings/investing. You will now be out of debt, have 3-6 month emergency fund, savings 10-15% for retirement, and now investing into NON-retirement.
In Money Marching Order 5 (Pension Plus) we are putting 10-15% of your income into retirement savings to cover the L O N G term. Now we want to put 10% into accounts for the short to midterm.
We want to invest that 10%:

Savings Accounts for expenses 1-2 years away
2 years and more we want to have our money working for us!
- Index Funds (S&P500, NASDAQ, etc)
- Mutual Funds
DO NOT RECOMMEND SINGLE STOCKS for more than 5% of total savings.

Invest 10% in this step to cover future expenses:

Cars
Down payments
Home Upgrades
Vacations
ANYTHING

Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/timmemak
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
Tmcand22@gmail.com

11: Combat Zone Tax Free TSP Benefits Apr 14, 2021

Show notes

Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) TSP Benefits
Roth while deployed:
"Tax free in, tax free out"

Contributions provide the opportunities to grow your TSP accounts through tax breaks and higher contribution limits
Contributions to Traditional or Roth TSP account is invested TAX-FREE Difference between Roth TSP and Traditional TSP in CZTE/DSA

Roth- Contributions AND their earnings are tax-free when you withdraw them
Traditional- Contributions are tax-free but their earnings ARE NOT tax-free when withdrawn

Contribution Increase
Total contribution limit goes up to $57,000
Max you can contribute to a Roth is $19,500 even in CZTE/DSA then must switch to Traditional
Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/timmemak
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
BRS Guide
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Portals/3/Documents/BlendedRetirementDocuments/A%20Guide%20to%20the%20Uniformed%20Services%20BRS%20December%202017.pdf?ver=2017-12-18-140805-343

10: Military Pension Plus Blended Retirement System Apr 07, 2021

Show notes

"The military pension gives people an excuse to not contribute toward their retirement, so when they do retire, they have nothing in their TSP."
Money Marching Order 4: Body Armor
3-6 Months of Net Pay from LES
Money Marching Order 5: Pension Plus
If in Blended Retirement System
- 30 y/o > Invest 10% into TSP
- 30 y/o< Invest 15% into TSP
If in Traditional Retirement System
- 15% into TSP
TSP Funds to invest in
70% in the Common Stock (C Fund)
20% in the Small Cap (S Fund)
10% in the International Fund (I Fund)
Stay away from Lifecycle and G/F Funds!!
Blended Retirement System
- Defined Benefit- 40% pension @ 20 yos
- Defined Contribution (match)- 5%
- Continuation Pay- Paid between 8-12 yos
- Lump Sum Option at retirement age
SEE my interview on About Face Podcast
https://youtu.be/JuJFpu9gQEs
Connect with me
www.instagram.com/timmemak
BRS Guide
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Portals/3/Documents/BlendedRetirementDocuments/A%20Guide%20to%20the%20Uniformed%20Services%20BRS%20December%202017.pdf?ver=2017-12-18-140805-343

9: When I Said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

"That's when I drew the line in the sand and I said, enough is enough! That is when I started to snowball in the other direction."
We all have our story with finances. We have all failed. For every success story we have, we also have many more stories about how we did not succeed.
This is my story and when I decided to take responsibility and control of my financial picture. There is still a lot of work to be done!
Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents

8: Battling Debt- Different Types of Consumer Debt to AVOID Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

Debt is the largest things holding people back from becoming successful financially.
Car loans, credit cards, and personal loans inhibit service members from saving money, putting away from retirement, and can put them into a revolving bad situation.
In this episode, Brian Brantley and I discuss the different kinds of debt and the traps surrounding our military personnel.
Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
www.instagram.com/timmemak

7: MMO #3- Debt Assault and Blended Retirement System Match Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

"While in the service, you are pawns of the government. We serve our nation against enemies foreign and domestic...when you decide to exit the military, either transition out or retire- the military is DONE with you."
In this episode we cover bad debt and how to pay off debt along with the Blended Retirement System match.
-Pay off debt using Debt Snowball (smallest to largest)
- Each car should not be more than 25% of your yearly income or no more than 3 months of pay
- If in Blended Retirement System, turn on your 5% match.
- Contribute into ROTH TSP 70% C Fund/20% S Fund/10% I Fund within your TSP
- Stay out of G Fund and Lifecycle Funds
Connect with me:
www.instagram.com/leadingwithcents
www.instagram.com/timmemak

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