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Personal Finance Expert | Cumulus Podcast Network

Paula Pant

You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.

Afford Anything

#713: Tiffany Aliche spent her 30th birthday in her childhood bedroom, $300,000 in debt, unemployed, and freshly foreclosed on. 

Sixteen years later, she's generated over $50 million in gross revenue as a business owner. 

She joins us to talk about what actually happened in between.

Aliche - known as The Budgetnista - built her personal finance platform almost by accident. After a friend stole $35,000 from her and the 2008 recession wiped out her condo's value, she started helping friends navigate their own financial messes. 

That side hustle became a business. By 37, she was a millionaire. By 40, she had her first eight-figure revenue year.

But the money didn't fix everything. We talk about what she calls "post-traumatic broke syndrome" - the way your scarcity mindset from the hard years keeps quietly running your financial decisions long after your bank account has recovered. 

For Aliche, it showed up as years of refusing to buy herself a vacation home she could easily afford, while simultaneously buying properties for her sisters and stepdaughter, neither of whom asked for them.

We also get into the emotional mechanics of financial shame - specifically, how shame blocks access to solutions you already have. 

Aliche says she grew up with a CFO father who taught her exactly how to budget, save, and invest. None of that knowledge was available to her at rock bottom, because shame had walled it off. The fix, she says, was simply saying it out loud to a friend.

The conversation covers people-pleasing as an under-discussed form of financial self-sabotage, the current economic disconnect between paper wealth and lived experience, and a practical exercise for figuring out whether you already have enough money to fund the life you actually want.
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Why Smart People Still Sabotage Their Own Money, with Tiffany Aliche

#712: Jeff Hurst, CEO of Furnished Finder, joins us to break down what midterm rentals are, who they're for, and why now might be the best time to get in.

A midterm rental is a furnished unit rented for 30 days or longer - longer than a hotel stay, shorter than a traditional lease. Cities have been regulating Airbnb-style short-term rentals out of existence, leaving a wave of furnished properties with nowhere to go. That supply is now shifting toward the midterm market, driven by three primary tenant types: corporate and skilled trade workers, traveling healthcare professionals, and relocating families doing a "try before you buy" neighborhood test run.

We get into the specifics of what it costs to furnish a midterm rental (about $7 per square foot, compared to $30 to $40 for a short-term rental), where owners typically overspend (treating it like a leisure destination), and where they underinvest (quality mattresses, blackout curtains, kitchen functionality). Jeff also explains how to model out your returns, estimate vacancy, and use tools like Furnished Finder's market insights tab and AirDNA data to vet a market before you buy.

On the question of where to invest, Jeff walks through a layered research approach - starting with population migration, proximity to hospitals and universities, commuter corridors, and school districts. He's bullish on mid-sized cities with data center build-outs and expanding healthcare infrastructure, and argues that markets like those around northwest Arkansas, parts of Texas, and mid-sized Midwestern cities offer better risk-adjusted returns than the leisure destinations that dominated the short-term era.

Jeff also covers HOA red flags to look for, how to approach off-market deals, what the regulatory environment looks like for midterm (spoiler: almost no city is restricting it), and why the category today feels a lot like short-term rentals at their peak.

Timestamps:

Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(00:00) Intro

(05:12) What midterm rentals are

(07:00) Why cities banned short-term rentals

(08:19) Who rents midterm — nurses, corporate workers, relocating families

(14:45) Extended stay hotels vs. midterm rentals

(16:34) Hospitality expectations for hosts

(19:22) How much to spend on furnishings

(21:02) Regulatory risk — nearly zero

(32:16) How to estimate vacancy and returns

(45:58) How to pick a market

(52:16) Why mid-sized cities win

(57:42) Following extended stay hotel construction as a demand signal

(1:13:00) Who owns midterm rentals — older than you'd think

(1:14:36) Why midterm feels like AirBNB in 2012
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Rental Strategy That Survived Every City Crackdown, with Jeff Hurst

#711: A computer science degree used to feel like a sure thing. Job placement rates topped 90 percent. Starting salaries cleared $80,000. You could do the math on your student loans before you enrolled. 

That math doesn't work the same way anymore.

New York Times "Your Money" columnist Ron Lieber joins us to walk through what families actually need to know before borrowing for college. 

He covers how to use the federal College Scorecard to look up earnings by school and by major. 

He explains why the scariest student loan headlines are almost always about graduate school rather than undergraduate debt. 

And he makes the case that liberal arts majors tend to catch up to their STEM peers by mid-career - even if the early numbers don't show it.

Lieber also makes a case that the financial return on college extends beyond salary data. Alumni networks, mentorship, and lifelong friendships all factor into the equation. 

He suggests asking schools pointed questions about reunion attendance and alumni giving rates as a way to gauge how connected - and how useful - a community actually stays after graduation.

On the debt question, Lieber draws a clear line between federal undergraduate loans, which cap around $31,000, and the more dangerous combinations of Parent PLUS loans and private debt that drive the horror stories you see in the news. 

He also addresses the community college path in detail - including what it actually takes to pull it off without losing time or credits along the way.

The conversation closes with a framework for parents: keep sparking conversations with your kids, stay curious about what they're drawn to, and treat yourself less as an advice-giver and more as someone planting seeds. 

Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and your college student: https://affordanything.com/episode711

Timestamps:

Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(00:00) No BLS jobs report today 

(01:41) Ron Lieber intro – NYT personal finance columnist, student debt expert

(02:41) College still worth it? Ron says yes, despite tough entry-level job market

(05:03) How to use the College Scorecard 

(06:27) Liberal arts majors often catch up by mid-career 

(07:17) The non-financial ROI of college 

(15:08) How much debt is too much? Federal undergrad cap is $31,000

(18:31) Community college as a launchpad; savings potential, but requires high executive functioning

(21:36) Scary student debt headlines are mostly about grad school, not undergrad

(24:39) AI and shifting willingness to pay; colleges facing enrollment pressure

(37:00) Financial aid office dynamics 

(40:39) Peak 18-year-olds; demographic cliff hits colleges differently by region

(45:54) Location matters; urban schools have recruiter and networking advantages

(54:11) Framework for parents and students; stay curious

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is a Computer Science Degree Still Worth the Debt?, with Ron Lieber

#710: What does it really look like to balance financial optimization with real-life tradeoffs—whether that’s choosing meaningful work, spending down your savings, or deciding where your next dollar should go?

 
Mike is planning to retire at 60 with $1 million saved and a clear goal: spend it all during his lifetime. He wants to know how to structure his withdrawals so he can maximize income now while still covering the decades ahead.

 
Kip was planning to retire after feeling burned out—until a chance conversation led him to a completely different role within his company. Now he’s happier than ever, but he’s also curious about whether real estate syndications are a smart next step for investing.

 
Jessie and their spouse are about five years away from early retirement and trying to decide where their next savings dollar should go—keep maxing out Roth IRAs, or shift toward a taxable account for more flexibility?

We’ll get into all of that—and how to think through each of these decisions—on today’s episode.

Resources Mentioned:

 Listen to Kip’s previous question: https://affordanything.com/episode627

 Don’t miss the YFRP Webinar! https://affordanything.com/rental2026

 Join the YFRP waitlist:⁠ https://courses.affordanything.com

 Stay in the Loop:⁠ https://affordanything.com/newsletter⁠

 Die with Zero, a book by Bill Perkins: ⁠https://amzn.to/3P1ydBS⁠

Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and your arborist: https://affordanything.com/episode710
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Q&A: He Wants to Die With Zero – Here’s How to Spend $1M Without Running Out

#709: Keith Wargo has spent decades navigating one of the most daunting financial planning challenges a family can face: raising a child with a developmental disability. He joins us to share what families need to know.

The financial stakes are significant. Keith, who is the CEO of Autism Speaks, estimates lifetime care costs for a person with a developmental disability can run between $1.4 and $2.4 million - and that figure may be conservative. 

Yet many families put off financial planning because the day-to-day demands of caregiving leave little room for anything else.

One of the first things Keith walks us through is the federal benefits system. Medicaid and SSI are the primary lifelines for many families, but qualifying takes time - for Keith's family, it took three years of meetings and paperwork. 

There's also a critical detail: SSI requires the individual to have no more than $2,000 in assets in their name. A well-intentioned inheritance from a grandparent can wipe out eligibility overnight.

That's why Keith recommends a special needs trust for most families. Assets held in the trust don't count against federal benefit limits. He also recommends pairing the trust with a "second to die" life insurance policy - one that pays out after both parents are gone - to help fund it.

ABLE accounts round out the toolkit. Similar to a 529 plan, they allow tax-free contributions of up to $20,000 per year for a person with a qualifying disability. The funds cover everyday expenses like food, transportation, and entertainment. 

Unused 529 funds can also be rolled into an ABLE account, up to $20,000 per year.

Keith also addresses trustee succession - who manages the money after the parents are gone, and who steps in after that person. 

His advice: start building a network early, revisit the plan every few years, and bring siblings into the financial conversation sooner than feels necessary.

Timestamps:

Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(00:00) The Financial Reality of Developmental Disabilities

(02:00) Caregiving's financial toll on families

(03:41) Keith's background

(04:26) His son AJ's diagnosis and journey

(07:08) Rights and services end at age 22

(08:06) Medicaid, SSI, and SSDI explained

(14:12) The $2,000 asset limit for SSI eligibility

(14:33) Why special needs trusts matter

(16:04) Life insurance as a funding tool

(23:08) Planning two retirements simultaneously

(25:04) ABLE accounts - the basics

(27:06) ABLE account balance limits by state

(36:35) Employment opportunities for neurodiverse workers

(42:11) Fraud and safety risks to be aware of

(51:15) Trustee succession planning

(53:22) Rolling 529 funds into ABLE accounts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Financial Reality of Developmental Disabilities, with Keith Wargo

#708: What’s the smartest way to handle big financial transitions—when the stakes are high and the “right” answer isn’t always obvious?

Anonymous “Cyndi Jr.” is helping their 73-year-old mother relocate across the country and needs to decide how to use the proceeds from a home sale to balance long-term housing security with inflation protection.

Anonymous is trying to figure out how to handle quarterly estimated taxes on investment income—without relying on safe harbor rules that don’t always reflect market swings.

Luz, whose previous question was featured on the show, is now navigating a major job change and wondering what to do with an old 401(k)—while also rethinking how Roth accounts, an HSA, and debt all fit into a bigger financial strategy.

We’ll walk through each of these and help you think it through in today’s episode.

Resources mentioned:

 Don’t miss the YFRP Webinar! https://affordanything.com/rental2026

 Join the YFRP waitlist: https://courses.affordanything.com

 Listen to Luz’s previous question: https://affordanything.com/episode583

 Stay in the Loop: https://affordanything.com/newsletter

Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and Cyndi Lauper: https://affordanything.com/episode708
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Q&A: My Mom Is 73. She Has a House — But It Doesn’t Pay the Bills. Now What?

#707: Joe and I traveled to the campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana for a very special live recording. We were joined by Jay Davis, the Executive Director of Financial and Entrepreneurship Engagement, to answer questions from an incredible audience of students. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to "reset" your habits, this episode covers the essential transition from the classroom to the professional world. 

Student Questions

Hannah (Psychology Major): How do I navigate the trade-offs between passion, a paycheck, and peace of mind in my 20s without having regrets later?

Hannah (Second Student): As I move from a student budget to a professional salary, how do I prevent "lifestyle creep" from eating my first big raise?

Gabriel: How do I find the middle ground between being responsible for "Future Me" and actually enjoying my life while I’m young?

Stephano: When is the right time to start investing, and how do I balance that with paying down student loans?

Valarie: How do I build a solid credit score as a student without falling into the trap of high-interest debt?

Thomas: What are the most important "marketable skills" I should be developing now to ensure financial security later?

Key Takeaways

 
Follow Curiosity Over Passion: Passion is often a side effect of mastery, not the starting point. Follow your curiosity into deep learning; the fulfillment (autonomy, mastery, and purpose) will follow once you become an expert in your craft.

 
Build Your "Bravery Fund": High marketable skills and a solid emergency fund give you the freedom to take risks. If you have a financial cushion and low fixed costs, you have the "bravery" to pivot careers if your first choice isn’t the right fit.

 
Automate Your Success: The most effective way to beat lifestyle creep is to "hide" your raise from yourself. Set up automated transfers to retirement accounts or debt repayment for the same day your paycheck hits your account.

 
Beware of High Fixed Costs: Avoid the "new grad" trap of heavy car payments ($700–$1,000/month). These high monthly obligations are the biggest inhibitors to your future housing flexibility and career mobility.

 
The 24-Hour "Fun" Rule: To balance current enjoyment with future savings, create a deliberate "yes" list. If you want to spend on a hobby or experience, wait 24 hours to ensure it’s a conscious choice rather than an impulse.

Resources mentioned:

 
Don’t miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! ⁠https://affordanything.com/rental2026

 A&M University Website: https://www.tamut.edu

 Grab a copy of Deep Work by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/4truxs3

 Receive our newsletters https://affordanything.com/newsletter

 
Don’t miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! https://affordanything.com/rental2026

 YNAB for students: https://www.ynab.com/college

Chapters

Note: Timestamps are approximate and may vary across listening platforms due to dynamically inserted ads. 

(00:00) The Abridged Live Performance from Texas A&M Texarkana

(01:19) Hannah’s Question: Passion vs. Paycheck

(06:31) The "Bravery Fund" & Your Freedom to Pivot

(13:35) Hannah’s Question: Defeating Lifestyle Creep

(20:43) Gabriel’s Question: Future You vs. Present You

(30:57) Stephano’s Question: Debt vs. Investing

(41:55) Valarie’s Question: Building Credit Responsibly

(50:15) Thomas’s Question: Developing Marketable Skills

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Q&A LIVE from Texas A&M Texarkana

#706: When the numbers look straightforward—but the rules, timing, and future are uncertain—how do you decide what to do next?

 
KJ has $90,000 in student loans, a recent inheritance, and a lot of uncertainty around changing repayment policies, and is trying to decide whether to pay down debt now or hold onto cash in case future payments become unaffordable.

 
Anonymous (let’s call her Andrea) is about seven years away from retirement with $1.9 million saved and is thinking about sequence of returns risk, and is wondering whether working part-time could help protect against a poorly timed market downturn or simply delay the risk.

 
Anonymous (let’s call him Andrew Ryan) is a retired homeowner in their early 70s who recently bought a second home to be closer to family and is planning to rent it out part of the year, and is wondering how to structure it and how taxes work for a property that’s both personal and income-producing.

Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and Ryan Gosling: https://affordanything.com/episode706
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Q&A: The Case for NOT Paying Off Your Student Loans

#705: Jon McNeill, former president of Tesla and COO of Lyft, starts with a simple problem: his teenage son is about to start driving, and he’s worried about texting behind the wheel.

Instead of setting rules, he builds a solution. That idea becomes TruMotion, a company that uses smartphone sensors to track driving behavior. You hear how the app figures out whether someone is actually in the driver’s seat, and how that technology ends up powering programs used by major insurance companies.

From there, we zoom out. McNeill walks us through the systems he uses to build and scale companies. He explains how to question assumptions, including a case where his team reduces a 12-page car loan document down to a few sentences after realizing none of it is legally required.

We also talk about speed. At Tesla, he learns to make decisions quickly, even without perfect information. He describes how faster decision-making compounds advantage over time.

You hear a story from his early days working with Tesla, when he visits multiple stores, signs up for test drives, and never gets a follow-up. That leads him to identify thousands of missed sales opportunities sitting in the pipeline. The fix comes from focusing on the bottleneck, not adding more leads.

McNeill also shares how he approaches negotiations at scale, including working with government officials in China and learning how incentives and systems shape outcomes.

Throughout the conversation, he returns to a few core ideas: simplify the problem, identify the constraint, and move quickly once you have enough information to act.

McNeill’s new book is The Algorithm: The Hypergrowth Formula That Transformed Tesla, Lululemon, General Motors, and SpaceX.

Timestamps:

Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising segments. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths.

(00:00) Jon McNeill, former Tesla President and former COO of Lyft

(06:50) The "First Principles" Mindset

(15:05) Managing Hyper-growth at Tesla

Solving for "Pain Points" vs. Chasing Profit

Autonomous Driving and Electric Vehicles

Working with Visionary Founders

Building a Culture of Innovation in any Organization

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What to Fix First When Everything Feels Stuck, with former Lyft COO and Tesla President Jon McNeill

#704: How do you make smart financial decisions when you’re balancing debt, investing, and big life changes … all at the same time?

Today, Brigham and his wife, ages 25 and 23, wonder: can they buy a $500,000 home AND still support a stay-at-home parent? 

Next, JVR asks how to balance high-interest credit card debt, student loans, and a large cash reserve while planning for a future home purchase in the Bay Area.

Then we’ll hear back from Elizabeth, from Episode 611 (from just under 1 year ago), with an update and a follow-up question on how to approach real estate investing over the next five years when she’s unsure where she’ll ultimately settle.

We’ll cover all of that in today’s Q&A episode.

Resources:

Elizabeth's (formerly Anonymous) original call: https://affordanything.com/episode611

Share this episode with a friend, colleagues, and your mailman: https://affordanything.com/episode704
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Q&A: He Wants to Die With Zero – Here’s How to Spend $1M Without Running Out

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