Money Pro Tips: A Q&A with Licensed Adviser Jeff Laidlaw
Each week, we ask a personal finance or business expert for their money pro tips. This week, we talked to Jeff Laidlaw, a licensed adviser. Here's a look at how he manages his finances and his best advice for others.
Last Thing You Resisted Buying
Q: What was the last thing you resisted buying?
A: A new swimsuit.
Q: How did you resist it?
A: I waited until they sold out of my size.
Last Thing You Splurged On
Q: What was the last thing you splurged on?
A: Apple AirPods.
Q: Why’d you OK the splurge?
A: The constant headache of headphones in a knot.
Biggest Money Worry
Q: What’s your biggest money worry?
A: What am I doing with my retirement accounts?
Q: What are you doing about it?
A: I opened an individual retirement account (IRA) with Betterment and am catching up on contributions. I also opened another “rainy day” investment account with Betterment to save up for either a large purchase or an emergency.
Money Thing You’re Most Proud Of
Q: What money-related achievement are you most proud of?
A: I just paid off one of my two remaining student loans.
Best Financial Advice You Ever Got
Q: What’s the best financial advice you’ve ever received?
A: Pay off your credit card weekly.
No. 1 Money Tip
Q: What’s your number one money tip?
A: Review finances often. We use Mint.
What Would You Do with a $1 Million Windfall?
Q: What would you do if you received a $1 million windfall?
A: Invest most of it, help my parents fix their roof, and then go on a nice vacation.
How Do You Budget?
Q: How do you budget?
A: Feel extreme guilt spending money and feel good about saving money. It honestly helps me curb most spending.
Money Must-Read
Q: What’s a must-read money book you recommend?
A: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi.
Credit or Debit?
Q: Do you prefer credit or debit?
A: Credit always (Get those points!).
Want more money pro tips? Check out our finance blogs.
Description: A person reading financial tips from Jeff Laidlaw, a licensed adviser, reflecting on their own money management strategies.
