The Kristen Hagopian Show · BizTalkPodcasts

Kristen Hagopian Show - 04 01 26

April 1, 2026·39 min·3 clips

Kristen Hagopian reveals why a huge tax refund might actually be costing you money all year.

1. The Kristen Hagopian Show covers personal finance, travel deals, and real estate investing in a syndicated BizTalk Radio Network format. 2. Kristen Hagopian hosts; guests include Mel Doman, Senior Communications Manager at Orbitz, and John Herriot, Keller Williams realtor and Kristen's father. 3. The episode's central argument is that spring — tax season combined with low interest rates — is an unusually well-timed window for financial moves in taxes, travel, and real estate. 4. Kristen walks through NerdWallet-sourced tax tips, starting with adjusting the W-4 withholding form to avoid either owing a large bill or surrendering an unnecessary interest-free loan to the government. 5. She explains that funneling up to $19,000 per year into a 401k — $25,000 for those 50 and older — directly reduces taxable income and can lower the applicable tax bracket. 6. She introduces Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), noting the 2018–2019 limit of $2,650–$2,700 in tax-free dollars for medical and dental expenses that can quickly be spent by families with children or regular healthcare needs. 7. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are presented as a complementary vehicle for high-deductible plan holders: $3,500 for individual coverage, $7,000 for family coverage, with both contributions and withdrawals for qualified expenses tax-free. 8. 529 college savings plans are highlighted as a way to potentially deduct contributions on state returns, even if not on federal returns. 9. Mel Doman from Orbitz explains that the company is crediting customers for all taxes and fees on bookings made on tax day, with destinations like the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Bermuda offering savings near 25% of the total booking cost. 10. She also names U.S. bucket-list cities — New York, Chicago, San Antonio, and Savannah — as offering 15% or more in savings under the promotion. 11. Doman recommends booking flights three weeks out, traveling midweek for cheapest fares, and bundling flights, hotels, and car rentals together to unlock 20–40% back-end discounts from Orbitz. 12. John Herriot recounts buying a Green Bay fixer-upper for $15,900 in 1969 after his landlord raised rent from $150 to $155 a month, selling it two years later for a $5,000 gain. 13. A Philadelphia home purchased for $33,900 in 1977 sold for $67,900 in 1979, and a subsequent Pennsylvania suburban home bought at $83,000 is now worth over $500,000 after 40 years. 14. Herriot argues that a $250,000 home purchased now will be worth approximately $290,000–$300,000 in five years based on prevailing appreciation projections. 15. He calculates that waiting a year adds roughly $12,000 to the purchase price and raises the monthly mortgage payment from $1,260 to about $1,400 due to a projected half-point rate increase. 16. He explains that the current low-rate environment is driven by the 10-year U.S. Treasury note rate of approximately 2.1–2.2%, which drops when global confidence in U.S. debt is high. 17. Kristen closes with a list of best April purchases — post-Easter chocolate at 75% off, thrift store furniture — and items to delay until May, including mattresses (up to 70% off in May), laptops, and running shoes. 18. The episode blends light-hearted banter, particularly between Kristen and her father John, with practical financial data and guest expertise. 19. Best suited for homeowners or renters weighing a first purchase, employees who have not maximized retirement accounts, and anyone planning summer travel. 20. Less suited for listeners seeking advanced investment strategy, detailed tax law analysis, or content beyond mainstream personal finance.

As heard by us

Practical frugality talk centered on travel planning and household savings.

This episode treats travel as something people try to fit into ordinary budgets, not a luxury hobby. It stays on practical money habits: short trips, family travel, and the value of planning ahead so a break does not turn into a bruising expense.

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Why you'd press play

You want cheap travel ideas and one more excuse to deep-clean instead of replacing things.

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