Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Episode 1371: Planning for Social Security | S1E20 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:16:32 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks presents an overview of Social Security planning, emphasizing that claiming age and strategy can materially affect lifetime retirement income.

Episode 1370: Does Your Spouse Know What To Do When You Pass? | S1E19 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:12:32 +0000

In this episode, Gregory discusses how surviving spouses can manage finances and estate matters after a partner's death. Gregory emphasized that both spouses should participate in financial-planning meetings, understand the plan, and know whom to contact.

Episode 1369: Common Misconceptions About Annuities | S1E18 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 17:00:49 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks talks about how retirement planning should blend market investments with fixed annuities rather than relying on anti-annuity assumptions.

Episode 1368: The Mid Year Financial Checklist | S1E17 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:54:18 +0000

Gregory Ricks provides a mid-year financial checklist to help individuals and business owners assess their goals, savings, and preparedness. He outlines several key areas for individual financial checkups and identifies several frequent errors that can hinder long-term wealth.

Episode 1367: Blending Investments and Annuities | S1E16 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:50:06 +0000

Gregory Ricks discusses a new Investopedia study regarding the benefits of blending market investments with annuities to mitigate retirement risks. Gregory highlights the dangers of volatility and "sequence of return risk," which occurs when poor market returns during the early years of retirement permanently drain savings. This risk is exacerbated when retirees are forced to sell assets at a loss to cover living expenses, leaving fewer assets to participate in future market growth. The discussion emphasizes that the first five to ten years of retirement are particularly critical for protecting account balances.

Episode 1366: A Deeper Dive Into Trump Accounts Pt. 2 | S1E15 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:42:53 +0000

Are Trump accounts the right move for your child’s future or your family’s financial goals? In this episode, Gregory Ricks takes a deeper dive into Trump accounts—how they work, who can contribute, how taxes apply, and how they compare to popular savings options like 529 plans, UTMA, and UGMA accounts.

Episode 1365: The Business of Land Acquisition | S1E14 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:34:30 +0000

Gregory Ricks hosts the Winning at Life podcast, featuring Pat Huber from First South Farm Credit. They discuss the benefits of buying land, including recreational and investment purposes. First South Farm Credit, a cooperative established in 1916, finances rural America and returns profits to borrowers. They offer flexible loan terms from one day to 30 years, tailored to borrowers' income cycles. Pat shares examples of loans for land acquisition, including buying out family members and financing timber sales. Gregory emphasizes the importance of financial planning and resources available through his firm, Gregory Ricks Total Wealth.

Episode 1364: A Deep Dive into Trump Accounts | S1E13 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:57:57 +0000

Gregory Ricks discusses the complexities of Trump accounts, a new tax-deferred savings vehicle for children. Contributions include a one-time $1,000 seed from the federal government for children born between 2025 and 2028, individual contributions up to $5,000 annually (indexed for inflation), employer contributions up to $2,500 per year, and contributions from tax-exempt organizations without a limit.

Episode 1363: How Social Security Calculates Retirement Benefits | S1E12 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:25:02 +0000

How Does Social Security Calculate Your Retirement Benefit?
Confused about how Social Security figures out your benefits? Gregory breaks it down in simple, clear terms—covering the 35-year rule, inflation adjustments, and common questions about maximizing your retirement income.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...

Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

Episode 1362: The Color of Money: Why Asset Allocation Matters | S1E11 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:03:45 +0000

In Episode 11 of the Winning at Life Podcast, Gregory Ricks explores why your investment success depends more on strategic asset allocation than trying to time the market. Gregory breaks down why chasing market highs and lows is a losing game—even for the pros—and shows how a well-balanced portfolio built around your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon may give you more reliable, long-term results.

Drawing on historical market data, he explains the importance of staying invested, compounding early and often, and diversifying—not just by stocks and bonds, but across asset types, from growth to liquidity to protection (the “primary colors” of your financial plan). You’ll learn how to think about money management using “the colors” of your financial life, and why the secret isn’t guessing what comes next, but being prepared for anything.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...

Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

Episode 1361: Finance Tips For Life & Business From a CPA | S1E10 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:02:49 +0000

In Episode 10 of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks sits down with Jude Heath, CPA and owner at J. Heath & Co. Together, they dive into real-world finance essentials for individuals, families, and business owners:
Why the IRS is less helpful to the average taxpayer—and what you can do about it
The game-changing importance of up-to-date bookkeeping and regular financial check-ins
Clever habits for tracking your net worth and household budget
How couples can build better financial communication and start marriage on the right foot
Tips for navigating tax season, business growth, and managing cash flow in any economy

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...

Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

Episode 1360: The 4% Rule: Guidelines for Retirement Income | S1E9 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:01:49 +0000

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...
---------
Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

Join Gregory Ricks on the Winning at Life podcast as he dives into the 4% rule for retirement income: what it means, why it matters, and how to apply it to your own financial situation. Gregory shares insights on sequence of return risk, spending strategies, and the importance of ongoing planning for a secure retirement. Real-life examples and helpful tips make this episode a must-watch for anyone thinking about their retirement future.

Episode 1359: Roth IRA Playbook for Tax-Free Retirement | S1E8 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:58:36 +0000

Curious if tax-free retirement is actually possible? This week on Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks sits down with Wealth Advisor Mason Goynes to break down the Roth IRA Playbook for Tax-Free Retirement.

Learn how Roth conversions work, why timing and tax brackets matter, and how to supercharge your legacy planning. Get practical steps, hidden pitfalls, and real-world examples so you can make your money work for you and not just the IRS!

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...

Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

Episode 1358: Get the Most from Your Old 401(k) | S1E7 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:57:22 +0000

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY: https://gregoryricks.com/schedule-a-v...

Don't live near or office or just have a busy schedule? No-obligation virtual consultations now available: https://gregoryricks.com/virtual-cons...

In this episode of "Winning at Life," Gregory welcomes Mason Goynes for a deep dive on how to handle IRA and 401(k) rollovers when you change jobs or retire. Learn the little-known rules, avoid the expensive tax pitfalls, and maximize your employer match. Tune in Wednesdays at 3 PM for financial strategies you can really use, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Episode 1357: The Rubber Duck Rule and Tax Planning | S1E6 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:16:31 +0000

Are you sure you’re asking the right questions about your retirement tax plan? On this week’s episode of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks explores the “Rubber Duck Rule,” a simple but powerful way to uncover professional blind spots by explaining your plan out loud (yes, even to a rubber duck!). Plus, we dig into the impact of taxes on retirement, strategies for making your money last, and how life’s surprises can throw your finances off track. Whether you’re navigating sequence of returns risk, planning for long-term care, or just curious how tax rules have changed over the years, you’ll walk away with practical insights you can use now by tuning in.

Episode 1356: Retirement Regrets You Can AVOID | S1E5 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:34:48 +0000

Are you ready to avoid some of the most common mistakes in retirement planning? In this episode of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks explores the essentials of financial literacy and the power of community support. Gregory shines a light on why financial literacy matters for you, your family, and the entire community. Spreading financial knowledge is like a farmer sharing his best seeds for a better and more abundant harvest community-wide.
You will hear answers to some of the top retirement questions, including when to take Social Security and how timing can affect your benefits. Gregory also covers important topics like tax strategies, retirement planning, and estate planning, including powers of attorney and wills.

Episode 1355: A Deep Dive Into Annuities | S1E4 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:44:01 +0000

Episode 1354: Common Risks to Your Ideal Retirement | S1E3 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:39:44 +0000

On this episode of the Winning at Life Financial Podcast, wealth advisor and CEO Gregory Ricks discusses strategies for sustainable retirement income, including the 4% rule. He also touches base on asset management, healthcare expenses, inflation, taxes, cybersecurity, and spousal planning.

Episode 1353: Invest 50/50 Rule: Balancing Risk in a Healthy Portfolio | S1E2 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:38:34 +0000

In this episode of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks explains why working with a financial advisor can help you reach your goals while avoiding costly missteps. Gregory talks about finding you ideal risk tolerance and different investment strategies, including the Invest 50/50 rule for balancing risk.

You will learn why starting to invest early matters, how compounding can make a big difference over time, and what you need to know about tax planning for business sales and retirement. Gregory also discusses common investing mistakes, such as following trends and missing hidden fees, and highlights how personalized financial planning and ongoing support can guide your financial journey.

Episode 1352: Finding Purpose in Financial Planning | S1E1 Winning at Life Podcast

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 May 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Watch the full episode on the Gregory Ricks Total Wealth YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/zbgqW0a7q9Y

In the first episode of the Winning at Life podcast, Gregory Ricks, CEO & Wealth Advisor, shares how his journey from car enthusiast to financial advisor was shaped by early money lessons and his father’s passing. He discusses why retirement planning matters, the value of risk tolerance and compounding interest, and how a financial advisor can support your goals. Plus, hear how Gregory Ricks Total Wealth grew to serve over a thousand families.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your unique financial situation, schedule your no-obligation, 15 minute consultation with Gregory Ricks Total Wealth TODAY!

Request a free copy of Gregory Rick's book "Retirement Deserves a Helpful Hand: A Guide to the Destination You Deserve"

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Find us on Facebook

Tune in to the Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks podcast every Wednesday at 3PM for practical retirement tips and inspiration for your financial future!

gregoryricks.com
---
Insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks Total Wealth. Gregory Ricks Total Wealth is also an Investment Advisory practice that offers products and services through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Adviser. AEWM does not offer insurance products. The insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks Total Wealth are not subject to Investment Adviser requirements.

Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Any references to protection, safety, or lifetime income, generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying abilities of the issuing carrier.

This video is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.

Gregory Ricks Total Wealth is not permitted to offer and no statement made during this show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or any governmental agency. The information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks Total Wealth.

This podcast show is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.
3832734 - 3/26

Episode 1351: The Weekly Wrap 03.14.26

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:47:02 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks discusses the importance of timely financial decisions, like rollovers and IRA contributions, to avoid tax penalties.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 12 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 12 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1350: The Weekly Wrap 02.28.26

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:51:40 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks and Mortgage Gumbo's Dwayne Stein discuss mortgage rates reaching 3 year lows and what this could mean for homebuyers this spring. Then, Gregory talks about why needing a financial advisor is so important.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 12 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 12 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1349: The Weekly Wrap 02.21.26

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:11:07 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Wes Blanchard, of WJ Blanchard Law, to discuss the process behind estate planning and the importance of having a will and trust to manage inheritance and avoid state-imposed defaults. Then Gregory talks about the importance of saving for retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 12 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 12 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1348: The Weekly Wrap 01.31.26

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:30:25 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Wes Blanchard of WJ Blanchard Law to discuss common mistakes that can ruin your estate plan and the importance of keeping your estate plan updated.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1347: The Weekly Wrap 01.17.26

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:44:46 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Jude Heath of J. Heath and Co., CPA, to discuss tax planning for this upcoming 2026 tax season. Then, Gregory provides tips on how to avoid running out of money in retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1346: The Weekly Wrap 12.20.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:21:27 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo, to preview the 2026 housing market as well as potential changes coming from the Federal Reserve. Then, Jude Heath, of J. Heath & Company, joins the show to discuss tax planning ahead of the new year including the importance of Year-End Roth Conversions.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1345: The Weekly Wrap 12.13.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:54:29 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Attorney Wes Blanchard of WJ Blanchard Law, LLC., to discuss estate litigation issues including Usufruct and Powers of Attorney. Gregory also dives into the importance of annuities and investment returns in retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1344: The Weekly Wrap 11.15.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 15:36:30 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo, to discuss why waiting to buy a home could end up costing you more and what a proposed 50-year mortgage plan could mean for home-buyers. Then, Gregory gives tips on how to make sure you don't outlive your retirement savings.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1343: The Weekly Wrap 11.1.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:46:48 +0000

In this episode, Gregory Ricks is joined by Wes Blanchard of WJ Blanchard Law, LLC, to discuss the importance of estate planning, emphasizing the need for immediate action. Then, Gregory dives into year-end retirement account planning, including IRA contribution corrections, RMDs, and SEP IRA contributions, stressing the need for timely action to avoid penalties.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1342: The Weekly Wrap 10.25.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 15:03:22 +0000

This episode features Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo discussing new opportunities within the housing market. Then Jude Heath of J. Heath and Company joins the show with outlook on the upcoming 2026 tax season.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1341: The Weekly Wrap 10.11.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 15:02:32 +0000

This episode, Gregory Ricks discusses the financial and economic impacts of the recent government shutdown. He also emphasizes the importance of long term investment strategies and estate planning. Gregory then dives into the 7 things you should own in retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1340: The Weekly Wrap 09.20.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 18:39:42 +0000

This episode, Gregory Ricks explains how spousal and survivor benefits can impact your Social Security as well as tax efficient ways to sell your business or real estate. Gregory also discusses what to do with your 401(K) if you are fired before retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1339: The Weekly Wrap 09.27.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:54:52 +0000

This episode features Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein, host of 'Mortgage Gumbo', discussing how to build wealth through Real Estate. Jude Heath, CPA with J. Heath & Co., also joins the show to talk about changes coming to the IRS and how that could impact your tax filings. Plus, Gregory shares 7 things you should own in retirement.

For financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1336: The Weekly Wrap 07.12.2025

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:58:41 +0000

Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo joined the show to discuss a 40% year-over-year jump in mortgage applications, steady interest rates, and the potential impact of the new Vantage 4.0 credit scoring model—which pulls data from all three bureaus and could expand access to homeownership. They explored how credit, rates, and property values are influencing different types of buyers and what it all means for the future of lending. Gregory also broke down current market conditions, including the effects of tariffs and the possibility of future rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, pointing to signs of economic resilience despite volatility. Looking ahead to 2025, he outlined key tax changes: a new $15,750 standard deduction for individuals, a $6,000 bonus for seniors 65+, a temporary $40,000 SALT deduction cap for those earning under $500K, and a $2,200 Child Tax Credit increase. Other updates include no taxes on tips or overtime up to $25,000 for singles and $50,000 for couples, a permanent $750,000 limit on mortgage interest deductions, and the return of charitable deductions for non-itemizers in 2026. Whether you’re buying a home, adjusting your investments, or planning for future tax changes, this anniversary episode delivers smart strategies and timely updates to help you stay ahead.

Episode 1335: The Weekly Wrap 06.28.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 16:05:54 +0000

In this episode of "Winning at Life," Gregory Ricks discusses the critical importance of proactive estate planning with Wes Blanchard, highlighting how updating wills and beneficiary designations can prevent future legal disputes. They stress the value of using trusts for estate management and protection, urging listeners to start the planning process early to secure financial well-being and simplify future successions.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management.

Episode 1334: The Weekly Wrap 06.14.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:24:55 +0000

On this week's episode of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein cover rising mortgage rates, real estate pitfalls, and how global tensions may influence markets. Hear Gregory’s personal scam story, tips to protect seniors from fraud, and more about Roth IRAs, annuities, and investment strategies.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management. We are Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks.

Episode 1333: 06.07.25 Weekly Wrap - 15th Anniversary Episode!

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:27:39 +0000

In this special 15th anniversary episode of Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks, Gregory reflects on the journey of building a financial radio show and firm over the past 15 years. Packed with heartfelt stories, guest appearances from team members and advisors, and meaningful listener calls, the show celebrates the lives impacted through thoughtful financial advice and a commitment to service. Topics include the evolution of the show, tax updates, estate planning risks, business sale strategies, risk tolerance versus capacity, and the importance of a team-based approach to financial planning. Tune in for real stories, financial insights, and a tribute to the people behind the mission of helping others win with their money.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Download the Winning at Life app to never miss a replay!

Investment Advisory products and services made available through AE Wealth Management, LLC or registered investment advisor, insurance products are offered through the insurance business Gregory Ricks and Associates, Incorporated AE wealth management does not offer insurance products, the insurance products offered by Gregory Ricks and Associates incorporated are not subject to investment advisor requirements. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal, any references to protection, safety or lifetime income generally refer to fixed insurance products, never securities or investments. Insurance guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims paying ability of the issuing Carrier. This radio show was intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as the sole basis for a financial decision, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual situation. Gregory Ricks and Associates is not permitted to offer and no statement made during the show shall constitute tax or legal advice. Our firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. The Information and opinions contained herein provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed by Gregory Ricks and Associates. Please remember that converting an employer plan account to a Roth IRA is a taxable event. Increased taxable income from the Roth IRA conversion may have several consequences, including, but not limited to a need for additional tax withholding or estimated tax payments, the loss of certain tax deductions and credits and higher taxes on Social Security benefits and higher Medicare premiums. Be sure to consult with a qualified tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your IRA. Neither AE Wealth Management nor advisors providing investment advisory services through AE Wealth Management recommend or facilitate the buying or selling of cryptocurrencies. Third parties and guests of the show are not affiliated with nor do their opinions reflect those of Gregory Ricks and associates or AE wealth management. Ae Wealth Management provides services without regard to political affiliation. And the views of individual advisors are not necessarily the views of AE Wealth Management. We are Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks.

Episode 1332: The Weekly Wrap 05.31.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 16:04:58 +0000

In this week’s episode, Gregory Ricks dives into the unexpected risks of not having your estate planning in place—with expert insight from estate planning attorney Wes Blanchard. From last-minute will changes to health scares that can derail your financial future, they cover the must-do documents and how to handle things a la carte if life catches you off guard. Then, CPA Jude Heath joins the show to break down real-world tax complications and the hidden pitfalls do-it-yourselfers face when they try to go it alone. Whether you’re managing your 401(k) or facing an IRS notice, there’s something in this episode to help you win with your money—today and long-term.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1331: The Weekly Wrap 05.17.2025

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 May 2025 16:42:33 +0000

In this week's episode of Winning at Life, Gregory Ricks is joined by CPA Jude Heath for a deep dive into smart tax planning strategies for 2025 and beyond. From surviving correction notice season to maximizing Roth conversions, Jude brings insider insights fresh off the heels of a hectic tax season. Plus, they unpack the latest on proposed “MAGA” savings accounts for kids, creative legacy planning ideas, and the surprising potential for a Pope to file a U.S. tax return.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1330: The Weekly Wrap 05.10.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:51:51 +0000

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks | The Weekly Wrap 05.10.25

He’s back! Gregory Ricks has returned to Winning at Life after a brief break—refreshed and ready to help you take control of your financial future.

This week, Gregory sat down with wealth advisor Brandon Blanchard for a powerful conversation on planning strategies and how to make your money work harder—especially when it comes to giving and long-term goals.

With over 40 years in the financial world, Gregory knows what works—and why having the right advisor matters. He also teased a few big things coming up, including a special estate and tax planning workshop on June 26 and a milestone anniversary celebration for his company.

Plus, some eye-opening stories from the real world—and a reminder that your financial health deserves the same attention as your physical health.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1329: The Weekly Wrap 03.29.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 22:52:59 +0000

Episode 1328: The Weekly Wrap 03.22.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:32:34 +0000

In this episode, Gregory covers Investment strategies and diversification, Medicare, Tax implications of Social Security benefits, and Strategies for managing healthcare costs and choosing the right plan.

Joined by Brandon Blanchard Wealth Advisor at Gregory Ricks & Associates. Brandon works alongside Gregory Ricks and specializes in helping clients navigate Medicare decisions, offering personalized guidance on healthcare coverage options during retirement.

Medicare

Medicare enrollment options at age 65
Differences between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans
Earnings limits and considerations when claiming Medicare
Importance of understanding healthcare coverage before retirement
Strategies for managing healthcare costs and choosing the right plan

Social Security

Explained rules for claiming benefits before and at full retirement age
Discussed potential benefit reductions and earnings limits
Provided tax implications for Social Security benefits

Financial Planning

Shared insights on investment strategies
Discussed the value of working with financial advisors
Highlighted importance of diversification and uncorrelated assets

Episode 1326: The Weekly Wrap Replay 03.08.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:15:33 +0000

In this episode of Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks, Gregory discusses government spending, concerns about national debt, the need to reduce deficit spending, and the importance of balancing the budgets.

Gregory shares insights on market volatility and recent market downturn.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about maximizing their retirement income and protecting their nest egg.

Key Takeaways:

Start retirement planning early
Importance of asset allocation
Advice for 401(k) management
Know your risk number
Be proactive about health and finances

Whether you're retired, nearing retirement, or just starting to save, this episode provides valuable insights to help you win at life financially. Tune in now!

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1325: The Weekly Wrap 2.8.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:19:10 +0000

In this episode of Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks, Gregory is joined by Jude Heath, CPA, and Janae Bridges, Wealth Advisor at Gregory Ricks & Associates. They discuss smart money moves for using your tax refund, including saving for emergencies, paying off debt, and investing in yourself.

The conversation also covers important updates on the Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to increase benefits for certain groups of workers. Gregory provides insights on comprehensive retirement planning, highlighting the importance of proper asset allocation and risk management to ensure your assets last throughout retirement.

Listeners will learn practical strategies for making the most of their tax refund, as well as tips for long-term financial planning and avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you're nearing retirement or just starting to save, this episode is packed with valuable information to help you achieve your financial goals.

Don't miss this opportunity to get guidance from the team at Gregory Ricks & Associates. Tune in now and start planning for your financial future.

For MORE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" on Saturday on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/
OR
Listen on our APP!
https://app.appinstitute.com/gregoryr

Episode 1324: The Weekly Wrap 2.1.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:31:13 +0000

In this episode of Winning at Life®, host Gregory Ricks dives into the latest updates on the Social Security Fairness Act and how it will impact retirees. He's joined by Wealth Advisor Brandon Blanchard to discuss the challenges the Social Security Administration is facing in implementing the new law, and the importance of having a diversified retirement portfolio to weather market volatility. Mortgage professional Dwayne Stein also provides insights on the current state of the housing market and strategies for home buyers.

The conversation also covers crucial financial planning topics for couples, including the importance of open communication about money, combining finances, and aligning on long-term goals. Gregory shares insights on avoiding common mistakes like carrying too much stock market risk in retirement.

Listeners will learn practical steps to take, such as setting up a My Social Security account, reaching out to financial advisors for guidance, and attending upcoming workshops on tax planning for retirement. This episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about maximizing their retirement income and protecting their nest egg.

Key Takeaways:

Updates on the Social Security Fairness Act and implementation challenges
Strategies for building a balanced retirement portfolio
Tips for couples to have productive money conversations
Importance of proactive financial planning and annual reviews

Episode 1323: The Weekly Wrap 1.11.25

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:02:24 +0000

Tax Season Strategies, Social Security Changes, and Retirement Planning Insights!
In this jam-packed episode, host Gregory Ricks welcomes Jude Heath, a CPA from J. Heath & Company, to dive deep into the world of taxes, financial planning, and preparing for the future.
First, Jude shares critical deadlines and tips to get your tax documents in order before the April 15th filing deadline. From the importance of having a complete paperwork package to maximizing deductions, you'll learn how to streamline the tax prep process. Then, Gregory and Jude tackle the hot-button issue of the recently passed Social Security Fairness Act. They unpack the potential $200 billion impact of repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, and what it means for government employees' benefits. But it's not all doom and gloom - they also discuss smart strategies for building retirement wealth, from maximizing Social Security to optimizing annuity investments. Jude provides invaluable insights on business structuring and tax-saving techniques that every entrepreneur needs to know.
Plus, Gregory shares essential travel tips, including the importance of renewing your passport well in advance to avoid international entry issues. Whether you're preparing for tax season, planning for retirement, or simply seeking to get your financial house in order, this episode is packed with practical advice you won't want to miss. Tune in now to start Winning at Life

Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks - Helping to Guide YOU to Financial Freedom and Retirement Success for 14 YEARS!

Each episode covers a wide range of topics, from help maximizing Social Security benefits and minimizing taxes in retirement to recovering from market volatility and choosing the right financial products like annuities. Gregory's down-to-earth approach and 40+ years of industry experience make him a trusted resource, while his engaging conversations with guests provide valuable perspectives.

Listeners also gain access to exclusive educational workshops, personalized financial planning resources, and a supportive community through the Winning at Life app. Join Gregory and the Winning at Life® nation as you take control of your financial future and achieve the retirement you deserve.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1321: The Weekly Wrap 12.21.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 22:44:24 +0000

In this comprehensive episode of "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks," host Gregory Ricks tackles a wide range of critical financial topics, from the latest developments in government legislation and economic trends to the importance of having open conversations with family members about their financial well-being.

Gregory is joined by Dwayne Stein, a contributor to the show, as they discuss the impact of declining birth rates on the real estate market and the mortgage industry. These two also delve into the volatility in interest rates and the mortgage market, providing insights on the future outlook and the need for adaptability in financial planning.

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the crucial conversations families should be having, but often avoid, around estate planning, retirement preparedness, and long-term care for elderly loved ones. Gregory offers practical guidance on initiating these discussions in a caring and transparent manner, as well as the steps families can take to protect their loved ones from financial risks associated with cognitive decline.

Additionally, Gregory shares year-end financial planning tips, including maximizing retirement account contributions, managing required minimum distributions, and considering tax-efficient strategies like charitable giving.

Whether you're seeking to navigate the ever-changing economic landscape, ensure the financial well-being of your family, or protect your elderly loved ones, this comprehensive episode of "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" is a must-listen for anyone looking to take control of their financial future.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
OR
For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1320: The Weekly Wrap 12.7.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:03:01 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath discussed financial planning and tax preparation strategies. They emphasized the importance of proactive tax planning, especially with the recent stay on the beneficial ownership reporting requirement. Jude highlighted the need to update digital currency transactions and the potential impact of upcoming tax law changes. They advised listeners to maximize retirement contributions, including Roth conversions, and to address any overdue tax returns. Gregory stressed the importance of starting financial planning, even with incomplete information, and encouraged listeners to engage in budgeting and emergency savings. Ricks highlighted the significance of having a financial advisor, especially five years before retirement, to ensure a secure financial future. He mentioned the "rule of 1000" for retirement planning, which suggests needing $240,000 saved for each $1,000 of monthly income in retirement, assuming a 5% annual withdrawal rate. He also stressed the importance of tax efficiency and planning for Social Security. 03400832 - 11/25

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life® with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1319: The Weekly Wrap 11.23.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:47:30 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Wes Blanchard discusses the importance of estate planning, emphasizing the need for wills and powers of attorney. They highlight the risks of holographic wills, which can often be challenged in court. Wes shared insights from a seminar at Loyola Law School, noting that most estate litigation cases involve handwritten wills. They stressed the benefits of having a professional handle estate planning to avoid delays and costs. Gregory encourages listeners to plan their estates to ensure smooth transitions and avoid family disputes. They also discuss the importance of having a relationship with an experienced attorney for efficient and cost-effective estate administration.

Gregory Ricks discusses the importance of financial planning, emphasizing the need for ongoing relationships with financial advisors. He outlines the five core pillars of financial planning: income, investment, tax, healthcare, and estate planning. Gregory highlights the value of coaching and continuous learning, mentioning his own investment in coaches and conferences. He addresses the misconception that financial advisors are too expensive, arguing that their value far outweighs their fees. Gregory also covers the taxation of Social Security benefits and the importance of understanding combined income for tax purposes. He concludes by encouraging listeners to plan for their retirement and emphasizes the role of financial advisors in guiding clients through market volatility and making informed decisions.

KEY TOPICS:
Estate Planning, Thanksgiving Episode, Financial News, Power Of Attorney, Holographic Wills, Independent Administrator, Executor Role, Succession Process, Family Disputes, Financial Advisor, Will Updates, Legal Fees, Asset Inventory, Court Litigation, Financial Security, Income Planning, Investment Planning, Tax Planning, Healthcare Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Advisor, Relationship Building, Ongoing Process, Financial Coaching, Retirement Planning, Social Security, Tax Strategies, Market Volatility, Financial Risks, Dementia Planning

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1317: The Weekly Wrap 11.9.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:40:19 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath discussed the future of taxes, focusing on the potential impact of the new administration. They highlighted the importance of tax efficiency and the benefits of no tax on overtime and tips. They also addressed the need for Social Security tax reform, suggesting inflation-adjusted brackets. Additionally, they covered the FinCEN and IRS requirements for entity notifications, emphasizing the December 31, 2024, deadline for entities created before January 1, 2024. They also touched on the complexities of setting up charitable trusts and the administrative costs involved.

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1316: The Weekly Wrap 11.2.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:04:48 +0000

On this week's episode of Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks, Gregory discusses the upcoming time change, emphasizing the importance of being proactive with health and finances. He highlighted the benefits of reading articles and staying informed through his news blog. Gregory shared his health journey, including weight loss and visceral fat reduction, and stressed the importance of early detection and prevention. He advised listeners on financial planning, particularly the impact of Social Security and the benefits of delaying distributions. Gregory also addressed listener questions about 401(k) distributions, I bonds, and estate planning, emphasizing the need for thorough planning and proactive measures.

Daylight Savings, Election Concerns, Financial News, News Blog, Health Proactive, Retirement Planning, Social Security, Financial Advice, Estate Planning, Investment Strategies, Financial Security, Proactive Health, Financial Education, Retirement Assets, Financial Guidance

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

3470162 - 11/25

Episode 1315: The Weekly Wrap 10.26.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:05:34 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein discuss the current state of the mortgage market, emphasizing the importance of understanding the difference between federal funds rates and mortgage rates. They note that despite the Fed's recent 50 basis point rate cut, mortgage rates have risen, with 30-year conventional rates now at 6.9%. They highlight the challenges of inventory shortages and the impact of interest rates on homeownership decisions. Dwayne stresses the importance of budgeting, understanding financial options, and the benefits of homeownership. They also discuss the significance of estate planning and the need for legal documents like wills and powers of attorney.

KEY TOPICS
Financial Questions, Mortgage Rates, Federal Funds Rate, Home Ownership, Real Estate Market, Interest Rates, Refinancing Options, Home Equity, Down Payment, Private Mortgage Insurance, Home Appreciation, Financial Planning, Estate Planning, Financial Education, Mortgage Lending

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

3566110- 12/25

Episode 1314: The Weekly Wrap 10.12.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:48:53 +0000

Gregory Ricks and his guest Wes Blanchard discuss various financial and estate planning topics on this weeks episode of Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks. They emphasize the importance of estate planning, including creating wills and trusts, and updating them regularly. Wes highlighted the need for clear and specific estate plans to avoid family disputes and legal challenges. They also discuss the Corporate Transparency Act, which requires businesses to file beneficial ownership information by January 1, 2024. Gregory shared his experience of traveling for a TV show and the importance of adapting to unexpected challenges. They encourage listeners to engage in financial planning and estate discussions with their families.

KEY TOPICS:
Hurricane Recovery, Estate Planning, Financial News, Live Radio, Educational Events, Financial Podcast, TV Show Filming, Travel Challenges, Black Car Service, College Football, LSU Game, Real Estate Fraud, Identity Theft, Corporate Transparency, Beneficial Ownership

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1313: The Weekly Wrap 10.5.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:18:25 +0000

Gregory Ricks and his guest Jude Heath, CPA discuss tax strategies and financial planning on his radio show Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks. They highlight the importance of proactive tax planning and the benefits of Roth conversions, emphasizing that converting $100,000 can reduce future tax liabilities significantly. They also address the impact of Hurricane Francine on tax deadlines, extending them to February 3, 2025. Gregory shares his insights on the importance of financial planning, the role of advisors, and the need for continuous learning. They also touch on the market's performance, noting a strong labor market and potential changes in interest rates, and stressed the importance of adapting to financial changes and technology.

KEY TOPICS:
Tax Planning, Roth Conversions, Financial Guidance, Market Insights, Election Concerns, Retirement Strategies, Tax Deadlines, Casualty Losses, Business Taxes, Payment Plans, Social Security, Investment Strategies, Financial Health, Estate Planning, Financial Education

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1312: The Weekly Wrap 9.21.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 15:15:24 +0000

In this episode of Winning at Life, financial professional, Gregory Ricks and his guests dive deep into how the upcoming election could reshape tax and estate planning. Whether we see policies from a Trump administration or a Harris administration, tax laws, estate tax exemptions, and financial regulations may undergo significant changes. Our guests—tax and legal professionals—share actionable insights on how to proactively adapt your financial strategies.

We also discuss the importance of regularly updating beneficiary designations, working closely with tax advisors, and making sure your estate plans reflect the latest laws. Toward the end, we explore how technological advancements and automation are transforming the job market, with tips on staying adaptable in an evolving economy.

Tune in for a comprehensive breakdown of politics, financial planning, and the future of work, all aimed at helping you stay ahead in these uncertain times!

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1311: Weekly Wrap Replay 9.7.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 18:39:16 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1310: The Weekly Wrap 8.24.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:44:51 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1309: The Weekly Wrap 8.17.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:34:33 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1308: The Weekly Wrap 8.10.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:01:32 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1307: The Weekly Wrap 8.3.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 21:18:51 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1304: The Weekly Wrap 6.8.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:56:48 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1303: The Weekly Wrap 6.1.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 18:41:47 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1300: The Weekly Wrap 4.27.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:09:48 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1299: The Weekly Wrap 4.13.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:26:31 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1298: The Weekly Wrap 4.6.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:55:49 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1295: The Weekly Wrap 2.24.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:04:23 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1294: The Weekly Wrap 2.3.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:30:06 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1293: The Weekly Wrap 1.27.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:28:40 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1292: The Weekly Wrap 1.13.24

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:26:44 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1290: The Weekly Wrap 12.9.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:22:52 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1289: The Weekly Wrap 11.8.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:43:33 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1288: The Weekly Wrap 11.11.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 20:11:07 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1287: The Weekly Wrap 10.28.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:52:15 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1286: The Weekly Wrap 10.21.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 16:06:33 +0000

Pay, Income, Annuity, Taxes, IRS, Social Security, Years, Working, Tax, Money, Penalties, Winning, Rick, Life, Owe, Mosquito, LLC, Retirement, Age

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1285: The Weekly Wrap 10.14.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:02:00 +0000

Summary Keywords

Gregory, Years, Life, Work, Social Security, Winning, Money, Today, Talk, Day, Plan, Retirement, Rick, Share, Find, Discussion, Burial, Financial, Spend, Listening

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1284: The Weekly Wrap 9.30.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 15:03:50 +0000

Summary Keywords

Gregory, Tax, Money, Pay, Income, Talk, Roth, Today, Taxes, Distributions, Mortgage, Put, Strategies, Winning, Tax Bracket, Rick, Future, Years, Big, Financial

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1283: The Weekly Wrap 9.23.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:03:28 +0000

Summary Keywords

Talk, Money, Gregory, Social Security, Paid, Revocable Trust, Benefit, Succession, People, Winning, Trust, Business, Structuring, Years, Today, LLC, Died, Month, Wes

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1282: The Weekly Wrap 8.26.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 14:40:27 +0000

Summary Keywords

Gregory, Money, Years, People, Paid, Work, Winning, Rick, Tax, Taxes, Call, Talked, Roth, Share, Life, Mortgage, House, Mosquito, Offered, Social Security

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1281: The Weekly Wrap 8.12.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:40:33 +0000

Keywords
Gregory, Years, Pay, Talk, Roth, Debt, Winning, Tax, Money, Roth Conversions, Social Security, Retire, Retirement, Life, Mosquito, Student Loans, Rick, Folks, Income, People

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1280: The Weekly Wrap 8.5.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:49:04 +0000

Keywords
Gregory, Assets, Years, Point, People, Tax, Wes, Money, Financial, Structuring, Rick, Discussion, Sounding Board, Life, Spouse, Mosquito, Leave, Business, Wealth Management, Attorney

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1279: The Weekly Wrap 7.22.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:26:33 +0000

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1278: The Weekly Wrap 7.15.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 15:13:57 +0000

years, gregory, people, winning, money, tax, irs, taxes, talk, question, estate planning, jude, fed, standard deduction, rick, betting, tax return, plan, losses, income

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1277: The Weekly Wrap 7.8.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 16:41:22 +0000

Years, Social Security, Gregory, Talk, Business, Tax, Income, Life, Call, Estate Planning, Money, Assets, Social Security Benefits, Taxes, Work, Winning, Pay, Plan, Windfall Elimination Provision, Retirement

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1276: The Weekly Wrap 6.24.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:29:56 +0000

Gregory, Years, Pay, Taxes, Tax, Home, Winning, Money, Work, Benefits, Buying, Income, People, Rick, Talk, Social Security, Social Security Benefits, Give, Strategies, Roof

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1275: The Weekly Wrap 6.10.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:29:35 +0000

Gregory, Years, Money, Winning, Life, Call, People, Risk, Taxes, Rick, Today, Tax, Listening, Work, Future, LLC, Share, Team, Listeners, Retirement

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1274: The Weekly Wrap 6.03.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 14:28:57 +0000

Years, Gregory, Structuring, Money, Business, Pay, Day, Standpoint, People, Month, Rick, Assets, Winning, Income, Planning, Tax, Sell, Break, Social Security

Episode 1273: The Weekly Wrap 5.20.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:40:50 +0000

Episode 1272: The Weekly Wrap 5.13.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 May 2023 15:37:54 +0000

Episode 1271: The Weekly Wrap 5.6.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 May 2023 14:50:38 +0000

Gregory, Years, Money, Talk, Blanchard, Winning, Rick, Call, Inflation, Assets, Wealth Management, Give, Market, Mortgage, Life, Retirement, Estate Planning, Discussion, Income, Great

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1270: The Weekly Wrap 4.29.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 May 2023 15:52:27 +0000

Money, Talk, Day, Mortgage, Years, Winning, Great, Listening, Plan, Debt, Question, Good, Buy, Rick, Government, Pay, Home

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1269: The Weekly Wrap 4.8.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:34:47 +0000

Episode 1268: The Weekly Wrap 04.01.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 15:47:48 +0000

Women, Money, Winning, Number, Retirement, Financial, Account, Finances, Plan, Years, Share, Talk, Markets

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1267: The Weekly Wrap 3.18.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 17:57:03 +0000

Money, Bank, Buy, Winning, Tax, Day, Inheriting, Homeowners, Account, FDIC, Property, Put, Business, Listening, Pay, Home, Rick, Thought, Find

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1266: The Weekly Wrap 3.11.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:25:27 +0000

Tax, LLC, IRS, Years, Income, Money, Social Security, Winning, Retirement, Taxes, Tax Return, Pay, Plan, Question

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1265: The Weekly Wrap 3.04.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 16:21:55 +0000

Social Security, Years, Rick, Money, Article, Life, Winning, People, Talk, Week, Husband, Benefits, Check, LLC, Question, Credits, Budget, Podcast, Income

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1264: The Weekly Wrap 2.25.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 19:15:24 +0000

Money, Years, Social Security, Winning, Social Security Benefit, Mortgage, Risk, Questions, Earnings, Home, Pay, Benefit, Number, Loan

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1263: The Weekly Wrap 2.11.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 21:56:43 +0000

Beneficiaries, Social Security, Trust, Benefit, Money, Tax, Plan, Winning, Decision, IRAs, IRA, Assets, Retirement

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1262: The Weekly Wrap 2.4.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 16:30:40 +0000

money, years, tax, put, rick, investing, irs, debit card, tax return, account, bank, pay, day, risk, plan, buy, llc

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1261: The Weekly Wrap 1.28.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 16:03:45 +0000

money, tax, social security, benefits, tax returns, file, social security benefits, income, year, bonds, full retirement age, irs, taxes, assets, age, treasury

Episode 1260: The Weekly Wrap 1.21.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:32:15 +0000

Year, Money, IRS, Inflation, Rick, Winning, Asset Classes, Refund, Buy, Pay, Find, Financial, Investing, Put, Standpoint, Income

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath, CPA of J. Heath & Co. (10am hour)

Episode 1259: The Weekly Wrap 1.14.23

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 15:29:43 +0000

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wesley Blanchard an Estate Planning Attorney from WJ Blanchard Law (10am hour)

Episode 1258: The Weekly Wrap 12.17.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:08:48 +0000

Episode 1257: The Weekly Wrap 12.10.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:05:59 +0000

Episode 1256: The Weekly Wrap 12.3.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 16:31:41 +0000

Episode 1255: The Weekly Wrap 11.19.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 22:35:51 +0000

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Taxes, Retirement Income, Inflation High + SSA COLA, Budgeting and how people are dealing with inflation, Interest Rates, Midterm and Finances, Open Enrollment, Roth IRA .

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

CPA Jude Heath with J Heath & Co., LLC. (10am hour)

Gregory and Jude discuss tax efficiency in retirement.

Caller questions include:

Wash-sale: What to avoid when selling your investments for a tax loss

Roth IRA

Episode 1254: The Weekly Wrap 10.29.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:52:31 +0000

Rising Interest Rates, Mortgages, New Home Buying, Tax-Efficient Strategies, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1253: The Weekly Wrap 10.1.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:23:17 +0000

Episode 1252: The Weekly Wrap 09.24.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:41:54 +0000

Tax-Efficient Strategies, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1251: The Weekly Wrap 09.10.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 21:26:56 +0000

Estate Planning, Tax-Efficient Strategies, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wesley Blanchard, WJ Blanchard Law (10am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1250: The Weekly Wrap 08.27.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:44:19 +0000

Mortgage Rates, Federal Interest Rate Increases, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Dwayne Stein of Mortage Gumbo (10am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1249: The Weekly Wrap 08.20.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:47:40 +0000

Tax-Efficient Strategies, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath of J Heath & Co CPAs (10am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1248: The Weekly Wrap 08.06.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 14:04:02 +0000

Estate Planning, Social Security Spousal Benefits, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wes Blanchard of WJ Blanchard Law (10 am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1247: The Weekly Wrap 07.30.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:31:25 +0000

Federal Reserve Raising Interest Rates, Social Security, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath, J. Heath & Co. CPAs (10 am & 11am hours)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1246: The Weekly Wrap 07.16.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:15:25 +0000

I-Bonds, Social Security, 401k, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Gumbo (10 am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1245: The Weekly Wrap 07.09.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 15:06:28 +0000

Estate Planning, Revocable Trusts, Market Volalitiliy, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wes Blanchard, WJ Blanchard Law (10 am hour)

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1244: The Weekly Wrap 06.25.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:51:55 +0000

Market Downturns, Taxes, Roth Conversions in a Down Market, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans - 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi - 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge - 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi - 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1243: The Weekly Wrap 06.18.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 14:56:30 +0000

Roth IRAs, Changes in the tax code, IRAs, 10-Year Treasurys, Fixed Index Annuities, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath, J Heath & Co. CPAs (10 am hour)

Caller questions include:

I sent my tax return via the mail, when will I receive my refund?
With the way the markets are, what do you think about fixed index annuities?

For LIVE financial news talk radio, tune into "Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks" LIVE on Saturday Mornings on:
WRNO-News Talk 99.5 FM New Orleans -- 10 am - 1 pm
WBUV-News Talk 104.9 FM Biloxi -- 10 am - 1 pm
WBRP-107.3 FM Baton Rouge -- 11 am - 1 pm
Supertalk Mississippi -- 12 pm - 1 pm

OR

For financial news talk ON DEMAND, tune into the Ask Gregory Podcast for more financial topics that may interest you! Visit: https://gregoryricks.com/podcast/

Episode 1242: The Weekly Wrap 06.11.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:47:36 +0000

Mortgage Rates, Car Prices, 10-Year Treasurys, New Home Sales, Fixed Index Annuities, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Dwayne Stein, Motgage Gumbo (10am hour)

Caller questions include:

What are the best moves you can do when the housing market is so inflated?
Do we need to do a will?

Episode 1241: The Weekly Wrap 06.04.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 15:04:02 +0000

401k, Market Drop, Trusts, Home Equity, Powers of Attorney, Retirement Saving Strategies, Inflation, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wes Blanchard, WJ Blanchard Law, LLC (11am hour)

Wes Blanchard joins Gregory for the 12th-anniversary show! Tune in to the show to listen to Gregory and Wes discuss succession, wills, and trust and how getting those set up may positively affect your retirement.

Caller questions include:

If my house is in my trust, will selling the house be a taxable event?
Would it be a good idea to invest in precious metals with rising inflation?

Episode 1240: The Weekly Wrap 05.21.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 May 2022 14:59:23 +0000

401k, Market Drop, Social Security Benefit Statements, Retirement Saving Strategies, Tax Preparation and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath, CPA of J Heath & Co (11am hour)

This week Gregory is joined by Jude Heath where they discuss strategies for making your retirement more tax efficient.

Caller questions include:

If I put my 401k on my house, would it be taxed?
What are the best things to do with my 401K?

Episode 1239: The Weekly Wrap 05.07.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 May 2022 14:44:00 +0000

401K, Growth Opportunities, Bonds, Social Security, and Investment Strategies

This week Gregory discusses investment strategies that help to utilize the best pathways for your unique situation.

Caller questions include:

Should I adjust my contributions to my 457 plan since the market is down?
What strategies are there to reduce my tax burden?

Episode 1238: The Weekly Wrap 04.30.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 May 2022 15:04:56 +0000

401K, Index-based annuities, Cash, Social Security, and Investment Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Jude Heath, CPA of J Heath & Co (11am hour)

Gregory and Jude talk about the impact of changing of laws requiring online platforms to issue 1099 forms for the 2022 tax returns.

Caller questions include:

What can I do when my 401k is losing money?
10- year index-based annuities
How I-bonds are effected by raising interest rates
What do I do with my cash?

Episode 1237: The Weekly Wrap 04.23.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:12:04 +0000

Taxes, RMDs, Living Wills, Social Security, and Investing Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

Wesley Blanchard with WJ Blanchard Law, LLC (11am hour)
Nicholas Rhode a Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates

Gregory and Wesley talk about how the shortage of homes can affect the housing market.

Caller questions include:

Social Security life average income
Last Will and Testament
Setting up power of attorney

Episode 1236: The Weekly Wrap 04.09.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 19:51:06 +0000

Mortgages, Fixed Index Annuities, Flood Insurance, 401k, and Investing Strategies

Winning at Life Show Contributor join the show.

Dwayne Stein with Mortgage Gumbo (10am hour)
Brandon Bergeron a Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates

Gregory and Dwayne talk about how the shortage of homes can affect the housing market.

Caller questions include:

Pay off mortage or invest more?
Retirement investing
Buy Home at age 75?
Flood Insurance questions

Episode 1235: The Weekly Wrap 04.02.22

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 16:10:36 +0000

Mortgage Rates, Retirement Goals, Social Security , 401k, Investing Strategies, and Life Insurance

Winning at Life Show Contributor join the show.

Dwayne Stein with Mortgage Gumbo (10am hour)

Gregory and Dwayne compare the last two years of interest rates to pre-pandemic levels and

share insight into the impact of rising interest rates on an average mortgage.

Caller questions include:

Funding question concerning Life insurance, IRA, and 401K
When will social security increases after turning 70
Retirement investing
What to do with wife's retirement account at old job
Help with changing my investments to be less risky
Inherited IRA from father
Investing strategies in your 80s

Episode 1234: The Weekly Wrap 03.19.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:34:20 +0000

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Retirement Goals, Social Security for Disabled Adult Child, IRS Rules on Inherited IRA, and Income Tax Return for an S Corporation.

Devon Baham , Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins

the show.

Jackie Hughes + Kim Hasney, Cancer Crusaders Golf Tournament Co-Chairs.

Join the show at 10:18am for the Cancer Crusaders Golf Tournament information.

Caller questions include:

Social Security Disability Income

Social Security for Disabled Adult Child

Inheritance question

IRS Rules on Inherited IRA

1120-S Form U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation

Episode 1233: The Weekly Wrap 03.12.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:07:55 +0000

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Taxes, Retirement Income, Social Security, Investment Basics, and Property Taxes.

Brandon Allen Bergeron, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins

the show.

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

CPA Jude Heath with J Heath & Co., LLC. (11am hour)

Gregory and Jude discuss tax efficiency in retirement.

Caller questions include:

Pension + Property Taxes

ROTH IRA

ESG Scores & Digital Currency

Daughters Student Loans

Episode 1232: The Weekly Wrap 03.05.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:07:43 +0000

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

How Russian invasion of Ukraine may or may not impact the U.S. economy.

The Russia and Ukraine conflict is creating market volatility and higher oil and gasoline prices.

Inflation and supply chain issues.

Difference between Wills & Trusts

NICHOLAS ROHDE, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins

the show. (10a-1p)

Gregory and Nicholas discuss how Russian invasion of Ukraine may or may not impact the U.S. economy.

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

1) Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard with WJ Blanchard Law LLC (11am hour)

Gregory and Wes discuses the difference between Wills & Trusts.

Caller questions include:

Leaving property in Mississippi to kids who live in Louisiana

Why ETFs/CTFs pay higher dividends

Social Security

Investments

Preacher - how does housing allowance impact reportable income

Difference between wills & trusts

Napoleonic Code for property

Episode 1230: 02.05.22 Weekly Wrap Replay

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 22:32:01 +0000

Market downturn and volatility.

How and when to file for social security benefits.

NICHOLAS ROHDE, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins

the show. (10a-1p)

Gregory and Nicholas share insight into big bank changes.

Some big banks and Capital One as of February 1st are resigning as a custodian of IRA accounts and don’t want to deal with retirement assets anymore. Forcing IRA clients into a custodian change.

Winning at Life Show Contributor joins the show.

1) Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard with WJ Blanchard Law LLC (11am hour)

Gregory and Wes discuses different scenarios regarding best practices for Last Will & Testaments.

Caller questions include:

IRA accounts

Investing 70K

RMD

Last Will & Testament

Safe Deposit Box

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Episode 1229: The Weekly Wrap 01.29.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 20:54:54 +0000

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Navigating a Rising Interest Rate Environment.

Mortgage interest rates and what do you do when rates start

creeping up like they probably will this year?

Tax efficiency in retirement, taxes on hurricane losses, and I-Bond taxes.

Brandon Allen Bergeron, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins

the show. (10a-1p)

Winning at Life Show Contributors join the show.

1) Dwayne Stein with Mortgage Gumbo (10am hour)

Gregory and Dwayne share insight into how you can navigate a rising rate environment.

2) CPA Jude Heath with J Heath & Co., LLC. (11am hour)

Gregory and Jude discuss tax efficiency in retirement, taxes on hurricane losses, and I-Bond taxes.

Brandon explains how first visits with Gregory Ricks & Associates work.

Caller questions include:

Social Security

CD’s

Cash Investments

Pay Back Unemployment

Taxes on Hurricane Losses

Retirement Taxes

I-Bond taxes

Investment Advice

Episode 1228: The Weekly Wrap 01.22.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:34:40 +0000

Ways to Manage Money More Effectively in 2022.

Devan Baham, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates joins the show.

Gregory and Devan discuss different scenarios regarding when to turn on social security benefits.

Caller questions include:

Social Security

Rental Property Mortgage

Investment Advice

401K

TSP

Retired Savings

Pension Benefits

Savings Plan for Newborn Child

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Episode 1227: The Weekly Wrap 01.15.2022

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 17:33:19 +0000

The state of the economy.

When will the Fed raise rates? Gregory makes the case for how the Fed will possibly react through the year.

Ways to Manage Money More Effectively in 2022.

Brandon Michael Blanchard, Wealth Advisor with Gregory Ricks & Associates and Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard with WJ Blanchard Law LLC join the show.

Gregory and Wes dissect living trust vs will, capital gains & trust, and revocable trust.

Gregory and Brandon discuss saving for retirement with a 401(k). Your 401(k) needs regular TLC. Don't just set it and forget it. Why your 401(k) is more important than you think.

Caller questions include:

BIO-MED Stocks
Safety of Assets in a Trust
Capital Gains & Trust
Revocable Trust
When to turn on Social Security

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Episode 1221: The Daily Wrap 11.18.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 17:15:07 +0000

Is the economy going up, going down, or staying about the same? Gregory addresses the likelyhood of all three.

Gregory gives you 5 reasons to not worry about a stock market crash.

Keith in Van Cleave inherited an IRA and a Roth IRA from his father. What does he need to know about required distributions and taxes?

Social Security's big Cost of Living Adjustment is going to be eaten up by Medicare premium increases and monetary inflation.

Gregory announces some big changes coming to the show. The show is returning to a Saturday-only show, and James is leaving for a new opportunity.

Episode 1220: The Weekly Wrap 11.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 17:47:29 +0000

How long can retirees expect to live once they hit 65? Gregory shares some recent data on life expectancy, and other stats that caught his eye this week.

Jack in Covington asks if there's been any change in the IRA distribution rules for those accessing fund to deal with Hurricane Ida. Jude Heath CPA joins the show and let's you know the options for tax helps from disaster relief.

Crypto regulations are coming. We don't know what the final playing board will look like, but central banks and government regulations around the world are already having an effect.

Walter in Carrier asks about his best strategies for Spousal Social Security benefits.

Medicare costs are going up, both for the taxpayers and those paying premiums.

Taxes are going up. Jude Heath and Gregory Ricks talk about what you can do about it.

If you're behind on your taxes, or if you're behind on filing previous years, call Jude and get the ball rolling. The IRS will work with you, and it's much easier if you initiate the process rather than waiting for the IRS to come find you.

Kevin in Springfield has an offer to take a monthly pension or a lump sum from his employer. Which is the better deal?

James will be leaving the show soon, and has some kind words for Gregory and the listening audience.

Bill in Pascagoula asks Gregory if there's a catch to the I Bonds. Gregory says they are a pretty good deal, but you can't put much money in them. They are capped.

Episode 1219: The Weekly Wrap 11.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:40:33 +0000

The state of the economy has good news and bad news. The unemployment rate is down, but inflation is raging. Where do you go from here?

When will the Fed raise rates? Gregory makes the case for how the Fed will probably react through the next year.

William in McComb has been on disability for years, but his health has improved to the point that he wants to return to the workforce. Can he? Should he?

Cindy in Madisonville has an extra $100k leftover after buying her new house. What should she do with that money?

What the problem with having all your money in stocks?

If you're playing catch up, the contribution limits on IRAs and 401ks continues to slowly creep up. Here's what the rules say about it.

Mike in Gulfport has both options available with his employer's retirement plan: traditional 401k and Roth 401k. How much does he put in each?

Jan in Covington has two kids in their 20s with some modest savings. How can they position that to start a retirement portfolio. After a few questions, it sounds like a Roth IRA may be in order.

Ray on the Northshore wants to take Social Security at FRA and invest it instead of deferring to 70.

Episode 1218: The Daily Wrap 11.03.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 19:42:12 +0000

Chances are, you're making one of these 4 common retirement planning mistakes.

Gary in Marrero shares a positive review of his experience getting signed up on the Social Security online portal, and getting his retirement benefit activated. Go to SSA.gov

Timmy in Belle Chase has a sizable UGMA (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) account for his now-grown son. Is he going to get slammed with taxes when he decides to use that money?

Episode 1217: The Daily Wrap 11.02.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:24:25 +0000

The key to having a successful investment portfolio and retirement plan is the ability to use the information around you to make the right decisions.

Gregory is hosting some events for existing clients to get updated on what's going on with their money, and new features on the client portal.

Lessons from Sir Edmund Hillary: you're going to need a Sherpa if you want to get to the summit of Mt Everest.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

History shows that periods of high inflation aren't necessarily catastrophic for the broader economy over a long period of time. We have a pretty good record of absorbing the pain and moving on.

Episode 1216: The Weekly Wrap 10.30.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:28:19 +0000

Gregory opens the show by rolling through some data in the financial world that gives us an idea of how to make better decisions, and ties that into some of his family history. Lessons from Gregory's great grandfather, grandma, and mom have shaped his approach to financial planning.

Fred emails in asking if there's some way her can contribute more than $7,000 into a Roth this year.

Wesley texts in asking if his wife should be more proactive about managing the fund choices in her teachers retirement account.

Richard in Spanish Fort has a little disposable income at the end of the month. Should he put that toward retirement savings or accelerate his mortgage payments?

Gregory walks through historic stats from the markets, and the markets are overwhelmingly positive over a long time horizon. The problem is the down years.

Chuck in Mandeville: are I-Series Savings Bonds worth it?

EB in Gulfport asks about using Universal Indexed Life Insurance as an investment vehicle.

Tony in Diamondhead asks about using his Whole Life Insurance policy for a tax free income stream.

Episode 1215: The Daily Wrap 10.14.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 11:10:41 +0000

Gregory had a great time at the recent Wine, Wisdom, and Food event, and answers some comment cards with questions from attendees.

Ted on the Northshore wants to do something with his old 401k, and thinks a bear market is imminent.

Elliot in Covington asks for guidance as an investor in his 40s.

Rick in Houma's wife is a 75 year old teacher. Will she have her Social Security cut by the Windfall Elimination Provision if she retires and starts her teacher's pension?

Alex on the Northshore has company stock from a previous employer with some some weird rules, and he wants to get out.

Episode 1214: The Daily Wrap 10.12.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 15:12:56 +0000

Lisa in Ocean Springs is leaving her job. What should she do with her old 401k?

Steve in Houma asks if the Backdoor Roth IRA is still a thing.

David in Pontchatoula asks about investing in gold and silver with his IRA.

Trey in New Orleans asks about using a trust to shield assets from Medicaid. Wes and Gregory are not fans of his idea.

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard joins the show. Do you know what it takes to be an executor of someone's estate? Here's a checklist to help you decide who your executor should be, or if you should be an executor for others.

Episode 1213: The Weekly Wrap 10.09.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:16:23 +0000

What do you want your retirement to look like? If you're goal is to live on the beach, or in the mountains, or by the grandkids, how are you going to get to your destination?

Jason in Loranger is inheriting stock. How does he handle the taxes for that?

Kenneth in Ocean Springs: Do the Income Tests go away for Social Security once you reach Full Retirement Age?

Chuck in Mandeville asks if there's any countries that balance their budget and live within their means.

David in Pontchatoula asks about investing in gold and silver with his IRA.

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard joins the show. Do you know what it takes to be an executor of someone's estate? Here's a checklist to help you decide who your executor should be, or if you should be an executor for others.

Trey in New Orleans asks about using a trust to shield assets from Medicaid. Wes and Gregory are not fans of his idea.

What do you want your retirement to look like? If you're goal is to live on the beach, or in the mountains, or by the grandkids, how are you going to get to your destination?

Gregory compares the economies of China and the United States with a few sharp statistics.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Episode 1212: The Daily Wrap 10.07.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 16:02:46 +0000

If you're thinking about turning on Social Security early, Gregory warns you of the bad excuses for not waiting for your Full Retirement Age.

Episode 1211: The Daily Wrap 10.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 15:04:02 +0000

The Facebook controversy over their content regulation, algorithm, and social impact feels a little overhyped. There's definitely some ugly aspects of the platform, but it is a positive force for many more. Gregory explains why Happy Birthday greetings on Facebook are a daily priority for him.

Small business owners are contantly grappling with the options of trying to grow the business, wind down the business, keep it about the same size, or sell out and run off with the cash. Gregory talks about guiding small business owners through this decision.

What do you want your retirement to look like? If you're goal is to live on the beach, or in the mountains, or by the grandkids, how are you going to get to your destination?

Episode 1210: The Daily Wrap 10.05.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 14:48:14 +0000

Would you be able to handle being an executor of a will? Gregory reviews a couple of article on the news blog at GregoryRicks.com that could help you prepare.

Hear some of the greatest financial quotes of all time, and hear Gregory's thoughts on these nuggets of financial wisdom.

If you're needing some financial help, you should probably start by going to an upcoming Wine, Wisdom, and Food event hosted by Gregory. You'll learn what his firm can do for you, and have a nice wine pairing for dinner.

Episode 1209: The Daily Wrap 09.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:38:40 +0000

Ted in Covington is selling one of his three houses, and wants to know if he should invest the proceeds or pay off his mortgage.

Shocks in the oil markets put the industry in a new era where oil prices have doubled from their recent lows.

The stock market is riding high on the easy money policy from the Federal Reserve, but can they keep this up forever? If not, what happens when tapering hits? What happens when rates go up?

Episode 1208: The Daily Wrap 09.28.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 16:42:04 +0000

Gregory announces he's hosting two Pop Up Events this week, informing both clients and non-clients about some changes in their financial tool kit that could help you.

Gerri in Mandeville asks Gregory if her husband can cover her Required Minimum Distribution from his IRA accounts. Gregory gives her a quick no.

Inflation Is Coming to an Account Near You: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell admits this inflation isn't so transitory after all.

Social Security's biggest cost-of-living adjustment in four decades is an illusion. A bump in Medicare premiums, and increased costs for housing, food, and energy will eat most or all of the COLA.

Three Bad Excuses to Start Social Security Early.

Episode 1207: The Daily Wrap 09.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 15:52:54 +0000

Gregory announces he's hosting two Pop Up Events this week, informing both clients and non-clients about some changes in their financial tool kit that could help you.

Monica in Cutoff asks why her Social Security benefits are so low! She's receiving a monthly check for Social Security Survivor's benefit, and heard it will be cut further when she turns on her state pension.

Social Security offers these 3 do-overs. Gregory reviews the rare exceptions where you can undo previous decisions on Social Security.

End of Year Financial Planning Checklist. Gregory walks through some important things to check on about this time of year.

Sean in Luling wants to start getting some money into a Roth IRA. Can he contribute directly to a Roth 401k, or does he need to use a backdoor Roth conversion?

Episode 1206: The Daily Wrap 09.23.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 21:43:05 +0000

Chuck in Mandeville asks Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein if this is a good time to buy an investment property.

Gregory talks about some upcoming pop up events to have a drink and talk about possible changes to your investments.

You can't begin to plan for retirement without this one crucial number.

Episode 1205: The Daily Wrap 09.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 15:34:10 +0000

The Federal Reserve maintains zero rates and asset purchases, and most of the questions from the press were about tapering.

Gregory compares the economies of China and the United States with a few sharp statistics.

What is a pop up event? Gregory talks about some upcoming pop up events to have a drink and talk about possible changes to your investments.

If you're getting a late start saving for retirement, try these tips to get caught up.

Episode 1204: The Daily Wrap 09.21.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:44:58 +0000

What's the impact of this week's meeting of the Federal Reserve?

Markets are spooked by the troubles of a giant Chinese conglomerate Evergrande. Is this related to the ghost cities? Could this be the beginning of a Chinese financial crisis?

A 101 year old woman continues to work full time on a lobster boat, which brings up several threads: what does you IRA distributions look like at that age? Does your IRA expire? And we review the life expectancy tables from the IRS.gov charts.

Episode 1203: The Daily Wrap 09.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 14:39:01 +0000

Craig in Dulac asks Gregory's opinion on using some money from his deferred compensation plan to cover his losses from the hurricane.

Should you have your house paid off before you retire? Gregory says it's all about your cash flow.

Episode 1202: The Weekly Wrap 09.18.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 16:41:35 +0000

Gregory explains how the last month had an unusual amount of interruptions for the show with a combo of James getting sick, technical issues, Gregory's vacation, and getting hit with a hurricane.

Gregory goes through some financial code changes being debated in Congress. Most are aimed at the wealthy, but some policies affect us all. We may be losing the Backdoor Roth Conversion and other powerful tools.

Look out for these 2 Social Security mistakes that could ruin your retirement.

Look for Gregory's pop up events for clients to keep them updated on their accounts and the new tools at their disposal.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo is keeping an eye on the Federal Reserve meeting this week, and the focus is on tapering.

It's still a seller's market in real estate, but the pendulum is swinging back toward the buyers side.

Chuck in Mandeville asks Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein if this is a good time to buy an investment property.

Dwayne explains why dealing with the hurricane aftermath causes most of his loan that were in the process have to start over.

Tom in Gulfport asks Gregory's thoughts on precious metals investments. Gregory is not a big fan of it, and explains why.

Crystal in Meridian is a single mom looking to buy her first home. How does she know what she can comfortably afford?

Gary on the Westbank is about to reach his Social Security Full Retirement Age. Should he start his retirement benefit, or delay it to build a bigger check?

Bonnie in Jackson is thinking of moving in retirement to be closer to her kids. After her home sells, should she buy or rent in a new city?

Episode 1201: The Daily Wrap 09.16.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 15:07:50 +0000

Randy in Picayune wants to help his grandkid start saving for retirement. Can he hire a minor to do some work, and use those earnings to fund an IRA or Roth IRA?

Jack in Baton Rouge asks Gregory's thoughts on the FIRE Movement that seeks to maximize savings and retiring as early as possible.

Gregory explains how the age 55 exception for IRAs could help if you've been separated from your job and need to access retirement funds to keep going.

Episode 1200: The Daily Wrap 09.15.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:24:57 +0000

Dealing with taxes is a common theme in financial planning, and Gregory encourages you to explore some options that are tax favored.

Leo in Amite asks if his sister qualifies for minor survivor benefits and widows benefits from Social Security

Space X launches the first all-tourist crew into space. The rocket has no pilot on board, and is guided by AI.

Gregory goes through some financial code changes being debated in Congress. Most are aimed at the wealthy, but some policies affect us all. We may be losing the Backdoor Roth Conversion and other powerful tools.

Episode 1199: The Daily Wrap 09.14.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 15:18:24 +0000

Gregory explains how the last month had an unusual amount of interruptions for the show with a combo of James getting sick, technical issues, Gregory's vacation, and getting hit with a hurricane.

Gregory warns you of some proposed tax hikes and rule changes that could affect your money.

George in Mobile has a daughter who graduated college and got a great job. How can she get started with investing?

Look out for these 2 Social Security mistakes that could ruin your retirement.

Episode 1198: The Daily Wrap 09.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:46:07 +0000

In the aftermath of storms, how do you get insurance to help cover the costs of some of your home damage? Gregory helps James deal with some needed home repairs, and his experience getting insurance to pitch in.

Amy in New Orleans is in a 4-unit condo, and their destroyed carport isn't covered by their insurance policy. How does being in a 4-person condo association affect the ability to make decisions on whether or not to rebuild it?

Gregory reviews 3 disasters your home insurance won't help with.

Hear a caller from March 2020 ask Gregory about buying the Carnival stock dip, and see how the advice stands the test of time.

Episode 1197: The Daily Wrap 08.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:38:18 +0000

Gregory stresses the importance of emergency savings, and don't go do anything crazy with that money.

John in Mobile has some questions about using an Indexed Universal Life Insurance policy to get some growth and maybe even some tax-free income. It almost sounds too good.

Gregory has 6 dates in September for the Wine, Wisdom, and Food Experience coming up in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and on the Northshore in Madisonville. Take back control of your retirement! RSVP at 504.832.9200

The High Stakes of Social Security Decisions: whatever errors you may make when turning on your Social Security, you have to live with for the rest of your life.

Brent in Gulfport has about $100k in emergency savings. Should he invest some of that? Leaving it in a savings account means it's getting eaten up by inflation.

Episode 1196: The Daily Wrap 08.25.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 15:32:40 +0000

Gregory has 6 dates in September for the Wine, Wisdom, and Food Experience coming up in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and on the Northshore in Madisonville. Take back control of your retirement! RSVP at 504.832.9200

Gregory reviews some comment cards from those who attended his previous events, and there's a strong theme among taxes, Social Security, and making sure you don't run out of money in retirement.

Leo in Amite asks if his sister qualifies for minor survivor benefits and widows benefits from Social Security

The Advanced Child Tax Credit payments have totalled $15 billion in each of the last two months.

The current James Bond, Daniel Craig, says he will not be leaving his fortune to his children, because he finds inheritance distasteful.

Gregory reviews some alternatives for your emergency savings beyong a typical savings account, starting with a Roth IRA.

Episode 1195: The Daily Wrap 08.24.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 15:06:55 +0000

Gregory's observations from recent travels show airports and hotels are getting busy again, but covid restrictions are still causing issues.

Gregory has 6 dates in September for the Wine, Wisdom, and Food Experience coming up in Metairie, Baton Rouge, and on the Northshore in Madisonville. Take back control of your retirement! RSVP at 504.832.9200

The High Stakes of Social Security Decisions: whatever errors you may make when turning on your Social Security, you have to live with for the rest of your life.

Bill in Baton Rouge calls back to update Gregory that his health outlook has drastically improved, and now he has to rethink his Social Security options with his wife.

Episode 1194: The Daily Wrap 08.04.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 18:56:41 +0000

Merle in Pearl is receiving a disability check from Social Security and has gone back to work. Will he get in trouble for double dipping? And can his wife draw a spousal benefit somehow?

Joseph in Covington has about 6 months of expenses sitting in a savings account. It's getting eaten up by inflation. Should he invest half of that to get a better return?

Episode 1193: The Daily Wrap 08.02.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 19:31:51 +0000

The Numbers were mixed, with a pretty even ratio of good news and bad news. Gregory explains how the debt ceiling has technically expired, and the Treasury Department is doing that thing where they are shuffling money to avoid a default.

The success of the Delta Variant and Covid Vaccine hang heavy over the markets and the economy at large.

The average investor does NOT beat the market, so here's 4 secrets to beating the average investor.

Episode 1192: The Daily Wrap 07.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:13:50 +0000

The Numbers are up despite a few important pieces of disappointing financial numbers. The Robinhood IPO was a disappointment as well. Lumber may have found a new normal hovering around $600.

Gregory tells you about his next public event in Baton Rouge before the commercials start running for it. The Wine Wisdom and Food Experience will be at Sullivan's Steakhouse Sept 21 and 23. If you're looking for financial help, you need to call.

Does your record of stock picking beat the S&P500? Most likely not. If you can't beat the index, why not join it?

Gregory answers comment cards from his last event, and you get to see what real people are concerned about when it comes to money.

Episode 1191: The Daily Wrap 07.28.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:35:54 +0000

The Numbers moved down quite a bit today, but ended up ragaining most of their ground by the close.

Gregory breaks down the press conference by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and responds to some of the more important audio clips.

Hear Gregory's explanation on why and how his financial advisory firm is working through the process of rebalancing assets.

1 out of every 8 retirees will spend at least 4 years in a nursing home. Are you going to be prepared to maintain your preferred standard of living in that scenario?

Here's a list of sources of income you may be able to use for retirement. It's more than just Social Security and your savings.

Episode 1190: The Daily Wrap 07.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:49:46 +0000

The rumors proved to be correct as Texas and Oklahoma formally apply for consideration to join the SEC. This is not about academics, or even athletics, as much as it is about money. This could make the SEC a super-conference, just in time for college free agency and NIL endorsements. Wow.

The Numbers show the big 3 indices slip from yesterday's record highs, but nothing catastrophic. We get the feeling most ears are waiting for the word from the Fed meeting tomorrow.

Gregory explains how Gregory Ricks and Associates approaches your financial needs, and addresses them from 5 directions.

How does Social Security view an annulled marriage?

Episode 1189: The Daily Wrap 07.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 13:48:52 +0000

The Numbers are amazing, as all three major indices close at a new record high. Tesla tops $1 billion in revenue for the first time, and all eyes are on the earnings reports and Fed meeting this week.

Joan in Diamondhead thanks Gregory for convincing her to move her CDs to fixed annuities. The returns are much better.

Bezos has offered to cover the first $2 billion in costs for the next lunar lander mission by NASA, in an attempt to make Blue Origin supplant Space X.

Tina in Abita Springs asks Dwayne and Gregory if she should refinance her mortgage.

Sheryl in New Orleans and her husband can't decide whether or not it's a good idea to sell their rental because prices are so inflated. Gregory leans against it.

Episode 1188: The Weekly Wrap 07.24.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 17:42:18 +0000

The Numbers on Wall Street were solid, with a strong tailwind from an earnings season that has been better than expected.

Social Security is testing new personal reports that include more details about your benefit.

Gregory explains how Social Security decisions need to be correlated to other financial aspects: will you still be working past age 62, what kind of assets do you have, and how to coordinate your spousal and survivor options.

Used car prices are out of this world, but if you sell your car, you still have to buy another one.

Joan in Diamonhead thanks Gregory for convincing her to move her CDs to fixed annuities. The returns are much better.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins the show, and talks about how this crazy housing market is making some people rich, and making other people stay put. When does Dwayne think mortgage rates are going back up?

The decision for Texas and OU to join the SEC has nothing to do with academics or even sports. It's all about the money. This is a financial decision, period.

Home values are up considerably year-over-year. Is there a crash coming, or will this inflation be permanent?

Dwayne will convince you these housing prices are NOT a bubble. This is regular old inflation, and it's not coming back down.

Tina in Abita Springs asks Dwayne and Gregory if she should refinance her mortgage.

Sheryl in New Orleans and her husband can't decide whether or not it's a good idea to sell their rental because prices are so inflated. Gregory leans against it.

Gregory shares his experience with a phone scammer this week.

Learn a few quirky rules of Social Security, and see if they fit you.

Wayne in Slidell asks about a homeowners stimulus plan. Sounds fishy.

Carlos in Moss Point asks how Social Security views an annulled marriage.

Episode 1187: The Daily Wrap 07.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 14:38:06 +0000

The Numbers continue to climb, albeit slightly. Earnings reports are solid, but jobless claims are a concern.

Gregory reviews the processes used at GRA to handle last year's pandemic downturn.

Lance in Kiln asks about how using a 7702 plan with life insurance works.

Gregory answers comment cards from the previous Wine Wisdom and Food experience.

Episode 1186: The Daily Wrap 07.21.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 15:36:41 +0000

In the dawn of the new era of college athletes getting paid, Nick Saban says his incoming QB starter already has a offers close to a million dollars.

The Numbers launched an impressive rebound from Monday's bloodbath, and it was on the back of better than expected earnings reports from some of the heavyweights. Netflix is getting into gaming.

A recent survey shows it's pretty common for younger generations to expect Social Security to be slashed or eliminated by the time they retire.

Rose in Kenner is rolling over her IRA. Where should she put it, and in what should she invest?

Gregory gives James a pop quiz on Social Security basic rules. This is stuff you should know.

Joan in Diamonhead thanks Gregory for convincing her to move her CDs to fixed annuities. The returns are much better.

Episode 1185: The Daily Wrap 07.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 13:34:34 +0000

More info on the Advanced Child Tax Credit payments. James received his in the mail with a physical check over the weekend. Gregory directs you to tools you may need to stop the payments or check your status.

The world's richest man leaves Earth as Jeff Bezos takes an 11 minute trip to space, becoming the second billionaire in history to make the trip.

Gregory reviews some events he has upcoming to help you with Social Security and finding the right financial advisor.

Greg in Gretna is a harsh critic of the novice traders who alternate between panic selling and chasing trends.

Social Security is testing new personal reports that include more details about your benefit.

Roger in Gretna has a delayed tax return. Gregory says the IRS is short staffed and behind their usual time table.

Episode 1184: The Daily Wrap 07.19.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 17:13:15 +0000

There's signs a $1.2 trillion spending package could pass the Senate soon. Gregory reacts to Senator Bill Cassidy supporting the spending on Fox News Sunday.

The Numbers were down for the day, but no excuse to get all worried just yet. There's still a wave of positive numbers from earnings season.

Social Security is expected to make its biggest Cost of Living Adjustment in decades.

The median home price is at an all time high. This is good news for home owners, but tough for anyone looking to get into the home ownership for the first time.

Episode 1183: The Weekly Wrap 07.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 15:02:32 +0000

The Advanced Child Tax Credit payment began this week. Here's what you need to know about how you get the payments, who qualifies for what, and the possible tax hit you could end up with.

Our Restaurant of the Week is Ben's Burgers. They have giant monster burgers on Clearview in Metairie.

Inflation talk is turned up everywhere in the financial world, because soaring inflation means the Fed may have to taper soon, and we know how that worked out last time.

Jude Heath joins the show and warns that if you may exceed the income limits for the Advanced Child Tax Credit, you should either cancel the payments using the online tool, or parking that money in a short term savings account.

Kevin in Luling is selling his business, and wants to know what he can do to minimize his tax liability on the proceeds. Gregory and Jude explain some of his options.

Cindy in Biloxi inherited her parents' house along with her siblings. How do you handle the taxes on the sale of an inherited house?

Social Security may be announcing the biggest COLA increase in 40 years.

Kelvin in Diamonhead has all of his retirement savings in his TSP, and wants to avoid losing a big chunk of that in the next downturn.

During the show, many listeners called and commented confirmation they had received the first Advanced Child Tax Credit payment.

Dwayne in Slidell is incredibly frustrated he can't touch the money in his ESOP for now. Is there some way around that?

Gregory catches you up on the financial news of the week, and has interesting stats on the current bull market.

Roger in Mandeville wants to know when the IRS is going to get him his tax refund. When will the IRS get caught up?

Jared in Bush is already contributing to his 401k. Where else can he invest some money that has better liquidity in case he needs to access it?

Episode 1182: The Daily Wrap 07.15.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 14:41:32 +0000

Mort in New Orleans asks if continuing to work after turning on Social Security could increase his benefit. Is there an age limit for improving your retirement benefit?

We get a report from a show listener they received the Advanced Child Tax Credit payment today. Gregory runs down the eligibility rules and what you should expect.

Jim in New Orleans: Do they take Social Security taxes out of your check forever, or is there an age limit?

Eric on the Northshore: If I retire and wait a couple years to start my Social Security, will those years of no income reduce my benefit?

The Numbers are mixed, and Gregory elaborates on the predicted fate of Tesla's Cybertruck. Even Elon himself admits it may be a flop.

Episode 1181: The Daily Wrap 07.14.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 15:10:28 +0000

This is a flashback segment where we review audio of Gregory urging calm no matter who wins the election, and talking people off the ledge earlier this year. The economy has done fine since then.

Ray in Metairie split the proceeds of his deceased parents' property sale with his siblings. How does he report that on his taxes?

Generation Z is emerging into the economic world with their own unique set of quirky behaviors. Businesses will be adjusting to them soon.

Inflation talk is turned up everywhere in the financial world, because soaring inflation means the Fed may have to taper soon, and we know how that worked out last time.

Episode 1180: The Daily Wrap 07.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:46:55 +0000

Gregory shares some recent financial situations he's encountered, and there's universal concern for inflation and taxes going up.

Mark in New Orleans got a check in the mail from his old 401k. What should you do in that situation?

Tim in New Orleans asks if he can be a little heavier in stocks if he's got more of a cushion in assets.

Ron in Franklinton wants to know if his Social Security will be hit hard by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Episode 1179: The Daily Wrap 07.12.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:30:25 +0000

The Numbers are incredible. All 3 major indices hit a new record, while commodities behaved, and optimism reigns.

After being the first billionaire to fly himself into space, Richard Branson's space stock soared. When he floated the idea of issue $500 million in new shares, it fell out of orbit.

The IRS leaked tax returns have exposed some clever ways the successful are using the tax code that you can learn from. How about the Mega Backdoor Roth conversion?

Learn other ways to get more money into Roth accounts. Your future taxes will thank you.

Episode 1178: The Weekly Wrap 07.10.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:28:01 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Maybe you could benefit from some help understanding how the laws work for Social Security, Medicare, and Estate Planning. Gregory is hosting some events in July that can answer your questions. The best news is: these events are of no cost to you!

Our restaurant of the week is Avenue Pub. The craft beer and craft whiskey European style pub on St Charles in the Lower Garden District is adapting well to post pandemic life.

The IRS leak of the richest Americans' tax returns shows some great ideas on minimizing taxes.

Life insurance starts out as a way to make sure your family is OK if you die too soon, and as you get older, it can be a powerful tool for tax efficiency.

Nelson in New Orleans asks if he can convert money in his qualified accounts into a Roth?

GUEST: Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney
These Estate Planning events fill up fast
Wes covers a little bit of everything at the events: wills, trusts, poas, and explaining the succession process a little more

Space Race
Would you recommend updating your will before you get shot into space? It sounds like a "lost at sea" issue for the 21st century.

Running an estate from another State
Having a succession plan that crosses state lines adds a little complexity, but is doable.

Charlie in Albany is paying off his house, and wants to know what he should do with the monthly income this frees up?

Don in Covington wants more financial help. Should he go to an event or schedule a meeting?

Learn backdoor ways to get more money into Roth accounts. Your future taxes will thank you.

Episode 1177: The Daily Wrap 06.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 19:14:44 +0000

If your household income may be above $150k, you may want to opt out of the Advanced Child Tax Credit payments starting in a couple weeks.

Is inflation transitory? Gregory explains how inflation may slow down, but there's no expectation it will ever reverse.

Drew in Baton Rouge want to do something beyond his 401k contributions.

Tommy in New Orleans asks how the Advanced Child Tax Credit will be deal with shared custory situations.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Episode 1176: The Daily Wrap 06.28.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:08:15 +0000

After reviewing Gregory's live speaking events in July, Gregory tells the situation of a couple wanting to leave some of their inheritance money to a trust, and why that could be a tax nightmare.

The Numbers are impressive as the NASDAQ and S&P hit new highs. The concerns for inflation are still out there, but the stimulus sugar high continues. Baton Rouge has the lowest gas prices in the nation.

Venmo is raising some of its fees, so you'll be paying a little more for the convenience of the payment app.

Nicole in Hammond wants to get rid of her credit card debt. What's her best option?

Episode 1175: The Weekly Wrap 06.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 15:21:46 +0000

In the leaked tax returns of rich Americans, some media outlets have noticed the tech billionaire Peter Thiel has a Roth IRA worth about $5 billion. Some critics are furious, but Gregory sees a learning opportunity for middle-class investors, not a problem.

Kyle in Independence is inheriting $100k. Should he wipe out his debts, or invest that money?

Save Our Nola Restaurant of the Week: Slim Goodies Diner. Classic American Breakfast Diner with eclectic Nola flair

Maybe you could benefit from some help understanding how the laws work for Social Security, Medicare, and Estate Planning. Gregory is hosting some events in July that can answer your questions. The best news is: these events are of no cost to you!

Gregory gets you all caught up on the financial news of the week.

Jude reviews Jeff in Thibodaux, who is selling his rental house and wants to know how the taxes work.

Collecting your child tax credit. What if you're worried about not qualifying? Should you stop payments?

Bill in Slidell asks Jude about using depreciation and write offs on a rental he wants to sell.

Syndicated Conservation Easements: don't throw your money at tax schemes in legal hot water

Shary on Facebook Live asks about her friend's financial advisor sell some stocks at a huge loss last year in order to harvest losses. Was that the right thing to do?

Lenny in New Orleans wants to start Social Security early because he doesn't want to miss 5 years of monthly checks.

Alex in Metairie asks about his eligibility for the Advacned Child Tax Credit.

Terri in Metairie asks about the tax hit she should expect when they sell her second home.

Nicole in Hammond wants to get rid of her credit card debt. What's her best option?

Is inflation transitory? A few commodities like lumber and oil may go down in the future, but most of these price increases are here to stay.

Episode 1174: The Daily Wrap 06.23.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 14:51:04 +0000

Maybe you could benefit from some help understanding how the laws work for Social Security, Medicare, and Estate Planning. Gregory is hosting some events in July that can answer your questions. The best news is: these events are of no cost to you!

What do you need to know about the bond world? Gregory addresses some comment cards from a recent live event asking him about bonds.

Kyle in Independence is inheriting $100k. Should he wipe out his debts, or invest that money?

Gregory previews an upcoming discussion on crypto-currency trusts.

Learn what NOT to do with Social Security
Gregory explains how 3 news stories concerning Social Security represent brutal lessons you need to know

A woman claimed she was living alone in order to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. She knew her husbands' residence and income would disqualify her for benefits, and now she's facing restitution, a fine, and prison time.

A man claimed Social Security early, and tried to hide his income to avoid the clawback. Tried.

Social Security issues a public statement addressing an uptick in new Social Security scams, including a list of new red flags to look for.

Episode 1173: The Daily Wrap 06.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:15:49 +0000

All eyes in the financial world were again focused on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell again today at a Congressional oversight hearing. Inflation is the here, but how serious is the Fed treating it?

If you're looking for alternatives to stock picking, or if you're worried about losing money in the market, the Invest 50-50 strategy may be the roadmap you're looking for.

The Winnies! The 2nd annual Winning at Life Awards are handed out to the important categories and not-so-important categories.

Episode 1172: The Weekly Wrap 06.19.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 16:12:46 +0000

We celebrate 11 years of Winning at Life! Gregory and James walk you through the history of the show, and how it has grown and evolved over the last 11 years.

Gregory invites you to learn how to make your Social Security decisions simple at his live event coming up at the GRA event space.

The Restaurant of the Week is the Nola Brewing Taproom on Tchoupitoulas in Uptown. You know their beers, you'll like their restaurant, too.

Jeff in Thibodaux is selling a rental house. How much will he owe in taxes?

Gregory gets you all caught up on the financial news of the week.

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com joins us to clear up what is going on in the wild real estate market.

Marie in North Mississippi asks Gregory if she should update her life insurance policy, cancel it, or let it ride?

The Winnies! The 2nd annual Winning at Life Awards are handed out to the important categories and not-so-important categories.

Episode 1171: The Daily Wrap 06.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 22:01:11 +0000

Gregory's live events are ramping back up, and there's 4 different events for people needing help with 4 different financial situations.

Hear the Traders' Prayer from Charles Payne on Fox Business.

Two of our top Youtube videos this year have similiar guidance: inheriting a big pile of money, and winning a big scratch off jackpot.

Mrs. Sims will be getting monthly check from her deceased husband's pension, and a lump sum for the last 15 years of missed payments.

Episode 1170: The Daily Wrap 06.16.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 14:45:45 +0000

Gregory's live events are ramping back up, and there's 4 different events for people needing help with 4 different financial situations.

The message from the Numbers segment is clear: the markets did not respond well to the Federal Reserve conversation on tapering its asset purchases.

Gregory responds to some audio highlights from Jerome Powell's press conference announcing the Federal Reserve is staying put. Gregory doubts the Fed can make any big moves before the midterms without wrecking the market.

Lisa in New Orleans has a deferred compensation plan at her job, but the plan rules have changed, and they want to pay the entire amount in one lump sum. Is there some way she can defer the deferred comp to avoid a huge tax hit?

Will the Windfall Elimination Provision crush my Social Security? Rhonda in New Orleans wants to know if her teachers pension will prevent her from getting anything from Social Security.

Episode 1169: The Daily Wrap 06.14.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 16:02:59 +0000

Gregory's live events are ramping back up, and there's 4 different events for people needing help with 4 different financial situations.

The annual awards show for Winning at Life is coming up on Saturday: the Winnies. Gregory and James review some of the nominees and new categories for this year's awards.

Use these 6 tips to get the most out of your 401k.

Are report makes a pretty solid case that your utility bills would be higher under the new Biden tax plan. Prices are also going up for groceries, gas, labor, and just about everything. How do you plan for inflation in income planning?

Episode 1168: The Daily Wrap 06.09.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:15:12 +0000

Hear the rundown of public events from Gregory Ricks and Associates this month. If you have questions about Social Security, Medicare, Estate Planning, or Financial Planning, there's an event for you.

The chip shortage forces GM to not include the stop-start feature on some of their production lines. Most people you hear these days would prefer for it to be a permanent exclusion.

Gregory encourages you to check out Spitali's Del in Metairie, our Restaurant of the Week. Wednesdays are half priced hamburgers.

Gregory continues a caller from yesterday: Keith in River Ridge asks if working past Full Retirement Age and you turn on your Social Security retirement benefit, will you improve your checks with new contributions?

Here's 4 questions you need to answer before you start Social Security benefits.

Social Security offers these 3 do-overs. Gregory reviews the rare exceptions where you can undo previous decisions on Social Security.

Episode 1167: The Daily Wrap 06.08.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 13:47:57 +0000

Gregory encourages you to check out Spitali's Del in Metairie, our Restaurant of the Week. Wednesdays are half priced hamburgers.

Hear the rundown of public events from Gregory Ricks and Associates this month. If you have questions about Social Security, Medicare, Estate Planning, or Financial Planning, there's an event for you.

Terri in Larose asks if you can start Spousal Benefits from Social Security at age 60 if your spouse is on disability.

Keith in River Ridge asks if working past Full Retirement Age and you turn on your Social Security retirement benefit, will you improve your checks with new contributions?

Joe in Slidell asks Gregory's thoughts on his retirement plan, and he's expecting a huge downturn to happen soon.

Episode 1166: The Daily Wrap 06.07.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 14:01:37 +0000

The Numbers finished mixed for the day, with the markets' eyes and ears glued to the Federal Reserve. Gregory reviews the evidence that the Fed merely talking about tapering their asset purchases will cause a market free fall. Sometimes there's no good options in deflating a bubble.

Corey in Kiln started Social Security early, and is disappointed by the huge cuts from the income clawback. Gregory stresses why it's hard to justify turning on Social Security early while you're still working. Does he have to take Mdeicare at 65 if he's still working?

Hear the rundown of public events from Gregory Ricks and Associates this month. If you have questions about Social Security, Medicare, Estate Planning, or Financial Planning, there's an event for you.

Monica in Cutoff asks why her Social Security benefits are so low! She's receiving a monthly check for Social Security Survivor's benefit, and heard it will be cut further when she turns on her state pension.

Episode 1165: The Weekly Wrap 06.05.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 15:33:49 +0000

Hear the rundown of public events from Gregory Ricks and Associates this month. If you have questions about Social Security, Medicare, Estate Planning, or Financial Planning, there's an event for you.

For our Save Our Nola Restaurants and Bars program, this week we introduce you to Red Gravy Cafe on Magazine St in Uptown.

Joel in New Orleans is a local teacher, and asks Gregory for where to find advice for introducing kids to the world of investing.

Lynn in Madisonville is taking a job with the State, and asks Gregory's opinion on which teachers' retirement option to choose.

Monica in Cutoff asks why her Social Security benefits are so low! She's receiving a monthly check for Social Security Survivor's benefit, and heard it will be cut further when she turns on her state pension.

Joe in Slidell asks Gregory's thoughts on his retirement plan, and he's expecting a huge downturn to happen soon.

Wes Blanchard previews his Estate Planning workshop coming up on Tuesday.

Wes Blanchard explains ways to solve common issues with shared inheritance.

Lolo in Kenner asks Wes if she should handle the sell of her rental properties by herself, or use a realtor?

Gregory elaborates on a couple of issues addressed by Larry McDonald: meme stocks are using their newfound support to climb out of a hole, and Putin is positioning himself to benefit from a 70s-style energy crisis.

Gregory reports on the Beige Book released from the Federal Reserve, and breaks down some of the bigger issues like inflation, unemployment, and economith growth. Pomboy predicts taper talk will tank stocks.

Gregory explains how some households with children are going to be receiving Child Tax Credit Advances starting in July.

Michael in Laplace asks about the Social Security options for his divorced mom.

Corey in Kiln started Social Security early, and is disappointed by the huge cuts from the income clawback. Gregory stresses why it's hard to justify turning on Social Security early while you're still working. Does he have to take Mdeicare at 65 if he's still working?

Terri in Larose asks if you can start Spousal Benefits from Social Security at age 60 if your spouse is on disability.

Episode 1164: The Daily Wrap 06.03.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 14:14:25 +0000

Lynn in Madisonville is taking a job with the State, and asks Gregory's opinion on which teachers' retirement option to choose.

Michael in Laplace asks about the Social Security options for his divorced mom.

John in Covington asks Gregory if there's any issues he needs to know about between his federal retirement, and taking a job with the State.

Wes Blanchard previews his Estate Planning workshop coming up on Tuesday.

Gregory elaborates on a couple of issues addressed by Larry McDonald: meme stocks are using their newfound support to climb out of a hole, and Putin is positioning himself to benefit from a 70s-style energy crisis.

Episode 1163: The Daily Wrap 06.02.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:34:50 +0000

AMC stock doubles today. The Meme Stock Wars continue.

Chuck on the Northshore picked up a stock years ago, and has had a successful run. Is it time to get out, and take the profits?

Gregory reports on the Beige Book released from the Federal Reserve, and breaks down some of the bigger issues like inflation, unemployment, and economith growth.

Joel in New Orleans is a local teacher, and asks Gregory for where to find advice for introducing kids to the world of investing.

Episode 1162: The Daily Wrap 06.01.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:42:13 +0000

Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program this week: Red Gravy Cafe
It's a family Italian Bistro on Magazine in Uptown with a menu that you have to read with an Italian accent.

Brad in Pontchatoula asks about his wife's situation with the Louisiana Teacher's Optional Retirement Program. Gregory walks Brad through some of the rules and options in the system.

Learn the loopholes that make the 529 Savings Plan more useful than you thought.

Episode 1161: The Weekly Wrap 05.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 May 2021 21:09:45 +0000

Gregory recaps what happened in the financial world this week, and gives you some points to look for in the week ahead. Inflation is definitely here, and for most of the economy, prices aren't bouncing back.

For our Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program this week, we talk to the owner of Doris Metropolitan. This steak house in the French Quarter has a dry aging room in the front of the house where you can witness their dry aging process. Steak snobs, this place it for you.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins the show to try and make sense of the red hot hosuing market, and can these low rates last much longer?

Gregory runs through some heavy statistics on the state of our stock markets and price inflation across the board. When we cross reference that with some inflation predictions made a few month back, you know to expect more of the same for now.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is now on a waiting list! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Gregory shows you some red flags that may be signaling a market pullback is around the corner.

Learn the loopholes that make the 529 Savings Plan more useful than you thought.

Summer is notoriusly slow on the stock markets, and this year should be about the same.

Gregory gives you 3 ways to help delay claiming Social Security early.

The balance sheet of the Federal Reserve is trillions of dollars that could be a real drag to unwind.

Ray in Mandeville: is it too late for me to get into a 529 Plan for my daughters?

Episode 1160: The Daily Wrap 05.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 May 2021 16:13:10 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is now on a waiting list! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Our restaurant of the week is Doris Metropolitan: a steakhouse in the French Quarter. You can see the different cuts of meat aging in the dry room at the front of the house.

What should you do with your old 401k?

Lenny in Slidell asks about the math of having a stock that's falling in price, but pays a good dividend.

AT&T is in a constant battle with their corporate structure trying to sustain the burden of carrying the heaviest debt load of any American company.

Are you investing or speculating? Learn to recognize and avoid speculative assets.

Learn 3 strategies that may help you delay turning on your Social Security to get a higher benefit.

Episode 1159: The Daily Wrap 05.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 May 2021 16:19:12 +0000

Our restaurant of the week is Doris Metropolitan: a steakhouse in the French Quarter. You can see the different cuts of meat aging in the dry room at the front of the house.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Ford is throwing billions at their Electic Vehicle development. Will it pay off? We've heard electric cars are the future for decades, and Ford's stock is now at a 10 year high.

Inflation is here, and don't expect it to be temporary.

Wednesday Q&A: What do you do if your financial guy vanishes? Bill in Mobile can't get a hold of the lady that handled his business's books and taxes. How can he get copies of his tax returns and other important documents?

Episode 1158: The Daily Wrap 05.25.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 May 2021 14:18:43 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Housing prices take a huge leap, and there's a lot more than lumber causing the rise.

Jeff Bezos must not be much of a football fan. He could easily buy a team, and it's an ultra-rich status symbol.

The recent crypto crash has signs of investors getting out of the game.

One big advantage of turning on Social Security at age 65 is that it covers your Medicare premium.

Episode 1157: The Daily Wrap 05.24.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 25 May 2021 15:15:53 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

The Numbers are mostly positive. Gregory reports that the streaming wars may be over, and Netflix is the winner.

Our restaurant of the week is Doris Metropolitan: a steakhouse in the French Quarter. You can see the different cuts of meat aging in the dry room at the front of the house.

Lolo in Kenner is selling her rentals, because she and her husband are too old to be keeping up with all that. What should they do with the money from the sales?

Gregory explains how some households with children are going to be receiving Child Tax Credit Advances starting in July.

Episode 1156: The Weekly Wrap 05.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 May 2021 15:34:45 +0000

Hear the financial headlines of the week, and look ahead at the week to come. Gregory explains how the wild week in crypto currencies keeps this asset class off the table.

Our restaurant of the week is Susan Spicer's patio cafe in Midcity: Rosedale. Susan Spicer joins the show to talk about her business.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Jude Heath CPA joins the show, and updates you on the rules changes for this year's tax season, and how some of the unemployment bonuses are being handled by the IRS.

Steve in Algiers asks if he should refile his daughter's taxes to get the Unemployment income exclusion.

Jude Heath explains how the process to get caught up on unfiled tax returns is fairly quick and easy. It may not be cheap, but you can be on the path to resolution within days.

The ranks of the retail trader were boosted through apps like Robinhood last year. Now, over a million new traders are discovering their stocks trades may come with a hefty bill for the tax man.

Gregory and Jude explain how some households are going to be receiving Child Tax Credit Advances starting in July.

Lolo in Kenner is selling her rentals, because she and her husband are too old to be keeping up with all that. What should they do with the money from the sales?

Phillip in Marrero asks if a cash business can fly under the rader of the IRS.

Gregory has a preview of the new spending plan proposed by the Biden Administration.

Julio on Youtube asks:
So what is the answer to this question? Should I use my 401(k) to pay off my rental property? I have $220,000 in my 401(k). I owe $204,000 on my three unit rental property. It generates $3,250 a month. The interest rate on my rental property is 3.625%. I currently pay $1, 863 a month on the mortgage.

Curtis on Youtube asks:
what advice can you give to a beginner who just got into trading? I'm about giving up because I don't make enough profits like people talk about it, my account gets liquidated.

Episode 1155: The Daily Wrap 05.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 21 May 2021 15:38:33 +0000

Our restaurant of the week is Susan Spicer's patio cafe in Midcity: Rosedale.

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Sam in Gretna is changing firms. How does he evaluate between different Mutual Funds and ETFs? How does he figure out which new firm would be the right fit?

How does he move the money without triggering some sort of tax or penalty?

The average IRA balance reaches an all time high, but is it enough to retire on? Is average enough?

Episode 1154: The Daily Wrap 05.19.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 May 2021 15:32:22 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

The Numbers were in the red, but nothing catastrophic.

The talk of the day was the dive in crypto currencies. Bitcoin fell about 30% from its recent record high. Gregory explains how cryptos are not investing, they are speculating.

Lumber fell a bit, but remains in the clouds.

Will inflation be temporary? Gregory review the case for transitory inflation.

Julio on Youtube asks:
So what is the answer to this question? Should I use my 401(k) to pay off my rental property? I have $220,000 in my 401(k). I owe $204,000 on my three unit rental property. It generates $3,250 a month. The interest rate on my rental property is 3.625%. I currently pay $1, 863 a month on the mortgage.

Curtis on Youtube asks:
what advice can you give to a beginner who just got into trading? I'm about giving up because I don't make enough profits like people talk about it, my account gets liquidated.

Anna in New Orleans wants to convert her 401k to a Roth IRA. How much can she do at a time?

Episode 1153: The Daily Wrap 05.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 May 2021 15:09:02 +0000

The Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience is back! Gregory hosts a wine pairing, and a financial talk with a focus on tax planning, and a tactical element added to the Invest 50-50.

Elon Musk is battling blame for the recent crypto-crash, and another big bet against Telsa from a major short seller.

Adam in Gulfport asks Gregory about the potential for a short squeeze with meme stocks. Gregory assures Adam that a short squeeze could happen, but the meme stock arena is off the rails and in speculation territory.

Kenneth in Ocean Springs is concerned about inflation. What needs to be done to protect my investments?

Steve in Algiers asks if he should refile his daughter's taxes to get the Unemployment income exclusion.

Louisiana and Mississippi have the cheapest gas in the country. California is the most expensive.

Episode 1152: The Weekly Wrap 05.15.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 May 2021 16:28:50 +0000

Hear the financial news of the week, and Gregory runs down a list of important financial events coming for the week ahead.

Meet the founder of Reginelli's Pizza: Darryl Reginelli, who has not only made excellent pizza, but also utilized a unique ownership-sharing business model to add new locations.

Sam in Gretna is changing firms. How does he figure out which new firm would be the right fit? How does he move the money without triggering some sort of tax or penalty?

We review callers for Jude Heath, CPA. Jude talks about hiring your child for the family business, what to do if you're years behind on filing taxes, and a self employed married couple wants to start a 401k with their small business.

Gregory has some sobering statistics on inflation across industries, and it's a bit shocking how fast prices are going up. Matching the real world with what the Fed has been saying is difficult, and Gregory talks about investing in these choppy waters.

Ron in Gulfport is contributing to his 401k at work, and has more he could be saving. What about opening an IRA outside of his company plan?

The price of gas jumped this week, with pressure coming from the hacked pipeline, a falling dollar, and the Middle East being even more unstable than usual. We can get the pipeline issue fixed, but expect the dollar to continue falling, and there's no expectation of resolution to be had when it comes to the Middle East.

Episode 1151: The Daily Wrap 05.12.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 May 2021 15:17:40 +0000

Tesla is no longer accepting Bitcoin for payment.

The Numbers were pretty bad today, with every index in the red, and all of the short sheet in the red. The oil pipeline hack is causing some panic buying, but reports sound pretty optimistic about things returning to normal soon.

The Consumer Price Index rockets past expectations to 4.2%. Gregory walks through another prediction from Stephanie Pomboy that is proven to be correct.

The surge in the price of used cars is another big factor in inflation, and a general drag on lower income folks.

Episode 1150: The Daily Wrap 05.10.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 May 2021 16:00:46 +0000

Gregory's observations from his latest travels show signs of the world returning to normal from the pandemic. The economic recovery is incredibly volatile from business to business.

Hackers shut down a major pipeline network going from Houston and curving up the East Coast to New Jersey. There may be a short spike in gas, and maybe even a few isolated shortages at the pump, but reports expect only minor disruptions.

Save Our Nola Restaurant of the Week: Reginelli's Pizza. 9 locations across New Orleans, the Northshore, and Baton Rouge. Reginellis.com

The Job Report was bad, but not as bad as it sounds. Unemployment ticks up, but for a good cause. The jobs created were outnumbered by the hundreds of thousands of discouraged workers reentering the workforce.

MS Governor Tate Reeves announces a full reopening of the State from mask and capacity restrictions.

Elon Musk hosts Saturday Night Live, and brings the business world and crypto-culture to the big stage.

Episode 1149: The Weekly Wrap 05.01.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:34:43 +0000

An article on Alvin Kamara's financial planning shows the Saints running back is making some outstanding decisions compared to many of his NFL peers.

The Save Our Nola Restaurants and Bars business of the week is: Bamboula's. Bamboula's is on Frenchmen St and hosts live music daily to go along with their bar and grill.

No, it's not time to panic. Gregory addresses the fears of those worried about an imminent collapse in the dollar.

Gary in Marrero has a question on Social Security spousal benefits. Can the wife draw a Spousal Benefit from her husband's Social Security record after Full Retirement Age, even if he hasn't turned on his Retirement Benefit?

Wes Blanchard joins the show. He's an Estate Planning Attorney. What happens to overseas money when you die? Does the will take care of that, or do you have to file a will in Switzerland to cover your Swiss bank account?

Wes reviews callers asking about the rules for inheriting cash, and inheriting stocks.

Nelson in New Orleans asks about the difference in leaving behind an IRS vs a Roth IRA.

Ed in Luling tries to understand his spousal Social Security options.

Matthew in Metairie: Can I take a penalty-free withdrawal from my 401k for medical expenses?

Amazon's earnings report crushes expectations, and the stock is taking off... again.

Episode 1148: The Daily Wrap 04.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:20:01 +0000

Avoid the biggest Social Security mistakes women make. Gregory reviews a list of the most common errors, and how to get it right when it comes to retirement, survivors, and spousal benefits.

What are the advantages of moving your money overseas? Marcello in New Orleans is concerned about wealth confiscation and the collapse of the dollar, and is considering moving his wealth to Switzerland or Belize or something.

Episode 1147: The Daily Wrap 04.28.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 15:27:17 +0000

Gary in Marrero has a question on Social Security spousal benefits. Can the wife draw a Spousal Benefit from her husband's Social Security record after Full Retirement Age, even if he hasn't turned on his Retirement Benefit?

The Numbers are wild as the markets digest the latest press conference from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Expect zero rates and asset purchases as far as the eye can see. In a rare move for the commodities market, Lumber trading was halted. Gregory reacts to audio from Jay Powell.

Is the dollar going to crash? Larry in Abita Springs is concerned about the future of the US Dollar, and has been dabbling in precious metals. Gregory says hyper-inflation is going to happen at some point down the road, but buying a bunch of gold coins isn't the best way to prepare.

Episode 1146: The Daily Wrap 04.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 15:26:19 +0000

Episode 1145: The Daily Wrap 04.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 16:13:50 +0000

Gregory responds to a complaint letter sent into the show. This is literally a letter, on paper, typewritten, and mailed through the post office. If you're going to take the time to get out a typewriter and pay for postage to get us a message, the chances are pretty strong that we will address it on air.

Jessie in Hammond asks if a teacher can roll over funds from her IRA into her new position's pension, and buy out 4 years.

Learn the biggest mistake women make when turning on their Social Security.

Episode 1144: The Weekly Wrap 04.24.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 18:34:18 +0000

The No Compromise tax webinar has been extended again. This is the longest running and most popular episode in the webinar series. Learn ways to pay the lowest taxes legally possible in retirement! Season 6 of the Ask Gregory podcast is underway as well.

Bob in Midcity has retired, but doesn't really need the money from his 401k right now. Should he roll it over to an IRA, Roth IRA, or what?

Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars: Meet the Gina Perret, owner of the Beachcorner bar and grill in Midcity.

This upcoming week will be including the quarterly earnings reports from some of the biggest and most important corporations, and some key reports from the Federal Reserve will be closely watched. Inflation concerns are already ramping up.

Biden proposed doubling the Capital Gains tax. Gregory warns that would grind the economy's innovation incentive to a near halt.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo weighs in on the debate on if it's ever a good idea to skip the home inspection before buying a house.

Jim in New Orleans doesn't see the interest rates going up anytime soon, because the national debt would become too expensive to service. Gregory sees interest rates going up in the face of hyperinflation, but that won't happen for a while.

Chris in Algiers has paid off all of his old credit cards, and wants to know if it's OK to close a few of them out.

Gregory warns of 7 mistakes women make on when to start Social Security.

Episode 1143: The Daily Wrap 04.21.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:12:38 +0000

The No Compromise tax webinar has been extended again. This is the longest running and most popular episode in the webinar series. Learn ways to pay the lowest taxes legally possible in retirement! Season 6 of the Ask Gregory podcast is underway as well.

Bitcoin cools a little after it's latest spike, and some reliable sources think there may be a bigger pullback before it returns to setting new records.

The ranks of the retail trader were boosted through apps like Robinhood last year. Now, over a million new traders are discovering their stocks trades may come with a hefty bill for the tax man.

Skyrocketing lumber costs have contributed even more heat to an already hot real estate market. Some buyers are skipping inspections and appraisals to get into a house and avoid a bidding war.

Tom in New Orleans offers his experience with shortcuts through the inspection and appraisal minefield to get the house you want.

Mark in Gretna isn't so sure Tom's advice is the right way to go.

Episode 1142: The Daily Wrap 04.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 14:21:46 +0000

Procter and Gamble announces upcoming price hikes adding to the wave of inflationary news.

Matthew in MS wants to know if he will be penalized for not having any earned income the last few years before he turns on his Social Security retirement benefit.

Gregory reviews proposed legislative changes to Social Security and the Windfall Elimination Provision. Some of these look like they may eventually be passed in some form, but it seems unlikely to happen soon.

Janet on the Northshore is concerned the rise in prices from Procter and Gamble will open to door for other brands to follow suit.

The IRS changes the rules on inherited IRAs again. Gregory goes over the options for a non-spouse beneficiary of an inherited IRA, including getting some of that money in a position to create tax-free income.

Episode 1141: The Daily Wrap 04.19.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 19:25:30 +0000

The No Compromise tax webinar has been extended with 3 new shows scheduled next week. Gregory's No Compromise webinar focuses on how to adjust your financial planning for upcoming inflation, and a flurry of new taxes.

The Save Our Restaurant program kicks off this week with the Beachcorner in Midcity being our first featured local business.

The Numbers are pretty solid, staying close to record highs.

Oscar on the Westbank wants to know the tax implications of gifting money for his daughter's IVF.

Charles in Jackson asks if his kids are going to inherit his bills.

Michael in Mississippi asks Gregory's thoughts on the rumor of the US Dollar being replaced with a crypto-currency.

Episode 1140: The Weekly Wrap 04.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 16:39:01 +0000

Gregory updates you on the important financial news of the week, and it looks like the economy is getting back to normal within months.

The No Compromise tax webinar has been extended with 3 new shows scheduled next week. Gregory's No Compromise webinar focuses on how to adjust your financial planning for upcoming inflation, and a flurry of new taxes.

The tax filing deadlines have been pushed back, but it's different from state to state. There's been a few more recent changes to this year's tax rules, mostly based around the virus response.

Fallout from the Archegos demise continues to echo throughout Wall Street, and shows up on some quarterly reports.

John in Pearlington has a 401k at his old job, and a 403b at his new job. What should he do? Combine them or what?

Gregory reacts to audio from Fox Business concerning the Coinbase IPO, cryptos, and inflation.

Jude Heath goes over tax changes you need to know, and how some old entertainment write offs have returned to being business expenses.

Richard in Metairie asks Jude and Gregory how to be made whole from missed stimulus checks on his taxes.

New Robinhood traders are discovering taxes.

What do you do if you haven't filed your tax returns in years?

Van in New Roads inherited a stock portfolio. How does that work?

Estate Planning for those without heirs is common.

Faye on the Northshore thanks Gregory for getting help from his office resolving a Social Security issue.

Roy in Hammond is skeptical of the Home Title Insurance ads.

A bill to revise the Windfall Eliminations Provision is filed, but highly unlikely to pass.

Episode 1139: The Daily Wrap 04.14.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 13:59:13 +0000

The S&P500 sets a new record intraday high, and then closes down for the day. Inflation and taxes are big concerns among investors. Meanwhile, lumber continues to crush new record high prices.

Bernie Madoff dies in prison. He ran the biggest Ponzi Scheme in history, and his story has a few valuable lessons.

Gregory reviews Art Laffer's concern that the recent tax cuts were a good thing, and shouldn't be reversed.

Chuck in Gulfport asks about his Social Security scenarios with his much younger wife.

Episode 1138: The Daily Wrap 04.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:52:49 +0000

The Numbers are fairly solid, but the big concern today is inflation. Another CPI report comes in hotter than expected, and Gregory tells you how to be prepared for more inflation on the way.

Gregory reviews 5 drawbacks to having a 401k as your only savings for retirement.

Twila on the Facebook Live comments asks if she's eligible to receive a Social Security Survivor's benefit from her first husband's record now that he passed away.

Are you making these 4 retirement savings mistakes?

Tom in Mandeville lost his wife, and wants to know if he should turn on his Social Security Survivor's benefit early while he's still working.

Episode 1137: The Daily Wrap 04.12.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:25:05 +0000

Don't get too worried about the Numbers. The indices were all down, but not much. The market looks to be taking a breather today.

A Jefferson Parish woman was arrested after not returning an accidental deposit into her Charles Schwab account of over a million dollars.

A local investor picked up a piece of land at a State auction for $9 million, and it is reported to be worth almost twice that.

The Save Our Restaurants and Bars program will be kicking off soon, and there are some classic local restaurants signed up!

What are the Social Security options for divorced women? Gregory runs down the various scenarios to make sure divorced women don't miss out on any of their possible Social Security benefits.

What does a Post-Nuptual agreement look like, and why would someone need it?

Episode 1136: The Daily Wrap 04.08.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 14:21:40 +0000

Do you ever buy a falling stock? Gregory gives his thoughts on the topic for this week's Wednesday Q&A on GregoryRicks.com.

China's national strategy to control the international Lithium market appears to be the blueprint they are using to corner the Bitcoin supply.

When Democrat Senator Joe Manchin comes out in support of the filibuster rule, that pretty much means radical changes to the financial markets and taxes are off the table.

Gregory addresses the President's gun control proposals.

Here's 4 questions you should ask yourself if you're considering buying life insurance.

Episode 1135: The Daily Wrap 04.07.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 17:09:11 +0000

Can you collect a Spousal Benefit from your spouse's Social Security record at Full Retirement Age, and switch to your own record at 70?

The Numbers were pretty good, not great. The details of the new tax and spending bill are not encouraging. Raising the Corporate Tax along with the top Income Tax rate wouldn't really have much of an effect on Jeff Bezos, but it would put the squeeze on small business owners.

Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge is being converted into a gigantic Amazon distribution center. This conversion of malls into hubs for Amazon is happening in hundreds of locations across the country.

Here's a couple of little known ways to save on taxes: the 1031 exchange and the 1035 exchange. The 1031 exchange can help you with the taxes on the sales of an investment property. The 1035 exchange allows you to defer the taxes on the gains in a life insurance policy.

Episode 1134: The Daily Wrap 04.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:55:43 +0000

Donald on the Northshore is looking at buying a second house for a vacation home. Is now a good time to buy?

Peter in New Orleans asks why his 401k hasn't fully recovered from the last downturn when the markets are now at new record highs?

What's going behind the Archegos headlines? Gregory explains how the story behind the huge losses from a failed hedge fund parallel the plot line of the movie "Margin Call."

Episode 1133: The Daily Wrap 04.05.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 16:09:13 +0000

It was another record breaking day on Wall Street. The Numbers are mostly positive, and Gregory spends some time breaking down gold, and the bond market.

The S&P 500 returns over the past 12 months have been the best in 30 years.

John in Waveland got a piece of property from a County Tax sale. What will the taxes be when he sells it? Gregory stresses the crazy level of risk involved in what John has pulled off.

Art Laffer on Kudlow's show is concerned that the economic policies that have been successful will be changed by the current Congress and President. Tax increases are inflationary.

Save Our Restaurants has a great turnout.

Mickey in Houma asks if he can get some of his pre-tax retirement savings rolled over into an annuity.

Thomas in Destrehan wants to know what he should do with this big pile of money he just inherited.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1132: The Weekly Wrap: 04.03.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 22:17:37 +0000

Gregory's upcoming No Compromise webinar focuses on how to adjust your financial planning for upcoming inflation, and a flurry of new taxes.

Gregory's program Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars is getting a great response. Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program!

Biden tax proposals are officially unveiled, and Gregory breaks down some of the bigger changes that would affect your money.

Mickey in Houma asks if he can get some of his pre-tax retirement savings rolled over into an annuity.

The S&P 500 just had its best 12 month gains in the last 30 years, but a correction is likely to happen within the next year or two. The Jobs Report was pretty solid, with unemployment dropping to 6.0%

John in Waveland got a piece of property from a County Tax sale. What will the taxes be when he sells it?

David in Destrehan asks: How much life insurance coverage do I need?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1131: The Daily Wrap 04.01.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:14:20 +0000

The Numbers are fantastic, with the S&P 500 closing above 4,000 for the first time. Ford has their F-150 assembly line halted over a chip shortage.

The IRS has delayed the IRA contribution deadline for 2020 to May 17.

Jackie Hughes joins us to promote the Cancer Crusaders 14th Annual charity golf tournament. Hear the story of Mark Mitchell, the namesake of the fundraiser, and Vic Hughes, to whom this year's fundraiser is dedicated.

Gregory's upcoming No Compromise webinar focuses on how to adjust your financial planning for upcoming inflation, and a flurry of new taxes.

We revisit the call from Firth in Uptown: which debt he should pay down first?

It's rarely used, but Net Unrealized Appreciation could save you tons of money in taxes on stock in your company's retirement plan.

A Ponzi Scheme falls apart, and the woman behind the scam gets 15 years in prison.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1130: The Daily Wrap 03.31.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 21:46:26 +0000

Gregory's program Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars is getting a great response, and more than half of the spots have applicants. Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program!

Biden tax proposals are officially unveiled, and Gregory breaks down some of the bigger changes that would affect your money.

Jeff in Mobile's wife had a stroke, and now he's got to be both her caretaker, and handle the finances.

William in Covington is concerned about runaway inflation over the next 10 years.

A recent survey shows most people are not saving enough to be in a position to retire and maintain their current lifestyle. A quarter of people have nothing saved at all.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1129: The Daily Wrap 03.30.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 14:18:43 +0000

Gregory's program Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars is getting a great response, and more than half of the spots have applicants. Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program!

The NFL is expanding the season to 17 games, and eliminating a preason game. This is probably all about money, and who can blame them?

Biden tax proposals will be officially unveiled tomorrow, and Gregory finds another sneaky little tax hike in there that will hit the upper-middle class hardest.

Most retirees find retirement doesn't live up to their expectations

Gregory shares a couple of scenarios where he helped put together an income plan that accounts for common hurdles in retirement.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1128: The Daily Wrap 03.29.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 14:33:41 +0000

Gregory's upcoming webinar focuses on how to adjust your financial planning for upcoming inflation, and a flurry of new taxes.

There's a lot in this proposed stimulus bill that would affect your money. Gregory reviews two big financial Trojan horses as identified by Larry Kudlow.

The average age for widowhood is 55. Gregory shares his thoughts on how to be prepared.

David in Destrehan asks: How much life insurance coverage do I need?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1127: The Weekly Wrap: 03.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:38:12 +0000

Gregory's program Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars is getting a great response, and more than half of the spots have applicants. Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program! Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks has teamed up with the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation to offer free promotion during our show for 16 restaurants and 16 bars in the area.

Gregory reports on how things are getting back to normal in his latest trip to Nashville. Airports are busier, restaurants are busier, hotels are busier.

There's a lot in this proposed stimulus bill that would affect your money. Gregory reviews two big financial Trojan horses as identified by Larry Kudlow.

How will the Windfall Elimination Provision affect you and your spouse? If you have some work history that paid into Social Security, the Windfall Elimination Provision will probably let you keep part of your Social Security benefit.

Dwayne Stein teaches you what makes up your credit score, and how much of the pie each piece takes.

Firth in Uptown asks which debt he should pay down first.

Dwayne Stein tells you how to improve your credit score.

After getting you caught up on the financial news of the week, Gregory takes a focus on how bonds just had a rough quarter. Here's what you need to know about this asset class that maybe should be an essential part of your blend.

7 Tips to Cure Your Stock Market Fears. Learn how to navigate the dangerous waters of stock investing with minimal risk.

If you have some work history that paid into Social Security, the Windfall Elimination Provision will probably let you get part of your Social Security benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1126: The Daily Wrap: 03.23.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 14:09:20 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Associates is in the process of opening an office in Baton Rouge. Serving clients all over the country is easier than ever, but we have many asking for a branch in BR.

Gregory will be hosting the No Compromise Retirement Plan webinar. Learn ways to keep your taxes as low as possible in retirement.

Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program! Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks has teamed up with the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation to offer free promotion during our show for 16 restaurants and 16 bars in the area. Jennifer Kelley of the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation gives you details on how to qualify and help local businesses.

If you have some work history that paid into Social Security, the Windfall Elimination Provision will probably let you get part of your Social Security benefit.

Roger in Gretna asks about the ads for Real Estate investing funds. Gregory warns that many of these advertisments are pushing non-tradable REITs that carry incredible risk.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1125: The Daily Wrap: 03.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 15:23:34 +0000

Episode 1124: The Weekly Wrap: 03.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:55:54 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Associates is in the process of opening an office in Baton Rouge. Serving clients all over the country is easier than ever, but there's still plenty of people who insist on doing business face-to-face.

Gregory will be hosting the No Compromise Retirement Plan webinar. Learn ways to keep your taxes as low as possible in retirement.

Taxes are going up. Plan accordingly. Even if you get your money into a Roth IRA, or keep your income low, you can still expect to pay more in taxes in the future on things like gasoline and sales tax.

Help us rescue your favorite hangout with the Save Our NOLA Restaurants and Bars program! Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks has teamed up with the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation to offer free promotion during our show for 16 restaurants and 16 bars in the area. Jennifer Kelley of the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation gives you details on how to qualify and help local businesses.

Roger in Gretna asks about the ads for Real Estate investing funds. Gregory warns that many of these advertisments are pushing non-tradable REITs that carry incredible risk.

Social Security grows its rolls by over 10,000 per day, but its staff is shrinking. This means help is a little harder to get.

Herb in Abita Springs is trying to track down a safe deposit box.

Wayne in Slidell asks if tax non-filers can get a stimulus check.

Hunter in Gulfport asks if he will be eligible for a stimulus check.

Matthew in Semmes asks Jude Heath how he can clean up his missed stimulus benefits on his taxes.

Jody in Kenner asks if she can qualify for a stimulus check.

Dennis in Gulfport wants to know how he and his wife's combined Social Security benefits will be taxed.

Tommy in Metairie has automatic tax withholding from his Unemployment benefits. Will he get that money back?

Al in Biloxi has a question about taxes for stimulus help.

What do you do if your CPA vanishes? Bill in Mobile can't get a hold of the lady that handled his business's books and taxes. How can he get copies of his tax returns and other important documents?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1123: The Daily Wrap: 03.18.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 15:30:50 +0000

Gregory Ricks and Associates is on track to start taking appointments at the new Baton Rouge office within weeks.

Gregory Ricks and Associates is partnering with the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation to help get local restaurants and bars in the New Orleans area free commercial time on our show! Save Our NOLA Neighborhood Restaurants and Bars

Gregory enjoys the bold predictions on the economy and inflation from Stephanie Pomboy on Fox Business. Inflation is coming, and a downturn is coming. It's just a matter of magnitude.

Social Security grows its rolls by over 10,000 per day, but its staff is shrinking. This means help is a little harder to get.

Dale in Long Beach: Where do I put my money to hedge against inflation?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1122: The Daily Wrap: 03.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:27:09 +0000

The Numbers were incredible in the stock market today. New record highs were set, and the markets liked what they heard from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

No surprise here: Powell says rates are staying at zeo, and the bond buying will continue at $120 billion per month until further notice. What does that mean for your investments?

Sandra in Picayune received bonus unemployment benefits last year. How will she be taxed?

What's better: ETFs or Mutual Funds?

Ted in Folsom hasn't gotten a stimulus check, yet. Could the IRS be withholding it because he's behind on his taxes?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1121: The Daily Wrap: 03.16.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 14:20:18 +0000

The price of lumber is dragging down new home builds, and any other project that requires significant lumber inputs.

5 Tips to Conquer Your Stock Market Fears

Brian in Pearl River got a side job that offers company stock in their retirement plan. Would he be wise to take advantage?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1120: The Daily Wrap: 03.15.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:24:15 +0000

Hear some stories on previous callers who've come back months later and updated us on their situation.

Taxes are going up. Gregory runs through some of the signs he's seeing about where tax policy is heading, and talks about planning accordingly.

We review Patricia's call where she received 15 years worth of missed payments for her deceased husband's pension. She called back to ask about how to handle her taxes, and what's better than CDs but still safe. Gregory explains how last year's windfall will be taxed, and fixed annuities may be the alternative to CDs she seeks.

Learn what's in the Covid relief bill that will affect your money? Gregory explains the tax credits and rules changes you need to know.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1120: The Daily Wrap: 03.15.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:13:57 +0000

Episode 1119: The Weekly Wrap: 03.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 16:51:50 +0000

Gregory has a new office opening up soon in Baton Rouge, and a new radio station has picked up the weekday version of the show: Talk 107.3 the new flavor of talk in Baton Rouge.

Patricia in New Orleans needs to know how she's going to be taxed on the backlog of pension payments she received last year.

Who is getting a stimulus check? This round of checks have a lower income threshold.

Doug in New Orleans asks how his kids will be taxed when they inherit his IRA.

Gregory Ricks and Wes Blanchard expose the truth behind Estate Planning Mills you see advertised.

Tim in Mobile wants Gregory's thoughts on how he has his investments structured. Do dividend paying stocks make a good foundation for income?

David in Metairie asks Wes and Gregory if his parents house should be donated to the kids, or left to them in the will?

Larry King threw a monkey wrench into his estate plan with a last minute attempt to override his existing will with a hand written will.

Jack in Metairie asks Wes if he needs a trust to sheild his assets from Medicaid.

Norman in Slidell wants to retire early. How does he cover his healthcare costs?

Sandra in Picayune received bonus unemployment benefits last year. How will she be taxed?

If you ever need a reminder that inflation is coming, take a look at the US Debt Clock.

Kevin in Kiln has concerns boosting the minimum wage will kill small businesses and cause inflation.

Colin in Metairie asks if Social Security is going away.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1118: The Daily Wrap: 03.11.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 16:33:56 +0000

The Numbers are fairly solid, with all indices positive. The price of oil keeps climbing, and gasoline is climbing right behind it.

Marie in Metairie is concerned that taxes are going up. Gregory generally agrees it's a good idea to position your assets with tax increases in mind.

The political landscape that is set for the next two years gives you a good idea of what changes you can expect with your finances.

Web Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, previews his guest appearance on Saturday where we will discuss the huge difference between leaving your family the remote control to your finances, and leaving your family to find and pick up the pieces of your finances.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1117: The Daily Wrap: 03.10.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 17:29:40 +0000

Do you qualify for the next round of stimulus checks? We finally have what is expected to be the final details of the third round of stimulus checks, and explain to you who gets a check.

If you've been handed the financial responsibility for a loved one who passed away, Gregory has a roadmap of how to make sure you properly address the transition, and ideas you may miss without a map. GregoryRicks.com/roadmap

Corey in Ocean Springs plans to continue working after turning on Social Security, and wants to know which types of income could cause your Social Security to be lower. Gregory explains that once you pass Full Retirement Age, the only affect income could have is to cause Social Security to be taxed at a higher rate. Before Full Retirement Age, only active income subjects your early Social Security benefit to a clawback.

Jason in Covington owes an imposing amount of money in back taxes. Should he use a tax resolution service, or deal with the IRS himself?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1116: The Daily Wrap: 03.09.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 15:18:20 +0000

When Kudlow asks Donald Luskin if it's time to get out of stocks, Luskin says it's time to get in. Gregory warns of being overweighted in stocks.

Jack in Metairie wants Gregory's thoughts on how he should handle his DROP money when he retires.

Chris in Metaire wants to know if he's getting a stimulus check.

Joe in Mississippi asks how much money he can earn without disrupting his Social Security Disability benefits.

Joe in New Orleans is now a caretaker for his recovering brother. How does he go about assuming financial responsibilities on behalf of his brother?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1115: The Daily Wrap: 03.08.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:54:41 +0000

Rhonda in New Orleans wants to know if the Windfall Elimination Provision will prevent her from getting anything from Social Security.

Alicia in Mandeville has a web of financial issues. Will she have enough credits to get around Social Security's Windfall Elimination Provision? What's her Spousal Social Security options? What's difference between a 403b and a 457 plan?

Johnny in Grand Bay is now the caretaker for his brother who had a dibilitating stroke, and has huge financial questions on how to pull this off.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1114: The Weekly Wrap: 03.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 19:05:09 +0000

If you're looking for some reliable help finding answers to your financial situation, you can use this show's archives, the Ask Gregory podcast, the Winning at Life app, and GregoryRicks.com.

The Jobs Report shows more reasons for optimism than pessimism.

Donald Luskin was on Larry Kudlow's show making some interesting points on the jobs report, inflation, and stocks. Should you get out of the market, or stay put?

Tom in Houma tells a cautionary tale about having too much risk in the stock market, and asks if it's ok to buy a falling stock.

Rhonda in New Orleans wants to know if the Windfall Elimination Provision will prevent her from getting anything from Social Security.

Jack in Metairie wants Gregory's thoughts on how he should handle his DROP money when he retires.

Wayne in Slidell asks about the wisdom of putting extra money to your mortgage vs. investments.

Sarah in Metairie wants to gift $20,000 to one of her kids, but keep things fair

Karen in Laplace asks for ideas about getting started in investing.

Eric in Slidell rolled over his 401k into an IRA. All of the funds are now sitting in the default money market account. How should he allocate that money out in different investments?

Matt in Pascagoula texts the show to ask about the income limits to have a Roth IRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1113: The Daily Wrap: 03.04.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 16:28:04 +0000

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's comments on inflation and low rates gives the stock market a gut punch.

Tom in Houma asks Gregory's thoughts on the Great Reset.

Do prisoners get Social Security benefits?

Gregory continues explaining the Invest 50-50 strategy, and the 3 asset classes he blends to give you the highest probability of getting ahead.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1112: The Daily Wrap: 03.03.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 15:13:17 +0000

The Numbers show a rough drop in stocks, and pandemic stocks are jumping based on positive coronavirus news.

Gregory introduces new listeners to Gregory Ricks and Associates, the Guided Planning System, and the Invest 50-50 strategy.

Sean in Luling wants to start getting some money into a Roth IRA. Can he contribute directly to a Roth 401k, or does he need to use a backdoor Roth conversion?

Gregory continues explaining the Invest 50-50 strategy, and the 3 asset classes he blends to give you the highest probability of getting ahead.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1111: The Daily Wrap: 03.02.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 15:18:37 +0000

The Numbers segment kicks off the show, and leads to the discussion of a couple big stories. The European Central Bank is slowing its asset purchases, and a huge Chinese corporation is defaulting on its debt.

Dale in Long Beach asks Gregory how his PPP loan affects his taxes. Will he still be able to write off business expenses that were paid by PPP funds?

A Wallethub survey shows people are still falling into debt holes, but credit card companies are not as heartless as portrayed.

A question from the Winning at Life app: When should my wife turn on her spousal benefit on my Social Security record?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1110: The Daily Wrap: 03.01.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 15:32:08 +0000

Winning at Life welcomes a new affiliate in Baton Rouge: Talk1073! Hear a quick summary of this show and what it's all about.

Steven in New Orleans asks what he should do with the money in his wife's DROP account?

The Numbers gives you a summary of how stocks performed today, with a special focus on a few big stories of the day. The new parent company of Chrysler - Stellantis - is added to the short sheet.

Hear Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein dismantle the Title Lock ads.

Anthony in New Orleans asks if he's going to be taxed on his Roth IRA contributions.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1109: The Weekly Wrap: 02.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 16:42:58 +0000

William in Long Beach is looking to turn Social Security on this year. How much in advance does he need to apply for Social Security to be sure it starts on time?

Karen in Hammond asks if her State Pension that cuts into her Social Security benefit would affect her spousal benefit as well.

Dwayne Stein joins the show to explain how to use a floating interest rate during times of rising mortgage interest rates.

Thomas in Hammond asks about the difference in turning on his Social Security early vs. Full Retirement Age.

Sandra in Picayune got some 1099s for debt write offs. Will she be taxed on that money?

Wesley in Kenner is retiring in a few months. When does he need to tell Social Security? Should he wait until Full Retirement Age?

Mortgage rates are on the rise, and Dwayne Stein forcasts how much longer these ultra-low rates can last.

Jocelyn in River Ridge is skeptical of the services that claim people are stealing your home's title and signing it away. Dwayne and Gregory share that skepticism.

Dwayne reviews Mark in Columbia who was turned down for a mortgage even though he has over $2 million in assets. Dwayne can help him with that.

Gregory is looking at adding an office in Baton Rouge for Gregory Ricks and Associates. More info to come soon.

The car crash of Tiger Woods is a painful reminder about the inherent health and financial risks that come with daily activities.

Danny in Brandon tries to sign his wife up for Medicare, but doesn't have enough credits to get part A for free. Gregory says she may be able to get that premium waived based on her spouse's record.

Buddy in Pass Christian is not a big fan of the fact he's not getting the $255 death benefit from Social Security from his wife's record.

Herbert in Marrero wants to know how much his wife will get from Social Security if he passes away first.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1108: The Daily Wrap: 02.25.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:06:07 +0000

The Numbers show the markets taking a breather from its new record highs. Now is a good time to reinforce the role bonds play in the Invest 50-50 strategy.

Gregory does the math on taking Social Security Early, starting Social Security at Full Retirement Age, and maxing out your Social Security at age 70. Starting at age 70 clearly gives you the biggest monthly benefit, but is it worth the wait?

Paul in Gulf Shores asks Gregory if there's downsides to a big investment advisor you see in tv commercials.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1107: The Daily Wrap: 02.24.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 18:00:18 +0000

The Dow pops to a fresh new record close, and crosses 32K. Tesla and Bitcoin fell into bear territory.

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com calls in to preview his guest appearance on Saturday. Mortgage rates are going up, and the window for these ultra-low rates is closing.

Marsha in Covington wants to set up a Roth IRA for her college-age kids. Is that a good idea?

Tiger Woods brutal car accident brings up a tough conversation about managing risks, both with your health and money.

No matter when you start Social Security (early, Full Retirement Age, or maxed out at age 70), the amount of money you receive in total by age 80 is about the same. From 80 on out, the difference is HUGE.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1106: The Daily Wrap: 02.23.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:20:07 +0000

Is the bond market signaling inflation is on the way? There appears to be universal agreement that inflation will be ramping up this year, so how should this affect your investing?

Russ in River Ridge asks Gregory to explain index-linked investments with no downside.

Charlie in Covington is selling his business. What should he do with that big pile of money?

How is Social Security taxed? Gregory explains how around 40% of Social Security beneficiaries are untaxed on their benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1105: The Daily Wrap: 02.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 21:46:19 +0000

The Numbers show the stock market taking a breather, while bond yields are on the rise.

Jude emails: his mom passed away last year, and a neighbor immediately bought her house with cash. Since they didn't get an appraisal, how will they know how much they owe in taxes on the gain?

Keith emails Gregory asking his opinion on the company stock and target date funds in his 401k.

Richard emails: he's got low income and high debt in his 60s. How can they get in a position to retire?

Joel in New Orleans has over $100K and low debt in his 30s. How can he and his wife maximize their situation for the long term?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1104: The Weekly Wrap: 02.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 18:58:04 +0000

The markets have paused their record breaking ways this week. Is this the sign of a bigger pullback, or are stocks just catching their breath before resuming their bull run?

Emile on Facebook Live asks if it's OK to take Social Security early if your career prevents you from working all of the way up to your Full Retirement Age.

Danny in New Orleans has money in a TSP he recently moved to the G fund our of concern the economy could go south. Is he being too cautious?

Cheddar on Youtube Live asks where you should put your money if you think a correction is about to happen.

Jude Heath CPA joins the show. Tom in Loranger asks him and Gregory about selling his house to his granddaughter at a low price to get around the Estate Tax. Gregory and Jude point out it's quite unlikely he will pass the $22+ million exemption. Let your will take care of that.

Gregory in New Orleans asks if the IRS still accepts Income Averaging for unusually high income years.

Russ in River Ridge asks Gregory to explain index-linked investments with no downside.

Charlie in Covington is selling his business. What should he do with that big pile of money?

Cindy in Biloxi asks Jude Heath about casualty losses, and what IRS forms she will need.

Roman on Youtube Live asks: Will contributing to a TSP or IRA put you in a lower tax bracket.

Tax scammers are as active as ever, and the IRS issues a stern warning to tax preparers about phising scams.

Brian in Slidell got a 1099 in error. How does he fix the records with the IRS? Jude walks him through the steps to clean that up.

Cheryl's Steakhouse in Ocean Springs won Best Steak in Mississippi, and now we want to try one.

You may be able to get a lump sum from Retroactive Social Security Benefits, but is that really the best option for your situation?

Hear 3 bad excuses for turning on Social Security early.

Chris is Algiers is starting his Social Security this year, but it looks like he was shorted on his credits. Gregory explains how those credits will be added in at the beginning of next year.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1103: The Daily Wrap: 02.18.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:23:25 +0000

Todd asks Gregory some advice on how to pick the right financial advisor.

Marsha in Covington wants to set up a Roth IRA for her college-age kids. Is that a good idea?

Gregory gives you red flags for when you're dealing with an annuity salesman.

The Gamestop hearings are bringing up some scary stories about people who lost a fortune trying to score on the mania.

Norman in Garyville: Can I take out a loan against my military life insurance (SGLI)?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1102: The Daily Wrap: 02.17.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 15:28:31 +0000

Gregory goes into more detail about Roth IRA's 5 year rule. Taking a distribution from a Roth account that's less than 5 years old comes with a penalty.

How to tell when you're dealing with an annuity salesman, and not a true financial advisor.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1101: The Daily Wrap: 02.16.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 16:08:25 +0000

The price of oil is about double where it is last year, but where is it headed from here? The winter storm was a good excuse for prices to spike, but they didn't.

Good reasons to start Social Security early.

Dale in Long Beach started Social Security early, and just landed a great new job. Gregory explains why it might be time to pause Social Security.

Bad excuses to start Social Security early.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1100: The Weekly Wrap: 02.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 17:40:15 +0000

David in Elkhart: how much will my wife get from Social Security when I pass away?

David also asks Gregory about the tax implications for his VA benefits, Social Security, and other income streams.

Matthew in Houma has some comments to add for David's situation regarding VA benefits.

Steve in Cleveland makes too much income to contribute to a Roth IRA. Gregory explains how Steve can get one started using a backdoor Roth conversion.

Can a remarried widow draw a Social Security benefit from her first husbands record? James in Bogalusa asks Gregory about his wife's options between spoual and survivor benefits.

Mark in Columbia has trouble qualifying for a mortgage in retirement, even though he has $2 million in assets. Gregory explains how many lenders are restricted by their approval process, and they should call Dwayne Stein.

Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, joins the show. Tom in Loranger asks him and Gregory about selling his house to his granddaughter at a low price to get around the Estate Tax. Gregory and Wes point out it's quite unlikely he will pass the $22+ million exemption. Let your will take care of that.

Brian in Hammond has a string of rental properties that may cross the threshold for the Estate Tax.

Wes Blanchard teaches you the main clauses to include in your will.

Joe in Harvey can't close her deceased mom's checking account. Wes and Gregory help her out.

John in Mandeville's wife inherited a trust with her siblings.

The Roth clock is forever.

Will your early Social Security haircut continue when she switches to the Spousal Benefit? Richard in Slidell asks about his wife's options.

Kirk in Petal is close to having 30 years of substantial earnings that paid into Social Security, and could be exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision. He could get a full Social Security retirement benefit plus two full state pensions as a teacher!

Bad Excuses to Turn on Social Security Early.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1099: The Daily Wrap: 02.11.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:09:52 +0000

We continue with the basics of Social Security, and the questions kept rolling in for the rest of the show.

Jack in Metairie wants to know if his ex-wife drawing a spousal benefit from his Social Security record will have any affect on his benefit. Gregory assures him he will have zero impact on his benefit based on what she does.

Gary in Marrero wants to wait 6 months past his Full Retirement Age and get the Social Security retro benefit lump sum. Does his wife have to wait until he turns his benefit on, or can she start her spousal benefit at his Full Retirement Age.

Rush in Mandeville asks if his ex-spouse could draw a spousal benefit from his Social Security record considering she is remarried.

Craig in Destrehan asks Gregory about his best options for Social Security spousal benefits.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1098: The Daily Wrap: 02.10.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 15:31:31 +0000

Gregory encourages generous tipping to help restaurant workers in hard times.

Gregory explains the basics of Social Security for new listeners, and a few callers ask about their specific Social Security options.

Joseph in Covington knows Social Security pays less if you take it early, but he doesn't want to miss years of checks.

Al in Gulfport asks about the Social Security options for his non-working spouse.

Chris in Springfield: is inheriting money from a life insurance policy a taxable event?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1097: The Daily Wrap: 02.09.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 16:26:45 +0000

Bitcoin is spiking again, but it is still not behaving like a currency. Oil is on the rise, and the industry is getting pulled in all directions.

Despite the persistent myth: Social Security is NOT going away! Gregory explains why this stubborn belief in Social Security's doom is overblown.

There are a few good reasons why you would want to turn on Social Security early, rather than waiting on your Full Retirement Age.

Dale on the Northshore has two 401ks from previous jobs, and asks Gregory if there's any downside to rolling them over to an IRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1096: The Daily Wrap: 02.08.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 15:06:59 +0000

The Superbowl was pretty amazing, and Tom Brady's performance bonuses clocked him almost $3 million extra last night.

What are some of your options for a 401k left from a previous job? Cashing it in to buy rental properties is an awfully big burden. Do not take it lightly.

Should you buy silver in your IRA? Gregory explains how the process works, but he's not a big fan of metals as an investment.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1095: The Weekly Wrap: 02.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 17:29:24 +0000

The jobs report shows a slowly improving economy. The numbers aren't anything to get excited about, but still good news. Netflix's rise to the top is a lesson in how monopolies are always a temporary economic mirage.

Steven in Gonzales asks how he can best use the proceeds from a life insurance policy to wash the taxes on an inherited IRA.

Is Social Security going away? Gregory thinks the better question is: how will Social Security change?

John in Metairie has some CDs coming due. The interest on CDs is dismal. Can he put that money somewhere else and do better while staying safe?

Charles in Mandeville asks if he can consider the Required Minimum Distributions from his IRA to be his emergency fund.

What going on in the oil industry will affect your money. Gregory invites those opposed to pipelines to go disconnect themselves from using fossil fuels.

Danny in Metairie is thinking about investing in Silver in his IRA.

Learn 10 mistakes to avoid when rolling over your 401k. There's a minefield of taxes, penalties, and fines. Gregory gives you the map.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1094: The Daily Wrap: 02.04.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 17:27:51 +0000

Learn 10 mistakes to avoid when rolling over your 401k. There's a minefield of taxes, penalties, and fines. Gregory gives you the map.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1093: The Daily Wrap: 02.03.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 17:14:22 +0000

Google's earnings report crushed expectations, and the stock is soaring. The other huge story in the business news is Jeff Bezos stepping down as CEO of Amazon. Is he going to focus his efforts on another project, or simply looking to lighten his load?

When you're trying to get started investing, you have to have an emergency fund first.

Why did my Medicare premiums jump, and my Social Security go down? Gregory explains to Jack in Madisonville that it's probably based on an increase in income from two year ago that's the culprit.

Gregory explains how the income brackets work for Medicare premiums.

Learn 10 mistakes to avoid when rolling over your 401k.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1092: The Weekly Wrap: 01.30.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 20:33:01 +0000

There's so much talk of raising taxes, one gets the feeling a tax increase is inevitable. The only questions left: WHICH taxes are going up, and by how much?

Danial in Metairie is concerned about rampant abuse and fraud in the PPP loans.

Frank in New Orleans is trying to restore his credit after a rough divorce.

David in Metairie is thinking about dipping into his 401k to pay off his rental property to free up some monthly income.

Lynn in Mandeville asks about using money from her IRA to pay off a rental property.

Why did my Medicare premiums jump, and my Social Security go down? Gregory explains to Jack in Madisonville that it's probably based on an increase in income from two year ago that's the culprit.

Lee in Hurley is turning 72 this year. When is he supposed to take his first Required Minimum Distribution?

Steve in Carriere asks Gregory about taking Required Minimum Distributions from his wife and shifting it to another IRA.

How much can you contribute to your 401k? Learn the maximum contribution limits for 2021 on your 401k, IRA, etc.

Suzanne in Abita Springs and her husband are getting a late start saving for retirement. How can they ramp up their savings, and where do they put it?

Wall Street's wild ride continues, as the trading of targeted stocks was halted by many retail trading outlets. After people, politicians, and media on both sides of the aisle cried foul, there may be legal consequences.

Steve in Pearl River is trying to buy a house out of succession from his two siblings. How does he go about paying off their ownership interests?

Gregory feels much of this current turmoil on Wall Street is fueled by a steady mix of bored gamblers, reckless day traders, and elite insiders, all amplified by how easy modern technology connects them. The average investor should not expect to beat the market.

Larry in Purvis and his brother were left some land by their dad. What are the tax consequences for inheriting land?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1091: The Daily Wrap: 01.28.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 19:15:28 +0000

Wall Street's wild ride continues, as the trading of targeted stocks was halted by many retail trading outlets. After people, politicians, and media on both sides of the aisle cried foul, there may be legal consequences.

Are investing apps a good idea? Jay in Covington is interested in using some of these new trading apps on his phone, but wants to hear Gregory's thoughts first.

Gregory feels much of this current turmoil on Wall Street is fueled by a steady mix of bored gamblers, reckless day traders, and elite insiders, all amplified by how easy modern technology connects them. The average investor should not expect to beat the market.

Charles Payne of Fox Business is coming in hot siding with the Reddit trolls in their battle against the short selling hedge funds.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1090: The Daily Wrap: 01.27.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:01:28 +0000

The financial world is a wild ride watching a movement of small investors try and take down a billionaire hedge funs with a short squeeze on GameStop stock. The little guy seems to be winning in the fact they made some big shorts get out of the game at heavy losses, but to what end? The stock will not be able to hold this level.

This is a great chance for Gregory to explain how short selling works.

Michael in Biloxi cheers on the little guys taking a chunk out of the hedge fund Goliaths.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1089: The Daily Wrap: 01.26.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:54:55 +0000

If you would like to retire in your 60s, but still max out your Social Security benefits, perhaps you could use a bridge fund to get you there.

Jeff in Gretna is skeptical of Social Security's sustainability, and thinks major changes will happen pretty soon.

We review a couple of callers from Dwayne Stein's guest appearance. Ron in New Orleans asks Gregory and Dwayne if Title Lock Insurance is a necessity. Mike in New Orleans asks if he can get a mortgage for more than the property is worth.

Ronald in Gretna has nothing saved at age 50, and wants to kick start his retirement planning with some inherited money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1088: The Daily Wrap: 01.25.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 16:12:05 +0000

Janet Yellen is our next Treasury Secretary. Her audio clips made regular appearances on our show when she was the Fed Chair.

Gregory summarizes the financial rules for gifting assets to your heirs. Reviewing two callers and an email: How should you pass along money beyond the annual IRS gifting exclusion limits, and what happens if the Estate Tax rules change on you?

Wayne in Slidell is buying a house. Should he put more money into the down payment, or should he invest that money? Gregory leans toward keeping your house money away from risk.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1087: The Weekly Wrap: 01.23.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 17:11:26 +0000

Gregory review: Carrie in Old Metairie wants to know how to give money to her kids beyond the normal annual gifting limit in the tax code.

Byron in Metairie reminds you that gifting beyond the tax limits can be filed against the estate tax basis.

If you turn Full Retirement Age for Social Security this year, you may want to take advantage of the different rules for your FRA year.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo explains how a storyline from the Tiger King show isn't so far fetched.

Can you borrow money from your wife's trust to buy a beach house, and pay the trust back like a mortgage?

It's a sellers market, but homeowners are staying put for a median of 13 years. With eviction moratoriums freezing small landlords, and fewer homes available, the real estate market is incredibly tight.

Mike in New Orleans asks if he can get a mortgage for more than the property is worth.

Paul in Amite wants to refi to pay off his variable HELOC.

Can Michael in Kenner do a mortgage refinance to pay off his Home Equity Loan and tax debts?

Ron in New Orleans asks Gregory and Dwayne if Title Lock Insurance is a necessity.

What happens if you've gifted enough money to use up your lifetime exclusion for the Estate Tax, and then the estate threshold gets lowered? Are you on the hook for taxes on that gifted amount?

If you turn Full Retirement Age this year, these are the special rule changes you need to know about.

Wayne in Slidell is buying a house. Should he put more money into the down payment, or should he invest that money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1086: The Daily Wrap: 01.22.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:58:21 +0000

Containers have been falling off of those giant container ships used for giant international shipments more than usual.

Art Laffer is cautiously optimistic about the economy, and Gregory responds to his concerns.

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com explains how to navigate a real estate inventory that's the lowest in decades with historic low mortgage rates. People are staying put longer.

If you turn Full Retirement Age this year, these are the special rule changes you need to know about.

Ken in Lake Charles lost his house in a storm. Should he use the insurance lump sum to pay off his other debts?

Carrie in Old Metairie wants to know how to give money to her kids beyond the normal annual gifting limit in the tax code.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1085: The Daily Wrap: 01.20.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 15:18:23 +0000

The Mega Millions and Powerball are both near record high jackpots. Gregory and James have fun musing about whether to take the cash options or the annual payouts, and what the tax hit would be like.

Biden signs 17 executive orders on his first day in office. Learn the ones that will affect your money.

Gregory shares a wine etiquette story featuring a new waiter at a local restaurant.

Are you turning Social Security's Full Retirement Age this year? Learn the rules that apply only to the year you reach FRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1084: The Daily Wrap: 01.19.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:42:13 +0000

Are you overlooking the bond world? Bonds have a solid history of making gains in good times and bad times. Gregory explains how they fit into his Invest 50-50 strategy.

Gregory explains the math behind why timing the market is so difficult. Missing a handful of the good days has a huge affect.

The one number you need to know when planning for retirement is: how long do you expect to be retired? Once you know your life expectancy, and date of retirement, you have an idea on how long your money needs to last.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1083: The Daily Wrap: 01.18.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:54:33 +0000

Are you overlooking the bond world? Bonds have a solid history of making gains in good times and bad times. Gregory explains how they fit into his Invest 50-50 strategy.

Shannon asks on the Winning at Life app: will she be able to collect a Social Security Survivor benefit at age 60 on her husbands record if she gets remarried?

Gregory goes into a little more depth from a caller's question about the different fund options in a Thrift Savings Plan.

Gregory reviews the call: Sean in Covington asks about the required distributions from his inherited IRA.

You Can’t Even Begin to Plan for Retirement Without This Number.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1082: The Weekly Wrap: 01.16.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 20:54:44 +0000

What is going to happen with the economy this year? Gregory shares his thoughts on the economic outlook overshadowed by shakey jobs numbers and a continuing pandemic.

The IRS has pushed back the date by which you can file your taxes into the middle of February. The deadline remains the same so far.

Frank in Baton Rouge wants to exit the stock market completely, but where can his money go and get a safe return?

If you're worried about too much risk from stocks, maybe you should be paying more attention to bonds. Gregory explains how bond indexes can smooth out volatility.

Taking distributions from your IRA before Required Minimum Distributions kick in can reduce your tax bill down the road.

Jude Heath CPA talks about how your 2020 taxes will look different than years past.

Ryan in New Orleans is 30 years old, and asks if he would be better off contributing to a regular IRA or a Roth IRA?

Kevin in Gretna contributed too much to his Roth IRA last year. How can he fix that, and will he be penalized?

Francis in Metairie asks about using a Whole Life Insurance policy to generate a tax-free stream of income.

Greg in Pearl River asks about diversifying his TSP investments.

Sean in Covington asks about the required distributions from his inherited IRA.

Mary in Gonzales wants to know how to maximize her Spousal Social Security options.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1081: The Daily Wrap: 01.13.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:39:17 +0000

The monthly federal deficit for December was a record breaking high. Expect taxes to go up.

New fronts are opening up on the Chicken Sandwich Wars as KFC and McDonalds launch their new Chicken Sandwiches to counter the mighty Popeye's and ChickFilA.

Paul in Illinois asks: What happens with your Social Security checks when you die?

Sam in Gretna is trying to track down his stimulus check.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1080: The Daily Wrap: 01.12.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:37:29 +0000

Sheila in Bogalusa asks if she can receive a spousal benefit from her husband's Social Security record AND a check from her Social Security record at the same time.

Mrs. Sims will be getting monthly check from her deceased husband's pension, and a lump sum for the last 15 years of missed payments.

Can you retire if you only have $100,000 saved?

Dustin in Houma has a great new job, so how does he go about fixing his disasterous credit history?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1079: The Daily Wrap: 01.11.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 19:02:16 +0000

PPP is back, with some minor changes aimed at getting more of the money to smaller businesses.

Terry in New Orleans wants to know if getting married will make his taxes go up.

Three callers in a row ask about their options when it comes to Social Security spousal benefits.

William on the Northshore may have gotten some bad advice on what to do with an inherited IRA, and it cost him on his taxes.

Greg in Gretna wants to know if there's any way he can write of more than $3,000 per year going forward from his stock losses.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1078: The Weekly Wrap: 01.09.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:51:09 +0000

Even though the news is painting a picture of daily chaos and disaster, Wall Street isn't buying the hype and keeps pushing to new record highs. If you're concerned the country is falling apart, Gregory gives you some perspective that should ease your economic fears.

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, Gregory assures you the market has a solid history of powering through all of our previous challenges. No matter how you shuffle which party controls the White House, House, and Senate, things have worked out pretty well in America.

Scott in Biloxi wants to know what he should do with the funds in his TSP when he retires from the military.

Sam in Gretna wants to know more about Exchange Traded Funds and how they work.

Wes Blanchard addresses some interesting estate planning issues are seen in the Netflix show Peaky Blinders. If you have a dangerous job, some of these estate planning tip apply to you.

Bud in Destrehan asks if he should cash out his 401k before taxes go up.

John in New Orleans asks Gregory if he should do anything to prepare for the national debt going up to $50 trillion.

Can you simply copy a friend's Will and make your own changes to it?

Michael in Huntsville asks Gregory if he should buy his rentals with cash, or leverage them while rates are so low?

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, Gregory assures you the market has a solid history of powering through all of our previous challenges. No matter how you shuffle which party controls the White House, House, and Senate, things have worked out pretty well in America.

The general expectation is that under the new President, House, and Senate, taxes are going up for someone somewhere, and raising income taxes, capital gains taxes, and payroll taxes is going to have huge consequences for economic growth.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1077: The Daily Wrap: 01.07.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 16:37:50 +0000

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, all three stock indices notched a record high, it doesn't appear Wall St is concerned, either.

Over the next few years your taxes are probably going up, and the federal government is going to spend money like crazy. Invest accordingly.

Now is probably a good time to rebalance your portfolio. Should you put your gains back to work, or leave it in cash?

Is Bitcoin the new Gold? No.

Elon Musk is now the richest man in the world.

Learn how the Invest 50-50 philosophy mixes indexing and fixed products to give you a relatively safe return compared to single stocks.

Mortgage rates are at a new historic low.

Do you REALLY need a good credit score in retirement?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1076: The Daily Wrap: 01.06.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 15:37:35 +0000

Despite the political and social turmoil happening in DC, Gregory assures you the market has a solid history of powering through all of our previous challenges. No matter how you shuffle which party controls the White House, House, and Senate, things have worked out pretty well in America.

As crazy as it was, 2020 was a good year for the stock market, with all three major indices finishing at record levels. If you were trying to time the market, did you get out at the right time? Did you get back in at the right time? Did you miss some big daily gains?

Now is probably a good time to rebalance your portfolio. Should you put your gains back to work, or leave it in cash?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1075: The Daily Wrap: 01.05.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 16:13:11 +0000

Mike in Gretna asks Gregory to explain how the distribution rules work for his 457b.

Scott in Biloxi wants to know what he should do with the funds in his TSP when he retires from the military.

Oil reaches $50 a barrel. Can it last?

Learn some of the perks of a Health Savings Account.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1074: The Daily Wrap: 01.04.21

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 15:32:27 +0000

Financial New Years Resolutions to help build wealth. Gregory gives you tips on how to save more money this year.

Norman in Garyville has a life insurance policy through government work. Can he cash it in like a private sector policy?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1073: The Weekly Wrap: 12.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 17:01:34 +0000

As this turbulent year comes to an end, Gregory shares some hope that 2021 should be better.

Tony in Baton Rouge asks Gregory about the compounding nature of stock returns.

Robert on the Northshore is planning on retiring this year, and wants to know if he should move more to single stocks or more to safety?

James in Pontchatoula asks his spousal Social Security options.

Mike in Marrero asks how he can invest his 401k to protect it from losses. Gregory recommends his 401k maximizer program.

Joel in New Orleans wants to know if he's in the right funds in his TSP?

Dwayen Stein of Mortgage Gumbo brings you: the 10 Commandments when getting a mortgage.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1072: The Daily Wrap: 12.17.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 16:21:57 +0000

The good news about additional vaccines coming on the market pushes the markets higher, and Gregory reminds you to support your local small businesses to help keep as many afloat as possible.

The Numbers segment features a record high close for the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P 500. Not everyone was a winner today, though.

Charles in Gulfport is worried the policies from climate change activists could crush the economy in the near future.

Gregory reviews 3 financial milestones you should reach by age 50.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1071: The Daily Wrap: 12.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:56:59 +0000

Some local acts of generosity are cheered by Gregory and James. Gayle Benson pays off the layaway bills for shoppers at three area Walmarts.

A recent Supreme Court ruling clears up an IRS regulation about using Captive Insurance as a tax dodge.

If you're thinking about a new creative way to lower your taxes, Gregory recommends you refer to Reilly's Laws of Tax Planning.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1070: The Daily Wrap: 12.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:15:53 +0000

The news around the Coronavirus is driving market volatility. The vaccine rollout pushed the markets up, and the markets fell after several governors and mayors announced new restrictions and lockdowns.

Pat in Slidell wants to know what's her best options for Spousal Social Security benefits.

Riley's Laws of Tax Planning. If you're thinking of a way to lower your taxes, review these rules before you act.

Christy in the Youtube live chat window: Comment on Bitcoin. Gregory explains why investing in cryptos is full of unknowns, and could not be advised.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1069: The Daily Wrap: 12.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:33:08 +0000

How can you write off stock losses? Hear a caller from one hour of Saturday's show right next to Jude Heath's answer from the next hour. And yes, there is a way to write off more than $3,000 in losses per year.

Jocelyn in River Ridge asks what's the total cap on annual contributions you could make to an IRA, 401k, and Roth IRA combined.

Time is running out on making contributions to your Roth IRA and 401k.

Amazon's third party sellers make up the majority of revenue, and there's venture capital firms that go around looking for little companies to buy on Amazon.

Sal in Mandeville: Should I accelerate my mortgage payments, or invest my extra money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1068: The Weekly Wrap: 12.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:51:18 +0000

Learn 8 year-end tax tips to save money.

Is college a bad investment? Gregory has some words of caution before going into debt to get a degree.

Gregory shows your ways to keep you Social Security income at a lower tax rate.

Will in River Ridge took some big stock losses last year. Can he write off the losses anyway other than the $3,000-per-year carry forward? Jude Heath, CPA joins the show and says he can write off more against current capital gains income.

Jack in Metairie asks Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath about washing some of the capital gains from the sale of a rental property against his capital losses in the stock market.

Al in River Ridge goes deep in the weeds with Gregory and Jude about keeping up with an inter-generational stock's cost basis.

Taxes are probably going up. You may as well be prepared.

Cindy in Biloxi sold some stocks for a loss in her 457b plan. Does she have to report that loss on her taxes now, or will that be settled up when she starts taking money out?

Susan in Metairie asks if she should skip her Required Minimum Distribution for 2020.

Jocelyn in River Ridge asks what's the total cap on annual contributions you could make to an IRA, 401k, and Roth IRA combined.

Pat in Slidell wants to know what's her best options for Spousal Social Security benefits.

Carl in Moss Points asks how his spouse's benefits based on his Social Security Disability record will be figured.

Gregory gives you a deeper discussion on the 8 year-end tax tips to save money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1067: The Daily Wrap: 12.10.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:14:17 +0000

Students at Slidell High School are starting an Investing Club, and reached out to the show to ask where they should begin.

Gregory thinks interest rates going up anytime soon is a myth. Invest accordingly.

2 of the best 3 months in the stock market in the last 30 years happened in 2020.

Learn 8 year-end tax tips to save money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1066: The Daily Wrap: 12.09.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:22:42 +0000

Another local restaurant shuts its doors forever, and Gregory offers some direction and support for those who have been recently unemployed.

Keith in New Orleans asks about what to do with two old 401k accounts from previous emloyers. Could that money be used to pay off a mortgage early?

Pay less in taxes during retirement by positioning your assets so your Social Security is taxed at a lower rate.

Robert in Mobile wants to retire early at age 62, but how does he cover his healthcare until he's eligible for Medicare at age 65?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1065: The Daily Wrap: 12.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 16:01:04 +0000

The Federal Trade Commision sues a shady company selling bad stock advice. Learn the signs of what to look for to avoid investing your money with the wrong people.

Scott in Mississippi asks Gregory's thoughts on precious metals as a short term play.

Charles in Covington asks Gregory's recommendation on where to find reliable sources for stock trading.

Proposed tax reforms from Joe Biden seek to eliminate the 1031 exchange, which allows you to defer taxes on the sale of an asset by rolling that gain into a similar investment asset.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1064: The Daily Wrap: 12.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 17:19:59 +0000

Mike in Convent turned on his Social Security retirement benefit after his full retirement age, and is upset his Medicare premiums are biting into his Social Security check. Gregory shows that Medicare premiums are based on your income in the last tax filing.

Bill in Slidell asks how the timeline works on Roth IRA conversions.

Christy on Youtube Live asks Gregory about the age 55 exception for early withdrawals from her TSP account.

The Numbers were mixed, with the NASDAQ setting a new record high.

Another story of a group pretending to be financial advisor getting charged for defrauding his clients with a Ponzi scheme.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1063: The Weekly Wrap: 12.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 16:55:37 +0000

Gregory shares his experience on this week's business trip, where airports are not quite back to normal, but getting better. The Job Report shows the Unemployment Rate dropped less than expected, and the contrast between states is stark.

Kudlow audio clips give us a good idea what legislation could affect your money in the short session ending this week. The current spending bill expires this week, possible coronavirus stimulus, and liability protections are all on the table.

What are your Social Security options if you're self employed, but your spouse is a regular employee? Dana in Slidell asks about her spousal options.

Neville on the Causeway asks if there's some type of fund for distressed stocks. Gregory hasn't seen an ETF or Mutual Fund labeled as such, but there are sector-specific funds that can acheive a similar result.

Wes Blanchard, the Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority, is seeing a lot of contested successions, and one of the common culprits is a hand written will. If you absolutely insist on doing it yourself, avoid a few common mistakes that could ruin your hand written will.

Paul in Ocean Springs has a CD that's up for renewal, but the interest rate is so low, he wants to put it somewhere he can get a higher yield.

Wayne in Slidell asks Gregory's thoughts on following the trades of CEOs

Bert in Ocean Springs wants to know the rules on how Capital Gains taxes work on a short term stock gain.

Doug in Mandeville is on Disability, and is thinking of getting a rental property. Would rental income affect his eligibility for Disability?

Bill in Slidell asks how the timeline works on Roth IRA conversions.

Robert in Thibodaux is interested in buying a $3 stock for a startup with some new technological breakthrough. He believes this company is about to take off.

May in Lacombe is concerned about her taxes going up under a new president, and asks about the proposed changes in the step-up basis on capital gains.

Mike in Convent turned on his Social Security retirement benefit after his full retirement age, and is upset his Medicare premiums are biting into his Social Security check.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1062: The Weekly Wrap: 11.21.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 19:35:57 +0000

Hear women's questions about their Social Security scenario.

Dana in Slidell asks what her Social Security options will look like. She's a 1099 contracter who doesn't pay much into Social Security, but her husband does.

Frank in New Orleans calls on behalf of his mom who is currently on Social Security retirement benefits. Could she increase her benefit by switching to her now-deceased ex husband?

John in Kenner asks Gregory the best way to get in contact with his local Social Security office.

Patricia in Baton Rouge wants to know if she has to return the Social Security check seny to her dad the month after he dies.

Charlie in Van Cleave needs to start taking distributions from his TSP, and wants to know if he should roll it over to an IRA.

John in Madisonville should I cash out my TSP or roll it over to an IRA?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Episode 1061: The Daily Wrap: 11.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 16:48:03 +0000

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins us to celebrate another record low in interest rates, and gives you the easiest trick to pay off your mortgage faster.

Can you really make money copying Warren Buffet's trading news?

Gregory reviews some new commercials for Winning at Life.

Mom and Pop businesses should be aware of different scenarios for Social Security. Is it better to have all of your income claimed by one spouse, or have the income split evenly between both spouses?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.17.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 16:31:16 +0000

MS Governor Tate Reeves floats a slew of new spending proposals on the cops, education, and economic stimulus, and then tops it off with eliminating the state income tax. We aren't buying any of it.

The Numbers show the markets taking a breather after the previous day's record highs. Tesla jumps on the news it is to be included on the S&P 500.

Gregory answers questions from women about their Social Security situation.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:44:10 +0000

Gregory shares his experience getting back surgery.

Loaning money to friends and family is all too often a failed experience. Here's what you should keep in mind before you give your money for a personal loan.

The Dow and S&P 500 both reach new record highs today.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 11.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 17:59:29 +0000

Gregory shares his experience getting back surgery, and how you need a financial cushion in case medical issues come up that aren't covered by your insurance. For emergency situations, it's good to have a financial go-bag, with some money set aside and a collection of your important financial documents.

Wes Blanchard, the Estate Planning Attorney, breaks down the Biden proposals that could change the rules of the game around your estate plan. The Estate Tax threshold could very well be lowered, and Wes has some ideas how you can arrange your assets to limit that hit.

Over a billion dollars was bet on the Election, and since the final results are hanging in the balance, that money is all sitting in limbo.

Louisiana's Estate Planning laws give you a few extra reasons to be sure you have your own estate plan. Usufruct and forced heirship are two of the biggest issues you need to address.

60 Minutes covered Operation Warp Speed, and through the blindingly partisan report is some good info to let you know this coronavirus vaccine project seems to be up to the task. There's no excuse for more economically devastating lockdowns.

The continuing story of buying into Carnival Cruise stock during the pandemic dip illustrates some great lessons about how risky single stocks can be.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 11.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 20:22:13 +0000

David in New Orleans was under the impression his uncle left a life insurance policy for him. How can he look that up?

The economic road ahead looks a little clearer. Hear Gregory reaction Stephanie Pomboy's predictions including that 3.5% unemployment will not return under the next administration.

National media outlets start declaring the Election 2020 winner is Biden during our show. Hear Gregory's initial reaction on how this news shapes the outlook for your money.

Jude Heath CPA joins us for an hour to talk about how your taxes could likely change under a Biden administration.

Brian in Pearl river has a new job that pays him as an independent contractor. How much should he set aside every month for taxes?

Lucy in Gulfport asks how her taxes are affected if she starts putting money in a Roth IRA.

Gregory shares more of his thoughts on the 2020 Election, and how he expects the markets to react.

Randy in Slidell asks if it's too late for him to take advantage of the relaxed rules for 401k withdrawals and loans this year.

Jack in Pascagoula asks how the spousal Social Security rules apply to his situation.

Harold in Tickfaw wants to know if he can take some stock in his IRA and move them to a Roth IRA account.

Gayle in Metairie heard the government can go into your bank account and take your money.

Robert in Metairie asks if he is eligible for Social Security survivor benefits while receiving a disability check from the VA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:15:28 +0000

The Election 2020 update shows Biden overtaking Trump in the vote count. Wall Street loves a divided government, because gridlock equals certainty.

Voters on state-wide ballot initiatives across the country seem to overwhelmingly agree for lower taxes and legal marijuana.

How did the pollsters do? Trafalgar was closest again, and you'll hear the pre-election predicitons from both sides of the pollster divide.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Election 2020 Review

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 15:38:55 +0000

Here's what we know so far about how the election results could affect the economy, your investments, taxes, and Social Security.

Election 2020 Preview Special

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:37:50 +0000

What's on the ballot in Louisiana and Mississippi? Learn what financial issues are being decided in the 2020 election.

Gregory reviews the financial issues at play in the elections from sports betting to Social Security reform. What result does Gregory expect, and how will that affect your money?

Jack in Metairie wants to know if we have runaway inflation or a huge recession in our near future.

Bob in Loranger is thinking about moving his 401k to cash if Biden wins. Gregory shows how trying the time the market like that can prove to be costly.

Michael in Biloxi is concerned about Trump's re-election being dangerous for Social Security and the national debt. Gregory expects taxes to go up in the future at some point, even if it doesn't happen under Trump.

The Weekly Wrap: 10.31.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 20:35:02 +0000

Election 2020: what result does Gregory expect, and how will that affect your money?

Jack in Metairie wants to know if we have runaway inflation or a huge recession in our near future.

Jerry in Baton Rouge is on Social Security. Can his wife, who receives a teacher's pension from the state, draw a spousal benefit from his Social Security record?

Jim in Semmes has accumulated quite a bit in his savings account, and wants to get that money to work, but let's keep it simple and conservative.

What happens with your money next year? Gregory responds to some comments from Larry Kudlow, gives you his financial forcast for 2021.

Let's go through our end-of-year financial checklist.

Jeanie in Slidell is having a hard time finding answers about the work around on the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Is it a good idea for John in New Orleans to cash out his IRA and give it to his grandkids now rather than waiting until he passes away? How will the taxes be different?

Angela in Poplarville asks about the options for an annuity in a company's retirement plan.

Glenn in Metairie has a stack of old savings bonds his father had purchased long ago. He wants to know how they will be taxed if he cashes them in.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 14:30:41 +0000

Is the cost of college a good investment? Only 59% of people who start college get a degree. Only 44% of those with a degree have a job in that field. Would you put money to an investment vehicle with a 74% failure rate?

Donald asks Gregory about taking a loan against his house to buy rental properties.

Garbiel asks how a Biden victory would impact our economy? Gregory says in the long term, not much.

Bill in Slidell has a mix of pre-tax and after-tax dollars in his rollover IRA. Can he separate that money, and get those after tax contributions in a Roth IRA?

Kaegan in Houma has an offer to buy the house he's currently renting, but his credit score is a problem, and wants to know if paying off some outstanding debt would help much.

Harley stock rocketed up on their announcement of a new line of electric motorcycles and mopeds.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.26.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:32:06 +0000

Financial lessons from the NFL. One huge drag on a franchise is dead cap space. It's like the household equivalent of carrying too much debt.

Learn some of the basics of Social Security. Gregory reviews a two recent calls covering the rules for Social Security retirement benefits.

Are you looking to get your credit score up? Hear a couple of quick calls from Saturday's show with Dwayne Stein helping callers trying to increase their credit score.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 10.24.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 15:28:29 +0000

To help you appreciate life in 2020, it's a good idea to remember what life was like in 1972. Dennis in Biloxi recalls Hurricane Camille.

Greg in Gretna asks if he can roll over his DROP money into a Roth IRA when he retires.

Dwayne Stein reviews a couple of caller trying to get their credit scores up to get a good deal on a mortgage.

Gary in New Orleans asks Gregory to explain how the Required Minimum Distributions work for his 457b plan.

Adele in Metairie has a friend who lost her husband, and asks if she qualifies for a widow's benefit.

Kirk in Slidell wants to know when he should turn on his Social Security retirement benefit.

Peter in New Orleans is turning age 65, and still has health coverage through his employer. Does he still need to sign up for Medicare?

Benito in Slidell is in his 20s and wants to start saving for retirement. How much should he save?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.22.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 15:36:27 +0000

Hear Gregory's thoughts on the final Presidential Debate of 2020.

Anthony in Metairie is now eligible to retire from his current job, but he would like to start a new job doing something else.

Ralph in Kenner wants to hold off on his Social Security until age 70, and wants to try and get his benefit as big as possible.

Business is booming for companies that assist small businesses who go bankrupt by making deals with their creditors.

Listen for these topics in tonight's debate to see what will affect your money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.21.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:09:48 +0000

Gregory sees a strong chance your taxes will be going up in the future, and prefers to invest accordingly. Tax increases also means slower economic growth.

Election 2020 is starting to look a little clearer, and Gregory expects a positive result for the investors. The Hunter Biden laptop only strengthens the bullish position.

Gregory adds some more insight to a call from Saturday's show. Jay has a chance to participate in a pension AND a drop plan at his employer.

Eric in New Orleans calls to update us on his situation with the family member who ran off with his inheritance.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.20.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:25:22 +0000

For those of you who think life is tough in 2020, perhaps you've forgotten how nice you have it compared to 1972. Gregory responds to a clip from Adam Carolla about appreciating modern luxuries.

People have been paying down their credit card debt over the pandemic. The US has doubled the national debt since 2010.

Ryan in Biloxi called for a friend who is self employed, and was denied a mortgage because her income was too low. Can she refile her previous years' taxes and maybe qualify?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:26:50 +0000

John in Gulfport is looking for ways to help his credit score so he can be in a better position to buy a house.

New Hampshire is suing Massachusetts for taxing their residence for working at home if they are employed in Mass.

Don't worry too much about the upcoming election. The market should be fine either way in the long term.

Gregory reviews a couple of calls about Social Security from Saturday's show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 10.17.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 15:49:14 +0000

What's rules for SSI and Disability? Gregory explains the difference between Supplemental Security Income and Social Security's Disability programs.

Bob in Biloxi is thinking about moving the money from his 401k into 2 fixed annuities. What does Gregory think?

Bruce in Denham Springs was on Disability, and when he switched to Social Security retirement benefits at his Full Retirement Age, his taxes went up. Can he switch back?

Craig in New Orleans asks Gregory's thoughts on investing in crypto. Gregory thinks it's too volatile to take seriously.

Tim in New Orleans wants to know how the Required Minimum Distributions are figured for his IRA.

Jude Heath joins the show and reviews some recent calls with tax issues.

Cindy in Covington asks Gregory and Jude if she can use her own LLC to start a 401k.

Pam in Slidell asks when you can start Social Security while still working, and she will also be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Jay in New Orleans has a pension system at his job, and an employee DROP program, too. How can he maximize his options?

Bill in Gonzales asks when his wife can turn on a Spousal Benefit from his Social Security record.

Christopher in Baton Rouge asks Gregory about his work around to employ his retired mother so she can get money into a Roth IRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 16:30:20 +0000

The way you listen to audio has changed dramatically. People are listening to more spoken word content than ever, and the AM/FM radio accounts for less than half of listening hours.

How do SSI and Social Security Disability differ? What are the different rules for these programs, and how do you qualify for help from them?

Ken in New Orleans calls back to the show to let us know his artwork has been selling well.

Tommy in Folsom has questions about qualifying for SSI.

Gregory reacts to audio clips of Trump talking about his economic record.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:07:57 +0000

Laura in New Orleans has asked Gregory about buying stock in Carnival Cruise Lines on the show back in March. She called back and confirmed she bought in. How has her investment performed thus far? Gregory's guidance proved to be spot on.

The shop teacher at Gulfport High wins a $50,000 prize for trade teachers in recognition of his auto shop class.

How does someone know how much money they should be saving every month?

Here's some rules you need to know if you've been laid off, and you're thinking of leaning on your 401k to get by.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.13.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:48:36 +0000

Pool Corp, the largest whole distributer of pool parts, is based in Covington and just got listed on the S&P 500. The plans are revealed for the new UMG Hotel in Biloxi.

Laura in New Orleans is inheriting a decent amount of money. How does she go about the process of knowing where to put it, and how much to put in each bucket.

When Eric in New Orleans inherited a bunch of money, his uncle promised to manage his investments and stole it.

Brian in New Orleans is being offered a 401k at his new job. He's in his mid-30s, and has never had a 401k before. How does he use it properly?

If you've already tapped into your 401k or IRA for a Coronavirus Related Distribution, Gregory has some reminders on what you need to do to avoid that early withdrawal penalty.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 14:15:37 +0000

Here's 4 easy ways people run out of money in retirement.

Brad in Hammond needs to take a withdrawal from his 401k to make ends meet. How does the process work by which you can get your early withdrawal penalty waived?

Chase in Luling is just getting started saving for retirement and has a couple of small rent houses. Is he on the right path?

Hear some news highlights from the financial world.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 14:55:49 +0000

A football star just bought the most expensive house in Charlottesville. Gregory explains how overbuying a house is a trap many people easily fall into.

Charlene in New Orleans bought a fixed annuity, and wants to know how all of the surrender charges and maturity dates work.

Gary in Marrero is just a year away from his Full Retirement Age, and asks Gregory if he should turn on his Social Security retirement benefit a year early.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 15:04:26 +0000

Does Social Security count marriages performed overseas? Carlos in Moss Point was married in China, and wants to make sure his wife qualifies for Social Security spousal and survivor benefits.

Richard in Slidell has a wife on Medicaid. Can he sell his house and use that money to buy a new one, or will that be affect his Medicaid status?

Bill in Holden has a 401k at his old job. What should he do with it?

Scott in Mobile has a sizable amount of company stock in the 401k at his old job. Gregory thinks this may be a good scenario to use Net Unrealized Appreciation.

Lisa in New Orleans has a deferred compensation plan at her job, but the plan rules have changed, and they want to pay the entire amount in one lump sum. Is there some way she can defer the deferred comp to avoid a huge tax hit?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.06.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 13:45:48 +0000

Learn the lessons from John McAfee's arrest in Spain on tax evasion. Gregory gives you a helping hand on how to get caught up on your taxes, and some bad news if you don't.

Gregory shares the story of a family of Bronco Riders who have won a load of championship on the rodeo circuits.

Bradley from Hammond asks for more details about the John McAfee story. We do not endorse his evasion of taxes, but we all agree this will one day make an interesting movie.

Gregory quotes Judge Learned Hand on a citizen's duty to pay taxes, and shares some ways people keep their tax bill as low as legally possible.

Jonathan in Perkinston is going blind and have $10,000. What should he do with that money?

Eric in Slidell wants to know how much his Social Security check will grow if he waits a couple months past his Full Retirement Age.

Norman in Garyville asks Gregory if his military pension through the VA will have any affect on his Social Security retirement benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 13:44:22 +0000

A survey shows about half of Americans are pessimistic about the economy over the next 6 months. Gregory suggests if you're concerned about stock losses, take a look at the bond world for a little balance.

Gregory reviews a call from Richard on Saturday asking about how his various streams of income could affect his Social Security retirement benefit.

Gregory reveals what's really going on behind some of those financial service commercials and financial shows. Many are simply funneling leads to their paying cliental of actual financial service companies.

How do people get sucked into tax schemes and get-rich-quick schemes. Both pursuits are based on similar motivations, but the tax issues are far more likely you land you in jail.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 10.03.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 16:43:35 +0000

Gregory breaks down more details in Trump's tax returns, and how it's not unusual for businesses to consistently show losses. There's plenty of tax lessons to be learned here, too.

Greg in Laplace is not a Trump fan, and is not happy we are saying nice things about him.

How long with the Coronavirus be a drag on the economy?

Anita in New Orleans is divorced and remarried. Does she get to choose a spousal benefit from her current and ex spouse?

Does Social Security count marriages performed overseas? Carlos in Moss Point was married in China, and wants to make sure his wife qualifies for Social Security spousal and survivor benefits.

What do you do with a 401k at your old job? Bill in Holden asks Gregory about his options for his 401k at his former employer.

Brian in Metairie has been paying the max in Social Security taxes for about 30 years. Is he maxed out?

Richard in Slidell gets a VA disability check, and a pension from some private sector work. Will those income streams count against the earnings test if he starts his Social Security early?

How much income can you draw from your IRA before affecting the taxes on your Social Security? James in Mobile asks how to manage the brackets.

Gregory's wife Stacey calls in to wish Gregory a happy birthday!

What happens when a minor inherits an IRA? Steve in New Orleans has a brother who left his 11 year old daughter an inherited IRA last year. What are the rules and distribution requirements?

Cindy in New Orleans asks Gregory how your Social Security credits are indexed for inflation.

Richard in Slidell has a wife on Medicaid. Can he sell his house and use that money to buy a new one, or will that be affect his Medicaid status?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.01.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 16:33:16 +0000

What are the Social Security rules for a couple of divorcees who get married? Gregory helps Anita understand her options concerning her previous spouse and her new spouse, and what could change her situation in the future.

Gregory breaks down more details in Trump's tax returns, and how it's not unusual for businesses to consistently show losses. There's plenty of tax lessons to be learned here, too.

This year national deficit is almost too massive to comprehend. The country spent $4 trillion more than it took in this past fiscal year, and is clearly unsustainable.

When do you have to start Medicare?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:03:18 +0000

What do we learn from Trump's tax returns? The fact he pays zero in federal income taxes some years deserves an incredible amount of context. Gregory breaks down how your tax burden deserves the same context.

We review a call from Saturday about spousal Social Security strategies.

Doc in Pearl River inherited a bunch of physical silver from his father. What should he do with a big pile of silver coins?

How is wealth really created? There's a popular perception that you can become rich by growing your money in the stock market. Gregory points out that very few of the richest people in America did so through stock investing. Most of the top 1% made their money elsewhere, with a little extra added on from their stock portfolio.

The latest numbers on private sector job creation give us a sense that the economic recovery is continuing at a decent pace.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.26.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 15:51:17 +0000

Anita in New Orleans is divorced and remarried. Does she get to choose a spousal benefit from her current and ex spouse?

Patricia in New Orleans asks if her IRA's Required Minimum Distribution can go into a Roth IRA. Gregory points out the RMD has to be taken, and the taxes have to be accounted for, but getting money into a Roth IRA is dependent on your earned income, so it's a completely separate discussion.

Does 401k/IRA withdrawals count toward the earnings limit on early Social Security. Jeff in Lacombe is retired at 64, and has gotten conflicting advice on the rules.

Patricia in New Orleans discovered her husband's pension should've paid her out the last 10 years. She's getting 10 years worth of checks in a lump sum.

Charlie in Baton Rouge asks if he should still make his Qualified Charitable Distribution even though Required Minimum Distributions are waived for 2020.

If you think you may be due a benefit from Social Security, file a claim. Gregory shares the story of a widow who missed years of checks because she got some bad advice.

David in Hahnville asks if he can get a raise on his Social Security check by continuing to work and paying into the system.

Wes Blanchard gives you 3 quick steps to get your estate plan together.

Learn some of the sneaky ways lawyers get extra fees and compensation from their clients.

Can you pass along your Power of Attorney to someone else? Mike in Covington's wife has Power of Attorney over her elderly parents, and has a terminal medical condition.

Treeco did a great job helping Gregory and Stacey out with their tree issues.

Wes Blanchard shares a legal opinion on the eviction moratorium issues hurting our local landlords.

Gregory shares his meeting with a giant turtle in the road.

LSU Football tickets are twice as high for this year's home opener on the secondary market.

American College of Financial Services reports on a survey of financial literacy, and the results are dismal.

Ronald in Baton Rouge has retired early and is living off income from his assets. Should he go ahead and turn on Social Security at age 62 so he doesn't have to take as much from his assets?

George in Mandeville asks how he and his wife can get the biggest benefits from their spousal Social Security options.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.24.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:08:55 +0000

Hear some of the shady moves in the financial planning industry. Just because something is legal, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

Gregory reviews two quick callers on the Windfall Elimination Provision.

The new webinar on Medicare covers the basics on how to pick the right plans.

What do you do with the 401k from a previous job? What do you do with a 401k once you retire?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.23.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 16:24:03 +0000

Check your Social Security credits! Gregory shows you how to find errors in your Social Security record, and if you can get it fixed.

How does Medicare work? Gregory's latest webinar series focuses on the rules for how to start Medicare.

Gregory rescues a giant turtle.

How will the political changes of the 2020 affect your money? If you're so worried about it, maybe you should move away from your riskier assets.

You should check out the Ask Gregory podcast. It's a new series where Gregory addresses financial issues one topic at a time.

How do you start Medicare if you're still working?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.22.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 13:38:50 +0000

How will this election affect your money? Gregory calms the waters, and explains why the results of this election will not have much affect in the long term statistics.

The open Supreme Court seat will cause a lot of noise in DC, but no big lasting affect on Wall Street. Gregory points out the high emotions around these issues could contribute to volatility, but only for a while.

Gregory reminds you to support your local restaurant.

Two of the big winners of 2020 are office furniture and yoga pants. Both have a new demand as more people are working from home AND sitting around the house in comfortable pants.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 17:50:12 +0000

Gregory explains how the biggest news stories of the week will affect your money.

How does the Windfall Elimination Provision affect your Social Security benefits for you and your spouse?

Thomas in Gonzales asks if he has enough of a private sector work history to be exempted from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Pat in Slidell found an error in his Social Security earnings history. Can he get those credits updated and have them recalculate?

Chris is Destrehan asks if he has enough of a private sector work history to be exempted from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Jude Heath CPA describes how your taxes change when you move from employment into retirement. Gregory and Jude share tips on managing your tax bracket with different income streams.

How can you take advantage of Roth IRAs to keep your taxes low in retirement?

Gregory warns against the myth of any safe investments promising a 10% return.

Rollover IRAs carry the liability protection of a 401k with them. Janet in Mandeville asks Gregory about the liability protection rules for a rollover IRA.

The old rules for inheriting IRAs are gone, including the stretch option. So what options does that leave for the money in your IRA after you pass away?

Gregory gives you a statistical history of why the markets 10% average return is misleading, and how drawing 4% from your portfolio in retirement will stress your assets.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.17.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:44:40 +0000

Gregory reviews some financial stats from last year's Half Show.

Ron in Pascagoula asks Gregory's thoughts on how to fix some of the Social Security exceptions like the Windfall Elimination Provision.

The old rules for inheriting IRAs are gone, including the stretch option. So what options does that leave for the money in your IRA after you pass away?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 15:11:11 +0000

Michael in New Orleans is looking at getting a second home on the beach just 45 minutes out of town. What lending tool should he use to finance his weekend getaway?

Beware of these 3 common money scams. Gregory gives you the signs of the most common ways people are separated from their money by scammers.

Financial Rules to Live By: Gregory reviews quotes of financial wisdom throughout the years of the show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 14:23:14 +0000

Jim in New Orleans likes the idea of a Roth 401k so much, he asks: why would you use a traditional 401k? If you're looking to put away even more money, see if you qualify to contribute to an HSA.

A myth of Social Security is that if you turn it on early, you get a boost when you reach your Full Retirement Age. Hear how it really works.

Who DOESN'T need Estate Planning? There's some people for whom an estate plan doesn't make sense, but it's not a big fraction of the population.

The Numbers are starting to reveal what is expected from the election, and volatility.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 15:45:33 +0000

When do you no longer need life insurance? Should you always have life insurance if you have a mortgage? Gregory breaks down some questions to ask yourself before you cash out your life insurance policy.

How does the transition work between Social Security Disability and the Social Security retirement trust fund.

Charles from Mandeville has called on Saturday's show asking about getting into private venture capital investing. Gregory stressed how risky that world can be. James shares the cold stats on how brutal venture capital can be for investors, and how the US dominates the world in startups.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 16:04:50 +0000

The enhanced unemployment benefits are about to expire in Louisiana, and about the begin in Mississippi.

Gregory has some 401k advice for National 401k Day.

Jim in New Orleans likes the idea of a Roth 401k so much, he asks: why would you use a traditional 401k?

Maria in Diamondhead has a 401k from her previous job, but her new job doesn't offer a 401k program. What should she do with the old 401k, and how should she save for retirement going forward?

Gregory explains how you can use the money piled up in your 401k to create a lifetime income stream in retirement.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo is our guest, and is celebrating 6 years of his show.

Is Private Venture Capital too risky for individual investors? Charles in Mandeville asks Gregory's thoughts on venture capital, and Gregory recommends you should be prepared sustain heavy losses.

Dwayne Stein explains the different mortgage types, and breaks down the 3 big government programs.

Linda in Mandeville asks Dwayne Stein and Gregory Ricks if recasting the mortgage on her rental property could result in a lower interest rate. She's trying to get that mortgage paid off over the next few years so she can have an income property free and clear.

Gregory and Dwayne discuss the new half percent fee on mortgages.

Dwayne reviews a recent caller who asked about refinancing his mortgage at age 68.

If you're self employed, when and how do you set yourself up a 401k?

Ask your partner these 7 financial questions BEFORE you get married!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.10.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 18:53:59 +0000

Black Friday is going to look very different. Retailers who want to avoid the crowds and mobs of an in-store sale are opting for online door busters. Home Depot is among the retailers spreading out their specials over a two month span.

Dennis in Mississippi asks if his wife could qualify for Social Security Disability without a recent work record. Gregory confirms the key is going to be what she's done in the last 10 years.

Will in Metairie asks if his payroll taxes from self-employment could boost his monthly check.

Are you too old to refinance your mortgage? Mark in Metairie is considering a refinance on his mortgage at age 68.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:56:36 +0000

What's the deal with stock slices? Charles in Mandeville asks Gregory's take on a program from a broker allowing you to buy smaller slices of high priced stocks.

Learn how Social Security credits work.

How do different states tax your Social Security?

Is the Unemployment Insurance bonus from the stimulus taxable?

Gregory explains how this is the fastest Bull Run turnaround in the history of the stock market.

Jared in Kenner wants to pull money out of his 401k to pay off his mortgage. Usually these callers get a stern "no" for an answer, but Jared has a low payoff amount, a mortgage with a relatively high interest rate, and there's no penalty this year on 401k distributions this year because of Covid, as long as he can pay the money back on time. Jared gets a stong "maybe."

How should you dip into your assets to deal with a huge medical bill? Michael in Madison, MS has over a million in investment assets - mostly stocks - and has some unexpected medical costs hit his spouse.

Gregory has some warnings for those who are trying to time the market. History is not on your side.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.03.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 13:30:35 +0000

Why would someone buy a 100 year bond? Gregory tells you the history of an attempt by JC Penny to issue 100 year bonds. James found the oldest bond in history still paying interest.

Trump announces a payroll tax deferral option, and it sounds like there's a lot of gray area around how this will work.

The Sandwich Generation is caught between supporting their children and parents at the same time. Gregory has tips he learned going through that phase.

The history of how stocks perform the year after an election should give you an optimistic view of 2021.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.02.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:23:52 +0000

How different asset classes have reacted to the last 10 elections.

Don on the Northshore asks if the economic issues from the Coronavirus will create a buying opportunity for investment properties.

Divorce paperwork is up 34% this year. The pandemic may be the biggest contributor, and your finances may take the biggest hit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.01.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 12:58:46 +0000

The pandemic increased the amount of people who saved money by a big leap.

Gregory reviews some quick Social Security questions that came up on Saturday's show.

How the stock market has reacted to the last 10 elections.

Ann in New Orleans asks if her spouse's Windfall Elimination Provision will affect her spousal benefit when he passes.

Mike in Mobile asks if his $100,000 winnings from a scratch-off ticket will have any effect on his Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.31.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 16:03:17 +0000

Derik in Baton Rouge has an employer that wants to move away from pensions and more towards 401ks. He's being offered some interesting options, but not sure which way to go.

Gregory sees people try and get the same effect as Indexing by manually diversifying their stock positions. This attempt at self-indexing rarely works out better than a similar index fund.

Here's why you shouldn't be concerned about the economic impact of the next election: the market has a solid history of growing no matter who is in charge.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.29.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 18:53:30 +0000

Sheila in Waggaman asks about her sister's options with Social Security. She's twice divorced. Can she draw a benefit from the record of either ex spouse?

Emile on Facebook Live asks if he can receive both military disability benefits and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time.

Timothy in Metairie is concerned about his wife's Social Security options should he pass away.

Pat in Belle Chase wants to know if she turns Social Security on the month of her birthday (or the month after) to get the full retirement amount. How will this affect her taxes?

Bill in Metairie is thinking about delaying the start of his Social Security retirement benefits past his Full Retirement Age, and wants to know how much his benefit would increase by waiting.

EJ from Long Beach gets a pension from her work for her federal career, and wants to know if she will get hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision on her Social Security benefit.

Chuck in Baton Rouge wants to know if his wife's State Pension will cause his Social Security survivor benefit to be offset.

Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is our guest, and shares his opinion on a non-married couple buying a house together: it's a horrible idea. Gregory's wife Stacey calls in to give support to the woman in this scenario from John's email.

Wes Blanchard talks about steps you need to take when your spouse passes away.

Shannon in Gulfport is remarried, and wants to know if she could draw a benefit from her deceased spouse's record.

Dustin in Gulfport asks if his Mother In Law can qualify for some benefits from Social Security, even though she doesn't have much of a work record.

Tommy in New Orleans wants to max out his Social Security benefits by planning with his spouse.

Sharon in Pascagoula has financial concerns for her elderly uncle who is remarried and slipping into dementia.

Roy in Metairie is about to go in for major surgery, and will be going on Social Security Disability. How does all of this work?

Mark in Kenner is going blind, and asks if he can dip into his 401k penalty-free due to his disability.

Corey on Facebook asks Gregory's thoughts on investment apps like Acorn.

Mike in River Ridge is thinking about turning on Social Security early and continuing to work, but is concerned about getting hit with the earnings clawback.

Mike in Baton Rouge will continue to work past his Social Security full retirement age, and asks if he continues to get higher credits.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 16:46:27 +0000

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell makes it very clear he is committed to inflation, and won't be raising rates anytime soon. Gregory Ricks explains how to invest with inflation in mind.

We review a call from 2015 from an investor who bought physical silver. Given silver's performance in 2020, it's incredible to see how well the advice from 5 years ago has proven to be solid.

The Unemployment Insurance bonus is approved by most states.

Should you pay off your credit cards first, or invest that money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.26.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 13:30:19 +0000

Jeff in Houma wants Gregory's guidance on doing a Backdoor Roth IRA.

Gold retreats from its all-time highs, as the world seems to be running out of bad news.

Netflix and Amazon are killing it in the stock market, and it seems like there's plenty of room to go up.

Mark in Mandeville has been forced to retire early. Should he go ahead and turn on his Social Security early?

The IRS is facing a backlog of mail, and are suspending some notices until they get caught up. About 80,000 may have accidentally thrown away their stimulus payment that was mailed to them on a debit card.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.25.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 21:33:21 +0000

Stephanie from Pascagoula got a letter from Social Security, and asks Gregory about the new changes to her monthly check.

Rebecca in Metairie asks if Social Security Disability benefits pay a month after you turn your benefit on. Social Security benefits are paid a month behind.

David in Baton Rouge is receiving a disability check from both Social Security and the military. When does he switch to Social Security retirement benefits?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.24.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:36:07 +0000

If you're wanting to get into the Roth IRA game, Gregory reviews a couple of short calls from Saturday showing how to set up some tax free income streams for retirement.

Apple stock sets a new record high ahead of this week's 4-to-1 stock split, and positive buzz about the iPhone 12 coming out in October.

Gold is retreating from its recent all-time high. It will need more bad news to keep going up, and we may be just about out of bad news for 2020.

Ed is Waggaman is drawing on Social Security, and his wife's benefit is hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision. Will that offset continue if he passes away?

Hear 5 bad reasons to turn on your Social Security early.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.22.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 20:07:57 +0000

Mark on the Causeway has a rental property he's looking to sell. Will he have to pay taxes on the gains from the sale? Gregory explains it balances out between the gain from the cost basis, minus what you've put into the house, and how much it's been depreciated on previous years' tax filings.

Mark in Mandeville has been forced to retire early. Should he go ahead and turn on his Social Security early?

John in Baton Rouge wants to know how converting his IRA to a Roth IRA will affect his taxes when he retires and starts withdrawals.

Bill in Covington has an investment property he is selling for a loss. Can he use the whole loss as a write off?

Ed is Waggaman is drawing on Social Security, and his wife's benefit is hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision. Will that offset continue if he passes away?

Mina in Marrero is thinking about turning on her spousal Social Security benefit, but wants to know all the rules first.

Gregory's webinar: Wine Down with Social Security continues next week, and is a good starter lesson on when you should turn on your Social Security benefits.

Alexander in Pontchatoula has a wife that passed away 20 years ago. Can he draw a Survivor's benefit from her Social Security record?

Steve in Slidell asks how he and his wife can max out their benefits together.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo has some warnings for unmarried couples sharing a mortgage, and some help for those unhappy with their forbearance options.

Fletcher in Grenada has an investment property, and wants to know how/if he can write off various maintenance expenses until he sells it off.

Jeff in Houma wants Gregory's guidance on doing a Backdoor Roth IRA.

Thomas in Baton Rouge wants to know where the stock market is headed from here.

How will the market react to the election?

Charles in Metairie has a pension buyout offer after receiving pension checks for the last 20 years.

John in Lacombe wants to know how to convert his IRA to a Roth IRA.

Deborah in Biloxi lost her husband last month, and just got another check from his Social Security. Does this mean she's started her Survivor's benefit?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.20.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 18:58:56 +0000

Is Social Media a force for good? Depending on how you use it, Social Media can be a powerful tool. Are you using it to build up, or tear down?

The Numbers segment is incredible, with another record close for the NASDAQ, Tesla breaks $2K, and Payless makes a comeback.

Gregory explains how the Invest 50-50 strategy blends your investments to win.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 18:43:25 +0000

Apple becomes the first company worth $2 trillion! They did it by consistently delivering innovating products.

Biden's tax plan is released from the Democrat Convention.

The stock market rebound completes the shortest bear market in history by a long shot.

Intergenerational wealth is the exception, not the rule.

The Numbers are tremendous, with great earnings reports coming in from the big boys.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:07:27 +0000

Oracle has entered the arena of those looking at buying Tik Tok. Larry Ellison's interview with Maria Bartiromo shows you a tech titan looking to get even bigger.

Robert in Westwego wants to know his options on when to start Social Security. Gregory walks him through his options.

Rusty in Gulfport asks how the income clawback works if you're receiving early Social Security retirement benefits.

Barry on the Northshore is thinking about buying physical gold in an IRA.

Charlie in Tickfaw wants to invest in the housing sector. Gregory steers him away from stocks into looking at ector ETFs.

Why did Kodak stock get halted 4 times today?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.17.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:31:43 +0000

Randy in Kenner asks Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath if age requirements for a Qualified Charitable Distribution from his IRA changed when the rules for Required Minimum Distributions was changed by the SECURE Act.

Mark on the Causeway has a rental property he's looking to sell. Will he have to pay taxes on the gains from the sale? Gregory explains it balances out between the gain from the cost basis, minus what you've put into the house, and how much it's been depreciated on previous years' tax filings.

Gregory and James break down Biden's Social Security reform proposals.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 17:01:05 +0000

Tom in Houma isn't happy with the measely interest from his savings account at the bank. What if he put some of that money into a stock that pays a dividend?

Joelle in Laplace asks Gregory about the changing mortgage fee rules.

Mike in Alabama asks for more info on Gregory's Door #2.

Jude Heath CPA gives details on what it would take for you to file your taxes in the State of your second home.

Randy in Kenner asks Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath if age requirements for a Qualified Charitable Distribution from his IRA changed when the rules for Required Minimum Distributions was changed by the SECURE Act.

Matthew in Slidell works for a company in MS with a LA PO Box. He also works on both sides of the state line. To which state does he pay income taxes?

Gregory explains his research process for keeping up with the financial world.

Sharon in New Orleans has a couple of issues with her TSP. She moved her funds into bonds and took a hit. She's also considering borrowing against her TSP.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 14:01:55 +0000

John on the Northshore asks if he still has to sign up for Medicare even though he has health insurance through his employer. Gregory goes over some of the basic scenarios when starting Medicare.

Bill in Albany gives us an update on his situation, and wants to know more about the annuities he's holding.

Learn the new rules for Unemployment Insurance going forward. Who qualifies, and how much will they get?

Kodak stock's rise and fall is a tough lesson in the volatility of single stocks.

Stein Mart files from bankruptcy, and everyone is sad about that.

Richard in New Orleans is getting a cash settlement, and wants to invest it. He was thinking about getting some Gold and Apple stock, but Gregory has a much different direction.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 19:31:24 +0000

Kenny in Gonzales asks Gregory's thoughts on gold as a safe haven. Gregory refers to a historical breakdown of how gold has performed as a hedge against inflation. It looks like gold is overvalued.

John on the Northshore asks if he still has to sign up for Medicare even though he has health insurance through his employer.

Disney says they will be charging an additional $30 to stream the new live-action Mulan on Disney+.

Gregory describes the minefield of stock picking in 2020.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.10.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 18:23:00 +0000

Gregory explains how the Invest 50-50 strategy gives you proper blending with minimal risk, and minimal fees.

Robert in Mandeville doesn't like his forbearance options.

Kenny in Gonzales asks Gregory's thoughts on gold as a safe haven.

Hear Trump explain his 4 new Executive Orders.

Norman in Garyville gives his take on why the US economy is not going to collapse anytime soon.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 16:28:33 +0000

Carol in Mobile has a series of issues to figure out, and she's getting conflicting information. First, she heard on our show that pension income isn't taxable at the state level in Alabama, and she believes she's been getting taxed on hers. She wants to convert some of her 401k into a Roth. She turned on Social Security at her Full Retirement Age, and continues to work. And she asks if she has to take Required Minimum Distributions from each IRA account, or can the whole amount be paid from one account?

How the Trump Executive Orders this week will affect the economy and your finances.

Gregory's statistics on stocks illustrates their dangerous nature.

Learn the rules for Social Security benefits for the divorced.

Carmen asks if the strategies for Social Security planning change if the woman makes the money and the husband stays home.

Ralph wants to know if his ex wife drawing a Social Security benefit off of his record will have any affect on him or his current wife.

Can you get a Disability check from her record and a Social Security check from an ex spouse's record at the same time? Jennifer in Slidell asks if she can get both benefits.

Sterling in Houma asks if he can collect spousal benefits on his deceased spouse's Social Security record even though she died 20 years ago?

Sandra in Picayune asks if getting remarried will affect her Social Security or Disability benefits.

Stewart in New Orleans asks if there is ever any Required Minimum Distribution on a Roth IRA or Roth 401k.

Sheila in Hattiesburg asks about her Social Security spousal situation considering there is a large age gap between her and her husband.

Jack in Baton Rouge is the blind woodworking retiree calling with an update on his financial situation.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 14:46:44 +0000

If you max out your Social Security, does that mean the spousal benefit will be bigger, too? Joe texts in his question from the Winning at Life App.

The Numbers are good, with the NASDAQ clocking another record high, and settling just below 11K. Walmart takes a hit as they announce another delay for Walmart+.

Carol in Mobile has a series of issues to figure out, and she's getting conflicting information. First, she heard on our show that pension income isn't taxable at the state level in Alabama, and she believes she's been getting taxed on hers. She wants to convert some of her 401k into a Roth. She turned on Social Security at her Full Retirement Age, and continues to work. And she asks if she has to take Required Minimum Distributions from each IRA account, or can the whole amount be paid from one account?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.04.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:47:04 +0000

Where do bonds fit into your investment portfolio? Gregory explains how and why Bond ETFs can be a cornerstone of your retirement savings.

Fred in River Ridge asks Gregory if there's any advantages to taking your Required Minimum Distribution even though they've been cancelled for 2020.

Maria Bartiromo rings the opening bell of the NYSE to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first live reporter on the trading floor.

Are you financially fit? Gregory and James discuss a checklist that can help diagnose any problems your may have.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.03.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:39:27 +0000

Gregory shares some feedback that sounds more like pushback on our discussion on unmarried couples sharing a mortgage.

Chris in Jefferson is looking for money making opportunities with the change in behavior from the pandemic.

The average age of a car hits a new high. New car sales took a sturdy hit this year. Classic cars and restorations are a more popular hobby as well.

A FoxBusiness.com checklist for early retirement sounds like a good basis for annual financial physical.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.01.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 15:35:14 +0000

Big Tech gets even bigger, as Apple passes Aramco to become the most valuable public company on the planet. Apple also announces a stock split, which have become more rare as of late.

How do you use bonds to make money? Gregory explains how correctly investing in bonds can play a crucial role in keeping your portfolio moving forward during rough times.

Peter in Gonzales asks Gregory when he should start taking Social Security retirement benefits.

A survey shows a shocking lack of knowledge by all generations of the basics of Social Security.

Not all states tax your retirement income, and for the ones that do, they vary greatly from state to state.

Thelma in Harvey has a second house in Florida, and asks Gregory if its possible for her to file her tax return in Florida.

Gregory walks through a statistical history of stock picking success rates, and it's quite volatile.

Larry in Mobile is getting started saving for retirement in his 20s. How does he know where to put his money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 20:49:32 +0000

Gregory has lessons from Rock Climbers for financial planning. When climbing a mountain, they often hammer in points that prevent them from free falling past that point. Fixed Indexed Annuities provide a similar level of safety.

How do are 401k and IRA beneficiaries designated? Pam in Mississippi is concerned about her husband's health, and wants to make sure the money passes to her as seamless as possible.

We have details for those who may qualify for hazard pay from the State of Louisiana.

Gregory reviews Trump's comments on the virus stimulus proposal.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.29.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 21:22:36 +0000

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell plans on keeping the money flowing in various stimulus programs until the virus goes away.

The history of the markets over the months leading up to an election. It's hard to say if markets will follow that trend in a year as chaotic as 2020.

Have you heard of Free Solo Climbing? It's mountain climbing without using any equipment to assist. Investing in single stocks can be like that.

Glenn in Mobile asks Gregory's help in getting rid of his credit card debt.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.28.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Jul 2020 18:17:22 +0000

Should non-married couples share a mortgage? John emails Gregory to ask how he can get his name on his girlfriend's mortgage. Her name is on the mortgage and the house, but he pays the bills. Gregory says that can be fixed easily, but having the conversation with the girlfriend isn't so simple.

Ann on the Westbank asks Gregory: Can she can roll over some of her 401k to a Roth IRA? And then we find out her 401k has fallen from $600k to $300k. Ann's situation is a painful illustration of what can happen if you're overweighted in stocks, especially single stocks.

The Numbers are a mix of good and bad economic news. Gold sets another record.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 13:41:32 +0000

Gold hits an all-time high, and Silver is on a tear as well.

Chris in Jefferson aks Gregory's thoughts about buying stocks for some of the companies working on a Coronavirus vaccine. Gregory would shy away from individual stocks, and maybe start looking at ETFs that cover that sector of the market.

Why are dairy herds plummeting over the last year or so?

Roderick in Macomb asks if he can take dividends from his 401k stocks without and penalty?

Find out what's in the next round of virus stimulus: the HEALS Act.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.25.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 16:50:35 +0000

When Do You Need a Fixed Annuity? How would you like 3 percent growth for the next 3 years with no risk?

Wayne in Lakeview may be moving money to fixed annuities to exit risk.

Wayne in Van Cleave asks for Gregory's thoughts on the rumor that the bank can keep your money in an emergency.

Mike in Covington inherited some stock and cash. How does he figure out where to put it?

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com has help for those who want to appeal their property tax assessment.

If you're stuck in a forbearance, sometimes you can refinance you're mortgage and get some help. Rates are the lowest ever, you can reset your term, or get a more flexible mortgage servicer.

David from West Point is selling some goods online, and wants to know how he can keep up with the taxes.

Joe texted in from app: How can me and my wife get the most out of our Social Security records?

Donald in Arkansas asks how the money withdrawn from his annuities will be taxed.

Mark in Union inherited some cash and stocks. Should he sell all the stocks? Where does he park the cash?

John emails Gregory: the house is in his girlfriend's name, but he pays the note. How can he get some sort of protections if they split?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.23.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:01:50 +0000

When should you use Fixed Annuities? Gregory explains the big role they could be playing in your portfolio.

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com reveals what people are doing to get out of forbearance, or get out of their current mortgage service provider. Is Wells Fargo in trouble again?

Here's what's coming in the CARES Act update, and it doesn't include a Payroll Tax Cut.

Steve in Luling has a tough financial situation as an oilfield worker, with job losses, low oil prices, and lower rig counts, he's hoping the Unemployment Insurance boost gets extended.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.21.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 15:38:18 +0000

How would you like a guaranteed return of 3% over the next 3 years? Gregory has some ideas on how to get it done with a Fixed Annuity.

Digital listening now outpaces traditional listening. Our radio show and podcast can be found on literally dozens of platforms as well, including several apps on your smart tv.

Michael Lee was a guest on Charles Payne's show on Fox Business, and was making an excellent case for the markets to continue to be bullish.

Are you rich? What is the definition of rich, and do you fit in it? Will you fit in it some day?

Gregory explains when you should and shouldn't use a fixed annuity, and why you should forget about variable annuities.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.20.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 15:06:19 +0000

Roderick in Macomb is retiring early, and turning on his pension. If he turns on his Social Security retirement benefit early, would he be penalized for his pension income?

Norman in Garyville is thinking of turning on his Social Security at Full Retirement Age. If he continues to work, will there be any kinds of cuts to his Social Security check?

Drew Brees and several other Saints are publicly expressing they want to play the NFL season.

What stimulus measures are being debated for CARES Act 4.0?

Gregory gives you 5 Steps to Prepare for Social Security Cutbacks

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:53:01 +0000

Learn why indexing usually beats the stock pickers. Gregory explains how to use indexing to minimize the risk of losses, and still be able to score on market upswings.

Ellis in New Orleans has nothing saved for retirement at age 61, but his business has become successful, and he would like to make up for lost time.

There's some updates to the GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus page for those looking for help getting through the financial programs and rule changes.

Larry Kudlow gives a strong case for economic optimism for the second half of 2020.

Jude Heath CPA joins the show and adds some guidance to Rob's question about using a 1031 exchange to defer taxes on his investment property sale.

Mike in Mandeville asks Jude Heath about his 1031 exchange situation.

Richard in Metairie asks Jude how his bond profits will be taxed, or if there's some sort of workaround.

If you've been wanting to buy a boat, but are unsure you would use it often enough to justify the cost, maybe you should check out a Boat Share plan. It's like a Time Share condo, but a boat.

An alarming number of households skipped their rent or mortgage payment last month. Gregory has additional details on how 25% renters in NY are 3 months behind.

Learn some lessons from the Twitter-Bitcoin hack this week.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 19:18:32 +0000

Michael in Metairie qualifies for a Hazardous Essential Worker bonus from the State of Louisiana, and asks Gregory about the filing process.

Some of the most prominant Twitter accounts were hijacked for a Bitcoin scam. It was likely an inside job, but also demonstrates how powerful social media can be.

Netflix stock takes a swan dive. Here's why.

Bob on Facebook Live asks for Gregory's opinion on a stock deal for a vineyard.

Boat sales surge during the lockdowns, and boat sharing is on the rise as well.

Ted in Hammond asks Gregory how to use his assets to support his income from Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 19:18:41 +0000

It's the day before Tax Day, and we review some tax greivances in the Beatles song: Tax Man. We review a recent caller asking how his Social Security will be taxed.

Now is the last chance to make an IRA contribution for 2019. Gregory explains why this would be of interest to you.

Louis in Marrero calls in for his occasional Bitcoin update. Louis explains some of the nuances of the mining payments, and Gregory tells you what he sees in the price charts.

Sad to hear that K-Paul's restaurant is closing.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.13.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:09:49 +0000

Can I Write My Own Living Will? Debbie in Metairie asks Wes Blanchard if it's feasible for someone to write their own DNR and POA documents without an attorney.

Which companies' stock has gotten sick in 2020? Gregory has a list of high dividend stocks who have gotten crush this year.

Gregory reviews some stock buying philosophies of Warren Buffet, and Gregory stresses the part about having a significant holdings in Indexed Funds instead of actively managed Funds.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 16:26:27 +0000

Tesla stock is on a rocketship, and the world's most valuable car company is not the only stock making headlines this week.

Theaters, sports, entertainment: these industries are being gutting and reformed in 2020. How will they look a year from now?

Wes Blanchard explains how the documents for your Living Will should keep you covered for various situations whether you're married or not.

Walter in Gulfport was written out of his mother's will, and asks Wes of there's anything he can do about it.

Debbie in Metairie asks Wes Blanchard if it's feasible for someone to write their own DNR and POA documents without an attorney.

We are all buying from the same pool of stocks, and the pool isn't really that big.

Rick in Slidell wants to quit working now, and let his Social Security max out at age 70 in three years. What should he do to fill the income gap in the meantime?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.09.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 20:18:26 +0000

Amazon announces a new facility in Southhaven, MS. This comes right after the City of Seattle passes a new tax on salaries over $150K at big companies.

John in Mississippi asks Gregory if he has to sign up for Medicare coverage even though he is still working and has coverage through his employer.

If you like wine, and are getting close to Social Security age: check out the Wine Down with Social Security webinar hosted by Gregory Ricks. Sign up at GregoryRicks.com.

Michael in Laplace is moving to Nashville, and asks Gregory for referrals.

Financial guidance for those who are moving: Gregory and James run through a checklist for movers.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:58:11 +0000

Charles in Gulfport asks about his Social Security retirement benefit being taxed. Isn't there some old age exemption or something like that?

Employee Stock Plans: are they a good investment?

Can you roll over a Roth 401k into a Roth IRA. Dave on the Northshore would like to have more options than the company plan, but unless he has an unusually flexible company plan, you usually have to wait until you leave that job to roll over a 401k.

Shepard Smith goes to CNBC. He's a Mississippi guy, and will be working on the financial side of the news now.

Gregory has upcoming webinars on learning Social Security strategies.

Take a quick quiz on the basics of Social Security.

Walton in Gulfport is looking for answers after his Social Security check gets garnished for back taxes.

Donald in Metairie asks Gregory if there's any way he can get around the Windfall Elimination Provision eating into his Social Security benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 22:22:50 +0000

Gregory helps Leo in Harahan how to qualify for Social Security, and how his benefit amount is calculated. Gregory explains the AIME system, and goes into greater detail on how your Social Security retirement benefit is calculated.

Sonny in Mandeville has questions on how to use Social Security retroactive benefits.

Gary in Marrero asks Gregory about how to get more out of Social Security's spousal strategies.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.06.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:42:53 +0000

Patrick Mahomes signs the biggest contract in sports history. Gregory breaks down how this may be a big win for the Chiefs. James runs through some other financial headlines.

Tesla is now the most valuable car company in the world. As Tesla stock soars, Ford is carrying billions in debt and pension obligations.

Dan in Metairie asks about the PPP extension details.

10 steps to achieving your financial independence.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 17:09:43 +0000

Gregory relays a recent situation of a couple who was trying to draw an income from their retirement assets without tripping into the next tax bracket.

Gregory has 12 ideas to get your investments back on track.

Bob in Destrehan has a stain on his credit report that he can't figure out.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 14:32:12 +0000

We review Steve in Bogalusa who has a questions about his status with Social Security's retirement benefit, spousal rules, and disability help.

Are retroactive Social Security benefits on hold? Gregory has the report of some applications for Social Security retroactive benefits being denied.

The IRS confirms there's no Required Minimum Distribution for any IRA in 2020, including inherited IRAs.

John on the Northshore asks about the situation with the Required Minimum Distribution with his iherited IRA.

You have until July 15 this year to make an IRA contribution for 2019.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins us in reveiwing Brenda from Mandeville who is thinking about refinancing her home, because of lower rates.

Dwayne explains how seller-paid closing costs can happen.

Rick in Luling wants to get in the rental business, but not have to devote much time to it. Gregory and Dwayne agree he should think about getting multiple units and use a property manager.

Jonathan in Pontchatoula was laid off by the Coronavirus lockdown, and took a forebearance. Gregory and Dwayne talk him through his options.

John in Pascagoula asks Gregory about taking advantage of the extended deadline for 2019 IRA contributions, and maybe do a Roth conversion as well?

Is the Required Minimum Distributions on a DROP? Eddie in Slidell has a firefighters' DROP account, and asks Gregory if the waived RMDs for 2020 count for him.

Robert in Gautier wants to get the most out of Social Security using the spousal rules. Which work record gets turned on first?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.25.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:37:46 +0000

Are you an Investor, Day Trader, or Gambler? A new electric car manufacturer is entering the ring.

The Daily Wrap: 06.24.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:06:55 +0000

New info on the Coronavirus recovery blurs the picture on how soon we will be done with all of this economic turmoil.

Is the dollar crashing soon? Steve in Mississippi asks Gregory his thoughts on dumping stocks for gold.

The movie industry is skipping theaters and going to straight to streaming services. Tom Hanks new movie was bought by AppleTV+ for $70 million.

The rules on Required Minimum Distributions have changed for 2020, and the IRS softens up again to include ALL IRAs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.20.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 19:11:23 +0000

How does the stock market perform when opposite political parties are in power? Gregory runs through the stock market performance over the last 50 years.

Happy Father's Day! Experiences are the gifts that mean the most.

Weird tech names are the norm: Yahoo, Google, Twitch, etc... but that won't stop us from being on as many platforms as possible!

Jude Heath catches you up on what's different this year for tax season.

Dennis in Baton Rouge asks Gregory about his Social Security Spousal situation.

How is Social Security taxed? Half of Social Security recepients will be taxed for it. Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath explain how the tax brackets work for Social Security income.

Gregory reflects on how Coronavirus is the latest in a thousands reasons why smoking is bad.

How much can you safely draw from your assets? Nick is Water Valley does not want to be caught in a spend down.

Jill is Laurel asks Gregory about her spousal Social Security situation.

Jerry in Jackson has a Social Security question about a deceased spouse.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 19:37:28 +0000

John on the Northshore had his credit report checked when buying a cell phone. Is that the kind of thing that can sink your credit score?

Ryan in Golden Meadow got an unexpected medical bill he can't pay. What should he do to get a payment plan in action?

Gregory warns of the fatal flaws of health insurance, and some of the troubles he's navigated in his own experience with the medical world.

How is your Social Security going to be taxed? Half of retirees get taxed on their benefit. Will you?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:05:59 +0000

Gregory is not impressed about the inflows into Gold ETFs. Exchange Traded Funds can be useful for various jobs in your portfolio, but there's still no place for gold in the Guided Planning System.

Over the last three months, it looks like retail investors scored better average returns on their individual stock picks than hedge funds.

Financial stats show how far we've come since the first episode of Winning at Life in 2010.

Detroit's bankruptcy results in a cut to public pensions and ending COLAs. Gregory warns this result may be duplicated by more cities and states.

Wear masks in public, please. Gregory explains how masks can help speed the economic recovery.

The National Debt is staggering, and few seem to be concerned.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.13.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 15:40:45 +0000

We celebrate 10 years of Winning at Life by revisiting some highlights from the first decade!

The Daily Wrap: 06.10.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 19:59:47 +0000

The latest shoe to drop in the retail apocalypse: Ulta announces it will be reviewing over a thousand stores for closure. They are expected to close at least a third of its outlets. In other makeup news: Kylie Jenner's billionaire status is called into question as allegations of cooking the books come to light.

Since the big changes in behavior with the virus lockdowns, prices have fallen for bread, dresses, and car insurance.

We review a caller from Canada who is thinking about starting a Roth IRA for his teen son.

Learn more about investing with the Wine and Wisdom Webinar next week!

What are the Social Security rules for those who are divorced?

Pat in Biloxi was divorced 30 years ago. Can she draw more money off of his Social Security benefit?

Bruce in Marrero had his wife pass away. At what age can he collect Social Security benefits off of her record?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.09.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 20:22:10 +0000

The Paycheck Protection Program has been updated. Hear the new rules on how to get your loan forgiven.

Allen Iverson's endorsement deal with Reebok includes a deferred trust after 10 years worth $32 million. Gregory thinks this is a smart way to structure contracts for a variety of reasons, and it works well at lower income levels.

The Wine and Wisdom Webinar is next week, and a nice relaxing way to learn more about wine and investing.

A bored retired millionaire left a hidden treasure in the Rocky Mountains that was finally found after a 10 year hunt.

Hear the top 15 most common part-time jobs for retirees, as reported by Bankrate.com.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.06.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 14:39:21 +0000

Mark in Laplace asked about if he should be selling the airline stock he picked up during the crash. Gregory ultimately asks if Mark is investing, day trading, or gambling.

Gregory explains why Day Trading is mathmatically destined to fail.

Where does Gregory stand on gold? It's not worthless, but it has no role to play in his money management playbook: the Guided Planning System.

Brenda in Baton Rouge asks Gregory if she could get a bigger benefit from Social Security by switch to her deceased spouse's record.

Cracker Barrel serving alcohol is one of a thousand examples of how businesses have changed from the lockdowns.

Gregory and James break down the Trump press conference where he signed the expansion in PPP rules.

Since casinos, sports, and racetracks have been shut down, it seems some gamblers have a new found interest in trading stocks.

Dave in Slidell is getting a meager pension from the state, and asks Gregory if he'll get hit by the Windfall Elimination Provision on his Social Security. Gregory walks Dave through how the WEP cuts are tiered to protect those with small pensions from taking much of a hit.

Public pensions are a mess, and some of the worst ones look like they are beyond being bailed out.

Gregory updates you on the battle with the Coronavirus, and how that timetable looks for the economic recovery as well.

Next week is the 10 year anniversary of Winning at Life!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.04.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 Jun 2020 19:10:13 +0000

The ADP jobs number comes in way better than estimates, and has the financial world looking at tomorrow's unemployment report with great enthusiasm. Gregory responds to some talking heads, and shares the optimism.

How do you know when to get out of a stock? James bought some Ford stock a while back, made some gains, and is thinking about getting out.

Is there a place for Gold in today's investment portfolio? As popular as it has been throughout history, Gold is not something Gregory recommends for investors.

Gregory reviews a daily and weekly report on the important stats within his financial plan, and it's crucial you do the same.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.01.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 22:54:00 +0000

Where is the economy heading next? People taking advantage of mortgage forbearance programs have peaked and started to fall.

What parts of Medicare do you turn on if you're still working when you turn 65?

How do I choose the right fund in my TSP? George in Covington asks Gregory when he should jump out of the riskier funds in his Thrift Savings Plan, and diversify into some safer options.

Gregory responds to Trump's press conference covering healthcare and Medicare news.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 05.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 21:21:28 +0000

00:23 - We review the story of one of our Producers: Bailey. She's had some issues getting her status with the IRS straightened out so she can be sure to get a stimulus check. James shares his experience receiving one of the few Economic Impact Payments on a prepaid debit card.

15:05 - Terry on the Mississippi Coast asks if his private disability insurance will cover him for life or is it limited? Gregory says most of the private disability income he has seen cuts a check until age 65 or 66.

21:37 - Cynthia in New Orleans: Can I collect Social Security Disability benefits and Unemployment Insurance benefits at the same time? Gregory explains that it's possible to get both, but most states have some provision to limit the double dipping at some level.

25:53 - Greg in Baton Rouge gets a State pension and wants to know if he still gets Social Security. Gregory points him toward the rules for the Windfall Elimination Provision, and it looks like his Social Security retirement benefit could be miniscule.

32:04 - Cathy in Houma asks how much work she would have to put in the private sector to get around the Windfall ELimination Provision and get her full Social Security Retirement benefit.

37:48 - Jack in Baton Rouge gets disability, works, and since he lost income, does he qualify for extended unemployment benefits?

44:16 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com is our guest, and brings news of record low mortgage rates.

48:49 - Dennis in MS gets a regular pension, so does that change what his max Social Security benefit could be?

55:29 - Dwayne Stein has insights on what's going on in the mortgage world with all of the millions of forebearance options being activated this year.

1:22:30 - Gregory cites a stat claiming monthly spending per household increased during quarantine for groceries and streaming services.

1:48: 10 - Christian in Metairie asks if he missed a great opportunity to score off of recent negative oil prices.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 May 2020 14:54:50 +0000

The economic recovery from the shutdowns is well under way. Gregory reviews some optimistic stats.

Which parts of Medicaid do you need to turn on at age 65 if you still have healthcare coverage through your employer?

Trump brags on drug prices going down for the first time in 50 years. Because drugs are cheaper, Medicare Part D premiums will be going DOWN for the first time ever.

On the GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus page, you can find some help applying for your PPP loan to be forgiven, with some supporting sources explaning the process. Telehealth has expanded exponentially, and Gregory sees that trend becoming more permanent.

About half of investors expressed regret on how their portfolio performed in the 2020 downturn. Maybe you should start blending better?

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 May 2020 16:23:43 +0000

The Treasury Department announces they will be sending out Economic Impact Payments in the form of pre-paid debit cards this week. The SBA says big corporations over a certain size should return their PPP loans.

The Social Security COLA increase is just 1.6% this year, which is well below what retirees used to get, but seems to be the norm over the last decade.

Dan in Metairie asks about the new rules for the PPP loans.

Joe in Gulfport asks Gregory about his plan to turn on Social Security before his full retirement age, and this may be the rare case where it makes sense to start early.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 05.16.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 May 2020 15:29:43 +0000

When will the economy get back to normal. Gregory responds to sounds bites from President Trump who is pushing to reopen the economy from the Corona virus lockdowns.

Mary in Raceland has someone in her household who's stimulus check was the wrong amount. What cam she do?

Mary in Mobile was strongly encouraged to retire from her company amid the pandemic shutdown. How can she get her retirement in order under these circumstances?

How is all of this stimulus money going to be taxed? Jude Heath CPA walks us through the various stimulus programs, and how each could be taxed. PPP, EIDL, EIP, Unemployment... there's a lot going on here. Learn how your money is affected.

Robert in Gulfport already took his Required Minimum Distributions for the year, but now that he can skip it, he wants to put it back.

Cynthia in Pascagoula is trying to help her daughter get some back tax returns that are being held because of some tax liabilities created by her ex-spouse.

Scott in Long Beach was offered something called an IRA-backed life insurance product, and asks Gregory to explain how it works. Gregory points out life insurance products are prohibited under an IRA, so it's most likely a policy funded by IRA distributions, which opens up a whole other set of issues. Scott may be better served using a max-funding strategy for life insurance.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 May 2020 15:53:54 +0000

How is all of this stimulus money going to be taxed? Jude Heath CPA walks us through the various stimulus programs, and how each could be taxed. PPP, EIDL, EIP, Unemployment... there's a lot going on here. Learn how your money is affected.

Richard in Houma asks what Medicare coverage he has to sign up for considering he is covered by VA benefits.

Most NBA players are getting a pay cut, but a handful of big names already got paid for the year.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 May 2020 22:53:39 +0000

The Speaker of the House unveils a new round of stimulus proposals totalling around $3 trillion in new spending. Much of what is reported to be in the bill clearly has nothing to do with fighting a virus.

Major sports events have returned. The UFC hosted a fight night in an empty arena. Gregory predicts our sporting events will look strange for a good while.

Bryan in Covington asks about the details in the various stimulus proposals we talked about at the beginning of the show.

Gregory is participating in a Coronavirus study, got tested, and got a blood sample.

Hear Gregory's stern warnings before you take on any mortgage forbearance offer.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 05.09.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 May 2020 23:26:26 +0000

Where is the market heading from here? When will things get back to normal? How bad will unemployment get?

Gregory has some helpful webinars coming up for those looking for financial help getting through this Coronavirus chaos, with ideas on how to handle that old 401k.

Gregory reviews a great call from Bill on the Northshore who was facing a dire medical situation, and had called to get some guidance last week. Hear his touching follow up call of thanks.

There's nothing like a global pandemic to motivate you to get your estate planning updated. Hear Gregory and Wes Blanchard review what documents and decisions you need to make to get your affairs in order.

Gregory helps some local callers deal with inheriting a property with a sibling, what to think of REITs in a time like this, and when to turn on Social Security retirement benefits.

Gregory and James have some fun reviewing how different the world has become since the show started 10 years ago.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.04.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 05 May 2020 13:33:12 +0000

Gregory has some helpful webinars coming up for those looking for financial help getting through this Coronavirus chaos, with ideas on how to handle that old 401k.

Sean on the Northshore is inheriting his late father's IRA, and asks Gregory for a second opinion on how to properly invest it.

Mississippi Governor Reeves announces more businesses will be allowed to open this week. Hear the details.

Gregory reviews a great call from Bill on the Northshore who was facing a dire medical situation, and had called to get some guidance from Gregory.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 01 May 2020 20:28:51 +0000

00:48 - Gregory helps our young producer Bailey through her problems trying to get help from the CARES Act stimulus programs. She had to refile some previous years taxes, and has been unsuccessful trying to get help from the Unemployment Insurance system.

13:36 - Charles in Gulfport asks if his live-in grandson can get Unemployment Insurance help after having to quit his job. The grandson may qualify for help under the provisions including those who live with vulnerable citizens.

15:45 - Gene in MS is looking for help trying to make sure he qualifies for a stimulus check since he's on disability and doesn't file a tax return.

25:24 - Sandra in Picayune is in a financial crunch since her hours were cut at work from the Coronavirus. Now, she's trying to juggle her charitable work with a diminishing income, and it's just not working out.

32:38 - Bill in New Orleans calls back to thank Gregory for his advice on a show last week. Bill is facing a serious medical issue, and is getting his affairs in order to take care of his wife if it doesn't work out.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 04.25.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 20:13:22 +0000

How do you get help from the Coronavirus stimulus packages? Gregory and James update you on the progress with fighting both the virus and the economic pain it's causing.

Dwayne Stein of Morgtage Gumbo explains how rates have somehow found new historic lows that can't last long.

Gregory explains his 50-50 strategy for investing, and how it works during a crash like this.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

The Daily Wrap: 04.20.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 20:47:36 +0000

For the first time in 4,000 years of trading, someone bought oil for a negative price. Gregory explains how oil isn't actually worth less than zero, and how this historic situation will affect your money.

ETFs are being wiped out at a record pace this year. Gregory has some warnings if you're considering a leveraged ETF.

Gregory explains his 50-50 strategy for investing, and how it works during a crash like this.

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

The Weekly Wrap: 04.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 21:40:27 +0000

How do you get help from the Coronavirus stimulus packages? Here's a few ways:

Economic Impact Payment: this is the stimulus check that most citizens will get, and most people will get it automatically.

The Paycheck Protection Program: small business loans that may be forgiven if used to keep employees, and convert the rest to a low-interest SBA loan. SBA.gov

Economic Injury Disaster Loans: business loans that may forgive a $10,000 advance, and convert the rest to a low-interest SBA loan.

FFCRA - Family First Coronavirus Relief Act: This portion of the stimulus bill relaxes the qualification guidlines for unemployment, extends the length of benefits, and increases the size of unemployment checks.

Mortgage help: many banks are offering a deferment or forbearance on mortgages affected by the shutdown, but the details are different from bank to bank.

Student Loan payments suspended: federal student loan payments are automatically suspended until September 30, 2020. Also, a temporary stop to collections and garnishing for outstanding student loan dents.

Stimulus part 4: expect more money to be appropriated for the existing SBA rescue packages, and infrastructure spending to be approved in an upcoming stimulus bill.

What if you haven't filed taxes in the last few years?

What if you're on Social Security or Disability? What if you're on unemployment? What if you are self employed?

http://www.GregoryRicks.com/Coronavirus

The Daily Wrap: 04.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:48:12 +0000

00:21 - Because of Coronavirus distancing guidelines, Mississippi will now allow video conferencing to count for witnesses when notarizing signatures. Relaxing these regulations probably should have been done a long time ago.

14:46 - Mike in Mandeville asks for Gregory's guidance on getting a PPP loan.

16:58 - Kevin in Mississippi changes entire course of the show when he reveals he hasn't filed his income taxes in 15 years. Wow. That's a record for this show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 04.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 13:51:29 +0000

The Daily Wrap: 04.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 20:10:44 +0000

How do you get help from the Coronavirus stimulus packages? Here's a few ways:

Economic Impact Payment: this is the stimulus check that most citizens will get, and most people will get it automatically.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know

The Paycheck Protection Program: small business loans that may be forgiven if used to keep employees, and convert the rest to a low-interest SBA loan. SBA.gov
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp

Economic Injury Disaster Loans: business loans that may forgive a $10,000 advance, and convert the rest to a low-interest SBA loan.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance

FFCRA - Family First Coronavirus Relief Act: This portion of the stimulus bill relaxes the qualification guidlines for unemployment, extends the length of benefits, and increases the size of unemployment checks.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/ffcra

Mortgage help: many banks are offering a deferment or forbearance on mortgages affected by the shutdown, but the details are different from bank to bank.

Student Loan payments suspended: federal student loan payments are automatically suspended until September 30, 2020. Also, a temporary stop to collections and garnishing for outstanding student loan dents.

Stimulus part 4: expect more money to be appropriated for the existing SBA rescue packages, and infrastructure spending to be approved in an upcoming stimulus bill.

The Daily Wrap: 04.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 23:32:49 +0000

The Weekly Wrap: 04.04.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:25:23 +0000

Gregory Ricks shows you how to qualify for a Small Business Loan, how to sign up for one, and how it may be forgiven.

Can you get unemployment if you were self employed?

Who qualifies for a stimulus check from the Corona Virus stimulus package?

How do you get your stimulus check faster?

What if you haven't filed taxes in the last few years?

What if you're on Social Security or Disability? What if you're on unemployment? What if you are self employed?

How long will this last?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.02.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 17:10:38 +0000

Gregory Ricks has the info on how to qualify for a Small Business Loan, how to sign up for one, and how it may be forgiven.

Who qualifies for a stimulus check from the Corona Virus stimulus package?

How do you get your stimulus check faster?

What if you haven't filed taxes in the last few years?

What if you're on Social Security or Disability? What if you're on unemployment? What if you are self employed?

How long will this last?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 18:51:04 +0000

Gregory Ricks has the latest stats on the Corona Virus and the market reaction.

Who qualifies for a stimulus check from the Corona Virus stimulus package?

How do you get your stimulus check faster?

What if you haven't filed taxes in the last few years?

What if you're on Social Security or Disability?

How you can get help for your small business from the Coronavirus stimulus package?

How long will this last?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.28.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:47:33 +0000

Who qualifies for a stimulus check from the Corona Virus stimulus package?

How do you get your stimulus check faster?

What if you haven't filed taxes in the last few years?

What if you're on Social Security or Disability?

How you can get help for your small business from the Coronavirus stimulus package?

How long will this last?

Learn how the $2 trillion stimulus can help you! Gregory and James discuss issues that could affect your retirement planning and how you can build a plan to help reduce risk and implement wealth accumulation strategies.

The Daily Wrap: 03.24.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 20:07:23 +0000

Gregory Ricks walks you through how the economic downturn from the Wuhan Virus is affecting your money. It was the biggest one day gain in Dow Jones history, but that's not really exciting considering the context.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.21.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:20:42 +0000

Gregory Ricks walks you through how the economic downturn from the Wuhan Virus is affecting your money. Estate planning attorney Wes Blanchard is our guest.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 23:29:42 +0000

Gregory Ricks walks you through how the economic downturn from the Wuhan Virus is affecting your money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.14.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 22:51:03 +0000

01:34 - The economic fallout from the Corona Virus is brutal.

05:39 Dale on the Northshore asks Gregory how his 50-50-50-50 strategy performs in a downturn like this.

12:08 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com comes on to talk about how record low mortgage rates have taken a big jump higher due to a liquidity crunch.

15:36 - CPA Jude Heath joins the show to talk taxes. Will there be an extension on the April 15 filing date?

19:04 - Jethro in Houma asks Jude: What happened to the option of letting the IRS do your taxes for you? Jude explains that option went away with the old 1040 EZ. Jethro shares a pretty cavalier attitude about not filing taxes on time.

26:44 - Mike in Covington has an 88 year old father-in-law who hasn't filed taxes in 25 years. Will that cause any problems?

30:51 - Mike in New Orleans is retired with no real income besides his Social Security and a Rail Road pension. Does he still have to file his taxes?

34:49 - Gene in Montz asks the difference between fixed and variable.

38:31 - Jeff in Long Beach asks Jude how the taxes will be figured on his sale of a commercial real estate property.

44:05 - Jane on the Northshore asks about the tax implications of a Backdoor Roth conversion? Is there double taxation?

47:40 - Anthony in Mandeville: stocks are really getting hammered. Should I be buying into this?

54:00 - Joe in Gulfport asks Gregory to explain what the definition and importance of a Turnover Ratio.

56:54 - Doug in Gonzales asks if he would get crushed if he bought into a bond fund now.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 17:50:12 +0000

00:15 - The big lesson from the Corona Virus going forward should be the importance of an Emergency Fund. Most of the federal government's response package includes problems that wouldn't exist if more Americans had at least a couple grand in the bank.

06:58 - Bill in Slidell asks if the proposed Payroll Tax Cut will mean he doesn't get any credits for Social Security contributions.

10:16 - Gregory notes that whether you believe the Corona Virus is going to be a giant monster or not, economic activity has slowed, and you need to be prepared.

14:22 - Eric in New Orleans says what a lot of us are thinking: Purell must be killing it right now! Would it be a big win to have Purell stock? Gregory points out the company is privately held, and they must be pretty happy with their bottom line these days.

23:30 - Gregory spells out the latest details on the Corona Virus death toll and infection rates.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:07:15 +0000

11:15 - The Corona Virus is having a negative effect on the markets, and the reaction to the Corona Virus is even worse. Last week was a positive week overall, but more pain is coming.

24:32 - Danny in Biloxi has some Corona Virus general hygiene tips.

27:53 - Sharon in MS asks if this stock market correction is foreshadowing a recession.

33:35 - Chico in Covington just came into some money. Where should he put it?

38:19 - CJ in Slidell asks about refinancing an investment property.

47:40 - Carlos in New Orleans is on disability, and asks Gregory about his Social Security options between himself and his spouse.

57:43 - Mike in Covington comments that the Fed cutting rates is killing his returns on CDs.

1:01:13 - Ted in MS asks Gregory for stock recommendations.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 15:45:24 +0000

01:44 - Laura in Pontchatoula is thinking about buying some Carnival stock, because it's been crushed by Corona Virus fears.

08:21 - June in Gulfport works for a company that was bought out. What does she do with the old 401k?

15:08 - Tesla reports to be testing Reverse Summons: the process by which a self-driving car will drop you off and find a parking spot.

23:18 - Steve in Houma asks what the new age limits are for contributing to an IRA and Roth IRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.03.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 19:22:25 +0000

00:38 - The Fed makes an emergency rate cut and send the stock markets spiraling down. Thanks a lot, Jerome. Hear how it affects your money.

04:32 - What are the Social Security rules for disabled and widowed spouses? Scott in Picayune asks Gregory for guidance on figuring out his parents' Social Security options.

08:45 - Chris in Slidell is being converted from a regular W2 employee to a 1099 contractor status, and needs help understanding his new tax situation.

13:02 - Gregory Ricks says after a downturn like this, there's often a little extra call volume in the office from non-clients who are licking their wounds from recent losses.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.29.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:31:21 +0000

00:19 - The Dow Jones Index has its worst week since 2008.

02:16 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins us to talk about record low interest rates. How low does it have to go before you can justify a refinance?

08:16 - George in Lockport asks Gregory and Dwayne if he could or should refinance his reverse mortgage.

10:03 - With Treasuries breaking record low interest rates, the search for yield just got a little tighter.

21:14 - The Corona Virus and its economic impact are the top story of the week.

28:50 - What's a good stock to buy in this downturn? Gregory isn't so sure the pain is over just yet, and probably wouldn't recommend taking the risk of single stocks.

43:41 - This Corona Virus situation will pass as far being a health care concern. The economic impacts will be a far bigger lasting legacy, considering the connection with China and the evolving trade wars.

1:00:37 - Larry Kudlow makes a strong case for people to calm their fears about the Corona virus and its negative impact on the economy.

1:10:41 - Greg in Perkinston is going to continue working after turning on Social Security at his Full Retirement Age. Will that help increase his benefit any?

1:14:36 - The Corona Virus will be shaping our economic outlook for the near term. What are some possible ways this play out, and are you financially prepared for those scenarios?

1:16:23 - Roger in Biloxi has an IRA sitting at the credit union getting less than 1% interest. Certainly he can find a better interest rate that's safe, right?

1:21:26 - David in New Orleans asks how long it would take to make up for missed payments if he delays turning on his Social Security retirement benefit at the max age of 70.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 21:05:43 +0000

00:14 - John in Elmwood wants to know how much he will owe in taxes on his stock sales. Is it a Capital Gains tax rate? How long was the stock owned? Do you have more losses than gains? It's a complicated question.

04:34 - Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo is incredibly enthusiastic about the record low interest rates in the bond world that foreshadow lower rates ahead.

13:27 - Historically speaking, treasury bonds are at the lowest rates we've ever seen, and that changes the math for those who are looking for safe yield.

22:50 - A Black Swan event like the Corona Virus is a painful reminder for some people they need to blend their risk levels within their portfolios.

26:34 - Norman in Garyville is getting close to his Full Retirement Age, but isn't getting much help from Social Security employees on how to max his benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.22.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:16:42 +0000

00:11 - It's Mardi Gras!!! Hear our exclusive unplugged version of Benny Grunch and the Bunch singing Ain't No Play to P on Mardi Gras Day.

04:13 - The Corona Virus outbreak of 2020 is having cascading economic affects hitting China pretty hard, while the possibility of Iran wanting to affect the elections could set up the next black swan event. Are you prepared for a sudden drop in the market?

26:43 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo shocks the show with ridiculously low rates.

31:40 - Buy a lot, build a home, and convert that loan to a regular mortgage all in one closing. Dwayne Stein started a new program to streamline the borrowing process when it comes to building your dream home.

41:21 - Romaine in Covington is 80 and wants to know if she can pass along her IRA to someone else without paying a fortune in taxes.

43:19 - Dwayne Stein is pretty happy with ultra-low interest rates, and has come up with some clever ways for people to take advantage.

52:15 - Brandon in Covington asks Dwayne and Gregory about the tax implications of a cash out refinance on his mortgage.

59:05 Judy in Long Beach is not happy to learn her healthcare subsidy comes with unexpected taxes.

1:03:57 - Mike in Covington has a pension from a State job, but may have enough of a work record in the private sector to avoid getting his Social Security benefit cut.

1:09:16 - Paul in Ocean Springs asks Gregory how the TSP options work when he's ready to retire.

1:15:32 - We are in the longest bull market ever. Don't count on it lasting forever, though. Now is the time to do some blending of risks.

1:22:35 - Nancy in Jefferson asks Gregory if it's better to turn on her smaller Social Security survivor's benefit now and switch to the larger check based on her record later?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.19.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 18:44:31 +0000

00:10 - Just because CAN pay your taxes with a credit card doesn't mean you SHOULD, with one exception.

02:44 - Gregory resents a local business adding on a 2% surcharge for credit card purchases. Why make signs that trumpet your price increases? Just adjust the prices and move on. Surcharges feel petty.

07:44 - Which alcoholic drinks have the lowest calorie count.

09:39 - Gregory explains the upcoming financial impact from the expanding Coronavirus.

11:46 - Have you ever Netflix cheated? Sneaking in episodes of shows you're supposed to be watching together exhibits some of the hallmarks of financial cheating.

18:34 - Gregory has some public events coming up for those who want to know more about what he can do for you as a financial advisor, and those seeking help figuring out how to get the most out of Social Security.

21:05 - Gregory thanks a local body shop for outstanding customer service.

24:31 - A comment card from a recent event asks Gregory for guidance dealing with the CSRS, pension, Windfall Elimination Provision, and Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:09:57 +0000

00:35 - Does exercise make you happier than money? A new survey suggests people who exercise regularly are more likely to report being happy than wealthy people.

06:58 - Should you refinance your house to get lower mortgage payments? Scott in Long Beach has a 15 year mortgage and a little equity built up, and asks Gregory if it's a smart move to switch to a 30 year mortgage, because money is running tight, and he would like a little more margin at the end of the month.

10:08 - Mosquito Joe's yard spraying service is great!

12:43 - Chip in Old Metairie asks Gregory and Jude Heath if he qualifies for any tax breaks on his new solar panels.

15:05 - There's a new tax filing form for seniors from the IRS: 1040 SR.

23:16 - What are the new tax write-off rules for work vehicles? Ken in Longview checks with Gregory and Jude before getting some new wheels for his business.

25:36 - Should you lease or buy your next vehicle? Gregory and Jude toss around the questions you should answer next time you get a new car.

32:27 - Tommy in Metairie turned on Social Security and continues to work. Will working affect his benefits?

36:36 - Are there gift taxes when you pay off the kids' student loans? Ronnie in St Bernard had his student loans paid off. Does anyone owe?

40:30 - Will claiming Disability benefits affect your Social Security retirement? Brent in Westwego follows up on his call from a previous show.

44:39 - How to know if you're ready to retire at 60: Rosemary in Wiggins asks Gregory if she's ready to hit the retirement button.

51:16 - How much can you earn while getting a disability check? Sheila in Hattiesburg asks Gregory about the work rules for Social Security Disability benefits.

1:04:46 - Bill in Baton Rouge asks how the Windfall Elimination Provision will affect the Social Security situation between him and his wife.

1:08:28 - How should you invest $100k? Gary in Baton Rouge is getting a late start saving for retirement.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.12.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:37:14 +0000

00:14 - How do you handle missing a few months of work?

02:32 - A report on proposals for student debt forgiveness doesn't seem to make sense from a financial or ethical standpoint.

11:55 - Are you living paycheck to paycheck? 32% of American households run out of money before the next paycheck on a regular basis. The higher income households are no exception.

15:23 - Gregory shares a warning from Social Security on a new round of scam emails and phone calls.

17:00 - Larry in Gretna shares our concern for the student debt crisis, and adds some of the blame to the cultural narrative that says as many kids as possible should go to college.

21:53 - How should you invest at age 80? Annuities are NOT the answer we're looking for.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 18:16:44 +0000

00:18 - Gregory shares a warning from Social Security about some scam calls that have been ravaging the public. Hear how to keep yourself safe.

04:18 - How to deal with the new rules on withholdings: Social Security clears up what's going on with the withholdings on your paycheck.

08:40 - Heidi in Hammond just got a new job with a bigger salary, and wants to play catch up on her retirement savings.

13:32 - Mike in Laplace is going to be inheriting a large sum of money, and wants Gregory's thoughts on how to best handle it.

18:52 - The Basics of Your 403b.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.08.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 19:05:46 +0000

00:21 - Six Questions to ask if you're working in retirement. If you're not having to do it for the money, you can use your productive efforts to do some good. You may want to pitch your employer a phased retirement.

09:19 - What's the difference with a 403b and 401k? Chipper in Algiers Point asks Gregory about the company plan at his wife's new job, and how the rules may be different.

13:04 - The nation's debt is still rising out of control, with no real solutions to balance the budget being proposed by either major party. Your financial plan should include accounting for higher taxes, and less reliance on social programs.

31:28 - Kobe's sudden tragic death may make you reflect and ask yourself: Is my family going to be OK if something happens to me? Attorney Wes Blanchard describes how he helps people sort out their estate planning.

48:51 - Do CDs pass along a beneficiary designation or does it have to be written in a Will? John in Mandeville has some jumbo CDs, and they have a Payable On Death option. Gregory and Wes answer his questions.

55:40 - George in Mobile asks Gregory and Wes about how to spend down his mother-in-law's assets so she qualifies for help from Medicaid. Gregory and Wes don't sound like they are big fans of trying to blow through the assets to quickly.

1:01:04 - Rick in Mississippi seems to be overweighted in fixed annuities, and is having liquidity issues. Gregory explains how his 50-50 plan balances liquidity and safety with your investments.

1:04:37 - Del in Picayune has most of his money tied up in an annuity, and needs Gregory's help figuring out a work around.

1:14:48 - Charles from Pontchatoula is getting a $30k lump sum, and wants Gregory's thoughts on what would be smart to do with that money.

1:17:19 - Phillip in Hurley has an interesting situation where he can sell his house in an expensive area, and buy a much cheaper house by his new job that's about the same size. Is this too good to be true?

1:21:09 - Lauren in Baton Rouge has a teacher's pension coming her way, and asks Gregory if she can still get Social Security, too.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.06.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 15:31:47 +0000

00:43 - How is your Social Security benefit calculated? Peter in Diamondhead is thinking about retiring early, and wants to know if that will hurt his retirement benefits much.

07:16 - How is your Social Security benefit taxed? Louise in Metairie is about to start receiving her benefit.

12:06 - Wayne on Periscope asks if he has to let Social Security he wants to delay turning on his retirement benefits before he reaches Full Retirement Age.

15:02 - Laura in Metairie is inheriting a million dollars, and wants to turn that into retirement income that doesn't touch the principle.

23:00 - Although the news often paints a picture of a bitterly divided partisan America, a new Gallup poll shows a record high number of Americans are happy with their lives.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.05.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 22:43:21 +0000

01:00 - Gregory hosted a couple of Social Security events, and tells some of the stories from people who were there.

11:07 - The State of the Union speech covers some financial territory. James is pretty excited about the Artemis Project and the Space Force.

16:20 - Matthew in Metairie jokes about the faces Pelosi was making during the State of the Union, but Gregory and James are sympathetic about uncomfortable it must be to be on TV for over an hour.

18:44 - Tesla's stock tumbles about halfway back down to Earth, but who knows where it goes from here? Gregory breaks down how the short sellers have lost around $11.5 billion in the last month.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.03.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 19:33:46 +0000

00:51 - Rush Limbaugh announces he has advanced cancer, and that should give us all a pause to examine your own affairs.

11:49 - Steve in Houma asks how an immediate annuity works, and how it compares to other annuity options.

17:46 - Are biweekly mortgage payments worth it? Larry in Biloxi asks if he should put that extra money to his mortgage, or invest it elsewhere.

25:00 - The team with the lowest salary this season just beat the team with the biggest salary in the Super Bowl. All of the players get a nice bonus, and the rating were up for the first time in 5 years.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.01.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:35:43 +0000

00:20 - The Mayor of New Orleans is under fire after local reports of her history of tax leins being put on her home. Gregory and James agree the criticism is a little premature considering tax disputes are common among those who itemize and have large complicated returns.

10:13 - Maxing out Social Security in the face of the Windfall Elimination Provision. Tom in Thibodaux has a spouse getting a state pension. Will her spousal benefit and widow's benefit be cut?

13:15 - Can teachers with a pension get Social Security? Boyd in Covington is married to a teacher who didn't pay into Social Security at her job. How will that affect her benefits?

25:38 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com explains how your credit score is weighed among various factors.

32:49 - Dwayne reviews a caller: Justin in Summit is renting a trailer on a nice piece of land, and has been offered to buy the property that includes a house. Should he cosign with a family member to get a better deal on the loan?

43:15 - Dwayne reviews a caller: Shannon in MS was gifted a property from a friend via a Quit Claim deed, and has learned there's a tax lein on the property. Is he now accountable for his deceased friend's tax debts?

52:25 - Interest rates on mortgages have returned to historic lows. Dwayne tells you how people are taking advantage.

1:02:05 - Keith in New Orleans has a HELOC, and is thinking about refinancing his mortgage. Should he roll the HELOC into the new mortgage and reset the terms or what?

1:06:33 - Mike in Marrero asks how long late payments will hurt his credit score.

1:28:19 - How do the Medicare Enrollment Windows work? Gregory explains when and how you can sign up for different Medicare packages.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.30.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 18:28:10 +0000

01:25 - The SECURE Act changes the rules on your IRAs, and Gregory shares some scenarios on how he's helping couples rearrange their financial plan to get the best fit.

11:15 - What the heck is going on with Tesla's meteoric stock rise? They've been producing more cars, but this is ridiculous.

19:36 - Darren in New Orleans is on Social Security Disability benefits, and asks Gregory if he could possibly get a bump in benefits when he switches to the Social Security Retirement benefits at Full Retirement Age.

21:50 - Shannon in MS was gifted a property from a friend via a Quit Claim deed, and has learned there's a tax lein on the property. Is he now accountable for his deceased friend's tax debts?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.29.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 19:17:54 +0000

00:39 - When the CBO report tells you that annual deficits above $1 trillion is the new normal, you need to start investing like you expect taxes to be higher in the future. What does that mean?

06:27 - What do you do with money sitting in the retirement plan of your old job?

09:19 - Should you buy a car with cash?

11:25 - Gregory's stats on oil, treasuries, and interest rates give you a good context of what's going on in the financial world.

14:00 - The SECURE Act's changes to Required Minimum Distributions do not apply if you had already passed the age limit to begin your RMDs. Gregory explains when your RMDs start under the new rules.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.28.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 19:45:36 +0000

00:58 - Proposed changes in how the Social Security Disability benefit is evaluated could lead to the first big overhaul since 1986.

04:11 - Safe investing used to be easier when the 10 Year Treasuries were higher than inflation. Now, fixed annuities can fill some of that gap.

10:56 - When looking at a financial subplot of the Super Bowl, the two teams in the big game have the highest and lowest salary cap space the rolled over from the previous season.

15:21 - The hype about the Corona virus may be overblown in some people's opinions, but there's no doubt it is having a major economic impact on China at a time when they can ill afford it.

24:14 - Gregory explains some of the basics of how Medicare enrollment works.

29:36 There's a few different financial explanations on why Bayou Country Superfest is on hiatus.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.27.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 16:41:05 +0000

00:41 - The Coronavirus is causing huge shutdowns, Starbucks, McDonalds

02:13 - The death of Kobe Bryant is a solemn reminder to cherish every day, and in times like these, it's a good chance for you to reflect on your own estate plan. Maybe it's time for an update?

11:42 - Casino stories.

21:37 - Justin in Summit is renting a trailer on a nice piece of land, and has been offered to buy the property that includes a house. Should he cosign with a family member to get a better deal on the loan?

31:53 - James in Slidell warns a previous caller about the hidden monthly costs that come with buying your first house like taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.21.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 17:38:44 +0000

00:34 - Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland praises his roaring economy, and his pro-American message is in sharp contrast to previous administrations.

08:40 - France surrenders again! France backs off its digital tax that was clearly targeting a handful of American tech giants for billions, and in return they won't get tariff-bombed on their wine and cheese exports.

09:58 - Jamie Dimon on Maria Bartiromo's Wall Street makes his case for a strong defense of capitalism. The CEO of JP Morgan Chase makes some strong points.

22:23 - Gregory and James debate a report from UMass-Boston making the case for expanding Social Security retirement benefits. Sure, many seniors are depending on that income to maintain their current standard of living, but if the math doesn't work out, something has to be done.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.18.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 17:49:51 +0000

00:11 - Darrell in Baton Rouge asks why his wife's Social Security income suddenly became 85% inclusive on their taxable income. Is there a way to get under that taxable threshold?

07:56 - Keith in Baton Rouge was planning on maxing out his Social Security at age 70, but waiting to turn on Medicare could result in higher premiums. Does it matter if he continues to work?

11:27 - Tim in Jackson asks how the IRS withholding rules have changed. Gregory explains some of the effects of the tax cut act on withholdings.

15:32 - Charles in Mandeville reminds you about some types of income that are not inclusive when figuring out how much of your Social Security benefit will be taxable.

16:55 - Ray in Lucedale has a huge IRA, and wants to know if the Required Minimum Distribution are going to keep going up, and if he can reduce the tax hit.

18:58 - Bonnie in Bay St Louis is wanting to do some non-profit work out of her home in retirement. She asks Gregory and Jude how this could affect her taxes.

24:51 - Now that the Raiders are moving from California to Nevada, the players get a 13% pay raise by moving to a state with no income tax.

32:04 - Someone found over $40k in a thrift store couch.

35:00 - Mike in Lucedale is getting a $100k gift from his son. Will he have to pay taxes on that?

43:23 - Mark in Gulfport just sold his car and bought a new one. Is there anything he needs to take care of as far as the taxes go? He also asks about a CD he saw.

49:08 - Richard on the Westbank finds out his wife is losing her job. What are some ways he can get some money to hold them over until she can find another gig?

52:07 - Ryan in Kenner and his wife are saving for retirement, is there anything they need to do to address their significant age gap? Is there any special considerations for an older wife?

56:25 - Lenny in Mandeville asks: will the dividends from inherited stock reduce his wife's Social Security benefit? Gregory says it won't affect the size of the benefit itself, but the extra income could cause an increase in how much of his Social Security benefit is subject to taxation.

59:06 - Brian in New Orleans is investing in real estate properties he's picking up at tax auctions. Now that he's flipped a few of the properties, how will that revenue to his llc be taxed?

1:01:34 - Marian texts in her question from the app: she inherited a house from her mom, so how will it be taxed when she sells it?

1:07:02 - Gregory and James are convinced the reason Harry and Meghan want to leave the British Royal Family is purely financial.

1:08:54 - Bob in New Orleans asks if he should put more money into his 401k, or pay down his mortgage. He gets no match on his 401k, does that change the math any?

1:11:22 - Bob in Memphis asks if he should put more after-tax money toward his Roth IRA or his equities account.

1:14:24 - Bill in Mississippi wants to know why his Medicare premium jumped up, even though he had no earned income this year. Gregory points out your Medicare premiums are based on your last tax return, which is based on the previous year.

1:16:50 - Patricia in Covington is getting hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision when she turns on her pension from the state. How bad will this hit be?

1:21:22 - Mark in Lakeview could qualify for disability, but wants to keep working. What are his options between Social Security retirement benefits, disability benefits, and the various earnings tests?

1:25:00 - The Open House social event at the Gulfport Office for Gregory Ricks and Associates had about all the guests they could handle. Everything went great!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.15.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 20:47:38 +0000

02:22 - The window has closed for Social Security strategies called: File and Suspend, or File and Restrict.

06:16 - Odell Beckham Jr. is on camera handing out cash to LSU players on after the championship game. Financially speaking, it's a generous gesture of support for his alma mater, but may have broken some NCAA rules.

09:21 - Gregory continues educating you on the changes in the SECURE Act, and how to adjust your investments accordingly.

16:21 - Indiana's oldest state employee retires at age 102. Gregory and James muse about how skewed the numbers are for someone who works so late into life.

20:59 - The SECURE Act changes the definitions of earned income for purposes of contributing to an IRA, Roth IRA, or 401k. The SECURE Act allows for more safe money options in 401ks, and the Stretch option for inheriting an IRA is GONE.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.11.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 17:36:25 +0000

01:48 - Financial Football story: the financial backstory of the QBs in the final 8 NFL teams is amazing. None of the starting QBs in the NFC make less than $27 million per year. All of the starting QBs on the 4 AFC teams make less than $5 million per year.

11:00 - Gregory analyzes the dead salary cap space of each NFL team. Not surprisingly, those on the top on that list finished at the bottom of the league.

15:39 - Corporate debt is something that can drag an otherwise healthy company. With the cost of debt so low, companies are incentivized to take on more debt, and they have. Some of these companies will die because of this debt.

23:35 - The SECURE Act made some big changes to the rules on retirement accounts and estate planning. Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard explains which part of your estate plan is affected, and how to get it fixed.

54:04 - Dan in Metairie wants to sell a piece of real estate without his wife's approval. Wes and Gregory agree the answer is: when was the property acquired, how was it acquired, and how is it titled?

55:37 - Mary on Facebook Live asks: does the SECURE Act changes affect the stretch option for my Roth IRA? Gregory confirms the stretch option is gone for her situation, but there's alternative ways to accomplish the same goal.

1:02:19 - Should you take your Required Minimum Distributions from you IRA on a monthly basis or annual lump sum? Liz in Madison just started taking her RMDs, and asks Gregory to explain her options.

1:05:49 - How will taxes work in retirement? Todd in Mandeville has a 401k, IRA, and pension. Counting Social Security and all of his other income streams, how is all that taxed?

1:08:21 - Keith in Thibodaux asks if he can still use the File and Suspend rules for Social Security. Gregory confirms those rules have gone away, and explains how the rules are now.

1:19:30 - James begs Gregory to talk him out of betting a pile of money on LSU in the Championship Game on Monday. Since they now take legal sports bets in Mississippi, those casinos on the coast are just about an hour away. It seems like easy money.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.07.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 22:52:28 +0000

00:38 - Why Anthony Davis is smart to turn down a $146 million contract offer from the Lakers. Gregory points out a few fun financial lessons to be learned here.

08:33 - Financial Planning hinges on two key questions:
1. What are your concerns? 2. What do you need your financial advisor to help you with?
Everyone's situation is unique, and there's a wide variety of financial issues your advisor should be able to help you with.

17:08 - Does the SECURE Act affect my Roth IRAs? Jennifer from Covington asks Gregory some details on how her financial situation is affected by the new law changes in the SECURE Act. Gregory continues updating you on more changes from the new law.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.04.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:33:34 +0000

00:50 - The new decade kicked off to all-time record highs on the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500, and a slew of new rules on your investments. The droning of an Iranian General in Iraq has some folks concerned, but the market moves on.

06:58 - The SECURE Act takes effect this week and makes some big changes to the rules regarding your retirement accounts: 401k, IRA, Roth IRA, etc. There's changes you need to know about concerning contributions, distributions, inheritance, and taxes.

25:35 - There's big changes in Estate Planning rules in both the recent law changes, and the IRS updating of life-expectancy tables could reduce your Required Minimum Distributions.

34:01 - Stocks vs. Bonds. Gregory shows you some stats on how bonds have historically proven to be more stable and reliable than individual stocks.

42:42 - Judging by the fundraising numbers, Bernie Sanders wins the heart of the donors, and winning in the polls may not be far behind.

48:52 - A Statistician's take on New Years Resolutions yields three big pieces of advice for keeping your commitment.

55:05 - The world consumes 101 million barrels of crude oil per day.

Yes, the rules for your Roth IRA changed. Jennifer in Covington asks Gregory if the new SECURE Act has any affect on her Roth IRA accounts. Gregory points out a few key changes in the law.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.02.20

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 04 Jan 2020 00:29:37 +0000

The laws changes regarding IRAs and 401ks. Here's what you need to know

John in Metairie is upset about the effects of the new IRA inheritance rules on his financial plan. Gregory agrees this isn't a fair shake, but changes will happen, and how you adjust to them is what's important going forward.

Andrew in Meraux asks Gregory if he should invest a pool of liquid assets he holds for regulatory requirements for his business. Gregory cautions against putting those assets at risk or into something illiquid.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 12.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 19:21:55 +0000

00:28 - The SECURE Act has been signed into law, with major changes is the rules for retirement accounts starting Jan 1. Gregory breaks down the new rules, and what you need to do to adjust your financial plans.

20:24 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com joins us to talk about the world of mortgages and credit, but we start with celebrating his huge'y succesfull toy drive. He then shares how he was able to get a married couple in the service industry (waitress and a cook) into a mortgage, and why you should neeeeever cosign for a loan, even if it's your fiance.

28:01 - Richard in Houma asks Gregory if his wife's state pension will cause her Social Security benefit to be affected by the Windfall Elmination Provision, and he asks Dwayne if he can fix his current reverse mortgage that doesn't have his spouse on the note.

37:50 - Hear a review of our public events in January! We have a couple of Lunch and Learns, a couple of Gregory Ricks Live events, and an open house at the new Gulfport office coming up!

41:50 - Dwayne Stein goes into detail explaining what it means to have a non-borrowing spouse on a Reverse Mortgage.

1:03:36 - Gregory and James go over what's in store for 2020.

1:22:04 - Mark in Hammond asks if his wife's State Pension will cause their Social Security benefits to be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.19.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 18:46:48 +0000

00:44 - The SECURE Act passes the Senate and is expected to be signed by the President. Once he signs it, the rules for your IRAs and 401k change dramatically.

11:36 - New Orleans Christmas legend Benny Grunch joins the show for some Christmas cheer, and to talk about the business side of Benny Grunch and the Bunch.

22:48 - Gregory continues to update you on the details in the legal changes to your IRA and 401k with the passage of the SECURE Act.

34:14 - Hear the end of Jow Burrow's Heismann speech where he thanks Coach O.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.18.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 19:35:06 +0000

00:51 - The SECURE Act was rolled into the spending bill that passed the House, and if it gets through the Senate, it would make some HUGE changes to retirement savings. Gregory details the changes that may be coming to IRA contributions, Required Minimum Distributions, 401ks, and other details in the SECURE Act that affect your money.

25:15 - Do you like the self checkout lane at the grocery store? They are a great example of how the human behavior patterns adapt to new technology. Expect to see more automation like this, and invest accordingly.

28:03 - We break down Burrow's Heisman speech.

31:12 - Susan in New Orleans has a complicated web of ownership and residence from an inherited property, and has no idea what to expect or pay in taxes if she sells the house.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.17.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 18:59:35 +0000

00:58 - This budget deal is awful. The House of Representatives passed a spending bill ahead of a looming shutdown, and James claims it's quite possibly the worst spending bill in the history of America. It explodes the deficit, and the details are even worse.

11:51 - Boeing suspends production on the 737 Max jets. Gregory sees this as a bad sign of how things are going for Boeing trying to rebound.

14:35 - Gregory invites you to check out some of his public events next month. Are you looking for a Financial Advisor? There's a Wine, Wisdom, and Food Experience at Keith Young's in Madisonville. If you would like to come check out Gregory's new Gulfport location and meet him, there's an open house at the Gregory Ricks and Associates office. If you're having Social Security issues, there's Lunch and Learn coming up covering Social Security. Meet Gregory, get a nice box lunch, and get your Social Security questions answered.

19:26 - We review two great callers from Saturday's show trying understand how their Medicare premiums work. John in New Orleans is getting hit with a huge jump in Medicare premiums since beginning his Required Minimum Distributions from his IRA. Is there anything you can do to reduce those Medicare premiums? Dale in Long Beach is having some issues with his Medicare Premiums, and wants to know if shifting money into different financial products could help. Gregory explains how the Medicare premium tiers work.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 12.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 06:27:53 +0000

00:14 - The Dangers of Store Credit Cards. A report shows one of the biggest financial mistakes made over the holidays is signing up for new store credit cards. The interest rate on some of these cards is 30%!

09:55 - Gregory shares the story of a local retiree who had used the File and Suspend option on his Social Security record, and was surprised when he started receiving checks automatically at age 70. Gregory explains how the now-extinct File and Suspend option works, and how you can take advantage of retroactive benefits.

16:55 - John in New Orleans is getting hit with a huge jump in Medicare premiums since beginning his Required Minimum Distributions from his IRA. Is there anything you can do to reduce those Medicare premiums?

22:11 - Dale in Long Beach is having some issues with his Medicare Premiums, and wants to know if shifting money into different financial products could help.

28:18 - More Americans are choosing to die at home. For the first time in decades, more Americans who died of natural causes chose home hospice care over staying in the hospital.

34:31 - Robert in Thibodaux has some questions about his mom's irrevokable trust.

38:18 - We continue the discussion on how you can be ready to die in the comfort of your own home when the time comes. It takes a little more planning, and isn't free, but you can make it happen.

52:33 - Are you really all up to date with you Beneficiary Designations? What about your Alternate Beneficiaries? The end of the year is a good time to make some updates to your financial plan.

56:05 - China and the US announce they have agreed to a framework for Phase One of the new trade deal, and dodging the new tariff deadline set for Sunday. One side of the media is saying it's awful, the other side says it's great, and we say we don't know because NO ONE HAS SEEN THE TEXT.

1:11:40 - Byron in Houma is self employed and is concerned his business structure keeps his taxes low, but his Social Security record has suffered as a result.

1:17:39 - A comment card from Gregory's latest public speaking event asks for guidance on how to handle an inherited IRA. How do you settle up the taxes, satisfy the Required Minimum Distributions, and invest that money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 16:23:11 +0000

00:16 - Gregory walks your through the history of Amazon, and how they've evolved from a book store, to the cheapest general store, to the convenience leader. In some cases, people are willing to pay a little bit more to get it tomorrow, and Amazon is all over next day shipping.

08:24 - The rise of Dollar Stores is crowding out some local grocers in small town America. Gregory and James respond to a critical report from 60 Minutes.

15:54 - Check out the crazy bonuses college football coaches scored this season!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.09.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 02:42:22 +0000

00:28 - As LSU Football rolls through what may be their most historic season ever, the money moving behind the scenes is massive. It's no surprise that college football coaches are among the highest paid coaches in all of sports.

07:59 - The jobs report was a blowout, and should give a pause to all of those who have been predicting a recession all year.

12:17 - Is recession coming? An interesting breakdown of the S&P 500 on CNBC shows that stocks may be set for another break out.

27:27 - How to score some great gifts without breaking the bank.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.02.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:01:54 +0000

00:51 - Joe Burrow's amazing season brings a new face to the debate on college athletes being able to make money from their likeness. If the legendary LSU QB was able to make a couple bucks per shirt from a line of Burreaux merchandise, he would already be rich.

07:54 - Cow Guy on Fox Business makes a good point: if the retail apocalypse is this bad when online spending is only 20% of the retail sector, what will the brick-and-mortar scene look like when they are splitting the sales 50-50?

11:18 - Thoughts on Estate Planning for blended families. Gregory answers a comment card from a recent event asking about financial guidance for those who have children from different marriages for both spouses.

15:50 - Black Friday gun sales were the second highest on record. Strong gun sales are generally viewed as a positive economic sign.

21:12 - John Paul in Biloxi has his disabled mother living with him, and is looking for any tax advantages or exemptions. Could he use a trust to protect some assets, or a life trust, or something?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.25.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 18:11:15 +0000

01:27 - When three brothers auctioned off their late parent's collection in the attic, one painting was worth over a million dollars.

09:51 - Gregory warns of robocall scams, and James has the story of the biggest heist since WW2.

16:50 - Maybe you should sleep on a big decision. Gregory is a big believer in taking your time and getting multiple opinions when making a big decision.

25:16 - Ideas for streams of income in retirement. Hear the list of different income streams that are most common in retirement.

34:24 - A 30 second ad for the Super Bowl sold for $5.6 million.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.21.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 22:42:08 +0000

00:29 - The Census Bureau releases its report on poverty in America, and the news is overwhelmingly good. Gregory reacts to the slew of stats that show the lower and middle classes gained ground over the last two years.

02:58 - Gregory explains the downsides to annuities.

07:48 - 10 RMD Mistakes to Avoid: learn how to avoid some of the common errors people make concerning the Required Minimum Distributions from their IRAs and 401ks.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.18.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 16:01:10 +0000

00:48 - A 60 Minutes story on these metal-rich nodules in an area of the Pacific Ocean floor was amazing for several reasons. It's amazing that three rare metals needed for modern battery technology are concentrated in these rocks, and laid out on the ocean floor. At the end, they pushed for the Law of the Sea Treaty that would give the UN jurisdiction over the oceans, which is a horrible idea.

12:17 - Mike in Pontchatoula is thinking about harvesting some timber from his property, and asks how he will be taxed on it.

19:33 - We review the financial side of the Myles Garrett helmet incident with fines flying all over the place.

23:50 - FedEx is getting rid of pensions. They are currently paying pensions on tens of thousands of retired former employees, and that math is simply unsustainable.

30:12 - Craig in Metairie wants to grow his retirement investments as an inter-generational benefit. Can you give your IRA to your kid?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 11.16.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 22:09:00 +0000

00:37 - There's not a lot of headlines about the looming government shutdown that could happen if some budget bills aren't passed by Thursday. The news is paying much attention, but the markets don't seem spooked either.

04:06 - Jamie Dimon on 60 Minutes was badgered by Leslie Stahl to say something bad about the economy. Mark Cuban explains how Senator Warren's proposed wealth tax will run into liquidity issues, and soon. Gregory responds to some important financial points in the debate against a wealth tax.

06:22 - Gregory's thoughts on a new tax for Short Term Rentals (Air BNB).

11:18 - Voting in local and state elections is one of the best ways a community can keep its taxes low and business friendly. There's always going to be an excuse to raise a new tax or spend more money, and some of it can be stopped by voters.

19:35 - Scam calls are through the roof, with one report claiming there were 2000 robocalls per second in October.

32:11 - Jude Heath CPA answers: what do you need to take care of before 2020 gets here? You may want to get a new business vehicle, and the tax implications have improved.

39:54 - Trump changes his primary residency from NY to Florida. Jude Heath explains how this helps him pay lower taxes.

49:27 - Gregory and Jude describe different ways you can layer streams of income, with some diversity between how the streams are taxed.

58:34 - Betty in New Orleans is tired of paying the escalating taxes caused by her Required Minimum Distributions from her IRA. Should she just pay the whole tax bill and be done with it?

1:04:49 - There's some slight differences in how Mississippi and Louisiana tax different forms of retirement income.

1:10:45 - Craig in Metairie wants to grow his retirement investments as an inter-generational benefit. Can you give your IRA to your kid?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 19:01:27 +0000

00:57 - We begin the show covering some of the public events coming up in the area. There's a Wine, Wisdom, and Food event each for Biloxi, New Orleans, and Madisonville left for the rest of the decade. Gregory and James take a look at things to come.

14:06 - Social Security scam calls are still swamping your phone. We review some tips on how to identify a scam call, and how new technology is being incorporated to fairly sophisticated operations overseas.

23:41 - Mark Cuban explains how Senator Warren's proposed wealth tax will run into liquidity issues, and soon. Gregory responds to some important financial points in the debate against a wealth tax.

30:23 - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the state of the the economy is solid, and he sees no bubbles on the horizon threatening the derail the current growth. That's a sharp contrast to the apocalyptic view from Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 22:29:28 +0000

01:06 - The Fed is buying treasuries again, just don't call it Quantitative Easing this time.

11:57 - Disney says Disney Plus signed up over 10 million subscribers in its first 48 hours.

18:20 - Amtrak may actually break even for the first time. Since the federal government took over passenger train service about 50 years ago, it has lost money every year. The numbers are even worse considering their costs do NOT include the maintenance of their infrastructure.

21:24 - 40% of students surveyed claimed they would be willing to do some jail time to pay off their student debt.

29:08 - How to get the biggest Social Security check possible.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.12.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 23:00:55 +0000

03:20 - Another SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches an additional 60 mini-satellites, adding to the growing web of universal wifi routers in low orbit.

06:33 - Gregory responds to a few financial comments made by President Trump today at the New York Economic Club. Knowing where the President is heading gives you a chance to position yourself better for the future, and there is plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the economy.

11:54 - Gregory shows some love for Mosquito Joe, gives a quick update on a secretive spacecraft that finally landed after almost two years in orbit.

14:39 - Chase CEO Jamie Dimon was on 60 Minutes, and Leslie Stahl was breathlessly begging for Jamie to say something negative about the economy. When slagging the economy didn't work, she hit him with anti-billionaire questions.

30:20 - Gregory takes a look at the evolving international oil markets, and reports on how the continuing shale boom is giving America's oil industry a leg up on OPEC and Russia.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.11.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:24:14 +0000

03:20 - Alibaba did $38 billion in sales on Singles Day. That's bigger than Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day combined. As the online marketplace continues to grow and evolve, what comes next?

12:37 - In honor of Veterans Day, we have some financial guidance for vets.

19:51 - A note to presidential candidates: we already have a federal program that covers the cost of college. It's called the military.

25:56 - The oldest couple in the world lives in Austin, and they are 106 and 105 years old. They have been married for 80 years! Gregory and James suspect they have been getting a Social Security check for around 40 years, and are probably way ahead of what they contributed.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 18:53:05 +0000

00:52 - The IRS announces new contribution limits for 401ks and IRAs.

07:38 - At what point do you need a financial advisor? David in Gulfport is building up enough assets he's thinking about getting some help.

12:52 - We review the storyline of Tim in Metairie who called two days ago to say that Uber stock will plummet when a shares are unlocked, then called yesterday to confirm he was correct, but today Uber bounced back.

17:57 - How much money can you make before you're required to pay income taxes? Gregory updates the new standard deductions recently reported by the IRS for next year.

19:30 - Gregory elaborates on a 60 Minutes report on pot stocks.

25:27 - Gregory is generally unmoved by statistics predicting doom from a permabear.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.06.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 19:01:17 +0000

01:23 - What is the 401k Maximizer? Gregory explains how the 401k Maximizer can be your guide to making the right investments within your 401k.

09:51 - Time in Metairie calls back to update the show: yesterday's prediction about Uber's stock going down when the shares unlock came true.

13:19 - Have you lost a spouse? Learn how to get the most out of Social Security widow's benefits.

21:08 - Gregory and James dive deeper into the latest Social Security reform bill proposed in Congress.

28:31 - Ron in Gulfport wonders if his parents are getting the most out of their Social Security decisions.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.05.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:02:42 +0000

00:39 - Things to keep in mind when changing careers late in life.

04:27 - When talking about the most profitable company in the world, Troy in Metairie chats about how Aramco's low cost-per-barrel is their key.

07:40 - Tim in Metairie predicts Uber stocks will fall after hundreds of millions of shares become unlocked tomorrow.

14:37 - Learn how Social Security survivors benefit works.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.04.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 18:04:29 +0000

00:41 - Gregory answers a few text questions from the app.

04:27 - Should you take Social Security Survivors Benefit if you're still working? AJ in Pontchatoula asks Gregory to walk him through his options when it comes to Social Security widows benefit.

08:19 - Dean in Madisonville isn't so sure about his life insurance setup, and asks for a second opinion from Gregory.

11:34 - A recent report shows bankruptcy among seniors has skyrocketed since 1991. The most common reason is medical expenses. What can you do to keep yourself covered?

12:43 - What happens to the big life insurance policy from my previous employer? Raja in New Orleans had a messy divorce from her employer, and is trying to work out what's portable or lost.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 11.02.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 21:00:30 +0000

00:51 - John in New Orleans asks Gregory how to get the most out of his Social Security benefits utilizing the right spousal benefits strategy. The rules have changed in the last few years, and Gregory checks the rules to let John know where he stands.

09:45 - Is Long Term Care Insurance worth the cost? Sharon in Picayune is not a fan of the high premiums and likelyhood the insurance will go unused. Gregory generally leans toward having Long Term Care Insurance if you can afford it.

12:12 - Sharon in Picayune asks Gregory if Medicare for All plans could save money by reducing emergency room visits. Gregory points out that Medicare for All plans are nothing like Medicare and incredibly misleading. Medicare has premiums, co-pays, deductibles, doctor networks, and don't cover all of your medical bills nor long term care. Under Medicare, there is still a need for several different types of insurance coverages to fill the gaps. On top of all that, there's no real reason to believe it would ultimately save money on emergency room visits.

16:09 - Gregory shares some of his history of flipping cars as a teenager, and mastering the basic of business deals at a very young age.

20:38 - Gregory analyzes some of the new taxes proposed to pay for Socialized Medicine plan from a presidential candidate. There are some serious economic flaws in nationalizing the healthcare industry.

27:58 - Avoid these car buying mistakes! Gregory elaborates on a solid list of mistakes people often make when buying a car.

36:43 - What does it mean when you see commercials offering to buy your life insurance policy?

46:46 - Gregory gives you the truth behind some of the bonuses and guarantees on annuities.

51:31 - Are you affected by your business partner's tax problems? Tony in New Orleans is concerned because one of his business partners hasn't filed his personal taxes for around 10 years, and worries the IRS could freeze/garnish some of the business assets.

1:00:07 - Gregory finishes the show by answering the flurry of questions that came in through social media and the Winning at Life app during the course of the show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.31.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 17:01:41 +0000

01:15 - Kanye West described his financial situation in a recent interview, and there's a lot to learn from the ground he covered on income, debt, spending, and taxes.

11:34 - The Fed lowers the interest rates again. We review comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

20:11 - Gregory addresses some big financial headlines: recession in Hong Kong, PMI down, and Lisa Marie Presley's financial turmoil.

23:54 - Halloween! On the Day of the Dead, we review the top 10 dead celebrity earners this year!

29:08 - A new study warns of early retirement being linked to faster cognitive decline. If you plan to retire early, you may want to find something to keep that brain working hard.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.29.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 18:48:58 +0000

00:47 - Can you turn on your spousal benefit and let your own Social Security benefit continue to grow? James asks Gregory about someone who is definitely not his mother-in-law who plans to continue working after her Full Retirement Age, and wants to get the most out of her Social Security options.

03:19 - Gregory reviews a list of the US companies with the most debt. Debt load can be a huge drag on stock values.

06:15 - Learn some common mistakes in financial planning. Gregory elaborates on a list of problems often seen by financial planners.

18:22 - Gregory shares a list of sources of income that can be NON-taxable.

25:57 - When is the best time to turn on Social Security if you continue to work past your Full Retirement Age?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 15:28:27 +0000

01:20 - The S&P 500 closes at an all-time high. Does that mean it's time to get out?

08:11 - Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg answered questions in a Congressional hearing that was supposed to be about the crypto-currency project: Libra. Some people had trouble staying on topic, but it does give you a sense of what politicians think about cryptos, and how they might regulate it.

14:54 - Millenials are expected to inherit $68 trillion from the Baby Boomers. The Estate Planning industry will oversee the largest transfer of wealth in history.

19:02 - Gregory was asked his thoughts on some of the financial products you see advertised on TV. He explains some of what's really going on behind the scenes when someone offers to buy your annuity, structured settlement, or life insurance policy.

23:18 - Gregory gives you the truth behind some of the bonuses and guarantees on annuities.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.24.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 18:02:53 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards at his last public speaking event.

02:09 - How do 401k distributions work?

05:34 - What you need to know about life insurance and fixed annuities.

08:48 - Eric in Mandeville asks Gregory what he should do about the stocks in his former employer's ESOP plan?

12:39 - Earl in St Rose: Should I pay off my mortgage early or invest that money?

Gregory answers more questions from the comment cards at his last public speaking event.

16:23 - What you need to know before you turn on Social Security.

18:17 - Before you invest in Real Estate, here's some things to think about.

25:18 - Chris in Biloxi has a 401k at his day job, and is thinking about doing a SEP at his self-employed side job.

28:22 - Gregory addresses the top 5 financial issues that worry Generation X.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.23.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 25 Oct 2019 15:01:18 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards at his last public speaking event.

15:37 - What do you do with money at an old pension? Kenneth in Picayune asks Gregory's thoughts on what he should do with the money vested in a pension from a previous job.

Gregory answers more questions from the comment cards at his last public speaking event.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.15.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:24:35 +0000

02:42 - Another big data hack reminds us to check up on our identity theft protection. This time, it's data from a popular app game: Words With Friends.

04:17 - The Fortnite black hole was a big deal for a huge gaming community. Gregory points out the daily revenue for Fortnite was reported to be over $6 million a day.

12:10 - Cyber security experts recommend you don't recycle passwords. Gregroy adds in afew more tips about keeping your money safe.

14:38 - Gregory gives guidance for inherited money.

31:37 - A new study says raising your credit limit often leads to a worse credit score in the long run.

25:03 - Gregory: long term care expensive, are you prepared?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 21:17:16 +0000

01:46 - Gregory shares his epic adventures at the LSU-Florida game. What an amazing experience to get to see this special season first hand.

04:17 - Trump announces economic sanctions against Turkey for attacking the Kurds in Syria. Despite the hype, Gregory doesn't see how this could impact your money by any significant degree.

09:15 - Several financial firms are jumping on the bandwagon of no longer charging trading fees for certain online trades and etfs. Gregory enjoys the sound of lower trading costs, but also knows those financial firms are going to have to make their money elsewhere.

16:07 - Everyone is going to die, so everyone needs and estate plan. Here's why.

22:19 - Bra Country is Friday. A country concert at Southport Hall to raise money for the American Cancer Society. WNOE.com for more info.

24:22 - Looking for some extra income with a side gig? Yet another gig-economy app is bursting with popularity called SideHusl. It has both an app and SideHusl.com, and is being used by seniors with an empty nest to score some extra cash.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:11:14 +0000

00:47 - Gregory answers some comment cards from his latest Wine, Wisdom, and Food event at Keith Young's Steakhouse in Madisonville. Many people at the event expressed concern about how the upcoming elections could rock their investments.

04:18 - Christy in Marrero asks Gregory for some financial guidance on behalf of her nephew who just signed a big recording contract. For someone who is coming into money at a young age, how can we make sure it lasts as long as possible?

08:44 - You should invest with the mindset that taxes could go up at some time in the future.

17:50 - Stephanie Pomboy of Macromavens makes a compelling case for decelerating economic growth ahead, and a sharp critique of the Federal Reserve's role in our economic swings.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 18:46:01 +0000

00:43 - Boeing reports it has sold its first 737 Max jet since the orders were halted. Gregory explains how the unique lack of competition in the airplane industry helps Boeing survive through this recent rough patch.

10:22 - How do you know if your pension buyout offer is a good deal? Gregory explains how pension buyouts are viewed from the point of view of the employer, and notes that GE just announced a pension freeze.

23:03 - Pensions are going away, but they were really just annuities anyway. You can set up your own pension, and get monthly income on your assets.

29:14 - Are Ultra-Long Bonds a Good Idea? Jeff in Mobile asks Gregory's thoughts on using ultra long term bonds to lock in fairly safe returns over a long time range. Gregory thinks fixed annuities may be a way to score a similar return with even better safety.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 15:23:13 +0000

00:45 - Hear some warnings for those who plan to retire early.

14:01 - Rules for 401k rollovers. So you have a chance to roll over your old 401k. Now what? Gregory explains your options.

20:32 - Learn classic financial wisdom. Gregory responds to a top ten list of financial quotes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.04.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 20:34:02 +0000

01:03 - Are IRAs a safe investment? Gregory explores a common question with an uncommon answer. IRAs are not a type of financial account, an IRA is simply a tax status on any number of allowable accounts. Some options with your IRA are 100% safe, and some IRA options carry massive risks.

14:25 - The US Unemployment rate drops to 3.5%, the lowest in 50 years.

15:36 - Mark in Pass Christian is thinking about moving his varible annuity money into a fixed annuity, and picks Gregory's brain about his options.

33:39 - Senator Warren's anti-Facebook comments are bad for business. Gregory has some strong opinions about politicians targeting American businesses like that.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.30.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 20:20:55 +0000

03:13 - Can you still File and Restrict your Social Security benefit? Dennis is Kenner asks Gregory to clarify some confusing explanation of Social Security's recent rule changes.

05:35 - California passes a new law to allow college athletes to make money from endorsements? Will this law open the door for money in college athletics, or will it be struck down by the courts?

12:03 - A Congressman pleads guilty to insider trading.

26:49 - Gregory reviews a call from Saturday's show about the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, and adds a little more depth to review of the rules.

35:18 - A car sharing app is having problems solving the recurring issue of auto thefts, and has to pull out of some cities.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 13:49:39 +0000

00:55 - Tony Romo's near miss on making the cut at a PGA tournament brings up some common parallels for those who take an early retirement.

07:41 - Dale on the Northshore asks Gregory if those changes to RMDs ever passed. Gregory says the SECURE Act has not passed, and he will continue to keep an eye out for legislative changes to your retirement accounts.

11:09 - Dale follows up asking Gregory about a single stock: Dexcom. They have an intersting back story, and a promising product, but the stock charts are too chaotic for comfort.

25:38 - Jimmy in Gretna is thinking about turning his Social Security on at full retirement age, and maxing out his 401k to negate the extra tax exposure.

31:31 - How does the Social Security survivor's benefit work? Scott in Mandeville asks if his wife will get her spousal benefit and a survivor benefit when he dies.

38:16 - Mary in New Orleans is helping her grandson with his student loans, and asks Gregory about refinancing options. Gregory walks her through some options, and cautions Mary about how helping too much can hurt yourself in the long run.

Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo joins the show to answer questions about reverse mortgages, mortgage refis, and changes to lending standards to help those paying off student debt.

46:34 - Mike in Mandeville has a pension coming from a job he had in the public sector that didn't contribute to Social Security for 16 years. How will his Social Security benefits be effected?

49:40 - Can you refinance a reverse mortgage? Phil in Slidell asks Dwayne Stein if he can get more equity out of his home now that it has increased in value?

52:45 - Betsy in Kenner is not happy with the results of her mortgage modification. Dwayne Stein and Gregory Ricks answer some of her questions.

57:41 - Mike in Covington asks Dwayne and Gregory about interest rates for loans on an investment property.

1:07:40 - Dwayne explains how changes to credit score rules help those with massive student debt.

Do you have margin built into your monthly budget? Do you have margin between your income and the next tax bracket? Margin is where we can get real progress, whether it's for saving or tax planning.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.18.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 21:36:24 +0000

00:39 - A few quick tips to save money on taxes.

02:55 - Should I keep my old home as a rental? Sherry in Mobile is buying a new house, and her husband wants to keep the old house as a rental property.

13:46 - Can you stop and restart your Social Security check? Durale in Chauvin asks Gregory if he has any options to grow his Social Security benefit after turning it on early.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.16.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 16:23:30 +0000

01:11 - If you have stock in your company plan, use Net Unrealized Appreciation to pay a lower tax. Gregory explains how NUA works, and how sometimes NUA doesn't work. Many people don't like to pay the tax bill.

11:49 - If you're leaving money behind to your loved ones, think about structuring it into a birthday check instead of a dumping a lump sum on them when you pass away. It will be a long term reminder, and something for your loved ones to look forward to every year.

17:03 - The price of oil jumped up today, and had it's biggest daily gain in over a decade. The attack on the Saudi oilfield has crippled their production, and you can expect a slight increase in the price of gas over the next few months.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:16:04 +0000

00:16 - Drone attacks on two important Saudi oilfield facilities shut down half of the Kingdom's oil production. Expect prices to go up. Gregory shares some other insights into the oil industry, and some historic context.

09:15 - A married couple decides to cash out their 401ks to open their dream restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant failed. Now, they have gone back to work elsewhere. How do they make up for wiping out their 401ks?

17:21 - Things you should consider before buying/starting a new business. Gregory shares a recent discussion he had with an unemployed man wanting to buy a business in his industry with his retirement savings.

24:06 - Virginia in Hammond and her husband are getting a late start saving for retirement, and she's on Social Security's disability income. Gregory gives them some guidance on how to get more saved, and how to max out their Social Security spousal options.

28:41 - Gregory shares a hard truth: You have to stop living paycheck to paycheck.

Jude Heath CPA joins us for tax updates.

31:41 - Yvette in New Orleans wonders if she and her husband are doing the right thing with their 401ks. Should they be in a more aggressive investment? Should they be contributing more monthly? How will all of this affect their tax liability now and in retirement?

42:45 - What do you have to pay Required Minimum Distributions, and how much do you have to pay? Ann in Houma is getting close to RMD time, and gets help understanding the basics.

46:10 - What happens when you inherit your spouse's IRA? John in New Orleans gets some clarification on the rules governing a spouse's inherited IRA.

56:36 - California passes a law aimed at forcing Uber and Lyft drivers to be classified as employees instead of contractors.

1:11:22 - Don't let credit card debt drag you down!

1:14:21 - How your property sale can be taxed: Ricky in Biloxi asks Gregory how much he can expect to owe in taxes on this sale of his primary house when he moves into his vacation house?

1:19:04 - Paul in New Orleans asks some follow up questions about the call from Virginia Hammond. Gregory clarifies the different scenarios on how a spouse can draw a benefit from your record.

1:23:59 - Anita is Slidell inherited a rental home from her mother a few years back. How much would she be taxed if she decides to sell it?

1:26:51 - How is your Social Security benefit calculated? Andy in Lucedale retired early. Will the non-earning years hurt the size of his Social Security retirement benefit?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.11.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 14:20:55 +0000

The Daily Wrap: 09.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:13:59 +0000

01:17 - What do you do when all you have going for savings is a 401k?

10:19 - Should you buy a rental property?

14:25 - John in New Orleans asks what happens if his spouse doesn't do his succession when he passes away.

18:40 - Gary in New Orleans asks how does one qualify for a 6 month retroactive benefit from Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 19:09:25 +0000

Gregory answers the comment cards from a recent live event. Get updated on the latest financial news.

How do you know if you need a revokable trust or an irrevokable trust?

Gregory has guidance for those thinking of getting into the rental property game.

What is a reasonable expectation of returns for an investment with limited risk exposure?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.04.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 18:57:46 +0000

00:41 - The Great Chicken Sandwich Wars of 2019 are escalating with new combatants getting their bombs in. The backstory on the Popeye's Chicken Sandwich project has it's open shots fired in New Orleans in 1972. A Tennessee man is suing Popeyes for emotional distress over his struggles trying to get his hands on their chicken sandwich.

09:41 - How do you turn your retirement savings into a monthly paycheck? Gregory walks you through some of the more common ways people transition from saving for retirement to setting up a monthly paycheck from those assets.

16:40 - David in Metairie shares some details on the financial backstory of Al Copeland's Popeye's empire.

21:11 - The NFL has a new highest-paid running back. Ezekiel Elliott scores a huge contract extension, and Gregory breaks down the numbers.

25:40 - Gregory relays a couple of recent situations he's dealt with as a Financial Advisor, including: how to correlate your assets to know when is the best time to turn on your Social Security benefit, and how to get some of that tax-exposed IRA money into your pocket with minimal-to-no taxes paid.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.03.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:18:30 +0000

00:36 - Gregory explains why a yield-curve inversion is not the harbinger of doom it used to be. In the past, it has preceded recessions, but it never had this level of distortions from the Federal Reserve rate rigging coupled with the historic premiere of negative-rate bonds means this market is not playing in the same arena as years past.

04:19 - Is the economy slowing down? Gregory is skeptical of the media outlets constantly claiming a recession is around the corner. The economy has different cycles, and while some sectors are in a down cycle, there's enough positive cycles to keep the overall economy growing.

08:54 - Gregory and James kick around the idea of a 100 year bond.

12:37 - Thinking of retiring early? Hear some warnings from an early-retiree.

17:59 - Updates on the new tariffs going into effect around the US-China trade wars.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.31.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 14:37:48 +0000

Gregory answers the comment cards from a recent live event. Hear Gregory's thought to the most common situations people are facing in their financial world.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 15:23:19 +0000

02:37 - In creating some new commercials for Clesi's restaurant, we stumbled on the notorious backstory of how a trademark effects restaurants promoting specials for Tacos on a Tuesday.

10:20 - Yes, you can sue your employer over how your 401k is handled. There's hundreds of cases right now where employees are unhappy in several different ways. Some find it unethical to steer too much money into the company's stock plan. Some are unhappy about fees, returns, and

19:52 - Reasons you will regret buying an RV. Gregory and James sing the praises of a list of reasons people regret buying an RV, and add in their own experiences with people who've tried that lifestyle.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.27.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 17:55:25 +0000

01:01 - There's a new form of scam call aimed at Medicare recipients. Learn the details and protect yourself. Gregory plays back a recent scam call he recorded on his phone.

05:58 - Doug in Covington asks Gregory about how the earnings clawback on early Social Security benefits are calculated. Gregory points out some details of how you're affected in the first year of starting your retirement benefits early, and begs the question: if you're making good money, why are you turning on your benefit early?

13:32 - The Top Ten Largest Banks in the United States. Gregory and James chat about the list of the biggest banks ranked by assets. The top 4 banks hold half the assets!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.24.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 01:36:03 +0000

The trade tariff battle escalated this week, with China slapping new tariffs on US goods, and Trump retaliates by bumping up the tariffs on Chinese goods. It's hard to see this trade war being resolved anytime soon.

What makes Gregory different than the other guys you hear claiming to never lose money?

Tonight we will be partying at the big gala for the Louisiana Pediatric Cardiology Foundation. The live auction is hosted by Michael Berry, and the L'Auberge Casino is a opulent place to have a party!

Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com stops by. We cover some changes to lending standards, why refinances are through the proverbial roof, and how to fight your property tax assesment.

Clesi's restaurant in Mid City deserves a place in the Chicken Sandwich Wars. Gregory raves over the food, and it's turned out to be a hot spot for visitors looking for authentic New Orleans food.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.21.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 21:05:05 +0000

00:40 - Last night's Wine, Wisdom, and Food event was a hit, and there was a strong interest in both Social Security scenarios, and Gregory's 50-50-50-50 rule of investing.

03:54 - After saying earlier this week that they were looking at tax cuts including indexing capital gains for inflation, Trump says they aren't looking at tax cuts and not in favor of indexing capital gains for inflation.

12:20 - Scientific breakthroughs in testing make predicting death much more accurate. Having a shorter time horizon has a huge effect on your financial planning, and more accurate actuarial tables can really smooth out bumps in the insurance industry.

20:30 - Gregory helped a young couple understand how the wife's Social Security benefit will be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision if she decides to continue in her current position.

29:24 - Does my Windfall Elimination Provision affect my spouse's ability to draw on my Social Security record? Ray in Metairie is on Social Security disability, and his wife's Social Security will be hit by the Windfall Elimination Provision because she'll be getting a pension from a job that didn't withhold Social Security taxes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.19.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 19:50:42 +0000

01:06 - What's up with Tax Cuts 2.0. Larry Kudlow tells Fox News Sunday the Trump Administration wants another round of tax cuts. Gregory is skeptical that this is much more than a rallying cry for the campaign.

09:28 - FOODIE TALK: In a recent trip to Chicago: Gregory is blown away by Michael Jordan's steakhouse, and has a meticulous review of his experience with an authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

24:19 - This part of the investing portfolio that is the cause of the majority of complaints is equities. Other asset classes may not capable of explosive growth, but stock losses are a bigger problem.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.17.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 15:37:05 +0000

00:22 - Do casino winnings count as income for Social Security purposes? Patty in Paulina has turned on her Social Security retirement benefit early, and works part time up until the earnings clawback limit. She just won over $4,000 at the casino. Will this put her over the limit?

02:52 - John in Hattiesburg has been saving money in a regular savings account over the years and has about $600k piled up. How should he get this money to work?

06:42 - As Social Security has it's 84th birthday, Gregory reviews the most common questions he gets about Social Security.

15:42 - The main goal in financial planning should be happiness, not just a number on a spreadsheet. Gregory explains how his journey in learning more about enjoying food and wine has been a fun ride.

19:01 - A lot more people talk a big game about retiring abroad in some exotic location, few people actually leave, and even fewer people stay gone.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 15:08:38 +0000

03:19 - If Jay Leno can have his identity stolen, so can you. Learn some ideas on what may have happened to the former Tonight Show host, and how you might prevent something similar from happening to you. Gregory stresses the importance of setting up your account at SSA.gov.

14:34 - The Numbers: the markets started off negative, but after a list of exempt items from the upcoming China tariffs is released, the markets turned positive and stayed there.

19:38 - Steve in Houma asks Gregory how to get $20k in after-tax cash into a back door Roth IRA. Can his spouse's earned income cover his Roth contribution requirements?

25:27 - The modern job market is incredibly more fluid than what previous generations had.

33:41 - There's little concern from Gregory's side of the table over the record setting level of mortgage debt in the US. Some of it could wind up being bad news, but much of this is driven by ultra-low mortgage rates incentivizing people to take on more mortgage debt.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.12.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 13:06:11 +0000

00:47 - Get updates on James adventures in fighting his high tax assesment.

05:08 - The Numbers are red, and continue the trendline downward. China trade tensions have this market swinging like Tarzan.

14:34 - There is no role for gold to play in the 50-50-50-50 plan.

20:20 - How to know if your pension buyout lump sum is big enough.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:49:37 +0000

01:22 - Where's the yield? The stock market is trending downward for the last few weeks, bonds rates are painfully low, interests on savings accounts and CDs are microscopic... where does an investor make money in a market like this?

04:33 - Student loan debt is hindering the ability of those borrowers to save for retirement. This is especially true for parents helping adult children, but how much is too much help for your grown kids?

15:56 - Rocky in Slidell asks Gregory if he can use the Back Door Roth method to get the proceeds from the sale of a house to into a Roth IRA.

24:13 - Gregory previews his three upcoming Gregory Ricks Live events in Madisonville, Metairie, and Biloxi.

27:01 - Paul in Denham Springs has a huge IRA, and wants to convert as much of that as possible to a Roth IRA so he doesn't have to pay higher taxes down the road. Gregory says it's all about tax bracket management, and doing strategic Roth conversions over time may be the best way to minimize taxes on Roth IRA conversions.

33:15 - The Mega Back Door Roth is a way to make a massive Roth conversion from investments at your company plan or IRA, and you do not want to try and pull this off without some guidance from a financial professional.

38:50 - Mimi in Gulfport asks Gregory if her husband currently receiving a disability check from Social Security could possibly get more money by switching to spousal benefits from HER Social Security record when she turns on her benefit.

45:09 - Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard joins to show to flesh out more of how the SECURE Act could affect Financial Planning and Estate Planning. If the new law takes away the stretch option on inherited IRAs, what estate planning strategies can be used to acheive a similar goal?

49:47 - Arlette in Loranger is having issues getting Medicaid to help with her husband's long-term care costs. Their primary residence is in a revokable trust, and are being told that the structure of the trust is causing Medicaid to count those assets. Wes and Gregory suspect it may be time to revoke that trust, and get it right with a new one.

1:05:30 - Mary in Raceland is having her Social Security benefit hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision, and wants to know if her husband will be affected if he takes her spousal benefit when she passes.

1:08:11 - What happens to all of these civil lawsuits against Epstein now that he's dead? Wes Blanchard explains how the legal system handles the passing of the subject of a lawsuit.

1:18:59 - Handwritten wills are the cause of a couple of cases Wes is handling lately. People writing their own wills may be more common than you think, but the convenience and cost of doing it yourself may have a huge price to pay later.

1:27:04 - China trade tensions are driving the downward trend in the stock markets, and Gregory doesn't see a deal happening before the 2020 elections. The awful audio from Trump in front of the helicopter gives us a pretty good idea of what's coming up in trade talks.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.18.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:50:44 +0000

01:28 - The House passes the Raise the Wage Act, which would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 6 years. If it's so great, why don't they make it go into effect immediately?

03:01 - The SECURE Act is making its way through Congress, and could have two big changes to IRAs. It could push back the age for Required Minimum Distributions from 70.5 to 72, and it could end the stretch options for inherited IRAs.

06:43 - There appears to be a deal on the way to avoid a government shutdown over the debt ceiling.

12:46 - It was a good time at the last few Gregory Ricks Live events. Gregory took the Wine, Wisdom, and Food show on the road, starting at Ruth's Chris in the Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, Ruth's Chris in Metairie, and Keith Young's Steakhouse in Madisonville. Gregory raised $2,500 for the Palmer Home for Children. Wes Blanchard has an Estate Planning Lunch and Learn coming up.

23:36 - Gregory Ricks made a suggestion to Keith Young on one of his dishes at his steakhouse in Madisonville. The dish was a hit, and Gregory may have a dish named after him on the menu soon.

27:26 - The Numbers are mostly positive.

31:26 - Netflix is facing the loss of some of its top programs, and the arrival of new competition, while juggling over $10 billion in debt. Is the party over for this great company?

33:34 - What should you do if the only retirement savings you have is your 401k?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 10:44:43 +0000

Hurricane Barry moves towards Louisiana, and we welcome Bob Breck to do a couple of weather updates, along with the regular financial talk. Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard is our guest, and we take some great calls, too.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 15:54:24 +0000

04:09 - North Dakota's only billionaire started as a ranch hand in high school, became a gym teacher, got into the insurance business, and then finally rocketed to success owning motels.

12:31 - Gary in New Orleans has a great health plan with his employer. Does his wife need to sign up for Medicare if she's covered by his private health plan?

28:21 - How to turn on Medicare. When do you need to start the process? What happens if you sign up late? How does all this work?

30:43 - The Numbers were down slightly.

35:12 - Trump audio on trade deals and the Fed is pretty harsh, and give you a good idea where the economy is headed.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.06.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 13:35:15 +0000

The GRL road show: Gregory Ricks Live has upcoming events in Biloxi, Metairie, and the Northshore.

How to have a retirement if you do not have enough money saved

No really, America is #1. Hear the statistics and facts that overwhelmingly prove America truly is the best country in the world, despite the rash of attempts to make you think otherwise.

What you need to know about saving for your kids' college
Mel in Folsom asks about getting started for his younger children.

Heather in St Rose asks about 529 plans for college: the good, the bad, and the details.

Wayne in Nola asks Gregory for idea on what to do with money left at the old company plan.

Trump audio on trade deals and the Fed is pretty harsh, and give you a good idea where the economy is headed.

Solid jobs report answers some big questions about our economy

Learn the downsides to annuities. It's not just about surrender fees. There are other negative aspects of fixed annuities.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 06:17:20 +0000

The Half Episode: Gregory and James bring you on a statistical journey through the world of halves.

The Weekly Wrap: 06.22.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:51:29 +0000

03:23 - Gregory has been hosting a number of public events around the area, and is happy to announce his first event in Biloxi. Gregory Ricks Live: Wine, Wisdom, and Food, will be at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the Hard Rock Casino.

18:38 - Tom in Marrero asks Gregory's thoughts on where he can put some extra money to generate income.

38:50 - What should you do if your IRA loses money? Matt in Hammond asks Gregory if he should be concerned that his IRA lost money the last two years.

46:16 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo talks about the housing market in Dallas, the home market of our newest affiliate: 1160 KBDT Big D Talk.

50:45 - Jerome Powell, President of the Federal Reserve Bank, announces this week the federal funds rate will remain unchanged. Mortgage rates are back below 4%, and Dwayne Stein explains how some people are taking advantage.

56:46 - Adam in New Orleans locked in a mortgage rate a month ago, and rates have fallen since then. Does Dwayne know of a way he can get a lower rate now?

59:06 - Should you refinance your mortgage? William in Marrero asks Dwayne Stein if it would be worth the effort to refinance his mortgage to get a lower rate.

1:08:26 - Glenn in Kenner asks Dwayne what kind of money he could save on his monthly payment by refinancing his mortgage at a lower rate.

1:28:29 - Wanna hear a scam call? Steve, a regular listener, sends us a scam call he recorded after hearing our segment on scam calls over the weekend. The audio shows us some red flags to look for to identify a scam.

1:36:25 - Louis in Chalmette has noticed most of his portfolio is slowly shifting to cash and safety, but the markets are near all-time highs. Gregory talks about how most stocks do not beat bonds in the long term, and it looks like there's a lot of other people making a flight to safety.

1:46:07 - Are Robo Advisors a good place to start? Greg in New Orleans asks Gregory's thoughts on getting investment guidance from a Robo-Advisor service.

2:00:11 - Gregory has some help for those who got a late start saving for retirement and are playing catch up.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.21.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 21:06:19 +0000

03:28 - Zion Williamson signs with the New Orleans Pelicans, and the financial numbers behind the story are massive. He's going to lose about half of it to taxes, but it could've been worse had he been drafted to a high-tax state.

06:10 - The Numbers.

12:18 - Louis in Chalmette has noticed most of his portfolio is slowly shifting to cash and safety, but the markets are near all-time highs. Gregory talks about how most stocks do not beat bonds in the long term, and it looks like there's a lot of other people making a flight to safety.

27:14 - Hear some scam calls recorded for the show, and learn how to identify scams.

32:52 - Time travel discussion: James and Gregory ponder how far they would be willing to travel back in time, and it's really hard to go back to before 2009.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.19.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:28:32 +0000

00:55 - The Fed leaves rates unchanged, and even though many were under the impression a rate cut was coming, the markets responded positively to the news.

04:33 - The Numbers show a solid market rally for the day, with gold taking off and Treasuries going even lower. The two seem to indicate economic troubles abroad. Gregory and James discuss the mystery of the disappearing Venezuelan gold.

12:43 - An unexplained "avian incident" knocks out the majority of a 1,200 acre solar power plant in California. It was built with over a billion dollar subsidy from the taxpayers. Are we sure these green projects are really the best way to go about generating electricity?

18:27 - Harley Davidson announces a partnership with a Chinese firm to produce a line of smaller lower-priced motorcycles to appeal to poorer markets around the world. Gregory is skeptical something like that could work here in the United States.

25:20 - Wanna hear a scam call? Steve, a regular listener, sends us a scam call he recorded after hearing our segment on scam calls over the weekend. The audio shows us some red flags to look for to identify a scam.

32:20 - Is now a good time to buy gold? Gregory reacts to a blog post from ZeroHedge.com making the bullish case for gold.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.17.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:34:19 +0000

01:04 - How do you grade your 401k's performance? Just checking your 401k balance isn't enough to know whether or not your 401k investments are doing well, because it often includes your contributions mixed in with the returns. Gregory has some guidance on how to evaluate your accounts, and see if adjustments need to be made.

13:41 - What should you do if your IRA loses money? Matt in Hammond asks Gregory if he should be concerned that his IRA lost money the last two years.

17:38 - How much risk is right for your IRA? Lynn in New Orleans asks Gregory how aggressive she should be about high risk investment options in her IRA.

27:07 - The Numbers were positive across all indicies on the Numbers Page. Oil news still getting heavy attention. The Fed meeting on Wednesday has a big share of the attention from Wall St, too.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.15.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 22:10:46 +0000

00:59 - Tax cheats in the news are a good reminder that you should do everything you can do to keep your tax bill as low as possible, but DON'T BREAK THE LAW. Many of these stories involve the self-employed, because their tax compliance isn't as simple as a those who are a W2 employee.

04:47 - The attacks on oil tankers in the Straight of Hormuz have some folks pointing fingers at Iran, but the oil markets don't really seem to be phased by it.

14:32 - This week saw a great turnout for the Lunch and Learn event on Reverse Mortgages hosted by Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com. There was also a Wine, Wisdom, and Food event hosted by Gregory Ricks this week, and Gregory gives us a recap of what went down.

23:11 - This week marks the 9th anniversary of Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks. We revisit some classic calls and segments from years past to show how solid financial advice can be timeless.

34:26 - A proposal to pay off $50k of student loan debt for anyone in a household making under $100k a year has so many obvious problems, it's amazingly disappointing that anyone would support this.

44:30 - Jude Heath CPA helps us discuss how those who are W2 employees can be more tax efficient.

55:43 - Matthew in Bush asks if he can delay paying his payroll taxes until the end of the year, and invest that money in the meantime. Gregory explains why a W2 employee probably can't, and a self-employed person probably doesn't want to, either.

1:06:18 - What to do if you lose your tax breaks. Brian in Metairie has been reclassified from a 1099 contractor to an employee, thus losing a big chunk of tax write offs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.12.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:33:03 +0000

05:14 - Kelvin in Kiln asks Gregory to clarify how an annuity works, because he's heard two different things. Both are correct, because there's several kinds of annuities, and Gregory breaks down the differences.

26:14 - Matthew in Bush asks if he can delay paying his payroll taxes until the end of the year, and invest that money in the meantime. Gregory explains why a W2 employee probably can't, and a self-employed person probably doesn't want to, either.

30:37 - When to sell your rental properties in retirement. Anthony in Albany is wondering how much of a financial hit he will take if he sells his rental properties.

38:31 - What to do if you lose your tax breaks. Brian in Metairie has been reclassified from a 1099 contractor to an employee, thus losing a big chunk of tax write offs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.01.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 22:27:44 +0000

01:32 - Out of the years you plan to spend in retirement, how many of them will you still have the energy to do activities requiring some level of physical fitness? The earlier you retire, the more "energy years" you will have, and they require a different financial approach. Rambo 5 is coming out, and Stallone is 72 years old.

12:32 - Tariffs dominate the financial headline this week, with the trade war with China causing tremors on Wall Street, paired with Trump announcing new tariffs on Mexico's imports to the US until the illegal immigration situation improves.

20:25 - After China's threat to withhold rare Earth minerals from the US as a part of the ongoing trade dispute, a rare Earth processing facility is already in the works in Texas, making it the only rare Earth processing plant outside China.

32:29 - Gregory Ricks and Associates are sponsoring a private party with a rising star in Country Music: Dylan Scott. Dylan Scott will play a solo acoustic set on the rooftop of the NOPSI Hotel in downtown New Orleans with some love from the iHeartRadio Country stations WNOE and WYNK.

34:50 - Frank in Baton Rouge asks Gregory how his wife's Social Security benefits could be affected by her teacher's pension from the State? It sounds like she will fall under the Windfall Elimination Provision, and Gregory gives some guidance on how some people are able to avoid having their Social Security trimmed because of a public pension.

45:34 - Trump gives the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Economist Art Laffer. He is the creator of the Laffer curve explaining the relationship between tax rates and tax revenue, and is sometimes referring to as the Father of Supply Side Economics.

55:09 - A recent survey looks at the financial prioroties of Millenials. While Millenials are doing slightly better about retirement savings than previous generations at the same age, saving for a new home and paying off debt are a higher concern.

1:01:24 - Chase in Gulfport has $2,000 in extra income monthly to invest. Should he pay down his mortgage with that money, or is there better options? Gregory asks a few questions, and has some powerful investing options for that money, maybe even using a 7702 plan.

1:15:55 - Retirees are far more likely to wear comfortable shoes on a daily basis. You can binge watch a show until 4am if you're retired. There's a ton of small lifestyle changes that can really make retirement wonderful, but that's only if you have your finances in order.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.30.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 31 May 2019 18:49:24 +0000

00:58 - Because of the different tax rates between California and Texas, Chris Paul brings home more money than Steph Curry, despite having a gross salary that's $2 million less.

04:31 - The Numbers were mostly positive, but it's hard to get too excited considering the general trend is still down for the last 5 weeks or so.

14:02 - Uber releases its first quarterly earning report since going public, and they nailed the analysts' expectations with a $1 billion loss for the quarter. The report also gives us a first glimpse into some stats about Uber that were previously not in the public domain before the IPO. Uber Eats accounts for about a sixth of Uber's revenue, and we also learned Uber Freight could be a big part of the business going forward.

24:41 - Trump announces new tariffs for Mexico, starting at 5% on all goods that come across the Mexican border, until the illegal immigration avalanche is stopped. The tarrifs will tick up another 5% each month until it either reaches 25% in October, or the Mexican government is demonstrably stopping these illegal immigrant caravans.

33:18 - Kevin in Mobile is a younger guy (32) putting away some money in a 401k, but what else should he being doing to save and invest for retirement? Gregory encourages Kevin to keep finding ways to save more money, and start seeking some diversity in how those savings will be taxed.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:51:33 +0000

02:57 - Gregory was right to curb your enthusiasm about the Uber IPO. The ride-sharing giant opened on the stock market with a small loss. Uber is losing tons of money, and has no plans on turning a profit anytime soon. Gregory and James speculate on the future of Uber, and how various disruptions coming to their business model make this an incredibly risky investment.

12:27 - Should you take Social Security early? Probably not, but there are a few situaions where turning on your benefit early makes sense.

33:12 - Keith in River Ridge asks about how deferring turning on his Social Security affects his situation. Various factors including your employment situation, marital status, and health issues should factor into your decision on whether to defer taking Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.09.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 10 May 2019 17:17:13 +0000

01:17 - An update on the upcoming Uber IPO. This is the IPO with the largest operating loss in history, beating the record set earlier this year by Lyft. Having a record of consistently hemmoraging money isn't enough to scare off investors, even though IPOs haven't been very succesful lately.

13:35 - The Numbers were red all of the way around. More spooked selling from China talks, Uber

24:05 - If you're getting a late start in saving for retirement, the important thing is to start somewhere, even if you have to start small.

33:21 - Gregory talks about some upcoming events, and focuses on legacy planning and tax planning for those reaching for that next level of financial planning.

38:17 - A pair of Senators announce a plan to cap credit card interest at 15%. While their hearts are in the right place, their economics is not. Price controls will inevitably have some negative unintended consequences, such as forcing cost to go up elsewhere or supply shortages. Higher fees and tightening of credit standards will not help the people they intend to protect.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 09 May 2019 19:17:12 +0000

03:25 - The Numbers were mixed, but more red than green across the short sheet. China trade talks are getting much of the attention, and there's some excitement about the upcoming Uber IPO.

09:35 - Gregory shares his thoughts on what's really going on with the trade negotiations between the US and China. Depending on what kind of deal gets done, this can market our markets blast off, or grind into a slowdown.

24:43 - Why you may want to avoid the Uber IPO. Gregory gives an excitement crushing preview of the Uber IPO.

35:48 - The federal student loan forgiveness program isn't so forgiving. Out of over 73,000 applicants to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, only 864 have been approved.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 May 2019 16:37:55 +0000

00:54 - The markets were spooked by news the US-China trade talks have taken a big step back, with new tarrifs looming.

03:24 - Are Mining and Precious Metal investments a good idea? Alan in Gulfport asks Gregory his thoughts on where the mining industry is headed, because he is testing an investment option in his company's 401k.

06:52 - Doug on the Northshore heard a rumor that taking military retirement early could get you a bonus from Social Security. Doug also asks if he needs to turn on Social Security benefits a month before he retires.

12:47 - Rochelle in Hammond has nothing saved at age 50, and is self employed. How can she make up for getting a late start saving for retirement?

23:12 - Ryan in Biloxi asks Gregory how much Social Security benefits grow as you defer.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 05.06.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 May 2019 15:59:29 +0000

01:13 - Gregory returns from his vacation with tales of adventures in Milan, Italy and in Austin at the iHeartCountry Festival. The food and wine experience in Italy is noticably different, especially considering dinner takes 2-3 hours most days.

14:23 - Gregory shares some of the ways Italy has a different mindset on economic issues like taxes and manufacturing.

19:17 - Gerard in New Orleans wants to turn on Social Security early, continue to work, and save some money from the dual income for retirement. Gregory warns early Social Security benefits may be subjected to a clawback based on your income, and the math frowns upon locking in a lower monthly benefit for life. If Social Security is your only plan, deferring to age 70 is probably your best bet.

34:02 - Gregory ranks the musical artists from the iHeartCountry Fest in Austin. The iHeartCountry event is now Gregory's favorite concert of the year for the last 3 years in a row.

38:13 - The numbers behind the Kentucky Derby scandal shows how millions of dollars were hanging in the balance for so many people. The unprecedented disqualification was financially massive.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.23.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:28:44 +0000

01:11 - The annual Social Security projection have been updated, and funds are now expected to run out in 2035. Gregory expects there to be changes to the program before benefits get cut, probably increasing the taxes, and maybe even raising the retirement age. James hopes for privatization.

19:27 - Are you doing better financially than the average American? Compare yourself to the average American on 10 different financial statistics.

37:38 - The Numbers are fantastic. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ hit an all-time record close, and earnings season is generally positive

44:37 - The second richest guy in Japan may have just lost $130 million messing around with Bitcoin.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.22.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 22:27:02 +0000

01:27 - Real Estate sales have slowed for the first quarter, but Gregory reminds you how often a sluggish home market isn't a sign of a slowing economy. The real effect on you as you are approaching retirement is the ability to strike a good deal on your retirement home.

16:00 - The Numbers are mixed, with Trump's repeal of Iran sanction waivers rocking the oil market and getting the biggest headlines.

25:27 - Gregory shares a study concluding there's 3 main things that make you happy in retirement. Having money is number one, not necessarily because money makes you happy, but a lack of money can make you miserable. A happy marriage and social life are also big contributers.

37:23 - When people complain Amazon made tons of money, but didn't pay any federal corporate taxes, remember there's lots of companies who pay zero in taxes. Usually, there's a very reasonable explanation, and you should embracing different tax strategies to see if minimizing taxes works for you.

43:22 - John in Metairie asks Gregory: What do I do with these old paper savings bonds?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 04.20.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 20:51:28 +0000

00:58 - Gregory and James do a brief summary of the major topics to be covered on today's show. Real Estate, reducing your tax bills, reverse mortgages, Social Security planning.

02:33 - A recent survey shows 42% of college graduates say their degree wasn't worth the cost.

12:42 - More Americans these days are enjoying an encore career in retirement. Sometimes it's for the money, sometimes it's for enjoyment, but it can cause a few negatives. An encore retirement can bump up your tax bracket, cause your medicare premiums to increase, be subjected to an earnings clawback from early Social Security, and other issues.

27:03 - Gregory's skeptical of a survey that claims a majority of American support Medicare for all. But when you ask them if they would support Medicare for all if it caused an increase in taxes or slower service, support collapses.

43:47 - Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo says the falling interest rates have given home purchases a bit of a boost, but overall this is turning into a buyer's market.

53:25 - If you want to learn more about Reverse Mortgages, Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein are presenting a Lunch and Learn teaching you about reverse mortgages and answering your questions.

1:14:15 - Calvin in New Orleans asks Gregory how to max out his Social Security benefits for the disabled.

1:16:18 - Dwayne Stein sees student loan debt causing big problems for some people trying to get into a mortgage.

1:30:31 - James saw a robot at a Walmart in Kenner taking inventory, and just like that: the robot era is upon us.

1:34:29 - Sharon in Picayune asks Gregory about starting Roth contributions.

1:36:59 - Carrie on the Northshore is thinking about stopping her 401k contributions, and diverting that money to paying off her mortgage before she retires. Gregory asks some follow up questions, and thinks getting rid of that monthly mortgage payment makes a huge difference on whether or not she can comfortably retire.

1:43:28 - Gregory shares some concerning stats on home repos, and shares some concerns about the sneaky comeback of subprime mortgages. What could possibly go wrong?

1:45:10 - Do stocks beat bonds? Gregory looks at some decisive data.

1:52:13 - Martha in Long Beach inherited part of an aunt's trust. How are you taxed on money from an inherited trust? Gregory explains some of the more common ways you can receive assets from a trust, and how they may be exposed to the tax man.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.18.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 20:40:31 +0000

01:39 - Gregory has some core rules for maximizing your Social Security benefit. Several factors go into your check amount, and Gregory breaks down how work credits and your starting age figure into your benefit.

04:52 - Initial jobless claims just set ANOTHER 50 year record low for the second week in a row. We haven't had this few people signing up for unemployment since before we landing on the moon.

13:11 - Political bickering over the Mueller report doesn't seem to have much of an effect on the markets, and clears the way for growth.

19:13 - How much money should you have saved by the time you're 40? 50? 60? One rule of thumb claims you should have 10 times your income by retirement age. Gregory thinks that may be a little low.

21:55 - Gregory answers questions from the comment cards at a previous Gregory Ricks Live, including how widows benefits work.

32:15 - Emily in New Orleans asks if she can continue to receive Social Security benefits from an ex's record if she gets remarried.

38:16 - David in Laffite asks if his mom could maybe get a larger benefit from Social Security by switching to her deceased spouse's record.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.17.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 19:54:32 +0000

01:08 - Gregory Ricks Live was last night at Keith Young's in Madisonville, and the place was packed, with a great response.

12:19 - More people are forced to retire earlier than expected, than forced to work longer than expected. How can you be prepared to retire before your preferred retirement timeline? The evolving job market also makes it easier for displaced workers to find a quick gig.

21:21 - New Mexico has the highest percentage of new residents from out of state who stated they are moving because of retirement.

28:14 - Gregory answers questions from the comment cards at a previous Gregory Ricks Live.

39:10 - Art in New Orleans asks Gregory's thoughts on some bond market strategies.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.15.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 19:20:55 +0000

01:23 - The financial side of Tiger Woods' amazing comeback win at the Masters begins with a dazzling $2.07 million first prize, and the guys that miss the cut get $10,000. Gregory reveals Augusta National has been on a property-buying spree in their area and may have big plans for development.

12:32 - It's Tax Day! Today is an ideal time to remember to plan for tax diversity in your retirement plans. About 50 million people are filing for an extension on their taxes. Roth is a good start, and there's other avenues to creating tax-free income streams.

22:43 - New home construction is far from it's peak before the real estate bubble popped in 2008.

26:59 - James has a list of the most common ways people fib on resumes.

34:56 - Notre Dame burns. It's not really a financial topic, but when a 900 year old historic cathedral burns, it's worth a mention.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 04.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 21:57:58 +0000

01:20 - Wes Blanchard is the Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority. Gregory and Wes have a live event coming up in Madisonville this Tuesday at Keith Young's steakhouse.

05:34 - Wes Blanchard shares some of the pitfalls of dealing with Usufruct and Naked Ownership. He has seen people try and use Usufruct to settle property disputed upon death, only to have it put the parties in direct conflict. They could even be in conflicts with ducks.

34:31 - Eagle in West Monroe asks Wes how using usufruct can affect property values.

39:38 - A woman buys her son a house, and now that he's getting a divorce, does he have to split it with the wife?

46:14 - Tim in New Orleans picks Gregory's brain on how he should structure the business and ownership of a new piece of commercial property using a 1031 Exchange to defer taxes.

54:11 - Eloise in Covington questions if she will be hit by the Windfall Elimination Provision given her substantial work record in the private sector.

57:24 - Gregory has a book he wants to give you to change your thinking about how to save for retirement.

1:08:27 - Do you have to move your 401k when you retire? Ricky in Houma and his wife are both close to retirement and both have money in their company's 401k. Do they leave it there when they retire, or do they have to move it to an outside account?

1:12:36 - Ryan in New Orleans asks if his annual pay raise should go into his 401k.

1:14:33 - Marco in New Orleans has contributions to a pension plan from his old job that he needs to put somewhere. Gregory is leaning to toward a rollover IRA, but Marco is thinking about using that money to get into real estate.

1:19:14 - Ty in Metairie has money in a 403b from a previous employer, and asks Gregory his thoughts about rolling that money into a Roth IRA. How is that money passed along after death?

1:22:20 - Byron in Hammond had a dispute on his tax return 5 years ago, and hasn't filed a return since. Gregory urges Byron to get a CPA that specializes in dealing with unfiled returns, and remedy this situation immediately.

1:29:47 - Mike in Metairie shares some issues he stumble across during the process of signing up for Medicare.

1:37:31 - John in New Orleans hears pitches for investment tools that promise a 30% bonues credit just for signing up. Gregory says sometimes salesmen can be a little misleading by not stressing the difference between the account value and the income basis.

2:00:11 - Mike in Kenner is on the military healthcare program Tricare, and will be transitioning to Medicare soon. Gregory gives him an idea of what he can expect.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.12.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 21:21:22 +0000

05:15 - Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter, only eats one meal per day. We've noticed hyper successful people tend to have unusual daily habits.

13:53 - Gregory has a book he wants to give you to change your thinking about how to save for retirement.

17:06 - Are you saving money the right way?

21:11 - Be careful about mixing pre-tax money in your retirement savings with after-tax contributions. It's often impossible to separate those assets back out once they've been mixed.

23:19 - James and Gregory explore the crashing of US Steel, aka Steelmageddon.

26:10 - Gregory decodes some of the difficulties of having adequate healthcare coverage in retirement.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.11.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 19:13:49 +0000

01:15 - Uber's IPO has been dominating a big chunk of the financial headlines these days. IPOs are generally too risky to recommend for a client, but we certainly get a healthy crop of questions about high-profile IPOs.

04:47 - A somewhat familiar idea resurfaces: How about the IRS does some people's taxes for them? The idea has support on both sides of the aisle, and the it appears to fit Gregory's observation that the tax system is evolving toward a flat tax.

11:01 - Gregory is not amused by the wacky commercials for the Ron Burgundy Podcast from iHeartRadio. James is a fan of Will Ferrell, but not so much the commercials.

20:45 - Gregory has a book he wants to give you about creating tax-free income streams in retirement. James and Gregory review some of the upcoming Gregory Ricks Live events including a new Lunch & Learn focused on reverse mortgages.

29:13 - The Federal Reserve says they are still open to raising rates before the end of the year. Gregory thinks a rate hike could happen.

33:23 - A caller asks if she had enough of an earnings record to be exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 04:16:32 +0000

01:30 - Gregory reads the tea leaves from the new Fed nominee Stephen Moore interview on Maria Bartiromo's show.

03:05 - If you have unfiled taxes, you will not get a return if it's more than 3 years late.

14:54 - Are more people willing to ditch their house in retirement for an RV?

23:32 - Fixed annuities can be a good solution for the investor who is risk averse.

29:25 - Randoplh in Gretna asks Gregory's thoughts on Indexed Universal Life Insurance policies.

37:33 - Carol in New Orleans is 29 and new to investing, and asks Gregory's thoughts on how to get started on the right track. Gregory stresses the importance of starting with an emergency fund, and then lays out a few options for getting additional savings to work.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 17:04:25 +0000

1:28 - James is a little too excited about the new self-ordering kiosks at a nearby Taco Bell. Businesses are embracing new technology to help enhance the customer experience, or getting left behind. The self-order process feels less rushed than ordering in person or in the drive through.

12:09 - Are you financially smarter than a teenager? Hear Angie answer an 8 question quiz on financial basics that half of teenagers failed.

21:23 - Half of Americans don't work, and half of workers don't pay taxes. Taxes are going up in the future, and it's hard to see how the overwhelming majority of voters who don't pay taxes would support changes to such a sweet deal.

24:14 - Eddie in Thibodaux bought a little condo for his daughter's college housing, and now that she's gone, it's time to sell.

31:11 - Is your financial advisor covering all areas of your finances? Gregory explains the wide range of what a financial advisor should be covering, and where he often sees what others miss.

37:11 - Darrell in Laplace is inheriting a share of his mom's IRA. Does he have to pay a penalty on withdrawals before a certain age? How is it taxed?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 04.06.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 02:12:46 +0000

01:37 - We review a few proposed rule changes for IRAs, 401ks, and 529s. The changes are aimed at nudging more small businesses and individuals to put away retirement savings, but not all of them are good ideas.

06:10 - When is it OK to buy a second home? Is it too risky to be paying on two mortgages at the same time? Should you wait until your primary residence is paid off? Gregory explains how overcoming all of these risks is based on your margin.

13:51 - Mosquito Joe has done an impressive job keeping Gregory's yard bug free. It's nice to not have to bug bites or fool with bug spray anymore.

18:29 - Lee in Slidell has two homes and just got an RV. Will he owe any capital gains taxes if he sells his primary residence and moves into his second home?

32:33 - Required Minimum Distributions can cause other problems. The income increase can cause your Medicare premiums

42:39 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, is in the fourth quarter of tax season, and has an accountant's view on these giant sports contracts.

1:06:50 - Gregory is amused about how Michael Avenatti's arrest has uncovered a bold disregard for tax law for a guy who is thrusting himself into the spotlight.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.04.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:07:10 +0000

01:02 - A report says 70% of lottery winners blow through the money in 5 years or less, and the size of the pot doesn't seem to affect the timeline much. Gregory helps people turn their lump sums of cash into income that won't run out. Sometimes it's from a pile of inherited money, the selling of the family business, or a few decades of IRA contributions.

22:53 - Gregory's next live event is coming up April 16 at Keith Young's in Madisonville: Wine, Wisdom, and Food. If you've been thinking about getting help managing your investments, maybe it's time we talked about it over a wine and food pairing hand picked by Gregory.

26:52 - What can Social Security do for you after you die? Gregory goes over how the rules work for Social Security benefits for a surviving spouse, surviving ex-spouse, minor children, and others.

33:36 - Does a foreign citizen spouse get to receive spousal benefits from Social Security? Glenn in New Orleans has a wife from the U.K. and asks Gregory if she will qualify for spousal and survivor benefits based off of Glenn's record. He also asks about being hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.02.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:23:38 +0000

01:01 - The Brexit deal drags on with Theresa May asking for another extension. The UK economy seems to be resistant to the chaos.

05:42 - Mike Tyson sold a house to 50 cent, and 50 cent just sold it for a loss. Real estate deals should meet a number of criteria before you jump into a huge deal like that.

13:27 - Don in Mandeville

24:02 - Several pieces of legislation have been filed to reform retirement savings. One proposal would extend the IRA contributions and RMDs to age 72. There's another attempt at helping small businesses pool their retirement benefits, and expand 529 accounts to include more than just college.

35:27 - Gregory has a book he wants to give you to help you understand different ways to create passive income streams for retirement.

39:43 - Bitcoin is up quite a bit since the beginning of the year, but still miles away from its record high back in December 2017.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 04.01.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 14:04:00 +0000

01:11 - The number of Americans showing signs of burnout is at a record high. Gregory shares some of the ways he handles the high demands of a hectic schedule.

11:28 - Mosquito Joe has done an impressive job keeping Gregory's yard bug free. It's nice to not have to bug bites or fool with bug spray anymore.

13:32 - There's 3 things about Social Security people don't commonly know, and they are unhappy to find out.

23:44 - Byron in the Bourge has a new granddaughter, and wants to start saving up some money monthly for her. Should he buy stocks, or mutual funds, or what?

30:14 - Heather in Tyler got a call from her bank saying someone tried to use her Social Security number and make a withdrawal. Now that her Social Security number has been compromised, what can she do going forward?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.25.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 22:56:32 +0000

01:04 - The next Gregory Ricks Live event is going to be on the Northshore in Madisonville at Keith Young's. It's been a while since Gregory has hosted an event on the Northshore, and it's good to have an office in Mandeville as well.

13:30 - As if Michael Avenatti wasn't already questionable enough, he's been arrested and charged with extorting Nike.

16:17 - No, you probably shouldn't dip into your 401k or IRA early. The math is just too ugly.

24:24 - Smitty in Gretna asks Gregory about taking a loan from his 401k, putting it in his HSA, and taking the additional tax savings. Smitty says he does the math and it may be enough savings to cover the loan.

36:53 - Mike Trout signs a $430 million contract to play with the Angels. If he had signed with a team not from California, it would've saved him a small fortune in taxes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.23.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:31:11 +0000

01:09 - Volvo is making a car that detects if you are drunk, and will take over if you are too wasted to drive safely.

08:30 - Matthew in Metairie asks what happens if Boeing goes bankrupt. Gregory and James agree that's it's highly unlikely the problems with their latest model could bankrupt Boeing.

19:09 - A survey shows Americans are doing better with their retirement savings over the last 5 years.

23:13 - Gregory explains who could benefit by coming to his Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience at Keith Young's in Madisonville.

28:24 - Whether you know it or not, we are all money managers. Gregory says it starts with creating some margin (having more income that outflow), and that's where savings begin.

43:25 - Caller of the Week: Larry in Metairie asks the pros and cons of an annuity. Larry is coming into a lump sum of money, and wants to invest it somewhere safe. Fixed annuities may be a good fit, but not for the whole pile.

50:14 - Trump's interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business has some interesting financial clips, and we get Gregory's response on GDP growth, trade negotiations, Federal Reserve rate hikes, and where the economy is headed.

1:05:07 - What percentage of popular cars are made in America? The Mustang is Ford's last car model, because it makes money. The driving public is all about trucks, SUVs, vans, and crossovers.

1:26:48 - The rules on pension buyout offers have been relaxed. How do you know if a pension buyout is a good deal?

1:29:02 - Bill in Gulfport asks for Gregory's advice on how to best save some money for his newborn great grandson. Gregory walks Bill through the options.

1:33:18 - Two big reasons you need sign up for your account on SSA.gov.

1:47:34 - Caller of the Week: Mike in Laplace asks Gregory how so many public pensions can be so generous and so underfunded all the time.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.21.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 04:17:02 +0000

02:06 - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announces they will not be raising rates, and hints there may be no more rate hikes this year. We're not so sure that's a good sign. The Bond Yield Curve is inverting. We're not so sure that's a bad sign.

06:54 - Gregory has been giving a book away for the last couple months, and someone who read the book came to the office with the ideas he learned. He was pretty excited about creating a tax free income stream.

12:35 - The rules on pension buyout offers have been relaxed, so Gregory explains how to gauge if your lump sum offer is a good deal compared to the monthly check.

17:25 - Mike in Laplace asks Gregory how so many public pensions can be so generous and so underfunded all the time.

24:01 - Larry in Metairie asks the pros and cons of an annuity. Larry is coming into a lump sum of money, and wants to invest it somewhere safe. Fixed annuities may be a good fit, but not for the whole pile.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.16.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 23:33:08 +0000

01:02 - Reverse Mortgage commercials look so shady. There's a reason for that, and Gregory uncovers what the late night commercials won't tell you. Gregory shares the story of a self-employed couple thinking about using a reverse mortgage to make their monthly house payment go away when they wind down their business.

13:33 - Louisiana double-paid some state tax refunds. Around 67,000 tax filers were processed twice, and the state is going to be wanting that money back.

22:15 - Caller of the Week: Doug in Covington is turning on his Social Security retirement benefit a couple years early. How much will it be taxed? What's the earnings limit before the clawback kicks in?

32:51 - Mini Man in Algiers asks how the tax credit on electric car purchases work.

43:29 - Carl in Clinton asks Gregory about some questionable info on Social Security he saw online. Are there any special forms you can ask for to get more money?

49:02 - When a health scare happens, what should you do for estate planning? Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority, hears the story of a friend of the show who may have ALS.

53:54 - Al in River Ridge wants to know how to maximize his Social Security benefits with his wife. He has a federal pension, but may be exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

1:04:57 - Steve in Hammond has a pretty good sized 403b, and wants to turn it into an income stream. Can he half-retire, continue to work part time, and turn on Social Security early, and have enough?

1:16:07 - George in Biloxi asks if there's a clawback on earnings if he turns on his Social Security early.

1:27:32 - John in Biloxi worked most of his life in the private sector, and now has a job that doesn't pay into the Social Security system. If he already has enough credits into Social Security, could he still be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision on his retirement benefit?

1:35:58 - Rick in Gulfport asks Gregory if he should keep his annuity, or sell it and get back into equities?

1:55:20 - Americans are far more honest on their taxes than some other countries.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 22:10:26 +0000

01:51 - Who need tax planning the most? Self-employed, small business owners, those with side jobs, and high-income earners need to have tax planning the most. Gregory stresses that you have to take action to make this happen. Come to Gregory Rick's Lunch and Learn on Tax Planning March 25.

12:07 - Boeing's new 737 Max 8s are grounded, and Gregory compares the evolution of airplanes to the evolution of cars.

18:56 - The United States has more Millionaires than Sweden has people.

23:33 - The financial story behind the NFL offseason free agency is who has cap space to go buy some talent, and who's is so financially strapped they won't be able to resign the talent they have?

32:39 - We review the discussion with Jude Heath CPA on the Weekly Wrap: Are you a Independent Contractor or an employee? We look at how the IRS defines the difference between a company's employee that gets a W2, and a contractor who gets a 1099.

38:32 - Denise in Algiers is waiting until age 70 to turn on Social Security to get the max benefit. Does she have to go in after her birthday, or can she set this up in advance, and what gets her the max benefit?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 18:11:11 +0000

01:27 - The FAA has grounded the new Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 model planes. In the aftermath of this week's crash in Ethiopia, Boeing lost around $25 billion in market value, and if some of these airlines cancel their orders for future Max 8/9s, Boeing is in real trouble.

13:16 - Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was on 60 Minutes, and we can't figure out why. The questions were overwhelmingly negative, and this new idea that the Federal Reserve Chairman should be chatting it up on TV is a bit reckless.

17:38 - The latest Brexit deal failed to pass, and the audio from the UK Parliament is unusually rowdy compared to what we see in our Congress.

25:54 - Doug in Covington is turning on his Social Security retirement benefit a couple years early. How much will it be taxed? What's the earnings limit before the clawback kicks in?

36:44 - Gregory and James discuss online banking security tips.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.09.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:34:17 +0000

01:26 - We preview the tax topics on the agenda for our guest: Jude Heath CPA of the Total Wealth Authority. How to avoid an audit, the UK is losing billionaires, Sweden is trying to pass a big tax cut, and the State of New York is auditing all wealthy people who move to Florida. Gregory also talks about tax incentives vs rax credits.

13:09 - You may want to be at Gregory's next Wine, Wisdom, and Food experience at Ruth's Chris on March 19th. If you've been piling up assets, and want to know how to get as much out of your investments as possible, learn how Gregory could help you get there. Are you working with the right person to take you into the next phase?

25:37 - Sometimes, delaying Social Security to get the max benefit isn't the best plan. Gregory details a retiring couple's situation, and how delaying Social Security to age 70 isn't supported by the math.

32:59 - Caller of the Week: Cody from Livingston Parish asks Gregory if his military retirement package will have any negative affect on his Social Security retirement benefits. Cody may be in the clear, but his mom may be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision.

37:21 - Gregory elaborates on the discovery processes he uses to learn about his clients, and topics he prefers to cover in a first meeting: income planning, investment planning, tax planning, healthcare, and legacy planning.

44:03 - Jan in Marrero asks Gregory if the retirement pension check she receives from her deceased ex-spouse's railroad pension, will her Social Security retirement benefit be affected?

46:03 - Cindy in Gulfport asks Gregory what will happen if she delays turning on her Social Security survivor's benefits for a year.

51:57 - David in Hammond wants to know if he can roll his wife's pension buyout lump sum into an IRA or something to manage the tax hit. Gregory and Jude see this often, and help David understand what the process will be like.

57:32 - The State of New York has a task force that audits high-income earners who leave the state to make sure they really ARE moving their primary residence elsewhere.

1:05:15 - Gregory and Jude discuss the consequences the UK is facing since they passed massive taxes on their ultra-wealthy. About a third of the UK's billionaires have left the country. If James were to become ultra-wealthy, where should he move?

1:14:05 - Are you a Independent Contractor or an employee? We look at how the IRS defines the difference between a company's employee that gets a W2, and a contractor who gets a 1099.

1:26:24 - Financial News: The unemployment rate ticked down to 3.8% last month, while wage growth shot up 3%. Meanwhile in Europe, their economies are stalled, and they are ramping up some stimilus packages. When Hannity and Elizabeth Warren agree to break up the big tech companies, you know it's a bad idea.

1:38:34 - James checks the definition of Retirement on Wikipedia, and Gregory picks it apart.

1:48:57 - Fred in New Orleans has a financial guy that steers him away from annuities. Gregory points out that many brokers can't sell fixed annuities, and Fred may be missing out on getting investments on a less-risky path.

1:57:03 - Freddie in Metairie has a newborn baby, and wants Gregory's thoughts on saving for college with a 529 Plan. Gregory explains the basics on a 529, but also shares some strong reasons why using a Roth account for higher education could be a better deal.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 03.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 22:23:22 +0000

01:09 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is March 19, and it's always more popular when the markets are going a little haywire. Reserve your seat for our wine, wisdom, and food experience and find out if you should be working with Gregory Ricks and Associates.

03:17 - While things have been humming along just fine over here in the US, Europe's economic growth is almost at a stand still. It doesn't help us much if they can't keep up.

06:04 - After jacking up taxes on the ultra-wealthy, about a third of the UK's billionaires have left the country. It had 93, but 28 have chosen to move, with 10 going to Monaco. In the US, the ultra wealthy are most attracted to New York and Miami.

13:33 - Cody from Livingston Parish asks Gregory if his military retirement package will have any negative affect on his Social Security retirement benefits. Cody may be in the clear, but his mom may be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision.

23:18 - Sometimes, delaying Social Security to get the max benefit isn't the best plan. Gregory details a retiring couple's situation, and how delaying Social Security to age 70 isn't supported by the math.

32:10 - Gregory talks about some of the ways people can use deferred compensation to save big money on their taxes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 03.02.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 23:09:37 +0000

00:48 - It's Mardi Gras weekend in New Orleans, and the city is in near chaos. Many businesses are closed, roads are blocked off, and there's people in the streets far more than usual.

02:57 - An Isreali-made lunar probe is heading to the moon after being sent into space by a Space X rocket. It's quite a historic leap for private-sector space exploration, and a win for Elon Musk. There's another Space X test flight that just docked to the International Space Station.

07:45 - The first Gregory Ricks Lunch and Learn on Estate Planning was a success, and we already have the overflow crowd with the reservations half-full for next month's luncheon.

12:45 - Gregory is offering a free book for those serious about investing for retirement, with a focus on creating tax free income streams.

36:42 - Gregory reports on the waiting lists for surgery in UK, and our country's healthcare would have similar issues if we nationalized healthcare as well. Couple that with free education promises, and there's no way we can afford these programs without severe negative consequences.

43:37 - The GDP growth for the full year of 2018 is 2.9%. Gregory gives his thoughts on where economic growth is headed in the future.

1:04:50 - The new Northshore office of Gregory Ricks and Associates is already a busy location for both new and current clients.

1:06:17 - We review the caller of the week from the Winning at Life Daily Wrap: Paige in Thibodaux asks Gregory about the changes in her usual tax write offs.

1:18:31 - Staying at Holiday Inn as your primary residence doesn't sound like such a crazy idea after reading yet another profile on a retired couple that bounces from town to town using this method. There may be over 100,000 people doing this these days.

1:24:10 - A proposed wealth tax looks like a policy that has been tryied by a dozen countries in Europe, with 8 of them repealing it as a failed policy.

1:29:05 - We review a call from John in Jackson: what's Gregory's thoughts on using assets to pay off my mortgage early?

1:33:48 - James shares a report on big name retailers closing stores: Foot Locker, JC Penny, Victoria Secret, and the Gap. Between the four of them, they will close 465 stores in the near future. There's going to be some openings at the mall.

1:37:37 - Dell in Brandon asks Gregory about how to handle the Required Minimum Distribution on an Inhreited IRA from her mom.

1:43:09 - Gregory reviews 5 financial trends that could affect how you invest. What if a medical issue forces an early retirement?

1:54:59 - The IRS aggregates all traditional IRAs to determine the taxes on your distributions. If you have a mix of deductible contributions and after-tax money, your tax exposure is pro-rated to the aggregate percentage of each.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.26.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 23:55:45 +0000

01:36 - Yesterday was the first Gregory Ricks Live Lunch and Learn focused on the topic of Estate Planning, and it was a packed event with an overflow crowd already signed up for the next Estate Planning event scheduled for next month. Gregory explains how the different parts of Medicare work.

14:34 - The core question for Estate Planning is: if something happens to you, are your affairs going to be handled in the way that's best for your family? Will your assets be handled the way YOU want?

18:42 - Gregory talks about the process of keeping up with all of these financial disciplines including Estate Planning, Social Security rules, Medicare updates, IRAs, and tax strategies. It involves reading books, studying at conferences, and being constantly faced with unique situations from clients.

24:15 - One of the most common curve balls thrown at a financial plan is being forced to retire early.

27:42 - We review our favorite call from Saturday's Weekly Wrap: Matthew in Metairie calls in for help from Gregory. His wife was locked out of her Social Security account after getting tripped up by some security questions. Gregory had a similar experience, and figured out pretty quickly that Social Security was using info available from a credit bureau to formulate their security questions. When the wife has another chance to finish the process, she may find it helpful to have a a full report from a credit agency as a reference to help her through the process.

33:34 - Paige in Thibodaux asks Gregory about the changes in her usual tax write offs.

39:55 - Staying at Holiday Inn as your primary residence doesn't sound like such a crazy idea after reading yet another profile on a retired couple that bounces from town to town using this method. There may be over 100,000 people doing this these days.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.23.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 05:13:32 +0000

01:04 - In previewing today's guest, Gregory and James talk about how the dip in interest rates on mortgages has created a short term opportunity for those in need of a mortgage for purchasing a home, getting a current mortgage refinanced, or those thinking about a reverse mortgage.

04:28 - The next Gregory Ricks public event is a Lunch and Learn about Estate Planning, and is filled to capacity. Gregory has responded to the demand by scheduling another Estate Planning Lunch and Learn next month, and the overflow crowd already has it halfway full. Finding good help with Estate Planning must be in short supply.

12:12 - Louis in Folsom calls in as a cypto enthusiast to talk about Fidelity announcing a plan to custody some financial investments involving Bitcoin.

27:15 - Matthew in Metairie calls in for help from Gregory. His wife was locked out of her Social Security account after getting tripped up by some security questions. Gregory had a similar experience, and figured out pretty quickly that Social Security was using info available from a credit bureau to formulate their security questions. When the wife has another chance to finish the process, she may find it helpful to have a a full report from a credit agency as a reference to help her through the process.

30:54 - Judy in Metairie has a self-directed IRA paying monthly dividends from an energy investment, but as the monthly checks are getting smaller, she wants to know if she can get out. Gregory has seen similar situations with some energy investments, MLPs, and REITs, and recommends she goes straight to the invested company (not the IRA custodian) to ask directly how to unwind her involvement.

36:24 - Rusty in Hattiesburg has money piled into an IRA, and wants to know how to turn that into a monthly income stream rather than annual lump sum Required Minimum Distributions. Gregory explains a few options, and likes the idea of stretching the time table to make the money last to age 100.

44:09 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com and the Total Wealth Authority is our guest for the hour, and his office is seeing a herd of enthusiastic buyers come through the door as interest rates continue to fall ahead of the spring buying season. Refinances are more attractive lately as well.

55:57 - Gregory asks Dwayne's thoughts on why Reverse Mortgage applications are showing a slow down. Dwayne sees that most of his Reverse Mortgage clients are driven by life's circumstances with little regard to what the current interest rates may be.

1:09:38 - Roy in Mandeville asks Dwayne about his situation: he has 7 years left on his mortgage, and wonders if a Reverse Mortgage could make his payments go away. Dwayne says he can likely make the payments go away, and get a little more money out of it, as well.

1:13:21 - John in New Orleans asks Dwayne Stein and Gregory Ricks on how a Reverse Purchase works.

1:22:02 - Butch in Houston has a new girlfriend moving in, and is thinking about adding on to his house to accomodate her kid. Dwayne explains his options on how to finance the project.

1:37:17 - Gregory explains how his proprietary Guided Planning System can serve as a roadmap to get your to your financial destination.

1:42:03 - Ken in Mandeville asks Gregory if his wife can increase her spousal benefit from his Social Security record by waiting past her Full Retirement Age.

1:47:04 - Gregory explains some reasons why converting your IRA to a Roth IRA might NOT be a good idea.

2:00:43 - Cindy in Gulfport asks if it's too late to do a Roth contribution or conversion for 2018.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.16.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 18:18:32 +0000

01:08 - Healthcare spending accelerates with age, even for those who are relatively healthy. Gregory shares some approached

07:10 - A caller who didn't want to come on the air asks about the retirement investing implications of having a much younger spouse. He's 47, she's 29. What more can she do to save for retirement? Do the rules change when there's a big age spread?

11:23 - Before you get into any investment, know where your exits are. Gregory stresses seeking investments with a balance of liquidity. Too much liquidity isn't optimum, but locking up your money is often worse.

21:54 - Gregory Ricks is hosting a Lunch and Learn event for those who need some answers when it comes to Estate Planning. Wes Blanchard, the Estate Planning Attorny of the Total Wealth Authority, will be there to lay out some basics, and answer questions from attendees. It will be a smaller event (16 people max) with a box lunch provided. Contact the office for your reservation: 504.832.9200

24:22 - Steve in Houma is 65, and a no-risk investor. He likes the idea of doubling his money over the next ten years. Using the rule of 72, is there someplace he can get a no-risk return of 7%?

31:53 - Gregory goes into a little more detail about how to structure your investments into different jobs with different levels of return and liquidity.

36:49 - We review predicitons from the previous month on whether or not there would be another partial government shutdown. Gregory was right, James was wrong.

44:44 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, joins us for the hour and talks recommends interviewing your next potential CPA before deciding if he's the right one to handle your taxes.

46:40 - Alex in Kenner is facing some hefty Required Minimum Distributions from his traditional IRA in about 6 years, and he's asking Gregory and Jude about some advice he's received encouraging him to convert some of that IRA to a Roth IRA. Gregory and Jude say that may not be very effective in reducing his overall tax bill.

52:20 - A caller asks off-air if he can claim his elderly mother as a dependent. She has moved in with him, and he covers most of her living expenses.

54:56 - Jude has been recommending the Mile IQ app for those who itemize their tax deductions, and they now have commercial

57:39 - John in Abita Springs and his wife attempted to start a business last year that didn't work out. How can he take a loss on the remaining inventory for tax purposes? Jude says since John doesn't itemize his deductions already, it's unlikely he will get any tax benefits, but he should liquidate the inventory and know for sure.

1:03:12 - Jim in Bridge City asks when his wife can draw a spousal benefit on his work record with Social Security

1:06:39 - Jude Heath's CPA firm has a online portal to help clients organize and submit their tax documents.

1:12:47 - Gregory and Jude talk about the options for those who are behind on their taxes. Commercials often tout some sort of programs with promising sounding names, but as far as the IRS is concerned, it's all really just an offer-and-compromise. Jude also warns against those tax perpareres who promise to cut you a refund check the same day.

1:18:46 - Jack on FB Live asks Jude how he can lessen the tax hit on huge profits from a stock investment. Jude points out that Opportunity Zones may be what Jack is looking for.

1:23:04 - A phone scammer gets a little pushy with the wife of a former CIA Director. It does not end well for him.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.15.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:29:44 +0000

00:45 - A deal was reached to avoid a government shutdown, and Trump declares a national emergency to build his wall. At least the economy won't have to concern itself with another shutdown, but plenty of uncertainty remains. Parker is unhappy about the rampant spending increases being largely ignored by both parties.

12:20 - The number of folks seriously deliquent on their car loans is spiking in the US and Europe, and may be a warning of a slowing economy on the horizon.

19:11 - What does car-buying look like in retirement? Gregory shares some different scenarios retirees face for transportation, and Uber has provided a great new option in the mix.

21:44 - Tackling the high cost of college is one of the biggest financial challenges current generations face. If you absolutely need a degree to succeed in your chosen path, think about community college or paying-as-you-go even if it means you can't go to class full time.

34:48 - Complaints about smaller tax refunds going to the middle class miss the larger point that anyone in the middle class who takes the standard deduction most certainly got a tax cut, and the tax withholdings on your check were automatically reduced without the employee having to do anything.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.13.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 16:45:05 +0000

03:22 - Gregory Ricks is hosting a Lunch and Learn event for those who need some answers when it comes to Estate Planning. Wes Blanchard, the Estate Planning Attorny of the Total Wealth Authority, will be there to lay out some basics, and answer questions from attendees. It will be a smaller event (16 people max) with a box lunch provided. Contact the office for your reservation: 504.832.9200

13:46 - Steve in Houma asks Gregory if he can get a better return from CDs or a comparable fixed annuity.

24:35 - Highlight call from the Weekly Wrap: John in Pascagoula asks Gregory on how to convert some of his 401k into a Roth IRA. Gregory discusses tax bracket management in doing some strategic Roth conversions.

32:19 - Gregory talks about people trying to use trusts to hide assets from the government in an attempt to get help from Medicaid for health expenses. Gregory warns about trying this, and shares a story about a couple looking to change their revokable trust to an irrevokable trust, but not aware of the negative consequences.

37:37 - A phone scammer gets a little pushy with the wife of a former CIA Director. It does not end well for him.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 02.09.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 02:42:14 +0000

01:22 - There's 3 Gregory Ricks Live events coming up over the next few weeks, including 2 new Lunch and Learn events. One luncheon covers tax planning, and the other will help those with Estate Planning issues.

13:05 - Gregory explains some of the features on the Winning at Life app, including some new additions.

17:35 - Contribution limits on IRAs have increased, allowing you to put away more pre-tax money for retirement. Gregory encourages you to not put all of your retirement savings in a pre-tax basket, and instead aim for ways to create tax free income streams for retirement income as well. If you earn too much money to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, Roth conversions have no income limit.

34:24 - Estate Tax levels for 2019 are exempt up to $11,400,000, and anything over that is a 40% tax.

36:38 - Jim in Laplace calls to complain he paid more in taxes after the tax reform, and it looks like he was hit with the elimination of deductions.

39:41 - Steve in Baton Rouge asks Gregory how to evaluate the returns on his portfolio in retirement. It was easy to figure out before he started taking income from the pot, and Gregory explains how to evaluate the two moving parts of income versus returns.

44:53 - Chipper in Hammond asks Gregory about using 529 plans for college savings, and how the contribution limits work in Louisiana.

52:15 - Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority, is our guest today, and has seen a surge of people coming in with succession issues created from a lack of proper estate planning. It's always easier to take care of these things in advance, rather than clean up the mess afterwards.

57:13 - Almost everyone needs some form of estate planning in case something happens, but who REALLY needs estate planning the most? If you're caring for someone with special needs, or you're in the crosshairs of the Estate Tax, you're one of the top of the list of people who could use some help. However, the most urgent need for estate planning comes from the terminally ill.

1:09:17 - Norma in Covington texts in from the Winning at Life app, and she asks Gregory and Wes's thoughts on how she could pass down her rental properties to her daughter.

1:17:23 - Mary in Bay St Louis asks Gregory and Wes about her options passing her house to her niece.

1:32:35 - Jason in New Orleans asks Gregory to explain how the Gift Tax rules work.

1:38:06 - Mark in Ponchatoula is retired on a teacher's pension, and was disappointed to find out his Social Security was being ate up by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

1:39:13 - John in Mobile has some nice gains last year from his money manager, but went underwater this year. How will he be taxed?

1:45:22 - Ward in Houma asks if he should put his new wife on the mortgage, or is updating his will good enough?

1:50:36 - John in Pascagoula asks Gregory on how to convert some of his 401k into a Roth IRA. Gregory discusses tax bracket management in doing some strategic Roth conversions.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 18:15:37 +0000

01:16 - Almost everyone needs some form of estate planning in case something happens, but who REALLY needs estate planning the most? If you're caring for someone with special needs, or you're in the crosshairs of the Estate Tax, you're probably on the top of the list of people who could use some help. However, the most urgent need for estate planning comes from the terminally ill.

12:44 - Dr. Megan in New Orleans just completed medical school and began her residency, but she's accumulated $500,000 in student debt along the way. Dr. Megan and Gregory discuss her options when it comes to either paying the debt down or managing the federal student loan forgiveness program.

31:13 - The head of a Cryptocurrency exchange died, and he was the only one with the key to access about $190 million worth of cryptos.

38:02 - The Numbers are mixed, with Apple's recent security issues dominating the business headlines. A nug with eavesdropping through Facetime has been fixed, and a new flaw in Live Photos is the latest flaw.

42:19 - Gregory explains the situation of a couple worried about getting hit with the Windfall ELimination Provision because of a public pension.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 02.07.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:49:16 +0000

00:51 - Gregory Ricks announces a new event he's hosting for those with tax issues called: Lunch and Learn. Stop in for a quick luncheon, and learn how to work the system and minimize taxes. This is also a great eductional event for those who are behind on their taxes, and those interested in creating tax-free income.

12:44 - Learn some basics of IRAs. Do you qualify for an IRA? How much can you contribute? What's the difference between a traditional IRA, a non-deductible IRA, and a Roth IRA?

27:47 - What are the early withdrawal rules for IRAs? There are rules that allow you to dip into an IRA for certain educational or home-buying expenses, but you may get hit with taxes and/or a penalty.

34:38 - Stan in Gautier asks Gregory for some help figuring out his situation with Social Security. He receives a military pension for doing 20 years in the Navy, but a court ruling about his Social Security contributions in the service may affect him.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.28.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 14:54:42 +0000

00:58 - The US has announced new sanctions on PDVSA, the Venezuelan national oil company, in an attempt to help transfer control from Maduro to Guaido. Kudlow says the China slowdown may have effects on our economy, but overall we're still going in the right direction.

09:09 - The Numbers are down overall, but Gregory's concern for Caterpiller's big drop is how the global slowdown could cause a our economy to slow as well.

13:35 - A report says Harley-Davidson's brand is still strong with Boomers, but Millenials aren't buying in.

25:32 - Gregory is boycotting the Super Bowl, and our friends at the Jefferson Performing Arts Society are offering a deal on behalf of the show: mention Winning at Life or Gregory Ricks and get tickets to see Shear Madness buy one get one free!

29:19 - Earl in Covington asks: How do the rules work with Social Security benefits when it comes to spousal benefits, and how do the options change with a divorce?

39:13 - Brad in Alabama asks Gregory how he should invest the money in his 401k.

42:01 - Antoine in Houma asks if his wife will be able to access his checking account if he dies without a will. Gregory shares some options. Some banks can have an account be Payable On Death to your wife, you could give her signing privledges, make a joint account, or it will transfer to her through succession.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.26.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:24:41 +0000

00:57 - There's a 3 week spending bill to end the partial shutdown with no wall funded. Trump says he'll do emergency powers for the wall if it's not in the final compromise. Gregory thinks it's not going to be in the final compromise, and this will end up decided by the courts.

08:02 - Gregory stresses federal employees should not bear negative consequences for political stalemates.

13:05 - Gregory is offering a free book for those serious about investing for retirement, with a focus on creating tax free income streams.

18:35 - 80% of millionaires did it with their 401k. Gregory explains how powerful pre-tax savings in your 401k and IRA can be, but also warns of the tax hit they pose with it's time to take distrubutions. Don't let tax planning be an afterthought. Create tax free streams as well.

25:33 - There's some talk of raising the top income tax rate to 70%, and Gregory has some numbers on the last time we had the top bracket at 70%. AOC is calling for higher taxes, and says a system that allows for billionaires is immoral.

34:57 - Chase in Gulfport has $2,000 in extra income monthly to invest. Should he pay down his mortgage with that money, or is there better options? Gregory asks a few questions, and has some powerful investing options for that money, maybe even using a max funding plan.

39:09 - Gregory shares some tax advantages in the code business owners can use to lower their tax bill.

47:54 - Dwayne Stein, from MortgageGumbo.com, explains how him being in the Total Wealth Authority ended up saving a couple quite a bit of money because their mortgage lender and financial advisor are on the same page.

50:39 - How does the shutdown deal affect the mortgage world?

59:34 - A survey claims 20% of people who live with their partner are hiding money from them. Dwayne Stein says he sees spouses hiding money from each other in the mortgage process at least once a month, and it can be a mess for both their lending and relationship.

1:08:58 - The Federal Reserve has soften their stance a little lately, and may be considering a pause of the Quantitative Tightening. Dwayne and Gregory discuss how this squeeze on the money supply have effects across the mortgage world.

1:18:15 - Ray in Franklinton texts in on the Winning at Life app and asks if he can get his wife on the reverse mortgage even though she's not 62. Dwayne and Gregory discuss how it's possible, but probably not the best fit.

1:23:23 - As home prices are peaking in some other big cities, Dwayne sees that we may be near a housing peak in our area as well.

1:30:16 - Gregory is offering a free book for those serious about investing for retirement, with a focus on creating tax free income streams.

1:37:58 - Fran Tarkenton has a new book out addressing the issue of senior financial abuse. Gregory sees people taking advantage of seniors with assets far too often, and has some strong advice on how to protect yourself.

1:44:36 - Chippy in Destrehan asks Gregory how to give his family and friends financial advice without being a pest or making himself a target.

1:50:09 - Earl in Covington asks: How do the rules work with Social Security benefits when it comes to spousal benefits, and how do the options change with a divorce?

1:53:07 - Jeff in Covington is about to retire from the military and move, and wants to know if he should go ahead and sell his house now?

1:59:16 - Don in Covington wants to know how his government pensions will affect his Social Security benefits. He may be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision, but it sounds like he may be exempt based on his earning record.

2:04:29 - Gregory reviews how business meals and entertainment expenses are included in your tax write offs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.25.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:59:36 +0000

01:46 - A former financial planner talks about what has surprised him after 10 years of retirement.

13:04 - Gregory is offering a free book that talks about building tax free income streams.

19:03 - A deal was announced to end the partial shutdown. Gregory breaks down some of the details of the deal, and we may end up back in a shutdown in three weeks?

25:46 - The Numbers are green across all the indices, and earnings season is off to a solid start.

35:47 - Gregory is thinking about life without football. There's no other legitimate football games left, so technically, football season is over until August.

40:45 - If AOC is any indication, there's a strong push to raise taxes. That mindset change in Congress gives investors a reason to be hesitant.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.22.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:15:47 +0000

00:59 - Would you like a free book explaining ways to build tax-free income streams for retirement? Gregory is giving away copies of this quick read only to those who are serious about taking their investments to the next level.

03:09 - The Numbers are largely negative across the stock indices, but there's solid news coming from earning season.

11:33 - Soccer start Cristiano Ronaldo pays a $21 million fine for tax evasion to Spanish Authorities.

14:52 - Gregory has some strong opinions for the NFL after the Saints were robbed by one of the biggest blown calls in the history of sports. Gregory responds to Fran Tarkenton's remarks on the game, and how this is bad for business in the NFL.

25:00 - Fran Tarkenton has a new book out addressing the issue of senior financial abuse. Gregory sees people taking advantage of seniors with assets far too often, and has some strong advice on how to protect yourself.

36:57 - Gregory and James list out some ways to save on taxes. Max out your 401k/IRAs. Use your HSA. Use a CPA who knows all the deductions.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.15.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 15:40:18 +0000

01:04 - Would you like a free book explaining ways to build tax-free income streams for retirement? Gregory is giving away copies of this quick read only to those who are serious about taking their investments to the next level.

15:04 - We review a highlight call from the Weekly Wrap: Larry in Slidell loves the show, but not the taxes on his Social Security benefits. Is there anything he can do about that?

20:59 - Wayneo in Waco got some questionable advice from someone at work saying you have to turn on Social Security to get Medicare? Gregory confirms that is bad advice, and gives you some options on how Medicare works.

26:41 - The first Gregory Ricks Live of 2019 is tomorrow. The event is full, so we expect another great wine, wisdom, and food experience at Ruth's Chris.

35:59 - The most common income streams for retirement. Gregory and James review a list of common income streams: Social Security, 401(k)s and IRAs, Roth accounts, pension, home mortgage (reverse or refi), health insurance, stocks and mutual funds, bonds, savings accounts, and CDs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.14.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:15:32 +0000

01:11 - Would you like a free book explaining ways to build tax-free income streams for retirement? Gregory is giving away copies of this quick read only to those who are serious about taking their investments to the next level.

12:29 - Gregory and James discuss a couple of news items: how some people think the national debt is not a problem, and is it a good idea to import thousands/millions of homeless illegal immigrants who skipped the line?

18:18 - It's RMD season! Do you know when you're required to start taking distributions from your IRA or 401k? Gregory explains how if you turned 70.5 last year, you need to make a Required Minimum Distribution by April 1 to avoid a brutal penalty.

24:02 - Lou in Houston sends in a text from the app asking Gregory about how the Social Security rules govern his divorce situation. While they are still married, she can turn on a benefit off of his record when he reached Full Retirement Age. However, when you get a divorce, there's a two year wait before you can collect. Gregory also advises this could be a bargaining chip in divorce negotiations.

28:38 - We review a great call from Saturday's show: Jeff in Hammond asks Gregory the difference between the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset? How do these affect your Social Security benefits?

36:02 - Earl emails Gregory about his wife on Social Security going back to work at age 68. Will they take some of her check back? Does she still have to pay into the system? Will she build up a bigger benefit?

39:56 - The Northshore office of Gregory Ricks and Associates is now open for business!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.12.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 22:29:40 +0000

01:15 - Gregory and James do a quick football preview and then get to the financial news of the week. James asks Gregory if he frowns on the idea of heading out to the casinos on the MS Gulf Coast to take advantage of the sports betting.

15:49 - Emanuel in Gautier wants to know how Social Security benefits work once you get divorced. Gregory reviews the rules for Social Security benefits for divorced, spouses, widows, and when your ex spouse dies.

23:11 - The partial federal shutdown dominated the news cycle this week, but the affect on your money thus far has been minimal.

34:28 - Gregory reports on a CBO study on ways to reduce spending and the annual deficit. The report itself is over 300 pages, and shows there's a lot of room for the federal government to slim down and that would be huge for the economy.

35:20 - Donna in Ocean Springs asks Gregory if he's heard of deferring property taxes for senior citizens.

46:41 - Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, sees an uptick in interest by people looking to create or update their estate planning. Wes also sees more successions this time of year, and suspects it has more to do with people getting tax bills rather than a New Year's resolution.

50:07 - Wes Blanchard explains why he found the need to pursue Estate Planning as other lawyers who did not specialize in the field were making some painful mistakes.

1:01:55 - John in New Orleans asks Wes about how to open up succession on his late father's estate. John's father passed years ago, and the family doesn't know how to get things started.

1:08:05 - Gregory says hi to some listeners who recognized his voice at Bistro Byrons in Mandeville, and Best Buy in Covington.

1:10:20 - Mary in New Orleans asks Wes about a suspicious succession process in the family, and how to best get it resolved.

1:19:23 - Elizabeth in Mandeville asks Gregory and Wes for any ideas to help a friend wanting to refinance her house.

1:28:58 - Gregory talks about setting up a tax free income stream.

1:32:30 - Paul in Gulfport asks about the tax implications of adopting a child.

1:37:02 - James in Bay St Louis wants more info on the book Gregory is offering to learn about tax free income streams in retirement.

1:38:49 - Greg in Pensacola is selling a piece of property. Should he take that money and pay off his mortgage, or invest it?

1:50:45 - Larry in Slidell loves the show, but not the taxes on his Social Security benefits. Is there anything he can do about that?

1:54:22 - Jeff in Hammond asks Gregory the difference between the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset? How do these affect your Social Security benefits?

2:01:21 - Gregory answers a flurry of questions from Facebook Live, texts from the app, and one from an email.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.11.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 03:39:08 +0000

01:17 - The next Gregory Ricks Live in almost full, and it's worth the drive. Reserve your seat for our wine, wisdom, and food experience and find out if you should be working with Gregory Ricks and Associates.

05:36 - How do rising interest rates change the balance between risk and safety?

15:50 - The Numbers were down for the day, but only slightly. The markets just finished three positive weeks in a row, but Gregory isn't so sure the uptrend will continue much longer. Tesla gets some new competition as GM announces an all-electric Cadillac in in the works.

27:21 - David in Uptown is 78 and receiving Social Security, but asks Gregory if he can increase his benefit by suspending it for a couple years? Gregory explains that after you turn 70, you get no credit for delaying a benefit from Social Security. If you don't need the money, many people donate it to charity.

35:00 - Johnna in Marrero is thinking about turning on Social Security early, but heard there's a penalty if he continues to work.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.10.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:18:25 +0000

01:50 - The World's Richest Man and his wife announce they are getting divorced, which brings up an interesting financial scenario. Gregory talks about some of the different demands negotiated into divorce settlements.

16:33 - Gregory reviews a call from Saturday's show: Lori in Vancleave leans on Gregory for financial help going through a divorce settlement, and what her Social Security options are post divorce.

29:11 - John in Chalmette asks Gregory if filing for a legal separation has any affect on Social Security benefits for him and his spouse, even though they never got a divorce. Gregory shares what he's seem through his experience dealing with clients in similar situations.

34:43 - Donna in Ocean Springs asks Gregory if he's heard of deferring property taxes for senior citizens.

37:50 - The top 20% of income earners pay 88% of incomce taxes. Let's talk about tax planning.

41:41 - The next Gregory Ricks Live in almost full, and it's worth the drive. Reserve your seat for our wine, wisdom, and food experience and find out if you should be working with Gregory Ricks and Associates.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 01.08.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 15:35:44 +0000

01:04 - After three positive days in a row on Wall St, and weekly gains the last two weeks, could this be the end of the market downturn? Gregory reads what he sees in the S&P chart, and it looks like we are due for a cyclical downturn, and the real test is will it create a higher high, or a lower low? Gregory explains more of what he looks for in chart trends, and previews Trump's address to the nation after the show.

08:29 - The Numbers are green across all indices, but nothing huge. Oil is rebounding out of the $40s.

13:59 - Social Security will pass a milestone this year when it pays out more than $1 trillion in benefits.

17:02 - Beverly in Slidell lost her husband, and then received some misleading advice from the Social Security office about how to maximize her benefit. Gregory explains how the rules for switching to your spouse's record is different than a switching to your spouse's survivor benefit.

24:14 - Emanuel in Gautier wants to know how Social Security benefits work once you get divorced.

28:40 - Jeff in Saucier asks Gregory when he can draw a benefit on his deceased wife's Social Security record.

32:50 - Elmer in Saucier asks Gregory if he's eligible to receive any money from his dad's Social Security record. Gregory points out that Elmer is probably not a minor, so no.

38:30 - We review a call from Saturday's show: Susan in New Orleans was has turned on her own Social Security early, but can she switch to her ex husband's record and get a bigger check? Maybe so! Gregory explains the rules again.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 01.05.19

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 22:46:07 +0000

02:53 - During the shutdown, a complaint was made about the number of people who died at a National Park affected by the shutdown. Gregory checks out the stats, and shows it's safer now compared to the normal death rate at National Parks.

06:52 - David in Uptown is 78 and receiving Social Security, but asks Gregory if he can increase his benefit by suspending it for a couple years? Gregory explains that after you turn 70, you get no credit for delaying a benefit from Social Security. If you don't need the money, many people donate it to charity.

10:13 - Andrew in Mandeville is a few months of retirement, and wants to know how to minimize his exposure to risk. He also plans to sell his commercial property, and wants Gregory's advice on how to handle that lump sum.

33:28 - Is this the bottom of the market slide? Gregory explains some of the numbers to track to know when the market will turn around and it's safe to get back in the pool.

41:59 - The next Gregory Ricks Live in already more than halfway full, and it's always more popular when the markets are going a little haywire. Reserve your seat for our wine, wisdom, and food experience and find out if you should be working with Gregory Ricks and Associates.

44:59 - There IS such a thing as risk-free investing. Gregory shares how he helps those who insist on ZERO risk investments. Risk-free investors are often happier during a market downturn.

49:02 - Kevin on Facebook Live asks where to put his 401k money in a downturn. Gregory says most 401ks have a stable value money market option that can get you out of risk.

52:52 - Johnna in Marrero is thinking about turning on Social Security early, but heard there's a penalty if he continues to work.

57:42 - The government shutdown may cause your tax refund to be delayed. The IRS is still processing some tax filings during the government shutdown, but it appears it's doing the one with a check included first. If you're expecting a refund, your taxes may be put to the back of the line until the shutdown gets sorted out.

1:05:26 - Fred in Mandeville asks Gregory about how the 4% rule pertains to Required Minimum Distributions on his IRA. Gregory informs Fred the two rules have nothing to do with each other. Your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution is calculated using a divisor based on your age, and the 4% rule is an old rule of thumb about how much you could take from assets and sustain principle.

1:11:18 - The Military gets a decent pay raise for the second year in a row. Gregory has some ideas on how to best utilize the new money for the future.

1:18:32 - Larry Kudlow, a Trump economic advisor, gives a glowing optimistic take on the economy just a few hours after the stellar job report for December was released. Gregory shares his thoughts on Kudlow's comments on the economy, trade with China, and where things are headed.

1:30:17 - Tim in Metairie asks Gregory how to handle the tax hit on two inherited IRAs for his mom.

1:38:09 - There's a better way to manage your investments than Buy and Hold.

1:42:12 - Susan in New Orleans was has turned on her own Social Security early, but can she switch to her ex husband's record and get a bigger check? Maybe so!

1:50:28 - Lori in Vancleave leans on Gregory for financial help going through a divorce settlement, and what her Social Security options are post divorce.

1:56:13 - Yvonne in Jackson recently retire and now has a check from her old 401k. What should she do with it?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 12.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Dec 2018 21:17:55 +0000

01:18 - Volatility in the stock markets have been incredible lately. Gregory sees more downside coming, and the first big test to the falling market will be earnings season.

04:47 - Sears isn't dead, but Gregory explains how it's on life support.

08:19 - Wells Fargo pays a big settlement, but no one really gets in trouble. It appears the CFPB is OK with business scams as long as they get their cut.

12:52 - Gregory and James review their predictions for 2018, and see how well they stood the test of time.

17:03 - Gregory responds to audio from Peter Schiff and Alan Greenspan and their predictions for the financial world.

23:11 - Gregory shares the story of a client who called the office worried about losing money in the falling stock market. No problem though, because Gregory had his managed money out of the markets for a while.

33:30 - The government is partially shutdown while the two political parties continue a stalemate over funding a border wall. Gregory reviews some of the details around the issue, and how it could affect your money in the long term.

44:04 - Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorny of the Total Wealth Authority, is in studio and we review some of his top callers from 2018.

49:35 - More and more people are choosing to die naturally at home rather than a hospital or hospice facility.

1:06:56 - Robin in Picayune asks Wes and Gregory how to handle the death of her kids' father. The Dad had remarried, but the new wife isn't filing succession, so can the child file?

1:17:40 - Wes reviews some more of his top callers from 2018 on Winning at Life.

1:22:55 - Jeff in Metairie asks Wes and Gregory if a Savings Bonds with a P.O.D. designation has to go through probate or succession.

1:29:56 - Wes in Gulfport asks Gregory what to expect tax-wise from the sale of a commercial property. Gregory gives a few options, including how to get a sense of where he would land in the tax brackets, adjustments in income outside of the transaction, and maybe taking a look at a 1031 exchange to minimize the tax hit.

1:36:55 - Jenny in Laurel asks Gregory how to handle claiming her son as a dependent for half of the year, because her mom may be claiming him as a dependent for the whole year.

1:40:14 - Ty in Sardis is looking to retire in 5 years, and is concerned about the hit his investments have taken recently. Should he just get out, or stay the course?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.17.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 23:01:36 +0000

00:56 - Gregory and James discuss the big financial headlines of the day. A judge overturns Obamacare. The big Bitcoin peak was this day last year. It's also been one year since Net Neutrality was repealed and the internet is 40% faster.

09:14 - Paul in Metairie asks about his wife's money at an old employer's plan that was forgotten about.

13:37 - John in Jackson: Should I accelerate my mortgage payments or invest that money?

18:58 - Karen in New Orleans is receiving widows benefits. Can she go get a part time job without any problems with her benefits or taxes?

23:59 - Anthony in Gautier is retired and on Medicare, but just got an great job offer and is going back to work. Does he keep his Medicare or does he have to get on the company's healthcare plan?

30:24 - Ron in New Orleans is still working after he turned on his Social Security benefits. Will that increase his check?

34:23 - Glenda in Mandeville: If my husband is on Social Security Disability Benefits, when do I qualify for Social Security Spousal retirement benefits, and will it be affected by my Windfall Elimination Provision haircut?

38:20 - Steve in Van Cleave is a Reverse Mortgage Skeptic, and he's not all wrong.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 12.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 14:40:28 +0000

02:19 - A judge strikes down the Affordable Care Act, saying the tax provision repealed makes the entire law unconstitutional. Gregory reminds you of the metaphor between healthcare and buying an airline ticket. Few things wreck your financial world like unplanned medical costs.

25:14 - Gregory expands the amount of public events he's planning to cover additional topics like Social Security and Estate Planning.

27:47 - Charles in Covington is our Caller of the Week: Charles in Covington has moved his Thrift Savings Account out of the riskier funds into the G Fund, but how will he know when to get back into the pool?

36:34 - Gregory shares a report that the top CEOs read 60 books a year on average.

39:54 - Financial things to do before the end of the year. Gregory rolls through a helpful list of things you should check on.

48:21 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority™ covers tips on how to keep your financial house in order when it comes to taxes at the end of the year.

1:01:47 - Gregory tells the story of a guy who tried to send his Required Minimum Distribution to a charity, but since the check went to the wrong address, he missed his RMD and is facing a penalty. Gregory shares some tips he's learned by helping with thousands of IRAs.

1:06:47 - Jude Heath and Gregory agrees that James is too sloppy with his record keeping, and should be better about checking the mail.

1:15:22 - Jude Heath covers some of the changes to itemized deductions in the tax code for the next year.

1:22:32 - Dwayne Stein of the Total Wealth Authority™ had a great toy drive, and collected more than 200 toys that were given away at the iHeartMedia New Orleans Christmas toy event.

1:26:06 - Jude reviews a call from Sherri in Biloxi asking if she has to file an income tax return in retirement if her income is especially low. Gregory asks a few questions, and it turns out her income is held to a much lower standard because she's self employed. It looks like she will probably have to continue filing her income taxes.

1:37:07 - Chrisitan in Metairie is thinking about setting up a 529 plan to save for his kids' college, and wants Gregory's guidance on how to set it up. Gregory explains the ins and outs of 529 plans, but also is thinking a Roth account could be a good fit.

1:43:26 - A judge strikes down the Affordable Care Act, saying the tax provision repealed makes the entire law unconstitutional. Gregory reminds you of the metaphor between healthcare and buying an airline ticket. Few things wreck your financial world like unplanned medical costs.

1:56:10 - Gregory reports on the demise of the Dollar Menu at fast food chains, as inflation has forced their evolution into the Value Menu. A dollar doesn't get you much these days.

2:05:15 - Things you can do in 2019 to improve your financial situation.

2:08:19 - Jimmy in Metairie has taken some scary losses in the market in the last couple months. Should he ride the losses out, or get out of the pool until things turn up? Gregory questions how he could be 100% in the market at a time like this, and has a few ideas on how to get out of this mess.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.14.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 21:51:35 +0000

01:02 - A tour of West Point was the highlight of Gregory's trip to New York. He shares his story of a historic and inspiring visit. A trip to Rockefeller Center was beautiful, but COLD.

05:44 The Numbers went from bad to worse, and there's little chance of it turning around in the near future. Too many forces are pushing stocks down, and the underlying economic growth just can't compensate for all of it.

12:19 - Alan Greenspan tells Maria Bartiromo he expects the fourth quarter GDP growth between 2-2.5%. Is the economy slowing down? When will it be time to get back in the pool?

17:46 - Brexit is stalling, and the Yellow Vest protests are rocking in Europe. Are these protests primarily economic, and what is their message? This style of uncertainty is not good for business.

22:48 - Charles in Covington has moved his Thrift Savings Account out of the riskier funds into the G Fund, but how will he know when to get back into the pool?

36:32 - End of Year Financial Planning: Gregory and James go through a list of financial things you need to check on as we get close to the end of the year.

41:04 - The next Gregory Ricks Live! is coming up January 16th. Maybe you're ready to take that next big step, maybe you would like to hear more information, we can do that together over a wine and food pairing hand picked by Gregory.

The Daily Wrap: 12.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:43:17 +0000

01:12 - The next Gregory Ricks Live! is coming up January 16th. Maybe you're ready to take that next big step, maybe you would like to hear more information, we can do that together over a wine and food pairing hand picked by me.

08:00 - Gregory explains why he's not a buy-and-hold style investor. He shares the story of a recent couple graduating from Mutual Funds to ETFs and fixed annuitues. If you do buy a Mutual Fund, watch the fees.

14:05 - How to not worry in a down market. Keep an eye on a few key fundamentals, and know when it's time to exit the market. Once you see the coast is clear and things are on the upswing, get back in. If you need help, get it.

18:43 - How to read the inversion of the yield curve, and the S&P crossing its 200 Day Moving Average.

25:21 - The XFL announces the location of its first 8 teams, and from a business perspective, they are positioning themselves better for success this time around.

32:09 - We play some clips from the audiobook of Trump's Art of the Deal that shed light on how the President is approaching some current issues from the same playbook.

36:01 - Why would you sit still and ride down the losses? If you know things are going south, why are you putting new money to risk?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 12.04.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:24:10 +0000

01:21 - Wow, the markets are all over the place! Stocks took a big dive today, but they were flying high last week after a month of getting crushed. Gas prices are dropping like a rock, and OPEC is taking a beating. Half of the economic news is great, the other half is a disaster. Gregory explains why the inverted yield curve on bonds is getting so much attention.

15:37 - Jennifer in Covington wants to convert some of her IRA money to a Roth IRA, and Gregory gives her the roadmap on how to get there. Gregory also explains some of the bigger reasons why you may prefer to do a Roth conversion.

24:39 - The discussion with Jennifer prompts Gregory to further explain the tax bracket management strategies on converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and how these tax considerations overlap with estate planning. Would you rather leave behind tax-infested funds to your heirs or not?

31:00 - Stocks usually get more attention, but the bond world is often a better predictor of what's coming up in the financial world. The lessons Gregory shares from the debt world are powerful tools in knowing how to position your money.

35:19 - The Numbers are red across all indices by at least 3%, and the only green stock on the short sheet is Tesla.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 12.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 23:27:00 +0000

01:01 - Gregory and James reflect on the life of George H.W. Bush in the wake of his passing.

07:52 - Reforms to retirement planning laws have taken form in a Congressional Committee. Gregory breaks down what changes are on the table, and how they would affect your ability to save for retirement.

25:46 - Susan Roesgen from News With a Twist on WGNO calls in to ask Gregory's thoughts about the returns on her investments this year. Three different investment accounts have had wildly different results.

34:47 - Jeff in Mississippi asks if the cuts in his Social Security benefit from the Windfall Elimination Provision on his federal pension will affect his wife's Social Security spousal benefit after he dies.

41:16 - John in Metairie is past his Full Retirement Age on his Social Security, and lost his job. When should he turn on his benefit, and does he have to go down to a Social Security office in person to start receiving benefits?

51:14 - Macho in Gentilly asks Gregory how he can get the highest Social Security benefit possible. Gregory explains how Full Retirement Age isn't the highest amount, and how you can get some answers on your Social Security statement at SSA.gov.

58:35 - John in Louisiana is having a hard time figuring out how to handle an inherited brokerage account that's to be split between him and his siblings.

1:07:40 - Ed in Metairie asks how his Social Security benefits will be taxed as he continues to work after he starts receiving checks. Gregory spells out the painfully complex rules on how your Social Security benefits will be included on your taxes in different levels.

1:11:14 - Lolita in Metaire owns 4 different residential properties with her husband, but they have nothing saved for retirement. How can they best use proceeds from selling some of those assets to fund their retirement? Gregory correlates this lump sum with their other income streams, and stresses the importance of being conservative with this money.

1:30:39 - Who is the largest land owner in America?

1:33:05 - How should you invest a big lump sum of money for retirement? Paul on St Charles in New Orleans is getting a sizable settlement from a workers comp claim.

1:40:05 - Mary in Baton Rouge asks Gregory how the Homestead Exemption works on her taxes.

1:44:29 - Sherri in Biloxi asks if she has to file an income tax return in retirement if her income is especially low. Gregory asks a few questions, and it turns out her income is held to a much lower standard because she's self employed. It looks like she will probably have to continue filing her income taxes.

1:52:17 - Gregory teaches you how to shop for the right annuity.

1:58:56 - David in Metairie gives some kudos to Gregory for an impressive prediction on the markets that came true, and asks Gregory how information from the bond world can signal changes coming to the stock market.

2:03:40 - Ann in Springfield wants to start saving for her grandson. Gregory reviews a few options including UGMA, a regular savings account, and 529 accounts.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 19:04:33 +0000

01:21 - Susan Roesgen from News With a Twist on WGNO calls in to ask Gregory's thoughts about the returns on her investments this year. Three different investment accounts have had wildly different results.

15:45 - How can you get out of a Reverse Mortgage? Mark texts in on the Winning at Life app asking Gregory for advice on how to get his mother-in-law out of her reverse mortgage.

21:42 - What do you do with the 401k from an old job? Gregory shares the story of a couple who is donig a good job managing the investments in an old 401k, but a time will come soon when changes have to be made.

31:30 - What's a good financial tool to use when saving money for the kids? Bret on FB Live asks Gregory's opinion on using ETFs to get some returns on his kids' college fund.

37:08 - Floyd Mayweather and DJ Khaled have run afoul of SEC laws when they were paid promoters for a crypto currency's Inititial Coin Offering. The crypto currency wasn't even legit, either.

43:45 - Trump gave the market a little boost with some optimism on trade talks with China.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.27.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 22:04:33 +0000

01:53 - How do you judge if your investments are doing well in a down market? Gregory shares a recent situation where he was helping a client shed some risk and move to safety.

05:30 - Beverly in Slidell asks Gregory how she knows if she's getting the most out of her Social Security options by staying on her husband's record while continuing to work.

09:31 - The Numbers: the market opens down, but jumps when Kudlow hints at progress in trade talks with China is at hand this weekend.

14:36 - Gregory explains why China wouldn't want to give up their favorable trade conditions, even in the face of tariffs and economic troubles on the home front.

26:18 - The S&P is now in the red for the year. The good news is interest rates are on the upswing, so some of the money that was forced to chase yield in stocks is returning to the bond world. Your next portfolio rebalancing should probably include some drastic moves away from risk and into safety, if you aren't there already.

35:31 - Warren in Donaldsonville asks Gregory for suggestions on what he can do with the 401k he left at his old job. Gregory gives Warren a few options, and some guidance on which one is probably the better fit.

41:28 - GM is closing some plants and discontinuing 6 sedans, including the Chevy Volt.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 22:05:46 +0000

01:13 - Gregory reviews his guest appearance on the Gallo Show about how pension buyout offers are becoming more frequent, and how to know if the lump sum is enough to take.

12:57 - Gregory Ricks Live was last night. It's the last live event from Gregory Ricks for 2018, and Gregory shares some event ideas for 2019.

15:01 - Gregory reviews his guest appearance on the Gallo Show about if Social Security is going away. Of course it's going to have to look different, but it's highly unlikely it won't be there when you retire.

26:43 - Why not learn to enjoy everyday activities more? Learning more about how to enjoy a fine wine and how it pairs with incredible foods makes things fun.

36:46 - Gregory recently went to a restaurant that is soon to close, and notices he enjoyed the experience more knowing it was his last visit to a great place.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 15:41:21 +0000

02:19 - Graham in New Orleans asks Gregory about how to best use life insurance as an investment vehicle.

12:59 - Gregory shares some quick thoughts on the California wildfires.

17:38 - Should you ditch your variable annuity? A client asks Gregory how he could best utilize an old variable annuity with a decent income rider and low cash value.

27:57 - What's good is a prospectus? Almost nobody reads these things. Gregory explains how he used a prospectus to help a client understand his variable annuity.

35:47 - Steve in Houma asks Gregory how long of a surrender period he should consider when getting a fixed annuity.

42:37 - Where is this market heading. Gregory explains how this market is behaving in ways that are unprecedented, as the world's central banks are unwinding a decade of unprecedented financial experiments.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 11.10.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:08:02 +0000

00:56 - Pat in Belle Chase asks Gregory why her Social Security estimate went down. There's several reasons your benefits estimate could be calculated down, and there's a few things you could check on to make sure there's not a mistake.

12:32 - If your Social Security check is smaller than you expected, it's probably your own fault. Gregory explains how if you understand all of Social Security's moving parts, you'll know where you stand.

23:07 - According to the Life Expectancy Calculator at SSA.gov, Gregory has a longer life expectancy than James based on today's date.

25:15 - Henry in Port Sulphur asks Gregory how a decrease in income the last few years will affect his benefit.

33:08 - Gregory shares the story of how he helped a family situation in understanding Social Security.

35:59 - Since more than half of individual stocks dipped into bear territory, does that mean this is a new bull market?

41:30 - Michael in Gulfport asks Gregory if he can pay back the money he's gotten from Social Security, and reset it like it was never turned on.

48:18 - We get Wes Blanchard to add his take to a recent call: Tom in Metairie asks Gregory's opinion on estate planning for those with no heirs or family at all.

57:00 - Wes Blanchard gives his respone to a recent call: Linda in Covington asks Gregory's thoughts on using a Special Needs Trust to take care of a disabled adult child.

1:07:53 - Vicki from Atlanta wants to protect assets from an heir's ex-spouse.

1:17:20 - Do you have a right to see your parent's will? Wayne in Waco asks Gregory and Wes if he has any options concerning his sister not letting anyone see their recently-deceased father's will.

1:22:40 - Justin in Metairie asks how a divided home ownership is passed through a living trust.

1:27:44 - Graham in New Orleans asks Gregory about how to best use life insurance as an investment vehicle.

1:52:56 - Some poor Chinese bondholders are getting a pig in leiu of payment. I'm not sure that would fly so well here in the States.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 18:05:39 +0000

01:18 - Some poor Chinese bondholders are getting a pig in leiu of payment. I'm not sure that would fly so well here in the States.

20:13 - What does it take to be in the top 1%? We break it down by income and net worth.

27:50 - Pat in Belle Chase asks Gregory why her Social Security estimate went down. There's several reasons your benefits estimate could be calculated down, and there's a few things you could check on to make sure there's not a mistake.

40:22 - Rick in Alexandria lived in China for a number of years, and shares his insight on what the economic conditions are like in reference to our earlier story about bond pigs.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.08.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:18:13 +0000

00:56 - What legislative changes are on the table that will affect your money? Social Security is unlikely to see any major changes anytime soon, but the Fiduciary Rule may make its return in some form. Generally, the markets love divided government.

08:10 - How is your inheritance taxed? Roger in Belle Chase is inheriting a sizable portion of a family trust. Gregory guides him on how to determine his tax consequences, and seek out the help of a CPA.

20:15 - Retirement savings are at an all time high according to a report from Fidelity. There's more assets in qualified accounts, especially compared to 10 years ago.

29:24 - Some pension plans come with an extra Social Security offset that kick out a little extra money to cover the gap from retirement until you turn on Social Security. These can be a little tricky, but extremely helpful if you properly correlate it with your other assets.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 15:15:55 +0000

00:44 - Gregory welcomes you to Election Night 2018. The results of the midterm elections will most certainly affect your money, but history shows the markets tend to thrive in periods of political gridlock. The 2020 Election season opens tomorrow, and the economy could be the driving force.

07:32 - Millionaires don't wait in line. Gregory explains how you can be more productive by adapting some time-saving behaviors from the ultra-wealthy. Gregory tells the story of a couple who were generating more income in retirement than expected, and were ecstatic about living with some of the extra perks and luxuries of life.

35:48 - The Numbers were generally positive ahead of the election, but Amazon is getting a lot of attention with rumors it will split its new HQ2 location between NY and DC.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 11.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 14:47:48 +0000

01:45 - We review Gregory's guest appearance on the Gallo Show on Supertalk MS. The two main topics were the status of the MS State Pension's 13th Check, and how the election will affect your money. You hear Gregory's bold prediction from two sessions ago come true, and Gregory explains market symmetry.

13:45 - A client who had been with her company for 30 years just found out her job is going away. It turns out she will be OK financially, because she has enough assets.

16:37 - Gregory gives his take on how the markets will react to different scenarios resulting from the election. If the House and Senate stay red, the markets should be fairly happy. If they both flip, look for a pullback.

27:31 - Gregory has some hot opinions on what's at stake in the next election, the Chinese trade issues, and how you can be positioned to make money no matter who wins.

36:28 - Contribution limits for common retirement accounts like 401ks and IRAs have been increase for 2019.

40:15 - The Numbers were positive for the third day in a row. The whole month of October didn't see three consecutive winning days, so this market seems to be rethinking its trend.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.30.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 21:19:30 +0000

02:16 - Anyone can retire, but how do you retire well? Longevity has to been a concern when planning out your retirement income, and you need to be planning with the expectation of living past 90.

09:30 - Larry in Denver is coming into some money, and is thinking about putting it toward his mortgage or investing it. Gregory thinks dealing with the Adjustable Rate Mortgage should be a priority.

33:47 - The Numbers were generally positive with one stock jumping 25% today!

38:54 - Gregory reviews some reports from the earnings season, and the numbers are generally positive. It's interesting to see what this market will do with rising rates on one side, and solid earnings on the other.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 10.27.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:28:54 +0000

01:57 - Gregory Ricks and Associates is growing! A new office is opening in Biloxi and Mandeville. A common saying in the business world is: if you're not growing, you're dying. We're growing.

08:37 - Gregory Ricks Live is coming to Ruth's Chris in Metairie on Wednesday, November 14. This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

12:27 - Susan Roesgen from News With a Twist on WGNO asks for Gregory's advice for a situation with her father's estate planning.

24:58 - Trump announces the third leg in his administration's efforts to lower drug prices. He has sped up the rate of approvals for generics, signed The Patients' Right to Know into law, and now he wants to address the high costs of drugs in the US vs other countries. Gregory reviews the audio, and how these programs could affect your money.

30:55 - When it comes to income planning, Gregory stresses the importance of using reasonable returns on your investments when calculating where you're going to be in the future. If you overshoot your numbers, no problem. When you plug your numbers into Gregory's proprietary Guided Planning System, you get a pretty high probably of knowing where you're money is going to be for years down the road.

44:18 - Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo covers:
Will the Fed slow down its rate hikes in the face of market volatility?
Have home refinances stopped with rates up?
And Dwayne exposes myths about reverse mortgages.

1:31:53 - Gregory has new offices opening up in the Biloxi area, and the northshore, to better serve a wide range of people who need help.

1:43:51 - Linda in Covington asks Gregory's thoughts on using a Special Needs Trust to take care of a disabled adult child.

1:49:30 - A guy recently thanked Gregory for his guidance on dealing with high credit card debt a few years back.

1:54:09 - Gregory gives his take on what's going on with the Mississippi state pension's 13th check.

1:59:26 - Tom in Metairie asks Gregory's opinion on estate planning for those with no heirs or family at all.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 14:32:59 +0000

01:15 - The Numbers are horrible. The NASDAQ has one of its worst days in years, and the other indices all took big losses as well. The earning season is off to a good start, with some big names already beating estimates. Even little ol' Tesla turned a profit.

13:28 - Susan Roesgen from News With a Twist on WGNO asks for Gregory's advice for a situation with her father's estate planning.

26:02 - Netflix is an interesting stock to watch. It's lost a huge chunk of its value in the last week or so, and it's looking to take on more debt. On the other hand, Netflix's growth and revenue numbers are impressive, and it seems to have already ingrained itself somewhat into our modern culture.

38:12 - Student debt is crushing peoples' ability to advance their financial situation.

42:12 - Pension buyout offers

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.22.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 15:25:46 +0000

The Mega Millions jackpot is expected to be around $1.6 billion. What would Gregory do if he won?

The Daily Wrap: 10.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:29:11 +0000

03:23 - Debbie in Slidell asks Gregory how her pension from the school system will affect her Social Security check. She heard from a person at Social Security her benefit will be cut by about two-thirds. Gregory drills down with a few questions, and Debbie's situation is not nearly as bad as she has been led to believe.

09:56 - Robert in New Orleans asks Gregory if putting real estate in a trust is a good idea. Gregory warns about high tax rate and costs of a trust, but it does buy you more control.

15:47 - Gregory shares a pet peeve of a commonly seen piece of bad advice from financial world. Not everybody in the investment world is licensed as a fiduciary, and the guys who only have an insurance license sometimes have an incentive to put too much money in annuities. The commissions are great, but it may not be what's best for the you.

25:34 - Charles in Slidell asks Gregory: can I retire early? Charles wants to quit working at age 62. He doesn't have much saved thus far, so he may be better off working a few extra years.

35:38 - Joe in Metairie asks Gregory how he could best utilize Social Security spousal benefits. His wife's record is significantly bigger, they both will get pensions, and they each have savings in a retirement account.

41:01 - Kenny in Covington is 41 years old and saving for retirement. He wants to know if Gregory thinks he's on the right path.

43:52 - John in Lockport wants to retire early, and asks Gregory if he's on the right track.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:41:08 +0000

01:08 - Sears files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Gregory noticed some differences on his recent trip to Sears, and it wasn't that busy. Hear a couple of clips from Milton Friedman the Phil Donahue Show around 1980 with a debate about Sears vs Kmart.

12:56 - Gregory responds to clips on economic issues from Trump's interview on 60 Minutes. Trump's practice of Truthful Hyperbole is on display, and he gives a solid defense of his use of tariffs.

19:09 - All 3 major indices closed in the red today.

24:29 - Gregory details Tesla's recent troubles dealing with their debt. The world of Corporate Bonds can be a complicated mess when you include stock conversions and other triggers.

27:20 - What happens to warranties and service from a company that goes out of business? When a company folds, often the existing warranties are no longer honored.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

34:42 - Gregory Ricks and Associates is sponsoring the WNOE Bra Country benefit concert on Thursday at the Howling Wolf with Maddie and Tae.

37:39 - How much is a McDonald's franchise these days?

40:15 - The top 3% of tax payers paid more than half of all the income taxes.

41:04 - Mattress Firm is facing bankruptcy as well, and Gregory reports on some of their business struggles.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.12.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:35:05 +0000

00:58 - Sears bankruptcy imminent. Gregory sees it's likely to happen on Monday.

04:12 - The Numbers: After two days of a bloodbath, the markets limp along in positive territory. The isn't the robust bounce back you would hope for after such huge losses. GE is circling the drain.

12:17 - The roar of the permabears: Gregory reviews the enthusiastic permabears hoping this market correction is the tectonic collapse they've been warning us about. David Stockman, Dan Shaffer, and Peter Schiff having been consistently predicting economic doomsday, are they finally right? Is this a correction, recession, or depression?

32:19 - Medicare premiums are going up, but less than the Social Security COLA raise for 2019. Many Social Security recipients will be getting a raise! Gregory explains how Medicare premiums change according to income.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 18:16:30 +0000

00:58 - Hurricane Matthew update.

02:03 - Rufkin in Lucedale asks Gregory's thoughts on investing in your employer's stock. He's been investing through the company plan, and isn't sure if he's doing the right thing. Gregory breaks out the charts and goas through the basics on when a stock is in a buying position.

12:18 - Gregory and James summarize the topics from the Saturday show.

15:34 - Terry in New Orleans is behind on his credit card debt, and wants to know how long he would have to ignore it for it to go away. Gregory thinks that's a horrible idea.

23:39 - Gregory Ricks Live is coming to Ruth's Chris in Metairie on Wednesday, November 14. This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

25:52 - The Numbers are a downer, with a clear losing trend forming over the last week or so of trading.

33:38 - Elon Musk's troubles from tweeting are another example of how important it is to be careful what you say online.

40:30 - Dan in Metairie found some 50 year old stock certificates, and asks Gregory what he should do with them? Gregory explains some basics, and warns against holding actual the stock certificates at your house.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.08.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 02:57:08 +0000

00:49 - Quick update for the far eastern reaches of our broadcast in the path of Hurricane Matthew.

04:03 - Carla in Memphis recently sold the family business and netted about $3 million. They are working on a building a new business, and want to know if Gregory approves of using that cash as seed money to expand their new business, or should they try and leverage their new endeavor?

12:33 - Ken in Long Beach texts in asking: how can your decimated IRA be resurrected after a divorce?

14:07 - Gregory has a report showing the CBO predictions about our national debt in 2008 were comically off the mark.

22:58 - Wayne on Periscope asks Gregory if he should defer taking Social Security to age 70. Gregory asks some follow up questions, and it sounds like Wayne could mathmatically come out ahead by deferring to age 70.

33:35 - Gregory responds to a report that Ford is working on an autonomous car with no steering wheel.

37:48 - Mary from Poplarville asks Gregory how to go about difersifying her stock portfolio. She has a decent sized portfolio, and the bulk of her money is in the same sector. Gregory encourages diversification in a stock portfolio, but you have to buy into other sectors only when they are in a buying position.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 10.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 04:22:46 +0000

01:20 - In a strange twist of fate, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell thanks President Trump for the part of the new trade agreement that will open up a new revenue stream for the league from Canadian broadcast rights. Some think Trump could be holding a grudge with the NFL dating back to his days with the USFL, but this appears otherwise.

13:13 - The Windfall Elimination Provision affects those who get a pension from a job that did NOT participate in Social Security contributions.

21:00 - Kami in Hammond recently lost her husband, and asks Gregory when she is eligible to draw a Social Security survivor's benefit from his record.

28:11 - Gregory explains your options when you inherit an IRA. If you decide to take the stretch option, you will have Required Minimum Distributions, and Gregory shows you how that works.

37:54 - Longevity is a gift to your life, but can be a curse to your financial planning. Retirement is probably going to be around 30 years for you. That's why it's important for you to know what to do should you happen to inherit a decent sum of money.

49:24 - Janice in Belle Chase is a little behind on her retirement savings, so would it be a good idea to refi her house, get a reverse mortgage, or pick up a part time job in retirement?

58:13 - Melissa in Shreveport is worried about her husband not filing taxes for the last 3 years.

1:12:02 - The new jobs report released yesterday has the unemployment rate at a 49 year low of 3.7%. Wage growth is strong. Even the broader measures of unemployment are impressive. So why are we still running a trillion dollar deficit in DC?

1:16:33 - How do you update a trust? Vic in Gulfport has a trust, but he wants to change the administrator. Also, several of the properties that were in his trust have been sold, and he's bought other properties as well. Gregory explains Vic's options.

1:23:11 - Rufkin in Lucedale asks Gregory's thoughts on investing in your employer's stock. He's been investing through the company plan, and isn't sure if he's doing the right thing.

1:34:52 - Will the federal debt and deficit be a big drag on economic growth?

1:41:18 - Mary from Poplarville asks Gregory how to go about difersifying her stock portfolio. She has a decent sized portfolio, and the bulk of her money is in the same sector. Gregory encourages diversification in a stock portfolio, but you have to buy into other sectors only when they are in a buying position.

1:44:59 - Jonathan in Gulfport is active duty military facing a couple of options on his military retirement: stick with the old legacy system, or move to a blended system. The Thrift Savings Plan is the government version of a 401k, and Gregory guides Jonathan on how to best decide his retirement path.

1:59:47 - Edward in Meridian wants Gregory's opinion on the Public Sector Loan Forgiveness program. Is using the PSLF program the right way to get rid of your student debt?

2:12:12 - Carla in Memphis recently sold the family business and netted about $3 million. They are working on a building a new business, and want to know if Gregory approves of using that cash as seed money to expand their new business, or should they try and leverage their new endeavor?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.04.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 23:04:28 +0000

01:46 - The industries Millenials are ruining. Even slight changes in the tastes and behaviors of Millenials are rocking some mighty industries. I suppose cereal is too much of a hassle? And who would be against old school yogurt?

31:03 - Gregory may have invented liquid soap.

34:15 - The economy is doing great now, but what are the signs of the next downturn?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.03.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:19:02 +0000

01:47 - The USMCA is the new trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada. As more is learned about the details, the polarization grows.

07:34 - A report claims Americans are waiting longer to start their retirement benefits. Some of that behavior is influenced by the Full Retirement Age inching up, and boomers continuing to work well into their 60s.

14:34 - It's Gregory's birthday, and he opens his present on air. It's a Old Fashioned setup!

20:50 - The Numbers were historic today as the Dow sets a new all-time high. It's the 102nd record closing for the Dow since the election. Oil has shot up into the mid 70s.

30:38 - Industries Millenials are burning. Even slight changes in the tastes and behaviors of Millenials are rocking some mighty industries. Compared to previous generations, Millenials are not as fond of beer, mayonnaise, and yogurt, and their different behavior patterns tend to steer them away from golf, starter homes, and casual dining chains.

39:44 - Derrick in Covington: How should I save for my kid's college? Derrick asks if a 529 or Roth IRA is a better way to save for higher education costs?

41:23 - Juan in New Orleans is on Social Security Disability, and makes some money on the side as an Uber driver. Will his benefits ever run out? How much money can you earn while on Disability before you benefit is affected?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 10.02.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:44:52 +0000

01:08 - Quick preview of the show's headlines and topics for the day.

03:34 - Ferrari's recently announced new supercar is already sold out. Pricing starts at $1.75 million, and Ferrari is limiting production to 499. What an amazing business model you have when demand for your product far exceeds the supply.

13:34 - The House passed Tax Reform 2.0, and it heads to the Senate. It would make the individual tax cuts permanent, and create Universal Savings Accounts. Gregory prepares you for what to do if it becomes law.

18:00 - The Numbers were mixed, and the Dow sets a new all time high. Tesla's stock jumps on reports they finally met some production goals.

27:28 - Wage growth hits a 17 month high. Gregory reports on Amazon announcing a new minimum wage for their workers.

30:51 - Sears continues it's slow dismal circles around the drain. Gregory explains how the once-mighty Sears empire11:22 PM 10/2/2018 is whittling away.

35:19 - Billy in Raceland owns his home, but needs to move for work. Should he put his home up for sale now, or wait until he's found a new house first?

41:17 - Parents who are helping adult children can be hurting their retirement savings. It's always tempting to help your kids, but the average parent is spending twice as much on adult children as retirement savings.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 05:01:33 +0000

01:50 - We review the Caller of the Week: Gregory explains to John in Violet how the Required Minimum Distributions are calculated on an Inherited IRA. Gregory follows the call with a round up of what you need to do if you inherit an IRA.

8:59 - Jerome in New Orleans wants to know how he can prove he owns his businesses.

12:12 - Gregory continues to explain how business owners can get the correct information and paperwork with the government.

16:54 - The opening of the new New Orleans airport has been pushed back. What a mess that whole project has been, and it's not like the existing airport needed replacing in the first place.

23:29 - The Mississippi Gulf Coast is booming with over $167 million in new developments already permitted for the coast, and more on the way.

25:20 - The Federal Reserve raises its target funds rate as expected. This keeps Gregory's Podium Theory alive, and signals things are humming along nicely in the economy. The contrast in how current Fed Chair Jerome Powell sounds compared to former Fed Chair Janet Yellin is astounding. Gregory points out that conservative investors have some much better returns.

32:29 - Who was the best act at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas last weekend? Justin Timberlake was probably the consensus favorite, but the level of talent at the event was just through the roof. The Aria was a sleek and cool hotel and casino, the T-Mobile Arena was sharp. Lynyrd Skynyrd was better than expected, and

44:36 - Is it still a good time to get a mortgage? Dwayne Stein from MortgageGumbo.com joins the show and makes the case that right now could possibly be the lowest mortgage rates you will see for the rest of your life. No, it's not as low as it was a year ago, but rates should continue to rise and remain higher from here on out. If they get back to these levels, we probably have big problems.

46:50 - Dwayne Stein responds to a question from the Bob Massi show on what happens with a reverse mortgage when you go into a nursing home? The rules for ending a Reverse Mortgage early is a Maturity Event.

52:58 - Nick in Gulfport has been paying Social Security taxes at his job for the last 30 years, but his new job doesn't participate in Social Security in favor of a state pension.

59:22 - Bob in Harvey would like to get a better interest rate on his money in his savings account and still be able to easily withdraw it on demand? Gregory explains how your emergency money shouldn't be chasing yield, and liquid accounts aren't going to yield much.

1:11:05 - Johnny in New Orleans asks Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein how the elections will affect his investments. Will the economy slow down or take a dive if Congress changes hands?

1:18:04 - Gregory asks Dwayne what he sees on the front lines when it comes to student loan debt keeping people from getting a mortgage.

1:28:37 - Breaking news as two police officers were killed in the line of duty this morning in Brookhaven, MS.

1:32:08 - The Fed raising rates is right in line with what Gregory Ricks expected, and the rates should continue to go up at a similar rate. This is boosting ultra-conservative investors seeing their CD interest improving as they churn through renewals.

1:38:18 - Gregory follows up on the earlier question from Nick about the Windfall Elimination Provision.

1:45:50 - Thomas in New Orleans asks Gregory if CDs are more attractive now that they're interest is above 3% for a 5 year CD. Gregory points out that with a CD-like annuity, you could be getting more than 4% over 5 years.

1:55:51 - Brett texts in from the WInning at Life app to ask Gregory about his options to get out from under all this credit. Should he file bankruptcy?

1:58:26 - An anonymous texter from the app asks Gregory how he should handle his profits from cryptos.

2:03:17 - Text question: Is 3-5 months of expenses a good enough emergency fund?

2:04:29 - Brian in New Orleans asks if he should be investing into eSports? There's a huge amount of money being flooded into the eSports market, but Gregory wants to know where the exits are.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 23:02:05 +0000

00:33 - The Federal Reserve raises its target funds rate as expected. This keeps Gregory's Podium Theory alive, and signals things are humming along nicely in the economy. The contrast in how current Fed Chair Jerome Powell sounds compared to former Fed Chair Janet Yellin is astounding. Gregory points out that conservative investors have some much better returns.

16:38 - Gregory reviews a proposed law change allowing 401ks to buy annuities.

23:34 - What happens when you inherit an IRA? It's probably coming from a spouse or a parent, and those have completely different rules on how you're allowed to handle the money. Typically, around 70% of those who inherit an IRA cash it out within three years.

34:16 - Gregory explains to John in Violet how the Required Minimum Distributions are calculated on an Inherited IRA.

38:20 - Raymond in Houma thanks Gregory for his staff being so helpful on a phone call to the office the other day. He had a tough situation, and got answers to his questions.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 15:10:21 +0000

01:16 - Social Security is getting a 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment, the largest in a while. Gregory explains how your Medicare premium increases can offset your Social Security benefit, and

08:41 - Gregory shares a story of a couple who wants to retire in 3 years, and their pensions will eat into their Social Security benefits, so things get complicated. Gregory says they are ready to retire now.

25:53 - If someone says their retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be, there's a good chance they don't have the financial ability to do much.

27:42 - A trust mill gets busted for posing as Estate Planning services, and taking advantage of folks. It's reported they were just using Estate Planning as a front to sell life insurance and annuities, and they weren't even attorneys.

42:08 - Kanye bought his wife Kim some stocks for Christmas last year, and it looks like it's up about 40%.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.18.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 15:20:42 +0000

01:29 - A new poll from Gallup shows a record low number of people consider the economy the top problem in the country. Gregory thinks the fact that the President is a complete outsider from both political parties partially explains why our booming economy isn't a bigger story.

06:49 - Need a new career late in life? Learn to code! Gregory encourages those who are looking for a new career to check out some of these coding schools. They seem to be cheaper and faster than college, and we should be seeing more of this style of education in the future.

14:49 - The Numbers were green all of the way around. Gregory's immediate response is on how the new Chinese tariffs are huge, and China's response is small. Bonds took a beating today, but it's understandable they may want to be pricing in next week's expected rate hike from the Fed.

25:30 - Can you set up a Roth IRA for your kid? Steve in Canada asks Gregory if he can get his teenage daughter a Roth IRA.

37:06 - This is the number one thing Millenials do wrong with their investments: they treat their 401k like a piggy bank. More than a third of Millenials dip into their 401k.

42:22 - Douglas in Biloxi encourages older folks thinking about switching to a tech career to make the leap. Douglas asks Gregory how to get his TSP money into a Roth.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.17.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:46:07 +0000

01:04 - Why you need to sign up for your account at the Social Security website NOW. Gregory strongly encourages you to go to SSA.gov, and gives some compelling reasons on how that can save you some problems, and what to check for. It can prevent a form of identity theft, and correct your earnings record.

16:04 - This year 44% of tax payers will pay nothing in income taxes. Gregory thinks we need more people paying into the system, and it should be because more people are participating in the system and making more money.

18:27 - Student loan debt that last pasts 30 is shown to have a profound negative effect on retirement savings. Gregory reacts to a new report than show a sharp divide in how much student loan debt is too much. Go to school, don't borrow the money.

28:29 - The Numbers are all red across the indices, with some extra attention for Amazon and Tesla

44:11 - The IRS will end its offshore amnesty program as participation dwindles. The program started in 2009, and allowed those with hidden income and assets overseas to avoid criminal penalties if they come clean and pay the taxes and a fine. It ends at the end of the year.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 05:46:18 +0000

0:01:07 - The charitable heroism of the Cajun Navy response to hurricane Florence is an inspiring display. From a financial standpoint, it's important to note that all of these brave volunteers can only help others if they have an emergency fund robust enough to cover the costs of making boat rescues on the other side of the country, AND be able to miss work. Gregory encourages you to be resolute about giving back.

0:15:17 - Sears latest earnings report is dismal, more stores are closing, and the CEO blames employee pensions are sucking up too many resources to properly keep the company up to date. Gregory shares a tough lesson in the business world: be careful what you start, you may not be able to stop it. Sears started this pension program with great intentions, and even though they ended it in 2006, there's still over 100,000 retirees drawing from the system, and less than 89,000 employees still working.

Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, is our guest today.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 13:23:37 +0000

00:59 - Hurricane Florence is interrupting some college football games, including the postponing of the Southern Miss game this weekend. If you ever hear Winning at Life being preempted by sports on the air, you can always catch us on the app.

02:21 - We preview what's coming up on the Saturday show with Jude Heath: after 6 months, ZERO people have registered their short term rentals in Jefferson Parish. What's up with that? The industry disruptions from tech have already upended the taxi cab establishment, the hotel industry, and it looks like the medical field is about to feel some big shocks. The new Apple Watch unveiled this week has some medical uses, and watching the evolution is fascinating.

13:51 - Gregory lays out the many options you have when creating multiple streams of income for retirement. There is no retirement without income, and Social Security alone isn't going to cut it. You're going to have to build your own system of passive income streams, and Gregory thinks the bare minimum you need is 4. Gregory can help you get there.

35:33 - John in Picayune has a 401k from an old job with some after-tax contributions in it. How can he roll that into something with more control without screwing up the tax status?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.11.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 15:03:50 +0000

01:21- With a giant hurricane heading toward the Carolinas, it's a good opportunity to review your emergency preparation. One big change from days past is your smart phone. It could be a good idea to take pictures of some of your important documents, and get some pics/videos of your home and its contents for insurance purposes. This also reinforces the incredible importance of having an emergency fund ready to go.

10:05 - The man behind the biggest Social Security scam in history is sentenced to 27 years. He colluded with a some corrupt doctors and judges to push fake paperwork, and is reported to have squeezed more than $1 billion in taxpayer money. There have been no reforms to address his scam, and is probably going on all over the place.

12:02 - A couple working with Gregory changed their mind and wants to retire a couple years earlier than previously planned. Gregory reworks their financial plan, and makes it happen. If you want to have options like this, you will have to do what this couple did: build up multiple streams of income, have tax diversity within your investments, and the discipline to build up their assets.

18:45 - A Social Security reform package is getting some support from big names in the minority party of both the House and Senate, and would raise taxes and the earnings cap.

22:57 - Taxes on individuals are set to go up in 8 years, which means as it stands: taxes are on sale. This could be a very math-friendly time to do some Roth conversions and a few other approaches to get some tax diversity in the mix.

25:03 - In an effort to get your mind wrapped around what inflation is going to look like 30 years down the road at retirement time, Gregory gives you some context on what inflation has been like over the past 30 years. Aside from a few tech-driven exceptions, the purchasing power of the dollar has declined considerably.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.10.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 04:11:41 +0000

01:01 - You can now listen to the Winning at Life podcast on all Southwest Airlines flights via the iHeartRadio app without having to pay for Wifi!

02:23 - Research from Neilsen shows that people who are avid listeners of business podcasts like Winning at Life are more likely to buy liquor, wine, and beer than other podcast genres.

05:55 - What degree is the worst investment possible? Gregory has a list of the degree programs ranked at the top and bottom when it comes to return on investment. Science, math, engineering... always solid. Miscellaneous Fine Arts... not so much.

27:01 - The Numbers are mixed. Lululemon has taken off like a rocketship over the past year. It's up over 90% this and over 140% over the last 12 months. Is this a budding company growing into a major brand, or is this the peak of an soon-to-decline fad?

39:37 - Trevor from Ft Lauderdale (Coral Springs) calls in again. He had called over a year ago to get his finances straight. Now that he has his finances straight, should he buy a house? He has a volatile job that could take him elsewhere at any time.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.08.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 22:27:11 +0000

0:02:52 - Chris texts in a question from the Winning at Life app: is it better to max out my TSP or invest elsewhere? Gregory evaluates the different choices within a TSP like Chris', and stresses the importance of getting some tax diversity in the mix.

0:07:29 - Gregory explains how the beginning of almost any financial plan is an emergency fund.

0:13:08 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Wednesday! This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

0:14:51 - If you are drowning in credit card debt, you have to get that under control before you could ever even hope about saving for retirement. You need to get your debts settled and several streams of passive income to think about having successful retirement. Retirement isn't the end, it's just the beginning of the next phase of your life.

0:18:14 - What happens if you are unexpectedly unemployed late in life? If you have tax diversity built into your financial planning, you'll have more options than if you had everything in your 401k or IRA. If you're forced to retire early, what is your plan?

0:24:18 - Gregory and James joke about over-the-top radio announcers. Do they talk like that all day, or just at work?

0:35:53 - All 401k accounts have a Summary Plan Description. A TSP has a Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan. It's like a 401k for government workers, and even includes a Roth option.

0:42:23 - There are three ways to get money out of a TSP: a loan, an in-service withdrawal, and a post-separation withdrawal.

0:46:16 - Aretha Franklin died without a will. Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority, explains how that could cause problems that will require large amounts of the estate to be unnecessarily squandered.

0:55:05 - John in Picayune has a 401k from an old job with some after-tax contributions in it. How can he roll that into something with more control without screwing up the tax status?

1:03:13 - Walter in Carrier asks Wes Blanchard how specific a will needs to be.

1:05:32 - Patricia in New Orleans asks Wes Blanchard how she could buy out her daughter's ownership stake in her current house that's owned by a trust.

1:10:13 - Gregory asks Wes about a caller from a show last week where a woman's husband died intestate, and how he could guide someone through dealing with Community Property issues like forced heirship.

1:20:56 - The two most troublesome problems in the Estate Planning business is procrastinating clients, and clients not disclosing important information that negatively affects the outcome of an Estate Plan, according to a columnist. Wes Blanchard says he generally agrees on both counts, but understands why he often helps people who are late in life yet never made a will.

1:32:30 - Kevin Garnett claims he was scammed out of $77 million. In a lawsuit he filed against his former accounting firm, the 15-time NBA Allstar appears to be yet another professional athlete caught up in a shady advisor.

1:38:08 - Mike in Covington is having a hard time convincing his elderly father to move out of his paid-off but decayed home into a place much closer. Mike's mother is in a home on the northshore, and it would be much easier if his dad wasn't 50 miles away on the West Bank.

1:48:43 - Ryan in Biloxi asks Gregory about getting growth on the unused credit line from a reverse mortgage.

1:54:55 - Ed in Hammond plays the lotto. What does Gregory recommend if he wins?

1:59:51 - Should you bail out of the market before the election? John in Lacombe asks Gregory about getting his investments to safety until the election shakes out.

2:07:22 - Gregory decodes what's going on with the foreign trade tensions, and how China appears to be digging in for the long haul against reforming their tariffs. Most other countries are giving in and keep their economy rolling.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.07.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 03:47:50 +0000

01:19 - Elon Musk is in the headlines again for smoking what appears to be pot on the Joe Rogan podcast, and Tesla stock is taking a beating. There's a cool backstory to the Boring Company's flamethrowers.

13:29 - The media coverage of Tesla is a reminder how important it can be to maintain a positive public appearance.

25:34 - The jobs report shows strong wage growth, while the unemployment rate stays at historic lows. President Trump calls the economy a rocketship. Gregory still sees the biggest trade concern is with China.

31:19 - The markets were down for the day, while oil and gold seem to be settling in their current price range.

35:47 - Gregory explains how you need to be aware of certain age landmarks when it comes to Social Security retirement benefits and survivor benefits.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:22:47 +0000

01:12 - In 2015, a survey of Phd economists had the majority predicting a recession in 2018. A financial blogger at Zero Hedge said they would be wrong, simply because PhD economists are almost always wrong. He was right.

07:10 - Kevin Garnett claims he was scammed out of $77 million. In a lawsuit he filed against his former accounting firm, the 15-time NBA Allstar appears to be yet another professional athlete caught up in a shady advisor.

14:43 - Gregory says one of the big red flags to avoid is allowing your financial advisor to have custody of your money. They should not have custody, and they should not have signature authority to spend money or move money without your approval.

28:02 - The Numbers: a mixed market today. In a Congressional hearing on big tech yesterday, Twitter and Facebook showed up, but Google didn't. Interestingly, Google stock performed better today than Twitter and Facebook.

35:09 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Wednesday! This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

36:27 - Gregory explains when you can turn on survivor benefits, and how much early benefits will be cut.

39:14 - Retiring Super Early has a few BIG problems. Have you heard of the FIRE movement? FIRE - Financially Independent, Retire Early. In observing those who have had the financial means to retire in their 30s, 40s, 50s, there's a couple of big hurdles that ruin their finances. One is not being able to account for the exponential cost increases for healthcare, and the other is the ability to take income from your assets and still have the underlying principle grow.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 09.04.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 16:57:01 +0000

01:12 - Was there a steak in your Labor Day Weekend? Gregory and James review a report on what may be a positive economic indicator: Americans are eating more steak than ever before. Gregory updates you on his quest for the ultimate chicken sandwich recipe.

07:08 - Tropical Storm Gordon is headed for the Gulf Coast, and the radar looks like it's hitting close to Mobile.

9:02 - Scott in Mandeville asks Gregory for guidance on handling his mother's life insurance. Scott is the sole beneficiary on his mom's policy, and he wants all of the money to go to his sister who took care of their mother in her final years. How can you transfer a life insurance payout to a sibling with minimal taxes?

12:06 - A couple was asking Gregory about how the payout on their annuity should be set up. Gregory found the wife will be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision from her State pension, and they weren't aware they are in a variable annuity.

15:22 - Caller of the Week from Saturday's Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: Charles in Mandeville asks Gregory Ricks how the taxes work if he's going to take an in-kind distribution on stocks from his IRA to settle his Required Minimum Distributions. Gregory explains in pretty deep detail how non-cash property owned by your IRA can cover your Required Minimum Distributions, and figuring the tax hit can be complicated.

24:20 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, calls in to address the earlier question from Charles in Mandeville asking how the taxes on his IRA's in-kind distribution is taxed.

35:01 - You will be floored to hear how many Americans over the ages of 50 and 60 who still carry student loan debt. Gregory shares some sobering statistics on the emerging student loan debt crisis.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 09.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 20:28:27 +0000

0:01:18 - It's Labor Day Weekend! Gregory shares some history of Labor Day. In what may be a positive economic indicator, Americans are eating more steak than ever before. Gregory updates you on his quest for the ultimate chicken sandwich recipe.

0:14:32 - Charles in Mandeville asks Gregory Ricks how the taxes work if he's going to take an in-kind distribution on stocks from his IRA to settle his Required Minimum Distributions. Gregory explains in pretty deep detail how non-cash property owned by your IRA can cover your Required Minimum Distributions, and figuring the tax hit can be complicated.

0:23:47 - We review the major financial headlines of the week: the trade deal with Mexico, new record for longest bull market, new records for NASDAQ and S&P, GDP revised up to 4.2%. There's a lot of optimism about the economy in the financial news.

0:26:11 - For the pessimistic view of the financial world, David Stockman was on Wall St Week last night to continue making his case that a precipitous economic downturn is right around the corner. He's been saying this for years, and it still hasn't happened. It's hard to argue against Stockman's concern for the debt, deficits, and runaway spending by DC.

32:00 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, calls in to address the earlier question from Charles in Mandeville asking how the taxes on his IRA's in-kind distribution is taxed.

43:54 - Lesha Nugent Freeland, Realtor of the Total Wealth Athority, has concerns about how student loan debt is delaying young adults from buying a house by around 8 years. Student loans can wreck your credit score, and it's immune to bankruptcy. You're stuck.

51:50 - If you're renovating, you have to inspect the house's foundation before you do some light construction jobs.

57:34 - Do you have to take out the windows to shore a house's foundation?

1:00:53 - Lesha Nugent Freeland shares some tips on what home modernization details to look for when buying a house. A local family was recently disappointed after they moved in to a house to find it never had a cable or internet connection. It costs thousands to install, and could've been taken care of on the front end at the seller's expense.

1:06:51 - Lesha talks about a local professor and her son who moved into a house with a disturbing history. It's interesting to see how a violent crime can affect a house's ability to sell.

1:14:42 - Has your zip code's home value's gone south this year? Lesha has the New Orleans area zip codes that had the biggest drop in home prices over the last year.

1:29:08 - Should you transfer all of your credit card debts to a single card or loan? Mike texts from the Winning at Life app asking Gregory how he can get out of debt now that his kid is graduating college. Gregory has guidance on several different steps to knock out debt.

1:34:25 - When can you draw a Social Security benefit from an ex-husband's record? Ann in Covington wants to know when she qualifies to draw a benefit. Gregory shows that she can turn it on at 62, but that might not be the best time to turn it on.

1:41:03 - Will continuing to work after I turn on Social Security help raise my benefit? Jay in Mandeville texts Gregory on how continuing to work affects his Social Security record.

1:44:20 - Louise in Metairie asks Gregory if her and her husband are doing the right thing with their spousal benefits from Social Security. They are both deferring to the max age of 70, and she is currently grandfathered in under the old spousal rules, and looks to be on the right path to both benefits maxed out.

1:47:35 - You will be floored to hear how many Americans over the ages of 50 and 60 who still carry student loan debt. Gregory shares some sobering statistics on the emerging student loan debt crisis.

1:52:48 - Larry on the Northshore adds to the student loan crisis discussion with his concern about the abundance of degree programs that are almost worthless in the job market. He made rules for his kids that he would pay for college if they choose an acceptable major.

1:56:10 - Dee in New Orleans asks if she can draw a benefit from her ex-husband's record. Gregory asks a few questions, and it look like Dee needs to go to the Social Security office ASAP, because she's going to get a raise.

2:00:55 - Matthew in Metairie has first hand experience in college educated employees not having basic skills for the workplace.

2:01:57 - Suzy in Slidell had a husband who died without a will, and now her home is co-owned by her kids. How does this affect her ability to sell the house? How can she get full control of her house back?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.31.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 18:35:42 +0000

00:32 - Drew Brees has invested in Untuckit, the shirt company who plans to use Drew's capital to expand. As part of a local promotion, Drew Brees also paid for a free Untuckit shirt for every kid in a few elementary schools in the area, including the one for our co-host James' kids.

03:47 - Financial news of the day: No trade deal with Canada yet, but talks are going well.

08:05 - Trump signed executive orders directing agencies to look into two policy changes: delaying Required Minimum Distributions on your IRAs and 401ks to age 72, and allowing small businesses to form co-ops for buying employee 401k plans. Gregory responds to some Trump audio from today's event.

19:59 - The Numbers finished mixed, but the S&P and NASDAQ sitting in record territory. Lululemon had a killer earnings report and wins the short sheet for the day.

30:11 - The 3 best days in the history of the S&P500 all happened in October. There's plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the market continuing to expand in the near future.

32:31 - The unemployment rate from those with at least bachelor's degree was 2.2%. Gregory warns that not all college degrees are created equal, and some degree plans are not worth six figures in debt.

34:48 - Gregory runs down some interesting random financial statistics to cap the show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 14:07:26 +0000

01:12 - Yet another study confirms women are better drivers than men. There's a good reason men pay higher car insurance premiums than women.

05:50 - On one side, we have Trump criticizing Facebook, Google, and Twitter by name, and questioning the legality of how they run their business. On the other side, we have Bernie Sanders criticizing Amazon by name and questioning the legality of how they run their business. If both sides of the aisle are calling out major companies and threatening to control the way they do business, this can have a chilling effect on their stocks and the economy at large.

13:08 - When is it OK to buy a boat? Gregory Ricks shares some stories from clients who want to buy a boat in retirement, and it can be a big burden financially and a pain to deal with. If you're wanting to get a boat and go on a trip - maybe sail down the coast or island-hop in the Carribean - you may be better off leasing a boat temporarily rather than buying it.

27:35 - Gregory lays out some guidlines on where you should be financially before you make a big purchase like a boat, RV, or fancy car.

37:17 - Greg in Biloxi has a handful of rental properties the are paid off. He's thinking about borrowing against the properties and investing that money. Should he put that money towards picking up even more rental properties, or put that money to work on Wall Street?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:01:49 +0000

01:53 - How do Social Security Survivors benefits work? When you pass away, your Social Security record can provide benefits to your spouse, ex spouse, children, and even sometimes your parents! One of the primary concerns you should have when it comes to financial planning is: how are your loved ones going to be taken care of if something happens to you? We walk through the

08:18 - How does Social Security benefits for widows work? Your spouse can receive a benefit from your Social Security record, and we explain when and how that starts. Your ex-spouse may be able to draw on your record if the marriage was at least 10 years.

14:32 - Gregory previews a new addition to the Winning at Life nation: the WAL Podcast Library. This brings up a strong rebuke of barn doors.

17:01 - Julie from New Orleans is a widow asking Gregory Ricks if she qualifies for a survivor benefit. She's too young to turn it on now, so Gregory explains her options on when to turn it on, and how she can maximize the benefit on her own Social Security record and switch over later.

28:18 - Gregory was mentoring a fellow financial professional who recently started her own radio show in another state, and it reminded him of when this show first got started.

29:42 - Gregory Ricks Live is coming to Ruth's Chris in Metairie September 12. This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

33:41 - The Numbers were mostly positive. The S&P, NASDAQ, and Russell2000 all hit a record high closing.

38:28 - Snapchat is the biggest loser of the day on the Winning at Life Numbers page, and if you click through to see the full chart, you'll see it's been on a downtrend since the initial pop at the IPO. So many high profile IPOs get tons of media attention when it jumps up on the first day or two of trading, but if you follow up on some of these IPOs down the road, they often wind up in the ditch.

42:56 - Tim in Lutcher asks Gregory if he could convert some of his 401k assets into a Roth IRA.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.25.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 23:12:18 +0000

0:01:17 - Money really can buy happiness. A new study shows a strong correlation of money and happiness. It doesn't have anything to do with accomplishments, either. If a person won the lottery or inherited money, the results are about the same as earned financial success. Gregory points out that the more money you have, the more options you have, and that's a huge contributor to achieving real happiness.

0:16:35 - Emile watching on Facebook Live asks Gregory: should he continue contributing to his 401k at work, or redirect that money to a Roth IRA? Gregory walks through the different tax worlds in retirement investing, and stresses the importance of having having some tax free income in the mix.

0:24:45 - Robert in Houma went to a seminar for someone selling annuities, and wanted a second opinion from Gregory Ricks on some of the different financial tools mentioned. Robert asks Gregory about the process of how a fixed annuity works.

0:35:17 - Gregory teaches you how to decode whether the financial professional you're evaluating is a salesman pushing product. Having a fiduciary means they will act in your best interest, even if that means not working in alternative investments.

0:41:14 - Ray in Houma asks Gregory Ricks if his wife can draw a Social Security check based off the record of her ex husband who has since deceased. Easy answer: No. Once you're remarried, you can no longer draw a benefit from the record of a deceased spouse.

0:47:30 - What happens when a Reverse Mortgage is finished? Dwayne Stein, from the Total Wealth Authority and host of MortgageGumbo.com, explains how the options work in a Reverse Mortgage Maturity Event. There's several different events that can trigger a Maturity Event, including if you live outside of the residence for 12 months.

1:00:18 - What happens when you get a reverse mortgage and then change your mind? Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein explore scenarios that could play out if you get a reverse mortgage, but then decide later that this isn't a good fit.

1:13:40 - John in Violet asks Dwayne Stein and Gregory Ricks about some of the basics of reverse mortgages. What's the average lifespan of a reverse mortgage? How are the payments structured?

1:25:06 - Is the Fed going to raise rates twice before the end of the year? Gregory and Dwayne discuss the conditions the Fed reviews when deciding on rate hikes.

1:34:35 - The stock market breaks the record for the longest bull market in history! Strong fundamentals are behind the latest market rally, with profits beating expectations on average all year.

1:36:32 - Gregory illustrates how job statistics are painting an optimistic future of the economy in the near term. There are some concerns when it comes to international trade, and the stock market has been mostly sideways this year, so there's a chance another big rally is in the works.

1:42:16 - You probably have a million dollars and don't know it. When you think about how much money you would need to generate your Social Security benefits per couple without a spend down, it's about a million dollars. The decision on how you can maximize your Social Security benefit is a million dollar decision.

1:47:16 - John in Jackson asks Gregory if he should use some of his liquid assets to pay off his mortgage.

1:54:57 - Bill texts in from the Winning at Life app if there's any restrictions on a reverse mortgage for his guest house that doesn't have central air.

1:57:53 - How much can you contribute to your HSA? Robert texts in a question from the app about the annual funding cap on a Health Savings Account. Gregory walks through the different caps on HSAs depending on your age and marital status.

2:02:04 - What should you do with an annuity maturing soon? Cheryl emails a question to Gregory about how to handle her annuity when it matures early next year. Gregory walks through the factors you need to consider when deciding the fate of your maturing annuity.

2:05:04 - Can you get interest from the unused portion of a HELOC. Jim texts in a question about getting interest on a line of credit, but the story from earlier in the show was a line of credit from a reverse mortgage, not a HELOC.

2:08:17 - David asks Gregory if filing for bankruptcy is a good way to get his debt under control. He has a huge student loan debt, and a pretty big credit card balance. Gregory points out that student loan debt is basically immune to bankruptcy, and he'd probably be better off just bucking up and paying down the debt over time.

2:11:32 - Can savings apps like Acorn really help you start saving more money? Gregory

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 04:41:23 +0000

02:48 - Gregory reviews the story of a man in his late 60s who is fairly irate he didn't know he could be drawing a Social Security benefit off of his deceased ex wife's record before switching to his own.

14:07 - Chicago wants to try and fix its pension hole by issuing a different kind of bond that allows them to chase more yield with the principle. It could be disastrous if they incur significant losses.

19:38 - The economy keeps churning out strong numbers, which means we can expect the Fed to raise rates two more times this year.

26:28 - Stay connected to the show with the Winning at Life app! The Winning at Life app lets you listen live, listen on demand, watch the show, and connect to our social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram, Periscope, and Youtube!

30:37 - Stan in New Orleans has a flurry of questions that cover the basics on what he can do with his old 401k, and if taking income from the 401k would affect his Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.23.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:22:34 +0000

01:10 - Gregory's trip to Kansas was full of financial planning studying and great BBQ.

07:26 - Denisein Ocean Springs is on Social Security Disability, and her husband is about to turn on his Social Security retirement benefit at his full retirement age this year. What are her options? Would she get more by switching over to his record? Does waiting to switch give her a bigger benefit?

09:54 - The host of Mortgage Gumbo Dwayne Stein will be our guest on Saturday covering three issues. What happens when you need to unwind a reverse mortgage? How does the Fed raising rates affect your money? Should you apply for a refinance online, on the phone, or in person?

16:07 - The Numbers are generally down, but not by much. Tesla news continues to stream out, and its stock has rebounded a bit from recent drama. The Saudi idea of taking Aramco public has been withdrawn.

24:03 - There's no such thing as retirement without income.

25:56 - What happens when your Tesla runs out of power before you get home? Gregory relays a story from a colleague who got stranded in his Tesla SUV.

35:54 - Now that we are in the longest bull market in history, is it time to get out?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.18.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 04:22:24 +0000

0:01:19 - We review the top financial headlines of the week, and James tells the story of how he came home from a charity gala last night with two new guitars.

0:13:45 - Gregory goes into a lot more depth on how a 7702 plan works. How is it structured? How is it funded? How can it be used for tax free income? How is it different than a Roth IRA? Gregory gives some numbers on how a 7702 plan was set up.

0:18:46 - Do you need to have earned income to contribute to a 7702 plan? John in Violet asks Gregory if he can get some of his existed assets positioned for tax free income.

0:23:59 - Gregory in Metairie shares his appreciation for Gregory Ricks going into more details on the options in the life insurance world.

0:41:32 - So you want a bigger house, and you finally have some money to make that happen. How do you know if you should add on to your existing house, or move? And if you choose to move, how do you know if you should build a new house or get an existing one? This week's guest from the Total Wealth Authority, Lesha Nugent Freeland of Keller Williams Realty, has tips for when you are looking to upgrade your house.

1:02:54 - Adding on to your house may make it much harder to sell! Lesha Nugent Freeland shares the pain of a couple that added on a second story when grandma moved in to help out with the kids. Now the house is almost twice as big as every other house in the neighborhood, and a very unpopular mansard roof style doesn't help much either.

1:29:49 - You have 3 beneficiary options in your IRA. Gregory decodes the details of how to know which IRA beneficiary option fits your situation.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 13:41:22 +0000

00:40 - The financial world is clearing up from the initial uncertainty from the tariff hikes across most of the US trading partners. The EU has already come around, Mexico is expected to announce a deal soon, and both Canada and China sound like they want to work things out soon. Gregory and James recognize some of the classic negotiating tactics taught in business school, and it seems to be much more effective than the typical approach from a politician.

08:05 - In response to escalating tariffs and criticism from the United States, the Turkish President calls for a boycott of American products. Some have posted videos smashing their iPhones. Really?

14:35 - Aretha Franklin passed. Best singer ever? Gregory thinks this sounds like the debate over the best basketball player ever.

17:44 - What should you do with the extra income from overtime? Derrick in Picayune asks Gregory what he should do with the extra income he's been getting from working overtime: paying off his student loan, build up his emergency savings, or something else?

21:17 - Gregory shares some wisdom from Ben Franklin's workday schedule. Franklin kept notes on his daily routine that begins with waking up at 5am. Waking up early and getting started can make a big difference, and focusing on a daily goal is important as well.

36:34 - The Numbers are mostly green, with trade negotiations giving the markets optimism this tariff mess will end shortly. Walmart had a great quarterly wearnings report with huge growth in their digital sales and pickup services.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 16:33:39 +0000

01:07 - Tesla gets a subpeona from the SEC, and it's reported to be over the events that caused Tesla's stock to be halted last week. If you're a do-it-yourself investor, it's important you know what the laws say about sharing inside business information.

07:35 - Turkey has been selling off about half of their holdings in US debt. Gregory thinks it could be because they needed the money, and may not have much to do with them divesting from the US.

15:51 - Questions you should ask the trustee of your IRA Iheritance Trust. Does the Trustee know how to properly handle the titling on the IRA after it passes through the trust?

18:50 - Does the Trustee know about all of the issues that need to be resolved during the Shakeout Period? Does the Trustee know the Shakeout Period deadline?

25:13 - Ryan in Metairie asks Gregory to explain how the clawback rules work for those who turn on Social Security before their Full Retirement Age.

38:47 - Kobe Bryant cashes in on an investment into the sports drink Body Armor, after it was sold to Coca Cola. Gregory shares a report showing Kobe turned $6 million to $200 million.

40:26 - What can you do if your property is trying to be annexed? Charles is calling from an unincorporated area of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and if his property gets annexed as planned, his taxes will go through the roof!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.14.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 04:12:53 +0000

00:53 - Gregory explains the different fees that may come with a variable annuity.

14:03 - How can you get started young for retirement savings? Donald in Slidell is 21 and setting up his first 401k. What guidance does Gregory have for a young guy just getting started in the working world who wants to get an early start on saving for retirement?

24:55 - A guy asks Gregory if he can get a spousal benefit from his deceased ex wife's record.

26:17 - Gregory helps a client understand how to arrange the beneficiary designations for her IRAs and other assets, and how to use a trust to make sure it all goes down correctly.

36:25 - You have 3 beneficiary options in your IRA. Gregory decodes the details of how to know which IRA beneficiary option fits your situation.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:54:01 +0000

02:01 - Winning at Life lost a friend of the show today. He was a good example of a guy who worked hard to develop his expertise, and used his success to help others. It's always impressive to see a guy who constantly stayed up-to-date in his field his entire career. Gregory stresses the power of constant self improvement, and how investing time in your own ability is crucial.

13:46 - Will a Saudi Prince bail out Tesla so it can go private? Gregory shares a report that the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund is estimated at about $2 trillion. Buying out Tesla for $80 billion would be nothing for them. Will they? Will it work?

22:34 - John Goodenough developed the lithium-cobalt breakthrough in battery technology 30 years ago. Now in his late 90s, he's working on the next generation.

26:41 - Do you need to have earned income to contribute to a 7702 plan? John in Violet asks Gregory if he can get some of his existed assets positioned for tax free income.

28:34 - Gregory goes into a lot more depth on how a 7702 plan works. How is it structured? How is it funded? How can it be used for tax free income? How is it different than a Roth IRA?

38:00 - Gregory gives some numbers on how a 7702 plan was set up.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.11.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 04:36:05 +0000

0:01:08 - The Space Force tasks will include protecting the banking system's reliance on GPS. All of our lives have become incredibly reliant on the technology floating above us in orbit. Gregory reacts to a guy from NASA saying: if our satellites get hit, there won't be milk in the grocery store in three days.

0:14:23 - Gregory talks about the two biggest catastrophes he thinks could happen. Some of this will be addressed by this new Space Force. It also gives you an idea how you would want to be prepared for emergencies.

0:19:34 - The ability to see what's coming could help you decide what investments to make. If you were able to see the dominance of cell phones 30 years ago, you would've known to jump in on those various tech stocks that are tied to cell phones.

0:25:11 - James in New Orleans is maxing out his 401k and still has extra money to invest at the end of the month. What are some of his other investing options for retirement?

0:33:30 - Do you need to have earned income to contribute to a 7702 plan? John in Violet asks Gregory if he can get some of his existed assets positioned for tax free income.

0:35:38 - How can you get started young for retirement savings? Donald in Slidell is 21 and setting up his first 401k. What guidance does Gregory have for a young guy just getting started in the working world who wants to get an early start on saving for retirement?

0:46:08 - Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorny of the Total Wealth Authority, reacts to the story of a married couple of retired schoolteachers who left a painting behind worth $160 million.

0:57:01 - Lance in Biloxi is the executor of his elderly parents' trust, and wants Gregory's help making the best use of their assets to cover their long term care. Wes Blanchard and Gregory Ricks talk about some of the similar cases they've seen for Lance's situation.

1:03:38 - Wes and Gregory explain how capital gains are calculated for a house that's donated or inherited.

1:07:40 - How does the inheritance laws work for siblings that have no children? Johnny in Gentilly asks Wes Blanchard and Gregory Ricks how the property would be dispersed for him and his siblings, none of whom have children.

1:18:47 - Steven in Arabi is thinking about getting rid of his rental properties before starting Social Security so he doesn't get penalized for having income. Gregory explains that rental income is usually considered passive income that won't be subject to the early Social Security clawback.

1:22:58 - Carol in Folsom wants to amend her will. Can you handwrite an addition to your will and just have it added in? Wes Blanchard explains that's called a codicil, and a codicil must fit the format of the original will. It's not unusual to have

1:26:38 - Did Elon Musk tweets about Tesla break the law? Wes Blanchard and Gregory Ricks detail the fine line the Tesla CEO was walking with his bizarre behavior via Twitter this week that halted trading of Tesla stock.

1:29:57 - James reviews a quick list of financial news stories from Mississippi for the week, with new business deals bringing more jobs. Gregory helps decode how the tightening job market still has a ways to go before if we hope to see significant wage increases.

1:37:50 - Thomas from Gonzales needs help understanding his Social Security options. He has two ex wives of over 10 years each. He also has a pension that comes with a Windfall Elimination Provision offset on his Social Security retirement benefit. Gregory asks a few questions, and gives Thomas his two best options.

1:42:09 - JD in Ocean Springs has been working for a municipal system in Mississippi that doesn't participate in Social Security. He asks Gregory how the PERS retirement system pension could affect his Social Security benefits with the Windfall Elimination Provision.

1:48:28 - What is this Space Force really all about? The technology dependent on GPS is some of the most critical functions in our society. The technology pursuits that seek to make our satellites more secure, and the techonology pursuits that give us a more efficient alternatives for satellite usage, those will be the ones that a forward thinking investor would want to research and watch.

1:53:22 - The stock market was at $31.1 trillion in July 2018, and was at $7.6 trillion at the bottom of the 2009 low. Gregory walks you through the history on how long it has taken the stock market to double over the years.

1:57:49 - Phillip in Corinth is playing catch up on his investing for retirement. A Roth IRA sounds like something he would like to get into, and Gregory explains how Phillip can get some tax free retirement income in the mix.

2:02:30 - Paul calls from Dauphin Island to ask Gregory's opinion on his TSP options. Paul is enrolled under FERS, and has needs help with the different fund plans available in a Thrift Savings Plan.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 04:27:08 +0000

20 Things Rich People Do Every Day (that poor people don't).

22:42 - David in New Orleans wants to know if there's an age at which he can stop paying taxes.

32:21 - JD in Ocean Springs has been working for a municipal system in Mississippi that doesn't participate in Social Security. He asks Gregory how this could affect his benefits with the Windfall Elimination Provision.

The Daily Wrap: 08.08.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:25:53 +0000

00:44 - Elon Musk may be in hot water over his bizarre behavior yesterday in connection with Tesla stock being halted. There's still some missing details around the incident, and some analysts are making a pretty convincing case that Elon Musk ran afoul of the law. A big issue is whether or not Musk had really secured funding for a buyout as claimed in his tweet.

07:18 - A Congressman is charged with insider trading, and it looks in some ways like a textbook case. However, it looks like the Congressman himself didn't make any trades, but he passed along inside info before it was made public to his son, and a handful of people DID make trades based on that info.

23:02 - Gregory explains how and why stock indices have rules in place that causes a stock to be halted, or sometimes trading across a whole index could be halted.

28:51 - The Numbers are mostly flat today, and the fun part is in the short sheet.

32:28 - Norman in Garyville bought some gold biscuits in Dubai over the last 15 years or so, and it's turned out well. Those gold commercials rub him the wrong way, though.

40:43 - If you invested $1000 in Apple ten years ago, how much would it be worth today? If you invested $1000 in Tesla at their IPO eight years ago, how much would it be worth today?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.07.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:22:01 +0000

01:14 - What the heck happened with Tesla stock today? Elon Musk tweeted about taking Tesla private, the stock trading was halted, and then it was resumed for the last 15 minutes of the trading day. Something doesn't seem right about this whole situation, and there's a chance this may end up being huge news down the road.

16:29 - Gregory and James preview an upcoming show topic on 20 things rich people do that poor people do not. Gregory is an early riser, and given our time zone, there's advantages to getting your day started early. When we're waking up, Europe is halfway through their day. Scheduling is something you need to master to be as productive as possible.

25:31 - Gregory helps a guy find his place on the financial path. He wants to retire at 61, and needs to generate income from assets to fill the gap until Social Security kicks in at FRA.

27:47 - James in New Orleans is maxing out his 401k and still has extra money to invest at the end of the month. What are some of his other investing options for retirement?

35:39 - The Social Security tax brackets were set in 1993, and hasn't been indexed for inflation. Most people drawing an income from assets in retirement will cause their Social Security benefits to have some tax exposure, but tax free income could save you thousands by staying off the 1040.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 08.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 14:54:50 +0000

02:00 - We recap some of the highlights from Saturday's show, including the discussion on how people so often get themselves into a situation where they are years behind on their taxes.

05:19 - What's up with REITs? Are they good investment tools? Gregory shares how to know which kind of Real Estate Investment Trust is a good investment. A primary consideration when evaluating a REIT is the exits. Can you get out of it? How long will it take? How much will it cost to exit early? Real Estate Investment Trusts can be a good investment in the right circumstances, but you really have to be cautious about the exits.

12:09 - Log in to your account at SSA.gov and check out your status with Social Security.

22:39 - An elderly couple passes on and leaves a painting hanging in their bedroom worth $160 million. Investigations show strong evidence this quiet little schoolteacher household had a secret life of stealing tons of money and travelling to 140 countries. And, it looks like they got away with it all.

32:41 - Gregory explains why you might need to be at his next live event September 12.

34:53 - Can you convert your IRA into a Roth IRA? Susan in New Orleans wants to know if she qualifies to convert her traditional IRA to Roth status.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 08.04.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 13:53:17 +0000

0:01:34 - A proposed reform to the Capital Gains Tax looks promising. It would index the cost basis for inflation, thus saving on taxes at the point of sale.

0:04:49 - The Paul Manafort trial is all about hiding income to avoid taxes. Years before working for Trump, Manafort made millions in the Ukraine and surrounding areas, but hide it from the IRS to avoid taxes. Gregory believes its better to pay your taxes than go to jail.

0:13:16 - Gregory went to a back-breaking conference in the Bahamas: beautiful beaches, great food, and some financial wisdom.

0:16:33 - Gregory Ricks Live is coming to Ruth's Chris in Metairie September 12. This is your chance to meet Gregory Ricks, and find out more about what Gregory Ricks and Associates can do for your financial future. Learn about how to decode volatility, Social Security planning, how to generate income streams, tax strategies, and estate planning.

0:31:03 - What's up with REITs? Are they good investment tools? Gregory shares how to know which kind of Real Estate Investment Trust is a good investment. A primary consideration when evaluating a REIT is the exits. Can you get out of it? How long will it take? How much will it cost to exit early?

0:37:17 - Gregory gives you reasons you would need to use a trust. A trust is all about controlling your assets, and there's ways you can use trusts to protect and distribute your retirement assets specifically. There's also a few basic guidelines on when you do NOT need a trust.

0:44:21 - Harold in Gautier asks Gregory for his opininion on his household's financial situation. They are in retirement with enough assets to cover their income, and a house that's paid off with no other debts. Where are the holes in their financial planning that Harold hasn't thought of?

0:55:05 - What's the real deal behind those tax relief services you hear in advertisements? Jude Heath and Gregory Ricks agree there is no shortcuts to getting your taxes settled up. There may be ways you can get some help, but it's going to be through a proper CPA who specializes in taxes. Jude explains how unravelling the story behind back taxes may take a while, and the bigger issues make take longer, but Jude will get you on the path to recovery.

1:07:59 - Gregory and Jude analyze the Paul Manafort trial for evading taxes on foreign income.

1:12:21 - Lance in Biloxi is the executor of his elderly parents' trust, and wants Gregory's help making the best use of their assets to cover their long term care.

1:19:39 - Can you convert your IRA into a Roth IRA? Susan in New Orleans wants to know if she qualifies to convert her traditional IRA to Roth status.

1:28:34 - The Federal Reserve decides to keep the interest rates unchanged this week. Art Laffer explain the proposed reform that would index capital gains taxes for inflation.

1:32:12 - Apple becomes the first company to be worth more than $1 trillion. 20 years ago, it was almost bankrupt. It's an amazing story.

1:36:51 - Robert in Jackson has a friend who is inheriting an IRA left to her from her deceased son. Gregory Ricks spells out her options, decodes the taxes.

1:39:34 - What do I do with this old 401k? Sean in New Orleans has a 401k still sitting at the old job, and wants to know Gregory's ideas on what he should do with it.

1:43:45 - Dave in New Orleans was gifted his mother's house before she died. Now that he's going to sell it, what is tax exposure? Will he be charged capital gains for the entire value of the house?

1:48:47 - Ben in Laplace wants Gregory's opinion on how to handle a Securities Based Line of Credit as interest rates keep creeping up.

1:59:06 - Van Dyke in Oxford asks Gregory's opinion on how he has his retirement contributions set up in the company plan.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 04:05:16 +0000

02:05 - The GDP grew at 4.1% for the second quarter. This is a great number, and all but guarantees the Fed will continue raising rates. The tariff battles with China still loom large over future economic growth. Gregory also points out some weakness in the tech sector staining an otherwise positive earnings season.

0:13:21 - Mark in Pearl River asks Gregory: Does Louisiana tax distributions from your TSP (Thrift Savings Plan)?

0:14:14 - Jonathan in Picayune is maxing out his IRA and Roth IRA contributions. What should he do to invest for retirement beyond that?

0:17:46 - Social Security COLA increases have not been keeping up with inflation across most important spending categories. A report claims this has resulted in a net loss of the purchasing power of the average Social Security benefit of a little over $400 per month. Gregory explains how Social Security may look a little different by the time you retire, but it's probably not going away.

0:21:04 - Mike in Poplarville wants to know if he and his wife have enough assets to retire. Gregory asks a few questions, and helps Mike find out where he is on the retirement path.

0:28:32 - Chris in Pontchatoula is thinking about retiring soon, and wants to know if there's any way he can beef up his Social Security record and get a larger check. Conversly, will retiring early hurt his benefit because he stops paying into the system?

0:34:55 - Gregory gives some details on how the tax code can be used in different ways by filers when it comes to their Social Security. Some states tax your Social Security, and some do not. Social Security can be taxable at the federal level once certain income limits are met.

0:41:03 - Susan in Gulfport wants to know if retiring a few years before turning on her Social Security will hurt her benefit much.

0:49:28 - Ray in New Orleans asks Gregory how his wife's participation in a State pension could affect her Social Security benefits. Her work record is pretty evenly split between the private and public sector, and if she can go get a few more years in a job that pays into Social Security, she may be able to not have any offset to her benefits from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

0:57:30 - Jim in Bush asks Gregory how his Social Security benefit would be affected if he took a job offer in South America that doesn't pay into Social Security. Gregory explains how missing a few years of Social Security contributions could cut into your benefit amount. Dwayne Stein adds he had a client with a similar situation recently, and there's other considerations in taking a job overseas.

1:07:20 - Dwayne Stein and Gregory Ricks discuss how you can use a reverse mortgage and get some interest on the unused portion of the credit available. Dwayne spells out the differences between a fixed reverse mortgage, and an annual reverse mortgage.

1:13:25 - Nick in New Orleans asks Gregory and Dwayne about what happens with a couple in a reverse mortgage when a spouse passes away.

1:18:05 - Reagan in Springfield asks Gregory to explain how a traditional IRA can be converted to a Roth IRA.

1:29:50 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com and Gregory show you how you can take out a line of credit through a reverse mortgage and get guaranteed compounding interest on your home's equity for years. This allows you to grow the amount of money you will have available for distributions, or at least helps you keep up with the interest accruing on the other side of the ledger.

1:38:52 - Judy in Starkville asks if continuing to work after she's started taking Social Security benefits will change the size of her check.

1:49:12 - Mary in Poplarville had some of her Social Security benefit clawed back because she continued to work after turning it on early. Will this stop at some point?

1:51:56 - Bob in Pass Christian needs Gregory's help to know when he can qualify for Social Security disability or retirement benefits.

1:54:31 - John in Pascagoula asks Gregory if his state pension in Mississippi will affect his Social Security benefits.

2:02:53 - Jennifer in Covington maxes out her IRA and Roth IRA every year. Where should she put her additional retirement savings?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.27.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 14:26:44 +0000

01:37 - The GDP grew at 4.1% for the second quarter. This is a great number, and all but guarantees the Fed will continue raising rates. The tariff battles with China still loom large over future economic growth.

15:29 - Is Social Security going broke? Gregory gets asked often if Social Security will be going away at some point in the future. Gregory explains how Social Security may look a little different by the time you retire, but it's probably not going away.

24:58 - Mary in Poplarville wants Gregory's opinion on an investment opportunity from one of her friends. Gregory gives her some questions to research about the investment, and helps her understand how to evaluate an opportunity like this.

36:03 - Gregory reports on a survey showing most Baby Boomers are planning on Social Security being their main source of income in retirement. You will have to come up with additional income if you want to maintain your standard of living. If you don't have enough money saved up, delaying Social Security becomes even more important.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.26.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 16:41:20 +0000

01:41 - Venezuela is expected to have 1,000,000% inflation this year, and GDP growth of -18% according to the IMF. It's a real humanitarian crisis that has deteriorated to one of the worst hyperinflation collapses in history.

06:42 - Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says we could have a new trade deal worked out with Mexico soon. The new President-Elect of Mexico already has a team working with a team Trump assembled to replace the old NAFTA rules. The new guy gets sworn in on December 1st, and we may have a deal ready to sign by then.

10:44 - It's possible that 5 states have a debt spiral they can't escape without reforming their pension systems. Gregory sees the shift from defined-benefit plans to defined-contribution plans, and how to best utilize those tools.

13:06 - What do you do when your 401k loan is ended? Gregory explains the two most likely scenarios: you leave the job, or you miss the payments. If you leave the job, whether voluntary or not, the unpaid portions of your loan will be considered a plan loan offset. If your loan ends because you miss too many payments, it will be considered a deemed distribution.

27:24 - Gregory teaches you the different timelines allowed when settling up a deemed distribution and a plan loan offset.

30:03 - The Numbers are mostly positive, but Facebook had the worst one-day market cap loss in history.

37:20 - A check scammer was using the identities of famous people in Florida for years.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.25.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:42:25 +0000

01:01 - Trump and the head of the EU announce an agreement to end the tariff battles between the United States and European Union. Juncker, the EU President, added they would also up their purchases of US soybeans and natural gas. This appears to help us ecnonmically with Europe, and put the squeeze on Russia and China. We hear some audio from Trump and Juncker going into more details about the agreement, and Gregory explains how this is good news for your investments.

14:10 - A report claims oil could soon be $200 per barrel. Gregory breaks down the report that focuses on how ultra-low sulphur regulations could make things quite expensive for the oil industry and industrial companies reliant on fossil fuels. Will natural gas be able to fill some of the market vacated by skyrocketing gasoline?

23:27 - Byron in Houma says natural gas isn't really a good fit for personal vehicles, because it's not so easy to transfer and store. Gregory agrees that as the technology stands now, the danger sounds a little steep for LNG based engines, but if we could efficiently change natural gas into more stable form of fuel, that's a more likely solution.

27:54 - Bob in Bay St Louis is going to use the proceeds from a home sale to buy a new house. Should he put all his money down on the house to keep the payments low, or should he put the minimum down and keep a cash reserve? Gregory asks a few questions and thinks Bob may want to look into the details on how a reverse purchase could fit his situation.

35:57 - The Numbers segment is positive for our major indices, but most of those gains were in the last hour of trading when the EU deal was announced. Facebook is taking a double-digit beating in share price after their Q2 earnings came in with a rare miss.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:31:12 +0000

01:10 - Mississippi's tax-free school shopping holiday is this weekend. James finds it odd that the tax-free holiday for school shopping doesn't include actual school supplies. On the other side of the border, Louisiana just cancelled its tax-free holidays for the next 7 years.

06:40 - Demographic reports show that people are migrating to Texas and Florida more than any other states. It's probably a good combination of weather and no income tax. The states people are leaving the most: Illinois and West Virginia.

12:39 - A piece of financial advice from the TV show Cheers weaves in neatly with a Joe in Metairie, who is thinking about taking a loan from his 401k to cover the cost of getting into an investment property. Gregory is usually against making such a move, but after a few probing questions, Joe may be making a good move here.

19:21 - How do you know if you're getting a good deal on a real estate investment? Gregory gives you some guidance on how to evaluate investment properties.

23:38 - Bitcoin is still in the dumps and having problems. There's still some optimism for the face of the crypto world, but another crypto-scam in the news doesn't help.

30:18 - The Numbers are strong in light of a stellar start to Q2 earnings season.

34:09 - Gregory reports on credit-default swaps being used to trade Tesla's debt contracts.

39.55 - Google is crushing it. They beat earnings, and have much more room to grow.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weeky Wrap: 07.21.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 23:24:00 +0000

02:49 - Gregory tells about his face off with a raccoon in the backyard.

17:91 - The duck boat tragedy in Missouri is horrible, and reminds Gregory of his experience in a duck boat ride. Gregory isn't much for taking risks these days, especially considering the amount of people who are counting on him.

21:21 - The annual report on the state of retirement savings in America shows that people are doing a better job of saving than previous years, but are still behind schedule. Gregory warns against using overly optimistic returns on your investments when planning for the future. If you plan for 7% returns on your money, but only get 5%, you will be behind. If you plan for 4%, but get 5%, you will have a little extra cushion.

25:55 - Mosquito Joe gets a shotu out. West Nile has shown up in Louisiana, but there's no bugs in Gregory's yard.

27:24 - Susan in New Orleans asks Gregory: Would you ever put an annuity in an IRA? Gregory says yes, sometimes it's the right thing to use a fixed annuity in an IRA.

33:15 - CALPERS, the largest public pension in the US, is going to have to make some serious changes soon to avoid a total meltdown.

37:47 - Defined benefit plans are proving to be a problem over the long term, and will have to give way to defined contribution plans. If you don't make your anticipated returns on a defined contribution plans, there's no pain to the outside world, but if you don't make your returns on a defined benefit plan, someone is going to have to pay up: usually either the company or taxpayers.

40:51 - Joe in Metairie is thinking about taking a loan from his 401k to cover the cost of getting into an investment property. Gregory is usually against making such a move, but after a few probing questions, Joe may be making a good move here.

47:44 - Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, helps us break down the proposals floated for Tax Reform 2.0. Gregory hears the push for annuities, and is concerned Wall Street may be using their influence for that to include variable annuities. Bending policy curves toward fixed annuities could be a great alternative to the defined-benefit plans supplying income to retirees. Jude Heath agrees that tax policy could easily be tweaked to encourage and reward savers. Lifting the earning cap and contribution limits on 401ks and IRAs would be good start, and capping taxes on distribution would be helpful on the back end.

1:00:45 - Tax Reform 2.0 continues to be dissected byt Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath. For all of the tax breaks mentioned, will Congress be able to get this passed as is, or will they have to balance out the lost revenue with spending cuts and/or tax hikes elsewhere?

1:01:54 - Carol in Mississippi asks if the states also charge a penalty for IRA distributions before age 59.5? Gregory says that penalty is at the federal level only, although states will tax retirement benefits differently.

1:09:21 - Steve in Slidell heard Gregory mention that 401k withdrawals have no penalty if you separated from the employer after age 55. Does that still hold true if you roll that 401k into an IRA?

1:13:07 - The proposed Universal Savings Accounts don't seem to make much sense. Gregory and Jude talk about how similar financial tools already exist, and it would be better to simply make some minor changes to the Roth IRA rules rather than create a whole new financial structure.

1:21:25 - Gregroy and Jude agree we should expand HSAs. Tax Reform 2.0 mentions the idea of making Health Savings Accounts available to more people, and possibly lifting the contribution amount. Gregory would like to see HSAs for everyone, and the contribution limits need to be much higher. Jude agree that would be huge.

1:33:46 - Gregory talks about having a fun day at the racetrack: NOLA Motorsports Park.

1:41:59 - Of the Millenials who have purchased a home, 68% are unhappy with it. Some of this can be explained by the drag on time and resources, but that only means Millenials had unreal expectations going into the deal. Owning a home causes many little expenses that are rarely discussed: the monthly home alarm bill, the quarterly pest control, appliances breaking, lawn care, painting, and anything a kid can break.

1:50:35 - Americans will pay $104 billion in credit card interest and fees this year.

1:52:57 - Chase in Gulfport has $2,000 in extra income monthly to invest. Should he pay down his mortgage with that money, or is there better options? Gregory asks a few questions, and has some powerful investing options for that money, maybe even using a 7702 plan.

2:07:44 - Cici in Sardis asks Gregory if her mortgage payments should have whittled away more principle than reported. Gregory explains how most of her payment is going to taxes, insurance, and interest, rather than principle. As the mortgage moves along, the principle payoff should accelerate.

2:09:57 - Michael in Imlay City, Michigan asks Gregory about the commercials selling you gold in your IRA: can you actually hold your physical gold investments personally if you're buying them through your IRA? Gregory warns that could be considered self dealing, and generally leans away from physical gold as an investment tool.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 15:33:14 +0000

01:18 - Gregory explains how Trump should factor into your financial decisions.

03:52 - Gregory reports on how much of our national debt is held by foreign countries, and how many countries have sold off big chunks of our bonds. Russia has unloaded most of their bond holdings, and has been buying up gold. What's going on with that?

13:13 - Russia's GDP has fallen by almost half since the price of oil crashed a few years ago. Gregory shows how Russia lost money dumping our bonds, and lost money on the gold they've been acquiring in recent years.

16:10 - Gregory shares how he evaluates a stock. Start with the company, it's earnings, do the books look good? Is the stock in a buying position? You have to make sure you're buying the right company, and you're buying it at the right time. Maybe you should wait a day or two if you're not sure.

19:41 - China is a much bigger economic counterweight to the United States than Russia. Their economy is around ten times as big, and China holds over a trillion in US debt. Russia is a bit player compared to China when it comes to affecting our economy and your money. The rest of the list on US debt holdings by country is a fun discussion.

25:03 - Gregory expects Russia to attempt to influence any and every election they can. Every country tries to influence any election they can. China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and those countries are probably trying to hack anything and everything they can at all times, but here's the better part: we probably get hack attempts from allies like the UK, France, and Germany.

26:29 - What happens to all of the Burberry merchandise that goes unsold? Gregory reveals a common practice of the high end retail industry to maintain status and price: they burn it.

32:29 - We have a new richest man in the world: Jeff Bezos.

34:22 - The highest paid celebrities list is always interesting. Good to see the Rock doing so well.
37:21 - The Numbers come in a bit mixed, but a report says Tesla's cancellations are outpacing new reservations. Gregory questions the logic of a country with $21 trillion in debt continuing to subsidize companies like Tesla.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.18.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 14:39:04 +0000

01:33 - Tax Reform 2.0 is in the early stages of discussion, and Gregory breaks down the different proposals being talked about. One of the issues they want to address is encouraging retirement savings. Gregory Ricks pokes holes in some of the ideas being reported, including the Universal Savings Account. Gregory sees what they are trying to do, and points out a much simpler fix to get to where they want to be. The government needs to give up some tax incentives to encourage saving now, to save on revenue in the long term when people are less likely to need Medicaid.

15:32 - Gregory continues to break down the proposals reported in Tax Reform 2.0, and offers some of his own ideas for Congress to consider.

25:04 - Gregory gives some quick thoughts on the politics of the day. Watching how Trump handles Putin, it is clear he is going about it like a businessman and not a politician. Anyone who doesn't understand why Trump is being so polite and gracious to Putin doesn't understand how negotiation usually work in the business world.

27:46 - Jonathan in West Virginia asks Gregory how to know if his 401k is performing well or not. Some coworkers bragged about huge gains, and Jonathan wonders if he's done something wrong.

36:02 - Jake in Larose is thinking about buying tax leins on properties in hopes of eventually getting ownership on the cheap. Gregory explains the various points of risk, and generally leans away from getting into any venture with so many unknowns.

40:49 - Chase in Gulfport has $2,000 in extra income monthly to invest. Should he pay down his mortgage with that money, or is there better options? Gregory asks a few questions, and has some powerful investing options for that money, maybe even using a 7702 plan.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 15:15:36 +0000

01:41 - The IRS formally approves of the backdoor Roth IRA. You can contribute to a Roth IRA directly up to a certain income level, but you can still contribute to non-deductable IRA and convert it to a Roth IRA. The rules were even confirmed in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, and it's a great way for high income earners to diversify their tax liability in retirement.

06:46 - Today is Amazon Prime Day, but there doesn't seem to be as much fanfare as last year. The Amazon psuedo-holiday is being crowded with an avalanche of other retailers announcing their super-special deals for the day. Gregory and James note this event that started as a way for Amazon to celebrate its birthday is becoming Black Friday in July, and that could be a good thing.

15:43 - James observes how the speech in the office at Gregory Ricks and Associates is full of coded language and unusually vague speech. It's not simply the addition of complex financial terms or acronyms, but the protection of personal client information compels various changes as well. The crew seems to be well practiced in ways to tell someone's personal situation without including personal details.

20:35 - Gregory wants to coin a new term for the strategy of taking out a reverse mortgage and leaving a significant line of credit untouched so it can take advantage of growth from interest.

25:55 - Another tax free income stream was combined with a client's modest pension and Social Security benefits to give a client a total if $58,000 of income with only $18,000 of it being taxable. Using 7702 based income stream saves her thousands per year in taxes.

34:44 - Gregory teaches you the Step Transaction Doctrine. The legal precedent dates back to 1935, and if the IRS thinks you're making moves with the specific intent of getting around a tax, you could have problems. Do not work in a gray area, and if you're not sure, get a second opinion.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.11.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 21:56:24 +0000

02:36 - Once you get out of the market, where should that money go? Gregory and James review the call from Tom in Houma on Saturday's show, and Gregory goes a little bit deeper into how to assign different jobs to different groups of your assets. If you're getting out of the market because you think it's on its way down, you need to position those assets to be able to jump right back in the market on a moment's notice when things turn around. If you're exiting the market permanently, it's time to review your risk tolerance to see what tools would be appropriate.

17:32 - Gregory Ricks reviews the highlight caller Tam from New Orleans, who is thinking about getting a vacation home, and wants to know how to take the best financial advantage from it. Gregory often sees people wanting to get into real estate on the side, and the success stories come from people who treat it like a serious business. If you're just trying to squeeze a few extra bucks out of a second property you were going to buy anyway, that's one thing. If you're trying to turn this into a reliable source of income, one rental is probably not going to cut it.

21:53 - Jim watching on Facebook Live asks Gregory's thoughts on dabbling with Puts and Calls in your brokerage account to make a little extra money. Gregory warns Jim of the extra risk involved with that area, and says the more cautious investors steer clear.

28:05 - Numbers

33:57 - Gregory relays a discussion with a client about how to better guess what changes will be made by politicians that affect your money. When you look at the decision making process from the person who is just concerned about the next election, you will form more accurate expectations.

36:01 - Oil dropped 5% in one day.

40:40 - Sandra in Slidell wants Gregory's help in getting her debt under control. She has a mortgage, credit cards, student loans, and a few other smaller debts. Gregory recommends dialing her lifestyle back in the short term to get the credit cards paid off ASAP, and then reevaluate your situation. A lot of it will depend on if you plan on staying in your house, or could move soon.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 17:53:28 +0000

02:12 - With all of the options out there, the radio format with the greatest share of the audience is News Talk. While music radio has been losing listening time to other sources of music, new media platforms have actually enabled a nice increase in the listenership of News Talk programming.

05:54 - A new game show is coming to TruTV where the winning prize is paying off your student loans.

07:50 - Gregory shares the situation of a pension buyout offer in his office today, and how he walks his client through the process of determining if the offer is a good deal. Since the client is 68 and his job is ending in a few months, we know he needs to sign up for Medicaire and set up his Social Security account at SSA.gov.

13:52 - Life expectancy for a couple who makes it to 65 today will average out around 90. If you are in good health, you need to plan on living longer than average. If you're a smoker, maybe you shouldn't be expecting to live as long. Delaying the start of your Social Security benefits means you lock in a higher benefit for life, which is one way to max out your income in later years.

25:47 - When is retirement? For too many people, it's determined by when you are physically unable to work any longer. Your retirement should be whenever you're ready

28:17 - Wayne in Hammond is 59 and has worked 20 years in Florida, and 20 years in Louisiana. Wayne heard that he could get a bigger benefit if he filed in Florida instead of Louisiana. Gregory corrects the record in that it doesn't matter what state you live in, your benefit will be the same size. However, some states tax your Social Security differently, but that is determined by your primary residence, and not your work record.

32:23 - The Numbers: green!

37:36 - Donald in Belle Chase is double checking with Gregory to see if he can get a higher benefit for his wife when he turns on his benefit. Gregory has good news: if the spousal benefit is higher than her own record, you're getting a raise!

39:20 - Jim on the Mississippi Coast is a retiring state worker and wants Gregory's thoughts on taking a monthly pension check or a lump sum now. After some probing questions and looking at the math, it's probably best to take the monthly check. Jim's relatively early retirement age weighs heavily in the decision as well.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.30.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 19:45:09 +0000

01:31 - Heads up retail business owners! The new state sales tax rate for Louisiana goes into effect on July 1. It drops from 5% to 4.45%, but if you continue to collect the higher rate, you must remit those revenues to the state in full.

03:16 - The IRS releases its new 1040 that's supposed to be the size of a postcard. It's a little deceptive though, because you may have paperwork from up to 6 extra schedules to send in with the post card. It's not really that big of a deal, but the guy is trying to fulfill a campaign promise. Gregory points out that paper returns are hardly used these days anyway.

07:38 - Maria Bartiromo previews some of her interview with Trump, and it sounds like another round of tax reform is coming. It sounds like he's working on it now, and will release his plans later this year. Getting another tax cut could be great for the economy.

14:41 - Is your personality type more likely to be financially scammed? Gregory and James are surprised by a report that outlines the type of person that is most likely to be caught up in a financial scam.

26:47 - A cup of coffee in Venezuela now costs a million pesos, which is about 29 cents. Socialism at work.

31:45 - Gregory responds to criticism that Tesla is a sham company. CEO Elon Musk is a great showman, but what's the real problem with Tesla's production? Elon called Ford a morgue, and Ford responds with a biting wit.

35:43 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

39:23 - How is your Social Security taxed? First, you learn how to determine with the IRS calls your Combined Income, and then you learn how the taxes are applied based on your bracket.

48:00 - Lesha Nugent Freeland is our guest this hour. She is the Realtor of the Total Wealth Authority™ and starts by updating homeowners on the National Flood Insurance Plan issues. It's set to expire at the end of July, and it'll probably be renewed at the last minute, but it can still cause you trouble in the meantime. She also shows you how others have been able to work the system to get a better deal on their flood insurance.

1:00:17 - Gregory Ricks and Lesha Nugent Freeland share experiences and warnings of using your IRA to get into the real estate business. Buying or leveraging a rental property with your IRA could be a disaster if any money from outside the IRA is conmingled in the property or there's any hint of self dealing. If you break the rules, the penalties are brutal.

1:04:15 - Sue in Kenner is skeptical of the new floodmaps, considering her house has never flooded, but her lot is rated more expensive than some of the areas that have flooded. Lesha explains where this is a decision from the Army Corps of Engineers, and gives Sue a few ideas on how to get her flood insurance costs lower.

1:07:41 - If your property has ever had any help from a Road Home covenant, then flood insurance is mandatory on that property.

1:11:43 - Alaska has the highest unemployment rate, and Hawaii has the lowest.

1:14:51 - Doing a real estate transaction in the midst of a divorce has its own set of issues making a complicated process even more so. Lesha explains how the new certification from the Divorce Real Estate Institute is an interesting step in confronting problems from uncooperative homeowners in splitsville.

1:23:33 - Is there any situation in which you should NOT buy flood insurance for your house? If your house is highly unlikely to flood, the insurance is probably so cheap, you would still be better off getting it.

1:26:21 - Kevin in Prairieville asks Gregory and Lesha if his wife should be on the title of the home? It turns out she isn't, so Kevin asks if that could be fixed with a will. Gregory prefers that both spouses be on the home's title if at all possible, and he should most definitely think about getting it cleared up in a will.

1:29:25 - Raymond in Albany shares a story of his unwise decision to not carry flood insurance, because his property jad no history of flooding. Sure enough, a few inches accumulated in a small flooding incident, and it costs him tens of thousands in repairs. Flood insurance would have been less than $50 a month.

1:30:53 - Lesha shares a couple of featured properties she has on the market.

1:37:22 - Bill in Pearl River is getting remarried in his 70s, and asks Gregory about the options for him and his fiancee with Social Security spousal benefits.

1:45:27 - Tam in Nola taps Gregory's wisdom in how to approach buying a vacation house in Destin. How can she do it and get the most out of it? How can she take advantage of the taxes, write offs, and maybe even renting the place out?

1:51:49 - Scott in Kiln asks if his dad should use a trust to pass along assets to his son that's on disability?

1:59:45 - Gregory describes how he has seen people get caught up in prohibited transactions with their IRAs. If the IRS catches one wrong move, they could blow up the IRA. When it loses its tax status it becomes like a giant lump of taxable income, and maybe even some penalties. The golden rules of investing within your IRA: No self dealing, and no mixing assets.

2:05:49- Because you have full ownership and control of your IRA, you are considered a fiduciary and will be held responsible for all rules and regulations.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 19:25:06 +0000

01:24 - The markets didn't seem to mind some of the bad news coming out of China and North Korea lately, which is a good sign our economy is robust enough to handle a little turbulence.

06:25 - Gregory previews some of the information that will be covered at the next Gregory Ricks Live: income planning, creating tax free income, Social Security Strategies, and estate planning.

09:21 - Are you interested in investing in Real Estate? Gregory deals with people who want to get into real estate to make some money, and shares some of the more common mistakes he sees. Buying real estate inside of you IRA can go horribly wrong if you mess it up.

14:55 - Gregory shares some additional insights on complications that can arise when buying real estate with an IRA.

21:45 - Michelle in Mandevilles asks Gregory Ricks if Social Security has any limits or penalties on outside income after full retirement age. Once you're at FRA, there is no clawbacks provisions nor penalties. The only thing that could cut into your Social Security check after FRA is taxes.

37:49 - If you can start getting Social Security checks at age 62, why would you wait to turn it on?

42:14 - Chris from Kenner is about to graduate college, and start saving through his employer plan. Should he be contributing to the regular 401k, or the Roth 401k? Gregory shows how the math tends to skew toward getting into a Roth account when you're younger.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.05.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 17:42:55 +0000

02:10 - Gregory shares some issues you need to know about when inheriting an IRA. Spousal IRAs havesome extra options, and mistakes can be costly. Even something as simple as retitling the IRA incorrectly can have a profound effect.

24:59 - Andrew in Madisonville is inheriting an IRA, and wants Gregory's guidance on how to best position that money to cover college costs for his daughters.

28:18 - Randy in Picayune asks Gregory the rules on how much you can contribute to an IRA after age 50. He also wants Gregory's thoughts on if he should be converting some of his money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

37:14 - Your IRA can't invest in collectibles, with the exception of a few minted precious metal coins.

43:01 - Steve in Houma asks Gregory to elaborate on the backdoor Roth IRA. Steve has heard us mention in before, and is above the income limits for direct contributions to a Roth IRA. Gregory shows him how the backdoor Roth conversions has been used for other people in similar situations.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 07.02.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 16:50:09 +0000

01:35 - Reports of the Fair and Reciprocal Trade Act are met with both critical policy analysis and juvenile humor.

03:24 - Kroger announces they will test groceries being delivered by a self driving car that looks like a giant lunch pail. Gregory explains how keeping up with the way technology is making subtle changes in people's behavior can help you see what's coming in the future.

13:23 - Lebron says he's going to the Lakers, and Gregory says that's the smart financial move. James points out the nose bleed taxes in California, but Gregory shows the math still works in favor of King James being in L.A..

29:27 - The Numbers are mostly positive, with all indices finishing in the green.

35:39 - Gregory addresses a rumor he was asked about today: no, Social Security is not going away.

37:51 - Gregory and James review some comments from John Hofmeister, the former head of Shell, about how the price of oil could continue to rise. The oil industry slowed their exploration investments when the price fell, while natural gas is becoming cheap enough to be a viable alternative.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 07.07.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 15:44:08 +0000

0:01:42 - Gregory recaps how the 4th of July week has been. The new unemployment numbers are a tick higher at 4.0%, but that's because 600k new job seekers entered the market, on top of a robust job gain of 213k in June. Economic growth these days is solid.

0:09:26 - How do you know when you should turn on your Social Security benefits?

0:21:11 - Tom in Houma asks Gregory when to know it's time to get out of the market, and what does getting out of the market look like? Gregory shows how everyone's unique personal situation is more important than market performance when determining an exit strategy.

0:38:35 - Gregory explains why people who are timing the market often end up disappointed. After spending years as a money manager, Gregory Ricks has noticed people hate negative numbers, and want to know what the plan is when things go south. Gregory teaches his clients how the stocks are chosen, how the no-risk tools work, and how to know your own tolerance for risk.

0:48:31 - Lesha Nugent Freeland of Keller Williams Realty is our guest from the Total Wealth Authority this week.

1:01:58 - Lesha talks about the process of learning what neighborhood would best suit her homebuying clients. Often, couples have different ideas on what type of house they are looking for, and have different needs from their location. One may think it's important to live as close as possible to work, but the other thinks it's more important to live as close as possible to the school of their choice.

1:06:36 - Lesha details what new technology has brought to the table when it comes to real estate. The ability to access information about a property has never been so convenient. Use these tools to know where you stand when it comes to the negotiations.

1:22:55 - Gregory Ricks and Lesha Nugent Freeland continue the discussion on how new technology is being used to help connect buyers and sellers in today's real estate world.

1:35:31 - The various tariff disputes escalating between America and some of our trading partners are important considerations for investors exposed to the market.

1:39:59 - Gregory breaks down the jobs numbers, and shows that our economy is better suited to weather a trade dispute than some of the people we are negotiating with.

1:42:44 - The First Rule: Avoid Losing Money. Gregory Ricks explains how to develop a masterplan for your money to weather market volatility and avoid big losses.

1:49:39 - Gregory Ricks previews his upcoming Social Security workshops in the works. It will be a quick event to explain how Social Security works, and how you can take advantage of your options to get the biggest benefit possible.

1:52:56 - Life expectancy continues to rise, and that means your money is going to have to last longer than ever in retirement. Social Security will be there in some form, and it will probably be tweaked now and again, but it's not going away. Think twice before you rush out to claim your Social Security benefits early.

2:03:04 - Gregory covers various interesting economic and financial statistics of the day.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 05:05:19 +0000

02:01 - Is your personality type more likely to be financially scammed? Gregory and James are surprised by a report that outlines the type of person that is most likely to be caught up in a financial scam.

13:36 - Gregory quizzes you on transactions that are prohibited under IRA rules.

18:29 - Clifford in Biloxi asks Gregory about how the taxes are figured for an empty piece of property he's about to sell.

24:05 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

27:45 Gregory describes how he has seen people get caught up in prohibited transactions with their IRAs. If the IRS catches one wrong move, they could blow up the IRA. When it loses its tax status it becomes like a giant lump of taxable income, and maybe even some penalties.

37:08 - Because you have full ownership and control of your IRA, you are considered a fidu

38:02 - Kelvin from Kiln needs Gregory's thoughts on how his brother should pass along his property. Should he use a trust, or is a will enough? Should he try and pass ownership to his heirs now, or handle that through estate planning?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.27.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 02:54:14 +0000

00:45 - In a startling coincidence, a USA Today column from today talks about the same rarely known ability of reverse mortgages to have gains

06:42 - James reports on the nation's 35 largest banks passing the Fed's stress tests, but Gregory points out the report doesn't tell us anything about the health of nearly 6,000 smaller banks.

14:57 - Gregory Ricks shows you the truth behind some Social Security myths. Although you will often hear people claim Social Security isn't an entitlement, Social Security IS an entitlement. It fits the definition of an entitlement to the letter, which has nothing to do with whether or not a beneficiary pays into the system. Raising the Social Security tax cap won't solve the funding issue. It'll only delays the crash about 6 or 7 years.

16:42 - We replay Lewis in Chalmette from Saturday, because he's talking about this exact same myth about raising the Social Security tax cap.

19:56 - John in Folsom needs Gregory's help figuring out his best option for Social Security. He's not to his full retirement age yet, but he is drawing a Social Security survivor's benefit based on the record of his deceased wife. When should he switch over to his record to get the biggest benefit?

24:52 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

31:56 - The Supreme Court strikes down forced union dues. Gregory Ricks responds to Judge Napolitano explaining the impact of the decision, and how the effects will reverberate through the financial world. This may be the beginning of the end for public sector unions.

36:39 - Gregory Ricks discusses how several popular companies are doing in the stock market these days. Netflix has had a huge 2018 thus far. Is it in a buying position? Tesla stock is still growing despite a tornado of production issues. FIZZ is on a strong rebound, but does it have staying power?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.26.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:39:31 +0000

01:24 - Senator Bernie Sanders makes over $1 million for the second year in a row. He has done a great job building up several income streams over the years, including royalties from a spoken word folk album.

04:57 - The divisive political climate you see on the news channels is not happening in the business world. As the economy keeps humming along, the partisanship seems to fade.

14:41 - Learn some hidden advantages of a Roth IRA. It can be used as an emergency fund of sorts, and you may be able to tap into a Roth IRA for some first time homebuying expenses.

17:59 - Dan in Mandeville wants Gregory's opinion on refinancing his house, and using some of that equity to buy a rental. Gregory reminds Dan to consider everything that can go wrong, keep a cushion, and then keep it growing. Rental properties can be a solid stream of income.

21:24 - Gregory Ricks crunches some numbers on how the compounding interest in a Roth Ira gets more powerful over time.

25:00 - Here's what you need to do if you're getting a late start saving for retirement. Find a way to live as far below your means as possible. Take advantage of employer plans if you can. You need to be saving as much as you can, and you need to start saving it now.

37:45 - Dell in Brandon, MS inherited an IRA from her mom. She was already taking Required Minimum Distributions, but the bank stopped issuing distributions on death. Now, it appears she owes some penalties and interest, and hopes Gregory can explain her situation and how to clean it up.

41:07 - Robert in Jackson has a friend who is inheriting an IRA left to her from her deceased son. Gregory Ricks spells out her options, decodes the taxes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.25.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:38:44 +0000

00:40 - Is Wells Fargo in trouble again? The issues began a few years back, but it’s reported the bank’s advisor division pushed products that seemed to serve the bank’s interest more than the client.

06:37 - Gregory and James review a segment with Dwayne Stein from Saturday’s show where the homeowner did a reverse mortgage into a line of credit, and takes advantage of the 4.7%ish return on the unused portion of the credit line. Gregory breaks down how this could be an exceptional use of a reverse mortgage, but only if you’re in the right situation.

24:02 - The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

39:57 - Steve in Houma asks Gregory if he puts his IRA into an annuity, will he be able to cover upcoming Required Minimum Distributions without hitting the surrender fees? Gregory Ricks shows Steve how an annuity that let's your take out up to 10% without a penalty should be enough to cover his RMDs well into his 90s.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Weekly Wrap: 06.23.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:38:07 +0000

02:15 - Gregory Ricks address the changing demographics in America, and how an aging population will change how we deal with retirement and investing. With fewer taxpayers per beneficiary, Social Security and Medicare are fiercely unsustainable. Raising taxes is a likely part of the solution, but reigning in benefits is going to happen.at some point, too. This will happen on a long enough timeline, and maybe it won’t happen soon enough to affect you. If it does, you will need to have money put away and income streams you can rely on… the more the better.

28:04 - Ralph in Lacombe heard that you can have your property taxes frozen in retirement, and if Gregory Ricks knows anything about that. States can have significantly differing laws regarding property taxes, but there are plenty of them who give special considerations to seniors and retirees. Refer to your tax professional to see how that affects your specific property, you may be pleasantly surprised.

29:39 - James in Poplarville asks Gregory Ricks how much income can he get off of a million dollars in assets without a spenddown? Gregory says it can safely range from 3%-4%, but if you’re looking for absolutely no risk, it’s probably more like 3%.

32:26 - Ray in Picayune asks Gregory Ricks his thoughts on a county pension system that opts out of Social Security in exchange for its own pension system. It seems like a good idea, but how will the affect their Social Security retirement benefits?

37:17 - Matthew in Metairie suggests that robots will be able to fill in some of the labor shortage to help deal with aging demographics.

41:35 - Lewis in Chalmette wonders why we don’t eliminate the earnings cap on Social Security? Gregory explains how the tax cap is met by the cap on benefits, but that is probably going to be moved drastically higher or even eliminated.

48:52 - Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo, joins the show and explains why mortgage interest rates have taken a couple of dips over the last few months, even as the Fed continued to lift the funds rate. Dwayne explains that the relationship between the Fed and your mortgage rates is not direct, but acts more like the price of oil vs the price of gas.

54:43 - Dwayne shares why the world of HELOCs is making him doubt the housing boom can keep going much longer without a significant stumble. It’s not the same concern as the last housing bubble which was busted up by failed subprime loans. This time around, the HELOC wave being hit with rising interest rates could be the ugly infection the housing markets do no need.

1:00:06 - Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein have worked on reverse mortgage situations together, and share how a recent homeowner got a lump sum from a reverse mortgage, used a little, and left the bulk of it in a line of credit that’s just sitting there gaining interest. Gregory explains that forward thinking means you get to take advantage of getting rid of the mortgage, paying off some bills, and growing the balance as it sits waiting for you as an emergency fund.

1:09:55 - Glenn in Algiers asks Gregory Ricks if he will still get the increase in benefits for delaying until age 70 if he stops working at 68? Gregory says the annual 8% increase is still in effect, even if you do not work.

1:12:58 - Gregory answers a question from a listener about selling tradelines with Dwayne Stein. Is selling access for someone to piggyback on your good credit history a good idea? Dwayne explains how tradelines could work as described, but there’s enough red flags signaling that you should steer clear. There are things you can do with the money used on the fees that could be better for your credit than tradelines.

1:22:59 - Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com answers: How bad can your credit score be and still get a mortgage? Although it’s much easier to get a loan with great credit, even the worst scores still have some options. Sure, the terms may be a little less accommodating, but Dwayne can get just about anybody into a mortgage of some type.

1:26:33 - Robert in Metairie asks Gregory and Dwayne to explain how the bank gives 5% return on an unused line of credit from a reverse mortgage. Gregory Ricks adds that if you’re planning on doing a reverse mortgage in the future, perhaps you should go ahead and do the reverse mortgage now, but leave the line of credit to grow. The math may be better that way.

1:33:45 - Be careful! A debit card skimmer was found on a gas station pump in Jackson County. If a debit card machine looks suspicious, give it a tug and see if it moves. If you’re not sure, move on.

1:39:11 - James details a chart on when your Full Retirement Age is for Social Security.

2:06:02 - Kevin in Des Moines asks Gregory Ricks to explain how the taxes will be figured on the sale of a rental property he co-owns with his brother.

2:08:17 - Robert in Jackson has a friend who is inheriting an IRA left to her from her deceased son. Gregory Ricks spells out her options, decodes the taxes.

2:12:07 - Dell in Brandon, MS inherited an IRA from her mom. She was already taking Required Minimum Distributions, but the bank stopped issuing distributions on death. Now, it appears she owes some penalties and interest, and hopes Gregory can explain her situation and how to clean it up.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.22.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:36:36 +0000

00:59 - Be careful! A debit card skimmer was found on a gas station pump in Jackson County. If a debit card machine looks suspicious, give it a tug and see if it moves. If you’re not sure, move on.

08:44 - More people over the age of 60 are renting on AirBnB for an extra income stream.

11:36 - Adam Vinatieri says he’s not retiring, meaning he will be 46 by the end of the season.

14:30 - Gregory Ricks outlines 10 things that can go wrong when you inherit an IRA. The issues begin with making sure you have the beneficiary designations spell out correctly. If you are the spouse inheriting the IRA, you have some extra options.

22:18 - Jim in Ocean Springs asks Gregory to explain the options regarding spousal Social Security benefits.

27:26 - Noah in Destrehan is about to finish college and start his career. He wants Gregory Ricks to show him where he should hit the ground running on retirement savings from day one.

29:32 - Rick in Slidell lost his wife two years ago, and wants Gregory’s opinion on when he should turn on his Social Security widower’s benefit.

32:02 - Louis in Marrero is a Bitcoin advocate bravely checking in with Gregory Ricks in the midst of recent cryptocurrency troubles.

42:52 - Gregory Ricks continues his run down of 10 costly mistakes when inheriting an IRA

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

The Daily Wrap: 06.21.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:35:42 +0000

[2:20] Gregory Ricks gives you a basic guide to rollovers from your IRA. If you can, you should move IRA money straight from custodian to custodian transfer. If you take the money straight to yourself, you have 60 days to either put it back, or find another IRA for it. You can do a rollover once per year aggregate of all your accounts.

[7:38] Perry in New Orleans wants to try and get some yield on the idle money in his brokerage account. Gregory explains that it's preferable to have the liquid assets in your managed investment account just sitting there getting minimal yield. That is its job, and it's probably not a good idea to go chasing returns with it.

[14:13] A Supreme Court decision on collecting internet taxes means the free ride is over for online shopping. The law now compels retailers to collect the sales tax of their customers, and it's based on the State where the purchase is made.

[24:57] The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

[28:18] The Numbers are awfully red today, and reports say China's new tariff threat is a concern. China is running out of weapons in their trade war, and mentioned they were thinking about targeting the 30 companies in the Dow Jones Index. GOOD LUCK with that! Cutting off 30 of the most important companies and their products will do more harm to China than the USA.

[40:06] Netflix is continuing its meteoric rise, but Chrysler looks like it may be circling the drain. Out with the old, in with the new.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.20.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 04:40:54 +0000

This offer from Disney to buy most of the media assets from 21st Century Fox could change our media landscape for a generation. Gregory points out that combining Disney assets with Fox, Marvel, and Hulu may be the great media counterbalance to Netflix’s colossal growth.

It’s also interesting to note what media platforms Rupert Murdoch wants to hold onto like Fox News and Fox Business, which shows how news related broadcasts are least affected by on-demand competition. Fox Business has become a regular source, but it’s important to skip around and see what everyone is saying in real time. This is a global economy, and requires keeping up with the news.

Les in Slidell asks Gregory if his wife who never worked can draw a Social Security check off of his record at age 62.

Joe in Harvey has a nice 401k built up, and wants Gregory’s guidance on how he can convert some of that money to a Roth account. Gregory Ricks explains the process by which money can go from a 401k to a Roth IRA, and how strategic Roth conversions can help manage the tax bite.

Gregory answers a text question about the deadline you have to undo Social Security. You have one year from the date you file for Social Security, not when you get approved or when you get your first check. This guy just missed the window. He can suspend, but not undo his Social Security benefit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 04:32:05 +0000

Can going solar save you money? Gregory Ricks talks to Ethan and Justin from SunPro Solar about: tax credits, financing, and how the technology is advancing daily to make solar more profitable. GoSunPro.com

A new study claims that being married is good for your heart. Married subjects were less likely to have cardio issues than subjects who were divorced, widowed, or never married. The number of Americans who smoke is down to 13.9%.

Lou in New Orleans is getting a divorce, and wants to know if his ex wife draws a Social Security check off of his record, will his check be affected?

Andrew in Slidell wants to know if some low earning years late in life will hurt his Social Security benefit. What will his wife be able to draw off of his record? What happens to her benefits when he passes?

This guy was getting a late start on saving for retirement, but can put away a ton of cash before he retires in three years. Gregory Ricks explains why it may be better to just leave the new savings liquid rather than tie them up in a financial product chasing yield.

GE is no longer on the Dow. This is a huge historic moment in the financial world, as General Electric was the last remaining original member of the Dow Jones Index back in 1896.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.18.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 04:00:23 +0000

Trump announcing the creation of the Space Force has some interesting financial side effects. Gregory Ricks details where he thinks the technology will take us, and the Space Force is an expected result.

The Numbers are mixed, with Tesla as a big gainer on the day. Americans satisfied with the direction of the country hits a 12 year high.

Ann in New Orleans is being offered a million dollar buyout on her $60k pension, and Gregory asks some questions that get to the heart of which option is best for Ann.

Gregory responds to a strange email about Social Security ex-spouse benefit. The email claims Social Security is trying to reclaim $32k in wrongful payments on an ex-spouse's record.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 06.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 13:57:34 +0000

You started a life insurance policy years ago to take care of your family should something happen. Now, your kids are all grown, the house is paid off, and there's enough assets built up that you don't really need it for your family's financial security anymore. Maybe you can sell it or cash it out, but Gregory shares a few other ideas on how you can use that policy to get the most money out of it with incredible tax efficiency.

Learn how to take advantage of your life insurance's death benefit before you die. Gregory explains there's several ways to access the cash value built up in your life insurance policy, and he has some nifty ways you can use that to minimize or avoid taxes on your retirement income.

The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

Gregory Ricks' amazing Podium Theory of the Federal Funds Rate continues it's flawless streak since the Fed began liftoff in 2015. James Parker gives you an audio comparison of the new Fed Chair Jay Powell versus his predecessor Janet Yellen.

Andre in New Orleans asks Gregory how to get in on the Oppotunity Zones created by last year's tax reform package.

Perry in New Orleans wants to try and get some yield on the idle money in his brokerage account. Gregory explains that it's preferable to have the liquid assets in your managed investment account just sitting there getting minimal yield. That is its job, and it's probably not a good idea to go chasing returns with it.

Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, explains the tax implications of putting your rental property in an LLC instead of keeping it in your own name.

Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath talk about the probe into the Trump investigation, and how to properly structure and execute a charitable foundation. The authorities ask two main questions: is it self dealing, and is it tax avoidance?

Dan in Biloxi asks Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath about how to structure a side business to his side business.

Ann in New Orleans is being offered a million dollar buyout on her $60k pension, and Gregory asks some questions that get to the heart of which option is best for Ann.

Gregory shares a report on Amazon expanding its Whole Foods two-hour delivery service. Gregory believes the future of the grocery industry will evolve into something more efficient, and this is merely a logistical evolution being worked out in real time.

CJ in Metairie asks if he will be taxed when selling a property to his son. Gregory breaks down how a bond for deed works, and where the taxes come in. There is going to be a tax bill due.

A new casino development is in the works for Long Beach, which would be their first casino! Island View opens their new NON-smoking casino on the Coast as well.

Gregory Ricks gives you a basic guide to rollovers from your IRA. If you can, you should move IRA money straight from custodian to custodian transfer. If you take the money straight to yourself, you have 60 days to either put it back, or find another IRA for it. You can do a rollover once per year aggregate of all your accounts.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 05:05:00 +0000

If you're playing catch up with your finances, maybe it's time for a side gig to generate some extra income. With the technology of today, side gigs are more flexible than ever.

When Bruce in New Orleans asked his insurance company for a homeowners policy on his rent house, they said he would have to get landlord's insurance, because the second house is owned by an LLC. Gregory Ricks shares some insight on getting the right insurance coverage for situations like owning a rental.

Mike in Slidell is thinking about paying off his townhouse rental with money from a sale from another rental. Gregory stresses it's all about the numbers. If the net amount of return from that property is high enough, go for it.

Mary in Houma asks Gregory if she can draw extra money from an annuity above what the income rider provides. Gregory says she probably can take additional distributions, but it will accelerate the time table for spending down. Mary follows up with a question about how Medicare premiums are taken from her Social Security benefit.

The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm. Come find out more about Gregory Ricks and what he can do for you.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.14.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 04:53:25 +0000

Gregory Ricks' amazing Podium Theory of the Federal Funds Rate continues it's flawless streak since the Fed began liftoff in 2015. James Parker gives you an audio comparison of the new Fed Chair Jay Powell versus his predecessor Janet Yellen.

The news of the Trump foundation be questioned for financial reasons is a good chance for Gregory Ricks to address the two biggest rules of using funds in a charitable foundation: is there self dealing, and is it tax avoidance?

The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, July 10th, 6:30pm.

There's one type of IRA that can be funded without the owner having earned income: the Spousal IRA. Gregory Ricks explains the Spousal IRA is unique as it allows funds from a working spouse to be put to work on your behalf. Often, a Spousal IRA is used for couples who are getting a late start on retirement savings, and can really help tuck away a lot of pretax money for those playing catch up.

Gregory addresses a report on a huge bet on 10 year treasuries dropping a quarter point. It could be a huge move by a small player, or a small move by a big player, and Gregory Ricks thinks the impact of this bond play is overblown.

Netflix continues it's meteoric rise as it nears $400 per share. Netflix is bigger that most media networks, and is quickly approaching the titan status of the Disney empire. Gregory sees media continuing to evolve into the hands of Netflix, and leaving everybody happier: networks, advertisers, and viewers

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:17:57 +0000

The Fed raises the interest rate as expected, and the market pretty much had it baked into the cake already.

Mark from Kenner needs help climbing out of a giant hole of credit card debt. Gregory gives Mark a few ways to attack the debt, and recommends against borrowing from his 401k.

Gregory elaborates on some strong financial opinions from Stephanie Pomboy of Macromavens. She says the real story behind the Fed's effect on the economy isn't the interest rate hike as much as quantitative tightening. A recession will come, and it's usually preceded by a stock market nosedive.

Long Beach could be getting its first casino. A development includes a 300 room hotel and pretty good sized gaming floor. The Mississippi Coast's gaming continues to grow.

Gregory corrects the records on misleading annuity commercials. Annuities have been around for thousands of years, but recent evolutions of this classic financial tool means annuities can be vastly different. Variable annuities have some big problems, while fixed annuities fit better under a risk averse model.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.12.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:36:35 +0000

The summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump was historic for a number of reasons, and you could easily make this case that economics is why this 70 year old Korean War may finally come to a formal end. If peace finally comes, business and trade should get the credit.

Learn how to take advantage of your life insurance's death benefit before you die. Gregory explains there's several ways to access the cash value built up in your life insurance policy, and he has some nifty ways you can use that to minimize or avoid taxes on your retirement income.

Keith in Pearl River has heard of borrowing against your life insurance policy, but how does that actually work? Gregory explains some of the basics, and how Section 7702 in the tax code gives some real advantages to accessing the cash value of a life insurance policy.

You started a life insurance policy years ago to take care of your family should something happen. Now, your kids are all grown, the house is paid off, and there's enough assets built up that you don't really need it for your family's financial security anymore. Maybe you can sell it or cash it out, but Gregory shares a few other ideas on how you can use that policy to get the most money out of it with incredible tax efficiency.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.11.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 18:11:33 +0000

Gregory Ricks and James Parker reflect on 8 years of Winning at Life. The show has grown beyond expectations, and we've been able to help some good people along the way.

Lebron just lost in the NBA Finals, and he's losing on tax day, too. Gregory reports how Lebron probably took home less than half of the money he makes this year.

Mike in Bay St Louis calls in to ask Gregory how much he should charge for his rentals on the Mississippi Coast. Gregory walks through a few ways to set it up.

The Numbers are mostly positive, but cryptocurrency took a bit a gut punch over the weekend.

If you own a small business, maybe your kid should go to work for you. There's lessons to be learned, and maybe a lighter tax burden as well.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 06.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 05:05:13 +0000

Congrats! It's our 8 year anniversary for Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks.

The trustees for Social Security and Medicare release their annual report with projections for the future of our two biggest spending programs. Gregory talks about building multiple streams of income to minimize the effects of possible cuts.

When Bruce in New Orleans asked his insurance company for a homeowners policy on his rent house, they said he would have to get landlord's insurance, because the second house is owned by an LLC. Gregory shares some insight on getting the right insurance coverage for situations like owning a rental.

Harold in Marrero and his wife are thinking about taking his Social Security early, and he wants to know how much it will cut his benefit.

Jane in Destrehan asks Gregory if she could still be able to get homeowners insurance if she puts her house in a trust.

Dale in California asks Gregory his thoughts on a particular stock. Gregory checks the charts and isn't too enthused about it.

Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney on the Total Wealth Authority, details the importance of having your rental property in a will.

Steve on Facebook asks Gregory and Wes about which type of trust he should put his house?

John in Marrero asks Wes Blanchard about his issues with a bank branch moving his safe deposit box.

Josh in Covington asks about what happens to the mortgage on a piece of rental property once he switches ownership to a newly formed LLC.

Joe in Independence is switching jobs, but took out a loan from his 401k that will come due when he leaves. He's thinking about doing a cash-out refinance on his mortgage to cover the cost. Joe also has this issue with identity theft scammers hurting his record.

Frank asks Gregory Ricks and Wes Blanchard about how to properly gift the max amount of money to his kids every year when it comes to taxes.

Gregory Ricks and Wes Blanchard discuss how to know when you should put your house in an LLC or a trust. There's some big tax changes, and significant changes from an estate planning perspective.

James and Gregory talk about 8 years of Winning at Life, how it grew from humble beginnings, and how the future is bright.

Mike in Slidell is thinking about paying off his townhouse rental with money from a sale from another rental. Gregory stresses it's all about the numbers. If the net amount of return from that property is high enough, go for it.

Byron in the Bourg asks how his wife's state pension will affect her ability to draw from his record. It's another sad story of the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Mary in Houma asks Gregory if she can draw extra money from an annuity above what the income rider provides. Gregory says she probably can take additional distributions, but it will accelerate the time table for spending down. Mary follows up with a question about how Medicare premiums are taken from her Social Security benefit.

Transferring money between IRAs can be a mess if you aren't familiar with the 60 day rollover rules. Gregory gives some basics on how you should move money between plans.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 04:45:56 +0000

Warren Buffett quote: "You should leave your children enough that they can do anything, but not so much that they can do nothing." Gregory talks about how you need to train your kids to be ready to handle money. Gregory recommends seeking the advice and training of business coaches that can help you develop these skills yourself.

Gregory questions the rationale of having an international trade agreement wrapping together two countries as different as Canada and Mexico. There appears to be some significant changes to our trade agreements on the horizon.

The trustees for Social Security and Medicare release their annual report with projections for the future of our two biggest spending programs. Gregory talks about building multiple streams of income to minimize the effects of possible cuts.

Gregory talks about a couple where the husband got the max Social Security benefit, but the wife didn't have enough quarters for own record. She can still draw from her husband's record, but what if she turns it on early?

Gregory relays a client with four streams of income with tax efficiency on steroids. She combines a pension, Social Security, IRA, and another tax free stream.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.05.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 14:40:20 +0000

Vincent in New Orleans asks Gregory to explain the 1099 issued from his IRA distribution. He wants to know exactly what his tax bill will be for dipping into his IRA.

A self-described Whale Whisperer is accused of scamming around 40 investors out of $3.3 million. How did these otherwise successful people get duped by such a strange fellow? Learn how to identify scams, and do some homework on the person you are trusting with your money. A good start is investor.gov.

George in Gautier asks Gregory if he has any options for him and his wife to increase their Social Security benefits after they've been turned on for years.

Larry in Westwego asks Gregory if he can transfer some funds in an IRA to an HSA. Gregory explains the tax implications of dipping into the IRA, and that it can't be clean a rollover from the IRA to HSA. HSA's can only be used with High Deductible Health Plans and vested with earned pre-tax income.

The trustees for Social Security and Medicare release their annual report with projections for the future of our two biggest spending programs. Of course, the math is uglier this year than last, but isn't that always the case?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 06.02.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 17:04:00 +0000

Scammers continue to evolve with technology, and we explain the rise of synthetic identity theft. The thieves assemble a fictitous name to a child's unused Social Security number, build a record of credit for the synthetic identity, and then cash in. You should think about freezing your child's credit, and keep an eye out for signs of the scam.

Gregory explains how the Windfall Elimination Provision affects Social Security benefits for those who had a job that doesn't pay into the Social Security system. We hear a lot from teachers and other state employees with their issues on the show, but this can also affect those who worked outside of the country, or had other exemptions as well. Gregory reports on a piece of legislation aimed at correcting some of the problems with the Windfall Elimination Provision currently making its way through Congress.

The Windfall Elimination Provision calculator (and other useful tools) is at ssa.gov/planners/calculators/

Vincent in New Orleans asks Gregory to explain the 1099 issued from his IRA distribution. He wants to know exactly what his tax bill will be for dipping into his IRA.

Michael in Tickfaw, Louisiana asks Gregory if he meets the requirements to escape the Windfall Elimination Provision biting into his Social Security benefits. Gregory shows Michael how to know if he qualifies, because it sounds like he's pretty close to it.

JC in Metairie asks Gregory to explain how Social Security will claw back some of your benefit if you continue to work after turning it on early.

A hospital in Scotland becomes the first to offer a treatment program for addiction to gambling. Gregory can't fathom being addicted to Bitcoins.

Gregory gives the real truth behind Peak Gold, and explains how history and technology show that we still have a long way to go. Gold mining reality shows are an interesting display of how technology has changed the gold industry, and most of the gold above ground today has been extracted in the last 50 years.

Will Robert in Bay St Louis be hit with the Windfall Elimination Provision? He has had some jobs that didn't pay into the Social Security system, and some that did. Gregory guides him through the process of how to get around having your Social Security benefits bitten by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

George in Gautier asks Gregory if he has any options for him and his wife to increase their Social Security benefits after they've been turned on for years.

Brian in Kosciusko, Mississippi asks Gregory if his Railroad pension system is affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision. There's certain exceptions for some Railroad retirement systems, and Gregory shows Brian where to find some answers.

There's 101 people in America with over $1 million dollars in student loan debt. We share the story of Mike, who borrowed over $600K to get through dental school, and how he got swamped by the math.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 06.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 18:25:28 +0000

Scammers posing as Social Security were busted making robocalls asking you to enter your Social Security number via phone. Another man is busted for cashing in a deceased relative's Social Security checks; this time it's for about 17 years. Does Social Security not have a working system in place to know when people pass away?

When the solid jobs report had the Fox Business panel glowing with optimism, Stephanie Pomboy of Macromavens hands out some tshirts and sobering stats.

Gregory's client wanted to take some money from his investments to buy a piece of real estate, but was unaware of the timeline it takes to convert various investments into cash. Gregory walks you through the process.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.31.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 18:10:26 +0000

GDP growth for the first quarter is revised down a tick. Gregory thinks we can still get the annual GDP up to 3%, but 4% is a stretch.

Walmart announces a new plan to pay for employees' tuition. Meanwhile, Gregory reports on the closing of more locations for both Sears and Kmart. The retail evolution is moving swiftly.

George in Terrytown asks Gregory if his mom's pension from the state will affect her Social Security benefits from a deceased spouse's record. The Windfall Elimination Provision calculator is at ssa.gov/planners/calculators/

Gregory tells you what's going on with Tesla and the race to build a self-driving car. James reports that Tesla is filling the expensive Model 3 orders first, and may have only made one basic version of the Model 3: the one floating in space.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 05.30.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 15:46:33 +0000

A clinic in Scotland is the first in the world to treat an addiction to cryptocurrency. The diagnosis and treatments are based on a similar approach as a gambling addiction, and the comparisons are pretty easy to piece together.

Gregory dismantles a common commercial seen on financial channels. The spot is terribly misleading, probably intentionally so, and Gregory exposes what the commercial conveniently leaves out.

Heather on Facebook asks: Are you supposed to tip the workers who bring your groceries out when you order from the Walmart app? Gregory shares his take on how much to tip and when it's appropriate. Do you always tip the valet? Do you tip when you pick up a take-out order?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 05.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 30 May 2018 14:27:44 +0000

What is the financial impact of ABC's decision to cancel Roseanne? A good lesson here is that in the business world, the wrong tweet or Facebook post can be incredibly damaging.

Italy's financial world gets rocks as their bond markets melt up. Often when your country's bond yields spike up like this, that signals a default of some sort is heading your way. It may already be contributing to our bond rates sliding, as the bond holders who just got scared out of Italy look to park elsewhere.

There's 101 people in America with over $1 million dollars in student loan debt. We share the story of Mike, who borrowed over $600K to get through dental school, and how he got swamped by the math.

Heather calls from Kenner to ask Gregory's advice on how to pay for her daughter's college expenses. How much is too much when it comes to graduate school?

John in Old Jefferson teaches a financial wellness program in Harahan, and shares some guidance on paying down your household debt.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.25.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 May 2018 04:43:30 +0000

As the show approaches our 8th anniversary, we reflect on how the show affects Gregory, James, and Angie outside of the studio.

Europe is missing a whole lot of the internet now that the GDPR goes into effect. The European Union has new privacy regulations that will have ridiculous negative consequences across the internet and especially in Europe. Gregory has never shared or sold his email list with anyone.

Gregory reports on a warning about Orajel, although James is highly skeptical about the claims of the warning.

Netflix is now worth more than Disney and Comcast. A company that wasn't even on your radar 20 years ago has now passed the empire founded by Mickey Mouse.

In honor of Memorial Day, Gregory shares some basics of retirement planning for the military.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 25 May 2018 20:43:14 +0000

A New Jersey man gets sent to prison for cashing his deceased aunt's Social Security checks for 19 years. Gregory explains the process on how to handle some of the financial issues in the death of a loved one. If this guy can get away with it for 19 years, how many other Social Security checks are going out for deceased people? Do we not have better mechanisms to catch this?

Louise in Metairie is past full retirement age for Social Security, and now looking to get the max retirement benefit. When does she have to start the process to turn on Social Security to get the max benefit the first month it's available?

Median household income has jumped to an all-time high in America. It's up over 3% since the election, so how can you maximize the extra income to get your finances together? Gregory recommends you start by making sure you have a solid emergency fund. If you have some overbearing debt you need to get off your shoulders like credit cards, maybe you should pay that down next. Are you getting the full matching on your 401k at work? Perhaps you could start savings with after-tax dollars to balance out your pre-tax retirement savings.

Gregory reports that trade industries are getting so short on skilled workers that some plumbers are now enjoying sweet employee perks like you hear about at Google: a tap with craft beer, an espresso machine, a putting green, and a smoker for brisket lunches.

Trump rattles some cages by calling off the summit with North Korea. Gregory and James immediately recognize Trump is following some of his favorite negotiating tactics he talked about in Art of the Deal.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.23.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 24 May 2018 05:13:16 +0000

Do YOU know when you should turn on your Social Security retirement benefit? People over age 50 scored pretty badly on a Social Security survey, so don't feel bad if you don't know. Gregory explains some of the basics on figuring out when you should turn on Social Security.

Now that the kids are out of school, Eddie in Thibodaux has an extra $10k a year to invest. Eddie asks Gregory how the money should be invested for retirement.

Randy in Mandeville asks Gregory if his wife will get his Social Security benefit after he passes since she was part of the State of Louisiana retirement system. Gregory drops the bad news that she won't get much - if anything - under the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Scott in Ocean Springs, 50 years old, is getting into a Roth IRA. Does Gregory Ricks approve?

Joe in Harahan is in a position where he starts getting an extra $4,800 a month in income. He has not starting saving for retirement, so how can he use this new income to play catch up?

John in Biloxi found some old Savings Bonds. John asks Gregory if he can put those in his IRA somehow?

Jimmy Fallon's advice on being successful is to not think about money, just follow your passion. James thinks that's a horribly shallow view of the world, and that no matter how much everyone wants to follow their passion, someone has to pick up the trash.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.22.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 23 May 2018 14:58:55 +0000

She was fed up with working, and asked Gregory help her retire at the end of the year. Gregory sets up a retirement income plan that's over $50k a year, including Social Security, that will be virtually untaxed. The Guided Planning System shows where she will be financially throughout retirement.

No matter what your age is, go sign up for your Social Security account now at SSA.gov. Setting up your account and password will prevent scammers from setting one up and exploiting your record.

More than half the country doesn't know what to do with their own 401k when it's retirement time. Gregory shares some ways to maximize the abilities of the assets in your 401k, and how to turn it into income streams.

Tesla stock takes a hit after Consumer Reports' low rating of the Model S. Elon Musk vows to fix the braking distance issue with a firmware update. It will be the first time a line of cars could be improved without touching them, according to Consumer Reports.

The new Fortune 500 list comes out ranking the top 500 companies by revenue: Walmart wins! Amazon joins the top 10, while Ford falls out of the top 10. Sears is closing 40 more stores this summer.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.21.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 May 2018 03:44:07 +0000

What happens if the rules on your employer's retirement plan don't match up with the rules of a regular 401k or IRA? Gregory explains how to tell which rule applies to your situation.

The proportion of people over 65 still in the workforce is booming. Much of it is because we are healthier, maybe we need the money, and also because employers can't live without the experience Boomers bring to the table. So what's evolving is an increase in flexible schedules, working from home, and working less hours.

What do you do when your deceased uncle named you as a beneficiary on his IRA? Charlie in Covington asks Gregory for guidance. Gregory reminds Charlie to check if there's a Required Minimum Distribution owed, and offers some options on how to take the money.

Gregory and James review more of PT Barnum's rules from the Art of Money Getting. Living below your means, and being healthy are timeless advice, and Gregory adds in some advice of his own.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 05.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 May 2018 04:56:15 +0000

Gregory's flight had an aborted landing at the New Orleans airport, and they had to go wait out the bad weather in Jackson. It's a pretty harrowing experience, but the airline seemed to handle it OK.

PT Barnum's financial advice from the 1880s stands the test of time well. Gregory and James discuss some of the timeless pieces of financial guidance, starting with: live below your means.

JB in Covington calls in and asks Gregory what all info she needs to have to get him to make her a financial plan. She's working with Wes and Jude of the Total Wealth Authority, and needs Gregory's services as well.

Gregory expands on PT Barnum's advice railing against smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. It sounds like health advice, but Barnum warns about poor health above choosing the correct vocation.

Barnum also warns against buying things on credit and getting into personal debt.

Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, chats with Gregory about how to handle the IRS when you get behind on your taxes. The tax resolution commercials you hear on the radio and see on TV aren't a total scam, but there's better ways to go about cleaning up your tax record, and there's no substitute for having your own CPA.

Jude Heath breaks down the financial dilemna created by the wedding of Prince Harry to the American Megan Markle. The royal family has been steadfast about keeping their financial details under wraps, but American law may get the IRS in the Queen's business. Plus, things could really get complicated if she's still an American citizen when they start having kids.

Jude responds to the story of the financial professional who messed up the Required Minimum Distribution from her own IRA.

The Supreme Court strikes down a ban on sports betting, making it legal in Mississippi! Before the decision to allow sports betting came down, MS had already passed the legislation necessary, and Gulf Coast casinos could be taking bets by football season. This could be a game changer for the Mississippi Coast.

Robert in Slidell asks Gregory if his wife is eligible to draw off of his work record, or hers, and which should she use?

Eric in Biloxi wants to know if his wife's spousal Social Security benefit is correct, because the amount is not half the size of his check.

John in Marrero is a widower, and asks Gregory if he can draw from the widow's benefit while his Social Security record grows.

Larry in Marrero asks Gregory for some idea on how he could transfer a piece of property to his son.

Kenneth in Biloxi asks Gregory about how the math looks when you turn on Social Security early. Gregory walks through the numbers, but also reminds Kenneth that the larger benefit could help out his wife after he's gone.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 18 May 2018 04:39:24 +0000

How much does it REALLY cost to own a home in retirement? While it can be nice to have your home paid off in retirement, it may be better to have the cash on hand instead of plowing it into your house.

An expert advisor on retirement planning admits to messing up her own distributions from her IRA. When it was time for Required Minimum Distributions, she opted for a Qualified Charitable Distribution option, but when all of the checks don't find their targets, problems start.

Someone leaves a busted up Maclaren in the Nevada desert. It had been part of a cross country supercar rally. If someone is walking away from a $300k car like that, they are living in a completely different world than the rest of us.

Meet the father of the offshore oil industry: Doc Laborde.

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:25:19 +0000

Is early retirement really worth financial hit? Gregory and James review a few scenarios that could help your money last if you decide to retire early. Cutting expenses and getting even a small income from a passion project can be the boost you need to stop working early.

Gregory gives the real truth behind Peak Gold, and explains how history and technology show that we still have a long way to go. Gold mining reality shows are an interesting display of how technology has changed the gold industry, and most of the gold above ground today has been extracted in the last 50 years.

Jim in Baton Rouge asks Gregory if he's ready to retire. Giving his current assets versus his standard of living, retiring now at age 57 is pretty close, but working five more years would really put him in a safer situation.

Gregory and James welcome the new sponsor on Winning at Life: Spectacular Tubers! Spectacular Tubers is a chain of restaurants that specializes in baked potatoes and sandwiches, with a few locations from Baton Rouge, Grammercy, and Gonzales. SpectacularTubers.com.

A man with early dementia is reportedly robbed of over a million dollars by his caretaker-relative and a crooked insurance salesman. Gregory suspects that while no financial safeguards are 100% foolproof, you can sure prevent a lot of financial abuse with proper legal structuring and well designed trusts.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.14.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 May 2018 15:23:42 +0000

The Supreme Court strikes down a ban on sports betting, making it legal in Mississippi! Before the decision to allow sports betting came down, MS had already passed the legislation necessary, and Gulf Coast casinos could be taking bets by football season.

A Tesla car on autopilot smashes into a stopped fire truck at 60mph. Elon Musk has an interesting spin on the accident. Gregory warns that autopilot won't be rully reliable for a few years, and you'd be crazy to not oversee it. James worries he'll be late to work in the future because he has to wait on his car's operating system to finish updating.

Dennis in New Orleans asks Gregory how the taxes on his Social Security income is calculated. It gets pretty complicated trying to determine which income streams are counted toward your income base for Social Security inclusion.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.12.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 May 2018 04:49:08 +0000

What websites does Gregory prefer for financial resources and business news. Yahoo Finance was one of the best financial hubs for a long time until Google Finance showed up. However, Google Finance has been through some changes over the last year that hasn't helped their standing. Ultimately, Gregory relies on market information most people don't have access to. Gregory and James discuss some other websites used to keep up with your money.

Gregory stresses the importance of Beneficiary Designations, and keeping them up to date. These forms are often neglected. Qualified accounts, annuities, and life insurance all bypass the will and need a current beneficiary designation.

Chuck in Mandeville asks Gregory about using Dividend Aristocrats. How should yields affect your decision to buy or sell a stock?

Sean in Kenner is wanting to know how he should take advantage of the retirement options through his employer. There's already contributions going to a pension and Roth IRA. How does Gregory rate his plan? Sean also wants to know how fixed annuities should be used in the mix.

Robert texts in from the Winning at Life app and asks Gregory who will be the big winners in the business world if North Korea agrees to peace?

Dwayne Stein our mortgage pro in the Total Wealth Authority and host of Mortgage Gumbo says this Korea meeting could ease rates a bit, but the Fed will be moving them up regardless.

Jose in Gretna plans on retiring next year. When should he turn on his Social Security and Medicare?

Wallace in Gulfport asks Gregory to explain what it means when a 401k fund is aggressive.

Dwayne Stein talks about how Reverse Mortgage rules have drastically changed in the last 10 years, and some of the older loans can have tighter math. Reverse Mortgages and refinances will be affected by rising interest rates.

Valerie calls in from New Orleans to ask Dwayne Stein what home buying programs are available.

Jonathan in West Virginia asks Dwayne Stein if the rate he is offered on a new loan sounds like a good deal.

Dwayne Stein talks about how the record setting levels of consumer debt can be linked to rising home values, but how long can both be going up?

Dwayne tells the story of a 72 year old on the Gulf Coast who is retiring, and is using a reverse mortgage from Mortgage Gumbo to turn on an income stream from his home.

Herbert on Facebook asks Gregory about paying off old debts. If a bill goes to a collection agency, is it better to pay the agency or the original business? Gregory gives guidance on how to find out.

Sports betting may be legal in Mississippi as soon as Monday, and we should have an answer before the end of the Supreme Court season through June.

In retirement, do you really need two cars? Gregory and James discuss what it means to have your own car at your disposal.

Ken in Harvey warns that if Louisiana legalizes sports betting, it would not be able to host NCAA events anymore.

Gregory reviews how your Social Security benefits can be affected if you turn on your benefit before Full Retirement Age while continuing to work. It's a little more complicated than it sounds.

James shares a glitch in the Matrix: he sends Mother's Day flowers a day early to avoid the upcharge on delivery.

Eddie in Slidell asks about how delaying Medicare can lead to higher premiums.

Matthew in Metairie asks Gregory about the pros and cons between a debt consolidation loan and a debt management system.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.11.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 12 May 2018 04:24:41 +0000

Women spend an average of 44% of their adult life out of the work force. Men average just 28% of their adult life out of the work force.

James reports with more audio of the Google AI phone calls. Gregory gives his thoughts on where this new technology is going, and disagrees with the theory that personal car ownership will go away.

Gregory is thinking about holding a one night class on Social Security rules across the Gulf Coast.

Mike in Mississippi asks Gregory to explain the differences in a revokable and irrevokable trust. How do you determine which one to use?

Do you really save enough money for a couple to have only one car in retirement? Gregory leans toward everyone who can drive would be happier with their own car, and it doesn't have to be too expensive.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 May 2018 05:48:20 +0000

Taxes are on sale right now. Knowing that taxes just got lowered AND are likely to go up in the future, how do you take advantage of taxes being on sale right now. Looking at what other countries like Italy pay for Social Security taxes is incredibly high.

Lou in Covington asks Gregory about converting a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA to avoid Required Minimum Distributions.

Brian in New Orleans is self employed and is concerned he doesn't have a strong Social Security record.

Daney in Metairie has a crazy ex husband, and wants to know what Social Security benefits she may be entitled to under his record. There was a Bird Flu mention somewhere in there.

Greg in Rio, LA has a loan out against his 401k, and he's moving to a new job.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.05.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 May 2018 05:17:02 +0000

In stressing the importance of knowing your risk tolerance, James relays his parable on gas station food.

A survey shows there's 20 things rich people do daily that poor people do not.

Gay in Hammond wants to know how working for the state as a teacher in both Louisiana and Mississippi affects her Social Security retirement benefit.

Lesha Nugent Freeland, Realtor of the Total Wealth Authority, answers some real estate questions and highlights a couple of featured properties.

Harley in New Orleans asks Lesha about buying his grandfather's old house. How do you quantify sentiment?

We review some highlights of Gregory helping callers of the week.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 05.03.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 04 May 2018 04:22:24 +0000

Maestro Dennis Assaf reflects on the legacy of the Jefferson Performing Arts Society as their 40th season comes to a close.

Hear James and Gregory run through the list of regular things rich people do that poor people do not.

Hear highlights from Total Wealth Authority members: Jude Heath, Wes Blanchard, and Dwayne Stein, as they help callers.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.30.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 May 2018 21:09:50 +0000

Do you know all of your options on when and how you can turn on your Social Security benefit? Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Gregory shares the story of how you can use some provisions in Section 7702 of the tax code to set up a stream of tax free income. It's not for everyone, but it's a powerful option for those overweighted in taxable retirement income.

Stan calls in from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and asks Gregory WHY does he have to take Required Minimum Distributions from his IRA? Stan also wants to know if he can take advantage of the tax free income plan from Gregory's story in the previous segment. After explaining some of the reasons the IRS has RMDs, Gregory goes into more detail about different ways to structure an income stream that's untaxed.

How do you know when you should get a prenuptual agreement? One financial advisor recommends his clients to a psycho therapist, who then analyzes their financial temperament. Gregory uses part of the financial temperament quiz on James.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 04:22:55 +0000

Smoothie King announces they are moving their corporate headquarters from the New Orleans area to Dallas. An annual survey shows people are waiting longer to turn on Social Security. The number one age is still 62 (ASAP), but the second most often start date is 65.

Jeff in Mobile asks Gregory about the costs of waiting to turn on Social Security. If you had the ability to invest the money you would receive from turning on Social Security before your Full Retirement Age, there is also an opportunity cost to waiting, as well as the missed checks. Gregory agrees, and shares a recent scenario he saw where the math leans toward turning on Social Security early.

Fred from Mandeville wants to know why his IRA has Required Minimum Distributions at age 70.5. Gregory explains to Fred that it probably has a lot to do with the government being able to recoup deferred taxes, and offers some options on dealing with taxes from your RMDs.

Gregory Ricks shares his thoughts on peace talks in the Korean peninsula, and how economic forces are shaping aspects of this attempt at ending a 65 year old stalemate.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

If you have any assets, and any heirs, a will can save a headache for your loved ones. Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney of the Total Wealth Authority, explains how a will opts you out of the default rules from your state. Among other legal quirks, Louisiana doesn't have transfer-on-death accounts at the local bank like neighboring states.

Joe in Metairie was turned down for a life insurance policy for a medical report he believes was inaccurate. Gregory shows him how he can address getting the record corrected, and stresses the importance of getting everything documented.

Art from St Rose asks Gregory if he can convert his IRA into a Roth IRA over the years in pieces to manage his tax exposure. Gregory Ricks explains how strategic Roth conversions can still be done, and also some changes to the law that may affect your decision.

John in the FB Live comments asks Gregory about his financial situation: John is 52 with nothing saved for retirement. Is saving $20 a week not worth the trouble, or a decent place to start?

Matthew in Metairie asks Wes Blanchard if his joint accounts at the bank will be immediately accessible by his spouse if he passes.

Michael in Raceland asks Wes Blanchard and Gregory Ricks about how he can pass along his assets without having to go through the succession process. Wes and Gregory talk through some options and generally agree that a will with a living trust is what Michael is asking for. Michael then asks Gregory his thoughts on Bitcoin.

When the First Quarter GDP growth comes in at 2.3%, the bearish voice seems to be louder than the bulls right now. Gregory and James review some bearish audio from Dennis Gartman on Fox Business explaining why he's getting out of the pool.

Gregory Ricks gives his summary on the latest news from crypto currencies, and there seems to be a whirlwind of problems from all angles on these currencies. Gregory thinks you may have better luck mining for actual gold than for bitcoin. The reality of taxes is about to hit some folks pretty hard. Between the volatility, heists, frauds, and delays, it doesn't look good.

Teresa in Covington and her husband are 10 years apart. How does this affect when they should turn on their Social Security benefit? Gregory walks Teresa through a few scenarios and options for married couples looking to maximize their benefits.

Cici in Gretna asks Gregory about her late husband's living trust. How does she go about transferring the property through the trust, and does she have to make a new trust going forward?

If an employer offers a 12% match on your 401k, is there any down sides to that? Gregory answers this question from Ronda in the Facebook Live comments. She contributes the match, PLUS a little more. Gregory's concern is that if you have all of your retirement savings in a pre-tax status, you're setting yourself up for some tax consequences you may not like when you take income from those assets. In a 12% match on the 401k, once you get to the full matched amount, it becomes even more important to look for ways to reduce your taxable income in retirement.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.26.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 04:42:54 +0000

There's an international wine shortage! Gregory explains how this happened, and the business side of the wine industry.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Scott in Mobile texts in from the Winning at Life app to recommend HiYa: an app to weed out scammers.

Doug on the Northshore calls in and shares how he likes to deal with phone scammers.

Really? Wells Fargo is in trouble again? The Feds are looking into 401k rollovers, and if they were recommended with fees in mind.

Dennis Gartman was on Fox Business, and we review his audio making a pretty solid case on why he's bearish.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.25.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:00:36 +0000

If an employer offers a 12% match on your 401k, is there any down sides to that? Gregory answers this question from Ronda in the Facebook Live comments. She contributes the match, PLUS a little more. Gregory's concern is that if you have all of your retirement savings in a pre-tax status, you're setting yourself up for some tax consequences you may not like when you take income from those assets. In a 12% match on the 401k, once you get to the full matched amount, it becomes even more important to look for ways to reduce your taxable income in retirement.

Gregory had an interesting case he was working on in his office where a pension, 401k, and Social Security, and a tax-free income source will combine to get a solid income stream with minimal taxes.

Jay in New Orleans says she doesn't really need her Social Security now, so does it make sense to turn it on at age 62 and invest it all? She is also concerned that Social Security could be greatly reduced sometime in the near future. Gregory asks some questions about her financial situation, and shows her how the math on waiting until 70 could be a better way to maximize your benefit.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

The Number highlighted 10 year treasuries hanging in above 3%.

Ford says they are cutting some brands and focusing on SUVs, crossovers, Mustangs, and trucks.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:21:29 +0000

James recorded a phone scammer pretending to be the IRS. Gregory Ricks has the story of Amazon getting its cloud service hijacked for a few hours this morning. Quite a few people were redirected to dummy sites and phished. Some lost crypto currency. Not much damage was done though, so it looks like it may be a dry run for something bigger.

Oil is climbing back to levels it hasn't seen since before the price collapsed in 2014. Ten Year Treasury bonds are finally hitting 3% again.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Starting early is a huge advantage to investing for retirement. Gregory runs through the math on what small sums saved monthly can do if it has time to work. If you save $50 a month, you will be ahead of half of your fellow Americans when it comes time to retire.

Gregory Ricks shares his summary of where the cryptocurrency world is heading, and it's not pretty.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.23.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:21:29 +0000

Why do we have a women only event? Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Mel in Slidell asks Gregory if his girlfriend's state pension from being a teacher will affect her Social Security payments, even though she's always had a side job? Gregory gets him up to speed on the Windfall Elimination Provision for Louisiana state pensioners.

Gregory and James review a call from Saturday's show where Mary in Belle Chase asks Gregory Ricks if Social Security automatically reevalutes her earnings record every year. She has continued working after turning on her payments, but hasn't seen much of an increase. How does that work?

Rick in Pascagoula is working full time and has just started his Social Security retirement benefit. Is there any kind of earnings threshold where they withhold money? Do his new tax contributions get factored into his benefit?

Norman from Garyville asks Gregory Ricks how Social Security penalizes you for working if you turn it on before full retirement age.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.21.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 18:48:28 +0000

Gregory Ricks responds to reports of reforms to the fiduciary regulations. Since the Department of Labor's new fiduciary rule has been halted, some advocate a less-stringent reform. The SEC voted to tighten the rules on some stock brokers. Learn how to ask the right questions of the person who is handling your money.

Mary from Belle Chases asks Gregory Ricks if Social Security automatically reevalutes her earnings record every year. She has continued working after turning on her payments, but hasn't seen much of an increase.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Emile asks a question in the Facebook Live comments: "When Gregory said social security income is based on good 35 years. How does the history adjust to your current highest paying job or can it go on the history of the longest work history at a lower salary?"

Jude Heath, the CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, is in studio for an hour to talk taxes. This tax season got a few extra days, thanks to the weekend, a holiday, and a website crash.

We review a call from the Winning at Life Daily Wrap with Jude Heath's ideas thrown in this time. Larry called in from Long Beach, Mississippi with a good problem. Even though he's in his mid 50s, he has no retirement savings, but a new business venture is now pulling in about $15,000 a month. Now that he has the extra income, how does he play catch up? Gregory starts with making sure his business is structured properly, and getting some retirement savings built up through his company plan.

Jason from Metairie wants to cash out his old life insurance policy. How will his payout be taxed? Where should he put the money? Is buying some term coverage in the mean time a good strategy?

The Supreme Court is considering a case about online sales tax collection. In this battle between the Dakotas (somehow), the result will absolutely reverberate throughout the retail world online and offline.

Some changes in the Trump tax reform changed entertainment write offs for businesses. If we had a suite for the New Orleans Pelicans playoff game today, how could we write some of that off? Henry calls from Metairie to ask Jude Heath and Gregory Ricks some questions about business and travel tax deductions.

John in Pascagoula asks Gregory Ricks and Jude Heath about how the childrens' benefit from his deceased wife's pension is taxed.

Gregory Ricks and James Parker report the story of the Southwest flight where the engine blew up and had to make an emergency landing.

Nelson calls in from Covington, Louisiana to ask Gregory Ricks his opinion about doing a Roth conversion on his IRA to take advantage of the tax situation.

Tom in New Orleans asks Gregory Ricks about how a self-employed investor can best utilize a SEP.

Randy in Metairie has some old savings bonds he found that were bought back in the 80s. How does he figure out the value of these things, and how would he cash them in? SHOULD he cash them in?

Janelle asks Gregory how she should address her property tax assesment somehow doubling in one year.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.20.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 13:48:33 +0000

North Korea says they will suspend their nuclear program to have talks. It's a historic move politically, but also means this battle of tariff proposals between the US and China is getting results. This could mean we avoid a trade war AND open up Chinese markets for US trade.

The financial consequences of a NFL team's first round draft bust is worth about $10 million. The Saints recent draft success has been improving their money and talent.

Gregory shares a client case with a pretty flexible pension through Mississippi FERS. He can do a full or partial lump sum, and have COLA increases on his payout. Gregory walks through the math and other considerations on how they decided how to best utilize the pension options. There's also some tax issues to keep in mind.

Well Fargo has agreed to pay another fine to the CFPB, although seeing as how the CFPB gets to keep half the money, something smells shady. It looks like a business can do shady things and avoid criminal prosecution if they simply pay this agency a kickback. Does it create a conflict of interest that a supposed consumer protection agency stands to gain financially the more consumers are violated?

Larry in Picayune calls in to ask Gregory's opinion on how he should start saving money on behalf og his young children. Does he need to invest that money, or just leave it in a regular savings account or what?

Gregory talks about having some fun earlier today at Nola Motorsports Park.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Larry calls in from Long Beach with a good problem. Even though he's in his mid 50s, he has no retirement savings, but a new business venture is now pulling in about $15,000 a month. Now that he has the extra income, how does he play catch up? Gregory starts with making sure his business is structured properly, and getting some retirement savings built up through his company plan.

Nick calls from Hammond to ask Gregory's opinion on using a life insurance policy as a tax-efficient source of income in retirement.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 14:57:34 +0000

Just because you retire doesn't mean your taxes go away. Find out from Gregory Ricks how the IRS hits your retirement income streams like Social Security, IRA distributions, income from your 401k, and investment gains. Gregory goes into more detail on how stock dividends can be taxed, and what factors can affect that amount.

A couple in Gregory's office working out their retirement plan had the husband's pension continuing for the spouse at 75%. Gregory cautions against that income drop for the wife, because they also lose one of their Social Security checks as well. If anything, you want to find ways to give yourself a raise throughout retirement to account for inflation and ballooning healthcare costs.

We review a great call from Saturday's show. Lori in Alabama asks Gregory Ricks and Dwayne Stein their opinion on if a mortgage refinance would help solve her situation.

Gregory decodes how your Social Security benefits are taxed. Once you pass certain income limits, the tax exposure for your Social Security jumps up. There are even 13 states that can tax your Social Security benefits.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.17.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 13:28:07 +0000

It's Tax Day, but the IRS website that takes direct payments crashed today, so Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says we have an extra day to file electronically.

Gregory Ricks shares some additional thoughts on Bob Breck's advice from Saturday's show. Bob stressed the importance of considering taxes if all of your money is in a 401k or IRA.

How is hush money taxed? If you get money from a non-disclosure agreement, do you have to report that to the IRS? Is it taxable? Can it be a tax write off as a business expense for the guy cutting the check?

Donna from Kenner has an Health Savings Account, and it seems like a great way to save some pre-tax money that could ultimately be used in retirement. She has around $20k saved in her HSA, and asks Gregory if that's too much or too little? Gregory warns against getting aggressive with investments within an HSA, and treat it like emergency money.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

A roofer in West Monroe repossed his work for non-payment according to a local report. Pay your debts, folks.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 12:57:16 +0000

Where is the market going from here? Is it time to get back in, or continue to get out? Gregory Ricks and James Parker discuss some audio clips from Stephanie Pomboy of Macro Mavens on how she's still leaning toward selling.

Our next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up Tuesday, May 8, 6:30pm at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. It is for women only and pairs together great wine, wisdom, and food. If you think Gregory Ricks could help you with your money, RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or 504.832.9200.

Did you know how your retirement income is taxed changes from State to State? There's 13 states that tax Social Security benefits, and while we aren't hit with the SS tax at the state level, you would be surprised which states are. Mississippi and Louisiana have a few differences worth considering if you're retired and looking to move.

Netflix is exploding. Their subscriptions and revenue are doing so well you almost forget about the cash burn rate. Netflix is an amazing story from a business perspective, and has quickly embedded itself into the social fabric as well.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 12:18:32 +0000

As Tesla continues to miss its production targets and burn through cash, Elon Musk goes to Twitter to claim Tesla will be profitable by the end of the year. What do you think will happen first: Elon Musk will have Tesla profitable or he will have a colony on Mars? Meanwhile, Netflix looks unstoppable, and is now worth more than Fox, CBS, Viacom, and some of the other big boys in broadcasting.

As Gregory's financial business continues to grow, we learn how to deal with issues that affect many small businesses that are growing. How does Gregory handle the stresses of a growing company? How has Gregory's skill set evolved?

A viewer in Periscope asks Gregory to explain what it means to short a stock, and how do you make money shorting stocks?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau may fine Wells Fargo $1 billion for swindling 570,000 customers. If I took money from someone involuntarily by force or fraud, I would be arrested and sent to jail. If these bankers really did steal money from folks, why are we skipping criminal charges? You mean you can't rip off American consumers as long as the CFPB gets paid off? What kind of corrupt garbage is that?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.09.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 02:19:49 +0000

If you've been looking for a way to grow your business, have you considered advertising with Winning at Life? Radio has been declared to be dying, but has the highest reach of any medium. It beats TV, print, online, and on-air radio shows dominate the ratings for the world of streams and podcasts.

Rick Perry tells Stuart Varney that fracking and horizontal drilling has been helping America and slowing down Russia. Trump's softer tone on China relaxes the markets for a modest gain today.

Jay in Covington won a huge jackpot playing poker at the casino, and gets a 1099 for the $38,000 in winnings. What does the IRS expect from him? How does the withholding works? Gregory relays some thoughts from his personal experience on how casinos handle some of these poker rooms, and thoughts from his professional experience on how the IRS treats gambling wins.

Gregory helps Billy from Houma work out some of his options in using a Home Equity Line of Credit to pay for his daughter's tuition. In a rising interest rate world, having an adjustable rate can be a pain. Could it be better to lock in an interest rate now with a cash-out refinance to pay off the HELOC and cover the rest of the tuition costs?

Mike calls in from New Orleans to get Gregory's thoughts on a variable annuity offer. Mike did some of his own research, and is not impressed with the fees and features. Gregory confirms Mike's research as accurate, rails on variable annuities pretty hard, and then offers some better alternatives.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.07.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 18:33:07 +0000

Gregory Ricks and James Parker discuss reports of a lawsuit from Drew Brees against a jeweler in California. Are diamonds and jewelry useful investments? How do you keep from getting scammed?

Mike calls in from New Orleans to get Gregory's thoughts on a variable annuity offer. Mike did some of his own research, and is not impressed with the fees and features. Gregory confirms Mike's research as accurate, rails on variable annuities pretty hard, and then offers some better alternatives.

Gregory Ricks reviews some great audio from Larry Kudlow - who is now an economic adviser for Trump - about what's going on with China and the talk of tarrifs. Whatever changes can be made to our trade policy with China will reverberate throughout the markets and affect us all. Gregory also agrees with Kudlow's idea of making China follow some of the same trade rules as first world countries.

Our Realtor of the Total Wealth Authority Lesha Nugent Freeland is in studio for an hour covering some horrifying stories of issues with the home that were overlooked during the buying process.

A family in unincorporated Harrison County Mississippi recently moved into their newly built 6 bedroom dream home. Unfortunately, the contractor only put in a septic system for a three bedroom house. How can you avoid a mess like this? Lesha shares a few other stories of overlooked issues she has seen.

Lesha Nugent Freeland details a couple of featured properties that will be having an open house the next day.

Alan from Diamondhead asks Lesha about how the inspection process can miss some of these property issues.

Producer Angie asks Gregory Ricks about her mother-in-law's situation with part of her widows benefit from Social Security being reduced because she turned it on early.

Gregory helps Billy from Houma work out some of his options in using a Home Equity Line of Credit to pay for his daughter's tuition. In a rising interest rate world, having an adjustable rate can be a pain. Could it be better to lock in an interest rate now with a cash-out refinance to pay off the HELOC and cover the rest of the tuition costs?

Kevin in Covington is coming across some extra income. He wants Gregory's opinion on where he could best utilize the new money. Getting a raise means you need to take a look at your emergency savings, your current company plan, your mortgage, getting caught up on your credit cards, taxes, and other debts. Gregory walks through a few options with Kevin.

Jay in Covington won a huge jackpot playing poker at the casino, and gets a 1099 for the $38,000 in winnings. What does the IRS expect from him? How does the withholding works? Gregory relays some thoughts from his personal experience on how casinos handle some of these poker rooms, and thoughts from his professional experience on how the IRS treats gambling wins.

Butch is driving up I-55, and asks Gregory for ideas on how to raise some private capital for to renovate a resort in exchange for a piece of the ownership. Gregory gives him a few ideas on where to start.

Gregory Ricks gives you his take on the Chinese trade issues. Is there a damaging trade war between the world's two biggest economies on the way? Or, is this just what it looks like to have a tough stance on reforming some of our flawed trade deals? Should China play by the rules of a first world country?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:17:08 +0000

James relays a useful tip he learned at the cell phone repair shop.

Gregory Ricks gives you his take on the Chinese trade issues. Is there a damaging trade war between the world's two biggest economies on the way? Or, is this just what it looks like to have a tough stance on reforming some of our flawed trade deals? Should China play by the rules of a first world country?

Sherri from Bay St Louis asks Gregory Ricks to explain what it means to have a balloon note on your mortgage? Gregory walks her through the basics, and shares some stories on how a balloon mortgage can be used.

The WSJ reports the top 20% of income earners are projected to pay 87% of all federal income taxes in 2018. Tax planning is something you should really focus on if you're in the top 20%, and all it takes is a household with around $150k in annual income.

Producer Angie asks Gregory Ricks about her mother-in-law's situation with part of her widows benefit from Social Security being reduced because she turned it on early.

Bill in Pontchatoula has a old 401k from a previous job, a new employer offering a 401k, and a side business as an LLC. Gregory Ricks helps decode some of the options Bill could use to get on the right path.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.03.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 14:10:08 +0000

David Stockman, a former Reagan economic advisor, is saying the markets and the economy as a whole are going down the tubes, and this market downturn is just the beginning. Stockman focuses on the Fed, the stock bubble, and Trump's recent criticism of Amazon.

Gregory recounts a story about a young widow who is trying to put together an retirement plan, and has about 15 years left until retirement.

Cole calls Gregory from Hammond. He's 30 years old, and has his 401k still in the market. Should he ride the market down and not worry about it too much since he has the time? If he does get out, what does that look like? How does he know when to get back in?

Spotify has a shakey start that ends up just slightly down. Gregory responds to some coverage of the high profile IPO on Fox Business.

Gregory and James review some of the stocks on the short sheet that are not following the generaltrend line of the overall markets. There are always opportunities to find winning stocks in the markets, they just become harder to find when the indexes are all trending down.

Doug on the Northshore asks if he should do a reverse mortgage, HELOC, or a cash-out refinance on his mortgage. Gregory says a reverse mortgage is probably not the better option, because his wife is not old enough to be on the reverse mortgage. Gregory probes Doug's other financial options, and recommends he talks to Dwayne Stein at MortgageGumbo.com.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 04.02.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:38:33 +0000

We start the show by reviewing a great call from Saturday's show: Jim in Bush calls to ask Gregory how his IRA's Required Minimum Distribution is calculated.

The Numbers covers the biggest trading day loss to start Q2 since the 1930s.

Scott in Biloxi has fallen on hard times since he became unemployed. He calls Gregory to ask about dipping into his IRA to get by until he finds work. Which account should the money come from? How will I be taxes? How much are the penalties? Do you have other options?

Gregory teaches you a rare exception with 403b accounts. If a 403b participant has funds in a plan before 1987, they may delay Required Minimum Distributions until age 75. The Old Money Rule allows you to delay only the monies vested in the plan before December 31, 1986. Contributions after the cut off are subject to regular RMD rules.

James and Gregory preview the IPO for Spotify. It's a rare direct listing, and still holds the same risks as a typical IPO. Spotify has been around 12 years, and still hasn't turned a profit.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.31.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 13:16:13 +0000

Gregory explains how the rules for Required Minimum Distributions are calculated for a 401k after age 71 if you are still working at that job.

Jim in Bush calls to ask Gregory how his IRA's Required Minimum Distribution is calculated.

Dale calls in from the Northshore to ask Gregory how his IRA's Required Minimum Distribution is calculated.

Charles calls in from Mobile to ask Gregory Ricks about the tax implications of selling a house that he's lived in for less than two years. Jude Heath, the CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, adds to the guidance from an accounting perspective.

Jude Heath explains how keeping records on home improvement expenses for your home could lower your capital gains exposure when the house is sold. Keep in mind there's a 10 year statute of limitations on home expenses being applied to your cost basis, and review your records with your accountant before putting the house up for sale.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.28.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:56:13 +0000

The show starts with the Numbers segment, because some big companies are taking a beating like Amazon, Facebook, and poor old GE.

What happens when you inherit an annuity? Gregory Ricks explains how the taxes are figured, what your timeline looks like, and options on how to extract the money.

What happens when you inherit an inherited IRA? Gregory Ricks and James Parker discuss the rules for IRA distributions evolve when an Inherited IRA gets passed down a second time.

Scott from Mobile texts in from the Winning at Life app asking for Gregory and James' thoughts on Susan Rice being named to the Board of Directors at Netflix.

Gregory answers a follow up question about how payments are calculated on an inherited annuity.

The Mega Millions is up to $502 million. Gregory Ricks helps James break down how much "stupid money" he could blow from the jackpot, yet still maintain a millionaire cash flow for life from the remaining assets.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.26.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 20:36:46 +0000

Elon Musk's Boring Company plans to sell giant legos.

Charles texts from the Winning at Life app asking about his girlfriend's $100k in student loan debt. Gregory Ricks spells out what it's going to take to get that resolved.

Gregory recommends you live like a pauper through college, and continue to be frugal until you're out of debt. Be aware of the salary range of the student's major, the availability of landing the right job, and the total price tag of the degree.

The Numbers: Volatility continues in the stock market. 10 Year Treasuries are close to an interesting support level.

Mike in Alabama maxes out his 401k, and puts the excess contributions in an IRA. His broker says he needs to move his funds into a new IRA, because of some rule changes. What's that about?

Mississippi casinos scored $170 million statewide in gambling losses last month. What a business!

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.23.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 21:51:53 +0000

Gregory and James start out the show with the Numbers segment, because the Dow is down about 1,700 points for the week.

Jackie in Houma is starting contributions to her first 401k at age 33. She wants Gregory's thoughts on how to choose which funds to use.

Maggie in Long Beach calls in to update us on her journey to get out of debt that started with a call last year.

Eddie in Thibodaux is also giving us an update on his situation. He called a few years ago asking Gregory's thoughts on buying or renting for his daughter while she attends LSU. Now, she's graduating. Should he keep it?

Kim in Slidell has a financial situation for Gregory that involves her daughter being an international runway model, but piling up debt. How do they get a handle on their money?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 21:45:48 +0000

Gregory shares some of his experiences from the conference in Colorado Springs, and answers comment cards from the last Gregory Ricks Live.

Ray from Gulfport is having some issues covering the costs on his property, what does Gregory think about Ray dipping into his TSP account to get his finances caught up?

Gregory responds to a comment card's concern about estate planning, and walks through the process on how you should decide when to retire.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.12.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:42:29 +0000

Zach Strief retires from the Saints. James asks Gregory what it would take to retire at age 35 with around $5 million without running out of money. Most NFL players end up broke in retirement, and the main culprit is often overspending.

Overbuying a house will make it significantly harder to invest properly for retirement, and many people find the added financial stress isn't worth it.

Gregory responds to Elizabeth Warren's comments on Fox News Sunday with his personal experience on a sensitive issue.

Gregory answers a few comment cards from last week's Gregory Ricks Live.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.08.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 04:34:19 +0000

Blockchain may be a technology that's here to stay, but for now, cryptocurrencies are a mess. Japan suspends a couple of Bitcoin exchanges, and Gregory warns about the inherent risks in the crypto world.

Gregory Ricks and James recall some of the questions from last night's Gregory Ricks Live.

A Medicaid expansion in Louisiana adds to a waiting list for care. Luckily, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, and other states didn't take part.

Trump's tariff threats on steel and aluminum look like a businessman using a negotiation tactic. Does North Korea's Kim Jong Un want to meet because Trump made him blink?

Matthew in Alabama wants to know if there's some way he can access his old 401k plan without a penalty.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.03.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:01:51 +0000

Choosing the day you start Social Security is most likely the biggest financial decision you will make in retirement. If you aren't paying into the Social Security system because of a state pension or tax avoidance, that could be a problem.

Randy in Kenner asks Gregory to explain how his Social Security benefits can be affected as he continues to work after he's already started receiving checks.

Bill in Metairie is self employed and hasn't been claiming much income on his taxes throughout the years. Now, he's concerned his Social Security check is paying the price.

MJ in Periscope asks if he can use bankruptcy to help with his $243k in student loans from medical school. He's only making $28k now, but starts his residency later this year.

Gregory shares the story of how his brother in law took on extra work while going through medical school to minimize debt, and how he is reaping the rewards today.

Alex in Kenner asks Gregory how the taxes are figured for a trio of brothers inheriting a house.

Our Real Estate guru in the Total Wealth Authority, Lesha Nugent-Freeland, is in studio to talk about which local parishes are hot for property values, local sales trends, and some featured properties.

Michael in Kenner asks Gregory and Lesha about the best way to get some equity out of his properties. He has a house, 2 rentals, and a camp. Should he do a Home Equity Line of Credit, and Cash Out Refi, sell one of the rentals, or what?

Phil in the Bywater is refinancing his adjustable rate mortgage. What does it mean to "buy a point" in mortgage lingo? Gregory, Lesha, and James fill in the ways buying a point affects your mortgage overall.

Gregory addresses the Trump proposal of raising the steel and aluminum tariffs to counter China and some other trade issues.

Mary in Ocean Springs asks Gregory if she could file for Social Security disability at age 62.

Lesha Nugent-Freeland tells the story of a guy this week who qualifies for a smaller loan size because the interest rates have gone up.

David in New Orleans asks Gregory to explain the various options a married couples have when they turn on Social Security benefits.

Peggy in Loranger has questions for her friend who doesn't know the rules for getting Social Security Disability benefits.

John in Jackson asks Gregory if he should use some of his liquid assets to pay off his mortgage.

Bonnie in Clinton asks Gregory if she has enough assets to cover her retirement income needs. She's 75, still working, and seems to be headed on the right path.

Only a third of Millenials have a credit card. Are they credit averse, or rejects?

Roger in Metairie asks Gregory for guidance on getting a construction loan and converting it to a regular home mortgage.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.02.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:18:34 +0000

Gregory helps you decode this extreme market volatility by showing you how to find your exits when the market gets too crazy.

Last week, Ron in New Orleans asked Gregory if his Social Security check should be increasing as he continues to work into his 70s. Gregory did a little more research and shares more details on how those calculations are made.

The first Gregory Ricks Live of 2018 is coming up March 6. For some, it's the beginning of a new financial future. This thing is almost full, though.

On Saturday, Tucker in Greenwood asked Gregory how getting married to his girlfriend - who is already receiving Social Security - could affect her benefit. Gregory explains how some Social Security rules work for those thinking about getting married late in life.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 03.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 20:05:24 +0000

James walks you through the concert last night at Boomtown with Chris Janson, Eric Paslay, and Carly Pearce in a benefit for St Jude's from our iHeart sister station WNOE. Hear an acoustic live clip of "Buy Me a Boat."

The markets are rocked when Trump announces his intentions to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum. You will see what happened the last time we tried protectionist steel tariffs under W.

The first Gregory Ricks Live of 2018 is coming up March 6. For some, it's the beginning of a new financial future.

We review some great calls regarding Social Security from Saturday's show. Thomas in New Orleans asks how his Social Security credits are affected while he temporarily gets a disability check.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.26.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 23:58:37 +0000

The markets surge ahead again, and have recovered most of the losses from the technical correction earlier this month. Amazon stock continues its meteoric rise, and we review Bartiromo and Varney's Amazon chat.

We review Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo, and his losing adventure with cryptocurrency.

Despite the false predictions of Net Neutrality supporters, 5G connections are being rolled out this year, and will be faster than the average home broadband.

We replay a couple of great calls about Social Security and a QPRT from Saturday's show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:22:13 +0000

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.21.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:22:53 +0000

Walmart stock follows its worst day in history by dropping a little bit more. Gregory walks us through the question on whether Walmart could continue the decline. James tries out the new Walmart Pickup Center being tested in Metairie.

Gregory Ricks Live is coming up March 6, and Gregory explains how you could benefit from coming to this event. He previews his take on Trump and the new rules of retirement investing, and Wes Blanchard of the Total Wealth Authority has 3 core estate planning mistakes that cause disasters. We will also help you decode volatility and risk.

Gregory and James walk through your retirement planning deadlines. What opportunities and rules kick in at age 50, 55, 59.5, 60, 62, 65, 67, 70, 70.5?

Brett in Houma asks what percent of his income should he be saving for retirement?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.20.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:59:30 +0000

Gregory Ricks Live is coming up March 6, and Gregory explains how you could benefit from coming to this event. He previews his take on Trump and the new rules of retirement investing, and Wes Blanchard of the Total Wealth Authority has 3 core estate planning mistakes that cause disasters. We will also help you decode volatility and risk.

Walmart stock has its worst day in history by dropping more than 10%. Gregory walks us through the question on whether Walmart could be in a buying position right now?

A new study claims the key to long life could be 2 drinks a day.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.17.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 17:01:57 +0000

Gregory explains how the next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up March 6 can change your financial future. Gregory and James talk about Trump and the new rules of retirement investing.

Gregory walks us through how to properly evaluate investing options according to your risk tolerance. One of the most overlooked hurdles in investing is liquidity. If you don't know how you will get your money out, you probably shouldn't put it in.

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard of the Total Wealth Authority is in studio for an hour. Cryptocurrency investors are leaving behind millions in inaccessible wealth as estate planning catches up to technology. Changes in the Tax Reform Bill are already having an effect in the legal world of estate planning.

The show is full of great callers as well covering issues like: if it's better to donate your hosue to the kids or let it go through succession, how stock in the company plan is taxed, and how much work is required to qualify for Social Security credits.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.16.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 22:27:01 +0000

Gregory explains how the market rebound is a great investment opportunity. The next Gregory Ricks Live is coming up March 6. Here's who needs to be there.

Gregory helps Cyrus in Olympia, Washington with IRA contribution rules and limits.

Our Real Estate guru in the Total Wealth Authority, Lesha Nugent-Freeland, is in studio to talk about some hot properties, flood maps, and inspections

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.10.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 15:35:22 +0000

Gregory explains how he views the wild swings in the stock market over the past week, and how you can use this data to guide your moves. How do you know when it's time to get out of the market?

Tom in Houma asks for Gregory's opinion on his bond portfolio in the face of rate hikes.

Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority is in studio to give us some updates on the new tax brackets and rule changes, and answers some questions from callers.

More Jude: Space X launches a Tesla to Mars. How much of that is a write off? Tax season is underway, which means tax scam season is underway.

Bitcoin woes continues, but we are learning the cryptocurrency world plays by some of the same rules as the tangible world.

Gregory helps a few callers with Social Security issues:

Gregory gives James a pop quiz that most people fail: How well do you know the basics of Social Security?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.07.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 04:55:21 +0000

Bitcoin woes continues, but we are learning the cryptocurrency world plays by some of the same rules as the tangible world.

Space X launches a Tesla to Mars. How cool is that?

Gregory helps a few callers with Social Security issues:
Wayne in Tennessee asks if his state pension might affect his Social Security disability. Barbara in Metairie asks Gregory about her eligibility for Social Security widow's benefits. Patrick in Slidell asks if he can get his Social Security payments while living outside the US. George in River Ridge asks about qualifying for Social Security.

Gregory gives James a pop quiz that most people fail: How well do you know the basics of Social Security?

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.06.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 14:29:41 +0000

It was an unusually volatile rollercoaster day on Wall Street. Bitcoin is about 60% off its high from December.

Terry in Virginia is new to investing and asks Gregory to evaluate a stock tip about a startup.

Gregory has a quick quiz to see if you know the basics of Social Security.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.05.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 18:01:00 +0000

The Dow sets a record for the biggest intra-day drop in history, but recovers some of that ground and finished down a big 4.6%. We review what some of the popular reactions are, and how this drop fits into the recent history of market corrections.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 02.01.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 03:22:21 +0000

Gregory Ricks and James discuss the idea of Amazon replacing GE in the Dow. Gregory reports on another giant Bitcoin theft. Matthew in Fairhope, AL is being offered both a 401k and Roth 401k at work. Ivan from Little Rock wants Gregory's thoughts on his retirement plans for next year.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 01.31.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 05:30:30 +0000

Gregory helps Linda sort out her IRA mess. Danny in Biloxi asks for a Gregory Ricks Live event on the Gulf Coast. Gregory explains to Frank in New Orleans reasons why Frank's brokerage firm asked him to move his money into new accounts. Mike in Poplarville asks Gregory for advice on investing in an index.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 01.30.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 04:15:49 +0000

Do you know how to handle inherited money? Hear Gregory Ricks help callers with issues inheriting an IRA, stocks, and a 401k. We take a financial preview of the State of the Union to follow the show.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.29.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 18:29:06 +0000

Gregory Ricks and James Parker discuss some claims from Art Laffer on Fox Business that the GDP growth was skewed because of tax reform, and is optimistic about growth in 2018. Jeff in Harahan just came upon some money, should he pay down his mortgage or invest it? Gregory breaks down where Apple's stock is going, and the future of Netflix.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Weekly Wrap: 01.27.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:59:43 +0000

Gregory Ricks helps callers decide on what to do with some inherited money, whether or not to pay extra on their mortgage or invest, how to get out of a bad business, and when to turn on Social Security. James Parker discusses the record breaking Dow, and how 50 Cent accidentally became a Bitcoin millionaire. Dwayne Stein of MortgageGumbo.com is our guest who tells the stories of how Reverse Mortgages have been used to solve some retirement issues.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 01.24.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:35:28 +0000

James Parker discusses the record breaking Dow close, and reviews some highlights with Gregory Ricks helping callers about Social Security issues. The SEC investigates GE, adding to their woes.

http://www.WinningAtLife.com

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.22.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:58:26 +0000

Daily Wrap

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.19.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:57:05 +0000

Daily Wrap

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.18.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:55:55 +0000

Daily Wrap

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.17.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:54:53 +0000

Daily Wrap

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.15.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 15:46:53 +0000

Daily Wrap

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.13.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 09:13:51 +0000

$ Financial News Talk $ $ Weekly Wrap Snapsnot $ *Guidance on 2018's Number One New Years Resolution!! - GETTING OUT OF DEBT!!; *Oil News; *Mississippi News; *Venezuela Updates! ...and James drops some Health Knowledge on us all! Hour Two: *This week's Total Wealth Authority Guest: Wesley Blanchard, Esq., from WJ Blanchard, LLC. -- Estate Planning Attorney ******REMEMBER****** Don't Forget to catch us on our Podcast, Periscope, Facebook Live, or however you choose to list to this show on demand! :) ??? HAVE A QUESTION FOR GREGORY??? CALL LIVE DURING THE SHOW -> 504.260.0995

Winning at Life Daily Wrap: 1.4.18

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 19:13:37 +0000

Daily Wrap

1-3-18 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 18:09:46 +0000

Daily Wrap

1-2-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 18:55:31 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 21:50:04 +0000

Weekly Wrap

12-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:42:46 +0000

Weekly Wrap

12-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:35:17 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:27:13 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 19:23:06 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 22:06:51 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 19:22:20 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-09-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 17:09:09 +0000

Weekly Wrap

12-06-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 19:47:43 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-05-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 17:24:55 +0000

Daily Wrap

12-02-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:20:19 +0000

Weekly Wrap

11-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:30:07 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:15:19 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:14:34 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 20:29:03 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-11-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:53:12 +0000

Weekly Wrap

11-04-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:41:05 +0000

Weekly Wrap with Guests Dwell NOLA Realty

11-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 16:29:26 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory RIcks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 17:59:22 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:46:31 +0000

Daily wrap

11-06-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 14:37:42 +0000

Daily Wrap

11-01-2017 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:38:14 +0000

Daily Wrap

10-31-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 17:37:02 +0000

Daily Wrap

10-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:26:54 +0000

Daily Wrap

10-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:21:46 +0000

Daily Wrap

10-28-2017 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 18:11:38 +0000

Weekly Wrap

10-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:47:37 +0000

-Continuing a few storylines we've been following: Sears, Amazon HQ 2
-Gold story with a twist
-Did the market break another record?
-Call Gregory with your financial questions! Dial 504-260-0995 and ask your question(s) live during the show!
-Upcoming women's event on November 2 @ Ruth's Chris in Metairie. Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at 504-832-9200 or go to gregoryricks.com to sign up. Seating is limited, so RSVP TODAY!
-Download our Gregory Ricks & Associates mobile app to stay informed with radio shows, market updates, events, and more!

10-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:10:09 +0000

-If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, call Gregory during the show @ 504-260-0995!
- Periscope is down, so we are just doing Facebook Live.
-The video of James & Gregory talking to Maestro Dennis Assaf from JPAS Pasta & Puccini is on Facebook on the Winning at Life page.

10-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:00:54 +0000

-It's the weekly wrap! Jude Heath, CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, is guest during the second hour.
-This is the only show you can turn on in this area where you can call in with a financial situation across a broad spectrum of topics and have a financial expert provide his expertise.
-Last night, James & Gregory were at the JPAS Pasta & Puccini Annual Gala
-We have a women's event coming up on November 2. RSVP By calling the office of Gregory Ricks & Associates at 504-832-9200 or by going to gregoryricks.com. You can even use the Gregory Ricks & Associates app to sign up for this event.
-If you have a financial situation, don't hesitate to call 504-260-0995 and get some help.

10-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:52:24 +0000

-Broadcasting live from JPAS Pasta & Puccini event
-If you have a financial question, call 504-260-0995 during the show to get some clarity from Greg himself!
-Women Winning at Life event on November 2 @ Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie- Sign up through our mobile app, by visiting gregoryricks.com, or by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at 504-832-9200.

10-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:52:23 +0000

10-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:44:43 +0000

-Did we break another record in the markets?
-Presenting the show tomorrow at JPAS Pasta & Puccini event
-Another Gregory Ricks Live event on November 2 (Thursday). This is a Women only event that will be offering wine & food pairings along with great financial guidance. RSVP by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 or by going to gregoryricks.com, under the events tab.
-Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates mobile app to get market updates, radio shows, info about our firm, and more!

10-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:44:52 +0000

-Attention, Ladies: RSVP for our upcoming Gregory Ricks Live event on November 2 at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie! It's also the last event of the year. Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 or go to gregoryricks.com for more information.
-Come out to see Jefferson Performing Arts Society's Pasta & Puccini, Downtown New Orleans
-Did the Dow cross the historic landmark of 23,000?
-What is the origin of gold?
-Have a financial question? Call Gregory during the show @ (504) 260-09955 to get some clarity!
-Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates mobile app for market updates, radio show, and more! It's free and easy to use.

10-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:52:03 +0000

-Going over everything that happened in the markets this week. If you wanna play along with the numbers segment, go to gregoryricks.com and click on the winning at life tab--> the numbers
-It's Social Security Monday!
-Ladies, RSVP for our upcoming Gregory Ricks Live event on November 2! Sign up through gregoryricks.com or on our app, or by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200
-If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, call Gregory LIVE during the show at (504)260-0995!

10-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 15:18:06 +0000

-If you have any mortgage questions, give us a call during the second hour of the show because Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo is our guest!
-Going over what happened in the economy this week and some changes they are debating that could have a profound affect on your wallet.
-Call us with all your financial questions--504-260-0995
-You can also use the Gregory Ricks & Associates app to text us a question any time of the day
-Next Gregory Ricks LIVE event is WOMEN only on November 2 at Ruth's Chris in Metairie. Call the office at 504-832-9200 or use the app or gregoryricks.com to sign up!

10-9-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:38:12 +0000

-Call Gregory at (504) 260-0995 and ask your financial questions during the show
-Introducing you to Richard Thaler, the American who won the Nobel Price in Economics
-Ladies: RSVP for our upcoming Women & Wealth event on November 2 @ Ruth's Chris in Metairie! Learn financial information while enjoying yourself at a unique dining experience of wine tasting paired with a presented Ruth's Chris menu. Call our office at (504) 832-9200 for more information, or go to gregoryricks.com or our mobile app!
-Join on Periscope @GregoryRicks or watch us on Facebook Live on the Winning at Life page

10-7-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:17:17 +0000

-We are hosting a WOMEN ONLY wine & food experience on Thursday, November 2 @ Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie! To RSVP, you can call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200, go to gregoryricks.com, or sign up through our mobile app!
-We'll have meteorologist Bob Breck calling in to tell us his thoughts on Hurricane Nate!
-Traci from Dwell NOLA Realty is our guest during the second hour of the show
-Talking a bit about our Gregory Ricks Live event that just passed
-If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, ask your question during the show and talk to Gregory in real time! (504) 260-0995 is the number to dial!
-Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates mobile app. It's free and easy to use--get market updates, stay informed with radio shows, and experience much much more!

10-4-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:57:02 +0000

-The Live event we had last night was awesome! It was one of Gregory's most enjoyed ones, and we'll be telling you a little more about it.
-Happy belated birthday, Gregory!
-If you listen to CNBC, you are the most optimistic about the economy that you've ever been
-Check us out on Periscope @Gregoryricks!
-Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates mobile app! It's free to download, and you can use it to stay informed with radio shows, market updates, and more
-Our next LIVE event is a WOMEN Only event! RSVP by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200, by visiting gregoryricks.com, or by using our mobile app

10-2-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:46:33 +0000

-After tomorrow's live event is a women's event on November 2nd. Ladies, you can RSVP by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200, visiting gregoryricks.com, or logging into our mobile app
-We'll be telling you about the record-breaking day today and where the record-breaking happened and how it affects your money.
-If you have a financial situation, call us during the show at (504) 260-0995 and get some guidance from Gregory!
-Today is the 1st day of the financial 4th quarter , which marks the end of the fiscal year 2017 as far as our federal budget goes.
-James has some figures that'll leave you gasping for air!

9-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:28:35 +0000

-Dwayne Stein, mortgage expert, host of Mortgage Gumbo, and member of the Total Wealth Authority, is our guest during the second hour. He'll be talking about reverse mortgages.
-Great stories from Gregory's trip to wine country and the iHeart Radio Music Festival
-If you have a financial situation, let's hear it! Call the show at 504-260-0995

9-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 16:22:59 +0000

-Gregory is back from his trip to the iHeart Radio Music Festival and Wine Country, and he has some great stories!
-Discussing the Tax Reform Proposal
-If you have a financial situation, call in and ask your question(s) during the show by calling (504) 260-0995

9-25-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 20:20:05 +0000

-Next Gregory Ricks Live event Tuesday, October 3rd at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie! Will be a wine tasting experience in addition to a presented Ruth's Chris menu. Gregory will talk about investment philosophy, retirement philosophy, and income philosophy and income rules to live by

9-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:39:36 +0000

-Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney and member of the Total Wealth Authority, is guest during the second hour
-Gregory Ricks is at the iHeart Radio Music Festival
-Check out the iHeart Radio app!
-Our next Gregory Ricks Live event is Tuesday, October 3rd at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie! Come see if Gregory Ricks & Associates is the financial advisory firm for you. Call our office at (504) 832-9200 or go to gregoryricks.com to sign up. The Total Wealth Authority, the financial team we've assembled to take care of every aspect of your retirement needs, will be there as well!

9-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 19:27:10 +0000

-The next Gregory Ricks Live event is Tuesday, October 3rd at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie! Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 to sign up, or go to gregoryricks.com.
-Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks is also on Periscope and Facebook Live!
-If you have a financial question, call us during the show at (504) 260-0995 and have your question(s) answered LIVE!

9-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:49:49 +0000

-Do you have a financial situation? Call during the show and ask your question by dialing (504) 260-0995
-RSVP to the next Gregory Ricks LIVE event on October 3rd by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200
-Talking about healthcare reform which is really an economics bill
-James is live on Periscope

9-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:47:01 +0000

-Topic of how marriage brings you SOME financial benefits
-Was it another record-breaking day for the dow? Check the numbers page on gregoryricks.com.
-Call us at (504) 260-0995 during the show and ask all your financial questions!
-Our next Gregory Ricks LIVE event is on October 3rd. Call the office at (504) 832-9200 to sign up and get more information! Seating is limited, so reserve your spot now!

9-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:12:53 +0000

-We had a great time at Nola Motorsports Park in Avondale on Saturday for the Cars & Coffee show and broadcasting our Weekly Wrap there!
-Our next Gregory Ricks LIVE event is Tuesday, October 3! Sign up by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 or by going to gregoryricks.com
-If you have a financial situation and don't quite know what to do, call Gregory during the show at (504) 260-0995

9-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 18:55:53 +0000

-James and Gregory are broadcasting from Nola Motorsports Park in Avondale for the Cars and Coffee show
- Jude Heath, CPA and member of the Total Wealth Authority is guest during 2nd hour.
-RSVP for our next LIVE speaking event on Tuesday, October 3rd. Sign up by calling (504) 832-9200 or by going to gregoryricks.com

9-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 18:47:49 +0000

-Happy Friday!
-We have a live event coming up on Tuesday, October 3rd! Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 for more information. You can also go to gregoryricks.com to sign up.
-Which state has the highest property rate in the nation?
-97 Million workers in the US are living paycheck-to-paycheck and can't afford to save

9-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 20:47:41 +0000

-This is LIVE financial talk radio, so you can dial 504-260-0995 and ask all your financial questions during the show!
-Gregory and James will be at Nola Motorsports Park on Saturday!
-North Korea launched a missile that made its way to one of the islands in Japan
-Defined Benefit Retirement Plans do not work
-Neverending pasta in the next few weeks at Olive Garden; win a trip to Italy for 2

9-12-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 21:52:04 +0000

-Pasta trip to Italy
-Record breaking Wall Street numbers
-James and Gregory will be out at Nola Motor Sports Park this Saturday!

9-9-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 21:40:42 +0000

-The weekly wrap!
-Traci Kestler of Dwell NOLA Realty is the guest during 2nd hour.
-Taking a look at what's going on with the weather
-Discussing financial news from the week
-Our next LIVE financial speaking event is Tuesday, October 3rd! Sign up through the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app, gregoryricks.com, or by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200

9-8-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 21:33:37 +0000

-Gregory is out on assignment, so James Parker will be flying solo this evening.
-Call with your questions during the show- 504-260-0995
-Check us out on Periscope and match the faces with the voices!

9-7-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 20:54:47 +0000

-This is LIVE financial talk radio, so you participate in the show!
- Discussing annuities, emergency money, and income planning
-Going over news articles and the numbers of the day
-Call Gregory at (504) 260-0995 or text via the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app if you have a financial question.

9-5-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 20:48:46 +0000

-Talking about pension planning along with income planning
-Discussing the current news on what kind of day it was in the market
-Make sure you are prepared for any type of natural disaster! We are keeping victims of Hurricane Harvey in our thoughts and prayers.
-If you have a financial question, ask Gregory! Call (504) 260-0995 and ask your question(s) during the show! And don't forget about the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app where you can stay updated with the market and radio shows.

8-31-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 20:42:10 +0000

-Breaking down what happened in the markets
-Consumer confidence
-If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, call Gregory during the show and ask your question(s) LIVE at (504) 260-0995
-You can also use the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app to text a question to the show any time of the day!

8-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:37:08 +0000

-This is LIVE financial talk radio, so get your questions ready for Gregory and call him at (504) 260-0995
-US Revised Second Quarter GDP Growth up to 3%
-Delay in the Fiduciary Rule

8-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:31:25 +0000

-Call Gregory during the show! That number is (504) 260-0995, and you can ask anything from insurance to 401Ks to IRAs!
-Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates app and send us a text message any time of the day!

8-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 14:45:29 +0000

-Call Gregory at (504) 260-0995 if you have a financial question. You'll be able to call in DURING the show. This is LIVE financial talk radio.
-Going to finish going over the comment cards from last Wednesday's event
-Who's winning and who's losing in the markets

8-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 14:41:42 +0000

-Jude Heath is guest during 2nd hour and will be talking about S-corporations
-We had a live event this past Wednesday the 23rd, and we'll be covering the comment cards from the event
-Discussing Janet Yellen's speech

8-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 14:33:19 +0000

-Download our Gregory Ricks & Associates app if you haven't done so already so you can get market updates and stay informed with radio shows!
-Call into the show LIVE with your financial questions @ (504) 260-0995
-James has found a new setup for PeriScope camera. Check us out on Periscope @ GregoryRicks
-Last night was a Gregory Ricks LIVE event. The next one is October 3rd. Sign up on our website, gregoryricks.com, through our app, or by calling Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200!
-Check out our blog @ gregoryricks.com--there are tons of helpful tools on there for your 401k & IRA!

8-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 14:52:52 +0000

-Previewing tomorrow's live event
-Call us at (504) 260-0995 if you have a financial situation and don't know what to do
-Download our Gregory Ricks & Associates app! It's free and easy to use--stay informed with radio shows, market updates, and more!

8-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:56:10 +0000

-LIVE financial talk radio where you can call with your financial questions and have them answered during the show in real time. Call us at (504) 260-0995 or text your question(s) using the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app
-Will your insurance cover burned retinas after watching the eclipse today?
-We are going over Social Security and how to pick the right advisor

8-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:51:11 +0000

-ways to cope with money problems
-2nd quarter earning season
-retail prices on the rise in southern Mississippi
-Louisiana's tallest building will have a new name next year
-growth of economy and stock market is accelerating
-understanding annuity fees
-If you have a financial situation, call in and get advice LIVE during the show at (504) 260-0995
-Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo and member of the Total Wealth Authority, is guest during the second hour

8-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:02:08 +0000

-a lot of red in the market today
-retail is doing well
-Ask your financial question(s) during the show at (504) 260-0995, or text us via the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app

8-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 20:00:08 +0000

-Debt level of Americans is astronomical again
-We're going to tell you the 10 best and the 10 worst places to retire
-Gregory Ricks Live event Wednesday, August 23 at Ruth's Chris Steak House. RSVP by calling our office at (504) 832-3200 or at gregoryricks.com
-Have a financial question? Ask Gregory during the show by dialing (504) 260-0995. Don't forget about the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app, either! Use it to text the show any time of the day and to stay informed with the radio show and market updates!

8-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:20:32 +0000

-Celebrity real estate disaster story
-If you want to find out what happened in the financial world today, go to the numbers page on gregoryricks.com, under the Winning at Life tab
-Big story of the day: Warren Buffett pulling out of his GE investment
-You can call during the show at any time! Dial (504) 260-0995 to ask your financial question(s)!

8-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:14:38 +0000

-Does anyone know of a good cure for the hiccups?
-What happened in the market today
-Call the show at (504) 260-0995 to ask any financial question!

8-12-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 16:57:19 +0000

-If you have not done so already, download the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app so you can keep up with market updates, radio shows, & MORE!
-Check out the show on PeriScope
-Wes Blanchard, our Estate Planning Attorney, will be the guest during the second hour to answer all of your estate planning questions!
-Stock Market finished the week on a high note, had its all-time high streak
-Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 or go to gregoryricks.com to RSVP for our next LIVE speaking event on Wednesday, August 23rd at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Metairie
-Call us LIVE during the show at (504) 260-0995 or send us a text via the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app

8-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:22:13 +0000

-If you would like to get involved with the show, you can! This is interactive financial talk radio. Call the show at (504) 260-0995 and ask Gregory your financial questions!
-We'll take a look at the markets. Did the losing streak continue in the face of North Korea trembling?
-Download the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app to stay informed with market updates, radio shows, and more!

8-9-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:30:05 +0000

-RSVP TODAY for our LIVE EVENT on Wednesday, August 23rd! Get great financial advice from Gregory in person, at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Call our office at (504) 832-9200 to save your spot!
-World War III could pop off any minute

8-8-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 14:14:20 +0000

-Did the winning streak continue? Did we have 10 record breaking closes in a row for the Dow?
-Your 401K account is absolutely booming but you don't want it to get hosed like it did in 2008, and you don't want it to get the down slope of the tech bubble like it did 7 years before that. We'll tell you how to do that.
-Have a financial question? Call and ask your question(s) LIVE during the show by dialing (504) 260-0995! You can also reach out to us via the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app. Send us a text, get informed with market updated, and stay informed with the radio shows!

8-7-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:16:25 +0000

-It's Social Security Monday! We'll be talking about when and how to turn Social Security on, depending on your status.
-Tough question: Since technology is changing the world by leaps and bounds, would you be willing to fly as a passenger in a pilot-less plane if it saved you a good bit of money?
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 with your financial questions! Use the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app to text us anytime and stay informed with radio shows, market updates, and more.

8-4-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 21:00:38 +0000

-This is a LIVE Radio show, so get your phones ready to ask your financial questions! Call Gregory at (504) 260-0995! You can also use the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app to text us anytime, anywhere.
-Unemployment rate has gone down a little.
-The next Gregory Ricks LIVE speaking event is on Wednesday, August 23rd. Call Gregory Ricks & Associates at (504) 832-9200 to sign up!

8-5-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 20:37:07 +0000

-When to turn on Social Security
-Traci Kestler of Dwell NOLA Realty on hour 2
-Check out our podcast in the iHeart Radio app
-Call Gregory LIVE at (504)260-0995 to ask any financial question, or text it using the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app

8-3-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:05:58 +0000

-Not all debt is created equal. We were supposed to go over that yesterday, but we received a lot of really great calls.
-If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, call Gregory! You can ask your question(s) LIVE during the show by dialing (504)260-0995.
- Download the "Gregory Ricks & Associates" app! You can use it to send us a text anytime and stay informed with radio shows, market updates, and more.

8-2-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 13:52:26 +0000

-Big day for Wall Street: Dow closed above 22,000 for the first time ever
-28,000th record close since the start of the show
-Not all debt is created equal. How to avoid the problems your parents had.
-Call in to the show LIVE at (504) 260-0995 to ask any financial question. And there's always the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app you can use to ask a question anytime, anywhere.

8-01-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 19:57:54 +0000

-Baking recipes
-Another historic day in the market--The DOW did it again
-If you want to be a part of the numbers, go to gregoryricks.com and click on the Winning at Life tab--> the numbers
-Call us at (504) 260-0995 or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to ask any financial question.

7-31-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:24:25 +0000

-Social Security Monday!
-While Social Security is a program that will drain the country in the long run, it will be an essential part of retirement for a lot of us
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995. We love your questions! You can also use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to ask a question any time. You can also use the app to stay informed with radio shows, market updates, sign up for our live events, and more!

7-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:15:51 +0000

-Annuities, when to turn on Social Security, and what to do after you've maxed out your 401k and have money left
-Hotel for sale in Pass Christian/ Bay St. Louis area
-Saying goodbye to one of the great sheriffs in our area
-If you have a financial question, call Gregory during the show at (504) 260-0995, or text the question via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app.

7-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:36:39 +0000

-James had a dental operation that went on for 2.5 hours so he was able to listen to the first half of "The Art of the Deal," by Donald Trump on Audio Books and will be going through most of the clips tomorrow but will give a preview on today's show.
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 and ask Gregory any financial question. Text a question anytime using the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app!
-PeriScope having glitches

7-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:11:01 +0000

-Figured out how Illinois' pitch problems are so awful
-Have a financial question? Call Gregory! You can call in LIVE with any financial question at (504) 260-0995
-And always, you can use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to text us anytime! If you don't have it already, then download it. It's free.

7-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 14:12:49 +0000

-going over Trump's Twitter feed
-going over Greg's list of things you need to know about annuities
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 with your financial questions
-Download our mobile app--"Gregory Ricks and Associates"! It's free and keeps you informed with radio shows, market updates, and more!

7-25-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 14:17:46 +0000

-Ten billionaires with surprisingly frugal money habits
-Do you have a financial situation and aren't quite sure what to do? Call Gregory! Ask your financial question during the show by calling (504) 260-0995. And, of course, you can text us anytime with the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

7-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:20:15 +0000

-talking about our trip to the Westbank Beer Fest at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale
-610 Stompers backstory
-Call in LIVE to ask us your financial questions--(504) 260-0995

7-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 20:16:08 +0000

-Broadcasting LIVE from NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale
-3 hours of financial goodness!
-Do you have a financial situation but you're not quite sure what to do? Call Gregory during the show at (504) 260-0995. You can also text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app!
-Check us out on PeriScope

7-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 20:11:34 +0000

-LIVE financial talk radio
-going over a couple of comment cards from the last live speaking event
-an email from a fellow named Eddie who is looking for some guidance
-Download the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app. It's free! Text us your financial questions anytime, anywhere!
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 to ask Gregory any financial question.

7-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:09:38 +0000

-knocking out the rest of the comment cards from last week's live event, unless we get a lot of calls
-We love calls and having awesome discussions!
-Call the show LIVE to ask any financial question. That phone number is (504) 260-0995. You can also text via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app. The app is free, too!

7-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:43:54 +0000

-Continue answering questions from the comment cards from last week's speaking event
-great email question
-updates on the Social Security system
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995, or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app, with any financial question. We love our callers!

7-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 14:37:59 +0000

-Social Security discussion
-talking about annuities
- Do you have a financial situation and don't know what to do? Call Gregory! You can call in to the show LIVE at (504) 260-0995, and there is always the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app so you can text the show anytime!

7-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 14:32:01 +0000

-any repeal efforts dead in the water, even the dry repeal
-taxes and healthcare here to stay; outcome will have to come to the midterm elections
-We love your questions! Call Gregory and the show LIVE at (504) 260-0995, or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to text us!

7-12-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 15:52:09 +0000

-Annuity discussion
-Do you have a financial situation that worries you? Call Gregory during the show at (504) 260-0995, or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to text the show!
-LADIES, take advantage of our LIVE Ladies only speaking event tomorrow the 13th! Call the office at (504) 832-9200.

7-11-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 16:13:23 +0000

*THIS EPISODE IS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED*
-Do you drink your coffee black? There is a certain way that psychopaths prefer their coffee...
-If these healthcare reforms will affect your wallet
-WOMEN'S LIVE Event Thursday, 7/13
Still time left to register! Call our office at (504) 832-9200
-Ask us any financial question! Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995, or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to text us your questions

7-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 15:03:52 +0000

-Women Winning at Life event this Thursday night. Ladies, don't miss it!
RSVP by calling the office at (504) 832-9200 or by signing up at gregoryricks.com
-Which way oil may be going
-Fixed annuities
-Call us with any financial questions at (504) 260-0995 or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app!

7-7-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:56:41 +0000

-Numbers wrapping up today
-Unemployment rate at 4.4%
-WOMEN only event, Women Winning at Life, July 13th. Call the office at (504) 832-9200 or sign up at gregoryricks.com
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app. We love your questions!

7-8-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 18:31:23 +0000

-TESLA had a bad week
-Millennials doing better at building 401K accounts than GenX-ers and Baby Boomers
-We love to hear from you! Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to ask Gregory any financial question

7-06-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:58:18 +0000

-TESLA and the market
-Facts about annuities
-We always love to hear your questions! Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or use the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app to text us
-Download the iHeart Radio app!

7-05-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 14:56:42 +0000

-How John Bogle thinks you should look at retirement returns these days
-Fixed annuities and how understanding more about purposing them may help you with your retirement plans
-Income planning regarding retirement and a conversation Gregory had today as well
-Call in LIVE with any financial questions! The number for the show is (504) 260-0995. If you have the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app, you can text us your question as well.

6-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 14:40:07 +0000

-The numbers and what happened in the financial markets
-1st bionic bartender was on the Las Vegas Strip
-Another major American city has pension crisis a lot like what's going on in New Orleans
-Have a financial situation and not quite sure what to do? Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995, or text the question via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

7-01-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 17:12:53 +0000

-Some facts you may not know about annuities
-comment cards from past LIVE events
-prohibited transactions regarding IRAs
-Real Estate 1031 exchanges
-Dwell NOLA Realty, member of The Total Wealth Authority, is guest during hour 2

6-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:35:44 +0000

-The Markets did something they only do 7 times a year on average
-Pension woes of another major American city- whole point of this is some sort of evidence of what is going to happen with the New Orleans Firemen and police officers and other public pensions, a lot of which are under water
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app with any financial question!

6-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:57:08 +0000

-Meme on Facebook about what President Eisenhower said about Social Security
-Next LIVE speaking event for women only, July 13th. RSVP by calling our office at (504) 832-9200 or by signing up at gregoryricks.com
-Send us a text via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app or call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 to ask us any financial question

6-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:37:43 +0000

-Not very happy about the healthcare reform bill
-Widows' issues
-Checklist to go through before spouse passes away
-Facts about how horrible Americans in general are about managing their money
-Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Expert and member of the Total Wealth Authority, is guest on hour 2

6-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:29:56 +0000

-How do you like your coffee? Psychopaths prefer their coffee a certain way...
-We'll discuss if these healthcare reforms will affect your wallet
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app with any financial question!

6-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 14:37:37 +0000

-financial planning for widows
-UBER CEO stepping down from day-to-day duties but will still be on the board. UBER will go public soon.
-Call in LIVE at (504)260-0995 with any financial questions or text the question using the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app. Also check us out on periscope, @GregoryRicks!

6-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 14:25:36 +0000

-Going over the big financial news of the day: the drop in oil prices. That will affect the local economy as well as annuities.
-Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app if you have any financial questions.

6-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 14:21:13 +0000

-Amazon does it again! What industry did they decide to decimate today?
-Different Social Security scenarios such as what happens if your spouse dies? What happens if you remarry?
-Have a financial situation and not sure what to do? Call Gregory LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:37:15 +0000

-What Social Security looks like for widows and widowers. We run into the widow situation more often.
-Check out the Numbers page on gregoryricks.com under the Winning at Life tab
-Call in LIVE and ask Gregory any financial question at (504) 260-0995, or text the question on the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 16:17:33 +0000

-celebrating our 7th anniversary- it happened last Sunday
-the FED lifting the rates slightly, pretty good sign how this will affect your money
-Whole Foods gobbled up by Amazon
-Jude Heath, CPA and Total Wealth Authority member, is guest during hour 2
- Call in LIVE with any financial questions at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 16:08:09 +0000

-Rig count went up for 22nd straight week; our most precious commodity here in the states
-"Rags to riches" stories: one story where a rich guy won the PowerBall, and it destroyed him
-If you have any financial questions, call us LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 19:00:38 +0000

- Flattening yield curve and what that means
-telling you about a follow-up conversation with a caller from last week who got a 10% return on his annuity
-Another conversation held today regarding variable universal life
-The Numbers
-Barry Kern of Kern Studios is special guest at bottom of the hour

6-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 18:51:19 +0000

- the FED raising federal funds rate by 1/4 of a point, and the market reaction was pretty negligible
- We love hearing from you! Don't forget to call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 if you have any sort of financial question. Also can text via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app. It's free!

6-13-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 18:45:12 +0000

-The numbers
- Saving money not just for yourself and your children, but for charity as well
- If you have a financial situation and don't know what to do, call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-12-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:18:44 +0000

- Something that may rival venmo if you heard us talk about electronic cash
- Preview our women's event on July 13th
- forecast about what's going to happen with the economy
- comment cards from last speaking event
- We'd love to hear from you! Call in LIVE with any financial situation at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:07:10 +0000

- #1 question of the week: People getting second opinion on annuities
- income streams
- call in LIVE at 504-260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app with any financial situation

6-09-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:01:14 +0000

-breaking down what happened in the financial world-looking at the numbers
-Asking Gregory what is the WORST variable annuity he's ever seen in the history of Gregory Ricks and Associates
-Do you have a financial situation, and you're not quite sure what to do? Call us LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-08-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 14:23:00 +0000

- An answer for what's going to happen with the newly vacated K-Mart and Sears properties
- goofy Social Security rules
- If you have a financial situation and you're not sure what to do, call Gregory LIVE at (504)260-0995 or text the question via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-07-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 14:16:14 +0000

- Breaking down the numbers that happened in the marketplace
- Discussion about what is going to happen with all the old K-Mart and Sears stores
- 68% of young people are expecting an inheritance, but only 40% of their parents are going to leave them one
- How Estate Planning needs to fit into your retirement portfolio
- Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app if you have any financial questions!

6-06-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:09:37 +0000

- Your reactions to the show
- What should you do when you inherit money, and what happens?
- Man who just bought $1000 worth of stock now worth $2 Million. Just gave it to
charity.
- Call in LIVE at 504-260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app with any financial questions

6-05-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:55:43 +0000

-Social Security rules that do not make sense
- Going through comment cards from June 1st financial speaking event
- Call in LIVE at 504-260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

6-03-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:46:11 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- What the real full retirement age is for Social Security
-1/2 of Americans are going to die broke; more of a female problem
-Traci Kestler of Dwell NOLA Realty in studio talking about Fair Housing laws
-Call in LIVE at 504-260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app with any financial questions.

6-02-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:32:34 +0000

- Almost 1/2 of Americans die broke
- How to not die penniless
-Call in LIVE with any financial questions at 504-260-0995 or text us via the "Gregory Ricks and Associates" app

05-31-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:41:26 +0000

- Who NEEDS a financial advisor?

- the trip wires you cross when you need someone professional to handle your money

-Call in LIVE with any financial questions at (504) 260-0995 or text via the Gregory Ricks and Associates app

05-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:11:09 +0000

- How to NOT screw up Social Security

- Call us with any financial questions: (504) 260-0995 or the Gregory Ricks and Associates App

05-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:20:21 +0000

- Weekly wrap of the market
- Tracy Kestler from Dwell NOLA Realty in studio discussing the best ways to market your house
- Answering your financial questions (504)832-9200

5-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:24:19 +0000

- Breakdown the market
- Mark Zuckerberg talks Universal Income
- Take a look at the virtual currency world

5-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:44:14 +0000

- How the Trump Budget will impact your money
- Health Care reform
- Market Wrap

5-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 May 2017 01:23:56 +0000

- Gregory Ricks out on assignment
- Green Day in the Market
- Get your financial questions answered (504)832-9200

5-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 May 2017 00:57:43 +0000

- Market watch
- Answering your financial questions (504)832-9200

5-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 31 May 2017 00:51:26 +0000

- CPA Jude Heath in studio answering your tax questions
- Weekly Wrap of the market
- Call with your financial questions (504) 832-9200

5-19-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 May 2017 01:13:16 +0000

- Gregory Ricks on assignment
- Local news events not impacting your money
- Market Wrap

5-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 May 2017 01:06:08 +0000

- Market Wrap
- Review the case of a fraudulent financial professional
- Call us with any financial questions (504)832-9200

5-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 25 May 2017 00:53:05 +0000

- Market Wrap
- Crayon names a new color
- Answering your financial questions.

5-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 24 May 2017 00:58:26 +0000

- Gregory on assignment, James Parker in studio
- Break down the numbers
- Market Wrap

5-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 24 May 2017 00:56:05 +0000

- break down the numbers
- Market Wrap
- Call us with any financial questions (504)832-9200

5-13-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:12:17 +0000

- Weekly wrap of the market
- Estate Planning Atty Wes Blanchard in studio
- Answering your financial questions (504)832-9200

5-11-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:04:43 +0000

- How to get the most out of your 401k options
- A bad credit score could impact your love life
- Call us with any financial questions (504)832-9200

5-9-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 May 2017 00:57:36 +0000

- Financial News
- Glossary of frequently used financial terms
- Call us with any financial questions (504) 832-9200

5-8-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 May 2017 00:49:22 +0000

- Important SSI decisions that could impact your retirement
- Market Wrap
- Call us with any financial questions (504) 832-9200

5-6-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 18 May 2017 00:09:28 +0000

- Market Wrap
- Should you file your tax returns?
- Dwayne Stein in studio discussing mortgage rates

5-5-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 17 May 2017 23:47:57 +0000

5-4-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 May 2017 15:43:52 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- 2 market updates - healthcare reform and oil
- Call us with any financial questions (504) 832-9200

5-3-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 05 May 2017 18:03:16 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Fed news
- Trump budget news
- Healthcare news
- Follow us on Social Media!
- Call in LIVE at (504) 260-0995

5-2-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 May 2017 20:55:12 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Oil took a dive
- Stock market not as happy as after Trump
- Call Gregory with your financial questions (504) 260-0995

5-1-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 May 2017 17:21:03 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Gold falls below 200 day moving average
- Apple has 1/4 trillion parked in cash
- Spending bill gets passed over the weekend
- What to do if you have un-filed taxes
- Social Security planning

4-29-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 May 2017 15:10:19 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Jude Heath, CPA is guest
- First NBC Bank
- Call the show LIVE at (504) 260-0995

4-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 May 2017 15:02:31 +0000

- Tax reforms: what will and will not pass
- Comment card from LIVE event
- Next event is June 1st - Call the office to RSVP (504) 832-9200

4-26-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 May 2017 15:00:41 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Comment card from the last LIVE event
- Tax reform proposals
- Zurich classic this weekend

4-25-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:38:29 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Social Security planning and questions
- Taxes

4-24-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:36:47 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Market reaction
- Social Security changes if your divorced - your options are different
- Call us, Like us on Facebook or watch us on Periscope

4-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:11:35 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- President signed some new executive orders
- Comment cards from the speaking event earlier this week
- Break down of the markets
- Find us on Facebook! @WinningAtLifeWithGregoryRicks

4-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 15:38:54 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- How is your tax money going to be spent?
- Our live event last night recapped
- Call Gregory LIVE at (504) 260-0995
- Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates App!

4-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 15:08:15 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- TAXES are due TODAY!
- Call the show LIVE with any questions (504) 260-0995
- Call the office when we are not on LIVE (504) 832-9200

4-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 21:30:01 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Whats happening down the road in your retirement
- Call from Saturdays show about having a high income. What does it affect?

4-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 20:06:24 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- What it looks like to have a Plan B for Social Security
- News of the week - Fiscal changes
- Tax weekend! Final moments before taxes are due
- Call the show LIVE (504) 260-0995
- Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates App

4-13-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 19:48:27 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Financial news including changes in policy from campaign trail to presidency
- Financial situation and not sure what to do? You better call Gregory! (504) 260-0995
- Watch us on Periscope

4-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:20:59 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- 26F information
- Estate Planning issues in Louisiana
- Call in LIVE (504) 260-0995
- Watch us on Facebook or Periscope
- Our next live event is Wednesday April 19 - WOMEN ONLY

4-8-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 14:40:33 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Get your Financial fix TODAY for a better TOMORROW
- How to know if your buying the right annuity
- 7 key questions to vet the financial advisor
- Women only event on April 19
- Why anyone in Louisiana with children NEEDS to have an estate plan
- Dwell NOLA Realty is the guest on Hour 2 discussing Real Estate Investing as a career
- www.GregoryRicks.com

4-5-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:46:57 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Get a second opinion on annuities
- Market news

4-3-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:32:27 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Live Financial Talk Radio
- Get your Financial Fix TODAY for a Better TOMORROW
- Market News
- Next Gregory Ricks WOMEN ONLY live event

4-1-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 15:29:05 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Financial news of the week
- Retiring early
- Caller of the week
- Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is the guest on Hour 2

3-30-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 14:46:27 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Market News
- Health care premiums skyrocketing for people already in retirement
- Call Gregory with a financial situation (504) 260-0995
- Watch us on Periscope
- Join our Facebook Group - Winning at Life VIP

3-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:14:51 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Statistics for boomers
- Market news - did the DOW break its winning streak?
- Financial situation? Call Gregory! (504) 260-0995 or (504) 832-9200

3-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 19:06:25 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Moving assets can cost you if done wrong
- Winning at Life VIP Facebook Group
- Caller recap from Periscope

3-25-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 16:24:05 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- LIVE Financial Talk Radio
- Comment cards from last weeks speaking event
- What happened in the financial world this week?
- Caller of the week: Robert with his irrevocable trust situation
- Dwayne Stein, host of Mortgage Gumbo, is the guest on hour 2

3-23-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 20:04:39 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Big economic bill failed today
- Call in LIVE 504-260-0995
- Develop your own investment philosophy

3-22-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:42:12 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- How to develop personal investing philosophy
- Death of one of the first General Stores in American
- Comment cards from the last live event

3-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 19:07:37 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Comment Cards from Wednesday's event
- Women & Wealth event
- Non-monetary things to do to prepare for retirement
- Trumps 2005 tax return released
- How to develop a proper investment philosophy
- Dwell NOLA Realty is the guest on Hour 2

3-11-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 18:50:03 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Tax Season
- Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest on Hour 2
- Trumps first job report
- Social Security - when to turn it on, how is it calculated, any rule changes
- Tony Robbins' new book

3-10-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 18:43:29 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- First job report from Trumps presidency
- Oil news
- Bitcoin crashed

3-4-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 21:09:11 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Dow beats 21000 i record time
- SnapChats IPO brings nothing but talk of tech bubble
- Winning at life in space
- How tech is changing your investing options
- Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is the guest on Hour 2

3-2-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 20:44:26 +0000

- The Daily Wrap
- Tax Issues
- If you have a financial situation, you better call Gregory (504) 832-9200

3-1-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:37:37 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Milestone on the DOW
- 24 business days between 20K and 21K
- Health related topic - sitting down vs standing

2-27-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:29:49 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Trumps address to Congress tomorrow - What we expect
- Warren Buffets letter to his shareholders
- Watch us on Periscope!
- Happy Mardi Gras!

2-25-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:27:12 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Dwayne Stein with Mortgage Gumbo is the guest on Hour 2
- Sidney Torres interview - "The Deed"

2-24-17 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 20:22:31 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Entitlement reforms
- Millennials living at home
- Do you have a financial situation and not sure what to do? You better call Gregory - (504) 832-9200

2-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 20:57:27 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Americans are drastically under-saved for retirement
- Amazon has a big competitor in online retail
- 31 years since last significant tax overhaul

2-20-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 20:51:16 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- 1 month report card on new administration
- Driver-less car companies

2-18-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:25:57 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Greatest wealth transfer in the history of time - 30 trillion in assets
- Reasons to NOT buy an annuity
- Healthcare advice in retirement / medicare
- Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest on Hour 2 discussing special needs

2-17-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 16:08:21 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Most popular stocks for millennials and boomers
- What time do you wake up?
- Watch us on Periscope

2-16-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 16:45:59 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Greatest wealth transfer in history
- 7 common words powerful people avoid

2-15-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:40:10 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Annuities - when it is NOT the right financial tool
- Record breaking market
- Download the Gregory Ricks App
- Watch us on Periscope

2-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:34:37 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Happy Valentine's Day
- Women Winning at Life event
- Investing is a woman's world
- Signs you are ready to retire
- Janet Yellen on Donald Trump

2-13-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:31:59 +0000

- Daily Wrap
- Download the Gregory Ricks App
- Healthcare options in retirement
- Record breaking Apple stock

2-11-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:32:08 +0000

- Weekly Wrap
- Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney was the guest on Hour 2 discussing succession and why you need a Will.

2-4-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:07:16 +0000

- 10 Reasons you will go broke in retirement
- Trump signs a handful of executive orders this week
- Hour 2 guest is Dwell Nola Realty discussing vacation homes
- Unemployment up to 4.8% in January

1-28-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 19:15:00 +0000

- James Parker is the host
- Women's issues in financial planning
- Trump Administration
- Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Expert, is the guest on Hour 2

1-21-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 17:11:55 +0000

- Services provided by 401K Analyzer
- Annuities
- How grand kids college debt is killing retirement
- How dividends should factor into your investments
- Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest on Hour 2

1-14-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 22:03:06 +0000

- Gregory Ricks Speaking Event this Thursday, January 19
- Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is the guest on Hour 2
- Sidney Torres, local entrepreneur with a CNBC Reality Show on Real Estate will be interviewed in Hour 3

01-07-17 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 17:51:08 +0000

- Updates on the California and Dallas pension situation
- Financial resolutions for 2017
- Guest on Hour 2 is Dwell NOLA Realty

12-17-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 16:31:12 +0000

- 401k Analyzer Service
- Janet Yellen Speech on Rate Hike
- Rickey Williams - RED FLAGS of financial guidance
- Trump rally
- Jude Heath, CPA, guest on Hour 2 discussing 2016 Vehicle Tax Savings

12-10-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:31:02 +0000

- 401k Analyzer Service
- Annuities - testing the limits
- Watch is on Periscope
- Dwell NOLA Realty is the guest on Hour 2

12-3-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:12:05 +0000

- GDP Numbers
- Unemployment Number
- Is it time to get back in the market?
- Myths about landing a good job later in life
- Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney on Hour 2

11-26-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 17:06:26 +0000

- Thanksgiving weekend
- Jude Heath, CPA is the guest on Hour 2
- Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Expert is the guest on Hour 3

11-19-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 15:28:36 +0000

-Rising premiums on healthcare
-Oil rig count is up
-Guest on Hour 2 is Dwell NOLA Realty

11-12-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 15:07:38 +0000

-How the election is going to affect your money
-Gregory Ricks LIVE event Tuesday
-Guest on Hour 2 is Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney

RSVP for our next Speaking Event

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 19:34:57 +0000

Sign up for our next Retirement Speaking Event. Call the office to RSVP (504) 832-9200. Fee is $10 to attend and will be matched and donated to a charity that will be announced at the event. http://gregoryricks.com/events/speaking-events/

10-29-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 15:00:58 +0000

- Forced into retirement by age
- Jude Heath CPA is the guest on Hour 2
- Largest charity in the US announced
- Financial News

10-22-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:51:03 +0000

Financial news of the week - Health care costs going up - Review life insurance basics - Dwayne Stein is the guest on Hour 2

10-15-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:58:43 +0000

How will the election results effect your money - NFL ratings plunge - Life insurance basics - Important retirement planning deadlines.

10-8-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 21:32:21 +0000

-Financial news of the week
-Unemployment numbers
-Oil & big moves
-Expand on why we need a new category for Senior citizens
-Decline in NFL ratings
-Dwell NOLA Realty is the guest on Hour 2

10-1-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 15:10:40 +0000

-Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) - great tool to save money on moving stocks our of your plan
-Nest egg rule - Fed refusing to raise rates
-Estate Planning Attorney, Wesley Blanchard, is the guest on Hour 2

9-24-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:30:53 +0000

-Women Winning at Life Topics
-How do you handle your financial planning through a divorce?
-You have a 401k, now what?
-Dwayne Stein is the guest on Hour 2 receiving the 10 commandments to getting a home loan
-Janet Yellen discussion

9-17-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 18:34:30 +0000

-Going over the comment cards from our last Women's event
-Rap up the week of Financial News
-70 may be the new target retirement age
-Evaluating annuities
-Jude Heath is the guest on Hour 2

9-10-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:04:27 +0000

-WBUV in Biloxi is now a syndicated market for the show!
-Stocks that went straight down yesterday
-Rise & Fall of the American pensions
-WOMEN & WEALTH event September 14
-Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney is the guest on Hour 2

9-3-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:58:02 +0000

-Jobs Report came out yesterday
-Women Winning at Life Live Event September 14
-Bill Cassidy discusses changes made to help people affected by flood
-Dwell NOLA is guest on Hour 2

Women & Wealth - September 14, 2016

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 19:00:11 +0000

Women Winning at Life is hosting it's first Women & Wealth event at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Metairie on Wednesday, September 14 at 6:30 pm. Call (504) 832-9200 to RSVP!

8-27-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 16:38:56 +0000

- Fed sending mixed signals from Jackson Hole
- GDP got revised down this week
- Updates on Obamacare news
- Dwell NOLA with advice for those who inherit real estate
- Women & Wealth Event this month! (504) 832-9200 to RSVP.

8-20-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 21:31:23 +0000

-Answering comment cards for this week's LIVE event.
-Oil prices have gone on a bull run
-Olympic Athletes are taxed on medal winnings
-Jude Heath is the guest

8-13-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:36:15 +0000

Social Security's birthday and we compare Trump and Hillary's tax plans.
Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is the guest.

8-9-16 Winning at Life Daily Wrap

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 14:35:13 +0000

- Bond Market: Big illusion Revealed
- Annuity Facts you may not know
- Help to understand how the market works

8-6-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 18:53:19 +0000

Market Updates
Guest is Dwayne Stein with Cross Country Mortgage

Gregory Ricks LIVE - August 16

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 20:40:38 +0000

Come meet Gregory Ricks, James Parker and the Total Wealth Authority at Ruth's Chris in Metairie on Tuesday, August 16. RSVP at GregoryRicks.com or (504) 832-9200.

7-23-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 21:31:07 +0000

On today's show:
IRA rollover mistakes
Republic Nation Convention Recap
Quesitons on your Retirement Home
Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Expert, is the guest

7-16-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:36:38 +0000

Gregory and James go over the comment cards from the last event.
Come out and see Gregory Ricks & Associates at the Northshore Harbor Center this Saturday for the 55+ Lifestyle Expo hosted by Senor Living Magazine.
Jude Heath, CPA is the guest on Hour 2.

7-9-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 21:21:26 +0000

Client cases this week
Get out of debt software
10 mistakes you may regret regarding retirement
Market – What are we facing as far as the market?
Self-directed IRA’s with Real Estate – Why you need to be careful
Wes Blanachrd - Estate Planning Attorney is the guest on Hour 2

5-25-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 17:13:28 +0000

More on Brexit, TOPS has news on tuition, next speaking event July 13, husbands IRA was cleaned out before divorce, trust issues, Dwayne Stein - Mortgage Gumbo - is the guest on Hour 2

6-24-16 Winning at Life Daily Wrap

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 15:30:16 +0000

Brexit is a reality. A lot of volatility and chaos but a lot of money was made today. Learn how you can win off of Brexit and affect your pocketbook.

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks - June 18, 2016

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 16:09:16 +0000

Raising Fed rates, Brexit, questions from our last speaking event and more! Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest in the second hour.

6-11-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 16:42:31 +0000

Gregory & James answer questions from our last speaking event's comment cards.
Wesley Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney, is the guest in the second hour.

6-4-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 16:15:19 +0000

Guest on Hour 2: Dwell Nola Realty

5-28-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 31 May 2016 18:00:22 +0000

Guest on Hour 2 is Dwayne Stein, Mortgage Expert.

5-21-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 May 2016 16:16:21 +0000

Answering questions we recieved via our 'Gregory Ricks & Associates' mobile app.
Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest discussing tax audits.
Our next speaking event is Wednesday, June 8. Call our office to RSVP - (504) 832-9200

5-14-16

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 May 2016 19:58:41 +0000

Wall Street, Whats going on with Oil?, Our next Live Event - Sign Up!, Wes Blanchard is the guest discussing Prince's Estate Plan, and more.
Download the Gregory Ricks & Associates App!

5-7-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 May 2016 19:21:07 +0000

Guest on Hour 2 - Dwell NOLA Realty

4-30-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 02 May 2016 20:57:36 +0000

Social Security Tips, Prince's Estate Planning Mistakes, Gun Trusts, Jude Heath CPA and much more!

4-23-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 20:44:28 +0000

LOTS of Social Security callers with questions.
Dwayne Stein is the guest with Cross Country Mortgage.

4-16-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:23:00 +0000

More on the Social Security Changes.
Lots of Call ins getting their questions answered.

4-9-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 16:37:05 +0000

GO VOTE TODAY!
Guest of the day is Wes Blanchard, Estate Planning Attorney.
Download our Gregory Ricks & Associates app.

4-2-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 14:44:24 +0000

-1st quarter of 2016 – first look
-March jobs report
-Tesla unveiled their new car
-S.S deadline updates
-Oil Updates
-Caller of the week
-Dwell NOLA – commercial and residential investing

3-26-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:32:22 +0000

3-19-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 16:06:01 +0000

The Fed stays put. Wes Blanchard Estate Planning Attorney. Social Security deadline answers.

3-12-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:05:49 +0000

Callers with Questions.
Attend an upcoming speaking event!
Jude Heath, CPA, is the guest on Hour 2.

3-5-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:29:49 +0000

Lots of callers with Social Security questions.
Stephanie & Traci with Dwell Nola Realty are the guests at 11:00.

2-27-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:02:17 +0000

Dwayne Stein with Cross Country Mortgage is the guest of the week

2-20-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Feb 2016 20:08:38 +0000

Guest - Jude Heath, CPA

2-13-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 22:18:20 +0000

Guest on Hour 2 - Dwell NOLA
Lots of callers with great questions

2-6-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 20:03:53 +0000

Guest - Estate Planning Attorney, Wes Blanchard

1-30-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:07:46 +0000

Stephanie & Traci from Dwell Nola Realty are the guests on Hour 2. On Hour 3, author, Hattie Bryant, talks about her book, "Ill Have It My Way."

1-23-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 16:52:13 +0000

Co-host, James Parker, and guest, Dwayne Stein with CrossCountry Mortgage.

1-16-16 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 15:42:45 +0000

On this weeks show:
Tax tips from Jude Heath, CPA
Is this current downturn the next recession?
We answer comment cards from our last event

12-19-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 21:13:11 +0000

The Fed finally raises rates. How will this affect your money?

Europac CEO Peter Schiff comes on the show and says why this rate hike will be a one and done.

Jude Heath, our CPA of the Total Wealth Authority, talks about little known tax deductions.

We help some callers with their financial situations, and check the latest math on Medicare's finances.

12-12-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 16:25:08 +0000

On this episode we will hear:
-Oil News
-Obamacare Healthcare
-Merger of chemical giants
-Rules of investing
-Callers of the week:
**Wants guidance on return of investments outside of the stock market
**Gregory's take on the target date funds on your 401k

12-5-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Rics

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:37:43 +0000

11-21-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:36:38 +0000

11-21-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:35:34 +0000

11-21-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 19:35:05 +0000

11-14-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:11:02 +0000

11-14-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:10:28 +0000

11-14-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 16:09:57 +0000

11-7-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:57:33 +0000

Gregory and James help callers and preview our upcoming events

11-7-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:56:49 +0000

This whole segment is filling with people calling Gregory Ricks for financial advice.

11-7-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 17:56:07 +0000

No one else in the financial media covered the changes to Social Security and Medicare in the debt ceiling compromise

Winning at Life is EXPANDING!

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 17:04:13 +0000

Winning at Life Daily Wrap will now be on News Talk 99.5 WRNO every weeknight from 7-8pm!

10-31-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:34:56 +0000

Gregory has details on if the entitlement reforms in the debt ceiling deal will affect you

10-31-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:34:12 +0000

Dwayne Stein of Cross Country Nola talks about mortgage rates and reverse mortgages

10-31-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:33:29 +0000

Did Donald Trump just copy James Parker when talking about the Fed's decision to not raise rates?

10-24-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:50:44 +0000

Attacks on your money; Nola Firefighters settlement

10-24-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:49:54 +0000

A new fiduciary Executive Order is being called "Obamacare for You IRA"

10-24-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:49:01 +0000

Election Day: What's on the Ballot that affects your wallet?

10-17-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:45:12 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard answers comment cards and callers on wills and trusts

10-17-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 20:44:18 +0000

Gregory answers comment cards from this week's live event

10-10-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:38:24 +0000

Your pension should have spousal continuation; Questions from callers and email.

10-10-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:35:38 +0000

Annuity guidance, Nola pension fund issues, and market news

10-10-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 16:34:47 +0000

The market has a big week. What's next?

Speaking event on 10-14-15

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 17:57:06 +0000

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Metairie
(504) 832-9200

10-3-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:24:31 +0000

Trump stock moves; Where is the market going from here?

10-3-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:23:44 +0000

Dwell Nola has tips for real estate investing: Renting vs Flipping

10-3015 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 19:22:53 +0000

Jobs report makes a Fed rate hike unlikely.

9-26-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 19:37:06 +0000

Gregory answers comment cards, callers, and emails

9-26-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 19:35:31 +0000

Gregory reviews the iHeartRadio festival and our live public event this week

9-19-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:57:42 +0000

Continuing with Gregory Ricks analysis of the Fed's decision to not raise rates

9-19-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:55:38 +0000

Gregory breaks down the Fed's decision to not raise rates

9-12-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:35:55 +0000

Advice to callers and emails, and an answer to last week's caller

9-12-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:30:14 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard guides you through setting up an estate plan.

9-12-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 16:25:20 +0000

Will the Fed raise rates? What's up with China?

9-5-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:42:36 +0000

Greg talks about the economy in the US and China and gives his thoughts and predictions. He also answers your phone calls and email questions.

9-5-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:40:06 +0000

Stephanie Campani and Tracy Bird Kestler, owners of Dwell NOLA Realty, are in studio discussing Home Owner Associations and answering your questions

9-5-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:19:56 +0000

Greg is solo today while James Parker welcomes baby #4 to the world. Greg discusses China's economy crisis and answers your phone calls and emails.

8-29-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:59:01 +0000

Caller has a hypothetical situation; The best cities for retirees; What's up with oil?

8-29-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:58:01 +0000

Caller has $500k to invest; Gregory's take on China; Tom Benson's latest move in the Saints/Pelicans trusts

8-29-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 20:54:05 +0000

What happened in the Stock Market this week; Reviewing the Women Winning at Life event this week

8-22-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 20:36:24 +0000

Social Security turns 80; Market turmoil means it's time to make some changes in your portfolio

8-22-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 20:33:05 +0000

Stocks get rocked, and oil goes below $40 per barrel. What now?

8-15-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 21:04:21 +0000

Advice for callers; Apple making new moves

8-15-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:29:17 +0000

Answering comment cards from this week's live event

8-15-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:28:16 +0000

Study shows retirement makes you happier and healthier. China devalues the Yuan

8-8-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:42:50 +0000

Gregory answers emails and calls; Stock market analysis

8-8-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:41:38 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney, Wes Blanchard: You need a Power of Attorney plan

8-8-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:40:12 +0000

Financial issues that impact women

Women Winning at Life - Friends, Fashion & Finance

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 16:02:49 +0000

Wednesday, August 26th from 6-9pm. RSVP by calling (504) 832-9200.

8-1-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:49:29 +0000

Bitcoin popular for ransoms; The importance of cash in your portfolio

8-1-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:48:41 +0000

Dwell Nola's creative financing options for real estate investors

8-1-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:46:31 +0000

Managing your online image; Gregory's bond tutorial for a caller; Will Social Security be there in retirement?

7-25-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:05:55 +0000

Keeping up with Dodd-Frank; What's up with Apple?

7-25-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:57:03 +0000

Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo new relaxed lending standards

7-25-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:44:02 +0000

Guidance for the workers in the Chalmette refinery changing hands

7-18-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:35:31 +0000

Greg and James discuss the last speaking engagement and answer your questions from the event.

7-18-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:33:56 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney and Total Wealth Authority member Wes Blanchard discusses the importance of trusts.

7-18-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:31:47 +0000

Greg and James discuss the market and answer your questions.

7-11-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:20:01 +0000

Questions from comment cards and callers

7-11-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:19:02 +0000

Dwell Nola's real estate update

7-11-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:17:28 +0000

What's up in Greece and China? Helping callers with their financial situation.

6-27-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:58:04 +0000

NOLA in a financial pickle; Pickens predicts higher oil prices

6-27-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:57:09 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards; the story of how Gregory started his firm

6-27-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:42:41 +0000

Whether you're retired or between jobs, what should you do with that old 401k?

6-20-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:40:29 +0000

Self directed IRA warning story; Mark Cuban advice for 401ks

6-20-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:38:10 +0000

GUEST: Dwayne Stein from Mortgage Gumbo

6-20-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 14:36:33 +0000

The recent sale of a Chalmette refinery creates an incredible financial opportunity for the employees

6-13-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:47:12 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards submitted at our recent live event

6-13-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 18:43:41 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney Wes Blanchard explains 5 reasons you need a will.

6-6-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:18:50 +0000

Is it time to leave your job?

6-6-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:16:58 +0000

Dwell Nola on buying a second home

6-6-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:15:48 +0000

7 lies investors tell themselves

5-30-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Gregory gives guidance on your personal budget, and talks about some recent stock moves

5-30-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:13:49 +0000

What's the biggest mistake you can make with a reverse mortgage?

5-30-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:12:24 +0000

With people living longer than ever, it's time to change your approach on investing

5-23-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:09:51 +0000

Gregory Ricks answers some of the questions from the comment cards at our recent live event

5-23-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 19:08:55 +0000

Dwayne Stein: are mortgage rates going up?

5-23-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 18:48:48 +0000

Is the Mad Men finale a true story? The top 5 reasons to buy a fixed annuity

WNOE Summer Jam PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 27 May 2015 15:38:51 +0000

5-16-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:30:35 +0000

5-16-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:30:05 +0000

5-16-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:29:35 +0000

5-9-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:28:28 +0000

5-9-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:27:55 +0000

5-9-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:27:27 +0000

4-25-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:39:24 +0000

Retroactive Social Security benefits; Breaking down the Marvin Gaye lawsuit

4-25-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:38:10 +0000

Google announces new cell service; Who's the highest paid NFL retiree?

4-25-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 14:29:58 +0000

Reviewing what materials we have available online to help those just getting started in investing

How Taxes can Ruin Good Investing

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:54:13 +0000

Gregory shows how taxes can destroy investment returns over the long haul

4/18/15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:49:46 +0000

Gregory's origin story, and financial signs your spouse is cheating on you.

4/18/15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:46:34 +0000

Dwayne Stein on how to help your kids/grandkids get into their first home

4/18/15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:34:24 +0000

How taxes drastically affect your investments

What Should I do with My Old 401K?

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 19:01:49 +0000

Gregory Ricks gives guidance to Billie about what to do with the 401k from her old employer that went under.

4-11-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:55:21 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards

4-11-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:50:26 +0000

Gregory explains his stop-loss philosophy

4-11-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:47:37 +0000

A helpful look at the looming tax day deadline

4-6-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:56:59 +0000

Dwell Nola: Real Estate paperwork gets streamlined this year

4-6-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks Hour 1

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 17:54:00 +0000

Gregory gives you a quick lesson on annuities and bonds

Marvin Gaye & Robin Thicke Lawsuit

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:39:19 +0000

Why the Marvin Gaye lawsuit against Robin Thicke is flawed

Retroactive Benefits

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:34:30 +0000

Gregory Ricks explains Retroactive Social Security benefits are real, and why you should file and suspend at FRA

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3-28-15 Hour 3

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:24:33 +0000

How to get retroactive Social Security benefits, and lots of advice for callers

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3-24-15 Hour 2

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 20:11:33 +0000

Can your small business pay you a ZERO salary as an S-Corp?

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3-28-15 Hour 1

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 20:06:36 +0000

Financial News; Update on public pensions; Signs you need a financial advisor

Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3-21-15

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:18:17 +0000

Gregory gives advice to callers and emails

Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3-21-15

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:10:34 +0000

James breaks down the Marvin Gaye lawsuit, and we chat with Dwayne Stein of Mortgage Gumbo

Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks 3/21/15

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 20:03:38 +0000

Advice on avoiding tax trouble for those who issue or receive 1099s

3-16-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:26:09 +0000

Gregory answers questions from the comment cards at Tuesday's event

3-16-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:22:48 +0000

Traci and Stephanie from Dwell Nola give a local Real Estate forecast for 2015

3-16-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:15:01 +0000

Your cell service may soon be free; Addressing the concerns of women in retirement planning.

3-7-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:34:52 +0000

Forbes billionaire list; Tax deductions for home office

3-7-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:32:07 +0000

Helping callers and previewing Tuesday's live event

3-7-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:29:12 +0000

New proposed law would regulate brokers like Registered Investment Advisors; Pension options

2-28-15 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:26:25 +0000

Judging by TV and Hollywood, it's cool to be a businessman again

2-28-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:23:42 +0000

Tax tips to save you money

2-28-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:19:12 +0000

Financial News; How House of Cards has changed the industry

2-21-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:28:46 +0000

Can Dwayne Stein survive a mortgage Pop Quiz?

2-21-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:27:50 +0000

Traci and Stephanie from Dwell Nola Realty discuss new commercial developments in the area

2-21-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 18:26:10 +0000

Reviewing our lessons on Trust Mills

Winning at Life PROMO 3-7-15

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 16:16:49 +0000

2-14-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 18:34:55 +0000

It's not too late to save for retirement

2-14-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 17:57:55 +0000

A radio host giving out financial advice goes to prison for cheating clients.

2-7-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:03:31 +0000

What the Brian Williams scandal teaches us about trust

2-7-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:00:10 +0000

James Parker breaks down the Tom Benson legal battles with Estate Planning Attorney William Perry

2-7-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:56:56 +0000

The holistic approach to managing your assets. Reviewing 10 new proposed taxes.

1-31-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:12:43 +0000

Is our brief affair with cheap oil almost over?

1-31-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:09:49 +0000

Our firm can work in all financial worlds

1-24-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 19:01:34 +0000

How will the new Nola smoking ban affect business?

1-24-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:39:24 +0000

Dwayne Stein: new PMI rules will help buyers

1-24-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 17:34:50 +0000

How the State of the Union could affect your wallet

1-24-15 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 15:39:04 +0000

1-17-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 14:57:33 +0000

Using core money to generate income

1-10-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 17:55:11 +0000

Taking your calls and answering your email questions. Also your tax tip of the week.

1-10-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 16:00:41 +0000

Traci Kestler and Stephanie Campani the partners of the Dwell Nola Realty join us this hour and give us tips when selling your home or property.

1-10-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 15:48:26 +0000

Answering your annuity questions and letting you know what we have in store at our first speaking engagement of 2015.

1-17-15 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:48:17 +0000

1-10-15 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:39:34 +0000

1-3-15 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:29:00 +0000

This hour Greg tells us how annuity guarantees can actually improve your love life. We also answer your phone calls and emails.

1-3-15 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:10:29 +0000

Our Estate Planning Attorney, William Perry, joins us in studio and lets us know what we can learn from Joan River's estate planning, did she do it right?

1-3-15 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:08:53 +0000

Giving you reasons to be optimistic about 2015. We also ask the question, "What is going on with oil prices?" And new IRS rules in 2015, we'll let you know what they are.

12-20-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:11:18 +0000

Greg gives relationship tips when dealing with your registered financial adviser, know when it's time to breakup.

12-20-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:17:36 +0000

Greg gives us some myths of self directed IRA's. Greg also answers your questions and emails.

12-20-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:40:11 +0000

Dwayne from Cross Country Mortgage and Host of Mortgage Gumbo joins us in studio and gives us tips to help you stay debt free during the holiday season.

12-13-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 16:01:20 +0000

What's with the price of oil? And advice for callers.

12-13-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:43:04 +0000

Dwell Nola: Avoiding capital gains taxes with a 1031 exchange.

12-13-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 15:37:38 +0000

Did you inherit an IRA? Better call Gregory.

12-20-14 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 22:16:28 +0000

12-8-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 20:05:09 +0000

Greg shares more client stories and answers listener questions. Also this hour we learn about the computer program Zilch Works and how it can be a great tool to help keep up with your finances.

12-8-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:54:00 +0000

Attorney William Perry joins us in studio and talks estate planning and the importance of having a will.

12-8-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:37:19 +0000

Greg shares client stories this hour and we look in our mailbag and answer your email questions.

12-6-14 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:28:17 +0000

11-29-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:16:14 +0000

A story about a close call will have you checking your variable annuity contract

11-29-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 20:08:28 +0000

Dwayne Stein says changes in lending standards means you may be qualified for a refi.

11-22-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:56:39 +0000

Our back to the basics series continues - discussing 401k's and we give your are Tax Tip of the Week.

11-22-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:55:00 +0000

Our back to the basics series continues - discussing self directed IRA's. Greg also answers your financial questions and takes your emails and phone calls.

11-22-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:44:14 +0000

Our back to the basics series continues. Today discussing self directed IRA's and 401k's.

11-29-14 PROMO

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:01:50 +0000

11-15-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:22:56 +0000

We continue our Back to the Basics series Ep 3 - answering the question: How much money will I need to retire? Tax tip of the week and answer your emails.

11-15-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:20:24 +0000

Greg continues his variable annuity client story and answers your email questions.

11-15-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:06:47 +0000

Today on the show we continue our Back to the Basics series Ep. 3 and answering the questions: What age will you be able to retire? How much risk should you be willing to accept with your investments/portfolio?

11-8-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:24:12 +0000

Back to the Basics, Greg takes a look at ETF's and Mutual funds. We also talk about Detroit's Bankruptcy how it had effected pension holders.

11-8-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:18:47 +0000

Tracy and Stephanie from Dwell Nola Realty join us this hour and discuss the importance of credit when buying a home.

11-8-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:54:07 +0000

Square 2 of Back to the Basics - Mutual Funds and ETF's.

11-1-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 20:22:11 +0000

We finish our discussion - Getting back to the basics, a refresher course in finance. We also answer your questions and emails

11-1-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 20:19:33 +0000

William Perry joins us in the second hour and answers your estate planning questions

11-1-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 20:14:50 +0000

Getting back to the basics, a refresher course in finance. We also answer your questions and emails

10-25-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:47:59 +0000

Did James and President Obama have a similar issue with their bank? We will also discuss the data breach at JP Morgan Chase that impacted thousands of customers.

10-25-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:43:02 +0000

This hour we answer comment card questions from Greg's last speaking event and answer your email questions.

10-25-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:37:12 +0000

Dwayne Stein, Chef of the Mortgage Gumbo, joins us in studio and talks interest rates and why now is a great time to buy!

10-18-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:54:23 +0000

Should Denise use her inherited IRA to pay off her mortgage?

10-18-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:52:41 +0000

Warren Buffet's take on interest rates

10-18-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:50:22 +0000

Gregory's thoughts on the volatile markets. Roger Staubach's retirement success story.

10-11-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:47:37 +0000

This hour we talk with Traci Kestler from Dwell Nola Realty and part of our Total Wealth Authority. Today she discusses the benefits of commercial property.

10-11-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 14:44:35 +0000

Greg and James take your calls and emails and answer your financial/retirement questions.

10-4-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:18:56 +0000

William Perry stays with us a little bit longer and finishes the discussion about Joan River's estate. Greg also takes your calls and emails!

10-4-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:53:03 +0000

This hour we talk with William Perry our estate planning attorney about Joan River's Estate and why not knowing too much about it is a good thing!

10-4-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:47:54 +0000

Greg is solo this week. This hour Greg takes your calls and answers your emails regarding retirement and all your financial needs.

9-20-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:28:56 +0000

This hour we will update you on a previous topic regarding the Firefighter's Pension Board and and we take your calls and emails.

9-20-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:22:52 +0000

What you need to do to be ready for the next tax season, we will give you some preseason tax tips. Also take your calls and emails.

9-20-14 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 29 Sep 2014 14:18:48 +0000

Advice from Gregory on the Gerry V and Osterlind shows

9-13-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:25:32 +0000

This hour Greg takes your calls and emails and answers some very good questions from listeners.

9-13-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:22:41 +0000

Stephanie Campani and Traci Kestler from Dwell NOLA Realty join us this hour and asks the question - Are you in the home that you will retire in?

9-13-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 16:19:52 +0000

We wish ERISA a Happy 40th birthday and we talk about a prediction Greg made on a previous show about a certain company that may have come true.

9-6-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:50:57 +0000

We talk with William Perry and discuss Robin Williams estate planning we also learn why it's important to have a Will.

9-6-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:47:30 +0000

We discuss Europe's economic troubles and if it will impact us here in the US. We also look over the unemployment numbers and talk about ways to deal with severe debt.

8-31-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:46:41 +0000

10 things you need to know about planning your retirement and information on a new scam in the form of a fake IRS call.

8-31-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:42:57 +0000

Greg's stock tip of the week and we take your calls and questions.

8-31-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:28:04 +0000

We talk to Dwayne Stein from Cross Country Mortgage. Dwayne also makes a big announcement you don't want to miss.

8-23-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:03:00 +0000

The price of a Big Mac in 1974. Social Security survivor benefit eligibility.

8-23-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:01:43 +0000

The History of the Tulip Bubble. Which bubble will pop next?

8-23-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 19:00:11 +0000

Here's an example of why you need to get a second opinion before buying an annuity

8-16-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:33:21 +0000

More income streams and callers

8-16-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:29:32 +0000

What's going on with bonds? Listing different income streams

8-16-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:12:48 +0000

Can your financial professional work in all 3 worlds of investing?

8-9-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:02:43 +0000

Dwell Nola: make your house sell

8-9-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:01:33 +0000

Ways to trick yourself into saving money

8-2-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:12:00 +0000

Which Social Security fund is in trouble? Answering questions from callers

8-2-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:09:43 +0000

William Perry straightens out Phillip Seymour Hoffman's anti-trust fund estate planning

8-2-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 19:08:10 +0000

The GDP roars, Fed wobbles, unemployment skids, and Argentina defaults

7-26-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:12:10 +0000

11 Financial Signs Your Spouse Is Cheating on You

7-26-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:10:55 +0000

A new court ruling on the NOFD pension debacle

7-26-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:09:14 +0000

Our mortgage guy Dwayne Stein tells you secrets to fix bad credit

7-19-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:29:39 +0000

Parker gets a letter from the IRS saying he owes them money

7-19-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:22:39 +0000

Email questions about a TIAA/CREF, dividend funds, and should a couple pay off their house or invest more into their portfolio.

07-19-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:18:04 +0000

Gregory Ricks thoroughly responds to some local criticism.

7-12-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:19:43 +0000

What happens if Gregory goes away?

7-12-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:18:25 +0000

Dwell Nola tells you why your house isn't selling

7-12-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:16:19 +0000

Learn from how the Clintons are using a residence trust as part of their tax planning.

7-5-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:41:58 +0000

How to avoid fraudulent investments: Gregory answers questions from the audience.

7-5-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:37:38 +0000

Guest William Perry on why you need a will, especially if you have modest assets.

7-5-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:34:32 +0000

Dow breaks 17K. Financial lessons learned from the Founding Fathers.

6-28-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:03:27 +0000

Gregory answers questions from comment cards

6-28-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:43:25 +0000

GDP is -3%, oil prices, and the bond bubble

6-28-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:19:22 +0000

Dwayne Stein answers questions about reverse mortgages

6-21-14 Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:16:39 +0000

How Social Security benefits for widows works

6-21-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:08:44 +0000

Inherited IRAs are no longer exempt from creditors

6-21-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:47:52 +0000

Gregory Ricks and William Perry give financial news, give callers advice

6-14-14- Hour 3 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:19:24 +0000

How fixed annuity salesmen get it wrong. Important deadlines in Retirement Planning.

6-14-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:06:46 +0000

Dwell Nola Realty explains creative ways to fund a purchase, and second properties

6-14-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 13:59:42 +0000

The importance of data-security with investing. Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

6-7-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:44:37 +0000

Estate Planning Attorney William Perry tells you why you need a will... NOW

6-7-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:41:16 +0000

Lessons in Social Security planning, and we help out some callers

5-31-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:35:02 +0000

Deuce McAllister talks about life as a businessman. 401k facts you need to know

5-31-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:33:00 +0000

Gregory's trip to Europe was incredible. Our GDP prediction comes true

5-24-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:31:04 +0000

William Perry, Estate Planning Attorney, with advice on losing a spouse

5-24-14 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 20:25:16 +0000

Dwayne Stein, mortgage broker, on the ins and outs of Mortgage Insurance

5-17-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:18:01 +0000

Dwell Nola Realty explains some title issues that can trip up a sale.

5-17-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 19 May 2014 18:15:05 +0000

Previewing the Alibaba IPO, and the northshore fracking debate

5-10-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:56:27 +0000

How to balance liquidity, return, and safety with your investment portfolio

5-10-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:47:25 +0000

A fellow financial advisor, Jason Parker, shares his approach to retirement planning

4-26-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:49:02 +0000

How to break up with your financial advisor.

4-26-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:45:18 +0000

Dwayne Stein: Things you should know when choosing a mortgage

Winning at Life PROMO for 5-3-14

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:14:47 +0000

Radio Promo 4-26-14

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 19:13:52 +0000

4-19-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:08:58 +0000

Dwell Nola Realty updates on your home flood insurance

4-19-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:03:31 +0000

How fees may be eating up your 401k

4-12-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 16:10:36 +0000

Getting you ready for the tax day deadline

4-12-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 15:41:26 +0000

Gregory answers callers' questions about IRAs and annuities

3-29-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:45:00 +0000

Pitfalls of reverse mortgages without estate planning.

3-29-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:42:22 +0000

Fixing a failed stress test. RMD deadline for those aged 70.5

3-28-14 Winning at Life Promo

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:56:08 +0000

3-28-14 Winning at Life Promo

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 16:51:17 +0000

3-15-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:42:29 +0000

Dwell Nola Realty talks about buying a second property

3-15-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:39:24 +0000

Gregory walks James through choosing the right life insurance

3-11-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:51:53 +0000

Two guys use their IRAs to buy a business, and accidentally blow up their IRAs.

3-8-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 16:43:50 +0000

James' wife rolls over her old 401k with Gregory, and finds their life insurance is all wrong.

PROMO for 3-8-14

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:47:43 +0000

2-22-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:54:28 +0000

Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion. Dwayne Stein on APRs and reverse mortgages.

PROMO for 2-22-14

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:16:25 +0000

2-15-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:58:05 +0000

Stephanie Campani from DwellNola.com on the difference between buying a house and a condo

2-15-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:56:32 +0000

A Metairie fund manager swindles investors. How Parker becoming a CEO changes his taxes.

2-8-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 17:53:46 +0000

Courtland Crouchet, the CPS of the Total Wealth Authority, talks deductions

2-8-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 16:53:27 +0000

Gregory talks to Osterlind; Can money buy happiness?

2-1-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:31:58 +0000

William Perry and Gregory on how to take care of your aging parents

2-1-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:28:22 +0000

Gregory met George W Bush. The differences in a Roth IRA, Roth 401k, and a 401k.

1-25-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:13:45 +0000

Adam Cufr, author of Off the Record, shares his take on retirement planning

1-25-14 Hour 1 Wining at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:08:46 +0000

Defending yourself against income inequality policies.

1-18-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:25:25 +0000

Dwell Nola: where's the Nola housing market headed in 2014?

1-18-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:17:12 +0000

Dwayne Stein explains when a reverse mortgage is the right tool

1-11-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 21:26:47 +0000

Our CPA, Courtland Crouchet, has advice for tax season savings

1-11-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 21:15:17 +0000

We give 2013 grades for financial categories.

1-4-14 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 18:01:57 +0000

William Perry, our Estate Planning Attorney, on how some are using trusts to protect from creditors and taxes.

1-6-14 Hour 1 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 17:49:19 +0000

Gregory has advice to make your 2014 prosperous

12-28-13 Hour 2 Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks

Winning at Life with Gregory Ricks — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 23:01:55 +0000

Traci and Stephanie from Dwell Nola Realty