The Human Revolution with Dylan Bain

If we want to take control of our financial lives and live free, it's crucial to separate the signal from the noise. Two topics that have been generating a lot of buzz recently are the M2 money supply and de-dollarization. But beyond the sensational headlines, how much do we truly understand these topics?   In this Friday episode of Fiscally Savage, Dylan discusses the M2 money supply and the fact...

In today's world, we depend on many things, from the electric grid that powers our homes to the cars we drive to go to our jobs. But emergencies and crises, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have shown us how vulnerable we can be when too dependent on external factors.    So, how can we become less reliant on these external systems? Can we even be completely independent of those systems? Bette...

Forget winning or losing. According to bestselling author Simon Sinek, the most important thing is to determine what type of game you're playing. And in life, there are only two: finite and infinite.   In today's episode, Dylan talks about the difference between finite and infinite games, how to recognize which game we're playing, and how we can apply the concept of the infinite game mindset to th...

Last Friday's episode laid out some of the major problems with taxation in the US. But with our tax system being what it currently is, what can we do about those problems?   In today's episode, Dylan breaks down tax brackets and federal income tax rates to give you a better understanding of how taxes work. He also provides key strategies you can use to make your taxes work for you.   Show Highligh...

Did you know that the average taxpayer in the US takes about 13 hours to do their tax return, that they pay over $200 for tax prep fees, or that if they want to call the IRS for help, they wait about 22 minutes on average to get through if they even get through at all?   These statistics offer a glimpse into just how convoluted and stress-inducing tax filing in the US is. And with Tax Day upon us,...

The great investor Warren Buffet once said, "Few aspects of human existence are more emotion-laden than our relationship to money." You might hear of friends or colleagues who hit it big in crypto or real estate and think you ought to do the same. But that's just your emotions (and need to fit in) talking.   Unfortunately, we can't stop having emotions, and we're simply hardwired to want to confor...

When it comes to making financial decisions, we often think of logic and reason. After all, money is about numbers, calculations, and profits. We like to believe that we make logical choices based on the information we have available, but that's not always the case.   Emotions, not logic, often dictate our decisions, and this is true for corporations as well. This is because they are run by people...

Investing can be fun and exciting. That doesn't mean it should be.    Like gambling, investing can be addicting, especially now that the ability to buy and sell is right at people's fingertips, no thanks to trading apps. But when it comes to building wealth, boring basics is the name of the game.   In today's episode, Dylan discusses investing, assessing your risk tolerance, and how you can build...

The US economy has repeatedly defied predictions of a recession in recent years, but the tumultuous aftermath of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse early this month has rekindled recession fears.   The collapse, which took down several other banks, is in part a rerun of a familiar story, one that highlights the importance of having adequate financial regulations.   In today's episode, we'll take a t...

It's easy to calculate your net worth. It's harder to figure out if you're on the right track to building wealth.   In today's episode, Dylan breaks down three friction points in chasing net worth and how we can tackle them to get our financial lives in order.   Show Highlights   [03:17] Why a very high net worth isn't always a good thing [08:23] Three friction points in chasing net worth [10:04]...

Swiss financial services company Credit Suisse is the latest victim of a new confidence crisis in banking. But its takeover by rival bank UBS didn't come of out the blue. It was the inevitable result of many scandals, failures, and disappointments.   In today's episode, Dylan talks about what happened to Credit Suisse. How did a bank with over 150 years of history collapse so spectacularly? What c...

The first step to staying on top of your finances is understanding where you are currently. A personal balance sheet can help you achieve precisely that.   But what exactly is a balance sheet, and how can you put one together?   In today's episode, Dylan walks you through creating a balance sheet so you can better plan your budget and set goals for increasing your net worth.   Show Highlights   [0...

The tech industry is facing yet another challenge as its go-to bank, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed last week. Once a major lender to VC-backed startups, SVB is now the second largest bank in US history to go under.   The bank's shocking failure immediately followed the collapse of Silvergate Bank, which served as one of the two main banks for crypto exchanges, along with New York-based Signa...

Budgeting is key to achieving financial independence, and at first glance, it seems like a simple solution to a complex issue. By understanding your monthly inflows and outflows, you can easily identify where you're spending too much and cut down on your expenses or you may decide to pursue a side hustle for extra income.   But as you go through the process of taking control of your financial life...

For humans to flourish, we need to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplish meaningful goals, and connect with others on a deep level. But if we want to discuss human flourishing, we need to first grapple with systemic issues that make us sick — suburban isolation, car dependency, and extreme individualism to name a few.   In this Friday episode, Dylan shines a light on the anti-human society we...

If your finances are a house, then your budget is its foundation.    Budgeting plays a key role in helping you achieve your financial goals, but creating a budget and living by it are two different things. It's easy to create a budget plan outlining your income and expenses for the month. The hard part is sticking to that plan day in and day out.   In today's episode, Dylan discusses budgeting and...

This week, the Supreme Court heard two cases challenging President Joe Biden's one-time student loan forgiveness plan. The plan, which will determine whether over 40 million people in the US can have up to $20,000 in debt canceled, has sparked conversations about whether it's fair just days after it was announced.   One important conversation you won't hear in the media, though, is how we ended up...

Creating and sticking to a budget doesn't have to be a daunting task. On the contrary, the process of taking a closer look at your spending habits and then making necessary adjustments can make you feel in control of your finances and help you save money to reach your financial goals. The only problem is many people don't know where to start this conversation.   In this episode of Fiscally Savage,...

On Feb. 3, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, igniting a fire that covered the town in smoke. The incident has since turned into a political football and spectacle — one that continues to generate headline after headline in the media.   If there's one thing you should take away from this, it's the idea that you can't rely on anyone to save you. It's in your best int...

Budgeting is one of the best tools you have to take control of your money, achieve your financial goals, and set yourself up for success. Unfortunately, it's not always a given. Many people avoid discussions about budgeting at all costs, mostly because they don't know where to start. Do they need to save money? Can they even save money? Should they invest it instead?   In today's episode, Dylan br...

From toxic clouds to record-high inflation, the barrage of bad news can push even the best of people into pessimism and dredge up some existential questions, like what gives life meaning? Why are we even here? What should we do with our lives?    These questions all circle around the notion of having a purpose — a reason to wake up, move forward, and find joy. Unfortunately for too many people, th...

Cons. Frauds. Scams. Whatever you call them, people have been falling for them since time immemorial. Though their means may change, scammers have always been with us and, unfortunately, are often successful in their ploys. But what makes scams so hard to resist and so easy to perpetuate in the first place?   In today's episode, Dylan talks about the idea that we have to be sneaky in order to make...

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an urban exodus. In the US, many city dwellers fled to rural and suburban areas after the pandemic hit in early 2020. Data from the US Census Bureau shows that many of them have stayed, putting down roots in smaller, more affordable cities and suburbs.   Despite that, rent prices continue to go up, even as the depopulated American downtowns of 2020 and 2021 see more...

It's easy to get caught up in the shiny promises of get-rich-quick schemes. After all, who doesn't want to become a millionaire overnight?   But the truth is there's really no fast track that will do all the work for you. If you truly wish to take control of your financial life and live free, you should stick to slow, "boring" solutions instead.   In today's episode, Dylan talks about get-rich-qui...

On Jan. 19, the US outstanding debt hit its statutory limit. With the clock ticking for the country to avoid a default on its debt, experts are sounding the alarm about potential disruptions to Social Security. But should we actually be concerned?   In today's episode of Fiscally Savage, Dylan explains what Social Security is, how it came about, and how it works. He also addresses some common talk...