In our Money in the Word video devotionals, members of the Guide Financial Planning team dive into Scripture to take a look at what it says about money and how it applies to our lives.
On The Dollar Derail podcast, Guide Financial Planning's Ben Wacek joins Zach Ashburn of Reach Strategic Wealth for some quick conversations to change your financial train of thought.
In this episode, we are taking lessons learned over the holidays as we break down the stresses that come up during special occasions and events and how planning can help reduce them. Ben and Zach talk through strategies for using your money to bring your goals into focus while increasing your ability to enjoy the moments that matter most.
The recent shift from corporate to self-employed individuals has been dubbed "The Great Resignation." If you are considering making the switch to being your own boss or are a business owner looking to retain your employees, this episode is for you. Ben and Zach will discuss the drivers behind this movement and how those considering starting their own businesses can make that transition in a healthy and exciting way.
As a business owner you have a lot of decisions to make. Choosing the right retirement plan can maximize retirement savings and tax advantages for solo operators and provide valuable employee benefits and retention for companies with staff. In this episode, Ben and Zach break down a few simple questions you can ask to help determine what benefits you really want to offer and what type of plan may suit you best.
We care about our friends working in the non-profit world! We have run into a common misconception that those working in this area probably can't afford access to professional wealth management and, while we don't believe this is necessarily true, this episode is to help start bridging that gap. The steps we take in planning for non-profit workers are likely similar to an average client with 2 main differences. first we acknowledge that the reason for your career choice may come from something quite different than the highest pay check and second, each step becomes much more important if you're committing to a field with a lower salary cap than a corporate equivalent.
In this episode, Ben and Zach break down the basics of Investing 101 to get you up to speed and graduate to Investing 102 - how to put it into action.
How can we set better goals that are actually tied to where we want to be in the future? In this episode, Ben and Zach discuss how different types of goals may be put to work for you in your planning. You’ll hear about the difference between dreams, goals and vision, why 5-year goals may be the crucial time frame that gets overlooked, and a few exercises to help you get to yours.
There's still time left in the year to make a few smart tax moves. In this episode, Ben and Zach run through their easiest tips to reduce your tax bill and optimize your goals. Remember, tax planning happens throughout the year, not just on April 15.
What does it mean for a purchase to be "worth it?" We have all experienced the tension that comes from a desire to buy something without being sure of its value or the regret of a purchase that didn't turn out well. In this episode, Ben and Zach reflect on their experiences in finance to think through what it means to put your money into things or experiences that you will value today and in the long run.
The goal of The Dollar Derail is to offer better questions about dealing with money. In this episode, Ben and Zach take a closer look at what it really means to look past the first question, the most urgent questions, and the immediate decisions and why it's so important to look for the second level impact of your financial choices. Asking better questions means setting yourself up for success by understanding the subsequent effects of your financial decisions.
As people of faith, as stewards, and as professional advisors, we think it's important to seriously consider how our money relates to what we believe. In this episode, Ben and Zach talk about the modern idea of retirement in light of what the Bible says. We work through questions about accumulating wealth, giving generously, and what living well in retirement may mean for you.
Open Enrollment can feel like a high pressure time to try to understand your company's benefits and figure out how to make the most of them. In this episode, Ben and Zach talk through the common benefits they review during open enrollment and a few ways to make the most of your health, life, and disability benefits through work.
Do you ever put off getting projects or repairs done because you think you should be doing it yourself? Are you strapped for time with the family but also have a long list of chores to do (or wish were done)? Today we're talking through how we, as professional financial advisors, view assigning value to your time and a few ways to help make decisions you can feel good about when it comes to paying for work or doing it yourself.
As we've discussed in previous episodes, we think there is a strong case for doing your regular spending on a credit card. However, between points, cash back, and introductory offers, shopping for a credit card can feel as overwhelming as managing your budget itself. In this episode, Ben and Zach discuss how to make the most of your credit card's benefits and, possibly more importantly, when to stop caring and go about your business as usual.
Most of the people that Ben and Zach work with are generous, so they talk a lot about giving. However, the decision to give money away isn't the same as the decision of HOW to give money away. In this episode, Ben and Zach unpack this complex topic to explore ways you may be able to optimize you charitable giving for both your family and the causes you want to support.
How you build your portfolio reflects your goals and your beliefs. The decision to invest in precious metals may stem from an opinion on portfolio design, a perspective on future events, or some combination of the two. In this episode, Ben and Zach discuss the reasons that drive including gold in a portfolio and why it may or may not make sense for you.
If you're hung up on how to begin saving for retirement, remember, the key is to get started! On the other hand, once you've committed to saving for the long term, choosing between a Roth and traditional IRA can be surprisingly nuanced. In this episode, Ben and Zach break down the differences in a straightforward way so that you can make better choices for yourself and your family on your path to building wealth.