Stacking Benjamins: Your Gateway To Money And Personal Finance

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 ca

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

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 pie

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

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

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

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 plann

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

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 in

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 tabl

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 Britt

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

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

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 wi

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.

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

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

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