Ask Ralph Blog

What Should You Consider When Choosing Between a Lump-Sum or Annual Retirement Payout? Retirement brings plenty of financial decisions, and one of the biggest is how to receive your savings. In this episode of The Ask Ralph Podcast, financial exper…

9 Unexpected Costs of Selling Your Home (And How to Prepare for Them) Selling your home can be an exciting milestone, but it also comes with hidden costs that can eat into your profits if you’re unprepared. In this episode of The Ask Ralph Po…

Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft: Essential Steps When You Lose Your Wallet Losing your wallet can be overwhelming and put you at risk for identity theft. Besides the inconvenience of replacing your cards and IDs, there's a serious d…

What Are the 7 Common Traits of Americans Who Can Never Retire? Some Americans work their entire lives and are still unable to retire comfortably. Why does this happen? In Episode 274 of the Ask Ralph Show, Ralph Estep Jr. tackles the question, Wha…

How Can I Manage My Anxiety by Using My Faith?  In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety seems to be a constant companion, especially when financial pressures mount. If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by worry and unsure how to …

Should I have joint accounts with my children or rely on a Power of Attorney? Managing your finances as you age can be complicated, especially when deciding whether to open a joint account with your children or set up a power of attorney. Financial…

How Do I Budget for My Pet Care Expenses? Pets bring love and joy into our lives, but they also come with financial responsibilities. In Episode 271 of the Ask Ralph Show, Ralph Estep Jr. tackles the question, How do I budget for my pet care expens…

What Steps Can You Take to Avoid a Tax Time Bomb in Retirement? Your retirement savings may seem secure, but what if it's hiding a potential tax time bomb? In Episode 270 of the Ask Ralph Show, Ralph Estep Jr. explores the steps you can take to pre…

How Can You Discuss Pension Income During the Dating Process? Talking about finances, especially pensions, while dating later in life can be daunting. In Episode 269 of the Ask Ralph Show, Ralph Estep Jr. answers the question, How can you discuss p…

What Are the Top 7 Debt Collection Scams to Avoid? Dealing with debt collectors can be stressful enough, but when scammers enter the picture, the situation becomes even more dangerous. In this episode of The Ask Ralph Podcast, Ralph Estep Jr. outli…