Finerate

After six years and 163 episodes of Creating Wealth, we're turning the page. This is the episode where we tell you what we're building, why now, and what drove each of us to take this step. Because Finerate came from something we kept seeing and haven't stopped thinking about. Anastasia has spent years watching the financial planning industry concentrate its resources on high net worth families. B...

If you haven't heard Part 1 yet, start there first .  Part 1 laid out what's happening and named some truly wild predictions. Part 2 answers the question that actually matters: given all of that, what do you do? With your money. With your career. With your mindset. And with the fear that many people feel right now. In this episode: One prominent thinker predicted we're heading toward an "emotional...

We do this once a year: a dedicated episode on artificial intelligence and what it means for your financial life. And every year, the material is big enough for a two-parter. Part 1 is the orientation: what's happening with AI right now, our honest reactions to some crazy predictions, and our biggest takeaways for adapting to these turbulent times. We're not AI experts. We're a CFP® and a 40+ year...

We're bringing this one back, because the problem it covers is even more relevant in today's environment. Social comparison has always been part of human nature. But financial social comparison in 2026 is a different beast. TikTok has entire subcultures built around money. Algorithms are engineered to show you exactly what makes you feel behind. The explosion of AI generated content will make the...

One in three Americans plans to start a side hustle or business in 2026. Most of the conversation around that number is about how to do it. Few conversations are about whether you're ready and what to do with the money when it starts coming in. That's this episode. They cover: What's actually driving the side hustle surge: ambition versus necessity The financial readiness checklist before you star...

The S&P 500 is near record highs. So why does your financial life still feel uncertain? In this episode, Anastasia and Bill tackle the disconnect that a lot of people are feeling in this moment where markets are up, hiring is slow, costs are still high, and a general sense that the headline numbers don't match what's happening on the ground.  In this episode, we cover: Why the gap between what mar...

What does Star Wars have to do with building wealth? More than you'd think. In this episode, Anastasia introduces Bill to the core framework from James Clear's bestselling  Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones.  This wide-ranging conversation connects several threads like Daoism, Newton's First Law, and what Yoda would say, to help you establish your best finan...

Fair warning: this one is a little different. Every April Fools Day, Anastasia and Bill take a break from their regularly scheduled financial wisdom to do something a little silly, and this year is no exception. In today's episode, they take a "deep dive" on cryptocurrency, unpacking blockchain technology, decentralization, volatility, peer-to-peer transactions, and the importance of planning for...

What if the biggest obstacle to building wealth isn't what you know, but what you believe? This is one of our most downloaded episodes ever, and we're bringing it back because three years later, it's more relevant than ever. In this conversation, Anastasia and Bill break down the four money beliefs, also called money scripts, that most of us picked up in childhood, long before we had any real expe...

What if the best financial advice ever written came from ancient Babylon and was published exactly 100 years ago? In this episode, Anastasia and Bill walk through the seven money principles from George S. Clason's classic  The Richest Man in Babylon  and break down why every single one of them still holds up in 2026. Bill has had his own handwritten notes from this book for decades, and today he b...

How often should you rebalance your investment portfolio? If you Google this question, you'll find the standard answer: quarterly or annually. But what if that advice doesn't fit YOUR situation? In this episode, father-daughter advisor team Bill and Anastasia Taber tackle the rebalancing debate: Questions answered:   ✓ What is portfolio rebalancing and why does it matter?  ✓ Why do passive investo...

Bitcoin dropped from all-time highs. AI agents are making headlines. Ray Dalio is warning about a once-in-a-generation debt cycle. So what should you actually do with your money right now? In this episode, we cut through the noise to help millennials navigate today's volatile markets. We break down what's really happening with crypto, investor sentiment, and the AI revolution, and why the fundamen...

Why do lottery winners often end up broke within three years? Why do you suddenly face an unexpected car repair the moment you get a raise? It's not bad luck—it's your Money Blueprint. In this episode, we dive deep into the psychology of wealth with a breakdown of T. Harv Eker's classic book,  Secrets of the Millionaire Mind . We explore the groundbreaking premise that financial success is 80% psy...

Is your New Year's resolution to "spend less"? We think you can do better. In this episode, we ditch the restrictive "financial diet" mentality and focus on a Value-Based Audit for 2026. Budgeting isn't just about math; it's about alignment. We share our personal year-end spending reviews (the good, the bad, and the surprising) and introduce a new framework to help you design a budget that funds y...

Are you "bad with money," or are you just exhausted? If your brain feels like a browser with 100 tabs open, you are likely carrying a heavy mental load. While we often talk about mental load regarding chores or parenting, there is a Financial Mental Load, the invisible worry, planning, and remembering, that is silently sabotaging your bank account. In this episode, we explore why burnout is not ju...

It's our favorite tradition of the year! In this special holiday episode, we step away from the spreadsheets and stock charts to focus on the "mental game" of money: Gratitude. We believe that an Abundance Mindset is critical for financial success. When you appreciate what you have, you make better spending decisions, feel less financial stress, and build wealth from a place of confidence rather t...

Don't let your emotions and 'mental shortcuts' sabotage your financial future. This is the essential deep-dive into the  Invisible Costs of Cognitive Biases and the behavioral finance secrets that cost millennials thousands in lost savings and poor investing decisions. If you know the basics of personal finance but still struggle with execution, this episode is for you. We move beyond "Behavioral...

Artificial intelligence is evolving at lightning speed, but how do you separate innovation from the hype? And what does any of this mean for your daily life, your privacy, and your investment decisions? In this episode, we break down the biggest AI breakthroughs since our last update and explore how everyday people can use chatbots without feeling overwhelmed. We cover simple AI use cases, the str...

What if the biggest barrier to financial success isn't your income, but your mindset? In this episode, we sit down with John Longhill, a certified NeuroChange Solutions consultant who teaches Dr. Joe Dispenza's  Change Your Mind – Create New Results  program. John helps people understand the neuroscience behind their thoughts, how past experiences and subconscious patterns shape their financial be...

The U.S. national debt has surged to record highs, crossing $38 trillion and counting. What does that really mean for the U.S. economy and our financial future? In this episode, we revisit the topic of America's debt since our discussions in 2020 and 2023 and explore how we got here, what potential solutions exist, and most importantly, what you can do about it. You'll come away with a clear under...

Alternative investments (also known as "alts") are gaining traction with investors who want to go beyond the traditional 60/40 portfolio. But what exactly are they? And are they a good fit for your financial goals? In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about alternative investments. We'll explain what qualifies as an alt, how they differ from stocks and bonds, and why they've...

In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Groberg, founder and CEO of BookSmarts Accounting, to talk about what it really means to feel confident with your finances. Jenny brings both strategic know-how and real-life perspective as a CEO, financial educator, and mom of five. We discuss how personal and business finances differ (and why it matters), how AI is transforming bookkeeping and accounting,...

Are you still helping your adult children financially while also trying to plan for your own retirement? You're not alone. A recent AARP survey found that 75% of parents with adult children provide some financial support, often averaging more than $7,000 a year. In this episode, we explore how today's financial landscape is shifting parenthood later into life and what that means for your long-term...

Is America on the decline, and what does that mean for your financial future? In this thought-provoking episode, we unpack key ideas from billionaire investor Ray Dalio's Principles for Dealing with   The Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail   and explore how rising global powers, growing debt, and historical cycles could reshape the economy in the years ahead. We break down the indi...

What's the  One Big Beautiful Bill Act  and why is it making U.S. headlines? In this episode, we break down this new major tax law and explore how it affects financial planning for individuals, families, business owners, and retirees. From changes to deductions and the SALT cap, to new opportunities for saving and investing, we'll discuss what's in the bill, why it matters, and the steps you might...