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.
By Paula Pant
Eva is finally closing in on her financial independence goals, but she’s grappling with how to make a smooth transition from accumulation to decumulation. What should she consider?
John has noticed a game-changing omission from recent discussions about traditional versus Roth IRAs. Is this as big of a deal as he thinks it is?
An anonymous caller is excited to convert his primary residence into a rental property. But he’ll only make a profit if he first sells some equities to pay down the mortgage. Is this a good idea?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Ever wonder if you could afford to travel for months at a time? According to Nomadic Matt, who’s visited more than 100 countries over the last 19 years, you can see the world on just $75 a day. That’s about $27,375 per year, less than many people’s current cost of living.
Matt Kepnes, better known as Nomadic Matt, joins us to challenge common assumptions about travel costs. He explains that long-term travel can actually be cheaper than staying home.
When you’re traveling, you shed many regular expenses that eat into your budget back home, like car payments, home insurance, and utility bills.
The key is to “travel like you live,” as Nomadic Matt puts it. This means using public transportation instead of taxis, shopping at local markets, and seeking out free activities — just like you might do in your hometown.
It’s not about staying at five-star resorts, but experiencing destinations authentically while keeping costs reasonable.
Nomadic Matt also breaks down several travel myths. The old advice about booking flights on Tuesdays? Outdated in today’s algorithmic pricing world. Using incognito mode to get better flight prices? No evidence supports this idea.
He does confirm that booking round-trip flights often costs less than one-way tickets, even if you don’t use the return portion.
For those interested in credit card points, Nomadic Matt recommends choosing cards based on your specific travel goals rather than chasing the most popular options. Consider which airlines you use most and what perks you’ll actually take advantage of.
The pandemic has transformed travel in significant ways. While prices have increased and some budget travel services have disappeared, new opportunities have emerged — especially for remote workers who can now take advantage of digital nomad visas to live abroad while maintaining their income.
Whether you’re planning a two-week vacation or dreaming of becoming location-independent, Nomadic Matt’s practical advice shows how international travel is more accessible than you might have thought.
Written By Paula Pant
In today’s podcast episode, we hear from a listener who wrote in with a problem:
They contributed to a Roth 401(k) while in a 32 percent tax bracket. Later, they realized they could have waited until their income dropped to a 24 percent tax bracket and done a Roth conversion instead.
Now they’re stuck wondering: […]
By Paula Pant
An anonymous caller is brooding over a mistake he made in 2023 when he decided to contribute to his Roth instead of a pre-tax account. How does he get over this?
June is annoyed that she triggered short-term capital gains and wash sales when she sold assets in her taxable brokerage last year. How does she avoid these issues in the future?
Zerai wants to add mid and small-cap exposure, but his 457 plan has a limited selection of mutual funds. What’s the proper way to select the best fund among the available options?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
By Paula Pant
Ever wonder what’s happening in your brain right before you knock on your boss’s door to ask for a raise? Dr. Joel Salinas, neurologist and brain health expert, joins us to explain the neurology of negotiation.
When you avoid difficult conversations, your brain actually rewards you with a small dopamine hit. That temporary relief feels […]
