Debt
20 Second Advisor: Keeping Up With The Steinbergs
Last week, our family took a trip for our kids’ winter break from school. On the long drive, I had the chance to listen to a podcast, The Just Enough Family. It details the rise and fall of Saul Steinberg, an American businessman that rose to great wealth by the age of 30 only to…
Read More20 Second Advisor: 5 Things To Do BEFORE 2022
Retirement Contributions – Make 401k, IRA or employer contributions. Charitable Contributions – Give cash or appreciated investments to your favorite charities. 2021 Reflection – Did I save, give, spend intentionally, and pay off what I had planned? If so, celebrate! If not, why? 2022 Plan – How much will I save, give, spend intentionally, and…
Read More20 Second Advisor: To borrow or not to borrow? Part 2 – Freedom from debt feels good.
Last time, I wrote about the financial elements to consider when you’re deciding whether to pay off your mortgage early. See here for that post. Today, I want to touch on the emotional elements of paying off debt early. As discussed in the last post, you are almost always better off financially to slowly pay…
Read More20 Second Advisor: To borrow or not to borrow? Part 1 – The true cost of mortgage debt.
With interest rates near their all time lows, I want to write a few blogs about mortgage debt. It’s a question we get asked all the time: “Should I pay off my mortgage quicker than scheduled?” Before we answer that question, I want to explore the true cost of carrying mortgage debt. The factors that…
Read More20 Second Advisor: 20 year-old money mistakes
You are in your 20s. Oh the age where you just graduated from college, are starting to earn a paycheck, and living on your own. While the novelty and newfound freedom is fun, make sure to avoid these pitfalls in your 20s: Spending more than you make Using credit cards and not paying them off…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Getting prepared for unemployment
Unemployment probably never crossed your mind until COVID-19 hit. If you or someone you know may be affect, here are a few practical steps you can take to make sure you are prepared: Cash is king. Make sure to prioritize beefing up your emergency cash savings. We recommend having 3-6 months worth of expenses set…
Read More20 Second Advisor: PPP and pursuing loan forgiveness
As the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) enters the second round of funding, loan recipients should be considering a thoughtful approach to pursuing loan forgiveness. Although the loan forgiveness parameters are still being clarified, the key elements for forgiveness are discussed below. Have a plan for spending during the 8 week period. You will need to document…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Time to Refi?
Mortgage rates have dropped in the last month to the lowest rates since 2016 (see chart below). At the same time, many homeowners have seen their home value increase over the last few years. Now could be an advantageous time to refinance your mortgage to pay down debt, renovate your house, get rid of PMI,…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Vacation Home – Rent or Buy?
It’s summer time. And that means vacations. Families feel the draw of buying a 2nd home while they’re on vacation. On the trip to Florida, couples may think, “Wouldn’t it be great if we had a beach house?” Before you dig into the financials of buying a 2nd home, here are the top non-financial questions…
Read More20 Second Advisor: Make it happen in 2019!
It’s the most wonderful time of year. That time when you gather with family, celebrate the holidays, and dust the cobwebs off your old budget. But, seriously, I love this time of year. We are looking into the new year and trying to guess/dream/figure out what we’d like to accomplish in 2019. Vision is the…
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