Couple Money Podcast: Build Your Marriage and Wealth Together

Want to build wealth? Learn how to save half your income this year! Joe and Kathleen from Stacking Benjamins gives you tips and hacks to make saving easier!  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_S3E1_How_to_Save_Half_of_Your_Income.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Season three is here and we’re starting with a bang! All this month we’re looking at big goals and how you can achieve them. Saving Half Your Income We’re starting this season with a bang – Joe and Kathleen the masterminds behind Stacking Benjamins are going to share how you can save half your income this year. Seriously -it  can be done and has been done as they explain in the podcast. We go over big and small ways you can adjust your finances and life so you can still enjoy your life and build up some serious savings. If you can’t wait and want to join in on the fun, go check out Save50 here! Stacking Benjamins with Joe and Kathleen If you haven’t  already, please listen to the Stacking Benjamins. It’s the funniest personal finance podcast out there. Plenty to listen to, the podcast covers plenty of topics each episode. Some of my favorites include: * Side Hustles, Getting Things Done and Creativity with Austin Kleon * Dispelling Millennial Money Myths with Digit’s Ethan Bloch * Who Should Pay for College? And Other Family/Money Questions Joe Saul-Sehy, the host and founder of Stacking Benjamins, is a former financial advisor (16 years) and represented a Fortune 500 company in the media. Kathleen likes to think of herself as the opposite of Joe: a regular person who has learned all her money lessons the hard way. She wrote a check from a credit card, got into a pile of debt, and worked her way out. Now, she’s busy making the Stacking Benjamins show and website the very best they can be. You won’t hear her on-air much, but you’ll see her work in various ways.

What’s the key to lending money to family? Dorethia Kelly from Money Chat shares ways you can give to your loved ones without hurting your finances or marriage.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_1_Lending_Money_to_Family_with_Dorethia_Kelly.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] This is it, the #1 episode of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Loaning Money to Family On a podcast about family and finances this is perhaps one the trickiest and most stressful question you two may have to answer – Should we lend money to our family? I don’t think it’s about trying to keep money to yourself. I think most of us would gladly help out a loved one. The hard part is when it is someone dear to us who is constantly having problems with their finances. Our gut is wondering if we’re helping them out or if we’re enabling them. Dorethia Kelly, founder and author of Money Chat, was my special guest and we had a really open discussion on how to help out your relatives. We also get into finding boundaries within your marriage because nothing can cause tension between you two like your family. Resources on Lending Money to Family If you want to find out more about loaning money to family, please check out these resources: * I Broke My Rule (About Loaning Money to Family) * How to Lend Money to Your Family Members * Never Lend Money to Your Family and Friends! * The Danger Zone      

Are you deep in debt and ready to get out? Brian from Debt Discipline shares how he and his wife got rid of over $100k of debt while raising their kids. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_2_Paying_off_100k_od_Debt_as_a_Couple.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Today we’re at #2 of the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Getting Rid of Debt Together Today’s episode was actually my first show of the podcast. I had the pleasure of interviewing Brian from Debt Discipline just before he and his wife were about to finish paying off over $100,000 of debt while raising their 3 kids. Very cool story with Brian going through the conversations and process he and his wife made to get there. When I asked him how he got everyone on board for their debt free journey he had some wonderful advice: I realized early on that my wife and I had to get on the same page for us to be successful. I focused on the end goal. Painting the picture of what our financial life will be like when we are debt free. Having a surplus of over $2k per month to save, invest, and increase areas of our budget for entertainment, travel, etc. This remains our motivation today, once my wife and I looked at it in these terms we were sold on making the sacrifices today for a better future for ourselves and children. Please visit his site to see what they are up to now! Resources for Paying Off Your Debt Looking to get more information and resources to get rid of your debt Here are  links to what we mentioned on the episode plus more: * Paying Off Almost $100k Off Debt as a Family * Personal Capital * Mint * Free Debt Snowball Template Guess the Most Popular Show Do you know what’s the number one show of the podcast? Take a guess and you may win an Amazon gift card! Chat with me on Twitter or Facebook. You can also leave a comment here or email me. The first one to correctly guess it will get a $25 Amazon gift card. Hope you enjoy the show! Thank You to Our Partners Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place. Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Want to pay off your debt faster? Toni Husbands, author of The Great Debt Dump, shares how you can create your own support network and finally be rid of your debt!  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_3_Creating_a_Community_and_Dumping_Debt_Faster_with_Toni_Husbands.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Today we’re at #3 of the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Build Your Community, Get Rid of Debt  One of the most effective ways to dump your debt is by harnessing the power of community. Having a support network is critical as you’re bound to have some setbacks on your journey to become debt free. Even though you two will be there for one another, expanding your network can be rewarding for everyone. I had a lot of fun talking Toni, author of the Great Debt Dump, in this episode. She had some wonderful advice on free tools you can use to find your tribe so to speak and keep yourselves focused. Besides knowing the stats and the studies about getting out of debt with a supportive network, she has the personal experience. If her voice sounds familiar it’s because Toni was on podcast before in episode 6 when she shared her family’s story of dumping six figures of debt. Besides writing Toni encourages listeners to get rid of their debt with her podcast, Midday Money Show. She’s a wonderful interviewer and motivator so if you haven’t heard a show, please do. Resources to Dump Debt If you want to go ahead and start building your community, here are some posts to check out: * Paying Off Debt as a Couple * Attacking Debt: Which One First? * Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? Don’t forget to check to out Toni’s book The Great Debt Dump or visit her at Debt Free Divas!

If you’re sick and tired of being in debt, find out the 5 steps you need to take get rid of it. Learn whether the debt snowball or avalanche is the fastest way to pay off your debts once and for all. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_4_How_to_Pay_Off_Your_Debt_Faster.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Today we’re at #4 of the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Getting Rid of Your Debt Faster If you’re looking at getting rid of your debt, here are five steps to take you through it. * Know How Deep Your Debt Is * Review Debt Methods as a Couple * Choose the Method that is Easiest to Keep * Build Up Your Debt Payments * Make It Automatic Pay Debt Off Faster with Debt Snowball or Avalanche? Two of the most popular methods of getting out of debt is using a debt snowball and avalanche.  Dave Ramsey is most associated with the debt snowball. Once you are current on your bills and your have a small emergency fund set aside, you list all of your non-mortgage debts from smallest to the largest amounts. The debt avalanche focuses on interest rate where you pay them down from highest to lowest. Use a method that works well with your spending habits.  Highest interest rate method is the financially sound decision and lowest debt is the psychologically empowering decision. If you’re looking for more resources on getting rid of your debt faster, here are some to check out. * Should You Use Peer to Peer Loans to Get Out of Debt? * Make Your Debt Payments Automatic * How to Build Up Your Debt Payments I also highly recommend Dave’s Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover. It’s the perfect mix between head and heart that will keep you motivated while you get out of debt. You can usually borrow a copy from yuor local library or you can get it on sale.

Want to easily set-up your retirement accounts without having to stress over it? Certified Public Accountant and author Mike Piper shares how index investing can help your achieve your investing goals.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_5_Investing_Made_Simple_with_Mike_Piper.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Today we’re at #5 of the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Index Investing and You Investing can be a tricky subject for many with all the noise out there on what’s stock hot or which mutual is about to rebound. When I was putting together this episode my goal was to give you a few principles and resources that could get you set up with retirement investing even if you didn’t have a lot of money start off with. During the interview Mike goes over a few essentials on investing, including: * advantages of index funds * what asset allocation is * when robo-advisors can be helpful * what to do when your 401(k) doesn’t offer index funds Hope you enjoy! Simple and Effective Investing with Mike Piper Mike Piper has been helping people with their investing and more as a Certified Public Accountant and as personal finance author. He founded Oblivious Investor and is a contributor to The Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine. Looking for more information about investing? Please check out his posts on:  * Why Invest with Index Funds?   * 8 Simple Portfolios Start Investing Today If you haven’t already, open an IRA today. There are plenty of options out there – we use Vanguard and Betterment for our IRAs. Setting them up was easy and the service has been wonderful with both companies. Vanguard and Betterment offer you a way to invest effectively and efficiently with index funds and ETFs.

Thinking about cutting the cable cord, but still want to watch your favorite shows? Brad from TV Internet Boxes shares the best streaming media options for your budget.

Learn how you two can merge your finances while still respecting your differences. We look at joint bank accounts and creating a budget that both of you love. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_7_Building_a_Stronger_Marriage_with_Joint_Accounts.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Today we’re looking at joint accounts in #7 of the top Couple Money Podcast episodes. Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Creating a Joint Budget Together My husband Rob joined me to talk about merging our finances and figuring out a budget. Spoiler alert our system wasn’t perfect. Still isn’t, but we discovered that talking through things can do wonders. While what we did may or may not work for you, I hope hearing us talk about our process gives you some ideas on how to begin your conversations. That really is what this podcast is about, finding your own way to improve your finances and work together as a team. Hope you enjoy! Resources to Combining your Finances If you two want to get a better handle on your finances, please check out: * Best Joint Checking and Savings Accounts * How to Setup and Streamline Your Joint Budget  * How Joint Accounts Can Boost Your Marriage and Your Finances * Staying on Top of Your Money 

Talking about your money can stressful, especially when you’re first opening up. Learn how you can make things go smoother and be more productive when it comes to conversations about your money.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_8_Mastering_the_Money_Talks_as_a_Couple.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] We’re at #8 for the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Money Talk Essentials: Sharing Your Numbers I’m starting to see a theme here with these shows. Monday’s rewind was building wealth even though the two of you have different money styles. Yesterday’s episode was on getting out of debt when you’re not on the same page. Today is about opening up and having the talk. You know, the one where yyou share all your numbers with your fiance or spouse. It’s a scary thought, but it’s important that they two of you find a way to be open and honest with not just the money, but your feelings. This episode features my favorite guest – my husband

Want to get out of debt (like loads of it!), but having a hard time agreeing on how to do it? Toni from Debt Free Divas shares advice to help you and her story of how she and her husband got rid of six figures of debt.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_9_Digging_Out_of_Six_Figures_of_Debt_with_Toni_from_Debt_Free_Divas.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] We’re at #9 for the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Getting Rid of Debt Together (Even if You Two Can’t Agree on the How)   Becoming debt free is a wonderful achievement. What makes it even sweeter is when you two are working together towards it. Sometimes, though, things don’t always start off on the right foot. When Toni and her husband wanted to get out of debt they were not on the same wave length on how to get it done. But they found a way to respect one another and dig out of six figures of debt. In this episode we get into: * why it can be easy to argue over money * how you can diffuse the tension with money talks * finding a path to becoming debt free that respects your money styles Hope you enjoy the episode! Becoming a a Debt Free Diva Toni Husbands, author of The Great Debt Dump, understands how complicated and awesome it can be to mix marriage and money. She’s the founder of Debt Free Divas and she’s committed to helping others conquer debt and moving closer to financial freedom. If you want to add another podcast to your playlist, please check her Midday Money Show! Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. * Total Money Makeover * Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt * Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt? * Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt  

Can agree on how to manage your money?  His & Her Money hosts Tai and Talaat McNeely share their personal journey to becoming a cohensive couple and give practical tips to get you two on the same page.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CMP_Rewind_10_Merging_Opposite_Money_Styles_with_Tai_and_Talaat_from_His_and_Her_Money.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] We’re kicking off the top 10 episodes of the Couple Money Podcast based on your votes and downloads! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also find me hanging out on Twitter and Facebook. Marriage, Money, and Messes Every couple has their differences. We each come into the relationship with our own views on how things are done. One area where different views may clash in a huge way is finances. We can either find a common ground that we can build from or we can let these opposing views tear the relationship apart. Since this podcast is about building up your marriage and net worth, in this episode we’ll discuss: * how to find common ground when you have different views on money * how to open up about the numbers * how to get out of debt as a couple Understanding His and Her Money with Tai and Talaat Talaat and Tai MecNeely are the founders and hosts of His and Her Money. On their show and podcast interview and share stories about improving finances. They climb out of the debt trap (twice!). His & Her Money Podcast features their and others’ stories on how they made it through sticky financial messes. When Tai and Talaat first met they were complete opposites when it come to money. Now they are debt free, running a business together while raising their kids. Like here, they look at how marriages and finances can become stronger. Some of my favorites from them include: * How To Avoid Financial Infidelity with Valerie Rind * 3 Important Marriage Conversations That You Must Have Right Away with Phillip and Christine St.Vil * The Things That You Need to Do Today to Make Your Marriage Work for a Lifetime Resources to Help You Merge Your Finances If you’re looking to get better with your finances together, here are some helpful posts to check out: * How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight * Staying on Top of Your Money

Learn how to protect your family and finances whould something happen to you. Certified Financial Planner Katie Brewer explains the process and what you need to consider having including wills, trusts, and finding the best guardians for your children. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CM_S2E23_Estate_Planning_with_Katie_Brewer.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” social_pinterest=”true” ] Estate Planning: Preparing for the Worst Even though we like to think of the future as bright and full of endless potential, there are times when we have to step back and prepare for bad times. Like building an emergency fund, we hope we never have to use, but if it comes up, we have peace of mind. Estate planning can be the same way. No one is excited to do it, but once you have things in place, you have some relief knowing you’ll have made things easier for your loved ones should something happen to you. In this episode we look at: * why you should have an estate plan and the essential documents you need * how to decide on the right guardian for your kids * how to protect your finances so they help your loved ones during this difficult time You’ll want to save this show so you can have a handy reference. Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to use with a podcatcher of your choice. You can also chat with me on Twitter and Facebook. Preparing Your Finances with Katie Brewer Katie is founder of Your Richest Life, a financial planning practice specializes in helping members of Generations X and Y create and reach their financial goals. She’s also a Time contributor and founder of Junior Achievement to teach financial literacy to the next generation. Resources on Estate Planning If you want more information about setting thing sup for your loved one, here are some posts to check out: * Estate Planning for Young Families * Wills, Guardianship, and Estate Planning * Five Essential Items for Your Estate Plan * Choosing Legal Guardians for Our Baby * Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From Cinderella

Learn how you two can reach your retirement goals without sacrificing fun now. Roger Whitney, The Retirement Answer Man, comes on the podcast to help you plan your retirement. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CM_S2E22_How_Couples_Can_Retire_Happily_Ever_After.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] What’s Your Happily Ever After? Not talking about the fairy tale where you come into a windfall from a distant relative whose left their fortune. What are you looking forward to? What do you want to do in the next few years? Can you describe how you want your retirement to go? Whether you have a clear picture of what you want or you’re just starting to think about it, today’s episode will be a fun listen. Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answer Man, will be on to talk about retirement, and what that actually means for you. We also get into: * how to prepare for retirement without depriving yourself of joy now * How sprints and SMART goals can take you closer to the life you want * how to talk to one another and use those differences as a superpower instead having them tear your marriage apart Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to usewith a podcatcher of your choice. You can also chat with me on Twitter and Facebook. Smart Retirement Advice with Roger Whitney Even though Roger has the intellectual chops to handle finances (he’s a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Private Wealth Advisor, and Accredited Investment Fiduciary to mention a few), his real strength is his holistic approach when helping clients. He is also the creator and host of The Retirement Answer Man, a weekly podcast helping listeners plan a path towards their ideal retirement.  Resources to Help You Plan for Your Retirement If you want to learn more, please check out these resources: * Learn Your Money Style * 4 Myths That Could Ruin Your Retirement and How to Avoid Them * Smart Retirement Moves for 20somethings * Most Common Mistakes People Make When Planning for Retirement If you’re ready to open an investment account, please check out any of these: * Betterment * TD Ameritrade * Vanguard * TradeKing

Looking for a financial planner, but don’t know where to start? Raghav Sharma, GuideVine CEO, shares tips to find the best financial adviser for your needs and how to avoid the bad eggs. [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CM_S2E21_Finding_Your_Perfect_Match_Financial_Advisor_with_Guidevine.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] If you’re thinking about hiring a financial advisor, you two have to become comfortable with opening up your finances, and to some degree your marriage. How do you find someone you two can trust? To help me out, Guidevine CEO Raghav Sharma will share tips so you two can find the perfect match. In this episode we’ll discuss: * situations were a financial advisor could be a huge help * what you two need to do BEFORE you reach out for help * red flags to watch out for Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to usewith a podcatcher of your choice. You can also chat with me on Twitter andFacebook. GuideVine: Finding the Perfect (Financial ) Match Find the right advisor takes time and patience. While getting referrels from your network is valuable, you still have due diligence to complete to make sure your advisor has both the expertise and personality to handle your finances. If you’re pressed for time or prefer having someone handle the nitty gritty of screening, you should check out GuideVine. They have designed a process that works allows them to give you pre-screened financial experts that are tailored to your needs and preferences. As a consumer it;s free to use, making it an even better service. They also partner up with organizations to better the community. For example, if you meet an advisor this month Guidevine will donate $100 Toys for Tots and $100 Prep for Prep. Guidevine also has some great financial resources in their Consumer Insights: How to Review a Financial Advisor: The Definitive Checklist Smart Money Moves in your 30s 6 Dangerous Myths About Financial Planning, Debunked Your Vote Matters! As we head into 2016 and the upcoming 3rd season, I want to have your votes on what you think are the best episodes of the Couple Money Podcast. Leave a comment here, or send me a message, tweet, or post with your picks.

Learn how you can help your kids become smarter with money. Bill Dwight, FamZoo founder and CEO, shares four tips to get your family saving, investing, and giving together more.  [smart_track_player url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/CM_S2E20_Teaching_Kids_to_Be_Wise_with_Money.mp3″ social=”true” social_twitter=”true” social_facebook=”true” social_gplus=”true” ] Kids and Money: Hands On Approach On the podcast today we look at:  * how you can make allowances meaningful * why you don’t need cash to teach your kids about money * how you can start the conversation when they’re little and continue it as they grow up Plenty of tips and systems, so you may want to save this episode! Subscribe to Couple Money Podcast via iTunes, Stitcher, or copy this link to usewith a podcatcher of your choice. You can also chat with me on Twitter andFacebook. Virtual Family Bank with FamZoo With FamZoo, you can design a ‘banking’ system that allows you to effectively and effciently teach your kids about money based on your values. With FamZoo, you can: * assign chores for extra pay (or track when they didn’t do them), * automated allowances, * allocate allowances into buckets (saving, giving, and spending) * calculate matching contributions It’s highly customizable and yet easy to use. Even if you don’t sign-up for Famzoo (which I think you should!), their site has some wonderful resources to help you find a system to teach your kids about finances. Some of my favorites include: * 6 Tips for Building the Charitable Giving Muscle with Your Kids * Boost Your Kid’s Money IQ with a Simple Spreadsheet * 29 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Stack Benjamins from Joe, Tai, Len, and Bill Helpful Resources on Kids and Money If you’re trying to figure out a system that can work for you family, here are a few resources to check out: * The Opposite of Spoiled * The Opposite of Spoiled: Interview with Author Ron Lieber  * Using FamZoo to Help Your Kids Master Their Money