Work Pants Finance

Why do educated professionals still marry while marriage declines elsewhere? Does marriage build wealth, stability, and happiness - or do successful people simply marry each other? In this in-person conversation, Matt Miner sits down with UVA sociologist Dr. Brad Wilcox, author of Get Married, to discuss the marriage premium, class divides in family life, cohabitation vs. marriage, children's outc...

Joe Mihalic shares the story behind No More Harvard Debt, where he paid off $90,000 of student loans in just seven months.  Joe and Matt discuss the mindset shifts that made extreme debt payoff possible, the emotional weight of debt, and the trade-offs between focus and lifestyle.  Joe also explains the framework behind his Dad Plan, designed for high earners who report solid income but still feel...

This week we tackle three connected themes: your health, how you get care, and how you pay for it. Highlights: Health first : Sleep, Diet, and Exercise, in that order Healthcare in practice : Great for acute care – not great chronic illness! Paying for care : Traditional insurance, high-deductible plans with HSAs, or Christian healthcare sharing ministries Why it matters: Health, healthcare, and m...

Author of "Mailman" Stephen Starring Grant joins WPF to talk about career reinvention in the Blue Ridge. Key take-aways: Curiosity is Your Compass: Follow your genuine interests, even when they don't align with a traditional career path. Curiosity led Steve from early web development to brand strategy to delivering mail—and ultimately to publishing a book. Curiosity is fuel for market value, creat...

Author of " Life in the Negative World ", Aaron Renn, joins me to discuss his new book. Key take-aways are: Dig your well before you're thirsty. As I reflect on Aaron's career in business, influencing public policy, and now helping readers and listeners directly, It's clear how each piece of the puzzle builds on what went before in his career. Aaron wouldn't be doing what he's doing today except f...

Abby O'Leary is founder of Fare Well Associates, a consultancy that helps families deal with details during times of grief and loss. Key takeaways: 1. We're all going to die, so die in style! Make an estate plan, then execute it and fund it. 2. You can make a business out of anything. Some businesses may be easier than others, but if there's a way you want to help people, you can probably find a w...

Josh Walthall, a former prosecutor for New Hanover County and the North Carolina State Bar brings career and life advice – and great stories – for licensed professionals and everyone else trying to do the right thing in their job. Key take-aways are:     1.    Many situations that give rise to complaints or enforcement actions can be avoided by treating other people well. An ounce of prevention is...

Marriage and Money are two parts of life where sparks fly. Elle and I reflect on dealing with the important topic of money in the thick of our most important relationship. For more information, visit the show notes at https://workpantsfinance.com/44

Today's show features a special announcement. Learn more about Matt's new business, Miner Wealth Management, at minerwealth.com

Hear an overview of my financial planning process. If you've wondered what I do that helps clients, today's show can help. For more information, visit the show notes at https://Workpantsfinance.com/42

Case studies are a WPF crowd-pleaser, and today has three of 'em as I share the fictional situations of three type of clients and the questions they bring to my financial planning practice. You'll learn about Zachary & Jasmine earning $290,000 combined, working for Honeywell and McKinsey and wanting to start their financial lives on the right foot. Next up are James and Heather earning $466,000 wh...

Jim's heart for godly stewardship of financial resources – specifically his commitment that everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to God – is front and center in our conversation. Most of our conversation takes this presupposition as its jumping off point. Key take-aways include: 1) You – and your children – can finish college at a young age. The university's four-year program may or m...

Charlotte Whitmore shares her transition from "global expert to manager of her own estate" in her story of building and selling a consulting business. Wisdom is throughout the episode, including the fact that acquirers don't care how nice (or junky) your office furniture is and, if you hate debt, it's OK to skip it entirely! For more information, visit the show notes at https://Workpantsfinance.co...

When it comes to post-high-school education, you can definitely have too much of a good thing. Today Lacey Langford and I discuss the traditional university route, college hacking, grad school, tech programs, entrepreneurship, and going to work in the trades. The key-takeaway in today's episode boils down to asking and answering the question "why" as it relates to educational choices. Why this sch...

John Lee Dumas offers wisdom to put our efforts toward the things that matter – and let everything else fall away. For more information, visit the show notes at https://Workpantsfinance.com/37

Many listeners will find new money marked Federal Tax Refund in their checking accounts. If you are the kind of person who usually owes at least some federal taxes, this is your tax credit that would normally reduce what you owe next April 15th; at least at this point, this is not "extra" money like previous stimulus payments. What can you do? First, check the bank account where you normally pay y...

Robin is an accomplished business leader, a great wife, mom, and friend, and now a Jeopardy! Champion too. She's humble, relatable, and serves up massive value. Five Key Takeaways First, if a direction is clear in work, business, family, or game show competition, go for it, even if you're scared. People regret the things they didn't do more than things they tried and failed. Second, Robin tells th...

Executive Life and Leadership Coach Itir Keskiner shares her thoughts on how and when coaching plays an important role in our lives. For more information, visit the show notes at https://Workpantsfinance.com/34

J.'s story highlights the benefits that come from not only participating in an industry, but also serving that industry. J found success as he curated content designed to support the personal finance bloggers. Key-takeaways are: First, if you're doing work that makes you miserable, get out, even if that work makes you money. Second, though J. ventures found success, he notes that 80% of his online...

Listeners call with their questions for Matt. Don't miss your invitation for the next listener Q&A event. Sign up at https://workpantsfinance.com/resources

What if you could cut your family's food, entertainment, clothing, and miscellaneous budget from $2400 to $1600 per month, just by switching the payment method from credit card to cash? That's what happened in the Miner family when we got serious about budgeting. And what if you could adopt this approach without handling physical currency? Amy and I discuss physical and virtual cash-envelope budge...

Today's show features new voices as listeners call in with their questions. For your invite to appear on the next Work Pants Finance Q&A show, sign up at workpantsfinance.com/resources .

The topic of kids and money is a key part of your life plan, let alone your financial plan. Teaching children to work, earn, give, save, and spend will give them dignity, agency, learning, and experience. It will make them more helpful to you, and more interesting to other adults they meet – including prospective employers and clients! You start with your beliefs about work and money: What are you...

My guest is my bride of 20 years, Charity Miner. She tells the story of how she got started on a homeschool career, why Charity and I believe this is the best education option for our family, and why homeschooling is more achievable than you think. If you'd like to exert control over your family's time and take vacations in may and late September, rather than July, or if you just want a glimpse of...

Want more orders in your business? Try asking customers and prospects to buy! Josh Miner, the 14-year-old Small Batch Homeschool Roaster brings solid wisdom for entrepreneurs of any age. For more information, visit the show notes at https://Workpantsfinance.com/27