A check showed up in the mail for a colleague of mine, ready to deposit. He hadn’t applied for anything. He has solid credit, pays his bills, and reads the fine print, so he called me to show me what came with it. The fine print was stacked with prepaid finance charges, two separate origination fees, a closing fee on a loan nobody closed, a monthly maintenance charge, and an interest rate that would make your eyes water.

I call that financial pimping, and I read the whole offer line by line in this episode so you can see exactly how it’s built. These companies aren’t targeting people who don’t pay their bills. They’re targeting good people with too much month at the end of their money, counting on one emotional moment at the kitchen table. This is a red light. If your credit is decent, there are far better options, and a Hope financial coach can walk you through them at no cost.

On the green-light side, I want to celebrate Serena Williams. One of the greatest athletes who ever lived has become a serious investor, backing dozens of companies early and building wealth that no longer depends on a tennis racket. You may not invest the way Serena does, and you don’t have to. Fractional shares, a mutual fund, or a small stake in a business around the corner are all places to start.

A listener who is thirty-five asks where to begin with retirement. My answer is the 401(k) match, which is free money. Sign up, set it on auto-pay, and let compounding go to work while you sleep.

🎧 Listen now — wherever you get your podcasts, or simply click below.

Prefer to watch? The full episode is on YouTube.