Do you have federal student loans? Are you wondering if you have any refinancing options? There is a lot to consider in a refinance beyond the advertised interest rate, and this week’s $Pro, Meagan Landress, will help us wade through it all. We also spend a large part of this episode answering specific student loan related questions from the How to Money Facebook group. During this episode we each enjoyed a Can Can (red wine barrel-aged) by Westbrook Brewing Co which you can learn all about on Untappd. A special thanks to Jeff at Peachtree Road Package Store for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out!   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private Student Loan Benefits and Pitfalls with $Pro Meagan Landress #068

Best friends Joel and Matt are the co-hosts of How to Money which is all about providing the knowledge & tools that normal folks need to thrive in areas like debt payoff, DIY investing, and crucial money tricks that will provide continuous help along your journey. We believe that access to unbiased and jargon-free personal finance guidance is more necessary than ever before. When you handle your money in a purposeful, thoughtful way that works for your lifestyle, you can really start living a rich life.

Education

Training

Language Courses

Higher Education

K-12

Educational Technology

Business

Investing

Careers

Management & Marketing

Business News

Shopping

Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with our guest today, Derek Thompson. We’re big fans of his work so it hardly seems necessary to introduce him, but he’s a senior editor over at The Atlantic where he’s been for 15 years and has since been recognized for his narratives on topics like the future of work and the science of popularity. The latter of which led to the book "Hit Makers," a best-seller that delves into the secret histories of pop culture hits and the dynamics of what makes something popular. Derek also hosts the podcast Plain English, offering weekly insights into the latest news, the things he’s most interested in, and important issues that our society faces today- like the changing views of what work should and shouldn’t be. We also discuss Derek’s craft beer equivalent, the intersection of the board game Ticket To Ride and higher ed, the vibecession, polarization in media, the decline of workism, the rise of AI in the workplace, and 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 Long Haul Doppelbock by Creature Comforts! 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.

The Future of Work w/ Derek Thompson #818

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 - Should I buy a primary home or a rental property instead?
2 - When do I sell investments for a large financial goal that’s three years away?
3 - Do 529 contributions count towards my savings rate?
4 - What is a mistake to go with a 15 year mortgage?
 
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 Nut Brown Ale by Samuel Smith! 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.

Ask HTM - Selling Investments for Medium-Term Goals, Buying a Primary vs Rental Home, & If 15 Year Mortgages are Bad #817

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: banks for rednecks, more debt less fun, cruisers standby, frictionless payments, echo housing boom, phantom housing costs, baked rates, turning down a promotion, lotto lies, false jackpots, money dysmorphia, you need less to retire than you think, & advice only advisors.
 
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.

Friday Flight - Banks for Rednecks, Lotto Lies, & the Echo Housing Boom #816

The preconceived notion of the word “retirement” is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome here in the US. Be honest- what do you think of when you hear that someone is retiring? Maybe you think of someone who is a bit older or maybe they’re past their prime. You might not go as far as to say they’re “giving up”, but there’s this idea that they’ve put in several decades of hard work and are now kicking back. And if you attempt to picture yourself in that situation, it’s often so far off into the future that it’s difficult to have any connection to that future version of you. Honestly you probably don’t have any idea of what retirement might look like. Well, HOLD THOSE THOUGHTS, because these are precisely the types of problems that our friend Jillian Johnsrud loves to help folks navigate. She writes over at RetireOften.com, hosts a podcast by the same name, and coaches individuals who are looking to custom build a lifestyle that perfectly reflects their values, passion, and purpose. And while “retiring often” might sound like a luxury reserved for the ultra-wealthy, Jillian is here to point out that it’s more achievable than you think. Today we discuss what constitutes a mini-retirement, how long they should be, the kinds of goals you should set during a mini-retirement, and how to negotiate one with your employer.
 
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 Grits N Juice by Carolina Bauernhaus! 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.

Retiring on the Reg w/ Jillian Johnsrud #815

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 - Should or shouldn’t I prioritize paying down my student loans with the potential of forgiveness on the horizon?
2 - As a recent college grad, what is the best financial advice you have for me?
3 - Is it worth taking the additional tax hit to prioritize a Roth 401k over a traditional 401k?
4 - Using my Roth IRA as an emergency fund- is this a good idea?
5 - What is the best way to buy out my car lease and is it even a wise move?
 
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 Wake-n-Bake Coffee Imperial Stout by Terrapin! 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.

Private Student Loan Benefits and Pitfalls with $Pro Meagan Landress #068

Download our free app to listen on your phone