Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner

How many life transitions have you been through?   What did you learn about yourself going through them? Bruce Fieler is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers and an avid collector and analyzer of life stories. Years ago, Bruce began a journey when he embarked on a project to document the experiences of Americans from all walks of life.   Little did he know that this venture would lead hi...

Strategically using a bonus can boost your financial health, increase your peace of mind, and even enjoy the fruits of your labor with limited regret. Instead of spending a bonus all at once, consider intentionally distributing it to different areas of your financial plan.   This includes paying down debt, funding an emergency account, investing in retirement plans, investing in children's future...

How would your life change emotionally, physically, and mentally after the loss of a child? Debbie Gail is a strong, resilient woman who has transformed her pain into her purpose.   Her journey began when she faced the challenges of her son's mental illness and addiction, eventually leading to his tragic loss. Throughout our conversation, Debbie takes us on her journey of finding peace and purpose...

One aspect or secret to happiness can be found through strategic spending— not just spending on possessions or experiences but on what truly holds purpose in your life. It's not about how much money you have, but how you spend it significantly affects your happiness. Research supports the idea that spending money on experiences rather than things leads to greater happiness, as the novelty of new p...

Have you ever thought about a mid-career pivot?   Staring down the uncertainty of making a bold decision when a new opportunity arises? Toby Brooks, a professor at Texas Tech University, has made his fair share of career pivots.   With a background in athletic training, Toby and his wife crisscrossed the country trying to secure a position with a professional sports team.  A pivotal life transitio...

Imagine waking up one day, taking a moment to reflect on everything you've done, only to realize that everything should have been… well, more. Not in the materialistic sense, but more in-depth, more in enthusiasm, more in meaning. This isn't about being greedy or trying to avoid regrets. If you've read Dan Pink's book "The Power of Regrets," you'll understand it's not about regret avoidance. It's...

What would you do as a parent to save your struggling relationship with your kid? Ann Coleman is a former attorney who specialized in divorce, child custody, and adoption cases.   Through raising her adopted son, Ann found herself deep in research, becoming a parenting expert on how to talk with teenagers struggling with anxiety, substance abuse, and mental health challenges. Sharing the details o...

Understand how financial decisions, big or small, can impact your family's happiness and well-being while equipping your children with an understanding of financial responsibility that ensures they make informed, conscious decisions aligned with their values and life purpose. Conscious financial decision-making contributes to happiness: Every expenditure, big or small, reflects our priorities and...

What would frequent relocations mean to your career?  How would you be able to handle the constant transitions? Michelle Zak has seen her share of transitions as a former Army officer.  But as Michelle moved from military to civilian life, her husband remained in the military, requiring constant relocation.  Finding a career that could move with her was a daunting task.   Ultimately deciding to co...

Have you ever wondered what Instagram would look like if it showed the real financial stories behind those perfect snapshots — the bills, budgets, and sacrifices — and how it could transform our understanding of wealth and financial planning? An honest reflection of our lives on platforms like Instagram, including the financial challenges and sacrifices behind the scenes, would provide a more real...

The Covid pandemic impacted all of us in some way, but for some, it changed their lives for better and worse. As a mental health counselor at an academic institution, Dr. Erin Halligan-Avery needed a creative and effective way to connect students with the help they needed without meeting 1:1 with every student.   This difficult situation ultimately set the foundation for Erin to become an entrepre...

What do we do when we reach a crossroads in life?   How can we transform a tragedy into something meaningful that helps others? Damon Parker comes from a family of educators, with his parents and grandparents all having careers in teaching.   But after reaching a crossroads in his teaching career, Damon found an opportunity in coaching wrestling and public speaking. After successfully building a c...

Do you feel unsupported in your current career position?   Is the grind of your current corporate role more than you can bear? After being laid off multiple times, including once during her maternity leave, Sarah Khan felt unsupported by her employers multiple times, including during the pandemic lockdown.   Sarah decided to detox herself from the corporate programming that had run her life and be...

As parents, what does it mean to have harmony between your personal and financial life?   A demanding career, demanding kids, demanding spouse? As a mom of four, including a set of twins, Marisa Lonic checked all those boxes (except for maybe the demanding husband) but was also asking, "What about me?" Marisa, like most parents, was not in a position to just quit her job and start something new, e...

Have you reached a point where you want to sleep in a different room because you can no longer physically sleep in the same bed as your spouse or partner? Full disclosure, my wife and I had reached this point where sleep loss was negatively impacting both of us.   This is where internationally recognized sleep expert Dr. Wendy Troxel comes into play. Wendy is a Senior Behavioral and Social Scienti...

Parents, can we really have it all?   A thriving career, time with our significant other, and relationships with our kids? Lori Oberbroeckling is a wife, mom of four, author, photographer, and corporate leader.   Lori helps parents, especially moms who want to be extraordinary, present, and have an amazing career. So how can you find harmony amid the daily grind?   Lori shares insights from her bo...

Are you struggling to make decisions that will benefit your future self?   Are you constantly prioritizing short-term gains over long-term success? Anne Wilson is a professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and part of Laurier's Social Psychology program.   Anne is fascinated by how people behave, think, and understand themselves and their social worlds, especially regarding how people make decision...

Have you ever looked into the mirror to give your future self the time it deserves?   Hal Hershfield is a social psychologist whose research focuses on decision making. As a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, he has an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how people make their decisions.   In his new book, Your Future Self, Hal del...

How many life transitions have you been through?   Big or small?   How often? Corrie LoGiudice has transitioned through abuse, homelessness, and divorce, to name a few life-changing events.   But as a successful career and business coach, Corrie has turned her life-changing transitions into a unique ability to help others through their own life transitions.   As a mother of two, Corrie understands...

Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcast | Google Podcast | Amazon Music | Spotify What if you had a child on the autism spectrum who couldn't find a job?   Not because they couldn't work but because of a lack of opportunities. This was the challenge that Steve Bier was facing with his autistic son Sam who was highly functional.   After being challenged by his wife, Barb, Steve invested $30,000 and...

Have you ever come to a fork in the road where the home you have today is not the home you need now or in the future?  How do you answer the question, do we stay and remodel our existing home, or do we look to relocate? Steph Morris is an experienced expert in design who helps families make emotional and financial decisions regarding home living.  Similar to what I do as a financial advisor and a...

Have you ever wanted to own an investment or vacation rental property?  A place that could become a long-term retirement haven for you and your family? Katy Bertodatto and Mark Keely are co-founders of Golden Swan Management, a property management and real estate development company located in Traverse City, Michigan.  Golden Swan properties extend throughout the northwest Michigan region, with a...

Are you tired of constant fighting in your relationship?   Can you imagine a life where conflicts are resolved with understanding and connection instead of anger and disconnection? Railey Molinario, a renowned Love Educator & Relationship Coach, empowers individuals to live fulfilling lives through her teachings on relationship intelligence.   With a remarkable journey from abandonment at birth, R...

As a parent, how often do you let the stress and pressure of life bury the vision you once had inside of you?   How can you pull the purpose back up to the forefront of your life? Kassy Scarcia is a certified life coach who is on a mission to help women reclaim their confidence, take charge of their personal and professional success, and move forward without holding themselves back!   As Kassy put...

Parents, do you ever feel like passing ships in the night while trying to raise active kids with your spouse/partner?  How can we stay better connected during this stage of life, so we don't lose each other once our kids are grown? Dr. Jennifer Dragonette is a licensed psychologist with expertise in relationship dynamics and trauma and is trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, specializing in...