The Stacking Benjamins Show

Sometimes trying to be an adult just plain stinks. But when do you "adult" and when do you "wing it"? A recent post on popular blogging site Budgets Are Sexy asks that question and today we put that in front of our roundtable panel of top bloggers and podcasters. Where do you balance minimalism with having the right backup? Joining us today from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, from our own amazing podcast, our co-host OG, finally, from Len Penzo dot com, we'll welcome Frank from the movie Old School....who you know IS the most responsible adult. Okay, we're joking. Rounding out our team is just Len Penzo. Working from home? Trying to teach your children while you're working? Today we'll ask CEO Aaron Velky from Ortus Academy how his Money Club works. While others have struggled to help kids learn about money, Ortus Academy has developed a notable short term track record. Could your kids learn money habits better? Aaron joins us to talk about how kids learn and exactly what they think is important to teach. Interestingly, he'll talk about financial education as a sport. How do you teach kids to "win" with money? we'll share how they're solving that problem. Finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Nick on how to spend more money. He's thinking about moving his family to a high-cost area. How does he afford the bigger expenses he's about to bring on? As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors on Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking coffee on today's show. Specifically, how many people like their cup of Joe black (aka "naked," "with nothing in it," or "au natural.") Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The market's down a bazillion percent (mom's not great at math), your neighbors won't answer the door (and for the first time ever, that's a good thing), and the world seems upside down. Time to stop throwing good money after bad and call a retreat? On today's show Joe & OG answer a TON of your questions about ANYTHING! While we received many questions about coronavirus we also field some about college savings plans, Roth IRAs, board games, and what we would have done if podcasting hadn't been the huge massive financial hit that it's been (sarcasm, kids...). Plus, in our headlines segment, while everyone is panicking, luckily there are still journalists out there ready to write some pretty stupid financial pieces. What's the latest piece of financial TP advice? We'll cover that on today's show AND save time for Doug's trivia. Just another nearly 90 minute day in the office (AKA basement) for us! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, we're joking about the coronavirus coverage. While we'll discuss the key fundamentals you need to know, we'll spend more time today talking about the basics. Between focusing on your money mindset with Jean Chatzky from The Today Show and HerMoney.com, refinancing your debt, and getting your taxes paid on time, there's a LOT to cover. Hopefully you'll find yourself focusing on the good things instead of glued to the television and events you can't control. During our headlines we're covering the latest silver lining from the IRS: the tax filing deadline has been kicked down the road AND penalties and interest has been waived on tax payments. During our segment we'll explain what that all means to you, (other than waiting a few more months to file, of course. Procrastination for the win!). Plus during our second headline we'll share how virus fears have led to a mortgage refinancing boom. During the Haven Life Line we're answering a question from one of our Facebook Basement members. Phil and his wife took out a HELOC last year and decided they wouldn't refinance to avoid paying closing costs. With rates dropping how they are, Phil asked our group: doesn't it make sense to refinance now and save large down the road? As always, we'll save some room for Doug's chip-and-dip themed trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since you're most probably stuck at home and "social distancing" yourself, now's a great time for a lighthearted discussion about spring cleaning your financial picture. Everything else in life right now seems pretty heavy, so today we'll keep it light with three people who know a thing or two about great money moves. Joining us today from Paychecks and Balances, we'll welcome Marcus Garrett, from the Afford Anything podcast, we'll say hello to Paula Pant, and finally, from Len Penzo dot com, its our favorite house keeper Alice from The Brady Bunch! ...while that would be fun, today it's just gonna be Len Penzo. While you're cleaning up your money, raising your savings rate is a great place to start (or at least trying to stop your savings from deteriorating...). SO today Joe will be chat about behavioral finance with expert Dr. Ted Klontz and Emily Shallal from Ally Bank. Dr. Ted Klontz lets us know that our ancestors did not hoard their money or even their toilet paper...#shocking. Surprisingly, he says our brains are wired differently, and Emily Shallal from Ally tells us how they've used similar studies to create new product features that'll trick our brains into saving. And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, we'll talk to a Stacker named Joe about whether he should contribute to his retirement or save for a house. As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. We're talking omelettes on today's show (of course!). Mom hopes you're all safe and washing your hands! Enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During this crisis, it's important to focus on the big picture...but what is it? Our guest today says (and we agree), that managing your energy, and not your time is the key to success. Angelo Poli, the founder of MetPro and advisor to some of the biggest celebrities and athletes in America, discusses weight loss, how to eat right (and avoid fad diets), and more. We're sure you'll learn a TON about nutrition (like we all do every time Angelo has been on the show). Plus, what's polite to talk about over dinner with people? Politics, religion, or your credit card debt? Today we'll talk to Nathan Hamilton during our headlines segment about a study he and the team at The Ascent have completed about appropriate topics at work and at the dinner table. I think you'll be as surprised as we were. If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also 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

How does YOUR financial future look? Probably the first lesson anyone successful with money will tell you is that you can't look at life the same way anymore. While some expenses others may see as a given, you now see as a money drain. Where others see failure, you now see opportunity. Today we'll talk about changing your financial tune with Dave Mason, author of The Cash Machine, who suggests you can make big changes in your relationship with money by making some small changes in how you perceive the world around you. Recently the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in response to the coronavirus. They may do it again. We'll talk about some opportunities this may open up for you. Plus, from the perspective of the individual investor (or more preciously, the Robinhood investor), life got a little worse for some traders when the investing app suffered an outage for an entire trading day as stocks surged. Later on, we'll answer a retirement and taxes question from Red. He can contribute to a Roth and Traditional 401k, while Red's wife can only contribute to a Traditional. What happens during retirement when they file jointly? Will Red have to pay taxes twice? One now for the Roth, and later on for the traditional? As always, we're saving some time today for Doug's trivia. It's a great day to listen to podcasts while you're at home! Everyone stay safe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time to get down and dirty! Did you think financial experts agree on everything? OG has his boxing gloves on for this episode because today we're wrestling with topics financial experts can't agree upon. Fighting with him today from the amazing podcast Afford Anything, we welcome Paula Pant, and from the compelling podcast Earn and Invest, (formerly What's Up Next?), we'll also say hello to the Doc G. It's a great crew and we think you'll love the conversation they discuss as they wrestle with today's topics. We know it's fun to hang out in the basement, but Peak Money makes saving money look like fun no matter where you are! Today during our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with Jonathan Yagel and Michael Brooks from Peak Money about how they're able to help people save more money toward their goals. It's an exciting journey that most of our listeners want to pursue. Who doesn't want more money toward their next vacation? I rest my case. And finally, during our Magnify Money segment, OG really hits it hard with the punches but Paula and Doc pick up the slack. They answer a question about what category a 401k savings plan should be in, when filling out a spreadsheet. Is it an expense or saving? We'll get our team's cracking answer on today's show! As always, of course we'll quiz our contributors with Joe's Mom's neighbor Doug's amazing trivia. How much did the first Barbie cost? It's all exciting questions and answers on today's show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you a "go-go-go" person? You live on phrases like, "I can sleep when I'm dead," or "hustle and grind." Today's guest Heather Chauvin from the Mom In Control podcast used to live that lifestyle, until a serious health issue finally forced her to face the truth: it isn't sustainable. Not only that, but Heather Chauvin will also share how, once she took care of herself better, she was then able to bring more energy to her life, creating much more than she was when she was "hustle and grinding." Plus, I don't know if you noticed, but the stock market has been slightly "bumpy" lately. Joe and OG have a timely discussion around people fleeing stocks AND those people who are on social media saying, "Go buy more." Both of these approaches could cost you dearly. They'll also discuss how Jeff Bezos now is joining the growing list of entrepreneurs putting his wallet behind the fight against climate change. We'll discuss ESG investing and why anyone would do that on today's show. If you think that's all, well that might mean that it's your first time here (so welcome!). Of course, we'll also 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

What's your financial plan? Is it built on bedrock or are you "winging it", aka building on sand? On today's show, Certified Financial Planner Brian Ursu joins us to dive into four strategies that will help anyone trying to build their financial house. For veteran planners, these will be things you've heard before. However, the question isn't, "Have you heard them?" Like anything, you should ask yourself, "Am I doing them?" THAT may yield a completely different answer. Plus, TurboTax maker Intuit has been in the news recently, because they're buying credit score site Credit Karma. What does that mean for consumers like us? Also, because Credit Karma is a FinTech company, what does that mean for FinTech? We'll ask Ryan Falvey from Financial Venture Studio both of those questions. If you've heard Ryan before on our show, you know he'll have an interesting point of view. Of course, that's not all. We'll throw out the Haven Life line to a lucky listener AND still leave time for Doug's trivia...which today takes a more-than-usual unusual twist.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you believe telling a white lie is okay, do you believe that about money topics? What about white lies that are told by big-time bloggers or (gasp) podcasters about the path to riches? We'll dive into the world of lies and deceit on today's show with an all-star cast around the rickety card table. Joining us today we welcome Dustin Heiner from The Master Passive Income Podcast, Paula Pant from the Afford Anything Podcast, and from our very own podcast, OG! We know a lot of you use calculators for your job, but we think you will all like using the Retirement Budget Calculator after hours as well. During our Friday FinTech segment, Joe will talk with Jason Parker from the Sound Retirement Planning podcast. They'll discuss how Jason's Retirement Budget Calculator has continued to grow. Joe last year said that this calculator was the "best retirement calculator for consumers" (he still thinks there are better calculators for pros). We'll have all the details on how it works AND share some discounts you won't get if you buy the calculator elsewhere. And finally, during our MagnifyMoney segment we will answer a question via Twitter. What is your best advice for future college students to fund their education when their parents can't or won't help them? 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