Stacking Benjamins: Your Gateway To Money And Personal Finance

Did you know that when at a fine dining restaurant, you should never lift your menu from the table? ...or that you should sip your drink from the exact same spot on the glass each time? On top of that, definitely do NOT announce to the table that you're headed to the bathroom. What does any of this have to do with money? Besides the fact that if you're interviewing or networking at a restaurant and you could stand to gain a few Benjamins from the experience, there are also some money rules that many people don't know or follow. What are they? Our regulars today dive into their favorites: Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast, Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com, and our co-host here OG. They all share solid advice and awkward stories, everything from sharing salaries to making assumptions about other people's money. As usual, right in the middle of it all, Doug will share his trivia to continue our year-long competition among our regular contributors. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc

You start that amazing new job and the boss hands you a giant stack of paperwork. Does that sound familiar? One of those forms is most likely a crucial piece of your financial picture: your 401k enrollment. How much should you contribute? How do you choose investments? Today, Joe and OG share the top mistakes they see people make with their 401k, so you can learn from others' mistakes and avoid your own future headache. You're welcome! From not contributing enough to choosing the wrong investments, they share it all. In our headline segment, we're diving into one group who seemingly predicts the market better than most analysts. How do they do it and who the heck are they? Oh, we'll explain! And it's probably not a group you'd expect. Then, of course, we let Doug share his auto-themed trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember the phrase 30-and-out? That was what people said when they'd sign up to work for the same company for their entire working lives. Since the days of single-job employment, working thirty years has become a standard idea. But why? Kiersten and Julien Saunders are the brains behind the new book Cashing Out, where they throw 30 years to the curb. Instead, they advocate focusing on 15 years. We'll dive into that, saving more effectively for your goals, the FIRE movement, and more, in a wide-ranging conversation with this dynamic duo (they also are the team behind the popular rich & REGULAR blog, podcast, and more. In our headlines segment, credit company Transunion is out with a new study asking the question, "How are you holding up during this era of massive inflation?" Charlie Wise from the company joins us to talk credit and some worrisome trends that you should hear so that you can avoid overstepping your credit lines. Of course, we'll also share an UGLY TikTok minute about life insurance, ask you a t

Can you be idle and still get ahead in the game of life? In some cases, this is absolutely the best answer. Our contributors to today's roundtable discussion dive into their answers to the question, "Can doing nothing benefit you in life and with your money?" Our special guest today from Sensible Money is Certified Financial Planner Dana Anspach. Joining Dana are our regular contributors, Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com) and our co-host OG. That's not all! We will round everything out with neighbor Doug's famous trivia! Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It only takes a moment watching the news to learn what David Gergen already knows: our current leaders have failed us. In some ways, it isn't their fault; growing up during the Vietnam conflict, many of our leaders grew up in a deeply partisan country and have led from that divisive position. However, Gergen, who served not one but FOUR US presidents...from both parties (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton), believes that our youth CAN be great leaders. How? We'll chat with him today about leadership, service, and how you could be the person who helps many around you stack more Benjamins. In our headline segment, both Jamie Dimon at JP Morgan Chase and Elon Musk are clanging the warning bell that bad times are ahead. Should you be worried? OG has opinions...and it probably isn't what you think. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line and tackle some of Doug's amazing trivia. Just another average day (you know...with a dude who's overseen and advised the making of The West Wing...) of the Stacking Benjamins Show

Know those horrible situations where everyone's fighting at work -- or worse, at home? Talk about a horrible investment: being invested in a rotten environment can overshadow even the best portfolio returns. Good news, though. It turns out, there are two types of conflict: the kind that allows us to grow and produces a positive outcome and the kind that's downright toxic. To help us find a way toward healthy conflict, Gabe Karp joins us. He talks about why it can be hard to see the other side of an argument, how to turn bad conflict into good, and how to move toward a healthier working environment by even maybe fighting more (but in a healthy way). But before that, we speak to Lamine Zarrad from Stellar about credit and the current economy. What happens when interest rates continue to rise and you need a new loan that you can't afford? Lamine created a company called StellarFI, which was built to help people build their credit through paying bills on time. We'll talk about credit issues, the economic slowdown

It's time to get vulnerable and break down the barriers. As we always say, 'personal finance is personal' which makes money talk hard (and embarrassing) at times. Our roundtable is getting vulnerable about their money and career and sharing ways to talk about money with others. Jeff Underwood, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo join our roundtable to discuss a blog piece about being vulnerable with your money. They talk about clever ways to save money when out with friends, times they were vulnerable about their own money situation, and how you can navigate the tricky waters of talking about money with others. And of course, we saved time for Doug's amazing trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What was your last interaction like with a flight attendant? The friendly skies weren't always as friendly to flight attendants as they are today. Actually, the term 'flight attendant' wasn't coined until stewardesses won a long battle against the airlines. To tell the fascinating story that has affected change on so many workplaces, Nell McShane Wulfhart joins us today. She talks about the strict requirements stewardesses faced in the 1960s and the "Charm Farm" training program they went through. As the name suggests, it was more about appearance than anything else. As the years went on, stewardesses joined together to fight back against the sexist job requirements and standards. There's more from the friendly basement crew in our headline segment. We're talking about the problematic news headlines that invoke fear in investors. The market is down this year but that most likely doesn't mean you've lost all your money. We share our thoughts on the market and how the news portrays it. For our Haven Life line,

Maybe you’ve had a nagging feeling that things just aren’t right. Your partner is either acting strange, or money is gone from accounts and you aren’t sure why. It’s time to get a better handle on your cash flow. So how can you make sure your money is protected during the worst of times and how can you also ensure your partner isn’t hiding money from you? Today we welcome Tracy Coenen, a forensic accountant, to talk about what to do if you're faced with financial infidelity. She’s created a 10 step guide to controlling your finances and protecting yourself during a divorce and we’ll dive in to a few of the steps. She shares what to look for on social media accounts, how to handle and organize documents, and what to look for on bank statements. But we don’t stop there! In our headline segment we dive into mortgage rates. Where are rates today compared to recent years? How can you make sure you get the best rate possible? We'll tell you. We also talk about some big mortgage industry news as a whole. We also Mag

One of the top reasons couples argue is because of money. We always say that personal finance is personal and it's true that every person and couple have different views on money but coming together as a couple to share those goals is key. But even before most couples combine their finances, they have a wedding to stress about. Our roundtable today talks about couples and money and they dive into wedding registry gifts. Elle Martinez from Simplify and Enjoy, Len Penzo, and OG make up our roundtable team today and they share their thoughts on cash vs. gifts on registries and how couples can come together to crush their financial goals. Diania is also here today and she shares some amazing trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A million and one money decisions in a day...how the hell do you make the right one???? Between social media and the internet, f--- me, there are countless tips and "advice" from strangers on how to manage your money, but absolutely ZERO are really tailored to you. In the basement, we know that information can be powerful if used correctly, and that's exactly why we invited Jean Chatzky and Kathryn Tuggle here today. In their new book (it's geared toward women, but everyone can benefit from it), they talk about the power of information and making informed decisions for our present and future selves. They talk to us about pillars of success, and how you can finally feel more empowered out in the open about your money decisions. During our headline segment, we'll answer the burning question: "why does my advisor never text me?" It's not because they don't like you. FINRA, one of the two major regulatory agencies, doesn't allow it. We talk about why and the opposite effect it tends to have from the rationale beh

Gearing up for summer travel? Not only is summer fun about saving money; it's also about ensuring that the dollars you spend are worth it. What theme parks are actually worth your money? Today we help you kick off your summer because Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider joins us for his 8th annual survey of what's new/what's hot/what's undervalued in vacation travel. He shares the newest rides and attractions at various park across the country and offers tips to get the best bang for your buck. During our headline segment, we dive in to a piece that says investing in the stock market "won't make you rich," and then (of course) offers some alternative "best" places to invest instead. There's legitimate alternative investments out there, and many that are highly recommended, but this list might fall slightly short. We'll have opinions. We also share what you should look out for before investing. We then answer an anonymous caller's question on the Haven Life line about retirement survivor annuities, and of cour

Are you in the career you love? If not, what's stopping you from making a change to that job you've been dreaming of? Changing careers (especially if that means becoming an entrepreneur) isn't always as easy as it sounds, which is why our rockstar roundtable panel today is ready to help you find your way. Entrepreneurial coach Sylvia Moe Inks, Paula Pant, and Len Penzo discuss pivoting your career. They share their own stories of career changes and starting their own businesses. Of course, Doug will also share some flight-themed trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Failure is an option," Carter Malloy says during today's interview, and it's true. Evolution in business is critical, and technology, the right team, and pure persistence can pull a success from near-certain failure. From early websites to failed business plans, business owners have many challenges to navigate. Carter Malloy faced tons of these challenges and more while advocating for an investment approach he strongly believed in: buying farmland. Today we bring you a special episode sponsored by Dell as part of their PodFerence, a podcast-based conference to celebrate Small Business Month. Malloy, who is the founder and CEO of AcreTrader, joins us to share lessons learned during his early steps into entrepreneurship. He talks about early lessons his father and mentors taught him, how technology has helped evolve his business, surrounding yourself with people who don't think like you, and the overall grit and determination it takes to be a business owner. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca

Sell, sell, sell! Buy, buy, buy! No, panic trading is not the answer when the market dips, but the news certainly can makes it sound like the end of the world. So what should you do during a down market? It turns out there's money-saving magic in avoiding selling everything to cash. Today, Joe and OG share their top 5 things to do during a market downturn. They talk about rebalancing, turning off the TV, rewinding history, and more. After this show, your investment policy statement, will be cleaner and more efficient than ever! During our headline segment, the guys dive into some quirky trends to follow in the stock market. South Park and Build-a-Bear (of all things) are making headlines in a recent Reddit thread. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to Amanda who shares the strategies they used to pay off debt. And Doug will panic while he shares his panic trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered how others are navigating their financial journey? Sharing tips, tricks, and mistakes with others can be super helpful, and having a community of like-minded people around you on any journey makes it less scary. As Joe travels across the country on his book tour for Stacked, he’s hearing from fellow Stackers about their money story. Thanks to Million Stories for partnering with us on this Instagram video series called A Million More Stories. We’re highlighting four of the interviews today, and they talk about money lessons as kids, money mistakes, and where they are now. We’ll also throw out the Haven Life line to Mike, who wants to know what courses and resources are available to help family members learn about financial management. And, of course, Doug will enlighten us with his real estate trivia. Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have sticker shock at the grocery store or gas pump? Inflation is high and there's no doubt it's impacting spending ability. The good news is there are ways to help combat inflation and even help you earn more. Our roundtable today includes Andy Hill, Paula Pant, and OG, and they're tackling the inflation issue to give you tips and tricks to save money and earn more. They talk about raises at work, side hustles, and small ways to make a difference with your finances. And Doug will share his McDonald's trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Technology is ever-changing and keeping up with the latest tech can help build and improve your business. We have a special episode sponsored by Dell today for their PodFerence, a podcast-based conference to celebrate Small Business Month. To talk about how technology and digital automation intersects with her business, Paulette Perhach joins us. She shares about her writing career and the various tech platforms she uses in her everyday business life. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The most fulfilling relationships are the ones where each person can be their true selves. Many times though, selfish goals are put above selfless ones. Vincent Pugliese admits he used to put his own goals above all else, but when he never reached the true happiness he was seeking, he changed his mindset. He's here today to share why character is important for building a true connection and why character and charisma are not interchangeable. During our headline segment, we dive into financial planning as a career. A recent piece shows that financial advisors are staying in the role well past the typical retirement age. We share why that is and give you all the details on what it takes to become a financial advisor. And, of course, Doug will share his trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you searching for that next step in your financial independence journey? With so many books and resources available, it's hard to narrow down exactly what you should be doing -- and when -- to meet your goals. Today's guests created an app to help with that exact problem. Grant Sabatier and Logan Leckie created Topia, an app geared toward helping you reach financial independence. With clear steps and action items, you can crush your goals. They explain how it works and why it's so revolutionary. During our headline segment, we dive into tech stocks, specifically Netflix. Tech stocks have dominated the market for the past few years. What's next for them? We give our thoughts and point to stock buybacks and stock splits in today's market. We'll also answer Ray's question about the top fundamental things to know in personal finance. And Doug will share his Billy Joel themed trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices