We Make Money Fun

 We all have a family culture where parents take care of their children until they grow up, sometimes allowing them to neglect their responsibilities because they are with us. In this episode, Melisa Horn and Alden Rowe from Heritage Financial Strategies discussed an article that reveals 45% of adult children receive financial support from their parents, even after graduating college. The support...

In investing, it is important to explore alternative options in order to minimize the risk of losses. In this episode, I discussed the S&P 500, a stock market index measuring the performance of the 500 largest companies listed on the US stock exchange. Additionally, it is crucial to consider other investment options as relying solely on the S&P entails greater risk, given its potential fluctuation...

Ever wondered why everyone who has a personal financial planner says it’s a game changer? In today’s episode, Shanna Tingom of Heritage Financial Strategies introduces Tony and Renée, a retired couple living in Arizona and long-standing clients of hers. As former business owners, they know it is a must to have a financial specialist, especially in the economy we live in today. They found Shanna th...

Having a partner who supports you not only in your personal life but also in your business endeavors can bring numerous benefits. From shared goals and mutual support to leverage complementary skills and the ability to navigate challenges together, a partner can enhance both your personal and professional growth. Eric Tingom, the Director of Technology and Tax Strategy and Shannon's husband and bu...

For Wendy Rios, being riddled with debt and financial uncertainty was no longer an option. She wanted to visit the land of financial peace. Her dream became a reality when she and her husband deep-dived into Financial Coach Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps Framework .Wendy and her husband paid down a substantial amount of debt following Dave's system and applying hard work and persistence. Still, they kne...

Many students are burdened with student loan debt, with 70% of college graduates in the United States having an average debt of over $30,000. As a parent, we all want to see our children succeed and accomplish their goals, especially when it comes to their education. However, with the rising costs of tuition and living expenses, many students are forced to take out student loans, which can burden...

There are several advantages to getting started with financial planning early and focusing on it with a financial expert. However, we all always have questions about this issue. Today, Shanna Tingom of Heritage Financial Strategies and her two clients, Bart and Lori, are talking about the importance of early financial planning with a financial expert, and this podcast leads to Shanna, Bart, and Lo...

What Do Tom Brady, Usain Bolt, Stephen Curry, Mike Tyson, John McEnero, and Dennis Rodman Have in Common? They were all victims of financial mismanagement, where their money was stolen or misappropriated by the companies or individuals they entrusted to manage it. Olympic runner Usain Bolt is the latest among this group to experience this misfortune - he recently had nearly 13 million dollars take...

Mark and Lizza, two of Shanna's clients, are introduced, as well as the returning listeners to the broadcast. Mark, a Heritage Planning customer for a number of years, explains why he chose to work with a planner. He adds that he needed assistance in handling his finances and providing for his family. Lizza chose Heritage Planning because she believed the business could offer her the finest suppor...

In this podcast, I’m joined by my Naturopath Dr. Kasey Nichols of Onyx Integrative Medicine in Gilbert, and we will be discussing how I took physical and financial steps towards a healthier lifestyle, starting in mid 2021. I began by taking blood tests following a diagnosis of dangerously low iron from my primary care doctor. I was referred to a hematologist and booked in for an iron infusion that...

On this episode of Making Money Fun, Christina talked about what it was like, leading up to, and finally working with Heritage Financial Strategies on planning life for her family after retirement.   She shared why they decided to hire a planner and why they chose Heritage.   She also shared that she was diagnosed with a degrative brain disease and had brain surgery, and that hastened their need t...

Secure Act 2.0: An Overview The Secure Act of 2019 was the biggest legislative change to retirement planning since 2006, and it quickly became overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Secure Act 2.0 brings even more changes that could significantly impact how you plan for your retirement. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Under the Secure Act, the age at which individuals must withdraw money...

Why Your Vision Board Should Include a Financial Planner: Getting into the Nitty Gritty with Lisa and Shanna Ever wished that you had your very own guardian angel to help you navigate the course of your finances? Well, look no further because your wish has been granted! Join us and our guest, Lisa, on this episode as she shares her personal experience and journey towards building and improving the...

It's been a turbulent year for investors in 2022, as the Federal Reserve took action against inflation and the stock market reacted to changes in the discount rate. This resulted in a rare phenomenon of both equities and bonds selling off simultaneously - but even during recessionary periods, the stock market has had a positive return on average. 2023 looks optimistic, with no two down years occur...

Today’s show is about Melisa Horn, a highly experienced financial professional with over 30 years of experience in banks and credit unions. As Financial Coach with Mindful Money Financial Coaching, Melisa helps clients with budgeting and financial education. Additionally, as Brand Ambassador for Heritage Financial Strategies, she shares her expertise in making the most of their money. With a stron...

A windfall is money that comes to you suddenly, often unexpectedly.  This could be an inheritance, settlement, lottery winnings, or even stock in the form of a company IPO.  Today, Shanna Tingom of Heritage Financial Strategies and Jon Gay discuss what to do with a windfall, and some very costly mistakes to avoid.  70% of people who come into large sums of money lose it within a few years! If you...

Shanna Tingom has long sensed - in herself as well as her clients, that women are struggling with their financial health. Many feel they haven't contributed as much as they'd like to their retirement plan.  This money has gone to other places that Shanna explains, particularly since the start of COVID. Three main factors playing into all of this are inflation, low consumer confidence, and changes...

Shanna Tingom's guest today is Aaron Witten of Witten Financial. His firm specializes in helping businesses use the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) related to COVID.  He's here to walk us through it. The ERC started with the CARES Act in April of 2020, but it was revised in December of 2020, and again under "Build Back Better" in February of 2021.   The latest revision includes the language: “if y...

As we turn the calendar to October, the markets continue to show signs of volatility.  Today, Shanna and Jon are here to explore what's happened since our last check in, 3 months ago. In September, the Fed raised the interest rate another 0.75%.  What does that mean for our listeners, and are we closer to a recession than we were a quarter ago? While that's not an easy question to answer, it's imp...

Student loan forgiveness was announced a few weeks ago by the Biden administration.  What are the pros and cons? Are you eligible? How does it work?  Shanna Tingom from Heritage Financial Strategies is here to answer those questions today. Shanna and Jon agree this plan is a good step in the right direction to help many Americans get back on their feet financially, so they'll have more money they...

What the heck happened to Crypto?  Over the past couple of years, there have been many headlines around crypto.  And recently, the market, as well as various cryptocurrencies, have dropped off sharply.   Shanna Tingom starts by breaking down some numbers, and what's behind them. We also talk about the legal troubles faced both by a big-name backer of crypto, as well as a popular trading app.   And...

What is the Inflation Reduction Act, and how will it affect you?  Shanna Tingom and Jon break down this new legislation, which the President signed into law shortly before we recorded this episode. First, this will not affect Roth conversions or so-called "back door" Roth IRA contributions.  Shanna gives us a refresher on what's involved with those strategies and moves. We also talk about tax rate...

Shannon Tingom of Heritage Financial Strategies is talking about coaches today.  Multi-millionaire athletes have them. Successful CEO's have them.  We can all use them - in various aspects of our lives. Coaches can be hired to help solve a short-term problem, or on a longer term basis.  Shanna, in her business,  has coaches for business and personal leadership.  In the past, she's also worked with...

Recently, Shanna Tingom and her family contracted COVID-19.  Fortunately, symptoms were relatively minor and everyone is OK.  However, being sick and quarantined to a hotel room really gave our podcast host some perspective.     What if something happened to her, and she wasn't around? The last 2 1/2 years have taught us that anything can happen to anyone - whether it's a worldwide pandemic or bei...

Sorry to remind you of this, but the Phoenix Suns had a great season - until they didn't.  Everything looked great, until an epic, epic collapse in Game 7 against Dallas.   You may think you've got smooth sailing with your financial future, and then the unexpected happens. Shanna Tingom of Heritage Financial Strategies is a huge Suns fan, and this collapse got her thinking about her role as a fina...