Is “debt” really a bad word? Actually, not all debt is bad. Your home and a college education are two good examples of using borrowed money to help you make dreams possible that otherwise might not come true. Our government is in the same position with good debt and bad debt. When does too much borrowing hurt the U.S. economy – - and who do we owe anyway? Is too much debt choking your own economic life? Is it better to pay off all your debts and put off investing until those bills are paid in full – or is there some way you can do both? This episode helps you put priorities in place.
Investing 101 takes a look at how to invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), basically a mutual fund that combine funds from individual investors and then invest those funds in real estate. They’re a good vehicle for homeowners and renters alike to diversify their investing portfolio. It takes discipline to make those monthly contributions to your investments. But in the end, you will accumulate wealth.
In Scam Alert, we look at the rates that were too good to be true. Enticed by great interest rates, the Murphrees of South Carolina decided to invest their retirement nest egg in a private investment company. They later found out that its parent company was having serious problems, but they were reassured that everything was okay. In the end, the companies closed and took $300 million from 8,000 Carolinians. The Murphrees only recovered 18 cents on the dollar of their $42,000 investment. This serves as a lesson that you must investigate before you invest!
