The Personal Finance Podcast

67% of Americans say they want to own a business. Only 6% ever do it, and the gap is almost never a lack of money. Alex Smrzak has data on thousands of franchises, and he breaks down the path that lets you start a business on step three instead of step one.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

What you are actually buying with a franchise fee, and what the royalty keeps paying for

How much cash you really need to start, from $5K side hustles to $5M builds

Why lenders and the SBA prefer franchises, plus the retirement rollover most people have never heard of

Which categories are quietly booming right now, and which trendy ones Alex is skeptical of

The real-estate move that let one owner sell 30 Burger Kings and still collect checks

How to structure a deal with an operating partner, and the equity threshold to stay under

The path from one location to a portfolio doing hundreds of millions in revenue

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Tool/s Mentioned

Compound Interest Calculator https://expert-hustler-605.kit.com/aefaaad27e

Investment Calculator https://mastermoneyresources.com/investment-calculator-page

Episode/s Mentioned

5 Side-Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! https://youtu.be/bEIzgYWLi1I

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! Part 2 https://youtu.be/10C4zt9w8NQ

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full Time Income! (Part 3) https://youtu.be/jEkKQZVYLSg

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

Watch Next

Why a Mini Retirement Can Change Your Life https://youtu.be/o5HIfbIwfjI

Roth vs. Traditional, Dividend ETFs, and Catching Up in Your 40s (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/jtITtSd6vjI

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

Why Your Healthcare Costs Keep Rising with Dr. Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/daPVY9WCCAw

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

Connect with Alex

Website →⁠ https://franzy.com/

Instagram →⁠ https://instagram.com/alexfromfranzy

TikTok →⁠ https://tiktok.com/alexfromfranzy

X →⁠ https://www.x.com/alexfromfranzy

Threads →⁠ https://www.threads.net/alexfromfranzy

LinkedIn →⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-smereczniak-40310329/

YouTube →⁠ https://youtube.com/@franzyinc

Spotify →⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/46Fegpnlum8YtWUuuCnoiF

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

If you could own any franchise in your town tomorrow, which one would you pick? Drop it in the comments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You do not have to wait until 65 to actually use your money. There is a version of retirement you can take at 35, at 40, at 45, and Andrew breaks down exactly what it costs, who should not do it, and the step-by-step plan to fund one without derailing your future.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The difference between a sabbatical and a mini retirement, and why one gives you more leverage

Four red flags that mean you are not ready to take one yet

What pausing your contributions actually costs you over 20 and 30 years

How to calculate your number, including the reentry cushion most people forget

How to solve healthcare before you leave, and the limits of COBRA

The exact way to pitch this to your boss without torching your career

Four real case studies, from a Coast FIRE engineer to a burned-out ER nurse

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclasshttps://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Tool/s Mentioned

Compound Interest Calculator https://expert-hustler-605.kit.com/aefaaad27e

Investment Calculator https://mastermoneyresources.com/investment-calculator-page

Book/s Mentioned

Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss

Watch Next

Roth vs. Traditional, Dividend ETFs, and Catching Up in Your 40s (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/jtITtSd6vjI

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

Why Your Healthcare Costs Keep Rising with Dr. Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/daPVY9WCCAw

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

Reset Your Money Mindset, Get Out of Debt, Save for a House & Understand Credit Scores (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/JGoKB92rddo

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

What year are you targeting for your mini retirement? Put the number in the comments and make it real.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Q&A, Andrew answers eight real listener questions, plus an AI privacy leak that could already have your data sitting in Google search results.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

How to pick between a Roth and traditional 401(k) when there is no employer match

Why the ETF versions of these funds let you skip the $3,000 minimum entirely

Whether dividend ETFs like SCHD actually belong in a Roth IRA

The right debt payoff order when you have cash in the bank and a car loan

How to pull income from a brokerage account and stay in the 0% capital gains bracket

What catch-up contributions look like at 50 and 60, and how to run your own catch-up math

The AI setting to turn off before your chats end up in Google search results

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!

https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass

https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here!

https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals

Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Tool/s Mentioned

The 1-3-6 Method Emergency Fund Mastery https://mastermoney.co/the-ultimate-guide-to-managing-your-emergency-fund/

Total Cost of Ownership Calculator https://mastermoney.co/total-cost-of-ownership-calculator/

Compound Interest Calculator https://expert-hustler-605.kit.com/aefaaad27e

Investment Calculator https://mastermoneyresources.com/investment-calculator-page

Episode/s Mentioned

The 1-3-6 Method For Building & Managing Your Emergency Fund https://youtu.be/rGdII_Z0hnw

5 Side-Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! https://youtu.be/bEIzgYWLi1I

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! Part 2 https://youtu.be/10C4zt9w8NQ

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full Time Income! (Part 3) https://youtu.be/jEkKQZVYLSg

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

How to Pay No Taxes in Early Retirement, Debunking the Mortgage Fee Fiasco,and More With Katie Gatti https://youtu.be/2JThReUdrL4

The Simple Path to Wealth (With J.L. Collins) https://youtu.be/-02BNewBfbo

Watch Next

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

Why Your Healthcare Costs Keep Rising with Dr. Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/daPVY9WCCAw

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

Reset Your Money Mindset, Get Out of Debt, Save for a House & Understand Credit Scores (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/JGoKB92rddo

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

Which question in this episode sounded the most like your situation? Drop it in the comments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone is chasing the shiny online business while a guy with a pickup truck quietly clears six figures organizing other people's junk. Here are five unglamorous businesses you can start on nights and weekends, with the real numbers behind each one.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

How to price a garage cleanout, and the quarterly maintenance offer that turns a one-time job into a subscription

The third income stream most cleanout crews leave on the table entirely

What it really costs to install a backyard sauna and cold plunge, and the spread you keep on every job

How to build a storage business on land you do not own, using a revenue split with the landowner

The math on one acre of storage spaces and why lake and coastal lots command 30 to 50% more

How to rent out a boat you already own so it pays for itself, and why selling the experience beats selling the boat

How to launch a virtual sleep consulting practice with no inventory, no location, and packages parents happily prepay for

The content and referral playbook Andrew would run for every single one of these businesses

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!

https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass

https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here!

https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Episode/s Mentioned

5 Side-Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! https://youtu.be/bEIzgYWLi1I

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! Part 2 https://youtu.be/10C4zt9w8NQ

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full Time Income! (Part 3) https://youtu.be/jEkKQZVYLSg

Watch Next

Why Your Healthcare Costs Keep Rising with Dr. Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/daPVY9WCCAw

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

Reset Your Money Mindset, Get Out of Debt, Save for a House & Understand Credit Scores (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/JGoKB92rddo

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q

The Retirement Mistake 80% of Investors Make (with Vanguard's Lead Researcher) https://youtu.be/37zVUL0e2TE

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

Which one of these five would you actually start? Drop it in the comments, and if you have a side hustle you want Andrew to break down on a future episode, name it.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Healthcare costs have been climbing around 7% a year. Andrew sits down with Doc G (Dr. Jordan Grumet), hospice physician and author of The Healthcare Heist, to break down exactly how a routine ER visit turns into a five-figure bill and where every one of those dollars actually goes.

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Where your money actually goes on a routine ER visit, line by line

The billing trick hospitals use to make your visit look more complicated than it was

Why insurers quietly stopped fighting big hospital bills, and how that shows up in your premium

The reason your doctor orders tests they already know you do not need

How to audit a medical bill before you pay it, and the mistake that saved one listener $6,000

The HSA strategy that turns saved receipts into tax-free income years later

What to actually budget for health coverage if you retire before 65, plus three lower-cost alternatives most people never hear about

Why the long-term care bill you are afraid of is far less likely than you think, and how to fund it anyway

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today!https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Policygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Scribe → Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial ⁠⁠http://www.scribe.how/pfp ⁠

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Andrew’s Favorite Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/lp/iras/lp/best-iras-master-money?pcuid=oe09b73d1952&jump_from_embed=true&wafid=

Book/s Mentioned

The Healthcare Heist by Jordan Grumet https://a.co/d/091yO9cW

The Purpose Code by Jordan Grumet https://a.co/d/0aQIAFvZ

Taking Stock by Jordan Grumet https://a.co/d/03cjorhk

Episode/s Mentioned

How to Figure Out How Much is ENOUGH with Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/d7nZVBHBtCI

How to Find Your Purpose And Build A Life You Love With Jordan Grumet https://youtu.be/H0KUUmc3B30

How to Negotiate Your Bills (and SAVE 6-Figures!) https://youtu.be/bgIcmuK7FK8

Watch Next

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

Reset Your Money Mindset, Get Out of Debt, Save for a House & Understand Credit Scores (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/JGoKB92rddo

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q

The Retirement Mistake 80% of Investors Make (with Vanguard's Lead Researcher) https://youtu.be/37zVUL0e2TE

How Much More Expensive Has Life ACTUALLY Become Since 2020? https://youtu.be/_n8qUA3NsoI

Connect with Jordan

Website →⁠ https://jordangrumet.com/

X →⁠ https://x.com/earnaninvest

Facebook →⁠ https://www.facebook.com/earnandinvest

Books →⁠ https://jordangrumet.com/books

Podcast →⁠ https://www.earnandinvest.com/

Spotify →⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/2CdpAR3sgltBBhDcpWRq0g

Newsletter →⁠ https://jordangrumet.substack.com

LinkedIn →⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-grumet-38a506179/

Connect with Andrew

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://instagram.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco ⁠

TikTok → ⁠https://tiktok.com/@mastermoneyco ⁠

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@mastermoneyco/⁠

Question for you:

Have you ever caught a mistake on a medical bill or negotiated one down? Drop the number you saved in the comments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices