Popcorn Finance

Andy Phillips, a Director at The Tax Institute at H&R Block, is back for a bonus episode to discuss some of the things that can cause a delay in your tax refund this year. Today's bag of popcorn is brought to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by visit https://PopcornFinance.com/HRBlock    Check out our full conversation on Youtube https://youtu.be/T60-Hv1jrag   Have a Question?...

This tax season has been full of questions. It doesn't help that calling the IRS means hours on hold. This week I'm joined by Andy Phillips, a Director at The Tax Institute at H&R Block, to learn more about why the IRS is so difficult to get a hold of and the impacts of the changes to the Child Tax Credit. Check out our full conversation on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance  Today's b...

It's tax season yet again and millions of Americans will be receiving a tax refund. But what should you do with all that cash? This week I'll break down three things that you can do with your tax refund to get your finances moving in the right direction.   Check out This Is Awkward using the link below https://www.awkwardpodcast.com    Have a Question? Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voice...

Parent guilt is a very real thing and can be even worse when you throw in your financial situation. This week I’m joined by Allison Baggerly to discuss a question sent in from a listener who is concerned that the “small” amount of money they are able to save for their child’s future isn’t enough. She wants to know, does this make her a bad mom? Check out This Is Awkward using the link below https:...

The cost of love, is it increasing with inflation? This week the Editor in Chief of TheBalance.com, Kristin Myers, joins me to break down some stats that show just that. We’ll discuss the rising cost of dating in 2022 and what things will be more expensive this Valentine’s Day.    Today's bag of popcorn is brought to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by visit https://PopcornFina...

It feels like we hear about inflation every single day and many of us have felt its impacts in our daily lives. You may have heard that this high inflation was only supposed to be temporary, but it seems to be sticking around. This week I’ll dive in to some factors that are causing this persistent inflation and also what this means for mortgage interest rates.   Today's bag of popcorn is brought t...

How do you maintain a strong credit score after paying off all of your debt? A listener wrote in wanting to know the answer to this question. This week I'll answer this question and break down what goes in to your credit score calculation.   Today's bag of popcorn is brough to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by visit https://PopcornFinance.com/HRBlock   Have a Question? Send m...

Personal finance hot takes, the internet is full of them. This week I'll tackle a particularly bad hot take with my This is Awkward cohost Allison Baggerly. Check out the full conversation from episode 43 of This is Awkward! https://www.awkwardpodcast.com/43-you-arent-working-hard-enough Today's bag of popcorn is brough to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by visit https://Popco...

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.   Today's bag of popcorn is brough to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by visit https://PopcornFinance.com/HRBlock   Grab a copy of Wallet Activism at https://bookshop.org/a/2450...

Does even thinking about the tax code overwhelm you? In today's episode a listener wrote in to ask how they could contribute to a Roth IRA even though their tax status prevents them. I walk through the details of the little known backdoor Roth IRA and how it can be used to get that amazing tax savings.   Today's bag of popcorn is brough to you by H&R Block! Get 20% off your online tax filing by vi...

It's a brand new year, should we be setting financial goals? Goal setting is a great practice so I want to help you out with 4 unique goals that you can add to your list for 2022. Have a Question? Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail   Connect with me Instagram - @PopcornFinancePodcast Twitter - @PopcornFinance Facebook - Popcorn Finance   Come Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube....

This is the time of year when everyone shares the many goals they achieved during 2021. That's not what we're doing on Popcorn Finance this week! This week I'm joined by the amazing Berna Anat to discuss all of the goals that we failed to achieve this year. Because it's great to talk about what we've accomplished, but it is so freeing to share our failures! Connect with this week’s guest! Check ou...

Many of us would like to make a differrence through donating, but it can often feel daunting to find the right place to give. Tanja Hester, author of Wallet Activism, joins us once again to help us understand the best ways to donate.   Giveaway Details! To enter to win 1 of the 2 copies of Wallet Activism I am giving away, just send me an email to Questions@PopcornFinance.com or send me a DM on in...

What do you do when you find out your partner spent more on a gift than they should have? This week we are getting awkward with this story from This is Awkward, the other podcast I cohost. A listener wrote in to get our advice after receiving a gift from her husband that he clearly overpaid for. Should she tell him that he overpaid and return the gift or should she let him think he got a great dea...

Purchasing a home is a huge financial milestone, but that doesn't mean that it is right for everyone. This week I am joined by Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez to discuss our thoughts on why renting can be a great financial move and the pressure so many of us feel to become homeowners. Connect with this week’s guest! Follow Stefanie on Instagram @stefanieoconnell  Listen to Money Confidential https://...

I think we would all like to make a positive impact on this world, but often it can difficult to know how. This week I'm joined by Tanja Hester, author of Wallet Activism, to learn how we can use the money we earn to make real lasting change. Connect with this week’s guest! Follow Tanja on Instagram @OurNextLife or check out her amazing work at https://ournextlife.com Grab a copy of Wallet Activis...

It is so easy to become overwhelmed with what feels like a never ending stream of new stocks and cryptocurrencies to invest in. But, what about the boring old foundational concepts of personal finance? Are you neglecting those for a chance to “get rich quick”? This week I’m joined by the one and only Berna Anat to break down why it’s important to bring our finances back to basics before we start t...

Should you merge finances with your significant other or keep everything separate? There’s nothing like a little financial weight being lifted when you decide to share living expenses with someone! That being said, is it smart to still keep a small stash of your own coin? I was recently a guest on KFI AM640 where Kelvin Washington and I discussed finding a happy medium.  Have a Question? Send me a...

Are you already overwhelmed with the thought of spending money this holiday season? If so you're not alone. This week I'm joined by Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief of https://TheBalance.com, to discuss how you can best prepare yourself and your finances for the upcoming holiday spending rush.   Today’s Bag of Popcorn is brought to you by Capitalize! Visit https://PopcornFinance.com/Capitalize to ge...

Would you rather have a perfect credit score or $100,000? This week I’m joined by Kevin Matthews to discuss why we sometimes place so much emphasis on the credit score and what other areas of our finances we should treat with just as much, if not more, importance. Today’s Bag of Popcorn is brought to you by Capitalize! Visit https://PopcornFinance.com/Capitalize to get free expert help rolling ove...

Do I build up my emergency fund or pay down my debt? This is the question so many of us are faced with so in this week’s episodeI'll break down the cost of saving versus paying down debt and how you can make the best decision for your finances.   Today’s Bag of Popcorn is brought to you by Capitalize! Visit https://PopcornFinance.com/Capitalize to get free expert help rolling over your old 401(k),...

Why would you choose to work with a professional to help with your financial planning? In today’s episode, I’m back with Caleb Silver of Investopedia to discuss why our financial lives are so much more than just our investments.   Today’s Bag of Popcorn is brought to you by Capitalize! Visit https://PopcornFinance.com/Capitalize to get free expert help rolling over your old 401(k), 403(b), and 457...

Are mutual fund fees hidden or just hard to find?  One thing is for certain, the information on them is printed extra small! In this week’s episode, Caleb Silver of Investopedia is back to discuss the different types of mutual fund fees, how much of your returns go towards paying fund managers, and how to choose a mutual fund that makes paying fees worth it. Thanks to Regina for sending in the gre...

Is there a one size fits all solution?  In last week’s episode, we discussed the topic of our social security system running out of money, and today I’m back discussing some possible solutions to the issue. Some ideas are more popular than others, and some carry less risk. If you’re curious about what the future holds for your own golden age, be sure to check out this episode.   Have a Question? S...

Are you concerned that Social Security won’t be there for you in the future? It’s understandable if you are with the latest news from the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees report. The Social Security program is projected to exhaust its trust by 2033. Find out what this means for the future of the program and why the program is struggling in this week’s episode. Have a Question? Send me...