Stocks

Ep. 036 - Weapons of Math Destruction with Cathy O’Neil

This week on the Better Off podcast it's yet another example of my geekiness. I love math and statistics...but I am nothing compared to the brilliant Cathy O'Neil. I have been a fan girl of Cathy's since discovering her blog, mathbabe.org and then hearing her on the Slate Money podcast.

This week on the Better Off podcast it’s yet another example of my geekiness.

I love math and statistics...but I am nothing compared to the brilliant Cathy O’Neil. I have been a fan girl of Cathy’s since discovering her blog, mathbabe.org and then hearing her on the Slate Money podcast. Cathy, whose New York Times bestselling book Weapons of Math Destruction is now out in paperback, is the ultimate math geek, but more importantly, she is one of the most thoughtful intellectuals that I have encountered.

Cathy’s resume is impressive: a Ph.D. in math from Harvard, a postdoc at the MIT math department, a professor at Barnard College, where she published a number of research papers in arithmetic algebraic geometry and then a short-lived stint on Wall Street, before she launched her consulting firm, ORCAA.

When I heard Cathy explain complicated topics and then read the hardcover edition of the book last year, I knew we had to have her on the pod. It’s such a fascinating read about how big data increases inequality and threatens democracy. From how teachers are graded to how policing strategies are developed to credit scores and health insurance...it’s going to blow your mind when you hear how algorithms (mathematical models), dictate so much of our day-to-day lives.

But what happens when these models are out of whack...opaque, unregulated and incontestable? Unfortunately, the already unlucky and struggling among us, get the short end of the stick. What can individuals do about these unproven mathematical equations?

As you’ll hear Cathy explain, it starts by asking some basic questions. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. It’s by far one of my favorites...so much so that there’s no call this week, just the interview.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

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"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Better Off BONUS call 029 - Retirement Planning

I loved this latest BONUS call from Brianne in Oakland, CA. Brianne wasn't looking to help herself...instead she got in touch with us because she wants to help her parents. For the last several years she has been trying to help them get their financial lives in order.

I loved this latest BONUS call from Brianne in Oakland, CA. Brianne wasn't looking to help herself...instead she got in touch with us because she wants to help her parents. For the last several years she has been trying to help them get their financial lives in order. Although she has made progress, there's still a lot of work to do. After this call I'm ready to give Brianne the "Daughter of the Year" award. I think her parents are very lucky to have her around.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

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"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

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#339 Why Wall Street Matters with William Cohan

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Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while longer to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 2 Download Hour One Here

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, we started the show with a quick reminder about flood insurance--and why most standard homeowners' insurance policies are not likely to cover thousands of victims of the storm.

We then spoke with Donna in New York, who had some questions about using a Roth IRA and whether or not it makes sense in her situation.  Next up may have been a first...in all the years we've been doing this I don't think we've ever had a call about a prenup.  Thanks to Stacy from Philadelphia there's a first for everything. Stacy is about to get married and she's wondering if she and her soon to be hubby need a prenup.  The interesting thing is that they're both on board with the idea.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Sept 2 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is devoted to defending Wall Street.  Yes, you read that correctly.

Imagine a world without companies like Apple, or media outlets such as CBS or NBC, without all of the cars and trucks crisscrossing the country, without food provided by the farmer...that’s what would happen if Wall Street did not exist...it would all go away, according to this week’s hour two guest, writer William “Bill” Cohan.

If you’ve read some of his previous books, like "House of Cards," or “Money and Power”, you know Bill is usually not one to shy away from going after Wall Street and its shortcomings. But in an interesting twist, Bill’s recent book, "Why Wall Street Matters," is a defense of the industry that he has previously pilloried.

In our interview, Bill describes a poor decision by Elizabeth Warren as the catalyst that propelled him to write this latest book. He tells us what Wall Street has done well, like providing the necessary capital to help grow companies. The money investors provide, allows companies to invest, expand and hire, thus propelling the economy.

Don’t be mistaken: Bill knows that Wall Street and the institutions that occupy the space in Lower Manhattan are imperfect, but he believes that there is far more good than bad -- and more importantly, the consequences would be dire if the essential role the industry plays were carelessly curtailed.

Bill had one goal when writing this book: for Wall Street to become understandable to the average American. In this easy to read book, Bill succeeded. I highly recommend you pick it up.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator in the World. Here's how to contact us:

  • Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

Ep. 035 - Strategies for Achieving Peak Performance

I'm going to let you guys in on a little secret. I'm a total nerd when it comes to the brain and behavior. Why we choose to do the things we do or behave in certain ways has always fascinated me.

I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret.  I’m a total nerd when it comes to the brain and behavior. Why we choose to do the things we do or behave in certain ways has always fascinated me.  

So a few months ago when today’s guest, Friederike Fabritius, was in town from Germany, I jumped at the chance to interview her.  

Friederike is a leading expert in the field of Neuroleadership. In other words, she’s also a total nerd when it comes to the brain and behavior. In her recent book, The Leading Brain: Powerful Science-Based Strategies for Achieving Peak Performance, she presents simple yet powerful strategies for:

  • Achieving the highest performance
  • Sharpening focus
  • Learning and retaining information more efficiently
  • Improving complex decision-making
  • Cultivating trust and building strong teams

Throughout the book, Friederike focuses on using solid scientific findings to develop new methods and practices for leadership development.  

With Labor Day upon us and the final quarter of the year in sight, you may want to pick up this book for both you and your colleagues so you can all strive to perform at your maximum potential.  

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

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http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Better Off BONUS call 028 - Financial Advisor

This week on the BONUS call we're going to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to chat with Diane from Portland, Oregon. Diane and her husband, in their early 40s, have some considerable assets and are now wondering if it's worth paying a fee to meet with a financial advisor.

This week on the BONUS call we’re going to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to chat with Diane from Portland, Oregon. Diane and her husband, in their early 40s, have some considerable assets and are now wondering if it’s worth paying a fee to meet with a financial advisor.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

https://twitter.com/jillonmoney

https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney

https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/ 

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

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#338 Hot Housing: How to Buy and Sell

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JSminibrand1.png

Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while longer to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Aug 26 Download Hour One Here

You know the deal...hour one is all about your calls and emails.  This week we started with Ray in Connecticut who had some questions about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and withdrawal strategies, as he approaches retirement.  Next up was Bob from San Francisco who finds himself in the awesome position of having over a million bucks sitting in the bank after selling his business and house.  With more money than he's ever had, he was looking for the best game plan going forward.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Aug 26 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is devoted to the housing market.  Prices are up, inventories are down which means the housing market is hot again. It’s not like the crazy days of 2005, but conditions are a bit frenzied. To prepare for what is likely to be the biggest asset purchase or sale you’ll make in life, we turn to Stephen Gasque, host of Real Estate Today, a weekly radio program presented by the National Association of Realtors.

One of the topics we spent some time on is the current inventory crisis (inventory has declined year-over-year for 26 consecutive months) and why it’s seemingly harder than ever for potential buyers to find and land the home they want. Why is the competition among buyers more intense than ever?

Some of the other topics we discussed:

-What are the most common mistakes people make when buying or selling? -What’s the most important step for a potential buyer? -How to successfully invest in real estate as a rental property -The future of mortgage interest deductions -Renting versus buying

If you’re planning on going to an open house this weekend, give this one a listen for some tips that could increase your odds of landing the house before you walk through the front door.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator in the World. Here's how to contact us:

  • Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE 

Ep. 034 - Stacking Benjamins: Earn, Save, and Spend Money With a Plan

I've been in the podcasting world for a few years now and one thing I've discovered is that the podcasting world really is like a small fraternity/sorority where hosts form bonds and even appear on each other's shows. We're no different. And this week we're doing it again with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

I’ve been in the podcasting world for a few years now and one thing I’ve discovered is that the podcasting world really is like a small fraternity/sorority where hosts form bonds and even appear on each other’s shows. We’re no different. And this week we’re doing it again with Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

I’ve been a guest on Joe’s pod so I figured it was time to return the favor. Just like me, Joe has a background in finance. He was a financial advisor for 16 years and represented American Express and Ameriprise in the media. He was also the “Money Man” at Detroit television WXYZ-TV.

Once he got the bug from listening to others, Joe decided he wanted to host his own podcast and now, just four short years later, it’s his full-time job.

  • What is it about Joe’s background and approach that has resonated with listeners?
  • Why don’t people want to talk about money?
  • What has Joe excited about where we are in the financial world?

Those questions and many others made for a very fun interview. You can find out more about Joe’s show on his Twitter page.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

https://twitter.com/jillonmoney

https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney

https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/ 

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Better Off BONUS call 027 - Asset Allocation

This week on the BONUS call we've got Ari from New York City. Ari, a physician, has been accumulating assets for several years and recently realized that the bulk of his money is in stocks. Now Ari is thinking his portfolio should be more balanced but he's worried about the tax hit if he starts moving things around.

This week on the BONUS call we’ve got Ari from New York City. Ari, a physician, has been accumulating assets for several years and recently realized that the bulk of his money is in stocks. Now Ari is thinking his portfolio should be more balanced but he’s worried about the tax hit if he starts moving things around.

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

Have a finance related question? Email us here or call 855-411-JILL.

We love feedback so please subscribe and leave us a rating or review in iTunes!

Connect with me at these places for all my content:

https://twitter.com/jillonmoney

https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney

https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/ 

http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-... 

http://betteroffpodcast.com/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

"Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com.

Should I Sell My Stocks?

Should I Sell My Stocks?

If during a two week summer vacation, you heard that there was an escalation of tensions between the US and Korea; two international terrorist attacks; a US domestic terrorist attack; a looming debt ceiling crisis; and political upheaval in the White House, you might think that US stock markets would be in free-fall. You would be mistaken. Although markets were down over the most recent fortnight, the damage was fairly limited—about two percent overall. Even with the recent declines, the S&P 500 remains 8.3 percent higher on the year and just 2.2 percent below its record high, while the NASDAQ is up 15.5 percent in 2017. Given these numbers, its not surprising that the most frequently asked question that I have fielded over the past month has been, “I can’t believe that market is doping so well, considering (fill in the blank)…SHOULD I SELL MY STOCKS?”

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#337 The Millennial Money Fix

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Yes, this is still here, and it will be for a while longer to serve as a reminder that there's a new place for Jill on Money content - YouTube!  Seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes it takes a little outside help (h/t to JOM friend, Joe A!) to recognize the obvious.  So don't freak out.  Going forward, we're going to put all our radio and podcast content on YouTube! It'll be easier for you to navigate and listen to past shows, because everything will be in one place.  Just click any of the links below and you'll be able to listen to this week's show as well as anything else you see that might interest you, including all the Better Off podcast content if you haven't been listening. Let us know what you think by emailing us at askjill@jillonmoney.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Aug 19 Download Hour One Here

Another week of more great calls and emails in the first hour. We started with Brandon in San Antonio who is looking to minimize tax hits that he and his wife are facing. Next up was Andrea from New York who is on the verge of paying off her student loans and a credit card...woo hoo!!  The final call of the hour was from Cheryl in Massachusetts who has a sneaky suspicion that her advisor is charging her way too much.

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST SHOW ON YOUTUBE

Aug 19 Download Hour Two Here

Hour two this week is for all our young listeners and parents out there.  Consider it our latest effort to provide a bit of financial education to our audience.

To help us out we're chatting with Douglas Boneparth, a fellow CFP® who specializes in helping millennials manage their financial lives.

Doug and his wife Heather co-authored The Millennial Money Fix, a just-released book designed to help the powerful generation learn the reasons for their financial problems and also presents solutions to those problems.

The Millennial Money Fix examines the complex challenges facing millennials, like their lack of financial education in school and at home, the rising cost of education and the insane amount of student loan debt many face upon graduation.

But all hope is not lost for our future leaders.  Throughout the book Doug and Heather walk them through a series of steps to make sure they start out on solid financial ground.  Some examples include:

  • Identifying honest and realistic goals.
  • Selecting and paying for a college or graduate program
  • Mastering cash flow to jumpstart your life
  • Navigating the job landscape to do what you love
  • Understanding investments, insurance and workplace benefits

With college about to start, you may want to stuff a copy of this book into that backpack.

Thanks to everyone who participated this week, especially Mark, the Best Producer/Music Curator in the World. Here's how to contact us:

  • Call 855-411-JILL and we'll schedule time to get you on the show LIVE