The Stacking Benjamins Show

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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