Money Guy Show

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Lazy Investing Can Be Good Investing Apr 18, 2007

Show notes

Tax Refund Challenge:

Now that you have filed your taxes it is time to evaluate where you are financially. Say what you will about filing tax returns they at least allow you to take inventory on how much you earned in 2006. I am always talking about saving for the future and making sure that you are locking away 15%-20% of your gross wages for the future. That is easy to say when you earn a good living, but I know from emails that I receive that many out there are struggling financially. The average refund was estimated to total $2,480 for 2006 up from $2,371 for 2005. I would challenge you to look at your return and if you are not happy with your income level do something about it. Success is easier than you think… You just have to believe and figure out where your passion is. Use the refund money as your initial savings for starting a business, or for going back to school. It is very fulfilling and can be financially rewarding to make a big change and have success that leads you to a better life.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/04/lazy-investing-can-be-good-investing

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Free Professional Advice and Research (My Little Blackbook) Mar 23, 2007

Show notes

The financial markets have been very choppy this quarter. We started off 2007 with day after day of the stock markets hitting new highs. Then one crazy Tuesday in February (27th to be exact) the bottom fell out of the market (I blame it on my producer Heidi; she was off that day spending time with her dentist and a root canal). Ever since it has been up and down to the point that many of you are wondering what in the world is going on.

On today’s show I am going to share with you the resources that help me determine what is going on in the financial world.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/03/free-professional-advice-and-research-my-little-blackbook

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Are 401k Fees Robbing you of your Retirement? Mar 12, 2007

Show notes

There is a storm of concern that has been building for quite some time, and it is finally getting the attention that it deserves…. 401K FEES:

CNNMoney.com “Lawmakers to take close look at hidden 401(k) fees”

US Deprtment of Labor “A Look at 401(k) Plan Fees”

MarketWatch “More fee disclosure could save 401(k) owners money, Congress told”

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/03/are-401k-fees-robbing-you-of-your-retirement

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Objective Term Life Insurance Advice…No, really. Feb 23, 2007

Show notes

Term Life Insurance is appropriate for people who want life insurance only for a limited term, such as until your children are grown or you reach retirement age.

Term life insurance has become much more affordable in recent years due in part to the fact that people are living longer. A $500,000 term-life policy can now cost as little as $350 a year for 20 years, which is considerably cheaper in comparison to the more than $1,000 a year that it would have cost you in the early 1990s.

For more on Shopping for Insurance, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/02/objective-life-insurance-adviceno-really

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Too scared to ask – Economic Indicators explained Feb 09, 2007

Show notes

When I use others’ research I always try to give proper credit to the source. Much of the information and research for today’s podcast comes from Consumer Reports Money Adviser (January 2007 Issue).

If you listen to AM radio, watch any of the cable news networks and/or your evening news, or read a newspaper, you have probably heard the following terms: Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Inverted Yield Curve, GDP, and Inflation Rate. How many of us really know what these figures and terms truly represent?

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/02/too-scared-to-ask-economic-indicators-explained

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The ABCs of Asset Allocation Jan 24, 2007

Show notes

The backbone of good investing is Asset Allocation, and today I am going to load you up with great information.

Terms needed to understand asset allocation:

Domestic Stocks = US Companies Market Capitilization of US Stocks (According to Morningstar): Large Cap = US Companies with a Market Cap greater than $11 Billion (these are the companies that are household names like Wal-mart, GE, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, and so forth) Mid Cap = US Companies with a Market Cap between $2-$11 Billion (these are companies that you might have heard of like HR Block, but are not the size of the previous listed group. Small Cap = US Companies with a Market Cap below $2 Billion. Probably not going to recognize the small company unless you specifically use their product or they are in your town.

For more financial terms, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/01/the-abcs-of-asset-allocation

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What to learn from 2006 and use in 2007 Jan 10, 2007

Show notes

Before we can look forward I think that it is smart to review what happened in 2006:

Domestic Stock Markets: * The 2006 market was interesting in the fact that the first half was pretty flat as everyone tried to figure out what the Federal Reserve was going to do with interest rates.

* The second half was El Fuego (“ON FIRE” for my Spanish-challenged listeners). The Fed decided to take a break with interest rates, oil prices dropped, everybody and their brother decided it was a good time to merge with other businesses, corporate profits were better than anticipated, unemployment was lower than expected, and interest rates came down.

* All of this was the perfect mix of optimism and lower inflationairy news that allowed patient long-term investors to be rewarded.

* Actual numbers for 2006 (with dividends reinvested): S&P 500 Gained 16% Dow Jones Industrial Average returned 19% (at an all time high) NASDAQ was up 10% (still more than 50% below 2000 levels)

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2007/01/what-to-learn-from-2006-and-use-in-2007

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Planning Well and Avoiding the Sharks Dec 13, 2006

Show notes

A recap on where to get good advice and what to watch out for.

Unfortunately, my industry still has too many short sighted individuals. What I mean by this statement is that there are a lot of advisors, brokers, agents, and reps that are looking for the big score, and could care less about the long term financial health of their clients.

My personal belief is that if you do good things for others it comes right back to you. Fortunately for me and my company most have not realized that you can make more long-term money by being good to your clients.

For more, including The Five Signs of Bad Financial Advice by Suze Orman, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2006/12/planning-well-and-avoiding-the-sharks

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Organizing Your Retirement Options Nov 22, 2006

Show notes

The government recognizes that most individuals have been asleep at the wheel when it comes to saving for their retirement, and they are also unaware that Social Security is only a few decades from a funding disaster (don’t worry I am not going to go there on today’s show).

As a result of this SILENT BUT DEADLY BUILDING DISASTER the government has made several changes that provide tremendous opportunities for you to save for your future retirement and financial independence.

What retirement option should you use and in which order should they be funded?

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2006/11/organizing-your-retirement-options

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Retirement in Crisis Nov 10, 2006

Show notes

I received an email from a subscriber (thanks Helen) suggesting that I watch the PBS Frontline special titled “Can You Afford to Retire”. I was so impressed with the program that I have decided to focus today’s podcast entirely on the special.

The focus of the program is on the changing retirement landscape.

1974 Retirement Funding: 11% Employee 89% Employer

2006 Retirement Funding: 51% Employee 49% Employer

“Defined Pensions”: The Endangered Species

...and more.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2006/11/retirement-in-crisis/

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