Afford Anything

Michael Hingson, blind since shortly after birth, was on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. With his guide dog Roselle, he descended 1,463 steps, escaping just before the South Tower collapsed, then helped a woman temporarily blinded by dust. In this conversation, he shares a practical mindset for navigating crisis: prepare before you need it, distinguish what you know from what you don't, stop mentally rehearsing uncontrollable outcomes, and keep acting on what remains within your control. He also discusses how the experience reshaped his mission to challenge perceptions of blindness.

Paula Pant and Joe Saul-Sehy answer three listener questions in this Q&A episode. The first is from a listener with $686,000 saved and a job she loves who is weighing a family gap year. They also work through whether a dad should stop maxing his IRA to pay off his mortgage, and how a longtime listener can save for college more effectively. The conversation covers job satisfaction, retirement framing, mortgage structure, and the psychology of saving.

Paula Pant reports on rescued workers in Nepal and breaks down conflicting signals in the US economy: a strong August jobs report contrasted with sliding stock markets. The deeper focus is on the bond market, where rising Treasury yields driven by inflation expectations and a controversial buyback program reveal hidden risks and liquidity concerns that affect everyone's portfolio.

Paula Pant opens with a personal reflection on the flash flooding in Nepal, highlighting the human resilience and community bonds among Nepalese people, as well as the economic vulnerabilities from poor infrastructure. The bulk of the episode is a Q&A tackling two retirement questions: when to shift from maxing out a 401k to building a taxable brokerage for early retirement flexibility, and whether a guaranteed-income annuity is suitable for a retiree who struggles with money management. A caller's situation with her mother's $80,000 windfall leads to a surprising endorsement of annuities for a specific profile. The episode also shares a daily habit trick from a choreographer and the importance of focusing on process over outcomes.

Sahil Bloom, author of The 5 Types of Wealth, shares how a friend's stark calculation—you'll see your parents only 15 more times if they live to 80—prompted him to quit his venture capital job, sell his house, and move across the country to be near family. He outlines his framework of five types of wealth (financial, time, social, mental, physical) and argues that we measure only financial wealth daily while the others run unmeasured. He offers exercises: an energy calendar to track what charges and drains you, mapping relationships by health and frequency, defining 'enough' in dollars, and anti-goals. He also discusses Memento Mori and the idea that life runs in seasons, with some stretches for financial growth and others for family.

Historian Joseph Moore explains that almost everything we're told about money is newer and less permanent than we think. He shares his own experiment turning a small crypto investment into a paper billion-dollar valuation to illustrate how money and value are constructed. The conversation covers how historical financial advice—like 'never save your money'—made perfect sense in its era, why bonds quietly outperformed stocks throughout the 1800s, and how recognizing patterns in the ever-changing rules of money is the real key to building wealth.

Luke Burgis, author of Wanting and The One and the Ninety-Nine, explores the hidden cost of frictionless community. He argues that easy belonging can weaken your sense of self, making it harder to form genuine convictions. The conversation covers why cutting people off has become the default response to conflict, a zero-tolerance workplace rule for passive-aggressiveness, and a framework for deciding who to trust. The episode examines how inherited beliefs shape identity and what an existential crisis taught Burgis about building a life that holds together under pressure.

Paula Pant and co-host Joe Saul-Sehy answer three listener questions: hiring an accountant when your tax situation gets messy, deciding whether to pay off a mortgage or retire early after hitting your FI number, and why one half of the show won't recommend risk parity investing. They break down the differences between CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys, and discuss how to vet a tax pro. The episode also tackles the 'one more year' trap — working beyond financial independence out of fear — and contrasts four well-known investing philosophies from JL Collins, Paul Merriman, Frank Vasquez, and Karsten Jeske.

Jack Raines, a writer and investor at Slow Ventures and author of Young Money: A Field Guide to Wealth and Purpose in Your Twenties, joins the show to talk about how to think about money and time in your twenties. He discusses why golden handcuffs are usually a choice, how to tell whether you're staying in a job for the right reasons or out of fear, and why the same decision can be right at 24 and wrong at 34. The conversation covers comparison, apathy, the $6,000-to-$400,000 stock bubble trade he gave much of back, and why hitting a financial number rarely feels like the finish line people expect.

Paula and Joe answer listener mailbag questions about early retirement, side hustle strategy, and tax pitfalls. Topics include building a cash cushion to support an aggressive portfolio, the real signals that a retirement plan is veering off track, and a wedding-dress side hustle that earned $5,500 in a single day. They also tackle tax traps: why gifting a winning stock to your kids usually backfires, when to pay taxes to raise your cost basis, and a hidden surtax that kicks in above $250,000 of income.

In this First Friday economic roundup, Paula Pant unpacks a confusing jobs report that showed both job losses and a falling unemployment rate. She explains the bond market, why yields are at a two-decade high, and why she personally bought a Treasury bond for the first time. The episode also covers the latest on mortgage rates, the regional housing market split, gold's rebound, and a new government-seeded kids' investment account. Throughout, Paula provides practical context for everyday investors trying to make sense of conflicting economic signals.

Dr. Eric Cole, a former CIA hacker and cybersecurity commissioner, breaks down the most common scams and the simple fixes that protect against them. He shares how a couple lost $1.2 million at a real estate closing because hackers waited three months for the right wire, and why phishing, AI voice cloning, and lax app permissions put everyone at risk. The conversation covers practical steps like enabling two-factor authentication, setting up bank alerts, and why experts sometimes recommend paying ransoms. It’s a clear-eyed guide to closing the security gaps most people ignore.

Beth Kobliner, a personal finance journalist with decades of experience, details the unprecedented financial challenges facing young adults today: higher unemployment among college grads, delayed homeownership, the hidden spending costs of digital payments, and the dangerous belief that gambling equals investing. She argues that despite these headwinds, the fundamentals still work: low-cost index funds, disciplined saving, and ignoring the temptation of get-rich-quick schemes. The episode is a call to embrace the 'boring, unglamorous plan.'

Paula Pant and Joe Saul-Sehy answer three listener questions: a professor planning retirement alongside his daughter's college, a bride debating a $60,000 wedding, and a Luxembourg couple considering a 1.2% fee to enforce savings discipline. The common thread is the tension between mathematical optimality and personal happiness. They discuss the true cost of big purchases when factoring compound growth, the need for flexible assumptions like the 7% return rule of thumb, and when paying a fee can act as a behavioral guardrail. The episode helps listeners weigh what they want against what they could have later.

Cody Berman failed at more than 30 side hustles—from a disc golf manufacturing company to biking Uber Eats in the Australian heat—before three of them got him to financial independence at 25. He contrasts the nest-egg approach to FI with cash-flow strategies, shares a four-type framework for any side hustle, and explains why the gap between earning and spending matters more than investment returns. The conversation covers how to calculate real rental cash flow, how skills from failed hustles become 'future currency,' and why AI tools make those who execute even stronger.

Paula Pant and co-host Joe answer listener questions about the U.S. housing shortage, whether it's real or a result of wealthy individuals buying multiple homes. They explore data on building permits versus new jobs and the acute starter-home shortage, plus a simple add-on unit strategy to increase rental income. The second half covers personal finance optimization: how to allocate investments across Roth, 401(k), and taxable accounts, the flexibility of 30-year vs 15-year mortgages, and the decision to pay off a mortgage early versus investing extra cash.

Paula Pant interviews David Bell, a former Wharton professor turned venture capitalist, about the inner workings of venture capital funds. Bell explains the standard 2% management fee and 20% carry structure, and how it allows fund managers to collect fees years before investors see any returns. He discusses the surprisingly low barriers to investing in private deals, red flags to watch for in eager fund managers, and the critical questions to ask before committing capital. Bell also reflects on how taking outside money can fundamentally alter a founder's priorities, steering them toward growth-at-all-costs rather than sustainable profitability. The conversation provides a transparent look at an industry often shrouded in mystique.

David Bell, former Wharton marketing professor and early investor in Warby Parker, explains why your zip code has a hidden influence on your spending habits. He introduces the 'preference minority' concept—the idea that local retailers stock for the average customer, leaving a minority underserved and ready to buy online. The conversation covers Warby Parker's origin story, how a failed meal-kit startup revealed demand patterns, and the transformation of hand sanitizer into a status symbol. Bell also discusses how AI is making market research accessible to any entrepreneur.

Lorraine Marchand, author and Wharton professor, shares insights from interviewing 120 CEOs on what really makes teams innovate. She presents a hiring hack using team breakfasts, a three-question test for toxic culture, and a weekly 30-minute habit that builds team strength. The episode also covers new research on how AI use could be hurting memory and critical thinking, practical advice for navigating AI displacement, and where the next wave of entrepreneurial opportunity lies. It's a dense, actionable hour for anyone managing a career or a team.

Paula Pant answers listener questions on financial independence, real estate strategy, and inheritance fairness. Jax wonders if he and his wife have reached Coast FI with $1.5 million, and how to align money with values. Megan, a realtor, debates flipping houses versus building a rental portfolio versus index funds while planning more travel. Reema seeks advice on how to fairly split the family home inheritance with her siblings. Paula provides frameworks for each situation.

The host analyzes the June jobs report showing only 57,000 jobs added against a 115,000 forecast, and new inflation data with the PCE index hitting a three-year high of 4.1%. This creates a classic Fed dilemma, currently expected to keep rates frozen at the September meeting. The episode also examines new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's unconventional 132-word first statement, which scrapped forward guidance and omitted the maximum employment mandate. Global central banks are hiking rates in contrast, and the second half explores the NYC rent freeze policy and its winners and losers.

This Q&A episode tackles three listener situations: a wealthy individual paralyzed by an $850,000 inheritance; a federal law enforcement officer who challenges the show's previous advice about mandatory retirement, arguing the minimum age is the real trap; and a pregnant, recently promoted caller seeking to negotiate part-time work after maternity leave. Paula Pant and co-host Joe Saul-Sehy offer frameworks for windfall paralysis, surviving the final stretch of a career you no longer love, and timing a high-stakes work-life conversation.

Dr. Julia Garcia, psychologist and author of The Five Habits of Hope, explains how hope is a cognitive process rather than an emotion, and how cultivating specific habits like risk-taking and receiving can rewire your financial behavior. She discusses why apathy is more dangerous than despair, and how avoiding feelings leads to financial avoidance. The episode also covers techniques like the 'maybe' method for interrupting negative thought loops and the importance of self-worth in building wealth.

Paula Pant takes a deep dive into two listener questions. An anonymous caller with $884,000 saved in retirement accounts is grappling with health issues, caregiving responsibilities, and life changes that make her question whether the tax benefits of those accounts are worth the loss of flexibility. A second caller was blindsided by a $15,000 HOA special assessment with little time to pay, prompting a discussion on the hidden risks of HOA ownership and what prospective buyers should know.

Most people assume financial advisors are legally bound to put client interests first. Andrea Baumann Lustig explains why that's not always true, covering advisor registration types, the 'quarterback' problem of fragmented advice, the risks of multiple advisors, and why everyone should consider a revocable trust. The episode unpacks practical blind spots in legacy planning that quietly undermine families' financial futures.

Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill and innovation consultant Jason Wild discuss how organizations can truly innovate. They outline three essential leadership roles: Architect, Bridger, and Catalyst, and explain why co-creation beats consensus. They introduce the concept of creative abrasion — debating ideas rather than avoiding conflict — and offer tactics for driving change from within. They also highlight that in an AI-driven world, building trust and relationships remains uniquely human.

Nick Maggiulli, author of The Wealth Ladder, explains why money strategies must change as your net worth grows. He outlines six levels, from the precarity of having less than $10,000 to the freedoms unlocked at each stage. The episode covers the income data behind each level, the role of homeownership and stocks, and why many choose Coast FIRE before reaching the highest tiers.

In this listener Q&A episode, Paula Pant tackles three financial dilemmas. Caitlin has a side hustle earning $600 a month but faces tension between daycare costs and long-term retirement goals. An anonymous caller, despite having a pension, solid investments, and a high savings rate, can’t stop checking accounts and rerunning projections—they’re objectively secure but emotionally unsettled. Charlotte returns years after her original episode to reflect on buying, renovating, and selling two Airbnb properties, forced by a hurricane to confront lessons about risk, hype, and emotional investing.

Paula Pant breaks down the latest economic signals: May jobs came in stronger than expected, Treasury yields climbed on inflation fears, home prices are falling nationally with a sharp correction in Austin, energy costs are squeezing budgets, consumer sentiment has weakened, the Magnificent Seven tech stocks are losing dominance, prescription drug prices are dropping, and SpaceX is preparing an IPO. She discusses what all this means for the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates.

Three listener questions highlight the emotional difficulty of following mathematically optimal financial decisions. Rebecca wonders if the Rule of 72 means she can ease up on retirement contributions despite multiple debts and college savings. Kate struggles with selling a low-interest rental property to pay down a much larger 7% mortgage, unable to part with the "golden" loan. Emily, approaching early retirement after a strong bull run, finds it increasingly hard to trust that he truly has enough. The episode explores the friction between cold math and the real emotional weight of big money choices.

Most of us spend 93 percent of our time indoors, leading to chronic disease, burnout, insomnia, and cognitive decline. Dr. John La Puma explains the biological mechanisms behind this indoor epidemic, including circadian disruption and what he calls 'digital obesity'—too many pixels overworking the brain. The minimum effective dose of outdoor time is just two hours per week in a green or blue space. Practical strategies like 10 minutes of morning light before screen time and understanding light dosage can improve sleep, focus, and well-being. The episode concludes that health and productivity aren't in conflict: better sleep and outdoor exposure make work more effective.

Paula Pant answers three listener questions about financial independence. Les is close to FI but hasn't figured out how to continue charitable giving without a paycheck. Jaime worries he's overcomplicating his retirement accounts and Roth conversions. Tina has owned a rental property near UCF for over a decade but now faces increased competition from corporate landlords. Paula helps each caller reframe their situation and think through next steps.

Clare Flynn Levy, a former hedge fund manager, draws on her experience during the 2007 financial crisis to explain common investor behaviors. She discusses two specific biases—sunk cost fallacy and the endowment effect—and shares a personal story about moving her kids' college funds after the 2024 election and later reviewing her thesis. Clare introduces five investor archetypes when things go wrong: Connoisseurs, Raiders, Rabbits, Hunters, and Assassins, with most people defaulting to rabbit-like paralysis or impulsive buying. She offers a practical rule: don't let any single position drag your portfolio down more than 1% before reassessing, and advises writing down your reasoning before every major move so you can evaluate decisions objectively later.

In this Q&A episode, host Paula Pant tackles three listener scenarios at the intersection of money and life design. Karen has inherited sizable trusts for her children and is navigating investing, taxes, legacy planning, and financial aid eligibility. Matt, a long-time index fund investor nearing retirement, wrestles with when portfolio optimization becomes unproductive overthinking. Kate must decide whether to invest $35,000 in the stock market or build a backyard gym that could generate income while improving her family’s daily quality of life.

Haley Sacks, known online as Mrs. Dow Jones, shares how she overcame financial anxiety and dependence despite a privileged upbringing. She explains that money beliefs are formed by age seven, even when parents don't discuss finances, as she absorbed the lesson that 'money comes from outside yourself.' Her IBIZA framework walks through identifying early money memories, interrupting patterns, shifting mindset, and taking small actions. She also discusses the concept of financial energy — the finite mental bandwidth for money decisions — and the trap of spending it on minor savings while neglecting wealth-building moves. Learned financial helplessness holds many back, but simply pushing against it puts you ahead.

Paula Pant answers listener questions on real estate and retirement: Melissa considers selling one rental to pay off another, weighing simplicity and stability against future appreciation. Von wants to understand whether cap rates capture the full picture for multifamily returns or if deeper factors matter more. Layla questions if she's too heavily invested in Roth accounts for an early retirement at age 50 and whether she should shift to a taxable brokerage. The discussion explores the tradeoffs, assumptions, and both mathematical and psychological dimensions of each decision.

Paula Pant breaks down the April 2026 jobs report, which was delayed by a week. While 115,000 jobs were added, the gains mask deep cracks: the tech sector continues to shed workers, part-time underemployment surged, and consumer confidence sank to a 74-year low. She also examines a frozen housing market where rising inventory and longer selling times are shifting power toward buyers. This solo episode connects the dots between employment data, sentiment, and the real economy.

Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista) recounts her journey from $300K in debt and foreclosure to generating over $50M in gross revenue. She discusses 'post-traumatic broke syndrome'—how a scarcity mindset persists even after financial recovery, leading to irrational decisions like refusing to enjoy wealth while over-giving to others. The episode explores financial shame as a barrier that blocks access to knowledge you already have, and the simple power of speaking it aloud. Aliche also covers people-pleasing as an under-discussed form of financial self-sabotage, the disconnect between paper wealth and lived experience, and a practical exercise to assess whether you already have enough to fund the life you want.

Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder, breaks down the growing midterm rental market—furnished units rented for 30 days or longer. He explains how the crackdown on short-term rentals is redirecting supply into this space, fueled by traveling healthcare professionals, corporate workers, and relocating families. Hurst shares practical advice on furnishing costs, market research, and the surprisingly light regulatory touch, while identifying mid-sized cities with data center and healthcare growth as prime investment targets.

New York Times columnist Ron Lieber joins the show to discuss the changing value of a college degree, especially computer science, and how families should think about borrowing for education. He explains how to use the federal College Scorecard to research earnings by school and major, why the most alarming student loan stories usually involve graduate rather than undergraduate debt, and the case that liberal arts graduates tend to catch up to their STEM peers by mid-career. The conversation also covers the often-overlooked non-monetary returns of college (alumni networks, mentorship, friendships) and practical advice for navigating community college transfer paths and the Parent PLUS loan trap.

Paula Pant answers three listener questions about balancing financial optimization with real-life tradeoffs. Mike, 60, wants to retire with $1 million and spend it all during his lifetime using the Die with Zero philosophy. Kip faced burnout but found renewed satisfaction in a new internal role and now considers real estate syndications. Jessie and their spouse, five years from early retirement, weigh the next savings dollar between Roth IRAs and taxable accounts.

Paula Pant interviews Keith Wargo, CEO of Autism Speaks, about the overlooked financial realities of raising a child with a developmental disability. They cover the staggering lifetime costs—$1.4 to $2.4 million—and why many families delay planning because daily caregiving consumes all their attention. Wargo explains how federal benefits like Medicaid and SSI work, the critical "$2,000 asset limit" that can be tripped by a well-intentioned gift, and the essential tools for preserving eligibility: special needs trusts, second-to-die insurance, and ABLE accounts. The conversation also addresses trustee succession and the importance of involving siblings early. It's a practical, detail-rich guide for families who need to protect their loved one's future without accidentally disqualifying them from public support.

#709: Keith Wargo has spent decades navigating one of the most daunting financial planning challenges a family can face: raising a child with a developmental disability. He joins us to share what families need to know. The financial stakes are significant.

#708: What’s the smartest way to handle big financial transitions—when the stakes are high and the “right” answer isn’t always obvious?

Host Paula Pant answers listener questions on three financial transitions: helping a 73-year-old mother relocate and manage housing proceeds for security and inflation, handling quarterly estimated taxes on investment income without relying on safe harbor rules, and a returning caller Luz’s job change involving 401(k) decisions, Roth accounts, an HSA, and debt management. The episode explores trade-offs between housing security and liquidity, tax planning flexibility, and holistic financial strategy amidst career shifts.

#707: Joe and I traveled to the campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana for a very special live recording. We were joined by Jay Davis, the Executive Director of Financial and Entrepreneurship Engagement, to answer questions from an incredible audience of students.

Paula Pant and co-host Joe Saul-Sehy record a live Q&A on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus, joined by Jay Davis, the university's Executive Director of Financial and Entrepreneurship Engagement. An audience of students asks raw, practical questions about navigating the tradeoffs between passion, a paycheck, and peace of mind in their 20s, preventing lifestyle creep, balancing present enjoyment with long-term responsibility, and building financial stability early. The hosts deliver a set of actionable frameworks drawn from behavioral design and self-determination theory, emphasizing curiosity over passion, automation to defeat lifestyle inflation, and building a 'bravery fund' through marketable skills and a cash cushion.

This Q&A episode addresses three real-life financial dilemmas. KJ has $90,000 in student loans and an inheritance, and must decide between paying off debt or keeping cash amid changing repayment policies. A listener near retirement with $1.9 million saved explores whether part-time work can buffer against sequence of returns risk. Finally, a retiree who bought a second home to be near family and rent it part-time seeks guidance on tax and structural considerations.

#706: When the numbers look straightforward—but the rules, timing, and future are uncertain—how do you decide what to do next?

Jon McNeill, former Tesla President and Lyft COO, shares frameworks for building and scaling companies. He recounts turning a personal worry about his son’s texting into the insurtech startup TruMotion. McNeill explains how his team slashed a 12‑page car loan document to a few sentences by questioning assumptions, how faster decision‑making compounds advantage, and how fixing a pipeline bottleneck unlocked thousands of missed Tesla sales. He also discusses negotiating at scale with Chinese officials and his core playbook: simplify, identify the constraint, and move quickly.

#705: Jon McNeill, former president of Tesla and COO of Lyft, starts with a simple problem: his teenage son is about to start driving, and he’s worried about texting behind the wheel. Instead of setting rules, he builds a solution.

Host Paula Pant takes three financial questions from listeners. Brigham and his wife wonder if they can buy a $500,000 home and still support a stay-at-home parent. JVR asks how to balance high-interest credit card debt, student loans, and a large cash reserve while planning for a future home purchase in the Bay Area. Elizabeth returns from Episode 611 with an update and a follow-up question on how to approach real estate investing over the next five years when she’s unsure where she’ll ultimately settle.

#704: How do you make smart financial decisions when you’re balancing debt, investing, and big life changes … all at the same time? Today, Brigham and his wife, ages 25 and 23, wonder: can they buy a $500,000 home AND still support a stay-at-home parent?

Paula Pant breaks down the April jobs report, which beat expectations with 178,000 new jobs and unemployment dropping to 4.3 percent, while other labor data suggests a slower hiring environment. She explains the latest Fed decision, why mortgage rates remain high despite rate cuts, and what a spike in oil and gas prices means for inflation and consumers. She also discusses market volatility, a proposed expansion of 401(k) investment options, the end of the SAVE student loan plan, and recent news involving Vicki Robin that has roiled the FIRE community.

#703: April’s jobs report comes in much stronger than expected, with 178,000 jobs added and unemployment ticking down to 4.3 percent.

#702: Olivia is saving for a specific three-year goal and wants to know whether a money market fund is the right place to store that cash, or if a traditional savings account would be safer.

Paula Pant answers three listener questions: Olivia is saving for a three-year goal and weighing a money market fund against a savings account. Robert is planning early retirement and unsure whether to prioritize taxable investments or growing Roth accounts. A social worker with nearly 30 years of experience wants to launch an adult day center in a rural area underserved for disabled adults, and is deciding between a nonprofit or for-profit structure.

Jamie Hopkins, a certified financial planner and professor of taxation, argues that fixating on a retirement savings target is misguided; what matters is income relative to a lifestyle that shifts over time. He highlights sequence of returns risk as the biggest threat to a retirement portfolio, noting the 4% rule is only safe in certain historical periods. The conversation covers often-overlooked dangers like silver divorce and elder financial abuse—including AI voice cloning scams—and ends with Hopkins’s most crucial retirement element: intentionally rebuilding community.

#701: Forget the idea that you need a magic number to retire.

Paula Pant answers three listener questions. Melanie, who is close to financial independence, weighs a $30,000 promotion that comes with added stress. Ami wants to learn options trading without falling for expensive courses. Ben, who called in six years ago with four rental units, now has sixteen and is deciding on the next growth step.

#700: Today we’re tackling three different financial questions from our listeners. First, we’ll hear from Melanie, who is deciding whether to pursue a promotion that would increase her salary by $30,000 but may add more stress, even though she’s already close to financial independence.

#699: You've probably heard that mindset matters. But what does that actually mean, and is there science behind it? Nir Eyal, author of Beyond Belief, joins us to break down the research.

Nir Eyal, author of Beyond Belief, joins Paula Pant to discuss how beliefs shape reality. Eyal argues that all motivation is the desire to escape discomfort, reframing money and time management as pain management. He explains why visualization often backfires, introduces mental contrasting as a more effective technique, and walks through a four-question exercise from Byron Katie's The Work to examine limiting beliefs. The conversation also covers how to decide when to quit versus persist, and how to prioritize financial decisions when the math doesn't provide a clear answer.

#698: We explore financial decision-making at different stages of life: A high-earning federal couple debates whether to pause retirement contributions to accelerate a $200,000 down payment.A part-time healthcare provider seeks clarity on balancing a 401k and a traditional IRA.And a longtime listene

Paula Pant and Joe Saul-Sehy answer listener questions about financial trade-offs: a couple deciding whether to pause retirement contributions to save for a larger home, a part-time worker balancing 401(k) and IRA contributions, and a listener's personal request for the hosts to reflect on their own unresolved financial uncertainties.

#697: Most people regret the things they never tried. Venture capitalist Bill Gurley says that pattern shows up again and again in research on end-of-life regrets — including regret about the careers people never pursued.

#696: (01:50) Jeremy has been a careful budgeter for years, but a surprise car repair has him tapping his emergency fund. With rates falling, he’s wondering if cash is enough or if he should try bonds or a CD ladder to keep up with inflation.

#695: The U.S. lost 92,000 jobs in February, pushing unemployment to 4.4 percent.That result contradicts a different report released two days earlier showing 63,000 jobs added, leaving economists trying to square the circle.

#694: There are about 90 million unique job titles in the U.S. labor market. Ninety million. If you are trying to negotiate a raise, switch companies or launch a side hustle, that number has consequences. If titles do not line up, you cannot easily compare pay, scope or seniority.

#693: AI learns your job in weeks … and you start wondering if you still have one. That question shapes our conversation with Dr. Ben Zweig, CEO of Revelio Labs, a workforce data company that uses AI to build large employment databases and study labor market shifts.

#692: Anonymous (02:01) is excited about early retirement and family time but worried about his brother-in-law, who just returned from a vacation in Mexico with a bold plan: sell everything, move there, and buy an Airbnb to live in one unit and rent out the others.

#691: Your IQ used to be your biggest career asset. Then AI scored in the 99th percentile on the LSAT, the SAT, and the MCAT — and suddenly the cognitive skills that once set you apart became something anyone can access for free.

#690: Blanca (01:28): Blanca, an immigrant mother raising a 14-year-old, wants her son to think critically about college—not just as an experience, but as a financial decision.

#689: Most people think forgetting a name means their brain is failing. Dr. Majid Fotuhi, a neurologist who taught at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, sees thousands of patients convinced they have Alzheimer's – only to discover they're dealing with poor sleep or stress. Dr.

#688: Anonymous: "Anonymous Sheryl" is 38, mortgage-free and exhausted after 15 years of teaching. She’s torn between pushing a few more years toward FIRE or switching to relief teaching now for better work-life balance. How do you trade speed to FIRE for sustainability without blowing up the plan?

#687: Your tax refund might be $300 to $1,000 bigger this year, and that's just the beginning of what's changing with your money. The Tax Foundation estimates most Americans will see significantly larger refunds thanks to seven major tax cuts. The child tax credit increased by $200.

#686: Rachel: Rachel is new to investing and has noticed the stock market being dominated by AI companies. She wants to make sure her portfolio is balanced without overexposing herself.Should she rethink her index fund strategy to protect against a potential AI bubble?

#685: You're not an investor. You're a saver.

#684: Most people search for the perfect portfolio — the one allocation that works in every market, at every age, for every goal. This interview starts by explaining why that portfolio does not exist.

#683: Candy now — or a toy later? You slide play money across the table and let your kid choose. That moment kicks off this episode, where Dr. Stephen Day joins us to talk about building a “mini economy” at home. Dr.

#682: Grab the FREE handbook: affordanything.com/financialgoals For 76 years, the British cycling team lost — every season, without exception. Then they changed how they approached improvement, focusing on tiny gains instead of dramatic overhauls.

#681: Barry Ritholtz's mom sold real estate. Those dinner table conversations about mortgages helped him spot the 2008 crash before most of Wall Street did. Now he runs Ritholtz Wealth Management and joins us to explain why we're often our own worst investment enemy.

#680: Mia: Mia and her husband are planning early retirement and want to draw down their taxable brokerage accounts for the next decade. She’s considering a securities-backed line of credit to defer taxes during market downturns.

#679: Will you still have a job in five years? Zack Kass, former OpenAI executive and 16-year AI veteran, joins us to tackle the question that keeps knowledge workers up at night. Most people worry about the economics — who can pay the bills if AI takes their job?

#678: Anonymous (01:52): "Victoria" is 51, single, and still enjoying their W2 job while building a side business from a passion hobby. They’re thinking about heavy Roth conversions, planning for retirement, and wondering how much traditional money to leave untouched.

#677: Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2026 with a reality check on where your money stands right now. The Good News: Gas prices dropped below $3/gallon. Inflation cooled to 2.7%. The Fed cut rates again. GDP grew 4.3% (surprisingly strong). Gold hit $4,500 an ounce.

#676: Ally:How can I optimize my asset allocation and Roth contributions now that I’m over $1 million in assets? I’m 45, single, never married, with about $1.2 million in assets. Roughly $100,000 is in stocks, which might scare some people.

#675: Welcome to Greatest Hits Week – five days, five episodes from our vault, spelling out F-I-I-R-E. Today’s letter E stands for Entrepreneurship.

Pant debunks common real estate investing myths from her own experience as a landlord. Why 'real estate always goes up' is dangerous, when renting beats buying, and the hidden costs nobody talks about.

Pant challenges traditional budgeting by applying first principles thinking. Why most budgets fail, what to do instead, and how anti-budgets might be more effective for most people.

Morgan Housel discusses his thesis that financial success has less to do with knowledge than behavior. The most important investing skill isn't analysis — it's emotional regulation.

Pant explores the concept that every 'yes' is a 'no' to something else. The opportunity cost of financial decisions extends beyond money to time, energy, and attention.

Ramit Sethi challenges the frugality mindset that dominates personal finance culture. His argument: cut costs ruthlessly on things you don't care about so you can spend lavishly on things you love.

Paula Pant explores decision fatigue and how it impacts financial choices. Why you buy things you don't need at 9pm, why grocery delivery might be worth the fee, and how to design your environment to reduce bad financial decisions.

Collins discusses the psychology of financial independence: what happens when work becomes optional. The identity crisis, the loss of structure, and finding meaning without a paycheck.

JL Collins returns to discuss why the simple investing strategy (index funds, low fees, stay the course) consistently beats the 'optimal' strategy that most financial advisors sell.

Stanford professor Jamil Zaki shares research on empathy — not as a fixed trait but as a skill that can be developed. How empathy affects financial decisions, relationships, and well-being.