How to Money

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like:

• Candy buyback
• Eating roadkill?!
• Affordable Thanksgiving dinner
• Discount burnout
• Bubble trouble
• What even is “bearish”
• High on gold
• Leveraged ETFs
• Bummed after winning the bidding war
• Renters rejoice
• Luxury apartment con job
• Gen Z credit hurdles

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A financial advisor WON’T magically fix your money problems, but many folks assume that by hiring a professional, they’re well on their way to financial success. Maybe, but maybe not, because a bunch of different factors come into play. And who better to have this discussion with other than award-winning investor advocate and financial educator Pam Krueger. She began her career as a stockbroker before moving into financial media, where she created and co-hosted the PBS series MoneyTrack where her work emphasizes transparency, investor protection, and understanding how advisors are compensated. Pam is also the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, a platform that connects consumers with vetted fiduciary financial advisors and today we discuss: 

• Determining if you should DIY or delegate
• The one silver bullet in everyone’s financial journey
• Conflicts of interest and the fiduciary standard
• Fee-only advisors, unbiased advice without commissions
• Expecting transparency in advisor fees
• Paying for “meh” financial advice
• Breaking up with an advisor if you’re unhappy
• How Wealthramp advisors are vetted and finding the right advisor for you!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Head to HowToMoney.com/advisor if you’re interested in a SOLID financial advisor who will be a great fit for you.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - Savings rates: how should I account for a disability payment when calculating my savings rate?

2 - $300,000: if I want to retire early in a couple years, what should I do with a settlement payout?

3 - 401k faux pas: WTD with my 401k that I overcontributed to last year?

4 - New car: how should I save up for a new ride I might buy in 5-6 years?

5 - Credit repair: student loan autodraft got dropped, credit score busted, now pay to get it fixed? 

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Calculating your savings rate and knowing that single metric can give your finances the boost needed to achieve early retirement.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Presence of Another World by Bissell Brothers! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like:

• The running industrial complex
• Exorbitant cost of running tourism
• Lead in the protein powders
• More money leading to sloppier habits
• Moneyless millionaires
• AI takes on ecommerce
• Subs for the suds
• Silly names are killing craft beer
• Credit card churning
• Premium cards with premium fees
• HSAs are going mainstream
• Rx vending machines

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Figuring out your money is tough enough if you’re flying solo. Doing it with your partner ramps up the difficulty level because you're throwing in varied money history, habits, and goals. It can create a lot of friction! Our guests today have a lot of great advice for couples looking to do better with their finances and create a ‘team vibe’ with their partner. If you looked up the definition of ‘power couple’ in the dictionary, you just might see a picture of Doug and Heather Boneparth next to it. Doug has built his own successful financial advisor firm while simultaneously tweeting hilarious memes. Heather is a former corporate attorney and director of business affairs for that firm, Bona Fide Wealth. They’ve written the fabulous new book ‘Money Together’ which launches next week on the 28th, and today we discuss:

• How understanding individual money histories is crucial for couples
• Impact of shame around finances
• Balancing individual and shared goals
• Creating positive financial vibes
• Regular money dates 
• Investing in one area often requires sacrifices in another
• It's important to recognize the contributions beyond monetary income
• And plenty more!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• DoMoneyTogether.com is where you can go to learn all about Heather and Doug’s book. ReadTheJointAccount.com is their newsletter and BoneFideWealth.com is their wealth advisory firm.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - Credit card no-nos: after getting a $900 welcome offer should I take advantage of one year of no interest?

2 - HSA: what’s the best way of keeping up with medical expenses so I can invest my HSA funds?

3 - 403b: should I participate in my 403b if I don’t think I’ll stay long enough to vest?

4 - Roth IRA: explainlikeimfive, how exactly do I invest in my Roth?!

5 - Medium term investing: is 2-3 years long enough to invest a down payment?

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Twin by Living Waters Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like:

• Government shutdown federal layoffs
• Deploying a Bare Bones Budget
• Accidental landlords
• Ending capital gains on primary residences
• Space heaters to the rescue
• $30 home (mint)ternet
• Rent vs attending a wedding
• WFH premium
• Debilitating debt
• Perceived importance of college
• College discounts
• The necessity of creative destruction

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is a self professed personal finance oddball! Len Penzo spent 35 years in the aerospace industry before retiring at age 58 as an electrical engineer. Along the way he launched LenPenzo.com in December 2008 (he even helped to give Joel a start writing personal finance content back in the day). Since then, the blog has drawn millions of readers and earned awards from publications like Kiplinger. Len’s work has appeared in outlets like Forbes, Time, Business Insider, CBS MoneyWatch, and he’s been featured on radio and TV segments. And he now has a new book out called True Money Stories that’s about the intersection of money and family life. We discuss:

• Intelligence vs. financial management
• Running household finances like a business
• The importance of honesty in personal finance
• Allowing children to make financial mistakes
• The annual sandwich survey and inflation
• Navigating retirement and long-term care
• And much more!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Check out Len’s book True Money Stories, more of his writings at his site, and follow over on X.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - eBay: when to list and when to sell locally?

2 - Quarterly estimates: making estimates vs increasing withholding to avoid the tax shock

3 - Backdoor Roth IRA: is the window closing to make backdoor Roth IRA contributions?

4 - Buying a home: when it makes sense to make an as-is offer?

5 - Selling a home: what should I do if the appraisal comes back below the offer price?

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• We referenced this holistic tax planning conversation with CFP Cody Garrett.
• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Rice Lager by Hi-Wire Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: 

• The refi revival
• 2026 investing limits
• Ditching the S&P
• Private equity in target date funds
• Falling behind on payments
• Debt collections on the rise
• Delay pay disaster
• Travel now pay later
• Landline loving
• Avoiding chatbots
• Getting paid for your data

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 
• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.