The Stacking Benjamins Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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