The 3rd Decade Podcast

Financial freedom gets thrown around like a buzzword, but we’re not interested in vague promises. Dr. Paris Woods joins us to redefine it as agency: having control over your time, your labor, and your choices, with money as the tool that makes your life possible. That one shift changes how you budget, how you say yes or no to debt, and how you plan for the future without feeling trapped.  Paris sh...

In this episode, Nikita is joined by former professional athlete turned CFP®, Jeff Locke, to explore a surprising truth: when it comes to money, pro athletes and everyday earners are playing the same game—just with different stakes. From locker rooms to living rooms, the financial challenges are more alike than you might think. Jeff shares firsthand stories from his time in professional sports, re...

Nikita Wolff is joined by Uziel Gomez, CFP®, AFC®, and founder of Primeros Financial, as he shares the personal experiences that inspired his mission to serve communities traditionally left out of the financial conversation. Together, they explore what makes “primeros” such a powerful and overlooked demographic, why advisors should be paying attention, and the importance of grace, celebration, and...

Money can bring couples closer—or quietly build tension over time. In this episode, Nikita & Adam Van Deusen dive into one of the biggest relationship questions: Should we combine our finances? And if so, what's the best approach for us? They explore the three main approaches couples take (fully combined, partially combined, or fully separate), break down the pros and cons of each, and sh...

They say money can’t buy happiness… but is that really true? In this episode, Nikita & Adam Van Deusen explore the complicated relationship between money and well-being — from what the research says to how our everyday spending choices shape our joy. They break down findings from landmark studies, explore the difference between emotional well-being and life satisfaction, and ask a deeper quest...

In this episode, Nikita & Katherine Chatmon (3rd Decade Volunteer Mentor), discuss how a scarcity mindset & trauma around money impact our financial beliefs, progress, and wellbeing. This discussion includes: how it shows up, root causes, and ways to heal/rewrite your money script. Resources: " Money Story " worksheet download Financial Archetype Quiz

In this episode, Nikita & Katherine Chatmon (3rd Decade Volunteer Mentor), discuss lifestyle creep. We all experience some amount of this as our income rises, but this episode covers: personal examples, how to recognize when it's happening, why it matters, prevention techniques, and ways to manage it.  Resources: Avoiding Lifestyle Creep (Presentation by Kohler Credit Union) NerdWallet – ...

In this Episode, Nikita welcomes Co-founder & CEO of Waterlily, Lily Vittayarukskul, on to discuss the need for Long-Term Care Planning. Lily's professional path was redirected after she experienced first-hand the financial and familial stress that long-term care costs put on her family when her family member became ill. In this episode, they discuss what average costs are for care, what...

Nikita is joined by Adam Van Deusen (Volunteer Mentor & CFP®) for a discussion on the steps you can take for a higher credit score. Furthermore, this episode covers: What a credit score is What makes up a credit score Accessing credit reports Myths Resources: Annual Credit Report FICO

Nikita is joined by Adam Van Deusen (Volunteer Mentor & CFP®) for a discussion on how a person can make money on credit cards and dip their toes into the world of "travel hacking". Furthermore, this episode covers: Who is a good candidate for these strategies Types of credit card rewards Categories of spending Sign-up bonuses When/if to cancel or downgrade Premium cards Travel perks...

Nikita & Joe'Mar discuss the importance of solid financial planning when it comes to having or starting a family. Each brings their own perspective (Nikita: inviting 2 new members for the first time; Joe'Mar: having 2 older children). In this episode, they discuss: Short & long-term goal setting Values-based budgeting Tracking income & expenses, and adjusting when needed Diff...

Nikita & Joe'Mar demystify life insurance by discussing what type of policies are out there, as well as which policies to avoid.  Furthermore, this episode covers: What factors affect your premiums How to find a good insurance company Calculating the amount needed for a policy Resources: Life Insurance Calculator (Spreadsheet) Life Insurance Calculator (Bankrate Online Calculator) Life In...

In this solo episode, Nikita covers the basics of stocks & bonds; how they are traded & the relative risks associated with investing in them.  If you already understand the basics of investing, consider sharing this podcast with a friend or family member who could use a little primer.

Join Nikita for a conversation with Diana, the founder of All The Colors . Diana is a CFP© and Registered Life Planner™, and uses her personal values to drive her work as a money coach to financially empower others, with a particular focus on supporting women of color who are entrepreneurs. 

Join Nikita for a conversation with 3rd Decade Alumni, Kyle Mittan, on a discussion around his history with budgeting (or lack thereof) and how he became the diligent budgeter that he is today. We hope if you've been procrastinating on using a budget that this episode inspires you to get started.  Some resources if you're interested in YNAB include: YNAB's YouTube Channel The "...

Join 3rd Decade Alumni, Rose (she/her) & Nikita (she/her) for a heartfelt conversation around the positive impact that budgeting has had in Rose's life. As a former "checking-balance-budgeter", Rose shares how building this habit into her life has actually allowed her to think less about money, and has also enabled her to support the causes near to her heart and create a meaning...

In today's episode, Nikita speaks with Mary Cantor & Jacob Wingate, two of 3rd Decade's Alumni, on the financial transitions that come with marriage. Merging two adult's financial lives can be a significant challenge in a new marriage. Mary and Jacob share openly about their individual financial upbringings, how that impacted their relationship with money in adulthood, and ultim...

3rd Decade Alum, Sarah Ventre, shares in detail how she hustled her way through unpaid internships & temp jobs in her 20s and ultimately built herself a successful career in the audio journalism and production industry. If you need inspiration or someone to relate to if you're currently walking that path, look no further.  To find more of her work, you can visit her website at sarahventre...

Join Nikita & Nina as they discuss the many factors to consider when determining what car to buy (and whether to seek a new or used car).  When making a purchase, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of both options to ensure that you make the right decision for your needs and budget. We'll give you some guidelines to determine what you can afford, as well as some thoughts on ho...

Join Nikita & Nina (3rd Decade's Arizona Serve VISTA Program & Operations Coordinator) as they discuss alternatives to a 4-year degree after high school.  In this episode, they discuss: # of Americans affected by student loans Alternative paths into college (community college) Tech Schools Work alternatives AmeriCorps & more workplace readiness items

In this episode, Nikita discusses how our upbringing informs our money mindset, and ways that (if this is holding us back), we can use budgeting to help us improve it. She goes over 5 different methods for budgeting, and speaks personally on value-based spending as well, and how budgets can serve as a way to give ourselves the permission to spend when we tend to save every penny out of anxiety.  T...

In this episode, Nikita covers all the basics of understanding investing. Many people struggle to differentiate different account names and tax treatment. This is a great starting place to build a solid foundation in your investment knowledge. Topics covered: What we consider "investing for retirement" Account types (401(k), 403(b), 457(b), IRA, Roth IRA) Tax-treatment (Roth vs. Traditio...

Join Nikita for this mini-episode on choosing the college that's right for you. In this episode, she discusses different factors to consider when making your selection. Including things like: college credentials, networking, location, cost, resources, and more. 

Nikita Wolff is joined by 3rd Decade graduate, Leroy Adams, to discuss how he's changing generational money habits within his own family. Throughout this episode, they discuss: Leroy's background Expensive mistakes How he's tackling these conversations Overcoming shame Tips on getting started & a lot in-between!

Nikita Wolff is joined by Cayla Vertreese, a 3rd Decade graduate,  and a 21 year old recent graduate of Northwest Missouri State University. Cayla received her Bachelors in Human Services and Minor in Psychology. Following her college graduation in May of 2021, she moved to Mesa, Arizona where she currently works for Mindfulness First, a nonprofit that offers scientifically-informed programs based...