The Fed met earlier this week and elected to keep interest rates at a 23-year high, in an effort to wrestle inflation closer to its two percent target.
Despite this, the April jobs report, which was released today, shows that jobs grew for the 40th consecutive month, and unemployment remains under 4 percent, an historic low, for the 27th straight month.
The 12-month inflation rate is 3.5 percent, based on March CPI data.
Stocks remain on a tear, but performance is lopsided, with 10 companies driving 85 percent of this years’ gains.
We cover this and more in our First Friday economic update episode.
Enjoy!
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode502
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May 3
43 min
Drop the mic! ChooseFI's Brad Barrett takes the host role in this special episode, interviewing Paula Pant about the financial independence community.
This episode was recorded LIVE at a comedy club in Brooklyn, as the final installment of the Episode 500 and 501 celebration.
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode501
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May 1
1 hr 27 min
Enjoy Part 2 of our two-part Episode 500 special, recorded live at a comedy club in Brooklyn. Host Paula Pant and special guest Brad Barrett from ChooseFI answer questions from the audience, live on stage.
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Apr 25
59 min
Enjoy Part 1 of our two-part Episode 500 special, recorded live at a comedy club in Brooklyn.
Brad Barrett, host of the ChooseFI podcast, joins us on stage to talk about what financial independence ideas and practices have changed … and what ideas and practices have remained consistent, universal and time-tested throughout the years.
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode500
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Apr 24
53 min
We delve into the world of Financial Independence (FI) with a pioneer -- Vicki Robin, the co-author of Your Money or Your Life.
In the 1970s, Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, from vastly different backgrounds, came together over a shared vision: FI as a life philosophy, not just a savings strategy. Their book, "Your Money or Your Life," which sold more than one million copies, outlined a three-dimensional approach to FI:
Financial Intelligence: Thinking clearly and objectively about money.
Financial Integrity: Aligning your spending and earning with your values.
Financial Independence: Breaking free from paycheck dependence and limiting beliefs about money.
In this podcast episode, Vicki will discuss a new dimension she's added:
Financial Interdependence: Recognizing the importance of giving and receiving within our communities and the world.
Vicki and I discuss how to move beyond "just the money" during the quest for financial freedom.
This episode originally aired in 2018.
We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now.
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Apr 18
44 min
Esquire Magazine editor-at-large and bestselling author A.J. Jacobs joins the show to discuss his experimental approach to life.
Jacobs, whose TED Talks have been viewed more than 3 million times, shares best practices around motivation, habits, confidence, boosting happiness, and optimizing creativity.
In this episode:
-- Discover the benefits that come from frequently changing your habits
-- Learn why "fake it 'til you become it" is A.J.'s secret weapon for habit development.
-- Explore how extreme gratitude can transform your mindset.
-- Hear a cautionary tale of healthy living gone wrong.
-- Learn how to make any career or business connection by unearthing the way in which you're distant cousins (as everyone on earth is, at most, roughly 70th cousins)
Plus, hear a hilarious story about Jacobs revealing his entire sexual history to actress Scarlett Johansson.
This episode originally aired in 2017.
We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 17
34 min
Stocks or skills? How should you invest? Should you pour money into unlocking your income potential? Or should you pour money into the market?
Forget the motivational posters -- unlimited potential is real. But unlocking it takes investment. The question is: Do you invest in yourself or the market? Stocks, bonds, real estate offer clear returns. But what about investing in your skills, a side hustle, or education?
Financial advisor Michael Kitces joins us to crack the code on maximizing your return on investment, both personal and financial. Learn how to make smarter choices about your future and unlock your true potential.
We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now.
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Apr 16
1 hr 6 min
JL Collins, the author of "The Simple Path to Wealth," achieved financial independence in 1989 with a surprisingly simple strategy: saving half his income and investing in index funds.
In this episode, JL breaks down his ultra-simple investing approach. He argues that keeping things uncomplicated leads to better results in the long run. "The less you mess with your investments," he says, "the more freedom you have to focus on what truly matters."
This episode is for anyone who feels overwhelmed by complex investment strategies. Learn how to set your finances on autopilot and get on with living your life.
We originally recorded and aired this episode in 2016.
We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 15
29 min
Today’s guest is Jean Chatzky, financial editor for the TODAY Show, host of the HerMoney podcast and a frequent guest on TV shows like Oprah, Regis & Kelly, and The View.
We discuss six money rules to guide your spending, including:
#1: The more time you spend looking, the less happy you’ll be with what you find.
#2: Your retirement trumps their tuition.
#3: Losing money hurts more than it should.
#4: Big numbers make smart people do stupid things.
#5: Don’t lend money to friends & relatives, and don’t co-sign for loans.
#6: If it's 50% off, it’s still 50% on.
This leads us into discussing tactics to prevent wasteful spending, such as:
-- The 10/10/10 Rule: How will you feel about this purchase in 10 minutes? 10 months? 10 years?
-- The 24 Hour Rule: Delay the purchase by 24 hours. Do you still want it?
-- Only Pay Full Price: Paradoxically, avoiding sales – and ONLY buying items at full price – might help you save more money in the long run.
Finally, we chat about how to balance financial priorities when you and your spouse want different things. What if you want to retire early, but your spouse doesn’t? How do you handle this?
Jean shares her ideas on these topics in this episode, which we originally recorded and aired in 2016.
We're sharing this as part of GREATEST HITS WEEK, a 5-day series in which we're sharing 5 episodes, across 5 days, that we produced during the earliest years of the Afford Anything podcast. You may have missed it then; enjoy it now.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 14
29 min
At 2:13, we hear from Eugene. Eugene and his wife are retiring with a $10 million net worth and a guaranteed income that exceeds their annual budget. Do they still need things like life insurance and a financial advisor?
The next question, at 30:24, comes from an anonymous caller. Her HOA costs have doubled since she bought her condo. She’s wondering if it’s still a good investment. Should she keep it or sell it?
We answer Nandini’s question at 48:14. Nandini and her husband save tons every month toward no goal in particular. What should they do with all their extra cash?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode499
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Apr 12
1 hr 4 min
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