Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices
Episodes
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...
PSA Thursday: Wall Street Bets, GameStop, and the Rise of Meme Stocks
28 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If you blinked, you missed the biggest stock market story since the crash of March 2020. It’s a story that led GameStop, a brick-and-mortar company ...
Ask Paula: Should I Househack or Pay Off My Student Loans?
25 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#297: George is torn between paying down his student loan debt (which he deferred) or buying a househack. Which is better for his long-term goal of re...
Investing is the Art of Probabilistic Thinking
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#296: There’s a lot happening in the market. The Dow is at a new high, there are runaway stocks causing irrational exuberance, and yet, unemployment...
What Your Childhood Taught You About Money, with Rachel Cruze
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#295: How well do you know yourself and the reasons why you manage money in the way that you do? You might not know at all, or you might have some deg...
Ask Paula: If I Were to Interview Suze Orman Again Today, How Would It Go?
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#294: Jeffrey is curious: if I were to interview Suze Orman today, would I agree more or less with her thoughts on the financial independence retire e...
The One Question That Makes Everything Easier, with Geoff Woods
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#293: Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and ...
PSA Thursday: Kickoff 2021 with a 31-Day Challenge
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sign up to take the 31-Day Challenge for an Awesome 2021 at https://affordanything.com/31daychallenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
Ask Paula: I’m an Investor Who likes Volatility; What Should I Buy?
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#292: Three Kids, FI has an all-equities broad stock market index portfolio that he’s held for years. He’s confident he can handle maximum volatil...
PSA Thursday - Year-End Tax Moves to Finish 2020
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a weekly-ish segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the year that is 2020. Today, we foc...
How to Command Respect at Work, with Tracy Tutor
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#291: Tracy Tutor is the author of Fear is Just a Four-Letter Word as well as the first female real estate broker on Million Dollar Listing LA. Tracy ...
Ask Paula: Is Upgrading Our Lifestyle Worth Mortgaging a More Expensive House?
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#290: Sharon owns two condos that are worth $1.4M and has a cash cushion of $120,000 plus a $50,000 emergency fund. She’d like to move into a small ...
PSA Thursday: What’s Happening with Student Loans?
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An update on the latest news in student loan forgiveness and forbearance, plus smart strategies for student loan repayment in 2021. Learn more about y...
Business Principles that Improve Your Life, with Josh Kaufman
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#289: Josh Kaufman, bestselling author of The Personal MBA, discusses the five parts to every business and how this information applies to everyone - ...
Ask Paula: How Should You Invest a $1 Million Lump Sum?
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#288: Karen and her wife are in their 50s, financially independent, and partially retired. They need $150,000 to buy a new home, and they aren’t sur...
PSA Thursday: To Buy or Not to Buy?
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many people in the personal finance / FIRE community have a complicated relationship with the concept of consumer spending. They may see family, frie...
Put Yourself on the Hook, with Seth Godin
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#287: Seth Godin is the author of 19 bestselling books on mastery, creativity, business and marketing. His books have been translated into 35 language...
PSA Thursday: How to Slash Your Food Budget, with Rosemary Fotheringham
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2019, Americans spent just over $8,000 on food. If you're on a tight budget, slashing your grocery bi...
Ask Paula: How Long Will It Take Me to Become a Millionaire?
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#286: Kaitlyn has $78,000 saved for a property, but she isn’t sure whether she should buy a personal residence, a rental property, or both. How can ...
Ask Paula: How Can I Pay for Grad School?
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#285: Sam wants to use the funds in her Vanguard S&P 500 index funds for a downpayment on a house. She isn’t sure if she should keep her savings in ...
PSA Thursday: Broadcasting Live from FinConX
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Paula Pant and Andy Hill broadcast from Dallas, where they’re part of a bare-bones skeleton production crew that’s hosting the 10th annual FinCon,...
The Psychology of Money, with Morgan Housel
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#284: Morgan Housel is an award-winning financial journalist, and he’s a leading thinker and author in the world of investing. His new book, The Psy...
PSA Thursday: Teaching Technology to the Elderly
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have experienced disconnection from our loved ones this year, especially with older family members. It can be difficult to stay in touch wh...
Ask Paula: Could the Stock Market Be Too Much of a Gamble?
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#283: Andrea’s parents have a seemingly salesly financial advisor. He tried to get them to purchase a second life insurance policy, among other pote...
PSA Thursday - The Affordable Care Act, with Tanja Hester
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the uncertainty of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) looming before us, many are asking: How can we plan for healthcare - now and in the future? How...
The Smart Way to Start a Side Hustle, with Alan Donegan
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#282: Alan Donegan is the cofounder of PopUp Business School. His mission is to change the way entrepreneurship is taught and to make it more accessib...
PSA Thursday - What’s in Store for the Rest of 2020?
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After a brief hiatus, PSA Thursday is back! For this episode, we take a short break from covering current events to 1) reflect on why this show exis...
The Art of Decision-Making, with Annie Duke
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#281: Annie Duke, best-selling author of Thinking In Bets and former world champion poker professional, discusses the decision making strategies and t...
Ask Paula - Could This NYC Couple Contribute Only $10,000 Per Year Towards Retirement?
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#280: Amy and her husband have $900,000 saved for retirement. They’re 40 years old and plan to retire at 65. Due to a job change + pay cut, they mig...
How to Avoid Financial and Life Disasters, with Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#279: You might know several decision-making principles, but do you have a step-by-step strategy that pieces those principles together? Dr. Gleb Tsipu...
The Loopholes That Destroy Our Ability to Form Habits, with Gretchen Rubin
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#278: Does this sound like you? You want to exercise, but you can never find the time for a workout. Eventually, you grow tired of putting exercise of...
Timeless Financial Lessons from My Grandma, with Michelle Singletary
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#277: Michelle Singletary writes The Color of Money, for The Washington Post and is a winner of the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award. Her column is syn...
Cut the Fluff and Become a Digital Minimalist, with Dr. Cal Newport
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#276: Have you found yourself mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds over the last few months? Have you also found yourself in a state of sad...
Avoid These 13 Hidden Money Mistakes That Most People Make, with Jill Schlesinger
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#275: Even the nerdiest of money nerds are susceptible to making a dumb financial mistake. “Nope, not me! There’s no way I make any financial mist...
Finding Hope and Happiness in a Confusing World, with Mark Manson
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#274: What does it take to create a sustainable sense of hope? That’s the question that I invited Mark Manson, megabestselling author of Everything ...
The Emotional Complexity of Money, with Dr. Dan Ariely
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#273: Dr. Dan Ariely, famed behavioral economist and best-selling author of Predictably Irrational, returns to discuss how to handle the emotional and...
PSA Thursday - How to Avoid Parental Burnout, with Andy Hill
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Andy Hill, father of two and founder of Marriage, Kids, and Money, joins us to discuss parental burnout in the midst of the pandemic. He shares his b...
Ask Paula: I’m Three Years from Retirement. How Should I Invest?
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#272: “Anonymous Moving-Back-home” and her partner earn $150,000 per year after taxes. They’re currently saving 80 percent by living with family...
PSA Thursday - Here's a simple framework for deciding how to earn extra income
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of people are in financial limbo now that the $600 supplemental federal unemployment benefit has expired. The new $300 supplemental benefit i...
Retirement Planning in 2020, with Dr. Wade Pfau
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#271: Dr. Wade Pfau, one of the foremost experts in the academic field of retirement planning, joins us to talk about how the events of 2020 might imp...
Ask Paula: Buy a Home, Buy Investments, or Pay Off Debt? How Do I Decide?
13 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#270: Briana and her husband want to buy a home, but they don’t have enough saved for a downpayment. They also have student loan debt and a car loan...
How to Ask Better Questions, with Charles Duhigg
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#269: Are you scared to take the first step toward the habits that you want to build? Do you believe in your ability to change? Or are you completely ...
PSA Thursday - Get Ready for a School Year Like No Other with Mandy Bert and Rob Phelan
06 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have school-age children? If so, then brace yourself for a school year like no other. This year, some children will return to school five days...
Ask Paula: Should I Invest or Pay Off My Mortgage Early?
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#268: Natasha has $3,300 per month to either invest or use toward an early mortgage payoff. Which option should she choose? An anonymous caller and mi...
How to Talk To Your Tenants About Financial Difficulties
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment (sometimes on Thursdays) in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middl...
This Year’s Financial Reckoning, with Farnoosh Torabi
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#267: This week, one of the most acclaimed names in the world of personal finance journalism joins us to reflect on the events of 2020. Farnoosh Torab...
Ask Paula: Your Real Estate Questions, Answered
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#266: Paul’s parents own a property worth $100,000, and they owe $80,000 on the mortgage. If he wants to buy this property from them, how should he ...
PSA Thursday: The Impact of Evictions, with Princeton University Eviction Lab expert Alieza Durana
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic. This we...
Personality Isn’t Permanent, with Dr. Benjamin Hardy
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#265: Are you the same person you were five years ago? Ten years ago? Fifteen years ago? Of course not. Things in your life have changed: your interes...
PSA Thursday: How to Stay Safe During the Reopenings
09 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic. This wee...
Ask Paula: How Do I Pick the Right Mix of Investments for My Retirement Portfolio?
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#264: An anonymous listener, whom we call “Mary,” is curious about the auto-rebalancing feature offered by M1 Finance. Is it too good to be true? ...
PSA Thursday: The History of the PPP -- and 4 Extra Relief Options for Entrepreneurs
02 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Here's the sordid history of the Payroll Protection Program, plus four additional options for getting pandemic relief as an entrepreneur. In this epi...
How to Build Financial Resilience in 2020, with Dr. Brad Klontz, financial psychologist
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#263: It’s been a tough year, and we’re only halfway through it. Today’s guest has insights and actions to help you build financial resilience i...
Ask Paula: I'm Taking a Mini-Retirement in a Pandemic. What Should I Do?
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#262: Tyson is taking a year off of work and plans to devote some of his time to domestic travel, volunteer work, and bolstering his rental property p...
PSA Thursday - Your Complete Guide to Donor Advised Funds
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For more information, go to https://affordanything.com/tag/psa-thursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why I Quit My Job in the Middle of a Recession -- Interview from Lessons from a Quitter
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#261: I quit my job at the beginning of a recession and made it work. Two years ago, I did an interview with Lessons From a Quitter explaining how. Gi...
PSA Thursday - How Does the CARES Act Impact Student Loans?
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to PSA Thursday, a mostly-weekly segment in which we talk about how to handle money, work, and life in the middle of a pandemic. In this...
Ask Paula: Should I Fire My Financial Advisor During a Pandemic?
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#260: Katelyn wants to fire her financial advisor and move her investments from mutual funds into Vanguard index funds. Should she do this during the ...
How to Lead with a Vision, with Michael Hyatt
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#259: Leadership comes in all forms. Whether you’re a small business owner, a manager or department head at work, or the head of a volunteer organiz...
PSA Thursday -- Actions Speak Louder Than Words
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We have muted the podcast thusfar this week, in support of the #amplifymelanatedvoices movement and in support of the #theshowmustbepaused movement. ...
PSA Thursday - Your Guide to Giving: How to Donate, Volunteer and Practice Spontaneous Kindness
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Let's start with the good news: the majority of U.S. households, 6 in 10, donate money to nonprofits and charities, and 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. volu...
Ask Paula: Can I Quit My Job Before I'm Financially Independent?
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#258: “Burned Out in Boston” wants to reach financial independence. But she’s not sure she can stick it out in Boston much longer. She and her h...
How to Stop Screwing Up Our Finances, Even in a World That Leads Us Astray -- with Dr. Dan Ariely
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#257: “The checking account is like the trash can of personal finance.” Today’s podcast guest, the famed behavioral economist Dr. Dan Ariely, is...
PSA Thursday: How Can I End 2020 in a Stronger Position Than I Started It?
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How can you find business and investment opportunities in today’s tough pandemic bear market? What should you do to emerge from 2020 stronger than ...
Ask Paula: Bonds Are Tanking. Should I Switch to Real Estate Instead?
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
#256: Jon is wondering if now is a good time to move his RRSP into a tax-free savings account, given the market downturn. He knows you can’t time th...