Something Personal

“Organizational behavior” is a field that blends business with psychology, sociology, and even elements of anthropology. But the core of the science is understanding the human experience of the workplace. Professors Jessica Siegel Christian and Michael Christian, both of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, join Palisades Hudson’s Senior VP/CIO Ben...

Palisades Hudson VP Rebecca Pavese is an experienced financial planner, a CPA, and the mother of two daughters who have played sports at NCAA Division I schools. Her elder daughter earned a cross-country and track scholarship to the University of Tennessee; her younger daughter received a scholarship to play softball at Clemson, where she has kicked off her freshman season this spring. Rebecca sat...

Buying a home, especially a first home, is an exciting step. But the process can be daunting, especially when it’s unfamiliar. In this episode, private mortgage banker Doug Kenner and financial planner David Walters sit down to guide listeners through the process. How do you know you’re ready to buy? What’s the difference between prequalification and preapproval? Should you opt for an adjustable r...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act preserved some tax provisions, altered existing rules, and introduced entirely new ones. Now that it is income tax preparation season, how should you navigate the ins and outs? Eric Meermann, CFP®, CVA, EA, has decades of tax experience to draw on for the answer. In this episode, Eric walks listeners through the major tax provisions of last summer’s omnibus legislati...

In a special behind-the-scenes episode of “Something Personal,” host Amy Laburda chats with the show’s director, editor and mixer, Joseph Ranghelli. Joe offers listeners a window into what he does for this podcast, as well as his experiences on other podcasts and on television. Amy and Joe then dive into Joe’s film background and his experiences working for productions in New York City. To wrap up...

Between entertainment services, meal kits, online storage and more, most of us pay for a host of subscriptions. But when you continue to pay for services you no longer use, “undead” subscriptions can take a nasty bite out of your budget. Kasey Radney, CFP®, sits down with host Amy Laburda to talk about why subscriptions are everywhere. They discuss how to fend off zombies before they multiply, str...

Executive and retirement coach Andrea Maizes prevents people from making terrible mistakes. Business founders, CEOs and executives may simply trust that they will figure out retirement when it arrives, but life’s transitions can easily blindside even the most capable among us. Andrea sat down with Eric Meermann, CFP®, CVA, EA and Paul Jacobs, CFP®, EA to talk about when someone is ready for retire...

Jonathan Stanley, the bestselling author of “Purposeful Performance: The Secret Mix of Connecting, Leading, and Succeeding,” unexpectedly went viral after connecting with a little girl and her mother at a book signing. But while TikTok success was a surprise, connection was already fundamental to Jonathan’s message for business leaders and employees alike. In a conversation with Paul Jacobs, CFP®,...

Whether you’re buying a laptop, replacing a washing machine, or booking an international vacation, retailers are eager to sell you additional protection for your purchase. Whether it takes the form of a service plan, an extended warranty or trip disruption insurance, it can be hard to evaluate whether these add-ons are worth the price. Thomas Walsh, CFP®, joins host Amy Laburda for a deep dive int...

Restaurateur Alex Kuk’s great-grandfather founded Wan’s restaurant roughly 60 years ago. When Alex’s aunt decided to retire last year, Alex and his cousin stepped in to make sure that Fort Lauderdale didn’t lose a long-standing part of its culinary community. In this conversation with Melinda Kibler, CFP®, EA, and “Something Personal” host Amy Laburda, Alex talks about what it takes to keep a rest...

Rachel Schuster is an employment lawyer. She has also danced for the Golden State Warriors and cheered for the San Francisco 49ers. Far from being a contradiction, her experiences in both arenas have complimented one another. Rachel sat down with Palisades Hudson Client Service Manager Brianna Aviles, Financial Planning Manager (and Broncos Stampede member) Ashley Luhmann, and “Something Personal”...

Ben Hall has worked for The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum for more than 15 years, and he still describes it as “the coolest place in the world.” In this chat with Palisades Hudson VP/CIO Ben Sullivan and “Something Personal” host Amy Laburda, Ben Hall opens up about the central importance of building relationships in his work as a vice president in the Hall’s development office. Both Bens...

Open enrollment season offers Medicare participants a chance to reconsider their enrollment options for the year. But whether you (or your loved one) is performing an annual coverage review or enrolling in Medicare for the very first time, understanding how the program works is key to finding the right fit. Rebecca Pavese, CPA, sits down with host Amy Laburda to talk listeners through the Medicare...

Applying to college can be a stressful and involved process for many students and their families. But good advice can help — not only with getting into a school you’re excited about, but with keeping family relationships strong throughout the process. Rick Clark is the Executive Director of Strategic Student Access at Georgia Tech, as well as the co-author of “The Truth About College Admission: A...

Intimacy professional and dance choreographer Nicole Perry wants to build a world where artistic collaborators are respected, valued, and safe in their workplaces. She joins us to talk about the increasing recognition of the role intimacy professionals play in creating live performances, films and television, as well as how the growing profession is finding its niche even in unexpected places. In...

“Something Personal” is back with season three, and we are diving into the news with our first ever three-guest panel. Larry Elkin, CPA, CFP®; Paul Jacobs, CFP®, EA; and Ben Sullivan, CFP®, CVA, EA sit down with host Amy Laburda for a roundtable discussion of issues including the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, interest rates, the middle class “squeeze,” tariffs and others. This wide-ranging conversat...

Something Personal will return in the fall of 2025. This season, the podcast expands beyond the topics covered in Palisades Hudson's two books, widening the scope of discussions about the personal side of personal finance. Host Amy Laburda welcomes back financial professionals from Palisades Hudson as well as a variety of guests from industries including film, sports, academia, food service and ma...

For the season finale of “Something Personal,” host Amy Laburda sits down with two professionals who, in different ways, help athletes to navigate the changing landscapes of college and professional sports. Jumaane Ford is an attorney and an NFLPA-certified contract adviser with Range Sports. In more than 20 years of sports and entertainment work, Jumaane has produced film and television, negotiat...

Paul Jacobs, CFP®, EA, has a long history of getting involved in his community. He returns to the podcast to talk about the rewards of volunteering for an organization you feel strongly about, including his own experiences in Atlanta dating back to his move there in 2008. Paul and host Amy Laburda chat about how to balance volunteering with your other priorities, when and how to step away, what to...

Moving to another county can complicate your financial planning. But that’s no reason to avoid a potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience. ReKeithen Miller, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and IRS Enrolled Agent, sits down to talk through some of the tax, retirement and estate planning adjustments an American should consider before a long-term move abroad. But he and host Amy Laburda also discuss th...

The best time to start saving for retirement is yesterday; the second-best time is today. Accountant Victoria Dubuc, of Palisades Hudson’s Fort Lauderdale headquarters, walks listeners through the power of a long timeline when it comes to retirement planning; how to determine how much you need to save; ways to balance different types of retirement accounts; and more. Victoria and host Amy Laburda...

Tax season has a bad reputation among many Americans, inspiring anxiety, frustration or even occasionally dread. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Melinda Kibler, CFP® and IRS Enrolled Agent, encourages listeners to take a deep breath and dive into their tax planning with level heads. Melinda and host Amy Laburda talk about why tax planning is a year-round activity, why working from home could c...

A job offer can be exciting, but your career choices can have major impacts on your finances as well as your day-to-day life. How can you tell if changing jobs, or even venturing out on your own as a freelancer, is right for you? Certified Financial Planner™ Benjamin C. Sullivan returns to the podcast to help listeners think like a financial pro when considering a job offer or contract. Ben and ho...

Choosing to have children is a deeply personal decision that incorporates diverse practical and emotional factors. But once you decide to become a parent, it is worth taking the time to think about how this change will affect your financial life. From the costs of pregnancy and childbirth to paying for a college education, parents face a variety of planning challenges and opportunities. Rebecca Pa...

Marriage is about two lives becoming one, and that can mean a lot of things for your finances. While David Walters, CPA, CFP®, has a lot to say on matters ranging from joint accounts to taxes to estate planning, he maintains that there is one principle more important than the rest: honest communication. David and host Amy Laburda discuss why being able to talk about money is so critical to a coupl...