Company Ownership and Structure - Dave Ramsey owns only 1% of Ramsey Solutions, with 99% of the stock transferred to his children a decade ago, now held in a Children's Trust [1] - The ownership structure is designed to align with the company's founding values, emphasizing operation "for God" and ensuring the next generation continues this mission [1][2] - Sharon Ramsey does not have ownership in Ramsey Solutions but possesses significant wealth in other assets [2] Company Operations and Financials - Ramsey Solutions is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, employs over 1,000 people, and generates a diverse range of content, including shows, financial wellness platforms, books, and online courses [2] - The company reported approximately $300 million in revenue last year [2] Business Advisory Insights - During a podcast, Ramsey provided advice to a small business owner on how to buy out his parents' share of a family business without incurring debt [3] - Ramsey challenged the business valuation provided by the owner's mother, stating it was overvalued by about $1 million based on net profit [4] - He suggested using the company's profits to facilitate the buyout, recommending a salary of $100,000 per year, setting aside 10% of profits for business operations, and paying the remainder to the parents monthly until the buyout is complete [4]

Core Insights - Ameriprise Financial reported a record fourth quarter and full year for 2025, achieving significant growth in earnings and assets under management [1][2] - The company was recognized as one of TIME's Most Iconic Companies for 2026 and ranked among the Best-Managed Companies by the Wall Street Journal [1][4] - Ameriprise's return on equity reached 53.2%, reflecting strong capital management and shareholder returns [1][2] Financial Performance - Fourth quarter GAAP net income per diluted share was $10.47, a slight decrease from $10.58 in the previous year, while full year GAAP net income per diluted share increased to $36.28 from $33.05 [1][2] - Adjusted operating earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter rose 16% to $10.83, and for the full year, it increased 14% to $39.29 [1][2] - Total adjusted operating net revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 10% to $4.9 billion, driven by asset growth and client engagement [1][2] Asset Management - Assets under management, administration, and advisement reached a record high of $1.7 trillion, up 11% year-over-year [1][2] - The Advice & Wealth Management segment generated adjusted operating net revenues of $3.2 billion, a 12% increase, with a pretax adjusted operating margin of 29.3% [1][2] - Wrap assets increased 17% to a record high of $670 billion, with net inflows of $12.1 billion in the quarter [2][5] Client Engagement and Advisor Productivity - Total client assets grew 13% to $1.2 trillion, with strong client flows of $13.3 billion [2][5] - The company experienced strong advisor recruitment, with 91 experienced advisors joining in the quarter [2][5] - Adjusted operating net revenue per advisor reached a new high of $1.1 million, an 8% increase from the previous year [2][5] Retirement & Protection Solutions - The Retirement & Protection Solutions segment reported adjusted operating net revenues of $991 million, a 3% increase, with sales rising 6% to $1.5 billion [2][5] - The segment's pretax adjusted operating earnings were $200 million, impacted by higher life claim expenses compared to the prior year [2][5] Corporate Recognition - Ameriprise was ranked 48 on TIME's list of America's Most Iconic Companies, highlighting its cultural significance and impact [4] - The company was also recognized as a Top 250 firm on the Wall Street Journal's Best-Managed Companies list, evaluated on various performance indicators [4]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of focusing on three key financial numbers to achieve financial health in the new year [2] - Total debt assessment is crucial, and individuals should list all accounts and amounts owed, including various types of loans and past-due balances [3][4] - Organizing debts into long-term and short-term categories can provide clarity on financial obligations and inform spending and saving habits [5] Group 2 - Payroll deductions should be reviewed at the beginning of the year, as changes to health insurance and other benefits typically take effect in January [6] - Adjusting payroll deductions for income taxes and retirement savings early can minimize the impact on take-home pay [7]

Group 1 - A 32-year-old individual named John from San Jose, California, is facing financial difficulties after losing his $120,000 analyst job, with concerns about his $105,000 in debts and the potential loss of his inherited home [1][2] - John has a $50,000 mortgage on the house, $10,000 in savings, and $50,000 in a 401(k), but with no income and his wife in law school, he is worried about meeting financial obligations [2][3] - His debts include $50,000 in student loans, $25,000 in a personal loan, $25,000 in a car loan, and $5,000 in credit card debt, with a limited financial cushion of $10,000 that he estimates could last four to six months [3][4] Group 2 - Financial experts Dave Ramsey and Ken Coleman emphasize the urgency of finding work rather than focusing on the risk of losing the house, advising John to seek immediate employment opportunities [4][5] - Coleman suggests exploring contract or freelance jobs while considering temporary work in warehouses, highlighting the importance of prioritizing financial stability over law school [5] - Ramsey criticizes John's lack of urgency in addressing his financial situation, stressing the need to take immediate action to manage bills and responsibilities [4][5]

Core Insights - Ghalib Kanji has joined the Global Wealth Solutions Group of Raymond James as Senior Vice President, bringing over 30 years of experience in various financial services [1][2][3] Company Overview - Raymond James Financial, Inc. is a leading diversified financial services company, providing services such as private client group, capital markets, asset management, and banking [4] - The company has approximately 8,700 financial advisors and total client assets amounting to $1.45 trillion [4] Leadership and Team Dynamics - Lisa Detanna, Managing Director of the Global Wealth Solutions Group, emphasizes Ghalib Kanji's extensive industry knowledge and commitment to client service as valuable assets for business growth [2] - Ghalib Kanji expressed excitement about joining the team and contributing fresh perspectives to create meaningful value for clients [3]

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Nearly 100 years before the first personal finance podcast, "The Richest Man in Babylon" by author George S. Clason taught readers to invest their money, save funds for emergencies, and structure their debt repayments. Financial gurus Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman have repeated much of the same information over the years, leading some to wonder whether personal finance advice has become too repetitive. "I ge ...

Core Insights - Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey emphasizes the importance of patience and discipline in investing, particularly during market downturns like the 2008 housing crash [2] - Ramsey's investment strategy focuses on purchasing properties with cash, avoiding debt entirely, which he believes mitigates risk and ensures stability during economic challenges [2][3] - The company reported a revenue of $300 million this year and holds an estimated $850 million in real estate assets, all acquired without borrowing [2] Investment Strategy - Ramsey acquired properties during the 2008 crisis for as low as 15 to 20 cents on the dollar, highlighting the potential for significant returns during market lows [2] - The strategy involves buying properties one at a time, allowing cash flow to build momentum for future acquisitions [4] - Ramsey's approach contrasts with common investment advice, advocating for slow, cash-based growth rather than leveraging debt [3][4] Real Estate Insights - The Ramsey Solutions campus was purchased for $10 million, demonstrating a commitment to cash purchases even when immediate development was not feasible [3] - Ramsey notes that properties without debt generate substantial cash flow, which can accelerate further investments [4] - He stresses that patience is crucial for building lasting wealth, advocating for incremental progress in real estate investments [4]

Core Viewpoint - Dave Ramsey advocates for pausing 401(k) contributions for up to eighteen months to aggressively pay off debt, emphasizing stability before growth [1][2]. Group 1: Ramsey's Strategy - Ramsey's approach aims to free up cash for debt repayment, encouraging individuals to tackle their debt with urgency [2]. - The strategy appeals to those seeking financial control and simplicity in a complex financial landscape [3]. Group 2: Expert Opinions - Robert Johnson criticizes Ramsey's advice, arguing that pausing 401(k) contributions means missing out on employer matches, which is a significant financial mistake [4]. - Melanie Musson supports Ramsey's view but warns that individuals must be committed to using the freed-up funds solely for debt repayment [5][6]. - Leslie Tayne acknowledges the potential benefits of pausing contributions for those overwhelmed by debt but cautions against forgoing employer matches [6].

Appointments - Joao Laranjo was appointed as the chief financial officer of Stellantis, retaining his role as CFO of Stellantis North America, a position he has held since February 2025 [2] - Bryan Castellani joined Genius Sports as CFO, previously serving as CFO of Warner Music Group and holding executive roles at ESPN and Disney [3] - Dan Feeley was named finance chief and treasurer of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, having previously served as chief budget and planning officer since 2021 [4] - Steve Rai was hired as CFO of OpenText, previously serving as CFO of BlackBerry Limited and holding senior finance positions at PMC-Sierra and PricewaterhouseCoopers [5] - Jason Yee was promoted to chief financial officer at Achieve, having served as executive vice president of corporate development and strategy for nine years [6]

Core Insights - The discussion centers around the financial implications of creating a separate limited liability company (LLC) for leasing equipment back to existing businesses, emphasizing that there are no tax advantages to this approach [1][2]. Financial Implications - Establishing a separate LLC for leasing assets does not generate new income, as it merely involves transferring funds between owned entities, described as "moving from the front pocket to the back pocket" [2]. - Leasing equipment to oneself results in a financial wash, meaning it does not create additional revenue [2]. Risk Management - The primary benefit of setting up a separate LLC is for liability protection, which is a form of risk management [3]. - Separating assets into different entities can help mitigate damage in the event of lawsuits, as it limits exposure to liability [3]. - It is advised to keep the value of real estate within a single LLC below $10 million to avoid becoming a significant target for lawsuits [3].