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.

Episodes

Everyone Says Don’t Hold Bonds in Taxable Accounts. They’re Wrong

October 14, 2025 • 84 mins

#651: Many who reach CoastFI find themselves in a strange in-between: financially independent enough to stop saving, but not ready to fully retire. When you’re living off a taxable brokerage for decades, does the “never hold bonds in taxable” rule still apply? This episode explores how traditional asset location advice meets real-life spending. We unpack how to balance growth, taxes, and stability when your taxable account becom...

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How Money Moves Through Markets

October 10, 2025 • 73 mins

#650: Sarah Williamson is the kind of person who shapes the decisions that move trillions of dollars. She earned her MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and holds both the CFA and CAIA designations, two of the most demanding credentials in finance. In this episode, she helps us understand how investing really works, who the major players are, how capital flows through the system, and why the incentives driving invest...

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Q&A: Should You Buy a House Now or Invest Your Down Payment Instead?

October 7, 2025 • 68 mins

#649: Many first-time buyers feel like they’re watching the train pull out of the station. If you’ve saved for years but can’t afford a home nearby, should you stretch to buy further (maybe hours) away or invest that cash instead? In this episode, we dig into the psychology, math, and lifestyle tradeoffs behind the “buy now or wait” dilemma. Plus, we unpack total return, explain when umbrella insurance is worth it, and share what ...

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First Friday: The Government Shuts Down -- But Bitcoin is at an All-Time High?!?

October 3, 2025 • 41 mins

#648: The U.S. government is shutting down. Bitcoin just hit a record high. Inflation whispers are back. And Wall Street is buzzing with speculation. What does this all mean for your money, your portfolio, and your long-term financial freedom? On this First Friday episode, we unpack the economic headlines you can’t ignore — and help you separate signal from noise. In this episode, we cover: Government Shutdown: What happens w...

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Q&A: How Do You Maximize a Mini-Retirement?

September 30, 2025 • 61 mins

#647: What if you and your partner want to take a few months – or even a year – off work? How do you handle health insurance once you leave your jobs? And how do you make sure the time off isn’t wasted, but becomes a launchpad for what’s next? In this week’s Q&A, we dive into those questions. We also cover three more listener questions: what to do with a leftover $125,000 in a 529 account, how one listener landed a fully rem...

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The Third Option Between Working and Retiring

September 26, 2025 • 72 mins

#646: What if you didn’t have to choose between grinding full-time until retirement or quitting work altogether? By 40, Andy Hill and his wife had built a $500,000 portfolio and paid off their home. Instead of racing toward early retirement, they chose a third way: scaling back to part-time work, becoming equal partners in parenting, and reclaiming their time. In this episode, recorded live at FinCon, Andy shares his 10-step fram...

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Q&A: My Friend Won’t Invest - How Can I Help?

September 23, 2025 • 76 mins

#645: Mike (02:50): After 15 years of intentional living, Mike is 80 percent of the way to financial independence. Now he’s trying to help friends take control of their own financial future. But what happens when one spouse is eager to learn and invest, while the other isn’t interested? Michael (27:07): For two years, Michael has tracked his net worth monthly. So far, growth has been driven almost entirely by how much he saved. ...

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The Hidden Psychology Behind Every Financial Decision You Make with Dr. Daniel Crosby

September 19, 2025 • 69 mins

#644: Why do we both crave money and resent it? Why do some people sabotage their financial futures in the name of short-term comfort? And why is your brain — not the stock market — the biggest threat to your wealth? In this conversation, we explore the surprising ways that psychology and money intertwine. Our guest, Dr. Daniel Crosby, is a behavioral finance expert, psychologist, and bestselling author of The Soul of Wealth, The ...

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LIVESTREAM: A Former Fed Economist Reveals What's Really Happening, with Karsten Jeske (“Big ERN”)

September 16, 2025 • 63 mins

#643: Picture this: you're at the Federal Reserve years ago. The chairman literally hangs up a conference call, waits 30 minutes, then calls back — suddenly everyone agrees on the rate decision. That's the kind of insider story Karsten Jeske (“Big ERN”) shares when he joins us to break down what's happening with the economy right now. Karsten worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta for eight years, then spent a decade on W...

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BONUS: Stagflation, Stocks & Social Security - What’s Next for Your Money? with Rob Berger

September 15, 2025 • 26 mins

EXCLUSIVE: Is your money safe in today’s economy? In this bonus interview, Paula Pant sits down with financial expert Rob Berger to unpack the latest on inflation, interest rates, market valuations, and the future of Social Security. Together, Paula and Rob dive into the tough questions: Is the American Dream dead for Gen Z? Will there be another market crash? How should you invest when stocks feel overpriced? Can you...

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The Case for Investing in Individual Stocks, with Co-Founder of the Motley Fool, David Gardner

September 12, 2025 • 89 mins

#642: Curious about how individual stock picking could sharpen your investing skills—even if you’re an avid index fund investor? Paula sits down with David Gardner, co-founder of The Motley Fool and author of Rule Breaker Investing, to delve into the world of contrarian stock strategies and the mindset behind picking standout companies. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic a...

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Q&A: ChatGPT Built Her $1.2M Portfolio … But Should You Trust It?

September 9, 2025 • 57 mins

#641: Cristina has a $1.2 million portfolio and hopes to make work optional within the next decade. Is she invested in the right way? Or should she change up her asset allocation? Anonymous and her husband plan to retire in 5 years. They have 10 rental properties and a $2.75 million portfolio. They dream of slow travel, generosity, and family time. How should they structure their assets to support the lifestyle they want? Paula (...

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First Friday: Jerome Powell's Remarks at Jackson Hole

September 5, 2025 • 17 mins

#640: The jobs report came out this morning and it was a painful one. The US added only 22,000 new jobs in August, according to the latest BLS report. And unemployment ticked up to 4.3%. What does this mean? Find out in today's First Friday episode! Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes...

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Q&A: How to Invest in Your Community (by Finding the Third Option)

September 2, 2025 • 48 mins

#639: Aisha is excited to share how some life-changing advice has played out for her career. She wonders now: what limiting beliefs has Paula and Joe had to overcome in their businesses? Lesley is attracted to community bonds as a way to build collective wealth for the underserved. But do the same risks exist as they do in the traditional bond market? An anonymous caller is intrigued by the promise of Employee Stock Ownership...

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[GREATEST HITS] James Clear: How Small Daily Actions Compound Into Life-Changing Wealth [RERUN]

August 29, 2025 • 78 mins

#638: Fifty dollars. That's how much this couple transferred to their "Trip to Europe" savings account each time they cooked dinner instead of going to a restaurant. By year's end, they had funded their dream vacation — not through budgeting or willpower, but by hacking their habit loop. This story illustrates how James Clear approaches habit change. Clear joins us to explain the four-stage cycle that drives every behavior: cu...

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Q&A: Can You Open an IRA for Someone Else's Kid? (And Should You?)

August 26, 2025 • 55 mins

#637: Nick wants to set up an investment account for his nephew to contribute annually, creating a nest egg for college since the parents are already opening a 529. He's unsure whether a standard brokerage account, IRA or other options work best when you're not the parent. Diana asks whether she needs TIPS in her portfolio to protect against inflation. Or can she just rely on other investments that outpace inflation? She's also w...

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How to Talk to Your Parents About Money, with Behavioral Economist Etinosa Agbonlahor

August 22, 2025 • 60 mins

#636: Behavioral economist Etinosa Agbonlahor joins us to discuss "money scripts" — the unconscious beliefs we inherit or develop about finances. Agbonlahor, CEO of Decision Alpha and former Director of Behavioral Science Research at Fidelity Investments, is the author of "How to Talk to Your Parents About Money." She studied financial management at Cornell University and explains how these hidden biases create problems when we...

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Q&A: Gold vs. Stocks – and Why Inflation Panic Makes You Poor

August 19, 2025 • 94 mins

#635: Arielle’s head is spinning from the seemingly contradictory advice she hears about the best investments to hedge against inflation and a possible recession. What’s she missing? Dave is curious about private investments after listening to a recent First Friday episode. What are they, and should he consider them for his portfolio? Abbey is stoked about the raise she negotiated for her first job out of school. But she’s worrie...

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Wharton Professor: The 7 Hidden Types of Entrepreneurs | with Lori Rosenkopf

August 15, 2025 • 80 mins

#634: Picture this: you're 26 years old, fresh out of Wharton, and you decide to start a business with two friends. You spend years building a digital marketing firm that eventually works with Dollar Shave Club and Madison Reed. You bootstrap the entire thing without taking a dime of venture capital funding. That's exactly what one Wharton graduate did — and his story represents the reality of entrepreneurship that most people nev...

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Q&A: How to Spot Investment Scams Before You Lose Everything

August 12, 2025 • 75 mins

#633: Paul is worried the private equity investment he’s about to make could be a scam. How can he do his due diligence and stay protected when there’s a shortage of reliable information? Rob is questioning the purpose of a bond allocation in his eight-figure investment portfolio. Is he on to something, or is there a legitimate case to add them? Dan can retire in a few years, but he’s itching to do it now. Would buying a business...

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Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Everyone Says Don’t Hold Bonds in Taxable Accounts. They’re Wrong

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}How Money Moves Through Markets

Q&A: Should You Buy a House Now or Invest Your Down Payment Instead?

First Friday: The Government Shuts Down -- But Bitcoin is at an All-Time High?!?

Q&A: How Do You Maximize a Mini-Retirement?

The Third Option Between Working and Retiring

Q&A: My Friend Won’t Invest - How Can I Help?

The Hidden Psychology Behind Every Financial Decision You Make with Dr. Daniel Crosby

LIVESTREAM: A Former Fed Economist Reveals What's Really Happening, with Karsten Jeske (“Big ERN”)

BONUS: Stagflation, Stocks & Social Security - What’s Next for Your Money? with Rob Berger

The Case for Investing in Individual Stocks, with Co-Founder of the Motley Fool, David Gardner

Q&A: ChatGPT Built Her $1.2M Portfolio … But Should You Trust It?

First Friday: Jerome Powell's Remarks at Jackson Hole

Q&A: How to Invest in Your Community (by Finding the Third Option)

[GREATEST HITS] James Clear: How Small Daily Actions Compound Into Life-Changing Wealth [RERUN]

Q&A: Can You Open an IRA for Someone Else's Kid? (And Should You?)

How to Talk to Your Parents About Money, with Behavioral Economist Etinosa Agbonlahor

Q&A: Gold vs. Stocks – and Why Inflation Panic Makes You Poor

Wharton Professor: The 7 Hidden Types of Entrepreneurs | with Lori Rosenkopf

Q&A: How to Spot Investment Scams Before You Lose Everything

Popular Podcasts

Everyone Says Don’t Hold Bonds in Taxable Accounts. They’re Wrong

How Money Moves Through Markets