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Afford Anything
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Afford Anything

Paula Pant | Cumulus Podcast Network

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You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life. How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles? On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing. But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacogn ...
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#462: As a society, we’re fascinated by stories of the rich. We hear news, see social media posts, and read books about how others become wealthy, how to maintain that status, and what their lifestyles look like. But what if the media we’re consuming is misleading us? Dr. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz’s research shows that the stories about the rich tha…
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#461: A special LIVE recording in front of an audience at Podcast Movement, an industry conference in Denver. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle two questions in today’s episode. Our first question comes from a soon-to-be-single-mother on the precipice of divorce. How should she navigate this financially? Our second question comes …
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#460: 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 Ma…
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#459: Andrey is a savvy 10-year-old wondering what’s the best way to save up for his first car. Ingrid wants to know if her parents’ preference for Retiring on Dividends is a better approach compared to the 4 Percent Rule. Erica’s part-time work schedule will place her in an unusually low tax bracket this year. Should she take this rare chance to e…
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#458: Today we chat with Scott Trench, the CEO and President of BiggerPockets, a real estate investing education company with more than 2 million members. He joins us to share cutting-edge insights on today’s real estate market. We discuss economic trends, demographic shifts, and talk about how interest rates impact home buyers. Whether you're a po…
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#457: Angie sold all the stocks in her retirement account last year. And now the market’s climbing. What should she do with her $500,000 cash position? Christina will be graduating with six figures of student debt. Should she refinance out of a federally protected loan to lower her interest rate? An anonymous caller wonders how Paula and Joe handle…
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#456: 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 Ki…
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#455: Yvette recently retired with the goal of reaching a $10,000 monthly income from her real estate investments. Should she put her money toward debt payoff or portfolio expansion? Carly wants to buy a second home and convert her current home to a rental. What are the pros and cons of tapping into existing equity versus saving cash for a down pay…
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#454: Amy says she hit “rock bottom” with her finances. She says she struggled to ask for help before her situation became an emergency. How can others ask for help sooner? Rebecca is a mother of four, which means she’s juggling four distinct college timelines and 529 plans. How does she make a withdrawal plan when there are so many unknowns? Anne …
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Today I chat with Simone Stolzoff, a consultant for organizations ranging from Google to the Surgeon General’s Office, and the author of "The Good Enough Job." He’s a graduate of Stanford and U. Penn. Simone has spent a lot of time thinking about the role of work in our lives, and he's got some really interesting ideas about how we can see work as …
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#452: Peter Atwater, an economics professor at The College of William and Mary and author of “The Confidence Map,” joins us to discuss how confidence shapes our financial markets. He explains how The Hunger Games relates to the Lehman Brothers collapse. He describes why you should “Buy Adele and Sell Pharrell.” From the Panic of 1857 to the pattern…
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#451: Rachel’s car is nearing its end of life and she’s short on cash. Should she sell before she’s hit with a major repair? Cam wants to arbitrage a hefty low-interest loan with a three-year payback period. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime or a disaster waiting to happen? Kris has tried all the budgeting apps but they’re cumbersome and time-c…
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#450: On the First Friday of each month, we roll out a bonus episode that’s totally different from what we usually produce. These bonus episodes are special, unique, and – we hope – round out a fuller, more multifaceted picture of what we think about. Today, I’m introducing you to a business and economics correspondent from Moscow who I’m honored t…
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#449: Jackie is a 42-year-old paralegal with two rental properties. She wants to buy three more. She asks for Paula’s thoughts about today’s economy. Should she buy under these economic conditions? Jen’s husband will retire with a pension that pays twice their living expenses. Does she still need her own retirement account? Rachael just bought a du…
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#448: 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…
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#447: 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 inter…
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#446: Paul suffered a stroke at 48. He’s on disability and feeling lost. How does he figure out what’s next? Should Ashley’s aging parents spend a third of their retirement savings on a house? Margaret is wondering if she could use her 401k for a down payment and save on her taxes. An anonymous caller is concerned she won’t have enough access to ca…
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#445: We sit down with Steve Chou, an accomplished entrepreneur who, alongside his wife, built two businesses that each bring in seven figures – and gives them the freedom to spend more time with their kids. We delve into the challenges he faced in the early stages of his business and how he overcame these obstacles. Additionally, Steve opens up ab…
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#444: The student loan pause is coming to an end. A moratorium on student loan repayments has been in place since the start of the pandemic, but starting Sept. 1st, millions of borrowers will be required to start making payments on their loans again. What does this mean for borrowers? In this episode, we'll discuss what borrowers can do to prepare,…
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#443: 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…
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#442: An anonymous caller is struggling with a tempting offer from her family to buy her first house. Chris recently tripled his income. How should he manage this unexpected surplus? Tyson is wondering if it's a good time to convert his bonds into treasuries. “Jaula” wants to know if she should count her side hustle income as part of her retirement…
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#441: It’s GRADUATION WEEK! For those of you who’ve been following along this past year, you know that I’ve been completing the Knight - Bagehot Fellowship at Columbia University. This week, my family and I are celebrating the countless hours of studying, all-nighters and eye opening experiences, so here at Afford Anything, we’re airing an importan…
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#440: An anonymous caller wants to retire and travel in 20 to 30 years. How does she know if she’s saving enough? Trace plans to take a mini-retirement next year. Where should she keep her savings until then? Samantha and her partner have lived out of their truck for 20 years. They sorta-kinda feel ready to buy a house and settle down. But they’re …
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#439: There are massive rapid changes unfurling in the financial world. This week’s biggest news: First Republic Bank collapsed; JP Morgan Chase acquired it. (As it happens, I was one of 12 people who was lucky enough to have dinner with Chase CEO Jamie Dimon exactly one week ago – just days before the acquisition. I tell that story around the 8-mi…
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#438: “Do you want to save money? Or do you want to enjoy your life?” That’s a common question, but it’s strange. It assumes these ideas are opposites: frugality is synonymous with deprivation; spending is a proxy for enjoyment. That premise is wrong. Let’s stop conflating spending with happiness. Let’s stop using “savings” or “free” as a euphemism…
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#437: Do you have a project you want to start … but you’re stuck in analysis paralysis? Do you feel like if you want to do something right, you have to do it yourself? Do you try to wind down after the end of a long day, but your energy levels are just not quite restored? If you answered “Yes!” to any of these questions, then this episode is for yo…
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#436: Jeremy wants to attend graduate school. Should he take student loans or cash out his investment portfolio? Andy is wondering if the 4 percent rule stands up to high inflation. (There’s a shockingly simple answer!) Did Rudolfo discover a hack to supercharge his 401k investing? Nandini is overwhelmed by her investing choices. What accounts shou…
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#435: Lee is 30 and facing a tech layoff. She can live for a year on her savings. She’s thinking about taking the rest of the year off. How should she prepare her investments? Stacy wants to buy an Airbnb but she’s scared she’ll regret selling her company stock to do it. An anonymous caller is tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck as a freelance art…
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#434: The majority of financial advice is geared to people with 9-5 jobs: “Negotiate for a raise.” “Max out your 401k match.” “Budget based on your income.” Where’s the financial advice for people who earn money in tips: restaurant servers, bartenders, hairstylists, concierge, valets, ushers, nail salon workers, strippers, or other service industry…
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#433: Should “Walker,” an anonymous caller, give up a cushy job to take a year-long sabbatical in Europe? Blue wants to rent out his East Coast home, take a sabbatical from work, travel to the West Coast with his family, and start a YouTube channel and other entrepreneurial projects. How should he manage his money to make this happen? Melissa regre…
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#432: Have you ever worried about running out of money after you retire? Do you keep checking your net worth to make sure you have enough? Does this always feel a little … unsatisfying? This episode discusses why. Today's guest, Michael Lynch, is a certified financial planner and author. His most recent book, “It’s All About The Income,” says that …
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#431: The title says it all. Paula Pant interviews Mr. Money Mustache about his dating life. We chat about why he wants to date inside the FIRE community (financial independence, retire early) – and whether he’s had any luck. We discuss the perils of navigating into the dating world after a divorce, which he did at age 43. And – AHEM – HE’S ON THE …
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#430: D is worried that she’s going to suffer from her parents’ poor financial choices. Is it time to confront them about it? An anonymous caller and her fiance both own a house. Which one do they move into after the wedding? In a world of rising inflation, Nick wants to know if it’s time to change the way he saves for his future. Another anonymous…
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#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a custom website? Recording an album? Did you worry that this project will cost more and take longer than you expected? This episode is all about how to complete projects on-time and under budget. Today's…
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#428: Jamie currently lives at home and dreams of reaching financial freedom by her early 30s. How can she take advantage of her low expenses to accelerate her wealth building? An anonymous caller has enough to retire in 5 years. Does she still need her financial advisor or is it time to do it on her own? Meghan is a personal finance enthusiast who…
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#427: Okay, maybe the phrase “side hustle” is overused. But it’s also misunderstood. “Side hustle” is a catch-all term that people use to describe everything from low-paid gig economy labor – Doordash, Uber Eats, Rover – to six-figure consulting for Fortune 500 companies. On the remote-work side, it includes everything from freelance graphic design…
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#426: Behavioral researcher, Vanessa Van Edwards, talks to us about the critical importance of charisma - and how to use the perfect blend of warmth and competence to be charismatic. Dr. Michael Slepian walks us through what secrets mean, what they cost, and how we think about them. We dive into the world of long distance real estate investing, and…
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#425: Ellen’s dad died unexpectedly. Her mom is clueless about finances. How does she help a 70-year-old unravel financial complexities? Mike has an opportunity to buy into his friend’s growing business. What should be his legal, financial, and relationship considerations? Pepp wants to know what’ll happen to her Restricted Stock Units when her com…
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#424: We’re taught to stay in the game. Persist. Be gritty. Try, try again. But sometimes, the best decision is to walk away. Move on. How do you know when that’s right? When should you double-down … and when should you fold? Today’s guest, Annie Duke, won more than $4 million as a professional poker champion. She wrote the bestselling book Thinkin…
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#423: We’ve heard the warnings about following your passion. People ask if you can *actually* make money doing what you love. They frame the question “passion or profit?” as though these are in opposition. The majority – who have never tried – decry, “what if you fail?” Nobody asks the more important question: what if you succeed? Are you still goi…
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#422: Emily is saving aggressively for financial independence, but it’s hard to enjoy the present. Is it time to increase spending? Monroe wants to stop working. Forever. Which is more important: debt payoff or investing? Another anonymous caller and his spouse dream of building a homestead on an expensive piece of land. How much is too much to spe…
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#421: Life is busy. We spend too much time on chores, errands, commuting, emails and other draining tasks. We lack time for joy and hobbies. Or do we? Today’s guest, Laura Vanderkam, talks to us about how to make the most of our time and carve out more space for gratifying experiences. Laura Vanderkam is a time management and productivity expert. H…
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#420: Harvard professor Arthur Brooks described two types of intelligence – and explained, in scientific terms, the wisdom that comes with age. Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D., shared insight into the roots of procrastination, offering evidence-based tips for how to overcome our own inner demons of anxiety, fear and laziness. Psychology professor Bill von Hip…
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#419: Casey isn’t happy at her job. If she leaves before her one-year mark, she’ll lose her 401k contributions. Should she stay or find a new job? Daan resides in a high-cost-of-living area where real estate appreciates rapidly. But there’s no cash flow. How should he evaluate real estate as an investment? Emily already maximizes her 401k contribut…
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#418: When Jordan Grumet was a child, his dad died unexpectedly. That was decades ago. Jordan is a father today, but he thinks often about the possibility of dying young. And he wonders how to balance enjoying today vs. saving for tomorrow, given that none of us know how long we’ll be on this earth. How do we think about our lives when the clock st…
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#417: Our first anonymous caller is getting married. What are the financial considerations the couple should be thinking through since there is a large income gap between them? Our second anonymous caller is concerned about her ability to continue working due to major depression. Should she consider disability insurance? Carly is an accidental land…
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#416: Crypto is tanking. Household debt is climbing. Student loans are tangled up in the court system. And the house market…did what?! Today’s bonus First Friday episode takes a look at the latest economic headlines, with analysis, commentary and hot takes. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode416 L…
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#415: The average American donates 2.1 percent of their income to charity, according to data from the Giving Institute. But an ordinary couple living in Nashville, Bob and Linda Lotich, refuse to be average. When they were both 31, they decided to “give their age” – they pledged to donate 31 percent of their income to worthwhile causes. They’ve inc…
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#414: Amanda is worried that her recently diagnosed health condition might force her to stop working. How should she financially prepare her family? Anonymous is a savvy DIY investor who wants to retire early and is wondering if she should hire a financial advisor. Should Krista tap into the equity from one of her rentals to rebalance a portfolio t…
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#413: If an idea dominates the headlines, we notice it. But maybe we shouldn’t. Today’s guest, psychologist and behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby, says there’s a difference between a prediction that gets repeated, and one that’s likely to unfold. What’s salient isn’t accurate, he says. And vice versa. He also talks about how money problem…
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