By Paula Pant
In light of recent federal mandates to return to the office, Pedro is having a hard time giving up on his fully remote lifestyle. Is there a creative solution to his dilemma?
An anonymous caller is excited to move abroad permanently. How should she structure her investments to support her international lifestyle while maintaining a home base in the US?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
The biggest trade shake-up in 135 years is happening right now.
April brought tariff levels that economists say haven’t been seen since the 1890s, creating ripple effects throughout the economy.
We’re seeing a stark disconnect between official economic data and how people feel about their financial future.
While the economy added 177,000 jobs in April — beating forecasts — consumer confidence has plummeted to alarming levels.
Almost 70 percent of Americans now expect higher unemployment ahead, despite the strong job numbers.
The tariffs have triggered some unexpected behaviors. Companies rushed to import goods before prices increased, which ironically pushed the trade deficit to record levels.
Consumers went on buying sprees for cars, computers, and other expensive items, fearing they’d soon cost much more.
Meanwhile, inflation expectations have surged to their highest levels in decades.
What does this mean for investors? Bond markets reacted dramatically, with Treasury yields posting one of the sharpest spikes on record mid-April before settling back down.
The dollar weakened significantly, and economists have raised recession probability to 45 percent — up from 30 percent just last month.
Small businesses are feeling the uncertainty too.
After initial optimism about potential tax cuts and deregulation, their expectations have soured amid concerns about how tariffs might hurt smaller firms disproportionately.
Market volatility has hit retirement savers particularly hard. We take a call from a listener named Johanna who shared that she lost 30 percent of her portfolio due to recent tariff-related swings.
She’s wondering whether she’s still “Coast FIRE” — even when market shocks alter her retirement math.
Join us as we break down April’s economic data, explain what’s behind the market volatility, and discuss what these historic tariffs might mean for your money in the months ahead.
By Paula Pant
Bethany’s partner wants to invest most of their money in gold and silver, but no one seems to talk about this kind of investing. Is this a red flag or a potential opportunity?
Diana is worried she’s been saving too much for her kids’ college – hundreds of dollars a month since they were born. How does she know when to stop?
Wendy’s pension and social security will cover all her basic expenses during retirement. Does the four percent rule still apply to her discretionary nest egg, or is there another approach?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Nick and his wife have $100,000 to invest, but they’re worried about the volatility of the current stock market. Should they look into alternative investments such as private equity?
Even though Roth IRAs come with tax-free withdrawals in retirement, Josh is worried about his tax bracket going up and neutralizing the benefits. Is he right to be concerned?
The retirement portion of Cindy’s financial three-legged stool is set, and she’s now focused on her taxable brokerage. What investment strategy will allow her to be work optional in 10 years?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Jillian Johnsrud was falling apart. After suffering a miscarriage, she couldn’t pull herself together to return to her job as a youth pastor in DC. She decided to take a month off.
That unexpected break became Jillian’s first “mini-retirement” — a deliberate step away from work for at least 30 days to focus on something […]
Written By Paula Pant
Picture this: It’s 2 a.m. and you’re wide awake, mentally rehearsing tomorrow’s salary conversation for the fifteenth time.
Your stomach tightens at the thought of asking for more.
“There are people who will be up nights on end stressed about asking for a raise,” explains Bob Bordone, who taught negotiation for 21 years at Harvard Law […]
Written By Paula Pant
There are two paths to business ownership.
One path — creating a new company — has a 10 percent success rate.
The other?
When entrepreneurs buy an established, existing business, 75-85 percent succeed.
We don’t hear about this path often.
But maybe we should.
This dramatic difference challenges conventional wisdom. The myth says that buying […]
By Paula Pant
Becky and her husband are about to semi-retire. But the four percent retirement withdrawal rule doesn’t make sense for them. Are there other financial frameworks they should explore?
Kris is excited about a potential boost in local real estate values when the World Cup comes to town. Will this have any significant impacts on his property?
Peyton’s parents are pressuring her to buy a house, but she’s worried this will cripple her early retirement goals. Is she right to be concerned?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Tax day is approaching, and if you’re like most people, you might be overlooking deductions that could save you money.
In our latest podcast episode, tax strategist Natalie Kolodij joins us to reveal common tax misconceptions and share strategies that could potentially lower your tax bill.
“The tax code is 70,000 pages,” Natalie explains. “There’s so much. So I really like to have people focus on a handful of things to be mindful of.”
For W-2 employees who often have fewer tax advantages, Natalie highlights several overlooked deductions. If you live in a state without income tax (like Florida or Washington), you can deduct sales tax instead — especially on major purchases. Don’t forget about personal property taxes on vehicles, boats or RVs either.
Medical expenses can be deductible, but only amounts exceeding 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. Natalie suggests consolidating elective procedures into a single tax year to maximize this benefit.
Charitable deductions offer surprising opportunities too. Miles driven while volunteering, expenses from fostering animals, and even home renovation materials donated to organizations like Habitat for Humanity can all qualify. Natalie also explains how “bunching” donations in alternate years can significantly increase tax savings compared to giving the same amount annually.
The interview tackles major misconceptions about selling your primary residence. While many believe living in a home for two years makes all gains tax-free, Natalie clarifies that any “non-qualified use” periods (like when it was a rental property) can still be taxable.
For small business owners and real estate investors, Natalie recommends tracking all business-related expenses — even seemingly minor ones like industry-related books or educational materials. She emphasizes the importance of proper record-keeping and having separate accounts for business expenses.
As we navigate tax law changes following the recent election, Natalie’s advice rings true: maintain flexibility in your tax planning and consider working with professionals who specialize in your specific situation.
By Paula Pant
A recession is coming, and it might be worse than most people expect. That’s the sobering assessment from Bob Elliott, former Head of Ray Dalio’s Investment Team at Bridgewater Associates, when he joins us on the podcast.
Bob explains that several economic factors are converging to create challenging conditions. The combination of current trade policies, persistent inflation issues, and a Federal Reserve that’s constrained in its response is creating significant economic headwinds.
Tariffs play a central role in this economic outlook. While their inflationary impact remains debatable, their growth-negative effects are more certain. When imported goods become more expensive, consumers have less money to spend on other things. This reduces demand across the entire economy.
Manufacturing and reshoring aren’t simple solutions either. Bob points out that building new factories takes about five years, with payback periods stretching 30 years. This timeline explains why CEOs hesitate to make such investments, especially in an environment where policies change unpredictably.
This uncertainty has driven CEO confidence to its lowest levels since the 2008 financial crisis, further complicating economic prospects.
For individual investors, Bob offers surprisingly straightforward advice. Despite his sophisticated background managing billions, he follows a simple personal investment strategy: dollar-cost averaging and diversification. He even limits himself to reviewing his investments just once annually — typically the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
This disciplined approach prevents overtrading and removes emotion from investment decisions — principles that apply whether you’re investing regular income or handling a windfall.
Throughout our conversation, Bob emphasizes that the US economy fundamentally runs on consumer spending. When policies redirect money from discretionary spending toward necessities, the effects ripple throughout the entire system.
Want to hear more of Bob’s insights on recession probability, investment strategy, and economic policy? Listen to the full episode now.
