Independent, Fee-Only Financial Advisor

Independent, Fee-Only Financial Advisor

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Slow News Day

This episode of MPB's Money Talks originally aired July 23, 2019 and will be available online at http://www.mpbonline.org/moneytalks/

Tuesday's radio show didn't offer too much in terms of planned content, but as usual, our callers filled the show with excellent questions and insightful comments. You can tune in on Tuesdays at 9am to MPB, listen live online or hear the past episode as a podcast here.

Our planned topic was discussing a few back to school tidbits. Mississippi has an upcoming Sales Tax Holiday that aims at school supplies and clothes. This applies to specified items priced less than $100.

Our first caller, Dean, asked if camouflage counted in the sales tax holiday. I noted that a lot of clothing items were allowed, and it didn't specify the pattern or fashion. Hunting vests are also specifically allowed. Relevant to this, Mississippi also has a second amendment sales tax holiday coming up on August 30th. On this holiday, purchase of items related to the second amendment (guns, in the vernacular, though hunting supplies are also included) do not have sales tax due. This holiday does not have the dollar restrictions that school supplies have.

Our second caller took us back to one of the most popular topics: student loans. Sheila is retired, but still paying on a Parent Plus loan from her child's college career, over 20 years ago. She is paying only 4% interest (low!) and it is a consolidated loan. I recommended trying an income driven loan which would give her the lowest payment if there was a financial burden. She said her only income was social security. Income Driven Repayment plans limit your repayment to a percentage of your income over and above 150% the poverty level. As an example, if our caller received $2,000/mo from social security, that would be an annual income of $24,000. 150% of the poverty level is about $18,000, her income beyond that would be about $6,000. If the IDR limited her payment to 15% of that amount, her total payment would be about $900/year or about $75/mo.

A later caller recommended that she make her children pay for those loans! While this is a great point, the loans are likely legally all in Sheila's name, if the children missed a payment, it would still be her responsibility to make. This is a good reminder to carefully plan for your children's college needs, and reach an understanding with them about how it will be paid for. Generally, student loans should be kept in the student's name as much as possible as they will have the flexibility of repayment plans that fit their own income.

We had a caller, Mary, who called on behalf of her nephew. He was turning 21, at which point about $30,000 from a guardianship would come to his own name. He is currently in college and receives  scholarships. He wants to use some of the money to buy a car, but is interest in setting some aside for the long term. The desire to go ahead and get started investing is very laudatory, but I cautioned that he should make sure he has cash set aside as well. Nancy recommended that if he works at all, he should set aside money for a Roth IRA. With a Roth IRA you can put up to $6,000, or your earned income, whichever is less. If he had a summer job and earned $4,000, he could put $4,000 into a Roth IRA. After the call, I realized that others in a similar situation may need to be careful too make sure that the change of ownership of the money did not affect their financial aid situation.

Our last caller was Roderick, who had questions about a 401(k). He asked about the tax treatment of employer match funds in the 401(k). They are generally tax deferred and therefore also count as income when they are withdrawn.

Don't forget to tune in or subscribe to Money Talks at 9 AM every Tuesday on Mississippi Public Broadcasting, or online at http://www.mpbonline.org/moneytalks/. This episode is available online.


I Want It and I Want It Now

by Joseph Martin
All I wanted was another 4Runner. Having previously owned a 4Runner and traveled across the country in it, from the beaches of Washington State, to the mountains of Montana, and down to the Port of Miami, the “Dark Knight” never failed me. Yes, I named my car after Batman. Laugh all you want, but I loved that car. It was the perfect fit for me and my backcountry adventures. It seemed fitting that the only thing that could replace the “Dark Knight” was another 4Runner. So, my quest for my next 21stcentury steed began. 

The Dark Knight, my former steed and constant companion.
Having located the exact car I wanted, with the color, trim, and all the bells and whistles I wished for, next, I had to figure out how to pay for it. If you’re willing and able to throw down some cash, buying a vehicle in its entirety in cash will negate many of these anxieties. However, only about 10-15% of all car buyers have the cash to do this.
As it is 2019, I could not simply barter my way through the purchase of this new steed. Financing was my option. However, there are a multitude of options available when choosing a loan, be it a local bank or a dealership. The rate offered by the dealership or that of a local bank may vary drastically. So again, check all options.
Be sure to have an up to date idea of where you stand in regards to your credit score, as this will significantly impact the rate you will receive. These rates may vary from 0% up to 16% APY, depending on your credit standing. Currently, average car loan rates are sitting around 4% to 6% APY for Good to Fair credit. This is another important piece of information that ought not to be overlooked. The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to receive a lower rate on your car loan, so shop around for loans.
As a majority of buyers bear the burden of paying monthly car notes, choosing the right financing option will determine the weight of the monthly note monkey on your back. Many of us could care less about the long term costs. I wanted what I wanted, and I wanted it now. At least for myself, all I cared about was getting my new “Dark Knight” at the lowest monthly cost. Be thorough in your pursuit and this monkey of a car note can feel like cute little Curious George. Don’t, and it may feel like the wrath of King Kong is upon you. 
The longer the term of the loan, the lower the monthly payment. However, the longer the term, the higher the cumulative amount of interest will be. So, here lies a trade off in pursuing a deal which offers the lowest monthly payment or opting for a shorter term to reduce cumulative interest.
Assume the following: you’re seeking to buy a $30,000 vehicle and making a $5,000 down payment. Below are a few examples of common financing options, with both average and high rates. You can calculate payments with your own parameters using the cars.com calculator.
  • 48 month @ 10% = $634 per month, $5,436 total interest paid
  • 72 month @ 10%= $463 per month, $8,350 total interest paid
  • 48 months @ 5%= $576 per month, $2,631 total interest paid
  • 72 month @ 5%= $403 per month, $3,983 total interest paid

In addition to financing a new vehicle, leasing is another option. Leasing is often chosen as it offers the lowest monthly payment; however, the vehicle is not yours, and leases often come with stipulations. These may include mileage ceilings or exit costs. As you can imagine, mileage limits would not be an ideal fit for me and my cross country voyages. 
I had considered all options, done my investigation, and the time had come to for a decision to be made. A shorter term and lower rate loan with a higher monthly note for a used vehicle? Or a longer term slightly higher rate loan with a lower monthly note for a new vehicle? Cumulatively, the used vehicle would have demanded less interest paid, but have you ever smelled a new car? 
Personally, I opted for an extended term 72 month loan on a new vehicle financed through the dealership at 5.6% I chose this option because it offered the lowest monthly payment. That’s all we care about, right? Searching for the lowest monthly payment was my way of ensuring the steed of my choosing had a place in my stable. All things considered, I could have received a 4.59% rate on a used vehicle from my local bank. However, although the bank offered a lower rate, its term options were significantly shorter causing the monthly note to exceed that of a new vehicle financed through the dealership at a higher rate. 
Not only do I encourage you to make your own inquiries surrounding loans, terms, and rates, but it is important also to consider costs that come with purchasing a new vehicle in addition to the vehicle itself. These include tax, title, insurance, tag, fuel, and maintenance fees. Depending on the vehicle chosen and location of registration, these expenses can be surprisingly high if not prepared. Often, a county will provide a rough idea of the amount of your tag on their websites. Be sure to check these expenses in advance, or you may find yourself in a hole. 
Furthermore, dealerships often offer exclusive deals which are often not available through used and secondary dealers. These may include special financing options and rebates. I chose a new vehicle that offered a significant dealer offered rebate. Additionally, I simultaneously happened to qualify for a bonus rebate being a recent college graduate. These are a few advantages that may come from purchasing a new vehicle directly from the dealership that otherwise would have been overlooked in purchasing a used vehicle.
When considering purchasing options and deciding financing terms, choose an option that optimally suits your economic standing. Make sure to choose an option that allows you to live comfortably within your means. Do not stretch yourself too thin. Buying a thoroughbred when truly you can hardly afford a donkey will end badly. I hope you keep these suggestions in mind, and I wish you luck in finding the “Dark Knight” of your own. 

Money Notes 17 - Starting a Business

Here is the seventeenth episode of our podcast series: Money Notes!



In this episode, Nancy and Ryder discuss how you can be your own boss and some technical aspects of starting a business.

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Money Notes 16 - Excuses for Not Saving or Investing

Here is the sixteenth episode of our podcast series: Money Notes!



In this episode, Amy and Nancy encourage you to get over those hurdles and start saving now!

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Money Notes 15 - Compound Interest

Here is the fifteenth episode of our podcast series: Money Notes!



In this episode, Ryder and Joseph discuss how your money can make money for you through the miracle of compounding.

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Money Notes 14 - Financial Apps

Here is the fourteenth episode of our podcast series: Money Notes!



In this episode, Ryder and Joseph discuss what apps you might use to manage your financial life.

Download Money Notes Episode 14 - Financial Apps here!

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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Money Notes Episode 13 - Giving as Grandparents

Here is the thirteenth episode of our podcast series: Money Notes!



In this episode, Nancy and Ryder talk about how grandparents can give money to their grandchildren and children. For many grandparents, this will outline gifting issues, control and estate planning aspects.

Download Money Notes Episode 13 - Giving as Grandparents here!

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