Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice
Optimal Living Daily | Diania Merriam
Optimal Finance Daily, hosted by Diania Merriam, the innovative mind behind the personal finance conference EconoMe, takes you on an enlightening journey through the world of personal finance. Each episode brings to life the most compelling and practical advice from leading financial bloggers and experts. Diania’s engaging narration and insightful commentary transform complex financial concepts into relatable, actionable insights. Whether it’s budgeting, investing, debt management, or money mindfulness, she covers it all, making financial wisdom accessible to everyone.Gain not just knowledge, but also the motivation to apply it in your daily life. It's not just a source of personal finance tips; it’s a daily companion that guides you towards financial independence and savvy money management, all delivered with Diania's trademark enthusiasm and expertise. By focusing on early retirement, financial independence, and saving money, each episode provides you with the tools needed to achieve your financial goals.This podcast is designed for those passionate about personal finance, early retirement, financial independence, and saving money. It’s your go-to source for practical advice on managing your finances, saving money, and working towards early retirement. Each episode offers actionable steps to foster financial independence and secure your financial future.Listen now, and become an OLD friend--your optimal life awaits...
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 17, 2024 • 10min
2659: [Part 1] The Stages Of Financial Management by Andrea Joy of Saving Joyfully on Consistent Planning
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2659:In this podcast episode, host Diania Merriam reads the first part of Andrea Joy's blog post titled "The Stages of Financial Management." Andrea explores the developmental stages individuals go through in understanding personal financial management. Drawing parallels with the growth process, she discusses stages from being a baby, completely dependent on others, to reaching maturity, characterized by consistent planning, budgeting, savings, and good financial choices. Andrea shares her personal journey between the "Teenager" and "Adulting" stages and the realization of the importance of managing money effectively.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.savingjoyfully.com/blog/the-stages-of-financial-managementQuotes to ponder:"Financial literacy is not a side effect of wealth. Rather, wealth is a side effect of financial literacy!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2024 • 12min
2658: 5 Eating Goals That Aren't Fad Diets by Rachel Trotta on Sustainable Healthy Changes
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2658:In this podcast episode, Dr. Neal narrates Rachel Trotta's blog post, "5 Eating Goals That Aren’t Fad Diets." The post discusses alternatives to restrictive fad diets and introduces five achievable eating goals: cooking more meals at home, changing snacking habits, eating more protein, drinking more water, and tracking or journaling food. These goals focus on sustainable changes that lead to long-term health benefits.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://racheltrotta.com/fitness/fad-diet/Quotes to ponder:"You can change your eating without going on a fad diet with strict rules. These small shifts are approachable, easier to maintain over time, and will add up to big results." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2024 • 13min
2657: 6 Ways to Strengthen Your Retirement Savings This Year by Stacker of Radical FIRE on Financial Spring Cleaning
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2657:Host Diania Merriam introduces the blog post by Stacker with RadicalFIRE.com, which provides valuable insights on strengthening retirement savings. The article suggests practical tips, including assessing net worth, prioritizing debt payment, cutting unnecessary subscriptions, boosting emergency funds, maximizing 401(k) contributions, and setting new savings goals. The episode aims to guide listeners in optimizing their finances for a secure retirement.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://radicalfire.com/retirement-savings/Quotes to ponder:"Saving for retirement, like many personal goals, is not a competition against anyone else. But, like other goals, sometimes you need to stretch your horizons to continue to grow." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2024 • 13min
2656: Money Talks, But Do You Speak the Language? by Kathleen Coxwell of New Retirement on Building Wealth
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2656:In this podcast episode, host Diania Merriam narrates a blog post by Kathleen Coxwell of NewRetirement.com. The post discusses the often confusing language of personal finance, breaking down essential financial concepts and terms to empower listeners in their financial journey. The episode aims to demystify topics like inflation, assets, diversification, cash flow, rate of return, risk tolerance, assumptions, home equity, present value/future value, and lifetime income.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/money-talks-but-do-you-speak-the-language/Quotes to ponder:"Lifetime income refers to income that you will receive for as long as you live, no matter how long that turns out to be."Episode references:"The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Path-Wealth-financial-independence/dp/1533667926 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2024 • 11min
2655: When it Comes to Financial Advice, Follow the Money by Erik Carter of Financial Finesse
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2655:Erik Carter of FinancialFinesse.com illuminates the often-overlooked conflicts of interest in the financial planning industry, drawing from his extensive career to explore how financial incentives can shape advice. He advocates for unbiased financial guidance, suggesting options like employer-provided financial education or independent advisors who charge flat or hourly fees, to ensure that financial advice serves the client's best interests, not the advisor's financial gain.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.financialfinesse.com/2012/01/19/3317/Quotes to ponder:"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.""Unfortunately, they have a conflict of interest. This is the main issue that I have with most of the 700,000 people who call themselves financial advisors.""The way they are compensated means that most of us will never have access to unconflicted financial advice."Episode references:Let's Make a Plan: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/EconoMe Conference YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaZHcGgBO42McWZPaSIJhYwHello Nectarine: https://hellonectarine.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2024 • 9min
2654: Stupid Or Smart? (Getting A Loan To Pay Off Your Debt) by Philip Taylor of PT Money
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2654:Philip Taylor of PTMoney.com delves into the complex decision of using loans to pay off debt, offering a critical examination of various loan types and their implications. Taylor emphasizes the importance of addressing the underlying causes of debt and exploring self-managed debt reduction strategies, cautioning against the potential pitfalls of simply transferring debt through loans without solving the root financial behaviors.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ptmoney.com/getting-a-loan-to-pay-off-debt/Quotes to ponder:"Just because you can get a loan to pay off your debt, doesn’t mean you should.""People who consolidate debts this way often find themselves in dangerous levels of debt again.""Shortcuts might help you get out of debt quicker, but your habits will inevitably land you back in debt eventually."Episode references:Ramsey Solutions' Debt Snowball Calculator: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculatorCalculator.net's Debt Payoff Calculator: https://www.calculator.net/debt-payoff-calculator.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2024 • 11min
2653: Mindful Money by Ira Israel on Scarcity Mentality, Abundance & Financial Freedom
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2653:Ira Israel explores the profound relationship between our mindset towards money and overall happiness in "Mindful Money." He delves into societal views on wealth, contrasting the scarcity mentality with beliefs in abundance and how these perspectives shape our lives. Israel's insights encourage a reflective examination of our own attitudes towards money, urging a shift towards valuing freedom and personal fulfillment over financial status.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://iraisrael.com/mindful-money/Quotes to ponder:"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do." ~ Bob Dylan"I desire more freedom, ease, opportunities, and options.""Any problem that can be solved by money isn’t a real problem."Episode references:"Class: A Guide Through the American Status System" by Paul Fussell: https://www.amazon.com/Class-Through-American-Status-System/dp/0671792253"The Tyranny of the Meritocracy: Democratizing Higher Education in America" by Lani Guinier: https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Meritocracy-Democratizing-Education-America/dp/0807078123 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2024 • 10min
2652: Six Secrets of a Credit Score by J Money of Budgets Are Sexy on Payment History & Financial Habits
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2652:J. Money from BudgetsAreSexy.com demystifies the complexities behind credit scores in "Six Secrets of a Credit Score." This insightful piece breaks down the essential components and strategies for optimizing your credit score, from understanding the impact of payment history to the nuances of credit utilization, offering invaluable advice for those looking to secure their financial future.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.budgetsaresexy.com/six-secrets-of-a-credit-score/Quotes to ponder:"It’s been a while since I’ve talked about credit scores (mainly because they kinda bore me), but they really ARE important to keep in mind." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2024 • 13min
2651: How to Not Panic by Nick Maggiulli of Of Dollars and Data on Financial Stability & Historical Parallels
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2651:Nick Maggiulli's insightful exploration in "How to Not Panic" uses historical parallels, particularly from the Spanish flu of 1918, to elucidate how understanding past events can help us maintain composure during financial downturns and market crashes. By drawing on lessons from history, Maggiulli empowers readers to navigate current uncertainties with a sense of calm and perspective, demonstrating that what we face today is not entirely unprecedented.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ofdollarsanddata.com/how-to-not-panic/Quotes to ponder:"You know history. You understand the risks. And, most importantly, you know yourself. Then you let the chips fall where they may."Episode references:"Very, Very, Very Dreadful" by Albert Marrin: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Dreadful-Influenza-Pandemic-1918/dp/1101931469"Margin Call," film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margin_Call Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2024 • 10min
2650: 8 Edits for a Simpler Better Life by Lisa Avellan of No Sidebar on Minimalism, Simplicity & Intentional Living
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.Episode 2650:Lisa Avellan in "8 Edits for a Simpler Better Life" on No Sidebar explores the concept of minimalism beyond just decluttering, urging readers to critically evaluate and edit even the good in their lives to craft a narrative of simplicity and meaning. Avellan's insights prompt a deeper reflection on how the pursuit of less enables a fuller, more intentional life.Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/better-life/Quotes to ponder:"Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.""Minimalism questions everything. We remove the obvious clutter and then we are left to challenge what we believed to be good and worthy - all that made the cut.""Minimalism is a paradox of addition by subtraction, adding to our lives by removing the excess." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
