In this debut episode of The Ardent Exchange, dive into the world of car buying with your hosts and Ardent’s Auto Buying Concierges, Pete Kuryluk and Steve Roberts.

Pete and Steve kick things off by breaking down the pros and cons of various options for where to buy your next car, from online retailers to traditional dealerships:

• Discover why online car buying might not always be as convenient as it seems, and whether huge deals from rental car return programs are worth it.
• Learn the ins and outs of purchasing through big-box dealerships, small used car lots and private sales.
• Get Pete and Steve’s thoughts on pricing at each of these options, the risks of buy here-pay here financing and more.

If you want free expert advice on how to navigate the car buying process, start here. To learn more about how Ardent’s car guys can help you find your next car, visit ardentcarbuying.com.

On this episode, Pete and Steve expose the common car buying mistakes that can drain your wallet and leave you with a less-than-ideal vehicle. Using their experience on the lot as former sales professionals, Pete and Steve will discuss pitfalls they’ve witnessed buyers fall into and what you should do instead, including:

• Winging it: Not researching the car you want, pricing and even the dealerships you’ll visit can be costly. Instead, learn how to blend different metrics to identify the right car for you.
• Oversharing: Many shoppers unconsciously give away verbal and nonverbal clues about themselves that salespeople may use to their advantage. Learn what sales staff look for when potential buyers step onto the lot.
• Negotiating: If you don’t control the flow of the sale process and learn to respectfully negotiate, you could end up paying more than you need to for a car. Get tips for how to evaluate pricing offers and countering.
• Leasing: This option might sound tempting, but depending on the market conditions, it might not be the best option compared to purchasing.

Trading in your car? Don't let it turn into a financial fumble! On this bite-sized episode, Pete and Steve tackle the often-overlooked trade-in process. They'll pull from their experience as former auto sales professionals to break down:

• The key reasons to consider a trade-in (think convenience, potential tax breaks and avoiding scams) and reasons not to trade in (pricing and market conditions)
• What to do and what not to do before you head to the dealership (Should you detail your car first?)
• Dealership negotiation strategies and avoiding the devaluation trap to secure a fair trade-in price

The trade-in process is often an afterthought for many car buyers—But in this episode, our hosts will explain why it deserves more attention.

Resources:

• • Auto Buying Concierge: https://www.Ardentcarbuying.com
  • Kelly Blue Book: https://www.kbb.com/
  • J.D. Power: https://www.jdpower.com/
  • Dealerrater.com: https://www.dealerrater.com/

Thinking of selling your car privately but worried about scams or getting a fair price? Pete and Steve share their tips for how to successfully sell your car. They cover everything from finding the right selling platform to pricing competitively, safety and more. Learn how to:

• • Price it Right: Use multiple tools to research values and set a fair price.
  • Choose the Right Platform: Explore options like Facebook Marketplace, AutoTrader or even parking it in a high-visibility area.
  • Create a Killer Listing: Take high-quality photos and include all the key details.
  • Stay Safe: Meet in public places, bring a friend and be cautious during test drives.
  • Avoid Scams: Insist on safe payment methods and transactions in secure locations.

Tune in and learn how to sell your car privately with confidence and ease.

Resources:

• • JD Power: https://www.jdpowervaluesonline.com
  • Kelly Blue Book: https://www.kbb.com/whats-my-car-worth
  • Carfax: https://www.carfax.com
  • Autotrader: https://www.autotrader.com
  • Cars.com: https://www.cars.com
  • CarGurus: https://www.cargurus.com

In this season finale episode, Pete and Steve dive deep into the world of add-on products at the dealership, exploring the pros and cons of warranties, GAP coverage and other optional extras. They’ll talk about:

• • Car Warranties including bumper to bumper, powertrain, maintenance plans, extended warranties and CPO programs.
  • GAP Coverage can help cover your auto loan balance if your car is totaled and you owe more than it’s worth.
  • Optional extras including etching, wheel locks and paint protection

For this final episode of the Ardent Exchange featuring the Auto Buying Concierges, learn learn how to make informed decisions about which add-ons are right for you, if any.

Think you're ready to buy your first home but don't know where to begin? Start here. Season two of The Ardent Exchange podcast features Ardent’s First Home Concierges, Damien Manno and Alishia La Cerda. Join your hosts for a deep dive into the homebuying process and find out why it pays to have experts like them on your side.

On the first episode, Homebuying 101, Damien and Alishia will give an overview of the homebuying process, including:

• Your credit score and why it’s important
• First-time homebuyer education resources
• Budgeting – How much can you afford?
• Pre-approvals and why they matter
• Down payment, closing and other costs
• And more

This episode is on the longer side, but it’s packed with great tips.

RESOURCES:

Ardent’s First-Time Homebuyer program: https://www.ardentcu.org/newbuyer

On this episode, First Home Concierges Damien and Alishia talk about what most people picture of when they think of homebuying: actually looking for your home. But it’s not all just browsing Zillow. They’ll give you the lowdown on:

• Different home types
• Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
• Finding a real estate agent
• Buyers vs. Sellers market
• And more

RESOURCES:

• Ardent First Home Concierge: https://ardentcu.org/newbuyer
• HomeAdvantage: https://ardentcu.myhomeadvantage.com/

Damien and Alishia tackle the ins and outs of making an offer on a home and negotiating with the seller. They discuss common tactics buyers can use to be competitive in any market:

• Components of an offer
• How much to offer (appraisal vs. price)
• Pre-approvals
• Negotiating
• Appraisals and inspections
• And more

RESOURCES

• First Home Concierge: https://www.ardentcu.org/newbuyer

Today’s episode is all about mortgages. Our First Home Concierges talk you through all the major home loan options, rate shopping and some of the other decisions you’ll have to make before closing. Get the inside scoop on:

• Mortgage types (FHA vs. conventional, etc.)
• Fixed-rate vs. Adjustible
• Points
• PMI
• And more

For the final episode of this season, Damien and Alishia discuss some of the financial considerations that come after homeownership, including:

• Escrow
• Insurance
• Building and using equity
• Refinancing
• Selling

To contact our First Home Concierges, visit ardentcu.org/newbuyer