Money Girl

4.6 (1.8K)
Investing
Updated Weekly

Laura Adams provides short and friendly personal finance, small business, real estate, and investing tips to help you live a richer life. Whether you're just starting out or are already a savvy investor, Money Girl's advice will point you in the right direction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1d ago

How to use a Roth conversion ladder for tax-free income

1060. Dreaming of retiring early or taking an extended career break, but worried your money is locked away until age 59.5? Host Laura Adams explains a powerful strategy to retire early and avoid expensive penalties. Key Takeaways A Roth conversion ladder allows early retirees to move tax-deferred funds into a Roth IRA and access the converted amount tax- and penalty-free before 59.5.Each Roth conversion requires a separate five-year waiting period before you can withdraw it penalty-free.Building a Roth conversion "ladder" means executing annual conversions so that starting in year six, you unlock a new amount of penalty-free funds to spend.Doing Roth conversions in low-income years, such as at the start of early retirement, allows you to pay less income tax.Have a plan to pay taxes on a Roth conversion from savings or a taxable brokerage account and not from your retirement account.Be aware that having higher income due to a Roth conversion could inadvertently reduce ACA health care subsidies.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
6d ago

How do I save more, pay off debt, and stop overspending? With Courtney Alev

1059. Host Laura Adams sits down with Courtney Alev, Consumer Financial Advocate and Director of Product Management for TurboTax. They discuss real listener questions about budgeting, tax refund strategies, and paying down debt. You’ll learn strategies and tips for saving more, managing debt wisely, adjusting tax withholding, and curbing impulse spending to improve your financial life. Key Takeaways Treat savings like an essential bill or subscription by automatically transferring even a small amount into a dedicated savings account every payday before paying other expenses.Tracking your total monthly spending is the best way to take control of your cash flow and see where small cuts can make a big difference.Rent is the maximum you might pay per month, but a mortgage is the minimum, due to property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and unexpected repair costs.A large tax refund means you overpaid taxes throughout the year; however, you may be able to adjust your W-4 withholding for higher monthly paychecks.Tackle credit card balances from highest to lowest interest rate to save the most money over time.Pause for at least 24 hours before making a non-essential purchase over a certain amount to help eliminate impulse purchases. Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 14

How do I find and hire the right financial advisor? (Reissue)

952. Not sure whether you need a financial advisor, or which kind to look for? Laura Adams explains the seven types of financial professionals: bankers, insurance agents, tax accountants, estate attorneys, stockbrokers, registered investment advisors (RIAs), and certified financial planners (CFPs). She covers what each one does, how each is paid, and which are fiduciaries legally required to act in your best interest. You'll learn the difference between fee-only, fee-based, and commission-based advisors, and how to spot conflicts of interest. Laura also shares where to search for and verify credentials, including LetsMakeAPlan.org, FINRA.org, AdviserInfo.SEC.gov, the IRS preparer search tool, and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. She closes with a list of questions to ask in a first meeting. These are especially helpful after a windfall, a new business, a divorce, a growing family, or when you're planning for retirement. This episode originally ran in August 2025. Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 9

Bonds are back–should I own more of them?

1058. With 10-year U.S. Treasury yields above 5.3%, many investors are asking if they should ditch stocks and play it safe with fixed income. Host Laura Adams answers a listener’s question about investing when retirement is ten years away. You’ll learn the basics of bonds and how to use a three-bucket strategy to lower risk without giving up long-term growth. Key Takeaways A bond is a loan an investor gives an entity (like the federal government, a local municipality, or a corporation) in exchange for interest payments over a period.10-year U.S. Treasury bond yields have climbed above 5.3%, their highest rate in decades, providing an inflation-adjusted return of about 2%.The longer the maturity of a bond, the higher its interest rate will be. You can buy individual bonds or bond funds, which are diversified and an easy way to buy a preset portfolio of bonds from brokerages and investment platforms. Owning individual bonds to maturity eliminates price fluctuation risk, where a bond’s price shifts based on interest rates. Retirees can benefit from structuring their portfolio into three buckets: cash, bonds, and stocks, to protect against potential market losses. Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 7

Flight canceled? Know your air passenger rights

1057. Few things are more frustrating than learning your flight has been canceled. But do you know what you’re legally entitled to when an airline grounds your plane? Host Laura Adams breaks down your rights as an air traveler and explains how to protect your wallet when flights get disrupted. Key Takeaways If an airline cancels your flight or changes your schedule by more than three hours domestically or six hours internationally, you’re entitled to a full refund if you choose not to rebook.Research your options using airline apps, by calling their domestic or international customer service, or by messaging their social media.Airlines are not required to issue vouchers for delays caused by factors they can’t control, such as severe weather, air traffic control shutdowns, cyberattacks, or unscheduled safety maintenance.Paying for your flight or award ticket taxes with a card that offers travel protections can help offset unexpected hotels, ground transportation, meals, and toiletries when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed.To claim credit card travel protections, request a "Statement of Delay" from the airline and keep itemized receipts for every expense.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 2

How to buy a home when you already own one

1056. Should you buy your next home before selling your current one, or is it safer to sell first? How does an existing mortgage impact your ability to qualify for a new loan, and where should your down payment actually come from? Host Laura Adams answers a listener’s questions about navigating the tricky logistics of moving and whether to convert her current house into a rental property. Key Takeaways You can source your down payment from savings, home sale proceeds, a pre-arranged home equity line of credit (HELOC), or a short-term bridge loan.Carrying two mortgages at once counts toward a lender’s debt-to-income (DTI) ratio for underwriting.If you convert your primary home into a rental property, most lenders allow you to use 75% of rental income (backed by a signed lease) to offset your existing mortgage when qualifying for a new loan.A leaseback agreement allows you to sell your home, receive cash proceeds on closing day, and remain in the home as a tenant for up to 60 days.Holding two properties simultaneously usually requires higher credit scores and cash reserves. Consult a mortgage expert to calculate your exact borrowing limits under different scenarios before placing offers or listing your property on the market.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30

How to accelerate your wealth, with Natasha Madan

1055. Host Laura Adams interviews Natasha Madan, CMO and consumer advocate at Credit Karma, about the financial habits of Gen Z, credit myths, and wise ways to use AI tools. You’ll learn practical strategies to optimize your credit, get the best interest rates, and build wealth faster. Key Takeaways Taking small, consistent actions, such as reducing your credit utilization or consolidating high-interest debt, adds up to slowly improve your finances.Paying bills on time and paying off credit card balances in full every month are ways to build credit without accruing interest charges.Beyond getting loans at lower interest rates, credit scores affect other parts of your finances, like your insurance rates (in most states) and whether you can rent a home or apartment.Always check and optimize your credit months ahead of applying for a major loan (like a mortgage or auto loan) so you can get approved for a competitive interest rate and cut interest.Younger generations, like Gen Z, want to enjoy life and plan wisely for the future, instead of sacrificing too much in the present moment.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 25

4 safe strategies for a mid-career pivot

1054. Are you comfortable in your career but longing for change? Or maybe you want the freedom to move anywhere in the country without taking a financial step backward? Host Laura Adams answers a listener’s question about safe ways to pivot to a new career with a high earning potential and geographic flexibility. Key Takeaways: Break down your existing career expertise into hard skills (core work functions), soft skills (interpersonal abilities), and system skills (software tools and digital platforms) that you can use in a new career.Consider high-demand sectors that exist throughout the US for maximum flexibility, such as healthcare, financial services, insurance, real estate, cybersecurity, and information technology, or fully remote roles.Validate your interest in a new field by conducting informational interviews, shadowing professionals, and taking introductory online coursework before resigning from your current position.Never judge a relocation offer solely on the gross salary figure; always account for the region’s cost-of-living, housing affordability, and state income taxes to understand your net take-home pay.Keep a separate cash cushion outside of your emergency savings to cover upskilling courses, licensing fees, income gaps, and relocation costs. Related Episodes 753 1025 1000 999 Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: Laura@LauraDAdams.com or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Laura Adams

Host
Natasha Madan

Guest

4.6

out of 5

1,838 Ratings

Very helpful!

Oct 13

ljkort

I’ve been listening for the last few months and appreciate the tips! I’m also glad the episodes aren’t too long!
🙄🙄

Jun 25

JustAnotherHeather

In the latest episode on summer travel hacks she plugs Dollar General SO HARD like the most obvious product placement and even though this is clearly an ad, she doesn’t come out and identify it as one. That sucks! If you’re budget-minded you know that dollar stores are not great, for your budget or the neighborhood. Done listening to that episode and I’m not sure I can trust Laura’s info to be objective moving forward. Oof!
Definitely not non partisan

07/22/2025

Vallelj

Why would you call the recent tax bill “One Big Beautiful Bill” over and over like you have so much glee about this harmful bill? You could have referenced it once with this ridiculous and nonsensical name, and then called it by its neutral legislative name of H.R.1. You also did not outline all of the negative impacts this bill will have. Can’t follow someone who clearly is a MAGA who wants to eat their cake and watch others suffer.
Where’s Laura???

11/19/2024

Rebecca VF

Who is this new lady? She doesn’t even have a name. What’s going on here?

Laura Adams provides short and friendly personal finance, small business, real estate, and investing tips to help you live a richer life. Whether you're just starting out or are already a savvy investor, Money Girl's advice will point you in the right direction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.