The Stacking Benjamins Show

It's your big moment. You're talking to the boss or giving a presentation at work. Maybe you're finally in front of your dream customer. And you blow it. Today we'll help you earn more money by focusing (well, as much as we focus...) on speaking well. Whether you're trying to convince the family to wash dishes or your boss to give you a raise, speaking more effectively is far from a "soft" skill. So today we welcome Grant Baldwin, author of The Successful Speaker, and host of the Speaker Lab podcast to give us some tips and tricks! How does Social Security look? During our headline segment, we'll dive into that topic, and run through the future of Social Security. How long will stay solvent? And, in the most important question anyone has asked around here today, we'll ask, "How did a couple of guys score free McDonald's?" Just another day on our show. If you think that's all, it might be your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's amazing trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you have trouble staying in charge of your money? Maybe you let your priorities get away from you and want to make a change? Today we'll talk about communication, being direct, and asking for what you really want with the author of the hit new book Bow Down, Lindsay Goldwert. In this unique new perspective on how to take charge, Lindsay sat down with dominatrixes across America to get first-hand information on how you can "reset the power dynamic in any situation to get what you want—whether it’s from a husband, boss, or partner." During our headlines segment, are you finally bringing in a HUGE nice income, but your bank account isn't rising? Lifestyle inflation can become a serious issue for high earners, and without a proper plan in place investors run the risk of becoming a HENRY - High Earner, Not Rich Yet. Plus, during our second headline, we'll touch on why actor Rick Moranis is making a return to the big screen and what lessons you can glean for your financial plan. Plus, we'll open up the mailbag during our Haven Life Line and answer an estate-related question from Diana. Diana is the executrix of an estate plan for the funds of two pre-teens but wants to appoint someone else to take over most of the responsibilities. What can she do? What is she supposed to do? We'll cover some estate planning basics on today's show. And, of course, we'll also make some time for Doug's trivia. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's been a lot of market fears going around this past week, but regardless of its origin people have been asking the same question for years: what should we do when the bull market finally ends? We're finishing out the rewind week with one of our classic old-school roundtable episodes featuring Paula Pant, Len Penzo, and Greg McFarlane answering that very question. You can read the original show notes below:   This has been a LONG bull market. So if you know that the next eight years will most probably NOT be like the previous eight, do you swap out some of your investments? We ask our roundtable panel that on today's show and as always, find Greg, Len and Paula all have different answers than you probably expected.   We also tackle lifestyle paradigms. Are you paying too much attention to your neighbor's success? Finally, we'll discuss fake news....no, we aren't going politics. We'll ask our panel whether there's any "fake news" in the money area that they're sick of hearing. Of course, they come through with some great examples.   In our Freshbooks FinTech segment we talk to SelfLender CEO James Garvey about building credit. How does SelfLender help people find financial footing? They have an interesting idea and an exciting approach. Can't wait for you to hear all about it.   Thanks to SoFi and MagnifyMoney.com for sponsoring our show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you committed to saving, but can't seem to get other people around you on board? It can be frustrating once investing for the future has clicked in your head, but not for the people you care about. Gene Natali, co-author of The Missing Semester, shared some great information with us on how to get anyone interested in saving for the future and we're revisiting that interview today. You can read our original show notes below: 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

Have you ever thought about jumping into real estate? It isn't all roses, rainbows and money. On today's rewind episode, the FinTern takes us back to 2018 and Dana Bull's appearance in the basement, talking about all of the good times and bad in the business of investing in property.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What big money wasters exist in your life? Unless you're like us, Benjamins seem to slip out of your pockets WAY too easily. Today, we'll test our guests' game show skills to see if they can guess 16 fantastic examples of money wasters we found hidden in a recent Marketwatch piece. Joining us to play along we welcome Chelsea Brennan from The Smart Money Mamas Podcast, Doc. G from the What's Up Next show, and our very own nerdy engineer, Len Penzo, from Len Penzo dot com! One big money waster could be the exorbitant bank fees people pay. During our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with one company trying to lower your fees. Nami Baral, Chief Empathy Officer from Harvest joins us. They'll discuss how Harvest uses AI to help you save on all sorts of bank and credit card fees. We'll have all the details And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question on if our fellow Stacker should open a non-profit farm. There's SO much more...but you'll have to listen to hear it all! Hope you can join the fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you struggling with debt? How about a little inspiration? Cindy Zuniga paid off a LOT of debt in just four years. Like you, she finally realized she'd had enough and something had to change...so change she did. Today she'll share the struggle and her path out from deep debt, along with dispelling some myths about debt payoff strategies along the way. She'll also share how she successfully used a cool concept called "zero-based budgeting" to not just pay down debt but to curb her spending habits successfully. Additionally, she'll share some of the places she found inspiration to keep going on her long journey during her payoff process and after. If you saw Cindy's story on Good Morning America, you'll love this expanded interview with her today on Stacking Benjamins! Plus, Fidelity Investments has some great news for savers: we're doing a good job saving collectively. However, some of us are (ahem) doing better than others. John Boroff, Fidelity's Director of Retirement and College Leadership joins us Joe's dad's shortwave radio to talk about not just the successes, but also why people have maybe been more successful so you can emulate those strengths. He'll also share some great ideas to save more if you're behind. If you think that's all, it might be your first time here (so welcome!). Of course we'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller, share some of Doug's chocolatey trivia AND much, much more. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When was the last time you planned to make some of your big dreams a reality? What's holding you back? Time? Money? Fear of the unknown? Today we're talking to Tamara Jacobi, who created a retreat in the Mexican jungle right after college. She's the author of the new book Wildpreneur AND a continental traveler, who'll join us and talk about how you can face your fears, climb to new heights, and make your dreams a reality. Are you worried about the economic effects of the coronavirus spreading to your portfolio? During our headlines segment, we'll ring up Chris Cook, president of Beacon Capital Management, and get some answers on what you can do to inoculate your investment strategy. During our Haven Life Line we're shaking things up a bit. We're keep the voicemails on hold this time around while we turn our eyes toward the results of our Instagram poll: what's been this year's most surprising budget busters? We'll break down our range of answers during this special Haven Life segment. As always, we'll carve out a bit of time for Doug's trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buying running shoes for your partner who you know loves to run, you find THAT romantic? Taking a walk in the park holding hands, is that still romantic? Watching TV or a Movie and not saying a word to each other during the entire show, you find THAT romantic? Today we'll turn romance on its head as we apply the question "Is that romantic," to a BUNCH of financial questions. Do romance and money mix? We'll find out. Here to help us spread some love on Valentine's Day from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to the lovable Paula Pant and the guy with the dry sense of humor from this very podcast...OG! How old will you be when you die? Will you have enough money? It turns out, many of us will live for a long, long time, according to science. What if you run out of money late in life? Worse yet, what if a family member runs out of money and you have to sacrifice your retirement to take care of them. Today, during our FinTech segment, we'll share details about a company working on that very issue. Blair Baldwin joins Joe in the basement to talk about AgeUp. And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment, we will answer a question on HSA accounts and the military. Is our caller eligible for an HSA? As always, of course, we'll quiz our contributors with an epic gameshow question regarding the number of people who really do celebrate Valentine's Day! It's a circus as usual on today's Stacking Benjamins Show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why are some of the coolest financial tools rarely used? For example, people by-and-large avoid HSA accounts, when they're the Swiss-army knife of a healthcare plan. Today we'll shine a light on another type of plan that's not often used: the Roth 401K. A recent piece in a major publication predicted that Roth 401K plans will become bigger now that the SECURE Act has been enacted. What do Joe & OG think? Do THEY like the Roth 401K? You'll find out during today's episode! After that, we're all about your letters! You've been kind enough to ask us lots of questions, and Joe & OG today grab the mailbag and sort through it. We'll tackle everything from buying a home to investing in a Roth IRA to whether Monopoly is a good game or a great game. We didn't say that they were good questions....we just said there were lots. But that's not all. We'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky caller AND we'll hear some great trivia from Doug about one of our greatest Presidents...Abe Lincoln. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices