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Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices

Advertise on podcast: Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices

Rating
★★★★★
4.7
from
3531 reviews
This podcast has
805 episodes
Language
English
Date created
2016/01/28
Latest episode
2026/10/16
Average duration
78 min.
Release period
4 days

Description

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 metacognition: thinking about how to think. In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models. Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.

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My Bank Account Hit Zero ... Then I Got Rich -- with Jaspreet Singh of Minority Mindset
2026/10/16
#759: At 19, Jaspreet Singh bought a rental for $8,000. What followed was a nightmare tenant, a lawsuit, and a later house stripped of its copper, and it taught him what the real estate books leave out. Jaspreet is the founder of Minority Mindset, a personal finance YouTube channel with more than 2.5 million subscribers, and CEO of Briefs Finance. He’s also a licensed attorney who chose to build businesses instead of practicing law. Avoid these 7 expensive rental property mistakes → https://affordanything.com/rent In this episode, we discuss: How hiring the cheapest property manager can cost you the most Why skipping a $200 inspection led to his worst deal ever Why an employee who’s just coasting hurts a small team more than a weak one A simple two-list exercise that shows whether your hard work actually pays How the tax code rewards owners and investors over employees How a terrible market timer who never sold still turned $100,000 into more than $1 million Where AI’s ripple effects could create opportunities beyond the AI companies themselves Whether you’re weighing a first rental, a business, or simply investing more consistently, this conversation shows what each path really costs and how to learn those lessons for less than Jaspreet paid. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED JASPREET LEARNED RENTALS, BUSINESS, AND INVESTING THE EXPENSIVE WAY. MAP YOUR OWN PATH FOR FREE 👉 https://affordanything.com/fiire Minority Mindset on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@MinorityMindset Briefs Finance and the free Market Briefs newsletter 👉 https://www.briefs.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Q&A: "I’m 26 and No Longer Motivated by Money. Am I Unemployable?”
2026/10/13
#758: Joe says that if you tell an employer you’re not motivated by money, you’re unemployable. Paula says that’s exactly the person she wants to hire. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins Paula to answer a question from a 26-year-old whose net worth is already 10 times her annual spending. Then they take on two more: whether target date funds are worth it, and whether a dad of young kids should make a career change that cuts his income by 60%. In this episode, we discuss: Why not being motivated by money can make you a better hire The two traits Paula looks for when she hires How to tell whether a small business is a good place to work, and when it isn’t A quick test for whether you’d actually enjoy your coworkers When a target date fund makes sense, and when it holds you back How to decide whether to make a big career change now or wait Why your savings might be meant for exactly this kind of leap If you’ve saved enough that a paycheck no longer drives your choices, this episode will help you figure out what should. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:32) She’s 26 and no longer motivated by money (07:23) What Paula looks for instead of money motivation (12:54) The hidden risk of working at a tiny company (24:55) The 8-hour layover test for coworkers (33:05) Why Paula put her parents in target date funds (40:24) Joe’s 30-minute alternative to target date funds (51:33) Why your 401(k) target date fund may be junk (58:33) The case for target date funds as harm reduction (01:08:01) Should he take a 60% pay cut to switch careers? (01:13:37) Why waiting “one more year” rarely helps 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Building your own mix instead of a target date fund? See which account each fund belongs in: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation 👉 Episode #709, planning for a child with special needs, with Keith Wargo: https://affordanything.com/709-the-financial-reality-of-developmental-disability-with-keith-wargo/ 👉 Stacking Benjamins, Joe’s podcast: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/ 👉 Strategic Coach, the entrepreneur coaching program Joe recommends: https://www.strategiccoach.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Steve Jobs Hated the Name “Genius Bar.” How He Came Around, with Ron Johnson
2026/10/09
#757: Ron Johnson is the creator of the Apple Stores and former CEO of JCPenney. At age 24 Ron Johnson turned down a $120,000 Goldman Sachs offer to unload trucks for $40,000, and that detour led Steve Jobs to hire him to build the Apple Store. Years later, he took over JCPenney and watched it fail for a reason that had nothing to do with his vision. Ron Johnson created the Apple Store and worked directly for Steve Jobs for 12 years, after bringing designer products to Target. He later served as CEO of JCPenney and is the author of Shop Different. In this episode, we discuss: How to weigh a lower-paying job that teaches you more How to set goals big enough that people work harder How to persuade a team whose top priority is not getting fired How to change a strong-willed boss’s mind Why a bold plan fails without trust, and how to build trust first What a rush of early customers can hide about a new business How to get out of your head when you’re overthinking a decision Whether you’re weighing a career risk, building a business on nights and weekends, or trying to get people behind a bold idea, this conversation shows what it takes, and what it costs to skip a step. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:14) Why a few columns made Steve Jobs furious (08:44) How he talked Steve Jobs into shopping malls (15:33) Why he turned down $120K to unload trucks (22:10) Why big goals beat small improvements (29:24) How to sell a risky idea to cautious coworkers (37:02) The $30 tea kettle that caught Steve Jobs’ eye (46:02) Why a record-breaking opening day was misleading (56:26) How a hotel inspired the Genius Bar (1:14:40) Why JCPenney failed: trust, not vision (1:35:54) How to escape analysis paralysis 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Would you turn down $120K for work you love? Find out what’s really driving your money choices: https://affordanything.com/fiire 👉 Ron’s Book, Shop Different: https://amzn.to/4yFA1SH  👉 Ron’s website: https://ronjohnsonshopsdifferent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Losing $500K in ‘08 Led One Trader to a Different Kind of Portfolio, with Jared Dillian
2026/10/06
#756: In September 2008, Jared Dillian watched about half a million dollars of Lehman Brothers stock go to zero in a single week. He wasn't allowed to sell any of it. What he built afterward is a portfolio designed so he never goes through that again. Jared Dillian was a trader at Lehman Brothers from 2001 until its collapse, and ran its exchange-traded fund desk. He's the author of The Awesome Portfolio and taught finance at the university level for 13 years. In this episode, we discuss: Why to sell your company stock as soon as you're allowed to How living below your means gave him the freedom to start a business when Lehman fell How to gauge your real risk tolerance with a simple Las Vegas test How a portfolio split five ways (stocks, bonds, cash, gold, real estate) held up in 2008 Why a 20% cash cushion can be an advantage instead of a drag What long-term bond yields reveal about the economy that stocks don't What it would actually take to close the Social Security funding gap If most of your money sits in an index fund or your employer's stock, this conversation will help you figure out how big a drop you could actually stomach before the next real bear market tests you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:29) Walking into Lehman Brothers the day it collapsed (04:38) The $500,000 in company stock that went to zero (06:57) How cheap living let him start a business instead (19:54) Why buy-and-hold hasn't faced a real crash since 2008 (22:52) The Las Vegas test for your risk tolerance (27:07) A five-way portfolio that fell just 9.8% in 2008 (28:46) The one scenario where this portfolio struggles (29:33) Is 20% cash too much with inflation? (44:45) Why bond yields are the economy's warning light (51:25) Why half of retirees claim Social Security at 62 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED BEFORE YOU ADD BONDS OR REAL ESTATE FUNDS, KNOW WHICH ACCOUNT THEY BELONG IN 👉 https://affordanything.com/assetlocation Jared Dillian's website 👉 https://www.jareddillianmoney.com The Awesome Portfolio by Jared Dillian 👉 https://amzn.to/4ART5i4 Jared Dillian on X 👉 https://x.com/dailydirtnap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
First Friday: AI, Debt, and a Social Security Shortfall. Should Your Money Plans Change? With Rob Berger
2026/10/02
#755: Many retirees fear running out of money more than they fear dying. AI is reshaping the economy, the U.S. now spends over $1 trillion on interest, and Social Security faces a shortfall. Rob Berger says if you're worried about all that, it's a sign you're thinking clearly. Rob Berger is a former securities lawyer, founder of the personal finance site Dough Roller, and host of a nearly 300,000-subscriber YouTube channel on investing and retirement planning. He started writing about money in 2007, just months before the Great Recession. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell whether today's high stock prices should change your plan When to trim a stock that's grown too big, and when to let it ride Why a booming economy can still leave so many people feeling squeezed What a looming Social Security shortfall could mean for your retirement How to cover your basic bills with guaranteed income, whatever markets do How to ease into retirement instead of going from 40 hours to zero Why daily spending habits matter more than investing knowledge Whether you're five years from retirement or five years into your career, this episode will help you separate what's truly changing from what never does. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED RETIREMENT WORRIES FEEL OVERWHELMING? SEE YOUR WHOLE FINANCIAL PICTURE ON ONE PAGE 👉 http://affordanything.com/cornerstone Rob Berger on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw Rob's free weekly retirement newsletter 👉 https://robberger.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Q&A: We Have $80K in Cash and Want a 1–2 Year Sabbatical. Is It Enough?
2026/09/29
#754: Four months of savings in the bank, a goal of eight, and a career break she's excited to fund. Does everything else really have to wait? Paula and Joe's answer: don't turn your emergency fund into an emergency. A 42-year-old UK listener asks how to split money between an emergency fund, a career break, and retirement. Then we map out a 30-something couple's sabbatical and ask whether you can objectively grade a politician on the economy. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell a true emergency from an expense you know is coming How to rank competing savings goals when you can't fund them all How to protect retirement without putting your life on hold How to cover a sabbatical when your cash runs short Why low-income years are a prime window for Roth conversions How to test whether you can stomach an all-stock portfolio How to judge a politician's economic record without the spin If you're juggling short-term plans and long-term goals and feel pulled in every direction, this episode will help you decide what gets funded first, and what can wait. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (05:30) The real difference between emergencies and expenses (07:28) Why a former planner never said "emergency fund" (13:13) The monthly math that breaks most wish lists (18:36) One question that reveals what you really want (26:37) Why four months of savings is enough for now (33:48) Fund the sabbatical before earmarking a down payment (37:00) Why a career break is prime time for Roth conversions (43:24) How to test if you can handle a 22% drop (1:01:53) Judge politicians on policies, not short-term results (1:09:42) Why focusing on what you control grows your influence 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Emergency fund, sabbatical, retirement? See which box each dollar belongs in with this free one-page worksheet: https://affordanything.com/cornerstone 👉 Paul Merriman's free model portfolios and investing courses: https://paulmerriman.com 👉 Adventure Capitalist by Jim Rogers: https://amzn.to/4xOaEg3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why 60,000 New York Apartments Sit Empty in a Housing Crisis, with Kenny Burgos
2026/09/25
#753: New York City is short roughly half a million homes, yet at least 60,000 rent-regulated apartments sit empty. Under current rules, many owners lose less money by leaving them vacant than by fixing them up. Kenny Burgos is CEO of the New York Apartment Association, which represents owners of rent-stabilized buildings, and a former New York State Assemblymember from the Bronx. In this episode, we discuss: How New York's rent rules work, and why they've lasted since 1969 Why the typical New Yorker pays about $1,600 while listings ask $5,500 Why some buildings now sell for $50,000 an apartment, and why that isn't a deal How a rent freeze pushes costs onto market-rate renters and delayed repairs Why a targeted rent freeze for seniors and disabled residents works better What Vienna's housing model accounts for that New York's doesn't What aspiring landlords should weigh before buying rent-regulated property Whether you own rentals, hope to, or just want to understand the rent-control debate, this episode shows what happens when costs keep rising and rents can't. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Ready to buy your first rental property, or get more out of the one you already own? Join the waitlist for Your First Rental Property. You'll be the first to know when enrollment opens: courses.affordanything.com 👉 New York Apartment Association: https://housingny.org 👉 Housing New York podcast with Kenny Burgos: https://housingny.org/housingnypodcast 👉 Kenny Burgos on X: https://x.com/KennyBurgosNY ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (03:44) Why New York's 1969 emergency rent rules never ended (04:58) The surprisingly low rent most New Yorkers actually pay (23:33) Why buildings now sell for $50,000 an apartment (25:12) Costs rose 4.5%. Rents were frozen at 0%. (31:39) The rent-freeze program that actually works (39:38) Who really pays when rents are frozen (47:13) Why 60,000 apartments sit empty during a shortage (01:01:53) Buyout or pressure? The $150,000 question (01:06:52) What Vienna gets right that New York doesn't (01:16:18) Should you buy a rental in New York? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Q&A: I’m Tired of Managing My Rental Property. Should I Sell It?
2026/09/22
#752: A caller's rental is performing fine, but a late-paying tenant and a roof replacement have her ready to sell it before she moves to Madrid for her MBA. Paula argues the real fix isn't selling — it's a hire she hasn't made yet. This week, Joe joins Paula to help a caller decide whether to sell a rental property from abroad, then dig into new data on why women's labor force participation dropped in July while their share of new jobs surged in August. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell if you're making the right call for the wrong reason Why a new roof or a set of windows can be a form of forced investing The one hire that can solve the same problem as selling your rental A simple way to estimate a rental property's real return What to weigh before selling a working investment on gut feel alone Why women's labor force participation fell in July even as their job gains led the year Why the trades are becoming a stronger bet than a four-year degree for some new grads This one's for anyone facing a big financial decision that feels more emotional than mathematical — whether that's a rental property, a career move, or a job you're not sure is worth keeping. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (01:45) Why she wants to sell a rental that's "objectively good" (03:25) When it's actually okay to sell a good investment (10:03) One hire that stops panic-selling a rental property (14:44) The simple math to compare rental returns vs. stocks (17:31) Paula's own confession about hating her first rental property (22:22) Why doing what you're best at beats doing everything yourself (30:11) 100% of last month's labor force drop was women (31:54) The real reasons women are leaving the workforce right now (32:18) Why women got 85% of new jobs created this year (47:00) The industry that could fix jobs and housing at once 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Torn on selling a rental? Get our free 10-day guide, which includes a deal-analysis exercise to help you decide with the numbers, not just your gut: https://affordanything.com/fiire 👉 Sign up for our newsletter (get the new site first): https://affordanything.com/newsletter 👉 Leave us a voicemail with your own money question: https://affordanything.com/voicemail 👉 Read the BLS jobs report Paula cites in this episode: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Self-Worth Predicts Your Income More Than Your SAT Score Does, with Marisa Franco
2026/09/18
#751: The belief that’s quietly sabotaging your progress might not even be true. Free worksheet to question it: https://affordanything.com/turn-it-around Two people can grow up with the exact same test scores — and as adults, one of them ends up earning double the other. Psychologist Marisa Franco says the deciding factor isn't intelligence, and it isn't luck. It's whether you actually believe good things are allowed to happen to you. Dr. Marisa Franco is a psychologist and professor at the University of Maryland, and the New York Times bestselling author of Platonic. She's back to talk about her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment. In this episode, we discuss: How self-worth — not intelligence or family income — predicts how much you'll earn as an adult Why some people quietly sabotage their own portfolio right before they hit financial independence The difference between "good" and "bad" high self-esteem, and why one of them wrecks relationships Why getting more love or praise than you expect can make you pull away instead of lean in How to actually process a hard emotion instead of shoving it down Why hitting a big financial goal can leave you feeling strangely empty once you get there How to rebuild your sense of self after losing an identity you were attached to Whether you've ever undermined your own progress right before a finish line, or wondered why reaching a goal didn't feel the way you thought it would, this episode gives you a framework for understanding — and changing — that pattern. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:05) The two very different types of high self-esteem (04:36) Self-esteem vs. self-worth: the real difference (05:37) Why self-worth predicts income more than SAT scores (12:21) Sabotaging your own portfolio right before you hit FI (14:15) The self-fulfilling prophecy behind financial fear (23:36) Why too much love can make you pull away (25:05) How low self-worth blocks promotions and job offers (36:13) The memory trick that can change your brain (46:19) Why self-worth matters most in a bad market (1:06:10) Does self-worth actually drive your net worth? 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment: https://drmarisagfranco.com/worth-the-book/ 👉 Marisa's website (speaking, articles, more): https://drmarisagfranco.com 👉 Marisa on Instagram (for signed copies via Lost City Books): https://www.instagram.com/drmarisagfranco/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Your "Diversified" Portfolio Might Secretly Be One Big Bet on AI, with Alec Litowitz
2026/09/15
#750: Free worksheet: question the belief that might be keeping you stuck — before reality forces the update for you: http://affordanything.com/turn-it-around Alec Litowitz spent three decades building one of the world's largest hedge funds, and he says the highest-IQ people in the room are often the last to notice the world has changed. His answer isn't more intelligence — it's the willingness to be wrong, quickly, and update before everyone else catches up. Alec co-founded Citadel alongside Ken Griffin and later founded Magnetar Capital, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. His new book, The Adaptability Quotient, is out September 15. In this episode, we discuss: How adaptability quotient (AQ) differs from IQ and EQ — and why it matters more now What a doomed Antarctic expedition reveals about real adaptability Why AI makes knowledge abundant and judgment scarce How to stop needing to be right so you can update faster The real reason Blockbuster lost to Netflix (it wasn't a bad decision) A 4-part test for telling a temporary shift from a permanent one Why a "diversified" portfolio might secretly be one big bet right now This episode is for anyone whose career, portfolio, or plans feel less certain than they used to — a way of thinking that doesn't require predicting the future, just noticing when your old model has stopped working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How a Blind Man and His Dog Survived 9/11 from the 78th Floor
2026/09/11
#749: Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit on Sept. 11. He felt the impact, but couldn’t see it. Michael has been blind since shortly after birth. Alongside his guide dog, Roselle, they descended 1,463 steps – escaping just before the South Tower, 100 yards away, collapsed. They then helped a woman who was temporarily blinded by the dust. Michael's story answers the question – What do you do when something terrifying is happening, you don't have enough information, you cannot control the outcome, and everyone around you is beginning to panic? Michael's answer is surprisingly practical. 1. Prepare before you need the preparation. 2. Know what you know, know what you don't know. 3. Stop mentally rehearsing outcomes you cannot control 4. Keep acting on the part that remains within your control. He had deliberately learned the World Trade Center's exits, emergency procedures, physical layout, and systems long before Sept 11 because he believed that was part of being responsible for his office. When the building was struck, he describes that preparation as a “mindset” that simply kicked in. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (00:00) Life before September 11 (24:34) The plane hits the North Tower (34:03) Fear takes over in the stairwell (1:04:01) Turning tragedy into a new career (1:28:02) Challenging attitudes about blindness (1:38:01) Supporting guide dog organizations 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED michaelhingson.com guidedogs.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Q&A: My Dream Job Won't Wait If I Take a Family Gap Year — Do I Quit Anyway?
2026/09/08
#748: The real question behind quitting a job you love or paying off debt anyway? Your money mindset. Take our free quiz to find yours: https://affordanything.com/fiire A listener with $686,000 saved and a job she loves wants to take her family on a year-long trip — but Paula says her real question isn't about money at all. Later: a dad chooses to stop maxing his IRA to pay off a mortgage, even though the math says otherwise. Joe joins from the road to help answer three listener questions: a family weighing a year off against a job she loves, a dad debating whether to stop maxing his IRA to pay off a house, and a longtime listener with a smarter way to save for college. In this episode, we discuss: How to decide whether a job you love is worth walking away from for a family gap year The three factors that actually predict whether you'll love your next job Why "retiring early" might be the wrong goal — and what to aim for instead How to know if you're financially ready for a career break, and what to prep first Why paying off your mortgage can beat investing, even when the math says otherwise How to structure your mortgage term like a finance pro (and why the 30-year can win) Why saving in separate, labeled accounts makes it easier to actually hit your goals Whether you're weighing a big life pivot, deciding what to do with extra cash, or just trying to make saving feel less abstract, this episode offers frameworks — not just formulas — for making the call. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (07:12) Can you afford to quit a job you love? (11:09) Three things that actually predict job satisfaction (17:05) Why this window with your kids won't come twice (22:20) Why retiring often beats retiring early (30:14) Why bad trip experiences count as good data (34:18) Why paying off debt can beat the math (36:49) Why coasting on your current savings pace is risky (44:26) How to think like a CFO about your mortgage (51:09) Why one bucket per goal makes saving easier (53:46) Why your 401k isn't really about retirement 🔗 OTHER RESOURCES 👉 The real question behind quitting a job you love or paying off debt anyway? Your money mindset. Take our free quiz to find yours: https://affordanything.com/fiire 👉 Camp Fi, the financial independence retreats Paula and Joe swap stories about this episode: https://campfi.org 👉 Heavy Metal Money, Chris Luger's personal-finance podcast (Joe recorded this episode from his place): https://heavymetal.money 👉 Got a question of your own? Leave a voicemail for Paula: https://affordanything.com/voicemail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
First Friday: Trouble in the Bond Market
2026/09/05
#747: We have good news on multiple fronts to share about the job market, the stock market, the commodities market, and volatile news around the bond market. And we begin it with some great news coming out of Nepal. Welcome to the First Friday episode for September 2026. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (00:00) Rescued workers in Nepal (04:53) Strong August jobs report (10:14) Conflicting employment data (12:27) Strong jobs, weaker stocks (17:43) Why bonds matter more (23:17) Inflation drives Treasury yields (29:45) Hidden risks in bonds (36:50) Treasury buyback controversy (43:32) Liquidity versus warning signs 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Build a Life of Financial Freedom with our free workbook: https://affordanything.com/fiire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Q&A: What Nepal Reveals About Wealth and Safety
2026/09/01
#746: We begin today’s episode with a discussion of the disastrous flash flooding in Nepal, a personal topic for Paula given her family there. There’s both a human story, one of the resilience of the Nepalese people and the strong community bonds there, and an economic story, where poor infrastructure and a lack of economic development have hindered disaster response and exacerbated the tragedies of recent events.  Listeners can donate to help the victims here:  The Prime Minister Relief Fund: https://pmdrf.nchl.com.np/ Caritas Nepal: https://www.caritasnepal.org/donate-now/ Learn more about the ongoing rescue efforts at https://help.ekantipur.com/ A caller wants to put part of her mom's $80,000 home-sale proceeds into an annuity — and it left her financial-planner co-host doing a double take. Turns out it might be the first caller in the show's history the product was actually built for. This week's Q&A tackles two retirement questions from listeners: when it makes sense to ease off maxing out a 401k in favor of a more flexible brokerage account, and whether a guaranteed-income annuity is the right move for a retiree who isn't great at managing money on her own. In this episode, we discuss: How to know when to stop maxing out your 401k and start filling a taxable brokerage account instead The real "deal" you're making with the government every time you use a tax-advantaged account Why an insurance company can keep 100% of the money if the annuity holder dies too soon — and how to avoid it The one type of person a guaranteed-income annuity is actually built for A simple daily habit trick for building consistency, borrowed from a world-class choreographer Why doing everything right doesn't guarantee a good outcome, and what that means for your own decisions What Nepal's disaster response reveals about the real payoff of economic development Whether you're mapping out an early-retirement bridge or helping a parent build guardrails around a windfall, this episode will help you think more clearly about the trade-offs each option carries. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Not sure which investments belong in your 401k, your Roth, or your taxable account? Grab our free guide to figuring out where each one goes: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation 👉 Morgan Housel on the split-second decision that changed everything: https://affordanything.com/488-gut-instincts-and-big-decisions-with-morgan-housel/ 👉 Our interview with retirement researcher Dr. Wade Pfau on annuities and retirement income: https://affordanything.com/271-retirement-planning-in-2020-with-dr-wade-pfau/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Four Kinds of Rich Nobody Counts -- with Sahil Bloom [GREATEST HITS]
2026/08/28
#745: A friend once asked Sahil Bloom how often he saw his parents. About once a year, Sahil said. How old are they? Mid-60s. His friend did the math out loud. If they live to 80, you'll see them 15 more times. Sahil was 30, living in California and making great money at a venture fund. Within 45 days of that conversation, he quit his job, sold his house and moved across the country to be near family. He's now managing partner of SRB Ventures, an early-stage fund backing more than 60 startups, and he writes The Curiosity Chronicle, a newsletter read by millions. His book, "The 5 Types of Wealth," is a New York Times bestseller. His framework starts with a scoring problem. Financial wealth gets measured every day. Time, social, mental and physical wealth run in the background, unmeasured, until something forces you to look. You'll get exercises for each. Build an energy calendar that tracks which activities charge you up and which drain you. Map your relationships by how healthy and how frequent they are. Ask what your family and your community need from you. Define what "enough" means in dollars, then write the number down. Sahil also walks through anti-goals — the things you refuse to sacrifice on the way to a goal — and Memento Mori, the Roman habit of keeping your own death in view. Two questions run underneath all of it. Think about how you spent yesterday. Would your 10-year-old self be impressed? Would your 90-year-old self? You don't experience all four seasons in a single day. Sahil argues your life runs on seasons too. Some stretches call for financial growth. Others call for family. Find Sahil at the5typesofwealth.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Read Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices podcast reviews


4.7 out of 5
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★★★★★
StefanSidahmed 2026/09/24
Rental property
First off, I’m a fan of this show. Thank you for the sound advice. One comment on the rental property episode - 100% agree on hiring a manager, but fi...
★★★★★
DDR747 2026/08/28
I’m so grateful to be an Afforder
This is the only podcast I listen to every single episode. Paula and Joe explain money concepts so clearly on the Q&A episodes. The interview style ep...
★★★★★
Taryl G 2026/08/22
Years of fantastic content
I’ve listened to Paula since at least 2014, and to this day Afford Anything is one of my favorite podcasts in the wealth and self improvement space. T...
★★★★★
I do mountains 2026/07/28
The best
Everything about this podcast is amazing. Paula is the best. I especially love the Q&A episodes with Joe but the first Friday economic updates and int...
★★★★☆
Interested bystander 2026/06/14
Wealth stages
An alternative to 4% rule.
★★★★★
Charlotte CM 2026/06/11
Best Personal Finance Podcast
You won’t find a better interviewer in this space than Paula Pant. If you’re interested in personal finance and/or real estate investing, look no furt...
★★★★★
Texancoqui 2026/06/02
Fantastic podcast
I have been listening for year. I appreciate Paula’s thoughtful approach to complex problems. She and Joe Saul-Sehy in their question-and-answer sess...
★★★☆☆
Sarita7981 2026/05/11
College talk, finally.
Glad to see the podcast periodically talking about paying for college , saving for college, and loans, finally. I asked a few years ago for this but ...
★★★★★
vicccccccv 2026/03/25
My top podcast right now!!
I love Paula and Joe so much and have really enjoyed learning from this podcast! I’m in the insurance and financial services industry and appreciate t...
★★★★★
UTNDguy 2026/03/17
Mostly good
I really enjoy the episodes with Joe but don’t love most of the interviews. I’m not sure why. Maybe because they are so long.
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