MONEY WITHOUT MATH

Credit cards get a bad rap, but they come with a number of consumer benefits and protections that you might not even be aware of. Some of these protections can save you thousands of dollars! Richard Kerr, Senior Director of Travel at Bilt Rewards, is an expert on loyalty programs and credit cards. From hotel and airline cards and points to the newest loyalty options, he’s in the know. He joins us...

Planning for college is not just a financial challenge, it’s also very emotional—for both parents and their students. In the battle of dream schools and “the college experience” vs. the family budget, the latter is usually trampled. How badly? Recent stats show that Americans owe more than $1.7 Trillion in student loan debt. The costs are overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Ann Garci...

Romance or sweetheart scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and steal from the victim. These criminals appear on dating sites, but can also creep up in your social media messages, in email or other apps. Seniors tend to be the most vulnerable and those ag...

Prenups have long been associated with the rich and famous. But not only is this thinking incorrect, it could be financially devastating. Assets are only part of the equation; consider that young Americans are holding record levels of debt and also bringing that into a marriage. Marriage is one of the biggest financial decisions many of us will make in our lives, with a known, high failure rate, y...

The self-help industry spans from bookstores to conference centers to Twitter threads. With all of this information, why do we still find ourselves struggling to make the desired improvements to our lives? As our guest Austin Brown points out, “If the key to success was information, we’d all be billionaires with six-pack abs.” Not only is willpower not enough to effect change, but books, blogs, po...

Most of us have heard of the gender *pay* gap, referring to the roughly 82 cents women earn for every $1 earned by men. What has not garnered as much attention are the *wealth* gaps that exist: It’s reported that US women own just 32 cents per $1 of male wealth—and this number is even lower for black and Latina women. Our guest Renée Baker, Head Advisor Inclusion Networks at Raymond James and TEDx...

Disability planning is a tricky and complex maze that requires understanding the nuances of Social Security benefits, Medicaid waivers, as well as state and federal benefits. If your child has autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, or any other Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD), it’s especially important to engage in financial planning with experts who are familiar with your unique chall...

Money decisions are inherently messy, because we are humans, not robots. As humans, we have brains that haven’t changed in thousands of years, and yet must reconcile the here-and-now with an uncertain future. Guest Neil Bage, co-founder of Shaping Wealth, is an applied behavioral science specialist working to bridge theory and the real world to help us make better money moves.  We discuss the prob...

Alzheimer's is a disease that slowly takes our loved ones away from us as it destroys memory and thinking skills. It’s the most common cause of dementia in older adults and kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. The disease can also take a toll on those called upon to provide care, usually family members and friends who contribute countless hours of support. If you...

Whether you’re just getting started or have been investing for years, the number of investment options to choose from can be overwhelming. What’s ESG? Should I buy crypto? Active ETFS or mutual funds? Some of these options are compelling, but it’s important to understand key factors before diving in. Loren Fox is the director of research at Boston-based FUSE Research Network. He has been researchi...

Estate planning isn’t just about you, money, and taxes; it’s mostly about the ones you love. Patricia De Fonte is an estate planning attorney and founder of De Fonte Law PC. She is passionate about delivering thoughtful counsel to help her clients preserve family harmony through careful and customized planning that also reflects their vision and values. In this episode, we discuss why a will is no...

Opinions expressed are those of Karen Coyne and not those of RJFS or Raymond James. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.  Clarity Planning is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Karen Coyne, Financial Advisor l...

After almost a 6 month hiatus, we’re back!  At the beginning of the year, Maria Gamb, Founder and CEO of coaching and training company NMS Communications, joined Karen to discuss how to reconnect with your purpose and find your spark. Typically January is an exuberant time, as we look out upon a new year as a fresh start, a new beginning. This past January seemed to usher in a new year with a sens...

In a culture of hustle, grind, do more, get more, be better, go faster, now, when do we know when to say, “enough?” And more specifically, how do we reconcile more and enough when it comes to our money?  Behavioral finance expert Brian Portnoy, CFA, PhD, and author of “The Geometry of Wealth,” joins us to explore the intersection of time, money, living a joyful life, and the pursuit of enough in t...

What do you picture or think about when you hear the word “accountant?” Boring bean counters, debits and credits, nerdy number crunchers? Cece Leung, CPA, Founding Partner of The Entrepreneur CFO,  podcast host and author of “Dear Accountant” is on a mission to change that. Cece is also a mentor and coach who shares her experiences and insights to elevate young professionals entering the field. Ac...

Do you think you that you need a degree in economics or finance to truly get a grip on your finances? Think again. It turns out, getting a grip on your habits and behaviors is actually more impactful than knowing how to evaluate stocks or describe the IPO process. You don’t need to be a math whiz to be good with money; you need real life skills. Dr. Moira Somers, Psychologist, Professor, and Autho...

It’s been said that so much time and energy is spent on preparing the assets for the family, but not the FAMILY for the assets! No wonder that a reported 70% of family wealth doesn’t survive past the second generation.  Creating a family mission statement is a way to bridge these gaps and strengthen the concept of a family legacy. This is not about numbers or inheritance details; it’s about sharin...

The challenge of balancing professional and personal pursuits has most often been approached as a women’s issue. But men are also struggling with the same issues. They may feel less comfortable discussing the issues, and/or nobody is asking. So we did! Max Schatzow, Partner of Stark and Stark joins us on this episode to open up the conversation of work-life balance from a male’s perspective.  Max’...

Kim Lear is a speaker, writer, researcher. She’s also the Founder and Content Director of Inlay Insights, a generational research firm. She describes generational theory as sitting at the intersection of history and culture, and points out that we talk about Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, and Gen Z, we’re really discussing is change over time. In this episode, Kim helps us understand how the...

Whether in our personal lives or in a professional setting, difficult conversations are unavoidable. From money issues to breaking bad news or dealing with differences of opinion, some people are better than others at having these difficult conversations. What can we learn from them? Guest Dan Solin spent years researching studies in the fields of psychology and neuroscience and his findings revea...

It happens. It could be falling prey to a fraudulent investment scheme, or it could be your financial advisor or other trusted advisor running off with your life savings. Are there steps you can take to protect yourself in the first place? What happens if your worst nightmare comes true? David Meyer is the Managing Principal of Myer Wilson and the author of The Investor Protector.  He joins us to...

Do you own a small to medium-sized business?  Have you noticed a decline in cash sales?  When is the last time you personally reviewed bank statements for all of your accounts?  These are just a few of the questions that Galina Guidry, President of ICAF Consulting, will ask during a consultation.  Galina has over 10 years of practical experience in performing operational assessments for various co...

One year ago, the financial markets faced extreme uncertainty in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent shutdowns. Today, the markets are reflecting an enthusiastic reopening, accompanied by a booming housing market and widespread inflation concerns. Gary Stringer, CFA, President and Chief Investment Officer of Stringer Asset Management, LLC joins us to recap where we’ve been, how...

A solid network is an intangible and invaluable asset. Like a rainy-day fund, you never know when you might need it! But if you don’t tend to it, it won’t be there when you need it the most. Guest Dana Lawrence is a speaker and mindful leader who has realized the benefits of regularly investing in her network. We discuss the different looks and approaches to networking, how to overcome the “ick” f...

You’ve probably heard the phrase “sellers’ market” more than once lately in reference to the real estate market. What does this really mean? The real estate market is hot right now and Gabriella Morrell, Realtor with the Waldner Winters Team, discusses what that entails.  Gabriella shares considerations for both buyers and sellers, how each offer is truly unique, plus specific recommendations for...