The Money School

Today’s caller is living the freelance dream—flexible schedule, creative freedom, but… zero employer retirement benefits. If you’re self-employed and wondering how the heck you’re supposed to save for retirement without a 401(k), this episode is for you. Nicole breaks down the best retirement accounts for freelancers, how to reverse-engineer your savings plan, and how to turn “irregular income” in...

Confidence in the U.S. is shaky right now—and with ongoing tariff drama and mixed economic signals, it’s no surprise investors are feeling uneasy. But here’s the thing: the U.S. is not your only option. Today, Nicole explains why looking beyond U.S. borders could be the smartest move for your portfolio right now. From “blue-chip” countries like Japan and Germany to emerging markets like India and...

Money School Students want to know: can you negotiate your rent after signing a lease? Be a fly on the wall as Nicole negotiates her rent with her landlord! Can Nicole get a better deal? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

Wannabe first-time homebuyers: How are you doing? Are you hanging in? If you are having a hard time, you are certainly not alone; it is not a simple time to buy a home. So this episode is all about helping you develop a game plan that is right for you. To help break this down, Nicole is joined by Scott Trench, real estate investor and CEO of BiggerPockets - a platform that offers various stellar r...

As Nicole always says: when it comes to your money, it's not what you make, but what you keep, that matters. Today, Pamela Maass-Garrett (the brilliant lawyer behind the Law Mother firm and viral Instagram account) teaches you how to keep more of your money with simple financial protection strategies. Check out Pamela's book Legally Ever After here: https://www.lawmotherco.com/lea-fbook

You’ve heard the old investing advice: “buy low, sell high.” But what if we told you that selling isn’t the only way to make money from your investments? Today, Nicole breaks down three easy, low-maintenance ways to generate income: bonds, high-yield cash accounts, and dividend stocks. Whether you’re looking to diversify your portfolio or just want your money working for you while you do literally...

Today Nicole answers the #1 question she's been getting lately: what do I do with my money when the economy gets shaky? Nicole shares the investments that have historically stood the test of time during recessions, and even thrived in high-inflation environments

Consumer confidence in the U.S. is shaky right now—and with ongoing tariff drama and mixed economic signals, it’s no surprise investors are feeling uneasy. But here’s the thing: the U.S. is not your only option. Today, Nicole explains why looking beyond U.S. borders could be the smartest move for your portfolio right now. From “blue-chip” countries like Japan and Germany to emerging markets like I...

There's a chance that inflation may rise at the top of next year. To prep, Nicole shares four inflation-proof investments to help your portfolio.

Happy Open Enrollment, Money Rehabbers! When you pick your health insurance plan, you're likely going to encounter FSAs or HSAs. Today, Nicole explains the difference between the two— and how to get the most out of both of them.

If you're not negotiating these three things, you're leaving money on the table. It's your hard-earned money, you might as well fight for it! Listen to Nicole negotiate with her credit card company here: https://link.chtbl.com/IFiJEybg

Last year, Nicole had a medical scare... which only got scarier when the bills started rolling in. Today, Nicole shares how she negotiated her medical bills and takes you behind the scenes of a real conversation she had with a medical provider.

Nicole has always opted for slow-and-steady investing versus hyped-up, get-rich-quick trading. But, there are trading strategies that are more calculated, and can almost act as an insurance policy against risk of losses. To give us the masterclass on these strategies and more is investing expert Dominique Broadway. All investment and trading strategies involve risk of loss. The content you hear on...

The very first step in making a successful retirement plan (yes, even before starting that IRA) is to know how much you’ll actually need for retirement. Today, Nicole answers a question from a listener about how the heck to make that prediction.

Nearly 1 in 10 adults in the U.S. owe significant medical debt, totaling $195 billion nationwide. Today, Nicole gives three tips to help you manage— or even cancel— your medical debt.

When Facebook went public, 88 employees saw the value of their equity exceed $30 million. That’s the dream right? But not only is this dream rare, it can actually turn into a nightmare if you don’t ask your company the right questions about your stock options. Today Nicole talks about how to protect yourself from this nightmare scenario with Tracy DiNunzio, a brilliant entrepreneur who built and s...

Asking for a raise is certainly an art. Nicole shares all her advice for mastering this art— from when to ask, what to say, and even what to bring with you to the meeting.

Your credit score is your financial report card... except, more important than your report card from school, because your credit score will play a big role in determining your mortgage. Today, Nicole explains how to show your credit score some love.

Like any good sponsor, Nicole can talk the talk because she’s been in Money Rehab herself. At one point, Nicole was in $5,000 of credit card debt. In this episode, she tells the story of how she faced that debt and got rid of it for good.

Nicole's DMs are open for questions, and the #1 question she gets isn't what to invest in... but how to invest. Today, she takes you through making your first investment, step-by-step, and leaves no stone unturned.

Nicole covers exactly how much should go toward your essential spending, what the heck you have to put toward retirement, and how much you get to spend on the fun stuff: vacations and bottomless-mimosa brunches.

Money Rehab: Essentials is the home of the most foundational Money Rehab episodes that break down the FAQ-financial topics. Think of it as your financial starter kit, packed with the episodes that are going to make the biggest impact on your wallet, your peace of mind, and your financial future. In this feed, you’ll hear hand-picked episodes from Nicole that tackle the core pillars of personal fin...