The Table with Anthony ONeal

Most people are told to attack their debt in the "smartest" order — highest interest rate first. It's the math-correct move. So why do so many people who follow that exact advice quit before they ever get debt-free?

In this episode, Anthony breaks down the real story of a couple juggling five debts — from a $400 medical bill all the way up to a $13,000 student loan — and what happened when they tried the "correct" method versus what actually got them results. Backed by a 2012 study of over 6,000 real households, this episode settles the debt snowball vs. debt avalanche debate for good, and explains why momentum — not math — is what actually gets people out of debt.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:

- Why attacking your highest-interest debt first can actually cause you to quit
- What a study of 6,000+ households found about who actually becomes debt-free
- Why paying off a small debt fast can matter more than saving the most money
- The exact order to list and attack your debts (no interest-rate math required)

If you're tired of starting debt payoff plans and quitting in the middle, this episode will change how you think about where to start. And if you're ready for a full step-by-step plan, Anthony's new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck, walks you through the complete 5-phase debt-free roadmap — available now at https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book.

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

How much should you have saved for retirement by 40, 50 and 60… and what should you do if you’re nowhere close?

In this episode, Anthony O’Neal breaks down the retirement savings benchmarks for each age, explains how catch-up contributions can help later starters, and shares the financial order to follow when rebuilding. He also challenges the shame that often comes with feeling behind and reveals why creating margin, eliminating consumer debt and following a clear strategy matter more than panicking over a number.

So, whether life brought divorce, caregiving, job loss, or an unexpected setback, this episode will not only help you face your finances honestly but also help you determine your next step and start building toward financial freedom.

📚 Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
- 📖 Get my new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/book
- 📈 Compare top investing platforms & start investing today: https://www.anthonyoneal.com/invest
- 💰 Find the best high-yield savings accounts (updated weekly): https://www.anthonyoneal.com/savings
QUOTES 

“You don’t have time to waste margin on the wrong priority.” — Anthony O’Neal 

“Panicking has never once built a dollar of wealth. But clarity and determination [have].” — Anthony O’Neal 

“Financial freedom is a decision before it is ever a destination.” — 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

You got a raise — so why does your bank account look the same six months later?

1 in 5 households earning $150,000+ are still living paycheck to paycheck. In this episode, I show you exactly why raises disappear, using a real family's story of an $8,000 raise that vanished without one big mistake — just a hundred small ones.

Get my book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: anthonyoneal.com/book

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

Where you live could be hurting your ability to build wealth.
In this episode of The Table with Anthony O'Neal, Anthony breaks down CNBC's 2026 rankings of the 10 worst states to live in if you want to get ahead financially. But this isn't just another countdown. He explains why financial freedom is about more than your income and how factors like healthcare, childcare, crime, worker protections, and cost of living can quietly drain your budget and limit your opportunities.
This episode will help you evaluate where you live through a wealth-building lens. Anthony also shares practical steps you can take to protect your finances, even if you have no plans to move.
Read the Article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html

KEY POINTS 

00:00 – Introduction
04:48 – Building wealth is about more than math, your environment matters too
05:57 – The five factors that can quietly cost you thousands each year
06:24 – The 10 worst states to live in financially, ranked from #10 to #1
19:46 – What to do if you already live in one of these states
21:14 – Why a bigger paycheck isn't always a financial upgrade
21:36 – How to build wealth no matter where you live
22:55 – Why the goal isn't more money, it's more freedom

QUOTES 

"Building wealth is math plus environment.” – Anthony O'Neal

"A bigger paycheck and a state that costs you more in hidden ways is not a raise. Sometimes it's a pay cut disguised as an opportunity." – Anthony O'Neal

"What's the course we're aiming for? You all know it's not more money. It's more freedom. Money plays a role in that. But freedom is the end goal." – 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

77% of households couldn't survive one late paycheck. If that number scares you even a little, this episode is for you.

Today on The Table, Anthony O'Neal breaks down why decent, hardworking people making real money still feel trapped paycheck to paycheck, and walks you through the exact 10-minute exercise to find out how many days you could actually survive if your income stopped tomorrow.

Timestamps:
0:00 – The question most people won't answer honestly
1:00 – Anthony's story from the collection agency
3:00 – The truth behind the 77% stat
6:30 – Self-diagnosis: are you trapped?
7:30 – Today's move: calculate your real number
8:30 – Where this fits in the 5-phase plan
9:15 – Get the full step-by-step system

If this episode helped you see your situation clearly, hit subscribe and join the movement. We're building 1 million strong E3 family members who are done living reactive and ready to live on purpose with their money.

Get the full step-by-step plan in Anthony's new book, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: anthonyoneal.com/book

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