Life is Life!

The cost of putting children in organized sports is a bit out of control and has been for a while according to Kids Play USA Foundation. The biggest cost being general participation fees that can range from $50 to $1,000 and depending on where you live, a lot more. It also ranges from the league and sport with which they participate. Then you throw in the equipment and it can easily run in the thousands of dollars in certain cases, most if not all, is picked up by the family of the child.

Today the  TWTM "Shootin" crew discusses the positive and negatives of todays billion dollar youth sports industry and the affect it can have on families bank accounts not to mention, the time invested. 

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Credit reports are one of the most misunderstood and popular topics  we talk about on almost an everyday basis. Debt collections could be a close second but both can bring a lot of stress and anxiety. We as consumers have rights yet most of us have no idea what those are. Taylor Kosla, a consumer right attorney and Partner at Agruss Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois  joined the crew to break down all the walls and misconceptions that are out there. We get in-depth regarding what debt collectors can and can't do, How to handle misinformation on your credit reports and how vitally important it is for us to know what's on them. We even dive into Mr. Cooper and the chaos that was the result. 

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The American dream...A number of episodes back we spoke to real estate and lending experts (#078 Real Estate & Lending in a Pandemic and Beyond with Kelly Kline & Tyler Hagerla) to discuss the wild and crazy 2020 and what 2021 and beyond could look like for the residential real estate market. This week we sit down and shoot the financial $h!t with our very own Katie Utterback. Katie and her husband A.J. just recently closed on their first ever home. Congrats! We know what a crazy experience it is for first time home buyers in the current market. Katie takes us through their journey, the highs and the lows, the stresses and the thrills. Sit back, relax and join us for the real dos and don'ts of buying a home in 2021 - with a few laughs along the way.

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This week we touch on a subject that is quite disturbing. Seniors have long been taken advantage of, and quite frankly, are the prey for scams. There are many reasons for this and Mitchell Freedman, a longtime CPA and financial professional, is an expert on the subject. He sits down with us to talk about his life's work to raise awareness about financial elder abuse and how to protect those we love. 

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As everyone knows we are still in the midst of a pandemic, but as vaccines make their way through our communities and the economy opens back up, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Could we possibly get back to normal? What is normal, though? It has been reported that Americans paid off more consumer debt this past year than any on record, almost 83 billion dollars according to cnbc.com. Though job loss was reported nationwide, those whose income wasn't impacted were able to save more this year primarily because activities and vacations were limited. This week the guys discuss how to avoid the potential financial pitfalls from being excited to do "normal" things again! 

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Death and taxes., the two absolutes for every citizen in the U.S. and most other countries around the world. In the U.S. April 15 is usually a big day, the last day to file your taxes for the previous years earnings. For some tax time is one we don't look forward to to as we have to make out a check to Uncle Sam and possibly the State we live in. But for a lot of people it is a celebration! They are due a... REFUND! Woo hoo! But what should you do with that refund? The crew sits down and discusses what you can do with your refund in 2021 in the latest Shootin the Financial S...!

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When people hear the term economics they often think of graphs and a very confusing course they took in high school or college. But is that really what it is? We sit down with Dr. Jim Charkins, who likely cares more about economics and economics instruction than anyone we've met. He is the Economics Professor Emeritus and Director for Economics Education, California State University, San Bernardino, serves on many boards including the California Jump$tart Coalition, CCEE and California Association of School Economics Teachers. He is thoughtful and funny and will give you a whole new appreciation of (and possibly even love for) economics - and why it is so vital to start teaching it as early as kindergarten. 

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There are many different ways to convey financial information to youth but it can be difficult to explain how so many financial realities are based on decision making. Well there is one program out there that is letting students make those decisions before they are real!

This week the gang sits down with Tena Lazano, the executive director of the Richard Myles Johnson (RMJ) Foundation, Tena is responsible for leading the Foundation, which provides resources for credit unions to deliver financial education in their communities. The Foundation serves credit unions in California and Nevada, and offers its signature program, Bite of Reality® which is a fun, two-and-a-half-hour, hands-on simulation that appeals to teens while giving them a taste of real-world financial realities.

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What an incredible year it has been. We passed the one year anniversary of the pandemic shutting down life as we know it. So many things changed in our daily lives: businesses and schools going remote, working from home, and layoffs and furloughs. In the beginning banks and lenders were giving homeowners an option for forbearance if they faced financial hardship. No one knew how this was going to affect the housing market. It has been quite the year, so we sat down with lending and real estate experts to discuss the market during the pandemic, where we are today and what they see in the future.
 
 Kelly Kline is vice president of One Trust Mortgage https://onetrusthomeloans.com/lo/kkline and shares the latest on rates, lending and more. Tyler Hagerla https://www.corcoran.com/southern-california-real-estate/agents/vista/tyler-hagerla/102721  is a real estate professional in North County San Diego with Corcoran Global Living. Tyler gives us insight on what it's like in this seller's market for everyone, including first-time homebuyers - and what to expect if you're buying or selling.

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As we just passed the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic changing our lives, we thought we would reflect on the past year. The financial and personal repercussions were many. We faced difficult situations, but also saw good in others and found some interesting surprises. Everyone faced challenges, yet through it all we found the human spirit is strong and resilient. People helped each other out both financially and emotionally. Some of us saved like we have never saved before, and others spent in areas they never would have dreamed. Some learned they don't need to grocery shop every day. Some became meal planners while others spent a lot on takeout to help their neighborhood businesses stay afloat.
 
 As we enter spring and see more people get vaccinated around the world, we are optimistic that we are turning a corner, and normalcy is within sight. Whatever our new normal will be. Here's to a bright financial future for you! 

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