Making It Count

Traveling internationally can seem intimidating, but according to Pew Research Center, over 70% of Americans have done it! On this exciting episode of Making it Count, we’re preparing you with all the traveling tips and tricks for you to start booking those long awaited trips abroad — without breaking the bank!. Today, we’re joined by our money smart friends, Jeremy and Jenna, your go-to guides fo...

Did you know that 65 percent of Americans actually get their staycation inspiration from family and friends? On this episode of Making it Count, we’ve got you covered with all sorts of tips and tricks of planning a great staycation, all while staying within budget. With the help of Lauren Holloway, a content creator and local travel expert, Cristina and Randy dive into all sorts of staycation insp...

Over two-thirds of Americans are budgeting for their travel this year, and more than half have cut back or changed their plans due to the economy. But no matter your budget, you can still plan a great vacation—and this episode of Making it Count will teach you how! With the help of Donna Shields, a vacation planning expert and travel blogger, Cristina and Randy take a deep dive into how you can tu...

Did you know it’s the best job seeker’s market in more than 50 years? In this episode of Making it Count, Randy and Cristina take a closer look at all things professional growth, from job hunting to nailing interviews to snagging that promotion you’ve been gunning for. They’re joined by Natalie Nieves, Recruiter at Addition Financial Credit Union, for an insider perspective from the hiring side of...

Did you know debt consolidation is the number-one reason people take out personal loans? In this episode of Making it Count, Cristina and Randy continue the Money Taboos mini series with a deep dive into debt consolidation and refinancing. They’re joined by Monica Barboza, Member Experience Lead at Addition Financial Credit Union, to explore the differences between consolidation and refinancing, t...

Tax season is almost upon us — so what better time to continue the Money Taboos mini series with a focus on all things taxes? In this episode of Making it Count, Randy and Cristina welcome Andrew Griffith, CPA and associate professor of accounting, and Ricky Laviña, CPA and founder of TaxFyle. From tax brackets to audits and everything in between, they cover all the basics you need to know to file...

We're back with season four of Making it Count, a podcast that provides practical financial advice for every stage of life – with a twist! Our hosts, Cristina and Randy, aren't financial experts. They're just like you – trying not to stumble their way to financial success. So they invite their money smart friends to join them each episode to get the DL on managing their finances. So listen along f...

According to a study from Zapier, 40% of Americans have a side hustle—and Microsoft found that 70% of Gen Z plan to pursue a side hustle in the coming year. In this episode of Making it Count, Cristina and Randy welcome Valerie Filion, Assistant Branch Manager at MetroWest with Addition Financial, to explain how she turned her passion into a side hustle as an aesthetician. She shares her tips on f...

Did you know only 38% of Americans work with a financial advisor to manage their money? We look to experts for advice on so many topics, but most of us are still tackling money issues without professional help. In the season three finale of Making it Count, Cristina and Will welcome back certified financial coach Heidi Pauley to conduct a real consultation with members Chelsea and Desi! Listen to...

According to a Pew Research Study, 27 million Americans have bought, traded or used cryptocurrency. Yet for every person who understands cryptocurrency and blockchain, there are plenty of people who are a bit perplexed by it. In this episode of Making it Count, Cristina and Will welcome Lou Grilli from PSCU to explain how the blockchain works, the different kinds of cryptocurrencies, the dos and d...

The world of insurance can seem rather daunting with all the complex vocabulary and legalities, but this latest episode of Making it Count helps to break down the most confusing aspects of insuring ourselves and our things so you can be protected no matter what life throws your way. Take a listen as Cristina and Will interview two experienced insurance experts from Hylant, Andria and Shawna, and t...

Wanting to make the switch to a more eco-friendly lifestyle but don’t think it’s within your budget? Sustainability can be accessible for everyone if you use the tips from this episode of Making it Count! Featuring UCF track and field athlete Rayniah Jones and returning Addition Financial expert Valerie Moses, you’ll learn how to eat healthy and be kinder to the environment without breaking the ba...

In part II of our Money + Lifestyle mini series, Cristina and Will interview returning guest Karina from Addition Financial and first-time participant Dr. Elliott Jaffa, a behavioral psychologist. They cover how to address those hard to shake unhealthy financial habits, like impulse purchases and lifestyle inflation. Learn strategies on how to identify any financial “don’ts” and how to turn them i...

It’s not too late to set your financial New Year’s resolutions and boy do we have a great episode to learn how to not only set them, but actually achieve them this year! Featuring two new guests, financial literacy educator David Maurice Sharp and Addition Financial Specialist Chelsea Conner, our hosts take a deep dive into setting SMART goals for every financial goal you’d want to accomplish – fr...

Breakups suck, but at least our Making it Count hosts were brave enough to talk through the financial ramifications of ending a relationship with Samantha Garcia, a Wealth Advisor at Halbert Hargrove. Together they demystify those common questions around finances and divorce and shed light into the best way to protect your assets through the process. Even if you are currently rocking the single li...

Considering lending money to a family member? You’ll want to listen to this episode of Making it Count first! Cristina and Will invite Juan Velasco, a Member Experience and Sales Specialist at Addition Financial and Jennifer Lee, the Founder of Modern Wealth to share their thoughts on mixing money with family. This episode covers the risks and rewards of lending money to a family member, how to ta...

Discussing finances with friends? Talk about awkward… Unless, of course, you use the great tips from this episode of Making it Count! Our hosts Cristina and Will were joined by returning guest Richard Barbari from Addition Financial and new guest Erin Papworth, the Founder and CEO of Nav.it. They covered a whole spectrum of money topics as they relate to friendships – like how to navigate the drea...

Sprucing up key areas of your home is a great way to increase your property’s value and attract the right buyers when you’re ready to sell. On this episode of Making it Count we heard from Brad Fletcher, the Owner of Home Staging Pros, and Kathy Michaels, a Home Loan Specialist at Addition Financial, on how to tackle the practical and financial side of prepping your home for sale. From full-scale...

Have you ever wondered what it actually means to declare bankruptcy? Find out what bankruptcy entails and the different types of bankruptcy in this episode of Making it Count. With the help of Annette Boyd, the Vice President of Collections at Addition Financial and Juan Velasco, a Member Experience & Sales Specialist at Addition Financial, you’ll learn how the bankruptcy process works and what yo...

Welcome to season three, episode three of Making it Count, where hosts Cristina and Will learn how to spot and stop predatory lending in its tracks. In this episode we hear from Shelby Lord, Addition Financial's AVP Branch Manager at Forest City, and Sarah Paulson, CFP and Owner of Valkyrie Financial as they discuss the key signs of common predatory lending practices, how to recognize sketchy payd...

In this episode of Making it Count we’re tackling money taboos and how to overcome them with the help of our financial experts, Karina Rodriguez, the Youth Ambassador at Addition Financial and Nathan Grant, the Senior Credit Industry Analyst at Credit Card Insider. Listen along to learn where money taboos come from, how they can be detrimental to your finances and ways to break them in your everyd...

Welcome to the first episode of season three of Making It Count! In this episode, Cristina and Will dive into the world of credit with two special guests, Heidi Pauley, a Certified Credit Counselor and Financial Coach with Addition Financial, and Valerie Moses, a Making it Count alumni and Addition Financial employee. Listen along to find out what goes into calculating your credit score, how to ge...

We're back with season three of Making it Count, a podcast that provides practical financial advice for every stage of life – with a twist! Our hosts, Cristina and Will, aren't financial experts. They're just like you – trying not to stumble their way to financial success. So they invite their money smart friends to join them each episode to get the DL on managing their finances. So listen along f...

Welcome to the season two finale of Making it Count! This episode our hosts are joined by the show’s executive producer, Lauren Buys, to hear all about infamous financial fraud cases. Together they discuss Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes and shady multi-level marketing strategies to help listeners learn how to protect themselves. She covers the life of Charles Ponzi, a scheme involving the hit Broa...

From the basics of opening a bank account to learning the importance of saving from an early age, this week’s episode of Making it Count focuses on money lessons made just for teenagers. Cristina and Will are joined by Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education & Advocacy at Experian, and Karina Rodriguez, Youth Ambassador here at Addition Financial. They both share great tips for parents...