Stacking Benjamins: Your Gateway To Money And Personal Finance

2018 was quite a year....maybe the opposite of March (in like a Lion/out like a lamb)....and began fairly gently and definitely is finishing with a roar. What should we have learned, if we turn the events of this year into timeless lessons? What could we have learned from this year's volatility? What about the Federal Reserve raising interest rates? What about the strong employment numbers? What does that tell us (among other things) about our wallet? We're excited to finish the year off strong with our special guest, CBS business analyst Jill Schlesinger (also the host of Jill on Money). We'll have a discussion with Jill on her top 5 lessons learned from the past year. Plus, in our headlines segment, we'll talk to Haven Life CEO, Yaron Ben-Zvi, about the future of health data and life insurance. With more and more companies offering discounts for a little bit of your data, Yaron will share his thoughts on the tradeoffs between privacy and saving some extra cash. Will this ever come to life insurance? Plus, w

In anticipation of our annual magic 8 ball episode next Friday, we're taking a look back at last year's magic 8 ball episode. For those of you new to the show, each year roundtable regular Len Penzo brings down his magic 8 ball and we ask it wide-ranging questions for the next year. What were the predications? How did the 8 ball do this year? It's time to get all caught up in preparation for our debrief next week (along with a whole new set of questions for 2019). This episode also featured a Blooom call for help from Erin, who has some 529 plan questions, a letter from the mailbag about what to do with extra cash, and of course... Doug's trivia.  The original show notes can be found here. This episode originally aired January 5th,2018. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's rewind episode features one of our favorite interviews with a fantastic guest: Dr. Woody Holton, author of the book "Abigail Adams", for which he won the Bambridge Award and more. In a time when women weren't expected, or even necessarily allowed, to be in charge of their finances, Abigail Adams took charge of her money and made sure she would be financially independent.  Plus, Joe talked to Jamie Wise of the Buzz Index, we took a Haven Life Line call for help, answered a listener letter, and still had time for Doug's trivia.  The original show notes can be found here. This episode originally aired March 2,2018. Enjoy!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With all the news going around about the markets, we thought it would be fitting to kick off our rewind week by sharing our time with Ric Edelman. Ric, Chairman and Founder of Edelman Financial Services, bestselling author, and host of the hit “Ric Edelman Radio Show” joined our show to give us some advice on some "best practices" to follow in a choppy market.  This episode originally released on November 2016. You can find the original show notes HERE. Enjoy!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's nothing wrong with selling some of your clutter to help pay down your debt, but, as today's piece from Val Breit from TheCommonCentsClub (in a piece appearing on Rockstar Finance), there are plenty of other things you could be doing to help solve your financial troubles. Discussing this piece with us today is Paula Pant (from Afford Anything), Len Penzo (LenPenzo.com), and from our very own podcast, OG. Halfway through the roundtable we'll take a break for our Friday Fintech segment. Do you wish you paid off your credit cards every month? Worried that you could go overboard? Joe will check in with Liran Amrany, CEO of Debitize, on how you can keep all of the perks of using a credit card without all the danger. We're also answering a question from Tom, who's looking to diversify his income stream. He's interested in real estate, but also worried about a housing crash. Are there any specific real estate options that would mitigate the negative impacts of a crash? And of course, we'll still have time for

Thinking about getting into real estate? We're bringing down two fantastic guests who are excited to deliver what you need to know about investing in real estate: from the BiggerPockets real estate community and podcast, we're talking to Josh Dorkin and Brandon Turner. And in our headlines segment, another advisor is going fee only... but probably not for the reasons you think. Plus, we'll throw our the Haven Life Line to Nick, who wants to know more about what an "inverted yield curve." Should Nick be worried? And in our letters segment, Erika missed out on really investing in her 20's while she was getting her P.hD. and doing her post-doc studies. She's making money now and is looking into getting a house in the next few years. Can we give her some help on finding a good advisor for her situation? 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

Are you having trouble climbing out of debt? Or maybe you're tired of daily calls from debt collectors? Whether you have serious debt or just need to refresh your plan, today we're kickstarting your 2019 journey to financial independence with the host of the Money Girl podcast, Laura Adams. Plus, speaking of 2019, what does the next year have in store for the world of credit? We're talking to Senior Vice President of Research and Consulting at Transunion, Matthew Komos, during our headlines segment. And later on we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Alex, who wants to know if he should pull some cash out of his account and reinvest when the market drops. He's also finishing his residency to become a physician, and his tax liability is virtually zero. What should he do with his accounts right now? And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia. Looking for something deeper than what we give you on the show? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: The Stacker. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis

What items are YOU buying that are a complete waste of money? Today we're throwing out the playbook and all the rules for this very special episode of the Stacking Benjamins show. Joseph Hogue from the Let's Talk Money! YouTube channel joins Paula Pant (Afford Anything) and Len Penzo to walk through 12 things that you're better off NOT owning. While you may not be surprised by the items on our list, you'll probably be glad that you heard a few of them, because today you just might find a few new places to save yourself some cash. Halfway through the show we'll take a short FinTech Friday segment break to talk to Ennie Lim from HoneyBee. Ever had a money crunch in life, and you weren't sure what you were going to do? Or maybe you own a business and you wish you could do more for your employees to help them manage the inevitable money crunch? We'll find out more about how Honeybee is helping those in their times of need during today's Fintech segment. Thanks to MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring Stacking Benjamins

Tired of all the running around shopping and working and cooking and planning...all to try and make the perfect holiday? What if you ditched all that and instead just focused on the people around you? Would that make it better? We'll talk about not just frugaling your holiday season, but minimizing it. Here to help us do that, today we welcome special guest Naseema McElroy from the Financially Intentional blog. She'll talk strategies and stories with Len (Len Penzo dot com) and OG. We'll talk about how THEY celebrate now, how they WISHED they'd celebrated holidays, and then talk about ways to change to make things go more smoothly and enjoyably for everyone. Plus, we're excited to talk today to Antony Bruno from Royalty Exchange about investing in music royalties. Are you a music fan? Is it a good idea to combine your love of songs with your investments...or even if you're not a music fan, is it worth pursuing? We'll talk about how it all works on today's Friday FinTech segment. Finally, we'll answer a listen

What do you wish someone had told you when you were 22 years old? How much would it have changed your trajectory? Would you have even listened to the advice? Today we're not just doling out idea to help your financial future....the guys are answering your specific financial questions. We'll also tackle questions about converting an IRA to a Roth IRA (how do you do it?), about why we always use 7-10% as our assumption over long periods when talking about the stock market, and how to know if you're ahead or behind on achieving your financial plan. Plus in our headlines segment, with all of the stock market gyrations lately, what's the right thing to do with your money? While many publications like to talk about all the ways people can panic, one seems to be the voice of reason....we'll share which one and details on HOW they suggest coping with stock market uneasiness on today's podcast. Later we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Ramon. He's hoping to find solutions for his joint budget with his spouse. How d

If you're like most people during the big holiday season, it's not really a question of IF you go over your budget, but WHEN--and how badly. With another "can't miss" deal around every corner who can keep themselves from doing a little splurging when shopping this month? Believe it or not, studies show that we plan for all of those expenses....it's the fact that the muffler sometimes drag behinds the car or another emergency expense happens which sends the budget into a tailspin and your credit card debt soaring. To solve that problem, today we'll talk to Michele Cagan, author of Budgeting 101. You'll be happy to hear that Michele doesn't think you need to track every penny. There's a better (and easier) way to make sure you get ahead without devoting your whole life to spreadsheets and money tracking programs. Then, in our headlines segment...what would you do if you found a $7.5 million stash of someone else's cash? One lucky guy bought a storage unit on the cheap and found a life-changing amount of money h

How can you really follow a financial plan when absolutely nobody knows what's going to happen to the economy or in their life in a couple of years? What happens to your financial plan if you lose your job or have a medical emergency that wipes out your savings? Helping us understand how to manage money and finances during the fog of life is a writer you know from the F*ck Off Fund, AND who you've read in the New York Times, Elle, Slate (and more)... Paulette Perhach. She'll be joined by Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and OG from "this here" podcast. Halfway through today's show our panel will be taking a little break while Joe talks to the founders of Digs. Saving up enough cash to buy your first home can be a long, difficult process. But... what if you had a 401k that you could save into for the big purchase? The guys from Digs are breaking down just how they're setting out to help people like you and me on today's FinTech segment. Finally, we'll maybe do our best job of answering a letter this year, when

How will YOU become the next millionaire next door? Believe it or not, it's been 23 years since The Millionaire Next Door shook the foundation of what people thought about wealth. You mean LOTS of people built their wealth in other ways than inheriting a bunch of money or working in huge income jobs? ...and that just because you LOOK wealthy doesn't mean you ARE wealthy? Today we talk to Dr. Sarah Fallaw (researcher and also the daughter of Thomas Stanley, author of the Millionaire Next Door) about how YOU can set yourself up to join this elite group. We'll discuss your friends, where you live, financial advisors, and more. Plus in our headlines segment, the results of a new survey are out about investor expectations, and they aren't good. Many investors have...maybe unrealistic ideas about their investment strategies. We'll explain on the show. Plus, one company has created a new credit card that will help you save into your 401(k) plan every time you save. Too good to be true? We'll answer that question on

Recently there have been LOTS of headlines about FIRE. Good? Bad? Ugly? We invited David Bach down to the basement to ostensibly ask him about the 20th anniversary edition of his Smart Women Finish Rich book. While we cover that in detail, we also asked him about HIS thoughts on the FIRE movement....and let's just say that he was more than happy to share. In our headlines segment it's time for tax loss harvesting and year end tax planning. What should you do? An Investment News piece details a few strategies and we'll talk about our favorites (and maybe not-so-favorites) on today's podcast Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to listener Rachel, who has some BIG life decisions to make. Should she stay in her townhouse or pursue her dream of moving to the mountains, even if it means a much longer commute to work, new debt, and probably some unforeseen consequences. And don't worry... we'll still take some time for Doug's trivia. Looking for something deeper than what we give you on th

If you're like me, holiday parties are a mix of sheer terror, the threat of being stuck in a corner in the world's second most boring conversation, and hoping that you don't accidentally stick your foot in your mouth. So, to help us all not only navigate the holiday party scene but to crush it, we're asking all of our party conversation strategy questions to Vanessa Van Edwards, author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People. Whether you're usually the "life of the party," or you're an introvert who's anxious just THINKING about an office party, Vanessa has simple, effective strategies that will change the way you think about office parties. Plus, instead of hosting a party where guests stand with glasses and talk, how about a better solution that'll make you the talk of your circle of friends for the next year? Today we're talking to the founder of Blendtique, Billy Dimm. Whether or not you saw Bill on Shark Tank, we think you'll love this idea of a wine-blending party. You and your friends enjoy

Ever think that you need to take decisive action to bring your investments under control? Ever wonder exactly what moves you should make the next time the market moves up or down? We've got you covered, because Dr. Daniel Crosby joins us to talk about how to avoid getting in your own way with your investments. We'll discuss exactly why decisive moves might not work, why your brain is horrible at investment decisions, and more. As always when we talk to Dr. Crosby, it's a fun, fast paced, and (shocker) educational interview. Plus in our headlines segment, if you're an army reservist trying to get into the financial industry, we'll look at one company, LPL Financial, who's teaming up with the Army Reserve to give military members an opportunity to become financial advisors. Then, in our second headline, what's in store for the future of HSAs? We're taking a look at MorningStar's newly released report on the Health Savings Account landscape. Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Chuck. Can Chuck take out a

If anyone knows about fighting fear, it's Akshay Nanavati. While fighting overseas with the Marines, Akshay lost people close to him and subsequently suffered PTSD. He'll share his story of overcoming his own paralyzing fear, fighting demons, and achieving some HUGE goals on today's show. Whether you're afraid of asking for a raise, of starting a workout program to feel better (and earn more money), or to get started saving, investing, or paying down debt, there's something for everyone on today's show. In our headlines segment we'll talk about HSA myths. What do you believe about HSAs that might not actually be true. Or, as HSAs become more prevalent, what do you need to know about them. Even if you're already well versed on HSAs, you'll find something new on today's show (even WE found a myth that we didn't know!). In our second headline, we'll talk to Beverly Harzog from US News and World report about the new ultra FICO scoring system. Who will this help? How do you ask to have your credit re-scored? What

While everyone else is standing in Black Friday lines hoping for the best deals, we're kicking back in the basement enjoying some board games. Eric Summerer from The Dice Tower joins us to talk about his favorite games about money, economics, and business. And then, as an added bonus, he'll stick around and share four ideas for frugal holiday gaming fun. Want to spend some time with your family laughing and enjoying your time together? Take these recommendations from the co-host of the biggest board game podcast on earth. And halfway through the show we'll focus specifically on one brand new game that was made to teach basic financial concepts and money management. Australian based Life Sherpa Vince Scully joins us to talk about his new board game, also called Life Sherpa. Exploring how money and happiness interrelate, and how different personalities want to make different decisions throughout life, Life Sherpa has a fun, lightweight design to show how you can turn your money and time into value and happiness

Every year early adopters worry about one thing....technology. What's the hottest new thing? What's the flop that we should avoid? How expensive is the latest do-dad going to cost? Should I buy last year's do-dad to save some cash? We're super excited because joining us to talk all things technology on our special pre-Black Friday show, we welcome CNET Senior Editor Bridget Carey.   Plus in our headlines segment, social media is changing how millennials invest. Is that good or bad? Plus, in our second headline we'll ask Jonathan Walker from NewMiddleClass.Org about some of the amazing statistics his group aggregates about the holiday shopping season. How does he think YOU are going to overspend this holiday season? (It isn't how YOU think you'll overspend...which is why you'll want to listen). Then we'll throw out the Haven Life Line to Evan. He and his wife have a baby on the way. Would it be the smart money move to use savings to pay off their car, or should Evan hold on to the money and use it as needed wh

Ready, set, SHOP! If you have to shop (and we're fairly certain you're like us and aren't in love with the idea at all), why not make it more fun by saving tons of money? Whether you're looking for clothing, tools, kitchen aids, furniture, or just something quirky, we've got you covered. Today we're talking to Sarah Hollenbeck from BlackFriday.com about the best deals available this holiday season. In our headlines segment we'll share another great deal that has savers everywhere cheering. The IRS announced recently that they're raising tax limits on all kinds of different retirement plans in 2019. What plans are getting a bump? Should plan to stash away more cash next year? We'll tackle that. Plus, we'll continue our Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping theme by making sure you don't get caught buying a "deal" that isn't really a deal this holiday spending season. We'll sit down with consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch about this year's holiday scams and not-so-great deals to watch out for. Plus, today we're