The Phil Ferguson Show

Interview with Ben Pauluhn of Optimus Energy Solutions

They install home / business solar, floating solar, EV charging equipment.

https://optimusenergysolutions.com/

Discussion on my process of shopping for an additional EV.  Did I buy used or new?  How about a lease!

BaHaCon - Interview with Jeff Brooks and Robert Barnes.  We discuss the date and many of the cool parts of this years convention.

https://bahacon.com/

Some spaces are still available.

Correction on the Tesla charging network.

Can atheism hurt your business?

Some of today's topics...
Snarky review of 5 Broadway showsFuckerySuper shitty alternatives fundEV charging locations update.

Interview with David Gerard.  We discuss Crypto/Bitcoin and Ai.

I also briefly discuss our recent trip to Italy.

Life Ins (return of premium) - Pay extra but, you get everything you paid back - or do you?

4 books you should read to learn more about investing

Interval fund - a mutual fund that only allows you to get your money out 4 times per year.

REIT losses - another example of big losses with reits.

Long Term gains - Pay now or later.

EV information - 500 mile drive

Trump Tariffs.

Interview with Katherine Stewart.  She is the author of the new book "Money, Lies and God".  Here previous works are "The Power Worshippers" and "The Good News Club".

Investing Skeptically Segment on Tariffs, taxes, economics, inflation etc.

Interview with the Godless Engineer.  We discuss Jesus Mythicism, Creationism, Flat Earth and much more.

Investing Skeptically - What percentage of money can you safely remove from your portfolio per year.

Interview with Seth Andrews.  He runs "The Thinking Atheist" YouTube, website and Podcast.  We discuss current events and solve all of the worlds problems.

Special Market Adjustment.  Check with your tax professional and/ or advisor before taking any action.  This is not specific investment advice.

Interview with Abbie Smith.  She explains how the government helps fund research.  We also discuss how the federal government may now stop funding important research.

Annuity - Details on how an annuity work (or doesn't).

The general outline of the Polaris Plan has been slightly changed.  This episode discusses those adjustments and why they were made.

Also discussed - DeepSeek

Information on Trusts
Should you do a ROTH conversion?

Should you get a trust.  I go over some of the benefits of setting up a trust.ROTH conversion.  Discussion on the tax implications of converting IRA money into a ROTH IRA.Update on my opinion of Crypto currencies.news on upcoming conventionsTravel plansmore detail on how a convenience store makes money for EV drivers.

- Review of performance numbers for several indexes.
- Getting a loan vs investing in the Stock Market
- Review of EV charging infrastructure on I-57 in Illinois.  Now vs. 3 years ago.

FIRE - Financial independence - retire early. discussion on this philosophy and the idea of 4% withdrawal rate from your portfolio.
NEVI - National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure. More EV chargers and some math on how they make money.
NightShares - Another idea based on Cherry picking data. Does it work?
Sicily - Our one week vacation in this part of Italy.

Interview with Karin Kirk.

Karin Kirk is a geologist, science writer, and professional ski instructor from Bozeman, Montana. Her writing spans topics from Earth science to EVs and often is centered around data-rich visualizations – always with the goal of bringing clear and relatable explanations to confusing topics.In addition to writing for Yale Climate Connections, Karin is a science writer for NASA, where she writes about climate science and current events that shape the planet, such as wildfires, volcanic eruptions, sea ice, and weather events. She uses satellite imagery to track current Earth happenings and describe their significance to...

Investing Skeptically topices
What if your company out sources your pension to an Insursance Company?You have a big purchase soon.  Where should you put your money?  Cash, Savings.CD, Money Market, Ultra short bonds, etc....EV drive from Orlando to Allentown PA.  Range info, charging, preconditioning in cold weather.

Intervieew with Sarah Ray.  She is with the American Humanist Association.


https://thehumanist.com/contributor/sarah-ray/

Investing Skeptically:
Required Minimum distributionsStock Volatility vs time

Interview with Mickey Dollens.  He is a representative in Oklahoma.

Investing Skeptically:
An Example of how to use the Cushion.


https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives/mickey-dollens

Brief review of CSIcon in Las Vegas.
Total Stock Market performance
The Polaris Plan Part 6.5 (7?) Reit Fund
Church members steal $1.2 Million

Interview with Kate Cohen.  She is the author of "We of Little Faith - Why I stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too).

Investing Skeptically:  Re-balancing and diversification

Discussion of The Polaris Plan Part 6.  Allocation ideas for the US stock portion of the plan..
EV - I powered several items in my house using my car Battery.  Refrigerator, AC and also cooked some food.

The Polaris Plan 2025 - Part 5.  Allocation ideas for international funds.

Interview with Trust attorney John McNair from Texas.   Rules vary by state, get a local attorney for your legal questions.

Hurricane Milton prep.

Interiew with Ryan T Cragun and Jesse M Smith.  We discuss their new book - Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization.

Also,
The Polaris Plan Part 4
FFRF Conference review 
CSIcon in Vegas
Friends of the Show meetup

The Polaris Plan Part 3.  Discussion of "The Cushion".  Some fund ideas and how to allocate your positions.

Interview with Ray Smock.  Former historian for the US House of Representatives and Former director of the Robert C. Byrd center for Congressional History and Education at Shepard University.  We discuss Trump and the many lies he tells.

Also, a segment on the challenges of stock picking.

EV Charging - how to plan a trip with suggestions on when and where to stop.

The Polaris Plan - Stocks vs Bonds.  How much should you have in bonds and why?

Interview with Fish Stark.  He is the new Executive Director for the American Humanist Association.

Interview with The Apostate Sisters!  Learn about the cult they escaped from.  Also, check out their podcast and YouTube channel!

Also, what does it cost to put electricity into your car?

Investing Skeptically
The FED and mortage rates.  Are they connected?

An update on the never ending battle to make sales people into fiduciaries.  It is not looking good. 
How much cash should you have on hand?
What is it like to drive 1150 miles in an EV?

Investing Skeptically:
Re-balance, Long Term gains and tax ratesProblems with winning the lottery, viaticals, annuities

Interview with Ryan.  He found his way out of religion and shares his story!

Investing Skeptically:
Succession planningCrypto Astrologers
Also, Biden drops from the race and Harris takes his place.

Interview with Amanda Marcotte about Project 2025 and where it comes from!

Also, New examples of EV driving.  30 minutes of charging for 530 miles.  Lightning kills my desktop and I had to buy a new one.

Investing Skeptically:
- AI trading bot

Interview with religious scholar David Fitzgerald.  We discuss his 3 (yes, 3) new books - "Playing God" Vol 1,2 and 3.  David already has several books on religion:  "Nailed - Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed at All", "Jesus:  Mything in Action"(also in 3 parts) and "The Mormons".  David and his wife are also the authors of the fantastic trillogy "Time Shards".  Do things happen in 3s????

Investing Skeptically:
Self directed 401(k)In service distributionswhere old and small 401k accounts go to dieBahacon is August 9-11, 2024.
https://bahacon.com/

Investing Skeptically
bonds!  Index v Individual bondsPublic v non traded reitsRobert Green Ingersollcruise to Iceland,Ireland and Scotland

Detailed mathematical explination of the costs for Long Term Care Insurance.

Church Money

Medical insurance rant

Solar Panel update

Please help the Secular Student Alliance!  You can help 66.666 students right now!

May 31, 2024 is the last day!!!!

Send a Student to the SSA Conference.  When you start a new monthly donation or increase your existing monthly donation, Phil and Robin Ferguson will donate $150 to cover the registration and housing for a student to attend the conference.Up to $10,000When you make a new monthly donation or increase a current monthly donation (either for $10 or more), $150 will be donated, up to $10,000.With your assistance, our students can engage in their secular activism. You amplify their voices, help sh...

Interview with Stephen Ujlaki, the director of BAD FAITH.  This is a documentary that every American should see.


Also - review of another EV trip to Miami and back.


Investing Skeptically:
RMD - Required Minimum Distribution
Inflation numbers

Interview with Kelley Laughlin.  He is a host on Truth Wanted and The Non-Profits.  We talk about rock solid facts, crystals, big foot and much more.

Investing Skeptically:
Church Money with Joel OlsteenPrivate REITsTesla & ElonThe FED and Interest rates