Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner

When was the last time you said yes to something small that mattered? Last year I checked something off my bucket list. Not a grand adventure or expensive trip, just a concert I'd been wanting to see for 30 years. The Barenaked Ladies finally made it happen, and what surprised me was how much emotion came with something so small. In this episode, I talk about why we wait for the big moments while...

What if not all success is earned and not all struggle is deserved? This week's episode digs into something we don't talk about enough: the role of luck, circumstance, and timing in how our lives turn out. When you're managing money, kids, and everything else, it's easy to believe you earned every good thing and failed at every hard thing. But that's not the whole story. I share a few stories from...

I'm wrestling with a question that's been on my mind lately: Have we given money a job it simply can't do? There is a complicated relationship between money and our emotions, and how we sometimes hope numbers and bank balances will take away our fear or anxiety, even though those are emotions, not equations. Inspired by Carl Richards' book "Your Money," I talk about how our financial lives and our...

Are you keeping score in your relationships with your spouse, kids, or friends? I welcome back our resident therapist expert, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette, for an eye-opening conversation about the ways our perspectives can shape every aspect of our relationships—at home and beyond. Dr. Jen introduces us to the idea of "positive vs. negative sentiment override." It's all about how we subconsciously gat...

I've found a surprising overlap between being a parent and serving as a wealth advisor. As the dad of teenage triplets plus one, I know firsthand how both roles bring their share of chaos and noise. Whether I'm spending weekends at humid, high-energy swim meets supporting my competitive swimmer daughter, or helping families navigate a financial landscape filled with political turmoil, inflation, a...

Are you trying to survive, or do you want to thrive this holiday season? I welcome back our resident psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette, to tackle the emotional whirlwind of the year-end holiday season. Both Dr. Jen and I felt it was time to reframe the usual "surviving the holidays" narrative. Instead of just getting through it, we talk about how you can actually enjoy and find meaning in this...

Are you feeling behind financially? Are you a parent juggling everything from college savings to daily expenses? Dr. Jennifer Dragonette returns for her much-anticipated monthly conversation, and we dive deep into a timely and universal theme: why so many families, even those who are objectively doing well, still feel like they're falling behind emotionally and financially. A recurring theme durin...

How much tech do you let into your life? Do you even know why you let certain tech into your life? I'm thrilled to welcome back my friend and Microsoft VP, Scott Hanselman. It's been almost four and a half years since our last conversation, and so much has changed for both of us—at home, at work, and everywhere in between. Scott and I dive into the heart of his recent TEDx Talk, where he questions...

How long have you been planning that trip of a lifetime? Our resident travel expert, Jill Benedict, is back with us for a lively deep dive into the unpredictable world of family travel. From international cruises and unexpected illnesses to the logistics of planning multi-city adventures, Jill and I swap personal stories, travel mishaps, and insider tips you won't want to miss. We dig into why cru...

Have you ever wondered why you get sick on vacation? I share my all-too-relatable experience of getting sick on my recent anniversary trip across Italy, Greece, and Turkey with our resident therapist, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette. Dr. Jen dives into why our bodies often choose downtime to recover, exploring our hidden demands we carry and how American work culture fuels our "earn your rest" mentality....

Have you ever wondered why you buy what you buy?   There are so many reasons under the surface for our purchases from social status to taking care of our future selves. I have the perfect guest to help break down these spending thoughts for us.   Dr. Michael Barbera, associate professor of marketing at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, explores the fascinating world of "Costco therapy"...

Do you know how the new "One Big Beautiful Bill" will impact you during your retirement years? I'm wrapping up my One Big Beautiful Bill series by exploring the unique challenges and opportunities of financial planning for retirees. I walk you through the key highlights of the new legislation and what it means for those who are already in retirement, as well as for those helping parents and loved...

Do you know what one of the most underrated life transitions is? And how the "One Big Beautiful Bill" may impact it? Today, I delve into the often-overlooked yet pivotal transition of entering the empty nest and pre-retirement phase. Drawing on years of experience working with families, I share personal reflections and practical insight about the emotional and financial shifts that occur at this s...

Parents, are you juggling high school schedules, college plans, and the ever-growing list of financial and personal priorities? This doesn't leave much time to understand how the new "Big Beautiful Bill" will affect you.   However, this is the life stage we will tackle today, drawing on my firsthand experiences as a parent of triplets (plus one!). I highlight the positives of the new legislation,...

As a busy parent trying to manage your family and career, do you even have time to understand what he new One Big Beautiful Bill will mean to you? Today, I am going to explore the winds and losses through the "One Big Beautiful Bill" during this pivotal life stage of career and family growth. Drawing from my own experience as a parent of triplets (plus one!), I dive into the financial and emotiona...

What does the new One Big Beautiful Bill mean to parents and young adults? I am kicking off the "Big Beautiful Bill" series by breaking down what the new legislation means for those just starting their financial journeys—think high schoolers, college students, and anyone landing their first job. I deep dive into the bill's highlights, including the extension of marginal tax rates, increased standa...

"That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis.   It's like showing up at the Masters every year; it's like why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly?   Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly?   I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes." That is a quote from the world's top golfer, Scottie Scheffler, before he tees it up to try and win...

According to The Kaplan Group, tax scams have resulted in 2025 YTD reported financial losses of $5,742,463.91.   Monthly tax scam reports rose 62% year-over-year, from 227 in 2024 to 368 in 2025, and have increased by 323% since 2020.   So what can you do to protect yourself? To help you stay safe, here are three key takeaways: The IRS will almost always contact you by MAIL first.   If you get a t...

Time is the most valuable asset we have. But unlike money, you can't earn more of it. And once it's gone, it's gone. In this episode, I talk about something I see every day, with clients and in my own life: how a lack of time becomes the excuse for putting off financial decisions. The irony is, delaying those decisions often creates more stress and complexity down the road—costing us even more tim...

Have you ever caught yourself just waiting for the next economic downturn, a family milestone, or the "right moment" to act?   Just wait for the market to crash. Just wait until your kids hit middle school, or high school—or college—and then just wait for the real challenges to begin. I hear it constantly in the financial world and in conversations with fellow parents. And I've come to realize thi...

Ever notice how you and your partner seem to "think out loud" differently—or not at all? Our resident therapist expert, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette, is back to talk about how differences in processing and communication styles can shape our relationships (and even our financial decisions!). You'll hear us share stories from our own families (yes, even the awkward silences and eye rolls), explore why ve...

I recently spent some time away on vacation, which got me thinking deeply about retirement, purpose, and the ongoing challenge of finding meaning in our everyday lives. While watching some older couples spend hours together on their boats, I found myself questioning not just what they talked about, but also how I view my own future and the idea of slowing down. From leaving a corporate career I co...

I'm diving into a topic that's been on my mind lately: the idea of "time wealth"—and, just as importantly, "time debt." After coming off a busy stretch like tax season, I often find myself trying to catch up on everything I put on hold, only to realize I'm paying for it in stress, exhaustion, and those lost moments I wish I'd shared with my family. Inspired by insights from Greg McKeown and Ann La...

Ever wonder what really happens when you decide to work with a financial advisor for the first time, especially when life already feels like a full-time juggling act? I sat down with Marisa Lonic—author, coach, and founder of Mama Work It—to talk about the emotional side of money, career pivots, and raising four kids, including twins. We dive into what it's like to navigate big life changes like m...

We live in a world obsessed with what's new. The latest tech, the next headline, tomorrow's market forecast. But beneath all that noise, some things stay the same. And maybe—just maybe—that's where the real wisdom lies. Born out of a moment of reflection after a volatile April in the financial markets, I found myself returning to Morgan Housel's work, especially his book Same as Ever . It reminded...