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Length: approximately 20 minutes

Notes:

00:52                Differences between traditional  IRA and Roth

03:41                Roth Rollover Limits

05:19                Benefits of Roth over Traditional IRA - Tax Hedging Strategies

07:09                Why the penalty is less in a Roth if you take it out before age 59 1/2

09:21                Why you need to keep good records in a Roth, even after age 59 1/2

10:38                How a Roth fits into tax strategy

11:52                "Gotchas" in converting a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA

13:35                The mechanics of converting a traditional to a Roth - how to do it

14:55                When are taxes due on the conversion?

16:01                How does the IRS know I have converted?

16:51                Discussion of new tax law change in 2010 affecting Roth conversions

20:37                Contact information for Sean Monohan

No statement in this article should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell a security or to provide investment or tax advice. All investments involve risk including possible loss of principal. We strongly encourage you to consult a qualified tax advisor or legal professional about your unique situation. Our goal is your financial success. Individual results may vary. Complete information can be found on our website or by calling 1-888-6SNIDER.

Click here for the audio Kimmunique (Hi - 128k | Lo - 24k)

Notes:
0:00 Introduction
2:00 What we mean by the statement "If a financial advisor constructs a portfolio with an expected return of less than 10 percent, that's a red flag"
4:40 Why that statement did not reflect a guarantee but rather a goal
5:45 Generalizations in the articles -- why I use inflexible rules
8:25 About the information session scheduled for Saturday, May 31. (After my talk, we'll head over to Boston's the Gourmet Pizza on 635 and MacArthur in Irving to broadcast the weekly radio show live on location. Then we'll stick around to answer questions and talk to folks one-on-one.)
10:45 New virtual office hours -- a twice-weekly conference call.

Details on the office hours: 

• Wednesdays 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time
• Thursdays Noon-1 p.m. Central Time

Ask anything that's on your mind about the Snider Method, personal finance, the economy -- you name it! We have a special toll-free conference call line -- you can call in and ask your questions, or just listen in to what others are asking. The office hours have an online component, too -- the technology we're using allows me to show you calculations, visit websites, etc. It's like you're sitting right beside me, looking at my computer screen together.

To join me, here's what you do:

1. Call 1-888-617-3400 and enter the access code 791564.
2. (Optional) Go to https://www1.gotomeeting.com/join/597893666.Please note: Attendance is limited for the online component, and you may be prompted to download some software the first time you log on.

Kim Snider is the President and Founder of Snider Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, focused on teaching individual investors a sensible, long-term investment approach focused on maximizing cash flow. For more information on Snider Advisors or the Snider Investment Method and how to stop enriching your investment advisors at your expense, please visit snideradvisors.com. Her book, How to Be the Family CFO: Four Simple Steps To Put Your Financial House in Order, will be in bookstores October 1, 2008.

Snider Advisors makes no representation that the information and opinions expressed are accurate, complete or current. The opinions expressed should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or other advice and are provided for informational purposes only. Call 866-952-0100 to request the Snider Investment Method® Owner's Manual, which includes a description of the Snider Investment Method, investment objectives, risks, suitability and other information. Please read and consider carefully before investing. All investments, including the Snider Investment Method™ are subject to risk, including possible loss of principal.

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Kim interviews Kim Kiyosaki about her book, Rich Woman, and the lessons of cash-flow investing.

MP3 Download: Hi (128k) | Lo (24k)

Length: 23:22

Notes:
0:45  Kim Kiyosaki tells us about her motivation for writing this book to women, and shares some financial statistics about women

2:55  58 percent of Women Baby Boomers have less than $10,000 saved for retirement.

4:20  Kim Kiyosaki introduces the idea of cash-flow investing

5:10  Why do American women not have a greater interest in investing?

7:07  A couple may be living well in retirement, then the husband dies and the wife doesn't know what to do

8:45  Do you think that there is an industry that preys on the uneducated elderly?

9:51 Who is buying this  book?

10:45 The unspoken rule of "He or she who controls the money, makes the rules."

12:05 Kim Kiyosaki gives us a taste of what we will learn in her book.

Resources:

Rich Woman: A Book on Investing for Women - Because I Hate Being Told What to Do!
Investing for Cash Flow

Kim Snider, Kim Snider Financial Communications, Chronim Investments and/or Snider Advisors make no representation that the information and opinions expressed are accurate, complete or current. The opinions expressed should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or other advice and are provided for informational purposes only. Call 866-952-0100 to request the Snider Investment Method™ Owner's Manual, which includes a description of the Snider Investment Method, investment objectives, risks, suitability and other information. Please read and consider carefully before investing. All investments are subject to risk including possible loss of principal.

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Kim interviews Brian Russell of Chronim Advisors about the importance of investing for the long term.

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Length: 12:32

Notes:
0:55  Brian describes a study that showed how investors balanced hypothetical portfolios based on 1 month, 1 year and 5 year returns.
3:05  Stocks do well over the long term, but investor performance has a lot to do with how investors perceive their returns.
3:50  The market takes large swings. If you're in there for the long run, you can be more comfortable with those swings.
6:00  The importance of developing a plan and sticking with it.
7:31  Basic concepts for the beginning investor
9:01  Look for lower fees when investing

Resources:
Investing for Cash Flow

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Kim interviews Dr. Daniel Bergstresser of the Harvard Business School about the costs and benefits of brokers in the mutual fund industry.

MP3 Download: Hi (128k) | Lo (24k)

Length: 13:05

Notes:
1:00  Daniel Bergstresser gives an overview of the study.
2:19  He says they found that funds sold through the broker channel, even before you subtract the distribution fees, perform worse than funds sold through the direct channel. (This applied to domestic equity funds)
3:00  He says the findings surprised them.
3:50 The five questions Dr. Bergstresser and his colleagues attempted to answer.
4:26  Some of the hypotheses they tested on where brokers create value for their customers. In the aggregate, he says, it doesn't look like brokers are delivering tangible benefits.
6:36  They looked at whether brokers corrected bad behavior, such as chasing returns. They didn't.
8:40  Load structures (commissions) and their bearing on which funds investors choose.
10:39  If you're looking for the benefits created by brokers, you need to look along less tangible dimensions than the ones Dr. Bergstresser and his peers studied.

Resources:

Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Brokers in the Mutual Fund Industry

Kim Snider, Kim Snider Financial Communications, Chronim Investments and/or Snider Advisors make no representation that the information and opinions expressed are accurate, complete or current. The opinions expressed should not be construed as financial, legal, tax, or other advice and are provided for informational purposes only. Call 866-952-0100 to request the Snider Investment Method™ Owner's Manual, which includes a description of the Snider Investment Method, investment objectives, risks, suitability and other information. Please read and consider carefully before investing. All investments are subject to risk including possible loss of principal.