Afford Anything®

Category: Episodes

By

#369: Why Does the Stock Market Crash? Stocks 101 Explained, with Brian Feroldi

Why does the stock market rise? Why does it crash? Why does it recover?

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

What, exactly, IS a stock – and how are stocks valued? What’s the difference between the Dow Jones, the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq? Why is the market a voting machine in the short-term, but a weighing machine in the long-term?

Brian Feroldi, the author of “Why Does the Stock Market Go Up?,” joins us for a Stocks 101 explainer episode.

If you’d like a deeper understanding of the world of stocks, you’ll enjoy this explainer episode.

And if you have a friend/spouse/coworker who’s said, “I need to learn more about investing,” share this episode with them.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#368: Ask Paula: Talk Crypto To Me

Alex is curious about cryptocurrency. How should she analyze the returns promised by different platforms and where can she go to  learn more about crypto in general?

Grace wants to buy a manufactured home for rental income. Should she calculate her returns differently for a manufactured home?

Thomas and his wife have parallel goals of saving for a down payment and contributing to retirement accounts.  How should they balance both of these goals?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough questions.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

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

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many commentators have remarked that we’re living in an “epidemic of anxiety.”

More than 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety, and countless millions more notice themselves “acting out” against their responsibilities in smaller, self-sabotaging ways: procrastinating, lacking motivation, grappling with an inability to concentrate.

In today’s episode, Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D., discusses both the internal and environmental factors that can exacerbate anxiety. She talks about nutrition and sleep, as well as the fact that, frankly, your job just might suck.

She applies these ideas to tactics that allow us to better handle our finances, investments, careers and lives.

Dr. Ellen Vora holds a B.A. from Yale University and a medical degree from Columbia University. She’s a board-certified psychiatrist.

Enjoy this conversation, and share your comments and feedback with members of our community at affordanything.com/community.

Keep reading...

By

#366: Ask Paula: How Do I Invest For My Parents’ Retirement?

Micheal’s parents just sold their home to pay off debt and fund their retirement. How should he invest the profits?

Ryker would like to understand what it would take for cryptocurrency to be considered as a good investment option for a diversified portfolio.

Megan has qualified for her employer’s 401k and needs help deciding between […]

Keep reading...

By

#365: Inflation, Explained – with Paula Pant

Nearly every financial news story for the past several months has centered around inflation – but what, exactly, is inflation? What are its causes? What are its effects? How is it measured? What notable inflationary events have unfolded throughout history, and what can we learn from these?

In this episode, we peel back the layers of the onion in order to deepen our understanding of the concept of inflation. We discuss hyperinflation, biflation, stagflation; we discuss the CPI, the PPI, and core inflation. We discuss the demand-pull inflation, cost-push inflation and the wage-price spiral. We resist the temptation to make predictions about the future, choosing instead to focus on refining our understanding of the present.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#364: Ask Paula: No Spouse, No Family, And Thinking About Getting Old – How Do I Prepare?

Hypothetical from the Hampton Inn is curious about whether he should keep his 30 year term life insurance policy or let it lapse with 12 years left on the policy.

Ramon asks us about the details behind infinite banking.

Anonymous Emily is wondering which financial products would work best to cover care and expenses as she ages.

Max is thinking through real estate and stock market returns as they relate to future population trends.

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#363: Two Types of Intelligence, with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks

In our 20’s and 30’s, we have high levels of fluid intelligence, or raw intellectual horsepower. We can ace tests, impress people with our memory and recall, and analyze facts, documents and data.

But in our 40’s and 50’s, we have higher levels of crystallized intelligence, which allows us to draw together novel insights from across domains.

Fluid intelligence allows us to analyze, or break apart.

Crystallized intelligence allows us to synthesize, or put together.

Each type of intelligence invites us to express different skills, to pivot our role at work – or perhaps even to change careers or industries altogether.

In today’s episode, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks discusses these two types of intelligence, and outlines how we can gracefully move from one strength to the next.

Keep reading...

By

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

David is questioning how to better manage his spending. He’d like a stronger framework to think through budgeting challenges.

Elisa and her husband bought a home, and now they’re saving extra income every month. She has a pension and her husband is an entrepreneur. How much should they be saving for retirement and how should they invest their extra money?

Geoff invested primarily in taxable brokerage accounts for the last twenty years. He’s built a $6 million portfolio and reached financial independence. He wonders about the smartest strategy for withdrawing from those taxable brokerage accounts to efficiently manage capital gains?

Jenna and her husband are planning on buying their next home in a few years. She wants to know if I-bonds are a good way to save for the down payment and closing costs.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.

Keep reading...

By

#361: The GameStop Revolution, One Year Later – with Spencer Jakab

Wall Street Journal columnist Spencer Jakab marks the one-year anniversary of that weird time when the subReddit Wall St Bets pumped shares of meme stocks like GameStop and AMC Theaters, triggering a short squeeze that forced several hedge funds to lose billions. 

What did we learn from that experience? And how do we actually take down Wall Street?  How do we launch a truly effective financial revolution?

 We share those insights in today’s episode. 

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

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

I’m worried my parents are getting ripped off by their financial advisor. What should I do?

My wife is trying to qualify for student loan forgiveness … but we might lose a bunch of tax benefits in the process. Is it worth the risk?                       

I’m enrolling in grad school, and I want to optimize how to pay for rent and groceries. Should I use money from a 529 plan?

Three callers. Three questions.

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these tough Q’s.

Enjoy!

Do you have a question on business, money, trade-offs, financial independence strategies, travel, or investing? Leave it here and we’ll answer them in a future episode. 

Keep reading...

Afford Anything®