Personal Finance Cat

In this podcast episode, I emphasize the importance of recognizing that personal finance is truly personal, and that popular advice from personal finance gurus often doesn’t fit everyone's unique circumstances. I share 5 pieces of prevalent personal finance advice that did NOT work for me at all, and I also share what would have worked with the 20/20 hindsight. 1. To become wealthy, you need t...

Value investing is a time-tested approach to investing, but it’s often misunderstood. Here are five common myths about value investing, debunked: Myth 1: Value investing is too hard. Many believe that determining a stock's intrinsic value is difficult. However, intrinsic value is based on the future cash flows a company is expected to generate. While this requires some analysis, the principle...

In my last YouTube video about Tesla, I was skeptical about investing in it. But after diving deep into the company, guess what? I changed my mind! The stock hit a 52-week low sometime this year, so I started buying shares between $140 and $180. Now, it's around $220 (July 30, 2024), so it’s been a decent profit so far, and I'm holding for the long term. I discuss three main reasons that m...

In this episode, I discuss a recent trip to China. In particular, I share my positive and "not so positive" experiences from this trip. To start with, the pros: 1. Modernity 2. Hospitality 3. Good customer service 4. Affordability 5. Delicious food Moving on to the cons: 1. Uncleanness 2. Lack of amenities 3. Crowdedness 4. Environmental pollution 5. Restricted internet access Overall it w...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed T.J. van Gerven, a millennial financial planner. T.J. discusses his journey and philosophy in financial planning, focusing on serving the millennial generation. Starting his practice in 2018, T.J. emphasizes transparency and tailored advice, distinguishing himself from traditional advisors who often sell financial products rather than providing genuine adv...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Randy Langenderfer, a former corporate executive turned full-time multifamily real estate investor. Randy shared his journey from the corporate world to multifamily real estate investment. A year ago, he left his corporate job to focus solely on multifamily investments, a journey that began a decade prior while working for the private equity firm, Carlyle...

✔️Summary:  In this episode, I interview Riggs Eckelberry,  President & CEO of OriginClear, Inc., who shares his diverse background, which includes international living due to his father’s career, work in the nonprofit sector, and a stint as a professional Merchant Mariner. He emphasizes that these experiences have given him a global perspective and a drive to use technology for positive chang...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Damion Lupo, the author of a book I purchased years ago on qualified retirement plan (QRP) after hearing him on the Bigger Pockets podcast. Damion appreciates the support and reflects on his writing journey, emphasizing that writing has helped him clarify his ideas rather than aiming for bestseller status. He has authored 12 books, with "Unicornomics&#...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Catherine Collins, a nationally recognized personal finance writer, editor, and author. Catherine began her journey by starting a blog during her graduate school years as a creative outlet. Struggling financially with a small stipend, she shared her budgeting techniques and thrift store decor tips on her blog. This initial venture gradually evolved as more...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Parker Pursell, CEO of eQRP Company. Parker, a graduate from Auburn University in 2013, started his professional journey in leadership and hospitality at Chick-fil-A, where he developed his core leadership philosophy: winning hearts before minds to ensure effective communication. His time at Chick-fil-A, combined with his family's business in hospitali...

✔️Summary:  In this interview, Byron shares his journey to founding his company CFOAF, which specializes in tax strategy and fractional CFO services. He explains his entrepreneurial background, driven by his realization that he was not suited to being an employee, leading him to start and run multiple businesses, some of which succeeded while others failed. His motivation to understand accounting...

✔️Summary: In this episode, Cary Prejean, CEO of Strategic Business Advisors (fka CFO Consulting LLC), shares his journey from working in accounting to founding his own company. He observed a lack of financial literacy among small business owners, hindering their ability to interpret financial statements and make informed decisions. This insight prompted him to educate and assist small businesses,...

✔️Summary: I normally do not interview traders but I have to say - Anmol’s track record and his approach to investing are very impressive. In the beginning of the interview, Anmol Singh discusses his philosophy and approach to trading, emphasizing systematic decision-making based on technical analysis. Anmol advocates for a balanced approach, incorporating both short-term trading for income and lo...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Mark Murphy, CEO at Northeast Private Client Group. Mark discusses his career journey in financial planning and wealth management, emphasizing the importance of serving others and creating value. He stresses the significance of focusing on passion, expertise, and serving a purpose. Mark advocates for a "who not how" approach, prioritizing collabora...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Miriam Castilla, founder of Magnetic Money®. Miriam starts the discussion with the benefits of yoga in her life, emphasizing how it helps her maintain clarity of mind and deal with stress, which is crucial for her business endeavors. She delves into the concept of wealth mindset versus mere income, highlighting how wealth provides freedom and options in co...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Scott De Long, a Ph. D. in education with a successful entrepreneurial background, who discusses his academic, business and life journey. Initially motivated to prove to his son that returning to school was feasible, he enjoyed the experience and pursued an Executive MBA at UC Berkeley. Later, he joined a leadership program at Chapman University, gaining n...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Tony Steuer, who discusses his financial education method, the Get Ready Method. He emphasizes the importance of educating yourself about financial products, asking questions, and being curious. He also talks about the different types of insurance products and how to choose the right one for your needs. Tony discusses the importance of financial literacy a...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Nate Armstrong, a multifamily real estate investor, who discussed his background and experiences. He talked about his entry into real estate after working at Target, starting with small rental properties. Nate described a challenging development project that led to financial strain, bankruptcy, and eventual success. He advised against large projects initia...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Shari, a virtual financial advisor, who talks about her background, experience, and approach in helping clients manage finances, especially focusing on millennials and those approaching retirement. Shari became a virtual advisor during the pandemic, finding that remote interactions were beneficial for clients’ comfort discussing finances. She highlights co...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Denise Thomas about navigating the complexities of higher education financing. Denise shares her personal journey of overcoming financial obstacles and ensuring her children could attend college without incurring debt. She emphasizes the societal expectations around college education, especially for families with college-educated parents or immigrant backg...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Maja Križan, a finance teacher, who recounted her entry into financial education, spurred by the 2008 economic crisis. This experience, which involved significant financial loss and a diminished trust in financial advisors, led her to educate herself and others on effective money management and crisis preparedness. Maja highlighted the necessity of disting...

✔️Summary: In this episode, I interviewed Sameera (Sam) Singh, a money mindset coach who started in this field due to personal financial struggles. She pursued multiple coaching certifications and developed her own methods and money personalities, which she plans to detail in an upcoming book. She defines "money mindset" as a combination of beliefs, feelings, and actions regarding money, e...

✔️Summary: In this interview, Dalene Higgins, the founder of Elevate Finances, discusses her journey from a city job with a pension plan to early retirement and her transition into the world of financial coaching. Dalene shares her motivation for early retirement and the importance of financial planning, especially for Gen Xers. She talks about the challenges she faced during her working years and...

✔️Summary: In this episode, Bob Hunter, the founder and CEO of consulting firm Oxford Pierpont, discusses his journey from being a corporate employee to becoming an entrepreneur. He highlights his journey of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, including facing unemployment due to health issues. Bob reveals that he started his consulting business out of necessity and had to adapt...

✔️Summary:  In this podcast episode, the guest, Tom Giusti, shares his own experiences working in the banking and mortgage industry for over 25 years and how he became a personal finance podcaster “by accident”. We delve into various topics including Tom's journey into the world of podcasting, personal finances, his professional background, and his book Game Changer. Tom talks about the inspir...