How to Money

Don’t believe long-term tax planning is crucial? Here’s a new way to think about it: picture having a slow leak in one of your tires. Well if you just noticed your tire looking a bit flat, then of course head to Costco for some free air, get that tire back up to pressure, and move on with your day – it's a quick and effective short-term solution. But also keep in mind that you’ll have to eventually figure out a permanent solution, whether it’s a plug or a new tire that’ll last you for years. You could keep kicking the can down the road and opt for the quick top-off, but eventually that shortsighted fix will cost you more in wasted time than addressing the problem at hand properly. Similarly, if you’re only looking for ways that you can pay as little tax as possible for this year alone, then you’re missing the forest for the trees. We’re pumped to be talking with our friend Sean Mullaney about minimizing tax liabilities on the podcast today. Sean, a fiduciary financial advisor who writes at FITaxGuy.com, will be delving into both year-end moves and longer-term tax strategies, discussing when he prefers traditional over Roth, upcoming changes to 401k accounts, the best retirement accounts for solopreneurs, and much more!

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Petit MC by Monday Night Brewing – a big thanks to Ryan for donating this one to the pod! 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!

The discussion is intended to be for general educational purposes and is not tax, legal, or investment advice for any individual. Joel, Matt, and the How to Money podcast do not endorse Sean Mullaney, Mullaney Financial & Tax, Inc. and their services. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s dive into 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 - What is the best high yield business account that also pays the highest rate of interest?

2 - How can I use a financial calculator to project my finances if I have a variable income?

3 - As rental property owners, what are your favorite ways to find and screen tenants?

4 - Should I pause my retirement investing in order to more quickly save up a home down payment?

5 - I’m sick of giving folks meaningless stuff around the holidays. Ideas for incorporating nontraditional gifts?

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Green Flowers by Other Half Brewing- a big thanks to Jason for sending this one our way! 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: Spotify wrapped gratitude, good IRS news for gig workers, happiness ain’t cheap, formerly FIRE, bougie babies, fast food inflation, a tipping game plan, avoiding airfare fees, & student loans aren’t a foregone conclusion.

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• 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.

Today we're diving into the dollar-saving-world of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA (which has seen some significant changes this year). Other than the cost of a hospital visit, nothing has skyrocketed in price like college tuition and fees over the past 20 years. You think your house or your new car is crazy expensive? Nope, just wait until your kid starts looking at colleges- that’s when the real sticker shock kicks in! And that’s why we’re excited to be joined by Tina Steele who is known as The FAFSA Guru. Tina is an expert when it comes to financial aid- she has decades of experience whether she was directly working for different public and private universities, leading a statewide initiative in Maine helping disadvantaged students to pursue college, or creating incredibly valuable videos for her YouTube channel. Today we discuss the critical changes to the FAFSA, who those changes helped and who they hurt, costly mistakes that divorced parents make, the best strategy for appealing a financial aid offer, and other tactics for curbing college costs.

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Blue Crab Special Reserve by Other Half Brewing- a big thanks to Jason for sending this one our way! 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.

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - With Mint shutting down, do y’all have any recommendations for new budgeting software?

2 - Should I convert my primary residence into an investment property as I’m moving out of town?

3 - As a contract worker, what are the benefits of opening a solo 401k in order to achieve my investing goals?

4 - How much should I spend on a new car and what’s a good strategy for saving up for it?

5 - Is it worth switching banks for an extra 1% in interest?

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Green City by Other Half Brewing- a big thanks to Jason for sending this one our way! 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: two years of flying for free, Black Friday flaws, return policies and travel deals, Hyundai “Add to Cart”, commuting alternatives, micromobility and the wrong EVs, sports betting infecting college students, easier to compare financial aid offers, overpriced cell phone plans, inflated insurance, 401k fails & hardship withdrawals.

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• 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.

Here on the podcast we're always on the lookout for the biggest bang for our buck. Picture this: you, in the grocery store aisle, pondering the cosmic significance of toilet paper prices and whether the fancy stuff is going to be worth it! Or maybe you’re weighing a couple job offers: you're not just negotiating salary, you're out there considering the 401k match, turning job hunting into a strategic sport! We're all about optimizing our lives for maximum value, but are we extending this same strategic approach to the dollars we give to charity? Maybe... or maybe not! That's why we've roped in the philanthropic virtuoso, Elie Hassenfeld, co-founder of GiveWell, a nonprofit committed to finding charities that perform life-saving and life-improving work without breaking the bank. It’s financial optimization meets world-saving wisdom. Listen as we discuss the founding of GiveWell, the ways some charities have fallen short, SBF and his impact on effective altruism, Elie’s rule of thumbs for how much to give, if it’s OK to give locally even if it doesn’t have the biggest impact, and plenty more!

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Chonk-ibal by Other Half Brewing- a big thanks to Jason for sending this one our way! 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.

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - Is tax loss harvesting more trouble than it’s worth or am I missing something?

2 - Should I take out a HELOC on my mobile home that has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in equity?

3 - How can I help a family member who has struggled with medical debt to regain their financial footing?

4 - Is opening a 529 account at my local credit union a good idea?

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Broccoli by Other Half Brewing- a big thanks to Jason for sending this one our way! 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: why NOW is the time to apply for a Southwest Rapid Rewards card, chasing the market, actually investing your HSA dollars, ADU financing options, free refinances on the horizon, slippery slope of credit card use, ridiculous Ramsey rants, stalling on Social Security, Vanguard passing on BTC, & higher standard deductions!

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• 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.

Hold on to your holiday hats because Americans are gearing up to break the spending records this holiday season! Deloitte reports an expected 14% increase in spending compared to last year, with the average consumer spending just over $1,600 on gifts and goodies. We’re entering peak shopping season and who doesn’t want to make sure they’re getting the absolute best deal possible?! That’s why we’re excited to be speaking with Julie Ramhold who is a consumer and senior staff writer for DealNews. With nearly a decade of deal-hunting expertise, Julie ensures we all part with as little cash as possible while still getting the stuff we want. Listen as we discuss the secrets of price matching, unveil the items to steer clear of, explore the world of refurbished products, dive into Julie's gift card wisdom, and much more in today's episode!

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.
• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Hazy Dry Hopped Sunset With Yuzu Fruit by Tumbleroot Brewery- a big thanks to Bob for donating this one to the pod! 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.