Stacking Benjamins: Your Gateway To Money And Personal Finance

Why are college costs increasing so fast? While there are lots of theories, only one researcher has reached out to many middle-class families to directly ask them how much money they've spent on college and to get the direct story. Today we talk to her. Caitlin Zaloom joins us on today's podcast to dig in to the problem with college funding. 529 plans? Saving directly with the state using pre-paid tuition? We'll tackle LOTS of scenarios and throw out some ways to solve the problem on today's show. In our headlines segment, we talk about borrowing money from your 401k plan. Even though you can borrow from it without penalty, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. We'll also dig into the chaos that's been created as some of the biggest brokerage firms in the country swipe fees all the way to ZERO. Is that a good thing? After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll wind up the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to an anonymous caller who calls out Joe and OG....well, maybe not OG. More direct

What would you say to someone who said they could teach you to be rich? Would you have a hard time believing them? Today we'll sit down with the person who has already done just that for thousands of people across the country: New York Times best-selling author Ramit Sethi. In our headlines segment, what's the deal with gold? We'll take a look at one article from InvestmentNews that makes the case against gold. But, do we think it has a place in your portfolio? Is that money better deployed elsewhere? We'll give our nuggets of wisdom thoughts before moving into our second piece: 5 things plan sponsors are still getting wrong. You've ran into at least one of this issues (or know someone who has). We'll also throw out the Haven Life Line to Mandy, who wants some advice on what to do with her money in the market. Should she stay invested, or cash out and buy a house? Of course, we'll save some time to spend on Doug's surprisingly money-themed trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc

Is it frustrated watching successful people work? They seem to do it so easily....and sometimes they even tell you that it IS easy. But is that the truth? What's really behind the success of many people who wisely handle money, or make better business decisions, or seem to juggle priorities easily? There IS a secret...and once you know it you think about the working world differently. Today our special guest Steven Donovan from EvenStevenMoney.com joins OG and Joe to tackle what's really behind success for the average person. Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. We'll talk to Erin Papworth from Nav.IT, an app and community helping people not only track their expenses and their goals, but helping to keep them accountable AND connecting them with a community of like-minded individuals. How does it work? We'll talk to Erin all about it! Plus, we'll answer a voicemail during our Magnify Money segment AND save time for Doug's amazing trivia. Tha

Ever wonder what it would be like to buy a van and hit the road? Van life is an exciting reality for many people you read about online...but would it be for you? Today we talk to Lisa and Harrison from the Mad Money Monster Podcast, who together decided to try it out. The results? Let's just say it may not have gone exactly the way many bloggers act like it will. In our headlines segment, we're all about cults! One recent financial piece compares Multi-Level Marketing companies (MLMs) to a cult, but are they really similar? We'll share a story from a former Mary Kay consultant who was tricked into an MLM even though she didn't have any money. Lots of promises, but no results. Is it the way things are for MLMs in general? We also prepare you for the next recession! After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Janelle who is looking to switch jobs. Janelle opted out of receiving benefits from her employer and wants to know if she can use that to negotiate getting a higher

Hoping to retire someday? What about retiring early? On today's show we'll sit down with Chris Mamula who retired at...wait for it....41, about how he did it. He's the co-author of the newly released book, Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence, and also is an award-winning blogger at CanIRetireYet.com. He and his wife blazed their own trail toward freedom after meeting with advisors who didn't serve them and reading blogs that didn't speak to them. They might have also listened to a podcast or two that didn't meet with their expectations. Before all that, though, in our headlines segment, we'll cover one piece from Financial Planning about a Vanguard robo-advisor only recommending... (wait for it) ... Vanguard funds! Think something seems a little fishy with this? We'll throw our two cents into the ring, and still save plenty of time for our second piece from Forbes: women just aren't purchasing enough life insurance. This is SUPER disturbing, given how much women contribute to the average f

Does it makes sense to hire a coach? Our roundtable discussion today is all around the pros and cons of finding a coach--why do you need one in the first place? How do you find a good one? How do you know it's a good fit? We'll cover all of these and more on today's show with two coaches and a guy who doesn't have one....Sharita Humphrey joins us from Family, Faith and Finance, along with Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man, and Len Penzo from Len Penzo dot com. Halfway through the show, we'll celebrate national tourism day with Kat Kalashian from Live and Invest Overseas, who'll share her list of the top six countries around the world to target if you'd like to live a "work from anywhere" lifestyle. Plus, we'll answer a voicemail during our Magnify Money segment asking for resources on podcasts and blogs for families AND we'll have some fun with another of Doug's wild trivia questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered if you're handling your money right? Sure you have. More important, have you ever worried that you aren't doing LIFE correctly? Our main guest has been there. She's the best-selling author of the philosophical guide to life in the age of overwhelm titled, Am I Doing This Right?, Colleen Bordeaux. Colleen will share her deeply personal search for more meaning in life and lessons she learned along that way. We'll talk about your personal philosophy, getting comfortable with who you are, figuring out your money from a deep level, and more. It's a wide-ranging interview that we're sure you're going to enjoy as much as we enjoyed talking to her. In our headlines segment, how much does it cost to be considered 'middle class' in a big city? It turns out that it might just cost a TON of money. How do you get ahead when everything is so expensive? We'll talk about many factors, include the fact that where you live can change everything about whether you're financially successful or not. In our s

How does a guy with a great job at Facebook end up as a standup comedian? Today we talk to Paul Ollinger, host of the new Crazy Money podcast, about chasing your dream...in his case, the dream of becoming a comedian. It's a compelling conversation if you've ever hit the wall with your career, or you've ever made a spur-of-the-moment decision, or you realized that you needed to sharpen the saw to get where you wanted to go. There's something for everyone in today's interview. During our headlines segment, one recent piece takes to task the age-old idea of dollar-cost averaging. Should you do it? You'll be surprised with the results. Plus, do you think becoming a millionaire is out of your reach? I think you're going to love the great news we have for you. With some sound investment strategies and saving your cash, you could find yourself among that list too. On the Haven Life line call, we talk to Maddox, who's wondering what he should do better with his money. He's a college student (and actually turning a pr

We spend more and buy stuff to make us happy, but does it? Does more really equal better? On today's show we dive into a recent blog post from the Four Pillar Freedom blog to look at the nature of happiness. Money is always intertwined in our view of "happy," probably because advertisers love making us think that if we just buy one more thing we'll finally get that elusive joy that we've been craving. We'll talk about joy, addiction, happiness and more on today's podcast with a team including Beau Humphreys from The Personal Finance Show, CFP Katie Brewer from Your Richest Life planning, and our own OG. Halfway through the showwe have a special treat where we usually feature our Friday Fintech spotlight. Today instead we'll shine a light on mortgages, because with his recent move to Detroit, Joe just found out that industry insider Joel Gurman from Quicken Loans is his neighbor! Joe invites Joel down to the basement today and quizzes him about the state of mortgages, how interest rates really work, what other

At some point you feel fried. Been there? Today's guest, Nicole Lapin, has been there. She thought she could outrun her problems and find success...and today we'll hear how that worked out. Nicole is a New York Times best selling author of both Rich Bitch and her second title Boss Bitch. Today she's back with a new guide to help us figure life out. We'll talk about balance, acceptance, and not trying to outrun your problems on today's show. In our headlines segment, how's your will looking? The wills of a couple people in the news lately are UGLY. We'll focus on the wills of Jeffrey Epstein and Aretha Franklin today, and some huge questions that have come up because of weird circumstances in both (very different) cases. Then, we'll pivot to a chat about wine destinations (how fun is that???). Good news: one recent piece says you don't have to go to Venice or Napa, and to get a great vacation you might not even need a passport. There are low budget destinations for whatever fun you have planned in places you w

Would you know what to do in the 24 hours after a car accident? What about that next 7 days? The days following an accident is a stressful time, but following the right steps can make a big difference. On today's show we'll talk to Elizabeth Calora, partner at PCVA Law, to talk about what you should do after you are involved in an accident. During our headlines segment, one retiree placed her life savings into an annuity without knowing the full consequences, (on the advice of a financial advisor). After an uphill battle, PNC bank has finally agreed to refund her money...but is that the full story? Of course it isn't. We'll share the not-so-obvious conclusion during our breakdown. PLUS, we bring you a slice of sunshine (because that's what we do best). It turns out that average 401k savings rates have hit record levels. That's neat...but as yours? Becky calls our Haven Life Line today. She's over 60 (we didn't ask....she told us!), and she shares that she's worred that she has close to ZERO cash in after-tax

"Speed kills" is a popular phrase, but in business, you already hear that faster = better. But is it? If you make a mistake with your money, whether it's making it, spending, tracking or investing...how important is speed (or slowing down) in your decisionmaking? We'll take this philosophical discussion and dive in today with Amy Blacklock from Women Who Money, Len Penzo from LenPenzo.com, and our very own OG. It's a lively discussion that ping-pongs between deep philosophy to light tactics, and, of course, a little fun. Halfway through the show, our roundtable discussion will take a break for our Fintech segment. Aditi Shekar takes a trip down to the basement to re-introduce new listeners to Zeta! We've had quite a few people in our Stacking Benjamins Basement Facebook group ask about apps for couples, and Zeta is exactly that. Aditi will talk about what's changed with Zeta in the last couple years, beyond helping couples track their transactions and develop a budget for their money management. Plus, we'll a

Have you ever thought about investing in the wide world of real estate but weren't sure whether it was for you? Today's guest, Michele Cagan, says that it probably IS for you...but maybe not in the way you'd traditionally think. Sure, you can go fix up and flip houses or become a landlord, but Michele shares LOTS of other ways to invest in real estate as well, and gives us five reasons why you should at least think about it. Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor or newbie, there's something for everyone today in Michele's visit to the basement! In our headlines segment: what's the WORST age to take social security? How does the system work in the first place? While it's complicated, we'll share the worst of the worst AND give you some basics on how to start thinking about YOUR payout. In our second headline, Charles Schwab is seeing HUGE returns from their new hybrid robo-meets-human advisor program. It seems these people chasing robos might just want some human advice...strange (smell the sarcasm in

Do you want better answers in your life? It may seem like a simple solution, but Andy Andrews, New York Times best-selling author, says you just need to be asking better questions. He'll share secrets from his new book, Bottom of the Pool, on today's show! In our headlines segment, we'll ring up Christine Benz on Joe's Dad's shortwave radio. She's the director of personal finance at Morningstar, and we'll ask her how some of our listeners who are new investors can get their retirement plans rolling. In true Andy Andrews spirit, she'll make sure you're not just asking questions about your retirement plans, but asking the right questions. Plus, in our second piece, one article says that millennials should be the new face of the retirement crisis. As two guys who are NOT millennials (but often act like millennials), Joe and OG share their thoughts. During our Have Life Line, we'll answer a voicemail from Bill, who has a life insurance policy with a cash value. Bill's thinking about stopping it and putting it int

The Fintern is finishing out our rewind week with one of our old school roundtable favorites: we're talking about lies about retirement. You can read the original show notes below:  On today's podcast we're talking about lying. A recent news piece reports that there are nine lies we're told about retirement planning. We'll break them down with Greg, Paula, and special guest Rich Jones from the hit podcast Paychecks and Balances. We won't stop there, thought. We'll also discuss a recent question to the Moneyologist at MarketWatch. If you had two kids and one was irresponsible, would you disown him? We ask our roundtable that very question and come up with some interesting estate planning themes you may want to address in your own planning. On the Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk to Michael Asare from Fee Belly. Ever feel like the fine print in a contract is completely against you? Fee Belly was designed to show you ALL of the fine print by highlighting it so you can easily see where contracts might not be in

Time for something a little different in the basement! While it's still "rewind week" here, instead of playing an old SB episode, we instead are serving up our little sister show, Money With Friends! This show appears six days a week wherever you listen to Stacking Benjamins. Money With Friends is news and commentary with diverse thought leaders. It's performed in front of a LIVE Facebook audience. This show originally appeared Monday on that channel. If you like it, head on over and listen to today's show as well! We'll have more SB on Friday, with another rewind treat from the FinTern (new shows back on Monday!). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to our Stacking Benjamins rewind week! Normally doing this week we would play you some of our favorite episodes from the past that you may have missed... but this week we're mixing things up. Monday and Friday will go as planned, but stay tuned on Wednesday for a special surprise. The Fintern is kicking off the week by queuing up our time with Shannyn Allen, who lost over $50,000 to a hacker. We won't spoil the interview in case you missed it the first time around, but this is one emotional, honest story that you definitely want to hear. You can read the original show notes below:  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

What do YOU worry about when it comes to money? Is it the same thing others worry about? Today we head to sunny Orlando, the home of Podcast Movement (the nation's biggest podcasting conference), and catch up with some top financial podcasters at the FinCon booth in the expo hall (they were nice enough to set up a podcasting booth for shows to use!). Today we talk to Mindy Jensen from Bigger Pockets Money, Lacey Langford from the Military Money show, and all the way from Australia, the host of one of the biggest money shows in the land down under called My Millennial Money, Glen James.  We'll take a break at the halfway point to finish off our Labor Day prep week. OG and Joe will share a cautionary tale about inviting your FIRE (financial independence/retire early) friends over for your Labor Day cookout. His event last year went really, really poorly. He'll explain.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever walk into a wine store and wonder what all the labels mean? Looking for a way to upgrade your Labor Day celebration without spending a ton of money? Today, wine expert Dave Falchek from the American Wine Society joins us to talk all things vino. How do you pick a wine? What are some clues that a wine is good for your party? What do those ratings mean in a wine shop? What wines go best with burgers and dogs? We'll answer all of those questions and more on today's show! In our headlines segment, we'll find out why a half a ton of weed was returned to the seller as it was going public. One new billion-dollar pot company is to blame, and the stock price isn't looking great. What does this mean for cannibis stocks in general? Of course, Joe and OG both have opinions. Also, a recent New York Times piece shares how the next recession might start. We'll walk through the possibilities and also maybe look into the crystal ball ourselves. After a little dose of Doug's trivia, we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to

We're celebrating Labor Day in style (and a week early) with Frankie Celenza, the chef at Struggle Meals on the Tastemade network. We'll talk not only how to make your holiday weekend grilling perfect, but also how to make smart and frugal food choices in the kitchen. Not only will he share tips on how to make your perfect burger, but also grocery ideas in general, how to make sauces, and the key to that recipe in front of you. Before our fantastic chat with Frankie, we'll discuss the retirement danger zone. Could the early years of retirement make or break your golden years? We'll cover what you SHOULD be worried about when it comes to retirement, plus we'll also give our two cents on one piece from InvestmentNews that shares five reasons why even the staunchest of Roth IRA lovers might want to think about leaving some of their portfolios in traditional IRAs. After we take a break for some Labor Day trivia from Doug, we'll round out the show by throwing out the Haven Life Line to Susan, who's mother needs $1