NGPF Podcast

Jonathan Clements is no stranger to the NGPF podcast (here and here), and he’s back to introduce and his newest book, From Here to Financial Happiness: Enrich Your Life in Just 77 Days. This book elicits active participation from the reader from day one of their financial journey until the last. Readers will answer 31 questions in their quest for financial happiness including such toughies as...

• If money were no object, what would you change about your life AND
• When was the last time you talked honestly about your finances with somebody?

In addition, I turn the tables on Jonathan and ask him about his three best money decisions and three biggest financial mistakes. He ends on a high note that college students carrying debt should certainly take note of. Enjoy!

Brandon Brumage came into personal finance the way most people do: he made a few mistakes before having that “aha” moment and wondering, “Why didn’t I learn this stuff sooner?” That question inspired his inner journalist to write a book about the financial trials and triumphs he learned growing up. With his book, Brandon hopes that his words of wisdom will help students prepare for the rest of their financial lives. From discovering how to be mindful about purchases to talking with students and not at them, Brandon leaves listeners excited to change the way they view money.

If you read the NGPF Blog then you have benefited from the handiwork of Tadas Viskanta and his blog Abnormal Returns. Having logged over 10,000 hours curating the best the web has to offer in finance news and research, Tadas offers up sound advice on how WE should be reading the financial press (hint: ignore the pundits spouting predictions). What's new in investment research? How will Fidelity's zero-fee index funds change the investing landscape? What new role has Tadas taken on at Ritholz Investment Management? Listen to this podcast to get answers to these questions and more. Enjoy!

As the start of the new school year approaches, here is this week’s podcast on how one enthusiastic teacher spent his summer preparing curriculum and new teaching strategies to start the 2018-2019 school year on the right foot. Brian Page, a Passionate (that's with a capital P) NGPF Fellow, teaches at Reading High School in Ohio and this marks his third appearance on the NGPF Podcast.

He shares how he both led and attended professional development sessions this summer that modeled engaging instructional strategies and used feedback to capture teacher thinking. He discusses the countless hours he spent revamping his curriculum. What key changes did he make? He is allowing for more student choice as well as building in more immediate feedback for students who take his assessments. Finally, Brian discusses the importance of timeliness when it comes to delivering content on financial aid to high school seniors. He wants them to have the opportunity to take a critical look at student loans and created an activity so they could experience the consequences of over borrowing. Brian will inspire energize you.  He believes that HE has one of the best jobs collaborating with other bright and high achieving education leaders. We think that WE do! Enjoy!

Brenda Campbell has played a pivotal role in developing SecureFuture's financial education programs that now serve thousands of youth in Wisconsin. Yet she continues to tinker to make her programs even better. Listen to Brenda as she describes how the model has evolved from in-class school programs to new initiatives like Money Coach. Her programs have achieved the holy grail for all financial education: positive and long-lasting behavioral change with her students. Her passion for the cause of financial capability comes through and you will enjoy hearing the success stories she has seen first-hand. Hear what Brenda thinks are key ingredients in curriculum development as well as what she has learned as a leader creating change in her community. Enjoy!

Tiffany Zachmeier has been leading financial education efforts at Bay Federal Credit Union in Santa Cruz, California for some time now. What she and her credit union have accomplished is nothing short of amazing. Since 2005, their financial education program has reached over 20,000 people  in 1,000 workshops delivered at local schools, employers and non-profits in the community. As the BayFed CEO noted: "Tiffany has truly helped make a real difference in the financial lives of those in our community." Tiffany covers a range of topics in our conversation including: how she teaches credit to young people, the difference between teaching students and adults, and why budgeting is not as constricting as consumers may think. Enjoy!

Andy Davidson spent much of his career on Wall Street and saw first-hand what happens when consumers lack basic financial skills.  What he saw inspired him to create a course that teaches personal finance through mathematics. And thus, FiCycle was born! Hear how he describes the rationale behind the three pillars of his curriculum, the importance of scaffolding and what this entrepreneur has learned along the way. Listen closely as Andy espouses the virtues of bringing more math into your financial education course. Enjoy! 

Ten years into his retirement, former LAUSD elementary school teacher and author Steve Schullo, is still fighting the good fight for teacher retirement plans. This go-getter shares the insights from his teaching career and his passion to fix the current 403(b) mess. As the author of Late Bloomer Millionaire, you will learn how Steve's savings and investing plan helped him achieve a healthy nest egg. Listeners will also learn why he wrote Fighting Powerful Interests and the changes he would like to see to the current retirement plans for teachers. The topic of these retirement contribution plans is so near and dear to his heart, and that’s evident from his personal anecdotes and the advice he offers to teachers. Enjoy!

I met Steve at the Maine JumpStart conference earlier this year. His workshop on how to build a successful personal finance program at your school described the importance of advocacy, passion for the subject with a bit of marketing advice thrown in for good measure. Steve was kind enough to share these insights in this podcast. What becomes clear in our conversation is how Steve has gone above and beyond to provide his students top notch instruction in life and money management. The Maine Jump$tart 2012-2013 Educator of the Year was inspired by his stint in the Peace Corps to teach the next generation of students. He’s done a fantastic job making a lasting impact—he still receives calls from former students looking to acknowledge all that he’s done for them! Hear how this educator made an impact in his classroom, district and state. Enjoy!

What is Bryce Leung and Kristy Shen's claim to fame? This couple holds the Canadian record in for retiring at the ripe, young age of 31! A few years into their careers as engineers, they reconsidered their lifestyle and strategically saved more so they could "live the dream" and retire early. So what are they doing now? Fulfilling their dreams in lands less traveled while living off their nest egg. Oh and their blog, Millennial Revolution, is spreading like fire among the F.I.R.E. [Financial Independence Retire Early] Community [bad pun intended]. While early retirement for many may only be a dream, this couple's budgeting and investing tips that can help us all.