Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Today, Nicole is pulling back the curtain on a financial institution you probably didn’t expect to see on this show: Vatican City. In this episode, Nicole dives into the financial story of the Catholic Church under Pope Francis: the scandals, the reforms, the setbacks—and what this means for Pope Leo and the future of the church.

Nicole’s a bit of a romantic— especially when it comes to conversations about financial and family planning. Today, she’s joined by Sharna Burgess (cohost of the Oldish podcast, Dancing with the Stars alum), who is having these conversations now with her fiancé, actor Brian Austin Green. Sharna shares how finances are factoring into their wedding planning, how a business manager played a key role in her love story, and whether she and Brian are considering continuing to grow their family. Plus, Nicole gives her favorite strategies for setting good financial habits as a couple. If you and your spouse decide to open a joint account, you should check out Bank of America. You can even turn it into a date night! Because making smart money decisions together is an investment in your relationship. And honestly, what’s more romantic than that? Nicole’s partner Bank of America is the one stop shop where you can get guidance, tools, solutions, and view your Bank of America banking and manage your Merrill investing accounts online in one place. To learn more, go to: http://bofa.com/FinancialNextSteps⁠.

Hosted by Nicole Lapin the podcast Scams, Money, and Murder dives into the dark side of finance. From cutthroat con artists to billion-dollar scams, and even murder, Nicole will take you through the world’s wildest financial crimes -- or talk to the experts who studied them, and the victims that survived them. Scams, Money, and Murder with Nicole Lapin is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Thursday. For more content, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @crimehouse.

The portfolios of members of Congress outperform the S&P 500 by 17%. That's not smart investing— that's insider trading. Today, Nicole shares some jaw-dropping examples of insider trading in Washington, and how we can use politicians' investment disclosures to predict the future.

How do you work towards multiple financial goals at once? The answer isn’t some money move that your future self will need to make… the answer lies within the money moves you are making now. Right now. And we’ll show you how to make those money moves, with help from Bank of America, who Nicole partnered with for this episode. Whatever goals you’re working towards, long-term or short-term, Bank of America Corporation has tools to help you get there at http://bofa.com/FinancialNextSteps.

After a wave of not-so-great headlines on tariffs, we finally have some good news: the Trump Administration is signaling cuts to the new tariffs on Chinese goods. But what does that actually mean for your bank account? To follow the money trail, Nicole brings back Fred P. Hochberg—former President of the Export-Import Bank and Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administration—who has spent his career at the intersection of business and public policy. Fred and Nicole break down how tariff policy should work to benefit Americans, what happens if these cuts don’t happen, and how it all could affect prices (yes, including what you’ll pay for Christmas presents this year). Fred's book is an amazing read to understand the current moment! Check it out here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Trade-Is-Not-a-Four-Letter-Word/Fred-P-Hochberg/9781982127374

The biggest feud on reality TV this week... is Trump vs Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The issue at the core of this beef? Interest rates. President Trump is pressuring the Fed to lower rates, but today, Nicole shares her hot take: we don't want lower rates.

Nicole explains why the value of the dollar is going down and how it will affect your wallet.

After a whirlwind of headline whiplash over the last month, last week in the economy felt... quieter. But quieter doesn’t mean unimportant. Instead of chasing breaking news, we’re settling into the “new normal”—whatever that ends up meaning in this cycle. So what do investors need to know now that the dust has (somewhat) settled? To help answer that, Nicole is joined by Karen Finerman (CEO of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, founding panelist of CNBC’s Fast Money, and host of How She Does It). They dive into the current state of the dollar, what tariffs could mean for your money, and Karen’s best-performing stock pick of 2025 so far.

There are tons of tariff loophole videos going viral right now, taken by people claiming to be manufacturers in China. These people say that you can bypass the tariffs through buying your favorite Chinese-made products (think Lululemon yoga pants to Louis Vuitton bags) straight from them. Today, Nicole explains if those are legit, which tariff loophole is going away and how these videos will affect consumers and investors alike.

Today, Nicole continues to unpack do's and don'ts for market downturns— this time, she's joined by Peter Mallouk, President and CEO of award-winning wealth management firm Creative Planning. In this conversation, Nicole and Peter break down the smart (and not-so-smart) moves to make when the market’s in the red. To learn more about Creative Planning and how they could help you meet your financial goals, visit: www.creativeplanning.com/nicole

Today’s caller is living the freelance dream—flexible schedule, creative freedom, but… zero employer retirement benefits. If you’re self-employed and wondering how the heck you’re supposed to save for retirement without a 401(k), this episode is for you. Nicole breaks down the best retirement accounts for freelancers, how to reverse-engineer your savings plan, and how to turn “irregular income” into “regular savings.” Because yes, you can have a dreamy retirement, even without a W-2. To open your Traditional or Roth IRA today, go to public.com/moneyrehab Paid endorsement for Open to the Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. This information is for educational purposes only and is not tax or investment advice. Consult your tax advisor for individual considerations. Visit the IRS website for more information on the limitations and tax benefits of Traditional and Roth IRAs. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Open to the Public Investing, member FINRA & SIPC. *Terms and Conditions apply. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Brokerage services for alternative assets are offered by Dalmore Group, LLC, member FINRA & SIPC. Brokerage services for treasury accounts offering 6-month T-Bills are offered by Jiko Securities, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Banking services are offered by Jiko Bank, a division of Mid-Central National Bank. Securities investments: Not FDIC Insured; No Bank Guarantee; May Lose Value. See public.com/#disclosures-main for more information. *APY as of 6/20/24, subject to change.

Is 2008 repeating itself? That’s the big question in the headlines, and today Nicole is talking to the perfect person to answer that question. Steve Eisman doesn’t need much of an introduction—he’s the investor who famously saw what no one else saw in 2008 and bet against the market before the crash (he was portrayed by Steve Carell in The Big Short). Today, Steve tells Nicole whether he thinks history is repeating itself, whether we're on-track for a recession, and his thoughts for new investors. Check out Steve's new podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-eisman-playbook/id1806975494

We are all feeling the market whiplash— today, Nicole explains why that whiplash is happening, and the possibility that the stock market crash was not collateral damage, but the point all along.

Consumer confidence in the U.S. is shaky right now—and with ongoing tariff drama and mixed economic signals, it’s no surprise investors are feeling uneasy. But here’s the thing: the U.S. is not your only option. Today, Nicole explains why looking beyond U.S. borders could be the smartest move for your portfolio right now. From “blue-chip” countries like Japan and Germany to emerging markets like India and Mexico, Nicole breaks down the best global investment plays, how to access them (spoiler: ETFs are your friend), and the tax traps to avoid. Diversification isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

Carter Braxton Worth, legendary chart analyst and guest on today’s episode, made headlines when he called the current bear market back in February—weeks before the major sell-off in early March. Nicole and Carter dig into what he was seeing in the charts that signaled the downturn, what the market is saying post-"Liberation Day," and how tariffs could impact key industries. They also break down what it actually means to be in a bear market, why panic isn’t a plan, and which sectors could be your portfolio’s new MVPs. For part two of this conversation, a visual breakdown of Carter’s chart analysis, click here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0KGoa1csmIeAAQIigSwMSw Find Carter's work here: https://www.worthcharting.com/

The market just took a nosedive, and tariffs announced by President Trump are at the center of it all. In this episode, Nicole breaks down how those tariffs rattled the global economy, what that means for prices and industries here at home, and—most importantly—what you can do to protect your hard-earned money. She'll share why she's still bullish on the long-term market outlook, how to take advantage of the dip, and the funds worth watching if you're creating a portfolio built to last. 00:20 Understanding the Market Crash 01:12 Impact of Tariffs on the Market 04:06 Investment Strategies During a Downturn 07:39 Recommended Funds to Research 09:29 Final Tips

Today Nicole answers the #1 question she's been getting lately: what do I do with my money when the economy gets shaky? Nicole shares the investments that have historically stood the test of time during recessions, and even thrived in high-inflation environments

The stock market just had its worst day since 2020, and Trump’s proposed “Liberation Day” tariffs are at the center of the storm. The administration is arguing that these sweeping international tariffs will be a win for American workers—promising to bring manufacturing back home, reduce the trade deficit, and generate revenue. But history—and economics—tell a more complicated story. Today, Nicole is joined by investor, author and podcaster James Altucher to break down what these tariffs will mean for the U.S. economy. Together, they dig into the real-world impact on inflation, jobs, trade relationships, and the markets. Is this the beginning of a new era of economic strength, or a fast track to recession? To check out James' podcast, click HERE. To subscribe to James' newsletter, click HERE. For all other James things, go HERE.

If you’ve got a 401(k) or invest using Nicole’s Index Funds and Chill approach, chances are you’re a shareholder in major companies like Berkshire Hathaway or Tesla—and that means you have power. You can vote on who runs these companies, how they operate, and where your money goes. But most of us don’t use that power, and while we sit it out, others are stepping in—often to push agendas, not better business. Today, Nicole is joined by Nell Minow—an expert in corporate governance—to break down what shareholder activism should be, what it’s becoming, and why your retirement account might be more influential than you think. Oh, and she’s also got some thoughts on Tesla and Elon Musk… you won't want to miss it. Here are resources from Nell on proxy voting: https://www.iconikapp.com/as-you-sow https://theshareholdercommons.com/potb/