Making Sense of your Cents

Your phone rings, and the caller ID clearly says it's your local bank warning you about unauthorized charges. Do you answer? In Episode 52 of Making Sense of Your Cents, hosts Daniel Hill and Shanna Browning pull back the curtain on bank imposter scams—one of the fastest-growing and most convincing fraud tactics targeting consumers today. 

Daniel and Shanna break down the mechanics of caller ID spoofing, explain the "Digital Mask" fraudsters hide behind, and expose the psychological tricks scammers use to manufacture panic. Drawing insights from financial author Carol Roth, they dismantle the "James Bond Syndrome" scammers use to enforce secrecy, explain why legitimate banks never ask for one-time passcodes, and share The Hang-Up and Call-Back Habit to safeguard your accounts. 

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Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

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Think twice before you click "Pay in 4"! In the Season 3 premiere of Making Sense of Your Cents, hosts Daniel Hill and Shanna Browning unpack the hidden reality behind "Buy Now, Pay Later" (BNPL) services. While these micro-installment loans promise zero-percent interest and effortless budgeting, they often act as a quiet drain on household cash flow, leading to overspending, forgotten automatic drafts, and surprise overdraft fees. 

Daniel and Shanna break down the mechanics of point-of-sale borrowing, address the common misconception about using these apps to build credit, and explain why return disputes can become an administrative headache. Tune in to learn The One-at-a-Time Rule and discover how to protect your future paychecks from the instant-gratification trap. 

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Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

We have officially reached 50 episodes of Making Sense of Your Cents! In our Season 2 finale, Daniel and Shanna look at the big picture of family wealth and explore what it truly takes to build and protect a lasting legacy. We strip away the legal intimidation around estate planning to break down the essential differences between Wills and Trusts, explain why every adult needs a Financial Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directive, and discuss the peace of mind that comes with clear planning. Plus, tune in for our actionable tip on adding a "Payable on Death" (POD) beneficiary to your bank accounts today to keep your money completely out of probate court! Season 2 may be wrapping up, but Season 3 starts next Tuesday—thank you for being part of our 50-episode journey! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Are you unknowingly leaving your personal data exposed when traveling? In this episode of Making Sense of Your Cents, Daniel and Shanna break down the essential rules of mobile cybersecurity to keep your identity and finances safe on the road. Daniel walks through the technical mechanics of open WiFi risks and "Evil Twin" hotspots, details why you should never access banking apps over public networks, and explains how to turn your phone into a secure cellular hotspot or use a VPN. Plus, we cover the real hardware risks of public USB charging ports and juice jacking. Tune in for our actionable tip on running a "WiFi Network Scrub" this week to clear out old saved connections and take complete control of your digital safety! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Are you planning a move in the near future? In this episode of Making Sense of Your Cents, Daniel and Shanna unpack the hidden costs that catch people completely off guard when changing addresses. We look beyond the big-ticket items like truck rentals and security deposits to explore the administrative surprises—like utility connection fees and tag transfers—plus the rapid drain of restocking an empty pantry and buying home maintenance essentials. Plus, we share smart strategies for deciding whether to rent or buy when relocating to a new town. Tune in for our actionable tip on building a "10% Moving Buffer" so you can settle into your new home with total financial peace! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Do you actually know what to expect from Social Security when you reach the retirement finish line? In this episode of Making Sense of Your Cents, Daniel and Shanna demystify the federal retirement system to help you navigate your future with total clarity. We break down how your 35 highest-earning years determine your baseline check, explore the real financial trade-offs of claiming at age 62 versus waiting until age 70, and explain the rules around working while receiving benefits. Plus, we cover spousal benefits and tax coordination strategies. Tune in for our actionable tip on visiting ssa.gov to download your official Social Security Statement this week so you can take complete control of your retirement roadmap! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

What does it truly take to build, adapt, and scale a thriving small business in our local community? In this episode of Making Sense of Your Cents, Daniel and Shanna sit down with local entrepreneur Zack Roskop, founder of Fred’s Around the Corner: Kitchen + Bar (formerly Knox Brew Hub), to discuss the real-world journey of small business growth. Zack shares the story behind evolving from a tour bus to a beloved downtown neighborhood kitchen, how to navigate unexpected crises and renovations with resilience, and why practicing "collaboration over competition" creates a rising tide for every business on the block. Tune in for our actionable tip on "The Community Connection" to discover how identifying three local partners this week can unlock mutual growth and strengthen your hometown economy! 

Where to find Fred Around the Corner:

Online: www.fredsaroundthecorner.com
Social Media: @fredsaroundthecorner

(Around the corner from Market Square)
421 Union Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37902

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Are you ready to take complete authority over your college budget and keep your savings safe all semester long? In this episode of "Making Sense of Your Cents," Daniel and Shanna break down the ultimate financial survival guide for students taking their first steps into real-world independence. We explore the psychology of managing a single, "finite bucket" of money, share practical strategies to maximize pre-paid campus meal plans, and look at how to navigate social peer pressures without draining your cash flow. Tune in for our actionable tip on setting a strict "Weekly Limit" so you can establish a simple, visual spending boundary that prevents the classic mid-semester crunch and sets you up for lasting financial success! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Are you dreaming of buying the perfect plot of land and building your custom home from the ground up? In this episode of "Making Sense of Your Cents," Daniel and Shanna tear open the ultimate guide to land ownership to reveal what it truly takes to buy raw property safely. We break down the unique rules of land loans compared to traditional mortgages, explore the critical role of purchase contingencies, and uncover the hidden infrastructure costs—like septic systems, private wells, and electric line extensions—that can quickly exceed the price of the dirt itself. Tune in for our actionable tip on running an "Infrastructure Call" this week so you can get real utility estimates before you buy and claim complete authority over your future construction timeline! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].

Are you fully maximizing the unique financial advantages hidden inside your company's benefit package? In this episode of "Making Sense of Your Cents," Daniel and Shanna tear open the ultimate guide to healthcare savings accounts to reveal the tax-free edges of HSAs and FSAs. We demystify the incredible power of the HSA’s "triple tax advantage"— allowing you to save, grow, and spend your funds completely shielded from Uncle Sam— and offer a clear comparison to help you navigate the strict "use-it-or-lose-it" trap of an FSA. Plus, we share structural strategies to transform your HSA into a secondary retirement vehicle for long-term security. Tune in for our actionable tip on running an "Eligibility Check" this week so you can claim complete authority over your workplace protection and growth! 

Send us Fan Mail

Our goal is to make financial guidance accessible and easy to understand for everyone. If you found value in today's episode, please do us a huge favor and share it with someone you care about. 

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to [email protected].