Henssler Money Talks
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August 29, 2026
August 29, 2026: Debt, Discounts, & Donations
$40 Trillion in Debt: How Worried Should We Be? Buying Down Mortgage Rates: Worth It or Waste? Turning Stock Gains into Charitable Giving
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Don’t Panic Over $40 Trillion. Don’t Ignore It Either
How much national debt is too much? The “Henssler Money Talks” hosts start with a listener question inspired by a 1970s economics lesson, comparing the nation’s debt to 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.
Henssler Money Talks - August 29, 2026
$40 Trillion in Debt: How Worried Should We Be?
A listener asks a question that goes back to an economics lesson from the 1970s: How worried should we really be about the national debt if the economy is growing along with it? We’ll compare the debt-to-GDP picture then and now, and use a recent debate over Treasury bond buybacks to explore a bigger question: At what point does the nation’s debt begin to influence interest rates, financial markets, and the government’s ability to respond?
Buying Down Mortgage Rates: Worth It or Waste?
Mortgage rates remain a major factor in affordability, so buyers may be looking for ways to lower their monthly payment. One option is to pay—or have the seller pay—to “buy down” the mortgage rate. But there’s more than one kind of buydown, and a lower advertised rate doesn’t necessarily mean the buyer comes out ahead.
Turning Stock Gains Into Charitable Giving
A listener is planning a sizable charitable gift and has two potential sources for the money: cash sitting in a brokerage account or a stock with such a large unrealized gain that selling it would come with a significant tax bill. Their idea? Donate the appreciated stock and then use the cash to buy it back. We’ll look at how donating appreciated securities can work, the potential tax advantages, and why the source of your charitable gift can matter just as much as the amount you give.
We discuss financial planning encompassing spending, saving, taxes, investments, insurance, retirement, estate plans, and more.
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