This podcast aims to teach individuals the importance of being financially responsible in a way that permits them to grow their wealth from their everyday jobs or income.
When Time Becomes More Valuable Than Money: Retiring Before 60 - Interview with Mark & Elaine Diggs
For many of us, retirement is something we'll think about someday. But what happens when "someday" arrives—and you realize you're already financially ready?
In this episode of It's What You Keep, Kenny and David sit down with longtime friends Mark and Elaine Diggs, who both retired earlier this year—before turning 60.
Mark and Elaine share some of the financial decisions that helped make an early retirement possible, from prioritizing saving and investing to taking advantage of employer retirement benefits and the power of compound returns. They also discuss something that may surprise you: they stopped maintaining a detailed household budget years ago and instead focused on growing and monitoring their net worth.
The conversation explores what changes as retirement gets closer, why accumulating money and using that money require different strategies, and how having different types of retirement assets can provide flexibility when it comes to taxes.
But ultimately, this conversation becomes about something even more valuable than money: time.
In this episode:
Why Mark and Elaine focused on net worth rather than a traditional household budget
What you should be thinking about 25 years before retirement
What changes when you're only five years away
Why starting early makes compound returns so powerful
Why retirement planning isn't simply about replacing your working income
How different types of retirement accounts can affect taxes
Why spouses don't have to view debt and financial risk exactly the same way
The importance of communicating and making financial decisions as a team
Why knowing when you have "enough" can change the way you think about work
How retirement can transform time—not money—into your most valuable resource
Mark and Elaine are still new to retirement, but they've already discovered one of its greatest rewards: the ability to say yes to the things they want to do—and no to the things they don't.
Because eventually, keeping more of what you make isn't just about accumulating wealth.
It's about buying back your time.
And remember: it's not what you make... it's what you keep.
14 Sept 2026
Know Your Lane: The Real Cost of Owning a Car - Interview with Richard James!
For the first guest interview on It’s What You Keep, Kenny and Dave welcome longtime friend and insurance professional Richard James for a conversation about one of the biggest expenses most of us will ever take on: our cars.
Richard shares the financial philosophy that has guided his own car-buying decisions—from buying quality and keeping vehicles for the long haul to knowing when repairs finally make replacement the smarter choice. The conversation also gets into the true cost of owning a car, including financing, maintenance, fuel, and insurance—and why the monthly payment is only part of the story.
Richard also offers an insider's perspective from more than 30 years in the insurance business, including why good credit can give you negotiating power, how to think about deductibles and liability coverage, and why shopping for insurance based on price alone can leave you dangerously underprotected.
In this episode:
When does it make sense to repair an older car—and when is it time to replace it?
Why you should decide what you can afford before walking into the dealership
The dealership question that can trap you into focusing on the monthly payment instead of the total cost
How strong credit can help you negotiate a better deal
Why insurance costs should be considered before you buy the car
What an insurance professional wants you to understand about coverage and deductibles
How to resist the pressure to drive a car your finances can't comfortably support
Why being willing to walk away may be your greatest negotiating advantage
And perhaps Richard's most important advice: know your lane and stay in it. Your financial decisions should be based on your income, your priorities, and your future—not what somebody else is driving.
Because it's not what you make... it's what you keep.
24 Aug 2026
7 Ways to Limit Student Loan Damage
Student loans don't have to define your financial future.
In Part 2 of our conversation on student loans, Kenny and Dave shift from the problem to the solutions. They share seven practical strategies that can help you avoid excessive student debt—or pay it off faster if you already have it.
From scholarships and grants to employer tuition assistance, military programs, loan forgiveness, and skilled trades, this episode explores options that many students and families overlook. If college is in your future—or you're helping someone prepare for it—this conversation could save you thousands of dollars and years of financial stress.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why avoiding student loans is the best financial strategy whenever possible
How scholarships, grants, and work opportunities can reduce borrowing
Why paying student loans off early can save a fortune in interest
Which careers qualify for loan forgiveness programs
Why skilled trades can provide an excellent career without massive college debt
How combining multiple strategies can dramatically reduce the cost of higher education
The cost of college may keep rising—but that doesn't mean your debt has to.
Because it's not just what you make... it's what you keep.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 2 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
4
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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[Host Name] and hosts host the show. Published by Ken and David.
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