The Investor Coaching Show with Paul Winkler

WATCH OUT: Scammers Are Using QR Codes to Steal Your Personal Information

Paul and Ira talk about an article from the Federal Trade Commission about scammers using QR codes to steal your personal information. After Paul received a piece of mail with a QR code on it last week that seemingly offered a deal on something if he scanned it, he warns that these codes can be used for more than just easy access to a website. Later in the episode, Paul talks about a snapchat feature that is feeding the insecurities of teens. 

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

Target Date Funds Are Bad Default Investments — Here’s Why

The whole premise behind Target Date Funds is that investors only need to choose a date they want to retire and then check out of the investing process. What’s worse is that all the major companies market these products as long term investment, but barely include any of the asset categories that have historically performed the best over long periods of time. Today, Paul and Ira talk about why the default investment of your 401(k) is likely a bad option and why many American workers are being set up to work past the date of their target date fund. Later in the episode, Paul talks about the reality of retirement for single women in America and the challenges that arise from lower pay, longer life expectancy, and no partner.  

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

Paul Sets the Record Straight on How Much Crypto You Should Have in Your Portfolio

Paul was mentioned on the radio early this week by Matt Murphy who pretty accurately characterizes Paul’s thoughts on crypto in your portfolio: you shouldn’t have any. Paul wants to set the record straight because he’s heard some misinformation about his thoughts on crypto. He likens having crypto in your portfolio to having arsenic in your diet — it’s just not a good idea. Listen along as Paul explains where the misinformation about crypto is coming from, if crypto is a currency or an investment, and what people need to know to avoid this kind of trap. In the second half of the episode, Paul talks about Bitcoin, the gold standard, and the current US Dollar, and explains why we have moved away from our currency’s value being determined by the value of a commodity. 

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

International Stocks Returns vs. CD Interest Rates — It Doesn’t Add Up

After a few years of inflation, CD interest rates have risen up to around 5%. This has an investor asking Paul why he would take the risk to invest in market segments with historic 5% returns, like international companies, when he could just recommend CDs instead. Paul explains why you can’t compare the average return of international stocks over 20+ years to the return of CDs for the next few years – it just doesn’t add up.

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

The Financial Industry Is Not Trustworthy

Paul wants to make it clear: you can’t trust the financial industry. It’s their job to sell products, and they do it by telling you something you want to hear and giving you part of the truth about their products. It’s your job to be an informed investor and not fall for these sales pitches. Today, Paul walks through a few products being sold that he saw in the news this week and talks about investors he knows who have gotten hurt from falling for these kinds of headlines. Paul urges investors to get smart and get involved in the process. Later in the episode, Paul talks about how it was hard to convince people to diversify in the 90s because of a huge run with large US stocks and why investors usually aren’t able to make a wise decision until after they’ve made a costly mistake. 

 

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

A Look Into a Financial Stewardship Class with Paul Winkler

Paul taught a financial stewardship class at Trevecca earlier this month and was surprised at some of the questions students brought about investing and financial stewardship. Listen along as Paul shares some of the best questions from this class with Ira Work and his answers, to give you a look into what a financial stewardship class with Paul would look like. 

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

You Didn’t Take a Loss, But Your Portfolio Still Failed

Paul and Ira talk about how ubiquitous market timing is in the investment industry and how investors never really know how to measure whether or not their portfolios are successful. The reality is that a portfolio can go up 190% in 20 years and underperform the worst asset category during that time. Companies don’t usually educate investors about risk and return in investing, and instead they try to use track records and fund ratings to push products that make them the most money.

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

Insurance Companies Penalize You for Needing Insurance

More and more people either can’t afford, can’t qualify for, or get dropped from their homeowners and auto insurance plans and are forced to get state insurance plans. Today, Paul and Ira talk about why having a rental property that needs a new roof and being in an accident that wasn’t your fault can be enough to get you dropped by an insurance company. Paul thinks it’s important to be an educated consumer and talks about insurance in the United States right now. The unfortunate reality is that insurance companies usually penalize you for using your insurance and there are some steps you can take to mitigate risk. Later in the episode, Paul talks about State Farm dropping 72,000 homeowners insurance policies in California and how to search for unclaimed property that may belong to you. 

For more information about what we do or how we can help you, schedule a 15-minute call with us here: paulwinkler.com/call.

Tax Planning Through The Four Phases of Retirement (Part 2)

How much you save for retirement is important, but what’s more important is how much you will get to keep. In a two-part episode, Paul recaps a recent workshop he taught on taxes called “Tax Planning Through The Four Phases of Retirement”. Paul covers the different kinds of taxable retirement accounts and programs like social security and medicare so that you can avoid unnecessary taxes and relax about money.

You can watch this workshop along with many others by visiting paulwinkler.com/webinar.

Tax Planning Through the Four Phases of Retirement (Part 1)

How much you save for retirement is important, but what’s just as important is how much you will get to keep. In this two-part episode, Paul recaps a recent workshop he taught on taxes called “Tax Planning Through the Four Phases of Retirement.” Paul covers the different kinds of taxable retirement accounts and programs like Social Security and Medicare so that you can avoid unnecessary taxes and relax about money.

 

You can watch this workshop along with many others by visiting paulwinkler.com/webinar.