Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

00:11 - It's Mardi Gras!!! Hear our exclusive unplugged version of Benny Grunch and the Bunch singing Ain't No Play to P on Mardi Gras Day.

04:13 - The Corona Virus outbreak of 2020 is having cascading economic affects hitting China pretty hard, while the possibility of Iran wanting to affect the elections could set up the next black swan event. Are you prepared for a sudden drop in the market?

26:43 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo shocks the show with ridiculously low rates.

31:40 - Buy a lot, build a home, and convert that loan to a regular mortgage all in one closing. Dwayne Stein started a new program to streamline the borrowing process when it comes to building your dream home.

41:21 - Romaine in Covington is 80 and wants to know if she can pass along her IRA to someone else without paying a fortune in taxes.

43:19 - Dwayne Stein is pretty happy with ultra-low interest rates, and has come up with some clever ways for people to take advantage.

52:15 - Brandon in Covington asks Dwayne and Gregory about the tax implications of a cash out refinance on his mortgage.

59:05 Judy in Long Beach is not happy to learn her healthcare subsidy comes with unexpected taxes.

1:03:57 - Mike in Covington has a pension from a State job, but may have enough of a work record in the private sector to avoid getting his Social Security benefit cut.

1:09:16 - Paul in Ocean Springs asks Gregory how the TSP options work when he's ready to retire.

1:15:32 - We are in the longest bull market ever. Don't count on it lasting forever, though. Now is the time to do some blending of risks.

1:22:35 - Nancy in Jefferson asks Gregory if it's better to turn on her smaller Social Security survivor's benefit now and switch to the larger check based on her record later?

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00:10 - Just because CAN pay your taxes with a credit card doesn't mean you SHOULD, with one exception.

02:44 - Gregory resents a local business adding on a 2% surcharge for credit card purchases. Why make signs that trumpet your price increases? Just adjust the prices and move on. Surcharges feel petty.

07:44 - Which alcoholic drinks have the lowest calorie count.

09:39 - Gregory explains the upcoming financial impact from the expanding Coronavirus.

11:46 - Have you ever Netflix cheated? Sneaking in episodes of shows you're supposed to be watching together exhibits some of the hallmarks of financial cheating.

18:34 - Gregory has some public events coming up for those who want to know more about what he can do for you as a financial advisor, and those seeking help figuring out how to get the most out of Social Security.

21:05 - Gregory thanks a local body shop for outstanding customer service.

24:31 - A comment card from a recent event asks Gregory for guidance dealing with the CSRS, pension, Windfall Elimination Provision, and Social Security.

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00:35 - Does exercise make you happier than money? A new survey suggests people who exercise regularly are more likely to report being happy than wealthy people.

06:58 - Should you refinance your house to get lower mortgage payments? Scott in Long Beach has a 15 year mortgage and a little equity built up, and asks Gregory if it's a smart move to switch to a 30 year mortgage, because money is running tight, and he would like a little more margin at the end of the month.

10:08 - Mosquito Joe's yard spraying service is great!

12:43 - Chip in Old Metairie asks Gregory and Jude Heath if he qualifies for any tax breaks on his new solar panels.

15:05 - There's a new tax filing form for seniors from the IRS: 1040 SR.

23:16 - What are the new tax write-off rules for work vehicles? Ken in Longview checks with Gregory and Jude before getting some new wheels for his business.

25:36 - Should you lease or buy your next vehicle? Gregory and Jude toss around the questions you should answer next time you get a new car.

32:27 - Tommy in Metairie turned on Social Security and continues to work. Will working affect his benefits?

36:36 - Are there gift taxes when you pay off the kids' student loans? Ronnie in St Bernard had his student loans paid off. Does anyone owe?

40:30 - Will claiming Disability benefits affect your Social Security retirement? Brent in Westwego follows up on his call from a previous show.

44:39 - How to know if you're ready to retire at 60: Rosemary in Wiggins asks Gregory if she's ready to hit the retirement button.

51:16 - How much can you earn while getting a disability check? Sheila in Hattiesburg asks Gregory about the work rules for Social Security Disability benefits.

1:04:46 - Bill in Baton Rouge asks how the Windfall Elimination Provision will affect the Social Security situation between him and his wife.

1:08:28 - How should you invest $100k? Gary in Baton Rouge is getting a late start saving for retirement.

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00:14 - How do you handle missing a few months of work?

02:32 - A report on proposals for student debt forgiveness doesn't seem to make sense from a financial or ethical standpoint.

11:55 - Are you living paycheck to paycheck? 32% of American households run out of money before the next paycheck on a regular basis. The higher income households are no exception.

15:23 - Gregory shares a warning from Social Security on a new round of scam emails and phone calls.

17:00 - Larry in Gretna shares our concern for the student debt crisis, and adds some of the blame to the cultural narrative that says as many kids as possible should go to college.

21:53 - How should you invest at age 80? Annuities are NOT the answer we're looking for.

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00:18 - Gregory shares a warning from Social Security about some scam calls that have been ravaging the public. Hear how to keep yourself safe.

04:18 - How to deal with the new rules on withholdings: Social Security clears up what's going on with the withholdings on your paycheck.

08:40 - Heidi in Hammond just got a new job with a bigger salary, and wants to play catch up on her retirement savings.

13:32 - Mike in Laplace is going to be inheriting a large sum of money, and wants Gregory's thoughts on how to best handle it.

18:52 - The Basics of Your 403b.

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00:21 - Six Questions to ask if you're working in retirement. If you're not having to do it for the money, you can use your productive efforts to do some good. You may want to pitch your employer a phased retirement.

09:19 - What's the difference with a 403b and 401k? Chipper in Algiers Point asks Gregory about the company plan at his wife's new job, and how the rules may be different.

13:04 - The nation's debt is still rising out of control, with no real solutions to balance the budget being proposed by either major party. Your financial plan should include accounting for higher taxes, and less reliance on social programs.

31:28 - Kobe's sudden tragic death may make you reflect and ask yourself: Is my family going to be OK if something happens to me? Attorney Wes Blanchard describes how he helps people sort out their estate planning.

48:51 - Do CDs pass along a beneficiary designation or does it have to be written in a Will? John in Mandeville has some jumbo CDs, and they have a Payable On Death option. Gregory and Wes answer his questions.

55:40 - George in Mobile asks Gregory and Wes about how to spend down his mother-in-law's assets so she qualifies for help from Medicaid. Gregory and Wes don't sound like they are big fans of trying to blow through the assets to quickly.

1:01:04 - Rick in Mississippi seems to be overweighted in fixed annuities, and is having liquidity issues. Gregory explains how his 50-50 plan balances liquidity and safety with your investments.

1:04:37 - Del in Picayune has most of his money tied up in an annuity, and needs Gregory's help figuring out a work around.

1:14:48 - Charles from Pontchatoula is getting a $30k lump sum, and wants Gregory's thoughts on what would be smart to do with that money.

1:17:19 - Phillip in Hurley has an interesting situation where he can sell his house in an expensive area, and buy a much cheaper house by his new job that's about the same size. Is this too good to be true?

1:21:09 - Lauren in Baton Rouge has a teacher's pension coming her way, and asks Gregory if she can still get Social Security, too.

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00:43 - How is your Social Security benefit calculated? Peter in Diamondhead is thinking about retiring early, and wants to know if that will hurt his retirement benefits much.

07:16 - How is your Social Security benefit taxed? Louise in Metairie is about to start receiving her benefit.

12:06 - Wayne on Periscope asks if he has to let Social Security he wants to delay turning on his retirement benefits before he reaches Full Retirement Age.

15:02 - Laura in Metairie is inheriting a million dollars, and wants to turn that into retirement income that doesn't touch the principle.

23:00 - Although the news often paints a picture of a bitterly divided partisan America, a new Gallup poll shows a record high number of Americans are happy with their lives.

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01:00 - Gregory hosted a couple of Social Security events, and tells some of the stories from people who were there.

11:07 - The State of the Union speech covers some financial territory. James is pretty excited about the Artemis Project and the Space Force.

16:20 - Matthew in Metairie jokes about the faces Pelosi was making during the State of the Union, but Gregory and James are sympathetic about uncomfortable it must be to be on TV for over an hour.

18:44 - Tesla's stock tumbles about halfway back down to Earth, but who knows where it goes from here? Gregory breaks down how the short sellers have lost around $11.5 billion in the last month.

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00:51 - Rush Limbaugh announces he has advanced cancer, and that should give us all a pause to examine your own affairs.

11:49 - Steve in Houma asks how an immediate annuity works, and how it compares to other annuity options.

17:46 - Are biweekly mortgage payments worth it? Larry in Biloxi asks if he should put that extra money to his mortgage, or invest it elsewhere.

25:00 - The team with the lowest salary this season just beat the team with the biggest salary in the Super Bowl. All of the players get a nice bonus, and the rating were up for the first time in 5 years.

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