Podcast Summary

Podcast: George Kamel, Ramsey Network
Episode: How I Would Invest $100,000 Today | Responding to Comments
Air Date: January 7, 2026
Host: George Kamel

Episode Overview

This episode centers on George Kamel answering a wide spectrum of wealth-building and personal finance questions from listeners. The main theme is how George would invest $100,000 today, but the discussion expands to address common financial myths, retirement planning, education savings, pensions, and the pitfalls of trendy investment strategies. George's tone is direct, humor-laced, and grounded in the Ramsey money philosophy: prioritize simplicity, minimize risk, and pursue steady, well-researched investments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How George Would Invest $100,000 Today

Timestamp: 00:05

• Main Strategy:

  • Max out all retirement options first, such as the Roth IRA ($7,500 for 2026).
  • Invest the remainder ($92,500) in a non-retirement index fund via a brokerage account.
  • Rationale: Index funds offer historically strong returns (10–12% annually, per S&P 500) with minimal hassle or risk.
  • Rule of 72: Money doubles every seven years at 10% annual return.

• On Risk & Alternatives:

  • Acknowledges real estate and business ventures may offer higher returns, but with significantly more risk and "hassle factor."
  • George prefers low-risk, passive strategies.

  “For me, as a guy who doesn’t want any more risk and hassle factor in my life, I would just park it in the index fund and be done with it. Final answer. If anyone says otherwise, they're dimwits.”
  — George Kamel [01:38]

2. Why Gold Is a Poor Long-Term Investment

Timestamp: 03:50

• Debunking Gold Myths:

  • Gold hasn’t outperformed the S&P or Dow over the past 10–15 years.
  • Gold ($1,000 invested in 1989 = $9,711 today) vs. mutual funds ($51,518 over the same period).
  • Gold is illiquid and its value is mostly driven by fear; selling involves hassle and fees.

  “These industries like the gold industry, it’s rife with scams and fraud and gold has no apparent value. You gotta sell it to get any money out of it.”
  — George Kamel [05:07]

• On Gold Ownership:

  • “If I’m going to own gold, it’s going to be a sweet chain around my neck, not a bar, because I’m scared of something happening with the economy.” [06:00]

3. The Role of Pensions in Retirement Planning

Timestamp: 07:00

• Pensions are “gravy”—nice if they last, but not a substitute for personal investing.

• Concerns: Uncertainty of pension solvency, typically lower annual returns (6–7%), and pensions usually don’t transfer to heirs.

• Suggestion: Still save/invest 15% of income in retirement accounts (Baby Step 4, Ramsey plan) regardless of expected pension.

  “The pension generally dies with you… But if you have it in an IRA or 401k, your children, your spouse can inherit those funds and continue to invest it. So it creates generational wealth.”
  — George Kamel [08:10]

4. Best Practices for Old 401(k) Plans When Changing Jobs

Timestamp: 09:20

• Don’t leave your money with old employers—fees and fund options aren't optimal.
• Do a direct rollover into an IRA:
  • If your account was traditional, roll over into a traditional IRA (and same with Roth).
  • IRA offers more investment options versus a typical employer plan.
  • Only stick with 401(k) if the new plan is exceptionally strong.

5. Safe Timelines for Investing in Index Funds for Major Goals

Timestamp: 13:01

• Listener Question: Saving for a house down payment in 8–10 years—better to use index funds or high-yield savings?

• Rule of thumb:

  • If the goal is 5+ years away, investing in an index fund makes sense.
  • If <5 years, choose a high-yield savings account to avoid volatility.

• If saving for a house takes 10 years, that's a sign to re-examine budget, income, or expenses.

  “For five plus years, if it’s non retirement, index fund is great. If it’s less than five years, I start to lean toward that high yield savings account. Because the longer time horizon you have, the better chance you have of getting that 10 to 12%... In the short term, it’s gonna be much rockier of a roller coaster.”
  — George Kamel [14:05]

6. Education Savings Accounts: College Fund Flexibility

Timestamp: 21:58

• 529 Plans and ESAs:

  • You can change beneficiaries easily.
  • If child doesn’t need funds for education, up to $35,000 can be rolled over into a retirement account under Secure Act 2.0.
  • Regular brokerage accounts are more flexible, but George cautions against custodial accounts (UGMA/UTMA) due to lack of parental control at age of majority.

  “If they don’t go to college and they don’t use all the funds, you can always move the funds over... you just set your kid up either way.”
  — George Kamel [23:40]

7. Investing When Self-Employed

Timestamp: 29:26

• Options: Solo 401(k), SEP IRA.
• Contributions can be made as both employer and employee.
• Solo 401(k) is preferred for individuals or spouses.
• Advises consulting a financial pro for setup.

8. How Much Will You Really Need to Retire?

Timestamp: 46:19

• It’s impossible to state a universal retirement number due to inflation and lifestyle differences.

• Follow the 15% rule and the Ramsey plan: stay out of debt (including mortgage) and consistently invest, and you’ll be prepared.

• Encourages listeners to use retirement calculators and plan for more rather than less.

  “Can you imagine if I was like, Dylan, you need $1.8 million. 40 years from now, I don’t know how much you’re going to need. I don’t know what your lifestyle is going to be.”
  — George Kamel [47:04]

9. Ending on Humor & Discipline

Timestamp: 71:17

• Funny, lighthearted banter: “Are you a smart fella or a fart smella?”

• The juxtaposition is played for laughs.

• George wraps up with a call to disciplined, unsexy investing:

  “At the end of the day, investing is all about being willing to have the discipline and play the long game and do the boring unsexy stuff. But even though building wealth the right way does take time, it doesn’t have to be complicated.”
  — George Kamel [73:00]

Notable Quotes

• On simplicity in investing:

  “It’s not complicated… you just need to know the right steps to take.”
  — George Kamel [73:30]

• On gold bugs and fear:

  “Gold is a fear-based investment, sold by opportunistic fear mongers... what you’re saying is every company in America is going to go bankrupt.”
  — George Kamel [05:27]

• On generational wealth:

  “If you have it in an IRA or 401(k), your children, your spouse can inherit those funds and continue to invest it. So it creates generational wealth.”
  — George Kamel [08:10]

Memorable Moments

• George’s humorous opening about answering questions from “carrier pigeon” (with poop on the mailbox) [00:07]
• The sharp dismissal of gold as an investment (“If anyone says otherwise, they're dimwits.”) [01:38]
• A roast of a listener’s joke—“Are you a smart fella or a fart smella?”—and George’s playful analysis [71:17]
• Critique of custodial accounts: “I remember when I was 18 or 21... if you were like, 'Hey, $150,000 is legally yours to do what you want with.' It would be gone like that. Poof.” [25:09]

Key Takeaways

• Invest in what you understand and can control—index funds and retirement accounts over trendy, risky, or fear-driven assets.
• Don’t count exclusively on pensions or gifts; always have your own backup plan.
• For big purchases 5+ years out, index funds are a good option—otherwise, save safely.
• For your kids, prioritize flexibility in education savings and maintain control of accounts.
• Being self-employed unlocks excellent retirement account options—don’t neglect this advantage.
• There is no magic retirement number—consistency, discipline, and avoiding debt are paramount.
• Embrace long-term, patient investing—it’s not sexy, but it works.