Afford Anything

Creating Happiness At Work, with Julie Winkle Giulioni

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#396: International best selling author and leadership speaker, Julie Winkle Giulioni, talks through a multidimensional career framework that features...

Invest Anywhere: There are THOUSANDS of Cities, Where Do I Invest?!

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#395: Welcome to Invest Anywhere, our monthly series on long-distance real estate investing. Invest Anywhere airs on the First Friday of each month an...

Ask Paula: How Much Should I Invest vs. Keep in Cash?

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#394: Bill listened to our episode with Bill Bengen, father of the 4% rule, and he wants to know if there was a way for him to figure out how much mon...

Money and Investing Have Changed, with Chuck Jaffee

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#393: Chuck Jaffee is a forty year veteran financial journalist who regularly writes for the Wall Street Journal and is also a nationally syndicated f...

Ask Paula: Did the Great Recession Lead to the FIRE Movement?

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#392: Colleen and her husband own SEVEN paid off rental homes. Now they’re heading into retirement and disagree on what to do with some of that equi...

Powerful Tactics to Take Control of Your Life and Career, with Dr. Reza Abraham

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#391: Dr. Reza Abraham, an international leadership consultant, walks us through a framework of staying in control of your career and your life. This ...

Ask Paula: Help! My Bills Are Too High

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#390: We start this episode with two anonymous callers who have opposite problems: one says her bills are too high, while the other is worried that sh...

Invest Anywhere: Should I Bother Investing in Long-Distance Real Estate?

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#389: Should you bother investing in real estate … especially from a distance? Is the hassle worth it? What’s the upside? Do you really want this?...

Feeling Anxious About Your Investments?, with Scott Nations

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#388: Recessions are terrifying. Market crashes often bring out the worst in people’s anxieties and fears. This fear triggers us to act even more ir...

Ask Paula: Is a Crash Coming?

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#387: Lila is concerned about inflation and the risk of a recession. Should she invest in the stock market, despite the scary headlines? Or should she...

The Psychology of Secrets, with Dr. Michael Slepian

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#386: We all have our secrets. We keep some secrets from bosses, colleagues and clients, like the fact that we hope to retire early, change careers, o...

Ask Paula: How to Invest When You’re Unsure of the Goal

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#385: Anonymous (“Jennifer”) keeps hearing us say that you should “start with the end in mind” – that your investments should match your goa...

Invest Anywhere: Six Strategies to Make Money in Real Estate

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#384: Welcome back to the third episode in our special series, Afford Anything Presents: Invest Anywhere. Invest Anywhere is a new monthly series that...

How to Talk About Money with Confidence and Charisma, with Vanessa Van Edwards

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#383: Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards, who runs the research lab Science of People, breaks down the psychological secrets behind feeling and...

Ask Paula: What Do I Do With Free Money?

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#382: Joe is buying his first house hack and would like to understand if the FHA loan or the doctor loan would be better for him. Sara wants to leave ...

How to Not Let Your Feelings Hijack Your Decisions, with Mollie West Duffy

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#381: Maybe you’re envious of your friend who bought Bitcoin in 2015 and held until it hit 7-figures. Maybe you’re anxious about rapidly rising ho...

Ask Paula: How to Optimize Your Investments Along the Efficient Frontier (If You Dare!)

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#380: Matt wants to optimize his portfolio and wants to know if he should invest along the Efficient Frontier – despite the fact that the asset allo...

Invest Anywhere: 4 Benefits and 5 Challenges of Long-Distance Real Estate Investing

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#379: Welcome to our First Friday bonus episode. Once a month, Afford Anything presents a special feature called Invest Anywhere, in which we teach ou...

Ask Paula: Should I Take a Higher-Paying Job if I Can’t Save As Much for Retirement?

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#378: Anonymous is 25. She has a job offer that comes with a substantial raise. Hooray! Buuut … there’s a problem. If she accepts this job offer, ...

How I Discovered The 4 Percent Retirement Rule, with Bill Bengen

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#377: Today’s episode is sheer retirement nerd bliss. We talk to the creator of the 4 percent retirement safe withdrawal rule, Bill Bengen. If you’...

Ask Paula: How Should My 64-Year-Old Mom Handle a Toxic Boss?

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#376: Meghan’s mom is 64 years old and suffering under a toxic boss. It’s tough to switch jobs at her age. How should she think through the next s...

The 2X Rule (and Other Wealth-Accelerating Advice), with Nick Maggiulli

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#375: Here’s the deal: The majority of people who write about personal finance repeat the same tired aphorisms and cliches. “Millennials aren’t ...

Ask Paula: How Can I Minimize My Taxes?

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#374: Andy in Palm Springs wants to create an income stream through a taxable brokerage account. What strategy should he use to minimize the tax impac...

Invest Anywhere: The 5 Ways Real Estate Makes Money

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#373: How do people make money in real estate? Many focus on rental income, but this is only one of five ways that properties create wealth. We expl...

Ask Paula: I’m 33 and Want to Retire at 45 – What Should I Do?

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#372: Eve has been investing in her brokerage account and the tax liabilities are starting to add up. She wants to retire in 12 years and is wonderin...

What’s the Point of Happiness, Anyway?, with Dr. Bill Von Hippel

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#371: Psychology professor Bill von Hippel explains the evolutionary science behind how we’re hardwired as humans. We’re wired to be social, to co...

Ask Paula: My Income Is Dropping From $190,000 to $40,000; What Should I Do?

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#370: Kristen is 32, and she and her husband want to retire in less than 20 years. They make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA. Should they use bac...

Why Does the Stock Market Crash? | Stocks 101 Explained, with Brian Feroldi

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#369: To answer these questions, we need a deep, tree-trunk understanding – a core, fundamental understanding – of how the stock market operates. ...

Ask Paula: Talk Crypto To Me

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#368: Grace wants to buy a manufactured home for rental income. Should she calculate her returns differently for a manufactured home? Alex is curious ...

The Roots of Procrastination, Inattention and Anxiety, with Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D.

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#367: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many commentators have remarked that we’re living in an “epidemic of anxiety.” More than 40 mill...

Ask Paula: How Do I Invest For My Parents' Retirement?

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#366: Micheal’s parents just sold their home to pay off debt and fund their retirement. How should he invest the profits? Ryker would like to unders...

Inflation, Explained

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#365: Nearly every financial news story for the past several months has centered around inflation – but what, exactly, is inflation? What are its ca...

Ask Paula: No Spouse, No Family - How Do I Financially Prepare For Care Later In Life?

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#364: Our first caller is curious about whether he should keep his 30 year term life insurance policy or let it lapse with 12 years left on the policy...

Two Types of Intelligence, with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#363: In our 20’s and 30’s, we have high levels of fluid intelligence, or raw intellectual horsepower. We can ace tests, impress people with our m...

Ask Paula: Okay Seriously, Why Hasn’t Anyone Solved the Budgeting Issue?

01 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#362: David is questioning how to better manage his spending. He’d like a stronger framework to think through budgeting challenges. Elisa and her hu...

The GameStop Revolution, One Year Later — with Spencer Jakab

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#361: Wall Street Journal columnist Spencer Jakab marks the one-year anniversary of that weird time when the subReddit Wall St Bets pumped shares of m...

Ask Paula: I’m Worried My Parents Are Getting Ripped Off By Their Financial Advisor … Help!

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#360: I’m worried my parents are getting ripped off by their financial advisor. What should I do? My wife is trying to qualify for student loan forg...

The Four Quadrants of A Successful Life, with Andrew Hallam

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#359: Money, relationships, health and purpose: life is running smoothly when all four of these elements are working together in tandem, like wheels o...

Ask Paula: Should I Invest in Index Funds More Actively?

08 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#358: Where is the balance between the risks and potential returns of actively and passively investing in index funds?Where do you place your savings ...

Practical Investing and the Efficient Frontier, with Joe Saul-Sehy

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

#357: Discussing advanced investing topics with me is former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy. You may recognize him from the Ask Paula episodes, but w...

Ask Paula: FIRE vs. FOMO -- How Do You Balance Between These?

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#356: How do you find balance between smart money management vs. missing out on opportunities? Should you pile money into investments or take that dre...

A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, with Jordan Grumet

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#355: When Jordan Grumet realized he has achieved financial independence, he fell into a deep depression. He didn’t know who he was anymore, he says...

Ask Paula: How Do I Make Sure I Don't Spend the Money I've Invested?

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#354: Charlie in Cali has enough money saved to pay cash for a house, but she and her husband decided to finance their home, instead. They’d rather ...

The Secret to Perfect Timing

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#353: Daniel Pink joins us to discuss an unusual theory: (1) that our energy rises, falls, and then rises again; (2) that this pattern plays out acros...

Ask Paula: Should I Pull Money from My Emergency Fund to Invest or Pay Off Debt?

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#352: Anna and her husband have volatile income, but Anna thinks that having 18 months of living expenses is unnecessary. She’s torn between paying ...

The Six Myths of Productivity

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#351: Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and ...

Ask Paula: How Much Should We Spend on a Wedding?

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#350: Anonymous and her husband have set themselves on the path of saving for retirement. But an old mistake haunts them: a financial planner convince...

A Candid Conversation with Mr. Money Mustache & Paula Pant

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#349: A frank and candid conversation about life, dead-lifting, and enjoying the hell out of doing meaningful work. For more information, visit the sh...

Ask Paula: How Should We Invest to Retire By Our Mid-40’s?

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#348: Aja’s mom is 75 and has to take required minimum distributions from her IRA. She doesn’t need the money. Where should she put it? Anonymous ...

The Radical Invention of the Index Fund, with Robin Wigglesworth

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#347: Back in the 1960’s, Jack Bogle thought that actively-managed mutual funds performed better than a passive indexing strategy. He pseudonymously...

Ask Paula: How Can We Reach Financial Independence by 35?

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#346: Pensions make Chad uncomfortable, to the point of quitting his job to roll his $175,000 over to an IRA. Is the 12 percent match his employer off...

How to Understand Your Medical Bill, with Marshall Allen

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#345: Let’s talk about one of the biggest expenses you might ever encounter: health care costs. When you get a hospital bill, do you understand it? ...

Ask Paula: I’m Bored at Work, and I’m 14 Years from Retirement; Should I Tough It Out?

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#344: Russell’s job offers the option to contribute to a 457 plan. Since he’s in the highest tax bracket, should he take advantage of the tax defe...

Are We Heading for a Housing Crash in 2022?

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#343: The real estate market in 2021 has been bonkers. That’s the technical term. From 2012 to 2020, home prices nationwide rose at an annualized av...

Ask Paula: How to Make Smarter Real Estate Decisions

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#342: Russell is a busy professional who’d like to invest passively in real estate. Is there data he can use to compare this approach to owning and ...

Courage and The Consequences of Inaction, with Ryan Holiday

02 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#341: Imagine a line. Cowardice exists at one extreme end of that line. Recklessness exists at the other extreme end. And in the balanced middle, you’...

How to Make $1 Million in Business with No Employees, with Elaine Pofeldt

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#340: Imagine this: You start a side hustle. Maybe you sell planners or lead workouts in the park. You make a few thousand dollars during your first y...

How to Invest in Real Estate, Debt-Free, from Thousands of Miles Away, with Rich Carey

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#339: Have you ever thought, “I’d like to invest in rental real estate but there are no cheap properties in my area!” “Homes in my city are to...

Why Investors Need a Latticework of Ideas, with Morgan Housel

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#338: This month, we’re running four episodes based around the four pillars of F.I.R.E. — financial psychology, investing, real estate and entrepr...

Habits are Overrated, with Kristen Berman

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#337: Meet Kristen Berman, a top researcher in the field of behavioral economics. She’s the co-founder of Irrational Labs, which designs products th...

Ask Paula: Should We Sell a Condo if We’re Barely Breaking Even?

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#336: Anonymous and his partner have a one-bedroom condo that they rent out in Pasadena, CA. The problem? They’re barely breaking even. Should they ...

What You Think You Want vs. What You Really Want, with Luke Burgis

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#335: Have you ever spent years studying the wrong major, climbing the ladder at the wrong company, chasing the wrong career?  Have you spent years l...

Ask Paula -- What Paintbrush Did Michelangelo Use? (said no one ever)

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#334: In today’s episode, we answer three questions from a college senior named Rafael. He asks about productivity tools and tactics, student debt, ...

The End of Recessions?, with Ben Carlson

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#333: In the 1890s and early 1900’s, we had recessions every two years. From 2009 to 2020, we enjoyed an 11-year bull run, the longest bull run in h...

Ask Paula: What’s the Point of Financial Independence if I’m Not Going to Retire?

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#332: Ginger’s financial independence (FI) number is $2 million, but she doesn’t want to fully retire early. Once she hits ‘coast’ FI, she wan...

Four Thousand Weeks, with Oliver Burkeman

07 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#331: Four thousand weeks. That’s how long we live if we’re lucky enough to celebrate our 80th birthday. We rarely think of our lifespan in terms ...

Ask Paula: How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Retire?

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#330: Linda is 58 and wondering how to account for her Social Security benefits when thinking through the 25x expenditure equation. Her expected expen...

Challenging Your Confirmation Bias, with Economist Larry Kotlikoff

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#329: Have you ever thought about how an economist views financial planning? Would you guess that it's vastly different from how some financial planne...

Ask Paula: I’m on the Verge of Retirement and My Taxes are Rising … Help!

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#328: Sarah O Sahara’s parents sold their rentals and business of 24 years. They’d like to create a trust for their grandkids with boundaries in p...

Decoding Greatness, with Ron Friedman, Ph.D

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#327: The stories of success that highlight talent and hard work don’t tell a complete picture. The best artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs don’...

Ask Paula: The Dangers of Frugality

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#326: Anonymous is struggling with being too frugal, possibly to the detriment of her health. I mentioned in a previous episode that I struggled with ...

Bitcoin for Beginners

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#325: Okay, so everyone and their dog is talking about Bitcoin — but what exactly is it? And what’s Ethereum? If you’re feeling lost in the topi...

Ask Paula: I Make $50,000; How Can I Buy a House?

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#324: Rob and his fiancé are grappling with what to do about her $400,000 of federal student loan debt. Should they pay it off immediately, or bank o...

What's in Store for the Economy and the Future of Work?, with ChooseFI hosts Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#323: Brad and Jonathan from ChooseFI join us for a deep philosophical and practical discussion around what we learned from 2020. We explore... What ...

Ask Paula: If I Retire at 50, How Do I Bridge the Gap?

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#322: Jess wants to reach financial independence by the time she’s 50. But she’s worried that she doesn’t have enough money in cash or taxable b...

How to Transition to Your Dream Career, with Ashley Stahl

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#321: Have you dreamed of making a career transition, only to realize you have no idea where to start, who to talk to, or how to convey your skills to...

Ask Paula: Thinking about Money from First Principles

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#320: Rob is hoping to retire at age 60, but he has a pesky mortgage balance he wants to eliminate beforehand. He and his wife expect to inherit $300,...

The Scout Mindset, with Julia Galef

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#319: Julia Galef is an acclaimed expert on rational decision making. She’s hosted the Rationally Speaking podcast for the last decade, and she’s ...

Ask Paula: How to Think About Finances at the 30,000-Foot Level

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#318: Joe is a new real estate agent and he’s looking for ways to save. Is opening a SEP IRA a good account when you’re no longer a W2 employee? G...

How to Win at Work & Succeed at Life, with Michael Hyatt & Megan Hyatt Miller

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#317: What if work and life can coexist together - without enormous trade-offs? What if all you have to do is ruthlessly prioritize within each area a...

Ask Paula: I Doubled My Investments During the Pandemic. What Should I Do Next?

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#316: Pauly from Portland doubled the inheritance money he received from $50,000 to $100,000 during the pandemic. Now he’s wondering if it’s okay ...

The Science of Behavioral Change, with Katy Milkman

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#315: Do you ever grapple with the differences between your present self and your ideal self? Katy Milkman, host of the Choiceology podcast and the Ja...

Ask Paula: I’m Worried About My Parent’s Retirement. What Should I Do?

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#314: Briale opened a Variable Annuity inside a 403b at work when she was 23. She has 17 years to go before retirement. As an elementary school teache...

The Unspoken Rules that Could Cost You Thousands, with Gorick Ng

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#313: Do you know the unspoken rules about how to get ahead in your workplace or industry (and as a result, how to earn more)? Unspoken rules, and the...

Ask Paula: How Should I Invest $5,000 Per Month?

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#312: After paying basic living expenses and maxing out their 401k’s and Roth IRAs, Caroline and her partner have $4,000 - $5,000 left each month. W...

The Surprising Solution to Overthinking, with Jon Acuff

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#311: Do you find yourself overthinking and getting stuck in unproductive thought loops? According to a study commissioned by today’s guest, 99.5 pe...

Ask Paula: What Should I Do With $25,000?

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#310: Greta is tired of financial modesty. She wants to achieve financial independence through diversified income streams, and has her eyes set on own...

Are We Due For Another Housing Market Crash?

03 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#309: Are we in a housing bubble? Are we going to see a repeat of 2006 all over again? Are there any good investment deals to be found right now? Thes...

Ask Paula: I Want to Travel After I Retire; How Much Should I Save?

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#308: Ziggy purchased an $890,000 property in San Mateo, CA in 2016. After living there for a year, he had to move, so he rented it out. Unfortunately...

The Tax Risks That Could Blow Up Your Retirement Plan, with Ed Slott

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#307: “Taxes are the single biggest factor that separates people from their retirement dreams.” That’s a quote from today’s guest, Ed Slott, a...

Ask Paula: How to Shift From Financial Independence to a Mini-Retirement?

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#306: Jake and his wife want to retire in five years, at which point they’ll have 14 years before they can access their 401k funds. To help bridge t...

The 7 Steps to Financial Independence + 7 Rules of Investing, with JD Roth

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#305: Financial independence is a continuum, a spectrum. How do you know where you stand? In this episode, financial writer JD Roth discusses the seve...

Ask Paula: Help! I Can Only Save $200 a Month

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#304: Paige and her fiancé have two autumn 2021 goals: save for a wedding and an emergency fund. There’s one problem: they only have around $200 pe...

A World Without Email, with Cal Newport

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#303: Can you imagine living in a world without email? Most of us can’t - how would we get work done? - but this is what Cal Newport advocates for i...

The Financial Benefits of Optimism, with Michelle Gielan

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#302: Did you know that optimists worry about their finances 145 fewer days than pessimists? They’re also more likely to save money, and are 7x as l...

Ask Paula: How Can I Reach FIRE in 11 Years?

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#301: Amelia is worried that she and her husband are under-insured. Should her husband get a short-term disability policy, even though it’s expensiv...

The Two-Fund Investment Portfolio, with Paul Merriman

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#300: Here’s the deal: Target Date Retirement Funds are simple, automated, easy. The problem? What’s simple might not be optimal. Investment exper...

Ask Paula and Joe: Should I Sell My $575,000 in Tesla Stock?

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#299: Chris bought Tesla a few years ago and Jinko Solar eight months ago. Both of these have gone up in value by a lot. What tax strategies can he us...

How to Talk to Friends about Money, with Erin Lowry

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

#298: Money conversations with friends, family members, or significant others are unavoidable. Most of us dread these conversations - they’re awkwar...

PSA Thursday Part II: Let the People Trade!

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This morning, almost every major brokerage halted trading on the most volatile stocks, including GameStop, BlackBerry, Bed Bath & Beyond, Nokia, and A...