Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

Money News Network

  • 58 minutes 36 seconds
    Trading Options 101 with NFL Linebacker Turned Wall Street MVP Pete Najarian

    Pete Najarian is an NFL linebacker turned successful options trader and today he joins Money Rehab to break down exactly what's happening in the markets right now, where the big opportunities are hiding, and how to read the signals that the pros don't talk about on TV.

    Then Pete walks Nicole through a complete options crash course: calls vs. puts, covered calls, naked positions, spreads, and how Warren Buffett secretly uses options to build his biggest positions. He even pulls up Nicole's actual options account live and breaks down what he sees.

    Then the conversation gets deeper. Pete opens up about losing his dream home, whether he’d run for governor of Minnesota, and the surprisingly simple investing philosophy that's driven all of his success.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Follow Pete and learn more at Market Rebellion

    Here's what Nicole covers with Pete: 

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    01:33 Nicole and Pete's History on the Chicago Trading Floor 

    03:13 Wolf of Wall Street Era 

    07:20 Where Pete Is Bullish Right Now

    09:30 How to Read Unusual Options Activity (UOA) 

    11:17 Options 101: Calls, Puts, and Plain English Explanations 

    12:46 How to Use Options as Portfolio Insurance 

    16:17 How Warren Buffett Actually Uses Options 

    18:18 Creating Your Own Dividend Stream with Covered Calls

    22:17 Pete Reviews Nicole's Options Account 

    23:40 Insider Trading and Options 

    26:12 Are Options Just Gambling? 

    34:18 Pete's Rules for Protecting Yourself 

    42:48 Secure the Bag

    49:00 Pete on Politics and the Future of Investing in Sports 

    52:23 Pete Najarian's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Options trading involves additional risks and is not suitable for all investors. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

    11 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 9 minutes 4 seconds
    Are We in an AI Bubble? Here's the Honest Answer

    Are we in an AI bubble? It's the trillion-dollar question — and depending on who you ask, you'll get completely opposite answers. Today, Nicole cuts through the noise and takes an honest look at what's actually happening inside the AI market right now.

    She breaks down why sky-high valuations on AI companies are giving investors serious dot com bubble déjà vu, the circular financing deals that are inflating demand, and why the fact that Nvidia drove roughly a fifth of the S&P 500's gains in 2025 should have every investor paying attention. But she also makes the case for why this moment is fundamentally different from 1999 and what that means for your portfolio.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Here's what Nicole covers today: 

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    00:24 Both Sides of the AI Bubble Debate 

    00:44 How Much Money Is Actually Flowing Into AI 

    01:12 What Sky-High PE Ratios Really Mean 

    02:14 Dot Com Bubble Déjà Vu 

    03:32 Circular Financing

    03:59 The Warren Buffett Market Indicator

    04:19 What's Actually Different This Time 

    05:10 The Real Risks

    05:36 Nicole's Honest Verdict 

    06:33 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

    9 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 13 minutes 31 seconds
    The War in Iran Is Coming for Your Wallet

    Over the weekend, the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, killing the Supreme Leader and triggering a wave of retaliatory missiles across the region. This is the biggest military escalation the Middle East has seen in a generation, and it's already moving markets.

    Today, Nicole traces the financial chain reaction from the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal all the way to Monday's market open, and breaks down exactly what this conflict means for your portfolio right now. Oil is surging, gold is spiking, defense stocks are climbing — and travel stocks are getting crushed. Nicole explains why markets recovered faster than expected, what the historical pattern tells us about what comes next, and the one scenario that should actually worry you.

    She also breaks down the specific assets that go up and the ones that go down when the US is in conflict in the Middle East and makes the case for why you don't have to play offense, but you absolutely need to know how to play defense.

    Here's what Nicole covers today: 

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    00:16 How We Got Here 

    02:32 The Ceasefire That Didn't Hold 

    03:02 The Strait of Hormuz: The World's Most Critical Choke Point 

    03:46 Will This Be a Long War? 

    04:36 How This Hits Your Wallet: 

    08:09 Why Travel and Tourism Stocks Get Hit

    09:26 The Historical Pattern Every Investor Should Know 

    10:20 The Risks That Could Change Everything 

    10:50 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

    6 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 57 minutes 35 seconds
    Legendary Venture Capitalist Bill Gurley on the AI Bubble, Why IPOs Feel Rigged and How to Find Your Dream Job

    Bill Gurley is a Wall Street and Silicon Valley legend. He’s the analyst who led the Amazon IPO and went on to become one of the most successful VCs of all time and an early investor in Uber, Zillow, and GrubHub. Today, he joins Nicole to answer the biggest questions on investors' minds right now.

    Bill doesn't mince words: yes, we're in an AI bubble— and he explains exactly why, from circular spending deals that smell like Enron to the speculative behavior that always follows a real wave of innovation. He breaks down why the IPO system is rigged against retail investors, what tokenization could do to fix it, and what a SpaceX IPO would actually mean for everyday investors. He also shares the one market sector he thinks is quietly becoming a buy, and the specific Chinese battery stock he personally owns.

    Then the conversation shifts to Bill's new book, Runnin’ Down a Dream, and his surprisingly personal framework for building a career you actually love. He shares the question he asked himself twice that changed the entire course of his life, his research on career regret, and why chasing passion is a competitive advantage.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Get Bill's book Runnin’ Down a Dream 

    Here's what Nicole covers with Bill: 

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    01:12 SpaceX + xAI: What Elon's Deal Really Means 

    03:18 Why Retail Investors Keep Getting Shut Out of the Best Companies 

    05:55 The IPO System Is Rigged 

    08:36 Inside the Amazon IPO

    10:40 Are We in an AI Bubble? 

    16:30 AI vs. the Dot-Com Bubble

    21:15 Which AI Tools Bill Actually Uses 

    22:00 Bill's Take on AGI Hype 

    23:30 Where Bill Sees Opportunity Outside of Tech 

    27:30 The Chinese Battery Stock Bill Personally Owns 

    28:45 How to Evaluate Stock Options as an Employee 

    31:50 The Hidden Value of Joining a Fast-Growing Company 

    33:15 Buy Side vs. Sell Side Analysts 

    35:40 The Question That Changed Bill's Career Twice 

    38:00 Why Following Your Passion Is a Competitive Advantage 

    42:00 How Tito's Vodka Started with a Blank Sheet of Paper 

    45:20 Bill's Next Chapter: A Policy Institute 

    48:00 Nuclear Energy, Healthcare, and the Issues Bill Wants to Fix 

    51:06 Bill Gurley's Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions.

    4 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 10 minutes 44 seconds
    Trump Wants to Cap Credit Card Interest at 10%. Here's What That Actually Means for You.

    President Trump wants to cap credit card interest rates at 10%, and if you're one of the millions of Americans drowning in credit card debt, that sounds like a dream. But Nicole breaks down why this proposal might not be the hero story it seems, and what you should actually be doing right now while Washington debates.

    Nicole explains the real reason a rate cap could backfire, why people with lower credit scores could end up worse off, and the actionable moves you can make today (no legislation required). From the debt avalanche method to balance transfers, personal loans, and a surprisingly simple phone call that could save you thousands, this episode is your full playbook for escaping the high-interest debt trap.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Here's what Nicole covers today: 

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    00:16 Trump's 10% Credit Card Rate Cap, Explained 

    01:17 Why This Isn't the Win It Sounds Like 

    02:10 Who Could Lose Access to Credit Entirely 

    02:52 The Payday Loan Trap Nobody's Talking About 

    03:12 What You Can Do Right Now 

    03:53 Know Your APR 

    04:31 The Debt Avalanche Method 

    05:09 Balance Transfer Cards and Consolidation Loans 

    06:27 How to Negotiate Your Interest Rate 

    07:01 Why Even $25 Extra a Month Matters 

    07:41 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions.

    2 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Science-Backed Hacks For Growing Wealth with Jon Levy

    Behavioral scientist and bestselling author Jon Levy is back to unpack how we can leverage our own psychology to build wealth. He explains why publicly announcing your financial goals can actually sabotage them, how “if-then” plans outperform willpower, and why adopting the identity of “I’m an investor” can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Then Nicole asks Jon what the science says about whether jerks make better CEOs, and he shares research-backed strategies for becoming a stronger leader.

    He also gets personal: how growing up as the child of immigrants affected his money mindset, the road to becoming debt-free in eight years, and the amount of money he needs in his bank account to feel safe. Nicole and Jon also discuss how financial frameworks like the sunk cost fallacy apply to relationships and whether your partner might be the best investment you’ll ever make.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Get Jon’s latest book Team Intelligence 

    Here’s what Nicole covers with Jon:

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    01:47 Jon’s Famous Dinners Explained 

    04:17 Why Money is a Mental Puzzle, Not a Math Problem 

    06:16 Why Sharing Goals Fails 

    07:56 From Housing Markets to Dating Markets

    09:42 Is Your Partner the Most Important Financial Decision You’ll Make? 

    15:09 Jon’s Leap From Debt to Social Currency 

    33:37 Money Values in Marriage 

    38:01 Should You Quit the Zombie Job?

    39:27 The Chicken/Egg Problem with Success 

    45:25 Do CEOs Need to Be Jerks to be Successful? 

    49:53 What Makes a Leader 

    58:12 How Self Deprecation Erodes Trust 

    01:06:57 Jon Levy’s Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank 

    26 February 2026, 8:09 am
  • 13 minutes 8 seconds
    College Is Expensive. Here’s How Smart Parents Plan for It.

    Four-year college isn’t the default anymore…  but saving for your kid’s future absolutely is.

    Today, Nicole breaks down the modern playbook for affording college whether your kid is a newborn, or if they’re applying to colleges now. This is your simple guide to 529 plans, custodial accounts, Coverdells, prepaid tuition plans, and the newest government-backed savings option making headlines. If you’ve ever wondered, “What happens to a 529 plan if my kid doesn’t go to college?” Nicole will teach you a smart move there, too.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Here’s what Nicole covers today:

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

    01:11 Where To Start If You Have a Newborn

    01:28 Everything You Need to Know About 529s

    04:44 Where To Start If Your Kid Is in Grade School

    05:42 The Pros and Cons of Custodial Accounts

    08:17 Where to Start if Your Kid Is in High School

    10:32 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.

    23 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    Lucy Guo’s Billionaire Playbook: Startup Secrets, Hidden Money Rules, and the Power of FOMO

    Lucy Guo built one of the most talked-about AI companies in the world before most people finish college. Then, she made headlines when she dethroned Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made female billionaire. Today, she joins Nicole to talk about how she grew wealth, and how you can borrow the money lessons that only show up after you’ve already “made it.” 

    Lucy tells Nicole about growing up bullied for not being able to afford the cool brands, scrappy strategies she used to save money when she was building her first company, and navigating the strange attention of being labeled a billionaire while most of that wealth still isn’t liquid. She explains the routines that kept her disciplined, the hard boundaries she set around lending money after getting burned, and stories of her wild money hacks like booking refundable flights to eat free meals in the airport lounges. 

    Nicole and Lucy also dive into the hidden playbook of startup money and the creator economy: how Lucy’s fundraising secret is to manufacture FOMO, why the wealthy borrow instead of sell, and the monetization strategy all creators should adopt. 

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Keep up with Lucy on Instagram and learn more about Passes

    Here’s what Nicole covers with Lucy:
    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

    01:17 Lucy’s Routine and the Impact of Success on Hustle

    03:39 Childhood Bullying05:08 Lucy’s Confidence Reset

    08:20 Unpacking “Paper Wealth” and Liquidity

    13:40 Should You Lend Money to Friends?

    14:35 Lucy’s Investing Thesis

    18:34 FOMO Strategy in Fundraising

    22:22 Billionaire Money Tips

    25:03 The Robbery Attempt

    27:38 Money Saving Hacks

    33:43 Stigma Around “Work Hard, Play Hard”

    37:24 Passes and the Creator Economy

    53:45 Lucy Guo’s Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    18 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 12 minutes 29 seconds
    Can Airbnb Hosting Really Make Your Taxable Income $0? | Bonus Depreciation Explained

    Today, Nicole breaks down the viral tax strategy everyone on social media is talking about — the claim that buying a short-term rental can legally wipe out your taxes.

    She explains the simple idea behind bonus depreciation, why it creates massive upfront write-offs, and how real estate investors use upgrades and accounting strategy to dramatically lower taxable income. But she also pulls back the curtain on the part influencers skip: why a $0 tax bill doesn’t automatically mean you made money, how much cash you still need to spend, and the risks hiding behind the hype.

    The Money Rehab Episode About Whether Home Ownership is Overrated  

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab? 

    00:53 Bonus Depreciation 101

    03:10 What Changed with the  Big Beautiful Bill

    03:38 What Qualifies (and What Doesn’t)

    04:22 Fact-Checking the Viral Airbnb Example 

    05:37 The Caveats

    05:54 Cost Segregation Study Workaround

    07:36 Don’t Let the Tax Tail Wag the Dog’ 

    09:10 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    16 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Neil Patel Risked His Parents’ Life Savings… Then Built a $100M Marketing Empire. Here’s How He Did It

    Neil Patel’s origin story involves borrowing from his parents’ life savings to keep his startup alive. Not only did his plan work, but he built a million-dollar company, advised companies including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft— and, he paid his parents back.

    Today, Neil breaks down the money lessons he learned once he made it big. He shares why he still drives a minivan despite being able to afford something bougie, the unusual way he teaches his kids about taxes, and the important distinction he makes between success and wealth.

    Then, Nicole and Neil get tactical and dig into the future of getting discovered online. Neil explains why traditional search is dead and how to adapt, what founders can do if they have a $0 marketing budget, and the SEO do’s and don’ts of naming your business. 

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Check out Answer the Public, the free tool Neil mentioned in this conversation

    Find more of Neil’s work and resources here

    Here’s what Nicole covers with Neil:

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

    01:09 Launching Crazy Egg and Borrowing From Parents

    06:42 Next Ventures and Kissmetrics 

    09:43 Do’s and Don’ts of Naming Businesses

    15:31 NP Digital’s Massive Success vs Personal Success

    21:19 Neil’s Perspective on Wealth, and the “Big R” Framework

    29:32 Hot Takes on Money

    30:07 Teaching Taxes Through Ice Cream

    32:15 Living with Less and Financial Goals

    38:45 Trust Funds and Regrets

    42:09 Actionable Digital Marketing Advice for Business Owners

    42:26 Choose Your Fighter: Email List, Website or Instagram?

    44:59 Why Traditional Search is Dead

    46:59 SEO vs AEO

    55:29 Marketing Tips for a $0 Budget

    01:00:49 Tip You Can Take Straight to the Bank

    11 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 11 minutes 51 seconds
    The Money Trail of the Epstein Files

    Millions of pages from the Epstein files have been unsealed, but they leave behind even more unanswered questions about how the money and criminal network actually worked. Today, Nicole traces the financial trail behind Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune—what we know, what prosecutors could never fully explain, and how a man with no real business amassed hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Nicole breaks down Epstein’s mysterious rise from Wall Street suit to shadowy “financial consultant,” the ultra-wealthy clients who funded the majority of his income, and the explosive reputational fallout that continues to ripple across corporations, universities, and global power players. She also sets straight the rumors that Epstein created Bitcoin, and explains the real financial consequences of association in today’s markets.

    Check out Nicole’s financial literacy course The Money School 

    Find a Financial Advisor or Financial Coach from Nicole’s company Private Wealth Collective

    Watch video clips from the pod on Money Rehab’s Instagram and Nicole Lapin’s Instagram

    Here’s what Nicole covers today:

    00:00 Are You Ready for Some Money Rehab?

    00:18 The Epstein Files: A Who's Who of Power

    00:58 Following Epstein's Money Trail

    04:42 Financial Fallout of the Epstein Files

    06:20 The Bitcoin Theory

    07:28 Ongoing Legal Battles and Reputational Risks

    09:22 The Power of Survivors

    All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

    9 February 2026, 7:08 am
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