This Money Expert Says ‘Savers Are Losers’ — Is He Right? Experts Weigh In

This Money Expert Says ‘Savers Are Losers’ — Is He Right? Experts Weigh In

Dawn Allcot  Tue, August 5, 2025  GOBankingRates

Robert Kiyosaki, finance expert and “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author, has been known for straight talk about the economy. In a recent tweet, he said, “Savers are losers.”

He pointed out that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s way to avoid economic disaster is to print more money. He listed the 1987 market crash, the 1998 long-term capital management (LTCM) crash, the 2019 repo market seizure, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Silicon Valley Bank failure as examples.

 “It’s not a new crisis….it’s the same crisis getting bigger,” he wrote. Then, he warned, “Stop saving FAKE $. Start saving real gold, silver, Bitcoin. Protect your wealth. America is the biggest debtor nation in history… because of the FED. The Biggest Crash in history is coming….soon.”

Is Kiyosaki Right?

By most economic markers, experts said we are not heading for a recession this year. “As of now, the slight jump in inflation may be tied to tariffs, but there’s nothing in the data suggesting an imminent recession,” said Stephan Shipe, Ph.D., CFA, CFP, a finance professor at Wake Forest University and founder of Scholar Financial Advising.

Even so, inflation causes problems with saving, rather than investing. If your money in the bank is growing only at the national average of 0.38%, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation statistics, but inflation is 2.7%, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you’re losing money. A better choice would be a high-yield savings account delivering returns of around 3%, but even then, you’re just barely keeping pace with inflation.

“Given the government’s massive money printing today and foreseeable future, the fiat currencies are devalued consistently through time. The U.S. dollar’s purchasing power is cut by half every 15 to 20 years,” explained CK Zheng, co-founder and chief information officer of ZX Squared Capital.

Technically, savers are losers in that they could end up losing purchasing power over time due to inflation. But even so, finance experts like Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey recommend some funds in an easily accessible, liquid savings account for small emergencies like car or home appliance repairs. “The truth of the matter is 75% of the people in the United States do not have at least $400 in savings for an emergency,” according to Orman in a recent GOBankingRates article

If you don’t have any high-interest debt, according to the Ramsey Solutions blog, you should strive to save three to six months’ worth of living expenses in an emergency savings account.

Should You Put Money Into Alternative Assets?

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/money-expert-says-savers-losers-141608997.html

How To Save Thousands If You Want To Buy A Car

How To Save Thousands If You Want To Buy A Car

Moneywise  Sun, August 3, 2025

US car market bankrupting Americans — and it’ll only get worse.

The U.S. car market faces a perfect storm that is rapidly engulfing ordinary car owners across the country. The clearest warning sign is the rising rate of auto loan borrowers who are falling behind on their monthly payments.

As of January this year, 6.6% of subprime auto borrowers were at least 60 days past due on their loans, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.

This is the highest rate since Fitch started collecting this data in the early 1990s. And things are not expected to get better. The report says the subprime segment of the auto loan market faces a “deteriorating outlook” for the rest of 2025.

This is especially alarming given the scale of the auto loan market. As of the first quarter of 2025, households carried  $1.64 trillion in auto loan debt — surpassing both the $1.18 trillion in credit card debt and the $1.63 trillion in student loan debt, according to Debt.org.

Here’s how cars transformed from symbols of freedom to symbols of unsustainable, toxic debt.

How did we get here?

The foundation of today’s crisis was laid five years ago during the pandemic. Supply chain disruptions and factory closures created strange dynamics that pushed car prices higher.

In January 2022, 80% of new car buyers paid more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, according to Edmunds. Used car prices were rising faster than new car prices at the time, according to Cox Automotive.

In other words, car buyers paid too much for their cars.

Now, values have declined while many owners have seen a steady rise in interest rates. This shift has pushed many car owners underwater on their purchase.

In fact, one-in-five vehicle trade-ins near the end of last year had negative equity of $10,000 or more, according to Edmunds. The situation is grim, and the outlook is just as bleak.

What comes next?

While the auto market is dealing with rising interest rates and dropping prices, it’s now also facing the additional challenge of President Donald Trump’s trade war.

TO READ MORE:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-car-market-bankrupting-americans-142900117.html

How Much Money Would Your Kid Have at Retirement If You Invested $5 a Month From Birth?

How Much Money Would Your Kid Have at Retirement If You Invested $5 a Month From Birth?

Peter Burns  Sun, August 3, 2025   GOBankingRates

It’s obvious that those who start saving early end up with a lot more for retirement. But, what if you started saving for your kid from the moment they were born? Putting a small amount away each month, even as little as $5, would amount to $60 saved per year. By the time they reach full retirement age of 67 (for most), you will have $4,020 saved up. This number isn’t very impressive on its own, but if you take advantage of compound interest, you’ll be looking at a much higher number.

Compound interest is when you earn interest on an investment and, over time, earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned. For example, if you invest $100 and earn 5% interest on it each year, you’ll earn $5 your first year. At the beginning of the second year, you’ll have $105. When you earn 5% on your new amount, you’ll make $5.25 and go into your third year with $110.25. As time goes on, the amount you earn from interest balloons even if you don’t add any more to the initial amount.

So, if you invested $5 for your kid each month, would they have thousands or millions by the time they retire? We used 67 as full retirement age since that’s what it currently will be for future retirees. Here’s what the numbers look like.

$5 per Month

For most people, it’s relatively easy to set aside $5 each month for savings. If you put down an initial $5 investment and then start putting that same amount each month into a fund that earns 7% and compounds monthly for your child, it would start to add up and look like this:

• Year 1: $67.32

• Year 5: $365.05

• Year 10: $875.47

• Year 20: $2,624.83

• Year 30: $6,140.44

• Year 40: $13,205.62

• Year 50: $27,404.26

• Year 60: $55,938.70

• Year 67: $91,719.74

With a compounding interest of 7% each month, you effectively add $87,694.74 of interest to the $4,025 that you actually set aside. Not bad for a $4,025 investment spread out over 67 years.

$15 Per Month

While having around $92,000 isn’t bad, it’s not enough for retirement. The median amount that retirees have saved by the time they’re in their 60s is $539,068. Let’s see what happens when the savings amount increases to $15 under the same conditions. Here’s how the math breaks down:

TO READ MORE: https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/much-money-kid-retirement-invested-130205712.html

7 Valuable Lessons About Saving Money

7 Valuable Lessons About Saving Money

Sean Bryant GOBankingRates

Growing up with frugal parents, I was often the kid who was teased for having secondhand clothes, not going on vacations, and bringing generic-branded food to school. However, now that I am an adult, I am very thankful for the valuable lessons my parents taught me about saving.

It has shaped my views on money, spending, saving and finances in general. While many of my friends have struggled with debt or excessive consumerism, I have never had to face these issues.

Within this article, I’ll go through some of the valuable life lessons my frugal parents taught me about money.

Distinguishing Needs From Wants

Growing up with frugal parents taught me the valuable skill of distinguishing between my needs and wants. While my friends were often caught up in the latest trends and fads, my parents refused to buy every item I asked for. Instead, they emphasized the importance of prioritizing needs, like a new winter coat, over wants, like the newest toy.

This is something that I have carried through to my adulthood. Now, I try to focus on essential expenses and cut back on frivolous spending. This has helped me make informed financial decisions and avoid unnecessary debt.

How To Budget

I also learned how to budget and the importance of budgeting. I observed my parents tracking what they spent and saved as a child. They were careful not to spend more than they could afford.

If they had a goal, they saved towards it. This early exposure to budgeting taught me how to set my own clear financial goals and how to allocate resources according to those goals.

“Children in frugal households witness budgeting as a regular activity,” said Jake Claver, CEO of Syndicately. “This exposure naturally ingratiates the concept of budgeting in their daily lives.

It becomes less of a chore and more of an integral part of their financial routine. By learning to allocate resources and plan expenses from a young age, children are better equipped to manage their finances effectively as adults.”

Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is a lesson I was more reluctant to learn as a child but one I am now thankful for as an adult. When there was something that I wanted to buy, my parents encouraged me to wait and to think about the purchase and what it would mean in terms of longevity, monetary value, and the value I placed on the item. They then encouraged me to save my money and if I still wanted to purchase the item later, I could.

TO READ MORE: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/grew-frugal-parents-7-valuable-000019101.html

We Talked To One Of America’s Most Experienced Trade Negotiators

We Talked To One Of America’s Most Experienced Trade Negotiators

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)   July 31, 2025

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that global trade is one of the most important issues happening in the world right now.

On April 2nd—so-called “Liberation Day”—the President upended decades of established business and trade practices that virtually every major government and corporation on the planet has relied on. All of those rules, good and bad, were thrown out the window. Overnight. And that makes this new tariff regime one of the largest worldwide disruptions to business (alongside the pandemic) since World War II.

I’ve been wanting to learn more about this from someone who really knows what they’re talking about... someone who has real experience with international trade deals and knows the system inside out.

So last week, during a live call with our Total Access members, I interviewed one of America’s most senior and successful trade negotiators. And I learned more in that hour-long conversation about global trade than I have in decades of my own international business experience.

First things first, her experience is pretty unparalleled.

She started her career at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTRO) during the administration of George H W Bush in the early 1990s, and throughout her career she had spent years sitting across the table from Chinese, Korean, Russian counterparts, trying to hammer out government trade deals that would be good for America.

I’ll be blunt— I came into the conversation with a really negative assumption that any career bureaucrat would be ideologically toxic. I thought that the people negotiating these deals would constantly be injecting their personal politics and fantasies... or that they wouldn’t be competent enough to make good deals for the country.

I was flat out wrong. There wasn’t even a hint of ideology. And by the end of the call I couldn’t tell who she voted for, or whether she leaned left or right. Nor did I care.

Instead, I actually felt grateful that the United States has had someone as sharp as she representing the country’s interests at the negotiating table. For her, trade deals are all business, and she’s damn good at it.

She never once implied that President Trump is wrong or naïve. But she also didn’t express unbridled enthusiasm for the administration’s vision of these trade deals either.

Instead, with a mix of extreme insight and dry humor, she gave us an incredible perspective on how the trade system actually works—and what we can expect in the coming months and years.

For example, I asked her point-blank: Is the US even in a position to demand major trade concessions?

Her answer surprised me: absolutely yes.

She explained that even though China’s consumer market is growing—and even though the Chinese government has been preparing for this moment since Trump’s first term—China is still nowhere near as valuable an import market as the US. Not even close.

Nearly every country on the planet is desperate to export its goods to the United States. And because of that, she said, Trump has tremendous bargaining power.

I even asked her about Trump’s tendency for hyperbole; he tells stories about world leaders calling him and “begging” him to drop tariffs. I always roll my eyes at such stories because they don’t sound remotely plausible.

But, again, she corrected me and said these stories are most likely true... simply because the US is in such a strong negotiating position. And there are a number of countries whose leaders would literally beg the President to drop tariffs... because steep US tariffs would send their economies off a cliff, and their politicians out of power.

Again, she’s not a rabid MAGA fanatic. She’s a seasoned, career trade negotiator who’s seen this process from every side over multiple US Presidents.

We also talked about the mechanics of how trade deals are negotiated, and the blatant mistakes that some countries (including Mexico, recently) make. She also explained how unrealistic it is to expect dozens of them to be signed in such a short timeframe.

Ordinarily, she told us, a single trade deal can take years to fully negotiate and finalize all the details. And the details can go on for hundreds of pages.

Now they want dozens of deals in a matter of weeks; these aren’t really “trade agreements”, she said, more like frameworks. In business terms, it’s like a term sheet or letter of intent.

The problem with these frameworks is that they are only a few pages and very light on details, therefore they will almost certainly leave massive gaps—ripe for abuse, noncompliance, and future disputes.

And based on that, it’s not clear whether there will be any long-term benefit from Liberation Day. There might be, but it’s not a sure thing at all.

She also confirmed what we’ve long suspected—China is better positioned to wait this out than the United States.

China has reduced reliance on US exports and doesn’t face political pressure from voters or donors. If both China and the US are damaged, she said, America is more likely to blink first.

She ended with a warning: don’t expect any clarity tomorrow (August 1, i.e. the supposed deadline for the trade deals).

Again, there might be a handful of trade ‘frameworks’, but these are just outlines. The real negotiations haven’t even started. Disputes are inevitable. Tariffs will keep switching on and off. And she expects this chaotic trade environment to last another few years.

Just a quick note that we’ll be opening enrollment to Total Access soon—our most valuable and highest tier membership at Schiff Sovereign.

We bend over backwards for our members— including setting up regular, members-only calls like the one I just wrote about with a career trade negotiator— to provide the ultimate insider access and front row seat to the world’s most important trends.

We further provide our members with private investment research and Plan B internationalization strategies (like the best and fastest ways to obtain a second passport).

Members also receive complimentary access to ALL premium content that we provide at Schiff Sovereign.

But the best thing about Total Access is building real relationships—because in today’s world, that’s what actually matters. The most valuable currency you can have isn’t dollars or gold, it’s a trusted network of like-minded people who see the world clearly and act decisively.

Our members come from all walks of life—investors, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, even the occasional celebrity—but they share common values. They understand that the world is changing fast. That inflation is real. That governments are out of control. And that having a Plan B is essential.

That’s why we host private dinners, organize boots-on-the-ground trips, and bring members together in extraordinary places.

Sometimes that looks like the recent trip to Turkey, where members explored opportunities in the country’s citizenship by investment program. Other times it looks more like the luxury super-yacht cruise that just concluded along the coast of Croatia.

We also host conference-style events in promising locations like El Salvador, with really interesting speakers, such as the former President of Mexico who joined our event in Mexico City.

Total Access is also how our members were able to participate in private investment opportunities like Grok, a robotics venture, and an exclusive citizenship deal directly from a European head of state.

Yes, we go to interesting places. Yes, we produce world-class research. But the real value is in the people you meet and the relationships you build.

To your freedom,   James Hickman   Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/we-talked-to-one-of-americas-most-experienced-trade-negotiators-153260/?inf_contact_key=4630f2a53fafd3409d70278092f091f84c89db51b04f05ba577c35d9bf429d28

Project “Hijack the Fed” is now in full swing [Podcast]

Project “Hijack the Fed” is now in full swing [Podcast]

Notes From Te Field By James Hickman (Simon Black)  July 30, 2025

To the surprise of absolutely no one today, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee chose to do nothing at the close of its two-day meeting.

The White House is furious about the decision; the President believes that the Fed should be slashing rates, and that the current “high” rate of interest is costing the US government hundreds of billions of dollars each year in excess interest.

(I put “high” in quotes because interest rates are still well below historic averages...)

Now, I am no fan of the Fed. Quite the opposite— the organization is a total failure.

Just consider that section 2A of the Federal Reserve Act (passed in 1913) states that the Fed is supposed to maintain a stable currency. Yet the US dollar has lost 97% of its purchasing power under the Fed’s stewardship over the past 112 years.

Personally I think it’s difficult to find another organization that has been so terrible at its core mission for so long.

Yet even with that scathing criticism in mind, it’s still not the Fed’s job to bail out the US government’s finances.

If Congress and the White House want to pay a lower interest rate on the national debt, then they can make the hard decisions to cut spending, balance the budget, and attract foreign investment by acting like responsible adults.

Unfortunately none of that seems to be in the cards.

So instead there seems to be a clear plan being hatched: Project “Hijack the Fed”.

Let’s start from the basics:

In order to fund its roughly $2 trillion annual budget deficit, the US government has to sell debt (bonds) to investors to plug its funding gap. And this responsibility falls to the Treasury Department.

Ordinarily, Treasury would sell a mix of US government bonds, ranging from ultra-short-term 28-day T-bills, to very long-term 30-year bonds.

Lately, however, the Treasury Department has been focused on selling mostly short-term bonds... simply because those rates are lower. The yield on a 12-month T-bill, for example, is just 3.86%, whereas the yield on 10-year Treasury is almost 5%, so it’s a difference of roughly 1%.

In some ways it’s sensible to take the lower rate. But it’s a risky strategy.

If interest rates suddenly rise, then the US government could wind up paying even MORE interest in the next few years, just to save 1% today.

So clearly the Treasury Department must have some confidence that rates won’t be going higher... and will probably be headed lower.

Last month Secretary Bessent even said this out loud: “What I’m going to do is, I’m going to go very short-term. . . Wait until this guy [Fed Chairman Jerome Powell] gets out, get the rates way down, and then go long-term.”

In other words, he’s going to keep selling the lower-interest short-term debt. Then, once Jerome Powell’s term as Fed Chairman ends next year, the Treasury Secretary thinks that HE will be able to “get the rates way down”, at which point he’ll start selling long-term debt to lock in lower rates.

This is a stunning admission that the Treasury Secretary (and by extension the White House) think that they will be able to steer interest rates much lower through their new Fed pick next year.

Coincidentally, Treasury Secretary Bessent also happens to be on Donald Trump’s shortlist to be the next Fed Chairman.

So let’s skip over the obvious legal and reputational issues involved in such a move.

The bigger problem is that there’s only one way for the Fed— even if Secretary Bessent becomes Chairman— to “get the rates way down”... and that is by expanding the money supply, i.e. what we often refer to as printing money.

And just as we saw during the pandemic when the Fed printed $5 trillion, large-scale money printing can easily lead to some nasty inflation.

Why it matters:

We’ve been talking about the next inflation cycle for a while, explaining why 2033 is the key date to keep in mind; this is when Social Security’s major trust fund will run out of money, prompting the Fed to print trillions of dollars and trigger inflation.

But given the Treasury Department and White House’s plan to hijack the Fed, it’s possible that the next inflation cycle could start up again as early as next year. 

This isn’t a foregone conclusion. But it makes sense to pay close attention to what they’re doing, because it’s starting to look pretty obvious that they plan to print a lot of money starting next summer.

Today’s podcast:

I want to stress that I’m not predicting some imminent doom. The end of the world is not upon us. There is no reason for rational people to panic.

But it is becoming increasingly obvious where this trend will lead. The Treasury Secretary of the United States of America is flat-out saying that he’s going to “get the rates way down” as early as next summer. And it would be foolish to ignore the inflationary consequences of his plan. 

We discuss all of this in depth in today’s podcast episode, including:

• Will the next inflation cycle mean painfully higher food and fuel prices, or perhaps just an inflated stock and real estate market?
  

• Why there’s a straight line linking the post-GFC (2010-2016) stock market bubble and ‘asset price inflation’, to the rise of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
  

• We explain that, while the Fed has a lot of influence over short-term interest rates, they can’t control long-term rates (including mortgage rates) without printing tons of money. And, yes, that means inflation.
  

• How the next phase of money printing could make the 2020–2021 pandemic inflation look tame by comparison; it’s all about the sheer volume of money at stake, i.e. $5 trillion versus potentially $20+ trillion.
  

• Why the US could hit a fiscal wall sooner than anyone thinks, where 100% of tax revenue is consumed JUST by debt interest, Social Security, and Medicare.
  

• We also talk about sensible ways to position yourself for inflation in ways that make sense regardless of what happens (or doesn’t happen) next.
  

You can listen to today’s episode here. 

For the audio-only version, check out our online post here.

Finally, you can find the podcast transcript for your convenience, here.

To your freedom,  James Hickman  Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/podcast/project-hijack-the-fed-is-now-in-full-swing-153252/?inf_contact_key=b77adc9ca4b44f7e8f3324639582485f45f52772a67910d275469a1ff0808c0a

4 Simple Money Habits From Mark Cuban That Could Transform Your Life

4 Simple Money Habits From Mark Cuban That Could Transform Your Life

Peter Burns  Sat, July 26, 2025   GOBankingRates

For those trying to build wealth, Mark Cuban is a perfect example of how to get it done. From living in a shabby apartment with roommates to currently having a net worth of $6 billion, Cuban has made smart money moves that paid off big.

While some of the moves he made to get to where he is were complex, he used a lot of simple strategies as well. Here are four of Cuban’s most helpful money habits that can help you improve your finances.

Don’t Use Credit Cards

When asked about credit cards, Cuban has repeatedly said, “If you use your credit cards, you do not want to be rich.” It’s a valid point, as credit cards have left many in crippling debt. In 2024, the average consumer debt from credit cards was $6,730 per person. Adding a high interest rate to that amount each month can quickly derail any attempts you’re making to build wealth.

Cuban said the best way to invest is to pay off your credit cards and then cut them up. Currently, the average credit card interest rate is around 20%. As Cuban explained, if you pay off your credit card, you’ve just earned that amount of interest back instead of continuing to pay it.

Live Below Your Means

Even after Cuban had made millions, he was careful with his money. When he was just coming into his wealth, he read a book called “How to Retire by the Age of 35,” which told him to live like a student and save as much as he could. He then called his broker and told him to invest his money as if he were a 60-year-old, despite his young age. Cuban said he was worried that he would lose that money and wanted to live off of it for a long time.

Living below your means involves spending less than you earn. This will keep you out of debt and let you put more money toward your savings and investments. You can live below your means through careful planning and intentional spending.

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/4-simple-money-habits-mark-121814224.html

3 Key Signs You’re Losing Money By Saving Too Much

3 Key Signs You’re Losing Money By Saving Too Much

Andrew Lisa  Sat, July 26, 2025  GOBankingRates

Saving money is essential, but saving too much in a traditional savings account could be quietly costing you. If you’ve already maxed out your 401(k) contributions, built a robust emergency fund that exceeds the recommended three to six months of living expenses, and still have cash piling up, it might be time to rethink your strategy.

While it’s great to be financially cautious, over-saving can mean missing out on better returns and long-term growth. Not sure if you’re overdoing it? Here are three key signs that your savings account might be too full — and what you can do to make your money work harder for you.

Your Emergency Savings Is Overstuffed

Building an emergency fund is a smart financial move, but there is such a thing as saving too much. The general rule of thumb is to set aside three to six months’ worth of living expenses. But once you’ve hit that target, continuing to stuff your emergency fund can be a waste.

“Having excess cash beyond an emergency fund can mean missing out on potential returns from investing,” said Fluent in Finance founder, Andrew Lokenauth. “The opportunity cost of playing it too safe with savings can be substantial over decades.”

So, how much is enough? It depends on your lifestyle and income stability. According to Christopher Stroup, a certified financial planner (CFP) with Abacus Wealth Partners, dual income households can typically aim for three months of expenses. On the other hand, single-income earners or those with variable income should aim for six months for added financial security.

Once you have a solid emergency cushion in place, you should consider putting your excess money towards other investments.

You’ve Maxed Out Your Retirement Accounts

If you consistently have money left over after maxing out your IRA, 401(k) and other tax-advantaged retirement accounts each year, it may be time to put that money elsewhere. Saving for the future and your retirement is crucial, but you could be losing purchasing power to inflation over time as your cash earns little interest.

As accredited financial counselor and founder of Retire Certain, Camille Gaines explained, even the most high-yield savings accounts lose value to inflation over time. Instead, try putting that extra money somewhere it can do more for you, like in a money market account.

“Safe money market accounts that do not fluctuate in value can be seen as a good alternative to keeping money in a savings account that pays little interest and has a negative real return after inflation,” said Gaines. “More than two months’ worth of living expenses in a savings account is too much given the ability to earn around 5% from easily accessible money market accounts.”

Money market accounts — not to be confused with money market funds — deliver yields that are typically higher than standard deposit accounts with some checking account features like bill pay and limited monthly check writing. By redirecting your surplus cash into more productive accounts, you can earn more on your money over time.

Your Savings Are Growing, But So Is Your Debt

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/5-key-signs-keeping-too-140047713.html

What Every Millionaire Can Learn From Jimmy Buffett’s Mistake

$275M Inheritance Fight: What Every Millionaire Can Learn From Jimmy Buffett’s Mistake

Angela Mae  Tue, July 22, 2025   GOBankingRates

Renowned singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett died in September 2023, leaving behind a $275 million estate. The bulk of Buffett’s assets went into a marital trust with his widow, Jane Slagsvol, as the main beneficiary. Slagsvol is a co-trustee, along with Buffett’s long-time business manager, Richard Mozenter.

Unfortunately, there’s been a massive legal dispute between Mozenter and Slagsvol over that trust. Specifically, Slagsvol is petitioning to remove Mozenter as co-trustee for three primary reasons.

The first is that he’s failed to generate enough income with the trust’s investments. The second is that he hasn’t kept her abreast of the trust’s various investments, expenses and income. And the third is that, according to her, Mozenter has been “openly hostile” and appears to be working against her best interests.

According to Slagsvol, the trust is estimated to receive less than a 1% return rate — not enough to cover her annual expenses. Along with this, Mozenter received $1.7 million in trustee fees in 2024.

In response to all this, Mozenter also seeks to remove Slagsvol as co-trustee.

If you’re a millionaire, you could learn a few things from the way Jimmy Buffett handled his estate so you don’t make the same mistake.

Choose Your Trustees Carefully

When you have a massive estate, it’s crucial that you choose your trustee — or trustees — carefully. It’s not always enough to pick someone you’ve known for a long time or who you’re married to.

“Choose your trustee like you’d choose a CEO; someone trustworthy, financially literate and emotionally neutral. If you don’t have that person within the family, appoint a professional or corporate trustee,” said Craig Parker, assistant general counsel at Trust & Will and a California state bar-certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate Law.

With larger, complex estates, having co-trustees can be a good strategy. But you’ll want to make sure they trust one another and work well together. If all else fails, you could name a trust protector who will step in if either trustee can no longer perform their role.

Be Extremely Clear With Your Estate Plan

The importance of being clear with how you want your assets managed and doled out can’t be understated. While Buffett might have believed choosing his wife and business manager as co-trustees was enough, anything that’s left unclear can lead to major legal battles down the road.

“Clear, detailed estate planning is essential. That means establishing a comprehensive trust, updating it regularly and communicating intentions openly with beneficiaries,” said Parker. “Clarity reduces conflict; vagueness invites it.”

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/275m-inheritance-fight-every-millionaire-160124796.html

7 Frugal Money Habits That Could Destroy Your Finances

7 Frugal Money Habits That Could Destroy Your Finances

Cynthia Measom   Wed, October 16, 2024  GOBankingRates

If you find yourself constantly looking for ways to save every single penny, you might be overlooking the bigger picture. Frugality, while an admirable trait, can lead you to make choices that might seem smart in the short term but actually cost more in the long term regarding finances, time and quality of life.

 “Letting the concept of frugality take over life so you are neglecting the bigger picture for small savings can backfire,” said Allison Sanka, accredited financial counselor, financial coach and principal and founder of Journey Financial Wellness. “That immediate dopamine hit of saving a few cents that makes you feel like you’re making progress towards your financial goal — like paying off debt or saving — can actually cost more if you do the math.”

Here are seven frugal habits that aren’t actually good for your finances.

Driving Miles to Different Stores To Get Good Deals

Sanka said that while the savings you might gain by driving from store to store to save a few dollars on sale items versus shopping once a week at one store might seem like a good idea, it’s not. Instead, she said any savings will likely be wiped out when you figure in the cost of your time, gas and wear-and-tear on your vehicle.

Driving To Another Town To Save on Gas

Sanka also said that driving to the next town to save 10 cents a gallon on gas could be more costly than the savings. For example, if your car holds 15 gallons, and you need 14 gallons to fill it up, you’ll save $1.40. Arguably, that could add up to over $140 over the course of the year if you fill up a couple of times a week, but you also have to think about whether that savings is worth your time, gas expenditure to get there and back and the wear-and-tear on your car.

Totally Depriving Yourself of Something You Enjoy

“You will not get rich by not ever buying a $4 coffee and depriving yourself of something you enjoy from time to time,” Sanka said. “Again, it’s about balance; instead of coffee out every day, try buying coffee as a treat on Monday mornings to get you going for the workweek. Then you can look forward to it as a treat.”

Buying Stuff Only Because of the Low Price

Sanka said that focusing on the low cost of an item instead of the need is a mistake that’s not good for your finances. “I see people in the frugal community buying things simply because they’re 75% off or they have a coupon for it (sometimes a marketing tactic to get you to spend) even if it’s not a need,” she said. “If you spent $5 on something you don’t really need, you spent $5 too much.”

Buying Items in Bulk When You Don’t Really Need Them

TO READ MORE:  https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/7-frugal-habits-aren-t-110109306.html

7 Key Signs You’re Wealthier Than You Think

7 Key Signs You’re Wealthier Than You Think

Caitlyn Moorhead  Tue, April 29, 2025 GOBankingRates

Controversial but consummately successful podcaster Joe Rogan once said he felt like he’d “made it” financially when he had enough money to eat at a restaurant at night without feeling guilty and stressed about what it cost the following day.

Rogan’s net worth is now estimated at $200 million, which is all the money in the world — unless you’re Elon Musk. That makes Rogan’s $200 million fortune he made bloviating opinions less than 0.05% of Musk’s $391 billion fortune he made buying cars and rocket ships.

The point is that how you feel about wealth is subjective and can come from many sources. In a country where more than half of all six-figure earners reportedly live paycheck to paycheck, how do you know if you’re rich, or at least richer than you think? Here are eight key signs you may be wealthier than most Americans.

You Make More Than the Median Earner

Your salary, of course, plays a significant role in your ability to accumulate wealth and has a lot to do with how you measure up to the masses.

“The median household income in the U.S. is around $75,000,” said Joel Ohman, certified financial planner and CEO of Clearsurance. “So, if you make more than that, your income is higher than half the people in the country.

“Of course, how far $75,000 takes you will depend on where you live. For example, you have a lot more buying power with $75,000 a year in Glendive, Montana, than you would in Orange County, California.”

Since the cost of living varies so dramatically from one place to the next, area median income (AMI) is a more accurate yardstick to measure your comparative wealth.

HUD Loans by commercial property financing firm Janover offers a state-by-state AMI breakdown with metro, non-metro and total AMI variants. Fannie Mae has a map-based AMI lookup tool that allows for much more granular and local detail.

You’ve Met the Standard Saving Milestones

Even the most impressive income is no indication of wealth if you spend more of it than you make, which so many high earners seem to do. The more accurate barometer, then, is how much you have in the bank.

“If you’re making higher than an average salary and have saved four times your annual income, and you’re in your 20s, you’re doing very well,” said Ohman.

Ohman’s benchmark is exceptionally high. The standard guideline is to have the equivalent of your annual salary saved by age 30, three times your salary by 40, six times by 50, eight times by 60 and 10 times by 67.

Several studies have shown that more than half the country is behind on those milestones, so even being on par with your decade’s goal lands you a spot among the more affluent half.

You’re Not Drowning in Outstanding Financial Obligations

TO READ MORE:  https://finance.yahoo.com/news/signs-wealthier-think-152349259.html