Best Paulapant Podcasts (2025)

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Nick Maggiulli: The Wealth Ladder Has Six Rungs (and Most People Never Climb Past Four) 1:15:42

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1d ago1:15:42

1:15:42

#629: Here's the thing about personal finance advice: what works when you have $10,000 won't work when you have $1 million. Yet most financial guidance treats everyone the same, whether you're scraping together a $1,000 emergency fund or deciding whether to upgrade to business class. Nick Maggiulli, author of "The Wealth Ladder," joins us to break …

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Why Nice People Struggle with Money, with Dr. Sandra Matz, Professor at Columbia Business School 1:14:11

6d ago1:14:11

1:14:11

#628: You follow all the right personal finance advice. You know you should save more, invest regularly, and build an emergency fund. So why does it feel so much harder for some people than others? The answer lies in your personality. Dr. Sandra Matz, a professor at Columbia Business School, studies the intersection of psychology and money manageme…

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Q&A: When Being Good With Money … Isn't Good Enough 1:00:47

9d ago1:00:47

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#627: Jlyn and her husband are 20 years from retirement, but they’ve got their eye on a second home they’ll live in when the time comes. Should they make the purchase now, or keep saving? Reese was recently laid off, and she’s struggling to choose between two financially responsible paths. Should she continue her long-term disability insurance? Or …

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The Hidden Psychology Behind Failed Dreams, with Yale’s Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle 1:10:16

13d ago1:10:16

1:10:16

#626: A software programmer and an accountant walk into retirement planning. Are they being creative? Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, a senior research scientist at Yale University's Center for Emotional Intelligence, says absolutely. Pringle defines creativity as something that's both original and effective, whether you're solving an accounting proble…

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JL Collins Part 2: What Happens When You Don't Need to Work Anymore? 1:03:43

16d ago1:03:43

1:03:43

#625: What do you do when you've reached financial independence? JL Collins says it depends entirely on your spending rate, not just your net worth. Collins joins us for part two of our conversation about what happens after you reach financial independence. He tackles the question of whether you should invest differently once you've "won the game."…

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JL Collins Part 1: The Simple Path vs. The "Optimal" Path 59:15

20d ago59:15

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#624: JL Collins, author of "The Simple Path to Wealth" — the guy synonymous with VTSAX and chill — joins us for Part 1 of a two-part series where we skip the basics and dive straight into the complex stuff. We ask him whether his simple approach actually beats more sophisticated strategies, and his answer might surprise you. He says that Paul Merr…

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Q&A: “Help! My Mom’s Financial Crisis Is Becoming Mine!” 55:08

23d ago55:08

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#623: An anonymous caller feels trapped in a no-win situation with her financially reckless mother. She has the means to bail her out, but it doesn’t feel right. What should she do? Shannon is excited about investing in several companies overseas. But she can only access them using American Depository Receipts. What are they, and how do they work? …

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First Friday: Why Americans Are More Pessimistic Than Ever 39:42

27d ago39:42

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#622: #622: The headlines said America added 147,000 jobs in June. The reality? Private companies actually cut 33,000 positions. Grad students just lost access to unlimited borrowing. Parent PLUS loans now cap at $65,000. And tariffs are about to jump as high as 70 percent. Everything is changing at once — taxes, tariffs, student loans, and immigra…

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Q&A: Which Investments Should Go Into Which Accounts? 1:09:06

29d ago1:09:06

1:09:06

DOWNLOAD the FREE Cheat Sheet: ASSET LOCATION MADE SIMPLE at affordanything.com/assetlocation #621: Jared is attracted to the favorable terms of the annuity plan that his employer offers, but he’s hesitant to pay the opportunity cost of locking up his money now. What should he do? An anonymous caller is struggling to find the efficient frontier wit…

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The Hidden Cost of Replacing You at Work, with “Money with Katie” host Katie Gatti Tassin 39:08

30d ago39:08

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#620: You probably think your value to your employer equals your paycheck. Katie Gatti Tassin has news for you — you're worth way more than that. The host of "Money with Katie" recently joined us to break down a framework that could change how you negotiate forever. Her formula is simple: Your worth equals your market rate plus what it costs to rep…

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Q&A: My Company Is Going Public and I Have No Idea What to Do – Plus, Should I Fire My Advisor? 1:10:22

1M ago1:10:22

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#619: Dave is no longer happy with his financial advisor, but he’s nervous about switching over to self-management after being completely hands-off for so long. What should he do? An anonymous caller keeps hearing about the benefits of Cost Segregation for investment property. What is it? And should he apply this strategy to his recently acquired d…

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How to Retire at 50 While Supporting Aging Parents, with Frank Vasquez 1:20:57

1M ago1:20:57

1:20:57

DOWNLOAD the RISK PARITY PORTFOLIO CHEAT SHEET at affordanything.com/riskparity ______________ #618: Frank Vasquez watched his parents, ages 91 and 96, struggle financially in retirement. They were immigrants. His dad was a physician. They raised five kids. They retired in the early 1990’s. But by 2009, they ran out of money. When Frank was 45, in …

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Q&A: We Just Had a Baby and Lost Half Our Income 1:04:03

1M ago1:04:03

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#617: Austin and his wife are worried about moving to a single-income household while supporting two kids. Should they free up cash flow by paying off a car loan, or tighten up and stay the course? Paul has been retired for seven years, but still can’t shake his anxiety about not having enough. Is there a good way to know when he’s finally escaped …

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How Hackers Are Stealing Your Retirement $50 at a Time, with former CIA hacker Dr. Eric Cole 1:49:30

2M ago1:49:30

1:49:30

#616: Two school teachers in Ohio saved their entire lives for one dream — buying a farm. When they inherited $1.3 million and found the perfect property for $1.2 million, everything seemed perfect. Five days before closing, they received what looked like a legitimate email from their closing company with wire transfer instructions. They sent the m…

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Q&A: We Saved $1.2 Million But We’re Still Renting. Should We Buy? 1:12:01

2M ago1:12:01

1:12:01

#615: Emily is nervous that buying their first home will derail her family’s journey to financial independence. What’s the smartest way to deploy their savings and stay on track? Based on cap rate calculations, Paul’s real estate investments have appreciated beyond their sensible holding point. Should he sell his assets, or is there more to conside…

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First Friday: The Dollar Is Weak, Bonds Are Expensive, and We Owe WWII-Level Debt 56:24

2M ago56:24

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#614: The US just added 139,000 new jobs in May. That beat expectations. But the real story isn't in the job numbers — it’s in the bond market. Something unusual is happening in bonds. Treasury yields are spiking. The dollar is weakening. That combination almost never happens together. And it's signaling concerns about future inflation. Trade wars …

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Rachel Rodgers: This Multimillionaire Started With $330,000 in Debt and a $41,000 Salary 1:37:19

2M ago1:37:19

1:37:19

#613: Rachel Rodgers graduated from law school with $330,000 in student loans. Her starting salary? Just $41,000. Most people would have accepted this crushing debt-to-income ratio. They'd slowly chip away at payments for decades. Rodgers had a different plan. She deferred her loans and started her own virtual law practice in 2008 — during the rece…

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How to Know If You're Cut Out for Entrepreneurship Before You Risk Everything, with Grant Sabatier 1:17:46

2M ago1:17:46

1:17:46

Grant Sabatier never worked in retail, never worked in a bookstore, and had no idea what he was doing when he opened Clintonville Books in Columbus, Ohio. But that's exactly the point. The experiment required 1,200 hours of solo work — measuring spaces, moving 40,000 books, and navigating city regulations. But it taught him something crucial: even …

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Q&A: Is It REALLY Different This Time? 1:09:25

2M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

#611: With the state of the world changing so rapidly, Lesley is struggling to accept that “this time isn’t different.” Does the past still reliably inform the present in the face of major decisions today? An anonymous caller and her husband want to achieve financial independence through real estate within 10 years. Is it better to pay off existing…

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Your Goals Might Be Killing You (Literally), with Sebastien Page 1:34:59

2M ago1:34:59

1:34:59

In 2005, Sebastien Page nearly died from a mysterious bacterial infection that doctors couldn't diagnose for a week. A single observant physician noticed cuts on his toes from running in wet terrain and connected the dots. The experience forced Page to confront mortality — and completely changed how he thinks about goals. Page, the chief investment…

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Q&A: How Not To Screw Up Retirement Spending 1:18:49

2M ago1:18:49

1:18:49

Eva is approaching financial independence, but she’s worried about messing up the transition. How does she set her portfolio up for success during the drawdown years of early retirement? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I deep-dive into this question in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Episodes about the Efficie…

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The Stoic Path to Wealth, with Billionaire Investor and Philanthropist Robert Rosenkrantz 1:25:18

3M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

#608: At age seven, Robert Rosenkrantz made a decision that would shape his entire life: he would take full responsibility for his future. As a child, Rosenkrantz watched his parents struggle financially. His father was unemployed for two years, and his mother worked as a drugstore clerk. Their financial insecurity was painfully obvious to young Ro…

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Q&A: Remember When Money Advice Came From Just One Book at the Library? 1:24:46

3M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

#607: George is a worried baby boomer, wondering if today’s generation is drowning in the noise of today’s financial landscape. How does one find a balance between information and overload? Heather is stunned by the notion that renting could make more financial sense than buying. Where she’s from, the numbers seem to always swing in favor of owning…

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Can You Really Afford to Die? - with Hospice and Oncology Nurse Suzanne O’Brien 1:17:52

3M ago1:17:52

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#606: Hospice nurse and end-of-life educator Suzanne O’Brien joins us to discuss the financial realities of dying in America — and they might surprise you. Remember Aretha Franklin? Her handwritten will was found in her couch cushions after she passed away. Despite her substantial wealth, this simple document was legally upheld. It's a powerful rem…

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Q&A: My Boss Said Return to Office. So I’m Quitting. 46:57

3M ago46:57

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#605: In light of recent federal mandates to return to the office, Pedro is having a hard time giving up on his fully remote lifestyle. Is there a creative solution to his dilemma? An anonymous caller is excited to move abroad permanently. How should she structure her investments to support her international lifestyle while maintaining a home base …

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First Friday: How April’s Tariffs Changed the Economy 1:00:41

3M ago1:00:41

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#604: The biggest trade shake-up in 135 years is happening right now. April brought tariff levels that economists say haven't been seen since the 1890s, creating ripple effects throughout the economy. We're seeing a stark disconnect between official economic data and how people feel about their financial future. While the economy added 177,000 jobs…

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Q&A: Who Actually Makes Money From Gold and Silver These Days? 1:04:57

3M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

#603: Bethany’s partner wants to invest most of their money in gold and silver, but no one seems to talk about this kind of investing. Is this a red flag or a potential opportunity? Diana is worried she’s been saving too much for her kids’ college - hundreds of dollars a month since they were born. How does she know when to stop? Wendy’s pension an…

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The Surprising Science of Six-Figure Thinking 1:06:00

3M ago1:06:00

1:06:00

#602: Ever looked back at an old Facebook post and cringed? According to Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic, that discomfort is evidence of something powerful: your personality has changed, even if you didn't notice it happening. In our latest episode, Khazan, who recently wrote a book on the science of personality change, breaks down how ou…

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Q&A: The Stock Market Sucks. Is Private Equity Any Better? 56:53

3M ago56:53

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#601: Nick and his wife have $100,000 to invest, but they’re worried about the volatility of the current stock market. Should they look into alternative investments such as private equity? Even though Roth IRAs come with tax-free withdrawals in retirement, Josh is worried about his tax bracket going up and neutralizing the benefits. Is he right to …

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Mini-Retirements Are the New Early Retirement – with Mom of Six, Jillian Johnsrud 1:43:09

3M ago1:43:09

1:43:09

#600: Jillian Johnsrud was falling apart. After suffering a miscarriage, she couldn't pull herself together to return to her job as a youth pastor in DC. She decided to take a month off. That unexpected break became Jillian's first "mini-retirement" — a deliberate step away from work for at least 30 days to focus on something meaningful. Today, Jil…

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Q&A: Retirement Math That Actually Works; Cashing In on the World Cup; and Why Your Parents' Housing Advice Is Wrong 1:18:07

4M ago1:18:07

1:18:07

#599: Becky and her husband are about to semi-retire. But the four percent retirement withdrawal rule doesn’t make sense for them. Are there other financial frameworks they should explore? Kris is excited about a potential boost in local real estate values when the World Cup comes to town. Will this have any significant impacts on his property? Pey…

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Tax Strategies You Might Be Missing, with Natalie Kolodij 1:31:42

4M ago1:31:42

1:31:42

#598: Tax day is approaching, and if you're like most people, you might be overlooking deductions that could save you money. In our latest podcast episode, tax strategist Natalie Kolodij joins us to reveal common tax misconceptions and share strategies that could potentially lower your tax bill. "The tax code is 70,000 pages," Natalie explains. "Th…

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Are We Heading for a Recession?, with Bob Elliott, former Head of Ray Dalio’s Investment Team at World's Largest Hedge Fund 1:27:59

4M ago1:27:59

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#597: A recession is coming, and it might be worse than most people expect. That's the sobering assessment from Bob Elliott, former Head of Ray Dalio's Investment Team at Bridgewater Associates, when he joins us on the podcast. Bob explains that several economic factors are converging to create challenging conditions. The combination of current tra…

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First Friday: Tariffs Grab Headlines, But These Financial Changes Nobody Is Talking About Will Impact You Too 59:18

4M ago59:18

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#596: Yesterday, the White House rolled out the biggest tariffs in a century, sending markets into their worst decline since the pandemic. While headlines focus on supply chains and inflation, there are important economic stories you're not hearing about. During the first half of this month's First Friday episode, we dig into what nobody's talking …

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Q&A: The Scary Shift from Saving to — Gulp! — Actually Spending Your Money 1:05:06

4M ago1:05:06

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#595: Eva is finally closing in on her financial independence goals, but she’s grappling with how to make a smooth transition from accumulation to decumulation. What should she consider? John has noticed a game-changing omission from recent discussions about traditional versus Roth IRAs. Is this as big of a deal as he thinks it is? An anonymous cal…

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How to Travel on $75 Per Day, with Nomadic Matt Kepnes 1:15:25

4M ago1:15:25

1:15:25

#594: Ever wonder if you could afford to travel for months at a time? According to Nomadic Matt, who's visited more than 100 countries over the last 19 years, you can see the world on just $75 a day. That's about $27,375 per year, less than many people's current cost of living. Matt Kepnes, better known as Nomadic Matt, joins us to challenge common…

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Q&A: You Made a Money Mistake. Now What? 1:01:27

4M ago1:01:27

1:01:27

#593: An anonymous caller is brooding over a mistake he made in 2023 when he decided to contribute to his Roth instead of a pre-tax account. How does he get over this? June is annoyed that she triggered short-term capital gains and wash sales when she sold assets in her taxable brokerage last year. How does she avoid these issues in the future? Zer…

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Why Your Brain Rewards You for Avoiding Your Boss, with Dr. Joel Salinas 1:28:41

4M ago1:28:41

1:28:41

#592: Ever wonder what's happening in your brain right before you knock on your boss's door to ask for a raise? Dr. Joel Salinas, neurologist and brain health expert, joins us to explain the neurology of negotiation. When you avoid difficult conversations, your brain actually rewards you with a small dopamine hit. That temporary relief feels good, …

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The Hidden Tax of Avoiding Tough Conversations, with Harvard Law Senior Fellow Bob Bordone 1:49:23

4M ago1:49:23

1:49:23

#591: Imagine you're about to ask your boss for a raise. Your stomach tightens. You've rehearsed what to say, but doubt creeps in. Should you be more assertive? More understanding of company constraints? Bob Bordone, who has taught negotiation for 25 years including 21 years at Harvard Law School, joins us to explain why you don't have to choose be…

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Small Cap Showdown! Paul Merriman vs. Dr. Karsten Jeske Battle … with Millions Hanging in the Balance 1:55:42

5M ago1:55:42

1:55:42

#590: In the left corner, we have Paul Merriman, the seasoned finance veteran weighing in at 183 pounds. In the right corner, Dr. Karsten Jeske, the scrappy newcomer at 208 pounds. The bell rings, and the small cap value debate begins. This episode features a financial boxing match between two investment heavyweights with dramatically different per…

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Q&A: How Much Risk Should My Mom Take in Retirement? 56:13

5M ago56:13

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#589: Kimmy is worried that her mom’s retirement portfolio is invested too conservatively. Is she right to advise her to take on more risk? Peyton has heard the financial advice about staying away from Whole Life Insurance as an investment, but what about as a savings account for children? Is there good a use case for this? Jeff and his wife are in…

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First Friday: The Economic Maze We're Navigating Together 36:22

5M ago36:22

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#588: Jobs are growing, interest rates are holding, and your student loan options just hit pause. Welcome to this month's economic rollercoaster. The economy is sending mixed messages this month. We added 151,000 new jobs in February, slightly better than January's 143,000. But unemployment ticked up to 4.1 percent. Health care is booming (52,000 n…

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Q&A: Should You Cash Out Your ETFs? The Hidden Consequences of That Decision … 1:07:24

5M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

#587: Debi is stressed about saving a down payment to buy a house in her high-cost-of-living area. Should she cash out her brokerage account to speed up the process? Lucas and his wife are high earners, but they’re tired and ready for a change. What strategies can they use to maximize their investments and confidently step away from their jobs? Gra…

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Money Doubles Every 10 Years (and Most People Never Notice!), with Scott Yamamura 1:15:44

5M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

#586: If you are a complete beginner at finances, or if you know someone who is, this episode is for you. The biggest hurdle for beginners? Money seems complex and intimidating. But Scott Yamamura, author of Financial Epiphany, explains personal finance doesn't have to be complicated. He breaks compound interest into three easy-to-grasp frameworks:…

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Q&A: The Hidden Tax Drain in Your Investment Strategy 55:51

5M ago55:51

55:51

#585: Michael rebalances his portfolio every year. But he’s worried that triggering capital gains taxes on his brokerage account will cancel out the benefits of reallocation. Is there a better approach? Sam has an opportunity to switch jobs, but she’s confused about how an Employee Stock Ownership Plan stacks against her current employer’s 401(k). …

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Sahil Bloom: Which of the Five Wealth Types Are You Neglecting? 1:22:47

5M ago1:22:47

1:22:47

#584: Think about how you spend an average day. Would the 10-year-old version of yourself be impressed? What about the 90-year-old version? These two powerful questions frame our conversation with Sahil Bloom, founder and managing partner of an early-stage venture fund with investments in over 60 startups and author of The Curiosity Chronicle, a ne…

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Q&A: Everyone Is Arguing About Roth IRAs And We Have Thoughts 1:07:50

5M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

#583: Contrary to recent discussions, Jesse has concluded that a traditional IRA is the smarter way to go for most people once marginal tax rates are factored in. Is he missing something? An anonymous caller is four years away from early retirement but she’s unsure if her portfolio allocations are in the right place. How and when should she start c…

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The Marriage Contract You Never Saw (But Can't Escape), with Harvard Law Alum Aaron Thomas 1:33:52

6M ago1:33:52

1:33:52

#582: They had it all. Six thriving children. A 40-year marriage. A household income of $200,000. Then in her 60s, she discovered a shocking truth: he had gambled away their entire retirement savings in penny stocks. She had no access to their financial accounts during the marriage. After divorcing, she was left with nearly nothing. Today, she reli…

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When Disaster Hits Home – Literally 57:41

6M ago57:41

57:41

#581: Today's question is different. There's something special about it — and you'll understand why in a moment. An 84-year-old listener left us a voicemail about his struggle to break free from mortgage debt. He and his 83-year-old wife need to move from their two-story townhouse because they can’t climb the stairs any longer. They found a single-…

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Treasury Tantrums, Arctic Routes, and McKinley's Ghost 1:01:33

6M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

#580: "If you want to understand what's happening in the economy, look at bonds," begins today's episode, where we explore how the bond market acts as a crystal ball for economic trends. The bond market has been sending some clear signals lately. Interest rates remain elevated, with 10-year Treasury yields about 1 percent higher than their Septembe…