The Stacking Benjamins Show - podcast cover

The Stacking Benjamins Show

Joe Saul-Sehy and Josh ‘OG’ Bannerman, CFPart19.com

Named Best Personal Finance Podcast by Bankrate.com and Kiplinger — and the only podcast the Plutus Awards retired from competition after winning twice — The Stacking Benjamins Show is personal finance that doesn’t put you to sleep.

Hosts Joe Saul-Sehy (former 16-year financial advisor, ex-WXYZ-TV “Money Man”) and Josh “OG” Bannerman, CFP (Certified Financial Planner, Bannerman Wealth) sit around the card table in Joe’s mom’s half-finished basement in Texarkana and talk money with the smartest guests in personal finance, investing, and behavioral economics. As Fast Company wrote, the show “strikes a great balance of fun and functional.”

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: expert guests, real headlines, listener questions, and Doug’s trivia. Topics include investing, retirement planning, budgeting, real estate, behavioral finance, taxes, and financial independence — for anyone who wants to be smarter about money without being talked down to.

Subscribe to The 201 — the free newsletter that goes deeper than the show — at stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Episodes

One Woman's Inspiring Journey to Get Her Financial Ball Rolling (with Yanely Espinal)

Imagine growing up in a neighborhood where everyone is on government assistance, and still pulling yourself up onto your feet enough to attend one of the most prestigious colleges in the USA...only to find yourself deep in credit card debt and struggling. That's a small sliver of Yanely Espinal's story (you may know her as Miss Be Helpful on YouTube). She joins us today to help you figure out how to pay down debt, fix your credit, but most of all, to just get started. In our headline segment, We...

Jun 07, 20231 hr 11 min

From Covert Ops to Unleashing the Mind: Itamar Marani Shares Mindset Hacks

Itamar Mirani had to control his emotions while working as a spy for the Israeli government. The way he worked through emotions, mental blocks, and more, though was not at all what you'd expect. Today he shares his process for working through deep blocks so that we can make better financial moves, bold career advancements, and take part in more of life's great moments. It appears many small investors may be about to lose money on real estate, and thousands already have. Alan Corey from our siste...

Jun 05, 20231 hr 17 min

Less is More: Simplifying Wealth for a Richer Life

Mom always said, "You can do more with less," but is that really true? Another popular line is, "problems are always more fun to show up to in a limo!" Today we'll clear up the clutter from your life, talk about how to determine what is "enough," and see what chasing too many "things" can do to your spirit. It's true: less truly often IS more and we're going to help you cut away. It's a sad day on the show because contributor Paulette Perhach is ending her nine-month run of filling in for Paula ...

Jun 02, 20231 hr 8 min

Can You Finally Trust Annuities? Is Crypto For You? What's The Future of Money? (with Ric Edelman)

Ric Edelman has opinions, and they're both well-researched and timely. We pick his brain on annuities, crypto, central bank digital currency, and the future of money. Ric's book, The Truth About Money, was a revolutionary and even-handed look at money way back in 1996. We're sure you'll find his take on modern money as riveting still today. Plus, in our headline segment, what's going on with your credit? A new study from Tranunion shows that credit scores are a-changing. How? We'll share. Of cou...

May 31, 20231 hr 4 min

Running Slow AF Toward Your (Big) Goals (with Martinus Evans)

You've heard the term "get rich slowly"? Today we're inspiring you to jump in the race! Martinus Evans was told, that as a 300 pound-plus man, that he was too heavy to run marathons. His doctor laughed in his face. Today he's been on the cover of Runners' World, sponsored by Adidas, and leads one of the country's largest running groups, the Slow AF Running Club. If you aren't inspired to jump over your fear, lace up your budgeting shoes, and get moving toward your goals today, I don't know how m...

May 29, 20231 hr 11 min

Blueprint for Purposeful Living: Designing a Meaningful Life

Get ready to unleash your inner life designer and make every day a vacation! Join the inspirational Heidi Dusek from the Ordinary Sherpa podcast as she takes you on a journey to craft the life of your dreams. Plus, we've got the retirement guru himself, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com , engineering his way to an epic retirement from his secret bunker. And let's not forget about OG, the mastermind behind designing other people's retirements. But wait, there's more! We'll spice up the show with Doug's...

May 26, 20231 hr 4 min

How One Woman Flipped Five Dollars Into Millions

Mignon Francois was down to her last five dollars. Her power had been turned off and she flipped on a generator only at night so her kids would have some "normal" in their life. But things weren't normal then, and would be even less normal as she flipped that last five dollars into a cupcake empire. She'll share the story today that'll make you realize that you CAN do that thing that's been frightening you. First, though, in our headline segment Social Security is in the news. It turns out that ...

May 24, 202356 min

Thrill on a Budget: Save Big and Have a Blast at Theme Parks

Summer is here! Robert Niles kicks off our summer season by sharing deals and thrills around the nation's theme parks. We ask Mr. Theme Park Insider himself about how we can save money when we take the family but also (and maybe more importantly) how we actually make the day more fun so that it's worth the money we pay. Robert delivers on both fronts, with both wallet-saving and excitement-upping tips. We talk about some of the best theme parks in the USA plus the "big boys" of Disney and Univer...

May 22, 20231 hr 10 min

What Does “Passive Income” Really Mean (and do we want it?)

Can you actually sit back and make money without lifting a finger? Is winning the lottery truly a passive endeavor? Our Roundtable is diving into the world of 'passive' income strategies that have left them scratching their heads. Joining us today is the dynamic duo of Nurse Naseema from the Nurses on Fire podcast and the financial powerhouse behind Financially Intentional. Plus, we have the one and only Doc. G from our sister show Earn and Invest. And let's not forget our very own OG, ready to ...

May 19, 20231 hr 3 min

Pennies to Prosperity: Unleashing Financial Wizardry with Erin Lowry, the 'Not-So-Broke' Millennial

Erin Lowry broke on the scene six years ago with her bestselling and groundbreaking book Broke Millennial. Today she's back on she podcast to dive into lessons she WISHES we'd learned from her original book and tips from her new workbook. We'll chat about credit, emergency funds, managing debt, reward points, and more! In our headline segment, who knew that you couldn't buy things with zero cash today, promise to pay installments, and NOT DO IT? #shocker. Pay later apps like Klarna and Affirm ar...

May 17, 20231 hr 4 min

Make "A Couple Million" Without Ruining Your Life (with Steve Chou)

Steve Chou has made lots of money. He didn't do it by "following his passion." He sold hankerchiefs with his wife, who wanted to quit her job. Together they created businesses that rolled in cash. But Steve will be the first to tell you that the method he used was flawed. Today he'll dive into his mastakes and share kes to help you start your own business and make "a couple million" a year (Steve's number) without ruining your life, your relationships, or resorting to the "hustle culture" that c...

May 15, 20231 hr 5 min

Is "Being Great" Holding You Back?

As Stackers, it's second nature to want to be the best at everything; but when is it enough to just be good and not great? Are there instances where "good" may actually be preferable to "great?" Joining Paulette and Len for our roundtable to tackle this tricky topic, we welcome the host of the Money Confidential podcast, creator of the award-winning "Too Ambitious" newsletter, writer, entrepreneur, and all-around awesome human being Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez. Plus, Doug Joe's mom's cousin, Di...

May 12, 20231 hr 3 min

The Happily Never After Show: Finding Help and Hope in Divorce

What happens when your marriage is struggling? Today we'll share some of the horrible stories and (more importantly) how to solve them OR how to make sure that you're able to function during a divorce. Forensic accountant Tracy Coenen and attorney Sarah Jacobs join us with their expert advice to hopefully avert a divorce or to help you navigate the heady waters of a marriage gone wrong. In our headline segment we dive into the world of high yield savings! Apple has introduced an account that pay...

May 10, 20231 hr 4 min

Leadership Lessons To Help Your Career Take Flight (with Oscar Munoz)

What makes a great leader? What can you do to become one? We welcome the former CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz, down in the basement to tackle these questions and learn from his business lessons over the span of his decades-long career in corporate leadership. He shares stories from his amazing turnaround, including his own story of a major health crisis early during his administration at the popular transportation company. During our headlines segment we'll dive into a story you've all pro...

May 08, 20231 hr 22 min

Navigating Awkward Money Moments (plus Evil HR Lady) REWIND

Don't be caught blindsided by uncomfortable money questions! Tune into this roundtable conversation where Paula, Len, and O.G. try to come up with the right ways to respond when faced with awkward money moments. The show originally aired in 2020 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here . FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-rewind-1352 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available...

May 05, 20231 hr 23 min

Better–and Funnier–Flights (with Betty Thesky) REWIND

Before you fly off on your summer vacation, don’t miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview Betty Thesky of Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase, where she shares some of the craziest stories you've ever heard from the perspective of a flight attendant. She came down to the basement to share some of her anecdotes that will leave you #ROFL . The show originally aired in 2016 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here . FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingben...

May 03, 202359 min

Stop Delegating Money Decisions (with Bola Sokunbi) REWIND

Don’t miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview Bola Sokunbi on the topic of why it's essential to be involved and in control of your financial decisions. Especially if you have the tendency to outsource your financial management, you want to tune into this important rewind episode! The show originally aired in 2019 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here . FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/bola-sokunbi-rewind-1350 Deeper dives with c...

May 01, 20231 hr 12 min

The Art Of Balancing Relationships And Finances

When money is tight, you gotta do what you gotta do. But who should you add to your financial accounts? What could possibly go wrong if you share money with your buddy? Today we are happy to have the creator of the blog Mark's Money Mind, CFP Mark Trautman, on to share his experiences in financial account sharing. Paulette Perhach joins us to share her financial sharing memories. And Len Penzo jumps in to give his perspectives on Affleck and Damon's level of trust. What are some smart rules to f...

Apr 28, 20231 hr

"Going Pro" With Your Money Skills (with Rob Welch)

You've gotten the big call…it's time to go pro with your money? But what skills got you there? Today, to celebrate the NFL draft tomorrow, when dozens of talented young people will have their lives changed with huge paychecks, we welcome a guy who works with professional athletes on their cash, private banker Rob Welch. Plus, in our headlines segment, a disturbing statistic about financial advisor satisfaction just emerged. What do people dislike about their advisors? We'll jump into ALL of the ...

Apr 26, 20231 hr 6 min

Planning Retirement the RIGHT Way (with Veronica McCain)

How can you do a better job planning for your retirement (and not just financially)? Are you anxious about transitioning into the next phase of your life? We're happy to welcome retirement planning expert Veronica McCain to share some actionable advice to put you in a better position to retire well. Plus, in today's headline, do you feel like your expenses always come in over budget? Have your credit card balances increased over the last year? You're not alone, says Veronica Dagher of the Wall S...

Apr 24, 20231 hr 8 min

Our Best Financial Tips For Graduates

For millions of young prodigies, it's graduation season. But before they spread their wings and leave the nest, how will they afford it? Our roundtable tackles this timely topic on how recent college graduates can best get a head start on adulting. We're happy to welcome our special guest to said roundtable Wes Moss of the Retire Sooner Podcast. He joins our fabulous writer Paulette Perhach and our in-house CFP OG. They give their two cents on today's headline article. In part two of our discuss...

Apr 21, 20231 hr 2 min

Making a Financial Plan That Sticks (with Lawrence Sprung)

Are you tired of following the same old financial advice that doesn't seem to work for YOU? Do you want to create a financial plan that's tailored to YOUR unique circumstances and helps you achieve your goals? We're joined by Lawrence Sprung, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Mitlin Financial, to discuss his approach to financial planning. Discover how to create a personalized financial plan that not only sets you up for success but also brings you joy along the way. Plus in our headl...

Apr 19, 20231 hr 5 min

Economics 101: A Study of Janet Yellen's Career (with Jon Hilsenrath)

We are thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist, senior editor at The Wall Street Journal, expert on the Federal Reserve, and author of the bestselling book about Janet Yellen Jon Hilsenrath to the basement. In addition to an economics masterclass, he shares with us insights into the current Treasury Secretary and former Federal Reserve Chair - and what makes her tick. Also, we dive into an infuriating headline about 70,000 people who can't access their retirement savings while legal proceed...

Apr 17, 20231 hr 8 min

Our Take on the "No Retirement Savings" Crisis

Do you have anything put away for retirement? If so, you're doing better than 50% of women and 47% of men ages 55-66, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Yikes! For today's roundtable, we welcome guest contributor Investopedia Top 100 Advisor in 2019, 2020, and 2021; Certified Financial Planner (CFP); and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) Benjamin Brandt. We welcome Paulette Perhach back from her travels, and Len Penzo joins us from his bunker under flooded Los Angeles. They give...

Apr 14, 20231 hr 3 min

Dumping Debt: How to Get Out of the Red and Into the Black (with Dorethia Kelly)

No event could have wrecked our finances as bad, or for as long, as building a debt saddle had done. Between interest payments, added stress, and missed opportunities, digging yourself out of debt can be a painful life experience - but well worth it in the end. Today's conversation with debt payoff expert Dorethia Kelly is a must-listen! Plus we throw out the Haven Lifeline to Lee who has a question about how to replenish your retirement cash position if it's used early in retirement. Add to tha...

Apr 12, 20231 hr 9 min

Work-Life Harmony is Closer Than You Think (with Tina Wells)

We've heard a lot about work-life balance. On one end, the non-stress believers say that you should seek balance actively. On the other, "hustle" culture says you can sleep when you're dead. There's no such thing as balance. Do more. Faster. Better. Today's guest says that maybe you can have "more" in your life WITHOUT seeking balance. What if we sought harmony instead? Tina Wells has had to apply this lesson to her own life, having created her first company at age 16 and suffering her first bur...

Apr 10, 20231 hr 2 min

Should You Take Advice From Televisions Money "Gurus"?

Who should you trust? Talking heads on television often have a LOT to say about your money. Yet, one popular television show called out a "guru" live, questioning the validity of their advice. So today we ask our roundtable panel about that particular exchange: where should your filter kick in with online advice. Whether you're listening to the radio, watching videos, or heck...even listening to us, when should you apply some caution? What are the questions you should be asking yourself about on...

Apr 07, 20231 hr 3 min

Last Minute Tax Tips That Could Save You Thousands (with CPA Bob Wheeler)

Ready to hit "send' on your taxes? Before you do, Bob Wheeler from the Money You Should Ask podcast, and a working CPA, joins us to dive into what YOU can do to maybe lower your tax liability. We'll cover frequent mistakes, what to do if you can't pay, and how to negotiate with the IRS. In today's headline, we dive into a 44-year-old's advice on how to build up enough "F.U." money to retire early, and the potential rewards and dangers of early retirement. And, on the Haven Lifeline, we answer a ...

Apr 05, 202352 min

Spanx Your Budget to Slim Expenses (with Allison Baggerly)

Allison Baggerly was in trouble. She owed a TON of money to everyone and had just found out she was now pregnant. How does she solve the problem?On today's show she shares how a budget saved her financial future and took her family from a horrible place to one where she's in control. The best news? You can learn from her experience, as we share budget secrets on today's show with the woman behind Inspired Budget! In headlines we ask the question, "Will getting more information make you a better ...

Apr 03, 20231 hr 8 min

Our Best Secrets to Slash Your Grocery Budget and Save Big

Every time we go to the grocery store, it seems like the prices of whatever is on our list keep rising. In today's roundtable discussion, we look at a recent piece that promises to help us save drastically on our grocery budget. Today, we welcome a special guest, Ms. Yo Quiero Dinero Jannese Torres, who joins Len and OG. At the halfway mark of today's show, we'll see if Jannese can help dig team Paulette/Paula out of last place in our yearlong trivia game when the three try to answer a health-re...

Mar 31, 20231 hr 1 min
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