Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Today, Nicole is teaming up with U.S. Bank to unpack the state of small businesses and what entrepreneurs can do right now to get ahead. Nicole sits down with Shruti Patel, U.S. Bank's Chief Product Officer for the Business Banking segment, to unpack the findings from the bank's fourth annual Small Business Survey and what they reveal about the state of entrepreneurship right now. Shruti breaks down why small business optimism dipped from 93% to 83% this year even as resilience holds strong, why only 3% of owners are currently considering a sale or exit, and what that signals about the massive wealth transfer coming as Boomer-aged owners hand off their businesses to the next generation over the next decade. Then the conversation turns to Gen Z founders specifically: their appetite for bold, calculated risk, and the surprising trend of delaying life milestones like marriage and family to build their businesses… a bet that, according to the data, is actually paying off in faster growth. Nicole and Shruti also get tactical: how business credit actually works (and why your personal credit score matters more than you'd think) and the real documentation lenders want to see. Plus: how small businesses are using AI to cut costs (even when the ROI math gets murky), where digital currency payments stand today, and why frictionless checkout is a bigger deal than most owners realize. Learn more about U.S. Bank's Small Business Banking solutions at: usbank.com Check-out the results of U.S. Bank’s Small Business Survey: https://www.usbank.com/business-banking/business-resource-center/small-business-survey.html Here's what Nicole covers with Shruti: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:43 Meet Shruti Patel, U.S. Bank's Chief Product Officer 01:20 Inside U.S. Bank's 4th Annual Small Business Survey 02:16 Why Optimism Dropped from 93% to 83% 04:45 Why Only 3% of Owners Are Considering an Exit 05:18 The Great Wealth Transfer and Succession Planning for the Next Decade 06:31 Inside Gen Z's Bold, Calculated Approach to Risk 07:37 Delaying Marriage and Family to Build a Business 09:03 "You Can Have It All, Just Not All at Once" 11:07 How Gen Z Defines Success 12:10 The Death of the "Shark Tank" Fundraising Dream 13:45 Debt vs. Equity: Rethinking How to Finance Growth 14:17 What Banks Look for Before Approving a Loan 16:08 Do Businesses Have Their Own Credit Score? 17:38 Personal Guarantees and the Documentation You'll Need 19:06 The SBA Loan Process 19:38 How Small Businesses Are Actually Using AI to Save Money 21:16 The "Digital Target Checkout" Problem with AI Costs 22:39 Where Digital Currency and Crypto Payments Stand Today 24:15 Why Frictionless Checkout Is Everything 26:03 Inside U.S. Bank's Business Essentials Launch 29:32 U.S. Bank's Partnership with the NFL and the Financial Edge Program 33:45 Shruti Patel's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Kevin O'Leary is back on Money Rehab, and this time he's changed his tune on crypto. Nicole presses "Mr. Wonderful" on his wild reversal: from owning 27 coins to just two, why he thinks the real money is now in power infrastructure, and why the Clarity Act could break Bitcoin’s price ceiling. Kevin also gets into the messy, litigious world of data centers, including the lawsuits, the death threats against his own family, and where he thinks the money trail leads. Then things get personal: his $5 million "you're not wealthy until" rule, the eye-popping story behind the $35 million outfit he wore to the Oscars, and which Shark he’d call to bail him out of jail. Of course, no Kevin O'Leary episode is complete without a fight, so Nicole and Kevin reignite their $28 sandwich debate and reach a truce… Almost. Start investing investing at SoFi.com/MNN Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ Here's what Nicole covers with Kevin: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:25 Kevin O'Leary Returns (RIP Labubu) 02:05 Confessions of a "Social Media Whore" 04:33 Buying Longevity: The Ozempic Debate 07:30 Wealth, Health, and Sleep Optimization 08:45 Inside Kevin's Lawsuit Playbook 14:00 Foreign Adversaries and the Data Center Wars 15:19 Debunking the Data Center Water Myth 19:19 From 27 Coins to Just Two: Kevin's Crypto Reset 23:55 The Quantum Computing Threat to Bitcoin 26:36 Kevin's New Bitcoin Price Target 29:01 Why Power, Not Crypto, Is the Real Trade 33:07 Should You Still Buy Crypto Right Now? 34:41 The Kidnapping Risk Nobody Talks About 36:28 The Money Bag: Financial Envy 38:01 The $5 Million Rule for Feeling Wealthy 40:15 Why Kevin Refuses to Google His Net Worth 42:23 The $35 Million Oscars Outfit 49:19 Passing Down Collectibles (and the Tax Trap) 51:40 Who Bails Kevin Out of Jail? 58:56 Kill, Marry, Fire: Pelosi, Holmes, and Cathy Wood 1:03:55 Data Center Death Threats 1:04:16 Round Two: The $28 Sandwich Fight 1:10:42 Kevin O'Leary's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

Bill Ackman built one of the most closely watched hedge funds on Wall Street; when he speaks, markets move. Literally. Today, he joins Nicole to break down the opportunities he’s seeing in the market, which companies are in his portfolio, and what could trigger the next 2008. Bill walks Nicole through his investing playbook, the biggest mistake new investors make, and whether we’re in an AI bubble. Then, Nicole and Bill play a rapid-fire round of Bullish or Bearish where Bill gives his takes on gold, Bitcoin, Chipotle, Starbucks, T-bills, Trump, and Mamdani. Bill also gets personal about his inheritance plans for his four daughters, what he actually thinks makes someone successful in business, and whether he would run for office. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course⁠ ⁠The Money School⁠⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company⁠ ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on⁠ ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠Follow Bill Ackman⁠ on X Learn about ⁠Pershing Square⁠ Here's what Nicole covers with Bill: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:14 Bill Ackman on the State of the Economy Right Now 03:00 Who Wins the AI Race: OpenAI vs. Anthropic vs. SpaceX 04:31 Why a Great Business Is Like a Bond 05:56 Is the Stock Market Too Expensive Right Now? 07:01 Where to Put Your First $1,0000 7:39 Inside Pershing Square's 12-15 Stock Portfolio 09:22 Democratizing Hedge Funds with PSUS 10:39 Buying Stocks at a Discount 11:18 Apple's Innovation Problem and Life After the iPhone 12:33 The Best Advice for New Investors 14:06 Are We in an AI Bubble? 16:46 Predicting the Future and the Next Financial Crisis 17:52 Why You Should Never Borrow Against Your Stocks 19:20 Carl Icahn's Billion-Dollar Leverage Cautionary Tale 20:16 The Worst Investing Advice He's Ever Heard 23:00 Fixing the Retirement Crisis 25:48 Bullish or Bearish: Gold, Bitcoin, Chipotle, Starbucks, Trump and Mamdani 33:30 What It's Like When Your Tweets Move Markets 35:15 Would Ackman Ever Run for Mayor of NYC? 38:01 The World He Wants for His Four Daughters (and His Inheritance Plan) 42:25 The Real Formula for Success in Business 44:21 Bill Ackman's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Comedian and creator Laura Clery built a media empire of 26 million followers, and then watched her marriage and her bank account collapse at the same time. Laura opens up about the financial wreckage of her divorce: how her ex-husband's relapse and addiction affected their financial lives, how she ended up paying two mortgages at once without fully understanding why, and the surreal moment she realized her water had been shut off. She walks Nicole through the costly mistake of choosing mediation over hiring a lawyer, why she couldn't afford the retainer when she finally needed one, and the moment her ex hacked her YouTube and Facebook accounts, deleting years of content and her entire livelihood in the process. Nicole and Laura also get into the bigger financial lessons: why Laura now insists every woman keep her own separate bank account, how watching her mother stay in a difficult marriage without financial independence shaped her own choices, and how she rebuilt. But first, Laura shares about the freak accident that almost killed her. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ Get What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Hotter If you or someone you know is struggling with the same issues Laura speaks of today, here are resources for addiction and domestic abuse Here's what Nicole covers with Laura: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 02:03 The Freak Refrigerator Accident 12:24 The Inside Job Conspiracy 14:35 Writing What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Hotter 16:12 Early Money Dynamics With Her Ex 18:31 Booking TV Commercials 21:52 Becoming Facebook's Biggest Comedy Star 23:45 Who Really Controlled the Money 25:01 The First Relapse and Years in Recovery 27:00 Catching the Infidelity 29:53 When It All Went Public 32:00 "You're Not a Victim, You're a Volunteer" 37:08 No Prenup and Two Mortgages 39:53 The Day Her Water Got Shut Off 42:27 Choosing Mediation Over a Lawyer 47:00 The Hack51:14 Post-Separation Abuse 54:47 Why She'll Never Live With a Man Again 58:37 Her Parents' Marriage and the Cost of Staying 1:01:01 Why Every Woman Needs Her Own Bank Account 1:01:51 "Mommy Has Money Again" 1:02:39 Money Fixes Money Problems, Not Everything Else 1:05:54 Reframing the Mental Block 1:09:41 Laura Clery's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

As Chief Investment Strategist at Hightower Advisors, Stephanie Link spends her days researching the market’s winners. Today, she's breaking it all down for us. Stephanie explains why the economy keeps defying the doom-and-gloom headlines, which stocks she thinks will champion the next decade, and why she believes we're only in the third inning of the AI revolution. Nicole and Stephanie get tactical fast: the difference between the Mag 7 and the "S&P 493," which stocks are not worth the hype, and Stephanie's thesis that cybersecurity stocks will end up being bigger than AI. She names her favorite tickers across cybersecurity, data centers, robotics, and quantum computing, and explains whether it’s too late to buy NVIDIA. Stephanie also gets real about the so-called "AI bubble," the circular spending debate freaking out investors, and why she bought SpaceX but capped it at just 2% of her portfolio. Plus: what her 19-year-old daughter is investing in, why "FAANG" just got a 2026 update, and the one boring, unsexy ETF Stephanie says every new investor should consider. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ Read more about Stephanie’s work Here's what Nicole covers with Stephanie: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:12 Stephanie Link Joins Money Rehab 01:41 Why the Market Keeps Defying the Doom and Gloom 04:07 CapEx, Decoded 06:58 The K-Shaped Economy: Why the Vibes Don't Match the Numbers 09:49 Inflation, Oil Prices, and the War's Ripple Effect 11:41 Mag 7 vs. the S&P 493: Which ETF Should You Buy? 16:16 Why Stephanie Says No to Leveraged ETFs 17:32 Cybersecurity Will Be Bigger Than AI 20:16 The Best Cybersecurity Stocks on Stephanie's List 23:15 How to Vet a CEO Before You Buy the Stock 25:16 Investing Lessons from Stephanie's 19-Year-Old Daughter 28:23 What Stephanie Won't Buy: Crypto, Staples, and Energy 32:20 Inside the AI "Food Chain": Powering the Data Center Boom 35:43 Robotics and Quantum Computing: The Next Big Themes 41:00 MicroStrategy vs. Palo Alto: What "On Sale" Really Means 43:07 FAANG Is Dead, Long Live MANGOES 43:47 Why Stephanie Bought SpaceX (and Kept It to 2%) 55:40 Is It Too Late to Buy NVIDIA? 59:06 Grading the Innings: AI, Cybersecurity, and Robotics 59:50 Hot Stocks: Micron, SanDisk, and the Chips Everyone's Chasing 1:02:27 Is There an AI Bubble? 1:03:16 The Circular Spending Debate 1:08:08 Stephanie Link's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments. Disclosures: Hightower invests in companies including Boeing Company, Dover Corp, General Electric, Quanta Services, Rockwell Automation, Union Pacific Corporation, Broadcom, International Business Machines Corporation, Marvell Technology Inc, ServiceNow Inc, Palo Alto Networks Inc, Snowflake Inc, Synopsys Inc, Bank of America, Capital One, Coinbase, Morgan Stanley, Truist Financial Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Meta, SpaceX, Alcoa Corp, Antofagasta PLC, Natera Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc, iShares MSCI Brazil ETF, SLB Limited

Employment attorney Ryan Stygar joins Nicole to hand us the playbook our employers hope they never find. He breaks down what "at-will employment" actually means and the exact moves to make the moment you get that dreaded out-of-nowhere email from HR. He also reveals everything that's negotiable in a severance package: the cash amount, COBRA coverage, equity vesting schedules, and non-disparagement clauses, and shares how he turned a $6,000 severance offer into over $60,000 for one client. Then Nicole and Ryan role-play a firing from both sides of the table — so you know exactly what to say and what never to say. They dig into the issues that disproportionately affect women at work: pregnancy discrimination (the number one form Ryan sees in his practice), his controversial-but-legally-sound advice to disclose your pregnancy early, what rights you have if you miscarry, and how return-to-office mandates are quietly being weaponized as stealth layoffs. Plus: AI keystroke monitoring, non-competes in the current legal landscape, and the interview questions that are totally illegal — that you're probably being asked right now. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ Get Ryan's book ⁠Get It in Writing⁠ Here's what Nicole covers with Ryan: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 02:01 Ryan's Path: From Firefighter to Workers' Rights Lawyer 02:52 Nicole Gets Let Go From CNN 03:44 Why HR Is Not Your Friend 05:34 The Right (and Wrong) Way to Fire Someone 06:41 It's Illegal to Fire Someone for Discussing Their Pay 08:44 Building Your Paper Trail From Day One 20:07 At-Will Employment, Explained 24:50 What to Do the Moment You Get That HR Email 26:31 Don't Sign Anything When You're Fired 29:14 Severance Is Negotiable 31:54 How Contingency Lawyers Can Help (Even When You're Broke) 33:38 What Else Is on the Table: COBRA, Equity, and Non-Disparagement Clauses 37:38 Role Play: Getting Fired (What Not to Do) 39:23 Role Play: Getting Laid Off (The Right Way to Handle It) 44:09 How a Good Employer Handles the Conversation 46:34 Freelancers and the 1099 vs. W-2 Trap 49:59 The Fear of Getting Blacklisted for Asserting Your Rights 50:19 Sexual Harassment: Who's Most at Risk and What to Do 52:44 Maternity Leave and Pregnancy Discrimination 55:28 Controversial Advice: Disclose Your Pregnancy Early 59:14 What to Get in Writing When You're Pregnant 01:02:16 Your Rights If You Miscarry 01:04:59 Return to Office as a Stealth Layoff Strategy 01:08:10 AI Tracking and Keystroke Monitoring 01:12:25 Non-Competes: What You Need to Know in 2026 01:17:09 Illegal Interview Questions (Role Play) 01:23:00 Ryan Stygar's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor or attorney before making any financial or legal decisions.

Nicole used to think insurance was a boring subject.... until she lost her home in the Palisades fire. Today, she is teaming up with the ⁠Coalition for an Insurable Future⁠ to tell you about what you need to know about the insurance issue that could become the next great American financial crisis, and how to protect yourself. In this episode, Nicole sits down with Chloe Demrovsky, one of the nation's leading voices on disaster risk and resilience. Nicole and Chloe break down the numbers: homeowners insurance premiums are up 74% since 2008, 40% faster than inflation, and 95% of American homeowners are already feeling it. Then they get tactical: what "uninsurable" actually means, the coverage gaps that catch most people off guard (spoiler: flood is not in your standard homeowners policy), and the exact steps to take before a disaster strikes. Learn more about ⁠the Coalition for an Insurable Future⁠ and ⁠follow⁠ their work. Learn more about ⁠Chloe Demrovsky⁠ and ⁠follow⁠ her work. #CoalitionForAnInsurableFuturePartner

Allie K. Miller is the number one most-followed voice in AI business and an advisor to Fortune 500 companies , and she's on Money Rehab to tell us that most people are leaving serious money on the table by treating AI like a productivity tool. Today, Allie joins Nicole to break down exactly how to use AI as a wealth strategy in 2026 and beyond. Allie pulls back the curtain on her AI workforce (34 agents named after Friends characters) and explains why delegation is now a financial strategy, not just a productivity hack. She and Nicole dig into the most important question everyone has right now: what's safe to share with AI, and what isn't? From feeding Claude your insurance policy after a disaster, to connecting AI directly to your investment accounts, Allie lays out how to think about risk and leverage when it comes to your financial data. They also tackle the hard questions about kids and AI: AI companionship dangers, AI toys, age limits, whether college is even coming back, and why "AI scams are the new white vans." Finally, Allie shares her honest, unfiltered take on investing in AI companies, why she's long-term bullish, and the bold predictions people are calling her crazy for making today. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Allie Miller on LinkedIn and Instagram Here's what Nicole covers with Allie: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:13 Allie's AI Workforce Explained 04:00 How to Build Your Own AI Workforce (No Coding Required) 06:40 What AI Still Can't Replace 10:00 Meet Simon, Rachel, Phoebe and the Rest of the Team 12:03 What to Always (and Never) Outsource to AI 18:30 AI Data Privacy 22:48 Customizing AI With Your Personal Context 31:43 Kids and AI: Raising a '90s Kid in 2026 38:10 What Age Should Kids Start Using ChatGPT or Claude? 44:52 How to Hack AI Sycophancy 47:25 Where Allie Draws the Line on AI Companionship 52:20 Using AI to Manage Investments 57:00 Will AI Replace Financial Advisors? 01:00:13 When Will We Be Working With Humanoids? 01:05:15 Investing in AI Companies and the Bubble Debate 01:09:45 Allie's Boldest Predictions 01:14:22 Allie Miller's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Stand-up comedian and writer Josh Johnson returns to Money Rehab nearly two years after his first time on the show. Since then, he has become a hosting correspondent on The Daily Show, reached millions of followers on socials and continued to post a new stand up set to YouTube (he’s done this for 156 consecutive weeks). He talks about how he’s avoided lifestyle creep as his career has flourished, the best money advice he’s received, and why being broke is like drowning in a swimming pool. Then, Nicole gets Josh’s take on some of the strangest recent money headlines, including a woman who reportedly saved $15,000 on groceries by going on dates, Victoria’s Secret stock jumping 48% after changing its ticker to “VSXY,” and why taxes are apparently making Gen Z cry. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Josh Johnson’s incredible work and see him live! Listen to Josh’s first interview on Money Rehab Here's what Nicole covers with Josh: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:46 What's Changed Since Last Time 04:10 The Ownership Illusion 06:28 Why Even Billionaires Never Feel Safe 08:00 How to Stop Moving the Goalpost on Financial Safety 09:18 Lifestyle Creep 12:00 Selling Shoes on eBay and Wikifeet 14:03 The Poisoned Pizza Story 15:18 Why Being Broke Is Like Drowning 19:00 Money-Saving Extremes 24:40 The Culture of Greed and “Good Business” 26:39 Food Insecurity in America 32:17 Cheap Corruption and Political Money 33:03 Structured Notes 37:38 Are We Doing NFTs Again? 40:37 Why Josh Is Skipping AI IPOs He Doesn't Understand 43:00 Funny Money 43:12 The Guy Who Asked His Date for a Venmo Refund 44:53 The Woman Who Saved $15K in Groceries by Going on Dates 46:22 Victoria's Secret's 48% Stock Surge From a Ticker Change 49:00 The $80K AI Deepfake Soap Opera Scam 51:39 Have Taxes Ever Made You Cry? 55:31 Trump's Face on a $250 Bill 59:23 Josh Johnson's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Inflation just hit 3.8%, the highest it's been since 2023. That means that $100 you had in January? It's worth about $96.30 today. So today, Nicole breaks down three tools that protect your money when inflation runs hot: I bonds, TIPS, and gold. She explains exactly how each one works, who each is best for, and the critical differences between them — including why gold didn't spike during the pandemic inflation surge the way everyone expected, and why right now might actually be different. Plus, Nicole shares a little-known strategy called the "gift box" method that lets couples legally stack up to $40,000 in I bond purchases in a single calendar year. Here is a Money Rehab episode about how to invest in gold Check out Nicole's financial literacy course ⁠The Money School⁠ Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company ⁠Private Wealth Collective⁠ Watch video clips from the pod on ⁠Money Rehab's Instagram⁠ and ⁠Nicole Lapin's Instagram⁠ Here's what Nicole covers today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:18 Inflation Is Back — And We're All Feeling It 01:33 What's Driving the Surge (It's Not Just Gas) 02:30 What 3.8% Inflation Actually Does to Your Dollars 02:56 I Bonds: The Inflation-Fighting Investment Nicole Loves 04:34 I Bonds 05:06 TIPS 08:04 Gold: Flight to Safety or Inflation Hedge? 10:00 Why Gold Thrives When the Economy Is a Dumpster Fire 11:40 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank: The Gift Box Strategy All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Nicole is joined by journalist and podcast host Nayeema Raza, host of Smart Girl Dumb Questions, for a crossover episode! This is a shame-free conversation about the money questions we’re all holding in, starting with perhaps the most loaded one of all: should you buy a home? Nicole breaks down the 5% rule for renting vs. buying, why she personally chose not to buy, and how to strip the emotion out of a decision that's usually anything but. She also answers common questions about debt, HSAs, growing generational wealth and more. Plus, Nayeema and Nicole talk about which expenses are worth going into debt for, and what Mark Cuban told Nayeema about how money can make you feel poorer the wealthier you become. Listen to Nayeema's podcast Smart Girl, Dumb Questions Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Here's what Nicole covers with Nayeema: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:17 Nicole's Controversial Take on Homeownership 04:44 The 5% Rule: Rent vs. Buy Math 08:37 Why Nicole Chose to Rent (And Invest the Difference) 12:30 How the LA Fires Changed Nicole's Relationship to Home 17:00 Not All Debt Is Created Equal: Good Debt vs. Bad Debt 20:02 What Rich People Know About Leverage 24:03 How Nicole Got Into (and Out of) Credit Card Debt 25:51 Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Debt Payoff Method Wins? 28:09 The Shame Cycle Keeping People Stuck in Debt 29:18 The Debt Game: What’s Worth It? 34:35 Investing in Your 20s: Nicole's Biggest Regret 36:27 Nicole's Daughter's Investment Portfolio 37:15 HSAs, 401(k)s, and Where to Put Your Money First 38:39 How Do You Know If You're Rich? 41:26 Mark Cuban on How Money Can Make You Feel Poorer 42:34 Nicole's "Dumb" Question All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

The Federal Reserve hasn't been this dramatic in decades. Today, Nicole breaks down everything you need to know about the Fed and exactly what it means for your wallet. Nicole explains how the federal funds rate actually works, why it doesn't directly set your mortgage rate (but still absolutely affects it), and which accounts move immediately when the Fed acts. She unpacks the Fed's dual mandate, and shares her prediction for what Kevin Warsh will do. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Open a high yield savings account with SoFi at sofi.com/mnn Here's what Nicole covers today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:15 Why the Fed Is Bringing the Drama Right Now 00:57 What the Federal Funds Rate Actually Is 01:33 How Banks Borrow From Each Other Overnight 02:01 How the Fed Rate Affects You (And What It Doesn't) 02:21 High Yield Savings Accounts and the Fed 02:39 The Fed's Dual Mandate: Inflation vs. Unemployment 03:36 Where Inflation Stands Right Now 04:04 Inside the FOMC: How Rate Decisions Are Made 04:19 Meet the New Fed Chair: Kevin Warsh 04:49 Hawks vs. Doves Explained 05:08 Trump vs. The Fed: The Political Pressure 05:14 Austan Goolsbee Takes Us Inside the Room 07:30 Internal Dissent at the Fed: Not Seen in 30 Years 07:57 What to Expect from Markets on June 17th 08:53 Nicole's Prediction: Will Warsh Cut or Hold? 09:29 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank: High Yield Savings All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Olivia Ferney (@travelwithlivii) is the luxury travel agent to the ultra-wealthy, booking private jets, superyachts, and six-figure vacations for some of the richest people on earth. Today, she pulls back the velvet rope on what it's actually like inside that world. If you’re trying to meet a billionaire client or investor, Liv tells you where they’re hanging out. Liv tells Nicole the most outrageous client requests she's received, why saying "I have no budget" is the biggest red flag a client can send, and what to say to get a hotel upgrade. She also gets real about how working with billionaires has warped her own relationship with money, and the softer lessons she's taken away about what money actually can and can't fix. Plus: the Instagram-famous destinations she'd never recommend, where billionaires are actually traveling right now, and the shoulder season hack anyone can use to save real money on their next trip. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Travel with Livii learn more about Top Tier Travel Here's what Nicole covers with Olivia: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 02:15 Selling Her First Company at 21 and Moving to Miami 04:49 The Travel Agent Business Model 07:23 Flying Limes From Different Countries and Other Crazy Client Requests 09:36 What Clients Think About the Viral Videos 14:00 Are the Stereotypes About “New Money” True? 20:43 "Rich People F***ing Love a Refund" 22:44 Do Billionaires Have Budgets? 25:18 Overrated Destinations, Best Hotels, and Most Expensive Room Service 28:30 Where Billionaires Are Traveling Right Now 32:26 How to Get a Free Hotel Upgrade 39:16 How Working With Billionaires Changes Your Money Mindset 43:07 Rich and Depressed Is Still Depressed 45:30 Prenups, Working With Your Partner, and Wedding Plans 46:49 Liv’s Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

Chris Voss spent two decades at the FBI and became the Bureau’s lead kidnapping negotiator. Today he sits down with Nicole to teach you how to leverage the same psychological tactics to get the salary you want. Chris and Nicole break down exactly what to say to get a raise, how to walk into a new job offer and negotiate without burning bridges, and how to get people to want to pay you more. Chris reveals why finding “common ground” is actually a recipe for resentment, why throwing out a number first can kill a deal, and the three conflict types — fight, flight, and make friends — that explain how almost every deal goes sideways. Then Nicole and Chris get into why remote work might be quietly tanking your career, an analysis of President Trump’s negotiation style and The Art of the Deal, plus the two lines of code planted in your head before age five that drive everything you do with money, work, and relationships. Finally, because Nicole had to ask, Chris explains what you should say if you’re ever in a hostage situation. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Check out Nicole’s Favorite Chris Voss Book “Never Split the Difference” Learn More About The Black Swan Method Here's what Nicole covers with Chris: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:00 Why Splitting the Difference Builds Resentment 03:19 The Myth of “Common Ground” 06:57 Stories From Being the Lead Hostage Negotiator For the FBI 07:51 How to Get Your Boss to Want to Pay You More 16:00 The Mistake of Getting Too Personal 18:51 What Should You Say If You’re a Hostage? 19:19 In A Raise Negotiation, Should You Bring Up a Competing Offer? 22:19 Is Body Language Really Important? 27:12 Does Chris Voss Get Nervous While Negotiating? 28:36 Negotiation Role Play and the Script For Getting a Raise 30:31 Should You Throw Out a Number First? 32:25 Don’t Ask “How Can I Help?” 42:15 Negotiating Non-Monetary Perks (Remote Work, Vacation Time, and More)43:06 Chris’ Take on Remote Work: It Makes You a C-Player 47:31 How to Use Empathy in a Negotiation 48:00 Why Being Playful Makes You 31% Smarter 50:20 The Three Conflict Types and Why Deals Die 59:00 Analyzing Donald Trump’s Negotiation Style 01:08:51 Debunking Negotiation Myths 01:16:00 Rating Deal-Making Cliches 01:18:13 How To Get Inside Someone’s Head 01:22:38 How Your Upbringing Influences Your Negotiation Skills 01:25:47 Chris Voss's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

Allison Ellsworth built Poppi from a homemade prebiotic soda to a $2 billion brand acquired by Pepsi… but you already know that. Today, Allison talks about what happens afterward, and how to follow-up a successful first act. Allison opens up about the unexpected grief of letting go of a company that was her identity, and the pressure of building a new company after a successful exit. She also digs into advice for anyone who has a different money mindset than their spouse, and how to find common ground. Plus, Allison shares how she’s talking to her three young kids about money and work— and why her kids waving her off with "Have fun, Mom" is her greatest parenting win. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Keep up with Allison on Instagram and TikTok Here's what Nicole covers with Allison: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:10 When the Wire Hit 03:20 What People Get Wrong About "Billionaire" Headlines 04:15 The $50K Investment That Went Bankrupt Overnight 05:50 What Skills Transfer From Running a Company to Managing Wealth (And What Don't) 07:30 Running Your Personal Finances Like a Business 09:00 The Grief Nobody Warns Founders About 11:05 Separating Your Identity From Your Company 13:00 Founder-Led Content and What's Coming Next in Brand Building 15:20 Building the Second Company Differently 17:40 Self-Funding vs. Taking on Investors 19:30 The Emotional Payoff of Returning Money to Early Investors 21:45 Making 44 People Millionaires 22:00 Lessons From Being a Shark on Shark Tank 23:30 Female Founders, Mom Guilt, and "Spreadsheets in the Bedsheets" 26:40 Opposite Money Mindsets in a Marriage 31:30 Why Allison Has No “Fear Gene” 33:30 Raising Kids With Money Values 36:55 How to Talk to Your Kids About Work Without Losing Them 39:00 Buying Back Time 41:00 Secure the Bag 45:25 Allison Ellsworth's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

Glennda Baker has been a real estate broker for decades, built a massive social media following teaching everyday people how to buy and sell smart, and learned some of the biggest money lessons the hard way… including a divorce where her ex looked her in the face and called her a "cash cow." Today, she joins Nicole to share what she knows about protecting your wealth, winning in today's housing market, and building real estate into generational wealth. Glennda gets raw about her own financial trauma: the manipulation she didn't see coming in her marriage, the moment she was evicted to a vacant rental with her son and hit rock bottom, and why she will never get married again. She explains exactly how divorce hits women differently than men, including a hidden math problem most people miss when splitting a house at today's interest rates. Then Nicole and Glennda get into the real estate playbook. They fact-check the viral real estate advice flooding your feed, from writing letters to homeowners to get off-market deals, to using a HELOC for a down payment, to buying property through individual LLCs. Glennda also makes her case for why buying a house for your kid beats a 529, why private equity is keeping Bobby and Susie off the property ladder, and the one negotiation move every buyer should make at closing. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Glennda on TikTok and Instagram Here's what Nicole covers with Glennda: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:21 Glennda's Origin Story 03:33 Should You Put Your Spouse's Name on Your House? 06:22 Prenups, Postnups, and Why Everyone Already Has One 07:03 Why Glennda Will Never Get Married Again 08:11 How Divorce Hits Women Differently 09:29 The Hidden Math Problem When Splitting a House 11:43 Glennda’s Money Trauma 17:09 Buying a House Together: What Needs to Be in Writing 20:19 Trusts vs. Putting the House in Your Kid's Name 24:30 Why Glennda Would Rather Buy a House Than Fund a 529 26:35 Real Estate vs. the Stock Market 28:09 Glennda and Nicole Play TikTok Trend or Truth? 38:13 The $47 Trillion Boomer Equity Problem 40:02 The Starter Home Myth 42:00 What Budget Do You Actually Need? 48:52 How Private Equity Is Locking Out Everyday Buyers 52:43 A Hard Look at Affordability 55:00 The 7 Ds of Real Estate 59:33 Closing Cost Strategy 01:03:03 Glennda Baker's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Today, Nicole unpacks the exact accounts she opened for her daughter, the math that makes starting early almost unfair, and the money script she's determined to rewrite for the next generation. Whether you have a newborn, a teenager, or you're realizing you wish someone had done this for you, this episode is a blueprint. Nicole breaks down how a 529 plan is far more flexible than most parents realize, why a custodial brokerage account is less about returns and more about teaching kids that money grows quietly in the background, and why a retirement account for a one-year-old is not as insane as it sounds — it's one of the most powerful financial moves a parent can make. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Here's what Nicole covers today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:13 529 Plans: More Flexible Than You Think 02:02 The Math on Starting Early vs. Waiting 02:51 Super Funding: The IRS Loophole Most Parents Miss 03:31 Lump Sum vs. Monthly: The Numbers That Will Shock You 04:00 How to Shop for the Best 529 Plan 04:17 Custodial Brokerage Accounts Explained 05:00 The Financial Aid Trade-Off 05:41 Why Nicole Really Opened This Account for Her Daughter 05:56 The Custodial Roth IRA (Yes, for a 1-Year-Old) 07:00 The Number That Changes Everything 08:00 Roth IRAs and Financial Aid: The Cleaner Vehicle 08:21 Rewriting the Money Script 09:00 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

You’ve probably seen the headlines about luxury investments outperforming the stock market… but is that actually true? And more importantly, is this a game only for millionaires, or is there a way for the rest of us to get in on it too? Today, Nicole is joined by Dana Auslander, former Blackstone executive and founder of Luxus, a luxury alternative asset manager with the first dedicated Hermès Birkin fund. In this conversation, Dana unpacks the viral headlines, why her investment thesis puts Hermès bags ahead of other luxury brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and how to invest in a Birkin without buying a Birkin. Then, Nicole and Dana zoom out and explain what the luxury investment trends mean for retail investors, how the macroeconomy impacts luxury investments, and what the counterfeiting problem could mean for the whole market. Then, Dana goes beyond bags and rates watches, art, wine, and jewelry as alternative investments. Check out Nicole's financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole's company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab's Instagram and Nicole Lapin's Instagram Follow Luxus and learn more about the Birkin Fund Here's what Nicole covers with Dana: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:27 Are Birkins Actually Better Than the S&P 500? 02:00 What Is a Veblen Good — and Why It Matters 04:06 How Much Is a Birkin, Really? 04:29 The Secret to Getting One From Hermès 05:21 Manufactured Scarcity: How Hermès Controls Demand 06:12 The Rise of the Secondary Market 07:35 Gross vs. Net Returns: What the Charts Don't Show You 09:24 Jane Birkin's Bag Sold for $10.8 Million — Dana Was There 13:00 Is Chanel Actually Investment-Grade? 14:00 Birkin vs. Stock Market: Where Should You Put Your Money? 16:38 How the Luxus Fund Works 21:00 How to Invest Without Buying a Birkin 23:36 Sourcing Bags Through Private Dealer Networks 27:15 Storing, Authenticating, and Selling the Bags 28:33 How to Become an Accredited Investor 30:07 Is Buying a Birkin a Proxy for Hermès Stock? 32:20 The K-Shaped Economy and Luxury Demand 35:10 The Counterfeit Problem Is Getting Scary 38:18 Luxury Investment Ratings: Watches, Art, Wine, Jewelry 43:05 Secure the Bag: Financial Literacy for Women All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Jason Oppenheim (real estate broker, founder of the Oppenheim Group— the brokerage covered on Selling Sunset) starts this conversation with a take Nicole was not expecting: it's a buyer's market, and he'd know, because he's been renting for the last three years himself. In this conversation, Jason covers every hot-button topic in real estate. He unpacks how he thinks AI will disrupt real estate and why he believes humanoid robots will be showing houses within the next two decades. He gets brutally honest about the LA market, why wealthy people are fleeing major cities in droves, and shares the cities he thinks real estate investors should avoid. He makes the case that renting is not "throwing money away" — in fact, he argues that in many cases renting is a smarter financial move. He and Nicole also debate whether there's actually a housing affordability crisis (Jason says we're misdefining it), how he thinks about money and happiness, and why he hasn’t changed his financial goals since he was broke. Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram Follow the Oppenheim Group and keep up with Selling Sunset on Netflix Here's what Nicole covers with Jason: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 01:11 Is It a Buyer's Market? 02:09 Why Wealthy People Are Leaving Major Cities 04:10 Where Are They Going? (And Where NOT to Buy) 05:38 Why Real Estate Is Not AI-Proof 10:35 “At Some Point, There Is No Work.” 17:43 Why Jason Loves 30-Year Treasuries 19:00 The AI Deflation Thesis 23:54 Is There Really a Housing Affordability Crisis? 30:40 Rent vs Buy Debate 36:21 Behind the Scenes of Selling Sunset 37:06 Does Money Buy Happiness? 39:24 Getting His Rolls Royce Stolen 40:00 How Jason Thinks About Spending vs. Saving 41:43 What Was Jason's FU Number? 42:12 Secure the Bag: Jealousy, Googling Your Own Net Worth, Bad Investments All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

The SpaceX IPO will likely be the largest public offering in history... But before you get excited, Nicole breaks down how the IPO machine actually works, and why some of the smartest people in finance say the system is rigged against you. Nicole walks through the full IPO process step by step: what underwriters actually do (and what they charge for it), how the roadshow and book-building work, and why the price you'll pay on IPO day is not the price institutional investors paid. She also covers what SpaceX employees need to know right now about their equity, stock options, RSUs, lockup periods, and the tax surprises that can blindside you before you sell a single share. Then, Nicole shares the framework she uses to evaluate any IPO, including the two sections of the S-1 prospectus most retail investors skip, and explains how you can get in on SpaceX before the IPO. Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram Here's what Nicole covers today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:04 The SpaceX IPO: Just How Historic Is It? 01:08 How the IPO Process Actually Works 02:12 What Underwriters Do (and What They Cost) 03:04 The Roadshow and How IPO Pricing Works 03:45 NYSE vs. NASDAQ: Where Will SpaceX List? 04:25 Why Companies Go Public 05:14 What SpaceX Employees Need to Know About Their Equity 06:00 Lockup Periods Explained 07:06 Three Things Every Employee Must Do Before an IPO 08:06 Is the IPO System Rigged? Bill Gurley's Argument 10:00 The Figma Example: How Retail Investors Got Burned 11:19 How to Evaluate Any IPO Before You Invest 13:27 Watch the Lockup Expiration Date 14:09 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.