The Stacking Benjamins Show

As much as we don't like to admit it (and let's face it, Doug never will), we're not perfect here in the basement. We can mess up and make mistakes, just like anyone. But not all mistakes are created equal. Forgetting to start the dishwasher? Yeah, that's not the end of the world, but what about financial mistakes? A small one might mess up your weekend... but a big one could spell disaster. That's why today we're covering (and sharing some of our own) 8 mistakes the middle class is making with their money (a piece written by Holly Johnson for The Simple Dollar). Joining us today our special guest, from Rich Life Advisors, is Beau Henderson. Also joining in the discussion are our regular roundtable contributors, Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo (Len Penzo dot com). Midway through the show we'll take a little break and talk to the co-founder and chairman of Acorns, Walter Cruttenden, about his new brand new venture, an app that mixes two unlikely ideas: video games and saving money. When we first heard about Blast we were intrigued by the possibilities, so we're excited to bring it to your attention, too. And of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia and also to answer a listener question from Dan, who is looking for suggestions. How does someone in retirement create a more defensive portfolio? What types of investments should they consider adding to the mix? Thanks to Nutrafol for supporting Stacking Benjamins (and Joe's head!). Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker. And don't forget about our Three-Town Tour! The award winning Stacking Benjamins podcast is coming LIVE to a stage near you. Find out more on our Tour Page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PB&J or BLT? Before you answer that question you'll want to listen in on today's show. You guessed it! Today's the return of Len Penzo's annual Sandwich Survey. We're mixing the costs of going back to school, nutrition, and a little inflation talk all into one discussion. Turns out you can learn quite a bit from comparing the rising (or falling) costs of sandwiches year-to-year. Who knew that the economics of lunch could be so fun? And if you're not particular towards any particular sandwich, we're also bringing the sauce in our headlines. First up? If you're a homeowner you could be sitting on a record amount of cash. Maybe you're not a homeowner? We've got you covered too in our second headline... we'll be looking at some new loan programs targeting homebuyers with 3% down or less. We'll also have time to answer Doug's trivia, listen in on a Haven Life Line call from our basement friend Lee, AND still get around to a listener letter. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life transitions are always stressful, and can be more than a little scary. Oftentimes, it's not until we're settled back into a routine that we notice we haven't been on our money management game. Maybe we made some big decisions while emotional. Worse yet, maybe some of those decisions were irrevocable and now you're stuck. With all the big changes happening ourselves here in the basement we realized that talking about managing money during transitions might be long overdue. Coming down to the basement today to talk about money management during BIG life changes like a divorce or elderly family member moving to managed care, is Certified Financial Planner Dorie Fain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's more important, money or time? While that answer is up for debate, one thing isn't: better time management will lead to making more money. So, how do you maximize your money AND your time? Helping us answer that question is money coach extraordinaire, Dorethia Kelly. Also joining the conversation today is basement regular, Len Penzo. And rounding out the crew today, from our very own podcast, is OG. After we tackle time management, we'll be getting some big news from the life insurance front during our FinTech segment. How about some life insurance services that you can benefit from while you're still... alive? We're talking to long-time basement friend and CEO of Haven Life, Yaron Ben-Zvi, about some big changes coming to the company. Still want more? We'll make time to answer Doug's trivia AND a voicemail. Once you have your financial house in order, what should you do with your extra savings? We'll answer Dan's question right after we figure out what Doug's trivia. Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase! Thanks also to Nutrafol. Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Think you're doing all you can to earn more money? Hoping to find ways to maybe squeeze a little more productivity out of your day? In today's inspirational episode, we're talking to Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson from the Being Boss podcast about what"being boss" really means. Whether you're working for someone else or have entrepreneurial blood, there's something today for everyone. And in our headlines segment... should you lease a car for your teenager? It might sound like the craziest and dumbest idea at first, but don't shut it downbefore we look at the pros and cons of comparing a used (or even new) vehicle against a leased one for your teenager's first car. Plus, in our second headline, Angelina Jolie is accusing Brad Pitt of not paying his half of their kids' expenses. With millions of dollars between them, what's the big picture here? Of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia... and then, in our letters segment, Bill suggests a new idea for the show...should Joe & OG change the format? Do something new? We may have just found our new hit show... Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While we're usually not crazy about jumping in the cryptocurrency Kool-aid, a new type of crypto just being birthed called Kinesis caught our eye. This emerging crypto is based on gold and silver...so already it sounds a little different, right? To learn more about Kinesis and just how a new cryptocurrency is birthed, we invited CEO of Kinesis, Thomas Coughlin down to the basement to give us the fundamentals. What makes them different? Why launch a new one when so many others already exist? How do you keep your crypto-money from being stolen? We'll ask these questions and many more today. Then, in our headlines segment, Vanguard's Chief Investment Officer responds to Fidelity's new no-fee funds. While his answer might not surprise you, how we think this correlates to you and your money just might be a surprise. In our second headline, Wells Fargo has beat back another lawsuit...this one having to do with target date funds. Of course, we'll still have time for not only Doug's trivia, but also to answer a voicemail from John, who wants to know what advice we'd give someone who isn't sure how to crystalize their long-term goals. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Thanks also to Nutrafol. Get your first month supply with a subscription plan for $10 nutrafol.com and promo code SB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you known as the "frugal" friend in your circle? Think you're 100% on board when it comes to managing your finances? You'll have a chance to put that to the test today, because our roundtable is discussing (and sharing their own stories on) hardcore money decisions. Helping us out today is special guest from The PhysicianWealthServices.com, Ryan Inman... PLUS two of our basement favorites: Paula Pant and Len Penzo. Then, in our Fintech segment, we're super excited to talk to Catherine Berman from CNote. Not only does CNote pay higher interest rates currently than a regular savings account, but you'll also be investing in local communities. How does it work? We'll go through it step by step with Cat (and you can check out our link below to CNote for more information). And of course, if you're hungry like the wolf for trivia, we'll still have time for Doug. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We LOVE success stories, and today we're talking to one woman with a great one. She set out to pay off over $18,000 of debt in a single year. But what happened? She actually did it in just over half that time: seven months. Sounds good? We thought so too, so we called up Jenni Zepol to see just how she did it. The great news? Many of you may be able to follow her tactics and do it also. Plus, in our headlines segment one whistleblower claims she was fired for raising red flags about her employer's alternative investment sales. While we're not going to set out to prove or disprove her claims, we will draw a point on why it's important to make sure your advisor is always acting as a fiduciary while helping you handle your finances. And in our second headline, one Florida teacher quit his job to become a 6-figure earning personal shopper. Any lessons we can learn there? Absolutely. We'll also have time to answer a listener letter, and don't you worry, we'll also dish out a dose of Doug's trivia. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've said for awhile that the fee game is a "race to the bottom," and last week....we reached the bottom. Fidelity dropped some big news in the financial world last week: not only did they slash a bunch of fees, they also introduced two no-fee mutual funds. What does it mean? How does these new funds work? We've got you covered. First, we'll talk to the VP of Retirement for Fidelity, Ken Hevert, for more information on the company's latest move, and later in the show, OG and Joe will break down what this might mean for you and your money. PLUS, during our headlines segment we'll dig into a Wall Street Journal report covering how one big bank is still finding new ways to surprise their customers... and not in a good way. And during the Haven Life Line we're talking to Colin about Roth and Traditional 401ks. What's the best way to use them so he can retire early? Don't worry, we'll still have time for a Doug's trivia and to answer a listener letter from Kurt. With a baby on the way, what should Kurt and his wife be doing to be financially prepared? Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase! Thanks to Harry’s for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get your Trial Set – go to Harrys.com/sb Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most people borrow money at some point, but how do we pick out good loans from bad loans? To help us figure out which loans are best, we're bringing down our usual suspects: from AffordAnything.com, Paula Pant; from our very own basement, OG; and from LenPenzo.com... Len Penzo. And halfway through the show we're talking to the founder of Current, Stuart Sopp, who's setting out to help parents teach their kids about money and the dangers of using plastic. We'll also answer a student loan/investment question question from Eli, and still have time for Doug's trivia. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're coming to you (mostly) live from Podcast Movement! Joe caught up with some of our favorite podcasters and friends and interviewed them live right from the event floor. We have an action-packed episode featuring Gwen Mertz in our headlines, and then interviews from Jordan Harbinger, Phillip Taylor, and Vincent Pugliese, plus an awesome roundtable segment featuring Mindy Jensen from Bigger Pockets, Joel Larsgaard from Pour Not Poor, and Chris Browning from Popcorn Finance. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you been waiting for us to answer your letter? It's your lucky day because we're dedicating today's show to answering your questions. We're covering diversification, retirement, investing, Fintech, dividends and everything in between on our special letters episode. Before we get to your letters, In our headlines segment we're taking a look at emergency funds and long-term care dollars. Are you thinking about cutting corners and that maybe you can get by day-to-day without some sort of emergency fund? That could spell some bad news down the road. And in our second headline we'll spend a few minutes talking about proper planning for long-term care. The costs can pile on quicker than you think, and deciding your strategy isn't easy. Plus, it's National Cheesecake Day! Doug's all excited, and so are we. Plus, in honor of Henry Ford's birthday, we'll have some Ford-related trivia that even if you aren't a car buff, you JUST might know the answer to... Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB. Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are many ways to have a not-so-great relationship with the fuel that helps you reach your goals. You can spend too much, never spend anything...and much more. What IS a healthy relationship, and what does it look like? There are a lot of warning signs, but that doesn't mean it's an easy problem to fix. On today's show, our contributors, Jen Smith from the FrugalFriendsPodcast.com, Roger Whitney (the Retirement Answer Man) from RogerWhitney.com, and Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com, will tackle their relationships with money (both the good and the bad). Plus, during our Friday FinTech segment, we're excited to talk to Aditi Shekar from Zeta. Mastering your relationship with money is hard enough on your own, it only gets more intense when you add someone else to the picture. Zeta helps couples (whether married, roommates, living together, or living apart) master their money through a mix of technology and good old-fashioned advice. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks also to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've probably heard of impact investing, but... have you heard of vice funds? The concept is similar to impact investing, but instead of good causes, vice fund invests in those other sectors of the market....like cigarettes, gambling, and alcohol. Interested yet? We hope so, because today, to talk more on vice funds, mom's invited the guy that's right in the middle of this sector to share ideas, stories, and his investing strategy, Jordan Waldrep. Then, in our headlines segment, we'll call our friend JJ Montenaro from USAA, who has some disturbing news on the life insurance front. Why don't many people buy life insurance? We'll talk coverage, strategies, and life insurance myths on today's podcast. Plus, we'll discuss one piece covering the "lessons learned" from a big Hollywood divorce. We'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Tyler. Tyler's wife is going back to school to get her master's degree. Could they open up a 529 plan and use it right away for the tax credit? We'll also answer a letter from Paul. He wants to separate from service soon and retire, but most of his 401k funds are with a prior employer. Does he need to roll that money over before he separates so that he has money to live on before 59 and 1/2? Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to RXBAR for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Get 25% off your first order at RXbar.com/sb, Promo Code: SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At least one real estate investor is doing his best work by bringing affordable real estate to the masses. From ImpactHousing.com, we welcome Eddie Lorin, who'll share how you can purchase and create real estate opportunities that in his words, "do well by doing good." We'll also talk about real estate in different areas of the country and about trends in real estate investing and rehabilitation. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or a newbie, there'll be something for you to like. In our headlines segment... do you think emergency funds are overrated? If you're not setting money aside for the unexpected (it's called an "emergency fund" after all), you might find yourself hitching rides from Neighbor Doug just to show up at work on time. Plus, in our second headline, should we be worried about the cost of a long-term care stay? One publication suggests we should be estimating and funding long-term care a little differently. Then, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Derrick and his wife, who need to reduce their tax liability. What are their options? Don't worry though. We promise to save time to answer a letter and also swallow a dose of Doug's icy trivia. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should financial bloggers and financial podcasters who tout that they're "retired" share the WHOLE story with their audience? Plus, if they're managing a successful blog or podcast, how "retired" are they actually? Additionally....does it matter to a reader or listener if the writer/podcaster is actually retired, if their information is on point? We'll tackle a great article on this topic from Tanja Hester from the Our Next Life blog with our special guest, CFP Dana Anspach from SensibleMoney.com. We'll also say hello to Tiller CEO Peter Polson in our Friday FinTech segment, who shares some BIG changes to his company's spreadsheet budgeting and money tracking apps. Then we'll answer a question from a listener about investing, worry over Doug's trivia, and more. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to get $20 off a suitcase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

And you thought you knew us! WELCOME TO THE STACKING HAMILTONS SHOW!!!! According to Doug's crazy holiday calendar we're celebrating National Hamilton's Day. It's your lucky today because today we're bringing you a show stock full of tips on how to save Hamiltons fora rainy day. Rosemarie Groner from BusyBudgeter.com, stopped by the basement to hand deliver 10 tips to save $10 in 10 minutes minutes or less. PLUS, during our headlines segment, we're talking to the COO of popular money and budgeting app, Clarity Money. I know. We're about three quarters as excited as you are. And during our Haven Life Line segment, we'll answer a question from Tracy about paying her daughter. Does her business need to show an expense report for paying her daughter even though Tracy put it in an Roth IRA?Then during our letters segment we'll answer Corey's question about his retirement progress. How's he doing? Of course, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you ever find yourself sitting around wondering how someone retires early? Good news... we've been wondering the same thing. To answer answer all of our (and your!) questions about early retirement, we invited the man who has not only done it himself, but has been teaching other people to do it too, from TheRetirementManifesto.com, Fritz Gilbert. Speaking of wonder....have you wondered how you can win that "free" luxury car in the mall? Ever think about writing down your information for a chance to win? As you've probably expected, there's a catch... and we'll share what it is on today's podcast. Plus, during the second headline, we'll cover why you shouldn't be so afraid of A.I. managing your money. We'll dive into what more AI means to the pros, and we think you'll like their point of view. Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Stevan, who calls in with a question about target-date funds. What should someone be looking at when they're trying to determine if a target-date fund is a good investment? Of course, we'll still have time to answer a letter from college student Tyler, who recently downloaded Acorns. Still being young, how should he be investing his money? And don't your worry, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Thanks to Away for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to Awaytravel.com/sb and use the promo code sb to score $20 off your next suitcase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It always pays to start with the end in mind, which may seem difficult, but one recent piece suggests that answering a few questions will help you crystalize your goals. For example, do you know what you'd do with your life if money wasn't an issue? What would your life's goals and aspirations be? What would change? To help answer today's big questions we invited Crystal Hammond from the SophisticatedSpender.com to join us, along with regular contributors Paula Pant from AffordAnything.com and Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com Halfway through the show we'll talk to Kevin Ells from eBlocker. Tired of being tracked online? Want to stop companies from price discriminating against you? We'll talk to Kevin about eBlocker's nifty hardware that'll help you take back your privacy online. We'll also save time for Doug's Friday the 13th trivia segment, and of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Mrs. Anonymous and her husband are starting a small local business as a side-hobby, with the possibility of scaling up to an online store. Should they start an LLC right away, or wait until they have some growth? Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB. Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Investing can be scary, especially if you're just starting out. What if your money evaporates overnight? What if some unforeseen event happens and my investments are wiped out? And with most of us relying on our investments to get us through retirement years, to pay for college, or other goals, it's natural to be worried. While we can't totally eliminate investment risk, we can do a pretty good job reducing risk... if you know how. That's why we're bringing the author of Slash Your Retirement Risk, Chris Cook, down to the basement. We'll talk to Chris about how you can make practical, safe investments to see you through your retirement years, and still keep the money rolling while you do it. Then our headlines segment, UBS has been ordered to pay out millions in a Puerto Rico bonds claim. Plus, during our second headline we cross over to the other side and hear the confessions of a debt collector. Of course that's not all! We'll throw out the Haven Life line to Mike, who has a pile of cash to invest. He already has a few ideas, but wants to know what we think. And in our letters segment Willis wants to know if taking the tax hit for a backdoor Roth contribution with his two rollover IRAs is worth it. Thoughts? And don't you worry, we'll still have time for Doug's trivia. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A game show made to wipe out student debt? That's right...coming to Tru TV is a new game show that's made specifically for that reason. If you're anything like millions of other people, you've probably had (or still have) the pleasure of dealing with student loans. Between ongoing bills and wallet stretching emergencies, it may seem like there's never enough money to go around. So what do you do? Coming to the basement to discuss the student loan epidemic, and to help YOU pay off some of your debt on his new show called Paid Off with Michael Torpey, we welcome....Michael Torpey. Also joining us is one of the people helping to lead the charge for student loan debt reform, the executive director of Student Debt Crisis, Natalia Abrams. In our headlines segment, how would you like to get thousands of dollars for painting your front door? Okay... while it's not THAT simple, the idea still stands. New statistics show that painting your front door is one of the most cost-effective methods of increasing your home's value. And in our second piece, one ATM had over $17,000 shredded...and you won't believe how it happened. And then, during the Haven Life Line, Kurt wants to know about jobs (other than a financial advisor of course) that deal with helping others financially. Of course, we'll still answer a letter, have time for Doug's trivia, and much more. Thanks to Slack for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Slack: Where work happens. Go to slack.com to learn more. Thanks also to our favorite browser extension Honey for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Signup for FREE with joinhoney.com/SB Time calls Honey "basically free money." We agree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking to jump into real estate? We're rolling back the clock to the time we talked to Brandon Turner from the award-winning real estate site, Bigger Pockets. He'll talk about purchasing, managing tenants and building wealth. We'll also cover a couple of headlines about some hacks to make your life easier, and the deadly financial sins to avoid if you're not keen on handing your money over to crooks. Of course, we'll also answer some letters, get a dose of Doug's trivia, and much much more. The original show notes can be found HERE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Griffin the Intern (the "FinTern") takes us back to our debt-curing discussion with MagnifyMoney CEO Nick Clements and MagnifyMoney Executive Editor Mandi Woodruff. Still in the wake of the holiday buying season, Nick and Mandi shared some good strategies on paying down debt. We also take your letters, learn French with Matilda and Devin Carrol, and get a surprise visit from Tiffany the Budgetnista. Of course, it's a full episode of the show....so there's much, much more! Enjoy! You can find the original show notes HERE. This episode originally aired January 11, 2017. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you've made some mistakes in your past, how do you get back on track for financial independence? Is there ever a "too" late? Is financial independence out of reach for those of us who started late? Helping us answer those questions and more is special guest Gwen Mertz from the FireDrillPodcast.com. Also rounding out our contributors for today is Len Penzo, of LenPenzo.com fame, and our very own OG. And midway through the show we'll take a few minutes to stop and talk about seniors selling life insurance policies before they lapse. Know a senior struggling to pay to keep a life insurance policy in check...or worse yet, letting one lapse? We've invited Felix from Mason Finance down to the basement to give you the lowdown on selling off insurance for cash before it lapses or if you don't need it. We'll also have time for Doug's trivia, and of course, we'll answer a three-oh call for help to the Blooom hotline. Should Ryan focus on investing into his taxable brokerage account first or his 401k? Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Stamps.com for supporting Stacking Benjamins. For a 4 week trial (that includes a digital scale and postage) go to Stamps.com, click on the microphone at the top of the homepage, and enter SB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kiné Corder joins us to tackle some of the biggest money issues...our own money personality. Mom says all the time to "know yourself," and Kine will help you dive into your money traits so that you can rely more on your strengths and cover your weaknesses. We'll discuss spenders, blamers, artists, presidents and more on today's show! In our headlines segment, how would you feel if you had to skip important medical care due to high costs? That's what almost HALF the diabetics in the USA are facing, according to one publication. What should someone do in this situation? In our second headline, brokerage firm Merrill Lynch is re-evaluating their commission ban inside retirement accounts. What does that mean for your money? Will other firms follow suit? We'll also tackle that today. Of course we'll still throw out the Haven Life line to Eric and Amy. While their neighborhood is great, the school district isn't. Should Eric and Amy start looking at another neighborhood or consider private school? Of course, we'll also have time for Doug's trivia. Thanks also to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins. 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. Thanks to Emperor Investments for supporting Stacking Benjamins. Go to emperorinvests.com/sb and select "Stacking Benjamins podcast" when asked how you heard about the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices