Afford Anything

Tag: lifestyle design

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#479: Ask Paula: Is Mom Getting Ripped Off by Her Investment Advisor?!

Nicole’s 78-year-old mom is paying huge fees for low returns. How can Nicole help her mom make better investments?

Nick is in his 40’s. His long-term care insurance rate is nearly doubling. Should he stop spending on this type of insurance?

Paul is a single dad, worried about paying his daughter’s college costs. He’s trying to figure out how to report lower income on the FAFSA, so that his daughter can get better financial aid.

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

Enjoy!

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

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#478: Buy the Damn Guac, with Jamila Souffrant

Ever skipped that extra drink, pricey cheese, or a night out for the sake of your wallet?

If this feels familiar, then you’ll appreciate today’s episode with Jamila Souffrant.

Jamila is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, podcast host, and author, guiding us on making savvy choices to save while still having fun.

Jamila explores the power of understanding our “why not,” staying motivated on our financial paths, shaping a success-bound mindset, and posing THREE crucial self-assessment questions for goal alignment

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#472: Happiness Habits, with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks

Imagine this: You’re a teenage musical prodigy, a world-class classical French horn player. You drop out of college at age 19 and spend your twenties touring the globe as a musician (including, once, tripping and falling off the stage at Carnegie Hall).

At age 31, you retire from your musical career, get a Ph.D., and become a professor – first at Syracuse and then at Harvard, where you teach both at Harvard Business School and at the Harvard Kennedy School.

You publish 13 books and write a column for The Atlantic, which gets noticed by Oprah Winfrey. Oprah then invites you to dinner, where she asks you to co-author a book together.

This is the life of today’s guest, Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks, whose collaboration with Oprah, a book called Build the Life You Want, focuses on the science and research behind happiness.

Brooks teaches a class on leadership and happiness to second-year Harvard MBA candidates. In our conversation, we discuss a range of topics, including metacognition (thinking about how to think), the neurobiological basis of ruminating, and how to balance the concept of contentment with the innately human urge for ambition and progress.

He also offers a formula for happiness: enjoyment + satisfaction + meaning and purpose.

So – I hope you enjoy this episode; I hope you find it satisfying, and I hope it fills you with meaning and purpose!

– Paula

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#464: The Science of Friendship (and How It Improves Your Net Worth), with Dr. Marisa Franco

More than ever, most people’s lives are packed to the brim with activity. We are trying to fit in demanding jobs and families, commuting and a neverending list of chores. Social lives often suffer.

It’s no wonder that in 2021, 12% of U.S. adults said they did not have any close friends, up from 3% in 1990.

This has enormous consequences on our health, productivity, and our ability to grow our net worth, make money, and enjoy life.

Dr. Mariso Franco, a renowned psychologist and best selling author, shares invaluable insights on the significance of fostering meaningful connections and discusses the detrimental impact of NOT having fulfilling connections in our lives.

Today’s episode also delves into the importance of connection in the workplace. We chat about how cultivating genuine relationships with colleagues can boost productivity, enhance job satisfaction, and contribute to a positive work environment.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Marisa Franco shares practical tips and actionable advice on how to nurture and sustain friendships in our fast-paced, digital age and improve our overall well- being.

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#460: The Mental Toughness and Confidence Blueprint, with Dr. Nate Zinsser

Mental toughness is the bedrock of starting a business, growing a multimillion-dollar portfolio, investing in real estate, crushing your debt, retiring early. 

Today’s guest, Dr. Nate Zinsser, mentors elite athletes, soldiers and executives in confidence and mental toughness. He is the sports psychology mentor for two-time Superbowl MVP Eli Manning and the Director of the Performance Psychology Program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

He’s mentored the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and NCAA teams, and has been a consultant for the FBI Academy, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, and the NYC Fire Department. He holds a PhD in sports psychology from the University of Virginia.

In today’s episode, we discuss how to develop the type of mental toughness and confidence that can help you grow your investments, start a business, take risks in your career, make offers on houses, and overall master your financial life.

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#456: The Empathy Advantage in Business and Leadership, with Stanford Professor Jamil Zaki

Today, Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki shares his research and findings around the science of empathy – and how we can apply this to improving our relationships with colleagues, clients, customers, co-founders, and business and investing cohorts.

Zaki is the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, and the author of “The War For Kindness.”

We’ll break down the science. We talk about why empathy matters in business, investments, and in career growth, and we’ll discuss its digital age dynamics. How does AI impact the way in which we relate to others?

If you want to learn the science of emotional intelligence, and how to apply this to your career and business interactions, you’ll learn a lot from today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#453: The Importance of Having a Life Outside of Work, with Simone Stolzoff

Today, I sit down with Simone Stolzoff, the brilliant author of “The Good Enough Job.”

Simone has extensively studied the intricate role of work in our lives, asking the question: “How do we see work as just a piece of an awesome of our life?”

He also uncovers what we lose when work becomes more than just a job, challenges the prevailing narratives of work as a calling or dream, and shares strategies that can help us build more well rounded lives.

Together, we explore groundbreaking perspectives on reframing work as an integral part of life, rather than allowing it to consume our entire being. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened as we uncover the keys to unlocking a balanced and fulfilling relationship with work.

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#448: Ask Paula: We Make $300k. Why Are We NOT Financially Independent?

An anonymous caller is dealing with guilt over spending a large cash gift. What’s the best use if she doesn’t have an obvious financial goal to throw at it?

Eric reached financial independence a few years ago but he hesitates to quit his job. What the heck is a Roth conversion ladder and how can he overcome his psychological barriers?

Another anonymous caller and his wife earn $300,000. He feels like they should be financially independent but they’re far from it. What’s going on?

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

Enjoy!

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#447: The Human Side of Remote Work, with Nick Bloom

We talk to Stanford economist Nick Bloom about his groundbreaking research on working from home. 

Nick has been studying remote work for more than 20 years – since the 1990’s, when people were “telecommuting.” His research, in real-time, looked at how events such as 9/11 shaped attitudes about remote work. 

The pandemic created a surge of interest in his research. It brought many newcomers to the field. But Nick has the benefit of historical knowledge. He’s spent his career deep-diving into this topic.

Nick sheds light on the advantages and challenges of remote work, drawing from extensive data and analysis. He shares surprising numbers and statistics. 

We discuss productivity, collaboration, employee well-being and organizational dynamics. We also discuss the impact of remote work on cities and housing.

Enjoy!

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#443: Building Your Dream Business, with Amy Porterfield

As a former corporate powerhouse turned successful entrepreneur, Amy knows firsthand the challenges and triumphs of building a business from scratch.

Amy is the host of the top-ranked podcast “Online Marketing Made Easy,” and the owner of a multi-million dollar digital course business. She is also the author of “Two Week’s Notice,” a guide to quitting your job and building your own business.

Get ready to be inspired as we uncover Amy’s secrets to building a thriving business and learn how you can apply her proven techniques to achieve your own entrepreneurial dreams.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable advice that you won’t want to miss.

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