Welcome! If you are new to the Money Plan SOS podcast then sit back. I’ll share with you the 20 best episodes, 10 “staple” episodes, and the 13 worst episodes. I also share my journey through money over the past two decades. The full show notes are at

The BEST (and worst) of the Money Plan SOS Podcast

200: The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired with this final episode. It was recorded LIVE at FinCon15 with nine bloggers who learned about money while blogging about money. In this final episode, nine financial bloggers answer the question, "Have you learned anything about money since blogging about money?"  Eric Rosenberg (Narrow Bridge Media) Emily Guy Birken (Wisebread, Book: 5 Years Before You Retire) Katie Austin (Writes for ActiveHours.com) Todd Tresidder (FinancialMentor.com) Stefanie O’Connell (The Broke and Beautiful Life) Athena Lent (Being Fabulous Has No Price Tag) Miranda Marquit (Planting Money Seeds) JD Roth (Get Rich Slowly, new blog MoneyBoss.com) Eva Baker (TeensGotCents.com)  _____ The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired #tear This was the final episode of the Money Plan SOS podcast. Why? Somehow, I became known in the FinCon community as a podcast guru (they even gave me a shirt that said FinCon Podcast Guru on the front). This pivot into a new career allows me to help others who podcast about financial literacy topics by editing/engineering their recordings. My new home-base is  Thank you for being a listener. It's been a true honor to host this show and help anyone who will listen PAY ATTENTION - NOT INTEREST!

<h1>200: The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired with this final episode. It was recorded LIVE at FinCon15 with nine bloggers who learned about money while blogging about money. In this final episode, nine financial bloggers answer the question, "Have you learned anything about money since blogging about money?" Eric Rosenberg (Narrow Bridge Media) Emily Guy Birken (Wisebread, Book: 5 Years Before You Retire) Katie Austin (Writes for <a href="http://ActiveHours.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ActiveHours.com</a>) Todd Tresidder (<a href="http://FinancialMentor.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FinancialMentor.com</a>) Stefanie O’Connell (The Broke and Beautiful Life) Athena Lent (Being Fabulous Has No Price Tag) Miranda Marquit (Planting Money Seeds) JD Roth (Get Rich Slowly, new blog <a href="http://MoneyBoss.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MoneyBoss.com</a>) Eva Baker (<a href="http://TeensGotCents.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TeensGotCents.com</a>) _____ The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired #tear This was the final episode of the Money Plan SOS podcast. Why? Somehow, I became known in the FinCon community as a podcast guru (they even gave me a shirt that said FinCon Podcast Guru on the front). This pivot into a new career allows me to help others who podcast about financial literacy topics by editing/engineering their recordings. My new home-base is Thank you for being a listener. It's been a true honor to host this show and help anyone who will listen PAY ATTENTION - NOT INTEREST!</h1>

What People Learned About Money By Blogging About Money

#199: Is tithing mandatory for Christians? Chris Brown and I discuss this to get to the root of the problem - which has little to do with ten percent. Chris Brown has been a pastor for several years, speaking to congregations and audiences all over the United States. Full show notes at  He recently became on of Dave Ramsey's Speakers and now hosts the popular True Stewardship Podcast. In this episode, Chris and I tackle this touchy subject of tithing: • What is a tithe? • Who is called to give a tithe? • What about the "Old Testament vs New Testament" argument around giving a tithe? • Are we asked to give a tithe based on the gross or net of our paychecks?   Connect with Chris Brown online:      Also in this episode: Ponda from the Honda: If a Billionaire doesn't have to buy a new car then why do we?   Where is MoneyPlanSOS going? The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is retiring after episode 200. You can find all my new shows at

Is Giving a Tithe Mandatory? Chris Brown from True Stewardship

198: OG (aka The Other Guy from Stacking Benjamins) joins me to share the 8 Great Mistakes in Investing Full show notes at   The 8 Great Mistakes of Investing are:  Under-diversification  Over-diversification  Euphoria  Panic  Leverage  Speculating  Investing for yield and not total return  Cost basis dictating decision   Thanks to OG for coming over. You can find him at http://StackingBenjamins.com - my favorite podcast. Also mentioned in this episode: The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette. Amazing stuff! Here's the Stacking Benjamins affiliate link: http://amazon.com/dp/B00INIXVPW/?tag=thefreefinanc-20 _______ Steve Stewart's Budget Coaching Course on video:  _______ Ponda from the Honda: SPEND IT ALL (sort of) ________ Fractional and Automated Savings Accounts - are they a good idea? Deanna Richardson from Richardson Accounting and Consulting, PLLC @  asked “Have you heard of Digit? Seems like a great way to build up an emergency fund and....it says it is free. Then their are bonuses for keeping $100 in it over 3 months. If I did my math right, the bonuses are over 2.5% interest (5 cents / week per $100). Would love to hear what you think.” I tackle these new fractional, or automatic, savings accounts: Acorns, Digit and Betterment’s SmartDollar Links: ACORNS Open an account:  or install the free IOS or Android app Listen to my interview with the creators of Acorns    DIGIT Open an account:  Testimony from Paula Pant (which kinda concerns me)    BETTERMENT'S SMARTDEPOSIT Open an account:  More information:  ________

<h1>198: OG (aka The Other Guy from Stacking Benjamins) joins me to share the 8 Great Mistakes in Investing Full show notes at   The 8 Great Mistakes of Investing are: Under-diversification  Over-diversification  Euphoria  Panic  Leverage  Speculating  Investing for yield and not total return  Cost basis dictating decision  Thanks to OG for coming over. You can find him at <a href="http://StackingBenjamins.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://StackingBenjamins.com</a> - my favorite podcast. Also mentioned in this episode: The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette. Amazing stuff! Here's the Stacking Benjamins affiliate link: <a href="http://amazon.com/dp/B00INIXVPW/?tag=thefreefinanc-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://amazon.com/dp/B00INIXVPW/?tag=thefreefinanc-20</a> _______ Steve Stewart's Budget Coaching Course on video:  _______ Ponda from the Honda: SPEND IT ALL (sort of) ________ Fractional and Automated Savings Accounts - are they a good idea? Deanna Richardson from Richardson Accounting and Consulting, PLLC @  asked “Have you heard of Digit? Seems like a great way to build up an emergency fund and....it says it is free. Then their are bonuses for keeping $100 in it over 3 months. If I did my math right, the bonuses are over 2.5% interest (5 cents / week per $100). Would love to hear what you think.” I tackle these new fractional, or automatic, savings accounts: Acorns, Digit and Betterment’s SmartDollar Links: ACORNS Open an account:  or install the free IOS or Android app Listen to my interview with the creators of Acorns    DIGIT Open an account:  Testimony from Paula Pant (which kinda concerns me)    BETTERMENT'S SMARTDEPOSIT Open an account:  More information:  ________</h1>

The 8 Great Mistakes of Investing. Also, Fractional Savings Accounts

Matt Ham

197: Matt Ham is an author, speaker, and small business owner. Five words uttered by a nurse changed the way he looks at life - and inspired him to redefine rich. Full notes with links at   Takeaways from this interview: It’s not how much you give - it’s how you give it () We shouldn’t feel guilty to spend and, surprisingly enough, we feel richer when we give. Whole Life Matters Podcast:       ______   3 important things to remember when buying a car This post first appeared on  Transportation is the third largest budgeting expense for most people. Housing and taxes can consume up to half of the average American’s income, with cars sucking up between 5-20 percent - depending on number of vehicles and if the consumer is carrying auto loans. However, you can greatly reduce your vehicle costs by remembering these three things when buying a car:  It’s transportation It’s a depreciating asset It’s not forever  The way we get the biggest bang for our buck when we buy a car right is when we buy it outright. Pay off your current car loan quickly, save what used to be your car payment for the next one, and pay attention - not a lease payment. _____   ‘Ponda from the Honda Free chips, salsa and bread sticks. What do they have to do with rising prices at local restaurants? _______   Are you tired of paying interest?  Do you want to get control of your finances?  Schedule a 30 minute consultation and let me help you make informed decisions on how you spend your values

<h1>197: Matt Ham is an author, speaker, and small business owner. Five words uttered by a nurse changed the way he looks at life - and inspired him to redefine rich. Full notes with links at   Takeaways from this interview: It’s not how much you give - it’s how you give it () We shouldn’t feel guilty to spend and, surprisingly enough, we feel richer when we give. Whole Life Matters Podcast:      ______   3 important things to remember when buying a car This post first appeared on  Transportation is the third largest budgeting expense for most people. Housing and taxes can consume up to half of the average American’s income, with cars sucking up between 5-20 percent - depending on number of vehicles and if the consumer is carrying auto loans. However, you can greatly reduce your vehicle costs by remembering these three things when buying a car: It’s transportation It’s a depreciating asset It’s not forever The way we get the biggest bang for our buck when we buy a car right is when we buy it outright. Pay off your current car loan quickly, save what used to be your car payment for the next one, and pay attention - not a lease payment. _____   ‘Ponda from the Honda Free chips, salsa and bread sticks. What do they have to do with rising prices at local restaurants? _______   Are you tired of paying interest?  Do you want to get control of your finances?  Schedule a 30 minute consultation and let me help you make informed decisions on how you spend your values</h1>

Matt Ham has Redefined Rich

Jon Stein

196: Jon Stein from Betterment and I discuss robo-advisors, why Betterment is so different, and what it takes to open an account. Use  to receive 30 days FEE FREE investing at Betterment Full show notes at   ______  M.J. Cossel wrote in about an article she read in the Dallas Morning News: Bad credit score can double insurance premiums in Texas  My response: Yes. Poor credit scores equal higher insurance premiums - but that’s only one consequence of not paying bills and debts on time. Make it a priority today to get your checkbook balanced, organize your finances, and pay attention - not __. If you want a sure-fire way to make every dollar work harder then get on a budget

<h1>196: Jon Stein from Betterment and I discuss robo-advisors, why Betterment is so different, and what it takes to open an account. Use  to receive 30 days FEE FREE investing at Betterment Full show notes at   ______  M.J. Cossel wrote in about an article she read in the Dallas Morning News: Bad credit score can double insurance premiums in Texas  My response: Yes. Poor credit scores equal higher insurance premiums - but that’s only one consequence of not paying bills and debts on time. Make it a priority today to get your checkbook balanced, organize your finances, and pay attention - not __. If you want a sure-fire way to make every dollar work harder then get on a budget</h1>

The Ins-and-Outs of Robo-Investing - Interview with Jon Stein

#195: Do you know why stories of people with $.32 refund checks are in the news? Because they are so rare!  Most people want to get a big tax refund. Getting a huge refund is an extremely inefficient use of money - both for you and for the government. I recommend adjusting your withholding so you can bring more money home and put it towards your goals:  High-interest rate debt Building up reserves Saving or investing  Run a mid-year income tax assessment Making course corrections in August helps steer your tax withholdings closer to the target - which is to owe nothing or get a small refund.  It’s almost impossible to be exact, there are too many moving parts, but you can bring your tax-boat closer to the dock in the last few months of the year. Gather together the following items:  Last year’s tax return Last year’s Schedule A (if you itemized deductions) Your last two pay stubs (include your spouse's as well)  Note: If you have a small business or are an entrepreneur then you will need to run a Schedule-C calculation to estimate self-employment income. You may also want to see a tax professional. Also, you will want to estimate any:  Child/Dependent Care expenses Expected bonuses Expected interest, dividends, etc  I use tax preparation software to run my calculation but you could follow the prompts at the IRS website to complete a mid-year tax assessment: http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/   If you expect a huge refund: You could choose to do nothing and continue giving the government more of your money, interest free, and get a huge refund April 15th. However, I recommend you increase the number of allowances  on your W-4 and give it to your benefits department or HR person. They will adjust your withholding to get you closer to zero. If you would like help running this calculation then contact me and we will run through it together.   Federal forms and resources mentioned in this episode: http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/ http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sa.pdf http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf   In the Ponda from the Honda segment Only 5.5 more payments to go   $5 a week for 45 years at 10% growth is $228,000 See a chart in the show notes at http://SteveStewart.me/195   Try YNAB (You Need A Budget) for 34 days and receive 10% off if you keep it

#195: Do you know why stories of people with $.32 refund checks are in the news? Because they are so rare!  Most people want to get a big tax refund. Getting a huge refund is an extremely inefficient use of money - both for you and for the government. I recommend adjusting your withholding so you can bring more money home and put it towards your goals: High-interest rate debt Building up reserves Saving or investing Run a mid-year income tax assessment Making course corrections in August helps steer your tax withholdings closer to the target - which is to owe nothing or get a small refund.  It’s almost impossible to be exact, there are too many moving parts, but you can bring your tax-boat closer to the dock in the last few months of the year. Gather together the following items: Last year’s tax return Last year’s Schedule A (if you itemized deductions) Your last two pay stubs (include your spouse's as well) Note: If you have a small business or are an entrepreneur then you will need to run a Schedule-C calculation to estimate self-employment income. You may also want to see a tax professional. Also, you will want to estimate any: Child/Dependent Care expenses Expected bonuses Expected interest, dividends, etc I use tax preparation software to run my calculation but you could follow the prompts at the IRS website to complete a mid-year tax assessment: <a href="http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/</a>   If you expect a huge refund: You could choose to do nothing and continue giving the government more of your money, interest free, and get a huge refund April 15th. However, I recommend you increase the number of allowances  on your W-4 and give it to your benefits department or HR person. They will adjust your withholding to get you closer to zero. If you would like help running this calculation then contact me and we will run through it together.   Federal forms and resources mentioned in this episode: <a href="http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://apps.irs.gov/app/withholdingcalculator/</a> <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf</a> <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sa.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sa.pdf</a> <a href="http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf</a>   In the Ponda from the Honda segment Only 5.5 more payments to go   $5 a week for 45 years at 10% growth is $228,000 See a chart in the show notes at <a href="http://SteveStewart.me/195" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://SteveStewart.me/195</a>   Try YNAB (You Need A Budget) for 34 days and receive 10% off if you keep it

Less Taxes, More Money In Your Paycheck - Running a mid-year tax return can improve your cashflow

Ace Chapman

194: Although he has an entrepreneur’s heart, Ace doesn’t believe anybody should start their own business. It is much easier and profitable to buy an existing business, improve it, and sell it for a profit. Full notes at   Ace's book:  Find Ace at:  Or Twitter:  ______   Don't worry about your credit score. Do what's RIGHT with your money. When it is time to prove your credit worthiness call on eCredable:  (free monthly membership with this code: SOS)

<h1>194: Although he has an entrepreneur’s heart, Ace doesn’t believe anybody should start their own business. It is much easier and profitable to buy an existing business, improve it, and sell it for a profit. Full notes at   Ace's book:  Find Ace at:  Or Twitter:  ______   Don't worry about your credit score. Do what's RIGHT with your money. When it is time to prove your credit worthiness call on eCredable: (free monthly membership with this code: SOS)</h1>

Ace Chapman Says Skip The Startup and Buy a Business

#193: Many people are being lured by the attractiveness of directing their own retirement plans. The trick is to do it right and have an asset, business, or income-producing entity that makes sense for YOUR retirement planning. Kirk Chisholm is a Wealth Manager, Economist, &amp; Principal at IAG. He is also an expert of investing in alternative investments in self-directed IRA / 401k. Full notes at   Key takeaways from our discussion:  Self-directed IRAs are a great arrangements for making non-traditional items become tax-deferred investments There is no guidance for what you can put into a self-directed IRA There are some unusual things people have turned into self-directed IRA investments A 1031 exchange is not a self-directed IRA We learn where a wealth manager fits into an individual’s self-directed IRA plan There is no certification for someone to become a self-directed IRA administrator Kirk encourages you to pick things you know well    How taking one step back can make you feel a little bit richer &lt;33:47&gt;  Stop Take a step backwards Close your eyes for 1 second Open your eyes   Imagine your life 10 years ago and tell me you don’t feel just a little bit richer   Ponda from the Honda  She blew $20k of college savings on clothes and a European vacation.

What You Need To Know About Self-Directed IRA's

#192: Kai used to be responsible for staffing at a firm. She knows first-hand what companies use to check on an applicant's background.   While a company may check credit reports, they do not review credit scores. Once again, this is proof that the bare minimum to succeed in America is to simply pay your bills and debts on time. If you don't have any debts and don't have credit cards, you won't have a credit score. However, you will have a clean credit report - or no information for a credit report to be built upon. This does not prevent you from getting a job. UPDATE: My wife and I paid off our last debt, the home mortgage, in December 2015. Within 2 years, I no longer had a credit score. Does that mean I couldn't get a traditional job in corporate America? Of course not! Let my story be your testimony. Spend more time on your personal finances and less time trying to build your credit. In our conversation we discuss:  Why Americans allow themselves to become trapped in debt How much responsibility do we place on the education system to teach children and young adults about financial literacy The truth about employers pulling credit scores or credit reports The 5 Dangers of Buying Cheap and “Splaving”   For full notes, visit

Do Companies Check Credit Scores?

Pay attention - not interest. For most, that’s all it takes to get their money under control. That’s how Steve and his wife got out of debt completely - even the mortgage…and you can too!Your host, Steve Stewart, shares his extreme-but-proven ways that money really works. The show isn’t just about making a Money Plan (aka: a budget). Steve also explains what’s really wrong with credit cards and credit scores (spoiler alert: It’s not what you think). You’ll also learn about rich habits, how various investing vehicles work, and how you can have no debt, no credit, and no problems!The show is retired, but still relevant in today’s radically changing financial world. Begin with Episode 201, then go back and listen to the archives in your favorite podcast app!Money Plan SOS is the response to the call for help with your finances.

I like this show but my podcast downloads stopped in September. Has Steve stopped recording?

Is there any new show?

I have an ADHD group that i think this will help so i will be taking the course soon

Great podcast

Pay attention - not interest. For most, that’s all it takes to get their money under control. That’s how Steve and his wife got out of debt completely - even the mortgage…and you can too! Your host, Steve Stewart, shares his extreme-but-proven ways that money really works. The show isn’t just about making a Money Plan (aka: a budget). Steve also explains what’s really wrong with credit cards and credit scores (spoiler alert: It’s not what you think). You’ll also learn about rich habits, how various investing vehicles work, and how you can have no debt, no credit, and no problems! The show is retired, but still relevant in today’s radically changing financial world. Begin with Episode 201, then go back and listen to the archives in your favorite podcast app! Money Plan SOS is the response to the call for help with your finances.

Money Plan SOS

Dave Ramsey

#166: Listen to my debate with Joshua Sheats from Radical Personal Finance on various financial topics he deems to be dangerous to Dave Ramsey Show listeners. Links mentioned in this episode:  Post:    Book:   Episode: Joshua's plan for       For more information, visit the show notes at

How can Dave Ramsey's advice be dangerous to his listeners?

#112: This is Week 2 in the 7 week series of Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps to Financial Peace. Last week I talked briefly about Baby Step 1: Build a $1,000 starter emergency fund. Baby Step #2 is to pay off all consumer debt using the Debt Snowball Method. Why is The Debt Snowball in Baby Step 2? [...] The post  appeared first on .

Baby Step 2: The Debt Snowball Method

#143: What happens to my credit score after paying off debt? In this episode I share survey results that show debt-free people aren't worried about their credit score.  FICO says what's in your credit score  FICO says your credit score is based on the length of credit, new debt, the variety of debts, how much debt you owe, and your payment history on debts.  In short, you need to borrow money for a long time. More than likely you will end up paying interest.  I'd rather be paid interest than paying it.  What is not included in your credit score  What is not included in a credit score is your age, sex, religion, and where you live. These things are left out due to consumer protection laws that were passed to keep lenders from being biased or discriminatory.   The problem with a traditional credit score is that it is selective on what to include in the calculation of your credit score and is not a fair representation of your full financial picture.  Why wouldn't these things be included when calculating your ability to repay a loan?  How long you have been with your current employer How much you make How much you having in savings How much you have in assets that you own Your payment history on non-debt items like rent, cell phone, or your cable bill   FICO is not supposed to factor those things in but those who promote "building your credit score" make it sound as if the credit score is the most important thing you should concentrate on.   I disagree. It is a distraction.  Results from my debt free survey  I asked individuals to respond to a quick 8 question survey:  Of the 83 Respondents  66 Married (80%) 1 Widowed 6 Divorced 10 never married   100% have been approved for a credit card. No surprise there.  11 of 83 respondents (13%) never taken out a car loan.  77% (64 respondents) say they do not have any outstanding consumer debt, 26 are completely debt free.  Of the 26 completely debt free respondents, 9 stated their debt free date was over 5 years ago. All of them had a score greater than 700 except for 1 who said his score was ZERO.  Only 2 of the 83 respondents who have paid off all their consumer debt indicated their score was 699 or less.  Are they worried about their credit score?  8 of the 9 replied “No” to being concerned about their credit score and two of them actually responded with “Not At All” concerned.  Only one was concerned about his Property and Casualty insurance rate being effected by a non-existent score. As I explain in the podcast recording, this really shouldn't be a reason to stay in debt or build your credit score.  [Tweet "People who get out of debt do not care about their credit scores"]  Why should they? They don't need a score to tell them they are winning with money.  Other credit score promoted excuses:  I need a score to rent an apartment: Devin Czech asked landlords if he could rent from them even though he doesn't have a credit score or credit history. The responses are very encouraging:   Employers look at credit scores: An employer can pull your credit history before offering you a position in their company. However, if they use your SCORE as a determining factor then I would question their hiring practices.   I would further go to say any employer who does not hire someone simply because they don't have a credit history is not a very good employer. Yes, bad credit is an indication of past financial problems but having no credit history is an indication that you've stayed out of debt and are financially responsible. Who wouldn't want to hire you?  The bottom line? Losing your credit score is a good thing  Your score will drop or disappear when you pay off debt. There are alternatives to qualifying for a home loan using services like  (use promo code  for a free membership).  The everyday American is the lowest common denominator when it comes to knowledge about credit scores - and they are the target as well.  For more information, visit the show notes at

What happens to my credit score after paying off debt?

#4: There are 5 things that need to be in place before paying off debt and saving for the future:  Get on the same page with your spouse or accountability partner Commit to never borrow money again.  No more debt Prepare a written budget or spending plan TEMPORARILY stop saving money Get CURRENT on the necessities and bills/payments  For more information, visit the show notes at

5 Things To Do If You Are Falling Behind

#175: The Greutmans are debt free and now employ Americans to run their small business - IAmThatLady.com. UPDATE: Lauren has launched a new business and can be found at   The Browns just paid off their HOUSE! What are they most excited about? Listen to the testimonies of two families with different reasons for killing their debt - and what it has done for them. Also in this episode: Holla From The Impala - The ONLY benefit from paying interest. Read the full show notes at

#175: The Greutmans are debt free and now employ Americans to run their small business - <a href="http://IAmThatLady.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">IAmThatLady.com</a>. UPDATE: Lauren has launched a new business and can be found at   The Browns just paid off their HOUSE! What are they most excited about? Listen to the testimonies of two families with different reasons for killing their debt - and what it has done for them. Also in this episode: Holla From The Impala - The ONLY benefit from paying interest. Read the full show notes at

Debt Free Testimonies from the Gruetmans and Browns

#109: Dave Ramsey Tweeted "Saving 100 dollars per month from age 25 to age 65 at 12 percent growth will turn into 1.176 million dollars This Tweet caused a lot of uproar in the financial community. To get to the bottom of this OG from the Stacking Benjamins podcast shares his thoughts about: Average equity returns [...] The post  appeared first on .

Dave Ramsey says saving 100 a month can make you a millionaire!

#79: Pregnancy, layoff, or move to another state: These are all situations where you would press "PAUSE" when working Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps. For details, visit

When To Push Pause On Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover

#119: Our culture is so material-driven that it keeps many of us in jobs we hate, stressed out to the point that it is unhealthy, and disconnected from our own families.  The position of “Stay At Home Mom” has been eliminated in order to achieve the “American Dream”. When we get out of high school and [...] Find out more by visiting

The Real Cost to be a Stay At Home Mom

This is the first in a series of special episodes where we take the real life examples of people in financial stress and dissect them, bit by bit, to figure out the best solution for their money.  What you’ll learn   In this episode, you will be able to:    Master the art of managing irregular income through strategic use of separate savings accounts Discover the key to financial success by tracking expenses and committing to a sound budget Unlock the potential of professional advice for investment and financial planning endeavors Prioritize debt repayment strategies and explore the refinancing options that work for you Implement the cash envelope system for a foolproof approach in controlling your budget  For more information and resources, visit the show notes at

Real Life Case Study with Don Current

Steve Stewart

#5: I’ve boiled the process down to the simplest elements and have come up with a signature process that will  Show how far your money can truly go Foster communication between you and your partner/spouse Expose your true priorities – to yourself!   For more information, visit the show notes at

Steve Stewart's Absolute Simplest Budget That Works

Rey Brown

#163: Rey Brown explains how the cell phone industry works and gives suggestions for saving money on a new plan. A full list of resources can be found at

Save Money on your iPhone and Cellphone Bill with Rey Brown

#52: 8 terms we need to understand when it comes to investing money. Full list of terms at

Do You Know These 8 Investing Terms?

#187: An informed consumer is a better consumer. This episode will show how Credit Cards make money from processing fees.  I also give a few tips for reducing fees and a new way to send a friend money for free. Full notes at     Infographic with credit and debit card statistics:    How Counting Can Work Even When Budgets Aren’t Accurate:    Ponda from the Honda: Fight Big Business by Cutting Up Credit Cards

How Credit Cards Make Money - ON YOU!

#19: We can't really live or give at our full potential unless we stop borrowing more money and eliminate debt. One of the first things we have to do to pay off debt is to stop borrowing more money. That means weening our dependency away from credit cards and using cash or debit. This episode covers Step #2: Delete your credit card numbers from all online accounts. Some cool side effects of this exercise: You may find some accounts you no longer need (magazine subscriptions) or you may re-visit some contracts (revise your cell-phone plan or cable subscriptions). Substitution or Solution: Use your bank's free online BillPay to pay for online purchases. Also, attempt to purchase things locally for at least 1 month instead of online, only using Debit when absolutely necessary. Holla From The Impala: Investing in the market - ya can't lose! For more information, visit the show notes at

Living Without Credit Cards Pt2

#58: Couponing is not just cutting pieces of paper out of your local ads, it involves shopping, travel, and seeking out great values to help you stretch your dollar. Saving money with coupons is wise. Do you realize all the costs involved? Jenny Kerr from TheJennyPincher.com shares her experiences of buying things she didn't even need just because she got a deal!   For more information, visit the show notes at

#58: Couponing is not just cutting pieces of paper out of your local ads, it involves shopping, travel, and seeking out great values to help you stretch your dollar. Saving money with coupons is wise. Do you realize all the costs involved? Jenny Kerr from <a href="http://TheJennyPincher.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheJennyPincher.com</a> shares her experiences of buying things she didn't even need just because she got a deal!   For more information, visit the show notes at

Extreme Couponing: Is Couponing Worth the Time?

#55: Zac Bissonnette, Jon White, Jackie Walters, and Brent Pittman discuss the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 that is being put in front of Congress.   For more information, visit the show notes at

Should the government forgive Student Loans?

#16: Financial Coaching at it's best from America's Personal Finance Architect, Steve Stewart. Helping everyday American's build a solid foundation on which to build their financial lives. In today's episode: Jon White from JWFinancialCoaching.Wordpress.com offers this article about the DOs and DONTs for engaged couples. Did you listen? Then go to the Facebook FanPage "Ask MoneyPlanSOS" and answer the poll for this question: You have $10,000 in credit card debt at 10% interest and $15,000 owed on your car at 5% interest. Your fiance' has no debt, $10,000 in savings, and expects to get a $2,000 bonus next month. Where should the $10,000 in savings go? On Holla From The Impala: A Bad Good Investment And Art Milbert tells a story about Discouragement. For more information, visit the show notes at

#16: Financial Coaching at it's best from America's Personal Finance Architect, Steve Stewart. Helping everyday American's build a solid foundation on which to build their financial lives. In today's episode: Jon White from <a href="http://JWFinancialCoaching.Wordpress.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JWFinancialCoaching.Wordpress.com</a> offers this article about the DOs and DONTs for engaged couples. Did you listen? Then go to the Facebook FanPage "Ask MoneyPlanSOS" and answer the poll for this question: You have $10,000 in credit card debt at 10% interest and $15,000 owed on your car at 5% interest. Your fiance' has no debt, $10,000 in savings, and expects to get a $2,000 bonus next month. Where should the $10,000 in savings go? On Holla From The Impala: A Bad Good Investment And Art Milbert tells a story about Discouragement. For more information, visit the show notes at

DOs and DONTs for Engaged Couples

#84: Joe Saul-Sehy is a recovering Financial Planner. Currently, he is the co-host of the 2 Guys and Your Money podcast, COO &amp; chief bottle washer at TheFreeFinancialAdvisor.com, and was the Channel 7 WXYZ-TV "Money Man" in a previous life. He joins us today to talk about Financial Advisors and Compliance.  For more details, visit

#84: Joe Saul-Sehy is a recovering Financial Planner. Currently, he is the co-host of the 2 Guys and Your Money podcast, COO &amp; chief bottle washer at <a href="http://TheFreeFinancialAdvisor.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TheFreeFinancialAdvisor.com</a>, and was the Channel 7 WXYZ-TV "Money Man" in a previous life. He joins us today to talk about Financial Advisors and Compliance.  For more details, visit

About Financial Advisors, Dealing with Compliance, and Average Joe comes out of the basement

#135: Credit cards are against my religion. I shared my beliefs in a webinar on October 3rd. Only a handful of people have watched the video, which I understand; it was an hour long and you have better things to do. But there are other reasons I am bringing this message to you in podcast form today: The Devil doesn’t want you to hear this - credit cards are against my religion.  The Devil is at work There have been quite a few challenges trying to get this message to you:  1.  There were technical difficulties during original Webinar  2.  I’ve had some personal ones to overcome   3.  The delivery system you get this show on in iTunes was not working (with no reason why).  Considering iTunes is still the majority of the MPSOS audience, I take that as an assault on stopping me from giving you this week’s message.  Are Credit Cards evil? No, they are not evil. Electronic payment options are an advance in technology. Just as computers and eye glasses and even the fork was an advancement in technology, electronic payments are a technological progression.  This is not the reason I believe credit cards are against my religion. The problem with Credit Cards People “overexpend” themselves and now they are paying interest. For those who pay off each month there is still evidence that they will spend more than if they pay with cash.  There’s no visible boundary and the human condition is to get what we want instantly. This leads to impulse purchases and the “I want it now” syndrome.  There is less accountability when spouses have their own cards Do you and your spouse have separate checking accounts? Yes? If so, is it the most efficient way to manage your household’s income? Making the claim that your separate account system is working just as well as a couple who has to share the same checking account with 2 debit cards and/or cash envelope system is lying to yourself.  This is also true of having “His and Hers” credit cards on different accounts. Making the decision, and forcing yourselves to comply, to have one single place where all the money is divvied-up is more efficient because both partners have someone to hold themselves accountable to.  One person will feel they “deserve” something and spend more than they would otherwise. Then when the other finds out they feel justified to buy themselves something nice and the cycle continues. Money fights and money problems are the number one cause of divorce The Credit card topic is the one battlefield where spouses can rally together and easily conquer the enemy of overspending and debt. There they find the strength to fight the other money problems like huge student loan debts or medical bills. Avoiding the problems caused by credit cards is an easy battle to win when fighting 6-digit Sally Mae loans or escalating medical bills. Work together in one account with 2 debit cards for the good of your household. If this has shined a light on why you and your spouse can’t seem to get ahead with your finances then good.  We are leading up to the reason why credit cards are against my religion. Credit cards lead to false goals I want you to answer this question out loud. If you are streaming the show via Stitcher in a coffee shop or driving to work or walking the dog, answer this question verbally: What are the benefits of using a credit card?  Did you say any of the following?  • You need a credit card for travel  • Possible discounts on purchases  • I get to use other people’s money (OPM)  • Debit cards aren’t safe  • I get rewards or cash back Which of these lead to accomplishing financial goals? None of them. The barely help you get ahead when accompanied by the “overexpending” that goes on while using credit cards.  Also, many of them are no longer true. Listen to the episode for details. More profit for credit card companies increases credit card offers being sent to your neighbor’s mailbox. The result is more money being taken away from your community via Swipe Fees, and you aren’t able to spend as much time (or money) building God’s kingdom. Jesus died to pay my debts so why should I be indebted to someone else? Call to action: Stop using your credit cards for 3 months and use cash or Debit instead. Take money away from big banks that have no effect on your local economy but harm your neighbors.   For more information, visit the show notes at

Why Credit Cards Are Against My Religion

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