Childfree Life by Design

Who's on your bench? When you're building a Childfree life on your own terms, the professionals and teammates you surround yourself with make all the difference in how well you age. In this episode, Maddy Roche and Bri Conn, CFP®, walk through the essential people you need in your corner, from certified financial planners who understand Childfree planning to aging care managers who can h...

What if the way you think about wealth is keeping you from building it? In this episode, Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® and  Carl Richards, CFP® creator of the Sketch Guy column in the New York Times, sit down to explore how simple drawings unlock profound truths about money and life. Carl shares the stories behind his most powerful sketches, including the Venn diagram asking "What can I control?&quot...

Building better financial habits is less about willpower and more about understanding how your brain works. In this episode, Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP®, and Fiona Waller, MSW, LCSW, CFP® dive into the behavioral side of personal finance, exploring why all-or-nothing thinking keeps you stuck, how to make progress visible, and what the science of habit formation teaches us about lasting change. Drawing f...

Welcome to a brand new era! After two and a half years as the Childfree Wealth® Podcast, we're excited to introduce Childfree Life By Design. This isn't just a rebrand; it's an expansion of our mission. While finances remain a cornerstone, we're now diving deeper into relationships, career decisions, and designing a life that works for you. In this special relaunch episode, hos...

We've reached the final episode of the Childfree Wealth podcast hosted by Bri and Dr. Jay, CFP®!  It's been an incredible two-and-a-half-year run with 171 episodes published and over 100,000 downloads, and we couldn't be more grateful for this community. So, to celebrate all the amazing things that have happened, the whole Childfree Wealth team—Bri, Dr. Jay, Scott, and Fiona—joins u...

Caring for aging parents is a universal experience, but for the Childfree, the dynamics are completely unique. In this episode, Dr. Jay sits down with Beth Pinsker, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and retired MarketWatch columnist, to discuss her new book, My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving . They share personal stories and professional insights on navigating the emotional and...

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Don, a disciplined saver who's embracing the "Die With Zero" philosophy but finding it hard to shift gears! We dive into his journey of planning generous gifts to family and charities now, rather than later, and the mental gymnastics required to actually spend the money he's so diligently saved. We also tackle the nitty-gritty of opti...

What does it really take to plan your taxes to - and through - early retirement? In this week's episode, Dr. Jay sits down with Certified Financial Planner® and author Cody Garrett to unpack the key ideas from Cody’s new book, Measure Twice, Money Once. Together, they explore how intentional tax planning can turn early retirement from a financial dream into a sustainable reality. From underst...

Ever wonder if you truly have enough to retire, or if your long-term plans are actually achievable? This week, we dive deep with Claudia, a bright, resourceful, and wonderfully human individual who, despite a significant net worth, finds herself grappling with the emotional side of financial independence. We tackle her core question: should 60% of her portfolio be in fixed index annuities? But as...

Today, Bri Conn, CFP® and Dr. Jay, CFP® dig into what it really means to retire as a Childfree person—and why it might not look like what you’ve been told. Whether you're dreaming of beaches or terrified of boredom, this episode helps you get real about what comes after work. 🔹 00:40 – When retirement chooses you  🔹 02:00 – Why retiring to something matters more than retiring from something...

Ever feel like the traditional "work for 40 years, then retire" plan just isn't cutting it anymore? You're not alone! This week we're flipping the script with Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often . We dive deep into the concept of "mini-retirements" – intentional breaks from your primary profession that are a month or longer and focused on something meaningfu...

Are you tired of the traditional work-and-retire-at-65 plan? This episode is for you. We're diving into the concepts of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and FILE (Financial Independence, Live Early), and exploring how you can break free from the traditional script. Dr. Jay and Bri challenge the idea that retirement is an "on/off switch" and introduce the "dimmer swit...

As the year comes to a close, it’s time to pause, review, and make sure your finances are in shape for what’s next. In this episode, Dr. Jay and Childfree Wealth Specialist® Scott Barnes walk through their 2025 Year-End Financial Checklist - covering everything from tax strategies and RMDs to Medicare IRMA surcharges, spending analysis, and estate planning for Childfree individuals. They discuss w...

Ever fantasized about moving abroad or traveling the world while working? This episode is your permission slip to start! Join us as we talk with two incredible women living their best expat and digital nomad lives. First, we chat with Maggie Dickens, founder of Unapologetically Childfree, who shares her inspiring journey as a therapist and business owner in Lisbon, Portugal. She gives us the real...

Join us for a transparent and insightful Childfree Wealth® Checkup with Casey and Garrett, a couple who are preparing to trade in the corporate grind for time abroad. We dive deep into the unique financial fears and planning complexities of a childfree couple in their late 20s and early 30s with a solid net worth. 🔹0:15 What Casey and Garrett want to make sure they talk about in their financial c...

Is 2025 the year you’re finally considering a move outside the US? Dr. Jay and Bri dive into the increasingly popular topic of becoming an expat, an idea more and more people are considering. They get into the weeds of what it really takes to make moving abroad work, from the financial realities of moving pets (it's not cheap!) to the complex world of tax treaties and international law. Wheth...

Ever feel like you don't have enough to make a real difference? Or maybe you're just overwhelmed by all the options for giving? You're not alone. This week, we're joined by Allison Patterson of Patterson Philanthropic Advisors, who acts as a "giving coach" to help everyday people create a strategy for their generosity. Listen in to learn how to make an impact that&apo...

This episode takes a departure from the usual financial advice to get an unfiltered look at Dr. Jay’s journey to the TEDx stage. Listeners will hear about the months of intense preparation, the fear of stepping on stage, and the unexpected challenges that arose along the way, including a moment where he completely forgot his script. The episode explores how he, a self-described "hardcore intr...

Ever feel like your employee benefits package is a mystery? You're not alone! In this episode, Bri sits down with benefits expert Christy Smith from The Horton Group, a Marsh & McLennan Agency, to demystify the world of workplace perks. Christy, who has extensive experience in HR and as an employee benefits broker, shares insights on everything from health, dental, and vision insurance to...

Join us for a truly inspiring conversation with Jennifer, who's redefining retirement on her own terms! We dive deep into her desire to retire sooner rather than later, ideally without a mortgage still in play, and how she's navigating the unpredictable market with confidence. Jennifer shares her vision for a leisure-filled life, complete with travel, daily exercise, home-cooked meals, a...

Ever feel like your passion is actually… burning you out? This week, we're diving deep into the often-unseen downsides of passion-driven work with licensed mental health therapist and entrepreneurial wellness specialist, Jennifer Gray. We explore how that fiery drive can unknowingly fuel overwork, blur your personal identity, and even make you blind to burnout. Jennifer, who started her caree...

Ever dreamed of quitting your job but wondered, "How the heck do I actually do it?" This episode is for you! In the final episode of our “I’ll Make You Quit Your Job” series, we’re diving deep into the mechanics, finances, and structure needed to make that leap when you've decided it's time for a change. Bri and Dr. Jay discuss how much money you need to save before jumping shi...

Ever wondered what it's like to quit a big tech job without a Plan B and actually thrive? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Stephanie Ramos, who went from "LinkedIn famous" to living her best childfree life! Stephanie shares her candid experience leaving Amazon, and how having "F.U. money" allowed her to prioritize her well-being over a paycheck. We dive into her...

What if the biggest thing standing between you and a better life… is your job? In this episode, Bri and Dr. Jay get real about why so many Childfree people stay in jobs they hate—and what it would take to finally walk away. From financial fears to cultural expectations to the ever-persistent voice in your head saying, “but it’s good money,” we unpack the emotional and practical sides of career cha...

What happens when your financial planner keeps telling clients to quit their jobs? Dr. Jay Zigmont, CFP® and Bri Conn, CFP® unpack the now-infamous tagline: "I'll Make You Quit Your Job." From sabbaticals to soul-searching, this conversation is full of real talk, tough love, and a refreshing challenge to the status quo—especially for the Childfree crowd.    🔹 00:30 – Why Bri says D...