Financial Freedom Podcast

Most people know that there is some risk to investing and retirement planning. In fact, "Risk Tolerance" for the investor is a key factor in deciding where to put your money. But most people don't know that there are non-financial risks as well. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with Chris Maduri about what those risks are and how you can avoid them to ensure a comfortable retirement. In this episode you will learn: How having a purpose once you stop working is key Why connecting with people outside of work is important Why establishing an identity not connected to your job keeps you centered Practical ways to prepare for retirement psychologically, not just financially

Diversity in your investments and savings for retirement (and your efforts to achieve long term financial freedom) is very important. It's key to minimizing risk and maximizing return. Lately, precious metals, as an investment, has become a topic of discussion. To find out whether you should do it, and if so, how to go about it, I talked with Kristen Nagle about how she helps folks to get started in this market. In this episode you will learn: Whether you should invest in precious metals How to get started What portion of your portfolio should be in precious metals

Each generation has a different approach to money, saving, retirement, and what it means to be financially free and secure. So strategies for starting on that journey can vary quite a bit, and Gen Z is no exception. That's why on this episode of the podcast I talked with Jack Campbell, an investor and venture capitalist who helps Gen Zers to discuss how they can map out and navigate their path to financial freedom. In this episode you will learn: How a person's generation defines their financial goals and saving strategies What that definition is for Gen Z Why old money rules don't work for Gen Z What rules do work The importance of investing in defense, energy, and industrial entities.

Achieving financial freedom is something people aspire to, but not everyone thinks it is possible. Even those that do think it will take them way too long. For some it means getting out from under debt first; for others it means being able to invest enough each year to make it happen in a reasonable amount of time. But sometimes it can be done quicker. That's why on this episode of the podcast I talk with Ryan Lee who, by following a less traditional path, was able to achieve financial freedom in less than 10 years. In this episode you will learn: Why the traditional retirement saving system is broken How to invest in real estate without all the hassles and responsibilities of being a landlord How insurance can help you get to financial freedom sooner

With the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, there's been a lot of talk on social media about prenuptual agreements. But what many people don't know is that these agreements (as well as their lesser-known cousins, post-nuptual agreements) are not just for the very rich. Others can benefit from them as well. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talked with New Jersey certified family law attorney AllynMarie Smedley about how these two agreements work, when they are appropriate, and how they can help couples both before and after they get married. In this episode you will learn: What a pre-nuptual agreement is What a  post-nuptual agreement is Why you might want to have one How they can help How to broach the topic to your fiancee/spouse

Most people are focused on the savings part of their retirement planning. They contribute to their 401k, put something into a Roth IRA, and have an emergency fund. But what they often don't think about is the transition from saving to spending that will happen when they actually retire. That's why on this episode of the podcast I talk with Laura Rehbein of Impavid Wealth Advisors on how to go about creating a new paycheck when the old one goes away. In this episode you will learn: How to shift your mindset from saving to spending How your money can grow while you spend it About the building blocks of your retirement paycheck Why you need to rebuild your paycheck periodically

Having your first child is a wondrous event for a married couple as they start a family. There's lots of celebration surrounding it. But the cost of raising that child after its born is something that involves lots of advanced planning to avoid serious stress to your finances (and financial freedom) going forward.  So how much does it cost to raise a child these days? To answer that question I talked with Certified Financial Planner Lori Atwood to identify those costs and what people can do to plan for them. In this episode you will learn: The kinds of financial changes soon-to-be parents should expect How to determine how those changes will affect you specifically How to start making changes to your financial plan to adapt to these changes The best ways to prepare for these changes How these costs change as the child get over, and how you can adapt to them

We've all heard the saying: "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." But why do the rich get richer? Is it just the mindset that "it takes money to make money" or do they know something else that we don't? Lots of financial planners talk about mutual funds, annuities, IRAs and 401(k)s, but do the rich do the same or is there more? To answer that question, I talked with Ben Mohr about how everyone can invest like the ultra-wealthy. In this episode you will learn: What wealthy people do when the market is down Alternative strategies that are actually safer than traditional investments About life settlements as a tool of the ultra-wealthy About safe investments for those nearing retirement

Everyone these days knows that a college education doesn't come cheap. It's a major investment for families and, if not handled properly, can lead to financial hardship after graduation. But can you get a good education without paying full price? To answer that question and to discover ways that parents and students can find the perfect college fit academically, socially, and financially, I talked with college consultant Lee Norwood to tell us all about it. In this episode you will learn: When parents and students should start the college search process. How to set up a college planning timeline. What should be on your timeline. How to make a balanced list of potential schools. Whether test scores are still important.

As a bankruptcy attorney, I know that getting that discharge and fresh start in your financial life can be liberating. No longer having the stress of carrying debt is great, but the next question is: where do you go from there? To answer that question, I talk to fellow bankruptcy attorney Barry Levine about the steps you can take to rebuild your financial life. In this episode you will learn: What you can do to make sure that your fresh start lasts About the bad money habits you see that prevent some people from achieving financial freedom post-bankruptcy About what they can do to change that What you can do to rebuild your credit

Many people experience financial difficulties due to deep seated emotional feelings about money. These feelings often drive bad money decisions that keep them from achieving financial freedom.  To identify these emotional money beliefs and help people to get past them I talked with Certified Financial Planner Shannon Ryan to discuss solutions to this problem. In this episode you will learn: - The money beliefs that could be holding you back from financial freedom - How to change them - How to heal emotional money wounds - What "money shame" is and how to get over it

Even if you are on track with your savings and have a clear idea of what you want to do in retirement, there is one component that most people miss: their health. If you want to have a long retirement, your health is key. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talked with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer about how you can optimize your most important asset: your body. In this episode you will learn: About the health of the average American How much it needs to improve overall to ensure a long retirement About how to increase your energy How to avoid burnout How to rebuild and maintain your metabolism How to maintain hormonal balance and brain function

People struggling with debt deal with stress every day. Worrying about how they are going to deal with it can have a significant impact on their mental health, their lives, and their relationships. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with Dr. Erika Rasure, a financial therapist with a doctorate in personal financial planning on how to deal with this stress in a positive way. In this episode you will learn: The most common mental health challenges that those with debt face How credit card debt impact someone's mental health How to address this stress and have improved mental health About Loud Budgeting

Achieving long term financial freedom involves learning new things. You need to know the basics of investing, saving, and good stewardship of your money. But the concepts and terminology can be difficult to grasp at times. That's why on this episode of the podcast I talk with Jesse Hurst of Impel Wealth Management who uses pop culture insights to help people learn what they need to know and retire like a rock star. In this episode you will learn: All about Popenomics How pop culture references can help you understand financial and economic concepts

Just about every day there are stories in the news about how President Trump's economic policies, including tariffs, will affect the economy. People are worried about higher inflation and a possible recession. To address this issue I talked with Dr. Laquore Meadows about how you can plan for the future and achieve financial freedom despite what the political landscape may be. In this episode you will learn: How to navigate the shifting political landscape to be successful Why what the politicians do really doesn't matter How to build a strategy for wealth and financial freedom that can hold up no matter the economy or the political environment How politics affect the stock market and how to respond

Everyone wants to be able to retire comfortably and to achieve financial freedom, but a lot of people think that building wealth is an impossible task. They feel stuck in their 9-to-5. But as I said in Episode 99, you can break free of this and be successful. To take a deeper dive into this subject, and to discuss a formula for achieving this goal, I talk in this episode with wealth strategist and Marine Corps veteran Edgar Zavala, on how he did it himself and teaches others to do the same. In this episode you will learn: The biggest myth that people believe about building wealth? The first step to breaking free of the paycheck to paycheck cycle The 5F Formula for Success

In light of the national student loan crisis, parents and students continue to struggle with college choice and financial aid to avoid an unaffordable student debt load upon graduation. I have dedicated several episodes to guests who help people with that. One balancing act parents go through is educating their children while still saving and investing for a comfortable retirement. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with Certified Financial Planner Paul Compeau about how to do just that. In this episode you will learn: What happens when families pick a college without a solid financial plan What financial facts should parents know before the applications start Are high school guidance counsellors or the financial aid office of their top picks enough Why you should approach college planning like a CFO Should you always fill out the FAFSA

Serving in the military can teach you many things: discipline, the importance of service, focus, and the determination to carry out goals. But who would have thought that it would also teach you the skills to attain financial freedom? To find out more about how this can happen, I talked in this episode of the podcast to Joshua Brooks about what he learned in his military career as an army chaplain about how to achieve your personal finance goals. In this episode you will learn: What the army can teach you about handling your money and achieving financial freedom How you can apply these tips to your finances

When people think about retirement, they mostly look at whether they can afford it. They plan out long term savings and hope that when they get to their golden years, that money will be enough. But how much is enough? Well, that somewhat depends on what you want to do in retirement. In Episode 125 I talked about planning for what to do in retirement, but to figure out how to use that to determine "how much is enough," I talked with financial advisor Jeffery Panik on solving that puzzle. In this episode you will learn: How to determine how much you need to save to retire Why what you want to do in retirement helps in determining that number How all of that could change over time as you approach retirement

Most people have a checking account with a traditional bank, while a majority of those also have savings accounts. But what about credit unions? Should some people use those rather than traditional banks? What are the benefits? To answer those questions, in this episode of the podcast I talk with Grant Gallagher of Affinity Federal Credit Union about the benefits of credit unions and why you should consider putting your money there. In this episode you will learn: - What credit unions offer that you can’t find at other banks - Some of the unique financial and community offerings credit unions can provide - Financial tools and resources credit unions create that address the real needs of their communities - The role education plays in a credit union’s approach to financial wellbeing