by Marcus | Feb 14, 2019 | Blog, Personal Finance
This Black History Month we’re highlighting young men and women of color making history in the present. Enter the motivational couple behind Pennies to Wealth, DJ and Dannie. At one point they owed more than $90,000 in student loans, credit cards, and other debt....
by Marcus | Feb 12, 2019 | Podcast
Sometimes you secure the bag. Sometimes you fumble it. On this episode, we talk about how to pick it back up and tumble it. References Mentioned in this Episode: Personal Finance ToolsTiller – The only spreadsheet templates powered by an automatic feed of your...
by Marcus | Feb 5, 2019 | Podcast
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or off social media you have heard about Fyre Festival by now. #SpoilerAlerts – The Fyre Festival was a failed “luxury” music festival scheduled to take place April 28-30 and May 5-7 2017 on the Bahamian island of Great...
by Marcus | Jan 31, 2019 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to or join our weekly newsletter for career advice, debt free planning, interesting articles and receive our free 15 Minute Money Plan: 15 Minutes Can Change the Next 15 Years. Our prosperity as a...
by Marcus | Jan 29, 2019 | Guests, Podcast
Maximizing your work time, free time and family time is key for living a successful and fulfilling life. However, many people don’t know how to set a schedule or create systems that allow them to maximize productivity and spend their most valuable time on their most...
by Marcus | Jan 29, 2019 | Blog
If you ever want to start a fight on the internet randomly ask the public audience, “is it better to rent or buy?” then sit back and enjoy yourself. Things will escalate quickly. Typically, both parties are right for the wrong reasons, but the internet...
by Marcus | Jan 24, 2019 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to or join our weekly newsletter for career advice, debt free planning, interesting articles and receive our free 15 Minute Money Plan: 15 Minutes Can Change the Next 15 Years. God Almighty...
by Marcus | Jan 22, 2019 | Blog
Advertiser Disclosure In January 2019, JPMorgan Chase hosted the second annual National Savings Month. The National Savings Movement started as an effort to support employees, customers, and millennials along their journey to financial fitness. Moderated by Keosha...
by Marcus | Jan 15, 2019 | Guests, Podcast
College is a time when young men and women are faced with real money management for the first time in their adult lives. They’re trying to pay rent, pay bills, buy books and have some fun along the way. Debt can pile up quick. This was the case for Steven Hughes, the...
by Marcus | Jan 15, 2019 | Blog, Personal Finance
The next industry Millennials “destroy” is ourselves and the burnout will be televised. According to an annual Deloitte Survey, almost half of Millennials are unhappy at their current job and plan to quit/switch to nontraditional work within their career....
by Marcus | Jan 8, 2019 | Podcast
Today’s episode is all about fresh starts. We’re a week into the New Year and the guys are shifting their energy to focus on new personal, career and podcast goals. These aren’t New Years Resolutions, they’re intentions. In this episode Rich and Marcus recap 2018 and...
by Marcus | Jan 8, 2019 | Blog
I joined Pure Financial’s Your Money, Your Wealth with Alan Clopine, CPA, AIF and Andi Last, Media Manager, to discuss 4 Simple Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions using strategies that helped me break down my financial goals into manageable pieces as I achieved...
by Marcus | Dec 31, 2018 | Blog
If you want objective information from people who are informed on the subjects they’re writing about, we recommend these newsletters as a great way to quickly get information on personal finance, money and debt management, investing and more delivered directly...
by Marcus | Dec 25, 2018 | Blog
Our goal at Paychecks and Balances is to help Millennials make money, save money, and get out of debt. We had another great year including several interviews with informative guests and subject matter experts in personal finance, investing, and money management and...
by Marcus | Dec 18, 2018 | Podcast
Rich and Marcus take a quick pause for the cause to highlight our favorite moments from 2018 and the top three downloaded episodes in our final episode of 2018 before welcoming a great guest. We look forward to expanding and continuing to bring great content to the...
by Marcus | Dec 18, 2018 | Blog, Personal Finance
If you want to learn more about personal finance, money management, investing, and debt reduction these are the experts you should immediately follow. View all of our feature guests here, or drop your other money faves for the community and the culture in the comments...
by Marcus | Dec 12, 2018 | Guests, Podcast
Leigh Phillips joins us on the podcast. She is from EARN.org. EARN is a national, award-winning nonprofit. They work at the intersection of financial technology and economic inclusion to empower low-income Americans to take charge of their financial lives. In this...
by Marcus | Dec 11, 2018 | Blog, Money
In my behind-the-scenes interview with YahooFinance: 4 Tips to Increase Your Salary — thank you to the CBS News Pannel and former guest Jeanie Anh (PB81: Don’t Leave Money on the Table ft. Jeanie Ahn) — I was asked to share seven tips that helped increase my salary...
by Marcus | Dec 4, 2018 | Entrepreneurship, Guests, Podcast, Work
Setting your kids up for financial success is the goal of every parent. In order to do this, you need a strategy and you have to start early. Tanya Van Court is the founder of Goalsetter, the best platform for helping kids and families save money for things that are...
by Marcus | Dec 4, 2018 | Blog, FinGoals
When it comes to debt management, you don’t have to go big to go home. In fact, starting a small debt snowball might be the key to your success. According to an analysis by Chase Bank, on a credit card balance of $2,000 “just by sending an extra $10 for a total...
by Marcus | Nov 27, 2018 | Guests, Money, Personal Finance, Podcast
Rianka Dorsainvil is the founder and CEO of “Your Greatest Contribution” or YGC. Rianka is a Certified Financial Planner who has works with multi-generational high earners and low-income families. Rianka created YGC after realizing her mission didn’t align with the...
by Marcus | Nov 27, 2018 | Blog
When do you reach financial independence? It depends on your financial goals, but below is a quick breakdown of the movement, its pros, cons, and why similar to democracy, FIRE may be the best worst form of financial independence to pursue, except for all of the...
by Marcus | Nov 20, 2018 | Blog
Advertiser Disclosure Rich and I finally got (broke?) into the 800 FICO Credit Score Club! It took a lot of hard work and research. We researched anything we could to help us get more information to help us. We also found out a load of not so relevant stuff like how...
by Marcus | Nov 13, 2018 | Guests, Podcast
Today’s episode covers all things credit: how to build credit, how to raise your credit scores, and how to find the best credit cards for you. FICO is releasing new criteria aimed at helping people with poor credit called The UltraFICO™. This new scoring model is for...
by Marcus | Nov 13, 2018 | Blog, Guests
In our humble opinions, we joined Mandi Woodroof (PB46: Magnify Your Money ft. Mandi Woodruff) and Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche (From $300,000 in Debt to The Live Richer Academy ft. The Budgetnista – PB102) for the greatest podcast crossover of the...
by Marcus | Nov 6, 2018 | Guests, Podcast, Work
Kwame Christian re-joins Rich on the podcast (PB21: The Negotiator ft. Kwame Christian). Kwame was one of the first guests that appeared on Paychecks & Balances. Kwame is a business lawyer by trade and the Director of The American Negotiation Institute. His...
by Marcus | Oct 30, 2018 | Entrepreneurship, Guests, Podcast, Work
How do I get a million dollars in my trading account? That’s the financial question Jason asked himself when he was just 20-something years old. We told you to dream big and set big goals when thinking of your financial independence, and Jason Brown is no...
by Marcus | Oct 23, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Sonic the Hedgehog ain’t the only speedster chasing after these coins! We launch into a conversation with Olympic Athlete in Track & Field and Bobsled. Lauryn opens up about her struggles with money as a young athlete and how to find an identity outside of...
by Marcus | Oct 16, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Kevin L. Matthews II is a certified financial planner, number one bestselling author, and former financial advisor. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Hampton University, obtained a certificate of financial planning from Northwestern University...
by Marcus | Oct 10, 2018 | Entrepreneurship, Money, Podcast
Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche is an award-winning teacher of financial empowerment and is quickly becoming America’s favorite personal financial educator. In 2014, Tiffany founded the Dream Catcher Community, a virtual community of over 650,000 thousand women...
by Marcus | Oct 2, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Happy Financial Planning Month! What better way to start your financial planning season off than with our FinCon 2018, where money and media meet, interview with Rachel Cruze on her own personal finance philosophies? After all, Rachel is an accomplished published...
by Marcus | Sep 25, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Today’s episode is about taking control of your debt. Having a lot of debt can feel crippling at times, but there are a ton of resources out there to help regain control of your life’s finances. We talk with Leslie H. Tayne, Esq this week. Leslie is an attorney, debt...
by Marcus | Sep 18, 2018 | Podcast
Editor’s Note: In December 2017, The Washington Post spotlighted TM Landry. This sparked our interest in obtaining an interview. Unfortunately, after we had already recorded and released our episode, The New York Times conducted an investigation questioning the...
by Marcus | Sep 11, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
On this week’s show, we’re joined by Barbara Ginty for a sneak peek into our upcoming “Ask a Financial Planner” series. Barbara is another infamous YahooFinance alumni that we had the pleasure of welcoming onto the show. Barbara started her career on...
by Marcus | Aug 28, 2018 | Money, Podcast, Work
Rich and Marcus discuss how to make good career decisions. They’ll be sharing some tips and tricks on how to operate from a position of strength when going on job interviews, how following your efforts can lead to better results than following your dreams and how...
by Marcus | Aug 27, 2018 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to. Join our weekly newsletter for more free career advice, tips for debt free planning, interesting articles and receive our 15 Minute Money Plan: 15 Minutes Can Change the Next 15 Years. Summary:...
by Marcus | Aug 21, 2018 | Guests, Podcast
Don’t forget to check out Part 1 of our discussion, What We Wish We Knew About Money in Our 20s Rich and Marcus kick off the show continuing to build on last week’s episode. Marcus is recapping the financial books he’s read thus far in 2018. It’s important to...
by Marcus | Aug 14, 2018 | Money, Podcast
On the show, today Rich and Marcus discuss millennial money advice learned from the 15 personal finance books Marcus set out to read in 2018. So far Marcus has read 10 of them. The guys share the lessons learned from these books and give you recommendations on which...
by Marcus | Aug 7, 2018 | Money, Podcast
Marcus kicks off the show recapping a recent trip he took to NYC, for a Yahoo Finance interview. On his way to the hotel, he get’s convinced to hop in a sketchy Uber-like service and is hit with a huge bill at the end of his ride. If you have a similar tale of Uber in...
by Marcus | Jul 10, 2018 | Guests, Podcast
We re-re-visit our fastest downloaded episode ever, PB47: Barely Making It on $500,000! The Financial Samurai joins us for this episode to discuss his popular blog post about a couple struggling in a big city on yes, $500,000. The Financial Samurai (Sam Dogen) got his...
by Marcus | Jul 10, 2018 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to. Join our weekly newsletter for more free career advice, tips for debt free planning, interesting articles and receive our 15 Minute Money Plan: 15 Minutes Can Change the Next 15 Years. Summary:...
by Marcus | Jun 26, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Elle Martinez started Couple Money in 2009 after writing about personal finances for more than 7 years. Couple Money’s purpose is to help couples build their finances together by learning to live on one income and having fun with the second through tips, tools,...
by Marcus | Jun 12, 2018 | Podcast, Podcasts
It’s 6-months into the year. Do you know where your finances are? Well, we declared our positive affirmations and #FinGoals for 2018 on PB80: It’s Never Too Late to Get Started. For your benefit and ours, we’re going back to the future with a much needed...
by Marcus | Jun 12, 2018 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to. Join our weekly newsletter for more free career advice, tips for debt free planning, interesting articles and news and to receive our 15 Minute Money Plan. Summary: An honest book that forces...
by Marcus | Jun 12, 2018 | AskPB, Blog
Marcus joins CBS News host Tanya Rivero to discuss his book, Debt Free or Die Trying, and how to rebuild your credit for CBSN ‘Eye on Money’ series. Check out the video below or click here. References Mentioned by Marcus on This Show 4-Step Plan for...
by Marcus | May 28, 2018 | Guests, Podcast
This week we’re back with a replay of one of our favorite episodes! Liz Weston shares the truth about credit. Liz is a Columnist and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) whose goal is to help us get smarter about money. She’s the author of five books including the...
by Marcus | May 22, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Today Candice Marie has a positive net worth, savings, investments and paid off over $47,000 in debt! This wasn’t the case just six years ago when she didn’t want to check her net worth because she knew it was in the negatives. While some of us worry about...
by Marcus | May 15, 2018 | Money, Podcast
There’s levels to adulting and someone lost the instruction book, but we got you! This week Rich and I talk about the steps we followed in pursuit of financial independence. You’ll hear how even simple changes in your day-to-day routine can lead to huge...
by Marcus | May 8, 2018 | Guests, Podcast, Work
Jeff Johnson has been seen covering red carpets and press junkets for various outlets including NBC News and The YBF. Jeff also hosts the “NonStopCulture Show.” A podcast and YouTube show discussing the latest in pop culture and digital media. He is also an...
by Marcus | Apr 24, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
In our final week of Financial Literacy Month, Tela Holcomb joins us to discuss the stock market in plain English (Yes, we asked her about Bitcoin!). Tela is a stocks and options trader, mom, and wife who is focused on spending the most of her time living the life she...
by Marcus | Apr 17, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Our National Financial Literacy Month guest interviews continue! This week we welcome back former P&B guest J.D. Roth (ICYMI – PB34: Become a Money Boss ft. J.D. Roth). J.D. is a recognized personal finance expert who has written for Forbes and recently returned...
by Marcus | Apr 17, 2018 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to. You can also join our weekly newsletter for free career advice, debt free and money management tips or check out our personal finance tools page powered by NerdWallet. Summary: A light-hearted...
by Marcus | Apr 11, 2018 | Blog
Color Full Lives is hosted by Angela Yee (@angelayee of The Breakfast Club and Lip Service) and Aminatou Sow (@aminatou of Call Your Girlfriend). The show is sponsored by State Farm® and Loud Speakers Network. The hosts’ real talk on personal finance and candid...
by Marcus | Apr 10, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Continuing our guest interviews for National Financial Literacy Month April 2018, we welcome back Tonya Rapley (ICYMI – PB29: My Fab Finance ft. Tonya Rapley). Since the last time she was on our show, Mrs. Rapley has secured several bags. For the newly...
by Marcus | Apr 9, 2018 | Blog
Paychecks & Balances is a fun and informative podcast covering work and money for rising professionals with hosts Rich @IamRichJones and Marcus @THEMarcusGarret. Read more about us here or visit Ask P&B to submit your questions! – Rich & Marcus This...
by Marcus | Apr 9, 2018 | Blog, Personal Finance
Paychecks & Balances is a fun and informative podcast covering work and money for rising professionals with hosts Rich @IamRichJones and Marcus @THEMarcusGarret. Read more about us here or visit Ask P&B to submit your questions! – Rich & Marcus Create a...
by Marcus | Apr 9, 2018 | Blog, Personal Finance
Paychecks & Balances is a fun and informative podcast covering work and money for rising professionals with hosts Rich @IamRichJones and Marcus @THEMarcusGarret. Read more about us here or visit Ask P&B to submit your questions! – Rich & Marcus Start...
by Marcus | Apr 3, 2018 | Podcasts
Kicking off National Financial Literacy Month 2018 right, we’re joined by Paula Pant of the Afford Anything website and podcast. When Paula graduated from college she did what society expected: she got a regular schmegular job. But, like many of us, she soon...
by Marcus | Apr 2, 2018 | Books
We’re reading 15 of the best Personal Finance books so you don’t have to. You can also join our weekly newsletter for free career advice, debt free and money management tips or check out our personal finance tools page powered by NerdWallet. You can learn...
by Marcus | Mar 6, 2018 | Money, Podcast
On this week’s P&B Money Minute we discuss how to save 1x your income by age 30 and 3x by age 40 using a few automated tools we recommend. Marcus reveals why he finally logged back into his retirement accounts after a 12-month hiatus and the three step...
by Marcus | Feb 27, 2018 | Podcast, Work
Rich brings back the This Week in Work segment, covering the importance of staying ready in life and at work. Our discussion covers: What to do when your company is downsizing or you might be facing a potential layoff Why you may want to consider having TWO...
by Marcus | Feb 20, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
This week we welcome, The Dude. No, not The Big Lebowski but of equal reverence, The Early Retirement Dude. ER Dude shares the secrets behind how he retired 12-years ago at the age of 36 and never looked back. Mastering financial independence isn’t easy, but...
by Marcus | Feb 13, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Work
This week we’re joined by Jeanie Ahn of @YahooFinance. Some of you will remember Jeanie from our feature on CBS New’s “Your Money Matters” panel. Jeanie is a reporter & senior producer who specializes in making personal finance and career guidance fun...
by Marcus | Jan 30, 2018 | Money, Podcast, Work
A goal without a plan will remain a dream without a reality. On this week’s show, we talk about the importance of clearly defining your goals and the small differences that define why some people succeed while others procrastinate. Using a variety of practices,...
by Marcus | Jan 30, 2018 | Books
We have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can learn more about here: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. There you will find the full list of all the personal finance and professional development books we recommend. You can also join our weekly...
by Marcus | Jan 23, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast
We got 99 problems but a credit ain’t one. We originally met Liran Amrany at FinCon2017, where we learned he is the co-founder and CEO of Debitize, a personal finance application that helps consumers use credit cards responsibly. How does it work? Debitize...
by Marcus | Jan 16, 2018 | AskPB, Blog, FinGoals, Personal Finance
On a recent guest feature, we were asked, “can someone really save $1,000,000 on an average salary?” The simple answer: Yes. The harder answer: Is it easy? No. It’s very complicated and will likely take a really long time. There is a big gap between difficult...
by Marcus | Jan 9, 2018 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Now that you’re recovering from the holidays and financial binging, we’ve got just the spend-over relief you need with our first episode of 2018. We’re joined by Jen Hemphill of the Her Money Matters podcast. Jen is a military spouse & bilingual...
by Marcus | Jan 3, 2018 | Books
We have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can learn more about here: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. There you will find the full list of all the personal finance and professional development books we recommend. You can also join our weekly...
by Marcus | Dec 19, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Work
#Millennials face the scariest financial future of any generation since the Great Depression. Click To Tweet Paychecks & Balances is joined by Michael Hobbes (@RottenInDenmark), author of that viral story you should have already read but just in case you...
by Marcus | Dec 12, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Work
This Week in Work segment returns! This is the segment of PB where we help you crack the professional code and discuss stories and topics relevant to the workplace. This week we’re talking about five things you can do in 2018 to get both your work and money up. We...
by Marcus | Dec 5, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week we’re joined by Brian L. Fontenot. Brian is a well-known tech entrepreneur in the Austin, Texas area. He is also a philanthropist, public speaker, world traveler, and illustrious member of the AΦA organization. We were happy to have Brian on the show...
by Marcus | Nov 28, 2017 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Work
Had too much to think? We recommend you do all things in moderation, including adulting. To help you navigate the balance-side of the work, life, balance equation, we’re joined by guest Cody Wheat of the Shots of History podcast to discuss all things alcohol and...
by Marcus | Nov 21, 2017 | Books
We have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can read more about here: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. There you will also find the full list of all the personal finance and professional development books we’re reading or join our newsletter for our...
by Marcus | Nov 20, 2017 | Blog, FinGoals, Personal Finance
We were fortunate to be invited by CBS News CBSN, a 24-7 streaming video news channel available at cbsnews.com/live, to join a panel of experts to discuss student loans, credit cards, debt management, retirement and much more. Hosted by Vladimir Duthiers...
by Marcus | Nov 16, 2017 | Books
We have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can read more about here: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. There you will also find the full list of all the personal finance and professional development books we’re reading or join our newsletter for our...
by Marcus | Nov 14, 2017 | Podcast
It’s LIT! Thanks to this week’s FIRE guest, Robert Farrington, America’s Millennial Money and Student Loan Debt Expert. He is also the founder of TheCollegeInvestor.com, which is the #1 resource for helping millennials get out of student loan debt and...
by Marcus | Nov 7, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Work
We’re joined this week by guest Lynnette Khalfani-Cox aka “The Money Coach.” Lynette is a personal finance expert, television and radio personality, and the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate...
by Marcus | Nov 2, 2017 | Blog
On August 14, 2016, I released Debt Free or Die Trying: How I Buried Myself in Over $30,000 in Debt and Dug My Way Out by Age 30. The book tells the good, the bad, the ups and the downs, the mistakes I and others made, and the lessons I and we learned....
by Marcus | Oct 31, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
This week we’re joined by Ryan Inman of Physicianwealthservices.com and the Financial Residency podcast. Ryan got even more passionate about the field of personal finance when his wife was in residency and she began to pass along information that she received...
by Marcus | Oct 31, 2017 | Blog
On August 14, 2016, I released Debt Free or Die Trying: How I Buried Myself in Over $30,000 in Debt and Dug My Way Out by Age 30. The book tells the good, the bad, the ups and the downs, the mistakes I and others made, and the lessons I and we learned. Through...
by Marcus | Oct 24, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Work
Staying employed at the same company for over two years, on average, can make you earn 50% less over the life of your career according to a recent Forbes analysis. On this week’s show, Rich and I discuss the pros and cons of maximizing your money moves and...
by Marcus | Oct 17, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listeners’ information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button!...
by Marcus | Oct 17, 2017 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Patrice Washington is most well known as the personal finance voice of the top-rated and nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Radio Show where she hosts her own weekly segment, Real Money Answers with Patrice Washington. She is also the best-selling author of...
by Marcus | Oct 10, 2017 | Money, Podcasts, Work
There are two truths we all hold self-evident in our careers: 1) it’s always Happy Hour somewhere or 2) performance review season. With these facts of career life in mind, the best time to start your self-evaluation was yesterday and the next best time is...
by Marcus | Oct 3, 2017 | Money, Podcast
It’s our first PB BOGO: this week’s Money Minute segment show covers lessons learned from Dave Ramsey’s and you get a full review on the PB blog: The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness! Our discussion includes: Are The Total...
by Marcus | Oct 2, 2017 | Books
We have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can join here: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. You can see a full list of all the personal finance and professional development books we’re reading by clicking here or join our newsletter for the latest...
by Marcus | Oct 2, 2017 | Books
If you’re new here, we have a “10 pages a day” challenge you can join: If You Have 10 Minutes, You Can Read a Book a Month. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness was the first book I read in the series, however, you can see a...
by Marcus | Oct 2, 2017 | Blog, Books, Personal Finance
Our reviews of the best personal finance and investment books include the best books to help you get out of debt and get rich, according to the experts, as well as some of our own personal favorites. “I never have time to read,” I told myself all the time....
by Marcus | Sep 26, 2017 | Money, Podcast
The Millennials are at it again. Our generation discovered in 20-years what other generations took 40-years to figure out: working your entire life away so maybe you can retire (if you’re lucky) is a recipe for suc-sucks! On this episode, we explore #lifehacks...
by Marcus | Sep 26, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format. Some details have been changed to keep the listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, click the ASK P&B button!...
by Marcus | Sep 19, 2017 | Guests, Money, Podcast
Join us for another LIVE recording session from Podcast Movement 2017 at the FinCon booth with Tyrone Jackson, The Wealthy Investor. Tyrone details the story of how he went from a single parent household that struggled with finances growing up to become a trusted...
by Marcus | Sep 14, 2017 | AskPB, Blog, Personal Finance
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listener’s information anonymous. Share your support or feedback in the comments. If you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button! This...
by Marcus | Sep 12, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts, Work
Thank God for granting us this moment of clarity, this moment of honesty, but today the world will feel our truth! We took a little time off for #selfcare and personal perspective but we’re back with more greatness with a LIVE recording from Podcast Movement...
by Marcus | Aug 8, 2017 | Podcast, Work
We turned this week’s listener question into a minisode! Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button. Justin left a voicemail to ask “when do you know if you’re overqualified”...
by Marcus | Aug 1, 2017 | Money, Podcast
You may remember Donna from our previous episode PB31: Save Where You Can ft. Donna Freedman. Donna’s back with a new book, Your Playbook For Tough Times Vol. 2, some great personal finance advice and much more! For those of you who are new here, Donna has been...
by Marcus | Jul 25, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listeners’ information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button! Hey...
by Marcus | Jul 11, 2017 | Guests, Money, Podcasts
We’re back with the podcast you need: Part 2 with Damon Young of Very Smart Brothas (VSB). If you haven’t already, don’t forget to listen to Part 1: PB60: “Overnight Success” ft. Damon Young of Very Smart Brothas. This episode is equally colorful but...
by Marcus | Jul 11, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listeners’ information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button! Hi guys!...
by Marcus | Jun 27, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details have been changed to keep the listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, click the ASK P&B...
by Marcus | Jun 27, 2017 | Guests, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
This week we’re joined by Damon Young of VSB for the first of a 2-part discussion. Damon is the editor-in-chief and co-founder of the black culture cornerstone, VerySmartBrothas.com. He has had his work featured on places like Slate, The Root, Ebony, Essence,...
by Marcus | Jun 20, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
The Money Minute A @PayBalances follower asks, “how would you change your budget if you had children?” We found that as of 2017, it costs up to $233,610 to raise a child from ages 0 to 17! We discuss how we would proactively adjust our personal finances...
by Marcus | Jun 20, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listeners’ information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button!...
by Marcus | Jun 13, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts
A new Money Minute inspired listener question and our drive to get our and your money right so we can stunt — responsibly and within our budgets, of course — on the haters! A This Week in Work update finds Rich delving even further into the seedy...
by Marcus | Jun 13, 2017 | AskPB, Blog, FinGoals, Personal Finance
Many people believe the key to all their budgeting and debt woes is simply to make more money. A 2015 SunTrust survey found almost 1 in 3 respondents making $75,000 per year or more live paycheck to paycheck on occasion and 1 in 4 respondents making over $100,000...
by Marcus | Jun 6, 2017 | AskPB, Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
This week we tackle another listener question from our ASKPB queue: Hey guys! The question I have is if I should stay in a job that I don’t like until I pay off all my debt. I’m in my late 20’s, and I’ll make 70k this year and I have 28k in...
by Marcus | Jun 6, 2017 | AskPB, Blog, Personal Finance
The following questions have been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listeners’ information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have your own question, use the ASK P&B button!...
by Marcus | Jun 1, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, use the ASK P&B...
by Marcus | May 30, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
This week we’re joined by Liz Weston to discuss the truth about credit. Liz is a Columnist and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) whose goal is to help us get smarter about money. She’s the author of five books including the best-selling “Your Credit Score:...
by Marcus | May 25, 2017 | AskPB, Blog, Personal Finance
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details may have been changed to keep our listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, use the ASK P&B...
by Marcus | May 23, 2017 | AskPB, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
Have a career advice or debt free question? Click the ASKPB button! This week’s question was so good we couldn’t help but dedicate a full show to our response. Apparently, the DMs aren’t the only place it goes down. A few snippets: I always thought they...
by Marcus | May 18, 2017 | Blog
I realized recently that I’m on pace to spend over 70% of my adult life working a “9 to 5.” I started work at age 16. It was a local movie theater and it is still one of the best jobs I ever had. I made $5.15/hr, and you couldn’t convince me I wasn’t...
by Marcus | May 16, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
While some folks are of the opinion that Millennial’s affinity for avocados is the only thing keeping us from owning homes, we here at Paychecks & Balances offer opinions you can actually use. Opinions based on math and common sense when common sense is as...
by Marcus | May 11, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details have been changed to keep the listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, click the ASK P&B...
by Marcus | May 9, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts
Ready to get your financial life together (#GYFLT)? Erin Lowry, creator of BrokeMillennial.com and author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together is here to help! Broke Millennial, the book, is a step-by-step guide on how to go from...
by Marcus | May 4, 2017 | AskPB, Blog, FinGoals, Money, Personal Finance
The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details have been changed to keep the listener’s information anonymous. Let us know what you think in the comments below, or if you have a question that needs answering, click the ASK P&B...
by Marcus | May 2, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
While the Fyre Festival proves you can’t buy common sense, but you can put a price on ignorance, Rich and Marcus use this week in viral events to try to figure out how a few Instagram models and an admittedly well-produced marketing video scammed hundreds of...
by Marcus | Apr 25, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
Time to re-up and recycle the flow. What does that even mean? Well, this week we re-visit our fastest downloaded podcast ever, PB47: Barely Making It on $500K! As an added bonus, we feature half-man, half-legend and guest, the Financial Samurai himself! Financial...
by Marcus | Apr 24, 2017 | AskPB, Blog
We received a great listener question we thought many of our listeners and readers could relate to: should I use my retirement savings to pay off my credit cards? The following question has been edited into a Q&A format and some details have been changed to keep...
by Marcus | Apr 18, 2017 | Guests, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
We’re back this week discussing all things paychecks and office with esteemed guest Tiffany Southerland. Tiff is a Career Coach, purveyor of empowerment, speaker, 3-time Degree champion, lawyer and the host of the How Does She Do It podcast. We had a great time...
by Marcus | Apr 11, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
We get back to basics on this week’s Money Minute with simple tips you can use to create a budget you’ll actually stick to. Yes, we here at PB already admitted that budgeting sucks, but is it a necessary evil we just have to follow? Some would argue no,...
by Marcus | Apr 4, 2017 | Guests, Podcast, Podcasts
The rent is too damn high! But, what happens when the mortgage is too high, also? Among many other quarter-to-midlife items on the must have crisis checklist, the “you need to buy a home” struggle is real. Whether we like it or not, many of us still see...
by Marcus | Mar 28, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Is it possible to live paycheck-to-paycheck on $500,000? This 30-year old couple thinks so. Join us this week as we review the budget read around the world and try to figure out how a couple making $500,000 before taxes can only have $7,300 in annual take-home...
by Marcus | Mar 21, 2017 | Guests, Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Back to the finances! Ok, I originally thought this was a clever reference, but I realized while typing it that Back to the Future came out in 1985. While we reflect on our lives as older Millennials, you can enjoy another great guest episode featuring Mandi Woodruff!...
by Marcus | Mar 7, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts, Work
We go to college to get our “dream jobs,” then we are unable to pursue our dreams because we need the income from the job to pay off the debt incurred from going to college. What a time to be alive! “Simon Sinek (age 43) spoke to The Independent about how...
by Marcus | Feb 28, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
“Days go slow. Years go fast.” – Marcus realizes in this week’s Money Minute and This Week in Work hybrid. Rich and Marcus realize that “life comes at you fast” is more than a catchy insurance commercial quote. On this episode, we...
by Marcus | Feb 21, 2017 | Guests, Podcast, Podcasts
This week’s guest is Marc Miller. Marc runs the website CareerPivot.com and blog. His career included 22 years at IBM, thriving tech startups, and a stint as a high school math teacher. After thirty years of wandering the proverbial career desert, Marc learned...
by Marcus | Feb 7, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts, Work
In this week’s Money Minute, Marcus shares a helpful tool that he has used over the years to research career fields and options from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thinking of making a job change? Not sure what other professions are related to your current...
by Marcus | Jan 31, 2017 | Podcast, Podcasts, Work
Are you on LinkedIn? Are you using it right? Well, this week Rich leads a discussion on pro tips and life hacks to make sure you’re maximizing your LinkedIn profile. Our discussion covers the following ways to improve your LinkedIn: How to make your LinkedIn...
by Marcus | Jan 24, 2017 | Guests, Podcast, Podcasts
We thought we’d give you a break from the old country for old men podcast with a guest feature with Donovan Frost, whom we had the pleasure of meeting at FinCon16. Donovan is a 25 year old Millennial and the one-man voice behind TheAdaptableAdult.com. Marcus...
by Marcus | Jan 17, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
Rich and Marcus return this week with a Money Minute tip and This Week in Work. This is a classic Paychecks and Balances episode. Help us, help you make your money great again! On this show we discuss: Budgeting Sucks: Here’s how “just the tip” or...
by Marcus | Jan 10, 2017 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
We welcome in 2017 with the awesome couple behind HisAndHerMoney.com, Tai and Talaat McNeely. His and Her Money is a journey of how two high school sweethearts fell in love, got married, but were total opposites when it came to handling their finances. Between being...
by Marcus | Dec 28, 2016 | Blog
It’s been a while since I said this so I’ll repeat myself: Sticking to a budget sucks. There, I said it. I have a budget. I even spent a lot of time developing my budget like the helicopter parent of a small child, or “fur baby” if you’re a...
by Marcus | Dec 27, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
Tis the season for Paychecks & Balances annual wrap-up! This has been an awesome year for us but it’s all thanks to you! In 2016, we had our highest downloads, were recognized in the Black Voices in Business category of iTunes, attended FinCon2016 and in...
by Marcus | Dec 20, 2016 | Money, Podcast, Podcasts
“It was all a dream. We used to read Word Up! Magazine…” Technically, none of that applies here since we actually met Wilson at FinCon2016, but it was a dream! After a great master mind conversation with Wilson and other like-minded individuals on...
by Marcus | Dec 13, 2016 | Money, Podcasts
This week we’re humbled and happy to be joined by J.D. Roth, formerly of Get Rich Slowly, and now the mastermind behind MoneyBoss! JD is a true renaissance man — a description I didn’t quite make up but I feel doesn’t get used enough so here we...
by Marcus | Dec 6, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
We’re joined by Latisha Styles of LatishaStyles.com and YoungFinances.com. Latisha specializes in helping Millennial entrepreneurs focus their goals so they can maximize their returns. Latisha doesn’t just talk-the-talk, she walks the walk by relying on...
by Marcus | Nov 29, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
On this week’s show, we chat with Dennis Restauro, the man behind GroundedReason.com and the Grounded Reason podcast, about cord-cutting aka cutting cable to save money. We explore cable alternatives along with other internet-related things, including sketchy...
by Marcus | Nov 22, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
Donna Freedman’s motto: “I save where I can so I can spend where I want.” This week she teaches us how she does it. Donna is the author of Your Playbook For Tough Times: Living Large On Small Change, For The Short Term Or The Long Haul and she has over 20 years...
by Marcus | Nov 15, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
We’re trying something new this week folks: Paychecks & Body. When you’re caught up in the day-to-day, week-to-week, and year-to-year hustle, it’s real easy to forget about maintaining your mind, body, and spirit. That’s why on this week...
by Marcus | Nov 8, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
We’re back at it with a new episode! This week we’re joined by Tonya Rapley. Tonya runs My Fab Finance, a website dedicated to helping readers and listeners like you break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck so that you can live free and do more of...
by Marcus | Nov 1, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week we’re joined by Personal Finance Coach and author of Small Business Finance for the Busy Entrepreneur, Sylvia Inks! Sylvia is an experienced business consultant that worked for one of the largest professional services firms in the world before turning...
by Marcus | Oct 11, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
We’re joined by Doctor Katisha, an all-around dope Paychecks & Balances listener. She emailed us in response to PB18, the Cash Only episode. Turns out she has a pretty robust bank account system that we thought would help our listeners go beyond the 15 minute...
by Marcus | Sep 27, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
After the initial excitement of a new job opportunity wears off, a listener begins to wonder if this move was the right move after she is confronted with an unfortunate reality check underneath the surface. It turns out things are a little bit different behind the...
by Marcus | Sep 20, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
Marcus has an epiphany: “You can spend less money than you make or make more money than you spend.” What does that even mean?!!? Well, in the game of Paychecks & Balances you can work harder or you can work smarter. In this week’s Money Minute...
by Marcus | Sep 13, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
It’s hard to believe it. Marcus’ book — yes, the one he has been talking about for over 3 years — is finally available in stores in paperback and as an eBook. Visit paychecksandbalances.com/DebtFree to buy the book and learn more helpful tips...
by Marcus | Aug 30, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
We received two great debt-related questions this week. A listener recommends the “snowball” treatment, and another listener ask please help “fix my debt.” We’re always happy to answer the questions, you ask and we research! Excuse the...
by Marcus | Aug 25, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
All cost of living aint equal. Don’t we know it! This week a listener runs into a familiar problem: It’s a great job opportunity, but it’s not located in my current city of residence. How do I adjust for the cost of living changes? Well, there...
by Marcus | Aug 23, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED! WIM was finally released from protective custody this week, and in a double secret probation reveal, he is un-trapped from the closet as he discusses his upcoming book and his government name, and that’s just the first five...
by Marcus | Aug 18, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
It’s the question you hate to ask but may inevitably face: When Should I Leave My Job? This week, a listener wonder just that when a promising opportunity arises even though they weren’t even looking to leave their current job. I’ve currently been...
by Marcus | Aug 16, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
Optimist, Skeptics, and Cynics: which one are you? Fancy yourself a “Realist”? We discuss the three types and why it’s ok to occupy two of these groups, but not the third. This week’s motivational quote? “People who say it cannot be done should...
by Marcus | Aug 9, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
CASH ONLY! Are you living a cash only lifestyle? With help from MoneyQandA.com we discuss the pros and cons of leaving credit behind for the almighty dollar, dollar bill, yall. It’s not easy, but it can be done. But, is the cash only life for you? We talk about...
by Marcus | Aug 2, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
On this week’s Paychecks And Balances ‘Money Minute’ we discover some easy ways to find money that’s literally laying around your house. The average American has $100 in unused gift cards. Are you one of them? Pretty sure you’ve spent all...
by Marcus | Jul 28, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week a Listener Recommendation for a new budgeting app and a question about retirement investments leads us to a lengthy discussion on budgeting wins and fails. How can you stay faithful in a room full of clothes?! Well, it isn’t easy but someone’s...
by Marcus | Jul 26, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week we introduce a new segment: “The Money Minute.” On our first Money Minute we introduce NerdWallet’s 2015 AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD CREDIT CARD DEBT STUDY, which uses survey data to measure the average American’s household debt from credit...
by Marcus | Jul 19, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week, Rich recounts his experience and lessons from the most recent Podcast Movement 2016 in Chicago. It was a great opportunity for Rich to represent PayChecksAndBalances and connect with some listeners, followers, and talented content creators in the podcasting...
by Marcus | Jun 28, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
This week we’re reminded about priorities: life vs. work. Adulting comes at you fast. Are Millennials destined to choose between work and life? Is the “work/life balance” a figment of our generation’s imagination? We try to figure it all out on...
by Marcus | Jun 7, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://rss.acast.com/paycheck/pb12-careerchangespt.1/media.mp3 This week a listener question leads to a thoughtful response from Rich and WIM on career choices and lessons learned. Thinking of a career change? This episode covers the advice we’ve used or heard...
by Marcus | Jun 3, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://rss.acast.com/paycheck/qa7-coverletters-infointerviews/media.mp3 We answered two listener questions this week. Have a question you’d like us to answer? Contact us! 1. Hey Rich and WIM! I love the show! It has been a wealth of information as I try to...
by Marcus | May 31, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://rss.acast.com/paycheck/pb11-creditcardtips-badmoneyhabits/media.mp3 This week we discuss why it’s important (and beneficial) to keep your income profile updated on your credit card(s). In the market for a new credit card? We also discuss the pros/cons and...
by Marcus | May 24, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://rss.acast.com/paycheck/pb10-themillennialcrisis/media.mp3 “The Millennials shall inherit the Earth.” – Ancient Internet Proverb In 2015, Millennials passed Baby Boomers as the largest generation. So, what now? Are we too young to start...
by Marcus | May 17, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB9.mp3 This week we follow-up on a success story from a listener’s following of our advice form PB8: Credit Roulette. On the career management and job front we discuss the following quote: What do you think? Is it...
by Marcus | May 10, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB8.mp3 PAYMENTS? Credit card, PAYMENTS? WE TALKING CREDIT CARDS PAYMENTS??? That’s right friends. We talking credit card payments. This week we also address two listener questions from our Twitter account:...
by Marcus | May 3, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB7.mp3 On a quick note, Rich discusses the benefits of keeping your credit card information up-to-date (income, address, etc.). However, this week’s main topics? Career moves you can make in your 20s to win in your...
by Marcus | Apr 26, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/QA5.mp3 We got some great feedback and some great questions this week! Check them out below. Have a question of your own? You ask the questions. We find the answers. Email us: info@paychecksandbalances.com My boss is...
by Marcus | Apr 19, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB6.mp3 A listener comments, “I wish they’d mentioned earning more $$$!” Ask and ye shall receive! We’ve got good news and bad news. You can definitely make more money, but it’ll take a...
by Marcus | Apr 11, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB5.mp3 This week on Paychecks and Balances we discuss interview questions you should always be prepared to answer when you’re looking to secure that next paycheck. Topics include: how to prepare for an interview;...
by Marcus | Apr 5, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PBQA4.mp3 This week in PaychecksAndBalances Q&A: What’s up fellas, congrats on the new pod. You guys have helped me make some great moves in advancing my career. So thank you for that. I am currently working in...
by Marcus | Mar 29, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB4.mp3 Size doesn’t matter! Well, when it comes to your personal finances anyway. Do you have at least $2,000 in debt or more? Simply adding $10 extra dollars to your minimum payment can save you thousands...
by Marcus | Mar 25, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PBQA3.mp3 This week, Paychecks & Balances is happy to introduce “Ask a Professional.” We’ve realized that we don’t know everything, but we do know people who know a lot of answers to those...
by Marcus | Mar 21, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB3.mp3 Don’t call it a comeback! We’re back this week with Part 2 of Office Habits That Hold You Back. Picking up where we left off last week, we talk about how introverts can overcome the “why are you...
by Marcus | Mar 17, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/QA2.mp3 Welcome to Paychecks & Balances Question and Answer. This week we answer the following: How do you handle a situation where someone that does not report to you isn’t doing their job but it is impacting...
by Marcus | Mar 14, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB2.mp3 On this week’s Paycheck & Balances we discuss tips for getting ahead at work and how the simple wording of an email might be holding you back. Do you find yourself apologizing too much for missing...
by Marcus | Mar 8, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PBQA.mp3 Welcome to Paychecks & Balances first Question and Answer session. This week we tackle two listener questions: In the middle of a job search (looking for more money & more responsibility) and just found...
by Marcus | Mar 8, 2016 | Podcast, Podcasts
http://traffic.libsyn.com/paychecksandbalances/PB1.mp3 Welcome to the first episode of Paychecks & Balances. We know time is money, so we didn’t waste any time tackling our first show topic: “Paycheck Plateaus.” What’s a Paycheck Plateau?...
