PODCAST: December 6, 2025
From Idle Cash to Paychecks: Building Reliable Income for the New Year
On the December 6, 2025 episode of The Roy Matlock, Jr. Money and Business Hour, Roy explains how to turn idle cash into predictable income—without blowing up your risk—by separating true emergency funds from investable cash and plugging that money into an intentional income strategy. He lays out simple, practical steps you can start before year-end so your cash is working for you as you head into 2026.
Key Takeaways
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Know how much cash is “too much.” Learn how to separate true emergency reserves from extra cash that should be working harder in your plan.
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Define your target income number. Roy shows how to back into “How much income do I actually need?” instead of guessing.
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Understand the main income tools. Hear how diversified portfolios, guaranteed/predictable income options, and tax-efficient accounts can all play a role in creating paychecks.
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Use the bucket strategy. See how to organize money into short-term, mid-term, and long-term buckets so you aren’t forced to sell at the wrong time.
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Make year-end moves. Get ideas for steps to take before December 31—like reallocating idle cash, increasing savings rates, and tightening your overall plan—to hit January already on offense.
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Follow the GPS system. Goal, Plan, Schedule: Roy emphasizes that income planning only works when you treat it like a real project with dates and decisions, not a vague wish.
