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Dave Ramsey

Head to head with Dave!

Rhonda asks why Dave blasts the United First Financial software. Dave thinks Rhonda can't do math. Rhonda thinks Dave doesn't know what he's talking about. Things get REALLY heated on this one!

Hear Dave respond

Download Dave's show, commercial free, right here!

Comments
Ms Rhonda has drank the kool-aid by the barrel.

Keep doing what your doing and pray for her and those she those she helps to dupe.
# Posted by Dan Smith | 7/8/08 11:55 AM
Dave, Once these people that do this type of MLM they will not listen because of their brainwashed materials they give you. Isn't MLM and Pyramid schemes illegal in most states anymore? I get these people that try and talk me into all this MLM crap and just because I am in sales they want me to make money for them of course!!! They just don't take no for an answer!!! And they are like mosquito's that won't go away!!!!!!!
# Posted by Linny Buck | 7/8/08 12:28 PM
United Financial software equation: 2 + 2 = cat
# Posted by Brian Staley | 7/8/08 12:52 PM
I shudder to think this Rhomda is out there selling real estate AND United First software!

And gee, Rhomda, they used to calculate
amoritiztion by hand, for decades and decades.
# Posted by Lori | 7/8/08 1:05 PM
Dave,

While I agree that Rhonda was a bit loony, I'd ask you, where was your 'heart of a teacher'?
# Posted by Brian | 7/8/08 1:21 PM
That was the funniest clip I've heard, Dave. Thanks for the entertainment.
# Posted by Terri | 7/8/08 1:27 PM
She says they are not an MLM? Is she stoooopid?? Here is the compensation plan! http://www.sequence-inc.com/fraudfiles/wp-content/...
# Posted by Bob | 7/8/08 1:32 PM
You could tell she was new to this MLM, because every rebuttal she had was "no it's not!"
That's the sign of someone who doesn't have an answer. Great job Dave!
# Posted by Brian H | 7/8/08 1:40 PM
Dave,
I love your passion, enthusiasm and "poop or get off the pot" attitude in regard to dealing with people's problems with handling their financial mistakes. I've learned so much from your show over the years. I'm one of those folks who need to listen to you over and over until it sinks in.

I must agree with Brian's earlier comment about where is your "heart of a teacher?" You did come off a bit rough and defensive. I think you are so intelligent that you have little patience for those of us less fortunate! You could've made your point in a somewhat calmer demeanor. That said, I hope you take more calls like Rhonda's, people who want to have a spirited debate about financial topics who may have a different point than you. In the end you will always be right (insert smile here) but I think it's interesting to hear a debate like that.
# Posted by Diane | 7/8/08 2:02 PM
What scares me about Rhonda is that she sounds like she has at least an average education for a US citizen. And she can't do the math. Yes, the numbers are big. But good Lord, we're supposed to master fractions and percents by 8th or 9th grade, aren't we? But she can't do this very basic math. And she can't compensate for that with some very basic logic. What's more scary? Neither can too many others. O.M.G. I'm relying on people like this to sit on boards, be national and state legislators, city council members and county commissioners, making decisions that determine what I can legally do. God help us.
# Posted by Monica | 7/8/08 2:08 PM
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
# Posted by Tonia | 7/8/08 4:11 PM
You know as I read this comments I have to ask how many of you have actually looked at the product and even more importantly have you Dave? There is no doubt the product cost $3500 and that people can do this themsevles but does it actually make it a bad product? If that was the case Financial Peace, Money Make Over and all of Dave's products would be bad.
# Posted by david | 7/9/08 6:04 PM
I checked out their website and the whole thing just sounds odd to me. I don't get why it costs $3,500 to begin with. If it's so darn wonderful and they think everyone should be using it, why charge so much? They must want to get rich quick. I feel like they make it sound as if I'm probably 'too dumb' or 'too lazy' to do it myself, so why not let this fancy program do it for me? But it isn't rocket science, is it? I mean, If you can afford to pay more than the minimum required payment on your mortgage each month and you do, won't that achieve the same results of getting your mortgage paid off faster? And if you have extra money left over at the end of one month, don't just leave it sitting in your checking account. Send it in with your next mortgage payment. Seems like they make out this software to be the answer to all your financial problems, when it isn't difficult to do it on your own. It just requires some good advice (Like what you can get from Dave) and the discipline to follow it.
# Posted by Greg | 7/10/08 3:12 AM
How in the world does she figure 500% interest
in the first year? 5.5% rate for $100K loan,

1st Month Interest
100K*(6.5%/12months)= $542 paid to interest
or
100K*(580%/12months)= $48,300 paid to interest

WOW! Sometimes it just hurts the mind to hear
people talk and argue nonsense.
# Posted by Pete | 7/10/08 10:05 AM
The Entrepreneurs who created UFirst were just
awarded the Ernst & Young 2008 Entrepreneur of
the Year award (Utah Division) for Financial
Services. They are in the running for the National
award. Perhaps you and your listeners ought
to call E&Y and ask them why?
This concept is so new that it is going through
the typical incredulity that "far out" concepts
usually do when first launched. Don't knock it
if you don't know it. It works great!
# Posted by Peter H | 7/10/08 6:55 PM
They got an award from E&Y because they have a good business plan. Sure, it relies on scamming consumers with their worthless software, but as a company, they're going to profit huge. That's how MLM works. The owners make a ton of money.
# Posted by Tracy Coenen | 7/10/08 8:37 PM
Why didn't I think of creating this program and sell it for thousands of dollars

Oh that's right I have morals
# Posted by Henry | 7/11/08 2:19 PM
Not a proponent of Ufirst, but I do have to say something in the defense of the caller. In the first year, you do pay an amazing amount of interest and very little principle. In a calc I just ran for a $150K mortgage at 6.25% interest, the interest comes to $9325 over 12 months and the principle comes to $1757. Interest paid over that time is, thus, about 5.3 times the principle or 530% of the principle. This is probably where her statement of 530% interst comes from. I think that everyone could at least concede to this (assuming my calcs are right).
# Posted by Ed | 7/14/08 10:42 AM
Maybe there is something wrong with my logic in the above post, but it does shock me a bit that no one, not even Dave, seems to recognize or at least agree that her statement was not really off. Comparing interest paid in the first year to principle paid can be a 5:1 proposition or greater.
# Posted by Ed | 7/14/08 10:56 AM
Ed, your 530% calculation may be mathematically correct, but it is very misleading. And misleading consumers is what MLMs like United First Financial are all about. Why use such a misleading figure when trying to sell their products? Because the shock value of saying "530%" helps justify the outrageous price of $3,500, apparently.
# Posted by Tracy Coenen | 7/21/08 9:49 AM
U1stFinancial, is a wonderful program for those who need help to budget and do not make money like the rich who know the secrets of borrowing from banks without taking money out of their own pockets. Now a truly wonderful program came out to help those who have helped the rich for many years. The 3500.00 is worth it, when you can be debt free in half or less than half of the 30 year mortgage. See for yourself and view the program. Stop relying on these blogs to answer questions, when your own pocket will show you. Retirement will not be a problem for you when you are done with U1st Financial. Talk to those on the program, and talk to the agents, they will get you in touch with those on the program. See First Hand. and Dave how is your debt program working, that you charge individuals for. Does it really work, that is the question.
# Posted by elizabeth | 7/21/08 6:43 PM
500% interest on a $100,000 mortgage would be $500,000. It is ludicrous to say that if you pay more
interest the first year of a loan that the interest percentage is higher. Interest is calculated on the
total amount borrowed, not on the amount of principle paid within a certain year. This is a total scam.
Does anybody realize that they want you to take a home equity line of credit out to do this? This completely
violates the idea of paying down debt! The reason Dave tore into her, I believe is that she was not
just some lady calling. She was a salesperson for this product. I'm glad he tore into her.
# Posted by Todd | 7/29/08 4:39 PM
It doesn't have to cost $3,500. I found this interesting: http://www.bankrate.com/yho/news/mortgages/2006110...
# Posted by Diana | 7/30/08 8:36 PM
She said 500% because she can do math. If your mortgage is 5.5% you pay, you guessed it, 5.5%. No more no less. Get your calculator out lady. http://www.investorwords.com/200/amortization.html...
# Posted by Krazgolfman | 7/31/08 10:49 AM
My challenge would be for Dave Ramsey to actually look at this software in depth, preferably with one of the Ufirst founders, compare it with his suggested alternative (paying down principle using extra payments?), and create a presentation explaining, mathematically, why the UFirst software is a bad deal.
My understanding is that the software lets you better leverage your monthly excess cash to minimize interest payments using a second mortgage or (other debt instrument)and following the software. So obviously this software only works for people who are already spending less than they earn and have decent credit. It's admirable that Dave is trying to get people to that level but he still needs to prove - mathematically - that UFirst isn't worth $3500 to someone in their target market.
I know amortization schedules are easy Dave, but do us peons a favor and go through one, and then show how UFirst fails to save interest on it. (Oh and maybe mention how much interest is paid over the lifetime of a standard mortgage.) And yes, this software is rocket science...a GE engineer wrote it.
BTW, if we decide not to use our heads or look at the math, I'd easily take Ernst and Young's opinion over Dave Ramsey's. They have much more at stake and by the nature of their business have much more financial brainpower working for them. No offense. I <3 anyone who makes it his business to look out for the average consumer. Let's just make sure we're doing a good job. I'm going to humbly go research and crunch more numbers.
# Posted by Arturo | 8/5/08 1:40 PM
You folks that are singing the praises of this $3500 miracle cure amuse me. How hard will you people fight for the right to remain stupid??? This miracle program probably does help you to pay off your mortgage early, but at what cost? Well with a $100,000, 30 year, 5.5 % mortgage you pay a total of $104,404 interest. Now, as an example, send the $3500 to your mortgage company on the month after you mortgage the house and you have paid off that house 28 months early, and with only 91,067 in interest, a total savings of $13,337.

Dave’s point about this is that if you will just discipline yourself, you can do this yourself. Discipline doesn’t cost $3500, it’s FREE and here is a real cool ancillary benefit, discipline makes a real difference in not just your mortgage, not just your finances but in your life as a whole.

And for those of you questioning Dave and the cost of his program, you can read his books for free from the library, listening to his radio show is free, watching his TV show is basically free, doing a budget only takes a piece of paper and a pencil. If you’re “rich” and want to buy his book it’s on Amazon for $16 brand new and used for $8.

I’ll bet that those of you fighting for your right to be stupid are also cheering every time you hear a politician talking about taxing the rich because it’s not fair that you don’t have what they have.

Please do the world a favor ----read a book, get a clue, become productive or disappear.
# Posted by Phil | 8/5/08 4:00 PM
I have gone though Dave's financial peace with my husband. We have tried and failed with it a couple times
We are now back on the plan and daves plan works. we were approached by one of the UFF sales men and now he
won't leave us alone. Thank you so much for the information. My husband and I were considering it and now
I am NOT going to do it and keep plugging away at our debt a little at a time. I was a little affraid of the
HELOC and using it as our primary account. You can just use the HELOC for something else big you want to buy.
If you are already in debt why do you need to go even deeper in debt.
# Posted by Heather | 8/6/08 8:00 PM
With respect to Dave Ramsey, his caller, Rhonda, listeners to the show, and readers of Mr. Ramsey's works, I have to say that I support Arturo's (earlier blog respondent) challenge to Mr. Ramsey to truly learn more about how the UFirst system works, and, further, to do so without defensiveness or prejudice.

Truth is truth, and the question of whether the program is beneficial and worth the investment to a qualified client would be a matter of fact rather than emotion.

Mr. Ramsey,

I would suggest that a good test would be to have a sample case (imaginary or real, but certainly with realistic, typical numbers for a homeowner or someone with debt to pay off) and have a sample plan or roadmap for what would be considered a sound financial course of action. Actually, doing this with multiple scenarios would be even more illustrative. Then I would respectfully suggest that you find a UFirst agent or (given your position of public stature and recognition ) corporate leader that you feel comfortable with, in a non-adversarial environment and have the representative run comparative analyses. Each case would show the results using the conventionally accepted approach alongside the results of utilizing the UFirst system.

I mean no disrespect when I say, that to voice a strong opinion against UFirst, its products, or its agents, without having a clear, calm explanation of how and why the products are beneficial, and without an analysis quantifying the potential benefit to the client (including return on investment) is to do a great disservice to the company and its agents. Perhaps most importantly it would be a great disservice to wrongly dissuade a prospective customer (who gives great weight to your opinion) from looking at the program if the program would be of benefit to that prospective customer. I know that you know assuming a position of greater respect, such as you hold, demands a higher level of responsibility, but even at the risk of sounding preachy, I am willing to emphasize it here.

I, too, was skeptical the first time (no, actually few times) I heard about the system and the results it promised. After having some analysis shown to me and still having a lot of questions, I was open enough that I was willing to come back another day and learn more about it. I had some more analysis examples shown to me. When I began to understand how it works, and was able to see outcomes, I realized that I could not argue with the math or the strategy (as long as the system included the software to optimize outcome for the client). I also saw that clients are protected by a guarantee of performance.

I must admit that I am not a frequent listener to your show (sorry), so for all I know, you may have already done some of the due diligence suggested by other bloggers and I, and you may even be singing praises for UFirst. If this is the case, I apologize for ‘beating a dead horse.’ In either case, I look forward to learning more about your experience once you have learned more about the company and its products on a factual basis.

Respectfully,
Mat
# Posted by Mat | 8/11/08 10:31 PM
I just listened to Rhonda. She just made United First Financial look horrible. She made Remax look bad as well. I have done some extensive research into how this software works as well as the company. Let's get some things out of the way here.

1.   Rhonda is an idiot and United First Financial needs to terminate her contract immediately for contacting the media and misrepresenting information she was not qualified to provide
2.   Dave is right! The software is no magic pill. Paying extra money on debt owed decreases your total future debt obligation.
3.   Is United First Financial Multilevel? If you look at the version of the compensation plan on an earlier blog on this page plan you can see that there are different levels one can be commissioned per each sale. Once a person sells a certain amount he or she can become part of bonus pools that are split amongst the sales field that qualifies. Now Rhonda is completely wrong about the recruiting! YES! United First Financials’ agents can recruit agents to market the software. Do they need to recruit in order to make money…? No, they can earn money by individual sales only. However if you look at the comp. plan it pushes the benefit of recruiting other agents that sell the software so that they can accelerate their effort in qualifying for the bonus pools and such. The comp. plan looks like a hybrid of the insurance industry and real estate…. I hope you are reading Rhonda… there are multi commissionable levels and payouts making it “multilevel”
4.   Question to thing about: Why in the world did these guys in Utah create software to help people pay down their mortgage and debt? We all know that it is up to ourselves to have the discipline to get out of debt and to invest for the future. It is just that simple. Too think that a software program will do it all for you is just ludicrous! Now they do have some credibility in the market with Ernst and Young, Broker Banker Magazine, Mortgage Planner, and Personal Real Estate Investors Magazine so there has to be a reason why they are getting this recognition. I think it is because the intention of the software is to help people more efficiently manage their debt. Whether or not this financial tool is worth its hefty price is up to you and will always be something people will be bantering about on the net. I guess another way to put why these guys possible created the software, besides making $$$$, is to provide an electronic financial coach. We know that we all don’t need a personal trainer to get in shape but will working with a personal trainer help keep us motivated and loose weight more efficiently…? Let’s see if Dave is right about these guys going out of business in a couple of years as they only just begun a few years ago or will they make a sizeable difference for its users...?
# Posted by Brandon | 8/14/08 9:41 PM
Please excuse some of my errors in the blog with my grammar....

Keep up the debates guys:>
# Posted by Brandon | 8/14/08 10:07 PM
Is it just me or does Brandon seem like a covert UFF agent? I have a feeling Dave will not be right about UFF going out of business. Unfortunately there are too many Rhondas out there. Our job as intelligent God fearing Christians is to educate them otherwise.

God bless you Dave! You are saving families every day! We love you, man!
# Posted by Dave_Fan | 9/12/08 12:48 PM
Was this some pathetic attempt on her part to get free airtime to promote her program? DUH!She doesn't even know what she's talking about....you did good Dave!
# Posted by Meagan | 10/19/08 7:57 PM
Just to let people know. Toyota is an MLM company. Amway is to this day the largest purveyor of nutritional supplements. MLM is not in and of itself evil. Look at any retail or restaurant management compensation plan. They all have BVB business volume bonuses for their management. The higher up you are the more you receive. As a manager you recruit (put an ad and seek employees), train them to sell, and motivate.

The problem so many of todays mlm's are not that they are mlm but that they don't have a decent product. If all the money is made from enlisting than yes it will collapse and the very top make millions. But companies like Toyota and dare I say Amway have great products and are willing to pay their sales and marketing staff (IBO's, distributors, downline)for their hard work. Key being hard work.

MLM is not get rich quick and easy. It is a business and like any business you must treat it as such. Expect some setbacks but persevere and you will find success. Get educated, not by getting "the tapes" but by finding successful business owners in other fields perhaps who may be willing to help you along the way. The list goes on but you get the point. It is work ethic not business model which is the leading cause of failure.
# Posted by Chad Martinson | 11/6/08 8:57 PM
I read something posted earlier "the software lets you better leverage your monthly excess cash to minimize
interest payments using a second mortgage or (other debt instrument)" What deos that mean? If seems simple
to me. For every dollar you pay on principle that is a dollar you don't pay interest on anymore. Thats like
giving yourself a bonus. Sorry Rhonda I'll stick with Dave's KISS plan. Thanks anyway.
# Posted by Tucker | 11/8/08 1:35 AM
I agree with Chad (two comments up) that MLM companies in general are not pyramid schemes. Walmart and McDonald's are the biggest MLM companies ever but they dont sell their opportunity as a MLM but as of a traditional business model. Obviously, with any company you go to work for you have to make an investment. With McDonald's you have to buy a uniform and have transportation to and from work, not to mention your time. With a MLM its usual an upfront fee but you can work from home in your pajamas if you wish and you set your own schedule. So with that being said people that are not educated in business should not stereotype people who are in MLM companies.
# Posted by Clint | 11/11/08 9:46 PM
i think dave is right we can do this on our own. we have knowledge learned from basic math that money in money out. i myself need a personal trainer to help stay fit and without it i gain weight and lose track. i have been contacted and do not intend on paying the money but staying with daves financial peace university info to help me becoming debt free. however not to bash them i do understand what they are trying to do and see it is just as another way of becoming debt free. they both want the same for us, one just wants more for being our personal trainer to get there... p.s. cant wait to say im debt freeeeeeee
# Posted by d coleman | 11/14/08 6:43 PM
Keep in mind that Dave has a competing product...the Total Money Makeover, which also helps people get out of debt and costs $89.95 per year. The advertisement claims to have access to over 30,000 people beating debt (I assume he means on the program). $89.95 X 30,000 is $2,698,500 per year...I thought that we could do this ourselves?
# Posted by John | 11/21/08 12:02 AM
In response to John. You can do it for free! My family is debt free and we didn't spend a single dime to get there. We did not buy Dave's books, CD's or any other thing he sells. We listened to his principles and had the discipline to work the plan. After we became debt free we then bought Dave's books to "give" to others. Giving is also part of Dave's teachings and you will note that Dave has never sold a single book on his show, but he has given more than I can count as "his gift" to listeners that truly need it. The debates can and probably will go on and I certainly mean no disrespect to anyone. However, it is truly up to the individual to have the discipline and to take responsibility for their finances. Good luck to all who desire financial peace.
# Posted by Sean | 11/24/08 1:24 AM
Clint,
People are not trying to stereotype MLM companies. I do agree that most MLM companies are not pyramid schemes. However, I do believe that Amway/Quixtar is a pyramid scheme. If you simply look at the business model and outline the sales teams, from the top to the bottom, you will notice that you have created a pyramid. Now I know it is not technically a scheme I believe they are legally a "legitimate" business, but they are about one inch away from being legally classified as a scheme. And of course you have to have to invest in any job... obviously you can't go to work naked. What people don't understand about Quixtar is that they promote themselves as a company you can make millions with like others have done. However, those others that have made millions have done so preying off the naive. The majority of the money made by the big players is through motivational tape, CDs, DVDs, and seminars, which cost around $400 per seminar. I have watched my roommate lose all his money and quit college to pursue a career in a company that is built on the empty promise of wealth. In 2006, Quixtar announced that the average monthly income of an active IBO was $115. That is the income only, not net profit. Meaning that those who who spent $400 on a seminar have a monthly net loss of $285. As far a morale and spiritual grounds the company is wrong as well. I am not an overly religious man, but I do believe the Bible, which Quixtar pushes on members immensely, says something like... those you strive for quick wealth will not go unpunished.
# Posted by Austin | 11/24/08 10:12 PM
So that's why Freddie went down the tubes and stocks are on record saleing prices!
# Posted by Michael Wilkinson | 12/5/08 11:18 PM