Motley Fool Answers
367 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 810 ratingsSaving, spending, planning — you've got money questions and we've got answers. Every week host Alison Southwick and personal finance expert Robert Brokamp challenge the conventional wisdom on life's biggest financial issues to reveal what you really need to know to make smart money moves. Send your questions to [email protected].
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Episodes
Introducing the new Motley Fool Money
December 31, 2021 16:48 - 1 minute - 1.45 MBWe have a new address, and I'm not talking post cards! Going forward you can catch Bro and Alison every Tuesday as part of the new Motley Fool Money podcast. Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect from the daily show, starting on January 5, 2022. See you there! Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Or find us on your favorite podcast app!
So Long, and Thanks for All the STOCKS!
December 21, 2021 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBIt’s the last episode of Answers (but don’t worry, we’re just moving to Motley Fool Money every Tuesday). We’ll reminisce on our biggest lessons learned over the last seven years and answer your questions, some financial, some festive.
Why So Sad, Portfolio?
December 14, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBMotley Fool Analyst Bill Mann joins us to talk about why the market is up but your portfolio may be down. We’ll share some big news and battle our online shopping demons. Pretty please take our survey on what you want to hear on the show! https://www.foolinsights.com/se/04BD76CC18830996
Meet Ted Benna, the “Father of the 401(k)”
December 07, 2021 12:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBTens of millions of workers contribute to 401(k)s, thanks to a benefits consultant who got creative with a 1978 law. That consultant, Ted Benna, joins us to talk about how he came up with the idea, how he got Uncle Sam’s seal of approval, and the ways that Wall Street have abused the 401(k). He also discusses his new book, “401(k)s and IRAs for Dummies,” including why he thinks Roths are over-sold and his recommendations for retirement plans for small business and the self-employed.
An Interview With Michael Kitces
November 30, 2021 12:00 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBThe financial planner’s financial planner talks Roths, asset location, and managing sequence of returns risk. He also tells the story of how he got into the financial advice biz, and offers some career-development and time-management advice.
Inflation Conflagration! Also, Bitcoin
November 16, 2021 12:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBAlison asks Bro 10 burning questions about inflation, including why it's so high, is it worse in the U.S., and what can be done about it — both nationally and in your portfolio. And Fool analyst Aaron Bush answers a listener question about choosing the new Bitcoin futures ETF over actual Bitcoin.
Your Investing Lessons, Finding a Financial Planner, and Eye-Popping I Bonds
November 09, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes - 32.1 MBAlison and friends share some investing lessons from listeners, Bro interviews Sheryl Garrett, founder of the Garrett Planning Network, about finding the right fee-only planner for your circumstances, and we answer a listener question about I bonds and their current 7.12% yield.
Crypto Scams, Finding Financial Harmony, and Selling Stocks
November 02, 2021 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBMotley Fool Analyst Eric Bleeker joins us with his advice to avoid getting burned when investing in crypto. Bro interviews Bill Schultheis, author of The Coffeehouse Investor's Ground Rules: Save, Invest, and Plan for a Life of Wealth and Happiness. And we answer your question on picking which stocks to sell when you need the cash to buy a home (or whatever, it’s none of our business).
A Chat With Morningstar’s Christine Benz
October 26, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBMorningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, who has twice been named to Barron’s list of "100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance," explains how she builds her model portfolios, how people should approach the long-term care conundrum, how to close the gender gap in finance, and what she learned from her “faux-tirement.”
Facebook in Your Portfolio? Achtung Baby!
October 19, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBWe’ll argue the bear and bull case for investing in Facebook with the help of Jason Moser and his alter ego. Robert explores a more holistic approach to evaluating your expenses with the help of financial planner Matt Trogdon. We’ll answer your question about capital gains taxes and include one too many U2 references.
Foolish Investing Lessons, Paying for College, and 401k Rollovers
October 12, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBFoolish analysts share the stock that taught them their biggest investing lesson. Bro interviews saving for college expert Mark Kantrowitz about… well, saving for college. And we answer your questions about options for rolling over your old 401k.
Thriving in a Time of Great Resignation
October 05, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBAmericans are quitting their jobs at record rates and we discuss how to thrive amidst this existential labor crisis. Bro explains the work to retirement ratio for saving enough and we’ll answer your question about building up cash in a frothy market.
Marshal All Your Resources for a Successful Retirement
September 28, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBWade Pfau is one of America’s top financial-planning experts and the author the recently published Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating the Important Decisions for Retirement Success. Bro talks with Wade about how to coordinate your portfolio, Social Security, home equity, insurance, and different types of accounts to create dependable income that lasts as long as you do.
A Bad Year for Chinese Stocks, Red Flags for Pyramid Schemes, and Asset Location
September 21, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBChinese stocks are down 14% so far this year, Motley Fool analyst Ben Ra joins us to explain why. The Ascent’s Brian Frey shares the buttery soft red flags of a pyramid scheme. And we answer Adam’s question on which types of stocks belong in which types of accounts.
Another Exceptional Year For Stocks
September 14, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBThe Motley Fool’s Chief Investing Officer shares his latest thinking on the market, get more out of your spending with Values Based Budgeting, and we answer Ken’s question on when to take Social Security.
Why It’s Expensive to Be Poor, Gauging your Retirement Readiness, and The World’s Best Sister
September 07, 2021 11:00 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBWe’ll unpack how banking and managing your money can be much more expensive to do when you’re poor. Bro interviews Roger Young of T. Rowe Price about determining whether you’re saving enough for retirement. And we answer a question from a generous sister.
Risky Retirement Business
August 31, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBThe National Retirement Risk Index measures how many Americans will be able to maintain their standard of living after retirement. Are you at risk? We'll find out today as Bro goes right to the source, with special guest Geoffrey Sanzenbacher from The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.
Who’s Afraid of Hipster Antitrust?
August 24, 2021 11:00 - 22 minutes - 21 MBAlison explains hipster antitrust and wonders how we should feel as investors and consumers, Bro shares the five rules for the Roth five-year rules, listener David asks how to choose what to sell under the 4% Rule.
From the Vault: How to Negotiate Anything
August 17, 2021 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBBack to vault! In this episode, then-CFO of The Motley Fool (now Managing Director of Motley Fool Ventures), Ollen Douglass, joined us to share his advice for how to negotiate your bills (and more!). Alison was mean to a vegan for no good reason while Dayana Yochim shared etiquette for splitting the dinner tab.
From the Vault: 5 Ways Your Brain is Sabotaging Your Money
August 10, 2021 11:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode from the vault, Morgan Housel joined us to talk about how to keep your emotions from sinking your wealth. We also discussed recent (lol, 2015!) allegations about Amazon’s toxic workplace culture.
From the Vault: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bonds
August 03, 2021 11:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBWe’re visiting the Answers vault and dusting off this fan favorite episode featuring Steve Broido. The original man behind the glass joined us to talk about the basics of bonds, including bond funds and his particular fondness for municipal bonds.
July Mailbag of Moser
July 27, 2021 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBMotley Fool Senior Analyst Jason Moser joins us to answer your burning questions about STOCKS! Including dividend stocks, spicy stocks, stocks about to be acquired, and the completely-not-scientific-but-still-handy Gardner-Kretzmann Continuum (and more!)
Travel Hack Your Way to a Cheaper Vacation ...
July 20, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.2 MB...And then send us a postcard! Dan Miller, founder of the Points With a Crew blog, joins us to talk about travel hacking and how you can cut vacation costs by maximizing your credit card points.
Think You’re Too Smart to be Scammed? Think Again.
July 13, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBRon Lieber with the New York Times is back to talk about some of the most common scams in current circulation and why younger people are more susceptible to falling for them.
Life Insurance for Fun and Profit
July 06, 2021 11:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBOkay, we’re kidding about the fun part. But Joe Perna with Motley Fool Wealth Management joins us to talk about everything you’d want to know about life insurance including who needs it, how much, what kind, possible tax benefits, and more.
June “But It’s a Dry Heat” Mailbag
June 29, 2021 11:30 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBJenn Thomas with Motley Fool Wealth Management joins us to answer your questions on how much you need to live that sweet FIRE life, building up (and where to stash) your emergency fund, whether tis nobler to invest or pay off student debt or your mortgage, and much more.
When and How to Get Financial Advice
June 22, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBHow can you find a professional who works on your terms, and at a reasonable price? Sean Gates of Motley Fool Wealth Management joins us to discus the choices.
How to Choose the Right Broker or Robo-Advisor
June 15, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBWhat differentiates one firm from another? Matt Frankel, who reviews discount brokers and robo-advisors for The Ascent (a Motley Fool company), breaks down the important criteria. And Alison digs into the research about how working from home affects productivity.
The Delusions Of Crowds With William Bernstein
June 08, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBAre we living in the End Times? Again? Are we falling for a financial bubble? Again? Author William Bernstein is here to expose the roots of human irrationality and the cost of mass mania. Plus, Alison teaches us the poetry of yogababble.
6 Myths About the FIRE Movement
June 01, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBDiania Merriam, founder of the EconoMe Conference and host of the Optimal Finance Daily podcast, debunks common misconceptions about the Financial Independence/Retire Early movement. And Alison blames everyone and their mortgage broker for skyrocketing home prices.
May-be it’s the May Mailbag Episode! (It Is.)
May 25, 2021 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBWe just can’t get enough of Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger as he helps us answer your questions about SPACs, Variable Universal Life Insurance, maximizing accounts, hopes for Gen X, and more.
Eight Ways to Rescue Your Retirement
May 18, 2021 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBIt’s not too late! Brian Feroldi joins us to lay out the steps you can take to supercharge your savings. Also, Alison explains why the environmental impact of Bitcoin isn't just a bunch of hot air.
The 6 Habits of a Rule Breaker Investor
May 11, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBThe Motley Fool Co-Founder and Chief Rule Breaker, David Gardner, is back to share his 6 Habits of a Rule Breaker Investor and Bro reconsiders retiring after age 67 (wait, what?!).
Six Traits of a Rule Breaker Stock
May 04, 2021 11:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBMotley Fool Co-Founder and Chief Rule Breaker, David Gardner, joins us to share his investing philosophy and the traits he looks for in a Rule Breaking company.
April Mailbag With a Couple of Goofballs
April 27, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBLongtime Motley Fool analyst Tim Beyers joins us to discuss how much to invest in one stock, whether to invest a lump sum all at once, accounts for kids, and which types of options strategies are most Foolish.
The State of Real Estate in the United States
April 20, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBMatt Argersinger, senior advisor for Motley Fool Millionacres, joins us to talk about how Covid-19 has impacted residential and commercial real estate and offers his advice for homeowners and investors going forward.
Get Ready to Live to 100… If the Robots Don’t Take Over First!
April 13, 2021 11:00 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBThe authors of The New Long Life: A Framework for Flourishing in a Changing World discuss how individuals, corporations, and governments should be preparing for increasing longevities, accelerating technological innovations, and the end of retirement as we know it. And Alison takes on the debate over whether index funds are good for the economy.
The Deets on SPACs
April 06, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBBill Mann joins the show to explain the nuts and bolts of SPACs as we take Euphonium Industries public.
March Mailbag Mayhem with Megan
March 30, 2021 11:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBWith the help of Motley Fool Wealth Financial Planner and tax expert, Megan Brinsfield, we’re answering your questions about finding or becoming a professional financial planner, using your stimulus check to jumpstart your kid’s retirement savings, and lots of tax stuff. (No actual mayhem ensued.)
J. Money Brings Sexy Back to Your Greenbacks
March 23, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBThe founder of Budgetsaresexy.com tells the tale of how he became a successful financial blogger (and millionaire), and also discusses his latest project, AllStarMoney.com. And Alison provides the ABCs of NFTs.
There’s an App for That
March 16, 2021 11:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBWhether you’re learning to budget, looking to geek out on your investment returns, or wondering if you’re on track to retire early, there’s an app, tool, or website for that. We’re joined by a couple money nerds at The Motley Fool with their personal reviews of tools like Mint, Personal Capital, various retirement calculators, and more.
Protect Your Retirement Accounts From Uncle Sam
March 09, 2021 12:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBBro interviews tax expert Ed Slott about his latest book, “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb.” Also, can using an app influence your financial behavior for the better?
Climate Change and a Net Zero Economy
March 02, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBIf BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and The Motley Fool CIO Andy Cross agree that climate change is the most important trend to watch in investing, then it must be worth talking about. Motley Fool Analysts Alyce Lomax and John Rotonti share their advice for investors.
February Chill Mailbag
February 23, 2021 12:00 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBMotley Fool Analyst Emily Flippen joins us to tackle your questions including investing with your emergency fund, calculating your savings rate, when to rebalance outsized positions, and more.
Morgan Housel on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
February 16, 2021 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MBMorgan is back to discuss the most important lessons from his book, “The Psychology of Money” – and how they’ve informed the way he manages his family’s finances.
Morgan Housel Explains It All
February 09, 2021 12:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBMorgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money, joins us to share his takeaways amidst the GameStop fracas, Bezos stepping down as Amazon CEO, and this seemingly never-ending party in the stock market.
What Will College Really Cost?
February 02, 2021 12:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBNew York Times columnist Ron Lieber joins us to discuss his latest book, The Price You Pay for College. And Alison answers an old question with new research: Does money buy happiness?
The Super Bowl of Mailbags
January 26, 2021 17:55 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBMotley Fool analyst Ron Gross joins us to answer your questions about how many stocks you should own, what makes a 401(k) stink, what to do when your spouse wants you to sell all your stocks, and much more.
What a Year! What Should You Do Now?!
January 19, 2021 12:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBMotley Fool Chief Investment Officer Andy Cross joins us to look back at 2020, offer suggestions for newer investors, and provide his thoughts on comparisons of today’s market to the dot-com bubble.
You Say You Want A Resolution?
January 12, 2021 12:00 - 48 minutes - 44 MBBro pulled some strings and got both Megan Brinsfield and Sean Gates to join us and talk about what they're doing, what they're not doing, and what you should consider doing to improve your finances in the new year. Plus, Alison tries her two hands at telling it like an economist.