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 insurance costs, and small business cash flow.

In This Episode

✓ A fake fraud-alert text nearly gets Ralph's youngest son to call the scammers back

✓ Home insurance now costs more than property taxes in two-thirds of US counties

✓ 55% of small business owners say cash flow is their top problem

✓ Inheriting a $48,000 IRA: the 10-year rule and the tax bracket trap

✓ Self-employment tax: 15.3% on side hustle income and the four quarterly dates

✓ Which dollars to keep when you cut, and finding your first $25

If you've ever stared at a bill or a text and wondered what to do next, today's episode gives you a place to start.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Our Christmas Bonus:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Year-End Personal Tax Review with Ralph:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Be on the show:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/stuck

FTC on 2025 fraud losses:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/03/ftc-testifies-joint-economic-committee-agencys-efforts-combat-fraud

Home insurance vs. property taxes (Bloomberg Intelligence via Claims Journal):

https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2026/10/20/340815.htm

Fora Financial 2026 Business Insights:

https://www.forafinancial.com/business-insights/

IRS Publication 590-B (inherited IRAs):

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b

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Companies Mentioned

Bloomberg Intelligence

Fora Financial

NerdWallet

Duo Security

Google Authenticator

Bank of America

Apple

YouTube

Rumble

Reddit

ChatGPT

Claude

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, and the old accounts people leave behind.

In This Episode

✓ How a one-point fee gap cuts a 401(k) balance by 28% in the Labor Department’s example

✓ Why two target date funds with the same year can cost very different amounts

✓ 31.9 million forgotten 401(k)s holding $2.13 trillion

✓ What fiduciary means and why it matters when you pick a fund

✓ One Good Question: Marcus’s water bill jumps from $75 to $210

✓ Money move: find your first $25 in cut week

If you have never looked at what your 401(k) actually costs, this episode gives you a place to start.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Our Christmas Bonus giveaway:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Year-end tax review:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Retirement Savings Lost and Found:

https://lostandfound.dol.gov/

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Companies Mentioned

Vanguard

Fidelity

Intel

Citizens Financial Group

Exxon

Demos

Capitalize

Home Depot

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 isn’t real.

In This Episode

✓ Social Security’s 3.6% raise, about $75 a month before Medicare Part B

✓ The viral $200 bonus that Congress never approved

✓ The Claiming Age Clarity Act and the new age labels

✓ High-yield savings near 4.2% vs. 0.01% at big banks

✓ Wall Street’s $32 billion week and why only 63% of adults can cover $400

✓ Community Mailbag: paying down a 27% card, a 0% balance transfer, and which bills come first after cut hours

✓ Money move: the $250 emergency fund challenge, starting with your first $25

If your raise, your savings, or your credit card balance feels stuck, this episode shows where to start.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Christmas bonus giveaway:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Year-End Personal Tax Review:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Free 5 Days to Financial Confidence:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/5days

Check your Social Security account:

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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https://www.tiktok.com/@becoming.financial

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Companies Mentioned

Goldman Sachs

Wells Fargo

MBNA

Netflix

Burger King

McDonald’s

DoorDash

Uber Eats

Google Meet

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 credit union may be a better home for your savings.

In This Episode

✓ Surveillance pricing and how to check your shopping preferences

✓ What to say when a promo rate expires

✓ Why the credit card minimum payment keeps you in debt

✓ Why you should always request a direct rollover

✓ How credit unions and banks differ, and what it means for savings and car loans

✓ How to size life insurance by the gap, not a rule of thumb

✓ What to do with a court summons or an accidental deposit

✓ Why six figures does not guarantee a mortgage

✓ How guest Tina paid off about $23,000 with a 401(k) loan

If you’ve ever wondered whether your bank or your paperwork is costing you more than it should, this recap gives you plenty to check.

Resources

Live show:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Giveaway:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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Facebook Group:

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Instagram:

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Skool Community:

https://www.skool.com/becoming-financially-confident-7556

Have a money question?

Send it here:

becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/voicemail

Companies Mentioned

KingSumo

Claude

Sears and Roebuck

DuPont

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 the condo market.

In This Episode

✓ A $3.99 pack of gum rang up at $4.99, and Circle K failed 35% of price checks

✓ AI bots now call your cable company and haggle your bill, but who wins when the bots talk to each other?

✓ A $260,000 Colorado condo, a $470 monthly HOA, and a buyer who says he feels trapped

✓ Tina Poole’s 40 years in banking, $23,000 of divorce debt, and the 401(k) loan that cleared it

✓ The Christmas club account, a 40-year savings habit that just paid Tina $650

✓ The Christmas bonus giveaway starts Monday, with a prize that grows up to $1,000

✓ Money move: check your life insurance and who your beneficiaries are

If you’ve ever wondered whether the price you saw is the price you paid, this episode will make you look twice.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Ralph’s Money:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

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Have a money question?

Send it here:

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Companies Mentioned

7-Eleven

Circle K

The Guardian

Rocket Money

Kira

Verizon

OpenTable

Fannie Mae

Freddie Mac

KingSumo

MBNA

Bank of America

Chase

Amazon

Apple

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 This Episode

✓ IRS employees snooped on taxpayer records 86 times

✓ Housing affordability at a 19-year low

✓ Why boomers’ $93 trillion may not reach their kids

✓ The DIME formula: debt, income, mortgage, education

✓ Term vs. whole life, and what a medical exam checks

✓ How losing 200 pounds changed Ralph’s rating

If you’ve been putting off the life insurance conversation, this episode gives you a number to start with.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Giveaway:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

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Have a money question?

Send it here:

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Companies Mentioned

Zillow

Ethos

Apple

Walmart

Target

Dunkin’

Sears and Roebuck

ID.me

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 This Episode

✓ Debt collectors are suing more, and 3 in 4 cases end in a default judgment

✓ A $600 deposit from a former employer: whose money is it?

✓ Every $100 in minimum payments cuts thousands off what a lender will approve

✓ Side hustle pitfalls: separate accounts, a tax jar, real pricing, boundaries, and paperwork

✓ Roth vs. traditional IRA: pay tax now or pay it later

✓ Money move: check your beneficiaries

If you’ve ever ignored an official-looking envelope, this episode gives you plenty to think about.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Ralph’s Money:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Quicken Simplifi:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/quicken

LawDepot:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/lawdepot

Year-End Tax Review:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

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Have a money question?

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Companies Mentioned

Encore

Portfolio Recovery Associates

Chase

MarketWatch

Quicken Simplifi

LawDepot

KingSumo

Tupperware

Avon

Google Meet

Zillow

Facebook

TikTok

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 unions.

In This Episode

✓ A startup selling AI audit tools to state tax agencies

✓ 52% of working retirees say money is the reason

✓ Car loan interest deduction: up to $10,000 a year, minus negative equity

✓ Banks vs. credit unions: ownership, rates, fees, and FDIC vs. NCUA safety

✓ Money move: find your real life insurance number

If you’ve ever wondered whether your bank is the best place for your money, this episode gives you plenty to think about.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Ralph’s Money:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Quicken Simplifi:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/quicken

LawDepot:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/lawdepot

Year-End Tax Review:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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Have a money question?

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Companies Mentioned

Govra

Forbes

Quicken Simplifi

LawDepot

Toyota

Kia

Kelley Blue Book

Zelle

Citadel Credit Union

American Spirit Credit Union

Bank of America

Wells Fargo

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 Life Insurance Week with a quick 15-minute check.

In This Episode

✓ What Amazon’s About You page knows about you

✓ How to find and edit your own profile

✓ Money stories from the news that could hit your wallet

✓ Three listener questions on bills, debt, and retirement accounts

✓ Life Insurance Week: a 15-minute check to get started

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Win Ralph’s Money giveaway:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Quicken Simplifi:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/quicken

LawDepot:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/lawdepot

Year-end review:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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Facebook Group:

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Have a money question?

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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.

In this weekly recap, Ralph Estep Jr. and Juliet cover what you missed from Oct. 5-9: a rising phone fee, a simple Christmas savings plan, tax preparer red flags, a $600,000 scam that came with a $225,000 IRS bill, and why a $5,000 raise pays about $3,500.

In This Episode

✓ A phone fee that keeps climbing

✓ A $55 a week plan to pay for Christmas

✓ Tax preparer red flags and why you pay the IRS directly

✓ The 20/4/10 rule for buying a car

✓ How a $600,000 scam turned into a $225,000 IRS bill

✓ Why a $5,000 raise pays about $3,500

If a raise has ever left you wondering where the money went, this recap has the math.

Resources

Watch live:

https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/live

Book a call:

https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Verify a tax preparer's PTIN:

https://www.irs.gov

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/becoming-financially-confident-7556

Have a money question?

Send it here:

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Companies Mentioned

Google

LinkedIn

Smile Train

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

✓ A pig butchering victim who lost $600,000, then got a $225,000 IRS bill

✓ The friend who pays for everything, and the red flags to watch for

✓ The 401(k) loan: four costs of paying yourself back

✓ A $4,000 hybrid premium and five drawbacks dealers skip

✓ The Zelle "friends and family" trap

✓ Check in on this week's Money Move: list your fixed and variable expenses

Resources

Win Ralph's Money giveaway: https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/giveaway

Book a call with Ralph: https://www.ralphestepjr.com/schedule

Year-end review with Ralph: https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/yearend

Quicken Simplifi: https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/quicken

LawDepot: https://www.becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/lawdepot

Follow Becoming Financially Confident

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Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1HpWqv8jp9/

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Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/becoming-financially-confident-7556

Have a money question?

Send it here: becomingfinanciallyconfident.com/voicemail

Companies Mentioned

Quicken Simplifi

LawDepot

Zelle

PayPal

Venmo

Cash App

LinkedIn

Toyota

Hummer

Amazon

Hershey's

Reese's