Arizona’s Family On Your Side

It’s time to go back to school, and families are stocking up on back to school supplies, new clothes, and new shoes for the school year. It all adds up, and we’re seeing some signs that consumers are changing their spending habits. We’re talking with Kylee Hall. She’s the vice president of marketing at B-Stock, a company that helps major retailers liquidate unsold merchandise. We’ll talk about the back to school shopping season, why brand loyalty’s the loser this year, what’s next as companies deal with returned and unsold back to school merchandise, and what that means for shoppers hoping to get great deals.  

New vehicle prices have now surged to around $50,000 on average! Susan Campbell talks with Joseph Yoon from Edmunds about how this is driven by pandemic-era supply chain disruption and automakers prioritizing higher-margin mid- and high-trim models, leaving few truly affordable new cars under $30,000 after fees and options. They discuss how higher interest rates and rising living costs are pushing buyers into longer 72- to 84-month loans, increasing the risk of being underwater and paying substantial interest, especially for shoppers focused only on monthly payments. Yoon explains how reduced leasing during the pandemic shrank the supply of late-model used cars, making today’s “best value” closer to a five- to seven-year-old vehicle.

Trump Accounts for kids officially launch on July 4th. We’re taking politics out of the conversation, and just talking about the facts with our guest, Christina Lamar, the VP of member services at Copper State Credit Union. What are these accounts? Who can get them? How do you get started? What are the incentives?

For millions of student loan borrowers, a massive change is right around the corner. The Save Plan is going away, and now it’s time to make decisions about new repayment options. On this episode, we’re talking with Chris Hicks, a senior policy advisor at Protect Borrowers. He’ll walk us through the changes, what borrows can and should do right now, and how much it could cost if borrowers sit back and do nothing.

Do you want to save money on the things you use every day? We’re talking with couponing expert Kiersti Torok. She’s all over social media, showing shoppers how to make the most of couponing. We’ll ask her how to find the best deals, if certain stores are better than others for couponing, and what’s happened to the value of coupons as inflation pushes up prices.

It’s a question a lot of people are trying to answer. Is it better to rent or buy? Our guest is TruWest Credit Union mortgage sales manager Melissa Sherman. We’ll get her advice on how to compare true monthly costs. We’ll also talk about how savings, credit, and long-term financial goals play into the decision.

Are impulse purchases derailing your budget? According to a recent survey by PartnerCentric, 81% of consumers have made an impulse purchase this year, and the median price per impulse purchase is $50. That can add up quickly and stall financial goals, so today we’re talking with savings expert, Andrea Woroch. We’ll talk about the pitfalls of "spaving," or spending to save and some simple strategies to avoid impulse purchases. 

Just 41% of high school seniors in Arizona have filled out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. That means families are leaving a lot of money on the table. Today, our guest is Julie Sainz, the Arizona Board of Regents’ Director of FAFSA and College Access Initiatives. She’ll walk us through the application process; what information you need, how long it will take, and what to expect once it’s filled out. She’ll also help us bust some common FAFSA myths.

When was the last time you checked your consumer reports? Credit reporting errors happen, and they could block you from jobs, loans, and housing without you ever realizing why. Today, we’re talking with David Chami, the managing partner at the Consumer Justice Law Firm. We’ll talk about how the errors happen, how artificial intelligence is involved, and how to fix the errors.

We're tackling some tough topics in estate planning, including what happens if you go no-contact with a family member who is in your will. My guest is Allison Kierman, an estate planning attorney in Scottsdale. We'll walk through the basics of getting a will or trust in place, and we'll also talk about more complicated situations, the things you have to be prepared for that you never saw coming. 

Scam reports are soaring. According to new FBI data, Americans filed more than a million complaints about cybercrimes in 2025 and reported losing almost $21 billion. Today, our guest is an Arizona author who got caught in a complicated scheme involving fake tech support. Cindy Kibbe says it jeopardized her life’s work and her life savings. Now, she’s taking us inside every twist and turn along the way to help others spot the red flags and protect their money from the bad guys who are trying so hard to steal it.

There is a growing effort to help kids understand money. Today, our guest is Anthony Sharett. He’s the President of Pathward, a national bank that’s partnering with the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation and the Arizona Council on Economic Education to bring financial literacy to students. We’ll talk about the challenges with financial literacy and how parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can help teach kids money management skills that will stick with them as they become young adults.

We all have to buy gas and groceries, and the prices keep going up. It’s putting a huge strain on a lot of families. A new LendingTree survey shows 49% of Americans are struggling to afford food. Almost 90 percent have changed their grocery habits, and when it comes to filling up the tank, about one-third of people say they’ve already had to make changes to their spending to keep up. So we’re talking with Matt Schulz, the Chief Consumer Finance Analyst for LendingTree. We’ll talk about how the sticker shock is impacting savings and spending, and we’ll get some strategies to make the money stretch. 
 

If you’ve ever been to a car lot, you know buying a new car can be stressful. It’s an expensive purchase, and sometimes dealerships tack on extra costs you didn’t see coming. Now, the Federal Trade Commission is warning dealerships across the country to cut it out and stop hiding fees from consumers. For our latest episode, we’re talking with Ray and Zach Shefska. That father/son duo runs a business called CarEdge, which helps empower car shoppers with lots of information. We’ll get their take on the FTC’s warning letters to 97 dealership groups, and we’ll talk about what you can do to make sure you’re getting the best deal without the add-ons.

This year, travelers are looking for flexibility and affordability. Our guest is Maddi Bourgerie, a travel expert with RV Share. According to the company’s new travel trends survey, major events, including the World Cup and the 100th anniversary of Route 66 are shaping travel plans. We’ll also talk about how travelers are using artificial intelligence to make the most of their vacation days.

This week, a U.S. company that makes medical devices was hit by a cyberattack. A pro-Iranian hacking group claimed responsibility, and in a social media post said the Stryker hack was retaliation for a missile strike on a school in Iran. Our guest on this episode is Tim Roemer, former CIA, former Director of the Arizona Department of Homeland Security and the state’s Chief Information Security Officer. Now Tim is the CEO of GMI, a Scottsdale-based cybersecurity company that focuses on IT and security. We’ll ask him how vulnerable U.S. infrastructure is to overseas hackers and how to protect against these groups.

The headline sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi thriller; Man accidentally gains control of 7,000 robot vacuums. It actually happened and it’s raising questions about privacy issues as smart homes get "smarter." Our guest is Mack DeGeurin, a tech reporter who reported on this story for Popular Science. We are talking with him about how this situation actually unfolded, what the company has to say about it, and the things to consider when you’re connecting devices all over your home.  

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available for the 2026-2027 school year. Jill Schlesinger, CBS News Business Analyst, walks us through the easier-than-it-used-to-be process. We’ll also talk about education savings strategies for kids at any age, and the three things you should do before you start contributing to a 529 or other account in your child’s name.

Wedding bells are ringing, and more engaged couples are using artificial intelligence to plan for their big day, according to The Knot’s "Real Weddings" report for 2026. Our guest is Esther Lee, the editorial director at The Knot Worldwide. We’ll talk about how artificial intelligence is becoming an important part of planning for engaged couples for everything from ideas and inspiration to writing wedding vows. We’ll also look at the trend wedding guests will notice on invitations, and the significant spike in the number of couples choosing lab-grown diamonds over natural stones.

 As the cost of cars climbs, the value of trade-ins is going up. Good news for consumers, but we have to be able to cash in. So today we're talking with Justin Fischer. He's an automotive retail analyst with CarEdge. He'll walk us through some simple steps to negotiate your deal and we'll ask him how much mileage actually matters for a trade-in. We will also talk about how tariffs could impact trade-ins. 

 Let's talk about love and money. A recent bank rate survey shows 38% of adults in a romantic relationship say financial secrets are just as bad as cheating, and 5% say financial infidelity is worse. So today we're talking with Angelica Prescod, a financial advisor with Edward Jones.

We'll talk about the money secrets people are keeping and how to get back on the same page and create money goals together. 

While we scroll through social media, content creators are making money. Our guest is Giselle Ugarte, an online performance coach and one of TikTok’s top 100 women to watch. We’ll talk about getting started with content creation, how to turn your everyday life into content that connects with people, how to get started if you don’t feel camera-ready, and how to protect your privacy while still sharing yourself with the world.
 

Whether you’re an early filer or you’re already planning for an extension, there are changes this tax season that you need to know about. Our guest is Mark Steber, the chief tax officer for Jackson Hewitt Tax Services. We’ll discuss new deductions that could mean money in your pocket and the benefits of filing early.

Are you getting flooded with spam calls? Of course you are. Americans got 52.5 billion robocalls in 2025. Today, we’re talking with Alex Quilici, the CEO of YouMail. We’ll talk about why robocalls are still getting through despite efforts to stop them, and how you can protect your phone from incessant calls.

Whether you have a stack of cash and you’re cruising into retirement or just getting started on your savings journey, it may be time for a quick financial check-up. Today, our guest is Stewart Willis, the president of Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax. We’ll talk about changes happening in 2026 that could impact your finances and some simple strategies to make your money work for you.