Deeply Invested: Manage Money, Budget, Save, Invest, Build Wealth

Feeling like your money doesn't stretch as far as it used to? You're not imagining it. This episode breaks down what inflation really means for your day-to-day finances — beyond the headlines — and walks you through a quick check-in to find out your personal inflation rate. We also connect the dots on why investing matters more than ever, and close with four practical steps to protect and grow you...

You're budgeting, saving, doing everything "right" — so why isn't your money actually moving? This week, Maddie and Meghan unpack 5 financial habits that look responsible but might be quietly keeping you stuck — plus the simple shift to make instead of each one. Pick one, shift it this week. Also mentioned: Budget Blueprint Builder — Our one-hour workshop with an Excel and Google Sheets template b...

Everyone's talking about that one stock right now — the one with the rockets, the famous founder, and the record-breaking IPO. So should you actually buy individual stocks? In this 10-minute check-in, Meghan breaks down why funds come first for most of us, when picking up a single stock is totally okay, and what the SpaceX hype can teach you about thinking like a CFO instead of getting swept up in...

A six-figure salary is not a six-figure paycheck — and in this episode we prove it. We take a real $100,000 salary, follow it all the way down to what actually hits your account, and then give every single dollar a job across all five money pillars: income, budget, save, invest, and debt. Using the 50/30/20 method, we show you exactly how to split your take-home pay, where the "wealth-building 20%...

The names listed on your financial accounts override your will. Read that again. This week on CFO Corner, Meghan covers the task most personal finance content quietly skips — checking your beneficiaries. Most people set those names once, years ago, and never look again. But life changes, relationships change, and an outdated form could send your 401(k), IRA, or life insurance to someone you'd neve...

What if your kid didn't start their financial life at zero? In Part 2 of Raising Tiny CFOs, Maddie and Meghan break down five accounts that build a money system you can hand over piece by piece. You'll learn how a 529 became far more flexible than the old "college-only" bet, what the brand-new Trump Account actually is (and who qualifies for free starter money), how UTMAs and custodial Roth IRAs w...

What's the story you're telling yourself about money? Not your budget — your beliefs. This week, we're doing a mid-year check-in on your money mindset. No budgets, no spreadsheets — just a slower, honest look at the "money story" quietly running in the background and shaping your decisions. We walk through a simple 3-part reflection to help you spot one belief that's holding you back, trace where...

Almost none of us chose the money mindset we grew up with — it got wired in before we were old enough to question it. And whether you've got kids, nieces, or just a future version of this conversation in your head, you're shaping someone's money story right now. This week, Maddie and Meghan get specific: the scarcity phrases worth retiring (starting with "money doesn't grow on trees"), the swap th...

Real talk: most financially responsible women are really good at tracking their bills, stressing about their savings rate, and feeling guilty about big purchases. But the everyday fun spending? It just happens — and nobody looks at it. This week, Meghan is taking you through the Fun Money Audit: a simple, honest look at whether the money you're spending on joy is actually delivering. Because a bud...

You Save Money… But You Still Feel Guilty Spending It    You check your savings. It's growing. You can afford the thing. And you still feel guilty buying it. In this episode of Deeply Invested, Maddie and Meghan dig into one of the most common — and least talked about — money struggles for high-achieving women: spending guilt. Not the kind that comes from overspending. The kind that shows up even...

Do you actually know how much debt you've paid off this year? Not a feeling — the real number. In this episode, we're doing a mid-year CFO check-in on your debt. We walk through a simple 3-step exercise to calculate your actual progress since January, why that number matters more than you think, and what to do with it to set yourself up for a strong second half of the year. In this episode: Why de...

You're not bad with money. Your brain is just doing exactly what human brains do. In this episode, Maddie and Meghan walk through five psychological concepts that quietly work against your wallet — from why future-you feels like a stranger to why you'd rather scrub your bathroom than open a credit card statement. Each one is backed by real research, and each one comes with a practical move you can...

Six months of data just landed in your bank account — are you actually looking at it? In this week's CFO Corner, Meghan walks you through a mid-year spending audit: how to pull your YTD numbers, what patterns to look for, and how to optimize just one category before the year is over. No overhaul required. No shame involved. Just one honest look at where your money actually went — and one smart dec...

"Money can't buy happiness." You've heard it a thousand times. But what if the research everyone's been quoting for the last decade was actually flawed? In this episode, Maddie and Meghan dig into the real science of money and happiness — including the 2023 study that updated everything we thought we knew. They break down what the research actually says about financial stress, why the number matte...

You got a raise. But did it actually move your finances forward — or did it just make life a little more expensive? In this week's CFO check-in, we're doing a quick but honest audit: where did your raise money actually go? We break down the three questions every high-earner should ask after a salary bump, why lifestyle inflation is sneakier than you think, and three specific actions you can take t...

If your scroll looks anything like ours, you've seen at least three ads this week promising $10,000 a month from your phone. No experience. No boss. No problem. The desire for extra income is completely valid — but the way side hustles are being sold online has gotten out of hand. In this episode of Deeply Invested, Maddie and Meghan break down the five universal red flags every side hustle ad sho...

Side income isn't just about money — it's about options. And summer, with its flexible schedules and seasonal demand, is one of the best times of year to start earning a little (or a lot) extra. In this 10-minute CFO Corner check-in, Meghan breaks down two tiers of side hustles: micro hustles like Poshmark, Rover, website testing, and weekend brand ambassador work that can bring in $100–$500 a mon...

When was the last time you genuinely did something for yourself? A face mask, a workout, a mental health day? We've fully embraced self-care as a culture — and that's a good thing. But there's a form of self-care almost no one is talking about, and it might be the one you need most. In this episode, Meghan and Maddie introduce the concept of financial self-care — small, intentional money habits th...

It's mid-year, and that means it's time for a credit report check-in. In Week 18 of CFO Corner, we walk through why your credit report matters, the three major bureaus, and a simple strategy to monitor your credit all year long without paying for a service. Plus, get a step-by-step guide on what to look for when you pull your report - from personal info to payment history to suspicious inquiries....

You had no intention of spending $200 this weekend. And then Friday happened. In this episode, we're talking about something nobody warns you about: the way your friends quietly shape your spending — and what to do about it without making it weird. We cover the four invisible patterns, the science behind why it happens, and the exact phrases to use when "no" feels heavy. Comment WORKSHOP for the B...

Summer is closer than you think  -  and this week's CFO Corner is your sign to check in on the money side of it before June sneaks up on you. In this 10-minute check-in, Meghan walks you through a simple summer vacation savings audit: what you're planning, what you've saved, and whether those two things actually line up. Here's what you'll do in this episode: Figure out your full summer picture  -...

We're airing our financial dirty laundry today  -  and we're not sorry about it. In this episode, Maddie and Meghan get real about the investing mistakes they made when they were just starting out. From maxing out a 401(k) without a plan, to leaving money sitting in cash for an entire year, to unknowingly choosing funds that quietly drained thousands in fees  -  they've been there. Here's what the...

This week's CFO move is simple: increase just one savings goal by $25. Not your whole budget. Just one goal  -  your emergency fund, a travel fund, or your investment account. Then automate it and forget it. $25 a month is $300 a year. Small enough that you won't feel it, big enough to actually move the needle over time. 📌 Budget Blueprint Workshop Read the full Show Notes Here!   Thanks to our s...

Are you waiting to be noticed at work  -  or are you making sure you get seen? In this episode, Meghan and Maddie break down exactly how to advocate for yourself at work, from asking for that raise to positioning yourself for your next promotion. They dig into why self-advocacy is especially hard for women (and what the research actually says about it), then hand you a practical, no-fluff playbook...

Insurance is one of those things you set up once and forget about  - but a quick annual check-in can save you hundreds of dollars or catch a gap in coverage before you actually need it. This week on CFO Corner, Meghan walks you through a simple insurance review across the four main policy types most people have: auto, home or renters, life, and disability. No switching providers, no becoming an in...