Episodes

I'll admit it - I have doggie fever - like really bad. Being a financial planner I'm always trying to figure out the true cost of owning a pet and whether or not that makes sense for us financially. Pet Insurance is one of those topics that I don't know a lot about but, just like any other insurance, seems like a worthwhile investment to make. So I went straight to my friend Jennifer Fitzgerald at Policygenius to find out what I need to know about pet insurance.  On This Podcast Episode: Jennifer Fitzgerald, Founder, and CEO of Policygenius, is not only a fellow lover of pets but also an expert when it comes to all things insurance. In this podcast episode, we're dishing what you need to know about pet insurance whether you have a pet now or are getting one in the future including:The pros and cons of pet insuranceWhat policy options you have and the deductibles for each policyHow much pet insurance really costsWhat are the risks of not having pet insurance Can you use any vet or…

What does how you earn, save and spend your money say about your overall relationship with money - a lot actually. Some of us spend more money to "look the part" in our careers and some of us can get away with comfy pants and ripped sweatshirts (although I urge you to never go to work this way). What writer Alanna Okun has found in her series, How Do You Shop on Racked is that our uniqueness to spending and saving money is also the tie that binds us all together. On This Podcast Episode: We're getting down and dirty with Racked's writer and editor, Alanna Okun, about the series How Do You Shop in this episode. Alanna shares some of the most surprising discoveries she's learned from talking to many different women from across the U.S. about their own saving and spending money stories. Alanna's also got quite a money story herself. Living in NYC and working for Racked and BuzzFeed prior, she's sharing her own wisdom about being smart with her cash and her exciting career journey …

For me, travel is a must in life, right up there with paying rent and my student loans (yep, still got those payments too). Going on vacation, I feel, isn't a luxury but a legitimate expense to add to any budget because of all you learn about yourself as well as the place you visit. What I've learned from years and years of traveling is that no matter what my budget is, there's always a way to go on vacation...no matter what. On This Podcast Episode: Let's not let your budget keep you for going on vacation - whether it's a short trip or a two-week excursion, traveling is important.Learn some of my favorite tips to vacation on any budgetCreating a travel savings account could be the best thingFind sneaky ways to save every day for your travel fundHear about some of my favorite sites to help you saveUnderstand why I think travel is so important -and why the world needs you to explore it Links Mentioned:ThePointsGuyHipmunkMomondoWow AirlinesBest Airbnbs for under $200 a night Th…

When we think about the "American Dream" buying a home is certainly a core element. At least that's what I've been told. However, far too often I find people getting tempted into buying a home that's way too big for their bank account because society says, "you should buy a house you can grow into." I can tell you first hand that is a dangerous statement. When your home (or your mortgage payment) is bigger than your bank account the risks can far out weight the benefits.  On This Podcast Episode:Let's discuss the dangerous of buying a house bigger than you needHow to define your ideal homeWhat are some factors you should consider to buy the right home for youHow can you balance your goals with your mortgage paymentLife lessons I learned from the all too real lifestyle creepWhy you need to make smart home buying decisions (and how to correct not so smart ones) Links Mentioned:Wall St. Journal Article Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Mille…

It's always a happy day when you check your bank account and see that your tax refund has hit your account. It almost doesn't matter how much, or how little the amount is....it feels like free money. However, your tax refund is a refund of payments you've already made throughout the year that is over the amount that you should've paid. So, since it's your money, you're going to want to make the most of it. On This Podcast Episode: Find out some tips and tricks to make the most of your tax refund this year. Whether your goal is to pay down debt, afford a vacation or you want to stash it away to beef up your emergency fund, you're going to need a plan in place before the cash arrives. We all know what happens if you don't have a plan - somehow the money vaporizes (I've been there myself). Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media usi…

In the new podcast, Women’s Work, author and veteran podcaster Tsh Oxenreider, whom you might know from The Simple Show, asks women—from all walks of life who do all sorts of work—their stories. More than a business show, this is a STORY show; a podcast that sings the often unsung praises of the millions of women who make our world a better place. This show is for women, for a boost of encouragement that our/their place in the world DOES matter. It’s for men, to remind them/us that half the human race is doing good work right alongside them/us. And it’s for our sons and daughters, to inspire the next generation of what’s possible. On This Podcast Episode: Supporting great podcasts from women is super important to me. Here’s a clip from the premiere episode of Women’s Work, where Tsh talks with Sarah Stewart Holland, who’s both the podcaster from Pantsuit Politics AND a city commissioner for her small town in Kentucky. Links Mentioned: Subscribe to Women’s Work wherever you …

Tax time will be here before you know it...like in a few short weeks. Don't panic though because there are so many great resources to help you out and save you time and money, like MyFreeTaxes. If you make under $66,000, you can file a free Federal and State tax return in a matter of minutes. If that doesn't help the stress melt away, I don't know what will. On This Podcast Episode: I'm chatting all things MyFreeTaxes with Laura Scherler, United Way’s Director of Financial Stability and Success. Whether you're a new filer or and old pro, MyFreeTaxes is such a great resource to use. We chat about:Who can use MyFreeTaxes and what makes them differentWho can you go to when you need help filing your taxesWhat's the difference between a deduction and a creditWhat paperwork do you need to get startedHow can you get your refund in the mail ASAP Links Mentioned:MyFreeTaxesLocal free tax help Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Ev…

Traveling internationally is exciting but can certainly be expensive to keep up on Instagram and stay connected to your friends on your current cellular plan. Like super expensive. Jefferson Graham from USA Today's podcast, Talking Tech, is covering the details you need to know to travel around the world and avoid the sting from an expensive cell bill when you return home. Your wallet will most definitely thank you. On This Podcast Episode: I'm catching up with Jefferson Graham from USA Today's Talking Tech podcast on the latest tech trends, the cell phone carrier that you need to have to save a ton of cash and the coolest tech trends from the Consumer Electronics Show. Even Alexa contributed on this podcast episode. Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast. Also, please leave an honest r…

Did you know that in 2016 women were paid just 80% of what their male counterparts make? For the same job! There's a lot of dialogue right now about the treatment of women in the workforce and it's bringing a lot of issues that have been hidden for years out into the open. For women listeners, we've got to learn how to win the pay gap and earn what we're worth, and for the male listeners, you've gotta understand the struggle that we face to make a decent living.  On This Podcast Episode: On of my favorite podcast guests and negotiation expert, Jacqueline Twillie, is sharing her tips to battle the wage gap and earn what you're worth. We're rebooting this episode from last year since the topic, and the content, are even more appropriate for the place we find ourselves in this year.  If you've ever wanted to know how to become a master at negotiation (and you should), Jacqueline is sharing tips that will help you score a bigger salary and more benefits from the job you currently h…

Inspired by a listener question from Brandon, the answer to the question, "Is an MBA worth the investment," might surprise you. While student loan debt currently sits around $1.4 trillion dollars in the U.S., the thought of tacking on more debt might not seem like a great idea...unless it actually is. Our guest on this podcast episode provides some great food for thought to help you figure out if graduate school is worth the investment. On This Podcast Episode: Alex Grodnik, MBA, fellow millennial podcaster from Wall Street Oasis, and co-founder of a new fintech startup, Payclub, shares his story to graduate school and how that one decision has shaped so much of his career story. Whether you're deciding to go to graduate school or not, Alex is sharing some great life lessons about finding your passion and what it takes to chase after it. Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjo…

Contemporary country singer Tyler Williams might be one of the busiest dudes around - singer/songwriter, NASCAR driver, actor, author - yep, he has his irons in a lot of fires these days. For a guy, so busy and so driven, you’d never guess that at a young age he caught a bad case of stage fright almost thwarted his entire multi-career path. On This Podcast Episode: Even with so much on this young singer’s plate, he still found time to write and record a new album which drops January 26. We caught up with Tyler Williams at his home in Atlanta as he talked about his bout with stage fright, how karaoke changed his singing career and how proud he is of his new album Good for Me. Links Mentioned:Tyler WilliamsI Have a Voice bookAXS Article Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast. Also, plea…

If you’ve filed your taxes before, or if you're a business owner ,you certainly love all those tax deductions. Why? They help reduce your taxable income and can potentially bump into a lower tax bracket on occasion. BUT…some of those tax deductions we used to love are now gone – they flew out the window on January 1, and who knows if there ever coming back. On This Podcast Episode:Get an understanding of why tax deductions are so popularI'll discuss what homeowners and future homeowners need to knowWe loved personal exemptions, why did they go awayLearn what job related deductions have gone awayIf you pay or receive alimony payments it's all changed (FYI - For spouses who divorce before 2019, these rules will not affect them, but spouses who divorce after Jan. 1, 2019, the new rules will apply. For divorces that happen before Dec. 31, 2018, spouses who receive alimony payments will need to pay taxes on it and spouses who pay alimony will be able to deduct it.) Links Mentioned:Po…

Don’t you just love it when you travel to a place that you’ve always wanted to explore and all the stars align and the place is as cool, as welcoming, and even more interesting than you thought? That’s exactly how we experienced Austin recently. On This Podcast Episode: For many years Austin has been known as one of the music capitols in the world and of course Texas barbecue is king around these parts. But, the one ingredient that makes this Texas capitol city so special, are all the friendly and diverse folks that have created the awesome Austin of today. While we were in town we sat down with some of those local friendly’s to get their side of this very cool and growing city. Join as we talk with our friend Casey about ever-expanding food scene, our new friend Shelly about her hidden gem of a boutique hotel and our local band friends Transit Method take us around some of the best places to catch music in Austin. My co-host for the podcast is my husband, Jeff Game, a travel, …

If you've ever wondered what you should be doing each month with your finances, I've got a podcast episode for you. I've compiled a list of the top things you should be thinking about each month to help you make smart money moves throughout the year. This is just a guide - so make sure you make it your own and focus on the steps each month that are right for your own situation. It's your year to rock your finances - I'm just sayin'. On This Podcast Episode: I'm taking it month by month to lay out a money to do list to keep you focused and your bank account soaring.Jan – How are you doing? This is a month to check in on your financial goals – have you set new ones?Feb – Getting your tax stuff together is the name of the game because tax day is April 17.March – Time to double check your retirement contributions + invest your tax return somewhere good.April – Save and shred any documents you don't need after filing your return and create a master money list with every account numbe…

Does this podcast episode resonate with you? I can't tell you how many times I'm asked this question and the answer is always more complicated than you might think - but, it always end up with a yes. There are lots of things to hide from your partner - your secret mac and cheese addiction and the fact that you really don't like to work out. However, when it comes to debt, honesty is the name of the game. (I promise you it's not that scary). On This Podcast Episode: A recent question to the podcast prompted this episode, but I have a feeling a lot of the listeners are wondering the same question. On this episode we're tackling this question and I'm offering guidance on why you should always talk about debt.Learn how to figure out the right time (and way) to talk about debtUnderstand why disclosing debt is super duper importantFind out how to set boundaries with your partner around debtTake a listen to my own story about talking about debt in a relationshipHave a lightbulb moment …

As we talked about in a recent travel episode, Austin is one of the hottest cities to travel in 2018 and might just be getting a lot more awesome-er (it’s a word) when the “Urban Oasis” that is the brand spanking new Fairmont Austin opens later this year. Located smack dab in the middle of downtown, this brand-new gem of a hotel is a great addition to the expanding Austin skyline. On This Podcast Episode: Our good friend, Director of Communications for the Fairmont Austin, Casey Barks gave Jeff, my co-host, and me a behind the scenes tour of their brand-new property. This Texas-sized hotel will now be the largest Fairmont which towers 37 stories high and holds 1,048 rooms, with five of the most anticipated restaurants opening in 2018, including a food hall. Ready to check in? Links Mentioned:Fairmont AustinThe DriskillKimpton Hotel Van Zandt Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve …

With millions of people making a financially themed resolution for 2018 - pay off that debt and save more are the two top resolutions - and recent Fed rate hikes expected to cost credit card users an extra $7.4 billion in interest this year (YIKES), the personal-finance website WalletHub today released a pair of reports that will help you save more in the new year: 2018’s Best Credit Cards as well as the latest Credit Card Landscape Report. On This Podcast Episode: To tackle any big financial challenge like paying off debt it's going to take a game plan and some plain ole' commitment. However, that doesn't mean that you should focus on paying off all the debt all at once - in fact, that can lead to burnout and frustration. On this podcast episode, I'm chatting with Jill Gonzalez, analyst from WalletHub about some of their recent findings in their Credit Card Landscape report, and how those findings can help you in 2018 be smart and strategic in paying off your debt.  Links …

It’s a new year, the holidays are over, you're settling into 2018, but you are itching to get far, far away and experience an amazing getaway...and maybe travel some place you have never been before. We recently gave you some of the best budget travel destinations, well this time we are tackling those unique and cool travel destinations of 2018. On This Podcast Episode: On this episode, my co-host Jeff and I are dishing about all those destinations that you should start saving now to explore this year. How about an island where Alexander Hamilton was born? An American iconic city turning 300 years old? How about finding Luke Skywalkers home from the Last Jedi movie? We have it all this and more on this week’s Travel Tuesday episode and Where Everyone is Traveling in 2018! Get your bags packed and your bank account ready. Links Mentioned:Exit FestivalLuke Skywalker’s HomeVisit DetroitFairmont AustinAloft DetroitSquare Nine Hotel BelgradeFour Seasons NevisAirbnb NevisAirbn…

Let's talk about a "tough" money subject  – security and fraud prevention. It's on everyone's mind, even though our cashless society is pretty convenient for us all. The payments innovation landscape is rapidly broadening to encompass innovation ranging from mobile payments to biometrics (as exhibited by Apple’s recent announcement) and even voice-activated payments – but the question remains, can you trust these new technologies for payments? On This Podcast Episode: I'm going straight to the expert, Joe Daly (COO, Paysafe Payments Processing, North America), to find out how you can stay save in this cashless society. On this episode we're talking about topics that we're all trying to figure out including:Cashless Future – Millennials are the driving force behind a cashless society, but you expect high-performance and security from your alternative payment options before you completely abandon traditional payment methods. How can you balance that? Convenience Above All – In 2018, …

This year makes a new year with new tax laws. There's been a lot of talk in the media and online about proposed changes but few understand the changes that actually did make it into the new tax law. Not to worry, we've got the very talented and knowledgeable Jill Schlesinger, host of the Better Off Podcast and Jill On Money radio show (you might also recognize Jill from CBS This Morning and The CBS Evening News). On This Podcast Episode: Jill Schlesinger and I are demystifying the new tax bill and what you need to know going into this year to prepare your bank account for those changes. We'll discuss:We discuss the changes with the refundable child care tax creditWhat you need to know about HELOC loans and their current loss of deductionHow a higher standard deduction could lead to more cash in your bank accountWhat should you do as a freelancer or self employed business owner to position yourself for tax seasonSome tips for everyone for how to grow your wealth as a result of the…

After spending years covering the diverse Los Angles food scene for several prominent publications, food writer Katherine Spiers decided to dip her toe into the growing world of podcasting by launching her own show. Now, her top-rated Smart Mouth podcast is one of the best shows out there talking all about food with such expert guests as Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and legendary French chef Jacques Pepin. On This Podcast Episode: I recently chatted with food writer and podcaster Katherine Spiers about how avocado toast invaded LA, whiskey drinking and storytelling with travel aficionado Anthony Bourdain and how Actor/Entrepreneur Danny Trejo ate in prison many years ago. Katherine also shared her wisdom as a fellow podcaster and a few entrepreneurial lessons she's learned along the way. Thanks for Tuning In: Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick…

One of the top money resolutions in 2018 is to get rid of that debt that keeps you locked up from achieving so many of your goals – and in particular that massive student loan debt. I’ve heard it from many of the listeners over the month of December that nothing would make you happier than to roll out of 2018 with a lot less – if not zero - student loan debt. I hear you! On This Podcast Episode: If we’re going to be more empowered in 2018 then we’ve got to make up our minds to do just that. Sure, you're still going to get stressed out and worried about your student loans, or any debt, but maybe if we all encourage each other…we can create a movement of us all breaking up with our student loan debt this year. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of fancy techniques to break up with your student loans – just the commitment to approach those loans with a little strategy.Did you know you could make extra payments to your student loanWhat about making lump sum payments with you…

It's a new year and that means it's time to get to planning new adventures for 2018. Your bank account might need a rest from the all the holiday spending so we've come up with a list of places to travel to this year that will keep your budget happy and your bank account even happier.  On This Podcast Episode: We're featuring 12 places to travel to in 2018 that are focused on keeping your budget in check while still having some amazing experiences while traveling. Remember to also have a great travel credit card in your wallet to boost all those amazing rewards that you can use as dollars towards your trips this year. One of my favs is still the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Travel with us to:EstoniaMontrealRaleighPeruAgentinaHoustonUnited Kingdomand more... Thanks for Tuning In: Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick survey. It only takes a few minutes of your time and you can d…

It's 2018...can you believe it?! There's no better time than the new year to find your focus on what you want to achieve this year and what you want your life to look like. Whether you're still detoxing from a wild night last night or just relaxing on the couch for the last few moments of holiday break, this podcast is jam packed with great inspiration for a healthy and wealthy 2018. Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick survey. It only takes a few minutes of your time and you can do it straight from your smartphone. Help us out and support the show by going to wondery.com/SURVEY and filling it out. That’s wondery.com/SURVEY”  On This Podcast Episode:We're doing a deep dive into 8 money resolutions (and a ton of tiny steps) for 2018Find what your focus is for the new year and how you can attack your goalsPinpoint what money steps you're working on for JanuaryGet ready to make 2018 yo…