The Stacking Benjamins Show

Are you just beginning your journey toward investing or know someone graduating from high school or college? On today's show we'll field a letter from Jonathan with some help from our friend Christine Benz at Morningstar. What things should graduates and new savers think about first? Where do they make mistakes? What resources and books are great reads? We'll tackle all of those questions during today's episode answering your questions! We'll also tackle a question about target-date funds. Why do most target date funds stink? We'll explain. Also - have you thrown away your stimulus money accidentally? If it hasn't come yet, there's a good chance you have. We'll explain why there's been such a mix up on today's show. We'll also wonder aloud about the news last week out of Silicon Valley. Has COVID-19 created a new normal for workers which includes working from anywhere? Twitter says "Yes," and Facebook says...."Maybe." We'll explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can you actually manufacture "luck"? Have you been hoping for your fortune to change? Do you feel like you've failed often lately? What if we told you that you COULD change your luck? , Today we tackle the recipe on luck with the man who actually co-wrote the book on the topic, Gay Hendricks. Between setting yourself up for success and being ready when opportunity comes knocking, Gay Hendrick has a wealth of information on how you can begin to operate your life, investments, savings, and budget with the power of the world on your side. Plus, has the current situation left you scrambling to pay rent? Or maybe you're a landlord still waiting on checks from struggling tenants? During our headlines we'll ring up rental real estate expert Justin Pogue for some advice on what you should do if you're stuck in a bad situation either way during these difficult times. In our second piece we'll cover some secondary effects of the troubled economy: teenagers across the country are finding out their usual summer jobs won't be waiting for them this year. Later, we'll answer the question: does the law of supply and demand mean that stock prices are currently artificially inflated? Caller Jay left a voicemail on the Haven Life Line and notes that the number of publicly traded companies have halved since 1996. Wouldn't supply and demand dictate that these companies stock prices go up (more demand, fewer shares), regardless of their performance? It's another fun show with much, much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Has goal setting helped your quality-of-life? Today we review a recent blog post where the author decides that goals have possibly ruined much of his life. Today our round table contributors will dive into this post from blogger Alex West, and talk about measurement of goals, a horizon that always seems to be unreachable, the randomness of progress, and more. After our discussion on goals (or the lack thereof), we'll shift gears to speak with Pam Andrews from The Scholarship Shark. How can you help someone not only get into the school of their dreams but help them get it paid for with scholarships? We'll discuss the problems students face, the important aspects to think about when targetting scholarships AND we're also thrilled to announce our brand-spanking-new partnership with Pam. Looking for more after our discussion? You can find out more at: StackingBenjamins.com/scholarships. We'll round out our show with sharing the results of a timely and special poll. A few weeks ago we asked our friends on social media what their best "investment" has been so far during this unprecedented quarantine. During today's Magnify Money question we'll ask our contributors to answer this same question and we'll also share some of the answers Twitter shared with us. One last thing... we'll always save some time for Doug's trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all wonder...this big stock market run-up lately...can it continue? Who should you listen to? What should you believe? Today we ring up a man WE believe, Phil Town, author of New York Times bestseller Rule #1, to provide some clarity. We'll ask him about the economy, the market, his strategy, and what he feels is the wrong way to invest in this climate. If you're ready for some straight talk from one of the best investment teachers, you'll enjoy today's discussion. Plus, are you in the market to purchase a home? Joe and OG roll out 12 great housing markets for first-time buyers. We’ll round out our headline with our second piece on credit cards: why are issuers now giving out lower holder limits, (and does it really matter to you anyway)? Later, we'll answer a question posted in our Stacking Benjamins Facebook group: Jason asks, what can he do to fix his father's retirement plan? His father is 60 and plans to work until he is forced to retire. At that point he plans to move in with Jason. With there being at least a decade of prep time remaining, Jason pleads asks us: what can he do in preparation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How would you like to pay off your mortgage in four years? Heck, many of us would love to pay off a mortgage in 29 years! Four years sounds like the stuff of dreams and make-believe, right? We might not have believed it ourselves if we didn't sit across from him in the basement and listen to his story. Today we're proud to bring you Andy Hill, host of the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast, and long-time friend of all of us in the basement. You may have heard Andy before on the show, but today he's agreed to share his amazing story on the podcast. We hope you can walk away from this one with some new inspiration and focus on your own financial walk. What kinds of important items have people been spending their stimulus checks on? Well....while many Americans spent their checks on necessities, companies are also reporting some surprising not-so-great results. We'll dive into what people have been spending their cash on, AND save some time to cover why 70% of workers can't save for retirement. Later in the show, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to one Dad-To-Be expecting a son in November. Eric and his wife know they can open up a 529 plan for their son, but wonder about other accounts. They both live outside of the U.S., but Eric still makes money from a Colorado-based company. Can he open up a brokerage account for his son? Plus, Doug will test your nerd-mettle during today's trivia segment with a thundering round of back-to-back fantasy and sci-fi questions. See if you can guess them all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Don't talk to strangers. Make your savings automatic. Don't buy so many lattes. How many pieces of unsolicited advice have helped you become a better version of yourself? Today our contributors are helping us walk through a recent blog post that delivered exactly 68 pieces of advice to help you live a better life financially AND mentally. Helping us with today's show are our near-and-dear contributors: Elle Martinez (of Couple Money), Len Penzo of LenPenzo.com, and our very own OG. Halfway through the show we'll take a break from the unsolicited advice (that you should totally listen to by the way), and we'll learn some strategies on keeping your children engaged and responsible while everyone is stuck at home. During our Fintech segment, Gregg Murset of BusyKid will also share how his app can help your family learn better habits, and put their allowance to good use by teaching them to save, give, and be a part of a community. Ever hear the phrase, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"? A few weeks ago we asked our friends on Twitter to give us their best answer... but with finances in mind. During our Magnify Money segment we'll share our favorite replies, and our contributors will even share a few of their own answers. One last note: Remember the story in the news recently about the elderly man who ejected himself from the French fighter jet? We won't give away too much, but Doug has some heart-pounding trivia for you on today's show. Today's podcast is another high flier! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who wants to waste money cooking up food on a holiday weekend that doesn't taste good? Not us. That's why, if you are like the rest of us, hanging out at home or with only a small gathering of people...it's the PERFECT year to make a little geeky fun and stretch that holiday-spending dollar. Today we'll help you create some recipes from your favorite shows, movies, and fantasy worlds with the host of the hit blog (and now book!) The Geeky Chef....Cassandra Reeder. She'll share some awesome recipes so you can create great Memorial Day fun... even if you don't have backyard space or a grill. Plus, what's the deal with the renewed interest in gold since the market started shaking? We'll ask State Street Global Advisors' Chief Gold Strategist, George Milling-Stanley, about the role gold should play in your investment strategy. We'll also cover the new rule changes to your FSA and HSA funds... it just became a little easier to buy certain necessities at stores. Finally, we'll wrap up the show with a timely question from Georgiy, who thinks he's heard Joe make some comments about gold. He asks: is it true that gold is 6 times more volatile than the market? If so, could we point him to some sources saying so? Of course, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. It'll be fun, as usual, here in the basement! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for summer fun and theme parks are all closed! Will they open in time for there to be a season? Will there be any virtual fun coming from these entertainment companies? If we choose to head to a theme park, how are they keeping us safe and will there be discounts? Welcome to our annual theme-park guide episode! Today we'll ask all of these questions and more of Robert Niles (of Theme Park Insider), to find out how parks are coping during state shutdowns. We hope to ALL be surprised with good news during today's discussion. Here's a question: how did one unfortunate man find himself 9 million dollars in debt by the end of one trading day? We'll tackle that during our headlines segment. Plus, scams will be on the rise with so many people applying for unemployment and expecting relief checks. How should you protect yourself from becoming a victim? ...and during our Haven Life Line we'll take a question from Lisa, who is opening up a new HSA account. This being her second account, Lisa wonders if she can combine the two HSAs into one. Can she do that? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever feel stuck? Here's a question: How do you stop thinking about doing something important in your life/career/money and actually get started with the hard tasks? This week our roundtable regulars share how they motivate themselves to press "go" more quickly each time, and how to keep pressing "go" more often. We'll talk about fighting fear, making decisions, and working your plan on today's show. After our group is done sharing how they motivate themselves to NOT click the "still watching" option on Netflix, Joe will ring up Lauren Minches from Blueprint Income. They've recently partnered with AARP on a new annuity hub. First, we'll dispel some common annuity myths and also talk about why some annuities get a bad rap (spoiler: it's sometimes deserved). Then we'll discuss how different annuities work. If you're new to lifetime income options, Lauren will walk us through it together on today's show. We'll round out our Friday with a Magnify Money question from caller Jordan, who has spent a lot of time as a DIY investor. Now that Jordan is planning on possibly bringing on an advisor, he asks us: what are our thoughts on drawing on an investment policy statement? Is there anything Jordan should know? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you’re either one of the millions of unemployed Americans (heck, or in the WORLD), or you’re stuck in a job you don’t really want, now is a great time to look for better work. Companies are poised to begin rehiring and you’re in the hunt of your life. How do you score that dream position? Career coach Kevin Kiley would say it’s by taking advantage of the tools you have and by using your brain to tilt the odds in your favor. We’ll discuss how to set yourself up for a great job, how to work the interview AND how to network like a pro. We’ll also tackle what NOT to do during the interview process. Kevin’s seen it all, and today he’ll share stories of the good, bad and ugly, so that you’re better prepared. Will the US economy have to fundamentally change after we recover from this economic meltdown? We’ll share one popular media piece that says the answer is “probably, yes.” One billionaire investor says that one way or another taxes will have to go up. But don’t worry...we also have an opinion about that piece AND others like it (of course). We’ll share our thoughts about that topic during our headline segment AND also detail the story about one investment firm that is paying BIG to correct an index fund rebalancing gone wrong. Oops. How does that happen? We’ll nerd out with you while we share the funny/horrible story. Of course, that’s not all. We’ll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND Doug will share some of his Top Gun themed trivia. It’s Top Gun day in the basement, and Doug’s feels the need….the need for speed! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the first person to tell you that nothing good happens while you're using drugs will be today's guest Michael Brody-Waite, he WILL insist that the skills he learned in recovery are the same skills we all need for success with life and money. He should know. As a man who's walked the journey from drug addict to CEO and success coach, Michael funnels his darkest experiences into powerful lessons he'll share with you. Today, Michael will teach you how to rebalance your priorities, reclaim your energy, and thrive in both work and life. A new bond has arrived! The Treasury last week announced a 20-year note to help offset the massive spending lately in Washington. We'll discuss how that works and may impact your wallet in our headlines segment. Also, we'll cover the results of a recent Morningstar study that shows why it is more important than you might thank to have a thorough financial plan and an (emotional) support network in place. It turns out that it's easy to stay the financial course when everything is going right. The problem is when panic starts to set in, not pressing that big, red "sell everything" button. Today we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a caller a not-quite-usual question about loan repayment. Due to COVID-19 reasons, Vanessa was laid off from work. However, she was building up her savings beforehand. Vanessa also receives unemployment and severance pay. She wonders, "Should I use savings to pay off student loans? Or, would it be better to keep making minimum payments and keep her cash buffer?" Of course, Joe and OG have an opinion. One last thing: Happy Twilight Zone Day! Doug has a special treat in store for you in celebration. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The host of the new Real Estate Rookie podcast, Felipe Mejia, joins Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com) to talk about real estate for newbies. A recent blog post at Coach Carson dot com discusses the writer's relationship with a mentor, and the most valuable real estate lessons he learned. Whether you're interested in real estate or just good lessons about life (and boy, are there many packed into this episode), we've got you covered. Plus, we'll also talk to the Evil HR Lady, Suzanne Lucas, about Zoom call etiquette. Many of us have to do calls from home now, but haven't figured out exactly what's acceptable and what isn't. Suzanne will dive into the details of cleaning up your conference call manners. Of course, Doug will share some trivia for our regular Friday contest AND we'll answer a question from a listener about life post-coronavirus. Should you keep more money in cash? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever thought about what it takes to break into life? Maybe, like us back in the day, you've thought, "How do I come close to this dream of getting to financial security?" Forget financial security...what about just making ends meet? Today we'll interview a woman who's been through everything life could throw at a woman and she STILL came out ahead...today we're giving you an amazing interview with Arlan Hamilton on what it took for her to break into not only life, but also the venture capital world in Silicon Valley. Why isn't Warren Buffett overly concerned about the stock market fluctuations happening currently? We'll cover Buffett's investing approach that enables him approach the market with an outlook that many investors don't have. Plus, we'll take a look at why low volume ETFs are good performers... until they weren't. During our Haven Life Line, we'll take a question from Peter, who wants to know more about using offset loans. Peter is having trouble getting a HELOC, and thinks that using an offset loan could be a good avenue for getting the funds to purchase more cash-flowing properties. Peter asks, is he wrong for wanting to do this? We'll also make some time for Doug's Nurse Appreciation themed trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you think of a discussion, negotiation, or collaboration you don't usually think "soulful." That's where most of us differ from advertising mogul Jason Harris. Today we'll talk a bout putting more of your own soul into your work and relationships so that you make fewer financial mistakes (and career mistakes) AND build toward your dreams faster. New unemployment data hit last week and in our headlines segment we'll talk about how to weather the storm if you're not sure about your job or you've already lost yours. We'll also turn our spotlight on non-COVID related charities and discuss how they're faring (spoiler alert: not well). During the Haven Life Line we'll tackle a question about surprise student loan debt, and during Doug's trivia...well, you'll just have to hear it to believe it. May the 4th be with you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're finishing this week off with a timely rewind episode handpicked by the Fintern: eight smart things to do with $1,000 right now. You can check out our original show notes below: What should you do with a small windfall? Today we ask, if you had $1,000, how should you best use it? We have an article that gives us eight great options, but we ask our panel which of those is best...and why? THAT alone gets rolling a fanstastic discussion between OG, Len Penzo, and special guest from the Money Nerds podcast, Whitney Hansen. We'll also turn our eye on FinTech. We talk to FinTech company founders most weeks on this show, but from the near-outside looking in, where's the ball headed? Rory Holland from CSTMR has a front row seat at the FinTech party, and answers the questions...what's the problem, how's it being solved, and what's next for FinTech? You'll see LOTS of possible directions for FinTech (and...psst....your money) after you hear this interview. We also answer Carolyn's three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Her 21 year old son is graduating from college and she's concerned about claiming him. Can she claim him as a dependent still? On top of that, we'll also answer a letter from another listener, share Doug's trivia, and more. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins as well. MagnifyMoney.com saves users on average $450 when they compare, ditch, switch and save on credit cards, student loan refinancing, checking, savings and more. Check out MagnifyMoney.com for your savings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our Wednesday rewind show! With so much job uncertainty going around right now, the Fintern decided now would be a good time to revisit a great interview we had with freelance extraordinaire Vincent Pugliese. Vincent took himself from a mountain of debt to a successful freelance business, and shared with us his stories, lessons, and experiences he learned along the way. You can read the original show notes below: He had $140,000 in debt, a crappy paying job, and a baby on the way. What would Vincent Pugliese do? We ask the award-winning photographer that very question on today's show. He's photographed four Presidents and every major sport's national championship in the USA, but his debt story will have you shaking your head today. Plus, in our headlines segment, health savings accounts are all the rage, but what's going on with all of this money sitting in cash? We'll address that AND talk about new tax law spurring 401k contributions. We'll of course have more from the world of financial planning, throw out the Haven Life line to lucky listener Chris, who wonders, "Should a 20 year old hire a financial advisor?" Of course, we'll still score with some of Doug's delightful trivia, and more. Thanks toThanks to TurboTax Live for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get a personal review of your tax return with a CPA or EA backed with a one-hundred percent Accuracy Guarantee. Connect with a TurboTax Live expert at TurboTaxLive.com/SB. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring today's show. Compare, ditch, switch and save on consolidation loans, credit cards, student loans, auto loans and more at StackingBenjamins.com/MagnifyMoney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Communicating with your partner about money can be difficult in the best of situations, let alone staying inside for weeks on end. That's why to kick off our rewind week the Fintern picked a topic that will hopefully keep you out of some hot water: how you can stop fighting about money! You can check out the original show notes below: Looking for the perfect budget? Maybe the key isn't counting every penny or finding the perfect spreadsheet. Elle Martinez, author of the new book Couple Money, believes that whether you're single or married the answer might lie in communication, and we'll tackle how to have money dates and stop fighting about money on today's show. In our headlines segment, we share a story about comedian Tracy Morgan. Apparently Walmart, who paid him $90M after a severe accident in 2015, wants more proof about his injury. We'll discuss disability coverage and more from that fallout. Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Susan, who asks about taking out a student loan for her son so he can establish credit. We'll also answer a letter from Julian about Roth IRAs, help Doug bring down the trivia, and sprinkle in some pick up lines along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People (and that includes us!) tend to react emotionally to big change. For us, that's running out of pizza rolls, but when it comes to money, that often means investors can make a bad situation worse by thinking with their heart instead of their head. Today we're going over the coronavirus financial checklist: steps you should be taking not only to make sure your financial bases are covered, but your mental health as well. Pete the Planner from Hey Money! joins Paula Pant and OG on today's show to tackle the best ways to weather any financial storm. Halfway through the show we'll take a break from our financial checkup and turn our attention to our Friday Fintech segment. While our age-old advice of being diversified isn't going anywhere, we understand that people will experiment with individual stocks. Today Joe rings up Michael Patak from BlueChxp, to discuss how you can learn to invest without pouring all your sandbox money down the drain. During our Magnify Money call-in Jimmy calls in with an interesting take on how to handle economy downturns and hypothetical job loss. While he understands having an emergency fund, Jimmy suggests it's better to use lines of credit and other people's money before diving into his own funds. Why shouldn't his emergency fund and various financial accounts be his last line of defense? As always, we'll save some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy the fun! We did! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you're anything like us, you probably have a business idea or two that has been floating around in your head since the quarantine began. After all, what else is there to do between Netflix, snacks, taking a nap, eating dinner, and going to sleep learning who knows how many practical new skills? While an idea is always step one, you won't go very far without some practical knowledge. Today we'll talk to entrepreneur Chris Krimitsos, the founder of PodFest, creator of The Messengers documentary, and overall business connector, to find out what it takes to get a new business rolling. Plus, the financial crisis around coronavirus is hitting areas none of us had thought of, including firms like Merrill Lynch taking a step away from their adviser training program. We'll talk about that fallout and what it means for advisory firms. Plus, in our second headline, how much cash should you be putting away each month to send your kid to college debt-free? We know most people are just trying to put food on the table, but graduation is right around the corner and for many kids, college is not that far away. Later in the show, we'll throw the Haven Life Line and shake out some time for Doug's special trivia. Happy Earth Day, peeps! #Doug2020! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you're looking for the perfect new job, or you're hoping to be able to at least HOLD the remote the next time the family watches Netflix. In either case, do you wish you could be a better negotiator? Whether you want more compensation at the office, you're looking for better results with your business, or hoping for improvement in your personal life, being able to connect with the people around you is a vital skill we all need to hone. Today we'll ask negotiating expert Mori Taheripour how she recommends we get the job done. Her answers may surprise you, as they did us when we first read her new book, Bring Yourself. Plus, are you in the sandwich generation? What IS the "sandwich generation"? That means you're caught in the middle supporting older parents and younger children at the time time. In today's headlines segment, we'll tackle a new study completed by online life insurance company Haven Life (they're also a sponsor of our show). To help us make sense of it all we'll ring up our friend Brittney Burgett and talk about how you can accomplish more while trying to take care of everyone else. We're mixing things up for today's Haven Life Line: we'll answer a question pooled from our Instagram surveys. You can keep up to date with our latest Instagram posts HERE. Adrianne wrote in with an important question for so many people these days about unemployment. She asks, will people already on unemployment before COVID-19 be eligible to receive the additional unemployment relief money? There's more to the answer than you'd think, and we'll share the results of our research on the topic during the segment. As always, we'll save time for a slice of Doug's (national pastime inspired) trivia. Enjoy the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Being able to stack Benjamins has as much to do with stacking less stuff as it does with accumulating more money. It takes far less money to reach your goals if you're mindful of your spending. However, there are other advantages. Today we'll focus on the intersection of minimalism, frugality, and environmentalism, as we discuss with our roundtable team of contributors a fantastic piece from the Frugalwoods blog on the topic. Joining us today we welcome the host of the Marriage, Kids and Money podcast, Andy Hill. He'll join Paula Pant from Afford Anything and Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com on today's show! Plus, halfway through the show, we'll talk about a company working all over the FinTech front. Diebold Nixdorf is a company you may not have heard of, but on many fronts, they're the firm that helps the apps you live and the companies you use to show with, actually work. We'll talk about innovation in shopping, commerce, and banking with Devon Watson during our Friday FinTech segment. Of course, we'll still feature a MagnifyMoney question from one of our Stacker friends AND debate some Ford Mustang pricing trivia....all just another day on Stacking Benjamins! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How has that phone in your pocket changed the course of finance? It turns out, a TON. Today we talk to Dan Simon, who chronicles the birth and growth of FinTech for us on today's show. We'll discuss the early iPhone and how it became the center of development. We'll then highlight some of the early players and how their interest wasn't so much around banking, trading, or even finance, as it was a way to solve a very specific problem they had. We'll also discuss the future of FinTech. Dan's opinion may surprise you. We'll also shine a light today on the student loan crisis. Good news for borrowers: there was something in the latest government aid package for you. We'll detail many of the helpful provisions with the help of CFP Ryan Law and Certified Student Loan Counsellor Andrew Pentis. Plus, if you're one of the over 6.6 million people who lost their job two weeks ago, we also have some help for you. We wish it was a new job...but instead it's just some financial tips. That's not all! We'll of course throw out the Haven Life line in the funniest way possible AND save time for Doug's totally artistic trivia. Thanks for hanging out with us! If you're helping keep the economy moving during all this...special thanks to YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lydia Fenet has a job where she commands attention for a living. As lead benefit auctioneer at Christie’s auction house, she has to quickly and effectively command a room. Today she'll show YOU how to sell your abilities to any group. We'll discuss how she broke into auctioneering, which is a tale of persistence, grit, and selling. Then we'll discuss her first auctions, and when she finally found success. While mirroring success helped her first begin the process of working as an auctioneer, it was something altogether different that finally separated her from the pack. Not only that, we'll talk about negotiations, demanding what you're worth, and more. Plus, what do you have in common with professional athletes? It turns out that during this crisis you may have a TON in common with them. Namely, some of the questions they're asking currently about their money sound awfully familiar. We'll cover which questions those might be. AND, we'll also uncover yet another benefit of the relief package, more help with student loans. Sadly, this particular help isn't widely known, but we're helping to get the word out on today's show. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line AND share some of Doug's after-Easter trivia. Stay safe, everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Experiments aren't just for the laboratory; they can also help with your budget, or your investments. By continually experimenting you're learning a TON about how to manage money, and which techniques work uniquely for you! Joining us today from Balance Financial Coaching, we'll welcome (the totally balanced) coach Heather Albrecht. Joining her, we'll say hello again to Doc G from the Earn and Invest podcast, and round out our discussion with OG, from this very show. Part two of the Payroll Protection Program rolls out today. If you know ANYONE who employs people, we've got BIG news: the government has a program to keep YOU in business. Philip Taylor the founder of PTMoney.com and FinCon will walk us through how YOU can keep people employed on today's show. This is a BIG segment that you won't want to miss if you know ANYONE who employs people. And sure, we'll also help a lucky caller magnify their money on the MagnifyMoney.com hotline, we'll also share a money question about golf AND much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mentor of Joe's once said to "beware charts and graphs," and with us all huddled at home staring at screens, we're consuming more data daily than ever. It's important to be able to process what we read from financial companies. Sometimes the facts on the page are misleading, and other times it's what's NOT stated that is misleading. Joining us today is John Johnson, who dives into data on a daily basis looking for flaws in the numbers. He's worked with professional sports, election campaigns, businesses, and individuals to help them understand data better, and today he's here to help YOU. But that's not all. One "shark" from Shark Tank says that the companies she's helping to grow probably won't survive. Why would Barbara Corcoran say that? We'll explain, and discuss what that may mean to you. Plus, what happens if you plan to retire during a pandemic? Do you delay your date? Retire later? We'll discuss planning during times of distress today. Of course, that's not all. On the Haven Life line we'll also talk about rolling 401k plans over to IRAs (or not) AND save time for some of Doug's amazing trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Juggling all the facets of life became a lot harder for many of us the last few weeks (well, in some ways easier...no more commute!). If you're lucky enough to be healthy, you're now just trying to figure out how to handle everything, AND in close quarters. Today we welcome two guys who are VERY good at juggling life, money and family, Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix from the popular How To Money podcast. We'll talk about managing life during "normal" times, so that when life goes back to "normal" (whatever that is), you'll be prepared! Plus, what if you lost $50M dollars? That happened to one drug dealer in the UK. We'll explain how that happened and we'll even share where the money is now. Mom's fairly certain you won't want to try and find it. Plus, the Department of Education just announced new guidelines around student loan relief for repayers. There are LOTS of changes and we'll detail the BIGGEST ones on the show. Of course, we're confined to the basement today, but that's nothing new....so JUST like every other show, we'll still throw out the Haven Life line AND save time for Doug's trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who's shopping? You shopping? None of us are doing more than shopping for groceries...even if it's on the internet. Today we'll talk about getting in and out of the grocery store without catching anything by focusing on the 20 signs you may be spending too much on shopping. Joining us today from Yes I am Cheap, we'll welcome smart shopper Sandy Smith. From the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to golden shopper Paula Pant! And finally, from Len Penzo dot com, we'll welcome Drew Carey from the Price is Right. Okay.... we're joking....it's just Len Penzo. If you know ANYONE who employs people, we've got BIG news for your today: Are you interested in how the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act can help businesses and entrepreneurs? George Kurtyka from Joust will walk us through how YOU can keep people employed on today's show. This is a BIG segment that you won't want to miss if you know ANYONE who employs people. Finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk about what our Stacker friend named Erica about her parents and in-laws who are blowing all their money on boats and shops to put those boats in? As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors on Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking Disney on today's show of course this is one of Joe's favorite topics. How many people actually work for Disney? Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been awhile since we've answered the mailbag, so we thought there's no better day to tackle some questions! So, our long-time hosts, Farnoosh & OG are kicking off April by answering a TON of your questions! We received many questions about topics including: caring for your pets after your passing, investing while paying off debt, savings plans, picking an HSA, and more. Plus, in our headlines segment, while everyone is panicking, we discuss why you should keep your cool and not change your plan. Plus, getting your taxes ready to file even though the filing date has been pushed back? If so, we'll discuss some frequent (and ugly) mistakes people make. Of course we'll also save time for Doug's trivia. Just another 50-minute day in the office (AKA basement) for us! Stay safe everyone! ...and wash your hands! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you have debt you're going to love today's episode. We'll talk to a woman who decided that it was time to take charge and change her course for the better. Choncé Maddox Ray (of the My Debt Epiphany blog) didn't have a huge savings account or a sizable income to get herself some relief from debt, but she didn't let that stop her from taking ownership of her life. She'll talk about how it took self reflection, planning, hard work, and follow through to lift herself from a life of debt. Deciding it was time for a change, Chonce paid off $11,000 in debt on a salary of less than $35,000. We'll ask Choncé to dive into just how she pulled that off. The relief bill is out (it was being finalized when we recorded...and there's nothing new to report that we didn't cover in the episode). With the bill signed into law, what's the next step? What should you do with the cash influx when it drops into your account? If you're a business owner what should you do as well? We'll cover that PLUS turn our attention to one of the early casualties in the financial arena of the coronavirus crisis: a couple of leveraged funds are going bye-bye. What does that have to do with your money? We'll explain. During Doug's trivia segment halfway though the show we'll share some interesting facts backed up by a LinkedIn survey. Are you a manager? Buckle up, we're delivering your employees biggest gripe about YOU. We're rounding out the show with a call from Simon, who calls in with a question he could only ask virtually right now. The problem? Simon's got a new job and is making a ton of cash. His co-worker suggested waiting until the market cools down before investing anything, but that doesn't make much sense to Simon. Thoughts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes trying to be an adult just plain stinks. But when do you "adult" and when do you "wing it"? A recent post on popular blogging site Budgets Are Sexy asks that question and today we put that in front of our roundtable panel of top bloggers and podcasters. Where do you balance minimalism with having the right backup? Joining us today from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, from our own amazing podcast, our co-host OG, finally, from Len Penzo dot com, we'll welcome Frank from the movie Old School....who you know IS the most responsible adult. Okay, we're joking. Rounding out our team is just Len Penzo. Working from home? Trying to teach your children while you're working? Today we'll ask CEO Aaron Velky from Ortus Academy how his Money Club works. While others have struggled to help kids learn about money, Ortus Academy has developed a notable short term track record. Could your kids learn money habits better? Aaron joins us to talk about how kids learn and exactly what they think is important to teach. Interestingly, he'll talk about financial education as a sport. How do you teach kids to "win" with money? we'll share how they're solving that problem. Finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Nick on how to spend more money. He's thinking about moving his family to a high-cost area. How does he afford the bigger expenses he's about to bring on? As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors on Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking coffee on today's show. Specifically, how many people like their cup of Joe black (aka "naked," "with nothing in it," or "au natural.") Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The market's down a bazillion percent (mom's not great at math), your neighbors won't answer the door (and for the first time ever, that's a good thing), and the world seems upside down. Time to stop throwing good money after bad and call a retreat? On today's show Joe & OG answer a TON of your questions about ANYTHING! While we received many questions about coronavirus we also field some about college savings plans, Roth IRAs, board games, and what we would have done if podcasting hadn't been the huge massive financial hit that it's been (sarcasm, kids...). Plus, in our headlines segment, while everyone is panicking, luckily there are still journalists out there ready to write some pretty stupid financial pieces. What's the latest piece of financial TP advice? We'll cover that on today's show AND save time for Doug's trivia. Just another nearly 90 minute day in the office (AKA basement) for us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, we're joking about the coronavirus coverage. While we'll discuss the key fundamentals you need to know, we'll spend more time today talking about the basics. Between focusing on your money mindset with Jean Chatzky from The Today Show and HerMoney.com, refinancing your debt, and getting your taxes paid on time, there's a LOT to cover. Hopefully you'll find yourself focusing on the good things instead of glued to the television and events you can't control. During our headlines we're covering the latest silver lining from the IRS: the tax filing deadline has been kicked down the road AND penalties and interest has been waived on tax payments. During our segment we'll explain what that all means to you, (other than waiting a few more months to file, of course. Procrastination for the win!). Plus during our second headline we'll share how virus fears have led to a mortgage refinancing boom. During the Haven Life Line we're answering a question from one of our Facebook Basement members. Phil and his wife took out a HELOC last year and decided they wouldn't refinance to avoid paying closing costs. With rates dropping how they are, Phil asked our group: doesn't it make sense to refinance now and save large down the road? As always, we'll save some room for Doug's chip-and-dip themed trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since you're most probably stuck at home and "social distancing" yourself, now's a great time for a lighthearted discussion about spring cleaning your financial picture. Everything else in life right now seems pretty heavy, so today we'll keep it light with three people who know a thing or two about great money moves. Joining us today from Paychecks and Balances, we'll welcome Marcus Garrett, from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, and finally, from Len Penzo dot com, its our favorite house keeper Alice from The Brady Bunch! ...while that would be fun, today it's just gonna be Len Penzo. While you're cleaning up your money, raising your savings rate is a great place to start (or at least trying to stop your savings from deteriorating...). SO today Joe will be chat about behavioral finance with expert Dr. Ted Klontz and Emily Shallal from Ally Bank. Dr. Ted Klontz lets us know that our ancestors did not hoard their money or even their toilet paper...#shocking. Surprisingly, he says our brains are wired differently, and Emily Shallal from Ally tells us how they've used similar studies to create new product features that'll trick our brains into saving. And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Joe about whether he should contribute to his retirement or save for a house. As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking omelettes on today's show (of course!). Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During this crisis, it's important to focus on the big picture...but what is it? Our guest today says (and we agree), that managing your energy, and not your time is the key to success. Angelo Poli, the founder of MetPro and advisor to some of the biggest celebrities and athletes in America, discusses weight loss, how to eat right (and avoid fad diets), and more. We're sure you'll learn a TON about nutrition (like we all do every time Angelo has been on the show). Plus, what's polite to talk about over dinner with people? Politics, religion, or your credit card debt? Today we'll talk to Nathan Hamilton during our headlines segment about a study he and the team at The Ascent have completed about appropriate topics at work and at the dinner table. I think you'll be as surprised as we were. If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How does YOUR financial future look? Probably the first lesson anyone successful with money will tell you is that you can't look at life the same way anymore. While some expenses others may see as a given, you now see as a money drain. Where others see failure, you now see opportunity. Today we'll talk about changing your financial tune with Dave Mason, author of The Cash Machine, who suggests you can make big changes in your relationship with money by making some small changes in how you perceive the world around you. Recently the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in response to the coronavirus. They may do it again. We'll talk about some opportunities this may open up for you. Plus, from the perspective of the individual investor (or more preciously, the Robinhood investor), life got a little worse for some traders when the investing app suffered an outage for an entire trading day as stocks surged. Later on, we'll answer a retirement and taxes question from Red. He can contribute to a Roth and Traditional 401k, while Red's wife can only contribute to a Traditional. What happens during retirement when they file jointly? Will Red have to pay taxes twice? One now for the Roth, and later on for the traditional? As always, we're saving some time today for Doug's trivia. It's a great day to listen to podcasts while you're at home! Everyone stay safe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time to get down and dirty! Did you think financial experts agree on everything? OG has his boxing gloves on for this episode because today we're wrestling with topics financial experts can't agree upon. Fighting with him today from the amazing podcast Afford Anything, we welcome Paula Pant, and from the compelling podcast Earn and Invest, (formerly What's Up Next?), we'll also say hello to the Doc G. It's a great crew and we think you'll love the conversation they discuss as they wrestle with today's topics. We know it's fun to hang out in the basement, but Peak Money makes saving money look like fun no matter where you are! Today during our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with Jonathan Yagel and Michael Brooks from Peak Money about how they're able to help people save more money toward their goals. It's an exciting journey that most of our listeners want to pursue. Who doesn't want more money toward their next vacation? I rest my case. And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, OG really hits it hard with the punches but Paula and Doc pick up the slack. They answer a question about what category a 401k savings plan should be in, when filling out a spreadsheet. Is it an expense or saving? We'll get our team's cracking answer on today's show! As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. How much did the first Barbie cost? It's all exciting questions and answers on today's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you a "go-go-go" person? You live on phrases like, "I can sleep when I'm dead," or "hustle and grind." Today's guest Heather Chauvin from the Mom In Control podcast used to live that lifestyle, until a serious health issue finally forced her to face the truth: it isn't sustainable. Not only that, but Heather Chauvin will also share how, once she took care of herself better, she was then able to bring more energy to her life, creating much more than she was when she was "hustle and grinding." Plus, I don't know if you noticed, but the stock market has been slightly "bumpy" lately. Joe and OG have a timely discussion around people fleeing stocks AND those people who are on social media saying, "Go buy more." Both of these approaches could cost you dearly. They'll also discuss how Jeff Bezos now is joining the growing list of entrepreneurs putting his wallet behind the fight against climate change. We'll discuss ESG investing and why anyone would do that on today's show. If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's your financial plan? Is it built on bedrock or are you "winging it", aka building on sand? On today's show, Certified Financial Planner Brian Ursu joins us to dive into four strategies that will help anyone trying to build their financial house. For veteran planners, these will be things you've heard before. However, the question isn't, "Have you heard them?" Like anything, you should ask yourself, "Am I doing them?" THAT may yield a completely different answer. Plus, TurboTax maker Intuit has been in the news recently, because they're buying credit score site Credit Karma. What does that mean for consumers like us? Also, because Credit Karma is a FinTech company, what does that mean for FinTech? We'll ask Ryan Falvey from Financial Venture Studio both of those questions. If you've heard Ryan before on our show, you know he'll have an interesting point of view. Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND still leave time for Doug's trivia...which today takes a more-than-usual unusual twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices