Money Unplugged with Chris Hill

Tim Hanson didn’t set out to become a capital allocator.

Today he’s the President and CIO at Permanent Equity, helping steward long-term investments in private companies built to last. But his path to investing included playwriting, early stock picks, and lessons about money that started in childhood. Chris Hill talks with Tim about what separates investing from allocating capital — and why the distinction matters, as well as:
- The first stock Tim ever bought (and what he learned from it)
- How Permanent Equity thinks about holding businesses for decades
- Raising kids who understand ownership
- A surprising purchase that says more about capital discipline than you’d think
Opening clip – “Glengarry Glen Ross”

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What’s the last thing you splurged on?
Share your story at [email protected]

Personal finance isn’t just math—it’s memory, emotion, and lived experience.

Chris Hill talks with MarketWatch columnist Beth Pinsker about why money decisions feel so hard, especially during life’s biggest transitions. Drawing from her work as a journalist and financial planner, Beth breaks down caregiving, taxes, and end-of-life planning in ways that actually make sense.
They discuss:
- How childhood money experiences shape adult behavior
- What financial planners can—and can’t—help with during crises
- Why “bad choices” are sometimes the only choices
- What she learned about profit, inventory, and responsibility while illegally selling soft drinks on the beaches of Atlantic City

Opening clip – “The Princess Bride”

Beth’s new book, My Mother’s Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving, can be found at BethPinsker.com.

What’s the last thing you splurged on?
Got a purchase you regret and still think about? 
Share your story at [email protected]

Denise Coursey didn’t grow up talking about investing—but she did grow up learning respect for money.
Raised in a blue-collar, union household, Denise became a first-generation college student, took early career risks as a writer and editor, and eventually became a small business owner. Along the way, she developed strong views on scarcity, financial independence, and why “having enough” doesn’t always quiet the money noise in your head.
Chris Hill talks with Denise about:
•Why karate became a lifelong practice—and eventually a business
•Taking creative and career risks without a financial safety net
•How separate bank accounts reduced money stress in her marriage
•Redefining “splurging” as time, not dollars
Opening clip – “Tom Papa: What A Day!”

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More info about Denise's business at VirginiaDojo.com

Send your questions and comments to [email protected]

Money anxiety often starts long before our first paycheck. For Carl Richards, it showed up as “static in the air” growing up around unspoken financial stress—and it shaped everything that came after.
In this candid conversation, Carl reflects on how early experiences with money quietly influence our beliefs about risk, security, and success. From diving for golf balls as a kid to accidentally landing a job in finance, he shares the moments that taught him why money is never just about numbers—and why comparison keeps so many of us from ever feeling like we have enough. Chris and Carl explore:
•Why money stress is often felt before it’s ever discussed
•How childhood experiences shape our financial behavior as adults
•Why hitting a financial “number” rarely brings peace of mind
•Carl’s belief that money’s natural state is flow, not accumulation
•How he now thinks about purpose, profit, and permission in his work
Opening clip – “John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid”

Check out Carl’s new book Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches
Send your questions and comments to [email protected]

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Why does so much financial advice feel urgent—yet miss what actually matters?
Chris Hill talks with Cullen Roche, investor, author, and founder of Discipline Funds, about why the financial industry continues to misunderstand time, incentives, and risk—and how that confusion shapes the advice people receive.
In this conversation, they discuss:
- How growing up in a large family influenced his views on ownership and responsibility
- Early investing losses that reshaped Cullen’s view of risk
- The role financial media plays in distorting expectations
- Why many families avoid open conversations about money—and the cost of that silence
Opening clip – “F1”
Check out Cullen’s new book Your Perfect Portfolio: The ultimate guide to using the world's most powerful investing strategies.
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Send your questions and comments to [email protected]