The Stacking Benjamins Show

Why aren't you saving more? How about $15,000 a year more? Our guest today just organized her financial picture and saved a TON of money. Anna Davies saved by doing the little things that people talk about all the time. Today's topic isn't about "have you heard it." It's about "have you done it?" We also have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to Roofstock for helping us with today's show. New to real estate or a seasoned investor looking for a better partner? Check out Roofstock! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bernie Madoff perpetrated the largest scam of investor money in history. How? Today we're thrilled to talk to the author of the book which HBO has now made into a four time Emmy-nominated film, The Wizard Of Lies," Diana Henriques. We'll discuss the scandal, her interactions with Madoff, and what we can learn from this tragedy. In our headline segment we ask the question, "What happens to your HSA during retirement?" Morningstar asked the same question in a recent article, and the guys review it and discuss many retirement options. We then turn to a recent survey by GenFKD about millennials and homes. Apparently many millennials would like to buy a home but they're fighting an uphill battle. We talk with David Grasso from GenFKD about their findings. We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Conrad, who's concerned about our new sponsor, and we'll answer a letter from the mailbag. Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of this awesome company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A big problem that we have at the Stacking Benjamins show is that nobody ever talks about their mistakes. So today....as our final topic, we discuss a BIG financial mistake we've all made. One of us shares a DOOZY. We'll let you listen to hear which one. We also cover (as we do EVERY Friday), LOTS of other topics, including perks that your company SHOULD offer if they want to keep employees long term, and also In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Neal Stern from AICPA joins us to talk about a new online game you can play that will teach you the basics of money-making decisions! Yesterday's Tomorrow teaches concepts about life from birth to the grave. You'll learn a lot, and Neal takes us through the game to tell us all about it. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes money lessons resonate. After 500 episodes, we've heard LOTS of lessons. Get a 15 year mortgage, get a 30 year mortgage. Pay off your debt faster, THEN save. Pay off debt slowly AND save at the same time. What advice is right? What sticks? On today's show we'll share what OG and Joe think stuck for them. Our Top 5 episodes have been some of long-time listener favorites, so today we're bringing it back with a special top 5....which 5 lessons from guests and contributors have been the ones that we should ALL remember. But a big part of today's show comes from YOU. We'll play some of your big wins from the years that we've completed 500 shows. It's AMAZING to us what the people in this community have accomplished. You've paid off incredible amounts of debt, learned to invest, started a savings plan, created a budget...and more importantly? You've achieved some amazing goals, like buying houses, retiring, putting kids through college....we're in awe of your ability to achieve. You inspire us. Thank you! Of course that's not all....we STILL have time to throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show and through the years on this show. They're an awesome company and if you're not using them, I'm not sure you know what you're missing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

What would happen if you lost more than $50,000 that was meant for your first home? Shannyn Allen lived that harrowing nightmare and she's going to share the story today. She unknowingly handed a hacker $50,000 , and will share the mistakes that were made around her situation, and will also let you know the steps YOU should take if you're even in a similar situation. It's a raw, horrifying story, and also one of the longest interviews we've done on Stacking Benjamins in a long, long time. In our headline segment we talk about Beyonce and Jay-Z. It appears they're spending money like they're....Beyonce and Jay-Z. What does that have to do with you? We'll share that on today's show. Also, Jamie Wise from the Buzz Indexes shares with us some welcome news about oil prices. Are we seeing the lows in oil? He'll share the wisdom of social media chatter on today's podcast. Of course, that's not all. Doug has yet another hare-brained scheme to become wealthy....but still has time to share some trivia. We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Nikki, who asks an existential question about money and goals, plus answer a letter from Jason about the Roth IRA. Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Investment tips abound on today's podcast. We cover the keys to successful investing, so you can STOP making critical investment mistakes. Then we pivot to some money mistakes people on their 40's make (don't worry...even if you aren't in your 40's these will apply to you). We'll then talk about mistakes a certain bear in England made, and how you can avoid those. Jason Parker from Sound Retirement Radio joins our panel that also includes Paula Pant and Len Penzo on today's show! Want to travel the world? In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Lauren Proctor from Jobbatical joins us to describe how you can work your way around the globe with help from her firm and companies that need help in regions you might be hoping to explore. It's an interesting concept and a way to expand your horizons you may not have considered. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking for the reason to invest a quarter of a million dollars wisely? On today's show, Joe and OG answer your questions, including how to save a bunch of money away at one time. BUT that's not all. We throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have a great idea for a business? Meg Gill, listed in the Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreur list, and co-founder of Golden Road Brewing joins us today to talk about how her education and athletic experience helped propel her to entrepreneurship at an early age. We'll also discuss mistakes that she's happy she got out of the way early so that she could avoid those later and scale up her company in a hurry. She talks about how starting with a product and a philosophy that you love is a better approach for many than hoping to be wealthy. Also she discusses how a broad educational background isn't necessarily an impediment to future success. She'll also share stories from her new show on Viceland called Beerland, where she talks to brewers about leaping toward their dream: full time entrepreneurship. You're going to love this interview, whether you're thinking about entrepreneurship or hoping for motivation to get up and go to your job again this week. In our headlines segments we talk treasure hunting. People are dying trying to find a hidden treasure. Maybe there's a better way to get rich? Also, we discuss ANOTHER 401k lawsuit. This one gets weird in a hurry. We'll share details. We also throw out the Haven Life line, take a listener letter AND still have time for Doug's beer-infused trivia. Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's show we discuss a Morningstar article that asks the question, "How do you get really rich?" Sadly, as with all things, the answer isn't as simple or as straightforward as you'd hope. Plus, we discuss a Russian billionaire who parks his yacht in front of the Statue of Liberty. Does money buy you privilege that other people don't get? We'll discuss. J. David Stein from Money For the Rest of Us joins us for this fantastic (and short!) roundtable discussion! Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder about the credit companies that seem to know everything about you? Now, although fair credit reporting laws exist, people STILL complain about unfair and outdated credit, but according to Dr. Josh Lauer, it used to be much worse. We'll talk to him today about the history of credit reporting in the United States. How did it work? Who evaluated your credit? How were the current three credit companies formed? It's a fun and sometimes frightening look at how credit has been and still is evaluated, and how credit companies use information about you. Speaking of credit, a recent study about credit produced some horrifying results, and Michael Bruemmer from Experian joins us to discuss why people might want to take better care of their credit than they have in the past. Also, we discuss a headline about Jeff Bezos inching up toward becoming the richest person alive. What does it take to join the ranks of the uber rich? We'll contemplate that by taking a look at the list of the world's wealthiest people. We have a special guest co-host today! Mandi Woodruff from the Brown Ambition podcast sits in for OG and shares some great experiences, as well as helping Joe throw out the Haven Life line to Karl and answer a lucky listener letter. Of course we still have time to bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you get started on the road to saving? While you can't frugal your way to wealth, you CAN learn to be more efficient, and author Scott Trench joins us to share the first steps in his roadmap toward wealth. We'll talk about building the foundation you'll need to amass wealth...namely, how to save your first $25,000. Surprisingly, it isn't all just about focusing on your income, according to Scott. There are some ways you can make cuts in your life that will help you grow money faster. In our headline segment, one of our hosts goes off the rails today, as we talk about advisors who are unscrupulous. Thinking about hiring a financial advisor? Maybe you want to listen to this discussion first. Then in our second headline, we tackle another 401(k) fee lawsuit, but the guys surprisingly come down on the other side of THIS lawsuit than they have lawsuits brought up on the show in the past. Of course, that's not all. We also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller and answer your letters. We can't forget that Doug's always waiting in the wings, and as always, has trivia on today's show. Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of these awesome companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What should you do if you expect the market to crash? We ask our roundtable panel that very question today, including the woman behind the blog Mama Fish Saves, Chelsea. We also talk about side hustles. What mistakes do people make when deciding to work a second job or start a company on the side? Finally, we wrap up the show with an exciting discussion of a Moneyologist question....a man is giving all of his money to a church (and also money he doesn't yet have). Does his spouse have a reason to worry? In our Friday FinTech segment we introduce you to the minds behind real estate firm Roofstock. If you're thinking about real estate but don't want all of the hassle, this might be the best thing you've heard today! Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder what happens if you don't save enough money for college? Well, Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler didn't, and the result is the new hit movie The House. Director Andrew J. Cohen stops by to talk about the film, the hilarious financial-planning-gone-wrong premise, and how he became a director in Hollywood. BUT that's not all. Retirement Answer Man Roger Whitney sits in for OG on today's show. We share headlines about a widow being scammed out of over a MILLION dollars, and another about how to decide what to do with your 401k when you leave a job. Of course we also throw out the Haven Life line, bring on Doug's trivia, share some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Excited about an aggressive retirement? Even if you're only mildly interested in the topic of financial independence, today's guest is going to light a FIRE under your plans. The Mad Fientist joins us today to talk first about his personal journey to an early out with a traditional job. We'll talk about the opportunities, pitfall, and even nerd out on some serious financial planning numbers you'll need to know if you're thinking about calling it quits at your job. In our headlines segment, we talk the cost of wine...and how much it's affected by advertising. We also share news about a football player's BIG comeback from a disability, which gives us a perfect introduction to disability insurance and what's important to know. We also throw out the Haven Life line, answer TWO listener letters, and more. Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We spin back the dial to a roundtable discussion two years ago which includes a discussion about then-nominee Donald Trump! A magazine wrote about President Trump's ability to pick stocks. We talk about whether ANYONE can pick stocks well.... If you're looking for political drama, we WON'T have it....but we WILL have lots of fun talking stocks, celebrities, and more. You can find the original show notes here: Is Donald Trump a Good Stock Picker? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How effective are you at leading people? On today's show, our guests Dr. John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber discuss how to become a more effective leader and lesson's they've learned from coaching many of the top business leaders today to build better workplace teams. Plus, as usual, we'll have the same assortment of headlines, trivia, laughs, and your letters. Enjoy! You can find the original show notes here: Building Better Leaders and Teams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Griffin takes us back to a classic from a year ago... We’re all professional jugglers. We juggle a career or school, family duties, friendships, and somehow also manage money. How do we effectively manage money AND take care of everything else? Kimberly Palmer (author of the new book Smart Mom Rich Mom) joins us to talk about the pressure of parenting, managing the budget and earning a wage. When’s the right time to have children? In our headline segment we discuss John Oliver’s latest stunt. On the hotline, we tackle a question from Jamie about charitable giving. Doug shares trivia on working moms. We have all of that AND still more on today’s podcast! Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How should you invest when the market's been in a bull market tear for the last several years? We ask our Friday roundtable panel that question and MAN, they don't disappoint. You'll hear about selling losers, setting expectations ahead of time for your investments, and more. We also cover (as we do EVERY Friday), LOTS of other topics, including whether it's best to pay with cash or credit. What do you think? I'm not sure our panel will agree... AND we also bring up some of the difficult questions kids ask about money. How would YOU answer them? In our Friday FinTech segment we have a great guest...Patrick Ambron from BrandYourself.com talks about the importance of creating and protecting your online identity. He shares horror stories of people's social media problems and explains steps to protect yourself. Plus, as always with this segment, he'll share with you their platform and how they help people dig in and take charge of their identity. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does your financial dream house look like? Financial planner Greg Powell says that he always has trouble convincing people to complete a financial plan because it sounds like a ton of work. But a financial dream house? That's a much easier sell...and he's going to help you sell yourself on that concept in today's episode. We'll talk about where investments fit into the overall structure (not as far up the priority list as you'd think), how to work through building your "plans," and then how to build a team that effectively helps you finally create the "structure" of the house. On the Haven Life line, Garrett asks about company stock inside of his 401k. Should he dump it? If you have company stock inside of YOUR 401k, this'll be helpful for you...and if you own LOTS of one company's stock, you'll also like this segment. We also answer a letter from Andrew, who wonders about his target date fund. As you know (if you've listened to us before), we've been pretty critical of target date funds. What is his next best move? Do YOU have a target date fund? Maybe today's letter segment will help you, too! Of course we have Doug's trivia, some bad jokes, and lots more.... Huge thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for helping us with today's show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're excited about saving, but how do you get someone else to take the plunge? Today's guest, Gene Natali, says that the answer might not be what you expect, and he should know. He co-authored the book The Missing Semester about personal financial education in the classroom, and he's BACK on the Stacking Benjamins show to share how to get ANYONE started in the right direction with their money. In our headlines segment, we talk about financial advisory fees. Are they going down? A recent report has details on where that ship is headed. Also, we'll talk about the age-old active vs. passive management debate. Do active managers hold a candle to passive? Does it matter? Then we throw out the Haven Life line to Dan, who asks about EE bonds. Are these bonds a great way to protect against deflation? We'll also answer a letter from Todd, who has some extra money and wants to know how to invest it...other than in sending it to his favorite podcasters (#disappointing). It's National Martini Day, so Doug's pouring drinks down in the basement and we're all invited over. Come join us! Special thanks to M1Finance for sponsoring our show! We couldn't do any of this without the support of some pretty awesome companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our first roundtable piece today, we discuss whether the first thing kids out of high school need is good credit. Should people first focus on credit to secure more debt or should they build assets? We'll start there on today's episode, featuring our listener VeShannah Lovelace, Greg McFarlane, and Paula Pant. ...and in our Friday FinTech segment, we talk to Harsh Sinha, Engineering VP at international money transfer company Transferwise. We talk about the dirty underbelly of transferring money and how Transferwise helps you lower your fees. Of course that's not all. We also talk about saving $50k of someone else's money, extreme ways to pay down debt, and much more. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show, and thanks also to everyone who's visited Amazon.com using our link! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices