EAP 132: Pandemic-Proof Your Finances

Our guest on this episode of the Early Accountability Podcast is Jonathan Bolton, a financial and investment advisor with Wilson Wealth. It is safe to say that the events of 2020 have come as a shock to everyone, and many people have found themselves falling on hard times due to the pandemic itself, job losses, unexpected expenses, and emotional stress. Jonathan is here to share with us some good ideas for reviewing, analyzing, and adjusting our finances to ensure that we are in a better spot financially if and when another pandemic-like event takes place. 1. Save and invest more – While many people say that an emergency fund of 3-6 months is sufficient, COVID-19 has proven that it is probably better to have a 12-month emergency fund. Jonathan recommends having 2 months of cash accessible in savings and 10 months in a brokerage account as an investment that is still pretty liquid. 2. Reevaluate your needs and wants – Take a hard look at your expenses and ask yourself if they are necessary or frivolous. If you are like the rest of America, your discretionary spending has likely gone down and your savings have likely gone up since COVID-19. 3. Being rich vs. being wealthy – To be rich is to have a significant income. To be wealthy is to have significant assets. It is fine to be rich, but it is better to be wealthy, to accumulate assets through real estate investing, owning a business, and investing in stock. 4. Labor is expensive – Businesses these days are especially conscious of their labor expenses. Use this knowledge to your advantage and negotiate equity in the company into your contract in order to protect yourself in the future. Topics Covered in this Episode: • COVID-19 • New normal • Creating habits • Finances • Pandemic-proof finances Connect with Jonathan: https://www.wilsonwealth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jon_bolston/