#706: Q&A: The Case for NOT Paying Off Your Student Loans
In this episode, hosts Paula Pant and former financial planner Joe Salcihai dissect a listener’s dilemma about whether to use a $20‑$25K inheritance to pay down $90K of federal student loans that are currently in forbearance and accruing 6.8% interest. They frame the decision as a CFO‑style trade‑off between preserving short‑term cash flow—critical given uncertain future repayment plans and potential payment spikes—and optimizing long‑term interest costs. While acknowledging the emotional pull of debt payoff, they advise keeping the cash as dry powder until the Department of Education’s pending plan changes are clarified, then consider a hybrid approach of partial payoff plus refinancing to secure a manageable payment schedule.
#701: What Retirement Planning Gets Wrong with Jamie Hopkins
In this episode, host Paula Pant talks with retirement expert Jamie Hopkins about why the traditional "retirement number" and the 4% rule are misleading. Hopkins emphasizes focusing on the income needed for your desired lifestyle, accounting for changing expenses, sequence‑of‑returns...
#699: Nir Eyal: The Four Questions That Can Change Any Belief
In this episode, Nir Eyal challenges common notions of motivation, arguing that it’s driven by the desire to escape discomfort rather than the pursuit of rewards. He explains why visualizing only desired outcomes can backfire, introducing the concept of mental...
#698: Q&A: Should You Pause Retirement to Buy a Bigger Home?
In this episode, Paula Pant and former financial planner Joe Salcihai dissect a listener’s dilemma about whether to curb retirement savings to fund a larger home purchase. They walk through the math, confirming the couple can meet a $200K down‑payment...
#696: Q&A: Should Your Emergency Fund Be Invested?
In this episode, Paula Pant and former financial planner Joe Salcihai answer a listener’s question about the optimal size and placement of an emergency fund. They explain that the right fund size depends on personal risk tolerance and capacity, such...
#692: Q&A: My Brother-in-Law Wants to Buy a Rental in Mexico. Good Idea?
In this episode, Paula and former financial planner Joe dissect a listener’s question about a brother‑in‑law who wants to buy a three‑unit Airbnb property in Mexico and live in one of the units. They stress the importance of separating personal...
#690: Q&A: Should My Teen Go to College?
In this episode, Joe and Paula examine whether a college degree is a worthwhile investment for a teen, breaking down ROI by field, the non‑financial benefits of higher education, and the growing cultural shift toward alternative pathways. They advise parents...
#687: First Friday: The Retirement Rules That Changed While You Weren’t Looking
In this First Friday episode, host Paula Pant reviews the economic landscape of January 2026, highlighting a 2% S&P 500 pullback, a near‑10% Bitcoin drop, and a cooling labor market with job openings falling to 7.6 million. She discusses the surprise nomination of...
