The Table with Anthony ONeal

You've canceled subscriptions, stopped eating out, and cut everything you possibly can, but your paycheck still isn't enough. So what do you do when there's nothing left to cut?

In this episode of The Table, Anthony O'Neal breaks down four critical money decisions you need to make before 2027 to stop living paycheck to paycheck and start building real financial freedom. From finding hidden expenses and negotiating a higher salary to making sure your investments are actually growing, Anthony explains why budgeting alone won't fix every financial problem. He also tackles two decisions that can...

What happens to your investments when the stock market crashes? And should you sell everything, hold cash, or keep investing? 

In this episode of The Table, Anthony O’Neal sits down with investing expert Courtney Hale to break down 5 stocks and ETFs that could help protect your portfolio during a market downturn. From Walmart and Coca-Cola to dividend and utility ETFs, Courtney explains how defensive investing works, why panic-selling can cost you thousands, and how to start building protection with just $100. They also reveal why missing just five of the market's best days could dramatically reduce your lon...

A $500 course helped Rodney go from earning $41,000 in healthcare to a $120,000 construction career without a four-year degree, but the investment was only the beginning. 

On this episode of The Table, Rodney shares how losing his job, preparing for fatherhood and wanting to build a debt-free home gave him the purpose to follow through. He and Anthony unpack career training, interview preparation and why a bigger paycheck matters most when it creates ownership, family security and freedom. 

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In this episode, Anthony breaks down his five-phase escape plan to get out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, eliminate consumer debt, build your Freedom Exit Number, invest consistently, and ultimately create a legacy. Using the example of a woman earning $60,000 a year with $43,000 in consumer debt, he shows how changing the order of your money can turn $1,700 a month in payments into money working toward your future. If you’re earning money but still don’t feel financially free, Anthony explains the order he believes can help you get your paycheck back, create margin and finally start building wealth that serv...

What if the financial goal you’re chasing is actually costing you the life you’re trying to build? 

Anthony O’Neal gets personal about making $1 million in year one, $2 million in year two, and realizing he had no target, no finish line, and no idea what he was really running toward. In this episode, Anthony breaks down how to calculate your own financial number using the 300 rule, determine whether you can realistically get there, shrink the number by eliminating consumer debt, and decide what your life should look like once you reach it. Financial freedom isn’t about c...

A bigger paycheck can make you look successful, but it does not automatically make you wealthy. Anthony breaks down the difference between income and net worth, sharing how he once made six figures and still had nothing left by the end of the month. He explains how lifestyle creep, car payments, and consumer debt quietly eat every raise, then lays out the order for turning income into actual wealth: build margin, create a 3–6 month freedom fund, eliminate consumer debt, and start buying assets that work for you. Financial freedom isn't about how much money passes through your hands; it is...

In this episode, Anthony breaks down the five rules he used to leave his career with money in the bank, including how to calculate your “freedom exit number,” why consumer debt can keep you trapped in a job you hate, and how paying off payments can shrink a seven-year exit plan to just 15 months. He also explains how to use your current paycheck to fund your next move, prepare for the benefits you’ll lose when you leave, and recognize the situations where your health or safety matter more than hitting the perfect number. The goal is not just to qui...

Arian Simone joins Anthony O’Neal for a conversation on how she went from a financially savvy family and a profitable college business to living in her car at 23, and how that experience permanently changed how she thinks about security, debt, investing, and entrepreneurship. They unpack the lessons she inherited from generations of women who built wealth, why she believes access to capital matters, the mistake that taught her not to play small, and why real financial freedom is less about looking successful and more about having options when life goes left.

KEY POINTS 

If you owe more on your car than it’s worth, trading it in may not solve the problem. It can roll thousands of dollars of old debt straight into your next loan. In this episode, Anthony breaks down how car debt keeps people trapped, the three numbers you need to know before your next move, and four practical steps to decide whether to keep the car, sell it, close the gap, and eventually break the car-payment cycle for good. He also shares how he went from making six figures with nothing left before the end of the month to...

If Anthony O’Neal had to start investing from scratch in September 2026, this is exactly how he’d do it. 

Anthony breaks down his simple 80/20 investing strategy, what he would do with his first $500, where to find extra money in your existing budget, and why waiting for the “perfect” time to enter the market could cost you years of growth. He also explains the order of accounts he would prioritize, how an emergency fund protects your investments, and how consistently investing just $107 a month could potentially grow into more than $250,000 over 30 years. This episode is a prac...

Can you really buy a home with $0 down without putting yourself in a bad financial position? 

In this episode, Anthony sits down with Coalition Properties Group to break down how 100% financing works, what lenders actually want to see, and how to prepare yourself to buy within the next six months. They unpack credit scores, savings, debt-to-income ratios, PMI, tax returns and P&L statements for entrepreneurs, plus why writing everything off can hurt your ability to qualify. Anthony also shares how getting a second mortgage quote saved him $1,000 a month, and the group explains r...

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...

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...

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 pr...

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 gamb...

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.

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📖 Order "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (+$275 in fre...

Should married couples combine finances, or does keeping money separate offer more protection? Anthony sits down with Durelle and Samantha Bailey - Entrepreneurs, Content Creators, and Hosts of The Bailey Way, to discuss the trust, communication, and shared vision required to build wealth as a team.

After nine years of marriage, Durelle and Samantha reveal why love alone is not enough, how they built six figures in savings and investments by age 31, and why almost every account they own is joint. They also break down their weekly money meetings, personal allowances, major purchase decisions, and plans to...

In this episode, Anthony O’Neal reveals the investing mistake that cost him money, time, and stress. He breaks down his move toward index funds, automation and long-term consistency, including how waiting 10 years to invest could mean the difference between roughly $1 million and $400,000.

Anthony also shares what should come before aggressive investing and walks through the 5-step system he uses to eliminate financial anxiety, build a strong foundation and turn investing into a tool for greater freedom, peace and control.

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Anthony O’Neal breaks down five careers that can pay $80K or more without a college degree, including one with a national median salary of $106,580. But “no degree required” does not mean no investment required. Anthony reveals the training, licensing, risks and starting-pay realities hidden behind the salary headlines, then shares five questions to ask before choosing a new career. Learn how to pursue a higher income without mistaking a promising opportunity for an easy shortcut, and how to choose a path that supports your financial freedom. 

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Making six figures does not guarantee financial freedom. Anthony O’Neal knows because he earned six figures selling cars and still lived paycheck to paycheck.

In this episode, Anthony exposes the decisions, cultural pressures and money mindsets that keep hardworking people financially stuck, regardless of their income. He breaks down four common financial mistakes, shares the three moves that helped him escape the cycle and explains how to build a written money plan, eliminate debt with the debt snowball and create a one-month emergency buffer.

If payday feels more li...

Black America is facing a financial crisis that goes far beyond income. Dr. Wes Bellamy joins Anthony O’Neal to unpack the troubling data surrounding Black unemployment, education, savings, earnings and homeownership.

With the median savings for Black men sitting at just $2,200, one emergency could wipe out everything. Anthony and Dr. Bellamy discuss why Black men and women need each other financially, what is driving young Black men away from education and employment, and how discipline, strategy and ownership can create a different future.

They also confront the online narratives discouraging homeownership and explain why pr...

You already have $1,200 a month sitting in your driveway. You just don't know it yet.

In today's episode, I break down exactly what one truck payment is really costing a family every single month, and it's not the number on the loan.

Family, do me a favor. Before you watch anything else today, ask yourself what's really parked in your driveway, and whether it's moving you toward freedom or just moving your image forward.

If this episode gave you clarity, that's the whole mission of this show. We are building...

I had $6.32 to my name. Not in one of several accounts, in my only account. This is the night that started my story instead of ending it.

Before you judge that number, I need you to know something. If you've ever smiled at work while your bank account told a different truth, this episode is for you. I'm walking you through the exact night at the gas station, the McDonald's order I cut in half with a kitchen knife, and the moment everything shifted for me at 20 years old. Then I'm showing you why...

Building wealth on one income comes with a different kind of pressure. 

In this episode, Anthony O’Neal breaks down the four financial pillars every single person should focus on: income, safety, retirement, and legacy. From building a second income stream and setting financial boundaries to creating emergency savings, investing for retirement, and putting an estate plan in place, Anthony shares a practical plan for building financial freedom without waiting for marriage or a second paycheck.

KEY POINTS 

08:52 – The 4 financial pillars every...

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 a...

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 lo...

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 Anth...

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...

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...

At 19, I was homeless with $35,000 in debt and no one in my family who knew how to build wealth. Today, I'm giving you the exact 6-step plan that changed everything.

This isn't about making more money — it's about mastering the system most people never learn. In this episode, I break down the mindset shift, the budgeting method, the debt-elimination strategy, and the investing principles that took me from broke to financially free.

If you've ever felt like wealth is "for other people," this episode is for you.

A Gen Z creator went viral saying she won't take financial advice from anyone born before 1990. Millions of people sent me this video expecting me to go after her. Instead, I'm doing something different. I'm telling you what she got right, what she got wrong, and why 124 trillion dollars is about to change hands between generations, and most people are not ready to catch it.

This is not a reaction video. This is a real conversation about debt, about the economy, about whether the "rules" have actually changed or if we've just stopped applying...

Your bank is making money off of you right now — and you don't even know it. While your savings account sits there earning almost nothing, the bank is lending out your money and earning 7, 8, 9 percent. Meanwhile, you're getting paid pennies and told to be grateful.

Today I'm breaking down exactly why the average traditional savings account is failing you, what a high-yield savings account actually is, and the five accounts I'd personally recommend right now — with real numbers so you can see exactly what you're missing.

This isn't about taki...

On $55K a year, your first money move isn't a bigger paycheck. It's fixing the leak that's already there.

In this episode, Anthony breaks down a sermon he gave at Union Church using the FAITH framework, showing why so many hardworking, faithful people stay broke even while praying, believing, and quoting scripture. If you're living on an average income and tired of your money disappearing before the month ends, this is where you start.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro: The sermon that broke down money through faith

2:15 Haggai 1:5...

If you are making more money than ever but still feel broke, this video is for you. Anthony breaks down the 7 unspoken money rules that were passed down to you without your permission and shows you exactly how to break them starting with your next $200.

Most people are not bad with money. They were just handed a broken code. Today we name it, we claim it, and we change it.

IN THIS VIDEO:

00:00 Why income alone will never build wealth

01:45 The Broke...

Most people hear "$1.46 million" and give up before they even start. That number just went up $200,000 in ONE year — and it's stealing your hope before you even try.

But here's the truth: you don't need that number. You need a plan.

In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what to do — no matter your age, your income, or how far behind you feel. Whether you're 25 or 55, this is your retirement roadmap.

In this video you'll learn:

- Why the $1.46M nu...

She was 28 years old, making $72,000 a year, current on every single bill — and she sat across from me and cried.

Not because she was broke.

Because she did everything right and had nothing to show for it.

No savings. No investments. Just a pile of payments that felt like chains.

That moment changed how I talk about money forever.

The truth is — most of us are following a blueprint that was never designed to build wealth. It was designed to survive. And the people who handed us that blueprint? They...

At 23, I bought a car I couldn't afford to impress people who don't even call me anymore.

When I add up the payments, the insurance, the interest, and the opportunity cost of what that money could have become — that one decision cost me close to $200,000.

Not in cash. In wealth I never built.

And that car was just the beginning. The apartment. The clothes. The trips. The dinners. Every dollar I spent performing wealth was a dollar that never got to actually become wealth.

Are you 40, feeling behind, and wondering if it's too late to start over financially? It's not. Here's exactly what I would do — step by step.

In this video, I'm breaking down the real plan I would follow if I was 40 years old starting from zero in 2026. No theory. No fluff. Just a honest, step-by-step system built for the person who feels like life got ahead of them — but refuses to stay there.

Here's what we cover:

✅ Why the math is NOT against you at 40

✅...

I taught debt freedom for 15 years. I was wrong about one thing.

Getting out of debt is not the finish line. It never was.

I sat in my apartment — 100% debt free for the first time in my adult life — and felt completely lost. No wealth plan. No investment strategy. No legacy framework. Just zero debt and zero direction.

Nobody taught me what came next. Not my school. Not my family. Not the financial system. And that silence cost me years.

Th...

55% of Americans say they're getting poorer. That's the highest number Gallup has recorded since 2001 — higher than the pandemic, higher than 2008. But 45% aren't.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the 5 things separating the people quietly building wealth from the people quietly drowning in 2026. This isn't theory. This is the exact framework I used to go from broke and living in my car to a net-worth millionaire.

Get the book "Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck" (over $275 in free bonuses): https://anthonyoneal.com/book

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• P...