Episodes

Imagine a bunch of really smart people sitting around and deciding to invent a financial product that would democratize investing and save investors like you and me billions of dollars in fees. That is how the index fund was created and changed money forever. Our guest, Robin Wigglesworth, has written this phenomenal and insightful book called Trillions: How a Band of Wall Street Renegades Invented the Index Fund and Change Finance Forever. Whether you are a newbie to index funds or a seasoned pro, Robin is going to share with you the incredible power of index funds, what the heck they are, and why he believes being a little bit lazy is the key to building wealth and financial success. Links Trillions book by Robin Wigglesworth Robin Wigglesworth with the Financial Times Robin on Twitter Episode Sponsors A big thank you to our sponsors who made this episode possible. Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selli…

We've got a BIG announcement and we need your help! We've made the decision to rename the show in 2022 to reach a bigger audience, be more inclusive, and grow the show to world domination status. If I'm honest, I'm quite nervous about this change but also really excited. Since you are the most important piece of this show I need your help to pick the name. We've spent months trying to find two good names that are available and really represent what this show is all about. I'd be honored if you could take a minute and head over to the survey below and let me know what you think the new name should be. I'll be doing a big reveal in January 2022 of what the new name will be. Nothing will change on your end - just a new name and a new logo, bigger guests, more money topics and so much more. Links Renaming Survey See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re ready to get a clue about investing and take charge of your financial future, this episode is for you. Before you sink a single dollar into the stock market, you need to know author Susan Laubach’s 7 rules to invest effectively and make your money grow. Susan knows a LOT about investing. She is a former Wall Street stockbroker and financial educator. She’s taught several levels of investment education to students aged 18 to 74. Better Investing Magazine called Laubach’s previous book “the most-well rounded source of basic stock information and education.” In this episode, Susan is sharing learnings from her recent book, Rumpelstiltskin’s Rules for Making Your Farthings Grow. Told through entertaining, colorful retellings of fables and fairy tales you already know by heart, Susan will demystify the world of investing and teach you these powerful 7 rules of investing that will serve as you foundation going forward. When someone as wise as Susan comes on the show, I listen up b…

Saving money seems to be the Achilles heel for most of us. Either you can't seem to figure out how to get out of the endless paycheck-to-paycheck cycle or you are on the other end of the spectrum and saving so much that you're also not having a lot of fun in life. Saving money is one of the core personal finance principles but just like my guest, Jamila Souffrant, you have to figure out what you're saving money for in order to have fun with it. Jamila, host of the Journey to Launch podcast and her husband set out with a big goal of saving $85K in one year and close to it in another year. Oh, and they have two children with another on the way. Jamila had a big goal of leaving the corporate world behind to forge her career in personal finance and to retire by the time she turns 40 in a few years. In this episode, Jamila shares her favorite saving money tips to help you achieve financial freedom. Links Journey to Launch podcast Episode Sponsors I want you to start living a happie…

Have you ever wondered why we eat turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and our favorite veggie dish for Thanksgiving? The Thanksgiving meal has evolved so much since the early 1900s and become the holiday we associate with eating until we can't eat anymore. In this Friendsgiving episode, I sat down with the amazing Katherine Spiers, host of the Smart Mouth Podcast, to find out the history behind the Thanksgiving meal and got to the bottom of our pumpkin-crazed eating trends. Katherine shares how Thanksgiving has evolved over time, how to make most out of your Thanksgiving on any budget, and the fascinating story behind the year of two Thanksgivings. Links Smart Mouth Podcast Katherine on Instagram Episode Sponsors Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney.  Right now, my listeners can get a bonus of $25 in crypto after you make your first purchase with BlockFi's Bitcoin Rewar…

Yes, it is possible to invest in real estate and earn passive income on any income. If you’re active on social media, you may have heard of Rachel Richards and her brand Money Honey. Rachel has been on the show in the past, however, in this episode she's sharing her story about getting started in real estate investing. The truth is Rachel isn’t a trust fund baby and actually never made six figures in a job. She found creative ways to save money and was saving half of her salary to ramp up to her first investment all with less than 20% down. Rachel is a great example of bringing intentionality to your money so you can achieve a money goal. In her 20’s she decided rental real estate was her means to generate passive income and essentially retired in less than 2 years. In her story, I hope you find a bit of yourself and motivation that you can create your own version of Rachel’s passive income success. In this episode, we talk about what it means to have financial freedom, how to think a…

In this episode, our favorite smart shopping expert Trae Bodge is back to share the best tips for saving money on holiday shopping this year. It’s true that this holiday season might look a little different with supply chain issues and the reality that the virus is still hanging around. Experts predict that holiday shopping might be on a decline this year. I’m not convinced. Trae is sharing her thoughts on trends that will emerge this holiday season, how to score cash-back on your holiday shopping, her favorite websites for deals, and how to set realistic holiday shopping expectations on any budget. Links Trae's website Smart Holiday Shopping Guide Holiday Gifts Under $100 Smarty Rakuten Slickdeals.net Episode Sponsors A big thanks to all our episode sponsors who make this podcast possible! I want you to start living a happier life today. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at http://www.betterhelp.com/mymoney.  Go to http://www.La…

In this Shannah Shares, Community Q&A episode, I'm sharing the 7 tips to help you stay focused on your money goals inspired by a question form Amanda: "I love your podcast and have been listening for over a year now being inspired and working towards my goals. Maybe my question isn't really a question, but more like a request for a pep talk. I have 4 main money goals that I've been slowly working towards Paying off my student loans, saving 4 months of expenses in my emergency fund, saving $3,000 in a what I like to call an "oh shit fund" (I can access this savings account much quicker than my emergency fund), and finally saving for a house. For the past 6 years, I've been laser-focused on paying off my student loans, but because of the pandemic, I decided to shift my focus on hitting my emergency fund goal. Recently, however, I've been struggling with staying focused on achieving the emergency fund goal. I now have only $9,000 left to go of my student loans and I'm also only 3 mo…

What does it take to become an everyday millionaire? If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to get to millionaire status, I’d probably be a multi-millionaire by now. Deacon Hayes, former financial advisor, founder of Well Kept Wallet, and author of You Can Retire Early, knows a thing or two about millionaire status. Over the last few years, he’s dedicated himself to becoming debt-free and educates people just like you on how to do the same. Recently, he became so inspired to teach you how to become an everyday millionaire that he wrote a rap song all about it. In this episode, Deacon shares his top tips to help you step into everyday millionaire status, and even gives us a little sneak peek of his song. Links Well Kept Wallet You Can Retire Early Everyday Millionaire Song You Can Retire Early Podcast Episode Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinka…

Money and relationships can be tough. Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of chaos in the world. With money a constant source of stress, relationships are getting tested. Covid seems to have brought out two extremes in relationships - one partner embracing the “life is short” motto while the other partner might be feeling vulnerable and have a need to save for any future emergencies. These two opposites, or really any money conflict in a relationship, can be tough to sort through. Dr. Shauna Springer is back to illuminate money and relationships and share insider secrets to thrive during conflict. Your relationship will thank you after this episode! Shauna ‘Doc’ Springer is a best-selling author, frequently requested keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, suicide prevention, and close relationships. She is the author of WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us and the co-author of BEYOND THE MILITARY: A Leader…

If you don’t know Ivan Estrada already from House Hunters and Million Dollar Listing, you are about to become a new fan. Ivan is a Success Real Estate Entreprneur, and the author of a new book called Brand with Purpose. The way Ivan sees it, you and me, we have a personal band. The goal in life is to make sure everything you do is “on brand” including how you spend and save our money, who you spend time with, what you do for a living. In this episode, Ivan shares the story of his own journey to authenticity and invites you in to discover how to build an authentic and profitable personal and professional brand. Links Brand With Purpose Ivan Estrada Rich Dad Poor Dad Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymone…

Learning how to cook can save you a money. For most of us, eating out is our largest expense. It's easy to spend more money than you budgeted on food and at the end of the month not have enough left to fund your money goals. Learning how to cook can be one of the best ways to save money and eat healthier. As Ken Rubin, who is an accomplished chef from Rouxbe and our podcast guest says, "Start with one dish, one little thing…master that, and then build out your toolkit of food." Great advice whether you want to turn your love of food into a business or just want to learn how to make a few killer dishes. Learning how to cook is probably one of the smartest money moves you can make – and you can bank on that! In this episode, you'll learn staple dishes you can make to impress and tricks to save money while eating the foods you love. Links Rouxbe Rouxbe Courses Episode Sponsors Thank you to all our generous sponsors! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re ins…

As an entrepreneur since college, I’ve always been in search of the secrets behind becoming a profitable entrepreneur. Our guest, Sarah Shawm is a bit a bit of a legend. Sarah is a fashion entrepreneur, product designer, and business coach that specializes in helping other entrepreneurs to succeed. With her 20 years of experience, and 6 companies under her belt, Sarah has built a treasure trove of secrets for launching your product line, getting your products into stores and boutiques, and getting massive publicity in order to grow her companies quickly. In this episode, you’ll learn Sarah’s secrets to truly becoming a profitable entrepreneur whether you’re just starting out, or are a seasoned pro. Links Mentioned Sarah Shaw website Work with Sarah Profit First Money Mindset Journal Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day tria…

Debt does impact your mental health. If you've ever felt stressed out, depressed, or anxious about money know that you are not alone. Debt is one of the #1 reasons for anxiety and depression and has even been described as a heavyweight that is pushing down on you every second of the day. Melanie Lockert, the brains behind the successful blog Dear Debt, and the Mental Health and Wealth podcast, is sharing her story of dealing with debt, depression, and how she paid off over $81,000 in the process. LinksMental Health and Wealth podcastDear Debt Episode Sponsors Thanks to our generous sponsors who make this podcast possible! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney.  Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in …

This episode of Shannah Shares was inspired by a question from Brian and Tracey. They have friends who recently got a postnuptial agreement and are curious about how they work and if it makes sense for them. As controversial as they might be, if you're thinking about a prenup or a postnup, the first place you should start is getting some education around these hot-button documents. Jennifer Guimond-Quigley is joining us on this episode to demystify what you need to know about prenups, and breaking down the differences between postnups in a fun and an easily digestible way (no crazy lawyer speak here, just a totally educational and enjoyable conversation). Links Law Offices of Jennifer Guimond-Quigley 5 Signs You Need a Postnup Episode Sponsors Thanks to our generous sponsors! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away …

The holidays are always a time of big spending. Retailers are excited to have you back in stores shopping. It’s estimated that U.S. consumers will spend up to 9% more this holiday period compared to 2020, when consumers spent a total of $1.2 trillion during the key shopping period between November and the end of the year, according to a forecast from Deloitte. You need some tips to help you get your money ready for the holidays so you can roll into 2022 feeling good. Links Money Flow Workbook - Freebie How to Furniture Flip and Side Hustle Your Way to an Extra $500 8 Small and Affordable Money Steps to Make Right Now How to Survive the Holidays Debt Free Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney.  Maste…

If you want to make changes with your money you have got to understand the messages your brain is sending out. Did you know that your brain can literally make or break your financial success? You could be capsizing your “money boat” just by the way you are thinking. We're going to change that in this episode. Our guest, Ariel Garten is a neuroscientist, mom, former psychotherapist, former fashion designer (which she says is not the best business idea, and co-founder behind the start-up Muse. Muse tracks your brain during meditation to give you real-time feedback - more on that later. Ariel is here to help demystify what is going on in your brain, how you can reprogram limiting beliefs and thoughts in a healthy way, the benefits of mediation for your money, and so much more. Links Muse Muse mobile app Ariel Garten on LinkedIn Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthink…

In this episode, I'm covering everything you need to know about Health Savings Accounts, aka HSAs. This episode was inspired by six listeners who all wanted to know if they should have an HSA. Also, there are a lot of questions about what exactly is an HSA, how does one work, and how can you use it. I'm covering it all, including a conversation with Rida Wong from hsastore.com. Links Hsastore.com Health Savings Account 101 Episode Sponsors Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney. Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access to their offerings go to http://www.masterworks.com/mymoney.  Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listene…

I know I’ve shared this with you before, but I bought my first house at 24 and honestly, had no idea what I was doing and probably had no business buying a house then. We just barely made the money work, which is never the best idea. But, here I am. It worked out ok. I want different for you. Our guest, real estate expert, Marina Shiferman, is changing the real estate game for everyone, women in particular. In this episode, Marina shares the insider secrets you need to know to buy and sell real estate, how to start investing in real estate, and everything from soup to nuts about the buying process and working with a realtor. About Marina Marina and The Queen Team are a billion-dollar real estate team. You might call them the Real Estate Queen Dream Team because we can help you buy a home anywhere in the world, really. She is a proud homeowner (a few times over) and founder of The Real Estate Queen Academy where she teaches women how to buy and own real estate correctly and with con…

Whether you know it or not, you are making a statement with every dollar you spend, earn and save. What if your money could actually create change? Let me introduce you to a connect called Wallet Activism. Our guest, Tanja Hester, Tanja Hester, author of Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way and the forthcoming title Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change, is best known for retiring from her career at the age of 38, after watching her dad get forced into early retirement by his disability, which she inherited. In this episode, Tanja shares how you can channel your anger into meaningful, realistic wallet activism and use your financial power to fight for your values. It’s an incredibly powerful and life-changing message that will rock your world. Links Tanja's website Wallet Activism book Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by ico…

The Community Q&A comes from Sheila who writes: "Well hi there Shannah, thanks for all the great money gems that you dish out on the show. You’ve really changed my life and I love listening to episodes over and over again because I always learn something else. This podcast is like my fun encyclopedia for all things money. That sounds bad - seriously this show is fun and educational. Ok, so I have a question. I’ve really been thinking about my debt and want to seriously tackle it. I know you’ve done a lot of episodes on this, but curious if there’s one that you could point me to. I’m trying to reframe how I’m thinking about debt too. I know you mention that not all debt is bad...I mean, is that true? I seriously hope it is because it feels really unrealistic to say that I will never have debt and that when I’m debt-free, I won’t have debt again. That just doesn’t make any sense. So I think the trick is to figure out how to pay it off with a strategy as you say and then have a good …

There are two ways to fix your budget. The first way is to save more money. The second way is to make more money. That's where side hustle's come in. Whether it's to earn a few extra bucks or to transition to a new career, side hustle's are a great way to better your money situation. Take it from our guest, Nicaila Matthews Okome. You may know her as the host of the Side Hustle Pro podcast or her course Podcast Moguls. In this episode, Nicaila is sharing her secrets to build a side hustle empire, why some side hustles fail, and how to find the right side hustle for you. LinksSide Hustle Pro podcastPodcast Moguls courseHow to Easily Create a BudgetBudget the Right Way episodeBudgeting Sucks, No One Has a Plan, But You Can episodeGet a Life You Love on a Budget You Can Afford episode Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access t…

Living simply is one of the best ways to create wealth. Living in only 150 square feet for years, Ryan Mitchell has learned a thing or two about living simply. From downsizing, to life simplification, and designing a life that’s right for you, Ryan brings a lot of experience and practical knowledge to the table. He built his own tiny house in 2012 learning as he went along which inspired him to help others in their journey to live small. Today he still lives in his tiny house full time and off grid with solar, teaching others how to live simply. In this episode, we talk about ways to simplify your life, why it matters, how to build wealth by living simply, and how it might be the missing piece to you achieving the stuff you want in life. Links The Tiny Life Tiny Life on YouTube Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access …

Tearing down 5 investing taboos on this episode of Shannah Shares, Community Q&A. Today's question comes from Laquesha: "Hi Shannah. Thanks so much for answering my question. I really want to start investing but I keep getting hung up on all the chatter out there. I can’t figure out if I’m supposed to wait to start investing until I’ve paid off all my debt, or is that not smart to do? Also, it just feels like I need to be an expert at investing to do it well. I know that’s not true, but man, it just feels so hard to figure out investing. I know so many people are making a kiling, and I kinda feel bad that I haven’t started at all, know what I mean. You’ve done so many great investing episodes, I’m curious if there’s an episode from the past that you think I should check out. You’re awesome and I so appreciate this show for motivating me. My boyfriend can’t believe I care this much about my money, but I just tell him, yes, yes I do and so should you. Ok, thanks again." Links De…