Lesson: Government Shutdown & Emergency Planning

It's the most wonderful time of the year in the basement, and we're kicking off the holiday season with our biggest, most packed episode yet.

Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug welcome Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix from the How to Money podcast for a year-end celebration of everything that mattered in money during 2025. Think of this as the holiday parade of personal finance episodes. There's a lot happening, it's all connected, and you'll want to stick around for the whole thing.

First up, Joel and Matt join the crew for their Top 5 Lessons from the Events of 2025. From AI's real impact on everyday work to market surprises nobody saw coming, this segment unpacks the money moments that actually changed how we think about our finances. These aren't just headlines rehashed. They're the insights that'll help you make smarter moves in 2026.

Then the show shifts to a fascinating trend everyone's noticing but nobody's quite figured out yet. Why is everyone suddenly betting on everything? Prediction markets are exploding, retail investors are taking bigger risks, and the line between investing and gambling feels blurrier than ever. Joe, OG, Joel, and Matt dig into what's driving this shift, whether it's brilliant or reckless, and how to think about risk when it seems like the whole world just discovered the casino.

But wait, there's more. Nick from Alaska calls in with a real-world budgeting challenge that proves even the most prepared Stackers face seasonal money surprises. His situation sparks the kind of practical, helpful conversation this show does best.

And because this is a holiday kickoff episode, we're wrapping with big news about the Stacking Benjamins Vault, the new tool designed to help you organize and protect your most important financial documents without the headache.

This episode has everything. Big ideas, real questions, legendary guests, surprise calls, and the energy of a show that knows the best episodes are the ones where there's almost too much good stuff to fit in. Welcome to the holiday season, Stacker style.

What You'll Walk Away With:

• Joel and Matt's Top 5 Money Lessons from 2025 that actually matter going forward

• How AI really affected work and income this year in practical, not theoretical, ways

• Why prediction markets and betting culture are suddenly everywhere and what it means for investors

• Whether the shift toward riskier investments is smart adaptation or dangerous groupthink

• Nick from Alaska's budgeting challenge and the solutions the crew offers in real time

• An inside look at the Stacking Benjamins Vault and how it helps you organize what matters most

• The perfect energy boost heading into holiday episodes and a new year of smarter money moves

This Episode Is For You If:

• You want the year-end money recap that feels like a celebration, not a lecture

• You've noticed everyone's suddenly betting on elections, sports, and markets and wonder what's going on

• You love episodes with special guests, surprise calls, and enough happening to keep you engaged the whole way

• You want to head into the holidays feeling smarter about money, not more anxious

• You're ready to kick off the season with the Stacking Benjamins crew at their absolute best

After You Listen, Share This:

What was your biggest money lesson from 2025? And have you noticed yourself (or people you know) getting more comfortable with risky bets lately? Drop your thoughts in the Spotify comments or the Basement Facebook group because this episode kicks off our holiday run, and we want to hear what's on your mind heading into 2026.

FULL SHOW NOTES: https://stackingbenjamins.com/year-end-lessons-with-the-runners-up-of-the-charity-challenge-1777

Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/201

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