The Dough Roller Money Podcast

We talk about 2016, a BHAG for 2017, net worth updates, your most frequently asked questions, and what to look forward to in 2017.

Direct download: DR_235_-_2016_Recap.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:24pm EDT

One percent doesn't seem like much. But pay an investment advisor 1% a year and it could easily cost your more than $1 million over a lifetime of investing. In this podcast, we look at why investment fees matter.

Direct download: DR_234_-_Understanding_Investment_Fees.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:31am EDT

We respond to a listener's question about credit card debt. She wants to know if it makes sense to take out a personal loan to pay off four credit cards. We talk about why it can be a good move, but also a significant risk.

Direct download: DR_233_-_Should_You_Get_a_Personal_Loan_to_Pay_Off_Credit_Cards.mp3
Category:debt -- posted at: 9:26am EDT

A listener named Steve is making some important investment decisions in his 401k. While we can't give him any specific advice, we use his choices to talk about common issues facing all retirement investors.

Direct download: DR_232_-_Asset_Allocation_in_Action.mp3
Category:Investing -- posted at: 3:59pm EDT

We look at credit card merchant category codes and how they affect cash back rewards. We also talk about 4 cash back card strategies.

Direct download: DR_231--Rewards_Credit_Cards_Category_Codes.mp3
Category:Credit card -- posted at: 3:00pm EDT

Health Savings Accounts offer a tax advantaged way to pay for medical expenses. They only apply with high deductible health insurance plans. But if you have one, they can be used for everything from emergencies to retirement. We explain how in this episode.

Direct download: DR_230--11_Facts_About_HSAs.mp3
Category:Taxes -- posted at: 12:51pm EDT

With interest rates on the rise, we respond to a listener's question about bond investing. Specifically, should we avoid bonds now until we are comfortable that rates won't rise further.

Direct download: DR_229--Interest_Rates_and_Bond_Investing.mp3
Category:Investing -- posted at: 10:54am EDT

Refinancing a mortgage can be a great way to save money. While falling interest rates often spark a refi frenzy, there are other reasons to refinance a mortgage. We look at the 4 key times refinancing can make sense and how to evaluate the cost savings.

Direct download: DR_228_--_When_to_refinance_a_mortgage.mp3
Category:Mortgages -- posted at: 12:32pm EDT

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, shopping for a mortgage can be scary. There are just so many options out there, and you may not understand what all the terminology means. Before you apply for a mortgage, you should be sure that you understand what’s available. There are literally thousands of specific mortgage products on the […]

The post What Types of Mortgages Are There and Which One Is Right for You? appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_227_-_7.1_ARM.mp3
Category:Mortgages -- posted at: 8:33am EDT

Welcome back to our eighth – and  final – installment of the How to Start an Online Business series. We’ve covered what you need (and don’t need) to make money online, how to set up a WordPress site, what you need to do to drive traffic to your business, and now, we’re going to talk […]

The post How to Make Money With Your Blog appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_225_--_Monetization.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 4:12pm EDT

Welcome to the 7th installment of our podcast series on launching your own, profitable website or blog. I’m glad you’ve stuck around and hope you’re learning a lot. In past posts, we’ve talked about picking the right domain name, setting up your WordPress site, and content strategy. Today, we are going to talk about driving […]

The post How to Drive Traffic to Your Online Business appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_224_-_Blog_Traffic.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 4:56pm EDT

I received my initial financial education, particularly as it relates to investing, courtesy of the school of hard knocks. My wife and I spent the first decade of our careers investing with an advisor, one who was paid by commissions on the products we were sold. In the process, we made many massive and expensive […]

The post Variable Annuities: What They Are and Why They’re a Bad Idea for Most Investors appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_226_--_Variable_Annuities.mp3
Category:Investing -- posted at: 10:06am EDT

Welcome to Podcast 223, which is the 6th installment of our How to Start an Online Business series. I’m glad you’ve made it this far. If you’re just jumping in, we have covered picking a topic, getting a domain, and setting up a WordPress site in recent weeks. Today, we will be covering your content […]

The post How to Plan the Content for Your New Blog appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_223_-_Content_Strategy_Guide.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 9:03am EDT

I‘ve recently received a couple of emails from readers about Health Savings Accounts. One comes from Robert, who writes: I would like you to cover HSAs in the future podcast. We just started using one, and we are getting confused and occasionally tripped up by some of the rules. And a podcast listener named Patrick […]

The post How to Use a Health Savings Accounts to Save For Retirement appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_067--Health_Spending_Accounts.mp3
Category:Investing -- posted at: 7:55am EDT

Hello, again! Glad to see you back for the 5th installment of our How to Run an Online Business series. Last week we talked about Launching Your WordPress Site and the week before, Picking Your Domain Name. Today, we will be covering Content. So, you wanted to start a profitable blog. You’ve followed along with […]

The post A Guide to Publishing Content for Your Online Business appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_222_-_Content_is_King.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 5:57pm EDT

Welcome to the fourth installment of our Dough Roller podcast series, How to Start an Online Business. If you are just joining us, be sure to check out the first three installments, covering what it takes to run one, how to pick a topic, and picking your domain name. This week, I’m going to be […]

The post How to Set Up Your WordPress Website appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_221_-_Setting_up_a_Wordpress_Blog.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 10:21pm EDT

This is part 3 of our podcast series, How to Start Your Online Business. If you haven’t been following along, be sure to check out part 1 (the big picture) and part 2 (picking a topic). Welcome back to another week of our Dough Roller series on starting your very own online business. Did you […]

The post How to Pick a Domain for Your New Online Business appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_220_-_MMO_Part_3_-_Domain_Name.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 7:54pm EDT

Welcome back for week 2! In last week’s podcast, DR 218, we covered a 100,000 foot level view of what it takes to start your own online business. At the end, I assigned some homework: figure out what your business is going to be about. Did you decide? Well, if you had trouble, no worries. […]

The post How to Pick a Blog Topic for Your Online Business appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_219_-_MMO_Part_2_-_Topic.mp3
Category:online business -- posted at: 9:43am EDT

This is Part 1 of 10 in our newest series, How to Start Your Own Online Business. One of the questions I receive most regularly is,”How do you make money online?” After all, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to work for themselves, on their own time? And the freedom to work anywhere you can find […]

The post What It Takes to Run An Online Business (Part 1) appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_218_-_MMO_Part_1_-_What_it_takes_-_8_25_16_12.30_PM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:35pm EDT

In my weekly Forbes column, I published an article on how to become a millionaire in under 20 years. There’s no mystery to it. Save a reasonable amount of money each month (maxing out a 401k will get the job done) and invest it wisely in low cost index funds. Done and done. And then […]

The post How to Become a Millionaire the Hard Way appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_217--1_Million_the_Hard_Way_-_71316_9.36_AM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:02pm EDT

The Wall Street Journal had a report this weekend on how to snag the best mortgage rates. While some of the tips you’ve probably heard before, I thought it was still worth sharing. With rates at historic lows and real estate prices ready to rebound, it seemed like a good time to review the basics. […]

The post How to Get the Best Mortgage Rates appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_216--9_Factors_that_Affect_Mortgage_Rates_-_62616_3.37_PM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Yesterday Britain voted to leave the European Union. Called BREXIT, the vote sent stock markets into turmoil. As of this writing, markets are down as much as nearly 8%: FTSE 100 (London): -4.24% NIKKEI (Japan): -7.92% DAX (Germany): -7.22% HANG SENG (Hong Kong): -2.95% The U.S. futures are also lower, with the DOW down nearly […]

The post What BREXIT Means for Long Term Investors–Nothing appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_215--Brexit.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:58am EDT

Type ‘broke athletes’ into Google and you’ll see a hall of fame that no athlete wants to be in. For example, boxer Mike Tyson’s career earnings of $300 million were gone by the time he filed for bankruptcy in 2003. NBA star Jason Caffey, who earned $35 million, filed for bankruptcy in 2007. Footballer Warren Sapp […]

The post 4 Budget Types and the Best Tools for Each One appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_214_-_The_Four_Types_of_Budgets_-_6216_11.53_AM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Taking out a mortgage is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make. It gives you the means to own your own home, but it’s also a decision you have to stick with for years. Some people call it “good” debt because it could increase your net worth. That said, it’s still debt, which […]

The post How to Make a 30-Year Mortgage Just as Smart as a 15-Year appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_213_-_Thinking_Backward_15_vs_30_Year_Mortgages_-_52616_12.14_PM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 11:53am EDT

As your parents get older, they might appreciate a bit of help with managing their finances. Of course, many seniors are content to look after their finances by themselves and are more than capable of doing so. In some cases, however, aging parents need assistance paying bills and monitoring investments. If a parent does ask […]

The post 7 Free Tools to Help Aging Parents with Their Money appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_212--7_Tools_to_Help_Aging_Parents_with_Finances.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Note: This article is written by R.C. Thornton. He runs a tax relief company, and I had the chance to interview R.C. on the podcast. You can listen to the interview here: Did you know that 13 million Americans owe the IRS money right now? It’s a sad story that has played out millions of […]

The post Owe the IRS Big Money? Learn How to Solve Your Problem Here appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_211-Tax_Relief_with_RC_Thornton_-_5616_10.37_AM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Evaluating your investment portfolio is a critical task for DIY investors. That’s particularly true if you have an investment advisor manage your money and are now considering taking over the reins. That’s exactly the situation of a reader named Dave who emailed me recently. He’s five to 10 years away from retirement. His investments are […]

The post How to Evaluate an Investment Portfolio appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_201--Investment_Portfolio_Evaluation_-_42416_7.08_PM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:06pm EDT

Think of the last personal finance book you read. What did you get out of it? How did it change your life? What are you doing differently today with your finances as a result of reading the book? These are some of the questions I started asking myself as looked through my large collection of […]

The post How to Read a Personal Finance Book the Right Way appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_209_-_How_to_Read_a_Book_-_4616_1.06_PM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

The Department of Labor released its final regulation on what’s known as the Fiduciary Rule. The rule requires those offering paid financial advice on retirement accounts to put their client’s interests first. While at first glance the rule seems anything but objectionable, it raises some concerns. One key concern is cost. While fee-only advisors promote the […]

The post Finally, Investment Advice That Won’t Rob You Blind appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_208_-_Vanguard_Advisory_Services_-_32916_6.18_PM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

In many families one person handles the finances. In our case, I handle everything about our money from budgeting to investing. My wife has no interest in taking over this responsibility. And that presents a potential problem. What would my wife do should I get hit by a truck? How would she handle our investments? […]

The post The Money Binder: How to Prepare Your Finances For Your Death appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_207_-_Money_Binder_-_32516_9.22_AM.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 4:09pm EDT

We recently received the following question from a reader named Sam: My question: As a first time home buyer, is it possible to leverage retirement accounts as a down payment? Is this a good idea? Does it matter whether its a TSP, Roth IRA, IRA, etc? I seem to be finding conflicting opinions/statements. The answer is not […]

The post Can You Use Retirement Accounts to Buy Your First Home? appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: 206_DR_206_-_Retirement_Accounts_as_Down_Payment_1.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

We look at YNAB 5, the new budget software, and evaluate both the good and bad changes to this excellent money management tool. We also talk about the 2015 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders and how you can get an estimate of your future social security retirement benefits.

The post Review of YNAB 5 from You Need a Budget appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: 205_DR_205_-_YNAB_5_Review.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

In this podcast we look at repayment plan options for those with federal student loans. Picking the best plan can lower your payments, and potentially save you a bundle.

The post How to Pick the Best Student Loan Repayment Plan appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_204__Student_Loan_Repayment_Plan_Options.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Recently I had the chance to speak with Brad Lawler and Jason St. Peter, founders of DraftApp.com. This app enables investors to evaluate the asset allocation of their portfolio and compare it to other portfolios of like-minded investors. Think of it as crowdsourcing your investment portfolio analysis. As described by the company, “The app allows […]

The post Interview with Founders of Investment Portfolio Analysis App–Draft appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: 203_DR_203__Draft_4.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 12:58pm EDT

Cable TV costs a fortune. According to Leichtman Research Group, Inc., the average household pays $99.10 a month for TV. This represents at 39% increase over 2010 figures. With streaming options growing, however, many families have started to cut the cord. We even wrote a guide on how to get rid of cable while still […]

The post Cutting the Cord – How to Get Rid of Cable appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_202_-_Cutting_the_cord_with_John_Brillhart.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:41am EDT

How did you do financially in 2015? It’s a curious question to ask entering a new year, wouldn’t you say? But only by measuring your progress in the most recent year can you get yourself mentally and financially prepared for progress in the year that’s now upon us. For that reason, we’ve prepared a 2015 […]

The post 2015 Annual Financial Checkup appeared first on The Dough Roller.

Direct download: DR_201_-_New_Years_Resolutions.mp3
Category: -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

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