Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin
Money News Network
Ever notice that we will talk about everything before we talk about money? Sex? No problem. Politics? Bring it on. Money? Totally taboo. But not for long! Nicole Lapin— the only financial expert you don’t need a dictionary to understand, New York Times best-selling author, and host of Money Rehab— is here to rehab your wallet, so you can get your financial life together once and for all.
Recent Episodes
20 episodesBuilding a Guilt Free Budget (Listener Intervention)
Kate has good money habits. She's saving, she's investing, she's automated her high-yield savings account. So why does she still feel like she's behind? Today, Nicole sits down with a Money Rehab listener for a real-life financial intervention, digging into the exact questions so many 20-somethings are quietly Googling at 1am. Kate walks Nicole through her real numbers: what she earns, what she spends, and how she's splitting money between a Roth IRA, a brokerage account, and student loan payments. Nicole breaks down the actual mechanics she never learned, like why you need cash in the account before you can buy anything, how to think about a Roth versus a brokerage account, and whether it's smart to max out one before touching the other. They also get into the emotional side of money: the guilt Kate feels every time she spends, why her financial goals always seem to move further away the more she achieves, and how giving herself a real number for guilt-free spending changes everything. 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 Kate: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 02:28 Meet Kate: Her Money Goals 03:53 From Ice Cream Shop Paychecks to a 9-5 04:39 Breaking Down Kate's Budget 05:54 The High-Yield Savings Account Strategy 07:11 Using a HYSA as a "Don't Touch This" Account 08:01 Roth vs. Brokerage: Kate's Investing Confusion 09:25 Why No One Teaches You How to Actually Buy 11:06 Roth vs. Brokerage, Explained 13:28 Should You Max Out Your Roth First? 15:09 Why Kate Sticks to Index Funds 17:15 The Tax Truth About Brokerage Accounts 20:07 What Financial Freedom Actually Means to Kate 21:19 The Guilt Spiral of Spending 22:28 Why Sticking to the Plan Is the Hard Part 22:52 How Kate's Childhood Shaped Her Money Mindset 23:52 The Moving Goalpost Problem 25:25 Building (and Sticking to) a Budget 28:30 Solving Spending Guilt With a "Fun Money" Number 29:51 Where Kate Keeps Her Savings 31:05 Kate's 5 and 10 Year Money Goals 32:36 Is Money a Never-Ending Game? 34:41 How Kate Started Investing With Just $20 36:45 Nicole's Game Plan for Kate 45:05 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Rapper Who Made $400K Reading the Market
He's the guy behind "Betty (Get Money)" and a fur coat two-step that took over TikTok, but before Yung Gravy was flexing platinum plaques, he was studying finance and marketing in college. Today on Money Rehab, we sit down with the rapper who lives a double life: viral hitmaker by night, options trader by day. Gravy walks us through the trade that made him $400K, a bet on 1-800-Flowers stock at the start of COVID, built on a grim but accurate read that funeral orders were about to spike. It's the kind of call institutional investors make quietly all the time; Gravy just said the quiet part out loud, and the internet has been arguing about the ethics of it ever since. We get into how a music-industry paycheck, unpredictable, front-loaded, gone as fast as the trend that made it, pushed him to actually learn the market instead of just spending like a rapper. What it's like sitting in a room with a finance background while everyone assumes you can't do math because you rap about money instead of manage it. Where the rap flex ends and the real portfolio begins. And whether the same instincts that write a viral hook are the same instincts that spot an undervalued stock before anyone else does. Private Wealth Collective Nicole's boutique wealth management practice for people who want more than a robo-advisor and less than a hedge fund minimum. Real strategy, real relationship. The Money School Nicole's $149 investing course that actually breaks down stocks, ETFs, crypto, and building a real portfolio, no jargon, no judgment, lifetime access. Start investing investing at SoFi.com/MNN ----------------------- Find other exclusive content at— Instagram: @moneynews TikTok: @moneynewsnetwork Website: https://moneynewsnetwork.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4 Money Lessons From the Stars of Selling Sunset
Selling Sunset isn't just a show about real estate, drama, and outfits... it's a show about money. Over the past few years, Nicole has had four cast members from the Selling Sunset universe on Money Rehab: Jason Oppenheim, Emma Hernan, Mary Bonnet, and Polly Brindle. Today, she's pulling out four moments from those conversations that she hasn't been able to stop thinking about. Jason, one of the most successful real estate brokers in LA, makes a confession you'd never expect from someone who sells homes for a living: renting often beats buying, financially speaking. Mary opens up about the ex-husband who secretly ran up six figures of debt in her name, and the exact tactic she used to rebuild her credit score from scratch. Emma explains why she's turned down millions in outside investment for her company and what she thinks is broken about "Shark Tank culture." And Polly gets brutally honest about maxing out three credit cards, borrowing from friends, and the mindset shift that turned her financial life around. 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 today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:15 Four Money Moments From the Selling Sunset Universe 00:42 Jason Oppenheim's Take: Renting Beats Buying 04:48 Mary Bonnet's Secret Debt and Financial Abuse Story 09:07 Red Flags to Watch For Before You Share Finances 12:29 Emma Hernan on Turning Down Millions in Funding 16:47 Polly Brindle: From Maxed Credit Cards to $48M in Sales 21:46 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Attorney James Sexton on How to Get Divorced Without Going Broke
Divorce attorney James Sexton is back for part two of his conversation with Nicole; in part one, he talked about advice for couples getting married. Today, he’s giving advice for people getting divorced. Nicole and James dig into the financial habits that sabotage marriages, the creative ways people hide money before filing, and the red flags that signal a spouse might be planning an exit. Plus, James gives simple advice on what might be the most complicated part of this process: how to tell your spouse you want a divorce. James also breaks down how alimony actually works, the best argument for keeping the house, and the negotiating tactics he uses to fight for a bigger settlement. Then things get spicy: the digital footprint mistakes blowing up divorces in real time, the unofficial "a-hole tax" judges impose on bad behavior in court, and the wild story of a $20 million divorce that almost collapsed over a toaster oven. Check out Part 1 of Nicole's conversation with James Sexton 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 Follow James’ work and check out his latest book Here's what Nicole covers with James: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 02:31 The Financial Habit That Complicates Every Divorce 05:01 How People Hide Money Before a Divorce 09:21 Red Flags Your Partner Might Be Planning a Divorce 11:35 What To Do If You're Thinking About Divorce 12:11 How Much Does a Divorce Actually Cost? 17:13 Mediation vs. Litigation: Which Should You Choose? 19:37 The Best Way To Ask For a Divorce 21:18 How Alimony Really Works 25:00 When the Woman Is the Breadwinner 28:29 Is Alimony About Money or Power? 29:58 The Best Argument for Keeping the House 32:11 Bunnie XO, Jelly Roll, and Who's Entitled to What 34:56 Lightning Round 38:03 The $20 Million Toaster Oven Story 39:14 The Most Expensive Emotion in Divorce 39:20 What To Never (and Always) Put in Writing 40:00 How Social Media Can Blow Up Your Divorce 42:54 The "A-hole Tax" Explained 45:31 James Sexton's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What to Do Before Your Student Loan Payment Jumps to $900
If you've been parked in SAVE plan limbo for the last two years, the waiting is over, and the letter that starts your 90-day clock is either already in your inbox or on its way. Today, Nicole breaks down what happened to SAVE, why doing nothing could send your payment from $0 to $900 overnight, and exactly what to do before that clock runs out. Nicole walks through RAP, the new Repayment Assistance Plan replacing SAVE, how it calculates your payment off your income, and the upside most people miss: your balance can't grow even if your payment doesn't cover the interest. She also covers why studentaid.gov is about to get slammed, whether you should let the government pull your income data from the IRS, and how to avoid accidentally landing in a plan that doesn't count toward forgiveness. Then, Nicole flags two things you don't want to miss: a quadrupled autopay discount worth locking in before September 30th, and a little-known Secure 2.0 rule that lets your employer match your student loan payments straight into your 401(k). If you're already in default, she also breaks down what's coming this fall as wage garnishment turns back on, and the two ways out. Finally, today's tip you can take straight to the bank: a tax-filing move married borrowers should run the numbers on before their next RAP payment is calculated. 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 today: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 00:16 SAVE Is Officially Dead 01:29 What Happens If You Do Nothing 02:12 Check Your Real Balance (Interest Never Stopped) 02:37 Meet RAP: The New Repayment Assistance Plan 03:24 Get Ahead of the Studentaid.gov Stampede 04:40 The 401(k) Match You Didn't Know You Had 05:21 If You're in Default: What's Coming This Fall 06:35 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank 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 tax professional before making any financial decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mauricio Umansky on “Rentvesting” a Bullish Real Estate Market and Where to Buy
Mauricio Umansky is one of the most successful luxury real estate agents in the world, selling homes for A-listers and closing massive deals. Today, he joins Nicole to break down exactly where the real estate market stands right now: why we're finally shifting out of a three-and-a-half-year transaction low, why “rentvesting” might be a move to consider in some markets, and the 10-year rule that means almost no one who buys a home ever ends up losing money on it. Then Nicole and Mauricio dig into the parts of his world reality TV can't capture: the $124 trillion wealth transfer reshaping who owns real estate next, his "playvestment" strategy for buying property purely because it makes him happy, his take on the mansion tax killing development in LA, and whether he'll ever trade real estate for a run at Mayor of Los Angeles. 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 Learn more about Mauricio’s work and The Agency Here's what Nicole covers with Mauricio: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 03:04 Is This a Buyer's or Seller's Market? 04:10 Comparing Today's Market to Past Cycles 08:17 The 10-Year Rule According to Mauricio 09:21 Rentvesting Explained 10:35 Real Estate Returns vs. the Stock Market 11:45 Where Mauricio Would Buy Right Now 14:35 His Investment Thesis: Hospitality, Flipping, and Branded Residences 15:43 The Real Odds of Getting a Deal Done 16:56 Inside His Portfolio: Real Estate vs. Equities 17:53 Will AI Replace Real Estate Agents? 19:01 The $124 Trillion Wealth Transfer and Family Compounds 22:15 Short-Term Rentals and the 2028 LA Olympics 23:12 Would He Run for Mayor of LA? 29:56 The Mansion Tax, Explained 32:16 Reality TV: Help, Hurt, and Are the Numbers Even Real? 39:01 The Passion Project That Makes Him Zero Dollars 40:16 The Truth Behind His "$6 Billion" in Sales 46:24 Mauricio'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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Divorce Attorney's Guide to Staying Together... and Not Going Broke
Divorce attorney James Sexton has a theory: the smartest thing you can do before you get married is think like someone whose job is ending marriages. Today, James joins Nicole for part one of a two-part conversation, sharing what you need to know before you say "I do." Make sure you're subscribed to Money Rehab so you don't miss part two in a few weeks, where they get into what you need to know before you get divorced. James unpacks why every couple needs a prenup, and shares the wildest prenup clause he's ever seen. He also gets into what actually makes fidelity and sex clauses hold up in court, and why most DIY prenups fall apart long before they're ever tested. Then Nicole and James zoom out to the stuff that can predict divorce long before anyone hires a lawyer: the small, unsexy daily habits that keep a relationship alive, and the financial fights that are never really about the money. Plus, James explains why he thinks couples should see a divorce attorney before they get married, and as weird as it sounds… we agree. 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 Learn more about James Sexton and his work Here's what Nicole covers with James: 00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 03:13 Why James Chose Divorce Law (Not the Money) 06:06 Has Divorce Law Soured James on Romance? 08:33 James's Own Marriage, Divorce, and Dating Life Now 14:23 Why You Should Talk to a Divorce Attorney Before You Marry 15:49 The Small Habits That Keep a Relationship Alive 21:16 What Actually Ends Marriages 27:28 Should Marriage Have a Higher Bar to Entry? 29:37 Is Your Prenup Actually Enforceable? 31:38 The $10,000-a-Pound Prenup Clause: A True Story 38:03 DIY Prenups and What Not to Skip 44:54 Fidelity Clauses and Sex Clauses 49:01 Do Prenups Actually Prevent Divorce? 50:41 Why the Prenup Conversation Is Secretly Romantic 53:03 The Story of the Lemons: Why Positional Bargaining Fails 57:51 The Most Toxic Financial Fights in Relationships 58:41 What Money Can (and Can't) Buy 1:00:54 Coming Up: James's Divorce Advice in Part Two 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Small Business Owners Win in 2026
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kevin O'Leary's Crypto U-Turn, Data Center Lawsuits, and the $28 Sandwich Rematch
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bill Ackman on His Investing Playbook, His Bullish and Bearish Bets, and What Could Trigger the Next 2008
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Laura Clery on the Cost of Infidelity, Addiction, Divorce— and Rebuilding
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hightower's Chief Investment Strategist on the Case to Buy SpaceX, the AI "Food Chain," and Whether It's Too Late to Buy NVIDIA
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What To Do If You Get Laid Off: Employment Attorney Ryan Stygar on Keyboard Tracking, Return to Office and Negotiating Severance
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Home Insurance Crisis That Could Crash the Housing Market with Chloe Demrovsky
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Productivity Is Just Tablestakes: AI Expert Allie K. Miller on How to Use AI To Build Wealth
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Funny Money with Comedian Josh Johnson: Senators Smooching, Lifestyle Creep and the Mental Gymnastics of Financial Goals
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Inflation Is at 3.8%. Are Are Three Ways to Make Your Money Fight Back.
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is Homeownership Overrated? Smart Girl Dumb Questions with Nayeema Raza
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How The Upcoming Fed Meeting Will Impact Your Wallet
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Flying Limes In From Different Countries and $5K Crab: What Life Is Really Like as a Luxury Travel Agent with Olivia Ferney
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices