Everyone has financial ghosts—old decisions, forgotten expenses, or long-ignored habits that creep back into the present and shape our financial lives. In this episode, we explore three practical strategies to tackle your financial ghosts, reduce money stress, and build a healthier long-term financial foundation. Richard Rosso & Jonathan McCarty break down how to evaluate your household debt-to-income ratios, identify where spending silently grows, and improve the financial conversations inside your home. You'll learn how better awareness, open communication, and a disciplined review of expenses can help transform financial uncertainty into clarity and confidence. 0:00 - INTRO 0:19 - Coffee Stains & Christmas Movies 5:02 - Money Distress for the Holidays 8:15 - December is the Month to Review Financial History 14:45 - Set Financial Goals 17:35 - The Math of Monthly Payments 18:50 - Housing Expense Ratios 27:08 - Variable Expense Ratios 33:16 - Looking at Emergency Preparedness 36:22 - Money Communication is Key 39:32 - Communicate Financial Failures as Learning Opportunities 45:10 -Dealing with Instant Gratification 45:58 - Communicate Financial Intentions 46:47 - Christmas Tree Inflation & Rosso's Razzle Dazzle Hosted by RIA Advisors Director of Financial Planning, Richard Rosso, CFP, w Senior Investment Advisor, Jonathan McCarty, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj0imDEqFLE&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Volatility After the Fed," is here: https://youtu.be/gnorFZc1qM8 ------- Articles Mentioned in Today's Show: "Holiday Legacy Conversations" https://realinvestmentadvice.com/financial-survival-guides-gated/ -------- REGISTER for our 2026 Economic Summit, "The Future of Digital Assets, Artificial Intelligence, and Investing:" https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-ria-economic-summit-tickets-1765951641899?aff=oddtdtcreator ------- Watch our previous show, "Bifurcated Fed Cuts Rates: What's Next?" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT1azosP1yk&list=PLVT8LcWPeAuhi47sn298HrsWYwmg8MV7d&index=1 -------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestm entadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #FinancialWellness #MoneyMistakes #PersonalFinanceTips #DebtManagement #WealthBuilding
