Summer 2021 is right around the corner and with it comes a wave of weddings and social gatherings that have been postponed since last year. With invitations rolling in, how do you keep savings stacked without coming off as a post-COVID scrooge? Joining us to help navigate the lines between big-roller, sensible, and miser is Elle Martinez, the well-suited creator behind the Couple Money blog and podcast; Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our very own OG. After we're done dishing out weddi...
May 28, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Want to succeed? You need to stay focused. Studies show the amount of alcohol and food we consume skyrockets during the holidays, and Memorial Day is no exception. While few people contest the negative impacts of a few beers or scarfing down the third burger, the science is a bit more muddied (or at least most people think it is) when it comes to other beverages like wine, coffee, and juice. Where's the truth lie, and which drinks are going to keep us healthy, happy, and productive? Dr. Alexis W...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Returning right on time to kick off theme park season, we welcome Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, last year's season was cut short. Here's the good news: between new attractions, hot deals, and of course the world generally opening back up, there's a lot about Summer 2021 to look forward to. We've heard rumors that people have been smarter with their money than expected lately, and now we have some data to back that up. Ken Tumin joins us today to shar...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 13 min
While reading a recent blog post on fad diets, we were shocked to realize that there's a metric ton of horrible fad financial advice out there. Today we're joined by an award-winning cast of financial contributors who share some of their least favorite fads. Regular contributors Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) and Paula Pant (Afford Anything podcast) are joined today by the host of Smart Money Mamas, the one-and-only Chelsea Brennan! (Yes, longer-time listeners, there really is a live person named "Che...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Brown Brothers Harriman is a bank that's sat front row for much of America's history, and yet most of us haven't heard of them. Two presidents, the creation of our first railroads, and an influence on the adoption of paper currency only scratches the surface of the private bank's intertwined history with the birth and growth of the United States. It didn't happen accidentally. A family with strict investing and social values, the Brown Brothers family knew when to invest, when it was time to giv...
May 19, 2021•1 hr 8 min
If you're wondering how the inside world of high-end real estate works, our guest today will share stories and lessons from the top. Kirsten Jordan is the newest cast member of popular Bravo reality series Million Dollar Listing: New York. She's a real estate broker who's overseen over $500M in sales, so if anyone knows how to sell real estate, it's her. Today she'll talk about the price of mentorship, staging homes, leaving people feeling good vs trying to scoop up every dollar, and realizing t...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Ever wonder what your neighbors are really doing with their cash? Our round table takes a deep dive into a new study exposing the secret financial lives of your friends, family, and neighbors - and it's not all good news. Joining us to cover the new numbers are this week's contributors: Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and Doc G from the Earn & Invest podcast. Halfway through the show, we'll stop our fly-on-the-wall discussion to find out wha...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Ready to be motivated by your peers? Today we share success stories about living your dream, paying off your mortgage, and teaching finance to the neighborhood, and all from our listeners. Stacker Leah explains how she took charge of her finances after graduating from college and moving to New York City with her car and no job. Larry tells us the simple, down-to-earth technique he used to pay off his mortgage quicker, and we hear from Mimi on how she got the neighbor kids to start investing. Plu...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 34 min
Ever leave your bank thinking, "someone just made some money and it wasn't me?" Maybe a trip to your local credit union will be the cure. Credit unions are member-owned and offer low fees, high rates on savings and low rates for loans. Today we'll dive into the world of credit unions with some help during a special Wednesday "Fintech" segment from Navy Federal Credit Union's retired Marine Colonel Clay Stackhouse. We'll discuss how credit unions work, the basic benefits, and the perks that peopl...
May 12, 2021•51 min
We're celebrating the world of work today! On this special episode, we answer the question, "How does THIS basement-based podcast team work? Sure we own a mic and a shiny new Dell computer, but our work neither starts nor stops there. A whole host of systems, technology, and (of course) creative discussions power the making of our show. Today we're excited to show you a special behind-the-scenes making of the Stacking Benjamins show featuring the very people who make it happen. Brought to you by...
May 11, 2021•54 min
While we can safely assume that most of us are ready to travel, we're not excited about breaking the bank AND quarantine. Yet, after meals, a decent hotel, and the tourist attractions, many of us feel we have to destroy our budget or we'll be sacrificing some fun. What if there was another way? Today we'll interview George Igoe from the hit new Million Stories YouTube series George Goes Everywhere. He'll share how he experiences some amazing fun in many of America's biggest cities on less than a...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 15 min
How far would you go to save a few bucks, or even pennies? Mom always said all things in moderation, but it seems like these super-savers didn't get the memo. Remember, you can always put your energy into increasing your revenue streams, but playing the extreme frugality game quickly steps into the realm of diminishing returns. This round-table originally aired in 2018, but espcially after our last year, the push for extreme frugality could return to the forefront. You can read our (mostly) orig...
May 07, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Ever wish you had a second chance with your money? Billy B. hoped he'd get one. After being convicted and sent to prison after the death of his friend, Billy went through some serious soul searching, and the end result of that is on display on today's show. Not taking any opportunity for granted, working hard to find solid financial (and life) footing, and the value of surrounding yourself with good friends and mentors are just three of many themes we'll talk about in this fantastic discussion w...
May 05, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Got debt? We have a solution. Or rather, our guest, Jenni Zepol, does. Every eight weeks we look back through our collection and play some of our favorite interviews, and this one is no exception. No gimmicks or get rich-quick schemes - Jenni shared her strategy and goals on how she paid down her debt in less than a year and they just may work for you too. Here's our original show notes: We LOVE success stories, and today we're talking to one woman with a great one. She set out to pay off over $...
May 03, 2021•51 min
"You'll spend more time searching than watching" would be an honest slogan for which company? If you said… well, let's not spoil every element of the show before it starts. During today's special game show we ask our contributors to guess which companies our "honest" slogans belong to. It's a lot of fun, and one contributor has a bit of a hard time marking their place on their board. Our contributors joining our round table this week are Stacy Johnson from the Money with Stacy Johnson podcast, L...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 1 min
It's a bold statement, and one financial coach Rachel Rodgers wholeheartedly believes. After adapting her coaching business last year to the difficult circumstances we were all facing, Rachel not only survived but thrived. She saw her company turn its first million-dollar month not long after. Today Rachel shares how you can get to millionaire status: a change in your mindset, enforced boundaries, and purposeful changes in your community can lead to huge financial improvements in your life. In o...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Susan, Linda, Nina, and Cokie--four women we know by first name--were collectively much of the "voice" of NPR, bringing the fledgling network into millions of homes during an era when woman weren't even expected to report news, let alone host shows control what topics were discussed. Today we hear a few of their stories from master researcher and storyteller Lisa Napoli, journalist and the author of Ray & Joan among others. She'll share how you too can achieve your goals and create your drea...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Where do you turn when being poor has you exhausted? When you feel like you just can't think about ways to make money any longer? On a bigger scale, what's the secret to breaking out of poverty and the cycle of always being in debt? While we won't promise to solve the world's longest-running crisis in one podcast, our contributors all share their experiences and thoughts about working to overcome poverty. They share how they endured their own individual situations, and how they (and you) can pla...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 9 min
What separates you from everyone else? What gives you a competitive edge? According to William Green, who's interviewed hundreds of the richest investors on the planet, most of us don't have a competitive investing edge. But there's good news: that's okay, as long as you know who or what you're emulating. Today he'll pull on interviews from his new book, Richer, Wiser Happier, How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life , to share how we can overcome our disadvantages and turn the...
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 18 min
How do you take care of your money? Is it dollar by dollar? Or do you swipe plastic (like we used to), hoping that the math in your head has worked out? Today we'll help you take control with a discussion about creating a budget meeting, changing your money mindset, and gaining the confidence you need to drive your goals. It's a powerful show and we're excited for you to hear it. Featured Guest: Catherine Alford Catherine Alford shares tips to help you take control of your life by utilizing the ...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 13 min
You've saved and invested diligently for years and you're now sitting on a fat stack of Benjamins. When's the right time to say f*** it and start spending cash like there's no tomorrow? Today our contributors share their big spender to saver money stories and give their thoughts on retiring WAY early... on less than a million dollars. It's not always about the bottom dollar, but also lost potential income (and raises) if you need to return to work years down the road, lost marketability as your ...
Apr 16, 2021•1 hr 18 min
How do you make money driving for ride sharing companies? Credit card hacking? Churning bank accounts? How do you help your family plan? What's it like to meet with financial advisors? Today members of our community, Alan, Claudia, and Jon are kind enough to share their wisdom and experiences in all of these areas! Plus, we'll also share an important headline about doing your homework before investing, another on helping your community, and more. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life li...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 28 min
How much of this stuff goes over your head? What are the absolute first things you need to know about when you're rolling out on your own? Today high school personal finance teacher and author Jake Cousineau joins us to dive into the very first items you should include on your list of lessons to learn about money as you begin your journey. From the double-edged sword of interest to simple banking and ideas on budgeting and saving, we'll share some of Jake's favorite tips so that you can leave to...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Are you coasting or actually planning your next move? Living in the land of "I should" or "I might" versus "I'm where I want to be right now?" Whether it's balancing your happiness with your career choices, changing industries, family planning, or deciding how long you want to work until retirement - lifestyle choices encompasses all of our financial decisions. Today we ask our contributors: what's the design for your lifestyle? What drives your motivations, career choices, retirement plans, and...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Don't think you can overthink your money decisions? Study's show that sadly, you're wrong. Not only will overthinking cause you to create overly complex plans, but you'll give up early on strategies, fail to move when you need decisive action, and exhaust yourself with going over the options "just one more time." Overthinking rarely involves positive thoughts, and you can't win when you're not confident. Today we'll help you solve that issue. Long time listeners will remember the last time we ha...
Apr 07, 2021•1 hr 16 min
This seems like an easy decision, doesn't it? Skimp on the party and invest money in your dream residence. Yet, don't we always say to invest in experiences because they appreciate in your mind (becoming more epic as the years pass), instead of things that clutter our lives? Co-hosts of the new Netflix reality show Marriage or Mortgage , wedding planner Sarah Miller and real estate pro Nichole Holmes, join us for a fun discussion on a dilemma many newlyweds face: how much cash do you spend on ma...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Brush off the passport, pack the bags, and plop down in your favorite lazy spot because we're going global on today's show! In this special Living Abroad episode, we invite world travelers living in various countries to share how they did it, what they should've learned earlier, and what life experiences they've gained since settling into their new lives. Joining our round table is a French native and former Guatemala-living Pauline Paquin from the Reach Financial Independence blog, Jim White fr...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 28 min
You may have financial security, but do you have financial wholeness? What's the difference? Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche says that she felt more whole BEFORE she had financial independence than she did after. We'll talk about building a solid financial footing and understanding on today's show. Tiffany has led women worldwide in paying off millions of dollars in debt, co-hosts the Brown Ambition podcast, and now has multiple financial education books published, including a pre-education boo...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Pros in every field will tell you that confidence is a huge part of earning more money. But what happens when life delivers blow after blow? We've been there ourselves, and so has our guest, Harma Hartouni, who moved to America with his family and was flat broke. Much of his story stems from a childhood relationship with a dad that was less than perfect (to put it mildly). While this is not a direct rags-to-riches story, things started to turn around for Harma, and he now runs one of the top rea...
Mar 29, 2021•1 hr 23 min
Have a difficult time separating good financial advice from the bad? Today our contributors tackle everything from budgeting and credit utilization myths, to discussions on trade schools and the rent vs mortgage debate. Joining us on today's round table is Lauryn Williams from the Worth Listening podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything Podcast, and Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog. Friday Fintech: FarmTogether After the constant reminders to diversify, you eventually decided to invest a...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 26 min
