Jason Yost is a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro
As a Dave Ramsey SmartVestor Pro we provide the same type of philosophy and responsible financial planning that you’ve come to expect from Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University and The Dave Ramsey Show.
What is a SmartVestor and who are the Pros?
The SmartVestor program is made up of financial advisors and other investing pros from across the nation. We call them SmartVestor Pros. And we’ve been helping match people with them for over 20 years. SmartVestor Pros work for investment advisor or broker-dealer firms—so they aren’t employees of Ramsey Solutions, and their firms aren’t affiliated with us. But they’re not just any old pros.
Here are some of the reasons people choose to work with SmartVestor Pros:
They know Ramsey values.
SmartVestor Pros won’t look at you funny for saving and getting out of debt before investing. And they agree to our Code of Conduct.
They're experienced.
They have at least two years of full-time experience as a registered investing professional with our program.
They serve with excellence.
They’ll teach and guide but won’t intimidate. Ongoing sessions with a SmartVestor Coach maintain our high standards of customer service.
Do you really need a SmartVestor Pro?
Sure, you could wing it with investing and go after financial goals on your own. But what could you be missing out on by not tapping into the help of an investing pro?
They save you time
You won’t need to keep up with investment research or the stock market in your spare time.
They teach you
You’ll have someone helping you make informed decisions about your investing goals and financial needs.
They think big picture
Through market changes, they can be the voice of reason and help you stay focused on your goals.
What are the baby steps?
Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps will show you how to save for emergencies, pay off all your debt for good, and build wealth.
Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund
Save $1,000 for your starter emergency fund. In this first step, your goal is to save $1,000 as fast as you can. Your emergency fund will cover those unexpected life events you can't plan for. And there are plenty of them. You don’t want to dig a deeper hole while you’re trying to work your way out of debt!
Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball
Next, it’s time to pay off the cars, the credit cards and the student loans. Start by listing all of your debts except for your mortgage. Put them in order by balance from smallest to largest—regardless of interest rate. Pay minimum payments on everything but the little one. Attack that one with a vengeance. Once it's gone, take that payment and put it toward the second-smallest debt, making minimum payments on the rest. That's what's called the debt snowball method, and you’ll use it to knock out your debts one by one.
Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully Funded Emergency Fund
You’ve paid off your debt! Don’t slow down now. Take that money you were throwing at your debt and build a fully funded emergency fund that covers 3–6 months of your expenses. This will protect you against life’s bigger surprises, like the loss of a job or your car breaking down, without slipping back into debt.
Invest 15% of your household income in retirement.
Now you can shift your focus off debts and what-ifs and start looking up the road. This is where you begin regularly investing 15% of your gross income for retirement. Because if you're still working at 67, it should be because you want to, not because you have to. An investing pro can help you build a solid strategy.
Save for your children's college fund.
By this step, you've paid off all debts (except the house) and started saving for retirement. Next, it's time to save for your children’s college expenses (that is, if they pass Algebra II and Chemistry). We recommend 529 college savings plans or ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).
Pay off your home early.
Now, bring it all home. Baby Step 6 is the big dog! Your mortgage is the only thing between you and complete freedom from debt. Can you imagine your life with no house payment? Any extra money you can put toward your mortgage could save you tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars in interest.
Build wealth and give.
You know what people with no debt can do? Anything they want! The last step is the most fun. You can live and give like no one else. Keep building wealth and become outrageously generous, all while leaving an inheritance for your kids and their kids. Now that's what we call leaving a legacy!
W.J. Yost Financial Services and how we can help you
Investing Management
At W.J. Yost, our business is your financial well-being. We believe investment advice should go well beyond the here and now and also look towards the future. It’s about your life and managing the challenges that come along with it. All those ups and downs.
Organize and Plan
Building a personal financial plan takes process, planning and strategy. At W.J. Yost, we get to know you, not just the numbers in your portfolio. Then we provide customized advice and solutions to help you reach your financial goals.
Getting Started
Want to know what it takes to get started and our process? To start any financial or retirement plan we need to first organize your finances. We have to know where you are and what you have before we can see what the future may look like.
"They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." 1 Timothy 6:18