Podcast Summary: Money Guy Show

Episode: Are You Beating the Average American? The 2025 Financial Mutant Survey
Date: September 3, 2025
Hosts: Brian Preston & Bo Hanson

Overview

This episode dives into the results and significance of the 2025 Financial Mutant Survey, inviting listeners to benchmark themselves not only against the “average American” but also against fellow “financial mutants”—the show’s term for dedicated and informed wealth-builders. Brian and Bo discuss new data on Americans’ financial assets, clarify how to use comparisons for motivation, and answer live listener questions on everything from emergency funds to early retirement account strategies. The episode has a lively, direct tone designed to spur financial self-reflection and encourage actionable steps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Should You Compare Yourself to the Average American?

[00:51 - 02:56]

• Brian: Opens by challenging the utility of measuring yourself against the average American's finances. Shares concern about the low median financial asset balances across ages (e.g., $27k at 35, $63k at 55) and what that means for financial independence.
  • Quote: "I'm a little disappointed for people my age to be only in their $50,000 range. It's a little scary for what the future holds." (01:51)
• Bo: Clarifies that median financial assets exclude houses, cars, and collectibles—focusing purely on liquid net worth.
  • Quote: "By the time you get to 35, the median liquid assets are only about $27,000...the average American is probably not very close to financial independence." (02:06)

2. The Financial Mutant Survey: Why Participate?

[02:56 - 07:45]

• The “financial mutant” is someone who’s striving for financial excellence—not settling for average.
• 2025 marks the survey’s second year; hosts hope to build on lessons learned and achieve better integration with their Millionaire Survey.
• Strong encouragement to fill out the anonymous survey at moneyguy.com/survey, as the results directly shape future content.
  • Quote: "We really do need you to fill out the information so we can get the up-to-date data... we’re going to pay you back three, four fold by actually creating multiple episodes from the data." (04:45)

3. How Listeners’ Input Shapes the Show

[07:45 - 08:46]

• Survey will remain open for two weeks.
• Ongoing feedback and chat participation are highlighted as vital for staying relevant to audience needs.

Listener Q&A Highlights

Q1: Should I Pause Roth IRA Contributions to Build My Emergency Fund?

[08:51 - 12:42]

• Amber: Feels anxious about missing time in the market if she stops Roth IRA contributions to build her emergency fund.
• Bo: Empathizes and reaffirms that anxiety means she's thinking like a financial mutant. Recommends using that tension for increased focus, following the financial order of operations—even if not perfectly linear.
  • Quote: "That anxiety is a good thing because what it should hopefully motivate you to do is...fill up that emergency fund bucket...so that you can get back to step five and maxing out that Roth IRA as quickly as possible." (09:07)
• Brian: Encourages using anxiety to build discipline and margin, reminding listeners that emergency reserves prevent desperate decisions.
  • Quote: "You don't want to be caught making desperate decisions all because you were just trying to load up the Roth." (11:13)
• Bo: Reminders of the Roth IRA's unique ability to “go back in time” with contributions up to the tax deadline.

Q2: After-Tax vs. Roth/Pre-Tax Accounts for Early Retirement

[13:30 - 19:18]

• Chester: Wonders when to prioritize after-tax brokerage accounts if aiming for early retirement.
• Bo: If you plan to retire before 55/59.5 (standard withdrawal ages), you'll need after-tax “bridge” funds.
• Brian: Reiterates to follow the Money Guy Financial Order of Operations through step 6 (maximize retirement), then model out step 7 (after-tax investment) for flexibility. Most early retirees will need to increase savings rates and utilize simulations/models.
  • Quote: "That's why step seven is that phase where we start doing models...start looking at how you'll use this money and it will start to reveal itself to you." (15:21)
• Cited resource: Previous show on ways to retire early (link promised in chat).

Q3: Managing Emergency Funds and Checking Accounts

[20:20 - 25:52]

• Grayson: Asks how often to reassess the emergency fund, and how much to keep in checking.
• Bo: Runs a two-account system: high-yield account for emergencies and a "slush" fund in checking (just enough to avoid overdrafts).
  • Quote: "I never want my checking account to get too lean because I don't want to risk an overdraft...just enough to float between paychecks." (21:01)
• Both recommend annual review (or after major life events), with monthly checks for cashflow health.
• Brian: Adds that account structure depends on personal financial habits, comfort, and goals. Use annual net worth tracking to adjust.

Q4: Should I Use Taxable Investments to Pay Off an 8.5% Car Loan?

[27:13 - 33:09]

• Brandon: Married, mid-20s couple debating using investments to pay a $13k car loan at 8.5% interest.
• Bo: 8.5% is high, but for those under 10% and following the show’s 20/3/8 auto rule, it's not “high-interest debt.” Prefers not to interrupt compounding in a taxable account unless the loan violates those guardrails or there's substantial available assets.
  • Quote: "I would hate to think about you taking some soldiers out of your army of dollar bills...when you already have a path to extinguish that 8.5% car debt." (28:39)
• Brian: Throws a caveat: if the marriage brings together substantial assets, or the investment is lackluster, can consider paying it off. Context/personal details matter.

Q5: How Can a 34-Year-Old “Behind” on Net Worth Catch Up?

[33:59 - 39:48]

• Eric B: Feels behind the Money Guy recommendations at 34.
• Bo: Reminds that at 34, it's hard to truly be behind; main ingredients for catching up are discipline, margin, and—if time is limited—increasing savings or income.
• Brian: Directs to their “How Much Should You Save?” resource, illustrating that increasing savings rate (towards 25%) is the key lever.
• Bo: Explains different net worth formulas (e.g., age x income/10, and their adjusted version for under 40s) and smoothing income if there’s been a big recent jump to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
  • Quote: "Be kind to yourself...the fact that you're watching this as a 34 year old, you're doing the right thing." (38:49)

Q6: Are CDs a Good Place for Money in a Volatile Market?

[40:35 - 48:04]

• C A S: Considers CDs out of fear of a crash.
• Brian: CDs are safe, suitable only for cash/emergencies—not for long-term growth. Shares a personal anecdote: disciplined saving in cash alone isn't enough to get ahead—you need investments that outpace inflation.
  • Quote: "You got to start owning stuff and start making stuff work for you because at some point you're not going to work as hard." (41:33)
• Bo: Cites research: bull markets tend to be stronger/longer than bear markets. Time in the market beats timing the market.
  • Quote: "More money is lost trying to avoid the next downturn than just participated." (42:48)
  • Even the “worst market timers” do well by staying invested over the long run.
• Brian: Diversification and planning with the financial order of operations provide peace of mind through all market cycles.

Q7: Does Your House-Payoff Analysis Factor In the Interest Saved by Early Payoff?

[48:35 - 56:46]

• J Thoma: Pushes back on a previous analysis, questioning if interest savings from early pay-off is truly reflected.
• Bo (animated): Confirms the math absolutely factors in interest; the better scenario is always where your overall net worth is maximized, often by investing over paying extra on low-interest mortgage debt—unless you’re saving and investing >25%.
  • Quote: "Yes, one person pays off his mortgage earlier, thereby paying less in interest...But if I told you, over the next 30 years you’re going to have an outflow of $100,000, you can have a paid off house and $300,000, or a paid off house and $50,000—which would you choose?" (52:06)
• Brian: Highlights liquidity risk: if you dump all cash into a house and lose your job, you may not be able to tap that “equity emergency fund.”
  • Quote: "Banks are notorious for you getting into financial trouble...and they're not going to give you the loan." (49:07)
• Behavioral and mathematical perspectives are both important, but math is clear: interest savings isn’t the only factor; opportunity cost matters too.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bo, on embracing comparison:
  "Comparison can be the thief of joy, but also comparison can be helpful if you use it in the right way, if it helps you understand...am I ahead of the curve? Who defines the curve?" [00:57]
• Brian, clarifying survey importance:
  "We really do need you to fill out the information so we can get the up-to-date data...we're going to pay you back three, four fold..." [04:45]
• Brian on cash risk:
  "It's hard to eat a house." [54:52]
• Bo on paying down car loans:
  "If you're averse...it's okay to get rid of them. What's adverse?" [31:37]
• Bo, final word on survey participation:
  "We love our financial mutants and just—we do not take anything for granted. If you're still sticking around and you love what we do, even like my zany stories, make sure you're going out to moneyguy.com survey because you're obviously a financial mutant. You stuck around this long." [60:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:51] - Are you beating the average American? Key median asset data by age
• [02:56] - Why benchmark against financial mutants, not just the average
• [04:45] - The power and purpose of the Financial Mutant Survey
• [08:51] - Amber’s Roth IRA vs. emergency fund anxiety
• [13:30] - After-tax brokerage vs. retirement accounts for early retirees
• [20:20] - Managing emergency savings and checking account balances
• [27:13] - Should young couples cash investments to pay off an 8.5% car loan?
• [33:59] - How to “catch up” if you’re behind on net worth in your 30s
• [40:35] - Are CDs a good choice in volatile markets?
• [48:35] - Does paying off your mortgage early really save you money?
• [56:41] - Recap, encouragement for survey participation, and fun trivia/banter

Tone & Style Highlights

The episode balances data-driven rigor with personable, reassuring encouragement. Brian and Bo are sharply analytical but also approachable, using plain language, self-deprecating humor, and real-life examples. They revisit foundational “Money Guy” principles (like the financial order of operations) repeatedly, reinforcing the message that smart, disciplined action—backed by the right information—wins in building wealth.

Throughout, they frame the audience as part of an elite group (“financial mutants”), spurring collective aspiration far above the average.

Resources & Calls to Action

• 2025 Financial Mutant Survey: moneyguy.com/survey
• Financial Order of Operations & Savings Rate Tool: moneyguy.com/resources
• Learn Money Guy Net Worth Tool: learn.moneyguy.com
• For questions & tumbler prizes: Email winner@moneyguy.com

Conclusion

If you’re seeking a sense of exactly how you measure up financially—and more importantly, practical steps to get ahead—this episode lays out the benchmarks, behaviors, and strategies that matter, straight from “the mutant playbook.” Every listener is urged to participate in the survey, not just for bragging rights, but to help the Money Guy team create ever better content for this thriving financial community.