Author: troyashbacher

In a world of crypto volatility, gig-economy side hustles, and AI-driven investing apps, timeless wisdom often gets overlooked.Yet the Bible—written thousands of years before compound interest calculators existed—contains financial principles that remain remarkably relevant in 2025.These aren’t prosperity-gospel shortcuts or get-rich-quick schemes. They’re practical, counter-cultural guidelines that have helped generations build wealth with integrity.Whether you’re paying off student loans, saving for a home in a high-interest-rate environment, or planning retirement amid economic uncertainty, these seven biblical money principles can serve as your financial north star.1. Contentment Over Comparison“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what…

In today’s episode, we’re tackling a wide range of listener questions. We’ll break down the pros and cons of reinvesting dividends automatically vs. manually, explore how to balance the risk of relying on a pension and 457(b) without over-saving for retirement, and discuss whether side-gig income warrants forming an LLC or carrying separate insurance. We’ll also address common 1099 pitfalls and wrap up with some timely guidance on 401(k) decisions.   Reinvesting Dividends  “Hi WCI team, this is Matt from Florida. I was wondering if you could speak to the pros and cons of reinvesting your dividends automatically vs. having…

Budget By Paycheck Vs Budget By Month (Which Is Best?) – Penny Pinchin’ Mom Facebook Pinterest Twitter

Selling continued on Wall Street to start Friday, with sentiment taking a hit from lofty equities valuations and the ongoing government shutdown. But two of the three main indexes finished in positive territory as media reports refreshed hope that the funding standoff could end sooner rather than later.The October jobs report was slated to be released today, but due to the government shutdown, the data are delayed for a second month in a row. Based on the private data we’ve seen, Comerica Chief Economist Bill Adams believes “employment likely fell in October as weak private hiring failed to offset a…

Key Takeaways Median monthly housing costs for homeowners with a mortgage rose to $2,035 in 2024, and median gross rent reached $1,487, outpacing the rate of inflation. These costs are 43% (homeowners) and 31% (renters) of the median household income, both higher than the 28% that financial experts recommend for housing costs. A household earning $5,000 per month ($60,000 per year) before taxes should aim to spend no more than $1,400 on monthly housing costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities). Financial experts recommend spending no more than 28% of your monthly pre-tax income on housing costs. But…

Another awesome deal on shoes from Target.  You can save 40% off all sorts of styles for the entire family.  These little toddler boots are so cute and only $12 after discount.  Perfect with dresses for the holidays.  There are also rainboots, dress shoes, sneakers and more. The Ugg dupe mini boots are $24 and the dupe Boston Clogs are the lowest price I have seen at $18. Click here to see all the shoes on sale- the sale ends today (11/8). 

I’ve been practicing elder law for decades, and I’ve sat at too many kitchen tables explaining one hard truth: A marriage license isn’t just a piece of paper. It unlocks a long list of legal rights and protections that unmarried couples simply don’t get despite how long they’ve been together.For same-sex couples who aren’t married, the gap between what you think happens and what the law actually says can be huge.When something goes wrong, such as an illness or death, that gap can swallow everything you’ve built together. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Be a smarter, better…

[EDITOR’S NOTE: At year’s end, experienced builders want to finish clearing their inventory, and savvy real estate investors often take advantage of reduced prices and better terms. That’s what Southern Impression Homes is offering right now—and you could be the one to win out! Through the end of 2025, Southern Impression Homes is offering discounted pricing and unheard-of financial incentives for newly constructed build-to-rent homes. This is direct ownership at a reduced price, and it could end your year on exactly the right note with tax depreciation and cash flow. Check out Southern Impression Homes and the deals being offered…

By Dr. Jim Dahle, WCI Founder I received a question recently via email from a WCIer: “I have a brokerage account and invest in low-cost index funds like the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX). I have been speaking to a Fidelity ‘advisor’ who is recommending that I transfer money from my brokerage account to a Separately Managed Account (SMA) for the tax savings and [a] better net return. The ‘advisor’ claims that despite these low-cost index funds having low expense ratios, they have significant tax burden that an SMA account can mitigate. The problem for me is that the SMA…

Enjoy the current installment of “Weekend Reading For Financial Planners” – this week’s edition kicks off with the news that while the Securities and Exchange Commission has withdrawn several rules proposed under previous Chair Gary Gensler (regarding firms’ use of outsourcing custody, and the use of predictive analytics), some compliance experts suggest that an assumption that the regulator might take a lighter touch when it comes to examinations and enforcement might be misguided, highlighting several enforcement actions taken this year (related to breach of fiduciary duty, failure to disclose conflicts of interest, Reg S-P violations, and violations of the SEC’s…