Money Guy Show

What does "wealth" look like to you? To some folks, just paying the bills would be wealthy. To others, you'd need to achieve your wildest dreams. The 5 Levels of Wealth help describe the steps to get from stability all the way to abundance. You'll learn exactly which level you fall into then give you actionable advice on how to get from one level to another. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump st...

Is a major investing app really offering sports betting? We clear up important information and showcase the differences between investing and gambling. After that, we answer your financial questions...and it is a doozy! From a contentious question about a houseboat to a follow-up on our dating app (Mutant Mingle) to Brian doing an impression of a car starting, we've got fun AND great financial adv...

We're back with another edition of Financial Advisors React, this time with some of the Internet's WILDEST money clips! From mind-boggling financial decisions to flat-out wrong financial advice to hilarious skits, these clips left our jaws on the floor. We still find a way to lead you the right way even through all of these chaotic videos (and the hot temperature of our office). ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We're back with a new edition of an annual favorite: Net Worth By Age! We take a look at the net worth of Americans at every decade by both average and median. Then we take a look at how much Americans have in terms of financial assets and compare that to our Money Guy Milestones. See how you stack up and if you are on track to reach your financial goals! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start...

How long does it take to save for a home? It depends, especially based on where you live! A recent report from Consumer Affairs ranks all 50 states by how long it would take the average American to save for a home down payment. We dive deep into the data and add on our Money Guy spin. Then we answer your financial questions - and celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Money Guy Show! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Danielle is a 33-year-old self-employed sign language interpreter earning $110,000 annually in the DC area. After building an impressive $181,000 net worth in just four years, she's experiencing severe savings whiplash, dropping from a 60% savings rate during COVID down to just 8% today. Inspired by the book Die with Zero and the Coast FIRE movement, Danielle wants to work less by age 37 and fully...

Investing is the cornerstone of building wealth and achieving financial independence, but costly mistakes can derail progress. We walk through five critical investing mistakes that can cost you both time and money. From waiting too long to start investing (the average American doesn't begin until age 33) to starting too soon (without proper financial protection), these missteps can dramatically im...

How much do you need to make to be "comfortable" in 2026? You already know our answer is, "it depends," but we have a new study that seems to have found the answer! We'll go through our takes on this study and what you can do to make your financial life comfortable. Then we answer your questions and maybe set up a new dating service? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journey with our F...

We are back with another react episode, breaking down content from some of our favorite financial YouTubers and creators. We react to content covering common financial traps that keep people broke, including lottery tickets (lower-income households spend an average of $412 annually), extended warranties that only profit retailers, buy-now-pay-later schemes that create debt cycles, and excessive ca...

Are you one of the 64% of Americans wandering through their financial life without a plan? We walk through each step of the Financial Order of Operations and reveal where the average American stands with some truly shocking statistics. From the 54% who can't cover three months of expenses to the 46% carrying high-interest debt, the numbers paint a concerning picture. The good news? Building wealth...

'Tis the season! In this festive Q&A, we share our thoughts about early retirement, starting with insight for aspiring FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and FINE (Financial Independence, Next Endeavor) followers. Then we turn our attention to your financial questions from investing mindsets to emergency funds to home buying. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journey with our F...

Nathyn (29) and Indie (29) might have a positive net worth, but their fears leave them feeling negative about their money conversations. Indie worries about the now, while Nathyn focuses on the future. We sit down to find the balance between both perspectives. From emergency fund to retirement savings to auto loans, we talk through their full financial picture. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump sta...

After nearly 50 years of combined experience managing people's finances through market highs, lows, triumphs, and tragedies, we are pulling back the curtain on the five most powerful secrets we've discovered about building wealth. These aren't complicated investment strategies or get-rich-quick schemes. These are fundamental truths that separate those who build lasting wealth from those who remain...

We're taking a look at finance trends in how people think about money based on a survey from YouGov (spoiler: there are some optimists out there). We then show the numbers behind what building wealth for each generation actually looks like. After that, we jump into our Q&A with a wide range of questions and our best attempt at a rapid fire format. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journ...

We are back with another hilarious react episode, breaking down some of the most interesting financial content circulating online. From fake finance TikTokers claiming to make "$3 trillion in 6 seconds" by watching "green line go up" to made-up investment jargon like "bifocal heritage savings trusts" and "septic IPAs," we share the importance of critical thinking when taking advice we see on socia...

We break down four popular financial rules that you might actually need to break to achieve true financial independence. From the myth of "buy low, sell high" to the outdated 10-15% savings guideline, we show you why conventional wisdom doesn't always lead to optimal outcomes. We reveal a fascinating case study comparing three investors from 1980 to 2024: Unlucky Olga (who invested at every market...

The Health Savings Account (or HSA) gives investors many great advantages, but the vast majority of Americans don't even have one. We'll walk you through the pros, the cons, and the steps to make sure your HSA is set for success in 2026. After showing how to make the most of this account, we answer your financial questions on everything from target date funds to home buying to college. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Carl and Laurel are crushing it with nearly $200,000 in household income and have already paid off over $100,000 in student loans. But like many young couples in their late 20s and early 30s, they're facing a critical question: should they continue aggressively paying down their remaining $110,000 in student debt, save for a house purchase, or shift focus to building wealth for retirement? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

You've heard us say it before and you'll hear us say it again: debt is chainsaw dangerous. While debt can be a useful tool to achieve your financial goals, debt can quickly become napalm to your financial future. We break down how much debt every generation of Americans has and look at exactly what types of debt are the largest. Throughout, we share got TONS of practical tips to implement in your...

Your net worth is one of the most important numbers to understand your financial picture. We're not talking back of the napkin math, we are talking about finding the exact number you're at right now to get a handle on where you're heading for the future. After that, we're answering your financial questions and that's right - it is a TUMBLER DAY! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journey wi...

We've got a rapid-fire, laugh-out-loud reaction to the wild money moves circulating online and a reminder that just because something sounds normal on the internet doesn’t mean it’s smart in real life. We unpack the hidden costs behind flashy decisions, the myths people tell themselves to justify them, and the simple principles that keep you from getting “rolled” financially. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

If you’re in your 20s and feel like you’re already behind, this episode is the reset you didn’t know you needed. We reveal the biggest mindset shifts and money traps that quietly shape the rest of your financial life and how a few smart moves now can change everything later. It’s equal parts motivation and game plan, with a fresh take on building wealth without missing out on life today. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

We've got new data that shows Gen X and Gen Z might be more similar than you think, especially when it comes to their financial fears. 54% of teens fall into this category and 52% of Gen Xers are seeing it become a reality. We'll walk you through how you can avoid it - then answer your financial questions! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

After a divorce cut her income in half, 45-year-old public defender Rachel joined us to reconfigure her financial life. Together, we unpack the low-interest mortgage she paid down, the generous giving goals she is pursuing, funding college for her kids, and a whole lot more. We talk through how a setback can reset your Financial Order of Operations, but your path to building wealth doesn't have to...

Your friends might look rich on social media, but what’s really happening behind the scenes? We walk through the visual, behavioral, and mindset signs of being secretly broke (in your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s) and contrast them with the habits of people who are quietly building real wealth. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...