The Stacking Benjamins Show

Episode: The Money Mindset Tweaks That Actually Change Results (SB1781)
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Joe Saul-Sehy and OG
Guest: Carl Brower (from iSeeCars.com)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into personal finance mindsets and the behavioral tweaks that make the biggest difference in long-term financial success. Hosts Joe and OG revisit their top five money mindset principles – originally aired in 2023 – and discuss how timeless these lessons are, regardless of changing economic landscapes. The episode features a compelling segment with Carl Brower on which used cars are the best value, followed by an engaging back-and-forth as Joe and OG count down their most impactful mindset shifts.

Key Segments and Insights

1. [07:30] iSeeCars: Which Cars Last the Longest? (with Carl Brower)

Main Points:

• Longevity of Cars: Modern cars are built to last much longer than in the past. Where 200,000 miles was once considered impressive, many vehicles are now regularly surpassing 300,000 miles.

  • “We see that cars just last longer and longer. They've got longer and longer lifespans all the time... if you're willing to take care of them, you can get some crazy numbers.” (Carl, 07:57)

• Best Value Used Cars: The study found the Chevrolet Impala to have the most remaining mileage for the price (avg. $9,700 for 111,000 miles left). Toyotas, though renowned for longevity, tend to cost more upfront due to higher resale values.

  • “If you walked up to the average person and said, would you be willing to buy a $9,700 car with 111,000 more miles left, I think a lot of people would find that compelling.” (Carl, 09:19)

• Other Top Value Cars:

  • Toyota Prius ($13.8k, 130k miles left)
  • Honda Civic Coupe ($12.6k, 117k miles left)
  • Kia Sedona ($9.6k, 87k miles left)
  • Toyota Avalon ($15.8k, 143k miles left)

• Kia & Hyundai Quality: These brands have made major quality improvements and now rival Honda/Toyota for durability and features—often for less money.

  • “Kia and Hyundai... are both far more capable cars of going a long distance because they're far higher quality...” (Carl, 12:37)

• Hybrid Batteries: Concerns over hybrid battery replacement are overblown; most have robust warranties and demonstrate impressive longevity.

  • “We've seen really almost no incidents of early battery failure and if anything, longer life out of those batteries than most would’ve predicted.” (Carl, 13:59)

• Most Likely Cars to Exceed 250,000 Miles:

  • Dominated by trucks/SUVs: Ford F250/F350, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tundra, Land Cruiser.
  • High mileage often reflects both durability and the way vehicles are used (e.g., commercial fleets, family SUVs).
  • “There's two reasons a car will last a long time or go to a high mileage... it's durable and capable, and... it's going to be used in a way to push it up to those miles.” (Carl, 16:06)

• Depreciation by Color: Oddly, yellow or orange cars depreciate the least due to rarity, even though demand isn't high—scarcity beats popularity.

Notable Quotes:

• “Rental agencies do their homework. If you see a car at a lot of rental agencies, they know it's gonna take a beating and last a long time.” (Joe, 20:16)
• “The best resale value is a huge part of what makes ownership affordable, not just the purchase price.” (Carl, 19:39)

2. [24:26] The Top Five Money Mindset Tweaks (Joe and OG’s Countdown)

The heart of the episode is a rich, actionable rundown of money mindset shifts, featuring personal anecdotes, book references, and rapid-fire wisdom. For each, attribution and timestamp are included.

Joe & OG’s Top Five Money Mindset Tweaks

5. Pay Yourself First and Focus on Strengths

• OG: “A part of all you earn is yours to keep.” (30:03, quoting The Richest Man in Babylon)

  • Save a fixed percentage from every paycheck—any amount is impactful, but start early.

• Joe: Focus on unique talents rather than fixing weaknesses.

  • “You will get a lot more mileage out of focusing on your unique talent... the more you shed the things you're not good at, the better your life becomes.” (Joe, 31:04)
  • Delegating weaknesses lets strengths flourish.

4. Take Action and Avoid Perfection Paralysis

• Joe: Be action oriented.

  • “You cannot change without making decisions. 92% and right beats 100% and late almost every single time.” (34:27)
  • Except investing, where patience and deliberate inactivity pays off.

• OG: “Start before you’re ready. Don’t prepare, begin.” (36:05, referencing Steven Pressfield, The War of Art)

  • Procrastination is the enemy—take the first step even if conditions don’t seem perfect.

• On broke professors: “Knows everything and has done nothing. It's not about what you know, it's about what you've actually done.” (Joe, 36:55)

3. Beware False Certainty & Cultivate a Growth Mindset

• OG: “This time is different are the most costly four words in market history.” (37:06, quoting John Templeton)

  • Market cycles repeat; ignoring history leads to costly mistakes.

• Joe: Ask “Where am I wrong?” instead of defending your view.

  • “Every plan has an Achilles’ heel. How often have we been laser-focused on the upside only?” (Joe, 39:03)
  • Growth mindset (Carol Dweck): Remain open to learning and opposing perspectives.

• OG: Build “what-if” scenarios into planning to reduce the stress of real-life curveballs.

  • “It's very difficult to make good financial decisions when you have the stress of the event happening.” (41:17)

2. Steal Like an Artist & Trust Compounding

• Joe: “Steal like an artist”—take good ideas, honor the source, and make them your own. (44:12, referencing Austin Kleon)

  • Find systems that work and adapt them; don’t reinvent everything.

• OG: Understand the power of compounding—most of Warren Buffett’s wealth came after age 65.

  • “You have to understand that the number one feature of investing is to not get in the way of compounding.” (OG, 46:24)
  • Use analogies (e.g., folding paper to the sun) to grasp exponential growth.

1. Begin with the End in Mind & Play Long-Term Games

• Joe: Preparation and clarity on your values pay off.

  • “The best battle’s the one that’s never fought... Begin with the end in mind.” (Joe, 48:55, referencing The Art of War and Stephen Covey)
  • Have clear goals so you’re not tempted to spend investment money for other purposes.
  • Money should serve your defined values/ends, not become an aimless pile.

• OG: “Play long-term games with long-term people.” (49:02, quoting Naval Ravikant)

  • Major gains in wealth, relationships, and knowledge all stem from compounding—choose allies and activities wisely for the long game.
  • Invest primarily in relationships and communities that multiply over time.
  • “You want to be doing compounding things—money, thinking, career, relationships. That takes a different set of people.” (OG, 50:33)

3. [55:02] Lightning Round Takeaways & Closing Humor

Top Takeaways Summed Up by Doug:

• Financial planning is first and foremost a mental game—habit and mindset drive success.
• When buying cars, do your homework—longevity and depreciation matter to your wallet.
• Even trivial habits (like Doug’s pork rinds) spark opportunity for fun and reflection on personal finance habits.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Most of financial planning is mental. Put yourself in the right headspace to win with your money.” (Doug, 55:02)
• “It’s not about what you know, it’s about what you’ve actually done.” (Joe, 36:55)
• “All the returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge, come from compound interest.” (OG quoting Naval Ravikant, 49:02)
• “Your systems are perfectly designed to reflect the results you’re getting.” (Joe quoting Stephen Covey, 44:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 07:30 – Carl Brower interview: Best used cars for value and longevity
• 13:59 – Are hybrid batteries worth worrying about?
• 24:26 – Start of Joe & OG's Top 5 Money Mindset Tweaks Countdown
• 30:03 – Mindset 5: Pay yourself first, focus on strengths
• 34:27 – Mindset 4: Action bias and overcoming paralysis
• 37:06 – Mindset 3: “This time is different," growth mindset, and planning for wrong
• 44:12 – Mindset 2: Steal like an artist, compounding's mind-bending math
• 48:55 – Mindset 1: Begin with the end in mind, play long-term games
• 55:02 – Doug’s wrap-up/Top 3 lessons

Tone & Style

The conversation is light, accessible, and filled with friendly banter, self-deprecation, and humor—classic “Joe’s mom’s basement” style. Despite the laughs, every mindset tweak is backed up with practical, actionable advice sprinkled with quotes and book recommendations, making the episode both fun and functional.

Further Resources

• Full show notes and resources: stackingbenjamins.com
• iSeeCars longevity and value studies: iSeeCars.com

Recommended for: Anyone seeking practical financial wisdom in an entertaining, friendly environment—especially those who appreciate the long game, love quirky analogies, and want to cultivate a winning financial mindset.