Rich Habits Podcast
Austin Hankwitz and Robert Croak
Introducing the Rich Habits Podcast — a financial literacy podcast for anyone ready to take back control of their money by implementing new habits.
Join Robert Croak and Austin Hankwitz every Monday, Thursday, and Friday as they demystify the financial habits of the rich, share their own mistakes and shortcomings, and lay out the blueprint for you to succeed with money.
Robert is a decamillionaire with 30+ years of business experience and $200M+ of company exits under his belt, while Austin is an entrepreneur in his 20s eager to learn.
Join Robert Croak and Austin Hankwitz every Monday, Thursday, and Friday as they demystify the financial habits of the rich, share their own mistakes and shortcomings, and lay out the blueprint for you to succeed with money.
Robert is a decamillionaire with 30+ years of business experience and $200M+ of company exits under his belt, while Austin is an entrepreneur in his 20s eager to learn.
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 35min
Q&A: $21M in Sales, Investing as a Widow, & $100K Invested at 23
They tackle investing choices after life changes, like moving an idle 401(k) for a widow and whether to hire fiduciary advisors. Listeners get guidance on building a simple ETF portfolio and when to leave robo-advisors for self-management. Practical real estate talk covers keeping rental properties, long-distance landlording, and whether to sell. They also discuss managing a $21M business with thin margins and extracting personal pay.
8 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 39min
160: Why Prediction Markets Matter To You
They unpack prediction markets and how contract prices reflect real probabilities. They contrast money-backed markets with polls and headlines. Practical uses include reading Fed and recession odds, scenario planning for portfolios, and using markets as a research tool rather than a casino.
Mar 6, 2026 • 43min
A Special Guest from Joby Aviation, OpenAI's $110B Fundraise, & the "K-Shaped" Economy
Ryan Nehru, aviation policy lead at Joby Aviation focused on eVTOL safety and rulemaking. He talks about electric propulsion advantages, pilot programs and timelines, safety and airspace integration, and Joby’s service model and Uber partnership. Expect discussions on use cases like commuting and regional connectivity, plus when flights might begin locally.
Mar 5, 2026 • 43min
Q&A: Paying Off $300K in Student Loans, Roth IRA vs. Roth 401(k), & Kiddie Taxes
Listeners ask about paying off massive student debt versus investing, and whether market returns can beat a 6% loan. They debate buying a rental property for a child and how to structure ownership and taxes. Retirement strategy questions cover Roth IRA versus Roth 401(k), employer match priorities, and backdoor Roths. There is a plain breakdown of kiddie tax thresholds and advice for kids’ savings choices.
Mar 2, 2026 • 37min
159: How To Invest Your First $1,000
They walk through where to park your first $1,000, including emergency savings and grabbing a 401(k) match. They outline opening a Roth IRA and favor broad index ETFs over single-stock bets. They stress paying high-interest debt first, keeping fees low, and starting small to build investing discipline. Rapid-fire cautions cover crypto, options, and get-rich-quick schemes.
Feb 27, 2026 • 31min
$135B in Tariff Refunds, Trump's $1,000 Retirement Match, & Hindenburg Omens
They unpack the wave of 1,800 lawsuits seeking roughly $135B in tariff refunds and who might actually benefit. They break down Meta and AMD's massive $100B chip partnership and what it means for AI infrastructure. They cover the proposal for a $1,000 government retirement match for millions of workers and why small matches can matter. They also flag Hindenburg Omen market signals and sector rotation themes.
Feb 26, 2026 • 45min
Q&A: Big Beautiful Bill Tax Deductions, Buying a House w/ In-Laws, & Saving for an MBA
Tax rules for vehicle interest and when extra car payments make sense. How to save for an MBA without new debt and whether buying near school beats renting. Pros and cons of keeping a paid-off rental versus selling and reinvesting. Strategies for co-owning a home with an in-law, including ownership structure and LLC agreements. Tips for turning a side business into a scaled, legit operation.
Feb 23, 2026 • 38min
158: Why You Feel Behind Financially
They unpack why people feel financially behind despite data saying otherwise. They explore how social media and survivorship bias warp benchmarks. They walk through median net worth by age to challenge perceptions. They offer simple investing pathways and practical portfolio mixes for different time horizons.
13 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 30min
Your New $2K / Month Side Hustle, Flying Air Taxis, & Higher Interest Rates?
They unpack Tesla's CyberCab rollout and the idea of buying robo-taxi fleets as a $2K/month side hustle. They explore eVTOL flying taxis, companies primed for fast-track pilots, and how air taxis could reshape commuting and real estate. They also debate a split Fed and what higher interest rates might mean for mortgages and markets.
Feb 19, 2026 • 41min
Q&A: Feeling Behind on Life Goals, Work Bonuses, & Medical Challenges
Listeners ask about recovering from medical and financial setbacks and practical steps to rebuild emergency savings and budgets. They debate investing lump-sum settlements and how to allocate work bonuses. Career advice covers returning to work, remote jobs, and using AI to find roles. Real estate topics include selling underperforming rentals and risks of raising rents without renovations.
