Money Unplugged with Chris Hill

Andy Hill hit a million-dollar net worth — and the first thing he did was sell part of his brokerage account and buy a Ford Mustang. It's the kind of decision that makes more sense once you understand how he got there. The host of the “Marriage Kids and Money” podcast and the author of Own Your Time, Hill grew up in Michigan learning early lessons about saving, investing, and building wealth. Guided by a mother who emphasized frugality and a father who built a career from the ground up, he developed a strong financial foundation — even as investing mistakes and market swings tested his path to financial independence. Chris Hill (no relation) talks with Andy about: - Buying a house at 22 with money he'd saved and invested — and why breaking even a decade later still stings - Falling in and out of love with investing, from tech mutual funds to a WWF stock purchase he'd rather forget - What he and his wife got wrong about money early in their marriage — and how 16 years later they're still figuring it out - The one investing move he wishes he'd made earlier — and why it requires almost no skill to pull off What's the last thing you splurged on? info@moneyunpluggedpod.com. Want to instantly improve your cooking? Go to dizzypigbbq.com and use the promo code “MONEY” to get 10% off your 1st order. Opening clip – “Grand Canyon”

Getting burned on a bad investment early in life can do one of two things: swear you off investing forever, or teach you exactly what kind of investor you want to become. For Laura Adams, it did the latter. Host of the Money Girl podcast — one of the longest-running personal finance podcasts in the world, with more than 1,000 episodes — Adams grew up in Charleston, SC, in a household where money was never discussed. That silence may be exactly why she became obsessed with it. Her earlie...

The best job is one you love. The second best? One you hate. Organizational psychologist Alison Fragale learned this the hard way — trading a McKinsey consulting career she couldn't stand for a Stanford PhD and a calling she never would have found otherwise. A professor at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and author of the bestseller Likeable Badass, Fragale grew up in Pittsburgh shaped by a father who made sure his daughter never had to think twice about what she put in the grocery cart. T...

Dividend stocks don’t get the hype of high-growth tech names — but they’ve quietly delivered some of the market’s best long-term returns. Investor Matt Argersinger joins Chris Hill to break down why dividend-paying companies can outperform, why younger investors shouldn’t ignore them, and how the stigma around dividends began to fade. They discuss: - The myth that dividend stocks are “for retirees” - Losing his first $500 investing in a failed computer company - The shift in investor thinking...

What’s it like to launch a financial career at the worst possible moment? Douglas Boneparth, CFP and president of Bone Fide Wealth, moved to New York City in 2008 as Bear Stearns collapsed and the Great Financial Crisis began. But his money story started much earlier — in a household where personal finance was never taboo. He talks with Chris Hill about: - Early lessons in entrepreneurship - The challenge of leaving a family firm to build his own path - Managing student debt and New York Ci...

Tim Hanson didn’t set out to become a capital allocator. Today he’s the President and CIO at Permanent Equity, helping steward long-term investments in private companies built to last. But his path to investing included playwriting, early stock picks, and lessons about money that started in childhood. Chris Hill talks with Tim about what separates investing from allocating capital — and why the distinction matters, as well as: - The first stock Tim ever bought (and what he learned from it) -...

Personal finance isn’t just math—it’s memory, emotion, and lived experience. Chris Hill talks with MarketWatch columnist Beth Pinsker about why money decisions feel so hard, especially during life’s biggest transitions. Drawing from her work as a journalist and financial planner, Beth breaks down caregiving, taxes, and end-of-life planning in ways that actually make sense. They discuss: - How childhood money experiences shape adult behavior - What financial planners can—and can’t—help with...

Denise Coursey didn’t grow up talking about investing—but she did grow up learning respect for money. Raised in a blue-collar, union household, Denise became a first-generation college student, took early career risks as a writer and editor, and eventually became a small business owner. Along the way, she developed strong views on scarcity, financial independence, and why “having enough” doesn’t always quiet the money noise in your head. Chris Hill talks with Denise about: •Why karate became...

Money anxiety often starts long before our first paycheck. For Carl Richards, it showed up as “static in the air” growing up around unspoken financial stress—and it shaped everything that came after. In this candid conversation, Carl reflects on how early experiences with money quietly influence our beliefs about risk, security, and success. From diving for golf balls as a kid to accidentally landing a job in finance, he shares the moments that taught him why money is never just about numbers...

Why does so much financial advice feel urgent—yet miss what actually matters? Chris Hill talks with Cullen Roche, investor, author, and founder of Discipline Funds, about why the financial industry continues to misunderstand time, incentives, and risk—and how that confusion shapes the advice people receive. In this conversation, they discuss: - How growing up in a large family influenced his views on ownership and responsibility - Early investing losses that reshaped Cullen’s view of risk - T...

Why do smart, capable people still avoid looking at their finances? Chris Hill talks with Nick Wolny, personal finance writer and author of Money Proud, about the emotional side of money—why avoidance is so common, how early experiences shape financial behavior, and what actually helps people face their finances without shame. They also discuss Nick’s initial career path in music, following where "money is moving", as well as: Closing the Wealth Gap - Why certain communities fall behind on sa...

We’re kicking off the new year with one of our most popular episodes of 2025. When Dan Pink was growing up in Ohio, money issues in his home were like a cloud that caused “an endless drizzle” over his family. Despite having written a string of #1 New York Times bestsellers, his earliest encounters with finance still play a big role in Dan’s conservative approach to money. Sitting down at his kitchen table in Washington DC, he shares: - Taking a VC approach to lemonade stands - The economic...

Chris Hill shares some holiday wishes before handing the show over to the late, great Louis Armstrong for his reading of Clement Moore’s classic poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas. Opening clip – “Scrooged” Email us info@moneyunpluggedpod.com

We’re back with more holiday-themed conversations on topics only loosely connected to money! Motley Fool senior analyst Bill Barker and Bill Mann, Chief Investment Strategist at Motley Fool Asset Management, share: - Regrettable holiday purchases - Songs we enjoy despite popular opinion - Our individual Mt. Rushmores of holiday movies - The legend of the Sourtoe Cocktail (Yes, really) Opening clip – “Elf” Looking for a last-minute gift for the book lover in your life? Order a copy of Oh, Chr...

Santa has run his company for centuries. It’s arguably the most admirable business in the world. But is it profitable? Motley Fool senior analyst Bill Barker and Bill Mann, Chief Investment Strategist at Motley Fool Asset Management, break down the company’s revenue streams and discuss: - Why KGE’s logistics are “state of the art” - The relative negotiating power of Santa's elves - How cryptocurrency may be boosting the bottom line - Mismatched holiday-themed buddy cop pairings (Yes, really...

You don’t start your own newspaper business when you’re in grade school unless you have entrepreneurship running through your veins. Fortunately for David Simnick, he had parents who indulged his ventures from an early age. Now the co-founder and CEO of Soapbox Soaps (one of the fastest-growing companies in America), David shares: - The military career he came close to pursuing - Early business ventures that failed - How “money is a fuel to go after what really matters” - Why he unabashedly...

Happy Thanksgiving! Need a little break from your family & friends? Take a walk or go for a drive as Chris Hill reveals how a listener email led him to spend an entire day in Atlanta with the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Plus, he shares: - 3 big Thanksgiving traditions in the U.S. - How two approaches to charitable giving (that have come up on the podcast) tie in to one of his favorite organizations, the Waterville Area Soup Kitchen - Tina Fey’s opinion of the only true reward...

Long before he was a regular panelist on NPR’s popular show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" and his writing was nominated for primetime Emmy Awards, Adam Felber was a Long Island kid with a voracious appetite for reading. Attending Tufts University he found his interest in writing, while outside the classroom he discovered a new love of comedy performance as one of the youngest members of ImprovBoston. Over a career that includes acting, creating television series, writing comic books (as well a...

Growing up in New Jersey, Matt Koppenheffer got his first real education in money when he started shoveling driveways in his neighborhood after snowstorms. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics, he headed to Wall Street in search of a job in the investment banking industry. When that didn’t pan out, he headed west to San Francisco and started a career in business and investing that has led him to the forefront of the AI revolution. Matt shares: - How...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries—but what does it mean for long-term investors? In this episode, veteran investor and portfolio manager at Bastion Fiduciary, John Rotonti joins Chris Hill to talk about investing in AI through a disciplined, long-term lens. Rather than chasing hype, John explains how investors can think clearly about innovation, competitive advantage, and risk when evaluating fast-moving technologies. They discuss: - How to approach AI investing without speculat...