

Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors - The Best Interest
Jesse Cramer
Why is personal finance so complicated?
The internet is flooded with personal finance "experts" sharing short-sighted, error-prone advice. But long-term financial success requires thoughtful, patient, and well-researched strategies.
Hosted by Jesse Cramer, a former aerospace engineer turned fiduciary financial advisor in Rochester, NY, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors simplifies complex financial topics. With relatable stories, in-depth research, and practical tips, Jesse helps you master financial planning for families, make smart decisions about tax-efficient investing, and build strategies for retirement planning and beyond.
Formerly known as The Best Interest Podcast, and inspired by Jesse's award-nominated blog The Best Interest, this podcast is your trusted resource for comprehensive financial planning and smart investing.
Whether you're looking for optimal investment allocations, retirement planning advice, or generational wealth transfer ideas, this show makes personal finance approachable, enjoyable, and actionable.
A richer tomorrow starts with learning today. Invest in your knowledge with Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors.
The internet is flooded with personal finance "experts" sharing short-sighted, error-prone advice. But long-term financial success requires thoughtful, patient, and well-researched strategies.
Hosted by Jesse Cramer, a former aerospace engineer turned fiduciary financial advisor in Rochester, NY, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors simplifies complex financial topics. With relatable stories, in-depth research, and practical tips, Jesse helps you master financial planning for families, make smart decisions about tax-efficient investing, and build strategies for retirement planning and beyond.
Formerly known as The Best Interest Podcast, and inspired by Jesse's award-nominated blog The Best Interest, this podcast is your trusted resource for comprehensive financial planning and smart investing.
Whether you're looking for optimal investment allocations, retirement planning advice, or generational wealth transfer ideas, this show makes personal finance approachable, enjoyable, and actionable.
A richer tomorrow starts with learning today. Invest in your knowledge with Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 24, 2024 β’ 50min
Health = Money = Time | Phil Pearlman - E79
In episode 79 of The Best Interest Podcast, host Jesse Cramer discusses the intricate relationships between health, wealth, and time with guest Phil Pearlman. Jesse starts with his usual monologue, explaining and establishing that health, money, and time are all interchangeable resources that many people trade-off throughout their lives. Jesse and Phil then delve into how health decisions significantly impact financial standing and overall quality of life, emphasizing the importance of viewing health as an investment in one's future. Phil, transitioning from a finance profession to focusing on personal health, shares his insights on behavioral finance, the importance of making conscious decisions regarding health and finance, and the impact of societal trends on individual well-being. Additionally, Phil discusses his unique approach to personal health, advocating for self-experimentation and critical thinking in navigating health advice. The conversation also touches upon cultural aspects of addiction and the power of individual choice in improving one's health, wealth, and time. Finally, Phil shares information about his work at the Pearl Institute and his dedication to helping people make better health and life decisions. Key Takeaways: How physical health is a critical aspect of financial health. Health will allow you to enjoy your wealth. Phil's holistic approach to health and how it includes finances. Why you need to imagine yourself in the future. How to see your future self as a real person, and consider their needs. Why you should be a scientist and your most important subject! You don't have to be a statistic. Mentions: π Website: https://www.pearlinst.com/ π Prime Cuts Newsletter: https://primecuts.substack.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-pearlman-1002183/ π Rebels with a Cause by Phil Pearlman: https://primecuts.substack.com/p/rebels-with-a-cause π Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury: https://amzn.to/3xHyaSF π Brave New World by Aldous Huxley: https://amzn.to/3U7W55j π 1984 by George Orwell: https://amzn.to/3U5e2Bu π₯ The film Fahrenheit 451, on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/433467090 More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Apr 10, 2024 β’ 1h 12min
An Informative Debate: The Most Important Rules of Personal Finance | Justin Peters - E78
Jesse starts this episode with an engaging monologue: how exactly does The Best Interest generate revenue? Jesse answers this question and asks YOU for your help in ensuring The Best Interest continues as a terrific free financial resource. And then Justin Peters joins for the second half of the episode. Justin hosts The Struggle is Real, a podcast about adulting through your twenties. He's also a co-founder of SimplePod Studios, which produces The Best Interest Podcast. In this episode, Justin and Jesse discuss, compare, and contrast their top five "Golden Rules" of personal finance. If you're looking for an insightful, fun, and fast-paced conversation, this is the episode for you. Key Takeaways: How does The Best Interest make money? The intersection of Jesse's professional life and The Best Interest Why you need to track your money! How gift cards trick you into spending more. The best investment is in yourself. Simple is better than complex (almost always). Why and how you should prepare for risk. Why you MUST automate your finances, as much as possible. Think long term, but don't forget the present. Mentions: π Website: https://simplepodstudios.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ ποΈ Podcast: https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ π§ The RRTTLLU Framework: https://bestinterest.blog/rrttllu/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Mar 27, 2024 β’ 56min
A Market Crash is Coming! (β¦Eventually) | Peter Lazaroff - E77
Peter Lazaroff is the host of The Long Term Investor podcast and serves as the Chief Investment Officer at PlanCorp, a registered investment advisory in St. Louis. On today's show, Jesse and Peter talk about the cognitive challenge of investing at all-time highs. It's normal to feel like a crash might be coming; but it always feels that way, and you shouldn't be worried about it. If you're a long-term stock market investor and want to think a little more rationally or learn, this is the episode for you! Key Takeaways: Why you should expect corrections and bear markets,, but shouldn't worry about them. Why the stock market keeps going up, regardless of the political party in power. Should you continue investing when the market is at an all-time high? Why you shouldn't be worried about what's happening in the short run. How the evidence cuts both ways in investing, and how to simplify it. Why you should diversify into global stocks. How to prepare for a bear market. Mentions: π Website: https://peterlazaroff.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlazaroff/ ποΈ The Long Term Investor Podcast: https://peterlazaroff.com/podcast π The Market Crash Is Coming! (β¦Eventually): https://bestinterest.blog/market-crash/ π "Boring" Money Topics That I Find Fun: https://bestinterest.blog/boring-money-topics-that-i-find-fun/ π Decades of Zero Return: https://bestinterest.blog/decades-of-zero-return/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Mar 13, 2024 β’ 53min
Don't Make Your Own Pizza?! | Jared Dillian - E76
Jared Dillian is a former Wall Street trader at Lehman Brothers, an author of 4 books, and daily writer a newsletter for financial professionals called The Daily Dirtnap. He's sharp, witty, and brings great energy to today's conversation. In this episode of The Best Interest Podcast, we learn about "The Allegory of the Sandwich" and how you can pay for the small stuff by thinking carefully about the big stuff! If you're looking to hear unique takes on the FIRE movement and your daily latte, this is the episode for you! Key Takeaways: How taxes can actually be interesting! The power of waiting (for decades) The foundational importance of cash flow Preparing for life via insurance How being smart about the big decisions will help you not sweat the small stuff. Why Jared doesn't want to retire (ever). Why you shouldn't make your own pizza. The Allegory of the Sandwich. Why the goal should be happiness, not a number. When is it worth it to make more money? How financial stress doesn't necessarily depend on how much you make. Mentions: π Website: https://www.jareddillianmoney.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-dillian-411aaa1b/ ποΈ BE SMART Podcast: https://www.jareddillianmoney.com/podcasts π No Worries: How to live a stress-free financial life by Jared Dillian: https://amzn.to/4atCxiz π The FIRE Movement by Jared Dillian: https://wggtb.substack.com/p/the-fire-movement π "Boring" Money Topics That I Find Fun by Jesse Cramer: https://bestinterest.blog/boring-money-topics-that-i-find-fun/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Feb 28, 2024 β’ 53min
Growth Mindsets to Afford Anything | Paula Pant - E75
Paula Pant writes, podcasts, and speaks on financial independence, money management, and financial literacy. As the host of the Afford Anything Podcast, Paula has racked up more than 30 million downloads, ranking the show among the Top 50 Business Podcasts on Apple Podcasts. In this episode we learn how Paula realized she could travel the world on a limited income and eventually go on to financial independence through Afford Anything. If you're looking for some growth mindset inspiration that will help you broaden your perspective, this is the episode for you! Key Takeaways: - How to move on (and grow) after financial mistakes. - Why we need reminders and safety measures. - How to afford anything with the power of priorities. - How Paula traveled the world and never got a job again. - What cap rate you should be looking for in a rental property. - Why you should start 10X thinking, rather than penny pinching. Mentions: π Afford Anything: https://affordanything.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulapant/ ποΈ Afford Anything Podcast: https://affordanything.com/podcast/ π Are We In The Best Stock Market Periodβ¦Ever? https://bestinterest.blog/the-best-stock-market-period-ever/ π Should You Keep Investing At All-Time Highs? https://bestinterest.blog/investing-at-all-time-highs/ π The Incredible Power of 10X Thinking https://affordanything.com/any-benefit/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Feb 14, 2024 β’ 58min
Picking Stocks - Does It Ever Work?! | Brian Feroldi - E74
Brian Feroldi is a prolific creator in the financial education space, having written over 3000 articles for the Motley Fool, published a book, "Why Does The Stock Market Go Up?", and actively posting to his YouTube Channel. In this episode, Brian breaks down his checklist for what makes a company worth investing in and provides some insight into what we should do before we jump into investing. If you're interested in personal investing and some great guidelines to go along with it, this is the episode to listen to. Key Takeaways: What is the index fund bubble? And what are some prominent thoughts on it? Should you be worried about an index fund bubble? How to get a sense of a company worth investing in. What criteria Brian uses when deciding what to invest in? Why you should "never interrupt your compounding unnecessarily." Why you should take care of the boring before the exciting. Why you should keep your personal life and your investing life separate. Mentions: π Brian Feroldi: https://www.brianferoldi.com/ π Long Term Mindset: https://brianferoldi.substack.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianferoldi/ π Checklist: https://brianferoldi.ck.page/checklist π Why Does The Stock Market Go Up? By Brian Feroldi: https://amzn.to/3Ij1Yax π Raoul Pal: https://www.youtube.com/@RaoulPalTJM π Ben Felix: https://www.youtube.com/@BenFelixCSI ποΈ Odd Lots: Why The Rise of Passive Investing Might Be Distorting The Market: https://omny.fm/shows/odd-lots/why-the-rise-of-passive-investing-might-be-distort ποΈ Animal Spirits Podcast: https://awealthofcommonsense.com/podcast/ π The Motley Fool: https://www.fool.ca/ π More on The Index Fund Bubble: https://bestinterest.blog/index-fund-bubble/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Jan 31, 2024 β’ 1h 5min
People Need Informative Straight-Talk About Money (And Jokes, Too) | Joe Saul-Sehy - E73
Joe Saul-Sehy is one of the hosts of Stacking Benjamins, which is one of the most listened-to podcasts in the personal finance space. In this episode, we discuss how to find a good financial advisor, how to chase time (not money), and even how to decide what your top priority is in life. If you're looking for an educational listen with plenty of laughs along the way, then this is the episode for you! Key Takeaways: What you need to ask any financial advisor you're considering working with. How Joe uses storytelling to make money make sense. Who you need to surround yourself with to find success. Before you ask what the cost is, ask what you're getting in return. Why you need to chase time, not money. How to put your goals in an MMA cage match to determine your priorities. Mentions: π Website: https://joesaulsehy.com/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-saul-sehy-b3426b31/ ποΈ Stacking Benjamins: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/ π Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management by Joe Saul-Sehy and Emily Guy Birken https://www.amazon.ca/Stacked-Super-Serious-Guide-Modern-Management-ebook/dp/B092HGBFB5 π "I Wouldn't Know Where to Start" β 16 Questions to Ask A Financial Advisor by Jesse Cramer https://bestinterest.blog/financial-advisor-questions/ π The 19 Questions to Ask Your Financial Adviser By Jason Zweig https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-19-questions-to-ask-your-financial-adviser-1503654013 More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Jan 17, 2024 β’ 1h 5min
When Scary Career Risks Get Remarkable Results | Doug Cunnington - E72
Today's show features Doug Cunnington, one of the hosts of the financial independence podcast Mile High FI. Doug highlights how he took conservative risks along the way to FI, and walks us through his career journey to financial independence. We discuss misconceptions about the FIRE movement, how to prepare for financial emergencies, and why it's never too late to start your own journey to financial goodness. This episode is a must listen! Key Takeaways: What is risk, really? And how can you live with it? How to estimate risk in investing, and in yourself. The difference between volatility and risk. Why you need to do "financial fire drills." How Doug set himself up for financial independence. What people get wrong about FI/RE. How to move on from a financial mess by looking forward. Stoicism and personal finance. Mentions: π Website: https://bestinterest.blog/ ππΌ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-cunnington-pmp-a850435/ ποΈ The Mile High FI Podcast: https://milehighfi.com/ π Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DougCunnington π Career Change β Is It A Risk?: https://bestinterest.blog/career-change-risk/ π Investing "Fire Drills": https://bestinterest.blog/foxes/ π Mr. Money Mustache: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/ π Ryan Holiday: https://ryanholiday.net/ryan-holiday-books/ π Smart Passive Income: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/shows/spi/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Jan 3, 2024 β’ 54min
The Unspoken Strain of F.I. | Diania Merriam - E71
Diania Merriam is the founder of the EconoMe Conference, an exclusive gathering for the FIRE community (financial independence, retire early). Inspired by FIRE, Diania hit an impressive 60% savings rate and retired at 33. Of course, in retirement, you've got to stay active; what's the point of financial freedom if you've got nothing to do? Diania joins Jesse today to discuss CoastFI, SlowFI, and the need to enjoy the journey. If you're saving for retirement, but aren't sure what to do with that retirement, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways: What inspired Diania to walk the Camino de Santiago. How to disconnect for your career with purpose. Why you need a vision for what your retirement will look like. Don't wait for financial independence to change your life. What are SlowFI and CoastFI? How to be an efficient saver, not a deprived saver. Why FI is better with friends. Mentions: π EconoMe Conference: https://economeconference.com/ ποΈ Optimal Finance Daily: https://oldpodcast.com/optimal-finance-daily-podcast/ ποΈ ChooseFI Podcast: https://www.choosefi.com/listen/choose-fi-podcast/ π Robert Kiyosaki's Awful Takes: https://bestinterest.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kiyosaki_2-scaled.jpeg π The Fioneers: https://thefioneers.com/ π Blowhards, Broken Clocks, and Confirmation Bias: https://bestinterest.blog/confirmation-bias/ π Rich Wolf, Poor Sheep: https://bestinterest.blog/rich-wolf-poor-sheep/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Dec 20, 2023 β’ 1h 3min
The 7 Sins of Investing | Jeremy Schneider aka Personal Finance Club - E70
Jeremy is the voice behind Personal Finance Club, a community of champions of the individual investor dedicated to bringing accessible financial education to all. The Personal Finance Club believes financial education improves lives and it should be taught in school. You might have seen Jeremy and Personal Finance Club on Instagram where he posts eye catching financial graphics to almost 600, 000 followers. In this episode Jesse and Jeremy discuss the 7 Sins of Investing. These simple lessons will give you valuable insight into some habits to avoid, skills to develop, and knowledge to gain for your financial well-being. Key Takeaways: Your home is a lifestyle choice, but it's not an investment - more of a hard to upkeep asset. Why you should "rent your fun", treat money as a tool, and other useful ways to approach finances. How humans evolved to be impressionable and how this has been co-opted by consumerism. Live below your means, and invest early and often. Learn Jeremy's 7 Sins of Investing. Why you should just stand there and wait. Jeremy's Nectarine: Advice-Only Financial Advising. Mentions: π 7 Money Mistakes: https://bestinterest.blog/money-mistakes/ π Why'd I Buy a Home With a 6.5% Mortgage?!: https://bestinterest.blog/buy-a-home-high-interest-mortgage/ π Personal Finance Club: https://www.personalfinanceclub.com/ ππΌ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/personalfinanceclub/ π Nectarine: https://hellonectarine.com/ More of The Best Interest: Check out the Best Interest Blog at bestinterest.blog Contact me at jesse@bestinterest.blog The Best Interest Podcast is a personal podcast meant for education and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.


