Build a Better Life

With Paula Pant

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#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.

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#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!

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#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. 

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#359: The Four Quadrants of A Successful Life, with Andrew Hallam

Money, relationships, health and purpose: life is running smoothly when all four of these elements are working together in tandem, like wheels on a car.

But how can we make spending and investing choices that facilitate stronger relationships, better health and a deeper sense of purpose?

Andrew Hallam, who became a millionaire on a teacher’s salary, shares researched-backed, evidence-based insights into how to find balance, drawing from the worlds of behavioral finance and stock market history.

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#358: Ask Paula: Should I Invest in Index Funds More Actively?

Where is the balance between the risks and potential returns of actively and passively investing in index funds?

Where do you place your savings after you max out your retirement and HSA accounts?

How do you finance building a rental unit when there’s already a home on the lot?

Is it more beneficial to buy back pension time with post tax deductions or a 457b plan? Or should I not buy back pension time at all?

In today’s episode, former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I discuss the purpose and practice of mindful money.

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!

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#353: The Secret to Perfect Timing, with Daniel Pink

Daniel Pink joins us to discuss an unusual theory:

(1) that our energy rises, falls, and then rises again;

(2) that this pattern plays out across our days (morning energy, afternoon slump, nighttime second wind);

(3) this also plays out across our lives, with serious implications for how we spend those “muddled middle” years of our 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Enjoy!

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#351: The Six Myths of Productivity, with Geoff Woods

Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and goal setting.

The simple framework he presents allows you to focus deeply and commit to the actions you need to take if you want to take your productivity to the next level this year.

Enjoy!

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