Henssler Money Talks
Henssler Money Talks is your trusted resource for your money, your future, your life. We discuss current market conditions and financial planning encompassing spending, saving, taxes, investments, insurance, retirement, estate plans, and more. We are here to answer your financial questions—email drgene@henssler.com or call 1-855-429-9166.
Money Talks: Your trusted resource for your money, your future, your life.
Henssler Money Talks
August 29, 2026: Debt, Discounts, & Donations
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How much national debt is too much? We start with a listener question inspired by an economics lesson from the 1970s, comparing the nation’s debt with the size of the economy and discussing what could signal that the debt burden is becoming harder to sustain. We also examine the bond market’s role in keeping government borrowing in check and what could eventually threaten the U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s dominant reserve currency.
Then, Henssler Mortgage Advisors’ Shanna Squires joins us to break down mortgage rate buydowns. From paying points for a permanently lower rate to temporary buydowns and seller concessions, we look at what buyers are actually paying for, what goes in to calculating your break-even point, and why plans to sell or refinance can change the equation.
Finally, a listener considering a sizable charitable gift asks whether it makes more sense to donate cash or highly appreciated stock. We explore the potential tax advantages of donating appreciated securities, why selling the stock first can change the outcome, and whether donating the shares and then buying the investment back could provide an opportunity to reset cost basis while maintaining market exposure.
Join hosts Nick Antonucci, CVA, CEPA, Director of Research, and Managing Associates K.C. Smith, CFP®, CEPA, and D.J. Barker, CWS®, and Kelly-Lynne Scalice, a seasoned communicator and host, on Henssler Money Talks as they explore key financial strategies to help investors navigate market uncertainty.
Henssler Money Talks August 29, 2026 | Season 40, Episode 35
Timestamps and Chapters
- 6:51: $40 Trillion in Debt: How Worried Should We Be?
- 25:16: Buying Down Mortgage Rates: Worth It or Waste?
- 38:01: Turning Stock Gains into Charitable Giving
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