#509: Rob wants to retire early, but a real estate investment led to $30,000 of credit card debt. Should he take on more debt to pay it off?

An anonymous return caller took Paula’s advice and ran with it, doubling her income within a few years. Should she update her investment strategy now that she’s in a higher tax bracket?

Humaira is tired of paying rent with nothing to show for. Can she leverage some benefits by using her credit card to pay the bills?

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

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode509

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#508: Recently I chatted with Stanford researcher Dr. Mary Murphy, a renowned expert in the field of psychological and brain sciences.

Dr. Murphy, who is a Professor at Indiana University and conducts research at Stanford University, shared insights into the concepts of fixed mindset and growth mindset.

We deep dived into her extensive research on how these mindsets impact motivation, performance, and relationships at work and home.

She conducted research alongside legendary psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, who created the original studies around fixed vs. growth mindset.

If you’ve ever read about fixed vs. growth mindset in the past, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Carol Dweck, who is legendary in the space. Dr. Dweck mentored Dr. Murphy at Stanford, the university from which Dr. Murphy received her Ph.D.

Dr. Murphy's insights can help you cultivate a growth mindset to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

If you want to improve your performance — at work, at home, at the gym, as a world traveler, as an investor, or in any other domain — understanding the research behind mindset is critical.

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode508

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#507: Robert was recently released from prison and wants to start his life on the right foot. What’s Joe and Paula’s advice for him?

Suzy is excited to deploy her first corporate bonus but scared to invest everything in a lump sum. Should she stick with what’s worked in the past and just dollar cost-average?

Meghan doesn’t understand how stock pricing affects capital appreciation. Is it always better to buy when share prices are low?

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

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode507

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#506: "Today's guest, Brandon Ganch, also known as the MadFientist, reached Financial Independence (FI) and quit his job as a software developer at 34. But then he faced a vexing question: what should he do with the rest of his life?

In this episode, Brandon shares his journey with FI, revealing the gap between the ideal life you envision on spreadsheets and the reality that unfolds. He talks about reaching FI sooner than planned, having more money than anticipated, and the adjustments he had to make to his lifestyle. It's a refreshingly honest look at FI that goes beyond the numbers.

We also dive into the changing landscape of work and the impact of automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Brandon talks about what he would do differently if he were in his 20's, and shares valuable insights on tools you can use to stay relevant and future-proof your career.

You'll enjoy this if:

-- You're on the FI path and want to ensure your plans are flexible enough for life's surprises

-- You're curious about the unexpected realities of achieving FI

-- You're concerned about automation impacting your job security

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode506

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#505: Ryan Johnson isn't your average CEO. He's a visionary reimagining city life, one car-free community at a time.

In this episode, we chat with Ryan, the co-founder of Culdesac, about building walkable neighborhoods designed for human connection, not just traffic.

We'll dive into his experience with Opendoor, his passion for electric bikes (he owns over 60!), and his audacious plan to revolutionize urban living.

Buckle up (or maybe don't) for a conversation about the future of cities, the power of community, and why you might not need a car ever again.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode505

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#504: Brian Kelly faced a harsh reality during the Great Recession – $65,000 in income and crushing credit card debt. 

He started a simple side hustle, a website called The Points Guy, as an attempt to earn a few hundred dollars a month.  

Fast forward to today: The Points Guy boasts 11 million monthly visitors and a thriving team of 140 employees.  

In this episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, transforming a fledgling side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. 

He also shares his signature expertise – the art of redeeming airline miles and points – empowering you to travel smarter.

For show notes, visit https://affordanything.com/episode504

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#503: Lindsay’s husband struggles with a mental disability. She’s worried about the impact on her family’s finances. How does she maintain harmony in her marriage and protect her kids’ future?

An anonymous caller is stoked about her young nephew’s interest in saving for retirement. What’s Paula and Joe’s advice for a teenage saver?

Another anonymous caller wants to get personal about Paula’s personal finances.

Following up on a discussion from episode 494, Melanie has exciting news to share about automating ETF investments at Vanguard.

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

Enjoy!

P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/podcast-questions

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode503

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#502: The Fed met earlier this week and elected to keep interest rates at a 23-year high, in an effort to wrestle inflation closer to its two percent target.

Despite this, the April jobs report, which was released today, shows that jobs grew for the 40th consecutive month, and unemployment remains under 4 percent, an historic low, for the 27th straight month.

The 12-month inflation rate is 3.5 percent, based on March CPI data.

Stocks remain on a tear, but performance is lopsided, with 10 companies driving 85 percent of this years’ gains.

We cover this and more in our First Friday economic update episode.

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode502

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#501: Drop the mic! ChooseFI's Brad Barrett takes the host role in this special episode, interviewing Paula Pant about the financial independence community.

This episode was recorded LIVE at a comedy club in Brooklyn, as the final installment of the Episode 500 and 501 celebration.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode501

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Enjoy Part 2 of our two-part Episode 500 special, recorded live at a comedy club in Brooklyn. Host Paula Pant and special guest Brad Barrett from ChooseFI answer questions from the audience, live on stage.

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