There have been plenty of retirement headlines shared online lately. While many of these articles share some great grounding advice, we've also seen a fair share of "scare" headlines as well. With that in mind we hand-picked today's rewind episode to dispel retirement fears you may have picked up the last couple of months. You can read our original show notes below: Retirement planning is all about starting early and planning well, which is why we’re excited author Emily Guy Birken (Choose Your ...
Jul 01, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Rewind Week! Throughout the week we'll replay some of our favorite shows from the past. We're kicking Monday off with an interview we've had plenty of compliments on. Newer listeners will appreciate this one, and older listeners will find Annie Duke's interview refreshingly timely. Our original show notes are below. Do you think you make the best decisions under most circumstances? Today’s guest will tell you that if you don’t have all of the information, the more adamant you are about your poin...
Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Wonder how your super-saver friends make pocketing Benjamins look so easy? Well, we come bearing good news because your questions are all going to be answered on today's show. MOST great savers trick themselves into saving more money and we'll dive into exactly how and what they do so that you can replicate all of their tricks. Spoiler: it's MUCH easier than you think. Michelle Jackson from the Michelle Is Money Hungry podcast will join Doc G from Earn & Invest podcast and Len Penzo from Len...
Jun 26, 2020•1 hr 16 min
When does buying insurance cross the line from being smart to throwing away your hard earned cash? There are the regular choices of course: car, home, life, medical, and dental insurance. But what about all the other types of coverage out there? Between rental insurance, phone, electronics, various types of worker's insurance, travel insurance (and more!), a person could easily break the budget by trying to keep 100% of their life covered. Today we'll make sure you know what type of insurance is...
Jun 24, 2020•1 hr 15 min
In these strange times, with so much uncertainty, how do you manage your money effectively? Today we'll ask some of our favorite experts about what you should be focused on, how to pay down debt, what to do with your retirement money, and how to manage your investments. Last week we hosted a LIVE YouTube two hour event featuring some of the top names in personal finance. We were joined today by representatives from Fidelity (Ken Hevert), TIAA (Shelly Eweka), T.Rowe Price (Josh Deitch), and Morni...
Jun 22, 2020•2 hr 7 min
You've probably heard the age-old arguments. Old dude on the radio says "all debt is bad." Your savvy neighbor says that there's "good debt" and "bad debt." You watch relatives YOLO with credit cards. Where's the line, REALLY? Today we'll ask three people who are good with money: contributors Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com are joined by great saver AND blogger Lance Cothern from the Money Manifesto blog. We'll dive into the good, bad and ugly of debt....
Jun 19, 2020•1 hr 23 min
After winning the lottery, would you go for a straight-out check OR the lifetime income stream? While people will decide which is their BEST choice pretty quickly, do you have the right information to make that choice? Today we sit down with the CEO of Saber Pension and Actuarial Services, Brent Henningson to talk not just lottery, but maybe also pensions, annuities, and life settlements. Wait a minute? Is the annuity thing just a smokescreen so we'd pay attention to something that's important b...
Jun 17, 2020•1 hr
Want to change the world with your donations, but feel powerless? Are you unsure of the best WAY to donate money or time to an organization? Have you ever been burned by the ineffective use of the money you've loaned or gifted? Today we'll talk to someone who knows how to help you become the philanthropist you've always wanted to be. Not only will Kris Putnam-Walkerly share how to find great organizations and evaluate them, she'll also give us tips on using tools like donor-advised funds to make...
Jun 15, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Maybe you've heard of the term "anchoring" when it comes to sales. Most likely you heard it when a fast-talking salesman threw out a couple of high figures for a fancy car just outside of your budget. (But hey! That's okay, we have some more affordable models right over here... and look, you're five dollars under your limit!) But, is it possible to use the power of anchoring to actually help you reach financial goals? In our featured piece today, which is both written AND read on-air by Emily Gu...
Jun 12, 2020•1 hr 29 min
Do you feel just a little bit lost managing your retirement funds? Don't feel like your alone. A recent study shows that MOST Americans have no clue how to pick investments in their 401k, and worse yet, even more people feel like they're investing poorly for their retirement! If you want to fix your 401k plan (that thing you save into for retirement...), we're coming to the rescue. Today we'll discuss the good, the bad, and the stop doing this before you ruin your retirement. There are MANY ways...
Jun 10, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Your boss offers you a several thousand dollar raise, do you turn it down? Probably not! Yet, one of California's top real estate agents says that home buyers and sellers both regularly leave thousands of dollars off the table. That's why today we're talking about better real estate transactions with Marin County, California's top real estate pro, Tracy McLaughlin. She'll share strategies from her new book, Real Estate Rescue, for staging, updating, and pricing a house so that it sells both for ...
Jun 08, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Have you had trouble getting the people around you to understand the importance of saving, investing, and planning? Maybe you're having trouble connecting with people on their level or it's difficult to have a meaningful, lasting conversation? Worse yet, and on a much wider scope...maybe you don't understand current events and why things are happening. Today we dive into a piece from the Harvard Business Review that suggests there's a key piece that could be missing in your relationships: curios...
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 36 min
Are you just beginning your journey toward investing or know someone graduating from high school or college? On today's show we'll field a letter from Jonathan with some help from our friend Christine Benz at Morningstar. What things should graduates and new savers think about first? Where do they make mistakes? What resources and books are great reads? We'll tackle all of those questions during today's episode answering your questions! We'll also tackle a question about target-date funds. Why d...
Jun 03, 2020•1 hr 22 min
Can you actually manufacture "luck"? Have you been hoping for your fortune to change? Do you feel like you've failed often lately? What if we told you that you COULD change your luck? , Today we tackle the recipe on luck with the man who actually co-wrote the book on the topic, Gay Hendricks. Between setting yourself up for success and being ready when opportunity comes knocking, Gay Hendrick has a wealth of information on how you can begin to operate your life, investments, savings, and budget ...
Jun 01, 2020•1 hr 26 min
Has goal setting helped your quality-of-life? Today we review a recent blog post where the author decides that goals have possibly ruined much of his life. Today our round table contributors will dive into this post from blogger Alex West, and talk about measurement of goals, a horizon that always seems to be unreachable, the randomness of progress, and more. After our discussion on goals (or the lack thereof), we'll shift gears to speak with Pam Andrews from The Scholarship Shark. How can you h...
May 29, 2020•1 hr 39 min
We all wonder...this big stock market run-up lately...can it continue? Who should you listen to? What should you believe? Today we ring up a man WE believe, Phil Town, author of New York Times bestseller Rule #1 , to provide some clarity. We'll ask him about the economy, the market, his strategy, and what he feels is the wrong way to invest in this climate. If you're ready for some straight talk from one of the best investment teachers, you'll enjoy today's discussion. Plus, are you in the marke...
May 27, 2020•1 hr 16 min
How would you like to pay off your mortgage in four years? Heck, many of us would love to pay off a mortgage in 29 years! Four years sounds like the stuff of dreams and make-believe, right? We might not have believed it ourselves if we didn't sit across from him in the basement and listen to his story. Today we're proud to bring you Andy Hill, host of the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast, and long-time friend of all of us in the basement. You may have heard Andy before on the show, but today he'...
May 25, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Don't talk to strangers. Make your savings automatic. Don't buy so many lattes. How many pieces of unsolicited advice have helped you become a better version of yourself? Today our contributors are helping us walk through a recent blog post that delivered exactly 68 pieces of advice to help you live a better life financially AND mentally. Helping us with today's show are our near-and-dear contributors: Elle Martinez (of Couple Money) , Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com, and our very own OG. Halfway thro...
May 22, 2020•1 hr 25 min
Who wants to waste money cooking up food on a holiday weekend that doesn't taste good? Not us. That's why, if you are like the rest of us, hanging out at home or with only a small gathering of people...it's the PERFECT year to make a little geeky fun and stretch that holiday-spending dollar. Today we'll help you create some recipes from your favorite shows, movies, and fantasy worlds with the host of the hit blog (and now book!) The Geeky Chef....Cassandra Reeder. She'll share some awesome recip...
May 20, 2020•1 hr 18 min
It's time for summer fun and theme parks are all closed! Will they open in time for there to be a season? Will there be any virtual fun coming from these entertainment companies? If we choose to head to a theme park, how are they keeping us safe and will there be discounts? Welcome to our annual theme-park guide episode! Today we'll ask all of these questions and more of Robert Niles (of Theme Park Insider) , to find out how parks are coping during state shutdowns. We hope to ALL be surprised wi...
May 18, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Ever feel stuck? Here's a question: How do you stop thinking about doing something important in your life/career/money and actually get started with the hard tasks? This week our roundtable regulars share how they motivate themselves to press "go" more quickly each time, and how to keep pressing "go" more often. We'll talk about fighting fear, making decisions, and working your plan on today's show. After our group is done sharing how they motivate themselves to NOT click the "still watching" op...
May 15, 2020•1 hr 15 min
If you’re either one of the millions of unemployed Americans (heck, or in the WORLD), or you’re stuck in a job you don’t really want, now is a great time to look for better work. Companies are poised to begin rehiring and you’re in the hunt of your life. How do you score that dream position? Career coach Kevin Kiley would say it’s by taking advantage of the tools you have and by using your brain to tilt the odds in your favor. We’ll discuss how to set yourself up for a great job, how to work the...
May 13, 2020•1 hr 12 min
While the first person to tell you that nothing good happens while you're using drugs will be today's guest Michael Brody-Waite, he WILL insist that the skills he learned in recovery are the same skills we all need for success with life and money. He should know. As a man who's walked the journey from drug addict to CEO and success coach, Michael funnels his darkest experiences into powerful lessons he'll share with you. Today, Michael will teach you how to rebalance your priorities, reclaim you...
May 11, 2020•1 hr 7 min
The host of the new Real Estate Rookie podcast, Felipe Mejia, joins Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com) to talk about real estate for newbies. A recent blog post at Coach Carson dot com discusses the writer's relationship with a mentor, and the most valuable real estate lessons he learned. Whether you're interested in real estate or just good lessons about life (and boy, are there many packed into this episode), we've got you covered. Plus, we'll also talk to the Evil ...
May 08, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Have you ever thought about what it takes to break into life? Maybe, like us back in the day, you've thought, "How do I come close to this dream of getting to financial security?" Forget financial security...what about just making ends meet? Today we'll interview a woman who's been through everything life could throw at a woman and she STILL came out ahead...today we're giving you an amazing interview with Arlan Hamilton on what it took for her to break into not only life, but also the venture c...
May 06, 2020•1 hr 9 min
When you think of a discussion, negotiation, or collaboration you don't usually think "soulful." That's where most of us differ from advertising mogul Jason Harris. Today we'll talk a bout putting more of your own soul into your work and relationships so that you make fewer financial mistakes (and career mistakes) AND build toward your dreams faster. New unemployment data hit last week and in our headlines segment we'll talk about how to weather the storm if you're not sure about your job or you...
May 04, 2020•1 hr 8 min
We're finishing this week off with a timely rewind episode handpicked by the Fintern: eight smart things to do with $1,000 right now. You can check out our original show notes below: What should you do with a small windfall? Today we ask, if you had $1,000, how should you best use it? We have an article that gives us eight great options, but we ask our panel which of those is best...and why? THAT alone gets rolling a fanstastic discussion between OG, Len Penzo, and special guest from the Money N...
May 01, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to our Wednesday rewind show! With so much job uncertainty going around right now, the Fintern decided now would be a good time to revisit a great interview we had with freelance extraordinaire Vincent Pugliese. Vincent took himself from a mountain of debt to a successful freelance business, and shared with us his stories, lessons, and experiences he learned along the way. You can read the original show notes below: He had $140,000 in debt, a crappy paying job, and a baby on the way. Wha...
Apr 29, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Communicating with your partner about money can be difficult in the best of situations, let alone staying inside for weeks on end. That's why to kick off our rewind week the Fintern picked a topic that will hopefully keep you out of some hot water: how you can stop fighting about money! You can check out the original show notes below: Looking for the perfect budget? Maybe the key isn't counting every penny or finding the perfect spreadsheet. Elle Martinez, author of the new book Couple Money, be...
Apr 27, 2020•1 hr 4 min
People (and that includes us!) tend to react emotionally to big change. For us, that's running out of pizza rolls, but when it comes to money, that often means investors can make a bad situation worse by thinking with their heart instead of their head. Today we're going over the coronavirus financial checklist: steps you should be taking not only to make sure your financial bases are covered, but your mental health as well. Pete the Planner from Hey Money! joins Paula Pant and OG on today's show...
Apr 24, 2020•1 hr 2 min
