The Personal Finance Podcast

The average American spends over $900 a month on car payments for a depreciating asset. Here is how to stop and what to do with that money instead.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why paying cash for cars is not about being cheap but about buying your financial freedom back

The three specific methods Andrew uses to build up enough cash to never finance a car again

The 24/12/10 rule that protects you if you do have to finance and exactly what each number means

Why most people who say they will invest the difference never actually do and what happens to that money instead

How to build a mini portfolio that lets your assets pay for your vehicles instead of your paycheck

When it actually makes sense to keep fixing your current car instead of buying a new one

Q&A: Should a 27-year-old with $100K invested pay down student loans or keep investing?

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s Mentioned

Andrew’s Favorite Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/lp/iras/lp/best-iras-master-money?pcuid=oe09b73d1952&jump_from_embed=true&wafid=

Index Fund and ETF Cheat Sheet https://mastermoneyresources.com/index-fund-cheatsheet

Tool/s Mentioned

Car Buying Calculator https://mastermoney.co/how-much-car-can-you-afford/

Compound Interest Calculator https://expert-hustler-605.kit.com/aefaaad27e

Book/s Mentioned

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

The CashFlow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki

Watch Next

Reset Your Money Mindset, Get Out of Debt, Save for a House & Understand Credit Scores (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/JGoKB92rddo

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q

The Retirement Mistake 80% of Investors Make (with Vanguard's Lead Researcher) https://youtu.be/37zVUL0e2TE

How Much More Expensive Has Life ACTUALLY Become Since 2020? https://youtu.be/_n8qUA3NsoI

Chasing a Higher Savings Rate, Semi-Retiring in Our 40s & Rebuilding After Bankruptcy (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/OobdeA8qYbA

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

Are you currently paying off a car loan? Drop it in the comments and tell us what method you are using.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One episode packed with everything from debt payoff psychology to investing for a special needs child.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: ⁠https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21⁠

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why the debt snowball beats the debt avalanche for most people and how to use psychology to actually stick with your payoff plan

How a 49-year-old with a paid-off house and $525K invested should think about paying off a car loan vs staying invested

The Solo 401k strategy every self-employed freelancer needs to know about and why it blows every other account out of the water

How a railroad worker with a special needs child should structure their accounts to protect benefits and leave the right legacy

How to shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset when your finances are actually doing well

The package delivery text scam costing Americans $470 million a year and exactly what to look for

How credit scores actually work and the two factors that make up 65% of your entire score

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! ⁠https://mastermoney.co/join/⁠

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass ⁠https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21⁠

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! ⁠https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79⁠

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit ⁠http://Indeed.com/personalfinance⁠

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT ⁠http://wayfair.com⁠

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote ⁠http://policygenius.com⁠

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at ⁠https://www.chime.com/PFP⁠

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at ⁠http://www.monarch.com/PFP⁠

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp⁠ ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP ⁠https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/⁠

Resource/s Mentioned

Wallet Burst Coast FI Calculator: ⁠walletburst.com⁠

Episode/s Mentioned

Why Coast FIRE May Be The Perfect Strategy for You with Andy Hill ⁠https://mastermoney.co/the-personal-finance/why-coast-fire-may-be-the-perfect-strategy-for-you-with-andy-hill/⁠

How to Run the Numbers When You Buy a House! (Total Cost of Ownership!) ⁠https://youtu.be/80_EAuZYz7Y⁠

Watch Next

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) ⁠https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q⁠

The Retirement Mistake 80% of Investors Make (with Vanguard's Lead Researcher) ⁠https://youtu.be/37zVUL0e2TE⁠

How Much More Expensive Has Life ACTUALLY Become Since 2020? ⁠https://youtu.be/_n8qUA3NsoI⁠

Chasing a Higher Savings Rate, Semi-Retiring in Our 40s & Rebuilding After Bankruptcy (Money Q&A) ⁠https://youtu.be/OobdeA8qYbA⁠

The Best and Worst Frugal Habits (Ranked!) ⁠https://youtu.be/_FKJfAjTi-I⁠

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ ⁠https://mastermoney.co⁠ ⁠

Instagram → ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco⁠ ⁠

X → ⁠⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco⁠ ⁠

TikTok → ⁠⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco⁠ ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340⁠ ⁠

YouTube → ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠⁠

Question for you:

What is the one area of your finances you feel like you finally have figured out and the one area you are still working on? Drop both in the comments below.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government just created a brand new account that hands your kid $1,000 in free money from birth. Here is everything you need to know before you miss the window.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

What Trump accounts actually are and why they work like a traditional IRA in a costume

Who qualifies for the $1,000 government seed and the $250 Dell gift and how to claim both

The $5,000 annual contribution limit and the business owner loophole most people do not know about

The tax catch that catches most parents off guard and how to plan around it

The Roth conversion window that could get your kids millions in completely tax-free retirement money

When a custodial Roth or 529 is actually the better move than a Trump account

The exact steps to open one today and what Andrew is personally doing for his own three kids

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!

https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass

https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here!

https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s Mentioned

Master Money Blueprint https://mastermoneyresources.com/master-your-money-blueprint

Watch Next

The Retirement Mistake 80% of Investors Make (with Vanguard's Lead Researcher) https://youtu.be/37zVUL0e2TE

How Much More Expensive Has Life ACTUALLY Become Since 2020? https://youtu.be/_n8qUA3NsoI

Chasing a Higher Savings Rate, Semi-Retiring in Our 40s & Rebuilding After Bankruptcy (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/OobdeA8qYbA

The Best and Worst Frugal Habits (Ranked!) https://youtu.be/_FKJfAjTi-I

She Hit Rock Bottom and Still Built a Six-Figure Life. Here's How. (With Rebecca Whitman) https://youtu.be/wBACCFI2w5s

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

What is your plan for building wealth for your kids right now? Drop it in the comments and tell us if Trump accounts could be part of that plan.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanguard just released research showing the most important factor in retirement is not how much you saved. It is how much you withdraw every single year and most people have no idea what that number should be.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why your retirement balance is not what determines success and what actually does

How reducing your withdrawal rate by just half a percent can add up to five years to how long your money lasts

Why longevity is actually a bigger risk to your retirement than a stock market crash

The default account withdrawal order that can cut your lifetime tax bill by 14%

When Roth conversions actually make sense and the specific window most retirees completely miss

How dynamic spending and guardrails let you spend more in good years without blowing up your plan in bad ones

The one thing Vanguard says people five years from retirement should change immediately

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!

https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass

https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here!

https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s Mentioned

Vanguard’s Research Library - https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/what-we-think/investing-insights/research-library.html

Vanguard’s Retirement Income Research Paper - https://corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/research/pdf/vanguard_principles_retirement_income.pdf

Episode/s Mentioned

This is THE BIGGEST RISK to Your Retirement Portfolio https://youtu.be/7gXKEy66-bA

Watch Next

How Much More Expensive Has Life ACTUALLY Become Since 2020? https://youtu.be/_n8qUA3NsoI

Chasing a Higher Savings Rate, Semi-Retiring in Our 40s & Rebuilding After Bankruptcy (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/OobdeA8qYbA

The Best and Worst Frugal Habits (Ranked!) https://youtu.be/_FKJfAjTi-I

She Hit Rock Bottom and Still Built a Six-Figure Life. Here's How. (With Rebecca Whitman) https://youtu.be/wBACCFI2w5s

How do Your Finances Compare by Age?! (Salary, Debt, Net Worth, Credit, Home) https://youtu.be/Z10g-yd76nk

Connect with Garrett

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrett-harbron-j-d-cfa-cfp%C2%AE-867647a

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

After hearing this episode, what is the one thing you are changing about how you think about retirement income? Drop it in the comments and tell us what you are doing differently starting this week.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That $100 you had in 2020 only buys $77 worth of goods today. Here is exactly how much more expensive every single category of your life has become since then.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why the 29% inflation number feels like a lie and why it actually is for most households

How home prices rose 53% and why today's buyer finances $100,000 more than six years ago

The grocery items that got hit hardest and why your personal food inflation is higher than the average

Why the average new car payment is now $750 to $940 per month and how to win with cars instead

How childcare now costs more than in-state college tuition in 38 states

The insurance categories quietly draining your budget without you even noticing

What actually got cheaper since 2020 and how to use it to your advantage right now

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!

https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass

https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here!

https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Tool/s Mentioned

Total Cost of Ownership Calculator https://mastermoney.co/total-cost-of-ownership-calculator/

Auto Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/h1ba429e808a

Episode/s Mentioned

Is the American Dream Dead? (With Freddie Smith) https://youtu.be/3Ivz8Ts9J2o

The Insurance Crisis Nobody Is Talking About (With Bob Litterman) https://youtu.be/gBuIOQKQgFM

Watch Next

Chasing a Higher Savings Rate, Semi-Retiring in Our 40s & Rebuilding After Bankruptcy (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/OobdeA8qYbA

The Best and Worst Frugal Habits (Ranked!) https://youtu.be/_FKJfAjTi-I

She Hit Rock Bottom and Still Built a Six-Figure Life. Here's How. (With Rebecca Whitman) https://youtu.be/wBACCFI2w5s

How do Your Finances Compare by Age?! (Salary, Debt, Net Worth, Credit, Home) https://youtu.be/Z10g-yd76nk

How to Retire in 10 Years or Less! https://youtu.be/nStwD03vJ64

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

What is the one expense in your life right now that feels completely out of control compared to just a few years ago? Drop it in the comments and tell us what you are doing about it.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices