finance
Named Best Personal Finance Podcast by Bankrate.com and Kiplinger — and the only podcast the Plutus Awards retired from competition after winning twice — The Stacking Benjamins Show is personal finance that doesn’t put you to sleep. Hosts Joe Saul-Sehy (former 16-year financial advisor, ex-WXYZ-TV “Money Man”) and Josh “OG” Bannerman, CFP (Certified Financial Planner, Bannerman Wealth) sit around the card table in Joe’s mom’s half-finished basement in Texarkana and talk money with the smartest guests in personal finance, investing, and behavioral economics. As Fast Company wrote, the show “strikes a great balance of fun and functional.” Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: expert guests, real headlines, listener questions, and Doug’s trivia. Topics include investing, retirement planning, budgeting, real estate, behavioral finance, taxes, and financial independence — for anyone who wants to be smarter about money without being talked down to. Subscribe to The 201 — the free newsletter t
Guest Todd Havens argues that most people's financial struggles stem from their thinking, not a lack of money. He shares his personal journey from deep debt and a cancer diagnosis to becoming a first-generation millionaire, emphasizing that a shift in mindset is key to building wealth and living a fulfilling life.
Co-host Joe recounts a personal financial misstep: putting his honeymoon entirely on credit cards. This experience led to significant debt and a feeling of remorse, highlighting the danger of believing one 'deserves' luxuries they cannot yet afford.
Todd Havens, a guest on the show, overcame significant financial and personal challenges to achieve success. He entered his journey with over $60,000 in student loan debt and a diagnosis of incurable cancer, turning these adversities into a powerful motivation for change.
Retirement success is not solely dependent on the amount of money saved, but rather a holistic approach encompassing five key factors, according to retirement expert Wes Moss. He emphasizes that while financial security is important, community, socialization, health, and purpose are equally crucial for a fulfilling retirement.
Retirement expert Wes Moss suggests that true retirement readiness is less about a specific age and more about reaching a point where work becomes optional. He notes that some individuals may achieve this 'optional work' status several years earlier than commonly assumed.
Wes Moss categorizes retirement financial readiness into 'zones' based on liquid investable assets and corresponding happiness levels. He identifies a 'red zone' for those with $100,000 or less, a 'neutral zone' from $100,000 to $999,000, and 'green zones' starting at $1 million, where happiness levels significantly increase.
Former Planet Money hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith have launched a new podcast titled "Business History." The show will explore significant ideas, people, and companies throughout business history, including both positive and negative examples.
The Stacking Benjamin's show discusses using the concept of 'friction' to encourage saving, drawing on a Wall Street Journal article. They suggest that while technology removes friction from spending, individuals should intentionally create friction for beneficial financial behaviors, such as saving for retirement.
During Financial Action Month, the hosts of The Stacking Benjamin's Show emphasized the importance of making saving for retirement easy by automating the process. OG suggested that having contributions come out of a paycheck automatically is a key strategy.
USP is emphasizing the reliability of its Grounded Advantage service, ensuring secure nationwide network, door-to-door tracking, and affordable upfront pricing. This service aims to remove uncertainty for businesses by guaranteeing dependable logistics.
Indeed is promoting its Sponsored Jobs feature as a solution for small businesses struggling to find quality talent. The service boosts job posts in search results to reach candidates meeting specific criteria, with payment only for results.
During a game show segment, Paula Pant asked the Magic Eight Ball if she would continue staying at Holiday Inn for the foreseeable future. The Magic Eight Ball answered affirmatively, stating 'Yes, it is certain.'
The hosts reflected on a previous discussion about financial advice from 2020, noting that what was considered sound then may not be applicable today. They suggest that good financial planning involves continuously reassessing rules rather than just memorizing them.
The podcast mentions a forthcoming discussion about Robinhood, noting its phenomenal advertising while also highlighting that some hosts, like OG, are not fans. This indicates that even strong advertising doesn't always translate to universal approval.
The Buffalo Bills' new stadium is reportedly facing criticism for poor sightlines and small video screens. Joe Sal-See-high mentioned that the screens are reportedly "tiny little screen, big as your iPhone," and listeners may already be complaining about the new facility.
The Boston chapter of the Stacking Benjamins group has adjusted its meeting times and dates to be more accommodating. They have moved from 6-7 PM to 6:30-7:30 PM and from the second to the third Wednesday of the month, with one member noting the change helps accommodate a school teacher's schedule.
Maya Corbic's Wealthy Kids Club has expanded to include families, not just kids, in its financial education efforts. The club helps families budget, manage money, and pursue financial goals, with Corbic noting that her Instagram videos, while aimed at kids, also educate parents who didn't learn these concepts growing up.
A former financial advisor, now running a company called $100k Advice, suggests that optimizing one's life requires a strict and non-ambiguous approach. The advisor believes there is 'no room for gray areas' when aiming for self-improvement.
Doug shared an anecdote about trying to 'optimize' his late-night snack habit, specifically eating cereal. He attempted to make it colder by adding ice cream, but concluded this was 'over optimization' that did not work.
Jesse Krabbers mentioned that a planned mid-October hiking trip to the Adirondacks in upstate New York could be risky due to the potential for snow and ice at higher elevations. He expressed a desire to avoid hiking on an icy mountain.
Len Penzo returned to The Stacking Benjamin Show to present his 18th annual sandwich survey, a method he uses to measure inflation. He started the survey 18 years ago to compare the cost of making his children's lunches at home versus buying school lunches.
In Len Penzo's latest sandwich survey, salami has risen to become the third least expensive sandwich for a brown bag lunch. This marks a significant increase from its previous position as the seventh least expensive in 2024.
The BLT sandwich has consistently held the title of the most expensive option in Len Penzo's annual sandwich survey for 18 years. Despite its cost, Penzo notes it's still a relatively healthy option.
Len Penzo shared a recent finding that school lunches and breakfasts are free for all children in California, regardless of income. He questioned the quality of these free lunches compared to homemade options.
Dr. Jordan Grummet (Doc G) discusses the dysfunction in the healthcare system, highlighting how doctors' business incentives, driven by insurance company payments, can conflict with patient advocacy. He suggests that patients need to be their own advocates, stay informed, ask questions, and vote with their dollars by choosing healthcare providers who are willing to prioritize patient needs.
Dr. Jordan Grummet (Doc G) explains that the healthcare system is burdened by defensive medicine, costing $40-50 billion annually. This practice, driven by fear of malpractice suits, leads to doctors ordering more tests and procedures than necessary, which ultimately increases costs for both the government and insurance companies, and thus for patients through taxes and premiums.
Dr. Jordan Grummet (Doc G) provides statistics on medical malpractice lawsuits, stating that approximately two-thirds of cases are dismissed before trial, and 8 out of 10 cases that go to court find in favor of the physician. He notes that the likelihood of a patient winning a malpractice suit is less than 10%, and even then, over 40% of the award goes to the lawyer.
Doug shares a personal anecdote about the difficulty in obtaining cost information for medical services, highlighting a receptionist's inability to provide an estimate until after the service is processed through the computer. This lack of transparency in healthcare pricing is a recurring issue, with some patients reportedly receiving bills years after treatment.
Built, a loyalty program, has introduced three new credit cards (Platinum, Obsidian, and Blue) that allow homeowners to earn rewards on mortgage payments. As of 2026, these cards enable users to earn up to 1.25 times points on mortgage payments, in addition to rent payments, which can be redeemed for travel, Amazon purchases, and other benefits.
Whatnot, a live shopping platform, is highlighted as a place where sellers can build thriving businesses by connecting with repeat customers. The platform supports various categories, including collectibles, electronics, and fashion, and claims sellers on Whatnot sell ten times more than on other marketplaces due to the engaged audience that spends over an hour a day on the app.
Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need A Budget (YNAB), argues that the key to ending money anxiety isn't necessarily a tighter budget or more complex spreadsheets, but rather understanding the purpose of one's money. He suggests that asking 'What's the money for?' is more effective than retrospectively tracking expenses like 'Where did my money go?' because it focuses on future intentions.
Jesse Mecham believes that budgeting can be transformed into an art form to make it more enjoyable and effective. He posits that shifting from tracking past spending to understanding future financial goals can alleviate money worries and lead to a greater sense of control.
Built has announced new credit card options that allow homeowners to earn rewards points on their mortgage payments. The Palladium, Obsidian, and Blue cards offer accelerated point earning on housing payments, which can be redeemed for various rewards including airline miles and hotel stays.
The hosts discuss the importance of conducting a mid-year tax checkup for the 2026 tax year, emphasizing that waiting until April to make tax decisions is too late. They advise listeners to gather their 2025 tax returns and current year income information to forecast potential tax liabilities and identify areas for adjustment.
Doug shares his approach to managing tax documents, favoring a digital file folder for new documents and a physical Manila folder for the few paper records received. He humorously notes the lax security of his digital files, with a password of 'password' and a numerical password of '123'.
OG outlines the crucial information needed for tax planning, starting with the 2025 tax return as a baseline. This includes current year pay stubs and income earnings to forecast year-end income, and a review of tax-related activities such as charitable contributions, property taxes paid, and any capital transactions or conversions.
Joe breaks down the tax forecasting process into four key elements: projecting full-year income based on past and current performance, estimating deductions and credits, calculating expected tax liability, and tracking taxes already paid. This holistic view helps in identifying potential tax surprises.
Dr. Daniel Crosby announced the upcoming release of the second edition of his book, "The Behavioral Investor," set for October 16th. The book will explore the relationship between money, the brain, and decision-making, focusing on common behavioral biases.
Joe Saul-See High raised the concern that people may not be worried enough about how their own brains can sabotage their investment plans. He highlighted this as a key topic for discussion on the show, contrasting it with concerns about AI.
Joe Saul-See High mentioned that Jason Zweig wrote an article in The Wall Street Journal about the "games" people play with their investments. This article serves as a point of reference for the show's discussion on behavioral finance.
The "Coalition for an Insurable Future," a non-partisan group of experts in business, finance, real estate, and risk management, approached the "The Stacking Benjamins Show" to discuss the home insurance crisis. The coalition aims to address the economic fallout from increased natural disasters and unpredictable weather impacting insurance pricing.
The show features Bob Litterman, a renowned expert in risk pricing, known for co-creating the Black Litterman Model used widely in the financial industry. Litterman, who previously spent 23 years at Goldman Sachs and chaired the CFTC's subcommittee on climate-related market risk, will discuss how markets misprice risk, particularly in the context of homeowners insurance.
The current homeowners insurance crisis is exacerbated by increasingly frequent and severe weather events like hurricanes and forest fires. These unpredictable weather patterns are forcing insurance companies to re-evaluate how they price risk.
Justin Bear, a senior writer for the Wall Street Journal, discussed the unique ownership structure of Fidelity, a company that has been controlled by the same family for generations. Unlike many of its peers, Fidelity remains privately held, allowing it to maintain a distinct corporate culture and avoid the pressures of public shareholders.
Justin Bear detailed the history of the Johnson family's ownership of Fidelity, starting with founder Edward Johnson Sr. The company has been passed down through three generations, with Abigail Johnson currently at the helm. This family control has allowed Fidelity to maintain its private status and unique culture.
Justin Bear noted that while Fidelity employees can become wealthy, they may not achieve the same level of wealth as those at publicly traded companies. This is attributed to Fidelity's private ownership structure, which influences compensation and equity options.
Joe highlighted that Fidelity's status as a privately held, family-controlled company allows it to avoid the constant pressure from shareholders and Wall Street to maximize profits and growth. This enables the company to maintain its long-standing culture and ownership structure.
The Stacking Benjamins Show is launching a new initiative called "Financial Action Month" next month, which follows their "Financial Literacy Month." The show aims to encourage listeners to take tangible steps towards improving their financial situation.
CBS business analyst and host of the Jill on Money podcast, Jill Solesinger, will join The Stacking Benjamins Show to discuss why spouses who "take care of" all financial matters can create problems. She will offer advice for situations where a partner refuses to learn about money.
Christie Talarico from Brightside Financial Care will appear on The Stacking Benjamins Show to discuss how workplace benefits and education can impact the stress caused by a person's money situation. The conversation will focus on solutions for individuals struggling with financial stress.
The Social Security Trustees report indicates the retirement trust fund may be unable to pay full benefits by late 2032 if Congress takes no action. The "Promise Act" is discussed as a potential legislative vehicle to force debate and votes on solutions, though it does not specify the solutions themselves. Hosts Joe and Doug highlighted the urgency for Congress to address the issue.
Joe and Doug emphasized that beyond legislative action, individuals should focus on maximizing their own Social Security benefits to avoid common mistakes. The podcast aims to provide guidance on personal financial strategies related to Social Security.
Ethos was highlighted as the number one no-medical exam, instant life insurance provider by Business Insider as of March 2025. The company boasts a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating on Trustpilot with over 3,000 reviews.
Aquacure, a countertop water purifier, is promoted for its ability to remove 84 contaminants, including chlorine, lead, and microplastics, through a four-stage reverse osmosis system. The company claims 98% of customers report drinking cleaner, safer, and healthier water.
The podcast discusses the source and reliability of financial advice, sparked by a Wall Street Journal article about a family using their 17-year-old as a financial advisor. The hosts and guests explore where individuals can most effectively find trustworthy advice that can genuinely change their perspective and influence their actions.
Roger Whitney, host of the Retirement Answer Man show, explains that the goal of retirement planning is not solely about accumulating more money, but about creating a fulfilling life. He emphasizes that retirement planning should be a means to an end, enabling individuals to live well, rather than becoming a self-serving exercise or a 'safety blankie'.
Joe Sal C highlights Granola, an AI-powered notepad designed to improve meeting efficiency. He explains that the tool integrates with video conferencing, automatically transcribing and generating notes, allowing users to focus on the conversation rather than frantic typing. This aims to impress colleagues with note-taking capabilities and improve overall focus.
The podcast features listener testimonials praising Quince for its quality linen clothing and home goods, specifically mentioning comfortable pants, shirts, and sheets. One listener reported a hole in their linen sheets due to dogs, and Quince replaced them quickly and free of charge, highlighting their strong customer service.
Paula Pant weighs in on the discussion of financial advice by posing a clarifying question about what constitutes 'getting advice'. Joe Sal C clarifies that it means receiving something motivational and specific enough to change perspective and service. This leads into a broader discussion about how to reliably find good advice that can change one's life.
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