Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money
by Paula Pant, Personal Finance Expert | Cumulus Podcast Network
Last updated Oct 27, 2026Is this your podcast?45 million downloads. One question: what does it actually take to build wealth?Each week, Paula Pant brings in economists, investors, business leaders, authors, and researchers to dig into the five pillars of financial f...
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- Joe4 eps
- Kate2 eps
- David Bell2 eps
Also: Jay Davis, Jon McNeill, Brigham, JVR, Elizabeth, Jamie Hopkins, Nir Eyal, Keith Wargo, Ron Lieber, Jeff Hurst, Tiffany Aliche, Rebecca, Emily, Dr. John La Puma, Clare Flynn Levy, Karen, Matt
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- 🇺🇸United States · InvestingHOME#3792K to 489K
- 🇨🇦Canada · Investing#681.5K to 8.1K
- 🇸🇦SA · Investing#241.3K to 6.7K
- 🇧🇷Brazil · Investing#103931 to 4.9K
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102K to 541K🎙 ~2x weekly·792 episodes·Last published yesterday - Monthly Reach
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204K to 1.1M🇺🇸90%🇨🇦2%🇸🇦1%+5 more - Active Followers
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112K to 595K
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/27/26 |  Q&A: I’m the Executor of Dad’s $500K Portfolio. Should I Cash It Out? | A bond fund that lost 38% feels like proof you should have bought individual bonds instead. But individual bonds would have lost value too; you just wouldn’t get a statement telling you so.Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins Paula to answer three listener calls. The first comes from an executor deciding whether to move his late father’s $500,000 brokerage account to cash during probate (the court process of settling an estate). The second is from an investor whose bond fund lost 38% in six years, and the third is from a 401(k) plan manager of 23 years who pushes back on Joe’s take on target-date funds.In this episode, we discuss:How an executor can protect an estate’s value without market timingWhy splitting the money 50/50 between stocks and cash can work, if every heir agreesWhy individual bonds lose value when rates spike too, even when no statement shows itHow a bond advertising 6% can still lose you money if you overpay for itWhen a bond fund makes more sense than individual bonds, and vice versaWhy short-term bonds can drag down a long-term portfolioWhether target-date funds are a smart default or a first step to outgrowIf you’re settling a parent’s estate, second-guessing your bonds, or wondering whether your 401(k) default is good enough, this episode gives you a way to weigh the tradeoffs instead of reaching for a one-size-fits-all rule.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements.(00:00) Why disability insurance costs so much(09:10) An executor’s $500K dilemma: stay invested or cash out?(11:41) Why Joe would move the estate to cash(15:13) The 50/50 split both hosts can live with(24:56) Her bond fund lost 38%. Now what?(27:33) Why individual bonds wouldn’t have dodged the loss(32:48) How a “6%” bond can still lose money(35:20) Why Paula bought her first bonds at 5.2%(53:54) A 401(k) plan manager defends target-date funds(1:05:40) Why so many people ignore their own money🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONEDOUTGROWING YOUR TARGET-DATE FUND? HERE’S WHICH ACCOUNT EACH NEW FUND BELONGS IN 👉 https://affordanything.com/assetlocationFree executor checklist from Stacking Benjamins 👉 https://stackingbenjamins.com/estateBuy Treasury bonds directly from the government 👉 https://www.treasurydirect.govShare your worst investment mistake for a future episode 👉 https://affordanything.com/voicemailSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 10m 17s | ||||||
| 10/23/26 | 3 Million Americans Got Rich From Boring Businesses. Here's How, with Owen Zidar & Eric Zwick | #761: Roughly 3 million Americans who own private businesses — car dealerships, beer distributors, dental practices — are collectively worth more than ten times the entire Forbes 400. Most of them didn't start rich, and you've probably never heard of a single one.Economists Owen Zidar (Princeton) and Eric Zwick (University of Chicago Booth School of Business) spent more than a decade linking anonymized tax records to the people who own America's private businesses. They share what they found in their new book, The Everywhere Millionaire.In this episode, we discuss:Why owning all of a small business can rival owning a sliver of a startupWhich unglamorous industries quietly produce the most wealthHow to decide whether to buy an existing business or start your ownHow retiring owners and seller financing (paying the owner back over time) open doors for buyersHow to run cheap experiments so no single failure wipes you outWhen to double down on one business versus diversifyWhat the data says about whether you need to be born richIf you're weighing a steady paycheck against owning something yourself, this conversation shows who actually takes that path, what it demands, and how often it pays off.⏱️ TIMESTAMPSNote: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements.(02:20) Why 3 million business owners outweigh the Forbes 400(06:13) The overlooked businesses behind America's quiet fortunes(11:22) Why retiring owners could be your buying opportunity(17:31) Own all of something small, not 2% of a unicorn(21:36) Buy a business or start one?(29:24) How to fail small without getting wiped out(34:35) What yacht and private jet data revealed(44:20) Most successful founders didn't grow up rich(01:06:31) Double down or diversify once it works?(01:18:51) Should you leave a high-paying job for this?🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED👉 Buy a retiring owner's business or build your own? Find the ownership path that fits your money and risk: https://affordanything.com/fiire👉 The Everywhere Millionaire (book): https://link.amazon/B04y1xfaU👉 The Everywhere Millionaire on Substack: https://everywheremillionaire.substack.com👉 The Millionaire Next Door, by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko: https://link.amazon/B01HtGgHgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 33m 35s | ||||||
| 10/20/26 | Q&A: $1 Million Invested, $100K a Year to Live On. Do We Ever Need to Save Again? | #760: A couple in their late 30s and early 40s with $1 million invested may never need to save another dollar for retirement, because left alone, that money could grow to about $4 million. The harder question isn't the money. It's which of them keeps working to carry the family's health insurance.Paula and Joe start with Beth, an accountant married to a burned-out tech worker, who wants to know whether they can cut back on work now. Then they tackle a retiree's Ivy League financial aid questions and a New Yorker asking whether renting forever is a financial death sentence.In this episode, we discuss:How to tell if you've saved enough for retirement to stop contributingWhy one spouse should stay employed to carry the family's health insuranceWhere to find part-time work in fields that rarely advertise itHow to turn a high savings rate into more time with young kids nowWhy lowering your income may not unlock more Ivy League financial aidWhy test prep may matter more than hiring an admissions counselorWhy renting in an expensive city isn't throwing money awayIf you've built a solid nest egg but feel stuck working five days a week, this episode shows how to check whether you can ease off now instead of waiting for full retirement.⏱️ TIMESTAMPSNote: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements.(06:53) $1 million by 40 and burned out: can they downshift?(10:18) Why one spouse should keep the health insurance(11:41) Where to find part-time work that still pays well(14:41) Why work-life balance comes in seasons, not days(16:49) What it really means to stop saving for retirement(18:10) How $1 million could grow to $4 million untouched(20:47) Turn your savings gap into time with your kids(27:40) Why a lower income may not unlock Ivy aid(37:12) Why test prep beats an admissions counselor(50:32) Is renting really throwing money away?🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED👉 RETIREMENT ALREADY COVERED? MAP WHERE YOUR NEXT DOLLAR SHOULD GO — ON ONE FREE PAGE: https://affordanything.com/cornerstone👉 Joe's conversation with Lynda Gratton on taking breaks and changing careers over a longer life (Stacking Benjamins SB1898): https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/rethinking-retirement-100-year-life-1898👉 Read This Before Planning for College (Stacking Benjamins x The College Investor): https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/collegeguide👉 The College Investor, Robert Farrington: https://thecollegeinvestor.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 57m 40s | ||||||
| 10/16/26 | My Bank Account Hit Zero ... Then I Got Rich -- with Jaspreet Singh of Minority Mindset | #759: At 19, Jaspreet Singh bought a rental for $8,000. What followed was a nightmare tenant, a lawsuit, and a later house stripped of its copper, and it taught him what the real estate books leave out. Jaspreet is the founder of Minority Mindset, a personal finance YouTube channel with more than 2.5 million subscribers, and CEO of Briefs Finance. He’s also a licensed attorney who chose to build businesses instead of practicing law. Avoid these 7 expensive rental property mistakes → https://affordanything.com/rent In this episode, we discuss: How hiring the cheapest property manager can cost you the most Why skipping a $200 inspection led to his worst deal ever Why an employee who’s just coasting hurts a small team more than a weak one A simple two-list exercise that shows whether your hard work actually pays How the tax code rewards owners and investors over employees How a terrible market timer who never sold still turned $100,000 into more than $1 million Where AI’s ripple effects could create opportunities beyond the AI companies themselves Whether you’re weighing a first rental, a business, or simply investing more consistently, this conversation shows what each path really costs and how to learn those lessons for less than Jaspreet paid. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED JASPREET LEARNED RENTALS, BUSINESS, AND INVESTING THE EXPENSIVE WAY. MAP YOUR OWN PATH FOR FREE 👉 https://affordanything.com/fiire Minority Mindset on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@MinorityMindset Briefs Finance and the free Market Briefs newsletter 👉 https://www.briefs.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 46m 18s | ||||||
| 10/13/26 | Q&A: "I’m 26 and No Longer Motivated by Money. Am I Unemployable?” | #758: Joe says that if you tell an employer you’re not motivated by money, you’re unemployable. Paula says that’s exactly the person she wants to hire. Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins Paula to answer a question from a 26-year-old whose net worth is already 10 times her annual spending. Then they take on two more: whether target date funds are worth it, and whether a dad of young kids should make a career change that cuts his income by 60%. In this episode, we discuss: Why not being motivated by money can make you a better hire The two traits Paula looks for when she hires How to tell whether a small business is a good place to work, and when it isn’t A quick test for whether you’d actually enjoy your coworkers When a target date fund makes sense, and when it holds you back How to decide whether to make a big career change now or wait Why your savings might be meant for exactly this kind of leap If you’ve saved enough that a paycheck no longer drives your choices, this episode will help you figure out what should. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:32) She’s 26 and no longer motivated by money (07:23) What Paula looks for instead of money motivation (12:54) The hidden risk of working at a tiny company (24:55) The 8-hour layover test for coworkers (33:05) Why Paula put her parents in target date funds (40:24) Joe’s 30-minute alternative to target date funds (51:33) Why your 401(k) target date fund may be junk (58:33) The case for target date funds as harm reduction (01:08:01) Should he take a 60% pay cut to switch careers? (01:13:37) Why waiting “one more year” rarely helps 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Building your own mix instead of a target date fund? See which account each fund belongs in: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation 👉 Episode #709, planning for a child with special needs, with Keith Wargo: https://affordanything.com/709-the-financial-reality-of-developmental-disability-with-keith-wargo/ 👉 Stacking Benjamins, Joe’s podcast: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/ 👉 Strategic Coach, the entrepreneur coaching program Joe recommends: https://www.strategiccoach.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 12m 42s | ||||||
| 10/9/26 |  Steve Jobs Hated the Name “Genius Bar.” How He Came Around, with Ron Johnson | #757: Ron Johnson is the creator of the Apple Stores and former CEO of JCPenney. At age 24 Ron Johnson turned down a $120,000 Goldman Sachs offer to unload trucks for $40,000, and that detour led Steve Jobs to hire him to build the Apple Store. Years later, he took over JCPenney and watched it fail for a reason that had nothing to do with his vision. Ron Johnson created the Apple Store and worked directly for Steve Jobs for 12 years, after bringing designer products to Target. He later served as CEO of JCPenney and is the author of Shop Different. In this episode, we discuss: How to weigh a lower-paying job that teaches you more How to set goals big enough that people work harder How to persuade a team whose top priority is not getting fired How to change a strong-willed boss’s mind Why a bold plan fails without trust, and how to build trust first What a rush of early customers can hide about a new business How to get out of your head when you’re overthinking a decision Whether you’re weighing a career risk, building a business on nights and weekends, or trying to get people behind a bold idea, this conversation shows what it takes, and what it costs to skip a step. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:14) Why a few columns made Steve Jobs furious (08:44) How he talked Steve Jobs into shopping malls (15:33) Why he turned down $120K to unload trucks (22:10) Why big goals beat small improvements (29:24) How to sell a risky idea to cautious coworkers (37:02) The $30 tea kettle that caught Steve Jobs’ eye (46:02) Why a record-breaking opening day was misleading (56:26) How a hotel inspired the Genius Bar (1:14:40) Why JCPenney failed: trust, not vision (1:35:54) How to escape analysis paralysis 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Would you turn down $120K for work you love? Find out what’s really driving your money choices: https://affordanything.com/fiire 👉 Ron’s Book, Shop Different: https://amzn.to/4yFA1SH 👉 Ron’s website: https://ronjohnsonshopsdifferent.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 45m 20s | ||||||
| 10/6/26 |  How Losing $500K in ‘08 Led One Trader to a Different Kind of Portfolio, with Jared Dillian | #756: In September 2008, Jared Dillian watched about half a million dollars of Lehman Brothers stock go to zero in a single week. He wasn't allowed to sell any of it. What he built afterward is a portfolio designed so he never goes through that again. Jared Dillian was a trader at Lehman Brothers from 2001 until its collapse, and ran its exchange-traded fund desk. He's the author of The Awesome Portfolio and taught finance at the university level for 13 years. In this episode, we discuss: Why to sell your company stock as soon as you're allowed to How living below your means gave him the freedom to start a business when Lehman fell How to gauge your real risk tolerance with a simple Las Vegas test How a portfolio split five ways (stocks, bonds, cash, gold, real estate) held up in 2008 Why a 20% cash cushion can be an advantage instead of a drag What long-term bond yields reveal about the economy that stocks don't What it would actually take to close the Social Security funding gap If most of your money sits in an index fund or your employer's stock, this conversation will help you figure out how big a drop you could actually stomach before the next real bear market tests you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:29) Walking into Lehman Brothers the day it collapsed (04:38) The $500,000 in company stock that went to zero (06:57) How cheap living let him start a business instead (19:54) Why buy-and-hold hasn't faced a real crash since 2008 (22:52) The Las Vegas test for your risk tolerance (27:07) A five-way portfolio that fell just 9.8% in 2008 (28:46) The one scenario where this portfolio struggles (29:33) Is 20% cash too much with inflation? (44:45) Why bond yields are the economy's warning light (51:25) Why half of retirees claim Social Security at 62 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED BEFORE YOU ADD BONDS OR REAL ESTATE FUNDS, KNOW WHICH ACCOUNT THEY BELONG IN 👉 https://affordanything.com/assetlocation Jared Dillian's website 👉 https://www.jareddillianmoney.com The Awesome Portfolio by Jared Dillian 👉 https://amzn.to/4ART5i4 Jared Dillian on X 👉 https://x.com/dailydirtnap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 50m 19s | ||||||
| 10/2/26 | First Friday: AI, Debt, and a Social Security Shortfall. Should Your Money Plans Change? With Rob Berger | #755: Many retirees fear running out of money more than they fear dying. AI is reshaping the economy, the U.S. now spends over $1 trillion on interest, and Social Security faces a shortfall. Rob Berger says if you're worried about all that, it's a sign you're thinking clearly. Rob Berger is a former securities lawyer, founder of the personal finance site Dough Roller, and host of a nearly 300,000-subscriber YouTube channel on investing and retirement planning. He started writing about money in 2007, just months before the Great Recession. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell whether today's high stock prices should change your plan When to trim a stock that's grown too big, and when to let it ride Why a booming economy can still leave so many people feeling squeezed What a looming Social Security shortfall could mean for your retirement How to cover your basic bills with guaranteed income, whatever markets do How to ease into retirement instead of going from 40 hours to zero Why daily spending habits matter more than investing knowledge Whether you're five years from retirement or five years into your career, this episode will help you separate what's truly changing from what never does. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED RETIREMENT WORRIES FEEL OVERWHELMING? SEE YOUR WHOLE FINANCIAL PICTURE ON ONE PAGE 👉 http://affordanything.com/cornerstone Rob Berger on YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9C17-OMxa-7oRSaCtztObw Rob's free weekly retirement newsletter 👉 https://robberger.com/newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 09m 34s | ||||||
| 9/29/26 |  Q&A: We Have $80K in Cash and Want a 1–2 Year Sabbatical. Is It Enough? | #754: Four months of savings in the bank, a goal of eight, and a career break she's excited to fund. Does everything else really have to wait? Paula and Joe's answer: don't turn your emergency fund into an emergency. A 42-year-old UK listener asks how to split money between an emergency fund, a career break, and retirement. Then we map out a 30-something couple's sabbatical and ask whether you can objectively grade a politician on the economy. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell a true emergency from an expense you know is coming How to rank competing savings goals when you can't fund them all How to protect retirement without putting your life on hold How to cover a sabbatical when your cash runs short Why low-income years are a prime window for Roth conversions How to test whether you can stomach an all-stock portfolio How to judge a politician's economic record without the spin If you're juggling short-term plans and long-term goals and feel pulled in every direction, this episode will help you decide what gets funded first, and what can wait. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (05:30) The real difference between emergencies and expenses (07:28) Why a former planner never said "emergency fund" (13:13) The monthly math that breaks most wish lists (18:36) One question that reveals what you really want (26:37) Why four months of savings is enough for now (33:48) Fund the sabbatical before earmarking a down payment (37:00) Why a career break is prime time for Roth conversions (43:24) How to test if you can handle a 22% drop (1:01:53) Judge politicians on policies, not short-term results (1:09:42) Why focusing on what you control grows your influence 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Emergency fund, sabbatical, retirement? See which box each dollar belongs in with this free one-page worksheet: https://affordanything.com/cornerstone 👉 Paul Merriman's free model portfolios and investing courses: https://paulmerriman.com 👉 Adventure Capitalist by Jim Rogers: https://amzn.to/4xOaEg3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 12m 05s | ||||||
| 9/25/26 | Why 60,000 New York Apartments Sit Empty in a Housing Crisis, with Kenny Burgos | #753: New York City is short roughly half a million homes, yet at least 60,000 rent-regulated apartments sit empty. Under current rules, many owners lose less money by leaving them vacant than by fixing them up. Kenny Burgos is CEO of the New York Apartment Association, which represents owners of rent-stabilized buildings, and a former New York State Assemblymember from the Bronx. In this episode, we discuss: How New York's rent rules work, and why they've lasted since 1969 Why the typical New Yorker pays about $1,600 while listings ask $5,500 Why some buildings now sell for $50,000 an apartment, and why that isn't a deal How a rent freeze pushes costs onto market-rate renters and delayed repairs Why a targeted rent freeze for seniors and disabled residents works better What Vienna's housing model accounts for that New York's doesn't What aspiring landlords should weigh before buying rent-regulated property Whether you own rentals, hope to, or just want to understand the rent-control debate, this episode shows what happens when costs keep rising and rents can't. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Ready to buy your first rental property, or get more out of the one you already own? Join the waitlist for Your First Rental Property. You'll be the first to know when enrollment opens: courses.affordanything.com 👉 New York Apartment Association: https://housingny.org 👉 Housing New York podcast with Kenny Burgos: https://housingny.org/housingnypodcast 👉 Kenny Burgos on X: https://x.com/KennyBurgosNY ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (03:44) Why New York's 1969 emergency rent rules never ended (04:58) The surprisingly low rent most New Yorkers actually pay (23:33) Why buildings now sell for $50,000 an apartment (25:12) Costs rose 4.5%. Rents were frozen at 0%. (31:39) The rent-freeze program that actually works (39:38) Who really pays when rents are frozen (47:13) Why 60,000 apartments sit empty during a shortage (01:01:53) Buyout or pressure? The $150,000 question (01:06:52) What Vienna gets right that New York doesn't (01:16:18) Should you buy a rental in New York? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 23m 39s | ||||||
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| 9/22/26 |  Q&A: I’m Tired of Managing My Rental Property. Should I Sell It? | #752: A caller's rental is performing fine, but a late-paying tenant and a roof replacement have her ready to sell it before she moves to Madrid for her MBA. Paula argues the real fix isn't selling — it's a hire she hasn't made yet. This week, Joe joins Paula to help a caller decide whether to sell a rental property from abroad, then dig into new data on why women's labor force participation dropped in July while their share of new jobs surged in August. In this episode, we discuss: How to tell if you're making the right call for the wrong reason Why a new roof or a set of windows can be a form of forced investing The one hire that can solve the same problem as selling your rental A simple way to estimate a rental property's real return What to weigh before selling a working investment on gut feel alone Why women's labor force participation fell in July even as their job gains led the year Why the trades are becoming a stronger bet than a four-year degree for some new grads This one's for anyone facing a big financial decision that feels more emotional than mathematical — whether that's a rental property, a career move, or a job you're not sure is worth keeping. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (01:45) Why she wants to sell a rental that's "objectively good" (03:25) When it's actually okay to sell a good investment (10:03) One hire that stops panic-selling a rental property (14:44) The simple math to compare rental returns vs. stocks (17:31) Paula's own confession about hating her first rental property (22:22) Why doing what you're best at beats doing everything yourself (30:11) 100% of last month's labor force drop was women (31:54) The real reasons women are leaving the workforce right now (32:18) Why women got 85% of new jobs created this year (47:00) The industry that could fix jobs and housing at once 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Torn on selling a rental? Get our free 10-day guide, which includes a deal-analysis exercise to help you decide with the numbers, not just your gut: https://affordanything.com/fiire 👉 Sign up for our newsletter (get the new site first): https://affordanything.com/newsletter 👉 Leave us a voicemail with your own money question: https://affordanything.com/voicemail 👉 Read the BLS jobs report Paula cites in this episode: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 58m 05s | ||||||
| 9/18/26 |  Why Self-Worth Predicts Your Income More Than Your SAT Score Does, with Marisa Franco | #751: The belief that’s quietly sabotaging your progress might not even be true. Free worksheet to question it: https://affordanything.com/turn-it-around Two people can grow up with the exact same test scores — and as adults, one of them ends up earning double the other. Psychologist Marisa Franco says the deciding factor isn't intelligence, and it isn't luck. It's whether you actually believe good things are allowed to happen to you. Dr. Marisa Franco is a psychologist and professor at the University of Maryland, and the New York Times bestselling author of Platonic. She's back to talk about her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment. In this episode, we discuss: How self-worth — not intelligence or family income — predicts how much you'll earn as an adult Why some people quietly sabotage their own portfolio right before they hit financial independence The difference between "good" and "bad" high self-esteem, and why one of them wrecks relationships Why getting more love or praise than you expect can make you pull away instead of lean in How to actually process a hard emotion instead of shoving it down Why hitting a big financial goal can leave you feeling strangely empty once you get there How to rebuild your sense of self after losing an identity you were attached to Whether you've ever undermined your own progress right before a finish line, or wondered why reaching a goal didn't feel the way you thought it would, this episode gives you a framework for understanding — and changing — that pattern. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (02:05) The two very different types of high self-esteem (04:36) Self-esteem vs. self-worth: the real difference (05:37) Why self-worth predicts income more than SAT scores (12:21) Sabotaging your own portfolio right before you hit FI (14:15) The self-fulfilling prophecy behind financial fear (23:36) Why too much love can make you pull away (25:05) How low self-worth blocks promotions and job offers (36:13) The memory trick that can change your brain (46:19) Why self-worth matters most in a bad market (1:06:10) Does self-worth actually drive your net worth? 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment: https://drmarisagfranco.com/worth-the-book/ 👉 Marisa's website (speaking, articles, more): https://drmarisagfranco.com 👉 Marisa on Instagram (for signed copies via Lost City Books): https://www.instagram.com/drmarisagfranco/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. | 1h 05m 15s | ||||||
| 9/15/26 | Your "Diversified" Portfolio Might Secretly Be One Big Bet on AI, with Alec Litowitz | #750: Free worksheet: question the belief that might be keeping you stuck — before reality forces the update for you: http://affordanything.com/turn-it-around Alec Litowitz spent three decades building one of the world's largest hedge funds, and he says the highest-IQ people in the room are often the last to notice the world has changed. His answer isn't more intelligence — it's the willingness to be wrong, quickly, and update before everyone else catches up. Alec co-founded Citadel alongside Ken Griffin and later founded Magnetar Capital, one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world. His new book, The Adaptability Quotient, is out September 15. In this episode, we discuss: How adaptability quotient (AQ) differs from IQ and EQ — and why it matters more now What a doomed Antarctic expedition reveals about real adaptability Why AI makes knowledge abundant and judgment scarce How to stop needing to be right so you can update faster The real reason Blockbuster lost to Netflix (it wasn't a bad decision) A 4-part test for telling a temporary shift from a permanent one Why a "diversified" portfolio might secretly be one big bet right now This episode is for anyone whose career, portfolio, or plans feel less certain than they used to — a way of thinking that doesn't require predicting the future, just noticing when your old model has stopped working. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 57m 09s | ||||||
| 9/11/26 | How a Blind Man and His Dog Survived 9/11 from the 78th Floor | #749: Michael Hingson was on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit on Sept. 11. He felt the impact, but couldn’t see it. Michael has been blind since shortly after birth. Alongside his guide dog, Roselle, they descended 1,463 steps – escaping just before the South Tower, 100 yards away, collapsed. They then helped a woman who was temporarily blinded by the dust. Michael's story answers the question – What do you do when something terrifying is happening, you don't have enough information, you cannot control the outcome, and everyone around you is beginning to panic? Michael's answer is surprisingly practical. 1. Prepare before you need the preparation. 2. Know what you know, know what you don't know. 3. Stop mentally rehearsing outcomes you cannot control 4. Keep acting on the part that remains within your control. He had deliberately learned the World Trade Center's exits, emergency procedures, physical layout, and systems long before Sept 11 because he believed that was part of being responsible for his office. When the building was struck, he describes that preparation as a “mindset” that simply kicked in. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (00:00) Life before September 11 (24:34) The plane hits the North Tower (34:03) Fear takes over in the stairwell (1:04:01) Turning tragedy into a new career (1:28:02) Challenging attitudes about blindness (1:38:01) Supporting guide dog organizations 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED michaelhingson.com guidedogs.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 33m 49s | ||||||
| 9/8/26 | career decisionsfamily gap year+4 | Joe | Cumulus Podcast Network | — | gap yearjob quitting+5 | — | 1h 01m 00s | ||
| 9/5/26 | job marketstock market+4 | — | Cumulus Podcast Network | Nepal | job marketstock market+5 | — | 45m 22s | ||
| 9/1/26 | Q&A: What Nepal Reveals About Wealth and Safety✨ | wealthsafety+3 | — | Caritas NepalThe Prime Minister Relief Fund | NepalNepalese | Nepalwealth+5 | — | 1h 00m 43s | |
| 8/28/26 | wealthpersonal finance+3 | Sahil Bloom | SRB VenturesThe Curiosity Chronicle+1 | California | wealthfinancial independence+3 | — | 1h 21m 20s | ||
| 8/25/26 | financial advicehistorical money strategies+4 | Joseph Moore | How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (& Didn't) | — | billionairecrypto exchange+5 | — | 1h 42m 58s | ||
| 8/22/26 |  Everyone Wants a Piece of You. Here's How to Stay Whole -- with Luke Burgis✨ | identitycommunity+4 | Luke Burgis | The Catholic University of AmericaCluny Institute+2 | — | identitycommunity+6 | — | 1h 05m 27s | |
| 8/18/26 | financial independenceearly retirement+4 | former financial planner | FIRE communityCPA+4 | — | financial independenceearly retirement+5 | — | 1h 09m 02s | ||
| 8/14/26 | You Can't Buy Back Your 20’s — with Jack Raines✨ | personal financecareer choices+4 | Jack Raines | Slow VenturesYoung Money: A Field Guide to Wealth and Purpose in Your Twenties | — | tradingblank-check stocks+5 | — | 1h 18m 36s | |
| 8/11/26 | early retirementinvestment strategies+4 | Joe | Cumulus Podcast Network | — | retirementstock portfolio+5 | — | 1h 11m 42s | ||
| 8/7/26 |  First Friday: We Lost 23,000 Jobs, Yet Somehow Unemployment is Down?!?!✨ | jobs reportbond market+5 | — | 30-year Treasury bondgold+2 | — | unemploymentjob loss+5 | — | 54m 59s | |
| 8/4/26 | Hackers Waited 3 Months for This Couple's $1.2 Million Deal, with Dr. Eric Cole [GREATEST HITS] | #738: Hackers broke into a real estate closing company's servers and waited three months for the right deal — then intercepted a wire and stole $1.2 million from a couple who did everything right, right down to the closing table. Dr. Eric Cole was a former CIA hacker, Cybersecurity Commissioner under President Obama, and longtime security advisor to Bill Gates. We're resharing this conversation, originally released in June 2025, in honor of his sudden passing this year and the practical security knowledge he left behind. In this episode, we discuss: -How to spot a phishing scam before you click the link -Why turning on two-factor authentication blocks almost every account takeover -The simple bank alert setting that can stop a fraudulent transfer -Why cybersecurity experts sometimes recommend paying a ransomware demand -How AI-cloned voices are powering a new wave of grandparent scams -What your phone's app permissions reveal about who's tracking you -Why "it won't happen to me" is exactly what scammers count on This episode is for anyone who assumes hackers only go after big companies — because the reality is scammers are counting on you to think that. You'll walk away with concrete, five-minute changes that close the gaps most people don't know they have. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements. (03:41) Why you're an easier target than a big bank (06:46) Why cryptocurrency theft is nearly impossible to reverse (10:59) How one password can move half your savings (17:35) The fake unpaid-toll text that's made scammers millions (21:55) Why paying the ransom is sometimes the smart move (29:05) How AI clones your kid's voice for scams (37:58) The one thing to never hand a child (54:57) Why you should mask your location online (01:16:18) The setting that blocks almost every account hack (01:18:45) The bank alert that can undo fraud fast 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👉 See your full financial picture — income, debt, safeguards, and goals — in one place with our free one-page worksheet: https://affordanything.com/cornerstone 👉 Dr. Eric Cole's firm, Secure Anchor Consulting: secure-anchor.com 👉 Signal, the encrypted messaging app Dr. Cole recommends for sensitive conversations: https://signal.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices | 1h 47m 12s | ||||||
| 7/21/26 | housing shortagewealth concentration+3 | Joe | Cumulus Podcast Network | U.S. | housing shortagewealth concentration+6 | — | 1h 23m 13s | ||
| 7/17/26 | venture capitalinvestment strategies+4 | David Bell | WhartonIdea Farm Ventures+3 | — | venture capitalfund managers+4 | — | 1h 01m 05s | ||
| 7/14/26 | consumer behaviormarketing strategies+3 | David Bell | Warby ParkerBonobos+3 | — | consumer behaviormarketing+5 | — | 1h 02m 05s | ||
| 7/10/26 | AI impact on jobshiring processes+4 | Lorraine Marchand | IBMBristol-Myers Squibb+3 | — | AIhiring+4 | — | 1h 16m 36s | ||
| 7/7/26 | financial strategyreal estate+3 | JaxMegan+1 | Cumulus Podcast NetworkAfford Anything | Baltimore | enoughfinancial team+3 | — | 1h 03m 11s | ||
| 7/3/26 | job marketinflation+4 | — | European Central BankBank of Japan+6 | — | jobsinflation+5 | — | 1h 05m 58s | ||
| 6/30/26 | inheritancefinancial advice+3 | Joe | Cumulus Podcast NetworkAfford Anything | — | inheritancefinancial planning+3 | — | 1h 00m 40s | ||
| 6/27/26 | money managementpsychology of hope+3 | Dr. Julia Garcia | The Five Habits of Hope | — | hopefinancial goals+5 | — | 1h 20m 58s | ||
| 6/23/26 | retirement planningfinancial flexibility+4 | anonymous calleranother caller | Cumulus Podcast NetworkHOA+3 | — | retirement savingsfinancial planning+4 | — | 1h 19m 32s | ||
| 6/19/26 | wealth managementlegacy planning+3 | Andrea Baumann Lustig | Cumulus Podcast Network | — | financial advisorlegacy planning+3 | — | 1h 29m 06s | ||
| 6/12/26 | personal financewealth levels+5 | Nick Maggiulli | The Wealth Ladder | — | wealth levelspersonal finance+5 | — | 1h 12m 19s | ||
| 6/9/26 | financial anxietyretirement planning+3 | Charlotte | AirbnbCumulus Podcast Network+1 | — | financial plananxiety+3 | — | 50m 22s | ||
| 6/5/26 | US economyjob growth+5 | — | prescription drug pricesJPMorgan | USAustin | job growthinflation+6 | — | 35m 48s | ||
| 6/3/26 | financial decision makingemotional finance+3 | RebeccaKate+1 | Afford AnythingCumulus Podcast Network+2 | — | financial decisionsRule of 72+3 | — | 1h 02m 23s | ||
| 5/29/26 | indoor healthcircadian rhythm+3 | Dr. John La Puma | — | — | indoor epidemicchronic diseases+3 | — | 1h 24m 09s | ||
| 5/26/26 | financial independencecharitable giving+4 | — | University of Central FloridaCumulus Podcast Network | — | financial strategyFIRE+5 | — | 41m 41s | ||
| 5/22/26 | investor behavioremotional bias+3 | Clare Flynn Levy | Cumulus Podcast Network | — | investor behavioremotional bias+3 | — | 1h 05m 37s | ||
| 5/19/26 | inheritancefinancial planning+3 | KarenMatt+1 | Grind: A No-BS Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow | — | inheritancefinancial aid+3 | — | 1h 13m 35s | ||
| 5/15/26 | financial frameworkmoney beliefs+3 | Haley Sacks | Goldman Sachs | — | money managementfinancial independence+3 | — | 1h 09m 16s | ||
| 5/12/26 | real estatefinancial decisions+3 | MelissaVon+1 | — | — | real estate returnscap rates+3 | — | 55m 59s | ||
| 5/8/26 | personal financemoney mindset+4 | Tiffany Aliche | The Budgetnista | — | financial recoveryscarcity mindset+5 | — | 1h 14m 13s | ||
| 5/5/26 | midterm rentalsreal estate investment+4 | Jeff Hurst | Furnished Finder | Airbnbmid-sized cities+4 | midterm rentalsfurnished units+4 | — | 1h 32m 49s | ||
| 5/1/26 | computer science degreestudent loans+3 | Ron Lieber | New York TimesCollege Scorecard | — | computer sciencestudent loans+3 | — | 1h 00m 07s | ||
| 4/28/26 | financial optimizationretirement planning+3 | — | Die with Zero | — | retirementfinancial planning+3 | — | 1h 12m 37s | ||
| 4/24/26 | financial planningdevelopmental disabilities+4 | Keith Wargo | Autism Speaks | — | financial planningdevelopmental disability+5 | — | 1h 00m 50s | ||
| 4/21/26 | financial transitionshome sale+8 | — | YFRP WebinarYFRP waitlist+2 | — | financial advicemoney management+1 | — | 1h 09m 17s | ||
| 4/17/26 | personal financecareer transition+4 | Jay Davis | Texas A&M TexarkanaTexas A&M University-Texarkana+3 | — | lifestyle creepfinancial security+2 | — | 50m 21s | ||
| 4/14/26 | student loansdebt repayment+2 | — | — | — | financial decisionsinheritance+2 | — | 1h 12m 30s | ||
| 4/10/26 | driving safetyentrepreneurship+3 | Jon McNeill | TruMotionLyft+4 | China | TruMotionTesla+3 | — | 1h 27m 58s | ||
| 4/7/26 | financial decisionsdebt management+2 | BrighamJVR+1 | real estate investing | the Bay Area | home purchasecredit card debt+2 | — | 52m 16s | ||
| 4/3/26 | jobs reporteconomy+10 | — | 401(k) plansFed+4 | — | April jobs reportunemployment+3 | — | 40m 49s | ||
| 3/31/26 | money market fundsavings account+4 | — | money market fundtraditional savings account+2 | — | financial planningretirement+2 | — | 1h 03m 10s | ||
| 3/27/26 | retirement planningfinancial independence+3 | Jamie Hopkins | the American College of Financial Servicesthe New York Life Center for Retirement Income+3 | — | financial plannertaxation+3 | — | 1h 31m 28s | ||
| 3/24/26 | promotionfinancial independence+2 | — | options trading coursesreal estate investment+2 | — | financial questionssalary increase+3 | — | 1h 10m 22s | ||
| 3/20/26 | mindsetmotivation+5 | Nir Eyal | Stanford Graduate School of BusinessEyal+2 | — | Beyond BeliefStanford Graduate School of Business+2 | — | 1h 01m 59s | ||
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Chart history for Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money
Peaked at #18 in KE, currently #18 in KE.
| Market | Genre | Peak | Current | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KE | — | #18 | #18 | — |
| SA | — | #24 | #24 | — |
| United States | — | #37 | #37 | — |
| TH | — | #38 | #38 | — |
| CO | — | #47 | #47 | — |
| GR | — | #52 | #52 | — |
| Spain | — | #65 | #65 | — |
| Denmark | — | #66 | #66 | — |
| PT | — | #67 | #67 | — |
| Canada | — | #68 | #68 | — |
| AE | — | #82 | #82 | — |
| Finland | — | #89 | #89 | — |
| South Korea | — | #89 | #89 | — |
| PH | — | #96 | #96 | — |
| India | — | #99 | #99 | — |
| KE | — | #100 | #100 | — |
| Brazil | — | #103 | #103 | — |
| SG | — | #108 | #108 | — |
| CH | — | #110 | #110 | — |
| New Zealand | — | #114 | #114 | — |
Chart Positions
37 placements across 31 markets.
Chart Positions
37 placements across 31 markets.