Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Latest Episodes:

College Is Expensive. Here’s How Smart Parents Plan for It. Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Four-year college isn’t the default anymore… but saving for your kid’s future absolutely is.

Today, Nicole breaks down the modern playbook for affording college whether your kid is a newborn, or if they’re applying to colleges now. This is your simple guide to 529 plans, custodial accounts, Coverdells, prepaid tuition plans, and the newest government-backed savings option making headlines. If you’ve ever wondered, “What happens to a 529 plan if my kid doesn’t go to college?” Nicole will teach you a smart move there, too.

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Here’s what Nicole covers today:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

01:11 Where To Start If You Have a Newborn

01:28 Everything You Need to Know About 529s

04:44 Where To Start If Your Kid Is in Grade School

05:42 The Pros and Cons of Custodial Accounts

08:17 Where to Start if Your Kid Is in High School

10:32 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

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Lucy Guo’s Billionaire Playbook: Startup Secrets, Hidden Money Rules, and the Power of FOMO Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Lucy Guo built one of the most talked-about AI companies in the world before most people finish college. Then, she made headlines when she dethroned Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire. Today, she joins Nicole to talk about how she grew wealth, and how you can borrow the money lessons that only show up after you’ve already “made it.”

Lucy tells Nicole about growing up bullied for not being able to afford the cool brands, scrappy strategies she used to save money when she was building her first company, and navigating the strange attention of being labeled a billionaire while most of that wealth still isn’t liquid. She explains the routines that kept her disciplined, the hard boundaries she set around lending money after getting burned, and stories of her wild money hacks like booking refundable flights to eat free meals in the airport lounges.

Nicole and Lucy also dive into the hidden playbook of startup money and the creator economy: how Lucy’s fundraising secret is to manufacture FOMO, why the wealthy borrow instead of sell, and the monetization strategy all creators should adopt.

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Keep up with Lucy on Instagram and learn more about Passes

Here’s what Nicole covers with Lucy:
00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

01:17 Lucy’s Routine and the Impact of Success on Hustle

03:39 Childhood Bullying05:08 Lucy’s Confidence Reset

08:20 Unpacking “Paper Wealth” and Liquidity

13:40 Should You Lend Money to Friends?

14:35 Lucy’s Investing Thesis

18:34 FOMO Strategy in Fundraising

22:22 Billionaire Money Tips

25:03 The Robbery Attempt

27:38 Money Saving Hacks

33:43 Stigma Around “Work Hard, Play Hard”

37:24 Passes and the Creator Economy

53:45 Lucy Guo’s Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

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Can Airbnb Hosting Really Make Your Taxable Income $0? | Bonus Depreciation Explained Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Today, Nicole breaks down the viral tax strategy everyone on social media is talking about — the claim that buying a short-term rental can legally wipe out your taxes.

She explains the simple idea behind bonus depreciation, why it creates massive upfront write-offs, and how real estate investors use upgrades and accounting strategy to dramatically lower taxable income. But she also pulls back the curtain on the part influencers skip: why a $0 tax bill doesn’t automatically mean you made money, how much cash you still need to spend, and the risks hiding behind the hype.

The Money Rehab Episode About Whether Home Ownership is Overrated

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

00:53 Bonus Depreciation 101

03:10 What Changed with the Big Beautiful Bill

03:38 What Qualifies (and What Doesn’t)

04:22 Fact-Checking the Viral Airbnb Example

05:37 The Caveats

05:54 Cost Segregation Study Workaround

07:36 Don’t Let the Tax Tail Wag the Dog’

09:10 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

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Neil Patel Risked His Parents’ Life Savings… Then Built a $100M Marketing Empire. Here’s How He Did It Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Neil Patel’s origin story involves borrowing from his parents’ life savings to keep his startup alive. Not only did his plan work, but he built a million-dollar company, advised companies including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft— and, he paid his parents back.

Today, Neil breaks down the money lessons he learned once he made it big. He shares why he still drives a minivan despite being able to afford something bougie, the unusual way he teaches his kids about taxes, and the important distinction he makes between success and wealth.

Then, Nicole and Neil get tactical and dig into the future of getting discovered online. Neil explains why traditional search is dead and how to adapt, what founders can do if they have a $0 marketing budget, and the SEO do’s and don’ts of naming your business.

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Check out Answer the Public, the free tool Neil mentioned in this conversation

Find more of Neil’s work and resources here

Here’s what Nicole covers with Neil:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

01:09 Launching Crazy Egg and Borrowing From Parents

06:42 Next Ventures and Kissmetrics

09:43 Do’s and Don’ts of Naming Businesses

15:31 NP Digital’s Massive Success vs Personal Success

21:19 Neil’s Perspective on Wealth, and the “Big R” Framework

29:32 Hot Takes on Money

30:07 Teaching Taxes Through Ice Cream

32:15 Living with Less and Financial Goals

38:45 Trust Funds and Regrets

42:09 Actionable Digital Marketing Advice for Business Owners

42:26 Choose Your Fighter: Email List, Website or Instagram?

44:59 Why Traditional Search is Dead

46:59 SEO vs AEO

55:29 Marketing Tips for a $0 Budget

01:00:49 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

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The Money Trail of the Epstein Files Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Millions of pages from the Epstein files have been unsealed, but they leave behind even more unanswered questions about how the money and criminal network actually worked. Today, Nicole traces the financial trail behind Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune—what we know, what prosecutors could never fully explain, and how a man with no real business amassed hundreds of millions of dollars.

Nicole breaks down Epstein’s mysterious rise from Wall Street suit to shadowy “financial consultant,” the ultra-wealthy clients who funded the majority of his income, and the explosive reputational fallout that continues to ripple across corporations, universities, and global power players. She also sets straight the rumors that Epstein created Bitcoin, and explains the real financial consequences of association in today’s markets.

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Here’s what Nicole covers today:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

00:18 The Epstein Files: A Who's Who of Power

00:58 Following Epstein's Money Trail

04:42 Financial Fallout of the Epstein Files

06:20 The Bitcoin Theory

07:28 Ongoing Legal Battles and Reputational Risks

09:22 The Power of Survivors

All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

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Dirty Money, Tax Loopholes and Legit Lessons in the Art World Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

For some collectors, art is about beauty, meaning, and power. For others, it’s a convenient place to clean dirty money.

Today, Nicole breaks down the hidden financial playbook behind the global art market, and why some billionaires treat paintings less like décor and more like offshore bank accounts. From subjective valuations and private appraisals to tax-free warehouses, art-backed loans, and regulatory gray zones, this episode walks through the exact five-step system the ultra-wealthy can use to store, grow, and sometimes quietly clean massive amounts of cash.

You’ll hear how a $5 million painting can magically become a $20 million asset on paper, why some of the world’s most valuable art never leaves storage, and how auction houses legally facilitate transactions that banks never could. Then Nicole pulls it back to real life — what this reveals about how wealth actually moves, why valuation is often narrative-driven, and how everyday investors can borrow the thinking without needing a Picasso or a private jet.

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Here’s what Nicole covers today:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

00:18 Art as an Investment

01:14 How the Wealthy Buy Art

02:18 Freeports and Tax Havens

03:20 Reappraisal and Inflating Art Value

04:46 Using Art as a Financial Tool

06:16 Money Laundering Through Art

07:16 Lessons for Everyday Investors

08:17 Investing in Art Without Millions

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How to Build $100K in Five Years Jan 29, 2026

Show notes

Your first $100,000 in investing feels impossible—until you see the math. Today, Nicole breaks down why the first $100K is the hardest money you’ll ever make, what changes mathematically once you cross it, and the path to get there… without a hot stock tip, crypto bro, or dumb luck.

Nicole walks through a real, doable five-year plan based on the average U.S. salary —including exactly how much to invest each month, where to put your money, and how the beautiful power of compound interest quietly accelerates behind the scenes.

Try Nicole’s Compound Interest Calculator

Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Here’s what Nicole covers today:

00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

00:18 Why Your First $100K Is the Hardest

02:53 Year-by-Year Investment Plan

03:05 Year 1: Building the Habit

04:00 Year 2: Gaining Momentum

04:33 Year 3: Growth Year

04:59 Year 4: Push Harder

05:37 Year 5: Reaching the Goal

06:00 Reality Check: Life Throws Curveballs

06:33 Passive Income

07:20 Your Next Steps and Resources

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Broke, Bullied, and Then... Christina Aguilera Called: Hollywood Hair Stylist Chris Appleton’s Story Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

From Kim Kardashian, J.Lo, and Ariana Grande, Chris Appleton has styled the biggest names in Hollywood, but his journey getting there was not easy. Today, Chris opens up about the hustle it took to go from a small-town salon in the UK to red carpets, and the bumps in the road along the way.

Chris shares the financial trauma, internal battles, and deep personal work it took to get to the top—and stay there. He gets vulnerable about the struggles behind the success: coming out after being in a heterosexual relationship, the breakthrough moment with Christina Aguilera that allowed him to beat his imposter syndrome, and why the word “fine” isn’t in his vocabulary.

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

Find video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

Check Out Chris’ Book Your Roots Don’t Define You

Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

Here’s what Nicole talks about with Chris:

00:00 Money Rehab Presents: Chris Appleton

03:01 Childhood Struggles and Financial Trauma

06:53 Telling the Hater Inside to Quiet Down

10:54 Navigating a Scarcity Mindset

13:44 Chris’ Erewhon Smoothie

16:27 Chris’ Early Hustle Days and Evading Train Conductors

21:52 Moving to LA and Chris’ Big Break with Christina Aguilera

26:07 Chris’ Coming Out Story and Hitting Rock Bottom

32:05 Why “Fine” Isn’t Fine

34:52 Why the Hair Salon Feels Like Therapy

38:01 How Chris Built His Reputation and How to Sell the Sizzle

41:46 Lessons from Kim Kardashian

44:42 Chris’ Take on Marriage, Relationships and Self Love

45:01 The Importance of Self-Love and Selectivity

48:46 Chris’ Tip Listeners Can Take Straight to the Bank

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How Kindness Became a Billion-Dollar Business Strategy with Daniel Lubetzky Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Is kindness an asset or a liability in business? Daniel Lubetsky—founder of Kind Snacks—makes a strong case for kindness as a competitive edge. He joins Nicole to share the behind-the-scenes story of buying out a private equity firm for $220 million to preserve his direction, the difference between being nice and being kind, and why values-driven leadership isn’t just idealistic—it’s strategic. Plus, how he’s helping the next generation of founders build principled, profitable businesses through Camino Partners and Shark Tank.

Keep up with Daniel on Instagram

Learn more about Camino Partners

Read Daniel's Op Ed

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How to Stop Overpaying the IRS Jan 09, 2026

Show notes

Today, Nicole rips the veil off one of the most costly mistakes you're probably making with your money—and no, it's not skipping some secret tax loophole. It's way more basic than that: leveraging how tax brackets work. And avoiding tax talk? It’s bleeding your paycheck dry. Nicole breaks down how the system really messes with you if you’re not paying attention, and how a few strategic (and totally legal) moves can stop the IRS from taking more than its fair share. Bottom line: this episode could be the difference between donating thousands to the government... or keeping it in your wallet.

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