Better Off with Jill Schlesinger

As the #MeToo movement sweeps across the world, it’s time for employers to address the issues of sexual harassment, workplace inequality and the gender wage gap. After recently interviewing two experts in their respective fields, here are some key ideas and trends that will help push the movement in the right direction:HR departments will become increasingly more independentWomen will take jobs previously held by menOrganizations will need to teach, embrace and support young men coming into the workforceWorkplace mentoring programs will be instrumental to imbue companies with a culture that supports diversityWomen who develop characteristics of assertiveness, confidence and aggressive behavior, and who know when to use these behaviors, will find more success in the workplaceLet’s stop with the talk and move to action mode...it’s way past time to address these issues. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

I think it's safe to say that we would all like a windfall, right? Emili in Dallas, our BONUS call this week, is one of the lucky ones as she and her husband will soon be coming into a large chunk of money. But with that money comes a tax bill, something Emili wants to make sure she's properly prepared for, hence the call to us! Have a finance related question? Go to jillonmoney.com for all the contact info and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

Bitcoin, bitcoin, bitcoin.  Since the end of 2017 and now into 2018 it’s been hard to avoid the mention of the now wildly popular cryptocurrency. From Cassandra's, who warn that the meteoric rise is a bubble (hello, Jamie Dimon!) to true believers, who think Bitcoin will go to $100,000, it seems that the rest of us better brush up on what’s behind the mania. My first Bitcoin story aired on CBS in 2011, but I certainly don’t consider myself an expert on all things crypto. Thankfully our guest today, Dan Roberts, senior writer at Yahoo Finance, is a total crypto geek and has been covering the wild ride from the beginning.   We started by discussing Dan’s recent piece about the biggest misconceptions when it comes to bitcoin. (This is a great primer for any of you who have read headlines, but are now ready to peel back the first layer of the onion.) For instance, one of the great appeals of cryptocurrencies, for better or worse, has always been that it’s not traceable.  Wrong!  As Dan explains, it is very much traceable.  I had no idea.  And it all ties back to the blockchain technology that powers digital currencies. I also didn’t know that coinbase, the most common exchange used to buy cryptocurrencies, is FDIC insured up to a maximum of $250,000. Like brokerage accounts, the FDIC protect against the failure of the institution, not against trading losses. Additionally, while it might sound like the Wild West, but the world of cryptocurrencies is more regulated than you would think. Dan notes that legit Bitcoin brokerages are all licensed in some manner: either with Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and all of the exchanges now offering bitcoin futures and options are overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Does that mean you should sell your stocks and plunge into cryptocurrencies? SLOW DOWN, TURBO...Consider this: on the day we taped this interview, Bitcoin tumbled nearly 20 percent, so you would be wise to listen to Dan discuss his number one fear before pulling the trigger.   Follow Dan on Twitter for easy to understand cryptocurrency content. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

Bitcoin was all the rage at the end of 2017 and it's showing no signs of letting up in 2018, so it's appropriate that we have our first cryptocurrency BONUS call from Steve in Georgia. Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

It’s 2018 and that means that many of you have gotten on the resolution bandwagon. The most common ones are to exercise more/eat less; save more/spend less; and of course one of our favorites: SLEEP MORE! Career objectives are among the most difficult to tackle. After all, if “Getting a New Job” were so easy, you probably would have done so already. Today’s guest is here to help kick-start your efforts. Pat Hedley, the author of the recent book, Meet 100 People: A How-To Guide to the Career and Life Edge Everyone's Missing, says that whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, getting out there and meeting people is probably the biggest key to any success you’re going to have. Of course you know this intuitively, but emails only go so far. To establish genuine relationships and to build a network with life-long value, we have to proactively meet people -- and do so IN PERSON. Pat explains three key issues that are critical to meeting people and expanding your network and she also covers:How to establish a network when you are starting outHow to properly frame a job searchThe right questions to askWhy rejection isn’t a bad thingIf you -- or someone you know -- is unhappy at work and looking to make a change, maybe 2018 is the year. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

The age-old question of whether it makes sense to pay off your mortgage...it never goes away. I understand that you want to be debt free, but keep in mind that there is such a thing as good debt. That's what I explained to Joe from Chicago on the latest BONUS call. Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

A colleague recently asked me how he might be able to finally stick to a budget. For years, he had tried to create and adhere to a specific annual spending plan, only to blow a hole through it at some point during the year. "What's wrong with me?" He said. "I know that I should do it, but there's always something that comes up." Let me be the first to admit that I am not a fan of budgets. In the same way that I think most crash diets lead to failure, the majority of budgets or new year's resolutions fall by the wayside within months of being made, as life interrupts our best intentions. Part of the reason is that we sometimes make the whole process more onerous than necessary. Budgeting should not be an end but rather the means by which we can accomplish our financial goals. Of course, that fact means that you need to start by establishing those goals. Here are my top five to help get you started in 2018, though you’ll have to listen for the details on each...and to hear the other three: Pay down consumer debtEstablish an emergency reserve fundMaximize retirement savingsFund an education planEstablish a general investment accountTechnology can be your friend as you address your New Year’s Resolutions. Use it to create automatic drafts to avoid late payments and accelerate the pay-down of loans; to establish similar drafts with your bank or brokerage firm; to beef up your emergency reserve fund; and to slowly increase your contribution levels to your retirement plan with auto-escalation features available at many financial institutions. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

Raise your hand if you know what SIPC stands for? That's what I thought :) Thanks to Jim, our first BONUS caller of 2018, you're all going to get educated a bit! Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

‘Twas the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and not a soul was paying attention to their finances…except everyone scrambling to make year-end tax moves! Even with the tax bill looming, this is also the week when you should unplug (except from this podcast!), relax, eat, have a glass of wine, forget about all your worries and recharge for 2018.   That’s why we’re keeping it short and sweet this week with Jeff Fager, executive producer of 60 Minutes and author of the new book, Fifty Years of 60 Minutes: The Inside Story of Television’s Most Influential News Broadcast. When you think about it, the Sunday staple of 60 Minutes has tracked and shaped the biggest moments in post-war American history. The show has profiled every major leader, artist, and movement of the past five decades, perfecting the news-making interview and inventing the groundbreaking TV expose. From recent profiles of Michael Bloomberg and the CEO of Chobani to the investigation of the multibillion dollar industry that collects, analyzes and sells the personal information of millions of Americans with virtually no oversight, financial themed stories have played a large role throughout the history of the show. It was a lot of fun chatting with Jeff and learning about what it takes to make a 60 Minutes worthy story.   In the world of “fake news” that we currently we live in, it’s reassuring to know that shows like 60 Minutes are still being produced. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

Welcome to the post-Christmas edition of the BONUS call! Only in his early 50s, Jeff from Georgia already has well over a million dollars and wanted to run his longterm game plan by us. Is this a good time to try some market timing?? Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

Big changes are coming to the U.S. tax code, but how will it impact YOUR bottom line?  This week we’re doing something a bit different. No guest! Just me diving deep and offering up my two cents on the GOP’s plan to remake the tax system for the first time in over three decades. Given the historic nature of the event, I wanted to break it down and mull over some of these questions:What will change for most Americans?How does geography play into the calculation?What happens to homeowners?How will corporations deploy their tax windfalls?What will the near term and long term economic impact of this reform be?Thanks for allowing me to hog the mic and rant! Depending on how it goes, you may be hearing a bit more of that in 2018! “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

If you ever take a look at the investments in your retirement plan chances are you'll see a bunch of target-date fund options. Sometimes people think they're the best option...kind of like one stop shopping. And sometimes they are. But sometimes they aren't, which is what Suzen from Chicago found out on the latest BONUS call. Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

What’s a portfolio without a bond position? It’s incomplete and potentially riskier than necessary. We field so many questions about your portfolios and asset allocation and while stocks may seem sexier because of their upside potential, you always hear me stress that everyone needs exposure to bonds as well. We rarely dive into bonds in great detail--what they are, how they work, and why you absolutely need them, which is why I thought it would be time for a little Bond Boot Camp. Our leader for this mission on today’s podcast is Justin Land, aka the ultimate bond guru. Justin is the Director of Tax Exempt Portfolio Management at Wasmer, Schroeder & Company, an investment advisory firm based in Naples, FL. In the current environment where it seems like the Dow is setting records on a daily basis, there’s probably a lot of people out there who want to be 100% invested in stocks. But what happens when the Bull turns into a Bear -- what will help protect you then? What if I told you that by owning a bond position, you’d only miss out on a little of the upside, but in return, your downside would look far better when that eventual correction occurs.   And make no mistake...it’s coming.  It’s a matter of when, not if.   After hearing this chat with the bond guru, if you don’t already, I hope you add some to your portfolio and start out 2018 on the right financial foot! “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

This week on the BONUS call it's the age-old question about big city living...should I buy or keep on renting? Have a finance question? We want to hear from you! Email us at askjill@betteroffpodcast.com and we'll arrange to get you on. Don't forget, a brand new episode of the Better Off podcast comes out Thursday so stay tuned for more listener questions plus an informative interview. Better Off is sponsored by Betterment. Please let us know what you think by leaving a rating or review in iTunes. Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2

This week is another example of how the podcasting world really is like a small fraternity/sorority where hosts often appear on each other’s shows. Today it’s Felix Salmon, host of the Slate Money podcast, joining us on Better Off. If you’re not familiar with Felix, I think the best way to describe him is as a contrarian and/or curmudgeon...something he happily admits! I’m a big Felix fan and have been reading (he did stints at Reuters, Portfolio Magazine and Euromoney) and listening to him for quite some time so I had a list of topics to cover, including: Corporate responsibility Active versus passive investing His ongoing relationship with Anthony ScaramucciThe student loan crisisWhat’s next for the US economyIn addition to hosting Slate Money, Felix is currently the editor of Cause and Effect. Because we had so much fun, the interview went a bit long which means no caller this episode.  But fear not!  We’ll be back to our regular format next week. If you want some good laughs and top notch commentary, follow Felix on Twitter. “Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment. We love feedback so please leave us a rating or review in iTunes. "Better Off" theme music is by Joel Goodman, www.joelgoodman.com. For a recap of every episode, visit https://www.betterment.com/resources/topics/inside-betterment/better-off-podcast/ Connect with me at these places for all my content: http://www.jillonmoney.com/  https://twitter.com/jillonmoney  https://www.facebook.com/JillonMoney  https://www.instagram.com/jillonmoney/  https://www.youtube.com/c/JillSchlesinger  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillonmoney/  https://soundcloud.com/jill-schlesinger  http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jill-on-money  http://betteroffpodcast.com/  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/better-off-jill-schlesinger/id431167790?mt=2