The Money with Katie Show

The economic uncertainty of March 2020 inspired me to think about what I really wanted to do with my life—and Money with Katie was born. Now in the midst of another bout of uncertainty, I wanted to cover the fundamentals of financial planning and the flexibility that can unlock for you to get closer to your dream life. I invited investing educator Amanda Holden (aka Dumpster Doggy) to talk about the slow-but-necessary process of unlocking golden handcuffs and pursuing financial freedom while preserving the parts of yourself that matter most. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: ⁠⁠⁠https://moneywithkatie.com/dream-life. —

The last time JL Collins joined me on the show (our most popular episode ever), we covered everything from millennial challenges, to his “VTSAX and Relax” approach, to lessons from his 2015 best-selling book, The Simple Path to Wealth. Now re-released a decade later with new insights, JL joins us again and we talk about: If the US Dollar still holds its reserve currency status—and what it means if it doesn't America's student loan crisis and the myth of “good debt” The liberation of dramatically downsizing your living expenses Our culture of consumerism, and what might replace it We even had a civil dispute about capitalism (I'll let you guess who played defense) and whether billionaires create jobs or jobs create billionaires Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: ⁠⁠http://moneywithkatie.com/jl-collins⁠. —

In this Rich Girl Roundup review: We're discussing a uniquely challenging crop of feedback, critiques, and questions about… the episode that generated some rousing back-and-forth about American exceptionalism the conversation that prompted some of you to reach out and share your successes and horror stories one writer's work that elevated my understanding of the relationship between our material conditions and family planning

Can you pay people to have kids? On one hand, countries that have beefed up social safety nets and pay people to procreate often see short-term success. But long-term results have been remarkably consistent worldwide: It's very hard to pay people to have children. My guest, writer Meagan Day, joins me today to discuss the recent birth rate data, the growing appeal of opt-out fantasies proffered by both tradwife influencers and the manosphere alike, and what our leaders would be wise to consider—beyond a one-time baby bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Given private equity's reach (1 in 25 work for a business owned by a PE firm), the industry has the power to shape work culture at scale, for better or for worse. And ironically, that's exactly why Pete Stavros, co-head of global private equity for KKR, thinks he's in a unique position to bring employee ownership to the mainstream. Pete's goal? To dramatically expand the number of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) that grant ownership shares to workers: “Imagine how different our economy and our country would be if workers owned a slice of every company in America.” Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/esops. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. — All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Output from Alpha is not investment advice and should be verified for accuracy.  APY as of 3/13/25,  subject to change. *Terms and Conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two of our most popular guests—economist Kathryn Edwards (aka Keds) and writer Grace Blakeley—return today for a timely conversation about tariffs, trade wars, and damaged trust. See how they weighed in on the big-picture ideas I couldn't stop thinking about in this expansive roundtable. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/tariffs. . Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Output from Alpha is not investment advice and should be verified for accuracy.  APY as of 3/13/25,  subject to change. *Terms and Conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Rich Girl Roundup review—joined by a special surprise guest—we're discussing your feedback, critiques, and questions about… The episode which generated the most fascinating follow-up questions of this batch  Perhaps the most popular interview we've produced in the last year A conversation which generated a few messages about the power of design that I can't stop thinking about Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/bailouts. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Alpha is an AI research tool powered by GPT-4. Output from Alpha is not investment advice and should be verified for accuracy.  APY as of 3/13/25,  subject to change. *Terms and Conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I met Véronique Hyland, author of the bestselling book Dress Code about how fashion intersects with politics, gender, and class (and the person who coined the term ‘millennial pink'!), I wanted to talk to her about:

2025's financial news cycle feels like a broken wind-up doll, where recession indicators, unemployment numbers, inflation data, and tax cuts are #JustTheTip of an unsettling iceberg. So, this week, we're joined by economist Kathryn Edwards (aka “Keds Economist”), and I got to ask her about:

It's easy to point out that wealth inequality in America is a problem. It's much harder to identify realistic fixes. But what if there were a simple, elegant solution? In today's episode, I'm speaking with Matt Bruenig, a former National Labor Relations Board lawyer and policy expert who's one of the brightest minds in this space. This conversation will get you thinking differently (and bigger) about money, the economy, and wealth—and why a solidarity economy is stronger for everyone. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/social-wealth-funds. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's hard to believe, but somehow it's already time for another Rich Girl Roundup about our last three deep dives: The Real Cost of Being a Working Parent, to which Rich Dad Nation had a decidedly mixed response to How Home Insurance and Climate Change are Upending the Real Estate Market, which introduced some good questions about the role of everything from technology to sabotage in effecting change The Truth About “Government Waste,” Privatizing Public Goods, & Turning Citizens into Customers, which generated an absolute treasure trove of stories from government workers We'll give y'all one guess which generated the lion's share of emails—this batch of feedback had a surprising amount of tea, so don't miss it. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/rto-daycare. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, I've referenced the book The Privatization of Everything as a seminal work in my understanding of the relationship between government and the private sector. So given the recent DOGE of it all, it seemed like a great time to revisit this conversation—now with one of its authors, Donald Cohen. We discuss the role privatization plays in government waste, and who stands to gain from the transformation of public funds into private wealth. (Hint: It's not the public!)  Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/privatization. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The average middle class family has 67% of their net worth tied up in its primary residence. But there's one looming issue: Rising insurance rates and climate change are threatening those property values—and they might be the canary in the coal mine of the American Dream. We're joined by Dr. Jeremy Porter, author of the First Street report at the center of most recent insurance analyses. We discuss insurers pulling out of “high-risk” states, “insurers of last resort” in those states, climate-driven migration patterns we're already seeing, and how this is likely to play out over the next few decades. So yes, this episode is about real estate, insurance, and climate risk—but it's also about the assumptions underpinning wealth in America, and what it means if they're changing. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/climate-change. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past, we covered the national average costs for different types of child care and how it may be directly related to the gender wage and wealth gap. But Eryn Schultz, a CFP known as Her Personal Finance online, reached out to say the data was vastly undershooting the realities of working parents she works with. She joins us today to share the real costs of childcare and what working parents in the US contend with. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/working-parents. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our first newly revamped Rich Girl Roundup of 2025, and we're taking you on a scenic guided tour of the chatter spurred from recent episodes: our most contentious episode to date, one that generated moving revelations from listeners, and the two-part series that ended up being less polarizing than we expected. We also discuss how to jerry-rig your Wealth Planner to project a “Die with Zero”-style drawdown, by popular demand—as well as the potential for a book club or community. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/dangerous-advice. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Part Two of our series, the Economics of Weight Loss Drugs. (If you haven't heard Part One, listen here!) Today, we're picking back up where we left off in our conversation with Lili Zarghami, a writer who got on (then off) a weight loss drug. Then we'll talk with Dr. Mara Gordon, a weight-neutral physician who deals with GLP-1s. Finally, I'll share my final thoughts and analysis on where the world of GLP-1 agonists is all headed and what it says about health, wealth, stigma, and class. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/diet-culture. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all heard about Ozempic. But there are the GLP-1s we colloquially call “Ozempic” (see also: Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound) and then there's the cultural role of Ozempic. Given the price of these drugs, barriers to access, and class implications of weight stigma, this topic presents a unique opening to talk about inequality in health outcomes and the profitable business of individualizing social problems. In part one of this rare two-part series, we're covering:  The wage penalties associated with (and relationship between) weight and women, and the parallels between the American attitudes about thinness and wealth The Danish pharma company that put Europe's entire economy on its back A conversation with a 12-year veteran of drug and device advocacy who said some of the surrounding issues represent, and I quote, “everything wrong with health policy in our country,” especially given the shortages, costs, and online pharmacies springing up to bridge that gap with non-FDA-approved solutions Let's take a peek at the inside the business of weight loss drugs, and join us here next week for part two. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/weight-loss-drugs. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After three years and 255 episodes, we take a walk down memory lane to reflect on some of our top episodes of The Money with Katie Show thus far—and where we're going from here. We're excited about what's to come, and we hope you are, too. Preorder Rich Girl Nation: www.moneywithkatie.com/rich-girl-nation Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/whats-next. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most personal finance advice falls into one of two camps: one that implicitly assumes that humans need discipline, control, and punishment, and the other that says people are fundamentally good, reasonable, and worthy of trust and confidence. So when I read Dana Miranda's You Don't Need a Budget and realized her system was in that latter bucket, it challenged my own ideas of "budget culture" and what trusting yourself with money might actually look like. Dana joins us on the show today to talk through it all. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/budget-culture. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chelsea Fagan of The Financial Diet and Berna Anat of New Dimes join us for our last Rich Girl Roundtable of the year. We cover everything from women and first-gen communities' relationships with money in 2025 and beyond, to building coalitions in "real life" for the futures we want to see. Tune in to this episode...then head offline. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/community-action. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recent coverage around the healthcare industry from major media outlets has left me...wanting. So given this news cycle, I wanted to talk about some of the most relevant misconceptions around healthcare (and what they teach us). I'm joined by Wendell Potter, an ex-Cigna VP-turned-whistleblower and healthcare reform advocate, and he shares some eye-opening insights from his time in the space. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/healthcare. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Who can afford all these $75,000 Ford F-150s?" asked Rich Girl Ally—so we decided to dive in. We're looking at the cost of cars today, "big car" culture, and how to actually go about purchasing a vehicle without putting your budget in financial jeopardy. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/cars. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2019, I read Ramit Sethi's bestseller I Will Teach You to Be Rich for the first time—and it was nothing short of revelatory for me. Since then, Ramit's work has focused more directly on a specific aspect of money management: couples. I've always found navigating this topic to be a challenge, because the most common problems are relational questions, not financial ones. Ahead of his new book release, Money for Couples (out 12/31), Ramit joins me today to discuss how you can make your relationship with money feel amazing, particularly if you're partnered. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/ramit-relationships. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rich Guy Ryan's girlfriend just got a raise, and they're interested in opening an IRA for her to begin investing—but stocks keep hitting new all-time highs, making him nervous that a correction is coming. Should they wait it out for the next bear market to start investing, or get in now? Plus, how to check your investments for weapons manufacturers and privatized prisons, and a wheels-off job posting that launders unrealistic expectations in the language of Hustle Bro nonsense. We are not licensed professionals; please do your own due diligence. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/invest-now-or-wait. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How have the last 40 years of American history—starting from the Reagan era—delivered us to where we are today? Today, we'll explore Reaganomics and its continued implications on the economy, what Bidenomics really was (versus what it attempted to be), and what we're likely to see over the next four years under a second Trump presidency. I also wanted to dig into some of the questions I've received since the election about whether our individual strategies need to shift. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/real-story-economy. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year, we share the books that gave the Money with Katie team a new perspective or changed our minds on a topic—here are the top mind-expanding books that Katie read in 2024. (To find all books covered before across Money with Katie, check out our Books page.) Happy reading! Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/2024-books. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial independence calculators allow us to understand the path we're on—so we can either feel good about proceeding, or get on a different one. So, using the new features we added to the 2025 Wealth Planner, we'll explore all the considerations that might impact your own projections—from temporary expenses you won't need to support forever (like childcare) to future pension income that'll lower your investment needs. 

Rich Girl Lauren lives in an expensive city, and her parents are offering her some money—but she only gets the money as a down payment for a home and she'll have to pay it back eventually. Is it worth it? And separately, how are home buyers affected by the recent NAR agreement? We are not licensed professionals; please do your own due diligence. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week.

At her career's height, Lacy was earning more than a million dollars per year (!) as an executive at a major bank. Then, one early morning, Lacy woke up and realized she was unable to hear anything in her left ear, experiencing something called sudden sensorineural hearing loss. She feared the worst: Her career, as she knew it, was over. Fortunately, Lacy had purchased a valuable insurance policy a decade earlier. And you don't have to be pulling down seven figures like Lacy to benefit in the same way. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/disability-insurance. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Rich Girl Roundup, Cassie asks what financial considerations she should discuss with her long-term partner and co-parent. Katie and Henah review the financial advantages of legally marrying, and how to potentially work those benefits into a different type of legal agreement. They are not certified financial or legal professionals; please do your own due diligence. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/unmarried-finances. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our "money dysmorphia" episode, a theme emerged that I wanted to revisit: Money anxiety increasing with income, not decreasing. While most of us are probably familiar with the law of diminishing marginal returns and accept that after a certain point, money won't make us any happier, the idea that money could make us actively unhappier is pretty antithetical to the entire capitalist enterprise. So to get the inside track, we invited Clay Cockrell, a therapist for the ultra high-net worth, to talk through some theories about why someone might experience enhanced anxiety as they ascend the income ladder—and what it might mean you need to do next. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/more-money-more-anxiety. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Rich Girl Roundup, Rich Girl Kelly S. asks, "Any resources for using a job offer to leverage more money in your current position? Is this a thing?" Katie and Henah share some suggestions, considerations, and a template for how to approach the conversation. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/negotiate-current-job. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever found yourself feeling skeptical about capitalism (or the idea that its current iteration is the best and only economic system worthy of our attention), this episode is for you.  My guest, Grace Blakeley, recently published a book called Vulture Capitalism in which she tees up what we fundamentally misunderstand about capitalism and knocks down the many half-truths that enable the status quo's most powerful narratives. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/capitalism. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I'm going to retire early, but my husband isn't. How do we approach our separate finances in early retirement?" asks a listener who's still interested in taking advantage of financial independence tax loopholes. Reminder: We are not certified financial professionals, and this is not financial advice—please work with a CFP and CPA. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/different-fi-timelines. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See why we've been named one of the top personal finance podcasts by US News and have nearly 10 million downloads, and check out The Money with Katie Show wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time ever, we're updating an episode we did back in 2022, all about money management systems. I'm detailing the two-track approach I recommend to hit your financial goals with minimal stress, because by taking advantage of the two big As—Automation and Amortization—you can put your financial life on the third A (Autopilot). (Sorry, I'll stop.) I am not a licensed financial professional, so please do your own due dil. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/money-management. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One listener reached out to ask, "If I know I'm getting an inheritance, how can I ask my parents for it earlier? It'll go further now in my 30s than later." We address if that's the best move, considerations to keep in mind, and ways to thoughtfully position the ask. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/early-inheritance. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We unquestioningly repeat the knowledge that index funds are the easiest way to “passively” build wealth. But what happens when too many investors go passive? Is this the most “benevolent bubble” in history? (Fair warning: That description is hyperbolic.) In this week's solo expedition, I attempt to make sense of these claims—and what it would mean if they're true. (I am not a licensed financial professional, I'm just a podcaster with internet access, so please do your own due dil.) Find a transcript—as well as the research and sources used to produce this episode—at: https://moneywithkatie.com/index-funds Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Traditional retirement advice often suggests balancing stocks and bonds as you near retirement—but as two Rich Girls pointed out, bonds seemingly don't have great returns. So are they still worthwhile? And if so, should you buy them? Plus, we respond to some critical feedback we received. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/bonds. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we're talking about negotiating for higher income without talking about labor organizing, we're outright ignoring one of the most powerful determinants of how people are paid. This week on the show, you'll hear from two people: an anonymous 20-year veteran of publicly traded, multinational corporate human relations who believes the “at-will employment” structure in the US is the core of our systemic insecurity, as well as renowned labor journalist Hamilton Nolan, who advocates tirelessly for union density as the best way forward.  Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/unions. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listener Andrea shared a story that inspired this week's RGR: "I can't stop thinking about how my mom got screwed in a divorce and now has no retirement savings—she was a stay-at-home parent, and my father got all the assets in the divorce." We explore how to quantify and understand unpaid labor in the household, what stay-at-home parents can do to protect themselves, and other perspectives around gender norms and cultural beliefs. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/unpaid-labor. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I wanted to share the three numbers that I believe have the most impact on your life, so I invited Brad Barrett of the Choose FI podcast joins me to give his real-time reactions. But, more importantly, the real takeaway we landed on is that every conversation purportedly about money is actually about what it means to live a good life. This is not financial advice; please do your own due diligence. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/top-3. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One listener writes in, "I have my HYSA, my 401(k) plus employer match, a Roth IRA, and now am saving for a down payment. I'm worried I'm lopsided and over-saved for retirement." But is she actually saving too much? Hear Katie's hot take. (Reminder: We are not licensed financial professionals, and this is not financial advice. Please do your own due diligence.) Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/oversaving. Money with Katie's mission is to be the intersection where the economic, cultural, and political meet the tactical, practical, personal finance education everyone needs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We had JL Collins, the Godfather of Financial Independence, on the show earlier this year, and there was one question we seemed to disagree on: Are the dollars and cents of life actually harder today than they used to be, or does it just feel that way? This prompted a listener to ask for a deeper dive: The official Boomer vs. Zoomer cage match of economic strife to understand, all else held equal, how the financial worlds these generations grew up in are different (and, more intriguing, the striking ways in which they've never been more alike). Today's episode is a then-and-now comparison into housing, education, wages, inflation, and investing—and I think it's going to surprise you. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/gen-z-boomers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FI/RE movement has picked up a lot of steam in recent years, but as one listener asks, how does that impact consumerism—and more broadly, can everyone to retire early? Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of you recently shared articles about the so-called “birth rate panic,” pointing out that the intersection of economic policy with people's decision to have children felt a little…off. So, I decided to dig into the coverage, some of the gaps I see, the cultural scapegoats, and of course, the bigger issue of treating our economy like a global MLM. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/birth-rates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of you have asked: “How the heck do I make it work on a single income? What can I possibly do?” We'll look at the levers you can pull (one in particular) and the context of how we got to this point. Plus, we respond to some of the feedback we received from our recent life insurance episode. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/single-income Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Depending on the source, the average American buys between 1 and 1.3 new pieces of clothing every single week—and consumption is at an all-time high. So, why aren't we tired of cheap shit yet and how can we better understand our psychological obsessions with spending? Well, we're diving into it with sustainability expert and author of Consumed, Aja Barber. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/overconsumption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's special Rich Girl Roundtable with Berna Anat: Traditional financial advice isn't “one size fits all,” and that's especially true for first-gen Americans who face unique challenges around building wealth and supporting family. How are the rules different for this demographic, and how can we make conversations around money more inclusive? Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/first-gen-finances. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life insurance is a notoriously scammy industry, made more confusing by the fact that there are legitimate forms of life insurance that aren't a total waste of money. So which ones are legit, and which ones should you avoid? Reminder: I am not a certified financial professional and this is not financial advice; please do your own due diligence. Transcripts, show notes, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/life-insurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's possible you might already have enough saved up for retirement, thanks to the power of compounding—a phenomenon in the FIRE community known as Coast FI. We cover how to calculate that number, if it's a reliable safety net, and what else to keep in mind. Rich Girl Roundup is Money with Katie's weekly segment where Katie and her Executive Producer Henah answer your burning money questions. Each month, we'll put out a call for questions on her Instagram (@moneywithkatie). New episodes every week. Transcript, show resources, production credits, and more can be found at: https://moneywithkatie.com/coast-fi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices