Basic Training

Nerd Wallet writer Liz Weston joins Steve to talk about figuring out where you are in your savings plan and how to automate the whole thing.  Topics include:

Why it really is harder than it used to be to save

What to do if your employer doesn’t offer a 410(k) retirement plan

Choosing the best credit card for you

Why you may need a ‘credit freeze’ after the Equifax data breach

Steve talks with Blooom CEO and co-founder Chris Costello about helping people get the most out of their workplace retirement account.  Topics include:

The most common mistake people make with their 401(k).

What’s considered ‘bad’ debt and why you should get rid of it first.

If there’s a ‘right’ amount you should be saving for retirement.

Erin Chase, The Meal Plan Guru, saves you time, money, and stress by down-sizing your grocery bill.  Topics include:

Cutting the cost of your groceries 20-percent by getting one ingredient on sale

Using the store sale prices and coupons to help decide what’s for dinner

Coupon apps vs store circulars – which is better?

Handling one person’s finances are hard enough, here’s how couples can grow their cash together.  Steve talks with Michelle Manners, First Vice President - Investment Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors about:

Where to begin building a financial future together

When to keep some accounts or credit cards personal

What to do when one of you has dents in his/her credit

How clean should your credit really be (hint: VERY)

The right amount of debt to keep and why that should determine which credit cards to keep, and which ones to close.

President Trump’s agenda may be big changes to the Wall Street reform law. Here’s how to get ready.

Steve discusses possible changes in the Dodd-Frank Law with Ken Goodgames, CEO of the Community Council of Greater Dallas about:

What the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was designed to do.

Why avoiding knee-jerk reactions to bad financial news can help you succeed

Avoiding ‘predatory lending’

Dr. Robert Vasquez and Steve discuss the best ways to make healthy changes in your life – and make them stick!  In this episode – why you shouldn’t try and lose weight or get fit on your own, deciding what change you really need to make and which ones are a waste of time, and technique to get your conscious and unconscious minds working together to help you!

Certified financial planner Ken Moraif from Money Matters with Ken Moraif joins Steve to discuss how to get started on saving money and building wealth - no matter how much money you make! Plus: the biggest misconceptions people have about money management, why financial planners are not just for rich people, what's the difference between fee-based vs. commission-based advisors, how to max out your savings potential, IRA and Roth IRAs explained, facing up to a financial rough spot and how to conquer the problem, and putting your investments on auto-pilot.

Mary Jalonick from the Dallas Foundation talks with Steve about how to make every dollar count when you donate to charity.  Find out:

How to pick a charity

Why you should volunteer with an organization before giving money

What to look for on charity monitoring websites like GuideStar or Charity Navigator

Why sharing the news that you donated will help multiply your gift

How to give to charity as a family

Explaining the ‘Giving for Good’ card to benefit any charity in the United States

Former IRS attorney Deborah Gregory talks with Steve about beating the tax man – and saving money - by planning ahead.  Find out:

What to expect from a Trump tax plan and how you can take advantage.

If you have losses there is a way to capitalize on how you report them.

How to dig yourself out from under a big tax bill.

Why getting an extension doesn’t buy you any more time to pay.

Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com spends his days trying to find the best online coupon codes, printable coupons, and bargains at all your favorite online stores.

Steve and Kyle take about:

- Developing in-store relationships to find insider tips and deals

- Which stores have the best deals on which days (like Anthropologie, Best Buy, CVS, Old Navy)

- How to spot the products that haven’t reached their lowest price

- Which stores will likely give you price adjustments on clearance items

- How to get access to coupons that aren’t usually available to everyone