The Boldin Your Money Podcast

Hosted by Steve Chen

Business EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

110

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Boldin Podcast — your trusted source for retirement planning, financial wellness, and purposeful living. Formerly known as NewRetirement, Boldin is on a mission to empower you to take control of your financial future. Whether you're nearing retirement, already retired, or just starting to plan, we cover what matters most: money, lifestyle, health, meaning, and how to retire smarter. Each episode features expert interviews and actionable insights on topics like retirement income strategies, Social Security planning, saving for retirement after 50, and creating a fulfilling life after work. Ready to start your journey? Explore the best free retirement planning tool and a library of financial resources at Boldin.com — and take the first step toward financial independence and a well-lived life.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 28, 20261 hr 7 min

Paul Merriman: Evidence Based Investing

Paul Merriman — nationally recognized authority on index investing and one of the most trusted voices in evidence-based investing — joins Steve Chen to share what nearly six decades in financial services taught him about how the industry really works. Paul opens up about why he walked away from Wall Street in his 20s, how he accidentally built a $1.6 billion advisory firm, and why he gave it all up to focus on financial education. He breaks down the simple investing framework he's spent his career refining, makes the case for going beyond the S&P 500, and explains why the most powerful portfolio move most investors never make might also be the simplest.

May 7, 202650 min

Mark Miller: Social Security & Medicare, What’s Changing and What It Means for You

In this episode, host Steve Chen sits down with Mark Miller — journalist, author, and retirement expert behind RetirementRevised.com — to unpack the biggest changes hitting Social Security and Medicare right now. Mark shares his personal experience claiming both programs, explains why “later is better” for most Social Security claimants, and breaks down the trust fund depletion risk without the fear-mongering. The conversation covers the real-world impact of DOGE-driven SSA staffing cuts, why traditional Medicare beats Medicare Advantage for most people, the landmark $2,000 Part D out-of-pocket cap, and the quiet Medicare Savings Program rollback buried in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Mark’s no-nonsense take: understand the rules, claim strategically, and shop your Medicare coverage every single year.

May 7, 202648 min

Erin Talks Money: Personal Finance for Real People

Erin Moriarity, creator of the Erin Talks Money YouTube channel, joins Steve Chen to share the personal story behind her passion for financial independence — from investing at age eight alongside her Depression-era grandmother to watching her mother lose financial control through a difficult divorce. Now reaching over 340,000 subscribers, Erin breaks down her philosophy that most people should DIY their finances well into their 50s, how to build a retirement income plan anchored by guaranteed income floors, and why she's fiercely selective about partnerships. The episode wraps with a candid conversation on AI — how she's using it in her business, her content, and even to manage her own health.

February 5, 202647 min

Fiona Ma & David Teykaerts: What Happens Next for CalSavers?

In this episode of Boldin Your Money, host Steve Chen sits down with California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and CalSavers Executive Director David Teykaerts to explore how California is tackling the retirement savings gap through the CalSavers program. Fiona shares her personal journey from the private sector into public service and explains the treasurer’s broader role as the state’s banker, overseeing investments, bonds, and multiple savings initiatives. Together, Fiona and David walk through why CalSavers was created, how automatic payroll savings can dramatically increase participation, and why default design, low fees, and simplicity matter most for workers who’ve historically lacked access to retirement plans. The conversation highlights the program’s scale and impact—hundreds of thousands of savers, billions saved, and growing along with lessons about behavioral finance, employer responsibility, and the power of “set it and forget it” systems to build long-term financial security for everyday Californians.

January 22, 202656 min

David Bach: The Automatic Millionaire in an Automated World

David Bach joins Steve Chen to discuss the evolution of The Automatic Millionaire and his newest idea, the IRA Flat Tax, which aims to rethink how Americans use their retirement savings. Bach explains that decades of automation have helped millions accumulate wealth, but most retirees now delay spending their money until required minimum distributions, leaving trillions of dollars idle. He proposes a limited window allowing early retirement withdrawals at a flat tax rate to encourage spending, improve retiree quality of life, and stimulate the economy. The conversation also explores the difficulty of shifting from saving to spending, the importance of enjoying wealth while health allows, and how AI is reshaping financial planning without replacing the need for human guidance, reinforcing Bach’s long-held belief that money is ultimately a tool to support a better life.

December 18, 202555 min

Paula Pant: You Can Afford Anything, but Not Everything

In this episode of Boldin Your Money, Steve Chen catches up with Paula Pant, founder of Afford Anything to explore how her work and thinking have evolved. Paula shares how earning a graduate degree in economic journalism deepened her approach to personal finance, why her audience is juggling more competing priorities than ever, and how rising uncertainty is shaping financial behavior. She and Steve discuss housing lock-in, geo-arbitrage, and the growing value of human soft skills in an AI-driven world. Paula also breaks down her “Double-I FIRE” framework and explains why real estate, entrepreneurship, and empowered decision-making matter more than ever.

October 30, 20251 hr 4 min

Katy Song: Money Confidence for Real Life

In this episode of Boldin Your Money, host Steve Chen sits down with Katy Song, a Certified Financial Planner based in Mill Valley, to explore how modern families can achieve financial confidence and “work optionality.” Katy shares her journey from investment banking to flat-fee financial planning, driven by a desire to help young families make smarter money decisions without needing large investable assets. The discussion spans real-life financial challenges in Bay Area cost of living, homeownership versus renting, intergenerational planning, and the psychology of money. Katy emphasizes holistic advice over asset management, revealing trends like women becoming the primary earners, the growing “sandwich generation,” and the emotional side of money stress. Her core message: true financial success comes from clarity, balance, and aligning money with personal values.

October 23, 202538 min

Real Retirement Stories: Leslie and Thomas Martin

Leslie and Thomas Martin share how years of consistent saving and do-it-yourself planning helped them confidently retire early and enjoy life on their own terms. Starting with the classic “save 10%” rule, they eventually built detailed retirement models using Boldin, holding regular “family finance” meetings to test scenarios and understand when and how they could retire. Those tools gave them peace of mind and what they call a “license to spend”—freedom to enjoy their go-go years without fear of running out of money. They stay invested, manage taxes carefully, and keep a cash cushion for market swings. Now traveling the country in their Winnebago Revel, they focus on experiences, community, and helping their kids learn smart money habits. Their advice: plan several years before you retire, keep learning, use planning tools, and make your money work for you so you can spend confidently and live fully. Big lessons: have a plan (even if it changes), invest (not just save), stress-test worst cases, and use community and coaching for confidence.

October 9, 202551 min

Caring for Parents, Planning for the Future with Beth Pinsker

Beth Pinsker CFP®, MarketWatch columnist, and author of My Mother’s Money explains how caring for her mom exposed the gap between “knowing” and “doing” estate/care plans. Only ~30% have wills; even fewer have POAs/health proxies, creating real cash-flow and authorization crises when care starts. She describes the emotional and ethical knots (siblings, guilt) and how illiquid assets/annuity rules and bank hurdles complicate paying caregivers. Takeaways: set POAs/health proxies, add phone legacy contacts, name beneficiaries on all accounts/titles to avoid probate, and use fee-only help when needed. Beth frames inheritances as “Bubby money” spending aligned with a loved one’s values and urges investing in health and lifestyle now.

October 9, 202529 min

Real Retirement Stories: Andrea Solarz

In this episode of Boldin Your Money, host Steve Chen talks with Andrea Solarz, a Boldin community member from Arlington, Virginia, about her lifelong journey to financial independence. Andrea shares how early lessons from her parents about saving and budgeting set her on the right path, later reinforced through self-education and following experts like Rob Berger, Christine Benz, and Andy Panko. She discusses using Boldin’s financial planning platform to confirm she was ready to retire and shift from saving to spending confidently. Andrea now relies on Social Security and TIAA-CREF annuities for guaranteed income, giving her the freedom to travel and support friends and causes she cares about. A single woman with no children, Andrea highlights the importance of independent financial planning and encourages others, especially women, to start saving early, invest consistently, and plan intentionally for retirement.