Moneytrack

Now in its third season on U.S. public television nationwide  (2009), co-hosts Pam Krueger and Jack Gallagher cut through the clutter to offer need-to-know- information on investing money in real estate, stocks, bonds and commodities. Topics include: thriving during a recession; navigating retirement; finding the best 401K plans; managing the financial and emotional strains of caring for children and aging parents and avoiding investment fraud.Pam and Jack are joined by guests such as TV personality Ben Stein, syndicated personal finance writer Jane Bryant Quinn, and “Investing 101″ reporter Rob Black, who provide tips for those seeking to take greater control over their finances.

“Part of the series is dedicated to teaching investors how to protect themselves against potential abuse,” said Pamela Krueger, executive producer and host of MoneyTrack. “This is an entirely new breed of personal finance programming designed to educate consumers about saving, investing and protecting their assets. We recognize that many consumers are threatened by their lack of understanding about finances,” said Krueger. “MoneyTrack is designed to show consumers that they do not have to know everything about business or Wall Street in order to retire and live well.”

The series also includes a layman’s guide to the global economy that explains what a global economy means to every investor’s future. Each show also includes a “Scam Alert” report to help viewers avoid the most common frauds.

Season 3 (Episodes 301-315)

#301: The Changing Face of Wall Street – We’ve just lived through the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, but what’s being done to prevent this situation from happening again and wreaking havoc on your financial future? In the season opener, Pam takes a walk down Wall Street to see how this epicenter of money has changed – and what that means for market investors.

#302: How to Become a Millionaire in One Easy Step – What do an old shoebox, a country girl in Texas, a big insurance company and millions of dollars have to do with an investment strategy? Meet Lyndall Scott Russell, a 101-year-old woman from Fort Worth, TX. She bought $315 worth of stock in an insurance firm back in 1950, put the stock certificates in a shoebox, then became a multi-millionaire and the largest single shareholder in the company. Lyndall gives great advice about how patience is an essential ingredient to successful investing.

Episode 303: Is your Retirement in Danger? So you think you’re on the road to a secure retirement? So did Steve and Linda Adams, a wealthy couple in Falmouth, MA, earning more than $300,000 a year. But one wrong turn, like overspending or a volatile stock market, could steer their very comfortable lifestyle right off a cliff. We sent a certified financial planner to the Adams’ home to calculate their route to retirement and see if they’re on course.

#305: Lessons from a High School Scam Artist – Ever wonder who’s on the other side of those stock message boards and financial blogs on the Internet, and why they want you to buy or sell a certain stock? Meet one ex-con who tells us how easy it was to lure so many investors into his get-rich schemes as he practiced the Internet “pump and dump” — and he was just a kid in high school!

#306: Straight Talk with John Bogle – He’s low on fees, big on diversification and gives straight talk on the simple way to invest. In this episode, Pam sits down with John C. Bogle, founder of Vanguard mutual funds and one of the most respected investment experts around, to talk about why his style of investing still works well for small investors.

#307: Join the Investment Club – This episode focuses on investment clubs, and how members should make an informed group decision instead of simply following the herd. Meet Tomas and Jose Avila, identical twins who each founded an investment club. Their members, Honduran immigrants in New York City, research companies and mutual funds, and decide where, when and whether to invest. Whether their holdings skyrocket or stutter, members of both clubs view every decision as a great lesson in investing wisely.

#308: MoneyTrack on Main Street – Wonder what happened to the typical American during this recession? In this episode, meet the real Joe the Plumber. Joseph Giannone, a third-generation plumber from South Philadelphia, explains how events on Wall Street have affected him and other Main Street workers. You’ll see how banks’ bad moves affect credit limits, interest rates and loans, making it harder for small businesses to survive.

# 309: Sandwich Generation — Millions of baby boomers in America are sandwiched between taking care of their growing children and their aging parents. Bob and Jeanie Turner’s story sheds light on this challenging situation.  Pam and Jack, with the help of Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger Finance, will teach viewers how to manage these financial and emotional strains.

#310: The Town that Got Taken — Who can you really trust?  This episode features an entire town that got taken by a scam. The Squibbs, a couple who was a pillar of the community, cheated over 100 people in Mishawaka, Indiana and surrounding towns out of their life savings for a total of $13 million.  Pam and Jack discuss the psychology of why affinity fraud cases happen with Dr. Phil and how to protect against it with Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita.

#311: The Naked Truth about Investing — Do the super-wealthy really have better access to investment research and tools than the typical investor? Pam and Jack offer proof that using sophisticated investment strategies does not always lead to higher returns.

#312: Whiz Kid – John Paul Pigeon — Viewers will meet John Paul Pigeon, a 14 year old who is an inspiration for not only his generation but also for all Americans to save, invest, manage money and earn wealth.  Pam and Jack talk to Jump$tart Coalition’s Executive Director Laura Levine about motivating future generations to become better investors by getting back to the basics of investing.

# 313: Real Estate — The housing bubble may have burst, but creative thinkers are finding ways to make the most out of a bad situation. Jack Gallagher hits the streets of Sacramento to explain how real estate can still be part of a safe, long-term investment strategy.

#314: Money and Marriage — The old adage rings true… two heads are better than one. When Bill and Debbie Reslock’s architecture firm took a major hit, they decided that they would not let the financial stresses demolish their marriage. Pam and Jack show how to keep a relationship above water, even during major financial storms.

#315: Hot Topics Show — This year, ethics, financial advisers and down-n-dirty stock picking make our hot list in this season’s wrap up. Pam and Jack discuss important topics in response to viewer emails.

Season 2  (Episodes 201 -215)

#201: A True Investing 101 – The season opener is a fun to watch overview explaining the history of Wall Street and cycles of the economy. Pam and Jack, with the help of legendary investor, John Bogle, provide a down-to-earth explanation of how much risk to take when investing. The Scam Alert features a hedge fund scam aimed at NFL players. Just phone or email your own state’s Securities Regulator every state has one and he or she can tell you whether the deal is real.

#202: Mr. Earl: If He Can Do It So Can You – Meet Mr. Earl, a parking lot attendant in Baltimore who has never made more than 12 dollars an hour, yet he has accumulated a fortune investing in high quality stocks. The Scam Alert features a scheme where people invested in a brand new “technology” where cars were supposed to run on water.

#203:  Family and Money: A Battle of the Wills – This episode tackles the issues around inheritance. Pam and Jack show viewers how to protect their assets and their families from the disasters that can happen when there is no estate planning. The Scam Alert introduces Ruth and Len Mitchell, whose entire retirement nest egg was destroyed through affinity fraud.

#204: Retirement Reality Check – Join Pam and Jack on the beach in Cape Cod as they focus on how much money is really required to have a comfortable retirement. David Bach shows viewers how much money they can spend each year without running out. The Scam Alert features so-called “Elder Experts” and tells the story of a couple who lost all of their money to a senior specialist.

#205: Taking Control of Your Online Investments – Meet Andy, a 27-year-old student, who moved into his truck in order to pay off all of his debts. Pam and Jack, along with MarketWatch’s Paul Farrell, teach Andy the benefits of automatic investing using online tools to streamline his financial life. In the Scam Alert, viewers meet George Rodriquez, whose online Ameritrade investing account was cleaned out before his eyes.

#206: The Guru Show – Is there such a thing as a true stock market guru? Pam and Jack put CNBC’s Mad Money host, Jim Cramer, to the test. This episode covers the phenomenon of the financial “guru” and examines how guru methods compare to betting at a racetrack. John Bogle and Ben Stein add their two cents. This week’s Scam Alert shows that even wealthy Hollywood stars get cheated out of their money through investment schemes.

#207 :  Me, Inc. – Is real job security just a thing of the past? Pam and Jack explore the value of the benefits offered at the workplace, especially the pros and cons of 401k plans. Working for “Me, Inc.” is a way to protect oneself in light of eroding benefits. The Scam Alert involves a manager who stole money from her employees’ 401k plans.

#208:  Mythbusters – MoneyTrack reporter Joie Chen examines three popular investing myths and shows that they are really just urban legends. The Scam Alert is an update from season one of Hyman Tattleman’s struggle after losing money by buying annuities that were recommended by his broker.

#209: Real Estate: Is It Really Your Best Investment? – Casey Serin is a young man who bought eight homes in eight months through no money down and became addicted to house flipping. Pam and Jack show viewers less risky ways to invest in real estate with help from Morningstar.com. The Scam Alert gives you the real scoop on no money down real estate deals.

#210: The Financial Makeover Show – Pam, Jack and Janet Bodnar from Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, visit the Daniels family in their home and show them the three easy steps they need to take to build wealth. The Scam Alert examines the pros and cons of using a credit counselor.

#211: American Dream – In this episode, Pam and Jack hear from a viewer from Tennessee who wonders if the American dream is still attainable. Trusted experts Jonathon Pond and Michelle Singletary offer their insights and suggestions on the state of the middle class in America. A New Mexico religious affinity fraud case is featured on the Scam Alert.

#212: Changing Lanes – Pam and Jack explore facts from a recent study that shows people who change lanes often do not always get to their destination faster. This is analogous to the idea of investing for the future – slow and steady wins the race versus trading in and out of the stock market. The Scam Alert features a scheme involving futures investments.

#213: The Secret Millionaire’s Club – Pam interviews legendary investor, Warren Buffett about the new investor education cartoon for children, The Secret Millionaire’s Club, produced by DIC Entertainment. Mr. Buffett shares his time-proven investing strategies about what really works. The Scam Alert focuses on a man who was impersonating a mortgage loan broker.

#214:  Kids and Money – Fourteen-year-old Damon Williams is a model investor with 50,000 dollars already accumulated. His portfolio has over 30 companies. Viewers learn how he did it and the role his mother played in his investment strategy. The Scam Alert focuses on a pyramid scheme that preys on college students.

#215: MoneyTrack Revisited – Pam and Jack, joined again by John Bogle, discuss topics from the first season that most captivated viewers: good debt versus bad debt, U.S. corporate business ethics and how to choose a financial advisor.

Season 1 (Episodes 101- 113)

101) Becoming An Educated Investor – This episode covers the benefits of becoming an educated investor. You don’t have to know everything about how Wall Street works to build wealth by investing over a lifetime. Meet Marian Blanton, a schoolteacher who learned how to invest wisely and turned her teacher’s salary into an investment portfolio worth $1.3 million. Marian’s lesson is simple – - knowing and applying the basics is the key to success! We also help you figure out how much risk you should take with your mortgage. Our Scam Alert Beware of promissory notes. According to the North American Securities Administrators Association. “In almost all cases, the only profits go to the promoters of these schemes, and investors are left holding the bag.” You’ll meet one woman from Georgia who found out the hard way.

102) The Global Market – The Global Market- Welcome to the global economy, like it or not, globalization is an unstoppable trend. Who wins and who loses? We meet one young man who lost his job to someone overseas who can work for far less and we understand this is a trend in some areas of the economy. By introducing fundamental global economic trends, viewers understand that a truly diversified portfolio includes investments outside the United States. Should you invest outside the U.S., and if so, how? Scam Alert – beware of look-alike websites that pretend to be brokerage firms. The lesson here is never respond to an email from a broker who is asking for personal information. Always phone to make sure the deal is real.

103) Raising Money Savvy Kids – Spotlight on teens and money. Kids learn from their parents so how parents communicate with their kids has a lot to do with attitudes about money in later years. Find out how little money it really takes to get started investing to wind up with a million dollars when you have time on your side! Even if you are starting later in life, Investing 101 shows you how the meaning of the phrase, “better late than never.” Our Scam Alert takes us to Texas where one phony investment firm blatantly advertised higher rates on CD’s, which turned out to be nothing but a Ponzi scheme.

104) Corporate Ethics – Business ethics and corporate behavior affects everyone. We introduce and review all the negative news and the impact on investor confidence. We are a nation of investors. When business leaders, brokers, accountants and mutual fund managers misbehave, the result is we feel less confident as investors. The good news is, corporate fraud is not really on the rise in America and investors can consciously choose to put their money in socially responsible companies or mutual funds. Scam Alert – affinity fraud. When it comes to your money, you can’t trust anyone. A Preacher and the entire church-going community in a small town in Alabama were duped into trusting a real estate developer who asked them to invest funds to improve the church. The developer turned out to be a crook.

105) New Ways To Work – The workforce is changing! Millions of Americans are leaving their cubicles and working as freelancers or considering part time work after they retire. We also describe the healthcare savings account – like an IRA for medical expenses and how much this account can help cut those costs. You get to be you own boss, but you might not be taking care of yourself and investing as well as when your employer was in charge! You need to know about health care insurance costs and don’t forget, you still need to save and invest for your own retirement! It’s easy to set up your own retirement account and the good news is you may now be able to sock away more money. Work-at-home scams are a dime a dozen. Meet one young man from Virginia who invested in a DVD vending machine business but was left with nothing but a broken promise.

106) Couples And Money – Couples and money! The two sometimes do not go together when styles clash. Find out what you need to know before you say, “I do.” You’ll learn why it is so important to have both partners involved with investments decisions that affect the household. Investing 101 shows what it will cost you both in real money, if couples don’t commit to a common investing strategy that works for both! Our Scam Alert takes us to Texas where one phony investment firm blatantly advertised higher rates on CD’s, which turned out to be nothing but a Ponzi scheme.

107) Need To Know – Financial Survival Kit, Part 1 You’ll meet a group of women in Colorado Springs who started an investment club and learn how they make money investing year over year in good times and in bad. This is why investment clubs still rule as the best way to learn how to invest. Rob Black shows us how to read a companies annual report – what to look for and why you must take the time to get to know this report if you are going to buy individual stocks. Scam Alert! Beware of phony vacation offers. If you fall for one the only trip you will be taking is to the cleaners. As with anything that requires you to spend your money…check it out carefully before parting with a cent. One couple in Pennsylvania just wanted a few relaxing days in Mexico but the timeshare deal wasn’t real.

108) Financial Makeover – In this episode a family will be given a financial makeover. All aspects of their financial life will be analyzed and several options will be offered to them. Once we get them organized and motivated, we will show them how to create a real investment strategy for the whole family and Rob Black explains why index funds can be a good choice for busy couples like the Halls who want to diversify their investments but do not have time to do all the research. Our Scam Alert puts the spotlight on predatory lenders. Their outrageously high interest rates are affecting the very people who are protecting this country and their families as these lenders tend to cluster around military bases around the country. We learn how they operate and hear firsthand from Camp Pendleton, CA.

109) Late Start – Don’t panic, just get going! This episode is a wake-up call for those who think they may have missed the boat. Learn how people have turned their financial lives around in mid-stream. So you didn’t start investing in your 20’s, 30’s or even later? We focus on how to get your investments working for you now! Scam Alert –watch out for phony online escrow companies people use when buying or selling at auction sites.

110) Need To Know – Financial Survival Kit, The focus is on women because women need to accumulate more wealth over their lifetimes than men. Women live eight years longer than men on average, declare bankruptcy more often and don’t invest as much as men. You’ll meet two women who love to spend and get advice from Jennifer Openshaw on how to turn their financial lives around. Do you know your net worth? Do you know why you should care? Investing 101 teaches us why we need to clean out our investment clutter and review what we already own so we don’t just keep buying funds that own the same stocks over and over. The overlap does not diversify our portfolios and we are paying to own different funds that invest in the same securities. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, if you don’t have time to track 10 mutual funds – - then own as many as you have time to review and make sure you are diversified.

111) The Future – This episode addresses what financial issues we have to deal with as we look down the road at how much it will cost to have kids, the cost of retirement, the cost of caring for our aging parents, etc. You will learn how to get a realistic investment plan in place to deal with all these major milestones in your life. Inflation is a constant and you must invest to stay ahead of inflation. We show historical returns on stocks, bonds, real estate cash and introduce the concept that inflation eats away your savings and investments over the years. Scam Alert warns viewers about sources of investment advice and tips. You wouldn’t take investment advice from your doctor – - or would you? Some New Mexico residents did just that and have learned a very painful lesson.

112) Need To Know – Shark attack! Variable annuities are one of those investments you need to really understand. Unfortunately, they are sold very aggressively. You’ll meet two entirely different people who wound up owning annuities when it was clear, there would be no benefit whatsoever. Checking out a financial advisor. You need to know how your advisor is getting paid and what you should expect him or her to do for you. Investing 101 focuses on investing on your own. You can choose whether to use an advisor or go it alone. Rob explains dollar cost averaging and why this systematic way of investing makes so much sense. He’ll also explain some other choices for getting the maximum diversification you can in your portfolio at a reasonable cost. Scam Alert – from Michigan about an investment advisor who crossed the line and broke the law.

113) Good Debt, Bad Debt – Not all debt is bad. Your home is a good example, paying for college is another example of using borrowed money to help you make dreams possible that otherwise might not. Our Government is in the same position with good debt and bad debt. When does too much borrowing hurt the US economy – - and who do we owe anyway? Is too much debt choking your own economic life? Are you finding funds to invest? Is it better to pay off all your debts and put off investing until those bills are paid in full – or is there some way you can do both? Our investing 101 helps you put priorities in place.

Details

LENGTH: 36 x 30 Minutes
FORMAT: Series
CAMERA: Digibeta
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: No
TEXTLESS: No
CLOSED CAPTIONS: Yes
ASPECT RATIO: 4:3
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2005 – 2009
RELEASE YEAR: 2005 -2009
SUPPLIER: NETworth Television Production
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide exclusive of USA

Trailer