Thursday
Apr012010

Know your purpose

Did the 2008 financial earthquake flatten your portfolio? Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss the first step in building a portfolio that can withstand the next financial earthquake. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Time: 77 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Wednesday
Mar242010

Lessons from Haiti

The devastation in Haiti is a stark reminder that we ignore building codes at our own peril. Likewise, portfolios need to be built on proper foundations following proven principles. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown launch a series of broadcasts that will teach listeners how to properly structure their portfolios. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Time: 82 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Mar182010

Never too early for tax planning

With April 15th fast approaching, most people are rushing to finish their 2009 taxes. But the smart people know that now is a great time to start tax planning for next year. Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown welcome you to the 2010 tax season. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Time: 79 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Mar112010

A great time to start a business

Hard times can spell opportunity for those who know where to look. Just ask the founders of Disney, Hewlett Packard and Microsoft. These companies, and many other corporate juggernauts, were actually started during very difficult times. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss why this might be a great time to start a business. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. Time: 82 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Monday
Mar082010

Should I buy or lease that new car?

Have you ever wondered about those attractive looking car leases? Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown answer a listener's question: should I buy or lease? Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, March 3, 2010. Time: 81 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Feb252010

Watch out for debt relief scams

Commercials for debt relief companies are all over the place. Some are legit, but some are scams. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss how to tell the difference. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday February 24, 2010. Time: 79 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode

Wednesday
Feb242010

Why you should dump your broker.

Choosing the right financial advisor is one of the most important financial decisions most people make.  Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss why you should look to a fee-only advisor if you want unbiased financial advice. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday February 17, 2010. Time: 83 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Feb112010

Save it for a rainy day

Rainy weather on the west coast and blizzards on the east coast remind us that rainy days do come and we need to be prepared for them.  A cash reserve gives us resilience to deal with life's unexpected twists and turns. But how much should we have on reserve? Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown talk about the importance of a rainy day fund. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Time: 77 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Wednesday
Feb032010

Make your heirs wealthy

Passing wealth from one generation to the next can be tricky. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown talk about how a clear understanding of wealth can help you protect your heirs from becoming financial zombies. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, February 3 2010. Time: 77 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Wednesday
Jan272010

What is wealth?

Most people understand that wealth is more than money. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss the three elements that comprise real wealth. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, January 27, 2010. Time: 78 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Wednesday
Jan202010

The real story about gold

Based on the hype you hear on TV, a lot of investors are suffering from gold fever. Listen as Steve Merrell and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss a couple of important facts smart investors should consider before speculating on gold. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Time: 78 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Jan142010

Take time for taxes

Congress responded to the Great Recession of 2008 by piling on all kinds of tax deductions and tax credits. Listen as Steve and KWAV's Barry Brown talk about why it may pay you to be a little extra careful with your tax return this year. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. Time: 78 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Jan072010

Roth conversion? Bad idea.

There's a lot of talk about the benefits of converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The only problem is a conversion will probably cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wealth. Listen as Steve and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss the Roth conversion trap. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, January 6, 2009. Time: 80 seconds. Click here for a related post.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Dec312009

Invasion of the identity snatchers

Identity theft has become a nightmare for millions of American and the problem is getting worse. Steve and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss some simple steps to help you protect yourself. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, December 30, 2009. Time: 81 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Dec172009

Protect yourself from inflation

It has been a long time since most Americans had to worry about inflation, but that may soon change. Listen as Steve and KWAV's Barry Brown talk about simple strategies to protect your nest egg from potential inflation. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Time: 78 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Dec102009

A guilt-free holiday season

While the holidays are a time for joyful celebration, they can also bring a lot of emotional stress. Listen while Steve and KWAV's Barry Brown discuss how to keep financial guilt from intruding on your holidays. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Time: 79 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Dec032009

Learning to give well

Giving well means more than giving money. Giving is done well when it stretches us and changes us. Listen as Steve discusses learning to give well with KWAV's Barry Brown. Broadcast on KWAV 97 FM on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. Time 81 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Wednesday
Nov252009

Give more, get more

Listen as Steve shares his best piece of financial advice and learn why it really is better to give than to receive. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. Time: 77 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.

Friday
Nov202009

Qualifying for a mortgage

The world has changed. Buying a new home looks pretty good right now, but getting a mortgage can be tricky. Listen as Steve and Barry talk about what lenders are looking for in the post-meltdown world. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Time: 84 seconds

Click here to listen to this episode.

Thursday
Nov122009

The "new & improved" home buyer tax credit

Steve and Barry talk about the new and improved homebuyer tax credit passed last week. Listen in and find out why this is a great time to buy a house. Broadcast on KWAV 97FM on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. Time: 76 seconds.

Click here to listen to this episode.