The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show

On today's episode on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show, host Laura Coleman interviews Frances Jones, author and fertility coach from Hearts Desires Fulfillment Coaching. Frances shares deep feelings about her 20 year infertility journey and how she came to terms with her desire to be a mother and the reality of her infertility. Even though Frances had a step-daughter and adopted 2 children, she still had a piece of herself that felt there was something missing. During the show she discusses how to overcome the emotional toll and inadequacy that you might be feeling about being barren. She provides tips on what you need to do to be a stronger woman. For years I stayed away from baby showers because it was a reminder to me of what I was missing out on. As I interviewed Frances, she encourages women to attend baby showers. I had never thought of her reasons on why she encourages you to attend them. It was a powerful reminder to me to change how I thought about baby showers and the joy of others. If you too struggle with seeing other women giving birth and holding baby showers, I want you to listen to Frances' advice and her reasons behind why you should attend baby showers. Frances took her experiences, her changes, and growth and wrote a book called Overcoming the Emotional Stigmas of Infertility: Barren but Not Ashamed. Check out the links below on where to purchase the book. Right now I want women that have never had children to stop and listen to this episode. I am in your shoes. Frances truly touched my heart and helped me with my healing of not feeling good enough and not being a good Christian because I couldn't bring children into this world. I was raised in a Christian home with 6 kids and big family was celebrated. I believed that when I grew up that I'd have a big family too. My plan A never materialized and so for years I felt an emptiness. While listening to Frances, feelings washed over me, feelings of healing, and feelings of peace. I knew that I was led to interview her not only for you, my listeners, but also for my own healing. I know that sounds selfish, but this podcast was started to share my knowledge to help other couples avoid the mistakes I had made and to capitalize on tips I share with them. What I didn't realize is that I still had deep seeded feelings that needed to be resolved about not baring children. Please don't misunderstand me when I say this because I love my children that we've been blessed with. They were meant to be a part of our family. However, we still must let our hearts heal from our own personal histories. I do the same kind of counseling, but in regards to money, in our Love & Money sessions, so this emotional healing isn't new to me. I just didn't realize that I hadn't come to terms with it until she spoke about her own experience and gave guidance on what to do to overcome those feelings. We'd like to invite you to our Paying for Adoption Facebook group. Come share your feelings about this episode on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show. To find out more about Frances Jones you can follow her through these links: Website: https://www.heartdesirescoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesjones1/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartdesirescoaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartdesirescoaching Laura Coleman is an Accredited Financial Counselor with 20 years in the financial industry. You can follow her on Instagram @AdoptionMoneyCoaching or Facebook @FamilyMoneyCoaching. Subscribe to not miss out on future episodes.

We all make financial mistakes. On today's episode of The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show, your host Laura Coleman admits to a recent financial mistake. Learn what thoughts you need to have to help you overcome those mistakes and what conversation do you need to have during your Money Date, so that mistake doesn't occur again. If you missed out on the Year Planning Session downloads that we sent to subscribers in January, then schedule your own personal one-on-one session with you and your partner and your financial coach, Laura. Create a clear plan for the year with your finances, establish your weekly Money Date, and obtain all of the worksheets to help you live with intention this year. It's nice to have a mediator/coach to help you gain clarity with your future. Inside the Preparing Financially for Adoption course we help you create your Money Date and provide you helps to establish your motivation. If you don't know why or what you should do with your tax return money, then it's time to discover your WHY. Sign up for the Preparing Financially for Adoption course today. Here's what one participant said about the Preparing Financially for Adoption course. "I believe one of the biggest struggles families can face is financial struggles and the last thing you want or need is to tie your roller coaster emotions that adoption can bring to poor financial decisions. Preparing financially for Adoption is a resource I wish we had available to us when we adopted! What a gift it would have been to have the structure and accountability to keep us on the same page and communicating before, during and after our adoption process. The spreadsheets provided are gold for staying organized which can relieve a lot of stress. There are also guides for date nights and talking about the $ that I find valuable even now! Money is something that is easy to let one person handle or to choose to not talk about and it's so vital to stay connected on this topic especially when you are making big life decisions for your family such as adopting. Because Laura is a Money Coach and an adoptive mom you can trust she is giving you sound and valuable information. There are so many things that are required to invest in to prepare for adoption, in my opinion this course should be one of them!" — Kelli

We all have moments when something shiny distracts us from our ultimate goal. Join your host, Laura Coleman, as she discusses squirrel moments and how you can help avoid them in your future. Squirrel moments? Yes, you know things like, we are on track to have the money for adoption or fertility, BUT look at that shiny new car. We have a goal to have $2500 in our emergency fund, BUT oh look at that weekend getaway to New York. We have a goal to pay off our debt this year, BUT oh look I need to buy a new pair of shoes. Squirrel moments are those things that distract us from what we truly want, but they are so shiny and alluring that we forget what our reason behind our goal. Laura provides some tips on how you can avoid those squirrel moments that delay your goals. Solutions I'm looking forward to Qube Money coming out because it will help with personal spending money being reigned in. I love that my clients will be able to set aside the money into a Qube or pot of money and still use the convenience of a debit card. If you get distracted by a squirrel moment, you just need to look at the Qube and see if you have money for that squirrel moment. You'll also be able to see what you are taking money away from if you do decide to use it. It's creating purpose and intention with your money. To learn more about Qube Money, click here. You can also sign up to be a Beta tester right now. Lifetime Memberships are available right now for $216. After the app launches, the price is $8 a month. I bought the Lifetime Membership and signed up to be a beta tester because I don't want to pay a monthly fee later. See what Kelli said about the Preparing Financially for Adoption Course! "I believe one of the biggest struggles families can face is financial struggles and the last thing you want or need is to tie your roller coaster emotions that adoption can bring to poor financial decisions. Preparing financially for Adoption is a resource I wish we had available to us when we adopted! What a gift it would have been to have the structure and accountability to keep us on the same page and communicating before, during and after our adoption process. The spreadsheets provided are gold for staying organized which can relieve a lot of stress. There are also guides for date nights and talking about the $ that I find valuable even now! Money is something that is easy to let one person handle or to choose to not talk about and it's so vital to stay connected on this topic especially when you are making big life decisions for your family such as adopting. Because Laura is a Money Coach and an adoptive mom you can trust she is giving you sound and valuable information. There are so many things that are required to invest in to prepare for adoption, in my opinion this course should be one of them!" — Kelli

Sometimes your journey to being a forever family feels long! Sometimes things don't go as planned! You will love listening to Lisa Norman today on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show about how to keep your mindset healthy as you chase your dreams.  How do you chase real happiness? How do you chase it when you feel like everything in your life completely sucks? Lisa shares her tips for happiness building blocks that help you create the true kind of happiness you want in your life.  Lisa's found that getting up earlier than the kids and having dance parties during dinner help build her happiness. She talks about the difference between self-care and real self-care. This difference is crucial to finding out how to truly be happy even when things aren't amazing in your life.  How do you deal with all of the thoughts ricocheting in your head? Which item do you tackle on your enormous to-do list first? Analysis paralysis led Lisa to sit down and design a course that teaches mom how to choose priorities that will build the life they envision.  You do not want to miss this positive and upbeat interview that explores the “why” behind the decisions that drive us.  If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of family, marriage, money, fertility and adoption.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.   Links mentioned in this podcast: LisaNormanProject.com Lisa Norman's Courses Lisa Norman Project on Facebook   Hear what one course participant said about the Preparing Financially for Adoption course. "I believe one of the biggest struggles families can face is financial struggles and the last thing you want or need is to tie your roller coaster emotions that adoption can bring to poor financial decisions. Preparing financially for Adoption is a resource I wish we had available to us when we adopted! What a gift it would have been to have the structure and accountability to keep us on the same page and communicating before, during and after our adoption process. The spreadsheets provided are gold for staying organized which can relieve a lot of stress. There are also guides for date nights and talking about the $ that I find valuable even now! Money is something that is easy to let one person handle or to choose to not talk about and it's so vital to stay connected on this topic especially when you are making big life decisions for your family such as adopting. Because Laura is a Money Coach and an adoptive mom you can trust she is giving you sound and valuable information. There are so many things that are required to invest in to prepare for adoption, in my opinion this course should be one of them!" — Kelli

How do you teach a three year old about money? What about a newly adopted pre-teen? Stephanie Pyke from MoneyLit talks with Laura Coleman on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show about how to teach children about human capital. Stephanie separates jobs into “household jobs we do because we all live here” and “extra jobs”. In her house, the “extra jobs” are an opportunity for children to earn their own money. It's so hard to get a pret-teen or teen to listen, even when you have fabulous knowledge to teach! Stephanie exposes her kids to books so that they can learn from her in a roundabout way, and she recommends a few great books for teens.  Laura and Stephanie talk about how to change the money habits of older children, and how to use short and long term goals to teach about delaying gratification.  Using a physical savings account is more impactful when children are between 3-5 years old, and by about 6-7, they should go out and get a savings account. Stephanie recommends using a mobile app to help them see their savings grow, and they talk about teaching kids about the physical money behind a debit card. Stephanie's been using the app Stockpile to teach her kids about investing in stocks. She's designed her summer program for grades 3-8 to teach children about financial literacy and basic economic concepts. It's taught locally in Chattanooga, TN, but you can follow her on Facebook for more resources on how to teach kids about money. If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of family, marriage, money, fertility and adoption.  Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there. Links Mentioned in the podcast: Stockpile.com MoneyLit on Instagram MoneyLit on Facebook See what Kelli has to say about the Preparing Financially for Adoption course. "I believe one of the biggest struggles families can face is financial struggles and the last thing you want or need is to tie your roller coaster emotions that adoption can bring to poor financial decisions. Preparing financially for Adoption is a resource I wish we had available to us when we adopted! What a gift it would have been to have the structure and accountability to keep us on the same page and communicating before, during and after our adoption process. The spreadsheets provided are gold for staying organized which can relieve a lot of stress. There are also guides for date nights and talking about the $ that I find valuable even now! Money is something that is easy to let one person handle or to choose to not talk about and it's so vital to stay connected on this topic especially when you are making big life decisions for your family such as adopting. Because Laura is a Money Coach and an adoptive mom you can trust she is giving you sound and valuable information. There are so many things that are required to invest in to prepare for adoption, in my opinion this course should be one of them!" — Kelli

Should you invest while paying for adoption? Should you borrow from retirement? Laura Coleman talks with Michelle Waymire from The Young & Scrappy on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show today about how to balance retirement planning with the needs of today.  First and foremost, if your company offers a match for retirement savings, don't leave money on the table! Don't walk away from the opportunity to invest on someone else's dime. Once you're in the habit of not investing, it's hard to get back into the habit of saving for your future. So rather than stopping retirement savings, it may make more sense for you to throttle back while you're saving for adoption. But don't stop completely! The absolute best places to put your adoption goal money really depends on the goal and timeline you're working with. Is it 6 months, 2 years, or even 5 years? If it's really short term, it can feel like you're leaving money on the table by not having it invested, and the last thing you want to do is lose money. A high yield savings account (HYSA) or a CD is a great choice for those shorter goals. If you have 3 or more years in your savings timeline, then a taxable or brokerage account would be a better choice. Charles Schwab or Vanguard have target date funds that help you plan for goals around a certain date. You could even try Betterment, a robo-advisor. Laura and Michelle talk about some of the benefits of using these brokerages as a savings tool.   Michelle and Laura share ideas about how to use money dates to realign priorities and goals with your partner. Whether you choose quarterly or annual money dates, remember to keep checking in with each other regularly to be sure that your finances are aligned with your values.  If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances. Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there. Links mentioned in this podcast: Young and Scrappy Best high yield savings  Best CDs  Schwab Vanguard  Betterment    Young & Scrappy Investment Course   Check out what Kelli had to say about the Preparing Financially for Adoption course!  "I believe one of the biggest struggles families can face is financial struggles and the last thing you want or need is to tie your roller coaster emotions that adoption can bring to poor financial decisions. Preparing financially for Adoption is a resource I wish we had available to us when we adopted! What a gift it would have been to have the structure and accountability to keep us on the same page and communicating before, during and after our adoption process. The spreadsheets provided are gold for staying organized which can relieve a lot of stress. There are also guides for date nights and talking about the $ that I find valuable even now! Money is something that is easy to let one person handle or to choose to not talk about and it's so vital to stay connected on this topic especially when you are making big life decisions for your family such as adopting. Because Laura is a Money Coach and an adoptive mom you can trust she is giving you sound and valuable information. There are so many things that are required to invest in to prepare for adoption, in my opinion this course should be one of them!" — Kelli

Join us in the Paying for Adoption Facebook group as we help encourage each other on our journey towards raising the money for adoption. (or fertility) We did a poll and discovered that members of the group wanted to hear about how to be motivated during the journey to raise money. Laura Coleman provides 6 steps that you can do to overcome discouragement and provide you the motivation you need to raise the money for adoption.   To obtain the Money Date guidelines and agenda that Laura mentions in the episode, Join Family Money Coaches email list: Money Date download. Sponsored by: Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course    So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.

Adoptive mom Yvonne Lundine shares an inside look into her adoption journey on The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show today. Every adoptive family's journey looks different, and it's always cool to see how each family makes it work to achieve the forever family they're looking for.   After talking about maybe adopting someday, Yvonne was presented with a chance to adopt a family member's child. Because of the timeline, she and her husband needed to come up with the money quickly. Yvonne was able to take out a loan from her 401k to fund her adoption, a choice that comes with a lot of conditions. She talks about how she saved money on lawyers and adoption agencies, which are expenses you may not realize that you can shop around for.    Laura and Yvonne talk about the real parts of adoption; helping the adopted child build relationships with siblings who weren't adopted out, dealing with interstate adoptions, and navigating the complexities of family relationships when adoption and money are mixed in.  Yvonne's story is honest about the twists and turns that adoption can take.    If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there. Metlife Legal is offered through your employer.  

This week's episode is from Sheepdog Financial where Scott Vance interviews the host of The Adoption and Fertility Finance Show, Laura Coleman, about adoption, fertility and the military. Sheepdog Financial focuses on the military specific financial issues faced by military members. It provides useful information and actions to improve your finances. *Discover some of the myths that our military believes about adoption, foster care, and what's really true. * Learn about what to do if you PCS before an adoption is finalized.  *Discover if you can adopt while stationed overseas. *Find special programs just for the military for adoption and fertility. *Empower your decisions by learning tips and tricks from an Accredited Financial Counselor that's experienced fertility and adoption first hand and how to prepare financially for it.   Today's episode is sponsored by the Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course. Find grants specifically for the military and how you can write and submit a successful grant. So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process. You may also like: The Greatest Obstacle to Adoption Family Emergency Binder for Adoption 20 Questions to ask your CPA about Adoption

Dragging your feet can cost you a lot of money. Insurance agent Rebecca Palmer talks with Laura Coleman on the Adoption and Fertility Finance Show about the importance of adequate insurance before it's too late for your family.   How much insurance is enough? Rebecca shares some general rules about how much insurance you should purchase to take care of your family after you're gone. They discuss the difference between term and whole insurance, and some different reasons you might choose one or the other. Rebecca cautions against relying completely on employee provided term insurance in the case of a job loss.   When can an adopted child be insured? Term insurance for children is cheap and a prudent step to take to prepare for an accidental death. Having a small policy that can cover the funeral expenses of a child is a way for a young family to avoid the stress of trying to pay for a funeral. Rebecca fills Laura in on the details of waiting until the adoption is finalized to take out a policy on a child. She recommends that a parent take out a policy on themselves during the adoption process because the insurance applications takes longer for an adult.   How do you choose who should be the insurance beneficiary? Rebecca goes over some rules and guidelines for the beneficiary of an insurance policy. Minor children cannot receive the proceeds of the policy, so it is important for a contingent beneficiary to be in place if both parents should die. For single parents, it is especially important to plan ahead. It may be helpful to create a trust and name the trust as a beneficiary of the policy. You can name a trustee who will take care of your child and your child's money. This can be a good option if you do not have a trusted family member or guardian to take care of your child if you're gone.   For more information about special needs trusts mentioned in this podcast, go here.   Rebecca Palmer is a licensed insurance agent in Tennessee and Georgia. She can be reached at: palmerr09@gmail.com or 423-413-9364. You can find her on Facebook.     If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.   Learn more about the Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course and the Preparing Financially for Adoption course mentioned on the show.    Paying for AdoptionPrivate group · 8 membersJoin GroupProviding support and resources to help you pay for adoption.

Can you really make $1,000 a month teaching English online in your pajamas? Laura Coleman talks with VIPKID teacher Rebecca Bratsman on the Adoption and Fertility Finance Show today about her side hustle teaching English to Chinese students in a virtual classroom.    As an online ESL teacher for two years, Rebecca has a lot of advice about: How to prepare for the VIPKID job interview  Best practices for an ESL teacher  How to create an educational background The importance of self-care and sleep in this job What kind of teachers the company is looking for   Laura and Rebecca talk about the tax implications of independent contractor work, and the importance of breaking finance goals into manageable chunks. The minimum requirements for teaching for VIPKID are:  A Bachelor's degree in any field A minimum of one year teaching children (this does not have to be classroom experience) Eligibility to work in the USA or Canada Native English speaker Reliable Internet connection (generally, if your internet can handle Skype, you should be fine) Laptop or Desktop computer  A quiet workspace Once hired, the Chinese government requires teachers to complete a TESOL certificate. VIPKID offers this to their teachers at no cost, and it takes about ten hours to complete. The application process can be daunting! There is an initial interview and then mock classes to show that you understand how to teach ESL to children. It is always helpful to have someone walk you through the process. You can contact Rebecca via Facebook if you'd like help through the interview process.    An important update: As of November 12, 2019, VIPKID will no longer be hiring teachers who live in the state of California.    If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.   Links mentioned in this podcast: Rebecca's VIPKID referral code IRS tax calculator Today's episode is sponsored by The Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course.  So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.

On this episode of the Adoption and Fertility Finance Show, Laura Coleman talks with certified financial planner Pam Horack from Your Financial Mom about the funding and financial process for IUI and IVF treatments. Pam shares her personal experience and how she used employee benefits to make fertility treatments more affordable for her family. Finally, she shares some strategies for planning that could reduce the cost of your fertility treatments.     If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances. Join our community on Facebook, Paying for Adoption.    Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.   Links from this podcast:  Your Financial Mom's Facebook page Pathfinder Planning LLC- Pam's website Looking for another way to raise money for fertility or adoption? Check out the Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course.  So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.

Laura Coleman from​ ​ Family Money Coaching ​ and Mark Parrett from​ ​ Outpost Advisors ​ and Abraham's Wallet ​talk about the triple tax-advantages of the Health Savings Account (HSA) on the ​Adoption and Fertility Finance Show ​ today. Mark is a fee-only financial advisor registered in Utah and Ohio, and he writes about how to run your home and dough like a Biblical boss. What is a Health Savings Account and How Can I Get One? Only high deductible health care plans (HDHP) have a health savings account and the criteria is determined by the IRS. From the IRS website: ​For 2020​, the IRS defines a high deductible health plan as any plan with a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual or $2,800 for a family. An HDHP's total yearly out-of-pocket expenses (including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance) can't be more than $6,900 for an individual or $13,800 for a family. (This limit doesn't apply to out-of-network services.) ​HSAs help ease the pain of expensive deductibles by letting you pay for medical expenses with untaxed money. Mark explains a few different ways to use the reimbursement structure so that your money can continue to grow until retirement. You can pay for your expenses out of pocket, invest a portion of your HSA, and then later reimburse yourself with your saved receipts. The triple-tax advantaged part comes when you put money in tax-free, let it grow tax-free, and take it out without paying taxes on it. After you turn 65, you can withdraw it like a 401k for nonmedical expenses, but you will pay taxes then if you use it for that reason. Maximizing the HSA for Fertility Treatments and Adoption Laura and Mark discuss how to use the HSA when going through fertility treatments. Mark cautions that state laws can vary on this issue and to pay close attention to what is allowed by law. The maximum amount that can be saved in an HSA is $7,000 [edit: The 2020 IRS guidelines increased this to $7,100 a year. You can use also use a limited use FSA at the same time, but follow the IRS guidelines on this. Potential Pitfalls in the HSA Mark talks about the hidden fees that can eat up your HSA's growth. He explains that often an employer will pay for the fees, and once an employee leaves their old employer, the fees may be transferred over to you. Mark recommends keeping an eye on debit card fees as well. If you are changing employers and would like to change HSA banks, he recommends Fidelity, Ameritrade or any good brokerage company with low or no fees. Should I Invest My HSA? Laura and Mark talk about weighing the family's medical needs with the benefits of the HSA. What's the goal with your money? Will you need it soon? Can you be comfortable paying out-of-pocket medical costs without being reimbursed? Will you delay going to the doctor because of the high deductible? Consider these questions when you're deciding if an HDHP will work for you and when you are deciding to invest your HSA. Some plans have an investment threshold for how much you need to keep in the HSA. Find out what your plan allows. Where Should I Invest My HSA? If you don't understand investing, how do you choose where to put your money? The answer: It depends on your situation. Hourly and fee-based financial planners can help you sit down and make a plan for your future. Fee-based planners help you make decisions that are best for YOU and not what's best for their bank accounts. If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances. Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there. Links Mentioned in this Podcast XY Planning Network​- Fee-only financial planners Abraham's Wallet​- Run your home and dough like a Biblical boss Outpost Advisors​- Mark Parrett's financial planning website HDHP guidelines ​from Healthcare.gov Join our Community on Facebook and share ideas on how to prepare financially for adoption: Paying for Adoption This episode was sponsored by The Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course.  So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.  

Matt Doran, a certified fee-only financial planner from ​Sage Wealth Plans ​ talks with Laura Coleman on the ​Adoption and Fertility Finance Show ​ about the importance of saving for today and tomorrow, and how to spend with intention on the things you want the most. Reconciling different money priorities in a marriage Matt shares the five ways people think about their goals to support the things they care most about. They are: ● Family and Relationships ● Spirit, or the things that fill your soul and make you feel abundant and alive ● Creative pursuits, or how unique talents and experiences impact others in a positive way ● Giving of one's time ● A place or setting with strong memories attached to it Matt talks about how his work as a financial planner impacts families and helps them spend money in a healthy way. How can you end up with guilt-free spending in your family? Spend aligned with your values. This simple idea requires a lot of communication to make sure you're on the same page with your spouse. Laura and Matt discuss how grief and sorrow can affect our spending. They discuss the difficulty of shifting from saving money to spending money on expensive but important things like adoption and fertility. Matt says, “When your spending is aligned with your values, you will have greater satisfaction when you spend.” Balancing long-term financial goals with adoption and fertility Using his perspective as a long-term financial planner, Matt talks about the saving necessary to prepare for retirement and adoption and fertility. Where can one make adjustments that won't harm the family's long term goals? Where can one double down to accelerate progress on savings? Matt warns that relying heavily on borrowing for adoption and fertility is not a sustainable financial plan for a family. He describes the need for cash flow planning, which is a living breathing document that provides the vision for decision making while also creating the flex that's needed to accommodate for change. If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances. Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your 15 minute free no judgement appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there. Links Mentioned in this Podcast: Simple Wealth, Inevitable Wealth by Nick Murray Sage Wealth Plans​, Matt's company matt.doran@sagewealthplans.com Sage Wealth Planning LLC ​on Facebook   Today's episode was sponsored by the Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course.  With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.

On the ​Adoption and Fertility Finance Show ​today, Laura interviews insurance agent Melissa Curtis from Woodall Agency Insurance in Tennessee on how to protect the financial future of special needs children. How to Start a Special Needs Trust Melissa breaks down the steps to setting up a special needs trust: Find an attorney. Get the trust together. Get a financial advisor. Secure mom and dad's retirement. Get a will. Get life insurance. Laura and Melissa discuss how a special needs trust protects the Social Security eligibility of the special needs child. They talk about some of the unique circumstances that must be addressed when providing for a child's lifetime medical needs, and how important it is for parents to have this conversation before it's too late. Helping an Adult Special Needs Child Melissa shares how life insurance, both whole and term, can be used to fund a special needs trust and support the adult special needs child that outlives their parents. Melissa discusses how a special needs trust can purchase life insurance so that the policy doesn't lapse. Melissa talks about the pros and cons of naming a child a trust beneficiary, and how to put some handcuffs on the money to protect it from the mistakes of youth. Links mentioned in the podcast: Woodall Agency Insurance Woodall Agency on Facebook If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances.   Today's Podcast Episode is sponsored by the Adoption and Fertility Grant Success Course. Click on the link to learn more.  So many couples that have started the adoption journey become overwhelmed with the amount of money that they need to save for the process. It can be so discouraging. With knowledge comes power. At Family Money Coaching, we believe in Debt-Free Adoption. That's why we created the Grant Success Course, to help you find, apply, and obtain FREE money. It'll take some work, but you can do it. The worksheets, excel downloads, checklists, and videos in the Grant Success Course will help guide you on what to put in your grant applications. Ideas will be sparked by the questions in the downloadable PDF, success tips with what to look for to find the ideal grant for you, a list of 80 grants for adoption and 20 grants for fertility, a checklist to help you stay on task, and a list of documents needed for application. There's a bonus Adoption Financial Planner that will provide tracking for your Adoption Budget, the ICPC travel budget, Spending Plan which is needed for the home study and grant, tracking income sources, calendar to help with due dates, budget estimator, and a place for all contacts during the adoption process.  

Welcome back to Season 2 of the ​Adoption and Fertility Finance Show! Laura Coleman continues to explore the intersection of finances and adoption and fertility with an emphasis on building strong families. In today's podcast, Laura interviews Walter at ​Follow the Orange Backpack​ about intentionally planning a Disney vacation that is affordable, but that doesn't bankrupt the family. How to Save Money on Lodging at Disney World. The most expensive part of a Disney vacation budget is lodging, either on or off the park. The next most expensive budget busters are park tickets and transportation/food. Walter talks about the benefits of staying in the park to help reduce the cost of transportation. He talks about the benefits of several families going in together to rent a house outside the park. He encourages families to visit the parks in the off-peak times of January to March and Labor Day to Thanksgiving. How to Save Money on Transportation at Disney World. Disney works hard to make transportation easy in the parks. They have their own transportation system, and they make every effort to make it accessible. If you are flying into Orlando, you can take the Magic Express directly from the airport to the resort and skip renting a car. When staying outside of Disney, shop around for the best deal on car rentals from places like Enterprise, Hotwire, and Alamo. How to Save Money on Tickets at Disney World. While planning your Disney vacation, remember that there is always a sale going on; you just need to find it. ​Undercover Tourist​ is a website that shows you Disney hacks, including ways to find cheaper tickets. Walter at ​Follow the Orange Backpack ​ also encourages families to use credit card points from places like Target, Fred Meyer, and Costco to maximize the cost of the trip. If you have limited time at the parks, ​Follow the Orange Backpack ​ has downloadable pdf itineraries with great ideas and plans on how to maximize your time at the parks. How Can You Have the Most Fun Possible at Disney? Walter advises families to take frequent breaks, eat regularly, and go at the pace of their children while at the parks. He talks about the importance of creating anticipation for the children to stretch as much enjoyment from the vacation as possible. Special Grants and Programs for Adoption and Foster Families Going to Disney World In the podcast, Walter and Laura talk about Disney grants for adoptive families. After the podcast, we realized that there aren't any official Disney grants, but there are non-profit organizations who offer grants for fostering and adoptive families. In addition, Disney encourages visitors to let the staff know if you're celebrating a Gotcha Day or similar special event. Disney parks work hard to make your family vacation a memorable event. Funding Love​ helps adoptive families build deeper connections and stronger bonds through an all-expenses paid vacation to Disney World. Adventure is Out There​ seeks to increase the welfare of family relationships through Disney and family bonding experiences. Both of these non-profits are new and would like to get the word out about their mission to help adoptive families heal and bond through a Disney experience. If you know of any adoptive family who could benefit from their purpose, please share this podcast with them. If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of adoption, fertility, and finances. Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.

Is an adopted child more vulnerable to identity theft? Laura interviews Leslie Tayne from Tayne Law Group and the new author of Life and Debt about the unique challenges adopted children face, and how they can be protected from credit fraud.   The Social Security Number: where everything financial begins.   Adopted children are more likely to have their Social Security number exposed to a larger number of people, especially if they've been in the foster care system, had a long stay in the hospital, or were taken care of by family members. The first step to prevent fraud with adopted children is to change a child's social security number. This is a quick and easy process that only requires:   Adoption decree Birth certificate Previous Social Security card   How can you protect an older adopted child with potential credit problems?   Leslie urges all parents to run a credit history on their adopted children with all three credit bureaus as a beginning protective measure. She also warns that people who steal Social Security Numbers know that you'll be more vigilant about fraud in the beginning, so it is important to continue to monitor your adopted child's credit.   Can a credit freeze solve the problem of fraud?   A credit freeze can compromise a child's ability to receive credit like student loans. If a child becomes an authorized user on one of your accounts, your linked accounts can be negatively impacted by their credit freeze, and vice versa. Leslie cautions against a credit freeze as a definite solution to fraud. She advocates for proactively protecting your information.   Preventing credit card fraud after your child turns 18   Because a parent is not allowed to see their child's credit information once they become a legal adult, it is important for a parent to have a Power of Attorney and authorization before that date. With firsthand experience, Leslie shares that teenagers simply don't have the brain capacity to understand what you're doing to help their credit. Teenagers haven't figure things out and they just don't care yet.   What can you do if your child already has a damaged credit history?   First, inform the creditors about the fraud. Then file a police report about fraudulent activity. Often debtors do not want to file a claim if the theft was committed by a family member. If this is the case for you, you'll have to settle or pay the debt. Leslie shares some bankruptcy alternatives for those who would like to avoid filing criminal charges. What other financial concerns should adoptive parents be concerned about?   Leslie cautions that international adoptions are not exempt from these kind of problems. She also discusses some of the potential complications about custodial bank accounts if you are having credit problems of your own.     If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of family, marriage, money, fertility and adoption.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where you'd like to be, and how you'd like to get there.

Have you ever wanted to become an Airbnb host, but you didn't know where to start? Laura Coleman at Family Money Coaching talks with Saffron, an active duty service member, about her side hustle renting out rooms in her house. Saffron shares some tips for increasing your booking chances, how to protect yourself as a homeowner, and how multiple sources of income can really turbo-charge your goals.   Is your home in a great location for Airbnb?   Saffron explains that capitalizing on popular local events are a great way to ease your way into Airbnb hosting. These are events that bring in a lot of traffic like: Local sporting events National parks Iron Man The Paralympics Traveling doctors or nurses or interns Political conventions Nearby universities with international students   Airbnb Amenities: how to guarantee return guests and great reviews   Saffron talks about the preparation work that will make your Airbnb stand out. Make your home look like you're going to sell it, and remember the little treats like snacks, drinks, and smaller scale shampoos and soaps. Many of these soap items can be purchased in bulk from Amazon. Providing your kitchen for your guests' use is a huge amenity.   How do you protect yourself as a homeowner?   Saffron suggests that you ask guests about themselves. Find out what they're doing and where they're going and the more forthcoming they are, the more you can trust that they're legit. People who can instant book are frequent guests on Airbnb. Don't be afraid of the renters and trust the system that's in place to protect you. Put boundaries in place by making your cancellation policy aggressive, choosing your schedule carefully, and looking at renters' recommendations from other people.   When is it time to create your own Airbnb business?   If you rent for 14 days or less, you don't count as a business. But if you're ready to take your Airbnb hosting to the next level, be sure to file the right paperwork so that your tax bill doesn't take you by surprise.   What are some mistakes you made for saving up for adoption and fertility?   Saffron encourages listeners to contribute the max to their HSA because you'll never know when you need it for health problems. She recommends that couples adopting or going through fertility use multiple sources of income so that they can more confidently achieve their goal.   If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of family, marriage, money, fertility and adoption.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where'd you like to be, and how you'd like to get there.

Laura Coleman interviews Dr. Travis Parry, an international speaker and coach to financial professionals and entrepreneurs. They discuss their similar missions about helping people live their lives on purpose and with intention. They delve into how childhood experiences can shape the money stories we tell ourselves, and how we can address these stories with positive intention.   Dr. Parry discusses the pivotal moment his father's death played in his career.   Dr. Parry began his career in insurance. In his spare time, he devoured financial courses because he truly wanted to help people live their best financial life. After his father's early death, his mom employed him to help organize the family's finances. This trans-formative experience drove him back to academia so that he could learn about couples and how to truly help them.   The number one issue that couples fight about is…..   Money! But it is NOT the number one issue that causes divorce. It is the most emotional issue in a marriage, more than sex or parenting. And couples simply don't know how to talk about money. Laura and Dr. Parry share some ways that couples can discuss this sensitive subject.   What shared values do couples need to have about money?   Dr. Parry talks about the importance of sharing similar parenting and religious values. He points out that how we worship in private is more important than how we worship in public in the context of a marriage. When couples share goals, especially financial goals, it will translate into increased happiness in their partnership. Where do financial values come from?   Laura and Dr. Parry discuss the roots of financial values. They talk about examining childhood memories of money, and the importance of talking to your spouse about your money beliefs. There can be a lot of negative emotions when talking about money: shame, fear, extreme privacy, and hoarding money. Dr Parry emphasizes that it isn't WHAT you teach kids about money; it's what you DO with money that will teach them.   How can you teach older adopted children about money?   Laura and Dr. Parry discuss how much harder it can be to teach older adopted children about money because they may have already experienced poor money examples. Dr. Parry emphasizes that money should be about stewardship. Teaching this value will help children who struggle with hoarding or spending every penny they have.   Religion and Money: How can we reconcile the two?   Dr. Parry defines a value as a principle that defines your direction. A lot of religious values, including the misquoted scripture “Money is the root of all evil”, conflict with good financial principles. Dr. Parry shares some personal examples of conflicting religious and financial values that have affected a family's relationship with money for generations.   Which is better for your marriage: coaching or therapy?   Dr. Parry explains the difference between therapy and coaching. Therapy is designed to listen to you. It is there to help you unload and self-reflect. Coaching, on the other hand, teaches you communication skills, problem-solving skills, and how to have intimacy in all areas of your life so that you can be prepared to take on the money aspect of your relationship.   What is the #1 best way to fix your relationship?   Simply put, it is time. Spend time together talking about your values, putting financial things into place, having fun, and sharing dreams and ideas. If you want to fix your relationship, the absolute best thing to do is to spend quality time with your partner.   If you loved this podcast, please subscribe and follow us for more conversations about the intersection of family, marriage, money, fertility and adoption.   Are you ready to become a forever family? Schedule your judgement-free appointment today to talk with Laura about where you're at in your financial journey, where'd you like to be, and how you'd like to get there.

Laura Coleman interviews Daniel Eck, MS, LCPC, a clinical professional counselor with 6 years of experience. They talk about how to keep a marriage strong during fertility. They discuss some of the unique emotional challenges that couples undergoing fertility deal with and Daniel suggests some healthy coping mechanisms. How do husbands and wives come together as a team during fertility? In the beginning of a marriage, a couple may mistake their similar values as the same values. When they realize they will need to address fertility challenges, they may realize that they are not quite on the same page. How do couples navigate these difficult conversations and expectations? How to communicate when you feel all the feelings Daniel and Laura talk about assertive communication and the importance of meaning what you say. Daniel talks about the importance of leading with emotions, talking about how you feel, and asking for what you need from the other person. Laura gives some real life examples from her counseling experiences. What can you do when one spouse becomes disengaged? Daniel shares ideas for resolving separation mentality. He reminds listeners that as human beings, it's okay to be emotional and irrational as we navigate these difficult conversations. He warns that no premarital counseling ever really prepares couples to go through fertility. Focus on your fertility WHY Laura encourages couples to focus on the WHY behind their fertility journey. Daniel and Laura discuss the importance of becoming equal partners in a marriage, and avoiding the unhealthy parent/child or employer/employee relationship dynamics. Daniel talks about the importance of recognizing and acting on a partner's “bids”. Healthy Coping Mechanisms during fertility treatments Daniel shares how couples can deal with the stress of fertility by: Having regular, planned date nights Having scheduled check-ins with a partner Seeing things from a holistic viewpoint, Playing a board game Watching a movie Finding a way to have fun with your spouse Exercising regularly Accepting that you cannot control your life Embracing the ambiguity Daniel encourages couples to connect with others' going through the same experiences. You are not alone as you experience fertility treatments. You can draw strength from other people in similar circumstances.

Join Laura Coleman from Family Money Coaching as she talks with Chelsie from Morgan's Mighty Macs about her fertility journey and its unexpected and emotional detour into adoption and fostering.   How do you decide on a fundraiser for IVF?   Chelsie talks about how she decided on a fundraiser, even though she'd never made macarons before! Her determination to master the cookies is key to her story to overcoming any obstacle for a baby.   She experimented with flavors and currently offers these airy cookies sandwiched by frosting:   Death by chocolate Apple cinnamon S'mores Fruity Pebbles Mint Chocolate Banana Chocolate Pistachio Caramel Apple Banana Foster Tequila Sunrise Peppermint And more!   She offers them through her Facebook page Morgan's Mighty Macs and also through local bakeries.   What do you do when your whole world is changed by your family members' decisions?   Chelsie was living a full and busy life. She was working, going to school, and working on her IVF fundraiser in the evenings when she got an unexpected phone call during class one day.   Chelsie learned that her 8 month old half sister had actually been in foster care from birth, and not in the care of the baby's mother, as she had been led to believe.   Suddenly, Chelsie's fertility plan became an adoption and fostering plan. She had to prepare for a home study, baby-proof her apartment, and deal with the different money needs that an adoption brings up.   Going with the flow can help you stay positive while you're on your journey Chelsie's describes the emotional rollercoaster of deciding to adopt and the change in her life plan with positivity. The macarons were a hobby for Chelsie, but now they're a business. She credits her husband's flexibility and support for making the cookies and adoption possible.   If you're interested in additional ways to fundraise for IVF or adoption, you can find a great list of resources on our website here.

Join Laura Coleman at Family Money Coaching as she interviews Melody Johnson about how to prepare for an international adoption. Melody shares that adopting internationally is a huge financial, emotional, and time investment, but that it is worth it when you hold that child in your arms. Creating a Vision for the Adoption Process Melody explains why she chose the Philippines to adopt from. She explains how important choosing an adoption agency is and what to look for in an international adoption agency. Melody and Laura discuss key parts of the vision for the adoption process, including: ● What kind of lifestyle you want for your family ● What experiences you want your child to have ● How finances will play a part in your life before, during, and after the adoption process International Adoption Obstacles Melody explains some of the adoption obstacles that she didn't know about, including: ● Misunderstanding the adoption fees and how they're paid ● What the expectations are for each process ● How important it is to have a good relationship with your agency so that they can explain the fees ● Why it's important to have a specific fund or account for the adoption ● Why having a timeline will help you know how much needs to be saved and when Making Your HSA Work For You Laura and Melody share how saving money in an HSA is important, and why you should start using it BEFORE you adopt. Strengthening the Marriage Will Pay Dividends Melody gives some ideas about how she grew closer to her husband in a fun way during the adoption process. She explains why communication styles matter when discussing finances. Melody shares how she sets aside time every week to discuss finances with her husband and how it's helped her marriage. Surprise Income Obstacles Melody discusses how a job change will affect the adoption home study. Laura and Melody discuss the stress of working while trying to adopt, and how that affects your career. To create a family vision plan click HERE. 

The 5 Love Languages do affect your personal spending and during fertility and adoption, it's key to understand that, in order to strengthen your marriage. Laura Coleman, Financial Coach and Host of Family Money Coaching talks with Devon Baeza, The Fertility Finance Coach, about how the 5 Love Languages affected them during fertility and adoption. Tune in to hear how you can help your spouse/partner, using their love language, during your fertility or adoption process.

Ashley and her husband Josh experienced 2 miscarriages and shortly after were referred to a friend's cousin to adopt a set of twins. This is their story as told by Ashley. Listen for the 5 Ways to Overcome an Adoption Scam at the end.

When we adopted all 3 of our kids, we had so many questions about the adoption tax credit. In today's episode, I tracked down our accountant, Daniel Peterson, CPA, before his busy season started and I asked him 20 Questions About Adoption. He even gave me some bonus material at the end. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE, so you don't miss out on future episodes.

You've saved up the money for fertility, but are you using it to your advantage? In today's podcast Financial Coach, Laura Coleman, discusses how to utilize your Health Savings Account to your advantage during fertility. Learn what you can use the money for, how you can fund your HSA, and the benefits of using your HSA vs FSA. Don't let money leave your hands without first making sure you've used all of your money tricks.

Guest, Devon Baeza and Host, Laura Coleman discuss the book You Are A Bad*** At Making Money by Jen Sincero. How can our thoughts, money stories, and a Money Journal help us reach our financial goal for preparing for adoption and fertility? Finally, learn how to pronounce Devon's last name. 

Adopting and going through fertility is stressful enough and then we add the money equation to the mix. Studies show that the wounds from money-related arguments can feel more painful than other types of arguments. Join Family Money Coaching as we teach you the 5 Techniques for Better Money Conversations from the Love & Money curriculum. Be sure to subscribe, so you don't miss out on the other 4 lessons. 

When you are told you are going to need $20,000 for fertility or adoption, the first response is, where are we going to get that money? For many, your 401(k) is your biggest asset. Before you raid your 401(k) to pay for adoption and/or fertility, listen to this podcast interview as Financial Coach, Laura Coleman discusses what to consider such as opportunity costs, taxes, our different money pots, and future values. 

Did you know that your Money Personality affects your decision about whether to do IVF, IUI, natural cycle IVF, or not to do fertility at all? Listen to the raw and real conversation about how a Saver and Spender made their decisions during the fertility process. 

Melinda Simmons talks about how they raised $36,000 towards the adoption of a little boy named Ezra that they are matched with from China. Listen to the unique ways they raised money including $15,000 from Chipstarter. If you think it's impossible to find the money for your adoption; think again. Melinda and her husband are a great example of adopting DEBT FREE! They look forward to bringing Ezra home.

Zeke and Shanda Arter, owners of the Maple Street Biscuit Co. in Chattanooga, TN recognized the financial burden that couples have as they seek to adopt. Listen to today's episode where we discuss how Zeke got the idea to start the Little Biscuit Adoption Fund, how their employees donated the first money to the project, and how you can participate in someone's adoption journey. 

I always dreamed of being a wife and a mother. When someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I answered, "A Mom". I got married at 34 and after an unsuccessful year, discovered that we had fertility issues. In this episode, I discuss my own journey towards adopting our 3 kids, 5 IVF rounds, and a miscarriage. I try to be open about my own story in hopes that I can help others that are struggling with their journey towards a Forever Family. 

Lauren Haun adopted 3 children from China. She helped start the Hope4One Ministry that assists Foster and Adoptive families through providing a clothes closet, support group, and an adoption fund. On this episode she talks about her adoption story, the challenges that they have faced, and what led her to Hope4One Ministries. Lauren shows us how joining the adoption community is like joining a support network. You aren't alone. You will face challenges, but you can make it through. 

Saving $25,000 towards adoption or fertility can seem like a distant shore line that will never approach for the worn out traveler. This podcast will help you realize that you can reach your goal, one step at a time. 

Wendy Mays from Girl.Fi.Day talks about her journey as a Foster Mom. She adopted 4 boys and added to her 2 biological. The journey wasn't easy and it did come with some broken hearts, but looking back it was the journey they needed to take. We talk about some of the financial benefits of fostering. Have you ever wondered if there's an adoption stipend afterwards and how long you could receive it? We discuss the health issues and financial benefits of insurance for kids in foster care.