Charged Up! with Jenny Hoff

Pay your mortgage off in 5 years, reduce your car payments, make 8 percent on your savings instead of zero percent in the bank - veteran financial journalist Jordan Goodman, "America's Money Answers Man," says these aren't ploys but legitimate tools most people aren't taking advantage of. Instead of the typical advice to save 6 months salary and skip the daily latte, Jordan offers some unique tips to upping your money game and paying down your debt fast. So, let's get charged up about learning how to make more and owe less with America's Money Answers Man!

Frustrated with figuring out credit card reward schemes and wanting to give back to organizations he cared about, Stephen Garten set his mind to create his own credit card. After teaming up with Mastercard, he developed Charity Charge, a card that gives 1 percent back of every purchase to the charity of your choice. Garten talks to us about the struggles to making his card dream become a reality, his mission going forward and his solution for the conscious consumer. So, let's get Charged Up! about learning how to give back with our credit card!

Your spending habits have changed dramatically over the last 15 years and it's not by accident. In his book, "The Deals That Made World," BBC journalist, author and film maker Jacques Peretti outlines exactly what went down behind the scenes to move us from a cash based to a cashless society. Trends aren't always by accident and new habits are often pre-designed. So, let's get charged up! about learning how certain deals changed the way we live our lives!

If you've ever said "This is the year I get my financial life in order," you're not alone. New York Times writer John Schwartz made that exact statement and turned it into a book, chronicling his journey from financially confused to financially sound. Between writing a will, adding more to his 401(k) and getting a handle on all of his investments, he came out of the year with a weight off his shoulders and his financial life in order. So, let's get Charged Up! about making this year we finally get our own financial lives in order!

Managing credit card rewards can be time-consuming and confusing. Hear from CreditCards.com columnist Tony Mecia on the best cards to get, what to expect from your rewards, how to get more mileage out of your miles and when you can close a card you no longer use. So, let's get Charged Up! about getting the lowdown on credit card rewards!

Sometimes the best way to get ahead is to learn how to hustle, how to make your dreams work with what you have right now. TV journalist, author, inspirational speaker and marketing consultant Silva Harapetian, knows that better than almost anyone. As an immigrant from a war-torn country with no knowledge of English to a television reporter in some of the country's top markets, Silva has made life work by learning how to make her own rules. She shares with us her story and her tips for making your dreams happen now, no matter the obstacles in your way. So, let's get Charged Up! about learning how to hustle!

You've graduated college and you're ready to start your first job, but are your financial skills sharpened enough to make the right choices early on? Former Goldman Sachs trader and current university lecturer and columnist, Michael Taylor, takes you through the most important mathematical concepts you need to know to avoid massive debt and cash in on the amount of time you have to build millions in wealth for retirement. Let's get Charged Up! on learning the financial lessons you need to know!

Networking can be tedious and feel disingenuous - but it doesn't have to be that way. Author David Burkus studied what it takes to successfully network and in his book, "Friend of a Friend," recounted his findings, which show that attending random parties and meeting random people isn't as effective as tapping into the networks you already have - the outer rings of your friend circles. In this episode, David gives his tips on using your network successfully to land that next job, pivot careers, start a business or just earn some extra cash to pay down credit card bills. So, let's get Charged Up! about learning how to successfully network!

When it comes to preparing taxes, good advice can save you thousands of dollars. In this episode we talk with well-known accountant Barbara Weltman on the must-do's of taxes, how to calculate credit card rewards and what to do if you own your own small business or side hustle. So, before you tackle those taxes yourself, give yourself the gift of free tax advice and see if there's money you could be saving! So, let's get Charged Up! about mastering taxes!

Bestselling author many times over and personal finance guru David Bach talks about one of his all-time bestsellers "Smart Couples Finish Rich" and how partners in today's economic environment can set themselves up for comfort, prosperity and security - no matter where they currently stand financially. You don't have to make hundreds of thousands of dollars to have a comfortable retirement. You need to make the right moves now to ensure your future. So, let's get Charged Up! about learning how smart couples finish rich!

A lot of investors have hopes of scoring big by day trading. While money can be made, it isn't as easy as having a good hunch about the market. Alex Foster, Vice President of Operations with Quantiacs, talks about the ins and outs of day trading and what to avoid, such as using your credit card to fund your hunch. While day trading isn't for everyone, Foster says there are tools out there that that can give you a good idea of how well you'll do .. before you ever put money on the line. So, let's get Charged Up! about finding out what it takes to be a day trader!

"You need more money." That's the message from entrepreneur Matt Manero and he says it applies to almost anyone, no matter what your salary is or how much you've saved. With no inheritance to rely on or even a father figure to turn to for advice, Manero depended on his own grit and determination to turn his company into a money-making machine. He is now a very successful business owner, author, podcaster and inspirational speaker who can motivate anyone to start now on the path to making more money. He'll give us his blueprint on entering into accumulation mode, getting rid of debt fast and changing your mindset to believe in the power of wealth and what it can mean for you and those you love. Even if you think you've got enough, Matt believes there is a lot on the table you're missing out on and more money means more power to do good for those you love and care about. So, let's get charged up about making more money!

One of the biggest problems when it comes to managing money is often an unpredictable income. If you're self-employed or just not numbers-focused you may feel like budgets and investments are too much to handle, but Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson, stars of PBS Digital's "Two Cents," say it's easier than you think. Whether you own your own business, have a side gig or work in a service industry with seasonal ups and downs, their tips will help you avoid huge financial mistakes and make strides toward a solid financial backing for your work. They focus their coaching on those in the creative industries but their advice is applicable to anyone wanting to make good business and financial decisions. So, let's get charged up about learning how to manage our income, no matter how much it fluctuates!

Venture capitalist Bill Malloy, with San Francisco based Sway Ventures, talks about the latest tools in the marketplace to take your finances to the next level. From an app that manages all of your assets - money, investment funds, real estate - to a virtual credit card that consolidates your debt so you can pay it off faster, there are tools for anybody looking to automate their financial lives. He also discusses where the retail space is headed, what to expect when you shop in the next five years and how banks need to compete in today's space. So, let's get Charged Up! about discovering the future of finance!

Author of many books on building good habits and curator of the website developgoodhabits.com, Steve Scott has mastered the art of developing habits to better his life and meet his financial and career goals. Steve believes you only need small changes every day to make a big difference and you can start right now. So, if you're looking to better your financial, personal and professional life, get Charged Up! about mastering the art of habit stacking to make it happen!