Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money

Latest Episodes:

Ask Paula: The stock market is down - Can I still retire? Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

#399: Bella is SO CLOSE to reaching F.I.R.E and is worried about her withdrawal rate if the stock market drops. If the stock market does drop, can she withdraw as much as she had originally planned?

Sam has been investing for several decades and thinks that he should stay invested in his portfolio, despite the recent drop in value…but he is still wondering if there’s a chance that he should sell.

Meisha is making more money at her new job but can’t contribute to her 401(k) for the first six months - what should she do with her extra money in this interim??

Kyria is a young investor with multiple goals: she’s wondering how to best save for a downpayment without it being eroded by inflation and also whether her investment choices should take on more risk, since time is on her side.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode399

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How To Travel For (Almost) Free, with Chris Hutchins Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

#398: Chris Hutchins is an avid life hacker, a financial optimizer and the host of the top ranked podcast “All The Hacks”, where he shares his quest to upgrade his life without having to spend a fortune.

These passions have led him to being featured in a documentary on financial Independence called “Playing with FIRE” and collecting millions of points and miles.

If you want to learn more about optimizing your spend so that you can travel with less of an impact to your bank account, you’ll want to hear what Chris has to say.

Timing of discussion points as per August 2022:

04:13: Is travel hacking a good use of time?

08:15: What is the simple path to optimizing spend?

09:108: Why focus on one rewards program?

10:46: Why are there recommendations for transferable point programs and what are the benefits of co branded cards?

18:08: How can the value of points or miles be estimated?

22:08: Is the best redemption value in booking business class international flights?

32:34: How do you know the best flight to book for optimal redemption?

37:00: What is the difference between airline miles and credit card points?

38:25: What is a “positioning” flight and how do I utilize this strategy?

47:42: What is the process for choosing flights based on reward redemptions?

57:15: What are the best ways to boost an existing points balance?

1:02:12: Discussion on credit cards with crypto rewards…

1:04:17: Tips for those who want deals but don’t want to work with miles or points…

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode398

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask Paula: Is the bank trying to scam my parents…? Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

#397: Nic’s parents are forced to confront earlier than anticipated retirement…and they aren’t financially prepared. Now, a bank is offering to buy a part of their mortgage or a part of their house. Is this a scam?!

Jon from Colorado is curious about after tax contributions to a Roth 401k, and would like us to talk about why we wouldn’t recommend it.

Anna is househacking, and she locked down an awesome interest rate. But, she’s still carrying PMI and is wondering if there’s a way to remove the PMI without refinancing.

Courtney from Denver is a real estate investor who wants to invest in new locations, and wants tips on building out her network.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode397

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Creating Happiness At Work, with Julie Winkle Giulioni Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

#396: International best selling author and leadership speaker, Julie Winkle Giulioni, talks through a multidimensional career framework that features eight dimensions of career development.

She spells out how to apply the dimensions of contribution, competence, connection, confidence, challenge, contentment, choice and climb to different parts of your professional life, whether that’s assessing your current job, navigating a conversation with your superior or setting yourself up for the next progression.

In this episode, we cover:

01:15: Introducing the topic of optimizing engagement at work

05:02: The “Why” behind the Great Resignation

07:28: How to feel like you’re making a true contribution

14:01:The need to increase competence for growth

16:03: Solving for boredom with your superior

23:16: Forging connections in the era of remote work

32:18: Enhancing confidence and imposter syndrome

38:36: Appreciating the role of contentment in the workplace

39:18: The dimensions of choice and climb

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode396

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Invest Anywhere: There are THOUSANDS of Cities, Where Do I Invest?! Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

#395: Welcome to Invest Anywhere, our monthly series on long-distance real estate investing.

Invest Anywhere airs on the First Friday of each month and is co-hosted by Paula Pant and Suni Rao.

In this episode, we tackle the challenging decision of how to evaluate a city for rental property investment.

We will cover three specific sets of analysis, talking through a macro business cycle view, a more specific economic analysis, and then encourage you to review your own personal network.

Enjoy!

01:30: Topic introduction

2:30: Evaluation to be discussed: Business cycle, economics, and hierarchy of boots on the ground

5:48: High level look at the business cycle

08:40: The four phases of the business cycle

11:12: The peak phase of the business cycle

25:40: The recession phase of the business cycle

37:15: The recovery phase of the business cycle

39:40:: The expansion phase of the business cycle

47:10: Factors to consider when choosing a specific economy

57:48: Hierarchy of boots on the ground

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode395

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask Paula: How Much Should I Invest vs. Keep in Cash? Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

#394: Bill listened to our episode with Bill Bengen, father of the 4% rule, and he wants to know if there was a way for him to figure out how much money he should be keeping in cash.

Sheryl gets stock from her company, and she would usually sell it…but the stock value has decreased. And now, she isn’t sure what she should do.

Heather inherited an IRA but MUST empty it within ten years - but she doesn’t need it right now. What should she do??

Julie and her husband have access to an HSA for ONE MONTH. Can they max it out before they lose access to it?

In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions.

Enjoy!

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode394

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Money and Investing Have Changed, with Chuck Jaffee Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

#393: Chuck Jaffee is a forty year veteran financial journalist who regularly writes for the Wall Street Journal and is also a nationally syndicated financial columnist. He discusses how money and investors' attitude towards investing has changed over the last few decades.

00:44: Introducing Chuck Jaffe

03:05: How people interacted with the market in the 1980’s

06:50: Dealer and liquidity risk when investing in the market

09:23: How the environment 40 years ago impacted investor psychology

12:53: Long term impact of Black Friday, the worst market crash experienced by any living investor

16:10: Discussion of fund options that are more illiquid and can sell at discounts

18:04: The combined influence of access real time data and the ability act in real time

28:31: Moving away from employee supported retirement plans

29:00: The difference between financial education and financial literacy

31:26: Chuck’s take on the 4% rule

50:16: Portfolio and personal optimization

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode393

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask Paula: Did the Great Recession Lead to the FIRE Movement? Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

#392: Colleen and her husband own SEVEN paid off rental homes. Now they’re heading into retirement and disagree on what to do with some of that equity.

Kevin wants to hit FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and believes his motivation comes from witnessing the financial trauma of the Great Recession. He’s wondering if others are motivated to reach FIRE for similar reasons.

Anonymous wants to learn more about utilizing HSA accounts and Susan wants to learn more about investing in tax liens.

In today's episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode392

________________________________________

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Powerful Tactics to Take Control of Your Life and Career, with Dr. Reza Abraham Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

#391: Dr. Reza Abraham, an international leadership consultant, walks us through a framework of staying in control of your career and your life. This framework utilizes a singular core, three cornerstones and twelve principles. He explains how to apply and execute these principles to reinforce personal fulfillment, growth and progression.

0:00:47: Introducing Dr. Reza Abraham + the framework for staying in control of your life through a core, three cornerstones and 12 pillars

0:02:48: The core of taking control: consciousness

0:06:41: The first cornerstone: contentment

0:08:46: The second cornerstone: consistency

0:12:30: The third cornerstone: conversion

0:15:05: Five reflection questions to review for intentional growth and progression

0:24:17: The first pillar: character

0:30:03: The second pillar: communication

0:33:16: The third pillar: curiosity

0:35:15: The fourth pillar: compass

0:38:14: The fifth pillar: courage

0:39:22: The sixth pillar: collaboration

0:45:46: The seventh pillar: connection

0:48:04: The eighth pillar: competency

0:52:04: The ninth pillar: companionship

0:56:18: The tenth pillar: cash

0:56:53: The eleventh pillar: condition

1:00:52: The twelfth pillar: contribution

Resources mentioned: #383: How to Talk About Money with Confidence and Charisma, with Vanessa Van Edwards - Afford Anything

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode391

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ask Paula: Help! My Bills Are Too High Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

#390: We start this episode with two anonymous callers who have opposite problems: one says her bills are too high, while the other is worried that she’s saving too much.

Anonymous (“Izzy”) saves A LOT. She wants to relax about her spending more, and start including more joy into her life. How should she approach the next 10 or 20 years, so that she can enjoy her financial security?

A different anonymous caller (“Starlight”) has the opposite problem: her expenses are mounting. Her bills make her uncomfortable. She wants to shake up her investments so that she can tap her assets in order to make her payments. Ideally, she’d also like to buy a house in Europe within the next 10 years. How should she do this?

John liked the episode with Bill Bengen, where we discussed the 4% rule. However, he questions whether that rule should really be applied to the FIRE community.

Steve is a landlord who needs his property to cash flow, but doesn’t like to raise rents. What should he do?

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode390

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected