rich & REGULAR with Kiersten and Julien Saunders

It’s that time again…open enrollment season. And while we know this topic doesn’t get anyone out of bed in the morning, it SHOULD. Because buried in that HR email you ignored is a decision that could cost or save you thousands.This week, we’re breaking down why so many people just auto-renew last year’s health plan, what rising premiums in 2026 actually mean for your wallet, and how AI can help you stop making five-figure decisions based on casual conversations with your coworkers.We talk about:Why health insurance is quietly eating your raiseHow to sniff out hidden changes in your 2026 planUsing AI to compare plans without becoming an expertThe power of a good prompt and what to include in yoursWhy planning for next year’s pregnancy, braces, or mental health care needs to happen right now Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We recently teamed up with Consumer Reports on an eye-opening project that made us rethink how we evaluate, purchase, and engage with our homeowners insurance policy. This week’s episode is about what we learned.Here’s what we unpack:Why homeowners insurance is way more confusing and critical than we thoughtWhat’s driving double-digit rate hikes (even if you’ve never filed a claim)How your dog, HOA, or even local crime rates affect your premiumsOne of the most overlooked parts of your policy that could actually save youWhy checking your mail might be the most important financial task you do this weekHow to protect yourself with umbrella policies and avoid common trapsThis one’s shorter than usual, because we want you to take action: → Read your policy. → Shop around. → Check out CR’s list of top-rated homeowners insurance companies based on actual customer satisfaction, claim handling, and renewal transparency Links: Why are Homeowners Insurance rates going up right now?Homeowners Insurance & Extreme Weather: What you should know Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Food prices are up (again), takeout is 4x more expensive than eating at home, and yet somehow..dinner still ends up on your doorstep. That’s exactly why we created Eat Better, a new video series that makes home cooking feel doable, even if you're not “a cooking person.”In this episode, we're breaking down why so many people aren’t cooking at home, and what it really takes to change that.Julien talks about how 20+ years of cooking at home and 7 years as a pro chef shaped our latest project, and Kiersten opens up about what’s kept her out of the kitchen. We also dig into how we think about food and money, and why this moment in time demands a better approach to nourishing yourself and your family.Listen to hear more about:The launch of our new video series Eat BetterWhy your favorite restaurants might all be serving the same food How people got to a point where cooking feels harder than it isThe emotional, cultural, and economic reasons behind the takeout trapWhy your kitchen might be working against youWhy cooking is a critical life skill, not just a nice-to-haveHow restaurant-quality meals at home are more doable (and cheaper) than you thinkLinks: Start here and leave your questions for Eat Better (full series HERE)“I tracked down the company ruining restaurants” via More Perfect UnionEp 158 - The secret to stress-free cooking at home | must-have kitchen tech for busy people (watch it instead) Eat Better on a Budget ebook Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

If talking about credit makes you anxious, confused, or just flat-out annoyed… you're not alone. In this episode, we break down the truth about credit scores and reports: what they are, how they work, the most common myths people believe, and why it’s time we stop treating credit like a moral compass.Whether you’re building credit for the first time, trying to bounce back from a rough patch, or just wondering why your score dipped after doing the “right” thing - we got you.We cover:The biggest myths about credit (including the one a lot of folks still repeat)Why your score is not a moral report cardHow to check your credit and why you must The rise of shady credit repair schemesSmart ways to build or rebuild without getting scammedCredit reports, analogies, and a little tough loveLinks: Episode 211 - Everything you were never taught about bankruptcy (or watch it HERE)Check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.comNational Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)Operation HOPE – Financial counseling and education Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Discover three unique money identities: rich, regular, and good-job, each with its own energy and mindset. Learn how these identities mirror personality types, helping you understand financial behaviors. Take the quick five-question quiz to identify your own money identity and explore the implications of your results. The hosts emphasize blending these energies for a balanced financial life and warn against the pitfalls of obsessing over wealth. It's a fun, insightful journey into how we relate to money!

Rigid budgeting fails because it doesn't account for life’s unpredictability. The hosts discuss shifting from strict rules to adaptable 'richuals,' allowing for more flexible financial habits. They highlight the importance of managing cash flow like a business while preparing for seasonal spending. Tips include recognizing that one-size-fits-all formulas often lead to frustration, and that skills can be leveraged for savings. Embracing diverse financial tools helps you adapt to life's changes, promoting a real-time approach to financial management.

Jillian Johnsrud, a writer and coach, urges us to rethink retirement in her new book Retire Often. Instead of waiting decades, she advocates for taking intentional mini-retirements every few years. Jillian explains how just one month off can transform your life, while her '6.5% rule' offers a new budgeting perspective for breaks. She discusses burnout, emphasizing the importance of recovery, and shares how breaks can actually enhance career growth. Join her in discovering how these pauses can lead to richer life experiences.

This week we’re celebrating our 10 year anniversary by sharing some lessons about money, partnership, and staying excited about the long game.10 years of marriage isn’t just a milestone, it’s a record of every choice you made together, from buying a house to splitting a check to deciding who’s unloading the dishwasher. Some of those choices aged well. Others? Let’s just say they came with late fees.In this episode, we get into:What to do when “my idea” needs “our money,” and how to bring and how to bring it up without sounding like you’re making a sales pitch or begging for permissionThe difference between conviction and borrowed confidence, and how to tell if you’re just hyped by somebody else’s resultsThe price we’ve paid for decisions that looked fine in the moment but flopped later and how we move on without dragging it out.Why marriage isn’t 50/50 most of the time, and how keeping score only makes the game worse.The trap of calling yourself “the responsible one” or “the spender,” and how those roles mess with the way you see each otherThe metrics that matter more than net worth if you want your marriage (and your life) to feel exciting in year 20, 30, and beyond Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Some seasons of life are defined by money, and not in a good way. Those years test your patience, your relationships, and your identity. But they can become turning points and leave lessons that last long after the struggle is over.This week, we're talking about the kind of year that stretches everything. When progress feels invisible and the usual advice doesn’t cut it, it’s easy to lose momentum or give up entirely. We’ve been there, and in this episode, we’re sharing what helped us stay focused and keep moving forward when it felt like things were falling apart. Inside, we get into:How to know if you’re in a “hard year” (and why that label matters)Why you need new ways to measure progress when money is tightWhat baseball, burnout, and corporate spin can teach us about manufacturing winsHow to make quitting harderIf money’s been testing you lately, and you're tired of pretending it’s fine, this one's for you. Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most people only invest for retirement through their employer plan, which means if that plan is weak, your future could be too. But how do you actually know if it’s bad, or if you just don’t understand it yet?In this episode, we break down the three biggest signs your employer plan might be holding you back, and what to do about it.We’ll get into:Why some 401(k) fund menus feel like a restaurant with no good options (and how to find the hidden gems)What “the match” really means, why it’s not free money, and how to calculate its true impact on your paycheckThe ugly truth about vesting schedules, and why they’re less about rewarding loyalty and more about saving your employer moneyHow to compare your retirement benefits across jobs the same way you’d compare rent prices or school districts before movingYour retirement plan is part of your compensation, just like salary, PTO, and health insurance. If you’re ignoring it (or assuming it’s fine) you could be leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table.Take a closer look now so you can decide whether your plan is working for you, or if it’s time to find a better path forward.Links: Ep 171: Why you need a brokerage account: The Swiss Army knife of investing Ep 105: Planning for your retirement Ep 108: Sparking your early retirement dreams: A guide to FIRE   Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life. Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by ForbesIf you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow