Afford Anything
You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
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Ask Paula - Should I Invest in Index Funds or R...
#165: Should Kim, an entrepreneur, invest in index funds or rental properties? Should Nick, an MBA student, househack into a more-expensive home with stronger cash flow, or a cheaper home with more budgetary wiggle room? Should Kelly, who is getting...
55 min
502
How and Why I Took a Mini-Retirement, with Bob ...
#164: As an entrepreneur, Bob Lotich loves growing and expanding. But after a particularly stressful year, he realized he had burned out. He woke up one Monday morning and, for the first time since he’d started self-employment, he realized he...
66 min
503
Ask Paula - The Future of Index Fund Investing
#163: Does my employer match count against my 401k contribution limits? Should I invest in a Traditional or Roth TSP? Should I invest more aggressively in stocks right now, or should I hold cash and bonds until the next downturn? Should I get a...
63 min
504
AI and The Future of Jobs - with author Darrell...
#162: How will artificial intelligence, AI, impact jobs? Former Harvard president and leading economist Larry Summers predicts that one-third of men will be out of work by 2050. Finance guru Suze Orman says not to be surprised if we see 25 percent...
56 min
505
Ask Paula - How Can I Get My Friends Interested...
#161: Matt is interested in achieving financial independence, and he wants to encourage his friends to pursue the same goal. What podcast episodes provide a light, digestible introduction to the world of financial independence and retiring early?...
67 min
506
The Paradox of FI -- with Jonathan Mendonsa and...
#160: When Jonathan Mendonsa was 18, he researched which college degrees lead to the highest income. Pharmacy was near the top of the list of high-paying degrees, so Jonathan decided to become a pharmacist. He wasn't motivated by passion or calling....
77 min
507
Ask Paula - I Have Three Kids and I'm Hoping fo...
#159: Should a 36-year-old father of three invest primarily in Traditional or Roth retirement accounts? Should Rose, a grandmother of four, open a Vanguard account for each of her grandchildren? Should Nancy, who lives overseas and is the sole...
58 min
508
What I Love About the FIRE Movement - with Clar...
#158: Clark Howard loves the FIRE movement. That's because he's one of us. Clark began investing in real estate at age 22, started a travel agency at age 25, and retired at age 31. He sold his travel agency, moved to the beach and relaxed for four...
69 min
509
Ask Paula - Can You Force a Rental Property to ...
#157: We're back with another Ask Paula - Real Estate Edition of the show! In this episode, we cover down payments, cash flow, investing in condo hotels, building a rental on the side of your own house, selling your properties, and whether it's better...
57 min
510
How to Build Incredible Habits - with James Clear
#156: James Clear wanted to start flossing, but he never managed to follow through. Despite his best intentions, his dental floss sat unused in a bathroom drawer. Fortunately, James had learned a thing or two about human behavior and habit formation....
88 min
511
Ask Paula - How Can I Send My 4 Children to Col...
#155: How can a schoolteacher dad and stay-at-home mom send their four kids to college? Where should a 23-year-old keep the savings that she’s accumulating to buy a home by the time she’s 27 or 28? What should we know about retirement planning if...
68 min
512
Suze Orman Says $2 Million is Nothing; You Need...
#154: Want to retire early? You'll need at least $5 million, more likely $10 million, says famous financial personality Suze Orman. I should know. She said that to me, directly, on my podcast. I asked Suze for her opinion about a frugal, flexible...
61 min
513
Why I Hate the FIRE Movement, says Suze Orman
#153: A few weeks ago, Suze Orman's team reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in chatting with Suze on my podcast. "Um, duh," I replied. Sure Orman is one of the most famous voices in the world of personal finance. From 2002 to 2015, she...
79 min
514
How to Make Better Decisions -- with Dr. Brian ...
#152: Dr. Brian Portnoy is an expert in making decisions. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, he's a Chartered Financial Analyst, and he's the Director of Investment Education at Virtus Investment Partners. Dr. Portnoy joins me on the...
72 min
515
Ask Paula: "I Feel Like I Don't Deserve My Succ...
#151: We’re back with another “Ask Paula” episode of the show! As usual, my friend and former financial advisor, Joe Saul-Sehy joins me in answering your questions! Let’s dive right in. Hailey: I just graduated from college with a major in...
60 min
516
How I Reached Financial Independence through Re...
#150: Chad Carson's friends called him a "nerdjock." When former college football linebacker Chad Carson graduated from Clemson University, he decided to start a business. But he didn't have any money. He was a 235-pound athlete who attended college...
70 min
517
Tell Me About Something That Scared You - from ...
#149: Welcome to the September 2018 First Friday bonus episode! We recorded this episode at Camp FI, which stands for Camp Financial Independence. It's a gathering of people who are pursuing financial independence; we spend a few days eating,...
70 min
518
Ask Paula - Should I Sell My House and Invest t...
#148: Welcome to a special episode of Ask Paula! Today I’m answering questions about real estate investing, and I’ve brought a special guest on the show to join me. His name is Lucas Hall, and he’s a landlord with 5 properties in three locations...
63 min
519
How to Believe Your Time is Abundant -- with La...
#147: Which of the following two attitudes describes you? "I'm crunched for time." -- or -- "I have all the time in the world." I'm guessing your answer is the first, rather than the second. But what if you could feel like your time is expansive and...
64 min
520
Ask Paula - Where Should I Keep My Money if I W...
#146: My friend and former financial advisor, Joe Saul-Sehy, joins me to answer a multitude of questions on retirement savings and investing, so let's dive in. Elyse has two questions:
#1: Through her job, Elyse has a 401(a) hybrid. Right...
64 min
521
How I Paid Off $500,000 in Credit Card Debt, th...
#145: When Rand Fishkin was 25 years old, he carried $500,000 in credit card debt. Less than a decade later, Rand was the Founder and CEO of a company that grossed $35 million in annual revenue. In this podcast episode, Rand shares the story of...
67 min
522
Ask Paula - What Do You Think of Real Estate Cr...
#144: Today I’m answering your real estate questions! First up, Rich asks: What are your thoughts on real estate crowdfunding versus investing in a traditional REIT and non-retirement account? He doesn’t want to give up the time it takes to manage...
44 min
523
Life After Financial Independence - with millio...
#143: Emma Pattee became a millionaire at age 26. But she hates it when I describe her like that. Here are other ways that Emma would prefer to be known: She's thoughtful. She's hilarious. She's kind. Emma is the child of hippies. She grew up in a...
52 min
524
How Can We Downsize from Two Incomes to One?
#142: How can a family of four shift from earning two incomes to one, while still pursuing financial independence? How would a 55-year-old couple with $2 million saved know if they're ready to retire? Can parents use leftover money in their 529 plan...
57 min
525
The Gap Between Knowing and Doing - with Dr. St...
#141: "I'll get around to rolling over my 401k ... next week." "Eventually I'll switch to a cheaper insurance plan." "I really should move my portfolio into lower-fee funds." "Yeah, yeah, I know I should create an estate plan. I'll do it later." ____...
73 min