
Hosted by Brian Preston and Bo Hanson · EN

Record-high 401(k) balances may make retirement savers feel like they are finally getting ahead—but the numbers could be creating false confidence. Vanguard’s latest retirement savings data shows median 401(k) balances rising sharply, while much of that growth appears tied to strong stock market returns rather than improved saving habits. We explain why investment growth alone may not be enough, how the declining personal savings rate affects retirement readiness, and why increasing your contribution rate—even by 1%—can meaningfully strengthen your financial plan. Learn how much you should save for retirement, evaluate your 401(k), and become an active participant in building long-term wealth. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Check out Mindy on the Bigger Pockets Money podcast This episode brought to you by Abound Wealth. Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: https://moneyguy.com/become-a-client/ Building wealth is only half the battle—keeping it, enjoying it, and avoiding costly financial blind spots is where the real challenge begins. In this special Making a Millionaire collaboration, Brian and Bo sit down with Mindy from BiggerPockets Money and her husband Karl to analyze a nearly $10 million portfolio, uncovering hidden risks like concentration risk, margin loans, Roth conversion opportunities, tax planning, required minimum distributions (RMDs), retirement withdrawal strategies, liquidity planning, and the Achiever's Trap. Whether you're pursuing financial independence, FIRE, retirement planning, or simply want to build lasting wealth through investing and smart tax strategies, this conversation offers practical insights for high-income earners, retirees, and anyone serious about optimizing their financial future without sacrificing the life they've worked so hard to build. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to build wealth faster without gambling, chasing hot stocks, or taking unnecessary risks? In this episode, Brian and Bo break down the biggest wealth accelerators that actually move the needle—from increasing your savings rate, maximizing income, reducing debt, minimizing taxes, and automating your finances to advanced strategies like real estate investing, house hacking, equity compensation, entrepreneurship, and leveraged investing. Learn how to eliminate financial drag, optimize your investing strategy, reach financial independence sooner, and make smarter money decisions using proven financial planning principles. Whether you're just beginning your investing journey or already building serious wealth, these accelerators can help your dollars work harder for you. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pre-order the paperback edition of Millionaire Mission today at moneyguy.com/millionairemission The new Millionaire Mission paperback is finally here—and it's much more than a new cover. Brian has updated the bestselling personal finance book with new wealth-building stories, refreshed investing and retirement account contribution limits, updated case studies, and even more insight into his own financial decisions. Whether you're working toward financial independence, building long-term wealth, investing for retirement, maximizing your 401(k), Roth IRA, or HSA, or simply trying to make smarter money decisions, this updated edition is designed to help. Pre-orders begin July 28 and include exclusive bonuses for Financial Mutants, including access to special merchandise, Brian's Book Club, and exclusive Moneyverse Discord communities. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Financial advisors Brian and Bo react to some of the internet's most viral money advice and separate smart financial strategies from dangerous financial myths. From Nancy Pelosi ETFs and Robert Kiyosaki's "Savers Are Losers" philosophy to leveraged real estate, whole life insurance, financial advisors, Roth IRAs, S&P 500 investing, entrepreneurship, and financial independence, we break down what actually works for building long-term wealth. If you're looking for evidence-based investing, retirement planning, personal finance, index fund investing, tax-efficient wealth building, and common-sense financial advice, this episode explains why boring often beats flashy. Learn how Financial Mutants build wealth through disciplined investing, low-cost index funds, and proven financial planning principles instead of chasing viral trends. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Use code MONEYGUY at Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50: https://bit.ly/monarch-moneyguy Want to build wealth faster without taking unnecessary risks? Brian and Bo break down seven financial "cheat codes" that can dramatically improve your long-term finances—from maximizing your 401(k) employer match and automating investments to optimizing your HSA, using a Backdoor Roth IRA, tax-loss harvesting, and following the Financial Order of Operations. These aren't gimmicks—they're proven wealth-building strategies that many investors overlook. Whether you're just getting started or optimizing your financial plan, these money moves can help you avoid costly mistakes and make every dollar work harder. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can you enjoy your money today without sacrificing your future? In this episode, Brian and Bo break down Die With Zero by Bill Perkins, one of the most talked-about personal finance books in recent years. They explain the philosophy behind memory dividends, time buckets, giving while living, and retirement spending while also discussing the risks of under-saving, longevity uncertainty, healthcare costs, market volatility, and the incredible power of compound growth. If you're wondering how to balance investing, retirement planning, financial independence, and living a meaningful life today, this conversation offers a thoughtful framework for making smarter money decisions without losing sight of your future. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quinton (26) and Victoria (27) have built an incredible $883,000 net worth before age 30, including nearly half a million dollars in crypto. But with a new baby, ambitious financial goals, and a savings rate most investors can only dream of, Brian and Bo explore whether they're building wealth the right way—or sacrificing too much along the journey. From Bitcoin and Roth IRAs to homeownership, financial independence, money mindset, and finding balance between saving and living, this episode is packed with lessons for anyone serious about investing, retirement planning, and building long-term wealth. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to build wealth but don't know where to start? Brian and Bo walk through the complete personal finance roadmap—from budgeting, emergency funds, employer matches, Roth IRAs, HSAs, investing, debt payoff, and retirement planning to the Financial Order of Operations (The FOO!). Whether you're just starting your financial journey or trying to optimize your money decisions, this step-by-step guide shows you what to do with every dollar so you can build long-term wealth with confidence. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buying a house in 2026 is more challenging than ever—but how much income do you actually need? Brian and Rebie compare The Money Guy's home buying rule against Dave Ramsey's mortgage guideline using real-world numbers at every major price point. Learn how mortgage length, housing costs, down payments, affordability, and income requirements impact one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, deciding between renting vs. buying, or planning your next move, this breakdown explains the math behind smart homeownership without the hype. You'll also see why home affordability has changed dramatically, how mortgage payments compare across different price ranges, and why buying a home isn't just a math equation. We'll also show you our Home Buying Calculator so you can customize the numbers for your own financial situation. Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources Reach your goals faster with our products Take the relationship to the next level: become a client Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast Connect with us on social media for more content Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices