#551: Financial psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz and Youtuber Adrian Brambila join us to talk about money psychology, starting with a dark but revealing story about an experiment with dogs.  Scientists put dogs in electrified cages from which they couldn't escape. Eventually, the dogs stopped trying to escape and just lay down, even when later moved to cages where escape was possible. This 'learned helplessness' mirrors how people can get trapped in negative beliefs about money when they grow up with financial hardship. The conversation explores four main "money scripts" - deep beliefs about money that shape our behavior: 1. Money Avoidance: Thinking money is bad and rich people are evil 2. Money Worship: Believing more money will solve all problems 3. Money Status: Equating net worth with self-worth 4. Money Vigilance: Being careful and anxious about money (this one actually leads to the best financial outcomes) Adrian shares his journey from making $27,000 at a call center in Iowa to becoming successful through YouTube, explaining how he had to find mentors online since no one around him understood his goals. He talks about feeling like a "lone wolf" with uncommon aspirations in a small town. Dr. Brad reveals some surprising findings - like how meditation is linked to lower net worth (because being present-focused can work against future planning). His solution? "Automate before you meditate" - set up your savings and investments first. They discuss how your friend group shapes your money views. The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) movement, for example, creates status around having high savings rates instead of fancy cars. But they note some FIRE followers end up "FIRED" - Financially Independent Retire Early Depressed - because they never learned to enjoy spending money. Dr. Brad shares a personal story about realizing in couples therapy that his fear of becoming poor was causing harmful stress, even though he was financially secure. This highlights a key theme: money scripts affect both rich and poor, and having more money doesn't automatically fix unhealthy money beliefs. All these insights come from Dr. Brad and Adrian's research and personal experiences, which they've collected in their book "Start Thinking Rich." The core message? Your money beliefs probably came from your childhood and culture, but you can change them once you understand them. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. 0:00 Intro to 3-part series on thinking rich 3:01 Psychology experiment reveals how learned helplessness affects money habits 8:12 Adrian's journey from call center worker to YouTuber 14:16 How friend groups sabotage financial success 19:52 Brad's struggle sharing book-writing aspirations 29:30 Being the lone ambitious person in a small town 40:24 Introduction to the concept of money scripts 48:20 Money script #1: avoiding wealth and villainizing rich people 56:52 American consumerism vs other cultures 1:02:40 Money script #2: believing money solves everything 1:09:20 Money script #3: equating net worth with self-worth 1:16:40 Money script #4: vigilance leads to better money outcomes 1:20:40 Why meditation correlates with lower wealth 1:22:48 When parents can't enjoy their retirement money 1:29:44 Overcoming the fear of becoming poor again For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode551 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#550: Paul Merriman, a former wealth manager turned financial educator, joins us to share investing wisdom that could reshape how you think about your money. We kick things off talking about portfolio diversification. Paul suggests a simple four-fund strategy that includes large cap, small cap, and value stocks. He says this mix has historically beaten the S&P 500 with lower risk. We then dive into international investing. Paul explains that while adding international stocks doesn't necessarily boost returns, it can help smooth out the ride. He keeps half his equity portfolio in international stocks, even at age 81. Got kids? Paul's got some advice for you too. He tells us about putting money aside for his new granddaughter, aiming to fund her Roth IRA as soon as she can earn income. He breaks down how investing just a dollar a day from birth to age 21 could turn into millions by retirement age. It's a powerful lesson in starting early and the magic of compound interest. We also chat about some common investing mistakes. Paul stresses that young investors often underestimate the power of stocks over bonds for long-term growth. He shares some eye-opening numbers: $100 invested in bonds since 1928 would have grown to about $12,000, while the same amount in small cap value stocks would be worth nearly $15 million. Paul wants you to think of investing as a partnership with businesses. When you buy a mutual fund, you're becoming a senior partner in thousands of companies. At first, your contributions drive most of the growth. But over time, market returns take over, and you become the junior partner to a much larger fortune. We wrap up with Paul sharing his excitement about a 40-hour financial education program he helped create at Western Washington University. It's designed to teach students essential money skills throughout their college years, from budgeting as freshmen to understanding 401(k)s as seniors. Throughout our chat, Paul's message is clear: start early, stay diversified, and think long-term. He believes that with the right education and mindset, anyone can build a solid financial future. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. 0:00 Intro to Paul Merriman and podcast topic 0:57 Two-fund portfolio strategy 3:55 Four-fund portfolio strategy explained 5:31 Large cap performance concerns 7:06 S&P 500 vs Total Market Index 10:59 AI impact on large companies 14:43 Market trends and historical performance 20:41 International equity in portfolios 25:26 ETFs vs index funds 29:41 Non-US investor asset allocation 38:41 Setting up kids financially 43:57 Early investing importance 48:37 Common investor mistakes 50:25 Investing as business partnership 52:51 Evolving financial education landscape For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode550 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#549: Steven is stuck on the question of financial stability. How do you know if you have it? Is there an objective answer based on net worth? Or is it a calculation relative to your income and age? Jack isn’t sure how to factor his house into his net worth. It’s an asset, but he has a mortgage against it, and there are transaction costs associated with selling it. How should he frame it? Patricia and her husband are debt-free with a $2.2 million net worth, but she’s constantly stressed about their finances. Are her concerns valid? Or is she a financial hypochondriac? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode549 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#548: Economist Dr. Karsten Jeske talks with us about the current economic landscape. Karsten, who retired at 44, breaks down the Fed's recent decisions and how they might affect our finances. He explains how markets often anticipate interest rate changes before they happen. Karsten challenges traditional views on inflation and unemployment, telling us that textbook models don't always match reality. Karsten shares his personal investing experiences, covering both market highs and lows. He emphasizes the value of consistent investing regardless of market conditions. For those eyeing retirement, Karsten dives into safe withdrawal rates. He advises paying close attention to current market valuations when planning. On the topic of mortgages, he offers clear guidance on when refinancing makes sense. We also touch on economic history, discussing the Weimar Republic's hyperinflation. Karsten uses this to critique modern monetary theory, expressing skepticism about unrestricted money printing. Throughout our conversation, Karsten explains complex economic concepts in accessible terms. He draws on his background as both an academic and a Wall Street professional to provide well-rounded insights. Karsten, also known as Big ERN, is the author of EarlyRetirementNow.com, where he writes about safe withdrawal rates and personal finance while enjoying his retirement. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode548 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#547: An anonymous caller and her husband have a $2 million net worth at 40, but they’re worried that the one-fund portfolio that got them there isn’t good enough anymore. Are they right?  Jared feels frustrated that so much personal finance media is centered around tech and freelance workers. Does Paula and Joe have negotiation advice for someone in the union? Sam owns two overseas properties in a country that’s experienced runaway inflation for the past decade. He’s worried he’ll lose $500,000 worth of assets. How does he control the bleeding? Steve is calling back with an exciting update on his house-swapping journey from Episode 487.  Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode547 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#546: The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates by half a percentage point. What does this mean for your mortgage, your savings account, and the economy at large? In this First Friday economic episode, we dive deep into the Fed's decision. But that's just the beginning. As the presidential election looms, we'll also unpack the economic proposals from both candidates, examining how their plans for housing, taxes, and more could shape your financial future. We emphasize critical, non-partisan analysis of economic proposals. We want you to understand complex economic issues and their potential impacts, rather than advocating for specific political positions. Here are more specifics about this episode: The Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates by half a percentage point – the first rate reduction since the pandemic – is the biggest economic story of the month. We start by exploring the implications of the Federal Reserve’s rate cut, from falling mortgage and auto loan rates to potential increases in home prices and a tightening housing inventory. We also touch on the flip side: declining yields on high-interest savings accounts and CDs. We unpack the reasoning behind the Fed's decision, including shifting concerns from inflation to unemployment. We delve into economic indicators like the "dot plot" and "R-Star," explaining their significance in predicting future interest rates and economic trends. Then we discuss the latest jobs report, with 254,000 new jobs added in September, surpassing expectations. We break down the unemployment rate's drop to 4.1 percent. As the conversation shifts to the upcoming election, we take a nonpartisan approach to examining economic proposals from both presidential candidates. The episode focuses on policy rather than politics, encouraging critical thinking about each proposal's potential impacts. One area of bipartisan agreement - a proposal for no tax on tips for service workers - is scrutinized. We explain why economists across the political spectrum view this idea skeptically, highlighting the lack of specificity in defining "service workers" and "tips." Housing policy takes center stage, with both candidates proposing regulatory streamlining for home construction and opening federal lands for development. We discuss the limitations of federal intervention in what are often local zoning and regulatory issues. The episode also examines proposals for first-time homebuyer assistance, explaining how subsidizing demand in a supply-constrained market could potentially lead to higher housing prices. Throughout the discussion, we emphasize the importance of evaluating these policies based on their potential economic impacts rather than political affiliations. This episode will help you make more informed decisions about personal finances and policy preferences. Timestamps Note: timestamps will vary on individual devices based on advertising length 0:00 Introduction to the Fed's recent interest rate cut 2:35 Unpacking the impact of rate cuts on mortgages and savings 5:12 Explanation of the dot plot and R-Star concepts 9:47 Analysis of September's job report and unemployment figures 15:23 Discussion on labor force participation trends 21:08 Introduction to election-related economic policies 25:40 Examination of bipartisan "no tax on tips" proposal 31:15 Analysis of housing policies from both candidates 37:22 Critique of down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers 42:56 Exploration of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and its housing impact 48:03 Discussion on proposed acts to limit corporate housing investments 52:17 Case study of Argentina's recent housing market changes For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode546 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#545: Kat feels thrown off. She’s realizing that the simple investing strategy that nearly 5x’d her portfolio in six years might be unwise. Should she course correct? And how? Ryan and his wife are torn between buying what they want (a single-family house) and what seems prudent (a multi-family house). How do they decide? Is there a third way? At 30, Danielle has saved enough for a traditional retirement. But she’s confused about how this meshes with planning for an early retirement. How should she think about money buckets? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode545 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#544: Remember that time you found a $20 bill in an old jacket pocket? The rush of excitement, followed by the quick mental math of what you could buy with it? That's your money mindset at work. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology behind our financial decisions. You'll hear about the three money mindsets: anxious, obsessed, and avoidant. Ever clutched onto every penny out of fear? That's the anxious mindset. Spent big to impress others? Money obsession. Ever thought "I'd rather be happy than rich" or felt uncomfortable talking about money? These could be signs of a money-avoidant mindset. The episode shares a personal journey from being terrified of running out of money to developing a healthier relationship with finances. It's not just about saving or spending - it's about using money as a tool to express your values. You'll learn why being "good with money" isn't as simple as “just don’t spend it!” Think about Ebenezer Scrooge - he had plenty of cash but lived like a pauper. Is that really good money management? On the other end of the extreme, you have Montgomery Burns from The Simpsons as another example. He's loaded but obsessed with getting even richer, showing how the endless pursuit of wealth can leave you lonely and isolated. The talk covers how your beliefs about money can become self-fulfilling prophecies. If you think you're bad with money, you might make poor financial decisions without realizing it. You'll hear about the balance between time and money. Both are limited resources, and sometimes it's smart to spend money to buy back your time. After all, you can always make more money, but you can't make more time. This episode tackles the myth that work is always a drag. It suggests finding work that gives you a sense of purpose can lead to both job satisfaction and financial success. Investing comes up too. You'll learn why it's often simpler than the financial industry wants you to believe. Sometimes, doing less with your investments can lead to better results. We wrap up by talking about imposter syndrome - that feeling that you don't deserve your financial success. If you've ever felt like a fraud because your bank account looks better than it used to, you're not alone. Throughout the episode, you'll get insights into how your past experiences shape your current money habits. By the end, you'll have tools to start examining your own money mindset and working towards a healthier relationship with your finances. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode544 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deeply Discounted Beta Test Cohort, Open Now through Sept 27: affordanything.com/yournextraise ____ #543: Picture this: You're at a car dealership, trying to get the best price on your dream car. The salesperson hits you with a "take it or leave it" offer. Your palms are sweaty, your heart's racing. What do you do? That's just one of the tricky situations we dive into in this episode. We're tackling seven types of hardball negotiation tactics that can trip you up in all sorts of situations - from asking for a raise to haggling at a flea market. First up, we break down the "take it or leave it" tactic. We share a real-life story of Sarah, a software developer, facing this exact situation in a job interview. You'll hear how she turned it around and got what she wanted. Next, we talk about psychological warfare. Sounds intense, right? It can be. We tell you about Emma, a graphic designer, who had to deal with a client trying to throw her off her game. You'll learn how she kept her cool and came out on top. Ever heard of the "good cop, bad cop" routine? It's not just in movies. We share a story of how this played out in a business deal and give you tips on how to spot it and handle it like a pro. Then there's the "snow job" - when someone dumps so much information on you that your head spins. We break down how to cut through the clutter and focus on what really matters. We also cover what to do when someone's holding back important info, how to spot a fake-out (when someone pretends to care about one thing but really wants another), and the sneaky "nibbling" tactic where people ask for just one more small thing... and then another... and another. For each tactic, we give you the lowdown on: - What it looks like in action - Why it works (yep, there's some psychology involved) - How you can spot it - What you can do to counter it We wrap up with a handy checklist for each tactic. Think of it as your negotiation cheat sheet. By the end of the episode, you'll have a toolkit of strategies to help you navigate tough negotiations, whether you're buying a car, negotiating your salary, or just trying to decide where to go for dinner with your friends. Remember, negotiation isn't about "winning" at all costs. It's about finding solutions that work for everyone. With the tips from this episode, you'll be better equipped to do just that, even when things get tricky. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode543 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#542: Ever feel like you're never doing enough with your money, even when your finances look good on paper? You're not alone. Katie Gatti Tassin, host of the Money with Katie podcast, dives into a phenomenon called "money dysmorphia" in today’s interview. She shares how she got flooded with responses when she asked her listeners about money dysmorphia. Folks with hefty savings and investments still worry they're not doing enough. It's like they're always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where does this come from? Katie points to a few culprits. Social media is an obvious scapegoat. But traditional media plays a role too. Think about all those TV shows where "normal" families live in massive houses and drive fancy cars. It skews our perception of what's average. Location matters too. Katie talks about how moving from Dallas to Fort Collins changed her spending habits. Different cities have different vibes and social norms around money. The conversation takes an interesting turn when Katie shares her own experience buying a Porsche. She felt conflicted, worried her FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) community would judge her. It highlights how even personal finance experts grapple with these issues. They also touch on how the pandemic shook up financial priorities. When faced with uncertainty, some people realized saving for a far-off future might not be the only goal worth pursuing. Katie and Paula discuss the importance of balance. It's good to save, but not at the expense of living your life now. They suggest seeking out voices in the personal finance world to get a more rounded perspective. Travel comes up as a way to gain financial perspective. Seeing how people live in other parts of the world can make you appreciate what you have or show you where your own country could improve. Katie and Paula offer food for thought on how to navigate our complex relationship with money. It's a conversation that might make you think differently about your own financial mindset. Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. 01:13 - Define money dysmorphia concept 02:22 - Social media's influence on financial perceptions 03:57 - Traditional media's impact on financial normalcy 06:03 - Wealth displays in TV and movies 09:52 - Regional cultures affect spending habits 11:35 - Social engineering in consumer culture 14:36 - TV shows shape perceptions of normal lifestyles 17:19 - Lower-income portrayal in media 20:22 - Social circles influence financial habits 23:35 - Importance of balance in financial perspectives 26:34 - Travel's role in gaining financial perspective 29:12 - Key takeaways about money dysmorphia 31:30 - Media's influence on financial normalcy perception 33:46 - Balancing future planning with present enjoyment For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#541: Ever wondered if you're making the right choice between a Traditional and Roth 401(k)? You're not alone.  In this episode, Katie Gatti Tassin, host of MorningBrew’s Money with Katie podcast, joins us to tackle this common retirement savings dilemma. We deep-dive into the debate between using Traditional vs. Roth 401(k) accounts for retirement savings, in the context of: Future tax rates  Tax complexities for small business owners and high earners Social Security uncertainty Stock-based compensation  Incentives for business owners vs. employees Katie explains her strategy for maximizing retirement savings while minimizing taxes. She suggests that for some people in higher tax brackets, maxing out a traditional 401(k) and then investing the tax savings elsewhere might be the way to go.  But as we dig deeper, it becomes clear that there's no one-size-fits-all answer. We explore the Traditional vs Roth question, discussing how your current income and expected retirement spending can affect your choices.  It's not just about the math, though. The unpredictability of future tax rates and policies adds another layer of complexity to the decision. Social Security plays a major role, as well. We discuss its current funding situation and the challenges it might face in the future.  This leads to a fascinating discussion about how AI might impact future costs and lifestyles. Could things actually get cheaper in the future?  Taxes for high earners and small business owners is another focus. We break down some misconceptions about who falls into high tax brackets. It's not always as simple as it seems. Stock-based compensation is another hot topic. We discuss how it affects corporate decision-making and the wider economy. This leads to an interesting comparison of the incentives for business owners versus employees. Throughout the episode, we keep coming back to one key point: no matter which type of account you choose, the most important thing is to contribute as much as you can.  Your contribution amount has a bigger impact on your retirement savings than the type of account you use. By the end of this interview, you'll have a better understanding of the factors that go into choosing between a Traditional and Roth 401(k). More importantly, you'll see how this decision fits into the bigger picture of retirement planning and overall financial health. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. Here are the condensed timestamps and descriptions: 0:00 Introduction 1:46 Katie explains strategy for maximizing retirement savings 3:19 Discuss assumptions behind traditional vs Roth 401(k) decisions 5:54 Compare scenarios of traditional and Roth contributions 8:54 Explore how income affects retirement account choice 13:51 Talk about media's impact on financial perceptions 15:20 Discuss unpredictability of future tax policies 18:03 Explain current state of Social Security funding 21:05 Explore AI's potential impact on future costs 24:41 Discuss how location influences spending habits 28:16 Examine tax implications for high earners 31:12 Talk about effects of stock-based compensation 33:55 Compare incentives for business owners vs employees 36:06 Emphasize importance of contribution amounts For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode541 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Originally aired August 2023: Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki shares his research and findings around the science of empathy – and how we can apply this to improving our relationships with colleagues, clients, customers, co-founders, and business and investing cohorts. Zaki is the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, and the author of “The War For Kindness.” We'll break down the science. We talk about why empathy matters in business, investments, and in career growth, and we’ll discuss its digital age dynamics. How does AI impact the way in which we relate to others? If you want to learn the science of emotional intelligence, and how to apply this to your career and business interactions, you’ll learn a lot from today’s episode. Enjoy! The original show notes can be found at https://affordanything.com/episode456 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can M&Ms, McDonalds, Harry Potter, Aquafina, Taylor Swift, Jeopardy, and Bed Bath & Beyond teach us about landing a dream job or securing a promotion? Plenty. Imagine you're at a job interview. You've rehearsed your answers, polished your resume, and you're feeling confident. But what if the key to landing that job isn't just about your skills and experience? What if it's about how you make people feel? How you make people feel is your brand, Zane says.  That's what Leslie Zane, a Harvard Business School alum and prominent branding expert, talks about in this interview. She says that whether you're trying to get a new job, a promotion, or more customers for your small business, it all comes down to how you build your personal brand. Zane breaks it down into three main ideas: be salient, be relevant, and be distinctive. Being salient means making sure people remember you. It's not just about doing your job well, but about connecting with people all over your company. Zane gives an example of a dental hygienist who calls patients after their appointments to check on them and offer advice. This extra touch helps the hygienist stick in people's minds. Being relevant is about focusing on the good stuff. Zane says if you make a mistake at work, don't dwell on it. Instead, do more good things to push out the bad memory. She talks about how McDonald's dealt with rumors about "pink slime" in their food. Instead of denying it over and over, they started showing how they make their food with fresh ingredients. This helped people forget about the pink slime and think about good things instead. Being distinctive means standing out, but in a way that still feels familiar. Zane tells a story about the game show Jeopardy. When the longtime host Alex Trebek died, the producers tried inviting different celebrities to host the show. But viewers didn't like it. The ratings only rose when they chose Ken Jennings, a former champion contestant, as the new host. He was familiar enough that viewers felt comfortable with him. Zane also talks about how these ideas can help small businesses. She says it's important to reach out to new customers, not just focus on the ones you already have. She suggests finding ways to connect your business to things that people already enjoy. If you run an accounting firm in Kansas City, for example, you might talk about local sports teams or famous barbecue to help people feel a connection to your business. Throughout the interview, Zane emphasizes that building a strong personal brand isn't about bragging or being fake. It's about creating genuine connections with people and consistently showing your best qualities. You’re creating buzz about yourself. The more positive connections you make, the stronger your brand becomes. Zane's advice goes against some common ideas about marketing and self-promotion. She says you don't need to stick to just one thing or only target a specific group of people. Instead, she encourages reaching out to as many people as possible and finding ways to connect your skills or business to things they already care about. Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic ad lengths 0:00 - Importance of becoming a personal brand for career growth 6:04 - Tapping into the instinctive mind 8:54 - How brands grow in people's minds 13:40 - Situational salience using M&M's example 18:40 - Why Harry Potter is a salient brand 24:23 - Three key elements of building a personal brand 29:20 - McDonald's addressing negative brand associations 35:40 - Be distinctive, not unique 41:00 - Jeopardy! host change and brand continuity 46:56 - Creating buzz about yourself at work 52:40 - Why core customers can be a business trap 57:20 - Handling negative feedback or associations 1:02:40 - Tips for standing out in job interviews For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode540 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#539: An anonymous caller feels trapped. She owes $100,000 in back taxes on earnings she had to give up as a result of a lawsuit with her former business partner. What should she do? Saul and his wife want to retire in Mexico but they don’t want to give up the ability to continue investing in US stocks. Can they buy a primary residence that doubles as a short-term rental? Nina and her partner are eager to start a $500,000 renovation on their home but they’re still three years away from saving enough. How can they bridge the gap without risking too much? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode539 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#538: The latest jobs report just dropped, and it's a game-changer. Job creation numbers are lower than expected, at 142,000 new jobs in August. This comes on the heels of the biggest downward revision in job numbers since 2009. We're diving deep into what this means for the Federal Reserve's long-anticipated first rate cut. Are we looking at a modest quarter-point cut in interest rates, or a more substantial half-point drop? The Fed's decision could mean the difference between that dream house being within reach or slipping away. We'll break down the latest data and translate what it means for you. In our second segment, we're celebrating Warren Buffett's 94th birthday by exploring how he continues to lead Berkshire Hathaway with razor-sharp acumen — and what this teaches us about aging. Finally, we'll turn our attention to Selena Gomez, who just became a billionaire. Around 81% of her wealth comes from her makeup line; only 3% of her net worth comes from acting and singing. Her story highlights the power of entrepreneurship in building massive wealth. Join us for a blend of timely economic analysis and inspiring success stories. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode538 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#537: Frequent contributor Joe Saul-Sehy shares an emotional, personal story of getting into a soul-crushing level of debt in his 20s and early 30s. He owed so much in back taxes to the IRS that he didn’t file a tax return for three years. He ran out of gas and was stranded on the side of the highway, with 85 cents remaining in his bank account. By the time he pulled himself out of debt, his twin son and daughter were seven years old. Learn the gripping, gut-wrenching story of Joe’s past money mistakes in today’s episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode537 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#536: NYU Psychology Professor Dr. Tessa West has spent nearly two decades studying relationships, including those in the workplace. She talks about her research on why people feel disconnected from their jobs and what to do about it. Dr. West breaks down five main ways people might feel unhappy at work: 1. Crisis of identity: This is when you've poured a lot into your career, but you're starting to question if it's really who you are anymore. 2. Drifting apart: This happens when your job changes, not you. Maybe your company's gone through some big shifts, or your day-to-day tasks are different now. Or maybe your industry has totally changed. 3. Stretched too thin: We've all been there - too much to do and not enough time. 4. Runner up: Always close to that promotion or raise, but never quite getting there. 5. Underappreciated star: You're doing great work, but no one seems to notice. Dr. West digs into each of these, explaining what they look like and why they happen. She talks about how work relationships are a lot like romantic relationships — just as you might feel disconnected from a partner, you can feel the same way about your job. She describes a matrix that shows how satisfied you are with your job versus how much you identify with it.  She also gets practical stuff, describing how to manage distractions at work and be more productive. There's a neat concept called "working spheres" that might help you organize your tasks better. If you're thinking about leaving your job, Dr. West suggests doing some self-reflection and networking to learn about other industries or companies. She warns that there's often a lot of "hidden" stuff about jobs that you won't find in the job description, so it's essential to dig deeper. At the end, she talks about how to figure out if a new job will actually be better. Her main tip? Ask tough questions in interviews. Don't be afraid to dig into the not-so-great parts of the job or company. Dr. West doesn't sugarcoat the tough parts of work life, but she offers practical advice for dealing with them. Whether you're happy in your job or thinking about a change, you'll find something useful here. Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary slightly on individual listening devices based on dynamic ad lengths. 1:09 - Dr. Tessa West. Psychology professor. Workplace relationships. 3:10 - Five major ways people feel disconnected from work. 4:55 - Work relationships mirroring other relationship types. 9:04 - "Crisis of identity" at work. 13:40 - Matrix: job satisfaction vs. identity centrality. 18:20 - "Drifting apart" from your career. 21:40 - Common changes causing career drift. 25:55 - "Stretched too thin" at work. 29:35 - Managing external work disruptions. 31:40 - "Working spheres" for better productivity. 37:37 - "Runner up" at work. 40:29 - Common reasons for not getting promoted. 47:51 - "Underappreciated star" at work. 51:18 - Next steps if unhappy at work. 55:56 - Determining if a new job will be better. For more information, go to https://affordanything.com/episode536 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#535: Melissa and her partner are preparing for the best earning years of their lives. Could they benefit from automated tax-loss harvesting and transition from DIY investing to a robo-advisor? An anonymous caller just learned something surprising about their Roth 401k and feels squeamish about making future contributions to this account. What’s Paula and Joe’s advice? Hampton is following up on a question from Episode 524 to spark an intriguing discussion on the generational tax advantages of a Roth IRA. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode535 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#535: Melissa and her partner are preparing for the best earning years of their lives. Could they benefit from automated tax-loss harvesting and transition from DIY investing to a robo-advisor? An anonymous caller just learned something surprising about their Roth 401k and feels squeamish about making future contributions to this account. What’s Paula and Joe’s advice? Hampton is following up on a question from Episode 524 to spark an intriguing discussion on the generational tax advantages of a Roth IRA. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode535 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#534: We sit down with David Novak, the co-founder and former CEO of Yum! Brands, the giant parent company behind KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and the Habit Burger Grill. David shares stories from his remarkable career, offering insights into leadership, decision-making, and personal growth. We dive into one of David’s most memorable projects: the creation of Crystal Pepsi. David talks about how the idea was born out of a gut instinct when he noticed a trend toward clear beverages. The media buzz was massive, and he was convinced it was a winner. But the Pepsi bottlers pushed back, saying it didn’t taste enough like traditional Pepsi. David pressed on anyway. The product launched to a lot of fanfare but ultimately flopped.  David reflects on this experience as a lesson in the importance of listening to feedback, even when you’re sure you’re right. The conversation then shifts to David’s unique upbringing. He lived in 23 different states before high school. This taught David to adapt quickly, make friends fast, and assess people and situations—a skill set that became invaluable in his leadership roles. David then takes you through his early career, from being a mediocre student who found his passion in advertising, to making a pivotal move from marketing to operations at PepsiCo. This shift was crucial, setting him up to eventually lead Yum! Brands.  David’s journey is filled with stories of hard decisions, like turning down a bigger job at Frito-Lay because it didn’t align with what truly made him happy. He shares his philosophy on prioritizing joy and finding fulfillment in your work, a principle that guided his entire career. Leadership is a major theme in the discussion. David talks about the balance between confidence and humility, using Warren Buffett as an example of someone who embodies both. He also shares his thoughts on how to handle criticism and feedback.  According to David, the key is to listen carefully, avoid being defensive, and understand whether the feedback is valid before making decisions. David also offers practical advice on personal development. He talks about his “Three by Five” exercise, where he regularly assesses who he is today and what he needs to work on to become more effective. This habit of self-reflection has helped him stay grounded and continually improve as a leader. The episode wraps up with a discussion on company culture. David believes that creating an environment where everyone feels valued is essential for success. He emphasizes the importance of leaders modeling the behavior they want to see in their teams and being the first to extend trust and positivity. David’s stories and insights provide a deep dive into what it takes to lead a major company, make tough decisions, and continually grow both personally and professionally. Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual devices due to dynamic advertising run times. 0:00 - Introduction to David Novak and his leadership background 6:17 - David’s personal journey and learning framework 11:25 - Importance of listening to feedback in decision-making 17:31 - Impact of frequent childhood moves on David’s adaptability 23:32 - Identifying and focusing on what brings joy in life and work 29:26 - Value of learning that leads to action 35:58 - Overcoming challenges by reframing your approach 42:20 - Learning from mentors who have succeeded in your field 48:35 - Criteria for board membership: contributing and learning. 54:47 - Building a high-performance culture at Yum! Brands 1:01:02 - Mapping out learning needs for project success 1:07:25 - Gaining confidence and skills for leadership 1:13:23 - Maintaining integrity and taking the high ground 1:19:03 - A mentor relationship that shaped David’s leadership 1:26:02 - Evaluating what successful companies are doing right For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode534 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#533: Kristin is floored by the 60 percent increase in her homeowner’s insurance this year. Should she cancel the policy and self-insure instead? Susana and her husband are torn. They bought their dream home last year but now need to relocate indefinitely. What should they do with the house? An anonymous caller wants to help his soon-to-be wife invest a five-figure gift she received in another country. How do they untangle the complexities of managing money from abroad? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode533 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#532: We’re diving deep into the art of negotiation, especially when it comes to asking for a raise. The episode is broken down into three main parts, each designed to give you practical tools and insights that you can apply right away. First up, setting the stage. Before you even think about negotiating, it’s crucial to understand the difference between “interests” and “positions.” You’ll learn why knowing the underlying reasons behind what both you and the other party want is key to finding a win-win solution. We’ll also talk about how to prepare yourself, including knowing your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement), your aspiration point, and your reservation point. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to build rapport and strategically frame your requests to set the tone for a successful negotiation. Next, we move into taking action. Here’s where you get the practical strategies you can use during the negotiation itself. We’ll cover techniques like anchoring—where you set the initial offer to guide the conversation—and how to make strategic concessions. You’ll also learn about the power of silence, managing your emotions, and making sure that any concessions you make are balanced by getting something in return. Finally, we tackle more complex situations. Sometimes, negotiations aren’t straightforward. Maybe you’re dealing with a difficult negotiator who’s being aggressive, uncooperative, or even deceitful. In this part, we’ll discuss how to handle these tricky scenarios while still aiming for a win-win outcome. Throughout the episode, you’ll get a clear, actionable framework that you can use to negotiate effectively, whether it’s for a raise, closing a business deal, or even in your personal life. The focus is on preparation, understanding what both sides truly want, and using smart strategies to reach an agreement that works for everyone. ____ Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual devices based on dynamic advertising run times 1:15 - Introduces negotiation, focusing on asking for a raise 3:45 - Explains interests vs. positions in negotiation 6:10 - Prepares by knowing your BATNA, aspiration, and reservation points 9:30 - Builds rapport and trust before negotiating 12:20 - Frames arguments to align with other party’s interests 15:05 - Introduces anchoring to set the tone 18:40 - Makes concessions while ensuring reciprocity 22:10 - Uses silence strategically in negotiations 25:55 - Manages emotions, avoids triggers in tense talks 29:40 - Creates value by expanding negotiation scope 33:25 - Prioritizes and bundles issues in multi-issue negotiations 37:15 - Deals with difficult negotiators like aggressors and stonewallers 41:00 - Recognizes closing signals to finalize a deal 44:45 - Documents agreements to avoid post-settlement disputes 47:30 - Reflects on each negotiation to improve For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode532 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#531: Let's talk about negotiations. You know, those back-and-forth talks where you try to get the best deal possible on a used car, a house, or a couch on Facebook Marketplace? Or when you ask your boss for a raise? Turns out, asking the right questions can be a game-changer. According to Jeff Wetzler, Ed.D., people often hold back information when they're negotiating. They might be worried about looking bad or giving away too much. But if you can get them talking, you can learn a lot. It's like peeling an onion – layer by layer, you discover what really matters to the other person. The key is to be curious and listen carefully. Show the other person you're interested in what they have to say. And don't just focus on what they're saying; pay attention to how they say it. Their body language and tone can tell you a lot. By understanding the other person's point of view, you can find ways to work together and reach a deal that benefits everyone. It's all about building trust and finding common ground. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode531 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#530: We sit down with financial educator Brian Feroldi to dive into the often-overlooked world of stock-based compensation. This form of compensation is becoming more common, especially in large companies, but many employees don’t fully understand how to make the most of it. Brian helps break down the basics, explaining what stock-based compensation is and why companies use it to attract and retain employees. We start by discussing why companies offer stock options or restricted stock units (RSUs) instead of just higher salaries or bonuses. Brian explains that stock-based compensation is a way for companies to align your interests with the success of the business. When you own a piece of the company, you’re more likely to care about its performance, which can drive you to work harder and stay longer. This also allows companies to conserve cash while still offering competitive compensation packages. Brian also highlights the importance of understanding the different types of stock-based compensation. He breaks down stock options, where you have the right to buy company stock at a set price, and RSUs, where you’re given shares of stock that vest over time. Each has its pros and cons, and understanding these differences can help you make better decisions about your compensation. One of the key takeaways from our discussion is the importance of negotiation. Brian emphasizes that the best time to negotiate stock-based compensation is when you’re first hired. Companies often have more flexibility with stock options than with salary, so it’s crucial to ask for more stock or a shorter vesting period upfront. This can make a big difference in your long-term financial gains, especially if the company’s stock value increases over time. We also touch on the tax implications of stock-based compensation. Brian explains that different types of stock options are taxed differently, and understanding these tax rules can help you minimize your tax bill. For instance, holding onto stock after exercising options can lead to lower taxes if the stock price rises and you qualify for long-term capital gains. Throughout the interview, Brian shares practical tips for you, such as targeting companies in industries like technology and healthcare that are known for generous stock-based compensation packages. He advises you to educate yourself on your company’s specific policies and to be proactive in managing your stock options to avoid leaving money on the table. By the end of the episode, you’ll have a clearer understanding of stock-based compensation and how to leverage it to build wealth. Brian’s insights are particularly valuable if you’re switching jobs and want to maximize your compensation package. Resource Mentioned: Finchat.io For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode530 Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual devices based on dynamic advertising run times. 2:16 - Explain why companies offer stock compensation over salaries 4:00 - Discuss how stock compensation aligns employee and company goals 7:28 - Introduce types of stock compensation: stock options vs. RSUs 12:24 - Explain the significance of vesting schedules 17:00 - Discuss tax implications of stock options and RSUs 28:00 - Emphasize the long-term impact of stock-based compensation on financial independence 34:00 - Identify industries with high stock compensation, like tech and healthcare 40:00 - Discuss benefits of Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#529: Anonymous, 60, recently lost her job and is worried about retirement. She owns a paid-off triplex, living in one unit and renting the others for $30,000 a year. She used her 401(k) funds to buy the triplex and now has $50,000 in retirement savings and $150,000 in cash. She expects only $2,400 a month from Social Security at age 67. After losing her son two years ago, she's seeking advice on managing her underfunded retirement. Noelle, 40, and her husband, 49, want to cancel his whole life insurance policy. They are debt-free, own their home, and plan to retire soon, relying on Noelle's $80,000 income. They have $504,000 in retirement savings. Should Noelle keep her $100,000 term life policy until she retires? Sleepless in San Antonio, age 35, plans to retire at 45 but is concerned about how this will affect Social Security benefits, which is calculated based on the top 35 earning years. Should they work longer in order to boost their Social Security benefits? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode529 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#528: The Federal Reserve recently decided to hold interest rates steady, leading to significant shifts in the stock market. The Dow dropped over 850 points, and the NASDAQ entered correction territory, falling more than 10% from its peak. But what do these numbers mean for you? We break down the latest jobs report, which shows a rise in unemployment to 4.3%, triggering a recession indicator known as the Sahm Rule. This isn't just economic jargon; it affects real lives, impacting job security, investments, and financial planning. We discuss potential ripple effects on various sectors, such as real estate, where interest rates influence housing affordability.  We also examine the technology sector's volatility and how recent market corrections might influence tech stocks and the overall investment landscape. Understanding this can help you make informed decisions about your investment portfolio. Every First Friday of the month, we bring you our "First Friday Monthly Economic Report," where we help you make sense of these trends.  We aim to make complex economic concepts accessible. Join us as we explore these pressing economic issues.  Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. 1:23 - Discuss the Fed's decision to hold interest rates steady and its economic impact. 3:15 - Explore how recent economic changes affect the Dow and NASDAQ for investors. 5:30 - Explain the SAM rule and why unemployment rising to 4.3% matters. 7:45 - Analyze how interest rates affect housing affordability and real estate. 10:05 - Examine tech sector volatility and its impact on stocks and investments. 12:30 - Look into how economic trends influence consumer spending patterns. 14:42 - Offer tips on managing debt, building emergency funds, and smart investments. 17:03 - Stress the importance of informed decision-making and understanding trade-offs. 19:27 - Highlight the role of "First Friday Monthly Economic Reports" in understanding trends. 21:15 - Wrap up with insights for applying knowledge to financial decision-making. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode528 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#527: Luke and his wife are breaking some personal finance rules in the name of financial independence. Are they right to take this approach or is there a better way? Christina is worried. She’s retired with a paid-off condo in Florida. But rising fees, insurance rates, and a major HOA assessment are killing her cash flow. Is it time to become a renter? Les is surprised by Paula and Joe’s allocation recommendations for international equities. Based on market capitalization, it makes no sense. What’s he missing? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode527 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#526: Recorded LIVE on stage at the Morningstar Conference in Chicago! We chat with behavioral finance professor Meir Statman. He breaks down the differences between standard finance and behavioral finance, making it clear that understanding human behavior is an essential part of investing. Statman starts by explaining that standard finance assumes people are rational. They make decisions purely based on logic and aim to maximize wealth. However, behavioral finance sees people as normal, not always rational. We often act on emotions and cognitive shortcuts. For instance, people might prefer receiving dividends over selling shares, even if both result in the same financial gain. This is because dividends feel like income, while selling shares feels like dipping into savings. He uses a great metaphor to explain how investors view their portfolios. Think of a dinner plate: behavioral investors like their investments separated, like mashed potatoes on one side, vegetables on another, and steak in the middle. Rational investors don’t care if it’s all blended together because they only focus on the total nutrients. This shows that normal investors have different needs and want to balance safety with growth. Statman talks about the importance of diversification. He recalls a lunch with Harry Markowitz, the father of Modern Portfolio Theory, who supported the idea of having a mix of safe and risky investments. Markowitz himself had municipal bonds to avoid poverty and stocks to grow wealth. Diversifying helps investors manage risk and meet both their safety and growth needs. We then dive into how people manage money across their life cycle. Statman points out that young people know they need to save but are tempted to spend. They often control this urge by putting money into retirement accounts like 401(k)s. As people get older, they become so good at saving that they sometimes forget to spend and enjoy their money. Statman gives a funny example of his mother-in-law, who refused to replace an old sofa because she didn’t want to dip into her savings. Statman also touches on asset pricing and market efficiency. He explains that while traditional finance focuses solely on risk, behavioral finance considers other factors like social responsibility. Some investors are willing to accept lower returns to stay true to their values. Additionally, he argues that market prices do not always reflect true value, and it’s hard to predict when they will. Towards the end, we discuss the broader aspects of wellbeing. Statman emphasizes that financial wellbeing is just one part of a happy life. Family, health, work, and community are also crucial. He believes financial advisors should help clients achieve overall life wellbeing, not just financial success. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode526 Timestamps Note: Timestamps vary on individual listening devices based on advertising run times. 1:23 - Explain the differences between standard and behavioral finance. 4:30 - Discuss Harry Markowitz's influence on modern investment strategies. 6:08 - Highlight life cycle investing and saving/spending behaviors over a lifetime. 10:02 - Explore mental accounting and differentiating between income and capital. 11:14 - Talk about common trading mistakes due to cognitive errors. 14:26 - Discuss utilitarian, expressive, and emotional benefits of financial decisions. 17:41 - Explain the difference between System 1 and System 2 thinking. 21:39 - Discuss how emotions and moods impact investment decisions. 25:59 - Explore the concept of regret and how it affects financial decisions. 30:21 - Emphasize the importance of human touch in financial advising. 44:00 - Discuss the impact of AI on different industries and investment decisions. 48:24 - Highlight the need to balance financial wellbeing with overall life wellbeing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We chat with renowned financial advisor Michael Kitces at the Morningstar Investor Conference in Chicago. Kitces answers a big question: Is the economy worse than we think? He explains that a few big companies like Nvidia, Meta, and Alphabet are holding up the S&P 500. But this doesn’t mean the economy is bad. It's common for a small group of companies to drive the market. Since it’s hard to predict which companies will do well, he stresses the need for diversification. Kitces tells us to focus on long-term growth instead of trying to time the market. He shares a famous quote from economist John Maynard Keynes: "Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent." This means it’s better to invest broadly and wait for the market to grow over time. Kitces also says that career development is important. He believes boosting your income through career advancements can have a bigger impact on your financial health than trying to get the highest returns on your investments. He says, "Spending more time focusing on my career and getting a raise... will actually be more meaningful than trying to improve the returns on my own money." We discuss the importance of index investing and proper asset allocation. Kitces advises owning a diversified portfolio that includes international and small-cap funds. Even if these funds aren’t performing well in the short term, diversification helps spread risk and capture growth from different sectors and markets. Kitces talks about the cyclical nature of markets. Some people worry that the market will go down just because it’s been up for a long time. He explains that markets don’t "die of old age." Many factors influence market cycles, and it’s hard to predict when a downturn will happen. This reinforces the idea that staying invested and diversified is usually the best strategy. Finally, we talk about inflation and interest rates. Kitces explains that it’s hard to predict when inflation will return to the Fed’s target rate of 2 percent. This means that interest rates might stay high for a while. It’s important to keep a long-term perspective and not make drastic changes based on short-term market movements. This episode offers practical advice on investment strategies, the importance of diversification, and why focusing on your career can be more beneficial than trying to outsmart the market. Kitces’ insights help anyone who wants to reach financial freedom. Timestamps [Note: Time codes will vary on individual listening devices based on advertising run times.] 1:23 - Becoming a famous financial advisor. 2:08 - Role of a small number of companies in holding up the S&P 500. 5:11 - NVIDIA's role in AI and cryptocurrency. 7:38 - Importance of diversification. 11:27 - Irrationality and efficiency of markets. 16:26 - Role of international and small-cap funds in diversification. 18:10 - Impact of regulatory frameworks on AI development. 32:11 - Demographic advantages of emerging markets. 40:01 - Cyclical nature of markets and investor fears. 51:30 - Inflation and wage growth. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode525 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#524: Mark and his partner will soon inherit an IRA worth over a quarter million dollars. With today’s elevated interest rates, would throwing it all at a primary residence be the smartest play?  An anonymous caller and his girlfriend are musicians who dream of building a home with a monetizable recording studio. How do they untangle personal wants from business needs? Will feels stumped about the options in his defined benefit pension plan. When should he choose a guaranteed annuity over a lump sum payment?  Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode524 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#523: How much is an hour of your time worth? Google's Executive Productivity Advisor , Laura Mae Martin, joins us to answer that question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#522: Emily Anne is worried about her obsessive tracking behavior. She’s in great financial shape but struggles to shake the constant compulsion to check her accounts. What should she do? An anonymous caller and his partner plan to use geo-arbitrage to retire early before reaching their financial independence number. Can they have their cake and eat it too? Kevin and his wife are having second thoughts about their Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) real estate investments. How do they back out without compromising their estate plan? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode522 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're a longtime listener, you'll enjoy this candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about entrepreneurship and growth between Paula Pant and former financial advisor and Stacking Benjamins host Joe Saul-Sehy. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode521 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#520: Happy 248th birthday, USA! In this 5th of July First Friday economic update, we cover five topics: the economic impact of elections in the UK; the S&P 500 topping 5500; the effect of the Supreme Court’s Chevron ruling on Social Security and retirement planning; the latest jobs report; and California’s new law allowing accessory dwelling units to get sold separately as condos. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode520 Resources Mentioned: UK’s Office for National Statistics: May 2024 report SupremeCourt.gov: Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo Federal Register: SSA Social Security Administration: Will Social Security Be There for Me? Bureau of Labor Statistics: June 2024 jobs report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#519: We sit down with Jim Kwik, a brain coach and expert in memory improvement, speed reading, and optimal learning. As a child, Jim suffered a brain injury that made learning difficult. He was labeled "the boy with the broken brain," which deeply affected his confidence and performance in school. Today, he’s an expert in memory, focus, learning, cognition and mental performance. He’s here to remind us that our brains are our number one wealth-building tool. He talks to us about strategies for improving memory. He debunks myths like multitasking being efficient. He talks about the negative impact of digital distractions and the myth that we only use 10% of our brains. He describes a great brain diet, and discusses nootropics and other brain supplements. This episode is packed with practical advice. If you want to improve your memory, learn faster, and maintain better brain health, you’ll enjoy Jim Kwik’s tips. Timestamps: [Note: Time codes will vary on individual listening devices based on advertising run times.] 0:58 - Jim shares his childhood experience with a traumatic brain injury 2:26 - Impact of being labeled "the boy with the broken brain" 3:59 - Struggles with school and a turning point with a friend’s father 5:33 - Encouragement to write down dreams, leading to a new perspective 8:22 - Introduction to personal development books and reading challenges 9:59 - Consequences of overworking and lack of self-care during college 10:45 - Realization of the need for better learning methods 11:50 - Breakthrough in understanding learning and memory techniques 12:25 - Teaching others and a student’s powerful story 13:35 - Importance of knowledge as a superpower 13:50 - Introduction to the concept of building a better brain 15:03 - Description of the four brain types and their traits 17:23 - Significance of understanding one’s brain type 19:18 - The forgetting curve and memory retention 20:11 - The three keys to a better memory using the "MOM" method 21:01 - The importance of motivation in remembering names and other information 22:37 - The role of observation in memory and being present 23:15 - Anecdote about Bill Clinton’s exceptional memory and presence 24:55 - Connection between being present and having a powerful memory 26:11 - The concept of "digital distraction" and its impact on focus 26:56 - The "four horsemen of the mental apocalypse" driven by technology 29:18 - The myth of multitasking and its negative effects 30:59 - The importance of monotasking for better focus 31:15 - Introduction to the "Faster" method for learning 32:06 - The role of forgetting in learning 32:50 - The misconception of multitasking and the benefits of focusing 33:35 - The significance of state and emotion in learning 35:22 - Tips for maintaining a positive learning state 36:11 - The power of teaching to reinforce learning 37:20 - Common misconceptions about learning 39:20 - The myth of using only 10% of our brain and neuroplasticity 41:08 - Importance of challenging limiting beliefs 43:08 - Influence of self-talk and belief systems on performance 45:04 - Scheduling time for learning and implementing new knowledge 47:04 - Making the most of conferences by setting aside time for implementation 48:48 - Application of AI to enhance human intelligence and learning 51:09 - Best practices for brain health and cognitive performance 57:25 - Importance of taking care of your brain as a wealth-building asset 59:04 - Steps to improve brain health, including diet, exercise, and positive peer groups 1:03:33 - Role of brain supplements and nootropics 1:06:00 - Influence of a positive peer group on behavior and performance 1:09:22 - Conclusion and final thoughts on brain health and continuous learning For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode519 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#518: If you want to learn about building wealth through entrepreneurship, you’ll enjoy this episode. When Rachel Rodgers graduated from law school, she didn’t take the conventional path to working at a big law firm. Instead, she opened her own practice, specializing in intellectual property law. Many of her clients were entrepreneurs and small business owners. Rachel quickly realized that many of her clients faced significant challenges in trying to grow their business. This ignited a new vision in her: to not just provide legal services but to help entrepreneurs achieve financial success. She pivoted, shutting down her law practice to open Hello Seven, a company that offers comprehensive business strategies to help entrepreneurs reach seven-figure incomes. She joins us today to share actionable insights that can help any entrepreneur, side hustler or small business owner reach seven figures in revenue. Timestamps: [Note: Time codes will vary on individual listening devices based on advertising run times.] 1:10 - Rachel introduces herself and her background in intellectual property law. 3:45 - Decision to start her own law practice. 5:27 - Challenges faced as a new lawyer and entrepreneur. 7:15 - Importance of financial independence and wealth-building for marginalized communities. 10:05 - Inspiration behind founding Hello Seven. 12:30 - Vision for Hello Seven and its mission to help entrepreneurs reach seven-figure incomes. 15:20 - The need for scaling businesses and making strategic decisions. 18:45 - Transition from a legal practice to a broader business coaching platform. 22:10 - Impact of Hello Seven's programs on entrepreneurs' lives. 24:55 - Concept of the "Million Dollar Badass." 28:30 - Success stories of clients. 31:15 - Challenges of balancing business growth with personal life. 34:05 - Importance of mindset in achieving business success. 37:20 - Introduction of the Hello Seven Foundation and its focus on supporting black mothers and babies. 40:00 - Plans for the future of Hello Seven and commitment to social impact. 42:30 - Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to build successful businesses. 45:10 - Importance of mentorship and community support in entrepreneurship. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode518 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#517: Kimiko is dismayed that the asset allocation books she’s read led her down a path to an underperforming portfolio heavy in ex-US stock investments. Where should she go from here? Julie and her husband dream of owning a vacation rental in the Denver area even though the math doesn’t add up. It seems like everyone around can make it work though. What’s missing?  Casey is excited to build his real estate portfolio and purchase his third rental property. He’s also worried that his plan to fund the purchase with his 457 Plan is flawed. What should he do? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode517 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#516: Have you ever wondered how small, seemingly insignificant actions can have massive impacts on your financial life?  In today's episode, we talk to Dr. Brian Klaas, a Professor at University College London and an affiliate researcher at the University of Oxford.  He explains how our decisions can lead to unintended and unanticipated consequences.  He describes why resilience is more important than efficiency when it comes to protecting your investments and career from unexpected shocks. You'll learn how to tell the difference between predictable problems and those that are full of uncertainty, giving you a new way to think about your decision-making process. Key Takeaways: Embrace the unpredictability of life and recognize the interconnectedness of your actions. Prioritize resilience over efficiency to mitigate catastrophic risks. Understand the difference between predictable and uncertain challenges to make smarter decisions. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode516 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica and her husband are juggling two home sales and one home purchase within the next two to four years. How do they execute wisely while navigating a tight real estate market? Zerai works two jobs that both offer a pension and retirement plan. Can he take advantage of everything at his disposal or must he make some tough choices? Emily and her husband bought their home a year ago. But a national builder tempts them to sell and upgrade using a 3-2-1 buydown mortgage. Should they do it? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! TIMESTAMPS: Please visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode515 Resources Mentioned: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/how-much-salary-can-you-defer-if-youre-eligible-for-more-than-one-retirement-plan https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/irc-457b-deferred-compensation-plans https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/start-2024-right-with-goals-jon-acuff-1459/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#514: The S&P 500 hit a record high — and the GameStop guy is back, and he now owns 9 million shares of GME, making him the 4th largest shareholder. Interest rates from remain the same, and are expected to hold steady until September. Inflation remains unchanged from last month. Last month we saw a massive explosion of new jobs, at 272,000 — nearly 90,000 more than predicted. But we also saw unemployment tick up, which created mixed signals. Learn the implications of the latest economic news — and how it impacts your wallet — in this month’s economic update. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode514 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Tartick, a former banker and TV star from The Bachelorette, discusses finances in relationships. He describes eight crucial questions about money that every couple should discuss. When a couple is dating, but before they get serious, he says, each person should divulge their debt-to-income ratio. This is your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Keeping this ratio below 30-40% is crucial for financial stability. Banks consider this when approving loans. Couples still in the dating stage should also discuss their credit scores. If you're thinking about becoming serious with someone, you need to understand their history with debt, and their attitude towards debt, since you'll likely be co-borrowing together if the relationship lasts. A couple with a good credit score can save around $100,000 on a $300,000 mortgage over 30 years. Couples should avoid shaming or blaming each other during these money conversations, he says. The goal is to understand each others' financial attitudes, habits and history -- not to point fingers or make judgments. After marriage or lifetime commitment, Jason emphasizes the importance of having both individual and joint bank accounts. This allows each person to enjoy autonomy, while also contributing towards shared expenses. Regularly reviewing your net worth as a couple provides transparency and helps avoid misunderstandings. He also talks about financial infidelity -- what is it, and how can you spot it? Finally, Jason encourages couples to discuss spending habits, in order to understand each others' values and goals. Here's a great question to ask your boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse or partner: "If you had an unlimited budget, what's the first thing you would you spend it on?" The answer reveals the persons' priorities. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode513 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#512: An anonymous caller who received a large inheritance feels paralyzed by all the investment philosophies he’s read about. How does he pick a winning strategy he can stick with? Josh is an expectant dad looking to buy a bigger house but doesn’t know how much everything will cost. Should he save more or invest more? Another anonymous caller worries that large expenditures like buying a new car or replacing her home’s roof will blow up her budget in retirement. How does she plan for unexpected expenses? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode512 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#511: Sara is five years from retirement with a paid-off house. But she’s worried that her money will run out before she turns 80. What does she need to do now to protect her future self?  Lauren is a personal finance nerd who gets it. But one question perplexes her: When should she should choose an ETF over an index mutual fund? What about vice versa? Paula and Joe explain. An anonymous caller plans to sell her house and live a “slow-madic” lifestyle. But she’s on disability and needs to keep her money safe. How should she invest her $500,000 windfall? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode511 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#510: Maybe you’re trying to convince: – Your spouse | to embrace the FIRE movement. – Your teenage kids | to invest some of their summer job money in stocks. – Your neighbor | to sell you their house in a private, off-market deal. – Your boss | to give you more vacation time. – Your client | to pay you more. Today’s episode is about how to change minds, build trust, navigate conversations, and influence and persuade others. We chat with Michael McQueen, a social researcher, strategist, and the author of 10 books. He’s spoken alongside Bill Gates, Apple co-founder Steve Woznick and Dr. John C. Maxwell, and was named Australia’s Keynote Speaker of the Year. His latest book, Mindstuck, focuses on how to be more persuasive. Here are some of the ideas we cover: Stubbornness: We tend to be stubborn because of our inherent desire to protect our existing beliefs and identities. This is partly due to the fact that the human mind has a tendency to make quick judgments and resist challenges. Logical Fallacy: People often rely on confirmation bias and tribalism when evaluating information. We tend to favor information that aligns with our existing beliefs and groups we identify with. Complexity over Extremes: When presented with opposing viewpoints, exposure to extreme viewpoints can – counterintuitively – make people more entrenched in their own beliefs. Introducing complexity and nuance can foster a more open-minded approach. Here are some of his tips: Uncover the Hidden Fear Address the Loss Aversion Use "Right and Reflect" to Get People Talking Build Rapport and Choose the Right Moment Frame Your Message for Impact Move Beyond Persuasion and Focus on Progress McQueen elaborates on these tips in today’s podcast episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode510 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#509: Rob wants to retire early, but a real estate investment led to $30,000 of credit card debt. Should he take on more debt to pay it off? An anonymous return caller took Paula’s advice and ran with it, doubling her income within a few years. Should she update her investment strategy now that she’s in a higher tax bracket? Humaira is tired of paying rent with nothing to show for. Can she leverage some benefits by using her credit card to pay the bills? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode509 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#508: Recently I chatted with Stanford researcher Dr. Mary Murphy, a renowned expert in the field of psychological and brain sciences. Dr. Murphy, who is a Professor at Indiana University and conducts research at Stanford University, shared insights into the concepts of fixed mindset and growth mindset. We deep dived into her extensive research on how these mindsets impact motivation, performance, and relationships at work and home. She conducted research alongside legendary psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, who created the original studies around fixed vs. growth mindset. If you’ve ever read about fixed vs. growth mindset in the past, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Carol Dweck, who is legendary in the space. Dr. Dweck mentored Dr. Murphy at Stanford, the university from which Dr. Murphy received her Ph.D. Dr. Murphy's insights can help you cultivate a growth mindset to overcome challenges and achieve your goals. If you want to improve your performance — at work, at home, at the gym, as a world traveler, as an investor, or in any other domain — understanding the research behind mindset is critical. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode508 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#507: Robert was recently released from prison and wants to start his life on the right foot. What’s Joe and Paula’s advice for him? Suzy is excited to deploy her first corporate bonus but scared to invest everything in a lump sum. Should she stick with what’s worked in the past and just dollar cost-average? Meghan doesn’t understand how stock pricing affects capital appreciation. Is it always better to buy when share prices are low? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode507 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#506: "Today's guest, Brandon Ganch, also known as the MadFientist, reached Financial Independence (FI) and quit his job as a software developer at 34. But then he faced a vexing question: what should he do with the rest of his life? In this episode, Brandon shares his journey with FI, revealing the gap between the ideal life you envision on spreadsheets and the reality that unfolds. He talks about reaching FI sooner than planned, having more money than anticipated, and the adjustments he had to make to his lifestyle. It's a refreshingly honest look at FI that goes beyond the numbers. We also dive into the changing landscape of work and the impact of automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Brandon talks about what he would do differently if he were in his 20's, and shares valuable insights on tools you can use to stay relevant and future-proof your career. You'll enjoy this if: -- You're on the FI path and want to ensure your plans are flexible enough for life's surprises -- You're curious about the unexpected realities of achieving FI -- You're concerned about automation impacting your job security For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode506 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#505: Ryan Johnson isn't your average CEO. He's a visionary reimagining city life, one car-free community at a time. In this episode, we chat with Ryan, the co-founder of Culdesac, about building walkable neighborhoods designed for human connection, not just traffic. We'll dive into his experience with Opendoor, his passion for electric bikes (he owns over 60!), and his audacious plan to revolutionize urban living. Buckle up (or maybe don't) for a conversation about the future of cities, the power of community, and why you might not need a car ever again. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode505 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#504: Brian Kelly faced a harsh reality during the Great Recession – $65,000 in income and crushing credit card debt.  He started a simple side hustle, a website called The Points Guy, as an attempt to earn a few hundred dollars a month.   Fast forward to today: The Points Guy boasts 11 million monthly visitors and a thriving team of 140 employees.   In this episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, transforming a fledgling side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.  He also shares his signature expertise – the art of redeeming airline miles and points – empowering you to travel smarter. For show notes, visit https://affordanything.com/episode504 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#503: Lindsay’s husband struggles with a mental disability. She’s worried about the impact on her family’s finances. How does she maintain harmony in her marriage and protect her kids’ future? An anonymous caller is stoked about her young nephew’s interest in saving for retirement. What’s Paula and Joe’s advice for a teenage saver? Another anonymous caller wants to get personal about Paula’s personal finances. Following up on a discussion from episode 494, Melanie has exciting news to share about automating ETF investments at Vanguard. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/podcast-questions For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode503 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Fed met earlier this week and elected to keep interest rates at a 23-year high, in an effort to wrestle inflation closer to its two percent target. Despite this, the April jobs report, which was released today, shows that jobs grew for the 40th consecutive month, and unemployment remains under 4 percent, an historic low, for the 27th straight month. The 12-month inflation rate is 3.5 percent, based on March CPI data. Stocks remain on a tear, but performance is lopsided, with 10 companies driving 85 percent of this years’ gains. We cover this and more in our First Friday economic update episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode502 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drop the mic! ChooseFI's Brad Barrett takes the host role in this special episode, interviewing Paula Pant about the financial independence community. This episode was recorded LIVE at a comedy club in Brooklyn, as the final installment of the Episode 500 and 501 celebration. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode501 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enjoy Part 2 of our two-part Episode 500 special, recorded live at a comedy club in Brooklyn. Host Paula Pant and special guest Brad Barrett from ChooseFI answer questions from the audience, live on stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Enjoy Part 1 of our two-part Episode 500 special, recorded live at a comedy club in Brooklyn. Brad Barrett, host of the ChooseFI podcast, joins us on stage to talk about what financial independence ideas and practices have changed … and what ideas and practices have remained consistent, universal and time-tested throughout the years. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We delve into the world of Financial Independence (FI) with a pioneer -- Vicki Robin, the co-author of Your Money or Your Life. In the 1970s, Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, from vastly different backgrounds, came together over a shared vision: FI as a life philosophy, not just a savings strategy. Their book, "Your Money or Your Life," which sold more than one million copies, outlined a three-dimensional approach to FI: Financial Intelligence: Thinking clearly and objectively about money. Financial Integrity: Aligning your spending and earning with your values. Financial Independence: Breaking free from paycheck dependence and limiting beliefs about money. In this podcast episode, Vicki will discuss a new dimension she's added: Financial Interdependence: Recognizing the importance of giving and receiving within our communities and the world. Vicki and I discuss how to move beyond "just the money" during the quest for financial freedom. This episode originally aired in 2018. We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Esquire Magazine editor-at-large and bestselling author A.J. Jacobs joins the show to discuss his experimental approach to life. Jacobs, whose TED Talks have been viewed more than 3 million times, shares best practices around motivation, habits, confidence, boosting happiness, and optimizing creativity. In this episode: -- Discover the benefits that come from frequently changing your habits -- Learn why "fake it 'til you become it" is A.J.'s secret weapon for habit development. -- Explore how extreme gratitude can transform your mindset. -- Hear a cautionary tale of healthy living gone wrong. -- Learn how to make any career or business connection by unearthing the way in which you're distant cousins (as everyone on earth is, at most, roughly 70th cousins) Plus, hear a hilarious story about Jacobs revealing his entire sexual history to actress Scarlett Johansson. This episode originally aired in 2017. We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stocks or skills? How should you invest? Should you pour money into unlocking your income potential? Or should you pour money into the market? Forget the motivational posters -- unlimited potential is real. But unlocking it takes investment. The question is: Do you invest in yourself or the market? Stocks, bonds, real estate offer clear returns. But what about investing in your skills, a side hustle, or education?  Financial advisor Michael Kitces joins us to crack the code on maximizing your return on investment, both personal and financial. Learn how to make smarter choices about your future and unlock your true potential. We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JL Collins, the author of "The Simple Path to Wealth," achieved financial independence in 1989 with a surprisingly simple strategy: saving half his income and investing in index funds. In this episode, JL breaks down his ultra-simple investing approach. He argues that keeping things uncomplicated leads to better results in the long run. "The less you mess with your investments," he says, "the more freedom you have to focus on what truly matters." This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by complex investment strategies. Learn how to set your finances on autopilot and get on with living your life. We originally recorded and aired this episode in 2016. We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is Jean Chatzky, financial editor for the TODAY Show, host of the HerMoney podcast and a frequent guest on TV shows like Oprah, Regis & Kelly, and The View. We discuss six money rules to guide your spending, including: #1: The more time you spend looking, the less happy you’ll be with what you find. #2: Your retirement trumps their tuition. #3: Losing money hurts more than it should. #4: Big numbers make smart people do stupid things. #5: Don’t lend money to friends & relatives, and don’t co-sign for loans. #6: If it's 50% off, it’s still 50% on. This leads us into discussing tactics to prevent wasteful spending, such as: -- The 10/10/10 Rule: How will you feel about this purchase in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years? -- The 24 Hour Rule: Delay the purchase by 24 hours. Do you still want it? -- Only Pay Full Price: Paradoxically, avoiding sales – and ONLY buying items at full price – might help you save more money in the long run. Finally, we chat about how to balance financial priorities when you and your spouse want different things. What if you want to retire early, but your spouse doesn’t? How do you handle this? Jean shares her ideas on these topics in this episode, which we originally recorded and aired in 2016. We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nandini and her husband save tons every month toward no goal in particular. What should they do with all their extra cash? Eugene and his wife are retiring with a $10 million net worth and a guaranteed income that exceeds their annual budget. Do they still need things like life insurance and a financial advisor? An anonymous caller’s HOA costs have doubled since she bought her condo. She’s wondering if it’s still a good investment. Should she keep it or sell it? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode499 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Financial literacy includes understanding NFT's, DeFi, and cryptocurrency. But it's hard to separate education from hype. Harvard Business School's Scott Duke Kominers, a professor in Harvard's Entrepreneurial Management Unit, and a Faculty Affiliate of the Harvard Department of Economics and the Harvard Center of Mathematical Sciences and Applications, joins us alongside Web3 expert Steve Kacizinsky to explain the financial, technological and social significance of NFT's. NFT's, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are a rapidly growing digital asset. Comprehensive financial literacy requires understanding NFT's. While NFT's are emerging opportunity for investment diversification, they are also highly speculative and volatile. NFT's also represent how digital ownership is evolving, and have implications for the economic futures of a myriad of industries. These assets stand at the intersection of art, technology and commerce. This episode provides a deeper understanding of NFT's, taught by a Harvard Business School professor and a Web3 expert. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode498 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Princeton Professor Daniel Kahneman never took an economics class. But he won the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics, thanks to his advancements in understanding the psychology of money. In today’s episode, we pay homage to the late Dr. Kahneman, who passed away on March 27 at age 90. We also discuss the jobs report, inflation data, the booming stock market, the next Bitcoin halving, Capital One’s acquisition of Discover, and the National Association of Realtors settlement. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode497 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How much of a pay cut would you take for a lighter workload?  Today we hear from Paul, 35, who’s grappling with that question.  Paul’s boss offered him the chance to cut his hours and salary by 25 percent. He’d love to work fewer hours. He has a decent net worth, plenty of savings, and no debt. Should he grab the opportunity? Or stick with his long-term financial independence and early retirement plans? An anonymous caller and her husband want to retire at 55. They also want a bigger home, a better car, and to start growing their family. Can they afford it all? Tim spent his 20’s missing out on retirement savings as a medical student. He’s eager to catch up. What’s the shortest path to get there? Matthew and his family dream of leaving Florida for the Pacific Northwest. Will they regret selling everything to start over? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode496 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#495: Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911. She's famous for her work in radioactivity. Lin-Manual Miranda is a songwriter, producer and director who won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 2016, as well as several Tony awards. What do they have in common? They lived a century apart. They innovated in disparate fields. But they shared a similar productivity practice. Both achieved greatness by embracing the practice of slow productivity, says Georgetown computer science professor Cal Newport. Slow productivity is a three-part practice, Newport explains: (1) do fewer things; (2) work at a natural pace; (3) obsess over quality. We're used to thinking of productivity as doing more in a short amount of time. This flips that idea on its head, focusing on doing less, but excelling. Slow productivity is the practice of doing fewer tasks better. In this episode, Newport explains how the practice of slow productivity diverges from the normal ways that people in modern society tend to work.  Life can be stressful. Your to-do list might feel never-ending. This episode can help you focus on the few things that matter most. It can help you feel less stressed, less busy, and yet -- paradoxically -- more productive, at the same time. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode495 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#494: Tatyana is about to pay off her house at age 39! What’s next? Her husband, who earns twice as much (and whom she met after she bought the home), has no savings. They want a boat. Should she focus there? Matthew recently ended a relationship that resulted in a real estate buyout with an 8.1 percent interest rate. With rates expected to decline, how long should he wait to refinance the loan? Rachel’s friends know her as the finance gal, but she’s stumped about closed-end funds. What should she know about these investments? Erin and Angelique call in with a loan strategy to tackle Steve’s double mortgage dilemma from Episode 478. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/podcast-questions For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode494 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#493: Do you ever wonder what happens behind closed doors on Wall Street? Vivian Tu, also known as Your Rich BFF, is here to spill the tea. Vivian grew up in a modest immigrant family. After college, she found herself working insane hours on Wall Street after college. While working on Wall Street, Vivian saw some weird things. Once, a coworker stumbled hungover into the office after a trip to Atlantic City, carrying a duffel bag with thousands of dollars in cash inside. Vivian realized that there's a group of high-income and high-net-worth people who handle money in drastically different ways than she learned in her frugal upbringing. She learned about investing, taxes, legal loopholes. She discovered new ways of thinking about money. She shares these insights -- gleaned from her Wall Street days -- in today's podcast episode. Resources mentioned: Book: Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life Attend the LIVE Recording of Afford Anything's 500th Episode! https://affordanything.com/live500 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#492: Christine’s business is struggling. She needs more income. If she adds a full-time remote job to her plate, how will her retirement and finances change? Rob enjoyed a banner year in 2023. He made over $1 million. But the sting of income tax has him making moves that violate his investment strategy. Is his tax tail wagging the dog? Gena is excited to make the most of business deductions. Can she contribute 100 percent of her wages to a 401k and have the company match that? Christina is tired of living like a pauper in the name of student loan repayment. Is Public Service Loan Forgiveness the answer? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode492 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#491: Welcome, Emma Chamberlain’s fans!! Thanks for joining the Afford Anything community. You can find out how to escape the 9-to-5 grind at affordanything.com/escape Once a month, on the First Friday of the month, we explore the hot economic and money stories that are dominating the headlines. These days, Bitcoin is back in the news. As of Friday morning, March 1st, its price ranged around $62,000, which is pretty darn close to its previous all-time high of $68,700. But why? Crypto was hot in 2020, but it faded from memory in recent years. What’s behind the comeback? And what does that tell us about how investments become fads? Find out in today’s First Friday bonus episode. Bonus listening: https://affordanything.com/325-bitcoin-for-beginners for a deep dive into understanding how Bitcoin works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#490: Great communication will get you a raise. It'll get you promoted. You'll land the corner office. You'll make friends and be the life of the party. You'll land business deals and form lucrative partnerships. Supercommunication is a superpower. But how do we build it? Sometimes, you might walk away from a conversation with the joy of having made a cool new friend. Or you snagged a critical piece of information that you realllllly needed. Or you successfully negotiated an extra $5,000 off your car. On the flip side, sometimes you'll walk away from a conversation, scratching your head and wondering … “What just happened?” If either of these situations have happened to you, Charles Duhigg will help you understand WHY. Duhigg is a Pultizer Prize winning reporter. He holds an undergrad degree from Yale and an MBA from Harvard. He wrote for the LA Times and New York Times, before landing at The New Yorker. His first two books, The Power of Habit and Smarter, Faster, Better, have sold more than 5 million copies. Recently, he came out with a new book called Supercommunicators. He chats with us today to discuss the power of communication. Duhigg shares why communication is a critical component to happiness and success in every part of life. He discusses the different styles of conversations that people can have, which lead to either connection or disconnection. He also shares critical tips to help us all become supercommunicators and live richer lives. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode490 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#489: Cara made $100,000 in commissions this year, her biggest bonus ever. What should she do with the money if she wants to retire early? An anonymous caller is upset that the 401k plan he sold his boss on is charging him an Assets Under Management (AUM) fee. Should he keep the 401k at all? Remy and her husband need to come up with $30,000 for IVF treatments. How do they build their family without breaking the family finances in the process? Another anonymous caller and his partner have lived in an RV for years. They’re ready to settle. Should they sell most of his investments to purchase raw land and build an off-grid home? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode489 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#488: Ever made a flippant, seemingly minor decision that radically changed the course of your life? Morgan Housel has experienced this. At age 17, he made a quick decision that ended up saving his life. Sadly, two of his friends were less fortunate. He shares that story in today's podcast episode, and sheds light on the lessons he's learned from it. Housel says that his lifesaving choice -- and many of our other important decisions -- are snap verdicts, ones that we don’t spend much time thinking about. If pivotal moments are decided in a flash, how do we navigate risk? How do we evaluate our options? Housel says this comes understanding concepts that remain constant, consistent, and universal. We need to accept that humans aren’t rational. We must appreciate the reasons why the best answer doesn’t always win. We ought to remember that we overlook many good things happening around us. These constants will most likely impact our futures. Housel was named by MarketWatch as one of the 50 most influential people in the market. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Psychology of Money. His new book is titled Same As Ever. He joins us to discuss the ideas in his latest book. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode488 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#487: Luis’s wife is killing it at her side hustle. The unexpected income has led Luis to YouTube for hacks to capitalize on their surplus. Can a 529 plan double as long-term care savings? Elizabeth is frustrated with the housing market. She’s been saving for years but isn’t anywhere near her goal. Should she give up and spend it on a dream pottery course instead? Steve has a dilemma. He doesn’t borrow money on principle. And his wife doesn’t want to sell their current house until they’ve closed on the next one. How is he going to make this work? Greta wants to “reverse” rollover an IRA into a 401k to avoid the pro-rata rule. Is that a thing? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode487 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#486: By every definition of the word, we’re in a bull market. The S&P 500 hit record highs for five consecutive days last week, and remained strong throughout this week. The Dow is above 38,000 for the first time in history. Unemployment has stayed below 4 percent for 24 months, marking the strongest employment in half a century. And consumer sentiment, which reflects more pessimism than the data warrants, is showing signs of improvement. The Fed met this week and decided to hold rates steady, as expected, but there are hints that they’ll start dropping interest rates within a few months. Inflation isn’t yet down to the Fed’s target rate of two percent, but it’s getting closer — with one notable exception. Auto insurance has skyrocketed; across the nation, car insurance is 17 percent higher than last year. Meanwhile, a shake-up in the real estate industry is creating tumult for the National Association of Realtors, which is facing its first serious challenge in 100 years. The outcome could determine how steeply you’ll have to pay when you sell your home. Where do we go from here? What’s next for the economy? We tackle these questions in this First Friday podcast episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode486 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#485: If you’ve ever thought: "I’d love a business BUT …” I don’t have TIME I don’t have MONEY I don’t have IDEAS I have TOO MANY ideas and I don't know where to start I'm not technical I'm not creative or artistic I'm not good at sales You're not alone. Countless people don't start businesses or side hustles for these reasons. And they're losing thousands -- perhaps millions -- in opportunity cost. How much could you make if you started a side hustle that eventually scaled into a business? Possibly millions. Today's guest, Noah Kagan, is living proof. Noah was employee #30 at Facebook. His stock options, if fully vested, would be worth over $1 billion today. (If you want to do the math -- his stock options came to 0.1 percent of the company, which has a current market cap of $1 trillion.) But Noah was fired just a couple months before his stock options vested. So rather than getting a billion-dollar payout, he got nothing. He sank into a deep depression, eventually recovering with the help of a therapist who counseled him on how to reframe the experience. Then he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He became a serial entrepreneur, building multiple businesses. His most successful venture now makes $80 million in gross revenue, and his personal take-home is $3.3 million per year (which comes from a $200,000 annual salary and $3.1 million profit distribution.) His net worth is $36 million. Not a billion, but still not too shabby. Noah recently wrote a book called "Million Dollar Weekend: The Surprisingly Simple Way to Launch a 7-Figure Business in 48 Hours." He sits down with us (in person!) to share: -- how to find business ideas -- how to overcome objections and rejections -- how to scale By the end of the episode, the common objections that you often hear -- like "I don't have time/money/ideas" -- will be quashed. Please enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode485 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#484: Kristen’s financial advisor charges a 1.3 percent fee on her investments. They also sold her term life, whole life, and long-term disability insurance. Do they have her best interests at heart? Casey has $290,000 in student loan debt. He committed 10 years to one employer for a chance at public service loan forgiveness. But five years in, Casey questions what he’s missing out on. Sara feels like it’s time to move to a more conservative asset allocation but she’s torn between buying bonds from Vanguard or Treasury Direct. What’s the difference anyway? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode484 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#483: Competitive. Results oriented. Driven to be the very best. These are a few ways to describe achievement culture. Achievement culture can also be described as stressful, high pressure and unhealthy. Yet, there is consistently the pressure – internally and externally – to make more money, be a better parent, spouse, friend, or employee. These burdens comes at a heavy cost to our well-being. Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of the New York Times Best Seller “Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - and What We Can Do About It” shares with us how to manage our need for success AND how to avoid the toxic traps that can accompany obsession with success. She offers insights into the consequences of this culture on individuals' mental health, and overall well-being, while also discussing practical solutions to common challenges. If you've ever felt the burn of trying to do it all, or if you just want a smarter way to navigate success without losing your sanity, the insights shared in this interview will help you develop a more fulfilling and balanced life. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode483 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#482: A caller named “M” wonders if liquidating stocks for a larger down payment makes sense in a high-interest rate environment. An anonymous caller wants to take a pay cut to pursue his passions. But 75 percent of his net worth is in real estate. Is this too risky? Tiffanie hasn’t saved enough for early retirement, but she has a plan to use home equity to accelerate her goals. Is this going to work? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode482 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#481: Predicting the stock market is a terrible idea. But we can look at economic indicators and upcoming events to get a big-picture, 30,000-foot view of where our economy might be heading in 2024. In today’s episode, we explore what’s in store for 2024. We talk about the recent surge in Bitcoin prices, and the expected SEC approval of a Bitcoin ETF. We discuss when the Fed will lower interest rates, and the impact this might have on home buying. We talk about Robert Kiyosaki’s recent admission that he’s holding $1.2 billion in debt. And we take inventory of black swan events and election year abnormalities that might impact the flow of money. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode481 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#480: The death of a sibling. Being declared dead after a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Suffering financially during the Great Recession. CANCER. Today’s guest, Hal Elrod, has battled all of these tough challenges. His little sister passed away in his mother's arms. Years later, Hal was hit by a drunk driver, broke 11 bones, declared dead, and once revived, learned that he might have to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. (He eventually regained his ability to walk.) And after that, he was slammed hard in the wallet during the Great Recession. But he's a fighter. He needed to develop practices to build his resilience. So Hal created “The Miracle Morning,” a morning routine practice that gained massive popularity when he released it in 2012. The six-step Miracle Morning routine is coined S.A.V.E.R.S. -- silence, affirmations, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing (writing). The routine became wildly popular, in part due to its flexibility; Hal explains that time-crunched people can start this as a six-minute routine; dedicating just ONE minute to each of these six steps. Over time, people can see the positive changes that this makes, and expand the time they allot for this. The routine is now the subject of a documentary, also called the Miracle Morning, available on Prime Video. Midway through filming, Hal was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and given a 30 percent chance of survival. He let the cameras roll as he coped with his diagnosis in real time. He joins us on this podcast to describe that experience, and to talk about the practices that he's used to stay productive in the face of grief, severe injury and cancer.  He talks to us about: the powerful Five-Minute Rule that helped him recover from a nearly fatal car crash the six most popular personal development practices of the successful specific tactics you can harness to create YOUR most successful life. As we move into the New Year, many of you are setting goals and resolutions. Hal describes specific, actionable tactics that you can use to build scaffolding and support around your new goals. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode480 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nicole’s 78-year-old mom is paying huge fees for low returns. How can Nicole help her mom make better investments? Paul is a single dad, worried about paying his daughter’s college costs. He’s trying to figure out how to report lower income on the FAFSA, so that his daughter can get better financial aid. Nick is in his 40’s. His long-term care insurance rate is nearly doubling. Should he stop spending on this type of insurance? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode479 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#478: Ever skipped that extra drink, pricey cheese, or a night out for the sake of your wallet? If this feels familiar, then you’ll appreciate today’s episode with Jamila Souffrant. Jamila is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, podcast host, and author, guiding us on making savvy choices to save while still having fun. Jamila explores the power of understanding our ""why not,"" staying motivated on our financial paths, shaping a success-bound mindset, and posing THREE crucial self-assessment questions for goal alignment. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode478 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#477: Kayla is torn between paying off a loan early or catching up on missed retirement contributions. Josh wants to retire early and meets the threshold for zero capital gains taxes. Should he put all his retirement savings into a brokerage account? An anonymous caller wants to know how to merge financial lives with her husband from another country. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode477 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#476: Mike Massimino stared in disbelief at his TV. The date was July 16, 1969, and he marveled as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. At that moment, he knew he wanted to become an astronaut. He was six years old. But as Mike grew older, he developed more “realistic” dreams. After all, every kid wants to become an astronaut. The chances of making it are incredibly slim. He went to a local college, studied engineering, and took a job at IBM. But he couldn’t shake the tiny voice inside that said – “why not try?” So Mike upended his life. He enrolled in a Ph.D. program at MIT, and then proceeded to fail the qualification exam so badly that his professors gently suggested that perhaps a doctorate isn’t right for him. He battled to pass the exam on his second attempt, and went on to teach at Georgia Tech, from where he repeatedly submitted applications to NASA for their astronaut candidate program – which they called “as* can.” He was thrilled when he finally received his acceptance – until he learned that he needed 20/20 vision. At the time, NASA required astronauts to have naturally 20/20 eyesight, without surgery. So he sought out a doctor to help him re-train his eyesight. Then he learned that he’d need to pass a swim test. He was in his 30’s and had never swum. “Can’t I just take a math quiz?,” he joked. But he … didn’t let that sink him. (Pun intended). In today’s special episode, former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino explains how anyone – including you – can take your own moonshot. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode476 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#475: Born in 1924, Charlie Munger was raised during the Great Depression. At the time of his death on Tuesday, his net worth was estimated at $2.6 billion. But Munger’s greatest achievement wasn’t merely the scorecard of his net worth. His wit and wisdom, which Munger shared with the world through his book, Poor Charlie’s Almanack, which made him one of the most respected investors of the last century. Munger is the man who taught Warren Buffet how to invest. He’s lauded as the moral compass of Berkshire Hathaway, the company where he has served as vice chairman since 1984. He’s the man who famously said, "In the short run, the market is a voting machine. But in the long run, it is a weighing machine." Munger and Buffett met each other in Omaha, their shared hometown, at a lunch at the local Omaha Club, where they were introduced by mutual friends. They instantly connected. Buffett was an unknown at the time, but Munger saw his potential. Munger’s wife once asked him, “Why are you paying so much attention to [Buffett]?,” and Munger replied, “You don’t understand. That is no ordinary human being.” Their business partnership and friendship has lasted for more than 50 years, and Munger played a key role in many of Buffett’s investing decisions. He passed away on November 28, 2023, at age 99. In today’s First Friday bonus episode, we pay homage to the late investing legend Charlie Munger. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode475 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#474: When Tiffany Aliche was in her 20’s, she fell victim to a credit card scam. A crafty swindler convinced her to take out a cash advance against her credit card for $35,000. He said that he’d invest the money and produce Bernie Madoff-style returns. She was an inexperienced investor. She believed him. She never saw that money again. Aliche worked at a preschool. She didn’t make much money to begin with. But matters worsened when the school shut down, and she lost her job. She fell behind on mortgage payments and lost her condo. In order to recover from such huge setbacks, she had to grapple with an enormous sense of financial shame. Today, financial educator Tiffany Aliche, better known as The Budgetnista, shares how she overcame financial shame. She talks to us about the opposite of shame, which is a sense of financial wholeness. And she discusses practical tips for how to navigate the challenges of debt and scams. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode474 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#473: Sarah has cash to pay a $8,000 medical bill but she’s reluctant to drain her savings. Should she sign up for the hospital’s interest-free payment plan? Jennie is an independent consultant but gets paid as a W-2 employee. Without access to a SEP IRA or a 401k plan, is there another option to save for retirement? An anonymous caller is wondering how to run a cost-benefit analysis on pursuing a graduate degree. Brian is getting inundated with spam calls as a real estate investor. Is there a way to stop the madness? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episodes473 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#472: Imagine this: You’re a teenage musical prodigy, a world-class classical French horn player. You drop out of college at age 19 and spend your twenties touring the globe as a musician (including, once, tripping and falling off the stage at Carnegie Hall). At age 31, you retire from your musical career, get a Ph.D., and become a professor – first at Syracuse and then at Harvard, where you teach both at Harvard Business School and at the Harvard Kennedy School. You publish 13 books and write a column for The Atlantic, which gets noticed by Oprah Winfrey. Oprah then invites you to dinner, where she asks you to co-author a book together. This is the life of today's guest, Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks, whose collaboration with Oprah, a book called Build the Life You Want, focuses on the science and research behind happiness. Brooks teaches a class on leadership and happiness to second-year Harvard MBA candidates. In our conversation, we discuss a range of topics, including metacognition (thinking about how to think), the neurobiological basis of ruminating, and how to balance the concept of contentment with the innately human urge for ambition and progress. He also offers a formula for happiness: enjoyment + satisfaction + meaning and purpose. So – I hope you enjoy this episode; I hope you find it satisfying, and I hope it fills you with meaning and purpose! – Paula For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode472 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#471: Bob split a $350,000 windfall between savings and paying down his mortgage. But now he’s wondering if he made a good choice. Can Paula and Joe do the math to justify his gut-driven decisions? Julia wants to tap the equity from a second home to buy a third home in Texarkana, Texas. Is this a good plan? Joey Jr. wants to retire early, put two kids through college and buy a vacation home within the next five years. How can he afford to do it all? An anonymous caller wonders if $1 million is a good budget for a retirement pad. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode471 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#470: The economy is booming. GDP grew 4.9 percent last quarter, the fastest rate of growth since 2021. Consumer spending jumped 4 percent. Unemployment is holding steady at 3.8 percent, historically low. The U.S. added net new jobs for the 34th consecutive month. And yet – people are worried. Online discussion around layoffs at its highest point since July 2020. High-profile headlines about major staffing cuts – most recently from Schwab, which is dismissing 2,000 employees – fuel these fears.  Why is there such a disconnect between sentiment, which is pessimistic, and economic data, which is robust? We explore that qu estion in today’s episode. We also discuss the controversial Credit Card Competition Act, which if passed might eliminate credit card rewards like airline miles and cashback. We talk about Mint, the budgeting app with 3.6 million users, announcing that it’s shutting down. We also share details about the student loan repayment debacle. And we describe a landmark court ruling for $1.8 billion – yes, with a B – against the National Association of Realtors and several real estate brokerages, a verdict that may revolutionize the business model of how homes are bought and sold. Enjoy our First Friday of November 2023 episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lindy feels like her $300,000 of accumulated equity could be put to better use. But she doesn’t want to buy more real estate right now. What’re her options? Katie wants to become a landlord in her home state but she’s concerned about the effects of redlining. Should she look into Section 8? Claudia lives in Germany and wants to buy an apartment in Manhattan. But she knows nothing about US real estate. Where does she start? I tackle these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode469 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Money management is all about setting priorities. Maybe you have the twin goals of sending your kids to college while also saving enough for retirement. And maybe you’re struggling to figure out how to balance the two. Today, Bryan Kuderna, a certified financial planner, shares a framework for helping us set priorities. We talk about the importance of economic literacy, in addition to financial literacy. We discuss how retirement has changed throughout history. And we apply those broader lessons to how you think about retirement. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode468 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#467: Should Knoxville use a higher-interest Home Equity Loan (HELOC) to pay off a lower-interest 401k loan? Joelle’s tenant is interested in a rent-to-own agreement. Is this a good idea from a landlord’s perspective? A recent wildfire shifted Sharon’s house into a flood zone. Should she sell before FEMA redraws the map and it becomes official? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode467 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#466: The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reported in 2022 that medical debt is the most common reason to get a debt collector call. A Census Bureau study in 2021 found nearly 1 in 5 households (19%) couldn’t pay for medical care when it was needed. These statistics underscore the fact that the potential for unforeseen medical expenses to negatively impact our lives is ENORMOUS. Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington, a medical billing expert and author of “What Your Doctor Wants You to Know to Crush Medical Debt,” joins us for today’s episode to discuss the thorny topic of medical expenses. The episode begins by acknowledging the widespread and detrimental impact that medical bills can cause, especially in a healthcare system as intricate as the one in the United States. Dr. Ellington emphasizes the importance of proactively addressing medical bills to prevent them from becoming a source of financial stress. She then shares a detailed roadmap that will empower listeners to navigate the complex world of medical bills with confidence, ultimately achieving financial peace of mind in healthcare. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode466 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#465: The Fed is holding interest rates steady for now. The jobs report is better than expected. Stocks and bonds are both going down. What's going on right now in both the economy and in the markets and where should you put your money and your time and attention? That’s what we’re going to cover in this episode. Links mentioned: https://affordanything.com/inflation https://affordanything.com/365 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#464: More than ever, most people's lives are packed to the brim with activity. We are trying to fit in demanding jobs and families, commuting and a neverending list of chores. Social lives often suffer. It’s no wonder that in 2021, 12% of U.S. adults said they did not have any close friends, up from 3% in 1990. This has enormous consequences on our health, productivity, and our ability to grow our net worth, make money, and enjoy life. Dr. Mariso Franco, a renowned psychologist and best selling author, shares invaluable insights on the significance of fostering meaningful connections and discusses the detrimental impact of NOT having fulfilling connections in our lives. Today’s episode also delves into the importance of connection in the workplace. We chat about how cultivating genuine relationships with colleagues can boost productivity, enhance job satisfaction, and contribute to a positive work environment. Throughout the episode, Dr. Marisa Franco shares practical tips and actionable advice on how to nurture and sustain friendships in our fast-paced, digital age and improve our overall well- being. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode464 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mary is struggling to compare two job offers: one from a large corporation and another from a tiny business. How should she decide? An anonymous caller wants to buy a different home, and convert his current home into a rental. How should he finance this move? Christina recently slayed her debt and put herself on track for financial success. But now she’s bored. How can auto-investing be more exciting? Speaking of debt, Christina shares a creative HACK to SAVE $60,000 in student loan interest payments.  Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode463 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#462: Being rich, getting rich, what it means to be rich are all fascinating topics. We hear news stories, see social media posts, and read books about these topics. But what if what we are consuming is just misleading us? Seth Stephens- Davidowitz’s research has shown him that what we hear, read and consume about being rich is, in fact, misleading us. He is a New York Times bestselling author, a writer for the New York Times and a data scientist. He holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University. In today’s episode, we talk about how the stories around those who are rich - and how to get rich - are misleading. We talk about the truth behind those stories, the businesses that quietly make people millionaires, the kinds of people and the paths that they take to become rich, and share actionable takeaways that will help you do the same. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode462 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#461: A special LIVE recording in front of an audience at Podcast Movement, an industry conference in Denver. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle two questions in today’s episode. Our first question comes from a soon-to-be-single-mother on the precipice of divorce. How should she navigate this financially? Our second question comes from the spouse of a Purple Heart veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She and her husband would like to take a one-year sabbatical from work when they turn 40, which is in five years. They’d also like to pivot into lower-paying but more enjoyable careers. How should they map out their money for this transition? Joe and I dedicate this episode, recorded live on stage, to answering these two questions. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode461 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#460: Mental toughness is the bedrock of starting a business, growing a multimillion-dollar portfolio, investing in real estate, crushing your debt, retiring early. Today’s guest, Dr. Nate Zinsser, mentors elite athletes, soldiers and executives in confidence and mental toughness. He is the sports psychology mentor for two-time Superbowl MVP Eli Manning and the Director of the Performance Psychology Program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He’s mentored the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and NCAA teams, and has been a consultant for the FBI Academy, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, and the NYC Fire Department. He holds a PhD in sports psychology from the University of Virginia. In today’s episode, we discuss how to develop the type of mental toughness and confidence that can help you grow your investments, start a business, take risks in your career, make offers on houses, and overall master your financial life. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode460 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#459: Andrey is a savvy 10-year-old wondering what’s the best way to save up for his first car. Ingrid wants to know if her parents’ preference for Retiring on Dividends is a better approach compared to the 4 Percent Rule. Erica’s part-time work schedule will place her in an unusually low tax bracket this year. Should she take this rare chance to execute a Roth conversion? Or is it better to prioritize debt payoff? Chloe is worried about the end of student loan forbearance. Should she pull back from making retirement contributions to focus on debt payoff? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#458: Today we chat with Scott Trench, the CEO and President of BiggerPockets, a real estate investing education company with more than 2 million members. He joins us to share cutting-edge insights on today’s real estate market. We discuss economic trends, demographic shifts, and talk about how interest rates impact home buyers. Whether you're a potential homebuyer, an investor, or simply curious about the housing market, this conversation will shield light on what’s REALLY happening in today’s confusing real estate market. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode458 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#457: Angie sold all the stocks in her retirement account last year. And now the market’s climbing. What should she do with her $500,000 cash position? Christina will be graduating with six figures of student debt. Should she refinance out of a federally protected loan to lower her interest rate? An anonymous caller wonders how Paula and Joe handled their primary residences when they moved out of state. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/podcast-questions For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode457 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#456: Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki shares his research and findings around the science of empathy – and how we can apply this to improving our relationships with colleagues, clients, customers, co-founders, and business and investing cohorts. Zaki is the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, and the author of “The War For Kindness.” We'll break down the science. We talk about why empathy matters in business, investments, and in career growth, and we’ll discuss its digital age dynamics. How does AI impact the way in which we relate to others? If you want to learn the science of emotional intelligence, and how to apply this to your career and business interactions, you’ll learn a lot from today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode456 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#455: Yvette recently retired with the goal of reaching a $10,000 monthly income from her real estate investments. Should she put her money toward debt payoff or portfolio expansion? Carly wants to buy a second home and convert her current home to a rental. What are the pros and cons of tapping into existing equity versus saving cash for a down payment? An anonymous caller plans to move back to her touristy hometown in six to seven years. Is it smart to buy something now and take advantage of a thriving Airbnb market? I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode455 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#454: Amy says she hit “rock bottom” with her finances. She says she struggled to ask for help before her situation became an emergency. How can others ask for help sooner? Rebecca is a mother of four, which means she’s juggling four distinct college timelines and 529 plans. How does she make a withdrawal plan when there are so many unknowns?  Anne Marie switched jobs. What should she do with her old retirement accounts? And Dylan wonders if the IRS Rule of 55 applies to Roth 401k accounts. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode454 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I chat with Simone Stolzoff, a consultant for organizations ranging from Google to the Surgeon General’s Office, and the author of "The Good Enough Job." He’s a graduate of Stanford and U. Penn. Simone has spent a lot of time thinking about the role of work in our lives, and he's got some really interesting ideas about how we can see work as just one part of a happy and fulfilling life. We'll be talking about what happens when work becomes more than just a job, how to challenge the idea that work has to be our calling or our dream, and how to build a more well-rounded life. If you’ve ever “over-identified” with your job, then you’ll find today’s conversation thought-provoking. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode453 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#452: Peter Atwater, an economics professor at The College of William and Mary and author of “The Confidence Map,” joins us to discuss how confidence shapes our financial markets. He explains how The Hunger Games relates to the Lehman Brothers collapse. He describes why you should “Buy Adele and Sell Pharrell.” From the Panic of 1857 to the patterns behind modern media consumption, Peter talks us through the intricate web of behavioral oddities that extend beyond finance. He talks about the “K-shaped recovery” – how different segments of the population are experiencing different economic realities. He touches upon economic, political, and social trends, and the hidden dynamics that shape market behavior and reveal the profound impact of consumer confidence. Our conversation will leave you with a deeper understanding of how behavioral patterns shape the financial landscape – including your investments. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode452 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel’s car is nearing its end of life and she’s short on cash. Should she sell before she’s hit with a major repair? Cam wants to arbitrage a hefty low-interest loan with a three-year payback period. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime or a disaster waiting to happen? Kris has tried all the budgeting apps but they’re cumbersome and time-consuming. Is there a better way to track his monthly expenses? An anonymous caller feels stretched thin with a high mortgage on a single income. Should she sell off some stocks to lower her monthly payments? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode451 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#450: On the First Friday of each month, we roll out a bonus episode that’s totally different from what we usually produce. These bonus episodes are special, unique, and – we hope – round out a fuller, more multifaceted picture of what we think about. Today, I’m introducing you to a business and economics correspondent from Moscow who I’m honored to call a close friend. Her name is Andrea Palasciano. She’s covered business stories from Paris, Marseilles, Rome and Moscow. She’s fluent in Italian, German, Spanish, French, English and Russian. She’s covered stories ranging from diamond mining in Siberia to sleep deprivation. She’s close friends with Evan Gershkovich, the 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter who’s currently in a Russian prison. Today is his 100th day behind bars. Andrea and I were both Knight-Bagehot Fellows and bonded during our year of immersing ourselves into deeply understanding how to tell better stories about business and economics. She joins me in this special episode to talk about the stories she’s covered, the sabbatical experience, and why it’s critical to understand how a bond works (!!). Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode450 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#449: Jackie is a 42-year-old paralegal with two rental properties. She wants to buy three more. She asks for Paula’s thoughts about today’s economy. Should she buy under these economic conditions? Jen’s husband will retire with a pension that pays twice their living expenses. Does she still need her own retirement account? Rachael just bought a duplex, which she wants to househack. But she’s having second thoughts. Did she bite off more than she can chew? “Minouche” is a return caller with new information: she believes that borrowing from Dad is her only path to home ownership. Does this change Paula and Joe’s advice to her? (And is it even true?) And Molly, a concerned mom, shares some thoughts about this situation. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An anonymous caller is dealing with guilt over spending a large cash gift. What’s the best use if she doesn’t have an obvious financial goal to throw at it? Eric reached financial independence a few years ago but he hesitates to quit his job. What the heck is a Roth conversion ladder and how can he overcome his psychological barriers? Another anonymous caller and his wife earn $300,000. He feels like they should be financially independent but they’re far from it. What’s going on? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode448 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#447: We talk to Stanford economist Nick Bloom about his groundbreaking research on working from home. Nick has been studying remote work for more than 20 years – since the 1990’s, when people were “telecommuting.” His research, in real-time, looked at how events such as 9/11 shaped attitudes about remote work. The pandemic created a surge of interest in his research. It brought many newcomers to the field. But Nick has the benefit of historical knowledge. He’s spent his career deep-diving into this topic. Nick sheds light on the advantages and challenges of remote work, drawing from extensive data and analysis. He shares surprising numbers and statistics. We discuss productivity, collaboration, employee well-being and organizational dynamics. We also discuss the impact of remote work on cities and housing. Enjoy! For more information, visit https://affordanything.com/episode447 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul suffered a stroke at 48. He’s on disability and feeling lost. How does he figure out what’s next? Should Ashley’s aging parents spend a third of their retirement savings on a house? Margaret is wondering if she could use her 401k for a down payment and save on her taxes. An anonymous caller is concerned she won’t have enough access to cash if she retires at 50. Is an Indexed Universal Life policy the right solution? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode446 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We sit down with Steve Chou, an accomplished entrepreneur who, alongside his wife, built two businesses that each bring in seven figures – and gives them the freedom to spend more time with their kids. We delve into the challenges he faced in the early stages of his business and how he overcame these obstacles. Additionally, Steve opens up about the personal and emotional aspects of running a business. He candidly discusses the fears, doubts, and sacrifices he and others have encountered during this transformational journey, emphasizing the importance of resilience and avoiding the comparison trap. Whether you're contemplating leaving your job to start your own venture or simply seeking inspiration from a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode with Steve Chou is a must-listen. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode445 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The student loan pause is coming to an end. A moratorium on student loan repayments has been in place since the start of the pandemic, but starting Sept. 1st, millions of borrowers will be required to start making payments on their loans again. What does this mean for borrowers? In this episode, we'll discuss what borrowers can do to prepare, including an in-depth look at the variety of repayment plan options. We’ll also talk (in general terms) about how to handle ANY surprise new monthly bill – whether it’s a medical bill, a family member who needs ongoing financial help, or a student loan repayment that’s about to restart. For a list of Sources and Resources mentioned in the show, go to https://affordanything.com/episode444 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As a former corporate powerhouse turned successful entrepreneur, Amy knows firsthand the challenges and triumphs of building a business from scratch. Amy is the host of the top-ranked podcast "Online Marketing Made Easy," and the owner of a multi-million dollar digital course business. She is also the author of “Two Week’s Notice,” a guide to quitting your job and building your own business. Get ready to be inspired as we uncover Amy's secrets to building a thriving business and learn how you can apply her proven techniques to achieve your own entrepreneurial dreams. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable advice that you won't want to miss. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode443 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An anonymous caller is struggling with a tempting offer from her family to buy her first house. Chris recently tripled his income. How should he manage this unexpected surplus? Tyson is wondering if it's a good time to convert his bonds into treasuries. “Jaula” wants to know if she should count her side hustle income as part of her retirement money. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#441: It’s GRADUATION WEEK! For those of you who’ve been following along this past year, you know that I’ve been completing the Knight - Bagehot Fellowship at Columbia University. This week, my family and I are celebrating the countless hours of studying, all-nighters and eye opening experiences, so here at Afford Anything, we’re airing an important episode from our archives. This episode addresses important questions we’ve been getting from the Afford Anything community, including: Where do I invest? How do I diversify outside of the stock market? How many individual stocks should I hold? I’m looking forward to returning to the amazing Afford Anything community full-time as of June 1st, and eagerly anticipating sharing everything I’ve learned with YOU!!!! The team has big plans for the next year, so enjoy this episode and stay tuned for future announcements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An anonymous caller wants to retire and travel in 20 to 30 years. How does she know if she’s saving enough? Trace plans to take a mini-retirement next year. Where should she keep her savings until then? Samantha and her partner have lived out of their truck for 20 years. They sorta-kinda feel ready to buy a house and settle down. But they’re hesitating. What if they hate it? “Barbara,” an anonymous caller from Episode 422, is struggling with a scarcity mindset. How does she stop worrying about the future and build the confidence to enjoy life now? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode440 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your potential is unlimited. I realize that’s the type of cliche that you normally find embossed in cursive script on the side of coffee mugs. It’s trite and impersonal and overused. But it’s also true. Your potential to earn and grow is limitless. But it’s not free. You need to invest time and money into developing your potential. Your time and money are limited, though, and you could also choose to invest in market-based assets, like stocks, bonds or real estate. How do you make that decision? Are you going to invest in yourself? Or the market? Or both — and in what proportion? How do you make these choices? When you’re buying a few shares of a total stock market index fund, you have a generally clear idea of what you’re getting. You’ve seen the historic returns. You can predict, to a reasonable degree, the consequences of that investment over a multi-decade span. But when you’re investing in yourself — e.g. learning a new skill, developing a side business, or taking a class — you can’t rely on the same formulas or models. There’s no chart mapping the historic returns. Financial capital is easy to track. Human capital is harder to quantify — but potentially more rewarding. Can you compare investing in assets vs. investing in yourself? How can you make a smarter decision about your own path? In this episode, I talk to Michael Kitces — a financial planner, entrepreneur, and all-around smart guy — about this million-dollar decision. The interview with Michael Kitces originally aired on February 13, 2017 https://affordanything.com/64-michael-kitces-mind-powerful-money/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Do you want to save money? Or do you want to enjoy your life?” That’s a common question, but it’s strange. It assumes these ideas are opposites: frugality is synonymous with deprivation; spending is a proxy for enjoyment.  That premise is wrong.  Let’s stop conflating spending with happiness. Let’s stop using “savings” or “free” as a euphemism for second-tier or sucky. Most online articles that discuss free or frugal enjoyment are poorly-thought-through listicles that offer half-baked ideas, like “go to the park” or “host a potluck.” Not only are these insufferable, they also miss the point. Behavioral change doesn’t come from a laundry list. It comes from cognitive reframing. To facilitate this reframe, we’ve invited Yale-educated former attorney and world-renowned happiness expert Gretchen Rubin to return to our show.  Gretchen was a guest on Episode 40, when she cited research about effective habit formation. She returns with a methodical, structured look at how to derive more joy from daily experiences through heightened sensory awareness. She draws from science, philosophy, medicine, literature and psychology to tell a layered story about how to find simple pleasures in everyday things. Her latest book, Life in Five Senses, came out on April 18 and immediately hit the New York Times bestseller list. Enjoy! Timestamps as of April 2023: 10:44: Why you should visit the same place everyday 11:55: How going to the same place can change over time 16:40: Advantages of being in tune with our senses 24:07: How to deepen your sense of smell 31:00: How culture impacts senses 37:19: How does your age impact your sensory experience? For show notes, go to https://affordanything.com/episode438 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have a project you want to start … but you’re stuck in analysis paralysis? Do you feel like if you want to do something right, you have to do it yourself? Do you try to wind down after the end of a long day, but your energy levels are just not quite restored? If you answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, then this episode is for you. Psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, a former on-site therapist at Google, and author of “The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control,” joins us to chat about her research on perfectionism. She shares a framework on five types of perfectionism. She describes the pros and cons of each type, and how to work through some of the negative tendencies to build a more emotionally healthy life. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode437 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#436: Jeremy wants to attend graduate school. Should he take student loans or cash out his investment portfolio? Andy is wondering if the 4 percent rule stands up to high inflation. (There’s a shockingly simple answer!) Did Rudolfo discover a hack to supercharge his 401k investing? Nandini is overwhelmed by her investing choices. What accounts should she use? What funds should she pick? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#435: Lee is 30 and facing a tech layoff. She can live for a year on her savings. She’s thinking about taking the rest of the year off. How should she prepare her investments? Stacy wants to buy an Airbnb but she’s scared she’ll regret selling her company stock to do it. An anonymous caller is tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck as a freelance artist. How can she stabilize an inconsistent income? Danelle is a DIY investor. She can’t find a financial advisor who gives advice without insisting on managing her investments. Is she looking in the wrong places? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode435 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#434: The majority of financial advice is geared to people with 9-5 jobs: “Negotiate for a raise.” “Max out your 401k match.” “Budget based on your income.” Where’s the financial advice for people who earn money in tips: restaurant servers, bartenders, hairstylists, concierge, valets, ushers, nail salon workers, strippers, or other service industry professionals? What about gig economy workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs? People who don’t earn a regular paycheck? Not only do these workers earn a volatile and unpredictable income, they also often don’t have job-provided health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. They need to provide themselves with these benefits. What should they do? That’s where Barbara Sloan comes in. She’s a financial coach and author of “Tipped: the life changing guide to financial freedom for waitresses, bartenders, strippers, and all other service industry professionals.” Her book and advice applies to anyone who works outside of the traditional confines and systems. If you (or someone you know) works for tips, you’ll love Barbara. And if you’re curious about exploring work outside of the normal 9-to-5, and wonder how to set yourself up for financial success when your income is hit-or-miss, this episode is for you. Enjoy! Estimated Timing of Discussion Points as of March 2023: 01:59: The tipped workers we may forget 03:54: Financial challenges for tipped workers 05:57: The importance of thinking like an entrepreneur 23:02: Tips for the self employed 25:19: Budgeting with volatile income 27:13: Tracking income vs. tracking expenses 32:15: The distinction of budgeting based on income vs expenses 36:13: Budgeting as a trigger for disordered behavior For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode434 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#433: Should “Walker,” an anonymous caller, give up a cushy job to take a year-long sabbatical in Europe? Blue wants to rent out his East Coast home, take a sabbatical from work, travel to the West Coast with his family, and start a YouTube channel and other entrepreneurial projects. How should he manage his money to make this happen? Melissa regrets buying a house two years ago in Ft. Lauderdale. She’s poured $30,000 into repairs, all of which she borrowed. Her home-related debts have mounted. She’s over-extended. Should she cut her losses? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode433 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#432: Have you ever worried about running out of money after you retire? Do you keep checking your net worth to make sure you have enough? Does this always feel a little … unsatisfying? This episode discusses why. Today's guest, Michael Lynch, is a certified financial planner and author. His most recent book, “It’s All About The Income,” says that we’re obsessed with the wrong thing. Retirement planning is focused on growing assets. But your assets aren’t going to keep the lights on. Your INCOME, not your assets, is the centerpiece of your retirement. He shares real-life examples of the biggest risks to your income — the risks that might halt you from enjoying your retirement years. He shares tips on how to make sure your income is smooth and secure, even when you’re not punching the clock anymore. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode432 Estimated timing of discussion points as of March 2023: 01:36: The disconnect between living on income vs. assets in retirement 02:15: “There’s no such thing as safe” 04:41: The three-bucket approach to retirement 08:17: Sources to learn the history of the stock market 10:33: This historical best hedge against a declining stock market 16:25: The ideal asset mix for short-, medium- and long-term investments 17:01: The need to distinguish between money you’ll need vs money you’ll need to generate income 20:16: When to be a saver vs. an investor 23:49: How to approach the medium-term bucket 36:03: Lowering sequence of returns risk with the three-bucket method 37:02: Inflation risk and the impact on retirement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#431: The title says it all. Paula Pant interviews Mr. Money Mustache about his dating life. We chat about why he wants to date inside the FIRE community (financial independence, retire early) – and whether he’s had any luck. We discuss the perils of navigating into the dating world after a divorce, which he did at age 43. And – AHEM – HE’S ON THE APPS. Well, specifically, he’s on one app. And it’s technically not an app, it’s a website. Whatever. HE’S ONLINE DATING, FOLKS. We talk about the difference between flirting in real life vs. online, and he talks about what he looks for in a dating profile. Our conversation also covers: What’s the point of dating someone inside the FIRE community, anyway? Do you really want to talk about money all day? (Hint: nope) Is he a serial monogamist? What should you do if one person is more interested in frugality, while the other is into investing? Personality, values, communication, chemistry … how can you find that ideal fit? How long does it take to figure out if you’re compatible? How quickly has he introduced his teenage son to his former (then-current) girlfriends? What advice does he share with his son about dating? Mr. Money Mustache is the pseudonym of Pete Adeney, one of the most prominent figures in the FIRE movement. He co-stars with Paula, Tiffany Aliche and Ross Mac in the 2022 Netflix documentary Get Smart with Money. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode431 The Fire Dating app can be found at https://firedating.me Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#430: D is worried that she’s going to suffer from her parents’ poor financial choices. Is it time to confront them about it? An anonymous caller and her fiance both own a house. Which one do they move into after the wedding? In a world of rising inflation, Nick wants to know if it’s time to change the way he saves for his future. Another anonymous caller wants to buy a second home within a decade. How does she start planning now? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode430 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a custom website? Recording an album? Did you worry that this project will cost more and take longer than you expected?  This episode is all about how to complete projects on-time and under budget.  Today's guest, Dr. Bent Flyvberg, is an Oxford University professor with a Ph.D. in urban geography. He’s published more than 200 scholarly articles on megaproject planning and management, decision-making, and social science methodology. He’s written or edited 10 books, including recently co-authoring “How Big Things Get Done.” He shares examples ranging from the Sydney Opera House to Pixar movies to the California High Speed Rail, illustrating why some projects flourished while others flopped. He joins us on today’s episode and talks to us about why some projects succeed while others turn into colossal disasters. He offers tips for how we can apply lessons from megaprojects to our own lives. Enjoy! Timing of discussion points as of February 2023: 02:19: Why are some projects on time and under budget and others aren’t? 03:24: The difference between successful and unsuccessful projects 07:38: Which questions do you ask when you’re choosing someone to work with on the project? 11:44: How cognitive biases and power dynamics and influence project outcomes 24:22: Why people forsake common sense when it comes to big projects 29:34: How to plan and iterate, knowing that things will change 39:26: The biggest risk to projects For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode429 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#428: Jamie currently lives at home and dreams of reaching financial freedom by her early 30s. How can she take advantage of her low expenses to accelerate her wealth building? An anonymous caller has enough to retire in 5 years. Does she still need her financial advisor or is it time to do it on her own? Meghan is a personal finance enthusiast who wants to start a coaching side hustle. What’s the best way to get started?  Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these five questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode428 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#427: Okay, maybe the phrase “side hustle” is overused. But it’s also misunderstood. “Side hustle” is a catch-all term that people use to describe everything from low-paid gig economy labor – Doordash, Uber Eats, Rover – to six-figure consulting for Fortune 500 companies.  On the remote-work side, it includes everything from freelance graphic design (services) to selling bundles of presentation deck templates (digital products).  On the physical goods side, it includes everything from wholesaling (real estate) to flipping antique grandfather clocks (personal goods).  On the e-commerce side, your side hustle might mean starting your own manufacturing, white-labeling and shipping services, in which you distribute toothpaste or trash can lids or desiccant packs. How do we make sense of such an umbrella concept? In this interview with Nick Loper, we learn how to wrap our minds around the huge world of hustles. We talk about how to understand the options available, choose a path, and start with minimal capital. This interview originally aired as Episode 85. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#426: Behavioral researcher, Vanessa Van Edwards, talks to us about the critical importance of charisma - and how to use the perfect blend of warmth and competence to be charismatic. Dr. Michael Slepian walks us through what secrets mean, what they cost, and how we think about them. We dive into the world of long distance real estate investing, and talk about two of the major components of investing - Cash and mindsets - to help you determine if long distance real estate investing is right for you. International best selling author, Julie Winkle Giulioni, reviews eight dimensions of career development and how to navigate them. Chris Hutchins, entrepreneur and life hacker extraordinaire, spills his best secrets on optimizing spend to travel more cheaply. Kiersten and Julien Sanders join us to discuss money topics for couples, and their framework for being financially independent in 15 years. Stanford professor Jeremy Utley breaks down the art of creativity and producing new ideas - and shares actionable tips on how we can be more creative and have better ideas. Dr. Daniel Crosby discusses how we are not wired to be good investors, and how to overcome our evolutionary wiring. Enjoy this compilation of our favorite episodes to air in the second half of 2022. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode426 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#425: Ellen’s dad died unexpectedly. Her mom is clueless about finances. How does she help a 70-year-old unravel financial complexities? Mike has an opportunity to buy into his friend’s growing business. What should be his legal, financial, and relationship considerations? Pepp wants to know what’ll happen to her Restricted Stock Units when her company goes private. An anonymous caller needs to build her nest egg. She’ll be a full-time student with no income. She has 20 years until retirement. Should she execute a Roth conversion? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode425 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#424: We’re taught to stay in the game. Persist. Be gritty. Try, try again. But sometimes, the best decision is to walk away. Move on. How do you know when that’s right? When should you double-down … and when should you fold? Today’s guest, Annie Duke, won more than $4 million as a professional poker champion. She wrote the bestselling book Thinking in Bets and co-founded a nonprofit that teaches kids decision-making skills. Her most recent book, “Quit: The Power of Knowing When To Walk Away,” teaches the behavioral science, mental models and recognition of cognitive biases needed to successfully quit. It highlights real-world examples of startup founders, athletes, mountaineers, and entertainers who either quit – or didn’t – and explains how to make a wise, grounded choice. She joins us on today’s episode to describe the forces that hold us back from quitting – and how to recognize when quitting could lead to a better life. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode424 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#423: We’ve heard the warnings about following your passion.  People ask if you can *actually* make money doing what you love. They frame the question “passion or profit?” as though these are in opposition.   The majority – who have never tried – decry, “what if you fail?” Nobody asks the more important question: what if you succeed? Are you still going to love your passion when you rely on it to pay the bills? We grapple with that question in today’s episode, which is devoted to side hustles and starting a business. We use questions from two of our listeners as a jumping-off point to discuss the realities of going into business for yourself, doing what you love.  We share examples from our own lives as professional podcasters, as well as from the lives of friends who are full-time photographers, musicians, writers and other creative entrepreneurs. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode423 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#422: Emily is saving aggressively for financial independence, but it’s hard to enjoy the present. Is it time to increase spending? Monroe wants to stop working. Forever. Which is more important: debt payoff or investing? Another anonymous caller and his spouse dream of building a homestead on an expensive piece of land. How much is too much to spend on housing? Given the high costs of moving, Sarah wonders if buying a starter home is the best decision. Should she and her fiance jump straight to buying their forever home? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode422 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#421: Life is busy. We spend too much time on chores, errands, commuting, emails and other draining tasks. We lack time for joy and hobbies. Or do we?  Today’s guest, Laura Vanderkam, talks to us about how to make the most of our time and carve out more space for gratifying experiences. Laura Vanderkam is a time management and productivity expert. Her latest work, “Tranquility By Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters” shares actionable steps to help you fill your schedule with more of what you love. Enjoy! Timing of discussion points as of January 2023: 06:06: Where the time management focus should land 13:44: What is tranquility? 15:22: How to structure your hours 16:33: Set your bedtime: the foundational rule for time management 24:18: The power of planning on Fridays 29:05: Move your body by 3 pm 35:02: Create “backup slots” 37:10: The impact of various time management guidelines 38:43: The Big Adventures Rule 44:06: Taking a night for yourself 47:51: Batch the little things 50:16: The effortful before the effortless For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode421 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#420: Harvard professor Arthur Brooks described two types of intelligence – and explained, in scientific terms, the wisdom that comes with age. Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D., shared insight into the roots of procrastination, offering evidence-based tips for how to overcome our own inner demons of anxiety, fear and laziness. Psychology professor Bill von Hippel described why too much happiness is just as detrimental to our long-term health and wellbeing as too little happiness. Wall St. Journal columnist Spencer Jakab observed the perfect storm of conditions that gave rise to meme stonks and other oddities of our era. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy argued for “strategic under-diversification” and explained the Sharpe Ratio. Data scientist Nick Maggiulli explains the save-invest continuum. And financial planner Bill Bengen, the creator of the 4 percent retirement withdrawal rule, talks about what most people misunderstand about the safe withdrawal rate. These are just some of the highlights from the Afford Anything podcast in this 2022 year-in-review episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode420 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#419: Casey isn’t happy at her job. If she leaves before her one-year mark, she’ll lose her 401k contributions. Should she stay or find a new job? Daan resides in a high-cost-of-living area where real estate appreciates rapidly. But there’s no cash flow. How should he evaluate real estate as an investment? Emily already maximizes her 401k contributions. Should she contribute to an after-tax 401k next? Ryan’s investing for his son. If the yield is the same between two mutual funds, can he leave his son with more money if one mutual fund pays dividends more frequently? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode419 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#418: When Jordan Grumet was a child, his dad died unexpectedly. That was decades ago. Jordan is a father today, but he thinks often about the possibility of dying young. And he wonders how to balance enjoying today vs. saving for tomorrow, given that none of us know how long we’ll be on this earth. How do we think about our lives when the clock starts to run out?  Beyond money, what other tools can we use to live a fulfilling life? Jordan Grumet, a hospice doctor and host of the Earn and Invest podcast, discusses this in today’s episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode418 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#417: Our first anonymous caller is getting married. What are the financial considerations the couple should be thinking through since there is a large income gap between them? Our second anonymous caller is concerned about her ability to continue working due to major depression. Should she consider disability insurance? Carly is an accidental landlord and would love to keep her rental property. The problem? It’s losing money right now and she’d probably take a loss if she sold it. What should she do? Shelby has an amazing opportunity to relocate to Tokyo for work, but she’ll have to take a pay cut. How should she think about her investment options? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode417 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#416: Crypto is tanking. Household debt is climbing. Student loans are tangled up in the court system. And the house market…did what?! Today’s bonus First Friday episode takes a look at the latest economic headlines, with analysis, commentary and hot takes. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode416 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#415: The average American donates 2.1 percent of their income to charity, according to data from the Giving Institute. But an ordinary couple living in Nashville, Bob and Linda Lotich, refuse to be average. When they were both 31, they decided to “give their age” – they pledged to donate 31 percent of their income to worthwhile causes. They’ve increased their charitable giving every year since, to match their age. The couple is now 41 years old, and they give away 41 percent of their income. When they began this project, the Lotich’s were earning a combined household income in the high five-figures. They were making just under $100,000 combined, living in St. Louis. They carried a mortgage on their home. They worried that their commitment to giving might impact their ability to pay the bills. Over the last decade, their income has fluctuated – up some years, down in others. They moved to Nashville and had three children. These higher living costs have drastically impacted the family budget. But their commitment to giving persists. In today’s episode, Bob Lotich joins us to talk about why and how he committed to the “give your age” philosophy – and shares his advice for anyone who wants practical tips for increasing their capacity to donate to meaningful causes. Enjoy! Timing of discussion points as of November 2022: 04:46: Adjusting mental and budget space to allow for more charitable donations 13:12: The decision give to individuals vs. charitable organizations 14:57: Does giving to an individual impact the relationship? 16:56: Recommendations for platforms with giving opportunities 25:01: Managing the giving budget after starting a family 25:56: Guilt and shame around generosity 27:41: Giving from a place of gratitude and a place of pain 28:47: The concept of giving dreams 30:19: Building for a continuous impact vs. a large impact 31:48: Getting the children involved 37:48: How to increase your charitable giving For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode415 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#414: Amanda is worried that her recently diagnosed health condition might force her to stop working. How should she financially prepare her family? Anonymous is a savvy DIY investor who wants to retire early and is wondering if she should hire a financial advisor. Should Krista tap into the equity from one of her rentals to rebalance a portfolio that is weighted heavily in real estate? Natasha thinks she and her husband have saved enough to retire early but it feels scary. Is she truly ready or is she nuts?  Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode414 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#413: If an idea dominates the headlines, we notice it. But maybe we shouldn’t. Today’s guest, psychologist and behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby, says there’s a difference between a prediction that gets repeated, and one that’s likely to unfold.  What’s salient isn’t accurate, he says. And vice versa.  He also talks about how money problems have morphed over time. He chats about how our evolutionary wiring is at odds with our goals. And he even discusses how we’re wired to be ‘lazy’ – and how to work with that tendency instead of fighting an uphill battle against it. Dr. Crosby researches the intersection of mind and markets. His latest work, The Behavioral Investor, is an in-depth look at how sociology, psychology and neurology impact our investment choices.  Timing of discussion points as of December 2022: 03:10: The overlap between psychology and investing + new ideas 04:41: Counterintuitive behavioral finance discoveries  07:27: Money as a “hygiene factor” 08:39: The “new class” of money problems for the more affluent 13:44: Factors that impact our financial decisions 15:22: The influence of evolutionary wiring  17:02: Cognitive and physical wiring leading to laziness and group think 27:45: The benefit of community for investors 28:52: The four types of behavioral risk: ego, conservatism, attention, and emotion 36:21: The three E’s of behavior change: education, environment, encouragement 42:30:  Confusing things that are loud with things that are likely 45:21: The risk of managing emotion For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode413 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#412: Taylor recently graduated. She wants to reach financial independence as soon as possible. What should she do first: invest or repay low-interest debt? Carter doesn’t want to pay too much for his investments. He’s worried about the tax drag. He wants to know how to improve cost efficiency in his portfolio. How should he manage decisions about basis points, dividends and capital gains? Our first anonymous caller has been working and investing for a decade. Today her portfolio is large enough that she and her husband can finally take a mini-retirement. They’d like to rebalance their portfolio. They want it to reflect the fact that they won’t be working for a while. They’d also like to calculate how much money they need to travel with their children. How should they handle this? Our second anonymous caller is worried that their portfolio is out-of-whack. Their money is in a target date retirement fund. They’d like to move some of it to a three-fund portfolio. But this is a scary time to sell. Stocks are low. What should they do? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#411: In the final installment of this two-part mini-series, we walk you through becoming a subject matter expert in your investment city of choice. We discuss who you should talk to, where you can find them and what you should talk to them about. Timing of discussion points as of November 2022: 06:11: Who you should talk to  10:09: Why conversations with non- real estate professionals are important 11:49: Where to meet other real estate investors 13:19: Expanding your network, character due diligence and making friends 13:59: Thinking through others cognitive biases 15:56: Potential implications of neighborhoods with “good cash flow” 20:57: An example of objective feedback 29:40: Dumpsters, sewers, permits and problems: Other specifics to discuss For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode411 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#410: You face plenty of problems. But you have a scarcity of good solutions. Stanford Professor Jeremy Utley can help. He says that solving complex problems requires creativity. And creativity comes from deliberate practice. It’s not an innate talent. It’s a skill. And it’s useful in any occupation, from accounting to zookeeping. Jeremy speaks and writes on the history of invention, discovery, creativity, and innovation. He also leads Stanford d.school's work with professionals. Today he talks to us about how some of the greatest innovators produce new ideas. He tells us about their creative process. He describes how researchers and authors improve their skills. And he shares pointers to help you understand how to do the same. Timing of discussion points as per November 2022: 3:00: How to focus while staying open to creativity 6:23: Definition of creativity 14:02: Different cognitive biases faced 17:35: The idea quota 19:28: Where ideas come from: the Lego analogy  21:32: How Ben Franklin honed his creativity 28:36: Capturing inspiration 46:04: The importance of reviewing the problems in your life 50:24: The roles of creative collaboration and distributed reasoning 54:49: The argument for quantity over quality  56:07: The value of bad ideas For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode410 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#409: Liz and her husband are planning to retire in 5 to 10 years. They have rental income properties, but Liz is bored of managing these, and she’s intrigued by the idea of buying stocks at a discount when the market is low. Should she sell her rental properties and use the money to buy stocks instead? Rebecca is a high income earner and thinking about investing in a Roth 401k … but she’s scared of how much she’ll have to pay in taxes. Should she do it anyway? Anonymous made big changes last year: she got a new career AND sold a house! Now she needs help figuring out capital gains and lowering how much she’ll have to pay in taxes … and she won’t have access to her company’s 401K for most of the year. Kyle and his wife are moving into their dream home! What should they do with their current place? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#408: When Kiersten and Julian Saunders began dating in 2012, they fell in love quickly, and their relationship felt strong – until they started talking about money. They broke up as a result of their first money conversation. Luckily, they got back together, figured out how to have tough conversations, and paid off $200,000 in debt over the next five years. Then they started thinking about how to hack their careers. They came up with a plan for a 15-year career. Today, they join us on the podcast to talk about the 15-year career framework and how to approach your career - and your finances - in 5 year stints. Timing of discussion points as per October 2022: 00:25: Introduction to Kiersten and Julien Saunders 02:05: The money conversation that changed everything 11:25: Examples of interaction patterns around money discussions 12:08: Tactics to continue difficult money conversations 16:18: Starting a 15-year career 17:48: The focus of the first five years: your financial foundation 18:17: Transitioning to the second five years and defining your super power at work 18:50: Building your exit plan in the last five years 22:57: Thinking about side hustles and the factors of urgency and upside 24:29: How does a person know how to make money 29:28: Maintaining momentum towards your goals over the 15 year time span 31:37: Is it possible to accelerate the 15 year timeline? 35:12: Thinking about risk after your career Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#407: Ionnie wants to vet her tax professional as diligently as she assesses her financial advisor – how should she go about doing that? Anonymous needs a career change, and she needs help figuring out how to approach the decision making process when choosing and preparing for her next field of employment MM prefers the simple path to wealth and investing in real estate but is looking for more information on a more intentional and selective approach to investing. Ingrid calls in to ask whether she should include her rental income when trying to figure out how much she can contribute to her Roth IRA. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#406: In this two-part episode, we first tackle the data points needed to assess various investment locations within your city of choice. We will cover seven specific neighborhood characteristics to review before diving into deal finding, and three things to look at once you've found a specific deal to evaluate. Then, we interview Kristen Lazure, the producer behind the Netflix movie "Get Smart With Money". The movie follows 4 financial coaches — Tiffany Aliche, Peter Adeney, Ross Mac and myself — as we help four people who are struggling with some aspect of their financial lives. Tune in for behind-the-scenes movie insights and enjoy today's episode! Timing of discussion points as per October 2022: 01: 49: Topic introduction 04:03: Tip on visualizing the data 06:00: Current and future locations of employers 11:55: Impact of the local business landscape and housing prices 13:22: Investments from municipalities 15:02: The importance of school districts 16:28: Adjusting location evaluations based on strategy 18:57: Understanding the crime landscape, flood plains and walk scores 29:28: Introduction to Kristin Lazure and Get Smart With Money discussion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#405: Daniel and his wife want to go on an extended vacation and leave their jobs next year…and still have money in case there’s a problem at their rental properties. Would a HELOC help them? Anonymous and her husband have received a large commission and want to understand how to better plan for their future by optimizing for these inconsistent windfalls. Brian has hit coast F.I.R.E and would like guidance on how to prioritize between tax advantaged accounts and retirement accounts. Anonymous and his wife have been focused on getting short term rentals in a single location - is his portfolio too focused on this singular strategy?? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#404: When Rand Fishkin was 25 years old, he carried $500,000 in credit card debt. Less than a decade later, Rand was the Founder and CEO of a company that grossed $35 million in annual revenue. In this episode, Rand shares the story of hitting his financial rock-bottom and making the ultimate comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#403: September Sabbatical continued! If you’ve been listening to the show for the past few years, then you know that we’ve entered our September Sabbatical, where the team takes a break from podcast production and airs a few of our favorites from the 400+ episodes we’ve aired to date. F.I.R.E. holds four pillars: Financial psychology, Investing, Real estate, and Entrepreneurship. This September, we’re running four weeks of episodes focusing on each of these four pillars. Today’s episode is focused on real estate. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chad Carson’s friends called him a “nerdjock.” When former college football linebacker Chad Carson graduated from Clemson University, he decided to start a business. But he didn’t have any money. He was a 235-pound athlete who attended college on a football scholarship. He graduated debt-free with $1,000 in savings from various odd jobs. He wanted to become an entrepreneur, and he knew he was starting from zero. As Chad viewed it, starting from zero meant he had nothing to lose. He started jogging around local neighborhoods near the university. Whenever he noticed a property in disrepair, he’d ask if it was for sale. If he noticed a ‘For Sale by Owner’ sign in the yard, for example, he’d dial the number. If he noticed a home with an overgrown lawn and no curtains in the windows, he’d leave a note on the door, or he’d knock on the neighbor’s doors to get the owner’s phone number. By doing this, Chad started a real estate wholesaling business. He’d find off-market properties, enter into a sales contract with the owner, and then ‘flip’ the contract to an investor. He earned around $5,000 for each deal. The benefit to a wholesaling business, Chad discovered, is that he could get a foothold inside the real estate industry without much access to capital. He was a recent college graduate without any official employment, so most banks weren’t interested in offering him loans. Wholesaling gave him a start in the industry. But after awhile, he wanted to chase bigger deals. He and a business partner decided to start flipping houses themselves. They earned profits of around $20,000 to $30,000 for each deal. While this was great, Chad wanted to transition into something that would provide a steady, stable income stream. He was running an active business; he wasn’t accumulating a portfolio of passive investments. He and his business partner stopped flipping homes and began accumulating buy-and-hold rental properties. Today they have 90 units between the two of them. A few years ago, Chad realized that the passive income from his investments made him financially independent. He and his wife decided to enjoy their newfound freedom by moving to Ecuador with their two children, ages 3 and 5. They spent 17 months living in Ecuador, learning Spanish and enjoying a slower pace of life. They recently returned to the U.S. and are considering moving to either Spain or Germany — or maybe Colorado? — for their next adventure. In today’s episode, Chad and I discuss real estate, financial independence, and international travel with children. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#402: Do you wrestle with the idea of leaving your savings in an account earning next to nothing versus investing it in the stock market? Do you use investment strategies that allow you to work with your nature, rather than against it? Are you careful to seek investment advice from those who share your investment goals, or do you get caught up in the trends of day traders? Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money, joins us to discuss why investing is not the study of finance, but the study of how people behave with money. Morgan is an award-winning financial journalist, former columnist for the Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool, and one of the foremost thinkers in the world of investing. As a long-term investor who shares our buy-and-hold philosophy, Morgan has behavioral finance insights that can help us invest for financial independence with more clarity and a better understanding of ourselves. We discuss how to develop self-awareness around biases, the importance of flexibility for long-term strategies, saving like a pessimist and investing like an optimist, becoming durable in the face of market adversity, the key difference between patience and stubbornness (and how it affects your mindset), expectation management, the importance of bonds and emergency funds, and a difficult lesson about tail risks that Morgan learned at age 17. You’ll enjoy this episode if… You’re super Type A with your investment portfolio and have a hard time letting go of plans that didn’t work out You want to learn a framework that can help you roll with the inevitable punches of the stock market You feel behind and have no idea how to develop a sense of what ‘enough’ is You’re tired of trying to overcome your inherent biases and reactions to the market and want to try something different For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode402 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#401: It’s September! If you’ve been listening to the show for the past few years, then you know that I’m on what I’ve dubbed my September Sabbatical, in which I’m taking a break from podcast production. F.I.R.E. holds four pillars: Financial psychology, Investing, Real estate, and Entrepreneurship. This September, we’re running four weeks of episodes focusing on each of these four pillars. Today, we kick off with an episode focused on financial psychology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we’re sharing three talks given at the EconoMe conference, with each of these talks relating to F.I.R.E. The three discussions are: FI-Landia is a lie - What I Learned On My Journey To F.I.R.E., with Carl Jensen What If You Achieve All Your Goals But You’re Still Not Happy, with Rich Jones How To Never Again Say, “I Can’t Afford It”, with Paula Pant Details below: Carl Jensen: 05:27: Session begins 08:02: Sharing the message of financial independence and being hit with the “What If’s” 12:24: The concern about running out of money 20:16: The real value of fire Rich Jones: 32:50: Session begins 35:55: The importance of knowing who you are, what you want, and why 39:36: Day jobs: love vs. purpose 43:26: Why you should track your work 46:18: How to think like a recruiter 51:44: Why giving yourself permission could be your game changer Paula Pant: 59:34: Session begins 1:02:21: The importance of reframing the word “can’t” 1:10:29: Traditional budgets, zero based budgets and anti budgets 1:19:49: The benefit of high friction activities  * Timestamps accurate as of September 2022. Starting 60 days after episode release, timestamps may shift slightly as we make updates and changes **The next EconoMe will be held March 17th-19th 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information or 10% off tickets, please go to: EconoMe Conference and use discount code: AFFORDANYTHING. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#399: Bella is SO CLOSE to reaching F.I.R.E and is worried about her withdrawal rate if the stock market drops. If the stock market does drop, can she withdraw as much as she had originally planned? Sam has been investing for several decades and thinks that he should stay invested in his portfolio, despite the recent drop in value…but he is still wondering if there’s a chance that he should sell. Meisha is making more money at her new job but can’t contribute to her 401(k) for the first six months - what should she do with her extra money in this interim?? Kyria is a young investor with multiple goals: she’s wondering how to best save for a downpayment without it being eroded by inflation and also whether her investment choices should take on more risk, since time is on her side. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode399 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#398: Chris Hutchins is an avid life hacker, a financial optimizer and the host of the top ranked podcast “All The Hacks”, where he shares his quest to upgrade his life without having to spend a fortune. These passions have led him to being featured in a documentary on financial Independence called “Playing with FIRE” and collecting millions of points and miles. If you want to learn more about optimizing your spend so that you can travel with less of an impact to your bank account, you’ll want to hear what Chris has to say. Timing of discussion points as per August 2022: 04:13: Is travel hacking a good use of time? 08:15: What is the simple path to optimizing spend? 09:108: Why focus on one rewards program? 10:46: Why are there recommendations for transferable point programs and what are the benefits of co branded cards? 18:08: How can the value of points or miles be estimated? 22:08: Is the best redemption value in booking business class international flights? 32:34: How do you know the best flight to book for optimal redemption? 37:00: What is the difference between airline miles and credit card points? 38:25: What is a “positioning” flight and how do I utilize this strategy? 47:42: What is the process for choosing flights based on reward redemptions? 57:15: What are the best ways to boost an existing points balance? 1:02:12: Discussion on credit cards with crypto rewards… 1:04:17: Tips for those who want deals but don’t want to work with miles or points… For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode398 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#397: Nic’s parents are forced to confront earlier than anticipated retirement…and they aren’t financially prepared. Now, a bank is offering to buy a part of their mortgage or a part of their house. Is this a scam?! Jon from Colorado is curious about after tax contributions to a Roth 401k, and would like us to talk about why we wouldn’t recommend it. Anna is househacking, and she locked down an awesome interest rate. But, she’s still carrying PMI and is wondering if there’s a way to remove the PMI without refinancing. Courtney from Denver is a real estate investor who wants to invest in new locations, and wants tips on building out her network. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode397 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#396: International best selling author and leadership speaker, Julie Winkle Giulioni, talks through a multidimensional career framework that features eight dimensions of career development. She spells out how to apply the dimensions of contribution, competence, connection, confidence, challenge, contentment, choice and climb to different parts of your professional life, whether that’s assessing your current job, navigating a conversation with your superior or setting yourself up for the next progression. In this episode, we cover: 01:15: Introducing the topic of optimizing engagement at work 05:02: The “Why” behind the Great Resignation 07:28: How to feel like you’re making a true contribution 14:01:The need to increase competence for growth 16:03: Solving for boredom with your superior 23:16: Forging connections in the era of remote work 32:18: Enhancing confidence and imposter syndrome 38:36: Appreciating the role of contentment in the workplace 39:18: The dimensions of choice and climb Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode396 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#395: Welcome to Invest Anywhere, our monthly series on long-distance real estate investing. Invest Anywhere airs on the First Friday of each month and is co-hosted by Paula Pant and Suni Rao. In this episode, we tackle the challenging decision of how to evaluate a city for rental property investment. We will cover three specific sets of analysis, talking through a macro business cycle view, a more specific economic analysis, and then encourage you to review your own personal network. Enjoy! 01:30: Topic introduction 2:30: Evaluation to be discussed: Business cycle, economics, and hierarchy of boots on the ground 5:48: High level look at the business cycle 08:40: The four phases of the business cycle 11:12: The peak phase of the business cycle 25:40: The recession phase of the business cycle 37:15: The recovery phase of the business cycle 39:40:: The expansion phase of the business cycle 47:10: Factors to consider when choosing a specific economy 57:48: Hierarchy of boots on the ground For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode395 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#394: Bill listened to our episode with Bill Bengen, father of the 4% rule, and he wants to know if there was a way for him to figure out how much money he should be keeping in cash. Sheryl gets stock from her company, and she would usually sell it…but the stock value has decreased. And now, she isn’t sure what she should do. Heather inherited an IRA but MUST empty it within ten years - but she doesn’t need it right now. What should she do?? Julie and her husband have access to an HSA for ONE MONTH. Can they max it out before they lose access to it? In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode394 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#393: Chuck Jaffee is a forty year veteran financial journalist who regularly writes for the Wall Street Journal and is also a nationally syndicated financial columnist. He discusses how money and investors' attitude towards investing has changed over the last few decades. 00:44: Introducing Chuck Jaffe 03:05: How people interacted with the market in the 1980’s 06:50: Dealer and liquidity risk when investing in the market 09:23: How the environment 40 years ago impacted investor psychology  12:53: Long term impact of Black Friday, the worst market crash experienced by any living investor 16:10: Discussion of fund options that are more illiquid and can sell at discounts  18:04: The combined influence of access real time data and the ability act in real time  28:31: Moving away from employee supported retirement plans 29:00: The difference between financial education and financial literacy 31:26: Chuck’s take on the 4% rule 50:16: Portfolio and personal optimization For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode393 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#392: Colleen and her husband own SEVEN paid off rental homes. Now they’re heading into retirement and disagree on what to do with some of that equity. Kevin wants to hit FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and believes his motivation comes from witnessing the financial trauma of the Great Recession. He’s wondering if others are motivated to reach FIRE for similar reasons. Anonymous wants to learn more about utilizing HSA accounts and Susan wants to learn more about investing in tax liens. In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode392 ________________________________________ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#391: Dr. Reza Abraham, an international leadership consultant, walks us through a framework of staying in control of your career and your life. This framework utilizes a singular core, three cornerstones and twelve principles.  He explains how to apply and execute these principles to reinforce personal fulfillment, growth and progression.  0:00:47: Introducing Dr. Reza Abraham + the framework for staying in control of your life through a core, three cornerstones and 12 pillars 0:02:48: The core of taking control: consciousness 0:06:41: The first cornerstone: contentment 0:08:46: The second cornerstone: consistency 0:12:30: The third cornerstone: conversion 0:15:05: Five reflection questions to review for intentional growth and progression 0:24:17: The first pillar: character 0:30:03: The second pillar: communication 0:33:16: The third pillar: curiosity 0:35:15: The fourth pillar: compass 0:38:14: The fifth pillar: courage 0:39:22: The sixth pillar: collaboration 0:45:46: The seventh pillar: connection 0:48:04: The eighth pillar: competency 0:52:04: The ninth pillar: companionship 0:56:18: The tenth pillar: cash 0:56:53: The eleventh pillar: condition 1:00:52: The twelfth pillar: contribution Resources mentioned: #383: How to Talk About Money with Confidence and Charisma, with Vanessa Van Edwards - Afford Anything For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode391 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#390: We start this episode with two anonymous callers who have opposite problems: one says her bills are too high, while the other is worried that she’s saving too much. Anonymous (“Izzy”) saves A LOT. She wants to relax about her spending more, and start including more joy into her life. How should she approach the next 10 or 20 years, so that she can enjoy her financial security? A different anonymous caller (“Starlight”) has the opposite problem: her expenses are mounting. Her bills make her uncomfortable. She wants to shake up her investments so that she can tap her assets in order to make her payments. Ideally, she’d also like to buy a house in Europe within the next 10 years. How should she do this? John liked the episode with Bill Bengen, where we discussed the 4% rule. However, he questions whether that rule should really be applied to the FIRE community. Steve is a landlord who needs his property to cash flow, but doesn’t like to raise rents. What should he do? Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode390 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#389: Should you bother investing in real estate … especially from a distance? Is the hassle worth it? What’s the upside? Do you really want this? Or should you just stick with index funds? Isn’t it scary to invest out-of-state? How do you know if you’re ready? In today’s episode of Afford Anything Presents: Invest Anywhere, my co-host Suni Rao and I tackle these common questions. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode389 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#388: Recessions are terrifying. Market crashes often bring out the worst in people’s anxieties and fears. This fear triggers us to act even more irrationally than usual – which can lead to making expensive mistakes in our investment portfolios. In today’s episode, Scott Nations, who spent his career studying market volatility, describes some of the most common cognitive biases and irrational behaviors that investors make. He shares tips on how to master the mental game of investing, especially in turbulent times. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode388 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#387: Lila is concerned about inflation and the risk of a recession. Should she invest in the stock market, despite the scary headlines? Or should she pay off her primary residence or her investment properties? Linda invested in a 529 for her son’s college, and he’ll be starting in the fall. But, the value of the plan dropped right before she was planning on using it and she is wondering how to keep from losing more money. Jen and her husband want to retire in 8 years. They’re hoping to have paid off their mortgage AND hit their net worth goals when they stop working. How should they prioritize between these two goals? Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode387 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#386: We all have our secrets. We keep some secrets from bosses, colleagues and clients, like the fact that we hope to retire early, change careers, or start a business. We keep other secrets from friends and family, like our income, net worth, spending habits and investing mistakes. Research from around the world shows that we tend to keep the same types of secrets – around 38 common varieties, including secrets about finances, ambitions, beliefs, habits, unpopular opinions, mental health, trauma, addiction, and drug use. These 38 common types of secrets fall into three categories: (1) moral secrets, which we fear will either cast judgment on us or will cause harm to another; (2) relational secrets, which we fear will harm our relationships; and (3) goal and ambition secrets, related to career, business and finances. In today’s episode, Columbia University professor Dr. Michael Slepian discusses the secret life of secrets. Dr. Slepian is the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Associate Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School. Prior to that, he was a visiting scholar at Stanford University. His research focuses on the social costs of secrecy. What impact do secrets have on our lives and health? What are the hidden costs of keeping quiet? Are there certain things that are better left unsaid? What should we share, with whom, and when … especially when there are career, social and financial repercussions to revealing information? Dr. Slepian joins us today to share his insight. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode386 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#385: Anonymous (“Jennifer”) keeps hearing us say that you should “start with the end in mind” – that your investments should match your goals and timeline. But what if you don’t have any specific financial goal? What if your risk tolerance is different than you once thought? Rachel’s new employer won’t let her contribute to retirement for more than a year - what should she do?? Carri’s parents are in poor health and can’t work much - what should they do about their life insurance policy and their health insurance? Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode385 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#384: Welcome back to the third episode in our special series, Afford Anything Presents: Invest Anywhere. Invest Anywhere is a new monthly series that runs on the First Friday of each month. It lays out the information you need to invest in real estate at a distance. Many of you want to invest in real estate, but you live in a high-cost-of-living area. (Ahem, California and New York). The homes in your city are prohibitively expensive, and they offer lackluster returns. You could invest in a lower-cost area like Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Omaha or Wichita … but HOW? That sounds terrifying. We’re here to dismantle that fear, piece by piece, by sharing our knowledge and experience. The Invest Anywhere series is dedicated to giving you the guidance you need to make smart, confident choices about investing out-of-state. It’s co-hosted between myself (Paula) and esteemed real estate investor Suni Rao, who’s experienced everything ranging from buy-and-hold rental investing to (accidentally) wholesaling. She’s managed short-term and long-term rentals. She’s owned houses, multi-units, and even a mobile home park.  She joins me in this episode to talk about a variety of strategies that will help you make money in real estate. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode384 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#383: Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards, who runs the research lab Science of People, breaks down the psychological secrets behind feeling and looking more confident, competent and charismatic. She explains how to apply these techniques to critical conversations around money, whether you’re negotiating your salary, buying a home or car, or arguing with your spouse about your household spending. Subscribe to get the show notes delivered via email, for free, at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#382: Joe is buying his first house hack and would like to understand if the FHA loan or the doctor loan would be better for him. Sara wants to leave her job to spend time with her children, and she needs help in calculating her FIRE number. Kat received a windfall and is wondering if she should invest it in stocks, real estate, or a combination of both. Aisha is moving to the US and wants to start investing ASAP - how should she approach her goal to reach FIRE? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode382 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#381: Maybe you’re envious of your friend who bought Bitcoin in 2015 and held until it hit 7-figures. Maybe you’re anxious about rapidly rising home prices. Maybe you regret that you didn’t buy a rental property five years ago, because – at the time – you felt like prices had already risen so much (from 2012 to 2017) that you just couldn’t justify paying 2017’s pricetag. Our lives, finances and careers invoke many strong feelings. In today’s episode, Mollie West Duffy, the co-author of Big Feelings, shares strategies for not letting our feelings hijack our choices. Mollie and her co-author, Liz Fosslien, run an Instagram channel about emotional management with half a million followers. Fosslien is an economist and behavioral scientist whose work has been featured by The Economist, Freakonomics and NPR. Duffy is an organizational and leadership development expert who’s written for Harvard Business Review. They tackle relatable workplace issues like perfectionism, productivity guilt and Zoom fatigue, among much more. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#380: Matt wants to optimize his portfolio and wants to know if he should invest along the Efficient Frontier – despite the fact that the asset allocation it recommends is absolutely bonkers; it’s wild and risky and tilted like nothing he’s ever seen before. Ionnie just rolled over her Roth IRA and would like to understand how to withdraw her contributions without getting penalized. Anonymous and her spouse are both in the military and about to reach retirement. They have an expensive whole life insurance policy, costing $550 per month, and wonder if they should switch to term life insurance. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Also – we’re launching a book club!! Each month, we’ll read and discuss a book written by an Afford Anything podcast guest, starting with Morgan Housel, James Clear, Ken Honda, and Dr. Susan David. Sign up here. P.P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode380 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#379: Welcome to our First Friday bonus episode. Once a month, Afford Anything presents a special feature called Invest Anywhere, in which we teach our audience how to invest in real estate from thousands of miles away. We kickoff today’s episode by discussing current market conditions. Yesterday the Fed raised interest rates by another 50 basis points, which means mortgages are more expensive than they’ve been in years. Additionally, jittery investors worried about an impending recession led the stock market to its worst day of the calendar year so far. How should we interpret the current market conditions? Is this a good time to buy an investment property? We cover this in the first 20 minutes of today’s episode. Next, we discuss 5 challenges associated with investing in long-distance real estate investing: (1) fear, (2) accountability, (3) traction, (4) stress, and (5) relationships. We elaborate on each challenge and offer solutions. Finally, we discuss 4 benefits to investing out-of-state: (1) competitive ability, (2) diversification, (3) returns, and (4) repeatability. We elaborate on four types of diversification: economic, strategy, business cycle, and asset based. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode379 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#378: Anonymous is 25. She has a job offer that comes with a substantial raise. Hooray! Buuut … there’s a problem. If she accepts this job offer, her new employer won’t allow her to contribute as much money to her company retirement accounts.  How should she think about the trade-off between increasing income and funding her retirement? Meanwhile, Dan from California is retiring soon and wants to know what he and his wife should do with the loan they took out against their 401(k). Finally, an anonymous caller who goes by “Daughter” has a whole life policy that only costs her less than $50 per month. Since her policy is so cheap, should she keep it? In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough situations. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#377: Today’s episode is sheer retirement nerd bliss. We talk to the creator of the 4 percent retirement safe withdrawal rule, Bill Bengen. If you’re new to retirement planning, you might not yet grasp the gravity of this. Let’s cut to the chase: the 4 percent rule is one of the most revolutionary, groundbreaking insights in the field of retirement research in the past 30 years. To understand why, let’s climb in our time machines and return to 1994. Back then, many financial advisors were telling their clients that they could safely withdraw 7 percent of their retirement portfolio each year. After all, the simplistic logic went, the stock market has historically yielded between 7 to 9 percent returns, so that type of withdrawal rate shouldn’t dwindle the principle … right? ⠀ Bill Bengen, an MIT graduate and former rocket scientist, decided to build a better model. He looked at the performance of investment portfolios across 30-year time horizons, beginning in 1926. Under the assumption that the portfolio is invested 50 percent in an S&P 500 Index and 50 percent in intermediate-term bonds, in a tax deferred account, he found that retirees could only withdraw 4.2 percent of their portfolio in the first year of retirement, and that amount adjusted for inflation each subsequent year. He called this the “safe withdrawal rate” that gave people a reasonable chance of not outliving their money, based on historic performance. He published the results in the Journal of Financial Planning and caused a stir. This was revolutionary. It upended the assumptions that dominated the field at the time. And it remains a cornerstone of retirement planning to this day. We talk to Bill Bengen about his discovery – and his latest research – in today’s episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode377 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#376: Meghan’s mom is 64 years old and suffering under a toxic boss. It’s tough to switch jobs at her age. How should she think through the next steps? Ellen has a 20-year-old son with physical and developmental disabilities. Her other child, age 21, will need to look after him for the rest of their lives. How should she handle their inheritance? Joe wants to start working part-time in four years, and fully retire four years after that. He worries he’s investing too aggressively for his retirement date. In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough situations. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail and we’ll answer them in a future episode. _______ For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode376 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#375: Here’s the deal: The majority of people who write about personal finance repeat the same tired aphorisms and cliches. “Millennials aren’t investing enough,” they’ll lament. “Millennials are amassing wealth at a slower pace than previous generations!” But when you ask for their source, they turn up blank. Each writer points to a headline, which sources another headline, in a neverending circular secondary-source-citation that fails to point to any primary data source. Nick Maggiulli doesn’t play that game. If you haven’t heard the name Nick Maggiulli yet, prepare to meet one of the most original, insightful voices in the media landscape of personal finance and investing. (His last name is pronounced “ma - julie,” and his godfather refers to him as “paper hands,” but that latter point is a different story for another day.) Nick is a data scientist with a knack for clear written communication, a rare Venn Diagram intersection of skill sets. He holds a laser-focused interest in the arenas of personal finance and investing, and he’s eager to share fresh, nuanced, evidence-backed takes about savings, spending and investing with anyone who will listen. He recently released his first book, Just Keep Buying; the title reflects a user-friendly reminder to continue dollar-cost averaging. It also speaks to the main idea behind wealth creation: accumulate income-producing assets, consistently, for as long as you possibly can. It’s an honor to welcome Nick Maggiulli onto the Afford Anything podcast for what I hope is the first of many appearances. In today’s episode, we discuss actionable strategies for managing your money, including assessing your spot along the save-invest continuum, implementing the 2X rule into your spending decisions, and saving half of your inflation-adjusted future raises. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode375 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#374: Andy in Palm Springs wants to create an income stream through a taxable brokerage account. What strategy should he use to minimize the tax impact of withdrawing his gains? Jake wants investment cash flow until he’s eligible for his military pension in 10 years. Should he buy small multifamily properties right now, wait a few years and invest in syndications or should he invest in index funds through taxable accounts? Anonymous is a US Citizen, lives in London, and can’t invest in index funds. How can he invest while reducing his risk? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#373: How do people make money in real estate? Many focus on rental income, but this is only one of five ways that properties create wealth. We explain five surprising ways that real estate builds your balance sheet: cash flow, appreciation (market-based and forced), tax benefits, principal paydown, and instant equity at closing. Why does this matter for long-distance investors? If you’re investing out-of-state, you’ll need to choose a city or town. How do you decide? First, think about how you want to bias your returns. Do you want to optimize for cash flow? More appreciation potential? Identifying this will help you align your city/town selection with your financial goals. If you’ve been thinking about investing in real estate – especially if you might invest long-distance – you’ll love this episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode373 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#372: Eve has been investing in her brokerage account and the tax liabilities are starting to add up. She wants to retire in 12 years and is wondering if she should invest in after-tax contributions and plan on a Roth conversion. Anonymous has rental properties and wants to start building his kids credit histories. Is it a good idea to add them as co-borrowers on the mortgage? Lily is really excited about investing in real estate, but househacking wasn’t the right fit. She’s looking for advice on investing in opportunity zones through crowdfunding platforms. In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough situations. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#371: Psychology professor Bill von Hippel explains the evolutionary science behind how we’re hardwired as humans. We’re wired to be social, to connect, to communicate and cooperate. We’re wired to want to learn and teach, to build a collective body of knowledge that stretches beyond what any single individual could ever learn in their lifetime. We’re wired to feel surges of happiness that fade, so that we’re intrinsically motivated to keep repeating behaviors that lead to additional surges of happiness. Once we understand the evolutionary science behind what makes us happy, Dr. von Hippel explains, we can apply this knowledge to making better decisions for our work, money and lives. Bill von Hippel is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Michigan. He’s currently a psychology professor at the University of Queensland in Australia. He joins us to share his insights into the history and science of happiness. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#370: Kristen is 32, and she and her husband want to retire in less than 20 years. They make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA. Should they use back door Roth conversions to speed along their path to early retirement? Michelle makes $190,000 and is going to switch to a career that pays $40,000 on average. To prepare for this lower salary, she's selling her current home and buying a different one. Should she pay off her new home with the proceeds from the old one? Or should she invest her profits? Anonymous lives in a high cost-of-living area and is wondering where to keep her down payment and emergency funds. Should she use I-bonds, TIPS, or some combination of these two? In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough situations. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#369: To answer these questions, we need a deep, tree-trunk understanding – a core, fundamental understanding – of how the stock market operates. What, exactly, IS a stock – and how are stocks valued? What’s the difference between the Dow Jones, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq? Why is the market a voting machine in the short-term, but a weighing machine in the long-term? Brian Feroldi, the author of “Why Does the Stock Market Go Up?,” joins us for a Stocks 101 explainer episode. If you’d like a deeper understanding of the world of stocks, you’ll enjoy this explainer episode. And if you have a friend/spouse/coworker who’s said, “I need to learn more about investing,” share this episode with them. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode369 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#368: Grace wants to buy a manufactured home for rental income. Should she calculate her returns differently for a manufactured home? Alex is curious about cryptocurrency. How should she analyze the returns promised by different platforms and where can she go to learn more about crypto in general? Thomas and his wife have parallel goals of saving for a down payment and contributing to retirement accounts. How should they balance both of these goals? In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode368 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#367: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many commentators have remarked that we’re living in an “epidemic of anxiety.” More than 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety, and countless millions more notice themselves “acting out” against their responsibilities in smaller, self-sabotaging ways: procrastinating, lacking motivation, grappling with an inability to concentrate. In today’s episode, Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D., discusses both the internal and environmental factors that can exacerbate anxiety. She talks about nutrition and sleep, as well as the fact that, frankly, your job just might suck. She applies these ideas to tactics that allow us to better handle our finances, investments, careers and lives. Dr. Ellen Vora holds a B.A. from Yale University and a medical degree from Columbia University. She’s a board-certified psychiatrist. Enjoy this conversation, and share your comments and feedback with members of our community at affordanything.com/community For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode367 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#366: Micheal’s parents just sold their home to pay off debt and fund their retirement. How should he invest the profits? Ryker would like to understand what it would take for cryptocurrency to be considered as a good investment option for a diversified portfolio. Megan has qualified for her employer's 401k and needs help deciding between investing in a Roth 401K and a Roth IRA. In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#365: Nearly every financial news story for the past several months has centered around inflation – but what, exactly, is inflation? What are its causes? What are its effects? How is it measured? What notable inflationary events have unfolded throughout history, and what can we learn from these? In this episode, we peel back the layers of the onion in order to deepen our understanding of the concept of inflation. We discuss hyperinflation, biflation, stagflation; we discuss the CPI, the PPI, and core inflation. We discuss the demand-pull inflation, cost-push inflation and the wage-price spiral. We resist the temptation to make predictions about the future, choosing instead to focus on refining our understanding of the present. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode365 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#364: Our first caller is curious about whether he should keep his 30 year term life insurance policy or let it lapse with 12 years left on the policy? Anonymous is wondering which financial products would work best for to cover her older age care and expenses? Max is thinking through real estate and stock market returns as they relate to future population trends. Ramon asks us about the details behind infinite banking. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#363: In our 20’s and 30’s, we have high levels of fluid intelligence, or raw intellectual horsepower. We can ace tests, impress people with our memory and recall, and analyze facts, documents and data. But in our 40’s and 50’s, we have higher levels of crystallized intelligence, which allows us to draw together novel insights from across domains. Fluid intelligence allows us to analyze, or break apart. Crystallized intelligence allows us to synthesize, or put together. Each type of intelligence invites us to express different skills, to pivot our role at work – or perhaps even to change careers or industries altogether. In today’s episode, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks discusses these two types of intelligence, and outlines how we can gracefully move from one strength to the next. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#362: David is questioning how to better manage his spending. He’d like a stronger framework to think through budgeting challenges. Elisa and her husband bought a home, and now they’re saving extra income every month. She has a pension and her husband is an entrepreneur. How much should they be saving for retirement and how should they invest their extra money? Geoff invested primarily in taxable brokerage accounts for the last twenty years. He’s built a $6 million portfolio and reached financial independence. He wonders about the smartest strategy for withdrawing from those taxable brokerage accounts to efficiently manage capital gains? Jenna and her husband are planning on buying their next home in a few years. She wants to know if I-bonds are a good way to save for the down payment and closing costs. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#361: Wall Street Journal columnist Spencer Jakab marks the one-year anniversary of that weird time when the subReddit Wall St Bets pumped shares of meme stocks like GameStop and AMC Theaters, triggering a short squeeze that forced several hedge funds to lose billions. What did we learn from that experience? And how do we actually take down Wall Street? How do we launch a truly effective financial revolution? We share those insights in today’s episode. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#360: I’m worried my parents are getting ripped off by their financial advisor. What should I do? My wife is trying to qualify for student loan forgiveness … but we might lose a bunch of tax benefits in the process. Is it worth the risk? I’m enrolling in grad school, and I want to optimize how to pay for rent and groceries. Should I use money from a 529 plan? Three callers. Three questions. In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough Q’s. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#359: Money, relationships, health and purpose: life is running smoothly when all four of these elements are working together in tandem, like wheels on a car. But how can we make spending and investing choices that facilitate stronger relationships, better health and a deeper sense of purpose? Andrew Hallam, who became a millionaire on a teacher’s salary, shares researched-backed, evidence-based insights into how to find balance, drawing from the worlds of behavioral finance and stock market history. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#358: Where is the balance between the risks and potential returns of actively and passively investing in index funds?Where do you place your savings after you max out your retirement and HSA accounts? How do you finance building a rental unit when there’s already a home on the lot? Is it more beneficial to buy back pension time with post tax deductions or a 457b plan? Or should I not buy back pension time at all? In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I discuss the purpose and practice of mindful money. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Enjoy! Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#357: Discussing advanced investing topics with me is former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy. You may recognize him from the Ask Paula episodes, but we discuss financial topics shared in his new book "STACKED: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management" - co-authored with Emily Guy Birken. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#356: How do you find balance between smart money management vs. missing out on opportunities? Should you pile money into investments or take that dream trip to Tanzania? What should you do when your heart leads you to a decision that doesn't make sense on paper? In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I discuss the purpose and practice of mindful money. Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#355: When Jordan Grumet realized he has achieved financial independence, he fell into a deep depression. He didn’t know who he was anymore, he says, and he didn’t know what should come next. He learned about how to deal with us by observing his hospice patients. In this episode, Grumet, a hospice doctor, describes how working with the dying has taught him about life. Subscribe to the show notes at affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#354: Charlie in Cali has enough money saved to pay cash for a house, but she and her husband decided to finance their home, instead. They’d rather invest the money and arbitrage the spread. But one problem: how can they keep themselves from touching this investment? Jay is choosing between Fidelity and M1 Finance, and has questions about tax loss harvesting. Nicole and her siblings will be inheriting some properties that they eventually plan to sell. How should they set up or organize these properties among so many owners? Should one person take the lead? Do they need a shared business account? Also, how should they evaluate a property and make sure they get a good deal when they sell? Ed owns three homes, two of which he plans to sell in the next few years. He plans to live in them long enough to establish residence and take the capital gains exemption when they sell. Is his plan for handling the taxes solid? We answer these four questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! Subscribe to the show notes at https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#353: Daniel Pink joins us to discuss an unusual theory: (1) that our energy rises, falls, and then rises again; (2) that this pattern plays out across our days (morning energy, afternoon slump, nighttime second wind); (3) this also plays out across our lives, with serious implications for how we spend those “muddled middle” years of our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Get the show notes delivered to your inbox by visiting https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#352: Anna and her husband have volatile income, but Anna thinks that having 18 months of living expenses is unnecessary. She’s torn between paying off her student loans ($30,000) or investing the money. Mentally, she always figured she would pay off her debt first, but wouldn’t investing pay off in the long run? Charlotte and her husband are taking a phased approach to financial independence, where they need to bridge two gaps before they each turn 59 ½. How can they calculate how much they need at each phase? Elle has a retirement plan in place, but her company is adding a Roth 403(b) option soon. Should she stay the course or adjust her strategy in these last five years before retiring? Sara wants to purchase land and build her dream house by refinancing her rental property and turning her current home into a second rental. How can she improve this plan? Joe Saul-Sehy, my friend and former financial planner, joins me to tackle these questions on today’s episode. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it at here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Get the show notes delivered to your inbox by visiting https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#351: Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and goal setting. The simple framework he presents allows you to focus deeply and commit to the actions you need to take if you want to take your productivity to the next level this year. Get the show notes delivered to your inbox by visiting https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#350: Anonymous and her husband have set themselves on the path of saving for retirement. But an old mistake haunts them: a financial planner convinced them to buy a mix of whole and term life insurance, which costs them $700 per month. Do they need whole life insurance, and where else can they save their money? Mike has $60,000 in cash earning one percent interest. He has plans to buy a home and get married in three to five years. Where else can he put his cash to earn a little more? Is the stock market too risky for such a short time horizon? Anonymous and her future husband are wondering: what’s a realistic amount to spend on a wedding? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. To subscribe to the show notes, go to https://affordanything.com/shownotes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#349: A frank and candid conversation about life, dead-lifting, and enjoying the hell out of doing meaningful work. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode349 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#348: Aja’s mom is 75 and has to take required minimum distributions from her IRA. She doesn’t need the money. Where should she put it? Anonymous from MA is flummoxed by HSA-compatible health plans. His copay and deductible are awful, and even bronze plans seem better. Are HSA plans overrated, or does the math work out? Julia and her husband, both 27, want to retire by their early to mid-40s. Is there a point at which they should stop contributing to tax advantaged accounts and only contribute to taxable accounts? Ileana and her family like their home, but it needs to be bigger. A cash-out refi didn’t give them enough funds for their dream renovation. Should they put their money into the market in the hopes that it will grow large enough to fund a future renovation? Or should they move into a bigger house, rent out their house, and fix it up years down the road? Nick has a seasonal business. Can a sweep account help stabilize him? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions on today’s show. Enjoy! Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode348 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#347: Back in the 1960’s, Jack Bogle thought that actively-managed mutual funds performed better than a passive indexing strategy. He pseudonymously published a paper saying so. But academic data from the University of Chicago challenged his preconceived notions. He attended seminars that showed how the drag on returns that come from management fees and trading costs, coupled with the reality that the bulk of gains come from a hard-to-predict handful of equities (a concept known as “skew”), lead to index funds holding long-term outperformance. At the time, index funds were only available to major institutional investors. Regular folks couldn’t access these winners. And that might have continued for a long time … … except history turned on a dime. In the early 1970’s, Jack Bogle got fired. Rather than accept defeat, he turned into a renegade. He launched Vanguard and began offering index funds to ordinary individual investors. And the rest, as they say, is history. In today’s episode, we learn about the revolutionary ideas that paved the path to passive investing. We learn about the radical invention of the index fund. We discover the drama, the tenacity, the betrayal and redemption behind it. And we discover the lessons that the history of the index fund holds. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode347 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#346: Pensions make Chad uncomfortable, to the point of quitting his job to roll his $175,000 over to an IRA. Is the 12 percent match his employer offers good enough to beat the two percent growth of his pension? Or should he leave and never look back? Anonymous and his wife have $275,000 saved and a child on the way. They’re 27 and want to reach financial independence by 35. They want to buy a house, but with this crazy market, what’s the smartest way for them to use their savings? Anonymous and his wife are 30 and hope to reach financial independence in five years. They want to know: is a taxable brokerage account the best place for their leftover $1,000 after they max out their pre-tax 401k contributions? Norm wants to buy a house in cash and doesn’t want his name on public record. Is it possible for him to stay anonymous? Sharon called in on episode 336 and called back to clarify her question. Her husband purchased a below-market property which has a cap that limits how much they can sell it for. Should they keep the home, or sell it, even if they can’t get the full price for it? Joe Saul-Sehy, my friend and former financial planner, joins me to tackle these questions on today’s episode. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode346 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#345: Let’s talk about one of the biggest expenses you might ever encounter: health care costs. When you get a hospital bill, do you understand it? After all, it looks like it’s written in code (and sometimes it literally is). How do you know if the bill is accurate? Has everything been coded properly? Are you being charged for the services that you actually received? If you need to dispute an item, what’s the process? Pulitzer Prize finalist Marshall Allen joins us to shed light on the complex world of medical billing. He breaks down the “explanation of benefits,” describes a step-by-step process for obtaining your medical records, and explains an actionable plan for how to contest a bill. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the complexity of your health care bills, you’ll learn a lot from this concise, informative episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode345 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#344: Russell’s job offers the option to contribute to a 457 plan. Since he’s in the highest tax bracket, should he take advantage of the tax deferral offered through the 457 or invest within a taxable brokerage account? Anonymous is on track to be financially independent in 14 years, but isn’t living up to her potential working a boring job. How can she live up to her potential and do more without sacrificing her quality of life? C wants to know what tax implications she should consider before working remotely from abroad? Daan is wondering if he should stake or lend his current cryptocurrency portfolio to make additional gains on assets he plans to hold long-term? Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode344 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#343: The real estate market in 2021 has been bonkers. That’s the technical term. From 2012 to 2020, home prices nationwide rose at an annualized average of 5.8 percent per year. From April 2020 to April 2021, home prices climbed 17.2 percent. This sudden surge in prices has many homeowners and would-be investors fearful of a crash. The memories of the stark price run-up prior to The Great Recession are all too salient. What goes up must come down, right? Not exactly. In this episode, we walk through market fundamentals — discussing housing supply, lumber prices, and the distinction between cheap credit vs easy credit — to illustrate how today’s market is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. More importantly, we offer tips for everyone —whether you’re a renter looking to get into your starter home, an empty-nester looking to downsize, an owner-occupant who wants to lock in your gains, or a curious aspiring investor who wonders if it’s too late. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode343 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#342: Russell is a busy professional who’d like to invest passively in real estate. Is there data he can use to compare this approach to owning and managing their own properties? Laura wants to purchase her first investment property in Miami. Should she cash out some RSUs and stock from her company to use as a down payment? And what type of mortgage is she eligible for since she already owns a home? Jordan and his wife own three properties and are under contract on a new house since they have a new baby on the way. Should he sell any of his existing properties to be in a stronger cash position, thus mitigating the risk of future fluctuations in his income as a real estate broker? Or should he keep his rental properties since his goal is to reach financial independence through rental income? Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode342 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#341: Imagine a line. Cowardice exists at one extreme end of that line. Recklessness exists at the other extreme end. And in the balanced middle, you’ll find courage. Today’s conversation is about courage. We’re not talking about inspiring physical acts of bravery in this episode; rather, we’re discussing moral and social courage. The type of courage you need to make an investment. Buy a rental property. Invest in stocks. Start a business or side hustle. Retire early. Travel overseas. Have a difficult but diplomatic conversation. Express your feelings constructively rather than bottling them up inside. Raise an issue with immediacy rather than hesitation. Break bad news to someone. Ask for help. Launch an initiative. Try something new. We’re talking about the type of courage that’s required to become a better, bigger person in your work, your relationships, your life. We’re having this conversation with Ryan Holiday, the bestselling author of a series of books on Stoic philosophy. Enjoy. Resources Mentioned: Courage is Calling, by Ryan Holiday affordanything.com/realestate affordanything.com/viplist For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode341 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#340: Imagine this: You start a side hustle. Maybe you sell planners or lead workouts in the park. You make a few thousand dollars during your first year. It’s fun beer money, but not enough to quit your day job. But you keep growing. You run this as a one-person operation, though you bring on freelancers or independent contractors. Your revenue grows into the five figures. Then six figures. After a few years, you’re running a one-person, million dollar company. This sounds like a pipe dream, right? But it’s the true story of Laszlo Nadler, who created a line of planners and calendars. It’s the true story of Stacy Berman, who started leading 5:30 AM fitness bootcamp classes in the park. And it’s the true story of hundreds of other solopreneurs interviewed by business journalist Elaine Pofeldt, who took a deep-dive look at the lives and businesses of entrepreneurs who run companies that gross more than $1 million, but have no employees. In today’s episode, we take an inside look at the secrets behind one-person, million-dollar businesses. If you’ve ever considered starting a side hustle or business of your own, don’t miss this. This episode originally aired in March 2019. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode340 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#339: Have you ever thought, “I’d like to invest in rental real estate but there are no cheap properties in my area!” “Homes in my city are too expensive. I’d have to invest out-of-state, but that sounds terrifying.” Or have you ever thought, “I’m curious about real estate but I’m not a fan of the idea of taking on all that debt.” Today’s interview is right up your alley. We talk to Rich Carey, who bought 20 single-family rental properties in Alabama, totally debt-free, while stationed in Germany and South Korea. He invested not just out-of-state, but entirely from outside the country. He bought his properties free-and-clear. And he did it on a military salary while raising two kids. This interview originally aired in June 2018. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode339  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#338: This month, we’re running four episodes based around the four pillars of F.I.R.E. — financial psychology, investing, real estate and entrepreneurship. Today’s episode, which originally aired in April 2018, offers advice to investors who want to sharpen and hone their competitive edge. Here are three lessons from this conversation with investment writer Morgan Housel: Lesson #1: Great investors need patience and humility. Lesson #2: Read broadly. Don’t just read books about finance and investing. Read from a broad multi-disciplinary array of subjects, so that you can form a latticework of ideas. Lesson #3: Play a strong defense. On the surface, it seems like playing defense is a conservative strategy. Emergency funds and a strong income-producing allocation, for example, both sound conservative. But in the long-term it could prove to be the opposite. Enjoy this interview, which originally aired in April 2018. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode338 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#337: Meet Kristen Berman, a top researcher in the field of behavioral economics. She’s the co-founder of Irrational Labs, which designs products that are evidence-based in the behavioral sciences. Her co-founder, Dan Ariely, is the James B. Duke Professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, and one of the most famous behavioral economists in the world. Here are some of the (counterintuitive!) ideas that Kristen shares: Habits are overrated. Automate instead Budgeting doesn’t change your spending behavior Commit in advance Forget about the outcome Focus on the process You need accountability Think about the Three B’s: behavior, barriers and benefits Tune into this episode to hear Kristen elaborate on these research-backed, evidence-based ideas about how to improve our spending, saving and investing habits. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode337 *Note: This interview originally aired in October 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#336: Anonymous and his partner have a one-bedroom condo that they rent out in Pasadena, CA. The problem? They’re barely breaking even. Should they keep the condo, or sell it and make better use of the profits? Sam wants to know: how much of an emergency fund does a rental property need? Michael and his wife expect their taxable income to be less than $10,000 this year. Should Michael (age 56) take distributions from his 401k to minimize or eliminate their income tax burden? Shanon wants to switch to an ethical bank with values that align with hers. How can she create a framework for making decisions about financial institutions when authentic information is scarce? Sharon's husband purchased a property with a below-market loan in 2008. They now have an extra $4,000 per month, and Sharon wants to buy a property as a first-time buyer. They're torn between keeping the property or selling it. What should they do? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer more of your questions. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information and resources, go to https://affordanything.com/episode336 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#335: Have you ever spent years studying the wrong major, climbing the ladder at the wrong company, chasing the wrong career?  Have you spent years living in the wrong city? Wrong relationship? Wrong lifestyle? It’s hard to discern what *we think we want* from what we really want. Society teaches us what we’re “supposed” to want. And we follow along. The result is keeping up with the Joneses. It’s the hedonic treadmill. It’s lifestyle inflation. And it causes conflict, both within ourselves and with others.  Today’s guest, Luke Burgis, discusses mimetic desire — how our “wants” are imitative — and how we can find our deeper truths.  For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode335 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#334: In today’s episode, we answer three questions from a college senior named Rafael. He asks about productivity tools and tactics, student debt, Robinhood and market investing, and how to establish yourself as an expert in a given domain. We answer his questions by widening the lens. People often ask about productivity tools. “Do you use Asana or Trello?” But nobody asked Michelangelo what paintbrush he used to paint the Sistine Chapel. The discussion around tools misses the point, which is to master the craft. Sure, we answer his direct, overt questions. But we also dive deeper, refining these topics and exploring the questions *behind* his questions. This is an episode in which we peel layers off the onion. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode334 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#333: In the 1890s and early 1900’s, we had recessions every two years. From 2009 to 2020, we enjoyed an 11-year bull run, the longest bull run in history. And when we finally had a recession, it lasted only two months. It was the shortest recession in U.S. history. The duration between recessions is growing longer (these days, we average 10 years between recessions, as opposed to two years at the turn of the previous century). And when recessions strike, we recover faster. The average length of recessions is growing shorter. What does this mean? If we project these trends into the future, are we bound for the end of recessions? That’s the question that kicks off this discussion with Ben Carlson, Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritzhold Wealth Management and the host of the Animal Spirits podcast. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode333 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#332: Ginger’s financial independence (FI) number is $2 million, but she doesn’t want to fully retire early. Once she hits ‘coast’ FI, she wants to 1) buy her time back with outsourcing, 2) take a mini-retirement, and 3) buy a vacation home. Does it make sense for her to divert retirement contributions to these goals, or should she aim to save $2M? Wilson plans to have a two percent withdrawal rate in retirement. Given this low rate, should he go all-in on stocks? Or should he split up his retirement funds and invest one half conservatively and the other half aggressively? Jennifer has a low-stress doggie-daycare, but she needs a bigger space to scale up. How the heck can she find a property to suit her needs in Austin, TX? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer another round of listener questions. (If you have questions on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing, leave them here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.) For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode332 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#331: Four thousand weeks. That’s how long we live if we’re lucky enough to celebrate our 80th birthday. We rarely think of our lifespan in terms of weeks. When we do, it seems painfully short. And that’s the point that Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks, wants to drive home. Rather than fight a losing battle against time, Oliver recommends that we embrace our cosmic insignificance, redefine what a meaningful life looks like, choose what to fail at, burn bridges, and ruthlessly limit our works-in-progress. If the financial independence movement is a rebellion against trading the rest of our limited time for pay, Oliver’s unconventional view on time management is a rebellion against trading the rest of our limited time for an illusion of productivity. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode331  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#330: Linda is 58 and wondering how to account for her Social Security benefits when thinking through the 25x expenditure equation. Her expected expenses are $100,000 - $150,000. How can she figure out if she’s ready to retire? Alise has dreamed of living abroad for long periods of time and wants to buy a property in Portugal before the minimum spend requirement increases. Should she go through with this, or is there another way to gain dual citizenship or travel abroad for long periods of time? An anonymous lawyer from Colorado has $250,000 in a SEP-IRA account that’s invested in mutual funds with fees ranging from 0.61 percent to 1.06 percent. Fees on these funds are projected at $200,000 over the next 20 years. Should he and can he transfer these funds to another SEP-IRA account? What are the consequences of doing that? Mr. Man is eligible to retire with a full pension, health benefits, and social security at age 48. He has 20 years to go. Should he include his pension and social security benefits in his financial independence plan, or think of them as extras? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer more of your questions. Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode330 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#329: Have you ever thought about how an economist views financial planning? Would you guess that it's vastly different from how some financial planners approach this work? Today's guest, Laurence Kotlikoff, is a Professor of Economics at Boston University. The Economist named him one of the world's 25 most influential economists in 2014. Professor Kotlikoff has written 19 books, and hundreds of professional articles and Op-Eds. He's here to explain why economists take a different view than financial planners on investing, retirement planning, and risk mitigation. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode329 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#328: Sarah O Sahara’s parents sold their rentals and business of 24 years. They’d like to create a trust for their grandkids with boundaries in place to avoid entitlement. How should they structure this trust? Anonymous in Canada has a fully paid off condo that she wants to turn into a rental once her new townhome is ready. Should she mortgage against the condo to reduce the mortgage on her townhome? Are there any tax benefits to having a mortgage on a rental? Luis’s wife wants to start moonlighting in her field. Can she open and contribute to a Solo 401k even though she has a TSP account with her 9-to-5 employer? Russell and his partner want to emigrate to Canada in the near future. Should they move their investments into Canadian funds? Renee and her husband are in their 60s, and most of their retirement funds are in pre-tax accounts. They have federal tax credits they’d like to use to move these funds into taxable accounts. Is this a sound strategy? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me once again to answer your questions. Enjoy! (Have an investing, entrepreneurship, lifestyle, or decision-making question you’d like us to answer? Submit it here!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#327: The stories of success that highlight talent and hard work don’t tell a complete picture. The best artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs don’t always have innate talent. Not all of them have put in 10,000 hours of practice. What sets them apart is their framework for learning. Award-winning social psychologist Dr. Ron Friedman discusses his new book, Decoding Greatness, which answers the question, “why are some people so good at what they do, and what can we learn from this?” You’ll learn how to harness the power of reverse engineering, create a collection of masterworks from the best in your industry, and why practicing in three dimensions improves performance. If you have a specific skill set you want to develop or improve, tune in for Dr. Friedman’s framework for developing greatness. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode327 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#326: Anonymous is struggling with being too frugal, possibly to the detriment of her health. I mentioned in a previous episode that I struggled with frugality for a long time. She wants to know: in what ways was frugality a hindrance or an asset, and how did I get myself out of such a frugal mindset? John and his wife aren’t sure how much they should contribute to their daughter’s Ohio 529 plan. They want her to graduate from undergrad debt-free, but they imagine she’ll get help from scholarships and that she’ll work as a teenager. How much is enough? Rafael just got a job as a 1099 sales associate and is wondering how the heck to calculate what he’ll owe in taxes. Rafael has a second question: he opened an account at Vanguard in December 2020 and noticed that he could still contribute to that account for the first few months of 2021. Which year should he have focused on contributing to? Elizabeth has two rental properties: one that’s paid off and profitable, the other which shows a loss. If she put her profitable rental into an LLC, could she still combine the rent from both properties? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer another round of questions. By the way, if you have questions on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing, be sure to leave them here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#325: Okay, so everyone and their dog is talking about Bitcoin — but what exactly is it? And what’s Ethereum? If you’re feeling lost in the topic and confused by the jargon, start with this episode in which we cover the basics about blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.  For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode325 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#324: Rob and his fiancé are grappling with what to do about her $400,000 of federal student loan debt. Should they pay it off immediately, or bank on a 20-year dismissal? “Nurse Dreaming of FI” isn’t sure what her family’s next financial move should be. She’s torn between investing extra money into index funds, or using it to buy a fix-and-flip. Her goal is to make work optional. Which path will lead her there? Daniel recently discovered the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement and got a job earning $50,000 per year. He wants to househack a duplex to get closer to FIRE, but how the heck can he find anything in this seller’s market? Anonymous and her husband have 457s with the City of Chicago. However, they found out that Illinois has a horrible credit rating. How can they - and should they - protect their funds? How much should they rely on their pensions? Nick is curious: how have my views on wholesalers changed over the years, and why? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions today. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode324 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#323 Brad and Jonathan from ChooseFI join us for a deep philosophical and practical discussion around what we learned from 2020. We explore... What the pandemic taught us about work, finance, and life The importance of being mentally and logistically nimble and flexible The distinction between directionality vs methodology What we’ve learned about how to get a job, what type of education to get, and what to do with the rest of our lives For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode323 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#322: Jess wants to reach financial independence by the time she’s 50. But she’s worried that she doesn’t have enough money in cash or taxable brokerage accounts to bridge the gap in her first few years of retirement. What moves should she make, if any? Yisell wants to invest money now. Should she cash out her $70,000 pension in hopes to generate more than the $1,000 per month she’s guaranteed from it? Abbey is 22 and she would like to go back to graduate school for nurse anesthesia. Should she save up and pay for it in cash, or invest her money and take out federal loans? Eliana enjoyed our interview with Paul Merriman on the two-fund portfolio. She’s curious about what growth stocks and value stocks are, and how they fit into a passive index fund investing strategy. Finally, Sneezy wants to know: why aren’t stocks a good hedge against inflation? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode322 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#321: Have you dreamed of making a career transition, only to realize you have no idea where to start, who to talk to, or how to convey your skills to interviewers? Career expert Ashley Stahl has the information you need to take control of your career and pivot into something new. Ashley struggled with this, too -- but in the process, she figured out a system for identifying someone’s core skills and core nature to find a career and company more aligned with both. She also chats about the 10 core skill sets you can use to propel your career forward; the five root causes of burnout and what to do about them; and four sabotaging job hunting myths that can hold you back. If you enjoyed our interview with Gorick Ng, you’ll like this one. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode321 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#320: Rob is hoping to retire at age 60, but he has a pesky mortgage balance he wants to eliminate beforehand. He and his wife expect to inherit $300,000. Should they use this money to pay off their mortgage or should they bulk up their retirement accounts? Another anonymous caller has two separate questions. One is about the tax efficiencies of ETFs vs. mutual funds, while the other is about Ginny Mae funds and whether there are bond funds that have an inverse relationship with equities. Priya is looking for information on home equity loans: where can you get the best terms, and what are the disadvantages? Additionally, she’d like to know which city is best for rental investing: Atlanta, Dallas, or Raleigh? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me on the show to answer your questions. Let’s dive in! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode320 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#319: Julia Galef is an acclaimed expert on rational decision making. She’s hosted the Rationally Speaking podcast for the last decade, and she’s passionate about good reasoning. Her book, The Scout Mindset, highlights the importance of looking at situations objectively and honestly. This is something a lot of people struggle with -- humans are often irrational -- but Julia argues that this is a skill that we can develop with self-awareness.  In this interview, she shares the difference between what she calls a soldier mindset versus a scout mindset. She explains why we often default to the soldier mindset of defending ideas we desperately want to believe, and details several thought exercises that we can use to instead train our brains to scout for the truth. Good decision making and ensuring you look for high quality sources of information can help when weighing trade-offs, and it can also save you from making costly investment mistakes. Julia and I also discuss specific examples of when having a scout mindset can prevent you from risk of ruin. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode319 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#318: Joe is a new real estate agent and he’s looking for ways to save. Is opening a SEP IRA a good account when you’re no longer a W2 employee? Grace has a similar concern: she’s a tutor, but she’s paid as a contractor. Should she forget about her Vanguard brokerage account and open a SEP IRA or Solo 401k? Kim is newly divorced and celebrating the freedom to make her own financial decisions. She’s struggling to make a living -- also as a new realtor -- and wants to get started with real estate...but how can she do that on limited funds? Kim also wants to know: should she move her funds from an actively managed Fidelity IRA to a Vanguard Roth IRA? Chaz is 22 and has $2,100 - $2,500 left each month to put toward savings. Where should he keep this money if he’d like to move out-of-state in the near future? Anonymous just got a raise, and while awesome, it might push her income to a level that prohibits her from making full Roth IRA contributions. Should she make a partial contribution this year, or start adding money to a Traditional IRA to do a backdoor conversion? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to tackle these questions. Let’s dive in! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode318 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#317: What if work and life can coexist together - without enormous trade-offs? What if all you have to do is ruthlessly prioritize within each area and manage the rest with automation and delegation? If it sounds like a pipedream, it’s not. Guests Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller, authors of Win at Work & Succeed at Life, share how work/life balance is more achievable than you think. They also discuss how constraints increase productivity, why working over 40 hours a week can harm your mental and physical health, why rest is critical, and how self-care can give you an edge at work. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode317 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#316: Pauly from Portland doubled the inheritance money he received from $50,000 to $100,000 during the pandemic. Now he’s wondering if it’s okay to use this $100,000 as a downpayment on a home in Portland. Is that a wise use of the money? Preethi accidentally withdrew funds from her Roth IRA as an excess distribution, and she’s already filed her taxes. What should she know for tax time next year? Michele wants to reach financial independence (FI), and her grandparents are leaving her their house. She already owns a home, and she’s torn between six potential options that will propel her toward FI. What should she do? Casey is in the market for a second rental property and wants to know: would we recommend purchasing a rental in a complex where she already owns a condo? Or should she diversify into a different complex in a different, nearby, more stable town? Fred doesn’t have access to a workplace retirement plan. Besides opening a Roth IRA, what else can Fred do to juice up his retirement savings? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions on today’s show. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode316 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#315: Do you ever grapple with the differences between your present self and your ideal self? Katy Milkman, host of the Choiceology podcast and the James G. Dinan Professor at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, shares the science of getting from where you are now to where you want to be. Her new book, How to Change, is a “science-based blueprint for achieving your goals, once and for all.” In this discussion, Katy reveals 1) why your strategy is key to making lasting change, 2) how we can pick the right strategy for our circumstances, and 3) the handful of science-backed tactics that bridge the gap between our present selves and ideal selves. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode315 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#314: Briale opened a Variable Annuity inside a 403b at work when she was 23. She has 17 years to go before retirement. As an elementary school teacher, her pension will be $6,000 per month. Should she stop contributing to the annuity and contribute to a Roth IRA instead? Hunter put a credit freeze on his two children’s credit, which required sending each credit union documentation via mail. Experian and TransUnion confirmed the credit freeze, but Equifax didn’t. Upon calling, the representative gave Hunter a different mailing address for the documents. What should he do? Debi has an extra $1,000 each month and isn’t sure where to save it. She also has $10,000 in a CD which will reach maturity in August 2021. Her goal is to buy a residence in the next five years. Should she save this all for a downpayment? Anonymous is concerned about her parents retirement portfolio. Their advisor charges a fee of 1.5 percent assets under management. Her parents are frugal and they don’t realize how much they’re paying. Should she talk to them, or drop the issue? Sarah isn’t sure whether she should put more of her savings towards a Roth 401k or a 529 fund for her future kids. Which option is best if she wants financial flexibility? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me once again to tackle these questions. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode314  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#313: Do you know the unspoken rules about how to get ahead in your workplace or industry (and as a result, how to earn more)? Unspoken rules, and the corresponding social norms, create a major impact in how we’re perceived in the workplace -- and therefore how often we’re promoted. But these rules are rarely taught. Managers expect us to understand these implicit rules, but they never explain them to us. How are we supposed to succeed? Gorick Ng, a career advisor at Harvard who specializes in working with first-generation, low-income students, shares his wisdom on navigating the workforce at all stages of your career. His advice can help you make more money, get promoted, and accelerate your ability to save and invest. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode313 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#312: After paying basic living expenses and maxing out their 401k’s and Roth IRAs, Caroline and her partner have $4,000 - $5,000 left each month. Where should they put this money if their goal is to simply have their money work harder for them? Sanjay is torn between selling his townhome or renting it out. The rental numbers don’t work on his 15-year mortgage -- should he refinance to a 30-year mortgage instead? Kyle wants to construct a portfolio with the highest Sharpe ratios and wants to know: would the risk parity model work? What are the downsides? G is curious: does the stimulus check received for their children count as earned income for the kids? If so, can they put it toward the Roth IRAs they opened for their children? Anonymous has two unrelated questions: what are our thoughts on the housing market in relation to the moratoriums on mortgage payments and emergency bans on evictions? What will happen when they go away? Additionally, what tools, questions, or resources do we recommend to have a productive financial conversation with your partner? Finally, another anonymous caller wants to know: do they need to submit receipts for the HSA contributions they make? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me as usual to tackle these questions. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode312 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#311: Do you find yourself overthinking and getting stuck in unproductive thought loops? According to a study commissioned by today’s guest, 99.5 percent of 10,000 people said they overthink. Chances are, you can relate. That guest is Jon Acuff -- a New York Times bestselling author who loves to nerd out about goals. In this discussion, he shares 10 signs you're overthinking, explains the differences between overthinking and being prepared, and presents a framework called the three R’s (retire, replace, repeat) that can transform your destructive thought loops into healthy soundtracks. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode311 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#310: Greta is tired of financial modesty. She wants to achieve financial independence through diversified income streams, and has her eyes set on owning local duplexes. What should she focus on to make this happen?  Jeannie wants to know: when should you scale back 401k contributions so you can invest in something else, like real estate? Steph and her husband came into $25,000 and aren’t sure what to do with it. Should they pay off their student loans, save it towards a house and starting a family, or purchase her company stock options? J from California is curious: how do you strike a balance between optimization and simplicity in your financial plan?  Dawn has $65,000 in a 403b through Ameriprise and the fees associated with it are outrageous. Should she take the money out and put it elsewhere, or leave it?  My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these five questions. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode310 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#309: Are we in a housing bubble? Are we going to see a repeat of 2006 all over again? Are there any good investment deals to be found right now? These are the questions playing on many people's minds, and we seek to explore the answers in today's First Friday bonus episode. We start by exploring some of the forces that are at play in today's real estate market. What separates the market of 2006 from the market of today? In the second half of the episode, Paula explains how and why she chose to buy a duplex in Indianapolis, despite it being a seller's market. There are deals to be had if you know where to look and what to look for. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode309  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#308: Ziggy purchased an $890,000 property in San Mateo, CA in 2016. After living there for a year, he had to move, so he rented it out. Unfortunately, it’s cash flow negative. Is this property worth holding onto, or should he sell? Vivek has a paid-off primary residence that he’s interested in renting out for a few years, before selling. He’s worried about capital gains tax – does turning the home into a rental impact the amount he’ll pay? Anonymous in Virginia wants to travel after retiring, which will increase her expenses for the first seven or so years of her retirement. How can she plan for a higher withdrawal rate at the beginning of retirement, and a lower withdrawal rate in the middle of her retirement? Given the talk around student loan forgiveness, Jess wants to know: should she pay the minimum on her student loan debt and save the payments she would otherwise make? Or should she keep throwing extra at her higher interest loans? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions on today’s show. Let’s dive in! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode308 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#307: “Taxes are the single biggest factor that separates people from their retirement dreams.” That’s a quote from today’s guest, Ed Slott, a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, practicing CPA, and bestselling author. He argues that there’s a high likelihood that tax rates could rise in the future, and as a result, we need to shovel more money into tax-exempt accounts like Roth IRA and Roth 401k’s. Ed says taxes are one of the biggest threats to our retirement plans, and draws attention to tax events that catch seniors by surprise, such as the so-called “widow/widower” tax. If you’re wondering how taxes could derail your retirement -- and what you should do about it -- you’ll learn an enormous amount from this episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode307 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#306: Jake and his wife want to retire in five years, at which point they’ll have 14 years before they can access their 401k funds. To help bridge that gap, Jake wants to know: what should their asset allocation look like for their taxable brokerage account? This year, Kim’s employer enrolled all employees into a “fully funded indemnity program combined with a nationwide direct primary care membership.” What the heck is this program, and how might it impact Kim’s finances? Burnt Out in Boston is switching their focus from financial independence to taking a mini-retirement. How can they financially and mentally prepare for this leap? Matthew is torn: should he and his wife -- both 26 -- max out their Roth IRAs and then save up for a rental property, or simply save cash for the rental and worry about their Roth later? Finally, Deva and her husband are fed up with their messy tenants. They’re kind and responsible, but they’ve left the yard a mess. They have a clause in the lease that addresses this, so beyond that, what can they do? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these questions on today’s show. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode306 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#305: Financial independence is a continuum, a spectrum. How do you know where you stand? In this episode, financial writer JD Roth discusses the seven stages of financial independence, the seven rules of investing, the formula for calculating your lifetime wealth ratio, and the importance of managing your career as though it’s an asset. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode305 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#304: Paige and her fiancé have two autumn 2021 goals: save for a wedding and an emergency fund. There’s one problem: they only have around $200 per month to save. How can they grow the gap when they’ve run out of things to cut and ways to earn more? Kat’s investor friend connected her with a wholesaler who only deals in cash. How can she find $130,000 to buy her subject property? Anonymous “Countryside Living” is renting their grandparent’s property, which they plan to make their forever home. It’s on the older side and needs renovations, but the repairs don’t need to happen immediately. How can they fund these repairs while also avoiding a mortgage payment in their 60s? Annalis wants to know whose approach to business I prefer: Gary V’s, or Cal Newport’s? She also asks: how do you become a good speaker? Anonymous “My Job Pays for My Housing” is planning for financial independence. Given that their employer covers their housing, when should they start looking for a house? Now, or in the last year of their job? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these five questions today. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode304 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#303: Can you imagine living in a world without email? Most of us can’t - how would we get work done? - but this is what Cal Newport advocates for in his newest book, A World Without Email. Cal cites a study that found the average knowledge worker checks various communication tools once every six minutes. At that rate, it’s a wonder we get any work done at all. Cal argues that modifying our habits (like checking email at designated times) isn’t enough. We need to look for solutions outside the inbox and seek to reduce back-and-forth communication at all costs. If you’re drained by your inbox, we chat about strategies, processes, and systems that can help streamline your work and communication flow. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode303  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#302: Did you know that optimists worry about their finances 145 fewer days than pessimists? They’re also more likely to save money, and are 7x as likely to experience better financial health. Michelle Gielan, bestselling author of Broadcasting Happiness, defines optimism “as the expectation of good things to happen and the belief that our behavior matters.” She shares specific tactics and mindset shifts we can make right now to become more optimistic and resilient, and, in the process, develop a better relationship with stress. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode302 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#301: Amelia is worried that she and her husband are under-insured. Should her husband get a short-term disability policy, even though it’s expensive and they’re unlikely to need it? Sarah wants to refinance her owner-occupied triplex, but she’s torn between a 15-year and a 30-year option. Which is better in her situation? Steven just discovered the financial independence (FI) movement in July 2020, and he wants to reach FI in 11 years. He has $30,000 in cash and $26,000 of student loan debt. How should he use his cash given his FI goal? The South American Anthropologist wants to make a career change. His baby daughter has inspired him to become an example of living life on your own terms. Will his financial independence plan sustain him and his family for years to come? Annalis and Mike are hunting for their first rental property, but they haven’t found anything nice that meets the one percent rule. Should they purchase a mansion and rent the rooms on Airbnb? For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode301 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#300: Here’s the deal: Target Date Retirement Funds are simple, automated, easy. The problem? What’s simple might not be optimal. Investment expert Paul Merriman joins us to discuss the two-fund portfolio, a mix of one target date fund and one small cap value fund. He describes why this could be the ultimate portfolio for buy-and-hold investors who want to boost their returns, without excessive complexity or risk. If you’re wondering what to do with your 401k, tune in. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode300 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#299: Chris bought Tesla a few years ago and Jinko Solar eight months ago. Both of these have gone up in value by a lot. What tax strategies can he use to sell these shares? Holly and her three sisters stand to inherit two side-by-side duplexes. How can they structure the ownership of these properties in a fair way? Eric feels hopeless about health insurance as a self-employed business owner. Are DPCs or healthshares the way to go? Frank and his wife have a nine-year retirement plan that involves selling their home and moving to Costa Rica. How can they maximize their savings and existing investments to set themselves up for success? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these four questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode299 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#298: Money conversations with friends, family members, or significant others are unavoidable. Most of us dread these conversations - they’re awkward, heated, or draining. Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial Talks Money, shares tips and scripts for tactfully setting financial boundaries and expectations without drama. If you’re anxious about being in a wedding, splitting the tab with friends, or asking your siblings about taking care of your parents, this episode is for you. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This morning, almost every major brokerage halted trading on the most volatile stocks, including GameStop, BlackBerry, Bed Bath & Beyond, Nokia, and AMC Theaters. We're in a situation where major trading platforms are blocking retail investors - us - from placing trades, while allowing hedge funds and institutional investors to drive prices. That is not a free market. When you don't let people buy, and you don't let people sell, you're locking people out of the game entirely. Yesterday, I was worried that grandma and grandpa would make the wrong investment choices and irrationally bet their life savings away. Now, they're prohibited from making any choice. 🤯 We deserve the right to make our own trading decisions. For the latest updates, follow me on Twitter (https://twitter.com/affordanything) or Instagram (https://instagram.com/paulapant; check out my stories). I'm updating there as things unfold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you blinked, you missed the biggest stock market story since the crash of March 2020. It’s a story that led GameStop, a brick-and-mortar company that sells *physical* video games (remember when games came on 5.25-inch floppy disks?), to skyrocket its share price by 700 percent in two weeks. It’s a story of short selling, of high-frequency trading, and of individual investors who harbor deep anger towards hedge funds. It’s a story of social media vs. Wall Street ... and the innocent bystanders who get caught in the crossfire. That's the story we cover in today's episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#297: George is torn between paying down his student loan debt (which he deferred) or buying a househack. Which is better for his long-term goal of reaching financial independence? Mario is curious to know: is his two-fund portfolio at a 90/10 split is a good asset allocation for his Roth IRA? Hanan wants to figure out if a backdoor Roth IRA conversion will work for her. She also wants to investigate whether a Vanguard Institutional 500 Index Trust and a Vanguard Institutional Total Bond Market Index Trust are ideal. Are trusts different from index funds or mutual funds and if so, how? Vivian is worried about bridging the gap between when she retires and when she claims Social Security. Will her plan of doing a Roth conversion ladder work out the way she hopes? Lastly, June and her husband netted $400,000 from the sale of some golden parachute ISOs. They want to help their children pay for college and are trying to figure out how to strategically use this money. Should they pay off their home, buy rentals, fund 529s, or Roth their 401ks? My friend and former financial planner, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer these five questions. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode297 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#296: There’s a lot happening in the market. The Dow is at a new high, there are runaway stocks causing irrational exuberance, and yet, unemployment claims are on the rise. How can this be? To make sense of this, we discuss how improving judgment and using mental models can protect us against risks and short-term thinking. We review one question people rarely ask that might save them from making costly investment mistakes. We then wrap up with a discussion on the so-called death of cities, and what this means for real estate investors. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode296 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#295: How well do you know yourself and the reasons why you manage money in the way that you do? You might not know at all, or you might have some degree of understanding, but digging into your money story can shed insight on your behaviors with money today. Rachel Cruze, four-time bestselling author and daughter of Dave Ramsey, shares three frameworks that can help us better understand our money habits. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode295 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#294: Jeffrey is curious: if I were to interview Suze Orman today, would I agree more or less with her thoughts on the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement? Matt wants to know: if a property cash flows really well, is it worth paying significantly more than the appraised value to purchase that income stream? Sara and her husband are returning to the states after living abroad for a few years. They’re moving to an expensive area where three to four bedroom homes cost $800,000+. They have $150,000 saved for a downpayment, but a $600,000 mortgage isn’t what they had in mind. What should they do? Eva and her partner are squirreling away money before the birth of their baby. They’d like to pay off their $90,000 mortgage in three years, but they’re afraid to use the money in case of unexpected baby expenses. What’s their best move? Justin and his wife want to take a gap year with their children in three years. They plan to visit Spain and London for six months each. What are unexpected expenses that they should factor into their budget? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode294 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#293: Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and goal setting. The simple framework he presents allows you to focus deeply and commit to the actions you need to take if you want to take your productivity to the next level this year. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode293 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sign up to take the 31-Day Challenge for an Awesome 2021 at https://affordanything.com/31daychallenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#292: Three Kids, FI has an all-equities broad stock market index portfolio that he’s held for years. He’s confident he can handle maximum volatility, so what investments can he lean into to that will provide him with great long-term returns? Jordan is a new listener and he has three questions: should he use $100,000 to buy more rental properties or invest in a brokerage account? Should he and his wife upgrade their home and buy a property that’s worth double their current home? And finally, how can self-employed individuals who earn more lower the cost of health insurance? Alex’s wife lost her job due to the pandemic. They live in Washington state and are married filing separately due to his wife’s student loans. Can he use half of his income to qualify her for Roth IRA contributions? Sarah rounds out this episode with a concern: a financial advisor told her that investing in VTSAX over-indexes her in large cap funds and technology stocks. Is this true, and what should she do about it? I answer these four excellent questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode292 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a weekly-ish segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the year that is 2020. Today, we focus on the importance of end-of-year tax planning before you ring in 2021. We cover these tips: Open a retirement account  Adjust your tax withholdings Check your 529 Plan  Make charitable contributions Why this could be a good year to make a Roth conversion Spend down the balance in your FSA For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#291: Tracy Tutor is the author of Fear is Just a Four-Letter Word as well as the first female real estate broker on Million Dollar Listing LA. Tracy took her 20 years of experience in the industry and distilled the lessons she learned into this book. During our conversation, she shares tips and tactics for overcoming a fear of speaking out, how humor can help us connect with others, and why it’s important not to silence our inner voices. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode291 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#290: Sharon owns two condos that are worth $1.4M and has a cash cushion of $120,000 plus a $50,000 emergency fund. She’d like to move into a small house while keeping her cash cushion intact. Should she take out a home equity loan on her mortgage to essentially pay for her house in cash, or get a traditional mortgage and use her savings towards the downpayment? Jury and her partner are torn between two options: buying a condo, which would allow them to live off of one salary and invest the other, or buy a more expensive house – a much more attractive lifestyle option. Which should they purchase? Daine’s IRA balance is a result of 401k rollovers. He’s concerned that his lack of monthly contributions cause him to miss out on compound interest. What can he do to grow his retirement funds? Molly and her husband want to reach financial independence (FI) in 15 years, at age 50. They’re unsure of whether their rental property income will sustain their FI lifestyle. How can they plan for this? I answer these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode290 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An update on the latest news in student loan forgiveness and forbearance, plus smart strategies for student loan repayment in 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#289: Josh Kaufman, bestselling author of The Personal MBA, discusses the five parts to every business and how this information applies to everyone - not just entrepreneurs. He shares many examples and ideas on how to level up your business or career through simple steps. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode289 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#288: Karen and her wife are in their 50s, financially independent, and partially retired. They need $150,000 to buy a new home, and they aren’t sure which option is best. Should they take advantage of the CARES Act and pull money from their traditional IRAs? Raid their Roths? Or take out a mortgage? Ingrid’s mom is retiring this year. To fund her retirement, she’ll sell her property for $1 million. How should she invest this money so that she can live off of it in perpetuity? Elaine has saved $20,000 in a 529 plan for each of her two kids, but she realizes that they may not attend college. Should she keep the 529 plans, or save money elsewhere? Amanda is afraid to tap the equity in her home and use it to purchase a rental property. How should she think through whether this move is right for her? Lisa and her family plan to sell their home and move across the country. They might have the option to pay cash for a home, but they also want to buy an investment property. Should they get a mortgage on their new home or pay cash? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer your questions on this episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode288 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many people in the personal finance / FIRE community have a complicated relationship with the concept of consumer spending. They may see family, friends and neighbors demonstrate one extreme -- they’re profligate spenders who will buy anything -- and, in an effort to be nothing like them, they may overcompensate by becoming extreme penny-pinchers. (I see this often at the start of a person’s FIRE journey, when the pendulum is swinging sharply in the other direction). The reality is that neither extreme is healthy. There’s a middle ground between being so gullible that you’ll buy anything vs. being so cynical that you build a wall that shuts real value out of your life and hampers your growth. In recognition of that balanced middle path, today’s PSA Thursday episode focuses on five questions that you should ask yourself before making a purchase. #1: Do I have high-interest debt or an inadequate emergency fund? #2: Is this a purchase or an investment? #3: How long have I been thinking about this? #4: Is this only serving an emotional need, or does it also have greater utility? #5: The five “ity’s” -- longevity, durability, applicability, versatility, utility. We elaborate on these five points in today’s PSA Thursday episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#287: Seth Godin is the author of 19 bestselling books on mastery, creativity, business and marketing. His books have been translated into 35 languages, and one of his books was the top bestselling marketing book of the last decade. He’s an inductee to the Marketing Hall of Fame (yes, it exists). Seth joins us today to talk about creativity, the importance of practice, and how to overcome your limiting ideas. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode287 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, Americans spent just over $8,000 on food. If you're on a tight budget, slashing your grocery bill is one of the easiest ways to spend less. But what if you don't want to compromise on healthy eating? Today's guest, Rosemary Fotheringham, is a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (FNTP) who's also on the path to financial independence. She and her husband slashed their monthly grocery bill from $1,200 down to $300 - without eating pasta every night. She's here to explain their framework for healthy eating and her best tips for eating well on a tight budget. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#286: Kaitlyn has $78,000 saved for a property, but she isn’t sure whether she should buy a personal residence, a rental property, or both. How can she best use this money? An anonymous listener wants to lower their housing expenses. Should she and her husband buy a cheaper property and turn their current home into a rental, or should they stay and pay off the mortgage as quickly as possible while saving for a downpayment on another property? Alex is just getting started with financial independence and asks: how can you calculate your financial independence date, and how do you know how much you need to save to reach that number at a certain age? Ell wants to know: what’s the difference between a high-yield savings account and a money market account, and how can you maximize the interest you earn in these accounts? Jenn wants to know: is it possible for Canadians to find cash-flow positive real estate deals, either in Canada or the United States? I answer these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode286 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#285: Sam wants to use the funds in her Vanguard S&P 500 index funds for a downpayment on a house. She isn’t sure if she should keep her savings in the market. Should she move her money, and where? Hailey purchased a duplex in March and is already looking to sell due to a hostile tenant during the purchase process. How can she shift her focus from her initial return on investment to a long-term outlook? Zoe dreams of attending grad school, but her savings are locked away in retirement accounts. How can she save for grad school in the next two to three years? Mohamed wants to monetize a new podcast with affiliate relationships, but the service providers he wants to promote don’t offer affiliate programs. Can he still make this work, and how? I answer these listener questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode285 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paula Pant and Andy Hill broadcast from Dallas, where they’re part of a bare-bones skeleton production crew that’s hosting the 10th annual FinCon, a conference for a community of personal finance podcasters, YouTubers and bloggers. On the evening before the event, they reflect on the importance of community, especially when it comes to learning about money management. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#284: Morgan Housel is an award-winning financial journalist, and he’s a leading thinker and author in the world of investing. His new book, The Psychology of Money, highlights the influence that our behavior has on our financial success. We discuss developing self-awareness around our biases, saving like a pessimist and investing like an optimist, being critical of who we take investment advice from, diversification, expectation management, tail risks, and much more on the topic of behavioral finance. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode284 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Many of us have experienced disconnection from our loved ones this year, especially with older family members. It can be difficult to stay in touch when parents and grandparents aren't technologically savvy. They might not know how to text, how to use their cell phone to place a call, or how to initiate a video call. We hope that can change after you listen to this episode. To help us learn how we can stay connected with the senior citizens in our lives, we brought on Bria Sullivan. For the past six years, Bria has had a side hustle teaching seniors how to use technology. Today, she shares her best tips on how we can do the same with the elders we love. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#283: Andrea’s parents have a seemingly salesly financial advisor. He tried to get them to purchase a second life insurance policy, among other potentially pushy moves. Are her parents better off without his advice? Teresa can’t shake the feeling that the stock market is more of a gamble than an investment. Is there any advantage to holding funds for the long-run if the market drops and you lose your gains? June is curious about the best college planning strategies for families who are working toward, or close to, financial independence. How can you help your children while securing your financial future? Big Sister’s little sister rents a mobile home in an area she loves. The owner wants to sell, but her little sister might not obtain financing. Should Big Sister buy the property and sell it to her via seller financing? Managing for Mom in Massachusetts has an investment strategy that he wants to run by us. Does it make sense to shift a 50/50 stocks and bonds portfolio to 100 percent stocks, and shift back to a 50/50 split after the market returns to pre-pandemic numbers? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these questions. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/283 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the uncertainty of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) looming before us, many are asking: How can we plan for healthcare - now and in the future? How much will I need to save to cover healthcare in retirement? What can I do if I can't afford the expensive premiums?  As a community of entrepreneurs and early retirees, this is a major concern. To help us understand the healthcare landscape, Tanja Hester, author of Work Optional and the blog Our Next Life, joins us. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#282: Alan Donegan is the cofounder of PopUp Business School. His mission is to change the way entrepreneurship is taught and to make it more accessible. If you’ve daydreamed of starting a side hustle, Alan’s simple advice and actions will give you the knowledge you need to get started now. You’ll know if your idea is viable within a month. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode282 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a brief hiatus, PSA Thursday is back! For this episode, we take a short break from covering current events to 1) reflect on why this show exists, and 2) give you a sneak peek of future PSA Thursday episodes. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#281: Annie Duke, best-selling author of Thinking In Bets and former world champion poker professional, discusses the decision making strategies and tools outlined in her new book, How to Decide. Learn how to make quicker decisions, overcome hindsight bias, make decisions with incomplete information, and improve your decision making skills. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode281 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#280: Amy and her husband have $900,000 saved for retirement. They’re 40 years old and plan to retire at 65. Due to a job change + pay cut, they might only have $10,000 per year to save for the next 25 years. Will this be enough, given their yearly expenses of $144,000? Janie wants to get a solar power system for her house, but isn’t sure how to pay for it. Should she borrow funds from her seven-month emergency fund, or use funds from a taxable brokerage account that were earmarked for retirement? CJ and his wife netted $200,000 from the sale of their home. They aren’t sure when they’ll purchase their next home – their timeline could be as short as three years or as long as six years. Where should they keep the $200,000 to use towards a downpayment on their next home? Brandon wants to retire in the next five to ten years. He contributes 20 percent to his Roth 401k. Since he can’t withdraw those contributions early, does it make more sense to contribute up to the match of his 401k and invest the rest in an IRA with the goal of doing a Roth conversion? Anonymous “am I missing out?” wants to know the deal with tax-loss harvesting. When is it worthwhile? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode280 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#279: You might know several decision-making principles, but do you have a step-by-step strategy that pieces those principles together? Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is an internationally-recognized thought leader on decision-making strategies. He shares two decision-making techniques for any aspect of your life in this episode. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode279 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#278: Does this sound like you? You want to exercise, but you can never find the time for a workout. Eventually, you grow tired of putting exercise off. You commit to working out every morning. You become so enthusiastic, you buy new gym clothes for the occasion. Your enthusiasm carries you for five days, and on day six, you’re swamped with work. You promise yourself you’ll exercise tomorrow - after all, taking a break for one day won’t hurt. And then … you never get back on the wagon. The cycle repeats. Most habits and routines start with good intentions. But good intentions aren’t enough to carry you through tough times. Good intentions aren’t enough to overcome the excuses you’ll make, either. That’s what today’s guest, Gretchen Rubin, is here to explore. Gretchen Rubin is the New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies. She joins us on the podcast to discuss the loopholes that we use - the excuses that we make - when it comes to breaking bad habits and forming good habits. Why is this important? The more aware we are of loopholes, the better we can resist them. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode278 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#277: Michelle Singletary writes The Color of Money, for The Washington Post and is a winner of the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award. Her column is syndicated in more than 100 newspapers nationwide. She’s the author of three finance books and holds an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. But her strongest financial education came from her grandmother. Her grandmother raised five grandchildren while working full-time as a Nursing Assistant at a hospital. She earned $13,000 per year, but never took welfare, was never late on a bill, and “handled her money like a pro.” In this podcast episode, Michelle shares timeless financial lessons she learned from her grandmother, including: Save from every penny or dollar you receive Live below your means Hate debt like it’s the devil Save for the future Don’t buy more than you can afford Don’t care about what other people think about what you wear or drive Michelle’s grandmother taught her resourcefulness, humility and the value of a strong work ethic. Michelle joins us to chat about the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement, emotional spending, how her experience growing up poor gives her a unique perspective in financial media, and the falsehood behind the phrase “it’s not what you earn, it’s what you save.” You’ll enjoy this episode if… You’re new to the world of personal finance or FIRE and want to learn more about the basics. (#lessonsfromgrandma) You can’t relate to some of the discussion around FIRE because it seems unachievable to you. You love down-to-earth guests who tell it like it is. For more, visit https://affordanything.com/episode277 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#276: Have you found yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds over the last few months? Have you also found yourself in a state of sadness, anxiety, or aggravation afterwards? We live in an increasingly noisy world. A world in which many of us use social media, or the internet in general, to escape. But our escapes often leave us feeling empty and annoyed at ourselves for wasting several hours of precious time. Here’s one possible remedy for this tiring, relentless cycle: embrace the philosophy of digital minimalism. "Okay, I’m in. But...what’s digital minimalism?" Digital minimalism is a term coined by Dr. Cal Newport, today’s guest. It describes a three-step process: Cull the time you spend staring at a screen Spend more time on digital activities that align with your values Ignore everything else For more information, visit https://affordanything.com/episode276 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#275: Even the nerdiest of money nerds are susceptible to making a dumb financial mistake. “Nope, not me! There’s no way I make any financial mistakes. I live and breathe this stuff.” You’re not capable of making any financial mistakes? Even 'hidden' mistakes, like having the wrong life insurance policy, not having an estate plan, or listening to the wrong ‘experts'? Exactly. Jill Schlesinger, author of The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money, sets the record straight on 13 things you shouldn't do with your hard-earned cash. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode275 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#274: What does it take to create a sustainable sense of hope? That’s the question that I invited Mark Manson, megabestselling author of Everything is F*cked and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, to answer. Mark says that three basic factors contribute to a sense of hope: 1) autonomy, 2) purpose, and 3) community. Mark and I keep these three factors in mind as we discuss how to define success, find new challenges, and choose what’s meaningful in life. We touch on the importance of emotional regulation and avoiding crises of hope. And we talk about how they relate back to the financial independence retire early (FIRE) movement. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode274 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#273: Dr. Dan Ariely, famed behavioral economist and best-selling author of Predictably Irrational, returns to discuss how to handle the emotional and financial volatility of 2020. Specifically: Preparing for a job loss The value of resilience Handling emotional spending Cutting through the noise to find a signal. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode273 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andy Hill, father of two and founder of Marriage, Kids, and Money, joins us to discuss parental burnout in the midst of the pandemic. He shares his best tips on creating a family schedule, learning to embrace the reality of working from home with interruptions, and maintaining sanity as kids venture back to school - all while being a good enough parent and partner. For more PSA Thursday episodes, go to https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#272: “Anonymous Moving-Back-home” and her partner earn $150,000 per year after taxes. They’re currently saving 80 percent by living with family. What should they do with their savings? Leigh and her husband are three years away from retirement. They have an extra $50,000 in income this year and plenty of options for where to invest this money. Which one is the best? Kelsey doesn’t feel comfortable investing in total stock market index funds and would rather invest in ESG funds. How can she tell if she has the necessary $2,000 invested in a company to submit a proposal to participate in a proxy voting? Also, Vanguard has a poor history of supporting shareholder resolutions. What can we do about this? Dylan and his wife rolled her 401k into a rollover IRA with pre-tax contributions. They’ve continued contributing to this IRA with post-tax contributions. Should they separate the accounts, or can they worry about this when they’re ready to retire? Anonymous wants to buy and househack one duplex every year to achieve financial independence and leave his office job within the next three to four years. Is his plan realistic? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these questions on today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode272 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Millions of people are in financial limbo now that the $600 supplemental federal unemployment benefit has expired. The new $300 supplemental benefit is slooowly getting approved by FEMA, state-by-state, through an excruciatingly snail-like process, and you might not have time to wait. This episode will help you take action. We cover how to think about the ways in which you can earn extra income and decide which path is best for you. For more information, check out our guide at https://affordanything.com/extraincome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#271: Dr. Wade Pfau, one of the foremost experts in the academic field of retirement planning, joins us to talk about how the events of 2020 might impact your retirement plans. If you’re wondering if you need to change your investing strategy, Wade’s recommendations may fascinate you. Watch out! These are NOT the recommendations you’re expecting from a typical financial independence retire early show. Prepare to be caught off-guard by what he says. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode271 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#270: Briana and her husband want to buy a home, but they don’t have enough saved for a downpayment. They also have student loan debt and a car loan. Which should they prioritize? Javier is sick of being in debt. What can he do to put himself in a better situation? Tracie wants to buy her first rental property, but she has student loans and a car loan to pay off. If she receives $20,000 from a cash-out refi, how should she use this money? Vanitha wants to start a non-profit organization in memory of her uncle. She wants to know: what does this process look like? Margie went under contract on a primary residence listed as a six-bedroom property. She found out that, legally, it’s a four-bedroom home. Should she re-negotiate the price, or ask for credits at closing? I answer these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode270 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#269: Are you scared to take the first step toward the habits that you want to build? Do you believe in your ability to change? Or are you completely lost as to where to start? Charles Duhigg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author of the best-selling books The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, and host of the How To! podcast, joins us to tackle these questions. By asking “why” instead of “how,” layer-by-layer we can reveal the factors that truly hold us back from taking action. For more, go to https://affordanything.com/episode269 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have school-age children? If so, then brace yourself for a school year like no other. This year, some children will return to school five days a week. Others will learn from home five days a week, and yet others will experience a hybrid of the two. You and your kids may face wildly different schedules and challenges than anything you've encountered before. How can you cope with this? Mandy Bert and Rob Phelan, who both work as teachers and are on the K-12 Education Team at the ChooseFI International Foundation, join us to share tips to help your children - and you! - survive the school year. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#268: Natasha has $3,300 per month to either invest or use toward an early mortgage payoff. Which option should she choose? An anonymous caller and military member wants to know if she should move money from a USAA brokerage to Vanguard to pay less in fees. Her goal is to retire in 12 years with $3,000/month in passive income from rental properties, which will supplement her military pension. Should she only contribute to her TSP up to the match, and invest the rest in rentals? Chaim and his wife live in the Middle East and have $30,000 in a U.S. bank account. However, they don’t plan to relocate. How can they best use this money? June and her husband are in a sticky situation: they bought their dream house in Michigan last winter, ahead of plans to relocate there. June lives there with their kids, but her husband is unable to find a job despite the numerous contacts he has in the state. He currently works in a job that he dislikes in Southern California, living apart from his family. They’re currently a one-income family, though June has plans to open a firm in Michigan. What should they do? Anonymous in Portland has three questions: is a 75/25 US stock/international stock split aggressive? Is an S&P 500 index a close enough equivalent to a total US stock index? Is Betterment worth it for automatic tax harvesting? My friend and former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer these questions. Enjoy! For more, go to https://affordanything.com/episode268 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment (sometimes on Thursdays) in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic. This week, we continue the conversation on what landlords can do to create and maintain open lines of communication with tenants. Doing so can help you avoid a situation in which your tenants ghost you. If you find these tips helpful, head to https://affordanything.com/psalandlord to download word-for-word scripts you can use with your tenants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#267: This week, one of the most acclaimed names in the world of personal finance journalism joins us to reflect on the events of 2020. Farnoosh Torabi started covering personal finance in 2003 as a reporter for Money Magazine. She later became a correspondent for Jim Cramer's The Street and the host of CNBC's primetime show Follow the Leader. She's the host of the award-winning So Money podcast and the author of several bestselling personal finance books, including When She Makes More: 10 Rules for Breadwinning Women. She's a contributing editor to NextAdvisor, a personal finance platform in partnership with TIME, as well as a financial columnist to O, The Oprah Magazine and a contributing editor for Bloomberg Business. She joins us to discuss how the events of 2020 have led to a great financial reckoning. You'll enjoy this if: - You want to hear candid discussion about race, privilege, and the wealth chasm - You're curious to hear about how the personal finance landscape has changed in the last two decades - You're wondering if, in fact, "this time it's different" For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode267 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#266: Paul’s parents own a property worth $100,000, and they owe $80,000 on the mortgage. If he wants to buy this property from them, how should he do it? Max is torn between investing in a rental property or taking advantage of a mega backdoor Roth 401k through his company. Which is the better option? Ali is a travel nurse and wants to get into real estate investing. Should she buy a duplex that needs fixing up or a cheaper apartment that’s rent-ready? Kate and her husband own a townhome that has appreciated substantially, but they need a bigger house. They’re wondering: is it wise to keep it, rent it out, and use a cash-out refinance as a downpayment on their next property? I answer these questions on today's episode. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at http://affordanything.com/episode266 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic. This week, our focus is on answering a question that many landlords in our community have asked in recent months: what do we do when our tenants can't pay the rent, and our bills are due?  To answer this, we asked Alieza Durana, a journalist who works with the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, for her expertise.  The Princeton Eviction Lab is a group that rigorously researches the causes and consequences of the affordable housing crisis, housing instability, and the impact of evictions. Alieza shares data gathered from The Eviction Lab and offers tips for landlords who want to be part of the solution, but struggle with the reality of having their own bills to pay.   For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/psathursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#265: Are you the same person you were five years ago? Ten years ago? Fifteen years ago? Of course not. Things in your life have changed: your interests, hobbies, decision-making process, and habits are different than they were a decade ago. Likewise, our personality changes -- and this means we can decide who we want to become. Today’s guest, organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy, literally wrote the book on personality impermanence. During this episode, he shares research on why our personalities aren’t as fixed as we think they are and the strategies we can use to change. Dr. Hardy is the bestselling author of Willpower Doesn’t Work and Personality Isn’t Permanent. He’s a contributor to Inc. and Psychology Today. From 2015-2018, he was the number one writer on Medium.com. If you want to rise to the level of your goals, rather than fall to the patterns of your past, this episode is for you. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode265 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices