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

Jun 8, 2025 • 10min

3170: Change CAN happen in an instant. Has it happened to you? by Steve Kamb of Nerd Fitness on FitSpo

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 3170: Steve Kamb explains how meaningful change can happen in an instant, but only if action follows insight. Drawing on experiences from Camp Nerd Fitness, he shows how small, consistent steps turn fleeting moments of motivation into lasting habits, emphasizing the shift from temporary afterglow to permanent everglow. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/change-can-happen-in-an-instant-has-it-happened-to-you/ Quotes to ponder: "Internal change can happen in an instant, but long-term change happens over time with consistent action taken." "Specific steps and actionable decisions override brilliant but unexecuted plans." "The toughest part is often getting started. So, make the first step so small that it’s easy to get started with it, and be okay with taking imperfect action." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2025 • 11min

3169: What is Longevity Insurance? by Jeff Rose on Guaranteed Lifetime Income

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 3169: Jeff Rose explains how longevity insurance can safeguard retirees against outliving their savings by providing guaranteed lifetime income. By delaying payouts, these plans maximize future payments, offering a low-risk, hands-off strategy to complement traditional investments, though not without trade-offs like lower returns and upfront costs. A strategic mix of longevity insurance and market investments can create a more secure and balanced retirement income plan. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/longevity-insurance/ Quotes to ponder: "You’ll need to stretch your savings over a longer period of time which can be very hard to budget." "Longevity insurance makes sure you always have some income during retirement." "The big advantage of longevity insurance is that it guarantees your income for life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2025 • 9min

3168: Downhill Racing Meets Value Investing by Vitaliy Katsenelson of Contrarian Edge on Stock Market Investments

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 3168: Vitaliy Katsenelson uses a personal skiing mishap to illustrate how bull markets, much like groomed ski slopes, can hide underlying weaknesses in investment strategies. He urges investors to reexamine their portfolios, focus on fundamentals like earnings growth and valuations, and prepare for inevitable market downturns by adopting a disciplined, skill-based approach to investing. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://contrarianedge.com/downhill-racing-meets-value-investing/ Quotes to ponder: "Speed covers up a lot of mistakes and lack of skill." "Bull markets don’t last forever, and this one is not an exception." "We must all reexamine and future-proof our investment process." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 5, 2025 • 12min

3167: Can Dividend Stocks Fight Inflation While Accelerating Portfolio Growth by Gordon Stein of Cash Flow Cookbook

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 3167: Gordon Stein explores how high-quality dividend stocks can serve as a shield against inflation while potentially accelerating portfolio growth. Highlighting examples like Lockheed Martin, Stein illustrates how dividend growth, reinvestment strategies, and careful stock selection can offer rising income and market resilience, even in volatile times. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://cashflowcookbook.com/dividend-stocks-fight-inflation/ Quotes to ponder: "Dividend stocks fight inflation with both a rising stock price and rising dividends." "A dividend growth rate that is above inflation provides income that rises faster than inflation." "Automatic reinvestment of dividends means that you will buy more as the stock price dips and buy less as the price rises, improving your overall investment." Episode references: Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Fund (NYSE:VIG): https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/vig SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (NYSE:SDY): https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/funds/spdr-sp-500-dividend-etf-sdy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 4, 2025 • 12min

3166: Cash Flow Investments: REITs and Agency Mortgages by JT McGee with The College Investor

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 3166: JT McGee explores the world of mortgage REITs, explaining how they generate impressive dividend yields by leveraging government-backed and non-agency mortgage securities. He outlines the key risks tied to interest rate movements and offers practical insights on how REITs can fit into a diversified, income-focused portfolio for investors seeking alternatives to traditional fixed-income assets. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://thecollegeinvestor.com/3589/cash-flow-investments-reits-agency-mortgages/ Quotes to ponder: "By law, REITs must return 90% of their operating earnings back to shareholders in the form of dividends." "A bet on any mortgage REIT is essentially a wager that rates will increase very slowly over the next few years." "For income purposes, nothing will beat a mortgage REIT." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 3, 2025 • 11min

3165: 5 Tips For Buying a Home in a Competitive Market by Mike Ballew of Egg Stack on Real Estate Investing

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 3165: Mike Ballew shares practical, strategic guidance for navigating a hyper-competitive housing market, where hesitation can cost you your dream home. His five-step plan empowers buyers to act quickly and confidently, arming themselves with neighborhood knowledge, financial readiness, and negotiation flexibility, to avoid common regrets and make smarter, long-term decisions. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://eggstack.com/blog/2022-02-13-5-Tips-for-Buying-a-Home-in-a-Competitive-Market/ Quotes to ponder: "Every home you consider must be viewed through the eyes of other buyers." "Sellers prefer to hitch their wagons to buyers who are able to prove they can afford a home versus someone who hopes they can." "You need to be hungry like the wolf, laser-focused, and ready to pounce on a moment’s notice." Episode references: WAV Group: https://www.wavgroup.com Zillow: https://www.zillow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 2, 2025 • 12min

3164: How Discovering Your Debt Triggers Can Set You Free From Debt by Jackie Beck on Money 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 3164: Jackie Beck reveals how identifying your personal debt triggers can be the turning point to lasting financial freedom. By examining the emotional and habitual roots of your spending decisions, you can break the cycle of credit dependency and take control of your money with clarity and purpose. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.jackiebeck.com/identify-your-debt-triggers/ Quotes to ponder: "Debt means an obligation on your future. The inability to really enjoy the here-and-now. Worry, stress, and frustration. Guilt." "You can stop debt in its tracks, and get out of debt for good." "If you find yourself buying electronics or other luxury items, ask yourself what you were doing in the store in the first place." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 1, 2025 • 12min

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!

Get the app