Money Dates

"Default is always the easiest option. I will also say, it is not [always] the best option for you.” With open enrollment season in full swing, our hosts Natalie and Dan Slagle dive into a dilemma that has plagued many married couples (and people in general) during this time of year: choosing workplace benefits. For many, open enrollment means defaulting to last year’s plan out of fatigue or confu...

“Creating a space to have these conversations where the two of you can maintain your emotions and be very open about what your feelings are, why you want something, why you don't want something, actively listening – That’s just great practice for setting up your household finances in general.” What happens when one spouse has their heart set on a $20,000 pop-up camper and the other isn't buying it...

"It's so important to have these conversations before the event occurs, and maybe even before the booking happens.” Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, talk about dealing with that awkward moment when the check arrives after a meal, and how it translates to splitting expenses in general with friends and family. They give an example of how group vacations can intensify financial tensions. On this pa...

“You get to celebrate the highest of highs with each other, but also you have to deal with the lowest of lows, whatever that may be for your business." Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, pull back the curtain on what it's really like to run a business together as a married couple. After six years of building Fyooz Financial Planning from their shared desk in Natalie's mom's townhouse, they're read...

“The decision is going to be made in some way, shape, or form. Wouldn't it be nice if you were a part of that decision-making process, or if you just took that off the hands of your loved ones? That's the best gift you can give people if you were to pass away.” Our hosts Natalie and Dan Slagle tackle the uncomfortable but essential topic of estate planning—or as Natalie now calls it, planning for...

“We do like to make sure our clients are really balancing the living for today while protecting their future selves as well.” Your emergency fund should cover three to six months of expenses. But how should you adapt your financial strategy when your savings account balance keeps growing beyond that target? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle this surprisingly common problem that leaves many...

"If it feels like you're being kind of sleazy about something, then you're probably being sleazy about it." Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle one of the most uncomfortable topics in relationships: financial infidelity. When couples hide money matters from each other, they're essentially combining the top two causes of divorce into one explosive cocktail. But as they discover, the definitio...

"We can't break all almost 900 pages worth of everything, but we're going to break down the things that we think our audience would benefit from having a conversation about." Our hosts, Dan and Natalie Slagle, tackle the massive tax legislation signed on July 4th. While Natalie spent her holiday evening digesting 890 pages of congressional prose (in lieu of watching Squid Game with the family), sh...

“If things haven’t been buttoned up, wow, that really distracts from the grieving process.” Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, address the elephant in the room for many families: how to talk to aging parents about their finances. When you're talking about $124 trillion changing hands over the next couple of decades, this stops being someone else's problem and becomes everyone's reality. Dan gets v...

“Do we want to set our money aside for our child’s future education? I don’t think the answer should be an automatic yes.” Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, discuss the question many young parents are asking: How much should you save for your child’s college, and when should you start? Drawing from client stories and their own experience, they break down why this decision isn’t one-size-fits-all,...

“I have anxieties around the same exact situation as you, but you have a different feeling from it.” Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, know that even in a happy, communicative marriage, the topic of money can be a bit of a minefield. But what happens when one partner is way more anxious about money than the other? That’s the question Dan and Natalie are looking to unpack. To start with, they each...

Homeownership versus renting—each choice comes with its own set of emotions, cultural influences, and practicalities. Turns out, earning a good income doesn’t magically make homeownership easy—a lesson our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, know all too well. Despite making over $300K a year, they still find themselves doing the math, wondering if homeownership is really worth it. They’ve owned before...

Creating purpose and intention around travel funds is so important. Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle a financial topic that flies under the radar more often than it should—travel. Sure, vacations are meant to be a way to decompress and have some fun after a good period of work, but they can also quietly sabotage your budget if you're not careful! Pulling from both their own marriage and s...

"Resourcefulness is not just about making do with what you have; it's about reimagining what you can achieve with your resources, no matter your income level." Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, open up about a surprising financial truth: even households earning over $300,000 can feel financially stretched. They explore how invisible expenses like taxes, daycare, and retirement savings chip away a...

"Role-swapping in financial responsibilities can lead to a sense of relief and highlight the importance of staying proactive with money management.” Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, dig into a topic that hits close to home for many a married couple: the mental load of managing household finances. It’s not just about dividing tasks, but understanding the mental space each task requires. Tracking...

"Who knew that late-night study sessions for financial exams could lead to both a thriving marriage and a successful business?" Financial planning power duo Natalie Slagle and Dan Slagle break down how Fyooz Financial came to life—and why they built it for couples like themselves. They met in college, reconnected after graduation, and started dating while cramming for finance exams. Over time, the...

Money can be one of the most powerful tools in your household — when you know how to talk about it. Money Dates is hosted by a pair of married financial planners who have spent years in their professional and personal lives perfecting this very topic. Natalie and Dan have witnessed the benefits of having open, honest conversations about money. Each episode, they share personal stories, practical f...