The Money Guy Show | Investing, Tax, Estate, Retirement, Insurance, Spending, Saving, And Wealth Building Advice

You couldn't turn to a major network or listen to a major broadcast in the past week without hearing about the ongoing feud between the Daily Show's Jon Stewart and Mad Money's Jim Cramer. Due to all of the media attention, and considering that there were some very good points made, I felt like I would use this opportunity to share some of my opinions and insights on the matter. If you haven't had a chance to watch the interview in full yet, please do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In trying times, it isn't enough to just be an intelligent investor. To truly get your financial house in order, you must also be a good consumer. It is so important today to make sure you can stretch your dollars as far as possible. This doesn't just mean seeking out great deals, but it also means protecting your purchases. In the show today, I share a story that has recently happened with my associate Bo and his encounter with an Ebay purchase, as well as my father-in-law's flat-screen woes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s show is brimming with information. In the first half of the show, I share a research study done by Consumer Reports in their Consumer Reports Money Adviser. In the report, they compare some of the best and the worst 529 college savings plans around the nation. I then go on to discuss the 2009 […] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s show is a hodge-podge of information. You guys have been instrumental in providing me with great feedback as well as some very good questions, so today I felt the need to let you all know that I am reading your emails and I do appreciate your input. As you listen, I will share some […] Full show notes at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/02/money-guy-q-a  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That’s right. We’re bringin’ simple back. 2008 provided us with a wonderful opportunity to step back and ask, ‘what in the world are we doing?’ If you were an adult and had a pulse over the last decade, it would have been impossible to not notice all the complexity in the financial markets. I’m not just talking about the stock market. I am alluding to every aspect of your financial life. So often individuals feel like to make money or be successful, it has to be a very intricate and complicated process and only the super intelligent can achieve it. We were all tempted to invest in things we didn’t understand, buy products we couldn’t comprehend, and implement strategies that made our heads spin.  In today’s show I walk through a few areas where simple is not a bad thing. For more, visit the show notes on our site at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/01/bringin-simple-back  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, so far the beginning of 2009 has felt quite similar to the last part of 2008. That, however, does not mean that there aren’t opportunities out there for us to take advantage of. Two common questions I’ve been getting from you are ‘should i still do this whole re-balancing thing?’ and ‘what do I […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/01/year-of-the-re-refinance-and-rebalance  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As if the financial markets weren’t scary enough in 2008, here comes the story of a snake who decided to take advantage of people and subsequently make millions and millions of dollars doing it. Bernard Madoff, ole’ Uncle Bernie, created one of the largest Ponzi schemes ever. Basically, a Ponzi scheme is one in which […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2009/01/protecting-yourself-from-fraud  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A 2009 Challenge: 2008 is coming to a close and this is the time of the year where we start planning those Resolutions on how we are going to make 2009 better than 2008.  Below I have provided a few thoughts and links: If you are Unhappy… Make a Change If you are not happy […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/12/lazy-investing-can-be-good-investing-update  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next week is Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is a great time to catch-up with friends and family, but I am worried that this year’s big point of discussion is going to be the economy and the stock market.  In this volatile time I wanted to provide you with some objective and analytical data that will help you […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/11/unusual-times-require-creative-solutions  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all of the doom and gloom in the financial markets right now, surely you are asking: why in the world would I be talking about spending money? Especially when shows over the past few weeks have been concerned with ways to save money! Even bad situations can have a good side.  In this economy […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/11/how-to-spend-a-little-money  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life insurance is one of the most controversial and, in my opinion, convoluted personal finance topics today. Even once you get past the eternal debate of term vs. permanent life insurance, then you must move on to determining how much life insurance you need, what method do you use to calculate that amount, and who […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/11/unusual-times-require-creative-solutions  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have been riding this wave of volatility long enough that 7%-9% market swings do not have the same shock and awe impact they had a few weeks ago.  This acceptance of the wild swings has provided me with an opportunity to step away from the initial emotional feelings that came from this roller coaster…. […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/10/time-to-buy-buffett-vs-cramer  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last show we talked about the silver lining of a financial crisis. This week I talk about the special opportunities that these down markets can offer. More specifically, if you did not catch it from the title of this post, I am talking about harvesting tax losses. More than likely, and probably by no fault […] Read the rest at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/10/thanksgiving-around-the-corner-time-to-harvest  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What a week! Actually, what a past couple of weeks! Obviously, it wouldn’t be too hard to harp on all of the bad stuff going on right now. So, instead of doing that, I would like to focus on some of the silver lining and maybe some of the positive things that could come out […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/10/the-silver-lining-of-a-financial-crisis/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So this is the question of the hour: What is going on? Or maybe the better question is: What got us into this mess? The real answer is a perfect storm with many moving parts acting together to drag down the financial markets. The more simple answer, although not necessarily the entire cause, is leveraged […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/09/news-nightmares-bank-debacles  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For most parents, saving for their child’s education is always a priority. With the volatility and uncertainty in today’s market, it has become a priority that is not so easy to fund. Most would agree that a hundred dollars here or a hundred dollars there, while not providing a full ride, would definitely help out. […] Read more http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/09/cheese-grits-and-college-savings-black-holes-and-helocs  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In tight economic times charities are often hit with increasing needs from the individuals who require their services. To make matters worse, generous donors are struggling with their own financial issues resulting in less donations to their favorite charities. In times like this both donors and charitable organizations have to adapt and become more creative […]  Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/08/tax-smart-and-creative-ways-to-better-the-world  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s show is a grab-bag of goodies. If you keep up with pop-culture, you’ve probably come across the show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. If you’re not familiar with this show, they select a family in need and makeover their home. One family they selected actually lived about fifteen minutes away from me, so when I […] Read more http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/08/fairy-tale-foreclosure-how-a-planner-works-and-dark-knight-review  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mutual fund universe is larger than ever and there are no signs of it slowing down. With more funds, more information, and easier access to this information, how can you go about selecting solid funds that are going to assist you in achieving your life goals? With help from InvestorWords and BusinessDictionary, let’s begin […] Get more information at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/07/selecting-mutual-fund  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a special treat for you on this installment of the Money Guy Show! I usually don’t have guests on the show, but today we’re fortunate to be joined by Liz Weston. As many of you will attest, Liz is an award-winning, nationally syndicated personal finance columnist with a unique gift for simplifying complex […] Read more at http://www.moneyguy.com/2008/07/liz-weston-loaded-celebrity-interview  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices