Today, in response to a question from one of the listeners, Kate talks about making charitable donations from brokerage accounts. She explains the tax benefits that you could enjoy from doing that. She cautions you, however, to avoid donating losing shares to charity, as this will not be to your advantage when it comes to your tax return. She also talks about Donor Advised Funds and discusses how you can benefit from those in terms of tax deductions and not having to pay any capital gains tax.

The guest on today's show is The Financial Mentor himself, Todd Tresidder, who Kate met at a Fincon conference last fall. Todd has a BA in economics and he's also a serial entrepreneur, having built many businesses since his childhood. His real claim to fame, however, is retiring at the age of thirty-five, from his position as a Hedge Fund Investment Manager, responsible for a twenty plus million dollar portfolio. His work at the hedge F=fund produced 100% winning years, apart from one, which showed less than a 5% loss.

Twelve years later, he became a self-made millionaire, by using the same personal finance and investment strategies that he teaches. Todd was an early pioneer in statistical and mathematical risk management systems for investing and he's still an active investor, earning consistent returns in both up and down markets. He has written a number of books, one of them being Investment Fraud- How Financial “Experts” Rip You Off and What To Do About It. Listen in today, as Todd advises you about how you can wise up and avoid the fraudsters.

Today, Todd talks about:

•The reason he can smell fraud from a mile away.

•What really governs the growth of your wealth.

•His own failure.

•Trusting in all, but tying up your camel.

•His three principles that you can use to protect yourself against the sixteen different types of fraud: 1) Regulated Domestic Securities and dealers have a lower risk of investment fraud than the unregulated and offshore counterparts. 2) Investment fraud comes in many different forms and changes with the times. 3) Have a healthy dose of skepticism and do your due diligence.

•Fraud vs bad investing.

•The results of artificially low interest rates.

•The recent cycles of “bubbles”.

•The bond “bubble du jour” we're facing now.

•How the risks get tilted when you get into a premium market.

Links:

Todd's website: www.financialmentor.com This is where you can find Todd's free book, 18 Essential Lessons From A Self-Made Millionaire.

Kate's website: www.americatalksmoney.com

Kate's email:    [email protected]

Kate's book: Don't Let Your Money Kick The Bucket Before You Do is available from Amazon.

Today, Kate starts out by talking about inheritance. She looks at a study, done by MetLife in 2013, which states that the boomer generation stands to inherit a whopping total of eight point four trillion dollars! There are certainly implications to this, as today, people are living for so much longer. On today's show, she discusses a few things that you need to become aware of, in this regard.

Kate points out that:

• The science of investing was not available to our parent's generation. This had an effect on their stock purchases.
• You no longer need to wait for the commissioned stockbroker to give you a recommendation, today.
• The role of an advisor now, is behavioral.
• You would do well to choose an asset allocation that works for you and stick with your plan to build wealth, rather than trading in and out.
• The average investor underperforms even the SMP500- just because they try to beat the market.
• The portfolio that you inherited could be costing you a lot. 
• Actively managed Mutual Funds from big brand National Brokerage Houses come with huge costs.
• You should watch the Capital Gains when inheriting- don't just sell willy nilly.
• When receiving an inheritance, you want to clean it up and tailor it to your needs as soon as possible.

The guest on today's show is Dan Sotiroff. He is an engineer, by profession and he also has a blog called The Personal Finance Engineer. Dan could be described as 'The New Voice on the Market'. He prefers to take a pro-active approach, which is evident in his deep dive into the Peter Lynch era at Fidelity Magellan. Today, Dan demystifies the role of the “Star Manager”. Reading the book Beating The Street, by Peter Lynch, didn't really explain much to Dan about what Lynch had been doing- he found Lynch rather hard to corner. Listen in and find out more about market trading today.

Dan talks to Kate about:

• Being open to change, over your life cycle.
• How your investment allocation changes as you get older.
• Peter Lynch's investing cycles.
• Whether or not the timing (1980's) made a difference to Lynch's success.
• Closed vs open funds being a consideration to Lynch's success. 
• The average investor at Magellan only made 7%- due to going in and out- you have to stay in to make it work.
• Dan advises you to be realistic- remember the concept of mean reversion- what has done well in the past is not likely to do well in the future.
• His findings in his statistical analysis of Lynch's portfolio.
• Dan's advice for you (as per Peter Lynch).

Links: 

Dan's Blog: The PF Engineer.Com

Dan's Email: [email protected]

Dan on Twitter: @danielsotiroff

Kate's website: www.americatalksmoney.com

Today's episode of America Talks Money focuses on setting up an effective portfolio that does not involve guesswork in trying to beat the market. The science of investment is improving all the time, so Kate shares four steps that you can take now, towards creating an effective portfolio.

On today's show, Kate and Kelly talk about how you can let the markets work for you. They discuss how, in time gone by stock brokers used to try to beat the market. Today, however, this has been shown to be ineffective. We currently live in an era where people tend to be more panic stricken than hopeful so you could lose a lot of money by trying to guess what the market is going to do. It's really difficult to predict in the short term, because you just don't know what's going to happen. It's important to note however, that regardless of volatility and big spikes, markets do go up over time. There's no reason that this will end, despite what goes on in the news. Science is really the best way to do this. Listen in as Kate explains how it works.

Today, Kate and Kelly discuss:

•That small caps do better over time than large caps- this does not mean that you should only invest in small caps though.

•That the science involves taking the whole market into account.

•How value stocks, over time, do better than growth stocks. Kate explains the science of how this works.

•Risk- and possible ways to manage it.

•That bonds are not going to give you the best returns.

•Balancing risk and return.

•That you should not trade because of what's in the news- news readers aren't there to help you manage your money!

The guest on today's show is Aye Soe, Senior Director of Global Research and Design at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Aye is the main researcher behind the SPIVA Scorecard that S&P releases on a regular basis. These compare and contrast the performance of actively managed funds vs indexes. Listen in and bust up any myths you may have about how good National Brokerages really are for your for your own investment outcome.

Today, Aye talks about:

•What she was looking at in her most recent research and what she was trying to determine.

•Her findings with this research.

•The fees and expenses of active funds- how they make quite a dent in your performance.

•The impact of fees on performance.

•The importance of investors understanding the different layers of the fees they're paying.

•How the under performance of institutional managers does not apply to her firm, S&P Dow Jones Indices.

•That the onus is on the investor to truly understand.

•The vast amount of available information for the self education of investors.

Links:

S&P Dow Jones Indices website: www.spindices.com

For the archive of all the past SPIVA and other scorecards related to active vs passive: www.spindices.com/research

Email Aye: [email protected]

Email Kate and Kelly: [email protected]

Resources:

Book: Getting Back To Even by Jim Kramer (2009)

Finances are more complicated today than ever before. There are as many women out there making financial decisions, as there are men.  It can be difficult to get up to speed if you haven't been involved before. First, on today's episode of “America Talks Money”, Kate and Kelly discuss the importance of finding the right financial advice and also what to look for in  a financial advisor.

In our parents generation, things were more linear and predictable. Today, many people, especially women, find themselves having to make their own choices about taxes, social security, estate planning and even their pension funds. Listen in as Kate and Kelly talk about the interesting research study, done in September by United Capital, called: “Myth Busters-Women and the financial Services Industry” and the valuable advice offered by CEO Joe Durand.

Second in the show, Kate talks to Andrew Chanin. Andrew started out in 2007 on the floor of the American Stock Exchange, with one of the largest ETF firms at the time. In 2010, he founded his own Exchange Traded Fund company. In todays episode, Andrew talks to Kate about his company and it's products.

He discusses:

•What went into the founding of his company.

•His 'be different' approach, to create new opportunities for investors.

•The two types of ETF's- some needing awareness and others needing education.

•How he makes it simple for investors.

•The different funds he offers and what goes into them.

•How he envisions these ETF's being used in a broader portfolio.

•How this could compliment a more traditional asset allocation strategy.

•The expense ratios involved in these themed, more narrowly focused ETF's, as compared with more broadly based index funds.

Links:

Andrew's website: www.purefunds.com

Andrew's email: [email protected]

Kate’s email: [email protected]

Book Recommended: A Fool and his Money by John Rothschild 

Kate advises: Google the terms: efficient market hypothesis

                                                          and

                                                 dimensional fund advisors

How do you really feel about money? Do you blame someone or something else for your financial situation, or do you avoid timely financial planning? If so, you will benefit from an informative product that really speaks to people about what they need to do with their money. First, on today's episode of “America Talks Money”, co-host Kelly Chisolm talks to Kate Slater about “Sacred Money Archetypes”.

This product is an assessment, provided to a client, that involves matching them to one of eight really accurate personality types, with regards to money. It has to do with one's values and beliefs around money. It also includes a spiritual element. Today, Kelly talks about what to do with your personality type and how to work with it, once you have been matched to it.

Second, on today's show, host Kate Slater talks to post-election guest, Chip Lake, about “What the Election Means for Markets”. Chip, from Glendale Strategies, is former Chief of Staff and Member of Congress, from Georgia. Since 2012, he has been a political consultant, specializing in digging into the data surrounding a political campaign. 

Today, Chip talks to Kate about:

•The market impact since the election of Donald Trump.

•How incorrect political assumptions cause trouble for people.

•How markets are used for political leverage.

•The president elect's huge decision about who he is going to appoint as Treasury Secretary.

•How the above choice is one of the foremost indicators on how he plans on governing, as president.

•His views on the impact that Donald Trump will have on the economy.

•How Donald Trump is different to anybody else who has ever been in that position.

•The uncertainty of the current political situation.

•The 'anti-trade' type platform of the president-elect and the impact that it could have on markets.

•The financial implications of balancing the national budget.

•How the reality of the current situation is not what the voters want to hear.

•The many difficulties that Donald Trump could face in the near future.

•The pros and cons of transparency.

Links:

To find out more about “Sacred Money Archetypes”: email: askus@americatalksmoney

How well are your physical assets protected? Do you have a record of all the items of value in your home, in case of an insurance claim due to theft, fire or natural disaster? If not, listen in to the guest on today's show, Lisa Darrell and learn about how important it is to have your belongings documented and how you can have it done easily and without stress.

Lisa is the owner and operator of The Asset Inventory, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Asset Inventory is a growing consultancy for the private sector and small businesses, to assist you in documenting and cataloging your belongings, to ease your pain if tragedy strikes

Today, Lisa talks about:

•The service that she provides and what's in it.

•How she initially identified a need for her service.

•The simple process involved in using Lisa's service with The Asset Inventory.

•The types of assets that should be documented.

•The situations that prompt people to use Lisa's service.

•How this service can really reduce your stress levels.

•The emotional component to her service- particularly around the history of certain items.

Today, Kate and Kelly talk about self-worth and how it affects people and the way they look at money. They discuss the number of decisions that people make daily, that are influenced by their ideas and behaviors around money. They say that money, depending on how much you have, can directly influence your self-worth and when you are able to have choices financially, your self-worth goes up. Kelly asks three practical questions which can help you to look at your relationship with money and your self-worth resulting from that.

1)Do you believe that you can control your financial destiny?

2)Do you deserve to be financially secure?

3)Do you see yourself as financially independent, or dependent on others to take care of you?

4)Kelly offers you ways to up your level of self-worth, through the use of a professional financial service with Better Money Decisions.

Contact Kate or Kelly if you have a question you'd like answered on the show: 

askus@americatalksmoney

Contact Lisa Darrell at: www.theassetinventory.com

or call Lisa on: (505)301-8508

If you would like to know more about the background on emerging markets, or if you are looking for a viable new investment opportunity, listen in to Kate's interview with Jamie Anderson, her guest on today's show, as he shares his expertise and talks about his new ETF, LARE, which was launched in December of 2015.

Jamie, an emerging market expert and investor, is the managing partner of Tierra Partners, who offers the only US listed ETF to invest in Latin American Real Estate. More than half of the assets of LARE are invested in Brazil.

On today's episode Jamie talks about:

•The shift in emerging markets, from being export oriented economies, to becoming more internally focused consumption economies- Mexico being a good example.

•How the young population base of the BRICS countries is contributing to their growth as consumer nations.

•How apartment buildings in Mexico are becoming a new product for Mexican Real Estate Developers.

•The changes implemented by Mexico in the 90's that have allowed for the development of the Real Estate market there.

•The story behind the formation of the Latin American Real Estate Fund (LARE), as a product.

•Over 80% of the 58 equities in the LARE are not available in any other product.

•Why a product like the LARE could not have been put out 5 or 6 years ago.

•The index behind the LARE ETF.

•The expense ratio of the LARE as compared to certain domestic products.

•The all round advantages of the LARE product.

Host, Kate Stalter offers some tips today, for empty nesters. She talks about some planning considerations for people whose kids are no longer living at home. This is often the time to re-evaluate the whole financial picture, to prepare for an active, healthy retirement. This may involve downscaling in some areas, examining debts and possibly re-evaluating insurance requirements. It could also be a time to create new experiences with the family, ones that better reflect the current changes.

Links:

Jamie's product site: www.tierrafunds.com

Contact Jamie on Twitter: @tierrafunds

To ask Kate or Kelly questions: [email protected]

Do you have lots of things in lots of different places? Would you would like to create emotional freedom for yourself? Or to organize your life to make things easier for those close to you, in case of your death? Then listen in to today's guest, Hazel Thornton, founder of Organized For Life, as she talks candidly about the necessary steps you can take to protect your family and yourself for this inevitable eventuality.

Hazel is a Personal Organizer and the creator of the Clutter Flow Chart Collection. She's also a Golden Circle member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, a founding member of Professional Organizers of New Mexico, a certified Personal Photo Organizer and a certified Interior Redesigner and Home Stager. Hazel has a calming approach, which takes any embarrassment or fear out of the process. Listen in and find out how to get your digital records organized, in case of your death.

Today, Hazel talks about:

•Organizing your digital life and digital documents.

•The word  legacy- what it means to people.

•The implications of leaving your affairs in a state of clutter when you die.

•The personal story which motivated Hazel to do what she does.

• Your Legacy Contact on Facebook.

•The implications of dying without a will.

•Some of the most important resources to begin with, when organizing your life.

•The Legacy Resource Roundup on Hazel's website and how it can help you.

•What a digital will is and the benefits of having one.

•Her Worry Matrix and how it can help you.

Emotional triggers are very important when trying to work something out in a relationship, especially around money. Everyone has their own ideas and beliefs about money and this is what Kelly refers to as your Money Personality. It's always different with everyone, yet there's no right or wrong here. Due to these different personality types, it's important for couples to take time to sit down and figure out their Money Personalities and then look at the problems they could be having with that. It’s necessary for couples to get onto the same page about money- and this is where professional financial help can really work. 

Links:

If you have any questions for Kate or Kelly, go to: [email protected]

To contact Hazel: www.org4life.com  Sign up for Hazel's newsletter and get a free Clutter Flowchart!

Hazel on Facebook: Hazel Thornton is Organized For Life.

If you would like to know more about stocks, options and trading, listen in to today's episode of America Talks Money, with hosts Kate Stalter and Kelly Chisholm and their expert guest, Bob Lang. Today Kate and Kelly talk about the emotional impact of investing and Bob offers his sage advice about how you can win with money markets.

Kate, a licensed Financial Advisor and a long-time journalist at financial publications, became a financial advisor because she felt that as a journalist, she wasn't helping people enough with their money problems. She learned that you have no idea of the emotional impact of investing if you're not actually helping people with their financial issues.

Kelly, a licensed psychotherapist, who worked with marriage counseling for about twelve years, found that many, even most relationship problems were around issues to do with money- communication about it, or feelings related to it. She started working with couples, just on money issues. She had no financial advisor to refer her clients to, so she eventually filled the role herself, coming a full circle to have the impact that she desired.

Bob is a financial columnist and also owns a company called Aztec Capital. He is a private trader in equity and options markets and an expert on options and how to trade them. He also runs a website, Explosive Options, as an options trading mentor, teaching people how to trade options the right way for sustainability. He has a vast range of experience, including managing a $300,000,000 pension plan, long-term financial planning, asset allocation and retirement planning. He launched Aztec Partners Hedge Fund in 2008 for both private and institutional clients. He also offers personal coaching and mentorship.

On today's episode, Kate and Kelly talk about:

• The importance of getting the correct advice about investments.
• That this show is geared to boomers rather than millennials.
• Financial security as compared to financial freedom- particularly for boomers.
• Kelly's 30,000 ft. view and some quick pointers to managing emotions around money.

Today Bob talks about:

• A basic definition of options.
• The best approach to take when beginning to look at options.
• Risk management and caution when trading.
• There will be occasions where the market will humble you.
• His approach to identifying opportunities.
• His thoughts on structured products created to give people an alternative to traditional stocks and bonds.
• The importance of educating yourself, when it comes to trading.
• The appropriate use of options, for longer term investors.
• Puts as a trading option.

To contact Kate:

Website: www.americatalksmoney.com

Email:    [email protected]

To contact Bob:

Website: www.explosiveoptions.net  (For Bob's chatroom)

Twitter: @aztecs99

                 or

            @xplosiveoptions

If you would like to trade online, but don't know what the risks are, or how to assess where the market is going, you will certainly benefit from listening to the guest on today's show, Carley Garner, an experienced Futures and Options Broker from Las Vegas. She would like to help you to avoid the common pitfalls that many people fall into.

Carley has a firm called DeCarley Trading, a division of Zaner. She has published several books about commodities: Higher Probability Commodity Trading, A Trader's First Book On Commodities, Currency Trading In The Forex And Futures Markets and Commodity Options. She also publishes two newsletters,  The DeCarley Perspective and The Financial Futures Report. Carley is proactive in providing free trading education. Her commodity market analysis is often referenced on Jim Cramer's Mad Money on CNBC and she's been a guest on his show too! She's a regular contributor to TheStreet.com and has been featured in magazines and publications like Stocks Commodities And Futures, Active Trader, Option Trader Magazine and she has been interviewed by Investors Business Daily and The Wall Street Journal. 

On today's show, Carley talks to Kate about:

• Her most recent book, Higher Probability Commodity Trading, where she has made something that's complicated very accessible.
• The role of commodities in a portfolio, when it comes to diversification.
• Managed Futures Funds- what they are and what you need to be careful of with them.
• The importance of making the distinction between speculating and investing.
• Why most people lose money, trading commodities.
• The problems with getting advice from system vendors and newsletter salesmen.
• Carley's great advice to newbie traders.

Co-host Kelly Chisholm, is now running a series of seminars called Second Saturday, geared to the boomer generation, with its focus on the emotional and financial aspects of divorce. She urges you if getting a divorce, to have someone who specializes in Divorce Financial Planning help you with the long term implications of your financial decisions... not to just get the divorce over with.  One of the topics will be Grey Divorce, where she talks about the implications of the divorce rate for people over fifty having skyrocketed over the last few years...and not only in the USA.

Links:

Kate's website:  bettermoneydecisions.com

Kate and Kelly's email: [email protected]

Carley's website: www.decarleytrading.com

Carley on Twitter: @carleygarner