Is it time to break up with international stocks? They’ve been underperforming U.S. markets for years, so should we finally call it quits, or is there still hope for a global comeback? On today’s episode, Joe, OG, Paula Pant, and Jesse Cramer dig into the great international investing debate.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Stacking Benjamins episode without some friendly debate, expert insights, and the occasional off-the-wall tangent. Tune in for a laid-back but insightful conversation on making smart investment decisions!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/is-international-investing-dead-1647

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Ever experienced the gut-wrenching moment of losing a job—or worried about what you’d do if it happened? Today, we tackle how to prepare, what to do immediately, and the smartest moves to protect your finances if your job ever disappears. From building an emergency fund to making the most of employer benefits, we’ll walk you through the steps to keep your financial house in order when life throws a curveball.

But that’s not all. Estate planning gets a shake-up thanks to the new Secure Act 2.0, and we’re diving into what it means for inherited Roth IRAs (hint: the government has new rules, and you’ll want to know them).

And because we can’t resist a good detour, we also explore the real cost of horse ownership (spoiler: it’s more than just hay money) and why tide pooling is more financially educational than you’d think. All that, plus trivia, TikTok wisdom (or nonsense), and plenty of lively discussion from the basement crew.

✔️ Job security is a myth—be ready. Build that emergency fund, update your resume, and keep networking.

✔️ Your employer’s benefits might be your hidden lifeline. Know what’s available before you walk out the door.

✔️ Secure Act 2.0 changes estate planning. If you’re inheriting a Roth IRA, don’t assume the old rules apply.

✔️ Horses aren’t just expensive—they’re financial black holes. But that won’t stop people from trying.

✔️ Tide pooling might be the best investment lesson in disguise. Patience, observation, and avoiding getting pinched—it’s practically a stock market metaphor.

Tune in now to make sure you’re financially prepared—whether it’s for job loss, estate planning changes, or just the unexpected expenses of a very expensive hobby.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/spring-cleaning-your-estate-plan-1646

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Feeling stuck in your financial plan—or maybe just in life in general? Whether it’s your money, career, or day-to-day habits, a little innovation can go a long way. Today, we’re breaking down how to rethink and restructure your approach to financial planning and work-life balance using lessons from Microsoft (yes, the Xbox folks). Dean Carignan and JoAnn Garbin insights on how to build a system for innovation—because the best financial plans (and lives) aren’t built by accident.

Meanwhile, a woman was scammed out of her savings, and a major financial company had to pay a fine—even though they didn’t actually rip her off. What happened? And what does it mean for how we protect our own money? We’ll break it all down.

Elsewhere in the episode, we discuss why trusted contact forms are crucial for safeguarding elderly relatives’ finances, how OG wants you to rethink your daily money habits, and why the Xbox case study holds lessons for designing a better financial plan. Plus, Doug has thoughts on podcast innovation, trivia, and—because it wouldn’t be a proper basement gathering without it—a hot take or two.

Tune in now to learn how to bring structured innovation into your finances, career, and life!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-importance-of-innovation-1645

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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Love is in the air—and so are overpriced flowers, extravagant dinners, and some serious credit card regrets. In today’s episode, we tackle the financial pressure of Valentine’s Day and show you how to keep the romance alive without setting your wallet on fire.

Joining us are financial pros Jesse Cramer, Sarah Catherine Gutierrez, and Len Penzo, who help us break down:

Plus, we’ve got trivia, technical mishaps (because what’s love without a little chaos?), and some surprise financial wisdom that might just save your next date night.

Stack your love life and your Benjamins—tune in now!

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Just when you thought Wall Street had run out of ways to package up risky investments and slap a shiny label on them—here we go again. Today, Joe and OG break down yet another overcomplicated, high-fee, and completely unnecessary financial product. Whether it’s preying on investor fears, promising market-proof returns, or just outright nonsense, we’ll help you spot the warning signs before you end up with a portfolio full of regret.

But that’s not all. A viral TikTok tip about hiring your family members for tax benefits has been making the rounds, so we’ll dive into whether this is actually a genius tax strategy or just another case of the internet handing out half-baked financial advice.

Plus, a listener asks about breaking into financial planning, and we lay out what it really takes—beyond the certifications and credentials (spoiler: sales skills matter). And Doug brings us a trivia question about one of the greatest art heists in history, proving that sometimes the best investment is knowing how to disappear with the Mona Lisa.

Also: Joe saw ‘Wicked’ and has thoughts—mostly about how much better Wonka was.

• Want to learn more about structured investments? (Just kidding, you really don’t.)

Tune in now and learn how to dodge the latest Wall Street nonsense while making smarter money moves.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/new-crypto-etfs-1643

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Swipe right on financial stability or get ghosted by your savings? While Joe's mom yells upstairs about who left the empty milk carton in the fridge (seriously, who does that?), we’re diving into the messy, complicated, and sometimes hilarious world of your relationship with money. Are you in a stable, long-term commitment with your finances, or are you stuck in a toxic on-again, off-again affair with impulse spending?

Special guest Shannah Game, certified financial planner and author of Unraveling Your Relationship with Money, joins us to decode the emotional baggage we bring to our bank accounts. Meanwhile, Doug swears he’s figured out how to “game” the stock market using AI—spoiler alert: it involves a Magic 8-Ball. We also tackle some questionable dating preferences (because who doesn’t want to know if their financial habits make them swipeable?) and unpack the latest market shake-ups.

In this episode:

Will your money habits lead to a lifetime of wealth—or will your wallet break up with you via text? Tune in and find out!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/relationship-with-money-financial-habits-sb1642

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Is automating your finances the key to effortless money management, or a one-way ticket to financial autopilot disaster? Paula Pant, Jesse Cramer, and Doc G join us to navigate the fine line between automation genius and accidental money mayhem.

Done right, automation saves you time and stress. Done wrong? You might be funding a forgotten gym membership for the next five years. 😬

💰 The Power of Automation – How strategic automation can make your financial life simpler, more efficient, and stress-free.

🤖 What to Automate & What to Keep Manual – Should you set bills to auto-pay, or will that lead to mysterious charges on your credit card?

📊 High-Tech Money Tools: Are They Worth It? – Todoist, Notion, and other techy automation tricks—are they game-changers or just digital clutter?

💡 Personal Automation Hacks – How the panel automates their finances like pros (without losing control of their money).

🎭 The Dark Side of Automation – Horror stories of overdraft surprises, vanishing paychecks, and auto-pay regret.

📢 Stacker Debate: Should You Automate Everything? – The great automation showdown—when automation helps and when it hurts.

✨ Special Bonus: The Worst Things to Automate – Some things should NEVER be on autopilot. Find out what financial automation fails made our list.

✅ Automation = Freedom (When Used Wisely). The right balance saves you time while keeping you in control.

✅ Auto-pay is great—until it isn’t. Track subscriptions and bills so you don’t end up paying for things you don’t use.

✅ Manual check-ins keep you financially sharp. Even with automation, you need to review your money regularly.

✅ Tech tools can help—but they’re not magic. The best system is the one you actually use.

🎧 Hit play now and rethink your approach to automation before it outsmarts you!

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What do scammers, fancy doors, and Twinkies have in common? Turns out, more than you think! Today, Joe, OG, and Doug take you on a wild ride through financial scams, fraud prevention, tax implications of dual residency, and... the surprising link between door quality and financial stability. (Yeah, we didn’t see that one coming either.)

🕵️‍♂️ Scams, Scams Everywhere! – From identity fraud to the trendy new "deed theft" scam, learn how to protect yourself before a scammer claims your house faster than you can say "that wasn't in the budget."

💳 Fraud-Proofing Your Finances – Why setting up credit monitoring, checking your bills, and paying attention to sketchy emails can save you thousands in headaches.

🚪 The TikTok Minute: What Do Soft Close Doors Say About Your Wealth? – Is your financial future written in the way your doors shut? Find out why door noises might reveal more about your bank balance than your credit score.

🧾 State Taxes & Dual Residency: The Sneaky Costs of Living in Two Places – Thinking about snowbirding to Florida or keeping a backup home in another state? We break down what you NEED to know before state tax authorities come knocking.

🤖 Password Security & The Quantum Computing Takeover – Is the future of passwords doomed? What you should be doing now to keep your Twinkies—and your bank accounts—safe.

🍕 Pizza Cutting Controversy & Nostalgic Minivan Stories – Because what’s a Stacking Adventures episode without a little debate, a little reminiscing, and a whole lot of questionable opinions on pizza slicing?

🍰 Twinkies Trivia: A Deep-Dive into the Snack That Never Dies – Have scientists unlocked the secret of Twinkie immortality? More importantly, should Twinkies be considered part of a solid financial plan? (Spoiler: probably not, but let’s discuss.)

📢 Stacker Questions & Community Fun – Helping a listener navigate dual residency tax headaches + a special meetup announcement!

✅ If it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam. Seriously. Trust your gut, not the email from "Prince Jeff of Nigeria."

✅ Your finances need monitoring, just like your snack stash. Set up credit alerts and check your accounts weekly to avoid surprises.

✅ Moving states for tax savings? Do the math first. Dual residency isn’t always the loophole people think it is.

✅ Twinkies may last forever, but financial security requires maintenance. A solid money plan beats a stockpile of snacks (but only slightly).

🎧 Hit play now for a mix of financial wisdom, scam-prevention tips, and just the right amount of Twinkie-fueled fun!

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Retirement planning isn’t about waiting until 65—it’s about setting yourself up for a life you love starting right now! Today, Certified Financial Planner Benjamin Brant joins us to challenge traditional retirement thinking.

✅ Retirement planning starts now, not later – Why waiting to plan is the biggest mistake you can make.

✅ Dream big, but expect some ‘bad data’ – How testing financial plans (and life plans!) helps you refine your future.

✅ Why trust beats performance in financial planning – A new study shows that your advisor’s returns matter less than their integrity.

✅ The Monte Carlo simulation debate – What this financial tool actually tells you (and what it doesn’t).

✅ Childhood dreams, stand-up comedy, and time travel? – How revisiting past joys can shape a meaningful retirement.

✅ Choosing the right financial advisor – The #1 factor to look for before handing over your portfolio.

💡 Retirement isn’t a number—it’s a mindset. The earlier you start thinking about what brings you joy, the better.

💡 Financial planning isn’t perfect science. Bad data, trial-and-error, and adjusting your plan over time? Totally normal.

💡 Trust is your biggest investment. A good financial advisor isn’t just about returns—they’re about guidance you can rely on.

Grab your favorite drink (coffee, bourbon—you choose!) and let’s stack some wisdom for your future self.

🎧 Hit play now and start building your best retirement today!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/find-your-fulfillment-in-retirement-Benjamin-Brandt-1639

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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Ever dreamt of quitting your job early and sipping piña coladas on a beach? Before you tell your boss what to do with that job and start booking your one-way ticket to paradise, today’s roundtable might make you think twice. Join Jesse Cramer from The Best Interest, Paula Pant from Afford Anything, and our own OG as they break down the case against early retirement. The gang’s here to challenge the “quit work, retire early” dream and explore whether it’s really as awesome as it sounds—or if there are a few catches you haven’t considered.

The conversation gets into the nitty-gritty of why early retirement might not be the smooth ride some people think it is. From the psychological toll of too much free time to the unexpected financial hurdles, our panelists share the real stories behind the headlines. What’s the balance between financial freedom and a fulfilling life? Can you really retire early without regret, or does the cost of quitting work too soon outweigh the benefits?

And don’t forget about Doug’s wicked trivia challenge!

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/the-case-against-early-retirement-1638

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201

Enjoy!

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