Weekly Recap Episodes

This week was know your numbers week, so I’m here to tell you what stuck, what was hard, and three numbers to carry into next week. The big win was Mark Lawley’s “just in case” folder — a tidy place with passwords and instructions so his family won’t have to guess if something happens. The tough part was Mark grieving his mom and asking real questions about inheritance and IRAs, and we spent the time that needed to be spent. We hit some wild stats — like how a 1% fee can eat about 28% of your re...

In this week’s recap, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet look at why your Social Security raise is smaller than the headline, plus the 401(k) fees most people never see. In This Episode ✓ Social Security goes up 3.6%, and what Medicare Part B may take back ✓ The viral $200 Social Security bonus is not real ✓ 401(k) fees, forgotten retirement accounts, and a bank text scam ✓ Biweekly mortgage payments and starting to invest early ✓ Inherited IRAs, stepped-up basis, and leaving a plan for your family...

In this week’s recap, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet revisit the week’s best money moves, from surveillance pricing and credit card minimum payments to why a credit union may be a better home for your savings. In This Episode ✓ Surveillance pricing and how to check your shopping preferences ✓ What to say when a promo rate expires ✓ Why the credit card minimum payment keeps you in debt ✓ Why you should always request a direct rollover ✓ How credit unions and banks differ, and what it means for s...

Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. This week was heavy on scams and money habits. Quick recap: Three scams to watch: kill switches on subprime auto loans, home equity checks disguised as junk mail, and AI callers targeting new widows and bail-money victims, together costing people millions. Two settlements working in your favor: Amazon Prime refunds are jumping to $200, and Amway's own numbers confirm most people lose mone...

Happy Saturday, everybody! Mortgage rates just climbed to a 13-month high, the IRS changed the 1099 threshold to $2,000, and I finally answered the question I get asked more than almost any other: do you owe a dead relative's credit card debt? We also got into what financial confidence really means, the framework I use with clients to give every dollar a job, and a conversation with a finance coach about money and marriage that hit closer to home than I expected. I'm Ralph Estep Jr., a license...