Popcorn Finance

Welcome to the very first episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS, where we break down the numbers and the news in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn! This new Thursday episode is the News Edition of Popcorn Finance where I grab a fresh bag of popcorn and search the internet for the numbers that catch my eye and the personal finance news that I think you’ll want to hear. Today’s Number is 11...

What were the best and worst movies you watched in 2023? In early 2023 a friend challenged me to see who could watch the most movies released in 2023. So after watching over 70 films last year, I thought a fun way to kick off 2024 would be to throw a nice big bag of popcorn in the microwave and rank some of the best and worst movies of 2023. To make things more interesting I’m joined by Trashwire...

Who else made an overly ambitious list of goals for 2023? It’s that time of year again when social media is flooded with lists and round-ups of what everyone achieved and accomplished this year, but what about all the goals we didn’t manage to reach in 2023 - the failed goals? To make you feel less alone about your failed goals, Berna Anat, author of Money Out Loud, and I are sharing our failures...

When was the last time you had a money chat with your friends? Telling your friends that something isn't in your budget can be difficult, not to mention awkward. Erin Lowry, author and the personal finance expert behind The Broke Millennial book series joins me to discuss how to open up to friends about money and set healthy boundaries. Connect with Erin Instagram | Website | Twitter | Books Join...

What would you do if you received an extra $1,000 this holiday season? This week I’m joined by the internet’s favorite hype woman, Berna Anat and we’re answering a question from Derrick, a listener wondering what he should do with his Christmas bonus, put it in his savings, pay off debt, or something else. Connect with Berna Instagram | Website | Book Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/Po...

We are all looking for hacks to help us get better at managing our money. This week’s guest, Lisa Rowan, wrote a book compiling over 275 money hacks that she has collected over years of writing about personal finance. Today we are diving into a few of my favorites, including ways to limit impulse shopping at your favorite retail store or restaurant and a quick hack to help you make smarter spendin...

When do you think the Federal minimum wage was last changed? If you guessed over a decade, you’d be right, which is insane. Unlike other government numbers, the federal minimum wage is not adjusted based on inflation and so we’ve been sitting at the same number since 2009. So on today’s episode, I'm talking about the history of the federal minimum wage and what States across the country are doing...

Is putting a big down payment on a new car a good idea? A listener wrote in wanting to know the best way to approach her next car purchase. I spent waaayyy too much time in my favorite program (Excel!) creating a calculator to run through some possible scenarios. Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfina...

Will the way that retirement plans work be changing in 2024? This week I’m answering a question from Kurt, a listener who has heard about a few changes coming to retirement plans thanks to the Secure Act 2.0. Will new rules make withdrawals from 401(k) plans a little bit easier? What will be the tax impact of new employer matching rules?  This week let's talk through these details in more! Episode...

Can we use fear to make better financial decisions?? In today’s episode, we’re exploring working with our fears instead of against them to build a better financial life. Farnoosh Torabi, personal finance expert, author, and speaker, is back to discuss her newest book, A Healthy State of Panic, this book is part memoir, part guidebook on how fear can be a superpower. Connect with Farnoosh Website |...

Is keeping it simple really the best way to ensure I’m prepared for retirement? Why are we always looking for a more complicated solution to something when the simplest is often the best choice? That’s how I feel about investing, as does Jill Schlesinger, host of the Jill on Money podcast. This week Jill joins me to explain why there is no secret sauce to investing and why overcomplicating it coul...

Have you had to take money out of your 401(k) in order to keep afloat financially? It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that times are tough financially right now for a lot of Americans and a newly released report from Bank of America suggests that hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s are on the rise because of it. In this episode of Popcorn Finance, I wanted to share a bit more about what that data i...

What comes to mind when you read the term generation wealth? This term has been everywhere lately and honestly, up until recently it hasn’t sat right with me. The idea behind “generation wealth” just seems unrealistic and unattainable for the majority of Americans trying to survive amidst inflation, unaffordable housing, and so on. But, if there’s anything that I am more than willing to do, it is...

Can I contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) at the same time? A listener wrote in with this exact question so this week I'll break this question down and dive deeper in to what makes these plans different.   Have a Question? Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail or Call 707-200-8259   Connect with me Instagram - @PopcornFinancePodcast Twitter - @PopcornFinance Facebook - Popcorn Finance  ...

This week we hit 400 Episodes! To celebrate I'm answering a great question sent in by Sil whose brother has found himself in an annuity that he wants to move into his 401(k). In this episode I'll discuss whether or not this is even possible and four options for getting your money out of an annuity. Listen to Ep# 399 first before you listen to today's episode to learn all about annuities. Articles...

What is an annuity and is it something I should add to my retirement plans? This week Jill Schlesinger, CFP and host of the Jill on Money podcast, joins me to help explain the ins and outs of annuities and whether or not there is an actual use for them. Other episodes featuring Jill -  Ep.371, Ep.372, Ep.380, Ep.397, Ep.398 Connect with Jill Website | Twitter  |  Book Need an Advisor? Here's 13 Qu...

What exactly does a financial planner do? This week I’m answering another listener question with CFP and host of the Jill on Money podcast, Jill Schlesinger. We get into the nitty-gritty of when you should turn to a financial planner and when you can just handle things on your own. Other episodes featuring Jill - Ep.371, Ep.372, Ep.380, Ep.397! Connect with Jill Website | Twitter | Book Need an Ad...

Is investing supposed to be this hard to wrap my head around? I’ve been sitting on a backlog of listener questions and so for the next few weeks on Popcorn Finance, I’ll be answering your money questions with the help of my guest and personal finance expert, Jill Schlesinger. Jill is a certified financial planner CFP® and the host of the personal finance podcast, Jill On Money. This week’s questio...

What luxury item would you be willing to spend your hard-earned cash on? Have you ever been scrolling online and stumbled upon something that caught your eye, but then you saw the price and your immediate reaction was, "Ain't no way I'm spending that much!" That is the essence of this segment from my other podcast This is Awkward with my friend and cohost Allison Baggerly. Today we’re deep-diving...

How does money's emotional impact affect how we address our finances?   At first glance, personal finance can seem like a technical and unemotional topic, but in reality, it’s a subject that can stir up a lot of feelings related to trauma, shame, and guilt. To help discuss the broader effects our relationship with money has on our finances I’m joined by Paco de Leon, founder of The Hell Yeah Group...

Has tipping culture gotten out of control recently? We’ve always had a strong tipping culture in the U.S. but recently the conversation surrounding tipping has gotten more heated. It would appear that I’m not the only one who has noticed an influx of businesses utilizing a tip prompt or option at checkout that never had that option beforehand. Hence, in today’s episode of Popcorn Finance, I'm shar...

Do I have to invest in every new stock or cryptocurrency in order to reach my retirement goals? The short answer is no. Investing doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. In fact, alarm bells should start ringing when you come across any investment advice that promises you’ll “get rich quick” with their fool-proof strategy. Hey Berna aka the internet’s financial hype woman and personal fina...

Would you rather have a perfect credit score or $100,000? Kevin Matthews, a former financial planner, joins me on the podcast today to discuss why credit scores are not the be-all and end-all and what other areas of our finances deserve just as much if not more attention. Connect with Kevin Website | Twitter  Buy Kevin’s Book – Burning to Blueprint: Rebuilding Black Wall Street After a Century of...

Why do Target Date Funds get such a bad rap? Investing educator extraordinaire, Amanda Holden is on the show to talk about the pros and cons of Target Date Funds and why you should consider investing in one. Additionally, Amanda shares what it takes to be a good investor, and spoiler alert, it doesn't involve day trading stocks. Connect with Amanda Instagram | YouTube Links Check out Amanda’s inve...

Is an income-driven repayment plan keeping you in debt longer? Nika Booth, student loan expert and creator of Debt Free Gonna Be is back on the show to talk about income-driven repayment plans. Are they your best option? Is the possibility of student loan forgiveness worth it?  Nika has a wealth of knowledge about student loans, so check out our other student loan episodes covering updates on Bide...