The Money School

We know you probably love getting your tax refund, but news flash: you shouldn’t. Today, Nicole explains.

Today on The Money School, Nicole tackles one of the most powerful — and most misunderstood — plays in retirement planning: the Roth conversion. Moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA can save you a staggering amount in taxes over the course of your retirement, but get it wrong and you're stuck with an unnecessary tax bill you can't undo. Nicole breaks down exactly what a Roth conversio...

Nicole gives a listener advice on what to do about taxes if you filed for unemployment last year, and debunks Dave Ramsey’s statements that people collecting the stimulus check are "screwed." Nicole says: You are not screwed. From This Episode: Report your unemployment benefits on your Federal Tax Return, which will say “Form 1040”. You’ll need Form 1099-G, which you should have received from your...

529 plans have been around for decades, but recent legislation just made them significantly more powerful — and most families still aren't taking full advantage. Today, Nicole breaks down everything you need to know about 529 plans: how the tax-free growth works, what qualifies as an expense now (spoiler: it's way more than just college tuition), and the strategic moves that can turn a single cont...

he financial media wants you to believe you need to be a stock-picking genius to build wealth. You don't. Today, Nicole breaks down the boring-but-proven investment strategies that have consistently built wealth over decades — and explains why most of what you see on social media about investing is designed to mislead you. Nicole walks through the real math behind dollar-cost averaging (spoiler: $...

Think you need a fat paycheck before you can start investing? That's one of the most expensive myths in personal finance — and today, Nicole breaks down exactly why. She walks through the real data: 38% of American households own zero stocks, and the number one reason people give is believing they don't have enough money. But in 2026, the minimum to start investing at most major platforms is liter...

You've seen the headlines about rate cuts, rate pauses, and Fed chair nominations — but what does any of that actually mean for your wallet? In this episode Nicole breaks down how the Federal Reserve works, what the latest rate decisions mean for your credit cards, mortgage, and savings accounts, and what the upcoming leadership transition from Jerome Powell to Kevin Warsh could mean for your mone...

Have you ever looked at a stock and thought, "I want to buy that… but where do I even start?" In this episode Nicole walks you through the entire process from A to Z — from opening a brokerage account to researching and picking a stock, understanding the difference between order types, and knowing exactly what happens when you hit that buy button. Whether you're placing your very first trade or ju...

Want to invest like the best? Today, Nicole shares tips from three of the greatest investors of our time: Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett, and Michael Burry. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Have you ever wondered how Warren Buffett came up with his investment strategy? Today, Nicole pulls back the curtain. In this episode, Nicole breaks down how the investing pros create their investing theses, how they stress-test their own ideas, and three famous real-world examples that paid off. Then, Nicole will explain how you can create your own strategy— and how to easily execute on it... tod...

No cash? No problem! Today, Nicole explains the money moves that can help you make an all-cash offer on a home... even if you don't have the $! This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

If you get a raise, or take a distribution on a huge stock, or win the lottery, the first thing you do is celebrate. Obviously. The next thing you do is ask yourself: what do I do now? Or, better yet: what do I do now that will make this money grow into more money? That's what today’s Money Rehabber is asking herself, and Nicole helps her find answers.

Is renting really throwing money away? That is just one of the hot real estate topics Nicole gets into today with Paul Mark Morris— real estate expert and host of the podcast ⁠Radical Wealth Plan⁠. Nicole and Paul talk about whether now is a good time to buy, Paul's three rules of real estate and whether 1031 exchanges are as cool as they seem on TikTok. Plus, Paul also gives a masterclass in the...

Today, Nicole cracks the code to the million-dollar question. Literally. How much do you need to invest—and when—to retire with $1 million in the bank?

What happens if you contribute more to a Roth IRA than you’re allowed??? Asking for a friend. Today, Nicole spares a listener from fees galore.

Some retirement options (like 401ks) can only be funded with contributions from income. So where does that leave full-time parents and homemakers? Luckily, there is a solution. Nicole breaks down the retirement option every spouse not earning income needs to know, and even how to include it in a prenup.

That's right: Lorilyn Wilson is our new favorite CPA who makes taxes *actually* kinda fun. Nicole holds nothing back and asks all the burning tax questions people are normally too scared to ask: How can I get the most back on my tax refund? Are there any new tax credits this year I can benefit from? If I'm a business owner, can I deduct my clothes? If I mess up my tax return... will I go to jail?...

In 2023. 66% of Americans say that they plan on making a financial New Year's Resolution. But way too often, our resolutions set us up to fail. Here are five New Year's Resolutions that actually work.

Money Rehabber Mary reached out to Nicole with some questions on how her son, Sean, should use his savings to buy a car. Then, Ida hit, Sean was evacuated, and had to use his entire emergency fund. Nicole invited Mary and Sean on the show to talk about what to do next.

'Tis the holiday season and it’s… expensive. There are gifts to buy, family to see, and parties to attend. If you’re lucky, it’s an embarrassment of riches… that can also leave you totally broke. Today, Nicole gives you some fresh tips for saving money during the holidays.

Happy Open Enrollment, Money Schoolers! When you pick your health insurance plan, you're likely going to encounter FSAs or HSAs. Today, Nicole explains the difference between the two— and how to get the most out of both of them.

In today's Change Maker episode, Nicole sits down with Elaine Welteroth— award-winning journalist, a TV host, the former editor in chief of Teen Vogue, the author of the New York Times bestseller "More Than Enough," and overall wonderful gem of a human. This conversation is jam-packed with stories we can all learn from: how Elaine's stoop wedding helped her and her hubs snag their dream house, how...

For decades, the private equity world has been a velvet-roped party — only open to billionaires, pensions, and endowments. But that might be changing. This month, a new executive order made it easier for private equity (and other high-growth, high-risk assets) to land in your 401(k). On the surface, it looks like access. But Nicole breaks down what’s really going on behind the scenes… and why priv...

Nicole covers exactly how much should go toward your essential spending, what the heck you have to put toward retirement, and how much you get to spend on the fun stuff: vacations and bottomless-mimosa brunches.

Does talking about money stress you out? You’re not alone. Today’s Money Rehabber feels like his financial health would benefit from open communication about money with his friends and family… but [s/he] just can’t start the conversation. Today, Nicole helps him practice those conversations so that the real deal is easier.