It’s the end of another month, and here at RBI, that means mailbag! We touch on the new Fool School, the Cubs’ run for the World Series, and then look at retirement strategies with Motley Fool Answers’ host, Robert Brokamp. But first, with your help, David spells out his Core Values for the US of A – which might just explain why this election cycle has been so disturbing.

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After a few years of brutal campaigning, the U.S. presidential election is upon us! Always the Rule Breaker, David’s take on politics is decidedly non-political. Taking the long view, we’ll apply some systemic thinking and reach all the way back to Dickens for some perspective and inspiration. And be sure to listen to the end for your homework assignment!

Today we return to the subject of mental tips and tricks, and a few Lifehacks to boot. Get things done in two minutes, win a drink at ro-sham-bo, and make all your photos picture perfect! Do you have a favorite mental tip or trick? Share it with us on Twitter @RBIPodcast.

The Motley Fool has long been an advocate of financial literacy in our schools. Crazy talk, right? Today, David has the pleasure of hosting one of the preeminent experts on the subject, Dr. Annamaria Lusardi of George Washingon University to discuss why this is such an important subject. And stick around for the close, where we will announce a fantastic opportunity for you and your kids!

When one of your favorite authors stops by the office, a 10-minute interview just won't do! Lucky for us, Candice Millard was generous with her time here at Fool HQ. In this bonus episode, David goes into greater depth about Millard's New York Times bestsellers The River of Doubt and Destiny of the Republic, as well as her upcoming epic story of the making of Winston Churchill, Hero of the Empire.