Practical Personal Finance

What if your family suddenly lost its primary source of income due to a freak accident? Would you be able to buy yourself some time to get things figured out? Or would you be plunged into debt immediately? Today I'm joined by David Wolfenden, founder and CEO of Eden, for a conversation about emergency funds. David tells me the story of when his family lost its primary income source overnight and how this experience led him to start his own banking app that makes saving money more fun.Check out David's app: EdenPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Debt free! John is an author and YouTuber from Los Angeles who just finished paying off $105,000 of debt in 3 years. Including a brand new car, student loans, and even braces. Today, John shares what made him so motivated to become debt free, his feelings on the importance of community college as a path to a debt free education, and how it feels to be out from under the burden of his debts.Have you recently become debt free? Would you like to share your story to help inspire others? Send me an email to be featured.Email: practicalpf@gmail.comCheck out John's YouTube channelPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Should you work with a financial advisor when it comes to managing your money, investing, and planning for retirement? Is it still necessary to do so? Today I'm joined by Kyle from  @Financial Awareness with K.Scholl for a conversation about the changes in the financial world that have come about over the past few decades and how those changes might affect the way you manage your money. We talk about whether or not financial advisors will be going away any time soon, how much of your income you should be saving for retirement, and some sage advice for developing a healthy relationship with money.Check out Kyle's YouTube channelPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Debt free! Will Ibekwe is a product manager for CapitalOne who just finished paying off over $143,000 in debt. It took him 5 long years to do it. Today, Will shares his story and provides insight into how he remained focused for such a long period of time, how he leveraged the pandemic to aid with his debt payoff, and how he's rewarding himself for becoming debt free.Have you recently become debt free? Would you like to share your story to help inspire others? Send me an email to be featured.Email: practicalpf@gmail.comPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

What to look for when buying a house - explained by real estate agent Bryson Lefmann! If you're in the market for buying your first home, it can be a little bit challenging to know what you should be looking for. Today, I'm joined by Bryson Lefmann, a real estate agent from Richmond, Virginia, for a conversation about how to approach buying a home. If you're a first time homebuyer, this video is for you!Bryson's WebsitePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Debt free at age 23. WOW! What I would give to have been debt free when I was 23 years old! Today I'm joined by Andrea, a clinical trial specialist from Kansas City. She just became debt free after paying off all of her student loans AND her brand new car, all by age 23. Her story will inspire you!Practical Personal Finance on YouTube

Starting your very own catering business might be easier than you thought. Today I'm having a conversation with Austin Berry, owner of On the Ridge BBQ in Maysville, Kentucky. Austin has been a barbeque lover his entire life, but three years ago, he started taking it a little more seriously. In 2020, he monetized his passion for cooking BBQ by beginning to provide delivery and catering services to his community. Do you have a unique side hustle? Let me know in the comments! I'd love to feature you on the show.Connect with Austin on FB: https://www.facebook.com/austin.berry.562

Robert Johnson is a freelance musician from the upper Midwest who spent the last 27 months paying off over $94,000 in student loan debt. Today, Robert tells me the story of how he overcame the odds and became debt free - and what impact he believes debt freedom will have on his life.Have you recently become debt free? Send me an email! I'd love to interview you for a future episode.Email: practicalpf@gmail.comPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

What is an ETF? How do ETFs compare to mutual funds and index funds? And how do you invest in ETFs? Today I'm joined for a conversation with Josh Olfert, a certified financial planner from Canada. Josh answers all three of those questions, and many more.Josh Olfert on YouTubePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

What is a mutual fund? What are the different types of mutual funds? What is the minimum amount of money you need to get started investing in mutual funds? Today I'm joined by Andy Panko, a Certified Financial Planner from New Jersey, for a discussion that covers all of these questions and more. Andy's YouTube ChannelAndy's WebsitePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

If you've ever wondered what it takes to become a calligrapher, then today is your lucky day. I'm joined by Liz Powell, creator and chief calligrapher at Write Liz Write, a calligraphy business in Northern Virginia. Liz walks me through the process of how to get started with calligraphy and how she turned this passion of hers into an income generating side hustle.Write Liz Write on InstagramWrite Liz Write on EtsyPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Do you have questions about buying your first home? Today, I'm joined by Hanh Hoang, a residential real estate agent from Los Angeles. Hanh has been in the real estate industry for nearly a decade, and I ask him some basic questions about buying a home for the first time. We're talking neighborhood selection, down payments, inspections, negotiating, and closing costs. Hanh Hoang on YouTubeHanh Hoang on FacebookPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Is there any way to still get federal stimulus money that you should've gotten but never did? If you don't get a 1099 form for work as an independent contractor, do you still need to report that income? What can I do with my FFELP student loans to qualify for the federal relief?It's the first Thursday of the month and that means I'm answering your questions about money and personal finance.Got a question? Send an email to PracticalPF@gmail.com. The first Thursday of each month, I'll select five of my favorites and answer them right here.Watch Practical Personal Finance on YouTube!

If you've got student loans, or really any sort of debt, you may be wondering how you can get it paid off and become debt free more quickly. Today I'm giving you three strategies that will help you do just that. Practical Personal Finance on YouTubeStudent Loan Refinancing with SoFi - $300 Sign Up Bonus!

Have you ever thought of starting a video production side hustle? Today, for the inaugural episode of my new series, Practical Hustles, I have a conversation with Greg Prinz, CEO of Chapter One Films in Charlotte, NC. Greg started his very own video production business back in 2018. I ask him questions about what it was like to get started and what advice he would give to someone who might want to pick up video production as a side job.Chapter One Films WebsiteChapter One Films on FacebookPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

If you own a home and you're thinking about refinancing, then listen up! Today I speak to Grace Maxwell a senior mortgage loan officer from Richmond, Virginia. Grace answers all of my questions about the basics of refinancing a mortgage, including what the purpose of refinancing is, what you need to do to prepare, and why or why not it may be right for you.Connect with Grace via email: gmaxwell@gmmllc.comWatch Practical Personal Finance on YouTube!

Should you buy an investment property while you're a renter? Is there a financial advantage to filing your taxes jointly with your spouse? How can you create a budget if you have an irregular income? I'm answering your questions about money and personal finance in my brand new series, Practical Answers. Got a question? Send an email to PracticalPF@gmail.com. The first Thursday of each month, I'll select five of my favorites and answer them right here.Watching Practical Personal Finance on YouTube!

A new year can man new beginnings. If you've fallen out of love with your current employer, or if you're ready to change careers entirely, you need to be prepared in order to succeed. This week I have a conversation with career coach and LinkedIn expert, Professor Nez. He walks me through the signals that it might be time for a change, how to make your application stand out from the crowd, and what questions to ask during an interview.Professor Nez on YouTubeProfessor Nez's WebsitePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

If you're new to taxes or never really understood the process of filing, this is the episode for you. This week I have a conversation with Tiffany McMillan, a Certified Public Accountant, or CPA, from Northern Virginia. Tiffany walks me through the basics of filing your taxes for the first time including the forms you should expect to receive, important dates to be aware of, and some of the most common mistakes by first time filers.Check out Tiffany's WebsitePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

If you want to win with money in 2021, here's some advice on how to do so. This week I have a conversation with Reece Caruso, a 26-year old engineer from Australia who is very passionate about personal finance. He shares some of the strategies that have made him successful with money at a young age. His suggestions will inspire you to take action and change your relationship with money in the new year.Reece's YouTube ChannelPractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

If you're just getting started saving for retirement, the variety of plans available and the advice you receive might be confusing. So today I'm bringing in retirement plan expert John McCann to help you understand how to navigate the waters. I talk to John about the different types of retirement plans available, the pros and cons of each type, and his thoughts on retirement saving strategies.Connect with John on LinkedInPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

The holidays are a time when giving starts to become top of mind for a lot of us. This year, giving could be more important than ever. In today's episode, I have a conversation with Chad Current, lead pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Maysville, Kentucky. I ask Chad questions about how to determine where's best to give, how giving makes us feel, and why he believes giving is especially important in 2020.Crosspoint Community Church WebsiteCrosspoint Community Church FacebookPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Could student loans be forgiven by an executive order from Joe Biden? Today I have a conversation with Dr. Gregory Koger, a professor of political science at the University of Miami, about this very topic. Gregory gets me up to speed with how executive orders came about, how they're typically used, and whether or not he believes Joe Biden can and will forgive millions in federal student loans with the stroke of a pen.Follow Gregory on TwitterGregory's Books - Filibustering and Strategic Party GovernmentPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

If you're looking at buying your first home, it's important to understand what the process of getting a mortgage is going to look like. Today I strike up a conversation with Matt Gougé, also known as Matt the Mortgage Guy, about the basics of mortgages and the mortgage process. We talk about interest rates, the pre-approval process, and why you should work with a local mortgage broker for your purchase.Matt The Mortgage Guy on YouTubeMatt The Mortgage Guy WebsitePractical Personal Finance on YouTube

"Don't just save first, save everything." That's what Arkansas-based supply chain expert and personal finance enthusiast Jamie Beath will tell you to do. He calls it "The Saving Secret." In this episode, I interview Jamie about his unique strategy for saving money. It could very well change the way you do your budgeting and spending.The Saving Secret YouTube ChannelThe Saving Secret WebsitePractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

Auto insurance can be a confusing topic. It's tough to know what each different part of an auto insurance policy covers. And on top of that, it's tough to know if you've got enough coverage to protect you when you need it. In this episode, I have a conversation with Robert Reinhardt, an independent insurance agent from Miami, Florida. Robert is the owner of Panaco Insurance. Robert talks me through all the different aspects of an auto insurance policy, what's covered by each part, and provides his recommendation on how much coverage I should be purchasing.Panaco Insurance WebsitePractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

If you're a first time homebuyer, finding the right realtor can make your home buying experience feel like a dream come true. With so many choices out there, it can seem a little daunting. And a lack of experience can certainly play a role in making you apprehensive about your decision. In this episode, I have a conversation with Mike Sanson, a real estate agent from Miami, Florida. Mike is an associate at ONE Sotheby's International Realty. Mike talks to me about the basics of a real estate transaction from a buyer's perspective. We go over what to look for in a real estate agent, how real estate agents are compensated, and some red flags to look for during the buying process. Mike's WebsitePractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

If you've never worked with a financial advisor before, finding and hiring the right one can be a daunting task. Choose correctly and you'll enter into a long-lasting, fruitful relationship. Choose incorrectly and you could be doing major damage to your financial future. In this episode, I have a conversation with Paul Roldan, a financial advisor from Orlando, Florida. Paul is a partner at AllGen Financial Advisors. Paul talks to me about what you should do before hiring a financial advisor, what questions you should ask a prospective financial advisor, and the different ways financial advisors are compensated.AllGen Financial Advisors WebsiteAllGen Financial Advisors YouTube ChannelPractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

How did money originate and evolve over time? How was money created in the past and how is it created now? Could something as simple as a stimulus check be one of the primary drivers of wealth inequality in the United States? In this episode, I speak with Sean Cover, producer of the podcast Questioning Money. I ask Sean questions about the origins of money and how it has evolved over time, all the way up to the present day.Sean on TwitterSean's Podcast - Questioning MoneyPractical Personal Finance on YouTube

Have you ever considered that what everyone else is doing might not be the best idea? In this episode, I have a conversation with Nik Harter, producer of the podcasts Out of Trouble and The 38. Nik talks to me about his podcasting journey and how he's trying to encourage others to embrace a style of podcasting that's different from the mainstream.Nik's New Podcast - Out of TroubleNik's WebsitePractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel

Whenever you're making a big financial decision, it's important to consider the opportunity cost of your different choices. In this episode, I have a conversation with Jessie Rancourt, author of the book Opportunity Cost Investing: What You MUST Know About Opportunity Cost - Make More By Losing Less. Jessie talks me through the basics and helps me understand what opportunity cost is with some simple, real world examples. Jessie's YouTube ChannelJessie's WebsitePractical Personal Finance YouTube Channel