On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss the challenges of making a Roth conversion decision and why some online retirement calculators may not give you the correct answer for your situation.

Scott and Pat advise a caller with three rental properties about whether he should pay down his mortgages early. A father wants to know if his son, who makes $75,000 a year, is making eligible Roth contributions. A caller with more than $2 million in savings asks if he should do a Roth conversion. Finally, a caller nearing retirement asks what he should look for in a financial advisor.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss the reasons why Special Purpose Acquisition Companies can be ripe for fraud, and why one electric vehicle maker is now charged with defrauding investors.

Scott and Pat advise a daughter, who is the executor of her parents’ trust, about how to invest $350,000 of their savings. A mother asks how future legislation could affect her son’s ability to inherit her $1 million home. Scott and Pat speak with a caller who owes the IRS $100,000 in back taxes and wants to know how to make a “compromise offer.” A retired caller asks how to invest $500,000 before the next stock market crash. Finally, a recent college graduate asks about the difference between ETFs and mutual funds.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss China’s crackdown on technology and education companies and how that hurts American investors. 

Scott and Pat advise a caller inheriting $600,000 who wants to know how he should invest the money to help his grandchildren and a favored ministry. A man with $2.5 million in savings asks if he can afford to retire comfortably and still maintain his standard of living. A retired caller who saved $1 million in traditional IRAs asks if a Roth conversion is a smart move. Finally, a saver who is helping his mother and sister financially asks when he should take Social Security.

Ask a question by emailing Scott and Pat at [email protected].

On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss how company founders borrow against their stock to live tax-free, why some ordinary investors attempt something similar, and the reason these strategies often go awry.

Scott and Pat advise a caller selling a property worth $550,000 and looking to save on taxes. A caller asks if she should sell a rental worth $400,000 because the real estate market is hot. A grandmother asks if a 529 Plan is the best way to save for her grandchildren’s education. Scott and Pat speak with a 49-year-old man if he wants to retire at age 55. Finally, a caller nearing retirement asks if cashing in his paid time off will trigger significant tax consequences. 

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss the stock market’s recent turbulence and how the media can sensationalize minor price swings.

Scott and Pat advise a man on how to handle 401(k)s worth $125,000 that were awarded to him from a divorce settlement. A caller is the executor of her brother’s estate and asks how she can access his Thrift Savings Plan with little documentation. A caller leaving California asks how he can avoid capital gains taxes on the sale of a home worth $550,000. A man asks how he can recover a 401(k), worth $40,000, that he lost track of decades ago. Finally, Scott and Pat advise a caller with $2.5 million in cash on what questions he should ask a financial advisor.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss the one question to ask yourself if you’re struggling to decide whether to hold or sell an asset.

Scott and Pat advise a retired caller in Florida, with $4.1 million in savings, about how he can determine a safe withdrawal rate. A California man asks if he should pay down his $148,000 mortgage balance with his 401(k) money. A caller asks how he should invest $1.1 million for his daughters. Finally, Scott and Pat speak with a woman in Texas who asks if she can collect Social Security based on her ex-husband’s record.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss how your experience investing during the pandemic can help guide future financial decisions.

Scott and Pat advise a pilot with $1.6 million in savings about whether he can retire comfortably at age 65. A father in his late 50s asks how he should save for his son’s private high school education. A young man in Argentina asks if he owes taxes after taking early Roth IRA distributions. Finally, Scott and Pat speak with a caller looking to lower his mortgage rate.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat answer why using your home’s equity for other investments can come back to bite you.

Scott and Pat advise a 64-year-old caller with $3.3 million in savings who wants to know if he should do a Roth conversion to save on his future tax bill. A re-married man who is selling his house asks how he should invest the $100,000 expected from the sale. A retired man wants to know if he should use dividend stocks to make payments on a $330,000 mortgage. Finally, a woman who recently moved to San Diego wonders how she should pay for a home worth $800,000. 

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat revisit some of the best calls from the year before moving on to discuss the long-term impact of the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program.

Scott and Pat advise a 401(k) saver who is considering reducing her investment risk because of high stock valuations. A soon-to-be retiree asks if she should cancel her life insurance policy. A caller asks if he can afford a condo in Thailand. Scott and Pat advise a caller with $760,000 in retirement savings about how to pay home improvement expenses. A military service member wants to know if she should purchase four years of airtime on her pension. Finally, Scott and Pat speak with a caller who put the home of his 103-year-old mother-in-law in his name and wants to know if he’s on the hook for capital gains.

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On this week’s Money Matters, Scott and Pat discuss the fundamental problems with cryptocurrencies, and Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, and why speculators continue to rush toward them.

Scott and Pat advise a father who is considering giving a home worth $295,000 to one of his three daughters. A caller with $900,000 in savings asks if he can afford to retire. A parent saved $60,000 in his daughter’s UTMA account and asks how she should take the money out in a tax-efficient manner. A retiring baker asks how he should go about selling his small business. Finally, Scott and Pat advise a federal government employee, with $900,000 in a TSP, about where else she can save.

Ask a question by clicking here, or email Scott and Pat at [email protected].

Download and rate our podcast here.