Money Well Studio

Running is supposed to be the cheap sport. So how did we end up with expensive shoes, destination-race weekends, and a credit card bill that needs its own recovery plan?

This week on Money Well Studio, Jennifer and Julie welcome running coach legend, Steve Sisson of Telos Running, to unpack the economics of marathons—and the even stranger psychology of people who keep signing up for them.

We follow the money from carbon-plated shoes and race entries to hotel rooms, road closures, charity fundraising, and the finish-line beer tent. Steve explains why runners happily pay for the privilege of suffering, how a race bib becomes permission to travel, and why reducing months of training to a single finish time can rob us of the best part of running.

Along the way, British royalty gets blamed for the final miserable 0.2 miles, Jennifer makes the case for bacon and mimosas at mile nine, and Steve delivers a spectacularly unfavorable review of our featured beverage, Michelob Ultra.

Come for the marathon math. Stay for the reminder that the return on all those miles might be a bigger life, rather than a faster time.

Hear more from Steve—and work with him

Coaching: Explore Telos Running’s training programs for Austin training and online coaching, or individual consultations for help with training, race preparation, mental skills, and self-coaching. Contact Steve at [email protected]. 

Coach Sisson Podcasts:

• oyo.run: Steve’s current project, focused on taking ownership of your running—even when you have a coach. OYO means “on your own.”
• Running on Purpose: Explore the archive for the physical, mental, and philosophical dimensions of running.
• Keep Going: Steve and shoe designer Michael Krajicek’s candid conversations about running and life. The archive’s transition announcement directs listeners to oyo.run.
• Running Rogue: Head to episodes 1–100 to hear Steve co-hosting with Chris McClung. The show continues with Chris.

How much should parents actually save for college? Is a 529 always the smartest place to put the money? And in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence, how should families think about what a degree is actually worth?

In this episode of Money Well Studio, Jennifer Lowry and Julie Black are joined by Javid Jamae, entrepreneur, software engineer, growth engineering leader, and father of five for a wide-ranging conversation about the economics of college and the choices families face long before the first tuition bill arrives.

Javid shares how he financed his own education through student loans, internships, co-ops, work, and a creative townhouse rental arrangement, and why he is approaching college funding differently with his own children.

The conversation moves from 529 plans and taxable investment accounts to college budgets, career experience, generational wealth, and the increasingly difficult question of how much families should invest in a traditional four-year degree when technology is changing the labor market so quickly.

There is no single formula for paying for college. But there are a lot of trade-offs worth understanding before deciding where to put the money.

Jennifer, Julie, and Javid discuss:

• The 529 question. 529 plans offer significant tax advantages when funds are used for qualified education expenses, but flexibility, investment options, timing, and individual family circumstances can affect whether they are the preferred savings vehicle.

• Why starting age matters. Age-based 529 portfolios generally become more conservative as a beneficiary approaches college. That can help protect money needed soon, but families beginning to save later may have less time to benefit from long-term equity growth.

• 529s versus taxable investment accounts. A regular brokerage account lacks the education-specific tax benefits of a 529 but generally offers greater flexibility in how and when the money can ultimately be used.

• Setting a college budget instead of writing a blank check. Some families choose to establish a defined amount they are willing to contribute and allow the student to weigh choices involving school, housing, scholarships, loans, and work within that framework.

• Generational wealth and financial independence. Helping children financially can expand their opportunities. The harder question is how to provide meaningful support while still giving them ownership over their choices, careers, and financial lives.

Javid Jamae joins Money Well Studio to bring both a personal and professional perspective to the college conversation.

Javid is an entrepreneur, software engineer, and growth engineering leader whose work focuses on experimentation, product growth, and helping companies make better decisions with data. His career has included leadership work in software and growth engineering, and his perspective on technology gives the conversation an especially relevant angle as families try to understand how AI and a changing labor market may affect the future value of different degrees, skills, and career paths.

A huge thank-you to Javid Jamae for joining us and sharing such a candid perspective on college, money, work, parenting, technology, and what it means to prepare kids for an economy that may look very different from the one their parents entered.

Learn more about Javid and his work at javidjamae.com.

Keywords

College funding, college savings, 529 plans, paying for college, cost of college, college ROI, student loans, taxable brokerage accounts, financial aid, co-op programs, internships, higher education, generational wealth, investing for children, parenting and money, financial planning, financial literacy, artificial intelligence, AI and careers, future of work, career planning, family finance

You already have a prenup. The question is whether you chose the terms. This episode is Part 2 of our conversation on prenuptial agreements. In our original episode, we explored the basics of prenups and why they can matter. This time, Jennifer and Julie go deeper with special guest, family law attorney and mediator Kayvon Rashidi.

Kayvon explains who should consider a prenup, what a prenup can and cannot do, and when couples should start talking about money and financial expectations.

They also discuss second marriages, children from previous relationships, business ownership, future business growth, inheritance, postnuptial agreements, wills, trusts, and what happens if you move to another state after signing a prenup.

One of Kayvon’s biggest points is that prenups are not just for the ultra-wealthy. They can be especially relevant for people who own businesses or real estate, expect an inheritance, have children from a previous relationship, or simply want more clarity around financial expectations before marriage.

The conversation also explores why each person should have their own attorney, the importance of financial disclosure, and why these discussions should happen well before the wedding.

Meet Kayvon Rashidi

Kayvon Rashidi is a board-certified family law attorney and mediator based in Austin, Texas. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law.

Kayvon focuses exclusively on family law, representing clients in matters that include complex property division, high-conflict custody cases, marital property agreements, appeals, protective orders, and adoptions. He also serves as a mediator, helping families work toward creative settlements outside of trial when possible.

His work has earned significant recognition. Kayvon has been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list every year from 2019 through 2026, was named to Austin Monthly’s Top Lawyers list, and in 2026 was selected as an Austin Under 40 finalist in the Legal category.

Kayvon is also active in the Austin legal community and has held leadership roles with organizations including the Austin Young Lawyers Association, the National Association of Divorce Professionals, and the Iranian American Bar Association Foundation.

In our conversation, Kayvon brings a practical and straightforward perspective to prenups, postnups, property, inheritance, and the financial decisions couples should think through before marriage.

To learn more about Kayvon or contact him through his firm, visit PKR Family Law – Kayvon Rashidi:

https://www.pkrfamilylaw.com/attorney/rashidi-kayvon/

Cocktail of the Episode: Love on the Rocks

A refreshing tequila cocktail featured in the episode.

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila

• 1 oz fresh lime juice

• Tonic water

• Ice

• Optional Tajín or salt for the rim

Instructions

1. Fill a glass with ice.

2. Add tequila and fresh lime juice.

3. Top with tonic water.

4. Stir gently.

5. Add Tajín or salt to the rim, if desired.

The Takeaway

A prenup is not necessarily a prediction that a marriage will fail. It can be a way for couples to talk openly about money, ownership, inheritance, businesses, children, and the financial expectations they are bringing into a marriage.

Disclaimer: This episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances.

Dolly Parton, dirty martinis, and the Federal Reserve? Yes, really.

In this week’s episode, we break down why Dolly was more than a country icon. She was a force for women, generosity, and ambition.

Then we gossip our way through Jackson Hole, the Fed, and what it all means for money.

And because no Dolly tribute is complete without a cocktail, here’s the Dirt Road Martini recipe we talked about:

• 2 oz gin
• 2 oz unsweetened tea
• 1/4 oz olive or cornichon brine
• Shake with lots of ice
• Garnish with pickled onions, jalapeños, olives, or whatever briny goodness you love

If you love smart conversations with a side of humor, this one’s for you.

Quick correction: the GSA’s “special dispensation” for Jackson Hole hotel rates is doing the absolute most. Apparently even austerity has a luxury resort exception.

https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates

#InstagramReel #PodcastClip #DollyParton #FederalReserve #MoneyTalk #WomenInBusiness #PodcastReel #FinanceHumor #CocktailRecipe

Your kid loves the campus. The acceptance letter comes in. Everyone gets excited. Now look at the numbers. In this episode of Money Well Studio, we take an analytical approach to one of the biggest financial decisions families make: choosing and paying for college.

The question isn’t simply, “Is this a good school?” It's "is this school worth this price for this student?"

We break down how to compare colleges based on the things that actually matter financially.

And because nothing pairs with college financial analysis quite like gin.

Cocktail of the Episode: The FAFSA Fizz

1½ oz gin

¾ oz elderflower liqueur

¾ oz fresh lemon juice

½ oz simple syrup

2 oz club sodaLemon twist

Shake the gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice and simple syrup with ice. Strain over fresh ice, top with club soda and garnish with a lemon twist.

A substantial improvement over most things we remember drinking in college.

Resources for Comparing Colleges

College Scorecard
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

U.S. Department of Education data on college costs, graduation rates, student debt, earnings and outcomes by field of study.

NCES College Navigator
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

A federal college comparison tool covering tuition, net price, financial aid, enrollment, admissions, retention and graduation rates.

IPEDS
https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data

The federal higher-education data system containing detailed information reported by colleges on costs, enrollment, financial aid, degrees and graduation rates.

College Board BigFuture
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

Helpful for building and narrowing a college list based on major, location, school size, admissions profile, cost and other factors.

And when a school becomes a serious contender, find its Net Price Calculator on the college’s website. The sticker price and what your family may actually pay can be very different.

This is Part 1 of our college series: the analytical framework.

In Part 2, we’ll bring in people who have actually lived these decisions and ask:

Knowing what you know now, would you do it again?

Can you trust your spouse completely and still protect yourself financially?

Inspired by Belle Burden’s memoir Strangers, Jennifer and Julie explore how women can gradually become disconnected from their own financial lives through decisions that look like trust, teamwork and marriage.

They discuss why having a prenup does not always mean being protected, the hidden financial cost of caregiving and what happens when the person who once planned a future with you becomes the person negotiating against you.

You will also hear their practical Know, Participate and Protect framework for staying informed, involved and financially secure without treating marriage like a future divorce case.

Featured Drink: Duchman Dry Rosé

This episode features the 2024 Dry Rosé from Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood, Texas.

https://www.duchmanwinery.com/product/2024-dry-rose/

Serve well chilled, or make a simple rosé spritz:

4 ounces dry rosé
2 ounces sparkling water
½ ounce fresh grapefruit juice
Ice and a grapefruit slice

Pour over ice, top with sparkling water and stir gently.

In this episode:

Why trust and financial dependence are not the same thing

How caregiving can affect lifetime earnings and retirement security

What a fair prenup should consider

Why each partner needs independent legal advice

The financial questions every adult should be able to answer

If this episode makes you think of a woman in your life, send it to her.

Disclaimer: Money Well Studio is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not provide legal advice.

Why would the Federal Reserve intentionally want prices to rise?

In this episode, Jennifer and Julie unpack why the Fed targets roughly 2% inflation, why zero inflation is not necessarily the goal, and what can happen when prices rise too quickly—or begin falling.

They travel from Revolutionary War currency to 18% mortgages in the 1970s and the post-pandemic inflation surge, exploring what these moments can teach us about confidence, interest rates, and the economy.

They also discuss who tends to win and lose during inflationary periods, why cash can quietly lose purchasing power, and how inflation can reshape your retirement plan over several decades.

Plus, they break down CPI, PCE, Social Security adjustments, healthcare costs, and a few strategies that may help your money keep pace.

COCKTAIL OF THE EPISODE -The Shrinkflation Sour

Ingredients

1½ ounces bourbon

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

½ ounce simple syrup

1 egg white

No maraschino cherry, because we are cutting costs

Instructions

Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white to a shaker. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds.

Add ice and shake again until chilled.

Strain into a smaller glass to create the illusion of a full-sized cocktail.

Imagine the cherry and enjoy the savings.

Listen, subscribe, and share Money Well Studio with someone who has ever wondered why everything seems to cost more.

In this episode of Money Well Studio, Jennifer and Julie celebrate America’s semiquincentennial the only way a personal finance podcast should: by talking about taxes.

From the Stamp Act and the Tea Act to today’s newest tax-advantaged account for children, this episode connects America’s original money complaint, taxation without representation, to the modern tax code and the new Trump Accounts, also known as Section 530A accounts.

Jennifer and Julie revisit what these accounts are, who may be eligible, how the $1,000 federal pilot contribution works, and why July 4, 2026 matters.

Featured cocktail: Patriotic Pepper Punch

Recipe:
2 ounces rum
1 ounce triple sec
1 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 cup seedless watermelon
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1 cup ice
Blueberry garnish

Add the rum, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, watermelon, cayenne, and ice to a blender. Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with a blueberry.

In this episode, we discuss:
What the American Revolution had to do with taxes
How tax policy is used to shape financial behavior
What Trump Accounts, or Section 530A accounts, are
Who may be eligible to open one
How the $1,000 federal pilot contribution works
Why July 4, 2026 is an important date
What parents need to know about Form 4547
How contributions and annual limits may work
Why these accounts are not Roth IRAs
How basis and taxation may apply
What investment restrictions exist inside the accounts
Why privacy and account administration details matter
What families should ask their tax advisors before contributing

This episode is for parents, grandparents, and anyone curious about how a new child investment account fits into the long history of America, taxes, and the government’s ongoing attempt to nudge financial behavior.

In the final installment of our AI and work series, we are bringing the conversation home to the kitchen table, the college tour, and the carpool line.

Parents have always worried about whether they are preparing their kids for the future. But now, with AI reshaping school, work, hiring, and entire industries, the old career advice many of us grew up with is starting to feel a little expired.

Get good grades. Go to college. Pick a stable profession. Work hard. Learn to type. Show up on time.

Some of that advice still holds up. We remain very pro-punctuality. But some of it needs a serious update.

In this episode, Jennifer and Julie talk about what parents should tell high school and college-age kids about AI, school, work, and becoming adaptable in a changing economy. The answer is not to panic, and it is definitely not to pretend nothing is changing.

Instead, the goal is to help kids become AI-resilient.

That means raising young adults who can use AI tools without becoming dependent on them. Kids who can think clearly, communicate well, ask better questions, verify information, work with people, and keep learning as the tools change.

We talk about why parents are not crazy for feeling anxious, why the old “just get a degree and you’ll be set” advice is no longer enough, and why the best strategy is not chasing one perfect AI-proof major. The better strategy is helping kids build a flexible toolkit that travels across industries.

We also dig into what students may want to study or practice in the AI age, from computer science, data, medicine, and cybersecurity to communication, ethics, education, healthcare, green technology, skilled trades, and creative fields.

Because the future is not simply “tech jobs win and everything else loses.” The future is that nearly every career will become tech-enabled, and the strongest students may be the ones who can bridge worlds: human judgment plus technical fluency, creativity plus tools, communication plus data, and expertise plus adaptability.

And since this is Money Well Studio, we pair this very practical conversation with a cocktail that feels perfect for kids preparing to launch into a very different world: the Paper Plane.

Cocktail featured: The Paper Plane

The Paper Plane is a modern classic cocktail that is bright, citrusy, a little bitter, a little sweet, and beautifully balanced. It is especially fitting for an episode about helping kids prepare to launch into the future.

Paper Plane recipe

Ingredients:

¾ ounce bourbon

¾ ounce Aperol

¾ ounce Amaro Nonino

¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

Instructions:

Add the bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist if you want to feel especially put together.

SEO keywords

AI and parenting, kids and AI, college and AI, future of work, AI careers, what should kids study, AI and education, career advice for teens, parenting high school students, parenting college students, AI-resilient skills, ChatGPT and school, future-ready students, AI literacy, college majors and AI, jobs of the future, Money Well Studio, women and money podcast, parenting and career advice

Getting your first real job has always been stressful. But for today’s new graduates, the pressure feels different.

The job market is tighter. Entry-level roles often ask for experience that new workers do not yet have. And now AI is changing many of the starter tasks that young employees used to rely on to learn the ropes: first drafts, research, meeting summaries, basic analysis, emails, decks, and even code.

In this third installment of our AI & Work series, Jennifer and Julie turn their attention to new graduates, early-career workers, and anyone trying to get started in a world where the first rung of the career ladder may not look the way it used to.

But this is not a doom episode. It is a starter kit.

We look at why the labor market is especially challenging for recent grads, why AI is only part of the story, and how young workers can prepare themselves to get hired, get noticed, and grow. The episode explores why AI readiness matters, why critical thinking is becoming even more valuable, and why the old advice from our parents still holds up: communicate clearly, build relationships, work hard, follow through, and be useful.

We also talk about one of the most important mindset shifts for students and new workers: AI is not a major. It is becoming a layer across every major. The goal is not to become an AI expert in the abstract. The goal is to learn how AI shows up in your field and how to use it responsibly inside real work.

Because in a world where everyone can generate a professional-looking first draft, the advantage goes to the person who can tell whether the answer is actually any good.

Cocktail of the Episode: The Classic Martini

Ingredients:

2 to 2 ½ ounces gin

½ ounce dry vermouth

Green olive or lemon twist, for garnish

Instructions:

Add the gin and dry vermouth to a mixing glass filled with ice.

Stir for about 30 seconds, until well chilled.

Strain into a martini glass.

Garnish with a green olive or a lemon twist.

Keywords

AI and work, AI in the workplace, AI and jobs, AI career advice, AI job market, AI and entry-level jobs, AI and new graduates, AI for college graduates, AI literacy, AI skills for work, career readiness, new graduate job market, entry-level job advice, first job advice, how to get hired after college, college graduate career advice, future of work, artificial intelligence, job search tips, professional development, critical thinking, workplace skills, early career advice, AI tools, communication skills, networking, career growth