Money CHIC: Financial Wisdom and Advice for Single Women

Have you ever wondered if the Social Security system will run out of money before you retire? Or if claiming benefits as soon as you're eligible is the best decision for your financial future? Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding Social Security benefits.    In this episode, we'll be debunking common myths about Social Security and answering the questions you've been...

How financially literate are you? In honor of Financial Literacy Month, we're sharing facts you need to know when it comes to your money. If you're listening to this podcast, odds are that you are already interested in this topic, but let's take it to the next level.   Here's some of what we'll discuss in this episode: Why financial literacy and education in our country have been suffering. (1:45)...

Spring has officially sprung, so in the spirit of the season we are going share some financial spring-cleaning tips in today's episode. Getting organized and eliminating clutter in your finances not only feels great but can oftentimes uncover hidden expenses that you have forgotten about and can help you reevaluate your financial goals. Join Shari in this motivating episode about staying on top of...

Do you ever feel like your retirement planning goals are always moving? You're not alone. We've found that people often move the goalposts in their own retirement planning, often to their detriment. In this episode, we're diving deep into the psychology of retirement planning and the dangers of moving the goalposts.   Here's some of what we'll discuss in this episode: The amount you need saved mig...

Listen to today's episode to see what you need to know and learn four ways the new changes might impact you. This won't cover everything because there are more than 90 provisions in the SECURE Act 2.0, but this should give you some planning opportunities to discuss with your advisor the next time you meet.  Here's some of what we'll discuss in this episode: Required minimum distribution age is mov...

On today's episode, we'll break down the top tax questions retirees are asking in 2023.  Before you file your 2022 taxes and plan ahead for the rest of the year, make sure to listen to this episode as we'll discuss some important tax questions that retirees should ask themselves to ensure they're making the most of their retirement savings and minimizing their tax burden. Here's some of what we'll...

Today we open up the mailbag to get to a few of the questions that have come into the show and we'll hit on a few different financial topics that might also apply to your life. From saving for college to working with multiple financial advisors to RMD withdrawals, this episode will touch on three items that come up frequently in our conversations. If you ever have a question for us, send it in and...

In this episode, we'll address five, unfortunately, common beneficiary mistakes. Are you making one of these beneficiary mistakes? If so, it could cost you and your loved ones dearly. Some of the simplest mistakes can completely spoil an otherwise well-done retirement plan. In this episode, we'll share: Under the law, if you name minors as beneficiaries, they can't receive every benefit until they...

With 2023 fast approaching, we have New Year's resolutions on our minds. Many of us set financial goals each year, and this year would likely be no different if it weren't for inflation. In this episode, we will be discussing an interesting article that polled men and women to gauge their goals and mindset for the next year. Despite the impacts of inflation, we feel that there are solutions and wa...

Saving in your 401(k) can be an easy and painless way to build your retirement savings. But because it's so easy and painless, it can also be easy to ignore for long periods of time, which often leads to mistakes. In this episode, we'll cover 5 mistakes people make in their 401(k)s and how they can be avoided. On this episode, we'll share: Have you left a 401(k) behind? (1:55) Here is a necessity...

You need to make smart decisions during major life events, and we are here to help guide you. Whether it's a job change or divorce, we recommend taking three months to work everything out. Most people like to think that they always make decisions based on logic and facts, but the truth is that emotions usually play a role for all of us in the decision-making process. We'll explain how to handle bi...

Sometimes you need to find a new financial advisor. Other times, you might think you need a new advisor, but really, you're just guilty of thinking that the grass is greener on the other side. We are all human and everyone makes mistakes, but should a mistake cost an advisor your business? Of course, there are variables at hand, but we will consider a few key points to ask yourself so you can know...

As we approach the end of the year, saving money on taxes becomes a bigger focus for many people. Today we're sharing some of the most common retirement planning questions about taxes. We'll share mistakes to avoid and how a proper plan can make a significant difference in your tax savings. Find out what strategies you can use while you're still working to improve your tax situation down the road....

Just like the lights on your dashboard can indicate if something is wrong with your car (like low tire pressure or leaking oil), there are indicators in your financial life that might point out that you have a problem that needs to be addressed. In this episode, we are going to take a look into the mirror and see if we may have indicators of problems in our financial lives. These can look like neg...

We always talk about the money side of financial and retirement planning. But what about the mental aspect of that big life change? Today we'll break down an article written by a Licensed Professional Counselor (Kate Schroeder) for Psychology Today, titled The Psychological Investment In Retirement .   Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode: Our careers tend to be a large part of our ide...

There are plenty of decisions that you'll make in the retirement planning process that can't be undone, so you want to make sure that you make the right call. In this episode, we'll explain why these decisions are so important and can't be undone. Here's some of what you'll learn in this episode: Should you start taking social security as soon as you can? (1:56) What are the perks of taking the sp...

People have many reasons for procrastinating when it comes to putting a retirement plan together. Let's explore some of those excuses and why they can be dangerous, and talk about how to overcome them. Here's some of what you'll learn on this episode: Why retirement planning today looks much more different than it did for your parents. (2:00) What you can do if finances stress you out and cause yo...

Being a good advisor isn't about winning a popularity contest or just saying the same things that everyone else in the industry says. It's about giving the best advice that you can for each individual situation. On today's show, we're going to peel back the curtain to discuss some areas where a good financial advisor's opinions might go against the grain with mainstream ideas in the industry. Here...

A recent article from The Hill breaks down the potential EARN Act working its way through our government right now. Sort of like a Secure Act 2.0, the EARN Act could change essential things about retirement planning. One of the biggest changes could be to RMD age requirements. It may push those RMDs to 75 for more tax growth. It also allows pre-retirees to save $10,000 more between the ages of 60...

What's the key to surviving a bear market, whether you are in retirement or you are preparing for retirement? A dip in the market may seem scary but it can be an opportunity for investors as well. Surviving a bear market is all about balance and avoiding emotional decision-making that can harm your portfolio. An advisor helps remove the emotion from investing, let's not let our emotions guide our...

Many people have been DIYing their retirement plans over the past decade and have done fairly well. But with new market volatility, a lot of people are looking for an advisor to help them through this turbulent time. What red flags do you need to be aware of? And what are some signs an advisor is the right fit? If an advisor seems to work with all types of clients, they may not have the specialty...

When planning for retirement there are a lot of opinions and voices to listen to. Which side of the aisle should you follow? Many times, the "right answer" is going to depend on your own situation and plan. Some think you always need to sell the house before retirement. But if paying off your house is hurting the rest of your financial plan, you may need to bring that mortgage into retirement. A l...

Math doesn't lie, but can these retirement numbers be misleading? Women have less saved than men, while disturbing this isn't necessarily surprising. Experts are estimating you need $1.04 million to retire comfortably. Assigning a dollar amount goal for retirement is difficult because everyone's experience is significantly different. On today's episode, we are going to break down some recent retir...

As you approach retirement there are some major things, you'll want to cross off your to-do list. Not only do you need to think about your financial future, but your physical health as well. We work so hard to save for retirement we want you to be able to enjoy it. On the other hand, going into retirement with a plan of what you'll fill your free time with is crucial to enjoying your retirement. O...

How many of your financial habits may be a bit unhealthy? We all know some of the basics of health - losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising. But how can we spot some similar unhealthy habits in the financial world? Empty calories in the financial industry could be complex financial plan that you don't understand. On paper it looks great, but is it really working for you and is it improvin...