Dollars & Sense

Hosted by HAPO Community Credit Union

Business Investing

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Episodes

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

This isn’t your average money podcast. Dollars and Sense breaks down personal finance without the fluff. You’ll get honest talk, real stories, and practical advice to help you get ahead while still enjoying the things that make life fun. Powered by HAPO Community Credit Union.

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60 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 731 hr 1 min

How Scammers Convince Ordinary People to Hand Over Everything | Pasco PD

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Fraud and scams are becoming more sophisticated, but the tactics behind them often look surprisingly similar. In this episode of the Dollars & Sense Podcast, detectives from the Pasco Police Department share real fraud cases they have investigated, including romance scams, cryptocurrency and Bitcoin scams, money mules, fake bank alerts, impersonation scams, fraudulent property sales, and victims who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. We hear how scammers build trust, create urgency, isolate victims, and convince people to move money through checks, cash, cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ATMs, and other accounts. Pasco PD also explains how fraud investigations work, how detectives follow the money, why scammers use money mules, how overseas cryptocurrency accounts make recovery difficult, and what happens when law enforcement is able to identify a suspect. These cases also show why anyone can become a victim of fraud. Scammers use relationships, fear, fake authority, financial emergencies, and increasingly sophisticated technology to make their stories feel legitimate. If you receive a suspicious bank text, unexpected fraud alert, request for cryptocurrency, online investment opportunity, romance scam message, or instructions to move money to a “safe” account, slow down and verify who you are communicating with before taking action.

September 30, 2026Episode 7252 min

How to Build Credit Without Taking on Unnecessary Debt

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Building credit doesn’t have to mean taking on debt you don’t need. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we break down what building credit actually looks like, especially for young adults who are just getting started. We talk through authorized users, first credit cards, rent reporting, share-secured cards and loans, credit-builder options, student loans, Buy Now Pay Later, credit utilization, cosigning, and some of the biggest mistakes people make along the way. We also dig into why a high credit score doesn’t necessarily mean someone is financially healthy. You can have excellent credit and still be living paycheck to paycheck, carrying too much debt, or lacking emergency savings. If you’re trying to build credit from scratch, improve your credit history, understand your credit score, or avoid taking on unnecessary debt just to “build credit,” this episode is for you.

September 23, 2026Episode 7154 min

The Investing Questions Everyone Is Asking Right Now

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Investing can feel more confusing than ever. The stock market is near record highs, new investment products are constantly emerging, and financial advice is everywhere. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we sit down with wealth advisors from HFG Trust to answer some of the biggest investing and retirement questions people are asking right now. We cover how to estimate how much money you may need to retire, when to take Social Security, Roth vs. traditional 401(k)s, how to know if you’re taking the right amount of investment risk, and what to do if you feel behind. We also dig into the questions investors are facing in today’s market. Should you wait to invest when the stock market is near an all-time high? What should you do during a major market drop? What does diversification actually mean? What’s the difference between an ETF and an index fund? And if someone else’s portfolio is outperforming yours, should you be concerned? From debt and wealth building to AI stocks, cryptocurrency, ETFs, and tokenized stocks, this episode breaks down the investing questions people are asking right now and the principles that can help you make more informed financial decisions.

September 9, 2026Episode 7051 min

You Saved Enough to Retire. Now What?

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ You’ve spent decades saving for retirement. But once you finally get there, what do you actually do with the money? In this episode of Dollars & Sense, Scott sits down with Cameron from Peterson Hastings to break down what retirement actually looks like once the regular paycheck stops. They discuss how to know when you’re ready to retire, where your retirement income comes from, how to create a steady paycheck from your investments, when to consider taking Social Security, what happens to your healthcare coverage, how taxes change in retirement, and how much you may be able to safely withdraw without running out of money. They also talk about the transition from being a lifelong saver to becoming a spender, why the first year of retirement can require more planning than people expect, and the financial decisions worth thinking about several years before your last day of work. Whether retirement is a few years away or still decades down the road, understanding what happens after you stop working can help you build a plan for what comes next.

September 2, 2026Episode 6947 min

They Didn’t Have It All Figured Out. They Built the Business Anyway.

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ What does it really take to turn an idea into a business? Vanessa and Dimitri didn’t start with a perfect plan. They started with a 10x10 booth, a vision, and a willingness to figure things out as they went. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, they share how they built Alignment Co. from local markets into multiple brick-and-mortar locations, and what they learned about money, credit, marketing, hiring, inventory, and scaling along the way. Vanessa also shares how her experience working at HAPO helped shape the financial foundation they used to build the business, from understanding credit to making strategic decisions about how they funded their growth. We talk about rebuilding credit, using savings, refinancing an existing vehicle to help fund the business, going viral on social media, sourcing products internationally, managing rapid growth, hiring employees, and learning the financial side of business ownership in real time. If you’ve ever had a business idea but felt like you needed to have everything figured out before starting, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the next step matters more than having the entire plan.

August 26, 2026Episode 6842 min

What Happens When a Medical Emergency Sends Life Off Script?

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ A medical emergency can impact a lot more than your health. Unexpected medical bills, lost income, depleted emergency savings, insurance costs, and months away from work can completely change your financial life. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we hear two real-life stories of medical emergencies that sent life completely off script. Cana shares how an unexpected leukemia diagnosis led to a $98,000 Life Flight, months of cancer treatment, relocation to Seattle, and nearly a year away from work. Kenzie shares how a broken ankle shortly after buying a home resulted in surgery, thousands of dollars in medical debt, months of missed work, and difficult decisions about continued medical care. We talk about the financial side of a health crisis, including emergency funds, medical bills, health insurance deductibles, out-of-pocket costs, FMLA, lost wages, financial assistance programs, medical debt consolidation, and what it takes to financially recover after the unexpected. Their stories are a reminder that preparing for an emergency isn't just about having money for a surprise expense. Sometimes the bigger challenge is figuring out how to keep life moving when your income stops and the bills don't.

August 5, 2026Episode 6742 min

We Asked College Students Where Their Money Actually Goes

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ In this episode of Dollars & Sense, two current college students and an incoming freshman discuss what it actually takes to manage money while attending college. Karlie and Sydney share the expenses, mistakes and surprises they experienced after leaving home, while HAPO scholarship winner Jazlyn explains how she is preparing for her first year at the University of Washington. They discuss dorm life, meal plans, transportation, campus jobs, unexpected fees, emergency savings and the pressure to spend money just to keep up with the college experience. You’ll hear why bringing a car can become more expensive than expected, how a forgotten utility setup created additional fees, why summer earnings disappear so quickly and how students can balance responsible spending with making memories. Whether you are preparing for college or helping a student get ready to leave home, this conversation offers an honest look at the financial side of college life that often gets overlooked.

July 15, 2026Episode 6656 min

The Truth About Owing the IRS and How to Get Ahead of It

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Tax problems usually don't start all at once. They build slowly through missed filings. Tax problems can grow fast when they are ignored, misunderstood, or handled alone. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we sit down with Scott Taylor and Enis Maili from Priority Tax Relief to talk about what really happens when someone owes the IRS, why tax debt can get out of control, and how getting help early may give you more options. We cover IRS letters, missed filings, payment plans, self-employment taxes, business tax mistakes, and the common decisions that can make tax problems worse. This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as tax or legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, speak with a qualified tax professional.

June 17, 2026Episode 6545 min

The Banking Tools Most Business Owners Don't Know Exist

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Most business owners don't realize how much time, money, and risk are tied up in the way they manage their banking. From driving checks to the bank and manually processing payroll to protecting against fraud and improving cash flow, the right systems can make a bigger difference than most people think. In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we sit down with HAPO's Commercial Deposits and Treasury Services teams to discuss the banking tools many businesses overlook, how growing companies can improve efficiency, and the simple changes that can save time, reduce risk, and help businesses focus on what they do best. Whether you're running a side hustle, managing a growing company, or leading an established business, this conversation will help you identify opportunities to work smarter—not harder.

June 3, 2026Episode 6437 min

What Working at a Credit Union Taught Us About Financial Mistakes

Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.Podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hapoccu/ https://www.instagram.com/dollarsandsense.podcast/ Most people don’t realize how many small financial habits quietly impact their future. In this episode of the Dollars & Sense Podcast, the team sits down to talk about the biggest financial mistakes they’ve seen while working at a credit union—from credit card misconceptions and spending habits to late payments, savings, budgeting, and the financial advice people get completely wrong. They also break down the habits financially stable people tend to have in common, the mindset shifts that can improve your finances long term, and the lessons they wish more people understood earlier in life. Whether you’re trying to build credit, save more money, avoid common financial traps, or simply become more intentional with your finances, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world observations.

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