They say that money makes you money...so when investing should you spend your time seeking "alpha" (bigger returns than normal) or should you spend more time at your job? Today our contributors dive into this excellent topic presented in a recent Of Dollars and Data blog post from past guest and show friend Nick Magiulli. Of course, we'll explore not only Nick's thoughts from the piece (link in our show notes), but we'll also share our own perspectives...and of course our team has many ideas for...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr
I know what you're thinking, your brain is the smartest part of your body. But to quote comedian Emo Philips, look who's telling you that. Your brain makes great short-term decisions but often at the cost of better long-term thoughts. Better eating? No thanks, the brain knows that ice cream tastes better. Workouts? The brain knows that those hurt. Saving for the future? Ms. Brain says I need money for right now. Luckily help is on the way in today's episode. Dr. Daniel Willingham joins us to hel...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr 20 min
We've all that that pivot in life, changing directions in our career. Joe sold his business at 40. OG has moved firms. Doug has worked at many firms (but none in a basement until now!) before securing his current--and favorite--role. So what should you consider before taking the leap? We're joined by Jill Schlesinger, host of the popular Jill on Money podcast and CBS News personality. She's helped many people successful change directions in their life and shares some sage advice with us on today...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 25 min
Do you have traditions that you value? Today we discuss traditions of all types and whether they are worth the money. Also, we advise on how to keep the tradition without breaking your bank account. We welcome our regular contributors Paulette Perhach from The Writer Paulette , the one and only Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot Com , and the ever-smiling OG from this very podcast. Whether it's finding creative alternatives to expensive gifts or rethinking the way you celebrate, we'll provide tips and...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 2 min
What do YOU look forward to when it comes to building and implementing your financial plan? If you're the average person online, you may think that a financial plan is all about building portfolios and managing investments. When you hear our top 5 favorite parts of a plan, you'll realize just how broad planning truly is and how many great opportunities you have in front of you. We'll share under-used strategies and tactics that you can implement immediately to have a big impact on your financial...
Jan 18, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Tired of thinking, "Other people have money...how come I can't get any?" Candy Valentino has been there. She was born into poverty, but luckily also into a can-do family. She joins us today to tackle how YOU can go from nothing to money by applying your best attributes. She'll discuss the importance of education, of paying attention to your surroundings, of investing in others, and more. You're going to learn a TON about life on today's show. In our headlines segment, many employers are actually...
Jan 16, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Today we take our first dive of 2023 into the real estate pool with an episode on the basics: how CAN you purchase properties? We grabbed a piece from RealEstateInvesting.com, asked our friend Crystal Hammond from SewSoFab.com (and a real estate investor herself), and gathered our regular contributors OG and Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) for a discussion about owning properties. At the midway point, we turn to health and wellness expert Angelo Poli from MetPro to help us kick off the new year on a hi...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Often we're asked, "Should I chase a career I love or follow the Benjamins?" It turns out, according to two researchers, you may not need to choose. At the very least, our guest, Dr. Myra Strober, professor Emeritus from Stanford University, will share a guide to making a choice that's much closer to optimal than many people perceive when they worry about love vs. money. Earlier in the show, we'll speak with James Martielli from Vanguard Investments about planning your portfolio during inflation...
Jan 11, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Want to be rich? Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger says more money won't necessarily make you happier. Fame? Yeah, that doesn't do it, either. Today we dive into the TRUE keys to happiness with the man who heads up the world's longest research study on the topic. He'll share the data and what you can do to transform your life into a much sunnier place. There was also BIG new legislation late last year. With wide-ranging changes impacting retirement withdrawal rules, retirement saving amounts, accou...
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Every year we ask a magic 8 ball that Len Penzo purchased at Walmart to predict the future. In the early years the ball was spot-on. Lately...not so much. But we do learn a lot about not falling into "current thinking" traps and about not worrying so much about what's top-of-mind in the moment. The truth tends to have a longer shelf life. So, we'll spend the first half of the show with Len, OG, and a mystery guest diving into last year's predictions and reliving some of 2022. Then we'll spend th...
Jan 06, 2023•1 hr 30 min
It feels like yesterday we were fastening the string between two tin cans in mom's basement to make a podcast...but now we've actually reached 1300 episodes. We've spent lots of time talking about the guests and special events that have shaped our little basement-based money literacy project, but we haven't talked about some of the big headlines we've covered. So today, we've picked three out of the 1300 to focus on that represent much of what we've covered over the last nearly twelve years. But...
Jan 04, 2023•1 hr
If there's anything we've become great at, it's committing too much of our time, money, and lives to things we don't care about. Today we'll help you start the new year on the right foot by learning to commit to ONLY those important things and take control of your time. Dr. Don Davis joins us to tackle this vital topic that'll help us frame the rest of this year in the right light. But that's not all. We kick off today's show with a headline to help you ramp up your retirement savings. Then we'l...
Jan 02, 2023•1 hr 9 min
The Magic 8 Ball is back. Ahead of our show next week where our regulars will ask the Magic 8 Ball their questions for the coming year, we're going back to the predictions made last year. We take a look at the questions asked of the Magic 8 Ball and find out how many it got right. Take a look at the original show notes and full Magic 8 Ball predictions for the year here . Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-1298 . Deeper dives with curated links, topics, an...
Dec 30, 2022•1 hr 29 min
What does it take to be a great leader? David Gergen served four US Presidents (from both parties) and believes that our youth have the potential to be great leaders in society. To round out our week of most inspirational guests, we bring back our conversation with David. He talks about leadership, service, and how you can help motivate and inspire others around you. Take a look at the original show notes here . Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/david-gergen-1297 . De...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 11 min
Inspiration can come from almost anywhere and creativity plays a huge role. Don't think you are creative enough to come up with great ideas? Think again. Daniel Lamarre is the former CEO and now Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of the legendary company Cirque du Soleil. He joined us to talk about why creativity is crucial to professional and personal success and shares his own journey with Cirque du Soleil to improve in every area of his own career. Check out the original show notes here . F...
Dec 28, 2022•51 min
Step into the New Year with a new perspective on influence. Getting what you want and deserve doesn't have to be a negative thing. Zoe Chance is an expert in influence and is an Assistant Professor at Yale. She joined us to share her secrets to positive influence and happiness. She talks about the power of ‘no’, charisma, and my favorite, the Kindly Brontosaurus technique. Take a look at the original show notes here . Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zoe-chance-1295 ...
Dec 27, 2022•1 hr 16 min
Finding great mentors and role models isn't always easy. Once you find one, hold on tight. Professor Scott Galloway joined us to share his thoughts on education, role models, patriotism, and so much more. His new book takes a fascinating look at the U.S. and explains how we got where we are today, achievements we’ve made, failures and our socioeconomic systems, and all explained in charts. Check out the original show notes here . Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/scot...
Dec 26, 2022•1 hr 14 min
Year-end is a time to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the year ahead. What lessons did you learn in 2022? Our roundtable joins us today to share their biggest takeaways. Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG join us to talk about 2022. They share their thoughts on crypto, the stock market, and how to position yourself to be successful financially. And then, we crown the annual trivia contest winner with the best trophy anyone has ever seen! Fi...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min
2022 is coming to an end. What were your biggest takeaways and lessons for the year, financial or otherwise? A volatile stock market, rising interest rates, and uncertainty left a lot of people feeling uneasy about their investments but there's a silver lining. Katie Gatti from Money With Katie joins us to share her top five takeaways from 2022. She says that if you got through 2022 and have a clear outlook on your financial plan for the upcoming year, you are in a better position than you might...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The holiday season is meant to be spent with activities and people you love, not in the kitchen creating some elegant concoction (unless that's your #1 passion, then go for it!). Even worse, your waistline won't love you ordering DoorDash every night and eating warmed up fast-casual restaurant food. Where's the sweet spot? Karen Nochimowski is the tour-de-force behind Momma Chef, and she today will share recipe ideas from her new 6-Minute Dinners cookbook. It turns out, you don't have to be Gord...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 6 min
Who are the people that have motivated and inspired you most in your life? The friends and family we surround ourselves with impact all areas of our lives, including financially. Do your closest friends have similar spending habits to you? Today, our roundtable guests talk about the influence our friends have on us. Alissa Maizes (Amplify My Wealth), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG share their thoughts. They talk about people who have motivated and influenced their money habits, how their h...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 13 min
When sudden change happens in your life, how do you handle it? Imagine being told you couldn't perform your job anymore. How would you pivot? Our guest today had a huge and sudden change in his life when, while his wife was in labor with their child, he found out he had injuries that would prevent him from playing football ever again. Eric Wood played in the NFL for nine seasons before his sudden departure. He joins us today to talk about that moment, the immediate changes he had to make, how he...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 7 min
When most people think about real estate rentals, they think short-term or long-term investing options. Did you know there's a huge market for mid-term rentals? Mid-term rentals are perfect for traveling nurses, business executives at a temporary location, or someone looking to try out a new location before making a big move. Our guest today, Zeona McIntyre, stumbled into mid-term rentals and has now built her real estate portfolio around the strategy. She talks about going from juggling low-pro...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 18 min
Do you ever feel FOMO seeing the investments that the super wealthy have access to? Private investments, hedge funds, and other alternative investments get a lot of hype but they also come with a ton of risk. Some of these investments do make sense for the everyday investor but there's no need to get stuck in a cycle of FOMO. Our roundtable today talks about the difference in investing based on the. size of your portfolio. Roger Whitney (The Retirement Answer Man), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) ...
Dec 09, 2022•1 hr 12 min
'Tis the season for parties, gatherings, AND....awkward discussions with people you need for networking opportunities. Public speaking creates massive anxiety for many people, and even more so during the holiday season with endless parties and get-togethers. But guess what? Being an introvert, shy or anxious isn't a defining characteristic. Public speaking is a skill that you can build and actually excel at. Our guest today, John Bowe, saw this first-hand with a family member. His step-cousin we...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 7 min
We dive deep today into the creation of a new podcast series from FastCompany about women and work FastCompany scoured the nation to find mother/daughter pairs to tell their own stories of the world of work. How they created the series is a testament to the power of working toward excellence, but the topic itself is also beyond compelling. 43% of women leave the workforce after having children, which is disturbingly often not always their preferred choice. Today we talk with Kate Davis, FastComp...
Dec 05, 2022•56 min
What is your tipping etiquette? Tipping at restaurants is more straightforward than tipping at a coffee shop or when you order takeout. Even more complicated is tipping for services like hair salons or your trash service provider. How do you determine how much to tip and when? Our roundtable today shares their thoughts. Barbara Sloan (Tipped Finance), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com), and OG join us to talk about their tipping habits. They also talk about tipping in unusual situations and what to d...
Dec 02, 2022•58 min
Do you ever look around your house and wonder how you accumulated so much stuff? It's the holiday season and you're about to bring in even more. There's stuff everywhere and we keep buying more. "Spring cleaning" is a great idea, but today's guest believes that decluttering your life begins with deciding what you actually bring INTO your home to begin with. Tracy McCubbin is our favorite organizational expert who's learned the hard way. Her father is a hoarder, and she's seen firsthand the mess ...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 15 min
Today YOU are in the driver's seat with questions about annuities, opening accounts, the stock market, savings account options, unclaimed property, and more...but before that, we dive into a headline on real estate that could make you think twice before investing in it. We'll share details and what questions you should ask regarding these "deals." Plus we share a TikTok minute sure to make you think about your utility bills differently, AND Doug also asks a trivia question you just might get rig...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 7 min
Tired of not knowing how to get into money topics with friends OR sick of boring holiday parties where someone picked out a lame game from Walmart? We'll solve BOTH problems today with our friends from the Australia-based YouTube channel Thinker Themer, Amy and Maggie! They're board game reviewers who walk us through two lists, one detailing great games introducing people to money or economic themes, and the other with party games that will be sure to entertain your friends and family over this ...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr 11 min
