Radical Personal Finance (Joshua Sheats)

What do dentists who shoot lions, publicists who make jokes in poor taste on Twitter and Indiana pizza makers have in common? Their lives were suddenly and irrevocably changed for the worst while doing something that they could never have predicted would lead to it.

Avoiding catastrophe is an important pillar of the wealth building strategy that I promote through Radical Personal Finance. As personal finance enthusiasts, we are one of the most prudent groups of people on this planet: we build our emergency funds, insure against negative events, diversify our investments and make careful choices about our spending.

Radical Personal Finance is, however, about going beyond the obvious and into the territory of things less commonly considered, but just as important. I want you to be prepared to deal with a hurricane, becoming a refugee, dealing with food scarcity or even the possibility of getting arrested.

In my experience as a financial advisor, it has often frustrated me with how little care is sometimes taken to ensure the client’s financial security, despite the good intentions of most people in the industry. But why is this possible? The answer is that most people care even less about their data.

It’s shocking to discover how vulnerable we actually make ourselves by not taking simple security measures when using bank accounts, email and social media - vulnerable not only to a loss privacy but potentially to a very real financial loss.

I’ve taken an interest in this subject a while ago, and have been really impressed by the book The Complete Privacy and Security Desk Reference which stood out in a field where information is often cursory or out of date.

That is why I invited co-author Justin Carroll to Radical Personal Finance to talk about real, actionable ways in which you can become more secure and protect your privacy. This article contains some of the best tools mentioned in our discussion, though for a more complete picture I recommend that you listen to the episode above and purchase the book itself.

But This Won’t Happen to Me

I often get this objection: “I’m not doing anything wrong - why should I be concerned about privacy?”. Here’s an analogy that I’ve found helpful in explaining why I promote these ideas:

Do you remember the time when every phone call was a party line? Anyone in the household could pick up another receiver and there was very little one could do about it at the time. Now, however, you do have a choice - do you want to make everything you search for, consume, talk about as well as access to all of your accounts and purchase history a party line?

Complete privacy and security are very difficult to achieve, but some very simple steps and tools can protect you from most of the headaches in the future.

Another thing to consider is this: You may not be a target right now - but you may become one in the future as your wealth increases, you endorse unpopular political or religious perspectives or just live your life the usual way, as the stories at the beginning of this article illustrate.

This may be a decade from now, but to prevent it you must build the skills and the mindset starting today, because you don’t know what circumstances you will face in the future through no fault of your own, and you can’t control things after the fact.

Some simple tools and habits that have a great impact:

Accounts and Passwords

You are at great risk if you use the same or the same few passwords for all of your accounts. You will see this warning often and for good reason when creating new accounts: it only takes one company to be breached (who didn’t store your data properly) and an attacker gains access to all of your accounts. Alternatively, it’s often enough if they just gain access to your main email and phone account (which isn’t very difficult) and that opens up everything else. Using a different strong password for every account mitigates some of this risk.

Less often mentioned, but equally important is using different and random usernames. Is your email address firstandlast@gmail.com? You’ve just given away an important piece of the puzzle to would-be attacker.

The problem often is safely storing and remembering all of these account names and passwords - that’s where a password manager comes into play. Using LastPass (more convenient) or KeePass (more secure) can make the process a whole lot easier and secure.

Two-Factor Authentication

Nowadays you can often see a website offering (or requiring) you to enter a code from a text message in addition to your password. This is a form of two-factor authentication: an attacker job is made more difficult since he needs access to both your account name and password as well as your phone number. Unfortunately, phone numbers are often accessed by social engineers (who exploit human psychology) or accounts are simply hacked into, making this method not particularly secure.

What I recommend instead is that you use Authy or Google Authenticator on your smartphone. This works in a similar way, but you need actual physical access to your device (as opposed to just the number) which significantly enhances your security.

For even more security, you could purchase a YubiKey, which is a special piece of hardware dedicated entirely to two-factor authentication.

Encrypted Communication

Even though we rarely send long and heartfelt email anymore, there’s still a lot of important information that someone can gain from reading the emails that you send and receive. The same is true for instant messaging and phone calls.

I encourage people who own an iOS to use Facetime Audio instead of calling and to use Signal (iOS and Android) for instant messaging - both of which are encrypted.

Setting up email encryption used to be somewhat difficult, but tools such as Proton Mail offers end-to-end encrypted communication. You can also encrypt sensitive documents with a password using Adobe Acrobat Pro (Windows) or Preview (Mac).

Don’t Trust Your Financial Advisor (or Your Bank)

Just because someone is in the financial industry, it doesn’t mean that they take good care of your information. Bank accounts sometimes have worse-than-average security - make no difference and use the same tools and principles that you would with any other account.

The same is true with financial advisors, accountants etc. Your information is not always stored appropriately - sometimes physical copies are kept that are not secured, sometimes administrative staff has access to digital documents, sometimes your information may be shared between financial advisors at the same firm.

Make sure to compartmentalize information: think carefully if that person or organization really needs this or that particular piece of information, and try not give a complete picture whenever possible. This way, if there’s a breach at a particular firm, that information alone will not be enough to impersonate you or access your other accounts.

Use Cash Whenever Possible

Show me your bank statement, and I’ll tell you who you are.

How much could I learn about you knowing where you shop, where you get your morning coffee, where you fill up your car, where you eat your lunch and what kind of shops you visit? All this information can paint quite an accurate picture of you - there’s no reason to offer it up on a silver plate.

Use cash whenever you can - it’s not so hard to get used to (again).

Maintaining Privacy in Online Payments with Burner Credit Cards

Sometimes you can’t get around using a card - but by sharing your bank-issued credit/debit card details when making purchases, you are losing control over the transaction. Most of the time, everything stays win-win, but in contentious situations it’s often a problem if the merchant has all of your details. In addition, unauthorized spurious charges have been known to occur, sometimes in foreign countries, which drain your time and energy to deal with.

Using services such as Privacy.com, SudoPay (connected with Apple Pay) and Blur you can create credit cards that work only for one transaction, or are used for only one merchant. This also means that you don’t have to use your real name or address when making these payments, protecting you from when (often inevitably) the merchant’s database gets compromised.

In addition, you can also set up additional email addresses and phone numbers - this way, for instance, you can share one virtual number with friends and family, and another virtual one to important accounts, that way your accounts stay safe even if your actual phone number is compromised.

Act Now

The tools here are some of the lowest hanging fruit available to you right now to ensure that your assets and your information stay safe. I’ve gone into even more strategies with Justin in the podcast episode that this article was based on - including owning a car and a house as well maintaining a mailing address as privately as possible.

You can find our discussion above this article, or in iTunes. I also wholeheartedly endorse Justin’s and Michael’s book on the subject, as well as their podcast.

Proper prudent planning beats trying to fight the fires after the fact. Take the steps today to protect yourself so you aren’t caught off guard in the coming decade!

I am available if you’d like to have a phone conversation on this subject.

Here are all the resources mentioned in the podcast episode:

• Justin Carroll’s and Michael Bazzell’s podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-complete-privacy-security-podcast/id1165843330?mt=2
• Justin Carroll’s and Michael Bazzell’s book: https://www.yourultimatesecurity.guide/books.html
• Encrypted PDFs on Windows: https://acrobat.adobe.com/uk/en/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html
• Encrypted messenger: Signal
• Encrypted email: https://protonmail.com/
• Password manager: http://keepass.info/
• Password manager: https://www.lastpass.com/
• Two-Factor Authentication: Google Authenticator
• Two-Factor Authentication: https://authy.com/
• Two-Factor Authentication: https://www.yubico.com/products/yubikey-hardware/
• Buying car privately with New Mexico LLC: https://jjluna.com/Resources-LLCs
• Defense against private investigators: JJ Luna How to Stay Invisible https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250010454/
• Secrets of Super Thief https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Superthief-John-MacLean/dp/0425056457/
• True Faith and Allegiance https://www.amazon.com/Clancy-True-Faith-Allegiance-Novel/dp/0399176810
• Open Source Intelligence Techniques: https://inteltechniques.com/book1.html
• Credit Freeze: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs
• Credit Freeze: https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/credit-score-management/
• Virtual Credit Cards: https://privacy.com
• Virtual Credit Cards, Phone Numbers and Email Addresses: https://sudopay.com/
• Virtual Credit Cards, Email Addresses: https://dnt.abine.com/

If you want happy-go-lucky, unicorns-and-balloons-in-the-sky Joshua, skip today's show.

If you want angry Joshua to opine on his disgust with the US American politicians' lack of fiscal restraint and the long-term catastrophe that is the US American budget, then you'll enjoy today's show.

Enjoy.

Joshua

• David Stockman: The Night of Fiscal Infamy http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/the-night-of-fiscal-infamy/
• Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Obama Definitely Was Not the Biggest Spender of All https://danieljmitchell.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-obama-definitely-was-not-the-biggest-spender-of-all/

Only a few consultation slots left! https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/consult 

Many people are far too free with their personal financial information. This can be very dangerous.

You cannot expect your financial advisor to keep your personal information private, secret, and secure.

You've got to take steps to protect yourself.

Joshua

I'm hosting a public meetup for RPF listeners in Louisville, KY on Tuesday, March 10 (evening).

If you'd like to come, email me for details: joshua@radicalpersonalfinance.com

Joshua

On episode 425 of the podcast I interviewed Mr. Money Mustache. That episode was not intended to be an introduction to his teaching or his philosophy; rather, it was a human interest discussion with the man himself.

Today, I introduce you to the philosophy and teaching: the message.

What is mustachianism? What is the plan for financial independence espoused by Mr. Money Mustache?

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Start your search for a great financial advisor here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron
• Please support the show directly as a Patron: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

On today's Q&A we cover: 

• 1:15 Should I buy a house?
• 22:38 Should I sell investments or drain my bank accounts for a house down payment?
• 31:46 What do I need to do financially for my new child?
• 50:00 Update on the famine discussion?
• 1:00:00 How do I build a portfolio of ethical, diverse, sustainable farms?

To join me next week, go here: https://patreon.com/RadicalPersonalFinance 

Enjoy!

Joshua

Every day I mention that little slogan, "financial freedom in 10 years or less" in my intro. It's an aggressive, spicy little slogan. But I probably don't do a good enough job of highlighting what that phrase actually means and how many different ways it can be achieved.

Today I have a really fun profile of someone who has successfully achieved financial freedom in less than 10 years by capitalizing on AirBnB. And doing it with properties that she didn't even own!

Enjoy hearing Zeona McIntyre's story of financial freedom!

Joshua

• Zeona's website: https://www.zeonamcintyre.com/
• Start your search for a financial advisor here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/paladin
• Try a free 34-day trial of the YNAB budgeting software! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/YNAB
• Support me directly on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

Feeding yourself (and especially children!) on the road can utterly destroy your budget.

Here are some tips and tricks I've learned that will be helpful to you.

Joshua

• Please support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron
• https://cheftessbakeresse.blogspot.com/

My guest today is Dr. Vern Poythress. Dr. Poythress is a mathematician and a theologian. Most important for this discussion, he and his wife, Diane, are parents to two children, both boys.

Dr. Poythress authored an article entitled "How I Helped My Boys to Become Christian Men," in which he outlined his family's approach to establishing a formal rite of passage for his sons to become men at 12 or 13 years old.

His formal test and qualifications for them included religious training, knowledge, and behavior, specific acts of service to others, and specific areas of wisdom needed in an adult life.

Much of this conversation is built on the Judeo-Christian tradition and Dr. Poythress outlines much of his curriculum from a religious perspective.

It's key to recognize, however, that most cultures have a rite of passage for young men and women; these ceremonies vary and many are cultural, not religious. For example, toward the end of the interview we discuss the tradition of the debutante ball, a "coming-out" party for young women.

If this concept interests you, consider designing your own curriculum based on your family's vision and values. Certainly, anything you intentionally design will be better than the negative rites of passage we currently promulgate in our culture.

Enjoy!

Joshua

Links:

• Dr. Poythress's website
• Dr. Poythress's bibliography
• "How I Helped My Boys to Become Christian Men

In 2021, I resolve to spend more money and not to engage in extreme savings.

Here's why!

Joshua

• Book a consult with me: https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/consult

In today's show, I share how and why I scanned my entire library in preparation for my current travels.

Enjoy!

Joshua

This is an audio file containing Steven Harris's free Family Emergency Preparedness Class.

This class contains very useful and practical information regarding emergency preparedness.

Some of the material is becoming dated.

For all of Steven's current work, visit his website www.Steven1234.com and follow the appropriate links.

Joshua

Today I want to share a very simple concept with you regarding practical asset allocation.

If you plot your goals on a simple matrix and plot all of your investments on the same matrix, you'll more easily be able to select an appropriate investment to fund each goal.

Here's the matrix: 

home-run dollars

aggressive dollars

safer dollars

-------------------> short-term -----> mid-term -----> long-term

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

Support the show as a patron: http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

In today's episode we continue our discussion of how to invest in your children while young for the best chance of long-term success, with a primary focus on conceiving the healthiest baby and nurturing his best possible outcomes in utero and at birth.

Joshua

On Fridays, we have a live Q&A show. Today we cover these two questions:

1. Should I Switch from Employment to Self-Employment to Save Money?
2. How do I Decide Between Model Portfolio Asset Allocations?

If you'd like to join a call like this and have your question appear on the show, simply become a Patron of the show here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

Enjoy!

Joshua

Today on RPF, I answer your questions:

• How to Lower Work-Culture Costs Without Being Perceived as a Grinch?
• Should I Take Out a TSP Loan or Student Loans for Grad School?
• Should I Take a Year Off To Try a Business or Go Directly to Grad School?
• How To Profitably Invest Paternity Leave?

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

• Do you need a financial advisor? Start here! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/paladin 
• Support RPF on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

It's Friday! That means Q&A:

• Where Should a 48-Year-Old Focus Financially for Retirement?
• Should I Sell a Stock that Makes Up 25% of My Net Worth?
• Should I Move Across the Country So My Children Can Be Near Their Grandparents?
• How Strong Is the California Pension System?
• Should I Contribute More to Retirement So I Can Pay Less on My Student Loans?

www.BitcoinPrivacyCourse.com 

www.InternationalEscapePlan.com 

To join next week's Q&A call, go to www.patreon.com/radicalpersonalfinance

Joshua

It's Friday! Time for Q&A. In today's show we cover:

• 1:30 - How should I prepare for buying rental real estate in 2 years?
• 10:40 - Should I contribute to retirement savings while saving a down payment?
• 13:15 - Should I use a Roth IRA to accumulate a down payment?
• 18:00 - If I refinance my mortgage to get lower rates, what should I do with the money?
• 26:15 - How can I make the transition from a lucrative career to a side hustle?
• 45:45 - Should I quit my job right now, given the recent changes in the economy?
• 51:15 - Can I do tax loss harvesting with two index funds?
• 54:05 - My wife is a French citizen. Should I also pursue French citizenship?
• 1:01:00 - How do I know when it is time to buy a stock?
• 1:03:10 - Should I take a 401(k) loan to set aside for potential opportunities?
• 1:14:30 - How can I become freer and richer by setting up a nomad lifestyle?
• 1:47:20 - How can I prep and build food storage while maintaining a Ketogenic diet?

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Buy my courses: https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/store
• Get my prepping class: https://radicalpreparedness.com
• Sign up as a Patron so you can be on next week's call-in show: https://patreon.com/radicalpersonalfinance

I love real estate investing. I think it's one of the most accessible, realistic ways for people to grow their long-term wealth at an excellent rate of return.

Today, I'm thrilled to bring you an interview with John Schaub. John is widely renowned as one of the good guys.

John has been investing in real estate for decades. He's also been teaching the subject for decades.

He has a wealth of ideas and knowledge to share with us today.

Enjoy!

Joshua

Links:

• JohnSchaub.com
• John's Seminars
• John's recommended authors: Bill Nickerson, Jay Decima, Zuckerman (?), Al Lowry, Donald Trump, Robert Allen, Robert Bruss

On today's Q&A we discuss:

• 3:00 Should I do a Citizenship by Investment or a Residency program to get a second passport?
• 20:01 I'm starting a new Registered Investment Advisory firm. How should I market myself?
• 33:56 Should I adjust my income low enough to get on Medicaid?
• 42:06 What kind of wills and trusts do I need to protect my children?
• 59:00 I'm moving to Mexico. How should I learn Spanish?
• 1:24:17 Should I quit my job to start a business or just get a better-paying job?

I recorded this episode of the show to deal with a recent minor controversy from a passing comment I made. Then I decided it was too far out of the scope of what I want discussed on RPF, so I canned it, choosing not to release it.

Well, the controversy continued, and after I shared this "deleted episode" with a few listeners privately who found it helpful, I decided to let you choose for yourself, rather than my censoring it.

It's all explained in the intro!

Joshua

I'm fascinated with stories of immigrants to the United States. If you mentally put yourself in the shoes of an immigrant and then ask how you could become wealthy, even if you started with nothing, you have the opportunity to clarify the actions you can take which lead to wealth.

A listener to the show, Manhar Patel, emailed me and asked me if I was interested in his story. After a bit of back and forth, I invited him on the show to tell his story.

Manhar is an Indian immigrant to the United States who is working to build his fortune. Enjoy his story and take what you can learn from his tips and tricks and apply them to your life.

Joshua

• Support RPF on Patreon. www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

In case you haven't heard, this Presidential election is the most important one in your lifetime. And, it will retain that title until November 9 when the 2020 election will take over as reigning champ.

Not only is this the most important election of your lifetime, but if the wrong person is elected, we literally face the end of the world as we know it!

So, what are you to do?

Well, today's show contains my thoughts and advice around presidential politics as well as 10 things you can do that will actually make a difference after you've cast your vote for President of the United States.

Joshua

• Support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

On today's Q&A we cover:

• 1:30 How can I build a successful financial coaching business?
• 38:56 How can Canada serve me in my internationalized life?
• 52:00 What are my tax planning opportunities with a variable income?
• 58:00 Should I buy a franchise business for my father?
• 1:17:02 Should I lease a car?

To join me next week, go to https://patreon.com/RadicalPersonalFinance 

Enjoy!

Joshua

Most of us in the Radical Personal Finance community are pursuing our own financial independence. And most of us want to get there as quickly as possible!

But, most of us only have one idea of one way to get there. Did you know there are a bunch of different ways to go job-free and gain financial freedom!

I'm excited to bring you my interview with Jake Desyllas, author of "Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms."

If you have any interest in ever being financially free, this book is a must-read book. (And this interview is a must-listen interview!)

Jake has done an incredible job of distilling all the plans and strategies available into a simple, clear framework that you can use to design your ideal financial freedom plan.

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Job Free: Four Ways to Quit the Rat Race and Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms
• www.thevoluntarylife.com
• $100 bonus when you open an account! www.Tradeking.com/radical
• Save money on your student loans! www.studentloanshow.com/radical 

Today, some ideas on how to save money by spending a little more than strictly necessary to insulate yourself from unnecessary temptation.

Joshua

• Please support RPF on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

It's Friday. Pay attention. That means the weekend is here. Have you planned and scripted it out for maximum results?

Do it.

Love you,

Talk next week...

Joshua

I've had today's show in my head for the last few weeks as I've watched Hollywood--and the world--rocked day by day with allegation after allegation of sexual abuse by major, major stars.

I've watched careers destroyed, movie premiers canceled, and marriages torn asunder.

I've thought again and again about the financial destruction being wrought by these allegations against so many men. Not only the loss of careers, the mega-million-dollar settlements, but the financial destruction of forthcoming divorces and the emotional distress leading to lost productivity.

To me, it seemed like an important topic to discuss with regard to finances.

But I held back, because I felt as though I would be picking on ideological opponents when they're down and I don't want to be one who rejoices in another's time of distress.

Until yesterday.

When the allegations came out via the Washington Post against Judge Roy Moore in Alabama, I felt I couldn't stay silent any longer.

And so, today, here are my thoughts on how men can protect themselves from sexual scandal.

Joshua

I will be speaking at Nomad Capitalist Live September 25-28 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. This is an awesome event in the world of international planning and boy do we need more international redundancy right now! Please come join me and let's hang out! Sign up here: https://nomadcapitalist.com/live/ 

ProPublica made a splash this week with their reporting on the wealthiest 25 Americans' tax returns. Let's discuss!

Joshua

https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax 

Today's show is dedicated to the idea of mobile home investing. John Fedro stumbled into the mobile home investment business and has since made it his unique area of specialty.

Mobile homes have some unique characteristics that might make them an attractive investment class for you to consider. (After all, you can often buy an entire house for less than a new car!)

But they also carry some significant potential downsides.

Enjoy the education,

Joshua

• John's website: http://www.mobilehomeinvesting.net/
• Support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

The IRS whistleblower was caught and imprisoned. That's great news. But the problem doesn't go away.

www.HackProofCourse.com 

It's Friday! That means a Q&A show for you. Today, I answer all of these questions.

Here are the questions and the time stamp for where each can be found in the episode.

Enjoy!

Joshua

1. 10:00 - Brandon: How do I convey our financial information to my executor if my wife and I die? Should I have my testamantery trust managed by a professional trustee?
2. 29:43 - Kyle: How do I save money on taxes as a young, single physician resident?
3. 54:01 - Daniel: Is it ok for a young person to have a 100% stock allocation?
4. 1:02:44 - Greg: I have $2.5M, can I afford to retire?
5. 1:10:44 - John: How do I find a good team of advisors?
6. 1:28:00 - Tom: Could I take a loss on a house I transfer into an ESA and then get the gain out tax-free?

Links:

• Last Pass
• Password Gorilla
• Save Taxes By Moving
• Step Transaction Doctrine
• Substance Over Form
• Garrett Planning Network
• XY Planning Network

Whatever begins to exist has a cause.

This fundamental truth governs much of your thinking. And yet, have you stopped to consider its application and how you can adjust this to your benefit?

The law of cause and effect is operational in your daily life. 

And yet, many people focus on the things they want (the effect) without every once stopping to think about how to get there! They don't think about the causes that are necessary to achieve a certain effect!

In today's show, I give you a series of very practical lines of inquiry into financial causes and effects. These ideas will help you to look at your own situation with a fresh vision and to create a customized plan that will help you go from where you are to where you want to be.

Joshua

• You Need A Budget! Try this system free for 30 days: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/ynab 
• Support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 
• Want to have a consulting phone call with me? www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/phonecall 

Today on RPF, I answer your questions!

• How to Sell Whole Life Insurance to Buy Term & Invest the Difference People
• How to Help People Get Experience So They Know What Kind of Work to Do
• Joshua's System of Marginalia
• Savoring Books vs. Gulping Books

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 
• You Need a Budget! Try the same software I use: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/YNAB 

I enjoy looking for financial planning tips from odd corners of the world. Recently, I stumbled across the book Financial Freedom aFloat: How to Pocket a Paycheck in Paradise by Charles Tuller as I was browsing the finance section in my local library.

Written for the cruising community, the book lays out some specific ideas and strategies for sailors who either need or want to earn some money to be able to afford to stay out on the water for the long-term.

I'm most intrigued by the challenge of the problem: how do you live a "dream lifestyle" without a lot of money?

The answer is multi-fold:

1. Own your shelter.
2. Minimize your ongoing expenses.
3. Work while you travel.

The last item is the most interesting to me right now.

How do you conveniently integrate work and life without feeling like an indentured servant? How do you earn and enjoy life at the same time?

The book does a good job of laying out some ideas. And, it gets better all the time. There are so many more options availalbe now in 2015 than there were in 2000, when the book was written.

Enjoy the ideas we draw and apply them to your own lifestyle--whether you'd like to cruise or not!

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Financial Freedom aFloat: How to Pocket a Paycheck in Paradise by Charles Tuller
• Support Radical Personal Finance! http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I'm very happy to be podcasting to you today from the road! We have officially hit the road and are on our trip.

The last two weeks have been a tiring blur. Our tow vehicle was stolen 5 days before we were scheduled to leave on our full-time RV trip!

In today's show, I share a bit of the story with you as well as my own philosophy on how to negotiate the Good/Cheap/Fast triangle.

Enjoy!

Joshua

If you're going to do all the hard work of helping your children develop strong bodies and powerful, capable brains, you also owe it to them to install a decent operating system. Make sure you teach them logic and philsophy as a good starting point.

What can you do if you're feeling a bit stuck financially? Basically stuck in the rat race? Expenses about equal to income and some debt hanging on?

Well, one strategy you could pursue would be to dramatically reduce your expenses by getting rid of your stuff, downsizing into a "tiny house," and getting rid of your cars.

Today's guest did that! And it ultimately led to her being able to build a lifestyle of financial freedom through entrepreneurship.

Tammy Strobel has a Bachelors of Arts in Economics, a Masters degree in Public Administration, and a Masters of Arts in Education. 

Before starting her micro-business in January of 2010, she worked in the investment management industry and in the social service sector as a peer counselor. 

As an entrepreneur, she sustains herself through writing, photography, and teaching. Over the last two years, hundreds of students have taken her e-courses to explore photography, writing, and what it means to make time and space for what matters. 

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

Links:

• www.RowdyKittens.com
• To explore Tammy's content, start here
• For info on Tammy's Tiny House adventures, go here

I urge you to make the time to listen to this presentation about why you should not talk to the police, no matter your guilt or innocence in any matter.

This is an audio presentation of this YouTube speech (viewed over 23 million times wherein Regent Law Professor James Duane gives viewers startling reasons why they should always exercise their 5th Amendment rights when questioned by government officials: https://youtu.be/d-7o9xYp7eE

(There is very little added value in the video presentation, so you'll gain the bulk of the knowledge by listening exclusively to the audio.)

Also, you should buy and read the $5 book that Professor Duane wrote to follow up to this speech: "You Have the Right to Remain Innocent." (highly recommended) http://amzn.to/2qgDFDF

Today, we continue the life insurance series with the valuable background of whole life insurance. Exciting stuff!

This show is an introduction to the various product features and design ideas. We cover:

• Ordinary life insurance
• Limited pay life insurance
• Cash values
• Policy loans
• Nonforfeiture or Surrender Options:
  • Surrender for cash value
  • Reduced amount of paid-up whole life
  • Paid-up term
• Annuity or retirement income
• Policy conversion
• Participating versus nonparticipating policies
• Policy dividend options
  • Cash
  • Applied to premium
  • Used to purchase more insurance (fully paid up)
  • Left with insurer to earn interest
  • Used to purchase more insurance (term)
  • To overpay premiums until policy is fully paid up

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I love to talk with people who have achieved financial independence. But I especially love to talk to those financially independent people who have achieved it in a very accessible way!

Frankly, it's hard to relate to a tech titan who sells their latest greatest app company for a billion dollars.

But I can relate to someone who has simply worked hard, saved aggressively, invested conservatively, built an entrepreneurial side hustle and achieved their results over time!

My guest today is Scott Alan Turner and he's done exactly that. Sit back, relax, and enjoy his story! And make sure to take special note of how you can copy and model him and  his success.

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Scott's website: http://scottalanturner.com/
• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I'm delighted to have David Hancock on today's show. David is the founder and CEO of Morgan James Publishing.

David has a fascinating business history and you'll benefit greatly from hearing his story.

He's also an expert at personal branding and marketing.

Most importantly, he's figured out how to make an excellent living on his own terms while doing work he loves!

Enjoy!

Joshua

• www.morgan-james-publishing.com 
• Get a $100 bonus when you open an account at www.tradeking.com/radical
• Check out the awesome Online Investor's Conference at www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/OIC 
• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

Friday Q&A today! We cover:

• How can I protect myself from the risk of disability without getting disability insurance?
• How can I make sure that future, unknown risks are adequately covered today?
• What financing option should I use to buy a piece of land?
• Will my credit score be messed up by shopping for a mortgage?
• How can I adjust content for different audiences?

I'd love to have you call in next week! Details here: www.RadicalPersonalFinance.com/patron

Joshua

Protect yourself from identity theft and cybercrime: https://hackproofcourse.com

https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/index.php 

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Degree_Forum_Wiki 

https://www.youtube.com/@9monthcollegegrad-ryansway671 

On today's Friday Q&A show we discuss:

• 1:30 I'm 31 and want to FIRE at 35...how do I get there?
• 24:00 I finished medical school but didn't get matched for residency; what should I do now?
• 42:22 I regret purchasing a whole life insurance policy 3 years ago; what should I do now?
• 1:07:19 Feedback and comments on Joshua's show on women working
• 1:39:49 What kind of preventive health screening should I do?
• 1:48:00 Dr. Shanahan suggests not having babies more frequently than 3 years separation; what should I do?
• 1:57:35 More comments on preventive health screening and choosing career priorities

Enjoy!

Joshua

p.s., to join me next week, go here: https://patreon.com/joshuasheats 

This is one of the most important questions you can think about. And don't be scared to change your answers as you learn and grow.

Joshua

Live Friday Q&A today!

• 1:45 The future of cryptocurrency and associated tax questions

• 24:48 Should an early retiree set up a guaranteed income stream?

• 37:18 Will I owe tax if I’m moving around working as a digital nomad?

• 45:52 How can I invest in my children without messing up my simple cashflow system?

• 56:58 Should I invest in a Biblically Responsible mutual fund

• 1:12:38 Where can I put my real estate down payment money to get a bit more interest?

• 1:21:15 Joshua’s current advice for existing podcasters

• 1:37:16 Should I set up a corporation for my business or keep running it as a sole proprietorship?

• 1:46:45 If it’s ok to take welfare, why not make a class teaching people how to get it?

Enjoy!

• To join me next week, go here: https://patreon.com/RadicalPersonalFinance
• Book a private consultation here: https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/consult 

A lot of my listeners are hurting due to the recent collapse of FTX. Here's what I would tell you face-to-face if you've just lost all of your money, regardless of the specific reason why.

Joshua

Text of the story: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12257/pg12257-images.html 

I recently appeared on Paula Pant's Afford Anything podcast for an in-depth discussion of the stages of financial independence.

The interview was one of the favorite interviews I've done in a while and I think you'll really enjoy it.

Enjoy!

Joshua

• The original post: http://podcast.affordanything.com/stages-financial-independence-joshua-sheats/ 

Come to my event in Panama City in January!  https://expatmoney.com/radical

Every single aspect of personal finance is influenced politics, religion, and philosophy. Every law and every decision has a moral and ethical component to it.

In modern conversation, we're unaccustomed to talking about philosophy and ethics. We steer away from discussing politics and religion because we're uncomfortable with how we can have a positive relationship with another person even when we disagree.

Or, we might feel unequipped to battle in the world of philosophical or religious ideas.

The problem is that our lives are continuously influenced by others who are battling in the world of politics, religion, and philosophy. And, we're subject to the same moral/ethical code as everyone else is regardless if we want to admit it or not!

Worse still, we don't have the choice of non-participation. Every dollar of tax we pay, every item we buy, every hour we work affects the larger system in some way. By our actions we are supporting or tearing down various systems and causes.

We are either moving the systems that surround us in a certain direction or we are being moved by them.

The final horrific reality is that most of us are untrained in the fine art of sniffing out propaganda and influence. So, we are subject to it. Most of us would be content to simply sit by and live our lives quietly; it's not possible. Because you are in important pawn in others' plans for you.

Today's show is a unique experiment for me in a teaching style. Essentially, I'm trying to accomplish a few objectives in an interesting and challenging way.

1. I want you to understand the impact that your worldview has on all of your decisions.
2. I want to demonstrate how one specific worldview (in this case formal secular humanism) impacts the broader culture with its stated objectives.
3. I want to demonstrate how all of the broader agendas within a governmental system tie back to worldview. Politics are driven by worldview.
4. I want to demonstrate how propoganda and media are used to promote an idea in the general culture and how incredibly effective that can be.
5. I want you to see an example of a propaganda effort that has achieved massive cultural change over your lifetime so that you can learn the skills to sniff out other agendas--specifically other agendas that are closely related to finance.
6. I want you to see and understand that it's completely impossible to disconnect the social aspects of life and their associated moral questions from the daily, practical & financial aspects of life. You've got to be a consistent human being with a clear and consistent framework.
7. I want you to see and understand how theories change and adjust over time and how society changes throughout history.

I hope you enjoy the show. It's an unusual discussion but it's an important one.

I will be building on the content of this show in future episodes as we sort our way through the swamps of financial movements, theories, and conspiracies in the future.

Let the critical thinking skills commence!

Joshua

p.s., I've tagged this show with the [EXPLICIT] label because of the content and some of the words used. This show is most appropriate for adult audiences, not for children.

Links:

• Tax Freedom Day http://taxfoundation.org/article/tax-freedom-day-2015-april-24th
• Humanist Manifesto II: http://americanhumanist.org/Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_II
• Humanist Manifesto III: http://americanhumanist.org/Humanism/Humanist_Manifesto_III
• The Overhauling of Straight America http://library.gayhomeland.org/0018/EN/EN_Overhauling_Straight.htm
• Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/10/06/pedophilia-not-a-crime-rutgers-margo-kaplan/#Aoo1WrpEBhxWmZHb.01
• Detailed outline of "After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90s" http://www.parentsofgaychildren.org/uploads/After_the_Ball_-_outline_by_Richard_Cohen.pdf

It's Friday! That means live Q&A! Today we cover:

• A Financial Independence Checkup
• Investing in Private Businesses
• How to Do Productive Work While Traveling

If you'd like to join us on next week's Q&A, join here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

Joshua

https://youtu.be/MOy4QQP0oBs

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20211106/17503547889/dea-racks-up-two-forfeiture-losses-one-week-returns-100000-stolen-cash-to-victims.shtml

Disaster is NOT a strategy. But you can build a strategy for virtually any disaster.

Joshua

You want to start a business...so, you have to decide what type of business entity to use, right? 

Well, yes and no. Yes in the sense that it is an important decision. But no in the sense that you should first focus on how you're going to build the business...and you should probably just start the business and see if it will work.

But, it is an important decision. And there is a lot of confusion over all these entities.

Today we cover these entities in an introductory capacity:

• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership
• C Corporation
• S Corporation
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

My intention is not to give you all the details but simply an overview so you will feel more confident soliciting the professional advice that you need for your specific situation.

Joshua

• Need a financial advisor? Start your search here: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/paladin 
• Support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 
• Book a consulting call with me: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/phonecall 

On today's Q&A we cover:

• 1:37 Should I renovate my current house or sell and upgrade?
• 17:24 I'm graduating with my master's degree in Germany...where should I go now?
• 38:17 Why should I believe in the future of the stock market?
• 1:08:31 How do I figure out what stuff to get rid of?
• 1:24:57 Should I sign up my young son as an authorized user on my credit card?

Enjoy! Join me next week here: https://patreon.com/RadicalPersonalFinance 

Joshua

Audio was from: https://www.intherabbithole.com/e257/

Advice for a Happy Life by Charles Murray (WSJ)

1:30 How does Joshua use YNAB on a daily basis?
17:30 How has the pursuit of privacy cost you?
30:30 Should I have kept my inherited property as separate property instead of community property?
43:00 How can I get started prepping?

Today I have an interview for you with Ben Higgenbotham, a funeral director who's also well in tune with the Radical Personal Finance philosophy.

He's here today to share the inside scoop on how to effectively work with a funeral director so that you can get the funeral experience that your family desires without losing your shirt.

Enjoy!

Joshua

p.s., If you didn't hear it, you might want to first go and listen to Episode 409, "How to Get Yourself Put 6 Feet Under Dirt Cheap!". https://radicalpersonalfinance.com/cheap-burial/

That show was the "radical" approach; this discussion was intended to be a bit more mainstream. This interview was recorded almost immediately after that show was released, but I misplaced the file and neglected to get it into the schedule! Sorry, Ben!

Hey Radicals!

If you have emailed me (especially through the contact form on my website) and I haven't personally responded, please assume that I simply never received your message.

I'd love to hear from you, so please write again!

From July of 2015 until February of 2016 the contact form had a technical glitch that prevented emails from coming through.

That means that I missed hundreds of your communications.

I'm sorry!

We've fixed the problem now, so please try again.

I'd enjoy communicating with you personally. I work very hard to respond to all of your emails so it's disheartening to me that many of you have sent me notes to which I never responded.

Again, my apologies!

Joshua

How do you live freely in a world of increasing government oppression? Is it possible to escape onerous government involvement in your life?

Here's my answer!

Joshua

It's Friday! That means live Q&A.

Enjoy!

Joshua

Today we answer this question: "I have accumulated $6,000 in credit card debt from a period of unemployment; should I use some of the $10,000 I have in my 401(k) to pay it off?"

Enjoy,

Joshua

• Please support the show: www.RadicalPersonalFinance.com/patron

My guest today is Joan Sotkin. Joan has a fascinating story of avoiding money, then embracing business and earning massively, then losing it all, then rebuilding again.

In today's interview she shares her perspective and insights on:

• The meaning of money
• Rich vs. poor
• The development of the money coaching industry
• Life satisfaction

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

• Joan's website: http://www.joansotkin.com/
• Joan's podcast: http://prosperityplace.com/category/podcast/
• Joan's book: Build Your Money Muscles: Nine Simple Exercises For Improving Your Relationship With Money http://amzn.to/1e1ghzn
• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I don't have a new, original show for you today. But, I do have this interview that I gave last year on Everything Financial Radio! My segment of the show begins at 22:20. Enjoy!

• This is the original episode link: http://www.everythingfinancialradio.com/2016/04/joshua-sheats-and-tom-aspray-join-host-dennis-tubbergen/

Today, we continue our Asset Protection Planning series with a deep look at the Personal Property Exemptions. I've never heard asset protection planners give much attention to the Personal Property Exemptions. But that's understandable to me.

When dealing with the mega-wealthy, it's hard to see how the Personal Property Exemptions make any difference in terms of financial planning.

But, for a "mere mortal," I think there's a really good argument that the personal property exemptions can be really important.

Tune in to the show to hear why!

Joshua

• Check out my newest course! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/store

On today's show we go back 250 years to see what lessons for wealth we can learn from Benjamin Franklin. This show is an audio recording of Franklin's essay, "The Way to Wealth."

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Here's a text version of Franklin's essay: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/coretexts/_files/resources/texts/1758%20Franklin%20Wealth.pdf
• Please support RPF on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

It's Friday! That means Q&A. Today, we cover:

• Am I Financially Independent?
• Should I Switch Life Insurance Agents?
• Should I Sell Investments and Trigger a Taxable Gain?

Joshua

• To join next week's call, please sign up on Patreon: www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

I've really got a great show for you today. It's one that brings together so many things that I love talking about! Travel with Family, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Financial Independence, and more!

My guest is Anthony Amos.

He's an Australian entrepreneur who started out with a tiny little backyard dog-washing business. He grew it, franchised it across Australia, and then sold it and decided he was rich enough to go into property development.

His timing was not so great (right before the real estate crash) but he suffered through.

Later, he wound up buying the company back and he's in the process of expanding across the United States!

At the moment, he and his family are in the middle of a 50+-state RV trip all across the USA with a goal of raising $1,000,000 for dog rescue. Along the way, they're enjoying an incredible family adventure and publicizing their dog washing business!

This one is well worth your time!

Joshua

• Anthony's website: https://bathetosave.com/
• Please support RPF on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

Today's show is a fabulous interview about career creation. My guest is Scott Ginsberg. Scott is most well-known for his love of name tags. He's worn a name tag every hour of every day for 5,241 consecutive days!

This decision was, in many ways, the foundation of his empire. It formed the story for his first book. Since then, he's written a total of 27 books on a variety of topics.

I'm utterly fascinated by Scott's career. You'll hear that in the interview today.

We discuss:

• Scott's utter lack of planning for his career?
• The power of a positive family environment
• The value of being remarkable
• Input vs. output vs. throughput
• The importance of excellence vs. prolificacy

Enjoy the interview! It's super fun!

Joshua

p.s., thank you to each of you who have supported the show so far on our crowdfunding Patreon campaign! We're off to a great start with 15 patrons and $280 per month! Go sign up with at least a $1/mo. pledge and you'll receive access to my brand-new 20-minute video: "A Framework for Wealth."

Links:

• Scott's website: http://www.hellomynameisscott.com/
• Also, http://nametagscott.com/

Chapter 3 of "The Richest Man in Babylon" by George Samuel Clason, published in 1926

https://www.amazon.com/Richest-Man-Babylon-Magic-Story/dp/1939438632/

https://archive.org/details/richestmaninbaby00geor/mode/2up

My guest on today's show is Mr. Groovy, writer at the eponymous website www.FreedomIsGroovy.com 

He reached out to me and pitched me for some exposure for his idea of a Junior IRA. I accepted his request and invited him on the show.

I also thoroughly enjoyed hearing his story of getting free financially with a simple geographic move. There's a lesson in there for many of you.

Enjoy the show!

Joshua

• Mr. Groovy's JIRA idea: http://freedomisgroovy.com/junior-ira-nutshell/
• Support RPF on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

Mrs. RPF and I are excited to announce some of our plans for a nation-wide tour during 2018.

Details in the show!

Joshua

On today's Friday Q&A we cover:

• 1:30 Should I register my car in a business name so I can take my tax deductions?
• 14:38 Should I buy and build a vacation home?
• 19:11 How much cash should I have on hand before I resign my job?
• 27:57 How do I reduce my taxable income in order to qualify for an EV credit?
• 45:00 How much can I afford for a second house?
• 1:31 How do I protect myself against fraud in the gold coin marketplace?
• 1:38 Should I buy out my leased vehicle in order to sell it?

Learn this and many more useful tricks in the RPF Academy: www.RPFacademy.com.

I recently returned from the Podcast Movement Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. While I was there I had the opportunity to interview Danny Peña the day before he was inducted into the Podcasters Hall of Fame.

For the last ten years, Danny has built Gamertag Radio into a major voice of influence in the video game industry. And, he's built a business out of a passion.

Listen to the interview to hear:

• How to build a business from a passion
• How video games can tremendously 
• The impact of video games on his own life
• Why Joshua is wrong about video games! :)

Enjoy,

Joshua

Links:

• Gamertag Radio http://www.gamertagradio.com/
• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! http://radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron

• 1:30 What to do when in Malta?
• 9:47 How do I get a better life insurance policy after losing weight?
• 21:56 How do I choose between my current job and a new job offer?
• 29:50 How to save extra tax money by giving appreciated stock to your church/charity
• 36:45 I was going to quit my job and take a sabbatical until I saw how bad the economy might get. Should I still quit?

Today we tackle the Equifax security breach. This is the most damaging release of personal information ever. And you need to take it seriously.

You must assume that you have been affected. At this point, I see no reason to even trust the official Equifax website. Here's why.

• Clark Howard's excellent credit freeze guide: http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/
• Another excellent one by the Justin Carroll and Michael Bazzell: https://privacy-training.com/CreditFreeze.pdf
• I forgot to mention this on the show, but here's a link for those of you who are readers of the resources. The IRS seems to use social media to find people committing tax fraud.
  Source: http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2017/08/the-irs-is-mining-taxpayer-data-on-social-media-in-violation-of-federal-privacy-law.html
• The official Equifax response website: www.equifaxsecurity2017.com
• Why the Equifax breach is possibly the worst leak of personal information ever.
• What should you do if your data was hacked?
• The novel I mentioned: True Faith And Allegiance, a Tom Clancy novel by Mark Greaney

When I began podcasting, I was looking for information and advice. Although I found some good, there was a real paucity of advice from people who had done something like I wanted to do. 

I've been satisfied with a lot of the progress that I've made with Radical Personal Finance, and I want to give back to the podcast and community. 

So, in today's show we do not discuss personal finance or money at all. Rather, this show is all about podcasting. It's simply contains the lessons I have learned about podcasting and commentary on the things that have worked and the things that have not worked.

I hope this content is useful to you. And I hope that many of you will go out and start your own podcast. 

Joshua

• Support Radical Personal Finance on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com/patron 

Today, a prelude to a discussion of how to lease a car. In this show we discuss a rational analysis of new car vs. used cars.

Enjoy,

Joshua

• Please support RPF on Patreon! www.radicalpersonalfinance.com.patron

On today's Friday Q&A we discuss:

• 1:35 Internationalization for Europeans
• 14:48 How to record audiobooks for your children
• 23:17 Should I buy a Whole Life Insurance policy?
• 53:11 Should I buy a business or start my own?
• 1:04:40 Is Joshua still worried about famine?
• 1:09:35 Should I learn two languages at the same time?
• 1:14:56 I got engaged recently and need to start working on a prenuptial agreement. Where do I begin?
• 1:32:41 I'm driving trucks but want to move in a different direction; what now?
• 1:49:02 How do I start homeschooling my children?

Enjoy!

Joshua

• Sign up for my event in Panama in January! https://expatmoney.com/radical 
• www.InternationalEscapePlan.com 
• https://patreon.com/RadicalPersonalFinance to join me next week