Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices
Paula Pant, Personal Finance Expert | Cumulus Podcast Network
You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
Episodes
Mentioned books
35 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 47min
AI, Layoffs, and the Future of Your Career — with Dr. Ben Zweig (Part 1 of 2)
Dr. Ben Zweig, economist and CEO of Revelio Labs who studies labor markets and AI, explains how jobs are bundles of tasks and how AI automates granular work. He contrasts generational job changes, explores orchestration versus execution, and highlights which human traits remain valuable as automation shifts career risks—especially for early-career workers.
11 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 57min
My Brother-in-Law Wants to Buy a Rental in Mexico. Good Idea?
A family dilemma over a plan to sell everything and buy a multiunit Airbnb in Mexico sparks questions about scale, local laws, taxes, and true costs. They break down how to calculate cap rate and run realistic cashflow numbers. Other segments cover what to do after a sudden IRA windfall and whether rolling 401(k)s into IRAs affects lawsuit protection.
142 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 1h 7min
Your IQ Won't Save Your Career. Your AQ Might. – with Liz Tran
Liz Tran, executive coach and AI coaching founder, explains agility quotient (AQ) as the new career currency. She explores why adaptability beats static IQ, contrasts short-lived technical skills with durable ones, and introduces four AQ archetypes plus the ABCD framework for staying decisive during change. Practical frameworks and thinking tools for navigating rapid industry shifts are highlighted.
40 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 1h 6min
Q&A: Should My Teen Go to College?
Joe Saul‑Sehy, a former financial planner and regular co‑host, gives practical financial-planning perspective. They weigh whether college is an investment worth the cost. Short alternatives and delaying school are discussed. Practical tips on comparing programs, using BLS data, and choosing well-funded grad paths. Also covers dividend withdrawal choices and how to find true fiduciary advisors.
104 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 2h 2min
Your Brain Is Your Most Important Asset, with Dr. Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD
Dr. Majid Fotuhi, neurologist and neuroscientist who taught at Johns Hopkins and Harvard and wrote The Invincible Brain, discusses brain health as an asset. He explains five hidden taxes on the brain and a five-pillar framework. Topics include how sleep rinses the brain, why exercise multiplies brain mitochondria, mental laziness harms cognition, and rapid reversal of decline with lifestyle changes.
27 snips
Feb 10, 2026 • 47min
Q&A: I'm Burned Out But Not Quite Ready to Retire
A teacher wrestles with burnout after 15 years and considers shifting to relief work to protect her energy while keeping FIRE goals alive. A listener questions whether a bank portfolio manager’s fee-heavy, dividend-focused funds are underperforming compared with simple index ETFs. A parent explores how a 14-year-old can start a custodial Roth IRA using earned income and learn about investing.
42 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 43min
First Friday: The Retirement Rules That Changed While You Weren't Looking
Tax cuts and refunds changing how many Americans will file this year. Major shifts to retirement rules and Roth catch-up mandates for high earners. Surging AI capital spending by Big Tech and its disconnect from job growth. Labor-market cracks with rising layoffs and falling job openings. New child savings accounts and policy moves affecting homebuying and federal guarantees.
52 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 1h 12min
Q&A: Are AI Stocks About to Crater?
They debate whether AI-driven stocks are overhyped and whether market timing or index tweaks are wise. Practical advice on building an all‑weather portfolio with simple fund mixes, rebalancing, and dollar‑cost averaging. Strategies for stabilizing income, prioritizing debt and safety home projects, and testing small business ideas before scaling.
108 snips
Jan 31, 2026 • 1h 36min
10 Rules for Building a Portfolio That Actually Works for Your Life, with Cullen Roche
Cullen Roche, founder and CIO of Discipline Funds and pragmatic investing commentator, shares 10 portfolio principles. He reframes buying stocks as reallocating savings. Short takes cover behavioral pitfalls like panic-selling and FOMO. He explains diversification, cost and tax importance, the 3–10 year allocation challenge, and concrete tactics like the 351 exchange and defined-duration matching.
43 snips
Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 24min
Why You Should “T-Bill and Chill” Instead of Using a Savings Account, with Cullen Roche
Cullen Roche, founder and CIO of Discipline Funds and author on pragmatic portfolio design, explains why one-size-fits-all allocations fail. He walks through the history and trade-offs of the 60/40, a Buffett-style cash approach, and the idea of “T-bill and chill.” Topics include cash management with T-bills vs. banks, practical ladders and ETFs, and sequence-of-returns risk around early retirement.
