Money Talks News: The Podcast

You've undoubtedly met people who have made a lot of money in the stock market and dreamed you could become one, too. If that's you, I've got great news. You can learn to be a successful stock investor, make some money and maybe some friends while you're at it.

How? By joining an investment club. Today we welcome Ionnie McNeill, a member of the nonprofit National Association of Investors to give us the lowdown.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

What is an investment club?

Our guest, Ionnie, talks about joining an investment club and how it's helped her and others become better investors. Even though it's relatively easy to start investing no matter how much money you have, sometimes it helps to learn from others. Plus, investment clubs can also provide support.

For an index investor like Miranda, joining a club might not make sense. However, if you want to learn how to evaluate stocks and understand the metrics to use when picking stocks for your portfolio, an investment club can help.

Ionnie takes us through the mechanics of her club and how it works to help new investors learn. Additionally, being part of an investment club can motivate you, even as a seasoned investor, to implement principles that will benefit your portfolio over time.

We also talk about other types of investment clubs beyond stocks, like those that focus on real estate investing and other assets, that you can join based on your interests.

How to avoid investment club scams

Unfortunately, whenever you have a good thing, someone almost always wants to scam off it. That's the case with investment clubs as well. There are plenty of financial scams masquerading as investment clubs.

Ionnie helps us understand some of the scam red flags to watch out for:

Ionnie suggests joining the American Association of Individual Investors, which can help you find model portfolios and principles, and also checking out BetterInvesting.org, which can help you find (or even start) an investment club.

Meet this week's guest, Ionnie McNeill[caption id="attachment_492295" align="alignnone" width="837"] Courtesy of Ionnie McNeill / Money Talks News[/caption]

Ionnie McNeill is a longtime BetterInvesting member and volunteer, originally joining as a youth member. Currently, she is serving as a BI National Board Member and the President of the BetterInvesting South Florida Chapter. In the summer of 2020, Ionnie and 26 other people started the South Florida Model Investment Club, which welcomes visitors to come and observe how an investment club is run on BetterInvesting Principles.

"The Baby Billionaire's Guide to Investing" is her children's book explaining the importance of investing early and the power of compound interest. She is originally from Miami, FL and is a proud graduate of Howard University.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re tackling a hot topic in the world of finance—the possibility of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in September. That’s right, the market is buzzing with speculation about what the Fed might do, and we’re here to break down what a rate cut could mean for your investments, your retirement plans, and the economy as a whole.

Could this potential move by the Fed be a boost to your portfolio, or might it signal something more concerning like a recession? We’ve got all the insights and strategies you need to prepare for whatever comes next.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans owe more than $1.1 trillion in credit card debt—and a good portion of that is because too many of us are using plastic to pay for basic necessities like rent and food. But no matter where your debt comes from, one thing's for sure. It's stressful. According to one survey, more than half of U.S. adults with debt say they feel stressed because of it.

So what can you do if you're feeling overwhelmed? Consumer attorney and debt relief expert Leslie Tayne is here to save the day. She specializes in law-based debt solutions and today she's going to help us with the steps to take when we're feeling overwhelmed by debt.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Are you overwhelmed by your finances?

It's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by your debt. In fact, in this episode, we mention how Miranda made a mistake that destroyed her credit, even though she knew better. Stacy also talks about getting a handle on debt in his book Life or Debt.

We also look at some of the signs that your finances might be heading off track with signs such as:

The good news is that you don't have to remain overwhelmed by your finances. And it doesn't mean you have to move or sell your car or take other steps that might not actually be helpful.

Considerations when getting out of debt

Our guest, Leslie, points out that no one method works for everyone. Some of the tips Leslie offers include:

We also discuss debt consolidation vs. debt settlement and when it makes sense to seek help from an attorney like Leslie.

Plus, if you're looking for help getting your credit score back on track, you can listen to our podcast episode about credit repair.

Meet this week's guest, Leslie Tayne

Leslie H. Tayne, Esq. is an award-winning financial attorney and author of Life & Debt. She has over 20 years of experience in consumer and business financial debt solutions, which includes negotiations with large international banks and credit agencies for loans, lines of credit, credit cards and student loans. Leslie is the founder and managing director of Tayne Law Group, P.C., a law firm headquartered in New York dedicated to debt solutions. Leslie is frequently sought out for her expertise on financial, credit, and debt topics in the media. As a speaker, she regularly provides insight and strategies regarding all areas of debt and credit-related solutions to outlets like the Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance, US News and World Report and MSN.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about the top four mistakes investors make.

When it comes to stocks, we all know we're supposed to buy low and sell high, but for many of us, that's a lot easier said than done. Many investors tend to buy when the market's topping, then panic and sell at the bottom.

That's one common mistake investors make, but it's far from the only one. Today, we're talking to a behavioral investing expert about how simple mistakes can lead to big losses, especially during times of economic uncertainty. He's going to help us avoid falling into behavioral traps and make us all better investors.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our guest is Jason L. Smith, CEO and founder of C2P Enterprises and author of The Bucket Plan.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

We all make money mistakes

It's impossible to get through life without making a mistake or two. Whether it's listening to the wrong financial guru or even if you make a big mistake (like Miranda) that ruined your credit, we've all been there. We talk specifically about investing mistakes, but we have plenty of resources to help you identify and avoid other money mistakes.

Investing for the future

Don't let the fear of making mistakes keep you from investing. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes is not getting started. Here are some articles that can help you become a better investor.

Meet this week's guest, Jason L. Smith

Jason L. Smith, CEP®, BPC is a nationally acclaimed speaker, financial planner, best-selling author, coach, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of C2P, as well as JL Smith, his own holistically run financial services practice.

Jason is the author of the best-selling book, The Bucket Plan: Protecting and Growing Your Assets for a Worry-Free Retirement, which was recently named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 10 retirement planning books and the only one based on a financial planning process. He also wrote Clarity 2 Prosperity: An Advisor's Guide to Charging Planning Fees for Holistic Planning, and co-authored The Hiring Advantage. Jason's Bucket Plan philosophy inspired a children's book designed to teach kids responsible spending, saving, and earning principles, Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money.

Jason and his wife, Holly, have a daughter, Jordan, and two sets of twins: Berkeley and Wyatt, and Lincoln and Lennon. Jason enjoys reading, grilling, yoga, strength training and anything that gets him outdoors.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Americans are worried about retiring, with 61% concerned they won't have enough money to support their lifestyle. On top of that, 20% of those over the age of 50 don't have ANY retirement savings.

This is a ticking time bomb for many people. But there's help on the horizon. Now, savers can supercharge their retirement savings now that more provisions from SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 are going into effect.

Secure 2.0 is a law encouraging employees to contribute to 401(k) or 403(b) plans. 

In today's podcast, Ed Slott, CPA and founder of IRAHelp.com, and author of The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder; helps us understand what savers need to know about SECURE 2.0 and how it can help them.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

What you need to know about SECURE 2.0

This is a follow-up to an episode we did with Ed Slott last year, previewing SECURE 2.0 and what you need to know about the updates from the original SECURE Act passed in 2019.

You might complain about politics and Congress, but it's important to stay on top of some of these changes. We talk about how some of the ways that SECURE 2.0 is starting to take effect, with our guest Ed pointing out that many of the provisions are spread out over the coming years.

Some of the main changes you'll see in SECURE 2.0 include:

What you need to know for a richer retirement

Building a richer retirement is about planning and understanding how to use these new laws to get more bang for your retirement buck. We talk about how to plan for higher taxes in the future, whether an annuity makes sense and how to decide when to start relying on retirement income.

We also discuss how some of the SECURE 2.0 provisions could lead to decisions that might not help your retirement. For example, the new ability to withdraw money for emergencies without paying the extra penalty could result in less money later.

Ed points out that using retirement money in an emergency still results in taxes, and it could also lead to opportunity costs down the road. While life happens, having an emergency fund and only drawing on your retirement as a last resort.

Meet this week's guest, Ed Slott

Ed Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, television personality, and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on the intricacies of IRAs. He was named "The Best Source for IRA Advice" by The Wall Street Journal. Slott is the author of numerous highly acclaimed books, including his latest, The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder.

He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom!, and is a Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Note: This episode initially aired on March 15, 2023. It may contain some details that are out of date.

According to the latest report from Vanguard, looking at the average amount of money saved for retirement, there's a good chance you might not be on track for comfort in your golden years. The average 45-year-old has less than $180,000 saved for retirement.

But how do you change that? How do you even figure out when you have enough to retire? This week's guest is going to help you figure out your retirement number — and how you can reach it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Chris Mamula, one of the partners at Can I Retire Yet? He retired at 41 by figuring out his retirement number and working toward financial freedom. He's going to share his process and the steps you can take to retire earlier than you thought.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Do you know how much you need to save for retirement?

We talk about the importance of being mindful, looking ahead and thinking about what you want out of life as you plan for retirement. Our guest, Chris, talks about the importance of a retirement number, but it's less of a specific number and more of a plan.

Meet this week's guest, Chris Mamula used principles of traditional retirement planning, combined with creative lifestyle design, to retire from his career as a physical therapist at age 41. He, his wife and his young daughter then made a cross-country move from Pennsylvania to Utah to pursue their passion for outdoor adventure.

After poor experiences with the financial industry early in his professional life, Chris educated himself on investing and tax planning, including recently completing the Certified Financial Planner education curriculum and passing the CFP exam.

Chris now draws on his experiences to write and speak about DIY wealth building, investing, financial planning, early retirement and lifestyle design at the blog Can I Retire Yet? He is also the primary author of the book "Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence." In addition, Chris works one-on-one with those looking to improve their finances and use them to create a better lifestyle as an advice-only financial planner with Abundo Wealth.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gen X is often considered the overlooked generation, but we're looking right at YOU today.

Gen X is people born between 1965 and 1980, so this is a group that should be starting to think about retirement. But will they be ready?

As the Baby Boomer generation aged, they figured they'd need just under a million – $990,000 to retire. Gen X? Different story. According to the results of a January survey by Northwestern Mutual, the average amount that people across this age group said they would need to retire comfortably is closer to $1.5 million.

Yet, the average Gen X household has only $40,000 in retirement savings, compared to the Baby Boomers' average of $70,000.

This week, friend of the show Pam Krueger from Wealthramp joins us to talk about what you can do if you're worried about hitting your retirement mark.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Gex X is stressed about retirement

Miranda and Aaron are Gen X, but they're not super-stressed about retirement. At least not yet. They're a little ahead of the curve in terms of average net worth by generation, but that has more to do with their career path than anything else. However, if you're Gen X and worried about retirement, you're not alone.

Gen X is feeling the pinch of being the sandwich generation, and we discuss that reality with our guest, Pam. With all the family financial pressures, it's no surprise that Gen X is feeling concerned.

The good news is that there's still time to catch up and make a plan for a better financial future, and we talk about it in this episode.

Steps for securing your Gen X retirement

Pam takes us through some of the most important steps you can take to make retirement a reality, even if you feel like you've fallen behind. Some of the things you can do right now include:

Check out our podcast episode on turbocharging your retirement savings for more information on getting more bang for your future buck.

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Her perspectives on personal finance regularly appear in Marketwatch, Forbes, PBS Next Avenue, and she is a frequent speaker on fiduciary financial advice. In addition, Pam is an active volunteer member of the Retirement Income Committee at the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America's workers. She has also served on the California Jump$tart Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing financial literacy among children and teens, where she created one of their most successful curricula available for K-12 teachers called, Investing Pays Off For Kids.

Each year, she spends part of her time in San Francisco, California and lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're on a steady salary, creating a spending plan is straightforward, because you know both what's coming in and what's going out every month.

But what if you don't have a stable salary? What if you're one of the millions of Americans who do side work or own a business or get paid commission?

For you, a variable income is just part of the deal. This is also true for people who depend on tips, like bartenders, Uber drivers, servers -- you name it.

So, how are you supposed to budget or create goals when you don't know how much money you're going to make tomorrow, much less next month or next year?

Let's find out. In today's podcast, we're going to tackle the topic of creating a stable budget with an unstable income.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our guest is Barbara Sloan, a former exotic dancer and the author of "Tipped," a book about financial empowerment for service industry workers.

Be aware that nothing you hear on this podcast constitutes financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

What kind of career do you have?

We tackle some of the main things you need to be aware of when you work in a career that features a variable income. Barbara's book, Tipped, takes you through what you need to know as well.

If you're looking for a new career or source of income, check out some of our articles on different jobs and side hustle ideas.

Get more from your money

Don't forget about money moves you can make, no matter what your income looks like. Here are some of our best resources for budgeting, saving, investing and spending your money.

Meet this week's guest, Barbara Sloan

Barbara Sloan is the author of the book Tipped: The life changing guide to financial freedom for waitresses, bartenders, strippers, and all other service industry professionals.

Barbara was a homeless teen, who danced for dollars, and definitely did not graduate from college. She spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the service industry all over the country and learning about money on her own.

In addition to owning and running a construction company in the heart of Manhattan, she is a personal finance expert and coach. She leverages her experience in the service industry to focus on issues that many in the mainstream financial media don't cover.

Barbara lives in New York City with her wife of 10 years, an esteemed corporate finance exec, and together they are a couple of adorable money nerds who point out every dog they see.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Money Talks News, the podcast making you richer one day at a time.

Close to 61% of Americans have a business idea, but it can be tough to actually take the next step. Plus, what happens if you make a major mistake and fail?

In this episode, we're talking about how to avoid major blunders when starting a business with special guest Jaspreet Singh from The Minority Mindset.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Starting a business can have benefits

Stacy, podcast producer Aaron Freeman and Miranda all run their own businesses, and this week's guest, Jaspreet, talks about his. Interestingly, money isn't the only reason people start a business although it's certainly a major one. Freedom and flexibility are also reasons to get started, as well as the desire to diversify income and leave the corporate grind.

You might be surprised to learn that you can start a business for $1,000 or less. In fact, Jaspreet points out that one of the best things you can do with your business is to get started and aim to make your first $1,000 and figure out the rest later.

Even if you think of your business as a side hustle, it can still make sense to consider its benefits and focus on those as you create your plan for the future.

Avoid these business mistakes

We also talk about the biggest business mistakes to avoid as you get started. Jaspreet points out that mistakes can be expensive, so it's better to learn from others so you know how to avoid the worst business blunders.

Some of the business missteps we cover in this episode include:

Meet this week's guest, Jaspreet Singh

Jaspreet is a licensed attorney and the Chief Executive Money Nerd at the Minority Mindset Companies and the host of the Minority Mindset YouTube Channel. Although he didn't receive any formal financial education. He's on a mission to make financial education fun and accessible.

During the launch of his sock company, he was scammed by a marketing company which cost him thousands of dollars. This scam pushed him to start an educational social media page called Minority Mindset. The Minority Mindset implies thinking differently than the majority of people. It's not a racial minority.

He started the Minority Mindset YouTube Channel as a hobby to teach others how not to make the same mistakes he made.

Now, the Minority Mindset brand has grown into a number of companies, including Briefs Media and Market Insiders.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Money Talks News podcast, we're talking about how organizing your money can make you richer and how to get there with the least possible pain.

This will probably come as no surprise, but according to a recent survey, only 23% of Americans have a formal financial plan. And you can probably guess why: 76% of those without a plan say they feel overwhelmed by the thought of creating one, and 56% say life is too uncertain for a plan to have any value.

That's a bummer because having a plan for your money can lead directly to having more money. And as we like to say around here, more money is better.

That's why this week's guest is going to help us get our money ducks in a row.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest today is Alissa Maizes, the founder of Amplify My Wealth, a registered investment adviser.

Remember, this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Better organization in finances and in life

Getting organized can help you in lots of ways, including your finances. From using containers to organize your stuff to using an app to organize your money, we've got tons of tips and resources for you.

How to budget for more organized finances

A budget, or spending plan, can be a great way to stay on top of your finances. We talk about that in this podcast episode, but there are plenty of other resources available on Money Talks News. Here are some of our articles that can help you better budget and keep track of what's going on with your money.

Meet this week's guest, Alissa Maizes

Alissa is a licensed attorney and registered investment adviser providing women and young adults with financial advice and a plan that embraces the life they want.

Alissa launched Amplify My Wealth to enable you to benefit from receiving financial advice, a financial plan and a partner that guides you on your journey to living the life you want. Her approach eliminates the traditional "waiting game" for clients who otherwise would be unable to avail themselves of having a fiduciary financial adviser that puts their needs first.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people expect to retire one day, and while they may have images of their future selves perfecting their golf game and hitting Wimbledon-worthy serves, let's face it: There's only so much golf and tennis you can play before becoming bored.

In fact, if you don't find some purpose beyond work after you retire, you could literally be at risk of dying sooner!

Today, we're talking to Nicholas Yeomans, CFP and president of Yeomans Consulting Group. We're going to discuss a new type of retirement. One where you find passion and purpose, stay engaged, and best of all, stay ALIVE!

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

What will your retirement look like?

So often, we recognize that we need to save for retirement, but we don't often stop to think about what it will look like. What will you do during retirement? How will your lifestyle change?

Our guest, Nic, talks about The Millionaire Next Door, and the fact that you can develop a lifestyle that leads to a fulfilling retirement. Don't forget to go back and listen to our episode with Thomas J. Stanley's daughter about the latest millionaire lifestyle trends you can use to create a life you can enjoy.

We also go through some of the different things to consider as you plan for retirement—including your lifestyle preferences. Some of the items we address include:

The whole point of retirement is to enjoy your later years. But too many people don't actually think about what retirement looks like. Our guest takes us through the most important things to consider, so you know how to take the next steps.

Planning for retirement income

Once you've figured out what matters most to you in retirement and what you want it to look like, you need the money to make it happen. With our guest, we discuss how to map out your income, including a debate over the 4% rule, mention of annuities, and how to invest for a bigger nest egg.

Don't forget that you can learn how to spend less, save more and grow your income to work toward your goals. The reality is that understanding what you want from your retirement can help you visualize the results and keep you on track. That's why it's so important to understand your values and how you want your retirement to look so that you remain motivated.

Meet this week's guest, Nicholas Yeomans

Nicholas "Nic" Yeomans, CFP, is President of Yeomans Consulting Group, Inc., a registered investment advisor (RIA) based in Marietta, Georgia serving pre-retirees, retirees, family businesses, and professional real estate investors.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and fiduciary, Yeomans specializes in tax planning, estate planning, and retirement income strategies, providing clients with education and understanding so they can make important financial decisions for a successful retirement. With more than 20 years in the financial industry, Yeomans considers himself a "retirement coach" and is passionate about providing guidance to those seeking lasting financial security by finding opportunities to build financial legacies that benefit them for years to come.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 165 webpage and links.

What if you could live in your home while someone else pays the mortgage? That's the idea behind house hacking.

House hacking refers to living in a home or multi-unit while renting out part of it. Dedicated house hackers say it's a great way to lay a foundation for a real estate empire—one that can catapult you to financial freedom. But will it work for you? Let's find out.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Robert Leonard, the author of The Everything Guide to House Hacking.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

What is house hacking?

In this episode, we talk about house hacking and the different forms it can take. From buying a home and living in it while you fix it up to purchasing a multi-unit property and living in it while your tenants pay the mortgage, there are different ways to get more from your primary residence.

Other real estate-related links:

What can you expect from real estate in the future?

Is now the right time to invest in real estate? Or should you wait? Before making that decision, check out our resources on what you need to know.

And, if you're not sure about real estate, you can also turn to the stock market. It's pretty shaky right now, but that doesn't mean you can't make the most of it. Check out our podcast episode on 5 Things You Need to Know About This Horrible Stock Market.

Meet this week's guest, Robert Leonard

Robert Leonard is the vice president of growth at The Investor's Podcast Network, podcast host of "Real Estate 101" and "Millennial Investing," founder and managing partner of Piranha Capital, and founder of EverythingHouseHacking.com. He earned an MBA in accounting and finance and a BSBA in finance and economics, and is a certified management accountant (CMA).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Money Talks News, the podcast explores the history and importance of financial independence, particularly for women, with special guest Jannese Torres. Jannese shares her personal journey from a toxic marriage to financial independence and discusses her award-winning podcast 'Yo Quiero Dinero,' which aims to educate women about financial literacy. The conversation covers effective financial strategies, side hustle ideas, the significance of legal agreements like prenups and postnups, and the psychological benefits of paying yourself as an entrepreneur. Jannese also introduces her new book, 'Financially Lit,' designed to guide Latinas through various financial challenges.

00:00 Introduction to Financial Independence

00:26 Meet Janice Torres: From Toxic Marriage to Financial Freedom

00:46 The Accidental Personal Finance Educator

01:28 The Birth of 'Yo Quiero Dinero' Podcast

02:30 Why Financial Independence is Crucial for Women

03:51 Practical Tips for Financial Freedom

04:46 Overcoming Bad Money Habits

07:07 Exploring Side Hustles and Income Streams

12:04 Success Stories and Entrepreneurship

17:26 Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety

18:41 Building a Freelance Writing Career

19:58 Understanding Social Media Marketing

22:27 Financial Management for Entrepreneurs

24:31 The Importance of Prenups and Postnups

31:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Building a business to improve your money choices

Did you know that a woman's right to get a credit card without the signature of a man is only 50 years old? It's true. Until the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974 financial institutions could discriminate against women who didn't have a male cosigner. The right for women to get a business loan without a male cosigner is even later—1988. 

For women, having money can be especially important, but everyone can benefit from starting a business for income stability and a shot at a better life. Owning your own business can also facilitate:

Even if you don't plan to use a business to replace a day job, having a side business or other type of income diversity can expand your choices. It can be part of your financial independence journey. Regardless of where the money comes from, our article on building a financial plan for the life you want can help you figure out how to establish your priorities and make money choices that work for you.

Tips for building a successful business

This episode includes practical tips for building and protecting your business. For more ideas on getting started, check out our podcast episode on how one man built a business empire by selling lipstick and bras.

Jannese shares some of her best tips for getting started, including:

We also talk about the difference between a coach and a consultant, and how figuring out where to get the right advice for you is also part of growing a successful business. We also talk about Miranda's book, Confessions of a Professional Blogger, and how it serves as another income source for Miranda, as well as a practical book for those who want to get started with the business of freelancing.

Meet this week's guest, Jannese Torres

Jannese Torres is an award-winning Latina Money Expert. She became an accidental entrepreneur after a job loss inspired her to turn her food blog into a six-figure business.

Throughout the years, her passion for entrepreneurship led her to notice a gap in the conversation around money. Inspired by the J. Lo and Cardi B song "Dinero," in 2019, she decided to start teaching marginalized communities about entrepreneurship, investing, and financial independence through her 5X award-winning personal finance podcast and platform, "Yo Quiero Dinero."

Jannese is an expert in the areas of digital entrepreneurship, content creation, financial independence, creating multiple income streams and passive income. With over a decade of experience in digital entrepreneurship, content creation and multicultural marketing, she is now a highly sought-after business coach who helps her clients monetize their skills and pursue financial independence.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Note: Here's one of the best podcasts from the archive that you may have missed. This episode initially aired on March 06, 2021.

When my wife and I joined households 11 years ago, we combined our kitchen stuff, our furniture, our linens and just about everything else. The one thing we didn't combine? Our money.

When it comes to money, she does her thing and I do mine. About the only time our money meets is on our joint tax return.

This is the system that works for us, although it likely wouldn't work for everyone. That's the thing with money and relationships: There's no right answer. Anyone who tells you there's only one correct way to mix money and marriage -- and there are plenty of "experts" who do -- is just plain wrong.

The one thing that's universally true is that money secrets are bad. My wife and I don't combine our money, but we do discuss it. Often.

Whether you've been together for 30 months or 30 years, avoiding talking money puts your relationship at risk. This is especially true if finances are tight, or if you combine your finances and have different money "personalities" -- such as a spender or borrower in a relationship with a saver or investor.

To nobody's surprise, money is routinely cited in surveys as a major source of stress.

So when, and exactly how, can we discuss money with our significant others without causing friction? How do we get on the same page and stay there? Or are differences about money just something couples have to learn to live with?

In this week's "Money!" podcast, we're going to find answers to these questions, as well as many more. Our guest is best-selling author and award-winning speaker Tarra Jackson, also known as Madam Money.

As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit, and we're joined by our producer and sound effects guy, Aaron Freeman.

Sit back, relax and listen to this week's "Money!" podcast:

Not familiar with podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or other device, or by listening online.

They're totally free. They can be any length (ours are typically about a half-hour), feature any number of people and cover any topic you can possibly think of. You can listen at home, in the car, while jogging or, if you're like me, when riding your bike.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to a podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe to ours. You'll be glad you did!

Show Notes

Want more information? Check out these resources:

About me

I founded Money Talks News in 1991. I'm a CPA, and I have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Money Talks News, the podcast dives into the challenging housing market as Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit discuss strategies for buying a home despite high rates and low inventory. They are joined by real estate expert Mindy Jensen from BiggerPockets. Mindy shares insights on preparing finances, creative financing options, and the pitfalls to avoid in such a tight market. The conversation extends to the recent legal changes affecting real estate agent commissions, offering listeners a thorough understanding of the current landscape. Whether you're an eager buyer or a cautious renter, this episode provides valuable advice and perspectives.

00:00 Welcome to Money Talks News: Navigating the Housing Market
00:33 Expert Insights with Mindy Jensen on Real Estate
01:32 The Art of Live-In Flips and Tax Benefits
03:16 Navigating a Tough Market: Strategies and Stories
09:44 Financial Strategies for Buying in a High-Rate Market
10:57 Understanding Mortgage Payments and Home Affordability
14:50 The Rent vs. Buy Debate in Today's Market
18:02 Exploring Alternative Financing and Investment Strategies
19:56 The Risks and Rewards of Margin Loans for Real Estate
23:12 Making Decisions in a Challenging Real Estate Market
24:20 Navigating Real Estate Pricing and Mortgage Payments
26:11 The Art of Negotiation and Seller Financing
32:52 Exploring Mortgage Assumptions and Creative Financing
42:36 Adjustable Rate Mortgages: A Risky Solution?
45:17 The Future of Real Estate Commissions and Buyer's Agents

Existing home sales surged 9.5% in February 2024, the largest increase in a year. Even with the rate of home sales slowing down a bit, they remain relatively strong. With home sales still fairly strong, we're not likely to see prices come down anytime soon. Combine that with relatively high mortgage rates, and it's definitely NOT a buyers market.

But what if you're ready to buy a home anyway? What can you do to best position your finances to get ready to buy a home, no matter what's going on with the market? In this episode we welcome back a friend of the show Mindy Jensen from BiggerPockets to help us sort out how to get the best bang for your homebuying buck.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Why is the housing market so tough for buyers right now?

We start by taking a look at why the housing market is so tough right now—and why prices remain stubbornly high. Some of the reasons that home prices haven't come down as much as we'd like:

On top of that, there are concerns about how the recent settlement with the National Association of Realtors could impact buyer representation and costs for buyers.

However, some of these pressures might finally help bring home prices down, at least in some markets. Depending on where you hope to buy, you might be able to find lower home prices as you move forward with your homebuying journey.

Tips for preparing your finances for buying a home in any market

Our episode includes helpful information on buying a home, pointing out that it depends on your goals. Trying to time the housing market, especially when you're looking for your primary residence, might not make much sense in the long run.

We reference a past episode featuring Mindy, which offers tips on getting the best homebuying deal possible. But we also talk about some of the realities of getting financing these days.

We also spend some time on the rent vs. buy debate. In the end, figuring out why you want to buy is essential to moving forward. Miranda also talks a little bit about how much she likes renting.

Meet this week's guest, Mindy Jensen

Mindy Jensen is a licensed agent in Colorado, and has been buying and selling houses for more than 20 years. She's the Community Manager for BiggerPockets.com, and the host of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Note: This episode initially aired on June 22, 2023. It may contain some details that are out of date.

Are you familiar with Roth IRAs? If you're not, you should be, because Roth IRAs are a great way to get tax-free income after you retire.

There is a potential fly in the ointment, however. Namely, not everyone qualifies for a Roth. If you make too much money, Uncle Sam says you can't use 'em. But there's a way around that rule: Fund a regular retirement account, then roll it over to a Roth. It's called a backdoor Roth. Sounds sneaky, right? Should you do it? And if so, how do you go about it?

Let's find out. In this podcast episode, we're talking about how to convert an IRA to a Roth IRA without getting eaten alive by income taxes. In addition, we'll be talking about nearly every facet of Roth accounts and why they should be an integral part of every retirement strategy.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman.

This week's guest is Ed Slott, the founder of IRAhelp.com. He's ready to tell us why a Roth conversion is his No. 1 tax tip for this year.

Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Using an IRA for your retirement

We talk about individual retirement accounts (IRAs) in this episode. Here are some great resources on how to make the most of your IRA — whether you get a traditional or a Roth.

If you decide to do a Roth conversion, like our guest Ed suggests, make sure you know the rules. We recommend checking out Investopedia's article "Roth IRA Conversion Rules."

Learn more about retirement accounts

An IRA isn’t your only choice for retirement. There are different accounts and strategies you can use to make the most of your golden years. Here are some great resources for getting more out of retirement.

Meet this week's guest, Ed Slott[caption id="attachment_426514" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Ed Slott / Money Talks News[/caption]

Ed Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, television personality, and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on the intricacies of IRAs. He was named "The Best Source for IRA Advice" by The Wall Street Journal. Slott is the author of numerous highly acclaimed books, including his latest, "The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb" (Penguin Random House, 2021) and "Ed Slott's Retirement Decisions Guide: 2022 Edition" (IRAHelp, 2022).

He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, "Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom," and is a professor of practice at the American College of Financial Services.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No doubt you've imagined being financially independent: No job necessary, no money worries, no debt and plenty of savings. Of course, "financial freedom" means means different things to different people, but one thing's for sure: Not many of us are there yet. One recent survey found that only about 11% of Americans are living their definition of financial independence.

But no matter what financial freedom means to you, there are some steps you can take to get there faster. And that's what we're going to talk about today's podcast.

We're talking to Gigi Gonzalez, the author of the best-selling book Cultura & Cash.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can listen with the player at the top of this article, or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Google Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

"Traditional" Personal Finance Advice Doesn't Work for Everyone
Our guest Gigi talks about how some of the personal finance advice that we typically receive doesn't always work for everyone. (Check out this article from Kiplinger on how budgeting advice is often flawed.)
Some of the reasons that standard personal finance advice doesn't work for first-generation Americans have to do with some of the cultural norms surrounding money.
Gigi gives the example of lending money to family (and friends). We're often told to "just say no" or help in other ways, but that might not be the norm, depending on your culture.
We also assume that debt shouldn't be used to improve financial fortunes, but many people need some type of debt—especially student loan debt—to move into the next socioeconomic bracket.
Yes, paying off high-interest debt should probably be a priority, but how you tackle it might look different.
We go through ways that you can shift your mindset around money and look for creative ways to interact with money once you understand your money story and how it impacts you.
Steps for Using Money Advice That Works for You
Don't forget that you can take some of the money advice you see and tweak it for your circumstances.
Set money goals that work for you, by asking important financial questions that are relevant to your situation.
Get away from the "supposed tos" and the prescriptive checklists. Not every frugal habit is worth it. Carefully consider which habits you want to change, and think about why you want to change those spending and money habits.
Rules of thumb can be useful, but don't assume they're the answer to everything.
Meet this week's guest, Gigi Gonzalez

Giovanna "Gigi" Gonzalez is a TikTok influencer, financial educator, and author of the bestselling book Cultura and Cash. During The Great Resignation, she quit her 10-year corporate career to pursue her true passion: teaching financial literacy to young adults.

Gigi teaches personal finance and career navigation for First Gen at various organizations and on her TikTok account. She was named 40 under 40 by the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, "Latinx to Watch" by Hispanic Executive Magazine and Top 25 Creator by Fast Company.

Website
Instagram
TikTok

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Note: This episode initially aired on July 20, 2022. It may contain some details that are out of date.

According to one recent survey, only 4% of Americans have $1 million or more in retirement savings, which means 96% of us don't.

Of course, depending on your situation, a million bucks may be overkill: Many people could fund their retirement years for a lot less. Still, it's a nice, round number, and one worth shooting for.

Obviously, however, that's a lot of money. Is it even possible to get there? In a word, yes. And that's what we're going to talk about today: building a million-dollar nest egg, and just as important, how to figure out how much you're actually going to need.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

https://youtu.be/US5Vk5nThuI

Is $1 million enough to retire on?

It sounds like a lot of money, but is $1 million enough to retire on? What you really need to do is figure out how big your nest egg should be and go from there. Whether $1 million is enough depends on your own situation.

Tips for building a $1 million nest egg

Ready to build your wealth? We talk about ways you can get your nest egg to that elusive $1 million mark.

Meet this week's guest, Roger Whitney

Roger has been a financial advisor for more than 25 years and is the host of the award-winning Retirement Answer Man podcast. He is on a mission to change the way the world thinks about retirement, one little conversation at a time.

Roger established Rock Retirement Club in 2018 to help foster a safe online space for soon-to be retirees to learn, plan, and interact with other like-minded folks on the path to retirement.

As if that's not enough to keep him busy, he is the author of "Rock Retirement: A Simple Guide to Help You Take Control and Be More Optimistic About the Future," a Forbes online contributor, creator of the Agile Financial Planning process, and past instructor of the Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits CFP certificate program at the University of Texas at Arlington and of Wealth Management at Texas Christian University.

Investopedia has named him to the Top 100 Most Influential Advisors 2017-2021, and he has brought home Plutus Awards for Best Financial Planner Blog (2019) and Best Retirement Blog (2015 and 2017).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast.

In this episode we're talking about steps you should be taking right now to achieve financial freedom.

No doubt you've imagined being financially independent: No job necessary, no money worries, no debt and plenty of savings. Of course, "financial freedom" means means different things to different people, but one thing's for sure: Not many of us are there yet. One recent survey found that only about 11% of Americans are living their definition of financial independence.

But no matter what financial freedom means to you, there are some steps you can take to get there faster. And that's what we're going to talk about today.

Today's guest is Jamila Souffrant, the founder of the award-winning podcast Journey to Launch and the author of the book Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A Step-By-Step Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

Listen to the episode using the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

How to Reach Financial Independence

Our guest Jamila has some great insights into reaching financial independence—whatever that means to you. We've also got some resources on how to take the steps to reach financial freedom. Plus, you can also get Stacy's book, Life or Debt. It's got helpful information on taking steps on your path to financial freedom.

Smart money moves for your future

Don't forget that some of the money moves you make today can have a big impact on your financial future. Check out how to get more from your money and learn how to plan for the future.

Meet this week's guest, Jamila Souffrant

Jamila Souffrant is the author of "Your Journey To Financial Freedom A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieving Wealth and Happiness" and the host of the Journey To Launch podcast. She is considered a go-to thought leader in the personal finance field and her work has been featured in BuzzFeed, ESSENCE, Refinery 29, Money Magazine, CNBC, CBS, Business Insider and more. The Journey To Launch Podcast has over 4+ million total downloads and was listed by the NYTimes as a podcast to help you get better with your money.

Jamila and her husband saved $169,000 in two years, is also a mother of three young children and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Editor's Note: This episode initially aired on July 13, 2022. It may contain some details that are out of date.

Even with talk of a cooling housing market, prices are still high, and inventory is still low. If you're looking for a good deal, what are you supposed to do?

This week we're going to find out how to find a great real estate deal no matter the market.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Mindy Jensen from the real estate investing and education website BiggerPockets.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

https://youtu.be/pXbYYIpisxA

What's going on with the housing market?

Things might be slowing down a bit, but the housing market is still red-hot in some areas. Where is the housing market overheated, and where is it likely to maintain its value?

Tips for finding a good deal on a home

Mindy thinks that it's possible to find good deals no matter what the housing market looks like. Get to know your local real estate market and start deal hunting if that's what you're interested in.

Meet this week's guest, Mindy Jensen[caption id="attachment_396560" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mindy Jensen / Money Talks News[/caption]

Mindy Jensen is a licensed agent in Colorado, and has been buying and selling houses for more than 20 years. She's the community manager for BiggerPockets.com, and the host of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast.

In this episode, we're talking about how you can have a good time without breaking the bank.

Hey, we all need a little fun in our lives, right? What's the point of grinding it out at work, going home, fretting about money, and then sleeping?

But here's the rub: The cost of having fun continues to rise at a faster pace than inflation, and that's keeping some of us home.

So today is all about having a riot without breaking the bank.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest is Vee Weir, the host of the For Fox Sake podcast.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Save money with frugal fun

You don't need to spend a lot of money to have a good time. Vee has lots of great ideas for enjoying yourself without breaking the bank. Here are some of our best resources for saving money when trying to have a good time.

Other ways to save money on almost anything

We've got lots of other ways to save money on almost anything. Check out these other resources on living frugal and making the most out of every dollar.

Meet this week's guest, Vee Weir[caption id="attachment_476216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Courtesy of Vee Weir / Money Talks News[/caption]

Vee Weir is an award-winning, anti-capitalist personal finance content creator and business owner. Her main focus and mission is to challenge common money myths, dismantle barriers preventing access to financial information and examine how capitalism negatively impacts the working class.

Her podcast, For Fox Sake, focuses on helping folks navigate late-stage capitalism through sustainable budgeting and realistic financial education. In the past eight years, Vee has amassed a following of over 35,000 online and has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC and more.

When she's not online, she spends her time hiking with her husband and three dogs in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado or sipping a mocktail with her nose in a Romantasy.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's one of our best podcasts from the archive that you may have missed.
Thanks for listening to Money Talks News…the podcast!  

Let's start with a question: Do you have enough in your retirement account? According to a recent report from Vanguard, the average American has around $140,000 saved for retirement. For those 65 and older, that average balance is about twice that, or $280,000.

Sounds like a lot, right? But for many people, even with Social Security, it's not going to be enough.

If that's you, let's fix it. In this podcast, we help you create a plan to beef up those retirement savings.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is a friend of the show, Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins.

Disclaimer:
Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments, never take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Google Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Are you ready for retirement?

The Employee Benefit Research Institute points out that 7 in 10 workers are confident they can retire comfortably. In this show, we talk about the potential disconnect between what you might think is enough and what's actually enough. Here are some articles that can help.

How Much People Have Saved for Retirement at Every Age
6 Big Obstacles to Having a Comfortable Retirement
Most People Say They've Reduced or Stopped Saving for Retirement Because of Inflation
4 Generations Share the Age They Started Saving for Retirement
Here's the New Magic Number for Living Comfortably in Retirement
6 Reasons Americans Are Fast-Tracking Their Retirement
9 Signs Your Retirement Is on Track
Even Millionaires Share These 4 Retirement Worries
7 Reasons Americans Seniors Stay Frugal in Retirement
10 Reasons Today's Older Workers Are Delaying Retirement

How to create a retirement plan that works for you

Stacy mentions his book "[amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Debt-2010-Financial-Freedom/dp/1439168601" text="Life or Debt"][/amazon]," as a good starting point to help you figure out what you want out of life—and how to prioritize it. Joe and Miranda also have some good ideas for creating a retirement plan you'll stick with. We also mention our podcast on paying off your mortgage aggressively so you have more money available in retirement.

Let's take a look at some great Money Talks News resources about planning for retirement.

15 Tips for Those Within 10 Years of Retirement
Pre-Retirement Checklist: What to Do Within 5 Years of Retiring
Financial Advisers Say These Are the Top 10 Retirement Planning Mistakes
Over 50? Here's How to Catch Up on Retirement Savings
Health Savings Accounts and Why They Are Great for Retirement (Miranda never gets tired talking about HSAs.)
Is a Bond Ladder Strategy Right for Your Retirement?
4 Things You Can Control in Retirement
13 Types of Retirement Income That Are Not Taxable
3 Things You Should Do – and Not Do – to Prepare for Your Retirement
6 Ways to Guarantee Yourself a Steady Retirement Income
Sequence of Returns Risk and How to Protect Your Retirement From It

Meet this week's guest, Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial adviser (16 years) and represented American Express and Ameriprise Financial in the media. He was the "Money Man" at Detroit television station WXYZ-TV, appearing on air twice weekly. He's appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, and in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers. He's also appeared online in more than 200 different places, including CNBC.com and WSJ.com.

Website
Stacking Benjamins Podcast
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast!

In this episode, we're talking about paying off your mortgage early so you can put that money to better use.

Fewer than half — 40% — of homeowners are mortgage-free, according to a Bloomberg analysis. And many of those are baby boomers. Being mortgage-free is often seen as a big milestone on the journey to financial freedom. So, how do you become one of the favored few who pay off their mortgage before the 30-year term is up?

Let's find out.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's guest is Andy Hill, founder of Marriage, Kids and Money. He paid off his mortgage early not too long ago and he's going to tell us exactly how he did it — and how it improved his finances and his life.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

How to buy a home

As you get ready to buy a home, there are a lot of moving parts. Here's what you need to know about getting the best deal when you buy a house — no matter where you live.

What you need to know about mortgages

When you buy a home with a mortgage, you need to know how it works, and the best way to tackle it. Plus, you also need to figure out whether you think you'll actually pay off your mortgage, and whether you think it's a good idea.

Meet this week's guest, Andy Hill

Accredited Financial Counselor Andy Hill is the award-winning family finance coach behind Marriage Kids and Money - a platform dedicated to helping families build wealth and happiness.

Andy's advice and personal finance experience have been featured in major media outlets like CNBC, Forbes, MarketWatch, Kiplinger's Personal Finance and NBC News. With millions of podcast downloads and video views, Andy's message of family financial empowerment has resonated with listeners, readers and viewers across the world.
When he's not "talking money," Andy enjoys being a soccer dad, singing karaoke with his wife and relaxing on his hammock.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's one of our best podcasts from the archive that you may have missed.

Original air date: February 27th, 2021

Not long ago, the phrase "working in retirement" was an oxymoron, much like "bittersweet" or "act naturally." After all, if you're working, you're by definition not retired.

But that was then. These days, working at least part-time while retired is increasingly common. According to one survey, 27% of pre-retirees said they planned to work part-time in retirement and among recent retirees, 19% work part-time.

Why so much working during retirement? More likely than not, because of money. As we explain in articles like "8 Reasons Your Parents Had an Easier Retirement Than You Will," pensions are rapidly disappearing, replaced by much less reliable accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s. And as retiree income is falling, costs are rising.

On the plus side, however, while more retirees may be forced back into the workplace to make ends meet, there are more ways than ever to bring in a bit of extra bacon.

In short, in my parent's generation, retirement meant not working at all. But for us boomers, retirement is morphing into something different. It's not about doing nothing. Hopefully, it's about being productive and making money, but by doing what you want to do, rather than what you have to do.

What kind of work will today's (or tomorrow's) retiree look forward to doing? Will it be easy to find pleasant, lucrative work? Should we start long before we retire?

In this week's "Money" podcast, we're going to find answers to these questions, as well as many more. Our guest is author and super-popular podcaster Paula Pant from Afford Anything. She's smart, funny and knowledgeable -- you'll have a good time listening to her.

As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit, and we're joined by our producer and sound effects guy, Aaron Freeman.

Sit back, relax and listen to this week's "Money" podcast!

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Google Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

[related]

Not familiar with podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or other device, or by listening online.

They're totally free. They can be any length (ours are typically about a half-hour), feature any number of people and cover any topic you can possibly think of. You can listen at home, in the car, while jogging or, if you're like me, when riding your bike.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to a podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe to ours. You'll be glad you did!

Show notes

Want more information? Check out these resources:

"7 Tips for Getting a Great Part-Time Job in Retirement"
"10 Stats About Working in Retirement"
"This Job Board Specializes in Remote Work and Flexible Gigs"
"5 Reasons You Should Work for as Long as You Live"
"15 Jobs for Retirees That Can Be Done From Home"
"8 Signs That It's Time for You to Unretire"
AARP: Job Search Resources for 50+
Subscribe to the Money Talks News newsletter
Take our The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need course
Take our Money Made Simple course
About me

I founded Money Talks News in 1991. I'm a CPA, and have also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast.

This podcast is all about making you richer. And at the end of the day, there are only two ways to do that: either you make more, or you spend less. In this episode, we're going to talk about ways to spend less, BUT, doing it without sacrificing your quality of life.

That's right: I'm talking financial gain without lifestyle pain.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today our guest is Gina Zakaria, a viral TikTok sensation and author of the book Simple Secrets to Becoming a Saving Whiz.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

How to save more money

Gina takes us through her process for figuring out how to save a little extra and do it without feeling a lot of pain or making dramatic changes. We've got plenty of tips and tricks for how you can easily cut costs.

What to do with all the money you save

Now that you have saved some money, you can put it to good use. Pay down debt, start an emergency fund or invest for the future. Once you've got a handle on saving money, we've got some great resources that can help you put your money to work on your behalf.

Meet this week's guest, Gina Zakaria

Gina Zakaria (known as the Saving Whiz to her 5 million+ followers on social media) is a personal finance educator, published author, and savings expert. She founded Saving Whiz after learning many money lessons the hard way as she paid off her six figures of debt with her husband and achieved financial freedom. Saving Whiz is a money education platform specifically designed to share simple strategies to help women take charge of their finances the easy way.

She's been in the money space for over 20 years and has been featured in Forbes, Money Magazine, Good Morning America, NBC Today, and other prominent personal finance publications.

Her approach of simplicity and small, gradual steps has been embraced by people around the world and has helped them transform their lives and eliminate the stress and overwhelm from the process.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast.

In this episode, we're talking about how asking the right money questions can help you find your own version of financial freedom.

When it comes to money, most people want answers. But sometimes getting ahead isn't about getting answers, it's about asking the right questions. Like WHY we're doing what we're doing and where we want to end up when we do it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week we welcome back Matt Schulz, the chief credit analyst at Lending Tree and author of the book Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

The money decisions you make have an impact

Understanding the impact of your money decisions is an important part of long-term financial success. Part of that is asking the right questions. In this episode, we cover the questions you can ask to improve your understanding of money—and make better financial decisions.

We also have some resources on the website that can help you navigate your money choices:

Learn more about important financial areas of your life

Our guest, Matt, takes us through some of the best questions to ask about important financial areas of your life, including credit, housing, health and more. We also have a lot of great resources that can help you navigate various money issues.

Meet this week's guest, Matt Schulz

Matt Schulz is a personal finance expert and author of Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life (March 2024), a money manual that empowers you to pay less, earn more and keep more of your hard-earned money by asking the right questions in everyday, real-life situations.

A nationally recognized money expert with more than 15 years of experience helping Americans make smarter money decisions, Matt is also the Chief Credit Analyst at LendingTree. He has been featured in various media outlets including CBS Evening News , The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fox Business , CNN Business, Yahoo! Finance, The TODAY Show, NBC Nightly News, Bloomberg, ABC World News Tonight, CNBC, and many more – always with the goal of making the often-complex world of personal finance easier to understand.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Money Talks News Podcast.

In this episode, we're talking about investing in artificial intelligence, as well as using AI tools to become a more successful investor.

The hype around artificial intelligence has been insane, with some calling it the greatest game-changer since the invention of the internet or even electricity!

Is it true? Is AI that big a deal? And if so, should we be investing in the companies developing it? And how do we go about harnessing AI to make better investment decisions?

We're going to answer both those questions, and more, in this podcast.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Kevin Matthews, a former investment advisor and the founder of Building Bread, an investment education website.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Is AI going to change your life?

We talk about AI and how it's starting to permeate various aspects of life. It could change how you live and work—and even how you manage your money. Check out some of our resources on using AI in your finances and other parts of your life.

Resources for better investing

You don't have to assume that AI is the only way to invest. We have plenty of resources for better investing—no matter how you go about it.

Meet this week's guest, Kevin L. Matthews II

Kevin L. Matthews II is a Plutus Award winner and number one bestselling author. He has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career. In 2017, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisors by Investopedia.

Kevin launched BuildingBread in 2010 to inspire millennials to set, simplify and achieve any financial goal. Kevin regularly speaks to young adults across the country and has been featured in several media publications and productions including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNBC, and many others.

Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hampton University, a certificate in financial planning from Northwestern University and a certificate in disruptive strategy from Harvard Business School. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business with a Master's in Technology Commercialization (MSTC).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we're talking about things people wish they'd known before retiring.

Planning for retirement is a tricky business! Lots of moving pieces and parts. Today we're going to share some things real retirees said they wish they'd known before they retired.

We're going to focus on five high-impact areas that can add tens of thousands of dollars to your retirement savings.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Friend of the show, Pam Krueger from Wealthramp, returns to share real stories of retirement regrets.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Watch out for these money mistakes

In this episode, we discuss specific retirement mistakes, but they're not the only money mistakes you could make. Check out these resources that cover some of the most common money mistakes—not just retirement—and how to avoid them.

Helpful tips for a better retirement

Ready to take the next steps for a better, more successful retirement? We've got you. Check out our retirement resources:

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor-matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Her perspectives on personal finance regularly appear in Marketwatch, Forbes, PBS Next Avenue, and she is a frequent speaker on fiduciary financial advice. In addition, Pam is an active volunteer member of the Retirement Income Committee at the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America's workers. She has also served on the California Jump$tart Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing financial literacy among children and teens, where she created one of their most successful curricula available for K-12 teachers called, Investing Pays Off For Kids.

Each year, she spends part of her time in San Francisco, California and lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we're talking about how just about anyone can start investing.

When Stacy was an investment broker 40 years ago, investing was a colossal pain in the butt. You needed thousands of dollars to pick up the phone and talk to someone like me; you couldn't just do it yourself.

Today, though, things have changed. Did you know you can start investing with as little as $5? And you don't even need anyone's help. Just do it online.

And investing is important. Stocks and other risk assets are one of the best ways to build wealth over time. So today we're going help you get started, whether you've got $5 or $5 million.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Marko Zlatic, founder of Whiteboard Finance.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Investing is one of the best ways to build wealth

If you want to build wealth, you need to invest. We have lots of resources on investing in different types of assets, and ideas to help you get started.

Find the money to start investing

Sure, you can start investing with pocket change. And you should start as soon as you can. But if you're trying to figure out where to find the money to invest more, we can help you with savings articles. Use the knowledge you gain to put more into your nest egg.

Meet this week's guest, Marko Zlatic

Marko has been investing since 2006.

In 2010, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Akron. Marko has worked for multiple publicly traded companies in capital markets, risk analysis, and commercial real estate development.

In 2017, he started his YouTube Channel, WhiteBoard Finance, which now has over 60 Million views and 975,000+ subscribers.

His life's mission is to teach financial literacy and enable people of all backgrounds to become financially independent.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about the top four mistakes investors make.

When it comes to stocks, we all know we're supposed to buy low and sell high, but for many of us, that's a lot easier said than done. Many investors tend to buy when the market's topping, then panic and sell at the bottom.

That's one common mistake investors make, but it's far from the only one. Today, we're talking to a behavioral investing expert about how simple mistakes can lead to big losses, especially during times of economic uncertainty. He's going to help us avoid falling into behavioral traps and make us all better investors.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our guest is Jason L Smith, CEO and founder of C2P Enterprises and author of The Bucket Plan.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

We all make money mistakes

It's impossible to get through life without making a mistake or two. Whether it's listening to the wrong financial guru or even if you make a big mistake (like Miranda) that ruined your credit, we've all been there. We talk specifically about investing mistakes, but we have plenty of resources to help you identify and avoid other money mistakes.

Investing for the future

Don't let the fear of making mistakes keep you from investing. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes is not getting started. Here are some articles that can help you become a better investor.

Meet this week's guest, Jason L. Smith

Jason L Smith, CEP®, BPC is a nationally acclaimed speaker, financial planner, best-selling author, coach, and entrepreneur. He is the Founder and CEO of C2P, as well as JL Smith, his own holistically run financial services practice.

Jason is the author of the best-selling book, The Bucket Plan: Protecting and Growing Your Assets for a Worry-Free Retirement, which was recently named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Top 10 Retirement Planning Books; the only one based on a financial planning process. He also wrote Clarity 2 Prosperity: An Advisor's Guide to Charging Planning Fees for Holistic Planning, and co-authored The Hiring Advantage. Jason's Bucket Plan philosophy inspired a children's book designed to teach kids responsible spending, saving, and earning principles, Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money.

Jason and his wife, Holly, have a daughter, Jordan, and two sets of twins: Berkeley and Wyatt, and Lincoln and Lennon. Jason enjoys reading, grilling, yoga, strength training, and anything that gets him outdoors.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we predict what will happen to your money in 2024.

Israel…Ukraine…a presidential election…inflation…possible recession. A lot is going on that could affect the global economy, as well as your personal economy.

It's always dangerous to make predictions, but we're going to do it anyway, as we have for decades here at Money Talks News.

Today, we will focus on three main areas: The stock market, the housing market, and interest rates.

More than likely, you've got a dog in at least one of these fights, right? So, in addition to predicting what's ahead, we're going to make suggestions on what you should be doing now to prepare.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week our special guest is Marc Lieberman, the founder of Shorepine Wealth Management. Friend of the show, Pam Krueger from Wealthramp, is also joining us to talk about what's next.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

2024 money forecast

Are you ready for 2024? What do you think is coming? Our panelists share what they think will happen in various parts of the market—and why.

First of all, take a look at what some of the experts are saying from around the web:

And what about our own predictions from past years at Money Talks News? Compare our past performance and check out some other information on the 2024 money forecast:

Position your finances for a better 2024

As you prepare for the coming year, you can take steps now and early in the new year to set yourself up for better financial success.

Meet this week's guest, Marc Lieberman

Marc Lieberman is the founder of Shorepine Wealth Management, a fee-only financial advisor based in Tiburon, CA serving clients across the country. Marc has spent more than 20 years in the investment industry. He embodies a unique combination of skills that includes managing portfolios ranging in size from less than $1 Million to over $600 Million As a fee-only, fiduciary, and independent financial advisor, Marc Lieberman is never paid a commission of any kind, and has a legal obligation to provide unbiased and trustworthy financial advice.

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor-matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Her perspectives on personal finance regularly appear in Marketwatch, Forbes, PBS Next Avenue, and she is a frequent speaker on fiduciary financial advice. In addition, Pam is an active volunteer member of the Retirement Income Committee at the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America's workers. She has also served on the California Jump$tart Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing financial literacy among children and teens, where she created one of their most successful curricula available for K-12 teachers called, Investing Pays Off For Kids.

Each year, she spends part of her time in San Francisco, California and lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about the top scams you're likely to see in retirement and how you can avoid them.

Did you know that more than $28 BILLION—that's a billion with a B—is stolen from those aged 60 and older each year?

So, how do you avoid becoming a depressing statistic if you're in retirement or approaching retirement? Today, we will talk to an expert on banking for retirees. He's seen it all, and he's ready to talk to us about what you're likely to see—and how to avoid falling victim.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest is Tony Brancato, the Head of Product at Charlie, a company that focuses on 62+ banking.

Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here. Additionally, we need to acknowledge our advertising relationship with Charlie. Even though they are one of our partners, it doesn't affect our opinions.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Scam and fraud can be anywhere — what you need to know

Scams are plentiful and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated. It's important to be vigilant. Our guest talks about some of the most common scams and what you need to know about avoiding them. Plus, he'll share some tools available for those over the age of 62 with the help of the banking product Charlie. In the meantime, check out our resources and further information about scams and frauds:

Money tips, tricks and resources for financial freedom

If you want non-scammy help with various aspects of your finances, we've got you covered. Check out our website for money tips and resources:

Meet this week's guest, Tony Brancato

Tony Brancato is the Head of Product at Charlie, the new standard for 62+ banking.

Tony has developed digital products in the healthcare, media, and fintech industries for over 20 years.

He held product leadership positions at several media companies, including Patch.com, Time Inc., and most recently, served as VP Product and Audience Development at The New York Times.

Tony also served in a senior product role at Amazon, as General Manager, Advertising at IMDB.com, Chief Product Officer at Renew Health, and Executive Vice President, Platform at Olive, the automation and intelligence company working to bridge the divide in healthcare.

Tony is the founder of The Influence Project, a data-driven cultural preservation initiative, and a lecturer at UCLA.

He is a graduate of Brown University.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about how money FOMO, among other things, can make you vulnerable to scams and how to avoid being a victim.

Cryptocurrency was all the rage for a couple of years, and it seemed nothing could go wrong. It was a very social experience. In 2022, 31% of new crypto investors got started with advice from a friend. On top of that, 10% of investors cited the fear of missing out, or FOMO, as a reason to get into the market.

When inexperienced investors flood into fad investments like crypto, scammers aren't far behind. And that's exactly what happened with crypto. The market collapsed, and thousands of would-be millionaires had their savings wiped out.

Let's make sure crap like this doesn't happen to you.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today investigative reporter Zeke Faux, author of the book Number Go Up, just named a book of the year by the Washington Post, will join us to talk about how the fear of missing out can lead to scams.

Before you listen, remember: This isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Watch out for scams

Scams are everywhere. Even smart people can fall for scams. As we talked about with our guest, there are many reasons people fall prey to fraudsters. Here are some scams to watch out for, as well as resources on avoiding scams:

How to invest—without being scammed

Investing is still one of the best ways to build wealth over time. And, just because cryptocurrency ended up being ripe for fraudsters, it doesn't mean all investments are scams. Here are some resources for making money with investments:

Meet this week's guest, Zeke Faux

Zeke Faux is an investigative reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek and Bloomberg News, and a former National Fellow at New America. He's a winner of the Gerald Loeb award and the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel award and a National Magazine Award finalist. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, and the anthologies The Year's Best Sportswriting and The Best Business Writing. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast episode, we're talking about how the way you think can make you richer…or poorer.

We've all heard the stories: people win the lottery, then lose it all. Or a millionaire who loses everything and then rebuilds their fortune seemingly overnight.

These examples illustrate that financial success isn't just determined by your income and expenses, just like success as an athlete isn't all about talent. A significant part of winning, physical or financial, comes from things like your attitude and beliefs.

So today, we will talk about how you can flip your mental script to unleash your potential.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our guest today is Yanely Espinal, the author of the book Mind Your Money. She's going to help us figure out how to change your money mindset and position yourself for success.

Before you listen, remember: We're not offering financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here. Additional disclosure: Co-host Miranda has a freelance writing relationship with Student Loan Planner.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Money mindset is a big part of financial success

Often, the stories we tell ourselves about money hold us back. Overcoming some of these money mindset issues can be a big part of moving on to the next stage of financial success. How we view money and our financial values can shape our budgets and how we plan for the future. Here are some of our resources for planning, values, financial wellness and updating your money mindset.

Financial resources for taking those first money steps

While working on your money mindset is a big part of moving forward, you also need the ability to take actionable steps. Here are some of our best resources for mastering the basics so that you can go on to build wealth.

Meet this week's guest, Yanely Espinal

Yanely is a Brooklyn-born ball of energy with an intimate knowledge of financial education, culture, and politics in America. Known on the internet as MissBeHelpful, she's a millennial financial educator who started her career as a teacher, and now serves as the Director of Educational Outreach at Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF.org)

Over the last four years, Yanely has worked with governors and state legislators to pass laws requiring personal finance education for a full semester before high school graduation. Bills that Yanely has championed have been signed into law in Florida (SB1054), Michigan (HB5190), Georgia (SB 220), Rhode Island (H 5491), and North Carolina (HB 924).

The stories in her debut book, Mind Your Money, detail her journey from food stamps to financial freedom and her experience navigating the Ivy League as a first-generation daughter of immigrants.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s podcast is a replay of a popular show we did a few months back. So if you didn’t hear it the first time, or want to hear it again, now’s your chance. Thanks for listening to Money Talks News…the podcast!

If you're an avid investor…or even if you're not…at one time or another you've probably considered investing in individual stocks. I've been doing it for 40 years, and over that time have made well over a million dollars investing in the stocks of individual companies.

But stock picking isn't for everyone, and it comes with risks. Even the best stock pickers periodically lose money. The trick is to learn a few rules that will increase your odds.

And that's what we're going to talk about today.

Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is a friend of the show, Kevin Matthews, a former investment advisor and the author of Starting Point: How To Create Wealth That Lasts.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

You can download this episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Don't Miss

We're talking about investing this week, so you don't want to miss out on an opportunity to learn more about investing in alternative assets.

More on investing in stocks

One of the best ways to build wealth is through stock investing. There are many different ways to invest in stocks, and we can help you figure out how to make the most of your investing dollars. Here are some resources from Money Talks News to help you learn about stock investing, including ideas for where to put your money:

Learn more about investing

Stock investing isn't the only way to make money as an investor. We've got a lot of great articles about other ways to invest—and about investing in general. Get more bang for your buck after learning about the resources.

Meet this week's guest, Kevin Matthews, II

Kevin L. Matthews II is a Plutus Award winner and number one bestselling author. He has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career. By 2017, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisors by Investopedia.

Kevin launched BuildingBread in 2010 to inspire millennials to set, simplify and achieve any financial goal. Kevin regularly speaks to young adults across the country and has been featured in several media publications and productions including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNBC, and many others.

Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hampton University, a certificate in financial planning from Northwestern University and a certificate in disruptive strategy from Harvard Business School. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business with a Master's in Technology Commercialization (MSTC).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about how parents help finance their kid's education. Specifically, we're going to discuss Parent PLUS loans and how they impact millions of Americans hoping to retire.

Americans above the age of 60 are drowning in student loan debt, both their own and that of their kids.

The number of people over the age of 60 who have student loan debt has sextupled since 2004, now at $125 billion.

Part of that debt is made of Parent PLUS loans: loans taken out by parents to help students. 3.7 million people of varying ages owe $108.5 billion in Parent PLUS debt.

If you're one of those parents, there's stuff you need to know. Because some options you now have to deal with PLUS loans will soon be going away. It's so serious, it's being called the PLUS loan cliff.

Sounds ominous!

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's guest is Travis Hornsby, the founder and CEO of Student Loan Planner. He's going to help us navigate this confusing topic and tell us how to handle this debt.

Before we start, remember: We're not offering financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here. It's also important to note that Miranda has a freelance relationship with Student Loan Planner. She provides content for them on a contract basis.

You can listen to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts:

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Google Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Let's talk about paying for college

Parent PLUS loans are a type of Direct loan. When loans for undergraduate students fall short of meeting funding needs, Parent PLUS loans can fill the gap. The student loan system is complicated, and it's important to understand how you can pay for college, whether you get loans or not.

Here's more information about student loans and paying for college, including ideas for getting a better return for your tuition buck in terms of jobs.

What to Know About Student Loans Before You Borrow
7 Ways to Get Free Money for College
5 College Majors With the Worst Employment Rates — and 5 With the Best
Top 20 Colleges and Universities That Hire for Flexible Jobs
10 Colleges Where Tuition Is Free
10 Things College Students Should Learn About Money
Good Jobs That Don't Require a College Degree
9 Colleges That Offer Free Tuition for Seniors
8 Ivy League Colleges That Offer Free Online Courses
Free College Courses for Seniors in Every State
Can't Afford a College Degree? Consider Certification and a New Job
What you need to know about student loans, including Parent PLUS loans

Student loan debt can feel overwhelming. However, there are programs for forgiveness. It's also important to understand the difference between private and federal student loans. Here are some resources you can use to learn more, both on Money Talks News and on other websites.

13 States That Could Tax Forgiven College Loans
11 Ways to Pay Off Student Loans Fast
5 Ways to Avoid Drowning in Student Loan Debt if You Drop Out of College
How to Get Free Help With Your Student Loans
How to Prepare for the Parent PLUS Cliff in 2025 (Miranda's article for Student Loan Planner)
Parent PLUS Loans: You might be eligible, but should you take one? (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)
Federal loans vs. private loans: Understanding student loan issuer types (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)
Federal student loans: Subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans (Miranda's article for Britannica Money)
Meet this week's guest, Travis Hornsby

Travis Hornsby is a speaker and the founder of Student Loan Planner, which he launched after helping his physician wife navigate ridiculously complex student loan repayment decisions. To date, Student Loan Planner has consulted on over $1 billion in student debt. Travis is a Chartered Financial Analyst and brings his background as a former bond trader trading billions of dollars. Trying to solve the student loan crisis brought him out of his first retirement at the age of 25.

He brings that same intensity to analyzing the best repayment paths for graduate degree professionals with six figures of student debt. Travis and his team have helped over 13,000+ clients save over $783 million dollars on their student loans, and he's been featured in NPR, New York Times, Bloomberg, U.S. News, Business Insider, Forbes, Rolling Stone, ChooseFi, Bigger Pockets, Money, and more.

Website
Podcast
Instagram
TikTok
Twitter
Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Ramsey has long been considered "the man" when it comes to financial advice—especially if you want to get out of debt.

In recent years, though, controversy has dogged Dave's heels. He had to settle a discrimination lawsuit for his employment practices, and he's facing a $150 million lawsuit from disgruntled followers who took his advice to use a company now being investigated for fraud.

So, should you listen to Dave Ramsey? Let's discuss what Ramsey does right, what he does wrong, and whether you should follow his advice at all.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and the Financial Feministpodcast.

Before we start, remember: We're not offering financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast with the player at the top of this page, or download it wherever you get your podcasts:

Where are you getting your financial advice?

One of the first names that pops up when you think of "financial gurus" is Dave Ramsey. But is Dave really the best place to get ALL of your financial information? And what about all these other financial gurus? (Stacy has an article about why he doesn't trust Suze Orman.)

It's hard to say. Our guest, Tori Dunlap, takes us through some of the issues with relying too heavily on Dave Ramsey—especially when other financial educators and professionals might provide you with better information for your circumstances.

Money Talks News offers plenty of information on vetting your financial advice sources—and provides helpful insights and tools for making better money choices.

Start with free, reputable financial resources

Eventually, it might make sense to seek help from a financial professional. Starting with free financial resources can make a big difference—and Dave Ramsey might not be the best place. There are plenty of other ways to get reputable information from a variety of viewpoints. You can even get this money help without the big heaping side serving of shame that Dave Ramsey dishes up.

Here are some of our best financial resources on Money Talks News, covering everything from reducing costs to paying down debt to saving money to investing and planning for retirement:

Meet this week's guest, Tori Dunlap

Tori Dunlap is an internationally recognized money and career expert and podcast host. After saving $100,000 at age 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded Her First $100K to fight financial inequality by giving women actionable resources to better their money. She has helped over four million women negotiate salary, pay off debt, build savings and invest.

Author of the instant New York Times bestselling book "Financial Feminist"; host of the #1 Business Podcast,Financial Feminist; a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; and co-creator of Treasury, an investing education platform that has over $50M invested (featured on New York Times Business front page), Tori's work has been featured on Good Morning America, the Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, BBC and more.

Tori now travels the world writing and speaking about personal finance, online businesses, and confidence for women.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're one of the millions of Americans eligible for Medicare, you're likely familiar with open enrollment. That's the stretch from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 every year when you're allowed to make changes to your coverage. And for most people, that's the only time you can.

In order to get the best Medicare coverage for your personal situation, you need to understand your options. And that's exactly what we're going to go over in today's podcast.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Hollie Cohen, a Licensed Medicare Specialist with Preferred Health Group is here to help us navigate the ins and outs of Medicare open enrollment.

Before we start, remember: We're not offering financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen to the podcast with the player at the top of this page, or download it wherever you get your podcasts:

Medicare open enrollment and signing up for Medicare

Medicare open enrollment is a once-a-year event. However, there are times when you can sign up for Medicare outside of the open enrollment period. Our guest has great information on signing up for Medicare, including what you need to know before choosing between Original Medicare, Medicare plus Medigap, and a Medicare Advantage plan.

We also have some good resources that can help you as you figure out the ins and outs of Medicare, including open enrollment. Below are some articles; you can also check out another podcast episode we did on Medicare.

Making the most of Medicare

Using Medicare to your advantage is an important part of making the most of your retirement health and your finances. It's important to consider potential penalties, as well as understand costs and other items related to Medicare. The following resources can help you avoid higher costs and get more from Medicare.

Meet this week's guest, Hollie Cohen

Hollie Cohen, the licensed independent broker and proud owner of MedigapCares.org, a nationwide agency specializing in personalized Medicare coverage solutions, has an inspiring journey that spans the worlds of advertising, insurance, and financial wisdom.

Licensed nationwide, Hollie possesses a unique ability to help people grasp the crucial differences between Original Medicare paired with a Medicare supplement (also known as a Medigap plan) versus Medicare Advantage.

With over a decade of experience in the insurance industry, Hollie has been a licensed agent for the last 12 years.

Hollie's influence extends to her recognition as a seven-time Mutual Sales Leader for one of the nation's largest Medicare supplement carriers, Mutual of Omaha. Her exceptional knowledge and dedication have earned her a seat on their board, where she contributes her insights to shape the future of the Medicare insurance industry.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about credit repair.

Your credit matters. A lot. Nearly every financial transaction involves your credit: getting an apartment, buying a house, getting cell service…how much you pay for car insurance…sometimes even getting a job. And your credit can determine not just whether you can get various services, but how much you'll pay for them.

So, what happens if you have crappy credit? You might turn to a credit repair company, but this is an area rife with rip-offs. There are more than 40,000 credit repair companies in the United States and it's not easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And believe me…there are plenty of bad guys out there.

So today we're going to talk about how to fix your credit yourself, or if you need help, how to find it.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Michelle Lambright Black, a long-time industry professional.

Remember, our podcasts don't offer financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

What you need to know about credit scores

One of the reasons people get worried about credit repair is because they're worried about their credit scores. If you want to learn more about credit scores, we have resources that can help.

Boost your credit score and get more for your money

If you're hoping to boost your credit score, we can help you improve your history and so you have access to more financial services at better prices.

Meet this week's guest, Michelle Lambright Black

Michelle is a credit expert, freelance writer, and founder of CreditWriter.com. She has over 20 years of experience writing and speaking about credit and money, and focuses on helping families and small business owners make smart, informed decisions about their credit, money, and financial products.

Michelle's work has appeared in publications such as Reader's Digest, Parents, Experian, FICO, Forbes, Money, Bankrate, Seattle Times, MarketWatch, BuySide from Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. She is a two-time finalist for the best personal finance freelancer award from the Plutus Foundation. When she isn't writing or speaking about credit and money, Michelle loves to travel with her family or read a good book.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about dealing with retirement anxiety.

According to a recent Gallup survey, 60% of people approaching retirement think they're not going to have enough money, even when they probably do.

Who wouldn't feel anxious? What if Social Security goes away? What about inflation, rising rates, falling stocks, recessions and ballooning health care costs? Anything could turn your dream retirement into a nightmare.

So today we're going to talk about dealing with the fear of not having enough. Because even if you can't increase your money, you can always increase your confidence.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today, friend of the show Pam Krueger from Wealthramp joins us to help you learn how to manage your anxiety ahead of retirement.

Remember, our podcasts don't offer financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't Miss

What are your retirement challenges?

We all have worries about retirement. We talk about them in the show, but it's also good to know that you're not alone. We have great resources on the website that can help you see where you stand—and what you can do to make the most of your retirement dollars.

Planning for a comfortable retirement

Many people are worried they won't be able to afford retirement. If you start planning, though, you can build the wealth you need to retire comfortably. Here are some of our best resources for preparing for retirement, including ideas for how to live your best life:

Rethink Retirement: 12 Facts and Fictions Worth Understanding for a Better Future

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Pam is also the creator & co-host of MoneyTrack and Friends Talk Money podcast, now in its 7th season. MoneyTrack aired on 250+ public stations on PBS from 2005-2019 and was funded by the Investor Protection Trust.

With more than 25 years in investor advocacy, Pam is one of the leading voices on financial literacy and financial empowerment. She's been the recipient of two Gracie Awards for educating the public about personal investing and received the 2021 NAPFA Special Achievement Award for her work educating individuals about the value of fee-only financial advice.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s podcast is a replay of a popular show we did a few months back. So if you didn’t hear it the first time, or want to hear it again, now’s your chance. Thanks for listening to Money Talks News…the podcast!

Stacy's been offering money guidance for 41 years: 10 as a financial adviser and 31 as a personal finance reporter. Miranda's been writing and podcasting about money since 2005. But they still learn more every day.

We hope you want to learn new things, too! And that's why we periodically answer your questions: the ones you send to us at hello@moneytalksnews.com.

Today, we've got some great questions on topics like retirement and annuities, I bonds, real estate and the best time to buy a TV.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman.

Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. We can only make observations and share what we might do. So make sure to do your own research and take responsibility for your own money.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

We tackle the following questions about retirement:

If you want more reading about retirement, we have some great articles and podcast episodes on various retirement topics:

Questions about I bonds and inflation

With Series I savings bonds paying much higher yields than they have in years because the yield is tied to inflation, it's no surprise people are interested in them. We also had a question about inflation and how to save money during this time.

Not only do we answer questions about I bonds, but we have plenty of resources on how to use them in your own strategy and how to tackle inflation in your own life.

Other questions: buying a TV, spender vs. saver, where to keep cash and more

We answer questions about the best time to buy a TV (maybe it's not Black Friday), what happens if you marry a spender but are a saver, where you should keep your cash and what happens to your mortgage when the company gets bought out.

For more information and ideas on handling mortgages, saving money and dealing with partner money issues, check out the following resources:

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about growing generational wealth: in other words, leaving money to your heirs.

According to the Census Bureau, baby boomers are nearly 9 times wealthier than their kids, the millennials. Which means as baby boomers, like me, die off, there's going to be one of the biggest wealth transfers in history.

Want to create the kind of wealth you can pass down to the next generation—and maybe the generation after that? Then you're in the right place. Because today we're all about legacy-building.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Kevin Matthews, a former investment advisor and the author of Starting Point: How To Create Wealth That Lasts.

Remember, this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't Miss

How to build generational wealth

You can't pass on a financial legacy if you don't have your own wealth. If you're hoping to build wealth, we have your resources. We have a lot on investing, which is among the best ways to build wealth. Once you establish yourself, you can build generational wealth that acts as a financial legacy for those who come after you.

Teach your kids about money

It's not just about boosting your kids' credit scores and protecting them from identity theft. You also need to give them a head start on managing their finances in a healthy way. Here are some resources we provide that can help you with your kids' needs, including how you can save money while you raise your children.

Meet this week's guest, Kevin L. Matthews II

Kevin L. Matthews II is a Plutus Award winner and number one bestselling author. He has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career. By 2017, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisors by Investopedia.

Kevin launched BuildingBread in 2010 to inspire millennials to set, simplify and achieve any financial goal. Kevin regularly speaks to young adults across the country and has been featured in several media publications and productions including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNBC, and many others.

Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hampton University, a certificate in financial planning from Northwestern University and a certificate in disruptive strategy from Harvard Business School. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business with a Master's in Technology Commercialization (MSTC).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s podcast is a replay of a popular show we did a few months back. So if you didn’t hear it the first time, or want to hear it again, now’s your chance. Thanks for listening to Money Talks News…the podcast!

Let's start with a question: Do you have enough in your retirement account? According to a recent report from Vanguard, the average American has around $140,000 saved for retirement. For those 65 and older, that average balance is about twice that, or $280,000.

Sounds like a lot, right? But for many people, even with Social Security, it's not going to be enough.

If that's you, let's fix it. In this podcast, we help you create a plan to beef up those retirement savings.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is a friend of the show, Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments, never take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Are you ready for retirement?

The Employee Benefit Research Institute points out that 7 in 10 workers are confident they can retire comfortably. In this show, we talk about the potential disconnect between what you might think is enough and what's actually enough. Here are some articles that can help.

How to create a retirement plan that works for you

Stacy mentions his book "[amazon url="https://www.amazon.com/Life-Debt-2010-Financial-Freedom/dp/1439168601" text="Life or Debt"][/amazon]," as a good starting point to help you figure out what you want out of life—and how to prioritize it. Joe and Miranda also have some good ideas for creating a retirement plan you'll stick with. We also mention our podcast on paying off your mortgage aggressively so you have more money available in retirement.

Let's take a look at some great Money Talks News resources about planning for retirement.

Meet this week's guest, Joe Saul-Sehy

Joe is a former financial adviser (16 years) and represented American Express and Ameriprise Financial in the media. He was the "Money Man" at Detroit television station WXYZ-TV, appearing on air twice weekly. He's appeared in Bride, Best Life, and Child magazines, and in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit News and Baltimore Sun newspapers. He's also appeared online in more than 200 different places, including CNBC.com and WSJ.com.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This has been a very odd year. Lots of pundits were predicting a bad stock market for the first part of this year as inflation and high interest rates pushed the economy into a recession.

Nope.

At the end of July, the S&P 500 was up nearly 20%, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ was up 30%.

Another thing the pundits advised: The Fed would stop raising interest rates by mid-year. Some "experts" even thought they'd be falling by now.

Nope.

On July 26 we got yet another boost in interest rates. They're now higher than they've been in a generation.

So, is there a recession on the horizon? Or will we have a soft landing, with the economy slowing enough to defeat inflation but avoid a severe downturn?

That's what we're going to explore in this special podcast episode: the outlook for stocks, housing and interest rates for the remainder of 2023.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Stash Graham, managing director and CIO with Graham Capital Wealth Management.

As you listen, remember, this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you hear.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

What's happening in the economy?

It's obviously important to know how the economy could potentially affect you. Here are some articles offering insight into what's going on and potential moves you should be making.

How to manage your money for the last part of the year

Now you know what might happen, it's time to figure out how to manage your money for the last part of the year. We have some helpful resources on taxes, savings, smart spending and investing that can help you get more for your money during the last part of the year.

Meet this week's guest, Stash Graham

Stash Graham is Managing Director of Graham Capital Wealth Management and has over 16 years of experience in the asset management space.

Graham is a seasoned asset manager whose experience includes both public and private markets. He started his career as a Financial Analyst at Health and Estate Advisors before serving as a Vice President of Investments at J.P. Turner prior to the founding of Graham Capital Wealth Management in 2016. Graham holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance from La Salle University, as well as a Master of Science in Finance from Johns Hopkins University.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're an avid investor…or even if you're not…at one time or another you've probably considered investing in individual stocks. I've been doing it for 40 years, and over that time have made well over a million dollars investing in the stocks of individual companies.

But stock picking isn't for everyone, and it comes with risks. Even the best stock pickers periodically lose money. The trick is to learn a few rules that will increase your odds.

And that's what we're going to talk about today.

Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is a friend of the show, Kevin Matthews, a former investment advisor and the author of Starting Point: How To Create Wealth That Lasts.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

You can download this episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Don't Miss

We're talking about investing this week, so you don't want to miss out on an opportunity to learn more about investing in alternative assets.

More on investing in stocks

One of the best ways to build wealth is through stock investing. There are many different ways to invest in stocks, and we can help you figure out how to make the most of your investing dollars. Here are some resources from Money Talks News to help you learn about stock investing, including ideas for where to put your money:

Learn more about investing

Stock investing isn't the only way to make money as an investor. We've got a lot of great articles about other ways to invest—and about investing in general. Get more bang for your buck after learning about the resources.

Meet this week's guest, Kevin Matthews, II

Kevin L. Matthews II is a Plutus Award winner and number one bestselling author. He has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career. By 2017, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential Financial Advisors by Investopedia.

Kevin launched BuildingBread in 2010 to inspire millennials to set, simplify and achieve any financial goal. Kevin regularly speaks to young adults across the country and has been featured in several media publications and productions including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Black Enterprise, CNBC, and many others.

Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from Hampton University, a certificate in financial planning from Northwestern University and a certificate in disruptive strategy from Harvard Business School. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business with a Master's in Technology Commercialization (MSTC).

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that most wealthy people don't drive luxury cars? It's not all Lamborghinis and Bentleys. For many, the most likely cars are Toyotas, Hondas and Fords. You might be surprised at other millionaire habits more frugal than you'd expect.

In this podcast, we're going to talk about the habits of millionaires, because understanding what millionaires do can help you follow in their footsteps.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Sarah Fallow, daughter of Dr. Thomas J Stanley, the author of The Millionaire Next Door and the founder of DataPoints, a company that looks at data surrounding self-made millionaires.

Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Learning about millionaire habits

There are some you can learn from millionaires that can guide you to your own version of wealth. If you want to learn more about The Millionaire Next Door, Brandon Gaille offers a quick summary. We also found some great quotes on Good Reads from the book. One great quote: "Many people who live in expensive homes and drive luxury cars do not actually have much wealth. Then, we discovered something even odder: Many people who have a great deal of wealth do not even live in upscale neighborhoods."

If you're looking for some more resources on becoming a millionaire, we have great articles on Money Talks News:

Building a foundation for becoming a millionaire

As you work toward becoming a millionaire, you need a solid financial foundation. We have plenty of resources on this website to help you learn about saving and investing, as well as smart spending. Take a look:

Meet this week's guest, Sarah Stanley Fallaw

Sarah Stanley Fallaw, Ph.D. is the author of The Next Millionaire Next Door and the founder and President of DataPoints LLC, a behavioral assessment advisortech company. In her role at DataPoints and her research, Dr. Fallaw continues the study on self-made wealth begun by her late father, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley, author of The Millionaire Next Door. Dr. Fallaw's research on the psychology of wealth has been featured in numerous conferences and publications, and she consults with firms worldwide on measuring client money personality.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you familiar with Roth IRAs? If you're not, you should be, because Roth IRAs are a great way to get tax-free income after you retire.

There is a potential fly in the ointment, however. Namely, not everyone qualifies for a Roth. If you make too much money, Uncle Sam says you can't use em. But there's a way around that rule: Fund a regular retirement account, then roll it over to a Roth. It's called a backdoor Roth. Sounds sneaky, right? Should you do it? And if so, how do you go about it?

Let's find out. In this podcast episode, we're talking about how to convert an IRA to a Roth IRA without getting eaten alive by income taxes. In addition, we'll be talking about nearly every facet of Roth accounts and why they should be an integral part of every retirement strategy.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman.

This week's guest is Ed Slott, the founder of IRAhelp.com. He's ready to tell us why a Roth conversion is his #1 tax tip for this year.

Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Using an IRA for your retirement

We talk about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) in this episode. Here are some great resources on how to make the most of your IRA—whether you get a traditional or a Roth.

If you decide to do a Roth conversion, like our guest Ed suggests, make sure you know the rules. We recommend checking out Investopedia's article on Roth IRA Conversion Rules.

Learn more about retirement accounts

An IRA isn't your only choice for retirement. There are different accounts and strategies you can use to make the most of your golden years. Here are some great resources for getting more out of retirement.

Meet this week's guest, Ed Slott

Ed Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, television personality, and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on the intricacies of IRAs. He was named "The Best Source for IRA Advice" by The Wall Street Journal. Slott is the author of numerous highly acclaimed books, including his latest, The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb (Penguin Random House, 2021) and Ed Slott's Retirement Decisions Guide: 2022 Edition (IRAHelp, 2022).

He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom!, and is a Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about protecting your kid's identity and building their credit.

You might be surprised to learn that 1 in 50 children is affected by child identity fraud, costing consumers nearly $1 billion per year. So, how do you make sure your child isn't the one whose identity is stolen? Glad you asked, because that's the question we're going to answer today.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. And today's guest is Erik Beguin, founder and CEO of Austin Capital Bank, FreeKick, and CreditStrong.

Full disclosure: We have an advertising relationship with Austin Capital Bank, but that doesn't affect our opinions. Know why? Because we're journalists, that's why! Before we start, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Your credit matters: what you need to know

We talk about the importance of credit. In fact, your credit can impact the types of financial services you have access to and your interest rates. If you want to learn more about credit, credit scores and identity fraud, we have some resources that might help you make the most of what's next.

Help your kids learn about money

It's not just about boosting your kid's credit score and protecting them from identity theft. You also need to give them a head start on managing their finances in a healthy way. Here are some resources we provide that can help you with your kids' needs, including how you can save money while you raise your children.

We also encourage you to check out the Equifax Minor Freeze Request Formand the FTC ID Theft Report Form. You can also use the FTC guide: How to Protect Your Child From Identity Theft.

Meet this week's guest, Erik Beguin

As CEO and founder of Austin Capital Bank, Credit Strong, and FreeKick, Erik Beguin is recognized as an industry leader in creating credit-building and identity protection products for consumers. Erik is also recognized nationally as an expert in banking and financial technology, having served as an appointed advisor to both the Federal Reserve and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

He received an MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, a BA in accounting and economics summa cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and is a certified public accountant.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Money Talks News podcast, we're talking about how organizing your money can make you richer and how to get there with the least possible pain.

This will probably come as no surprise, but according to a recent survey, only 23% of Americans have a formal financial plan. And you can probably guess why: 76 percent of those without a plan say they feel overwhelmed by the thought of creating one and 56 percent say their life is too uncertain for a plan to have any value.

That's a bummer because having a plan for your money can lead directly to having more money. And as we like to say around here, more money is better.

That's why this week's guest is going to help us get our money ducks in a row.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest today is Alissa Maizes, the founder of Amplify My Wealth, a registered investment advisor.

Remember, this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Better organization in finances and in life

Getting organized can help you in various aspects of your life—including your finances. Whether it's using containers you already have to organize your current possessions or you're just trying to figure out how to organize your schedule, we have plenty of resources for you. On the podcast, we talk about the importance of organization and how it can help, and our articles on the website can complement our discussion by helping you organize just about everything in your life.

How to budget for more organized finances

A budget or spending plan can be one of the best ways to stay on top of your finances. We talk about how we manage our money in the podcast episode, but there are plenty of other resources available on Money Talks News. Check out some of our articles that can help you better budget and keep track of what's going on with your money.

Meet this week's guest, Alissa Maizes

Alissa is a licensed attorney and registered investment advisor providing women and young adults with financial advice and a plan that embraces the life they want.

Alissa launched Amplify My Wealth to enable you to benefit from receiving financial advice, a financial plan as well as a partner that guides you on your journey to living the life you want. Her approach eliminates the traditional "waiting game" for clients who otherwise would be unable to avail themselves of having a fiduciary financial advisor putting their needs first.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably have long-term money goals: You know, the money you're saving for something that's years, even decades away, like retirement savings. But you also want money for things that are just weeks or months away, like creating an emergency fund or saving for a vacation.

The trick is finding the right balance, so you can hit both your short and long-term targets.

And that's what we're going to talk about today. Because I want you to be able to have what you want now and what you need later.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest today is Alissa Maizes, the founder of Amplify My Wealth, a registered investment advisor.

Remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Setting financial goals

One of the most important things you can do for your money is to set financial goals. We talk about short-term and long-term financial goals and the importance of understanding them during the episode. But we also have some great articles on Money Talks News about setting goals for different purposes. Check out these resources on setting goals in different situations.

Building wealth while balancing goals

Many of us have goals that revolve around building wealth or setting specific goals like debt reduction. As you balance your short-term and long-term financial goals, it can help to have help in forming good habits to help you build wealth. Here are some of our favorite resources on building wealth as you work toward your financial goals.

Meet this week's guest, Alissa Maizes

Alissa is a licensed attorney and registered investment advisor providing women and young adults with financial advice and a plan that embraces the life they want.

Alissa launched Amplify My Wealth to enable you to benefit from receiving financial advice, a financial plan as well as a partner that guides you on your journey to living the life you want. Her approach eliminates the traditional "waiting game" for clients who otherwise would be unable to avail themselves of having a fiduciary financial advisor putting their needs first.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we're talking about the dangers of debt in a rising rate environment, and how to deal with it.

The Federal Reserve has now raised interest rates nine times in the last year.

The idea of higher rates is to put the brakes on the economy in order to slow inflation. All good, until someone gets hurt. And who gets hurt by higher rates? Consumers who need to borrow, that's who.

Higher rates mean higher credit card interest, car loan interest, personal loan interest and mortgage interest. And for many folks, that's a big deal. In fact, higher rates can price people out of a purchase entirely. It also means higher minimums and more difficulty paying down debt.

So let's talk about what you can do to ease the pain.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Matt Schulz, an industry analyst for Lending Tree and author of the forthcoming book Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More.

Remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Dealing with inflation

Inflation is impacting every aspect of our financial lives right now. If you're trying to figure out how to get through it, we have resources on Money Talks News that can help.

How to pay down debt

When dealing with debt, creating a plan to pay it down is one of the best things you can do. We have many resources to help you pay down debt, and make the most of your money, even in the midst of inflation.

Meet this week's guest, 

Matt Schulz is a nationally recognized personal finance expert with 15-plus years of experience helping people make smart decisions with their money. He is currently Chief Credit Analyst at LendingTree. With LendingTree and in his previous role at Bankrate, he has appeared on Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News and been quoted many times in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times and beyond. He is also a trained journalist who has led online news teams for TV stations, websites and newspapers. His first book -- Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More -- is scheduled to be published by Countryman Press, an imprint of WW Norton, in early 2024.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're tackling a real-life retirement situation. Maybe you've experienced it yourself. You open your statement, and there it is: a shrinking balance.

Maybe it's because the stock market has fallen. Or interest rates have risen, and your bond fund is losing ground.

Either way, what happens when you feel like you're losing a huge chunk of your nest egg? What can you do? Just sit there? Move things around? Sell everything?

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This episode also includes Pam Krueger, CEO of WealthRamp, along with financial advisor David Frisch of Frisch Financial Group, to help us sort out this real-life conundrum.

Remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

What portfolio strategies are available to you?

During this episode, the crew discusses a specific situation: A couple in their 60s are in a 70/30 portfolio. Now they feel they've lost a big chunk of their nest egg, thanks to recent market drops. Their confidence is shaken. Is it too late to catch up, and how will they catch up?

We've talked about portfolio strategy and investment in the past, so if you're interested in learning more about how to choose investments, here are some good resources.

How to make the most of your retirement

Don't let panic overtake you and ruin your retirement. There are plenty of ways to plan, invest and prepare for retirement. Here are some of our best resources on getting ready for retirement, whether it's decades away or in just a few years.

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Her perspectives on personal finance regularly appear in Marketwatch, Forbes, PBS Next Avenue, and she is a frequent speaker on fiduciary financial advice. In addition, Pam is an active volunteer member of the Retirement Income Committee at the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America's workers. She has also served on the California Jump$tart Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing financial literacy among children and teens, where she created one of their most successful curricula available for K-12 teachers called, Investing Pays Off For Kids.

Each year, she spends part of her time in San Francisco, California and lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Meet this week's guest, David A. Frisch

David A. Frisch, CPA, CFP®, PFS is the founder and CEO of Frisch Financial Group. David has been widely recognized for his accomplishments as a financial expert. Forbes has repeatedly included him in their ranking of New York's Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, and Long Island Business News selected him for their Executive Circle Award as well as their inaugural Banking and Finance Power List. In addition, David is frequently asked to contribute his financial expertise to a variety of media outlets.

David was educated at the State University of New York Binghamton School of Management. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Accounting, David's professional career began at Arthur Andersen & Co., Inc.

David is father to triplets. On weekends, you can find him traveling the Northeast visiting his children at college or at home working on a DYI project alongside his wife and their Goldendoodle, Reese.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're talking about the Midas metal.

Gold has long been known as a store of value and a hedge against both inflation and global uncertainty. This is why it's also a part of many well-diversified savings strategies, including retirement accounts.

Yes, you can actually hold gold in your IRA—as long as you follow the rules. But should you own gold at all? And if so, is it appropriate for retirement account investing? Let's find out.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week, we have a special guest, Devlyn Steele from Augusta Precious Metals, here to talk about everything gold related, including how to set up a Gold IRA.

Before we start, you need to know a couple of things. First thing, we have an advertising relationship with Augusta Precious Metals. However, we won't let that impact our opinions. Know why? Because we're journalists, that's why. Second thing, remember this isn't financial advice. So make sure to do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

OK, let's dive in.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Portfolio strategy and asset allocation

We talk about the importance of diversification as you put together a portfolio strategy that includes an asset allocation approach that works for you. This can include gold and other precious metals, as well as other alternative investments. Don't forget to check out these great resources surrounding building a better investment portfolio.

What you need to know about tax-advantaged retirement accounts

Don't forget to stick around to find out exactly how you can hold gold in an IRA. We talk about the importance of investment-grade precious metals, finding the right custodian, and how to watch out for some of the pitfalls. In the meantime, make sure you catch up with our great resources about tax-advantaged accounts and how you can use them to make the most of your retirement.

Meet this week's guest, Devlyn Steele

During a three-decade financial services and economics career, Devlyn Steele has processed financial assets worth more than $2 billion. As Augusta's director of education, Mr. Steele now leads an education team dedicated to enlightening fiscally conservative Americans about savings diversification through alternative assets. He accurately predicted the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent surge in gold and silver prices.

In his pivotal role at Augusta, Devlyn reveals his insights about what's happening behind the scenes in the economy and helps Americans diversify their savings to potentially offset economic concerns. His informative web conferences have attracted wealthy and successful customers, including hall-of-fame quarterback Joe Montana*, now Augusta's ambassador. Mr. Steele is a member of the prestigious business analytics program at Harvard Business School.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably remember the Bernie Madoff saga: His famous Ponzi scheme destroyed the life savings of hundreds of sophisticated investors and money managers. Billions vanished into thin air.

So, how do smart people end up in these situations? More to the point, how can you avoid being the victim of a scam?

There are red flags that you should recognize and today we're going to talk about them.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today, we're joined by one of the show's best friends, Pam Krueger from Wealthramp.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

Are you watching out for scams and Ponzi schemes?

We review the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme and its fallout. But we do more than talk about that one scam. We give you red flags to watch out for and mention other scams to be on the alert for. Don't get caught off-guard. Here are some of our best articles about scams—and how to avoid them.

Build wealth—without getting scammedRather than relying on scammers, we've got plenty of other ways for you to build your wealth, including through investing. Try saving, put your money to work for you and avoid the get-rich-quick schemes.

Meet this week's guest, Pam Krueger

Pam Krueger is a recognized investor advocate and award-winning personal finance journalist and author. She is the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, an advisor matching platform that connects consumers with rigorously vetted and qualified fee-only financial advisors. It is the only advisor referral service that gives people full control over when and how they talk to their referred advisors.

Her perspectives on personal finance regularly appear in Marketwatch, Forbes, PBS Next Avenue, and she is a frequent speaker on fiduciary financial advice. In addition, Pam is an active volunteer member of the Retirement Income Committee at the Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association (DCIIA), a non-profit dedicated to enhancing the retirement security of America's workers. She has also served on the California Jump$tart Coalition, an organization dedicated to increasing financial literacy among children and teens, where she created one of their most successful curricula available for K-12 teachers called, Investing Pays Off For Kids.

Each year, she spends part of her time in San Francisco, California and lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are almost 22 million people with a net worth of at least $1 million in the United States. That's a lot of millionaires!

Many of these millionaires aren't flashy. They got rich over long periods of time by owning a home or years of investing.

But what if you want to speed up the process? How can you become a millionaire BEFORE you retire? That's what this week's podcast is about: discussing strategies to build your net worth as quickly as possible.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today, we're happy to have Erin B. Haag, the founder of the website Pricing Overhaul and the author of the book Give Yourself a Raise: The Mindset and Math You Need to Get to Your First Million.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

What does it take to become a millionaire?

It's one of the most common aspirational milestones: getting that first $1 million. But what does it take to become a millionaire? You need a combination of mindset, luck and hard work. Lots of hard work. We've got some great articles on secrets, habits and practical tips for improving your finances on your own millionaire journey.

How to grow your wealth and become a millionaire

Looking for ways to make the most of your assets to grow your wealth to become a millionaire? We've got you covered.

Meet this week's guest, Erin Haag

Erin B. Haag is the founder of Pricing Overhaul, a company that teaches self-employed women how to overhaul their pricing and make more money than they ever dreamed possible.

Prior to starting Pricing Overhaul, Erin founded a successful Pilates and Yoga studio in Palm Beach, Florida—which she ran for several years before selling the company for 40x her original investment.

Erin brings 20 years of experience to her clients. From calculating your revenue, expenses, owner's salary, profit margin, and beyond, Erin loves crunching the numbers to determine exactly what you need to charge. Her motto is "trust the math" because the numbers never lie.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the latest report from Vanguard, looking at the average amount of money saved for retirement, there's a good chance you might not be on track for comfort in your golden years. The average 45-year-old has less than $180,000 saved for retirement.

But how do you change that? How do you even figure out when you have enough to retire? This week's guest is going to help you figure out your retirement number—and how you can reach it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. his week's guest is Chris Mamula, one of the partners at Can I Retire Yet?. He retired at 41 by figuring out his retirement number and working toward financial freedom. He's going to share his process and the steps you can take to retire earlier than you thought.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can listen with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money.

What kind of career do you have?

We tackle some of the main things you need to be aware of when you work in a career that results in a variable income. Barbara's book, Tipped, takes you through what you need to know as well. Freelancers, service industry workers and self-employed business owners know what it's like to deal with these challenges.

If you're looking for a new career or source of income, check out some of our articles on different jobs and side hustle ideas.

Get more from your money

Don't forget about money moves you can make, no matter what your income looks like. Here are some of our best resources for budgeting, saving, investing and spending your money.

Meet this week's guest, Barbara Sloan

Barbara Sloan is the author of the book Tipped: The life changing guide to financial freedom for waitresses, bartenders, strippers, and all other service industry professionals.

Barbara was a homeless teen, who danced for dollars, and definitely did not graduate from college. She spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the service industry all over the country and learning about money on her own. In addition to owning and running a construction company in the heart of Manhattan, she is a personal finance expert and coach. She leverages her experience in the service industry to focus on issues that many in the mainstream financial media don't cover. Barbara lives in New York City with her wife of 10 years, an esteemed corporate finance exec, and together they are a couple of adorable money nerds who point out every dog they see.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're on a steady salary, creating a spending plan is straightforward, because you know both what's coming in and what's going out every month. ****

But what if you don't have a stable salary? What if you're one of the millions of Americans who do side work or own a business or get paid commission? For you, a variable income is just part of the deal.

Then there are people who depend on tips, like bartenders, Uber drivers, servers: you name it. Even freelancers and gig economy workers can have difficulty budgeting and managing their money, thanks to a variable income.

Today, we're going to tackle the subject of a stable budget with an unstable income.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's guest is Barbara Sloan, a former exotic dancer and the author of Tipped, a book about financial empowerment for service industry workers.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

This podcast is sponsored by Tellus, the first savings app designed for homebuyers by real estate experts. With Tellus, your savings earn more in one day than up to three weeks in a traditional bank savings account. What's more, there is no stock or crypto exposure, no fees and you can withdraw anytime. Click the link in the show notes and use the code MONEYTALK to get a 5.50% APY for seven days with a $125 minimum deposit.

What kind of career do you have?

We tackle some of the main things you need to be aware of when you work in a career that results in a variable income. Barbara's book, Tipped, takes you through what you need to know as well. Freelancers, service industry workers and self-employed business owners know what it's like to deal with these challenges.

If you're looking for a new career or source of income, check out some of our articles on different jobs and side hustle ideas.

Get more from your money

Don't forget about money moves you can make, no matter what your income looks like. Here are some of our best resources for budgeting, saving, investing and spending your money.

Meet this week's guest, Barbara Sloan

Barbara Sloan is the author of the book Tipped: The life changing guide to financial freedom for waitresses, bartenders, strippers, and all other service industry professionals.

Barbara was a homeless teen, who danced for dollars, and definitely did not graduate from college. She spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the service industry all over the country and learning about money on her own. In addition to owning and running a construction company in the heart of Manhattan, she is a personal finance expert and coach. She leverages her experience in the service industry to focus on issues that many in the mainstream financial media don't cover. Barbara lives in New York City with her wife of 10 years, an esteemed corporate finance exec, and together they are a couple of adorable money nerds who point out every dog they see.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So let me ask you: Got debt? If so, you're not alone. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 28% of consumers have an account in collections. Think about that. More than one if four of us are getting hounded on a past-due bill!

Maybe you're not to that point yet, but you can probably relate to the feeling of the bills piling up. Or maybe you're wondering how you'll pay off your part of the more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt.

Bottom line? Getting out from under debt can be daunting. Like marriage or car leases, debt's a lot easier to get into than to get out of.

So this week we're going to look at different solutions to destroy that debt.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. We have two special guests this week, Natalia Brown and Jeff Biesman from National Debt Relief. They'll walk us through options like debt consolidation and debt settlement.

Before we start, two things: First, MoneyTalksNews has an advertising relationship with National Debt Relief. But that's not going to influence our panel's opinions. Second, be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

OK, let's dive in.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

YouTube version:
https://youtu.be/uxI8Pr40cgM

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Settlement

It's important to understand the difference between debt consolidation and debt settlement. We take you through all of that in this episode. Our special guests help you understand how their services work, and we also offer you some ideas for what is likely to work best for you. Depending on your situation, one solution might work better than another. Before you decide, check out this episode where Miranda gets real about how she messed up her credit big time.

Here are some resources from Money Talks News about debt settlement and debt consolidation, as well as information about dealing with debt collectors:

How to pay down debt

If you're interested in paying down debt on your own, we have a lot of great resources on how to create a plan to pay down debt.

Natalia Brown joined National Debt Relief(NDR) in 2010 and has served as Chief Client Operations Officer since 2019. Natalia is also an Executive Board Member of the American Fair Credit Council (AFCC).

Natalia volunteers at New Women New Yorkers, a nonprofit that focuses on supporting immigrant women in New York. She also sits on the advisory board for Four Steps Forward, a program that aims to financially educate one million black women over the next five years.

Natalia is a native New Yorker and has two sons who inspire her to be the best she can every day. She is a certified debt specialist and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Lehman College and a master's in operations and project management from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jeff Biesman is the Chief Marketing Officer at National Debt Relief and Reach Financial. In this capacity, Jeff is responsible for the brand, PR, partnerships, and all direct-to-consumer marketing activities for both companies. Jeff's career spans a wide range of organizations including AT&T Interactive, Shoedazzle, Bank of America, Sony Pictures Digital, The Walt Disney Company and others.

Jeff grew up in Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a B.A. in Political Science and MBA with a concentration in marketing. Jeff currently resides in Agoura Hills, California.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 30% of people have experienced financial infidelity: things like:

All bad stuff, right? Even worse, financial infidelity can be a sign of other relationship issues.

So, how do you avoid this stuff…or if you're already doing it, how do you stop?

Let's find out.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Tarra Jackson, Madam Money. She will help us learn how to set better money goals with our partners so we can stop that financial cheating.

Be aware that anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

OK, let's dive in.

Episode 182 webpage.

YouTube version.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

This podcast is sponsored by Tellus, the first savings app designed for home buyers by real estate experts. With Tellus your savings earn more in one day than up to three weeks in a traditional bank savings account. What's more, there is no stock or crypto exposure, no fees, and you can withdraw anytime. Click the link in the show notes and use the code MONEYTALK to get a 5.50% APY for 7 Days with a $125 minimum deposit.

What is financial infidelity?

We talk about financial infidelity and the signs you should watch out for. Our guest, Tarra Jackson, wrote a book Financial Fornication, that tackles this issue.

It's important to note that we're talking about common issues that can crop in a non-abusive romantic or partnership relationship. If you're experiencing abuse, including financial abuse, we encourage you to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

We have some great resources that can help you as you work on your relationship with your partner—and your money.

Managing money with your partner

We also tackle how to stop engaging in financial infidelity, as well as what you can do to become better partners with your money. Tarra's book, 4 Financial Languages, can help you learn how to communicate with your partner about money. We also have a number of great resources that can help you manage your money better as a couple.

Meet this week's guest, Tarra Jackson

Tarra Jackson, known as Madam Money®, is the best-selling author of the three cult favorite books "Financial Fornication," "4 Financial Languages: The Secrets to Communicating about Money," and "The DUALpreneur Bible: 10 Commandments to Starting a Successful Side Business." Tarra is a personal finance expert and animated International Speaker.

Tarra is the founder of DUALpreneur®, an organization that provides support services, resources, and events for people with side gigs, like the International Hybrid conference called #SIDEGIGCON. This conference connects attendees with successful business owners and experts, as well as like-minded entrepreneurs to help them turn their side gigs into profitable businesses.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you familiar with it the SECURE Act, and its update, SECURE 2.0? If you're not, maybe you should be. It was recently signed into law, and while it may sound boring, as we're about to explain, there are provisions in this bill that could make you richer. So, let's take a minute and see what's in this thing.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Ed Slott, the founder of IRAhelp.com. Ed is one of the top retirement planning experts in the country. He's poured over the contents of this bill and is ready to help us understand the key provisions.

Remember, anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

OK, let's dive in.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Also, don't forget to check out our podcast sponsor, Tellus, for the opportunity to supercharge your savings with an account backed by real estate. Use the code MONEYTALK and get a special APY for seven days with a $125 minimum deposit.

Changes to retirement saving

There have been a lot of changes to retirement savings in recent years, starting with the SECURE Act of 2019, which started taking effect in 2020. SECURE 2.0 updates some of the provisions from the original version and adds a few more.

We talk about the main changes with our guest, and what you need to know about making the most of the approaches to investing. We also have some great articles on how to get the most from your retirement strategy.

Build wealth for the future

As you put together your retirement savings strategy, we have plenty of resources designed to help you create a nest egg that will live after you're gone.

Meet this week's guest, Ed Slott

Ed Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, television personality, and best-selling author who has dedicated his life to educating Americans on the intricacies of IRAs. He was named "The Best Source for IRA Advice" by The Wall Street Journal. Slott is the author of numerous highly acclaimed books, including his latest, The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb (Penguin Random House, 2021)and Ed Slott's Retirement Decisions Guide: 2022 Edition (IRAHelp, 2022).

He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, Ed Slott's Retirement Freedom!, and is a Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services*.*

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to at least one survey, as many as 80% of Americans prepare a budget.

Even if you don't believe that statistic, it's probably safe to say that 80% of Americans have at least thought about having a budget. So, why don't they actually do it? You probably already know the answer: Because budgets are hard to stick to.

And why is so hard to stick to a spending plan? Because they feel so restrictive! Who wants to go on a dollar diet? Nobody.

How do we fix this? How do we convert from budget hater to budget lover?

Let's find out.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week, money and happiness guru Jason Vitug returns to talk about how you can learn to love budgeting. Jason has a new book out, Happy Money Happy Life, and he's ready to share some insight.

Remember, anything you hear on this podcast doesn't constitute financial advice. Always do your own research and consult your own experts before acting on anything you learn here.

You can watch this episode here, you can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Also, don't forget to check out our podcast sponsor, Tellus, for the opportunity to supercharge your savings with an account backed by real estate. Use the code MONEYTALK and get a special APY for seven days with a $125 minimum deposit.

Financial values and money mindset

When setting a budget that works for you, start with your financial values and money mindset. Stacy talks about this in his book Life or Debt and we tackle the subject in this episode. We also have other articles about finding your values and improving your mindset at Money Talks News.

Discover a one-stop-shop for all your financial needs with MoneyTalksNews Solutions. Save money on car insurance, switch to a higher yielding savings account, simplify debt with consolidation options, and find the best travel credit card. Stay on top of tax debt, home equity lines of credit, mortgage refinancing, personal loans, and compare cellphone plans all in one convenient location. Visit the MoneyTalksNews Solutions page now.

Create a budget and save money

One of the reasons to create a budget or spending plan is to allow you to do the things you want to do.

If you're looking for ways to save money and then redirect those resources, these articles can help:

Track your spending, manage your money and save for the future

Don't forget to visit our Solutions Center for links to tools that can help you make the most of your money. We also recommend the following tools:

Meet this week's guest, Jason Vitug

Jason Vitug is an award-winning creator, author, speaker, entrepreneur, and producer. He is the founder of the personal finance website phroogal.com, creator of the Road to Financial Wellness, and champion of #theSmileLifestyle, a community devoted to experiential and purposeful living.

His TEDx about breaking the money taboo is one of the most viewed talks on money, and he recently released his second book, Happy Money, Happy Life.

Jason received his bachelor's at Rutgers University and MBA at Norwich University. He's an avid traveler, having been to all US states, explored 45 countries, and stepped foot on five continents. He is also a certified yoga teacher and breath work specialist.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year was terrible for stocks, with the Dow, S&P and tech-heavy Nasdaq all posting double-digit losses. And that showed up in retirement accounts.

According to Fidelity, In the third quarter of 2022, 401(k) balances were 23 percent lower than the year before.

That's a lot of loss.

This makes for stressful savers, especially those nearing retirement. So, what's an investor to do?

Let's find out.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week, we're joined by Robert Gilliland, the managing director and senior wealth advisor with Concenture Wealth Management. He's going to help us navigate our retirement accounts during a bear market.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Watch the YouTube version of this episode: https://youtu.be/L1pl3i8yduw

Also, don't forget to check out our podcast sponsor, Tellus for the opportunity to supercharge your savings with an account backed by real estate. Use the code MONEYTALK and get 6.00% APY for 7 days with a $125 minimum deposit.

Is your retirement in trouble?

For many Americans, their only exposure to the stock market is what's in their 401(k)s. This can feel extremely frustrating after a year like 2022. However, the good news, Robert points out, is that down years are usually followed by recovery. There might be a setback, but if you don't panic and lock in your losses, chances are that your portfolio will recover.

We'll talk about specific ways you can prepare yourself and your portfolio to avoid a retirement setback during a down stock market.

If you want to learn more about planning for retirement, check out these additional resources from Money Talks News:

Worried about what's next for the stock market?

Even if you stay the course and aren't worried about your retirement, you might still be nervous about the stock market and a coming recession. We look at what we think might be on the way and what you can do about it.

(Check out our podcast episode recapping the biggest financial stories of 2022—and how they might impact your pocketbook.)

Don't forget to check out the Money Talks News Solutions Center, where you can find links to high-yield bank accounts, financial advisors and other helpful tools for making the most of your money. Make sure you check out our other great articles and podcast episodes on making the most of your investments, no matter what's happening in the markets.

Meet this week's guest, Robert Gilliland

Robert G. Gilliland CRPC®, CEPA®, is the managing director and senior wealth advisor of Concenture Wealth Management and has more than 25 years of experience serving residents in the Houston area.

Throughout his career, Gilliland has developed extensive money management and leadership expertise. While attending Stephen F. Austin State University, he ran a franchise of restaurants where he learned valuable organizational, interpersonal and time management skills. This experience would serve him well as he accepted a job at Merrill Lynch after graduation and would hold various leadership roles, including Sales Manager, Resident Director, and later, a member of the Advisory Council to Management. With a strong desire to serve local residents without the constraints of corporate mandates and to offer a wider variety of products and solutions to help them better achieve their financial goals, Gilliland founded his own independent financial advisory firm, Concenture Wealth Management.

Gilliland is an investment advisor representative (IAR) who holds both the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®)and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) designations. He has been named to Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list in both 2019 and 2020.

Outside of the office, Gilliland is an avid hunter and fisherman. He serves on several boards and foundations, including the Board of Trustees for Northland Christian School in Houston and volunteering at Warrior's Weekend, an annual outdoor community event supporting combat veterans.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard the dismal statistics. Most people who set New Year's resolutions abandon them by February. What gives? Why is it so hard to follow through on our goals? And most important: What can we do to succeed?

Let's find out.

In this week's podcast, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Dr. Brad Klontz, psychologist, professor and Managing Principal of Your Mental Wealth.

Brad's is going to help us understand why we sometimes get in our own way when it comes to money and building financial health.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Also, don't forget to check out our podcast sponsor, Tellus for the opportunity to supercharge your savings with an account backed by real estate. Use the code MONEYTALK and get 6.00% APY for 7 Days with a $125 minimum deposit.

Understanding your mental wealth and money scripts

One of the things Dr. Brad talks about on his website is "money scripts." We cover some of the realities surrounding why it's so difficult for us to set realistic money goals and then accomplish them.

Listen to the episode to learn how to beat your evolutionary programming and become better with your money.

In the meantime, here are some resources about money mistakes—and how to avoid them.

How to make the most of your money

You don't have to set resolutions to succeed with your money. Instead, it's about figuring out what matters to you and then building a plan around that. If you're interested, Miranda has a post about how she still has a purpose for her money without setting financial new year's resolutions.

Here are some other resources to learn about financial planning, setting money goals and building your wealth.

Meet this week's guest, Dr. Brad Klontz

Bradley T. Klontz, Psy.D., CFP® is an expert in financial psychology, financial planning, and applied behavioral finance.  He's an Associate Professor of Practice at Creighton University Heider College of Business, Co-Founder of the Financial Psychology Institute, and Managing Principal of YYMW Advisors.

Dr. Brad is co-author/co-editor of 8 books on the psychology of money, and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, and a Former President of the Hawaii Psychological Association. He was awarded the Innovative Practice Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association for his application of psychological interventions to help people with money and wealth issues and his innovative practice in financial psychology for practitioners across the country.

Don't listen to podcasts?

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. They're awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when you're in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you haven't listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. You'll be glad you did!

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and he has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Side hustles are increasingly a part of life, even if you're just trying to survive.

In 2022, 45% of Americans said they had a side hustle, with an average monthly income of $483. While that might not seem like much, it's possible to use your side hustle as the basis for building financial freedom.

In this podcast, we're going to meet someone who did just that.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's guest is Tom Brickman, aka The Frugal Gay. He sold lipstick, bras and other stuff on eBay, used the money to buy rental properties, and retired from his traditional job at age 39. He's going to tell us how he did it—and how you can use a side hustle to boost your own future financial prospects.

Tom Brickman AKA The Frugal Gay- 40 yo married dog dad from Dallas TX. Recently retired from 9-5 to work on Real Estate full time (21 doors) a resale business and TheFrugalGay.com Tom provides one on one coaching and covers financial literacy & real estate for building wealth.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Also, don't forget to check out our podcast sponsor, Tellus for the opportunity to super-charge your savings with an account backed by real estate. Use the code MONEYTALK and get 6.00% APY for 7 Days with a $125 minimum deposit.

Show webpage.

Side hustles can help you reach your goals

Whether you hope to pay down debt or amass enough to reach financial independence, a side hustle can be a good way to earn more money over time.

Tom talks about how he started his side hustle by selling lipsticks, purses and bras on eBay. Listen to the episode to find out how he used the profits from his side hustle to buy his first rental property and use real estate to pursue financial independence.

In the meantime, here are some Money Talks News articles that offer insight into side hustles:

Money tips that can help you reach your goals

While a side hustle can be a good way to boost your income and work toward financial freedom, you don't have to use a side hustle. There are plenty of other ways to be smart with your money and grow your wealth.

Check out these additional resources that can help you explore other ways to make more money, save more money and retire rich.

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Well, here we are: a brand new year!

Chances are, you're one of the 81% of Americans with a financial new year's resolution. The most common financial resolution this year? Like many other years, it's paying off debt.

But how do you make it happen? Obviously, with a plan. So, let's make one!

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week, John and David, the Debt Free Guys, join us to discuss the five things you need to know about creating a successful debt pay-down plan.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

Show webpage with links.

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Get out of debt for good

In addition to our thoughts on creating a debt paydown plan, we have many resources on the Money Talks News website for ideas on getting out of debt. You can even check out Stacy's book, Life or Debt, to help you destroy your debt and get on the path to financial freedom.

Where to find the money to pay off debt

Once you decide to pay off debt, there's a good chance you need to find the money to make your debt pay down plan work. This often includes a combination of strategies to save money and increase your income. Check out these resources that can help you find money to funnel into your debt freedom strategy. And don't forget to check out the debt lasso method our guests use to pay off debt.

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Episode 175 webpage.

It's been a wild year. Crypto has fallen 70%. The stock market has been horrible. Bonds have had the worst year since 1700s! And we've watched inflation hit levels not seen since Reagan was in the White House.

What does this mean as we move into a new year?

Today, we're going to take a look at some of the biggest money stories of 2022 — and how they might impact your pocketbook as we move into 2023.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Today's guest is Craig Ferrantino, a certified financial fiduciary at Craig James Financial Services.

We've got the scoop on the biggest financial stories of 2022

If it was a big financial news story in 2022, we talked about it on the podcast or covered it in a post on the website. Our insights can help you figure out the impact events have on your money—and what to do about it.

Also, we have a few articles outside Money Talks News that we used to get information. Here's what you need to know:

How to prepare your finances for 2023

We're not sure what's going to happen in 2023, but it's a good idea to be ready. We have plenty of resources on Money Talks News that can help you make the most of your money in the coming year.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 174 webpage with links.

Here we go again: A brand new year is right around the corner. And even if you're not among the 68% of people that make financial New Year's resolutions, you should still look ahead and plan some money moves for the new year. At least, if one of your goals is to get richer.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. This week, two of our favorite financial advisors return to talk about how you can make the most of your new year. Let's welcome Pam Krueger from Wealthramp and Erik Olson from Arete Wealth Advisors in Chicago.

Money moves for a richer new year

No matter the time of year, you can improve your personal finances. We've got more than 15 ideas for you in the coming year. It's the perfect time to reflect on how far you've come and make adjustments for what's next. Check out our resources, articles and more about how to set yourself up for a prosperous year.

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Episode 173 webpage with all the links.

Death and taxes. They say they are the only certain things in life. Certain or not, though, taxes are definitely stressful, which is probably why 1/3 of Americans procrastinate when tax time rolls around.

And that can be an expensive mistake. Example: Now's the time to focus on year-end tax moves and take advantage of strategies that could save you thousands and will disappear on December 31st.

Let's make sure that doesn't happen to you.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is tax attorney Kelly Phillips Erb, the founder of Taxgirl and an editor at Bloomberg Tax.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 172 Webpage and Links.

This week we're talking about alternative investments.

If you're like us, stocks, bonds and savings accounts make up the foundation of your investments. And that's a good thing: all three are important for a comfortable, secure retirement. But guess what? They're not the only game in town. As it happens, there are investments that don't involve any of that stuff. And they could be important. Alternative investments offer not just another way to make money, but maybe even a little spice.

Ready to add a little pizzazz to your portfolio? Let's do it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. We've got not one but TWO special guests this week: Pam Krueger from Wealthramp and Erik Olson from Arete Wealth Advisors in Chicago.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any other money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 171 Webpage and Links

Stacy's been offering money guidance for 41 years: 10 as a financial advisor and 31 as a personal finance reporter. Miranda's been writing and podcasting about money since 2005. But they still learn more every day.

We hope you want to learn new things, too! And that's why we periodically answer YOUR questions: the ones you send in by emailing us at hello@moneytalksnews.com.

Today, we've got some great questions on topics ranging from retirement and annuities, I-bonds, real estate and the best time to buy a TV.

Subscribe to Money Talks News here to watch more videos: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/youtube-subscribe

Connect with us online: Like Money Talks News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytalksnews/ Follow Money Talks News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/moneytalksnews Sign up for the Money Talks Newsletter: https://signup.moneytalksnews.com/

About Money Talks News: Our goal is to help you reach your goals by telling stories that matter to you. Stories that offer specific advice on saving more, spending less, investing, and avoiding debt – without making your eyes glaze over.

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

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Episode 170 webpage with links.

Note: Episode 170 was recorded November 25th, 2020. Some details (such as pricing) may have changed since its recording. However, we felt the content is still relevant and useful to share with our listeners. 

Jeepers creepers, where'd you get those peepers? For that many of us, seeing requires glasses or contact lenses. However, these items aren't included in most insurance policies — unless you pay extra. So, many of us are stuck paying out of pocket. Today we're talking about how to get more for your money when you buy glasses or contact lenses.

Host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit, and producer Aaron Freeman.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 169 Website and Links.

We've been talking about the chances of a recession for months now. Thanks to rising rates choking company profits, some Wall Street firms currently have the odds of a recession sometime between now and the end of 2023 as high as 98%.

In a recent podcast episode, we discussed what to do with your savings and investments to prepare for a recession. But today we're going to look at the other side of the coin: How to profit from an economic downturn.

Podcast hosts: Stacy Johnson, financial journalist Miranda Marquit, producer Aaron Freeman, and this week's guest is a friend of the show, Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 168 webpage and links.

This episode we’re talking Turbocharging your retirement.

So let’s start with a question: Do you have enough in your retirement account? According to a recent report from Vanguard, the average American has around $140,000 saved for retirement. For those 65 and older, that average balance is about twice that, or $280,000.

Sounds like a lot, right? But for many people, even with Social Security, it’s not going to be enough.

So, let’s fix it. Let’s talk about how to create a plan to beef up those retirement savings.

I’m Stacy Johnson. As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman. This week’s guest is my personal hero and a legend in the personal finance world, Joe Saul-C-Hi from Stacking Benjamins.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 167 webpage with show links.

The Federal Reserve's been raising rates all year, and they've signaled they're not done yet.

Rising rates act as a break on the economy, slowing it down in order to tame rising prices, otherwise known as inflation.

But there's a problem with slowing the economy…slow it too much and it could start sliding into reverse; in other words, a recession: two or more consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

Many experts (and investors) are wondering if a recession is coming in 2023.

We're already dealing with rising rates and a roller-coaster stock market. But preparing for a potential recession is a whole other ball game.

In this week's podcast, we're going to talk about how to do it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is David Alison, CFP and president of C2P Enterprises.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 166 - Click here for webpage with links.

You may also love episode 160: How to Get Student Loan Forgiveness

Over the last 20 years, public college tuition has rocketed nearly 180%, according to the Education Data Initiative. And that doesn't include the cost of books, food, housing and other living expenses.

So it could cost your kids tens of thousands to get their degree. It could also mean starting adult life with debilitating debt.

Fortunately, there are workarounds to high costs and soul-sucking debt. And that's what we're going to talk about in today's podcast.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Brad Baldridge, one of the nation's leading college planning experts and the founder of the website Taming the High Cost of College.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your own research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 165 webpage and links.

What if you could live in your home while someone else pays the mortgage? That's the idea behind house hacking.

House hacking refers to living in a home or multi-unit while renting out part of it. Dedicated house hackers say it's a great way to lay a foundation for a real estate empire—one that can catapult you to financial freedom. But will it work for you? Let's find out.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week's guest is Robert Leonard, the author of The Everything Guide to House Hacking.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode webpage with links.

Kids are expensive! It costs $310,000 to raise a child from birth to age 17. At some point, the goal is for them to become financially independent and stop needing you for money.

And that's what we're talking about today. If you want to live your best financial life as an empty-nester and make sure your kids are ready to fly on their own, we're here to help.

Today Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit, producer Aaron Freeman, and our special guest is Bobbi Rebell, a financial journalist and author of the book Launching Financial Grownups.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 163 Webpage and Show Links

This episode we’re talking about ... happiness

So here’s the question: Can you put a price on happiness?

In 2010, Princeton research suggested that people’s day-to-day happiness tops out when they make $75,000.

More recent research, however, indicates that [there is no dollar value at which having more money doesn’t contribute to well-being](https://www.nysscpa.org/news/publications/nextgen/nextgen-article/study-finds-strong-relation-between-income-and-happiness-does-not-max-out-at-75k#:~:text=The new study says that,which point it tops out.). So, really, money can buy happiness. Especially if you use it well. Because the happiness you derive from money depends completely on what you spend it on.

I’m Stacy Johnson. As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. This week’s special guest is Jason Vitug, a former bank executive and financial wellness expert. His forthcoming book, Happy Money Happy Life, is due in early 2023.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

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Episode 162 Show Webpage and Show Links

Don't you wish you could go back in time and be one of the first investors in the Internet? You'd make a killing.

Well, you can't go back and invest in Web 1.0: That was just static web pages—read-only.

And you can't go back and invest in Web 2.0: That's what we have today, creating content and interacting with each other on sites like Facebook.

But what about Web 3.0? That's the latest version of the Internet, still on the drawing board, being built on blockchain technology.

Don't know what the heck I'm talking about? Then you're in the right place.

Because today we're talking about Web 3.0: what it is, how it works, and most important, how you can make money from it.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Robert Farrington, a Web3 expert and founder of digital asset education website Cult of Money.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcast webpage with show links 

The stock market is falling — and could even end up in a free fall. With rising inflation and worries about the stock market, where should you put your money?

This week, we're talking about how you can take advantage of a stock market crash. It's not all bad. You might even get some great deals!

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Jason Vitug, a former bank executive and financial wellness expert. His forthcoming book, Happy Money Happy Life, is due in early 2023.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is almost $1.75 trillion — that's TRILLION with a T — in outstanding student loan debt in the United States. People of all ages and walks of life are impacted by student loan debt. In fact, you might be surprised that 22% of that debt is owed by people 50 years and older. Well, no matter your age, student loan forgiveness is now on the table. The Biden Administration recently announced a program to forgive up to $20,000 in debt for borrowers. Today, we're going to talk about who qualifies for this student loan forgiveness program and what you need to do to claim your slice of the pie.

Episode 160: How to Get Student Loan Forgiveness - Webpage with Links.

What's in Biden's student loan forgiveness package?

You might be surprised to learn that Baby Boomers have a lot more student loan debt than you might think. No matter your age, you might be eligible for student loan forgiveness due to the recent move by the Biden Administration.

If you want to get rid of some of that debt, your first step is understanding what's in the student loan forgiveness package. Check out the fact sheet offered by the Biden Administration.

Steps for getting student loan forgiveness

If you're looking for forgiveness, our guest has the information, step by step. Some resources mentioned and steps to take include:

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This show's webpage with all the links.
Today's special guest is Chris Hutchins, founder of the podcast All the Hacks.

Other episodes you may love:
Ep 158: How to Make Better Financial Decisions Guest: J.D. Roth
Ep 153: 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Beat Inflation Guest: Farnoosh Torabi

You need to build an emergency fund, but you also want to go to Burning Man.

You need to save for retirement, but you also want a Corvette.

You need to buy a house, but you also want to go on a cruise.

At first glance, it seems like you can either do what you should do, or you can do what you want to do. But there's not enough time or money to do both.

Or is there? Today, we're going to talk about how you can tackle multiple financial goals and still not miss out on having some fun.

Hosts:
Stacy Johnson
Miranda Marquit
Aaron Freeman

Remember, should we mention specific investments, they’re never recommendations. Do your own research and make your own decisions. 

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MoneyTalksNews: The Podcast 158 Episode Page: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/how-to-make-better-financial-decisions/ 

Should you buy or lease your car? Where should you live? Is college worth it? Should you invest in stocks? If so, what kind? How much insurance do you need?

These are the kinds of decisions we're faced with every day. And the answers you choose can literally change your life.

And that's why today's topic is how to make better financial decisions. Because better decision-making results in a richer you.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is our producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is J.D. Roth, the dean of personal finance bloggers and the founder of the uber-popular website Get Rich Slowly.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcast Links and Show Downloads

If you appreciate what we do, do something for us: share this show with your friends and family on your favorite social platforms and subscribe to this podcast! It’ll take you 2 seconds, but it can really help us.

More Awesome Travel Shows
Ep 29: 5 Countries Where You Can Retire on $2,000 a Month or Less
Ep 137: 10 Tips to Travel Abroad on a Budget (for Weeks at a Time)

Have you tried to get away this summer? If so, you’ve noticed that travel prices are through the roof.

So, what can a frugal traveler do? That’s what we’re going to discuss today: getting the biggest bang for your travel buck.

I’m Stacy Johnson. As usual, my co-host will be financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is our producer, Aaron Freeman. And this week’s special guest is Lee Huffman, from BaldThoughts.com and the host of the podcast We Travel There.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Podcast Links and Show Downloads

According to the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey, 25.6 million people borrowed from friends and family this year, up from 19.1 million a year ago.

So here's the question: If a friend or family member came to you for money, would you give it to them?

It's been an issue for hundreds of years. Take this line from Shakespeare's Hamlet: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend."

And it's true. A Bankrate survey found that nearly half of those who lend to friends and family say it doesn't end well.

So, when you're approached or are about to approach, what's the right way to do it? That's what we're going to talk about today.

This week, Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Our special guest this week is Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, known as America's Money Coach.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social Security is important. It provides the majority of income to most retirees. According to The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, it provides at least 50 percent of total income for half of retirees and 90 percent for about a quarter of them.

Unfortunately, according to research, most people don't understand exactly how Social Security works. In fact, the average person overestimates their monthly benefits by $300 or more.

Navigating the Social Security Administration is no picnic. That's why we're going to answer some of your questions about Social Security in this podcast.

This week's guest is Devin Carroll, an advisor and the founder of the Social Security Intelligence blog.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Podcast 155 episode article with links.

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Inflation is as high as it's been for 40 years -- more than 9% -- and it's crushing budgets all over the world.

The stock market, one of the best ways to beat inflation over time, is struggling. So, what's a saver to do?

One great solution may also be one of the safest: I-bonds. The "I" stands for inflation, and they're called that because as inflation goes up, so does the interest on these US government bonds. Example? Right now they're paying 9.6%!

Sounds good, but what's the catch?

In the podcast, we're going to find out.

Co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is former financial advisor, bestselling author and financial educator Kevin Matthews from BuildingBread.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

MoneyTalksNews: The Podcast
CLICK HERE for more information and show links.

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The Federal Reserve Bank has a target for rising prices: They consider 2% per year to be the right amount. Ooops. The latest figure reflects an annual rate of more than 9%. That's the highest it's been in more than 40 years. And it's hurting people, especially those least able to afford it: the millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck.

So, let's talk about inflation. How bad it's going to get, how long it's going to last, and most important: Things we can do to fight back.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Farnoosh Torabi, editor at large for CNET Money and the host of the popular podcast So Money.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

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You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article. Or, you can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Just how bad is inflation?

Inflation is soaring. But where is it likely to hit you the most? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food, gas and utilities are some of the biggest offenders. But there's more inflation-related information you need to know.

How to beat inflation in different aspects of your life

Don't assume you have just sit down and take inflation. There are ways you can beat inflation in your personal life. Here are some ideas.

Meet this week's guest, Farnoosh Torabi

Farnoosh is an award-winning financial journalist, speaker, author and podcast host who has dedicated more than 20 years of her career to helping people live richer lives. Today she is Editor at Large of CNET Money and the host of the Webby-nominated podcast So Money. The podcast launched in 2015 and has earned over 20 million downloads. She is especially interested in discussing money in the context of gender, race, culture, psychology, entrepreneurship and climate change. Farnoosh is the author of several books including You're So Money, Psych Yourself Rich and When She Makes More. Her next book, called A Healthy State of Panic: Winning at Life When the World is Out to Get You (Spring 2023) has nothing -- and everything -- to do with money. Farnoosh holds a degree in finance from Penn State University and a master's in journalism from Columbia University. She lives on the East Coast with her husband and two young kids.

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You've probably heard that you should buy a used car instead of a new one. But used car prices surged 27% from early 2021 to early 2022. Does that advice really make sense for everyone?

We hear a lot about what the "experts" recommend, but does it make sense for YOU? Today we'll take a look at some of the most "commonsense" financial advice and talk about whether we think it's a good idea.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, never take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

»»» Podcast Article with Links«««

You can watch this episode below, or if you'd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article. Or, you can download the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

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According to one recent survey, only 4% of Americans have $1 million or more in retirement savings, which means 96% of us don't.

Of course, depending on your situation, a million bucks may be overkill: Many people could fund their retirement years for a lot less. Still, it's a nice round number, and one worth shooting for.

Obviously, however, that's a lot of money. Is it even possible to get there? In a word, yes. And that's what we're going to talk about today: building a million-dollar nest egg, and just as important: How to figure out what you're actually going to need.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. This week's special guest is Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

Is $1 million enough to retire on?

It sounds like a lot of money, but is $1 million enough to retire on? What you really need to do is figure out how big your nest egg should be and go from there. Whether $1 million is enough depends on your own situation and requirements.

Tips for building a $1 million nest egg

Ready to build your wealth? We talk about ways you can get to that elusive $1 million mark in your nest egg.

Links:

Meet this week's guest, Roger Whitney

Roger has been walking life with clients as a financial advisor for more than 25 years and is the host of the award-winning Retirement Answer Man® podcast. He is on a mission to change the way the world thinks about retirement, one little conversation at a time.

Roger established Rock Retirement Club in 2018 to help foster a safe online space for soon-to be retirees to learn, plan, and interact with other like-minded folks on the path to retirement. As if that's not enough to keep him busy, he is the author of Rock Retirement: A Simple Guide to Help You Take Control and Be More Optimistic About the Future, a Forbes online contributor, creator of the Agile Financial Planning process, and past instructor of the Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits CFP® certificate program at the University of Texas Arlington and of Wealth Management at Texas Christian University.

Investopedia has named him to the Top 100 Most Influential Advisors 2017-2021, and he has brought home Plutus Awards for Best Financial Planner Blog (2019) and Best Retirement Blog (2015 and 2017).

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Even with talk of a cooling housing market, prices are still high, and inventory is still low. If you're looking for a good deal, what are you supposed to do? This week we're going to talk about how to find a great real estate deal no matter the market.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Mindy Jensen from the real estate investing and education website Bigger Pockets.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Don't forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

What's going on in the housing market?

Things might be slowing down a bit, but the housing market is still red-hot in some areas. Where is the housing market overheated, and where is it likely to maintain its value?

Tips for finding a good deal on a home

Mindy thinks that it's possible to find good deals no matter what the housing market looks like. Get to know your local real estate market and start deal hunting if that's what you're interested in.

Meet this week's guests, Mindy Jensen

Mindy Jensen is a licensed agent in Colorado, and has been buying and selling houses for more than 20 years. She's the Community Manager for BiggerPockets.com, and the host of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast.

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

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When the stock market declines by 20% from its highs, it's called a bear market. And boy, are we in one. In fact, this is the worst first half of the year stocks have suffered in 52 years. Nixon was in the White House the last time stocks fell this much from January to June.

How did we get here, and what can we look forward to next? That's what we're talking about this week.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today our special guests are John Schneider and David Auten from the Debt Free Guys.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your own research, and make your own decisions.

Podcast Article:
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/5-things-you-need-to-know-about-this-horrible-stock-market/

What's the deal with this bear market?

We're in a bear market. What does that mean? Well, it means that a stock index you're following is down 20% from its recent high. So how did we get here and why are stocks doing so poorly?

Should you invest during a down market?

It's a scary time to invest, but does that mean you shouldn't? We share our current investment strategies and talk about how you can make the most of a bear market.

Meet this week's guests, The Debt Free Guys

David & John Auten-Schneider are the Debt Free Guys and hosts of the Queer Money podcast. They enjoy helping their community live fabulously not fabulously broke.

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We get lots of questions from our podcast listeners and newsletter readers, so we thought it might be fun to answer as many as we can in this special edition of our podcast.

Today Stacy Johnson, financial journalist Miranda Marquit, and producer Aaron Freeman, are going to answer your questions about paying off your mortgage early, estate planning, paying down credit card debt, getting those robocalls to stop and more.

About the hosts

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. He's a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. She's been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Links:

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With prices for flights, hotels and other travel expenses going through the roof, there's never been a better time to learn about travel hacking with credit card points. But how does it work? Can the average person get in on the action without making it a second job?

Whether it's free travel, free stuff, or simply cash back, what you need is a simple system to make the most of your credit cards and reap solid rewards from everyday spending.

And that's what today's podcast is about.

Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman to share our personal credit card strategies. (Stacy is sitting on more than a million points!) Adding some expertise to the discussion is our special guest, Nick Ewen, Director of Content for The Points Guy.

What you need to know about credit card rewards

First, what rewards can you expect when you use your credit card? From merchandise to travel points to cash back, we take a look at what's available to you — no matter your style.

Tips for maximizing credit card rewards

Make the most of your credit cards by maximizing rewards. We have some great tips that will help you get more for each swipe.

Our Guest, Nick Ewen

As Director of Content, Nick Ewen works on a variety of initiatives to help you travel as much as possible for as little money out-of-pocket as possible — including credit cards, loyalty programs, airlines and general travel. He joined TPG as one of the site's first contributors in 2012 before moving to a full-time role on the editorial team in March 2018. Nick has been featured in prominent outlets such as The New York Times,  Good Morning America, and has a profile piece on CNBC Grow.

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Owning a home is still the American Dream for many. But few can make it happen without borrowing, since not many of us have hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting around.

Once you have that home loan, should you pay it off early? This week, we're going to dive into that debate, as well as offering some tips to pay murder that mortgage as fast as possible.

As usual, co-hosts Stacy Johnson and Miranda Marquit are joined by producer Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Andy Hill, founder of the website Marriage, Kids and Money.

Meet this week's guest, Andy Hill

Andy Hill is the award-winning family finance coach behind Marriage Kids and Money - a platform dedicated to helping young families build wealth and happiness.

Andy's advice and personal finance experience have been featured in major media outlets like CNBC, Forbes, MarketWatch, Kiplinger's Personal Finance and NBC News. With millions of podcast downloads and video views, Andy's message of family financial empowerment has resonated with listeners, readers and viewers across the world.

When he's not "talking money", Andy enjoys watching his kids play soccer, singing karaoke with his wife and watching Marvel movies.

Tips for paying off your mortgage early

What are the benefits of paying off your mortgage early?

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There's an old investing joke that goes like this: How do you make a million dollars on Wall Street? Start with two million.

And lately, that's no joke. As of late May, the S&P 500 is down 17% this year, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ is down 27%. One of the worst starts to the year in decades.

But if the way to make money is to buy low and sell high, maybe this is the time to get in. As investing legend Warren Buffet is fond of saying, be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.

People are scared to death these days, so is it time to start buying? Or should you wait to see if things fall even further?

Let's see if we can figure that out today.

Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman.

Why is the market so choppy?

The stock market has been a bit of a mess lately. Down big one day and up the next. However, on the year, the Dow and the S&P 500 are getting close to bear market territory and the Nasdaq has dipped into bear market territory. We take a look at what all this means.

What to do during a bear market

Market falling? What do you do next? We take a look at how we're managing our finances during this time as well as some steps you can take to make sure you come out of this with your finances intact.

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Every year, people spend nearly $200 billion on video games: that's more than sports and movies combined.

Clearly, we're into having fun and playing games. But here's a question: What if we take games out of the fantasy world and put them in the real one? What if we could make doing things like managing our money more of a game and less of a chore? In short, what if we could make money management fun?

That's what we're going to talk about today. Stacy Johnson and financial journalist Miranda Marquit are joined by producer and novice investor Aaron Freeman. Today's special guest is Emily Guy Birken, co-author of Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management and End Financial Stress Now. She's going to take us through what we need to know about making money fun.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about specific investments on this show, don't take them as recommendations because they're not. Before investing in anything, do your research, and make your own decisions.

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.

Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and  The Washington Post online.

She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial  Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money  Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.

Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.

How to make money management more fun

If you're hoping to get on top of your budget — or at least put together a spending plan, we've got tips for you in the second part of our podcast episode. We talk about what makes it fun. Or at least how to trick yourself into thinking it's fun.

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We hear a lot about how your portfolio should have both stocks and bonds — because they typically move opposite to each other. The theory is that when stocks go down, bonds should protect your principal. The problem? Every once in a great while, stocks and bonds both tank. For example, this year, 2022. As of May 10, the S&P 500 is down 16%. At the same time, rising rates have crushed bonds, with some down 20% or more.

So, what the heck are you supposed to do when there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide? Let's find out.

Stacy Johnson, financial journalist Miranda Marquit and producer  Aaron Freeman to talk about what's going on in the stock and bond markets, what's ahead and what you should be doing.

This week's special guest is David Stein, a former institutional fund manager and the author of Money For the Rest of Us.

How to invest when the stock market is down.

Meet this week's guest, David Stein.

David Stein is the founder of the Money For the Rest of Us investment education platform. Since 2014, he has hosted the Money For the Rest of Us investing podcast and led the Money for the Rest of Us Plus membership community. David's podcast reaches more than 40,000 listeners per episode and has close to 20 million downloads. He is the author of Money for the Rest of Us: 10 Questions to Master Successful Investing, which was published by McGraw-Hill. Previously, David was an institutional investment advisor and asset manager. He was a managing partner at Fund Evaluation Group, LLC, a $19 billion investment advisory firm. At FEG, David served as Chief Investment Strategist and Chief Portfolio Strategist.

Retire on your own terms with help from this course.

The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need gives you the knowledge you need to retire on your own terms. Sure, you can pay a financial adviser, but this online course gives you total control to create a customized retirement plan around the things that matter to you — without the fees you can expect from financial firms and advisers.

You'll get expert, personalized advice. You'll have access to the latest tools. You'll have ongoing support. And when you've completed the course, you'll be ready to approach your retirement with confidence and with peace of mind.

It's time to plan the best years of your life. Let's get started.

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

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In many markets, home prices are through the roof.

In 2020, just two years ago, the average price of an American home was about 375,000. Today? $500,000. And with rates rising, affordability is becoming a real issue. So here's the question: Do we buy now before prices go even higher? Or do we wait and see if prices and mortgage rates drop? Today, we're going to try to answer that question.

Stacy Johnson, CPA, financial journalist Miranda Marquit and novice investor Aaron Freeman to talk about what’s going on with housing and whether now is the time to buy.

Our special guest this week is Mindy Jensen from real estate website and podcast, Bigger Pockets.

Links:

Retire on your own terms with help from this course

The Only Retirement Guide You'll Ever Need gives you the knowledge you need to retire on your own terms. Sure, you can pay a financial adviser, but this online course gives you total control to create a customized retirement plan around the things that matter to you — without the fees you can expect from financial firms and advisers.

You'll get expert, personalized advice. You'll have access to the latest tools. You'll have ongoing support. And when you've completed the course, you'll be ready to approach your retirement with confidence and with peace of mind.

It's time to plan the best years of your life. Let's get started.

Become a member: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/members/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.