Why the S&P 500 Beats 90% of Professional Investors (Even Billionaires Use It)

Why the S&P 500 Beats 90% of Professional Investors (Even Billionaires Use It)

Most people are paralyzed when it comes to investing… should they buy individual stocks, or Bitcoin, or just bet it all on black at the casino? Jacob sits down with Tom Bernard, author of The Index of America, to reveal why the S&P 500 is the single greatest wealth-building tool in history, and why almost nobody fully understands how powerful and simple it really is. What You’ll Learn: - Why the S&P 500 represents ~85-90% of the U.S. public market - How the index actually works (selection committee, market-cap weighting, float adjustment, rebalancing) - The SPIVA report: Why the S&P 500 beats ~90% of active managers over time - The power of low costs, tax efficiency, and share buybacks - Real-world proof: Warren Buffett’s advice for his wife + Nevada Public Employees Retirement System - Simple action steps for beginners to start investing in the S&P 500 ~~About the Author~~ Tom Bernard is a finance professional with more than two decades of experience analyzing markets, taxation systems, and corporate economics. He holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science in Taxation, and dual undergraduate degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. Earlier in his career, he worked in financial analysis and valuation at firms including PwC and Arthur Andersen. A passionate educator, Tom has taught personal finance at the City College of San Francisco, helping students navigate the complexities of investing with clarity and confidence. Connect with Tom Bernard: Instagram: @INDEXOFAMERICA YouTube: @INDEXOFAMERICA Website: www.indexofamerica.com Book available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target Audiobook available on Spotify ~~Get on a call with Jacob~~ 🌐 https://cal.com/financialginger Text/Call: 801-216-8444 FB: https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger Insta: https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/ [https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/] 🎤 FinancialGinger — Better Money Choices 🎤 Episode #54: FinancialGinger

Car Accident Checklist: 6 Steps To Avoid Getting Screwed

Car accidents are stressful enough, don’t make them worse by not following these steps. In this episode of FinancialGinger, Jacob Johnson (insurance agent with nearly 8 years of experience) I share the exact 5-step process you should follow after any car accident to protect yourself, strengthen your claim, and avoid denied claims, or worse, being found at-fault for something that wasn’t your fault! Whether it’s a fender bender in a parking lot or a more serious collision, these steps can save you thousands in the long run. What You’ll Learn: - Why you should always get a police report (even for tiny bumps) - The power of taking photos of everything (and the crazy story of a Walmart parking lot claim gone wrong) - Why saying “I’m sorry” or offering money can make you at-fault (This one pisses me off) - Who’s insurance should I call? My own or the guy who hit me? (and when you should file on your own policy vs. theirs) - The bonus step most people skip: seeing a doctor (even after minor accidents) - Real stories of claims that went bad,  and how following these steps would have pretend big problems. I also explain Utah-specific details like PIP/medical coverage and why timing matters so much. Get on a call with Jacob for a free insurance review: 🌐 https://cal.com/financialginger Text/Call: 801-216-8444 jacobinsuresutah@gmail.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger Insta: https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/ [https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/] 🎤FinancialGinger — Better Money Choices 🎤 Episode #53: FinancialGinger

The Retirement Strategies High-Income Entrepreneurs Use to Slash Taxes

You’ve probably heard of a Roth IRA or a 401(k)… But most entrepreneurs have no idea there are retirement accounts that can let business owners save FAR more money while potentially reducing taxes at the same time. In Episode #52 of FinancialGinger, Jacob sits down with Certified Financial Planner Michael Espinosa (President of True North Retire, $200M+ AUM) to reveal the important retirement strategies that let business owners save dramatically more, with huge tax advantages. Michael breaks down exactly when and how to use each type of plan as your income grows and business changes. Whether, you’re a self-employed solo-preneur, have a company with 10 employees, or are on the path to 100’s of employees. What You’ll Learn: - Why retirement accounts beat a normal brokerage account (the massive tax incentives most people miss) - Traditional IRA vs Roth IRA – which one actually makes more sense for growing entrepreneurs - SIMPLE IRA – when it’s worth using (and when it’s not) - SEP IRA – contribution limits and who it’s best for - Solo 401(k) – employee + employer contributions, profit sharing, and how to max it out - Cash Balance Plans – the “pension on steroids” that lets some high earners put away $200K–$300K+ per year - Income thresholds for moving from IRA → SEP/SIMPLE → Solo 401k → Cash Balance - Roth strategies, catch-up contributions, and recent changes from Secure Act 2.0 - Why you should talk to a CPA before a financial advisor - How to coordinate plans when you have employees (and common compliance traps) Whether you’re just starting a side hustle or already making multiple six figures, this episode gives you the exact roadmap most financial advisors don’t explain to solopreneurs. About The Guest:  Michael Espinosa is the president of True North Retire, where he specializes in helping businesses design and manage effective 401(k) plans. He’s a Certified Financial Planner with a passion for making complex financial decisions practical and approachable.  He’s currently writing a personal finance guidebook focused on clarity, values, and long-term progress. Outside of work, he’s an outdoors enthusiast, and he and his wife—also a Certified Financial Planner—often collaborate and exchange ideas around money and mindset.  Michael@tnrs.com - for 401(k) plan assistance https://truenorthwealth.com/michael-espinosa/ [https://truenorthwealth.com/michael-espinosa/] Get on a call with Jacob! 🌐 https://cal.com/financialginger FB: https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger Insta: https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/ 🎤FinancialGinger — Better Money Choices 🎤 Episode #52: FinancialGinger

Why “Buy Term and Invest the Rest” Isn’t the Whole Story

Most people think life insurance is simple: “Buy term and invest the rest.” But is that really the best for everyone? Or even most people? In Episode #51, Jacob Johnson sits down with Mitchell Hancock to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance: permanent life insurance, cash value policies, and the hidden financial risks most people never plan for.Mitchell and Jacob tackle : - why many people are severely underinsured - the difference between term, whole life, and indexed universal life - why improperly designed policies create horror stories - how cash value life insurance is often misunderstood - the “5 major financial risks” framework - why disability insurance is commonly ignored - how long-term care can destroy retirement plans - volatility buffering and retirement sequence risk - why diversification isn’t just about stocks Jacob and Mitchell also debate: - Dave Ramsey’s “buy term and invest the rest” - whether permanent insurance is overhyped - when term insurance IS the correct choice - how insurance should fit into an actual financial strategyConnect with Mitchell Hancock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellhanccock/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellhanccock/] Get on a call with Jacob! 🌐 https://cal.com/financialginger [https://cal.com/financialginger] FB: https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/ [https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/] 🎤FinancialGinger — Better Money Choices 🎤 Episode #51: FinancialGinger

You Don’t Need To Make More Money to Invest… Use These Cash Flow Secrets to Free Up $700/Month

You’ve been told to invest 10–15% of your income… But what if your reaction is: “With what money?” Here’s the truth: You don’t need to make more money to start investing. You need to fix your cash flow! This episode is not about investing tactics or strategy or finding a silver bullet, It’s about unlocking investable cash flow by fixing behavior, awareness, and systems In this episode of FinancialGinger, Jacob Johnson sits down with Paris Cluff to break down why most people feel stuck financially, and how they can often unlock hundred of dollars of month to invest, with a little big of elbow grease and the helping hand of a finance coach.Paris shares his habit shifting ideology, from a 90-day spending audit, to a simple subscription audit that sometimes saves you $100/month in just 10 minutes. Paris consistently helps people to free up $400, $500, even $700+ per month, without getting a pay raise at work. This isn’t some “slash everything and live on beans” approach, but intentional awareness and intentional choices. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why most people don’t have an income problem… they have a cash flow problem - The “90-day lookback” strategy that can instantly reveal hundreds in wasted spending - How small expenses ($20 here, $30 there) quietly drain your financial future - The fastest way to free up $100–$300/month (without changing your lifestyle) - Why awareness alone can fix your spending habits - How to think like the CFO of your household - The correct order: cash flow → savings → debt → investing - Why most people try to invest too early—and fail - How to build systems that eliminate money stress long-term Paris shares real stories of families who believed they had “nothing left”… and ended up finding hundreds per month hiding in plain sight. Once you fix your cash flow… Investing stops feeling impossible. And starts becoming inevitable. *Thanos snap here* FREE GIFT from Parishttps://pariscluff.com/freegift [https://pariscluff.com/freegift] About Paris Cluff:Paris didn’t grow up knowing much about money — and he certainly didn’t start his career planning to teach it. But when he joined a 401(k) program at his first job and realized no one around him actually understood their investments, something clicked. He started studying, reading every financial book he could find, and asking meaningful questions. Soon, coworkers noticed… and one simple comment changed everything: “You made this easier to understand than anyone else. You should do this for a living.”Paris Cluff is a financial coach focused on helping individuals and families unlock hidden cash flow, build strong financial systems, and create long-term wealth through behavior-driven strategies.https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialSelfReliance [https://www.youtube.com/@FinancialSelfReliance]https://www.instagram.com/pariscluff/ [https://www.instagram.com/pariscluff/] Ask a Question or Get Help: 🌐 bio.site/FinancialGinger FB: https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger [https://www.facebook.com/FinancialGinger] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/ [https://www.instagram.com/financialginger/] 🎤FinancialGinger — Wise money choices, for peace and empowerment. Subscribe for more real-world financial strategies and no-BS advice🎤 Episode #50: FinancialGinger