Shows / Becoming Financially Confident
Becoming Financially Confident
Breaking Free from Financial Shame, one conversation at a time. Most money advice assumes you already know what you're doing. This show doesn't. Becoming Financially Confident is a live weekday show for people who want to get their financial life in order without being lectured, judged, or sold something. Host Ralph Estep Jr. is a Licensed Public Accountant with more than 30 years of experience sitting across the desk from real people and real businesses — the shoebox of receipts, the tax…
Episodes
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhy Your Credit Card Doesn't Count as an Emergency Fund and Banks Can Cut It
In today's episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet explain why a credit card limit is not an emergency fund, plus what late tax filers owe and why a bride billed…
Becoming Financially ConfidentFake Medicare Ads, Down Payment Gift Letters, and the Fed’s Next Move
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet talk through whether Social Security will be there for millennials and how an engaged couple should handle…
Becoming Financially ConfidentLeaving a Job? Your 401(k) Options and What Cashing Out Really Costs
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet focus on what to do with your 401(k) when you leave a job, and why cashing it out can cost far more than most…
Becoming Financially ConfidentHow Estimated Taxes Work When Your Freelance Income Jumps Around
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet explain how quarterly estimated taxes work for freelancers with uneven income, plus how to get paid faster and…
Becoming Financially ConfidentI Reflect on the Week: Wins, Tough Stuff, and 3 Numbers to Keep
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…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: Hidden 401k Fees, Forgotten Accounts, and a Mortgage Shortcut
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…
Becoming Financially ConfidentInheritance Tax Questions Answered: The $15 Million Rule and Stepped-Up Basis
In today's episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet answer guest Mark Lawley's questions about inheritance taxes after a parent passes, plus what the flash PMI…
Becoming Financially ConfidentKidulting and Blind Boxes: How to Keep Fun Spending Inside Your Budget
In today's episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet react to kidulting and the blind box craze, and share how to keep fun spending inside your budget. In This…
Becoming Financially ConfidentInherited IRA Rules: What the 10-Year Rule Means for Your Taxes
In today's episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet explain what happens when you inherit a $48,000 traditional IRA, plus a fake bank fraud text, rising home…
Becoming Financially ConfidentTarget Date Funds Explained: The 401(k) Choice Most People Never Make
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet spend the whole show on 401(k)s, covering the fees nobody sends a bill for, the fund you may never have chosen…
Becoming Financially ConfidentThe Viral $200 Social Security Bonus Isn’t Real, and Your 3.6% Raise Nets $68
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet break down what the 3.6% Social Security raise really nets after Medicare Part B, and why the viral $200 bonus…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: Surveillance Pricing, Credit Unions, Minimum Payments, and Debt Lawsuits
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…
Becoming Financially ConfidentHow a 40-Year Banker Paid Off $23,000 of Debt With a 401(k) Loan
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet sit down with retired banker Tina Poole and break down convenience store overcharging, AI bill negotiators, and…
Becoming Financially ConfidentIRS Employees Snooped 86 Times, and 175 Taxpayers Were Never Told
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet explain how to calculate how much life insurance you need, and why Ralph’s own health nearly priced him out. In…
Becoming Financially ConfidentDebt Collectors Are Suing More and Winning: Why You Should Never Ignore a Summons
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet focus on why debt collectors are suing more people and winning, and what to do the moment a summons arrives. In…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBanks vs. Credit Unions: Who Owns Your Money and Who Pays You More
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet focus on understanding the differences between backs and credit unions, and why Ralph is such a fan of credit…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhy Cashing Out an Old 401(k) Can Cost Around 40% and What to Do Instead
In today’s episode, we unpack how much Amazon knows about you, cover a few money stories from the news, and answer listener questions, then Ralph kicks off…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: A $600,000 Pig Butchering Scam and a $225,000 IRS Bill
What do a $5.49 phone fee, a $55 weekly holiday plan, and a $225,000 IRS bill have in common? They can all change how much of your paycheck you actually keep…
Becoming Financially Confident401(k) Loan Costs: Double Tax, Lost Growth, Job Loss Risk
Thinking about borrowing from your own 401(k)? This episode covers the four costs most people miss, plus a scam tax twist and the Zelle trap. In This Episode ✓…
Becoming Financially Confident4 Car Buying Mistakes That Cost Thousands (Plus Ralph’s 20/4/10 Rule)
If you’ve ever walked onto a car lot without a number in mind, this episode shows you the four mistakes that cost people thousands and the 2410 rule that keeps…
Becoming Financially ConfidentGood Debt vs. Bad Debt: Three Questions to Sort Every Debt You Carry
If you've ever wondered whether the debt you carry is helping you or holding you back, this episode gives you three questions to find out. In This Episode ✓…
Becoming Financially ConfidentMaking vs. Having vs. Keeping Money: Where Your Paycheck Really Goes
What do a recalled grill brush, a 31% jump in Thanksgiving airfare, and a $5,000 raise have in common? They can all affect your wallet in ways you might not…
Becoming Financially ConfidentSocial Security Benefits for Young Children, Costco for One, and Scam Calls
In today’s episode, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet cover many topics. Today’s Topics ✓ T-Mobile’s fee increases to $5.49 per voice line ✓ What T-Mobile’s price…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: IRS Collections, Adult Kids Moving Home, and Premium Gas
This week on Becoming Financially Confident, Ralph Estep Jr., a licensed public accountant with more than 30 years of experience, and Juliet, a first-time…
Becoming Financially ConfidentSplitting the Check Without Shame, and Why High Earners Don't Feel Rich
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr., LPA & Juliet, first-time entrepreneur What happens when even six-figure earners stop feeling high income? In this episode of Becoming…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhat Happens When You Ignore an IRS Notice, Plus the iPhone Siri Settlement
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr., LPA & Juliet, first-time entrepreneur What happens when a small IRS notice sits unopened in your junk drawer? In this episode of…
Becoming Financially ConfidentCredit Utilization Explained: The 1% to 9% Credit Score Sweet Spot
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr., LPA & Juliet, first-time entrepreneur In this episode of Becoming Financially Confident, Ralph Estep Jr. explains Why parents should…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhy 42% of Adult Children Expect No Inheritance From Their Parents
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: Average credit scores…
Becoming Financially ConfidentDo Mileage Cards Make You Spend More? Buy Now Pay Later and Car Warranties
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: What is direct primary…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: Fake Bank Logins, Widow Fraud, and a $200 Amazon Refund
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…
Becoming Financially ConfidentA Mortgage Lender Explains Why You Should Date the Rate, Not the Headlines
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: The IRS deadline for…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhy TurboTax's Mistake Led to a $10,000 IRS Bill and 50% Penalty
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: A fake bank login scam…
Becoming Financially Confident$1,000 Kids Savings Account, FSA Deadlines, and Your Airline Refund Rights
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: Consider getting a…
Becoming Financially ConfidentThe Dollar Job Framework: How to Discover Where Your Money Goes
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: A Maryland law banning…
Becoming Financially ConfidentHow a $694 Million Settlement Wipes Out Car Loan Debt, Even After Repossession
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: Amway (an MLM) will…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: A $250,000 Catfish Scam, a Reverse Mortgage Mistake, and a Stolen Checkbook
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here are some of the highlights from this week…
Becoming Financially Confident3 Numbers to Check on Your Auto Insurance Declaration Page
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: Rent payments can now…
Becoming Financially ConfidentAn Accountant Reacts to a $1.3 Million Love Scam and Our Own Timeshare Regrets
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: The Fed raised…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhat's on your credit report, and is Rover worth your time
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public accountant of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur. Here's what we got into today: Why you should check…
Becoming Financially ConfidentSavings Account vs 529 vs the New Trump Account for a New Grandbaby
Join Ralph Estep Jr (licensed public accountant) & Juliet (not an accountant) as they dive into: What options are there saving for a grandchild (savings…
Becoming Financially ConfidentOverdraft Fees, Unclaimed State Money, and How Balance Transfers Really Work
Hosts: Ralph Estep Jr, a licensed public account of over 30 years + Juliet, a first-time entrepreneur Here's what we got into today: I broke down the LIHEAP…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: Mortgage Rates Hit 6.71%, the New $2,000 1099 Rule, and Who Owes Debt After Death
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…
Becoming Financially ConfidentShe Finally Understood Why Her Husband Was Fine With Debt
Happy Friday! Before you sign anything with a debt collector on the phone, there's a letter that can stop them in their tracks, and there's a tax deadline this…
Becoming Financially ConfidentHe was a spender, and she was a saver. It almost broke their marriage.
For thirty years people have handed me their tax documents and their secrets in the same folder. Today I handed Juliet mine. I'm Ralph Estep Jr, licensed…
Becoming Financially ConfidentShould You Rent Your Car on Turo? The Costs, Taxes, and Insurance Nobody Mentions
Ralph Estep Jr. here, licensed public accountant, thirty years in the business, still finding new ways to get surprised by what people don't know about their…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhy 37 Percent of Adults Can't Cover a $400 Emergency and How to Fix It
The Federal Reserve asks Americans the same question every year: if you got hit with an unexpected $400 expense right now, how would you pay for it? The…
Becoming Financially ConfidentNew 1099 Rules for Freelancers, Class Action Deadlines, and Who Pays a Parent's Debt
I'm dealing with a head cold today, so forgive the voice, but we've got a full show for you. Mortgage rates just hit 6.71%, the highest in over a year, and…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBFC Weekly Recap: Retirement Regrets, Scam Warnings, and Real Numbers (Aug 31 to Sept 4)
We found out the hard way that waiting to save for retirement cost over a million dollars, and this week Juliet and I are unpacking that along with a $770…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhat a Cash-Out Refinance Really Costs You
Happy Friday! Today's episode centers on something a lot of homeowners are being offered right now. If your lender has dangled a refinance that "saves you $700…
Becoming Financially ConfidentWhat It Costs Me: I Didn't Save for Retirement Until I Was 47
I didn't save a single dollar for retirement until I was 47, and today I'm walking you through what that decision actually cost me. Plus, SNAP benefits are…
Becoming Financially ConfidentStudent Loans, Rising Car Insurance, and a Health Insurance Trap
I found out this week that fewer than half of us have claimed a 1% discount that's sitting on our student loans right now, my car insurance keeps climbing even…
Becoming Financially ConfidentThe $6,884 Mistake Nearly 1 in 3 Car Buyers Make at Trade-In
Prescription just got 97% cheaper through a program most people don't know exists, gas is running 90 cents higher than last Labor Day, and nearly 3 in 10 car…
Becoming Financially ConfidentCould a $15,000 Deductible, Rising Grocery Bills, and Medical Debt All Hit You This Year?
They all sneak up on you, and none of them care how good you are with money. becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live This is our first ever live episode of…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBefore We Launch: Inflation, Flood Insurance Deadlines, and Your Money Questions
Gas is up almost 30% from last year, my flood insurance deadline is closer than I thought, and my paycheck isn't doing what I assumed. This is a preview before…
Becoming Financially ConfidentI Inherited $20K and Grew It to $70K. Should I Keep Investing or Pay Bills?
Today, we're diving into a wild ride where $20,000 turns into a whopping $70,000, all thanks to some stock market advice from a relationship that’s now a…
Becoming Financially ConfidentI Need Help Understanding Car Financing Before I Sign Anything at the Dealership
Today, we’re diving into the nitty-gritty of car financing because trust me, those four numbers on that paperwork are the real MVPs. If you overlook them, you…
Becoming Financially ConfidentBecoming Financially Confident - Show Trailer
This is the Becoming Financially Confident show trailer. Most people aren't bad with money. They're ashamed of it. I've felt that too, and I'm a licensed…
Becoming Financially ConfidentI Lost My Job and Can't Pay My Credit Card Bill. What Do I Do in the Next 30 Days?
Job loss and a credit card bill hitting you at the same time? Yeah, that can feel like a punch to the gut. But don't sweat it; we’ve got your back! In this…
Becoming Financially ConfidentI Don't Understand the Real Math Behind Owning a Condo. What Am I Missing Before I Buy?
Buying a condo? Well, let me tell you, it’s not just about the mortgage. We’re diving into the nitty-gritty of condo ownership, and trust me, the real math is…
Becoming Financially ConfidentHow Do I Stop Being So Hard on Myself About Money?
Today, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of self-forgiveness and how to shake off that nagging guilt. Lorraine, our guest, thought she was a fool for trusting…