Yet Another Insurance To Avoid (SB1640) Feb 05, 2025

What do scammers, fancy doors, and Twinkies have in common? Turns out, more than you think! Today, Joe, OG, and Doug take you on a wild ride through financial scams, fraud prevention, tax implications of dual residency, and... the surprising link between door quality and financial stability. (Yeah, we didn’t see that one coming either.)

What’s Inside This Episode?

🕵️‍♂️ Scams, Scams Everywhere! – From identity fraud to the trendy new "deed theft" scam, learn how to protect yourself before a scammer claims your house faster than you can say "that wasn't in the budget."

💳 Fraud-Proofing Your Finances – Why setting up credit monitoring, checking your bills, and paying attention to sketchy emails can save you thousands in headaches.

🚪 The TikTok Minute: What Do Soft Close Doors Say About Your Wealth? – Is your financial future written in the way your doors shut? Find out why door noises might reveal more about your bank balance than your credit score.

🧾 State Taxes & Dual Residency: The Sneaky Costs of Living in Two Places – Thinking about snowbirding to Florida or keeping a backup home in another state? We break down what you NEED to know before state tax authorities come knocking.

🤖 Password Security & The Quantum Computing Takeover – Is the future of passwords doomed? What you should be doing now to keep your Twinkies—and your bank accounts—safe.

🍕 Pizza Cutting Controversy & Nostalgic Minivan Stories – Because what’s a Stacking Adventures episode without a little debate, a little reminiscing, and a whole lot of questionable opinions on pizza slicing?

🍰 Twinkies Trivia: A Deep-Dive into the Snack That Never Dies – Have scientists unlocked the secret of Twinkie immortality? More importantly, should Twinkies be considered part of a solid financial plan? (Spoiler: probably not, but let’s discuss.)

📢 Stacker Questions & Community Fun – Helping a listener navigate dual residency tax headaches + a special meetup announcement!

Takeaways for Smart Stackers:

✅ If it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam. Seriously. Trust your gut, not the email from "Prince Jeff of Nigeria."

✅ Your finances need monitoring, just like your snack stash. Set up credit alerts and check your accounts weekly to avoid surprises.

✅ Moving states for tax savings? Do the math first. Dual residency isn’t always the loophole people think it is.

✅ Twinkies may last forever, but financial security requires maintenance. A solid money plan beats a stockpile of snacks (but only slightly).

🎧 Hit play now for a mix of financial wisdom, scam-prevention tips, and just the right amount of Twinkie-fueled fun!

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Redefining Retirement with Benjamin Brandt (SB1639) Feb 03, 2025

Retirement planning isn’t about waiting until 65—it’s about setting yourself up for a life you love starting right now! Today, Certified Financial Planner Benjamin Brant joins us to challenge traditional retirement thinking.

What We Cover:

✅ Retirement planning starts now, not later – Why waiting to plan is the biggest mistake you can make.

✅ Dream big, but expect some ‘bad data’ – How testing financial plans (and life plans!) helps you refine your future.

✅ Why trust beats performance in financial planning – A new study shows that your advisor’s returns matter less than their integrity.

✅ The Monte Carlo simulation debate – What this financial tool actually tells you (and what it doesn’t).

✅ Childhood dreams, stand-up comedy, and time travel? – How revisiting past joys can shape a meaningful retirement.

✅ Choosing the right financial advisor – The #1 factor to look for before handing over your portfolio.

Key Takeaways:

💡 Retirement isn’t a number—it’s a mindset. The earlier you start thinking about what brings you joy, the better.

💡 Financial planning isn’t perfect science. Bad data, trial-and-error, and adjusting your plan over time? Totally normal.

💡 Trust is your biggest investment. A good financial advisor isn’t just about returns—they’re about guidance you can rely on.

Grab your favorite drink (coffee, bourbon—you choose!) and let’s stack some wisdom for your future self.

🎧 Hit play now and start building your best retirement today!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/find-your-fulfillment-in-retirement-Benjamin-Brandt-1639

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The Case Against Early Retirement (SB1638) Jan 31, 2025

Ever dreamt of quitting your job early and sipping piña coladas on a beach? Before you tell your boss what to do with that job and start booking your one-way ticket to paradise, today’s roundtable might make you think twice. Join Jesse Cramer from The Best Interest, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our own OG as they break down the case against early retirement. The gang’s here to challenge the “quit work, retire early” dream and explore whether it’s really as awesome as it sounds—or if there are a few catches you haven’t considered.

The conversation gets into the nitty-gritty of why early retirement might not be the smooth ride some people think it is. From the psychological toll of too much free time to the unexpected financial hurdles, our panelists share the real stories behind the headlines. What’s the balance between financial freedom and a fulfilling life? Can you really retire early without regret, or does the cost of quitting work too soon outweigh the benefits?

And don’t forget about Doug’s wicked trivia challenge!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-case-against-early-retirement-1638

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Unpacking a Rare Vanguard Target Date Fund Problem (SB1637) Jan 29, 2025

Ever wondered if you’re better off building your own target date fund instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all option? We’re diving into whether crafting your own investment mix is worth the effort, potentially saving you fees and giving you more control over your portfolio.

But even the pros get it wrong sometimes—just ask Vanguard. We’re covering the major settlement they’re facing over misleading statements about taxes and target date funds, proving that even the big guys make costly mistakes.

Meanwhile, a listener asks a great question about balancing tax optimization with financial flexibility—because what good is a perfectly tax-efficient plan if it ties your hands when you need cash? Plus, Doug takes us back to the origins of the gasoline-driven automobile, and there’s even an unexpected run-in with a Supreme Court justice (because why not?).

And of course, we’ve got a TikTok moment that’ll have you questioning life choices and a few financial misconceptions that might just make you rethink your approach to money.

What’s Inside Today’s Episode:

Vanguard’s Costly Mistake: The settlement every investor should know about.
Understanding Mutual Fund Taxes: How taxes sneak up on your investments.
DIY Target Date Funds: Pros, cons, and when to consider building your own.
Trivia Time with Doug: The surprising story behind the gasoline-driven car.
The TikTok Minute: Financial advice that may (or may not) be worth your time.
Financial Flexibility vs. Tax Optimization: Finding the balance in your strategy.
Community Announcements & Meetups: Where to find us next.

Episode Highlights:

Vanguard’s Legal Trouble: What happened, and what it means for investors.
Mutual Fund Taxation: Avoiding unexpected tax bills.
Should You Build Your Own Target Date Fund? We break down the numbers.
Listener Q&A: How to stay tax-efficient while keeping access to your cash.
Doug’s Trivia: Who REALLY built the first gasoline-powered car?
An Unexpected Supreme Court Encounter: Because that’s just how things go around here.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Learn more about Vanguard’s target date fund settlement in our show notes: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/vanguard-target-retirement-trouble-1637
Read up on mutual fund tax strategies and more by signing up for our 201 newsletter! https://stackingbenjamins.com/201

Tune in now and get the insights you need to build a smarter investment strategy—without falling into costly traps.

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Is Your Brain Blocking Your Financial Goals? (with Jessica Moorhouse) SB1636 Jan 27, 2025

What’s really standing between you and your financial goals? In today’s mentor, Jessica Moorhouse—financial counselor, podcast host, and author of Everything But Money—joins Joe to dive into the mental and emotional side of managing money. Jessica shares her journey with therapy, how relationships shape our financial habits, and the role of self-talk in creating a healthier money mindset. Whether you’re feeling stuck or just want a fresh perspective, this interview offers practical tools to help you take control of your financial future.

In our headline segment, we explore the concept of a “no-buy” list—a clever strategy one woman used to pay off $34,000 in debt. Learn how gamifying financial goals can make saving more manageable—and even fun! Whether it’s cutting back on unnecessary spending or finding creative ways to save, this segment will inspire you to rethink how you approach your financial challenges.

Here’s what we cover today:

Saluting our troops—and wondering why Doug still doesn’t have a Navy Federal mug
Meet Jessica Moorhouse: Financial counselor, podcast host, and author of Everything But Money
Unlocking the connection between your money mindset and financial success with Jessica
How Jessica’s personal journey and therapy shaped her healthier money mindset
Unpacking how emotions and relationships impact financial habits
Understanding rational vs. irrational guilt—and how it affects your money decisions
Recognizing irrational guilt and why it’s critical to tackle it
Celebrating financial wins and overcoming the fear that holds you back
Jessica’s book Everything But Money—and why it’s a must-read for anyone improving their financial mindset
Sneak peek: What’s next on the More Money Podcast with Jessica Moorhouse
Doug’s historical trivia: Financial lessons from the past
Gamifying financial goals: Make saving and investing fun and rewarding
Real-life success stories: The No Buy Challenge and how it helped pay off $34,000 in debt
Join our community: Upcoming meetups and ways to get involved
Final thoughts and takeaways: Simple actions you can start today to improve your financial mindset

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/changing-your-money-self-talk-jessica-moorhouse-1636

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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These Are Our Community's Biggest Money Monsters (SB1635) Jan 24, 2025

Do financial boogeymen haunt your dreams? You’re not alone. Today, we’re diving into the worries that keep even the most seasoned finance nerds up at night. From concerns about index fund concentration to the fear of market manipulation and obsession with asset allocation, this episode tackles it all with insight and a healthy dose of perspective.

Joining Joe and OG in the basement is an all-star panel: Paula Pant from Afford Anything, Jesse Cramer from Best Interest, and Dr. Jordan Grumet from Earn and Invest. Together, they’ll share strategies to conquer financial fears by staying calm, focusing on the big picture, and sticking to sound investment principles.

And don’t miss the kickoff of the year-long Stacking Benjamins Trivia Challenge! It’s packed with brain-busting questions, lively debates, and, yes, the occasional cat butt reference (because it’s still the basement, after all).

What’s Inside Today’s Episode:

Meet the Contributors: Paula, Jesse, and Dr. Grumet join the crew.
Index Fund Concentration: Are index funds too risky? The panel weighs in.
Addressing Financial Fears: From market scams to fraud and manipulation, here’s how to keep your cool.
Trivia Challenge Kickoff: A brand-new Stacking Benjamins tradition begins.
Market Efficiency and Insider Trading: Can you really beat the market?
Asset Allocation Obsession: Why overthinking your portfolio can be your worst enemy.
Upcoming Episodes: What’s next on the Stacking Benjamins calendar?

Highlights from the Episode:

Index Fund Concentration: The crew discusses whether having too much of the market in a few big players is a recipe for disaster.
Financial Fears: Practical advice for keeping anxiety at bay when market volatility hits.
Market Scams and Frauds: How to spot them and protect yourself.
Trivia Time: A heated debate over billionaire counts, complete with unforgettable banter.
Asset Allocation: Tips for avoiding paralysis by analysis and focusing on long-term strategies.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Learn more from Paula Pant at Afford Anything.
Explore Jesse Cramer’s insights at Best Interest.
Dive into Dr. Jordan Grumet’s conversations at Earn and Invest.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/financial-worries-and-what-to-do-about-it-1635

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

Tune in now and learn how to leave your financial fears in the dust while keeping your money goals on track.

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Can You Find More Cheddar By Navigating Volatile Markets? (SB1634) Jan 22, 2025

Feeling like the stock market is a high-stakes game of pinball lately? Not sure how to steady your hand when it comes to retirement accounts? In this episode, we tackle the rollercoaster of market volatility with actionable strategies to keep your retirement plans on track. Learn how to create an Investment Policy Statement, whether a Roth IRA still deserves a spot in your portfolio, and smart ways to withdraw from retirement funds without triggering costly mistakes. Plus, discover why trying to time the market is like predicting the weather with a Magic 8-Ball.

Doug shares a tale involving a Chinese couple and some financial advice that’s worth sticking around for. Whether you’re building financial independence or refining your retirement strategy, this episode has you covered.

What We Cover Today:

Market Rollercoaster Madness: Stock, Bitcoin, and why patience pays off.
Creating an Investment Policy Statement: Stay calm and strategy on.
Listener Q&A: Chris from Georgia asks about retirement withdrawals.
Roth IRA Reboot: Is it still a go-to for your portfolio?
Financial Headlines: Why tuning out the noise can save your sanity.
Trivia Time with Doug: A historical nugget tied to financial wisdom.

Highlights from the Episode:

Market Volatility Analysis: Stocks and Bitcoin – what’s up, what’s down, and what you should do about it.
Listener Question: Tapping retirement accounts – the dos, don’ts, and what-ifs.
Investment Philosophy: Why having a policy statement is the ultimate stress reliever.
TikTok Minute: A social media take that’ll have you rethinking the advice you see online.
New Year’s Resolutions: Money nicknames, quirky goals, and strategies for staying on track.
Closing Remarks: Key takeaways to help guide your financial decisions.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Sign up for our Free Weekly Newsletter for insights, tips, and resources: https://stackingbenjamins.com/201
Join us at our Upcoming Meetups to connect and learn more: https://stackingbenjamins.com/meetup.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/stock-market-volatility-beginning-of-2025-1634

Tune in now and take the first step toward turning market madness into financial confidence.

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Navigating Debt, Crypto Scams, and Social Media's Wild West (with Natalia Brown) SB1633 SB Jan 20, 2025

Feeling overwhelmed by debt or unsure how to navigate the fast-paced world of financial advice online? We’ve got you covered! This episode features Debt Relief Advocate Natalia Brown from National Debt Relief, who shares practical tips to climb out of financial trouble and steer clear of predatory practices.

But that’s not all—we dive into the Wild West of TikTok crypto advice, where nearly 70% of content is misleading enough to derail your financial plans. Joe and OG break it all down with their trademark insight, helping you sort fact from fiction in the world of digital finance.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Tackling Debt: Natalia Brown’s strategies for overcoming financial stress and avoiding common traps.
Crypto Caution: Why TikTok might not be the best place for your financial advice (and what to watch out for).
Credit vs. Stability: The difference between obsessing over credit scores and focusing on long-term financial health.
Digital Disclaimers: How transparency (or lack thereof) online can impact your wallet.

And of course, no episode is complete without Doug’s trivia to keep things lively and unpredictable. Whether you’re tackling debt, dabbling in crypto, or just trying to stay informed, this episode will leave you with actionable advice and a fresh perspective on navigating today’s financial challenges.

Tune in and take the first step toward a more confident financial future!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-eliminate-debt-once-and-for-all-natalia-brown-1633

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Our Magic 8 Ball Predicts Our Financial Future (SB1632) Jan 17, 2025

Ready to ring in the new year with a twist? On this episode of Stacking Benjamins, we consult the one and only Magic 8-Ball to make our bold predictions for 2025. Will the stock market be riding high, or is it headed for a tumble? What’s next for Bitcoin, and can Taylor Swift’s love life predict the future? Join Joe, OG, Len Penzo, and Mindy Jensen as they tap into the 8-Ball’s mystical power (or maybe just have a laugh trying) to forecast the year ahead.

But before we get too caught up in the crystal ball, we take a look back at last year’s predictions. The 8-Ball hit some big marks, like predicting Nvidia’s rise, but it also missed a few. Along the way, Mindy shares her early (and hilarious) experience with Berkshire Hathaway, sparking a fun conversation about investing wisdom. And of course, Len brings his signature humor, diving into everything from crypto to drones to the wild world of Taylor Swift fandom.

If you’re in the mood for financial insights, pop culture predictions, and a whole lot of fun, this episode is for you. Whether the Magic 8-Ball is on the money or way off the mark, you won’t want to miss our 2025 forecast. Grab your popcorn, sit back, and join us for an episode packed with surprises!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-2024-recap-2025-predictions-1632

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Live For Today? Lessons from Oversavers (SB1631) Jan 15, 2025

Can you save too much? Spoiler alert: absolutely. On today’s episode, Joe, OG, and Neighbor Doug tackle a financial pitfall many Stackers don’t think about—oversaving. Yes, socking away cash for the future is important, but at what cost? People often work extra hours, miss family dinners, skip vacations, and end up with regret instead of memories. The real tragedy? You can’t deposit lost time back into your bank account.

We’ll share stories of people who saved so much they missed out on the life they were saving for, and we’ll dive into strategies to strike a better balance. From stress-testing your financial plan to understanding your personal inflation rate, we’ve got the tools to help you live for today and plan for tomorrow. And of course, we’ve got Doug’s trivia, a TikTok minute that might make you laugh out loud, and plenty of basement banter to keep things light.

What’s Inside This Episode

Opening: Joe, OG, and Doug kick things off with a mix of jokes, announcements, and OG’s latest attempt to seem cooler than he is.
The Real Cost of Oversaving: Stories of people who worked too hard, saved too much, and missed the moments that really mattered.
How to Avoid Regret: Strategies to prioritize both your financial goals and your quality of life.
Taking Breaks to Save Your Sanity: Burnout isn’t just bad for your mental health—it’s bad for your wallet too.
The TikTok Minute: Doug’s take on energy conservation (or as he calls it, “saving money with style”).
Trivia Time: Doug’s question of the day—proof that you never stop learning in the basement.
Listener Question: How do you plan for retirement when inflation keeps messing with the math? Joe and OG break it down.
Stress-Testing Your Financial Plan: Find the cracks now, so your future self doesn’t have to.
Amazon Purchases vs. Amazon Stock: A fun exercise that might make you rethink those impulse buys—or laugh at them, at least.
Wrapping Up: Final thoughts, laughs, and a classic basement sendoff.

Don’t Miss

Why the “save everything” mentality can lead to serious regret—and how to avoid it.
A hilarious dinner story involving Joe’s nephews and a lesson in why you never leave Doug in charge of the menu.
A nod to Hell or High Water—because what’s a day in the basement without a classic callback?

Join the Fun

Ever feel like you’re missing out because you’re too focused on saving? Share your story with us, and let’s talk about finding that perfect balance. And don’t forget to tune in on Friday for more laughs, lessons, and, of course, Doug’s dubious wisdom.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/are-you-saving-too-much-for-retirement-1631

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Taking Control of Your Life and Finances (with Anthony O'Neal) SB1630 Jan 13, 2025

Feeling like life’s demands have you tied up in knots while your financial future seems like a moving target? Time to take charge! Today in the basement, Anthony O'Neill pulls up a chair and shows you how to claim the head seat at your own table. He breaks down the power of having a personal vision, making intentional decisions that align with your goals, and being a stellar steward of your time and opportunities.

But that’s not all—we’re looking ahead with some of the biggest names in tech. What do Bill Gates, Sam Altman, and other visionaries think 2025 will bring? (Spoiler alert: AI isn’t just for sci-fi anymore.) We’ll chat about how these changes will impact your work life and share some practical steps to stay ahead.

And because life isn’t just about finances, the crew wraps things up with their latest binge-worthy TV and movie picks. It’s time to stack your entertainment queue as high as your Benjamins.

What’s Inside This Episode

🎙️ Texarkana Vibes: A chilly morning, winter woes, and Doug’s favorite Mickey Mouse mug.
🌟 Anthony O’Neill’s Vision: Practical tips to align your financial and personal goals.
🛠️ Stewardship 101: Why managing your opportunities well is a game-changer.
🤖 2025 Tech Predictions: How AI might reshape your work life and what to do now to stay ahead.
🎥 Entertainment Corner: The gang’s TV and movie picks to keep you entertained.

Episode Highlights

Winter kicks off with Texarkana shivers, travel plans, and Doug waxing poetic about his mug collection.
Anthony O’Neill’s advice: Learn how to take control of your life by building a clear personal vision and aligning your goals with your actions.
The importance of stewardship: Make the most of your opportunities and turn them into stepping stones for success.
A tech-driven future: Bill Gates, Sam Altman, and other leaders weigh in on AI’s role in shaping the workplace of 2025.
Fear and finances: How fear might be holding you back and ways to overcome it.
Basement banter: A round-up of the crew’s current TV and movie obsessions.

Want More?

Anthony O'Neal shares details about his exciting new project, Take Your Seat at the Table, plus some special offers just for you. And of course, Doug treats us to one of his legendary historical anecdotes (did he mention he’s a trivia champ?).

Stack Your Listening Queue

This episode is packed tighter than Mom’s basement freezer. Whether you're looking for financial wisdom, tech trends, or just some good laughs with the crew, we’ve got you covered. Pull up a chair—there’s always room at the table in the basement.

The link to Anthony's book: https://stackingbenjamins.com/takecontrol

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/define-your-purpose-in-life-anthony-oneal-1630

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Avoid These Financial Blunders in 2025 with Smart Money Moves (SB1629) Jan 10, 2025

Feeling a little queasy about your financial plans for 2025? Fear not! Today, Joe steps out of the cozy basement and straight into the bustling chaos of Manhattan to bring you top-tier advice from some of the brightest financial minds. Joined by Paula Pant from Afford Anything, Nick Magiulli, author of the Of Dollars and Data blog, and Doc G from the Earn & Invest Podcast, this powerhouse panel digs into the money missteps you’ll want to dodge in the year ahead.

From tackling FOMO in investments to learning why small, consistent changes are your financial BFFs, this episode is packed with practical tips to help you make 2025 a year of smart money moves (and fewer facepalms).

What’s Inside:

Meet our stellar guests and hear how New York City inspired their financial insights.
Discover why chasing the next big investment trend could leave you behind.
Learn how an investment policy statement can keep your goals on track.
Avoid analysis paralysis when market uncertainty strikes.
Uncover strategies to navigate political uncertainty without losing sleep (or cash).
Dive into real estate trends, historical data, and staying focused on what you can control.
Understand the power of spending on what truly matters to you.
Find out why gradual changes beat impulsive overhauls every time.
Learn how doubling down on bad decisions is like hitting a pothole and accelerating instead of swerving.

Episode Highlights:

Meet the Guests: Get to know Paula Pant, Nick Magiulli, and Doc G as they join Joe in the Big Apple for some big-time financial lessons.
NYC Moments: Joe shares a peek into his adventures in Manhattan—yes, it’s a jungle out there.
Investment FOMO: Why chasing trends could cost you (and how to avoid it).
Building an Investment Policy Statement: Your GPS for financial decision-making.
Analysis Paralysis: How to keep market fears from freezing your progress.
Navigating Political Uncertainty: Keep your portfolio calm, even when headlines aren’t.
Spending Smarter: Align your money with what you value most.
Gradual Wins: Why slow and steady wins the financial race every time.
Bad Decisions: How to recognize when you’re doubling down and when to hit the brakes.

🎧 Ready to make 2025 your best financial year yet? Tune in now to stack smarter, avoid the pitfalls, and get inspired to crush your goals!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/stacker-money-mistakes-nyc-1629

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Finding Little P Purpose: A Conversation with Dr. Jordan Grumet (SB1628) Jan 08, 2025

Does finding purpose in life feel overwhelming? What if you didn’t need a “grand” purpose to find meaning? Today, Dr. Jordan Grumet (AKA Doc G) joins us to explore the concept of “little P” purpose—those smaller, everyday moments that bring joy and fulfillment. From Julia Child’s journey to surprising stories of purpose in unexpected places, this episode will inspire you to find meaning right where you are.

Here’s what we cover:

Little P Purpose: How focusing on smaller, intentional acts can enrich your life.

Purpose vs. Meaning: The difference, why it matters, and how it impacts your happiness.

Doc G’s Journey: His personal insights on combating purpose anxiety and finding fulfillment.

Julia Child and Beyond: Inspiring stories of people who embraced purpose at any stage of life.

In headlines, we dive into 2025’s new tax brackets and savings limits—because a purposeful life is even better with a solid financial foundation. And don’t miss Doug’s trivia and some hilarious (and heartwarming) gift stories to round out the episode.

Tune in for an uplifting mix of inspiration, financial insights, and a few surprises along the way!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How to Buy What You Love Without Going Broke in 2025 (SB1627) Jan 06, 2025

What if you could spend guilt-free on what you love and keep your finances on track? In this episode, we’re joined by Jen and Jill from the Frugal Friends podcast to break down how to live frugally without crossing the line into being cheap.

Frugal living isn’t about deprivation—it’s about prioritizing your spending on what truly lights you up while cutting back on the things that don’t. Jen and Jill share practical strategies to help you:

Identify the difference between frugal and cheap decisions.
Build a spending plan that aligns with your values and goals.
Use budgeting as a tool for joy, not restriction.

But that’s not all. We also explore:

The hidden dangers of compulsive trading and its growing impact on investors.
Doug’s deep dive into his Amazon spending history—prepare for a laugh and a wake-up call.

Whether you’re looking to reframe your relationship with money or simply want to enjoy what you love without breaking the bank, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you crush your financial goals in 2025.

Tune in and learn how to master the art of intentional spending!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-shun-consumerism-1627

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How To Make $100M Dollars in 2025 - Part 2 (with Alex Hormozi) SB1626 Jan 03, 2025

What’s the secret to growing your income? In part two of our conversation with business dynamo Alex Hormozi, we explore the mindset shifts, skill-building tactics, and high-impact strategies that can take your earning potential to the next level. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or climbing the corporate ladder, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you crush your 2025 financial goals.

Here’s what we cover:

Focusing on what matters: How core activities with high ROI can eliminate unnecessary tasks.
Stacking skills strategically: Love what you do? Build on it to stand out and earn more.
Taking advice wisely: Only listen to people who actually have what you want.
Risk and failure: Why calculated risks and learning from mistakes are non-negotiable for success.
Value exchange: The underrated power of bartering, mentorship, and creating systems.

Alex also shares how entrepreneurial lessons apply to 9-to-5 jobs, why becoming the go-to person makes you indispensable, and the value of long-term thinking when building teams.

Ready to transform your approach to income growth? Tune in and start stacking those Benjamins with bold moves and proven tactics!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/alex-hormozi-part-2-1626/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How To Make $100M Dollars in 2025 (with Alex Hormozi) SB1625 Jan 01, 2025

What would you do with $100 million a year? Today, we unpack Joe’s insightful conversation with business mogul Alex Hormozi, who breaks down the steps to massively increasing your income. Spoiler alert: It’s not about clipping coupons—it’s about thinking bigger, stacking the right skills, and taking strategic risks.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or rocking it in a 9-to-5, Alex shares:

How to identify high-leverage opportunities to grow your income.
The art of negotiating for more value, no matter your role.
Why maximizing your life is more impactful than endlessly optimizing it.
The importance of “10x thinking” and making transformative decisions.
How stacking skills can set you apart and skyrocket your earning potential.

Get ready to shake up your 2025 game plan and rethink how you approach earning, saving, and living larger. Don’t just settle for incremental improvements—this episode is your guide to big moves.

It's time to unlock your potential and build a bigger stack!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbedndjamins.com/alex-hormozi-part-1-1625

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Building a Billion Dollar Empire with Ryan Serhant (SB1624) Dec 30, 2024

How do you go from a struggling actor to the top of the real estate world? Rounding out our greatest hits week of epic shows, we time travel back to when Ryan Serhant, star of Million Dollar Listing New York and the new Netflix series Owning Manhattan, shared his journey from rock bottom to building a billion-dollar real estate empire. In this episode, Ryan reveals how juggling multiple priorities, embracing initiative, and even practicing improv can transform your sales game and your life.

But that’s not all! We also dive into using reward points for 529 plans, the risks of banking perks, and how to balance saving for college with planning for retirement. Along the way, we sprinkle in stories, insights, and a little basement-style charm to keep you engaged.

Here’s what we cover:

Ryan Serhant's pivot from struggling actor to real estate mogul
Sales tips, including the art of listening and making friends quickly
Why improv can make you a better salesperson
Insights from Ryan's new Netflix series, Owning Manhattan
Lessons from Tiger Woods and other high performers
Reward points and their role in funding 529 plans
The potential pitfalls of banking perks
Balancing college savings with retirement goals
Emergency funds and FAFSA tips

Whether you’re looking for career inspiration, financial insights, or a reason to laugh, this episode has you covered. Tune in and stack your knowledge with us!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zero-to-million-dollar-listings-ryan-serhant-greatest-hits-week-1624/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Paul Merriman Builds Your Million-Dollar Roadmap to Success (SB1623) Dec 27, 2024

What’s the secret to turning small, consistent actions into million-dollar results? Legendary financial educator Paul Merriman joins the basement crew to share his powerful principles for building wealth, including the critical role of diversification and the magic of target date funds. Whether you’re just starting or refining your portfolio, Paul’s advice is packed with actionable strategies to help you reach your financial goals.

This episode doesn’t stop there. We tackle the pros and cons of non-traded REITs, decode the SEC’s new push for investor transparency, and dive into an intriguing audience question: is rebalancing your portfolio really necessary? Of course, we sprinkle in some trademark basement banter to keep things lively.

Here’s what we cover:

Paul Merriman's top wealth-building principles
The pros and cons of non-traded REITs
How the SEC's new initiative aims to help investors
Why diversification is the only free lunch in investing
The power of target date funds for long-term success
Stocks vs. bonds: finding the right mix for your portfolio
Is rebalancing your portfolio necessary?
The importance of starting early and staying consistent

Whether you’re here for the financial wisdom or the banter from Mom’s basement, this episode will leave you better equipped to make smarter money moves. Let’s get stacking!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/5-million-dollar-ideas-paul-merriman-greatest-hits-1623/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Zoe Chance Shows You How Influence Is Your Superpower (SB1622) Dec 26, 2024

For this next installment to this edition of our Greatest Hits Week, we throw it back to a conversation Joe had with Zoe Chance about how to make influence your superpower.

Do you ever feel like you just don’t have much influence over others? Not in a negative way, but in a way where you wish people would truly hear you. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and re-evaluate what we are trying to accomplish. Zoe Chance is an expert in influence and is an Assistant Professor at Yale. She joins us today to share her secrets to positive influence and happiness. She talks about the power of ‘no’, charisma, and my favorite, the Kindly Brontosaurus technique.

During our headline segment, we dive into longevity in financial planning. As people start living longer, what adjustments need to be made to financial plans? We talk about retirement planning and allocations as it relates to living longer lives. We also help answer Jenna’s question about saving or spending HSA dollars and Doug shares his influential trivia.

This episode originally aired on February 23, 2022. Please disregard any mention of current events.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/make-influence-your-superpower-greatest-hits-week-1622/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Beyond the Numbers: James Rhee's Recipe for Success through Kindness (SB1621) Dec 25, 2024

How can kindness and a little math transform not just a company but an entire outlook on life? In this episode, we’re joined by James Rhee, who shares his remarkable journey from venture capitalist to CEO of a company dedicated to inclusivity and empowerment for plus-size Black women. James opens up about the values instilled by his Korean immigrant parents, the challenges of reviving a struggling business, and how empathy and cultural understanding can create impactful, lasting change.

James also shares his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the power of kindness in decision-making and the surprising role of math in driving meaningful progress. From the red helicopter story to his thoughts on the importance of liberal arts education, James’ perspective is a refreshing reminder that true success starts with leading from the heart.

On the financial side, Joe and OG tackle a listener’s question about mortgage recasting, explaining the differences between lowering monthly payments and paying down principal, and why understanding your financial goals is crucial. They also dive into wedding spending trends, including tips for managing costs without sacrificing the celebration.

And because it’s the holiday season, the episode wouldn’t be complete without warm, festive stories. Joe and OG reminisce about early Christmas mornings, favorite holiday traditions, and the unexpected joys of giving (and receiving).

What You’ll Learn Today:

Leadership lessons from James Rhee, including the role of kindness and cultural understanding in personal and professional success.
How recasting a mortgage works, when it makes sense, and how to align it with your goals.
Practical strategies for managing wedding budgets and navigating the financial burden of attending events.
Why intentionality is the key to handling major financial milestones.

Episode Highlights:

James Rhee’s journey from venture capitalist to CEO and his focus on empowering plus-size Black women.
The power of kindness and math in leadership, with personal stories from James’ upbringing and career.
Wedding spending trends, budgeting tips, and financial advice for planning big events.
Joe and OG’s take on mortgage recasting and how to approach it strategically.
Festive Christmas morning memories and holiday traditions.

Why You Should Listen:

Whether you’re looking for leadership inspiration, practical financial advice, or just a little holiday cheer, this episode has something for everyone. James Rhee’s story will leave you inspired to lead with kindness, while Joe and OG’s financial insights will help you tackle your goals with confidence—and maybe a few laughs along the way.

Kindness and intentionality can change your finances—and your life. Tune in to this inspiring episode and make it a holiday season to remember.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/beyond-the-numbers-james-rhee-success-through-kindness-greatest-hits-1621/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Doug and the Three Ghosts: A Financial Holiday Tale (SB1620) Dec 24, 2024

What happens when Doug gets visited by three ghosts in the basement? A classic holiday story gets a Stacking Benjamins twist in this special episode. Inspired by A Christmas Carol, we explore lessons from the past, present, and future to help you make smarter money moves.

From learning to avoid past financial missteps to balancing life’s experiences with your financial goals, this episode blends memorable storytelling with practical advice. Along the way, Joe, OG, and Doug serve up clever banter, unexpected insights, and strategies you can put into action to ensure your finances stay merry and bright.

What You’ll Learn Today:

How reflecting on financial mistakes can help shape smarter decisions.
The importance of balancing money with life experiences in the present.
Why intentionality and automation are the secret weapons for future financial success.
Practical strategies to avoid the consequences of inaction.

Episode Highlights:

The team kicks off by debating the best versions of A Christmas Carol.
Doug’s journey begins with a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, offering lessons on overcoming financial missteps.
The Ghost of Christmas Present emphasizes being mindful of your current financial habits and enjoying life without overindulgence.
The Ghost of Christmas Future shows why planning and automating your finances now can save you from future regret.
Practical advice on setting short- and long-term goals, creating financial intentionality, and balancing fun with financial responsibility.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’ve ever felt haunted by past money decisions, unsure about how to balance saving with spending, or overwhelmed by future financial planning, this episode is for you. It’s a thoughtful, engaging, and surprisingly relatable take on holiday classics—with plenty of tips to ensure your financial wellness story has a happy ending.

Gather around, grab some eggnog, and join us for a holiday tale that’ll leave you inspired to tackle your finances with clarity and purpose.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/doug-and-the-three-ghosts-1620

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Balancing End of Year Cheer With Your Long Term Goals (SB1619) Dec 23, 2024

The holiday season is here, and while it’s a time for celebration, it can also throw a curveball at your health and financial goals. In this episode, we’re joined by Angelo Poli from MetPro, who shares his no-nonsense approach to managing holiday indulgences without sacrificing all the progress you’ve made. Think of it as building a resilient portfolio—you can enjoy the party but still limit the downside.

From understanding your metabolism to navigating holiday feasts and weight loss medications like Ozempic, Angelo offers practical strategies to keep your health on track while enjoying the season. But we’re not stopping there. We also dive into estate planning essentials, including a cautionary tale about a video will gone wrong (yes, even your estate plan needs a solid foundation).

And what’s a holiday episode without some laughs and trivia? We round out the show with listener questions, Nick from the North’s budget dilemma, and a fun discussion about flying around the world.

What You’ll Learn Today:

Smart strategies for balancing holiday cheer with health goals, including tips for managing alcohol and indulgent foods.
How to leverage your metabolism for better weight management.
The truth about weight loss medications and their real-life impact.
Why estate planning matters more than ever in the digital age—and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Practical advice for navigating holiday spending without blowing your budget.

Episode Highlights:

Reflecting on how fast time flies and gearing up for the holidays.
Angelo Poli’s top tips for keeping holiday indulgences in check.
Breaking down myths about weight loss medications and the importance of behavior over quick fixes.
Estate planning essentials, including lessons from a case where a video will was invalidated.
Fun banter, trivia, and Nick from the North’s relatable holiday budget dilemma.

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must for anyone juggling holiday festivities with long-term goals. Whether you’re strategizing for your health, wealth, or estate plan, you’ll find actionable advice wrapped in a festive package. Plus, it’s always good to know how to enjoy the season without feeling like you’ve set yourself back.

Take control of your holiday season and start stacking those Benjamins—without sacrificing the things you enjoy most.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/balancing-holiday-cheer-with-your-long-term-goals-1619

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Did 2024 Just Rewrite the Rules of Investing? (SB1618) Dec 20, 2024

As 2024 winds down, we’re taking a look back at the year that was—its challenges, its surprises, and the financial lessons we’ve all had to learn (sometimes the hard way). Whether you’re strategizing for big goals in 2025, making sense of unpredictable markets, or just trying to stay one step ahead of inflation, this episode has you covered.

We’ve assembled a powerhouse panel of financial thinkers—OG, Paula Pant, and Jesse Cramer—to break it all down. Together, they tackle everything from the unpredictable influence of AI on markets and investing to the surprising resilience of real estate in the face of rising interest rates. Plus, they explore the year’s most intriguing (and occasionally jaw-dropping) headlines, like the impact of significant economic shifts and even the infamous United Healthcare CEO murder.

Why You’ll Want to Tune In:

Discover how 2024’s biggest events, including the AI revolution and shifting inflation trends, impact your wallet.
Learn why patience and adaptability are critical tools for navigating market volatility.
Get actionable strategies for tackling real-life financial challenges, like managing interest rates and planning for 2025.

Episode Highlights:

Reflecting on the big financial lessons of 2024: From AI in market behavior to Bitcoin’s latest chapter.
How the crypto craze evolved this year—and what it means for the future.
The ongoing unpredictability of investing and how to stay grounded.
Surprising lessons from corporate America’s headlines, including shocking events like the United Healthcare CEO murder.
Inflation, real estate, and housing market realities: What it all means for your plans in 2025.
How AI is reshaping everyday life, job markets, and even podcasting.

Our Panel’s Key Takeaways:

OG shares portfolio management strategies to help you ride out market uncertainty.

Paula Pant unpacks real estate trends and the importance of designing a life you love.

Jesse Cramer dives into how behavioral finance plays into today’s fast-changing landscape.

Looking Ahead:

As we close out another exciting year of The Stacking Benjamins Show, we want to thank you, our loyal Stackers, for joining us on this journey. In 2025, we’re bringing even more fresh takes, insightful interviews, and, of course, the best money advice disguised as good conversation.

What’s Coming in 2025:

We’ll dive into the latest financial trends, explore groundbreaking stories, and keep helping you make smarter money moves while keeping it entertaining. Stick with us as we continue stacking those Benjamins—and maybe even have a little fun along the way.

Thank you for being part of the Stacking Benjamins community. Here’s to another year of learning, laughing, and leveling up your financial life!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/2024-year-end-review-1618

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Eight Strategies to Conquer Holiday Budget Overload (SB1617) Dec 18, 2024

Feeling like your wallet’s taking a holiday beating? Don’t sweat it. We’ve got eight clever strategies to keep your spending in check and set yourself up for a financially stronger new year.

But wait—there’s more! We uncover the mind-blowing story of a 29-year-old living large in a mansion filled with luxury cars and Elton John's piano. What's his secret? (Hint: It’s not what you’d expect.)

And because we love answering Stackers' burning questions, we tackle a double feature:

Pensions: Are they still worth the hype?
Should you pay off your mortgage before retirement?

Sprinkle in some holiday stress hacks, thoughts on budget-friendly gift-giving, and why Tony the Tiger has something to do with the Grinch, and you've got a show packed with financial wisdom you can actually use.

Episode Highlights

How the Grinch Really Stole Christmas
Welcome to the Stacking Benjamins Show
Is Your Holiday Budget Already on Thin Ice?
8 Strategies to Tame Holiday Expenses
A Mansion, Luxury Cars, and Elton John’s Piano?
Handling Holiday Stress Without Losing It
Travel Plans & Navigating Holiday Spending
How to Leverage Debt (the Smart Way)
Get Kids Involved in the Budget—Yes, It’s Possible
Starting a 529 Plan? Why Family Might Help
Gift Strategies That Won’t Break the Bank
Today’s Date in History: Because Why Not?
TikTok Minute: The Mansion Story That Broke the Internet
Listener Questions: Pensions vs. Mortgages
Corrections Dept: Football Teams Need a Map
Final Thoughts and Big Takeaways

Whether you're taming holiday expenses, dreaming of mansion living, or just trying to get through December with your finances intact, this episode's got something for you. Tune in, take notes, and finish the year strong.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/sticking-to-your-financial-goals-during-holidays-1617/

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Ever Wondered Why Success is Just Out of Reach? (SB1616) Dec 16, 2024

Ever feel like you’re your own worst enemy when it comes to reaching a goal? Today, we sit down with Thais Gibson from the Personal Development School to explore how self-sabotage sneaks into our lives and—more importantly—how to kick it out for good. While you've maybe heard Thais on Mel Robbins or other shows, what you haven't heard is what we talk about today - how specifically she walks Joe through limiting beliefs and then outlines how it's done. Whether you've followed Thais' huge social media presence consistently or it's your first time with her, we know this will help you kick self-sabotage to the curb and get to work. From aligning your conscious and subconscious goals to overcoming limiting beliefs, this conversation is packed with actionable insights to help you get out of your own way.

But that’s not all. We also dive into a financial hot topic: influencer-backed crypto scams. Learn how a viral coin duped investors last week and why speculation isn’t the same as smart investing.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Stacking Benjamins episode without some holiday flair. Joe, OG, and Doug share festive mall memories, debate the best holiday tunes, and throw in some trivia to keep things lively.

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

Practical tips to recognize and overcome self-sabotage.
Eye-opening lessons on speculative investments and influencer-driven hype.
A nostalgic take on holiday mall culture. Remember that?

Episode Highlights:

Kicking off with holiday concerns and a satirical take on seasonal trends.
Festive mall memories: shopping chaos, holiday tunes, and the art of people-watching.
Thais Gibson’s insights on aligning conscious and subconscious goals to beat self-sabotage.
Turning resistance into opportunities and tackling the emotional costs of inaction.
Practical steps to rewire limiting beliefs and visualize success.
Lessons from a viral influencer’s crypto scam and the dangers of speculative investing.
Speculation vs. investing: Why it matters and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Holiday trivia fun and laughs with the Basement crew.

What You’ll Take Away:

Whether you’re looking to improve your mindset, steer clear of financial pitfalls, or just enjoy some holiday tunes, this episode offers a little something for everyone. Walk away with tools to set yourself up for success—mentally, financially, and maybe even musically (if Doug’s favorite holiday tune is your jam).

Keep the Conversation Going:

Have a story of self-sabotage you’ve overcome or a holiday memory to share? Join us in the Basement Facebook group to swap tips, laughs, and maybe a little holiday cheer.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/stop-self-sabotaging-thais-gibson-1616

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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What Truly Makes a Life Worth Living? SB1615 Dec 13, 2024

If your bank account is thriving, but your soul feels bankrupt, are you really living your best life?

Today we dive into the deep end of personal finance, tackling life's biggest questions. The discussion starts with festive neighborly rivalries (think over-the-top decorations and holiday antics) but transitions pretty quickly into an emotional exploration inspired by a powerful piece written by Jonathan Clements for his Humble Dollar blog. Reflecting on his cancer diagnosis and thoughts on mortality, Clements’ writing serves as a springboard for a candid roundtable chat about regrets, risk, and how to make the most of our limited time.

With additional insights from Paula Pant and Doc G, this episode is all about helping you live purposefully while keeping your financial house in order.

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

Explore how to balance financial strategies with meaningful life choices.
Gain perspective on managing regrets and making peace with life’s uncertainties.
Discover why generosity and appreciating the little things are the ultimate forms of wealth.

Episode Highlights:

Holiday hilarity: Over-the-top decorations, fish sticks, and birthday antics.
Jonathan Clements’ reflections on mortality and embracing the present moment.
Paula Pant and Doc G’s insights on purposeful living and financial balance.
Strategies for managing risk, reward, and estate planning challenges.
The transformative power of generosity and savoring simple joys.

Trivia Fun:

It’s the final trivia showdown of the year! Can OG claim victory, or will this be another epic trivia blunder? Tune in for the the guesses, and a few surprising facts.

Takeaways to Ponder:

Jonathan Clements’ reflections remind us that while building wealth is essential, so is living a life filled with purpose, generosity, and connection.

Resources Mentioned:

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going:

What’s your secret to balancing finances with a life well-lived? Share your thoughts with us in the Basement Facebook group, or tag us on social media.

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Holiday Ready? Essential Fire Safety to Save Lives and Cash! (SB1614) Dec 11, 2024

It’s a Festivus for the rest of us! This week, we’re mixing holiday cheer with must-know insights to keep your season merry, bright, and worry-free. Steve Kerber joins us from the Fire Safety Research Institute, who shares life-saving fire safety tips just in time for all those twinkling lights and candles. Because the best insurance is prevention, right? This year we're chatting about lithium-ion batteries and how explosive (literally) these can be for your holiday season if you aren't careful. We'll also chat about smoke alarms, closing your doors, and having an emergency exit plan in place!

But that’s not all—we’re also diving into why big Wall Street players are taking out loans they don’t need and how you can apply creative financing strategies to your own life. Plus, we answer a listener’s estate planning question that came up during their bedtime reading (we love multitasking). Sprinkle in some holiday trivia, debates over the best Christmas movies, and discussions on revocable trusts, and you’ve got a variety-packed episode that’s as fun as it is informative.

Episode Highlights:

Holiday fire safety tips from Steve Kerber, including new standards for smoke alarms and tips for handling lithium battery hazards.
Why having a solid fire escape plan is the ultimate prevention strategy.
How Wall Street’s creative financing trends can inspire you to rethink debt and financial flexibility.
Strategies for analyzing and managing debt like a CFO, just in time for the New Year.
Listener Q&A on estate planning, with practical advice on revocable trusts and holistic financial planning.
Holiday trivia, featuring quirky debates about the best Christmas movies—spoiler alert: “Die Hard” might come up.

Why You’ll Love This Episode:

It’s not every day you get a mix of life-saving fire tips, actionable financial strategies, and festive fun in one show. Whether you’re looking to keep your home safe, optimize your finances, or just get a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone.

Resource Mentioned:

BatteryFireSafety.org

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/fire-safety-tips-2024-steve-kerber-1614

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Don’t Forget:

Tell us your favorite holiday movie! Share your pick in the Basement Facebook group or tag us on social media. Who knows—you might just settle the debate once and for all.

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Do These 5 Financial Mistakes Sound Familiar? (SB1613) Dec 09, 2024

Do you dream of conquering your financial goals and achieving true financial independence? In this episode, we’re diving into five BIG mistakes people make along the way to financial glory with money coach Bernadette Joy, who paid off a staggering $300,000 in debt and locked in a work-optional life by age 40.

Along the way, we’ll explore the importance of managing your budget during the notoriously tricky holiday season, share actionable strategies to curate your accounts, and highlight the common mistakes that can derail even the best-laid financial plans. You’ll also hear the wild story of Richard Whitaker, whose pursuit of a too-good-to-be-true 15.25% return serves as a cautionary tale for us all.

Whether you’re looking to tackle debt, sharpen your budget, or avoid financial scams, this episode is packed with insights to help you stack smarter.

Episode Highlights

Kicking off with weekend escapes, Monday blues, and a salute to the armed forces
Nostalgic nods to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Welcoming Bernadette Joy and diving into her inspiring journey to financial freedom
Sharing personal stories and struggles that resonate with every money nerd
Breaking through financial barriers on the path to independence
Setting financial goals with inspiration from meeting Simone Biles
Why comparing success stories can derail your progress
The delicate dance between frugality and societal expectations
Staying grounded amidst the curated realities of social media
Avoiding the common mistake of giving unasked discounts
Why accepting debt as a long-term lifestyle is a trap
Choosing financial freedom over fear and hesitation
The importance of diverse perspectives in your financial advisory team
Preparing for the unexpected: Life events that test your financial foundation
Exploring and questioning investment opportunities like Yield Wealth
Understanding the gambler’s mentality and how it can lead to downfall
Practicing due diligence to avoid falling for scams
Lessons learned from the downfall of Yield Wealth and how to protect yourself
Announcements about upcoming events and opportunities to connect

This episode is a mix of relatable stories, practical advice, and lessons learned the hard way. Tune in to start crushing your money goals and avoiding financial pitfalls—one smart decision at a time.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/crush-your-2025-money-goals-bernadette-joy-1613

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Perfect Gifts for Financial Freedom Fans (SB1612) Dec 06, 2024

Are you still haunted by that Cleveland Browns jersey you never asked for? Or maybe you're on the hunt for the perfect gift for the money nerd in your life? Fear not! Joe, OG, Doug, Mindy Jensen (from BiggerPockets Money), and Jesse Cramer (from Best Interest) are here to save the day with a sleigh-full of gift ideas that won’t end up in next year’s white elephant exchange.

This episode is stuffed with creative ideas, from meaningful experiences and insightful book recommendations to practical subscriptions and quirky mugs that’ll light up the eyes of any financially savvy friend.

As the holiday banter flows, OG takes the trivia crown, and Mindy and Jesse share stories, laughs, and plenty of cheerful banter. Whether you're buying for your favorite money nerd—or looking for ideas to add to your own wishlist—this episode is your guide to holiday shopping success.

Episode Highlights

Festive introductions and holiday banter
Special broadcast from YouTube HQ: The Stacking Benjamins Show goes live!
Exploring financial independence and how it shapes gift-giving
Meet the guests: Mindy Jensen and Jesse Kramer join the basement party
Gifts for money nerds: From the practical to the quirky
The great debate: Experiences vs. material gifts
Financial board games that teach (and entertain!)
Trivia time: Holiday and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer fun
Uncovering the story behind Rudolph’s red nose
Gift ideas galore: Books, subscriptions, and unique finds for the finance-minded
Farewells and podcast highlights to brighten your season

From laughs to lightbulb moments, this episode is packed with inspiration to make your holiday gift-giving easier—and way more fun. Tune in and start stacking those holiday wins!🎁🎄

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Is Robinhood REALLY Shaking Up Financial Planning? (SB1611) Dec 04, 2024

Are you ready for a shake-up in the world of financial planning? This week, we’re diving into Robinhood’s bold leap into financial advising and what it could mean for the industry—and for you.

We’ll cover navigating market volatility, how AI is reshaping personal finance, and why index funds remain a top choice for long-term goals. Plus, Doug’s latest escapade leads us to some unexpected places, including a yacht adventure and the art world’s million-dollar banana.

Episode Highlights

Introduction and Doug’s latest antics
Robinhood’s big move into financial planning
Practical tips for navigating today’s volatile market
Why index funds might still reign supreme for long-term investors
The pros and cons of RIAs (Registered Investment Advisors) and custodial platforms
Financial planning strategies for young investors starting out
Emerging trends shaping the financial planning landscape
Smart debt management strategies to keep you ahead
Highlights from past episodes that you’ll want to revisit
Doug’s TikTok Minute: Yacht adventures and high-seas drama
Trivia Time: The Great Smog of London and what it teaches us about resilience
Listener Q&A: How to project portfolio growth without losing your cool
The wildest story of the week: The art world’s million-dollar banana

From the latest in financial trends to practical strategies, this episode is packed with insights to help you take your financial planning to the next level. Tune in and start stacking smarter!

Links to Check Out

Show Notes & Resources: Get the full scoop at StackingBenjamins.com
Retiremeet 2025: Joe is taking the stage on February 8, 2025! Grab your ticket at Retiremeet.com and use code STACKING for a discount!
New York City Meetup: Join us for a fun-filled evening on December 12! Details at StackingBenjamins.com/NYC

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The Basics of Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) with Jackie Cummings Koski (SB1610) Dec 02, 2024

Are you ready to take control of your finances and make this holiday season the year you avoid debt traps? Today, we're diving into the inspiring story of Jackie Cummings Koski, co-host of the Catching Up to FI podcast. Jackie’s journey—from a divorce that sparked her financial awakening to achieving FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early)—is packed with lessons you can use to stack your Benjamins and live life on your terms.

What You’ll Learn Today:

How to develop a saving habit that lasts.
The key steps Jackie took to overcome financial fears and invest wisely.
Tips for navigating holiday spending without breaking the bank.

Jackie also shares actionable strategies for building a financial dashboard, exploring side hustles, and embracing flexibility in your work and life. Whether you're just starting or looking to fine-tune your financial game, this episode is packed with advice to help you move forward with confidence.

Episode Highlights:

Struggling to get back to work after a holiday weekend? We’ve all been there!
Jackie’s journey: From financial wake-up call to achieving FIRE success.
Overcoming fears, gaining confidence, and investing smarter.
Building a financial dashboard to track your progress.
Smart holiday spending tips to keep your budget intact.

Trivia Fun:

How much do people typically overspend during the holidays? Join Joe, OG, and Doug as they tackle this question in our trivia segment, with plenty of laughs and surprises along the way.

Don’t Miss This Episode If:

You’re looking for inspiration, actionable advice, and practical tips to master your money, avoid holiday debt, and build the financial independence you’ve always dreamed of.

Resources from This Episode:

Love What You Hear? Share the Wealth!

If today’s episode inspired you, help us spread the word by leaving a review or sharing it with a friend. Every share helps keep the basement buzz going!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/FIRE-basics-with-jackie-cummings-koski-1610

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Our Biggest Best Board Games About Money AND Holiday Fun Lists Yet! SB1609 Nov 29, 2024

In our most EPIC board game episode EVER, Joe is joined by board game aficionados Katie, Sean, and Daniel. The four of them dive into the world of board games—just in time for holiday gatherings! Whether you're hosting family, looking for a budget-friendly gift idea, or just want to create memorable moments, this panel has you covered.

The create two lists on today's show. The first includes their top 5 games with a money or economic component. From games about running economies, to running businesses, to buying real estate and more, the team comes through with some great recommendations, just in time for the holidays (check out our show notes for links to purchase any of the listed games!).

The second list helps ensure you don't waste money this holiday season on games that stink! If you're playing games this holiday season with friends and family, our panel lists off their top 5 games that you can find reliably in the Target or Walmart game aisle, your friendly local game store, or online. You're sure to find something you love on these lists. (Again, you can help the show AND enjoy your holiday season by purchasing from our show notes page!).

Overall, they share their top picks, including timeless classics and modern favorites, guaranteed to spark fun and foster connections. Along the way, the crew chats about the lessons these games can teach—strategy, teamwork, and maybe even a little patience when Uncle Doug gets competitive. Speaking of Doug, he’s back with a trivia segment on the popular game Carcassonne and its iconic wooden game pieces, the 'Meeples.'

If you’re looking to level up your family game nights or find the perfect holiday game, this episode is a jackpot!

Episode Highlights

Introduction and Black Friday Buzz – How board games fit into your budget-friendly shopping plans.
Meet the Panel – Katie, Sean, and Daniel share their board game obsessions and how they got started.
Top Picks from the Experts – From Katie’s family-friendly favorites to Sean’s fast-paced picks and Daniel’s strategic challenges.
Spotlight on Unique Games – Explore gems like The Zen of Takeo, Mr. President, and Juicy Fruits.
Holiday Recommendations – Perfect games for all ages, from casual party players to strategy enthusiasts.
Deep Dive on Popular Games – Learn about strategies for Catan, the charm of Ticket to Ride, and the quick thrills of Five Minute Marvel.
Trivia Fun with Doug – A game within the episode! Can you guess the answer to Doug’s Carcassonne trivia?

A Few of Our Panelists' Top Picks

Katie’s Favorites: Phase 10, Ticket to Ride, and more.
Sean’s Must-Haves: Azul and Five Minute Marvel.
Daniel’s Top Choices: Fishbowl, The Crew, and Cinco Lingo.

Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a newbie looking to try something fun, this episode is packed with tips, laughs, and plenty of game ideas to keep your holidays entertaining and affordable.

Got a favorite board game? Share it with us on social or call in—we’d love to hear your recommendations!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/board-game-extravaganza-2024-1609

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Quirky, Fun, and Jaw-Dropping Tech Deals this Holiday Season (Bridget Carey from CNET is BACK!) SB1608 Nov 27, 2024

Ready to brave the Black Friday madness? Don’t hit “add to cart” just yet! In this episode, tech guru Bridget Carey from CNET joins us to share her insider tips on navigating the sea of deals and avoiding those flashy-but-fishy doorbusters. Whether you’re hunting for the latest gadgets or trying to resist that smart fridge you probably don’t need, Bridget’s advice will save your wallet (and maybe your sanity).

But that’s not all! We’re diving into why mortgage rates are still climbing even as the Fed cuts interest rates, what it means for your financial plans, and whether paying off your mortgage early is worth the hype. Along the way, we sprinkle in personalized money moves, tech nostalgia, and even some surprising theme park innovations (hint: the future is now, and it’s a little quirky).

It’s an episode jam-packed with expert advice, a few detours into saxophone mysteries, and practical tips to keep your finances (and holiday shopping) in check.

Run of Show

Black Friday Tech Talk: Introduction and Welcome
Thanksgiving Prep and Family Traditions (a.k.a. Stuffing Debate #4,567)
Tech Gadgets You Want vs. Gadgets You Actually Need
Bridget Carey’s Tech Wishlist and Recommendations
AI in Everyday Tech: The Good, the Bad, and the Overhyped
Apple Products and Innovations: Must-Have or Meh?
Fun and Quirky Tech Toys to Impress Your Inner Child
Theme Park Tech Updates: The Future of Fun
Star-Studded Party Details: Who Brought the Mystery Saxophone Player?
Mortgage Rates and Why the Math Isn’t Mathing
Homeowner Strategies: To Pay Off or Not to Pay Off?
TikTok Tips for Saving More This Holiday Season
Upcoming NYC Meetup and Thanksgiving Wishes from the Basement Crew
Movie Review: Conclave – Worth Your Time or Skip It?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/best-tech-deals-2024-1608

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Black Friday Deals? We've Got Them (and strategies to avoid breaking the bank) SB1607 Nov 25, 2024

Ah, the holidays—a time for twinkling lights, warm cocoa, and the yearly hunt for the perfect Black Friday deal. Feeling the mix of cheer and budget-related stress? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Today, Regina Conway from SlickDeals joins us to share insider tips on scoring the best bargains. From stacking deals for maximum savings to finding hidden gems (like book bargains that’ll thrill even non-readers), Regina has the scoop to help you stretch every dollar this season.

But we’re not stopping at shopping—oh no. We’re tackling the lesser-known world of using your IRA to invest in real estate. Spoiler alert: it’s not as simple as it sounds. We’ll break down the rules, avoidable mistakes, and real estate horror stories that’ll make you think twice before jumping in.

And because it’s the holidays, we’re sprinkling in a little fun. Think debates over Mariah Carey’s playlist dominance, nostalgic Christmas traditions, and some lighthearted banter that’s as comforting as Grandma’s stuffing (though maybe less calorie-dense). Cheers to smarter shopping and investing that doesn’t leave you out in the cold!

Run of Show

Thanksgiving Banter and Warm Holiday Wishes
Saluting the Troops and Sharing Gratitude
Black Friday Buzz: Meet Regina Conway from Slick Deals
Spotlight on Real Estate Investor Horror Stories
Holiday Traditions: From Playlists to Tech Talk
Slick Deals’ Top Black Friday Shopping Tips
Book Deals and the Unexpected Rise of Reading
Travel Deals and Gift Cards That Pack a Punch
Memberships, Subscriptions, and Tickets: Hidden Savings
Utility Items and Home Improvement Must-Haves
The Slick Deals Community: Smart Shoppers Unite
How Slick Deals Makes Money (and Keeps the Lights On)
Celebrating 25 Years of Slick Deals
Historical Trivia: The Origin of Coupons
Essential Holiday Shopping Tips for the Savvy Stacker
Using Your IRA for Real Estate: The Dos and Don’ts
Monthly Update on the Benefits Guide
Holiday Season Reflections and Final Thoughts

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/black-friday-deals-2024-1607

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Unlock a Life with Purpose: Intentional Living Tips from the Pros (SB1606) Nov 22, 2024

Ever feel like life is one long, chaotic to-do list? Maybe it’s time to grab the reins and start living with intention. In today’s episode, Joe Saul-Sehy, Paula Pant, and Doc G team up with special guest Candy Valentino to help you cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and make purposeful choices that align with your goals.

We’ll explore the power of saying “no” (because sometimes your calendar deserves a break), the magic of setting three non-negotiables, and how small, thoughtful shifts can lead to massive wins. Whether you’re a business owner plotting your empire or a 9-to-5er trying to reclaim your time, this episode offers practical tips to help you design the life you want.

And just when you thought it was all deep thoughts and purpose, we take a detour to discuss Blackbeard’s treasure (yes, that Blackbeard) and debate its true value. Spoiler alert: The answer might surprise you—or at least make you re-evaluate your treasure-hunting strategy.

Grab a seat, Stackers—it’s time to get intentional.

Run of Show

Opening Scene: Can You Fly This Plane?
Welcome to the Stacking Benjamins Show
Getting Intentional About Your Life
Meet the Guests: Candy Valentino Joins the Crew
Candy on The 9% Edge
Why Intentional Living is Your Secret Weapon
Trivia Time: Digging Into Blackbeard’s Treasure
Debating the Value of Pirate Booty
The Final Answer Revealed: Was It Worth It?
Deep Dive: Intentionality and Finding Purpose
Setting Intentions and Dodging Distractions
How Small Shifts Can Spark Big Changes
Learning to Say No Without Guilt
Podcast Highlights and Wrap-Up

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-intentional-living-1606

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Is Your Portfolio Safe? The Real Risk of “Funny Business” in Your Investments Nov 20, 2024

Ever wondered how to steer clear of trouble with your investments? Today, we’re diving into an SEC investigation that’s rattling one fund and discussing what you need to know to protect yourself. We’re also unpacking the benefits of passive investing and index funds—because simplifying your approach to the stock market might just be the smartest move you make.

In our TikTok Minute, we’ll take a look at a quick clip that highlights a common financial misunderstanding, and along the way, we’ll sprinkle in a bit of British charm (no spoilers, but it’s classic).

Finally, we’re tackling a listener question from a soon-to-be parent who’s wondering how to plan for their child’s financial future. From custodial accounts to financial aid strategies, we’ll walk through the best options to ensure your kids have a strong start. Add in Doug’s trivia, some thought-provoking discussions, and a peek at upcoming events, and you’ve got a packed episode full of actionable insights.

Run of Show

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Kickoff and Today’s Topics Overview
Discussion on the SEC Investigation and What You Need to Know
Monitoring Your Money Effectively
Sponsor Messages and Lighthearted Banter
Headline: Western Assets Bond Fund in Trouble
Debating Active vs. Passive Management
TikTok Minute: A Quick Look at Financial Missteps
Listener Call and Doug’s Trivia Break
Listener Question: Financial Planning for a Newborn
Custodial Accounts vs. Other Savings Options
Tax Implications and Financial Aid Considerations
Upcoming Events and Community Meetups
Doug’s TV Show Reviews

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/when-good-funds-go-bad-1605

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Life Doesn’t Get Easier, You Get Better (SB1604) Nov 18, 2024

Ever feel like life keeps throwing curveballs your way? The truth is, it doesn’t actually get easier—you just get better at hitting those pitches. This week, we’re tackling financial challenges head-on with financial behavior psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz and TikTok star Adrian Brambila. Together, they deliver some much-needed “virtual slaps” to help shift your financial mindset from poor to rich.

We’re diving into practical tips like automating your finances, avoiding debt traps, and embracing tough love to overcome obstacles. In our headline segment, we’re revealing the U.S. cities with the highest and lowest non-mortgage debt. More importantly, we’ll discuss how to manage your financial health no matter where you live. It’s all about learning to play the game the right way.

And, of course, stick around for Doug’s trivia, humor, and possibly a questionable bread recommendation.

Run of Show

Monday Morning Toast Ritual
Debate Over the Best Bread Choices
Salute to the Troops
Introduction to the Stacking Benjamins Show
Meet the Monday Mentors: Brad Klontz and Adrian Brambila
Brad and Adrian Share Harsh Truths About Wealth Building
The Psychology of Wealth and Financial Mindset Shifts
Automation: The Secret Hack to Building Wealth
The Poor vs. Rich Mindset: How to Change the Way You Think
Investing Wisely: The 4% Rule
Book Promotions and Special Offers from the Guests
Doug’s Trivia and Humor Break
Coaching and Motivational Strategies to Stay on Track
Headline Segment: Debt in American Cities (Highest and Lowest)
Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Getting Better, Not Easier

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/tough-love-money-lessons-brad-klontz-1604

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Seriously, How Many Laws of Personal Finance Do You Need? SB1603 Nov 15, 2024

How many personal finance rules does it actually take to keep your financial house in order? Book after book, podcast after podcast—everyone seems to have "the" set of rules you need. But one intrepid blogger asked himself, "How much do I really need to know to keep my financial health on track?" Today, we dive into his answer: the four laws of financial health, as explored by our lively roundtable crew.

Joining Joe and OG are Paula Pant, who's made it her mission to Afford Anything, and Jesse Cramer from The Best Interest podcast. OG’s here with a sports injury story (with a twist!), Paula’s got thoughts on ramping up savings, and Jesse dives deep into the need for a solid safety net. Get ready for laughs, valuable insights, and practical tips to help you set, track, and knock out your financial goals with confidence.

Plus, we’re treating you to some of Doug’s legendary trivia, and revisiting Oprah’s unforgettable weight loss reveal moment. Buckle up for a mix of fun and insight straight from Mom's basement!

Run of Show

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Meet the Hosts and Guests
OG's Sports Injury Story (with a twist)
Paula’s Early Voting Adventure
Diving into the Four Laws of Financial Health
Trivia Time with Doug
Oprah’s Weight Loss Reveal: Guessing Game
Different Theories on Oprah’s Weight Loss
Answer Reveal and Lessons Learned
Importance of Cash Reserves
Building and Maintaining an Emergency Fund
Systematic Saving and Investing Strategies
Weekend Plans and Podcast Updates
Closing Remarks and Takeaways

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-four-laws-of-financial-health-1603

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How Can Artificial Intelligence Help You Plan Better? (with Robert Farrington from The College Investor) SB1602 Nov 13, 2024

Curious about how AI might sneak its way into your financial plan? Today, we bring you the latest scoop on this hot topic with our guest, Robert Farrington from The College Investor. Together, we’ll break down the research on AI’s potential impact on your financial life (spoiler: it’s not here to pay your credit card bills). Plus, we tackle a listener question from someone who might've spent a bit too much time binging Better Call Saul.

Get ready to have your assumptions challenged as we throw in a TikTok Minute that’ll shake up everything you thought you knew abouthuge companies and their projections of the future. It isn't that we don't believe Goldman Sachs...it's just that the cost of being wrong may outweigh the gains of ignoring the strategy altogether. And, of course, stick around for trivia that’ll make you the star of your next gathering—Mom says you should be prepared to impress!

Join hosts Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and the always-insightful Robert Farrington for an episode packed with practical financial wisdom, a few chuckles, and as always, a lot of basement charm. You know...because we're charming.

We're coming to NYC on December 12th! Join Joe, OG, Paula Pant AND Doc G for an amazing gathering of personal finance fans. Head to https://stackingbenjamins.com/nyc to sign up before spots are gone.

Run of Show

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Welcoming Robert Farrington
Casual Banter and Health Tips
Deep Dive into AI and Finance
AI in Everyday Life and Financial Planning
Challenges and Limitations of AI
Using AI for Specific Financial Tasks
The Future of AI in Financial Planning
Personalized Advice and Experience
Asking the Right Questions (to AI and yourself!)
Where to Find More Information
AI in Personal Finance
Trivia Time with Doug
Investment Strategies and Market Predictions
Upcoming Events and Announcements - We're coming to NYC!
Halloween Fun and Candy Tax

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How Alua Arthur Coped With Life on Her Way To The Top (SB1601) Nov 11, 2024

Have you ever thought about the intersection of health and wealth? Today we start by sharing personal anecdotes about an unexpectedly painful break, leading into a robust chat with mentor Alua Arthur, a death doula who helps people find purpose through preparing for the end of life. The conversation dives deep into practical tips about setting financial goals while staying grounded, and the importance of balancing spending with saving, all while holding onto life’s deeper purposes.

Al Pacino's financial mishaps also serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of being an active CEO of your personal finances. The episode wraps up with advice on navigating the future as veterans from OG, insights into helping children understand finances, and more. You may go look for community, but there is only one that leaves you feeling satisfied: Stacking Benjamins.

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Navigating Awkward Money Moments (SB1600) Nov 08, 2024

Today, we'll dive into navigating life's awkward money moments with a fantastic round table discussion. We'll cover topics like how to handle unexpected spills at a friend's house, splitting the bill during social outings, contributing to group expenses, and even first-date etiquette. Plus, we discuss how to wisely use a financial windfall, the benefits of maximizing your retirement contributions, and the potential pitfalls of paying off your mortgage early. Get ready for practical advice, insightful stories, and plenty of laughs as we tackle these everyday financial dilemmas.

Introduction and Joe's Favorite Things
Upcoming Episodes and Special Guests
Guide to Workplace Benefits
Sponsors and Show Kickoff
Round Table Discussion: Awkward Money Situations
Handling the Check: Etiquette and Stories
Birthday Dinners and Social Norms
First Dates and Financial Expectations
Road Trips and Gas Money
Guessing the 1933 Minimum Wage
Trivia Results and Reactions
Listener Question: What to Do with Extra Money?
Panel's Personal Updates and Announcements
Post-Show Banter and Fun

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Nick Sehy Details How He's Purchased 19 Houses Before Age 29 (SB1599) Nov 07, 2024

You asked for details on Joe's son's real estate adventure, and today you get it! This episode takes you to CampFI Midwest, where Joe's 29-year-old son, Nick, shares his journey toward financial independence through real estate investment. Starting in 2020, Nick began buying and renovating properties, primarily in Detroit, while living in Seattle and working at Microsoft. Learn about his strategies, the challenges he faces, and the importance of diversification in building a solid financial plan. The episode includes insights on finding deals, managing properties remotely, and the significance of making and learning from mistakes in the path to financial independence.

Introduction to Greatest Hits Week
Introducing Camp FI and Nick's Journey
Nick's Real Estate Empire
The Stacking Benjamins Podcast Vibe
Nick's Detroit Real Estate Adventures
Nick's Real Estate Strategy and Challenges
The Importance of Diversification
Concluding Thoughts and Advice

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Making Life an Adventure: Your Japan Escapades (SB1598) Nov 06, 2024

Today, we look at the other side of financial independence: being able to travel the world! Our new Stacking Adventures show is off the ground, and we're giving you a peek at the latest episode. This show highlights YOUR experiences traveling, and when it comes to Japan, you share the best, worst, and in-between. From puking in your bosses' wife's shoes to riding the bullet train, we hear stories from Adventurers and share our own comments. You'll hear tips on packing, organizing luggage storage, theme parks to attend, places to find good food, navigating transportation, and more.

You'll find more episodes wherever you're listening to Stacking Benjamins, OR you'll find blog posts, trip reports, packing lists, and more at StackingAdventures.com.

Do you have travel stories about Peru, Chile, ghost tours, or New Orleans? Share those stories at StackingAdventures.com/MyStory

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The Crushing Cost of Conservative Retirement Planning (SB1597) Nov 05, 2024

Today, we'll discuss the pitfalls of overly conservative retirement planning and how it could delay your financial independence and retirement dreams. In this show which was originally aired on our "brother" show Earn & Invest, Doc G, and guest Jesse Cramer from the Best Interest podcast delve into the importance of finding a balance, exploring the impacts of stacking conservative assumptions related to social security, investment returns, and inflation. Jesse shares practical tips on re-evaluating your retirement assumptions, emphasizing the significance of flexibility and ongoing adjustments to avoid unnecessarily prolonging your work life.

RUN OF SHOW

Introduction and Topic Overview
The Cost of Being Too Conservative
Interview with Jordan Grumet and Jesse Kramer
Workplace Benefits Guide Announcement
Earn and Invest Podcast Begins
Jesse Kramer's Background and Career Shift
Conservative Assumptions in Retirement Planning
Introduction to Conservative Retirement Assumptions
Guest Introduction: Jesse Cramer
The Impact of Conservative Assumptions on Retirement
Strategies to Avoid Overly Conservative Assumptions
Revisiting and Adjusting Retirement Plans
The 4% Rule and Its Implications
Balancing Conservatism and Aggressiveness in Retirement Planning
The Consequences of Overly Conservative Planning
Practical Tips for Retirement Planning
Exploring the 'Die With Zero' Philosophy
Dealing with Loss Aversion Anxiety
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Post-Interview Discussion

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The Invisible Thread Between Us (plus crypto, non-competes, and more) SB1596 Nov 04, 2024

To kick off a contentious week for the USA, we share one of our FAVORITE stories about the thread that binds us, our goals, our dreams, and yes, even our money. Laura Schroff was a high-powered executive in Manhattan when her life was changed forever by an 11-year old boy. It's a story you won't soon forget. Plus, we're thrilled that Scott Trench, BiggerPockets CEO joins us as guest co-host. We talk about crypto, athletes, and their money. It's our favorite way to discuss how your own money decisions could be better made. We also dive into non-compete contracts. That world has been changing quickly, and we've got you covered.

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Overcome Financial Trauma and Thrive - LIVE From FinCon 2024 (SB1595) Nov 01, 2024

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your finances? Do you find yourself either making purchases as "retail therapy" or avoiding looking at your statements and online accounts? Or maybe, on the other end of the spectrum, you find yourself hoarding cash because you don't know when the next "rainy day" is going to arrive? In all of these cases and more, you might be experiencing financial trauma, a topic that is the focus of today's Stacking Benjamins live round table at FinCon 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by Joe Saul-Sehy and featuring licensed family and marriage therapist Wendy Wright, certified financial planner Lawrence Sprung, and Afford Anything's Paula Pant, the discussion dives into the deep-seated emotional aspects of money. You'll learn about the signs of financial trauma, such as neglecting finances, overspending, and hoarding, and how these behaviors can impact your life. The panel offers insights into addressing and overcoming these issues, emphasizing the importance of compassionate curiosity and seeking professional help when needed. Whether you're living paycheck to paycheck or have a significant net worth, this episode will guide you on the path to better financial health and well-being.

RUN OF SHOW

Opening Banter and Introduction
Live from FinCon 2024
Meet the Panelists
Diving into Financial Trauma
Signs of Financial Trauma
Scarcity Mindset and Personal Stories
Cultural and Individual Financial Trauma
Judgment and Financial Secrecy
Inherited Wealth and Emotional Struggles
Behavioral Finance in Financial Planning
Building Compassionate Financial Relationships
Recognizing Financial Trauma: Hoarding
Societal Views on Hoarding vs. Saving
Personal Stories of Financial Extremes
Balancing Financial Planning and Living in the Present
Diagnosing Money Hoarding and Anxiety
Steps to Address Financial Anxiety
Exploring False Connections with Money
The Importance of Financial Planning and Adjustments
Tracking Spending and Financial Awareness
Principles of Financial Therapy
When to Seek Financial Therapy
Conclusion and Resources

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/overcoming-financial-trauma-1595

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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When Your Funeral Budget Creaks...Our Halloween Special with Scott Mueller (SB1594) Oct 30, 2024

Today, we're joined by funeral director Scott Mueller, who shares invaluable advice on pre-planning your final expenses. Scott elucidates on the importance of making arrangements ahead of time and the benefits it brings to both you and your loved ones during emotionally charged times. Avoid common pitfalls and choose wisely to avoid turning your financial planning into a horror show. Trick or treat? More like protect your assets or weep!

In our headline segment, we delve into optimizing your homeowner's insurance with critical features like replacement cost coverage, special personal property endorsements, and umbrella policies. Discover how these essential elements can guard your castle and your treasures from life's unexpected frights. Finally, we lighten the mood with Doug's hilarious trivia and some fun Halloween anecdotes, ensuring you end this episode both smarter and happily haunted.

RUN OF SHOW

Introduction to the Witching Hour
Halloween Special: Stacking Benjamin Show
Meet the Funeral Director: Scott Mueller
The Importance of Pre-Planning Funeral Expenses
Personal Stories and the Emotional Impact
Trust Issues with Funeral Directors
Avoiding Funeral Scams and Making Informed Decisions
Pre-Planning: Burial, Cremation, and Other Options
Final Thoughts and Resources
Iconic Horror Movie Lines
Halloween Trivia and Chat GPT
Funeral Planning Stories
Umbrella Liability Insurance
Halloween's BEST Jokes and Wrap-Up

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/final-expenses-planning-with-scott-mueller-1594

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Turning Halloween Into a Fun Economic Game (with Chuck Jaffe) SB1593 Oct 28, 2024

Today, we'll dive into an exciting financial education idea brought to us by award-winning columnist and host of The Money Life Show, Chuck Jaffe. Do you think Halloween's kinda boring for kids and just a sugar rush? Not at Chuck's house! Discover Chuck's innovative 'cash or candy' concept, transforming Halloween into a fun and educational game that teaches kids about probability, risk management, and decision-making. This unique approach blends Halloween fun with critical financial lessons, making it a memorable learning experience for children and parents.

In our headline segment, we explore some chilling retirement regrets shared in a compelling Business Insider article, highlighting common pitfalls and how to avoid them. We also discuss key strategies for better retirement planning, such as potentially delaying social security and being prepared for unforeseen emergencies. If you're worried about not having enough for financial independence, this may be the segment for you.

Lastly, we wrap up the episode with Doug's intriguing Halloween-themed trivia and a lively discussion about the NFL's global expansion efforts, including a look at watching football games in Germany. Join us for a fun and educational journey into the world of Halloween-fueled financial literacy!

RUN OF SHOW

Halloween Costumes and Banter
Salute to the Troops and Halloween Plans
Halloween Week Episode Introduction
Halloween and Money Lessons with Chuck Jaffe
Halloween Games and Economic Lessons
Chuck Jaffe's Halloween Tradition
Money Life Show and Financial Insights
Disturbing Ways to Make Money
Trivia Question: a Murderer's Profession
Pineapple Drinks
Headline: Retirement Regrets
Discussion on Retirement Savings
Client's Early Retirement Story
Janice's Regrets and Future Plans
Automating Savings and Easy Listening
Community Engagement and Reviews
NFL's International Games
Fun with German NFL Commentary
Christmas Movie Horror Parody

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/halloween-money-lessons-with-chuck-jaffe-1593

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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What If You And Your Partner Aren't On The Same Page Financially? (SB1592) Oct 25, 2024

Are you on the same page with your significant other? Financially speaking, of course! Given that money is the leading cause of divorce in the US, it's a topic worth working on together. And money talks in relationships don't just apply to romantic relationships - it can extend to include parent/child, etc. relationships. We're talking money and relationships on today's roundtable. Pull up a chair with Paula Pant from Afford Anything, OG, and special guest Doug Cunnington from the Mile High FI Podcast. This is an episode you don't want to miss!

In the second half of the show, we dive into the sensitive topic of what to do when you and your spouse can't agree. You won't want to miss this!

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Should You Look at "Risk" Differently? (with Len Penzo) SB1591 Oct 23, 2024

Today we share a fresh perspective on personal and financial risk, featuring the always insightful Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com). Joe, OG and Len will dive into the complexities of managing your 401k and understanding the risk tolerance required to meet your goals. We'll share pivotal strategies for effective retirement planning and hopefully help you grasp why taking enough risk is crucial, especially for younger investors who have time to recover from potential losses. Listen in as we explore investment behaviors versus portfolio performance and how emotional decisions during market fluctuations can impact your financial journey.

We don’t just tackle numbers here. We'll also examine whether widening your approach to include career risks and the often-overlooked social risks that can open doors to new opportunities is a good strategy. We'll talk about on growing your employment opportunities, ensuring long-term wealth, and balancing financial and emotional satisfaction. Plus, there just may be a slight amount of banter about Halloween treats, the joys of IRS conundrums, and the misconceptions of viral TikTok financial advice.

To top it all off, we may or may not share stories about Joe’s adventures learning craps in Las Vegas, revealing the thrills and lessons of gambling. If you're searching for lessons, it may include the importance of knowing when to walk away, and the camaraderie forged at the casino tables. Whether you’re tuning in for practical financial strategies or just to enjoy some relatable stories and laughs, this episode is packed with takeaways on looking at risk differently in every facet of your life.

Introduction to Debt Management
Welcome to the Stacking Benjamin Show
Discussing Risk with Len Penzo
The Fortune Cookie Incident
Understanding Risk Tolerance
Career and Social Risks
Halloween Treats and Risks
Stocking Up for Halloween
Diving into Risk Management
TikTok Minute: Career Success
Doug's Trivia: Understanding 1031 Exchange
Listener Question: Employer-Sponsored IRA Plans
Vegas Stories and Gambling Tips

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/len-penzo-halloween-1591

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Seth Godin's Blueprint for Financial and Life Strategy (SB1590) Oct 21, 2024

Grab your coffee mug and join us for a journey full of strategic insights and valuable life lessons. Business legend Seth Godin joins us to share his wisdom on financial strategy and personal success. From college applications to wedding planning, Seth's advice on using a strategic compass over an outdated map will help you navigate big decisions and avoid wasting time and potential. Plus, we explore the balance between effortless yet intricate service and strategic pricing, advocating for value over cutting costs like Walmart because, sometimes, the tension in the experience is what makes it memorable and rewarding. There are plenty more actionable takeaways in our discussion with one of the most prominent gurus in marketing. Mainly, we delve into why having a well-thought-out strategy for life and personal finance can make all the difference. Learn from Seth's rich experience—from guiding startups to success to creating impactful strategies.

We also explore the historical strategies that have shaped businesses like Yahoo and Google. Seth emphasizes the importance of vocalizing strategies, balancing personal agency with systemic constraints, and the essential threads of strategy: time, empathy, games, and systems. Using personal finance as a lens, Seth helps you understand complex concepts in a relatable way, underscoring how strategic thinking can transform everything from wedding expenses to retirement planning.

Of course, that's not all. In our headline segment, we share the results of a recent study by Harvard, Vanguard, and others on 401k plan "leakage." New rules allow people to take annual withdrawals from their retirement plans. Will people abuse this new rule? The results of this study are surprising, to say the least. We discuss how to use 401k loans, why we don't favor them, and strategies to plug leaks so that your financial boat doesn't sink.

On top of that, we also share trivia from Doug and much, much more! This may be your favorite Monday on Stacking Benjamins!

Run of Show

Morning Optimism and Weekend Plans

Saluting Our Troops

Special Guest: Seth Godin on Strategy

The Importance of Strategy in Personal Finance

College Applications and Life Strategies

Seth Godin's Background and Achievements

Understanding Strategy: Time, Empathy, Games, and Systems

Walmart's Competitive Edge

Freelancing on Upwork: A Race to the Bottom

Justifying Higher Prices

The Power of Peer Groups

Mentorship vs. Peer Groups

Personal Experiences with Peer Groups

Trivia Time with Doug

401k Loans and Retirement Plan Leakage

The Importance of Cash Reserves

Upcoming Events and Meetups

Consulting Firm Anecdote

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/create-you-life-strategy-with-seth-godin-1590

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Has Anyone Ever Gone Broke From Bad Tax Planning? (SB1589) Oct 18, 2024

Have you ever met someone whose retirement was wrecked by poor tax planning? While tax planning is essential, one big-named figure in the financial community who's a tax expert says that tax planning may be over-emphasized. But is it? Today, we're joined by experts Deb Meyer (Beyond Budgets podcast), Sean Mullaney (FI Tax Guy YouTube Channel), and the guy behind the Earn & Invest podcast, Doc G. Our financial experts will debunk common tax myths and provide actionable insights for a secure financial future. They'll explore the essential differences between marginal and effective tax rates, and you'll learn how effective tax planning can positively impact your retirement. Discover how to leverage tax calculators to avoid dreaded tax surprises and understand the nuances between Roth and traditional retirement accounts. Our enthusiastic experts bring humor and real-life examples into the mix, making complex tax strategies accessible to everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur or planning for retirement. In the second half of our discussion, we shift focus to practical financial advice. Discussions revolve around the temptation to overly optimize tax shelters and the importance of balancing tax efficiency and accessible funds. We cover concerns about the 'tax torpedo' affecting Social Security taxes and highlight the nuanced approaches required for better tax planning in an investor's journey. The insights shared aim to demystify tax planning for listeners, helping them shape sound financial strategies tailored to their personal circumstances.

At the midway point, we'll pause for Doug's trivia question, today focused on a BIG tax case: Al Capone's run-in with the IRS. We'll share stories about his untaxed empire and discuss Walt Disney's clever tax maneuvers. We think you'll laugh through valuable tips on diversifying tax statuses and recovering tax bases. Hopefully, you'll leave with a better grasp of maximizing your tax efficiency and preparing for a financially stable future.

Ignition Sequence and Lift-Off
Introduction to the Stacking Benjamin Show
Meet the Hosts and Guests
Tax Talk and Trivia Teasers
Welcoming the Financial Experts
Diving into Tax Planning
Effective vs Marginal Tax Rates
Tax Planning for Entrepreneurs
The Importance of Tax Diversification
Trivia Challenge Begins
Al Capone's 1931 Income Mystery
Guessing Al Capone's Untaxed Income
Revealing the Real Answer
Financial Nerds and Tax Concerns
The HSA Debate
Annuities and Tax Gotchas
Cash Value Life Insurance
Podcast Highlights and Farewells
S-Corp vs Sole Proprietor

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Score Big with Creative Income Strategies (SB1588) Oct 16, 2024

Explore how to score big with creative income strategies with us! Today, we'll dive into an in-depth case study on private equity in professional sports teams and discover how to use similar strategies to increase your wealth growth. You'll learn actionable advice on maximizing revenue sources, including tactics like Roth IRA conversions, covered calls, and creative investments like drop shipping during retirement and car rentals. We'll share a host of diversified financial insights that can help optimize your assets...all while having a bit of fun along the way.

Later, catch our hilarious TikTok minute where we highlight a woman's misguided attempt to buy quarters on Amazon. In the 'Better Call Saul' segment, we tackle a listener’s question about retirement planning, providing practical tips that can be applied to everyday life.

Of course, you don't want to miss Doug's trivia segment, where you’ll gain intriguing knowledge, like the anniversary of Marie Antoinette's last day and the history of Cutco knives. Hopefully you'll walk away with both valuable takeaways and a smile.

Run of Show:

Unexpected Shopping Spree
Welcome to the Stacking Benjamin Show
Money Urologists and Case Analysis
The Value of Cash Payments
Inflation and Economic Insights
Private Equity in Professional Sports
Leveraging Personal Finances
Creative Income Streams
Maximizing Investment Returns
Flexibility in Financial Planning
Mark Cuban's Business Insights
Real Estate Ventures and Lessons
The TikTok Minute: Math Mishap
Trivia Time with Doug
Roth Conversion Strategies
Show Wrap-Up and Listener Review

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/big-money-in-sports-1588

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Ben Orlin Reveals the Fun Side of Math! (SB1587) Oct 14, 2024

Do you think you're bad at math? Who doesn't! Whether you're an algebra whiz or struggle with subtraction, today's episode is for you. Join us as we dive into the exciting intersection of math and finance with Ben Orlin, author of 'Math with Bad Drawings.' We'll uncover the unexpected fun in mathematics and learn how understanding concepts like statistics and standard deviation can reveal the hidden stories within numbers. Ben's perspectives on embracing mistakes and the intrinsic link between math and finance offer a fresh look at these often daunting subjects.

In our headline segment, discover the top strategy for achieving millionaire status through consistent investment in--believe it or not--nothing fancy! Danny Noonan shares the results of Fidelity insights into the lives of '401k millionaires,' spotlighting the power of patience and discipline over high-risk opportunities, underscoring sustainable financial growth.

Finally, Doug enlivens the discussion with intriguing trivia on the differences between mean and median averages. Doesn't that sound hilarious?

Of course, there's much more, so join us as we weave together actionable financial advice with engaging stories, making complex concepts like math and finance accessible and relatable for everyone.

RUN OF SHOW

Monday Morning Vibes
Financial Wisdom with a Twist
Introducing Today's Mentor: Ben Orlin
Math and Bad Drawings
The Beauty of Mathematics
Breaking the Economy with Dice
Statistics: Lies, Damn Lies, and More
Tweaking the Guinea Pig Bed
Embracing Mistakes in Learning
The Power of Walking Away
Unexpected Solutions in Math
Good vs. Great Mathematicians
Math and Mentorship
The Collaborative Nature of Math
Understanding Averages
The Storytelling Power of Math
The Importance of Consistent Investing
Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/ben-orlin-sb1587/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stacking Health or Wealth? Your Retirement Dilemma (SB1586) Oct 11, 2024

Today's show tackles the age-old dilemma: is it better to have good health or more money during your retirement years? Join our lively roundtable as we discuss balancing financial planning with health priorities, featuring insights from Jesse Cramer of 'The Best Interest Podcast', Paula Pant from 'Afford Anything', and OG. Learn how different retirement stages can affect your spending habits, and explore creative ways to integrate health expenses into your financial plan. Plus, discover actionable tips on motivating yourself to stick to a healthy lifestyle and whether to invest in gym memberships or home equipment. Don't miss our contributors' take on the potential misuse of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and their hilarious anecdotes about life and fitness.

Run of Show:

Introduction and Show Opening
Panel Introduction and Health vs. Wealth Debate
Segway and Scooter Anecdotes
State Farm Advertisement and Personal Stories
Health and Retirement Planning
Trivia Question and SNL Discussion
Comedian Salaries Revealed
SNL Cast Member Earnings
HSA: The Health Savings Account Debate
Navigating Healthcare Plans
Choosing the Right Workout Routine
Podcast Highlights and Upcoming Guests
Final Takeaways and Closing Remarks

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/good-health-vs-more-money-retirement

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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What Ugliness Is Hiding In Your Investment Portfolio? (SB1585) Oct 09, 2024

A recent Investment News piece shines a light on investment advisors (in this case we think that should read "investment salespeople") are recommending some truly ugly investments to investors. We'll dive into how the work, so hopefully you'll discover why certain alternate investments might send alarming signals for your portfolio. We go back in history to share hints at market risks that often go unnoticed until it's too late. We'll talk about the dangers of illiquidity, high fees, and obscure ways of measuring returns. You'll come away learning some shocking truths about leveraged investments and alternative products that make you question their place in any strategy.

In our TikTok Minute, we'll share which bank one comedian calls the perfect partner for your needs. Is he right? Plus, later we'll help a listener who thought he'd Better Call Saul...Sehy and OG. Maybe OG needs to re-velvet his hammer on this one, and he manages to go into a diatribe that you shouldn't miss. We'll talk about career decisions, having more money than "Coast FI," and more on today's episode.

Rounding out the episode, Doug shares his amazing trivia question, including YouTube's billion-dollar origins AND a ton of other events that happened on today's date in history.

RUN OF SHOW:

Countdown to Live Show
Introduction and Show Overview
Investment Warning: Be Cautious
Investment Strategies and Mistakes
Alternative Investments: Risks and Rewards
Understanding Business Development Companies
The Reality of Non-Traded REITs
Final Thoughts on Liquid Investments
Interval Funds
Doug's Trivia Question
The TikTok Minute
Better Call Saul: Career Advice for Michael
Conclusion and Listener Reviews

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/beware-investments-navigate-investing-waters

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The Robots Are Coming For Our Jobs (with Josh Brown) SB1584 Oct 07, 2024

Josh Brown joins us on today's episode for a thoughtful investment discussion in Mom's basement. Discover why "buying the robots" is a must, why everyone having money is a big fat negative for the economy and more. It's a wide-ranging conversation with one of the top advisors in the USA, and we're excited about all that Josh will share with our Stacker audience.

In our headline segment, we'll discuss the importance of understanding insurance, especially in light of Hurricane Helene. Learn how to make your donations count and why revisiting your financial plan is essential for future confidence.

Later, we'll shift gears to Hollywood, where aging protagonists are thrown back into action. Jeff Bridges reunites with his past in a gripping FX series, while Gary Oldman’s stellar performance in Apple TV's 'Slow Horses' takes the spotlight, though its pace might test your patience. Don't miss the brief nods to John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci and a fleeting mention of Mel Gibson, rounding out an episode rich in actionable insights and entertainment industry intrigue.

Introduction and Apple Music Dilemma
Apple Maps and Pretzel Problems
Saluting the Troops and Show Introduction
Robots and Automation Discussion
Hurricane Helene and Financial Lessons
Retirement Planning Insights
Nvidia and Technology Takeover
Pandemic's Impact on Inflation
Media's Role in Financial Information
Hollywood vs. Reality: The Truth About Wall Street
The Wolf of Wall Street's Influence on Modern Traders
Josh Brown's Perspective on Market Culture
The Importance of Financial Designations
Hurricane Helene: Impact and Relief Efforts
The Real Cost of Insurance and Rebuilding
Charitable Giving: Time, Expertise, and Goods
Upcoming Events and Meetups
Final Thoughts and Takeaways

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/josh-brown

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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What Hidden Fees and Costs are Sneaking Money From Your Wallet? (SB1583) Oct 04, 2024

Here's a shock: our least favorite brokerage company is in the news again with some monster hidden fees. Robinhood is accused of charging customers a huge "spread" between the amount option buyers pay and the amount sellers receive. While this isn't a charge on the statement, it's a lot of money (nearly double) that other companies charge.

This topic got us thinking: what hidden charges, expenses, and costs exist in our life that we overlook or choose to ignore? How much are all of THESE costs adding up? We have the perfect triumvirate for this discussion. Jen Smith, one half of the Frugal Friends duo joins us (they talk consumption non-stop on their podcast). Roger Whitney chimes in (his Retirement Answer Man helps people control excess costs in retirement or when prepping). OG also joins in, with all of his experience helping clients reach their goals. It's a wide ranging, fun discussion, from the cost of pollution to hidden Doordash costs we didn't know about!

Of course, halfway through this episode, we take a break to challenge these contributors to a round of Doug's epic trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/hidden-fees-and-costs

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Quit Saving Sooner, Live Freer (SB1582) Oct 02, 2024

Learn the secrets behind never worrying about saving money again! We share the story of an individual who invested early and effectively, reaching financial security by 25, and how YOU can apply these principles regardless of age. Our main discussion highlights how to achieve financial freedom and the importance of staying disciplined with your savings over time, offering valuable insights into the pitfalls and opportunities of early investing and the flexibility it can bring to your lifestyle choices later on. Plus, we explore the balance between traditional investments and investing in personal growth opportunities for a brighter financial future.

In our TikTok minute, comedian Greg Warren addresses compounding interest and how the accumulative consequences of poor decisions can pile up in life. This sets the stage for our Better Call Saul...Sehy and OG segment, where we tackle a listener's question about disability insurance, offering practical advice for securing comprehensive coverage and understanding the importance of one's own occupation policies. We provide actionable tips and clear explanations to help anyone navigate the often confusing insurance world.

Doug's trivia this episode revolves around the band Oasis and the quirky history of Ticketmaster fees, providing a nostalgic trip down memory lane for music fans. We wrap up with listener feedback, upcoming event announcements, and highlights like Joe's adventurous dining experiences in Peru (including some surprising menu items!). Tune in for a packed episode filled with financial wisdom, humor, and a dash of Doug's signature fun facts.

Show Rundown

Introduction and Setting the Stage
Welcome to the Stacking Benjamin Show
Today's Topic: Never Worry About Saving Money Again
Headline: What If You Never Had to Think About Saving Money?
The Power of Compounding and Investing Early
Challenges and Pitfalls of Early Investing
Flexibility and Lifestyle Changes
Starting Late: It's Never Too Late to Begin
Trivia Time with Doug
Money and Reconciliation
College Sales Experience
TikTok Minute: Comedian Greg Warren
Disability Insurance Dilemma
Listener Feedback and Reviews
Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts
Joe's Peru Adventure

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/never-worry-about-saving-money

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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From Legal Briefs to Bistro Feasts: Erin Wade's Story (SB1581) Sep 30, 2024

Jump into Monday with a whirlwind of money topics! We start by celebrating the arrival of fall and the excitement around baseball playoffs (especially for Detroit Tigers fans). But the real fun begins after we salute the troops and dive into the main event: a riveting conversation with Erin Wade, a former lawyer turned chef and entrepreneur. Have you ever thought you wanted to do more with your life than you currently do? Erin shares her tumultuous journey from corporate law to opening one of America's top restaurants, Homeroom, and drops valuable lessons on following your passions and creating a rewarding work environment.

During our headline segment, we discuss the recent Federal Reserve rate cuts and what it means for your finances. How can you benefit from lower interest rates? We'll dive into how interest rate cuts work and help the economy. We discuss what this means for your savings, debt strategy, and more. Plus, macaroni and cheese-related trivia AND—how to take your mac and cheese recipe to the next level!

Monday Morning Musings
Baseball Playoffs Excitement
Saluting Our Troops
Introducing Today's Guest: Erin Wade
Mac and Cheese and the Holiday Season
The Journey to Entrepreneurship
The Importance of Passion and Play
Challenges and Triumphs in the Restaurant Industry
Empowering Teams and Open Book Management
Mac and Cheese Tips from the Expert
Mac and Cheese Tips and Tricks
Doug's Mac and Cheese Trivia
Powdered Cheese and Nostalgia
Federal Reserve and Interest Rates Explained
Impact of Interest Rates on Loans and Economy
Credit Scores and Mortgage Tips
Car Market and Financing Insights
Upcoming Events and Closing Remarks
Post-Game Press Conference

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/erin-wade-from-attorney-to-mac-and-cheese-millionaire-1581/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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It's Easier Than Ever To $%*! Up Your Money (SB1580) Sep 27, 2024

Today we focus on accountability, diving into what it means to be responsible for your financial decisions. One recent blog post states that it's easier than ever to get yourself into massive trouble with your money. To what extent is this your fault? How can you protect yourself better from making a mistake that leaves you in financial ruin? We discuss the rapid pace at which bad decisions can be made due to modern conveniences like apps and online services. Jesse Cramer (Best Interest Podcast) emphasizes the importance of finding a 'bigger Yes' to avoid impulsive spending, while Paula Pant (Afford Anything) speaks on the broad accessibility of money-making opportunities in the digital age. OG suggests taking actionable steps towards financial goals to keep the momentum going.

Today's trivia quiz is all about the history of 'The Tonight Show,' and maybe features a tangent or two about toga parties. For a bit of drama, there's a video clip debunking myths about cash value life insurance. Overall, as always, today we bring you an engaging mix of humor and practical financial advice.

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Show Introduction and Guest Lineup
Welcoming the Hosts and Guests
Discussion on Accountability and Financial Responsibility
Main Topic: The Degenerate Economy
Debate on Government Intervention and Free Market
The Role of SEC and Financial Disclosures
Gambling, Lotteries, and Financial Ethics
Trivia Contest
Nostalgia and TV Memories
The Tonight Show Timeline
Guessing the Debut Year
Revealing the Correct Answer
Financial Advice and Scams
Creating a Financial Plan
Weekend Plans and Wrap-Up

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/taking-personal-responsibility-for-your-finances-1580

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Inspiring Financial Independence Stories and Lessons from Missteps (LIVE from CampFI Midwest 2025) SB1579 Sep 25, 2024

What does retirement mean in today’s world? For some, it's no longer about quitting work for good but about transitioning to something more purposeful and fulfilling. Today, Joe, Doc G, and our guests explore the many facets of retirement, purpose, and the balance between work and personal passion. Join us as we take you to CampFI Midwest 2025, where we'll share stories from amazing Stackers on their journey to financial independence. Discover how Kristen finds community and purpose, Donna navigates significant life transitions, and Tom redefines retirement with passion and flexibility. You'll also hear Joe Saul-Sehy discuss misguided stock purchases, Chris's investment in outdated tech, Kristen's high-fee investments, Jordan's tech stock downturn, and a humorous tale of timeshare regret. Tune in for actionable insights, personal experiences, and valuable lessons that highlight both the triumphs and challenges faced by even the most intelligent investors.

Topics:

Introduction and Setting the Scene
Campfire Guests and Trivia Contest
Doug's Hilarious Commentary
Journey to Campfire and Minnesota Vibes
Inspiring Stories and Personal Growth
Kristin's Journey to Financial Independence
Trivia Challenge Begins
Chelsea Brennan's Bold Move
Guessing Game Tension
Doug's Hitchcock Trivia Answer
Donna's FIRE Journey
Financial Empowerment and Mindset
Tom's Story and Retirement Insights
Lessons from CampFI
Dumb Money Mistakes That Smart People Made

Whether you're planning for retirement or just looking for inspiration to find more meaning in your second half, this episode is packed with insights, laughs, and the wisdom of experience.

What You’ll Learn:

How retirement has evolved from leaving the workforce to finding purpose.
Why it's important to fill your time with meaningful activities, paid or unpaid.
The concept of "strength to strength" and how it shapes a fulfilling second half of life.
Financial lessons and humorous stories from our hosts and guests.
How to avoid common money mistakes, and what to do if you've already made them!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/live-from-camp-fi-1579

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Lobsters, Lincoln, and Financial Lessons (SB1578) Sep 23, 2024

Wealth historian Megan Gorman stops by the basement and drops intriguing nuggets on how U.S. presidents like FDR and Ulysses S. Grant navigated their finances. There are many lessons you can learn from these iconic figures. Later, our headline conversation meanders through ERISA's 50-year legacy and political party impacts on investments, preparations unfold for an RV trip to Oregon. The adventure continues with exotic travel stories, packing tips, and reflections on Dave Barry's life lessons. Listener engagement and very-important debates, including daylight savings time, ensure there's never a dull moment! Join the lively trio of Joe, OG, and Doug as they blend retirement strategies with a dash of humor, exploring everything from coffee mugs to memes.

00:00 Coffee Mug Conundrum

01:43 Welcome to the Stacking Benjamin Show

04:53 Presidential Finances with Megan Gorman

06:57 FDR's Lobster Investment

13:12 Biden and Trump's Real Estate Ventures

20:22 Calvin Coolidge's Financial Anxiety

25:38 Ulysses Grant's Financial Struggles

32:56 Lessons from Presidential Finances

37:22 Shawshank Redemption Anniversary

38:12 The Shawshank Redemption's Box Office Struggles

38:57 Trivia Time: John Travolta's Box Office Hit

39:31 Ohio's Role in The Shawshank Redemption

40:24 Ulysses S. Grant and Investment Strategies

41:46 College Application Essays: Writing vs. Storytelling

45:20 The Impact of ERISA on Retirement Planning

49:19 Maximizing Your 401(k) Benefits

56:20 Investing Through Political Cycles

01:03:48 Stacking Adventures: New Podcast Announcement

01:08:40 Dave Barry's Life Lessons

01:16:52 Final Thoughts and Farewell

FULL SHOW NOTES: htttps://stackingbenjamins.com/presidents-and-their-money-1578

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How to Lose Money in the Markets: The Game Show Edition (SB1577) Sep 20, 2024

Game Show Fun and Financial Missteps with the Stacking Benjamin Show

On today's popular game show segment we present: '15 Ways to Lose Money in the Financial Markets,' where contributors Jesse Cramer, Paula Pant, and OG explore investment pitfalls. The show presents financial advice in a light-hearted, engaging format, complete with a trivia question celebrating author George RR Martin’s birthday. Contributors discuss speculative trading, panic selling, margin investing, and more, ending with practical takeaways on avoiding investment mistakes. The episode is rounded off by discussions on meme stocks, game shows, pop culture, and practical financial planning tips, all with the usual fun and wit of the Stacking Benjamin team.

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Meet the Contributors
Game Show Begins: 15 Ways to Lose Money in the Markets
Round One: Poor Investment Decisions
Round Two: Strategies to Avoid
Trivia Break: Game of Thrones Special
Guessing the Number of Deaths in Game of Thrones
Counting On-Screen Deaths: The Research
Wildfire Explosion and Mass Casualties
Final Guesses and Results
Discussing Game of Thrones Infographics
Meme Stocks and Financial Decisions
Ways to Lose Money in the Market
Podcast Updates and Weekend Plans
Closing Remarks and Lessons Learned

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-lose-money-in-financial-markets-1577

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Pension Perils: Lessons from the Dallas Fund Fiasco (SB1576) Sep 18, 2024

Joe and OG create a case study focusing on the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System's struggles, diving into poor investment choices and their impact on employees. Joe relays the perils of complicated investments, advocating for more straightforward and more manageable strategies. The team also shares a TikTok moment about evaluating wealth through trash cans, discusses an unusual employer's 401k vs. Roth IRA match proposal, and debates their most disappointing concert experiences.

Introduction and Doug's Antics
Today's Show Overview
Pension Fund Struggles
Dallas Police and Fire Pension System
Pension System Mismanagement
Lessons for Average Investors
Private Equity Pitfalls
The Importance of Professional Management
Trivia and TikTok Minute
Buffet or Buffett?
The Trash Can Wealth Indicator
Listener Question: Employer Matching Roth IRA Contributions
Concert Disappointments and Highlights
Wrapping Up: Key Takeaways

FULL SHOW NOTES: stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-pension-funds-1576

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Mastering Retirement Planning (plus Real Estate Commission Negotiation) SB1575 Sep 16, 2024

Joe and OG dive into retirement planning with Christine Benz, Morningstar's Director of Personal Finance and Retirement Planning. Christine shares her insights on pivotal retirement lessons and the importance of purpose, relationships, and health in retirement.

In our headline segment, the team also explores the recent changes in real estate commission structures, emphasizing the need for negotiation skills and knowledgeable agents. Lively banter and tips for financial well-being abound in this packed episode.

The Weekend Football Struggle

Salute to the Troops and Podcasting Life

Introducing the Stacking Benjamin Show

Hair Loss and Financial Planning

Christine Benz on Retirement Planning

The Importance of Purpose in Retirement

Social Interactions and Technology in Retirement

Fritz Gilbert's Retirement Journey

The Right Retirement Date and Financial Considerations

Ramit Sethi on Retirement Spending

Morningstar Trivia and Walden

Thoreau's Influence and Real Estate in the News

New Etiquette in Real Estate Negotiations

Changes in Realtor Compensation

Impact on Buyers and Sellers

Navigating the New Real Estate Landscape

Balancing Commission and Sales Strategy

Real Estate Fees and Market Dynamics

Rules of Thumb for Home Buying

The Future of Real Estate and Consumer Choices

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/master-your-re t irement-plan-christine-benz-1575

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Turning Goals Into Adventures: Transforming Your Financial Journey (SB1574) Sep 13, 2024

In this episode of The Stacking Benjamin Show, host Joe (alongside guests Jesse Cramer from the Best Interest Podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our own OG) delves into transforming financial goals into ongoing quests. They discuss the importance of falling in love with the process and how systematic approaches and habits can aid in personal growth and goal achievement. The episode wraps up with a trivia challenge, financial wisdom, and maybe some slightly humorous banter, emphasizing the importance of seeking real financial advisors. Links to the guest podcasts and additional resources are available at StackingBenjamins.com.

Spider Pig Introduction

Welcome to the Stacking Benjamin Show

Meet the Hosts and Guests

Creepy Old Guy Stuff Podcast

Goal Setting Discussion Begins

Financial Metaphors and Humor

Introducing Jesse Kramer

The Best Interest Podcast

State Farm Sponsorship

Mid-Year Goal Setting

Do Quests, Not Goals

Health and Fitness Goals

Procrastination and Goal Setting

Wayne Dyer and Goal Setting

The Importance of Starting Now

Trivia Time with Doug

Thanksgiving Pecan Pie Debate

Guessing Game: Percentage Debate

Trivia Question: Jim Cramer's Hedge Fund

Goal Setting: Systematic Approaches

Quest vs. Goal: A Transformative Journey

Fighting the Inner Dragon

Podcast Highlights and Wrap-Up

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/turning-goals-into-adventures-1574

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Three Dads Share Tips and Stories on Teaching Good Money Habits (Jon Acuff & John Lanza) SB1573 Sep 11, 2024

Welcome to a very special episode! Three experienced dads (teens and above) chat about teaching teenagers or people new to money management, good lessons to take with them for the future. They discuss their fears, their challenges, and the ways they've been able to help their kids succeed with money. Jon Acuff wrote a book on this topic with his daughters, and he shares a wealth of information from them. John Lanza (Art of Allowance podcast) just became an "empty nester" and shares how his kids successfully launched as well. Joe Saul-Sehy is the father of nearly 30 year old twins, who are also doing well with their money. They share do's, don'ts, and much much more.

Introduction to the Episode

Meet the Hosts and Their Parenting Fears

Introducing the Celebrity Guest: John Acuff

Discussing Parenting and Money with John Acuff

John Lanza on Parenting and Empty Nesting

The Challenges and Realities of Parenting Teens

Repetition and Real-Life Lessons

Finding Opportunities in Everyday Tasks

The Value of Hard Work and Money

Parenting and Teaching Financial Wisdom

Kids' Perception of Parental Advice

Encouraging Self-Awareness in Teens

The Importance of Role Models

Navigating Teen Challenges with Support

The Fast Gauntlet: Quickfire Questions

Final Thoughts and Takeaways

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/teaching-good-money-habits-to-kids-1573/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Touchdown Tips to Boost Your Financial Game (featuring ex- NFL star Brandon Copeland) SB1572 Sep 09, 2024

Today we focus on resilience in both personal finance and investments, as we celebrate the kickoff of a new professional football season! We're featuring an engaging discussion with Wharton professor and former NFL player Brandon Copeland. Highlights from this episode include Copeland's mission to teach financial literacy, strategies for managing cash reserves for retirees, and handling fraud cases with banks like USAA. The team emphasizes the importance of giving investments time to recover, as shown by the S&P 500 rebound post-COVID. They warn against keeping retirement accounts in cash and offer practical tips such as monitoring bank transactions, freezing credit, and aligning your portfolio with your goals. A contest on historical investment returns based on political parties is extended, and as you'd expect from a financial podcast, there's a recap of dramatic events from 'Below Deck Mediterranean' Season 5.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/kick-off-your-money-plan-brandon-copeland-1570

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How Much Can a Great Coach Truly Help? A Roundtable Discussion (SB1571) Greatest Hits! Sep 06, 2024

Today we speak with some great coaches about the difference a great coach can make, and how hiring the wrong one can give you a horrible taste in your mouth (and lead you down paths that aren't helpful to your long-term growth). Coach Sharita Humphrey joins us, along with CFP Roger Whitney and Len Penzo to a great chat. Plus, we celebrate International Travel Day by diving into the best places to live or "slow travel" overseas. That AND much, much more!

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Mark Cuban Shares Frugal Tips -- Should We Care? (SB1570) Greatest Hits and Earn & Invest Replay Sep 05, 2024

Kyle Collins joins Joe and host Doc G for an episode of the Earn & Invest podcast to discuss a recent piece featuring Mark Cuban, a billionaire, talking about frugality. Do we really care what billionaires think about being frugal?

Download/follow/subscribe to our "brother" show Earn & Invest wherever you're listening to Stacking Benjamins!

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Is a Latte Going to Ruin Your Retirement? (SB1569) Greatest Hits! Sep 04, 2024

Today we ask David Bach the question: what does a latte truly have to do with your retirement plan...or your financial well-being in general? Plus, we chat with Sallie Mae about some trends in student loans.

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Stop Delegating Your Financial Decisions! (Bola Sokunbi AND Susan Tompor) SB1568 (Greatest Hits!) Sep 03, 2024

Bola Sokunbi (Clever Girl Finance) has an amazing story of resilience, growing up in Europe, moving to Africa, and having to learn a BUNCH of financial knowledge from her mother, who made the mistake of trusting someone else with her financial knowledge. Today she tells her incredible story. Plus, Detroit Free Press reporter Susan Tompor joins us to share some scary stories about scammers. That and much, much more as we go WAY back in the vault of SB shows for this greatest hits episode.

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Top 5 Metrics You Need To Know To Build a Better Financial Plan (SB1567) Greatest Hits! Sep 02, 2024

On today's show, what should YOU track for a better financial plan? We go WAY back in the archives to one of our early episodes. You'll hear us back when the podcast was young. :-)

Enjoy the theme music, the Evil HR Lady, and more!

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Extreme Rentals: Should You Rent Everything? (SB1566) Aug 30, 2024

Sure, you've rented a car. Maybe your home. But what about renting your clothing, your tools, or even your Christmas tree (if you celebrate the holiday)? Today we talk about an emerging group of people who have taken renting to the extreme. They rent nearly everything. If you decide to rent are you asking to spend more money or is the concept of "ownership" outdated? Today we dissect renting and what it truly means AND how it affects your financial picture. We're excited that CFP Benjamins Brandt (Retirement Begins Today podcast) and Paula Pant (Afford Anything) join OG, Joe and Doug to help you make better rent/own decisions.

Plus, of course, at the halfway point of our discussion, we make time for our epic trivia challenge!

FULL SHOW NOTES: Add show notes URL here. Please include https://www at the beginning of the URL, that makes it clickable on YouTube

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Stop Losing Money on Your Company Benefits (SB1565) Aug 28, 2024

We collectively lose MILLIONS because we skim our company benefit package and quickly pick options, or we simply take what we've always had and ignore the rest. Today we'll dive into the changing world of benefits. From tele-health to mental health and gym memberships, perks are looking different at companies than they did ten years ago. We'll share what's new in the world of benefits, what's out, how to pick smarter, and shine a flashlight on some hidden gold in that gigantic pdf most of us receive to make our choices.

In our TikTok minute, we share the story of a hated football player and also a valuable money lesson. Do you have haters? Of course you do! Maybe you can learn something about cha-chinging the cash register in a quirky way on today's show!

Of course, Doug shares his trivia, but we also open up a fun election-jitters contest. OG will explain, and we hope you participate. Joe will also unveil a new guide from Stacking Benjamins that could help you save thousands. He'll walk you through the details.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/raising-money-smart-kids-1565

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Feeling Cynical? That May Be Costly For Your Wallet and Career (SB1564) Aug 26, 2024

It's easy to feel cynical. The news blares bad news about "them" (defined squarely as whatever group you happen to disagree with). Social media shows you the most awful people, events, and situations. Everything that happens seems to reflect that the world is becoming more distrustful, and it's eating away at many of us. Stanford professor Dr. Jamil Zaki joins us today to give hope to cynics everywhere, by sharing data showing that we're actually far more trustworthy as a group than you may think. He also shares the cost of cynicism, and what to do if you're feeling particularly down about your fellow human beings. Especially with all of the negativity around the election, you'll find today's show is a bright spot to kick off your week!

In our headline segment, we set out to share tips on buying used cars, but instead end up in a MONSTER discussion about the efficacy of buying used at all. We talk leasing, buying new, and the many ways you can buy used cars. We review the positives and drawbacks of each approach so that you can make a more informed car-buying decision.

Of course, we also leave time for Doug's trivia, and much more!

Are you near Minneapolis this weekend? Join Joe and a bunch of other Stackers in Stillwater, MN. on Thursday night at 6:30 (River Siren Brewing) for a pre-Camp FI party! We hope to see many of you there! Head to http://stackingbenjamins.com/meetup for details and to snag a free ticket.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-power-of-optimism-jamil-zaki-1564

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Hey Ho, Hey Ho, Some Things I Wish I'd Known (when I joined the workforce) SB1563 Aug 23, 2024

What advice would you give your younger self just starting in the workforce? With many recent graduates securing their first "real" job, that's the question on our minds. Joining us to dish out sage advice, we welcome Paul Lambert ("Lambo") from the FILighter podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our resident financial planner OG.

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive deeper into less-common advice for new career entrants.

Be sure to stick around for Doug's Bonnie-and-Clyde-related trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/advice-for-recent-graduates-1563

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Our Favorite Investment Shelter (SB1562) Aug 21, 2024

Remember the line in Lord of the Rings, "One ring to rule them all?" How about, "One tax shelter, available to all of us, to be the best of all?" Today we'll identify THAT investment shelter, tell you how to use it (and tips to avoid using it incorrectly). Here's a hint: it's NOT the health savings account (which may be better), because that account is not available to everyone. This type is truly a tool that everyone can use in the USA.

Of course, that's not all. We'll talk MORE about this special tax shelter by sharing a TikTok minute that focuses on just how many people TALK about this shelter. It's truly amazing.

We'll also answer a call from a stacker who's wondering if she should pay her house off or invest the money she has to finalize her mortgage. Which would you do? We'll share our advice with you AND her today!

Of course, we'll also feature Doug's rhyming trivia, and much, much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/what-is-the-greatest-savings-vehicle-1562

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Want More Money? Help Someone Else Become Financially Savvy (with John Hope Bryant) SB1561 Aug 19, 2024

John Hope Bryant says that even if you're a money geek, soaking up as much knowledge as possible, financial literacy for all (not just you) is YOUR problem. Today the financial activist takes aim at everyone to pitch in and help bring up our entire world by empowering people to become more financially literate. If you've never heard John speak, you may not know that he grew up in Compton (Los Angeles) in a very poor home, and struggled to find financial security. Now, as a frequent media contributor and one of the biggest suppliers of economic and entrepreneurial training in the USA, John spreads the word that even people who "didn't get the memo" about being money savvy can help all of us grow our wealth. He makes that case today on the show (and we don't think you'll want to miss it!). You never leave a John Hope Bryant talk feeling uninspired and ready to perform better with your finances.

In our headline, we dive into the significant stock market tremor a couple of weeks ago. What's happened since? What lessons should we have learned? Should you take your money out of the market? Invest more? How should you handle it? We've spoken a lot lately about how to invest wisely, but with this case study right in front of us, you'll see precisely why we've been driving home the point of economic security so much lately.

Of course, we also leave time for Doug's trivia and much more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/financial-literacy-for-all-john-hope-bryant-1561

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Should You Really Try To "Die With Zero"? Aug 16, 2024

Should you aim to die with zero, or is there a better way? What role does money play in our lives, and what can it do after we're no longer here? Diving into this deep topic on today's roundtable discussion, we welcome back Lacey Langford from the Military Money Show, Doc G from the Eatn & Invest podcast, and OG.

In the second half of today's show, brought to you by DepositAccounts.com, we dive deeper into giving money to others while you are alive and how that can add happiness to your life.

Be sure to stick around for Doug's Elvis-inspired trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/die-with-zero-question-mark-1560

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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What's the Purpose of a Will? Why Would I Need a Trust? (Your Estate Questions Answered with Attorney Tim Semro) SB1559 Aug 14, 2024

You have all had so many estate planning questions and today we delivered answers, with certified estate planning attorney Tim Semro. It's an "estate planning all the time" episode, as we cover everything from estate planning headlines to our estate-filled TikTok minute. You also asked tons of questions about when to leave people money, what traits make a good executor, how do you help loved ones with disabilities, what if you don't want a relatives money, and how to minimize probate costs...plus much, much more.

In our headline segment we focus on celebrity cases that have ended ugly. From Tony Bennett to Aretha Franklin and Chadwick Boseman, estate issues are seemingly always in the news. In our TikTok minute we shine a light on a top television show (Curb Your Enthusiasm) that brings up some awkward estate situations. On the back porch we show another family (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) that also may not end up happy with a recent estate settlement.

All of that plus Doug's trivia on today's podcast.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-estate-planning-tim-simro-1559

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How One Woman Quit Her High Paying Job to Focus on Being a Force for Good Aug 12, 2024

Have you ever thought about quitting your job, getting out of the rat race, and instead working on your passion? Maya Chupkov is a force of nature, and did just that. After scoring what was the "job of a lifetime," she realized that the actual work didn't meet what she wanted in life. So instead, she quit that job to focus on her lifestyle and needs. Her new boss at a smaller paycheck firm wanted to promote her into more responsibility (and more money) and Maya again said "no." Instead, she spends her time shining a light on the plight of stutterers, something that has not only been a part of Maya's life since she's been born, but also has been a part of the life of one of our SB podcast hosts (Joe). Maya is not only now the host of the acclaimed Proud Stutterer podcast, but also is working a documentary about a man whose life changed because of his stutter, and not for the better. It's called Rock of Hope, and Maya today details not only what it took to quit a high paying job, but also how she's gained skills, connections, and funding for this new project. It's a fascinating walk through the life of a woman who's pursuing her dream: to help stutterers everywhere come out of hiding and focus on their strengths with the help of the community around them.

In our headline segment, trouble on the "making more money" front. The Wall Street Journal reports that pay raises are shrinking. What do you do if you aren't going to be scoring as big a raise in the future as you have in the past? We share tips and ponder different avenues you should explore to try to not only tighten the belt, but make more money when others are not. We also spend some time on the back porch talking about Stackers who are Olympians, and feedback about our recent sandwich survey episode. Of course, we sandwich that all around Doug's amazing trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/maya-chupkov-1547/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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RIP Piggy Bank: You're Wasting Your Time With THESE Money Concepts Aug 09, 2024

The piggy bank is clearly outdated. What kid needs to learn about cash now? It's far more important to know what those plastic things in mom or dad's wallet really are and how to use them responsibly. While contemplating the piggy bank we asked ourselves, "What are some other outdated ideas about money that we're holding?" That topic created this wild ride of a podcast episode where OG, Doc G (Earn & Invest podcast), and Paula Pant (Afford Anything) share and critique each other's ideas of outdated money concepts. You'll hear everything from big ideas to tactical solutions that no longer work on today's show. From the concept of "retirement age" to "don't refinance until you can beat your interest rate by 2%," you'll hear it all.

Of course, as we do every Friday, we'll feature our year-long contest between our contributors for the big Dollar Store trophy prize. Paula actually won trivia last week...can she make it two in a row?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/outdated-financial-concepts-1557

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Pack a Lunch: Len Penzo's Annual Cost of a Sandwich Study (SB1556) Aug 07, 2024

What's the most fun way to look at inflation? Well, even though it might not be fun to watch your wallet disappear at the grocery store, it is VERY fun to watch trends in food costs over time. Len Penzo began his annual sandwich study to just prove that packing your lunch is cheaper than buying food at a restaurant. He also wanted to show just how much money you could save to either pay down debt or invest. Instead, many years later, Len's sandwich study is always compared to the classic "Big Mac" study, where they track the price of a Big Mac. We prefer Len's study because making a sandwich is healthier, cheaper, and also maybe a little more fun. So today we'll compare the cost of ten sandwiches and see which one is this year's champion...but more importantly, we'll see if your grocery bill has gone up or down from a year ago.

In our headline segment, your home is your castle so it probably holds LOTS of cash value that you may want to tap into during your retirement years. How do financial planners look at home prices that might not rise as quickly in the future as they have in the past? We'll chat about housing, selling your house for retirement, how people navigate selling and "downsizing" in real life, and much more.

Of course, we still take a call from a Stacker on our Better Call Saul....Sehy and OG segment. Plus, we always leave room for a helping of Doug's trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/len-penzo-2024-sandwich-survey-1556

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Is a Simple 401k Mistake Costing You Millions? (SB1555) Aug 05, 2024

You've played the game by the rules...moving your money from a 401k to an IRA when you change jobs (which happens in the USA far more often than you'd think). But are you forgetting a "step two" that could cost you over a million dollars? A recent Wall Street Journal piece says that you may be making a HUGE mistake. Today we'll break down where people are getting it wrong so that YOU aren't stuck with a much smaller retirement nest egg than you'd hoped or expected.

We also take a question from a Stacker who's accepted a "job" that pays her as a 1099 "employee." How does she make sure she doesn't owe too much in taxes at the end of the year? In general, how should she set up her money now that she's going to be responsible not just for taxes, but for her own benefits and more? We'll help her (and maybe you, if you ever decide to start your own business or side hustle) take control of her money so that she's in great shape come tax time and beyond.

Of course, we also share Doug's amazing trivia question AND a TikTok minute that might mess with Doug's brain.... (not too difficult, really).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/401k-rollover-mistakes-to-avoid-1555

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How To Save Big Money On DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber (SB1554) Aug 02, 2024

Are we overusing popular "helper" apps like DoorDash, Instacart, and Uber? One popular blogger thinks so, which made us ask some of the top podcasters in the money space: do you agree? This simple question helped create a fantastic discussion about the importance of community, real-life neighborhoods, avoiding "using" people while still appreciating them, and so much more. Dr. Bill Yount joins us from the Catching Up To FI podcast. Bill's a natural community builder, so we were thrilled that he agreed to join Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Doc G (Earn & Invest) in this wide-ranging discussion.

As always, we'll also include another EPIC edition of Doug's trivia in the middle of today's chat!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-save-big-money-on-doordash-instacart-and-uber-sb1554

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Vanguard Raises Fees, What is "Velocity Banking," and Crypto Yielding 19.55 Percent! SB1553 Jul 31, 2024

One of the world's largest money management companies is raising fees AND has a new CEO from a competing firm. Are times a-changin' at Vanguard? We'll dive into all of the behind-the-scenes action, and discuss how this just might affect your wallet. Of course, we'll widen the argument for those of you NOT at Vanguard. If your money is with another firm, what happens when there's a change at the top? What should you look out for when it comes to prudently deciding whether it's time to move your nest egg?

Plus, in our TikTok minute, one crypto is paying a walloping 19.55 percent! Cowabunga! Should you back the truck up and shovel money in? We'll share our thoughts.

And we take a call from a Stacker wondering what "Velocity Banking" is all about? How does it work, and if you can use this method to pay off your loans faster, should you jump in?

All of that AND Doug's trivia on today's show!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/vanguard-changing-course-1553

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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The True Path to "Wealth" (AKA: Uncle Danny's Story Hour) SB1552 Jul 29, 2024

Want to know how to make your money perform better? Begin controlling that stuff between your ears. Between negative self-talk and obviously-bad money moves, we find plenty of ways to sabotage our long term goals. Today we're joined by behavioral economist Dr. Daniel Crosby, who dives into what he calls "the soul of money." We'll discuss wisdom from some of the world's greatest legendary figures, like Alexander the Great, and dive into stories like The Kite Runner and what we can learn about money, happiness, "more," and being truly wealthy.

Plus, in our headline segment, one type of worker is loading up on cash inside of their retirement fund at work. Who? It turns out, that it's workers at companies that have decided to default retirement contribution plan percentages at a higher rate. Huh? It's not only fascinating, but probably the reason why you might be able to save more...but never have been able to pick the lock. If you're a great saver, you'll also know this is the key--so send this headline to your friends! Joe and OG tackle this topic from beginning to end, and hopefully, you'll be richer as a result (or on your way to riches).

We also take a call from Stacker Blake, who asks about his Acorns account. Now that he's been using it for awhile, should he move it to a different home so that he doesn't have several different accounts?

Of course, we'll also save time for Doug's trivia question, groan about the state of Ohio, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/psychology-and-money-1552

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Winning Your Personal Gold Medal in Personal Finance (our 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony episode) Jul 26, 2024

If you could win medals for your financial performance, what would you need to accomplish? Today, four-time Olympian and the first American woman to medal in both the winter AND summer games, CFP Lauryn Williams, joins us to both share the inside look at tonight's opening ceremonies and help our roundtable team outline the moves YOU need to make to score gold with your money. We'll talk about the foundation it takes to begin the journey and then the moves beyond to be a true champ. Of course, our gold-medal team of Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and CFP OG from our podcast join in the fun. On top of some great advice, you'll also hear our weekly trivia challenge between our participants as THEY try to score gold for correct answers.

It's a great episode marking a fun date in history. Let the games begin!

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Why Are Boomers Running Through Money So Quickly (and what should YOU do about yours?) Jul 24, 2024

A new study shows that baby boomers are tapped out. On today's show we dive into the reasons why this is the case and explore a TON of ways that you can ensure that you aren't running out of money before you run out of life. We'll explore lots of areas, like:

Health care costs
Automatic savings plans
Better investing to increase returns
Avoiding common pitfalls

...and lots more.

In our TikTok minute we explore estate planning. What happens when dad is about to die and he tells his son, "Just put me in my boat and let the sea take care of me." The reply from the son may not be what you'd expect. We also take a call from Stacker Eric, who's wondering if he should keep pumping money into his HSA even though he has a significant amount saved already. What if he doesn't need that money?

Of course, we also save time for Doug's trivia AND we avoid celebrating "old joke day."

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/running-out-of-money-in-retirement-1550

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Find The Work You'll Love (plus how Mark Cuban avoided losses during a market collapse) Jul 22, 2024

Tessa West has seen lots of people in the wrong careers. Either the job has drifted from what they'd initially thought, or maybe they're a leader at work, but they're passed over for promotions or raises. There are many reasons why people feel the malaise of a job that doesn't work anymore, but the effect is nearly always the same. Either you stagger through the work, wasting your life, or you dream about early retirement. What if there was another answer? What if the job that lights you up is actually out there? You need to know the tools to go find it. That's what Tessa Woods gifts us on today's show. You'll learn how to throw off the ennui and find meaning at work by either rebooting your current career or finding a new job elsewhere. We'll talk about how to engage in effective networking, how to assert yourself as a leader in your field, and why changing fields isn't a bad idea--even if you're an older worker. While many of us think that we wouldn't qualify for jobs against seasoned pros who've already had experience in the given area, Tessa shares how and why employers often want someone with a fresh perspective. You have to know how to sell your strengths, and we'll share some keys today.

In our headline segment, we'll review how Mark Cuban saved his fortune from disaster when everyone else lost money in the 2000-2002 tech wreck. We'll share the tools he used and how it all went down. Plus we'll answer the question: should YOU also use this strategy to avoid losses? It's a great question, and we tackle it head-on! We'll cover options, market declines, and the financial planning reasons Cuban executed this strategy.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/find-a-job-you-love-1549

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Wealthy? But All You Have is Money! (The FIVE Types of Wealth) SB1548 Jul 19, 2024

How wealthy are you? Today we talk about different currencies than cash. While you may be monetarily rich, if you're truly stacking a better life, there are other priorities. Today we dive into a piece from the Retirement Manifesto blog (and from past guest James Clear) on building OTHER types of wealth. What are they? We ask contributors David Stein (Money for the Rest of Us podcast), Allysa Maizes (Amplify Your Wealth online), and Doc G (Earn & Invest podcast). This all-star cast has spent lots of time and energy maximizing not just their financial readiness for independence, but also their overall wealth in many of the areas we discuss today.

Of course, we'll pause halfway to battle out Doug's trivia. Mom's been making a surge in our year-long competition. Can David Stein (playing for mom) keep the run going? Will Allysa (playing for Paula Pant) start reeling in mom and OG? You'll find out today!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/5-types-of-wealth-1548

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Savings Bonds, "Coast FI," and Do I Need a Trust? (Your Questions) Jul 17, 2024

On today's show we dive headfirst into the mailbag, and answer your excellent questions on every facet of investing, saving, and protecting your money:

Do I need a trust?
What should I do with these savings bonds?
Should I take my money out of a 529 college savings plan?
Can I stop saving money well before I retire?

...and LOTS more. We're excited to not only bring you those questions, plus our TikTok minute (wait until you hear THIS bride...), AND Doug's incredible trivia question. Plus, we may rail on too long about fake IDs (just to help parents know how to spot them, of course).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/investing-saving-and-protecting-your-money/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Better Investing Using an Ancient Philosophy (SB1546) Jul 15, 2024

Does winning at investing mean that you need more information, a better rule set to follow, or better connections? Our guest today says that while those can be advantages, it's hard to "win" those games. However, there is one method which can help us easily increase our odds of becoming a better saver and investor. More good news? This method is available to us all. Our guest today says learning from the Stoics, philosophers from ancient times, we can easily beat the average investor and we can set ourselves up for life. If you're listening to SB for that reason, you're in a for a treat. Darius Foroux is not only one of our favorite bloggers (we've used his work several times as the centerpiece for our Friday roundtable chats between personal finance luminaries), he actually joins us today in the basement to help you become a wiser, stronger, and hopefully wealthier Stacker.

In our headline segment, one saver says that he saved too much money into his 401k retirement plan. Huh? How does that even make sense? We'll chat about how to best save for retirement and also challenge you to think about how you save...and not just about the amount you're saving.

We'll hear from a Stacker in need as well AND of course, save time for Doug's trivia question that you'll be talking about all day long.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/money-and-philosophy-1546

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Cool Electric Vehicle! Can You Afford To Insure It? Jul 12, 2024

Insurance is a topic we all often avoid, with HUGE consequences. When disaster strikes we have either the wrong coverage or none at all. That's why we decided today to have some fun talking about how making better insurance decisions can truly improve your life. You may find yourself skipping down your street because you've either 1) saved money or 2) found better coverages for your situation. We'll chat about:

Big picture about using the stuff you buy (ensuring that the purchase is actually "worth it").
How much insurance is "enough"
When you can skip the insurance altogether
Working with insurance brokers
Adding riders to your policies
Long term care...the mother of all insurance problems
Pet insurance
...and LOTS more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/finding-better-insurance-1545

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Fighting Insecurities, Building a Business, and Behind-The-Scenes of SB and Afford Anything (SB1544) Jul 10, 2024

On today's special episode, Joe and Paula Pant (AffordAnything) dive behind the scenes to share key learnings from the Craft & Commerce conference in Boise, Idaho. Recording live from the Kit studios in downtown Boise, they share lessons learned about serving audiences, fighting fear, breaking through business insecurity, and much, much more. It's a wide-ranging discussion where you'll see behind-the-scenes of both brands, and hear about how two creators learn, build, and grow. You'll learn lots of takeaways about your own career, life, and (if you're an entrepreneur) brand that you can apply.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/live-craft-and-commerce-conference-1544

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Your Retirement Tax Time Bomb Is Ticking Louder (SB1543) Jul 08, 2024

What do you do to diffuse the retirement time bomb? The government has a plan, and you won't like it. Joe was the emcee recently for maybe the biggest name in tax planning -- Ed Slott -- and his book launch event. We're replaying as our mentor segment today Joe's interview with Ed from that event because there are so many "a-ha" moments and good direction toward ensuring that your tax time bomb doesn't go off all over your retirement.

In our headline, we talk about interest rates and the financial markets. How do you avoid chasing interest rates and instead focus on the big picture? Doug and OG dive into this topic. Plus, we take a call from Nicole, who wonders about her husband's stock options. We talk options, restricted shares, and planning. How do you ensure that you don't overpay taxes on these incentives but at the same time don't end up holding on to worthless options or with an underdiversified portfolio. This type of planning can be messy, so today we help you unwind it all.

Of course, Doug shares his trivia and much, much more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: Add show notes url here. Be sure to please include https://www at the beginning of the show notes url that makes it clickable on YouTube

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Should You Shut Up About All That Money You Make (or that you don't make)? SB1542 GREATEST HITS Jul 05, 2024

Is there anything worse than someone who brags about how much money they make? Many of us would say, "No." On the other hand how many people wish someone would be more transparent about how much they make so that we can emulate them better and maybe earn more ourselves? Today we cover that in the final installment of our greatest hits episode series. We're back next week with new shows!

Here are the original show notes from December 10th, 2021: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1127/

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RE/MAX Cofounder Dave Liniger on Persistence, Breaking the Rules, and Creating the Next Big Thing: Stacking Deeds (SB1561) Jul 04, 2024

On today's show...what skill do you need to lead a group of people toward real estate success? Leadership! And man, do we have a leader here to teach you that skill...REMAX Co-founder, Dave Liniger.

In our headlines, we chat about the state of airbnbs and if guests get the warm and fuzzies when they walk in. Plus, we’ll answer a call to Ruth's Rotary phone from Aimsley who wants to avoid being over-leveraged, under-leveraged or inter-leveraged-we've got answers.

And of course, Neighbor Doug will pop in later with the property pop quiz.

Have a question for the show? Head to StackingDeeds.net/voicemail

Subscribe to the new show wherever you're listening to today's episode! Just type "Stacking Deeds" into your search function so you catch all of the latest shows the day they arrive (every Tuesday).

Enjoy!

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The Surprising Secret to Leading People Effectively (SB1540) Jul 03, 2024

Whether you're a current leader or aspiring to become one, today's leader, Rachael Robertson, has a story you'll need to hear. Tasked with leading an Australian team in Antarctica, Robertson had to make quick, decisive decisions in an environment where nobody was allowed to find refuge. Everyone had to find a way to work together immediately and without fail. How did she do it? You'll hear today how the employment of one simple (but not easy) technique helped her not only maintain control but help her group thrive in the harshest of environments.

Of course, as always, this greatest hits episode also includes a headline, Doug's trivia question, and more. For details on those, here are the original show notes: Being Liked Is Overrated (with Rachael Robertson).

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Are Recessions Actually Good For Us? (Earn & Invest Community Episode) SB1539 Jul 02, 2024

If you listen to the news (or see the carnage around you), you know that recessions are a time of hurt. Companies downsize or go bankrupt. People lose their jobs, their homes, and in a stock market decline, their ability to meet goals. But are recessions actually good for us? One recent financial piece says that they are, and our collaborator and friend Doc G at our award-winning sister show, Earn & Invest, dives into it today. He's asked two people from his community plus Joe Saul-Sehy to a panel discussing the possibility that just maybe...behind all of the tears and horror, a recession might be healthy.

Find the original show notes here: https://www.earnandinvest.com/episodes-8/are-recessions-good-for-you

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How To Get Out Of Your Own Way (with one simple tool) SB1538 - Greatest Hits Jul 01, 2024

Ever look at yourself in the mirror? Of course, you have! How often have you had to tell that person looking back at you to get out of the way? If you’re like us, A TON. Mel Robbins discovered that one simple gesture in the morning can make all the difference in our decisions. She’ll share details of her own journey to success after financial hardship and how five seconds and high-fives changed her outlook. High fives aren’t just for big accomplishments or a way to communicate with friends. You can (and should) give yourself a high five every day for all the successes in your life, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Mel dives into the science behind how these small habits changed her life and how they can change yours, too.

We are back teaching you about annuities during our headline, and one annuity company is pleading to independent financial advisors to give their products another shot. Annuities aren’t always painted in the best light, and we’ll hear what this company is doing to change that. During our Magnify Money voicemail, Roy wants to pick Joe and OG’s brains about their asset allocation. And, of course, we’ll include some of Doug’s trivia.

This show originally aired in September of 2021, so please ignore any mention of current events. You can find the original show notes here: How To Get Out Of Your Own Way With One Simple Tool (with Mel Robbins).

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How To Invest Like a Middle-Age Woman (SB1537) Jun 28, 2024

Is the secret to investment success all about making your decisions as if you were a 50-year-old woman? We tackle that take on today's roundtable discussion. We're joined by one of the best voices who gives investing advice online, Brian Feroldi. He's joined by the lady who knows all about making wise investing decisions, no matter your age, Paula Pant. And finally, we also feature the advice of our in-house financial planner (who happens to have the temperament of a 50-year-old woman), OG.

In the second half, brought to you by DepositAccounts.com, we continue down the list of how to win by investing like a 50-year-old woman.

And, finally, be sure to stick around for Doug's sky-high stock-institution trivia. It will surprise you!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/invest-smarter-think-like-a-50-year-old-woman-1537

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

During our conversation, you'll hear us mention:

Sticking to your investment plan, even in times of market correction.
Why "this time is different" is a dangerous mindset.
Weighing the long-term risk-reward relationship.
The benefit of indexing.
Investing according to your time horizon and risk tolerance.
The fallacy of trying to time the market.
Dollar-cost averaging.
How to resist the temptation to tinker with your investments.
How to trick yourself from reacting to every piece of news.
How to avoid FOMO.
Why you shouldn't care about what others think.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Allowing yourself to allocate a small amount of your portfolio to taking outsized risks.
Investing in individual stocks if it works for you.
Allocating a limited amount of time to making investment decisions.
How to distinguish between sound advice and not-so-reputable salespeople.
Use good judgment when deciding whose advice to follow.
Finding the investing style that works for you.
Learning from failure.

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How To Stage Your Own Money Revolution Jun 26, 2024

Time to revolt! Tired of thinking everyone else is in control when it comes to your money? The grocery store, utilities, retirement plans and their fee structures...everyone wants a piece of you, don't they? Well, today, that all changes. We're burning down ideas like high-interest debt (or debt at all), kids eating your entire budget, needing a million dollars to retire, and other tired ideas. We'll swap these and other ideas out for useable tips and ideas to help you revolt and build your own financial freedom.

Our headline today features a top economist who says the idea of retiring with a million is too much. You can retire on much, much less. We'll share why we agree today, but do you really want less?
Our TikTok minute is about budgets. Who can afford the fresh produce area of a grocery store?
The Better Call Saul... Sehy and OG segment features Dave, who wonders about credit card reward points. Should he begin taking advantage of them?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-much-do-you-need-to-retire-1536

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The 5 Emotional Stages AFTER Financial Independence - with Douglas Tsoi (SB1535) Jun 24, 2024

Do you think, "I've made it once I reach financial independence?" Douglas Tsoi has been "retired" for over ten years and will tell you, "Not even close."

For all of us, a new journey begins once we reach financial independence. What does this look like? How can we prepare? Today, Douglas sits down with Joe Saul-Sehy to dive into the five stages we all experience after reaching what many think of as the finish line.

In short, we'll discuss:

The fallacy of "I'm done"
The reason why people are afraid to retire, even though they may say otherwise
The darkness phase of "is this all there is?" and how to fight it
The joy of finally realizing that, after the emotional journey, you can flip into a new, gratifying state.

In our headline, we'll share a story about two executives in court because their investment scheme was "built on lies." This company promised eight percent returns without volatility. What's wrong with that? We'll walk through:

How companies make money and why volatility is always EXPECTED with an eight percent return.
Historical returns for asset classes, including the much-maligned international and emerging markets asset classes. Will they ever outperform again?
We'll share several ways people try to even out returns to ATTEMPT, including what these alleged scammers said they could do (and couldn't).

But that's not all. Of course, we'll also share Doug's amazing Formula One trivia question and much, much more.

FULL SHOWNOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/emotional-stages-after-financial-independence-douglas-tsoi

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Our BIGGEST Budget "Gotchas"! (SB1534) Jun 21, 2024

What are the biggest fifteen items on most budgets that can derail your spending plan? One blogger, our friend Allison Baggerly at InspiredBudgets.com, made a list.

Today we use that list as the basis of a game show episode! Paula Pant (AffordAnything), Doc G. (Earn & Invest) and our own OG go head-to-head in a match to figure out which items made Allison's list. The best part? Even when their guesses are wrong, they bring up MANY budget busters that can help all of us do a better job fixing the holes in our spending plan.

Topics we cover:

Gifts
Taxes
Auto maintenance
Pet care
Holiday spending
Medical deductibles/costs

...and much more. We also share MANY solutions to plug the holes in your budget.

AND if that weren't enough, we pause at the halfway point of our conversation for our normal trivia competition (a competition inside of a competition? Meta!)

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/budget-gotchas-1534

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How to Structure an Effective Emergency Fund Jun 19, 2024

Even if you only have $500 in your emergency fund, today we reveal why having this money in the right place can yield BIG dividends. If you have your $500 in an account paying the average rate, you'll make around $2.50 in interest per year. Yet, by moving these Benjamins to a well-structured emergency fund, you could earn around $22.50. Doesn't sound like much? Assuming this takes 30 minutes, we're talking about earning $40 an hour! That's a GREAT rate of return on your time invested.

Episode Overview

Why Your Emergency Fund Matters More Than Ever:

Ever wondered where to stash your emergency fund for the greatest benefit? With rising interest rates, it’s a discussion worth your time. We’ll cover:
How much should you keep in your emergency fund?
Avoiding common pitfalls.
Understanding the differences between money market accounts, high-yield savings accounts, and other options. And yes, we clarify all this mumbo-jumbo so you can actually understand it!

(What are YOUR thoughts on emergency funds? Share with us on Instagram or on Facebook!)

Segment Highlights:

TikTok Minute: What’s “guy math”? We’ll dive into this fun trend and how it compares to “girl math.” This guy applies girl math to his tool collection. What could go wrong?
New Segment Debut: Sometimes, online advice needs a second opinion. Hear OG’s take on some questionable financial tips. Today, we open with Sammie, who is asking for help with her 401k. As you can imagine, any time you ask for advice on the internet, it goes downhill quickly from there. If you see horrible advice in a financial forum, send it to us! (joe at stacking benjamins dot com)
Doug’s Trivia: Test your knowledge with Doug’s latest trivia question and much more! Today, he dives into Federal holiday trivia to celebrate Juneteenth.

Join the Community:

For deeper dives, curated links, and exclusive discussions, subscribe to our newsletter, The 201. Join the Stacking Benjamins community and let’s achieve financial success together!

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Let's Save a Bundle on Taxes (with Hannah Cole) - SB1532 Jun 17, 2024

Tax planning in June? Of course! Why would you wait until next year, when you can't make ANY financial moves that save you money, to start figuring out how to cut your tax bill? Right now, at nearly the halfway point of the year, we'll dive into how to understand your taxes and make cuts with our tax planning mentor, Hannah Cole. Hannah will walk us through tax savings ideas for everyone, and then we'll focus on those people who have either started a side hustle or who are entrepreneurs and share some great tips for business owners. Even if you're just dreaming about having a business or "working for the man," we've got you covered.

Plus, in our headline segment, two brothers woke up one day this spring and found themselves disinherited, losing out on approximately one million dollars! How did that happen? It could have all been avoided, and YOU can avoid this problem too. We'll walk you through HOW to make sure your beneficiaries receive the funds you've decided should go to them. We'll also explain how wills and trusts work, and get you started toward building a better "estate plan."

Of course, Doug brings his awesome trivia challenge AND we answer a question from a Stacker in need.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/tax-planning-year-round-1532

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Your 7 Biggest Retirement Money Headaches (SB1531) Jun 14, 2024

How are you preparing for retirement? Have you looked at all of the dimensions to ensure you have a successful, long runway of money always available? On today's special roundtable episode, we dive into a piece that claims there are seven things you need to do in order to be prepared for retirement. Joining us are: Don McDonald from the Talking Real Money podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG.

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into risk mitigation, the importance of maintaining adequate cash reserves while in retirement, and keeping a historical context of current events.

Be sure to stick around for the yearlong trivia competition with Doug's baseball-themed trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/moves-to-make-before-retirement-1531

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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All About Vesting Schedules and Stock Market Predictions! (SB1530) Jun 12, 2024

There’s another lawsuit brewing in the world of retirement planning. This time, participants in a 401(k) plan in California are raising concerns about how Qualcomm is handling the money forfeited when employees don’t complete their vesting schedules.

Vesting schedule? What’s that all about?

Today, we'll break down everything you need to know about vesting schedules, so you can navigate your job benefits with confidence. Whether you’re dealing with a vesting cliff or a staggered vesting schedule, we’ve got you covered. We’ll explain how they work, the taxes involved, how to plan around them, and how to think about any money that isn’t fully yours yet. Plus, for business owners, we'll discuss how to balance keeping talent with implementing vesting schedules. Get ready for a fun and informative session on one of the trickier aspects of financial planning!

In our TikTok minute, we’re sharing a clip from Fox News where a contributor predicts what will happen to the stock market if Trump is convicted after his recent trial. Spoiler: He was convicted. Let’s see if his prediction came true and how it might impact your money.

We also have a note from a fellow Stacker who thought, "I better call Saul...Sehy & OG." He’s worried about contributing to a Roth IRA because his income is too high. We’ll discuss strategies like backdoor Roth contributions, Roth 401(k) plans, and some of the tricky rules around Roth IRA conversions that can trip people up.

And of course, we’ll share a fun trivia question from Doug, sit on the back porch, and so much more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-vesting-1530

For deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions, check out our newsletter, The 201, at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The 2024 FinTech Disaster: What You Need To Know (AND the Fascinating History of Banking w/ Paolo Zannoni) (SB1529) Jun 10, 2024

Unlocking the FinTech Disaster: What You Need to Know

You might not know it, but a huge number of people have their money trapped in a recent FinTech crisis. When the middleman company Synapse went bankrupt, it froze funds in many popular FinTech apps, including Yotta, a sweepstakes app that makes saving money fun. Will Yotta and other affected FinTech companies be able to return their users' money? What does this mean for the future of FinTech? Is more legislation on the way to prevent this from happening again? While new updates are rolling in daily, we’ll break down what we know and how it impacts your finances.

The Fascinating History of Banking

Later in the show, we'll dive into the history of banking with our mentor for the day, Paolo Zannoni. Paolo is the deputy chairman of Prada, a historian, and the former head of operations for Goldman Sachs in Russia. He'll reveal that while today's FinTech issues might seem new, they’re part of a repeating historical pattern. Learn how modern banking originated in Pisa, the relationship between banks and credit, how minting money sped up the creation of banks, and how banks and governments have collaborated for centuries.

Better Call Saul... Sehy and OG: Setting Savings Goals

In our Better Call Saul... Sehy and OG segment, a Stacker mom seeks advice on helping her twenty-year-old daughter set savings goals. The young woman is great at saving but isn’t sure what to save for. We always say, "Begin with the end in mind," but what if you don't know what "the end" looks like? We’ll discuss practical steps to find and set meaningful savings goals.

Plus...

Don't miss our memorable back porch discussions, Doug's always-entertaining trivia, and much more!

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For deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions, subscribe to our newsletter, The 201, at stackingbenjamins.com.

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How Come High Earners Struggle To Get Rich? (SB1528) Jun 07, 2024

Why aren't all big-money ballers able to pile up massive stacks of Benjamins? How come some average Joe earners can build significant wealth? On today's special roundtable episode, we dive into a blog post listing the top six reasons people who make big money can't save. One of the Top 100-rated financial planners by Investopedia in 2023, Elaine King, joined us. She's not alone, though. We also feature the creator of the award-winning blog Afford Anything, Paula Pant, and our own resident CFP, OG.

In the second half of the conversation, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we'll explore the actual benefits of relocating to save money.

Stick around for our year-long trivia competition inspired by our special guest, Elaine King's, home country of Peru.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/top-six-reasons-youre-not-rich-1528

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Should You Create a "Board of Directors"? An Open AI/Chat GPT Case Study (SB1527) Jun 05, 2024

Open AI recently survived a brutal firing/rehiring of their CEO and a complete board resignation. In the past, we've heard extensively from Sam Altman, the CEO of Open AI, but we haven't heard from the board. Today we use the words of a board member who's speaking openly for the first time to ponder the question, "Should YOU have a board of directors for your personal financial life?" We parse the words "board of directors" to determine what that really means, and we dive into how these relationships truly work. Should we except "hostile" advice from strangers? Should we consider our friends to be on our board casually? We explore all of these options and more on today's extended Wednesday headline discussion!

Of course, we feature a TikTok minute that you won't want to miss as one young woman discovers the true trap that taxes are on your ability to build wealth. Doug also supplies his amazing trivia, and of course, we also answer a call for help from a Stacker who thought, "I'd better call Saul...Sehy and OG."

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/create-your -board-of-directors-1527

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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What's Holding You Back? How to Break Through Mental Barriers and Increase Your Earning Potential (SB1526) Jun 03, 2024

How much of your life is controlled by programming? If you're looking to make more money you have to look at what's blocking you today and transform yourself into an earning machine. It turns out that the key to earning more is right between your ears. Brandon Epstein works with top professionals (athletes, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and high-level executives) to help them achieve even more. You've heard us say many times that great people surround themselves with amazing individuals. Brandon IS that maker of amazing talent. He doesn't create talent. He teaches you how to tap the talent you know is waiting to be deployed. We'll talk about mental blocks, societal programming, identifying those blocks, and how to break free of them on today's podcast.

But before that we ask the question, can you trust online reviews? We not only walk through how many of your favorite sites are manipulating their review systems, but we also give you a better method to find and keep talented people around you (or amazing companies that you should work with). We also take a call from a Stacker who wonders how to invest money she's rolled over into her IRA, AND we dive deep on Doug's incredible trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/break-through-mental-blocks-achieve-success-1526

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Does More Money Equal More Misery? SB 1525 May 31, 2024

Maybe the key to achieving happiness doesn't lie in being perfect (financially-speaking). Today we dive deep into striking the balance between channeling your inner Warren Buffett/Jack Bogle/Scrooge McDuck hybrid and channeling your inner Neighbor Doug at the special Summer Slam-Bingo-Ladies Night down at the Sizzler. Joining us on today's special roundtable discussion are: the woman who’ll help you get out of being miserably in debt, award-winning author, Erin Skye Kelly; the guy who helps people be responsible with their future money, the host of the Inspired Money podcast, Andy Wang; and the Scrooge McDuck of this here podcast, OG.

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dig into how to make money a fun topic. Does being a mega tracker bring you anxiety? If so, maybe you should focus on putting savings first and then spending what's left over.

Finally, be sure to stick around for Doug's Benjamin stack-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-maintain-happiness-and-be-good-with-money-1524

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How To Score Eight Percent on Your Money (and maybe regret it) SB1524 May 29, 2024

Today high yield bonds are in the spotlight. A recent Wall Street Journal piece details how you can get eight percent currently in the bond market (which is a rate most stock investors would be happy to lock in). Why may this NOT be a good deal? Well, first you have to understand how bonds work. So, we'll explain that. Second, you'll have to understand the difference between buying a bond fund and a single bond. So, we'll also explain that. Third, we'll have to explain how many investors lose money because they don't understand concepts such as "risk premium." So, happy, we'll show you what that means. It's all things bonds on today's show!

But that's not all. Stacker Tom asked a GREAT question in the Stacking Benjamins basement the other day, because it's SUPER complicated. He asks about IRMMA, RMDs, and Medicare. Huh? We LOVE this question because it shows the depth of knowledge you'll need to have to get everything right...but also shows you how you do NOT need to know everything today/right now/immediately. We'll explain all of these terms on today's show (and also illuminate how frustrating the world of financial terms can be during our TikTok minute).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/bonds-hidden-risks-1524

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How To Become a Financial Mutant (with Brian Preston) SB1523 May 27, 2024

Learning a new language is difficult, and the language of money is no exception. Brian Preston from The Money Guys has created shortcut words and phrases like "financial mutant" to help you focus on what's important and ignore the rest. We'll discuss how to get started, the key moves to reach long-term goals, how to avoid making costly mistakes, and more. Whether you're someone just beginning your journey or a seasoned investor, there's a little something for everyone every time we speak with Brian.

In our headline segment, a publication decided to ask AI (Chat GPT) how to beat the stock market. The AI responded with advice, which we'll dive into thoroughly to see if this is the wave of the future. Even better news: beginning this week, we'll track this AI driven portfolio to see if it truly is a better way to invest than a collection of index funds (or just one index).

But that's not all. We also answer a question from a Stacker AND Doug shares his amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/become-a-financial-mutant-1523/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How We Think About Debt (SB 1522) May 24, 2024

Welcome to a very special roundtable edition of the show! On today's show, we're talking about debt, and how to use it (or avoid it) as part of your financial plan. We're joined by Afford Anything's Paula Pant; the host of The Personal Finance Podcast, Andrew Giancola; and the host of the Earn & Invest podcast Doc G!

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into the possible positive effects that having a large amount of debt can have - in terms of constant motivation to make progress.

Be sure to stick around for Doug's mind-blowing trivia question about debt.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-role-of-debt-in-your-financial-plan-1522

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Restaurants, Your Wallet, and You (reprogramming your meal prep and patterns) SB 1521 May 22, 2024

A recent major media outlet reports that people earning less than $50,000 per year aren't eating at restaurants as often as they did a year ago, and that eating away from home is becoming a trait increasingly more for the wealthy. Today we talk about not only this trend but others as we help you grab a firm hold on your wallet. One of the "big three" expense categories is food cost, and cutting your restaurant tab can be an effective way to sock more money toward financial independence. We'll share tools, strategies, and anecdotes from people who've successfully navigated the restaurant game on today's show.

Plus, we share a TikTok minute from one creator who's more than a little worried about homeowners and renters insurance. You'll hear why and how to make better decisions around these policies. Then we look at other communities online and answer random questions we've seen on the web that we think haven't been answered very well. We talk CD rates, driving for DoorDash, and more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/state-of-restaurants-2024-1521

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Our Stacking Benjamins Summer Kick-Off Episode (with Robert Niles) May 20, 2024

Nothing says summer more than a trip to your favorite regional theme park. Whether with friends, family, or alone, a trip to a theme park can be either super expensive and tiring or a blast. So that's why our friend from Theme Park Insider, Robert Niles, is BACK to help us all kick off summer on the right foot, spending money wisely on experiences that will be memorable and fun. Not only will he help you save some money, but he'll also share tips on the hottest parks and attractions around the country. We'll talk about food (best food AND deals), thrill rides, family attractions, and more.

In our headline, OG and Joe dive into the exchange-traded fund (ETF) craze. People are pouring money into ETFs, but are they doing it wisely? In many cases, no. We'll share how exchange-traded funds work, which types are the best to choose from, and how to avoid getting caught investing in something that sounds great...but truly is not.

Of course, we'll also share Doug's trivia question about the biggest stock market drop of all time and FINALLY wrap up our 2024 "Joke Off."

It's another day of fun on the Stacking Benjamins show. As always, thanks to our sponsors, and enjoy another show where we're ad-free the ENTIRE second half of the show (as always!).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/theme-parks-summer-2024-1520

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Our 7 Rules of Happiness (SB1519) May 17, 2024

At the end of the day, stacking Benjamins is all about living a better, happier life. But how can you achieve greater happiness while still on your stacking journey? That's what we're all about on today's special, all-about-happiness episode. We're joined by our special guest, host of the Best Interest Podcast, Jesse Cramer; a lady who knows plenty about the intersection of money and happiness, Paula Pant; and our own rainbow and unicorn ray of sunshine, OG!

In the second half of our discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into more of our favorite ways to improve your happiness.

Be sure to stick around for the ongoing year-long trivia competition as Doug brings a rainbow/magical wizard-related trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-achieve-happiness-1519

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How To Not Pick a Broker (SB 1517) May 15, 2024

Robinhood seams to always be in the news, and usually not for a good reason. Today Joe and OG discuss Robinhood crypto potentially being sued be the SEC. Crypto still seems to be the wild wild west. Is the SEC trying to put some regulations around crypto but then again isn't that the whole purpose of crypto?

Our TikTok is all about following the prospectus and whether Doug starts his fire with those?

We answer a question from Stacker, Damon, about whether or not he can help out his kids fund their Roth IRAs?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/choose-the-right-broker-1518

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Save Money on Interest Payments, Loans, Perscriptions, Hotel Rooms, and More May 13, 2024

Matt Schulz is the PERFECT mentor to teach us how to negotiate because, in his own words, he's not a natural negotiator. Today he proves that you don't have to be a natural to find better deals on your credit card interest rates, prescription, rental cars, hotel rooms, and more. He'll walk us through the common misconceptions around negotiating and help us learn to ask politely for more for ourselves.

In our headline segment, small company stocks are struggling to keep up with the S&P 500. Why would someone stay diversified when large companies are doing so well and other stocks are not? We'll walk through the science of diversification and why it's a mistake to bail on underperforming asset classes during down periods.

Of course, that's not all. We'll share some of Doug's trivia, answer a question from a Stacker about emergency fund interest rates, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/negotiate-everything-with-matt-schultz-1517

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Talking All Things Kids and Money (SB1516) May 10, 2024

Personal finance education in schools is finally getting some attention, but the best financial education starts at home. On today's special prelude-to-summer-vacation roundtable discussion, we're joined by three experts in the field of kids and money. Joining us today are John Lanza from The Art of Allowance podcast, the founder of the Wealthy Kids Investment Club Maya Cobic, and money educator Rob Phelan.

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we talk about how to teach kids about money in the digital world.

And you won't want to miss Doug's toothy finance-related trivia question!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/your-kids-and-money-1516

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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When Does It Pay To Be More Scientific About Retirement? (SB1515) May 08, 2024

A new CBS report shows that the average person's perception of how much they'll need for retirement has changed dramatically versus four short years ago. Do you think the number is higher or lower? We'll not only share that, but we'll also dive into this idea of calculating the correct amount to save. When is it truly important to begin working on your retirement vision? When should you be more scientific about your overall asset allocation toward your goals, and when does it make sense to just save money? Today we'll share all of those milestones and more as we help you calculate a retirement number that's better geared toward your personal goals AND that's only created when it actually makes sense to have a goal.

In our TikTok minute, there are property owners all over the world testing their insurance premiums. We'll share how. We also take a call from Stacker Collin, who wonders which option to take for health insurance (pronounced IN-surance), since it's likely he and his spouse will be working for the same company. Of course, we have some fun out on the back porch talking all things television, and more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/calculate-your-retirement-number-1515/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Quit Your Job, Find Freedom (with Janesse Torres) May 06, 2024

Janesse Torres is a force of nature. She purposefully quit her high-paying job as an engineer because it didn't fit her personality AFTER posting about it on social media. Today she joins us to talk about living your life intentionally, building financial reserves, demanding more from your boss, and if you get "no" as your answer, moving on. As the host of Yo Quiero Dinero and a woman who's a social media/blogging powerhouse, she's used to talking about life as it is, without mincing words. Today you get the full Janesse as she shares how to negotiate, build savings, and more.

Plus, in our headline, new legislation should help you find advisors who are trustworthy when it comes to working with your retirement plan money. Will the reality equal the promise? We weigh in on how the legislation works, what we think will happen, and how to plan whether it finally becomes law in September or not. You'll be ready to find better help for your retirement after today's show.

Plus we answer a call from Jen, who wonders about HSA plans. Can she move money from her IRA to an HSA? And that's not all....of course, Doug shares some trivia you'll be sharing later with friends and family.

On the back porch, we talk about what we've decided for our Friday roundtable shows. Who's going to be the new frequent contributor?

Of course, that's just the FIRST episode of our new eight weeks! We've got action packed mentorship from Brian Preston, Robert Niles, humor from Lisa Curry, great feedback from a panel of kids-and-money experts, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/get-financially-lit-1514

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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What Life Lessons Would You Share With A Younger You? GREATEST HITS WEEK (SB1513) May 03, 2024

Join us as we wrap up Greatest Hits Week with a favorite roundtable discussion: What lessons would you share with your younger self? This episode originally aired on November 5, 2021, so please disregard any mention of current events.

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Maybe it’s to take more chances or say adios to the boss that treats you horrible or maybe it’s just to live life to the fullest and not worry about what others think. Today our roundtable discusses a blog piece from Ryan Holiday about mistakes he’s made and advice he would give himself. Caleb Gulliams (Better Wealth), Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Doc G (Earn & Invest) join our roundtable and talk about advice they’d give their younger self and the mistakes they’ve made.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/life-lessons-to-younger-self-greatest-hits-1513

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Confidence in Negotiation: Asking for More in Real Estate Deals with Dia Bondi GREATEST HITS WEEK (SB1512) May 02, 2024

Let's keep Greatest Hits Week rolling with a must-hear episode from our sister show, Stacking Deeds. This show originally aired on November 21, 2023, so please disregard and mention of current events.

Do you struggle to ask for more from your contractors, your real estate professional, your stagers, or other help? Do you think you stink at negotiation? Before learning to negotiate, it’s a great idea to get comfortable with asking for more.

You can view the original show notes here: Confidence in Negotiation: Asking for More in Real Estate Deals with Dia Bondi (stackingdeeds.net).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/confidence-in-negotiation-stacking-deeds-greatest-hits-1512

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Suze Orman GREATEST HITS WEEK (SB1511) May 01, 2024

t's Hump Day on Greatest Hits Week! Today we're throwing it back to a fan favorite: Joe's 2018 interview with the one-and-only Suze Orman! Please disregard any mention of current events.

We’re pulling out all the stops today because we’re talking to a special guest that you may (or may not) have heard of… Suze Orman. We’ll talk all things women and money, mentorship, understanding your investments and financial tools, and more. Plus, during our headlines segment we’re extra packed because we’re delivering three awesome headlines. First: is Robinhood really making MILLIONS by selling out millennials’ user data? One group thinks so. And if that wasn’t enough, in a retirement plan court fight, one retirement fund is fighting back against participants that sued the employer by asking for monetary sanctions against the six employee-plaintiffs and the law firm that represented them. But that’s not all….because we’re also dissecting one piece about Barry White and the estate he left behind. How much of your estate does your girlfriend receive when you’ve been separated from your wife for two decades (but never actually divorced her?)…do we have some news for you…

The original show notes are available here: Suze Orman » The Stacking Benjamins Show.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/suze-orman-greatest-hits-1511

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Earn & Invest Podcast: How to Hack Retirement w/ Joe Saul-Sehy and John Neidecker GREATEST HITS WEEK (SB1510) Apr 30, 2024

In this current events/community we invite Earn & Invest community member John Neidecker to discuss how to hack retirement by skipping 3 of the 5 stages. We review Richard Himmer's article from Kiplinger. Joe Saul-Sehy joins us as our expert for the episode.

This show originally aired February 29, 2024. Please disregard any mention of current events.

For the original show notes, visit How to Hack Retirement — Earn & Invest (earnandinvest.com).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/hack-retirement-greatest-hits-1510

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Are Workplace Clashes Ever Worth It? (with Gabe Karp) GREATEST HITS WEEK (SB1509) Apr 29, 2024

Welcome, Stacker, to a very special week! We start off our special Greatest Hits Week with a bang!

Know those horrible situations where everyone’s fighting at work — or worse, at home? Talk about a horrible investment: being invested in a rotten environment can overshadow even the best portfolio returns. Good news, though. It turns out, there are two types of conflict: the kind that allows us to grow and produces a positive outcome and the kind that’s downright toxic. To help us find a way toward healthy conflict, Gabe Karp joins us. He talks about why it can be hard to see the other side of an argument, how to turn bad conflict into good, and how to move toward a healthier working environment by even maybe fighting more (but in a healthy way).

But before that, we speak to Lamine Zarrad from Stellar about credit and the current economy. What happens when interest rates continue to rise and you need a new loan that you can’t afford? Lamine created a company called StellarFI, which was built to help people build their credit through paying bills on time. We’ll talk about credit issues, the economic slowdown, and how you can protect yourself.

This show originally aired in June of 2022, so please ignore any mention of current events.

The original show notes are located here. Are Workplace Clashes Ever Worth It? (with Gabe Karp) » The Stacking Benjamins Show

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/gabe-karp-greatest-hits-1509

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Accomplish More With a Few Benjamin-Stacking Time Hacks (SB 1508) Apr 26, 2024

How can you take control of your life instead of life taking control of you? On today's special roundtable episode, we're talking about making the most of your productivity habits. How has your phone robbed you of your productivity? We're joined by Rob Berger of The Dough Roller Money Podcast, founder and CEO of the financial services firm Sensible Money Dana Anspach, and founder of Afford Anything Paula Pant. They'll dive into their top productivity tips.

On the second half of the show, we're joined by MetPro's Angelo Poli. He and Joe dive into health and fitness. He breaks down top techniques to improve your wellness.

Be sure to stick around for Doug's baseball-themed trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/better-systems-to-improve-productivity-1508

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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The Simple Math of Wealth (SB 1507) Apr 24, 2024

Join us today as we dive into the core principles of building a sustainable financial future with marketing professor, author and investor, Scott Galloway. We explore the essential formulas behind his book Algebra of Wealth, discussing purposeful living, effective retirement planning, and the emotional aspects of investing.

Our headline today is all about AllianceBernstein 401k lawsuit that was dropped by New York US District Court.

During our Better Call Saul-Sehy and OG, we unravel the complexities of early retirement, delving into specific IRS rules for accessing retirement funds.

Plus, Doug wraps it all up with some modern history trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/investing-with-a-life-mission-1507

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Make Better Investment Decisions - Our TOP 5 Building Blocks to Constructing a Better Portfolio (SB1506) Apr 22, 2024

Today we're all about the factors to help you build a better investment portfolio. Joe and OG break down their thoughts as they dole out their top five building blocks to constructing a better portfolio. Be sure to bookmark this evergreen episode, as it contains universal truths that will help you in the years to come!

In our headlines, we talk about what's the best way to prepare for unexpected financial shocks, and when to get started (spoiler alert: how about now?). We dive deeper into how to protect your downside in the event of black swan events. Our TikTok Minute is all about how to get 90% of the way to your health goals by using one simple trick.

Stick around for Doug's US currency history-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-five-investment-building-blocks-1506

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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We Dissect The 4 Main Paths To Becoming A Millionaire (SB1505) Apr 19, 2024

Let's talk about what it takes to become a millionaire in today's day and age. We are thrilled to bring you a special roundtable episode with three outstanding contributors: we welcome CEO of BFG Financial Advisors, CFP® Eric Brotman; the force behind the website Yes, I am Cheap, Sandy Smith, and our resident doctor and host of the Earn & Invest podcast, Doc G.

In the first half of the discussion, we cover two of the primary ways to reach millionaire status: saver/investor, and passion-based activities (starting a business, reaching celebrity status, etc.)

In the second half of our discussion, brought to you by DepositAccounts.com, our roundtable dives into 2 more ways that people achieve millionaire status: the company-climber path and the virtuoso path.

Plus, our year-long trivia game continues, with none of our roundtable regulars. Which sit-in will bring home the W for Paula, Len, or OG? Tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/4-paths-to-become-a-millionaire-1505

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Our Primer On Making Better Insurance Decisions (SB1504) Apr 17, 2024

Today's episode is all about a very important, topic that's sure to arouse interest at personal finance get togethers: risk management. Specifically, Joe and OG jump into their Top 5 risks that people don't think about enough - and what you should do ahead of time.

In our headline segment, we dive into a popular personal finance website's piece about what to keep in mind when aging.

Our TikTok Minute features unfathomable consequences that one might experience if living near a certain sporting location.

And finally, Doug brings it all home with his trivia that's loosely related to insurance (but not really). Classic Doug!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-better-insurance-choices-1504

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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A Story About Money That is So Good It Probably Isn't True Apr 15, 2024

If you've ever wondered if there's more in life and your career waiting for you than your current job, then today's mentor is someone you want to listen to! On today's show, we welcome Michael Balter to the basement to discuss his career path and how he pivoted in a big way!

In our headline segment, we see some shocking (eye-roll) news about one store's credit card and how they are going to make up the lost revenue that they can charge in late fees. OG is not surprised.

And, finally, stick around for Doug's trivia loosely tied to April 15th. It's a stretch, but he's going with it.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/career-pivots-for-the-win-1503

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Why You Should Retire at 62 (or Before) (SB 1502) Apr 12, 2024

How do you know when the time is right to walk away from a career? Do you even want to? Can you afford to? Our roundtable discussion centers around thinking about retirement and how to prepare yourself financially so you can stay retired. We welcome Founder/President of Capital City Wealth Management, CFP® Benjamin Brandt, to join Paula Pant and Len Penzo.

How do you factor paying for health insurance into your early retirement planning? What about debt payments? When you retire, there will be greater spending in some areas that you may not think about while still working.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/why-you-should-retire-by-62-1502

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Strategies on Allocating Windfalls, Plus Does the Government Owe You 2K (SB1501) Apr 10, 2024

Did you recently come into some money? Are you expecting to in the near future? How have you treated "found money" in the past? With millions of Americans receiving their income tax refund, today we discuss what smart Stackers do with "found" money.

Not only that, but we also dive deeper into tips for how to decide ahead of time what you will do with any windfalls that come your way throughout the year, so you don't have to worry about blowing investing the entire amount on a brand new El Camino.

Be sure to stick around for Doug's this-day-in-baseball-history-themed trivia question!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/what-to-do-with-your-tax-refund-1501

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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The Important Role of Kindness and a Little Math When Stacking Benjamins (SB 1500) Apr 08, 2024

How can simply being kind (and using math) bring more Benjamins into your life? Today we explore the topic of how changing your outlook towards others can attract more abundance and wealth in life when Joe sits down with our mentor, the brilliant James Rhee, MIT professor and author of the hit book red helicopter: a parable for our times: lead change with kindness (plus a little math).

In our headline, we talk about the recent cutback in spending on lavish weddings, and how much is too much to expect to spend on your nuptials? Plus, how do you get out of budget for attending a wedding you've been invited to?

Stick around for Doug's wandering trivia! You're sure to not feel any older after his knowledge!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kindness-math-and-benjamins-1500

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Party Like It's 1499 (SB 1499) Apr 05, 2024

Today's episode is our 1499th episode! On today's celebratory show, we dive into some of your success stories! Plus, ever wonder how you achieve anything big in life? Just get started! On today's episode you'll get a behind the scenes look at the evolution of Stacking Benjamins. We go into what lessons we've learned along the way and how we strive to keep improving.

Stacker Christine from Seattle calls in to share her story, and how listening to the show inspired her to change her social circles and the conversations she was having with others.

We dive into best practices for building your business as an entrepreneur and how to build your network and reputation.

Stacker Derek calls in to express his gratitude for the show and all of the regular contributors. Lambo calls in to share how listening to and learning from the show has helped him improve his financial life.

Stacker Billy from San Francisco called in to give a shoutout to us and express gratitude for the help in making positive changes in his financial life.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/past-present-future-of-sb-episode-1499-celebration

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Simplifying Your Investment Strategy While Lowering Fees (plus a primer on ABLE Accounts) SB1498 Apr 03, 2024

The word is out on using low-cost investments over complex Wall Street strategies (and if you don't believe us, we'll quote SIGNIFICANT studies on today's show). Yet, new expensive products are built every day promising better/faster/more wealth. What do you need to know to simplify your strategy and stay the course? In today's headline segment we'll dive into diversification and keeping your portfolio simple. We'll share why it's important to question more complex strategies, and discuss solutions that wealthy investors truly are using to increase future income streams while keeping things low cost. We'll also shine a light on a popular investment manager who's working directly opposite the trend that we're suggesting, Cathie Wood of ARK Investments. We'll share the wild ride up and our thoughts on her recent issues and disastrous returns.

We'll also take a call from James, wondering about ABLE accounts. These are wonderful tools for people with special needs who are diagnosed early in life, and can help individuals avoid significant taxes. How do they work? What do you need to know? We'll share.

Of course, we'll also dive into Doug's amazing trivia question of the day, which shines a light on a high cost investment option: hedge funds...while saving time for a TikTok minute you won't want to miss.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-fees-and-you-1498

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How To More Effectively Rearrange Tasks: Manage Your Energy and Time with Google's Productivity Expert Laura Mae Martin - plus an appearance by former President Barack Obama (SB1497) Apr 01, 2024

Busy does not equal productive. In fact, how often have you watched as someone who was too busy to reach the important items on their mile-long list? Sadly, we're addicted to the to-do list but not addicted enough to processes that actually increase our happiness, creativity, or effectiveness. True productivity begins with CALM, according to today's mentor, Laura Martin. She created the productivity expert role at Google, and joins us today to share hints and tips to make you not only more relaxed, but also a fountain of productivity, no matter what you want to do.

Beyond that, we have an amazing headline, Joe & OG share the biggest laughs of their lives, and Doug FINALLY gives maybe his best advice ever.

Oh, and former President Barack Obama stops by.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/more-productivity-less-guilt-1497

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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We List the Biggest "Gotchas" in Popular Financial Products (SB 1496) Mar 29, 2024

One of the most frustrating moments in any investor or saver's life is when you figure out that you fell prey to a "gotcha" you didn't expect and either lose money, opportunity, or both. Even if your favorite financial tool, strategy or advisor doesn't mean to inflict a "gotcha" on you, because we often don't know what we don't know, we use tools or people inefficiently, causing damage to ourselves we didn't expect. Today we talk about intended and unintended "gotchas" in financial products with three people who know and who've seen many problems firsthand. All of them are Certified Financial Planners, and all three are hosts of great podcasts. Shannah Game (Everyone's Talkin' Money), Roger Whitney (Retirement Answer Man), and our very own OG debate and discuss many of the nuanced (and sometimes not-so-nuanced) "gotchas" in investments, insurances, financial planning, and more.

That's not all though. Of course we take a break halfway through for our weekly trivia contest between our contributors. Today? Doug's building bridges! You'll have to hear it yourself and maybe guess your answer. Can you beat our contestants?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/person-finance-gotchas-1496

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Are You Ready for a 30-Year Retirement? Plus, Velocity Banking and Shoelace Patents (SB1495) Mar 27, 2024

If you plan on living a long life (and who doesn't want that?), you'll need to create over thirty years' worth of cash flow. Studies show that the average person wants to retire at the "normal" age of mid-60s but also plans to live to reach the century mark. If that's you, you're in luck because today we're joined by the CFO of one of the country's greatest comedy clubs and a guy who's a professional comedian himself, Bob Wheeler. Bob joins the guys for the entire show to talk about longevity and planning and maybe share a few laughs.

We also spend some time talking about two controversial approaches to paying down debt and banking: Velocity banking and Infinite banking. We describe both concepts and share the good, bad, and unfortunately, the ugly.

That's not all. Doug is partying hard because it's the anniversary of the date the shoelace was patented! There's nothing like a basement-based party with a top comedian, your money jokes, and discussions of annuities, longevity, and getting started.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/make-your-money-last-30-years-bob-wheeler-1495

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Simplifying Complex Money Ideas, Offsetting "Home Bias" Investing, and Better Retirement Strategies (SB1494) Mar 25, 2024

Our mentor today is one of the foremost thinkers and practitioners in the financial planning space. Peter Mallouk joins us to dispel the myth that the stock market is like the stock market, that the bond market is still dangerous (a year later), that AI is coming for our jobs, that you'll find safety in a savings account, and that gold is a great investment. It's a dynamic discussion with the man who wrote a financial book with Tony Robbins a few years ago, who owns the Kansas City Royals baseball team, and who is one of the top financial planners in the country.

In our headline segment, we do something we often don't engage in: philosophy. But today, philosophical discussion meets behavioral finance (much more our strong suit), in a Wall Street Journal piece about passive investing and capitalism. Is passive investing killing the stock market, and then by extension, capitalism? While we probably won't solve the world's problems or "fix" the stock market, we will discuss the basics of passive investing (positives and negatives), the problem of (and also the advantages in) not knowing what's going on with the companies in which you've invested, and the importance of diversification, balanced portfolios, and avoiding recency bias.

Of course, Doug shares a trivia question fresh out of Scotland. He'll use an important marker of today's date in history (Robert the Bruce's birthday) to shine the light on one of the most iconic pieces of real estate in the world, Robert's castle.

We also help a Stacker who said, "I'd better call Saul...Sehy and OG!" He wonders about becoming a financial planner when you don't have a college degree. Is it more difficult to gain experience?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/getting-your-financial-plan-right-1494

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Passive Investing: Is Active Investing (finally) Dead? (SB1493) Mar 22, 2024

Is the battle between index funds and actively managed funds finally over? Total assets invested in index funds and ETFs recently passed assets invested in active funds for the first time ever. But is going all index funds the right move for you? Joining us is CFP and President of Bona Fide Wealth, Douglas Boneparthe. Also joining us is Crystal Hammond, host of our sister show, Stacking Deeds. And finally joining us from his bunker deep under Los Angeles is the creator of the award-winning blog lenpenzo.com, Len Penzo.

We dive into the difference between active and passive funds, break down the history of each, and pontificate on where we think the investment world is heading. Plus, what are the risks of cap-weighted index funds?

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into the industry secrets and their smoke-and-mirrors tricks.

Be sure to stick around for our ongoing year-long trivia competition. Doug brings us some diminutive French leader-themed trivia. You won't want to miss it!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/active-vs-passive-fund-debate-1493

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Career Forward: Shine at Work by Focusing on What Matters (SB1492) Mar 20, 2024

Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi have been where you're trying to go. Puma was the COO of Pepsico, one of the largest brands on earth, and Smith Shi was the President of Nike Consumer Direct after over twenty years at a little consulting firm called McKinsey. Today they join us in the basement to help you reimagine your career and focus on the big picture while still doing a great job at the position you're holding now. How can you be both strategic AND focused? They'll share. Plus, they'll talk about the value of changing jobs (or employers), how to polish your resume, and how to lead yourself through organizations to find the top.

In our headline segment we're visited by another star....this one in the tax planning world. Ed Slott is back, and he's fired up about your retirement accounts. His take: stop saving into pre-tax 401k plans and IRAs! Why? Here during tax season Ed joins us to dive into what we SHOULD be focusing on this tax season....and reminding us what we should ignore.

But that's not all. We also answer a call for help from a Stacker who's wondering about the latest Robinhood promotion. Even though we're not fans of the company, should he take the free money? Of course, we also save time for Doug's trivia question, and much, much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/career-forward-grace-puma-christiana-smith-shi-1492

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Nail The Money Basics (Even If You Think You Can't) SB1491 Mar 18, 2024

Anne Lester knows money. She helped develop target date mutual funds at JP Morgan, headed retirement programs, and knew her stuff. But Anne, like many of us, is a spender at heart and has had to trick herself into great saving habits. How? We talk about the basics, which do NOT include skipping lattes or shaming yourself into saving more money. In fact, the truth about saving more money is hiding in plain site, and we dive in so you can finally begin or accelerate your journey TODAY.

Before that, though, in our headline segment, the United State government is cracking down on credit card late fees. The Biden administration has passed a cap on fees at eight dollars, and has also foreshadowed that overdraft and other bank fees may not be far behind. Is this legislation going to help you save more money? We'll dive into what we love, don't love, and what we're cautiously optimistic about, assuming that YOU take action on your plan and tighten up your banking practices.

That's not all. We also answer a question from a Stacker who said, "We'd better call Saul...Sehy and OG for help!" Of course, there's Doug's trivia segment as well, and much, much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/mastering-financial-basics-anne-lester-1491

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The Most Overrated Ideas, Concepts, and Beliefs About Money (SB1490) Mar 15, 2024

Admittedly, we finance nerds tend to obsess a lot over topics that may or may not be super relevant to the general public. But what are some things that are overrated in personal finance? That's what our panel dives into in this special roundtable discussion. Joining us we welcome back financial educator and author, Brian Feroldi. He joins Paula Pant, creator of Afford Anything, and our resident CFP®, OG.

On the second half of our discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we debate more of what the most overrated concepts in personal finance are.

And finally, our year-long trivia contest continues as Neighbor Doug whips out some charity-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/the-most-overrated-ideas-concepts-and-beliefs-about-money

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stackers Gone Wild (Our Community Members Share Success Stories) SB1489 Mar 13, 2024

Stackers in the wild are amazing creatures. We're quitting the job we don't care about and spend more time in our community because we've built emergency funds (Mike and Melissa share this story). We're becoming enrolled agents, a job that many can use as a side hustle to pay down debt, retire early, or build a better life (Jordan shares his tale passing these three tests). We're retiring early because we did the work and created surround sound to bounce ideas off of other people (Chris shares how he left his job at age 50). There are so many cool people all around you doing awesome things and today we share just THREE stories from YOU.

But first we have a pair of disturbing headlines. One says the market is poised to continue upward, while the other cautions that we're nearly 100% certainly headed for a downturn. The problem? These two pieces were both found on the SAME reputable website, one right under the other! Huh?!? So, which is correct? We talk about both predictions and what we think YOU should do when you read either of these prognostications.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/stacker-community-episode-taxes-fire-flexibility-1489

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Security, Hackers, and Your Money (Threats and Solutions w/ Kurt Long) SB1488 Mar 11, 2024

Kurt Long used to launch rockets for NASA, but lately, he's been worried about your money (and your health). Kurt is the co-founder and CEO of security and privacy firm BUNKR, and has worked with some of the largest financial and healthcare institutions to keep your data private. We discuss where the biggest threats are coming from, what to ask advisors, what you should do to protect your health care records, and more. By the end of today's episode, you should have a clear idea of when your financial information is at risk and when you're safe.

But before that we dive into a headline about timeshare exit fraud. If you've ever heard the commercials offering to help you get rid of your timeshare, you may have some idea what a huge industry it's become, and also now full of scammers trying to "help" you...or maybe just help themselves to your money. We talk timeshares, scams to get you IN and unfortunately, now also scams to get you out. How do you steer clear of all of this? We'll share ideas

Of course, we'll also take a question from a Stacker who said, "I'd better call Saul....Sehy and OG!" and we leave time for Doug's trivia question, that we're sure you'll be sharing around the virtual watercooler later today.

Our 1500th episode is coming! If you've changed your financial life at all because of the show or the SB community, call in and celebrate with us. Tell us how you've made some positive changes and we'll help motivate other Stackers to get rolling on their financial plans! Go to http://stackingbenjamins.com/voicemail and leave us a message sharing something you've done as a result of the show. Thanks for helping us build this coming episode!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/secure-your-life-kurt-long-1488

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How Do You Spend Money Wisely? We Have Thoughts. (SB1487) Mar 08, 2024

What role does spending money play in your life: as a tool to live a better life or a yardstick of status to measure yourself against others? Our roundtable discussion centers around this, as we're lucky to be joined by the dynamic duo Kitty and Piggy from the award-winning Bitches Get Riches podcast and blog. They join up with OG and Len Penzo to form the roundtable for this epic episode. Joe's mom's cousin Diania Merriam, founder of the EconoMe Conference, takes over MC duties for Neighbor Doug.

In the second half of the roundtable discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dig into each of our contributors' favorite entry on Morgan Housel's list.

Stick around for the next installment of our year-long trivia contest. Diania brings a Gillian's Island-themed trivia to our panel. Will the Bitches use their advantage in numbers to take home the W for Paula? Will Len's first-hand knowledge of Gillian's Island, having actually been around for the pilot episode, give him the upper hand, or will OG use his superior financial planning skills to bring home the W?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kitty-piggy-roundtable-1487

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Forget "Think Different," Think Remarkable for Results (with Guy Kawasaki) (SB 1486) Mar 06, 2024

Were so worried about the Benjamins, the job, the success ladder, and getting "the things" that sometimes we forget to live. Guy Kawasaki was in the room when the iconic Apple "Think Different" campaign was created. He believes that "Think Different" isn't enough today. In his words, "You can be different and still suck." It's time for a higher target, and that target is "remarkable." But how do you get there? We'll detail everyting from the findings of Carol Dweck to the work of Jane Goodall to parse what "remarkable" truly means. In Guy Kawasaki's world, it means surfing. It means questioning your beliefs. It means learning how to ask better questions.

Before that we cover a disturbing headline: FinTech company Chime and company-with-a-reputation-of-dishonesty Robinhood are better regarded than products which compete against them offered by big names like Vanguard and Fidelity. Why are younger investors and savers trusting these names over the heavyweights? That's good news, right? Maybe. We'll share what we think this means and also what you should do about it when thinking about where to park your hard-won dollars.

Of course, we'll also take a question from a Stacker in need AND share Doug's trivia question! On the back porch, we also announce some new meetup dates. Come out and join us!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-live-your-best-life-best-self-guy-kawasaki-1486

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Start Your Side Hustle/New Business The Right Way (SB1485) Mar 04, 2024

So many new businesses start every year, only to fail weeks or months later. Sadly, many of the missteps these would-be business owners made could have been presented if they'd followed some fairly simple steps. CPA Michele Cagan not only owns her own small business, she counsels many business owners with their taxes and their business plans. She joins us today to share some of the most essential nuggets new business owners and side hustlers need to know, from her new book, Starting a Business 101.

In our headline segment, Capital One has acquired Discover. What does this mean for Discover and Capital One cardholders and clients? We'll dive into all of the details and what experts are predicting will happen to the benefits cardholders of each company can expect. Good news no matter whether you're a Discover or Capital One customer...experts seem to believe things are looking up across the board.

Of course, we'll also share a TikTok minute AND discuss backdoor Roth IRAs, mega-backdoor Roth IRAs (aka - "Doug's Mom IRAs"), and much, much more. Of course, we save time to wander out to the back porch and share our favorite films and television shows...and others we don't care for so much.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-start-a-business-101-michele-cagan-1485

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Crypto vs S&P 500 Index Smackdown - (Earn & Invest REWIND SB1484) Mar 01, 2024

We round out Rewind Week with an episode from The Earn & Invest Podcast.

This is a current events/community Thursday episode featuring an Earn & Invest community member Ian Kist. We are also joined by Joe Saul-Sehy from The Stacking Benjamins Podcast. Today we discuss current articles about Crypto and Indexing that seem to be diametrically opposed. Who is right?

This show originally aired on January 25, 2024, so ignore any mention of current events. To see the original show notes, visit Community Episode: Crypto vs S&P 500 Index Smackdown — Earn & Invest (earnandinvest.com).

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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When Do You Reboot Everything? (with Jason Tartick) - (REWIND SB1483) Feb 28, 2024

We continue Rewind Week with an episode where interviews Jason Tartick. How happy are you, truly, with your job and life? Many people go through the motions in a career they don’t like, never taking the leap to find something they actually enjoy. The average life expectancy is 79 years, so here’s a question: how many of those years are you willing to waste doing something you don’t love? Jason Tartick is well known for being on The Bachelorette but his story is much deeper than what we saw on TV. He was secretly having panic attacks at work as a banker and was stressed beyond belief. Instead of digging deep to find the reason why, he initially tried to mask and ignore the emotions. He’s here today to share his story and how he ultimately restarted his life and career to do what he loves.

During our headline segment, Rita Assaf from Fidelity Investments joins the fun to share the results of Fidelity’s State of Retirement Planning survey. She shares the biggest concerns on investors’ minds and the impacts the pandemic has had on our financial confidence. Later, we’ll also answer Kevin’s question about an excess Roth IRA contribution. And, of course, Doug will share his amazing trivia.

This show originally aired on April 6, 2022, so ignore any mention of current events. To see the original show notes, visit When Do You Reboot Everything? (with Jason Tartick) » The Stacking Benjamins Show.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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The Inquisitive Investor: Vickey Barron on How Asking Questions Elevates Your Game – (Stacking Deeds Greatest Hits Rewind SB1482) Feb 26, 2024

We kick off our Rewind Week with an episode from our sister show, Stacking Deeds.

Asking questions is the key to making connections, and today we connect with top Manhattan real estate broker Vickey Barron! She'll teach YOU how to ask the right questions to buy the right properties and build the right team. In our headlines, scams are on the rise....so what are some of the biggest real estate scams? We'll share. And speaking of share...I'll share some trivia that travels coast to coast.

This show originally aired on August 15, 2023, so ignore any mention of current events. To see the original show notes, visit The Inquisitive Investor: Vicki Barron on How Asking Questions Elevates Your Real Estate Game (stackingdeeds.net).

FULL SHOW NOTES: http://stackingbenjamins.com/sb-rewind-stacking-deeds-vickey-barron-1482

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Filthy Rich or Miserably Wealthy? (SB 1481) Feb 23, 2024

Over the course of your life, would you prefer to feel special or happy? If you can only choose one in your life, which one would you choose and feel like you made the most of it? That's the topic for our roundtable discussion today. We're joined by our very special guest Dana Anspach, CFP®, RMA®, Kolbe Certified™ Consultant, and Founder & CEO of Sensible Money, LLC. She's joined by our in-house sourpuss OG and Len Penzo, creator of the award-winning blog lenpenzo.com.

Our panel discusses whether achieving "happy" or "special" is necessarily an either/or decision, or if there's some middle ground between the two. Joe goes on to clarify that the author's definition of "special" centers around addiction to professional success: addicted to being hardworking, successful, and wealthy. We tackle why many success-focused people are actually "miserably rich." Do you have to sacrifice your happiness in order to achieve professional success, or is there a way to have the best of both worlds?

In the second half of the discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into how to overcome workaholism, so you avoid being miserable and wealthy. Is shedding materialism in favor of simplicity the secret to maintaining a healthy balance between success and happiness?

Stay tuned for Doug's amazing big-money question. Will Dana propel Paula into a 3-way tie for first place or will OG or Len take sole possession of the lead?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/balancing-success-and-happiness-1481

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How to Become a Supercommunicator (SB1480) Feb 21, 2024

What are the most difficult skills you can master to create more Benjamins? Among the top must be "communicating effectively." The term "rainmaker" exists because people who can bring in more connections, networks, and also business into an organization are generally among the highest paid employees. The most valuable people in any organization are those who can simply and effectively share thoughts that move the needle. But that's only at work. Communication is also a huge part of making and keeping friends, building a family, or negotiating with neighbors, contractors, or community members. In short, being a supercommunicator pays in every possible way. That's why Charles Duhigg (bestselling author of The Power of Habit) joins us again to discuss how YOU can communicate more effectively. He'll talk about the different types of conversations people have, techniques to improve your skill when talking with others, and how to find common ground more often so that you can all handle the tasks of the day.

But before that, we share a headline about the insurance industry. Things are a-changin', as they say, and it turns out...insurance is pretty boring. But will it always be boring? And what does that have to do with your money anyway? We'll share details on what's happening in the insurance industry and why you might want to evaluate your coverages to decide if it's time to move to better risk management techniques.

Of course, we answer a question from a Stacker who thought, "I'd better call Saul....Sehy and OG!" He wonders about dividend paying stocks, taxes, and more. Plus, we'll also crown this podcast with Doug's amazing trivia question, the next round of our 2024 Math Joke Off, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/charles-duhigg-1480

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Today's takeaways:

1) Check with your insurer to see that you're getting all the discounts possible AND check with other insurers to see if they're more competitive than your current offering. Talk to agents to ensure you have the right amount of coverage as well.

2) Ask, "What type of conversation are we having" before engaging too much in any discussion. Taking just a moment to do so can yield great opportunities. Learn to overshare so that others feel comfortable, and meet the person where THEY are, versus where you want them to be.

3) While dividends are great, a high dividend also means the chances for appreciation lower. If you're in a low tax bracket you may pay little (or no) tax on dividends...but a high dividend paying stock still may not be your friend. Also, if the dividend is really high, check to see if the company is organized as a partnership. If so, that may mean you'll have tax complications, including possible tax on dividends (even inside of an IRA), and additional reporting through a K-1 document...which often arrives very late in the tax season.

Enjoy!

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Every New Skill Begins By Perfecting a Microskill (SB1479) Feb 19, 2024

Why aren't you making those big strides you're hoping for in your career, personal life, or with your money? Today we talk about the building blocks of success, which contrary to popular belief, isn't being "special" or taking a "big leap." It's getting the little things correct. Dr.'s Resa Lewiss and Adaira Landry join us to dive into tweaking some of the skills they've found can give you the largest boost with the least amount of effort, to increase your income, experience life more, and ultimately not just stack more Benjamins, but stack more worthwhile moments.

Before that we share a headline that could save you thousands of dollars in taxes. One popular tax expert looks at the thousands of layoffs recently and finds some lemonade in the job-loss lemons of life. We explore one tax strategy we haven't discussed in a long, long time...and it could be your biggest tax break ever.

Of course, we also share a great idea in the TikTok minute, Doug's amazing trivia, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/micro-changes-for-big-results-1479

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Apple Vision Pro vs Your Goals: Our Review (SB1478) Feb 16, 2024

Have you heard about the new Apple Vision Pro that was recently launched? Are you an early adopter, or are you waiting for the price to be cut and the kinks to be worked out? Here to discuss the new world reality of augmented reality and virtual reality, we're joined by Certified Financial Coach and co-host of the hit couples' finance podcast For Better & Worth, Ericka Young. She is joined by Doc G of the Earn & Invest podcast and our very own OG.

Is this amazing new technology worth its $3,500 price tag? Is there room in your budget for it? Or is it a justifiable "I'll figure it out later" type of expense? We discuss the pros and cons of being on the cutting edge, when it's acceptable (or not) to pull the trigger on a big, not-totally-necessary expense.

Plus, stick around for our latest installment of Doug's year-long trivia game. Will Doc G make Len proud, will Ericka put Paula Pant on the board, or will OG take this week's prize?

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into why the fact that the Apple headset is so good it is actually a problem.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/spend-or-save-priorities-ericka-young-1478

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Improve Your Relationships AND Your Portfolio this Valentine's Day (SB1477) Feb 14, 2024

Love is in the air! Today we're talking about relationships with two fantastic people - our guest of honor today is the host of the Optimal Finance Daily podcast and also the woman behind the EconoMe Conference, Diania Merriam. Diania and Joe talk about relationships, money, and that the whole idea of "relationship" doesn't start where many people think it does. We especially focus on money's role in a relationship and how focusing on the wrong aspects of "love" can end up helping out OUT of a relationship instead of getting closer with your "soulmate."

Before that we have some fun talking about investing strategies with guest co-host, comedian Paul Ollinger. Paul rides along with Joe, OG, and Doug through a fun discussion on the fact that advisors are getting away from "boring" allocations of exchange traded funds and instead moving to separately managed accounts. What IS a separately managed account and why would an advisor do that? We get NERDY on today's show and shine a light in an area that advisors may not want you to look.

Of course, we take a call for help from a Stacker AND Doug regales us with his amazing trivia, which we're sure you'll LOVE.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/2024-econome-conference-diania-merriam-1477

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Grab some candles and cuddle up with a loved one for this one! It's an epic episode!

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How (and When) to Break Up With Your Financial Advisor (SB1476) Feb 12, 2024

Breaking up is hard to do...but what if your money is at stake? You don't want to be in a horrible relationship with a financial advisor that you can't trust, don't like, and who doesn't make your wallet go all a-flutter. That's why we called in Chris Mamula to kick off "relationship week" on the podcast. He's a guy who was anti-advisor for a long time and now IS an advisor. How would HE tell you to break up when you're in a bad relationship? He'll share great tips AND his personal experience from behind the advisory veil on today's show.

Plus, in our headline segment, millennials are struggling with credit card debt. How do they begin to dig out? We'll share both strategies and motivators for you, whether you're a millennial or not. Of course, we have a brilliant TikTok minute from a Stacker who's making the most of a Hallmark holiday by making money instead of spending it. If you're spending Valentine's Day working, you'll LOVE this edition...

Of course, we'll also share Doug's fantastic trivia question AND Joe's review of Poor Things on the back porch.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/find-a-financial-advisor-you-love-1476

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How To Unlock Your Edge In Work And life (SB1475) Feb 09, 2024

Are you looking for a way to get and keep an edge over your competition? Want to dramatically improve your results and are willing to think big? We're joined by our friend Lacey Langford from the MILMO Show to tackle that subject. She's joined by Len Penzo of the award-winning LenPenzo.com and our very own Drill Sargent, OG.

If you're looking to set yourself apart in your field, be sure to tune in as we discuss ways you can achieve an edge. Be bold and take risks, as these are ways to truly learn and put yourself out there.

On the second half of our show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive deeper into how you can find your edge. Should you cast a wide net when searching for people who will help you achieve your edge, or should you limit your search to just those who have already traveled the same path that you're on?

Finally, be sure to stick around for Doug's inheritance-related trivia question!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/how-to-get-ahead-financially-1475

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Here Are Your Best Tax Software Options (SB1474) Feb 07, 2024

Ah, the distinct smell of tax time. All that sweating...sweating out deductions, college expenses, rental income, and maybe even side-hustle write-offs (what exactly is a write-off again?). There are so many options for software to help you, where do you turn? Today we're diving into the College Investor's annual list of best in class software with Mr. College Investor himself, Robert Farrington. We won't share just ONE choice, but will walk through all of the different areas of your life where you might need one particular program over another.

Before that, though, we share a headline about one popular columnist who disappeared last year to write a book, and missed out on all of the ups and downs of the stock market. What did he learn? We'll share. Plus, we're finishing up round one of our Stacker Joke-Off...and we'll share four new math jokes AND unveil the winners of last week's matchup.

All of that, Doug's trivia AND more on today's episode!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/best-tax-software-2024-robert-farrington-1474

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Could YOU Become a Market Wizard? SB1473 Feb 05, 2024

Have you ever dreamed about beating the stock market? Money in your pocket and a lifestyle beyond compare? Sure you have! Here's a surprise...there are people out there who HAVE beaten the stock market, and the man who's written a series of books detailing HOW they did it joins us today! Jack Schwager is the mind behind the Stock Market Wizards series, and today he joins us again to detail a couple more wizards. We walk through lessons we can glean from them about how to invest our own portfolios, using case studies from the best and the brightest traders as a guide. Jack's last appearance was a huge it for us, so if you missed that one, you definitely do NOT want to miss today's show.

In our headline segment, we dive into the new "hot" budgeting trend: LOUD budgeting. Surprisingly, loud budgeting has nothing to do with screaming while using your budget app...it's a trend around financial wellness. We talk about loud budgeting, how to join the trend, and maybe help you feel less alone if you're actually hoping to be more responsible with your cash. Of course, we also have a TikTok minute that's inspirational (you're closer to Elon Musk's net worth than you may think!). Doug also shares his wizardly trivia, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/lessons-from-stock-market-wizards-jack-schwager-1473

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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5 Things You Should Know Before You Retire (SB1472) Feb 02, 2024

What do the happiest retirees share in common? What are some of the steps you can take to get ready for retirement before you actually reach your number? On today's special roundtable discussion, we welcome Wes Moss from the Retire Sooner podcast. He joins Crystal Hammond from our sister real estate investing show, Stacking Deeds, and Len Penzo from the award-winning blog LenPenzo.com.

Stick around for Doug's DIY-themed trivia! Don't worry, no effort is required on your part.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-countdown-to-retirement-1472

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Building Wealth and Purchasing a Home on a Dime with Kimberly Hamilton (SB1471) Jan 31, 2024

Ever wonder HOW to afford a house? Already own a home but hoping to save money through better financial habits and hacks? Today we delve into the intricacies of buying a house while maintaining financial stability and building wealth. Joining us is Kimberly Hamilton, a financial educator and FinTech pro, who not only bought one house, but who also now has turned that house into a rental home and is buying a second home now for her family to enjoy. She'll not only help you develop better money skills, but also share tips on what NOT to do.

ON today's Better Call Saul....Sehy & OG, we take a question from Stacker Chris who wants to continue making contributions to a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA) but is uncertain if he can. How does he make a Roth IRA work? OG answers Chris' question in what we all admit is the worst way possible, while still accurately helping Chris and our Stacker community know how to use a Roth IRA better.

But before all of that we cover a headline from the Wall Street Journal about the state of the economy. It seems that defaults on loans are going up, yet Wall Street believes there's more room for Americans to borrow cash. But does this mean we should worry about the market? Worry about our own financial stability? Or should we worry at all?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/stack-benjamins-on-a-dime-1471

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Tales From The Dirty Underbelly of Financial Management - with Shannon McLay (SB1470) Jan 29, 2024

Shannon McLay is on a mission to clean up the dirty end of the financial planning pool. The Financial Gym founder has seen it all - advisors offering whole life policies to young savers with no children, and people just beginning saving thrown into annuities over a 401k at work. Today we talk about what to look out for in the financial world, how some of the popular buzzwords like "fiduciary" won't help you much anymore, and what to ask a potential advisor so that you know you're headed in the right direction.

Before that we share a big headline about the Chinese stock market. Things haven't been going well in China, while the US market is roaring. Is it time to maybe look overseas with some of your money? How do you think holistically about buying low? We also share a TikTok minute sharing a new way to look at student loans.

But of course, that's not all. Doug throws out a great trivia question and we take an interesting call from a Stacker in need. FIVE great topics on today's episode!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/financial-fitness-with-shannon-mclay-1470

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Eliminate "The Suck" and Maximize Life's Upside (Plus your health and wellness questions answered!) SB1469(SB1469) Jan 26, 2024

We've all heard that you have to take on risk in order to reap the rewards of investing. Are there any ways you can achieve the rewards without taking on additional risk (in life as well as investing)? We tackle this conundrum on today's roundtable episode with Paula Pant of the Afford Anything podcast, Doc G of the Earn & Invest podcast, and our very own OG.

In the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we talk to Angelo Poli, founder and CEO of MetPro, who comes back to talk about health and wellness as we enter 2024. How do you stick to your New Year's resolution throughout the year and stick to your health and wellness goals year-round? From exercise and strength training to caloric intake and protein needs to the efficiency of vitamin supplements to the effectiveness of HIIT workouts to extreme dieting and fasting, Angelo answers our Stackers questions.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/finding-your-optimal-risk-reward-in-life-1469

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Every Decision You Make Matters - with Brian Klaas (SB1468) Jan 24, 2024

Brian Klaas has an interesting backstory...to say the least. He owes his existence to a woman who murdered her family. Because she did it--and took her own life, he was born. This complete fluke is the catalyst behind Brian asserting that your decisions matter more than you could possibly think. While planning is important, Brian emphasizes that it's even more important how you respond to all of the flukes in your life. We'll talk about the weird falling of dominos and how we're all more interconnected than we'd like to believe (and more) with Brian.

Before that we take on a difficult headline; a HUGE number of advisors say they're going to retire in the next ten years. What do you do if your advisor says they're going to retire before you do? How do you change advisors...and how do you even broach the topic of retirement with your advisor? We talk all things retirement and THEIR retirement on today's show.

Plus, we're continuing the first round of our Great Math Joke Off. Four more Stackers see their jokes go head-to-head for a chance to win a couple of books AND possibly more if they continue winning. We also share trivia from Doug and take a call from a Stacker who'd Better Call Saul....Sehy and OG.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/everything-you-do-matters-brian-klaas-1468

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Navigating Family, Goals, Culture, and Good Money Habits (with Gigi Gonzales)- SB1467 Jan 22, 2024

What’s important to you? Owning a car? Family time? Retirement? No matter what your goals are, they’re always intertwined more with the goals of those around us than we may think. For Gigi Gonzalez, culture was everything when it came to working toward her goals. When she began shoveling money toward her own non-family goals, it created rifts in her family. Did she think she was too good for them? Was she losing her cultural identity? While that’s not at all true, what is true is that balancing reaching her goals and working with her family was an important middle ground that Gigi needed to find as a first generation American AND that she passes on to others. She also helps us with our budget, car buying strategy, and more.

In our headline segment, check writing is in the crosshairs of one popular New York Times columnist. We’ll talk about why YOU probably want to eliminate checks once-and-for-all from your financial life. In our TikTok minute, we talk about maybe the BEST diet AND wallet saving food on the market. We also help a Stacker who had to Better Call Saul (Sehy & OG). Of course, you can wash it all down with some awesome trivia from Doug.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/cultura-and-cash-gigi-gonzalez-1467

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Does Wealth Care Where You Live? (SB1466) Jan 19, 2024

Ever wonder how where you live and work could affect your ability to reach your financial goals? More specifically, is living in a big city making you poor? Here to discuss this topic on today's special roundtable episode, we're happy to welcome Maggie Tucker from the Inside Out Money podcast. She joins Len Penzo and OG to tackle this important topic and extract key lessons that Stackers can apply to their own lives.

In our second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into what are ways that Stackers can save money despite living in a big city? Be sure to listen to the show, as you won't want to miss these tips!

Be sure to stick around for the continuation of our year-long trivia game. Doug has a doozy of a question with a literacy charity-related theme.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/is-city-living-making-you-poor-maggie-tucker-1466/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Finding Your People, Extinguishing Negative Self Talk, and Finding Peace (with Amy Minkley) SB1465 Jan 17, 2024

Amy Minkley is a woman on a mission. Sometimes, she admits, the mission is WAY over her head. She's an overachiever by nature, coming by her work ethic out of a need for independence when her dad left the family when she was young. From that beginning (which she says she's grateful for), Amy has gone on to big things, including creating the FI Freedom Retreat in Bali. Amy joins us for a wide-ranging episode on being okay with imperfection, finding like-minded people, and on intentional living and more. If you're feeling stuck, this is the perfect episode for you. If you're an overachiever and perfectionist, this is also the episode for you.

Amy isn't the only awesome guest on today's show, though! Comedian and show writer Lisa Curry joins Joe, OG and Doug to dive into the rest of the show. In our headline segment we tackle long term care (and again the need for community when it comes to caring for our elders). Lisa offers a solution we may or may not dismiss while also being slightly fearful about it. In our new Better Call Saul (Sehy) segment, we take a question from a Stacker wondering about the Coverdell ESA. We dive into how to best plan for education, which usually doesn't include using a Coverdell.

In this episode we discuss:

Camp FI
FI Freedom Retreat
Long Term Care insurance
Inflation
Elder care in general
Coverdell ESA accounts
529 plans

...and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/building-your-fi-community-in-bali-amy-minkley-1465

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Tricks to Rethink Your Budget w YNAB's Jesse Mecham (SB1464) Jan 15, 2024

The founder of one of the nation's most loved budgeting tools says he dislikes the term "budget." Why? Because most of us see a budget as restrictive and limiting. The good news? Jesse Mecham from budgeting program YNAB to dive into how to make your money go further and align with your goals. We'll share thoughts about giving every dollar a job before you earn it, "aging" your money like a fine wine, the struggle every app builder has with interfacing with banks, and much more. If you either have a budget, a "kinda" budget, or are looking for a budget that works, this show is for you!

But before that, in our headline, long time bond manager Bill Gross says that bonds may be overheated in this current market. What does that mean? What does it mean for your long term money? We take some time to talk through the not-so-simple idea of tying your funds to the timeline you've built to spend that dollar. If you need a long term investment strategy, you'll especially want to listen in to our headline.

In today's TikTok minute, consumer finance guru Clark Howard discusses pricing schemes at both Costco and Sam's Club. Is that deal your scoring really a deal? Is it as budget friendly as they make it seem? Some deals are great and others aren't, and both of these retailers hide their strategy in plain site.

Think that's all? Oh, of course we have more! This week we debut a NEW call in segment for the show. No more life line...today we'll share how we are going to handle YOUR call when you need some help with your money? Have a question? Head to stackingbenjamins.com/voicemail and you may hear yourself on the show!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/master-your-2024-budget-jesse-mecham-1464

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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24 Smart Money Moves for 2024 (SB1463) Jan 12, 2024

What are some rules to live by to make your 2024 the best year ever? Our very own OG, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and Jonathan Clements' article served as the inspiration for today's topic.

New year, new you, amirite? We dive into mantras whose adoption could benefit you for the long term, not just until you lose your New Year's resolution motivation. We touch on our top three best pieces of advice.

During the second half of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, our panel runs down their next favorite picks from the list.

Be sure to stick around as our year-long trivia contest kicks off! Doug has a racy trivia question that will leave your head spinning. Which one of our three regular contributors will pull out in the lead with a W?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/24-life-tips-for-2024-1463

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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We Ask Chat GPT How To Solve Our Debt Problems (SB1462) Jan 10, 2024

Maybe the holiday season got away from you. Maybe it's been a bigger, longer issue that you've been trying to solve. Maybe you have manageable debt, but you'd love to see it gone. Even less likely, maybe you have no debt, but wonder how to counsel those around you to help them pay off their loans. No matter, today we go to the overlords--AKA the computer--to ask AI how to solve debt issues. Chat GPT sprang on the scene just over a year ago and already has a checkered relationship with the truth. Can Chat GPT answer our debt questions? We ask it LOTS of different questions and receive some great answers and others that are...suboptimal. No matter, we spend this issue diving into how WE think you should look at your debt and solve your own debt issues.

In our headline segment, one popular money management firm is in the news because rumors are swirling they're for sale! What happens if YOUR money is at a firm that is sold? We ask OG for the insider look into money management and what happens if your advisor or the place your money is parked changes, even though you didn't make a move. Is your money still safe? Is there something you can do to protect it? We dive in.

And of course, we also feature some empire building trivia from Doug and much, much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/chatgpt-and-your-finances-1462

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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World Record Holder Jenn Drummond on Planning, Resilience, and Goal Setting (SB1461) Jan 08, 2024

Last week we were all about focus and goal setting. Today? We'll teach you how to tenaciously grip those goals when times get tough. Jenn Drummond knows what it takes to work through adversity. She was the first woman to scale each of the Seven Second Summits, the second tallest mountain on each of the seven continents. These mountains are considered more technical as a group than the Seven Summits (tallest on each continent), and also are harder because there are far fewer resources to help you scale them. We'll walk through Jenn's adventures in Antarctica, Asia, North America, and more, as she negotiates adversity around every corner. From dreaming to planning, climbing and celebrating, we cover it all. If you want big goals in 2024, Jenn will speak directly to you.

In our headline segment, some disturbing news on employment: it was harder to find a job in 2023 and 2024 doesn't look like it's going to be easier. We'll help you build a to-do list of tasks to make sure aren't on the outside looking in when it comes to your next job opportunity.

Our TikTok minute features MORE 2024 predictions...this time from Professor Scott Galloway and another from Dan Yang. Both are great predictions (Galloways is slightly better), and we'll talk about home ownership extensively today.

Of course, Doug will still help you become king of the virtual watercooler with today's trivia challenge AND we'll answer an interesting question from Christian who calls all the way from Germany!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/climbing-your-next-mountain-jenn-drummond-1461

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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We Ask a Walmart Magic 8 Ball To Predict the Future (SB 1460) Jan 05, 2024

Ever wish a cheap plastic toy from Walmart could tell you the future? We sure do! And we try every year. It’s our annual Magic 8 Ball episode today with Paula Pant, Len Penzo and OG. Each year, we ask the Magic 8 Ball (yes, really, the one you can buy at Walmart) riveting questions for the upcoming year then reflect back on those questions at the end of the year. Today, we run through the answers to our questions from last year and ask new questions for 2024. How will the Magic 8 Ball perform this year? We’ll find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/yearly-8-ball-predictions-1460

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Make Goal Setting FAR Easier in 2024 (with Jon Acuff) - SB 1459 Jan 03, 2024

Many of us struggle with goals. Maybe it's the words we use around them, like "legacy" and "purpose" that freak us out. For whatever reason we look into the future...

...and we freeze.

Jon Acuff was one of those people. After struggling through college with "purpose" and spending lots of time wondering "what am I supposed to do next?" he found a solution. The solution worked. Today he dives into how to create goals in a manner that's not only easier, but also more fun and rewarding. Yes, you read that correctly - the process itself is rewarding and fun. We'll share exactly how it works on today's episode as he mentors us toward successful Stacking.

Before that we share a headline that's also instructive. A popular money manager (Jeffrey Gundlach) took out his crystal ball and look at 2024. We'll share his predictions (our own will come on Friday's episode) and then we'll of course offer you our guidance about whether you should follow them.

But that's not all. Doug shares some incredible trivia AND we answer a benefits-related question from a Stacker. ...all that and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/start-2024-right-with-goals-jon-acuff-1459

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Lesson: Learn to Focus in 2024 (plus, how BNPL companies are killing you) Jan 01, 2024

So many distractions. You can't even read this title without thinking about your social media accounts, can you? That's okay. Neither can we. So, to help ourselves AND our Stacker community, we invited Eric Qualman to join us. He embarked on the Focus Project where he just tried focusing on ONE THING for two hours a day. How'd it work out? We'll share all, including his tips on New Year resolutions and how to block time for the important things on today's show.

Plus (and before we discuss focus), we'll dive even more into the topic as we talk about Klarna and Affirm, plus companies who've done the same thing over the last thirty years. Should our Stacker not go with the BNPL company? We'll discuss winning strategies.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/increase-your-focus-in-2024-erik-qualman-1458

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Our 2023 Magic 8 Ball Episode (SB1457) Dec 29, 2023

We wrap up our Best of 2023 week-long extravaganza by revisiting our first roundtable episode of the year, where Len Penzo's Magic 8-ball made some bold predictions...take a listen for yourself.

Every year we ask a magic 8 ball that Len Penzo purchased at Walmart to predict the future. In the early years the ball was spot-on. Lately…not so much. But we do learn a lot about not falling into “current thinking” traps and about not worrying so much about what’s top-of-mind in the moment. The truth tends to have a longer shelf life.

Please disregard any mentions of current events. This episode originally aired on January 6, 2023. You can see the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/best-of-2023-magic-8-ball-1457

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Panning for Profits: Uncovering Wealth Lessons from the Old West (Best of 2023 SB1456) Dec 28, 2023

Join us today for a very special installment of our Best of 2023 Week!!!

Crypto? Huge profits? Taking advantage of people? Has that ever happened before? It turns out that it has, in the wild, wild west, which roped in celebrities like Wild Bill Hickok and many others. Today, we’ll tell their stories and rope the lessons around to today with master storyteller and host of the Legends of the Wild West podcast, Chris Wimmer.

Please disregard any mention of current events, as this episode was originally broadcast on June 12, 2023. See the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/best-of-2023-chris-wimmer-1456

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Mastering Emotions and Maximizing Energy in Financial Decisions (Best of 2023 SB1455) Dec 27, 2023

On today's special "Best of 2023" episode, we revisit a conversation Joe had with Dr. Julia DiGangi. How much of your own emotions and energy go into your financial decisions? Dr. Julia DiGangi joins Joe to chat about how to master your emotions and maximize your energy. She teaches us how to recognize stress triggers so you can control your emotions and energy before they get out of hand. What proactive steps can we take to master our emotions?

This episode was originally released on September 27, 2023, so please disregard any mention of current events. You can see the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/best-of-2023-dr-julia-digangi-1455

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Kara Goucher on Abuse, Money, and the Elite Nike Running Team (Best of 2023 SB 1454) Dec 26, 2023

On today's best of 2023 episode, we revisit an exclusive interview that Joe had with superstar runner Kara Goucher who shared her experience of abuse while on the elite Nike running team.

This episode originally aired on March 15, 2023, so please ignore any mention of current events.

For the original show notes, visit Kara Goucher on Abuse, Money, and the Elite Nike Running Team

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/best-of-2023-kara-goucher-1454

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Top 5 Plays To Win The Money Championship Game (Best of 2023 SB1415) Dec 25, 2023

In our inaugural Best of 2023 episode, we revisit a Top 5 episode all about moves to make to win at the money game. Joe and OG dive into their top five moves to become a champion at all things money. We’ll talk about everything from motivation to tactics during our feature segment.

This episode originally aired on February 8, 2023. Disregard any mention of current events.

The original show notes can be found at Top 5 Plays To Win The Money Championship Game

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/best-of-2023-top-5-1453

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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What Should We Have Learned In 2023 (SB1452) Dec 22, 2023

On today's special roundtable episode, our panel members share what money lessons we should have learned in 2023. Joining us on the year-ending roundtable are Paula Pant from Afford Anything, OG, and .....NEIGHBOR DOUG. What are some of the most important things that happened in 2023?

From Taylor Swift to Charlie Munger to inflation and rising interest rates, we cover the year's hottest topics in today's episode and dissect them into lessons you can apply to your life in the coming year(s).

We'll touch on lessons in appreciation and gratitude, lessons in building systems, lessons in the importance of team building, lessons about the convergence of career and financial success, the life and lessons of Charlie Munger, the concept of "enough," how retirement (or FIRE) isn't just about accumulating a huge stack of Benjamins and then stopping work altogether, how recent inflation has impacted how we handle our money and where we go from here, the wisdom of waiting to buy a new home, AI, the fallacy of short-term thinking, and more.

Since our year-long trivia competition's winner was locked in by Len Penzo last week, Joe unveils a new twist on the trivia game: deciding who goes last in our first trivia episode next year by playing a little game called "Benjamin in Your Box" (insert 12-year-old snicker here). Will Paula or OG win the advantage of going last?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/year-end-recap-roundtable-1452

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Lessons From 2023 with Today Show Money Editor Jean Chatzky (SB1451) Dec 20, 2023

LOTS of incredible events happened this year. What should we have learned from a big bank collapse? From Bitcoin resurging? From the stock market moving up (along with interest rates)? We asked about all of these and more to Today Show Money Editor and host of the Her Money podcast, Jean Chatzky. Jean shares great tips on your budget, investments, money in bank accounts, and more.

But that's not all. In our headline segment we share some of the recent moves in interest rates. Now with rates beginning to fall again, are there moves we should have made? We also throw out the lifeline to a Stacker who needs help AND Doug shares his best trivia ever.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/year-end-recap-with-jean-chatzky-1451

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Doug and the Three Ghosts Dec 18, 2023

One snowy Christmas Eve in Texarkana, Neighbor Doug settled into bed in his snazzy Superman Footie PJs (Amazon affiliate link), still buzzing on Joe's Mom's eggnog... Today's special holiday episode recounts a completely original tale of Doug and the money lessons learned when he's visited by three ghosts—past, present, and future.

Make peace with your past, clean up your past mistakes, and learn from them

Especially when it comes to past credit mistakes, what's done is done. Whatever method works best for you (debt snowball or debt avalanche), do that one. Come to terms with your bad money habits and realize that you can't outearn them. It's on you to fix the bad money habits of your past. Focus on what's current and fix what needs fixing today.

Live in the present

Don't get caught in the trap of lamenting your past nor only planning for the future. Our only truly limited resource is time. Balance living for today with planning for the future. Remain in the present - especially when spending time with your loved ones - while keeping a vision in mind for your longer-term future plans. Be intentional about your plans and actions today and timeline what you want to achieve in what time you have remaining.

Plan for the future

Communicate on a regular basis with your "team" (loved ones) about your financial goals, progress, and situation. We recommend scheduling a weekly Family Budget Meeting. Automate as many of your financial decisions as possible today so you never have to think about them again in the future. Commit to paying off that mortgage early, ramp up those retirement savings contributions, stack those Benjamins for your kids' college savings. Decide where you want to be financially in the future; face reality of where you are currently (we like our sponsor, Monarch Money, to track where you are); and take the necessary step to make that future a near certainty.

Takeaways

Remember that time is the one commodity that's finite for all of us. Value your time and experiences while staying responsible to your present and future self. Remember and learn from the sins of your past to build on your strengths; focus on living in the present and building your financial foundation; and head into the future with more confidence that Joe's Mom's Neighbor Doug during the annual Sun's Out; Guns Out El Camino Competition at the Sizzler.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/doug-and-the-three-ghosts-1450

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Retirement Has Been Cancelled (SB1449) Dec 15, 2023

Is retirement, as we know it, dead? Should the idea of retirement itself be retired, and should we all aspire to be like Betty White? Will all those decades of toiling away for The Man (and dutifully contributing to your personal retirement savings accounts, as well as you and your employer throwing in 6.2% each of your salary to the payroll tax, a.k.a. Social Security) pay off in the end when you reach the end of your working career? Is it worth postponing "happiness" during your working years in the hopes of living a life of leisure when you're older? Joining us for this special conversation, from The Personal Finance Podcast, we welcome Andrew Giancarlo; Betty White wannabe, Afford Anything's Paula Pant; and our resident Betty White fanboy, OG.

The concept of reaching an arbitrary age and stopping work cold turkey may be an illusion for many aspiring retirees, as many recent retirees find their lives lacking purpose, meaning, and (in some cases) sufficient Benjamins. The FIRE movement isn't necessarily about ceasing all productive activities, but rather achieving financial independence so that you are in control of how, where, and with whom you spend your time. We also dive deeper into how you can make up for any potential retirement savings shortfall and examine the pros and cons of Barista FIRE that can be used to supplement income needs after retiring. We'll also discuss how altering your lifestyle can affect the amount you'll need to save for retirement.

In the second half of our discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we jump into the solutions to solve the big retirement savings gap problem. What actions can you take to improve your retirement savings and quality of life, even if you're approaching retirement age? What actions can you take today that your future retired self will thank you?

Finally, be sure to stick around for the next thrilling installment of our year-long trivia competition. Will Andrew help Len seal the deal for this year's W, will OG stay alive, or will Paula throw a monkey wrench in the plans?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/retirement-planning-mistakes-and-solutions-andrew-giancola-1449

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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7 Ways Rich People Think Differently About Money (with Vivian Tu) SB1448 Dec 13, 2023

Do you want to be a great investor? We're going to dive into a few ways...including how rich people view investing and money in a much different light than non-wealthy people. To kick things off, during today's headline we'll share a list of mistakes that new investors make all of the time. We've made these mistakes ourselves and lived to tell about them. Now we're going to help YOU avoid those mistakes as well, so you can build wealth more quickly. We'll discuss overtrading your positions, gambling like the stock market is a casino and more.

That's all a big lead-in to a woman who's helped MILLIONS of people on TikTok become better investors and think much more like a wealthy person. Your Rich BFF Vivian Tu joins us for a great discussion on the importance of mentors, focusing on the fundamentals, and more, if you're hoping to join the wealthy class. Vivian has been both poor and wealthy and is going to help us mentor you to invest better as well. More than anything, she's going to help you focus on your mindset to not just invest better but to make better money decisions across the board.

Of course, we'll also take a call from a Stacker who wants to be a better investor, AND we'll even help you hone your trivia-solving skills with Doug's trivia question. ...and to top it all off, we JUST might share a holiday special TikTok minute.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/rich-af-bff-vivian-tu-1448

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Launch Your Money Rocket (SB1447) Dec 11, 2023

How many times have you seen someone try to make their big money move and it fizzles out? Often it's because they started at the wrong place or didn't pay attention to the fundamentals. We're going to help you build your BEST launching pad today with financial whiz and host of the Journey to Launch podcast, Jamila Souffrant.

Before Jamila though, our headline from CBS News warns about new and even more intricate scams this holiday season. We chat with AARP's Kathy Stokes about the warning signs something might be a scam AND the fact that LOTS of these con artists aren't targeting our older generation...but instead going after young people online. We'll share details on today's show.

Of course, we'll throw out the life line to a lucky caller AND we'll shine a light on the most adorable TikTok minute we've ever had on this podcast. Of course, you can't say "adorable" without thinking of Doug's trivia, which we'll also have on today's show.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/your-journey-to-financial-freedom-jamila-souffrant-1447

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How Do You Explain Good Money Habits to Newbies? Dec 08, 2023

What's the best safe withdrawal rate for your retirement plan? What the heck is a safe withdrawal rate? On today's special roundtable discussion, we dive into the deep end of this important topic: understanding what you're investing in, what different financial terms mean, and if they're important for you. We're thrilled to welcome our special guest, Bernadette Joy, to our roundtable panel. She's the force behind Crush Your Money Goals, a money media company to serve up fun and practical educational content. Our own OG joins her at the card table, along with Len Penzo, creator of the award-winning blog LenPenzo.com.

In our second part of our discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into each of our roundtable contributor's favorite pieces of basic and advanced get-out-of-debt advice.

Stay tuned for the next chapter in our year-long trivia contest. Doug brings the trivia suspense with an 'Ol Blue Eyes-infused trivia question. Will Bernadette keep Paula in the running for the year-end trophy, or will OG or Len put it out of reach? Listen and find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-basic-vs-advanced-advice-1446

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How to Achieve Challenging and Unlikely Goals with Astronaut Mike Massimino (SB1445) Dec 06, 2023

What is the best "next move" for your career or your passion? Keep moving. Dr. Mike Massimino knows how to achieve unlikely goals. He not only applied to be an astronaut three times before being accepted as a candidate, the third time he applied he was medically disqualified. Yet, he still found a way to work about two different space missions, was the first person to tweet from space, and act on several episodes of the Big Bang Theory. We ask him about all of this and more, and he drops some terrific leadership advice. No matter who you are, this interview can help you achieve more.

Before that, in our headline segment, a player has been dismissed from a professional sports team. What does that have to do with you? We dive into the actions of the Chicago Blackhawks against player Corey Perry, and how that just might change your outlook as you make your way through December.

Of course, we still share Doug's trivia and OG answers a question about employee stock ownership plans. All that and more on today's show!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/valuing-fresh-perspectives-mike-massimino-1445

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Your Order of Operations For Better Leadership (SB1444) Dec 04, 2023

Whether you're leading your family, a department or work, or heck, "managing from the middle," every one of us has leadership potential inside of us that's untapped. And it's this time of year, when we're thinking so much about what we value and need in our lives that the topic of leadership is so important. That's why we asked Chuck Wachendorfer to be our Stacker mentor today. He met Joe and OG while leading a team at American Express and now helps major organizations, small business owners, and government entities develop better leaders. We talk to him today about the biggest issue in leadership: what do you do first when trying to lead? You may be surprised by his answer.

In our headline segment we mark the passing of one of the greatest investors of our time. Charlie Munger passed away last week and we pause for a moment to talk about many of the common sense ideas Munger advocated and share some of his (maybe surprisingly) very funny takes on things like crypto currency.

Of course, we'll delight you with the TikTok minute, shining a light on a creator who may or may not be sharing some brilliant insight about money management. We'll also throw out the lifeline to a lucky Stacker who needs our help. This time we help Allie determine annuity options for her work. When you retire, how should you think about your income stream? You'll want to listen to OG's answer.

Of course we also feature Doug's trivia, the back porch, and more! Enjoy!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/leadership-masterclass-chuck-wachendorfer-1444

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Top 10 Financial Mistakes (SB1443) Dec 01, 2023

What are the most common ways people shoot themselves in the foot (financially-speaking)? Here to tackle that very question is our expert panel of contributors: from Afford Anything, we're joined by Paula Pant; from the aptly named award-winning blog LenPenzo.com, Len Penzo joins us; and from across Joe's card table, the man, the myth, the legend OG makes an appearance. Will Len lock secure victory for the year-long trivia game, or will Paula or OG stay in the game?

In the second part of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, our panel rounds out their top 10 financial mistakes.

As we enter the last month of the year, Doug brings some Christmas tree-themed trivia. Can Len score an extra point, bringing him one step closer to victory? Will OG defend his title and take the W? Will Paula continue her unlikely come-back rally? Tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-10-financial-mistakes-1443

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Navigating Important Conversations, Small Talk, and Holiday Parties (SB1442) Nov 29, 2023

How many times have you found yourself headed into the company holiday party thinking, "I hope I don't end up stuck in a conversation in the corner with someone"? Then, five minutes later, you're stuck in a boring conversation in the corner with someone? Or, you're trying to make a statement around the boss during a group conversation and you just can't figure out what to say? Or (and maybe worst of all), you're in a meeting and in front of all of the influential people someone asks, "So what do you think?"

Impromptu speaking isn't just important around the holidays, but this time of year we're all more likely to be in a conversation with people who challenge our ability to communicate effectively. Today we bring you a great mentor on the topic, Matt Abrahams, who's not only an expert communicator, but he's so good that he teaches the topic at Stanford University and hosts a podcast on the topic.

That's not all the communicating we'll do, though. We'll also discuss a recent Wall Street Journal piece which shares how much money people think they need to make before they'll finally be happy. That will lead us into a deeper conversation about what it really takes to be happy...and it turns out the answer might not be what you expect.

That's not all! Of course, we'll also have some trivia from Doug, share the life line question, and more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/think-and-talk-fast-with-matt-abrahams-1442

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Tiffany Aliche Shares a BIG Money Hack and a Sad Money Truth (SB1441) Nov 27, 2023

Everyone says they know a great "money hack" but Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista, Brown Ambition podcast), knows LOTS of them and shares one that Joe calls "his favorite" core idea. While we aren't really fans of the term "money hack," in this case it most certainly applies. She also talks about accountability (probably also a money hack), her favorite insurance strategy, and then we take a LONG walk down a tangent that begins with estate planning. You'll hear about love, pain, the true role of money, what to do when you lose a loved one, and more.

Before that, OG and Joe share a TikTok minute featuring a guy who's implemented his share of money hacks: Gordon Ramsay. We also throw out the Life Line to a lucky listener, and much, much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/get-your-budget-right-tiffany-aliche-1441

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Top 5 Board Games about Money and Business With Candice Harris from BoardGameGeek (SB1440) Nov 24, 2023

Welcome to Joe's favorite episode of the year—our annual Black Friday board game episode! Joining us on this Black Friday, we are thrilled to welcome the BoardGameGeek herself, Candace Harris! She'll give us the lowdown on what's hot when it comes to finance and business-related board games!

Plus, Neighbor Doug has a classic board game trivia question that's sure to Boggle your mind!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/black-friday-board-games-candace-harris-1440

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Our 2023 Hot (and not) Tech Guide (SB1439) Nov 22, 2023

Some of the most expensive items in your life after your home and transportation are technology related. That's why each year, before Black Friday, we dive into our favorite technology items with CNET's expert Bridget Carey. This year Bridget shares what to watch out for in tech (there's always some sneaky "gotcha" waiting around many "great deals." We talk about household items, security, dive DEEP this year into the world of televisions, dip into the toy department, and more.

But that's not all. Before that we get you up to speed on headlines about Dave Ramsey's eight percent solution to taking money from your retirement portfolio AND a headline about obscure investments. What could happen if you find a quirky but great-sounding investment opportunity? While we share a horror story, we also offer solutions and strategies to help you not get burned if you do decide to take the plunge.

Of course, we'll also answer a question from a lucky Stacker AND we'll share Doug's incredible trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/black-friday-tech-report-bridget-carey/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Save Big Money on Holiday Gifts (SB1438) Nov 20, 2023

With prices up (inflation) and wages stagnant, this is a GREAT year to look to save big on holiday gifts (and also to save big on those things you needed to buy anyway for around the house!). Regina Conway from Slickdeals makes her annual stop in Joe's mom's basement to dive into ALL of the top deals the fans at Slickdeals have found. We cover clothing, toys, kitchen gadgets, housewares, garage items, personal care, and more! With tons of great deals (and some quirky ones, too), you're sure to save big on your holiday season with Regina's help.

And that's not all.

In our headline segment we share the recent news that Mint, the popular money tracking app is shutting down. If you're trying to save big money into savings AND want to find the best app to track your cash, which way should you turn for support? We share MANY of our favorite solutions and why we like them so you can focus on the options that fit you best.

Of course, that's not all. We share a TikTok minute, throw out the lifeline to a lucky Stacker, and of course share some of Doug's amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/black-friday-save-big-with-regina-conway-1438

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Top 5 Ways To Get Rich (SB1437) Nov 17, 2023

Are you looking to become rich? How do you define rich? What are your preconceived ideas about how to best get there? On today's special roundtable discussion, we're tackling that question and debating what the "best" ways are to hit that rich goal. On today's show, we're thrilled to have Crystal Hammond from our sister show that's all about real estate investing, Stacking Deeds. Crystal joins Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot Com and OG, CFP and co-host extraordinaire of this here Stacking Benjamins podcast.

In the second half of our show, sponsored by DepositsAccounts.com, we round out the remainder of the top five ways to get rich.

Stay tuned for Doug's Benjamin-laden trivia question. Will Crystal keep Paula in the game as we head down the stretch into the end of the year? Can OG orchestrate a comeback? Will Len extend his lead? Stay tuned to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-top-5-ways-to-get-rich-1437

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stop Chasing Shortcuts and Bet on Yourself (with BiggerPockets' David Greene) SB 1436 Nov 15, 2023

Everyone wants something for nothing. Today's guest says the term "passive income" is a lie, and he's the guy hosting the biggest podcast in the "passive" income space...BiggerPockets! David Greene joins us again, this time to share his journey from being a guy with ZERO contacts and ZERO money to a guy wealthy beyond belief, with a giant team, and a career that most would love to have. We share his incredible journey that began working part time at a (of all places) Baskin Robbins ice cream shop. You'll learn what to focus on if you want wealth, how to build skills, and what NOT to do if you hope to advance up the career ladder.

Plus, it's fire safety month! We're joined by Adam Barowy from UL's Fire Safety Research Institute. This year we're highlighting the dangers of lithium batteries, especially some of the big ones found in e-bikes and large powered toys. He'll dive into how to tell when there's the potential for a fire, how to identify potentially unsafe batteries, and how to practice good fire safety.

Of course, we still leave time to throw out the life line to a lucky Stacker (even one from Ohio!), and dive into some of Doug's incredible trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/the-truth-about-passive-income-david-greene-1436/

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Investing In An Election Year (Special Episode - SB1435) Nov 14, 2023

It seems like an uncertain time, doesn't it? High inflation, high interest rates, job uncertainty for some...and just under one year from now, a huge presidential election. These are the types of years when people sit out of the financial markets. They wait for "calmer waters" and "better times" to invest, moving their money to cash. But is that the right move? What should you do with your money as we ramp up toward another presidential election cycle?

Today we've assembled an All-Star panel to address that very question. From T. Rowe Price, CFA and Capital Markets Strategist in the Multi-Asset Division, Tim Murray joins us. And from Fidelity Investments, Certified Financial Planner and Vice President, Financial Consultant Ryan Viktorin also chimes in, as does our behavioral expert, Certified Financial Planner and Co-Founder of the Financial Psychology Institute, as well as Associate Professor of Practice at Creighton University, Dr. Brad Klontz. We're excited they're all here and ready to help you guide your financial boat into safe waters.

Do you know someone who's really worried about this election? This is definitely the episode for them! Share this with them so that you can help them stay calm and avoid potentially horrible moves with their money.

FULL SHOW NOTES are at StackingBenjamins.com/investing-in-an-election-year-special-1435.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Four Strategies to Transform Your Workplace Performance into Brilliance (with Andrew McAfee): SB1431 Nov 13, 2023

Here's a question: who walked into work recently and said, "I hope I suck at my job today?" I'm hoping the answer is NONE of our Stacker community. And yet, many of us underperform every day. Why? There are so many ways that we can make ourselves smarter, faster, better at our jobs. We shouldn't leave whether we're excellent at our jobs to our boss, and yet, there ARE some things that we and our boss can both do to transform our workplace and make our company better. Today we're joined by the guy who the world's wisest bosses turn to when they're wondering how to get their workforce to work better -- Andrew McAfee. Andrew has picked the lock on why some companies stink when it comes to empowering their team to rock at their goals and others wallow in mediocrity. He tells us the meaningful stories of how some leaders have transformed their workplace on today's show.

But of course, that's not all. In our headline segment, there's good news for people saving for college. The rules have gotten easier? Unfortunately, we don't mean "easier to understand," but just "you can now save more money that helps you also not screw yourself over for financial aid." We'll discuss the secrets you need to know on today's show. You think transforming the workplace is all you need? Now you can also save money on your college costs? Double-whammy!

And yet, we still bring you more. We also throw out the Haven Life Line to a guy wanting to "learn something" from the show (he must not know that Andrew McAfee is bringing it this episode!)...and asks us about putting money into a "donor advised fund." What is that exactly, how does it work, and will it transform your workplace? The answers are: "It's complicated, so you should listen," "It helps you avoid LOTS of taxes," and "No."

There's still SO MUCH MORE! Come join the fun.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/find-bigger-opportunities-andrew-mcafee-1431

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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What If The Market Collapses? (REWIND SB1433) Nov 10, 2023

Our top article today discusses the current financial markets. If you thought stocks were going to move south, why wouldn’t you do anything about it? We ask our panel today that question and two more. Today’s show features an all-star guest roundtable line up. PT from the new Masters of Money podcast, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast debate and discuss our three topics ripped from the popular press on today’s show!

This show originally aired in 2016, so please ignore any mention of current events.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/timing-the-market-rewind-1433

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How Personal is “Personal” Finance? (REWIND SB1432) Nov 08, 2023

On today's special Stacking Benjamins Rewind episode, we jump into the way back machine to listen to an episode from our friend Doc G's Earn & Invest Podcast.

If you think personal finance is personal, you're mistaken!

We hear it all the time: "personal finance is personal". In today's episode, JL Collins and Scott Trench join Doc G and they question this popular saying. While tactics and personal needs may vary, there are better and worse ways to invest and build wealth. Join us as we dive into the weeds.

This episode of Earn & Invest Podcast originally aired on June 19, 2023, so please ignore any mention of current events. For the original episode's show notes, you can see them at If You Think Personal Finance is Personal-You're Mistaken! — Earn & Invest (earnandinvest.com).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/is-personal-finance-personal-earn-invest-rewind-1432

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Saving Distressed Neighborhoods Through Responsible Real Estate Investing Nov 06, 2023

In today's special rewind episode, we feature an episode from our sister show, The Stacking Deeds Show.

Are you a novice investor interested in real estate? Do you want to learn how to navigate the world of real estate investing and make a positive impact in your neighborhood? In this episode of The Stacking Deeds Show, we dive into the importance of neighborhoods and how investing in real estate can help improve and strengthen communities. Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities of investing in fragile states, the power of building relationships in neighborhoods, and the importance of taking a horizontal approach to real estate investing. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode will provide valuable insights and strategies for making a difference in your community through real estate.

This show originally aired on October 17, 2023, so ignore any mention of current events. To see the original show notes, visit Saving Distressed Neighborhoods Through Responsible Real Estate Investing: with Dr. Seth Kaplan (stackingdeeds.net).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/rewind-stacking-deeds-distressed-neighborhoods-1431

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How Will You Create “The Best Days of Your Life”? (SB1430) Nov 03, 2023

At what age do you think will be the best days of your life? How do changing priorities impact how you view happiness? What role does stress play in detracting from the best days? What role do finances and financial independence play in happiness? Today's special roundtable discussion is all about the evolution of life satisfaction and the best days of your life — and how your happiness changes as your age progresses. What about the impact that having children has on your happiness? Joining us for this important roundtable discussion, we're proud to welcome the co-host of the How to Money podcast, Joel Larsgaard. He joins Afford Anything's Paula Pant and our very own OG as they offer their opinions and experiences on how the best days of our life and satisfaction change as we age.

In the second half of the discussion, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, our panelists share their thoughts on whether we should focus on achieving financial independence faster in order to the best days of our life quicker? We also discuss how taking an optimistic outlook may benefit you in the long run.

Be sure to stay for this week's edition of our year-long trivia contest. Doug breaks out the way back machine and has some 90s pop music-themed trivia. Does that spell certain doom for Paula? Will she or OG break their current tie and join Len in first place? Or will Joel make Len proud and increase his lead?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-best-days-of-your-life-1430

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Rising Interest Rates, Uncertain Retirement, and Changing Working Conditions: What We Worry About (Live from FinCon 2023) SB1429 Nov 01, 2023

What keeps YOU up at night? We asked an All-Star panel that you can only put together at a big conference like FinCon...and today we do just that. We're recording LIVE from the moomoo podcast booth at FinCon 2023 with Rob Berger (Rob Berger YouTube channel), Nick Loper (Side Hustle Nation), and Paula Pant (Afford Anything), to ask them what THEIR audiences are worried about right now. Man, did we get an earful. From rising interest rates to uncertain retirement conditions, to the world of work changing around us because of AI and more, we work through MANY of the big issues people are facing in 2023 and often come up with solutions to help relieve those fears.

It's a special episode of Stacking Benjamins, without our usual segments (only the trivia remains...and Doug brings us a GREAT one today). Enjoy!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/live-from-fincon-new-orleans-1429

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Fixing a Toxic Walk Toward Financial Independence (with the FIoneers) Oct 30, 2023

Financial independence. It's often presented by writers as the place dreams are made of. You've reached this magical place called "enough" and now life is all unicorns and rainbows. But what happens when you realize that the march toward shoveling everything toward an uncertain future is creating a horrible existence TODAY? That's what happened to Jess, one half of the Plutus Award winning coaching team The FIoneers. Jess and Corey came by Joe's mom's basement to tell the tale of their "a-ha" moment that led them to reject shoveling tons of cash from a hated job toward an early retirement...and maybe an early grave.

Before that we celebrate our Halloween-kickoff episode with a visit from financial columnist and the host of the Money Life podcast, Chuck Jaffe. Chuck orchestrates an awesome, interesting, and always-changing economics game every Halloween with the trick-or-treat'ers who come by his home. What's the game this year? He'll share what he's planning, and hopefully inspire you to find clever ways to teach kids some money or economic lessons.

Of course we also throw out the Haven Life line (this time all the way to India!), and Doug regales us with his mind-bending trivia.

It's a Halloween party in the basement! Hope you can join us.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/FIRE-horror-story-1428

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stop Pressing Life's Easy Button (SB1427) Oct 27, 2023

Les Brown, no stranger to hard work and the resulting success it brings, famously said, “Do what is easy, and your life will be hard. Do what is hard, and your life will become easy.” Does the secret to creating an easy life lie in doing hard work first? How much of what seems easy from the outside looking in is actually the result of hours of hard work that was put in beforehand? Joining Joe for a special roundtable discussion that centers around how to do the hard things in order to create an easier life going forward are three people who are no strangers to doing the hard work: Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man; Carl Jensen, creator of the 1500 Days to Freedom blog; and Paula Pant, host and creator of the award-winning Afford Anything podcast and blog. They dive into the complex relationship between hard work and an easy life and offer some gems for Stackers to take away.

In the second half of our show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we discuss some hard work life skills and money skills that you can tackle today that will help you out financially in the future.

Be sure to stick around for our resident hard work expert Doug's astrological-themed trivia! Will either of our two guest contributors pull out the W and Len or OG benefit from their hard work, or will our regular contributor Paula continue her late season charge for our spectacular dollar store trophy?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-hard-work-easy-life-1427

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Life Advice From a Top American Entrepreneur - Panera Founder Ron Shaich (SB1426) Oct 25, 2023

Want to know how to stack AND enjoy more Benjamins? Us too! That's why we like taking life advice from the right people. In our minds, Ron Shaich, founder and former CEO of Panera Bread joins us to talk about living a life of service. Ron's had a full life, making money quickly but still working. How come? It turns out, Ron's best life advice revolves around how to live with meaning, rather than chasing money. We talk about his early days with the company, reinventing Panera before it was broken, and coming back out of "retirement" four times to pursue the next phase of running the business he loves.

Speaking of life advice...one crypto trader could use some. Mom always said "measure twice and cut once" when doing anything. This trader lost OVER one hundred thousand dollars on a trade recently. We'll share how and what life advice this may mean for you! (There's plenty).

Of course, we still throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky listener and also dive into some of Doug's juicy trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/know-what-matters-with-ron-shaich-1426

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Our Top 5 Ways to Save Money Fast (SB 1425) Oct 23, 2023

Has the cost of...everything...got you down? Us, too. That's why today we bring you our Top 5 Ways to Cut Expenses Fast! If you're looking for some easy wins, we're bringin' them, along with a couple ways that may not be the fastest ways to cut expenses, but are completely worth the time and effort it'll take.

Has the return to the office had a bigger impact on your Benjamins stack than you remember? In our headlines segment, we see how many American workers are coping with the surprising cost of returning to the office.

Check out our TikTok Minute that may have you questioning the wisdom of having kids.

And stick around for Doug's crime boss-related trivia that will have you double-checking your tax returns to make sure the IRS stays off your back.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-5-expense-cuts-1425

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Can You Balance Time and Financial Freedom? ep 1424 Oct 20, 2023

Are you letting your dreams of financial freedom slip through your fingers, always putting them off until tomorrow? Join us for today's special roundtable discussion, where we explore the art of not postponing gratification while still pursuing your financial freedom. Our featured guest is none other than the "Ordinary Sherpa" herself, Heidi Dusek, who joins Doc G and Len Penzo in this insightful conversation.

Discover the delicate balance between securing your future financial freedom and living in the present. Learn how to achieve financial independence without sacrificing the joys of today. Plus we delve into the potential impact of achieving financial freedom at a young age, including the challenges of leaving your old community and forming a new financial freedom community.

In the second half of our episode, DepositAccounts.com, we examine the unforeseen changes that early retirement can bring into your life.

And last but not least, our year-long trivia competition is reaching its climax! Who will come closer to being crowned the ultimate champion? Stay tuned for Doug's opera-themed trivia challenge!

For comprehensive show notes, including additional resources and references, please visit: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/accelerate-financial-freedom-roundtable-heidi-dusek-1424.

For even deeper insights, curated links, and in-depth discussions on the topics covered, be sure to explore our newsletter, "The 201," available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode!

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Travel Savings Hacks: Reward Programs, Travel Guides, and Best Practices (with Lee Huffman) SB1423 Oct 18, 2023

Where have you seen inflation the most? Maybe in travel. Between flights, the rental car, lodging, and admission fees, it feels like it takes FIVE bags of Benjamins to leave your back door for a long weekend! On today's show, we're thrilled to welcome travel savings expert Lee Huffman. He shares tips, tricks, and best practices to get the most out of your travel savings, wherever you may go. Be sure to tune in and get the most travel savings on any upcoming travel plans you have.

In today's conversation, Joe and Lee dive into travel savings when traveling domestically vs. travel savings for international travel. They chat about the travel savings to be had through rewards programs, how to accumulate the most points for your travel savings, and which programs offer the best value. They also touch on how Airbnb and VRBO stack up against the big hotel chains. They also dig into the best flight rewards programs for your travel savings. And they discuss the value of TSA Precheck and Global Entry.

In today's headline, we see how the recent Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) may fall short of its stated intention—to keep up with rising inflation. We throw out the Haven Lifeline to Patrick who has a question about 529 plans for his future children.

Plus, Doug dazzles us with his 90s fashionista awareness trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/travel-savings-and-tips-with-lee-huffman-1423

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stumbling Toward -- and achieving -- Your Goals (Live from Bali!) SB1422 Oct 16, 2023

Ever think that you aren't sure where you're headed with your money? Today we talk to TWO guests who began experimenting and found themselves much more prepared for the future than they'd thought. First, Annie decided it was time to experiment with "van life" during the pandemic. Her goal? To see if living and working from anywhere was actually viable. She'll share her stories, including what worked, what didn't and what she thinks about trying again long term. Plus, Tonia shares her story of how she realized she could actually quit her job! That was a welcome shock and now she shares what it's going to take for her to jump off the employment treadmill and into a new life. Think that's awesome? We're also joined by special guest co-host Becky Heptig, who along with her husband Stephen retired at 60 after only beginning the journey toward financial independence ten years earlier! She's the co-host of the hot new podcast "Catching Up To Fi," and she helps steer this ship today!

Welcome to a very special edition of Stacking Benjamins! On today's show, LIVE from Bali, Indonesia, Joe shares interviews and stories with a live audience at Amy Minkley's FI Freedom Retreat, where he was a keynote speaker. Not only does Becky Heptig from the Catching up to FI Podcast co-host, but she also shares her and her husband's success story about how they achieved financial independence in a relatively short time, starting from zero at the age of 50.

Joe's interview with attendee Annie is an eye-opening look at just how different financial independence can look for different people, with Annie's path fully embracing the location independence through #VanLife. Could camping, vagabonding, and generally roughing it be right for your financial independence? Annie shares the pros and cons of adopting this lifestyle.

Joe also sat down to talk with Tonia, who's story about how she unknowingly stumbled her way to financial independence hopefully will help you realize that maybe you're closer than you think to success! Learn from Tonia how to make the right moves to secure your financial independence by starting early.

Stick around when Doug calls in some Bali-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/live-from-bali-financial-independence-retreat-1422

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

Tune in on Wednesday when we're going to help you see the world for less money (and to better splurge so that you create awesome memories) with the man behind the We Travel There podcast, Lee Huffman.

Written by: Kevin Bailey

Miss our last show? Listen here: The Money Tipping Point: When Do Saving, Spending and Earning Habits Go Too Far? (SB 1421).

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When Have Your Saving, Spending and Earning Habits Gone Too Far? (SB 1421) Oct 13, 2023

How much is too much of a good thing? How do we achieve the optimal balance between the two extremes of cheapskate and YOLO? Joining us for this extreme discussion we welcome the founder of the EconoME Conference and Doug's ex-girlfriend, Diania Merriman; Doc G from our sister show, the Earn & Invest Podcast, and writer extraordinaire, Paulette Perhach. They'll discuss what makes for extreme saving and extreme spending.

In the second half of this extreme roundtable discussion, we talk about how to find the right balance between the two extremes, based on your priorities and goals in life.

Finally, stick around for Doug's extreme sports-themed trivia! With all three of our regular contributors MIA, who will walk away with the W as we enter the second week of the fourth quarter?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-extremes-diania-merriam-1421/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Stop Guessing On Your Investment Choices (featuring Frank Legan) SB 1420 Oct 11, 2023

With so much emphasis placed on saving and investing throughout your working career to insure a secure and wealthy retirement, sometimes enjoying your life today can take a backseat. On today's show, we're joined by author Frank Legan to talk about adding humanity and the need to live your life in the moment into your financial planning. It's all about reaching a balance between planning/saving/investing for the future with treasuring and living your life today. In short, we're talking about choosing your investment choices - not necessarily which ETFs or funds, but the investment choices of what are your priorities in life.

We all know that we're responsible for our financial future, but at what point do we stop viewing "investment choices" as simply picking the right stock/ETF/fund/saving account and start placing a greater focus on choosing how much time we truly spend with those we care about and not always in the pursuit if more Benjamins? Make the right investment choices that align with your values, goals, and priorities!

In our headlines segment, we look into a all-too-common recurring theme: Americans and their penchant for spending. Talk about making investment choices in the wrong way! We throw out the Haven LifeLine to Jodi in Michigan who wants our take on annuities and how they can complement Social Security later in your retirement years. Could a deferred annuity be among the right investment choices for your finances?

And Doug brings it home by throwing out some investment returns-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/financial-planning-for-your-life-frank-legan-1420

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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They Flipped Their Way To Financial Independence (SB1419) Oct 09, 2023

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of stuff you have accumulated? Ever looked at the mountains of stuff and wondered how many Benjamins you could flip that into? Joining us today are a husband-and-wife team, professional flippers Melissa and Rob Stephenson. We'll learn about how they started flipping, how to actually make money flipping, and how you could make flipping your side hustle. If you have ever wanted to learn how to make money on eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace, you don't want to miss today's interview all about flipping!

In our headline, we see how CDs have become a respectable option for parking some of your cash for safety. Stacker Jeff calls into the Haven Lifeline with a question about how to make up for lost time investing.

Plus, Doug brings some flipping-themed trivia in honor of Melissa and Rob coming on the show.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/flea-market-flippers-melissa-and-rob-1420

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Does a "Wealthy Life" Mean More Money? (SB1418) Oct 06, 2023

How do you define a wealthy life, and what how do you identify "wealthy?" On today's special roundtable, our panelists share their reactions to a piece that tackles how we define wealth—and not all wealth is tied to how many Benjamins you make. We're joined by our friends Miranda Marquit, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo.

Is wealth to you taking a fancy, luxurious vacation every year? Or do you define wealth as having the freedom to step into your own backyard sanctuary and fire up the grill? Is wealth to you the peace of mind to walk away from your 9-to-5?

In the second half of the show, we'll dive into the importance of having a good work-life balance.

Finally, our year-long trivia competition is entering the home stretch. Stay tuned for Doug's fancy transportation-themed question and find out who pulls out the W.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-wealthy-traits-1419

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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How Fear Can Help You Manage Money Better (with Farnoosh Torabi) SB1417 Oct 04, 2023

Fear is such an innate and naturally occurring emotion that we may write off irrational fear, or even living in a constant state of fear as normal. What impact do your acquired or ingrained fears have on your life, success, and finances? How do we acknowledge, come to terms with, and ultimately overcome our fears to reach our full human potential? Joining us to tackle this important topic is our friend and host of the So Money podcast, Farnoosh Torabi.

In our headline, we explore a study that shows the impact of spending "spikes" and the resulting loans/debts incurred on retirement readiness.

And in honor of October's arrival, Doug brings some fear-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/overcoming-fears-with-farnoosh-torabi-1417

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How Liz Elting Went From a Horrible Career to Billions With One BIG Career A-Ha (SB1416) Oct 02, 2023

How much should personal passion factor into our choice of job/career/professional pursuit? Is it acceptable to be content with going after a sweet stack of Benjamins, even if the way you earn them doesn't align with your passion? Why do we have to choose between success and passion? Joining us today to tackle the money or passion debate is thought leader, Fortune 500 member, entrepreneur, and passion advocate Liz Elting. She'll help us learn how we can influence our career paths so that it aligns more with our passions.

In our headline, we see evidence of a cooling off rental market (finally). We dive into the repercussions for renters, landlords, and the economy as a whole. In our Haven Lifeline segment, we take a call from Christine in Seattle about opening investment accounts for minors - and what special considerations, if any, there are if a non-parental, non-guardian relative wants to help the minor open it.

Finally, Doug chips in with some space-related trivia. It's guaranteed to be out of this world!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/passion-business-liz-elting-141 7

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How Polluted Is Your Financial Plan? Sep 29, 2023

How is your thinking plan looking? Is it all clear skies and amber waves of grain? Or is it a pollution-riddled smog alert experienced during rush hour in LA - if it were next to an erupting Mt. Saint Helens? Joining our roundtable is Elaine King, a Peruvian-born CFP® who practices financial planning in Miami. She joins our regular contributors - Paula Pant who is currently located in Manhattan, New York, and Len Penzo who is still somewhere in a bunker below the Los Angeles pollution.

They'll debate what ways we can use to combat the pollution that obstructs the view of our financial future. We'll talk about how we have to be aware of both internal and external sources of financial pollution and how we can combat all pollutant threats - how our mindset impacts our view of finances as well as how external factors do. In addition to cutting/controlling expenses, we dive into how earning more money - and the mindset shift that needs to happen within you - is an important factor in cleaning up what pollution is mucking up your financial outlook. What time pollution sources are impacting your life that, if better handled, could clear up a lot of the smog that blocks your financial future?

In the second half of our discussion, we'll talk about how integrating the right risk-management strategy is one big, often undervalued, way to clean up the pollution that obscures your financial view. We'll talk about what insurances are essential, and what probably aren't worth it. Also, what investments and investment strategies could be adding to the pollution that contaminates your financial view? What about our tax planning strategies? What screams pollution louder than taxes?

Stick around for Doug's trivia relationship-based trivia when we discuss one big way to pollute the air in your happy union. Will Elaine do OG solid and pull out the W? Will Paula continue her miracle run? Will Len bore us amaze us put his happy marriage with the honeybee in danger with his dominance of dating app knowledge? Be sure to tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-financial-pollution-with-elaine-king-1415

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Mastering Emotions and Maximizing Energy in Financial Decisions Sep 27, 2023

How much of your own emotions and energy go into your financial decisions? Dr. Julia DiGangi joins Joe to chat about how to master your emotions and maximize your energy. She teaches us how to recognize stress triggers so you can control your emotions and energy before they get out of hand. What proactive steps can we take to master our emotions?

She will help each of us self-analyze our relationship with money - the emotional energy and emotional relationship. What would our money say about you and how you treat it? What kind of energy and emotions are you treating it with?

In our headline, we look at an encouraging trend in minority populations in the US with regard to how many people are working with financial professionals.

We'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Mark who has a question about target-date funds. Plus, Doug may or may not try to pull a fast one on us with his American history-themed trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Emotions-and-energy-investing-dr-julia-digangi-1414

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Secrets to Unbreakable Confidence and Financial Success (ep 1413) Sep 25, 2023

Are you ready to maximize your confidence and unleash your inner bad bitch (even if you're a guy)? Today's interview with certified and self-proclaimed bad bitch Lisa Carmen Wang, and it's one you do not want to miss if you're looking to achieve more self-confidence to accomplish your dreams in relationships, career, and life. She dives into her story of self-discovery and how she built unbreakable habits that allowed her to tune out her critics and focus on being her best self.

Lisa's book, The Bad Bitch Business Bible: 10 Commandments to Break Free of Good Girl Brainwashing and Take Charge of Your Body, Boundaries, and Bank Account, is the guide you need to become the unbreakable bad bitch in your life, career, and finances. You'll learn some of Lisa's invaluable life lessons that you can directly apply to your own life today to attain more confidence in yourself. From how you invest in yourself, your skills, your business, and your self-growth to how you exude your own confidence in all your interactions with others, Lisa's book will help you take stock of your daily mental routines and help you make improvements to your thoughts - which will result in improvements in your life.

In our headline, we talk about a piece from the Wall Street Journal about how to maintain harmony with your significant other by planning the perfect money date.

Plus you won't want to miss out on Doug's Olympic-themed trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/bad-money-b-with-lisa-carmen-wang-1413

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A Big Money Lesson From Taylor Swift (ep 1412) Sep 22, 2023

Taylor Swift made even more headlines when she decided to sidestep traditional Hollywood studios and distribute her new movie, filmed as part of her Eras Tour, directly to movie theaters and millions of her adoring fans. What does Taylor know that the rest of us should about the value added by so-called middlemen? Joining us for this special roundtable discussion, we welcome back author and advisor Eric Brotman who joins Paula Pant and Len Penzo.

In the second half of show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we dive into in what cases hiring an advisor makes sense and what traits to look for when searching for an advisor.

Be sure to stick around for the thrilling continuation of our year-long trivia competition. Doug has some 90s-sitcom-themed trivia on deck. Does this spell disaster for Paula? Or will she shock us all and extend her lead as we head into the final week of September?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-taylor-swift-1412

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From Burnout to Fully Charged: Building Energy To Create Wealth SB1411 Sep 20, 2023

You have one money-making engine that's greater than all of the rest: you. Many of us duct tape our health, popping pills for symptoms and covering up the root causes of our energy depletion. Burnout shows itself in a myriad of ways, and today Dr. Neha Sangwan dives into the clues that you just might be burning the candle at both ends. We talk about stages of burnout, identifying how we got to burnout, and what we can do to quell the problem once and for all. We talk about the stages of burnout, the horrible ways we neglect ourselves, and how to write a prescription for a better bill of health that will help us not only avoid future burnout, but thrive.

In our headline segment, a recent Wall Street Journal piece purports to list where you should put your money now that interest rates are higher. Does it matter that rates are higher? Have your goals changed? We just might have an issue with this premise today...something that you rarely hear from us, I know.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky Stacker in need of help AND Doug provides another dose of his incredible trivia. You can never get burnout from that!

Enjoy!

You'll find show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Surprise! I've Achieved Financial Independence (plus young entrepreneurs LIVE from Camp FI) SB1410 Sep 18, 2023

Imagine that you JUST figured out what the financial independence movement is all about. You've been saving, but doing nothing exotic. You earlier had thought that putting money in the stock market was "gambling," like many people do. Today, though, you figure out that you've not only done a great job of making your dreams come true, but you've achieved financial independence, and you're still in your 40's. How happy would you be?

Today we're live from Camp FI (camp financial independence), where a group of like-minded people are hanging out for a weekend talking about values, money, and pushing themselves to live a congruent lifestyle. Not only will we tell Jaylyn's story of surprisingly reaching his next phase of life, but so much more. Past guest Dan Sheeks joins Joe and special guest host Roger Whitney (Retirement Answer Man podcast), to share details of his group dedicated to helping young entrepreneurs and savers find each other. Not only does Dan explain what's special about these young achievers (usually between ages 18 and 25), but we get to meet two of them! Mia and Adrian both share their stories of struggle and success, with lessons that apply to all of us, whether you're working for "the man" or trying to reach financial independence by starting a business of your own.

We'll also throw things back to Doug at the halfway mark for our trivia segment. While THAT segment isn't about financial independence per se, it IS a look into an area of finance you may not have thought about previously.

Financial independence, entrepreneurship, live radio, and trivia? I know! Pinch us! Enjoy!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/stories-from-camp-fi-1411

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Dump These 8 Things To Clear Clutter and Save Money (SB1409) Sep 15, 2023

What could be better than clearing clutter and saving money at the same time? And just in time for the upcoming holiday season! Maybe you'll end up with more cash in your pocket to get through the traditionally rough holiday season with more money in your pocket. On today's special roundtable discussion, we dive into an article about what you can avoid buying and reduce clutter. We're joined by Columbia Magazine recipient and Afford Anything's creator, Paula Pant; Bunker Quarterly recipient and creator of the award-winning blog lenpenzo.com, Len Penzo; and Mr. "I only read the articles" and co-host of this here podcast, OG. Of course, to clear clutter, they each recycle copies of their favorite papers!

In the second half of the show, you'll hear the dramatic finale of our clutter-clearing debate. Tempers are guaranteed to flare, feelings will be disregarded, and a certain podcast host's decency will be brought into question. It's just another game show episode of the Stacking Benjamins show!

Finally, stick around for our intense year-long financial nerd trivia! No clutter clearing is required here. With Paula and Len tied for first place for the past few weeks, will one of them finally break the tie and claim sole possession of first place? Will O "Do you believe in miracles?" G continue his improbable comeback and force the field into a 3-way tie? Tune in and find out! Join us for fun to clear the clutter in your brain! Before you know it, you'll be selling that old NordicTrack and jumping on the "let's save money" train!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/save-money-and-declutter-roundtable-1408

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Trading Time For Money: Building a Small But Mighty Real Estate Empire (SB1408) Sep 13, 2023

Trading time for money. Most of us do it. In fact, before financial revolutionary Vicki Robbin (find her on past episodes), the practice was even more prevalent. Chad Carson is a real estate investor who believes that if you're building a pile of assets, often less can be more (especially if it's slightly hands-on like real estate). Using his own journey and real-life examples of other people, Chad talks us through the "trading time for money" connundrum, and hopefully helps us that Go Big or Go Home may not be the only approach to living your life.

We even talk trading time for money in our headline today. Amazon and other companies are calling people back to the office. Many are fighting this, wishing to spend their career at home. If that's you, what do you do? Do we work better in the workplace or from home? We debate this (heatedly) on today's episode.

How about someone who wasn't trading time for money? We'll cover that in Doug's trivia segment. Before players were paid, they had to find their own way...and we bring you a question about the Heisman Trophy in honor of football season kicking off.

And, to keep the "trading time for money" trend going...today's anonymous caller traded time for money which included a pension! She wonders if she should take a lump sum or the money monthly...and of course, we have thoughts to help her.

I think we have a theme! Trading time for money may not be the best path toward your goals, and today we hope you begin thinking how to exit that approach to life. Thanks for hanging out with us!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/coach-carson-1408

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The Naked Money Meeting: Where Money and Communication Collide Sep 11, 2023

Are you ready to get intimate? Really intimate? Bare it all and totally expose yourself with your partner? We're jumping into financial bed with Erin Skye Kelly to learn about the relationship-saving power of scheduling regular "naked money meetings." Rather than sliding the uncomfortable conversations under the rug, Erin shows us how to confront the topic and overcome you and your partner's money blocks and win together. Take Erin's Naked Money Quiz for free to get real with yourself and face your money blocks.

In our headlines segment, we hear about the next best thing since sliced bread...or not...in the form of a spot Bitcoin ETF, possibly coming soon to a broker near you. Bitcoin is an incredible world-changing technology, but does a Bitcoin-based ETF deserve a place in your financial portfolio? We dig in. Doug brings the heat with his old-school gaming-themed trivia question. And Stacker Zachary ("Stackery"?) has a question for us about the worst advertisements ever.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/getting-financially-intimate-with-erin-skye-kelly-1407

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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5 Exercises To Improve Your Money Life with Suzanne Lucas (REWIND) ep 1406 Sep 08, 2023

On today's evergreen Friday roundtable rewind episode from August 21, 2020, we dive into doing financial fitness exercises to build better money habits with the Financially Savvy Latina herself, Natalie Torres-Haddad. Also joining us is Richard Simmons, showing us all the Financial Fitness exercises, opps no it is the creator of the award-winning blog lenpenzo.com, Len Penzo; and our co-host-with-the-most and CFP, OG. You'll want to tune in to reinforce the importance of integrating good money habits (aka the financial fitness exercises) in your life. Plus, our friend, the Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas joins us to talk about how to use your vacation days guilt-free.

The show originally aired in 2020 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins/friday-roundtable-financial-fitness-rewind

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions about all things financial fitness are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Building a Strong Real Estate Foundation: Tips for Novice Investors with Paula Pant (Special Episode) SB 1405 Sep 06, 2023

Ever wonder how real estate investors reach the summit of success? Our friend and regular Friday roundtable contributor, Paula Pant, joined Joe and Crystal Hammond on the most recent episode of our sister show, Stacking Deeds, Building a Strong Real Estate Foundation: Tips for Novice Investors with Paula Pant. Paula opens up to Joe to share her journey from the early days of starting in real estate investing to where she is today. All Stackers can learn valuable lessons about smart real estate investing by tuning into this special rewind episode.

Paula's real estate investing course for beginners, Your First Rental Property, is now open for enrollment for a limited time! Take the first step in your real estate investing journey by signing up for Paula's course through our exclusive link, stackingbenjamins.com/paula to get access to Joe's special "Sherlock Holmes sheet," which can help you find extra money in your budget.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/rewind-paula-pant-real-estate-journey-1405

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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The Magic of Relationships (even in construction!) with Mark Ellison (Special Edition) SB 1404 Sep 04, 2023

Join us for a special Rewind Week edition as we check in with Crystal Hammond and our sister show geared toward real estate investing, Stacking Deeds! She sits down with the best carpenter in the remodeling business, Mark Ellison, to dive into not just real estate topics, but key takeaways about the importance of relationship-building that you, our Stackers, can apply to your own lives.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/stacking-deeds-020-rewind-1404

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Financial Planning Strategies: Creating a Budget That Works (SB1403) Sep 01, 2023

Are your household finances running like a well-oiled machine? Does each member of the household know his or her role(s) in reaching your own financial planning strategies? Who's your family's CFO? Who's got the COO role? Joining our roundtable to discuss financial planning strategies, we welcome Lacey Langford from the Military Money Show, PLUTUS award-winner Len Penzo from lenpenzo.com, and our own guy who knows how to run efficient systems, OG.

In the second half of the show, our panelists share some of their favorite tools and strategies for maintaining harmony with their partners. What financial planning strategies do they talk about during their family meetings? I mean... they're experts, aren't they? What do THEY do that we can emulate?

And finally, you won't want to miss the latest addition to our ongoing year-long quest for trivia supremacy. Sure it may not be financial planning strategies that you'll hear, but WILL be a race to the golden end-of-year trophy. Will Lacey's return be history in the making by helping Team Paula take sole ownership of first place? Will seniority reign supreme in the form of Len reclaiming the lead? Will OG continue his improbable ascension from the depths of the cellar? Three will enter; only one will emerge victorious!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/family-money-roles-1403

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What Topics In Personal Finance Worry Us? (Live from Podcast Movement - SB1402) Aug 30, 2023

Ever wonder what personal finance topics worry everyone else? You're not alone. We all wonder if our view of the world (and personal finance, by extension), are the same that other people hold. That's why today we're live from the floor of the 2023 Podcast Movement Conference with two other great podcasters: Shannah Game from Everyone's Talkin' Money and Paula Pant from Afford Anything. Both Shannah and Paula, along with our own OG share their take on how our audience worries have changed this year. We tackle every personal finance topic from inflation to employment to interest rates...and more.

But that's not all of the personal finance fun. We kick it back to Doug, who's holding down the fort in mom's basement for us, with a trivia question that you just might get right...

Truly the takeaway from this year's version of what's become an annual episode for us? It's that while personal finance is truly personal, it turns out that the one constant is that the world always is changing, and if something seems like a "sure thing," it's sure to become unsure at some point. In one discussion, the conversation moves to inflation, which three years ago wasn't even on the radar as a hot topic. Today, inflation is driving many of the worries that we have, from interest rates to real estate prices. It's true that the world of personal finance only has a few topics to master, and yet, staying on top of them so that you make better decisions is always more challenging (and yes, sometimes even fun!) than you may think.

FULL SHOW NOTES: Add show notes url here. Be sure to please include https://www at the beginning of the show notes url that makes it clickable on YouTube

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Charting Paths to Financial Independence (SB 1401) Aug 28, 2023

Is the secret to achieving your financial independence in taking a never-ending sabbatical? We're thrilled to have sisters Sammie and Michelle Varghese to discuss what they've learned about financial independence and how taking time off work can lead to greater things in your life.

In addition to financial independence, what other life and/or career goals do you have? How did discovering the FIRE ("Financial Independence, Retire Early") change Sammie and Michelle's trajectory, what can you do to reach financial independence earlier, and what are the benefits to doing so?

And how can you get on the fast track to financial independence from only your 9-to-5 job? In our headline segment, we'll help you get closer to the financial independence you seek by sharing some best practices on how to ask for a deferred compensation arrangement - and demonstrate how it's in your employer's best interest to work with you. And in our Haven LifeLine segment, OG's self-restraint skills are put to the test when he answers a Stacker's request for backup to help his friend's mother respond correctly to a financial advisor's questionable recommendation.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/never-ending-sabbatical-Sammie-and-Michelle-Varghese-1401

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Use Mindset Magic To Transform Struggles Into Triumphs (SB1400) Aug 25, 2023

Does a hard life automatically mean you're destined to struggle with finances? On today's show, we're all about mindset and how adopting the right mindset can set you on the path to financial success—and how having the wrong money mindset can hinder your financial progress. We're honored to invite Tiffany Grant down to the basement to share her real-life experiences and struggles, and how having the right mindset helped her overcome the early disadvantages. Doc G from The Earn & Invest Podcast joins us to share his formative-years experiences with a hard life, and how his mother's scarcity mindset affected him. And our resident gold bug, Len Penzo joins us to explain why he insists on preparing for economic doomsday by hoarding gold and cash.

We discuss the role habits play in mindset formation, as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people and influences.

In the second half of the discussion, we dive into how you can make the necessary changes in yourself to improve your life situation. Spoiler alert: gratitude plays a big role in your quality-of-life.

And finally, Doug brings the heat with some trivia about a well-known budget-friendly food. With two of our regular contributors MIA, will Len use that to his advantage and inch ahead of Paula Pant? Will our guest of honor flex her budget-friendly food knowledge and give her soul-sister Paula the lead for the first time, I think, ever? Will Doc G throw OG a lifeline and the impetus to start a 4th quarter rally to emerge from the cellar? Three enter, only one will emerge victorious (unless there's another tie). Tune in and find out what everyone many a few nerds will be talking about until next Friday.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-mindset-tiffany-grant-1400

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Getting Zen With Your Money SB1399 Aug 23, 2023

How much is enough? Enough money, enough status, enough possessions, enough leisure? We are happy to welcome Manisha Thakor to the basement to discuss some of the revelations she learned after experiencing what she calls the "cult of never enough." How do we disconnect our personal lives from our work lives?

Is a cool $5 million enough to retire on in America? In our headline, we take a peek into the retirement lifestyle of the top 0.1% of households.

And in Doug's trivia, he might leave you scratching your head with his question about a symbol that can't be pronounced.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/getting-zen-with-your-money-Manisha-Thakor-1399

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Top 5 Money Lessons From Movie Characters (SB1398) Aug 21, 2023

What lessons have you learned from the silver screen? Today we dive into LOTS of great lessons about finance from our favorite films. Joe and OG both prep their top 5 and do not share them with each other until they hit record. Will your favorites make the cut? You're about to find out!

Plus, in our headline segment, if you work from home we may have some good news; most companies plan to continue their current work-from-home policies, according to a recent study. What does this mean for your "work-life balance" and about scoring the next raise? We'll share tips to help your career.

Of course, we'll share a TikToker with a great idea AND Doug's incredible trivia, and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-5-movie-money-lessons-1398

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Bridging the Gap Between Academic Research and Industry Expertise Where Do You Get Your Advice? (SB 1397) Aug 18, 2023

Where do YOU turn for true financial advice? Your family and friends? A CFP professional? Your bridge club crew? TikTok??? On today's special Friday roundtable episode we're thrilled to have an all-CFP lineup to each give their two cents on where to look for true financial advice. We're happy to welcome back our friend CFP Michael Kitces after a long hiatus; we also welcome back the queen of Sensible Money CFP Dana Anspach; and finally, our in-house CFP OG joins the gang.

In the second part of the discussion, our panel shares their take on the positives and negatives of joining a good financial Facebook group; the pros and cons of signing up for financial webinars and masterclasses; and how psychology plays into the right financial plan for you - even when the pure math doesn't make sense. Plus, we dive into the value of surrounding yourself with the right team by creating your personal financial "board of directors."

Be sure to stick around at halftime for Doug's trivia all about the business of basketball.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-cfp-roundtable-personal-advice-1397

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Teaching Better Money Lessons - Our Back to School/Back to Work episode! (SB1396) Aug 16, 2023

As we buckle up and prep for fall we think "curriculum." What lessons do we need in our life? What lessons do our children need from us? Whether you're headed back to work or back to school, we're diving into helping those around you do better with money. John Lanza, host of the Art of the Allowance podcast joins us to talk families and money...and even if you don't have a family OR money, there are LOTS of lessons in this discussion.

In our headline segment we remember that HOW we pay can sometimes be as important as WHAT we are buying. Fraud is through the roof, so we discuss the different ways you can settle up with a merchant, so you have smooth transactions.

Of course, we answer a (very creative) Haven Life line call for help AND Doug also spoon feeds us some trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/allowances-and-raising-money-smart-kids-john-lanza-1396

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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The Power of Confidence When Investing (SB1395) Aug 14, 2023

If you've been wondering HOW to get where you want to go. If you've been wondering WHY you aren't getting the results you want. If you wonder WHERE you should look for better ideas, Peter Atwater has you covered on today's show. We recorded this podcast two weeks ago and we have already referenced it in SO MANY other situations…Peter Atwater joins us to talk confidence when investing, when managing, when leading…and generally when living. At first, we didn't understand why this was the breakthrough idea, but the longer we sat with it, the more we referenced his idea.

But that's not all. In our headline segment, 401k balances are rising, but 401 hardship loans are through the roof. What's going on? We'll share ideas (and solutions if you're borrowing from your 401k). Plus, we also have our TikTok minute, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, and more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/creating-stories-to-find-confidence-peter-atwater-1395

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Invest Better: How To Slash Taxes in Your Portfolio (SB1394) Aug 11, 2023

Believe it or not, where you hold your investments can have a big effect on how much money you actually keep - even if you don't touch them! On today's special Friday roundtable, we're talking tax efficiency, and what account types are best suited to maximize your after-tax returns, as well as the tax implications of different types of investments. And how to position your investments to maximize their after-tax returns? We are overjoyed and honored to have Christine Benz, the Director of Personal Finance at Morningstar (yes, that Morningstar) join us. Also joining us is a lady who knows a thing or two about getting the most bang for her investment buck: from Afford Anything, we welcome Paula Pant. And finally, none other than the man who has been helping his clients dodge taxes in his years as a practicing CFP, our very own OG brings his wisdom.

In the second part of the conversation, our roundtable tackles execution - when it makes sense to change your investments, and how to strategically reposition your investments for best tax efficiency - and where to take distributions from first, when selling your investments.

Stay tuned for Doug's Airbnb-themed trivia. Will Paula shock the SB World and pull into a tie for first place with Len? Will Christine flex her knowledge base and assist Len in keeping ahold of first place? Will OG take the first step to ascend from the cellar? Tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-christine-benz-1394

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy! (..and by the way, we HAD TO create a title with a colon in it).

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Inflation and the Price of a Sandwich - Len Penzo's Annual Study (SB1393) Aug 09, 2023

Our annual look at inflation is back...by looking at the price of a sandwich! Award winning blogger Len Penzo joins us to reveal his look at ten different sandwiches and how their prices have changed since a year ago.

What's REALLY happened to the price of eggs? (hint: it's not what you think) Is a baloney sandwich still the least expensive? What sandwich ingredient went up the most? How does a sandwich compare to McDonalds or buying from work? We'll dive into ALL of the details on today's show.

But of course, that's not all. In our headline segment, US debt was downgraded last week. What does that mean for your money? We'll explain. Plus, we'll answer a question from a Stacker about what to do if you have money you need now but it's in a volatile spot? Should she move it now? Wait because it's going up? Which is best?

All of that, Doug's amazing trivia, and more on today's podcast! Enjoy!

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Building a Better Life with Lessons from The Past (SB1392) Aug 07, 2023

Thinking about a better future? Maybe look at what happened to you during your childhood and learn lessons that can help you grow. That's what today's guest, Charles McCarrick did. He took important lessons from some hilarious, educational, and sometimes disturbing moments from his childhood growing up the next-to-youngest of five brothers (and one sister!). Charles shares stories that made him the scientist, entrepreneur, and thinker that he is today, and that can also help you either build your own business or grow inside of the business where you work.

We have a guest co-host today! Stephen Baughier from CampFI joins us for our headline, TikTok minute, Haven Life line, and more. He'll share stories from the popular FIRE movement camps, and help us build good lessons from today's show. He also shares what's happening at the upcoming Texas Camp FI, where Joe will be a speaker!

In our headline segment, one popular crowdfunding real estate platform has had some trouble. We'll share the details AND what it has to do with your money. Of course, we'll also save time for Doug's trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https:www.stackingbenjamins.com/creating-entrepreneurs-and-camp-fi-1392

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Fortune Favors the Prepared - Managing a Windfall (SB1391) Aug 04, 2023

In today's roundtable, we dream the same dream that millions of lottery ticket buyers dream week in and week out: what would you do if you pick the right six numbers in the correct sequence? Beyond the lottery, how do you effectively manage any lump sum of Benjamins that may appear in your account? Our elite 3 roundtable panelists dive into the deep end when it comes to taxes, inheritance, and expected/unexpected windfalls. Joining us today is a lady who knows a little something about managing money efficiently. Paula Pant; the man who probably has the winner's phone number on speed dial, Len Penzo; and the CFP extraordinaire who may or may not have worked with lottery winners in the past (but he won't tell us), OG! Then we hear a heartwarming story of another winner who fulfilled his promise that he had jokingly made with his stepdaughter by letting her know that; unfortunately, she would have to start paying her phone bill - as a result of her reaping the $200,000 prize. The disappointing part of this story is that she plans to spend it all on a combination of home improvements and splurge on a big family vacation, with no mention of anything being saved or invested. Have you made a plan of what you would do if/when you come into a big sum of Benjamins? Let us know in our Facebook group, The Basement!

In the second part of the show, sponsored by DepositAccounts.com, we put our money nerd hats on and talk about how we'd invest a huge sum of money.

Plus, stick around for Doug who tries to lift our spirits by bringing some bubbly trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/lottery

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Spotting a Subpar Advisor: Our Top 5 Clues (SB1390) Aug 02, 2023

Advisors aren't all created equal. Besides charging different fees and performing vastly different services, some just aren't very good at their job. So today we give you our top five clues that your advisor might not be right for you. By the end of the episode, you'll have a much better idea whether the team you've hired or are looking to hire is up to the task of helping you make better decisions.

Before that, we dive into a headline about investors who are too bullish. How do good advisors help you rein it in? We'll share some of the best practices one piece has to share and add in our own. Plus, we'll throw out the Have Life line to a lucky caller AND we'll also dish out some of Doug's delectable trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: h ttps://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-5-financial-advisor-red-flags-1390

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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How to Re-Start Your Student Loan Repayment Plan (SB1389) Jul 31, 2023

No more pushbacks. No more reprieve. If you have student loans, interest begins again in September and payments resume in October. That means you need a plan TODAY. That's why we invited debt expert Leslie Tayne to the basement to help you create a plan to change your budget, crush your student loans, and get on with your life. We'll chat about other legislation working through Congress, how to think about repayment options, and what to do if you can't repay your debt.

In our TikTok minute we present an experience that many in relationships can relate to...it seems like possibly a great use of money! You'll hear exactly what magic this TikTok'er is suggesting just before we dive into our headline about index funds. It seems that a couple of your favorite indexes are in the process of rebalancing. What does that mean to you and your investments? We'll share.

But that's not all. We'll share more diversification tips with today's Haven Life line caller, who wants to know how exactly the efficient frontier works. We'll dive into that AND into Doug's delicious trivia question...and maybe even more (of course)!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/debt-resolutions-with-leslie-tayne-1389

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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401(k) Hacks for Optimal Retirement Savings Jul 28, 2023

How does using your retirement plan as a path to a cool million sound to you? Are the existing tools that are currently available to most of us enough to get us there, or do changes need to be made to update the rules around what investments are accessible to the masses? Joining us to tackle this important issue, we welcome Stephanie McCullough from the Take Back Retirement podcast. Also, we're happy to welcome back our friends who are ready to talk retirement at the drop of a hat, Paula Pant and Len Penzo.

We also dive deeper into actionable best practices for Stackers who are just starting out by addressing the question of how to be aggressive without overdoing it on the risk.

Plus, stick around for Doug's constructive trivia question! Will Len extend his stranglehold on the lead? Will Paula demonstrate that she deserves to remain squarely not-in-last-place? Will Stephanie do OG a solid and lift him out of the sole cellar-dweller spot?

For full show notes go to https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/all-about-401ks-roundtable-1388

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Innovations in Credit Union Land Jul 26, 2023

What a rare look we bring you today "behind the curtain." Credit unions are owned by members and serve (in most cases) a community of people. In theory, they should be your go-to resource for financial matters. So why are they often your second resource (if you think of them at all) behind banks? Banks, owned by shareholders and not at all beholden to customers (Bank of America said out loud during an earnings call last year that they don't pay more on savings because customers aren't demanding it!).

There's good news on the way, though...Joe was emcee of the relEVENT Conference at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and while there, he found out SO MANY innovative ideas from leaders in the credit union space. Not only are they already leading the way in individual communities...they're also working hard to get even better. Today we'll share short interviews with a number of experts at the conference about the future of credit unions, what leaders are thinking about, and what's available now that you may have not known.

It's a mega-episode at over 75 minutes...but certainly a rare look at the other side of the table at what "they're thinking" while they're trying to help you with a car loan, mortgage, savings account, or other services.

Thanks to Jeff Klein and Choice Creative Solutions for asking Joe to emcee. Need maybe the world's greatest emcee for your event? Head to joesaulsehy.com.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/credit-union-relevent-conference-live-1387

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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From Letterman's Early Boss to Radio Rebel (lessons from FM Radio Mastermind Jeff Smulyan) Jul 24, 2023

You may not know Jeff Smulyan's name, but you know what he's done. The creator of New York's famous The Fan radio station and the former owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball franchise joins us today to talk about lessons learned during his tumultuous career. Experience teaches you to learn from your mistakes and Jeff isn't afraid to share his (along with, of course, the huge wins he's had that shape an incredibly successful career). We'll talk about managing talent like Don Imus and trying to manage people double your age when you're leading in your twenties. It's a wide-ranging, thought provoking interview.

In a rare treat, you'll also get TWO headlines today. First, an antiquated payment system is finally (maybe) being taken out to the trash. What is it? We'll share news from the Federal Reserve today...along with a second headline about your estate plan. The government has quietly changed the game around sheltering money in your estate. How does it work? We'll share that as well, plus steps you should take right now to make sure your estate is handled as you wish.

Of course, we still will throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky Stacker, dive into a TikTok minute, and let you ponder Doug's trivia question about a huge hit song that was released (and that earned lots of Benjamins) on today's date back in 1984.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/entrepreneurship-rollercoaster-lessons-jeff-smulyan-1386

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Money Lessons for a Strong Financial Foundation Jul 21, 2023

What are some of the most valuable lessons in money that you've acquired over your lifetime? Money education is a lifelong process. Today, our weekly roundtable reviews one popular author's list of money lessons, and we'll add a few of our own. We also welcome co-host of the Talking Real Money podcast and the owner of one of the smoothest voices in the industry, Don McDonald. Joining us from NYC, recent Columbia graduate and host of our sister show, Afford Anything, Paula Pant. And the roundtable panelist who has the most life experience of our regular panelists - by a long shot - we welcome back creator of the award-winning blog LenPenzo.com, Len Penzo.

In the second half of the show, our panelists add their own life money lessons.

Doug dazzles us with a piece of head scratching NYC-related trivia. Will Paula be able to make the most of her homefield advantage to pull out the win? Does Don have an ace up his sleeve with some inside knowledge? Will Len extend his lead and bring home the dub?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/money-lessons-roundtable-1385

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Earning a Cool Million, Saving Tons with a FREE Resource, and Rocking a Podcast (our Stackers Share Success Stories) Jul 19, 2023

Today we hear from our amazing community...and you will never be more motivated than after hearing their stories. First, we were excited to begin with TJ because so many of us live in an area a coach of ours calls "the gap." That's the state of mind where you're always thinking about how much more you have to do, how far behind you are, and how nothing in life is the way you want it to be. Yet, for most of us, it's actually far better to think about our successes. TJ celebrates earning money, among other cool things. Today he shares how he realized he'd earned a million dollars...and then how he threw himself a party to mark that big moment. Plus, he chats about some of the other cool milestones he tracks.

Then we turn to Annette, who takes full advantage of a community resource that we'll bet 99% of you have available, and that every study shows is underutilized. It can save you THOUSANDS of dollars and also help clean up the clutter at home. What is it? You'll have to listen to find out!

And finally (but definitely not least!) we talk to Skyler who climbed a mountain many never reach: he's created 100 episodes of his podcast, Money Talk with Skyler Fleming. He tells us why he started a podcast (and the lessons YOU should take from this), plus discusses some of the incredible conversations he's had and lessons learned from the first 100. We know how hard it is to make ONE episode, so to make 100 is an incredible accomplishment.

Today we have a special co-host, Kate Younkin, who leads our social team along with mom's friend Gertrude, and who helped us pick these special stories from a list of hundreds of cool things you're all doing. She shares why these are so worth sharing and what we can glean from all three of these Stackers.

Of course, we still saved time for Doug's trivia...and so much more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/community-episode-1384

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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The Credit Gamechanger: Expert Insights for a Better Score Jul 17, 2023

Ready to kick your credit game into high gear, even if you come from a less-than-ideal credit background? We go straight to Christina Roman, who lives and breathes credit as part of her job as Consumer Education and Advocacy Manager at credit bureau Experian. She shares a ton of wisdom about the importance of maintaining a stellar credit report - and what steps to take to improve your credit score. Listen up, especially Millennial and Gen Z Stackers!

In today's headline, we dive into the topic of "periodic retirement." Why wait on pins and needles until you're completely done with your career, only to experience disappointment with retirement reality? Plus, what's guaranteeing that we'll be able to even live long enough to enjoy the fruits of our labor in retirement years? Doc G from Earn & Invest joins Joe, and Doug and brings his unique perspective as a hospice doctor to this very personal topic. Plus, we throw out the Haven Lifeline to Jay, who has a question about replacing bonds in his IRA with CDs.

Add to that Doug's frosty-themed trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Millennials-Gen-Z-Credit-Clinic-with-Christina-Roman-1383

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Boost Your Efficiency With These Hacks For Maximum Productivity Jul 14, 2023

Are you ready to supercharge your productivity and unlock your full potential? Today, we're diving deep into the world of productivity and sharing some of the best practices to help you find your stride. Get ready for a spirited roundtable debate featuring our esteemed roundtable contributors: Doc G from Earn & Invest, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our very own OG.

In the first part of our discussion, we'll review a compilation of 50 top productivity hacks. Prepare for a rigorous debate as we weigh in on the effectiveness of these hacks. From time management techniques to prioritization strategies, we'll explore it all.

But that's not all! In the second part of the discussion, our roundtable contributors will reveal their personal go-to productivity hacks. Learn from the experts themselves as they share their secrets for staying focused and getting things done.

And be sure to keep up with our ongoing weekly trivia duel! This week, Doug brings a French twist to the party. Which panelist will emerge victorious, and will they all keep their heads? Jouir! (Enjoy!)

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/productivity-hacks-friday-roundtable-1382

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Financial Self-Defense: Techniques for Outsmarting Scammers Jul 12, 2023

Is it really human nature to believe what we're told at first pass, but then start to doubt after the conversation ends? Should we be more doubtful from the get-go? Today we welcome to the basement two men who want to share how to avoid getting sucked into false promises, hoodwinked by snake oil salesmen, and bamboozled by smooth-talking neighbors who have a sweet El Camino: Doctors Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris.

In today's headline, we question the legitimacy of the advice given by a more off-the-beaten-path new source. This gives us a chance to put our critical hats on and have a larger discussion about vetting your news sources, how to spot red flags that raise eyebrows, and a few telltale signs that the piece was, at least in part, probably written by ChatGPT.

We throw out the Haven Lifeline to Lucas who wants our take on how to correctly calculate the tax basis on shares of stock that were purchased at a discount through an employee stock purchase plan ("ESPP"). And Doug has some explosive trivia!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/deception-code-Daniel-Simons-and-Christopher-Chabris-1381

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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From Stuck to Unstoppable: How to Get Up, Get Started, and Get Moving Jul 10, 2023

Trish Hunt had no idea that one phone call in her late twenties would change her life. This call, for most of us, might stop us in our tracks forever, unable to function or move past events she had no control over. Yet, in that moment, she decided that she had to move. She had to take control. She had to become, in her words, "Unstoppable." Today we'll share her story and her advice for those times in life when you're simply "in the weeds" (up to your armpits in tasks going nowhere) or you're truly dealing with some huge life events that are difficult to restart from. It's a great reminder during our first show of these eight weeks that life moves, whether we do or not...so it's time to start paddling.

In our headline segment, we'll help you paddle around some rocks the podcasting world has thrown your way. One company is shutting its doors. We'll not only help you continue to listen to your favorite shows without it (including, hopefully, this one!)...but we'll talk about what happens when you find out your employer might be closing their doors. What do you do to move forward? OG, Joe, and even Doug will have some timely advice.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to help a lucky Stacker with life's money problems and Doug will step in with his amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/from-stuck-to-unstoppable-trish-hunt-1380

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Is It Taxable? (and an intro to Clarity Money) Greatest Hits Rewind Jul 07, 2023

Fun with taxes! Riveting, isn't it? On this 2017 roundtable powwow, Paula, Len, and Greg McFarlane flexed their obscure tax knowledge.

The show originally aired in 2017 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/len-paula-greg-taxes-roundtable-rewind-1379

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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When Retirement Seems Impossible (with Dr. Steve Wendel from Morningstar) Greatest Hits Rewind Jul 05, 2023

Don’t miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview the head of behavioral science at Morningstar, Dr. Steve Wendel, on the topic of some potentially big problems in retirement - and he dishes out eight possible ways to improve your retirement readiness.

The show originally aired in 2018 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/dr-steve-wendel-from-morningstar-rewind-1378

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Money Saving Hacks (with David Pogue) - Greatest Hits (Rewind) Jul 03, 2023

Tired of paying retail for everything? David Pogue (of NOVA and CBS Sunday Morning fame) joins us to talk money-saving hacks. How much can you save just by buying at the right time, using the modern version of coupons, and shopping at the right stores? We'll talk about Best Buy, Amazon, Retail Me Not, and more on today's show.

That's not all. Rob Berger from Dough Roller joins us to discuss the new Betterment offerings. Is this a company on the attack or one that's been forced to be defensive? We also throw out the Haven Life line to Matt, who asks about the right time to rebalance and take a letter from Rick, who has comments about RFID and also debt cleansing. Of course, Doug still brings home the trivia and much more.

The show originally aired in 2017 so ignore any mention of current events.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/money-hacks-david-pogue-rewind-1377

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Real Estate Kickstart: Exploring Investment Strategies Jun 30, 2023

Is real estate the best investment for first-time investors? Today's roundtable discussion is a special one - our panel shares their thoughts, experiences, and opinions about real estate as a viable investment for beginners. We are thrilled to welcome the co-host of our sister show, the Stacking Deeds podcast, Crystal Hammond. Of course, we couldn't have a real estate roundtable and not invite the real estate maven herself, Paula Pant. And, just to bring a little of the opposing viewpoint, we bring on Len Penzo, from Len Penzo dot com.

We also dive into the Top 4 Ways to Invest in Real Estate, (and Paula puts Len in his place after he runs his mouth). If you're thinking about dipping your toe into real estate investing, you won't want to miss this!

Be sure to stick around for the continued year-long, nerd soap opera that is our trivia contest - all about the infamous Tunguska Event. Will Len extend his trivia dominance another week? Will Crystal do OG a solid and close the gap with Len? Will Paula shock us all and bolt out of the tie for last place? Tune in... the results will shock you!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/real-estate-roundtable-1376

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Your World on Money - Behind the Scenes of the new Million Stories Series with host Andini Mankosinski Jun 28, 2023

How do you improve your credit, your real estate savvy, your knowledge of taxes, your ability to budget and save, and more? You listen to shows like SB, watch YouTube, read books, and surround yourself with great people! A new series from Million Stories gives you ALL of those topics AND combines them in a humorous, fun, introductory way, and today we go behind the scenes to see how they made it! We speak to host Andini Mankosinski who is NOT a money expert herself, so the series features her learning alongside off of the viewers. We'll share clips, talk about trying to make the often-dry topic of money exciting and fun, and more.

In our headline segment, we share some new data from Vanguard Investments on 401k plans. How many people are using them? We'll dive into that AND help you get started using yours.

Of course, we'll also share Doug's trivia, answer a call from help to the Haven Life line, and more. Enjoy!

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Three Tales of Financial Triumph (with Jonathan Clements) Jun 26, 2023

Many think that the people who write about money on the internet were either born with a special "saving and investing" gene, or they had to grind their way to the top. The good news? Our guest today, The Humble Dollar's Jonathan Clements (and former Wall Street Journal Personal Finance columnist) shares tales from some of the top writers on his site and how they stumbled their way to victory. We talk about paying down debt, investing wisely, rent vs. buy, and much, much more.

In our headline segment, a new study shows what product mix changes financial advisors intend to use with clients in the next twelve months. Can their tweaks help you with your own money? We'll share. Plus, in our TikTok minute, two creators have found a way to get rich quick: rob a bank...but creatively! You'll hear it here.

Of course, we'll also share Doug's mind-bending trivia and much, much more! Enjoy!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/jonathan-clements-1374

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Mastering Rollovers: Strategies for a Smooth Transition of Retirement Funds Jun 23, 2023

Do you have assets in a previous employer's retirement plan? Would it be easier to consolidate all your retirement assets into one place? Today we're all about rollovers: what they are, how they work, and why you should care. We welcome Dana Anspach, CFP, the force behind Sensible Money, a financial planning service focused on clients who are nearing/in retirement, to help make sense of what rollovers are and if it makes sense to do one. Joining Dana is, Paula Pant, who has more knowledge about rollovers than pop culture, as well as our in-house CFP, OG.

Dana also shares some of her experiences about rollover horror stories - and what steps you can take to avoid mistakes - and the potential tax consequences that may ensue. Paula chimes in with her experiences and thoughts on the rollover process, and OG imparts his wisdom on what scenarios may make for a more difficult rollover process.

Doug brings the heat with some fast-paced this-day-in-history travel-themed trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-401k-rollovers-1373-2

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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From Orphan to Fintech Award Winner: How to Find Mentors, Build a Future, and Help Others Grow Jun 21, 2023

Rosalia Gitau is a force of nature. Don't take our word for it...Monday's guest Michael Gilmore, creator of the prestigious Money Awareness and Inclusion awards, said that to US when we interviewed him. That's when we knew we needed to talk to Rosalia. We're super glad we did and you'll be happy you sat in to listen, because in this interview performed LIVE on the Fireside app, we dive into:

Her upbringing in poverty as an immigrant and an orphan
How she found early success, including a mentor
Her path to success (not nearly close to finished!)
How she used her grandfather's success secret to create her own success
How she dove into what women DO and what women WANT to create a financial space for them with Bixie

You'll learn all of this and SO much more on today's show. No trivia today. No headline. No Haven Life line....just us and Rosalia on this VERY special interview episode.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Bixie-app-women-investors-risalia-gitau-1372

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Zen and the Art of Better Money Decisions Jun 19, 2023

Does picking the right investments, avoiding debt, or saving for goals stress you out? To most of us -- even the best savers -- stress is a reality, and just part of the "game" of money. Michael Gilmore, the Seven Dollar Millionaire, says that it doesn't have to be that way. Today he's on the show to teach us how Zen philosophy can help us relax, unwind, and still reach our financial goals (and maybe while living a better life).

In our headline segment, there's LOTS of money sitting in cash right now, according to new data out. We'll share why sitting in cash might be a huge mistake, and also why trying to time "the right investment" is equally as dangerous. Plus, in our TikTok minute, we'll share a video shared by a listener about ONE financial measuring stick you might not have considered. Would it make sense to pay more attention? We'll share.

Of course, Doug shares trivia and there's much, much more. Hope you're able to join us on today's show

RUN OF SHOW:

Introductions
Headline: Trillions sitting in cash
TikTok Minute: A new financial index?
FEATURED GUEST: Michael Gilmore, the $7 Millionaire
Haven Life Line
Community Calendar
Credits

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/find-your-money-zen-with-michael-gilmore-1371.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Uncovering Money Wisdom from Dads Jun 16, 2023

Happy Father's Day weekend, and thanks for joining us! In honor of Father's Day, our all-dad roundtable tackles the topic of what are some important life lessons that they learned from their dads about money, work, and life. We're happy to have Brad Barrett from the ChooseFI podcast join the other two dads who frequently our Friday roundtables - Len Penzo of the award-winning blog, lenpenzo.com, and our very own OG. These three dads will share their fatherly wisdom with us.

Plus, we top it all off with some dad-approved trivia about a shoe brand that's popular with many dads.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-fathers-day-1370

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Money Magnet Manifesto: Our Top 5 Money Mindset Tweaks to Build Wealth Jun 14, 2023

Mindset. The one thing you can change instantly is to find more opportunities, attract more dollars, and win new income streams. OG and Joe both share their top 5 best mindset quotes and dive into why they believe this outlook is key to winning with your money. Our goal? You'll hear a few old favorites and several that you've never heard before, to set you up for more success tomorrow.

Plus, in our headline segment, we speak with Karl Brauer from iseecars.com about two recent studies they completed. Their researchers looked into which cars were the best value for the money (a combination of long-lasting and discount priced), and cars which are most likely to last for more than 250,000 miles. We also ask him about the new car vs. old car debate. Which is better to try and buy now? Karl has opinions and the latest news.

Of course, that's not all. We have some trivia from Doug about price fixing (by the government!) and much, much more.

Just another great day in mom's basement! Come join the fun!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Joe-OG-Top-5-Mindset-1369

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Panning for Profits: Uncovering Wealth Lessons from the Old West Jun 12, 2023

Crypto? Quick stock trades? A timeshare in a swamp? Huge profits? Taking advantage of people? Has that ever happened before? It turns out, that it has, in the wild, wild west, which roped in celebrities like Wild Bill Hickok and many others. Today, we'll tell their stories and rope the lessons around to today with master storyteller and host of the Legends of the Wild West podcast, Chris Wimmer.

In today's headline, many of the day traders are bemoaning the "June swoon," thinking that there's some magic that's holding up their results. We'll share the data around the June swoon in the past. Plus, we'll also share our TikTok minute, with some BRILLIANCE from a TikTok creator. Of course, we'll also share some goodness from a Stacker who's called in to our Haven Lifeline.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/wild-west-chris-wimmer-1368

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Maximizing Your Money: Unveiling the Top 20 Money-Wasters You Should Skip Jun 09, 2023

Do you really get what you pay for? Are some things just worth it to pay more for? We're beyond excited to welcome the one and only Paula Pant back to the roundtable. She's joined by Len Penzo of the award-winning blog lenpenzo.com and our very own high roller, OG, to carry on the year-long competition by guessing which items are on a top 20 list of things that aren't worth the money. (Number 14 will shock you!).

Doug also brings some eye-opening trivia about one of America's biggest vices. Be prepared to be blown away when you hear what it is!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-1367

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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One Woman's Inspiring Journey to Get Her Financial Ball Rolling (with Yanely Espinal) Jun 07, 2023

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

In our headline segment, Wells Fargo (that bad-boy bank out west) is in the news again, and NOT for a good reason. We'll share why AND what you should consider doing with your money if you're with one of the big banks. We'll talk credit unions, online banks, and the world of FinTech to help you make a swap to more friendly shores.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Lifeline to a Stacker in need AND challenge you with Doug's Miss Helpful trivia. Remember the Miss Helpful books? They made TONS of Benjamins for the author AND helped people to be a little kinder to each other.

Show Rundown:

Open/Introductions

Headline - Wells Fargo Executive Paying a HUGE Fine

Doug's Trivia

Featured Guest - Miss Be Helpful, Yanely Espinal

Haven Lifeline - Help a Stacker with their money

Community Calendar/What We Learned Today

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/personal-finance-education-yanely-espinal-1336

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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From Covert Ops to Unleashing the Mind: Itamar Marani Shares Mindset Hacks Jun 05, 2023

Itamar Mirani had to control his emotions while working as a spy for the Israeli government. The way he worked through emotions, mental blocks, and more, though was not at all what you'd expect. Today he shares his process for working through deep blocks so that we can make better financial moves, bold career advancements, and take part in more of life's great moments.

It appears many small investors may be about to lose money on real estate, and thousands already have. Alan Corey from our sister show Stacking Deeds joins us to walk through a recent Wall Street Journal story about investments in the sector suffering from recent interest rate hikes. Are there more to come? How do you find out if you may be affected? We'll share.

Of course, we have an "amazing" TikTok minute sent to us by a Stacker, as well as an answer to another Stacker who called our Haven Lifeline. We're glad to help.

Show Flow:

Open
Headline - Thousands of small real estate investors suffer from a housing bust
TikTok Minute
Itamar Marani on mindset and busting down mental blocks
Haven Life line
Community Calendar
What we should have learned today

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/itamar-marani-mindset-1365

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Less is More: Simplifying Wealth for a Richer Life Jun 02, 2023

Mom always said, "You can do more with less," but is that really true? Another popular line is, "problems are always more fun to show up to in a limo!" Today we'll clear up the clutter from your life, talk about how to determine what is "enough," and see what chasing too many "things" can do to your spirit. It's true: less truly often IS more and we're going to help you cut away.

It's a sad day on the show because contributor Paulette Perhach is ending her nine-month run of filling in for Paula Pant, but we make the most of Paulette's expertise, along with that of the woman behind Simplify and Enjoy, Elle Martinez. Elle's a pro at teaching people how to do more with less and she helps our team help you today...along with the amazing Len Penzo from award-winning blog Len Penzo dot com.

Of course, at the halfway mark of today's show, we'll continue our year-long trivia challenge between our contributors. Can Paulette leave tied for first with Len? Can Len pull ahead? Can Elle help OG get back into the race? You'll find out today.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/elle-martinez-1364

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Can You Finally Trust Annuities? Is Crypto For You? What's The Future of Money? (with Ric Edelman) May 31, 2023

Ric Edelman has opinions, and they're both well-researched and timely. We pick his brain on annuities, crypto, central bank digital currency, and the future of money. Ric's book, The Truth About Money, was a revolutionary and even-handed look at money way back in 1996. We're sure you'll find his take on modern money as riveting still today.

Plus, in our headline segment, what's going on with your credit? A new study from Tranunion shows that credit scores are a-changing. How? We'll share.

Of course, we'll save time for Doug's trivia and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: www.stackingbenjamins.com/ric-edelman-1363

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Running Slow AF Toward Your (Big) Goals (with Martinus Evans) May 29, 2023

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

Plus, in our headline segment a recent blog post from a popular blogger rubbed us the wrong way. We'll dive into why you should maybe think differently than THIS blogger AND differently than most other people.

Of course, we have an AMAZING TikTok minute that'll show you how the world truly (probably) was built, throw the Haven Life line out to Jon who goes on and on about Doug's mom…and more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/martinus-evans-1362/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Blueprint for Purposeful Living: Designing a Meaningful Life May 26, 2023

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

But wait, there's more! We'll spice up the show with Doug's mind-blowing Trivia, where he'll dazzle you with fascinating facts about the iconic Model T cars. And for all our USA Stackers out there, buckle up and get ready to have a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend like never before!

FULL SHOW NOTES: www.stackingbenjamins.com/friday-1361-design-your-life-with-heidi-dusek

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How One Woman Flipped Five Dollars Into Millions May 24, 2023

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

First, though, in our headline segment Social Security is in the news. It turns out that some Americans don't receive any of America's largest social program benefits. What does this have to do with your planning, even if you DO qualify? We'll share.

Of course, Doug's ready with some cupcake empire trivia AND we'll also throw the Haven Life line all the way "across the pond" to the UK, where James has a question that our Stackers around the world probably have all asked themselves before.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Made-from-scratch-with-Mignon-Francois

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Thrill on a Budget: Save Big and Have a Blast at Theme Parks May 22, 2023

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

Plus, in our headline, one bank CEO thinks that we should impose some rules around "short selling." What is short selling anyway? How can people pick on "short" so much? We'll explore all of that.

Of course, Doug will share some of his mouth-watering trivia AND we'll answer a fantastic question from the state of Wisconsin...proving that even though we thought Doug ruined it for us, this midwestern state still finds a way to love us.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/summer-theme-park-episode-robert-niles-1359

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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What Does “Passive Income” Really Mean (and do we want it?) May 19, 2023

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

Will Naseema claim the trivia throne and surprise us all by having her baby during the recording? Will OG stay in the basement for the trivia score, meaning will he stay in last place in the mind-boggling trivia contest?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-1358

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Pennies to Prosperity: Unleashing Financial Wizardry with Erin Lowry, the 'Not-So-Broke' Millennial May 17, 2023

Erin Lowry broke on the scene six years ago with her bestselling and groundbreaking book Broke Millennial. Today she's back on she podcast to dive into lessons she WISHES we'd learned from her original book and tips from her new workbook. We'll chat about credit, emergency funds, managing debt, reward points, and more!

In our headline segment, who knew that you couldn't buy things with zero cash today, promise to pay installments, and NOT DO IT? #shocker. Pay later apps like Klarna and Affirm are in the news. We'll explain why on today's show.

Of course we'll also throw out the Haven Lifeline to a lucky Stacker (today it's Will...go Tigers, Will!), Doug will share a helping of trivia, and much more.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/erin-lowry-1357

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Make "A Couple Million" Without Ruining Your Life (with Steve Chou) May 15, 2023

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

In our headline segment, we'll dive into the automation craze. Chat-GPT is doing homework, writing ad copy, creating books...what can't automation do? The government is casting it's gaze on automation and has issues some strong warnings. We'll share those AND what you should think about when you're considering automation (or recommendations that come from automation) in the future.

Of course, we'll also wind up the TikTok minute, Doug's trivia, and much more!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/steve-chou-1356

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Is "Being Great" Holding You Back? May 12, 2023

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

Plus, Doug Joe's mom's cousin, Diana, will surprise you with a bit of telephone patent-related trivia. Will Stefanie do OG a solid and make the year-long competition a 3-way tie? Will Paulette pull ahead again and put Team Paulette/Paula (#teamPP) in the lead? Will Len arise from his bunker under Los Angeles to win the day? Be sure to tune in and find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundable-1355

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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The Happily Never After Show: Finding Help and Hope in Divorce May 10, 2023

What happens when your marriage is struggling? Today we'll share some of the horrible stories and (more importantly) how to solve them OR how to make sure that you're able to function during a divorce. Forensic accountant Tracy Coenen and attorney Sarah Jacobs join us with their expert advice to hopefully avert a divorce or to help you navigate the heady waters of a marriage gone wrong.

In our headline segment we dive into the world of high yield savings! Apple has introduced an account that pays among the best in class and also is connected to their credit card AND Apple pay! What could go wrong? We'll share how convenience might not always work in your favor.

That's not all. Of course, we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to a lucky listener and Doug will share some of his delicious Knight Rider themed trivia! Oh yeah!

FULL SHOW NOTES: stackingbenjamins.com/tracy-coenen-sarah-jacobs-1354/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Leadership Lessons To Help Your Career Take Flight (with Oscar Munoz) May 08, 2023

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

During our headlines segment we'll dive into a story you've all probably been following: mortgage fees have changed and there's been LOTS of rhetoric about it…but what's the truth? We'll share a story you (sadly) probably aren't hearing enough. Are we returning to the dangerous mortgage business practices that resulted in the Great Recession of 2007-08 ? Or is it all overblown? Plus we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Luke in California who has a question about what types of investments he and his wife might consider if they're looking to retire early in about 10-12 years.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/oscar-munoz-1353

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Navigating Awkward Money Moments (plus Evil HR Lady) REWIND May 05, 2023

Don't be caught blindsided by uncomfortable money questions! Tune into this roundtable conversation where Paula, Len, and O.G. try to come up with the right ways to respond when faced with awkward money moments.

The show originally aired in 2020 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-rewind-1352

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Better–and Funnier–Flights (with Betty Thesky) REWIND May 03, 2023

Before you fly off on your summer vacation, don’t miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview Betty Thesky of Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase, where she shares some of the craziest stories you've ever heard from the perspective of a flight attendant. She came down to the basement to share some of her anecdotes that will leave you #ROFL.

The show originally aired in 2016 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/betty-thesky-rewind-1351

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Stop Delegating Money Decisions (with Bola Sokunbi) REWIND May 01, 2023

Don’t miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview Bola Sokunbi on the topic of why it's essential to be involved and in control of your financial decisions. Especially if you have the tendency to outsource your financial management, you want to tune into this important rewind episode!

The show originally aired in 2019 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/bola-sokunbi-rewind-1350

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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The Art Of Balancing Relationships And Finances Apr 28, 2023

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

What are some smart rules to follow when sharing financial accounts with your spouse or other family member? What are some potential pitfalls, and how can you avoid them? Under what conditions is financial secrecy acceptable?

Doug shares some trivia about how common financial sharing is among married couples. Will Mark make OG proud and put him squarely back into a first-place tie with Len; will Paulette bring the noise to the boys; or will Len extend his trivia dominance by another point? Tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/Fri-roundtable-1349

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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"Going Pro" With Your Money Skills (with Rob Welch) Apr 26, 2023

You've gotten the big call…it's time to go pro with your money? But what skills got you there? Today, to celebrate the NFL draft tomorrow, when dozens of talented young people will have their lives changed with huge paychecks, we welcome a guy who works with professional athletes on their cash, private banker Rob Welch.

Plus, in our headlines segment, a disturbing statistic about financial advisor satisfaction just emerged. What do people dislike about their advisors? We'll jump into ALL of the details on today's show.

Of course, we'll also share a call from a Stacker from Wisconsin to the Haven Life line (no, not THAT Stacker), and Doug will tackle career longevity on today's trivia question. Just another amazing day at the Stacking Benjamins Show!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/rob-welsh-1348/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Planning Retirement the RIGHT Way (with Veronica McCain) Apr 24, 2023

How can you do a better job planning for your retirement (and not just financially)? Are you anxious about transitioning into the next phase of your life? We're happy to welcome retirement planning expert Veronica McCain to share some actionable advice to put you in a better position to retire well.

Plus, in today's headline, do you feel like your expenses always come in over budget? Have your credit card balances increased over the last year? You're not alone, says Veronica Dagher of the Wall Street Journal. We'll jump in and try to leave Stackers with best practices to keep your expenses in check. You'll be amazed by the career advice from our TikTok Minute, and we help Jim with a question about how to divvy up his 401(k) contributions.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/Veronica-McCain-1347

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Our Best Financial Tips For Graduates Apr 21, 2023

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

In part two of our discussion, each of our contributors gives his/her own expert two pieces of advice to new college graduates to set themselves on the right track in life (Doug adds his top tip, too). Plus, Doug has some jaw-dropping trivia about the cost of private college.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/fri-roundtable-1346

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Making a Financial Plan That Sticks (with Lawrence Sprung) Apr 19, 2023

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

Plus in our headline, we learn about how Michael Burry (of "The Big Short" fame) admits (via a March 30 tweet) to getting it wrong when he told investors to sell in a January 31 tweet. If the best in the business aren't able to predict the stock market's future, what hope do we Average Joe investors have to time the market correctly? Plus we take a call from Brian who has a question about what potential consequences could result from him having let his life insurance policy lapse.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/Lawrence-Sprung-1345

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Economics 101: A Study of Janet Yellen's Career (with Jon Hilsenrath) Apr 17, 2023

We are thrilled to welcome award-winning journalist, senior editor at The Wall Street Journal, expert on the Federal Reserve, and author of the bestselling book about Janet Yellen Jon Hilsenrath to the basement. In addition to an economics masterclass, he shares with us insights into the current Treasury Secretary and former Federal Reserve Chair - and what makes her tick.

Also, we dive into an infuriating headline about 70,000 people who can't access their retirement savings while legal proceedings are ongoing. We throw out the Haven Lifeline to Burton who wants to know where to allocate additional savings. And Doug tops things off with his Fed-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Jon-Hilsenrath-1344

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Our Take on the "No Retirement Savings" Crisis Apr 14, 2023

Do you have anything put away for retirement? If so, you're doing better than 50% of women and 47% of men ages 55-66, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Yikes! For today's roundtable, we welcome guest contributor Investopedia Top 100 Advisor in 2019, 2020, and 2021; Certified Financial Planner (CFP); and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) Benjamin Brandt. We welcome Paulette Perhach back from her travels, and Len Penzo joins us from his bunker under flooded Los Angeles. They give their 2 cents on today's alarming headline - which is $0.02 more than almost half of Americans approaching retirement age have set aside, apparently! Double yikes!

In our second part of the retirement savings discussion, we discuss a piece by JL Collins that pushes back against the idea that your home doubles as a retirement nest egg.

In his trivia today, Doug comes through with timely data about expected retirement age - which, as we discuss, doesn't always pan out the way people plan. Flexibility is the name of the game, Stackers!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Fri-roundtable-1343.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Dumping Debt: How to Get Out of the Red and Into the Black (with Dorethia Kelly) Apr 12, 2023

No event could have wrecked our finances as bad, or for as long, as building a debt saddle had done. Between interest payments, added stress, and missed opportunities, digging yourself out of debt can be a painful life experience - but well worth it in the end. Today's conversation with debt payoff expert Dorethia Kelly is a must-listen!

Plus we throw out the Haven Lifeline to Lee who has a question about how to replenish your retirement cash position if it's used early in retirement. Add to that some of Doug's space cadet-themed trivia, and you've got yourself a podcast fit for print.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/dorethia-kelly

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Work-Life Harmony is Closer Than You Think (with Tina Wells) Apr 10, 2023

We've heard a lot about work-life balance. On one end, the non-stress believers say that you should seek balance actively. On the other, "hustle" culture says you can sleep when you're dead. There's no such thing as balance. Do more. Faster. Better. Today's guest says that maybe you can have "more" in your life WITHOUT seeking balance. What if we sought harmony instead? Tina Wells has had to apply this lesson to her own life, having created her first company at age 16 and suffering her first burnout by age 27. She'll share how she found both success and a life on today's show.

In our headline segment, actor Jeremy Renner is under our spotlight. He recently was featured in many pieces after sharing an instagram story detailing his march to recovery after an early-January snow plow accident. What does Renner's disability have to do with your money? We'll share...and it's a LOT!

Plus, of course, we'll answer a Stacker's call to the Haven Life line and Doug will be sure to top everything off with his world-famous trivia (well, maybe only Texarkana-famous...but who's counting?).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/1341-tina-wells

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Should You Take Advice From Televisions Money "Gurus"? Apr 07, 2023

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

We're excited that Lacey Langford (Military Money Show & the Military Money Conference) joins the crew to tackle this topic today. She definitely brings opinions!

Of course, that's not all. We'll also continue our year-long trivia contest. Will Lacey be able to help team "Paulette" get back in the race?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-1340.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Last Minute Tax Tips That Could Save You Thousands (with CPA Bob Wheeler) Apr 05, 2023

Ready to hit "send' on your taxes? Before you do, Bob Wheeler from the Money You Should Ask podcast, and a working CPA, joins us to dive into what YOU can do to maybe lower your tax liability. We'll cover frequent mistakes, what to do if you can't pay, and how to negotiate with the IRS.

In today's headline, we dive into a 44-year-old's advice on how to build up enough "F.U." money to retire early, and the potential rewards and dangers of early retirement. And, on the Haven Lifeline, we answer a question from our Facebook group "The Basement" about how safe your IRA is if the custodial institution goes under.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/bob-wheeler-1339

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Spanx Your Budget to Slim Expenses (with Allison Baggerly) Apr 03, 2023

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

In headlines we ask the question, "Will getting more information make you a better investor?" A recent WSJ piece dives in and we'll share thoughts. In our TikTok Minute, we'll see how well a former CEO of a certain company aged. Doug will dazzle us with his intimate knowledge of women's intimate garments. Not creepy at all. And we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Tom who has a question about what happens when an account owner dies without explicitly naming anyone as the account beneficiary.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/allison-baggerly-1338.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Our Best Secrets to Slash Your Grocery Budget and Save Big Mar 31, 2023

Every time we go to the grocery store, it seems like the prices of whatever is on our list keep rising. In today's roundtable discussion, we look at a recent piece that promises to help us save drastically on our grocery budget. Today, we welcome a special guest, Ms. Yo Quiero Dinero Jannese Torres, who joins Len and OG.

At the halfway mark of today's show, we'll see if Jannese can help dig team Paulette/Paula out of last place in our yearlong trivia game when the three try to answer a health-related trivia question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-1337

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Who CAN We Trust With Our Money and Career? (with Dr. Henry Cloud) Mar 29, 2023

Trust. The foundation of modern society is built on it. Today we are fortunate to welcome Dr. Henry Cloud to the Basement to talk about who is actually worthy of our trust and who is not. We'll talk about how we're rightfully reticent to extend trust when our gut says we shouldn't and how we get burned when we let people in who shouldn't be. We also discuss how to help people earn our trust so we have better relationships. Our friend Doc G from the Earn & Invest Podcast helps us out with the interview. You don't want to miss this episode!

In our headline today, would you let your kid jump on his/her phone and go all or none on a sweet straddle on Apple Stock? We learn about a popular broker who's in some regulatory hot water because of some clients who can't (legally) buy alcohol. How do you monitor your devices? We'll share strategies. Plus, we throw out the Haven Lifeline to Stacker Sammy who asked a question about HSAs. Throw in some of Doug's historical trivia, and we've got ourselves a podcast, boys and girls!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/henry-cloud-1336

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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What If We Asked, "How Much Do You Earn?" More Often? (with Maya Lau) Mar 27, 2023

Are you down with OPP? Award-winning former investigative journalist for the LA Times Maya Lau joins us to discuss exactly what would happen if we asked people how much money they earned. She's the host of a new podcast about OPP called "Other People's Pockets." She asks the uncomfortable questions about people's money, how they make it, and what they do with it. She shares her experiences with us about pulling back the curtain on the taboo topic of money so that you can feel confident diving into these conversations yourself.

Plus, for today's headline we have a special guest interview with the Chief Gold Strategist for State Street Global Advisors, George Milling-Stanley. We talk about what the Federal Reserve's sustained interest rate hike campaign could mean for the price of gold. What utility does gold have in the real world? Does holding gold (and/or other precious metals) make sense for your portfolio? O.G. also shares his thoughts. Plus we throw out the Haven Lifeline to an semi-anonymous caller with an identity crisis about when it's appropriate to take over someone else's investment decisions.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/maya-lau-1335.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Lessons From Nearly Losing All of Your Money: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Mar 24, 2023

How would you react if you suddenly had all your access to money cut off from your bank? Welcome to a special Friday episode of Stacking Benjamins! In today's show, Joe talks to Tiller founder and CEO, Peter Polson. As CEO of a tech start-up, Peter had a front-row seat to experience firsthand the Silicon Valley Bank drama as it unfolded. He recounts the events of that fateful day a couple of weeks ago - and how it impacted Tiller's business operations.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Peter-Polson-1334/

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Reboot Your Career or Your Life (with Joanne Lipman) Mar 22, 2023

It's never too late to change. If you're unhappy with where you've been and where you seem to be headed, it's time to hit the reset button. Today, to help you lift off, we welcome former editor-in-chief of USA Today and the WSJ Weekend Journal (among others), AND the author of the new hit book Next! The Power of Reinvention in Life and Work, Joanne Lipman.

Plus, we'll dive into today's headline about Cher and her lavish spending on her new boy toy...it's gotten so bad that her friends are raising the alarm! Do they have a reason to be concerned, or should they mind their own business and let her spend $360 million as she sees fit? Beyond just Cher, we'll explore how involved should we be in our elder loved ones' finances and financial protection. And later, we'll throw out the Haven LifeLine to our friend "Conner" and help him and his wife understand more about what an ESOP is and how it can benefit employees of the companies that offer them

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/Joanne-Lipman-1333.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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$1,000,000 March Madness Real Estate Bracket: Experts Debate the Best Strategy to Make Money Quickly Mar 21, 2023

Help us narrow a field of 16 different strategies to reach a cool MILLION dollars to one winner. They're seeded and ready to go (follow along on our show notes or a social media post, if you'd like!). We're joined by Mindy Jensen (BiggerPockets Money) and Tom Brickman (Twitter @FrugalGay11), for a broad, sweeping comparison of many of the different paths to real estate victory that we plan to discuss over the next several months. Plus, we'll take a break at the midway point for a helping of Doug's trivia! Enjoy!

Stacking Deeds is moving to a new channel, so search for "Stacking Deeds" and subscribe wherever you're listening to Stacking Benjamins to continue to listen in the future!

For show notes and more visit StackingDeeds.net.

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Plan Better and Achieve More: Two Case Studies of Financial Planning Success (with Taylor Schulte) Mar 20, 2023

What could you achieve if you planned better? CFP Taylor Schulte shares two stories told by financial planners about clients who achieved extraordinary results by creating and working on their financial plans. We dive into how you can dream bigger and do more with just a few better tactics.

Plus, in our headlines segment, it turns out that a million dollars isn't enough to be comfortable in retirement (according to one source). We'll help you tweak your plan. In our TikTok minute, we ask, "What could happen to your trust if it isn't all done correctly?" Apparently, you need to do ONE big thing to make sure your trust works the way you want.

We also throw out the Haven Life line to a Stacker who wants to become a financial planner. How do you break into the biz? ...all of that, AND of course, we'll share Doug's trivia.

Find show notes at stackingbenjamins.com/taylor-schulte-1332

Find deeper dives tomorrow on ALL of these topics in our newsletter, the 201: stackingbenjamins.com/201

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10 Expenses That Are Stealing Your Wealth (And What You Can Do About It) Mar 17, 2023

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, Stackers! Have you ever found yourself wondering what are the expenses most primed to cut back on in order to stack some big-time Benjamins? Today's roundtable ponders that very topic: what are the 10 biggest expenses in life, and how to reduce them? We got the gang back together this week! Welcome back to long-time contributor and bunker-dweller, Len Penzo of award-winning lenpenzo.com; we say "¡Bienvendia de nuevo, amiguita!" to Paulette Perhach who's just back from her week-long trip to México; and finally....you know him, you love him, he tolerates us (sometimes)....it's O.G.!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/friday-roundtable-1331

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Kara Goucher on Abuse, Money, and the Elite Nike Running Team Mar 15, 2023

Olympian and distance running star Kara Goucher joins us to share explosive details involving Alberto Salazar, the disgraced coach of the Elite Nike Running Team. She also shares her history of money and transitioning from running for fun to running for money…and then the triumphant battle back to running for joy. It's a story about greed, power, disturbing abuse, and more (doping, NCAA violations…), and yet it is still an uplifting, empowering story.

In today's headlines, we dig into a piece from the Wall Street Journal that goes over signs that the long-running hot job market may finally be showing signs of cooling off. We'll also review a piece from Indeed.com about best practices to find a job (in case you'd forgotten). What does the cooling job market mean for you and your stack of Benjamins? Doug has some sports apparel-related trivia. And today's Haven Lifeline call discusses the pros and cons of rolling over pre-tax and Roth 401(k) balances from a previous employer to traditional and Roth IRAs while still early in your career. Be sure to listen to today's show!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/kara-goucher-1330

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Increase Your Income with Short-Term Rentals (with AirBnB queen Lauren Keene Aumond) Mar 14, 2023

Today we dive into the short-term rental game. Think it's difficult? So did our guest Lauren Keene Aumond, until she began practicing a few techniques she'll share today. Plus, in our headline segment, we'll talk about noise and real estate rentals. Do you need to pay attention to noise levels more? We'll also share how to budget for a property that may require a lot of work and how to find properties at a discount. All of that, plus we'll discuss a TikToker's advice on increasing your income by 50% AND Doug's trivia! Enjoy!

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Our Favorite Tax Software (with Robert Farrington from TheCollegeInvestor.com) Mar 13, 2023

Who's excited about Tax Day this year? Anyone? Bueller? Even though this year's tax-filing deadline is pushed back to April 18, don't let it sneak up on you! Today we welcome TheCollegeInvestor.com's Robert Farrington to discuss tax-preparation software. Which one is the right choice for you? Robert shares some of the pros and cons of many of the popular tax-prep programs available and helps YOU pick a favorite.

And what's the state of the mortgage market? With The Federal Reserve on its inflation-destroying/interest-rate-hiking crusade, what does that mean for housing demand and the value of your home? We'll jump into the details in today's headline ripped from the from page of CNBC.

Prepare yourself to be dazzled by Doug's incredible trivia skills and his uncanny ability to tie Women's History Month to his other love - chicken. Our TikTok Minute may leave you reconsidering your life path. And finally we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Angela, who has a question specifically for our friend Len Penzo about tax write-offs on his bunker.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/robert-farrington-1329.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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SPECIAL: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse - What Happened and How Does It Affect Your Plan? Mar 12, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank's collapse is the second-largest FDIC takeover since the Great Depression. What does that mean for you, your money, and your long term plan? OG, Doug, and Joe gathered around the card table for a rare weekend discussion. They review what happened, what to expect, and how it may affect your future.

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Smart Money Moves: Building Financial Habits That Last a Lifetime Mar 10, 2023

Discussing finances can be intimidating, especially for beginners. However, initiating regular money conversations early on can be a great way to introduce the topic and potentially set yourself up for financial success. In today's roundtable, we welcome Dan Sheeks, author of the new hit book, First to a Million: A Beginner's Guide to Achieving Early Financial Independence, Katie Brewer, a certified financial planner and professional money teacher, and OG, our in-house money expert and father of three. They will discuss the importance of having money conversations and provide tips on how to set yourself up for a life of financial abundance.

But wait! There's more! Doug will try to stump our panel with some this-day-in-history-based trivia. It's a tie ballgame in our year-long competition; who will pull ahead?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/dan-sheeks-1328

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Stacking Stories: Tales of Expat Living, Selling a Business, and Frugal Living from our Stacker Community Mar 08, 2023

Today we invite three inspiring Stackers down to the basement to share their stories- Amy Minkley, an ex-pat who is hosting a Financial Independence Retreat in Bali - where Joe is invited to speak; Glenn Hebert, who built and sold his horse radio network (talk about niching down!); and the new Communications Director for Stacking Benjamins, Kate Younkin.

Plus, in today's headlines segment, we'll learn about the guaranteed secrets to building wealth! What are they? We'll dig in with details that just might be too good to be true. Finally, Doug will share some horse-themed trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/community-stackers-1327

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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SPECIAL: Stacking Deeds Episode 1 - "Top 5 Places to Start With Real Estate Investing" Mar 07, 2023

Join our brand new sister show Stacking Deeds, as hosts Alan Corey and Crystal Hammond dive into the world of real estate. We'll cover headlines about the often-reported "cool down" in the real estate market. Should you worry? We'll handle a listener question about interest rates. Should you wait for them to come down? But most of all, Crystal and Alan will share their inaugural Top 5 lists: their Top 5 Places to Start With Real Estate Investing. Enjoy!

Subscribe to the new show wherever you're listening to today's episode! Just type "Stacking Deeds" into your search function so you catch all of the latest shows the day they arrive (every Tuesday).

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From Big Benjamins to The Big House (with Shaun Hayes) Mar 06, 2023

Think earning a lot of money is the key to success? Today's guest will tell you that you can always make more money, but you can't create a new reputation and you can't reforge broken relationships. Shaun Hayes was not only a successful banker, he was also well regarded in his community and by his colleagues. Then the 2007 real estate crash came down and Shaun, heavy into real estate investments, saw his world crumble around him. He'll share not only his story but also the keys you can learn from both his trip to prison and his otherwise successful career until that point, on today's show.

In our headlines segment, we're joined by our sister-show co-host Alan Corey! Stacking Deeds launches tomorrow, so we had to include a real estate themed headline to get you in the mood. We'll be featuring episode one in the Stacking Benjamins feed...but make sure and subscribe to the Deeds channel so you catch all the goodness we'll share about real estate investing.

Of course, that's not all. We'll share our TikTok minute, throw out the Haven Lifeline, and more. It's just another lesson-filled episode of the Stacking Benjamins show.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/shaun-hayes-1326

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Shifting Your Mindset (with Blueprint Income) - REWIND Mar 03, 2023

Did you ever feel stuck? Here's a question: How did you stop thinking about doing something important in your life/career/money and actually got started with the hard tasks? We're going back to when our roundtable regulars shared how they motivated themselves to press "go" more quickly each time, and how they kept pressing "go" more often. We talked about fighting fear, making decisions, shifting mindsets, and working plans on the show.

This show originally aired in 2020 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/shifting-your-mindset-w-blue-print-income--rewind-1325

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Finding Financial Wholeness (with Tiffany Aliche – The Budgetnista) - REWIND Mar 01, 2023

Did you have financial security, but lacked financial wholeness? Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche shares that she felt more complete BEFORE achieving financial independence. We discussed the importance of establishing a solid financial foundation and gaining knowledge in this area. Tiffany has helped women globally in paying off millions of dollars in debt, co-hosts the Brown Ambition podcast, and has authored multiple financial education books, including a pre-education book for children. Drawing from her decade of teaching experience, Tiffany has developed simple and engaging financial education lessons.

We are bringing you back to our interview with The Budgetnista, we covered a range of topics, including why financial wholeness should be the goal instead of financial freedom, tips on presenting financial education to children, and her practical budgeting system.

This show originally aired in 2021 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/tiffany-aliche-rewind-1324

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Your 14 Best Minutes Today (with Chris Field), Inflation’s Back, and RIP Chuck - REWIND Feb 27, 2023

Don't miss our podcast rewind episode where we interview Chris Field on the topic of changing the world with just 14 minutes of your time. Chris shares insights on why "charity begins at home" is flawed and simple ways to make a difference. Tune in to discover how you can maximize your return on investment and start contributing to positive change today.

This show originally aired in 2021 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/chris-field-rewind-1323

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Young vs. Old: Which Saving Strategies Are Right for You? Feb 24, 2023

There are so many savings strategies out there, but which are right for YOU? If you're young, how does your savings plan differ from the plans of older people? And, when you hear advice about saving, which are meant for you? We'll dive into that today with our panel featuring the host of the Everyone's Talkin' Money podcast, CFP Shannah Game. She's joined by financial juggler and super-writer Paulette Perhach and award-winning blogger Len Penzo in a far-ranging discussion about age, saving, and optimizing your game plan.

But that's not all! Of course, our panel will compete in our weekly Stacking Benjamins trivia contest. The race is tight...who will come out on top?

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/shannah-game-1322

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Tracking Trillions of Illicit Benjamins (with Raymond Baker) Feb 22, 2023

Raymond Baker has spent a lifetime hunting down invisible money. Today he takes us down the rabbit hole…from offshore accounts, to creative accounting to overwhelmed banking systems, he details where hidden money lies in plain view. It's a fascinating ride you won't want to miss.

Plus, in our headlines segment, one man makes over $30,000 a month from his boat! How does he do it? We'll perform a case study and the results will be surprising. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and Doug will spoil you with a spoonful of his sheep-themed trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/raymond-baker-1321

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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From Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Leap (with Amy Porterfield) Feb 20, 2023

Imagine owning a company and working from anywhere, doing whatever you like, and changing the world around you. How great would life be? If you've ever dreamed of quitting your job and becoming an entrepreneur, we have a great guest for you today. Amy Porterfield left not just any job...she left the Tony Robbins organization to pursue her own entrepreneurship dreams. After a meeting where she was taking notes, listening to entrepreneurs talk about how they were changing the world, she realized that she wanted the same for herself and took the plunge. You can too, and we'll share how on today's episode.

Before Amy, we share an important headline segment. A Kansas City small business owner sued his advisors after losing half a million dollars on an investment and won a judgment. What was the investment? We'll share details and our thoughts about advisor-client relationships. We also play a TikTok minute focusing on some contract law we probably need to implement AND later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a listener with a big money question.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/amy-porterfield-1320

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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12 Simple Steps To Financial Independence Feb 17, 2023

One question we've been asked a TON is this: "What are the steps (in order!) that I should follow to optimize the path toward my goals? While we've presented our own ideas about order of operations today, we've never asked our contributors for their input...and today we change that! Len Penzo, Paulette Perhach, and OG debate a recent list from popular blogger Financial Tortoise, who listed twelve steps to financial independence. Do we agree? Disagree? We not only share the list and where each of our contributors might make changes, but we also dive into the steps to share how to best use the step to improve with money.

Of course, we also continue our year-long trivia challenge between our panelists. Will OG pull away from the pack? Can Len Penzo take back the trophy? Will Paulette surge? All things will become clear on this week's roundtable discussion!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1319

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Thinking Beyond "The Money" (plus Gen Z is rockin'!) Feb 15, 2023

Scarlett Cochran has lived the struggle and overcome it. Today she shares not only how to shrug off all of the self-doubt and short-term setbacks...she also shares her framing of money discussions in general. Life is about more than "the Benjamins" and she'll show you today how to break through with your financial game.

In our headlines segment, we high-five (virtually, of course), Gen Z, who one survey says is killin' it with their savings game. We'll share the highlights and dive into what you can learn if you are just beginning or are struggling to invest.

Of course, that's not all. We also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and share Doug's mouth-watering trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/scarlett-cochran-1318

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Build Better Relationships (our Valentine's Day Special!) Feb 13, 2023

If you LOVE stacking some Benjamins, you need great relationships...with your boss, your co-workers, your clients and customers, your network. But how do you create these bonds and strengthen them? Today we ask not one but TWO experts to share tips. Damona Hoffman is the host of the Dates and Mates podcast and also the dating expert on the Drew Barrymore Show. She'll share everything from non-verbal cues to how to start a conversation, all things that will hopefully help not just your relationships but also your wallet.

In our headlines segment, we chat with matchmaking coach Rachel Greenwald. Rachel wrote a piece for the Harvard Business Review detailing how dating advice can apply to being interviewed. We'll chat about first impressions with her and discuss how, surprisingly, your first impression might not even be when you meet for the first time.

Of course we'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky listener and share some Valentine's Day trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/damona-hoffman-1317

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Building Your Personal Brand: The Art of Self-Marketing Feb 10, 2023

How's your personal branding? Have you thought about how you market yourself? Today we dive into why building a personal brand is essential and how to get started with a panel featuring a guy who's helped many brands find their stride, Jason Harris. He's the CEO of advertising firm Mekanism, and he's worked with brands from Ben and Jerry's to Peloton and Nordstrom. He's joined by a woman who's worked hard on her brand as the best financial writer in the business, Paulette Perhach, and our very own co-host OG, who's had to build his financial planning image from the ground up.

Joe's Mom's cousin Diania is filling in for Doug today and will share some intriguing trivia. Will Paulette finally make her mark and score a point? Tune in to find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/jason-harris-1316

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Top 5 Plays to Win Your Money Championship Feb 08, 2023

Did you think we could let this weekend's Super Bowl pass without linking money to the big game? Of course not! Today, Joe and OG dive into their top five moves to become a champion at all things money. We'll talk about everything from motivation to tactics during our feature segment.

But that's not all. Earlier in the show, we'll share a headline about your auto premiums...bad news, Stackers. Prices are going up! Luckily, we've brought in Aric Sorenson from Insurance Brokers of Minnesota to help YOU find better coverage (and maybe for less money!).

Of course, we also throw out the lifeline to a lucky listener and scoop from the neverending well of Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/joe-and-og-1315

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Lessons From Tulsa, 1921 (with Kevin Matthews) Feb 06, 2023

The Greenwood District of Tulsa was a vibrant community in the early 1900s. In fact, it may have been the wealthiest predominantly black neighborhood in all of America. However, in 1921 the area, more commonly referred to as "Black Wall Street" was erased completed after a horrible massacre. We'll dive into the story with Kevin Matthews who not only wrote a book on the topic; he grew up in the same area and attended school on the same street. He'll share not only the horrifying history but also help us look toward the future and how we can all do a better job of working together to all stack more Benjamins.

Lisa Marie Presley is BACK in our headlines segment. Her mother Priscilla is disputing her late daughter's trust. We walk through how a trust works, what may be going on, and how you may be able to avoid some estate planning mistakes.

Of course, that's not all. We'll also share some Route 66 trivia, since we're talking to Kevin about Tulsa, and throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kevin-matthews-1314

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Sell Your House for More Money Feb 03, 2023

It's house-selling season, and if you're prepping to move, we have a roundtable show of experts for you! Our team will chat through a recent Philadelphia Inquirer piece about what you should and shouldn't do before selling your house. We'll walk through THEIR recommendations and why we believe they're grat (or awful) and then give our best advice for what to DO and what LEAVE on the table.

Joining us for this episode is frequent contributor and top financial writer Paulette Perhach, host of the NEW upcoming Stacking Deeds real estate podcast Alan Corey (who's also currently recording with Grant Cardone an upcoming television series), and co-host of the Bigger Pockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen (who's also a real estate agent and house flipper).

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1313

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Happy Money, Happy Life (with Jason Vitug) Feb 01, 2023

What do you do when life seems like it's a struggle? Jason Vitug has been there. Chasing his career at full speed, suddenly everything broke down. His health, family health, his financial situation...everything. Jason learned how to regroup and grow, and today we dive into his story so that you can also fight through adversity to take on whatever challenge awaits. Jason always has an inspirational story to share and today's show is no exception!

In our headlines segment, advisors are struggling to keep some clients from bailing into cash. Yields are rising and the stock market has been uncertain...so why not move? We'll share our thoughts on that and also thoughts on the disconnect in general between people and advisors. Where are advisors (and clients) getting it wrong?

Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the lifeline to a lucky caller and Doug will share his amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/jason-vitug-1312

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Make Better Insurance Decisions (with Amy Finkelstein) Jan 30, 2023

Want to impress your friends at your next neighborhood cookout? Not only tell them that you saved money on your insurance, but also humblebrag that you listened to today's show and actually understand WHY you made better decisions. MIT professor Amy Finkelstein joins us with stories about insurances gone wrong, sharing details so you better understand how the system works. We'll talk about, among other things, why health insurers want to know if you go to the gym (not the reason you think), what American Airlines has to do with insurance nightmares, and why your company only offers "open enrollment" once per year.

In our headlines segment, have you thought about leaving the USA to pursue your next opportunity? We'll share a new list of the top places to live for young professionals. In our TikTok minute, we'll profile some people who may need to pay more attention while on the job. And of course we'll save time to throw out the Haven Life line to Mike who lost a bunch of money in crypto and also share some of Doug's mouth-watering trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/amy-finkelstein-1311

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Spend Your Time Working or Investing? Jan 27, 2023

They say that money makes you money...so when investing should you spend your time seeking "alpha" (bigger returns than normal) or should you spend more time at your job? Today our contributors dive into this excellent topic presented in a recent Of Dollars and Data blog post from past guest and show friend Nick Magiulli. Of course, we'll explore not only Nick's thoughts from the piece (link in our show notes), but we'll also share our own perspectives...and of course our team has many ideas for you to consider.

Our contributors on this episode include writer extraordinaire Paulette Perhach, the host of the Earn & Invest Podcast Doc G, and the effervescent writer behind the award-winning LenPenzo.com website, Len Penzo. Not only will they contrast work vs. investing...they'll also continue to compete in our year-long contributor trivia battle!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1310

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Trick Your Brain to Stack More Benjamins Jan 25, 2023

I know what you're thinking, your brain is the smartest part of your body. But to quote comedian Emo Philips, look who's telling you that. Your brain makes great short-term decisions but often at the cost of better long-term thoughts. Better eating? No thanks, the brain knows that ice cream tastes better. Workouts? The brain knows that those hurt. Saving for the future? Ms. Brain says I need money for right now. Luckily help is on the way in today's episode. Dr. Daniel Willingham joins us to help you trick your brain into better habits. We'll talk about getting more out of meetings so you can earn more. Take better notes so you remember more. Focus on the task at hand so you can stack more Benjamins.

Of course, that's not all. During our headline segment, ANOTHER celebrity says that they're going to disinherit their kids. Who would do this and why? Do we agree? We'll share. Also, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller who wants to help HIS mom (our mom 100% approves of this caller!) AND Doug will share his Chinese New Year-related trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/daniel-willingham-1309

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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How to Reboot Your Career (with Jill Schlesinger) Jan 23, 2023

We've all that that pivot in life, changing directions in our career. Joe sold his business at 40. OG has moved firms. Doug has worked at many firms (but none in a basement until now!) before securing his current--and favorite--role. So what should you consider before taking the leap? We're joined by Jill Schlesinger, host of the popular Jill on Money podcast and CBS News personality. She's helped many people successful change directions in their life and shares some sage advice with us on today's show.

Lisa Marie Presley has passed away, and in our headlines segment we detail some of the reported financial struggles of The King's daughter. Are there lessons for us? We think so.

We also share a TikTok minute you won't soon forget, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND Doug shares his amazing trivia question. Just another great day in mom's basement!

FULL SHOW NOTE: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/jill-schlesinger-1308

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Rethinking Money-Spending Traditions: Are They Worth It? Jan 20, 2023

Do you have traditions that you value? Today we discuss traditions of all types and whether they are worth the money. Also, we advise on how to keep the tradition without breaking your bank account. We welcome our regular contributors Paulette Perhach from The Writer Paulette, the one and only Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot Com, and the ever-smiling OG from this very podcast. Whether it's finding creative alternatives to expensive gifts or rethinking the way you celebrate, we'll provide tips and strategies for keeping your money traditions alive without going into debt.

At the midway point, Doug will give us some amazing trivia, and we will find out who starts our year-long trivia contest with a bang.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1307

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Our Top 5 Parts of Financial Planning Jan 18, 2023

What do YOU look forward to when it comes to building and implementing your financial plan? If you're the average person online, you may think that a financial plan is all about building portfolios and managing investments. When you hear our top 5 favorite parts of a plan, you'll realize just how broad planning truly is and how many great opportunities you have in front of you. We'll share under-used strategies and tactics that you can implement immediately to have a big impact on your financial future.

Of course, that's not all. In our headlines segment, we dive into the Chinese stock market. Chinese stocks have been on a tear and we'll share what's going on in this market and how to use these gains to your advantage while building your portfolio. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky Stacker and Doug will share his trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/top-5-things-we-love-about-financial-planning-1306

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Beginning With Nothing? Start Here! (with Candy Valentino) Jan 16, 2023

Tired of thinking, "Other people have money...how come I can't get any?" Candy Valentino has been there. She was born into poverty, but luckily also into a can-do family. She joins us today to tackle how YOU can go from nothing to money by applying your best attributes. She'll discuss the importance of education, of paying attention to your surroundings, of investing in others, and more. You're going to learn a TON about life on today's show.

In our headlines segment, many employers are actually HIRING right now (not what you're reading in the news). How do YOU get yourself ready for your next big opportunity? We'll share. Of course, we'll also throw out the life line to a lucky listener and we'll share some of Doug's amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/candy-valentino-1305

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How Many Ways Can I Buy Real Estate? Jan 13, 2023

Today we take our first dive of 2023 into the real estate pool with an episode on the basics: how CAN you purchase properties? We grabbed a piece from RealEstateInvesting.com, asked our friend Crystal Hammond from SewSoFab.com (and a real estate investor herself), and gathered our regular contributors OG and Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) for a discussion about owning properties.

At the midway point, we turn to health and wellness expert Angelo Poli from MetPro to help us kick off the new year on a high. He answers questions from Stackers in our Basement Facebook group on LOTS of different topics.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/crystal-hammond-1304

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Love or Money? How To Win at Both Jan 11, 2023

Often we're asked, "Should I chase a career I love or follow the Benjamins?" It turns out, according to two researchers, you may not need to choose. At the very least, our guest, Dr. Myra Strober, professor Emeritus from Stanford University, will share a guide to making a choice that's much closer to optimal than many people perceive when they worry about love vs. money.

Earlier in the show, we'll speak with James Martielli from Vanguard Investments about planning your portfolio during inflationary times. He'll peer into Vanguard's crystal ball to look into what they expect for 2023 and then share tips to optimize your portfolio.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and also share Doug's astronomical trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/myra-strober-1303

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Forget Fame & Fortune: Here's The True Keys To Happier Living Jan 09, 2023

Want to be rich? Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger says more money won't necessarily make you happier. Fame? Yeah, that doesn't do it, either. Today we dive into the TRUE keys to happiness with the man who heads up the world's longest research study on the topic. He'll share the data and what you can do to transform your life into a much sunnier place.

There was also BIG new legislation late last year. With wide-ranging changes impacting retirement withdrawal rules, retirement saving amounts, accounts and eligibility, college fund rollovers, and more. We'll walk through a laundry list of new opportunities and share some ideas on how to use them best.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a Stacker with a question AND share some of Doug's amazing trivia.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/robert-waldinger-1302

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Our Magic 8 Ball Predicts 2023! Jan 06, 2023

Every year we ask a magic 8 ball that Len Penzo purchased at Walmart to predict the future. In the early years the ball was spot-on. Lately...not so much. But we do learn a lot about not falling into "current thinking" traps and about not worrying so much about what's top-of-mind in the moment. The truth tends to have a longer shelf life.

So, we'll spend the first half of the show with Len, OG, and a mystery guest diving into last year's predictions and reliving some of 2022. Then we'll spend the second half prognosticating 2023. It's a lot of fun and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.

FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-1301

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Celebrating 1300 Episodes of Stacking Benjamins Jan 04, 2023

It feels like yesterday we were fastening the string between two tin cans in mom's basement to make a podcast...but now we've actually reached 1300 episodes. We've spent lots of time talking about the guests and special events that have shaped our little basement-based money literacy project, but we haven't talked about some of the big headlines we've covered. So today, we've picked three out of the 1300 to focus on that represent much of what we've covered over the last nearly twelve years.

But that's not all. In our headlines segment, Adam Carroll joins us to talk about shredding your debt in 2023. While other Americans are busy opening up new credit cards, we'll challenge you to swim upstream and instead join the Stackers who are focusing on slashing not just their payments but also the amount they owe to other people. You'll love the feeling of freedom being debt-free gives you.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/episode-1300

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Stop Overcommitting in 2023 (with Dr. Don Davis) Jan 02, 2023

If there's anything we've become great at, it's committing too much of our time, money, and lives to things we don't care about. Today we'll help you start the new year on the right foot by learning to commit to ONLY those important things and take control of your time. Dr. Don Davis joins us to tackle this vital topic that'll help us frame the rest of this year in the right light.

But that's not all. We kick off today's show with a headline to help you ramp up your retirement savings. Then we'll share an ugly TikTok minute about a recent crypto implosion. And, of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to answer a Stacker call for help.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/don-davis-1299

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Magic 8 Ball - 2022 Predictions Answered - Rewind Dec 30, 2022

The Magic 8 Ball is back. Ahead of our show next week where our regulars will ask the Magic 8 Ball their questions for the coming year, we're going back to the predictions made last year. We take a look at the questions asked of the Magic 8 Ball and find out how many it got right.

Take a look at the original show notes and full Magic 8 Ball predictions for the year here.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-1298.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Could You Be A Great Leader? (with David Gergen) - Best Of 2022 Dec 29, 2022

What does it take to be a great leader? David Gergen served four US Presidents (from both parties) and believes that our youth have the potential to be great leaders in society. To round out our week of most inspirational guests, we bring back our conversation with David. He talks about leadership, service, and how you can help motivate and inspire others around you.

Take a look at the original show notes here.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/david-gergen-1297.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Lessons from Cirque du Soleil’s Daniel Lamarre on your Work and Career - Best Of 2022 Dec 28, 2022

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere and creativity plays a huge role. Don't think you are creative enough to come up with great ideas? Think again. Daniel Lamarre is the former CEO and now Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of the legendary company Cirque du Soleil. He joined us to talk about why creativity is crucial to professional and personal success and shares his own journey with Cirque du Soleil to improve in every area of his own career.

Check out the original show notes here.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/daniel-lamarre-1296.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How To Make Influence Your Superpower (with Zoe Chance) - Best Of 2022 Dec 27, 2022

Step into the New Year with a new perspective on influence. Getting what you want and deserve doesn't have to be a negative thing. Zoe Chance is an expert in influence and is an Assistant Professor at Yale. She joined us to share her secrets to positive influence and happiness. She talks about the power of ‘no’, charisma, and my favorite, the Kindly Brontosaurus technique.

Take a look at the original show notes here.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zoe-chance-1295.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Earn More, Live Better, and Find Good Role Models (with Professor Scott Galloway) - Best Of 2022 Dec 26, 2022

Finding great mentors and role models isn't always easy. Once you find one, hold on tight. Professor Scott Galloway joined us to share his thoughts on education, role models, patriotism, and so much more. His new book takes a fascinating look at the U.S. and explains how we got where we are today, achievements we’ve made, failures and our socioeconomic systems, and all explained in charts.

Check out the original show notes here.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/scott-galloway-1294.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Our Contributors’ Biggest Lessons From 2022 Dec 23, 2022

Year-end is a time to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the year ahead. What lessons did you learn in 2022? Our roundtable joins us today to share their biggest takeaways. Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG join us to talk about 2022. They share their thoughts on crypto, the stock market, and how to position yourself to be successful financially. And then, we crown the annual trivia contest winner with the best trophy anyone has ever seen!

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1293.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Money With Katie's Top 5 Lessons from 2022 Dec 21, 2022

2022 is coming to an end. What were your biggest takeaways and lessons for the year, financial or otherwise? A volatile stock market, rising interest rates, and uncertainty left a lot of people feeling uneasy about their investments but there's a silver lining. Katie Gatti from Money With Katie joins us to share her top five takeaways from 2022. She says that if you got through 2022 and have a clear outlook on your financial plan for the upcoming year, you are in a better position than you might think. She talks about lessons from crypto, the bond market comeback, why diversification still matters, and more.

We're also talking about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) today. Shawna Hausman from FSAStore joined us to help you spend those FSA dollars before the year-end deadline. She shares some of the less-known items and products that qualify and shares a calculator to help you determine how much to contribute to your FSA next year. Then we'll hear Nick's question about cutting expenses and Doug will share his trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/katie-gatti-1292.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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More Time on Holidays, Less Time Cooking (with Karen Nochimowski) Dec 19, 2022

The holiday season is meant to be spent with activities and people you love, not in the kitchen creating some elegant concoction (unless that's your #1 passion, then go for it!). Even worse, your waistline won't love you ordering DoorDash every night and eating warmed up fast-casual restaurant food. Where's the sweet spot? Karen Nochimowski is the tour-de-force behind Momma Chef, and she today will share recipe ideas from her new 6-Minute Dinners cookbook. It turns out, you don't have to be Gordon Ramsay to make a delicious meal AND it doesn't have to take long to prep, either.

In our headlines segment, we dive into recent comments made by Morningstar CEO Kunil Kapoor about direct index investing, and how it can turn index investing "fun." Is that a good thing? We'll share some thoughts. Plus of course, no show would be complete without Doug's trivia and a call into the Lifeline from Paddy, who's worried about FinTech company Blooom closing the doors to customers. Where does he turn for asset allocation suggestions?

Hey, Stackers - are you good at communicating about money and have 25 hours a week available? We're hiring! Check it out here.

Find full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/karen-nochimowski-1291.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Rich Friends And The Wealth Game: Should You Play? Dec 16, 2022

Who are the people that have motivated and inspired you most in your life? The friends and family we surround ourselves with impact all areas of our lives, including financially. Do your closest friends have similar spending habits to you? Today, our roundtable guests talk about the influence our friends have on us. Alissa Maizes (Amplify My Wealth), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG share their thoughts. They talk about people who have motivated and influenced their money habits, how their habits compare to their friends, and toxic traits in others that they avoid.

But that's not all for today! We also have Suzanne Lucas here, The Evil HR Lady, to talk about the recent Twitter layoffs and what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1290.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Rock Your Next Job Pivot (with NFL Pro Bowler Eric Wood) Dec 14, 2022

When sudden change happens in your life, how do you handle it? Imagine being told you couldn't perform your job anymore. How would you pivot? Our guest today had a huge and sudden change in his life when, while his wife was in labor with their child, he found out he had injuries that would prevent him from playing football ever again. Eric Wood played in the NFL for nine seasons before his sudden departure. He joins us today to talk about that moment, the immediate changes he had to make, how he set himself up for success after the NFL, and the importance of having mentors and coaches at all stages of life. Think you have nothing in common with an NFL star? Think again! These messages will apply to much of your life.

Are you counting on the 4% rule to get you through retirement? You may need to revisit your financial plan. For years there has been suspicion that the 4% rule doesn't work anymore and we dive into exactly why in our headline segment. Joe and OG talk about reviewing your plan consistently and making small changes along the way so you don't run into huge setbacks. Then we'll answer Justin's question about saving for future college expenses and Doug will share his trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/eric-wood-1289.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Wealth Building With Medium-Term Rentals (plus the Taylor Swift ticket debacle: what happened?) Dec 12, 2022

When most people think about real estate rentals, they think short-term or long-term investing options. Did you know there's a huge market for mid-term rentals? Mid-term rentals are perfect for traveling nurses, business executives at a temporary location, or someone looking to try out a new location before making a big move. Our guest today, Zeona McIntyre, stumbled into mid-term rentals and has now built her real estate portfolio around the strategy. She talks about going from juggling low-profit rentals just to get started, and shares ideas on how you can start your real estate investing journey too.

Were you one of the Taylor Swift fans who tried to get tickets to her latest concert? Ticketmaster was a disaster, with many people waiting hours to snag their tickets. Those who couldn't get tickets found them on the secondary market for tens of thousands of dollars. Randy Nichols is a music manager who currently manages the band Underoath. He joined us to talk behind the scenes on how ticket sales work and why Ticketmaster's crashed so badly this time. Then we'll answer "Brian's" (we have our doubts. It sounds suspiciously similar to someone else we know) question from Wisconsin about probate and Doug will share this trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zeona-mcintyre-1288.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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You But Wealthier: Should You Invest Like the Joneses? Dec 09, 2022

Do you ever feel FOMO seeing the investments that the super wealthy have access to? Private investments, hedge funds, and other alternative investments get a lot of hype but they also come with a ton of risk. Some of these investments do make sense for the everyday investor but there's no need to get stuck in a cycle of FOMO. Our roundtable today talks about the difference in investing based on the. size of your portfolio. Roger Whitney (The Retirement Answer Man), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers) join our roundtable today. They talk about the FOMO they've all felt with being unable to access certain investments and how to get past that FOMO to create investment goals and a portfolio that works for you.

Angelo Poli from MetPro also joins us to talk about health and wellness this holiday season. He talks about, controlling the urge to snack, and shares how to go into the new year with a fresh look at your health.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1287.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Speaking Well This Holiday Season (to stack more Benjamins!) Dec 07, 2022

'Tis the season for parties, gatherings, AND....awkward discussions with people you need for networking opportunities. Public speaking creates massive anxiety for many people, and even more so during the holiday season with endless parties and get-togethers. But guess what? Being an introvert, shy or anxious isn't a defining characteristic. Public speaking is a skill that you can build and actually excel at. Our guest today, John Bowe, saw this first-hand with a family member. His step-cousin went from an introvert whom no one understood to unbelievably finding a spouse. The big turning point was learning how to connect with people. John shares how we can all connect with others better and become better speakers.

In our headline segment, we are talking about diversification. Many people get it wrong when it comes to diversification. We share why and how you can smooth out the bumpy ride in the stock market with diversification. We'll also answer Ricky's question about his mom's IRA allocation and Doug will share his trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/john-bowe-1286.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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FastCompany Dives into Women & Work (Plus, New Retirement Laws Coming?) Dec 05, 2022

We dive deep today into the creation of a new podcast series from FastCompany about women and work FastCompany scoured the nation to find mother/daughter pairs to tell their own stories of the world of work. How they created the series is a testament to the power of working toward excellence, but the topic itself is also beyond compelling. 43% of women leave the workforce after having children, which is disturbingly often not always their preferred choice. Today we talk with Kate Davis, FastCompany Deputy Editor about the American Dream and women and what we all can do to improve our ability to earn more and to help others earn. While it's true that you can't change history, women often face challenges today in the workplace that should have been resolved years ago, so we discuss what we can do now. We'll also share clips from several of those women, and Kate offers additional research and solutions based on her work.

Is Congress bringing some changes to retirement plans? It looks likely, though currently the government is sitting on the Secure 2.0 bill with a deadline just a few weeks away. We'll talk about the changes proposed in the bill and how to get your retirement savings on track whether or not this legislation passes. We'll also answer Timmy's question about brokered CDs and Doug will share his trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kate-davis-1285.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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How Much Should I Tip? Dec 02, 2022

What is your tipping etiquette? Tipping at restaurants is more straightforward than tipping at a coffee shop or when you order takeout. Even more complicated is tipping for services like hair salons or your trash service provider. How do you determine how much to tip and when? Our roundtable today shares their thoughts. Barbara Sloan (Tipped Finance), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com), and OG join us to talk about their tipping habits. They also talk about tipping in unusual situations and what to do when someone swings the iPad around for you to add a tip. And, of course, Doug will continue his tipping-themed trivia for our annual competition.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1284.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Decluttering Your Way To Happiness (with Tracy McCubbin) Nov 30, 2022

Do you ever look around your house and wonder how you accumulated so much stuff? It's the holiday season and you're about to bring in even more. There's stuff everywhere and we keep buying more. "Spring cleaning" is a great idea, but today's guest believes that decluttering your life begins with deciding what you actually bring INTO your home to begin with.

Tracy McCubbin is our favorite organizational expert who's learned the hard way. Her father is a hoarder, and she's seen firsthand the mess it can create in people's lives. Tracy joins us today to talk about decluttering your house and your life and shares some of the most common clutter magnets.

Crypto is back in the news and back in our headline segment. This time, we focus on crypto arbitrage. What is that and should you try it? Joe and OG will explain. Then we'll answer an anonymous (aka Janet) caller's question about simplifying the number of funds in her 401k account. And of course, Doug will share his trivia.

Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/tracy-mccubbin-1283.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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What Real Estate Options Could Get Ugly? (and more of your questions) Nov 28, 2022

Today YOU are in the driver's seat with questions about annuities, opening accounts, the stock market, savings account options, unclaimed property, and more...but before that, we dive into a headline on real estate that could make you think twice before investing in it. We'll share details and what questions you should ask regarding these "deals." Plus we share a TikTok minute sure to make you think about your utility bills differently, AND Doug also asks a trivia question you just might get right.

You can find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/listener-questions-1282.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

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Board Games Worth Your Benjamins (with Amy & Maggie From ThinkerThemer) Nov 25, 2022

Tired of not knowing how to get into money topics with friends OR sick of boring holiday parties where someone picked out a lame game from Walmart? We'll solve BOTH problems today with our friends from the Australia-based YouTube channel Thinker Themer, Amy and Maggie! They're board game reviewers who walk us through two lists, one detailing great games introducing people to money or economic themes, and the other with party games that will be sure to entertain your friends and family over this holiday season. They're sure to bring some games you've never heard of that can provide hours of entertainment for a lot less money than a night at a bar or trip to the local cinema.

You'll find show notes for this episode at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/amy-and-maggie-thinker-themer-1281.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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2022 Hot (and not) Holiday Tech with CNET's Bridget Carey Nov 23, 2022

Ever paid for some sweet new tech gadget and it didn't work as advertised? Sometimes a "deal" isn't really a great deal...which is why we love saving you some money on these big-ticket items. Tech gadgets are always towards the top of wish lists and we'll wade into the best and worst deals this week. Our guest today knows more than most of us about the latest tech. Bridget Carey from CNET joins us for our annual walk through all of the hottest tech deals AND also shares what to shy away from. Not all Black Friday deals are created equal and she shines a light on what you should pay attention to this year.

But all of these deals could mess up your long-range planning if you aren't careful. That's why, in our headline segment, we're joined by financial therapist Dr. Erika Rasure from Beyond Finance. She joins us to detail how to make the most of this season, and how to recognize patterns of unhealthy spending. She also shares tips to keep your budget in check this holiday season. We'll also answer Austin's question about taking a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. Which is better in this environment? And to top off our pre-Thanksgiving festivities, Doug will share yet another incredible trivia question.

You'll find show notes for this episode at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/bridget-carey-1280.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Score Your Best Black Friday Deals (with Slickdeal's Regina Conway) Nov 21, 2022

Ready to save big money this holiday season? Before you hop on the internet or stand in line this week for the hottest deal, we've got some HUGE money-saving tips for you. Regina Conway from SlickDeals is back this year to share 2022's hottest Black Friday deals. Avoid shopping at the wrong store when the better deal is somewhere else. As she does every year on this special episode, Regina shares timely and specific advice for shopping with a plan this season. Make your list, do research, and find ways to stack coupons. Regina shares top deals in beauty, toys, home improvement, kitchen appliances, and more. She also shares how to find additional deals through the SlickDeals community.

We're continuing the money-saving tips and tricks with our headline. Joe and OG dive into a piece about how to find the best deals this week AND the best strategies to save more money. They also talk about how to stay on budget and hide money from yourself. Then we'll answer Matt's question about what to think about before retirement and Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/regina-conway-1279.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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How To Identify and Make the Most of a Great Mentor Nov 18, 2022

Mentors can be monumental to success. The right one can help propel your career and personal life by guiding you to your goals. We have three great contributors to our roundtable today who discuss the value of a mentor. Sharita Humphrey, Len Penzo, and Paulette Perhach join us to share lessons they've learned from their mentors and how to find the right one for you. They also talk about the importance of being coachable and that eagerness to continually learn.

But we can't leave the show without Doug and his trivia. He'll share another piece of trivia as our contributors continue the chase to win our annual competition.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1278.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Want to Earn More? Level Up Your Communication Game Nov 16, 2022

Want to make more money? Communicate better. Period.

So, what distinguishes money-making effective communicators from your buddy's last rotten email? One major difference is word choice. Carmine Gallo joins us today to make you a top-notch communicator. He studied Jeff Bezos' communication style at Amazon and shares the leader's transformation over the years. Years ago, Jeff was writing memos at a college level, but now he writes at an 8th grade level. And guess what? His writing and overall communication is lightyears better today at the 8th grade level than it was when he wrote at a college level. Carmine dives into why that works and shares tips for all of us to be better communicators.

Are you house hunting? Did you about fall over when you saw that interest rates are hovering right around 7% currently? In our headline segment today we talk about why. Even if you aren't house hunting, you'll want to hear this. We dive into the Fed, how mortgage rates are set, and what you should be doing with your money during this time of high inflation and high interest rates. We'll also answer James' question about buying vs. building a new home. And of course, Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/carmine-gallo-1277.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Kill Your Side Hustle (or Don't Start One) Nov 14, 2022

Stop wasting all of your free time on buying yourself another job. Sure, all the cool kids are talking about "side hustles" these days. If you're reading this and DON'T have a side hustle, there's a nearly one-hundred percent chance that you've thought about starting one yourself. Before all of that pain, you'll want to hear from today's guest who says that not all side hustles are created equal. Brian Page has built an empire built on an entirely different premise. Will it take work? Yes. Is it more sustainable than a second job? Absolutely, and that's why we wanted to chat with Brian. He not only shares ideas, he'll tell you how he did it.

We've heard a lot about investment funds in hot water over high fees but now some are getting in trouble for fees being too....low? In our headline piece, we'll discuss the hot topic of fees from this completely different angle.We'll dive in and guide you in the right direction to picking your own investments. Then we'll answer Rachel's question about investing in today's market, and as always, Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/brian-page-1276.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Are Zero-Fee Trades the “New Black”? (plus our Veteran’s Day special featuring Ellie Kay) - REWIND Nov 11, 2022

Are you missing out on benefits that might be available to you? Billions of dollars in government benefits go unused each year. On this Veteran's Day, we're bringing you back to a Veteran's Day episode we aired a few years ago with Ellie Kay. There's tons of benefits and programs available to our veterans and she shares about a few of them.

This show originally aired in 2019 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/ellie-kay-rewind-1275.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Holiday Networking Strategies for Introverts (with Nick Shelton) - REWIND Nov 09, 2022

Does small talk at holiday parties make your skin crawl with anxiety? Company parties are even worse. It's SO uncomfortable trying to come up with what to say to people you barely know. That's why we are bringing back our interview with Nick Shelton today. He understands the introvert struggle of mingling at holiday parties. He shares tips and tricks to help get you through AND enjoy the party.

This show originally aired in 2021 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/nick-shelton-rewind-1274.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Planning the Perfect–and frugal–Holiday Party (with David Tutera) - REWIND Nov 07, 2022

Have you started thinking about the holidays and all the parties that come with it? We sure have! That's why we are starting our rewind week strong with the best party planning tips and tricks. David Tutera is a party planning expert and shared his best tips to throw the best party without blowing your budget.

This show originally aired in 2019 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/david-tutera-rewind-1273.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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This Ain't Your Grandparent's Recession Nov 04, 2022

How does today's down market compare to the past? Can we learn from the pain others endured during historical downturns? While it always makes sense to avoid mistakes in the past, our roundtable team also today throws the caution flag: beware reading too much into current events that don't necessarily correlate wth the past. CFP Eric Brotman from the Don't Retire, Graduate! podcast joins Doc G from Earn & Invest and Paulette Perhach to talk all things markets and recessions. They talk about the current financial markets, how it feels different than past recessions, lessons learned, and what YOU should be doing and thinking about with your own portfolio. This chat is inspired by a piece recently posted at the amazing blogger Donna Freedman's website, Surviving and Thriving...which gave the team lots of facets of this discussion to chew on.

Of course, we can't leave out Mom's Neighbor Doug! He will share his trivia to continue our year-long trivia competition, which only tightens as we near the finish line. Will things heat up even more?

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1272.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Taking Control When Opportunity Knocks (with Patrice Washington & Sean Mullaney) Nov 02, 2022

When opportunity knocks, will you answer? Having a dream is one thing but making it a reality is another, especially when money is involved. Sometimes that opportunity comes in the form of coaching, and we're joined by one today! Patrice Washington is one of three financial coaches on a new PBS series, Opportunity Knock$, that helps struggling families find resources and reach their financial dreams. Patrice joins us today to share the story of one woman she helped coach throughout the show. PBS also put together an entire resource guide to help find local help near you.

In our headline segment, we share news about the increases to retirement plan contribution limits for 2023. What does it mean for your budget and how can you save more? We'll give some ideas. We also share clips from an interview we did with Sean Mullaney about retirement savings and plan options for those of you that are self-employed. He shares tips and advice for getting the most out of your savings. We'll also answer Malcolm's question about collective investment trusts within his employer sponsored retirement plan and Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/patrice-washington-1271.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Money Tales of Bone-Chilling Horror Oct 31, 2022

What spooky money stories keep you awake at night? There are the ghosts of bad banking, the goblins of budget nightmares, the witches haunting your net worth statement...and even some scary stories about retirement. Jaspreet Singh joins us today to share some of his personal financial lessons. He's now a successful entrepreneur money coach, running the Minority Mindset YouTube channel and market briefs newsletter, but his success didn't happen overnight. His family expected him to become a doctor, but he had his own plans. He talks about real estate mistakes, business mistakes, and why more money doesn't always solve problems.

Then we're continuing the Halloween fun with Chuck Jaffe's epic Halloween game. The host of the popular Money Life podcast is back this year to share how he's teaching kids AND celebrating with the neighborhood, and hopefully gives you some ideas too. We'll also answer Lisa's question about whether to keep her qualified annuity or roll it over to an IRA. And Doug will share his horror trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/jaspreet-singh-1270.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Fight Your Financial Kryptonite Oct 28, 2022

What's that item that makes you beg, "TAKE MY WALLET ALREADY!"

We all have them. Maybe it's books, travel, ice cream, or board games. Whatever. Today we face off against our personal money-sucking demons and the question, "How do we plug these leaks," and "Do we need to plug them?"

Joining us for this fun look into how we spend money is the co-host of the amazing Frugal Friends podcast, Jen Smith. She joins OG and Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) to a lively discussion about our weaknesses, our wallets, and setting up systems to better spend money.

Of course, that's not all. Our year-long trivia contest between our contributors is heating up! We'll listen to them battle it out.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1269.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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How Do You Choose an Investment? (plus, what's an ETF?) Oct 26, 2022

When it's time to invest, how do you choose between all of the choices out there? We dive into a topic that YOU chose (if you're a member of our Facebook group), and we also augment it with a fantastic headlines discussion with Rachel Aguirre from iShares about exchange-traded funds. What are "ETFs" as they're called, and how are they different than other investment types, like mutual funds? We dive deep into investing nerdery on today's show.

But of course, that's not all. We'll talk margin accounts on the Haven Life line. Can you get rich quicker using money you borrow from your broker? We'll have opinions.

The biggest news? During the vote on today's topic, you also thought we needed to chat about "Doug, the Untold Story." We bring you portions of the documentary on the topic as well as Doug's World Famous Trivia segment, just to keep things lively.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/listener-questions-1268.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Building a Financially Independent Family Oct 24, 2022

Doug Nordman isn't your typical dad. While other fathers were out working, Doug was busy surfing, because he'd focused on financial independence from an early age. Today, he and his adult daughter Carol Pittner join us to discuss how Doug and his wife created a financial modeling system for their daughter and how that daughter (Carol) is now creating her own system at home. We talk about the value of making mistakes, the similarities between good parenting and poker, strategies for creating teachable moments, and more.

In our headline segment, social security is in the news. The US government just released the cost-of-living adjustment number for 2022, so we take this opportunity to discuss many ways to maximize your social security payout amount. Plus, in our TikTok minute we feature a song about a hot topic for travelers AND midway through the show, Doug shares his amazing trivia question.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/doug-nordman-and-carol-pittner-1267.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Finding Your Wealth Path Oct 21, 2022

How do you know if you are on the right path? There's a million and one decisions you can make that could take you in a different direction. It's the same with your finances. If your finances aren't on the path you hoped for right now, it's never too late to make a change. Paulette Perhahch, Len Penzo and OG join our roundtable this week to discuss a piece about ways to know if you are on the right path. They share their own experiences and talk about checking in with yourself, having fun, surrounding yourself with the right people, and more. And of course, Doug will continue our year-long trivia contest with our contributors.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1266.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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The Magic of Your Dream Job, Team, & Community All at Once Oct 19, 2022

How can combining your entrepreneurial spirit and a love for your community launch a business to overwhelming success? Gina Schaefer moved to the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington DC when it still had boarded-up homes and no public services. After being laid off from several tech startups, she decided she needed a change. What better change to make than to step up and improve your own community? She opened a hardware store down the street next to an addiction recovery group that became a safe haven for people. Her business has succeeded and she now owns multiple stores in the area. She joins us today to tell the amazing story of how she got that first location and what she's learned from her many employees over the years.

October is National Fire Prevention Month. Our friend Steve Kerber from the Fire Safety Research Institute joined us again this year to share the latest fire stats and ways to protect your family and your home in our headline segment. Then we answer Jason's question about saving for a college education in a 529. He isn't sold on the idea and we offer our thoughts. And Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/Gina-Schaefer-1265.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Thriving During Uncertain Times (with Phil and Danielle Town) Oct 17, 2022

"Uncertainty" is the new black. Between the stock market, inflation, and a recession, uncertainty leads the media to bigger ratings, but to the average person it leads to fear. The best way to reduce that fear? Knowledge. Phil and Danielle Town join us today to talk all about uncertainty and how to take back control of your finances. They believe that knowledge and education, especially in an area you enjoy, can reduce anxiety and fear around your money. They share their investing approach and offer tips to help you with yours.

Before that, we share a shocking headline piece claiming that many young people shouldn't save for retirement. Say what? We dive into it and share our thoughts. We also answer Tom's question about wash sales. He wants to know what triggers one and how to know if two positions are substantially similar. And then Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/phil-and-danielle-town-1264.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Don’t Have Enough? Implement This For a Richer Future Oct 14, 2022

Do you consider yourself generous? There are tons of ways to be generous. It can with with, time, money, or skills. Today our roundtable is discussing generosity in your life and finances. Paulette Perhach, Doc G, and OG join us to share their thoughts. Donating money to charity isn't the only way to show generosity. You can also donate your time or skills. Our contributors talk about ways they've donated and helped others and how it relates to their finances and happiness in life.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1263.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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The Ultimate Summer Escape (with Krista Edwards) Oct 12, 2022

Ever think about quitting your job and just hitting the road? Krista Edwards (Ready to Roth podcast) did exactly that, taking off for several months during prime earning years to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. She shares some of the story and the intense planning she did before and during the trip, and hopefully inspires you to take that leap toward doing what you want, when you want, on your terms.

But before that, loans, credit, and co-signing are all featured in today's headline story. Have you ever cosigned a loan for a family member? We talk about the good, bad, and ugly (but mostly the bad and ugly) when it comes to helping someone with a loan. What should you watch out for and is it ever a good idea? We'll share! We also answer Nina's question about reading a fund prospectus and Doug shares his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/krista-edwards-1262.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Build To Win: Our Top Tax and Business Success Tips (with Barbara Corcoran & Ed Slott) Oct 10, 2022

How do I make my best financial moves before year end? We'll help you begin the final quarter of the year on a high note, with great advice from two titans: Barbara Corcoran and Ed Slott. Ed will kick things off by helping us all rethink tax planning, then Barbara Corcoran will help you launch or reboot your business. Even if you aren't worried about tax planning yet OR thinking about starting a business, listening to these two experts who've nailed the art of succeeding in what you do will be a great use of time so that you're ready for these moves in the future.

But that's not all...then we'll answer Debi's question about saving for a down payment on a home and whether she should save to her traditional or Roth 401k. And of course, Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/barbara-corcoran-1261.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Change Your Money Problems in 20 Minutes Oct 07, 2022

Let's make finance easy and fun! What if your BIGGEST tasks only took 20 minutes? You'd do all of them, right? Well, the BIGGEST tasks may take longer, but the good news is this: if you have 20 minutes, you can accomplish a LOT! Today, you're in for a treat because we're talking about 20-minute tasks that will help boost your finances. Kyle Hedman and Dan Leeson (2 Bulls in a China Shop podcast), Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers), and Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) join our roundtable to share their thoughts. They talk about setting up emergency funds, reviewing retirement contributions, listing out your debt, and more. And Doug will continue our year-long trivia challenge for our contributors.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1260.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy

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Conquering Change (w/ Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief: Entrepreneur Magazine) Oct 05, 2022

Change is so, so, hard. But...why? We know that there is one constant: change. So how do we flip how we deal with it? As anything, we change our mindset. Today, Entrepreneur magazine Editor-in-Chief Jason Feifer is here to share some of the best lessons from early in his new book Build For Tomorrow on the topic of change. It's a robust conversation you won't want to miss.

But that's not all. OG and Joe mix it up about saving money on insurance during our headline segment. Should we follow the advice of the awesome Veronica Dagher and look for discounts, or after the recent hurricane, should we hunt for MORE? We'll weigh the options.

Of course, that isn't all. We'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Anonymous (they sound very scary!), plus deliver Doug's life-altering trivia question.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/jason-feifer-1259.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Getting Smart With Money: Behind the Scenes with Paula Pant Oct 03, 2022

What would you do if Netflix asked you to be featured in one of their documentaries? Our good friend Paula Pant from Afford Anything was just featured in one! So we stuck out a couple of microphones and asked her to share. So on today's show, she shares with us some of the best advice she gave on the new Netflix special.

Hurricane Ian caused horrific damage across parts of Florida last week. Before the next natural disaster, we're talking about what to do if the next disaster hits close to your area. How do you prepare? What should you focus on? Plus, we'll dive into "better" insurance. Everyone looks at price, but it's during times like that that we wonder, "Am I truly covered? We'll share some ideas. We also answer TD's question about health insurance for entrepreneurs and business owners and Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/paula-pant-1258.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Let's Fill Your Financial Dream Bucket Sep 30, 2022

What are your biggest dreams? Sometimes dreams feel far, far away, but thinking big is an important piece of life and your finances. Today we dive into a piece that explains three buckets when it comes to your financial plan: growth, security and dreams. How can you use the growth and security buckets to help reach your dreams? Our roundtable is here to share their thoughts. Jen Hemphill from Her Dinero Matters joins regulars Paulette Perhach and Len Penzo, who all share their thoughts. They talk about their own career paths, how they've built their plans around their dreams, and how you can do the same.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-jen-hemphill-1257.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Earn More, Live Better, and Find Good Role Models Sep 28, 2022

The overwhelming thought around higher education used to be that if you wanted a good paying job, a college degree was necessary. That thought process may be changing. Professor Scott Galloway joins us today to share not only his thoughts on education but how our country came to be and the ideologies we share. His new book takes a fascinating look at the U.S. and explains how we got where we are today, the achievements we've made, our failures, and our socioeconomic systems, all explained in charts. He shares some of his findings with us.

Then we'll tackle interest rates in our headline segment. The Fed announced it raised interest rates by .75% again this month with no sign of slowing down. What does it mean for your wallet and the economy as a whole? We'll explain. We also answer John's question about investing in CDs vs. US Treasury bonds, and Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/scott-galloway-1256.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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How Much Naughty Behavior Can My Money Take? Sep 26, 2022

On today's show, TikTok maven and behavioral money guru Dr. Bradley Klontz joins us to dive into your money habits. How bad do you suck with money? Probably not as bad as other people, based on some recent studies. But who cares about them? Let's try and do better! Today we'll dive into habits you can form to be better with your cash. Plus, during our headlines segment, OG tackles the current optimism around bonds. If bonds are poised to go up, and OG believes it, why wouldn't he recommend investing in the gold rush? We'll explain.

Of course, we'll also share Doug's amazing trivia and much, much more.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/brad-klontz-1255.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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Passion & Business: Match Made in Heaven or Hell? Sep 23, 2022

How many times have you said the words, “You should sell these?” to someone after experiencing their creativity? We all have. Let’s admit it. We’re built to think about selling things that we’re good at. From our handiwork to our speaking skills, whenever you’re good at something, the highest compliment seems to be, “You’re good enough to sell this! Start a business!”

But should we?

Today we talk to THREE business owners about this very topic. Our special guest, Caleb Guilliams, runs the successful Better Wealth YouTube channel and podcast. OG runs a successful financial advisory firm, and our newest roundtable regular, Paulette Perhach, operates a successful writing/coaching operation. Does it make sense to mix your passion with your business? What are the surprises you encounter if you even try? We’ll cover all of that PLUS continue our yearlong trivia contest between our contributors on today’s show.

You’ll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/caleb-guilliams-roundtable-1254.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Dump Your Time Management System! Sep 21, 2022

What if your time management system was actually holding you back? Richie Norton learned the hard way that most time management systems help you complete more tasks but do nothing to help you improve your life. He created the anti-time management system out of necessity. After losing a child and a brother-in-law, he needed to focus on living more rather than just "doing" more. Today he'll teach us key ideas to help you live a fuller, richer life.

But that's not all! In our headline segment we dive into a new product on Wall Street...the single stock exchange-traded fund. Do you need to add this to your portfolio? How does it work and who is it for? We'll answer all of those questions...along with a question from a man from Australia (or not), who wonders about what to do with 529 funds AFTER his children have finished college. Can he just take the money out and spend it?

Of course, we'll also share Doug's amazing trivia, and so much more.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/richie-norton-1253.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Choosing To Prosper During Huge Life Changes (with Bola Sokunbi) Sep 19, 2022

Does your professional, personal, or financial life sometimes feel out of control? Us too, which is why we wanted to chat with Bola Sokunbi, creator of Clever Girl Finance and author of a new book, Choosing To Prosper. To improve her financial and personal life, she endured a 3-hour commute, planned two weddings, and navigated the tough decision about when to have children. It's an exciting and empowering discussion about taking control of your finances and career.

Even if you've done a good job saving for retirement, we have headlines you'll want to hear. A recent Wall Street Journal piece explains why your planning job should be about far more than the money. We talk about mindset and values around your retirement goals. We'll also answer Marisa's question about what to do with her old 401k account, and of course, Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/bola-sokunbi-1252.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Your Biggest Financial Topics (Live from Podcast Movement) Sep 16, 2022

What's your biggest money concern right now? Rising prices are putting strain on people's wallets. Others have transitioned away from the corporate world and are trying to navigate a new way to earn an income. Whatever stage you are in, there are other people in the same boat. To help, we're diving in to some of the top concerns among people today and sharing our advice. We're live from Podcast Movement in Dallas, Texas with a rockstar roundtable. Mindy Jensen (BiggerPockets Money), Lacey Langford (Military Money Show) and Allison Hare (Culture Changers) join us to share the biggest concerns among their listeners. They talk about the housing market, finding fulfillment in your life and career, the importance of mentorship, and more.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/podcast-movement-1251.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Strategies To Build a Richer Life (with Ramit Sethi) Sep 14, 2022

Why do so many people focus on managing time, and yet so few achieve a rich life? What exactly does a rich life mean to you, and are you building a bridge toward it?

Ramit Sethi's book, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, is a huge success and he now joins us to share lessons from a new journal he's releasing to accompany his bestselling work. He'll walk us through how to actually envision that rich life and how to take steps to achieve it. He also dives into the psychology behind building a life you love, why numbers and math aren't everything, and how to create your money vision.

In our headline segment, we take a deep dive into Best Buy's recent earnings call. Not necessarily because of the numbers they reported, but for how they are controlling the controllable. We'll explain. We also answer Paul's question about moving overseas once he retires and Doug shares his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at www.stackingbenjamins.com/ramit-sethi-1250.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

Enjoy!

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Make Better Decisions (with Sam Dogen: Financial Samurai) Sep 12, 2022

Everyone is on their own path toward their financial goals. Your job, income, lifestyle, and values all play a role in that. Where are you on your journey? In a job you dislike or looking for ways to make big moves with your finances? Sam Dogen is the force behind Financial Samurai. He's been in the finance industry for decades, starting his career at Goldman Sachs. He quickly realized it wasn't the job he envisioned and he set out on a path to financial independence. He's here today to share his top money lessons and tips from his career. He talks about how to evaluate your net worth, how to think in probabilities instead of absolutes, why winning isn't the same as not losing, the importance of continuing to show up, and more.

In our headline segment, we dive into the truth behind "buying the dip". What does it mean and does it work in the long run? We'll explain why it's popular but doesn't always work like people hope. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Jess who has a question about her health insurance plan. And of course, Doug will share his trivia.

You'll find show notes for this episode at StackingBenjamins.com/sam-dogen-1249.

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Financial Decisions: Does Faster Equal Better? (Rewind) Sep 09, 2022

Life can come at you fast. Sometimes quick decisions are necessary but when it comes to your finances, is faster better? Impulse purchases, trading on short-term news, and making decisions without thinking about tomorrow can hurt in the long run. Our roundtable today talks about decision-making when it comes to your finances. They talk about when it's ok to move fast and when to slow down. Amy Blacklock (Women Who Money), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com), and OG join our roundtable.

This episode originally aired in 2019 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes for this episode.

Enjoy!

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Top 5 Dumbest Rules of Thumb in Planning (Rewind) Sep 07, 2022

Do rules of thumb and finance "rules" leave you confused? Even better, some contradict others. We've got a great throwback for you today to help you avoid bad advice around rules of thumb. Joe and OG share their top 5 dumbest rules of thumb and why you shouldn't follow them exactly. They share what you should focus on instead to get ahead on your finances.

This episode originally aired in 2015 so ignore any current events or giveaways. Check out the original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Retirement Myths BUSTED! (Rewind from 2015) Sep 05, 2022

(See our note on sound quality below...this is below par but an EXCELLENT episode).

Happy Labor Day, Stackers! We're kicking off fall with fantasy football, pumpkin spice lattes, and some good ol' retirement planning. There's no time like today to get your financial plan in order. Emily Guy Birken not only co-wrote Stacked with Joe, she's also written several other books AND came on our show a few years ago to bust retirement myths. We start our rewind week with a look back at this episode with her. She shares why some common retirement tips might not work as well as they sound.

This episode originally aired in 2015 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

Enjoy!

Note from Joe: In 2015 we decided to make BIG changes in the podcast and experimented with EVERYTHING. We had JUST changed the format, the sound settings...literally everything, and we lost a third of our listeners. Within two months we'd rebounded to garner accolades across the internet. From Kiplinger to Art of Manliness, everyone loved what we were doing. This episode was lost in translation. The material is great....so today we bring it back using as much modern tech as possible to make the audio quality better. You can hear the raw beginnings of what we were aiming for with Stacking Benjamins, AND there's good advice inside of this episode). So...I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane.

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Our Favorite (and proven) Ways To Save More Money Sep 02, 2022

Trying to cut back on spending? Now that vacation season is coming to a close and it's back to school for many people, lots of us are thinking of ways to tighten the belt. Today, our roundtable discusses proven ways to save money. Everything from drinking coffee at home to automating your savings to cancelling subscriptions are discussed. Headed into a holiday weekend we decided to make it Game Show Time! so you know it's going to be a ton of fun. To put more Benjamins in your wallet we're joined by savings expert, newspaper columnist and Certified Financial Planner Sarah Catherine Gutierrez (Ladysplaining Money and Aptus Financial). She'll take on our own contributors Len Penzo (len penzo dot com), and co-host OG to see which money saving pro can turn you on to MORE exciting ways to save a buck (or more!). Who do you think will guess the most answers that show up in the piece we reference?

The challenge doesn't stop there. Doug will share his trivia. Can OG pull even farther ahead of the group?

Enjoy!

You'll find show notes at StackingBenjamins.com.

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201.

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A Berry Punny Episode (with Chef Marie Saba) Aug 31, 2022

What's cooking this holiday weekend? Labor Day picnics are just around the corner and tons of people like you are planning festive weekend fun. Not sure what food to prep? Not great with the grill? We've got you covered. Chef Marie Saba joins us with not only LOTS of puns from her hilarious new book, but she also shares some delicious and easy recipes to make your Labor Day picnic or get-together a success. We also chat about her career, because one of Instagram's most famous chefs didn't start out in the kitchen. She'll inspire you with how she pivoted careers to focus on what she loves.

We're continuing the food theme in our headline segment. One 27 year old spends $1,000 a week eating at restaurants. Wow! We'll share the rest of the piece on how they allocate the rest of their food budget. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to an anonymous caller who wants to know how to find the right financial advisor for them. Doug will also share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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From Nothing to Greatness: Lessons from a Top Entrepreneur Aug 29, 2022

When life gets you down, it's easy to fall into a death spiral of negativity. The harder choice? Figuring out how adversity makes you stronger and picking yourself back up for another round. Twila True was born into the Lakota tribe, in the poorest county in the United States. From a young age, she knew she wanted to find her own way and not rely on another person for financial stability. Today she'll share how she pulled herself out of the cycle of poverty, and into ownership of multiple successful businesses. Both Entrepreneur and Success magazine have honored her with top honors in 2022, and now she'll walk through the steps she took.

Target date funds are back in the news. In our headline segment, we're talking about another lawsuit over excessive fees in investment accounts. We tell you what happened, what you can do to protect your accounts from excessive fees, and why we don't love target date funds. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Nick who has a question about wash sales. And Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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SPECIAL: 2022 Plutus Awards Finalists and Commentary Aug 28, 2022

Every year the personal finance community comes together for the Plutus Awards, an annual ceremony that shines a light on some of the best and brightest brands in our space. If you're looking for new podcasts to listen to, new blogs to read, videos to watch, or social media to follow, you're going to love today's show.

We start off this special episode with a simulcast of the actual award reveal, which happened on YouTube a couple of weeks ago. Miranda Marquit represents the Plutus Awards and joins Joe to share this year's list. (Because of the live nature of the show, there is some wobbly audio in this segment of the presentation).

Then, in our second segment of the show, Joe is joined by a cast of financial commentator to walk through nine of the categories and comment on the various brands. Athena Lent (Money Smart Latina & Slate PF columnist), joins freelance writer/podcaster Eric Rosenberg, and podcaster Chris Browning (Popcorn Finance and This is Awkward). Who's probably going to win each? Who do our panelists want to win? How are these creators different? What are the trends in personal finance media today? We'll dive into all of that in our longest (by far!) episode of the year.

Enjoy!

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I Didn't Realize THAT Would Happen In Retirement! Aug 26, 2022

What does your dream retirement look like? One popular blogger had high expectations for retirement, and now, four years in, reviews some WOW unexpected changes in his life. If you've ever fantasized about how you'll spend your retirement days, today's show is for you. What if it doesn't go as planned? Our regulars (OG, Paula Pant and Len Penzo) are back for Paula's last episode for the next 10 months while she's off at Columbia University for an amazing business journalism fellowship. They talk about retirement expectations vs. reality, planning for retirement, and what to think about now, even if that's long before retirement.

And of course, Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Should You Listen To Financial Guru Dave Ramsey? Aug 24, 2022

ON a recent Money Rehab podcast episode, financial commentator Nicole Lapin brought up some pretty explosive reactions to words said by talk show host Dave Ramsey. On today's show, we ask the basic question, "Do commentators attacking each other hinder their efforts to spread financial literacy?" But, we also zero in on exactly what language Ramsey used that Lapin objects to. We invited her on the show to explain, and we're delighted that she took us up on the offer! Today she dives into her sometimes very personal reasons why she objects to what Ramsey says. We question her about how we treat each other as humans, the usefulness of commentators checking each other, the role of religion in financial discussions, and more.

But, that's not all. Bed, Bath and Beyond is in the news, and it's partly because of Gamestop! What's the connection? We'll share and also help you with some tips about individual stock trading. We also answer a Haven Life Line question from Jeremiah, who's wondering about buying a home vs renting.

Enjoy!

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Which is Better, Investing a Little at a Time or Chucking It All In The Market? (Your Questions) Aug 22, 2022

Today, Joe and OG are answering YOUR questions, and man do we have some good ones. They explain deflation in more detail, dive into dollar cost averaging, talk about shifting your investment allocation, and talk about the importance of keeping your accounts safe online.

In our headline segment, we talk to Ken Tumin from MagnifyMoney about their recent saving index survey. Are Americans saving more or less now than they did a year ago? What age group is saving the most? Ken will share the results. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Dan who has a question about his employee stock purchase plan (ESPP). And of course, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Need Moolah? Here's How to Side Hustle Aug 19, 2022

Are the grocery store and gas pump killing your Stacked vibe? While tightening the budget belt is one way to control your finances, you can't shrink your way to greatness. Today we'll present another option: increasing your income! Today we'll share lots of ideas on how to make money...so many that in fact, we hope you'll finish this show realizing that a future side hustle idea is closer than you think. Cody Berman is an expert side hustler and also the host of the popular FI Show podcast. Today he joins entrepreneur Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and our very own OG, with thoughts on some of the popular ways people try to bring in some extra cash. They'll share how to get started, what to avoid, and common mistakes and misconceptions, so you're off and running in the right direction and without any messy situations.

And you know we can't forget about our trivia competition. Today? Doug's sharing some delicious, jello themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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A Better Way To Teach Money Skills (& Cashing In On The New Energy Incentives!) Aug 17, 2022

Where do your best money habits come from? As a kid, did you have chores and earn an allowance? Were you told all debt is bad? Or maybe your family never talked about money growing up? Our guest today grew up with family mantra that she can still recite perfectly today, a "repenting bench," and a chore list that required bidding and negotiation. Paige Cornetet learned awesome lessons from her father as a kid about money AND life. He taught Paige and her three siblings in a way that was fun and engaging. Paige shares some of those lessons today and ways to help teach your own family, friends, or yourself about money.

In our headline segment, we're breaking down the Inflation Reduction Act. How can it help you save money on energy costs? We'll share! We also answer Rachel's question about when and why to sell her investments. And of course, Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Hope, Riches, and the Titanic Aug 15, 2022

Do you have a dream that hasn't yet been achieved? Are you fascinated with the sinking of the Titanic? If so on either account, you aren't alone. The Titanic's demise is one of the most famous shipwreck stories that has been told over and over again by survivors, and dreaming? Well, that's natural. We all want better. So how do these two ideas mesh? While some dreamt of riches bringing the ship back to the surface, it took decades to find the wreck. Not one or two, but many people had grand ideas of how to locate and preserve the ship. The stories of the Titanic and MANY other shipwrecks are documented in today's guest's new book. Daniel Stone has been fascinated by shipwrecks since he was a kid. He's here today to share shocking facts about shipwrecks and how several people have made it their life's work to find and preserve the Titanic.

In our headline segment, we're talking about active vs passive investing. Is one better than the other and why the recent push toward active management? Joe and OG talk about what steps you should take with your own portfolio. We also answer Sheri's question about taking social security benefits. And we can't leave Doug out so he'll share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Refocus, Email Box Zero, and Back on Track Aug 12, 2022

Game of Thrones tells us that "Winter is coming." While we're not sure about that, we DO know that fall is just around the corner, vacation time is over, and it's time to get serious again about work. So how do you hit reboot and get in gear to hit September running? If the end of summer is making you anxious, we've got you covered today because our roundtable is sharing tips and tricks to staying productive and getting back to tackling your tasks. We are joined by Paula Pant (Afford Anything), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG. They share everything from how to organize your email inbox, what order to respond to emails in, and how to organize your day in a way that makes you more productive. To make this day even more productive, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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How to Look and Feel Like a Stacker Aug 10, 2022

Have you looked through your closet lately? Have you closely examined the people around you? Today's guest's father married the two once, when he told her, "Your friends are like the clothes in your closet." Jen Principe is a stylist for the stars, whose passion for fashion started at a young age. While now her life seems perfect, Jen's childhood was a horrible mix of abuse, alcohol, getting kicked out of school, and more. Still, it was fashion that saved her life and to use her words, her "soul." She's here today to share her story and the personal and professional lessons we can use to brush up our wardrobe.

During our headline segment, we share some sad news about Robinhood, and their announcement that they're laying off a large part of their staff. While the CEO said it's his fault (which doesn't help the employees who were let go), there's still much to sort out. The guys talk about what to do if YOU are ever laid off and how to cope. We also answer Joe's question about downsizing from two trucks to one and Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Groceries, Inflation, and Your Sandwich (Len's Annual Sandwich Survey) Aug 08, 2022

Tired of the constant talk about inflation? Don't tune out yet because we are back with the MOST interesting and fun look at the cost of rising prices....Len Penzo's annual sandwich survey. He's on the 14th year of his iconic survey and he's here today to share this year's results. Will the BLT remain the most expensive sandwich of all that he follows? Will bologna stay at the bottom? Len shares the average cost of a sandwich based on his findings, how it compares to the cost of a school lunch, and ranks 10 sandwiches from least to most expensive.

During our headline segment, we take a look at a leaked memo from Bank of America that says they hope Americans will be in a worse financial position in the next year. You read that right. One of the biggest banks in the country is hoping people are worse off with their money. Why? Bigger profit. Joe and OG dive in and share how to be better with your banking. We'll also answer Michelle's question about inflation and deflation and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Streamlining Your Financial Life Aug 05, 2022

How organized is your financial life? Is it a jumble in your head? How much complexity is a good thing...diversification, accounts at different institutions... and how much complexity is truly just disorganization? To help attack the complexity problem and create a simpler, more fluid financial life, today we welcome CFP Dawn Dahlby to chat with financial writer Paulette Perhach and Len Penzo. They'll address ways to reduce the dashboards you use, crystalize your thinking, and streamline your financial life. From consolidating accounts to streamlining your investments and debunking rules of thumb, they share their tips to help you better manage your money. And of course, Doug shares his trivia as we continue our year-long trivia challenge.

Enjoy!

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Lessons For Better Living (from the dying) Aug 03, 2022

Are you truly living? Following your passions, doing what you love and finding purpose in life? The balance between living for today and saving for the future can be hard. How do you fulfill both sides of the equation? Jordan Grumet, aka Doc G, is a hospice doctor who takes care of patients at the end of their life. He's witnessed both sides of the spectrum: people who died with immense love and purpose surrounding them but very little money, and people who died with more money than they could ever need but lacked true connection and purpose in their life. Jordan is here today to help inspire you to live for today without sacrificing your needs in the future. He shares stories from his time as a physician and the lessons his patients taught him.

During our headline segment, we're looking at risk vs. reward when it comes to your investments. One study shows that most people don't understand the trade off between risk and reward and we dive into why. We also share how you can find bigger opportunities to save more without risk by sharing a video clip from Sarah Catherine Gutierrez about student loan forgiveness. We'll also answer Steve's question about 401k withdrawals in retirement and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Conquer Your "Mount Everest" Aug 01, 2022

Ever feel stuck? Are you sometimes suspicious that maybe what's in standing in between you and goals goals is...you? Today's guest knows that our brain does a great job of tricking us into thinking we can't accomplish something. Colin O'Brady not only summited Mt. Everest twice, he's also the first person to trek across Antartica solo, unassisted. He shares how limiting beliefs restrict us from chasing our dreams, how to get out of your own way, and why a 12-hour walk might be exactly what you need to truly recharge (and why it's not as daunting as it sounds).

In our headline segment, we're sharing some frustrating news about an app we once loved. You can find a subscription for just about anything these days and Stockpile is now moving to a subscription based fee model too. We'll also answer Robert's question about allocating his 401k contributions between pre-tax and Roth and Doug will share his Mt. Everest wedding trivia.

Enjoy!

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Great Hacks to Fight the Rising Price of Living Jul 29, 2022

Is your wallet feeling the HUGE pressure of rising prices? Groceries, autos, travel...nearly everything costs more today than it did a year ago. If you're feeling the budget crunch, we've got you covered with hacks and tips to keep costs down. Our roundtable today is discussing a piece on hacks to fight inflation and they talk about everything from the value (or not?) of Costco memberships, buying used, tracking expenses, DIY and more. Katie Brewer (Your Richest Life Planning), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and Doc G (Earn & Invest) make up our roundtable today. And of course we saved time for Diania's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Saving 78% of Your Income, Moving to a New City, and 11 Rental Properties by Age 27 Jul 27, 2022

We all have a money story, and today we're sharing some of YOUR most inspiring ones. What makes personal finance really awesome is when we can come together and share stories to inspire and motivate others. Today we talk to three stackers who have done incredible things with their money and learned lots of lessons along the way. Katie was deep in debt for years before paying it off and entering herself into a savings competition at her local credit union. She won the 8-month long challenge by saving 78% of her income in that time! Josh and Alyssa moved from California to Texas without ever having set foot in the city beforehand. They worked to track and cut down on expenses in the year leading up to the move and they share how they did it. Last, Joe's son Nick set himself up so he won't be stuck in mom's basement by owning 11 rental properties at the age of 27! He talks about his strategy, how he got started, and why he dove headfirst into real estate investing.

We also left time to throw out the Haven Life line to Brian and answer his question about the 4% rule with a pension. And of course, Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Mr. Money Mustache on Early Life Lessons, Real Estate vs Stocks, and What’s Up With This Stock Market Jul 25, 2022

Being part of a cult isn't something you'd normally want to flaunt, but today's guest leads a "cult" in the FIRE community that you'd love to be in, because you value saving money, finding your "why" in life, and seeking financial independence. Even if you aren't part of the FIRE community, you'll recognize today's guest. Pete Adeney, aka Mr. Money Mustache, sat down with Joe to talk about family money values growing up, multiple income streams, real estate and the current stock market. Pete shares how the blog started and shares some of his recent posts as well.

In our headline segment, we dive into online security. How secure are your passwords, especially for financial accounts? 'Password' is still one of the most common passwords and we share some of the other top passwords according to one list. The guys share tips to keeping your accounts secure and share one scary story of a 401k hacker. Then we answer Lynn's question about opening a 529 for herself and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Slashing the Cost of Travel Jul 22, 2022

If you planned for late summer or early fall travel at the beginning of the year (or heck, even the beginning of summer), your budget now looks ugly. Although gas prices have retreated, they're still significantly higher than only a few months ago. Airline fares are sky high, and hotel pricing plus rental car fees have also seen inflation.

Today we're coming to the rescue of those travel plans, ditching our normal roundtable format to bring you some hacks and tips to save you money and keep more of the fun when you vacation. Chris Hutchins from the All The Hacks podcast joins us to share travel tips that could save you tons of time and money. Then George Igoe from the popular Million Stories series George Goes Everywhere shares fun ways to spend less but get the same enjoyment out of your travel experiences. He travels around the country visiting various cities for a weekend on a measly $100 budget. He shares how he does it and how you can too.

Enjoy!

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The Future of Investing (is now!) Jul 20, 2022

In the 1940's mutual funds helped the average investor achieve what rich people had known for a long time: that diversification can save your net worth from ruined. In the 1990s exchange traded funds began to trade in serious volumes, with the pace only accelerating. Where do we go from here? Rich Compson, the Head of Managed Accounts at Fidelity Investments joins us to share a solution he and others have been working on. It's a revolutionary way to think about your investment portfolio, offering insane personalization and the ability to be more proactive with tax planning and management. Is it the next thing? We don't know, but we DO know that Rich joins us and shares all the details.

In our headline segment, we start by talking about popular "finfluencers" on social media and how their messages help bring everyone to the discussion of personal finance. But how much should you rely on the advice of these online "experts"? We share a few examples of how things can go very wrong and what to look out for when taking financial advice. We also answer Annaliese's question about beneficiaries on her 401k and Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Fighting the Seduction of "Success" Jul 18, 2022

When you're "winning" at work it's easy to double down and think, "I'm going to work even harder and the results will multiply." This is the first move in a long, painful set of lessons for most people who learn the hard way that working harder doesn't always equal working smarter. Jodi Katz sees this mistake often in the rough-and wild world of beauty. The popular podcaster and beauty media company CEO spent her early years working for several large brands before setting off on her own entrepreneurial path. She's here today to share how she finally found success, and some of the missteps and strategic moves she made along the way that led her to important lessons.

In our headline segment, we look at two big publications, each citing a different major bank with a polar-opposite opinion on the economy than the other. What do you do when even the biggest names can't figure out whether we're headed for more pain in this market? The guys share it all AND give you tips on how you should think about your own financial plan during these times. We'll also answer Marco's question about permanent life insurance and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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When Emotions Threaten To Wreck Your Decisions Jul 15, 2022

How many times have you told yourself that you really, really needed to buy something and acted on emotion? If you bought, did it wreck your credit, your savings, or your budget? Did you feel huge regret after the purchase? Spending is emotional and emotion drives a lot of our spending - and investing - decisions. Our roundtable today talks about emotional spending and how it relates to your overall financial plan. Paula Pant from Afford Anything, Len Penzo from len penzo dot com and our very own OG discuss a piece about emotional spending decisions. They share their emotional spending decisions and help you with tips on how to keep emotions out of big decisions.

That'll do it for this Friday roundtable but don't worry, we left time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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How We DIY Remodel, Flip, AND Buy-and-Hold Real Estate (Carl & Mindy Jensen) Jul 13, 2022

Ever wondered what an "authentic" real estate fix-up story sounds like, instead of the magical rehab stories that make things look way-too-easy on television? Good news, Carl and Mindy Jensen have done everything from house hacking, fix-and-flip, and buy-and-hold real estate investments. They are here today to share their real estate investing successes and horror stories, Carl's final 1500 day countdown to retirement, and some practical tips if you are thinking about diving in yourself.

In our headline segment, we look at a business case study that clearly shows the problem around rising interest rates. Between the pandemic, rising rates, and a threat of recession, corporations are feeling the hurt. We dive into one industry's debt, show you what this means for YOUR money, and share our tips to help you navigate the current economy. We'll also answer David's question about retiring with unused sick days and vacation time, and of course, we even left time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Lessons from an 11-Year-Old Panhandler Jul 11, 2022

Have you ever wondered how your life might be different if you'd decided to take that gap year instead of attending college? Or maybe you decided at the last minute to change the course of your life by talking to a stranger? Laura Schroff backtracked into an unlikely meeting with an 11-year-old boy who was panhandling on the streets of New York City in the late 1980s. After initially walking by the starving child, something made her reverse course a few blocks later. That day turned into a lifelong friendship, creating lessons for both Laura and the boy (Maurice) over the years. She's here today to share tthe powerful tale, as her book that describes the story--An Invisible Thread--celebrates its 10th anniversary.

AND as usual, we have more surprises...including a special guest co-host! BiggerPockets CEO and co-host of the BP Money Podcast Scott Trench joins in the fun. He helps us with our headline segment, which brings the conversation back to crypto but it's probably not what you think. Some stars and athletes have asked to be paid in crypto. How's that turning out for them? Joe and Scott dive into why it might not be the best idea. We'll also discuss Tyrell's question about non-compete agreements in our Haven Life line. And we can't forget Doug. He'll share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Here's How To Talk Money With Your Family (Rewind Episode) Jul 08, 2022

How's your summer going with the family? Had a money discussion yet? We know that it's hard. Talking about money can be awkward and difficult when trying to explain concepts to kids. We're helping out today by sharing tips and strategies for talking to kids about money. Our roundtable consists of Doc G, Pam Andrews, and our very own OG. They share their tips for talking about money with family and kids.

This episode originally aired in 2021 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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When Credit Was REALLY Messed Up Jul 06, 2022

You think your credit score is a jumbled mess now? Luckily, the three major credit bureaus just stopped counting most medical debt into your score. But it used to be that credit was based on so much more (and less), because the credit "bureaus" were run by people who could be paid off or who could raise or lower your credit just because they liked you. Or they didn't.

Dr. Josh Lauer joins us today to continue our dive into American financial history, helping us understand the early days of credit in our country. We'll chat about how it worked, the interesting nuances of your "score," and more.

Plus, on this rewind episode from 2017, Mandi Woodruff from the Brown Ambition podcast joined us as our special guest co-host! She'll help us with a couple of headlines, answer a question on the Haven Life Line, and much more.

This episode originally aired in 2017 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events. Check out the original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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How Was The American Revolution Funded? Jul 04, 2022

We know how the war began. You may know many of the battles. Of course, you know how it ended because you're celebrating the end today if you live in the USA. But how was the war paid for? Today we dive into answering that question with historian Thomas Schachtman. He'll share stories about our founding fathers, their fortunes, and what was at stake if the revolution had gone differently, from both a personal and financial perspective.

That's not all! Of course, we'll share a headline ripped from the news when this show first aired, answer a listener question, and dive into Doug's trivia.

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What If You Retire At The Worst Possible Time? Jul 01, 2022

Is this the worst possible time to retire (or to make ANY big financial move)? Inflation is SLIGHTLY up. The stock market is SLIGHTLY down. This could feel less like retirement and more like falling into a deep, dark chasm. Yet, our panel today is here to provide a flashlight and some safety equipment for your goals. Kyle Landis-Marinello joins us (author of Personal Finance and Investing), along with Paula Pant (AffordAnything podcast), and our own OG. We'll dive into the problems associated with making big moves right now and one-by-one work through all of the problem points. By the end of the show, we hope you'll have a much clearer path toward still achieving what you want, when you want, with your money.

But that's not all! Doug also will orchestrate another chapter in our year-long trivia challenge, as OG fights to pass Len for first place and Paula hopes to regain the fight for the world's worst trophy. It's all that and much more! Come join us!

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Time Management For Humans Jun 29, 2022

Instead of focusing on what you're going to do today, how about deciding "what am I NOT going to do?" That's one of many pieces of productivity advice that Oliver Burkeman brings to the basement table today. He's studied productivity over his long career and has now written a new hit book on the topic. Oliver shares lessons from Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals on today's show.

In our headlines segment we address a recent Wall Street Journal piece that calls the bottom of the recent stock market downturn. When will the ugliness end? We'll also ask OG's opinion. Plus, it's Gary Busey's birthday, so Doug will help us with some non-sequitur trivia.

Enjoy!

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Upgrade Your Life By Adding Friction Jun 27, 2022

It's a popular refrain: evaluate your life to reduce time pressure and the resulting stress. But what if this approach wasn't as useful as you'd initially thought? We went from driving to a store to purchase closing to "one-click" ordering on Amazon to save time, but what did we lose in the process? Are we making poorer decisions because we're moving at the speed of light, all propelled by brands working hard to get you to buy more. When you save time, do you actually feel less stressed (hell, do any of us feel less stressed than we did ten years ago?) What if adding friction was the answer, rather than decreasing it. Soon Yu joins us today to talk about why friction may not be all bad, and why it can actually help keep more Benjamins in your wallet. He shares stories about a 20-minute coffee process, baking cakes, and how we can manipulate our dopamine levels to reduce unnecessary spending.

But wait, there's more! In our headline segment, we talk about Social Security benefits and the misinformation to watch out for. You expect to get correct information when you call the Social Security Administration but some agents are handing out incorrect information by mistake. We'll tell you what to look out for and how to check your Social Security benefits before you retire. We also answer Jake's question about receiving a gift from his mom and Doug shares his TV trivia.

Enjoy!

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How Not To Regret Your Career In 10 Years Jun 24, 2022

How much do you love your current job? Some studies show that more than half of people are unhappy with their job in some way. Finding your calling and a career you don't regret can be tough but our roundtable today will help you think about the right questions to ask yourself and tips to not regretting your career. We welcome Doc G from Earn & Invest, Len Penzo from len penzo dot com and Paula Pant from Afford Anything to share their career mistakes, regrets, and tips to finding your calling.

And of course we have another round of our trivia challenge today with Doug's super serious trivia.

Enjoy!

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Need a Better Plan? Add Some Soul Jun 22, 2022

You've probably heard of having skin in the game, but what about having soul in the game? Having soul, in whatever game you choose, brings purpose and meaning to life. Our guest today learned about putting his soul into his work and finding true purpose from his parents. Vitaliy Katsenelson grew up in a small Russian town and saw the struggles and sacrifices his parents made to give him and his siblings a great life. Vitaliy shares the lessons he learned and why money is secondary to finding purpose in life.

That's not all for today though. In our headline segment, we're brining up Gamestop stock again, but not for the reason you might think. The SEC is holding the magnifying glass to a little term called payment for order flow which became its own scandal during the Gamestop stock craze. We share what it means and why it matters. We also answer David's question about helping his mom find new work after an injury and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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The Power of Used Cars and Big Lifestyles (with Buffie Purselle) Jun 20, 2022

Buffie Purselle is a tour-de-force. She started her own business at 19. She's been featured on not ONE but TWO reality television shows. She's helped hundreds of budding entrepreneurs begin businesses. So to celebrate Juneteenth we're helping empower YOU with the woman who believes that you have to "crawl before you ball." She'll share stories from her own upbringing and early jobs that you can learn from to fast-track your own success. She also shares the dark moment when she realized things were headed in the wrong direction, and she needed to change her ways if she wanted to be successful.

That's not even CLOSE to all of our topics, though. In our headline segment, we discuss some of the scandal behind meme stock trading: selling order flow. Wheels have been in motion since the meme stock craze began (remember Gamestop and AMC Theater stock?). Right now the SEC is trying to make some changes, and we'll share what it's all about. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Melissa who wants to find a fee-free HSA account. Why pay fees when there are great accounts out there with zero maintenance fees? We share how to find those free accounts. And we'll leave time for Doug's trivia AND our fairly gross TikTok Minute. Just another Federal holiday in Joe's mom's basement.

Enjoy!

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Learn These Money Manners For Success! Jun 17, 2022

Did you know that when at a fine dining restaurant, you should never lift your menu from the table? ...or that you should sip your drink from the exact same spot on the glass each time? On top of that, definitely do NOT announce to the table that you're headed to the bathroom. What does any of this have to do with money? Besides the fact that if you're interviewing or networking at a restaurant and you could stand to gain a few Benjamins from the experience, there are also some money rules that many people don't know or follow. What are they? Our regulars today dive into their favorites: Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com, and our co-host here OG. They all share solid advice and awkward stories, everything from sharing salaries to making assumptions about other people's money. As usual, right in the middle of it all, Doug will share his trivia to continue our year-long competition among our regular contributors.

Enjoy!

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Top 5 Ways To Stop Messing Up Your 401k Jun 15, 2022

You start that amazing new job and the boss hands you a giant stack of paperwork. Does that sound familiar? One of those forms is most likely a crucial piece of your financial picture: your 401k enrollment. How much should you contribute? How do you choose investments? Today, Joe and OG share the top mistakes they see people make with their 401k, so you can learn from others' mistakes and avoid your own future headache. You're welcome! From not contributing enough to choosing the wrong investments, they share it all.

In our headline segment, we're diving into one group who seemingly predicts the market better than most analysts. How do they do it and who the heck are they? Oh, we'll explain! And it's probably not a group you'd expect. Then, of course, we let Doug share his auto-themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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Your Credit, Leveraging Community, and a 15 Year Career (or less) Jun 13, 2022

Remember the phrase 30-and-out? That was what people said when they'd sign up to work for the same company for their entire working lives. Since the days of single-job employment, working thirty years has become a standard idea. But why? Kiersten and Julien Saunders are the brains behind the new book Cashing Out, where they throw 30 years to the curb. Instead, they advocate focusing on 15 years. We'll dive into that, saving more effectively for your goals, the FIRE movement, and more, in a wide-ranging conversation with this dynamic duo (they also are the team behind the popular rich & REGULAR blog, podcast, and more.

In our headlines segment, credit company Transunion is out with a new study asking the question, "How are you holding up during this era of massive inflation?" Charlie Wise from the company joins us to talk credit and some worrisome trends that you should hear so that you can avoid overstepping your credit lines.

Of course, we'll also share an UGLY TikTok minute about life insurance, ask you a tough postal service trivia question from Doug, and more.

...just another Monday at the Stacking Benjamins show! Enjoy!

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When Is Doing Nothing The Better Financial Option? Jun 10, 2022

Can you be idle and still get ahead in the game of life? In some cases, this is absolutely the best answer. Our contributors to today's roundtable discussion dive into their answers to the question, "Can doing nothing benefit you in life and with your money?" Our special guest today from Sensible Money is Certified Financial Planner Dana Anspach. Joining Dana are our regular contributors, Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) and our co-host OG. That's not all! We will round everything out with neighbor Doug's famous trivia!

Enjoy!

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Can You Be The Next Great Leader? Jun 08, 2022

It only takes a moment watching the news to learn what David Gergen already knows: our current leaders have failed us. In some ways, it isn't their fault; growing up during the Vietnam conflict, many of our leaders grew up in a deeply partisan country and have led from that divisive position. However, Gergen, who served not one but FOUR US presidents...from both parties (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton), believes that our youth CAN be great leaders. How? We'll chat with him today about leadership, service, and how you could be the person who helps many around you stack more Benjamins.

In our headline segment, both Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase and Elon Musk are clanging the warning bell that bad times are ahead. Should you be worried? OG has opinions...and it probably isn't what you think. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line and tackle some of Doug's amazing trivia. Just another average day (you know...with a dude who's overseen and advised the making of The West Wing...) of the Stacking Benjamins Show.

Enjoy!

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Are Workplace Clashes Ever Worth It? Jun 06, 2022

Know those horrible situations where everyone's fighting at work -- or worse, at home? Talk about a horrible investment: being invested in a rotten environment can overshadow even the best portfolio returns. Good news, though. It turns out, there are two types of conflict: the kind that allows us to grow and produces a positive outcome and the kind that's downright toxic. To help us find a way toward healthy conflict, Gabe Karp joins us. He talks about why it can be hard to see the other side of an argument, how to turn bad conflict into good, and how to move toward a healthier working environment by even maybe fighting more (but in a healthy way).

But before that, we speak to Lamine Zarrad from Stellar about credit and the current economy. What happens when interest rates continue to rise and you need a new loan that you can't afford? Lamine created a company called StellarFI, which was built to help people build their credit through paying bills on time. We'll talk about credit issues, the economic slowdown, and how you can protect yourself.

And of course, we'll share our TicTok minute AND Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Here’s How We Open Up About Money Jun 03, 2022

It's time to get vulnerable and break down the barriers. As we always say, 'personal finance is personal' which makes money talk hard (and embarrassing) at times. Our roundtable is getting vulnerable about their money and career and sharing ways to talk about money with others. Jeff Underwood, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo join our roundtable to discuss a blog piece about being vulnerable with your money. They talk about clever ways to save money when out with friends, times they were vulnerable about their own money situation, and how you can navigate the tricky waters of talking about money with others. And of course, we saved time for Doug's amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Revolution In The Sky (plus your stock market losses may feel worse than they really are) Jun 01, 2022

What was your last interaction like with a flight attendant? The friendly skies weren't always as friendly to flight attendants as they are today. Actually, the term 'flight attendant' wasn't coined until stewardesses won a long battle against the airlines. To tell the fascinating story that has affected change on so many workplaces, Nell McShane Wulfhart joins us today. She talks about the strict requirements stewardesses faced in the 1960s and the "Charm Farm" training program they went through. As the name suggests, it was more about appearance than anything else. As the years went on, stewardesses joined together to fight back against the sexist job requirements and standards.

There's more from the friendly basement crew in our headline segment. We're talking about the problematic news headlines that invoke fear in investors. The market is down this year but that most likely doesn't mean you've lost all your money. We share our thoughts on the market and how the news portrays it. For our Haven Life line, we share our opinions on a Reddit post about manipulating family members with money. And Doug will round out the show with his flight attendant trivia.

Enjoy!

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Is Your Partner Hiding Money? May 30, 2022

Maybe you’ve had a nagging feeling that things just aren’t right. Your partner is either acting strange, or money is gone from accounts and you aren’t sure why. It’s time to get a better handle on your cash flow. So how can you make sure your money is protected during the worst of times and how can you also ensure your partner isn’t hiding money from you? Today we welcome Tracy Coenen, a forensic accountant, to talk about what to do if you're faced with financial infidelity. She’s created a 10 step guide to controlling your finances and protecting yourself during a divorce and we’ll dive in to a few of the steps. She shares what to look for on social media accounts, how to handle and organize documents, and what to look for on bank statements.

But we don’t stop there! In our headline segment we dive into mortgage rates. Where are rates today compared to recent years? How can you make sure you get the best rate possible? We'll tell you. We also talk about some big mortgage industry news as a whole. We also Magnify Linda's Money question. She wonders about 529 withdrawals. And of course, we’ll leave room for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Weddings for Less: Our Roundtable Shares Ideas May 27, 2022

One of the top reasons couples argue is because of money. We always say that personal finance is personal and it's true that every person and couple have different views on money but coming together as a couple to share those goals is key. But even before most couples combine their finances, they have a wedding to stress about. Our roundtable today talks about couples and money and they dive into wedding registry gifts. Elle Martinez from Simplify and Enjoy, Len Penzo, and OG make up our roundtable team today and they share their thoughts on cash vs. gifts on registries and how couples can come together to crush their financial goals. Diania is also here today and she shares some amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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How to Money (with Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle) May 25, 2022

A million and one money decisions in a day...how the hell do you make the right one???? Between social media and the internet, f--- me, there are countless tips and "advice" from strangers on how to manage your money, but absolutely ZERO are really tailored to you. In the basement, we know that information can be powerful if used correctly, and that's exactly why we invited Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle here today. In their new book (it's geared toward women, but everyone can benefit from it), they talk about the power of information and making informed decisions for our present and future selves. They talk to us about pillars of success, and how you can finally feel more empowered out in the open about your money decisions.

During our headline segment, we'll answer the burning question: "why does my advisor never text me?" It's not because they don't like you. FINRA, one of the two major regulatory agencies, doesn't allow it. We talk about why and the opposite effect it tends to have from the rationale behind it. We also answer Katie's question on the Haven Life line about where to save additional money each month. And Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Our Annual Theme Park Summer Fun Guide (with Robert Niles) May 23, 2022

Gearing up for summer travel? Not only is summer fun about saving money; it's also about ensuring that the dollars you spend are worth it. What theme parks are actually worth your money? Today we help you kick off your summer because Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider joins us for his 8th annual survey of what's new/what's hot/what's undervalued in vacation travel. He shares the newest rides and attractions at various park across the country and offers tips to get the best bang for your buck.

During our headline segment, we dive in to a piece that says investing in the stock market "won't make you rich," and then (of course) offers some alternative "best" places to invest instead. There's legitimate alternative investments out there, and many that are highly recommended, but this list might fall slightly short. We'll have opinions. We also share what you should look out for before investing. We then answer an anonymous caller's question on the Haven Life line about retirement survivor annuities, and of course, Doug also shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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When Do I Kiss the 9-5 Job Goodbye and Work For Myself? May 21, 2022

Are you in the career you love? If not, what's stopping you from making a change to that job you've been dreaming of? Changing careers (especially if that means becoming an entrepreneur) isn't always as easy as it sounds, which is why our rockstar roundtable panel today is ready to help you find your way. Entrepreneurial coach Sylvia Moe Inks, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo discuss pivoting your career. They share their own stories of career changes and starting their own businesses. Of course, Doug will also share some flight-themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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Struggle, Persistence, Tech & Mentors: Building Your Successful Business (with Carter Malloy) May 20, 2022

"Failure is an option," Carter Malloy says during today's interview, and it's true. Evolution in business is critical, and technology, the right team, and pure persistence can pull a success from near-certain failure. From early websites to failed business plans, business owners have many challenges to navigate. Carter Malloy faced tons of these challenges and more while advocating for an investment approach he strongly believed in: buying farmland. Today we bring you a special episode sponsored by Dell as part of their PodFerence, a podcast-based conference to celebrate Small Business Month. Malloy, who is the founder and CEO of AcreTrader, joins us to share lessons learned during his early steps into entrepreneurship. He talks about early lessons his father and mentors taught him, how technology has helped evolve his business, surrounding yourself with people who don't think like you, and the overall grit and determination it takes to be a business owner.

Enjoy!

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Our Top 5 Moves To Make In A Down Market May 18, 2022

Sell, sell, sell! Buy, buy, buy! No, panic trading is not the answer when the market dips, but the news certainly can makes it sound like the end of the world. So what should you do during a down market? It turns out there's money-saving magic in avoiding selling everything to cash. Today, Joe and OG share their top 5 things to do during a market downturn. They talk about rebalancing, turning off the TV, rewinding history, and more. After this show, your investment policy statement, will be cleaner and more efficient than ever!

During our headline segment, the guys dive into some quirky trends to follow in the stock market. South Park and Build-a-Bear (of all things) are making headlines in a recent Reddit thread. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Amanda who shares the strategies they used to pay off debt. And Doug will panic while he shares his panic trivia.

Enjoy!

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Stackers Share Their Money Stories May 16, 2022

Have you ever wondered how others are navigating their financial journey? Sharing tips, tricks, and mistakes with others can be super helpful, and having a community of like-minded people around you on any journey makes it less scary. As Joe travels across the country on his book tour for Stacked, he’s hearing from fellow Stackers about their money story. Thanks to Million Stories for partnering with us on this Instagram video series called A Million More Stories. We’re highlighting four of the interviews today, and they talk about money lessons as kids, money mistakes, and where they are now.

We’ll also throw out the Haven Life line to Mike, who wants to know what courses and resources are available to help family members learn about financial management. And, of course, Doug will enlighten us with his real estate trivia.

Enjoy

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What Does Inflation Mean To Me? May 13, 2022

Do you have sticker shock at the grocery store or gas pump? Inflation is high and there's no doubt it's impacting spending ability. The good news is there are ways to help combat inflation and even help you earn more. Our roundtable today includes Andy Hill, Paula Pant, and OG, and they're tackling the inflation issue to give you tips and tricks to save money and earn more. They talk about raises at work, side hustles, and small ways to make a difference with your finances. And Doug will share his McDonald's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Dell Podference: Steps to Building an Automated Business May 12, 2022

Technology is ever-changing and keeping up with the latest tech can help build and improve your business. We have a special episode sponsored by Dell today for their PodFerence, a podcast-based conference to celebrate Small Business Month. To talk about how technology and digital automation intersects with her business, Paulette Perhach joins us. She shares about her writing career and the various tech platforms she uses in her everyday business life.

Enjoy!

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Connect, Collaborate and Create with (Vincent Pugliese) May 11, 2022

The most fulfilling relationships are the ones where each person can be their true selves. Many times though, selfish goals are put above selfless ones. Vincent Pugliese admits he used to put his own goals above all else, but when he never reached the true happiness he was seeking, he changed his mindset. He's here today to share why character is important for building a true connection and why character and charisma are not interchangeable.

During our headline segment, we dive into financial planning as a career. A recent piece shows that financial advisors are staying in the role well past the typical retirement age. We share why that is and give you all the details on what it takes to become a financial advisor. And, of course, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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How to Calculate Financial Independence (Topia-app) May 09, 2022

Are you searching for that next step in your financial independence journey? With so many books and resources available, it's hard to narrow down exactly what you should be doing -- and when -- to meet your goals. Today's guests created an app to help with that exact problem. Grant Sabatier and Logan Leckie created Topia, an app geared toward helping you reach financial independence. With clear steps and action items, you can crush your goals. They explain how it works and why it's so revolutionary.

During our headline segment, we dive into tech stocks, specifically Netflix. Tech stocks have dominated the market for the past few years. What's next for them? We give our thoughts and point to stock buybacks and stock splits in today's market. We'll also answer Ray's question about the top fundamental things to know in personal finance. And Doug will share his Billy Joel themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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Lessons From Some of The Biggest Investing Mistakes of All Time (with an intro to OneClass) - REWIND May 06, 2022

We've all made mistakes but learning from them is the important lesson. Investing mistakes can cost you actual cash and we want to help you minimize that as much as possible. Our roundtable today looks back to an interview we did a few years ago where we talked about common investing mistakes and how you can avoid them.

This episode aired in 2019 so ignore any mention of current events or giveaways. Take a look at our original show notes from the episode here.

Enjoy!

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Bring Yourself To Succeed At Your Next Negotiation (with Mori Taheripour) - REWIND May 04, 2022

Want to brush up on your negotiation skills before that next job performance review or vacation? No matter the setting, great negotiation can make or break a deal, literally. Today we're listening back to our interview with Mori Taheripour where she shares how to be a master negotiator. If you haven't checked out Stacked yet, Joe and Emily highlight her interview there as well.

This episode aired in 2020 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events or giveaways. Take a look at our original show notes from the episode here.

Enjoy!

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Peering Into the Travelscope (with Joseph Rosendo) - REWIND May 02, 2022

Are you looking forward to summer travel this year? We sure are! Heck, we're pretending we're on vacation now while we get this rewind week started! To kick it off, we've got two-time Emmy award-winning host of Travelscope, Joseph Rosendo, to share everything you need to know before making those summer plans.

This episode aired in 2021, so be sure to ignore any mention of current events or giveaways. Take a look at our original show notes from the episode here.

Enjoy!

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Succeed In Life With Lessons From Our Roundtable Apr 29, 2022

What are your favorite life lessons you've learned? Today, our roundtable discusses a piece from Joseph Wells' blog about 30 lessons he learned by age 30. He couldn't keep it to 30 so it's actually closer to 40 lessons he shares. Ashley Patrick from BudgetsMadeEasy, Paula Pant from Afford Anything and our very own OG share their favorite lessons from the list and add a few of their own. And don't you worry, we left time for Doug to share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Learn to Steal Like an Artist (with Austin Kleon) Apr 27, 2022

If you love someone’s chocolate cake, you’d ask them for their recipe without question. It’s not stealing, it’s taking something and making it your own. If you ask the author of Steal Like An Artist (which is celebrating its 10th anniversary!), he’d say we don’t take inspiration from others enough. Austin Kleon wrote the book 10 years ago that still rings true today about creativity. He says that taking inspiration from others and “stealing” ideas to create something yourself that is different is a true show of love and respect. He’s here today to talk about how to be more creative in your life and how to find inspiration.

During our headline segment, we’re talking about crypto and the stock market. Are they becoming more aligned? We’ll dive in and share the specifics on the returns for each. Then we’ll Magnify Matt’s money and talk about grocery store and gas rewards programs. Do you share a grocery reward number with others? Matt does and he asked our Facebook group, the Basement, for their thoughts. We’ll share some of those answers. And don’t worry, we didn’t forget about Doug. He’ll share his amazing trivia in the middle of the show.

Enjoy!

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The Magic of 80/80 Relationships Apr 25, 2022

Why are so many relationships (especially marriages) broken easily? Nate and Kaley Klemp know from personal experience how hard it can be to stay on the same page when fairness becomes the center of an argument. Instead of a 50/50 split, they believe you should focus on 80/80. What does that mean? We'll share today! If the heart of your money gathering is truly about fostering better relationships, you're going to love our discussion on how to give more to experience more happiness.

During our headline segment, we take a look at I bonds. Recent interest rate gains make this investment look like a slam-dunk investment, but is it? We'll share. We'll also talk about the relationship between risk and return when it comes to various investment types, AND answer Alex's question about positions within mutual funds. Of course, Doug will save time to enlighten us with his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Our Experts Share Their Money No-No's Apr 22, 2022

We've all made mistakes with our money. Whether it's not budgeting for a large expense or something larger like pulling money from a retirement account early, mistakes happen. Our roundtable discussion today centers around financial no-no's and how to reframe your thinking around some of these. Naseema McElroy, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo join our roundtable today to talk about their financial no-no's. They discuss everything from the illusion of frugality to budgeting tips today to help you avoid common mistakes. And of course, Doug will share his trivia with the group for our year-long trivia challenge.

Enjoy!

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Life Insurance Starter Kit (Our Top 5) Apr 20, 2022

Do you need life insurance? Not everyone does and before you start deciding what type of policy you need, there's a whole list of questions you should ask yourself. Joe and OG are taking center stage today and sharing their top five considerations before buying life insurance. Starting the conversation around risk management and planning, not the product, will lead you to the best solution for you and they tell you how.

During our headline segment, we're talking about advisor fees. With multiple fee models out there, is one better than another? The guys share their thoughts on why each model works and why there might not be a right or wrong way to do it. We'll also answer Jen's question about paying off her mortgage early. Doug will also share his super exciting insurance trivia.

Enjoy!

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Let’s Unravel ESG Investing (with Larry Swedroe) Apr 18, 2022

Are your investment aligned with your values? Did you know that you can screen for (or against) certain industries or sectors within funds? The terms ESG (environmental, social, governance), SRI (socially responsible investing), and impact investing encompass this thought process. Larry Swedroe joins us to explain this type of investing, its growing popularity, and how you can invest in a way that aligns with your values too. He also dives into why the performance for this type of fund differs from other indexes.

During our headline segment, we take a look at the impact of increasing gas prices. Your wallet might feel a little slim after filling up at the pump and delivery drivers are feeling the heat too. We talk about what this might mean going forward and how you can save money at the pump. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Amanda who has a question about Roth IRA contributions. We'll also leave time for Doug's most amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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What If I Don’t Know My “Why? Apr 15, 2022

What's your calling in life? The answer to that question comes instantly for some, and for others, there's nothing but cricket sounds. Today our roundtable guests are talking about finding your calling and why it's ok if you haven't found yours. We have our regulars, Paula, Len, and OG, on our roundtable today so you know they'll fill you in with good advice and tips. And, of course, we left time for Doug's most amazing trivia question ever.

Enjoy!

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Ben Franklin’s Gigantic Last Bet Apr 13, 2022

Why did Ben Franklin change his will two months before he died? Instead of leaving money to his family, he made a big bet on two cities that meant a lot to him, Boston and Philadelphia. Michael Meyer wrote a fascinating book about Ben Franklin's life -- and death -- and he joins us today to share part of the story. Ben Franklin had specific wishes for his gifts and Michael explains how the two cities handled it differently.

In our headline segment, we're talking about mortgage rates. What do rising rates mean for your budget and how worried should you be? We'll give you all the details. We're also answering Steven's question about moving to a higher cost of living to save more. And we'll leave room for Doug's amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Just Keep Buying Stocks (with Nick Maggiulli) Apr 11, 2022

What's the key to success with investing? This game is actually far easier than many think it is. Nick Maggiulli is known as the Dollars and Data guy on Twitter, but today he talks about how more data actually nearly sank him as a new investor. It turns out that over-optimization might hurt you in the long run. He shares the top 3 reasons why you should invest and even gives ideas on how to increase your income so you can save more.

During our headline segment, we're talking about the important f word...fiduciary. What is it and why is it important? And why is Robinhood in hot water because of it? We'll explain it all. We'll also help answer Chris' question about sharing bank accounts with your spouse. And Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Slowing Down to Move Faster Apr 08, 2022

How often do you think to yourself there just aren't enough hours in the day? Between busy work schedules, duties at home and a social life, life can be pretty freaking busy. There's no surprise then, that relaxation is important to regroup and recharge. Today's roundtable will help you with new ideas to relax and offer their thoughts on why it's so important to your life and finances. Our roundtable guests are Andy Hill from Marriage Kids and Money, Len Penzo from lenpenzo.com, and our very own OG. Even better, the piece they discuss today is from Len Penzo's blog. We didn't tell him it was his own piece and you'll get a kick out of his reaction when he figured it out.

To round out the show, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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When Do You Reboot Everything? (with Jason Tartick) Apr 06, 2022

How happy are you, truly, with your job and life? Many people go through the motions in a job they don't like, never taking the leap to do something they actually enjoy. The average life expectancy is 79 years. How many of those years are you willing to waste doing something you don't love? Jason Tartick is well known for being on The Bachelorette but his story is much deeper than what we saw on TV. He was secretly having panic attacks at work and was stressed beyond belief. Instead of digging deep to find the reason why, he initially tried to mask and ignore the emotions. He's here today to share his story and how he ultimately restarted his life and career to do what he loves.

During our headline segment, Rita Assaf from Fidelity Investments is here to share the results of Fidelity's State of Retirement Planning survey. She shares the biggest concerns on investor's minds and the impacts the pandemic has had on our financial confidence. We'll also answer Kevin's question about an excess Roth IRA contribution. And, of course, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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The Basics: Buying Stocks (with Brian Feroldi) Apr 04, 2022

How much do you really know about investing in stocks? You may have heard that it's hard to beat the market, but could you do it? How does the stock market actually work, and how do you do the right homework to find a good stock to buy? You're in luck because today Brian Feroldi joins us to talk about his own stock buying process, breaking it down into easy steps. He also shares why the stock market rises over time and why it's harder for a fund manager to beat the market than an individual investor.

During our headline segment, we'll talk about covering your bases with insurance. Recent news articles involving celebrities show that you never know what tomorrow will bring. Having the right risk management strategy and maybe the correct insurance policies in place can make all the difference. We'll also answer Jordan's question about spending down his portfolio in retirement. And Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Our Most Embarrassing Game Show About Money (LIVE on Fireside) Apr 01, 2022

What's a money topic you're embarrassed to talk about? Don't want to share with people the insane amount of money you spend at the penny arcade just to miss the big prize by one ticket, or better yet, the amount of debt you got into only because someone told you it will increase your credit score? Our roundtable today talks about embarrassing money topics and how to make them less uncomfortable. It's strange, our regulars didn't show up as themselves today. It must be Doug with his April Fool's pranks again. We've got Gwen Merz, Paul Ollinger, and Bob Wheeler standing in and they share some great advice. We'll also leave time for Doug's riveting trivia.

Enjoy!

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The Subtle Art of Doing Nothing (with Celeste Headlee) Mar 30, 2022

How often do you feel bored? So many of us are busy with work, family, and life that we forget to slow down. We don't leave ourselves time to do nothing and to experience the magic that is being bored. Celeste Headlee was on a personal journey to find happiness when she started researching the history of work in America. What she found was a treadmill that we're spinning faster and faster. She found that most of us don't have time to do nothing, yet we need that time for reflection and rest. Celeste shares her findings and why doing nothing can be so important to achieving the goals you truly want in life.

During our headline segment, we take a look at investment fees. Eye roll, I know, but fees play an important role in our overall investment portfolios and can vary greatly. We talk about the fees you should and should't care about. We also answer Colton's question about selling and buying a house. He wants to know how much to put down on the new house given recent interest rate rises. And don't worry, we will leave time for Doug's amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Trust and Inspire (with Stephen M.R. Covey) Mar 28, 2022

Think of the best manager you've ever had. Now think of the worst. What's different about the two? It might be their management style, or it could be their general personality. But is it something more? Do leadership and trust come to mind? Great leaders are more than just managers. They know how to inspire and motivate people and can adapt to change as the environment shifts. But even without a manager, you can be a leader in your own life. Stephen M. R. Covey believes that leadership is a choice, and it's processes that are managed, not people. People are inspired and taught to be trusted. True leadership is about creating better decisions and relationships to further our lives and goals. Today he joins us in the basement to share how we can all be better leaders in our personal and professional lives.

During our headline segment, we'll dive into the right time to switch up your financial plan. We'll focus first on a piece from Investment News which tackles tax planning for new retirees, but will widen the discussion quickly to all areas of your life and when it's time to reboot your plan. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Sasha who has a question about buying a business. And to round out all of the madness, Doug will also share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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How To Increase Your Odds of Winning With Money Mar 25, 2022

What are your favorite money moves that pay huge returns with little time and effort from you? It could be getting your company 401k match or saving early and investing to get the benefits of compound interest. Today our roundtable discusses their favorite asymmetrical money moves. Four-time olympian Lauryn Williams joins Len Penzo, and OG on our roundtable and share it all. From paying off a mortgage to reviewing insurance and investing, they give some great tips. Doug will, of course, share his trivia too.

Enjoy!

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Strong Women Leading Families Into Wealth Mar 23, 2022

Do women and men think about finances differently? Absolutely. Women, sadly, are more likely to lack confidence in their financial approach, to delegate the "leading" of families to men, and to take a backseat role. As the Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer at Pitcairn, Amy Hart Clyne studied 40 women to better understand their money habits, philosophy, and behavior. She shares some surprising findings and some powerful lessons for both women and men when it comes to handling wealth-building, family, and creating a legacy. Pitcairn, a multifamily office serving ultra-high-net-worth clients.

During our headline segment, we'll focus on the forest fire happening in tech stocks. They've had a great run-up the last few years, but is this downturn a sign that it's all coming to an end? We discuss two pieces that ask some difficult questions about the sector and about being a long-term investor. We also discuss disability insurance during our Haven Lifeline. Many people don't realize how important it can be, so we'll point out when and why you might consider this coverage option. And of course, we'll leave time for Doug to share his credit card-related trivia.

Enjoy!

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Lessons on Adulting: Launching Your Money-Savvy Family (with Bobbi Rebell) Mar 21, 2022

Think of a money mistake you made early in your adult life. It might have been getting into trouble with credit cards or not saving into -- or even knowing about! -- your company's 401k plan, or maybe you didn't know how to budget. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself to avoid those sticky situations? Our guest today is passionate about helping the next generation become better with their money. From learning about taxes and investing to setting a budget, Bobbi Rebell has been through it all with her kids. She shares the money lessons she taught her kids to avoid making the same mistakes she once made. She shares how you can help others, too. Even if you don't have kids, these tips can apply to anyone.

During our headline segment, we dive into Roth IRAs. The stock market decline to start this year has had many people wondering if they should take advantage of a Roth conversion. We discuss the tactics of this strategy and give you things to think about if you are considering it. We'll also answer Mattie's question about sinking funds, and to top it all off, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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What Are Your "Forever" Items? Mar 18, 2022

In every household there are a few items that you purchase once and then never purchase again. For some of us, our goal is to find as many of these as possible so that we can invest our money in other ways. It turns out that investing in quality, guaranteed equipment that's more expensive up-front can actually pay huge dividends later.

We'll ask our roundtable team of OG, Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com), and Paula Pant (Afford Anything) what their "forever" items are. Hopefully we'll be able to help you figure out which household expenses are better to splurge once on, and which are better to spend as little money as possible on. We'll also share mistakes we've made along the way with "forever" or cheap spending.

And of course, we will save time for Doug's amazing trivia challenge. The battle continues!

Enjoy!

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The Basics: Buying Short Term Rentals Mar 16, 2022

Have you ever looked at your futon in your kitchen and thought, "Hey, I think I will rent that out to a stranger?" Believe it or not, our guest today, Avery Carl, has some friends who did exactly that. It gave her the idea to invest in short-term rentals as a stepping stone to building a more extensive real estate portfolio. Joe and Avery discuss having an income to support lending criteria, the pros and cons of property management, and how she strategically invested in mature vacation rental markets to scale her portfolio.

Worried about scams? Today in our headline segment, Joe and OG discuss a piece about a former car salesman who allegedly got caught in an elaborate scam buying back leased cars. Also, they discuss a Netflix documentary about the Tinder Swindler and how he thinks his scam was a "successful business." We throw out the Haven Life line to Amanda and congratulate her on paying off her debt.

And, of course, we will enlighten your day with Doug's famous trivia.

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Add Better Design To Your Financial Plan (with Kevin Bethune) Mar 14, 2022

How would your life be different if you spent more time designing and less time winging it? Would you be where you are now, or would you be working on more fulfilling projects? Today on our show we talk with Kevin Bethune, the author of the new book Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation. He has reimagined and redesigned his career a few times over, going from working in nuclear power, to heading back to business school, to working at Nike on shoes, and then on to many other projects. We'll draw strong correlations between his work in corporate design and your work building a better life.

Joe and OG discuss a piece from a very popular investment house about the value of human advice vs. robots. I think you'll be surprised when you hear not only what firm commissioned this study, but also our discussion about the future of financial advice...much more of a fusion of humans and robots than one or the other. And also, with most of us losing an hour of shuteye this weekend, Doug gives us some good tips in his trivia about taking a nap. We'll also (of course), save time to throw out the Haven Life Line on whether or not you should be available to your boss 24/7 even on vacations? Should you?

Enjoy!

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Success Key: How Do You Imagine Your Financial Future? Mar 11, 2022

You've probably been told to live in the present at some point in your life but does that do more harm than good when it comes to your finances? Splurging on that purchase today might feel good in the moment but is it going to make 'future you' happy too? Thinking about ourselves in the future is hard. Our roundtable today discusses this topic. Jason Hallonquist, Paula Pant and Len Penzo join our roundtable to talk about how thinking about your future self is beneficial for your finances.

And don't worry, we left time for Doug's trivia!

Enjoy!

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Why Are You So Effing Tired? (with Dr. Amy Shah) Mar 09, 2022

Have you checked in with your health lately? Stacking those Benjamins is awesome but it means nothing if your health holds you back from doing the things you enjoy in life. Our guest today shares an incredible story of the scary moment she realized she was constantly running at full speed ahead. Dr. Amy Shah joins us to share that story and her journey to better overall health. She explains how hormones, sleep and overall gut health contribute to every aspect of our lives.

During our headline segment, we talk to Dr. Brooke Struck from The Decision Lab about consumer spending habits, specifically millennials. Are millennials' spending habits different from other generations and what struggles do they face that other generations might not have? Dr. Brooke Struck shares his research findings. We also answer a question from our basement Facebook group about HSA's and Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Avoid The Next Scam: Former Cult Member Takes Us Inside Mar 07, 2022

You'd never fall for it, right? Scams can look so obvious from the outside. "How could they have let that happen?" we ask. Reading about Bernie Madoff or some of these other big "scammers" from history, it's easy to think of how gullible the victims must have been. Being in the midst of it, though, leads to the true, deeper, and disturbing story. Radhia Gleis knows how scams work because she was in a cult for over 20 years. Today she shares the story of how she sunk deep into a con and then also explains the pain and immense disappointment she experienced when she realized it was all a lie. It's a fascinating story about searching for meaning and how scammers maintain their power. We'll help by giving you tips to avoid being scammed as well.

During our headline segment, we dive into another troubling situation: the current situation in Ukraine. While there are far more important aspects of this conflict than your money, the only one we're qualified to comment on is the effect on your portfolio, so we'll do that today. Market volatility has ticked up again and we talk about while it signals some horrible events happening in the world, why this might not be as bad as it sounds for your investments. We'll also answer Lacey's question about saving for nieces and nephews (what should she use to save some money for them?) and also, Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Why Some People Will Always Be Poor (with tax prep tips from The Bookkeeping Artist) - REWIND Mar 04, 2022

How can you tell if someone is rich or poor? It's not as simple as looking at what someone buys or where they live. Being rich is about more than the size of your wallet. To round out our rewind week, today our roundtable discusses this topic. They share their thoughts on what it means to be rich and what that really means.

This episode originally aired in 2019 so ignore and mention of giveaways or current events. See our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Ultimate Guide To Workplace Benefits (with Amanda Lannert) - REWIND Mar 02, 2022

Have you ever been overwhelmed by all the choices that come with employee benefits? From health insurance to retirement savings, child care and an HSA vs FSA, there's can be no shortage of benefits to choose from. Amanda Lannert joined us to share the details on some popular employee benefits. This episode aired in 2020 so be sure to ignore any mention of current giveaways or events.

See our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Spring Clean Your Wallet (plus Ditch the Resume/Land the Job with Gary Burnison) - REWIND Feb 28, 2022

Are you looking to spring clean your finances? Get organized and on the right track to crush your goals this year. We've got Gary Burnison here to help you clean up your resume and land your dream job. It's the start of our rewind week, and this episode originally aired in 2018, so ignore any mention of current giveaways or events.

See our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Why Your Family Needs a Money Philosophy Feb 25, 2022

Do you have a family money philosophy? A money philosophy can simply be an idea of what you do and don't value. Or it can be as complex as a charitable giving strategy or a very specific spending plan. There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to a money philosophy. Today our roundtable is sharing their money philosophy and they talk about mapping goals, spending based on values, how they taught their kids about money, and more. Listen in to hear Chelsea Brennan, Len Penzo, and Doc G share their thoughts. Doug will also share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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How To Make Influence Your Superpower (with Zoe Chance) Feb 23, 2022

Do you ever feel like you just don't have much influence over others? Not in a negative way, but in a way where you wish people would truly hear you. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and re-evaluate what we are trying to accomplish. Zoe Chance is an expert in influence, the author of the new hit book Influence Is Your Superpower, and also teaches the most popular class on the topic at Yale. She joins us today to share her secrets to positive influence and happiness. She talks about the power of 'no', charisma, and my favorite, the Kindly Brontosaurus technique.

During our headline segment, we dive into longevity in financial planning. As people start living longer, what adjustments need to be made to financial plans? We talk about retirement planning and allocations as it relates to living longer lives. We also help answer Jenna's question about saving or spending HSA dollars and Doug shares his influential trivia.

Enjoy!

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Our Top 5 Easy Ways To Save More Money Feb 21, 2022

Looking for a few quick money wins? Personal finance, and developing a complete financial plan can be overwhelming, but you don't have to start by climbing that mountain. Today Joe and OG are sharing their top five easy money tips. They talk about automating your financial life, writing down your debts, reviewing subscriptions and our favorite, HSA accounts. They're giving you easy tips to get started that can help change your mindset and get you on track to reach bigger goals.

During our headline segment, we look at USA Today's Super Bowl ad winner. Anna Kendrick and a dream house took the top spot this year, with a segment all about this ultra-hot real estate market. Will the easy wins continue? We'll also answer Matthew's question about opening a brokerage account and Doug will share his sticky bun-themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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The Truth About Buy Now Pay Later Feb 18, 2022

Have you seen -- or used -- those popular buy now, pay later apps? They seem to be on almost every website as an easy way to split your purchase into several payments, all interest-free. As tempting as it may be, the downsides might hurt your wallet in the long run. While paying in installments with no interest might work out for the best for some purchases, it can also lead to a habit of overspending. Today our roundtable discusses a piece about these popular apps. Our roundtable consists of Tom Cock from Talking Real Money, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and Doc G from Earn & Invest. They share their thoughts on buy now, pay later, and offer advice to skip these all together. Diania Merriam is filling in for Doug and she's sharing her spectacular trivia today.

Enjoy!

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The Huge Tax-Savings Case For Frugality plus 3 Inspiring Stacker Community Stories Feb 16, 2022

How important is spending less on what you don't need? Today our guest will share why you may want to rethink your laisse-faire attitude about minimalism. We'll tackle a big a-ha for savers with a tax strategy you haven't heard, plus, it's Joe's birthday, and he's looking to be inspired. So today, we're excited to hear from YOU and some of the great things you all are working on. We have three great guests for you today: the Stackers who host the Fat and Broke podcast are celebrating a huge milestone, Maggie, a travel blogger will share some tips for national parks jaunts, and TJ, a leadership blogger, will share a homeowners story for the ages. Let's just say that we won't be asking him where to place our bonfire.

It's all Sean Mullaney, the FI Tax Guy, sharing tax planning tips for this year, inspirational stories and we'll round out the show by including Doug's famous trivia.

Enjoy!

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Valentines Lessons from Celebrities, a Power Couple and a Kid With a Great Laugh Feb 14, 2022

We're chucking the expensive flowers and chocolates that go right to your hips this Valentine's Day. Instead, let's share the love by bringing on the Benjamins! Are you looking to up your finance game? Maybe you have debt you'd like to pay off, an expensive soon-to-be ex-spouse, or you're looking to just be more intentional with your money. On the love side of the equation, Anjie and RJ from the hit new Rich by Intention podcast join us to share their incredible story of debt payoff, teamwork, and negotiation. They paid off over $100k of debt in just one year on salaries of less than $100k each. They negotiated raises of over 15% each, and they lowered their rent payment. How? They'll share all their strategies and how you can get your finances in order too.

During our headline segment, Kelly Frawley and Emily Pollock protect your downside, by joining us to talk about lessons we can all learn from some recent celebrity divorces. What's more romantic than that for Valentine's Day? They'll share problems with prenups and how to know if you might need one or how to make sure it works. But that's not all. We'll also answer a Haven Life line question about 401k investments, and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Small Ways To Save More This Year Feb 11, 2022

Ever wish there were small changes you could make that would have big impacts on your money situation? We've heard the big ideas such as start a side job or max out your retirement accounts, but what if that's just not in the cards? Today our roundtable is lining up a bunch of ideas that aren't huge, but that collectively can help you get the ball rolling with your financial picture. They discuss a piece from The Penny Saver about small ways to make an impact on your finances. It's our gameshow episode, so we're putting our contributors to the test, asking them to guess which tips are mentioned in this piece. Because they share lots of not-listed ideas as well, you can be sure you'll find out some great and not so great savings strategies. Our roundtable is made up of our regulars today: Paula Pant, Len Penzo and OG. The winner of our gameshow will earn an extra point in our year-ling trivia challenge. Speaking of, Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Peter Lazaroff Helps Us Make Money Simple Feb 09, 2022

What financial mistakes could you have avoided? Most of us learned personal finance the hard way, by stumbling through life without training and learning from our mistakes. Unfortunately, most schools don't have a personal finance class that teaches students about budgeting, saving, or what the word "taxes" actually means. Peter Lazaroff is chief investment officer at Plancorp and a CFP® who shares our passion for personal financial literacy. He's here today (don't tell OG, he might get jealous) to share his first experiences with money AND how you can make money topics more simple for yourself and those around you. He also shares some of the golden personal finance basics we should all familiarize ourselves with, and dishes out resources to help us all further our own financial education.

During our headline segment, we dive into ETFs. A seasoned firm is entering the game (better late than never!) of ETFs years after their competitors. We talk about active vs passive funds and the future of the ETF industry. We're also answering Dave's question about reward credit cards. Are they really as good as they sound? And of course, Doug will share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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What Can Washington and Franklin Teach Us About Money? Feb 07, 2022

How did the founding fathers of the United States make a living after the Revolutionary War? Believe it or not, they had to make some choices similar to ones you may have had to make when struggling with money. Washington took a job just because it paid well. Franklin juggled many "side gigs" to bring in money. Sound familiar?

Today is our 10 year podcasting anniversary, so we are throwing it back to Ben Franklin himself (well, not really him, but someone who can tell his story!) and learning from his career. He, along with George Washington, worked hard to find new ways to make money after the Revolutionary War. Willard Sterne Randall is a writer-turned-historian who'll share the stories of Washington and Franklin. We ask him to dive into the success and failures of each and share lessons we can all take away.

During our headline segment, we dive into the stock market. What should you do when there's a drop in the stock market? While the initial reaction might be to panic, we'll share sound advice for keeping your cool. We look to Reddit today for an ugly letter to share during our Haven Life line portion of the show. One young investor made several HUGE mistakes trading options and SPACs and he turned to the internet for advice. We share our advice on how to avoid the same mistakes he made. And of course, Doug will share his Stacking Benjamins-themed trivia for our 10 year anniversary.

Enjoy!

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How Will Your Banking and Investments Change? (Exploring Recent Trends in a Roundtable Discussion) Feb 04, 2022

Do you prefer in-person interactions or using apps for things like banking and personal finance? We're giving you both sides of the coin today. Banking has evolved and apps give us almost the same capabilities as walking into the bank, so do we still need physical bank branches? Our roundtable today shares their thoughts on banking and what banks can do to excel in this world of technology. Harlan Landes from the Plutus Foundation, Paula Pant and Len Penzo make up our contributors today. They talk about online apps, customer service and more in the banking world. Don't you worry, we also saved some time for Doug's trivia contest!

Enjoy!

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Becoming Miss and Mr. Independent (with Nicole Lapin) Feb 02, 2022

Will more money make you happier? If you've never heard the phrase 'more money, more problems,' today's episode is for you. Money CAN buy you independence, but only if you know how to use it. Nicole Lapin is a New York Times best-selling author and joins us to talk about being intentional with our money. Having loads of cash is great but it goes bye-bye quickly without concrete goals and values. She shares how to set yourself up for success to meet your financial goals.

During our headline segment, we're talking about robots taking over the world! Or, in this case, a gigantic brokerage firm swallowing a robot (I'd love to see that TikTok). We're talking robo advisors today. They've gained massive popularity in the last decade and now one, Wealthfront, is being acquired by UBS. We discuss what this might mean for robo advisors moving f. We'll also answer Jay's question about the rule of 55 with 401k distributions and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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The Gamestop Revolution That Wasn't (with Spencer Jakab) Jan 31, 2022

Did you participate in the Gamestop trading craze last year? If you didn't -- and had FOMO while small traders banded together and took down "the man" -- we're going to help you feel better today by diving into what really went down. From short selling to Reddit and Robinhood, our guest today shares it all. Spencer Jakab's interest in Gamestop was piqued when his son was talking about Reddit threads. It led him to dive in and write a book explaining the behind-the-scenes story. He's sharing his findings today and I'd bet there's some details that will surprise you.

During our headline, we're looking at auto loans. Banks posted record auto loan originations in 2021. We dive into why and the psychology behind car buying. We're also answering Sarah's question about finding the best bank accounts and Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy! Full show notes are available at http://stackingbenjamins.com

A deeper dive into all these topics went out this morning to our newsletter subscribers. You can join too, for free! http://stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Eggcellent Money Advice Jan 28, 2022

Ever buy something just because of the advertising? I think everyone has at one time or another. Marketing affects our purchases. It's almost like advertisers know what we need before we know! Today we're looking at the marketing tactics behind a staple food...eggs. How does egg marketing relate to our finances? Our roundtable wasn't sure at first either but they have some great advice! Brittany Greene, Len Penzo, and OG sit down to talk about how marketing impacts our financial decisions. With tons of financial advice floating around the internet, people have come up with catchy phrases that sound smart but really mean nothing. Our roundtable shares their experience and how to tell the good egg from the bad.

Diania Merriam is filling in for Doug today while he's off at the IHOP buffet so she will share some trivia.

Enjoy!

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Learn to Unfollow Your Passion (with Terri Trespicio) Jan 26, 2022

Has any well-meaning rich person told you to "follow your passion" when it comes to achieving your goals? Also, how comfortable are you with getting out of your comfort zone? Do you actually need to leave your comfort zone to succeed? Today's guest believes both of these ideas aren't true, and she has a Tedx talk that was watched by over 7 million people and a new hit book to prove it. Terri Trespicio joins us today to share how to reframe the idea of your comfort zone and talks about why the idea of having just one passion in life is overrated.

During our headline segment, we're tackling the great resignation. An average of 3.9 million people quit their jobs each month in 2021. Why? And where are they going? Laura Troyani from PlanBeyond joined us to share her research. We're also throwing out the Haven Life line to Chris who wants to know where to keep cash that he needs for a home purchase. Doug will also share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Let's Get Un-Trashy (with Tara McKenna of Zero Waste Collective) Jan 24, 2022

How's the clutter around your house? Too many Amazon boxes laying around to count? Good news, we are sharing ways to help both the environment, your ability to focus, and your wallet today. Tara McKenna joins us to share her journey to living a largely zero-waste lifestyle. It wasn't always easy, but she found some surprising results, and you could too with just a few simple changes to your lifestyle. She shares tips to be more aware of the trash you create and ways to reduce the unnecessary "stuff" you have laying around. Consuming less leads to less spending, and she shares easy ways you can get started on the journey toward your own zero-waste lifestyle.

During our headline segment, we're diving into the reasons behind Peloton's recent stock price drop. Is the Peloton era coming to an end? We'll share our take and recent news Peloton announced about their products. We'll also answer VJ's question about the 4% rule. How do taxes impact this? And of course, we'll leave time for Doug to share some nearly misguided trivia.

Enjoy!

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How To Make Habits Stick Jan 21, 2022

Are you striving to form better habits? Start with small, daily changes that can turn into larger habits. Today we discuss a piece from the Becoming Minimalist blog that lists seven daily habits to change your life. Our roundtable includes Paula Pant, Doc G, and OG to share their thoughts and daily habits they have. Doug will also share his amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Let's Get Good With Money (with Jessi Fearon) Jan 19, 2022

Do you struggle with good money habits? Even people who know money mess up all the time. We all have those days or weeks where we overdo lunch at a restaurant or forget about our long-term goals. Jessi Fearon is someone who has a background and degree in financial topics and was messing up her financial life in a big way. She joins us today to share her story, how she climbed out of a debt and bad-budget hole. She'll also share how different money personalities deal with money, which is the first step in building a better future. She also shares tips to help you build a solid foundation and create a budget that aligns your values and personality.

For our headline segment, we're diving into student loan debt. One company is in hot water for steering borrowers to costly repayment plans instead of cheaper options, but there's good news. They're forgiving some borrowers' debt! Is yours included? We'll share what you need to know. We also throw out the Haven Life line to Brian who has a question about taxes in an HSA account. Not sure how an HSA account works or why you'd want one? We'll dive into why this is one of the BEST ways to save for many on today's show. Of course, we'll also save time for Doug to also share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Lessons from Cirque du Soleil's Daniel Lamarre on Work and Your Career Jan 17, 2022

Is your personal or professional life not where it should be? While you may think that "creativity" isn't essential to success in life, today's guest will vehemently disagree. He's the former CEO and now Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of the legendary company Cirque du Soleil. Today he will share why creativity is crucial to professional and personal success and shares his own journey with Cirque du Soleil to improve in every area of his own career.

During our headline, we'll pull the cover off of a new crypto scam. This time, celebrities allegedly endorsed a crypto coin, only to dump their own holdings after prices skyrocketed. Of course, this left investors with--reportedly--next to nothing. What can we learn from this? Joe and OG share their thoughts, which might not be what you expect. We also help answer Micah's question about how to further his personal finance education. Doug will also share his trivia.

Enjoy! You'll find full show notes at http://stackingbenjamins.com

You'll find our deeper dive into ALL of the topics we discuss today in our 201 newsletter (always free) http://stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Avoid These Investing Pitfalls Jan 14, 2022

Do you get overwhelmed by conflicting investment advice? It can be hard to determine fact from fiction with so many opinions. Today our roundtable debunks common investing myths to help you get your investment strategy on track. Brian Feroldi, Paulette Perhach and Len Penzo make up our roundtable today and they are sharing their thoughts on common investing myths and tips to be better with your money.

Doug will also share some of his amazing trivia!

Enjoy!

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A Con So True You’ll Think It’s Fiction Jan 12, 2022

Have you been caught in a scam? It happens more than you may think! When we think of the biggest financial scandals, Bernie Madoff comes to mind but there was an even bigger scandal that happened to an entire country. In the United States, we suffered in 2008 during the financial crisis but another country saw its stock market tank even more than ours. Which one? Iceland. Jared Bibler worked for one of the major Icelandic banks and quit just days before the collapse. He then worked with Icelandic regulators to uncover the reasons behind the collapse and it's a scenario that even he didn't see coming. He shares it all today and tells his view of what happened.

During our headline we're talking about retirement savings. Oregon implemented an automatic savings plan for people without access to a company retirement plan. Is it working? Is it the best plan out there? Joe and OG share their differing views! Then we answer Deb's question about high yield savings accounts and Doug shares his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Train Your Brain For Better Money Results (with Dr. Joe Cardillo) Jan 10, 2022

Do you have too many priorities and not enough time in the day to tackle them all? Struggling to get motivated for 2022? Help is on the way today from Dr. Joseph Cardillo, who'll help you build better muscles in your brain. He's an expert on motivation and attention and shares the reasons behind some of the successful habits we all practice now every day. Have you ever been driving and suddenly realized you zoned out for a few minutes? It's pretty common, and actually uses the same mechanisms we use for all of these successful auto-pilot moments throughout our day. He'll share how to reset your mind and use habits to your advantage to be more productive.

In our headline segment, we'll talk all things inflation. Is this latest price balloon transitory or here to stay? We'll share our thoughts and how you can combat it with your investment portfolio. We'll also answer Tusk's question about his fixed income allocation and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy! You'll find complete show notes and links at http://stackingbenjamins.com and in our newsletter The 201: http://stackingbenjamins.com/201

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2022 Magic 8-Ball Predictions + Health Tips From Angelo Poli Jan 07, 2022

Ever wish a cheap plastic toy from Walmart could tell you the future? We sure do! And we try every year. It's our annual Magic 8 Ball episode today with Paula Pant, Len Penzo and OG. Each year, we ask the Magic 8 Ball (yes, really, the one you can buy at Walmart) riveting questions for the upcoming year then reflect back on those questions at the end of the year. Today, we run through the answers to our questions from last year and ask new questions for 2022. How will the Magic 8 Ball perform this year? We'll find out!

In the middle, Angelo Poli from MetPro also joins us to share the best tips to get -- and stay -- in shape in 2022! Many of us have tried a new diet or exercise program but rarely stick with it long-term. Angelo explains why and offers tips to help overcome that struggle.

Enjoy!

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In Debt? Here's How To Get The Hell Out! Jan 05, 2022

Struggling with debt? Today we dive into how to create the perfect winning conditions so that you not only pay off your debt, but you STAY out of debt for good. Debt solutions expert Erin Skye Kelly (author of the book Get The Hell Out of Debt) joins us to help you make debt a thing of the past. She has not only great tips but also the keys to controlling your mindset so that you create a plan and stick with it.

We'll also look back at 2021 investment performance during our headlines segment to see how best to tweak your portfolio for success in 2022. What were your best and worst-performing assets? Why? We'll follow the results of a recent Wall Street Journal column to teach you how to create an investment policy statement for the new year. Then, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to Stacker Ramon, who wonders about infinite banking. Is it as great as proponents say that it is? And of course, we'll save time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy! You'll find all of the links, including Joe's updated book tour schedule (now beginning in March), at http://stackingbenjamins.com.

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Live Your Richest Life in 2022 (with Ramit Sethi) Jan 03, 2022

If you've already failed at working out, eating healthy, drinking less coffee, and not using the word "groovy" in 2022, this episode is for you. Let's get 2022 off on the right track with the perfect guest, Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You To Be Rich. He's helped thousands of people take control of their finances and set themselves up for success. To start the new year, he'll share his top tips to start the year on the right foot.

How much do you need to retire? Much of that depends on where you live, and today we'll dive into the huge disparity between cities that'll require stacks ON your stacks of Benjamins and those that can help you retire on less. Is moving worthwhile? In our headlines segment, we'll look at a piece that dives into how much you need to retire depending on where you live in the United States. Can you guess the most and least expensive metros?

Who needs a financial planner? We'll answer Matt's question about finding a financial advisor during our Haven Life Line call and later, you can count on the fact that Doug's kicking off a new year by sharing some trivia.

We're back and ready to help you roll into a new year! Enjoy!

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The Downside Of Early Retirement (plus lessons from Roush Fenway Racing) - REWIND Dec 31, 2021

The FIRE movement is still burning, and by the looks of it, will continue. It's a popular and growing mindset but is there a downside? We've heard countless success stories from people who've achieved financial independence but there are many others who do not have the same outcome. Our roundtable today talks about the potential consequences of the FIRE movement and gives us questions to think about. How will you spend your time in retirement? Is it even worth it? Rocky Lalvani from the Richer Soul podcast, Len Penzo, and OG join our roundtable to share their opinions.

Check out our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Is Chasing Early Retirement Naive? (plus an intro to the Stacking Benjamins Money Club!) - REWIND Dec 30, 2021

Is it time to put the FIRE movement out or should we let it burn? Don't take our word for it, we've got a stellar roundtable today to share their thoughts. Is there too much emphasis on the retire early part of FIRE? What should we really be concerned about? Don McDonald from the Talking Real Money podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and our very own OG join our roundtable to discuss and give their opinion.

Check out our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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People Who Don’t Like The FIRE Movement Don’t Understand It (with David Bach) - REWIND Dec 29, 2021

What's something you've tried and haven't liked? Pineapple on pizza? Gross! Or maybe something a little more complicated like a budgeting or investing strategy? Today David Bach joins our FIRE week by talking about his own experience. Just because some people don't understand FIRE doesn't mean it's bad and David shares his opinions.

Check out our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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How I Retired Early: A Case Study w/ Fritz Gilbert - REWIND Dec 28, 2021

If you're interested in the FIRE movement, how do you get started? And what goals do you need to set? Fritz Gilbert from The Retirement Manifesto is here to share his story and help you get started on your own. He's here to answer any and all questions about the FIRE movement.

This episode originally aired in 2018. Check out our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Financial Independence? Retire Early? Game on! - REWIND Dec 27, 2021

It's hard to believe the year is almost over, Stackers. To end the whirlwind of 2021, we're giving you a jam-packed week of FIRE episodes, starting with the Mad Fientist. Ever thought about joining the FIRE movement? He may just push you over that edge to try it.

This episode originally aired in 2017 so ignore any mention of current events. Check out our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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2021 Lessons From Our All Star Roundtable Dec 24, 2021

On Wednesday, Clark Howard shared his lessons from 2021. What did we learn from another trying year? Today our roundtable shares their lessons learned. They talk about crypto, inflation, meme stocks, and more. Paula Pant, Len Penzo and OG make up our roundtable today. It's also the last live episode of the year, which means we finally find out who wins our year-long trivia challenge! It's a fun one today!

Enjoy!

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2021 in Review With Clark Howard Dec 22, 2021

Ready for a bright and shiny 2022? To get there, we'll dive into the last twelve months with special guest Clark Howard. What were the big money lessons? What should we have learned from them? As always, Clark doesn't look at events the same way you might, so it's a refreshing look at where we're headed. Plus, you'll get some valuable tips to manage your money better.

During our headline segment, we'll talk about an investor you may not have heard of, named Wilmot Kidd. His track record is as impressive as Warren Buffett. How did he do it? We'll share what made him successful.

Of course we'll still share Doug's trivia and throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener.

Enjoy!

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What Should I Do First With My Money? Dec 20, 2021

Remember PEMDAS from math class? Yeah, neither do we, it's the order of operations for solving math problems. It has something to do with parentheses and subtraction. Today, we are solving a different math problem: your financial plan. Joe and OG share the order of operations for your own financial plan. Not sure where to start? We've got you covered. In the middle of your plan and stuck on where to go next? Great! We have the next steps for you.

In our headline, we talk about ETFs and their exploding popularity. How do they differ from mutual funds and which is a better option? We dive in. Then we help answer Julia's question about co-signing a loan for a family member.

Enjoy!

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Is the Long Game Always Your Best Saving and Investing Approach? Dec 17, 2021

If you had unlimited time, what's the biggest goal you'd like to achieve? With enough time, we can accomplish a lot, and maybe almost anything. If time and resources are scarce though, prioritizing goals is even more important. Our roundtable today discusses the long-game when it comes to life, business and our money. Does playing the long game when it comes to our money pay off? Doc G, Paula Pant, and OG fill our roundtable and share their thoughts.

Enjoy!

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He Survived an Estate Nightmare (and you can too!) Dec 15, 2021

Last week we talked about one of the certainties in life: taxes. Today, we tackle what to do before the other certainty. David E. Edey went through his own family troubles when settling his parent's estate, spending seven years and over $50,000 on attorney fees. Why? His siblings fought over the inheritance. The phrase "inheritance curse" is too real for some families who've spent countless time and money fighting. Now David is sharing lessons he's learned to help us all put our estate in order now to avoid headache for others later.

During our headline segment, we'll talk about another purchase feeling the sting of inflation: the Christmas tree. That's right, inflation isn't hitting just food and gas. Just how much are prices rising? And how can we adjust our budget for inflation? Joe and OG will dive in. We'll also answer Daniel's question about company stock and Doug will share his mind-bending trivia.

Enjoy!

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How Smart People Get Financially Catfished (with Nev Schulman) Dec 13, 2021

"Hi there, I'm just calling to let you know that the extended warranty on your car...blah, blah, blah..." There are thousands of very real and sophisticated scams that rope people in every day. Nev Schulman is all too familiar with catfishing, experiencing it firsthand when he thought he was talking to a woman online but realized she wasn't who she said she was when they met in person. Now, he's partnered with Zelle to help others avoid financial scams. Today he shares red flags and helpful tips when dealing with financial transactions online.

In our headline, we're talking about gold and silver under the mattress and how it turned into big trouble for one couple to the tune of a $300k IRS penalty. It turns out, storing gold and silver in your house is a no-no in this situation and we break down why, exactly what happened, and how you can avoid making similar costly mistakes. We'll also help Rina, who has a question about fees within mutual funds.

Enjoy!

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Should You Be Stealth With Your Wealth? Dec 10, 2021

Have you ever been asked by a coworker or friend how much you make or how much money you have? It can be an awkward conversation if you aren't expecting it! Or have you had someone openly tell you about their net worth or income? Our background with money, and even our career, can shape how we talk about money with others. Should we be sharing our salary information with coworkers and sharing our net worth with our friends and family? While it might seem awkward, there might also be a lot of good that can come from those conversations.

Our roundtable panel today is talking about this topic of stealth wealth. Hassan Thomas from FYI FLI, Paula Pant and OG share their thoughts on talking about wealth and income.

Enjoy!

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Your 2021 Year-End Tax Planning Guide (with Ed Slott) Dec 08, 2021

Our good friend Ben Franklin said the only things certain in life are death and taxes. Since we are coming up on year-end, we'll tackle one of those certainties (you're on your own with the other). To help us, tax expert Ed Slott is back! He'll help you get your finances in order before year-end to avoid any tax surprises in April. Should you convert your IRA to a Roth? What's the contribution deadline for retirement accounts? What changes might be coming in future legislation? Ed's commenting on it all with us today.

We'll also talk about regulation in cryptocurrency during our headline segment. One of the main benefits of cryptocurrency has been the idea that it is unregulated, but the U.S. government is trying to change that. Although the SEC can't agree, will they consider crypto a security and therefore have regulation over it? We'll share the latest details! We'll also tackle 529 and college saving plans during our Haven Lifeline.

Enjoy!

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How To Build Your Stack + Millennials Ditch Financial Advisors Dec 06, 2021

Getting started on your personal financial journey is the hardest part. Where do you start and how do you get that first Benjamin stacked? And then how do you make sure to keep those Benjamins safe and make them work for you? Lucky for us, Emily Guy Birken and our very own Joe Saul-Sehy wrote a book that dives into personal finance and offers real, practical tips and strategies to help you be successful. Humor and easy-to-follow action items make it a great way to jump into your own journey. They are here today and were interviewed by Doc G from the Earn & Invest podcast to share behind the scenes stories of how the book was written and some of the points they dive into in the book.

During our headline we'll talk about those old sales tactics of playing rounds of golf and going out for extravagant dinners to get clients and why some millennials aren't buying it. Financial advisors have more responsibility than just investing your money but some young people are choosing to manage their own investments and explain why. Plus, Doug will share some trivia.

Enjoy!

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LIVE From EconoMe 2021 Dec 05, 2021

It's a special Saturday episode!

Community plays a big role in our lives and the community you surround yourself with can make all the difference on the path you are on. We are lucky to be part of a pretty badass community here and are lucky to have such great people to lean on. We are live today from the2021 EconoMe conference in Cincinnati with special guests Piggy and Kitty from Bitches Get Riches. They share thoughts on some stats about what we do (and don't) share with others about our finances and how we can all help each other reach that next level of greatness.

We'll also discuss a current headline about Zillow dumping homes. Zillow is selling houses across the country after realizing flipping homes isn't as easy as they make it look on HGTV (not their story, but that's our take). Is Zillow selling in your state? And what does this mean for the real estate market as a whole? We'll share our thoughts!

Enjoy!

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Our Best 2021 Holiday Wallet-Saving Tips Dec 03, 2021

It’s peak shopping season and many of us are also getting ready to attend or host holiday parties, which means money may be quickly shuffling out of your wallet. Since money doesn’t grow on trees, today we’ll share our best money-saving tips for this holiday season. Maybe pass out your homemade lasagna to family and friends or just say no to gifts altogether this year? While those are good, we may share even better tips today! Our long-time friend Bobbi Rebell joins Len Penzo and OG to share how they are getting through the holidays with the least amount of stress and wasted money.

Enjoy!

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Holiday Networking Strategies for Introverts (with Nick Shelton) Dec 01, 2021

The holidays can be overwhelming for lots of reasons (family, too many parties, not enough time) and that stress can run even deeper for introverts. Have you ever RSVP'd to something then immediately regretted it, preferring to stay cozy under a blanket on the couch? Yep, we've been there. Luckily, there's lots of introverts in the world and Nick Shelton is an expert in helping people out of their comfort zone to make the most of any situation. He's here today to give tips and pointers to surviving any party. Not an introvert? These tips will help you, too!

We're talking fees during our headline, and specifically retirement plan fees. There's a new-ish investment vehicle out there called collective investment trusts (CIT) and they are gaining popularity fast. We'll give our take and add in some additional thoughts.

Enjoy!

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Maximize Your 401K With These 10 Easy Tips Nov 29, 2021

Not sure how to best use your 401k plan to stack some B's? Today the man many call the "father of the 401k," Ted Benna, joins us to share not just how he created the first 401k plan, but he'll also share some great tips for ensuring you are getting the maximum benefit from every contribution.

During our headline, we talk about the wild ride that is NFTs. Who has the right to create and sell an NFT? Apparently not Quentin Tarantino. Listen to find out why he is being sued. Then we'll answer Nathan's question about his commercial mortgages. He wants to pay off one of them but which one should he pay first?

Enjoy!

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Our Top 5 Board Games for Families + Franklin's Fortune Nov 26, 2021

What's your favorite game to play with family and friends? If you don't have a favorite, or if you're looking for a new game, we have good news for you. It's our annual board game episode and we talk to two great guests, Jamey Stegmaier and Shane Newell. Jamey gives us his list of favorites and Shane introduces us to his game Franklin's Fortune and we have links to all of them below so you can find a new game to play!

Enjoy!

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2021’s Hottest Holiday Tech Deals Nov 24, 2021

On Monday we gave you a list of top Black Friday deals and today we are continuing the deals with all things tech! Bridget Carey from CNET joins us again this year to share the hottest tech items and deals you can find. Everything from TVs to Fisher-Price phones (yes, like the one a lot of us had as kids).

During our headline, we talk about Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes. She is currently on trial for fraud and we break down what we can all learn from her company's downfall. Then we'll throw out the Haven Life line to Doug who wants to know where to invest his funds.

Enjoy!

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Our Annual Black Friday Savings Episode (plus FSA rules changes AND a TikTok to remember) Nov 22, 2021

What's on your holiday wish list this year? Are you planning on running out on Black Friday to snag some deals? Lucky for you, we are making your holiday shopping a little easier. Regina Conway is back to share insights and deals for this Black Friday. She shares all the hottest deals and biggest discounts she is seeing to help narrow down your list.

Do you have an FSA account? Here's your reminder to spend those funds before the December 31st deadline (but that could be changing for some). Shawna Hausman from FSAstore.com helps us during our headline segment by breaking down the changes coming to FSA accounts and give tips to help spend those funds wisely.

Enjoy!

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The Money Myth Buster Episode Nov 19, 2021

Have you ever received money advice that made you scratch your head in confusion? I was once told that I should buy a new car every few years because it would save on maintenance costs....I think the person giving me that advice forgot how much it costs to buy a car. Good news for you, our roundtable today discusses top money myths and how you can avoid making these same mistakes. Our regular contributors, Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and OG give their take on these top myths and share some of their own as well.

And you don't want to miss Doug's trivia!

Enjoy!

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Restaurants, Your Health, and Your Wallet (with Corey Mintz) Nov 17, 2021

How much thought do you put into where your food comes from and how the employees at your favorite restaurant are treated? If you're like most of us, probably not much. Corey Mintz is a former cook turned food writer and he is pulling back the curtain on some of the most pressing issues facing your waistline, your wallet, and the health and wallets of restaurant employees. How can we be more informed and spend our money more wisely by choosing restaurants that align with our values? Corey is here to help point us in the right direction!

Good news for some savers! During our headline, we'll give you the deets on retirement plan contribution limits for 2022. The IRS updated some, but not all, contribution limits and we'll break it down. We'll also answer Tabitha's question about selling items on Ebay. Will she be taxed on the gains from the sale? We'll share! And Doug will enlighten us with his trivia question.

Enjoy!

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Our Best Tips to Navigate Change Nov 15, 2021

Change. It's something most of us struggle with, but when it comes to money and building your plan, change will always be necessary. James Conklin is an author and consultant in organizational change and joins us today to share some of the most effective ways to navigate change that we've ever heard. How can we better adapt to change personally and professionally? And how can people and organizations affect change in a productive way? He shares it all with us today.

But before that, during our headline segment, we talk about federal student loans with Amanda Hahnel from Fidelity Investments. Federal student loan payments will resume in 2022 and she shares some tips on how to be prepared. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Stan who has a question about real estate and Doug will share his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Our 12 Best Holiday Survival Tips (plus the Evil HR Lady) - REWIND Nov 12, 2021

Today we're packing the show full of holiday survival tips! From shopping to family gatherings, our roundtable shares their favorite tips and tricks for not just surviving, but surviving without completely emptying your wallet.

This episode originally aired in 2019 so check out the original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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A Better Way To Buy Investment Real Estate (with David Greene) - REWIND Nov 10, 2021

Zillow is in the headlines recently, because they're real estate purchase program hasn't worked as expected and they're dumping properties purchased only months ago. Many of these properties are selling for less than the purchase price. Is this a sign of another real estate crash or just a bad business move on Zillow's part? The next few weeks will be telling, but if you are thinking of buying more real estate, we have a great show for you today. David Greene from BiggerPockets is here to help you grow your real estate empire.

This episode originally aired in 2019 and you can see our original show notes here.

Enjoy!

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Curing Your Time Poverty Problem (w/Ashley Whillans) - REWIND Nov 08, 2021

Man, that time change is always hard. It's getting dark earlier and starting to feel more and more like winter. There's nothing the time change blues can't fix like an episode on managing time and how to make our days feel longer and more efficient. Ashley Whillans joins us to help us work through that never-ending feeling of not having enough time during our day. Where is your time really going? She will help work through that!

Today's episode kicks off another rewind week and you can see our original show notes from 2020, here.

Enjoy!

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What Life Lessons Would You Share With a Younger You? Nov 05, 2021

If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Maybe it's to take more chances or say adios to the boss that treats you horrible or maybe it's just to live life to the fullest and not worry about what others think. Today our roundtable discusses a blog piece from Ryan Holiday about mistakes he's made and advice he would give himself. Caleb Gulliams (Better Wealth), Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and Doc G (Earn & Invest) join our roundtable and talk about advice they'd give their younger self and the mistakes they've made.

Enjoy!

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Want To Save More? Use Tricks From Video Games Nov 03, 2021

Our brains are complex and in charge of our emotions, memories and behaviors but just how connected are our brains and decisions about money? Maybe more than you realize. Dr. Paul Zak joins us to talk about our brains and money. Studies have shown that different parts of our brain light up on MRI scans when faced with different money decisions and purchases and this research can be used to predict how people will spend their money or feel about money. Using that knowledge and gamification, we can build better money habits. Video games and even games on our phones can help build better habits by encouraging saving and investing.

During our headline, we talk about company retirement plans and savings rates in the U.S. Many companies don't offer 401k plans for employees, but should they? Joe and OG will give you their take but the real problem facing many Americans is that savings rates aren't nearly where they need to be. We'll break down those numbers too. Then we'll throw out the Haven Life line to William who is getting ready to sell a rental property and has questions about the capital gains tax due.

Enjoy!

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The Fight Over Dungeons & Dragons Nov 01, 2021

Board games date back almost 5,000 years to the Egyptians but our games today look very different. Modern board games and video games have exploded in popularity and one of the most popular games in history is Dungeons & Dragons. Its history is long and full of success and turmoil as the founders faced legal and personal struggles. Jon Peterson is an expert in gaming and joins us today to share the story of D&D and how it became the game that nearly 50 million fans around the world know and love.

During our headline, we are back with more cryptocurrency news as the first bitcoin ETF was approved recently. What do you need to know and how does it differ from buying bitcoin directly? We have all the details! Then we'll hear from Matt who wants our advice on his investing strategy. When is the best time to buy and what should he do? We'll let you know our thoughts!

Enjoy!

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Real-Life Money Horror Stories That Will Make Your Skin Crawl Oct 29, 2021

Most of us have made mistakes with money in our lives. What's your money horror story? Ever gotten caught up in a Venmo scam or been asked to pay the IRS in gift cards for taxes due? Sounds fishy but it happens to the best of us. Our roundtable today shares their scary money stories before the Halloween weekend. Our regular contributors, Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and OG share times they or someone they know has been caught in a sticky situation with money.

Halfway through, Doug will share some of his toothbrush (?) related trivia.

Enjoy!

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How Do You Retire Happy? (plus an economic Halloween game!) Oct 27, 2021

You might retire, but how do you retire happy? How do you imagine spending your time in retirement and does pre-planning make you happier? The host of the nation's longest-running financial radio call-in show, Wes Moss joins us to share his research on what makes for the happiest retirees. He'll share many secrets including those about hobbies, kids, and what workout even is best, on today's show

During our headline, we welcome back Chuck Jaffe for his annual Halloween trick-or-treat money lessons. He's known in his neighborhood for a crazy personal finance game where he offers kids candy or a chance at some money when they trick-or-treat at his house. What will he do this year?! He'll share and give you tips on organizing your own game. Then we'll Magnify Steve's money and answer his question about retirement contributions and debt payoff. Should he save or eliminate the bills? And Doug will also share some beer-related trivia since today is, of all things, National beer day.

Enjoy!

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Light a Fire Under Your Chance of Success Oct 25, 2021

How do you find success? Today, we'll help..."shine a light" on the path to a better work life (we're so, so clever!). Chesapeake Bay Candle has seen tremendous success and today founder Mei Xu joins us to share her secrets. Whether you're looking to climb the corporate ladder or create your own company, there's something for everyone in today's interview.

During our headline, we welcome back Steve Kerber to share fire safety tips with us since October is fire safety awareness month. Fire spreads fast and seconds make all the difference when the flames are blazing. Then we'll magnify Dave's money who wants to know when you have enough for retirement. We deep dive into the idea of "enough," and you won't want to miss it.

Enjoy!

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What Is The Cost of “Cool”? Oct 22, 2021

Mummies, pineapples, and board games (Joe's favorite!). What do these all have in common? They've all been seen as status symbols at some point in time. Today's status symbols might be fancy strollers, nice cars, or how many followers you have on Instagram. We see these everywhere and it's hard to ignore and not spend money on the same things. Our roundtable today discusses a piece about strange status symbols throughout time and how status symbols in general influence our spending. Paul Ollinger (Crazy Money podcast), Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot Com) join our roundtable to talk about status symbols they've noticed and the impacts on our finances and life.

Enjoy!

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Big Debt, Late Start, World Travel: No Problem Oct 20, 2021

We went campin' (well, Joe and Doc G did) and dug up some inspiring and amazing money stories from fellow campers. We are live today from Camp FI (financial independence) and Joe and special guest co-host Doc G (Earn and Invest) hear from four people about their journey to financial independence. One couple didn't start saving for retirement until age 50 and retired at age 60, one woman has been living abroad for 20 years after initially thinking she'd be there for 1 or 2, and two women share their massive debt payoff stories. These are sure to inspire and motivate you in your own journey and it was a blast talking to each of them.

Enjoy!

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Unbelievable Stories from Bitcoin's Wild Wild West Oct 18, 2021

If you thought the days of crazy lawless activity left when the wild west was won, think again. The spirit of the Wild West continues in cryptocurrency. From the early investors, new coins and even some legal trouble, there's still lots to be uncovered in the world of crypto. Ethan Lou joined Doc G to talk about his experience with cryptocurrency and the major unknowns to still be uncovered with crypto. Is there still opportunity to buy into crypto and make loads of money like the early adopters? Ethan shares his take!

During our headline we talk about the month of October in the stock market. It's no secret that October has seen some ugly stock market returns (1929, 1987, 2008 to name a few) but is it really as bad as we think? Robert Gilliland joins us to share his take on the market and give us some stats on the market as a whole. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Jennifer who wants to know how to fund her grandchild's education. And Doug will share some Bitcoin trivia.

Enjoy!

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Should You Be More Worried About Retirement? Oct 15, 2021

When did you start really thinking about, and maybe even stressing over, retirement? In your 50s, or 40s, or maybe even your 20s? Our discussion piece today, written by our friend Eric Brotman, talks about the increasing number of people in their early working career that are stressed about retirement. From stressing over saving enough money and comparing yourself to others (thanks, social media!) our contributors give their take and some tips they've learned over the years. Krista Edwards (Ready to Roth), Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) join our roundtable and share the ways they've reduced their stress about retirement.

Enjoy!

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Guess Who Created The Index Fund? (hint: you'll probably be surprised) Oct 13, 2021

There's a chance you've heard the words "passive investing", "index funds" or "ETF (exchange-traded fund)" but the history behind these is much longer (and more interesting!) than you probably imagined. Passive investing is extremely popular with investors today but that wasn't always the case. Robin Wigglesworth joins us today to talk about the history of index funds and ETFs and the key players that paved the way.

During our headline, we talk about long-term care and the exponentially rising cost of care. Nursing homes are expensive and many people would prefer to have care in their own homes. We talk through some of the options and costs associated with those. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Jason who wants to know what to do with a business cash account that has accumulated a large balance. Doug will also share some Vanguard-related trivia since we are talking about passive investing today.

Enjoy!

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How A Shark Can Help You Run A Successful Business (with Barbara Corcoran) Oct 11, 2021

Have you wanted to start a business but something is holding you back? Not enough time, resources or money? And maybe some fear as well. Today we talk to Shark Tank shark and real estate and business mogul, Barbara Corcoran about starting a successful business. She shares tips she's learned over her career and shares what you should (and shouldn't) focus too much of your time on. Those traditional business plans might not be all they are cracked up to be and she shares a different approach that has proved to be more successful.

During our headline segment, Google tried (and failed) to start a banking program. They aren't the only company that has tried reinventing the banking industry over the last several years, and they won't be the last either. Then we'll throw out the Haven Life line to an anonymous caller that wants advice on how to fund fertility treatment. And Doug will share his trivia!

Enjoy!

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Can Rattlesnake Wranglers Give Good Financial Advice? Oct 08, 2021

Investing can feel like a rattlesnake hunt if you don't know what you are doing. Scary, surprising, and sometimes painful if you aren't careful. Our roundtable today discusses a piece comparing the world of investing and our emotions to a rattlesnake hunt (a real thing in the small town of Sinnemahoning, PA). Bob Wheeler (Money You Should Ask), Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and OG talk about how emotions play into our investing decisions and ways we can try to separate the emotion from the math.

Enjoy!

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Lean Into Sadness and Away From Your Timeshare (with Helen Russell) Oct 06, 2021

Human emotion makes us, well, human. While it's much more fun to feel happy, excited, or optimistic, there's no denying that we also feel sad, confused and frustrated at times. Helen Russell joins us today to talk about why feeling those negative emotions is important and how it can actually make us happier in the long run. She talks about validating the sadness and finding ways to cope and move forward to a happier life.

During our headline, our friend Dave from Tennessee is in the news, but not for good reason. A former advertiser on Dave Ramsey's show is in hot water for deceptive business practices and we dive in. Then we talk about the in's and out's of required minimum distributions during our Haven Life line call. And Doug will include some of his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Questions To Ask Before You Donate + How To Double Your Salary! Oct 04, 2021

Want to find more happiness? Think bigger than your own goals. We've said this a TON lately on the podcast, so today we look at how to make it happen. Sadly, as Lisa Greer has experienced, charitable giving can be much more difficult than we'd hoped. Lisa joins us to share her less-than-ideal donating experience and what questions you should ask to make the biggest impact with your money.

During our headline we talk about how COVID and work from home has changed productivity and work hours. Some employees have found ways to significantly increase their income working from home, but there's a catch (as always). And Doug will deliver some of his amazing charitable-giving related trivia.

Enjoy!

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Is That Light At The End Of The Tunnel Your Retirement Or A Train? Oct 01, 2021

What does retirement mean to you? Is it traveling, sitting on the beach or playing golf? Or maybe taking on a volunteer project? Or something completely different? Our roundtable today talks about what retirement means to them and what we can all watch out for when planning for retirement. We are joined by Wendy Mays from House of FI, Len Penzo and OG as they give us their take and tips to think about before retirement.

Doug will also share some of his amazing CD trivia.

Enjoy!

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What Are You Worried About? (Live from #FinCon21) Sep 29, 2021

Between the stock market, soaring housing prices, and the strive for financial independence, what's been top-of-mind for you lately? Maybe you are getting ready to retire and thinking about how you will spend your days or planning your jet-setting adventure around the world. Or maybe you are intensely focused on saving as much as possible in the market. Today, we are live from FinCon in Austin, Texas, with OG, Paula Pant (Afford Anything), Diania Merriam (EconoMe Conference) and very special guest Julien Saunders from Rich & Regular, to see what their audiences are most concerned about right now. We talk about everything from the stock market to risk management to marriage and family.

Enjoy!

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Get Out Of Your Own Way With One Simple Tool (with Mel Robbins) Sep 27, 2021

Ever look at yourself in the mirror? Of course you have! How many times have you had to tell that person looking back at you to get out of the way? If you're like us, A TON. Mel Robbins discovered that one simple gesture in the morning can make all the difference in our decisions. She'll share details of her own ugly journey to success after financial hardship and how five seconds and high fives changed her outlook. High fives aren't just for big accomplishments or a way to communicate with friends. You can (and should) give yourself a high five every day for all the successes in your life, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Mel dives into the science behind how these small habits changed her life and how they can change yours too.

We are back teaching you about annuities during our headline and one annuity company is pleading to independent financial advisors to give their products another shot. Annuities aren't always painted in the best light and we'll hear what this company is doing to change that. During our Magnify Money voicemail, Roy wants to pick Joe and OG's brains about their asset allocation. And of course we'll include some of Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Tired of Spending Less? How to Beat "Frugality Fatigue" Sep 24, 2021

Have you ever felt burnt out by trying too hard to save money or squeeze your budget too thin? That's what's known as "frugal fatigue". Sometimes we try so hard to cut expenses and save every penny that we end up spending more time and energy than we should. Paula, Len, and Chelsea Brennan join our roundtable today to talk about ways to avoid frugal fatigue. They talk about setting budget goals based on what matters most to you, creating "fun" budget items, and earning more when needed.

Doug also shares some of his space-themed trivia. Listen to find out if Chelsea Brennan gets "Chelsea Brennan'd"!

Enjoy!

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Upgrade Your Career, Compete with Avis, and Brew Your Own Beer Sep 22, 2021

How does a trip to Ireland with a private car rental service and a beer-making class sound? Today we have all three of those for you, but presented as three awesome and financially sound separate stories. Today we feature three Stackers who all join us today to share their very personal money stories. First, we'll share Sara's story. She took a solo trip to Ireland that changed her outlook on her life and career (ultimately earning her much more money). The moves she made when she got home propelled her career far beyond what she'd imagined. Then we'll pivot to Christopher who rents out his car on Turo and shares his experience so far. Last, Ryan Mac shares his homebrew experience and how he got into making beer. He even sent Joe and OG some samples to try!

Enjoy!

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What's The Future of Money? Sep 20, 2021

Will you bank in the future the way you did in the past? What role will emerging financial systems like crypto and FinTech have in the future? Senior Brookings Fellow Eswar Prasad joins us today to talk about the future of money. He will share his opinions along with a look back at how we've gotten to the point we are at today.

During our headline, it looks like some managers may be cheating on their target date fund management scheme. We'll dive in to asset allocation and target portfolios today. The popular 60/40 portfolio used by many investors has some investors questioning if the returns are enough to reach their goals. We talk about ways some fund managers are trying to boost those returns. And we'll throw out the Haven Life line to Justin who is working towards his CFP® certification and wants Joe and OG's advice when job searching. Doug will also share some of his trivia.

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One Powerful (and simple) Tool to Reach Your Goals Sep 17, 2021

How would you rate the different aspects of your life: fun & relaxation, personal & spiritual growth, business, money, health, family & friends, love & romance, and personal development? Then how much time and money do you invest in each category? Do the parts of your life that you value most match up with the parts you spend the most time and money on? Today our roundtable looks at a blog piece about spending money on what matters most to you. To help guide the conversation, we use a wheel that is used by many personal and business coaches to help categorize and visualize your life. We have a free download of that wheel below for you to follow along. Kyle Landis-Marinello, Paula Pant and Len Penzo join our roundtable today to discuss what they value most and how they spend their money on those aspects of their life.

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You Have More Than You Think (plus: drunk traded lately?) Sep 15, 2021

Studies show that our biggest enemy is often the one between our own ears. It can be hard to get out of your own head at times. Joyce Marter joins us today to talk about limiting beliefs and how we can practice an abundance mindset to be more successful. She is a psychotherapist, entrepreneur, author and speaker and sold her own business (that she'd started for $500) for many times more than what she expected--and multiple millions of dollars--once she got advice from others and got out of her own way.

During our headline, we talk to Kamaron McNair about a piece she wrote for Magnify Money about investing behaviors and emotions. How many people have traded while drunk? She will let us know! She also talks about other money worries and how emotions have a play in trading and investing. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Mark who wants to know what you would do if you were given $100k in Bitcoin. Joe and OG will fill us in on their thoughts. And Doug will enlighten us all with his trivia!

Enjoy!

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Nice People Finish Last But Bad People Don't Win Either Sep 13, 2021

Why is it that nice guys always seem to finish last? There's something that doesn't seem fair about the jerks in the world winning in business and life. Does a middle ground exist, and is that the secret spot for success? David Bodanis argues there is a middle ground and using effective listening, respect and trust techniques and practices is the secret recipe to success. He joins us today to tell some incredible stories of how these principles have played out in people's lives in the past, so you can make better decisions in the future.

Football is back--the American kind, anyway--and we dive into how one NFL team is partnering with a financial literacy firm to help educate Americans on money habits and skills to help grow their wealth. That leads to a discussion about the new Acorns SPAC, gamification in your financial plan, and meme stock performance. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Leah who wants to know why she's so torn about buying a house now. And to tie it all together, Doug will share some of his trivia.

Find our show notes at StackingBenjamins.com

Looking for a guide to our show? Here's the link: StackingBenjamins.com/Stacker

Enjoy!

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The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Retirement (plus Kathryn Minshew from TheMuse.com) - REWIND Sep 10, 2021

We have a great roundtable discussion for you and an interview with Kathryn Minshew, CEO of Themuse.com today. The roundtable starts off our episode by discussing the pros and cons of early retirement. Are there more cons than pros? According to our piece, there might be but our contributors weigh in with their opinions too. Then we talk to Kathryn Minshew about personal branding and how you can make sure your brand stands out from the rest. See our full original show notes here.

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My Journey to Huge Success in Real Estate (with Ryan Serhant) Sep 08, 2021

The amazing real estate pro from Million Dollar Listing New York, Ryan Serhant, joined us to walk us through highlights and lessons from his journey to success in real estate. He never expected to be a salesman, let alone a realtor, and it took him years to figure out his competitive advantage. He shares how we can all be better in business, sales and relationships with a few tips. Connection, initiative, and relationships with others are key to many aspects in business and he explains how each have contributed to his success. See our original show notes from the episode here. We've got another great rewind episode for you today, this time from 2018.

Enjoy!

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You Can Be a Badass With Money Sep 06, 2021

How are you with cash? Credit? Putting money in investments? All of that begins with your mindset, and Jen Sincero joins us today to help you get your head in the right place.

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Does Your Astrological Sign Affect Your Ability to Build Wealth? Sep 03, 2021

Do libra's really have a better chance of becoming billionaires than other zodiac signs? You'd think not, but according to one blog post, Libra's are only 9% of the population but make up 20% of billionaire. If you aren't lucky enough to be a Libra billionaire, what does your own zodiac sign mean for your money habits? Today we are joined by Jen Smith, Len Penzo and OG for a wide-ranging roundtable discussion where they don't hold back on their opinions of astrological signs (and that's putting it mildly)! They also talk about the personality traits of their own signs and how those might help, and hurt, their money and investing habits.

To round out the show, Doug will share some Ronald Reagan trivia. Can OG keep his trivia lead? You'll find out today!

Enjoy!

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How To Avoid Getting Scammed on Life Insurance Sep 01, 2021

How well do you understand life insurance? If you don't know as much as you should, an unscrupulous agent who meets with you might convince you to purchase a product that could cost you hundreds or even thousands of wasted dollars. Today we'll dive into the basics of life insurance, including, how insurances are priced, how term and permanent policies are different (and the same), and why most people shouldn't look at insurance as an investment. Even if you know some general "rules of thumb" about insurance, there's a good possibility that you should be able to round out your product knowledge in a deeper way.

Speaking of unscrupulous, during our headlines segment we dive into a new alleged scam. How do you spot a financial "professional" who's really asking you to invest in a product that doesn't exist (or one that's not suitable)? We'll talk about clues to sniff out bad actors and also discuss the particulars of the investments that were used so that you know more about the upsides and downsides of the "weapons" this particular scammer used.

It's a fun Wednesday deep dive for us! Hope you enjoy it!

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El Salvador is Crypto Curious + Reading to Lead with Jeff Brown & Jesse Wisnewski Aug 30, 2021

Want to move ahead faster in your career? Feeling uncreative and like you aren't moving? Stop waiting for others to design a curriculum for you and create your own. Today we'll talk to two men who've done exactly that for themselves and today will share their stories, tips, and tricks to becoming a leader faster through reading. Our guests today, Jeff Brown and Jesse Wisnewski, talk about the importance of reading for our personal and professional lives. They share how they've created their own reading curriculum and share tips for all of us.

During our headline, we talk about Bitcoin and a country that is adopting it as an official currency. We discuss the challenges, advantages and cryptocurrency in general. We also throw out the Haven Life line to Steven who is new to financial planning and wants advice for career development. And Doug will share some book related trivia.

See more on the show notes page: Stacking Benjamins dot com

Check out our FREE guide to our shows: Stacking Benjamins Guide (The Stacker)

Enjoy!

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Special Episode: Plutus Awards 2021 Finalists and Roundtable Aug 28, 2021

It's that time! The 2021 Plutus Awards (co-hosted by Joe Saul-Sehy and Natalie Torres-Haddad) will take place during FinCon in Austin, Texas on September 23rd. Today we announce the finalists with our friend Miranda Marquit (Planting Money Seeds). Then we turn things over to an all-star panel who'll share thoughts about all of our finalists in seven of the categories, plus share who they hope will win and who they think the Plutus Awards panel will choose. Thanks to Amy Blacklock (Women Who Money), Nadia Vanderhall (Brands + Bands), and Chris Hutchins (All The Hacks) for helping us make a great show! You'll find links to everyone on our show notes page at Stacking Benjamins dot com.

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Our End of Summer Economic & Portfolio Guide: The STACK Live Event (featuring Dr. Apollo Lupescu) Aug 27, 2021

How's your portfolio performing? Are your funds not performing as you'd hoped? Today we'll help you figure out how recent economic conditions, investing trends, and different asset classes affect your success!

A few weeks ago, we held an awesome live Stack event on YouTube with Dr. Apollo Lupescu from Dimensional Funds where he dove into inflation, current market trends, and the overall economy. He also answered some listener's questions live! Today, you'll hear that discussion in it's entirety. After Dr. Lupescu, we finished out the event with OG answering additional financial questions from viewers. It was a great event so we are replaying it for you today for those who missed it.

If you weren't notified of the Stack event ahead of time and would like to be included for our fall event, sign up for our free guide to the show here. In addition to exciting news and updates for upcoming events like the Stack, you'll also get the Monday and Wednesday show guides that are packed with lots of information on the topics we discuss in the shows and Joe's money lessons.

Find our show notes at StackingBenjamins.com

Find our free GUIDE to our Monday and Wednesday shows (plus news on when our next STACK event will occur): StackingBenjamins.com/STACKER

Enjoy!

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What Should We Focus on First? (with Eric Brotman) + Why Your Advisor Doesn’t Text Aug 25, 2021

It's back-to-school season and with as much joy as that brings for parents (free babysitting, anyone? Just kidding. Okay, not really.), we are also bringing you back to school with your finances. Certified Financial Planner Eric Brotman joins us to break down your financial journey using the schoolyard analogy of freshman, sophomore, junior and senior year. What do you need to think about and what can you tactically do at each step of your financial journey to ensure success? Each year builds upon the previous and he helps us break it down.

During our headline, we'll talk about communication strategies between advisors and clients. FINRA may allow text messaging in the future; what does that mean for you? And how else can advisors effectively communicate with clients? We'll give you all the details. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line and talk about how to talk to family members about money concerns. And Doug will enlighten us with his soft drink trivia. Is it pop or soda? Hmm, maybe I don't want to start that debate too! (but we all know the right answer is soda).

Enjoy!

Find show notes at StackingBenjamins.com

Subcribe to our FREE guide to the podcast at StackingBenjamins.com/stacker

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How a Bad Estate Plan Can Wreck You (even if you have nothing) Aug 23, 2021

We hear a ton about "intergenerational wealth" lately, and a cornerstone of building a dynasty of Benjamin-stackers is knowing how to pass on your assets. But even if you don't have any assets yet, not having a good plan can still wreck your plans. On today's show, we'll dive into Estate Planning 101 with author Amy Blacklock, and begin with the bazillion dollar question, "Why do I need an estate plan if I have nothing?" You'll be surprised. We'll also answer basic questions, like, "Who would you want to handle your estate and who do you want to give your sweet super soaker collection to?" We'll tackle wills, trusts, estate planning for young people, and more.

During our headline, we take a look at asset allocation and rebalancing. Rebalancing is important at any stage of your investing life, but why does it matter more during retirement? We'll find out and offer our thoughts on how and when to rebalance. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Joanne who asked a question in our Facebook group about an annuity she was pitched. We have (sometimes strong) opinions on annuities but we break this down and explain the red flags we see. Don't worry, we won't forget about Doug's trivia!

Enjoy!

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Our Best "Secret" Money-Saving Travel Hacks Aug 20, 2021

There are two types of people who travel: those who meticulously plan every detail and spend hours strategizing so they can save every last penny, and on the other hand, there are those who buy whatever last-minute plane ticket they can find and stumbles into the first hotel they see. Which one are you? Our regular roundtable guests are all back together today to compete head-to-head to guess which top travel hacks a recent Kiplinger post references. Len, Paula, and OG not only go head-to-head to see who can guess which travel hacks are listed...they also share some great money-savers that didn't make the Kiplinger list.

The show wouldn't be complete without some of Doug's trivia and he tries to throw off our roundtable with his radio-themed question today.

Enjoy!

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Fighting Fear, Buying Real Estate, and Shaving Taxes (Live from PM21) Aug 18, 2021

You don't have to be wealthy to build wealth. That's the theme that kicks off today with our amazing panel, live from Podcast Movement in Nashville! Joe meets up with Mindy Jensen from BiggerPockets Money, Ben Brandt from Retirement Starts Today and Jennifer Grimson from Micro Empires to talk about what's impacting their audience most right now and the financial topics that seem to be top-of-mind. What money topics are most concerning in your life right now? We talk about the crazy real estate market and prices, FOMO, taxes, imposter syndrome, and more.

Enjoy!

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Communicate Like a Boss (with Rachel Pacheco) Aug 16, 2021

How well do you share feedback, ask for what you want, or set expectations? Do you find that people aren't where you expect, doing what you'd hoped, or disappointing your expectations? If you need help with any of these, today's show is for you.

Anyone can be a manager, but being a great communicator takes skill, time, and practice. From micromanaging to the sandwich feedback method, there's lots of improvement that can be made if you're managing anything, which will improve your team/family/partner's morale and success. Management expert, consultant, and Wharton professor Rachel Pacheco joins us today to talk about the management skills she's learned--and now teaches--to others. Frequent communication, effective feedback, and setting clear expectations are just a few of the points she discusses with us that you'll also find in her new book, Bringing Up the Boss.

For our headline, we talk about all of the recent news on the #FreeBritney front, and just how hard it is to regain control from a conservatorship. We'll start with Britney Spears' troubles with her developing situation, how she's trying to set herself free, and the estate planning lessons we can all learn from it. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Frank who is getting a raise at work and wants to know what type of account he should save the additional funds to. And Doug's trivia is about one of the best shows on television, The Office.

Enjoy!

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Winning the Quest for "Enough" Aug 13, 2021

Why do we, as humans, feel like we never have enough? Enough money, enough time, enough resources. How can we overcome the limiting belief that we just need a little more for life to be perfect and instead live with internal and external security? Today we're LIVE on the Fireside app diving into this topic in maybe the most fun way you've ever heard. Don't take that the wrong way: we'll still cover the deep stuff, but in between a lot of laughs and interesting asides from the whole team. Financial planner Dawn Dahlby joins Len and OG on our roundtable today and they discuss a piece about human behavior in personal finance and having "enough".

It's Friday the 13th and Doug lets us know his thoughts about popular superstitions on this day before giving us his magician-related trivia.

Enjoy!

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Redefining Rich (with Shannon Hayes), and the CFP Board Tightens the Screws Aug 11, 2021

What does rich mean to you? Lamborghinis and mansions? Well for Shannon Hayes, it meant something completely different, and she hit the reset button on the common view of "wealth" and achieved something that many may think is a greater form of richness. Shannon joins us today to tell the story of how she and her husband pivoted away from their careers and went back to the farm in search of the life they dreamed of. She talks about redefining what rich means to her and how we can all tune in to our goals and dreams a bit more.

During our headline, the CFP Board is cracking down and proposing stricter punishment for CFP® professionals that do not report ethics violations. We discuss the importance of this and what it means to hire a CFP® professional versus another advisor. We also help Scott during our Haven Life line call and give him advice to keep moving toward his financial goals. And of course, Doug will enlighten us all with his gardening trivia.

Enjoy!

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How Are Food Prices Rising? Len Penzo's 13th Annual Sandwich Survey Aug 09, 2021

Think inflation is boring? Think again, because today we're asking the simple question (and a far more fun question than "what's up with inflation..."), "How much does a sandwich cost?" We wouldn't be asking that question if Len Penzo wasn't back for his annual sandwich survey! That's right, Len joins us today to walk through the findings of his annual survey of the cost of the 10 most popular brown bag sandwiches. Bologna is usually the cheapest and BLT is usually the most expensive. With the rising cost of some ingredients this year, do you think the results will be the same? Len describes his survey method and results with us and also shares the story of why he started the sandwich survey 13 years ago.

During our headline, we take a look at Sylvester Stallone's rise to fame and he recounts his days as a struggling, broke actor. How did he beat the odds and become successful? In this news piece, he talks about his struggles early in life and how he overcame them. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Anna who has a question about IRA contributions, and specifically a backdoor Roth IRA. And Doug will share some of his Vatican trivia.

Enjoy!

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Why Not Try a Low Cost, Big Living Approach? Aug 06, 2021

What do you enjoy spending more money on? Maybe you like to stay at top-rated resorts when you travel? Or, you enjoy the experience of a nice dinner out? And what things do you spend less on because your experience isn't an better when you spend more? Generic vs. name brands at the grocery store? Or taking public transportation when you travel? Today our roundtable discusses a blog post about spending more on what you value and being frugal in other areas of spending and your life.

Cody Berman from The FI Show and Gwen Merz from Fiery Millennials join our roundtable with Len Penzo to talk about mindset and what they value as it relates to financial independence.

And you don't want to miss the guesses our roundtable has for Doug's Houdini-related trivia today!

Enjoy!

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How a Lie Lit a Revolution (with Jeff Lantos), The Magic of an Inch, and Crypto Busted Again Aug 04, 2021

How much does the truth matter when telling your money story? What about if you were telling the story of a new nation? Turns out, this happens more than most of us realize and today we talk about a famous story from the American Revolution that may be different than you remember. Jeff Lantos joins us to talk about why the true story of Paul Revere's ride might not be what we remember. We dive into how and why the story was altered and how it relates to the modern-day. The themes of embellishment, advocating for yourself and community are discussed as it relates to Paul Revere and modern-day.

We are including two headlines today because one just isn't enough for the stories we found! First, we look at a study done by the University of Chicago that charts your attractiveness to the opposite sex based on your height. AND, they tell you how much more you need to earn if you are shorter to be as attractive as someone taller. Yep, you heard that right! For our second headline, crypto is in the news again...and not for good reason. Tether is being investigated for bank fraud and we share all our opinions on that and crypto in general!

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line and Joe gives a behind-the-scenes look at how we choose our guests for the show. And we can't forget about Doug and his cookie-related trivia!

Enjoy!

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Stepping Out of Line (with Mari K. Eder, Major General US Army, retired) Aug 02, 2021

Imagine fleeing your hometown with nothing but the hope and will to survive. Or risking your life to gather information needed to incriminate some of the worst players in history. We are declaring this week "history week" here at Stacking Benjamins and we're delivering quite the suite of guests for you! Today, Retired U.S. Army Major General Mari Eder joins us to share stories of some brave women of World War II and the impact they had on their communities. What does this have to do with money? Today's stories have a much larger scope than money, but bravery, persistence, focus, willpower, and more, in the face of long odds, will all be discussed on today's episode.

During our headline, we talk about tapping your home equity for cash. Nothing has ever gone wrong with the housing market before, right? Sure, leverage can be used to your advantage but not at the detriment to the rest of your financial plan. Joe and OG give us their opinions and you know they are going to be candid! Speaking of leverage, our TikTok video is a hilarious example of this.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line and answer a caller's question about retirement contributions. And since it's history week here, Doug will include some history related trivia.

Enjoy!

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5 Secrets To Better Flexibility (with money) Jul 30, 2021

How rigid are your money habits? What will happen when your "optimized" financial situation comes crashing down because you didn't think about what could possibly go wrong in the future? Beyond that, does the stuff we own, own us or set us free? How can we strive to be more financially flexible and what strategies can we use to get there? Those are some great questions and today we'll answer them all, because today our roundtable discusses a piece about financial flexibility, both philosophically and practically. Andy Hill from Marriage Kids and Money joins Paula and OG to share their favorite tips and hacks to help you become more financially flexible.

We'll also hear some of Doug's book related trivia, and it's all from our live recording from the Fireside app!

Enjoy!

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From Bankrupt to 6-Figure CEO Coach (with Brandy Mabra), plus the Olympic Athlete Tax Jul 28, 2021

What would be your first step in the right direction when life isn't going your way? How would you move forward and make the most important change ever? Brandy Mabra journeyed from bankruptcy to successful CEO coach and today shares her journey. She knew she needed to take every opportunity available (and even moved to another state!) to make a better life for her and her son. After a few crucial and well-thought pivots in her career, she started her coaching and consulting business and shares tips we can all use when faced with hurdles, however big or small.

During our headline segment, did you know that Olympic athletes earned money when they won medals? Neither did we, and at one point IRS taxed that income. It's hard to believe that you can rep the USA brand and Uncle Sam could still find you! After that eye-popper, we'll finish the show with a Haven Life line call from Julie who has questions about saving for her kids' future. And Doug will throw in some Madonna themed trivia.

Enjoy!

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Recovering From Life's Expensive and Emotional Moments (with Michele Cagan), plus They've Decided You're Dying Younger! Jul 26, 2021

A financial setback could hit any of us at any time. How will you rebound? What steps should you take first and what financial changes should you make? Managing money in a crisis if FAR different than following the normal rules, and today's guest, Michele Cagan, knows first-hand what it's like to experience a major financial setback. Today she'll share her journey and advice for you if you've suffered a health crisis, divorce, death in the family, disability, or any other of life's crises.

During our headline segment, we dive into a piece about life expectancy in the U.S. and how it could impact your financial plan. Assuming a life expectancy that is too short or too long can both lead to problems with your plan. We also listen to a TikTok video about real estate investing and the power it could have on your financial freedom (but don't worry, we'll give you our brutally honest opinion on that and share some of our own stories).

We also help answer Scottie's question about rolling over an old 401k during our Haven Life line call. Scotties a proud Iowan! ...and we'll be sure to include Doug's trivia!

Enjoy!

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6 Investing Mistakes That Keep You Poor Jul 23, 2021

How do you know if your trading strategies are helping or hurting your overall portfolio goals? Maybe you're chasing the market or trading based on what your friends and family are trading? Lucky for you, our roundtable today talks about six trading habits that might be keeping you poor and they offer lots of sound advice on how to avoid these mistakes. Whether you're a long time investor or a trader, we'll cover the gamut of tips for you on this episode.

Rosetta Bryson from Simple Trader Pro joins our roundtable with Len and OG today to discuss these trading habits. And we'll also have Doug share some of his sports related trivia, on this live show performed on the Fireside app.

Enjoy!

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M Is For Money (with Rob Phelan) and E Is For Ed Slott's Roth IRA Tips Jul 21, 2021

F is for Fun. And we have a ton of fun today talking to Rob Phelan about his new children's book M is for Money. He was inspired by reading with his own son and realizing there weren't any books on the market that teach basic personal finance to kids. Even if you don't have kids yourself, this book might be a great gift for a kid in your family. We also dive into financial literacy in general and why so few programs are successful. If you have any interest in improving the money habits of the people around you, we've got you covered.

During our headline segment, IRA and tax expert Ed Slott joins us to talk about a five billion dollar Roth IRA! That's right, Peter Thiel's Roth IRA balance is over a cool five b's at this point. Ed helps explain how it happened and what changes Congress might make to prevent this in the future. For many who dream about crypto riches, can you replicate Thiel's feat (or score a measly 2-3 million) in YOUR Roth IRA? We'll ask Ed about that as well.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Justin who wrote in to our basement Facebook group to ask about how much to gift his niece for graduation (we have some great ideas and alternatives to monetary gifts!). And of course we'll leave time for Doug's amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Your 14 Best Minutes Today (with Chris Field), Inflation's Back, and RIP Chuck Jul 19, 2021

14 minutes. Today we talk to Chris Field about changing the world using only 1% of your time (14 minutes a day). Chris will share why "charity begins at home" is a misguided approach to life...not for the world around you, but for your own return on investment. The work he's done has made an impact on the world and he shares how you can make a difference too (and it's much easier than you may think!)

We also share some bad news during our headline segment. The new inflation numbers are in and they're ugly with a capital "ugh." What does this mean though, really, for you? It turns out...a lot. We'll walk through inflation with regard to your job, your savings, your spending, and more. We'll also share why experts say that inflation isn't as ugly as the numbers may suggest.

Speaking of ugly...we'll also share a TikTok video that's gone viral recently about a job interview...or at least the "promise" of one. Somebody named Chuck might be cleaning out his desk now that this video's out. And, there's no better way to round out the show than by talking about franchise businesses during our Haven Life line call. Doug's trivia? Well that's just the cherry on top, isn't it?

Enjoy!

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When Does Frugal Go Too Far? Jul 16, 2021

Do you buy second-hand clothes instead of new? How about waiting to buy that special something until there's an awesome deal? Dumpster dive? Argue with clerks for a discount? There's a ton of frugal living tips out there but when does frugal cross the line and you're just being cheap? Today our roundtable team discusses the five times one blogger says that being frugal goes too far. Plus, we're performing this episode LIVE on the new Fireside app, so you'll hear from several members of our live audience, too (we've also linked their information below)!

Joining us for this special episode we welcome half of the Frugal Friends podcast duo, Jen Smith. Plus, OG and Paula Pant (Afford Anything) pitch in to make this a wide-ranging, fun conversation with more than several takeaways. We discuss the value of our time as it relates to purchases, the tendency to overconsume when we see a deal, and we'll all share some great stories about our own frugal living.

Of course, what would a Friday episode be like without our trivia challenge? Diania Merriam (EconoMe Conference) takes over the "Doug" duties today and dishes a great question for our contestants. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

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Retiring Early, Teaching Finance, and What's Up With Commodities? Jul 14, 2021

How do homemade ice cream and financial education go together? You're about to find out, because today we interview two of our fellow Stackers, Lisa and Tom, and one of them shares how they began making homemade ice cream for family and friends and teaching them finance basis! The other recently retired and gives us tips and advice that helped them make the exciting decision to retire.

During our headline segment, we talk about Wells Fargo and their recent decision to close all existing personal lines of credit. They've been in the news a lot over the years (mostly negative!) and we offer our thoughts. We'll also hear from Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, who shares all the details about what's going on in the current precious metals market.

We'll finish it out with our Haven Life line call from Nick and answer his questions about 529 contributions. And of course we'll include some of Doug's trivia!

Enjoy!

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Lessons From a Woman Who Found Financial Independence by Age 27 Jul 12, 2021

Rachel Richards achieved financial independence at the young age of 27. How did she do it? The now 29 year old joins us today to talk about lessons, strategies, and more on today's show. Plus, we'll share a headline about the current job climate. It seems that everyone is quitting their job! What should you think about before telling your boss adios? We'll share a few tips on today's show....plus throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and share some of Doug's amazing trivia. Enjoy!

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5 Fun Ways to Teach Kids about Money - Rewind Jul 09, 2021

With summer in full swing, do you need ideas for things to do with your kids? Before they start their first lemonade stand, listen to today’s episode about teaching kids about money. Even if you don’t have kids, we have Kate Ryan from TIAA join us to share money tips and stories that you’ll enjoy.

To finish out our rewind week, this episode aired in 2018, so be sure to ignore any mention of current events.

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Winning an Olympic Medal With Your Money Jul 07, 2021

Are you ready to win with your money? You've trained hard and now it's showtime. You're in luck because, just in time for the Olympics, we dig into all the money tips from Olympic sprinter, bobsledder, financial planner and host of the Worth Listening podcast, Lauryn Williams, on today's episode.

This episode aired in 2018 so be sure to ignore any mention of current events. Tax laws and changes are hard enough to keep up with and we originally had a headline segment talking about 2017 tax filing that has been omitted in this rewind episode. Take a look at our original show notes, here.

We'll round out our rewind week on Friday. Enjoy!

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Lead Like a Drug Dealer (with Michael Brody-Waite) Rewind Episode 123 Jul 05, 2021

While the first person to tell you that nothing good happens while you're using drugs will be today's guest Michael Brody-Waite, he WILL insist that the skills he learned in recovery are the same skills we all need for success with life and money. He should know. As a man who's walked the journey from drug addict to CEO and success coach, Michael funnels his darkest experiences into powerful lessons he'll share with you. Today, Michael will teach you how to rebalance your priorities, reclaim your energy, and thrive in both work and life.

A new bond has arrived! The Treasury announced a 20-year note to help offset the massive spending lately in Washington. We'll discuss how that works and may impact your wallet in our headlines segment. Also, we'll cover the results of a recent Morningstar study that shows why it is more important than you might thank to have a thorough financial plan and an (emotional) support network in place. It turns out that it's easy to stay the financial course when everything is going right. The problem is when panic starts to set in, not pressing that big, red "sell everything" button.

Today we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a caller a not-quite-usual question about loan repayment. Due to COVID-19 reasons, Vanessa was laid off from work. However, she was building up her savings beforehand. Vanessa also receives unemployment and severance pay. She wonders, "Should I use savings to pay off student loans? Or, would it be better to keep making minimum payments and keep her cash buffer?" Of course, Joe and OG have an opinion.

One last thing: Happy Twilight Zone Day! Doug has a special treat in store for you in celebration. Enjoy!

(This is a rewind episode from the summer of 2020, so there will be references to events and days that aren't current. Please keep this in mind as you listen.)

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Our Favorite Budget and Money Hacks (with Chris Hutchins) Jul 02, 2021

Ever wish that saving money and spending less were easier? Today we've got your back because Chris Hutchins, Mr. Hack himself and host of the All The Hacks podcast, joins us to discuss a delicious list pulled from the popular Inspired Budget blog that lists a whopping 30 money hacks you should try in 2021. What hacks do you love that are missing from this list? On today's show recorded live on the new Fireside app, we're joined not only by Chris Hutchins but also Paula Pant (Afford Anything podcast) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com) as they dive into their favorites (and also skewer one or two that they aren't as fond of). At the end of the discussion we'll ditch the list and this crack team will even add a few of their own.

Before we're done we'll also magnify Tom's money, who asks what we think about popular trading app Robinhood. You know us...this is going to be good! And of course we can't forget about Doug's trivia! He has a heart-wrenching question today. Literally.

Enjoy!

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Making Money While You Sleep (with Alan Corey), plus Crypto in Your 401k? Jun 30, 2021

Alan Corey had a small goal: he just wanted to pay his internet bill automatically, and in the process stumbled upon a strategy that would lead him to wealth in real estate at an early age. Today he joins us to share his journey to financial independence, from moving to NYC and realizing he couldn't control his income in the corporate world, to purchasing real estate with a goal of purchasing one property a year for five years. Fast forward and he's now buying five properties in a month! His unique thought process of using rental income to offset fixed costs in his life helped propel his real estate success. You'll also never guess who he sold his first property to in NYC!

For our headline, we'll look at a piece from Morningstar that talks about cryptocurrency in retirement plans. Would you want the option to invest in crypto in your 401k? We'll share the results of the survey and you might be surprised by the results.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Bill who has questions about rebalancing his portfolio. And of course we'll also throw in some of Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Making the Most of Your HR Department (with Suzanne Lucas), a HOT Investment, and Real Estate Nightmares Jun 28, 2021

Are you aware of all the benefits your company offers? Beyond a retirement plan, do they offer other perks? You might be surprised to learn about some hidden benefits your company offers and The Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas, joins us today to give us some examples. We also talk about company culture, training, employee satisfaction, and how these all play a role in our work lives. Would you take a lower-paying job if it meant you had more fun at work? We'll let you know what percentage of people say they would.

We'll also look at a piece from Investment News on municipal bonds and the recent inflow of funds to these bonds. Ever heard of the latte factor? Our TikTok minute shows us just how many lattes we need to give up to own our dream home! What's your guess?

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Jess who wants advice about buying real estate with family members. And we can't forget Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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10 Things I Hate About You: Investing (LIVE on Fireside) Jun 25, 2021

Investing, especially when you're just beginning, can be frustrating! There's new lingo and technology platforms to learn, let alone knowing what you should invest in. Today our roundtable discusses a recent blog post that lists the 10 things the author hates about investing. From FOMO to YOLO, we talk about how each of the 10 items impacts us and what you can do to become a more savvy and less worried investor yourself. Money coach Sharita Humphrey joins Len, Paula and Diania Merriam for a wide-ranging, fun discussion.

It's also National Catfish Day, so we'll enjoy a little catfish related trivia. To make it even more exciting, we paired a few of our listeners on our live broadcast with our contributors to help guess. You'll never believe how it all turns out.

Enjoy!

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Scoring Big Goals with Stu Grimson, a Daredevil Crashes, and Landlord Problems Jun 23, 2021

What does it take to reach your goals? Here in the middle of NHL and NBA playoff season, we're going to talk about reaching your big goals. Today's guest, Stu Grimson, had to take a roundabout way to his big goals, and today he'll talk about life as an "enforcer" during his 14-year professional hockey career. While he didn't score a lot of goals, he certainly scored a great career, and we'll dive into the sometimes winding road to success, the importance of good coaching, and not relying on managers or trainers to get you ready for your life's "big game."

Have you thought about your estate plan? Or finished your "what if" planning? Our headline looks at the tragic accident last week of Alex Harvill who died while attempting a record-breaking motorcycle jump. It's the grim reminder that we all need to plan for tomorrow, today.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a member of our basement Facebook group who wants to know the do's and don'ts of being a landlord. What would we advise him to beware of? Believe it or not, we'll share our opinion! And that's not all. We'll also share some of Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Crypto with Kevin Rose, home equity loans, and is passive investing bad? Jun 21, 2021

NFT...Etherium...Dougcoin? Wait...Dougcoin? Is Doug messing with us again and making up his own cryptocurrency? The whole gang gets involved today as we dive into the virtual world of NFT's, Crypto, and all things Modern Finance with Kevin Rose.

With the value of your house skyrocketing, what happens if you want to access some of that cash? We'll give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and cash-out refinances. And we can't forget about our TikTok minute and the "perfect" explanation of NFT's. Well, we thought it was perfect. Kevin disagreed (and is probably a more reliable source).

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller wants to stir the index funds and passive investing pot. Could indexing be worse than Marxism? And that's not all. Of course, we'll also share some of Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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10 Things Investors Shouldn't Care About Jun 18, 2021

We talk all the time about what investors should know and worry about...but what should we forget? Today we're joined by Talking Real Money's Don McDonald and CFP Katie Brewer from Your Richest Life Planning to get their take on a recent blog post detailing one writer's opinions. Do we agree? We'll outline all 10 of the author's ideas and share one opinion (or maybe two...or five) on each.

Plus, we'll Magnify Jacob's Money during our call-in segment. He's worried about planning for multiple goals. With only so much money to go around, what should he focus on first? And of course, we'll also share Doug's National Panic Day trivia.

Enjoy!

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Why We Want MORE (with Luke Burgis) plus "Sell in May and Go Away?" Jun 16, 2021

Why do we always seem to have something else we're chasing? Another possession, more stuff, the next token for our treasure trove...where does it end? Today we'll dive into the "why" behind your desires with Luke Burgis, who's deeply studied the philosophy of wanting, and will help you short-circuit some of the self-destructive behaviors in our life that make us believe the more equals better.

During our headlines segment, have you heard the phrase “sell in May and go away?” Sounds a bit like market timing, doesn’t it? We’ll hear what the market did last month and help you understand the impacts of this strategy. Plus, we'll dial up Matt Komos on Joe's dad's shortwave radio. He's the Vice President of Research and Consulting at TransUnion, and has some good news about consumer credit trends over the last year. Unemployment spiked in April of 2020 as the COVID pandemic began and Matt dives into how consumer credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans have all been impacted.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller who's wondering about life insurance for her children. We might have a strong opinion or two on that topic. Of course, we'll also share some of Doug's trivia goodness.

Enjoy!

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Decoding Greatness, Lowering Fees, and Relief Money (with Dr. Ron Friedman) Jun 14, 2021

How do the best achieve superior results? Do they work 10,000 hours? Do they spend years sharpening the saw? While it takes work and grit, the type of work achievers focus on may surprise you. We'll dive into the science of greatness with Dr. Ron Friedman, author of the new bestseller Decoding Greatness. It's a wide-ranging discussion that will change the way you think about your career, your goals, and how you spend your time.

During our headlines segment, we'll share a sad statistic about COVID and government benefits. It turns out that LOTS of people who are eligible for help aren't applying for it. We'll share some ideas that will hopefully help you find money if you need it. Of course, it's Monday, so that means we'll also share a TikTok video from a brilliant creator who shares some amazing (maybe too amazing) math about AMC stock.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller who's worried about fees in his portfolio, AND we'll share some of Doug's monkey business called "trivia."

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Things You Should NOT Do With Money (plus our July scholarship update) Jun 11, 2021

What are you doing with your cash that's a complete "no-no"? Today we'll dive into some things that you should NEVER do with your money. We'll talk about banks, life insurance, debt products and also maybe advice that you find from online blogs. To help us, today we welcome the host of the Nurses on FIRE podcast, Naseema McElroy. She'll be joined by award winning blogger Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com), and our very own OG (other guy).

July is a huge month for private scholarships. We'll detail ALL of the things that students need to do right now to make college easier. We'll share tips for existing college students, high school students, and even younger kids. Our doors are opening again (I know we already have many people on our wait list for this session....) for a short time, so check out StackingBenjamins.com/Scholarships.

On our MagnifyMoney segment, Matt's spouse works for someone else and he's convinced she'd be better off self employed. What does she need to know to make the move? How can he help her see beyond the riskiness of not having a consistent paycheck from another employer? Naseema, OG and Len will all dive into this question.

Of course, we'll also celebrate National Corn Day with Doug's amazing trivia challenge. Which of our panelists will be closest to the answer? You'll have to listen to find out.

Enjoy!

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Kassandra Paid Off $55k Debt in 3.5 Years, Bad Brokers Run Amok, and Crypto Scammers Strike Again Jun 09, 2021

Feeling bad about your debt? Well, we've brought the perfect motivation: a story about a woman who paid off over $55k of debt in just 3.5 years. Kassandra Dasent, singer/songwriter and former money coach, joins us to tell her compelling personal story. Raised by a single, immigrant mom, Kassandra learned the word hustle at a young age. However, she fell into her own debt troubles like so many people do because she thought she deserved nice items around her. When her credit was capped by credit card companies, Kassandra sprang into action. She'll share the tactics of how she did it on today's podcast.

Plus, during our headlines segment, we'll share some horrible news about bad brokers. It turns out that once they're kicked out of the world of brokerages, many move over to the insurance industry to continue scamming clients. Speaking of scamming, crypto thieves ran off with over $32M recently. How do you protect yourself? We'll share strategies.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Austin, who wonders why Joe sold his rental property. We'll discuss real estate strategies AND the fact that there are many ways to achieve wealth during our answer.

And of course, Doug also gets his share of air time. Enjoy!

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Top 5 Ways to Win With Money, New Crypto, and AMC Jun 07, 2021

How are you winning with managing your money? Are you saving automatically? Investing appropriately? Keeping an emergency fund? How do we rank the key habits that will make you a success? Today Joe and OG dive into a Top 5 episode, where each has prepared what THEY think are the key traits, and then they offer them up head to head. You end up with ten habits, and also maybe some disagreement from the guys.

Plus, how would you like to earn money off the back of your favorite celebrity? Turns out, that reality is closer than you think. Comedian Bret Raybould joins us to share the world's (possibly-almost) newest cryptocurrency: BretCoin.

Need some extra incentive to invest? During the other half of our headlines we share all of the fantastic reasons to invest in AMC after their newest announced perk: free popcorn. I know, I know! I'm excited as you are.

That's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, answering their question. Of course, Doug will share a riveting trivia question as well. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow Might Be Too Late To Act On These Financial Tasks (plus MetPro.co's Angelo Poli) Jun 04, 2021

When it comes to money, there are some things you need to just start doing. Other tasks you should contemplate and make sure you get them correct before rolling into action. Knowing which-is-which could be the difference between success and failure. Today our roundtable group of award-winning financial commentators discusses a few tasks they think fit into either category. Our guest contributor is the guy behind Richest Life planning in metro Atlanta (and one of our favorite people), Beau Henderson. Beau is joined by regular contributor Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast and our very own OG. It's a dynamic, fun discussion.

After we finish our discussion, Joe sits down with a just-in-time interview with Angelo Poli, the man behind MetPro, our favorite health and wellness brand. Summer is rolling into full force, Americans are eating out more than ever, and restaurants are more than ready to push out food that tastes great but might not be in your best interest. Angelo shares some great tips on how to maintain your peak mental and physical shape while still enjoying the summer. In fact, with a few of Angelo's tips, we actually think you'll love summer even more.

Do precious metals have a place in your portfolio? Our contributors tackle a question from one of our listeners who wonders if the commodity has a place alongside his 401k and brokerage accounts. Of course, they all have opinions.

Enjoy!

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The 5 Years Before You Retire, Timeshare Madness, and New Wealth Numbers (with Emily Guy Birken) Jun 02, 2021

What important steps do you need to roll smoothly into retirement? Joining us to share her newly updated strategies about healthcare, social security, taxes, budgeting, and more, we welcome the author of The 5 Years Before You Retire, Emily Guy Birken.

Uh-oh! Another company is in hot water for employing some shady business practices... at least according to one state Attorney General. The catch? The Timeshare-Exit company had, until recently, been a sponsor of the Dave Ramsey show. While that's relevant, we don't think you should invest in any company that doesn't fit in your financial plan... whether it's sanctioned by Dave, the guys in Mom's Basement, or anyone else. More on that in the show.

How have our priorities and attitude towards money changed? Rob Williams, Vice president of Financial Planning at Schwab, joins us to share some data from the company's newest survey.

How do you turn your side business into a business? We tackle that question for Mac, who's interested in making some Benjamins from his brewing hobby. He asks: what does he need to know?

Of course, Doug also gets his share of air time with a great trivia question. Can you guess it?

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Stacking Pennies, a Chicken Dilemma and the Barry White Music Fix (with Corey LaJoie) May 31, 2021

How do you create big wins? Of course, you track all of the little wins and build a solid foundation. That's why we're excited to talk today to NASCAR star Corey LaJoie about themes from his new Stacking Pennies podcast. While he drives a car alone, he's a small part of a team of people who all have to do the little things right to achieve big success on the track. Plus, "Stacking Pennies"? You know why we had to talk to Corey.

We don't want to alarm you, but in case you've been living in a bubble, inflation has been horrible on many items, like lumber, new and used cars, computer chips, and even chicken. While the small story is that this may not be the best time to buy a car or refinish your home, the bigger story is that inflation is the silent killer of "safe money" sitting in bank accounts. We'll talk through why you want to think differently about risk today.

Plus, of course, we'll share another eye-roll TikTok moment, answer a listener's question on the Haven Life line, and dive into some of Doug's Memorial Day trivia.

Enjoy!

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Surviving Your Next Wedding Invitation (plus your child could win $1000!) May 28, 2021

Summer 2021 is right around the corner and with it comes a wave of weddings and social gatherings that have been postponed since last year. With invitations rolling in, how do you keep savings stacked without coming off as a post-COVID scrooge? Joining us to help navigate the lines between big-roller, sensible, and miser is Elle Martinez, the well-suited creator behind the Couple Money blog and podcast; Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our very own OG.

After we're done dishing out wedding success tips, we do you one better: how would you like to win money for just knowing about money? Okay, truth be told you (the reader!) may not be eligible. BUT, United One Bank President Teri Williams joins us to share how the children in your family or neighborhood could win $1,000 for flexing their money brains.

Plus, do you have cryptocurrency FOMO after multiple headlines about people striking it rich? Stacker John calls in and tells us his son has seen some pretty rapid gains (and drops) since buying cryptocurrency. John's son decided to buy a few other cryptos to diversify, and while that makes sense on paper, John feels like pouring money into the digital currency is closer to gambling than investing.

Of course, we always save some time for Doug's trivia game-show. It's unbelieva-bull....

Enjoy!

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Crypto Falls, Homebuyers Groan, and That Drink Might Not Suit You May 26, 2021

Want to succeed? You need to stay focused. Studies show the amount of alcohol and food we consume skyrockets during the holidays, and Memorial Day is no exception. While few people contest the negative impacts of a few beers or scarfing down the third burger, the science is a bit more muddied (or at least most people think it is) when it comes to other beverages like wine, coffee, and juice. Where's the truth lie, and which drinks are going to keep us healthy, happy, and productive?

Dr. Alexis Willett joins us for our Memorial Day episode to share the truth behind the drinks we know, love, and rely on, but we won't be the ones during the interviewing. Stepping into Joe's seat for this special show is Mike Carruthers, host of the Something You Should Know podcast.

Could patience save you a stack of Benjamins on your home? During our headlines, we share why homebuyer sentiment is at a 10-year low AND why the sky won't stop falling. Here's a freebie for those of you still in the market: appreciate the silver lining that your 50k offer over asking and waived inspection was rejected by the seller. Plus, Bitcoin is falling heavily. (Or it is right now anyway...could be skyrocketing by the time you read this. Who knows?) In our second piece, we discuss the issues behind a prospective currency crashing, going through the roof, flat-lining, and crashing again both as a currency AND an investment.

What retirement options are available for business owners? During the Haven Life Line, we share the options available to the self-employed. Our caller is discouraged by the $6,000 Roth IRA contribution limit and is looking for options with higher caps. While this isn't necessarily an "either/or" issue, we give the round of choices to caller Erin.

Of course, we always make some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Your Summer 2021 Theme Park Guide (with Robert Niles) May 24, 2021

Returning right on time to kick off theme park season, we welcome Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, last year's season was cut short. Here's the good news: between new attractions, hot deals, and of course the world generally opening back up, there's a lot about Summer 2021 to look forward to.

We've heard rumors that people have been smarter with their money than expected lately, and now we have some data to back that up. Ken Tumin joins us today to share the results of MagnifyMoney's annual April Savings Index. One thing to note, while people are saving, the top priority right now is funding vacation and travel. We don't want to rain on anyone's parade, BUT mom's curious to see how these numbers hold up after summer. More on the results and data during our time with Ken.

Plus, Fidelity has announced a new (almost free) investing platform for teens. While parents need to have their own account at the company, teen accounts have no fees or commissions. Throw in some financial education with the low-risk early market exposure and we might call this one a win-win for everyone involved. Having some familiarity with the market and some understanding of what all the jargon means definitely will be a big help in many a young saver's journey.

We finish today's show with a question from VJ, who's wondering if he should become a 1099 worker for his side-gig. He's currently a W2 worker and thinking about making the switch, but knows there are some tax implications to consider. While VJ isn't wrong to think about taxes, there's A LOT more that happens behind the scenes when you're running the show. OG shares some big points not only for VJ to consider, but anyone thinking about starting their own business.

Of course, Doug also gets his share of air time and you can bet its going to be theme park trivia!

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Our Fad Finance Smackdown (plus a peek at our new Retirement Design Lab) May 21, 2021

While reading a recent blog post on fad diets, we were shocked to realize that there's a metric ton of horrible fad financial advice out there. Today we're joined by an award-winning cast of financial contributors who share some of their least favorite fads. Regular contributors Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) and Paula Pant (Afford Anything podcast) are joined today by the host of Smart Money Mamas, the one-and-only Chelsea Brennan! (Yes, longer-time listeners, there really is a live person named "Chelsea Brennan.")

Plus, today we're unveiling our OWN new FinTech. It's frustrating to see the gulf in retirement planning capabilities between some of the robust software on the advisory side and the too-dumbed-down software on the consumer side. We've been hoping to help you bridge the gap since we began the podcast, and recently we FINALLY found a partner who'll help us launch our new planning software. Steve Chen is the creator of the Stacking Benjamins Retirement Design Lab, and he'll walk you through how it works today. Even if you're already comfortable with your current tools, we're going to talk about how to use whatever software you're using to ensure that you have the best plan possible.

Of course, we'll also feature our weekly trivia challenge between our three contributors. It's an exciting week while Paula and Len see if either of them can Chelsea Brennan Chelsea Brennan!

Enjoy!

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The History of America’s Shadowy “Insiders” (with Zachary Karabell) May 19, 2021

Brown Brothers Harriman is a bank that's sat front row for much of America's history, and yet most of us haven't heard of them. Two presidents, the creation of our first railroads, and an influence on the adoption of paper currency only scratches the surface of the private bank's intertwined history with the birth and growth of the United States. It didn't happen accidentally. A family with strict investing and social values, the Brown Brothers family knew when to invest, when it was time to give back, and how to walk away when an opportunity carried too much risk.

Sharing some of these key early stories, today we're joined by Zachary Karabell, author of the newly releasedInside Money, to share both how Brown Brothers Harriman fits into our history, and also how their guiding hand helped shape some key moments for us.

Are your safe, everyday financial products tasting a little stale to you? Why not spice them up by throwing some Bitcoin into your annuity? That's hip and exciting, isn't it?! What? That seems like a bad idea to you? Well, maybe us too. During our headlines, we'll ponder over reports that insurance companies are exploring how to best add cryptocurrency to annuities. We really try to work this one out and try to make heads or tails of the why. In the process, we'll talk about the history of insurance, and how sadly, the industry's innovation is more reaction than inspiration.

Plus, more and more people are excited to become travelers again. We've talked about how some places like Hawaii have already seen car rental shortages, but how about getting to the destination in the first place? We'll discuss our personal methods of planning and saving for a vacation, including how Joe gamifies paying for each night of his trips to Bavaria (oh boy).

We finish our show with a Haven Life question from Jason, who may or may not want to have his house paid off before he retires in the next 10 years. He asks: should he stop contributing to his Roth and contribute to a taxable brokerage account instead so he can do a lump sum payoff? Turns out, there's a way Jason continues contributing to his Roth AND still pays off his home. We'll explain how during the show.

Of course, we always make some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Negotiating the World of High-End Real Estate (with Kirsten Jordan) May 17, 2021

If you're wondering how the inside world of high-end real estate works, our guest today will share stories and lessons from the top. Kirsten Jordan is the newest cast member of popular Bravo reality series Million Dollar Listing: New York. She's a real estate broker who's overseen over $500M in sales, so if anyone knows how to sell real estate, it's her. Today she'll talk about the price of mentorship, staging homes, leaving people feeling good vs trying to scoop up every dollar, and realizing that not all financial purchases can be whittled to numbers on a spreadsheet.

Are you receiving misleading, inaccurate data from your financial advisors? Riskalyze CEO Aaron Klein says his company, which provides data advisors use for their clients, is superior to another company's inaccurate information. Is Klein speaking the truth, or is there something more at play here? Thankfully, OG has extensive experience with both systems and breaks down what really matters here - and it's not type of graphs you're using.

Of course, because it's Monday, we have to share a new TikTok video of the week. The fun this go-round? How about some guy who made all the wrong decision - maxing our credit cards, investing all of his spare cash and savings, and consolidating all of his previously diverse stocks into a single position - and still somehow struck gold... Sounds like a lucky dream? Only if Mr. Diamond-Hands chose to cash out.

We also share some news that proves we were wrong and couldn't be happier about it. Like many people, we wrongly assumed the stimulus money would go to electronics, games, and new smart TVs. While that did happen, a LOT more money than we expected flowed into stocks. While not our favorite choice, cash also made its way into cryptocurrencies (as today's TikTok shows). It's good news, but we play Devil's Advocate a bit too: could some minor market events scare of a new generation of investors out the market? Has investing become to gamified with the rise of easy-to-invest apps? We discuss that and more during our second headline.

Our Haven Life Line finishes today's show: Elle's advisor wants her father to rollover his 401k to an IRA. Hypothetically, this would let Elle use a Stretch IRA when she receives her inheritance. Only problem? The Secure Act of 2019 killed the Stretch IRA. Plus, Elle's father has company stock in his 401k and messing with that comes with big tax savings considerations. (You'll hear one of our hosts tell you this is turn around and find another advisor level of a mess-up). More on that during the show.

Of course, we always make some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Money, Secrets, and Lies (plus a peek at Clarity Money/Marcus Insights) May 14, 2021

Ever wonder what your neighbors are really doing with their cash? Our round table takes a deep dive into a new study exposing the secret financial lives of your friends, family, and neighbors - and it's not all good news. Joining us to cover the new numbers are this week's contributors: Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and Doc G from the Earn & Invest podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll stop our fly-on-the-wall discussion to find out what's happened to Clarity Money. The fintech app was purchased and retired by Goldman Sachs, which rolled some of Clarity's features over into their new Marcus Insights app. Melissa Manne from Goldman Sachs joins us to share both what fans of the old app (like us) have to look forward to, AND some features designed from ground up to help you save money.

Our contributors finish the round table with a question from Bill - who wants to know more about the barbell investing strategy. Our guest break down barbell investing, give the pros and cons, and - of course - give their take on what Bill should do from here.

Of course, Doug still has slice of airtime for his game-show trivia...which won't disappoint our trivia fans.

Enjoy!

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Get Motivated, Pay Your House Off Early and Teach (plus last minute tax tips) May 13, 2021

Ready to be motivated by your peers? Today we share success stories about living your dream, paying off your mortgage, and teaching finance to the neighborhood, and all from our listeners. Stacker Leah explains how she took charge of her finances after graduating from college and moving to New York City with her car and no job. Larry tells us the simple, down-to-earth technique he used to pay off his mortgage quicker, and we hear from Mimi on how she got the neighbor kids to start investing. Plus, we tackle a piece sent to us by Stacker David: why shouldn't investors sell their stocks for a few months each May if historical data suggest guaranteed gains?

Still haven't filed your taxes? Not sure how much you owe and worried about overpaying? Are you confused about the large tax bill waiting for you every year? Helping us answer those questions and more, we welcome CPA Carter Coefield for some last-minute tax advice. OR... depending on your perspective, take this as early tax advice and have everything you need perfect for next year. (We can dream right)?

Why do so many investors still not trust advisors? While every advisor isn't perfect, we think at least some of the blame lies closer to home. During our headlines we explain the importance of through interviewing, asking the right questions, and the power of simply saying "no" when things aren't lining up. Plus, do Warren Buffett's quotes about life and business hold up to the same standard as his investing? We take a look at a few of Buffett's most passed-on adages to see if they're up to snuff.

Of course, there's always time for a bit of Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Avoid the Banking Walk of Shame (plus Military Appreciation Month) May 12, 2021

Ever leave your bank thinking, "someone just made some money and it wasn't me?" Maybe a trip to your local credit union will be the cure. Credit unions are member-owned and offer low fees, high rates on savings and low rates for loans. Today we'll dive into the world of credit unions with some help during a special Wednesday "Fintech" segment from Navy Federal Credit Union's retired Marine Colonel Clay Stackhouse. We'll discuss how credit unions work, the basic benefits, and the perks that people often overlook.

Of course, that's not all. We'll still throw out the Haven Life line to help a lucky listener AND Doug will share his union-oriented trivia...although he might be on the wrong track today (what's new). Enjoy!

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Behind the Scenes: Stacking Benjamins (plus the pulse of small biz) May 11, 2021

We're celebrating the world of work today! On this special episode, we answer the question, "How does THIS basement-based podcast team work? Sure we own a mic and a shiny new Dell computer, but our work neither starts nor stops there. A whole host of systems, technology, and (of course) creative discussions power the making of our show. Today we're excited to show you a special behind-the-scenes making of the Stacking Benjamins show featuring the very people who make it happen. Brought to you by the Dell Podference, each member of our team shares their unique perspective of what a day in the basement looks like, plus the digital tools we utilize to bring this show to your ears.

Before that though, we'll dive into a piece about the future of work: should employees expect to return to the office soon, or can we get comfortable working from home? I know what my vote is on, but each choice does come with its own list of pros and cons. We explore the possibilities, and long-term considerations, during our headlines.

We finish today's show with some questions about setting up a small business. Tyson and Josh both have questions about consultants, files, staying organized, and more. We'll share our experience working with small business owners and from running our own shop. ...and of course, Doug will share some Dell-flavored trivia.

Enjoy!

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Experience Your Favorite City on Less (with George Igoe) May 10, 2021

While we can safely assume that most of us are ready to travel, we're not excited about breaking the bank AND quarantine. Yet, after meals, a decent hotel, and the tourist attractions, many of us feel we have to destroy our budget or we'll be sacrificing some fun. What if there was another way?

Today we'll interview George Igoe from the hit new Million Stories YouTube series George Goes Everywhere. He'll share how he experiences some amazing fun in many of America's biggest cities on less than a single Benjamin (that's $100 to the uninitiated). We'll talk about where to look for deals, what to avoid, and we'll even get behind the camera to discuss the making of his show.

Plus, during our first headlines segment back, we'll cover ALL of the stuff we missed during our break. Boy, was there a ton. A couple known as "Bill and Melinda" decided to divorce, Dogecoin went through the roof (and then dropped again), and both AOL and Yahoo! are being jettisoned from Verizon. We'll discuss all of these, our latest TikTok minute video (yet another crypto scam!) and top it all off with the story of a grandmother suing her brokers. They also happen to be her grandsons. Ouch.

Of course there's more! We'll still save time to throw out the Haven Life line and Doug will share some of his amazing trivia. We're glad to be back and have another great eight weeks planned. Enjoy our kickoff episode!

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Ever Try THESE Extremely Frugal (and maybe gross) Money Savers? May 07, 2021

How far would you go to save a few bucks, or even pennies? Mom always said all things in moderation, but it seems like these super-savers didn't get the memo. Remember, you can always put your energy into increasing your revenue streams, but playing the extreme frugality game quickly steps into the realm of diminishing returns. This round-table originally aired in 2018, but espcially after our last year, the push for extreme frugality could return to the forefront.

You can read our (mostly) original show notes below:

Being financially prudent is one thing, but when does saving money cross the line into being extremely, and possibly even grossly, frugal? Helping us answer these questions are today's special guests: from the Fiery Millennials blog, we welcome Gwen Mertz; and from this here podcast, we welcome our very own OG and Taylor.

(2021 note: On this show's original run Gwen was still co-hosting the Fire Drill podcast, and Taylor didn't join the Basement until about 18 months later. Pretty cool.)

Halfway through the show we'll take a little break to talk to Jason Brown from Tally. Making the decision to get on the road to financial freedom is a good one, and paying off credit cards and debt can be a major road block. We'll sit down with Jason doing our FinTech segment and see just how his company is setting out to help people climb out of debt.

And of course, we'll still have take some time to throw out the Haven Life Line to Joe, who wants to retire in the next few years. There's just one problem: Joe has no goals for retirement life. Can we throw some resources his way so he can figure out what he wants to do?

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Pulling Your Life (and Money) Together When Everything Goes Wrong May 05, 2021

Ever wish you had a second chance with your money? Billy B. hoped he'd get one. After being convicted and sent to prison after the death of his friend, Billy went through some serious soul searching, and the end result of that is on display on today's show. Not taking any opportunity for granted, working hard to find solid financial (and life) footing, and the value of surrounding yourself with good friends and mentors are just three of many themes we'll talk about in this fantastic discussion with Billy (who now also blogs at WealthWellDone.com). We originally aired this show in 2018, but the lessons Billy learned are truly timeless. Read the rest of the original show notes below:

In our headlines segment, a new software program means that some of your advisors may be expendable….or maybe not. We’ll discuss the hot topic of humans versus AI on today’s show. Plus, Warren Buffet just wrote his annual letter to investors. What are some of the takeaways? One publication listed their favorites and we’ll review and discuss them. As always, Mr. Buffet doesn’t fail to use the English language as a weapon while talking about investing, value, and evaluating risk.

We’ll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Luke, who wonders about investing to beat inflation without taking too much risk. For a five year goal, what investment works best? Are stocks too risky? Should he use junk bonds? We’ll shine a light on that topic (and maybe one we can’t talk about here), as well. We also answer a letter from Jon, who asks about asset allocation. What is a great way to manage your money and diversify correctly? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Of course, we’ll still score with some of Doug’s delightful trivia, and more.

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She Paid Off $18,410 Of Debt In 7 Months May 03, 2021

Got debt? We have a solution. Or rather, our guest, Jenni Zepol, does. Every eight weeks we look back through our collection and play some of our favorite interviews, and this one is no exception. No gimmicks or get rich-quick schemes - Jenni shared her strategy and goals on how she paid down her debt in less than a year and they just may work for you too.

Here's our original show notes:

We LOVE success stories, and today we're talking to one woman with a great one. She set out to pay off over $18,000 of debt in a single year. But what happened? She actually did it in just over half that time: seven months. Sounds good? We thought so too, so we called up Jenni Zepol to see just how she did it. The great news? Many of you may be able to follow her tactics and do it also.

Plus, in our headlines segment one whistleblower claims she was fired for raising red flags about her employer's alternative investment sales. While we're not going to set out to prove or disprove her claims, we will draw a point on why it's important to make sure your advisor is always acting as a fiduciary while helping you handle your finances. And in our second headline, one Florida teacher quit his job to become a 6-figure earning personal shopper. Any lessons we can learn there? Absolutely.

We'll also have time to answer a listener letter, and don't you worry, we'll also dish out a dose of Doug's trivia.

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What If Brands Were More Truthful? (plus an intro to Element) Apr 30, 2021

"You'll spend more time searching than watching" would be an honest slogan for which company? If you said… well, let's not spoil every element of the show before it starts.

During today's special game show we ask our contributors to guess which companies our "honest" slogans belong to. It's a lot of fun, and one contributor has a bit of a hard time marking their place on their board. Our contributors joining our round table this week are Stacy Johnson from the Money with Stacy Johnson podcast, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast.

After we wrap up our gameshow Joe sits down with the founder of Element, a new company designed to help personal finance creators answer questions from their audience. During their discussion Orban Oz shares how he discovered a startling statistic during his time building up a digital bank: personal finance creators are being asked questions all the time. That's where Element comes in. The platform sets out to make creators more accessible to their audience, and better response times. Today we dive into how it all works.

We finish today's show with a question from Michael, who's wondering if he's too conservative in his portfolio. Michael is 58 and his portfolio is 60% stocks and 40% bonds. He also has a pension with 100% survivorship benefits for his spouse. Michael also tell us he doesn't include the pension in portfolio allocation as fixed income.

He asks us two questions: is he being too conservative not including his pension in his calculations, and two, how much (if any), of their 1.4 million 401k should they convert into a Roth in retirement?

Enjoy!

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We Should All Be Millionaires (with Rachel Rodgers) Apr 28, 2021

It's a bold statement, and one financial coach Rachel Rodgers wholeheartedly believes. After adapting her coaching business last year to the difficult circumstances we were all facing, Rachel not only survived but thrived. She saw her company turn its first million-dollar month not long after. Today Rachel shares how you can get to millionaire status: a change in your mindset, enforced boundaries, and purposeful changes in your community can lead to huge financial improvements in your life.

In our headlines, and to no one's surprise, half the country is waiting for a vacation. While airlines can handle the traffic, car rental companies can't. After selling off fleets to stay afloat, there flat out aren't enough cars to go around anymore. In Hawaii, tourists have taken to using U-Hauls to get around. Are YOU planning a vacation soon? We share what you need to be doing (like yesterday) to make sure you're protected during our first headline.

Looking for headlines on saving money? We have that too.

Ever hear about tax-loss harvesting? If you've ever made bad stock-buying decisions at two in the morning despite all of our warnings, tax loss harvesting is your new best friend. This isn't the whole bit, but basically, it lets you use the losses on your stocks to lower the bottom line on the taxes of the stocks that actually performed well. Win-win, right? Or as most of a win as you can get in the situation. Joe and OG don't stop there, after giving the breakdown on tax-loss harvesting the guys also share tips on reallocating, understanding the differences between ETFs and Mutual Funds, and more.

We finish today's show with a question from an anonymous listener who's wondering how to invest all of his extra cash. Anon has regular W2 income and about $20,000 in self-employment income that they're not sure what to do with. Ideas? The guys give a breadth of things to consider including opening up a SEP IRA, talking to a CPA, different considerations for if our caller is running a side business with frequent income, contribution and tax implications, and more. Plus, we'll finish our answer with some tax-savings advice that's especially helpful for freelancers.

Enjoy!

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The Inspirational Tales of Four Radio Pioneers (with Lisa Napoli) Apr 26, 2021

Susan, Linda, Nina, and Cokie--four women we know by first name--were collectively much of the "voice" of NPR, bringing the fledgling network into millions of homes during an era when woman weren't even expected to report news, let alone host shows control what topics were discussed. Today we hear a few of their stories from master researcher and storyteller Lisa Napoli, journalist and the author of Ray & Joan among others. She'll share how you too can achieve your goals and create your dream job - even if it doesn't yet exist.

While these stories are downright interesting on their own, they also serve as great examples of achieving your goals, not limiting yourself, and learning how to thrive in environments where you're not expected to win.

During our headlines we tackle an issue most of the world's procrastinators have faced since working from home: keeping the ball rolling on your work. Studies show that the last year has been difficult for most, and we still have many lessons to learn about maximizing productivity and staying active when we're sometimes only feet from our bed (or the XBox/kids/fire pit/whatever). We've had experience figuring out how to keep productivity and workflow up, and we don't mind passing that advice on to you, along with some help from a great piece from the Wall Street Journal.

In our second piece, should you trust all of the new, up-and-coming "buy now, pay later" services? While you should always use some judgment while considering any purchases, there's a bigger question to answer here: WHY use these services? If you're already financially responsible enough to use credit, there are plenty of great credit card rewards programs to utilize instead. If you're not responsible... well we're back at square one, aren't we? We'll discuss the "why?" with these services and detail how they work.

We finish today's show with a question on HSA investing from Stephen who asks: should he pay for medical expenses out of pocket to allow his HSA contributions to grow interest? Similar to our "buy now, pay later" thoughts, it's not that our answer is necessarily no for Stephen, there are so many things that can go wrong here we have to take a moment to air some concerns.

Of course, there's always time for Doug and his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Crawling Out Of the Financial Abyss (plus an intro to Quontic Bank) Apr 23, 2021

Where do you turn when being poor has you exhausted? When you feel like you just can't think about ways to make money any longer? On a bigger scale, what's the secret to breaking out of poverty and the cycle of always being in debt? While we won't promise to solve the world's longest-running crisis in one podcast, our contributors all share their experiences and thoughts about working to overcome poverty. They share how they endured their own individual situations, and how they (and you) can plan and work towards getting out of a dark hole yourself. There aren't any quick fixes, but we do offer solid financial strategies that'll move you past the paycheck to paycheck lifestyle.

How about some "free" Bitcoin? During our Friday Fintech segment we'll talk to Quontic Bank founder-CEO Steve Schnall. The digital bank, which offers a Bitcoin "cash-back" rewards card, also handles non-traditional mortgages to help under-served people who need it most. You'll especially want to listen to this one if you're in the hospitality business or any other industry with hard to document income.

We end the show with a question from Nick. He tells us he's got an offer for a 2% cash back card. Nick is excited about using the card, but worried about his credit utilization rate. He's heard that 30% credit utilization is as high as he can go before his credit is negatively affected. Nick also asks if his credit is hit right away, or only when his statement is sent out. Our contributors share a full round of their thoughts before calling it quits for the weekend.

Of course, Doug has some airtime for his trivia game-show.

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How To Be Richer, Wiser, and Happier (with William Green) Apr 21, 2021

What separates you from everyone else? What gives you a competitive edge? According to William Green, who's interviewed hundreds of the richest investors on the planet, most of us don't have a competitive investing edge. But there's good news: that's okay, as long as you know who or what you're emulating. Today he'll pull on interviews from his new book, Richer, Wiser Happier, How the World's Greatest Investors Win in Markets and Life, to share how we can overcome our disadvantages and turn them into strengths. He'll also share some of the often-overlooked personal sides of a few investing magnates that we don't often get to see. You'll hear human stories about Jack Bogle and Warren Buffett, among others.

Keeping (in)famous people in mind, we'll also cover Bernie Madoff - and scams - during our headlines. The mastermind behind the largest Ponzi scheme to date, Madoff often served as a stark reminder of the things that can happen when investors turn over their cash to unethical advisors. We'll also share the latest developments of the advisor who ran away with millions of his clients' dollars, and a few scam experiences of our own.

Plus, if you're still waiting to file your 2017 taxes (I'm being serious), you only have limited time before Uncle Sam claims your cash for himself. I understand procrastination as much as the next wait-until-the-night-before person, but this is something you'll want to do sooner rather than later.

During our Haven Life line segment, we help out James, who has dreams of becoming a financial planner. His bigger issue? He already has student loan debt from another degree. James asks: can he become an advisor with no relevant degree or experience? Joe and OG give James all the information he needs to get started on his path.

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Become the Budget Boss (with Catherine Alford) Apr 19, 2021

How do you take care of your money? Is it dollar by dollar? Or do you swipe plastic (like we used to), hoping that the math in your head has worked out? Today we'll help you take control with a discussion about creating a budget meeting, changing your money mindset, and gaining the confidence you need to drive your goals. It's a powerful show and we're excited for you to hear it.

Featured Guest: Catherine Alford

Catherine Alford shares tips to help you take control of your life by utilizing the skills you already use every day. Cat's new book, Mom's Got Money: a millennial mom's guide to managing money like a boss has strategies, tactics, and ideas anyone can use. From money meetings to making small changes in your decisions leading to big habit and money improvements, there's plenty of options right within reach.

Do You Really Own Your Virtual Investments?

We'll also dive into the world of NFTs. Let's assume you're fully funding your other retirement vehicles and you're interested in putting some fun money into a fun NFT spot like NBA Top Shot. (Which is a new blockchain virtual sports card marketplace... thing).

You actually made a nice profit and want to cash out... and here comes the headache. You realize it'll take months for your gains to become liquid, but you need cash yesterday. What now?

It doesn't matter if you're investing in a Traditional or Roth IRA, annuities, virtual card trading marketplaces, or anything else - always make sure you understand what you're throwing your hard-earned Benjamins in. We explain more during our headlines.

Vacationing Next Year? Buy Now!

In our own little version of market timing, all signs point to "recoup lost revenue" when it comes to the airlines industry. If you're sure you'll travel next year, it might be good sense to buy that ticket now. We discuss travel, airlines, and more during our second piece.

The Haven Life Line: Terrible 401k Options? Here's What To Do

Kyle calls in and tells us he has terrible 401k options. His workplace plan offers one index fund and a host of high expense ratio plans. While he invests some cash for the company match, most of his contributions go towards his IRA. Kyle asks: what should he do in this situation? How can he get his workplace to offer better plans?

As always, we'll save some airtime for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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From Frugal to Fu*k It (plus Angelo Poli from Metpro) Apr 16, 2021

You've saved and invested diligently for years and you're now sitting on a fat stack of Benjamins. When's the right time to say f*** it and start spending cash like there's no tomorrow? Today our contributors share their big spender to saver money stories and give their thoughts on retiring WAY early... on less than a million dollars. It's not always about the bottom dollar, but also lost potential income (and raises) if you need to return to work years down the road, lost marketability as your skills age, and outdated professional networks as your co-workers move on to other opportunities.

Joining us on the roundtable this week is Diania Merriam, founder of the FIRE-Movement inspired EconoME Conference, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and OG from our own podcast.

Friday Fintech: Health and Wellness Expert Angelo Poli from MetPro.co

After our contributors finish swapping money stories, Joe sits down with health and wellness expert Angelo Poli from MetPro.co. With summer right around the corner, we polled our Stacker community for all the health and exercise questions they've been dying to get answered. From questions on aging metabolisms to intermittent fasting, and of course, time-efficient (and free) workouts even the busiest Stackers can do at home... Angelo covers it all and then some.

Listener Voicemail: HSA Horror Stories?

Our anonymous caller, who we refer to as Sal, calls in with some HSA questions. For years he was told he only needed the Explanation of Benefits form (think something like a medical statement) before finding out he actually needed his receipts as well. While this was an easy fix, Sal asks: what other blind spots could he have? What HSA horror stories should he know about - and avoid?

As always, Doug has some post-Fintech airtime to deliver his game-show trivia.

Enjoy!

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How Do YOU Stack More Benjamins? Apr 14, 2021

How do you make money driving for ride sharing companies? Credit card hacking? Churning bank accounts? How do you help your family plan? What's it like to meet with financial advisors? Today members of our community, Alan, Claudia, and Jon are kind enough to share their wisdom and experiences in all of these areas! Plus, we'll also share an important headline about doing your homework before investing, another on helping your community, and more.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a caller with a great question about estate planning. That comes after Doug's trivia and a few of your emails.

Enjoy!

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Start Adulting With Your Money (with Jake Cousineau) Apr 12, 2021

How much of this stuff goes over your head? What are the absolute first things you need to know about when you're rolling out on your own? Today high school personal finance teacher and author Jake Cousineau joins us to dive into the very first items you should include on your list of lessons to learn about money as you begin your journey. From the double-edged sword of interest to simple banking and ideas on budgeting and saving, we'll share some of Jake's favorite tips so that you can leave today's show more prepared than you were before you listened.

Annuities Changing Standards: Our Headlines

States are rolling out some new rules around annuity sales, which largely are meant to mimic the SEC's Reg BI (best interest). While industry spokespeople say it's a step in the right directions, consumer advocates say it isn't enough. Today we'll share how annuities work, where the problems are in the industry, and how these new state-by-state rules may change the game (or not).

We'll also share our TikTok creator video minute, and today we'll share a refreshing story. An online "guru" actually apologizes for leading his followers into a scam. While we love the sentiment, who would have known (hear the sarcasm coming?) that a StarWars universe-themed crypto coin called Mando might be fake.

We'll also share the latest worldwide real estate news. Inflated prices aren't just happening in your back yard. Around the world we're seeing some eye-popping numbers. What's the takeaway? We'll talk real estate today!

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line AND save time for Doug's trivia. It's another great day in the basement!

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Build a Better Plan with Lifestyle Design (LIVE Podbean Personal Finance Week) Apr 09, 2021

Are you coasting or actually planning your next move? Living in the land of "I should" or "I might" versus "I'm where I want to be right now?" Whether it's balancing your happiness with your career choices, changing industries, family planning, or deciding how long you want to work until retirement - lifestyle choices encompasses all of our financial decisions. Today we ask our contributors: what's the design for your lifestyle? What drives your motivations, career choices, retirement plans, and financial decisions? It's a great discussion with plenty of overlap with financial independence, and one you can use for a diagnostic in your own life once you hear how it's done.

Welcome to a live-making of the Stacking Benjamins show! Recorded during Podbean's Finance Podcast Week, we had the opportunity to showcase a behind-the-scenes making of the podcast in front of a live audience, and it was lots of fun that you'll hear today. Our round table has a big discussion on lifestyle design this week using their cell phones. For this one, excuse our worse-than-usual audio. We promise the engaging conversation will be worth it.

Our Listener Mail: What (Non-Financial) Podcasts Do We Like?

We finish our live show with a letter from Lou: he's heard us talk plenty about our favorite TV shows and movies, but what about our favorite non-money related podcast? Our contributors deliver: from podcasts like Whatever Happened to Pizza at McDonald'‪s‬ and Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase‪!‬, to This Week in Virolog‪y‬ and more, you'll hear plenty of our favorite podcasts we love to binge when we're not thinking about money. (Except for one contributor who always is thinking about money - but we'll leave that one a surprise).

Of course, we couldn't possibly do a live show without giving up some airtime for Doug's trivia.

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How Much Is Overthinking Costing You? (with Jon Acuff) Apr 07, 2021

Don't think you can overthink your money decisions? Study's show that sadly, you're wrong. Not only will overthinking cause you to create overly complex plans, but you'll give up early on strategies, fail to move when you need decisive action, and exhaust yourself with going over the options "just one more time." Overthinking rarely involves positive thoughts, and you can't win when you're not confident. Today we'll help you solve that issue. Long time listeners will remember the last time we had Jon Acuff on the show back in 2017, (find that here: Give Yourself The Gift of “Finished”).

In Jon's new book Soundtracks, he explores how our thought process and the stories we tell ourselves impacts our everyday lives, AND how you change your own soundtrack to solve your problems with overthinking.

Give Enough Cash and Even The Spenders Pay Up... Eventually

Remember the news the weeks after the first stimulus checks hit? Everyone waiting for the first piece of evidence to release their blog posts and podcast episodes about how everyone ran out and bought fancy 4k's and PS5s? (We totally didn't do that...not us!)

Well, a new study shows that given ample cash to clear out the Amazon wish list, many people HAVE ended up paying off their bills. During our headlines Joe and OG discuss paying down debt, the double penalty of being stuck in a debt cycle, and how you can walk away from the I Can't mindset.

How The Pandemic Changed Our Retirement Worries

The pandemic challenged a lot of the conventional thinking behind emergency funds, healthcare, and and retirement living. A newly released Fidelity report queried investor retirement worries, and while there were some surprises, other figures proved that not all financial thinking needs to be redrawn from the ground up.

Doc G from the Earn & Invest podcast joins us today to discuss what the report means for the broader retirement conversation AND what the numbers mean to you.

The Haven Life Line: What's the deal with Fundrise?

Sean is interested in investing with Fundrise, and wants to know our thoughts. While the company has seemed to change up their marketing since they first came on our radar we still have some reservations, and OG and I actually differ on a few thoughts here.

Never familiar with REITs? We'll explain your options on the show, but you can get started here: Traded vs. Non-Traded REITs: Which Is Best for You?

Enjoy!

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First Home or Big Wedding? (with Netflix's Mortgage or Marriage stars Sarah and Nichole) Apr 05, 2021

This seems like an easy decision, doesn't it? Skimp on the party and invest money in your dream residence. Yet, don't we always say to invest in experiences because they appreciate in your mind (becoming more epic as the years pass), instead of things that clutter our lives? Co-hosts of the new Netflix reality show Marriage or Mortgage, wedding planner Sarah Miller and real estate pro Nichole Holmes, join us for a fun discussion on a dilemma many newlyweds face: how much cash do you spend on making your dream wedding a reality, and at what cost to your future home?

We know, this is a financial podcast, and financial nerds are definitely biased on this one, but Sarah raises some pretty good points, and you just might surprise yourself when you're nodding along. We're not saying you should go for broke on a huge wedding (though if you do, please invite us), but Sarah's reasoning isn't exactly in contrast with our own money philosophy.

Making "Fun Money" on trading apps? Watch out for the tax bill.

In our headlines segment, we'll relive the horror story one Robinhood trader experienced when he found he had an $800,000 tax bill. Worse news? He could have avoided it fairly easily if he knew one rule that we'll share on today's show.

Tiktok of the Week: Amazon beats Walmart because of... adult toys?

In our TikTok minute you'll find that it isn't just young, aggressive traders (or at least TikTok talkers) who are making bizarre statements about financial success. So are television anchors.

Want early retirement? Try buying a school bus!

How great is this? One man in his twenties decided to cut out 40 years of saving and instead retire right now. We'll share his story and what it means for you.

BUT that's not all. Of course, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND we'll dovetail in some of Doug's amazing trivia.

Enjoy!

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Living Abroad Without Breaking The Bank (plus an intro to Jassby) Apr 02, 2021

Brush off the passport, pack the bags, and plop down in your favorite lazy spot because we're going global on today's show! In this special Living Abroad episode, we invite world travelers living in various countries to share how they did it, what they should've learned earlier, and what life experiences they've gained since settling into their new lives.

Joining our round table is a French native and former Guatemala-living Pauline Paquin from the Reach Financial Independence blog, Jim White from the Route to Retire blog (who moved to Panama with his wife and daughter at 43), and Travis Luther, author of Fun Side of the Wall, a book explaining why baby boomers are flocking to Mexico for retirement.

Friday Fintech: Jassby - An App for Families

After our trio wraps up all things travel Joe sits down with Benny Nachman, founder of the family money-sharing app Jassby. The app provides an easy-to-use system that lets parents assign responsibilities to children, pay allowances, and even setup a virtual debit card.

Listener Voicemail: Gifting Stocks?

During our MagnifyMoney segment, we take on a question about gifting stocks to students from high school teacher Jake. Additionally, he asks, is there a good way to buy fractional shares as a gift? A few of the stocks his students are interested in are a few hundred dollars a piece... not exactly feasible to buy for a whole class.

As always, Doug has some post-Fintech airtime to deliver his game-show trivia.

Enjoy!

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Finding Financial Wholeness (with Tiffany Aliche, The Budgetnista) Mar 31, 2021

You may have financial security, but do you have financial wholeness? What's the difference? Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche says that she felt more whole BEFORE she had financial independence than she did after. We'll talk about building a solid financial footing and understanding on today's show. Tiffany has led women worldwide in paying off millions of dollars in debt, co-hosts the Brown Ambition podcast, and now has multiple financial education books published, including a pre-education book for children. With a decade of teaching experience behind her - that's before she moved into financial education - Tiffany has used her experience to develop easy-to-follow, engaging financial education lessons.

Today we sit down with The Budgetnista for a wide-ranging interview including why you should strive for financial wholeness instead of financial freedom, how to present financial education so even children can grasp it, and her straightforward budgeting system.

A Case Study in Being Prepared

Model and Actress Brooke Shields had a horrific fall a few months ago that required her to undergo multiple surgeries. It's an accident she's still recovering from, and one she'll need to dedicate time and resources too. Here's the thing: Brook Shields (in all likelihood) can field the costs and loss of earnings in stride.

What would happen in your life after enduring the same experience Shields went through? Beyond the physical and emotional trauma, what type of shock test will your finances go through?

What vehicle gets the most mile for your buck?

Pushing mortgages and health costs to the side for a moment, vehicle purchases are among the most expensive reoccurring expenses you'll have in life. Operating inside of a budget, there isn't anything wrong with picking based on your aesthetic preferences.

However, at the very least, you should make informed decisions when any large amount of cash in on the table. We know cars depreciate in value the moment you drive off the lot, but which vehicles actually get you the most mileage for your cash over the long run? Joining us today with all the right answers, we welcome Karl Brauer from ISeeCars.com.

Getting Young Investors Started?

Sarah calls in asking the best way of setting up investment accounts for her two younger brothers, who are 16 and 20 years old. She knows her older brother could possibly setup a Roth IRA, but not sure what the best move is for her youngest brother. Sarah also asks about college financial aid implications. Thoughts?

Enjoy!

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You Are Resilient (with Harma Hartouni) Mar 29, 2021

Pros in every field will tell you that confidence is a huge part of earning more money. But what happens when life delivers blow after blow? We've been there ourselves, and so has our guest, Harma Hartouni, who moved to America with his family and was flat broke. Much of his story stems from a childhood relationship with a dad that was less than perfect (to put it mildly). While this is not a direct rags-to-riches story, things started to turn around for Harma, and he now runs one of the top real estate firms in Southern California, along with having a passion for sharing his life experiences for others to learn from. Today Harma shares his compelling story of perseverance, confidence, and learning lessons from horrible experiences instead of falling back on them as a crutch, like so many do.

Blackrock Cuts ETF Fees Cut to Near Zero

Lower fees... hooray! Right? The race to zero fees continues with BlackRock's latest move to drop ETF fees, which is the lastest blow in their fight for assets with Vanguard. While we aren't complaining about more money in your pocket, the slashed fees leave us with a lingering question: what exactly should investors want when it comes to their strategy? Beyond the latest flashy headline of the week, what's your framework for making investing decisions?

Top Mistakes People Make When Planning for Retirement

Have you made your portfolio more conservative to soothe your market volatility fears? Larry Swedroe recently shared some big retirement planning mistakes which could cost you millions of dollars in missed opportunity.

The Your Complete Guide to a Successful and Secure Retirement author (and previous Stacking Benjamins guest) brings some good points to the table, and Joe and OG share some math scary enough to make you think twice before slowing things down.

Not All Products Are Meant for You

We're mixing things up with today's Haven Life Line. Margaret saw a video online that's filled with mostly good advice, but sneaks in a "secure compound interest account" comment at the end of the clip. What's the deal?

Joe and OG share exactly what this account actually is, and give some frank advice for people who may be considering investing.

Enjoy!

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Financial Advice You Should Ignore (with an intro to FarmTogether) Mar 26, 2021

Have a difficult time separating good financial advice from the bad? Today our contributors tackle everything from budgeting and credit utilization myths, to discussions on trade schools and the rent vs mortgage debate. Joining us on today's round table is Lauryn Williams from the Worth Listening podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything Podcast, and Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog.

Friday Fintech: FarmTogether

After the constant reminders to diversify, you eventually decided to invest a portion of your portfolio into something like bonds, right? Ever consider farmland? Joining us from the FarmTogether investment platform, we welcome founder Artem Milinchuk to learn more about farmland investing.

Joe and Artem discuss how farmland's low correlation with the stock market provides better diversification, how advances in the farming industry align with ESG values, and how farmland can provide bond-like stable returns while still providing equity-level value.

Listener Voicemail: What Happens To Your Stocks When A Company Goes Private?

A company you own stocks of goes private, what happens now? Caller Liz recently found out that Michael's will become a private company after a sell. Liz asks: do they sell her shares at a specific time? Does she have a choice? Fortunately, Liz tells us this is her sandbox money - she doesn't need it, but she's still curious about the process.

As always, Doug has some post-fintech airtime to deliver his game-show trivia.

Enjoy!

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Trailblazers: Early Women in Medicine (with Olivia Campbell) Mar 24, 2021

We thought women have been doctors for a long, long time. That's clearly not been the case, and also it's a path that's hard-won. If you were fans of the women in Hidden Figures, watch out, because today we're introducing you to three more trailblazers. In honor of Women's History month we invited Olivia Campbell, the author of the new book Women in White Coats, to share with us some fascinating (and sometimes horrifying) stories of the challenges these incredible women faced during their fight with the status quo. These women had limited funds, little to no support system, no government assistance, and they persevered in spite of it all.

Financial Advisor Alex Reffet

In our headlines segment, we'll go back again for another look to a year ago. How should a good financial advisor have encouraged you at the time when the sky was falling, and the market was experiencing its worst days in history? We'll talk to Alex Reffet from East Paces Group in Atlanta to get his perspective.

Tax Day Pushed Back...BUT With One Exception

Also, we'll share the news that you can procrastinate on all of your taxes...except one, for an extra month. We'll share some bad news for people with a state income tax AND also for people who own businesses. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky listener AND share Doug's amazing trivia. Enjoy!

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Nail Your Next Home Purchase (with Scott Trench and Mindy Jensen) Mar 22, 2021

How many mistakes did YOU make buying your last home? Before you make another, Scott Trench and Mindy Jensen from Bigger Pockets Money join us to drop the knowledge you should know before making your next home purchase. They'll discuss the cost tradeoff you need to consider between renting and buying, the exit strategies you have to weigh before making any purchase, and detail how to set yourself up for a rock-solid home buying experience. Plus, you'll see how Mindy pocketed a $300k profit off her home renovations, tax-free.

Cryptocurrency illegal?

We'll start our headlines discussing India's possible banning of cryptocurrency. While nothing is yet set in stone, it's a good example of why it's important to keep your retirement funds diversified, no matter how lucrative one type of investment may appear. The only thing that's for certain is that if there's a way to make money off of it, you can bet Uncle Sam (or any government) is going to find a way to share in the pie.

2021 - The Year of the CFO

We'll start with a piece about a possible market crash (spoiler: yes, eventually), and quickly pivot to a discussion on how careful you need to be this year about growth statistics from companies. With the year that was 2020, it's no wonder companies are loud and proud about their expected growth in 2021. Don't get us wrong, we're excited about positive news, but as an investor, you can't only rely on fancy numbers.

What to do with all this money?

We'll finish the show with a call from Seth, who recently bought a home. After his monthly expenses and investing Seth has about $2,000 leftover each month in savings. With Seth's emergency fund already fully funded, he asks: should he allocate the extra cash to paying off his mortgage, or use the money to fund additional investments? We'll give Seth some advice that'll work for every raise he gets, expected or not.

Enjoy!

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Yes, You Can Talk To Your Family About Money (plus an intro to Seeds Investor) Mar 19, 2021

Whether you are a parent, have parents, or find yourself at the Thanksgiving table sandwiched between generations, honest money conversations are crucial to your financial journey. Single investors with no kids need to know the late-life plans of their parents before they're surprised with care costs. Kids themselves need financial education and the best way to do that is by showing them firsthand. Parents, especially those supporting two generations, have all the more reason to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Joining us today to share the strategies and conversations inside of their own families, we welcome Pam Andrews from The Scholarship Shark; Doc G from the Earn & Invest podcast, and OG from our own Stacking Benjamins.

Friday Fintech: Ethical Investing with Seeds Investor

Remember 15 years ago (or even five) when investing in ESG's was considered principally an ethical move? While you could invest according to your morals people would tell you about the market returns you'd miss out on. That's not quite the case anymore, and now it's easier than ever to stick to your ethical considerations AND make money doing it. Joining us today from Seeds Investor to discuss the future of ethical investing and Seeds part in it all is COO & Head of Product Kristen O’Grady.

Our Listener Voicemail

Dan graduated from college last year and has been staying with his parents rent-free. He's since become a salaried worker, with a big raise and benefits to match. Dan tells us that he had been putting 15% of each paycheck into a savings and emergency fund. He has a few manageable bills right now and has been investing the rest. Dan asks: what are out thoughts on transferring the 15% savings rate to his investments instead? After all, he could maximize his investments while having low bills.

Enjoy!

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Build Your Perfect Budget and Cook Better While Wasting Less (The STACK Replay) Mar 17, 2021

Today's show includes two fantastic guests: first Allison Baggerly, who not only paid off $100k on two teacher salaries but who also has become a ninja at budgets. She'll share tips from her Inspired Budget courses and website that you can use to begin setting up your own budget today. But that's not all! We also spoke with the host of Struggle Meals, Frankie Celenza, about how he's able to make great-tasting food for less money AND with less waste. He'll share tips about spices, salt, organizing your refrigerator, and more.

NOTE: On the live replay we experienced a few issues. We'll share one right at the top of the show (Doug's power went out immediately as we began--that stuff ONLY happens when you're live). We also realized while editing that you are hearing also Joe's channel, which includes links to backstage discussions. We've cleaned it up a ton and unfortunately, that meant cutting some discussions. Check out the YouTube video to see the entire show.

As always, you'll find show notes and links to Struggle Meals and Inspired Budget at our show notes page at Stacking Benjamins dot com.

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High Return Investment: Kindness? (with Brian Biro) Mar 15, 2021

You calculate returns on your investments, but what's your ROI when you're actually being nice to people? It turns out, reams of data show that kindness pays, and today, America's Breakthrough Coach, Brian Biro joins us to talk about how to become a Chief Kindness Officer. While Brian's all about holding the door open for someone, the philosophy of kindness actually goes much deeper than that. Sometimes being kind means telling a worker, "Go figure this out on your own, then come back to me with your thoughts." It's a wide-ranging interview that we know you're going to enjoy.

Bad Idea of the Year: Investing Because A Celebrity Said So

The Securities and Exchange Commission has a new warning you'll want to know about. If you didn't know this already - you shouldn't invest in any company only because you heard something on the internet and the news. That includes Stacking Benjamins, Facebook, CNBC, Fox Business, and anyone else you want to throw on this list. That's not to say no one ever has good endorsements, but due diligence is always an action you should take before making big decisions with your money. We'll talk about celebrity endorsements and a new warning from the SEC during our headlines segment...

Have A Plan For That $1,400 Stimulus Check Coming In

And speaking of doing your due diligence, Suze Orman had a thing or two to say with how people might be spending this next stimulus check. Naturally, we had a thing or two to say about her thing - or rather Don McDonald has something to say. Making a flash appearance in the basement, the Talking Real Money host has some real takes on how you should use your stimulus check to score the biggest impact possible.

What's the deal with SPACs?

Good on Julien for today's Haven Life question! He's been hearing about special-purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) in the news and wants some clarification. Is this a new shady method for companies to avoid the paperwork that comes with an IPO? Are SPACs worth investing in? Joe and OG take Julien's question and go step-by-step on the differences between IPOs and SPACs.

Of course, we'll always leave some time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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10 Lessons For A Successful Retirement (with an intro to Everplans) Mar 12, 2021

Spend less than you earn, invest, Stack Benjamins, and retire to a beach for the rest of your life, (or insert personal retirement fantasy here). It sounds simple... right? As a set of guidelines, sure it's simple. BUT in reality, it's not so easy, and as studies have shown time and time again, doing your dream retirement activity (like golf) every day gets old very quickly. While money is obviously the most important component to any retirement, the "to-do" list doesn't stop there. Helping us fill in the blanks, and joining us for our round table today, we welcome CFP Dana Anspach from Sensible Money, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our very own OG.

EverPlans: Introducing a company helping you plan for the worst.

After our contributors get their fill on retirement advice, Joe sits down with the founders of Everplans, a company designed to help you store key information in one place in case of the worst happening. During our Friday Fintech interview, company founders Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer explain why it's so important for your loved ones to have easy access to your important documents, and how quickly things can go wrong when your family can't access your information. They take a topic most of us would rather put off and share stories that are fun, insightful, and actionable. We're glad to shine some light on the importance of making sure your family is taken care of in case of the worst happening.

Should you hold onto bonds for a change to make money on the market?

As always, we finish today's show with a MagnifyMoney question. Scott tells us he's holding long-term Treasury bonds in his portfolio with the hope the bonds will jump in price when the stock market crashes. He would then use the profit to buy stocks while they're low. Scott asks: do long-term treasuries still spike in a near-zero interest rate environment, or does that only happen when rates are cut?

Of course, Doug gets airtime halfway through the episode for his game show, and he's in the holiday spirit today. You'll see what holiday season he means later... enjoy!

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Can You Juggle It All? (with Heather Chauvin) Mar 10, 2021

You've felt it. You're going over the side...and it's all crashing down. You'd better believe that Heather Chauvin has also felt it. She's both a leadership coach and host of the Mom Is In Control podcast, and today she joins us in the basement to share her personal story of leaving a job she hated, all while maxing out her credit cards to get her side business off the ground - and by the way....also while she was battling cancer.

While sitting down with Joe, Heather also shares how she stayed motivated and shifted her life priorities from taking care of others first, to taking care of herself first - and then others. Putting her own "mask" on first (talking airline warnings here) changed her life, and it'll do great things for you too.

Financial Lessons From Sky-Rocketing Lumber Prices.

In our first piece, we share lessons learned from rising lumber prices across the country. Much like how we love to wait until the day before a cold front to make necessary preparations, lumber runs on a "just in time" system. When an extra factor is thrown in the mix, it can throw the whole system in disarray until enough time has passed to course correct.

A financial plan made with margin for error runs close to the same fashion. The big issue? Late lumber impacts your backyard plans, a wrong financial plan messes with your retirement.

Joe and OG give their takeaways during our headlines.

Mortgage Rates Are Creeping Up

Mortgage rates are going back up, better run out and capitalize on it while you can!... or maybe not. Giving us some clarity in what is surely resulting in plenty of scary headlines, Joe sits down with Kevin Parker of Navy Federal.

Kevin shares what you need to know BEFORE making any big money decisions, plus dishes out some sound financial knowledge that's helpful for anyone approaching loans and credit.

Best Personal Financial Success Story?

Waiting for us on the Haven Life Line is a question from Evan, who's looking for some feel-good news after 2020. He asks: what are our best personal and professional success stories? We're happy to share!

Of course, we'll always leave some time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Defusing the Time Bomb In Your Portfolio (with Ed Slott) Mar 08, 2021

There's a time-bomb waiting in your IRA. Tax and IRA expert Ed Slott joins us today to share what the death of the Stretch IRA means for your retirement, and how the SECURE Act has made some big changes to the way your money is treated long after you're gone. Whether you have a partner, children, family, or any other dependents depending on your support, the last thing you need is complicated tax rules funneling money out of your portfolio. If you're the type of person who runs at the sound of a tax discussion, you may want to stick around for this one. Ed Slott breaks down what is often a monotonous subject into funny, easy-to-understand material.

GME Resurgence, Cathie Wood, Stocks, and more.

What in the world is going on with GameStop? No, that's not a misplaced sentence. Did you think the move three weeks ago was the end? Check the chart and be prepared for a surprise. Joining us today to talk GameStop's second resurgence, we welcome Spencer Israel from Benzinga. We'll also discuss Cathie Wood, the CEO of the largest actively-managed ETF in 2020 (among other distinctions), the bouncing markets, stock picks, and more.

Uber (and any other service-economy app company) is NOT Your Friend.

We normally make light of a financial TikTok on our Monday shows, and while we aren't changing that today, we're also shining some special light on one emotional video you've probably seen making its way across the web. Featuring a tearful Uber driver sharing his ordeal delivering almost an hour-long order only to ultimately make virtually no money on his delivery, the driver pleads with customers to understand what drivers go through and to tip appropriately.

We agree with the driver on a big point: regardless of how you may feel about the current system, it is the system. If you're utilizing service labor, you need to tip appropriately or choose other manners of getting your product/need met. BUT, we use the video to shine an important light here. Uber's first priority is to the company shareholders, not to you as a customer or contractor. Great guests like Juliet Schor have already explained the how's and why's behind the large costs associated with the everyday worker in the sharing economy, but one's things for sure: when something isn't working for YOU, it's time to pivot.

When is it the right time to make the leap to full-time business owner?

We'll finish today's show with a Haven Life voicemail from caller Evan, who has some questions on jumping ship from the W2 life to full-time business owner. Up to this point, Evan and his family have reinvested all the money back into the business to keep it growing, and he asks: what should he know before taking the leap? Joe and OG give their two cents, and share a few resources along the way.

Of course, we'll always leave some time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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5 Strategies to Save $1 Million (rewind with an intro to GO) Mar 05, 2021

No matter if it's 2017 or 2021, $1 million dollars is still a nice stack of Benjamins. That's why to finish our rewind week, we're bringing a round table episode featuring our contributors sharing their top strategies to save your own million. Regular contributors Paula Pant and Len Penzo were joined by Hip Hop's Financial Advisor Rob Wilson on this episode.

You can read the original show description below:

How do you save a million dollars (we said in our coolest Austin Powers voice….). We’ll discuss a recent online piece that goes over that on our Friday round table! Special guest, and Hip Hop’s Financial Advisor Rob Wilson joins Paula Pant and Len Penzo in a no-holds-barred conversation on saving more money.

Of course, we don’t stop there. We also tackle a recent Time story about millennials. Apparently, ONE trick is helping them save more money. We’ll share not only what it is but also additional tricks to save more money. Finally, we review a Moneyologist column question about taking care of a brother’s money. If he can’t do it himself, how much should sister step in?

In our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to the CEO of GO, a cool app that’ll help you more quickly (and by more quickly, we mean WAY more quickly) your car insurance. It’s as easy as taking a photo….

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College Planning 101 (Rewind w/ Financial Aid Pro Jodi Okun) Mar 03, 2021

For many families college is right around the corner, and so is that first Business Office payment. Fortunately for you, we have some great advice on hand from a financial aid wizard. While specific policies may change, the strategies and mindset behind lowering the bottom line and getting more aid in your pocket tend to stick around. That's why we're replaying our interview with financial aid wizard and UC San Diego instructor, Jodi Okun.

Here's our original description:

College planning expert Jodi Okun stops by the basement to help college-bound students save a TON of money. She has advice for students, parents, and for people thinking about possibly going back to college. How will you pay for it? She has many great suggestions.

In our headlines....beware when an expert shares their opinion, and it just happens to correlate with EXACTLY the items they sell. Plus, ever wonder why nobody makes money in the stock market? We'll share the real reason.

Then we take a hotline call from Amy about moving to Canada and a letter from Megan with an awesome article attached.

All that and a guy named Snoop! in the basement today....

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Creating Your Debt-Free Blueprint (Rewind w/ Laura Adams, AKA Money Girl) Mar 01, 2021

With stimulus checks hopefully on the way, it's a good time to get your debt payment strategy in place. That's why we're replaying this episode from 2019 with Laura Adams, more commonly known as Money Girl from the popular podcast by the same name.

Here's the original description:

Are you having trouble climbing out of debt? Or maybe you're tired of daily calls from debt collectors? Whether you have serious debt or just need to refresh your plan, today we're kickstarting your 2019 journey to financial independence with the host of the Money Girl podcast, Laura Adams. Plus, speaking of 2019, what does the next year have in store for the world of credit? We're talking to Senior Vice President of Research and Consulting at Transunion, Matthew Komos, during our headlines segment.

And later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Alex, who wants to know if he should pull some cash out of his account and reinvest when the market drops. He's also finishing his residency to become a physician, and his tax liability is virtually zero. What should he do with his accounts right now?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

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10 Habits to Become a Better Investor (plus the Evil HR Lady) Feb 26, 2021

Whether you've been investing for a week, for years, or anything in between, it's always a good idea to keep the fundamentals in mind. BUT....on the other hand, we love to have fun, and it's Friday after all! That's why today we're treating you to a Stacking Benjamins game-show version of "Guess the 10 Habits to Become a Better Investor!" We pulled a piece from M1 Finance listing their top 10 habits, and on this episode, we'll quiz our contributors on which strategies made the list. Not only do you get great investing tips from each of our three contributors, you'll find yourself laughing so much you won't realize you've learned a thing... until it's too late. Playing the game-show with us, we welcome Don McDonald from TalkingRealMoney.com, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog.

Think it's too late to make a career change?

After we crown our game-show champion, we'll talk big career moves with the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas. Are you anxious about making an industry change? Think you've sunk too much time to make a move for your happiness? We'll talk sunk costs (both monetary and emotional), following your happiness, and the realities of leaving behind a career you've spent a considerable amount of time in - and the truth is probably brighter than you think.

What should you do with you investments when you have large upcoming purchases?

We'll finish our show today with a MagnifyMoney question from caller Debi, who tells us that she's looking to buy a home or condo in the next few years. She would like to acquire a few more properties after that and start to rent them out for passive income. Plus, she has a $10,000 savings bond that will mature in August 2021, along with another $10k each in savings and Robinhood. Our contributors give Debi some much-earned congratulations and advice on how to best position her money in the mean time.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Business Case Studies To Make Your Family Finances Sing (with John Warrillow) Feb 24, 2021

John Warrillow has built and sold many businesses, and has created a business value builder system used by thousands of businesses worldwide. With many, many years of experience under his belt, John knows a thing or two on how to bring value to a business. Today, he brings that wealth of knowledge with him to help make better financial sense for your family. Tune in for an insightful discussion featuring case studies, interesting stories, and maybe a new way of looking at your family's financial picture.

Hot take incoming: every time you make a bad financial decision and lose big (let's say shorting GameStop to the tune of $200,000), maybe you should blame someone else and sue them to recoup your losses! Sound crazy to you? Tell that to Christian Iovin, the man suing leading Reddit investor "DeepF$%kingValue" over his part in the short squeeze. During our headlines, Joe and OG give a thorough deconstruction detailing how the "get-rich-quick" mindset can lead a person down some strange paths - including thinking that a social media figure is responsible for your investing choices. While we aren't without sympathy, we break down how Iovin willingly made his choice on what he thought was a great deal at the time, and offer up some sound advice to not get yourself caught between a rock and hard place - short squeeze or otherwise).

We'll keep today's theme going with our second set of headlines. Bill Gates is now officially "meh" on Bitcoin (it's an improvement!), and financial advisors are ready to back the truck up to crypto.

Now hold on a second if you think you know where this is going. We're not here to preach #teamcrypto or denounce the movement either way. What we are saying, like in our interview with John Warrillow, is that you need systems. We've said the same thing about Tesla and Apple, and the rules don't change for Bitcoin. The biggest danger to your portfolio isn't a Redditor or Capitol Hill, it's you. The best thing you can do for your bottom line is taking yourself OUT of the equation.

Enough of that, moving on. Finishing out today's show is a Haven Life line question from Zac. He asks... (checking notes...)... is putting $20 a week into a somewhat random stock that has shown positive growth a good idea? Truth be told, we could have went a lot of different ways with this one. I'm proud to say the guys put some thought into this one, and not only give Zac an answer, but dive into some explanations on different stock analysis theories.

Of course, Doug always gets some airtime for his trivia. Enjoy!

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You Made It. Now What? (with Jennifer Risher) Feb 22, 2021

What's the next step after you finally "make it"? While it's easy to scoff at the problems of people who are financially set, it's not uncommon to lose a sense of purpose once you jump out of the rat race. Bigger questions start to come up: what's your real purpose in life? What type of legacy are you leaving behind? How will your personal relationships be impacted by your new-found financial status? What type of impact do you want to make on the world? Shining a new light on these ideas that often don't receive enough attention is Jennifer Risher, author of We Need To Talk: A Memoir About Wealth. We'll talk to her today!

Taxes, taxes, taxes.

It's that time of year again. Joining us to talk all things taxes during our headlines segment, we welcome tax software expert extraordinaire, Hannah Rounds from The College Investor. Whether you're a landlord, charitable giver, paying off college debt, contributing to an HSA, or anything in between, Hannah has great advice ensuring you won't be leaving any cash on the table.

Plus, Fidelity recently held an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit. The thread gathered A LOT of attention, but not for the reasons you'd think: everyone had Robinhood on their mind. While Reddit users did comment on the GME/Robinhood debacle, there was a bigger question: why in the world does Robinhood have such an incredible user interface, while many of the other big-name brokerages and bank apps seem to be stuck in the first episode of Wandavison?

We'll finish out the show with a Haven Life line question from one listener who has finally come to their senses with Robinhood. Listener Taylor has invested with the company for years and he's ready to jump ship. The big question? How can he change move his investments to another brokerage without taking a big capital gains hit? We'll give him many options so he (and you!) can move on to greener pastures.

Naturally, we'll also give Doug his airtime halfway through the show. FAANG stocks used to be all the rage, but some investing pros are looking to the future and is giving one company the boot. Find out which one during Doug's trivia.

Enjoy!

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Should You Move For Money, Opportunity, or Peace of Mind? (Plus an intro to Yieldstreet) Feb 19, 2021

Feeling stuck? Maybe it's time to move. Of course, it's a lot easier to write about moving than actually planning and doing it. And while a move may pay off in the long run, there could be a hit initially to your finances. With that in mind, today we ask our round table contributors: what exactly would encourage you to move? Better location? Pay? Maybe you want to escape the harsh Detroit winters? (I'll let you guess who had that complaint). It's a fun conversation that covers a breadth of topics in true Stacking Benjamins fashion. Helping us out today are our round table regulars: Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our very own OG.

Halfway through the show, we'll give our contributors a break while Joe talks everything alternative investments with Michael Weisz, co-founder of alternative investments company Yieldstreet. During their interview, Michael covers everything from the company origin stories - a shocking reality check that a large percentage of everyday consumers were locked out of the alternative investments sector - to helping investors by cutting down average IRA rollover times from forty days to six. If you've ever wondered about other investment choices outside of stocks, bonds and funds, this is one interview for you.

We'll end today's show with our MagnifyMoney segment. Caller Kevin tells us that his father passed away last year. While he isn't attached to the credit card debt his father left behind, he's heard the horror stories of banks hounding family members after a loved one's death. Kevin asks: what's the best strategy for dealing with the looming creditors? We'll give Kevin some heartfelt advice that we hope can make this time a little easier.

Of course, we'll give Doug his airtime halfway through the show, and he's keeping things Texarkana Classy with today's trivia.

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Broke Millennial on Tough Conversations (with Erin Lowry) Feb 17, 2021

How do you have money conversations with the people in your life without making things awkward? From asking the boss for a raise to having a tricky money chat you'd rather not have with a family member, and even to opening honest lines of communication with your partner - money can be a scary topic to broach. We bring good news: it doesn't have to be. Erin Lowry, the mind behind the Broke Millennial series, joins us today to share how you can move beyond the "pit in your stomach" feeling when it comes to money conversations, and the answer (really) is easier than you'd think.

Plus, during our headlines... let's just say the local TexarkanaChamber of Commerce isn't too happy with how we've been portraying the small quaint town of Texarkana. Chamber of Commerce President, Bubba "Tex" Mext had a few words he wanted to share with us, and - lucky for you - we caught it all on tape, and we're sharing it here today.

Of course, we won't leave you high and dry either. When we find some clean airtime, we'll also discuss a piece about the growing popularity of HSAs. While the book is still out on investor sentiment towards a dual HSA/401k investment approach, it's not the worst idea to consider for your larger financial portfolio. We'll explain why during our headlines.

During our Haven Life Line, we'll answer a call from Maz, who has more questions about the GameStop situation. What are the big lessons to take away here? What should investors have learned? How can people do better in the future?

Naturally, Doug can't let Tex Mext make so much commotion without having a few words on the matter himself. Better brush up in your Lone Star knowledge, because Doug has Texas on his mind today during his trivia.

Enjoy!

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Networking For Introverts (with Matthew Pollard) Feb 15, 2021

Think you can't network like a pro because you're an introvert? Better put your party hat on and take a shot of liquid courage, because our guest today is coming in with strategies and techniques that'll turn anyone into a lean, green, networking machine. (Without resorting to sending out hundreds of spam emails). Our guest, Matthew Pollard, has helped multiple businesses become million-dollar ideas, and he assures us it has a lot less to do with having the skills of a smooth talker, and a whole lot more with honest connection and preparation.

Having trouble with the law? While the long arm of the government may be able to seize your bitcoins, today's piece shows that by forgetting a key piece of information, you don't have to worry about your bitcoins ever really going goodbye - but good luck cashing anything in for your retirement. Plus, we'll cover why everyone's favorite mortgage strategy, velocity banking, is an off-the-rails fun way of paying down your debt... until it all comes crashing down around you.

Plus, during our Haven Life line, Justin tells us he's interested in buying stocks for his daughter. Her favorite game, Roblox, is about to go public, but the company is doing a direct listing. Justin asks: Are direct listings as bad as IPOs for everyday investors? Is there anything he should know about before getting involved? We'll give Justin the rundown, and even throw in a few of our favorite apps to get kids started on investing.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's network-based trivia. Enjoy!

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How's Your Relationship with Moolah? (plus an update on the Zeta app) Feb 12, 2021

Love is in the air, and today, no matter your relationship status, you're gonna LOVE our discussion on your relationship with money. How is it? Is it healthy? Growing? Worrying? We'll discuss all of the emotions around money on today's show, featuring a cast of financial media peeps including Paul Ollinger from the Crazy Money podcast; Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast; and our very own OG.

Plus, just in time for Valentine's Day, there's big news from the financial app for couples called Zeta. The founder of Zeta, Aditi Shekar is back, to share all of the details. If you have a relationship with someone AND you're trying to mix money in any way, you'll want to hear their news.

Of course we'll still all have opinions for a lucky listener on today's MagnifyMoney.com call AND we'll battle it out over Doug's Valentine's Day themed trivia question. Enjoy!

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Episode 1,000 Feb 10, 2021

Well, we went and added a comma. You weren't counting, but mom was. Today we'll share the money lessons we've learned over our first 1,000 (wow, have we really made that many?) episodes. Plus, we'll hear from many of our friends you'll recognize from the financial community. We'll share a monster list of our favorite books and resources, but all of the things that we've learned on our journey over the past (near) decade.

During our headlines, we'll double up on the experts. First, we'll talk to Dirk Izzo, president and GM of Hospitality at NCR, who'll share how restaurants embraced innovation and kept revenue flowing in the face of unprecedented challenges. In our second piece, we'll invite the man who literally wrote the book on silver investing to explain the craze in the silver markets hitting the news lately. What was happening while we were all watching Gamestop? It turns out, a TON. David Morgan will share his best tips on today's show.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

Finally, thank you Stackers for making a thousand episodes of this little podcast a reality. We couldn't have done it without you. Enjoy the show.

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Movies Online Will Never Work (with Marc Randolph) Feb 08, 2021

It seems absurd now, but Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph was told early on that his company name would never work. Today, he's going to give us some of the same advice he's giving on his new podcast, "That Will Never Work." We'll discuss fighting fear, hiring the right team, having conviction in your ideas, and more. And don't worry if you aren't interested in becoming an entrepreneur. We also asked Marc how to interview better (he's interviewed thousands of people) AND how to ask your boss for a raise. In fact, you'll be surprised what he has to say about raises.

Wondering what's going on in the world of fintech? During our headlines, we'll share the newest developments in tech that helps you manage money better. From advancements in technology making your information more secure against hackers to new-new digital banks promising more consumer-friendly resources and more, there's a ton of interesting developments on the horizon. We'll cover many of them. Plus, we'll tackle a headline about Jeff Bezos stepping down from Amazon. Do you think he finally reached his magic number and has enough to retire? Maybe he gave of the lattes and buckled down? Probably not, but that won't stop us from talking about setting goals, retirement, and more.

We'll finish today's show with a question we often get about 401k plans. After you leave a company, should you move your funds? Josh left the basement a voicemail explaining that he likes keeping his investments in one place so it's simple to stay focused on the big picture. However, Josh won't be able to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan after he retires from the military. He asks: is there a benefit to keeping his money in the account? Would he be missing out on anything if he rolls his TSP over to a Roth IRA?

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Winning Your Life's "Big Game" (plus an intro to One) Feb 05, 2021

How do you get to the top of your game? How far would you go to keep your business and personal social groups aligned with your goals? We'll quiz our roundtable, plus get their thoughts on the number one goal they're trying to attain currently. Our contributors this week are Sandy Smith from YesIAmCheap.com; Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast; and Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog.

After we finish talking about goals and dreams with our roundtable we'll pivot to our interview with Brian Hamilton, the co-founder and CEO of the new digital bank One. There's been a lot of great improvements in the digital banking industry, but Brian found a problem: it was hard to find a good bank that offered all the features someone would want. His solution? Make one. During our fintech segment, we'll dive into the making of One with Brian and talk about good business values, vision, and the digital banking landscape.

During today's MagnifyMoney call we'll tackle a question on credit card rewards. Alan tells us he and his wife have been playing the rewards game and got up to $10,000 in 2020. He says it seems like a great side hustle and ask for our thoughts.

As always, we'll give Doug some airtime halfway through the show to have this week's trivia game show. If you happen to be knowledgeable on the annual revenues of Wisconsin-based shower head companies, this one is for you.

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Oppression to Riches: The Stories of America's First Black Millionaires (with Shomari Wills) Feb 03, 2021

We've told plenty of incredible underdog financial stories on the podcast, but none like the one's you'll hear today. More than recovering from 6-figure debt or learning how to balance their budget, today we're excited to bring you the stories of the first black Americans, some of whom survived slavery, but who all went on to become millionaires. Shomari Wills, author of Black Fortunes, joins us today to bring incredible stories of fortitude, challenges and surpassing hardships.

We're sticking with the financial "comeback" theme during our headlines. Think you should throw in the towel on the whole financial independence thing because you've made a few mistakes? While you may not have the star power to pay off a $9 million tax evasion bill, like today's headline focus, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, your path to independence isn't over because you've wracked up some debt or made some bad decisions. Plus, a big life insurance company just was sold to another. If you're a client, what happens to your policy? We'll describe how it all works on today's show.

Of course we'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky listener AND save time for some of Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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The NEW GameStop All The $%*! Time Podcast Feb 01, 2021

Wondering what the heck is going on with GameStop? We'll dedicate some time to explain everything from the beginning: why GameStop and Robinhood are in the news, what a short squeeze is and how it happens in real-time, why Robinhood (and other companies) stopped investors from buying GameStop stock, and more. Of course, we'll also take on the obvious question: should you invest your cash in GameStop stock?

Could the "Work till you drop, I'll sleep when I'm dead" mentality actually be costing you more than you think? After we finish our explanation on all things GameStop, we'll share an interview we loved so much we had to play it for you here. Despite what we may say, many of us love to stay busy. Be it at work, with our personal lives, our volunteering on the weekends: staying on go is good. But, slowing down and choosing priorities with more purpose can have surprising results in your life. Expanding on that point, we'll play an interview between Mike Carruthers, host of the Something You Should Know podcast, and business psychologist Tony Crabbe.

During today's Haven Life line we'll take a question from Andrew. He's 26 with an index universal life insurance policy that comes with a hefty $500 premium. Andrew asks us: is it smart to continue paying on this policy for future retirement, or should he close it and look at better options?

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. You'll love it all! We love you! Enjoy!

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Putting Your Best Negotiating Foot Forward (plus an intro to Silvur) Jan 29, 2021

Life is about odds, and so are negotiations. How do you stack the deck so that you're "playing to the judge" the next time you're in a pressure discussion, high stakes negotiation, or difficult conversation? Today we're joined by a woman who teaches her students to interview better using many subtle (and not so subtle skills), the Scholarship Shark, Pam Andrews. Plus, Len Penzo has been involved in raise and workplace negotiations for the last 30 plus years, and OG has negotiated a ton with his kids, and sometimes he even wins! They'll all join in with their best tips on how to negotiate better. From what to say to non-verbal cues, we'll share LOTS of important ideas.

Nearing retirement and think you'll need some help "landing the plane"? After we part ways with our roundtable contributors, we'll sit down with Rhian Horgan from Silvur, a retirement app designed to help you make better financial decisions leading into your golden years.

We'll finish out the show with a MagnifyMoney question from Corey, who wants to build cash flow and long-term diversified wealth. He asks, what are our thoughts on investing in real estate? Corey says he wants his investment to be as passive as possible. Should he look into hard rental properties or REITs? Our roundtable will share their thoughts via Joe. (You'll have to see when you get there).

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Murder and Fortune at the Plaza Hotel (with Julie Satow) Jan 27, 2021

What do New York City's richest residents, murderous unions, and world-famous guests like Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles have in common? The Plaza Hotel! Julie Satow, award-winning journalist and author of The Plaza, joins us today to share the century of fascinating stories the hotel holds between its walls. From fortunes beyond measure to the Great Depression, from the Golden Age of Hollywood to Home Alone 2, the Plaza Hotel has never been shy about its place in history.

Plus, believe it or not, we're about to enter tax season! Tax expert Katherine Pomerantz joins us during today's headlines to share all-new tax rules. Between relaxed guidelines on charitable giving, new deductions for your student loan payments, and more savings than you'd think for your home office, this is one tax talk that'll keep you listening.

Cole and his wife are DINKS, and are contributing heavily to their IRAs and Roth accounts. They're planning on semi-retiring early and are looking for some advice on how they can best invest for the long-term, keep money relatively liquid, and have enough cash for living expenses. Thoughts? (And OH BOY, does Joe have some thoughts on this one. You don't want to miss this). Of course, after a short and sweet rant, Cole gets plenty of great advice for the future. Of course, we'll also save time for Doug's trivia, and much, much more. Thanks for listening!

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Battling the High Cost of Higher Ed (with Ron Lieber) Jan 25, 2021

Beyond the big sticker price, New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber has a different mindset than most about college costs. After Ron explains why most of our assumptions on college costs are wrong (that includes you), he'll share three key criteria about what we're really looking for when it comes to higher education. We'll also tackle the no-college route, which comes with its own surprising set of misconceptions that have grown over time. What's the bottom line? There's a whole lot more to think about than the price tag, no matter which path you choose. We'll cover all of the options, threats, and opportunities on today's show.

In the financial headlines segment: is the sky finally falling on the stock market? For the twentieth time, NO! Despite what non-stop headlines tell you, the market will drop when it drops. Like Joe says, when it comes to the market, this is one of the few areas in life when doing nothing is the right call. Still, feeling the itch to move some money around? Take OG's advice and try to call the market for the next twenty days. If it works, call us before you do anything else, because we have an offer for you. If it doesn't work, stick to the tried and true and forget about market-timing.

We'll finish today's show with a Haven Life voicemail from Susan. She and her husband want to set up a savings account for their grandchild but have a few questions. How can they create a sustainable system for any future grandchildren? What happens if their grandchildren are bad with money? Are there any tax implications to worry about? We'll cover these questions, and more, for a comprehensive answer on setting up your kids for a fulfilled financial future.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's (student-loan-themed) trivia halfway through the show, and much, much more (including some awesome TikTok advice....).

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"How Much Do You Make?" and Other Awkward Money Conversations (plus an update on M1Finance) Jan 22, 2021

Not sure how to ask for a raise at work? Don't know how to initiate seemingly awkward money conversations with the people around you? This one is for you. Joining us today with their best tips on having an honest, productive dialogue around money are our roundtable contributors: Doc G from the Earn&Invest podcast; Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog; and Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll pivot our money conversation towards data and money management with Brian Barnes, the founder of M1 Finance. We love data and graphs as much as the next Stacker (no really), but Brian approaches automation a little differently. Doing our Fintech segment we'll have a conversation on why less is more when it comes to the streams of information you use for investing choices.

During our MagnifyMoney segment, our mystery caller asks if they should take on debt to finish their graduate degree earlier or take it a year slower and cash-flow their degree. Our caller assures us that her degree is in high demand. They ask: how do they determine the opportunity cost between waiting or taking on loans?

As always, we'll give Doug some time in the spotlight with this week's trivia game-show.

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Peering Into This Year's Travelscope (with Joseph Rosendo) Jan 20, 2021

Today we welcome the two-time Emmy award-winning host of Travelscope, Joseph Rosendo to the show to share travel tips as we dust off the suitcases and hopefully get ready to hit the road during the latter part of the year. What should we plan to see? Should we try for more or see less? What does he think about travel groups, packing, and learning the language? We'll discuss FOMO, getting to know diverse people, and even having the right mindset on today's show.

Plus, anyone who's ever tried to receive an insurance payout knows how much these companies can drag their feet: the tourism and hospitality industry is discovering their pandemic-related claims aren't going the way they'd hoped in many cases. During our headlines, we'll cover what's been going on behind the scenes, and hopefully, leave you with an urge to go recheck your policies for sneaky language from your insurers.

During our Haven Life Line, Stacker Steve left us a Stacking Benjamin's BINGO card worth of trigger points, but we didn't let that stop us! Between automatic contributions, NOT getting caught up in a Robinhood rant (only the second time we passed on that opportunity), and pensions - we definitely took the high road on this one.

That's not all! Doug shares his own tips on travel points, shares some trivia, and more. It's just another day in the basement! Enjoy!

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Fighting Stress and Doubt (with Ryan Harris) Jan 18, 2021

Ryan Harris has had a front row seat to stress. Over a 10 year career in the National Football League and 4 years as a starting lineman at Notre Dame, he played in plenty of "this is the most important play of all" situations. Now on a quest to help empower people to embrace better financial habits, the former Super Bowl 50 winner joins us today to talk about how to fight stress and how to live with doubt. He'll also share his own story of making plenty of money but still not possessing the systems to hold on to cash.

Should this week's changes on Capitol Hill have you worried for your wallet? I won't even make you wait on this one - THE ANSWER IS NO! During today's headline segment we'll tackle a piece stirring up some unfounded fears that your personal finance "hangs in the balance" over the government change in Washington. You should never stick your head in the sand, and ghost the financial markets over the (D) or (R) in your politician's name. Don't take my word for it... just wait for Joe's rant. We'll also share our thoughts on Tesla reaching a 2 TRILLION dollar valuation in two years, and all the reasons that shouldn't matter at all for your portfolio, even if your friends say otherwise.

Plus, not sure if you should pay off your home early? During our Haven Life Line we'll answer a voicemail from one listener weighing the pro and cons of paying off a mortgage on a house they'll only live in for another five years. They ask, should they instead save their extra Benjamins for the next move? Enjoy!

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Picking Up The Pieces After a Horrible Year (plus Doug Goldstein's Constant Happiness journal) Jan 15, 2021

We're all tired of hearing about what a "dumpster fire" 2020 was. How do we reboot the computer, restart the machine, refresh the situation, and re-fire our financial engine? That's our topic today, and OG, Paula Pant (AffordAnything), and special guest Roger Whitney (Retirement Answer Man) all have helpful ideas about getting back on track.

Halfway through the show we're excited to talk to our old friend (and Joe's co-host on the Money Tree podcast), Doug Goldstein. Doug's created a constant happiness journal. If you've been waiting for the perfect journal to have a more happy 2021 and beyond, Doug will share with you why he created this, how to best use a journal, and why journaling works for so many people.

Finally, on our MagnifyMoney.com question of the episode: Jon is thinking about college costs for his four kids. He's heard the Stacking Benjamins expert, Pam Andrews (the Scholarship Shar), say that a HELOC, or equity in the home, can't be factored into the FASFA. Jon's kids are in private school and have to do something like FAFSA. Jon has $60,000 in savings and is thinking about putting two-thirds of the savings into a HELOC, to possibly get financial aid. Thoughts?

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Winning Now and Winning Later (with David Cote) Jan 13, 2021

How do you balance getting what you want now without mortgaging your future? Or on the other hand, how do you avoid have ZERO fun today while you prep for a rosy tomorrow? We often recommend that you look at your situation as if you're a business, and today we'll talk to a man who led one business to amazing results, the former CEO of Honeywell, David Cote.

Plus, the cryptocurrency market value has topped $1 trillion, with Bitcoin now worth over $38,000 a coin. Feeling the itch to jump into the Wild West of investing? We won't stand in your way, but we do have a few stories about us selling a coin or two... WAY before we should have. In our second piece, is paying to improve your credit a smart play? We'll discuss everything from good habits to shady house financing, automation, and The Big Short.

Should you be paying taxes on your unemployment? Mike called the Haven Life Line after he noticed there were no taxes automatically deducted from his two months of unemployment. Should Mike worry about the IRS coming after him later? We'll answer that question, share Doug's trivia, and we'll be skeptical about exactly how many people actually listen to the podcast. Is it really two or maybe only just mom? Enjoy!

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From Hairdresser to Real Estate Millionaire (with Myra Oliver) Jan 11, 2021

Know those people who say you need a 4-year university degree to reach success and financial independence? Our guest, Myra Oliver, has a thing or two to say about that. She's worked as a hairstylist, real estate broker, and now is our resident financial coach on today's show. Myra knew she didn't need a degree to reach her goals of financial freedom. Today Myra will share her story about working hard toward success. She shares stories about how she learned quickly how to bring in more money, how she manages real estate, surrounding herself with the right people, and how she and her husband were able to retire from their traditional jobs by age 33.

"You have to do what others won't, to get what you want." - Myra Oliver's mantra.

Plan on leaving something behind for your loved ones? Get your financial house in order first. We recently covered how former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh passed away without a will, but you may remember Prince also didn't have a will. (Yes, we also talked about Prince way back in 2016). It turns out, that case is still ongoing, and the IRS believes Prince's estate owes over $32 million in federal taxes, based on a new valuation. During our headlines, we'll give you plenty of reasons to get your legacy in order today.

Plus, can you make 2020 Roth IRA contributions until Tax Day 2021 if you're already paying taxes for the new year? Stacker Josh calls in today with a voicemail for the Haven Life Line telling us he'd rather get it right now than have to deal with the IRS later... can't fault him on that logic.

As always, we'll also save some time for Doug's trivia, and much, much more. Enjoy!

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How We'll Achieve Our 2021 Financial Goals (plus MetPro's Angelo Poli) Jan 08, 2021

Today we stay focused on goal setting. We're turning our attention to our group of financial media members and asking them how THEY are achieving their own goals. They'll share how they communicate, hold family members accountable, and stay on track. Joining us today is special guest and host of the Seven Figures podcast, Sandy Waters; Paula pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com.

Halfway through the show, we'll give our contributors a break while we sit down with health and wellness expert Angelo Poli from MetPro.co. With the holidays over and the new year here, Angelo has some great tips to fatten up your wallet while you trim down the waistline. How are you going to grow your net worth without a healthy body to keep you focused on the prize? We'll share how.

Plus, how can early retirees make sure they have enough reserves in the bank to take care of emergencies down the road? During the MagnifyMoney segment, our contributors drop some knowledge for Laura, who called in asking about preparing for early retirement with a preexisting condition.

Plus we'll save time for all-new game show trivia from the big man himself, Doug. Enjoy!

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Fewer Rules, More Productivity (with Erin Meyer) Jan 06, 2021

Rules. When things go wrong we think, "We should make some more guidelines. That'll help people keep things moving." However, Netflix decided that rules might be the problem, so they eliminated many of them. Study after study shows that Netflix employees report high satisfaction with their jobs and perform at a highly productive rate. So how do they do it? Today we'll talk to Erin Meyer, co-author (with co-founder Reed Hastings), of a new book on the topic. Whether you manage a family, a department, or are an entrepreneur, today's interview will help you earn more and manage tasks (and people) more effectively.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll detail a different way of gifting money. MacKenzie Scott gave away $6 billion in 2020 without asking for buildings to be named after her. She gave it quickly and effectively, many say. But if you're giving away money, what oversight should YOU employ before turning over your hard-earned money? We'll share what you need to know, plus in our second headline, we'll review a recent Securities and Exchange Commission ruling approving testimonials in advisor's advertising. How will that change marketing? Possibly, a lot. We'll explain.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Brad, who's retiring but still wants to max out his HSA contributions for the year. Are there any rules he needs to be aware of? In, fact, there are! OG will explain. Don't worry! We'll also save time for Doug's trivia question.

Mom says hello! Enjoy the show.

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Know Yourself, Know Your Money (with Rachel Cruze) Jan 04, 2021

Most of us start each year looking at external goals, such as "What can I gain," or "How can I achieve...", but after the dumpster fire we just experienced last year, we think the best place to begin 2021 is to look INWARD. If you know yourself better, you'll be able to address your strengths and cover your weaknesses. On today's show, Rachel Cruze joins us to tackle your money history and how your family, upbringing, and past mistakes can help you become a more powerful saver, spender and earner this year and beyond. It's a powerful interview and we're excited to help you avoid the shame, remorse, and guilt that many of us feel around our financial lives.

"You can change yourself and you can change your habits." - Rachel Cruze

In our headlines segment, we'll discuss the tremendous pressure many students feel to go to college, by tackling one star who just emerged from her prison sentence. We'll also tackle the new Social Security rules for 2021. While there are lots of changes, even if you aren't yet receiving Social Security benefits, we'll widen this topic to share some best practices when it's your turn to apply.

During the Haven Life Line we'll take an answer from Eric, who has questions on HSA contribution limits. While his wife has an FSA, Eric has an HSA for him and his son. Eric asks: does he fall under the single contribution limit, or is he covered by the family limits?

Of course, Doug will share another fantastic trivia question, and there's much, much more.

Happy New Year! Enjoy!

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Will 2021 Be Better Than 2020? (Our Annual Look Into The Magic 8 Ball) Jan 01, 2021

Wish you knew what the future held? Us too! While we can only foresee the future as well as the next guy, our brilliant, all-knowing device is all fired up and ready to go to kick off your 2021. That's right, this is our annual Magic 8-Ball episode, where we look back on the events of 2020 and ask a plastic, Walmart-purchased kid's toy what it thinks will happen over the next 12 months. For those of you stumbling onto this show for the first time you're in for a treat: each January for the last many, many years, we've asked Len Penzo's Magic 8-ball to predict what's in store, and during the early years, this little ball was EERILY accurate. BUT, not only will we take a look back to see how well the 8-ball predicated 2020's events (and really, who could have guessed this year?), we'll also implore the 8-ball to reveal the secrets of the upcoming year.

Plus, for those of you getting serious about your personal finance resolutions, we'll ask the headmaster of the Stacking Benjamins Money Club, Aaron Velky for his best advice during today's fintech segment. One thing we already know: having accountability makes achieving your goals that much easier.

Enjoy!

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Making The Cannonball Run (SB RWD 122) Dec 31, 2020

Welcome to our final show of 2020! We're finishing our the year that seemed like it would never end with another classic episode from 2014. Long-time listeners may remember our interview with one-half of the two man Cannonball Run crew, and new listeners will appreciate this one. Just remember, the show format was a little different back then.

Make sure to tune in tomorrow for our very first (brand new!) episode of 2021: our Magic 8-ball show with Len Penzo. Long time fans love this show year after year, and with all the madness that was 2020, you'll definitely want to see how the 8-ball's predictions have stood against the test of time.

You can read our original show notes for today's episode below:

While OG is moving across country, we thought we’d bring you a cross country adventure episode!Ed Bolian did something you wish you’d also done – he drove coast to coast in a modified Mercedes…..in just over 28 hours. How did he do it? Ed shares his crazy story on this week’s episode.

Suzanne Lucas, the Evil HR Lady, is BACK with a horror story about 401k loans.

Sandy Smith (Yes, I Am Cheap!) joins Len and Paula on the roundtable to discuss 33 reasons your finances are a mess, plus Len and Joe read and answer your letters and discuss a couple movies.

Enjoy!

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The Life of an Art Forger (SB RWD 121) Dec 30, 2020

Welcome to our second most quirky Stacking Benjamins interview. This show goes way back, so don't worry if the format feels a little different. You can read our short and sweet headlines below:

Ken Perenyi forged masterpieces for a living…until the FBI showed up on his doorstep one day. Ken’s book, Caveat Emptor, describes how he went from a school boy with no money to a world class forgery expert….AND Ken describes the journey himself on today’s show.

The Makin’ Sense Babe is in a foul mood, and rants against people who don’t understand side hustles. Joe & OG discuss how financial advisors dress…..does that impact the quality of their advice? Doug brings trivia, the guys show you how to win Jane Blaufus’ book, and they review two hit films: Captain Phillips and Gravity.

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Abigail Adams: Financial Badass (SB RWD 120) Dec 29, 2020

Just a few more days until the new year! We're keeping our countdown going strong with one of America's original big-time investors: Abigail Adams. You can read our original show notes below:

As Women’s History Month draws to a close we suddenly realize….we’ve done nothing to celebrate! Today on the show we make up for that (‘in spades,” as mom says) by inviting down to the basement professor Woody Holton, author of the book Abigail Adams, for which he won the Bambridge Award and more. He’ll describe the amazing prowess of Adams in a time when many women not only weren’t investing, but weren’t even allowed to participate in their family’s financial plan. He’ll describe which investments she preferred, why she decided against real estate didn’t work for her portfolio, and how she created an estate plan for herself in a time when many women didn’t have that luxury.

In our headlines segment, we’ll talk to Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index (ticker BUZ). He’ll describe why his strategy and those of some of his algorithm-based competitors seem to be winning in this time of volatility. He’ll also share some of the names that the crowds on social media are focusing on to ride the choppy market. Also, with the financial markets all over the place, we’ll review a story from Marketwatch that asks whether the market will crash, and if it will, what you should do to buckle up. The advice might surprise you, if you’re looking for ways to exit stage left, or are looking for advice that tells you how to exit stage left….or right.

We’ll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Nelson, who’s worried about his parents’ financial plan. They have an insurance-company based financial advisor, so Nelson thinks that they should move to different advice. How does he approach the topic with his parents? We also score some of Doug’s spinach-based trivia, and more. Enjoy!

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Winning In The Long Run with Sanjay Rawal (SB RWD 119) Dec 28, 2020

Welcome to day four of our countdown! You didn't think we would stop did you? Today in our New Years countdown featuring our quirkiest interviews, we're turning back the clock to our time with documentary filmmaker Sanjay Rawal. You can read our original show notes below:

Establishing your BEST financial habits means realizing that it isn’t about being great today or tomorrow; it’s about doing the right things over and over again for the long run. Today we talk to the creator of a documentary specifically about a long run. 3100, Run and Become is the story of an ultramarathon that covers (shocker) 3100 miles. Better yet? It’s run around a single New York City block. Sanjay Rawal will take us through the event, his making of the film, and we’ll talk about topics that have everything to do with finance. 1) Finding what you love; 2) Chasing a dream; 3) Knowing your weaknesses; 4) Finding your state of “Flow”; and more. The cool part for us? We get to talk finance in a way that you’ve probably never heard it talked about before.

During our headlines segment, another deceased celebrity’s estate is an arm wrestling match for the heirs. Sigh. We’ll tell you who’s fighting for the cash and discuss what YOU should do to foolproof your estate plan from your greedy family. Then, in our second headline, credit card reward programs are everywhere… but just like ice cream brands, they’re not all created equal. We’ll talk pros and cons of credit card rewards during our second piece.

As if that’s not enough, we keep bringing it! During our Haven Life Line segment, we’ll answer a question from Jason. He’s wants to retire in his 40s. If Jason rolls his Roth 401k into a Roth IRA, will he be able to withdraw the cash without the tax penalty? Does the 5 year conversion rule still apply?

Then, in our letter segment David is just starting to pay attention to his financial situation. He wants to know what the advantage would be of using a financial advisor or buying funds that have high expense ratios over doing it himself. Couldn’t he just do it on his own and save extra cash? We’ll surprise Jason with an answer he doesn’t expect, and hopefully surprise you, too.

And don’t you worry, we’ll still have time for some of Doug’s very special Benjamin Franklin themed trivia.

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Cracking The Whip On Your Financial Goals with Lindsay Goldwert (SB RWD 118) Dec 27, 2020

Welcome to day three of our countdown! You may recognize this one from earlier this year, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to leave this one off the list. You can read our original show notes on this Dominatrix-themed episode below:

Do you have trouble staying in charge of your money? Maybe you let your priorities get away from you and want to make a change? Today we’ll talk about communication, being direct, and asking for what you really want with the author of the hit new book Bow Down, Lindsay Goldwert. In this unique new perspective on how to take charge, Lindsay sat down with dominatrixes across America to get first-hand information on how you can “reset the power dynamic in any situation to get what you want—whether it’s from a husband, boss, or partner.”

During our headlines segment, are you finally bringing in a HUGE nice income, but your bank account isn’t rising? Lifestyle inflation can become a serious issue for high earners, and without a proper plan in place investors run the risk of becoming a HENRY – High Earner, Not Rich Yet. Plus, during our second headline, we’ll touch on why actor Rick Moranis is making a return to the big screen and what lessons you can glean for your financial plan.

Plus, we’ll open up the mailbag during our Haven Life Line and answer an estate-related question from Diana. Diana is the executrix of an estate plan for the funds of two pre-teens but wants to appoint someone else to take over most of the responsibilities. What can she do? What is she supposed to do? We’ll cover some estate planning basics on today’s show.

Of course, we’ll also make some time for Doug’s trivia.

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How to Live Longer and Prosper - Wait, Where Have I Heard That Before? (SB RWD 117) Dec 26, 2020

Welcome to day two of our countdown to New Years! Did you know that one group of people tend to live longer than the rest of the population? This episode was one of our old-school "short stacks," and you'll find just the interview in this one. You can read our original show notes below:

Dr. Anna Corwin, a (then) anthropology PhD candidate at UCLA specializing in aging, well being and social interaction, wrote such a great piece for Yes! The Magazine that we had to have her on the show to discuss it. One group of people have picked the lock on living longer and more happily than the average person. What group is it? You’ll have to listen to find out!

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The Life of an Accountant Spy with Tracy Coenen (SB RWD 116) Dec 25, 2020

Welcome to our countdown to New Years! Leading up to our New Year's Magic 8-ball episode with Len Penzo we're bringing you our top "quirkiest" interviews. These shows were released from this last year all the way to 2013, so you're in for a real treat.

We're kicking things off with our interview with Tracy Coenen, a forensic spy who uses her knowledge of spreadsheets and bank knowledge to chase down criminals. You can read our original show notes below:

She’ll tell you over and over that her job isn’t interesting. But if you’re a money nerd, do we have a treat for you today, because accountant Tracy Coenen spends her time chasing down bad guys using spreadsheets and bank statements (I’ll stop if you need a moment). Today she’ll tell us stories of two stories where she helped catch perpetrators by using financial records (and some amazing ingenuity) to help bring “bad guys” to bear.

Plus, are you interviewing soon? Even if you aren’t we’ll talk about some useful tips if you’re interested in moving up the ladder at work or with another pursuit (and who isn’t?). Plus, we’ll discuss the new milestone one fund company just passed and pause for a moment…man, that’s a lot of money.

Of course, we’re also going to toss out the Haven Life Line to Dillon and get Joe and OG’s take on how Dillon should approach his investments. All and and we’ll still make room for Doug’s trivia. Step aside, people! There’s a new episode coming…..this plate is HOT!

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Our Top 5 Lessons from 2020 (plus year-end tax tips from Ed Slott) Dec 23, 2020

What was YOUR biggest lesson from 2020, besides avoid pandemics? Today we'll share our top 5 (plus an "honorable mention") events from maybe the weirdest year in recent memory. There were MANY great takeaways this year, so it was difficult to decide. Today we'll talk about the importance of emergency funds, relationships, giving, sticking to your investment strategy, and more!

Plus in our headline segment, we're joined by IRA and tax guru Ed Slott, who shares a few last-minute tax tips. He'll talk about your Roth IRA, giving, and (gasp!) spending money.

That's not all. Doug shares trivia about today's Festivus holiday AND Joe and OG answer a Haven Life line call from a guy named Nick in Alaska.

Enjoy!

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The Unlikely Birth of Comedy Central (with Art Bell) Dec 21, 2020

Comedy Central is such a part of American culture that its existence seems obvious, but that wasn't always the case. The process of creating Comedy Central is a story of perseverance, luck, believing in yourself and your idea, and more. We'll talk to Art Bell about his original idea for Comedy Central, his background, and how he wound up pitching it to the head of HBO (without an appointment!). If you've ever had an idea that you wanted to bring to life, you MUST listen to today's show.

Plus, the student loan crisis is back in the news lately, with many speculating how the new administration is going to possibly change the game for borrowers. While we won't speculate on any of that, we WILL speak with Asha Srikantiah from Fidelity Investments about not only their 2020 Student Debt Snapshot (which shines a light on some of the most looming problems people are having with debt), but also a new free tool they've developed to help people work on better loan repayment strategies and options.

Later, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to J.J., who is changing brokers and wants to know the best way to diversify his portfolio now that he's moved. How can he diversify without paying a bunch of unnecessary fees?

Of course, we'll still share Doug's trivia, take a call about Joe's warranty expiring, and more.

Enjoy!

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Our Contributors' Top 3 Lessons From 2020 (plus explosive FinTech news from Tiller) Dec 18, 2020

With the end of 2020 FINALLY in sight, (and what a long 38 months it's been), we're excited to bring you all of our best lessons from the last year. Between Paula Pant and Len Penzo, with OG and Joe weighing in on all of their top picks, you'll have plenty to chew on. We'd write more here...but who wants to give up what our top picks are? Just listen!

PLUS, there's new innovation coming to your computer and phone. Like clockwork, it seems we hear about regular data breaches and how the companies we trust with our information have been mismanaged. Today we'll welcome to our Friday Fintech segment our friend Peter Polson from Tiller Money, to learn all about new advancements coming to your computer and phone app security. This will revolutionize how you look at financial technology in the future.

While there's no listener voicemail today, that doesn't mean we're not answering a question. We found a problem we wanted to help someone solve over at the personal finance subreddit. At the very least we'll make sure that (hopefully) none of you Stackers make this same mistake. This poster bought a new car with a 72-month loan attached at 5.9%. The kicker? They have a 710 credit score! With only a few days to return it, they ask what's the good play here? Of course, we'll have ideas.

BUT that's not all...we'll also reach the finish line on our year-long trivia contest! Can OG force Len into an overtime week? We'll have the exciting (maybe) conclusion (also...maybe) on today's show. Enjoy!

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5 Million-Dollar Investing Ideas Dec 16, 2020

Few people have seen as many great ideas (and horrible ideas) as Paul Merriman. We were listening to Paul Merriman's advice long before we had a podcast and today we FINALLY were able to sit down with him...and he doesn't disappoint. Today Paul dishes out five ideas that will all make you over a million dollars more during your lifetime if you're a young investor. Before you listen you should ask yourself NOT if you've heard these ideas before, because there's a good possibility that you have. The key question to ask is, "What are you DOING about these five ideas." Based on statistics of the average investor we can all use help IMPLEMENTING a better strategy, and Paul shares some great ones today.

Plus, should you invest in non-traded real estate? A recent headline complains that real estate that isn't traded is hard to value. Joe and OG will go over exactly what the controversy is AND whether you should consider these for your portfolio. Also, we'll cover new information the Securities and Exchange Commission is making available to US investors. Will it change how you invest? We'll answer THAT question as well.

We'll end the show with a question from Matt on rebalancing. Matt asks if the natural ebbs and flows of the stock market (and regular investments) negate the purpose of rebalancing. Wouldn't the market take care of that on its own? What's the point? We'll talk rebalancing 101 today! It's a nerd's dream!

Plus, Doug gets a little classy with today's trivia. Well, he would consider anything to do with the subject of tea to be classy. If you feel confident in your tea trivia, make sure to test your mettle halfway through the show.

Enjoy!

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Trailer - The Stacking Benjamins Show Dec 15, 2020

Join Joe & OG every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Joe's mom's basement in Texarkana, Texas. They'll cover all the current money headlines, talk to experts and avoid washing windows, three days a week!

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Create YOUR Financial Starter Kit (with Symoné B. Beez) Dec 14, 2020

Know anyone just beginning their financial journey? Well, gather them round your listening device because on today's show Symoné B. "Beez," author of Financial Starter Kit and co-host of the new podcast 4 Goats and a Mic, joins us. We'll walk you through the FIRST things you need to do to build a solid financial foundation. Plus, Symoné will share her story from start to finish: from finding herself sinking in credit card debt - a situation she promised herself she'd never be in - to cutting up her credit cards to retake control of her situation. But she didn't stop there, now Symoné is on a mission to help others gain financial independence and avoid the same pitfalls she encountered. We'll talk 101 financial strategies, what to do when your in over your head, and more.

Hello DoorDash and AirBnB lovers! Are you getting FOMO (fear of missing out) from all of the flashy initial public offering (IPO) headlines? With seemingly every IPO followed up by the "look at how much money it made on Day 1" headlines, who wouldn't want to get the early bird special on the next one? There's only one problem about jumping on IPOs to make a killing in the stock market, and early DoorDash investors found that lesson out the hard way. After Joe and OG explain how these IPOs actually work, we'll jump on the line with Affinity Solutions CEO, Johnathan Silver to get some firsthand data on how consumer spending has changed this past year. Have you driven to work less and fixed up your home office? Maybe shopped for the holidays a little early? Jonathan just might describe YOU on today's show.

And finally, we finish today's show with a note of good cheer. Tyler calls into the Haven Life line looking for advice on the best way he can help set up his future niece/nephew for college and beyond.

Of course, we'll always save some time for Doug.

Enjoy!

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A Prince Needs Your Help AND The IRS Is Coming (plus Vanguard’s new Digital Advisor) Dec 11, 2020

A certain prince is having some issues and only YOU can help! Do you help him? Whether it's that scam, the IRS is knocking on your door, or another reach into your pocketbook, scams are everywhere (especially this time of year). What are the best practices for avoiding losing your money? We'll tackle a recent list written by our friend Stacy Johnson on today's show. Helping you hold on to your dollars, we'll welcome Doc G from the Earn and Invest podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and Len Penzo from the award-winning LenPenzo.com blog.

Vanguard has released a new study about millennials and their view on retirement. We'll chat about that with Brian Concannon, head of Vanguard Digital Advisor. While we have his attention, we'll have him take on a tour of their new platform. He'll talk about how it works, the problems it solves, what it costs, and more.

We'll finish out the show with a voicemail from Katherine. She knows she'll donate a large sum to her favorite non-profit, but is there a good time to donate it? Katherine says that she is still young, and knows any money she invests will compound and go a lot further in the future. Thoughts?

As always, Doug will keep the party going with his game-show trivia. Today is a bittersweet day in history: the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, orchestrated by Bernie Madoff, ended on this day. Think you can guess how much Madoff stole from his clients? You'll find the answer at the halfway mark of today's episode.

Enjoy!

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The Stories Money Tells Us (with Frederick Kaufman) Dec 09, 2020

The history of money is possibly (even probably) the most tangled web of assumptions, grief, symbolism, happiness, and longing in the history of the world. Today Frederick Kaufman joins us to share a few of those stories. From the earliest days of exchanging objects to represent currency, to the heads of state on coins, to Bitcoin and beyond, we'll discover many of the stories that encompass names from Adam Smith to Anna Nicole Smith.

Plus, during our headlines segment of the show we'll talk to Sean Hanft from FSAStore.com. It's nearing the end of the year and if you have flexible spending account dollars left, it's time to use them before you lose them. Plus, one blog post making its way around, which makes the case against opening a 401k to start saving for retirement. Naturally, Joe and OG have a thought or two about that.

Plus, we all know the famous 4% rule (of thumb), but have we been using it wrong this whole time? Matt calls in the Haven Life Line to ask for some clarification. While you shouldn't be using rules of thumb to guide your portfolio in the first place, Matt's question could potentially have big implications on your retirement draw-down.

Enjoy!

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How We All Succeed (with John Hope Bryant) Dec 07, 2020

With all of the talk about a divided nation, finger pointing about the election, and a year when so, so many things have become "political," today we're thrilled to bring you John Hope Bryant, who throws water on all of these arguments. His no-nonsense approach to how we ALL win together is refreshing and provocative. We'll talk about lessons from his new book, Up From Nothing on today's show.

Plus, big congrats to stock-based ETFs in November. Record inflows poured into these positions, which leaves Joe and OG scratching their heads. Why do investors wait until the market climbs to record highs to stuff money into funds AGAIN? We'll counter that with yet another piece we found that proclaims the sky is about to fall. Again.

Of course, that's not all. We'll get some help from a listener on explaining Value Averaging (vs. Dollar-Cost Averaging), and Doug will skewer a horrible, horrible national recognition day for a group he says is undeserving. Wait until you hear his rant...

Enjoy!

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How To Surround Yourself With Good People (plus huge money-saving college scholarship tricks w/ Pam Andrews) Dec 04, 2020

Maybe you've heard the Jim Rohn phrase, "You are the average of the five people around you." Is that true for you? Probably. If you're looking to improve either your net worth, your career, or just your friendships, giving careful thought to your "tribe" will pay dividends. Today we'll work from a recent Tony Robbins piece on this topic with three people who work hard to surround themselves with good, uplifting people. Aaron Velky, the head of the Stacking Benjamins Money Club (but probably more important, the head of financial education company Ortus Academy), will give us some great advice. Also, we'll hear great ideas from Paula Pant from Afford Anything and OG as well. It's a great episode that you'll want to listen to before setting your 2021 goals.

Plus, our Stacking Benjamins Scholarship Mastery course is about to go into session! If you are either heading to school yourself, have a family member or friend in school, or a high school junior or senior, we're going to tell you all of the important dates coming up this year for scholarships AND we'll detail how our course works so you can get in before the deadline, which is Friday, December 11th.

Our anonymous caller to the Magnify Money line today is receiving a $500,000 inheritance. His parents want him to connect with their financial advisor, but he's been doing good so far by investing in low-cost funds on his own. Our caller and his wife has have no debt other than their mortgage. He asks: is it time to bring an advisor on board, or should he stick with what's been working so far?

With everyone posting their year-end music reviews, Doug decided to share some of his own. Fancy yourself top-notch when it comes to your music trivia? Today is for you.

Enjoy!

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Money Hacks That'll Make Your Wallet Smile (with Lisa Rowan) Dec 02, 2020

Looking for quick ways to save a few more bucks? Or, are you too busy to even slow down and think about stashing some extra cash every month? While we don't promise taking the light bulb out of your oven will bring you riches, we ARE fans of quick, time-conscious hacks that save you some Benjamins. Lisa Rowan, the author of the hit new book Money Hacks, joins the basement airwaves today to share some of the 275+ money hacks she's collected.

Plus, could your salary size be completely out of your control? Maybe so, if you believe a new survey that suggests there's a BIG correlation between the size of a man's package and how much bacon he brings home. (Don't shoot the messenger). In more traditional finance news, Joe and OG also cover what the new (possible) Treasury secretary-elect, Janet Yellen, might mean for the economy.

Nick has been having trouble getting disability insurance for his wife, so we'll throw him the Haven Life line. She suffers from depression and anxiety. Nick asks: how can he cover their insurance gap? As always, OG and Joe come to the rescue.

As always, we'll save time for Doug's trivia. You'll hear it for yourself... but let's say you might find Doug a bit peculiar today.

Enjoy!

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Investing For Beginners (with Bola Sokunbi) Nov 30, 2020

Think you don't know the first thing about investing? Bola Sokunbi makes it clear that not only is investing EASIER than you might think, it also can be a lot of fun. We'll define some of the popular terms you'll hear, talk through some of the basics, and dive into what you really need to invest so that you feel confident about getting where you want to go with your financial goals.

Also today, we dive into a popular sports figure who spends north of a million dollars a year on coaching. A million dollars? Doesn't that sound like a waste of money? We'll maybe change your mind on how you view expenses to "sharpen the saw" (as popular author Stephen Covey has written). We'll also talk about the difference between how professionals invest versus the amount of money that

Glen calls in during our Haven Life Line with some questions about the government Thrift Savings Plan. Glen has left his contributions alone and now that they've grown he's looking to consolidate his various workplace funds into a Vanguard account. He asks: can his TSP contributions be rolled over? Does the face Glen made contributions in Iraq change how his money is treated?

Of course we'll also give Doug some time to share his trivia. Today's theme? Think you're in tune with digital purchasing trends? (That's a weird sentence). You can test your mettle with Doug's Cyber-Monday themed trivia.

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Our Top 5 Games About Money, Economics, and Finance (plus an intro to Hunt A Killer) Nov 27, 2020

If you aren't interested in shopping on Black Friday weekend, we've got you covered with one of our FAVORITE episodes. Every year we dive into our favorite board games about money and economics AND we invite some board game insider friends to help us learn about some new fun games. I'm super excited that the guys from the No Cube Zone (Coniff, Jordan, and Rippee) join us today to dive in to not only our top-5 games about money or economics, but also their top 5 games to share with family this holiday season.

Plus, we'll continue the theme by dumping our normal Friday Fintech Segment for a Friday Board Game exclusive. The subscription game company making Hunt A Killer just was named the #6 fastest growing company in the USA by Inc. We'll dive into the game, how it's made, what the firm's focused on, and how exactly a subscription game works with co-founders Ryan Hogan and Derrick Smith.

It's nearly two hours of board game goodness, friends, and Thanksgiving weekend discussions. We're thankful you're spending it with us! Enjoy!

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What Should Be On YOUR 2020 Tech Wishlist? (with CNET's Bridget Carey) Nov 25, 2020

If you're looking for new tech toys for the holidays this year, we bring you today good news and bad news. The good news is that we're going to cover LOTS of ground and some of the hottest and coolest tech we've seen in years. On the bad news side? It's going to be harder than ever to get your hands on any of it. Today we're geeking out on the hottest of the hot and the newest of the new tech with our friend Bridget Carey from CNET. Bridget, as she has every year with us (and as she does daily in her CNET videos and reviews), breaks down everything you need to know to have a geeky, techie holiday season.

And if the hot new tech you're looking for has four wheels we also have you covered. Slow down before you run off and buy the flashiest car, because you may be surprised how much the value drops when you drive off the lot. We'll talk to Karl Brauer from iSeeCars.com about a new study showing which models and brands hold their value best AND which cars you may want to avoid.

During the Haven Life line call-in segment of the show, August calls in with a question not too many people consider: do office workers sitting behind a computer everyday need occupation disability insurance? After all, what could go wrong? We'll share suggestions about disability coverage and what you need to cover.

Plus, what in the world is going on with this "OLED" business? Seems like everything from smart TVs to new iPhones are promising the latest and greatest OLED devices. During Doug's trivia, he'll test your 2020 electronic knowledge... if he can find the answer himself, that is.

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Our BIG Black Friday Deals Episode (with Slickdeals' Regina Conway) Nov 23, 2020

Today kicks off our big U.S. Thanksgiving holiday week of shows, and today we start it off right by sharing all of the good, bad, and ugly deals YOU can score this Black Friday. Regina Conway from Slickdeals.net joins us to help save your wallet and point out some of the issues not-careful shoppers may face. Where should you spend your hard-earned cash to get the most bang for your buck this holiday shopping season? Which retailers are offering the best deals on hot items? What deals aren't worth the wait? What's different this year because of COVD? Whatever your question is - Regina has you covered.

Plus, did Pfizer's CEO break laws while insider trading his company's stock when it exploded recently? Financial disclosures show that the CEO, Albert Bourla, sold almost $6 million in stock the same day the company's vaccine news broke. After our discussion on what REALLY happened - we'll turn our heads to yet another report of a criminal advisor fleecing his clients to the tune of $320,000. The short and sweet? Be beyond suspicious of any advisor who might promise you quick riches.

During the Haven Life Line, we take a question on peer-to-peer lending. We recommended LendingTree the last time we discussed P2P, but caller Greg says the company has since become a bank. He asks: what's our take now? Are there any companies we recommend?

As always, Doug will give his own share of the airtime for his trivia. Today? He's bringing it back with some old-school Black Friday trivia.

Enjoy!

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What Do You Do When You Reach "Enough"? (plus healthy tips from MetPro's Angelo Poli) Nov 20, 2020

If you're lucky enough to have a job now, and you've been still chasing your dream, what does your "finish line" look like? You won finance! Hooray! With everything you want behind you, what's next? Answering these questions and more are today's contributors: Jennifer Grimson from the Micro Empires podcast; Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our own Stacking Benjamins podcast co-host, OG. While the question seems nice and someday-ish, I think today you'll find that you're closer to "enough" than you may think.

Halfway through the show we'll break from our conversation and move over to your wellness checkup. Like Suze Orman said (in a number of words), what do riches mean without your health? During this week's middle segment, we take a quick break from FinTech to cover health and wellness with MetPro's co-founder Angelo Poli, who will break down how important proper nutrition really is - both for your health AND your bottom line.

What's your next step when you're at absolute zero? No cash, no residence, no job? That's what our contributors have been tasked to help with today, and our special guest Jennifer Grimson is the perfect person to ask. Jennifer has had to start from zero... TWICE. Today Jennifer and our panel share what you should do when you find yourself starting with nowhere to turn.

As always, we'll save some airtime halfway through for Doug's game show. Doug will start out with a freebie: The country of Nigeria commands the largest GDP in Africa. The question? How much is it?

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How We Believe Money Topics Should Be Taught (The SB Creed Episode-SB 1) Nov 18, 2020

We've recorded a ton of episodes. At the point we hit stop on this one, we're officially nearly at 1,000...but when you count all of the previous podcasts, the shortened episodes that we used to NOT count, and the special events, we're well over 1,500 episodes. Not ONCE during that time did we stop and ask ourselves, "Should we actually give people the framework that we're working from?"

Today we do that.

Joe and OG have a frank conversation about the art of fooling around, about sharing mistakes instead of victories, and about including stories from many points of view. If you've listened to the Stacking Benjamins show once or a thousand times, we hope you'll enjoy the first episode where we discuss the SB Creed.

Of course, we will STILL lean on Doug for a trivia question. We're not heathens.

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3 Stories to Motivate You To Live a Better Life (The STACK Live Replay) Nov 16, 2020

What happens when you find three great storytellers and ask them to share their personal journeys toward a better life, LIVE? You get a nearly two-hour YouTube special that we're going to replay for you right here! The STACK event features the co-author of the classic financial philosophy book Your Money Or Your Life, Vicki Robin, who will talk about her journey learning for herself why finding a different path to financial security was important. We also feature a guy who's story has resonated with many (especially lately after a feature video in the Million Stories series was released), Michael Santos. Michael found himself incarcerated at a young age but not only turned around his own life, he also is passionate and focused on helping others going through trouble turn their lives around. Finally, and kicking off our show, we'll introduce you to Dan Chan, a man who's not only entertained billionaires, but a guy who's had to pivot with his business since COVID-19. How did he go from working at PayPal to chasing his dream? He'll share his journey today!

If you'd like to join us for the live, unedited event, where you can ask questions, hang out with other Stackers, and possibly take home one of our participant prizes, sign up for our newsletter, The Stacker, at http://stackingbenjamins.com/stacker.

Enjoy!

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5 Financial Skills You Should Have In 2020 (plus an intro to Qube Money) Nov 13, 2020

Let's not mince words. It's been a pretty s%$! year. BUT there have been TONS of fantastic financial lessons you could have learned from 2020, and many skills you've probably figured out already that you NEED in the future. So what are those skills? We'll share the top 5 list our friend Katie Brewer, CFP listed on a recent blog post. Here to help us dive into their take on all of these skills is Joe's co-host on the Money With Friends podcast, Bobbi Rebell. Plus, from Afford Anything, we'll get help from Paula Pant...AND from Len Penzo dot com, we'll hear from Len Penzo.

In our Friday FinTech segment, we'll speak with Qube founder Ryan Clark about how they've created an envelope budgeting system for 2020 and beyond. Not familiar with the envelope budgeting system? We'll explain how it works AND how Ryan's team uses technology to help you do better with your money.

Plus, during our MagnifyMoney.com segment, we'll take a question from a listener who wonders what designations he should pursue to coach people on their money. He's thought about becoming a Certified Financial Planner, but thinks for the type of coaching he wants to do, that it might be overkill. You'll love how the team today discusses which designations might be best (spoiler: we don't agree).

Of course, we'll also leave time for Doug's amazing trivia challenge, which today is all about the World Wide Web. Can you nail the answer without looking it up?

Enjoy!

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Stories From the 99 Percent Invisible City (with Roman Mars) Nov 11, 2020

Buildings, sidewalks, statues, plaques...they all tell stories that are nearly hidden from view. You can take a walk out of your front door if you live in nearly any city, and there are stories all around you. The great news? They're all free. And, like a puzzle, the stories of a 99% invisible city can keep you occupied for hour after fascinating hour. Today we chat with Roman Mars from the 99% Invisible podcast about a few of these stories. We'll talk about park in Australia, a baseball player in Japan, and sidewalks...everywhere.

Over $1 billion in bitcoin has been seized by the U.S. government. We'll share how and why, and also dive a little into bitcoin in general. Has it become a more stable landscape for investors? Plus, in the search for lower taxes and a better bottom line, Rock Legend Gene Simmons has decided to wave his California estate (and California taxes) goodbye. High taxes vs. good friends and memories of the neighborhood. Which would you choose?

Plus, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to August, who wants to rollover his Roth 401k to a Roth IRA when he retires. He's already seeded the IRA with $500. Is there any reason to invest in one account over the other? August asks, does the answer change if he's plans to retire early?

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Setting High Goals and Achieving Them (with the Invest Diva: Kiana Danial) Nov 09, 2020

In today's wide-ranging chat with the Invest Diva, Kiana Danial, we hear about her personal story of setting high goals and achieving them. From her family's flight from Iran to working on becoming an engineer, being fired from a Wall Street job and more, Kiana's done it all, and today we'll talk about how you can pivot your way to success. We'll also talk about popular brokerage app Robinhood, making videos that people want to watch, the FOMO people felt during the heady Bitcoin run up, and more.

Plus, remember the old saying: if it's too good to be true, it probably is? Make that doubly so if what you're talking about involves investing or finances. We'll share yet another story of investors being fleeced out of their life savings after being roped in by too-good-to-be-true financial scams. And also, Suze Orman is back in the news. A recent health scare has the queen of money talk thinking critically about the relationship between money and health.

During our Haven Life line, Ronnie Jo calls in asking for good financial advice for her 19 year-old sister. She'd like to make sure her sister can navigate the financial waters, and Joe and OG deliver advice that'll serve anyone well, young adult or not.

Of course, we can't have a show without giving Doug some airtime. His trivia for today? Something about Einstein? Or winning money? Who really knows?

Enjoy!

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How to Avoid a Holiday Hangover Nov 06, 2020

On today's show, we bring you a cornucopia of November financial topics! Is your rule of thumb going to leave you broke in retirement? We'll start off by talking about the nerd's updated version of the 4% rule and maybe throw in some advice explaining why generalized guidelines aren't the best investing strategy. Plus, in homage to our older roundtables, we'll give our contributors a few more headlines to chew on, including a new plan to push required minimum distributions to 75, AND our roundtable will cover the new college savings plan ranking system from Morningstar. Making today's super-show happen is our amazing team of contributors: Michael Anderson of the Big Idea podcast; Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the show, we'll FINALLY share our main topic, bow to avoid a holiday hangover. Joe and Belinda Rosenblum will talk about how to set up a strategy to make sure this is the year you finally are able to get ahead financially, or at the very least, stay afloat during the holiday season.

We'll finish today's show with some salacious gossip thanks to our question from Shane. He says that he loves our pieces on financial crimes, but what about the the less popular crimes? Shane wants to hear about daring financial crimes like money laundering and check kiting. Does our panel deliver? Yes! So make some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy this week's MagnifyMoney segment.

Of course, we'll always save some time for Doug. Think you know your sports history? You'll love Doug's question today.

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Lessons From the Market's Biggest Wizards (with Jack Schwager) Nov 04, 2020

What can we learn from market wizards, the name Jack Schwager gives to traders who routinely beat the index? Even if you aren't trying to trade the market, but instead want to just be competent, you can learn a ton. Jack Schwager has studied the best and brightest in the industry for years and today we talk to him about patience, discipline, love of the game, and more. You can use ALL of these ideas to be a better investor, even if, like most of us, you're a member of the buy-and-hold tribe.

Plus, in our headlines segment, how hard is it to get your will done? Our engineer extraordinaire, Steve Stewart, just finished his. Joe and OG ask him about how and why he completed his plan, and how difficult it was. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Peter, who wonders about his investment strategy, and of course, we save time for Doug's amazing, post-election trivia. Enjoy!

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Increasing Your Earnings When Most People Aren't (with Ramit Sethi) Nov 02, 2020

While everyone struggles to get along through COVID-19, if you're lucky enough to be healthy and safe, NOW may be a great time to find ways to earn more money. By using skills you already have, you can begin to build wealth and put your financial house in order. Today we'll talk to Mr. I Will Teach You To Be Rich, Ramit Sethi, about the power of networking, college, working online, transferring skills, and more. It's a powerful discussion that hopefully will move you from being defensive in 2020 to going on offense.

When's the last time your family reviewed your household fire safety plan? Good financial planning goes beyond the adrenaline-fueled excitement of long-term investing and emergency funds. During our headlines we'll be joined by Steve Kerber, Director of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute. Steve will share essential safety tips on how you can keep your family - and physical property - safe from a fire emergency. PLUS, you can watch a new video below from the Firefighter Safety Research Institute showing just how little time you have to escape a home fire.

In our second piece, we'll discuss the importance of things like disability insurance. In a tragic incident, a cyclist has been reportedly left brain-damaged after a split-second accident with a dog. Many people go without when it comes to insurance with excuses like, "I'm safe!", or "nothing bad ever happens to me!" The other side of that coin is that accidents are just that... accidents.

We'll finish out the show with a Haven Life line question on HSAs (Health Savings Account) and HRAs (Health Reimbursement Arrangement). Ethan will be switching jobs soon, and his new employer only offers a HRA. Ethan wants to keep contributing to his HSA even without the extra employer benefits, but wants to know: can he contribute to both the HRA and HSA?

Plus, with the election looming tomorrow, Doug's campaign is in full swing. He'll use some of his mid-show airtime to quiz his loyal voters on how many electoral votes he'll need to take the White House.

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Halloween Treats and Avoiding The Horror Story Wedding Oct 30, 2020

On today's show we're mixing the ghoulish past with the horrific NOW. Chuck Jaffe from Money Life with Chuck Jaffe joins us to share how he's scaring his neighborhood kids this year into better money habits AND then we rewind (this is our rewind week!) to Sandy Smith sharing how she spent just under $5000 on her wedding and had the ultimate experience for herself, her husband, and their friends. It's a great now/rewind episode of Stacking Benjamins (plus we share an AWESOME event coming up for all Stackers on 11/10...join us!).

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Top 5 Investing Horror Stories with Rick Ferri (SB RWD 115) Oct 28, 2020

What's more spooky than an investing story gone wrong? Nothing... if we're discussing your net worth. Today the Fintern brings us back to our time with CFA Rick Ferri, who dropped by the basement and scared us silly with some absolutely HORRIBLE investing stories.

Plus, Nick Clements from MagnifyMoney.com also joined the show to talk about our (then) recent discussions around technology and pricing structures.

Of course, we also had headlines, Doug's trivia, and more.

Enjoy!

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Top 5 Ways To React To Market Volatility (SB RWD 114) Oct 26, 2020

Happy Rewind Week Stackers! We're kicking off Monday strong with a special show that used to be a fan-favorite: a Joe and OG Top 5. Today's topic? How to react to market volatility. It was relevant then, and it's relevant now. There's no featured guest on today's show - but there's also a whole bunch more of Joe and OG banter than you'd normally have. (Some people say that's a good enough trade-off).

You can read the short and sweet original show notes below:

It's another Top 5 episode! Today Joe & OG tell you their top 5 ways to handle bouncing markets.

In headlines we tackle the herd mentality down markets create and signs that it's time for a new advisor.

We also fire up the Quotacy hotline for the first time, where Sam asks about stretch IRA rules.

It's all that and more on today's show!

Thanks to Candid and Netsuite for sponsoring the Stacking Benjamins show!

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Grab The Budget Reins (plus Kabbage's Kathryn Petralia) Oct 23, 2020

Worried it's next to impossible to get your finances in order by this point? What if I told you it could happen by Thanksgiving? (For those of you caught in the infamous 2020 haze, that's a little more than a month away). Today our roundtable crew share their personal tricks of the trade they employ to manage their budget, lower their expenses, and keep charge of their finances. Joining us on our roundtable is the mind behind the Own Your Money brand and Stacking Benjamins' partner in our Making Money Easy course, Belinda Rosenblum; Kevin Payne from the popular Family Money Adventure blog; and basement regular Len Penzo... from the aptly named Len Penzo dot com blog.

After our contributors finish sharing their top finance tips, we'll give them a break while we shine some light on small businesses and what they've been experiencing this year. Helping us shine that spotlight is Kabbage co-founder, Kathryn Petralia. Kabbage was the second biggest PPP loan provider, and Kathryn will share the mistakes she's seen businesses make, what businesses should be doing right now, and what we can maybe expect in the future.

We'll finish out the show with our Magnify Money segment - our caller Jambalaya wants to self-insure his health costs. He breaks his plan for his, and makes sure to let us know that he's otherwise healthy. Jambalaya asks for our seal of approval: is his plan sound, or, in his words, "should I keep it simple stupid?" Our roundtable will share their thoughts on our caller's plan.

Naturally, we'll make some airtime for Doug's Friday trivia game show. This week's question? The original iPod sale price!

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Weighing Opportunities and Holding On In Down Markets (with JL Collins) Oct 21, 2020

When you make a decision about your money, do you weigh how that plays against your long term goals? Doing so is called considering your "opportunity cost." Today's guest talks about both the process of thinking about opportunities AND discusses how to weigh down markets. Should you move your money? He's been through a ton of down markets and has a world of experience with them. Today we're airing a very special episode with JL Collins, author of The Simple Path to Wealth. Doc G (in an interview originally aired on the Plutus award-winning Earn and Invest podcast) caught up with Collins last year, and asked him many questions, that we'll play for you today.

What's your first response after finding out your online portfolio has been liquidated and cleared of its cash? Okay... so after THAT, you're probably calling your financial advisor until they pick up the phone, right? At the very least, solo investors should call the support line for their online brokerage.. right? What happens when NO ONE is available to help you figure out where the money went....or worse yet, when you do get a reply back it says that you'll need to hold tight for a few weeks? That's exactly what's happening to Robinhood investors... we'll unveil yet another issue at the troubled brokerage during our headlines segment.

In our second headline: day-traders are often ignored by long term investors, but new research indicates these very-same day-traders could be a driving force behind market fluctuations, including the market rebound this year. Don't worry - we'll cover what that means to you and your plan.

We'll finish out the show with a call from Ryan, who wants to know more about family contributions to a 529 plan. Ryan and his wife are expecting their first child, and would like their family members to contribute to their child's 529 plan instead of traditional gifts. Are there any online portals their family can use, or is it up to Ryan and his wife to collect contributions and investing the cash?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. Doug was feeling generous today with his dino-trivia, and opted for multiple choice responses... enjoy!

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The Crazy Things I've Bartered to Cross the USA (travel writer Heather Jacks) Oct 19, 2020

Heather Jacks has done it all. She's created a new job to work for Howard Shultz, facilitated wine and bourbon tastings, ferried pigs for a guy, lived in the outback, and slept full-time in a bus named Bubba. Also? She writes travel stories for Fodor's and other outlets, while also keeping a blog. ....and she's modeled. ..and she's been a teacher. ...and....the list goes on, but we're excited today to talk to her about how she's found a way to put together diverse skills and barter her way across the USA. Think you don't have enough money to travel? She'll share tricks she's used and stories from the road on today's wide-ranging (to put it mildly) discussion.

LOTS of people are having debt forgiven because of COVID-19, but some are in store for a surprise. We'll share who's showing up with their hand out when you write down debt during our headlines segment. Also, the new Social Security cost of living increase has been announced, and....it's not pretty. We'll talk inflation, the stock market, and setting up your investments to win.

Of course we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and leave some time for Doug to share some of his mind-bending trivia. Enjoy!

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How To Build a More Effective Network (plus an intro to Happy Money) Oct 16, 2020

How's your network of mentors, friends and coaches? Who can you reach out to for help when you really need something? On today's show our roundtable contributors will tackle networking, and how to build a more effective surround sound for your life. We won't talk "networking," which can come across as dirty and slimy. We'll tackle how to effectively and sincerely grow a network so that you're more effective and also more of a help to other people. Our piece today says that your net worth is equal to your network, and we'll ask our roundtable what that means for you.

Speaking of being happy...after our discussion on true friendship, wealth, and cold, hard business decisions - we'll turn our attention to a new site called Happy Money in our Friday FinTech segment. We'll give a break to our panel while Joe talks with the company's Chief Science Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, who's a behavioral and happiness expert. How do you, as mom says, turn that money frown upside down? She'll share details of what they're working on.

Who's on our roundtable today? We're super happy that today we network with Roger Whitney from the Retirement Answer Man podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG from our very own podcast.

Of course, we'll also save time for Doug's Friday game show trivia. It's too bad Joe isn't in the running for points - today's Disney themed trivia would net him an easy win this week. Enjoy!

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How We Mess Up Our 401k (with Josh Dietch) Oct 14, 2020

How's your savings plan been? Have you had to abandon ship on your retirement goals during this car wreck of a year? What are the keys to doing well with your money when the world turns on it's head? Today we'll discuss all of those things and T. Rowe Price's newest 401k data with the company's head of thought leadership, Josh Dietch.

Is the stock market a house of cards? In a stunning accusation, one piece says that the stock market is nothing more than a (legal) Ponzi scheme, and a better investment for your money would be real estate, agriculture, and oil. While we're NOT jumping on the train to Ponziville, could there be some logic to the claims? We'll break down whether you should take any stock in opinion pieces with claims like these during our headlines segment of the show. Plus, Cake Boss Buddy Valastro is on his road to recovery after severely injuring his dominant decorating hand in a bowling alley accident. We'll share exactly what happened, and why this might make you change your mind about your insurances.

We'll round out today's show with a letter from Randy during the Haven Life Line. After listening to our Guy Raz episode, Randy wanted to share his experience moving to Columbia. He reports that it was "easier" than he thought it would be, and he saved a lot of money doing it.

Of course, we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia. It's an action packed Wednesday here in the basement, so we hope you enjoy it!

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Curing Your Time Poverty Problem (w/Ashley Whillans) Oct 12, 2020

Do you focus on managing time or money? If you worry about every dollar, do you value your time similarly, spending moments carefully? While many of us know much we expect to save, spend, and invest each month, not as many of us know exactly where our time is going. In her new book, Time Smart, Harvard Global Health fellow Ashley Whillans explains where all your extra time is going, the two different approaches we take with time and work, and why it feels like we have less time in our day than ever before.

Think you don't need a layer of separation between you and your money? After today's headline, you might reconsider how much access you want to your cash. The short and sweet? Under NO circumstances should you cash out $400,000 for your partner's flight school venture. (And maybe watch your checks). In our second headline, we'll cover Kobe's autographed court floor selling for over $600,000. While that's an undeniable nice piece of history to show off to your friends, the average investor (or even a lot of investors who could be considered rich), probably shouldn't even think about spending that kind of cash on a collectible.

Plus, during our Haven Life Line Steve from Arkansas has a thing or two to say about Bauxite. On a recent show Joe and OG dismissed Bauxite a little too quickly for Steve's tastes, and he's laying down some firsthand knowledge.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Mistakes Six-Figure Earners Make (plus an intro to Rally) Oct 09, 2020

Most of us are frustrated by our paycheck. Are you a Henry? That's "high earner, not rich yet." Maybe you know a Henry and are confused how someone who makes so much money is constantly broke all the time? While our topic today covers money mistakes made by high-earners, workers of all income-levels will find today's advice relevant to their wallets.

Plus, ever dream about owning rare baseball cards, vintage cars, or maybe even a jersey? Halfway through the show we'll dive into the world of investing and collectibles with Rob Petrozzo, co-founder of Rally. While you might not have the cash to buy a classic Aston Martin, you could invest in some shares.

During our Magnify Money segment we have a big question that Brian posted in our Basement Facebook group on behalf of his neighbor. Brian's neighbor has had a rough go financially so far, but he's looking to turn things around. With bad credit, a felony, and a foreclosure on the record where should Brian's neighbor start?

Plus, we'll make some time's for Doug's weekly trivia game show.

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Hidden Habits of Genius (with Dr. Craig Wright) Oct 07, 2020

How are geniuses different than the rest of us? Can we study them to emulate some of their strengths? How do we define genius? Can we become a genius by applying ourselves? Today we'll tackle all of those questions and more with Dr. Craig Wright, who joins us to talk all things genius on today's show. If you've ever wondered what to do to improve your abilities in any area, we'll cover some of the traits of the best and brightest among us on today's show.

Plus, while we've all read about the growing gap between the richest and poorest among us, we've actually read very few ideas to solve the problem. Hedge fund star Bill Ackman has a proposal, and in our headlines segment, we'll share details. Should we begin giving people money at birth? That's part of his idea that we'll share. Also, we all know that there are a few keys to success in life. Today we'll share the "magic sauce" as presented by one Tik-Tok creator. Brilliant!

Of course we'll still throw out the Haven Life line AND save time for some of Doug's delicious trivia. What are you waiting for? Press "play" already!

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Our Ultimate Guide to Choosing Workplace Benefits (with Amanda Lannert) Oct 05, 2020

Are you getting all of the mileage you can from your workplace benefits? LOTS of people are likely leaving money on the table by not layering benefits correctly, and TODAY we'll make sure you aren't one of them. Today Amanda Lannert, CEO of benefit-expert company Jellyvision, joins Joe to share best practices when it comes to increasing the mileage from your benefits. During Joe and Amanda's conversation, we'll walk through every benefit in the package and detail how to make better decisions about not just health insurance, life insurance, and disability coverage, but we'll also talk about flex spending accounts, health savings accounts, dependent care accounts, pet insurance, legal plans, supplemental hospital coverage, dental, and more.

What's your retirement plan? We'll kick off our headlines segment by sharing the very scary retirement plan that far too many Americans are relying on. If you're reading this, you just might be the saver in your group of friends... and after you hear today's statistics you'll want to make sure your friends aren't including YOU as THEIR emergency plan. Plus, in our second piece, one lucky man found a 9-caret diamond in a public state park. As it turns out, it doesn't matter how you come into money, the IRS will find you, and they'll get their due. (On the other hand... public roads are nice too).

We'll finish the show with a Haven Life Line question. Brian's company started offering withdrawls on after-tax contributions. Brian plans on using the mega back door Roth IRA instead of a 529 plan for his two-year old. He wants to pull out the contributions only and let the growth be used for retirement savings. Brian asks: what do we think of his plan?

Of course, we'll also give Doug will some air time to deliver his trivia! Enjoy!

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What Can You Negotiate? (plus a look at FinTech vs. COVID) Oct 02, 2020

How many times have you negotiated a better deal? Car payments? Rent? Mortgage fees? How much in life is up for negotiation, and how do you get better at it? We asked our roundtable contributors the same thing, and they had a lot to offer. Making up today's show: Stacy Johnson, founder and CEO of MoneyTalkNews; Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast; and Len Penzo (from the LenPenzo.com blog), and another thanks to our celebrity reader - and author of today's piece - Rich Jones from Paychecks & Balances.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe rings up Ryan Falvey, co-founder of Financial Venture Studio. Fintech is a fast moving field, and we'll find out from Ryan how COVID has changed the game when it comes to apps on your phone.

We'll finish out today roundtable with a Magnify Money call from Bruce. He tells our roundtable that he's buying his first home, and wants to shop around for a good mortgage. How can he do that without his credit being dinged 100 times? Our roundtable gives him so solid advice, and it'll be nice knowledge for you tooo.

Of course, we'll also carve out some time for Doug's game show trivia.

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5 Huge Medicare Decisions You'll Need To Make (with Danielle Kunkle Roberts) Sep 30, 2020

The biggest mistake you can make is to wait until the last minute to learn about how to make the most out of your benefits packages. It's one thing to mess up a form at the DMV, but when it comes to your Medicare, making a mistake can lead to big issues with your health. Danielle Kunkle Roberts, author of new book, 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make, comes on today's show to share the key decisions you'll need to make and how to avoid losing money or health care options.

Plus, is another bear market on the way? Honest answer? Maybe! During our headlines we'll explain how the bear market could drop next week, (or tomorrow, or even next month)... and why that shouldn't matter to your portfolio anyway. In our second piece, we'll share the changing American sentiment behind sustainable funds.

During the Haven Life Line, Amy calls in with questions on how to retire as an expat. Amy and her husband live in Germany with their three kids and they both get paid in euros. Due to complicated investing laws, Amy has most of their assets located in the United States. The problem? Amy's family plans to retire in Germany! Amy asks us: What type of professional should Amy and her husband hire to sort out their financials? Should that professional be American or German?

All that and more on today's episode! Enjoy!

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Investing 201 (with Jill Schlesinger) Sep 28, 2020

So you've learned that it's important to save. You've picked a mutual fund or an exchange traded fund, and now you're pouring some money in. What should you know next? Today we'll chat with CBS Business Analyst and host of the Jill on Money show, Jill Schlesinger. We'll talk about investment fees, better diversification, what's MOST important when you're investing, and more. Get ready for some investing talk because today class is in session!

Making coffee is great, but the real easy money-maker? Holding other people's money. During today's headlines we'll explain how the giant coffee chain Starbucks it padding a huge part of their bottom budget with YOUR cash. Plus, financial giant LPL is stopping some of their advisors from using a Morningstar product. Is this a case of big brother overstepping? Hardly! We'll talk about how advisors work and the role of oversight on today's show.

During the Haven Life Line, Jordan calls in with a question that I think will resonate with more than a few listeners. Jordan will be working from home for the foreseeable future due to COVID. His car has been collecting dust in the garage. Jordan asks: would it be sensible for him to sell his car? Jordan's wife will still have her minivan.

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5 Myths About Diversification (plus an intro to FinCon) Sep 25, 2020

What does diversification really mean? Contrary to popular opinion, there's more to good diversification than just spreading your money around. But how does it work? Today we'll tackle a recent piece from the Wall Street Journal that dives into popular myths about diversification. Believe it or not there's more to it than just "spreading your money around."

Before I forget - a big thanks to today's roundtable contributors! You can find more from Miranda Marquit at MirandaMarquit.com and freelancewriteracademy.com; Paula Pant at AffordAnything.com; AND you can get help in your financial corner from OG HERE.

As far as financial independence and doing all the "right things," Jeff is pretty set. After years of effort getting to this point, Jeff now finds himself thinking less about his finances. What's the solution here? Find a hobby? Earn more cash? Buy products from all of our sponsors? Our roundtable will share their thoughts during our Magnify Money segment.

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Winning in "The Ring" (with Coach Mike Rosenfeld) Sep 23, 2020

Mike Rosenfeld is what some people call boxer Jeison Rosario's "secret weapon." Boxing fan are fired up this week because Saturday features a title bout on Showtime between Jeison Rosario and Jermell Charlo, and today, Coach Mike joins us to share how he's worked with not just Jeison but with top professionals to bring energy, focus, and drive to whatever they do. We'll even share an exercise that Coach Mike uses (and that you can use, too) to improve your performance immediately.

How much whiskey does it take to buy a house? It almost sounds like the start of a joke, but one U.K. man is laughing all the way to the bank. After discovering the value off his Macallan whiskey collection has skyrocketed, he plans to use his newfound cash as a down payment for a home.

We'll round out today's show with a question most of us have asked at one point or another: are financial advisors worth the price? How hard could it be, right? Instead of answering a voicemail on today's Haven Life Line, we're turning our attention to a Reddit post that we think perfectly encapsulates why you should have an advisor as a buffer between you and your money. This might be one of the biggest money mistakes you never want to make.

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Creating Your Personal MBA Program (with Josh Kaufman) Sep 21, 2020

What are you doing to be best in class? What's your curriculum toward success? Why wouldn't you create your own personal MBA to achieve your goals? If you did, what would you study? Today we're going to help you sharpen the saw by welcoming Josh Kaufman, author of the Personal MBA, a book that came out 10 years ago (and now has a new 10th anniversary edition), but is even more meaningful today than it was then. Build more skills and you'll be rewarded with far more Benjamins...

Plus, during our headlines segment, we'll feature TWO stories about borrowers either having their student loan debt erased or who were suing to have it expelled. We'll ask attorney Leslie Tayne her thought about whether these rulings will open up opportunities for YOU to discharge your student loans.

We'll finish out today's show with one big question: do you tell your kids either your net worth or your total investments? We asked the same question to our SB Basement Facebook group, and received a range of responses. We'll share not only our own, but a nice range of parent responses during our segment.

As always, Doug will also get the spotlight during the halftime. On the menu for today? Fantasy Trivia! (I went into this one blind and I'm proud to say I actually got this one right.)

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What Would You Sacrifice For Financial Freedom? (plus a FinTech chat w/ Zach Pettet) Sep 18, 2020

Would you cut birthday parties, holiday get-togethers, attending work events, or giving gifts? How much would you cut to live a financially lean "simple life"? One Reddit user has taken these steps (and more!) in an attempt to stay on course. After our special surprise celebrity reader delivers today's piece, we'll ask our roundtable for their thoughts. Has lean living gone too far? Is financial independence worth these sacrifices? Today we are joined by Olympic gold-medalist turned financial planner, Lauryn Williams; comedian and host of the Crazy Money podcast, Paul Ollinger; and the guy you know and love - Len Penzo of the LenPenzo.com blog.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe rings up Zach Pettet. The last time we talked to Zach was when he was on stage on behalf of Fountain City Fintech during our Stacking Benjamins Live Tour. Today, Zach has his own podcast examining the world of fintech: For Fintech's Sake. During the segment, we'll poke Zach's brain to find out where the world of fintech is at now, AND ask what's in store for the future of fintech.

During our MagnifyMoney call, we'll give some advice to an anonymous caller who is interested in investing. While she doesn't have enough extra cash to buy whole stocks, she could buy fractional shares. Because E-Trade doesn't offer fractional shares, our caller would have to open an account with another firm. Any advice? What good brokerage firms offer fractional shares? Is this even a good idea at all?

Plus during Doug's trivia gameshow, we'll celebrate the U.S. Air Force's 73rd birthday. Enjoy!

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How I Built This (with Guy Raz) Sep 16, 2020

How I Built This. It's the case-study story that Guy Raz, creator and host of NPR's How I Built This podcast, has been told many times. Today we'll flip the script on Guy and ask him: what led him to build his hit podcast? We don't stop there, we'll also get inside Guy's head and ask about some of the common themes among the stories he's heard. We'll ask about business as war, fear, building loyal fans, and what drives these founders...often "normal" people, toward success?

Plus, thinking about leaving this all behind the hot moment that countries begin accepting American passports? During our headlines segment, we'll share a list that already has my vote for the best title of 2020: 4 tropical places you can live well for less than 2000 dollars. (Anyone else working remotely bookmarking this)?

In our second piece: has the college education model finally met its match? Welcome to Google's newest venture: higher education. Google's new certificate program can be completed in just about six months, and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional college. Ka-ching! While large companies are already signing on to honor the certificate, we won't know its true value until we collect some solid data on the hiring rates of graduates.

Later, during our Haven Life Line, Francisco calls in with a question about expense ratios. Would switching from a high-to-low expense ratio account be a good move? Does that answer change for tax-advantaged accounts?

Of course, there will still be time for Doug's trivia.

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What Can We Learn From Losing? (with Mary Pilon) Sep 14, 2020

How many times have you lost and thought, "I'm going to learn to do better the next time, so I win." What did you learn specifically from losing? Author Mary Pilon asked the same question and put together an anthology on stories about epic losses that shines a spotlight on the struggle involved trying to reach the top of anything. If you're inspired--like we are--by stories of other's struggle so we don't feel so alone, you're going to be super excited listening to Mary share a few epic stories from the book.

Next, has Robinhood finally attracted its share of regulator attention? During our headlines, we'll recap the numerous reasons why you shouldn't use Robinhood for your investing. Plus, in our second piece, are you heading to retirement disaster by underestimating your life expectancy?

During the Haven Life Line, we'll take a question about short-term investing from Matt. He's currently in college, and looking to invest $2000 for a couple of year. Where's the best Matt can invest his money?

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Name That Marketing Catchphrase (plus a new Hippo/Simplisafe Partnership) Sep 11, 2020

Welcome to the happiest podcast on earth? Do you know where we stole that catchphrase from? If you do, you just might be a product of marketing. Companies spend millions of dollars each year trying to get you to remember their brand. Today we'll prove just how much we remember marketing with a game show episode where we slightly change the brand slogans and see if our roundtable participants (OG, Paula and Len) can come up with them. How many can you get right? ...and is that a good thing?

Plus, halfway through the show, insurance company Hippo and home security firm Simplisafe join us to talk about a new study talking about home insecurity. With the pandemic, the average person feels less secure about their home life. As a response, they've also teamed up with a new partnership. We'll share details about the study and the partnership on today's show.

Enjoy!

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Who's Sharing in the "Sharing" Economy? (with Juliet Schor) Sep 09, 2020

What happened to the sharing economy? The new work model promised to give workers flexibility and new income streams, while people with excess could share what they had with people looking for help. What it turned into is a different matter: lots of people earning below minimum wage, an over-saturation of workers all competing for the same prime hours, and headline-making lawsuits from companies looking to minimize their responsibility to workers. These are all things new gig workers can expect when joining the new "gig" field. Today we chat with Juliet Schor, author of the new best-selling book, After The Gig. During our interview Juliet will share the business strategies that kick-started the shift in direction large gig and sharing companies made, how gig workers don't know how much they're truly making, and we'll also dive into possible solutions to the gig economy's current problems.

In our headlines segment, we'll ask, "Why half of the millennial generation have canceled their travel credit cards?" Plus, Fidelity is now offering their first Bitcoin fund. Should you pay any attention?

We'll finish out the show with our Haven Life Line. Retired clergyman Bill calls in asking if he can really take out a tax-free housing disbursement from his 403b if the money was made through clergy work.

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Train Your Brain For Better Work (with Dr. Joseph Cardillo) Sep 07, 2020

Ever wish you had better habits? Whether you're not getting out of bed for that morning run, or you stay up too late before an important meeting in the morning, or you can't stop breaking the budget - we've all asked ourselves, "why did I do that AGAIN?" Dr. Joseph Cardillo, best-selling author of multiple books on the intersection of mindfulness and health not only knows the answer to that, he's sharing the solution on today's show! In his new book, 12 Rules of Attention, Dr. Cardillo goes through easy-to-follow steps on how you can stop bad habits in their tracks, AND how to trick your brain into establishing habits that'll make you a superstar in whatever area of your life you wish to improve.

Brittany Spears is back in the news. In our headlines segment we'll review how her father has served as her conservator for twelve years (taking care of Spears' money), and now the pop star wants him out. So, what does it mean to have a conservator? How can someone make sure everything is on the up-and-up? We'll share that and recall one famous conservator horror story which saw one extremely rich widow fight homelessness. Plus, what's a headlines segment without talking about money and video games? Today we'll also cover the beef between Apple and Epic Games. It's...wait for it...pretty....epic.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line today to listener Swaggenit, who was notified by Turbotax that because he already contributes to his 401k, he won't receive any tax benefit for his IRA. He asks: because he doesn't receive a tax advantage now and he's contributing post-tax money, will the money be tax-free when he withdraws it? Is there a good reason to keep contributing to his IRA?

As always, we'll of course save some time for Doug's trivia, who's keeping his Independence Day questions going strong. Enjoy!

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Should You Have A Mortgage In Retirement? (SB RWD 113) Sep 04, 2020

The one and only Scott Alan Turner from Financial Rockstar podcast joins the fun this week. He, Len Penzo and Joe tackle financial insecurity, mortgages and horrible Valentine's gifts.

Also, we're ending our Rewind week with some pretty special segments. Check out our original show notes below:

At the halfway point we have a great visit with Thomas Smyth from AskTrim.com about his new app. Trim dives into your accounts to find forgotten subscriptions you're paying and unsubscribes you (if you wish).

AS IF that's not enough, we're excited at the end of the episode to share some time with the star of SoFi's new Super Bowl commercial, Brandon Williams. We'll talk about the experience and his investing passion - real estate.

That’s it for this week of rewinds! Coming Monday: We’ll chat with Dr. Joseph Cardillo, author of 12 Rules of Attention: How to Avoid Screw-ups, Free Up Headspace, Do More and Be More at Work.

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Building Your Financial Dream House with Greg Powell (SB RWD 112) Sep 02, 2020

What does your financial dream house look like? Financial planner Greg Powell says that he always has trouble convincing people to complete a financial plan because it sounds like a ton of work. But a financial dream house? That’s a much easier sell, and he’s going to help you sell yourself on that concept in today’s episode. We’ll talk about where investments fit into the overall structure (not as far up the priority list as you’d think), how to work through building your “plans,” and then how to build a team that effectively helps you finally create the “structure” of the house.

Happy Hump Day! We're keeping our rewind week going strong with today's show featuring our time with Greg Powell. We thought his unique approach to financial planning was interesting then, and we think it's interesting now. Also from our original show notes:

On the Haven Life line, Garrett asks about company stock inside of his 401k. Should he dump it? If you have company stock inside of YOUR 401k, this’ll be helpful for you…and if you own LOTS of one company’s stock, you’ll also like this segment. We also answer a letter from Andrew, who wonders about his target date fund. As you know (if you’ve listened to us before), we’ve been pretty critical of target date funds. What is his next best move? Do YOU have a target date fund? Maybe today’s letter segment will help you, too!

Of course we have Doug’s trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more….

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Your Money or Your Life? With Vicki Robin (SB RWD 111) Aug 31, 2020

Most of us have been at home a lot more than normal, which led us to realize that this week may be high time for a discussion about "stuff." Too many of us have too much clutter. Clutter not just in our house, but in our minds, in our thoughts, and in our goals. That's why today's episode is super important to us.

Happy rewind week! While Joe and OG are hanging up at the beach sipping mojitos (okay, maybe not really), I’m turning back the clock to visit some of our favorite past interviews. We're kicking this week off strong with one of our favorite interviews in the catalogue: Vicki Robin, author of bestselling book, Your Money or Your Life. You can read our original show notes below:

Why are you saving money? How much joy are you receiving from that “stuff” you own? You may rethink your financial plan after today’s show, because our guest is the co-author of the HUGE bestselling book, Your Money or Your Life. Vicki Robin helped shape the financial independence/retire early movement, and she’s on her way down to the basement today to talk to us about re-examining your beliefs around your life and your money. Your money or your life, indeed.

In our headlines segment we’ll talk about student loans with Robert Farrington from The College Investor. He’ll talk about how over 3,000 people just took part in an event to pay off a TON of student loan debt. We’ll share best practices, how best to apply to lower interest rates on your debt, and how to pay them down in a way that makes sense for your situation. We’ll also discuss the new SEC proposed fiduciary rule. Is THIS finally the rule we’ve been looking for? Will it replace the mostly knocked-down rule from the Department of Labor? We’ll review the rule and discuss what you need to know about it on today’s show. Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Karen, who’s contributing to a brand spankin’ new health savings account. How should she best use it? We’ll share how these plans work on today’s show. We’ll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug’s trivia question, and watch him try to juggle….one ball.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Negotiating The Inevitable "Where's My Life Going?" Crisis (plus an intro to Public) Aug 28, 2020

Big houses, fast cars, and flashy boats... are we all destined to hit the "what do I really want with life anyway" crisis? While everyone's therapy comes in different forms, does it have to mean burning obscene amounts of cash budgeted for things like, "life savings" just to reclaim your life? On today's show we'll share what YOU can do when you're second guessing your goals and your life's direction...so that you can keep the sportscar money in your pocket. Helping us out on the roundtable today is Kathe Kline, from the Rock Your Retirement podcast, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG. Plus, we're helped today by our special celebrity reader: Tom Schwab, founder and CEO of Interview Valet. We're happy to have him reading our focus piece today!

Curious about what your friends and other influential people you follow are investing in? After our discussion on making sure your mid-life crisis doesn't turn into a disaster, we'll ring up Katie Perry, VP of social investing platform Public.

We'll round out the show with a question from Martin, who's interested in house hacking. Martin is 17 doesn't have much cash to throw around. He asks: what can he do to have his cash work for him? So far he's been reading up on stocks in the Motley Fool, but what else could he be doing?

And of course with it being Friday... we'll make some time for Doug's game show.

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Dressing Rock Stars and Building a Brand (with fashion designer Lindsay Hearts) Aug 26, 2020

What does it take to work as a Hollywood designer for major rock and roll bands? Lindsay Hearts started with a sewing machine at age 16, worked her way up to fashion week in New York, and finally decided it was time to make a move to reach her dream: creating a brand of her own in LA. She moved west with the goal of NOT working for someone else, but to build her own business. Today we'll hear her inspiring story, plus how she's helped out during the time of COVID, how she manages a team, and much more.

While interest rates remain near all-time lows, the cost to actually refinance just got more expensive. We'll share that during our headlines segment, and also dive into the "fun" happening at Eastman Kodak. What does that have to do with your money? Maybe more than you think.

Of course, we'll still throw out the Haven Life line AND we'll also share some of Doug's amazing trivia. Enjoy!

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How To Successfully Improve Your Habits (with Charles Duhigg) Aug 24, 2020

Charles Duhigg is a guy who knows a lot about habits. His book on the topic was on the New York Times bestseller list forever, his second book is also a bestseller, and now he has a new podcast called "How To!" that talks about the habits needed to perform specific tasks. Want to be funnier? Lose weight? Get a promotion? He covers it. Today we cover HIM and the topic of habits on today's episode!

Also today we ask the question, "How much skill is involved when a day trader wins?" Apparently, according to a recent piece, the statistics ain't good (as mom says). We'll cover that in our headlines segment, plus what Amazon plans to do with the huge stores left behind by Sears and JCPenny. Of course, they have plans...

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Brock, who writes in with a dilemma on student loans. He's running low on funds to pay for college, but he has about $3,500 invested in the stock market. Should Brock take out subsidized loans, or cash in some of his investments? We'll share our answer with you AND him, AND save time for some of Doug's delicious trivia. Enjoy!

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11th Annual Plutus Award Finalists Reveal and Commentary Aug 23, 2020

We’re super happy to present to you this year’s Plutus Award finalists. There are 30 categories this year and you’ll hear ALL of the commentary about these awards plus the complete rundown.

Joining us for the award presentation are Harlan Landes, creator of the Plutus Awards, and Miranda Marquit from Planting Money Seeds AND Plutus Awards director. For the commentary roundtable, we welcome the author of Mindful Millionaire, Leisa Peterson, the woman behind the Fioneers blog, Jess, and Mr. Do You Even Blog, Pete McPherson.

Enjoy!

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5 Exercises To Improve Your Money Life (with Suzanne Lucas) Aug 21, 2020

How can you become better with money? The good news: it's simple! The bad news? Just like anything else it will require a bit of work. Lucky for you, we're covering some of our favorite exercises (call them whatever you want if the word "exercise" isn't doing it for you) to make you better with your money. On that note, we want to give a big thanks to Eric and Kali Roberge for today's piece! Eric wrote it on the Beyond Your Hammock blog, and Kali has so nicely agreed to be our celebrity reader. To tackle the topic, this week's roundtable guests include Natalie Torres-Haddad, author of Financially Savvy in 20 minutes, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and OG from our very own podcast.

Taking vacation could be hard enough BEFORE most of us started to work from home. Either from company culture, a disorganized office, or simply grinding to pull ahead of the pack - there are a ton of reasons people don't feel comfortable asking for time off. Now you can add working from home and becoming virtually connected to the office all day to your list of problems. What's an employee to do? Helping us navigate the new waters is our (not so physically) near and dear friend, Suzanne Lucas from the Evil HR Lady blog.

We'll finish the show with our MagnifyMoney segment. Kelvin calls in with what he admits is a great problem to have: him and his wife are set and well on the way to early retirement if they choose to do so. Now the problem... how in the world do they get out of the hustle and save mindset? Once someone "makes" it, how do they start enjoying their money?

Of course, halfway through the show we'll carve out some time for Doug's game show trivia.

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Reducing Friction, Getting Moving, and Saving Money (with Dan Ariely) Aug 19, 2020

Looking to save more cash, but don't know where to look? Today we welcome Dan Ariely, Chief Behavioral Economist with Qapital, and professor and expert on psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. According to Dan, the best strategy may not necessarily be about adding more cash to your bottom line but reprioritizing the money you already have. Instead of trying to out-earn your spending habits, realign your focus to make the cash you earn go further for you each week.

Plus, every week it seems like another online bank cuts their rate and super-savers are upset at the loss of "free cash." During our headlines, we'll discuss why recent rate drops shouldn't be the end of the world AND we'll also cover the reasons behind a recent surge in new accounts with robo-advisors.

When it comes to saving your cash, should you stack more Benjamins in your wedding fund or your IRA? Our anonymous caller lets us know that he's putting away $1000 a month for his wedding, but only $500 into his Roth. He won't have any extra cash available when he becomes eligible to contribute to his 401k. Our caller asks: should he pull back on his wedding savings?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Hunting For Income-Producing Investments (with Will Rhind) Aug 17, 2020

We talk often on the show about growth-oriented investments, but what if you wanted higher income-paying tools for your portfolio? Will Rhind, CEO of GraniteShares, is a guy who knows income, his HIPS ETF is specifically engineered to create high income streams. Today we'll talk with Will about many of the different types of investments that go into his ETF. We'll dive into how they work, what could make income streams expand and contract, and also what could make an income-producing portfolio volatile. Also, because his background is also in commodities, we'll ask him about gold in a portfolio and his view of current markets.

Plus, have you been giving out your social security number in exchange for free cruise trips? Admittedly that may not seem like such an attractive offer in the current environment, but non-cruise related financial scams are on the rise. From pyramid schemes to nefarious bank activity, you'll find yourself double-checking you finances after listening to today's headlines.

During our Haven Life Line we'll answer a question from Derek, who is wondering if he should switch to his company's workplace health plan. He says the workplace health insurance seems worse than what he already has. Is there any reason to switch?

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The ONE Thing You Can Control (plus new FinTech from Fidelity) Aug 14, 2020

Here's a shock (or not....): LOTS of people are feeling stress right now - so if you're feeling overwhelmed, you aren't alone. Admittedly there aren't answers for everything, but that doesn't mean it's time to throw priorities, goals, and self-care out the window. In the words of Lin Manuel's Arron Burr: "I am the one thing in life I can control." (Thanks J.D. Roth, for reminding me there's a Hamilton line for everything!) During today's show, we'll ask our roundtable: when life becomes stressful, what's your emergency plan to take back the reins? How do you get life back on track? A big thanks to our contributors today: CFP Katie Brewer from Your Richest Life, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast. Another special thanks to today's celebrity reader: Jason Vitug. You can find more from Jason at his site JasonVitug.com

Halfway through the show we'll give our roundtable a break while Joe rings up Kelly Lannan, VP of Young Investors at Fidelity. The financial company has released a new investing app, Fidelity Inspire, and is designed to help young adults plan, save, and invest for their financial goals. We'll dive into all the different offerings and features the app brings during our interview with Kelly.

After our fintech segment we'll keep Doug's Friday gameshow going strong. Tune in to see who wins it this week!

We'll finish off today's show with an all-too real question posed to Peter Dunn: when your adult kid is laid off and needs help paying the bills, what do you do? We'll ask our roundtable for their take before rolling the end credits.

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What's the Price of a Sandwich? (with Len Penzo) Aug 12, 2020

What if you could talk about inflation in a way that actually hit home? Today we'll do just that by diving into the cost of a brown bag lunch sandwich. What does a sandwich cost? How has the price changed over time? Len Penzo has been comparing the prices of brown bag sandwiches for twelve years, and for seven of those we've been tracking it on the show with him. Today's show is one long-time fans will know and love, and one that we hope our new listeners won't miss... it's our annual fan-favorite: the Len Penzo Sandwich Survey. How much has the cost of making classic sandwiches increased year over year? What sandwich gets you the most bite for your buck? We'll compare baloney, PB&J, turkey and swiss, the BLT, and more.

Plus, is your neighborhood restaurant going to stay a little quieter for good? During our headlines segment of the show, we'll dive into a piece detailing how more than half of businesses that closed on Yelp during the pandemic are shutting their doors permanently. In our second piece, Jim from the Route to Retire blog has found his Panama retirement dream ending sooner than expected after the pandemic hit. What should you do if you find your retirement going off track during YEAR ONE?

Later in the show, instead of answering a listener voicemail during the Haven Life Line, we'll use a blog piece covering what financial information you should have learned so far in 2020. This year has been full of lessons, and you'll want to make sure you haven't missed any.

As always, we'll make sure and save some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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Who'll Help Me Build a Money Foundation? (with Rebecca Wiggins) Aug 10, 2020

Sure, financial planners work with people, but many only work with you ONCE you have your act together and you're ready to begin working on big-money problems. What do you do if you're just learning how to set up a budget, get out of credit card debt, or save systematically? Today we'll tackle all of that with Rebecca Wiggins, the executive director of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education, on how financial coaches (not financial advisors...that's something else!) help people like you set up a better financial life.

Plus, we don't know if you've looked lately at gold prices...but if not, BAM! It's through the roof. Should you buy some? In our headlines segment, we'll share a piece that Joe and OG just might agree with on the topic.... Also, LSU football star Joe Burrows has become a rich man after signing an NFL deal. However, this star says that he only plans to live off endorsements... and his dad says Joe can finally get out of his parent's basement. (Looks like Joe should have thought twice before signing a cash-packed contract). Is living in a basement bad? Should Burrows think twice before saving all that money? We'll have some answers and takeaways today.

After we break for Doug's trivia today, we'll finish up the show with the Haven Life Line. When the wealthy in-laws want to help finance your new house, do you take their money? How can you accept large sums of money without big tax implications? Should you accept a 6-figure gift from parents? We'll cover it all for Jim, who wrote in with his VERY first-world dilemma.

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30 Tips For Simple Living (Plus an intro to YNAB) Aug 07, 2020

Ah, the simple life. With all of the chaos in the world, how do we get back to basics? Today our roundtable crew are going to help you reboot, rejuvenate, and revive your live with ideas from a recent blog post about 30 tips for simple living. We'll talk about everything from diet and exercise to reading more often. That'll help you focus better, feel stronger longer, and most importantly (for our show, anyway), Stack More Benjamins.

Plus, during our Friday FinTech segment, we'll speak to Jesse Meacham, creator of You Need a Budget, or YNAB, as fans of the software call it. While you may be familiar with YNAB, have you heard the origin story of this groundbreaking system? Jesse will walk Joe through the early years and how YNAB works to help more people keep better track of their money.

Of course, we'll still save time for Doug's amazing trivia.

Would you like a sheet to begin working on our favorite tips? Joe's mom has made an accountability sheet! Just head to stackingbenjamins.com/simpleliving. That way you can get started on actually implementing what you heard!

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Netflix For Money Nerds: A Million Stories Aug 05, 2020

How do you make the topic of money actually fun? That's the question the Singleton Foundation asked, and CEO Shelly Miles and Executive Producer Lisa Freberg join us today to explain how they pulled it off. They not only found talented creators to bring together a video channel that resembles Netflix for money nerds, but they also thought deeply about exactly how to turn each story into a longer discussion. Today we'll talk about how they've made money discussions compelling, fun, and best of all, habit-changing.

Big news happened recently in mutual fund land. Vanguard is throwing in the towel on one of its products. Plus, as they attempt to tread water, colleges have turned to mass layoffs. What does that mean for the college experience? We'll share our thoughts.

And in today's Haven Life Line call, Seth has some business debt to pay off. He'd expected to make enough money on the side to pay it off but that hasn't happened. So instead, he plans to use his W2 income to wipe it out. Should he approach it like regular debt and pay off the highest interest loans first?

...and of course, we'll save time for some of Doug's "working like a dog" trivia. Enjoy!

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Being Liked Is Overrated (with Rachael Robertson) Aug 03, 2020

Are we focused too much on being liked? From the workplace to our personal lives, most of us don't want to be the person who rocks the boat. Go with the flow, right? Antarctic expedition leader Rachael Robertson says that approach to leadership (or even following) couldn't be more wrong. An honest - yes that means having tough conversations! - workplace is more constructive than an office focused on making sure everyone is getting along every day.

Plus, remember the 401k article going around suggesting a 401k plan doesn't make much sense anymore for savers? Yeah... hope you didn't immediately pull out your entire retirement fund after reading that because we're covering that topic today and may have a different opinion.

During the Haven Life Line, how can Shawn figure out the right allocation for his portfolio? Should he go 90% stock, even 100%? When it's time to retire, how does Shawn pull out his cash? He's in his early 50s and think he has enough Benjamins to retire soon.

As always, we'll also make sure and save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Self Care Begins With Benjamins Care (plus an intro to FriendWithA.com) Jul 31, 2020

Treat yo' self! It's a wonderful concept with one big downside: the phrase "treat yo' self" often means burning a big stack of cash on retail therapy. Don't get me - we're human, and we've all had those days ending with an oh-so-cathartic impulse buy of computer parts and beef jerky (too specific?). BUT self-care doesn't necessarily mean spending money. With a lack of Benjamins being one of the leading stressors among U.S. adults, taking control of your money can be one of the most effective self-care methods available. While it may not provide the instant dopamine-infused gratification jolt, becoming a master of your finances will hand you a more fulfilled life without snowballing debt, revolving credit, or phone calls from debt collectors. Being able to tap your card for the occasional splurge without worry about going into the red is nice, too.

Have a garage full of tools or wondering how to finish your next project? After our discussion on self-care, we'll take a break from the roundtable while Joe rings up Stefan Cordova from borrowing site FriendWithA.com. If there's one feeling even more ubiquitous than impulse buying a soda in the check-out line, it's tearing into a new home project only to realize that you don't have the right tools to finish the job. Stefan's idea aims to solve that. Everyday people (yes, like you and me), can put stuff up for rent that other people may need, and the people in need get to rent what THEY need without paying sticker price for a one time project.

After we finish up our interview with Stefan, we'll crank up the music during Doug's gameshow turned trivia segment, where this week we quiz our roundtable on Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson in celebration of his birthday next week. Just how many octaves does ole Bruce have in him? We'll then round out the show by asking our roundtable: what song best describes your financial life?

Thank you to the awesome contributors who made today's roundtable happen! This week's contributors include Stephanie McCullough from Sofia Financial, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and OG from our very own podcast.

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Roll Up Your Sleeves: Blue-Collar Millionaire Jul 29, 2020

Think it's impossible to make a million dollars working a blue-collar job? Millionaire and former ditch-digger Ken Rusk might have something to say about. For decades, the college experience has been pushed as THE prioritized option for high school graduates, but with the student debt crisis becoming worse year after year should you look elsewhere? Today, Ken Rusk will show you how forgoing the college route doesn't mean you're giving up your chance of financial independence...and it just might enhance it.

It may only be Wednesday, but TGIF? Sofi is now offering an ETF that... wait for it... pays you every Friday. Sound familiar? You can check out our headlines from Monday's show if you're curious about what happened with two other investments promising some quick cash. Listen closely for just how much BIG money you'll receive every week in this new fund. Cha-ching.

Plus, no Haven Life Line for today! Instead, Gertrude (from our Facebook Basement group) posed this question to our members: what's YOUR side hustle? We got a bunch of feedback and we can't cover everything, but we'll share a few of our favorite responses.

Even with no voicemail, we'll always save time for some of Doug's trivia, who's going classic finance with today's question.

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Try To Die Broke (with Bill Perkins) Jul 27, 2020

Have you ever thought, "Maybe I should be SPENDING more money?" Our guest today thinks that maybe you should re-examine how you're living. Bill Perkins, poker star and energy trader, says that investors have too much of their mindset set on the future, and not enough energy focused on the now of life. We'll discuss over-saving, being TOO frugal, and actually spending your money on today's episode.

Plus, how does an ETF that literally pays YOU to invest not gain enough attention to take off? It turns out...that free might not actually mean better. Weird, huh? We'll cover what went wrong with this ETF and others like it, during today's headlines. In our second segment, we'll cover the results of a financial retirement report showing nearly half of all retirees have to make big spending cuts after 5 years. Here's a reminder: when you're planning for retirement, your cash has to last you through ALL of retirement.

During the Haven Life Line we'll take a voicemail from Jenny, who wants to know the differences between a value fund and a growth fund. How can you tell one from another, and which is better? Should a portfolio include both funds for diversification? Are there different uses for each fund? Does the amount of time until retirement matter for picking a fund type?

In the spirit of Bill Perkins, we'll also save some time for Doug's gambling-themed trivia. Enjoy!

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Is Chasing Early Retirement Naive? (plus an intro to the SB Money Club!) Jul 24, 2020

FIRE, FIRE, FIRE! While we'll never disparage the basic goals of the #FIRE movement: becoming financially secure and having the option to retire early, we still have to ask the question, "Is fully subscribing to FIRE lifestyle naive?" Are we putting too much emphasis on the "Retire Early," and too little on "Financial Independence"? We ask our contributors: is it time to put the fire out? Our awesome roundtable team today includes: Don McDonald from the Talking Real Money podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and our very own OG.

Plus, are you wondering how to teach your kids about money? Do you know someone (maybe YOU) that needs foundational knowledge about how finances work? After our FIRE discussion we'll take a break from the roundtable to introduce the new Stacking Benjamins Money Club! Aaron Velky from Ortus Academy is our head instructor at the Money Club, and he joins us to share how it all works.

When we swing things back around to our roundtable, we'll break out the results of our question to the parents in our audience: how are you with finances and your children? Do you open the whole book to your kids? Do you give them basic financial advice? We'll see what the parents had to say PLUS hear a thing or two from our roundtable with their personal strategies.

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A Better Solution For Elder Care (with Anne Basting) Jul 22, 2020

Are we focused on the wrong priorities when it comes to elder care? While physical care is important, should our healthcare focus change to put more consideration on theemotional needs of our elders? Today we welcome Anne Basting to learn about how her strategies have been changing the eldercare experience for both healthcare workers AND families. The results are amazing and the methods she recommends aren't only easy to implement, but they solve many issues in elder care as it's currently presented.

Plus, looking for a safe place to save your money? During our headlines we'll share all the reasons why investors are mistakenly pulling their money out of American markets and placing it in the last place you'd probably imagine. In our second piece we'll dive into an article covering how Richard Branson moved past some of his failed businesses.

During the Haven Life line we'll take a question from Adam, who is investing for his kid's college fund. The cash is currently in a target date fund, and Adam is looking for some advice on how he can pull the money out when it's time. OG gives some great advice here on how you can transition from an all-stock plan to a safe cash-fund all by the time the kids graduate high school.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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10 Things To Consider For Retirement Jul 20, 2020

Golfing, RV life, fishing, board games (of course), and a cushy portfolio... what else is there to retirement? It turns out: there's still a bunch! Not to worry though, today we're throwing our special guest out into the rain and instead delivering a feature-length discussion on every little thing you need to consider BEFORE retirement.

Plus, what's going on with the national coin shortage we've been hearing about everywhere? And why are financial advisors reporting having a hard time selling software? During our headlines we'll cover how social distancing has caused a coin shortage across the country, and also exposed how advisors may be approaching their business with the wrong focus.

Plus in our Haven Life Line, Mat's employer is stopping the 401k match. Mat is thinking about taking that money and moving it over to an IRA for more flexibility, do we have any thoughts on this? Turns out... Joe and OG have a few different ideas than Mat expected for his money.

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Hiring an Advisor: Insider Secrets (plus an intro to SoLo Funds) Jul 17, 2020

All that we hear about when we read financial pieces about hiring advisors is, "Ask about the fees," and "Hire a Fee Only Advisor." Sadly, the former and current advisor who operate this podcast know it isn't that easy. There are fee only advisors who are morons and a cheap fee means nothing if you find zero value in your "low fee" advice. So what SHOULD you ask? Today we gather together some of our favorite pros to ask them. What questions SHOULD people ask (but don't)? What should people look for in a good advisor? What are the things you should expect a good advisor to actually do for you? When is the right time to hire an advisor? We'll ask these and many more questions of Dana Anspach from Sensible Money, The Retirement Answer Man, Roger Whitney, and our very own OG.

But that's not all. We're excited to hear today about one of the hottest companies in FinTech, SoLo Funds. Travis Holoway joins us on today's show to talk about lending made easy for people who traditionally struggle to find funding to make ends meet. Whether you're a lender or borrower, you'll want to hear about this company.

Of course, we'll save time for the MagnifyMoney question AND ask our team of experts to weigh in on our weekly trivia question. That AND more on today's show! Enjoy!

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How To Become a Mindful Millionaire (with Leisa Peterson) Jul 15, 2020

What's worse than having a bunch of money? Having bunches of money and not knowing why you have it, or what joy it would bring...if any. So if you have no plan, what's waiting at the end of the rat race? Can there be more to riches than a bulky 401k, a big house, and of course... stuff? Today we'll invite a woman who is a Mindful Millionaire, Leisa Peterson. We'll discuss why for many the conventional path to wealth is an empty journey and how to set yourself on a much more fruitful financial journey.

How's your 401k doing? Good news: not many people made trades in their workplace accounts in the second quarter (after a record-setting first quarter of moves). The bad news? The moves that people DID make were generally not what you'd hope for, if you're looking for good long term results. Plus, the US House of Representatives is trying to block the Securities and Exchange Commission from allowing hedge funds in your 401k plan. What does that mean? Are we for that or against? OG and Joe will have a nice discussion about it...or maybe even a little disagreement on the subject.

Of course, that's not all. We'll give Doug enough time to share some amazing trivia AND we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Rich, even though he's from Ohio.

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Innovation, Community, Money and Fear (with Matt Ridley) Jul 13, 2020

What are the secrets behind great innovation? Whether in your work life - like creating a system to streamline mornings at the office - or your personal life, innovation has affected everything around you. But where do great ideas come from? Beyond simply coming up with new ideas, does innovation takes a willful, focused effort to succeed? What exactly are the steps needed to create the perfect environment for innovation? Sharing his secrets today on how to create a better (and more lucrative) future is TED speaker, commentator, and author of The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything, Matt Ridley. In his newest book, How Innovation works, Matt shares how the history of innovation has shaped the world, covers many of the circumstances that made innovation possible, and outlines some pretty good guesses on what's coming to our world in the future.

Plus, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has been making the rounds in the headlines for encouraging investors to "buy, buy, buy!" Dave claims making money in the market is beyond easy. To see if he agrees, we'll ring up Brian Barnes, the CEO of M1 Finance. While we have Brian on the line, we'll also ask about him the current day-trading mania, and if "winning" is really as easy as people online try to make it seem.

In our other headline of the day, why are Vanguard and State Street holding out on the newest ETF craze to hit the market? Should everyday investors be just as wary? During our discussion on the new financial product known as ANTs (active nontransparent ETFs), we'll touch on the true issue behind the active vs. passive debate, the usefulness of having a technological, research-driven, approach to investing, AND the golden question: can you really outperform the market?

We'll round out the show with a... I hesitate to use the term "question" here. (You'll see what I mean when you get there.) During the Haven Life Line Adam does asks us: why do people keep making the same financial mistakes over and over again when there's over a century of market data? Adam covers a bunch of great points that we mostly agree with, but we do get to hear one of OG's evolving theories.

While I also hesitate to endorse Doug's segment today for personal reasons, we also give him some airtime for his donut-themed trivia.

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What Lessons Would You Teach a Younger You? (plus health tips with Angelo Poli) Jul 10, 2020

Save more than you spend, don't take on a mountain of debt, live below your means... they're all phrases that the financially-savvy among us might take for granted, but let's be honest. Most of us didn't start out that way. Today we ask our contributors: what are some money lessons you had to learn the hard way? On today's show we'll hear some sage advice from Jen Smith (from the Frugal Friends podcast), Doc G (from the Earn & Invest podcast), and Len Penzo... of LenPenzo.com. A special thanks to David Bakke from MoneyCrashers.com for reading today's featured piece.

After our discussion on life lessons, we'll ring up Angelo Poli from the health and fitness gurus at Metpro. Even though COVID may be keeping you from your local gym, Angelo will share some great financially-minded tips on how you can still maintain your health at home without breaking the budget. PLUS, we're answering some questions listeners left for Angelo in the Stacking Benjamins Facebook group. By the way, if YOU want to be involved next time, you can join us here: The Basement

Later, our contributors will weigh in on our Twitter poll: for people who were formerly bad with money, what inspired you to change? Just like in our title segment, you'll find that some super-savers have always had a special affection for finances, but others (talking about me here), have come to terms with their bad habits a little differently.

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's Friday Gameshow. Hope you enjoy it as much as we had fun making it!

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Planet Money Co-Creator Adam Davidson: The Passion Economy Jul 08, 2020

Is your job going bye-bye? Today's guest says, "Probably." But how do you succeed in an economy that seems structured against you? On today's show, we're excited to have a deep conversation with the co-founder of NPR's Planet Money and the creator of the new Passion Economy podcast, Adam Davidson. We'll touch on what the future of technology means for you, for the economy, and how our current economic situation is "more of the same" or "different" than the country's last two big downturns... and how you can STILL do what you love in an economy that's constantly changing.

Plus, why in the world are people investing in bankruptcies? Is the Hertz stock fiasco ringing a bell? During our headlines we'll explain how the concept behind "knowing just enough to hurt yourself" caused amateur investors to lose their Benjamins.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Dave, who has been laid off this year. Dave and his spouse were previously unable to contribute to a Roth, but they're now eligible. Dave is thinking they should convert their traditional IRA over to a Roth and he wants to know our thoughts.

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Was George Washington an Entrepreneur? (with John Berlau) Jul 06, 2020

As we round the 4th of July holiday, we've all celebrated George Washington as the first President of the United States, the general who lead the Continental Army against the British, and the second or third most popular character in the Broadway play "Hamilton." However, did you ever think of George Washington as an entrepreneur? Economist John Berlau has thought about that AND how Washington's entrepreneurship aspirations molded both his vision as a future leader, and our country. Today he's with us to share stories from Washington's life, including how he became an entrepreneur, and some of his most prominent contributions to our country. If you're a history fan, entrepreneur, or just someone who wants to learn how the best-and-brightest made their way, today's show is for you.

Of course, that's not all. We'll discuss the recent issues with the economy and your 401(k) plan. It turns out that you can still become a 401(k) millionaire. There's no need to get overly creative with your financial plan. That'll be good news for most of us. Plus, we'll talk estate planning. When someone chooses you to manage their affairs when they pass away, what should you do? For some of you we'll preview our best tips, and for everyone else, we'll share what you should think about when choosing an executor or contingent trustee. Don't know those terms? We'll even share what that means on today's show for no charge!

Of course, we also save time for Doug's fireworks, including his trivia AND incredible wit. It's a kick-butt first show back for the SB team, and we're glad you're hanging out with us.

Check out the show notes for ALL of the links in today's show!

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Do You Need A Stock Market Exit Plan? (SB RWD 110) Jul 03, 2020

Should you have an exit strategy for the stock market? In this rewind episode Paula Pant and Len Penzo go head-to-head with their own personal strategies.

Also, during the Fintech segment we interviewed Kyle Robertson, co-creator of the now discontinued Lemon app. While you won't be getting your hands on Lemon, our discussion still serves as a great introduction to taking charge of your finances with the help of financial tools.

You can read the original show notes below:

It’s WAR in the basement today, as Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) and Paula Pant (AffordAnything) square off about exit strategies. Should you think about selling if the market tanks but you haven’t yet reached your goal? We’ll talk about that for a LONG part of today’s super-sized show….but that’s not all. We also have other topics and the usual hilarity.

At the halfway point, in the FinTech spotlight we talk to Kyle Robertson, the co-creator of the Lemon app (Lemon.co), about how his expense and money tracking app works. Not only does it show you how you’re spending money, but it’ll provide helpful data and tips so you can manage your money better in the future.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney for sponsoring our podcast!

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Top 5 Retirement Planning Myths with Emily Guy Birken (SB RWD 109) Jul 01, 2020

There have been plenty of retirement headlines shared online lately. While many of these articles share some great grounding advice, we've also seen a fair share of "scare" headlines as well. With that in mind we hand-picked today's rewind episode to dispel retirement fears you may have picked up the last couple of months. You can read our original show notes below:

Retirement planning is all about starting early and planning well, which is why we’re excited author Emily Guy Birken (Choose Your Retirement) joins us in the basement to share her top 5 retirement myths.

That’s not all we do on this show, though. OG & Joe share headlines about “smart beta” and the ROI of a college education. We take your letters about life insurance and improving your credit score….and much more.

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Better Decision-Making When You Don’t Have All The Facts with Annie Duke (SB RWD 108) Jun 29, 2020

Rewind Week! Throughout the week we'll replay some of our favorite shows from the past. We're kicking Monday off with an interview we've had plenty of compliments on. Newer listeners will appreciate this one, and older listeners will find Annie Duke's interview refreshingly timely. Our original show notes are below.

Do you think you make the best decisions under most circumstances? Today’s guest will tell you that if you don’t have all of the information, the more adamant you are about your point of view, the easier you are to “beat.” Annie Duke was a professional poker player for 20 years, winning many top tier professional tournaments and taking on the best decision makers alive. Equally as important, she brings her academic career in cognitive psychology to bear on decision making that can help you with everything from your investments to your career and more.

In our headlines segment, parents are spending TONS of money on their children’s extracurricular activities. Beyond avoiding vacations or planning vacations around some of our people, some parents are stopping contributions to their retirement and not putting money in college funds…just for extracurriculars. We’ll talk about what harm this does (and maybe have some surprising points of view) on today’s show. Plus, it looks like 5% interest rates on mortgages may be right around the corner. Currently, the average interest rate stands at 4.5%. What would a 5% rate do to the financial markets and to your debt load? A recent piece discusses all the different ways we’d be affected overall by higher and higher rates.

We’ll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Ethan, who wonders about market cap weightings for indexes. Why do people invest in indexes that are weighted heavily toward the biggest components? We also answer a letter from John, who asks about our favorite financial books. What are they? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Of course, we’ll still score with some of Doug’s delightful trivia, and more.

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Trick Yourself To Save Money (plus the Evil HR Lady Takes on Coronavirus) Jun 26, 2020

Wonder how your super-saver friends make pocketing Benjamins look so easy? Well, we come bearing good news because your questions are all going to be answered on today's show. MOST great savers trick themselves into saving more money and we'll dive into exactly how and what they do so that you can replicate all of their tricks. Spoiler: it's MUCH easier than you think. Michelle Jackson from the Michelle Is Money Hungry podcast will join Doc G from Earn & Invest podcast and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com for today's exciting discussion AND Jennifer Mah from Choose FI will read today's piece we outline.

Plus, remember hearing about those hairdressers that had Coronavirus? During today's not-so Fintech segment, we'll talk to the Evil HR Lady Suzanne Lucas on what that means for your job.

We'll round out the show by answering a voicemail about rebalancing. While Jeff had asked if there are fees or taxes associated with rebalancing, we aren't stopping our roundtable there. During the Magnify Money segment our contributors will share their own rebalancing process. How frequently should an investor rebalance their portfolio? What should people keep in mind?

Of course we'll also save time for some of Doug's amazing trivia and much, much more. Enjoy!

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How To Steer Clear of the Wrong Insurance Jun 24, 2020

When does buying insurance cross the line from being smart to throwing away your hard earned cash? There are the regular choices of course: car, home, life, medical, and dental insurance. But what about all the other types of coverage out there? Between rental insurance, phone, electronics, various types of worker's insurance, travel insurance (and more!), a person could easily break the budget by trying to keep 100% of their life covered. Today we'll make sure you know what type of insurance is available to you, which kinds you should buy... and of course, the types of coverage that you should probably run away from.

Plus, we'll share a story of an investor who discovered a huge negative balance on his Robinhood account. We'll share the series of investing choices that lead to a tragic outcome, and the problems behind investing as sport by people who don't know many of the basics.

Debt can be extremely stressful, but it is not worth your life. Help is available. You can speak with a counselor today at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - (1-800-273-8255) or find more help at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

We'll also carve out some time in the middle of the show for Doug's family-themed trivia.

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Re-Stacking Your Benjamins: Saving, Spending and Investing in Uncertain Times Jun 22, 2020

In these strange times, with so much uncertainty, how do you manage your money effectively? Today we'll ask some of our favorite experts about what you should be focused on, how to pay down debt, what to do with your retirement money, and how to manage your investments.

Last week we hosted a LIVE YouTube two hour event featuring some of the top names in personal finance. We were joined today by representatives from Fidelity (Ken Hevert), TIAA (Shelly Eweka), T.Rowe Price (Josh Deitch), and Morningstar (Christine Benz). Plus, Bobbi Rebell from Money With Friends podcast and Doc G. from Earn & Invest pitch in to help us ask as many questions as possible so you can be better with your Benjamins.

Because this is the audio from a YouTube recording, the audio stream will be a little different, but there's still lots of great tips here for you to enjoy.

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When is Debt REALLY "Bad"? (plus an intro to Nestegg) Jun 19, 2020

You've probably heard the age-old arguments. Old dude on the radio says "all debt is bad." Your savvy neighbor says that there's "good debt" and "bad debt." You watch relatives YOLO with credit cards. Where's the line, REALLY? Today we'll ask three people who are good with money: contributors Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com are joined by great saver AND blogger Lance Cothern from the Money Manifesto blog. We'll dive into the good, bad and ugly of debt.

BUT that's not all. On today's Friday Fintech segment we'll learn about a new company called Nestegg helping small landlords compete with the big kids. How does it work? We'll all find out together.

Of course, we'll still have our trivia challenge, answer a MagnifyMoney.com call for help, and more! Enjoy!

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What's Your Best Lottery Option? (plus your best pension option, annuity settlement, and more...) with Brent Henningson Jun 17, 2020

After winning the lottery, would you go for a straight-out check OR the lifetime income stream? While people will decide which is their BEST choice pretty quickly, do you have the right information to make that choice? Today we sit down with the CEO of Saber Pension and Actuarial Services, Brent Henningson to talk not just lottery, but maybe also pensions, annuities, and life settlements. Wait a minute? Is the annuity thing just a smokescreen so we'd pay attention to something that's important but maybe not that interesting? Maybe so, but however we get you to the table, these are decisions with thousands of dollars on the table and you can't afford to make the wrong choice.

Plus, is day trading easier than being a long term investor? We'll have some fun diving into why the Barstool Sports founder claims he is a better investor than Warren Buffet, and that day trading is "the easiest" game there is. David Portnoy is ALWAYS good for a quote or two. In the second half of our headlines segment, we'll share one list explaining why the RV life might not be the golden dream people are expecting. Even in retirement... informed planning is half the battle.

During our Haven Life Line will answer a call from military dentist Joe (not our Joe, of course), who will be separating from service next year to pursue specialty training. While he's going through classes his only planned income will come from the GI bill. Joe's two questions are, one: can he still contribute to his IRA during his education with no taxable income? If not, would working a few days a month make him eligible? Two: he is currently maxing his Roth TSP account. Should he drop his contribution amount to get more liquidity before leaving service?

As always, we're saving some time for Doug's trivia.

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How To Donate Better--No Matter How Much (with Kris Putnam-Walkerly) Jun 15, 2020

Want to change the world with your donations, but feel powerless? Are you unsure of the best WAY to donate money or time to an organization? Have you ever been burned by the ineffective use of the money you've loaned or gifted? Today we'll talk to someone who knows how to help you become the philanthropist you've always wanted to be. Not only will Kris Putnam-Walkerly share how to find great organizations and evaluate them, she'll also give us tips on using tools like donor-advised funds to make a larger impact (and maybe score some tax relief!).

Don't worry if you like your news a bit on the harder-edged side - today's show has something for everyone: We'll ask how does an investor go from almost netting one million dollars to broke in two weeks? During our headlines, we'll look at how some investors got in over their heads in an attempt to earn huge returns... until the money train came to a screeching halt. In our second piece, we'll ask whether air travelers should expect airlines to raise fees to keep the middle seat open during the pandemic.

Plus, where are the financial resources for people who DON'T want kids? During the Haven Life Line we'll answer a question from Maddie, who has become more interested in saving and planning for retirement. A lot of resources she's found so far have a focus on planning for the expense of children down the road. Maddie asks: what resources can she find for people in her situation?

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How to FINALLY Solve Your Overspending Problem (plus MetPro's Angelo Poli answers your health questions) Jun 12, 2020

Maybe you've heard of the term "anchoring" when it comes to sales. Most likely you heard it when a fast-talking salesman threw out a couple of high figures for a fancy car just outside of your budget. (But hey! That's okay, we have some more affordable models right over here... and look, you're five dollars under your limit!) But, is it possible to use the power of anchoring to actually help you reach financial goals? In our featured piece today, which is both written AND read on-air by Emily Guy Birken, we'll dive into how you can use the power of anchoring to cut your expenses, save more money, and find financial independence more quickly. Helping us dig into the topic is none other than the co-host of the BiggerPockets Money podcast (and Bigger Pockets CEO), Scott Trench. Of course, we'll also have help from Paula Pant of Afford Anything, and our very own OG.

After we're done with our anchoring discussion we'll give our roundtable a little break while Joe rings up Angelo Poli from MetPro. Did being stuck inside for months on end cause you to pack on a Covid-19 pounds? Angelo will share some great strategies to get your lifestyle back on track.

We mixed things up on our Magnify Money segment this week so we could give Scott Trench a little fun. With some inspiration from a Reddit Real Estate post, we asked this question to the roundtable: What are your real estate buying/selling horror stories?

Of course, we're also carving out some time for Doug's trivia.

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25 Ways to Fix Your 401k Jun 10, 2020

Do you feel just a little bit lost managing your retirement funds? Don't feel like your alone. A recent study shows that MOST Americans have no clue how to pick investments in their 401k, and worse yet, even more people feel like they're investing poorly for their retirement! If you want to fix your 401k plan (that thing you save into for retirement...), we're coming to the rescue. Today we'll discuss the good, the bad, and the stop doing this before you ruin your retirement.

There are MANY ways to make your 401k grow faster, but today we'll discuss how to pick better investments, save more money, stop making trading mistakes, picking better funds, and more.

Later in the show we'll throw out the Haven Life line to caller AJ, who wants our thoughts on buying a property at a discount to be used as an Airbnb. With the rest of AJ's bills paid, and the 401k and other retirement accounts fully funded, AJ and her husband have put in a $460,000 offer for a $540,000 house. So, is it a good time to make this investment?

As always, we'll carve out some time for Doug's trivia.

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Stop Leaving Thousands on the Real Estate Table (with Tracy McLaughlin) Jun 08, 2020

Your boss offers you a several thousand dollar raise, do you turn it down? Probably not! Yet, one of California's top real estate agents says that home buyers and sellers both regularly leave thousands of dollars off the table. That's why today we're talking about better real estate transactions with Marin County, California's top real estate pro, Tracy McLaughlin. She'll share strategies from her new book, Real Estate Rescue, for staging, updating, and pricing a house so that it sells both for more money and more quickly.

We're also diving into why financial advisors are losing faith in planning software tools. With plenty of highly-rated software on the market, should you be worried that your advisor is disregarding fintech? We'll jump into the "why" during our headlines AND cover why so many Americans had to dip into their retirement funds during the pandemic.

Plus, could refinancing your home loan actually end up costing you more in the long run? During our Haven Life Line we'll answer a question from Niranjan, who heard on the show that because of the way amortization tables are structured, it might not always be a good idea to refinance a mortgage. He asks us to explain this a bit more in detail, and of course, Joe and OG oblige. During the segment, we'll explain financing, interest rates, amortization tables, and more.

We'll also carve out some time for some of Doug (who seems to be acting a little suspicious today... more on that later) and his trivia.

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Your Friends Suck At Money? Here's What To Do. Jun 05, 2020

Have you had trouble getting the people around you to understand the importance of saving, investing, and planning? Maybe you're having trouble connecting with people on their level or it's difficult to have a meaningful, lasting conversation? Worse yet, and on a much wider scope...maybe you don't understand current events and why things are happening. Today we dive into a piece from the Harvard Business Review that suggests there's a key piece that could be missing in your relationships: curiosity. Our roundtable will help us figure out the why behind your questions about what others are doing...and includes our friend from the financial blog Tread Lightly, Retire Early, Angela Rozmyn; Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and our very own OG.

After our awesome (if we don't say so ourselves...) empathy discussion, we'll give our roundtable a break while we chat with the founder of a new money-tracking solution. Between breaking your spending down into searchable categories, automatic bill and subscription detection, and budget capabilities, the Copilot app has a lot going for it. We'll chat with founder Andres Ugarte during our Friday Fintech segment to get the inside scoop.

Plus, do you remember the first time you had to buy home essentials on your own? ("What??? Bacon cost THAT much!?") During our MagnifyMoney segment, we'll dive into some of the responses to our Twitter poll: What’s something you didn’t realize how expensive it was until you had to start buying it yourself? Here's one from the home team: shredded cheese (more than I thought it would cost anyway), cleaning supplies, and of course... going out to eat multiple times a week. KA-CHING!

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Our Best Advice For New Savers and Graduates (Your Letters) Jun 03, 2020

Are you just beginning your journey toward investing or know someone graduating from high school or college? On today's show we'll field a letter from Jonathan with some help from our friend Christine Benz at Morningstar. What things should graduates and new savers think about first? Where do they make mistakes? What resources and books are great reads? We'll tackle all of those questions during today's episode answering your questions!

We'll also tackle a question about target-date funds. Why do most target date funds stink? We'll explain. Also - have you thrown away your stimulus money accidentally? If it hasn't come yet, there's a good chance you have. We'll explain why there's been such a mix up on today's show. We'll also wonder aloud about the news last week out of Silicon Valley. Has COVID-19 created a new normal for workers which includes working from anywhere? Twitter says "Yes," and Facebook says...."Maybe." We'll explain.

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How To Make Your Own Luck (with Gay Hendricks) Jun 01, 2020

Can you actually manufacture "luck"? Have you been hoping for your fortune to change? Do you feel like you've failed often lately? What if we told you that you COULD change your luck? , Today we tackle the recipe on luck with the man who actually co-wrote the book on the topic, Gay Hendricks. Between setting yourself up for success and being ready when opportunity comes knocking, Gay Hendrick has a wealth of information on how you can begin to operate your life, investments, savings, and budget with the power of the world on your side.

Plus, has the current situation left you scrambling to pay rent? Or maybe you're a landlord still waiting on checks from struggling tenants? During our headlines we'll ring up rental real estate expert Justin Pogue for some advice on what you should do if you're stuck in a bad situation either way during these difficult times. In our second piece we'll cover some secondary effects of the troubled economy: teenagers across the country are finding out their usual summer jobs won't be waiting for them this year.

Later, we'll answer the question: does the law of supply and demand mean that stock prices are currently artificially inflated? Caller Jay left a voicemail on the Haven Life Line and notes that the number of publicly traded companies have halved since 1996. Wouldn't supply and demand dictate that these companies stock prices go up (more demand, fewer shares), regardless of their performance?

It's another fun show with much, much more. Enjoy!

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Is Goal Setting Overrated? May 29, 2020

Has goal setting helped your quality-of-life? Today we review a recent blog post where the author decides that goals have possibly ruined much of his life. Today our round table contributors will dive into this post from blogger Alex West, and talk about measurement of goals, a horizon that always seems to be unreachable, the randomness of progress, and more.

After our discussion on goals (or the lack thereof), we'll shift gears to speak with Pam Andrews from The Scholarship Shark. How can you help someone not only get into the school of their dreams but help them get it paid for with scholarships? We'll discuss the problems students face, the important aspects to think about when targetting scholarships AND we're also thrilled to announce our brand-spanking-new partnership with Pam. Looking for more after our discussion? You can find out more at: StackingBenjamins.com/scholarships.

We'll round out our show with sharing the results of a timely and special poll. A few weeks ago we asked our friends on social media what their best "investment" has been so far during this unprecedented quarantine. During today's Magnify Money question we'll ask our contributors to answer this same question and we'll also share some of the answers Twitter shared with us.

One last thing... we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Are Stocks Headed Back Down? (with Phil Town) May 27, 2020

We all wonder...this big stock market run-up lately...can it continue? Who should you listen to? What should you believe? Today we ring up a man WE believe, Phil Town, author of New York Times bestseller Rule #1, to provide some clarity. We'll ask him about the economy, the market, his strategy, and what he feels is the wrong way to invest in this climate. If you're ready for some straight talk from one of the best investment teachers, you'll enjoy today's discussion.

Plus, are you in the market to purchase a home? Joe and OG roll out 12 great housing markets for first-time buyers. We’ll round out our headline with our second piece on credit cards: why are issuers now giving out lower holder limits, (and does it really matter to you anyway)?

Later, we'll answer a question posted in our Stacking Benjamins Facebook group: Jason asks, what can he do to fix his father's retirement plan? His father is 60 and plans to work until he is forced to retire. At that point he plans to move in with Jason. With there being at least a decade of prep time remaining, Jason pleads asks us: what can he do in preparation?

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They Paid Off Their Mortgage in FOUR Years (with Andy Hill) May 25, 2020

How would you like to pay off your mortgage in four years? Heck, many of us would love to pay off a mortgage in 29 years! Four years sounds like the stuff of dreams and make-believe, right? We might not have believed it ourselves if we didn't sit across from him in the basement and listen to his story. Today we're proud to bring you Andy Hill, host of the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast, and long-time friend of all of us in the basement. You may have heard Andy before on the show, but today he's agreed to share his amazing story on the podcast. We hope you can walk away from this one with some new inspiration and focus on your own financial walk.

What kinds of important items have people been spending their stimulus checks on? Well....while many Americans spent their checks on necessities, companies are also reporting some surprising not-so-great results. We'll dive into what people have been spending their cash on, AND save some time to cover why 70% of workers can't save for retirement.

Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to one Dad-To-Be expecting a son in November. Eric and his wife know they can open up a 529 plan for their son, but wonder about other accounts. They both live outside of the U.S., but Eric still makes money from a Colorado-based company. Can he open up a brokerage account for his son?

Plus, Doug will test your nerd-mettle during today's trivia segment with a thundering round of back-to-back fantasy and sci-fi questions. See if you can guess them all!

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68 Pieces of Unsolicited Advice (plus an intro to BusyKid) May 22, 2020

Don't talk to strangers. Make your savings automatic. Don't buy so many lattes. How many pieces of unsolicited advice have helped you become a better version of yourself? Today our contributors are helping us walk through a recent blog post that delivered exactly 68 pieces of advice to help you live a better life financially AND mentally. Helping us with today's show are our near-and-dear contributors: Elle Martinez (of Couple Money), Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com, and our very own OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from the unsolicited advice (that you should totally listen to by the way), and we'll learn some strategies on keeping your children engaged and responsible while everyone is stuck at home. During our Fintech segment, Gregg Murset of BusyKid will also share how his app can help your family learn better habits, and put their allowance to good use by teaching them to save, give, and be a part of a community.

Ever hear the phrase, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"? A few weeks ago we asked our friends on Twitter to give us their best answer... but with finances in mind. During our Magnify Money segment we'll share our favorite replies, and our contributors will even share a few of their own answers.

One last note: Remember the story in the news recently about the elderly man who ejected himself from the French fighter jet? We won't give away too much, but Doug has some heart-pounding trivia for you on today's show. Today's podcast is another high flier! Enjoy!

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A Geeky Chef's Guide To Memorial Day (with Cassandra Reeder) May 20, 2020

Who wants to waste money cooking up food on a holiday weekend that doesn't taste good? Not us. That's why, if you are like the rest of us, hanging out at home or with only a small gathering of people...it's the PERFECT year to make a little geeky fun and stretch that holiday-spending dollar. Today we'll help you create some recipes from your favorite shows, movies, and fantasy worlds with the host of the hit blog (and now book!) The Geeky Chef....Cassandra Reeder. She'll share some awesome recipes so you can create great Memorial Day fun... even if you don't have backyard space or a grill.

Plus, what's the deal with the renewed interest in gold since the market started shaking?We'll ask State Street Global Advisors' Chief Gold Strategist, George Milling-Stanley, about the role gold should play in your investment strategy. We'll also cover the new rule changes to your FSA and HSA funds... it just became a little easier to buy certain necessities at stores.

Finally, we'll wrap up the show with a timely question from Georgiy, who thinks he's heard Joe make some comments about gold. He asks: is it true that gold is 6 times more volatile than the market? If so, could we point him to some sources saying so?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. It'll be fun, as usual, here in the basement!

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Riding the Money-Saving Roller Coaster: Literally (with Robert Niles) May 18, 2020

It's time for summer fun and theme parks are all closed! Will they open in time for there to be a season? Will there be any virtual fun coming from these entertainment companies? If we choose to head to a theme park, how are they keeping us safe and will there be discounts? Welcome to our annualtheme-park guide episode! Today we'll ask all of these questions and more of Robert Niles (of Theme Park Insider), to find out how parks are coping during state shutdowns. We hope to ALL be surprised with good news during today's discussion.

Here's a question: how did one unfortunate man find himself 9 million dollars in debt by the end of one trading day? We'll tackle that during our headlines segment. Plus, scams will be on the rise with so many people applying for unemployment and expecting relief checks. How should you protect yourself from becoming a victim?

...and during our Haven Life Line we'll take a question from Lisa, who is opening up a new HSA account. This being her second account, Lisa wonders if she can combine the two HSAs into one. Can she do that?

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Shifting Your Life and Money into "Drive" (plus an intro to Blueprint Income's AARP Annuity Hub) May 15, 2020

Ever feel stuck? Here's a question: How do you stop thinking about doing something important in your life/career/money and actually get started with the hard tasks? This week our roundtable regulars share how they motivate themselves to press "go" more quickly each time, and how to keep pressing "go" more often. We'll talk about fighting fear, making decisions, and working your plan on today's show.

After our group is done sharing how they motivate themselves to NOT click the "still watching" option on Netflix, Joe will ring up Lauren Minches from Blueprint Income. They've recently partnered with AARP on a new annuity hub. First, we'll dispel some common annuity myths and also talk about why some annuities get a bad rap (spoiler: it's sometimes deserved). Then we'll discuss how different annuities work. If you're new to lifetime income options, Lauren will walk us through it together on today's show.

We'll round out our Friday with a Magnify Money question from caller Jordan, who has spent a lot of time as a DIY investor. Now that Jordan is planning on possibly bringing on an advisor, he asks us: what are our thoughts on drawing on an investment policy statement? Is there anything Jordan should know?

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Your Dream Job Toolkit (with Kevin Kiley) May 13, 2020

If you’re either one of the millions of unemployed Americans (heck, or in the WORLD), or you’re stuck in a job you don’t really want, now is a great time to look for better work. Companies are poised to begin rehiring and you’re in the hunt of your life. How do you score that dream position? Career coach Kevin Kiley would say it’s by taking advantage of the tools you have and by using your brain to tilt the odds in your favor. We’ll discuss how to set yourself up for a great job, how to work the interview AND how to network like a pro. We’ll also tackle what NOT to do during the interview process. Kevin’s seen it all, and today he’ll share stories of the good, bad and ugly, so that you’re better prepared.

Will the US economy have to fundamentally change after we recover from this economic meltdown? We’ll share one popular media piece that says the answer is “probably, yes.” One billionaire investor says that one way or another taxes will have to go up. But don’t worry...we also have an opinion about that piece AND others like it (of course). We’ll share our thoughts about that topic during our headline segment AND also detail the story about one investment firm that is paying BIG to correct an index fund rebalancing gone wrong. Oops. How does that happen? We’ll nerd out with you while we share the funny/horrible story.

Of course, that’s not all. We’ll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND Doug will share some of his Top Gun themed trivia. It’s Top Gun day in the basement, and Doug’s feels the need….the need for speed! Enjoy!

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Live and Thrive Like a Drug Addict (with Michael Brody-Waite) May 11, 2020

While the first person to tell you that nothing good happens while you're using drugs will be today's guest Michael Brody-Waite, he WILL insist that the skills he learned in recovery are the same skills we all need for success with life and money. He should know. As a man who's walked the journey from drug addict to CEO and success coach, Michael funnels his darkest experiences into powerful lessons he'll share with you. Today, Michael will teach you how to rebalance your priorities, reclaim your energy, and thrive in both work and life.

A new bond has arrived! The Treasury last week announced a 20-year note to help offset the massive spending lately in Washington. We'll discuss how that works and may impact your wallet in our headlines segment. Also, we'll cover the results of a recent Morningstar study that shows why it is more important than you might thank to have a thorough financial plan and an (emotional) support network in place. It turns out that it's easy to stay the financial course when everything is going right. The problem is when panic starts to set in, not pressing that big, red "sell everything" button.

Today we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a caller a not-quite-usual question about loan repayment. Due to COVID-19 reasons, Vanessa was laid off from work. However, she was building up her savings beforehand. Vanessa also receives unemployment and severance pay. She wonders, "Should I use savings to pay off student loans? Or, would it be better to keep making minimum payments and keep her cash buffer?" Of course, Joe and OG have an opinion.

One last thing: Happy Twilight Zone Day! Doug has a special treat in store for you in celebration. Enjoy!

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Lessons From a Real Estate Rookie (with Felipe Mejia) May 08, 2020

The host of the new Real Estate Rookie podcast, Felipe Mejia, joins Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com) to talk about real estate for newbies. A recent blog post at Coach Carson dot com discusses the writer's relationship with a mentor, and the most valuable real estate lessons he learned. Whether you're interested in real estate or just good lessons about life (and boy, are there many packed into this episode), we've got you covered.

Plus, we'll also talk to the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas, about Zoom call etiquette. Many of us have to do calls from home now, but haven't figured out exactly what's acceptable and what isn't. Suzanne will dive into the details of cleaning up your conference call manners. Of course, Doug will share some trivia for our regular Friday contest AND we'll answer a question from a listener about life post-coronavirus. Should you keep more money in cash?

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Making Being Underestimated Your Superpower (with Arlan Hamilton) May 06, 2020

Have you ever thought about what it takes to break into life? Maybe, like us back in the day, you've thought, "How do I come close to this dream of getting to financial security?" Forget financial security...what about just making ends meet? Today we'll interview a woman who's been through everything life could throw at a woman and she STILL came out ahead...today we're giving you an amazing interview with Arlan Hamilton on what it took for her to break into not only life, but also the venture capital world in Silicon Valley.

Why isn't Warren Buffett overly concerned about the stock market fluctuations happening currently? We'll cover Buffett's investing approach that enables him approach the market with an outlook that many investors don't have. Plus, we'll take a look at why low volume ETFs are good performers... until they weren't.

During our Haven Life Line, we'll take a question from Peter, who wants to know more about using offset loans. Peter is having trouble getting a HELOC, and thinks that using an offset loan could be a good avenue for getting the funds to purchase more cash-flowing properties. Peter asks, is he wrong for wanting to do this?

We'll also make some time for Doug's Nurse Appreciation themed trivia.

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The Soulful Art of Persuasion (with Jason Harris) May 04, 2020

When you think of a discussion, negotiation, or collaboration you don't usually think "soulful." That's where most of us differ from advertising mogul Jason Harris. Today we'll talk a bout putting more of your own soul into your work and relationships so that you make fewer financial mistakes (and career mistakes) AND build toward your dreams faster.

New unemployment data hit last week and in our headlines segment we'll talk about how to weather the storm if you're not sure about your job or you've already lost yours. We'll also turn our spotlight on non-COVID related charities and discuss how they're faring (spoiler alert: not well).

During the Haven Life Line we'll tackle a question about surprise student loan debt, and during Doug's trivia...well, you'll just have to hear it to believe it.

May the 4th be with you!

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8 Smart Things To Do With $1,000 Right Now (SB RWD 107) May 01, 2020

We're finishing this week off with a timely rewind episode handpicked by the Fintern: eight smart things to do with $1,000 right now. You can check out our original show notes below:

What should you do with a small windfall? Today we ask, if you had $1,000, how should you best use it? We have an article that gives us eight great options, but we ask our panel which of those is best...and why? THAT alone gets rolling a fanstastic discussion between OG, Len Penzo, and special guest from the Money Nerds podcast, Whitney Hansen.

We'll also turn our eye on FinTech. We talk to FinTech company founders most weeks on this show, but from the near-outside looking in, where's the ball headed? Rory Holland from CSTMR has a front row seat at the FinTech party, and answers the questions...what's the problem, how's it being solved, and what's next for FinTech? You'll see LOTS of possible directions for FinTech (and...psst....your money) after you hear this interview.

We also answer Carolyn's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Her 21 year old son is graduating from college and she's concerned about claiming him. Can she claim him as a dependent still? On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Freelance Your Way To Freedom with Vincent Pugliese (SB RWD 106) Apr 29, 2020

Welcome to our Wednesday rewind show! With so much job uncertainty going around right now, the Fintern decided now would be a good time to revisit a great interview we had with freelance extraordinaire Vincent Pugliese. Vincent took himself from a mountain of debt to a successful freelance business, and shared with us his stories, lessons, and experiences he learned along the way. You can read the original show notes below:

He had $140,000 in debt, a crappy paying job, and a baby on the way. What would Vincent Pugliese do? We ask the award-winning photographer that very question on today's show. He's photographed four Presidents and every major sport's national championship in the USA, but his debt story will have you shaking your head today.

Plus, in our headlines segment, health savings accounts are all the rage, but what's going on with all of this money sitting in cash? We'll address that AND talk about new tax law spurring 401k contributions.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Chris, who wonders, "Should a 20 year old hire a financial advisor?" Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks toThanks to TurboTax Live for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA backed with a one-hundred percent Accuracy Guarantee. Connect with a TurboTax Live expert at TurboTaxLive.com/SB. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show. Compare, ditch, switch and save on consolidation loans, credit cards, student loans, auto loans and more at StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney.

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Stop Fighting About Money with Elle Martinez (SB RWD 105) Apr 27, 2020

Communicating with your partner about money can be difficult in the best of situations, let alone staying inside for weeks on end. That's why to kick off our rewind week the Fintern picked a topic that will hopefully keep you out of some hot water: how you can stop fighting about money! You can check out the original show notes below:

Looking for the perfect budget? Maybe the key isn't counting every penny or finding the perfect spreadsheet. Elle Martinez, author of the new book Couple Money, believes that whether you're single or married the answer might lie in communication, and we'll tackle how to have money dates and stop fighting about money on today's show.

In our headlines segment, we share a story about comedian Tracy Morgan. Apparently Walmart, who paid him $90M after a severe accident in 2015, wants more proof about his injury. We'll discuss disability coverage and more from that fallout. Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Susan, who asks about taking out a student loan for her son so he can establish credit. We'll also answer a letter from Julian about Roth IRAs, help Doug bring down the trivia, and sprinkle in some pick up lines along the way.

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3 Big Ideas for Your Financial and Mental Health (plus an intro to BlueChxp) Apr 24, 2020

People (and that includes us!) tend to react emotionally to big change. For us, that's running out of pizza rolls, but when it comes to money, that often means investors can make a bad situation worse by thinking with their heart instead of their head. Today we're going over the coronavirus financial checklist: steps you should be taking not only to make sure your financial bases are covered, but your mental health as well. Pete the Planner from Hey Money! joins Paula Pant and OG on today's show to tackle the best ways to weather any financial storm.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our financial checkup and turn our attention to our Friday Fintech segment. While our age-old advice of being diversified isn't going anywhere, we understand that people will experiment with individual stocks. Today Joe rings up Michael Patak from BlueChxp, to discuss how you can learn to invest without pouring all your sandbox money down the drain.

During our Magnify Money call-in Jimmy calls in with an interesting take on how to handle economy downturns and hypothetical job loss. While he understands having an emergency fund, Jimmy suggests it's better to use lines of credit and other people's money before diving into his own funds. Why shouldn't his emergency fund and various financial accounts be his last line of defense?

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy the fun! We did!

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Start Ugly (with Chris Krimitsos) Apr 22, 2020

If you're anything like us, you probably have a business idea or two that has been floating around in your head since the quarantine began. After all, what else is there to do between Netflix, snacks, taking a nap, eating dinner, and going to sleep learning who knows how many practical new skills? While an idea is always step one, you won't go very far without some practical knowledge. Today we'll talk to entrepreneur Chris Krimitsos, the founder of PodFest, creator of The Messengers documentary, and overall business connector, to find out what it takes to get a new business rolling.

Plus, the financial crisis around coronavirus is hitting areas none of us had thought of, including firms like Merrill Lynch taking a step away from their adviser training program. We'll talk about that fallout and what it means for advisory firms. Plus, in our second headline, how much cash should you be putting away each month to send your kid to college debt-free? We know most people are just trying to put food on the table, but graduation is right around the corner and for many kids, college is not that far away.

Later in the show, we'll throw the Haven Life Line and shake out some time for Doug's special trivia. Happy Earth Day, peeps! #Doug2020!

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Bring Yourself To Succeed At Your Next Negotiation (with Mori Taheripour) Apr 20, 2020

Maybe you're looking for the perfect new job, or you're hoping to be able to at least HOLD the remote the next time the family watches Netflix. In either case, do you wish you could be a better negotiator? Whether you want more compensation at the office, you're looking for better results with your business, or hoping for improvement in your personal life, being able to connect with the people around you is a vital skill we all need to hone. Today we'll ask negotiating expert Mori Taheripour how she recommends we get the job done. Her answers may surprise you, as they did us when we first read her new book, Bring Yourself.

Plus, are you in the sandwich generation? What IS the "sandwich generation"? That means you're caught in the middle supporting older parents and younger children at the time time. In today's headlines segment, we'll tackle a new study completed by online life insurance company Haven Life (they're also a sponsor of our show). To help us make sense of it all we'll ring up our friend Brittney Burgett and talk about how you can accomplish more while trying to take care of everyone else.

We're mixing things up for today's Haven Life Line: we'll answer a question pooled from our Instagram surveys. You can keep up to date with our latest Instagram posts HERE. Adrianne wrote in with an important question for so many people these days about unemployment. She asks, will people already on unemployment before COVID-19 be eligible to receive the additional unemployment relief money? There's more to the answer than you'd think, and we'll share the results of our research on the topic during the segment.

As always, we'll save time for a slice of Doug's (national pastime inspired) trivia. Enjoy the show!

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Doing More With Less and Loving It (plus: under the FinTech hood with Diebold Nixdorf's Devon Watson)) Apr 17, 2020

Being able to stack Benjamins has as much to do with stacking less stuff as it does with accumulating more money. It takes far less money to reach your goals if you're mindful of your spending. However, there are other advantages. Today we'll focus on the intersection of minimalism, frugality, and environmentalism, as we discuss with our roundtable team of contributors a fantastic piece from the Frugalwoods blog on the topic. Joining us today we welcome the host of the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast, Andy Hill. He'll join Paula Pant from Afford Anything and Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com on today's show!

Plus, halfway through the show, we'll talk about a company working all over the FinTech front. Diebold Nixdorf is a company you may not have heard of, but on many fronts, they're the firm that helps the apps you live and the companies you use to show with, actually work. We'll talk about innovation in shopping, commerce, and banking with Devon Watson during our Friday FinTech segment.

Of course, we'll still feature a MagnifyMoney question from one of our Stacker friends AND debate some Ford Mustang pricing trivia....all just another day on Stacking Benjamins!

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The Money Hackers: An Unlikely FinTech Origin Story (with Daniel Simon) Apr 15, 2020

How has that phone in your pocket changed the course of finance? It turns out, a TON. Today we talk to Dan Simon, who chronicles the birth and growth of FinTech for us on today's show. We'll discuss the early iPhone and how it became the center of development. We'll then highlight some of the early players and how their interest wasn't so much around banking, trading, or even finance, as it was a way to solve a very specific problem they had. We'll also discuss the future of FinTech. Dan's opinion may surprise you.

We'll also shine a light today on the student loan crisis. Good news for borrowers: there was something in the latest government aid package for you. We'll detail many of the helpful provisions with the help of CFP Ryan Law and Certified Student Loan Counsellor Andrew Pentis. Plus, if you're one of the over 6.6 million people who lost their job two weeks ago, we also have some help for you. We wish it was a new job...but instead it's just some financial tips.

That's not all! We'll of course throw out the Haven Life line in the funniest way possible AND save time for Doug's totally artistic trivia. Thanks for hanging out with us! If you're helping keep the economy moving during all this...special thanks to YOU!

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The Most Powerful Person Is You (with Lydia Fenet) Apr 13, 2020

Lydia Fenet has a job where she commands attention for a living. As lead benefit auctioneer at Christie’s auction house, she has to quickly and effectively command a room. Today she'll show YOU how to sell your abilities to any group. We'll discuss how she broke into auctioneering, which is a tale of persistence, grit, and selling. Then we'll discuss her first auctions, and when she finally found success. While mirroring success helped her first begin the process of working as an auctioneer, it was something altogether different that finally separated her from the pack. Not only that, we'll talk about negotiations, demanding what you're worth, and more.

Plus, what do you have in common with professional athletes? It turns out that during this crisis you may have a TON in common with them. Namely, some of the questions they're asking currently about their money sound awfully familiar. We'll cover which questions those might be. AND, we'll also uncover yet another benefit of the relief package, more help with student loans. Sadly, this particular help isn't widely known, but we're helping to get the word out on today's show.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line AND share some of Doug's after-Easter trivia. Stay safe, everyone!

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Financial Experiments! (plus an update on the PPP) Apr 10, 2020

Experiments aren't just for the laboratory; they can also help with your budget, or your investments. By continually experimenting you're learning a TON about how to manage money, and which techniques work uniquely for you! Joining us today from Balance Financial Coaching, we'll welcome (the totally balanced) coach Heather Albrecht. Joining her, we'll say hello again to Doc G from the Earn and Invest podcast, and round out our discussion with OG, from this very show.

Part two of the Payroll Protection Program rolls out today. If you know ANYONE who employs people, we've got BIG news: the government has a program to keep YOU in business. Philip Taylor the founder of PTMoney.com and FinCon will walk us through how YOU can keep people employed on today's show. This is a BIG segment that you won't want to miss if you know ANYONE who employs people.

And sure, we'll also help a lucky caller magnify their money on the MagnifyMoney.com hotline, we'll also share a money question about golf AND much, much more.

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Beware Charts, Graphs and Financial Companies Wielding Them (with John Johnson) Apr 08, 2020

A mentor of Joe's once said to "beware charts and graphs," and with us all huddled at home staring at screens, we're consuming more data daily than ever. It's important to be able to process what we read from financial companies. Sometimes the facts on the page are misleading, and other times it's what's NOT stated that is misleading. Joining us today is John Johnson, who dives into data on a daily basis looking for flaws in the numbers. He's worked with professional sports, election campaigns, businesses, and individuals to help them understand data better, and today he's here to help YOU.

But that's not all. One "shark" from Shark Tank says that the companies she's helping to grow probably won't survive. Why would Barbara Corcoran say that? We'll explain, and discuss what that may mean to you. Plus, what happens if you plan to retire during a pandemic? Do you delay your date? Retire later? We'll discuss planning during times of distress today.

Of course, that's not all. On the Haven Life line we'll also talk about rolling 401k plans over to IRAs (or not) AND save time for some of Doug's amazing trivia.

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How to Juggle Family, Work and Money (with the How To Money guys!) Apr 06, 2020

Juggling all the facets of life became a lot harder for many of us the last few weeks (well, in some ways easier...no more commute!). If you're lucky enough to be healthy, you're now just trying to figure out how to handle everything, AND in close quarters. Today we welcome two guys who are VERY good at juggling life, money and family, Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix from the popular How To Money podcast. We'll talk about managing life during "normal" times, so that when life goes back to "normal" (whatever that is), you'll be prepared!

Plus, what if you lost $50M dollars? That happened to one drug dealer in the UK. We'll explain how that happened and we'll even share where the money is now. Mom's fairly certain you won't want to try and find it. Plus, the Department of Education just announced new guidelines around student loan relief for repayers. There are LOTS of changes and we'll detail the BIGGEST ones on the show.

Of course, we're confined to the basement today, but that's nothing new....so JUST like every other show, we'll still throw out the Haven Life line AND save time for Doug's trivia.

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Your COVID-19 Grocery Savings List (plus HUGE help for businesses) Apr 03, 2020

Who's shopping? You shopping? None of us are doing more than shopping for groceries...even if it's on the internet. Today we'll talk about getting in and out of the grocery store without catching anything by focusing on the 20 signs you may be spending too much on shopping. Joining us today from Yes I am Cheap, we'll welcome smart shopper Sandy Smith. From the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to golden shopper Paula Pant! And finally, from Len Penzo dot com, we'll welcome Drew Carey from the Price is Right. Okay.... we're joking....it's just Len Penzo.

If you know ANYONE who employs people, we've got BIG news for your today: Are you interested in how the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act can help businesses and entrepreneurs? George Kurtyka from Joust will walk us through how YOU can keep people employed on today's show. This is a BIG segment that you won't want to miss if you know ANYONE who employs people.

Finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk about what our Stacker friend named Erica about her parents and in-laws who are blowing all their money on boats and shops to put those boats in?

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors on Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking Disney on today's show of course this is one of Joe's favorite topics. How many people actually work for Disney?

Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show.

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Our All-Star Cast Answers Your Questions Apr 01, 2020

It's been awhile since we've answered the mailbag, so we thought there's no better day to tackle some questions! So, our long-time hosts, Farnoosh & OG are kicking off April by answering a TON of your questions! We received many questions about topics including: caring for your pets after your passing, investing while paying off debt, savings plans, picking an HSA, and more.

Plus, in our headlines segment, while everyone is panicking, we discuss why you should keep your cool and not change your plan. Plus, getting your taxes ready to file even though the filing date has been pushed back? If so, we'll discuss some frequent (and ugly) mistakes people make. Of course we'll also save time for Doug's trivia. Just another 50-minute day in the office (AKA basement) for us!

Stay safe everyone! ...and wash your hands!

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She Paid Off LOTS of Debt With Little Income (with Chonce Maddox Rhea) Mar 30, 2020

If you have debt you're going to love today's episode. We'll talk to a woman who decided that it was time to take charge and change her course for the better. Choncé Maddox Ray (of the My Debt Epiphany blog) didn't have a huge savings account or a sizable income to get herself some relief from debt, but she didn't let that stop her from taking ownership of her life. She'll talk about how it took self reflection, planning, hard work, and follow through to lift herself from a life of debt. Deciding it was time for a change, Chonce paid off $11,000 in debt on a salary of less than $35,000. We'll ask Choncé to dive into just how she pulled that off.

The relief bill is out (it was being finalized when we recorded...and there's nothing new to report that we didn't cover in the episode). With the bill signed into law, what's the next step? What should you do with the cash influx when it drops into your account? If you're a business owner what should you do as well? We'll cover that PLUS turn our attention to one of the early casualties in the financial arena of the coronavirus crisis: a couple of leveraged funds are going bye-bye. What does that have to do with your money? We'll explain.

During Doug's trivia segment halfway though the show we'll share some interesting facts backed up by a LinkedIn survey. Are you a manager? Buckle up, we're delivering your employees biggest gripe about YOU.

We're rounding out the show with a call from Simon, who calls in with a question he could only ask virtually right now. The problem? Simon's got a new job and is making a ton of cash. His co-worker suggested waiting until the market cools down before investing anything, but that doesn't make much sense to Simon. Thoughts?

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Adulting During The Age of Coronavirus (plus an intro to Ortus Academy) Mar 27, 2020

Sometimes trying to be an adult just plain stinks. But when do you "adult" and when do you "wing it"? A recent post on popular blogging site Budgets Are Sexy asks that question and today we put that in front of our roundtable panel of top bloggers and podcasters. Where do you balance minimalism with having the right backup? Joining us today from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, from our own amazing podcast, our co-host OG, finally, from Len Penzo dot com, we'll welcome Frank from the movie Old School....who you know IS the most responsible adult. Okay, we're joking. Rounding out our team is just Len Penzo.

Working from home? Trying to teach your children while you're working? Today we'll ask CEO Aaron Velky from Ortus Academy how his Money Club works. While others have struggled to help kids learn about money, Ortus Academy has developed a notable short term track record. Could your kids learn money habits better? Aaron joins us to talk about how kids learn and exactly what they think is important to teach. Interestingly, he'll talk about financial education as a sport. How do you teach kids to "win" with money? we'll share how they're solving that problem.

Finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Nick on how to spend more money. He's thinking about moving his family to a high-cost area. How does he afford the bigger expenses he's about to bring on?

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors on Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking coffee on today's show. Specifically, how many people like their cup of Joe black (aka "naked," "with nothing in it," or "au natural.")

Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show.

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Should I Sell Or Should I Go? (and other Covid-19 money questions) Mar 25, 2020

The market's down a bazillion percent (mom's not great at math), your neighbors won't answer the door (and for the first time ever, that's a good thing), and the world seems upside down. Time to stop throwing good money after bad and call a retreat? On today's show Joe & OG answer a TON of your questions about ANYTHING! While we received many questions about coronavirus we also field some about college savings plans, Roth IRAs, board games, and what we would have done if podcasting hadn't been the huge massive financial hit that it's been (sarcasm, kids...).

Plus, in our headlines segment, while everyone is panicking, luckily there are still journalists out there ready to write some pretty stupid financial pieces. What's the latest piece of financial TP advice? We'll cover that on today's show AND save time for Doug's trivia. Just another nearly 90 minute day in the office (AKA basement) for us!

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Needs, Wants, or Both? Plus 24/7 Coronavirus Coverage (with Jean Chatzky) Mar 23, 2020

First, we're joking about the coronavirus coverage. While we'll discuss the key fundamentals you need to know, we'll spend more time today talking about the basics. Between focusing on your money mindset with Jean Chatzky from The Today Show and HerMoney.com, refinancing your debt, and getting your taxes paid on time, there's a LOT to cover. Hopefully you'll find yourself focusing on the good things instead of glued to the television and events you can't control.

During our headlines we're covering the latest silver lining from the IRS: the tax filing deadline has been kicked down the road AND penalties and interest has been waived on tax payments. During our segment we'll explain what that all means to you, (other than waiting a few more months to file, of course. Procrastination for the win!). Plus during our second headline we'll share how virus fears have led to a mortgage refinancing boom.

During the Haven Life Line we're answering a question from one of our Facebook Basement members. Phil and his wife took out a HELOC last year and decided they wouldn't refinance to avoid paying closing costs. With rates dropping how they are, Phil asked our group: doesn't it make sense to refinance now and save large down the road?

As always, we'll save some room for Doug's chip-and-dip themed trivia.

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Spring Cleaning Your Finances (plus Ally & Dr. Ted Klontz) Mar 20, 2020

Since you're most probably stuck at home and "social distancing" yourself, now's a great time for a lighthearted discussion about spring cleaning your financial picture. Everything else in life right now seems pretty heavy, so today we'll keep it light with three people who know a thing or two about great money moves. Joining us today from Paychecks and Balances, we'll welcome Marcus Garrett, from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, and finally, from Len Penzo dot com, its our favorite house keeper Alice from The Brady Bunch! ...while that would be fun, today it's just gonna be Len Penzo.

While you're cleaning up your money, raising your savings rate is a great place to start (or at least trying to stop your savings from deteriorating...). SO today Joe will be chat about behavioral finance with expert Dr. Ted Klontz and Emily Shallal from Ally Bank. Dr. Ted Klontz lets us know that our ancestors did not hoard their money or even their toilet paper...#shocking. Surprisingly, he says our brains are wired differently, and Emily Shallal from Ally tells us how they've used similar studies to create new product features that'll trick our brains into saving.

And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Joe about whether he should contribute to his retirement or save for a house.

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking omelettes on today's show (of course!).

Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show.

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Want More Money? Manage Your Energy (with Angelo Poli) Mar 18, 2020

During this crisis, it's important to focus on the big picture...but what is it? Our guest today says (and we agree), that managing your energy, and not your time is the key to success. Angelo Poli, the founder of MetPro and advisor to some of the biggest celebrities and athletes in America, discusses weight loss, how to eat right (and avoid fad diets), and more. We're sure you'll learn a TON about nutrition (like we all do every time Angelo has been on the show).

Plus, what's polite to talk about over dinner with people? Politics, religion, or your credit card debt? Today we'll talk to Nathan Hamilton during our headlines segment about a study he and the team at The Ascent have completed about appropriate topics at work and at the dinner table. I think you'll be as surprised as we were.

If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy!

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Creating Your Cash Machine (with Dave Mason) Mar 16, 2020

How does YOUR financial future look? Probably the first lesson anyone successful with money will tell you is that you can't look at life the same way anymore. While some expenses others may see as a given, you now see as a money drain. Where others see failure, you now see opportunity. Today we'll talk about changing your financial tune with Dave Mason, author of The Cash Machine, who suggests you can make big changes in your relationship with money by making some small changes in how you perceive the world around you.

Recently the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in response to the coronavirus. They may do it again. We'll talk about some opportunities this may open up for you. Plus, from the perspective of the individual investor (or more preciously, the Robinhood investor), life got a little worse for some traders when the investing app suffered an outage for an entire trading day as stocks surged.

Later on, we'll answer a retirement and taxes question from Red. He can contribute to a Roth and Traditional 401k, while Red's wife can only contribute to a Traditional. What happens during retirement when they file jointly? Will Red have to pay taxes twice? One now for the Roth, and later on for the traditional?

As always, we're saving some time today for Doug's trivia. It's a great day to listen to podcasts while you're at home! Everyone stay safe!

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4 Topics Finance Experts Can't Agree On (plus an intro to Peak Money) Mar 13, 2020

It's time to get down and dirty! Did you think financial experts agree on everything? OG has his boxing gloves on for this episode because today we're wrestling with topics financial experts can't agree upon. Fighting with him today from the amazing podcast Afford Anything, we welcome Paula Pant, and from the compelling podcast Earn and Invest, (formerly What's Up Next?), we'll also say hello to the Doc G. It's a great crew and we think you'll love the conversation they discuss as they wrestle with today's topics.

We know it's fun to hang out in the basement, but Peak Money makes saving money look like fun no matter where you are! Today during our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with Jonathan Yagel and Michael Brooks from Peak Money about how they're able to help people save more money toward their goals. It's an exciting journey that most of our listeners want to pursue. Who doesn't want more money toward their next vacation? I rest my case.

And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, OG really hits it hard with the punches but Paula and Doc pick up the slack. They answer a question about what category a 401k savings plan should be in, when filling out a spreadsheet. Is it an expense or saving? We'll get our team's cracking answer on today's show!

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. How much did the first Barbie cost? It's all exciting questions and answers on today's show.

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Forget Hustle, Focus on Alignment (with Heather Chauvin) Mar 11, 2020

Are you a "go-go-go" person? You live on phrases like, "I can sleep when I'm dead," or "hustle and grind." Today's guest Heather Chauvin from the Mom In Control podcast used to live that lifestyle, until a serious health issue finally forced her to face the truth: it isn't sustainable. Not only that, but Heather Chauvin will also share how, once she took care of herself better, she was then able to bring more energy to her life, creating much more than she was when she was "hustle and grinding."

Plus, I don't know if you noticed, but the stock market has been slightly "bumpy" lately. Joe and OG have a timely discussion around people fleeing stocks AND those people who are on social media saying, "Go buy more." Both of these approaches could cost you dearly. They'll also discuss how Jeff Bezos now is joining the growing list of entrepreneurs putting his wallet behind the fight against climate change. We'll discuss ESG investing and why anyone would do that on today's show.

If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy!

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The 4 Cornerstones of a Successful Financial Strategy (with CFP Brian Ursu) Mar 09, 2020

What's your financial plan? Is it built on bedrock or are you "winging it", aka building on sand? On today's show, Certified Financial Planner Brian Ursu joins us to dive into four strategies that will help anyone trying to build their financial house. For veteran planners, these will be things you've heard before. However, the question isn't, "Have you heard them?" Like anything, you should ask yourself, "Am I doing them?" THAT may yield a completely different answer.

Plus, TurboTax maker Intuit has been in the news recently, because they're buying credit score site Credit Karma. What does that mean for consumers like us? Also, because Credit Karma is a FinTech company, what does that mean for FinTech? We'll ask Ryan Falvey from Financial Venture Studio both of those questions. If you've heard Ryan before on our show, you know he'll have an interesting point of view.

Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND still leave time for Doug's trivia...which today takes a more-than-usual unusual twist.

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The Biggest Lie In Personal Finance (plus and intro to the Retirement Budget Calculator) Mar 06, 2020

If you believe telling a white lie is okay, do you believe that about money topics? What about white lies that are told by big-time bloggers or (gasp) podcasters about the path to riches? We'll dive into the world of lies and deceit on today's show with an all-star cast around the rickety card table. Joining us today we welcome Dustin Heiner from The Master Passive Income Podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything Podcast, and from our very own podcast, OG!

We know a lot of you use calculators for your job, but we think you will all like using the Retirement Budget Calculator after hours as well. During our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with Jason Parker from the Sound Retirement Planning podcast. They'll discuss how Jason's Retirement Budget Calculator has continued to grow. Joe last year said that this calculator was the "best retirement calculator for consumers" (he still thinks there are better calculators for pros). We'll have all the details on how it works AND share some discounts you won't get if you buy the calculator elsewhere.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question via Twitter. What is your best advice for future college students to fund their education when their parents can't or won't help them? There's SO much more...but you'll have to listen to hear it all! Hope you can join the fun.

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Want to Increase Your Earning Power? Learn To Speak Better (with Grant Baldwin) Mar 04, 2020

It's your big moment. You're talking to the boss or giving a presentation at work. Maybe you're finally in front of your dream customer. And you blow it. Today we'll help you earn more money by focusing (well, as much as we focus...) on speaking well. Whether you're trying to convince the family to wash dishes or your boss to give you a raise, speaking more effectively is far from a "soft" skill. So today we welcome Grant Baldwin, author of The Successful Speaker, and host of the Speaker Lab podcast to give us some tips and tricks!

How does Social Security look? During our headline segment, we'll dive into that topic, and run through the future of Social Security. How long will stay solvent? And, in the most important question anyone has asked around here today, we'll ask, "How did a couple of guys score free McDonald's?" Just another day on our show.

If you think that's all, it might be your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy!

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Cracking The Whip On Your Financial Goals (with Lindsay Goldwert) Mar 02, 2020

Do you have trouble staying in charge of your money? Maybe you let your priorities get away from you and want to make a change? Today we'll talk about communication, being direct, and asking for what you really want with the author of the hit new book Bow Down, Lindsay Goldwert. In this unique new perspective on how to take charge, Lindsay sat down with dominatrixes across America to get first-hand information on how you can "reset the power dynamic in any situation to get what you want—whether it’s from a husband, boss, or partner."

During our headlines segment, are you finally bringing in a HUGE nice income, but your bank account isn't rising? Lifestyle inflation can become a serious issue for high earners, and without a proper plan in place investors run the risk of becoming a HENRY - High Earner, Not Rich Yet. Plus, during our second headline, we'll touch on why actor Rick Moranis is making a return to the big screen and what lessons you can glean for your financial plan.

Plus, we'll open up the mailbag during our Haven Life Line and answer an estate-related question from Diana. Diana is the executrix of an estate plan for the funds of two pre-teens but wants to appoint someone else to take over most of the responsibilities. What can she do? What is she supposed to do? We'll cover some estate planning basics on today's show.

And, of course, we'll also make some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy!

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What To Do When the Bull Market Finally Ends (SB RWD 104) Feb 28, 2020

There's been a lot of market fears going around this past week, but regardless of its origin people have been asking the same question for years: what should we do when the bull market finally ends? We're finishing out the rewind week with one of our classic old-school roundtable episodes featuring Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and Greg McFarlane answering that very question. You can read the original show notes below:

This has been a LONG bull market. So if you know that the next eight years will most probably NOT be like the previous eight, do you swap out some of your investments? We ask our roundtable panel that on today's show and as always, find Greg, Len and Paula all have different answers than you probably expected.

We also tackle lifestyle paradigms. Are you paying too much attention to your neighbor's success? Finally, we'll discuss fake news....no, we aren't going politics. We'll ask our panel whether there's any "fake news" in the money area that they're sick of hearing. Of course, they come through with some great examples.

In our Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk to SelfLender CEO James Garvey about building credit. How does SelfLender help people find financial footing? They have an interesting idea and an exciting approach. Can't wait for you to hear all about it.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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The #1 Key To Get Someone Excited About Saving Money - SB RWD 103 Feb 26, 2020

Are you committed to saving, but can't seem to get other people around you on board? It can be frustrating once investing for the future has clicked in your head, but not for the people you care about. Gene Natali, co-author of The Missing Semester, shared some great information with us on how to get anyone interested in saving for the future and we're revisiting that interview today. You can read our original show notes below:

You're excited about saving, but how do you get someone else to take the plunge? Today's guest, Gene Natali, says that the answer might not be what you expect, and he should know. He co-authored the book The Missing Semester about personal financial education in the classroom, and he's BACK on the Stacking Benjamins show to share how to get ANYONE started in the right direction with their money.

In our headlines segment, we talk about financial advisory fees. Are they going down? A recent report has details on where that ship is headed. Also, we'll talk about the age-old active vs. passive management debate. Do active managers hold a candle to passive? Does it matter? Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Dan, who asks about EE bonds. Are these bonds a great way to protect against deflation? We'll also answer a letter from Todd, who has some extra money and wants to know how to invest it...other than in sending it to his favorite podcasters (#disappointing).

It's National Martini Day, so Doug's pouring drinks down in the basement and we're all invited over. Come join us!

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies.

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The HIGHS and lows of Real Estate Investing - RWD 102 Feb 24, 2020

Have you ever thought about jumping into real estate? It isn't all roses, rainbows and money. On today's rewind episode, the FinTern takes us back to 2018 and Dana Bull's appearance in the basement, talking about all of the good times and bad in the business of investing in property.

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Now THAT'S A Waste Of Money (plus an intro to Harvest) Feb 21, 2020

What big money wasters exist in your life? Unless you're like us, Benjamins seem to slip out of your pockets WAY too easily. Today, we'll test our guests' game show skills to see if they can guess 16 fantastic examples of money wasters we found hidden in a recent Marketwatch piece. Joining us to play along we welcome Chelsea Brennan from The Smart Money Mamas Podcast, Doc. G from the What's Up Next show, and our very own nerdy engineer, Len Penzo, from Len Penzo dot com!

One big money waster could be the exorbitant bank fees people pay. During our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with one company trying to lower your fees. Nami Baral, Chief Empathy Officer from Harvest joins us. They'll discuss how Harvest uses AI to help you save on all sorts of bank and credit card fees. We'll have all the details

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question on if our fellow Stacker should open a non-profit farm. There's SO much more...but you'll have to listen to hear it all! Hope you can join the fun.

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Kicking $215,000 of Debt to the Curb (with Cindy Zuniga) Feb 19, 2020

Are you struggling with debt? How about a little inspiration? Cindy Zuniga paid off a LOT of debt in just four years. Like you, she finally realized she'd had enough and something had to change...so change she did. Today she'll share the struggle and her path out from deep debt, along with dispelling some myths about debt payoff strategies along the way. She'll also share how she successfully used a cool concept called "zero-based budgeting" to not just pay down debt but to curb her spending habits successfully. Additionally, she'll share some of the places she found inspiration to keep going on her long journey during her payoff process and after. If you saw Cindy's story on Good Morning America, you'll love this expanded interview with her today on Stacking Benjamins!

Plus, Fidelity Investments has some great news for savers: we're doing a good job saving collectively. However, some of us are (ahem) doing better than others. John Boroff, Fidelity's Director of Retirement and College Leadership joins us Joe's dad's shortwave radio to talk about not just the successes, but also why people have maybe been more successful so you can emulate those strengths. He'll also share some great ideas to save more if you're behind.

If you think that's all, it might be your first time here (so welcome!). Of course we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's chocolatey trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy!

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No Mud, No Lotus (with Tamara Jacobi) Feb 17, 2020

When was the last time you planned to make some of your big dreams a reality? What's holding you back? Time? Money? Fear of the unknown? Today we're talking to Tamara Jacobi, who created a retreat in the Mexican jungle right after college. She's the author of the new book Wildpreneur AND a continental traveler, who'll join us and talk about how you can face your fears, climb to new heights, and make your dreams a reality.

Are you worried about the economic effects of the coronavirus spreading to your portfolio? During our headlines segment, we'll ring up Chris Cook, president of Beacon Capital Management, and get some answers on what you can do to inoculate your investment strategy.

During our Haven Life Line we're shaking things up a bit. We're keep the voicemails on hold this time around while we turn our eyes toward the results of our Instagram poll: what's been this year's most surprising budget busters? We'll break down our range of answers during this special Haven Life segment.

As always, we'll carve out a bit of time for Doug's trivia.

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Really, You Find THAT Romantic? (plus an intro to AgeUp) Feb 14, 2020

Buying running shoes for your partner who you know loves to run, you find THAT romantic? Taking a walk in the park holding hands, is that still romantic? Watching TV or a Movie and not saying a word to each other during the entire show, you find THAT romantic? Today we'll turn romance on its head as we apply the question "Is that romantic," to a BUNCH of financial questions. Do romance and money mix? We'll find out. Here to help us spread some love on Valentine's Day from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to the lovable Paula Pant and the guy with the dry sense of humor from this very podcast...OG!

How old will you be when you die? Will you have enough money? It turns out, many of us will live for a long, long time, according to science. What if you run out of money late in life? Worse yet, what if a family member runs out of money and you have to sacrifice your retirement to take care of them. Today, during our FinTech segment, we'll share details about a company working on that very issue. Blair Baldwin joins Joe in the basement to talk about AgeUp.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment, we will answer a question on HSA accounts and the military. Is our caller eligible for an HSA?

As always, of course, we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question regarding the number of people who really do celebrate Valentine's Day! It's a circus as usual on today's Stacking Benjamins Show!

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The Roth 401K: The Cinderella Of Your Financial Plan (and Your Letters) Feb 12, 2020

Why are some of the coolest financial tools rarely used? For example, people by-and-large avoid HSA accounts, when they're the Swiss-army knife of a healthcare plan. Today we'll shine a light on another type of plan that's not often used: the Roth 401K. A recent piece in a major publication predicted that Roth 401K plans will become bigger now that the SECURE Act has been enacted. What do Joe & OG think? Do THEY like the Roth 401K? You'll find out during today's episode!

After that, we're all about your letters! You've been kind enough to ask us lots of questions, and Joe & OG today grab the mailbag and sort through it. We'll tackle everything from buying a home to investing in a Roth IRA to whether Monopoly is a good game or a great game. We didn't say that they were good questions....we just said there were lots.

But that's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller AND we'll hear some great trivia from Doug about one of our greatest Presidents...Abe Lincoln. Enjoy!

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Your Frugal Valentine's Day Dining Guide (plus Shannon Dougherty's latest issue) Feb 10, 2020

Don't look now but Friday is Valentine's Day! You're probably wondering what a "chocolates and roses" holiday has to do with finances... and the answer is...A lot. As we'll find out today, many people don't hesitate about turning their wallets over and shaking out ALL their cash. But today we'll help you celebrate in style (or in jest) WITHOUT breaking the bank. Today we've invited Sara Skirboll from ReatilMeNot to share with us plenty of great advice on how to find great Valentine's day dining deals WITHOUT using your whole stack of Benjamins.

Plus, how much do you hate love reading through dense paperwork and contract terms? It's safe to assume you probably hate paperwork as much as we do, which is why covering some good news from Fidelity: they're cutting out 20% of the information that clients must review before opening an account. And in our second headline, we'll share the latest from a lawsuit between Shannon Dougherty and State Farm. It's ugly and just got...uglier.

During our Haven Life Line call, we're going old-school and tearing open a letter from our new BFF Diane. She's looking for some alternatives to HSAs and long-term care plans. What options are available for people who can't use the more traditional options?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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When $250,000 Isn't Enough (plus an intro to Masterworks) Feb 07, 2020

Would $250,000 a year be enough for you to "get by"? It wasn't for one early retiree. Today we're going to dive into income, expenses, priorities and bucket lists. Helping us today is a roundtable team of fantastic personalities. First, our special guest today comes from Revele Financial Group, Dawn Dahlby! From the Afford Anything podcast, we have Paula Pant, and Len Penzo joins in the fun from Len Penzo dot com!

What is the most expensive piece of artwork you own? Do you think you could ever own a Andy Warhol piece or a Monet? Well today, during our FinTech segment we'll share a company helping people do just that. Joe'll talk buying fractional shares of art with Scott Lynn, the founder of Masterworks.io. We'll discuss not only the types of art that newbies mistakenly buy, but also, liquidity, the long term returns of art, and more.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment, we'll answer a question on whether you should take risks while you are still in debt?

As always, of course, we'll quiz our contributors with an epic game show question about The Beatles! How much did they receive for performing on the Ed Sullivan Show?

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What If Your Retirement Math Doesn’t Work? Feb 05, 2020

JT and Tamzon had a great start. After paternity leave from a fantastic job, JT thought he knew that with his burgeoning side-gig, he could quit his job and live happily ever after without going back to full-time work. Then, he found out that the math wasn't working. What would you do? We'll share one family's story of taking control of your goals and then rebooting when the math still doesn't make sense. On today's show early-retirees JT and Tamzon join us to talk about adding flexibility into your planning.

Plus, are you a Medicare recipient? If so, it's an important open enrollment time for many. If not, you should plan ahead for the (ahem) increasing cost of healthcare. Danielle Kunkle Roberts from Boomer Benefits joins us to chat about all things Medicare. And in our second headline, we'll share how much your peers have saved for retirement. Want to gauge how you're doing? We'll have all the numbers.

Of course, we're also going to toss out the Haven Life Line and we'll still make room for Doug's trivia. Step aside, people! There's a new episode coming!

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Mastering Your Money (with Norm Champ) Feb 03, 2020

Much of the game around managing money is in doing the little things...not being tripped up by the small mistakes and doing those little things that can turn failure into success in a hurry. Today, Norm Champ (formerly of the Securities and Exchange Commission), joins us to talk about mastering your money. What are some of the moves you can make to be a better money manager? We'll talk about controlling expenses (with some ideas to help you hone your budget), automating your money, and more on today's show.

Plus, where does the money come from that most Americans use during retirement? The ugly answer we'll share during our headlines segment. Plus, we'll discuss lessons learned from the terrible event that dominated the headlines last week: Kobe Bryant's tragic helicopter accident.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Julie, who asks about a fund many investors "in the know" talk about often. What's the difference between "VTSAX" and the rest of the less-often suggested crowd of funds that do the same thing? ...and of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Navigating Awkward Money Moments (plus the Evil HR Lady) Jan 31, 2020

So, how much money do you make? Could a borrow a big sum of cash? Ever had any of THOSE moments? What do you do? Well today we'll discuss some seriously awkward questions. To help us, we welcome from Afford Anything the amazing Paula Pant, the almost retired Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com, and from this podcast the straight shooter OG!

If you or anyone you know is in the job market, watch out! Recruiters are now corresponding more and more via text. What could go wrong with that? We'll dive into how to apply some ettiquette to your text messages with Suzanne Lucas, AKA the Evil HR Lady. At the halfway mark of today's episode, we'll hear from the Evil HR Lady about the correct way to communicate via text to recruiters and future employers.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question from Facebook Group on a few tax questions on who to have prepare your taxes?

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question about the world record for longest roller coaster marathon ride! Hope you can join the fun!

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The Life of an Accountant Spy (with Tracy Coenen) Jan 29, 2020

She'll tell you over and over that her job isn't interesting. But if you're a money nerd, do we have a treat for you today, because accountant Tracy Coenen spends her time chasing down bad guys using spreadsheets and bank statements (I'll stop if you need a moment). Today she'll tell us stories of two stories where she helped catch perpetrators by using financial records (and some amazing ingenuity) to help bring "bad guys" to bear.

Plus, are you interviewing soon? Even if you aren't we'll talk about some useful tips if you're interested in moving up the ladder at work or with another pursuit (and who isn't?). Plus, we'll discuss the new milestone one fund company just passed and pause for a moment...man, that's a lot of money.

Of course, we're also going to toss out the Haven Life Line to Dillon and get Joe and OG's take on how Dillon should approach his investments. All and and we'll still make room for Doug's trivia. Step aside, people! There's a new episode coming.....this plate is HOT!

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Tales Of The Founding Fortunes (with Tom Schachtman) Jan 27, 2020

How did America get its start? Of course, by relying on the financial fortunes of a few of our founding fathers. Today we're rolling back the clock to look at how some founding fortunes helped launch our country. We'll dive into the topic with Tom Shachtman, the author behind the Founding Fortunes, to discuss the roll of money in uniting revolutionaries, both rich and poor.

Plus, should we be paying more attention to sustainability while investing? During our headlines we'll cover one report from Barron's that shows mutual funds ranking high on sustainability are actually outperforming the market. I know! We were surprised, too.

And finally, we'll answer a question from Heather during our Haven Life line call, who just opened up a Fidelity account. Heather and her husband want to start investing, but aren't sure which funds to put money into. Thoughts?

And of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Why's The FIRE Movement Getting More Heat? (plus an intro to Pillar) Jan 24, 2020

If the FIRE movement is so inspirational, why is it constantly under attack? More heat was lobbed at the early retirement movement last week by a couple of industry insiders on Twitter. To help us, we welcome the FIRE-y woman behind the Fiery Millennials blog, Gwen Merz, Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com, and the wonderful Doc G from the What's Up Next podcast! These intelligent, retirement-focused people will be discussing the tweet that started quite the firestorm.

If you or anyone you know has student loans, you'll want to listen to our Friday FinTech guest, Michael Block. He's the CEO and Founder of Pillar which is an app to help you pay back your student loans and save money. Early users have reported some huge wins, so we had to get the details from Michael about how it works.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney call in segment we will answer a question from an anonymous woman on how she will be affected by inheriting a ROTH IRA.

As always, we'll quiz our contributors with an epic game show question about National Beer Can Appreciation Day from our neighbor, Doug. We'll have all that and more on today's show! We hope you can join the fun!

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Retirement 101 (with Michele Cagan) Jan 22, 2020

Let's get back to the basics. Everyone talks about retirement tools, projections, timelines, and tax strategies...what about answering, "How do I begin?" If that's you, we've got you covered on today's show because we're talking to CPA Michele Cagan about Retirement 101. We'll start off with how you fare against other savers (or non-savers), and then discuss how you should frame retirement. Is it one long process? Should you begin with picking investments? We'll cover all of that and more on today's show.

Student loan borrowers everywhere cheered recently when a Navy vet had his loans discharged in court (something people said couldn't be done). In our headline segment we'll talk to attorney Leslie Tayne about how that happened, and maybe spill a little bad news (spoiler) about you and your student loans. But don't worry--all hope isn't lost. Leslie will also share some good advice for student loan borrowers.

Of course, that's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND save time for some of Doug's cat vs. dog trivia. It's another fun day down in the basement. Hope you can join us!

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From BIG Debt to Around the World (with Reshawn Lee) Jan 20, 2020

Is debt crushing your dreams? Are your relationships affected by students loans or credit card problems? You NEED to hear today's guest, Reshawn Lee, talk about her situation. Reshawn and her husband Rob had horrible credit card debt, student loans, and couldn't ever seem to begin saving...until they took some drastic actions and everything turned out (spoiler!) not just great, but with a trip around the world! Today we'll talk about the work they do on their Learn Hustle Grow blog and YouTube channel, and learn about how they overcame their issues and began their path to financial independence.

Are you hearing (like we are) the buzzword "AI" all over the financial arena lately? We'll discuss one headline about how much of the artificial intelligence out there is more artificial than intelligent.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Christina, who can no longer contribute to an employee sponsored retirement plan after a job change. How should she continue saving for retirement? Of course we'll also share some of Doug's trivia AND much, much more.

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Would You Walk Away From a Six-Figure Job? (plus an intro to our new SB course!) Jan 17, 2020

Happy Birthday to our namesake Benjamin Franklin!! Today we'll celebrate by talking about one of our favorite topics, leaving your 9-5 job early. To help us, we welcome the woman behind the new EconoMe Conference, Diania Merriam, Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com, and the wonderful OG from our very own podcast! This piece, written by Jessica Garbarino for her Every Single Dollar blog, is titled Why I Walked Away from a Six-Figure Job, and goes over some very good reasons to leave a "good" job AND many of the strategies she used to ensure she wouldn't have to return. (Big thanks to Mindy Jensen from BiggerPockets Money for reading it today as well!)

Frustrated with your money management skills? Don't feel like you have enough of a handle on your monthly expenses? At the halfway mark of today's episode, we'll hear from Belinda Rosenblum and Joe, as they unveil the exciting new course offered by the Stacking Benjamins team, Making Money Easy. We'll walk through all of the details today. It's been a long time since we've had a Stacking Benjamins course, so we're thrilled to tell you about it today.

And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question from Reddit.com on whether or not a man is in the wrong for not wanting "free" childcare from his mother-in-law. Where do you stand? Is he on the right side of this argument?

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question about Ben Franklin from our neighbor, Doug. We'll have all that and more on today's show! Hope you can join the fun!

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Navigating the SECURE Act Jan 15, 2020

Your retirement options just became more robust. A new law called The SECURE Act passed late last year and today we're sharing ALL of the information you need to know to change your plan to take advantage of this new, exciting legislation. If this is new to you, don't worry, we've got you covered. We'll begin the show with Joe & OG bringing you up to speed on the details. But if you're wondering how to use it well, we have something even better. Joining us on today's show we'll have Aimee Kwain from Fidelity Investments, Dan Keady from TIAA, and the Retirement Answer Man himself, Roger Whitney to walk us through their thoughts about the new law. Our goal today is to help you to understand how the SECURE Act impacts you, and we're excited about all you're about to learn.

Of course, this is a Stacking Benjamins episode, so that isn't all....later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Leo, who is wondering what he should do with his money while he's saving up for a downpayment on a house. Should he invest, or keep the money safe in a high-yield savings account?

Hoping for more? We've gotcha covererd. We'll also save some time for Doug's amazing weight loss trivia.

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You CAN Have It All (with Romi Neustadt) Jan 13, 2020

Are you frustrated that your average day doesn't start out chasing your goals but instead reacting to everything else going on? Between kids, spouse or friends, and co-workers, how are you supposed to get ahead on YOUR agenda? Good news, today we chat with Romi Neustadt, the bestselling author of You Can Have It All...just not at the same damned time! We'll have an amazing conversation focusing on how to REALLY set goals that stick (hint: you don't start with goal setting), how to keep your priorities in line, and the key to focus like a laser on the things that are most important if you want to get everything possible out of life.

Plus, during our headlines, we'll examine some financial horror stories that very well could happen to you. Have you had some big changes in your life and haven't gotten around to updating your beneficiaries? While this may seem like something you can wait on, we're fairly certain today's ugly stories of people who put it off will make you jump on it sooner rather than later. Then, in our second piece, we're taking a broader view on "rules of thumb." Everyone considers the 10,000 steps a day mantra as a hard fact, but experts say there's a better goal you should have in mind. Being the savvy people we are (no eye-rolls please), we'll make some parallels to when people go wrong with financial rules of thumb.

During our Have Life Line segment we'll answer a question from Richard, who can't get happy hour off his mind. With plenty of birthdays he feels obligated to attend in the next couple of months, how should Richard balance out budgeting and social obligations?

And of course, we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Your Smartest 2019 Money Moves (plus an intro to Gradifi) Jan 11, 2020

What money moves are you planning for 2019? From creating an emergency fund and increasing your 401k contributions, to downsizing and starting a side hustle, there are plenty of smart financial steps you can take to make this year your best one yet. Joining our roundtable discussion about your best money moves today, we welcome Paula Pant from Afford Anything and OG from our very own podcast.

Halfway through the roundtable we'll take a break for our Friday Fintech segment and talk to David Chang from Gradifi. Gradifi is setting out to give employers an easy system to help employees pay down student loans and fund 529 plans.

We'll also answer a MagnifyMoney.com question from Zach, who's interested in the FIRE movement. Should he be following the advice of the FIRE movement and forgo his Roth account in favor of using a traditional?

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

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Giving When You Don’t Think You Can (plus an intro to Round) Jan 10, 2020

For many of us, "charity begins at home" is our constant refrain. But you have to admit, it feels good to give and to be a part of a community. Not only are you helping those around you, but you're also working together with your family or friends on a higher purpose. That's why we're thrilled today to talk with our friends, Scott Maderer from Inspired Stewardship, our good friend Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and the wonderful OG from our very own podcast about how they give! We'll share a piece from Marriage, Kids, and Money's Andy Hill about how he teaches his kids to give and get LOTS of great ideas from the team.

Plus, at the halfway mark of today's episode we'll hear from Saul Cohen from Round during our Friday FinTech segment. Round helps investors find exclusive investment opportunities so they can invest actively like the 1%. How does it work? Saul will walk us through Round's mission and how they work with investors.

And during our Magnify Money call we'll hear from our good friend Mollie, who wonders about gifts to nephews and nieces. How does she solve the giving problem?

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question by our neighbor, Doug. All that and more on today's show! Hope you can join the fun!

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Finding Your Tribe of Millionaires (with Tim Rhode) Jan 08, 2020

What goals do you want to achieve? It's easier to reach any destination with the right people around you. To help YOU find your best route toward your goals, today we welcome Tim Rhode, author of Tribe of Millionaires, and founder of nonprofit 1 Life Fully Lived, to talk about building your network to reach your ultimate potential.

Plus, during our headlines, we'll cover a piece from Bloomberg about how credit card debt has hit an 10-year high, and what that means to you. Spend too much money this last year? Maybe it's time to go back and listen to Monday's debt cleanse episode.... PLUS, how about fees that drive you crazy? We'll highlight a BIZARRE fee that a hotel in West Virginia charged. So random...

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Anthony, who calls in to give the those of us in the basement some helpful advice about TSPs (Thrift Savings Plans) that you may have been unaware of. Thanks, Anthony!

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's possum-heavy trivia.

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Digging Out: How To Kickstart Your 2020 Debt Cleanse (with Brian Karimzad) Jan 06, 2020

Wake up January 1 with a hangover? Even if you didn't "over-imbibe" on alcohol, there's another hangover people suffer from: excess spending. Let's make January a reset month if you overspent last year. As many financial gurus say, "Tomorrow is a new day" and you can decide that you want to grab the reins and control not just your debt but your money in general. Today we sit down with Brian Karimzad, CEO of Magnify Money, on all of the things you can do to make your debt cleanse a success.

During our headlines portion of the show, we'll take a look at how the average 401k fared in 2019. Good, bad... great? If you didn't do well with your retirement plan last year, how do you make a change to improve in 2020? We'll share some ideas. Plus, during our second piece, we'll examine the reason popular financial company Vanguard just eliminated even MORE trading fees.

That's not all, though! We'll throw out the Haven Life Line as well, and answer a voicemail from James who asks for investment advice. What do we think about James choosing top funds from different sectors to invest in? Is it a good strategy? Also, when he leaves the USA, what does he do with his retirement funds?

And of course, we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Our Magic 8 Ball Predicts The Future! (plus the future of FinTech with Ryan Falvey) Jan 03, 2020

Where is the market going to go in 2020? Who will win the election? What did we learn from the Magic 8 Ball predictions of 2019? We'll start by looking at ALL of our last year's predictions and discuss LOTS of financial planning themes. Between emerging markets, individual stocks, playing the lottery, and more, we'll cover a wide range of money topics that you (gasp) might learn from. Calling in today to help out is our good friend, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, plus Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com...and OG from our very own podcast!

We'll take a break halfway through this monster podcast episode to talk to Ryan Falvey from Financial Venture Studio. What does the future hold for FinTech? Ryan has a front row seat for some of the hot new ideas coming out of this sector and will share some of the important themes you'll see coming to your phone, your computer, and your portfolio in the future.

As always, we'll also help a listener Magnify their Money...but today we're joined by special guest Brian Karimzad. Because Carter has a question that's specific to MagnifyMoney, it's fantastic that Brian dropped by just in time to help us answer!

It's a great, two-hour episode of Stacking Benjamins. Hope you can join the fun!

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You'll Be AWESOME in 2020! (with Neil Pasricha) Jan 01, 2020

While everyone else fights over whether this year or next is the beginning of a new decade, we'll help you focus your attention on the REAL issue: how awesome you'll plan to be in 2020 and beyond. Bestselling author and TED speaker Neil Pasricha joins us today to tell us stories about his amazing mother's search for awesome, his own lessons from past failures, and best of all, the history of the ellipses. They're hopefully the inspiration you'll need to kick off the Roaring 20's with a bang.

What are your New Year's Resolutions? We'll share some that were recently featured in a top publication during our first headline, plus some ideas from our team about how you can make them actionable (the most important part of any plan).

Of course we'll save time to throw out the Haven Life Line AND save some time for Doug's incredible Roaring 20's trivia.

We all hope you're as excited about a great New Year as we are here in the basement! Mom sends her love!

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Countdown to 2020: Building GREAT Habits For the Next Decade (Holiday Special) Dec 31, 2019

We're ending 2019 with a fantastic look back at our interview with James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. One of the best thing you can do for yourself this next decade is building great habits and STICKING to them. Whether it's in your career, finances, relationships, or otherwise personal life, you'll find that developing great habits will be the best present you can give yourself moving forward.

It's been a blast this past week, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Happy New Year!

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Countdown to 2020: What Did 2018 Teach Us About Money? (with Jill Schlesinger) Dec 30, 2019

Jill Schlesinger gave us her top money lessons at the end of 2018, and we still think they're pretty great lessons to keep in mind a year later.

We'll start the episode with a special open, and then dive into our show with Jill.

Enjoy!

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Countdown to 2020: What Should We Have Learned In 2017 (with Jean Chatzky) Dec 29, 2019

Jean Chatzky gave us some fantastic lessons that we should've learned in 2017. Those financial lessons are still applicable two years later. We'll give the show a special open featuring Joe and OG, and then take a listen to our show with Jean.

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Countdown to 2020: What Should We Have Learned in 2016 (with David Bach) Dec 28, 2019

Back in 2016 we sat down with NYT Bestselling author David Bach to ask, "What should we have learned in 2016?" He had some great answers that still apply here at the end of 2019. Enjoy!

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Countdown to 2020: What Should We Have Learned in 2015 (with Jill Schlesinger) Dec 27, 2019

CBS Business Analyst and host of the wildly popular Jill On Money Show, Jill Schlesinger joins us in the basement to recap 2015. What should we have learned? She'll have five lessons from events of the past twelve months.

Joe & OG share headlines and take your letters, including one asking about "too big to fail" and another asking about multi-level marketing schemes. Should our listener take a "free" plan from an MLM company rep?

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Countdown to 2020: What Did We Learn In 2014? With Rod Griffin (Special) Dec 26, 2019

Welcome to day 2 of our look back at the lessons we've learned from the past decade. This year we took a special look at credit and family finances, take a look at our original show description below:

There are TONS of takeaways from 2014, and Rod Griffin from Experian joins us in the basement to tackle his top five that had to do with your credit and family finances. You'll be surprised how easily Rod takes current events and shows you what impact they have on your financial picture.

Fidelity may be creating their own robo-advisory arm? Joe & OG share that headline plus others. PK gives some of the BEST advice you've heard during 2014 during his segment. Doug gives the gift of trivia, and much, much more.

Thank you to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our podcast.

Have a careful and safe New Year everyone! Thanks for being part of the SB family in 2014!

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Countdown to 2020: What Did We Learn In 2013? With Scott Tiras (Special) Dec 25, 2019

With the end of the decade quickly approaching, we decided to mix things up a bit. Leading up to our first brand new show of the year on January 1st, we'll be releasing each of our special "what should we have learned" episodes. It's not only a look at how our financial focus has changed since 2013, but also how much our show has changed!

You can read the original show notes below:

Top advisor Scott Tiras (Barrons top 100 independent advisor list) joins us with five lessons we should have learned from 2013. What are some ideas we can glean to avoid mistakes next year?

PK goes contrarian in this episode. Doug sneaks downstairs to borrow mustard. Len, Paula and Greg ask the magic 8 ball important questions about 2014....and much more.

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What Should We Have Learned in 2019? (with Liz Weston) Dec 23, 2019

We've got the best linens out and mom's favorite table settings because Liz Weston is FINALLY headed down to the basement today to help us put a cap on all of the lessons we should have been learning this year. We'll say a HUGE welcome to our last Monday show of the year, as we wrap up another year of podcasting. We'd like to thank you for joining us in what we consider our biggest year yet. We've made some big changes to how we put this show together, and we'll continue to do so as we continue to grow and improve, which is only possible because of your continued support. We recognize that we live in a fast-paced world with a thousand distractions, so we remain humbled that you CHOOSE to listen to us time and time again. Thank you.

On today's show, we're taking a look back at 2019 to ask the big question: what should we have learned this year? While there is timeless investment advice, each year also brings some unique lessons for the future. Sitting down with us today to distill the big financial lessons of 2019 is Liz Weston, award-winning personal finance columnist and certified financial planner.

During our headlines we'll talk to Harlan Landes from the Plutus Foundation about what's going on in financial literacy. December is prime giving-season, and Harlan has plenty of advice on what you can do to support financial literacy in your own local area. During our second piece, we'll tackle one financial planning quandary: why in the world is it so difficult to follow your own rules for asset allocation? When a piece of your portfolio becomes overweight, it makes sense to sell it... right? On the other hand, why would you sell a "winner"? We'll talk about emotions and investing during our second headline.

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia too! Enjoy!

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Our Biggest Lessons From The Last Decade (plus an intro to RocketDollar) Dec 20, 2019

What have you learned from the past 10 years? We'll do a deeper dive on today's show with our roundtable gang...who (not surprisingly) have some takeaways from the last ten years that we can all learn from. On today's show we welcome special guest Doc G from the What's Up Next podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, plus from Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com!

Plus, at the halfway mark of today's episode we'll talk about a FinTech company who's figured out a more cost-effective and quicker way to put non-traditional investments in your self-directed IRA or solo 401(k) plan. We'll all get an introduction to Rocket Dollar, as we talk with Dan Kryzanowski from the company in today's Friday FinTech segment.

And during our Magnify Money call we'll hear from our new friend Tyler who wonders how to maximize his savings.

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow finale question by our neighbor, Doug. All that and more on today's show! Hope you can join the fun!

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Takeaways from 2019's Best Interviews Dec 18, 2019

What were your favorite moments of 2019? Today we'll lay our cards on the table and show you ours, plus what we learned from each of these stellar guests. From composers to chefs, and from iconic investors to artists, today we're going to actually learn something...and from LOTS of different types of personalities. We're very proud of the wide range of topics we covered in 2019, and today we'll take a glimpse of just a few of them with you.

That's not all...of course, we'll leave time for Doug's trivia! Enjoy!

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How Money Became Dangerous (with Chris Varelas) Dec 16, 2019

Money used to be easy. Go to the bank, make a deposit. Maybe you had a pension. Nearly everyone in America had Social Security. How did money become dangerous? We'll sit down with Chris Varelas, the man responsible for brokering some of the biggest mergers and acquisitions in finance. Between working as the head of Citi's technology, media, and communications, and co-founding a private equity firm in Silicon Valley, Chris has acquired a special insight into just how the money game has changed, and his role in some of the biggest financial moments of the last 30 years.

What problems will you encounter on your journey toward financial independence? We'll cover many of those during our headlines. While financial headwinds like expenses, loss, and taxes are roadblocks to a bigger portfolio, we'll key into the main problem nearly everyone will face: YOU standing in the way of your own success. Plus, in our second piece, we'll examine how one rogue broker singlehandedly took down his whole firm. Now THAT is dangerous.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Colton, who calls in with a question about paying off some debt with his pension. Colton recently bought a new house and is having a cash-flow crunch. He has $5000 in his pension that he could use to pay off some short-term bills. Should he use the pension, which has a lower interest rate than the bills, to pay off his debts? His pension would grow to be about $15,000 in retirement.

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Our Roundtable Team's TOP Holiday Tips (plus the Evil HR Lady!) Dec 13, 2019

How do you not only survive the holiday season but thrive during it? Today our roundtable team rolls out their very best holiday survival ideas. We'll talk shopping to family to mindset and fun...plus maybe sprinkle in a laugh or two. Calling in today is Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, plus Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and who can forget OG from our very own show!

Plus, at the halfway mark of today's episode we'll talk about flexible spending accounts. What do YOU need to know before the year is up? Maybe a lot. Hopefully we save a few people a LOT of money because they listened to today's podcast! Helping us by calling dad's shortwave from all the way over in Europe, we'll welcome back Suzanne Lucas, aka the Evil HR Lady from evilhrlady.org.

And during our Magnify Money call we'll hear from our good friend Santa and he gives us his tip for not getting so tipsy this time around the world on his sleigh.

As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question by our neighbor, Doug. All that and more on today's show! Hope you can join the fun!

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Surviving and Thriving During Holiday Party Season (with Carmine Gallo) Dec 11, 2019

It's the time of year when you're talking to more people AND making more impressions than any other time of year. How do you put your best foot forward and make your best impression? How do you tell that story that makes everyone laugh and wish they were you? How do you endure the party if you're an introvert? We'll cover ALL of those scenarios and more with master communicator Carmine Gallo on today's podcast.

Plus, what if you could lower your fees by HALF? we'll discuss why that might not be the offer you think it is AND deliver some better financial advice...plus we'll throw out the Haven Life line and save time for Doug's amazing trivia.

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Planning the Perfect--and frugal--Holiday Party (with David Tutera) Dec 09, 2019

Whether for holidays, office events, or social get-togethers, December feels like the official month of parties. If you've ever thought about hosting your own event, whether this month or any other, you can feel the need to break the bank so that your guests feel special. But what if you could host a better event without emptying your wallet? That's why today we're thrilled to help you create your best event with the help of an extra special guest: celebrity party planner David Tutera. We'll talk invitations, decorations, food, activities and games, plus parting gifts and LOTS more. You'll feel better prepared to be a great host after today's show!

Plus, during our headlines, Fidelity Investments is out with their look at 2020. What are savers hoping for in the New Year? We'll help you jump start your New Year's Resolutions with the help of Maura Cassidy, Vice President of Retirement & Small Business at Fidelity Investments about the takeaways. You may be surprised by some of this year's findings AND some of the takeaways. Also, we'll cover a piece from Barron's about the impending stock market downturn. Should you begin making adjustments for the big drop that might be just around the corner?

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Mark, who only keeps one month of his emergency savings liquid. The other five months of savings are in a 15 month CD with his bank. Is he making a mistake if a "real" emergency were to come up?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia, too!

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Our Best Investing Advice For Beginners (plus an intro to Titan) Dec 06, 2019

Is there advice you wish you'd had when you started investing? Wish you could go back in time and tell yourself to do something differently? With the end of the year almost upon us, we thought this would be the perfect time to reflect on lessons learned... and hopefully help out some new investors so they won't make the same mistakes we did. Experienced investor or not, we'll share some great advice during today's roundtable discussion among seasoned investors. Calling in today for our roundtable is our good basement friend, Ryan Inman of the Financial Residency podcast, plus Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and OG from our very own show!

Plus, at the halfway mark, we'll take a break to learn about Titan, an online app and website that helps people invest like a hedge fund. We'll learn all about it from co-founder Clayton Gardner. Looking for some good investment help? We'll explore what Clayton and Titan are doing to help investors get a bigger bang for their dollar.

During our Magnify Money call we'll answer a voicemail from Tyler, who will be graduating from college debt-free. How should Tyler capitalize on his opportunity? Tyler knows about investing through work and having a proper emergency fund, but what else should he do? Is he missing out on something?

As always, we'll quiz our contributors with a post-FinTech gameshow question by Doug.

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Lessons From the Former NASDAQ Chief (with Robert Greifeld) Dec 04, 2019

What lessons can you learn from an entrepreneur in technology who was hired just after the turn of the century to lead one of the biggest exchanges on earth? A ton, it turns out. We talk to Former NASDAQ CEO Robert Greifeld about making tough choices, developing leaders, listening, debating, and more. He'll also share stories about his interactions with CEOs like Bill Gates, Howard Schultz, and Jeff Bezos, and his view of the 2007-2008 financial crisis from his front row seat. You'll learn a ton from today's show whether you lead a company, department, club, or your family.

Plus, during our headline segment, wealth advisors give clients high marks for understanding some tax rules and for saving money. However, there are some glaring weaknesses they see among clients. Do you have the same weaknesses? We'll explain what worries financial advisors and how to correct course. In our second headline we'll wave the warning flag on an IRS rule that many people violate, and regret later. We'll show you HOW to avoid getting hit with penalties and help you smooth the road for your retirement at the same time.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Mark, who not only tries to avoid giving us his tee-shirt size on air (and nearly fails), but also wonders if it's a good idea to lock much of his emergency fund in a high-interest paying but long-term CD.

...and of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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How To Lower Your Healthcare Costs (with Scott Heiser) Dec 02, 2019

Visit any online forum and you'll find someone complaining about their health insurance costs. While lots of people complain, our guest today says that the answer may have nothing to do with all of the political rhetoric around the topic. Scott Heiser visits the basement to teach you how to become a better "health" consumer. Changing the healthcare system is one thing, but making proper, well-informed choices about your personal health is another (and one that we can all handle--and also use to bring down the cost of your care). We'll discuss everything from comparison shopping your professionals, insurance options, medical tourism, HSAs, and lots, lots more.

Plus, during our headline segment, there's huge news in the financial brokerage space. Charles Schwab is buying TD Ameritrade! With Schwab acquiring another 12 million client accounts, and over a trillion dollars in assets, what's this mean for the bigger financial landscape? Could more mergers be on the horizon? We'll tackle the big questions before we scale it back down during our second headline. One gamer spent over a million dollars on a video game character only to have a friend sell it for $643. Sounds crazy? We thought so too.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to John, who's looking for some pointers on how much he should be contributing at work.

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Board Games About Money and Economics (plus an intro to Find Your Meeple) Nov 29, 2019

Wondering if there are any good games you can play about money or economics? Long time Stacking Benjamins fans know we have one non-financial event that gets us just as excited (if not more) than any other event all year: our annual board game episode! Today we'll fly with Joe to Dallas, Texas, and the BoardGameGeek.con convention, where he catches up with the star of the YouTube show Game Night!, Lincoln Damhurst. They'll not only talk about a whole host of cool games about money and company-building, but they'll also dive into some light, fun games that you can play with the family over the holidays. Before you waste money on a game that nobody will like, check out this episode and make a better buying decision.

Plus, replacing our usual Fintech segment (is it boardtech now?), we're talking to co-creator of a new site called FindYourMeeple.com. Jeremiah Cole-Kelly will walk us through how this new tool can help you find a cheap evening's entertainment (and even a weekend's worth, when it comes to game conventions). Looking for people in your area who love to play board games just as much as you do? Jermiah's site just may be the solution to your problems.

Of course, financial show or not, we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Our 2019 Tech Deals Guide (with CNET's Bridget Carey) Nov 27, 2019

What are the hottest deals in tech this holiday season? What should you avoid? Back for her annual visit to the basement, Bridget Carey from CNET shares the highs and the lows this year. There are LOTS of deals you'll want to avoid, and she'll name names. But don't worry, if you're thinking about televisions, computers, game consoles, kitchen gadgets, audio equipment, or security, we've got you covered!

Worried about the financial tasks you need to accomplish before year-end? Maybe you should be. Today we'll also share a laundry list of important items you'll want to check off your list before the new decade begins in just over a month. Plus, we'll also share some advice about gift giving. Since we're diving into shopping season, how do you give a gift that won't be returned?

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life line, as always. It's just another fantastic, money-saving episode of Stacking Benjamins on tap! Enjoy.

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Our 2020 Black Friday Deal Guide (with Regina Conway from Slickdeals.net) Nov 25, 2019

Plus, if you're an investor, the game just might be changing. In our headline segment, we'll share news about three big firms who just received the green light to hide holdings inside their ETFs. What does that mean? We'll share why that may be a big win for active managers, and maybe also for you. Plus we'll cover a second piece from MarketWatch about shopping for yourself. People already spend surprising amounts of cash on themselves each holiday season, but by doing it the right way, you'll be further ahead by maybe partaking in a little selfish gift-giving yourself.

Later, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Julien, who has been reading about income taxes going on. He'd like to know if there's any truth to that claim, and if so, how should he be balancing contributions between his Roth and Traditional 401ks?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. It's the start of our Thanksgiving week extravaganza of shows, and we can't wait for you to hear it, so jump in!

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Underpaid? How NOT To Ask For Money (with Angelo Poli from Metpro) Nov 22, 2019

Think you're underpaid? You aren't alone. Are you even sure how much you should be earning in your position? On today's roundtable we'll discuss one piece examining all the ways you can mess up the driver of all of your financial activity: your salary. Whether you work for "the man" or for yourself, we'll have something for you. Helping us out today is special guest and Stacking Benjamins friend Katie Brewer, from Your Richest Life, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and OG from our very own podcast.

Plus, halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe sits down for another chat with Angelo Poli from Metpro. It's not exactly Fintech, but keeping a mind on health tech will keep you healthy through the holidays... which keeps money in your pocket.

During our Magnify Money segment we'll answer a voicemail from Jordan. Jordan and his wife are doing great in their savings and investments, and would like some advice on the best way to tackle asset allocation.

As always, we'll carve out some time for a little gameshow with Doug's trivia.

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House Hacking For Wealth, Fun, and Profit (with Craig Curelop) Nov 20, 2019

Ever wonder HOW you can finally get ahead? While some people moan that they just can't seem to make ends meet, Craig Curelop worked from the opposite strategy: he realized that EVERYTHING is for sale. Today we'll talk to the 24 year-old who's hacked his house, his car, and more to get ahead. He's biked to work, slept on his couch...and his old boss said he'd even rent you his underwear. Craig shows us all how we can get ahead if we're willing to go the extra mile.

Plus, what funds have had the worst returns in 2019? We'll share the list, which is interesting (to say the least). Not only that, but we'll also watch OG maybe throw up in his mouth as we tackle target-date funds. New information shows that maybe the big brokerages know these tools are broken...or at the least, suboptimal for many people.

That's not all. Of course, we'll also finish out the show with some of Doug's absolutely amazing trivia! It's gonna be fantastic! Hit play already!

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Zero Debt, Lots of College (with Anthony ONeal) Nov 18, 2019

While everyone else panics about student loans, what if YOU were able to reach your dream of a great education and ZERO debt? Wouldn't that be awesome? You're going to love our featured interview with Anthony ONeal, author of Debt-Free Degree and Dave Ramsey personality. Between fantastic advice on choosing the right school, lowering your tuition amount, and earning scholarships... Anthony has a plethora of actionable steps you (or anyone else you know) can take to graduate with a degree, but WITHOUT being shackled to loans.

Buying a car? In our headlines segment we'll talk about the HUGE number of people who are "underwater" on their auto loans. Maybe that's the new epidemic. We'll talk about how to handle auto loans much more effectively, plus, we'll also talk about one new piece pushing the claim millennials should be happy that they're stuck renting their house. We'll do a dive into today's pieces and naturally give our two cents as well.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Kathy, who has some questions on the differences between two savings accounts at her bank. Kathy thought she should be earning more on her savings, but it turns out her bank actually has two different versions of their savings accounts, and she's been putting her cash into a lower-earning account. What's the deal with that?

As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Is "Self-Care" Spending Just Lying To Yourself? (plus an intro to Roger.ai) Nov 15, 2019

We've all had those days. Nothing went right at work and on the way home you KNOW you'd feel better if you just stopped at the (insert favorite store) and bought...that expensive (or inexpensive thing). On Instagram, that's often called self-care. But is it destructive? In a recent viral YouTube video, Chelsea Fagan of The Financial Diet lays out her thoughts. We'll play a clip and then jump into a fascinating discussion on the topic with Jacob Wade, from IHeartBudgets.net, and basement regular Len Penzo, of the LenPenzo.com blog.

Whether you own a business or are thinking about starting a side hustle, one problem we KNOW you'll have is handling your books. How come current bookkeeping and business management software programs don't work together? A company working at solving that puzzle is called Roger.ia, and halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our discussion to talk to Catherine Anderson, the cofounder of Roger. Catherine will walk us through how Roger does everything from fraud detection to team management, bill pay, and how it even helps out with possible audits.

During our Magnify Money segment, we'll answer a voicemail from William, who will be retiring soon. William and his wife are still paying on the mortgage, but they have some savings they could tap into. Here's the question: Should William use their extra savings towards the mortgage, or keep the cash liquid as an emergency fund? We'll answer Will's question and still save some time for Doug's trivia.

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The Reason You Don't Reach Your Goals (with Tom and Ariana Sylvester) Nov 13, 2019

Ever wonder why you don't reach any of your goals? Tom and Ariana Sylvester were there. Over $70k in debt, newly married...they needed a plan. BUT more than that, they needed a way to STICK TO their plan. Today they join us in the basement to share the method they've used to achieve some amazing goals.

In our headlines segment, we'll discuss a possible merger between two big companies. What happens when you own shares of a company and it's swallowed by another? What happens if the company whose shares you own devours another? We'll use this current news to discuss how mergers work from the viewpoint of a shareholder. Then, after a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, as always. Today's question? Is Social Security going to go extinct faster if younger people join the FIRE movement? Enjoy!

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Are Zero-Fee Trades the "New Black"? (plus our Veteran's Day special featuring Ellie Kay) Nov 11, 2019

Raising financial literacy rates in the country is not only important for the population at large but especially for military service members. That's why we're honoring service members this Veteran's Day with some HUGE advice from Ellie Kay, founder of the Heroes at Home program. The program provides military members and their families financial education on how to get out of debt, save more, and how to make their dollar go further. Today she'll share resources for veterans and current military members alike, plus there are LOTS of takeaways for those of you who aren't military-related.

During our headlines segment, we'll take a look at another brokerage firm slashing fees and the reactions of two other CEOs in the industry. Are you missing out by not chasing lower fees? We'll give our thoughts, plus, cover a second piece about the wife of a convicted Ponzi scheme fraudster. She recently pleaded guilty to trying to cash in on $26,000 in credit card points - points earned from the Ponzi scheme of course.

Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Peter, who has recently become an uncle. Peter wants to set up his niece with some investments to help her later in life, but he's not sure what to do. He doesn't want to lock up the money in education funds, but he doesn't want it freely available either. Options?

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Should You Marry for Money - And an intro to ParkMobile (SB 101) Nov 08, 2019

We're finishing out our rewind week with one very interesting topic: should you marry for money? Tune back in next week for another 8 weeks of brand new shows! We'll kick the week off with featured guest Ellie Kay. You can read our original show notes below:

While people say that marrying for money is a horrible reason to wed...are there positives? We ask Len Penzo and special guest Jessica Moorhouse from the Mo' Money podcast, that question...and as usual, the answer isn't what you'd expect. Plus, we talk about guaranteed income streams. It seems everyone wants one...but is the cost of a guarantee worth it? Finally, we'll tackle the video everyone's been talking about...the professor on the BBC who's interrupted by family. What are some workplace gaffes that WE'VE had happen? You'll laugh with us (and probably at us).

During our FinTech segment we talk to Jon Ziglar from Parkmobile about some much-needed technology. How about an app that helps you find and pay for parking without all of the hassle? We'll ask him how it works on today's podcast.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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And Then He Pulled a Gun - How Leisa Petersons Life Changed In An Instant (SB RWD 100) Nov 06, 2019

We're taking a look back to an episode originally aired in 2016 about a crazy story that left our guest traumatized. She went on to use that fear to change her life for the better.

Here is our original show description:

A horrifying event changed Leisa Peterson’s life…for the better. What happened? That’s what we’ll discuss with her on this show, along with a great discussion on fear. Plus, we’ll talk about crazy things people buy with student loan money AND answer questions from Amy about when to hire a financial advisor and from Michael about when to diversify his investments. There’s ALL of that and more on today’s show!

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From $52,000 in Debt to Early Retirement (RWD 99 w/ Deacon Hayes) Nov 04, 2019

How about a kick in the pants financially? Deacon Hayes got one...and today, you're going to get one too, especially if you want to be motivated to pay off debt. Let's get that debt paid!

Today we bring you one of our FAVORITE episodes. If you're new here, every eight weeks we take a week off to organize and plan our next two months' shows. The good news for you? This whole week we're going to feature some of our favorite episodes from the past! While markets may change from week to week, great financial advice doesn't. Here's the original show notes from two years ago:

Thinking about retiring early but you're stuck in neutral with your debt? Maybe it's time to change your money habits. Deacon Hayes (recent winner of the Plutus' Blog Of The Year award), joins us to tell his personal "getting his money act together" story, that YOU can also use to get out of debt and start on your road to early retirement. Then we talk about retiring early, the topic of his new book. From investing in stocks to real estate and business, we cover MANY avenues you can use to work like Deacon, who's on a path to financial independence in his early 40's.

In our headline segment today we'll tackle a story about an icon who just sold nine figures worth of stock. What does this have to do with your portfolio and investments? It has a LOT to do with you, if you're accumulating stock in a single company. We'll also detail a recent shopping trend. How much has online shopping overtaken the Black Friday experience? What does this mean for your holiday shopping this year? We'll discuss it on today's show.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, answer a listener letter, and also try to answer a tough trivia question from Doug. That's just the beginning of the fun we're having on today's Stacking Benjamins podcast!

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Are Super Savers Overlooking a Potentially BIG Problem? (plus an intro to Resolve) Nov 01, 2019

You have your financial plan, you've cut back on the lattes and the subscriptions, you've downsized your home, you know how much debt you need to pay off each month, and you've socked away LOTS of cash... right? In the race to financial freedom, is that it? Maybe not. On today's roundtable discussion the gang will tackle a recent blog post that says, "Maybe there's something ELSE you should be paying attention to, first." Diving in today, we're excited to feature our long time regulars: Paula Pant of the Afford Anything podcast, Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com, and from our very own podcast: OG.

We'll take a break halfway through the show while Joe sits down with Michael Bovee from Resolve. Resolve is a company that's setting out to be your personal guide out of financial stress, and Michael will share just how the company intends to do that.

During the Magnify Money segment we'll answer a question one of our listeners posted in the Stacking Benjamins facebook group. When you know you'll be needing to sell and buy a home and the next 5-10 years, how would you prioritize saving? Our roundtable will weigh in with their two cents, and we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

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Adulting Horror Stories (with Amanda Holden and Chuck Jaffe) Oct 30, 2019

Since October is almost Oct-over it's time to turn down the lights and look over your shoulder because today someone might be playing a spook-tacular Halloween episode for you! We'll share some simply horrifying stories about being an adult from Amanda Holden (AKA the Dumpster Doggy). We'll also offer you a nice treat from Chuck Jaffe (The Money Life podcast) who will share how he tricks the treaters.

But it's not all partying with fantastic friends, on this celebration of financial horror. In our headlines segment, we'll show you a super easy way to save some money...and it's one that's probably sitting in your house right now. Like a few extra Benjamins a year? We do!

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life line, as always. It's a fantastic, horrible, money-saving episode of Stacking Benjamins on tap! Enjoy.

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Understanding Your Investments (with J. David Stein) Oct 28, 2019

Do you understand investments? If not, today's show is for you...and if you DO, today's show probably still is for you, because our guest is all about focusing on what you DON'T yet know about your money. David Stein will help us learn more about how your investments work so the whole process is less of a gamble. He's the host behind the hit financial podcast, Money For The Rest Of Us, and brings to the basement a wealth of knowledge about the questions you need to ask before putting your hard-earned money into any investment. Picking a popular stock is easy, but truly understanding the thing you put your cash behind? That's more difficult, and David will break down why.

October is fire prevention month, so during our headlines segment we'll ring up Steve Kerber, the Director of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute. He'll share fantastic advice on not only how to keep your family safe, but your home too. Plus, could there be a magic number to emergency savings? One recent study suggests that if you hoard too much money it might not be worth it, and the savings could be better put elsewhere.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Stacy, who describes herself as a digital nomad. How should she budget and do her taxes?

A big thanks to Masterworks for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Start investing in art AND skip the 17,000 person waitlist by visiting Masterworks.io and letting them know Stacking Benjamins sent you.

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Dreaming about Starting a Business? Here Are The Questions To Ask Beforehand (plus Justin Pogue on Rental Secrets) Oct 25, 2019

You're ready to jump into the waters of entrepreneurship...or maybe you aren't, but you ARE curious. What questions should you ask yourself BEFORE you lay down your hard earned money to invest in inventory, systems, and people? Happy Friday! Today we ditch our usual Friday format and instead offer up a super special game show edition of SB! On today's show we'll quiz Chief Side Hustler and the host of the Side Hustle Show, Nick Loper, plus regular contributors Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and OG on THE questions an entrepreneur should ask before creating a start-up. Think you have what it takes to create your own business? Play along with our cast and find out!

After we have our fun with the game show, Joe will ring up Justin Pogue, the author behind Rental Secrets. We'll talk to Justin on how to get more value out of your dollar by using insider knowledge to lower your rent and earn yourself more leverage.

Plus, with Nic Loper on the roundtable, we'll answer a specially-themed entrepreneurial question from Reddit. The user writes that they'll very possibly be fired from their day job soon, but that they're starting up their own business and things are beginning to go well. What should they do?

A big thanks to Quickbooks for supporting Stacking Benjamins. You can save an average of $600 annually by paying your employees with Intuit QuickBooks Payroll. Check it out today at Intuit.me/sb.

Another big thanks to Native for supporting our podcast as well. Get 20% off your first purchase by visiting nativedeodorant.com and entering promo code SB during checkout.

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Igniting Success (with Dr. Melanie Katzman) Oct 23, 2019

What if the difference between today's mediocrity and tomorrow's succes were all steps you've heard before? Things you can do TODAY to get where you want to go tomorrow? Today we'll tackle just that, learning how to ignite success in 52 easy steps with Dr. Melanie Katzman. We've heard a lot of these rules already, but how are we applying them to our lives? Dr. Katzman teaches us how to get on track to become successful.

In our headlines segment, Jim Miller from JD Power and Associates stops by to talk about the trend toward a cashless society. They just finished a survey which shows some surprising results around you and those bills in your wallet. Are we really going plastic only? Plus, we'll find out why security lawyers call on FINRA to halt their "expungement" process. What the heck is expungement? It's actually more exciting, and potentially sickening, than you can believe.

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to Mitch, a 26 year old who is just starting out in the workforce, asked decrease 401k to just what his employer matches to save cash for a down payment to buy a house or is that not necessary?

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Avoiding the Looming Retirement Crisis (with Chad Parks) Oct 21, 2019

There's a storm coming toward retirements all over the United States (and elsewhere). Pensions are broken, Social Security is headed toward big cuts, and personal savings? Nobody is doing it. On today's show, we'll sit down with the visionary behind the Broken Eggs documentary, Chad Parks. Chad's 2013 documentary shone some light on America's looming retirement crisis. It's been six years since the film released and we'll discuss the progress and changes that have (or sadly, haven't) happened across the retirement landscape since then.

During our headlines segment we'll keep the retirement theme going strong by examining TIAA's newest study on retirement and lifetime income. Plus we'll discuss one piece from InvestmentNews about SoFi refunding investors for a tax hit caused by their very own, proprietary ETFs.

Later we will throw out the Haven Life Line to Trent, who's worried we'll become over-leveraged as he continues to buy rental properties. Here's the question: what exactly is being over-leveraged?

Thanks to AcreTrader for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Learn more at AcreTrader.com/sb.

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Should You Love Your Career? (with Angelo Poli from Metpro) Oct 18, 2019

When it comes to your career, should you love what you do? A blog post our friend R.L. Graham reads says, "Maybe not." Is that right? We've heard a TON about how you should be PASSIONATE about your work. On today's show we'll ring up Jen Hemphill, host of Her Dinero Matters and long-time friend of the basement, and the amazing Paula Pant from Afford Anything to ask their opinion. Our contributors will give their take on working, finding accomplishment in life, and focusing on what matters.

Halfway through the show, we'll detour from our usual roadmap and swap out our fintech segment for some Friday HEALTH tech. We've had such great conversations on the correlation between health and finance with Angelo Poli from Metpro that we couldn't resist bringing him back to answer LOTS of your questions.

Later we'll answer a Magnify Money call from Patrick: how does someone know if their financial advisor is doing a good job? Sure, there will be good times and bad times, but what's the criteria for judging an advisor's performance?

Of course, we'll always save some times for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Kabbage for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get the money you need to run your small business at Kabbage.com.

Thanks to Masterworks for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Bypass Masterwork's 17,000 person waitlist by visiting their site and telling them Stacking Benjamins sent you.

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When Diversification Is Better, But Works Against You Oct 16, 2019

This year, diversification may have COST you money, as it has many college endowment funds. We'll dive into that topic and three more in our first-ever show that's mostly headlines ripped from the popular financial press! We'll tackle headlines from NPR, CNBC, Marketwatch, and more, including our lead-off story that asks, could your retirement fun be ruining our economy? Also, nine American families living abroad have reported that their life savings, stowed away in a bank, had vanished. Will the bank reimburse their money? Finally, we'll talk about pensions. GE has frozen pensions for over 20,000 employees, and many more are eligible now to take their funds as a lump sum. How does that work? We'll detail all of the factors you need to consider, on today's show.

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Jan calling all the way from Germany, who says first, that we are awesome, and second, about diversification between accounts. Should he also invest in multiple currencies?

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Leadership Lessons From Walt Disney (with Pat Williams) Oct 14, 2019

Wondering how the best and brightest leaders emerge in any organization? Whether you're running a business or just your household, we all need leadership skills, and today's guest focuses on those of the great leader, Walt Disney. We'll sit down with Pat Williams, motivational speaker, author, and co-founder of the NBA Orlando Magic franchise. Pat combines his decades of management experience with the leadership lessons from the visionary animator to provide you with relevant and practical lessons on how to lead in the modern workplace. Our talk with Pat begins at the 30:49 mark.

Plus, during our headlines segment, we'll take a call from Leo Acheson, associate director of multi-asset and alternative strategies team at Morningstar, about the company's newest report on the state of health savings accounts. HSAs have changed a lot since we last spoke with Leo a year ago, and we'll ask him about improvements in the industry and which plans are the best accounts you should be watching out for. We'll begin our headlines segment at the 5:15 mark.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Julie, who's found herself with a few hundred dollars that she wasn't expecting. What's the best way Julie could invest this small, one-off windfall?

Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Kabbage for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get the money you need to run your small business. Go to Kabbage.com to get started. Credit lines subject to review and change. Individual requests for capital are separate installment loans issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC.

Thanks to HoneyBook for supporting Stacking Benjamins. If you run your own business, you’re used to doing it all. But if you’re struggling to get through your to-do list, HoneyBook can help. Go to HoneyBook.com/SB for 50% off your first year.

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What’s The Best Career Advice We’ve Ever Received? (plus an intro to Froogal.us) Oct 11, 2019

What do you get when you place a bunch of seasoned workers in a room? You immediately start telling stories about the best career advice anyone has ever given you. Today we do just that, with the host of the Beyond The Dollar podcast: Sarah Li-Cain. We’ll work from a post detailing how a Netflix co-founder's father left him a handwritten list of 8 rules to success. What are those rules? Check out what Sarah, Len Penzo, and Paula Pant all have to say about them!

Halfway through the show, we’ll take a break to talk about higher interest rates. Who’s working on that? Well, one company is, and today we’ll give you an introduction to Froogal, with CEO Kale Pasch.

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail during our Magnify Money segment asking for resources on podcasts and blogs for families AND we'll have some fun with another of Doug's wild trivia questions.

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How Did College Get So $%!& Expensive? (with Caitlin Zaloom) Oct 09, 2019

Why are college costs increasing so fast? While there are lots of theories, only one researcher has reached out to many middle-class families to directly ask them how much money they've spent on college and to get the direct story. Today we talk to her. Caitlin Zaloom joins us on today's podcast to dig in to the problem with college funding. 529 plans? Saving directly with the state using pre-paid tuition? We'll tackle LOTS of scenarios and throw out some ways to solve the problem on today's show.

In our headlines segment, we talk about borrowing money from your 401k plan. Even though you can borrow from it without penalty, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. We'll also dig into the chaos that's been created as some of the biggest brokerage firms in the country swipe fees all the way to ZERO. Is that a good thing?

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to an anonymous caller who calls out Joe and OG....well, maybe not OG. More directly....just Joe.

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Let's Learn To Be Rich (with Ramit Sethi) Oct 07, 2019

What would you say to someone who said they could teach you to be rich? Would you have a hard time believing them? Today we'll sit down with the person who has already done just that for thousands of people across the country: New York Times best-selling author Ramit Sethi.

In our headlines segment, what's the deal with gold? We'll take a look at one article from InvestmentNews that makes the case against gold. But, do we think it has a place in your portfolio? Is that money better deployed elsewhere? We'll give our nuggets of wisdom thoughts before moving into our second piece: 5 things plan sponsors are still getting wrong. You've ran into at least one of this issues (or know someone who has).

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Mandy, who wants some advice on what to do with her money in the market. Should she stay invested, or cash out and buy a house?

Of course, we'll save some time to spend on Doug's surprisingly money-themed trivia.

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The Untold Truth About Success (plus an intro to Nav.it) Oct 04, 2019

Is it frustrated watching successful people work? They seem to do it so easily....and sometimes they even tell you that it IS easy. But is that the truth? What's really behind the success of many people who wisely handle money, or make better business decisions, or seem to juggle priorities easily? There IS a secret...and once you know it you think about the working world differently. Today our special guest Steven Donovan from EvenStevenMoney.com joins OG and Joe to tackle what's really behind success for the average person.

Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. We'll talk to Erin Papworth from Nav.IT, an app and community helping people not only track their expenses and their goals, but helping to keep them accountable AND connecting them with a community of like-minded individuals. How does it work? We'll talk to Erin all about it!

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail during our Magnify Money segment AND save time for Doug's amazing trivia.

Thanks to Masterworks for sponsoring our show! Visit masterworks.io Select podcast, then enter Stacking Benjamins to skip the waitlist.

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A First-Timer's Adventure Into Van Life (with the Mad Money Monsters) Oct 02, 2019

Ever wonder what it would be like to buy a van and hit the road? Van life is an exciting reality for many people you read about online...but would it be for you? Today we talk to Lisa and Harrison from the Mad Money Monster Podcast, who together decided to try it out. The results? Let's just say it may not have gone exactly the way many bloggers act like it will.

In our headlines segment, we're all about cults! One recent financial piece compares Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs) to a cult, but are they really similar? We'll share a story from a former Mary Kay consultant who was tricked into an MLM even though she didn't have any money. Lots of promises, but no results. Is it the way things are for MLMs in general? We also prepare you for the next recession!

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Janelle who is looking to switch jobs. Janelle opted out of receiving benefits from her employer and wants to know if she can use that to negotiate getting a higher salary?

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Blazing Your Own Path to Independence (with Chris Mamula) Sep 30, 2019

Hoping to retire someday? What about retiring early? On today's show we'll sit down with Chris Mamula who retired at...wait for it....41, about how he did it. He's the co-author of the newly released book, Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence, and also is an award-winning blogger at CanIRetireYet.com. He and his wife blazed their own trail toward freedom after meeting with advisors who didn't serve them and reading blogs that didn't speak to them. They might have also listened to a podcast or two that didn't meet with their expectations.

Before all that, though, in our headlines segment, we'll cover one piece from Financial Planning about a Vanguard robo-advisor only recommending... (wait for it) ... Vanguard funds! Think something seems a little fishy with this? We'll throw our two cents into the ring, and still save plenty of time for our second piece from Forbes: women just aren't purchasing enough life insurance. This is SUPER disturbing, given how much women contribute to the average family. If they have a 50% contribution, why aren't they asking for more insurance? We'll share the ugly details.

Plus, we'll still have time to throw out the Haven Life Line to Stevan, who thinks it's the right time to start a retirement account. Based on his current tax bracket and the research he's done, Stevan feels like he should choose a Roth IRA over a traditional to get started... is he missing anything? What would be the pros to choosing a traditional account?

Of course, we'll always have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Get the money you need to run your small business. Go to Kabbage.com to get started. Credit lines subject to review and change. Individual requests for capital are separate installment loans issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC.

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The Case For and Against Hiring a Coach (plus the top cities for digital nomads) Sep 27, 2019

Does it makes sense to hire a coach? Our roundtable discussion today is all around the pros and cons of finding a coach--why do you need one in the first place? How do you find a good one? How do you know it's a good fit? We'll cover all of these and more on today's show with two coaches and a guy who doesn't have one....Sharita Humphrey joins us from Family, Faith and Finance, along with Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man, and Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com.

Halfway through the show, we'll celebrate national tourism day with Kat Kalashian from Live and Invest Overseas, who'll share her list of the top six countries around the world to target if you'd like to live a "work from anywhere" lifestyle.

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail during our Magnify Money segment asking for resources on podcasts and blogs for families AND we'll have some fun with another of Doug's wild trivia questions.

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Am I Doing Money Right? (with Colleen Bordeaux) Sep 25, 2019

Have you ever wondered if you're handling your money right? Sure you have. More important, have you ever worried that you aren't doing LIFE correctly? Our main guest has been there. She's the best-selling author of the philosophical guide to life in the age of overwhelm titled, Am I Doing This Right?, Colleen Bordeaux. Colleen will share her deeply personal search for more meaning in life and lessons she learned along that way. We'll talk about your personal philosophy, getting comfortable with who you are, figuring out your money from a deep level, and more. It's a wide-ranging interview that we're sure you're going to enjoy as much as we enjoyed talking to her.

In our headlines segment, how much does it cost to be considered 'middle class' in a big city? It turns out that it might just cost a TON of money. How do you get ahead when everything is so expensive? We'll talk about many factors, include the fact that where you live can change everything about whether you're financially successful or not. In our second headline, do you prefer receiving money advice from a man or a woman? Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, in the past two years there has been a marked increase in requests from prospective clients who want to work with female financial advisers. We'll talk diversity in the financial services ranks on today's show!

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll also save time to throw out the Haven Life Line to Nick. Nick asks if there is a specific ratio of money in each account (Roth and pre-tax) that is recommended? How does your tax strategy look? We'll dive into that, and much more.

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Crazy, Funny Money (with Paul Ollinger) Sep 23, 2019

How does a guy with a great job at Facebook end up as a standup comedian? Today we talk to Paul Ollinger, host of the new Crazy Money podcast, about chasing your dream...in his case, the dream of becoming a comedian. It's a compelling conversation if you've ever hit the wall with your career, or you've ever made a spur-of-the-moment decision, or you realized that you needed to sharpen the saw to get where you wanted to go. There's something for everyone in today's interview.

During our headlines segment, one recent piece takes to task the age-old idea of dollar-cost averaging. Should you do it? You'll be surprised with the results. Plus, do you think becoming a millionaire is out of your reach? I think you're going to love the great news we have for you. With some sound investment strategies and saving your cash, you could find yourself among that list too.

On the Haven Life line call, we talk to Maddox, who's wondering what he should do better with his money. He's a college student (and actually turning a profit while in school!), and already has a firm base-level investment plan. Should he diversify more? We'll weigh in, and of course, we'll have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting our show. Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting our show. Go to clearbanc.com/SB to sign up today to get $1,000 of additional capital if you are approved as a qualifying company.

Thanks to HoneyBook for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to HoneyBook.com/sb for 50% off your first year.

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Can "More" Really Make You Happier? (plus a look at mortgage innovation with Joel Gurman) Sep 20, 2019

We spend more and buy stuff to make us happy, but does it? Does more really equal better? On today's show we dive into a recent blog post from the Four Pillar Freedom blog to look at the nature of happiness. Money is always intertwined in our view of "happy," probably because advertisers love making us think that if we just buy one more thing we'll finally get that elusive joy that we've been craving. We'll talk about joy, addiction, happiness and more on today's podcast with a team including Beau Humphreys from The Personal Finance Show, CFP Katie Brewer from Your Richest Life planning, and our own OG.

Halfway through the showwe have a special treat where we usually feature our Friday Fintech spotlight. Today instead we'll shine a light on mortgages, because with his recent move to Detroit, Joe just found out that industry insider Joel Gurman from Quicken Loans is his neighbor! Joe invites Joel down to the basement today and quizzes him about the state of mortgages, how interest rates really work, what other fees are involved with mortgages, and more. It's a wide-ranging, fun conversation about the biggest loan many of us will ever have.

But that's not all. We'll help C on the Magnify Money call-in segment. C is wondering about retirement withdrawal software. He feels that savings-wise, he is on course, but he wants to make sure that he is withdrawing in the most tax-efficient way.

Thanks to AcreTrader for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For more information on how to become a farmland investor through AcreTrader, visit acretrader.com/sb

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Running From Burnout (with Nicole Lapin) Sep 18, 2019

At some point you feel fried. Been there? Today's guest, Nicole Lapin, has been there. She thought she could outrun her problems and find success...and today we'll hear how that worked out. Nicole is a New York Times best selling author of both Rich Bitch and her second title Boss Bitch. Today she's back with a new guide to help us figure life out. We'll talk about balance, acceptance, and not trying to outrun your problems on today's show.

In our headlines segment, how's your will looking? The wills of a couple people in the news lately are UGLY. We'll focus on the wills of Jeffrey Epstein and Aretha Franklin today, and some huge questions that have come up because of weird circumstances in both (very different) cases. Then, we'll pivot to a chat about wine destinations (how fun is that???). Good news: one recent piece says you don't have to go to Venice or Napa, and to get a great vacation you might not even need a passport. There are low budget destinations for whatever fun you have planned in places you wouldn't believe.

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Rina, a concerned mother who asks how she can set up a Roth IRA for her child.

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What To Do After The Car Crash (with Elizabeth Calora) Sep 16, 2019

Would you know what to do in the 24 hours after a car accident? What about that next 7 days? The days following an accident is a stressful time, but following the right steps can make a big difference. On today's show we'll talk to Elizabeth Calora, partner at PCVA Law, to talk about what you should do after you are involved in an accident.

During our headlines segment, one retiree placed her life savings into an annuity without knowing the full consequences, (on the advice of a financial advisor). After an uphill battle, PNC bank has finally agreed to refund her money...but is that the full story? Of course it isn't. We'll share the not-so-obvious conclusion during our breakdown. PLUS, we bring you a slice of sunshine (because that's what we do best). It turns out that average 401k savings rates have hit record levels. That's neat...but as yours?

Becky calls our Haven Life Line today. She's over 60 (we didn't ask....she told us!), and she shares that she's worred that she has close to ZERO cash in after-tax accounts. She has good news, though....she DOES have money in Roth accounts that have sat for over 5 years. So does she need an after-tax account? Is she missing anything?

Of course, we'll always have time for Doug's trivia and bunches of fun.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get TWO months of courses for free at Skillshare.com/SB.

Get the money you need to run your small business. Go to Kabbage.com to get started. Credit lines subject to review and change. Individual requests for capital are separate installment loans issued by Celtic Bank, Member FDIC.

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Does Faster Equal Better With Financial Decisions? (plus an update from Zeta) Sep 13, 2019

"Speed kills" is a popular phrase, but in business, you already hear that faster = better. But is it? If you make a mistake with your money, whether it's making it, spending, tracking or investing...how important is speed (or slowing down) in your decisionmaking? We'll take this philosophical discussion and dive in today with Amy Blacklock from Women Who Money, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and our very own OG. It's a lively discussion that ping-pongs between deep philosophy to light tactics, and, of course, a little fun.

Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. Aditi Shekar takes a trip down to the basement to re-introduce new listeners to Zeta! We've had quite a few people in our Stacking Benjamins Basement Facebook group ask about apps for couples, and Zeta is exactly that. Aditi will talk about what's changed with Zeta in the last couple years, beyond helping couples track their transactions and develop a budget for their money management.

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail from D during our Magnify Money segment. D is wondering about the details of a taxable brokerage account. D and his wife save up for a goal, and when they reach that goal, they no longer want that item. D was curious if moving those savings to a brokerage account would be more financially lucrative.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb

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5 (Good) Reasons To Invest In Real Estate (with Michele Cagan) Sep 11, 2019

Have you ever thought about investing in the wide world of real estate but weren't sure whether it was for you? Today's guest, Michele Cagan, says that it probably IS for you...but maybe not in the way you'd traditionally think. Sure, you can go fix up and flip houses or become a landlord, but Michele shares LOTS of other ways to invest in real estate as well, and gives us five reasons why you should at least think about it. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or newbie, there's something for everyone today in Michele's visit to the basement!

In our headlines segment: what's the WORST age to take social security? How does the system work in the first place? While it's complicated, we'll share the worst of the worst AND give you some basics on how to start thinking about YOUR payout. In our second headline, Charles Schwab is seeing HUGE returns from their new hybrid robo-meets-human advisor program. It seems these people chasing robos might just want some human advice...strange (smell the sarcasm in that sentence? We'll explain.)

After a dose of Doug's amazing trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky caller, as usual. Just another fun day here in the basement...

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Are you doing over $10,000 a month in revenue? Find out how you can receive Clearbanc capital by getting your 20 minute term sheet at clearbanc.com/SB.

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Want Better Answers in Life? Here's How to Get Them (with Andy Andrews) Sep 09, 2019

Do you want better answers in your life? It may seem like a simple solution, but Andy Andrews, New York Times best-selling author, says you just need to be asking better questions. He'll share secrets from his new book, Bottom of the Pool, on today's show!

In our headlines segment, we'll ring up Christine Benz on Joe's Dad's shortwave radio. She's the director of personal finance at Morningstar, and we'll ask her how some of our listeners who are new investors can get their retirement plans rolling. In true Andy Andrews spirit, she'll make sure you're not just asking questions about your retirement plans, but asking the right questions. Plus, in our second piece, one article says that millennials should be the new face of the retirement crisis. As two guys who are NOT millennials (but often act like millennials), Joe and OG share their thoughts.

During our Have Life Line, we'll answer a voicemail from Bill, who has a life insurance policy with a cash value. Bill's thinking about stopping it and putting it into a long term care policy or something similar. Thoughts?

Thanks to AcreTrader for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Learn more at AcreTrader.com/sb.

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The Problem with Saying "I'm Broke" (SB RWD 97) Sep 06, 2019

The Fintern is finishing out our rewind week with one of our old school roundtable favorites: we're talking about lies about retirement. You can read the original show notes below:

On today's podcast we're talking about lying. A recent news piece reports that there are nine lies we're told about retirement planning. We'll break them down with Greg, Paula, and special guest Rich Jones from the hit podcast Paychecks and Balances.

We won't stop there, thought. We'll also discuss a recent question to the Moneyologist at MarketWatch. If you had two kids and one was irresponsible, would you disown him? We ask our roundtable that very question and come up with some interesting estate planning themes you may want to address in your own planning.

On the Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk to Michael Asare from Fee Belly. Ever feel like the fine print in a contract is completely against you? Fee Belly was designed to show you ALL of the fine print by highlighting it so you can easily see where contracts might not be in your favor. We'll ask him how it works on today's podcast.

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Special Money With Friends Introduction! Sep 04, 2019

Time for something a little different in the basement! While it's still "rewind week" here, instead of playing an old SB episode, we instead are serving up our little sister show, Money With Friends! This show appears six days a week wherever you listen to Stacking Benjamins. Money With Friends is news and commentary with diverse thought leaders. It's performed in front of a LIVE Facebook audience. This show originally appeared Monday on that channel. If you like it, head on over and listen to today's show as well! We'll have more SB on Friday, with another rewind treat from the FinTern (new shows back on Monday!).

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How I Handed A Hacker Over $50000 (SB RWD 96) Sep 02, 2019

Welcome to our Stacking Benjamins rewind week! Normally doing this week we would play you some of our favorite episodes from the past that you may have missed... but this week we're mixing things up. Monday and Friday will go as planned, but stay tuned on Wednesday for a special surprise.

The Fintern is kicking off the week by queuing up our time with Shannyn Allen, who lost over $50,000 to a hacker. We won't spoil the interview in case you missed it the first time around, but this is one emotional, honest story that you definitely want to hear.

You can read the original show notes below:

What would happen if you lost more than $50,000 that was meant for your first home? Shannyn Allen lived that harrowing nightmare and she's going to share the story today. She unknowingly handed a hacker $50,000 , and will share the mistakes that were made around her situation, and will also let you know the steps YOU should take if you're even in a similar situation. It's a raw, horrifying story, and also one of the longest interviews we've done on Stacking Benjamins in a long, long time.

In our headline segment we talk about Beyonce and Jay-Z. It appears they're spending money like they're....Beyonce and Jay-Z. What does that have to do with you? We'll share that on today's show. Also, Jamie Wise from the Buzz Indexesshares with us some welcome news about oil prices. Are we seeing the lows in oil? He'll share the wisdom of social media chatter on today's podcast.

Of course, that's not all. Doug has yet another hare-brained scheme to become wealthy....but still has time to share some trivia. We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Nikki, who asks an existential question about money and goals, plus answer a letter from Jason about the Roth IRA.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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What Are Money Podcast Listeners Worried About? (live from Podcast Movement) Aug 30, 2019

What do YOU worry about when it comes to money? Is it the same thing others worry about? Today we head to sunny Orlando, the home of Podcast Movement (the nation's biggest podcasting conference), and catch up with some top financial podcasters at the FinCon booth in the expo hall (they were nice enough to set up a podcasting booth for shows to use!). Today we talk to Mindy Jensen from Bigger Pockets Money, Lacey Langford from the Military Money show, and all the way from Australia, the host of one of the biggest money shows in the land down under called My Millennial Money, Glen James.

We'll take a break at the halfway point to finish off our Labor Day prep week. OG and Joe will share a cautionary tale about inviting your FIRE (financial independence/retire early) friends over for your Labor Day cookout. His event last year went really, really poorly. He'll explain.

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How the *$#! Do You Pick Wine? (with Dave Falchek) Aug 28, 2019

Ever walk into a wine store and wonder what all the labels mean? Looking for a way to upgrade your Labor Day celebration without spending a ton of money? Today, wine expert Dave Falchek from the American Wine Society joins us to talk all things vino. How do you pick a wine? What are some clues that a wine is good for your party? What do those ratings mean in a wine shop? What wines go best with burgers and dogs? We'll answer all of those questions and more on today's show!

In our headlines segment, we'll find out why a half a ton of weed was returned to the seller as it was going public. One new billion-dollar pot company is to blame, and the stock price isn't looking great. What does this mean for cannibis stocks in general? Of course, Joe and OG both have opinions. Also, a recent New York Times piece shares how the next recession might start. We'll walk through the possibilities and also maybe look into the crystal ball ourselves.

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Peter, who wants to know if he made a mistake by taking his Roth IRA fund out to help pay for real estate.

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Are you doing over $10,000 a month in revenue? Find out how you can receive Clearbanc capital by getting your 20 minute term sheet at clearbanc.com/SB.

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How To Eat Smart and Waste Less (with Frankie Celenza) Aug 26, 2019

We're celebrating Labor Day in style (and a week early) with Frankie Celenza, the chef at Struggle Meals on the Tastemade network. We'll talk not only how to make your holiday weekend grilling perfect, but also how to make smart and frugal food choices in the kitchen. Not only will he share tips on how to make your perfect burger, but also grocery ideas in general, how to make sauces, and the key to that recipe in front of you.

Before our fantastic chat with Frankie, we'll discuss the retirement danger zone. Could the early years of retirement make or break your golden years? We'll cover what you SHOULD be worried about when it comes to retirement, plus we'll also give our two cents on one piece from InvestmentNews that shares five reasons why even the staunchest of Roth IRA lovers might want to think about leaving some of their portfolios in traditional IRAs.

After we take a break for some Labor Day trivia from Doug, we'll round out the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to Susan, who's mother needs $1800 a month for her assisted living facility. Her mother has a sizable nest egg split with some of the allocation going into a total stock index, and some going into a total bond index. Which of the funds should be in a Roth account. Does it really matter?

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting our show. If you’re doing over $10,000 a month in revenue, find out how you can receive Clearbanc capital by getting your 20-minute term sheet at clearbanc.com/SB.

Thanks to AcreTrader for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Learn more at AcreTrader.com/sb.

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Is It Harder To Retire Early With Children? (Plus an intro to Mercari) Aug 23, 2019

We see people without children retiring early all the time. Is that because children are the speed bumps on the road to the financial heaven? We'll ask our panel for their thoughts, including a woman who has six kids and is chasing financial freedom, Wendy Mayes from the House of FI podcast. We'll discuss meal planning, where you live, your transportation costs, child expenses and more, on today's show.

Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. School is back in session, which means it's time to buy school supplies. Brad Williams from Mercari joins Joe in the basement to introduce their app which helps users buy or sell gently used school supplies. Find out what Mercari is all about and what their company can do for you and your wallet.

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail from J during our Magnify Money segment. J is getting married in a few months and wants to know how to effectively introduce money management to his future-spouse. J also wants to know the middle ground in putting a budget in place that the family agrees to. Thoughts?

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb

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What's a Sandwich Cost? An Inflation Study, the Fun Way (Len Penzo's annual sandwich survey) Aug 21, 2019

Len Penzo is the king of the sandwich study...and of independent thinking ABOUT sandwiches (and many, many other topics). On today's show we dive into the latest iteration of our favorite way of talking about inflation: comparing the rise and fall of prices among popular school lunch/work brown bag sandwiches. How much do different sandwiches cost? How much more do they cost than last year? What are the most inexpensive sandwiches? Which have changed in price the most? If you're looking for a deep dive into the world of sandwiches, today is the show for you.

In our headlines segment, we will learn what the ten stocks millennials just cannot live without. What are they? How do they compare with the stocks you SHOULD own? We'll tackle both the top 10 list and attempt to answer that question. Plus, what is a small cap REIT and should you think about one in your portfolio? We'll talk about diversification during our second headline.

After a little dose of Doug's sandwich-themed trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to a lucky caller. It's another fun show with lots of twists and turns...just another day in the basement.

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The Five Money Lies (with Rob Berger) Aug 19, 2019

Today we sit down with Rob Berger, host of the Dough Roller podcast and author of Retire Before Mom & Dad about the five lies we all are told about money. Because we fall into these traps, we're duped to live a life on the hamster wheel, working harder and harder, but getting nowhere. Today we'll talk about debt, investing, insurances, advisors and more, so that you can take charge of your finances.

Plus, during our headlines segment, we'll cover one piece from Financial Planning about an ex-advisor who is off to prison for duping his clients with a Ponzi scheme. What did he do wrong? We'll share. We'll also jump into some big news from the IRS. One product's tax treatment with regard to advisor's fees is changing. That may change the way advisors...and YOU view that particular tool.

And after we take some time for some of Doug's french fry themed trivia we'll take a voicemail from Jason during our Haven LifeLine. Jason wants to know our thoughts about funds and strategies that will deliver the highest risk-adjusted return. Should he be 100% equities with his money or something safer?

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

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Is Buying a House a Waste of Money? (plus a discussion with Jean Statler from Alliance for Lifetime Income) Aug 16, 2019

Today our roundtable discussion focuses on one set of homeowners who successfully sold their house, but realized that they could've saved $60,000 if they had instead rented and never purchased the home in the first place. Is buying a home a waste of money? Did the couple make some big mistakes that we can all avoid? Did they use professionals wisely or make some bad decisions? Discussing this headline with us are three veterans of the financial blogging and podcasting community: Tom Drake from MapleMoney.com, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com

Halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our rent vs. homeownership discussion while Joe sits down with Jean Statler from the Alliance for Lifetime Income. The organization is working with MIT's AgeLab on an important issue: the risk that we might outlive our savings. Jean reviews the problems the public has had with annuities and dives into the discussion of what the industry is doing to clean up perceptions and simplify products. It's a very frank and enlightening conversation about an often maligned financial tool AND the issues surrounding living longer.

During our Magnify Money segment, we'll take a call from Kurt, who has a question about his workplace tuition reimbursement. If Kurt doesn't stay with his employer for three years he owes back all of the cash his company gave him for school expenses. Right now he has the amount sitting in a savings account, what should he do with it? Should he invest it? Pay down debt? Leave it in savings? Our team bounces around several possibilities.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

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Becoming One Of The Grateful Dead (with Carol Weisman) Aug 14, 2019

Who wouldn't want to be one of the Grateful Dead (love the play on the rock band name, don't you?)? Today we'll ask the question, "When's the last time you've thought about your estate plan... (if you've made one)?" Making a will or even a full trust may seem like a daunting task that's best done tomorrow, or the day after that, but we all know that it's an important piece of your financial life that shouldn't be overlooked. To help us understand the ins-and-outs of estate planning in the most fun way possible (and MAN is it fun...), we've invited down the woman who literally wrote the book on it: Carol Weisman, author of Becoming One of the Grateful Dead.

In our headlines segment, we're getting a little political today with our first piece. With the election cycle revving up, some politicians have been talking about paying for different campaign promises by enacting a tax on some financial transactions. Is there cause to be worried about the bigger retirement picture if more taxes are thrown in the mix? After we've had our fill of politics, we'll stick around the stock market as we discuss our second piece: a robo-run ETF has been making a splash by beating the overall stock market.

Later, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Ian, who has now realized the mutual fund he picked has higher fees than he would like. He's down 11% right now, but should he hold onto his fund knowing about the high fees?

A big thanks to Student Loan Hero for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Find out how you can pay for college AND compare different interest rates before locking into a loan at StudentLoanHero.com

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Solving The Biggest Threat To Your Retirement (with Shawn Britt) Aug 11, 2019

While we all love talking financial independence, side hustles, and paying off huge amounts of debt, another topic doesn't get enough attention, mostly because it's difficult. We don't pay nearly enough attention to the biggest threat facing any retirement: long-term care. What happens if you have a catastrophic illness and can't take care of yourself? Nursing homes are expensive, home care is expensive, and asking loved ones to take care of you can be horrible for their health and wellbeing also. Today we'll talk to Shawn Britt from Nationwide Insurance, who as a long time professional in this field, knows the statistics and the horror stories, but also the common sense approaches to many illness-related problems. We'll talk planning, the good/bad/and ugly of long term care policies, but mostly about maintaining flexibility and options as a result of making informed decisions before life makes those decisions for you.

In our headlines segment, the Fed is unrolling a plan to create a faster money transfer system. We'll discuss what could be the end of the three day wait for money transfers between many institutions, and, of course, what that means to you. Plus, in our second piece, a Swedish online payments company has been valued at $5.5 billion - making it Europe's biggest FinTech start-up ever. Also? It's backed by Snoop Dogg! The firm, Klarna, purchases products from companies on behalf of the consumer and bills customers over time. Is this a dream come true or a recipe for disaster? We'll cover the implications, good and bad, during our headlines segment.

We'll finish out the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to Jason, who has a totally serious question about investing everything he has into a glide path. Currently Jason is 100% investing into the Vanguard total bond fund. Here's the issue: the expense ratio is 0.15%, while the Schwab total bond fund is .014%. It makes sense to move his money over, but that could cause him to incur a $32 tax hit. What's Jason to do in a dilemma like this? Don't worry, we'll give him some advice straight from the heart.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Thanks to AcreTrader for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Learn more at AcreTrader.com/sb.

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Here's How To Ditch Your Full-Time Job (plus an intro to Chipper) Aug 09, 2019

Sick of working for "the man"? Today we'll talk to a woman who's never held down a single full time job but who's created a career out of what most people call "side hustles." We'll explore pitfalls, opportunities, and more with Shanah Bell, author of The Art of Being a Pita, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our side hustle conversation so Joe can sit down with Tony Aquilar, the founder of new student loans app Chipper. Worried about your student loans? Tony will share some helpful tips on how to pay down student loans quicker, AND will show off how his app will help you do just that.

...and after we take some time for Doug's trivia, our roundtable contributors will share some ideas to help caller TJ during our Magnify Money segment. TJ wants to know some fun and interesting ways to teach kids about money and saving for retirement. Thoughts?

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Would The Godfather, Don Draper, or Pam Beasley Qualify For Life Insurance? Aug 07, 2019

Ever wonder how an insurance company would look at some of your favorite movie and television series characters? We might be nerds (who are we kidding...we're huge nerds), but that's exactly the question we wanted to ask Haven Life's Brittney Burgett, who gives us some really enlightening answers. Not only do we find out information about how insurance companies view cartels, money laundering, and 1950's office spaces (all funny and not shocking), we also talk frankly about contestable periods, health ratings, professional considerations, and more. If you've ever wondered how insurance companies think about you, this is a fun way to start.

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Hustling Like PT Barnum (with biographer Robert Wilson) DETAILS Aug 05, 2019

PT Barnum was the king of over-the-top sales pitches...or was he? He certainly was the king of hustling to earn a living. If you're looking for a role model to help you work harder, sell better, or be more...entertaining, there are few people you should look to before the Greatest Showman himself. Today, biographer Robert Wilson joins us to dig into the early years of Barnum's life, from his time organizing lotteries and working on general stores to his first move to New York City. Barnum not only was a great pitchman, but he always wanted to back it up with shows that would make people tell their friends and come back. "There's a sucker born every minute" might not have been a slogan that Barnum lived by....we'll explain in the show.

Plus, during our headlines segment, Joe will talk to Desiree Vargas Wrigley from Pearachute about just how much you're spending on family fun this summer. The amount is sadly a LOT higher than you may expect. We'll also cover one MarketWatch piece that is a good reminder for all of us: all that 401k and IRA money doesn't all belong to you. While the bottom line in your retirement account may look lofty, the tax bill could take a nice chunk of those savings away. We'll share why.

After some P.T. Barnum inspired trivia from Doug, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a caller who wants to know more about Token, the Fintech company we interviewed a few weeks ago. While Token provides security for the rest of your accounts, what happens if they're breached themselves?

And in our letter's segment we'll tackle a question from Michael, who wants to sell some stock his godmother got for him while he was teenager and transfer the cash into a Roth IRA. What are the steps he needs to take to sell the stock? Does he need to hire a broker?

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Three days a week not enough? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

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The 10th Annual Plutus Awards Reveal Show (and discussion) Aug 02, 2019

We're absolutely thrilled to bring you the best in 2019's personal finance indie podcasts, blogs, and video. Today we welcome Miranda Marquit from the Plutus Awards to walk through the 2019 Finalists for the Plutus Awards. The goal of these awards is to shine a light on a wider spectrum of names and brands so that we all have the ability to hear from a wide universe of points of view. Today we present that universe with our finalists picks in our 10th annual awards celebration. Good luck to all of the finalists!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Finding Greatness in Your Career (the life of Robert Mann) Jul 31, 2019

The cast in the Broadway play "Rent" asks, "How do you measure the life of a man?" Today we ask that question as we speak with Nicholas Mann (a great musician in his own right) about his father, the founding member of the Julliard String Quartet (among many other accomplishments), Robert Mann. We'll be talking about Robert Mann's early years: growing up in Portland, getting started on the road to his dream, taking the plunge to move to New York City, his years at Julliard, his military service, and more. We'll talk about practice, mentors, money, teachers, lessons learned, and much more.

In our headlines segment, are you the type of person to use the same password on every online account? First...stop that! There's plenty of easy-to-use software out there that will make multiple passwords a breeze. Second, you'll want to change your passwords on the double if you own a Robinhood account. We'll dive into the details during the show, but the company was storing their passwords in plain text, a HUGE internet security no-no. In our second headline, do you still have unpacked boxes from you last move? We'll look at an Inc. piece detailing how one NASA intern scored millions just by cleaning out an old box he'd carried around through the years. Maybe there's gold in that hoarding you've been doing.

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Ryan, who's started his own business. Ryan is looking into opening a self directed IRA, but his friends have been pointing him towards a SEP 401k. What type of account should he choose?

We'll end out the show with a letter from Leo, who wants to know how 529 plans affect FASFA eligibility. Wouldn't it be better to not invest in a 529 plan to make sure your kids get financial aid?

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Are you doing over $10,000 a month in revenue? Find out how you can receive Clearbanc capital by getting your 20 minute term sheet at clearbanc.com/SB.

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Stop Delegating Your Money Decisions (with Bola Sokunbi) Jul 29, 2019

Bola Sokunbi tells us the amazing story growing up with a mother who was initially left out, like many women, of the family's financial decisions. Whether you're a man or woman, today you'll hear the reality of your financial life: you can't delegate it to other people. There's nobody better to tell this story, so we're super excited that today Bola, the mind behind Clever Girl Finance, joins us.

In our headlines segment, we'll take a call from our long-time friend and Detroit Free Press reporter Susan Tompor. Susan has written a piece on a new money scam which involves receiving an email from your "boss" asking you to buy a few costly gift cards. This is definitely one to watch out for, and we'll find out all the details on the scam from Susan.

And after we give Doug a chance to deliver some buffalo wing themed trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to a caller who's wondering what to do with her cash from a discontinued retirement plan. Brooke works for a small startup, and her employer recently discontinued a fee riddled 401k offering. Brooke had $2000 in her 401k, and wonders what should she do with the money now?

We'll finish out the show with a letter from Brian, who wants to make sure his thinking on the pro-rata rule and backdoor Roth conversions is solid. Could he avoid the tax hit from a traditional-to-Roth conversion if he does it in in his wife's name? What's a backdoor Roth IRA? How does a pro-rata rule work and will it kill you? All good news: we'll explain the rules AND define all of these technical terms.

Thanks to Clearbanc for supporting our show. If you’re doing over $10,000 a month in revenue, find out how you can receive Clearbanc capital by getting your 20 minute term sheet at clearbanc.com/SB.

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Lessons From Some of The Biggest Investing Mistakes of All Time (with an intro to OneClass) Jul 26, 2019

Everyone has made mistakes during their life. Lord knows, we've made our share. While we thankfully forget about a lot of the smaller mistakes we make, the larger mistakes tend to stay with us as lessons we can use to help us in the future. Learning from your own mistakes is great, but being able to learn from another person's mistakes and saving yourself some heartache is even better. Today we're giving you a free "head directly to Go and collect $200" card by sharing with you some of the WORST investing decisions of all time, as shared by one publication.

Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. With colleges opening up their doors for the fall semester soon, we'll focus on one company that's striving to improve student grades AND earn them some extra cash while doing it. Joe will sit down with Jerry Zheng from One Class, and get some detailed bullet points on just how the note-taking company works.

Plus, we'll answer a voicemail from K during our Magnify Money segment. K wants to get into real estate and is looking for ways to save for a down payment. While lowering her contributions to her retirement accounts make the most sense to her the idea still makes her cringe. What if she never finds a buying opportunity and misses out on money she could have been earning? Thoughts?

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Three days a week not enough? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

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Top CIA Secrets to Achieving Better Communication (with Jason Hanson) Jul 24, 2019

Being a good communicator is a crucial skill we don't pay enough attention to. It's easy for us money nerds financially-minded individuals to learn the intricacies between different financial plans, study market fluctuations, and keep up-to-date on the best interest rates, but why is it so hard to focus on soft skills? Chief among them is communication. That being said, we're money nerds at the end of the day. That's why today we're sitting down with Jason Hanson, a man who's had to communicate professionally day-in and day-out as a former CIA officer.

And in our headlines segment, is Wells Fargo catching the last few years of turmoil? We'll discuss the reasons behind why the number of financial advisors saying "sayonara" to bank is finally leveling out, and the lessons you can learn when it's time to leave your job behind. Plus, in our second headline, what's the big reason behind the record number of CFOs retiring from their companies? What are they seeing on the horizon that the rest of us aren't?

Later, after we hand the mics over so Doug can dish our some of his trivia, we'll answer a voicemail from an anonymous caller who says he's "new" to money. He's 34, isn't in debt, and has $300,000 in the bank. What should he do with the money?

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Happy Birthday, Mr. Roth! (Your Letters) Jul 22, 2019

We have two exciting announcements that mom wanted us to share with you about today's show:

One - We're answering your letters, including a BUNCH of them about the Roth IRA, named after a Congressman whose birthday happens to be this very date. In celebration, we're cracking open the mailbag with our friend Scott Rieckens from the Playing With Fire documentary. He stopped by the basement while here for a sold-out screening, and while he was here we put him to work because OG and Joe...well, you know.

On the topic of letters...if you'd like to ask us a question, remember now to use the Haven Life line (StackingBenjamins.com/voicemail). We stopped accepting new letters months ago and we are just now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel on letters! Hurrah!

Two - Mom wanted us to remind you to take off your shoes when you walk inside the house. She works hard to keep the rugs clean, and you'll just mess them up.

That's all. Enjoy!

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One Redditor's Guide to Cleaning Up $16,000 of Debt (plus an intro to Bumped) Jul 19, 2019

With debt piling up, savings gone, and your credit cards maxed out, how do you pull yourself out of the hole and get on the right financial path? The first step, of course, is to stop digging, which is what one Reddit user did after racking up over $16,000 in credit card debt. They also posted a list of things they did to make their debt go bye-bye and their Benjamins start to pile up. While it may not be quick or easy to get yourself back to being debt-free, there are definite steps you can take to get yourself into the world of financial freedom - and we'll walk through one piece which reported on the Reddit forum, adding in experts and other information. How much of it is helpful and what isn't? Depends on what section of the piece we're talking about. Today, helping us dig in today is a crack team of internet stars. First, making her return trip to the basement is Chelsea Brennan (Smart Money Mamas), second, we'll welcome Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com), and then we'll say hello to the guy from our own podcast, OG.

How would you like to earn stock rewards from companies where you already shop? While you shouldn't shop more to get rich (that won't end pretty), it would be nice to get some extra stock just for buying pillowcases, right? We thought so too, and that's why halfway through the show we'll take a little break from our discussion while Joe rings up and chats with founder David Nelsen from Bumped.

Plus, after we subject entertain our roundtable with a round of Doug's trivia we'll break out the Magnifying Glass and answer a listener voicemail from Tyler. His 401k plan is expensive. How does he control his costs of investing for retirement?

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Stumbling Your Way Toward Your Financial Goals (with Carl Richards) Jul 17, 2019

What if life weren't so complicated? What if you could stop worrying about lower expense ratios, cheaper insurances, bigger spreadsheets, or trying to perfectly plan out your retirement account so things are perfect decades down the road? On today's show, the guy who is better at taking financial decisions and distilling them to their essence joins us. Today we welcome New York Times columnist Carl Richards, an expert in distilling complicated issues into bite-sized pieces.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll cover one piece about Suze Orman and her love of cannabis stocks and blockchain. Copying celebrity stock picks aren't always a good idea, and we'll discuss why. In our second headline, we'll turn our attention to one problem in the investing and savings world: women whose spouses are in control of the finances. A recent study shows that lots of women delegate investing to their spouse. We'll discuss why this might not be a good idea.

Later on, after we take a break for some of Doug's trivia, we'll take a Haven Life Line from Tyson, whose current 401k with his employer has fees higher than he would like. What can he do to save on fees. And as we finish out letters bag, Leo writes in asking about 529 plans. With FAFSA including 529 plans in the financial eligibility of students, would it be a good idea to NOT contribute to the plan?

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get TWO months of courses for free at Skillshare.com/SB.

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Decluttering Your Life - Financial and Otherwise (with Tracy McCubbin Jul 15, 2019

Clutter is everywhere. We buy more stuff to make us happy and all it does is makes us miserable and broke. How do we get out of the cycle? On today's show we'll talk to Tracy McCubbin, founder of cleaning and organizing company dClutterfly. On today's show we'll Declutter your stuff by getting behind the emotions of clutter and dispelling some long-held myths.

Plus, during our headlines segment, we'll cover one shocking piece by InvestmentNews, claiming that retirees are going to miss out on $3.4 trillion by claiming their Social Security too early. Is this a case of needing more cash for basic living expenses, or just ill informed retirees cashing in a few years too early? In our second headline we'll erxamine one trend that's gaining a bit of traction: financial apps that charge users to save money. Is it worth paying money to save more?

After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll turn our attention to the Haven Life Line. Mike calls in today asking about 529 plans. His parents want to contribute to Mike's son's 592 plan. Can Mike use the interest from the account to invest in another account he owns?

And as we finish out our letters bag, we'll tear open some mail from Brian, who has some questions about Roth conversions and the pro-rata rule. Can Brian and his wife avoid the tax hit if the conversion is done in his wife's name?

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Navigating Life's Awkward Money Situations (plus an intro to Token) Jul 12, 2019

Picture this: You and your friends are taking a road trip. You get off the highway and pull up to the third gas station of the day. You cut the ignition, take a look around the car and everyone avoids your gaze. You've paid for gas during the last two stops and no one is jumping up at the grand opportunity to fill the tank the third time around. What's your next move? Answering questions presented by one financial story which shines a light on situations like this and more today is our originals roundtable group: Paula Pant of Afford Anything, Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com, and OG from our very own Stacking Benjamins podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our discussion on all things awkward while Joe sits down with Zohar Steinberg from Token. With privacy concerns and stolen credit card information constantly in the news, Zohar came up with a solution: unique credit card numbers for each transaction or service. Something goes wrong with one of your transactions or services? You'll have the peace of mind that the rest of your account is safe. Interested in knowing more? Joe will dive into the product with Zohar and learn all the ins-and-outs of Token.

Plus, after we get through with Doug's trivia gameshow, we'll answer a voicemail from Lynn during our Magnify Money segment. Lynn will have about $5-7k left over after she pays off her travel expenses from long-term work trips. What should she do with the money? Should she focus on debt or investing? Our roundtable will give their 2 cents and provide Lynn some solid options on what to do with her money.

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The 4 Secrets to Communicating About Money Jul 10, 2019

Worried about fighting with the people in your life about money? Here's the way to end it. Even if you're just struggling to talk to other people in your life about money...maybe it's not you. People don't talk in one financial language. According to Tarra Jackson, today's guest, there are actually FOUR different languages. We'll sit down with Tarra today to learn just what those four languages are, and how we can best communicate with people speaking in a different tongue. Worried about fighting with the people in your life about money? Here's the way to end it.

In our headlines segment, we'll discuss weddings. Should we have a small wedding and invest the rest to ensure that we retire rich? Is it possible to do both (have a big wedding AND be rich)? We'll cover that plus another headline about employers seeking permission to send uncashed pension checks to the unclaimed proper funds. Should employers have fiduciary liability for former employees who refuse to cash their checks?

Plus, after we take some time for Doug's trivia, we'll answer a question from Russell. Russell wants to know what's the point of being an accredited investor? Why should someone become an accredited investor?

And as we finish up our letters segment, we're tearing open a letter from Jacob, who wants to move out of his parent's basement soon. Jacob and his girlfriend are currently living in the basement rent-free and are getting their finances ready to be on their own. Jacob sent in some info on their situation and want some input from fellow basement-dwellers. Are they going to be ready to move out?

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Working Harder AND Smarter (with Shaan Patel) Jul 08, 2019

Shaan Patel is one of the best examples you'll find of a person who started with some big disadvantages but who never made excuses about his situation. Growing up in a budget motel in Las Vegas, Shaan still found a way to ace the SAT, be valedictorian of his high school class, study medicine, start a company, and land a partnership with Mark Cuban. All of this before he was 30 years old. We can't wait for you to hear his story and use it to motivate yourself to get up, do more, and achieve your dreams.

In our headlines segment, we're looking at one bill that will change the way your 401k works. Is it a positive or negative change to your retirement plan? We'll discuss ONE of the many aspects of the bill and come down...well, it depends on what you're looking for from your retirement law. Plus, in our second headline, we'll discuss one piece sent by a listener, which covers the story of one man who's being charged with multiple crimes regarding investing, securities, and exploitation of the elderly. The catch? He doesn't even have a license!

After we take some time for Doug's trivia, we'll swing around to the Haven Life Line. Biff and his family don't have any debt, and the college costs for his kids are taken care of. At what point should they stop locking away cash in an IRA?

We'll finish up with a letter from Matthew, who has some questions about a fund manager he heard about on the show. They're expenses are a bit higher than he's used to, but they've outperformed the market. Does a well managed fund justify the extra cost?

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9 Retirement Savings Lies (plus an intro to Fee Belly) SB RWD 95 Jul 05, 2019

What are some of the biggest lies of retirement planning? Today we'll finish off our rewind week with one of our old school roundtable episodes. Back in 2017, we discussed 9 lies we're told about retirement planning. Going through the list with us was Paula Pant, former roundtable regular Greg Mcfarlane, and special guest Rich Jones from the Paychecks and Balances podcast.

Plus, long time listeners may remember this old segment: we also had a rousing conversation about a Marketwatch Moneyologist piece. If you had two kids, and one was irresponsible with money, would you disown him? That question spurred some interesting estate planning chatter that may bring up points you may want to address in your own planning.

Here is our original show description:

On today's podcast we're talking about lying. A recent news piece reports that there are nine lies we're told about retirement planning. We'll break them down with Greg, Paula, and special guest Rich Jones from the hit podcast Paychecks and Balances.

We won't stop there, thought. We'll also discuss a recent question to the Moneyologist at MarketWatch. If you had two kids and one was irresponsible, would you disown him? We ask our roundtable that very question and come up with some interesting estate planning themes you may want to address in your own planning.

On the Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk to Michael Asare from Fee Belly. Ever feel like the fine print in a contract is completely against you? Fee Belly was designed to show you ALL of the fine print by highlighting it so you can easily see where contracts might not be in your favor. We'll ask him how it works on today's podcast.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Sell a Home Fast (with Mindy Jensen) SB RWD 94 Jul 03, 2019

If anyone knows how to sell a house, it's Mindy Jensen. Not only is she a house flipper extraordinaire, but she also works at BiggerPockets, the home of one of the largest forums (if not the largest) for real estate investors. She knows LOTS of the best advice. We talked to her a year ago, and in the spirit of this home-buying season, we thought we should replay this episode because it was such great advice. Whether its your residence, a rental you've been meaning to get rid of, or you're dipping your feet into flipping homes, there are easy mistakes you can avoid to sell your home FAST and get the most out of a sell. Back in 2018 we talked to Mindy Jenson, a master house-flipper whose successfully sold house after house, and got some insider tips on tricks are coming out of the real estate market a winner.

Here is our original show description:

In a crowded market, having a leg up by avoiding some easy mistakes might be the difference between selling your home quickly, and for the top dollar price possible, or not selling at all. House-flipper Mindy Jensen has sold COUNTLESS houses, and today stops by the basement with her best tips to help you sell your own homes faster. Whether it's your primary residence, rental property or flip, she'll detail how to prioritize and budget for repairs or improvements, and how to find the right help to sell your home. In our headlines segment, freelance writer Hannah Rounds has published a piece on which tax software makes her "recommended" list and which she says to avoid. She comes down to the basement to discuss winners and losers. Also in headlines, what can we learn about finance from basketball player LeBron James? Apparently, quite a bit, according to one publication. We'll talk about key lessons from LeBron on today's show.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Marie, who wonders about better diversification for her money. Is ONLY having an S&P 500 fund a good approach?

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

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Mastering The New Rules of Work (with Kathryn Minshew and Alex Cavoulacos) SB RWD 93 Jul 01, 2019

The rules of work have changed over the last several years. You need to stay up to date on what's relevant so you aren't left behind and miss the next career opportunity. We were surprise when we went back and listened to this episode from 2017, when Joe sat down with Kathryn Minshew & Alex Cavoulacos, founders of TheMuse.com, to review what were then the new rules of business. Clearly, many still don't understand these. We find that these rules are just as relevant today as they were a few years ago, so we decided it was time to roll this episode again.

Here is our original show description:

Struggling at work? We'll review some of the "new rules" of business with the founders of TheMuse.com, Kathryn Minshew and Alex Cavoulacos. We'll talk about new rules in networking, finding the career you love, and working more effectively at the job you love.

In our headline segment, Brian Barnes, CEO of M1Finance drops by to talk about tax planning. We know tax day was yesterday but these tips will help you make tax-smart moves while investing for the future. We'll also talk about another company being sued by an employee for rotten 401k options. Target date funds are again in the middle of some more controversy.

Gena calls the Haven Life line to ask about the American Opportunity Credit, we share good news about recent guest Adam Dell and the Clarity app, and answer a letter from Ben about emerging markets investing. Is active investing the best way to go in smaller, more volatile markets? Of course, Doug brings down the trivia, and much, much more.

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The Downside of an Early Retirement (plus lessons from Roush Fenway Racing) DETAILS Jun 28, 2019

Less stress, easy overhead, and being debt-free... those are three fantastic reasons to chase financial independence. For a growing number of investors the top reason to save and live frugally has become a chance at early retirement. But, what type of freedom does early retirement bring? Is the freedom gained from early retirement worth it? We'll ask our contributors their thoughts on early retirement, and explore the concept of not retiring FROM something, but TO something on today's show. Assisting us in today's discussion is Rocky Lalvani from the Richer Soul podcast, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and OG, from our very own Stacking Benjamins podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll hit the pause button on our discussion while Joe talks to Kevin Kidd, Roush Fenway competition director. You might be thinking, "WAIT, that's not FinTech! what does that have to do with finances?" As it turns out, there are a few financial lessons to be had from a professional racing team.

Plus, after we finish a few laps around the track, we'll answer a voicemail from Rosie during our Magnify Money segment. Rosie's parents are retired, and she's recently learned her parents have been charged some crazy fees from their financial advisor. She wants to move them over to some low-cost index funds, but doesn't want to lose all their money in the process. What should their asset allocation look like?

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What Can We Learn From Day Traders? (Your Letters) Jun 25, 2019

We're barring the doors, closing the shades, and not answering any house calls because today we're answering YOUR letters. From paying down a mortgage principle or investing, to allocations, backdoor conversions, and even the best strategies on giving kids an allowance... this show has it all, thanks to YOU!

Plus, in our headlines segment, what can we learn from the life of a day trader? Longtime listeners can probably imagine the whole team's collective groan when we first broached this topic, but the more we discussed this headline, the more we found LOTS of great ideas that everyday investors can use. We love some of the lessons we can distill when learning what separates a good day trader from a bad one. In our second headline, we'll wonder out loud where is the future of financial advice is headed. We'll look over one report from Hartford Funds on important financial considerations you need to keep in mind and give our two cents while we're at it.

Later, after we take a break during Doug's trivia, we'll queue up a voicemail from Pete, who no longer works at a job with 401k access. What are his options for investing with tax benefits? Can he still max our his Roth IRA through a backdoor conversion?

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Volcanos, Annuities and an Unconventional Retirement (with Dr. Rosaly Lopes) Jun 24, 2019

What does a volcano have to do with your retirement? We won't use any crazy analogies here, like "things might erupt," or "danger could be bubbling below the surface," mostly because we wouldn't do something like that. But we don't need metaphors mostly because today we're talking to Dr. Rosaly Lopes, senior researcher, vulcanologist, and a TIAA client who speaks to us for a few minutes about her career, volcanoes, and how she's actively sought out annuities to fund her retirement. Why would she use them? What is a vulcanologist? What career advice does she have for people just starting down the path toward meaningful work? We'll ask all of those questions and more on today's show.

And in our headlines segment, have you ever made bad financial decisions after a few drinks? (and we're definitely not referring to the kind the comes with free refills....). Maybe you ordered too much food, or indulged in some of Amazon's two-day shipping for "just a few" items you've had your eyes on? While breaking your diet for a night or ordering a new board game aren't exactly the biggest mistakes to make in the world, but how about drinking while you're on the job? While that may seem like duh moment for most of us, one exchange has recently made it official, telling workers to stop drinking on the job. Which business? Of course, it's a financial business...which is why we're talking about it today. Plus, in our second headline, scammers have ramped up schemes against people with medical bills. We'll cover 7 red flags to watch out for, and in a triple threat headlines segment today, we'll discuss one piece that proves how difficult it is to predict interest rates. It turns out even the brightest among us who study the market full time can't get it right.

Later, after we take some time for Doug's specially themed volcanic trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Mike, who's been thinking about exchange-traded funds. Should Mike have any concerns about using ETFs in his Roth IRA instead of mutual funds? After we're through discussing ETFs, we'll tear open a letter from Brian, who wants some fact-checking on his backdoor Roth conversion plans.

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Steps To Avoid To Become The Walking Dead (plus the Evil HR Lady!) DETAILS Jun 21, 2019

How do avoid becoming a zombie? No, not the Walking Dead zombie, but the type who works their whole life, just pounding away, realizing too late that it was all for nothing? On today's episode, Deb Meyer helps the team talk about redefining retirement. What does it really mean? How do we ensure we're chasing the right dreams? We'll discuss some big, heady thoughts in today's main segment.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion to talk to the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas. Uber drivers have just been declared independent contractors, and not employees. What does that mean if you're working in the gig economy? What does that mean if you hire employees? We'll talk about all angles of this issue, and how it involves both side hustles and maybe also your primary job, on today's show.

Of course, as always, we'll take a Magnify Money hotline call, test our knowledge with Doug's hotdog eating trivia, and more!

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Mom and Dad, We Need To Talk (with Cameron Huddleston) Jun 19, 2019

Cameron Huddleston joins us to tell the story of her aging mother, and the time she nearly missed the chance to have an incredibly important conversation: how her financial assets were managed and what arrangements she'd made for the future. She'll share that story and strategies on talking with parents about money (especially what NOT to say), on today's show.

Plus, in our headlines segment, more retirement plan lawsuits hit the court system. The Supreme Court is looking at an interesting case, which largely revolves around when the participant was told about allegedly sub-par investment options in his employer plan. If you get a prospectus, does that mean you're on the hook from that day for everything that's inside?

Dave and his wife are debt free, and their children's college and retirement accounts are fully funded. Dave calls the Haven Life Line because they've been thinking about opening a taxable brokerage account to have funds outside of their retirement. Are there any tax implications they should know about? Is there anything else they should be considering?

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How To Rock An 800+ Credit Score (Your Letters) Jun 17, 2019

You pay your bills on time. You're not in debt, and you have a great credit history. Yet, no matter what you do, you still find yourself stopping just below the mythical 800+ credit score threshold. What are you supposed to do? How do you push your credit score past the last hurdle? We'll discuss solutions for boosting a great credit score into a fantastic score, plus answer YOUR questions about credit card reward programs, where to keep your cash when you're waiting to buy a house, 401k questions and more on today's letter segment.

And in our headlines segment, are you seeking out new financial knowledge on your own, or are you waiting for new information to find you instead? We'll talk with Emily Shallal, senior director of product innovation at Ally Bank, about Ally's recent study on financial literacy. Plus, in our second headline, brokers have until the end of June 2020 to implement new regulations. The new rules could put a bigger strain on smaller brokers, who lack the same amount of resources as larger companies.

After some of Doug's musical trivia, we'll take a break from our letters to answer a Haven Life Line call from Gregg, who's opened a new brokerage account with Fidelity. The company has offered him a checking account., but when Greg initiatives an ACH on Day 1 it takes another 4 days before he gets access to the cash. How can they do this?

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Retirement: You Made It. Now What? (plus an intro to PayActiv) Jun 14, 2019

We LOVE talking about investing, savings, and of course, stacking Benjamins, but what about when you actually make it to retirement? Do you have a plan for your first day after your last day of work? How about that next month? That next year? We've mentioned it before: retirement isn't the destination, it's a journey, and a milestone on the bigger journey of life. Discussing the "Now, what?" of making it to retirement are our contributors, Derek Merkler from Parsonex Financial Services, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG from our very own Stacking Benjamins.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe talks to Safwan Shah, CEO of PayActiv. Minimum wage employees are often hit the hardest with cashflow issues while they're between paychecks. Safwan and his company have set out to provide a solution: real time access to earned income. Safwan will share on just how PayActiv is accomplishing their goals during our Fintech segment.

And during our Magnify Money call we'll answer a voicemail from Loretta. Loretta's parents are retired. They have a paid off house and a healthy amount of savings. However, her mom has gotten sick and money has become a bit tighter. Loretta has since realized that 90% of their stock is in one blue chip company. Her parents are hesitant to change. How can Loretta talk to her parents about their finances? Is She worried over nothing?

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9 Lies About Work (with Ashley Goodall) Jun 12, 2019

You've always known it: most of what people tell you about great work is a lie. Ideas such as company culture, work-life balance, and other truisms are all challenged today by bestselling business thinker, researcher and author Ashley Goodall. Today he joins us to flesh out what we really should be focusing on at work and how, whatever your role, you personally can make your work and your company better. If you spend a ton of time at work, why wouldn't you want it to be something that not only pays the bills, but something that's also fulfilling?

In our headlines segment, a new report from the Federal Reserve shows how Americans are faring with their retirement savings. Finances seem to be okay, but what's the deal behind our thoughts on retirement savings? We'll share details. Plus, in our second headline, one survey is reporting that 60 percent of Americans don't have a will. While most of us don't have celebrity sized estates (such as the one we discussed Monday in our discussion on Tom Petty's estate problems), not leaving a will behind could mean trouble for your family.

After we take a short break for Doug's Superman-themed trivia, we'll tackle a question from Erik who's thinking about opening a SEP account. Can he keep investing into his Roth IRA and have something like a SEP? Are there better options Erik should be looking into?

And in out letters segment, we'll open a letter from Sue, who wants our thoughts on having an index annuity with an annual reset. She already has a bit of savings and has a paid off home. Is it annuity a good idea?

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Winning In The Long Run (with Sanjay Rawal) Jun 10, 2019

Establishing your BEST financial habits means realizing that it isn't about being great today or tomorrow; it's about doing the right things over and over again for the long run. Today we talk to the creator of a documentary specifically about a long run. 3100, Run and Become is the story of an ultramarathon that covers (shocker) 3100 miles. Better yet? It's run around a single New York City block. Sanjay Rawal will take us through the event, his making of the film, and we'll talk about topics that have everything to do with finance. 1) Finding what you love; 2) Chasing a dream; 3) Knowing your weaknesses; 4) Finding your state of "Flow"; and more. The cool part for us? We get to talk finance in a way that you've probably never heard it talked about before.

During our headlines segment, another deceased celebrity's estate is an arm wrestling match for the heirs. Sigh. We'll tell you who's fighting for the cash and discuss what YOU should do to foolproof your estate plan from your greedy family. Then, in our second headline, credit card reward programs are everywhere... but just like ice cream brands, they're not all created equal. We'll talk pros and cons of credit card rewards during our second piece.

As if that's not enough, we keep bringing it! During our Haven Life Line segment, we'll answer a question from Jason. He's wants to retire in his 40s. If Jason rolls his Roth 401k into a Roth IRA, will he be able to withdraw the cash without the tax penalty? Does the 5 year conversion rule still apply?

Then, in our letter segment David is just starting to pay attention to his financial situation. He wants to know what the advantage would be of using a financial advisor or buying funds that have high expense ratios over doing it himself. Couldn't he just do it on his own and save extra cash? We'll surprise Jason with an answer he doesn't expect, and hopefully surprise you, too.

And don't you worry, we'll still have time for some of Doug's very special Benjamin Franklin themed trivia.

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Your Guide to the WORST Wedding Gifts (plus an intro to SteadiPay) Jun 07, 2019

What are the absolutely worst wedding gifts you could give this wedding season? One recent article from Kiplinger had us nodding our heads, so Mom said we should challenge our Friday roundtable, including special guest Beau Henderson from the Retirement Resource podcast, to a special game show! While we'll have some fun with this topic, you'll take away some better ideas for wedding gifts, creating a little less waste and a ton less wasted money.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion on all things wedding related while Joe talks to Anthony Strike, founder of SteadiPay. Steadipay helps users pay off their credit cards in full so that they can use them like debit cards. How does it work? SteadiPay puts an equal amount of cash aside each time a credit card is used, and at the end of the month the app will automatically pay your balance with the amount. Interested in knowing more? We'll get the details from Anthony.

And after we let Doug have a little fun with our Friday gameshow-inspired trivia, we'll field a voicemail from an anonymous caller during our Magnify Money call. Our caller tells us they're relatively new to money, and that they're 34 with $300k of savings built up. What's the best plan of action to get started in the world of finances?

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Manifesting "Happy Money" (with Ken Honda) Jun 05, 2019

How do you make all of your financial transactions happy ones? How do you introduce the idea of abundance into your life? Ken Honda believes that while money can't make you happy, we DO attach lots of emotions to those bills in our wallet. Why shouldn't we actively manage our self talk around our money? That's the question Ken asks and answers on today's show. We'll talk about gratitude, sharing, making more money, changing your mindset, and creating more "Happy Money" in your life.

Plus, in our headlines segment, stock market investors aren't the only one worried about fees...the Justice Department is currently taking a look into the world of real estate and hidden realtor commissions. So, what does that mean to you? We'll discuss how sneaky commissions impact the home buying process for both sellers and buyers. In our second headline, the IRS has announced a higher limit for HSA contributions in 2020. We'll have you covered with everything you need to know by the end of today's headlines segment.

Then, after a little break for Doug's trivia, we'll answer Cal's voicemail call to the Haven Life Line. Cal's planing on semi-retiring soon. He thinks he'll use his 401k to subsidize his post 55 years. Is this a solid plan, or is there something he's missing?

And during our letters segment we'll tear open some mail from Adrian, who write's in with a some questions about opening up a Roth IRA for kids. Is it true that minors can have an IRA once they earn income? Does that have to be through a W2, or does chore money work too?

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An Economist Walks Into a Brothel (with Allison Schrager) DETAILS Jun 03, 2019

Allison Schrager is an economist who's studied negotiation, diversification, and also, the topic we'll discuss in today's episode, risk. She'll explain risk using a lens that we haven't seen someone use before...the eyes and actions of legal sex workers. To illustrate how people think about risk, she visited brothels, horse breeders, and, among others, poker players. We'll discuss the many ways we miscalculate risk, how to make better decisions, and what happens when we evaluate the wrong types of risk.

And in our headlines segment, we'll call up Madeline Hume from Morningstar. They've completed a report on the state of 529 college savings plans nationally, and Joe and Madeline will dive into the data. We'll talk ab out the latest innovations in plans, plus shine a spotlight on some of the best and worst states to invest your hard-earned college money. Plus, we'll look at one piece describing a shakeup in the online financial planning community that could spell trouble for industry leader Vanguard.

In our Haven Life Line segment, we'll throw out the line to Jason, who has some questions for OG about risk parity. Would something like a a 50/50 split between stocks and long-term treasuries a good idea? What are the possible downsides?

After we spend some time giving advice to Jason we'll tear open Chris's letter, who has some social security questions. Considering the investments and pensions Chris and his wife already have on the table, would it make more sense to defer taking social security? We'll give our thoughts, but if you're looking for a more in depth conversation about social security you can check our our previous interview with Philip Moeller and Paul Solman.

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When's The Right Time To Quit Your Job? (plus an intro to a pet-centric ETF) May 31, 2019

Is there ever a right time to quit your job? At what point do you give up on the current job and take a pay cut to climb a better ladder? On today's show we'll talk career prospects, life planning, income, and more during our headline segment. Helping us out with today's roundtable are our contributors: Mary Wheeler from the Know Debt No Problem podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, and OG from our very own Stacking Benjamins show.

Halfway through the show we'll take a little break from our discussion on jobs (or lack thereof), while Joe talks to Simeon Hyman of ProShares about the market's new exchange traded fund... PAWZ. We've discussed plenty of financial and investment strategies on the show, but this may be the first time we'll discuss a pet care inspired ETF.

After Joe wraps up his conversation with Simeon we'll pivot back towards our contributors for our Magnify Money call. JC calls in today with some excited news: he's getting married soon! With marriage on the way, JC also has retirement on his mind. He's 27, and is thinking about playing catch-up with his investments. Is he a little crazy to think about maxing out their accounts despite their income levels?

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The Importance of a (Real) Bucket List (with Karen Cordaway) May 29, 2019

What's on your bucket list? Do you talk about your list or have you actually sat down and drawn one up. If not, why not? Today's guest, Karen Cordaway, discusses bucket lists in detail with us. Why you should have one, how to begin, what to avoid, and how to stick to your list are just a few of the topics we'll cover. Even if you're knee deep into building your list (or working through one), there's something for everyone today!

And in our headlines segment... how prepared are you to tackle unexpected expenses? We'll cover a piece by the Motley Fool that describes one bill that would bankrupt most Americans, but don't worry, we'll also give some methods on getting ahead. In our second headlines, we'll give our two cents on 10 rules one publication says that you should follow for financial success.

We'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Sanjay, who's thinking about putting all of his cash in a single index fund like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. Long time listeners of the show probably know where this one is heading.

And don't worry, we'll still have time for some of Doug's trivia.

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One of the World’s Greatest Investors: T. Rowe Price (with Cornelius Bond) DETAILS May 27, 2019

On today's holiday episode we'll remember a great member of the investment community, T. Rowe Price. Cornelius Bond recently wrote a biography on the investing giant, and we'll dive in on the man, the investment philosophy, and how he built one of the country's biggest financial companies. First, in our headlines segment, do you know someone who's graduating this spring? You may want to share today's show with them, because we'll cover what many employers think is the most annoying characteristic of new hires. Think the trait has something to do with slacking off or staring at their phones all the time? The real answer might surprise you. Plus, in our second headline, Uber just completed one of the

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7 Quotes That Will Make You Rethink Personal Finance (plus Bethany Bayless' Top Disney Tips) May 24, 2019

What keeps you motivated when you don't feel like thinking about saving more, spending less, or investing better? Do you have words you live by to help guide you through life? On today's show we're calling our friends Brandon Opre from TrustTree Financial, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and the Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, to discuss financial quotes that'll keep you motivated. Take this (interesting) freebee from Charles A. Jaffee: "It's not your salary that makes you rich; it's your spending habits." Like that? We have many more in today's episode.

Halfway through the show, we'll take a break from the discussion with our roundtable crew to finish our summer holiday travel coverage. To compliment our show from Wednesday with Theme Park Insider's Robert Niles, today Joe will talk with Bethany Bayless, co-host of the Money Millhouse podcast, about Disney tips and tricks she's so graciously decided to share with us. If you'll want to hear more of that conversation make sure to stick around for a few seconds after Doug closes out the show... you won't regret it if you have a trip planned to see a mouse in your future.

After we close out of our Disney themed travel guide, we'll hand the mic over to Doug who has some holiday weekend-appropriate trivia. We'll ask our roundtable a very important question: how many billions of dollars did Americans spend on wine last year? Think you have the answer? Remember your answer and see if you could beat our guests on the show.

We'll end today's roundtable with a call from Amy, who's going back to school to be a nurse practitioner. While her hospital is paying for some of her expenses and fees, Amy will still have to cough up about $15,000. Should she reduce her 403b contributions to the company match, or take out a loan and pay it back after she gets her degree?

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Your Guide To Summer Fun (with Robert Niles) May 22, 2019

Each year here in the basement, it isn't officially summer until we present this episode, which is why we're so happy to bring you Robert Niles, Mr. Theme Park Insider. He's coming down for his annual trip to the basement to help you find your best summer theme park fun. From the best upcoming rides, to fan favorites, plus the best way to get a few discounts from your favorite parks...he's bringing all his tips and tricks to you on this episode. I know! We're fired up, too!

And in our headlines segment, where's the best place to save for big purchases like a house or other short-term goals? We'll probably have a few answers that are not exactly what you're thinking. And in our second piece, randomly selected stocks beat out investment picks by fund managers. So... what does that mean for us? We'll cover monkeys, darts, and savings goals on today's headlines segment. Just another day...

Next, during our Haven Life Line call, we'll answer a voicemail from Dan, who wants to know how best to allocate his family's investments. He's diversified, but does he really need mid-caps and a total stock market index fund? Plus, in our follow-up letters segment, Steve calls in says that he's invested in large, mid, and small cap... (plus international funds.) Steve doesn't have a problem with his allocation, but is it an issue that it's all through one brokerage firm? You'll get the best of both worlds during today's listener focused segments.

And don't worry, we'll still have time for some theme parked... themed trivia.

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A Better Way to Buy Investment Real Estate (with David Greene) May 20, 2019

Bigger Pockets' David Greene joins us to tackle a more efficient way to buy real estate, especially if you're interested in building a large portfolio of passive income-generating properties. It's called the BRRRR method, and we'll walk through each of those letters on today's show. specifically, we'll talk about how to buy, rehab, rent out, refinance, and repeat. Even if you don't plan on using BRRRR as your strategy, David will share lots of tips on putting your best real estate deals together, finding a great time to help you, and common problems with real estate investing and how to avoid them.

And in our headlines segment, are you in a race to reach retirement? We'll discuss one MarketWatch piece that shares 5 hard-earned lessons from people who retired early. It turns out that early retirement (or any retirement at all, is more about psychology than you would think...but it's still about math.

Later in the show we'll throw out the Haven Life line to Dave. His mother-in-law wants to invest in his children's college fund. What's the best way to go about that? A 529 plan? Something else? We'll all weigh in on a myriad of options.

Then, in our letters segment, Aly's Capital One investment account has been sold to E-Trade. What are the alternatives that she should use?

Of course, as always, we'll also make some room for some of Doug's fantastic pre-Memorial Day trivia.

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What's the True Cost of Subscriptions? (plus details on Trim's purchase of Debitize) May 17, 2019

We all know that subscription costs add up: Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, maybe a lawn service or wine-of-the-month club. But how do you make the decisions which to keep and which to heave-ho? Today our roundtable team, including author Frankie Calkins (author of the new book The Money Resolution, 101 Ways to Save Money, Make Money, and Get Out of Debt in One Year), OG, and Paula Pant (host of the Afford Anything podcast). Whether you're in subscription hell or can't remember the last time you said yes to a subscription service, we'll chat our way casually through all the relevant stuff you need to think about.

We heard from you when popular app Debitize went bye-bye, and halfway through the show we'll talk to Thomas Smyth, CEO and founder of cost cutting app Trim. The company recently purchased Debitize, and we'll ask Thomas to give us the skinny on what the future looks like? Why did they decide to buy Debitize, how are they integrating it, and what does the future look like for the new combined company.

Of course, we'll then dive into Doug's ah-mayz-ing trivia, but then we'll field a voicemail from the Magnify Money Line from Trent. Trent's been given the opportunity to be a professional athlete. He's currently 23, and has been talking to financial advisors. Their advice is largely the same except in one area: whole life insurance. What's our take on the issue?

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Secrets of Wealthy Women (with Veronica Dagher) May 15, 2019

We can learn a ton from the wealthiest among us, and Veronica Dagher from the Wall Street Journal, and host of the Secrets of Wealthy Women podcast, has a front row seat with some of the smartest and wealthiest people in the country. She'll share with us lessons from three women that easily apply to both women and men. You're going to pick up some great career, money, and life advice on today's show!

In our headlines segment we're discussing two different pieces by MarketWatch and Financial Planning. Is it true that the stock market can't be beat? One MarketWatch article claims that what you think you know probably isn't the right answer. And in our second piece, is there a good reason why so many financial advisors are jumping ship? We'll give our take on why advisors are so eager to switch firms.

Then in our Haven Life Line segment, we'll field a voicemail from Matt, who's looking to diversify his portfolio. What's our take on pot stocks?

We'll also answer a letter from Craig, who writes in about how he is finally debt free and has a paid off home. He's now getting into some pretty aggressive investing and wants some advice on different strategies he has in place.

Of course, we'll also make some room for some of Doug's trivia.

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Playing With Financial Independence (with Scott Rieckens and Travis Shakespeare) May 13, 2019

Scott Rieckens felt something wasn't right in his life. While he lived in a beautiful corner of the world, and despite he and his wife having fantastic jobs, life just wasn't what he'd expected. So, he did something that few people do...he actually decided to change. The results? He's teamed with Emmy Award-winning director Travis Shakespeare and created a documentary called Playing With Fire, which not only chronicles he and his spouse Taylor's journey toward a better future, but it also explains the concepts behind a movement called FIRE (financial independence/retire early). We'll talk to the makers of the film about how they created the final product. We'll preview the concepts Scott and Travis explain in the movie, and finally, we'll share some details about how and when you may be able to see it yourself.

And in our headlines segment Joe will talk to Meredith Ryan Reid about MetLife's new study showing that Gen Y women are behind other groups on both their finances and their confidence in the workplace. Meredith will give us some advice and strategies on what to do when you find yourself falling behind.

Later in the show we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Katherine, who has some questions on calculating her net worth. Wouldn't paying off debt also lower the amount of cash available to you, in turn keeping your net worth the same?

Then, in our letters segment, we'll field a question from Wendy about what she should be doing with her full service brokerage account. She's taken some time to learn about commissions and high annual fees. What's the best plan on moving everything over to a new, low fee account?

Of course, we'll also make some room for some of Doug's leprechaun-themed trivia. Just how do leprechauns earn all that gold they hide away at the end of the rainbow?

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Let's Talk About Credit and Debt (with Gerri Detweiler) May 10, 2019

Have you checked your credit lately? How does credit even work? Why do I have a low credit score? Today, Len Penzo, OG, and our special guest Gerri Detweiler tackle credit, credit cards, and hwo to best make your credit score your friend.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe talks to Carter Malloy from AcreTrader. When you think investments, does farmland come to mind? On today's fintech segment we'll talk to farmland a viable, attractive investment option.

After Joe wraps things up with Carter, Doug will jump on the mic to deliver today's trivia question to our roundtable crew. Before the first transcontinental railroad was completed a coast to coast trip could easily cost $1000 or more. But how much did the trip cost after the railroad connected the two coastlines? Keep your answer in mind... but no cheating! Doug will give us the answer after the roundtable has a chance to get in their answers.

After we declare a winner for our halftime gameshow, we'll answer a Magnify Money call from Andrew. Andrew and his family will be moving soon from their paid off condo into a townhome. Should the family use some of their emergency fund to pay down more cash on their townhome, or wait until their condo sells and use that money towards their new home?

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Making the Leap to Successful Investing (with Erin Lowry) May 08, 2019

Erin Lowry from Broke Millennial learned early on about investing. As someone who's VERY conservative and not excited about losses, she didn't want much to do with investing. But, she'll tell us the story today about how she got started and about how you can make it easy. We'll talk about the types of funds to simplify your investment choices, how to add money, and what to do if the market isn't your friend (things start to fall apart).

Plus, in our headlines segment, one man who called the last two market downturns says there's another on the way. Should we be preparing for choppy waters?

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Larry, whose emergency fund has been drained after a few back-to-back expenses. Should Larry get his emergency fund back to capacity over time, or look towards his Roth IRA contributions to speed up the process? And in our letters segment, Brian has took a side gig delivering food for Uber Eats. After talking to some of his fellow drivers Brain is suspicious that they're defrauding the IRS by not paying any taxes on their earnings. Should Brian steer clear of their advice, or is he just missing out on easy money?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia...which today is exceptionally epic.

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Is a Latte Ruining Your Financial Independence? (with David Bach) May 06, 2019

On today's show, we'll sit down with David Bach, the nine-time bestselling author. What's keeping you from achieving your financial goals? Is it a latte a day? While it doesn't necessarily have to be a latte, our discussion with David will shed some light on the simple things in your life that could be holding you back from reaching your destination.

And in our headlines segment, we'll be joined by Ashley Boucher of Sallie Mae. Sallie Mae has released their Majoring in Money 2019 report, and among some of the more surprising discoveries is that some students hold FIVE credit cards. We'll discuss more of the big takeaways from the report during our call with Ashley, along with covering an article from InvestmentNews about Schwab's new portfolio management tool.

Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Thomas, whose son has gotten all of his college paid for this past year, (with money to spare!) Thomas' son wants to put the extra $3000 into a Roth IRA. Are they allowed to do this, or are there some restrictions that are in place?

Then, in our letters segment, Dano has some questions about how he should allocate his retirement funds. With Dano paying a percentage of his money to a pension, wouldn't that be considered his "safe" investment? When Dano is putting money into his Thrift Savings Plan account, couldn't he put all of the cash into the more aggressive funds?

Of course, we'll also make some room for Doug's trivia, so don't you worry.

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Our Best Money Advice For Beginning Savers No Matter Your Age SB RWD 92 May 03, 2019

To end our rewind week we present one of our favorite roundtable topics. How do you start saving, when you feel like you can't? I think most people are in this boat, based on statistics about how much money the average person squirrels away. So, here with good facts and humor, were Len Penzo, Hilary Hendershott, and Hannah Rounds. Plus, our friend Shannon McLay was just opening her wildly successful Financial Gym in New York (now she's expanding it all over the USA). We talk to her in this episode about her launch.

Here are the show notes from the original episode:

What was the best advice someone could have given you when you first started investing? If you're a new investor OR a seasoned pro, you're in luck because our roundtable team are all sharing their best tips today to help get the ball rolling. We're joined by two great guests today (along with the amazing Len Penzo)...host of Profit Boss Radio, CFP Hilary Hendershott AND one of our favorite writers, Hannah Rounds from Unplanned Finances. Not only will we talk about getting started early with your financial plan, but then we'll also tackle problems with brokers and sales incentives. How do you know you won't get burned? Finally, we'll answer a question originally asked of The Moneyologist at MarketWatch.com...what would you do if you found out your mother had taken out lots of credit using your name illegally? Would you turn her in? You'll be surprised by all of our answers.

THEN in the FinTech segment, we're actually going to go anti-FinTech this week and talk to our friend Shannon McLay about her new concept coming to a city near you, the Financial Gym. What happens when you give your money a workout? How does it work? Maybe, even though we talk about great ways to use your phone for planning purposes, maybe face-to-face coaching has a place in your planning, too.

Thanks to Magnify Money for sponsoring our podcast! Support the companies that support us and help yourself along the way.

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Want to Change? Start Here (with Cortney McDermott) SB RWD 91 May 01, 2019

I'm personally excited for you to hear this episode. When this first aired I personally was going through some really dark stuff...and as always happens, I found a book that spoke to me and helped me through it. I needed to change. I needed a wake up call. Maybe you do, too. I was lucky that I found Cortney's book and wondered, "Would she come on the show and talk about this?" I'm grateful that she did. Of course, the rest of the episode is a lot of fun, as always. - Joe.

Our original show notes:

Where do you start when planning your money? Cortney McDermott, the author of one of this year's hottest self-help and business books, joins us in the basement to talk about starting out. If you don't know what you want, how do you know where to go? Yet, most of us don't ask ourselves the right questions to even begin the journey.

Plus, we'll also share headlines from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check them out for real estate) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Money Not Handed To You? Here's The Memo - with John Hope Bryant (SB RWD 90) Apr 29, 2019

The "system" isn't fair. Names from Ray Dalio to Bill Gates talk about income inequality. Poverty is often swept under the rug by people who want to easily dismiss it as "not pulling yourself up," yet most know it isn't that easy. One man who knows very well how difficult inequality can be is John Hope Bryant. He came down to the basement to talk about "getting the memo" in 2017, and we've been talking about it ever since. To kick off rewind week (if you're new to the show, we play favorites for a week after eight weeks of new podcasts), we're excited to re-share this episode. Enjoy!

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Here's Why You Aren't Rich Apr 26, 2019

Why aren't you rolling in the dough? Maybe it's because you aren't focusing on the right parts of your budget. Studies have consistently shown that ONE area of savings beats all others. What is it? Tori Dunlap from HerFirst100k joins Len Penzo and OG to talk about why you aren't saving more money. While you'll learn the top reason why you aren't saving more, you might also have fun doing it....

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion while Joe talks with Jarrod from the new Easy Profit game. If you've spent any amount of time listening to the show you know that we love the idea of the science of play. So when we heard about a new game that'll teach you how to understand financial statements we just had to talk to the guy behind it all.

Then, when Joe's done talking to Jarrod, we'll take some time for Doug's trivia. After a little Disney inspired gameshow fun we'll answer a voicemail from Demetrious, who's been hard at work paying down his loans. While Demetrious wants to keep bringing an extra cash all the overtime at his manufacturing job has been wearing down on his body. Are there some side hustles that he could turn to?

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Transitions, Sudden Money, and Negotiating Contracts (with Andrew "Hawk" Hawkins) Apr 24, 2019

Andrew Hawkins was an NFL football player with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns. He also won two Grey Cups in the Canadian Football League, worked in the Detroit Lions front office, starred in a reality television show with Michael Irvin, and starred on Sportscenter on Snapchat...what's he doing now? He's coming down to the basement to talk about how to transition. In his new podcast series, Branching Out (par of the Kneeding Dough series of podcasts if you're searching iTunes), Andrew interviews professional athletes about how they made the transition from pro sports and also what savvy money moves they've made along the way. We'll talk about changing jobs, starting out, building your team, believing in yourself when nobody else does, and more. It's an inspiring interview with Hawk.

Plus, in our headlines segment, investors are flocking to buy ZOOM stock... but there's a problem. That's not the company they really want. They're really after ZM stock (from the popular video conferencing company Zoom). Due diligence anyone? And in our second headline, we'll cover one woman's emotional story about creating a "what-if" plan to prepare for the loss of a significant other.

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Drew, who is on a student loan repayment plan. He'll qualify for student loan forgiveness in 20 years, but he doesn't want to put all his faith in his loans being forgiven. Should he forgo investing and instead plug away at his student loans?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia...which today is exceptionally epic.

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From Monk to Money Manager Apr 22, 2019

Doug Lynam grew up in a wealthy family but rejected looking wealthy at an early age and began hanging out with counter-culture kids while trying hard to find himself. From that lifestyle to the Marines and finally to becoming a monk, we'll talk about Doug's quest to find himself and ultimately to come to grips with the role of money and what it meant for him (and also for many of us). We'll talk through stories about his quest, how he began helping his fellow monks with their money, and ultimately how he became a money manager. He'll also share strategies to help you begin building your financial knowledge, to start questioning your own view of money, and to ultimately become a better steward of money. It's a wide-ranging, fun discussion, and we hope you're able to join us for it!

In our headlines we'll talk to Paul Yakoboski, Senior Economist at TIAA Institute, about the results of the company's 2019 Personal Finance Index. He'll share how education and juggling your financial life are closely related. We'll talk about trends with the P-Fin index, the roll of education in your game plan, and more. He'll discuss how to gain knowledge about money and how to become better handling financial concerns. Plus, another company is planning an iPO. No, not an IPO (initial public offering), but a more made-up term called an iPO. We'll explain today.

Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Lifeline to Alan, who has an awesome question for us about pensions. He has two choices: one where he can take the full amount himself or another where he gives up $400 per month but his spouse is also covered for her life. Which does he take?

Then, in our letters segment, Dillion writes in asking about the best way to transition into the field of personal finance. He's currently an accountant, but Dillion's realized his passion is in helping people learn about and gain control of their finances. What's the approach to moving into the personal finance field?

Of course, we'll also make some room for Doug's trivia, so don't you worry.

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Financial Lessons from a Wedding Gone Wrong Apr 19, 2019

What happens when a bride and her mom spend $70,000 on a wedding and everything goes wrong? Here's a bigger question: What happens when you spend more to get a bigger, better experience and it completely goes awry? Is it better to "super size" your spending to find more joy? We're all about the correlation between happiness and spending on today's episode. We're shaking things up with today's roundtable guest because joining us in today's discussion is Bobbi Rebell, host of the Financial Grownup podcast AND co-host of our very own Money in the Morning show. Plus, we'll call up Paula Pant of Afford Anything, and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com.

After a crazy Game of Thrones meets Len Penzo inspired trivia from Doug, we'll answer a voicemail during the Magnify Money call. Reed asks about an article he's read on retirement. According to the piece, there's a lot of "front-loaded" spending in retirement, which could drain cash savings a lot quicker than expected. We'll give our take on retirement, spending, and planning in our response to the piece.

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Quitting Your Job at 31 to Achieve a Life Goal (Your Letters) Apr 17, 2019

Today we're all about your letters. We'll start with a question about moving funds around to avoid some taxes, jump into helping a 25-year-old decide whether to max out his retirement accounts, answer a question about robo advisors, and then launch into helping kids with money, how to save for a house, and more.

In our headlines segment we'll talk to Joe Jiminez from The Alternate Life podcast. Maybe you've had the urge to quit your day job and go on a journey, but few of us have actually followed through. Joe Jiminez dumped the job and spent his summer walking the Continental Divide Trail. We might not be able to take the summer off ourselves, but we'll at least ask Joe what it's like.

Then later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Reggie, who's heard on the show that OG isn't particularly fond of Betterment or Wealthfront. Reggie has a bulk of his money in Wealthfront and Betterment, so he's wondering...what's the issue?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia...which today is exceptionally epic.

Thanks to Proper Cloth for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get $20 off your first custom shirt at Propercloth.com/sb.

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Tax Day 2019 (Plus Parenting Beyond the Rules with Connie Albers) Apr 15, 2019

Connie Albers joins us today to talk about communication. Specifically, we'll talk about communicating with teenagers, but if you've ever struggled to communicate with anyone, Connie will share great tips on how to build bridges. We'll talk about how to ask the tough questions and have difficult conversations. We'll discuss ways to better understand what's going on in the other person's life. Most of all, we'll discuss ways to be a good leader for your children or for the people around you.

If you're still struggling to finish your taxes, Katherine Pomerantz of The Bookkeeping Artist swoops in to save the day. Katherine will share some great tips for ways to possibly save some money on your taxes and also provide some guidance for people not prepared to finish today. How do you file an extension? What if you can't pay the tax due? And in our second headline, the amount of money Americans are paying on credit card interest is only going up this year... by A LOT.

And later on in the show we'll throw out the Haven Life line to some new parents. Sebastian and his wife had their baby last year, and they're trying to secure his college future. They have a few different plans in mind, but would like some help on choosing the best one.

Then, in our letters segment, Tom has recently started using savings apps. This all sounds well and good, but he also has $13,000 in debt. Should Tom forgo the savings until he has in debt under control?

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We Make $500k a Year and Struggle With Our Budget (plus the Retirement Budget Calculator) Apr 12, 2019

Why is a couple making $500,000 a year feel like they're just getting by? Shouldn't they feel better off than most people? On today's roundtable we'll examine the budget of the couple who feel just "average" and discuss why lifestyle inflation can eat up more of our income than we expect. Joining us on today's show we welcome special guest Michael Anderson (from Maranantha.com), Paula Pant (from AffordAnything.com), and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break for our weekly Friday Fintech segment, this week featuring something really cool that can help your retirement plan. Joe sits down with Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Planning, who shares the work he's done to create a calculator that will more likely help you set up realistic scenarios that you can use for your planning.

And during our Magnify Money Call, we'll answer a voicemail from Annie. Annie's on the track to be debt-free. She's already been investing into her retirement accounts, and she has a four month emergency fund saved up right now. Annie will complete her last goal after she pays off her car loan and ups her emergency fund to six months. What should be her next milestone?

As always, of course, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

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The Genius of Living Like It's Groundhog Day (with Austin Kleon) Apr 10, 2019

How do you keep going when every day seems like a repeat of the last? What do you do to stay focused when either you're always asked to jump higher or may even just perform the same tasks again and again? Why do we turn every great hobby into a marketing opportunity and kill it by calling it a new a "side hustle" idea? What's the value of gifting something? What tools do you use to build your dreams? Our guest today, Austin Kleon, helps us address all of these fundamental questions and more. As a New York Times Bestselling author and creator, Kleon brings the creative mind of an artist to the pragmatic business world and shares some truths that can help all of us attain more of the life we're fighting for.

Great news! There's some exciting new legislation working its way through Congress that could offer better retirement options in the future. As always, we've invited an expert to help us make sense of it all. Chris Spence is senior director of federal government relations for TIAA, and has a front row seat to all of the changes. He'll share highlights, concerns, and the big wins for many of us on today's show.

Also during our headlines segment, we'll discuss one recent news article suggesting that those staying out of the equity rally are really starting to feel its effects. In fact, people staying on the sidelines in cash just might make this year's rally last longer.

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Harvey. Harvey and his wife are closing on their dream home soon (congratulations!) and are wondering what they should do with their condo. They know they can more than cover its expenses if they rent it out, but selling the property will save them a ton of cash on their new loan, along with PMI payments. What should the couple do?

Plus, when we get to our letters segment, we'll tear open some mail from Kevin, who's wondering if you can "exchange" ETFs like you can mutual funds.

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia...which today is exceptionally epic.

Compare checking, savings, credit cards, and loans before switching. Magnify Money makes it super easy to compare, switch and save.

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How To Fire Your Financial Advisor Apr 08, 2019

Ever wonder about firing your advisor? One woman wrote to Joe about firing her advisor, and we realized that's a question that many people have. How does the process work? Do you tell them? How do you move your money somewhere else? In their haste to get rid of an advisor, some people make big mistakes that end up costing them lots of money.

Today we're letting you be a fly on the wall. In place of our regularly featured interview, we'll let you listen in on the recorded conversation Joe had with an anonymous listener who's gotten fed up with her financial advisor. They'll discuss whether to sell assets, what records to keep, how to talk to the advisor, and what to look for in new/better help and brokerages.

Plus, in our headlines segment (couldn't get rid of that, could we?), the nation's biggest bond investor has dismissed the possibility of a stock market downturn in the near future. BUT, many in the financial media think the signs all point to stock market doom and the downturn is at our doorstep. So, who should we believe? Should our financial plan change regardless of what happens?

And later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Danielle. Her son, who has special needs, is getting his job. They are working toward him living independently and want to open an account for him at a brick-and-mortar bank where he'll have assistance if needed and easy access to his cash. Thoughts?

Then, in our letters segment, we'll cover a (totally) hypothetical question from Matt. Would it make much sense to have his kid forgo the traditional college experience and instead put all the savings into an investment account? It's all about time in the market, right?

Don't you worry, we'll cover it all and more (including Doug's trivia), on today's content-packed episode of Stacking Benjamins.

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What Retirement Terms Should You Know? (plus an intro to the Penge app) Apr 05, 2019

Do you think you could pass a quiz covering basic questions about retirement? While you MIGHT be confident that you know the basics, a recent TD Ameritrade survey suggests that most Americans would actually fail a simple retirement quiz. To help us make sense of whether the terms listed on this quiz are actually meaningful we're helped on Joe's Dad's shortwave by Paula Pant (Afford Anything), Andy Hill (Marriage Kids and Money), and special guest Daniel Angelone (Innovative Planning Partners.)

Halfway through the show we'll take small break from the roundtable for our weekly Friday Fintech segment. Joe will talk to Brittany Joiner, creator of the social finance app, Penge. Different than many of our interviews, the Penge app isn't yet "a thing." How does a developer create the idea for a new app and bring it to life? Brittany is living that right now. We'll also tackle how she realized that being inclusive with your social circle about personal finance can change our attitudes towards money. We'll cover that and more during today's Fintech segment.

And during our Magnify Money Call, we'll answer a voicemail from Calvin, who's still getting adjusted to the world of personal finance. From what he's learned so far ETFs and mutual funds are the best way to invest. Is there anything else he should be doing with his money to diversify?

As always, of course, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to awaytravel.com/sb20 and use the promo code sb20 to get $20 off a suitcase!

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One Woman's Shark Tank Journey (with Tanya VanCourt) Apr 03, 2019

Ever wonder what it'd be like to square off against the sharks? Tanya VanCourt from Goalsetter.co just did that and we'll share the exciting story from start to finish on today's show. Whether you're a fan of Shark Tank, Goalsetter, FinTech, or just entrepreneurship in general, you're going to love our blow-by-blow telling of Tanya's Shark Tank adventure. She shares LOTS of strategic lessons for anyone hoping to be a business owner, networker, or strategist.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll talk to Peter Polson (CEO of Tiller) about Apple's new credit card offering, which was announced just last week. While it's been getting a lot of hype from the media, is the card worth it? We'll break down the features of the new card, perceived benefits from it, and how this offering stacks up against others.

Also, we'll dive into one piece from Barrons that could throw a big wrench in a few retirement plans. Are you counting on your primary residence to finance your retirement? We'll discuss why that may not be the best strategy for your golden years. The Barron's piece calls it a trap, but do we agree?

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Les, who owes extra tax this year due to his 1099 income. Les also receives a W2 from his employer. Could he request extra withholding from his employer to cover his self employment taxes? We'll round out the show with a letter from Nathan, who's hopping jobs. Both of his employers have a 457 plan, but his new job won't have a company match. What should he do with his 457? Roll it over? Leave it alone? Roll it to a different plan?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia...which today is exceptionally epic.

Thanks to MetPro for supporting Stacking Benjamins! Get your complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert at metpro.co/sb.

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Whose Priorities Are You Working On? (with Laura Vanderkam) Apr 01, 2019

We aren't foolin' around on April Fools Day, because bestselling author, TED speaker, and top researcher of successful people Laura Vanderkam joins us. Laura and Joe tackle time management and priorities. When you have more tasks to do than time to do them in, how do you decide what to do first? What do you ignore? She'll share some simple to implement ideas that will help you conquer your inbox and more importantly, help you increase your attention to what matters. If you need more money, more time, or more life, this is the episode for you.

In our headlines segment we'll also talk to Mike Foy from JD Power and Associates about their annual survey on full service advisory firms. This year it appears clients may be ready to ditch their advisor unless they're able to add to the bottom line (especially in a couple crucial areas). What is your advisor doing/not doing? We'll address that on today's show.

Also in our headlines segment, Securities America has been hit by an $18 million lawsuit. With the company's now fired broker facing up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to running a Ponzi scheme, what lessons should we be taking from a family who's taken an $18 million hit loss since 2001?

Of course, that's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to to Royale. With her financial plans on track and savings going well, is there anything Royale and her family are missing from their plan? Of course, we'll still take time to answer a listener letter. Today we'll field one from Michael, who wants to know if there's a good strategy for investments when the market starts to cool off. , and talk about a certain project Mom's Neighbor Doug may or may not be working on.

All of that and more in another action-packed episode of the Stacking Benjamins Show!

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to awaytravel.com/sb20 and use the promo code sb20 to get $20 off a suitcase!

Thanks to MetPro for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a complimentary Metabolic Profiling assessment and a 30-minute consultation with a MetPro expert at metpro.co/sb.

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Outdated Money Advice You Should Probably Ditch (plus an intro to MetPro) Mar 29, 2019

On today's show, we'll cover all the (once) great financial strategies that have floated around the financial community. What outdated rules-of-thumb are you holding? We'll talk about which financial rules you should probably chuck out the window, and which ones still hold some water in today's world. Joining us on today's roundtable is Sophia Bera (Gen Y Planning), Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take small break for our Friday Fintech segment, which today we're renaming "Friday HealthTech." Joe and OG sit down with Angelo Poli, the founder of personal lifestyle and weight loss company, MetPro. How do you get yourself in shape? Buy health and sell bad habits.

And during our Magnify Money Call, our contributors will take a walk down memory lane to answer Rob's question. Rob's a high school teacher with the opportunity to pass on good financial knowledge to his senior class. He'd like some advice on what knowledge we would've wanted before we started our life journey.

As always, of course, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get TWO months of courses for free at Skillshare.com/SB.

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Making the Millionaire Choice (with Tony Bradshaw) Mar 27, 2019

Tony Bradshaw believes that we all can become millionaires. Growing up in a low income household, Tony learned the hard way how difficult it was to make and keep a dollar. But, using some of the strategies he talks about on today's show, he set a goal, made a plan, and then worked his plan to become a millionaire before he was forty years old. We'll talk about how you can make similar choices on today's podcast.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we're NOT talking about Millennials, but instead, the newest study focused on... Gen Z. If we had to put a label or two on this generation's approach to the workplace it would read something like this: fast promotions and BIG raises. We'll dig behind the numbers and find some takeaways that are more than meets the eye, with the CEO of the company that studied the commission, Bill Bennett, from Inside Out Development.

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to David, who has some "big" investor questions. What's the deal with being an accredited investor? The group has to be pulling in a nice income every year, or has a big net worth already behind them. Is there really a higher class of investor who have better investing options than everyone else? After we spend some time sorting out the answer for David we'll field a letter from Kyle, who wants needs some guidance on what to do with a bonus from work. Should Kyle lump sump into his 401k (which will max out his contributions for the year), or dollar cost average the cash into his account?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get TWO months of courses for free at Skillshare.com/SB.

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How To Find and Profit From Your Money Story (with Jean Chatzky) Mar 25, 2019

What's your money story? What the heck IS a money story? Jean Chatzky from Her Money (and the Today Show money editor) joins us to talk about her money story, why it's important, and how to use it to avoid making mistakes in the future and capitalize on your strengths. We'll also talk about maximizing social security, why many women don't consider themselves to be "investors," and judgement-free financial discussions.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll cover one new story that suggests there's a "alphabeticity bias" in 401k investing. What is alphabeticity bias? We'll not only define it, but probably make you groan when you hear how it's hurting people's performance in their retirement plans.

Later on we'll field some of your questions. First we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Tim, who has a pension fund at work and an estimated monthly benefit. How does he calculate his net worth statement. Next, we'll open up a letter from Tyler, who has recently read that he shouldn't own small cap funds in a taxable brokerage account because of capital gains. Does he have a right to be concerned?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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Lessons from the Tooth Fairy (plus an intro to alternative investment IRAs with Alto) DETAILS Mar 22, 2019

In true Stacking Benjamins fashion today we're all about the Tooth Fairy. A new Delta Dental study shows that the Tooth Fairy is leaving less money for children's teeth. Does this mean the economy is weakening? Does it mean that the value of teeth are lower? Helping us out today we welcome special guest Susan Beacham from MoneySavvy.com. Also on today's motley crew, is Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com, and rounding out our gang is Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog.

Halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our discussion with Susan and the rest of the gang to cover a long running IRA problem. Have you been looking for a place to make investing in alternative investments easier inside of your IRA? During our Fintech segment Joe will talk to Eric Satz, CEO of IRA company Alto, about what his company is doing to help streamline the process.

Then we'll answer a Magnify Money call for help from Lauren, who wants to save money for her kid's college fund, but is weary about the restrictions that come with using a traditional 529 plan. What other college savings vehicles are available for her?

As always, of course, we'll still save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Airbnb for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Airbnb.com/SB to start hosting. You’ll receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card if you generate $500 in booking value by May 30. Terms and conditions apply.

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The Case Against Rolling Your Workplace Plan to an IRA Mar 19, 2019

We're answering your letters today, but first, we'll tackle a headline about the case against rolling over your 401(k) plan to an IRA. Most of us have heard why you should roll it over. Let's now hear the flip side. With points such as the lack of a stable value fund, the fact that many IRA advisors are just salespeople, and 401(k) plans in general beat IRA performance, the author makes many points which, on the surface, sound like an open-and-shut case. But is that really ALL of the argument? We'll discuss it today!

Plus, also in our headlines segment, one special interest group who loves fiduciary rules is arguing against one state that's trying to put them into place. Do they have a good argument? What does that mean for advisors helping you with your planning in general? We'll also tackle that big topic.

But then, we'll spend most of the show on your letters, which today include a TON of Roth IRA questions, among others. How should you set up your Roth? What about the 5 year rule? How should you invest your money inside of your Roth? We'll answer those, plus throw out the Haven Life Line, fire up Doug's trivia question, and more.

Today's episode is a great way to celebrate the first day of spring!

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

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How to Hire The Perfect Advisor (for you), with Nicholas Stuller Mar 18, 2019

Finding the right person to help you make your best financial moves is a giant exercise in trust. How do you know an advisor is perfect for you? On that note, how do you know the advisor is right for anyone? What questions can you ask to avoid the wrong relationship? There are a thousand questions you could ask... but the bottom line is this: How do you hire the right person to help you manage your financial decisions? Coming onto the show today is the man with many answers, the author of How to Find the Perfect Advisor, Nicholas Stuller. By the end of the conversation, you'll know what you should watch out for and have the confidence to make the right decision when it comes to hiring a great advisor.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll take a look at marijuana stocks. These types of stocks continue to see a huge inflow of cash, but could investing in a marijuana stock create some big unintended consequences? We'll cover one piece that details the repercussions you could face by throwing even a few dollars of fun money into the wrong investment.

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to JB, who's looking for the pros and cons of choosing one method of retirement investing over another. What should investors be looking at when deciding on how to invest their retirement funds? We'll also answer a letter from Mark, who's looking for advice on if he should convert his traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to Airbnb for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Airbnb.com/SB and start hosting. You’ll receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card if you generate $500 in booking value by May 30. Terms and conditions apply.

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How Do the Wealthy Manage THEIR Money? (plus FinTech to come with Ryan Falvey) Mar 15, 2019

What do rich people do with all their Benjamins? Yachts? Helicopters? Trips to the Alps? Helping us through one MarketWatch piece that seems to have the answer to our burning questions about wealth, is the founder of Reisup, Tara Falcone. Plus, we welcome Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com and OG from our very own SB podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll take a break from our discussion to talk about the future of FinTech. On our special Friday segment to talk about where your next savings opportunity might come from, we welcoming the co-founder of start-up incubator Financial Ventures Studio, Ryan Falvey.

Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Tim, who has a question about where he and his wife should sock away their retirement funds. Right now most of their money is in traditional accounts, but would it make more sense to have it a Roth account instead?

As always, of course, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/SB.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get TWO months of courses for free at Skillshare.com/SB.

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How Do I Pay Off My College Debt? Plus, FIRST No-Fee ETF (with David Carlson) Mar 13, 2019

Does it feel like it'll be an eternity until you've finally finished off your student loans? Maybe you're one of the nearly two-thirds of Americans who wonder how they'll ever pay off their loans. Student loans can be a burden for years after you've walked across the stage for a diploma, and it's one expense no one would miss from their monthly budget. And while money and enough time will eventually take care of your student loans, we expect you don't want to wait to be anchored down for a good portion of your working life. So to help you pay down your loans more quickly, today, we welcome special guest David Carlson. David has been in the all-too-known position of having to pay down lots of student loan debt... but he figured out a solution to pay it off. Now he's teaching his process to us.

Plus, in our headlines segment, one FinTech company that you've probably heard of is rolling out fee-free exchange-traded funds. Surely it's time to jump ship and invest in them, right? In our second piece, we're looking at one MarketWatch publication about how a manager earns his profits: from other investors' mistakes.

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Matt, who is relocating from Texas to Louisiana. Texas does not have a tax on income, while Louisiana does. Can Matt hold off on his retirement contributions so that he can reduce his earned income in Louisiana?

And in our letter's segment, Duncan wants to know if he should take out a small loan to max out his Roth IRA for the year. He's only 30, so he has plenty of time left to minimize risk.

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to Molekule for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get $75 off your first order at Molekule.com with our promo code: SB.

Thanks to Skillshare for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 2 months of Skillshare FREE, visiting Skillshare.com/SB.

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Earning More By Doing Less (with David Hause) Mar 11, 2019

Are you aggressively striving for your financial goals? Putting in the time to make your dreams come true? Are you sure you're NOT going to let anything stand in your way when it comes to securing a nice retirement and a fantastic nest egg? Here's a question: when are you working TOO hard toward your goal? How do you know when you've gotten TOO caught up in the rat race? On today's show, we sit with entrepreneur David Hauser, who's built and sold two successful businesses, but who also has been overworked, unhappy, and unhealthy. Early on, David was used to a 100+ hour week, a lifestyle of unhealthy eating, and not a lot of physical activity. After a 10 year journey of self improvement, David has found a work-life balance that not only satisfies his financial needs but his personal ones as well. As you'll hear in the interview, being all about the Benjamins doesn't necessarily mean you need to sacrifice the other important parts of your life.

Plus, in our headlines segment, how much do you spend on subscriptions? Today Joe talks to Andy Kerns from Digital Third Coast. Partnering with Waterstone to conduct the study, Andy's team looked into the relationship that America has with subscription services. Is it destroying your bottom line? We'll also dive into a piece on how the new crop of financial planners are trained... should more financial firms be looking at a residency program?

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Roxanna, who's only partially vested in a 401k at her old workplace. Could she have problems getting her cash down the road? On the letter's side of things, Tearar wants to get some ETFs in her workplace's SIMPLE IRA, but is getting pushback. What's the deal?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to Molekule for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get $75 off your first order at Molekule.com with our promo code: SB.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

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What Financial Terms Should You Know? (with an intro to the Destiny app) Mar 08, 2019

401k? Roth? Dollar cost averaging? Market timing? Target-date funds? Choosing to take responsibility for your financial well-being is often a difficult choice, and it's not made any easier by the long list of jargon that comes attached to being money savvy. That's why on today's show we're breaking down all the words and definitions that'll have you scratching your head as you try to get your budget and retirement plan on the right track. Joining our awesome panel of contributors today (alongside our very own OG, and Paula Pant from Afford Anything) is Nate Abercrombie, from the Investing with the Buyside podcast.

Halfway through the show, we'll take a small break from our discussion for our Friday Fintech segment. On today's segment, Joe sits down for a call with Parker Graham from the Destiny App. Do you want to pay off your debt faster (of course you do!), but also get the small wins from the debt snowball method? We'll explore how the Destiny App is setting out to give you the best of both worlds on today's Fintech.

Plus, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Kristen. Kristen and her husband are high-income earners but are putting two kids through college. They're also carrying a mortgage and a car loan... with no retirement savings. Where should Kristen and her spouse put their focus as they realign their priorities?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Go to Airbnb.com/SB and start hosting. You’ll receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card if you generate $500 in booking value by May 30. Terms and conditions apply.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for Supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to MurderBookPodcast.com to listen in.

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Saving For a House, Real Stock Returns, Social Security, and more (Your Letters) Mar 06, 2019

Should you take on debt to buy real estate? Does the stock market really return as much as we're told it after a life of saving and investing? And on the topic of stocks... how should a portfolio be split up between small, large and foreign stocks? That's just a sneak peak of the broad range of question and answers we're discussing on today's jam-packed letters episode.

During our headlines segment, OG is sharing his thoughts on Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway letter to investors. Plus, we're calling 1(800)Accountant CEO Mike Savage. What's the deal with this year's tax refunds... or lack thereof?

After some unusually fantastic trivia by Doug, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Luke, who is getting his master's degree this fall. With his tuition covered, plus a stipend of $1400 a month, should he try to max out his Roth IRA before school starts, or should he save the amount of $6000?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

Go to Airbnb.com/sb and start hosting you’ll receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card if you generate $500 in booking value by May 30. Terms and conditions apply.

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Mortgages 101 (plus: your subscriptions are killing you) Mar 04, 2019

Whether you've never purchased a home before or just don't know much about the process, we've got a treat for you today. We're going to dive into everything mortgages 101 today, like PMI, the negotiability of fees, and the lie that everyone quoting rates is telling (those rates "might not be what you think they'd be.") On today's show we welcome the guy who's teaching us everything millennials need to know about mortgages, Jeff VanNote.

During our headlines segment, we'll start with one piece detailing how Americans would spend a life-changing sum of money. Do you know how you would spend yours? In our second headline, we talk to head of retirement research from Carson Wealth, professor Jamie Hopkins. Could you be on the hook for your parents' long term care? Plus, in a special third headline, one Florida man received a $980,000 tax refund. Before you start asking how you can cash in as he did, you'll want to find out the rest of that story.

Later on, we'll field a Haven Life Line call from Michael, who has $5,000 in savings. He's put in about $500 into Acorns so far to start investing, but should he be doing more? And in our letter segment, Allen tells us how he's been socking away $100 per month since his daughter has been born. She's going off to college in a couple of years, and Allen wants to keep socking away $100 for her in a Roth IRA once she graduates. Where's the best place to start the account?

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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Money Moves For the MINUTE You Decide to Retire with Harlan Landes AND Buzz Indexes (SB RWD 89) Mar 01, 2019

What should be the number one priority on your retirement planning list? That answer is going to be different for everyone, and on this roundtable episode our contributors gave their take on one list's "most' urgent items.

You can find the original show notes from 2016 below:

What are the most important moves to make in retirement? Harlan Landes (Adulting.tv, Plutus Foundation) joins Paula (AffordAnything) and Len (LenPenzodotcom) to tackle a recent Wisebread piece that claims to give us the MOST urgent items on your retirement planning list. Does our panel agree? You'll find out on today's show. Also, we mull over real estate home improvements (where do you get the most bang for your hard-earned dollar?) AND dream about what we'd do if we could get unlimited points/miles. Heck, even ChiChi's gets a mention on today's show. You know it's going to be a wild one when we're talking ChiChi's.

In our FinTech segment we talk to Jamie Wise from Buzz Indexes(BUZ) about their index and ETF. Hedge fund managers have been following the wisdom of social media crowds...now Jamie and his firm are bringing the same technology to the average investor.

Thanks to MagnifyMoneyand SoFi for sponsoring our podcast!

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Check Your Financial Diagnostic with Jean Chatzky (RWD 88) Feb 27, 2019

When's the last time you gave you financial life a good inspection? It's been a bit since we talked about having a good look at our financial processes and routines, so the Fintern decided to spin up Joe's interview with Today Show Money Editor Jean Chatzky.

Back in 2017 Joe talked to Jean about why people should get a financial "check up." We still think that's a great idea in 2019.

Here are the original show notes from 2017:

If anyone knows the heartbeat of personal finance, it's Today Show Money Editor Jean Chatzky. On today's podcast, Jean joins us in the basement to talk about your financial engine. How well is it running? She's teamed up with Dr. Michael Roizen to talk about how to age-proof your life. We'll have LOTS of tips and resources today.

In our headline segment, we talk annuities. Our arch-enemy Meg forwarded us a nefarious piece about annuities that clearly displays what some annuity salespeople are thinking--they just want your cash. Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line and also save time for Doug's trivia.

Special thanks to SoFi and Magnify Money for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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What Do We Think About Market Timing? (RWD 087) Feb 25, 2019

We haven't talked about market timing at all on the show lately, so the Fintern thought it was about time to reach back in the archives and find an old episode on the topic.

This eshow is from a Wednesday back before we changed our format. OG sounds like he's in a tin can, to a degree, but if you can get through that, the show itself is a really great collection of letters from you.

Here's the original show notes from 2015:

Today the star of the show is YOU! You ask us about market timing, diversification and risk…and we deliver the goods.

Plus PK is back in the basement to argue with Joe about emergency funds. When is it the right time to save into your emergency fund? Is it best to save BEFORE you pay down debt or AFTER? PK says AFTER and Joe says BEFORE….you’ll hear the epic debate on today’s show!

As if that weren’t enough, today’s headline is about China’s recent move to regulate their stock market volatility. Is that good or bad for investors? We also review the film Focus with Will Smith and Margo Robbie.

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Lies Money Gurus Tell (plus an intro to NuMoola) Feb 22, 2019

It's easy to find financial advice on the internet. But finding GOOD financial advice? You'll find that's a bit more difficult. With so many money "gurus" pushing their sage wisdom, how do you sort through all the noise and find the truth? We'll discuss where the "truth" lies today, with some help from our contributors: Chelsea Brannon from Smart Money Mamas, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and OG from this podcast. Today we're tackling money, (bad) advice, and lies!

Halfway through the show we'll take a break to talk to Eric Redline, creator of kid-focused money management app, NuMoola. Next we'll answer a Magnify Money call from Scott, who wants to buy a home sooner rather than later. The catch? He doesn't have 20% to put down as a downpayment. Should he charge forward anyway?

And don't you worry, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Thanks Audible! Get Power Moves by Adam Grant for free when you sign up for a free Audible trial at Audible.com/sbpower or text sbpower to 500 500.

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When Should I Fire My Financial Advisor? (Your Letters) Feb 20, 2019

Today we'll throw out our regular playbook to focus on what's really important: your burning financial questions! From Ginny, who wants to become interested in finance (plus a husband who has a BIG man-crush on OG), to Craig and his wife who just inherited a big sum of money....and to Chris wants to know if he should use his savings to pay off his car note before his wedding, we made you and your questions our BIGGEST focus today.

BUT, that's not all... we still managed to tackle two big headlines. Making ripples across the financial sector, one ex financial adviser has been sent to prison for seven years after stealing $300,000 from a 97 year old. How do you avoid that mess? We'll show you where this situation went off the rails. Plus, in our second headline, a series of mistakes has the Omaha Public School' pension fund scrambling after a $771 million shortfall. Headlines like these don't exactly inspire trust in the financial industry, so we'll share our big ideas on saving for retirement without walking into a mess like this.

A letters episode doesn't mean we're skipping out on the Haven Life Line! Jared is at a critical point with his financial advisor, who hasn't had the best returns in the past couple of years. Is it time for Jared to give his advisor the boot? We can't make the decision for him... but we can tell him our thoughts.

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

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Starting a Business, Cardi B, and the Problem with Afterpay Feb 18, 2019

Nearly everyone has had a "great" business idea. However, as mom says, "the devil is in the details," and great businesses aren't built on ideas, they're built on successful implementation and follow through. To help you set up either your next side gig or start your next big venture, we're excited to talk to Maria Aspan, Editor at Large for Inc. Magazine. She'll discuss where to look for financing, the importance of a business plan (is it really important?), how to ask family for money, when to include venture capitalists, and more. She'll also share some fantastic success stories from people who've already accomplished what many of our listeners want to learn.

Plus in our headlines segment millennial money expert Stephanie O'Connell stops by the basement to discuss the new layaway alternative, Afterpay. Here's how it works: pick out what you want today and pay for it later. Does that sound somewhat like a credit card? Stephanie breaks it all down during our interview. And in our second headline, Cardi B is speaking out against people who are taking jabs at her spending habits. She says she's spending over $300,000 per month and can't lower her bills any more. What's her reasoning? We'll jump into her personal financial issues and talk about responsibilities during our second headline.

And in our Haven Life Line, Dustin has his investments for his son's college in the market. With college quickly approaching, where should Dustin be moving his money? Then we'll take a letter from Chris, who wants more information on the rule of thumb many of us have heard, of having a certain threshold of money saved by different ages.

As always, we'll still save some time for Doug's (completely epic) trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How to NOT Blow Your Tax Refund (Plus an intro to CareerPurpose from TIAA) Feb 15, 2019

Whether it's big check time from the IRS or not, it's always important to know ahead of time what to do with a large sum of money. Do you have a plan for your tax refund cash? Today, whether you have the beginnings of a plan or no clue, this show is for you. Today we're joined by host of the Seven Figures podcast, Sandy Waters, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our very own OG.

About halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to Mark Elliot from TIAA about your career. Looking for a more meaningful vocation? Mark will describe CareerPurpose.com, a partnership they've formed with LinkedIn to help people like you improve their work life.

And after some deep-sea inspired trivia from Doug, we'll cross the finish line by taking out the magnifying glass and helping listener Austin. He could finish paying off his loans this year, but that would mean taking a year off from investing. What should he do?

Thanks to OnDeck for sponsoring the show. For a free consultation with one of their US-based loan specialists, go to OnDeck.com/SB.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We Heart Better Money Communication (with Walter Wisniewski and Allison Vanaski) Feb 13, 2019

We're celebrating Valentine's Day in true money podcast fashion, talking all things romantic, like wine, spreadsheets, money dates, and open communication about money. We know...total romance. Joining us to discuss all of these things and more are a father-daughter financial planning team of Walter Wisniewski and Allison Vanaski. We'll also talk about non-verbal money cues (what is your significant other NOT telling you about money, but is showing you?), why we're afraid of money chats, and how to discuss financial topics with aging parents and non-family members. We're talking all things communication on today's show!

Plus, in our headlines segment, do credit scores factor in to how we look at love? Does good and bad credit matter in the dating world? We'll talk statistics and love with Jonathan Walker from The Center For The New Middle Class. Plus, Joe and OG will discuss one piece that covers 5 mistakes you could be making with your money.

Later on, we throw out the Haven Life Line to Zac and his wife. They've recently discovered the FIRE movement and now want to retire by 50. With conventional logic suggesting to invest into accounts that won't be available under after 50, where should Zac and his wife be looking to invest with Fire in mind? Plus, we're also answering a letter from Any Mouse, who wants to know if he has enough assets to cover his son in the event that something happened to him.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Art and Science of Making Work Optional (with Tanja Hester) DETAILS Feb 11, 2019

Tanja Hester realized at a young age that even though she loved her career, she was still helping an organization chase THEIR goals instead of her own, and that's when her plan to make work optional was hatched. On today's show she'll talk about not only her story, but also about how she and her husband tracked their progress (dual spreadsheets!), discussed the timing of leaving, and downsizing her lifestyle. She also shares potential struggles she sees down the line, like rising health care costs. Whether you wish to retire early, or just retire someday, this is an interview for you.

Plus, attorney Leslie Tayne will help us answer the Haven Life line call for help from Vince, who is worried that his mother is going to be on the hook for some loans she's co-signed. How does she remove herself if the main signer is nowhere to be found?

In our headlines segment, we'll discuss 401(k) jargon. What terms do you must struggle with? We'll also share some advice for the upcoming Valentine's day holiday.

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to OnDeck for sponsoring the show. For a free consultation with one of their US-based loan specialists, go to OnDeck.com/SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Reasons People Never Have Enough Money (with an intro to U-Nest) Feb 08, 2019

Ever ask yourself why you never seem to have enough money? Maybe the answer is that you need to make more at work, or maybe you just eat out a little bit too much during the week? On today's roundtable, we're joined by Marcus Garrett of the Paychecks and Balances podcast, Len Penzo (from LenPenzo.com) and our very own OG. We're tackling 7 questions that, if you're honest with yourself, will give you the answers to why you never seem to have enough money.

Halfway through the roundtable, we'll take a break for the FinTech segment. Joe talks to Ksenia Yudina, founder of college savings platform U-Nest. Ksenia is a mom of three and wanted an easier way to save for college... so she went out and created one.

We're also fielding a MagnifyMoney.com question from Matthew and his fiancée. They're thinking about getting into real estate but aren't big on the idea of getting back into debt. Should they keep their focus on investing in the market, or take the plunge?

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to AwayTravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

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Slashing Expenses To Save More Money (with Grant Sabatier) Feb 06, 2019

If you're hoping for financial freedom, Grant Sabatier is maybe the perfect man to hear speak. At one point he was down to less than ten dollars in his accounts, and within a short time went from broke to a millionaire. How did he do it? He'll share his story (which includes how he made money), but also share how to drastically cut your expenses so that you can build your own fortune.

In our headline segment, we'll talk to JJ Kinahan about financial independence. TD Ameritrade recently commissioned a study about the Financial Independence Retire Early movement. It turns out that many people chasing financial freedom have different ideas about "FIRE" than you may have heard in the past.

We're also throwing out the Haven Life Line to Kody, who doesn't fully trust in the public service loan forgiveness program. He's going to be investing money into a taxable account so he'll be able to pay off the loan if needed. What do we think of him investing the amount instead of sticking it into a savings account? Plus, we'll be throwing out a letter to

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Omax Health for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit Tryomax.com/sb for your free box of Omax3 Ultra-Pure with your first purchase.

Thanks Audible! Get Power Moves by Adam Grant for free when you sign up for a free Audible trial at Audible.com/sbpower or text sbpower to 500 500.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dumb Things Smart People Do With Money (with Jill Schlesinger) DETAILS Feb 04, 2019

THE Jill Schlesinger returns to the basement to talk about three horrible investments people buy: gold, reverse mortgages, and hedge funds. We'll also discuss annuities, permanent life insurance, and other frequent offenders. If you're using any of these products, don't panic! These can all be used successfully in your plan, and Jill will talk about the horrible ways people are tricked into using these products so that you don't make the same mistakes.

Then, in our headlines, we'll cover a piece about industry "sheriff" FINRA cracking down on companies offering expensive 529 plans. Companies will have until April to report themselves and avoid potentially big fines. We'll break down the big picture and what it means to you before we field a call from Trim CEO Thomas Smyth. Mastercard is unrolling a new plan to add consumer protections against those tricky "free" trials that we've all fallen pray to at one point or another. We'll dive in with Thomas to figure out what's all going on with the world of subscriptions and hidden fees.

We're also throwing out the Haven Life Line to Xandra, who's fully invested in the total stock market index fund. With her 401k, HSA, and IRA taken care of, should she be branching out into emerging markets and small cap growth funds to diversify? We'll field a letter from Huy, who's being doing well with their 401k, but wants to open a Roth IRA. So... what exactly is an IRA? How do you open one? We'll break it down for Huy during out letters segment.

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Omax Health for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit Tryomax.com/sb for your free box of Omax3 Ultra-Pure with your first purchase.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to AwayTravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Developing Your Big Game Plan For Your Money (plus an intro to Vimvest) Feb 01, 2019

This is the weekend we'll nearly all see (whether we're a fan of sports or not) people at the "top of their game" showing off their ability to excel at their craft. Here's our question: how do you excel with your money? That's why today we're discussing how YOU can maximize you financial Big Game with some good thought-out planning. Plus, we're not bringing you just one special guest today... but TWO. Joining us is Jace Mattinson and Clark Sheffield from the Millionaires Unveiled podcast. And we're keeping the party going with two contributors you know and love: Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com, and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com.

Halfway through the roundtable, we'll take a little break for our Friday Fintech segment. Joe's having a discussion with Justin Bailey, co-founder of saving and investing platform VimVest. Have plenty of savings goals but not exactly sure how to prioritize? You'll want to listen in to this interview.

We'll also answer a MagnifyMoney.com question from Rob, who is a high school teacher. What's some great financial knowledge Rob should be gifting to his students before they graduate?

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Are We Bad With Money? (with Gaby Dunn) Jan 30, 2019

Are you horrible with money? Turns out you're not alone (big surprise)! While most of us have been bad with money at some point in our lives, we don't usually write a book about it. Today we're joined by Gaby Dunn, who today will dive into her early years, and the money scripts she learned from school, parents, and friends. It's a quick look into her new book :Bad With Money.

Plus, during our headlines segment, a Barron's piece proves again just how many people don't understand the FIREmovement. And in our second headline, investors are looking for "safer" investments as the economy continues to fluctuate. It's a sad reality that no matter how much we talk about not sabotaging your financial plan, people seem to consistently find a way to shoot themselves in the foot with their financial behavior.

Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Kathy, who is looking to retire in the next decade. She should be shifting more of her portfolio over to bonds? What's the right balance between bonds and equities as one gets closer to retirement? We'll also take time to answer a letter from Braden, who's fresh out of college and has his first full-time job. What are some resources he can use to start investing?

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's Our Favorite (and least favorite) Tax Software Packages? Jan 28, 2019

On today's show we're taking your letters, but first, we're talking to Hannah Rounds, our favorite tax software reviewer, who gives us the lowdown on the good, bad and ugly of tax software. She'll tell us which brands to avoid, which are her favorites, and which packages are surprising. Whether you're willing to pay for your tax support or are looking for the best software package for free, we'll dive into all of the brands to help make your filing season easier.

We're happy that the government shutdown is over for now, but what if it happens again in three weeks? We'll talk to Lacey Langford from the Mil Money Movement podcast about the fallout from the shutdown. If people are trying to duct tape together their financial picture until the receive their first paycheck after the shutdown, what do they do? We'll discuss resources, advice, what NOT to do, and more.

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Pete, who wants to know if he should invest some of his extra cash into a short-term bond fund. He has a large cash reserve, and with interest rates being very low on savings accounts, he wonders whether it'd be worth the time to spike up the interest rate possibilities a little.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to the Murder Book Podcast for supporting StackingBenjamins. Check out Michael Connelly's new Murder Book podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or at MurderBookPodcast.com.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why Some People Will Always Be Poor (with tax prep tips from The Bookkeeping Artist) Jan 25, 2019

What does it really mean to be poor? We're not talking about poverty...that's a whole different issue, when compared to one article we're discussing today, which covers the difference between people who are "poor" but own lots of stuff and people who are "rich" and own very little. What do we mean? We'll dive in to this topic today with our roundtable group of bloggers and podcasters, including Cody Berman, co-host of the FI Show; Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com; and from our own Stacking Benjamins podcast, OG. Plus, we'll take a call from Tyler, who has some stock market questions about 2019. Can the Magic 8 Ball possibly help him with his issue? And, if that isn't enough, we'll also answer a question from the mailbag!

Halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk tax prep with Katherine Pomerantz of The Bookkeeping Artist. Katherine brings some great information on how to get your books organized for this year's tax season, and some advice that'll hopefully keep a bit of your hair on your head through April's filing season. ...and of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to OnDeck for sponsoring the show. For a free consultation with one of their US-based loan specialists, go to OnDeck.com/SB.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join the Seven Figure Club With Tools You Already Possess (with Chris Hogan) Jan 23, 2019

With all of the news dominated lately by the government shutdown and Washington politics, it's easy to focus on things outside of your control. But if you're going to become a millionaire, it's time today to refocus your energy on YOU and what you need to do personally to find your way toward financial success. The perfect person to talk to about personal responsibility comes down to the basement today, Chris Hogan. We'll dispel some of the myths around who's a millionaire and help you set up your plan of attack to join the ranks yourself....sooner rather than later.

In today's headlines: will the government shutdown impact this year's tax return season? Even with a partial recall of IRS employees, there's still plenty of potential issues if the agency doesn't return to full strength. We'll discuss one piece today that takes a look at all the possible problems for individuals and businesses alike.

Plus, we'll be throwing out the Haven Life Line to Matt, who is recently married. What are some resources available for newlyweds going through their first tax season? After that we'll take some time to answer a letter from Jon, who wonders if his wife should ditch her whole life policy for term life insurance, and invest the difference in a Roth.

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

Thanks to OnDeck for sponsoring the show. For a free consultation with one of their US-based loan specialists, go to OnDeck.com/SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Too Much Debt Hampering Your Saving Discussions? (Your Letters) Jan 21, 2019

We're dedicating this episode to a very special guest: YOU. Our mailbag is overflowing, so today we realized it was time to devote a whole episode to answering your burning questions. Scott has cash left over after he pays bills and maxes out his regularly scheduled savings contributions... should he open up a Roth IRA? How should Laura prioritize her savings goals: pay down debt, add to retirement accounts, or build her emergency funds? Tyler has been recruited by his local Edward Jones agent. Should he begin his career with them?

In our headlines segment, one recent piece asks the question, "Is your debt the driving factor behind your savings discussions?" We'll tackle why that's an issue, and how it can harm your long term plans. In our second headline we'll look at some changes coming this year to health savings accounts (HSAs).

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to John, who wants to know how to invest his lump sum. Should he dollar cost average over the next year or dump his stash of money into his account at one time?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Grammarly for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/sb.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Favorite Ways To Distract Ourselves From Spending (plus an intro to AHP Financing) Jan 18, 2019

How do you put the brakes on spending so much money? ....... Our special guest today is Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, author of The Thirty Day Money Cleanse, and she's an expert in cleaning up your budget. We'll talk with her and our team about a recent Budgets Are Sexy blog post in which blogger J. Money lays out how he avoids spending money. What games do you play with yourself to distract yourself from spending money. Plus, two contributors you know and love, Len Penzo from the LenPenzo.com blog, and from Afford Anything, Paula Pant.

Halfway through the roundtable we'll take a break for our Friday Fintech segment and talk to DeAnn O'Donovan from AHP Servicing. AHP Servicing is a company that's setting out to help people who are struggling with their mortgages find ways to stay in their homes.

We'll also answer a MagnifyMoney.com question from Paul, who has the opportunity to buy shares of a new company. He's sure the price is going to jump up. Should he use he cash he has on hand to buy shares, or take out a loan to get even more shares?

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Masterworks for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit Masterworks.io and reserve your shares now. See disclaimer at Masterworks.io/disclaimer.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Challenging Yourself To Spend NO Money (with Jen Smith) Jan 16, 2019

Could you go a few days without spending any money? A few weeks? How about a few months? Starving your wallet might be simpler than you've previously thought. Jen Smith, co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast, joins us today to talk about gifting yourself a "No Spend Challenge." How does it work? We'll cover her story of spending little to no money to cure her debt issues, and then how she refined the concept to create a plan worthy of talking about on our show and elsewhere!

And in our headlines segment of the podcast, some great news! Long term care benefits have been added to the new crop of Medicare Advantage plans. We'll invite Danielle Kunkle Roberts from Boomer Benefits over so we can all learn more. Plus, we'll take a look at recent changes in the annuity industry. Annuity providers are making a combined effort to bring the industry into the 21st century to speed up the exchange process from months to a week. What does that mean for you? We'll dive in more during our headlines segment.

Later on, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Sean, who's a minority stakeholder in a corporation. The majority stakeholder wants to buy him out... what questions should Sean be asking?

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Omax Health for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit TryOmax.com/sb for your free box of Omax3 Ultra-Pure with your first purchase.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How One Family Paid Off a $330k Mortgage in 5 Years Jan 14, 2019

Ever wonder how someone decides to aggressively attack a goal, like paying down your mortgage? Talaat McNeely and his spouse Tai decided to think HUGE thoughts when they set out to pay off their house in five years. They didn't know how they'd do it, but they set out anyway and took action, and ultimately accomplished their goal. Today Talaat will tell their family's fantastic story from start to finish. He'll share what they did well and also how they could have maybe paid the house off even faster. He'll share their feelings and emotions along the way that sometimes came near sabotaging their goal...and at other times that helped spur them on to victory.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll detail a great list of questions you should ask a financial advisor. Do you have questions ready when you go in to see an advisor? We'll share some of our favorites before jumping over to our second headline: one California man learns ten million reasons why you shouldn't tell your roommates about hitting the jackpot... see where this is going? Yeah, it's a cautionary tale.

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Colin, who wants to know our thoughts on target date funds. He's been dollar-cost averaging into a Vanguard target date retirement fund for the past 10 years. Should Colin change his investment strategy? What are out thoughts? We'll also get through TWO letters today. First, Shaun is a financial advisor and wants to know what type of data he should be presenting his clients. Next, will take on a letter from Christy, who writes in to address our answer to a letter asking about individual life insurance.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Masterworks for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit Masterworks.io and reserve your shares now. See disclaimer at Masterworks.io/disclaimer.

Thanks to Omax Health for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Visit Tryomax.com/sb for you free box of Omax3 Ultra-Pure.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wash Away Your Debts (with Nick Clements) Jan 09, 2019

Did you spend too during the holiday season? Studies showed that many of us WAY overspent this year, to the tune of over $1,200 more spending than we could truly afford. Add that to the huge amount of debt people are already carrying, and this year's problem can easily become next year's problem. To help you wash away your debt problems, today we're talking to Nick Clements on the psychology behind debt management, and the many different ways you can get your year started on the right foot in our annual holiday debt cleanse episode.

Plus, if you're looking to make some extra money on the side to pay down your holiday bills, we've got you covered. We're calling our old friend Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy blog and podcast. He'll share lots of ways to help you quickly raise hundreds (and maybe thousands) of dollars. Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Bryan, who took out a 401k loan to buy a rental property. Bryan has extra cash coming in and could pay off the loan pretty quickly. Should he do it? What would be the downsides of choosing to make minimum payments?

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Nail Your Retirement Investment Strategy (with Larry Swedroe) Jan 07, 2019

In this tumultuous market, how certain are you about your investment strategy? Larry Swedroe joins us today to talk retirement planning, but especially to talk about weathering the storm of risk and uncertainty in this market. We'll talk about what's normal for the market, why so many people fail, how an all-stock portfolio might or might not work for you, and more.

Plus, in our headlines segment, lots of people moved their money to treasures to start 2019. Could this foreshadow upcoming negative market conditions this year? We'll share our feelings on today's podcast. Plus, one major publication piece shares how much money you should have in stocks at every age. Is this good advice, or could it be guiding people down the wrong path? We'll talk about appropriate investment advice for people who are far from retirement, middle aged, and nearing or in their retirement years.

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Joseph and his wife. They're looking to get a home loan but don't really like their options. Could raising their credit score open up better choices for them? We're also answering a letter from Matt, who wants to know more about his 401k options: Roth, traditional, and after-tax. He's also using part of his 401k at a quasi-emergency fund. Is he setting himself up for failure?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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What Does Our Magic 8 Ball Predict For 2019? (plus an intro to Kin) DETAILS Jan 04, 2019

What's on tap for 2019? We don't know what you have planned personally, but we CAN tell you what our Magic 8 Ball says is going to happen. We'll ask it all the important questions, like, "What will the stock market do in 2019?" and "Will the price of oil be higher next year than now?" plus heavy hitters like, "Will Harry and Meghan have a boy?"...important stuff like that. But that's not all. We'll also share how the 8 Ball fared last year. Did it predict the future?

In our Friday FinTech segment we'll talk to Sean Harper, CEO of Kin, an innovative company disrupting, of all things, homeowners insurance. We'll talk about some of the ideas that they're using to make homeowners insurance easier and more consumer friendly.

We'll also take some time to answer our Magnify Money hotline. Laura has had to retire earlier than expected due to medical reasons. She wants to start a home business to create a new income stream started. Should she use some of her emergency savings, or maybe tap her IRA? And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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You Can Be a Badass in 2019 (with Jen Sincero) Jan 02, 2019

What do you want from 2019? How about becoming a badass? Our guest today says you're already a badass and just might not know it. Jen Sincero has written TWO New York Times bestsellers, but today she's here with us teaching you how to kick off a new year by bringing out the best in yourself and your wallet.

Plus, in our headlines segment, why should employers be worried about employee financial stress? We'll tackle one article on the impact that financial stress has on employees while they're at the workplace. Plus, in our second headline, can advisors use behavioral science to guide their clients to making better financial choices?

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Mike, who calls in to see what he can do to help his mom manage her portfolio.

And don't worry... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring the show. Start your two months of unlimited access to Skillshare by visiting SkillShare.com/SB.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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What Did 2018 Teach Us About Money? (with Jill Schlesinger Dec 31, 2018

2018 was quite a year....maybe the opposite of March (in like a Lion/out like a lamb)....and began fairly gently and definitely is finishing with a roar. What should we have learned, if we turn the events of this year into timeless lessons? What could we have learned from this year's volatility? What about the Federal Reserve raising interest rates? What about the strong employment numbers? What does that tell us (among other things) about our wallet? We're excited to finish the year off strong with our special guest, CBS business analyst Jill Schlesinger (also the host of Jill on Money). We'll have a discussion with Jill on her top 5 lessons learned from the past year.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll talk to Haven Life CEO, Yaron Ben-Zvi, about the future of health data and life insurance. With more and more companies offering discounts for a little bit of your data, Yaron will share his thoughts on the tradeoffs between privacy and saving some extra cash. Will this ever come to life insurance? Plus, we'll tackle a story about bonds and surging bankruptcies in China. It's a good bonds 101 lesson for most of us...

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Brody, who calls in looking for advice on the next five years of paying down debt and building up his savings.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

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Last Year's Look Into The Magic 8 Ball (SB RWD 86) Dec 28, 2018

In anticipation of our annual magic 8 ball episode next Friday, we're taking a look back at last year's magic 8 ball episode. For those of you new to the show, each year roundtable regular Len Penzo brings down his magic 8 ball and we ask it wide-ranging questions for the next year. What were the predications? How did the 8 ball do this year? It's time to get all caught up in preparation for our debrief next week (along with a whole new set of questions for 2019).

This episode also featured a Blooom call for help from Erin, who has some 529 plan questions, a letter from the mailbag about what to do with extra cash, and of course... Doug's trivia.

The original show notes can be found here.

This episode originally aired January 5th,2018. Enjoy!

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Abigail Adams was a financial badass (SB RWD 85) Dec 26, 2018

Today's rewind episode features one of our favorite interviews with a fantastic guest: Dr. Woody Holton, author of the book "Abigail Adams", for which he won the Bambridge Award and more. In a time when women weren't expected, or even necessarily allowed, to be in charge of their finances, Abigail Adams took charge of her money and made sure she would be financially independent.

Plus, Joe talked to Jamie Wise of the Buzz Index, we took a Haven Life Line call for help, answered a listener letter, and still had time for Doug's trivia.

The original show notes can be found here.

This episode originally aired March 2,2018. Enjoy!

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Ric Edelman Helps Us Rescue Your Money (SB RWD 84) Dec 24, 2018

With all the news going around about the markets, we thought it would be fitting to kick off our rewind week by sharing our time with Ric Edelman. Ric, Chairman and Founder of Edelman Financial Services, bestselling author, and host of the hit “Ric Edelman Radio Show” joined our show to give us some advice on some "best practices" to follow in a choppy market.

This episode originally released on November 2016. You can find the original show notes HERE. Enjoy!

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The OTHER Way To Solve Your Money Problems (plus an update on Debitize) Dec 21, 2018

There's nothing wrong with selling some of your clutter to help pay down your debt, but, as today's piece from Val Breit from TheCommonCentsClub (in a piece appearing on Rockstar Finance), there are plenty of other things you could be doing to help solve your financial troubles. Discussing this piece with us today is Paula Pant (from Afford Anything), Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com), and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the roundtable we'll take a break for our Friday Fintech segment. Do you wish you paid off your credit cards every month? Worried that you could go overboard? Joe will check in with Liran Amrany, CEO of Debitize, on how you can keep all of the perks of using a credit card without all the danger.

We're also answering a question from Tom, who's looking to diversify his income stream. He's interested in real estate, but also worried about a housing crash. Are there any specific real estate options that would mitigate the negative impacts of a crash?

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Check out Safe For Work, a new podcast from Wondery, wherever you listen to this show!

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Real Estate Investing Basics (with BiggerPockets) Dec 19, 2018

Thinking about getting into real estate? We're bringing down two fantastic guests who are excited to deliver what you need to know about investing in real estate: from the BiggerPockets real estate community and podcast, we're talking to Josh Dorkin and Brandon Turner.

And in our headlines segment, another advisor is going fee only... but probably not for the reasons you think. Plus, we'll throw our the Haven Life Line to Nick, who wants to know more about what an "inverted yield curve." Should Nick be worried? And in our letters segment, Erika missed out on really investing in her 20's while she was getting her P.hD. and doing her post-doc studies. She's making money now and is looking into getting a house in the next few years. Can we give her some help on finding a good advisor for her situation?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks also to the Safe For Work podcast for supporting SB. Find Safe For Work wherever you're listening to this show!

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Creating Your Debt Free Blueprint (with Laura Adams, aka Money Girl) DETAILS Dec 17, 2018

Are you having trouble climbing out of debt? Or maybe you're tired of daily calls from debt collectors? Whether you have serious debt or just need to refresh your plan, today we're kickstarting your 2019 journey to financial independence with the host of the Money Girl podcast, Laura Adams. Plus, speaking of 2019, what does the next year have in store for the world of credit? We're talking to Senior Vice President of Research and Consulting at Transunion, Matthew Komos, during our headlines segment.

And later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Alex, who wants to know if he should pull some cash out of his account and reinvest when the market drops. He's also finishing his residency to become a physician, and his tax liability is virtually zero. What should he do with his accounts right now?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

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12 Items You're Wasting Money On (plus an intro to Honeybee) Dec 16, 2018

What items are YOU buying that are a complete waste of money? Today we're throwing out the playbook and all the rules for this very special episode of the Stacking Benjamins show. Joseph Hogue from the Let's Talk Money! YouTube channel joins Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo to walk through 12 things that you're better off NOT owning. While you may not be surprised by the items on our list, you'll probably be glad that you heard a few of them, because today you just might find a few new places to save yourself some cash.

Halfway through the show we'll take a short FinTech Friday segment break to talk to Ennie Lim from HoneyBee. Ever had a money crunch in life, and you weren't sure what you were going to do? Or maybe you own a business and you wish you could do more for your employees to help them manage the inevitable money crunch? We'll find out more about how Honeybee is helping those in their times of need during today's Fintech segment.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Should I Become a Holiday Minimalist? (plus an intro to Royalty Exchange) Dec 14, 2018

Tired of all the running around shopping and working and cooking and planning...all to try and make the perfect holiday? What if you ditched all that and instead just focused on the people around you? Would that make it better? We'll talk about not just frugaling your holiday season, but minimizing it. Here to help us do that, today we welcome special guest Naseema McElroy from the Financially Intentional blog. She'll talk strategies and stories with Len (Len Penzo dot com) and OG. We'll talk about how THEY celebrate now, how they WISHED they'd celebrated holidays, and then talk about ways to change to make things go more smoothly and enjoyably for everyone.

Plus, we're excited to talk today to Antony Bruno from Royalty Exchange about investing in music royalties. Are you a music fan? Is it a good idea to combine your love of songs with your investments...or even if you're not a music fan, is it worth pursuing? We'll talk about how it all works on today's Friday FinTech segment.

Finally, we'll answer a listener call for help AND save some room for Doug's amazing trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Still using JUST your brick-and-mortar bank? Why not shop for the best financial tools available. Head to StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney to compare, ditch, switch and best of all...save.

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Advice We Wish We'd Been Handed At Age 22 (Your Letters) Dec 12, 2018

What do you wish someone had told you when you were 22 years old? How much would it have changed your trajectory? Would you have even listened to the advice? Today we're not just doling out idea to help your financial future....the guys are answering your specific financial questions. We'll also tackle questions about converting an IRA to a Roth IRA (how do you do it?), about why we always use 7-10% as our assumption over long periods when talking about the stock market, and how to know if you're ahead or behind on achieving your financial plan.

Plus in our headlines segment, with all of the stock market gyrations lately, what's the right thing to do with your money? While many publications like to talk about all the ways people can panic, one seems to be the voice of reason....we'll share which one and details on HOW they suggest coping with stock market uneasiness on today's podcast.

Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Ramon. He's hoping to find solutions for his joint budget with his spouse. How does he rectify expenses that are withheld from his paycheck before he receives his money? What if he and his spouse have different amounts taken out? We'll answer all of Ramon's budgeting problems and discuss budgets in general.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Budgeting 101 (and maybe some 201) with Michele Cagan Dec 10, 2018

If you're like most people during the big holiday season, it's not really a question of IF you go over your budget, but WHEN--and how badly. With another "can't miss" deal around every corner who can keep themselves from doing a little splurging when shopping this month? Believe it or not, studies show that we plan for all of those expenses....it's the fact that the muffler sometimes drag behinds the car or another emergency expense happens which sends the budget into a tailspin and your credit card debt soaring. To solve that problem, today we'll talk to Michele Cagan, author of Budgeting 101. You'll be happy to hear that Michele doesn't think you need to track every penny. There's a better (and easier) way to make sure you get ahead without devoting your whole life to spreadsheets and money tracking programs.

Then, in our headlines segment...what would you do if you found a $7.5 million stash of someone else's cash? One lucky guy bought a storage unit on the cheap and found a life-changing amount of money hiding inside. Would you invest it, or maybe dash out of the basement and jump on the first plane to Tahiti? We all have our ideas... but this story probably isn't going to turn out how you're expecting. We'll share the rest of what happened during our headlines segment.

In our second headline, Sallie Mae has a new study detailing how people pay for college. Taking a pit stop in the basement to help us make sense of how people save for college, pay for it, and then pay off loans, we'll talk to Rick Castellano from Sallie Mae.

Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Nick, who's been having some issues with his budget. What can Nick do to cut costs on his operation?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

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Surviving The Fog of Life and Money (with an intro to Digs) Dec 07, 2018

How can you really follow a financial plan when absolutely nobody knows what's going to happen to the economy or in their life in a couple of years? What happens to your financial plan if you lose your job or have a medical emergency that wipes out your savings? Helping us understand how to manage money and finances during the fog of life is a writer you know from the F*ck Off Fund, AND who you've read in the New York Times, Elle, Slate (and more)... Paulette Perhach. She'll be joined by Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG from "this here" podcast.

Halfway through today's show our panel will be taking a little break while Joe talks to the founders of Digs. Saving up enough cash to buy your first home can be a long, difficult process. But... what if you had a 401k that you could save into for the big purchase? The guys from Digs are breaking down just how they're setting out to help people like you and me on today's FinTech segment.

Finally, we'll maybe do our best job of answering a letter this year, when we help Aaron, who needs to know on how to get couples on the same note. Of course, we'll still save some room for Doug's amazing trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Becoming the NEXT Millionaire Next Door (with Dr. Sarah Stanley Fallaw) Dec 05, 2018

How will YOU become the next millionaire next door? Believe it or not, it's been 23 years since The Millionaire Next Door shook the foundation of what people thought about wealth. You mean LOTS of people built their wealth in other ways than inheriting a bunch of money or working in huge income jobs? ...and that just because you LOOK wealthy doesn't mean you ARE wealthy? Today we talk to Dr. Sarah Fallaw (researcher and also the daughter of Thomas Stanley, author of the Millionaire Next Door) about how YOU can set yourself up to join this elite group. We'll discuss your friends, where you live, financial advisors, and more.

Plus in our headlines segment, the results of a new survey are out about investor expectations, and they aren't good. Many investors have...maybe unrealistic ideas about their investment strategies. We'll explain on the show. Plus, one company has created a new credit card that will help you save into your 401(k) plan every time you save. Too good to be true? We'll answer that question on the show.

Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Jon, who wants us to shed some light on the difference between a Roth 401k and an after tax basis employee savings and stock ownership plan.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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People Who Don't Like The FIRE Movement Don't Understand It (with David Bach) DETAILS Dec 03, 2018

Recently there have been LOTS of headlines about FIRE. Good? Bad? Ugly? We invited David Bach down to the basement to ostensibly ask him about the 20th anniversary edition of his Smart Women Finish Rich book. While we cover that in detail, we also asked him about HIS thoughts on the FIRE movement....and let's just say that he was more than happy to share.

In our headlines segment it's time for tax loss harvesting and year end tax planning. What should you do? An Investment News piece details a few strategies and we'll talk about our favorites (and maybe not-so-favorites) on today's podcast

Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to listener Rachel, who has some BIG life decisions to make. Should she stay in her townhouse or pursue her dream of moving to the mountains, even if it means a much longer commute to work, new debt, and probably some unforeseen consequences.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

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How To Crush Holiday Networking Events (plus an intro to Blendtique) Nov 30, 2018

If you're like me, holiday parties are a mix of sheer terror, the threat of being stuck in a corner in the world's second most boring conversation, and hoping that you don't accidentally stick your foot in your mouth. So, to help us all not only navigate the holiday party scene but to crush it, we're asking all of our party conversation strategy questions to Vanessa Van Edwards, author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. Whether you're usually the "life of the party," or you're an introvert who's anxious just THINKING about an office party, Vanessa has simple, effective strategies that will change the way you think about office parties.

Plus, instead of hosting a party where guests stand with glasses and talk, how about a better solution that'll make you the talk of your circle of friends for the next year? Today we're talking to the founder of Blendtique, Billy Dimm. Whether or not you saw Bill on Shark Tank, we think you'll love this idea of a wine-blending party. You and your friends enjoy an evening of laughing, chatting, and creating your own perfect vino blend.

After we talk to Billy we'll take some time to not only answer Doug's trivia, but also answer a question from Mike about credit card payment discrepancies. Mike's "pay in full" payment option left a $111 balance on his account. The bank then charged Mike interest, which he got reversed. What's the deal, is the bank being misleading?

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Stop Being Your Own Investing Worst Enemy (with Dr. Daniel Crosby) Nov 28, 2018

Ever think that you need to take decisive action to bring your investments under control? Ever wonder exactly what moves you should make the next time the market moves up or down? We've got you covered, because Dr. Daniel Crosby joins us to talk about how to avoid getting in your own way with your investments. We'll discuss exactly why decisive moves might not work, why your brain is horrible at investment decisions, and more. As always when we talk to Dr. Crosby, it's a fun, fast paced, and (shocker) educational interview.

Plus in our headlines segment, if you're an army reservist trying to get into the financial industry, we'll look at one company, LPL Financial, who's teaming up with the Army Reserve to give military members an opportunity to become financial advisors. Then, in our second headline, what's in store for the future of HSAs? We're taking a look at MorningStar's newly released report on the Health Savings Account landscape.

Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Chuck. Can Chuck take out a Roth IRA loan if the rental home is in the Roth IRA? After we give some advice to Chuck, we'll still have time to answer a letter from Brooke. With a yearly raise of $1200, should Brooke put that money to their debt, which will be paid off in 18 months, or take advantage of their employer match?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Conquering Fear To Reach Bigger Goals (with Akshay Nanavati) Nov 26, 2018

If anyone knows about fighting fear, it's Akshay Nanavati. While fighting overseas with the Marines, Akshay lost people close to him and subsequently suffered PTSD. He'll share his story of overcoming his own paralyzing fear, fighting demons, and achieving some HUGE goals on today's show. Whether you're afraid of asking for a raise, of starting a workout program to feel better (and earn more money), or to get started saving, investing, or paying down debt, there's something for everyone on today's show.

In our headlines segment we'll talk about HSA myths. What do you believe about HSAs that might not actually be true. Or, as HSAs become more prevalent, what do you need to know about them. Even if you're already well versed on HSAs, you'll find something new on today's show (even WE found a myth that we didn't know!).

In our second headline, we'll talk to Beverly Harzog from US News and World report about the new ultra FICO scoring system. Who will this help? How do you ask to have your credit re-scored? What credit basics should you know? We'll talk to Beverly about all of the above on today's podcast!

Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to listener Rachel, who has some BIG life decisions to make. Should she stay in her townhouse or pursue her dream of moving to the mountains, even if it means a much longer commute to work, new debt, and probably some unforeseen consequences.

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

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Learning about Money, Economics and Business with Board Games Nov 23, 2018

While everyone else is standing in Black Friday lines hoping for the best deals, we're kicking back in the basement enjoying some board games. Eric Summerer from The Dice Tower joins us to talk about his favorite games about money, economics, and business. And then, as an added bonus, he'll stick around and share four ideas for frugal holiday gaming fun. Want to spend some time with your family laughing and enjoying your time together? Take these recommendations from the co-host of the biggest board game podcast on earth.

And halfway through the show we'll focus specifically on one brand new game that was made to teach basic financial concepts and money management. Australian based Life Sherpa Vince Scully joins us to talk about his new board game, also called Life Sherpa. Exploring how money and happiness interrelate, and how different personalities want to make different decisions throughout life, Life Sherpa has a fun, lightweight design to show how you can turn your money and time into value and happiness.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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What's Hot In Tech and Light On Your Wallet This Black Friday? Nov 19, 2018

Every year early adopters worry about one thing....technology. What's the hottest new thing? What's the flop that we should avoid? How expensive is the latest do-dad going to cost? Should I buy last year's do-dad to save some cash? We're super excited because joining us to talk all things technology on our special pre-Black Friday show, we welcome CNET Senior Editor Bridget Carey.

Plus in our headlines segment, social media is changing how millennials invest. Is that good or bad? Plus, in our second headline we'll ask Jonathan Walker from NewMiddleClass.Org about some of the amazing statistics his group aggregates about the holiday shopping season. How does he think YOU are going to overspend this holiday season? (It isn't how YOU think you'll overspend...which is why you'll want to listen).

Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Evan. He and his wife have a baby on the way. Would it be the smart money move to use savings to pay off their car, or should Evan hold on to the money and use it as needed when expenses arise? We'll also field a letter from Steve, who just inherited a sum of cash. Steve has no idea how should enter the market... so he asks the guys for some good advice to kickstart his investment portfolio.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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This Year's Biggest Black Friday Deals Nov 19, 2018

Ready, set, SHOP! If you have to shop (and we're fairly certain you're like us and aren't in love with the idea at all), why not make it more fun by saving tons of money? Whether you're looking for clothing, tools, kitchen aids, furniture, or just something quirky, we've got you covered. Today we're talking to Sarah Hollenbeck from BlackFriday.com about the best deals available this holiday season.

In our headlines segment we'll share another great deal that has savers everywhere cheering. The IRS announced recently that they're raising tax limits on all kinds of different retirement plans in 2019. What plans are getting a bump? Should plan to stash away more cash next year? We'll tackle that. Plus, we'll continue our Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping theme by making sure you don't get caught buying a "deal" that isn't really a deal this holiday spending season. We'll sit down with consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch about this year's holiday scams and not-so-great deals to watch out for.

Plus, today we're throwing out the Haven Life Line to Jeremy. Jeremy has been looking into Life Insurance Retirement Plans after our interview with David Mcknight, but it's a brand new field for him. Any tips on navigating LIRPs? And during out letters segment, we're answering Michelle's question about HSAs and FSAs. With their employers only offering FSAs, should they be looking elsewhere?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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What Should Keith Do With a $50,000 Inheritance? (Your Letters) Nov 14, 2018

We're dedicating today's show to all of your burning financial questions. Will the fact that Anna's parents are opening up a 529 plan for her daughter create unintended financial consequences down the road? What should Keith do with a $50,000 inheritance and no job? What should ANYONE do when they receive $50,000? Jessica is a new investor. What platforms should she be looking into when trying to invest? After our David McKnight interview, Ryan is focusing on more money in his "tax-free" bucket. Does the SB team have any good tips on tax savvy financial moves? Of course we do!

And in our headlines segment, there's BIG news in college scholarship land. It turns out that a couple of schools are reducing their tuition to FREE. Who is it? Should you consider changing your college plan? In our second headline, while owning your home is a great financial position to be in...if you want to get rich one publication insists that you should own somebody else's home. We'll dive into rentals and real estate on today's show. Plus, in our Haven Life Line, Heather wants to know if she can do a backdoor Roth conversion AND make contributions to a spousal IRA.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get $50 off toward your first job post.

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From 2 Incomes To 1: How She Quit Her Job & Couldn’t Be Happier Nov 12, 2018

On today's show we're talking to Chris Peach and Andrea Robinson about big life changes. Think it's too late for you to change your direction? Or maybe you're too apprehensive about jumping into the unknown? Chris and Andrea will break it down on just how Andrea made the jump herself. From making use of your time to start a side-hustle to cutting expenses and making a good budget, there are bite-sized pieces that make the huge life decisions a bit easier to make.

Plus, in today's headlines, would real-time payroll deposits improve the quality of live for workers living paycheck to paycheck? Would not having to wait a couple of weeks for cash really make a difference for employees? Plus, in honor of Veterans Day, we're talking Dr. Mike Haney from the Syracuse Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Veterans and their families can find all the resources Joe and Dr. Haney talk about on the show by clicking HERE.

Later we're throwing out the Haven Life Line to Kathrine, who wants to know if her and her husband should be getting term life insurance outside of their employer. Then, in our letters segment, Joe and OG will answer a question from VJ, who has some worries about the market. He found an article suggesting that the market will be doing a lot worse than people think... should we be getting concerned?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get $50 off toward your first job post.

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Juggling Money, Family and Work (featuring Shannon Cason, Cat Alford, Andy Hill, Tasha Daniel and more!) Nov 09, 2018

How do you find time to make all of the right money moves, have relationships with family or friends, AND keep a career that brings in the Benjamins? We'll talk about that and a TON more on today's podcast, recorded live in Detroit, Michigan, to round out our three-city tour!

As always, we're bringing the party with a cast of special guests from the Detroit area. First, we'll talk to popular blogger and mother of twins Catherine Alford (CatherineAlford.com) and father-of-two, podcaster Andy Hill (Marriage, Kids and Money podcast), about how they juggle multiple priorities. We'll then hear a story about life, family, and a limo from professional storyteller Shannon Cason. We'll talk to TIAA Difference Maker Inger Griffin, from the Emily Ann Griffin Foundation. She'll describe how she decided after her young daughter passed away to help families in need. Plus, we'll answer a Blooom call for help with blogger Tasha Daniel (FinancialGarden.net), who personally paid off over $80,000 of debt!

We're also excited that in every city we had a Stacking Benjamins band! Our rockstar band in Detroit? It's none other than the guy who designs our awesome swag, Cincinnati-based Brad Lark.

...and of course, we were joined on stage by our guest co-host, the co-founder of Blooom, Chris Costello.

It's a super episode with our liveliest crowd of the three shows (sold out show!). You'll laugh, hear some moving stories, and maybe (keep this part to yourself) learn something.

Thanks to Blooom for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Get a one month free at stackingbenjamins.com/blooom and enter promo code SB for a month free!

Thanks to TIAA for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Find out what type of difference maker you are at TIAA Difference Maker 100.

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Chasing Your Dream Career (with Joel Goldberg, Carrie Olsen, Tracie Fobes and MORE!) Nov 07, 2018

We're kicking off our live Kansas City show with a fantastic hometown story on how one guy went from small time jobs to BIG time pre- and post-game shows for Kansas City Royals television broadcasts. You heard his podcast recently on our feed (as he interviewed Bob Kendrick for his Rounding The Bases podcast), and now you get to hear HIS story. Not only will he talk about chasing his dream career, but also how he's thinking critically now about "what's next." With off-season time and his speaking ability, how does he round out his career to be even more fulfilling and to give more to the world that only he can uniquely offer. We'll talk to Joel about all of that and more on today's LIVE show from Kansas City!

Plus, just like at our live show in Orlando, we're bringing the party with a cast of additional special guest. First, our TIAA difference maker making an impact in her community, we'll talk to Kathleen Webb from Children First CEO Kansas. She'll describe how she decided when her neighbor needed help, to pitch in and do what many will call WAY more than her fair share. Plus, in a our headlines segment, Tracie Fobes, from Penny Pinchin Mom joins us on stage to talk about all the interesting things going on around Kansas City. If you've never visited, consider this Tracie your tour guide! Plus, we'll talk to Fountain City Fintech's Zach Pettet, who reveals a few of the interesting FinTech apps and ideas coming out of Kansas City. And helping us answer your questions, we welcome from LaceyLangford.com... Lacey Langford, and from SteveStewart.com, you guessed, Steve Stewart.

PLUS, ever think about taking your unique talent and making it your full time job? Our Kansas City guest announcer Carrie Olsen not only will fight Doug for his job, but she'll also share her story about founding CarrieOlsenVO.com and becoming a voiceover artist working with major brands!

We're also excited that in every city we had a Stacking Benjamins band! Our rockstar band in Kansas City? It's none other than guitar prodigy extraordinaire (plus son of Tracie Fobes)...Garret Fobes.

...and of course, we were joined on stage by our guest co-host, the co-founder of Blooom, Chris Costello.

It's a really fun episode in front of a lively crowd who braved some pretty bad weather conditions.

Thanks to Blooom for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Get a one month free at stackingbenjamins.com/blooom and enter promo code SB for a month free!

Thanks to TIAA for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Find out what type of difference maker you are at TIAA Difference Maker 100.

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From $40,000 in Student Loan Debt to $100k+ Income Per Month Nov 05, 2018

We kick off live show week with a great story. How about a blogger who owed thousands in student loan debt and turned things around so much that only a few years later she's earning six figures every month and lives on a sailboat? Michelle Shroeder-Gardner joins us live from Orlando, Florida, to help us kick off our Three-Town Tour! But that's not all.

Plus, because we're live, we've brought a TON of financial and community stars with us. Helping TIAA support difference makers in the Orlando community, from Rise Against Hunger we welcome Jason Haulbrook. Plus, in a our headlines segment, Josh Elledge from Savings Angel joins us to talk about saving money at hotels; from DIY.FUND, Eric & Wendy Nissan talk about innovating in the Orlando area; helping us answer your questions, Paula Pant from Afford Anything joins us, plus the ladies from the Money Millhouse, Ellie Kay and Bethany Bayless.

We're also excited that in every city we had a Stacking Benjamins band! In Orlando we were helped by the woman behind Planting Money Seeds, Miranda Marquit, and the man from the Inspired Money podcast, Andy Wang.

...and of course, we were joined on stage by our guest co-host, the co-founder of Blooom, Chris Costello.

It's a really fun episode in front of a live crowd.

Thanks to Blooom for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Get a one month free at stackingbenjamins.com/blooom and enter promo code SB for a month free!

Thanks to TIAA for supporting Stacking Benjamins and our tour. Find out what type of difference maker you are at TIAA Difference Maker 100.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Not To Lose It When You Lose Money Nov 02, 2018

Investors. Right when they turn left they turn right. You've heard lots of stories about people who've lost fortunes...all because they lost their head. Yet one recent publication shows the mindset shift of investors over time and through different market conditions. By knowing what most people think, by learning the psychology of an investor, maybe you can avoid many of their mistakes. We're excited by our roundtable team today because they've all not only made mistakes but they've also helped people overcome mistakes...and because of that, we hand picked them to help pick you up on today's market volatility-themed episode. Today we welcome Kine Corder, Nick True, and Paula Pant to the microphones to help us talk about the investor mindset.

Plus, we're throwing out the Friday FinTech segment for a special discussion with Kristen Holt and Dusti Young from Greenpath Financial Wellness. They've designed a #NoSpendNovember month of sound financial tips to help you better manage money as we roll into the holiday season. If you're just starting out with sound financial habits or you're looking for a great place to start, this is a segment you'll want to tune in and hear.

Of course, that's not all. We'll also take a call to the help line AND save some room for Doug's amazing trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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Meet the Mad Money Monsters Oct 31, 2018

We're bringing two specially picked Halloween inspired guests down to the basement today, (and as a bonus, for once we can call all of our cobwebs and flickering lights seasonal decoration. Bonus!) Today we welcome the two brains behind the Mad Money Monster blog, Mr. and Mrs. Mad Money Monster. And speaking halloween decorations, Mr. Mad Money Monster, (or Harrison for short), is also a horror film director! Not only are we going to discuss practical money habits gone scary, we'll also peek into the mind of a director who sets out to scare us ALL.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we're looking at a response letter penned by Blink-182 frontman, Tom DeLonge. It was previously reported that Tom's UFO organization accumulated $37 million worth of debt. Tom fired back that the original reporter didn't understand the SEC filing that the report is based on. Bottom line? Someone in this argument is VERY wrong. Later on we'll answer Doug's trivia question, and a listener letter from Mike. With dollar cost averaging in mind, what's the best way for Mike to transfer his money from his target date funds over to an S&P 500 index fund? And don't you worry, we'll still have time to throw out the Haven Life line to John, who wants to know if he can use his HSA in other countries just like he can here in the good ole USA.

Thanks to Mack Weldon for supporting our channel. Save 20% off your first order at MackWeldon.com - promo code: sb.

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How Much Cash Buys Financial Independence? (Your Letters) Oct 29, 2018

We're kicking off the week talking about new jobs, annuities, paying down your mortgage, and spreadsheets....that's right, it's our favorite episode: we're answering YOUR letters. Joseph's got his first "big boy" job as an engineer after college. He's already got his eyes set on financial independence, what steps should he be taking to get there? Next, Gwen wants to know the reasoning behind not paying off your mortgage early. Wouldn't it be better to put $500 towards the mortgage each week rather than investing that amount? We're also answering a numbers question from Axel, who has a big question about calculating the end number for retirement. Based on the equation, Axel should have a lot more money than he actually does. What does that mean 40 years down the road?

Plus, in today's headline segment, is FAANG out the door? We're shining the spotlight on one recent piece that says we should be looking at "MAAN" stocks to lead us into the future. What new companies comprise MANN? Is it a good idea to change your way of investing? Then, in our second headline, insurer Ohio National is rolling out some big changes by eliminating advisor compensation on variable annuities. We'll talk to Lauren Minches from Blueprint Income for her take on why so many companies are changing so much in the annuity business.

Thanks to Mack Weldon for supporting our channel. Save 20% off your first order at MackWeldon.com - promo code: sb.

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Financial Terms You Need To Know (plus an intro to Cozy) Oct 25, 2018

Just like how you need to know where the pedals are when you ride a bike, learning the key financial terms is an important part of your success as a saver. What are the most important terms to know? We're joined by Tom Drake from the Maple Money podcast, CFP Katie Brewer from Your Richest Life Planning, and Paula Pant, to tackle most of the basics. Which of these terms do you know?

We'll also talk to Lucas Hall, who we give us a walk through this week's Friday FinTech featured company, Cozy. If you're a landlord or you're a renter, Cozy might be a company you'll want to know more about. They help landlords make life easy for themselves and for their renters. We'll talk about common problems landlords have and how this particular company has attacked those issues.

Finally, we'll answer a listener call for help AND save some room for Doug's amazing trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Money Mistakes and Wins, plus Leadership Lessons from the Negro Leagues Museum (live podcasts with Chris Browning and Joel Goldberg!) Oct 24, 2018

Today we bring you two fantastic podcast episodes in a single package! As part of our three city tour we headed to Orlando, where Chris Browning and the Popcorn Finance podcast took the stage. Chris tackles some of his (and the audience's) biggest money wins and failures. He talks about controlling spending, buying some dumb stuff, listening to some bad advice, and more.

And in the second half of our show, Joel Goldberg and the Rounding the Bases podcast take center stage from our show in Kansas City. Joel welcomes one of the best storytellers we've ever heard, Bob Kendrick, from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, to introduce people to some of the stories, adversity, culture, and excitement of the Negro Leagues. You're going to love these stories. Think they're about sports? Think again. Bob will talk about entrepreneurship, business opportunities, creating a successful team, and the value of strong leadership.

Thanks to Blooom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a one month free at stackingbenjamins.com/blooom and enter promo code SB for a month free!

TIAA has brought some FANTASTIC difference makers to our Three-Town Tour. Learn what type of difference maker you are at TIAADifferenceMaker100.org.

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How One Family Paid Off $74,000 of Debt Oct 22, 2018

Need inspiration to pay off your debt? We have it today. Alaya Linton from the blog HopeandCents.com and her husband paid off over $74,000 of debt in....wait for it....25 months. She'll walk us through all of the bad decisions she made wracking up the debt, then hitting the wall where suddenly she was in huge financial trouble, her first credit card denial, her car being repossessed, and more. But then she'll also share how her family changed and she attacked her debt and paid it off in 25 short months. She'll discuss how she kept her family involved, what she cut, how she budgeted, and what debts she paid off first.

Plus, in today's headline segment, an unlikely source says that the future of advice is going to come from humans. Who would say something so crazy? You'll find out.

Later we'll throw the Haven Life Line and take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Nutrafol for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

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The ONE Thing You Need To Figure Out (plus Jake Hare from Launchpeer) Oct 19, 2018

What's the ONE thing you need to figure out to get what you really want? A popular blogger wrote a piece on the topic and today we have a special all-guest panel to help us work through it. On today's show we welcome, from the Hippocratic Hustle podcast, Dr. Carrie Reynolds, and from the Poorer than You blog, Stephonee....AND also, the guy behind the Financial Residency podcast, Ryan Inman.

In our Friday FinTech segment we're taking a break from showing you the hottest new gadget to helping you build it. Have a great idea for the next hot FinTech app? Jake Hare has helped hundreds of potential app developers bring their idea to market and today he's going to talk about forming and executing on your next great idea.

That's not all...of course we'll still have Doug's trivia segment AND answer a listener call for help...all because we care, and because that's what we do on Friday. Enjoy!

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From Runaway To Entrepreneur (with Brynne Conroy) Oct 17, 2018

Here's a success story: Brynne was couch surfing because she had nowhere to go and now is releasing one of the biggest financial books of the year. Think that isn't inspirational? Oh, we've got inspriation in spades on today's show. Whether you're thinking about maybe starting a business or looking to pump up your side hustle or business, today is for you. If you're looking to figure out how to make your bad situation better....Brynne has been there. Maybe you're actually trying to start a business? Creating a new business from the ground up can be a monumental task and can seem impossible to do. But, like with anything, breaking down the process into smaller manageable steps can make starting a business feel like it's within arms reach. Helping us break down this whole side hustle business (see what we did there?) is our featured guest, from the Femme Frugality blog AND the author of the new Feminist Financial Handbook, we welcome Brynne Conroy.

Plus, in our headlines segment, the U.S. government has announced that new social security increases are on the way. We'll dig into why that's exciting news and just how much is on the table. Later on we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, and a listener letter from Mario... who wants to know what we think about investing in target date funds for retirement, AND throw out the Haven Life line to Matt. Matt's wife has some medical debt they pay on monthly, but interest accrues daily. What can they do?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get $50 off toward your first job post.

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Building Habits That Stick (with James Clear) Oct 15, 2018

Spend $10 on fast-food at lunch, or carry in a bag lunch to eat in at the office? Order some delivery for dinner because you're too busy, or meal prep at the beginning of the week? Small choices we choose each day turn into habits that make up the backbone of our money decisions. It's easy to say, "I'm going to spend less money this week," but it's a lot harder to actually ACT on those choices throughout the week. Turning our bad habits into good habits is key to great financial health. Today we're bringing down the guy who wrote the book on the topic...the author of Atomic Habits, James Clear.

Plus, in today's headlines, the stock market has been a little shaky lately, if you haven't noticed. Should investors be worried? We'll have a few words for people experiencing "market panic." And in our second headline, what are the best places for new retirees to live? You'll be a bit surprised at some of the places that made this year's list.

Later we'll throw the Haven Life Line to David, who is dollar-cost averaging into a Schwab S&P 500 index fund. He is already maxing out the "usual" accounts, so is a taxable fund the best place to stash the rest of his cash? And in our letter from the mailbag segment, we'll answer a question from Natalie. Natalie and her boyfriend are both debt free and are also maxing out the accounts: HSA's, Roth IRA's, and their company 401k's up to their match. They may want to buy a house in 5 years, but there's nothing else on the horizon. What should they be doing with their money they're not spending or putting away for retirement?

And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

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Ever Try THESE Extremely Frugal (and maybe gross) Money Savers? Oct 12, 2018

Being financially prudent is one thing, but when does saving money cross the line into being extremely, and possibly even grossly, frugal? Helping us answer these questions are today's special guests: from the Mr. Fi Guy blog, it's Mr. Fi (or as his friends call him...Taylor); from the Fire Drill Podcast, we welcome Gwen Mertz; and from this here podcast, we welcome our very own OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a little break to talk to Jason Brown from Tally. Making the decision to get on the road to financial freedom is a good one, and paying off credit cards and debt can be a major road block. We'll sit down with Jason doing our FinTech segment and see just how his company is setting out to help people climb out of debt.

And of course, we'll still have take some time to throw out the Haven Life Line to Joe, who wants to retire in the next few years. There's just one problem: Joe has no goals for retirement life. Can we throw some resources his way so he can figure out what he wants to do?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Disorganized to Money Management Ninja (with Belinda Rosenblum) Oct 10, 2018

How do you become a money pro? Like most people...you start off as a financial nightmare and you learn the hard lessons that teach you how to be much better with your Benjamins. Belinda Rosenblum lived that life....she was horrible with budgets and used archaic systems that didn't work to keep track of both her own bills and those of family members she cared for. You'll hear the story today of how she went from being completely disorganized to becoming a Money Ninja working for her clients.

Plus, in our headlines segment, it looks like mortgage rates are going up and so are bond rates...what's the correlation? We'll explain how these two work in tandem. Plus a new FINRA proposal would allow brokers to ease restrictions on brokers' outside activities. Why are some organizations against this? What would this have to do with your money? We'll explain the plusses and minuses of this proposal.

Later on we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, a listener letter from Shaun, who asks about betting with some zero percent money he can borrow and invest AND throw out the Haven Life line to Allen, who wants to know about how to make back door Roth IRA contributions.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get $50 off toward your first job post.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kicking the 9-5 To The Curb (with Lee Huffman) Oct 08, 2018

Our featured guest coming down to the basement has two kids... and he still kicked his job to the curb and made the jump to the self-employed route. Why did he do it? And HOW did he do it? Lee Huffman will tell us the story today.

Plus, in today's headlines, USAA's Director of Life and Health Insurance, Sean Scaturro will walk us through open enrollment and health insurance, which can be a pretty daunting thing to take on. In our second headline, what are the hidden costs behind Amazon's recent wage hike for their workers? You might be surprise at what's REALLY going on.

Later we'll throw the Haven Life Line to Ethan, who has a few questions on backdoor Roth conversions. Plus we'll answer a letter from Elizabeth, who's a little late to the financial game. What should her investing focus be... and what are some good financial tips for someone who got into the game later on?

Of course, we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/sb and get $50 off toward your first job post.

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What Innovation Is Coming To YOUR Wallet? Oct 05, 2018

Long-time basement listeners know what the Friday after FinCon means... it's our episode you know and love: when we take you on a tour of some of the biggest innovations and coolest concepts we see at the show. So, just what are we covering this year? While plenty of companies are doing amazing work to help everyday people save, invest, and become financially independent, we brought to our microphones a few of our favorites. Today you'll hear stories from brands like USAA, and what they're cooking up in their labs, and Chris Hutchins at Grove, where they're inventing financial planning tools for the masses, and many more innovation-themed talks about the future of your money, (and wallet). Of course, we'll still save time for some of Doug's trivia.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Turning Inner Strength Into Outer Money Success (with Beth Burns) Oct 03, 2018

Today in the basement we're turning inner strength into outer money success with financial coach Beth Burns. Plus, in our headlines segment, do you live in one of the least financially savvy states? We'll go over that list... plus tell you which side of Texarkana had the honor of (not) making the list. And in our second headline... Mark Cuban once said that, "if you use a credit card, you don't want to be rich." Does he really mean exactly that? We'll jump in more during the show.

Later on we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, a listener letter about adjusted gross income and modified adjusted gross income, AND throw out the Haven Life line to Nick, who's side hustle has quickly became his main hustle. With a new house this year, plus a baby, and still tackling student debt... what should Nick and his wife be doing with all of his new found cash? What type of financial advisor should a person in Nick's position be looking out for?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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Health and Your Money: The Groovy-est Episode Ever Oct 01, 2018

You first heard him on our Friday roundtable episode... and now he's coming back for his victory lap (and the mic all to himself). Today we welcome Mr.Groovy, of Freedom is Groovy to talk all things financial independence. How did he become financially independent in a short time after not saving much well into his forties? How does he make sure he's healthy so he can pursue the things he saved money for in the first place?

PLUS, in our headlines segment, it's been 10 years since the last market crash. What could company retirement plans do better to help people weather the storm?

Later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Shane. Some jobs are more likely to provoke lawsuits than others. What are some strategies for professionals who might get sued? And as always... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia AND to answer one well written letter to the podcast.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lying About Your Money (plus an intro to RateGravity) Sep 28, 2018

Have you ever lied about how much money you make? Most likely, along with the rest of us, you've probably puffed up the number at least once in your life. So exactly why do people lie? Helping us discuss fibbing to spouses and to statisticians is our special guest, Hilary Hendershott. Also helping, we welcome our good friend Paula Pant, and from our very own podcast, OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to one CEO whose company, RateGravity, is disrupting the mortgage industry. And in typical Stacking Benjamins style, we'll also find time to answer Doug's trivia AND help out a caller who left the basement a voicemail from Leo, who with his wife has worked hard to reach financial independence... and can't seem to give himself permission to have some fun.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

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Suze Orman Sep 26, 2018

We're pulling out all the stops today because we're talking to a special guest that you may (or may not) have heard of... Suze Orman. We'll talk all things women and money, mentorship, understanding your investments and financial tools, and more. Plus, during our headlines segment we're extra packed because we're delivering three awesome headlines. First: is Robinhood really making MILLIONS by selling out millennials' user data? One group thinks so. And if that wasn't enough, in a retirement plan court fight, one retirement fund is fighting back against participants that sued the employer by asking for monetary sanctions against the six employee-plaintiffs and the law firm that represented them. But that's not all....because we're also dissecting one piece about Barry White and the estate he left behind. How much of your estate does your girlfriend receive when you've been separated from your wife for two decades (but never actually divorced her?)...do we have some news for you...

Of course, we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, throw out the Haven Life line to Martin, who needs some answers on how to get out of his in-laws' basement, and answer a listener letter about investing in leveraged ETF's. Is it a good idea? We'll dive in during the show.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

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Finding Quantum Success With Work And Money (with Christy Whitman) Sep 24, 2018

We're kicking off Monday by talking by asking, how do you achieve quantum success with your career and your MONEY? Helping us improve our financial lives is today's special guest, Christy Whitman. Plus, in our headlines segment, would you enjoy being called a "boring" investor? And in our second headline... a company is offering insurance for space travel, what's up with that?

Later on, we'll tackle a voicemail on the Haven Life Line... with a baby on the way what should Michael and his wife be doing with their extra income? We'll also try to help Jackson, who wrote today's letter to the show. He has a job and has recently graduated from college, so now Jackson wants to move out of his parents' home in the next year. He already has some savings built up... so what's his next few moves?

And as always... we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

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11 Reasons Why You’re Not Making MORE Money Sep 21, 2018

Ever wonder what outside factors are keeping you from making more money? If so, it turns out you're not the only one asking that nagging question... big surprise there! Helping us cover a recently released blog post covering many reasons why you aren't making more (and what to do about it) we're rolling in our "A" team: Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and OG. It's important to consider automation, robots, inflation, wage stagflation, employer collusion, a proliferation of workers who are highly educated, and more. It's even more important to know what you'll do about it, now that you're armed with all the reasons why. There's no reason to not be making more money, whether with more money from your primary income, with a side business, or using other strategies (such as passive investments).

Of course, that's not all. We'll still have time to answer a voicemail from a listener, and to answer Doug's trivia. Drew recently changed employers. What are the options he should be aware of? Are there time constraints we should be watching out for?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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What To Do With Big (Sudden) Money with Doug Goldstein Sep 19, 2018

What would you do if you found yourself with a big inheritance? You might have some ideas on that, but do you really know what you SHOULD do if you found yourself in that situation? Helping us with just that question is our special guest, Doug Goldstein. Doug will explain what you need to know if you found yourself in an inheritance situation in easy to understand steps. Plus, in our headlines segment, we're discussing one piece that looks at the 401k funds that took a beating in 2008. Could it be impacting you? Plus, we'll have a surprise headline in the form of a Stacking Benjamins language course... but don't count on it being in French.

Of course, we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, throw out the Haven Life line to Dany who wants to know more about stocks that pay out dividends, and answer a listener letter about investing side-gig money. It's a content-packed episode today... enjoy!

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From Zero To Million Dollar Listings (with Ryan Serhant) Sep 17, 2018

Need a kick in the pants when it comes to your career? Time to look inward and make some improvements? Check. We've got you covered. Thinking about selling....anything, but maybe even real estate? Check. We've also got YOU covered. Need a healthy spoonful of laughs (and a surprise or two) in our headlines? We've got that covered too. Coming down to the basement to share the sometimes painful but always poignant story about how he went from zero to million dollar listings... we welcome Million Dollar Listing reality television star and author of Sell It Like Serhant, Ryan Serhant. It took Ryan years to discover what his competitive advantage was... and he's going to share it with you today.

But that's not all. In our headlines segment, we'll discuss a new checking account with features that look and smell a lot like those offered by credit card companies. Is this the future? Should you switch banks? We'll discuss. Plus, we'll share a story about a bride who might have asked her guests for a touch more than they were prepared to give. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line, answer a letter from the mailbag, and to celebrate tonight's award show, share some of Doug's Emmy-related trivia.

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

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BONUS Episode: 2018 Plutus Award Finalists AND Panel Discussion Sep 14, 2018

A special BONUS treat! We've asked Mr. Plutus Awards Harlan Landes and our friend (and Plutus Award team member) Miranda Marquit down to the basement to share this years finalists, and they agreed! They'll spend a little time sharing ALL of the finalists in every category. Is your favorite nominated? Are there fresh new names of blogs, podcasts, You Tube videos, or social media sharers that you need to add? We'll share the complete list on today's podcast.

Then in our EPIC panel discussion, we'll spend about 90 minutes hashing out ten of the categories. Who are the dark horses to win? Who could surprise? What names should win, and who do our panelists want to win? We'll dig in deeper on today's podcast!

We still have a great episode in the morning (Ryan Serhant from Million Dollar Listing joins us!). It's a busy week here in basement-land....

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10 Money Leaks to Plug NOW! Sep 14, 2018

Spend $8 at the coffee shop, $5 dollars for a little snack later on... maybe $20 eating dinner at a restaurant with your co-workers later tonight. Rinse, wash, and repeat a few days a week and you'll start to wonder where all that extra cash you're supposed to have in your wallet actually went. And maybe you're not leaving your money "faucet" on full pressure all the time, but like any homeowner can tell you, even a constant drip can run up a bill at the end of the month. Helping us face our own money leaks today, from the Mad Money Monster blog, we welcome Lisa Harrison. Rounding out our contributors today is Paula Pant (from Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (from LenPenzo.com).

But that's not all... we'll also have time for Doug's trivia, and also will tackle a voicemail from a listener. Derek wants to know how you explain the concept of a non-physical thing, such as cash or credit on a card, to young kids?

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Thanks to Warby Parker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Order your FREE Home Try-On’s at warbyparker.com/sb.

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Lessons From Strangers' Money Diaries (with Lindsey Stanberry) Sep 12, 2018

Ever want to see how someone else lives and spends money? The Money Diaries, a wildly popular feature at Refinery29, digs into the personal lives of people who volunteer to share the details of their lives and expenses. What you find, are lots of lessons that now Work & Money editor Lindsey Stanberry has compiled and used as the basis for a new book which dishes out popular lessons on money, from setting a plan, to paying off debt, to insurances and investing. It's all here and we're excited that Lindsey is coming today to the basement to share some of the biggest lessons.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll list off the 10 highest paying jobs in the USA. There might be some trends that you may want to explore if you're looking for your next employment opportunity. We'll also share lessons about other careers NOT listed among the top ten. Also, in our second headline, one big ETF company is cutting some funds from its lineup. Are you invested in any of them? Even if you're not, what happens to the money from the investment, and what should you do if it happens to you in the future? We'll share all of the details.

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia, throw out the Haven Life line, and answer your questions from the mailbag.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

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You Can Be a Wealthy Heiress (or Heir) with Linda P. Jones Sep 10, 2018

Do you have what it takes to be a wealthy heiress (or heir)? Our friend Linda P. Jones says that you already have the ingredients...now you just need to dive in and show your prowess. She'll take you through the steps to claim your wealth, and we'll talk about investing based on cycles and momentum on today's show.

Plus, in our headlines segment, a new study shows that financial pros want the best of all worlds...active management with passive-like fees. Is that a pipe dream or is it really on the horizon? We'll mull it over. Plus, banks are protecting themselves with some additional language you should put on your checks if using mobile deposit. What are the words? Will it also protect you? We'll share everything on today's show.

Of course, that's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line, answer a letter from the mail bag, and more!

Thanks to Warby Parker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Order your FREE Home Try-On’s at warbyparker.com/sb.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

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Things We Wish We Knew About Money When We Were 20 w/ an intro to Respect (SB RWD 83) Sep 07, 2018

We're finishing this week strong with today's rewind episode. Featuring Joe, Len Penzo, and Paula Pant, this roundtable has our group looking back at their 20's. What sort of money education would have made their lives easier? Later on the show, the group asks themselves: what's the deal with tipping? And should you tip the takeout host? When is it appropriate to leave a tip? The gang answered all that, and more, on today's episode.

PLUS, in our FinTech segment, we talked to Ross Kimbarovsky from Respect. Worried about elder care for your relatives? Ross and his team rolled out some new systems to address the issues in elder care.

We'll be back on Monday with a whole new batch of fresh episodes. See you then!

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Stop Making Bad Money Moves w/ Emily Guy Birken (SB RWD 82) Sep 05, 2018

Pay down your debts, or invest in the market? Upgrade to a new car, or start stashing away money for a house? Opportunity costs face us everyday, and today, we're rolling back the clock to when we sat down with Emily Guy Birken, who explains just how it all works. Plus, we talk on the problems with "free", sunk costs, and other strategies to manage money. In our headlines we're talking Johnny Deep (remember that phase?), and talk financial knowledge. How much does the average person learn about money over their lifetime? You'll be surprised with the answer.

In this full-featured rewind episode we also answered the Haven Life Line about an important (and not uncommon) tax question you may relate to, get around to Doug's trivia, and a listener letter.

The original show notes can be found here.

This episode originally aired May 17th,2017. Enjoy!

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Crushing Student Loans and Buying Houses: Your Letters (SB RWD 81) Sep 03, 2018

We're rolling back the clock to one of our extra-stuffed letters episodes. The guys will cover questions about buying homes, paying down student debt, investing, bitcoin and more. Then in the headlines segment the guys looked at mistakes that investors are prone to make...PLUS one policy from an insurance company that was a bit ridiculous.

The original show notes can be found here.

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The Happiest Way To Pay Your Loans AND Grab Scholarships (Plus an intro to Emperor Investments) DETAILS Aug 31, 2018

We're ending this eight week series of shows on a very special note, with some awesome guests and fun surprises! First, have you ever groaned while paying the same debt payment over and over every single month? Sure you have! Today we'll talk to our guests Chelsea Brennan from Mama Fish Saves and her reader Megan Grossi who hatched a BRILLIANT plan to make paying down student loans (or any loan for that matter) more fun. We can't wait for you to hear it.

But that's not all we can't wait for you to hear. Pam Andrews' son grabbed over $700,000 in scholarships and completely avoided student loans. How did he do it...and can you do it too? Pam believes you can, and that's why she created her company the Scholarship Shark. She'll walk us through the process today.

AND in our Friday Fintech segment, you've heard Emperor Investments on our shows lately...but exactly how do they work? We invited the co-founders, Brenna Casserly and Francis Tapon to join us with a quick walkthrough of how they work.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

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Finding the ZERO Percent Tax Bracket In Retirement (with David McKnight) Aug 29, 2018

You've diligently saved and invested. You've taken careful care of your money, and you're now ready to enjoy your golden years...but your tax situation isn't what you'd expected and now you have a whole lot less money than you'd hoped. That's the situation that today's guest is hoping to help you eliminate by taking taxes out of the savings equation as much as possible. Coming down to the basement today we welcome the author of the bestselling book The Power of Zero, David McKnight.

PLUS, in our headlines segment, one company is upping the credit card rewards game. Is it worth jumping on board? We'll share our thought on that, along with the details of the 2018 TIAA Plan Sponsor Survey results. What are employees looking for from their employer when it comes to saving for retirement goals? We'll dive into the results and maybe find some common ground between employers and employers today.

Of course we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, plus tackle a Haven Life Line letter and more, on today's show.

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

And don't forget about our Three-Town Tour! The award winning Stacking Benjamins podcast is coming LIVE to a stage near you. Find out more on our Tour Page.

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Retire Early with Real Estate (with Chad "Coach" Carson) Aug 27, 2018

Looking to get into real estate? Or maybe you're hoping to clock out of work early... permanently? Today we're bringing down to the basement the guy who used real estate to make sure his family was in great financial shape at an early age, Chad "Coach" Carson. Whether you're interested in flipping houses, buying and holding, or just curious about how to get started, we'll talk all things real estate on today's podcast.

PLUS, in our headlines segment, is active investing dead? One pundit says that calls of the death of active investing are exaggerated, and points to four ways we'll use active investments in the future. Looking for some ways to beat an index? Today we'll point to four possibilities. And in our second headline, are you using your 401k like an ATM machine? We'll tackle a recent piece about workers who cash out their 401k plan well before they should.

Of course, we'll still have time to answer Doug's trivia question, we'll throw out the Haven Life line, and answer a listener letter.

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

And don't forget about our Three-Town Tour! The award winning Stacking Benjamins podcast is coming LIVE to a stage near you. Find out more on our Tour Page.

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8 Money Mistakes Middle Class People Make (plus an intro to Blast) Aug 24, 2018

As much as we don't like to admit it (and let's face it, Doug never will), we're not perfect here in the basement. We can mess up and make mistakes, just like anyone. But not all mistakes are created equal. Forgetting to start the dishwasher? Yeah, that's not the end of the world, but what about financial mistakes? A small one might mess up your weekend... but a big one could spell disaster. That's why today we're covering (and sharing some of our own) 8 mistakes the middle class is making with their money (a piece written by Holly Johnson for The Simple Dollar). Joining us today our special guest, from Rich Life Advisors, is Beau Henderson. Also joining in the discussion are our regular roundtable contributors, Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com).

Midway through the show we'll take a little break and talk to the co-founder and chairman of Acorns, Walter Cruttenden, about his new brand new venture, an app that mixes two unlikely ideas: video games and saving money. When we first heard about Blast we were intrigued by the possibilities, so we're excited to bring it to your attention, too.

And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia and also to answer a listener question from Dan, who is looking for suggestions. How does someone in retirement create a more defensive portfolio? What types of investments should they consider adding to the mix?

Thanks to Nutrafol for supporting Stacking Benjamins (and Joe's head!). Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB

Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker.

And don't forget about our Three-Town Tour! The award winning Stacking Benjamins podcast is coming LIVE to a stage near you. Find out more on our Tour Page.

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Len Penzo's Annual School Lunch Survey (the entertaining way to learn inflation) Aug 22, 2018

PB&J or BLT? Before you answer that question you'll want to listen in on today's show. You guessed it! Today's the return of Len Penzo's annual Sandwich Survey. We're mixing the costs of going back to school, nutrition, and a little inflation talk all into one discussion. Turns out you can learn quite a bit from comparing the rising (or falling) costs of sandwiches year-to-year. Who knew that the economics of lunch could be so fun?

And if you're not particular towards any particular sandwich, we're also bringing the sauce in our headlines. First up? If you're a homeowner you could be sitting on a record amount of cash. Maybe you're not a homeowner? We've got you covered too in our second headline... we'll be looking at some new loan programs targeting homebuyers with 3% down or less.

We'll also have time to answer Doug's trivia, listen in on a Haven Life Line call from our basement friend Lee, AND still get around to a listener letter.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB.

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Managing Money During Emotional Times (with Dorie Fain) Aug 20, 2018

Life transitions are always stressful, and can be more than a little scary. Oftentimes, it's not until we're settled back into a routine that we notice we haven't been on our money management game. Maybe we made some big decisions while emotional. Worse yet, maybe some of those decisions were irrevocable and now you're stuck. With all the big changes happening ourselves here in the basement we realized that talking about managing money during transitions might be long overdue. Coming down to the basement today to talk about money management during BIG life changes like a divorce or elderly family member moving to managed care, is Certified Financial Planner Dorie Fain.

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Making Money Through Better Time Management (plus BIG news from Haven Life) Aug 17, 2018

What's more important, money or time? While that answer is up for debate, one thing isn't: better time management will lead to making more money. So, how do you maximize your money AND your time? Helping us answer that question is money coach extraordinaire, Dorethia Kelly. Also joining the conversation today is basement regular, Len Penzo. And rounding out the crew today, from our very own podcast, is OG.

After we tackle time management, we'll be getting some big news from the life insurance front during our FinTech segment. How about some life insurance services that you can benefit from while you're still... alive? We're talking to long-time basement friend and CEO of Haven Life, Yaron Ben-Zvi, about some big changes coming to the company.

Still want more? We'll make time to answer Doug's trivia AND a voicemail. Once you have your financial house in order, what should you do with your extra savings? We'll answer Dan's question right after we figure out what Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase!

Thanks also to Nutrafol. Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB

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How to Be Boss and Take Control of Your Income Aug 15, 2018

Think you're doing all you can to earn more money? Hoping to find ways to maybe squeeze a little more productivity out of your day? In today's inspirational episode, we're talking to Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson from the Being Boss podcast about what"being boss" really means. Whether you're working for someone else or have entrepreneurial blood, there's something today for everyone.

And in our headlines segment... should you lease a car for your teenager? It might sound like the craziest and dumbest idea at first, but don't shut it downbefore we look at the pros and cons of comparing a used (or even new) vehicle against a leased one for your teenager's first car. Plus, in our second headline, Angelina Jolie is accusing Brad Pitt of not paying his half of their kids' expenses. With millions of dollars between them, what's the big picture here?

Of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia... and then, in our letters segment, Bill suggests a new idea for the show...should Joe & OG change the format? Do something new? We may have just found our new hit show...

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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How Is a New Cryptocurrency Born? Aug 13, 2018

While we're usually not crazy about jumping in the cryptocurrency Kool-aid, a new type of crypto just being birthed called Kinesis caught our eye. This emerging crypto is based on gold and silver...so already it sounds a little different, right? To learn more about Kinesis and just how a new cryptocurrency is birthed, we invited CEO of Kinesis, Thomas Coughlin down to the basement to give us the fundamentals. What makes them different? Why launch a new one when so many others already exist? How do you keep your crypto-money from being stolen? We'll ask these questions and many more today.

Then, in our headlines segment, Vanguard's Chief Investment Officer responds to Fidelity's new no-fee funds. While his answer might not surprise you, how we think this correlates to you and your money just might be a surprise. In our second headline, Wells Fargo has beat back another lawsuit...this one having to do with target date funds.

Of course, we'll still have time for not only Doug's trivia, but also to answer a voicemail from John, who wants to know what advice we'd give someone who isn't sure how to crystalize their long-term goals.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks also to Nutrafol. Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB

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How Hardcore Are Your Money Habits? (plus an intro to CNote!) Aug 10, 2018

Are you known as the "frugal" friend in your circle? Think you're 100% on board when it comes to managing your finances? You'll have a chance to put that to the test today, because our roundtable is discussing (and sharing their own stories on) hardcore money decisions. Helping us out today is special guest from The PhysicianWealthServices.com, Ryan Inman... PLUS two of our basement favorites: Paula Pant and Len Penzo.

Then, in our Fintech segment, we're super excited to talk to Catherine Berman from CNote. Not only does CNote pay higher interest rates currently than a regular savings account, but you'll also be investing in local communities. How does it work? We'll go through it step by step with Cat (and you can check out our link below to CNote for more information).

And of course, if you're hungry like the wolf for trivia, we'll still have time for Doug.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb

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She Paid Off $18,410 Of Debt In 7 Months Aug 08, 2018

We LOVE success stories, and today we're talking to one woman with a great one. She set out to pay off over $18,000 of debt in a single year. But what happened? She actually did it in just over half that time: seven months. Sounds good? We thought so too, so we called up Jenni Zepol to see just how she did it. The great news? Many of you may be able to follow her tactics and do it also.

Plus, in our headlines segment one whistleblower claims she was fired for raising red flags about her employer's alternative investment sales. While we're not going to set out to prove or disprove her claims, we will draw a point on why it's important to make sure your advisor is always acting as a fiduciary while helping you handle your finances. And in our second headline, one Florida teacher quit his job to become a 6-figure earning personal shopper. Any lessons we can learn there? Absolutely.

We'll also have time to answer a listener letter, and don't you worry, we'll also dish out a dose of Doug's trivia.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

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Fidelity Drops TWO Zero Fees Funds Into the Market Aug 06, 2018

We've said for awhile that the fee game is a "race to the bottom," and last week....we reached the bottom. Fidelity dropped some big news in the financial world last week: not only did they slash a bunch of fees, they also introduced two no-fee mutual funds. What does it mean? How does these new funds work? We've got you covered. First, we'll talk to the VP of Retirement for Fidelity, Ken Hevert, for more information on the company's latest move, and later in the show, OG and Joe will break down what this might mean for you and your money. PLUS, during our headlines segment we'll dig into a Wall Street Journal report covering how one big bank is still finding new ways to surprise their customers... and not in a good way. And during the Haven Life Line we're talking to Colin about Roth and Traditional 401ks. What's the best way to use them so he can retire early?

Don't worry, we'll still have time for a Doug's trivia and to answer a listener letter from Kurt. With a baby on the way, what should Kurt and his wife be doing to be financially prepared?

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase!

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb

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How Not To $#&* Yourself When Taking Out A Loan (plus an intro to Current) Aug 03, 2018

Most people borrow money at some point, but how do we pick out good loans from bad loans? To help us figure out which loans are best, we're bringing down our usual suspects: from AffordAnything.com, Paula Pant; from our very own basement, OG; and from LenPenzo.com... Len Penzo. And halfway through the show we're talking to the founder of Current, Stuart Sopp, who's setting out to help parents teach their kids about money and the dangers of using plastic. We'll also answer a student loan/investment question question from Eli, and still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

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Your Favorite Money Podcasters LIVE From Podcast Movement Aug 01, 2018

We're coming to you (mostly) live from Podcast Movement! Joe caught up with some of our favorite podcasters and friends and interviewed them live right from the event floor. We have an action-packed episode featuring Gwen Mertz in our headlines, and then interviews from Jordan Harbinger, Phillip Taylor, and Vincent Pugliese, plus an awesome roundtable segment featuring Mindy Jensen from Bigger Pockets, Joel Larsgaard from Pour Not Poor, and Chris Browning from Popcorn Finance.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

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How Do I Build a Stream of Retirement Money? Jul 30, 2018

Have you been waiting for us to answer your letter? It's your lucky day because we're dedicating today's show to answering your questions. We're covering diversification, retirement, investing, Fintech, dividends and everything in between on our special letters episode.

Before we get to your letters, In our headlines segment we're taking a look at emergency funds and long-term care dollars. Are you thinking about cutting corners and that maybe you can get by day-to-day without some sort of emergency fund? That could spell some bad news down the road. And in our second headline we'll spend a few minutes talking about proper planning for long-term care. The costs can pile on quicker than you think, and deciding your strategy isn't easy.

Plus, it's National Cheesecake Day! Doug's all excited, and so are we. Plus, in honor of Henry Ford's birthday, we'll have some Ford-related trivia that even if you aren't a car buff, you JUST might know the answer to...

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

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Do I Have an Unhealthy Relationship With Money? (plus an intro to Zeta) Jul 27, 2018

There are many ways to have a not-so-great relationship with the fuel that helps you reach your goals. You can spend too much, never spend anything...and much more. What IS a healthy relationship, and what does it look like? There are a lot of warning signs, but that doesn't mean it's an easy problem to fix. On today's show, our contributors, Jen Smith from the FrugalFriendsPodcast.com, Roger Whitney (the Retirement Answer Man) from RogerWhitney.com, and Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com, will tackle their relationships with money (both the good and the bad).

Plus, during our Friday FinTech segment, we're excited to talk to Aditi Shekar from Zeta. Mastering your relationship with money is hard enough on your own, it only gets more intense when you add someone else to the picture. Zeta helps couples (whether married, roommates, living together, or living apart) master their money through a mix of technology and good old-fashioned advice.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks also to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

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Investing In Your Vices (with Jordan Waldrep) Jul 25, 2018

You've probably heard of impact investing, but... have you heard of vice funds? The concept is similar to impact investing, but instead of good causes, vice fund invests in those other sectors of the market....like cigarettes, gambling, and alcohol. Interested yet? We hope so, because today, to talk more on vice funds, mom's invited the guy that's right in the middle of this sector to share ideas, stories, and his investing strategy, Jordan Waldrep.

Then, in our headlines segment, we'll call our friend JJ Montenaro from USAA, who has some disturbing news on the life insurance front. Why don't many people buy life insurance? We'll talk coverage, strategies, and life insurance myths on today's podcast. Plus, we'll discuss one piece covering the "lessons learned" from a big Hollywood divorce.

We'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Tyler. Tyler's wife is going back to school to get her master's degree. Could they open up a 529 plan and use it right away for the tax credit? We'll also answer a letter from Paul. He wants to separate from service soon and retire, but most of his 401k funds are with a prior employer. Does he need to roll that money over before he separates so that he has money to live on before 59 and 1/2?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Doing Well By Doing Good...with Real Estate (with Eddie Lorin) Jul 23, 2018

At least one real estate investor is doing his best work by bringing affordable real estate to the masses. From ImpactHousing.com, we welcome Eddie Lorin, who'll share how you can purchase and create real estate opportunities that in his words, "do well by doing good." We'll also talk about real estate in different areas of the country and about trends in real estate investing and rehabilitation. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or a newbie, there'll be something for you to like.

In our headlines segment... do you think emergency funds are overrated? If you're not setting money aside for the unexpected (it's called an "emergency fund" after all), you might find yourself hitching rides from Neighbor Doug just to show up at work on time. Plus, in our second headline, should we be worried about the cost of a long-term care stay? One publication suggests we should be estimating and funding long-term care a little differently.

Then, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Derrick and his wife, who need to reduce their tax liability. What are their options? Don't worry though. We promise to save time to answer a letter and also swallow a dose of Doug's icy trivia.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree.

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What Do Money Bloggers Owe Their Audience? (plus a BIG update from Tiller) Jul 20, 2018

Should financial bloggers and financial podcasters who tout that they're "retired" share the WHOLE story with their audience? Plus, if they're managing a successful blog or podcast, how "retired" are they actually? Additionally....does it matter to a reader or listener if the writer/podcaster is actually retired, if their information is on point? We'll tackle a great article on this topic from Tanja Hester from the Our Next Life blog with our special guest, CFP Dana Anspach from SensibleMoney.com.

We'll also say hello to Tiller CEO Peter Polson in our Friday FinTech segment, who shares some BIG changes to his company's spreadsheet budgeting and money tracking apps. Then we'll answer a question from a listener about investing, worry over Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase!

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Welcome to Stacking Hamiltons! (w/ Rosemarie Groner) Jul 18, 2018

And you thought you knew us! WELCOME TO THE STACKING HAMILTONS SHOW!!!! According to Doug's crazy holiday calendar we're celebrating National Hamilton's Day. It's your lucky today because today we're bringing you a show stock full of tips on how to save Hamiltons fora rainy day. Rosemarie Groner from BusyBudgeter.com, stopped by the basement to hand deliver 10 tips to save $10 in 10 minutes minutes or less. PLUS, during our headlines segment, we're talking to the COO of popular money and budgeting app, Clarity Money. I know. We're about three quarters as excited as you are.

And during our Haven Life Line segment, we'll answer a question from Tracy about paying her daughter. Does her business need to show an expense report for paying her daughter even though Tracy put it in an Roth IRA?Then during our letters segment we'll answer Corey's question about his retirement progress. How's he doing? Of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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How I Retired Early: A Case Study w/ Fritz Gilbert Jul 15, 2018

Do you ever find yourself sitting around wondering how someone retires early? Good news... we've been wondering the same thing. To answer answer all of our (and your!) questions about early retirement, we invited the man who has not only done it himself, but has been teaching other people to do it too, from TheRetirementManifesto.com, Fritz Gilbert.

Speaking of wonder....have you wondered how you can win that "free" luxury car in the mall? Ever think about writing down your information for a chance to win? As you've probably expected, there's a catch... and we'll share what it is on today's podcast. Plus, during the second headline, we'll cover why you shouldn't be so afraid of A.I. managing your money. We'll dive into what more AI means to the pros, and we think you'll like their point of view.

Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Stevan, who calls in with a question about target-date funds. What should someone be looking at when they're trying to determine if a target-date fund is a good investment? Of course, we'll still have time to answer a letter from college student Tyler, who recently downloaded Acorns. Still being young, how should he be investing his money? And don't your worry, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase!

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Answer These 3 Questions About Money To Enrich Your Life (plus an intro to eBlocker) Jul 13, 2018

It always pays to start with the end in mind, which may seem difficult, but one recent piece suggests that answering a few questions will help you crystalize your goals. For example, do you know what you'd do with your life if money wasn't an issue? What would your life's goals and aspirations be? What would change? To help answer today's big questions we invited Crystal Hammond from the SophisticatedSpender.com to join us, along with regular contributors Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com

Halfway through the show we'll talk to Kevin Ells from eBlocker. Tired of being tracked online? Want to stop companies from price discriminating against you? We'll talk to Kevin about eBlocker's nifty hardware that'll help you take back your privacy online.

We'll also save time for Doug's Friday the 13th trivia segment, and of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Mrs. Anonymous and her husband are starting a small local business as a side-hobby, with the possibility of scaling up to an online store. Should they start an LLC right away, or wait until they have some growth?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB. Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree.

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How To Slash Your Investing Risk (with Chris Cook) Jul 11, 2018

Investing can be scary, especially if you're just starting out. What if your money evaporates overnight? What if some unforeseen event happens and my investments are wiped out? And with most of us relying on our investments to get us through retirement years, to pay for college, or other goals, it's natural to be worried. While we can't totally eliminate investment risk, we can do a pretty good job reducing risk... if you know how. That's why we're bringing the author of Slash Your Retirement Risk, Chris Cook, down to the basement. We'll talk to Chris about how you can make practical, safe investments to see you through your retirement years, and still keep the money rolling while you do it.

Then our headlines segment, UBS has been ordered to pay out millions in a Puerto Rico bonds claim. Plus, during our second headline we cross over to the other side and hear the confessions of a debt collector. Of course that's not all! We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Mike, who has a pile of cash to invest. He already has a few ideas, but wants to know what we think. And in our letters segment Willis wants to know if taking the tax hit for a backdoor Roth contribution with his two rollover IRAs is worth it. Thoughts? And don't you worry, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fun & Games and Wiping Out Your Student Loan Debt (with Michael Torpey and Natalia Abrams) Jul 09, 2018

A game show made to wipe out student debt? That's right...coming to Tru TV is a new game show that's made specifically for that reason. If you're anything like millions of other people, you've probably had (or still have) the pleasure of dealing with student loans. Between ongoing bills and wallet stretching emergencies, it may seem like there's never enough money to go around. So what do you do? Coming to the basement to discuss the student loan epidemic, and to help YOU pay off some of your debt on his new show called Paid Off with Michael Torpey, we welcome....Michael Torpey. Also joining us is one of the people helping to lead the charge for student loan debt reform, the executive director of Student Debt Crisis, Natalia Abrams.

In our headlines segment, how would you like to get thousands of dollars for painting your front door? Okay... while it's not THAT simple, the idea still stands. New statistics show that painting your front door is one of the most cost-effective methods of increasing your home's value. And in our second piece, one ATM had over $17,000 shredded...and you won't believe how it happened.

And then, during the Haven Life Line, Kurt wants to know about jobs (other than a financial advisor of course) that deal with helping others financially. Of course, we'll still answer a letter, have time for Doug's trivia, and much more.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree.

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Starting Your Rental Real Estate Empire with Brandon Turner (SB RWD 79) Jul 04, 2018

Looking to jump into real estate? We're rolling back the clock to the time we talked to Brandon Turner from the award-winning real estate site, Bigger Pockets. He'll talk about purchasing, managing tenants and building wealth.

We'll also cover a couple of headlines about some hacks to make your life easier, and the deadly financial sins to avoid if you're not keen on handing your money over to crooks. Of course, we'll also answer some letters, get a dose of Doug's trivia, and much much more.

The original show notes can be found HERE.

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Rocking Your Debt Cleanse with Nick Clements, Mandi Woofruff and Tiffany the Budgetnista (SB RWD 78) Jul 02, 2018

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") takes us back to our debt-curing discussion with MagnifyMoney CEO Nick Clements and MagnifyMoney Executive Editor Mandi Woodruff. Still in the wake of the holiday buying season, Nick and Mandi shared some good strategies on paying down debt.

We also take your letters, learn French with Matilda and Devin Carrol, and get a surprise visit from Tiffany the Budgetnista. Of course, it's a full episode of the show....so there's much, much more! Enjoy!

You can find the original show notes HERE.

This episode originally aired January 11, 2017. Enjoy!

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Make Mistakes and Still Find Financial Independence (plus an intro to Mason) Jun 29, 2018

When you've made some mistakes in your past, how do you get back on track for financial independence? Is there ever a "too" late? Is financial independence out of reach for those of us who started late? Helping us answer those questions and more is special guest Gwen Mertz from the FireDrillPodcast.com. Also rounding out our contributors for today is Len Penzo, of LenPenzo.com fame, and our very own OG.

And midway through the show we'll take a few minutes to stop and talk about seniors selling life insurance policies before they lapse. Know a senior struggling to pay to keep a life insurance policy in check...or worse yet, letting one lapse? We've invited Felix from Mason Finance down to the basement to give you the lowdown on selling off insurance for cash before it lapses or if you don't need it.

We'll also have time for Doug's trivia, and of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Should Ryan focus on investing into his taxable brokerage account first or his 401k?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kiné Corder on the Relationship Between Money, Happiness, and Your Personality Jun 27, 2018

Kiné Corder joins us to tackle some of the biggest money issues...our own money personality. Mom says all the time to "know yourself," and Kine will help you dive into your money traits so that you can rely more on your strengths and cover your weaknesses. We'll discuss spenders, blamers, artists, presidents and more on today's show!

In our headlines segment, how would you feel if you had to skip important medical care due to high costs? That's what almost HALF the diabetics in the USA are facing, according to one publication. What should someone do in this situation? In our second headline, brokerage firm Merrill Lynch is re-evaluating their commission ban inside retirement accounts. What does that mean for your money? Will other firms follow suit? We'll also tackle that today.

Of course we'll still throw out the Haven Life line to Eric and Amy. While their neighborhood is great, the school district isn't. Should Eric and Amy start looking at another neighborhood or consider private school? Of course, we'll also have time for Doug's trivia.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You CAN Stick To The Plan (with Nicole Lapin) Jun 25, 2018

New York Times bestselling author Nicole Lapin is someone (maybe like you, and definitely like me) who wasn't taught money lessons growing up. However, different than many people, she's been able to create and stick to a money plan. She's been recognized two years running as the #1 money guru at site GoBankingRates.com, and now she's with us teaching YOU how to stick to the plan. Even if it's difficult. Even if you don't think you can...she'll talk about money myths, truths, and probably more than a few board games.

In our headlines segment we're taking a special look at annuities. Could they be a better option than bonds? One popular financial piece says they are. Plus, in our second headline we're looking at what's going on with the fiduciary rule. Is it dead...or could new rules be on the horizon? Then, after a small break for Doug's trivia we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Jenny, who wants to know what type of investments she should use to live on before the normal retirement age. Similarly, in our letters segment, Andrew and his wife want to retire by 55. What should they be doing to make that happen?

Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5 Fun Ways To Teach Kids About Money (Plus Advice From TIAA for Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles) Jun 22, 2018

Do you know any kids already bored with summer? Know someone who needs some help breaking down basic finance for the kiddos? You're in luck because today we're talking kids and money. Joining us today, from the National Bank of Mom, is our new friend Maggie. ...and back for another round, from FamZoo, we welcome Bill Dwight. And rounding out our roundtable, from ConnieAlbers.com, we welcome Connie Albers. They'll talk about many ideas to brighten your summer and help your children grasp money concepts at the same time. It'll make a better summer for both them AND you.

Don't have children? We thought about you, too, and invited Kate Ryan from TIAA to join us to share tips for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and money savvy friends. We'll talk about everything from sharing money stories to helping a child start a summer business or save a few dollars.

Of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Nicole wants to take her family on a vacation. What are the best places to be consider, and what should she be watching out for?

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's Not To Like About a 401k Loan? (Your Letters) Jun 20, 2018

Mail call! Today we're ripping open your letters and answering tons of your questions. We'll share our thoughts on 401k loans, improving your credit, saving money... and much, much more.

And during out headlines segment we're looking at Vanguard's 401k changes and... an article about millennial saving habits. It appears that many millennials think they're either going to retire early or not at all. As Joe's mom would say, "that doesn't sound good." It isn't...and bigger problems lie in the details of this story.

Plus we're throwing out the Haven Life line to Heather. With the possibility of Student Loan Forgiveness on the horizon, how much money should Heather be putting towards her loan? And with debt to pay off, what's some good advice for getting on track for retirement?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Looking for something deeper than what we talk about on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Retirement Seems Impossible (with Dr. Steve Wendel from Morningstar) Jun 18, 2018

Invest there, save here, charge this, spend that... what's behind our financial decision making? We might not personally have all of those answer, but we know someone who does. Coming down to the basement is the head of behavioral science at Morningstar, Steve Wendel. Morningstar has some alarming statistics about retirement, and Dr. Wendel will present eight different ways to solve some potentially big problems in your future.

And in our headlines segment... is the market about to take a tumble? We'll discuss why analysts think the market is about to endure a shake-up, and what you should be doing about it. In our second headline we're turning our attention to cryptocurrency. If only 2% of planners seeing the crypto as a viable investment option, should we be paying any attention to it?

Then, after Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Blake who's asking about "play" money. After someone uses a "sandbox" account, do they replenish the fund? And in our letters segment we answer the question: What should you do with your cash if you're saving for a big purchase in the next year?

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Want that latest news from the basement? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: Stacker

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Why The Joneses Will Bankrupt You (plus an intro to the WELA app) Jun 15, 2018

On Wednesday we talked about what goes into picking the right financial advisor. You'd want to be sure of the person your entrusting with your financials, after all. But would you trust a financial advisor who's a couple of decades younger than you? We're asking that same question to our wonderful panel of contributors: special guest Shannon Mclay (from Financially-Blonde.com), Len Penzo (from LenPenzo.com), and Paula Pant from Afford Anything. PLUS, in a second Friday headline, living next to a lottery winner makes YOU more likely to go broke. What's up with that?

And halfway through the show we're taking a break to talk to Matt Reiner from Wela, the all-in-one budget app. Wela can track your daily spending, group transactions, and the app's AI, Benjamin, can answer any questions you may have about your money.

Of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Julianne works on commission... how can she make a useful budget on a variable income? Also, should we be waiting on the market to go on sale before we buy more stocks?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Avoid the Wrong Financial Planner (with Stephanie McCullough) Jun 13, 2018

The hardest part of hiring a financial planner? Making sure you pick the right one! That's why today we're welcoming the CEO of Sofia Financial, Stephanie McCullough. She's not only sharing her insider tips on what to look for with the right financial planner, but what to look out for from potentially the WRONG financial planner.

In our headlines segment, one start-up blockchain CEO is claiming that Bitcoin isn't the holy grail that people may hope. BUT, he does think that bitcoin, along with their own digital currency, each have their own niche where they're needed. What should you do with your own crypto strategy? We'll tackle that today. Plus, we'll feature a new investment that promises a steady 7% annual distribution rate... what's the catch? We'll dive in during our headlines.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Lee who recently left his job to work for himself. How does that impact his retirement and investment plans? What should he be doing with his 401k now? Of course, we'll also have time for Doug's trivia and answer a listener letter.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Looking for something deeper than what we talk about on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Getting InvestED (with Phil Town) Jun 11, 2018

How do you take control of your money and start investing? Danielle Town had a famous dad in the investing world, Phil Town, and didn't want anything to do with her father....to the point that she didn't want to invest money the way he did. Instead, she decided to stick her money in a savings account and hopefully grow it. Today we're happy to have Phil Town with us, to discuss not only the biographical parts of the early book, but about getting brave with your money and learning how to invest. We'll ask about Dave Ramsey's 12% rule, investing like Warren Buffett, and more.

In our headlines segment, we'll talk about one expert who has been repeatedly quoted by media outlets. How many times have we heard about what's going to happen to the economy next week according to the experts? As it turns out, one expert in particular has a big secret: he doesn't even exist. What's that all about? We'll dive into what it all means during our headlines. And in lieu of a second headline, we're taking an inside look into what Doug does when he's not on the mic... you might be a little surprised.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Andy, who's wondering what he should do with his extra cash from his recently paid off mortgage. How should he invest his additional funds for a positive gain for further financial independence?

Thanks to Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB

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What Was Your Money Epiphany? (plus an intro to Status Money) Jun 08, 2018

What was your big money epiphany? Was it realizing you were paying for a car that was way too expensive? Or that even though you're cashing in with a nice job you're still living paycheck to paycheck? Maybe, if you're like Doug, you're still waiting on your big money epiphany. Joining us to share their own money epiphanies are our time-tested contributors: Len Penzo (from LenPenzo.com), Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our very own OG.

And halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to Majd Maksad from Status Money. It's only natural you'll be curious about how other people like you are handling their money, or how far along the financial independence path they are. Status Money will let you compare your finances to millions of people like you.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Dustin has his annual review coming up and wants to provide a solid case on why he should be getting mo-money. Are there any good resources out there he can use? We'll share at least one resource: our experience.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb

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Taking Drastic Action to Pay Down $120k of Debt (with Aja McClanahan) Jun 06, 2018

Would you move your family to the rough part of Chicago to pay down debt and improve the neighborhood? Coming down to the basement is one woman who did just that...Aja McClanahan. After making the difficult decision to take drastic action, Aja and her family paid off a whopping $120,000 in debt. Think you could do the same? Aja will share her inspiring story about how her family took action and wiped out their debt.

In our headlines segment, we'll share one crazy headline about a woman who paid $7,000 for toilet paper. She's gotten her refund... two months later, but how in the world do we make sure that doesn't happen to us? And if it does, what do we do? PLUS, we'll get a special visit from our close friend at Buzz Indexes, Jamie Wise.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life lineto Tony. Tony's wife is teaching some classes at the local rec center this summer. How should they handle their extra income? Do they need to set up an LLC? We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and more.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.comto learn more.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.comfor sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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The Highs and Lows of Real Estate Investing (with Dana Bull) Jun 04, 2018

Ever thought about getting into real estate, but didn't know what to expect? Our featured guest, Dana Bull, has seen just about everything when it comes to acquiring, rehabbing, and renting properties as a real estate investor. She's acquired dozens of properties before reaching the age of 28. We invited Dana down to the basement so she could share all the highs and lows she's experienced along the way.

Plus in our headlines segment, we turn our attention to a challenge women face when changing jobs. It turns out, when it comes to small 401k balances, women are much more likely to cash out than man. And in our second headline we're talking to Laura Boylan from Haven Life about the state of the life-insurance industry. The industry is facing challenges in enrolling more families in life insurance, what's the deal?

After we get through Doug's trivia question, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Rob who wants to share his own financial book recommendations. And today we saved the best for last with a letter from David who is complaining about Joe and MoneyBall.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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Did We Miss the Debt Panic Memo? (plus an intro to Swell) Jun 01, 2018

Are you frazzled because you still have debt to pay off? Is it because your debt is spiraling out of control, or maybe because it's at a high interest rate? We'll talk about approaching debt on today's podcast. Plus, during our second headline we're packing into a van and hitting the open road. That's exactly what retired NFL player Joe Hawley decided to do after he left the league earlier this year. What's your big plan for retirement? Helping us tackle these headlines, from TheWealthHound.com, is our new friend Jason. Also joining the discussion today are our regular contributors, Len Penzo (from LenPenzo.com) and Paula Pant from Afford Anything.

And halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to David Fanger from Swell. Yes, we need to save and invest for our retirement, but does that mean we have to turn a blind eye to the impact we're making? We'll talk to David about not only investing in ourselves, but investing in companies that are being socially responsible and making an impact.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. What's the best way for an interested sixteen year old to jump into the world of finance?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to CollegeBacker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/sb and get a $10 match when you start a college fund for your own family or send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.

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From Shopaholic to Money Ninja (with Michelle Bobrow) May 30, 2018

She struggled with credit card debt, student loans, and more, but now Michelle Bobrow's not only a money ninja...she'll help teach you how to manage your money better on today's episode. We'll talk about Michelle's early days of spending mistakes (that may sound like mistakes many of us have made), plus lessons she learned while working on Wall Street.

Our first headline covers the one fifteen minute hack one publication says you should implement if you want to manage your money better. Wonder what it is? You won't be disappointed, although it may not be what you think. Also, we'll tackle news that everything is getting more expensive more quickly than before. Ever wonder how inflation actually works? We'll explain that and more on today's show. Plus, we're throw out the Haven Life line to Mollie, who's wondering which insurance plan is better: should they use her plan which has smaller premiums, or her husbands, which has smaller deductibles when you use the coverage? We'll also another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

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Business For Bohemians (with Tom Hodgkinson) May 28, 2018

Ever think about bringing some exciting new concept to the world, but you're turned off by the seemingly all-consuming WIN WIN WIN attitude some full time business people exude? Today's guest is perfect for you, because Tom Hodgkinson (owner and operator of The Idler) loves the idea of a bohemian business, and will tell us the bare minimum that a lifestyle business owner needs to know to make sure that you can enjoy your life, your art, and also maybe family and friends.

In our headlines segment, we turn our attention to a new study that shows female advisors are growing their businesses faster than their male counterparts. Are women better advisors? We'll talk about what people REALLY want from their advisor on today's podcast. Plus, Amazon is offering $5,000 for employees to quit their job. Why would a company offer money for employees to leave? We'll have your answer and what it means for your money on today's show!

After Doug's Memorial Day trivia question, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Michael and answer his question about the best course of action with your money when you have a big purchase coming up in a few years. Of course, we'll still have a listener letter from the mailbag... which today is Sam's question: should he and his wife move their money from a taxable brokerage account to the Roth IRA they haven't been using?

Thanks to CollegeBacker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/sb and get a $10 match when you start a college fund for your own family or send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.

Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Retirement Ruin Your Relationships? (Plus an intro to Payitoff.io) May 25, 2018

Looking forward to retirement? We make plans so we CAN retire, but have you ever thought about what you'll be doing once you actually get there? We'll discuss how your relationships, and marriage, can be impacted in your post-work life. In a rare second Friday headline, we're continuing the retirement discussion with a look at finding new hobbies and passions during your retired life. When Joe Hawley retired from the NFL he moved into a van and hit the open road, what's going to be your story? Joining us today to share his thoughts on retirement, from YourMoneyGeek.com, is special guest Michael Dinich. Michael will be joined by our (fantastic) regular contributors, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com and Paula Pant from Afford Anything.

And halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to Bobby Matson from PayItOff. Still paying off your student loans? Wish you could pay the loans off faster? Make sure to check out today's Fintech segment because you'll love our interview with Bobby.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Ethan and his girlfriend are shopping around for car insurance. They're also planning on buying a house and starting a family in the next couple of years. Should he get all the insurance he needs under one roof? Maybe through a broker?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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Your Summer Theme Park Savings Guide (with Robert Niles) May 23, 2018

It's officially summer for us when Robert Niles (from Theme Park Insider) drops by for our annual look at theme parks around the country. Going on vacation this summer? We'll have all the answers about fantastic deals, making the most of your money, the best new rides... and of course, rides and locations that you would do best to avoid.

Our first headline may give you second thoughts before you decide to "take advantage" of company benefits. We'll cover how 200 workers were fired from Fidelity for abusing company benefits. Ouch. In our second headline we're asking the question: "How would you like to slash the length of your 30-year mortgage?" We'll tackle one writer's (convoluted) idea. Plus, we're throw out the Haven Life line to Alan, who wants to know the pros and of cons of having a simple IRA over a solo 401k. Should he switch? We'll also another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Lexington Law for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/SB

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You NEED More Money (with Matt Manero) May 21, 2018

Think you have enough money? If you ask our featured guest Matt Manero, lots of people are walking around assuming they have enough (or enough for now) and they couldn't be more wrong. He says there's a good chance that you NEED more money. On today's show we're talking to Matt about protecting your downside, growing your income why you do NOT have to be the boss to get ahead, and more.

In our headlines segment, we turn our eyes to Tori Spelling's financial woes. Are you building good money habits? It turns out that no amount of money will ever be "enough" if you don't have a plan behind your money. In our second headline, we're talking to Stuart Ritter of T. Rowe Price. Do people that work in the gig economy pay more attention to their money than people working for "the man?" We'll have the answer to that question and more on today's headlines. We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and answer a Haven Life Line (plus have a bunch of fun while were at it) on today's show.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Thanks to Lexington Law for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/SB

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Find More Time and Money (plus an intro to Tomorrow) May 18, 2018

Ever think about moving? What if someone PAID you to move? Would you do it? ...and how about having more time in the day? Today we'll discuss cities and towns that'll pay you to relocate AND the secret behind having enough time in your day. We're joined by Rocky Lalvani (from the Richer Soul podcast) along with our Monday/Wednesday co-shot OG.

Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our discussion and talk to Dave from Tomorrow. Have you ever got around to creating a will for your family? Tomorrow enables you to create a plan for your family... all through your phone.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Spencer is starting a graduate program later this year. Should he put his extra summer income towards his Roth as usual, or save it and put it towards his loans?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Housecall Pro for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For Free Activation go to HousecallPro.com/SB.

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Bozos, Monsters... and Other Financial Planners (with Lorraine Ell) May 16, 2018

We're welcoming to the basement the author of "Bozos, monsters and whiz-bangs," Lorraine Ell. Do you have a bad financial advisor story? On today's show Lorraine shares some absolute horror stories with us. Advisors churning accounts? Counselors telling you to sell when the market is in the tank? We'll talk about these and more on today's show (plus what to do if your advisor is dishing out some of this horrible advice!).

In our headlines segment, things are getting a wild in the basement. We'll talk about a guy who discovered a bank glitch. Think he did the right thing? We'll talk about how he exploited the glitch to the tune of a few million dollars...and eventually might have learned a valuable lesson (or not). Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Bill, who is trying to figure out the various contribution limits for him and his wife. We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and more.

Thanks to Housecall Pro for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Waive your $99 activation fee by going to HousecallPro.com/SB.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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How One Frugal Secretary Saved Millions (and your letters) May 14, 2018

Mail Call! Today we're answering your questions about IRAs, tackle how to calculate a rate of return, dive in to Vanguard's new factor based funds.... and much, much more.

In our headlines segment we turn out heads to secret millionaires. Why do people keep their millionaire status a secret? Would you? In our first headline we'll talk about how one secretary (and others) hunkered down and kept their investments a secret. Plus, are HSA enrollments stalling? We'll talk numbers and the big takeaways on today's podcast.

Thanks to CollegeBacker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/sb and get a $10 match when you start a college fund for your own family or send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

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What Bad Jobs Can Teach You About Money (plus an intro to OfferUp) May 11, 2018

Have you ever had a bad job? We'll discuss bad jobs and lessons that you learn while working in a field that might not be ideal or meet your end goals. We'll talk farming, golf caddie, working at McDonalds, and other bad jobs with our special guest Andy Hill (from the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast) along with our regular contributors Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com and Paula Pant from Afford Anything!

And halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to Natalie Angelillo from OfferUp. It's time to spring clean and OfferUp gives you a platform to buy or sell things from you comfort of your phone and with a photo-first look.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Rod is investing some of his money for a retirement condo. When he has enough funds for his second choice, should he buy it and rent it out until retirement? Or should he keep investing until he's able to get Condo #1?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks also to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – Harrys.com/sb.

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What Do We Think About Niche Real Estate? (plus FICO and more of your questions!) May 09, 2018

We back up the truck and plow through the mailbag today! We'll start off with a question about employee stock purchase plans, work our way into niche real estate, fly through small company stock investing, and dive headfirst into mutual funds vs. ETFs....plus LOTS more.

In our headlines segment we'll talk with Ken and Ben from FICO about auto financing. A recent FICO study shows that the move toward shopping online for financing rates isn't nearly as wide as we may have thought. What are the takeaways? We'll ask FICO for some best practices and more on today's show! Plus, are you a Wells Fargo customer? We have more news about claiming your settlements and more on today's podcast.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Ryan, who wants to work in the financial planning field. What advice do we have for him when it comes to talking to others about their money?

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking to have your financial product questions answered? Head to MagnifyMoney.com for your credit, savings, student, and auto loan needs.

Thanks to LegalZoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get special savings by going to Legalzoom.com and using SB at checkout.

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Making & Saving More Money in the Sharing Economy (with Harry Campbell) May 07, 2018

Even though he's an engineer by trade, Harry Campbell was excited about the opportunity to earn extra money driving people (and stuff) around town so he tried out Lyft. What happened? Now he runs arguably the biggest website dedicated to ride sharing services AND he'll give you all the secrets about making money in the sharing economy on today's show!

In our headlines segment, we tackle a piece about inheritances. Do you know why people don't receive their inheritance? We do, and it probably isn't what you think it is.... Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Adam, who wonders about buying property in China. Should he and his spouse spend their money on a home before prices escalate more? We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and more.

Thanks to CollegeBacker for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Sign up at CollegeBacker.com/sb and get a $10 match when you start a college fund for your own family or send a gift to kickoff someone else’s college fund.

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Free Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb.

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Our Best Advice For Graduates - And YOU (SB RWD77) May 04, 2018

Just starting out with money? Do you know someone just beginning in life, or graduating this month? Dorethia Kelly from The Money Chat joins Greg McFarlane and Len Penzo to tackle exactly that topic and more. We also discuss Uber’s plans to bring auto financing to the masses (and tips to buy a car), plus how to make debt disappear quicker. As we do often, we juggle a ton of topics on this episode!

ALSO – with Father’s Day this weekend, maybe you’ve decided that dad has enough ties. What about buying him stock? Dan Schatt joins us on our FinTech segment to tell us about Stockpile, a site where you can give dad shares of your favorite company, an ETF, and more. You can also buy physical gift cards from retailers. Now dad can actually get a gift that appreciates!

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") is bringing the party on today's rewind episode. Enjoy!

You can find the original show notes here: Our Best Advice for Graduates

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Preparing For When Things Go Wrong (SB RWD76) May 02, 2018

Jane Blaufus, author of With the Stroke of a Pen, Claim Your Life joins us in the basement to share her very personal tragedy, and how making non-emotional insurance decisions helped her cope in a difficult time. She'll share a refreshing view of insurances that might change your mind about your personal coverage. Matt Becker from MomandDadMoney.com joins Paula Pant from Afford Anything on this week's roundtable to discuss the Zen of Investing. You'll learn some important investing lessons that may change your overall philosophy.

Of course we work to give something away, Joe & OG talk about current financial topics, and tackle reviews of Prisoners and The Spectacular Now....and much much more.

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") rewinds to when we talked about when things go wrong....and the best time to prep? right now, while things are going well. Enjoy!

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The Dirty Side of Money with Kabir Sehgal (SB RWD75) Apr 30, 2018

Money, it turns out, does bad things to your brain AND to your skin. Author Kabir Sehgal from the NY Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Coined, The Rich Life of Money and How Its History Has Shaped Us joins us in the basement.

We also take your letters, talk about Stacking Bordens with a Canadian friend, and more.

This episode originally aired November 2, 2015. Enjoy!

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How Do I Save Money On My Insurance? (plus an intro to N26) Apr 27, 2018

Looking for a better deal on our insurances? We'll tackle a piece today about tracking devices that trade privacy for your data, which will hopefully save you money on your insurance. Would you trade your data for lower costs? We'll discuss this and the many ways you CAN save money on insurances with our special guest Shannon Harvey (author of How To Avoid Financial Disaster), along with our regular contributors OG and Paula Pant from Afford Anything!

And halfway through the show we'll take a break and talk to Nic Kopp from online bank N26. After successfully scaling in Europe, this bank is poised to now bring easier mobile banking to the USA. We'll talk to Nic about exactly what N26 has to offer and when you can sign up.

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. VJ wonders if he should ditch his insurance agent AFTER he helped him find a policy? He feels guilty because even though the agent answered lots of questions and was helpful, VJ found a better price online. What should he do?

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should I Invest In a Roth IRA (and more of your questions) Apr 25, 2018

One of our most frequently asked questions revolves around the Roth IRA. Should I invest in it? How much should I invest? Why should I invest in a Roth vs. a traditional IRA? That's just ONE of the many questions we answer on today's show, including questions about investing, buying a house, spiking your interest rates on short term goals, and more.

In our headlines segment we'll talk about how financial advisors market their services. Can you tell from an advisor's method of pitching (and her pitch) whether they'll be a good fit for you? Absolutely...and we'll explain on today's show, as we talk about seminars, workshops, Facebook ads, radio shows, and more. Plus, we'll tackle a piece about remodeling your house. Which improvements improve your home's value the most? We'll share all of those on today's podcast.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Eric, who's contributing to a target date fund and wonders if he could do a better job on his own. Can he? Do we like his target date fund? We'll also throw out Doug's trivia question, and more.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking to have your financial product questions answered? Head to MagnifyMoney.com for your credit, savings, student, and auto loan needs.

Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more.

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Creating Your Own Better Outcome (with Lillian Karabaic) Apr 23, 2018

Lillain Karabaic has done everything. From bicycle valet to bookkeeping to radio, she's had just about every job you could imagine (she held over 40 jobs during her 20's!). Today she's sharing advice and stories about grabbing the reins. Think you aren't saving enough money? She'll inspire you with her work ethic. Think you have trouble getting money in the right place? She'll share her favorite tips... and more.

In our headlines segment, we'll share some statistics from Transferwise about banking fees. It turns out that many people are surprised by the fees their bank charges. Overdraft fees? Sure, banks charge those, but how about returned mail fees? We'll share the whole list and ways to reduce fees.

We'll also debate a new media piece about retirement planning. Is it time to share the old planning practices out the window? We'll share the authors' tips and also those that OG and Joe advocate, on today's podcast.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Abbey, who wonders about starting a financial coaching business. As a financial planner, is there room to expand into coaching people who don't yet need full-on CFP level support? We'll share some of the reasons you don't see more of these businesses and also ideas for starting one on today's show. We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and more.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Thanks to Lexington Law for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/sb

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Should You Trade in Your Friends for Richer Ones? (plus we help kick off Money Smart Week!) Apr 20, 2018

How much do your friends control your fate when it comes to your money? One recent piece contends that your community (including friends) is a HUGE piece in the puzzle toward financial success. Does our panel agree? Here to answer that question we welcome Jen Hemphill, author of the new hit financial book Her Money Matters. She'll join OG on today's show for that AND Doug's amazing trivia (we know you can barely wait....).

Plus we answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Daniel wonders about life insurance. How much should he and his spouse plan on for life insurance for his children?

Thanks to Housecall Pro for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Waive your $99 activation fee by going to HousecallPro.com/SB.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your Money or Your Life? (with Vicki Robin) Apr 18, 2018

Why are you saving money? How much joy are you receiving from that "stuff" you own? You may rethink your financial plan after today's show, because our guest is the co-author of the HUGE bestselling book, Your Money or Your Life. Vicki Robin helped shape the financial independence/retire early movement, and she's on her way down to the basement today to talk to us about re-examining your beliefs around your life and your money. Your money or your life, indeed.

In our headlines segment we'll talk about student loans with Robert Farrington from The College Investor. He'll talk about how over 3,000 people just took part in an event to pay off a TON of student loan debt. We'll share best practices, how best to apply to lower interest rates on your debt, and how to pay them down in a way that makes sense for your situation. We'll also discuss the new SEC proposed fiduciary rule. Is THIS finally the rule we've been looking for? Will it replace the mostly knocked-down rule from the Department of Labor? We'll review the rule and discuss what you need to know about it on today's show.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Karen, who's contributing to a brand spankin' new health savings account. How should she best use it? We'll share how these plans work on today's show. We'll also answer another listener letter, throw out Doug's trivia question, and watch him try to juggle....one ball.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Thanks to Lexington Law for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/sb

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Building Your Money-Savvy Network Before You Need It (with Jordan Harbinger) Apr 16, 2018

What happens when you're booted from your company? Jordan Harbinger found out firsthand. The former host of popular and award winning Art of Charm podcast tells us his story and then we talk about building YOUR network so it's available when you need it. We'll discuss the right (and horribly wrong) ideas, tools, and strategies to use when taking on the challenge of expanding your circle of influence.

Plus, in headlines, we'll tackle a recent headline about a big financial company that may have stepping in the same BIG problem twice. What's the problem and how do YOU avoid being a victim of this company? We'll unravel all of that plus another headline about risk. Where do you run from stocks if you've had enough...international bonds?

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Dom, who wonders what stocks he should buy in his "sandbox" portfolio. How do you evaluate individual stocks and where is the the best place to purchase them? Both Joe and OG chime in with their answers.

But....that's not all! We'll answer answer a letter from the mailbag, serve up some JP Morgan trivia, and more!

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Thanks to Housecall Pro for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Waive your $99 activation fee by going to HousecallPro.com/SB.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Popular Advice That's Actually Baloney Apr 13, 2018

It's nearly tax time and we're hearing lots of rumors about tax strategies that just don't work. So we were relieved to read a headline that walked us through several rumors that weren't true. We'll go over them in detail on today's podcast!

Plus we get serious about sexism in the financial press. Do pieces aimed at women speak to them differently than pieces aimed at men? Our roundtable will weigh in on men, women, and the differences in the way we talk about money. To talk about these topics, we're joined by our crack regular team of contributors: Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com), along with our very own OG.

We also answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Steve wants to know if there's any reason NOT to consolidate his many accounts spread all over the place. What's the downside he might not be seeing?

Thanks to TurboTax Live for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA backed with a one-hundred percent Accuracy Guarantee. Connect with a TurboTax Live expert at TurboTaxLive.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beth Kobliner and SNL's Kate McKinnon Team Up To Teach Financial Literacy Apr 11, 2018

What happens when a bestselling money author teams up with an SNL star to talk about financial literacy? You end up with some awesome videos featuring Kate McKinnon and Beth Kobliner! Beth joins us in the basement today to talk about the making of the videos and to share some much-needed financial literacy tips for children. How do you teach kids (or other adults) about money when you don't feel like YOU'RE a whiz with your cash? Beth shares some great tips that you'll be able to use today.

In our headlines segment we'll talk about a recent lawsuit about "reverse churning." What does that even mean? We'll talk about why it's important most of the time to do absolutely nothing with your money, and we'll also discuss when you should expect to pay for advice and exactly what you're paying for when you work with an advisor. If you're in a fee-based account, are you paying for trades or for advice from the advisor? We'll debate that question on today's show.

In our second headline we'll talk to Mike Foy from JD Power and Associates. They have a new customer satisfaction survey that also shares LOTS of information about millennials. It appears that millennials are ditching their advisors in droves. Why is that happening? What are advisors missing? We'll ask Mike to dig into the JD Power survey findings on today's podcast...including which firms scored highest in customer satisfaction this year.

Plus, as always, we throw out the Haven Life line to Tanaya, who's contributing to her state pension plan and her Roth every year. What's are some other considerations of places she should be contributing? We'll also, we pull out the stops and answer several letters in an effort to get caught up. We'll tackle minimum volatility funds, a confusing advisor recommendation, a listener who actually gets what we're doing with this podcast, and more.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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A Beginner's Guide to Individual Stock Investing (with Chuck Jaffe) Apr 09, 2018

Ever wonder whether individual stock investing is for you? Chuck Jaffe, host of Money Life with Chuck Jaffe, joins us to talk about the differences between investing in individual companies and in indexes or actively traded funds. We'll discuss diversification, learning about companies, the impact of fees, and more.

Plus, in headlines, we'll tackle a recent headline about a big financial company possibly faced with a billion dollar judgment. What does it have to do with your money? You may learn a lot about estate planning on today's show. We'll also follow one writer who's decided to go cashless. Is it a good idea to dive into the empty wallet-end of the pool? We'll discuss upsides and downsides on today's show.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Melissa, who wants some advice on how her and her husband should structure their funds inside of their accounts. Without fully knowing their situation, can the guys still give her ideas for her investment strategy? We'll also answer a letter from another listener, score some of Doug's vampire-rich trivia, and more.

Support for Stacking Benjamins comes from TurboTax Live, new from TurboTax. Now you can get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA right on your screen. Talk live with a tax expert as often as you need for tax advice to help you file with confidence. Go to turbotaxlive.com/SB.

Thanks to LegalZoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get special savings by going to legalzoom.com and use SB at checkout.

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s Frugality For Rich People? (plus an intro to Voleo) Apr 06, 2018

We've snared a HOT topic! Bloggers online are talking about a recent piece written by Miles Howard, entitled "Is Frugality For The Rich?" It asks many questions about bloggers online and the transparency of how they earn their money. We talk to our roundtable about whether the frugality that's made to sound awesome by bloggers is really something we can all attain. Is any of it real?

To talk about that topic, plus a recent study that explores the differences between rich and poor kids, we welcome our special guest Jonathan Mendonza from the awesome Choose FI podcast to the show! Jonathan is joined by our crack regular team of contributors: Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com).

We'll also bring you some cool Friday FinTech on today's show. Thomas Beattie from Voleo.com stops by to tell us how they help investors turn their love of stocks and (sometimes wild) opinions into better informed decisions. The wisdom of the crowd wins again on today's show!

We also answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. What should Curtis do with his three HSA accounts? Is there a way to combine them? We'll ask our team that question, and also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to TurboTax Live for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA backed with a one-hundred percent Accuracy Guarantee. Connect with a TurboTax Live expert at TurboTaxLive.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Spring Clean Your Wallet (plus Ditch the Resume/Land the Job with Gary Burnison) Apr 04, 2018

Why haven't you scored a raise recently or grabbed that next bar on the better job rung? Well, your wait is over, because Gary Burnison, author of Lose the Resume, Land the Job, joins us to help you increase your income potential, enjoy your career more, and rock your next raise! We'll talk about how a skunk helped Gary realize many of the dilemmas facing people, and how NOT to answer questions during your next interview...and of course, much more.

In our headlines segment we'll throw a surprise your way. An age group you don't expect is conned more often on the phone than any other...and it isn't the group you think. How do you make sure you aren't taken advantage of by scammers? Jonathan Sasse from First Orion joins us to talk about how to figure out that someone is really secretly after your wallet instead of the person they pretend to be. We'll also cover a recent spring cleaning story. While you're cleaning out the attic and the garage...what about your wallet? What should you clean and what should you keep? We'll discuss that on today's show.

Plus, as always, we throw out the Haven Life line to Talha, who wonders about the best ways to start investing if you just entered the workforce? Should you diversify or crank up the risk since you're just starting out? Also, we answer a letter from Shawn, who wonders about moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA? What are the rules? Of course, we'll have Doug's trivia and more fun on today's show.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking Free From Money's "Oh @$#%" Cycle (with/ Kristin Wong) Apr 02, 2018

Ever had that time in your life when you just couldn't get ahead? You'd come home after payday, think that you could maybe relax and spend a dollar or two, and then realize, "Oh, $%#!" Kristin Wong has been through that cycle before herself, and she also knows how to dig your way out. She's coming down to the basement today to share her own story and tips to help you better manage your budget.

In our headlines segment, we talk about your brokerage account. Do you keep your cash reserve in the cash portion of your brokerage account? A new Wall Street Journal piece tells us that you might be losing lots of money. We'll also discuss guaranteed income strategies. A recent study shows that people want to hear from their advisor about guaranteed income. We'll talk about why people want advice on this issue and why most advisors don't spend a lot of time on this area.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Andy, who's worried about cashing out of his retirement plans. Should he sell off some of his money all at once and leave it on the sideline or should he reverse dollar cost average out of his long term savings and into cash? We'll also answer a letter from another listener, score some of Doug's vampire-rich trivia, and more.

Support for Stacking Benjamins comes from TurboTax Live, new from TurboTax. Now you can get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA right on your screen. Talk live with a tax expert as often as you need for tax advice to help you file with confidence. Go to turbotaxlive.com/SB.

Thanks to LegalZoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get special savings by going to legalzoom.com and use SB at checkout.

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How to Break Up With Advisors (plus an intro to Grove) Mar 30, 2018

How do you say goodbye to a long term advisor? Whether it's a financial advisor, CPA, financial coach, or someone in another field, we'll talk about the common practice of "ghosting" advisors. Is it okay to just leave your advisors and not tell them that you're going? If you decide to tell them that you're leaving, what should you say? We'll ask our crack team, including not only OG and Len Penzo, but special guest Mrs. Groovy from FreedomIsGroovy.com.

Plus, we'll also talk about taking time off from your job to begin constructing your ultimate life. How do you begin taking time away? We'll not only review a piece on this topic but also ask our panel for tips on today's podcast.

We also answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. What should our listener expect from tax preparation help? How do the fees work? We'll ask our team that question, and also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to Lexington Law for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/sb

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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A Chinese Stock Shell Game (with Jed Rothstein from The China Hustle) Mar 28, 2018

Thinking about placing some of your hard earned Benjamins into investments in China? So have many American investors, yet lots of them don't know how much trouble they might be inadvertently be walking into. Jed Rothstein, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award winning director) joins us to discuss his new documentary, the China Hustle. How do people get swindled out of millions of dollars while trying to buy Chinese stocks listed on American stock exchanges? We'll hear how the game works and also show you how deceptive it is even though it was all legal.

In headlines today we hear a gut-wrenching story about how an NBA star went from a $61 million fortune to being six figures in debt. We'll also discuss a headline about buying insurance online. There are many questions people should ask when purchasing anything online, and we ask Haven Life CEO Yaron Ben-Zvi to share some tips with us. As always, he gives us lots of ideas to make sure you know what you're buying.

Plus, as always, we throw out the Haven Life line to a listener. Today Win is wondering why her tax refund check is so low. Is it because she recently paid off her student loan? Also, we answer a letter from Nate who wonders about depositing a refund from an HSA expense back into his account even though he's no longer eligible? Of course, we'll have Doug's trivia and more fun on today's show.

Thanks Lexington Law for supporting our show. For a free credit report summary and credit repair consultation go to lexingtonlaw.com/sb

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Abigail Adams: Financial Badass Mar 26, 2018

As Women's History Month draws to a close we suddenly realized....we've done nothing to celebrate! Today on the show we make up for that ('in spades," as mom says) by inviting professor Woody Holton down to the basement. He's the author of the book Abigail Adams, for which he won the Bambridge Award and more. He'll describe the amazing prowess of Adams in a time when many women not only weren't investing, but weren't even allowed to participate in their family's financial plan. He'll describe which investments she preferred, why she decided largely against real estate for her portfolio, and how she created an estate plan for herself in a time when many women didn't have that luxury. If you love to learn from historical figures, Abigail Adams is a great role model and Dr. Holton gives us many revealing stories about her prowess on today's show.

In our headlines segment, we'll talk to Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index (ticker BUZ). He'll describe why his strategy and those of some of his algorithm-based competitors seem to be winning in this time of volatility. He'll also share some of the names that the crowds on social media are focusing on to ride the choppy market. Also, with the financial markets all over the place, we'll review a story from Marketwatch that asks whether the market will crash, and if it will, what you should do to buckle up. The advice might surprise you, if you're looking for ways to exit stage left, or are looking for advice that tells you how to exit stage left....or right.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Nelson, who's worried about his parents' financial plan. They have an insurance-company based financial advisor, so Nelson thinks that they should move to different advice. How does he approach the topic with his parents? We also answer a letter from another listener, score some of Doug's spinach-based trivia, and more.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

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Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Millionaire? Mar 23, 2018

Do YOU have what it takes to be a millionaire? We pair three of our listeners with our panelists on today's show for a game show style discussion on the habits of millionaires. We'll talk about whether people are more likely to be a millionaire if they're self-made or come from money, what type of car millionaires drive, their level of education, and more.

We also answer Joe's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. He's getting married and wants to change his health insurance, but his human resources department says he can't change. What's up? We'll give him our thoughts, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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10 Money Lessons From Oscar Nominated Flicks Mar 21, 2018

We're talking money and movies on today's show, as Kiplinger financial writer Tom Blanton joins us in the basement to discuss lessons from ten Oscar nominated films. We'll not only tackle a few films from this year, but many from the back catalog that you maybe haven't yet seen. Whether you're a film buff looking for a walk down memory lane or someone hoping to find some entertaining films that also talk about your wallet, we have you covered on today's podcast.

In headlines today we high five the writer of a new piece who says that the bull market might run another 20 years. Do we agree? We'll share our feelings on today's show. Plus, we dive into a piece that lists all of the financial moves you should make if you die young. What should you make sure is covered now and what can wait? We'll go over all of that and more on today's show!

Plus, as always, we throw out the Haven Life line to a listener. Nick asks about variable annuities. Should he keep his annuity, buy another one, or rip the money out of annuities altogether? Also, we answer a letter from a listener who wonders about holding or selling a property that he and his spouse own. Of course, we'll have Doug's trivia and more fun on today's show.

Thanks to Upstart for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking beyond just a FICO score, Upstart also looks at your job experience and education when determining your rate. Checking your rate will only take two minutes and doesn't after your credit. Get your rate now at Upstart.com/SB

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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How to Have More Money and Life (with Derek Rydall) Mar 19, 2018

Looking for the keys to wealth and happiness? While many of us search books, social media, or outside groups, today’s guest, Derek Rydall, has a different solution which he shares on today’s podcast. We’ll talk about the laws of abundance and how to have more “more” in your life, plus the true meanings of common financial ideas such as currency, cash flow, and salary.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll ask the question, "What are some of the biggest issues you should think about as you approach retirement?" The answers may surprise you. We'll also take a look at volatility. Now that the market has gotten...um....bumpy, we'll discuss how to fortify yourself for the increasing possibility of a down market.

We’ll also throw out the Haven Life line to an anonymous caller who lays down the law with Joe, and answer a letter from our friend Win, who asks about starting her own 401k plan since her job doesn’t have one. How does she get her own plan? We’ll help Win (and maybe you) get rolling down the right track.

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to Upstart for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking beyond just a FICO score, Upstart also looks at your job experience and education when determining your rate. Checking your rate will only take two minutes and doesn't after your credit. Get your rate now at Upstart.com/SB

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

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THIS is the Secret To Saving Money (and an intro to Equity Multiple) Mar 16, 2018

How do you save more money? Today we present one simple trick shared by a popular financial blogger. But does our team of experts think this is REALLY the secret? We'll ask them all, this week featuring from the awesome and brand spankin' new Pour Not Poor podcast, Joel Larsgaard. Plus, we'll also share a headline about your tax refund. There are LOTS of swirling myths about your return, and today we'll try and set the record straight so you're able to file your taxes in peace.

We'll also turn our eye on FinTech...and this week specifically real estate. Charles Clinton is the CEO of Equity Multiple. They're a firm helping smaller investors dive into bigger real estate projects by pooling their money with other investors. We'll get the scoop about how it works today directly from Charles.

We also answer Lauren's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. She's feeling the pressure from family to start her own family, but when is the right time to start? How will she know when she's financially ready? We'll ask our team that question, and also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to Legal Zoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your SPECIAL savings by going to LegalZoom.com and entering SB at checkout. LegalZoom, where life meets legal.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lisa Marie Presley Is Out Of Money (and we're treating our elders horribly) Mar 14, 2018

Yes, another star is down to only a few Benjamins, but we have bigger news: ever since we met Susan Hodges we've been telling her cautionary tales to everyone we know...and today, that's YOU! After graduating from college where she learned to manage nursing homes, she was hired by a facility used by some of the poorest people in Fort Worth, Texas. She'll talk about her personal story, choosing good help for your elders, and ensuring that your children don't take advantage of you when you're least able to protect yourself.

Plus, in headlines we'll tackle the news that Lisa Marie Presley has run out of money. We'll discuss budgets, estate planning, and personal money expectations. Also, if you missed it, the Lipper Fund Awards just occurred. We'll talk winners in many different categories, and have fun discussing just how amazing attending an award show like this one must be.

We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Stacy, who wonders when she should start putting money in a taxable brokerage account instead of her 401k and a Roth IRA? She's read that you should fill tax shelters first, and the Stacking Benjamins team comments on whether this "rule of thumb" is worth following. Of course, we'll also answer some listener mail and if you're lucky, I might top it off with my trivia.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pulling Your Life (and Money) Together When Everything Goes Wrong Mar 12, 2018

Ever wish you had a second chance with your money? Billy B. hoped he'd get one. After being convicted and sent to prison after the death of his friend, Billy went through some serious soul searching, and the end result of that is on display on today's show. Not taking any opportunity for granted, working hard to find solid financial (and life) footing, and the value of surrounding yourself with good friends and mentors are just three of many themes we'll talk about in this fantastic discussion with Billy (who now also blogs at WealthWellDone.com).

In our headlines segment, a new software program means that some of your advisors may be expendable....or maybe not. We'll discuss the hot topic of humans versus AI on today's show. Plus, Warren Buffet just wrote his annual letter to investors. What are some of the takeaways? One publication listed their favorites and we'll review and discuss them. As always, Mr. Buffet doesn't fail to use the English language as a weapon while talking about investing, value, and evaluating risk. We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Luke, who wonders about investing to beat inflation without taking too much risk. For a five year goal, what investment works best? Are stocks too risky? Should he use junk bonds? We'll shine a light on that topic (and maybe one we can't talk about here), as well. We also answer a letter from Jon, who asks about asset allocation. What is a great way to manage your money and diversify correctly? You'll have to listen to find out!

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to Legal Zoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your SPECIAL saving by going to LegalZoom.com and entering SB at checkout. LegalZoom, where life meets legal.

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are You Frugal Or Just Plain Cheap? (with an intro to Blueprint) Mar 09, 2018

Sure, you think of yourself as frugal, but do your friends think of you that way? If you're a little tight with money, or know someone who's maybe...just a tad too tight with money, today's discussion is for you! We're excited that today the creator of the new Financial Grown Up podcast and former Reuters TV anchor Bobbi Rebell joins us. Not only will we talk about penny pinching habits, but we'll also swing around to the other side of the financial spectrum...how do banks and financial institutions get you to part with more money? Partly it's by bestowing titles like "private banker" on the people who help you.

We'll also turn our eye on FinTech, and this week discuss with Blueprint Income's Lauren Minches about the work they're doing with private pension programs. What if you could create a stable income stream for your retirement that didn't rely on stock market performance? Lauren and the Blueprint team are working hard at turning the world of annuities on their head, and today she'll walk us through the world of pensions, 401k's and the future of stable retirement income streams. If you aren't a fan of annuities, today's discussion about innovation in that area is exactly what you want to hear.

We also answer Justin's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. He's wondering what to do (hypothetically) with some money that he'd like to gamble with? What would our crack panel suggest? We'll get great ideas from Afford Anything's Paula Pant and our very own OG, as well as from Bobbi Rebell. On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From $100 to $1 Million (with BizKids' Jeannine Glista) Mar 07, 2018

Wondering how to turn a small idea into a big stack of Benjamins? Better yet, how about teaching your kids to do it for you? Never fear, because Jeannine Glista from BizKids joins the fun on today's show, sharing case studies of young entrepreneurs who've built big businesses from little ideas. Whether you're looking for activities for your children or inspiration on how to start your own business, Jeannine will have tips for you today! Plus, in headlines a Kansas woman is accused by her bank of stealing LOTS of money, $5 at a time. We'll explain how that spiraled out of hand. Also, do you think that working longer is a better idea for your portfolio and your life? One publication thinks so, and we'll explain their argument on today's podcast.

We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Tan who is about to switch jobs. Should he dollar cost average back into the market when he rolls his money into his new plan or invest it all at once? Of course, we'll also answer some listener mail and if you're lucky, I might top it off with my trivia.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Compare checking, savings, credit cards, and loans before switching. MagnifyMoney.com makes it super easy to compare, switch and save.

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Rethinking Consumerism (with Elizabeth Thames, AKA Mrs. Frugalwoods) Mar 05, 2018

Ever wonder what it would be like to ditch the rat race and move to a farm in the country? That's exactly what Elizabeth Thames (aka Mrs. Frugalwoods) and her husband did, after a series of events, some of which you'll hear about on today's show! If you're at all interested in rethinking consumerism, today's show is for you.

We'll of course have headlines from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Nathan, who wonders about making a house down payment. Should he go for a loan where he can put down less or save up for a full twenty percent? We also answer a letter from Rita, who asks about investing. If her 401k doesn't have a match, where should she invest first? You'll have to listen to find out!

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it Taxable? And an intro to Clarity Money (SB RWD 74) Mar 02, 2018

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") is bringing the party on today's rewind episode. This roundtable show originally aired February 2017, and featured Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and Greg McFarlane trying to guess if different forms of income are taxable or not. Of course, in true 2017 roundtable fashion, there's also a FinTech segment and some fun topics that gang goes over too.

Enjoy!

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Stealing Back 40 to 60 Percent More time with Edward G. Brown (SB RWD 73) Feb 28, 2018

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") rewinds the tape to when we invited featured guest Edward G. Brown down to the basement. Family, friends, coworkers, and even our bosses can steal about half of our day away. The question is, how do we get that time back?

This is a rewind episode that originally aired in 2014. Enjoy!

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Avoiding the Mistakes of 2007's Housing Crisis with Sheila Bair (SB RWD 72) Feb 26, 2018

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") rewinds the tape to when we had former FDIC Chairmain Sheila Bair. What happened behind closed doors in the 2007 housing and banking crisis? How do we ensure that doesn't happen again? We covered that and more on today's rewind... and we had special co-host Josh Dorkin, founder of BiggerPockets. You can check out the original show notes from when the show aired here. Of course, it's a full episode of the show....so there's much, much more! Enjoy!

Original show notes from 17 June, 2015:

How do we ensure that the huge mistakes people made leading up to the 2007 housing and banking crisis don't happen again? Former FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair joins us in the basement to discuss banking, mortgages, the crisis and her new book that brings it home for high school and college age students (and financial geeks like me!).

Josh Dorkin, founder of the awesome real estate community BiggerPockets (and host of the BiggerPockets podcast) sits in the co-pilot seat this week. We discuss landscaping, job searches, diversifying your portfolio and more.

Show notes with links coming in the morning! (I was traveling all day Tuesday.....check back before noon!)

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and SoFi for sponsoring our podcast!

SHOW NOTES

<> Open

Our co-host today is Josh Dorkin, founder of Bigger Pockets.

Check out the Bigger Pockets podcast also!

<> MagnifyMoney - Use StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney when it's time (now!) to evaluate your checking, savings or credit cards against those that are best-in-class.

<> Headlines

How the lack of good jobs, pay for millennials fouls up the economy (MarketWatch)
Consumer watchdog weighs in on reverse mortgages (CNBC)

<> Sheila Bair - The Bullies of Wall Street

<> Suzanne Lucas - The Evil HR Lady

Check out Suzanne's Site: The Evil HR Lady.org

The latest: Someday My Raise Will Come -- Won't It?

<> Letters

<> End Show/Movies

Josh reviews the film Two Guns

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8 Smart Things To Do With $1,000 Right Now (Plus the future of FinTech w/ Rory Holland) Feb 23, 2018

What should you do with a small windfall? Today we ask, if you had $1,000, how should you best use it? We have an article that gives us eight great options, but we ask our panel which of those is best...and why? THAT alone gets rolling a fanstastic discussion between OG, Len Penzo, and special guest from the Money Nerds podcast, Whitney Hansen.

We'll also turn our eye on FinTech. We talk to FinTech company founders most weeks on this show, but from the near-outside looking in, where's the ball headed? Rory Holland from CSTMR has a front row seat at the FinTech party, and answers the questions...what's the problem, how's it being solved, and what's next for FinTech? You'll see LOTS of possible directions for FinTech (and...psst....your money) after you hear this interview.

We also answer Carolyn's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Her 21 year old son is graduating from college and she's concerned about claiming him. Can she claim him as a dependent still? On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Why Most Networkers Stink (with Scott Gerber) Feb 21, 2018

Think you know networking? Scott Gerber is a superconnector who's spent his entire life learning the ins and outs of successful business relationships. Today he's in the basement sharing with us the tools you need to become a superconnector yourself. Networking 1.0 no longer works (or even is something you want to be associated with). He'll share tips, tricks, and stories from people at the top of the networking field on today's show.

Plus, in headlines we'll tackle how one celebrity spiraled into a life of debt. What does that have to do with your money? If you're depressed or love retail therapy, maybe more than you think. Also, does access to retirement planning tools actually make people plan more often? Not shockingly, the answer is yes, but the amount by which the answer is "yes" might surprise you.

We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Brenda who has a bunch of 0% debts she wants to pay off. Should she pay them down or just pay the minimum because she isn't paying interest? Of course, we'll also answer some listener mail and if you're lucky, I might top it off with my trivia.

Thanks to Upstart for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking beyond just a FICO score, Upstart also looks at your job experience and education when determining your rate. Checking your rate will only take two minutes and doesn't after your credit. Get your rate now at Upstart.com/SB

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Better Decision-Making When You Don't Have All The Facts (with Annie Duke) Feb 19, 2018

Do you think you make the best decisions under most circumstances? Today's guest will tell you that if you don't have all of the information, the more adamant you are about your point of view, the easier you are to "beat." Annie Duke was a professional poker player for 20 years, winning many top tier professional tournaments and taking on the best decision makers alive. Equally as important, she brings her academic career in cognitive psychology to bear on decision making that can help you with everything from your investments to your career and more.

In our headlines segment, parents are spending TONS of money on their children's extracurricular activities. Beyond avoiding vacations or planning vacations around some of our people, some parents are stopping contributions to their retirement and not putting money in college funds...just for extracurriculars. We'll talk about what harm this does (and maybe have some surprising points of view) on today's show. Plus, it looks like 5% interest rates on mortgages may be right around the corner. Currently, the average interest rate stands at 4.5%. What would a 5% rate do to the financial markets and to your debt load? A recent piece discusses all the different ways we'd be affected overall by higher and higher rates.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Ethan, who wonders about market cap weightings for indexes. Why do people invest in indexes that are weighted heavily toward the biggest components? We also answer a letter from John, who asks about our favorite financial books. What are they? You'll have to listen to find out!

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to Upstart for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Looking beyond just a FICO score, Upstart also looks at your job experience and education when determining your rate. Checking your rate will only take two minutes and doesn't after your credit. Get your rate now at Upstart.com/SB

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

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Stop Wasting Money on These 18 Products Feb 16, 2018

On today's show we're pulling out all the stops for Joe's 50th birthday! We spend most of the podcast discussing 18 products people shouldn't buy if they want to stop wasting money. Think you can save a few bucks? Then today's show is for your!

We also answer Marissa's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. She's wondering about buying a house today vs waiting until the current housing bubble pops? What should she do? On top of that, we'll also share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to Legal Zoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your SPECIAL saving by going to LegalZoom.com and entering SB at checkout. LegalZoom, where life meets legal.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Career Tips Learned Managing Frank Sinatra (with Eliot Weisman) Feb 14, 2018

Eliot Weisman was the manager for stars like Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. He also oversaw Frank Sinatra's estate after the crooner died, which was reportedly worth over $100 million. We'll talk to Eliot about managing celebrities and handling large sums for celebrities, and more.

In our headlines segment, we'll compare two pieces, one reporting that robo advisors experienced big outages during one of the market's most volatile days. Meanwhile, in our second piece, Fidelity reports that there were no outages and generally, more people were buying than selling. Is OG buying that? We'll see. Of course we'll have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener David, who wonders about the income limits to make Roth IRA contributions. We'll also answer a listener letter from the mailbag and score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show. Compare, ditch, switch and save on student loans, auto loans and more at StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney.

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Special Episode: An Intro To Business Wars Feb 13, 2018

Surprise! How about an introduction to a great new podcast from Wondery? Say hello to Business Wars.

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What's Your Money Story? (with Jen Hemphill) Feb 12, 2018

We don't think much about our past when investing, but our money story until this point is a HUGE driver on how we make decisions with our spending, our cash, our budget, and our saving. Jen Hemphill (Her Money Matters podcast) joins us to talk about the importance of retelling your past money stories, reviewing your current money story, and developing a future money story. What are those? She'll explain all of that on today's show.

In our headlines segment, why the heck has the market been so volatile? Experts have been weighing in and we review the reasons ONE big expert provides. Plus, it appears millennials are saving record amounts of money. What does that mean? How does their savings compare with yours? We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Michael, who wonders about his health savings account. If he doesn't have one with any investing options, can he move that money?

Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to Legal Zoom for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your SPECIAL saving by going to LegalZoom.com and entering SB at checkout. LegalZoom, where life meets legal.

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

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Should You Brag About Your Benjamins on the Internet (with an intro to Aspiration) Feb 09, 2018

You've done well with your money. Should you tell people online how well you've done? Maybe even show your 401k balance or your savings account? One piece in today's headlines segment has an opinion, our roundtable team will share theirs on today's podcast! Today Len and Paula are joined by CFP Katie Brewer, who helps us dig into another topic: One millionaire received some FANTASTIC money advice at age 18. We'll ask Katie and our team what the best advice is they received growing up about money. You'll be surprised by their answers.

We also answer Scott's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. His parents and in-laws are asking him for money advice. Should he give them advice or send them to a financial planner? On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Winning the Podium With Your Money (Silver Medalist Bobsledder Lauryn Williams) Feb 07, 2018

What does it take to make it to the podium with your pocketbook? Olympic silver medalist Lauryn Williams knows. She's not only the host of the Worth Listening podcast, but also a financial planner...and more important for today's specific pre-Olympics show, silver medalist in the two woman bobsleigh. She'll talk about the keys to winning with your money on today's show!

In our headlines segment, it's tax time, and CPA Craig Cody joins us to help you get organized for this year's tax-prep fest. What are the areas most people miss? How do you make sure all the "I"'s are dotted and "T"s crossed? He's got you covered. We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Johnny, who wonders about rolling his old retirement fund into his new pension. We'll also answer a listener letter from the mailbag and score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Free Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/SB

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show. Compare, ditch, switch and save on student loans, auto loans and more at StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney.

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Is the FIRE Movement Dying? (plus an intro to Better) Feb 02, 2018

Is the FIRE movement dying? One blogger says that it might be, so we bring in our crack team of Paula Pant, Len Penzo and The Other Guy...and well, you'll have to listen to hear whether they agree, won't you? Plus, some bad news out of Bank of America. A popular free checking account is going away. Our contributors may give you some better options if you're looking for a new home for your banking.

Speaking of better, we're excited to introduce you to a FinTech company called Better. This mortgage company simplifies the mortgage process. CEO Vishal Garg will not only share his story, but he'll also walk us through how it works.

We'll answer someone's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from the mail bag, share Doug's groundhog related trivia, and more.

Thanks to Blue Apron for supporting Stacking Benjamins! Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

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Boost Your Income, Grow Your Stash, and Practice Better Spending (with Michele Cagan) Jan 31, 2018

The basics of finance ain't easy...at first, but once you jump on and learn them, it's just like riding a bicycle (as mom says). Today we welcome CPA Michele Cagan, whose written a clever Infographic Guide to Personal Finance. She'll take us through a few lessons, from compounding interest to earning more money and spending less. It's a fun interview and a great way to either learn if you're just getting started OR to dust off your knowledge if you're an old finance pro.

In our headlines segment, we discuss investors going crazy for stocks--which never ends well. Plus, we talk about active investing. What's the future of active investments? Is it really going to be all robots and automation? One recent piece in the popular press thinks so. We'll discuss it.

Of course we'll still throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener. This time Bobby asks about 401k management fees. Should he pay a company .6% to manage his stash? We'll also answer a listener letter AND still have time for Doug's trivia.

Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show. Compare, ditch, switch and save on student loans, auto loans and more at StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney.

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How To Stop A Money Scam (with Sandra Bernardo) Jan 29, 2018

The latest statistics on romance money scams are out, and oh boy, is mom upset. A whopping 20 percent more people were ripped off last year than the year before, so how do you protect your loved ones? If someone seems like the perfect match but they need money before they agree to meet you...maybe it turns out that they aren't the perfect fit. Today we call Sandra Bernado from Experian on dad's shortwave, and she drops a ton of great ideas for all of us.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll cover a fishing trip gone bad. How does fishing affect your money? We'll explain. We'll also tackle a recent study showing the perfect retirement strategy. What is it? I don't think the study is, in the words of a classic Princess Bride line, "what you think it is."

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Kirk, who wonders about his debt. They owe money to a few different loans...which should they pay first? Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Check out this week’s menu and get $30 OFF —WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BlueApron.com/SB.

Why compromise with investments when you can use an intuitive, easy-to-use, robust platform? M1Finance combines the power of automated investing platforms with the flexibility of do-it-yourself but more expensive brokers. ...and now, it's FREE! Be Invested. Check out M1Finance .

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New Podcast Sample: MITM Airline Bins and Tax Returns DETAILS Jan 27, 2018

Looking for a new financial show that's fifteen minutes or less? Back from the basement...the same team that brings you Stacking Benjamins debuts a new show...Money in the Morning. Joe Saul-Sehy records two financial headlines daily in front of a Facebook live audience.

On today's sample episode: airline prices may soon rise AND the IRS begins accepting tax returns. What do you need to know? We'll talk shopping flights, credit card rewards, tax document organization, and who should help you finish your taxes.

Enjoy!

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Should Chris Pay Off All His Debt? (with Dana Anspach) Jan 26, 2018

Should you pay down your debt or invest? Chris has a very specific question on this topic, and our roundtable team comes charging to the rescue! Also, in our headline segment, we tackle a similar topic...should people focus on early retirement? Not only that...we'll throw in some travel tips to make your next vacation less expensive.

We also answer someone's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Our Magic 8 Ball Predict The Stock Market? (SB RWD 71) Dec 29, 2017

Every year we ask Len Penzo's magic 8 ball how the market's going to perform...and more. Today we rewind to our episode a year ago to review the events of 2016 and then make predictions for 2017.

If you've never heard our annual "magic 8 ball" episodes, this is a great starting point. On Friday, January 5 we'll be revisiting the eight ball again to see if these predictions came true.

How good is the eight ball? You'll have to listen to find out. Happy New Year!

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What Should We Have Learned About Money 5 Years Ago? (SB RWD 70) Dec 27, 2017

We head back in time to 2012, when we asked friends of ours AND top HR writer Laurie Reuttiman what lessons we should have learned from that year. What's funny about this list? It could have been 2017....

Hope you're all having a happy holiday week!

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What IS Your Rich Life? with Michael F. Kay (SB RWD 69) Dec 25, 2017

How do YOU define a "rich" life? Certified Financial Planner Michael F. Kay joined us to talk about his definition, and it's probably MUCH different than yours.

This rewind show is from 2016. Hope you enjoy!

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Your 401k Could Be Better (plus an intro to CollegeBacker) Dec 22, 2017

Think your 401k rocks? In our headlines segment today we'll share a story from an author who thinks your retirement plan isn't all that it can be. Should you stop investing? Reduce the amount you save into it? We'll tackle both of those questions with Paula Pant from Afford Anything and Andrew Wang from the new podcast Inspired Money. They'll also help us cap off 2017 with a discussion about 2018. Fewer people are making money-based resolutions. Does that mean our finances are going to be a mess next year?

We'll also answer two questions from listeners, share Doug's trivia, and more.

Today we'll also introduce you to CollegeBacker. Co-founder Abby Chao joins us to detail the frustrations people have saving for college and how they're working at making 529 plan savings easy. Think it's difficult to save for college? You'll want to listen to today's interview. Can't wait for you to hear all about it.

Thanks to HelloFresh and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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What Should We Have Learned In 2017? (with Jean Chatzky) Dec 20, 2017

n our MONSTER recap of 2017, Today show money editor Jean Chatzky joins in the fun to share five lessons we should have learned from some of the biggest events of the year. She'll talk about the stock market, data hacks, and...well...we don't want to give them all away, so you'll just have to listen, won't you?

Plus, in our headlines segment, our social media correspondent, Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index, shares news from the crowds of people talking about investing online. He'll share thoughts on the Disney/Fox deal, discuss Target, Valient, and more. We'll also tackle a headline about delegation and wealthy people. How much do wealthy people delegate, and what does that have to do with your money? We'll share details on today's show!

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Teddy from Brooklyn, who wonders about switching from a mutual fund from an ETF that tracks the S&P500, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia (who swears he hasn't been NEAR the North Pole lately), and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database AND their SPECIAL DEAL through 12/31) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Money, Mentoring and Stacking Benjamins (with Dee-1) Dec 18, 2017

Many people call finding more cash the name of the game, but today's guest, rapper Dee-1, goes further, discussing how passion, courage, and confidence can give you the strength to find your purpose...and then find more money. He'll also talk about mentoring, his new album, and more, on today's show.

Bitcoin is back in our headline segment again, as people are financing their house to jump into the deep end on block chain investments. Should you cash in everything and put it in bitcoin? We'll discuss. Plus, we'll tackle how a "min-Madoff" escaped from prison, and also how you can protect yourself from a Madoff-like scandal.

Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line, share some amazing trivia from Steve, who's filling in for a mysteriously (and suspiciously) missing Doug.

Special thanks to M1Finance for supporting our show. M1Finance is now FREE! Congrats to the team at M1 for that big announcement last week.

Thanks also to our friends at HelloFresh for sponsoring the podcast. Receive $30 off your first week of deliveries when you go to HelloFresh.com and use the offer code stacking30.

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Why is Madonna Flying Coach? Plus, Other Important Questions (with an intro to Point) Dec 15, 2017

Wait, who? Why is Madonna flying coach? Why would YOU fly coach if you had the money to afford better? We'll talk about that on today's show! Plus, we'll also discuss

We also talk to Eddie Lim from Point. What happens if you need money, but all you have available is the equity from your home? Point was created to try and solve that problem. Eddie today comes down to the basement to tell us why in an age when 50% of homeowners can't get government loans, they still can access the money in their homes to solve financial issues.

That's not all....we also ship you some free trivia from Doug, ship some answers to your questions on our wrong number voicemail AND also ship you some answers to letters....

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

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How We Nearly Lost $90k Buying Our House (with Taylor Schulte) Dec 13, 2017

Taylor Schulte, CFP and his spouse saved over six figures for their dream home, only to find that all of their hard work nearly meant nothing. What went wrong with their real estate transaction? What could you learn from their situation? Taylor shares not only the painful details of his transaction but also important lessons on today's show.

Of course, this is a Stacking Benjamins podcast episode, so that ain't all. In our headlines segment, we'll talk about a BIG mistake made by a popular celebrity. Lessons from John Cena being reportedly sued by Ford? We'll share how it affects your money. Plus, we'll also detail how much money parents spend on adult children. Is it enough? We podcast from our mom's basement, so we'll let you decide....

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Anon, who wonders how to get out of a sticky situation involving a 401k loan, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database AND their SPECIAL DEAL through 12/31) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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How To Save Using Bonds, Pay Bitcoin Taxes, and Set Great Goals: Your Letters Dec 10, 2017

Today the star of the show is YOU! We're answering your questions about the right way to invest in bonds (that'll go well), goal setting, retirement plan over-contributions, and more! Plus, we'll answer a call from Leo, who tried to play OG and Joe against each other (that'll ALSO go well), with questions about real estate and investing. We'll share tips on networking, bond mutual funds, equations to determine your risk tolerance and long term goals, and more.

In our headlines segment, we discuss Green Monday (we didn't even know what the hell green Monday WAS until we read this piece....), plus share some tips from FICO to keep your identity safe while you're shopping, using ATMs, and generally banking. Plus, with the HUGE run up in Bitcoin we detail news about the IRS focusing attention on Bitcoin profits. Just cash in on the big Bitcoin craze? You'll want to listen to today's episode.

Plus we'll throw out the Haven Life line, share some amazing trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance for supporting our show. Use code "stackingbenjamins" and your first year's fee is waived.

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Is Shopping Online Really Cheaper? (plus an intro to Goalsetter.co) Dec 08, 2017

A new study about online shopping yields surprising results: the allure of cheaper online products might not be as compelling as shopping at traditional retailers. Should you change your shopping habits? We'll dig in to this topic with Paula Pant and special guest Chris Costello from 401k allocation experts Blooom. Plus we'll also tackle automation in finance. Are all of these lower fees across the board for investors fantastic innovation or do lower fees encourage investors to move more frequently than they should and ruin their results? Our contributors will weigh in with great (and surprising) opinions.

We'll also talk to Tanya VanCourt from Goalsetter.co. Tired of your children receiving gifts that will pile up alongside other unplayed-with toys? How about the gift of financial education. In time for the holidays, Tanya explains how Goalsetter works and tells stories about helping her own children learn about money and financial responsibility.

Besides that, we'll answer some questions from listeners, one via voicemail from Mike, who's planning on going back to school soon. Should he ditch his 401k plan? Our team will weigh in. Plus we'll answer another question AND we'll also bring Doug's trivia down to the basement and serve it up....this week in story problem form.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins.

Thanks to Harry's for supporting our channel. To get a limited-edition holiday shave set while supplies last, go to Harrys.com/SB.

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Rock Retirement (with Roger Whitney) Dec 06, 2017

Haven't thought much about your retirement? Wondering how to more creatively plan for either FIRE or a normal retirement? We're excited to share the insights of Roger Whitney, CFP, AKA the Retirement Answer Man. He'll talk about being more aggressive in your planning, why old planning methods don't work, and how to attack your retirement plan more boldly than you'd ever thought possible.

In our headlines segment, we'll talk about saving at the grocery store. Not into clipping coupons? Kiplinger recently published a piece with LOADS of tips to help you save money on your next grocery bill. We'll talk about the store entrance, how to comparison shop, and what NOT to buy while shopping. Also, we'll detail the story of a wedding photographer who niched down far enough to stand out in a crowded market. Hoping to score bigger with your main job or side gig? This story's for you.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener John, who wonders about selling a major company's stock, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database AND their SPECIAL DEAL through 12/31) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show.

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Build Wealth Faster (with David Osborn and Paul Morris) Dec 04, 2017

Not sure how to manage your life so that you make money faster? David Osborn and Paul Morris are two men who know how to make PILES of money right now. They'll talk about how to avoid money traps and how to accelerate your earning potential on today's podcast.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Derrick. She wants to get into the real estate market and is thinking about using a self-directed IRA. Is this a smart path to go down?He wonders about taxes. His spouse has started a side income job. Should they itemize their taxes or still take the standard deduction? Then we answer a letter from Ashley, who's wondering about life insurance. Should they keep putting money toward their whole life policy or cancel it?

Special thanks to M1Finance and Harry's for sponsoring our show! Want deals? Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance. To get a limited-edition holiday shave set while supplies last, go to Harrys.com/[SB]

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Is Buying Insurance For Phones or Trips Worth The Cost? (plus an intro to Pluto) Dec 01, 2017

We wonder out loud....is buying that insurance that comes with your new phone worth it? Is the insurance for your next vacation worth it? How about insurance on a concert or your rental car? We'll ask that question and answer it on today's show! But that's not all. We'll also talk about delays to the new fiduciary rule. What does the delay of this rule mean to your wallet? Better yet...did you know that there WAS a new fiduciary rule? We'll explain.

We'll also talk to Tim Yu from Pluto about gamifying you financial goals. What if there were an app out there that would analyze your spending patterns and savings goals, and then recommend challenges to help you save more and spend less? What if we told you this app already existed? We'll talk to Tim about how the Pluto app works and how to turn your goals into actionable solutions you're saving for, without hardly thinking about it.

Besides that, we'll answer some questions from listeners, one via voicemail from Michelle from Oklahoma, whose daughters need to save some money. How does she help make that a reality? Our team will weigh in. Plus we'll answer another question AND we'll also bring Doug's trivia down to the basement and serve it up....

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins.

Thanks to Casper for supporting our channel. Save $50 on a mattress at http://www.casper.com/stacking code stacking.

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Holiday Parties That Won't Break The Bank (with Jenni Bost) Nov 29, 2017

Hosting a holiday party? Invited to one? Either way, we've got you covered (as we do every year here on the show!). On our annual holiday party episode, we're joined by party planner extraordinaire Jenni Bost from AWellCraftedParty.com, who'll share fantastic tips on decorations, food, and entertainment when you're hosting a party. She'll also share tips if you're asked to attend a party.

In our headlines segment, we'll talk about buying a car. Looking to buy used? A new USA Today piece says that in this current environment you shouldn't rule out the new car lot. We'll explain the advantages on today's show. Also, it looks like companies aren't buying back shares as quickly as they've been in the past. Instead, they're gearing up for mergers and capital expenditures. What does that mean? How does it affect your investments? We'll explain.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Kyle, who wonders about the moral implications of credit cards, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database AND their SPECIAL DEAL through 12/31) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Chase Purpose, Not Money (with Patrice Washington) Nov 27, 2017

If you don't know where you want to go, how do you know what to do with your money? Patrice Washington has spent LOTS of time coaching individuals on handling money better, but realized that something was missing....and that was purpose. She'll talk about finding fulfillment in her own life and teaching other people to find fulfillment also. We'll share techniques on how to chase purpose so that you can better handle your money (and live a more purposeful life) on today's show.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Angela. She wants to get into the real estate market and is thinking about using a self-directed IRA. Is this a smart path to go down? Then we answer a letter from Alex, who needs some advice on how to set up a trust for her special needs son. What can she do to make sure he will be taken care of?

Special thanks to M1Finance and Casper for sponsoring our show! Want deals? Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance. To score a deal on Casper, use offer code "stacking" through out link and get $50 off your mattress purchase. A word of caution: we aren't responsible if you're late to work next Monday because the mattress was too comfortable.

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Top 5 Games To Learn About Money and Economics (with Mark Johnson and Paul Vasey) Nov 24, 2017

Want great ways to help learn about money and finance? We'll share five ideas on today's show, from the floor of BoardGameGeek.con convention in Dallas, Texas. Joe sits down with Mark Johnson from the Board Games To Go podcast, and they also answer listener questions about games. You'll find some great, inexpensive fun ideas for the holidays on today's podcast.

We also talk to Paul Vasey from Cash Crunch Games about his newest product: Cash Crunch Senior. We'll talk about these games created by a teacher to help students grasp money and budgeting concepts, as well.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Thanks also to HelloFresh.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Receive $30 off your first week of deliveries when you go to HelloFresh.com and use the offer code stacking30.

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Hot Black Friday Tech Deals (with CNET's Bridget Carey) Nov 22, 2017

Wondering where you'll score the hottest deals in tech this holiday season? Bridget Caret, Senior Editor at CNET joins us in the basement to share news on drones, televisions, game systems, home speakers, lights, wearables, and more. She'll not only share the BEST holiday items, but also help you navigate away from a few hot devices that might not end up being the big savings you're hoping to score at the store this Black Friday.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we discuss news about a politician who's lying about his net worth. Why is this important? Why would someone lie about how much money they have? What does it have to do with YOUR money? We'll share. Also, we'll reveal which retailer this holiday season is selling WAY over the top merchandise. Need a gift for the person who has everything AND want to spend WAY too much money on it? We've got you covered.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Kate, who wonders what to do with some company stock, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database AND their SPECIAL DEAL through 12/31) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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How To Make $8 Million Shopping At Walmart (PLUS our Hot Black Friday Deals Episode!) Nov 19, 2017

How about making $8 MILLION dollars reselling products already found in stores? That's how one man's making money in our headlines segment today. It sounds fantastic until you hear the details. In our second headline we wonder out loud, "Why don't we ever see special rates or sales on life insurance?" Yaron Ben-Zvi from Haven Life joins us to answer that question and share with us more about what's going on in the life insurance industry.

But the star of today's show is Brent Shelton from BFAds.net, who'll help us dig in to the deals coming this Black Friday. Hoping to score that unique gift? We'll talk about how this Black Friday will compare to those of former years, where you'll find some of the biggest and quirkiest deals and the biggest door busters. Plus, we'll outline how to plan so you don't get taken for a ride that sounds like a "great deal" but really is the same ol' price you'd pay any other day of the year. You'll hear about everything Star Wars, duck blinds for the office, front yard inflatables, toys, and of course, cars that even the kids can drive.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Doug, who's hoping to use a 529 plan for himself to take classes on cruise ships or vacations. Can you do this? We'll answer his question and talk about the possibility of a Stacking Benjamins cruise in the future...and just how ugly that might end up. Then we answer a letter from Nancy who wonders about paying off credit cards or investing for retirement. Which is the first priority?

Special thanks to M1Finance and Hello Fresh for sponsoring our show! Want deals? Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance on their site while signing up.

To grab a deal on Hello Fresh, use offer code "Stacking30" at their site for $30 off your first week of deliveries. Mom thanks you for helping her with dinner!

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Should I Take a Longer Mortgage to Pay For College? (plus an intro to declutter) Nov 17, 2017

Our listener call today is about mortgages. Is it better to take out a mortgage for law school or find another way? Our panel weighs in on this and of course, they don't agree. Devin Carroll from the Big Picture Retirement podcast joins in the fun this week to help not only answer listener questions about college planning, but also to help with our headlines and take part in our trivia segment.

In our headlines segment, we talk about Halloween candy. One dentist recommends forcing kids to sell their candy for money. Is this a great way to teach kids about saving and give them cleaner teeth? Also, we discuss the tiny house trend. Is this a fad, a niche, or the wave of the future? One piece we focus on this week seems to think it might be the next big trend....

Also, in our special guest spot, we'll talk about declutter! If you're wading in old CDs, books, video games, DVDs or electronics, this "lazy man's eBay" might be for you. Want a way to make money and also declutter the house? We'll dive into that today!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and Harry's for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Free Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/SB.

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Buying Low Cost Real Estate (with Lisa Phillips) Nov 15, 2017

Lisa Phillips made some BIG mistakes when she first invested in real estate. Yet, different from many people, who give up after only one or two attempts, Lisa kept the mind of a scientist and tried different ways of investing until she finally found one that worked for her....low cost real estate. She'll describe her methods on today's show. Regardless of whether you're hoping to buy low cost housing or follow a more traditional route, Lisa will share ideas that'll help you get started on today's podcast!

Plus, in our headlines segment, Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index joins us to talk about online chatter and investments. Especially interesting this month? Social media seems to be abuzz about SNAP. More on that in today's episode. Plus, we'll tackle a headline about the CEO of Blackrock suggesting that companies should turn investing into more of a game to attract millennials. Do you think so? We'll find out what Joe & OG think....

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Annie, who calls in all the way from Australia, asking about financial independence. If she and her boyfriend are slated to reach FI at different times, are there some ways she can catch up? Should she even try? If not, are there other strategies she should pursue? Plus, we'll answer a letter from a listener and still leave time for Doug's trivia.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Jamie Wise Buzz November Nov 15, 2017

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From $52,000 In Debt To Early Retirement (with Deacon Hayes) Nov 13, 2017

Thinking about retiring early but you're stuck in neutral with your debt? Maybe it's time to change your money habits. Deacon Hayes (recent winner of the Plutus' Blog Of The Year award), joins us to tell his personal "getting his money act together" story, that YOU can also use to get out of debt and start on your road to early retirement. Then we talk about retiring early, the topic of his new book. From investing in stocks to real estate and business, we cover MANY avenues you can use to work like Deacon, who's on a path to financial independence in his early 40's.

In our headline segment today we'll tackle a story about an icon who just sold nine figures worth of stock. What does this have to do with your portfolio and investments? It has a LOT to do with you, if you're accumulating stock in a single company. We'll also detail a recent shopping trend. How much has online shopping overtaken the Black Friday experience? What does this mean for your holiday shopping this year? We'll discuss it on today's show.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, answer a listener letter, and also try to answer a tough trivia question from Doug. That's just the beginning of the fun we're having on today's Stacking Benjamins podcast!

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance!

Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Free Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/SB

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Skipping College, Frugality, Early Retirement and Side Hustles: The People of FinCon 2017 Nov 10, 2017

What's your money story? Today we hear fantastic stories from the phenomenal people who attend FinCon...and man, did they not disappoint. The only rule was that we couldn't know who they were ahead of time. So today we met Felicity, who tells us some great lessons about pets, real estate, and more....then we talk to Geeta, who's a high schooler on a WAY different path than most people toward financial independence. Think there's only the college path toward retirement? Geeta will give you a MUCH different approach than most kids.

Then we talk to Yinan Du from Beam. Everyone's asking, "How does Beam offer such high interest rates when banks are offering\low rates?" He answers this question AND how Beam operates on today's show.

Then we return to the FinCon from to talk to Chris from KeepThrifty. His family moved from a spacious big home to a tiny house. Why? How? He'll explain on today's show (he quit his job recently also...how's he going to afford that?). Finally we talk to financial analyst Dedra Shores, who works with individuals and small business owners to help them decipher their money situation. What SHOULD keep people up at night? Dedra fills us in.

It was SO fun meeting these random people at FinCon '17....they have great stories and I can't wait for you to hear them.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn-dot-com-slash-sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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David Bach Joins Us Live From FinCon '17 Nov 08, 2017

Ever wonder what financial mistakes your favorite financial gurus have made? Seven time New York Times bestselling author David Bach joins us (Automatic Millionaire, Smart Women Finish Rich) and shares his financial horror stories about credit cards and early life money problems. Plus, he'll tell true stories about borrowing money from his children, asking his dad for money help, and more!

In our headlines segment, we discuss the recently deceased lead singer of Linkin Park's will. What should you include in your will? David Bach will help Joe & OG with the answer. We'll also tackle a headline about sharing. When is it okay to share your salary with others? Not surprisingly, your age seems to be a factor in your answer to that question.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to a few lucky listeners in our live audience. We answer questions about stock market risk, life insurance, and paying down your mortgage.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show.

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Rocking Work, Family AND Your Money (with Emma Johnson) Nov 06, 2017

Emma Johnson was dependent on her husband's income when her marriage fell apart. Left with two young children and little income, she had to learn how to put her financial house in order in a hurry. We'll talk about how she did it on today's show, plus we'll . She realized quickly that she had to become financially independent in a hurry.

In our headline segment today we'll tackle the current legislation heading through Congress. Reports suggested that pre-tax 401(k) plans were in the crosshairs. Did they survive? Also, Brynne from FemmeFrugality.com joins us to talk about PTSD and investing. While it's often seen as an affliction of those who've served in the military, that's only about 20 percent of all PTSD cases. We talk about the issues around PTSD including goal setting, risk, identifying that you have it, and how to get treatment.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Scott, who asks about some advice he received from an advisor recently. Do we think that this advisor gave him good advice when she said he should hold off on investing in stocks until valuations lower. Then we answer a letter from a listener who asks about long term care. What do you need to know? It's an important topic and I'm glad we can discuss it on today's podcast.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance.

Thanks also to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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Investing 101 With Ellie Kay (SB RWD 68) Nov 03, 2017

America’s family financial expert Ellie Kay joins us in the basement with investing tips for beginners. Forget all of the jargon….where do you start?

PK from DQYDJ.net drops by to review yet another dumb article found on the internet (who knew there’d be someone saying NOT to invest while you’re in your 20s….). Joe & OG share headlines, and more.

This show originally aired in 2015! Hope you enjoy it. See you back on Monday with a new episode of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

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Special Episode: Suze Orman Nov 01, 2017

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Investing Horror Stories with Chad Smith (SB RWD 67) Nov 01, 2017

Even though yesterday was Halloween, we continue our trek through a graveyard-worth of scary financial stories. On Monday the Fintern brought us the "Top 5 Scariest Investing Tales with Rick Ferri." It was only fitting to keep the Halloween trend going with last year's holiday special, 5 Tales of Financial Horror with CFP Chad Smith. Here's the original description of the show:

What money bumps keep you awake at night? Certified Financial Planner Chad Smith knows. On our very special Halloween episode, he reveals FIVE movie-themed horrors and the strategies it'll take to face your fear.

In our headline segment the guys contemplate NOT paying off your mortgage early. When is that a good idea? Also, we answer a hotline call from Richie about HSAs and a letter from Russell about investing in the FOREX exchange. Is it a good idea to trade the FOREX?

Of course, like always, there's LOTS more fun on today's show....as we keep the Halloween fun alive for one more day!

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Top 5 Investing Horror Stories with Rick Ferri (SB RWD 66) Oct 30, 2017

What's more spooky than an investing story gone wrong? Nothing, if we're talking about your net worth. Today Griffin the Intern (AKA the "Fintern") rewinds to the episode when Rick Ferri dropped by the basement and scared us silly with some absolutely HORRIBLE investing stories.

Original show notes:

Blood curling tales of horror from CFA Rick Ferri on today's show, as he shares his top 5 investing horror stories.

Nick Clements from MagnifyMoney.com also joins in the fun to talk about our recent discussions around technology and pricing structures. Will we see banking get cheaper?

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Invest or Pay Down Your Mortgage? (and an intro to HoneyFi) Oct 27, 2017

It's an age old question...pay off debt or invest? While we could wax philosophical about which is the right approach, on today's show we answer a question from a listener about a specific question around this topic. He and his family have a mortgage, but also need more savings for retirement. Which is the right approach for him?

In our headlines segment we'll discuss bad breakups. Should you dive in to "retail therapy" when things go wrong? Statistically, that's what LOTS of us apparently do. We'll also answer a question about freezing your credit from Glen. He's applying for a job and wondering if he should go ahead and freeze his credit or if he should leave it open for when his company completes the inevitable credit check.

Also, in our special guest spot, we'll talk about HoneyFi! If you're in a relationship and want a financial app that's been designed from the ground up, you'll want to listen to today's featured FinTech segment.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn-dot-com-slash-sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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Investing, Data, and Better Decisions (with Stuart Kruse and Sean Brown) Oct 25, 2017

Ever make a financial move because someone else told you it was a good idea and it turned out poorly? Maybe you already apply data to your decisions, but what if it could be better? Today our guests, Stuart Kruse and Sean Brown are both advocates of applying better data to your investing decisions, and we'll discuss how to make that work.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we FINALLY hear Joe and OG have a knock down drag out argument about a new Canadian mortgage lending law. Is it a good idea? You'll hear the guys brutal argument on the topic today. Also, we'll discuss how the USA ranks against other countries when it comes to mutual fund disclosures and regulations. What can you learn from a mutual fund prospectus? We'll tackle that, too....

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Ben, who wonders if he's paying too much in investment management fees, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Robots, Your Job, and Investing (with Bill Studebaker) Oct 23, 2017

We've heard the stories: robots and artificial intelligence are coming to steal our jobs and make us obsolete. Bill Studebaker from ROBO Global has a different outlook. What if automation is going to help us all move faster? We'll talk to Bill about investing in AI in our portfolios and how the new world of work will look in the future as robots help us move the productivity needle even further.

In our headline segment today we'll tackle a story about a celebrity who had well over a million dollars stolen from him AND another about students who've left billions of dollars in free money on the table. How do you avoid losing out on free money? What could the celebrity have done better to avoid being ripped off? We'll share tips for both of those scenarios on today's podcast.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Hillary. She's wondering if maybe she can pay her student loans off faster if she puts extra money into a mutual fund instead of directly toward the loan. Is the risk worth the chance of a higher interest rate and then a faster payoff? Then we answer a letter from Alex who wonders if he should continue saving after tax money into his rollover IRA. We'll have LOTS of tips for Alex and anyone else who's thought about trying this strategy.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! Use our "stackingbenjamins" code to score a free year of M1Finance.

Thanks also to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn.com/SB and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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Finding Benjamins RAW Warning.output Oct 20, 2017

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What Can We Change To Invest Better? (with an intro to Hoot) Oct 20, 2017

Did your family automatically save when you were growing up? Joe's family didn't. How were you raised? If your family didn't talk about money, don't worry, because we'll give you TONS of great ideas to start your family on the savings path. Today we'll talk about the envelope system and others that have worked for our panelists.... speaking of....today we have a GREAT group of contributors, including Sandy Waters, from the Seven Figures podcast, and Deacon Hayes, from The Well Kept Wallet blog and podcast.

We'll also answer a wrong number that luckily ended up on mom's voicemail from Tyler, and also take a letter from Chris....great times on this show!

Also, in our special guest spot, we'll talk about Hoot! This is a banking app and awesome debit card all mixed into one. We're excited to be ahead of the game on their launch. Want to save some money on the launch? Here's the link.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn-dot-com-slash-sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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From Rat Race To Retired At Age 37 (with Chris Reining) Oct 18, 2017

Ever think that you're trapped in the rat race and can't save? Chris Reining had a car payment of over $500 a month and a condo that sucked much of his monthly income away...and yet he found a way to retire at age 37. How did he do it? We'll talk to him about the details today, but it involves making little moves over time, keeping track of details, and forming a budget that helped him put more money into investments.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we discuss parents who buy homes for their children. If you have kids, should you refinance your home so that your children can afford their new house in a hot real estate market? Does it make sense to bid up a property at all in a hot real estate market? We'll discuss that PLUS talk about more unbelievable news out of Equifax.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Thomas, who wonders about how he should manage the money in his retirement fund, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show.

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Should I Move My 401k to a Roth IRA? (Your Letters) Oct 16, 2017

You have money in an old 401k and would prefer to have that money in your Roth IRA. Should you make that move? How do you accomplish that goal? That's one of the many letters we tackle on today's podcast! We'll also talk about investing in other countries, differences in investing for men and women, talk through how pensions work, and much more. Our listener letters are always some of our most entertaining and wide-ranging episodes, and you don't disappoint today.

A superstar is in trouble with a credit card company. We'll share strategies to help you handle YOUR debt a little less "fancy" than this singer. Also, we'll talk about some big news for baby boomers, throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some hair-raising trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance for supporting our show. Use code "stackingbenjamins" and your first year's fee is waived.

Thanks to LinkedIn for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to LinkedIn-dot-com-slash-sb and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

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How My Side Hustle Cost Me $2,000 (with last minute tax tips from Craig Cody) Oct 13, 2017

What do you do when you find out that your side hustle is actually COSTING you money? One Lyft driver found out that he was down $2,000 because of one EASY oversight. What oversights are costing you money? We'll ask that question and much more on today's show!

In our headline segment, Craig Cody will help us with the looming October 16th tax filing deadline. What do you need to know to save as much money as possible? What do you do if you can't file on time? What if you don't have the money to file your taxes? Craig will answer ALL of these questions PLUS answer your questions about last minute filing issues on today's show. , we talk to the founders of the new hot homeowners insurance app Hippo. How do you create better insurance in an

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Buzz Indexes October 2017 Oct 11, 2017

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Which of Your Friends Will Live Longest? (with Matt Wolf) Oct 11, 2017

Want to know which of your friends is healthiest? Ask an actuary how much they're going to charge them for life insurance. Matt Wolf, an actuary for Haven Life Insurance Agency, joins us on today's show to talk about how insurances are priced. Think an insurance company is ripping you off? Matt will explain how pricing works so you'll have a better idea about all the things that go into deciding how much you'll pay. Even more important? You'll be able to better understand how insurance works so you'll be able to better insure yourself and avoid types that are really wastes of your money. Even more, you'll understand how insurance decisions are very different depending on your age, assets, and family situation.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we discuss another 401k lawsuit. How does this change the way you save for retirement? Should it change the way you save for retirement at all? Also, we'll talk to our social media correspondent, Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index (ticker: BUZ). What's going on with financial stocks, Domino's Pizza and biotech? We'll cover all of that and more.

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Rachel, who wonders about stuffing more money into savings, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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How She Earned Over $120,000 in Scholarships (with Jocelyn Paonita) Oct 09, 2017

When college looked unaffordable for Jocelyn Paonita, she sprang into action and raised over $120,000 in scholarships. How did she score so much money? What was her system? We'll discuss all of that on today's show. Whether you have a child headed to college, in school, in college yourself, or just looking for a story about someone taking massive action to solve their problem.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Trey. He's buying a house and is worried about the recent credit hack. Should he freeze his credit, only to open it again nearly immediately? Plus we'll answer a letter from Michelle, who wonders how to set and prioritize goals.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Big Picture Retirement podcast for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Early Retirement (plus Kathryn Minshew from TheMuse.com) Oct 06, 2017

Are there more pros or cons to retiring early? A new Investopedia piece says there are definitely more cons than pros. Does our roundtable team agree? We kick off today's show by asking them, and man, are Paula, Greg and Colton opinionated! We don't stop with a raucous discussion about retirement, though...we then ask the question, "Can you 1% your way to your goals?" Not sure what we're referring to? We'll explain. Finally, when it comes time for Halloween, how do you dress as a money nerd? We'll ask for our roundtable team's hard-hitting opinions.

In our Friday career segment, we talk to Kathryn Minshew, CEO of TheMuse.com and co-author of the New Rules of Work about personal branding. How do you ensure that you're able to put your best foot forward online and offline? We'll have details on today's show!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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SPECIAL: The 8th Annual Plutus Awards Finalists Reveal Oct 05, 2017

Today we've donned the tuxedos (well, actually the tee-shirts that make it look like we're wearing a tuxedo), because we have the honor of announcing the finalists for the Plutus Awards! At the top of the show we're joined by Mr. Plutus Awards himself, Harlan Landes, and also his partner at Adulting.tv, Miranda Marquit. They'll run down the full slate of winners, from Best Investing Blog to Best New Podcast, to the big one...Blog Of The Year.

But what awards reveal is complete without a little gossip - uhh, discussion - about the finalists? We've invited three friends to talk about their favorites. Kara Perez from BravelyGo.co, Eric Rosenberg of Personal Profitability podcast and blog fame, and Robert Farrington from The College Investor blog join in the fun. We'll pick through about half of the categories and share some of our favorites. If you're interested at all in personal finance media, today is a great show for you to learn about new blogs, video and podcasts for your reading, viewing, and listening pleasure.

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A Rebel and a People Pleaser Walk Into a Bar (with Gretchen Rubin) Oct 04, 2017

If you want to make money, reading and understanding other people can be a huge key to success. Better yet? Talking to them on their terms instead of your own can ensure that your conversation doesn't get lost in unnecessary noise. New York Times bestselling author Gretchen Rubin joins us to talk about the four tendencies. People tend to speak and think in one of four ways, and Gretchen shares how you can quickly turn your discussion toward these tendencies to facilitate easier and more effective discussions and communication.

Plus, in our headlines segment, we discuss a cool new company that's asking people to participate in the sharing economy in exchange for down payment help on a house. Would you take part? We'll explain it on today's show. Also, we'll tackle things clients say that make financial advisors cringe. Do things YOU say make the list?

We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Matt Wolf - Raw Oct 03, 2017

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Top 5 Ways To Be Awesome At Your Job (with Pete Mockaitis) Oct 02, 2017

How can you earn more? What if you were more awesome at your job? Host of the hit podcast How To Be Awesome At Your Job, Pete Mockaitis, joins us in the basement to talk workplace best practices. We haven't done a top five episode in some time, so we're going to count down Pete's five favorite messages that guests of his show have shared. We'll talk about everything from productivity to planning, and TONS of ways to excel at your job on today's podcast!

In our headline segment, we share a recent survey from HealthPocket.com asking, "How much can you afford out-of-pocket for health care?" The answer will amaze you. We also tackle the recent step down of the Equifax CEO. What does that have to do with your money? Well, we share some tips if your job goes away AND also crack a few password jokes....

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to JiEun, who wonders whether the Stacking Benjamins courses are only geared for people in the USA (spoiler: it depends on the course). Plus we'll answer a letter from Wiggles, who wonders out loud why people worry so much about penalties on 529 plans.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Big Picture Retirement podcast for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Stretching Your Money To Buy BIG Dreams (plus an intro to Hippo) Sep 29, 2017

When is it okay to leverage your financial life to afford that dream item? We'll talk about how the new Houston Rockets owner paid a HUGE premium to afford an NBA team and what that might have to do with YOUR financial picture. Plus, we'll also tackle loneliness and the ties to riches. Are more wealthy people more likely to be lonely? A recent study says that rich people ARE more likely to be lonely. We ask our panel if being wealthy means that y0u're destined to a life that's just surrounded by money and less human interaction.

In our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to the founders of the new hot homeowners insurance app Hippo. How do you create better insurance in an area where the margins are already thin? Create better insurance AND economies of scale of by using automation and science. We'll explain in today's episode.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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How To Invest a Windfall (Your Letters) Sep 27, 2017

You inherit some money. Now how do you invest it conservatively so it doesn't disappear? You want to be responsible and you don't want to make a mistake. Plus, there are so many options available when you're investing...how do you determine what's right? We'll address not only that, but we'll also field a question about Motif investing, how to deal with an unresponsive advisor, and more. Our listener letters are always some of our most entertaining and wide-ranging episodes, and you don't disappoint today.

Of course, we also have headlines ripped from the biggest news sources in financial planning, throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some hair-raising trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to Roofstock and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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Live, Save, Spend, Repeat (with Kim Anderson) Sep 25, 2017

What do you do when things seem to be going well in your life, but none of it is what you want? You pivot, and then you adjust your financial life. That's what happened in Kim Anderson's life, not once, but...we'll let her tell the story on today's show?

We also will discuss headlines about how wealthy people think about money. Do you share these traits? Also, we'll tackle a new rule around medical bills and credit. What happens when you have overdue medical bills? Now you'll be able to fight harder to have your credit restored. You'll want to hear about all of these rule changes on today's show.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Alan, who wonders about the rule of 72. How can you use it for better planning? Plus we'll answer a letter from Ryan, whose parents want him to help advise them about financial decisions. Should he do it?

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Buzz Indexes August 2017 Sep 22, 2017

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LOTS of Ways To Take Control Of Your Money (with an intro to Ask.Vet) Sep 22, 2017

We all want to have better control with our money. Whether you're handling some stuff well and need a couple hints OR you feel like you're bleeding Benjamins, today we have the right topic for you. Mrs. Adventure Rich from the AdventureRich.com blog joins us to talk about a Clark Howard article with LOTS of tips to take control of your money. Plus we'll also discuss flipping your financial focus AND what lessons we should tell our future self.

In our Friday FinTech segment, we discuss Ask.vet. Many of us have a hard enough time handling our own doctor visits, premiums, and deductibles. Healthcare is one of the biggest factors we have to keep in mind as we plan for retirement. So, where do pets factor in all of the mess? To help clear out some of the fog, and make taking care of the family pets more affordable, we're calling Dr. Cherice Roth. You might be a bit surprised at which animals rack up the biggest vet bills.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Get The Memo On Saving Money (with John Hope Bryant) Sep 20, 2017

How come other people are wealthy and you aren't? John Hope Bryant believes that for many people, it's because they didn't come from the right neighborhoods, have the right friends, or were born into the right family. They didn't get "the memo" on how to become rich. Yet, Bryant says, that isn't an excuse, and it's up to YOU to change your life to achieve the financial freedom you want. If you're looking to be inspired, today's podcast is for you.

Plus, we'll also share headlines from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check out their massive real estate database) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Give Yourself The Gift of "Finished" (with Jon Acuff) Sep 18, 2017

Why is it that we start projects (like our big plans for financial independence) but never finish? New York Times bestselling author Jon Acuff has experienced the setbacks that come with failing to complete tasks in his own life, starting project after project and leaving them abandoned. He studied the reasons people stop before reaching their goals and now comes down to the basement to share with us how to complete tasks, even when you think there's very little chance you'll get them done. Also, we'll bring you important updates about the Equifax data breach, including two places you should freeze your credit that you may not have considered.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to April, who asks about identity fraud, feature some trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Do I Really Need To Save That Much? (plus career advice from TheMuse.com CEO Kathryn Minshew) Sep 15, 2017

Our all-star cast today wonders out loud whether you need to actually save as much as the popular press says you need to save. Plus, they also ask whether you should pay down your debt the mathematically correct way or maybe use a method that fits with your emotions....

On today's show we have a talented and fun lineup of guests including writer Alaina Tweddale, USA Today columnist Pete The Planner, and award-winning financial app creator Eric Nissan (DIY.fund).

But of course, that's not all. At the halfway mark of today's show we'll help you with your career with advice from TheMuse.com Kathryn Minshew. Worried about networking and meeting the right people? We'll give you tips to help your career (and not damage it) on today's show.

Big thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show!

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Change Your Life, Change Your Money (with Cortney McDermott) Sep 13, 2017

Where do you start when planning your money? Cortney McDermott, author of one of this year's hottest self help and business books, joins us in the basement talk about starting out. If you don't know what you want, how do you know where to go? Yet, most of us don't ask ourselves the right questions to even begin the journey.

Plus, we'll also share headlines from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check them out for real estate) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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What Do We Think Of No-Fee Brokerage Accounts? (Your Letters) Sep 11, 2017

As fees lower on brokerage accounts so do services. So, is a no-fee brokerage account right for you? We'll talk about brokerage services and a ton more on today's letters episode...along with a ton of your letters on many, many topics.

Of course, we also have headlines ripped from the biggest news sources in financial planning, throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some hair-raising trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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Lessons From Top Money Podcasters (and an intro to RentReporters) Sep 08, 2017

We line up three top financial podcasters on today's show and ask them one simple question: what is your audience worried about? We're live from the FinCon booth in the expo hall at Podcast Movement 2017 for this wide ranging, fun discussion. We'll talk debt, financial markets, real estate, and more on today's podcast.

In our Friday FinTech segment, Mark DaBell will take us on a tour of RentReporters. If you have a long history of paying rent, why not add this to your credit report? Rent Reporters can help renters build credit in a hurry. He'll show you how today.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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If You're Broke, Fix It (with Douglas and Heather Boneparth) Sep 06, 2017

Doug and Heather Boneparth have made their share of money mistakes. From spending too much money on a great ride to forking over WAY too much money on college, they have some great stories about how NOT to work your money. BUT they also couple those with some amazing tips about the right way to handle your cash, and they bring a wheelbarrow full of tips down to the basement today to share with you....

Of course, because we're the greatest money show on earth (ie: a circus....), we can't stop there. We'll share headlines about a popular sea food chain closing a BUNCH of restaurants AND about what retirement plan participants did with their money this summer. You'll be surprised by BOTH headlines.... Plus we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener, answer your emails, and much more.

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check them out for real estate) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Squeezing More From Your College Savings Plans Sep 04, 2017

According to MyCollegeGuide.org, the average cost of tuition in the USA ranges from just over $8,000 for an in-state public experience to a whopping $28,500 for a private school. How do you afford those numbers, and also all of the other costs like room and board, books, and transportation? James DiUlio knows all about college costs and saving for it, so we're happy he's going to tell us about 529 plans. How do they work best, when should you use a 529 plan, what tax breaks should you expect, and how are they different than other college planning vehicles? In our headline segment we talk about people who've labored hard to become millionaires. What are some common traits of the wealthy? We'll share some surprising numbers.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some Labor Day trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

Want to test drive M1Finance? Use code StackingBenjamins when signing up for a FULL year free.... (expires 10/31/17)

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Grasping The Basics of Investing and an Intro to Final (SB RWD 65) Sep 01, 2017

Do you struggle to understand the difference between investing basics? You aren't alone. Often financial pros and veterans use jargon that sounds like they're speaking a different language. Today our roundtable discussion with focus on helping you dive into the pool.

Of course, because it's a roundtable discussion, that's not all! We'll talk about two other topics ripped from financial publication headlines, and in the middle of the show share some new FinTech! Today we talk to Andrew Dietrich from Final, a company figuring out how to innovate in the credit card space.

This is a rewind episode of the Stacking Benjamins show from a year ago. Enjoy!

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Stacking Benjamins In The Sky with Betty Thesky (SB RWD 64) Aug 30, 2017

Some careers seem glamorous, and working for an airline while jet setting around the world might sound near the top. Today Betty Thesky from Betty in the Sky With a Suitcase tells us tales of what REALLY happens when you board a plane. We'll talk investing stories at 30,000 ft., why you don't take Ambien and alcohol together, and much more.

Of course, we'll have financial headlines, answer your letters, and diving into Doug's financial trivia also in this awesome rewind episode of the Stacking Benjamins show.

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The 5 Dumbest Rules of Thumb (SB RWD 63) Aug 27, 2017

We generally detest rules of thumb. Why not just do the actual math...which is generally easier than many people think? We'll take you through our top 5 list today of the times when we think rules of thumb can be the most dangerous.

Of course, it's the Stacking Benjamins show, so that isn't all. There are also headlines, your letters, trivia, and more.

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The Problem With Saying "I'm Broke" (and a Rize update) Aug 25, 2017

To what degree is not having money a mindset? We ask our panel, including guest Whitney Hanson from the Money Nerds podcast Of course, we don't stop there. We also tackle a recent piece about tricking yourself into getting money saved. How do you save more? Play a game of hide and seek.... Finally, we tell some money stories, and as always, they team comes up with some great ones.

In our Friday FinTech segment, Justin Howell, CEO of Rize, a cool goal-setting and savings app, joins us to talk about two HUGE add ons to their app that'll help you make saving more money a breeze. He'll also give away some CASH to people who sign up, because you listened to the show.... See? We even MAKE you money when you listen today.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Battle of the Sexes: Who's the Better Investor? Aug 23, 2017

Are men or women better investors? We'll find out today...but who cares? Regardless, don't you want to emulate the traits of the BEST investors? Alexandra Taussig from Fidelity Investments joins us to share some finding from a new study on the sexes. We'll detail who invests and saves better and throw you some tips that'll turn you into a saving and investing machine.

In our headlines segment we continue the conversation about investing, by focusing on a piece about chasing gains. Feel like your portfolio isn't moving as it should? You probably don't want to make the moves SOME investors are making lately. It could cost you plenty.

Of course that's not all....we STILL have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to Roofstock and MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show and through the years on this show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Rocking and Rolling with Your Money (with Gooding) Aug 21, 2017

What's a rock star and your money have in common? Rocker Gooding is criss-crossing the USA teaching kids financial literacy and today he's talking with us about money lessons and great music. He'll share some great money ideas from non-profit Funding the Future, and also share some of his hit songs.

How up to date is your homeowners against catastrophic losses? ServiceMaster Restore's Pete Dunkanson joins us in our headlines segment to help you tweak your homeowner's coverage so that you're prepared if the worst occurs. Consider yourself a buy-and-hold investor? In our headline segment we discuss a recent Wall Street Journal piece that describes what a down market does to the average "buy and hold" investor. What should you change about your strategy? We'll discuss that!

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some rock and roll trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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How Not To Mess Up Saving For (or Financing) Your Next Car Aug 18, 2017

How do you buy a car? Very carefully! Saving for a car can be a HUGE undertaking....and financing one can be even harder to pull off. Luckily, we have you covered on today's episode! We have car geek Jason Vitug, author of You Only Live Once paired with Elle Martinez from Couple Money and Renee Horne from USAA!

Of course, we don't stop there. We also talk financial security with Jarek Kaplan from OppLoans. How do you get your money FINALLY moving in the right direction? He'll share how his company works to get your credit score moving north in no time....

Thanks to USAA for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Where Financial Planning Goes Wrong (with Jason Mirabella) Aug 16, 2017

Financial planning is often tactical instead of strategic. CFP Jason Mirabella realized just a few years ago that there was a better way to accomplish financial planning, and already he's seen amazing results with clients. How does his process work? Where are people going astray with their plans? We'll talk to Jason all about the good, bad, and ugly of financial planning on today's show. We'll even talk about why he doesn't love budgets, and how he helps people plan their daily finances with a better method.

Of course that's not all....in our headline segment we talk to Tushar Yadava from iShares about Blackrock's second quarter review and third quarter outlook. Do they think this stock market run will continue? Can the economy continue to expand? He shares a surprising answer with us. Plus, we STILL have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to Roofstock (check them out for real estate) and MagnifyMoney.com (when you're comparing financial tools like credit cards and savings accounts) for helping us with today's show. They're awesome companies and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Save More Money By Mastering Your Cash Flow with Al Zdenek Aug 14, 2017

When you ask stock market pros what the key is to a great stock pick, they'll disagree...but MANY will say that "free cash flow" is a huge key toward winning. If it's great for companies, isn't it also great for people? Al Zdenek believes that cash flow is your key to success, and he's here today to share with you how to improve your cash flow so that you're able to

In our headline segment we talk about the hottest mutual funds of the last three years. What do you need to know? Who are the biggest winners? We'll share that AND our opinion..... Plus, it's Social Security day (how are you celebrating?), and we share some horrible news about a new Social Security scam that's sure to make your skin crawl.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some hair-raising trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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5 Strategies To Save $1 Million (with an intro to Go) Aug 11, 2017

How do you save a million dollars (we said in our coolest Austin Powers voice....). We'll discuss a recent online piece that goes over that on our Friday roundtable! Special guest, and Hip Hop's Financial Advisor Rob Wilson joins Paula Pant and Len Penzo in a no-holds-barred conversation on saving more money.

Of course, we don't stop there. We also tackle a recent Time story about millennials. Apparently, ONE trick is helping them save more money. We'll share not only what it is but also additional tricks to save more money. Finally, we review a Moneyologist column question about taking care of a brother's money. If he can't do it himself, how much should sister step in?

In our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to the CEO of GO, a cool app that'll help you more quickly (and by more quickly, we mean WAY more quickly) your car insurance. It's as easy as taking a photo....

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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How Much Have Sandwich Costs Risen? (with Len Penzo) Aug 09, 2017

Hello, sandwich lovers! What better way to talk about the ugliness of inflation than comparing the cost of a sandwich from year to year? Len Penzo every year does exactly that. By comparing the cost of a sandwich, we tackle back to school costs, nutrition, and also the specter of inflation...all in one discussion.

In our headlines segment we talk to Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index (ticker BUZ) about online social media buzz about stocks. LOTS of chatter going on over the last month. We'll talk Netflix, biotech, and more on today's podcast.

Of course that's not all....we STILL have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

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How Do I Invest My 401k? (Your Letters) Aug 07, 2017

401k plans, Roth IRAs, Coverdell IRAs, separately managed accounts, and more. What do they have in common? YOU asked about all of these and more on today's show! Our letters episodes are some of our most downloaded podcasts and today we'll fill empty the mailbag by answering SEVEN of your questions to the podcast.

In our headline segment we kiss the MyRA goodbye. Why did it fail? While we don't know the reason for sure, the guys discuss what might have gone wrong and if you were hoping to use the MyRA, what some great alternatives might be. We also talk to Mike Brown from LendEDU about their recent credit cards and millennials survey. Wait until you see what SOME millennials think happens to your credit score when you miss a payment. You'll be shocked....

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line, feature some hair-raising trivia from Doug, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance and Tiller for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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The 4 Best Ways To Invest (and an intro to Gumdrop) Aug 04, 2017

What are the best ways to invest? In a recent piece, Ramit Sethi (I Will Teach You To Be Rich) detailed what he thinks are the four best starting points for people in their 20's. Are they the best? We're excited that Investment News' 40 Under 40 honoree Eric Roberge joins Paula Pant from Afford Anything and Joe to tackle all four of Ramit's strategies.

Of course, that isn't all. Next we discuss the active vs. passive investment debate. Which is better? A recent piece says that this particular debate isn't the right one to have. Instead, we should talk about what's right for the investor, based on their beliefs and their needs. Do you agree? Does our roundtable agree? You'll find out today!

We finish off our discussion with a rousing debate about another crazy Marketwatch.com Moneyologist question. Today's question? If your boss asks you to take a roommate, should you charge the person rent? ...that's not all of the question, but we get some GREAT answers from our roundtable participants.

In our Friday FinTech segment, JJ Ramberg from Gumdrop joins us. Are you back to school shopping? Searching for great deals? Hoping to also help some charitable causes? We'll show you how Gumdrop works on all of those fronts today!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and FamZoo.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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How She Saved $15,000 a Year Just By Getting Organized Aug 02, 2017

Why aren't you saving more? How about $15,000 a year more? Our guest today just organized her financial picture and saved a TON of money. Anna Davies saved by doing the little things that people talk about all the time. Today's topic isn't about "have you heard it." It's about "have you done it?"

We also have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to Roofstock for helping us with today's show. New to real estate or a seasoned investor looking for a better partner? Check out Roofstock!

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How Bernie Madoff Became the Wizard of Lies (with Diana Henriques) Jul 31, 2017

Bernie Madoff perpetrated the largest scam of investor money in history. How? Today we're thrilled to talk to the author of the book which HBO has now made into a four time Emmy-nominated film, The Wizard Of Lies," Diana Henriques. We'll discuss the scandal, her interactions with Madoff, and what we can learn from this tragedy.

In our headline segment we ask the question, "What happens to your HSA during retirement?" Morningstar asked the same question in a recent article, and the guys review it and discuss many retirement options. We then turn to a recent survey by GenFKD about millennials and homes. Apparently many millennials would like to buy a home but they're fighting an uphill battle. We talk with David Grasso from GenFKD about their findings.

We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Conrad, who's concerned about our new sponsor, and we'll answer a letter from the mailbag.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company.

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Confession: Our Biggest Money Mistakes (plus an intro to Yesterday's Tomorrow) Jul 27, 2017

A big problem that we have at the Stacking Benjamins show is that nobody ever talks about their mistakes. So today....as our final topic, we discuss a BIG financial mistake we've all made. One of us shares a DOOZY. We'll let you listen to hear which one.

We also cover (as we do EVERY Friday), LOTS of other topics, including perks that your company SHOULD offer if they want to keep employees long term, and also

In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Neal Stern from AICPA joins us to talk about a new online game you can play that will teach you the basics of money-making decisions! Yesterday's Tomorrow teaches concepts about life from birth to the grave. You'll learn a lot, and Neal takes us through the game to tell us all about it.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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SB500 5 HUGE Money Lessons from 500 Shows Jul 26, 2017

Sometimes money lessons resonate. After 500 episodes, we've heard LOTS of lessons. Get a 15 year mortgage, get a 30 year mortgage. Pay off your debt faster, THEN save. Pay off debt slowly AND save at the same time. What advice is right? What sticks?

On today's show we'll share what OG and Joe think stuck for them. Our Top 5 episodes have been some of long-time listener favorites, so today we're bringing it back with a special top 5....which 5 lessons from guests and contributors have been the ones that we should ALL remember.

But a big part of today's show comes from YOU. We'll play some of your big wins from the years that we've completed 500 shows. It's AMAZING to us what the people in this community have accomplished. You've paid off incredible amounts of debt, learned to invest, started a savings plan, created a budget...and more importantly? You've achieved some amazing goals, like buying houses, retiring, putting kids through college....we're in awe of your ability to achieve. You inspire us. Thank you!

Of course that's not all....we STILL have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show and through the years on this show. They're an awesome company and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing!

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Jamie_Wise_Buzz_Indexes_July_Appearance Jul 24, 2017

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2 Banks, 1 Hacker, and $50,000 Jul 24, 2017

What would happen if you lost more than $50,000 that was meant for your first home? Shannyn Allen lived that harrowing nightmare and she's going to share the story today. She unknowingly handed a hacker $50,000 , and will share the mistakes that were made around her situation, and will also let you know the steps YOU should take if you're even in a similar situation. It's a raw, horrifying story, and also one of the longest interviews we've done on Stacking Benjamins in a long, long time.

In our headline segment we talk about Beyonce and Jay-Z. It appears they're spending money like they're....Beyonce and Jay-Z. What does that have to do with you? We'll share that on today's show. Also, Jamie Wise from the Buzz Indexes shares with us some welcome news about oil prices. Are we seeing the lows in oil? He'll share the wisdom of social media chatter on today's podcast.

Of course, that's not all. Doug has yet another hare-brained scheme to become wealthy....but still has time to share some trivia. We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Nikki, who asks an existential question about money and goals, plus answer a letter from Jason about the Roth IRA.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Stop Making These Critical Money Mistakes (plus an intro to Jobbatical) Jul 21, 2017

Investment tips abound on today's podcast. We cover the keys to successful investing, so you can STOP making critical investment mistakes. Then we pivot to some money mistakes people on their 40's make (don't worry...even if you aren't in your 40's these will apply to you). We'll then talk about mistakes a certain bear in England made, and how you can avoid those. Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio joins our panel that also includes Paula Pant and Len Penzo on today's show!

Want to travel the world? In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Lauren Proctor from Jobbatical joins us to describe how you can work your way around the globe with help from her firm and companies that need help in regions you might be hoping to explore. It's an interesting concept and a way to expand your horizons you may not have considered.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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How Should I Invest $277,000 Dollars? Jul 19, 2017

Looking for the reason to invest a quarter of a million dollars wisely? On today's show, Joe and OG answer your questions, including how to save a bunch of money away at one time.

BUT that's not all. We throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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When Should You Pull The Trigger On Your Business Idea? (with Meg Gill) Jul 17, 2017

Have a great idea for a business? Meg Gill, listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreur list, and co-founder of Golden Road Brewing joins us today to talk about how her education and athletic experience helped propel her to entrepreneurship at an early age. We'll also discuss mistakes that she's happy she got out of the way early so that she could avoid those later and scale up her company in a hurry. She talks about how starting with a product and a philosophy that you love is a better approach for many than hoping to be wealthy. Also she discusses how a broad educational background isn't necessarily an impediment to future success. She'll also share stories from her new show on Viceland called Beerland, where she talks to brewers about leaping toward their dream: full time entrepreneurship. You're going to love this interview, whether you're thinking about entrepreneurship or hoping for motivation to get up and go to your job again this week.

In our headlines segments we talk treasure hunting. People are dying trying to find a hidden treasure. Maybe there's a better way to get rich? Also, we discuss ANOTHER 401k lawsuit. This one gets weird in a hurry. We'll share details.

We also throw out the Haven Life line, take a listener letter AND still have time for Doug's beer-infused trivia.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Does Money Buy You Privilege? Jul 14, 2017

On today's show we discuss a Morningstar article that asks the question, "How do you get really rich?" Sadly, as with all things, the answer isn't as simple or as straightforward as you'd hope. Plus, we discuss a Russian billionaire who parks his yacht in front of the Statue of Liberty. Does money buy you privilege that other people don't get? We'll discuss.

J. David Stein from Money For the Rest of Us joins us for this fantastic (and short!) roundtable discussion!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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The Crazy and Sordid History of Credit Companies (with Dr. Josh Lauer) Jul 12, 2017

Ever wonder about the credit companies that seem to know everything about you? Now, although fair credit reporting laws exist, people STILL complain about unfair and outdated credit, but according to Dr. Josh Lauer, it used to be much worse. We'll talk to him today about the history of credit reporting in the United States. How did it work? Who evaluated your credit? How were the current three credit companies formed? It's a fun and sometimes frightening look at how credit has been and still is evaluated, and how credit companies use information about you.

Speaking of credit, a recent study about credit produced some horrifying results, and Michael Bruemmer from Experian joins us to discuss why people might want to take better care of their credit than they have in the past. Also, we discuss a headline about Jeff Bezos inching up toward becoming the richest person alive. What does it take to join the ranks of the uber rich? We'll contemplate that by taking a look at the list of the world's wealthiest people.

We have a special guest co-host today! Mandi Woodruff from the Brown Ambition podcast sits in for OG and shares some great experiences, as well as helping Joe throw out the Haven Life line to Karl and answer a lucky listener letter. Of course we still have time to bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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How To Save Your First $25,000 (with Scott Trench) Jul 10, 2017

How do you get started on the road to saving? While you can't frugal your way to wealth, you CAN learn to be more efficient, and author Scott Trench joins us to share the first steps in his roadmap toward wealth. We'll talk about building the foundation you'll need to amass wealth...namely, how to save your first $25,000. Surprisingly, it isn't all just about focusing on your income, according to Scott. There are some ways you can make cuts in your life that will help you grow money faster.

In our headline segment, one of our hosts goes off the rails today, as we talk about advisors who are unscrupulous. Thinking about hiring a financial advisor? Maybe you want to listen to this discussion first. Then in our second headline, we tackle another 401(k) fee lawsuit, but the guys surprisingly come down on the other side of THIS lawsuit than they have lawsuits brought up on the show in the past.

Of course, that's not all. We also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller and answer your letters. We can't forget that Doug's always waiting in the wings, and as always, has trivia on today's show.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Ways to Fortify Against the Next Crash (and an intro to Roofstock) Jul 07, 2017

What should you do if you expect the market to crash? We ask our roundtable panel that very question today, including the woman behind the blog Mama Fish Saves, Chelsea. We also talk about side hustles. What mistakes do people make when deciding to work a second job or start a company on the side? Finally, we wrap up the show with an exciting discussion of a Moneyologist question....a man is giving all of his money to a church (and also money he doesn't yet have). Does his spouse have a reason to worry?

In our Friday FinTech segment we introduce you to the minds behind real estate firm Roofstock. If you're thinking about real estate but don't want all of the hassle, this might be the best thing you've heard today!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Betting "The House" On Your Goals (with The House director Andrew Jay Cohen) Jul 05, 2017

Ever wonder what happens if you don't save enough money for college? Well, Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler didn't, and the result is the new hit movie The House. Director Andrew J. Cohen stops by to talk about the film, the hilarious financial-planning-gone-wrong premise, and how he became a director in Hollywood.

BUT that's not all. Retirement Answer Man Roger Whitney sits in for OG on today's show. We share headlines about a widow being scammed out of over a MILLION dollars, and another about how to decide what to do with your 401k when you leave a job.

Of course we also throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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Financial Independence? Early Retirement? Game on! Jul 03, 2017

Excited about an aggressive retirement? Even if you're only mildly interested in the topic of financial independence, today's guest is going to light a FIRE under your plans. The Mad Fientist joins us today to talk first about his personal journey to an early out with a traditional job. We'll talk about the opportunities, pitfall, and even nerd out on some serious financial planning numbers you'll need to know if you're thinking about calling it quits at your job.

In our headlines segment, we talk the cost of wine...and how much it's affected by advertising. We also share news about a football player's BIG comeback from a disability, which gives us a perfect introduction to disability insurance and what's important to know. We also throw out the Haven Life line, answer TWO listener letters, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies.

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Can Donald Trump Pick Stocks? (SB RWD 62) Jun 30, 2017

We spin back the dial to a roundtable discussion two years ago which includes a discussion about then-nominee Donald Trump! A magazine wrote about President Trump's ability to pick stocks. We talk about whether ANYONE can pick stocks well.... If you're looking for political drama, we WON'T have it....but we WILL have lots of fun talking stocks, celebrities, and more.

You can find the original show notes here: Is Donald Trump a Good Stock Picker?

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Becoming an Excellent Leader (SB RWD 61) Jun 28, 2017

How effective are you at leading people? On today's show, our guests Dr. John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber discuss how to become a more effective leader and lesson's they've learned from coaching many of the top business leaders today to build better workplace teams. Plus, as usual, we'll have the same assortment of headlines, trivia, laughs, and your letters. Enjoy!

You can find the original show notes here: Building Better Leaders and Teams

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Buzz_Index_Jun_Jamie_Wise_mixdown.mp3 Jun 26, 2017

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Juggling Money, Family and Work (SB RWD 60) Jun 26, 2017

Griffin takes us back to a classic from a year ago...

We’re all professional jugglers. We juggle a career or school, family duties, friendships, and somehow also manage money. How do we effectively manage money AND take care of everything else? Kimberly Palmer (author of the new book Smart Mom Rich Mom) joins us to talk about the pressure of parenting, managing the budget and earning a wage. When’s the right time to have children?

In our headline segment we discuss John Oliver’s latest stunt. On the hotline, we tackle a question from Jamie about charitable giving. Doug shares trivia on working moms.

We have all of that AND still more on today’s podcast!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our podcast.

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Investing Rules for a Sky-High Stock Market Jun 23, 2017

How should you invest when the market's been in a bull market tear for the last several years? We ask our Friday roundtable panel that question and MAN, they don't disappoint. You'll hear about selling losers, setting expectations ahead of time for your investments, and more.

We also cover (as we do EVERY Friday), LOTS of other topics, including whether it's best to pay with cash or credit. What do you think? I'm not sure our panel will agree... AND we also bring up some of the difficult questions kids ask about money. How would YOU answer them?

In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Patrick Ambron from BrandYourself.com talks about the importance of creating and protecting your online identity. He shares horror stories of people's social media problems and explains steps to protect yourself. Plus, as always with this segment, he'll share with you their platform and how they help people dig in and take charge of their identity.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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How To Build Your Financial Dream House (with Greg Powell) Jun 21, 2017

What does your financial dream house look like? Financial planner Greg Powell says that he always has trouble convincing people to complete a financial plan because it sounds like a ton of work. But a financial dream house? That's a much easier sell...and he's going to help you sell yourself on that concept in today's episode. We'll talk about where investments fit into the overall structure (not as far up the priority list as you'd think), how to work through building your "plans," and then how to build a team that effectively helps you finally create the "structure" of the house.

On the Haven Life line, Garrett asks about company stock inside of his 401k. Should he dump it? If you have company stock inside of YOUR 401k, this'll be helpful for you...and if you own LOTS of one company's stock, you'll also like this segment. We also answer a letter from Andrew, who wonders about his target date fund. As you know (if you've listened to us before), we've been pretty critical of target date funds. What is his next best move? Do YOU have a target date fund? Maybe today's letter segment will help you, too!

Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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The #1 Key To Get Someone Excited About Saving Money (with Gene Natali) Jun 19, 2017

You're excited about saving, but how do you get someone else to take the plunge? Today's guest, Gene Natali, says that the answer might not be what you expect, and he should know. He co-authored the book The Missing Semester about personal financial education in the classroom, and he's BACK on the Stacking Benjamins show to share how to get ANYONE started in the right direction with their money.

In our headlines segment, we talk about financial advisory fees. Are they going down? A recent report has details on where that ship is headed. Also, we'll talk about the age-old active vs. passive management debate. Do active managers hold a candle to passive? Does it matter? Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Dan, who asks about EE bonds. Are these bonds a great way to protect against deflation? We'll also answer a letter from Todd, who has some extra money and wants to know how to invest it...other than in sending it to his favorite podcasters (#disappointing).

It's National Martini Day, so Doug's pouring drinks down in the basement and we're all invited over. Come join us!

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies.

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Is Building Good Credit Job #1? (with an intro to Transferwise) Jun 16, 2017

In our first roundtable piece today, we discuss whether the first thing kids out of high school need is good credit. Should people first focus on credit to secure more debt or should they build assets? We'll start there on today's episode, featuring our listener VeShannah Lovelace, Greg McFarlane, and Paula Pant.

...and in our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to Harsh Sinha, Engineering VP at international money transfer company Transferwise. We talk about the dirty underbelly of transferring money and how Transferwise helps you lower your fees.

Of course that's not all. We also talk about saving $50k of someone else's money, extreme ways to pay down debt, and much more.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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She Wiped Out $100k of Credit Card Debt (with Lynnette Khalfani-Cox) Jun 14, 2017

How much debt have you wiped out? I'll bet today's guest wiped out more, and she's going to share how she got into so much debt, and then the strategies and tactics she used to wipe it out and become a fantastic money coach. Of course, this is the Stacking Benjamins show, so there's much more. In our headline segment we'll talk about weird investments in IRAs. Should you look outside the traditional investment ideas for opportunities? We'll weigh in. We'll also share some news about a couple of amazingly stupid criminals. Making money is hard. The way these morons messed up stealing money might even be harder to believe.

On the Haven Life line, Mark wonders about an all stock portfolio vs. using some bonds. We'll discuss the philosophy of a 100% equity game. We'll also answer a letter from Patrick who asks us about the relationship between owning a home and your retirement plan. Should you count home equity into the equation? You'll find out.

Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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Stop Fighting About Money (with Elle Martinez) Jun 12, 2017

Looking for the perfect budget? Maybe the key isn't counting every penny or finding the perfect spreadsheet. Elle Martinez, author of the new book Couple Money, believes that whether you're single or married the answer might lie in communication, and we'll tackle how to have money dates and stop fighting about money on today's show.

In our headlines segment, we share a story about comedian Tracy Morgan. Apparently Walmart, who paid him $90M after a severe accident in 2015, wants more proof about his injury. We'll discuss disability coverage and more from that fallout. Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Susan, who asks about taking out a student loan for her son so he can establish credit. We'll also answer a letter from Julian about Roth IRAs, help Doug bring down the trivia, and sprinkle in some pick up lines along the way.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies.

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Is the Used Car Savings REALLY Worthwhile? (with an intro to Amino) Jun 09, 2017

The new vs. used car debate rages on today's podcast. Which is better, buying new with the warranties and assurances that a dealer brings to the table, or purchasing used for (possibly) a lot less money? No platitudes or "rules of thumb" in this discussion. Renee Horne, VP of Loan Experiences from USAA, and Timothy Cain, auto sales analyst for TheTruthAboutCars.com, tackle every aspect of the discussion, from warranties, insurance, car payments, maintenance, car dealers, and available choices. It's a comprehensive, fun discussion that you won't want to miss.

...and in our Friday FinTech segment, ever worry about paying too much for health care? Better yet, ever wonder if you're being overcharged at your doctor versus going to a different provider? David Vivero from Amino.com joins us to talk about researching your doctor, health care facility AND the procedures you're contemplating in an easier way than you'd ever thought possible.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link!

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Juggling Up and Down Paychecks and Bills Jun 07, 2017

What would you find out about yourself after writing down all of your income and expenses for a year? Jonathan Morduch and Rachel Schneider, authors of The Financial Diaries, did just that, and they found some disturbing trends about work, emergency funds, and families struggling to get ahead. We talk to them about how families cope on today's podcast.

On the Haven Life line, Brenda is changing jobs from a 401k to a 403b. Can she move money between these two funds? If she can...should she? We'll discuss her options. In headlines, Jamie Wize from the BUZZ Index (ticker BUZ) joins us to talk about recent social media swells about SNAP and Palo Alto.

Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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Why Many Target Date Funds Stink Jun 05, 2017

We kick off today's show talking Tiger Woods and the cost of his recent...er...problem. And then Karen Schenone from Blackrock tells us about how bonds work! What a great kickoff to today's episode.

After that, it's ALL of your letters, including ones about IRAs...how to you maximize your contributions; we then turn to blogging. Should Daryl start a blog? We weigh in. We also talk about investing in bonds, building the wrong side-hustle, and more.

Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! Looking for an investing platform that doesn't involve compromises? Try M1Finance to be invested.

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The 3 Financial Rules To Get Rich (with an intro to Rentalutions) Jun 02, 2017

Are there really only three rules to getting rich? A recent online piece at a major publication says so, so we ask our crack panel to weigh in. If there WERE three rules, would these even be the correct three? Of course that's not all. We'll also talk about stock market and investing facts you may not know, and wrap it all up with some of our biggest financial regrets.

On our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to Ryan Coon from Rentalutions. Thinking about renting houses on the side? Ryan and company have created some interesting technology to help you organize like a pro.

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Are You (Money) Smarter Than a Doctor? (with Dr. Amir Baluch) May 31, 2017

What should you know about your money that doctors often mess up? Dr. Amir Baluch comes down to the basement today to share some of the basics that he teaches doctors...and that you should know, too. Plus, in headlines we talk about a mechanic who says, "Your car is DONE!" and also share a disturbing story about people losing vacation days. That's expensive--and not just for your wallet.

On the Haven Life line, Erin just bought a car with cash and now has some cash flow to invest. She asks the guys where to put it. In our letters segment, William worries about life insurance. Does he have enough?

Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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What's The Role of Money In Year Million? (with Dave O'Connor) May 29, 2017

With automation a bigger part of our life, what's going to drive the economy in the future? We talk economics, work, and the role of money with executive producer Dave O'Connor of the new National Geographic show Year Million.

In our headlines segment, we're joined by David Siegel, CEO of Investopedia, to tells us about lessons learned from their recent Market Madness competition. 5,000 college students participated, and the results AND lessons from the competition, including some of the big names missing from the average portfolio, are interesting. We also talk about annuity sales, which are down a TON since this time last year. What's going on? OG & Joe will talk all things annuity.

We also throw out the Haven Life line to Josh, who wonders if he should hire a more active manager for his money, and we answer a letter from a listener who thinks Joe's movie review of a recent film was more than a little off.

Of course, that's not all. Doug brings the trivia, mom brings treats, and there are some horrible jokes along the way.

Special thanks to SoFi and our newest sponsor M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Hacks Behind a $39 Utility Bill (plus the Evil HR Lady) May 26, 2017

What are some tricks to lower your utility bills? Jamila from JourneyToLaunch and Fritz Gilbert from The Retirement Manifesto join Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com) in a fun, fast-paced roundtable discussion about lowering your home expenses and saving more money. We'll also tackle the recent news from Ford about their HUGE personnel cuts. What should YOU do if you think your job is on the chopping block?

In our Friday HR segment, the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas stops by to answer a listener letter. It seems our listener is close to retirement and his boss might be a micro-manager...or maybe just overly focused on setting improvement goals. How does our listener work with the boss to get through the next couple years until he retires?

As always, we have all of that and much, much more to help you kick off a big holiday weekend in the USA.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Your Theme Park Value Guide (with ThemeParkInsider's Robert Niles) May 24, 2017

With Memorial Day right around the corner in the USA, we ask Mr. Theme Park Insider, Robert Niles, "Where we can find the best values?" As always, he delivers with suggestions for parks around the country, and with ideas for people and families of all ages.

In our headlines we talk about money disorders that kill your financial plan. We also discuss a disturbing spending trend among older people. We throw out the Haven Life line to Emily, who wants to know if her boyfriend's job is sub-optimal (he's an active stock trader), and we answer a letter from Stephanie, who asks about buying a house. Should she plop down a bigger down payment or go with a bigger loan to leave her money invested?

Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more....

Huge thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

Looking for show notes? They're right here.

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The Tech Wizardry That Will Solve Your Money Problems (from CO-OP THINK!17) May 22, 2017

Today we're live from Times Square and the 2017 CO-OP THINK! Conference, where credit union executives gathered to talk innovation in money management. What do the next five years look like for your money? What innovative solutions are credit unions dreaming up? We talk to top credit union officials from around the country AND financial luminaries like Jean Chatzky and Bobby Rebell to talk about digital innovation.

We also throw out the Haven Life line to a caller who wonders how to invest a $200,000 inheritance. Doug brings the trivia, we answer a listener letter, and much more.

Thanks to SoFi and M1Finance for sponsoring our show!

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The Keys To Financial Security (with an intro to Money Lion) May 19, 2017

How do you get ahead financially? Our friends at Kiplinger wrote a fantastic, conservative piece about the keys to financial success and today our crack roundtable team of award winning writers will discuss THAT piece and two others.

In our Friday Fintech segment we talk to Dee Choubey from MoneyLion about tracking your money more effectively. How does it work? We'll talk all things money management, debt control, and good, solid nudges to help you handle your finances successfully.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Stop Making Bad Money Moves (with Emily Guy Birken) May 17, 2017

Invest or pay down credit cards? Buy a car or invest toward a house? These are opportunity cost questions, and today, Emily Guy Birken, author of End Financial Stress NOW, joins us to explain how it works. We'll also talk about the problem with "free," sunk costs, and other often neglected strategies to manage money better. In our headlines we'll talk Johnny Depp again, plus talk financial knowledge. How much do we learn about money over our lifetime? The answer will surprise you.

Today we throw out the Haven Life line to Jordan, who has an important tax question many of you may share. Taylor sends us a letter about opportunity cost. Should he pay down debt or invest? We also share Doug's trivia, and more.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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They Paid Off $240,000 in Debt May 15, 2017

Claudia and Garrett Pennington paid off nearly a quarter million dollars in debt. Better yet? They became MUCH more focused on what was important to them with money and their life. Claudia comes down to the basement on today's show to share their inspiring story of perseverance, living a thoughtful life, and questioning the need for everything. Hulu? Questioned. Cars? Questioned. House? Questioned....and much more. Of course, that's not all. We throw out the Haven Life line to Cameron, who wonders whether it's a good idea to start a separate account to cover his medical in retirement.

In headlines we discuss Johnny Depp's money problem. It appears someone may have a spending problem. But in better news, we also profile a recent NFL draft pick who uses a fantastic financial planning technique to bring in some serious money. We'll share how on today's show. Plus, we have Doug's trivia, and more!

Special thanks to SoFi and our newest sponsor M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Buy Happiness? Here's How (with an intro to Arthena) May 12, 2017

We have a fun, wide-ranging discussion today about buying happiness, buying art, firing company boards, and figuring out your retirement number. Liz from ChiefMomOfficer.org joins Len (LenPenzo.com) and Paula (AffordAnything.com) to cover these wide-ranging topics. First, we'll discuss a piece arguing that you CAN buy happiness....and that it's different for everyone. True? You'll find out our panel's opinion today! Plus, we'll discuss Wells Fargo recently renewing every member of their board of directors. Shouldn't some board members have been fired after their recent fiasco? If you own stock, are moments like this a reason to sell today? Finally, we'll discuss your retirement number. When is it important to know how much you'll need for retirement? Early on when you're saving? Later? Ever? We'll ask all three panelists these questions and more.

In our Friday Fintech segment we talk to Madelaine D'Angelo from Arthena about buying into an art fund. How does it work? We'll talk all things art and buying it with Madelaine today.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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We Answer The Most Important Letter Ever May 09, 2017

On today's show, we're covering all the tough topics because YOU are the headliner on this show! We're answering your letters about 401k plans, college savings, and more!

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life Line, we feature headlines about online security with our friend Jocelyn from NextAdvisor and more.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show!

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Impact Investing (with iShares' Jessica Huang) May 08, 2017

What is "impact investing"? Jessica Huang from iShares stops by the basement to fill us in, and you won't be disappointed. Maybe your portfolio CAN reflect your ethics and keep the high returns you're looking to achieve. We're also excited to talk to Jack Kosakowski from Junior Achievement today. A new JA study finds that kids are frightened by financial terms. Why? What can we do about it? He has answers.

As always, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener and also squeeze in some Coca-Cola trivia from Doug.

Special thanks to SoFi and our newest sponsor M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Things We Wish We Knew About Money When We Were 20 (with an intro to Respect) May 05, 2017

What could make your 20's easier? Or, if your older, what SHOULD you have known in your 20's? On today's roundtable episode, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and Joe discuss all the things they should have known back then.

But that's not all. We circle the wagons on tipping. Should you tip for takeout? When is it appropriate to leave a tip? We'll address all of that today!

PLUS - in our Friday Fintech segment we talk to Ross Kimbarovsky from Respect. If you're worried about elder relatives, Ross and his team are rolling out some innovation in the area of elder care. He'll explain how it all works today.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Monopoly's Secret Past (with Mary Pilon) May 03, 2017

Think you know everything about the board game Monopoly? Think again! Mary Pilon, author of the New York Times bestseller The Monopolists joins us to talk about the unbelievably interesting and slightly sordid history of one of the world's favorite games.

In our headlines segment, we're joined by Jamie Wise from the BUZZ Index. He'll share the latest buzz on investing from social media. Then we're joined by Shane Steele from Chime. They have a new fee finder service which has uncovered some HUGE fees you might want to begin avoiding at the bank. He'll share some of the biggest mistakes they see, plus tips if you think you won't get your taxes finished in time for the deadline.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Lenny, who's worried about taxes and his new side hustle. Should he open a retirement account? Maybe withhold more from his main job? Anything else? We'll help him and you with that question. We also answer a letter from Collin, who asks about rebalancing his investments.

Special thanks to SoFi and Magnify Money for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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Jamie_Wise_and_Phil_Bak_Interview May 02, 2017

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Stop Being Broke (with Erin Lowry) May 01, 2017

Tired of being broke? Erin Lowry is coming to save you today. Erin's the author of the new hit book Broke Millennial, and shares stories about examining your past, focusing on your tendencies, and then going on the offensive with your financial life.

In our headlines segment, Brittney Burgett from Haven Life joins us to talk about how expensive parenting has become. She'll share some tips for parents about priorities and protecting your biggest asset: your time.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Andy, who's wonders about international funds. We also answer a letter about student loans with some help from Adam Carroll, whose new documentary Broke, Busted and Disgusted has been picked up by CNBC.

Special thanks to SoFi and our newest sponsor M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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SB RWD 59 What Exchange Traded Fund Should I Buy? (with Pete the Planner) Apr 28, 2017

Griffin the Intern (AKA the Fintern) is rewinding to our time with Pete the Planner helping out on the roundtable.

Here is the original show description:

Today we handle a listener question asking, “What exchange traded fund should I buy?” Of course, OG has ideas….

Pete Dunn, AKA Pete the Planner, joins Greg and Len today to talk about high rent payments, rigged company reports and gourmet dog food. How do you make ends meet when 30 percent of your money has to go to your landlord? How do you pick stocks when company CFOs admit they’re “massaging” the numbers? How do you control your budget when your dog eats better food than you?

That’s not all, though. We answer your letters about bad 401k plans and purchasing exchange traded funds AND review the new hit film Mission Impossible.

This episode originally aired Aug 24, 2015.

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SB RWD 58 - Can I Retire Yet? (with Darrow Kirkpatrick) Apr 26, 2017

The Fintern brings another great episode today featuring Darrow Kirkpatrick giving plenty of advice on retirement.

Here's the original description:

Can you retire yet? Our friend Darrow Kirkpatrick not only can help you answer that question, but he’s coming down to the basement to share TESTED early retirement strategies, such as the role of annuities, setting up your investments, insurance decisions, surprises in retirement, and more.

AND because we’re kicking off a fresh eight weeks of shows, of course, there’s much more. We discuss the five most important years of your financial life, a new US Government measure of financial health AND the cost of the world’s largest yacht. Albert calls us on the Quotacy hotline to ask how he should switch careers toward becoming a financial advisor and Jason writes us about Roth IRAs.

We have all of that AND still more on today’s podcast!

Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com and SoFi for sponsoring our podcast.

This episode originally aired on Jun 6, 2016.

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SB RWD 57 - Should I Start A Business With My Friends? With Farnoosh Torabi Apr 24, 2017

Today, the FinTern rewinds to one of our favorites episode when Farnoosh Torabi visited the basement to answer your letters. She answered far better than we could have without her.

Here's the original show description: We try to stump the amazing Farnoosh Torabi of So Money podcast fame with your letters….but she’s too amazing and answers FOUR of them with little help from us. Should you start a house flipping business with friends? What assumptions should you make in a financial plan? How do you fast forward podcasts?

We also talk about the MOST SHOCKING way to get rich….you’ll have to hear it to believe it….AND PK tackles the most expensive years you’ll have during your lifetime. Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney for sponsoring our podcast!

This episode originally aired Jun 24, 2015.

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Stop Worrying, Start Saving (plus an intro to PeerStreet) Apr 21, 2017

Why are people struggling to make ends meet? Our roundtable gang today (joined by author of the new book Broke Millennial) kicks off the fun by examining why (according to a recent Washington Post piece), some families just can't seem to save. We'll then dive into worry....and the ways to stop worrying and start saving!

Like every roundtable....we won't dwell on a single topic long, so next up on our Friday FinTech segment, we'll talk to Brett Crosby, who'll introduce us to PeerStreet, a new platform for investing in real estate.

We'll then end the episode by talking about weird jobs. Trust me...if you've listened to the show for any length of time, you'll be surprised by a few revelations on today's show.

Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show!

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Mastering the New Rules of Work (with Kathryn Minshew and Alex Cavoulacos) Apr 19, 2017

Struggling at work? We’ll review some of the “new rules” of business with the founders of TheMuse.com, Kathryn Minshew and Alex Cavoulacos. We’ll talk about new rules in networking, finding the career you love, networking, and working more effectively at the job you love.

In our headline segment, Brian Barnes, CEO of M1Finance drops by to talk about tax planning. We know tax day was yesterday but these tips will help you make tax-smart moves while investing for the future. We’ll also talk about another company being sued by an employee for rotten 401k options. Target date funds are again in the middle of some more controversy.

Gena calls the Haven Life line to ask about the American Opportunity Credit, we share good news about recent guest Adam Dell and the Clarity app, and answer a letter from Ben about emerging markets investing. Is active investing the best way to go in smaller, more volatile markets? Of course, Doug brings down the trivia, and much, much more.

Huge thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins!

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Becoming a Money-Making Badass (with Jen Sincero) Apr 17, 2017

Struggling to earn enough to stay afloat? Some of our past guests have shared pointed tips to put more cash in your pocket. Today's different because Jen Sincero talks with us about changing the discussion between your ears. We'll tackle how to get out of your own way so you can become a money making machine. Her new book is called You Are A Badass at Making Money, and she joins us in the basement to help you start moving toward more fruitful self-talk.

In our headlines segment, Mark Steber from Jackson Hewitt joins us to talk last-minute tax day tips. He'll share some of the biggest mistakes they see, plus some timely tips if you think you won't get your taxes finished in time for tomorrow's deadline.

Plus, we throw out the Haven Life line to Hannah, who's worried about how best to invest her health savings account. We answer a letter from Bobby about investing and pensions. Doug provides some vacation-related trivia, and more!

Special thanks to SoFi and Magnify Money for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies.

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The Most Powerful Money Statistic To Track (and a roundtable about the Digit situation) Apr 14, 2017

Which stats are the most important to track? Our roundtable this week focuses in on just one stat....and an article that says it's the most powerful statistic of all for your pocketbook.

On the Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk about the recent issues at Digit. The popular savings app recently went from the fantastic price of "free" to $2.99 per month. There was huge fallout on the internet....over $2.99 per month. Is this an overreaction? What happens when apps pivot? We ask three industry insiders for their point of view, and boy do they bring it. Shane Steele from Chime, Mike Lentz from TipYourself, and Brad Lawler from the Draft app give us their perspective.

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