The Table with Anthony ONeal

Saving money matters, but at some point, keeping too much cash in the bank can work against your financial goals. 

In this episode of The Table, Anthony O’Neal breaks down how much you really need in emergency savings, why inflation quietly eats away at idle cash, and what to do with the money you have above that number. He explains his three-tier emergency fund strategy, the difference between saving and building wealth, and why fear can sometimes disguise itself as financial wisdom. Anthony also opens up about his own experience hoarding cash instead of investing and why building wealth today is ultimately about creating freedom, security and a stronger legacy for your family.

MENTIONED HERE:
- 💸 Download my 5 free scripts to lower your monthly bills and put more money back in your pocket: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/5scripts
- 📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in free bonuses): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book
- 💰 Find the best High-Yield Savings Accounts: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/savings

KEY POINTS 
00:00 – Introduction
00:00 – 60% of Americans Can’t Cover a $1,000 Emergency
00:00 – How Inflation Quietly Costs You Money
00:00 – Why Consumer Debt Comes Before Investing
00:00 – Why Your Emergency Fund Belongs in a High-Yield Savings Account
05:12 – How to Calculate Your Real Emergency Fund
05:12 – The $250,000 FDIC Insurance Limit
10:16 – How Your Savings Balance Changes Your Spending
10:16 – Why You Should Automate Money You Know You’ll Spend
10:16 – The Order: Debt-Free → Emergency Fund → Investing
15:05 – How Fear Kept Anthony From Investing
20:29 – Finding Your Freedom Number

QUOTES 

“There's a number where safe turns into unwise. Safe turns into stuck.” — Anthony O’Neal 

“Saving protects you and your family. Building grows you and your family. These are not the same things.” — Anthony O’Neal 

“Your money isn't just a number in the app; it's stewardship. What you do with the surplus says whether you're building towards financial freedom, or you're building towards true freedom, or just building a bigger pile of fear.” — Anthony O’Neal 

ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:
Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.

📅 BOOK ANTHONY TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT: bookings@anthonyoneal.com 
🤝 SPONSOR THE TABLE PODCAST: partnerships@anthonyoneal.com 

Connect With Anthony:
👉 Website: https://www.anthonyoneal.com 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyoneal 
🎵 TikTok: @_anthonyoneal 

FREE TOOLS & RESOURCES:
📊 Budgeting & Wealth Tracker: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/wealthbudget 
🧠 Book a FREE 15-Minute Financial Plan: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/getmyplan 
📞 Call In & Be On The Show: (771)-224-8131

TRUSTED PARTNERS:

These tools help you win with money:
- SoFi High-Yield Savings (Earn 4.6% APY): https://anthonyoneal.com/savings 
- Dovly (Credit repair made simple): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/dovly 
- Kikoff (Build credit the smart way): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/kikoff 
- MooMoo (Start investing + get 5 FREE stocks): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/moomoo 
- Ethos Life Insurance (Term life in minutes): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/ethos 
- BetterHelp (Affordable online therapy): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/betterhelp 

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Many offer special discounts for my community!

⚠️ GENERAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Please do your own research and consult a certified professional before making financial decisions.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Waiting to pay off debt is costing you more than you think. 
In this episode of The Table, Anthony O’Neal breaks down what carrying high-interest consumer debt can cost you every year, why avoidance and shame keep people stuck, and what that same money could become if it were redirected toward building your future. He shares his five-step plan for attacking debt, including calculating your “waiting tax,” using the debt snowball, finding margin in your budget, building an emergency buffer, and setting a real debt-free deadline. Financial freedom doesn’t begin when you finally have enough money. It begins when you decide to stop waiting.

Mentioned Here: 
- 💸 Download my 5 free scripts to lower your monthly bills and put more money back in your pocket: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/5scripts
- 📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in free bonuses): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book 
- 🔵 Join The Freedom Circle™ for weekly coaching, a proven financial roadmap, and a community to help you follow through: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/freedomcircle

KEY POINTS 
00:00 – Introduction: The Hidden Cost of Carrying Credit Card Debt
00:36 – Why Your Monthly Payment Hides the Real Cost of Debt
05:35 – How Debt Keeps Your Paycheck Working for Lenders
07:25 – What $185 a Month Could Become If You Invested It Instead
10:31 – How Shame and Avoidance Keep You Stuck in Debt
11:05 – Why Waiting Makes Your Debt More Expensive
12:08 – Anthony’s 5-Step Plan to Attack Consumer Debt
12:56 – Building Momentum, an Emergency Buffer, and a Debt-Free Deadline
20:59 – How One Couple Paid Off $34,000 and Changed Their Future

QUOTES 
“The balance, honestly, isn't the thing that's killing you. It's the waiting that's killing you.” — Anthony O’Neal 
“It's not always about how much you earn. It's about how many hands touch your check before you do.” — Anthony O’Neal 
“Debt doesn't just charge you interest; it changes your options.” — Anthony O’Neal 
“Waiting doesn't protect you from pain; it delays it and makes it more expensive.” — Anthony O’Neal 
“Financial freedom is a decision before it's a destination, and it's available to you right now, not next year.” — Anthony O’Neal 

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Social media is full of people promising fast money, six-figure months and millionaire lifestyles. Anthony O’Neal says the numbers tell a very different story: Americans can earn well and still have little margin, heavy debt and no real financial security.
In this episode, Anthony steps into professor mode to break down his five-phase Escape Plan for building financial freedom in the right order. Using the real-life example of a 34-year-old earning $6,000 a month but spending $6,400, Anthony walks through how to create margin, eliminate consumer debt, build an emergency fund, invest consistently and prepare a legacy that protects the people you love. The goal isn’t to look rich. It’s to build a financial life strong enough to give you freedom, security and options.
Mentioned Here:
📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in free bonuses): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book 
📱 Download the In The Black App (your daily money coach): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/intheblack

KEY POINTS
00:00 – Introduction
02:38 – The Real Numbers: 63% of Americans Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck
04:39 – Why Making Good Money Means Nothing If You Can’t Keep It
05:24 – Marcus’ Money Problem: $6,000 Coming In, $6,400 Going Out
07:51 – Anthony’s Five-Phase Escape Plan for Building Financial Freedom
11:26 – Phase 1: How to Control Your Cash Flow and Create Monthly Margin
13:58 – Phase 2: Using the Debt Snowball to Eliminate Consumer Debt
17:22 – Phase 3: Building a Safety Net of 3–6 Months of Take-Home Pay
20:40 – Phase 4: When to Start Investing and Building Real Wealth
24:35 – Phase 5: Building a Legacy That Protects Your Family After You’re Gone

QUOTES 

“The payment doesn't disappear when the debt disappears. What does it do? It just gets promoted to the next one until you are consumer debt-free.” – Anthony O’Neal

“Your children [are] going to inherit your habits before they inherit your assets.” – Anthony O’Neal

“You got to be so focused for a season, not forever, but for a season, that you can change your life.” – Anthony O’Neal

“Freedom is about passing down not just wealth, but legacy, but wisdom, access, real estate.” – Anthony O’Neal

ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:
Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.

📅 BOOK ANTHONY TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT: bookings@anthonyoneal.com 
🤝 SPONSOR THE TABLE PODCAST: partnerships@anthonyoneal.com 

Connect With Anthony:
👉 Website: https://www.anthonyoneal.com 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyoneal 
🎵 TikTok: @_anthonyoneal 

FREE TOOLS & RESOURCES:
📊 Budgeting & Wealth Tracker: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/wealthbudget 
🧠 Book a FREE 15-Minute Financial Plan: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/getmyplan 
📞 Call In & Be On The Show: (771)-224-8131

TRUSTED PARTNERS:

These tools help you win with money:
- SoFi High-Yield Savings (Earn 4.6% APY): https://anthonyoneal.com/savings 
- Dovly (Credit repair made simple): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/dovly 
- Kikoff (Build credit the smart way): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/kikoff 
- MooMoo (Start investing + get 5 FREE stocks): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/moomoo 
- Ethos Life Insurance (Term life in minutes): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/ethos 
- BetterHelp (Affordable online therapy): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/betterhelp 

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Many offer special discounts for my community!

⚠️ GENERAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Please do your own research and consult a certified professional before making financial decisions.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The Table, Anthony O’Neal breaks down the jobs facing the greatest exposure to AI, why he believes this shift is already happening, and how everyday investors can think about getting on the wealth-building side of the transition. He shares five AI-related stocks under $100 at the time of recording, including one under $10, plus two ETFs for investors who would rather spread their risk across multiple companies.
But Anthony isn’t saying to chase hype. He walks through the financial foundation you should have in place before investing, how to approach higher-risk stocks without gambling your paycheck, and four questions to ask before putting your money into any AI investment. The goal is simple: prepare for disruption, protect what you’ve built, and position yourself for the opportunities on the other side.
Mentioned Here: 
📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in free bonuses): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book 
📈 Start Investing Today: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/invest 

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction: AI is already disrupting jobs, but wealth is moving with it
01:48 – Why 7.9 million U.S. jobs could be at risk from AI
02:40 – The jobs with the highest exposure to automation
03:30 – How companies are already replacing customer service work with AI
05:59 – Why Anthony says disruption can become a wealth-building opportunity
10:30 – Five AI stocks under $100 positioned around the AI boom
19:14 – Anthony’s Apple and BlackBerry lesson: why timing can matter
21:20 – Two AI ETFs for investors who don’t want to pick individual stocks
23:59 – Anthony’s five-step foundation for investing without gambling your paycheck
26:45 – Four questions to ask before buying any AI stock

QUOTES 
“Every time technology disrupts an industry, wealth doesn't disappear. It simply moves.” – Anthony O’Neal

“Investing while you're drowning in consumer debt….that's not wealth building. It's just risk on top of risk.” – Anthony O’Neal

ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:
Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.

📅 BOOK ANTHONY TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT: bookings@anthonyoneal.com 
🤝 SPONSOR THE TABLE PODCAST: partnerships@anthonyoneal.com 

Connect With Anthony:
👉 Website: https://www.anthonyoneal.com 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyoneal 
🎵 TikTok: @_anthonyoneal 

FREE TOOLS & RESOURCES:
📊 Budgeting & Wealth Tracker: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/wealthbudget 
🧠 Book a FREE 15-Minute Financial Plan: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/getmyplan 
📞 Call In & Be On The Show: (771)-224-8131

TRUSTED PARTNERS:

These tools help you win with money:
- SoFi High-Yield Savings (Earn 4.6% APY): https://anthonyoneal.com/savings 
- Dovly (Credit repair made simple): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/dovly 
- Kikoff (Build credit the smart way): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/kikoff 
- MooMoo (Start investing + get 5 FREE stocks): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/moomoo 
- Ethos Life Insurance (Term life in minutes): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/ethos 
- BetterHelp (Affordable online therapy): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/betterhelp 

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Many offer special discounts for my community!

⚠️ GENERAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Please do your own research and consult a certified professional before making financial decisions.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Anthony O’Neal sits down with Courtney Hale to break down his five-part ETF portfolio and explain how ETFs work, why overlapping funds may not provide real diversification and how everyday investors can build a portfolio designed for growth and protection. They also discuss starting with what you can afford, reviewing your portfolio every six months and avoiding the FOMO that causes investors to chase every new opportunity.
*ETF prices and market information reflect the time of recording and may have changed.
Mentioned Here: 
📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in free bonuses): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book 
📈 Compare Investing Platforms and Buy Your First ETF: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/invest

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction
01:41 – How ETFs simplify investing and why overlapping funds can create overconcentration
03:06 – Why investing should be automated every payday
04:22 – The five jobs in Courtney’s Everyday Investor Portfolio
06:28 – Why beginners should focus on five to seven investments
08:12 – Building the Engine and Accelerator with SPMO and DRAM
13:41 – How one ETF can provide access to a basket of expensive companies
15:07 – Why every portfolio needs downside protection
16:37 – Using the optional Edge category for informed personal opportunities
22:32 – Power Plays, six-month portfolio reviews and the $566.24 portfolio example
29:46 – How FOMO leads investors to abandon their strategy
33:48 – Evaluating where new investments belong and passing the framework to your children

ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:
Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.

📅 BOOK ANTHONY TO SPEAK AT YOUR EVENT: bookings@anthonyoneal.com 
🤝 SPONSOR THE TABLE PODCAST: partnerships@anthonyoneal.com 

Connect With Anthony:
👉 Website: https://www.anthonyoneal.com 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyoneal 
🎵 TikTok: @_anthonyoneal 

FREE TOOLS & RESOURCES:
📊 Budgeting & Wealth Tracker: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/wealthbudget 
🧠 Book a FREE 15-Minute Financial Plan: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/getmyplan 
📞 Call In & Be On The Show: (771)-224-8131

TRUSTED PARTNERS:

These tools help you win with money:
- SoFi High-Yield Savings (Earn 4.6% APY): https://anthonyoneal.com/savings 
- Dovly (Credit repair made simple): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/dovly 
- Kikoff (Build credit the smart way): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/kikoff 
- MooMoo (Start investing + get 5 FREE stocks): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/moomoo 
- Ethos Life Insurance (Term life in minutes): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/ethos 
- BetterHelp (Affordable online therapy): https://link.anthonyoneal.com/betterhelp 

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Many offer special discounts for my community!

⚠️ GENERAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Please do your own research and consult a certified professional before making financial decisions.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy