Was His $120,000 College Degree a Huge Mistake?

Was His $120,000 College Degree a Huge Mistake?

Author: Brian Preston and Bo Hanson September 14, 2026 Duration: 49:30
At 28, Joe has gone from roughly $120,000 in student loan debt to a positive $70,000 net worth—but now he faces a major personal finance decision: should he aggressively pay off student loans or keep investing for retirement? Brian and Bo break down his budget, Roth IRA, HSA, Bitcoin, side hustle income, savings rate, debt avalanche strategy, and Coast FIRE goals to build a financial plan for his 30s. If you’re wondering how to pay off student loan debt, whether to invest while paying off debt, or how much you should save in your 20s, Joe’s financial journey shows just how powerful intentional money decisions can become.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jump start your journey with our FREE financial resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reach your goals faster with our products⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Take the relationship to the next level: become a client⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube for early access and go beyond the podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Connect with us on social media for more content⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Bring confidence to your wealth building with simplified strategies from The Money Guy. Learn how to apply financial tactics that go beyond common sense and help you reach your money goals faster. Make your assets do the heavy lifting so you can quit worrying and start living a more fulfilled life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosts Brian Preston and Bo Hanson bring a refreshingly practical and detailed approach to personal finance in Money Guy Show. This isn't about get-rich-quick schemes or dry theory; it's a deep, actionable dive into the mechanics of building lasting wealth. Each episode breaks down complex topics in investing, tax strategy, and business principles into understandable steps that listeners can actually use. You'll hear concrete examples, from optimizing retirement accounts and navigating market volatility to structuring your finances for major life events. The focus is always on making your money work efficiently for you, creating a system where your assets generate momentum. Tuning into this podcast feels like getting clear, confident advice from two knowledgeable guides who cut through the noise. The conversation is grounded in real-world application, offering a blend of education and tactical insight that helps demystify financial success. Whether you're just starting your wealth-building journey or looking to refine a sophisticated portfolio, the discussions provide a structured yet adaptable framework for making smarter decisions with your money.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Money Guy Show
Podcast Episodes
The Truth About Making $65,000 Per Year at 27 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:10
This episode brought to you by Abound Wealth. Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: https://moneyguy.com/become-a-client/ At 27 years old, Melissa has already built a $61,000 net worth on a $65,000…
How To Build Wealth If You’re Already Behind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
Behind on retirement savings or starting to invest later in life? Brian and Bo break down how to catch up on retirement in your 40s and 50s, including how much you should have saved by age, retirement savings rates, 401(…
How Much Do You ACTUALLY Need To Retire? (Big Announcement! ) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:41
How much do you actually need to retire—and are your retirement savings on track today? We’re introducing the new Know Your Number retirement calculator, a completely free tool designed to help you estimate how much mone…
Financial Advisors React to YouTuber Financial Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:28
Start a free trial, and get 50% off your first year of Monarch Core Tier with code MONEYGUY at monarch.com Financial advice on YouTube can sound convincing—but should you actually follow it? Brian and Bo react to viral m…
5 Ways To Retire Early [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:35
This episode brought to you by Abound Wealth. Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: https://moneyguy.com/become-a-client/ Want to retire early but worried your retirement money is locked up until a…
DO THIS for a Happy Retirement (feat. Wes Moss) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:08
Retirement happiness isn’t just about how much money you’ve saved—so what actually matters most? Brian, Bo, and retirement researcher Wes Moss put it to the test with a Retirement Happiness Draft, taking turns building t…
Can a $100K Family Ever Get Ahead? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
Watch Daniel & Hannah’s original episode here: https://youtu.be/vn4VyUtE1j8 This episode brought to you by Abound Wealth. Take the relationship to the next level and become a client: https://moneyguy.com/become-a-client/…
The Uncomfortable Truth About Financial Advisors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:01
Choosing a financial advisor is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make—but do you actually need one? Brian and Bo break down the uncomfortable truth about financial advisors, including advisor fees, fiduciary…
Are You Actually Wealthy? Here’s How to Know. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:33
Are you actually wealthy for your age—and how much money should you have saved by 30, 40, 50, or 60? We compare income, debt, net worth by age, retirement savings, and financial flexibility to reveal which numbers actual…
Financial Advisors React to HILARIOUS Money Clips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:05
Financial Advisors React is back, and this time Brian and Bo break down some of the internet's funniest viral money clips—from confusing credit score advice and investing memes to entrepreneurship, student loans, stock m…