Money Making Sense

Whether you have streaming services with auto-renewal, or multiple small add-ons to programs, you could be paying a lot more than you realize.  Nick Wolny, Managing Editor with CNET, says Spring is a great time to review every subscription you have and get rid of ones you don't use very much or didn't realize the prices increased.

Nick also says it is so much easier to buy things.  It only takes a swipe of a phone or a tap of a credit card and it doesn't hurt as much as when you write a check or pay with cash.  Not paying close attention to all your swipes and taps can cost you a fortune in a very short time frame.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

All species on earth work to support man through clothing, food and medicines.  When they start going extinct we risk our own survival.  That's from Lowell Baier, author of "Earth's Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter."  

Baier says the loss of habitat through climate change and expansion of commerce due to population growth is the number one reason we are losing animal and plant life.  And why the Endangered Species Act is critical to fund.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Designating a retirement account to go to a Trust after you die will trigger taxation upon death.  Attorney Cathleen Gilbert, the owner of Gilbert Law Office, says retirement accounts should be willed to an individual instead.  In order to be fully prepared, Cathleen says you should have a will, a trust, a power of attorney and a medical directive to make sure all your wishes are carried out without excessive delays or complications.

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, explains what a fiduciary is and why it's important to have one when it comes planning for the inevitable -- death and taxes.  And do you know how many death certificates you'll need after your loved one passes?

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Even though most people know scammers are working to take their money, they keep succeeding.  Colin MacDonald, consumer protection attorney for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the Northwest Region describes a few of the top ways scammers come after your money.

To learn more about Imposter Scams go to:
ftc.gov/imposters

To sign up for scam alerts go to:
FTC.gov/consumeralerts

If you have been a victim of fraud or a scam contact the FTC at:
ReportFraud.ftc.gov or 877-382-4357

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Everyone says "don't open a scam email or click on a link in a text."  But how do you know it's a scam without opening the messages?  Host Heather Kelly explains a few ways to quickly identify those scam messages.  She also has tips for those annoying phone calls from people asking for money or threatening police intervention.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

In order to avoid jealousy, hurt feelings, or not knowing what a loved one wants after they pass, it is extremely important to have a plan in place and discuss the transfer of wealth with your loved ones.  That's from Lena Haas, the head of Wealth Management Advice and Solutions leader at Edward Jones.  She says its important to separate your emotions from the Inheritance discussion by bringing in a third party, like a financial advisor.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Beneficial Ownership Information, or BOI, is meant to put a stop to money laundering.  However, it's estimated that 36 Million small business entities in the U.S. are required to file paperwork to register their companies with FINCEN -- or pay $591 A DAY if you miss the filing deadline.

Guests Brett Jensen, a Partner with Haynie & Company and Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, explain what type of companies must comply with this 2021 federal law and which ones are exempt.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Currently, shelters across the U.S. are overcrowded with dogs.  But Holly Sizemore, the Chief Mission Officer for Best Friends Animal Society, says they are about to get inundated with cats and kittens as well.

Now is the time to spay and neuter both indoor and all outdoor cats as females are currently in heat and will start producing offspring within the next couple of months.  There are Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) programs across the country to help pay for the cost of these procedures.

Sizemore says most pets in shelters are human causes, not because the animal is damaged in someway.  Their adoption fees are much less expensive than buying from a breeder or pet store.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Be thoughtful about the money you DO have.  That's from Justin Janowski, coach and founder of Faith2Influence.  He says the beliefs you hold about money -- good or bad -- can influence the amount of wealth you attain.

Justin says 50% of the world exists on only $2.00 a day.  That means, the other 50% of the population has more money than we may we think we do.  The stories we are telling ourselves about what money IS, could be what is holding us back.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

People need to rethink what a "starter home" looks like.  That's from David Damschen, CEO of Utah Housing Corporation.  The Vice-President of Financial Services for UT Housing Corp, Ariane Gibson says there are several programs available to help pay for rent or a mortgage, but agrees, rethinking the size of your home is important.

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, says the State and Federal programs available for low income earners do not affect their tax burden -- but they also won't get tax credits.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Americans are now carrying a record amount of credit card debt more than One-TRILLION dollars.  Lou Scatigna, The Financial Physician, says it's time we think about our finances they way we should about nutrition.  

Lou also says women are better with money than men as a general rule -- and it's important that both people in a relationship have an equal understanding of their finances.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Many companies around the world are changing where they put their own money based on  Environment, Social and Governance rules.  Marlo Oaks, the Utah State Treasurer, says this is the downfall of Capitalism.  He says when corporations are required to change how they do business, it ties their hands from making even more money.

Guest host Andy Farnsworth from The Movie Show, and Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPA's both say it is important to keep informed of which companies are using the principles of ESG and decide if you wish to invest in them.

Rule number one -- be accountable for your decisions, both financially and personally.  That's from the author of Prepping for Success, Anmol Singh.  He says when you learn to stick to your word, wealth of all sorts will follow you.

Anmol is also a stock market trader and discusses how to get control of your emotions when the markets are going up and down.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Are you a spender or a saver?  Amanda Sharratt, the chief operating officer with Whitaker Myers Wealth Managers, says you can create the muscle for saving -- like she had to do as a spender.

Amanda says staying out of debt, especially during the holidays, starts with having a plan ahead of time of how much you can spend within your budget.  A good tip is to sell older items so you have some extra cash to buy gifts.

Amanda also discusses where to start paying off your debt and why it's important to have an emergency fund.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

There are multiple ways to pay for higher education that don't include going into debt.  Geoffrey Thomas Landward, the interim Commissioner for Utah System of Higher Education, says the "Keys to Success" app can show you how.  He also discusses the Pell Grant, the Opportunity and Promose scholarships which are FREE.

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, also gets in on the discussion of filling out FAFSA forms for financial aid.  Along with the importance of higher education; which doesn't always mean going to a college or university.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

From shipping scams to people trying to get you to pay for things with gift cards, fraudsters are coming after your money in droves.  Roberta (Bobbi) Tonelli, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, says it's important to learn how to spot a scam and then report them at:  ReportFraud.ftc.com

You can learn more about various scams at FTC.gov/consumeralerts.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

You can give as much money as you want to a charity.  However, Wade Watkins a CPA and Partner at Squire, says only approved organizations qualify as deductions on your taxes. 

Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs also has tips on making sure you send your money where you want it to go.  And they both discuss the differences in cash vs non-cash donations.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

"The stock market is a grocery store for shares of corporate ownership.  But it is restricted and requires a broker to shop."  That's from Dan Calandro, a financial scientist.  He says, contrary to popular teachings, you should NOT be fully invested and that only 15 different stocks are enough to out-perform the market.

Find out when Dan says is the best time to buy and sell and why having a smaller portfolio is better than a larger one on this episode.  You can also get more information at his website LoseYourBroker.com and from his book Lose your Broker, Not your Money.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

More than 20 million people have stopped giving money to charities over the last two decades because of lack of trust.  Thomas Tighe, the President and CEO of Direct Relief says there are websites you can use to find out if where you want to give is legit.

CharityNavigator.org and CharityWatch.org are two such sites.  However, if you can't give money due to lack of funds this year, Tighe says there are other things you can do to help in this episode.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

This holiday season is slated to be the busiest ever for airports and airlines.  Nicole Carriere, consumer travel expert with United Airlines, says planning ahead is your best bet to not get stressed.  She says allow extra time for parking and getting through security.

Carrier says for Thanksgiving, the day before (Wednesday) is still the busiest for airlines.  But since the pandemic, people's schedules are slightly more flexible so both Monday and Tuesday before Turkey Day are busier than ever before.  Also, find out how United Airlines is using technology to help passengers if flights are delayed or canceled.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Hiring an attorney for an injury claim typically gets you 3-times more money in compensation than without a lawyer.  Jon Groth, a victim advocate attorney, says there are financial changes you can make before a problem arises to help you through unexpected accidents.

Injuries aren't always due to car crash or fall in a restaurant.  Groth says vaccine injuries are a big part of his practice; and you should always use an independent insurance agent.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Should people rethink the most common advice typically given by financial planners? Advisor and author, Derek Mazzarella discusses several ways to invest for retirement not usually considered.  You can get more info from his book "Just Retire Already: An Unconventional Retirement Guide."

Tip #1 -- File a "Life Change" with the IRS when you retire or have big changes in your life, like disability, in order to help with Medicare payment rates.  

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

A new documentary "Shot in the Arm" discusses the myths and facts about vaccines.  Academy award nominated producer and director, Scott Hamilton Kennedy, along with executive producer (and astro-physicist) Neil deGrasse Tyson, bring the film to life.

The film explores the money behind the anti-vaccine movement along with big pharma.  Learn why director Scott Kennedy says "anti-vaxxers are not just corrupt, they are corrosive" in this episode. 

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

Plan on getting a minimum of 10 death certificates to deal with all the financial accounts (investments, insurance, savings, etc.) of your loved one.  That's from Brad Barrett, partner and managing director at One Capital Management who also says it's extremely important to speak with your loved one's estate planner attorney and/or Power of Attorney to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Brad also says after the post-life celebration, you need to speak with Social Security Administration and credit facilities like Equifax and Trans Union.  You'll also need to learn the rules about inheriting different financial accounts.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.

The average household has $10,000 dollars in credit card debt, which totals over 1-TRILLION dollars nationwide.  Susan Speirs, the CEO of Utah Association of CPAs, discusses ways you can slow the amount of debt you are charging.

HACK #1:  Change the way you think about spending.

You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page.

Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here.