Issue 1, 2026
In this issue:
Six Questions When Buying a Car
Reader Question: Can you give me information about buying a new car?
There’s nothing quite like sitting in the seat of a new or gently used car on a dealer’s lot. There’s the new-car smell, interior comfort, and a gadget-laden dashboard. Not to mention the shiny exterior and the sales rep’s broad smile.
Thirty seconds in the driver’s seat can transport you from careful considerations of need to a powerful emotional want.
In the United States, we have broad spaces and a love affair with our cars, vans, and trucks. Nationwide, about 95% of households have access to at least one vehicle, and most workers — nearly 70% — commute by driving alone.
At the same time, in larger urban areas, there is much more traffic congestion and more alternatives — including public transit, walking, and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
For some households, that means a car may be a choice rather than a necessity, a convenience rather than a requirement. Which is it for you?
My Penny Earned’s mini-webinar on Buying a New Car can help you answer these key questions:
In this lesson, we’ll walk you through six key questions:
- How do I know if I need a car?
- How will I be driving it?
- Do I need great gas mileage? Will an electric vehicle fit my needs?
- Is a new or used vehicle a better choice?
- Can I afford a car?
- If I’m buying a vehicle, how do I pay for it?
➤ Already registered? Log in and watch the mini-webinar here.
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See your email newsletter, or the Register button above, to learn how to get started.
Roth Conversion and Your Taxes
A mini-webinar
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “… nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” And that’s certainly true of your retirement savings … Uncle Sam wants his share.
But just how much we give the government can be managed with careful tax strategies regarding our retirement savings. My Penny Earned’s mini-webinar isn’t a comprehensive guide to tax strategies, but it does discuss one method – converting pre-tax savings to Roth – that some use to manage taxes on their retirement savings.
A Roth account is one in which you contribute money after you’ve paid income taxes on it. That means – with qualified Roth withdrawals – both contributions and earnings are tax-free. And there’s no Required Minimum Distribution. You can withdraw those funds whenever you want, without penalty, provided you’re age 59½ and meet the 5-year holding period requirement. Or you can leave your funds in the plan for a rainy day.
A Roth conversion is when you move money from a pre-tax account to a Roth account, paying taxes now so future withdrawals are tax-free. This applies to moving traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs, and conversions within retirement plans such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s.
What are the potential benefits and risks? Learn more about Roth Conversion and Your Taxes through My Penny Earned’s mini-webinar.
➤ Already registered? Log in and watch the mini-webinar here.
► Not registered yet?
See your email newsletter, or the Register button above, to learn how to get started.