The U.S. government is shutting down. Bitcoin just hit a record high. Inflation whispers are back. And Wall Street is buzzing with speculation.
What does this all mean for your money, your portfolio, and your long-term financial freedom? On this First Friday episode, we unpack the economic headlines you can’t ignore — and help […]By Paula Pant
#647: Q&A: Can You Afford a Mini-Retirement?
What if you and your partner wants to take a few months – or even a year – off work?
How do you handle health insurance once you leave your jobs?
And how do you make sure the time off isn’t wasted, but becomes a launchpad for what’s next?
In this week’s Q&A, we […]
By Paula Pant
#646: The Third Option Between Working and Retiring
What if you didn’t have to choose between grinding full-time until retirement or quitting work altogether?
By 40, Andy Hill and his wife had built a $500,000 portfolio and paid off their home. Instead of racing toward early retirement, they chose a third way: scaling back to part time work, becoming equal partners in parenting, […]
By Paula Pant
#645: Q&A: My Friend Won’t Invest – How Can I Help?
Mike: After 15 years of intentional living, Mike is 80 percent of the way to financial independence. Now he’s trying to help friends take control of their own financial future. But what happens when one spouse is eager to learn and invest, while the other isn’t interested?
Michael: For two years, Michael has tracked his […]
By Paula Pant
#644: The Hidden Psychology Behind Every Financial Decision You Make with Dr. Daniel Crosby
Why do we both crave money and resent it? Why do some people sabotage their financial futures in the name of short-term comfort? And why is your brain — not the stock market — the biggest threat to your wealth?
In this conversation, we explore the surprising ways that psychology and money intertwine. Our guest, […]
By Paula Pant
#643: LIVESTREAM: A Former Fed Economist Reveals What’s Really Happening, with Karsten Jeske (“Big ERN”)
Picture this: you’re at the Federal Reserve years ago. The chairman literally hangs up a conference call, waits 30 minutes, then calls back — suddenly everyone agrees on the rate decision.
That’s the kind of insider story Karsten Jeske (“Big ERN”) shares when he joins us to break down what’s happening with the economy right […]
By Paula Pant
#642: I Tried 5 Ways to Get Rich… Only ONE Worked – with David Gardner
Motley Fool co-founder David Gardner joins Paula to share his philosophy of “Rule Breaker” investing. Instead of obsessing over short-term market moves, Gardner explains how to identify high growth stocks that are shaping the future, why “overvalued” companies often end up being the biggest winners, and how long-term optimism is […]
By Paula Pant
[Bonus Episode] Rob Berger on Inflation, Rate Cuts & Smarter Retirement Moves
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates. Inflation data is sending mixed signals. Social Security faces insolvency warnings. And the stock market looks both unstoppable and precarious.
What should investors and everyday savers do in this moment of uncertainty?
In this special bonus episode, we sit down with Rob Berger — former attorney, Forbes […]
By Paula Pant
#641: Q&A: ChatGPT Built Her $1.2M Portfolio … But Should You Trust It?
Cristina has a $1.2 million portfolio and hopes to make work optional within the next decade. Is she invested in the right way? Or should she change up her asset allocation?
Anonymous and her husband plan to retire in 5 years. They have 10 rental properties and a $2.75 million portfolio. They dream of slow […]
By Paula Pant
#640: First Friday: Jobs Report Shock – What Falling Yields and Fed Rate Cuts Mean for Your Money
The August jobs report shocked economists: just 22,000 jobs were added, pushing unemployment to 4.3%. Investors rushed into bonds, Treasury yields dropped to three-year lows, and whispers of falling mortgage rates grew louder.
In this First Friday economic update, Paula Pant breaks down: Why the August jobs report rattled markets. How lower Treasury […]