494 episodes

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.

Afford Anything Cumulus Podcast Network

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 3.2K Ratings

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.

    Ask Paula: Student Loan Deferment HACK – How Christina Saved $60,000 in Interest

    Ask Paula: Student Loan Deferment HACK – How Christina Saved $60,000 in Interest

    Mary is struggling to compare two job offers: one from a large corporation and another from a tiny business. How should she decide?
    An anonymous caller wants to buy a different home, and convert his current home into a rental. How should he finance this move?
    Christina recently slayed her debt and put herself on track for financial success. But now she’s bored. How can auto-investing be more exciting?
    Speaking of debt, Christina shares a creative HACK to SAVE $60,000 in student loan interest payments. 
    Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.
    Enjoy!
    P.S. Got a question? Leave it here.
    For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode463
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 59 min
    Cracking the Code of the Rich, with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

    Cracking the Code of the Rich, with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

    #462: As a society, we’re fascinated by stories of the rich. We hear news, see social media posts, and read books about how others become wealthy, how to maintain that status, and what their lifestyles look like.
    But what if the media we’re consuming is misleading us?
    Dr. Seth Stephens-Davidowitz’s research shows that the stories about the rich that dominate the popular press are misleading.
    Stephens-Davidowitz holds a PhD in economics from Harvard University. He’s a data scientist and a New York Times bestselling author. 
    In today’s episode, we discuss the misleading stories around the rich. We unearth the truth behind those stories, using data rather than narrative. 
    We explore the types of businesses that quietly make people millionaires. We describe the ages, occupations and locations of people that become rich, and the unexpected paths they take to achieve this. And we share actionable takeaways that will help you do the same.
    Discussion as of September 2023:
    01:38: Who gets secretly rich?
    02:18: The kind of protection you need if you want to be rich
    04:10: The number one way to become a millionaire
    08:44: What is takes to be a successful entrepreneur
    09:19: The detrimental impact of some stories
    12:48: The worst kind of businesses
    17:14: Who makes up the best entrepreneurs?
    21:18: Increase your luck surface area
    27:57: How to revolutionize a field
    30:37: The ACTUAL path to entrepreneurial success
    32:08: The role of duration neglect in decision making

    For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode462
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    • 47 min
    Ask Paula: A Year Off Work, a Career Change, and a Divorce: How to Make It Work

    Ask Paula: A Year Off Work, a Career Change, and a Divorce: How to Make It Work

    #461: A special LIVE recording in front of an audience at Podcast Movement, an industry conference in Denver.
    Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle two questions in today’s episode. Our first question comes from a soon-to-be-single-mother on the precipice of divorce. How should she navigate this financially?
    Our second question comes from the spouse of a Purple Heart veteran of the war in Afghanistan. She and her husband would like to take a one-year sabbatical from work when they turn 40, which is in five years. They’d also like to pivot into lower-paying but more enjoyable careers. How should they map out their money for this transition?
    Joe and I dedicate this episode, recorded live on stage, to answering these two questions.
    Enjoy!
    P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail
    For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode461
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 51 min
    The Mental Toughness and Confidence Blueprint, with Dr. Nate Zinsser

    The Mental Toughness and Confidence Blueprint, with Dr. Nate Zinsser

    #460: Mental toughness is the bedrock of starting a business, growing a multimillion-dollar portfolio, investing in real estate, crushing your debt, retiring early.
    Today’s guest, Dr. Nate Zinsser, mentors elite athletes, soldiers and executives in confidence and mental toughness. He is the sports psychology mentor for two-time Superbowl MVP Eli Manning and the Director of the Performance Psychology Program at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
    He’s mentored the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and NCAA teams, and has been a consultant for the FBI Academy, U.S. Army Recruiting Command, and the NYC Fire Department. He holds a PhD in sports psychology from the University of Virginia.
    In today’s episode, we discuss how to develop the type of mental toughness and confidence that can help you grow your investments, start a business, take risks in your career, make offers on houses, and overall master your financial life.
    For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode460
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    • 1 hr
    Ask Paula | 10-Year-Old Asks: How Do I Save for My First Car?

    Ask Paula | 10-Year-Old Asks: How Do I Save for My First Car?

    #459: Andrey is a savvy 10-year-old wondering what’s the best way to save up for his first car.
    Ingrid wants to know if her parents’ preference for Retiring on Dividends is a better approach compared to the 4 Percent Rule.
    Erica’s part-time work schedule will place her in an unusually low tax bracket this year. Should she take this rare chance to execute a Roth conversion? Or is it better to prioritize debt payoff?
    Chloe is worried about the end of student loan forbearance. Should she pull back from making retirement contributions to focus on debt payoff?
    Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.
    Enjoy!
    P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 1 hr 6 min
    The Reality Behind High Home Prices, with BiggerPockets CEO Scott Trench

    The Reality Behind High Home Prices, with BiggerPockets CEO Scott Trench

    #458: Today we chat with Scott Trench, the CEO and President of BiggerPockets, a real estate investing education company with more than 2 million members.
    He joins us to share cutting-edge insights on today’s real estate market. We discuss economic trends, demographic shifts, and talk about how interest rates impact home buyers.
    Whether you're a potential homebuyer, an investor, or simply curious about the housing market, this conversation will shield light on what’s REALLY happening in today’s confusing real estate market.
    For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode458
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 1 hr 6 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
3.2K Ratings

3.2K Ratings

SamunaKC ,

Like I Am A 10-Year-Old

Investing made so much sense when you explained it to a 10-Year-Old. Thank you Paula and Joe. 🙌

shop door ,

Hg is a great game but it works well with a

Mai bay is a little more expensive but it works well with a lot more of it and the place for the other guys is a qua

Sarita7981 ,

Review

Overall decent advice. Just a bit too much chit chat and schtick around names . Cutting back on That would help keep episodes to a manageable length under one hour.

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