Brian Preston and Bo Hanson, co-hosts of the Money Guy Show, share the microphone with Doug, our favorite Money Guy, to discuss why and how should you evaluate, and re-evaluate, your investment risk profile as life changes. “How much risk can your situation handle?” is a very different question than “How much risk can you handle?” There’s a significant difference between risk tolerance and risk capacity. Learn what the difference is, and how to adjust your portfolio and emotional expectations for both. Given enough time, the markets may recover, but do you have enough time in your own plan to recover from potential loss? While protecting yourself against risk, keep in mind that “today’s dollars” have a different value than “future dollars.” $100 of today’s dollars might not fill your future shopping cart, so plan accordingly.

How much risk can you really stand – answer in real numbers, not percentages. Which hurts more: losing 10% of your portfolio or losing $50K? Using dollar figures when calculating your risk profile may make the risk feel “more real” than using percentages. Make sure to periodically check in with your financial advisor as your life changes. Major lifestyle events (new children, job, marriage, etc.) can trigger the need to update your risk tolerance. So the next time you change your status, make sure to alert your financial advisor, in case an adjustment in your investment strategy is in order. To learn more about The Money Guys, go to their website, or follow on Twitter @MoneyGuyPodcast. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book.

How can you know which is the best retirement planning tool in the market? When the stakes are high, there is little room for error. Find out Dr. Wade Pfau’s favorite retirement planning tools and strategies. He’s the Professor of Retirement Income at American College and a CFA©. Wade and Doug debate the wisdom of using reverse mortgages in order to use your home as a way to generate retirement income. They also discuss the benefits of using a “time segmentation strategy” or a “bucket strategy” for retirement planning.

Are you afraid to touch your investment principal, and only withdraw the interest? In today’s low-interest rate environment, living off of interest alone is nearly impossible. So how do you know how much principal is safe to withdraw? Doug encourages investors to create Monte Carlo simulations to find the right amount of principal to withdraw from your portfolio. He explains what these simulations are and how to schedule withdrawals throughout your retirement. Watch a short animated video that explains how using Monte Carlo simulations can help you fine-tune your financial plan. To learn more about Dr. Wade Pfau visit his website retirementresearcher.com or read his book, Reverse Mortgages: How to Use Reverse Mortgages to Secure Your Retirement. You can also find him on Twitter @WadePfau. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have been gaining popularity among investors for years since they are an easy way to get into the market and their fees tend to be lower than those of mutual funds.

But how about leveraged ETFs?

Are leveraged ETFs an easy way to increase your portfolio’s return or are they one of the least understood, riskiest investments that people are using today?

Tune in to learn what a leveraged ETF is, and whether including them in your investment portfolio can boost your return or lead to ruin.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://goldsteinongelt.com/investing-basics-strategies/leveraged-etfs 

Should dual citizens have one will for assets they own in both countries, or will one will cover their global assets? Albert Goodwin, a New York attorney, speaks with Doug about the importance of Americans in Israel having an Israeli will. Albert has experience with helping people in New York, Miami, and Israel with estate plans. Albert advises, if you live in Israel, to definitely have an Israeli will. There is more red tape involved with trying to use a U.S. will in Israel, as foreign documents and official translations can complicate matters in court. There will be two probate proceedings in each country. A trust can eliminate the need to go to two courts. Are you setting up your children for financial success or failure? When the time comes to pass responsibility for finances to your children, choose who to trust with task wisely. Why do females get a bad rap when it comes to assuming financial responsibilities? Are you responsible for inadvertently propagating the stereotype? To learn more about passing the reins to the next generation, watch a replay of a seminar Doug gave on the topic. To learn more about Albert Goodwin visit www.NYEstatesLawyer.com to find out all about estate planning and his services. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book.

Your labor assets (your salary + future potential salary) might be your most important financial asset. Doug McCormick, the author of Family Inc., joins the show and explains how the CFO of your family should manage financial decisions, from labor decisions to estate planning. Are you the CFO of your family? Do you know how to take a big picture view of your family’s assets? Doug McCormick takes a holistic view that includes all aspects of family finances, including your labor asset – how much you can earn. The key is to think big, identify all your assets, and make sure that they work together.

Trusts date back to medieval England and the Crusades when knights entrusted the priests of the church to take care of their property while they were gone. The idea behind the creation of a trust is to depend on someone else to look after your property with your best interest in mind. Listen to learn about the different personalities involved in setting up a trust: the settler and the trustee. Benefits of having a trust include avoiding probate. Trusts also maintain privacy and can make things easier. To learn more about Doug McCormick visit FamilyInc.com or follow him on Twitter @doug_mccormick. You can also read his book Family Inc.. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book.

Looking for exponential growth in your investments? The secret may be to start saving early. Beth Kobliner, The New York Times bestselling author of Get a Financial Life shares insights into millennials and their money. Beth and Doug discuss the financial pitfall of student loans and how having better information can help prevent unnecessary debt. They also talk about how millennials can grow their nest eggs by beginning saving and investing while they are still young.

If you receive an inheritance, chances are in addition to receiving funds, you’ll also get a lot of financial advice from well-meaning family and friends. But some of their advice may not be appropriate for your situation. How can you sift through the advice and figure out what is relevant or not? If you have a clear understanding of basic money management and what realistic investment returns are, you’ll be in a much better position to decide what to do with your inheritance. Triage your response to first deal with urgent needs, then basic needs, and only then develop a financial plan that addresses your wants. To learn more about Beth Kobliner visit www.BethKobliner.com or follow her on Twitter @BethKobliner. You can also read her book Get a Financial Life or connect with her on Facebook @BethKobliner. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book. You can also watch Doug’s interviews on his Youtube channel.

Corona is casting a giant shadow over all aspects of life.

Even though the market may have begun to recover from its initial crash, nothing is smooth sailing.

If you are too nervous to invest in the stock market now, bonds may look more enticing.

While an expanded bond portfolio may lower your exposure to stock market risk, it may be difficult to invest in bonds when rates are low.

Why interest rates are low

The U.S. Fed set interest rates to about zero. If the interest rates on bonds is low, the government can borrow more money without paying so much interest. This way Uncle Sam can borrow enough money to pay out the money it promised in the economic stimulus package to its citizens.

Far-sighted companies may also borrow money at low rates, looking to fund future projects with what can seem like “free money.”

How can the government get rid of its debt?

1. Print more money – the more money in circulation means inflation, and each dollar is worth less – this causes the potential for inflation
2. Increase taxes
3. Cut spending

What are some good specific fixed-income strategies?

Even with low interest rates, there are reasons to invest in bonds and other fixed-income investments. Listen for an explanation of specific strategies using bonds for diversification and corporate bonds.

Should investors increase portfolio risk and always look for the highest yielding products? Every investment has risk – the question is what level of risk is best for you. Smart money decisions are based on your personal tolerance for risk, and having a conservative view on investing is not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it may be wise to increase your portfolio risk in order to make more money, but more frequently than not, Doug advises clients against needlessly increasing risk in their portfolios. Doug encourages investors to be sure they are comfortable with their investment decisions. Conservative investors may find that consulting a brokerage firm before purchasing “safe” investments like CDs (certificate of deposits) can help them. An advantage of buying CDs is that they are FDIC insured up to $250,000. But what happens if you want to own more than $250K worth of CDs? Can you still be insured? Listen to the podcast to learn how you can buy more CDs and possibly get better returns. [Learn about how deposit insurance works at www.fdic.gov.] If you don’t feel good about your investments, it’s a sign that they aren’t the right investments for you.

Kabir Sehgal, author of the New York Time’s bestseller, Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History has Shaped Us. Kabir studies the history of currency and how societies affect their country’s financial situation. He defines what money really is, and discusses why the future of traditional money is pretty secure. No need to trade in your cash for bitcoins! To find more about Kabir’s book, Coined: The Rich Life of Money and How Its History has Shaped Us visit his website www.kabir.cc.   If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book. You can also watch Doug’s interviews on his Youtube channel.

Most investors think they have “safety of principal” in their portfolios… do you? Did you tell your broker you want to focus on safety in your investments? If so, does your portfolio reflect your ideal risk/safety level? Doug stresses the importance of having clear communication with your broker. An investor must understand their own investments, and make sure they are appropriate. The best tool for a conservative investor may be CDs (certificates of deposits.) Doug lays out the benefits and different types of CDs. If “safety” is a major concern for you in your investments, then Doug has some helpful tips.

Ronald Farrington Sharp is an estate planner and the author of Living Trust for Everyone. Ronald explains how to avoid probate when a loved one passes on, and how to steer clear of unnecessary red tape. Doug and Ronald discuss the difference between a “will” and a “trust” and what the ideal situation is for each of these arrangements. To read more about the uses of trusts you can find Ronald’s book Living Trust for Everyone on Amazon. If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book. 

Can a conservative investor find predictable investments? An investor who wants to limit risk has two options for predictable investments: CDs (certificates of deposit) and bonds. Doug explains what bonds are and the pros and cons of owning bonds. Although bonds are frequently considered one of the safer types of investments, there is a catch… the institution could call the bond back. Doug clarifies what that means, and asks if that’s a risk you want to take. To learn more about bonds, watch the Bond Ladder mini course available on Doug’s corporate site, Profile-Financial.com.

Ken Heise, president of the Heise Advisory Group in St. Louis, MO and co-host of the podcast Your Retirement Highway joins the show to discuss retirement. Ken realizes one major mistake that new retirees make...poor budget planning, and shares how to create a realistic budget for retirement. Get your budget and finances ready for your post-working years. Check out Ken’s radio show at yourretirementhighway.com. You can also find him at heiseadvisorygroup.com.

If you’re not already receiving updates on new episodes, sign up now, and as a special bonus, receive Doug’s free ebook The Retirement Planning Book.