AAR21 - 5 Ratios to Understand Your Financial Situation

AAR21 - 5 Ratios to Understand Your Financial Situation

Author: By Andrew Sather, Stephen Morris, and Evan Raidt | Stock Market Guide to Buying Stocks October 28, 2025 Duration: 51:23
You can find Evan's custom home buying spreadsheet by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://Einvestingforbeginners.com/homebuying In this episode, Evan Raidt and returning guest Dave Ahern dive deep into essential financial ratios crucial for maintaining and tracking your financial well-being. They discuss various topics, including savings rate, cost of needs ratio, the importance of emergency funds, net investment ratio, debt to income ratio, and a bonus segment on partner income ratio for couples. The discussion emphasizes the importance of using these ratios as guidelines for personal financial improvement rather than strict benchmarks and advises against comparing oneself to others. The episode also touches on the practical aspects of managing these ratios, including setting up automated savings and handling joint finances responsibly. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:31 Understanding Financial Ratios 01:49 The Danger of Comparisons 04:59 Calculating Your Savings Rate 06:18 Gross vs. Net Income 09:03 Cost of Needs Ratio 16:32 Emergency Fund Ratio 21:32 The Importance of an Emergency Fund 22:59 Understanding the Net Investment Ratio 25:16 Calculating Your Net Worth 30:08 Debt to Income Ratio Explained 37:14 The Dangers of Buy Now, Pay Later 39:53 Partner Income Ratio in Relationships 43:18 Final Thoughts and Practical Tips Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening. Today’s show is sponsored by: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOPIFY.COM/beginners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start selling with Shopify today. Squeeze the most out of your Summer with Liquid I.V. Tear. Pour. Live More. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LIQUID-IV DOT COM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get 20% off your first order with code INVESTING at checkout. Leesa has a lineup of beautifully crafted mattresses tailored to how you sleep – without the luxury price tag. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leesa.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, promo code INVESTING for 25% off mattresses PLUS an extra $50 off. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tesbros.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code POD15 for 15% off your first order. For our EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY, and your chance to win a DIY PPF Full Body Wrap kit tailored to your ride, simply go to this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://station.page/tesbros/contest/theinvestingfor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have questions? Send them to Evan at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠evan@einvestingforbeginners.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you’d like to discuss sponsorship or advertising opportunities, shoot us an email at equity@einvestingforbeginners.com. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tunein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating the stock market can feel like deciphering a foreign language, but it doesn't have to. The Investing for Beginners Podcast-Your Path to Financial Freedom, hosted by Andrew Sather, Stephen Morris, and Evan Raidt, exists to translate that complexity into clear, actionable understanding. This isn't about get-rich-quick schemes; it's a practical guide built on foundational principles. Each episode breaks down how successful, long-term strategies actually work, focusing on core approaches like value investing and dividend growth investing. You'll also hear how elements of growth investing and trend following can fit into a thoughtful plan. The hosts delve into the psychological side of the market, discussing how to recognize and potentially benefit from the emotional swings that drive prices, rather than being driven by them. Tuning into this podcast provides a structured education in buying stocks with confidence, moving from uncertainty to a place where you can make your own informed decisions. It’s a steady resource for anyone building their financial literacy from the ground up, aiming to turn the intimidating world of investing into a manageable part of their journey toward greater independence.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Investing for Beginners Podcast - Your Path to Financial Freedom
Podcast Episodes
AAR46 - Financial Half-Truths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:35
In this episode, Evan dives deep into the realities of debt, including the emotional and financial impact of paying off a mortgage early. We challenge the age-old myth that "renting is throwing away money" and explore ho…
The Complexity Myth: Why Investing is Simpler Than You Think [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
In this episode, Andrew and Stephen step away from in-depth stock market analysis to tackle a more personal topic: how to talk to the people you love about investing. Stephen shares a personal story about his dad's journ…
A Contrarian Take on AI: Is It Time to Buy Software Stocks? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:38
In this episode, Andrew tackles a listener's question about the recent brutal sell-off in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sector and whether AI is coming to eat Adobe’s lunch. He dives into the real threats facing softw…
AAR45 - Is Dollar Cost Averaging Losing You Money? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:54
In today’s episode, Evan (aka Aaron) Raidt and Andrew Sather tackle one of the most debated questions in the investing world: Should you drip your money into the market slowly or dump it all in at once? We break down the…
Part 2 Translating the Corporate "Suit": Your Guide to Q1 Earnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
In Part 2 of our deep dive into earnings calls, Stephen and Andrew translate the weird metaphors Wall Street loves to use. From "headwinds" to the confusing "puts and takes," they decode exactly what CEOs mean. Andrew ex…
Part 1 Translating the Corporate "Suit": Your Guide to Q1 Earnings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:04
In this back-to-basics episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew tackle one of the most intimidating hurdles for new stock pickers: Earnings Calls. Wall Street loves to use complex acronyms to ma…
AAR44 - Taxes Nobody Warns You About [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:47
In this episode of At Any Rate, Evan and Andrew break down the hidden tax traps that can catch even the most responsible investors off guard. From the brutal reality of self-employment taxes on your side hustle to the su…
Dividends vs. Buybacks & The Great Tax Deferral Debate [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:19
In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew break down the ultimate capital allocation debate: Dividends versus Stock Buybacks. They discuss the mechanics of how retiring shares increases y…
Debunking Wall Street: Why Common Sense Hurts Your Portfolio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:05
In this episode of the Investing for Beginners podcast, Stephen and Andrew take aim at "common sense" stock market advice that might actually be hurting your portfolio. The guys expose 10 sophisticated-sounding traps tha…