The Fiscal Feminist

Our thoughts are energy, and the way we think about our lives really matters! In this episode, Stephanie Hessler returns to the podcast to talk about all things energy, vibrations, and manifestation. She explains why these concepts are so important for finding purpose, achieving your goals, and even building wealth, and she shares practical steps you can take to start tapping into your intuition and making your own luck. Stephanie and Kimberlee also talk about the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs. Episode Recap:Today we're talking about harnessing our energy to manifest our dream life (0:45)What do we mean when we say that everything is energy? (2:22)How to balance intuition with rationality (5:57)Our thoughts are energy, even if we don't always see it that way (9:30)What is the law of vibration, and how do you change your energetic frequency? (13:39)Try these things if you need to break out of negative thinking (20:08)How do you find faith and joy in your daily life? (28:04)Can we actually make our own luck? (32:44)Here's how wealth relates to energy (36:54)How to chip away at the limiting beliefs that are holding you back (44:48)Where can we find the time to prioritize mindfulness? (48:26)Where to learn more from Stephanie (56:07)Resources:Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcastWatch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTubeSign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast“The Fiscal Feminist” bookWatch the “Your High Performing Self Image” MasterclassJoin the Success Mindset Facebook GroupFollow Stephanie on LinkedIn and YouTube Stephanie Hessler's Website

Are you thinking about buying a house in 2024? This episode is for you! Kimberlee talks with top performing mortgage broker Shawn Kaplan about the state of the real estate market and the most important pieces of information for prospective homebuyers this year. Shawn also shares tips for current homeowners and provides helpful context about interest rates, mortgages, and dealing with real estate in a divorce, breaking everything down into simple advice that even first-time homebuyers can understand. Episode Recap:Today we're answering questions about the housing market with Shawn Kaplan (1:00)What was your journey to becoming a top performing mortgage broker? (2:56)Mortgage brokers vs. lenders: What's the difference? (7:51)Take this step first if you want to buy a house (10:14)What trends are you seeing in the housing market today? (13:12)Should you treat your primary residence like an investment? (17:30)Is now a good time to buy? (20:26)What do you do when interest rates go down? (23:59)How to qualify for a mortgage (25:34)Real estate tips when you're getting divorced (33:28)Home buying advice in 2024 (42:16)Where to learn more from Shawn (45:15)Resources:Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcastWatch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTubeSign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast“The Fiscal Feminist” bookVisit Shawn's websiteFollow Shawn on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook

Whether you're brand new to the workforce or you've been working for years, you won't want to miss this episode with Lauren McGoodwin, CEO of Career Contessa! Lauren has dedicated her own career to empowering other women with educational content, coaching resources, salary transparency, and more. In this episode, she joins Kimberlee to answer some common questions about gender disparity at work, negotiating tips, finding a great company, and starting off your career on the right foot. She also talks about the trends that she thinks will define how we work in the future. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Career Contessa CEO Lauren McGoodwin (1:03) How did you become the Career Contessa? (4:37) Where did you notice gender disparity in your own work experience? (10:35) Common challenges women face in the workforce (14:00) Why is a proactive approach so important for women? (19:05) Stories vs. Data: What matters more for negotiation? (22:13) How to find a company that aligns with your values (26:35) Top tips for young women entering the workforce (29:46) What trends do you expect to define the future of women in the workplace? (33:04) Where to learn more from Lauren (37:02) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Career Contessa website Listen to The Career Contessa podcast “Power Moves” by Lauren McGoodwin Follow Lauren on LinkedIn

How do you know when it's time for divorce? Kate Anthony knows firsthand how hard it can be to make that decision, so she's helping countless women answer the age-old question: “Should I stay or should I go?” In this episode, Kimberlee talks with Kate about the reasons why women may struggle to end a marriage, and Kate shares her top tips for deciding when it's time to leave. They also discuss some common signs of abuse, break down how you can have the divorce conversation and make it stick, and much more. If you're struggling in your marriage, know that there are resources available to you! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Kate Anthony, creator of the Divorce Survival Guide (1:09) What did you learn from your own divorce? (3:29) Why do so many women struggle to leave a marriage? (8:45) Marriage benefits men and exhausts women (14:48) What advice do you have for women who are preparing for divorce? (19:34) What does gaslighting actually look like? (23:22) Can you share some common trends you've noticed around infidelity? (27:06) How can women have the divorce conversation and make it stick? (39:21) Do money concerns often hold women back from divorce? (43:17) Where to learn more from Kate (48:26) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Visit Kate's Website Listen to the Divorce Survival Guide podcast “The D Word” by Kate Anthony Enroll in the “Should I Stay or Should I Go” course

Financial wellness isn't just for adults! In fact, educating kids and teens about personal finance while they're still in school is extremely helpful for financial success later in life. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with financial educator and advocate Yanely Espinal about the importance of personal finance education and the work she's doing to make sure it's accessible to as many kids as possible. Yanely shares tips for talking to your own children about money and also explains how you can advocate for personal finance requirements in your own state. Whether you're a parent or teacher or just want to learn a few personal finance tips for yourself, you won't want to miss this episode!Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Yanely Espinal about financial wellness and much more (1:03) How did you get interested in financial education? (4:23) Knowledge isn't everything; you need to have the right mindset, too (9:18) What is the NGPF Mission 2030 Fund, and why is it important? (15:42) Kids need education on topics like crypto and retirement (22:11) How to advocate for personal finance education (29:10) There's no reason not to support financial education for kids (36:44) Budget is a verb, not just a noun! (43:29) What advice do you have about financial education for girls? (47:08) What's next after we make financial education accessible? (52:14) Where to learn more from Yanely (57:22) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Learn on the NGPF website Get the “Mind Your Money” book Follow Yanely on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

Do you know what your brand is? No matter who you are or what field you work in, you have a specific brand and can market yourself to find new opportunities. In this episode, Kanika Tolver shares valuable advice for making career changes, nailing the job interview process, defining your personal brand, and much more. She also explains why confidence is key to reaching new levels of career success. Kanika is the CEO and founder of Career Rehab LLC and author of “Career Rehab: Build Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work.” Episode Recap: Today we'll learn how to unlock your career branding with Kanika Tolver (1:01) Can you tell us how you ended up in this industry? (4:06) What is a career brand, and why do people need it? (7:45)  Avoid these common mistakes on your resume (10:08) How to market yourself when changing careers (14:06) Can you share some tips for building confidence when making a change? (20:11) What is your process for setting realistic goals? (24:36) What does it look like to market yourself? (31:02) How to ace the interview process (38:40) How personal should you get in an interview? (47:09) What steps should someone take to rebrand themselves? (51:28) Where to learn more from Kanika (55:23) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Career Rehab: Build Your Personal Brand and Rethink the Way You Work”  Follow Kanika on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

What comes to mind when you hear the word “frugal"? If you think of strict budgets or of refusing to spend money on things that matter, it might be time to re-examine your relationship to the word! In this episode, Jen Smith explains what it actually means to be frugal in the modern world and shares her own journey of finding balance between saving money and enjoying life. Jen is an author and podcast host helping people pay off debt and reduce their spending, and she offers listeners her top tips for meal planning, reducing food waste, and making the most of the home you live in.Episode Recap: Today we're examining our relationship with spending and frugality with Jen Smith (1:05) Can you tell us about your journey to becoming frugal? (5:09) What does the modern frugal lifestyle mean to you? (10:40) How do you balance living frugally and enjoying life? (18:00) Can you share your top tips for meal planning and prepping? (24:28) What recommendations do you have around housing? (31:46) It's not about not spending, it's about spending on the things you value (36:24) How can we avoid shame around saying no? (42:35) Frugality is being confident and authentic about what you value (48:28) Where to learn more from Jen (52:25) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Listen to the Frugal Friends podcast and subscribe to their newsletter Find Jen's books on Amazon Follow Jen on Instagram and LinkedIn Subscribe to Frugal Friends on YouTube Quotes:“We are trying to rebrand frugality into this lifestyle of freedom where you actually know what you want, can afford it, and you can create habits and boundaries to say no more easily. Because we will say, we love intentional spending, so why don't we just talk about that and forget the word frugality? It's archaic, it's got bad vibes, we really want to reclaim this word, because frugality is about so much more than intentional spending. We can't be intentional 100% of the time. Sometimes your mind just takes over and you're working off habit, working mindlessly, so we want to work with our minds to create habits that conserve resources, so not just money, but conserve time, physical space, mental energy, all of that stuff. We believe frugality is the conservation or the good stewardship of all these resources, and we can, yes, be intentional to conserve them, but we can also create psychological barriers and aids, shortcuts that help us do it even when we're not being ‘intentional.'”“A hundred years ago, frugality was seen as this somebody who is creative, who is resilient, who can reuse and repurpose things. When you were frugal, you were seen as a really intelligent person who really valued quality and keeping their things well functioning. So, it was this lauded quality about you. And over the last hundred years, marketers have made us believe that we are consumers first and people second. So, to be a person of worth, you must be a consumer, you're not of worth simply because you are a person. And so that is the reason why we want to bring frugality back.”

Are you ready to stop playing small in your business and life? You won't want to miss this episode with high-performance coach Stephanie Hessler! Stephanie has helped countless leaders achieve their goals and reach new levels of success, and in this episode, she's sharing some of her top tips for overcoming the beliefs and insecurities that hold many women back. Stephanie and Kimberlee cover a wide range of topics including gratitude, different types of growth, overcoming perfectionism, and the questions you can ask yourself to figure out what you really want. Episode Recap: Do you want to play a bigger game in business and life? This episode is for you! (0:50) Stephanie Hessler is a high-performance coach helping leaders achieve their goals (1:55) What was your journey to become a high-performance coach? (3:12) How do internal beliefs often hold women back?  (9:27) You have to get clear about what you want (11:55) What questions should women ask to start to figure out what they want? (16:55) Growth is not just monetary! (20:07) How can women be visionary instead of getting hung up on perfection? (24:48) How do you make sure you don't have an overinflated view of yourself? (37:53) Can you share some tips for breaking the cycle of low self esteem? (40:44) Each of us is on a unique path, and that's a good thing (46:04) Why is gratitude so important? (50:12) How to connect with Stephanie (53:49) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Watch the “Your High Performing Self Image” Masterclass Join the Success Mindset Facebook Group Follow Stephanie on LinkedIn and YouTube  Stephanie Hessler's Website

What skills can women learn from poker that will translate to their careers and lives? In this episode, Kimberlee asks this question to Erin Lydon, who's on a mission to teach 1 million women how to apply poker skills to life as president of Poker Power. Erin shares the inspiration behind this unique company, and describes how poker can teach resilience, negotiation, confidence, and more. She also explains how you can learn from Poker Power as an individual or an organization.Episode Recap: Is life just a big game of poker? Today will talk about this question with Erin Lydon (0:54) Where did the idea for Poker Power come from? (4:28) How women can access Poker Power (9:18) What can poker teach women about life? (16:34) What is poker math, and how do you teach it? (22:34) Playing poker will teach you resilience (28:16) Women have to get comfortable with asking for a seat at the table (33:52) How do you respond to pushback about teaching women poker? (39:13) Where to get involved with Poker Power (45:19) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Poker Power website Follow Poker Power on Instagram, Facebook, andTikTok Connect with Erin on LinkedIn Quotes:“We say there are 3 levels to thinking in poker with regards to negotiating. The first is just figuring out what to do with your two hold cards. It's binary, either you raise or you fold, which means you're out of the hand. The next decision to make is to ask yourself, ‘What do I have? What's the decision I'm going to make with my hold cards? And what do I think you have?' And you is the collective opponents who are at the table. So you're shifting you're perspective, and you're trying to see this game not just through the lens of what you have in your hand. And then the third and most important way in which you're negotiating at the poker table is to ask ‘What do I have? What do I think you have, Kimberlee? And what do I think you think I have?' And it's that ever-evolving, complex negotiation of information, power dynamics that will factor into your decision making. You can improve that skill by doing it more and more. And that's what I think is so critical.”“In life we never know what's going to come our way. Every day is something new. You just know things happen so randomly sometimes, either professionally or personally. So you have to be able to kind of look at the situation, not fall apart, and figure out what your next move is going to be. One of the things I think people might learn from this exercise, too, is resiliency. So you might lose a game, but it doesn't mean you're just going to go away and never play poker again. It's learning how to lose, come back, try to marshal your resources, figure out what went wrong, and then, you know, sitting back down at the table and trying it again.”

What happens when a woman is the primary breadwinner in a divorce? To answer this question, Kimberlee turned to divorce lawyer and certified divorce financial analyst Lisa Zeiderman. In this episode, Lisa dives into some of the realities of divorce that women may not be aware of, from spousal support to commingling assets to custody concerns for female breadwinners. She also shares practical steps any woman can take today to protect their financial future.Episode Recap: Today we're talking about divorce finance with Lisa Zeiderman (1:12) What is a female breadwinner? (4:23) Why are so many women surprised by the financial implications of divorce? (7:23) Steps to take when you're considering divorce (14:09) How can you account for time home with kids when creating a prenup? (18:37) Be cautious about how you commingle assets (23:51) If you think divorce is coming, make sure you know what your assets are! (34:14) Common misconceptions about female breadwinners (40:39) What can society do to better support female breadwinners? (46:49) How to learn more from Lisa (51:10) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Miller Zeiderman LLP website Lisa Zeiderman's website Savvy Ladies website Quotes:“The cases that I have where I have the female breadwinner, those are the most difficult cases. And they are the most difficult cases because women don't often take care of themselves in making sure that they have protected their finances. So I would say that's a huge issue. And women who are the primary breadwinners have to understand that they have to either enter into some sort of agreement — and we'll talk about that in a few minutes — but they can be responsible for child support later, they can be responsible for spousal support, and they also are going to equitably divide — in New York, some states are different but I'm a New York attorney, so I'm going to talk about New York — but they equitably divide the assets and of course the liabilities. But the fact is that many women who are the primary breadwinners wake up to a divorce and even if they started the divorce, they are shocked that they are in a situation where they are paying child support, paying spousal support, and equitably dividing those assets that maybe only they earned.” - Lisa“Don't be pennywise and pound foolish with this stuff. I know people kind of balk a little bit, they don't want to pay the money for the prenup, but think about this. Down the line, this thing could save your bacon and make your retirement and the other part of your life down the road. Because if you have a really messy divorce and things don't go according to plan, and I am the poster child for this, then this trickles down into your retirement and how long you're going to have to work, and if you happen to live to 100, how are you going to get there? Because this thing can just be an apoplectic kind of thing to your finances if it's not handled wisely. So you can definitely do your own prenups online. I know there are resources for that now, but I would say it's worth putting money towards a prenup, because this is going to be the defining document down the road if things go awry. It's worth it, because that few thousand dollars you're going to spend on a prenup could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars or even more down the line.” – Kimberlee

How can we best support our kids while also encouraging them to build their financial independence? When Bobbi Rebell was struggling to answer this question for herself, she decided to write a book about it: “Launching Financial Grownups.” In this episode, Bobbi and Kimberlee talk about their own parenting experiences and Bobbi's top tips for helping your kids build their financial skills. Bobbi also offers advice to women about developing financial resilience in a landscape that's still often stacked against us. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Bobbi Rebell about raising financial grownups (1:03)  Can you tell us about your career path up to this point? (3:21) How can parents raise financially independent kids and teens? (9:24) Younger generations often have different financial priorities, and that's OK (16:50) Why is financial transparency so important with our kids? (21:56) Don't be afraid to have the difficult conversations before they're needed (27:56) How can women build their financial resilience? (37:44) It's ok to support your children, but make sure to draw clear boundaries (43:11) How to learn more from Bobbi (52:16) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart” “How to be A Financial Grownup: Proven Advice from High Achievers on How to Live Your Dreams and Have Financial Freedom” Sign up for Bobbi's newsletter Financial Wellness Strategies Website Email Bobbi Quotes:“Many parents over coddle their children, because they don't want their kids to grow up, which is really normal! I mean, my iPhone pushes me these adorable pictures of my now 16-year-old when he was a baby, and I want that time back and it's really hard. So we want to hold onto our kids, and that's why we as parents often over subsidize them.”“It is so hard because we're tempted to pay for everything for our kids, because we still see them as kids, and they're forever our children. So these are really hard, and that's why I wrote “Launching Financial Grownups, because I was struggling with this. And I will tell you, so I'm going to give away one thing from the book is that our 26 year old, she was 24 at the time when the book had been written, she was saving for an apartment in New York City, which is a very ambitious goal for a 22, 23-year-old. She lived at home, she switched her major in college which I do talk about in the book, why she switched to cybersecurity versus being in education, and it was with a focus on ‘Where can I earn more money?' And I will tell you, when she reached her goal of being able to buy her own apartment. And while we had to be in the background, as you say, she paid for everything, the down payment, all the lawyer costs, all the closing costs, every penny she paid for, the pride in that young lady's eyes, you have never seen. It is a gift to parents. When you let your child succeed on their own and you're just there cheering them on and you're just there cheering them on, that is going to be priceless. And so I would implore parents to let their kids shine.”

If you're feeling stuck in your career or your life, you're not alone! Everyone gets stuck, but there are things you can do today to start pulling yourself out. In this episode, Ella Lucas-Averett shares some of her top tips for creating momentum, moving past fear, and learning from our failures. Ella is a founder and managing partner of The Trivesta Group, and the host of On Air With Ella, a motivational podcast about wellness, personal development, habit building, and more. Episode Recap: Get to know Ella Lucas-Averett (1:45) What was it like to start a business at such a young age? (6:31) How to find momentum when you're feeling stuck (13:32) What keeps us from taking action? (24:51) To move past fear, start showing up (27:03) How do we overcome feeling afraid of failure? (33:23)  If you don't care for yourself, you can't care for anyone else (44:01) No one has the same stack of gifts and experiences as you (52:23) Try this one thing today to get unstuck (1:00:07) Resources: Visit the Fiscal Feminist Website Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book On Air with Ella website Follow Ella on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter Quotes:“There are so many things that I wish I had started or wish I were further on and didn't do because I was scared. And I think that anyone listening can relate to that thing they're sitting on, or stalled on — maybe they did it — or maybe they're still sitting on it, because they're not sure it's ready, or they're not sure they're ready, they're not sure it's good enough, they're not sure they want to be seen, or what would people say? And I would just say, what if you acted as if you had no choice, and you just did it and see what happens? Because sometimes action can be a hell of a lot more effective than analysis.”“If we are waiting for lightning bolt motivation to do the thing we're meant to do in life or to develop that skill or to learn that language or to start that exercise routine or to revisit our relationship with our spouse or our partner, whatever. If we're waiting for that lightning bolt, you're gonna die waiting. And I say that not to be cynical, but to say, if that were the secret, don't you think that we would have hacked that by now? Don't you think we would be doing all the things and all out here living our best life? I don't know about you, but that's not what happens for me. And the myth that you need to land on motivation, or even better, that it would land on you, that is not going to get you where you need to be. So the word I replace it with, every day of my life, is momentum.”

Since 90% of venture capitalists are men, it makes sense that female founders have a much harder time getting funding, especially when they're focused on women's issues. Trish Costello is working to change that as the founder and CEO of Portfolia, a company that creates investment funds for women looking to back innovative companies. In this episode, Trish explains why investing in companies is such a powerful tool for building wealth and creating change in the world. She also shares practical steps for how you can get started in the space. Episode Recap: Today we're talking about investing in startups with Trish Costello (1:08) Can you tell us about your background with venture capital? (2:41) Who is a good fit for the Kauffman Fellows Program? (8:12) Why is investing in companies a great opportunity for women? (10:01) It's up to us to invest in the companies we believe in (14:42) Can you talk us through the process of investing with Portfolia? (21:46) What kinds of companies does Portfolia invest in? (29:54) How do you evaluate early-stage companies? (33:50) How can women invest their retirement accounts with Portfolia? (38:15) Resources: Visit the Fiscal Feminist Website Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Portfolia website Portfolia FemTech Fund Quotes:“You then decided to now do Portfolia. It really is effective in two areas, right? It allows you to promote companies that are coming up with innovation, and hopefully trending in the woman area. But it's also allowing women to become investors in these endeavors and learn more and more about it. I think a lot of people think this is a world just for super rich people who are really familiar with the space, and they don't realize that you can get involved in it.”“We have an opportunity to create wealth, but we also have an opportunity to create wealth while enhancing our lives. And to me that's that other piece of it that's so exciting.That's so important.Yes! Kimberlee, 90% of the check writers in venture capital are men. And you know, even if they aren't grossed out by women's health, they don't really understand it, you know? And so, they don't have a passion for it.”

What is financial infidelity, and what steps can women take to protect themselves against it? In this episode, Kimberlee talks with Forensic Accountant Tracy Coenen about the warning signs of financial infidelity, the protections you should have in place before and during a marriage, and the process you can expect if you work with a forensic accountant during your divorce. Tracy is the creator of the Divorce Money Guide, and she has so many practical insights to share about protecting your financial future and navigating complicated divorce proceedings. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with forensic accountant Tracy Coenen (1:15) Take these steps before starting divorce proceedings (4:03) Why is it so important to know about your finances? (8:21) What does financial infidelity look like? (11:21) Know these warning signs of financial infidelity (15:10) How does financial infidelity impact divorce proceedings? (17:49) Signs of fraud in a partner's business (21:34) Safeguards to protect yourself against financial infidelity (27:46) Hiring a forensic accountant can give you peace of mind (35:50) Don't give into pressure during the divorce process (37:53) Where to learn more from Tracy (41:30) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Learn more from Tracy on her website “Find Me the Money” by Tracy Coenen Quotes:“I always say your partner isn't your plan and ignorance is not bliss, you need to be engaged. And I don't want to shame anyone, because I believe women are still victims of the historical narrative of how we've been trained mentally. That we should be nurturers and kind and not talking about money and all that stuff, because somehow that's looked upon as being anti-feminine. I still think there's a lot of that around. I still hear to this day, which is shocking to me, that people say the minute you get married you should comingle everything. I say that's absolutely not what you should do. You should be intentional about what you do comingle, but you should also keep your eye on the ball of what all the marriage includes."“What should we be doing to try to protect ourselves before we get to this sort of bad situation?”“You're right that it really is hard to protect yourself when it comes to that company. You can't control what they're going to do with that company. What I can say is if you have financial information that you have access to and you collect that and keep it, that is one step. But because we can't control what they're doing with the company, I like to say the better way to protect yourself is thinking about, ‘What can I control? I can have a bank account that is in my name only that I can put money in, that no one can ever close without my permission, that no one can ever access that money without my permission. I can take a step like making sure that you have a credit card in your name only. No one else can charge on that card, no one else can close that card. That is going to be your safeguard if you ever do need to leave or get divorced.”

When families can't access childcare, women are disproportionately affected. And that impact ripples out to hurt the entire economy. In this episode, Kimberlee examines the “childcare cliff” we're facing now that pandemic-era subsidies for childcare have expired. She explains why it's so important for women to be able to participate in the workforce and shares some steps you can take to advocate for change on this important issue. Episode Recap: Today we're talking about the “childcare cliff” that impacts many women's finances (1:08) The cut off of childcare subsidization will have a massive economic impact (2:48) When families can't access childcare, women are disproportionately affected (9:50) The childcare cliff can also impact women's decisions to become parents (15:37) Time out of the workforce has a lifelong impact on women's finances (18:08) When women leave the workforce, everyone loses (20:21) Resources: Visit the Fiscal Feminist Website Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Research Mentioned: The Century Foundation research on the childcare cliff 2021 Child Care Affordability Analysis from Childcare Aware  OECD Report on Child Care Costs McKinsey Report on Women in Leadership Childcare Cliff Study by the Center for American Progress Study on the Economic Impact of Child Care Inaccessibility Quotes:“So, what happens when parents can't afford childcare or can't get access? The burden exponentially falls on women. Women are taking the hit. So what are these childcare cliff implications for women? First, women are 5-8x more likely than men to have their employment affected by caregiving responsibilities. And that is from the State of Women in the Labor Market Report from 2023. When one partner needs to stay home or limit their hours or change jobs to become more flexible, it often falls to the woman. And the statistics have supported this now for years.” “I want to raise the alarm for all of you, that it's important. This isn't me just ranting and raving, it has real effects on us, on women, on children, on families, on productivity of our country, on the global economy, and on the living standard for everybody. If we want the birth rate to go up, then we need to make it a more accommodating environment for women to have children. Women should not have to make undue sacrifices that everybody else in society doesn't have to make.”

Financial responsibility is so important, but money is also a powerful tool to help us enjoy our lives — whether that means buying a Chanel handbag or traveling the world. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with Sheefteh Khalili about Sheefteh's journey to build wealth through investing, career growth, and intentional saving. Sheefteh explains how Kimberlee has helped her unlock new financial understanding, and she shares her experience with negotiating her salary, talking openly about finances with her partner, and more. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Sheefteh Khalili (1:53) What challenges were you working through when we first met? (3:06) Our money should allow us to enjoy life, whatever that looks like for us (7:32) How did you focus on building wealth before and after getting a promotion? (12:55) What steps have you taken to progress quickly in your career? (21:13) How are you preparing financially for your upcoming marriage? (29:51) Conversations about money will get easier over time! (33:20) Should you co-mingle your finances right when you get married? (43:21) Resources: Find every episode of The Fiscal Feminist podcast Watch The Fiscal Feminist episodes on YouTube Sign up to join Kimberlee on the podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Quotes:“No one in my immediate family or circle of friends knew anything about investing. I'm a second generation immigrant and a first generation college student, and so you know, luckily my parents taught me a lot about saving and not using credit cards, having an emergency fund, but nobody had anything to teach me about investing. That just wasn't part of our information. We were middle class, but I feel like that's just not accessible, even though I was really educated, this was a whole other area, very intimidating.” “We should all be aspirational, right? We all have those things that we want, that we want to do, and money is a means to an end. I'm not saying you should spend all your money — you need to save some of it, you need to worry about retirement, you need to worry about the emergencies — but you also need to live your life and enjoy life, because every single day is precious. So I want people to think about the money journey as ‘how can I accomplish those aspirational things that I want to do?' Whether it's to buy a Chanel handbag, or go to Alaska, whatever it is that's going to really bring you up and love life because you have the opportunity to do it.”

Financial plans aren't just about preparing for retirement; they're important steps to prepare you for any major life event. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with financial advisor and BPP Wealth Solutions Founder Debra Schtazki about the importance of financial planning. Debra also shares some real-life stories of women she has helped and explains how she's built a flexible work environment that sets women up for success. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with wealth management professional Debra Schatzki (1:15) What made you decide to write “Chaos to Joy?” (3:50) Why are there so few women in financial advising, and what can we do about it? (5:58) Greater flexibility can actually help you business (13:02) Why is a financial plan so important pre-divorce? (21:20) Once you've done the plan, you can ask for what you need with more confidence (29:14) Can you share another case study from the book? (36:02) What are the 3 most important things for women building their net worth? (41:02) How to work with Debra (45:33) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Chaos to Joy” by Debra Schatzki BPP Wealth Website Follow Debra on LinkedIn Quotes:“I think that there's so much more value when we allow our employees to actually have the freedom of being there for milestones and being really part of their families and having a balanced life. It's critical. And then when I created my own consulting firm in 2010, we don't have to go into the office. I think two days a week is fine. And there were times, I had my hips replaced last year, I didn't go into the office for three months. And you know what? We did great!”“Luckily for your client, she had you to help her thread that needle. And what you gave her was advice for negotiation based on a financial plan. Yes, exactly. And what I gave her too was a voice. You know, I think that that's our biggest problem — women more than men — is that we're not taught how to really talk about money well. We're not as educated yet about how to do plans and why plans are important. We're getting there, I think women are signing up in faster percentages than men at this stage.”

Are you paralyzed by credit card debt and not sure where to start with paying it off? In our first episode on debt, diet and alcohol, Kimberlee explored the psychology of debt. Today, she's sharing an actionable plan you can use to start paying off your debt today, and avoid falling back into it in the future. She also breaks down some key financial concepts like debt consolidation, good versus bad debt, and two common debt payoff methods. Episode Recap: Today we're continuing our conversation on debt, diet and alcohol (01:31) Take a deep breath; then it's time to create a budget (03:27) Understanding the debt avalanche method (0:04:30) Pros and cons of the debt snowball method (07:48) Should you consolidate your credit card debt? (10:14) Good debt versus bad debt (20:02) Once you've started paying off your debt, do these things (23:07) Resources: Visit the Fiscal Feminist Website Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Debt, Diet and Alcohol Part 1” episode “Psychology of the Budget” episode Calculators for debt payoff Quotes:“So, I want to just make a quick note here about good debt versus bad debt. Is there good debt? Yes, there is good debt. All debt is not created equal, right? Debt used to build wealth is generally viewed as good debt: taking out a mortgage, investing in yourself by borrowing for more education so you can get a good job, small business loans, or debt consolidation. These are all forms of good debt that are going to help you build you net worth, either by getting an asset like a house or getting an education so that you can go get a better job, or eliminating high-interest rate credit cards so you can lower your interest rate and pay one payment and get all this debt eradicated over a certain, finite period of time.”“The first thing I recommend to everybody, because I know this works, is take a very deep breath. This is a doable strategy. You can do it. I know it's overwhelming, and when you look at your credit card statements, sometimes you think ‘OMG, how did I get myself into this big mess. So take a deep breath. Anything can be accomplished if we put our minds to it.”

Building a real estate business can be much easier than many of us realize; in some cases, you don't even need to own the property! In this episode, Kimberlee talks with Airbnb investor and educator Lauren Piller about her journey from nursing to working in real estate full time. Lauren explains how co-hosting helped her make the transition, and she shares some of her top tips for buying your first investment property, maximizing the value of your Airbnb, setting pricing, and more. Whether you're completely new to real estate or want to learn more about the vacation rental space, Lauren has so much wisdom to share! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Lauren Piller about building a real estate business (1:02)  How did you end up doing real estate? (2:04) Basics you need to know when buying your first investment property (9:10) How does co-hosting work? (16:21) How to work with Lauren (20:58) Tips for choosing an Airbnb location (28:20) What can you do to set your listing apart, and what amenities are essential? (31:58) How does insurance work for vacation rentals? (36:17) What factors do you consider when setting your pricing? (37:55) Where to learn more from Lauren (42:27) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Follow Lauren on Instagram and TikTok Learn more from Lauren Quotes:“No one knows anything about finances, investing and loans. I barely do, and I know more than most people. So it's just crazy to me that we're supposed to go out here and buy houses and do all these things, but I'm a millennial, so I have to learn as I go. So it's interesting to see the lack of knowledge.”“Tell me a little bit about cohosting. Because I think a lot of people would be really interested in that because it has a low barrier to entry, right? You don't have to buy a house, right? Yeah the most cost effective way to get your start and to learn, for sure.So what exactly does somebody do? How do they get involved with this, how do they find out about it, how do they find someone to cohost with, how does that work? The easiest way that I always recommend to my followers is to just ask a friend or a family member. You'd be surprised how many people have rental properties or already have Airbnbs that are either empty or not making as much as they could with their tenants. It's an easy way to go in, that's what I did with my parents, they were my first cohosting client. I was like ‘Let me take your rental property and throw it on Airbnb. I will definitely increase profits, I will do all the work, it's a win-win here.' I like it because it's another pivot for people, too. You can do it while you're still working other jobs and just branch out to see if it's even worth taking the jump for.”

Whether we realize it or not, many of us could benefit from some financial therapy. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with financial therapist Aja Evans about the work she's doing, the inspiration behind it, and the practical advice she has for women about navigating their finances. Aja breaks down the relationship between our money and our self esteem, shares her top tips for navigating prenups, explains how you can get yourself out of a shame spiral, and much more! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Financial Therapist Aja Evans (0:58) What is a financial therapist? (1:58) Can you tell us about your financial awakening? (5:34) Self esteem directly impacts our relationship with money (9:27) If you're struggling with a self esteem spiral, take a pause (13:18) Rewrite the narratives that aren't serving you (21:19) Do you have any tips for navigating prenups? (32:19) What trends are you noticing in financial therapy? (41:15) Where to learn more from Aja (44:16) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Follow Aja on Instagram and TikTok Aja's website Quotes:“Any financial decisions we make when we're heightened, when we're upset, when we're anxious, usually are just about a quick fix. We are trying to get ourselves out of a place of discomfort and into comfort as quickly as possible, and a lot of times that is not the best strategy for your finances. So looking at taking the breath, making the plan, and then deciding how you're going to execute and what you want that to look like. And be mindful of what emotional or financial triggers might come up for you that may cause you to spiral again.”“Have the conversation. Be awkward about it. Trip over yourself when you're talking to each other. But if you cannot have these conversations about money, if you disagree or don't disagree, we got other things. Because life is going to come at you hard and fast, and if you can't talk to this person who you've decided you want to commit the rest of your life to, it's going to be really difficult. It's going to be very, very difficult, and we don't need it to be that hard.” 

Linda Garcia has an incredibly powerful story, from overcoming a difficult childhood to building a six-figure career at Netflix to starting an organization that empowers other women to invest in the stock market. In this episode, Linda tells her story and focuses on some of the key moments when she learned to ask for what she was worth, overcome her scarcity mindset to start investing, and work to equip others with the mindsets they need to build wealth. This episode is full of both inspiration and practical tips, so you won't want to miss it! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Linda Garcia of In Luz We Trust (0:00:57) Can you tell us about your career journey? (0:03:21) How does money impact our psyche and self esteem? (0:11:12) Learning to know your worth (0:14:42) It's never too early to set up a 401(k), especially with employer match (0:20:33) Discovering the power of passive income (0:25:24) In search of the million dollar idea (0:32:04) Empowering people to overcome scarcity mindset (0:38:50) Counseling people through market downturns (0:50:49) What's your next million dollar idea? (57:21) How to learn from Linda (0:59:12) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Wealth Warrior” by Linda Garcia In Luz We Trust website Follow Linda and In Luz We Trust on Instagram Join In Luz We Trust on Patreon Quotes:“I've watched my parents work multiple jobs. I've watched them work so hard to earn one dollar. And so the thought of money multiplying using other money was mind blowing. And so at that time I decided, ‘I'm going to double down, and instead of doing $200 a month, I'm going to do $400 a month.'”“It doesn't matter how much financial literacy you take in. If you don't identify your relationship with money and how toxic it can be, then you're not going to be able to build wealth. I feel like it is almost impossible. If you really believe that wealthy people are greedy, then your subconscious will do everything to repel becoming wealthy because you don't want to be greedy.” 

We often think of money solely in objective terms, but our finances are also emotional and spiritual. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with “The Money Witch” Jesse-Susannah Karnatz about the amazing work she's doing to help people heal their relationships with money. Jesse-Susannah explains why so many people think they're bad with money and describes how you can begin to shift that mindset to one of abundance. Jesse-Susannah is an author, leader of the Money Coven, and coach providing capitalism-critical, shame-free education. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with “The Money Witch,” Jesse-Susannah Karnatz (0:56) Manifestation is about getting out of your own way (5:26) Can you tell us about the kinds of work you do? (8:00) Why do people think they're bad with money? (15:30) There's no shame in having debt (19:51) Abundance is a cycle (28:31) Your finances need love, not willpower (33:36) How to learn more from Jesse-Susannah (38:00) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Money Witch Website Follow Money Witch on Instagram and YouTube Money Coven Money Witch products Apply for one-on-one coaching  “Money Magic” by Jesse-Susannah Karnatz Quotes:“My business subtitle is ‘Heal your finances.' So, it's Money Witch: Heal Your Finances. What I mean when I say healing is it's a movement of energy. We want to experience shift. We want to experience ourself being able to respond differently to something we've been stuck in in the past. We want to come full circle to like a moment where we know, in the past I might have done this, but now I'm choosing to do this. More intentionality, less impulsivity, less reactivity. That's what I see as healing.”“Your finances need more love, not more willpower. A lot of times when we're trying to shift something in our financial life, we're operating from a shame-based place, and we get into this willpower ethic thing, where we're like, ‘I'm going to just try the same thing I've been trying, and I'm going to try it again, but this time I'm going to do it better because I'll be a better person and I'll just do it.' And I don't think that is very self-loving or very wise. We really have to dig in and look at what needs to iterate in the plan. If there's something that you just cannot get done, whether it's making a budget, doing your bookkeeping, filing your taxes on time without filing an extension, any of these things, really start looking at why that is and how can you iterate the plan and try something different.”

The average Black American has about 13 times less wealth than white Americans, so it's time for something to change. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with Runway Founder and CEO Jessica Norwood about the massive wealth gap for Black Americans and the work she's doing to change that. Through Runway, Jessica is empowering Black entrepreneurs with capital and mentorship, and she's also a speaker, author, and podcast host at the forefront of conversations about the intersection of race and economics, and she has so many powerful insights to share in this conversation. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Jessica Norwood, founder and CEO of Runway (0:56) Can you tell us about your career journey up to this point? (4:14) Why is access to education so important for disadvantaged groups? (10:43) Black entrepreneurs just don't have the same access to capital or mentorship (16:06) How is Runway helping Black entrepreneurs? (26:45) An intersectional approach to capital (38:33) What role can the government play in financial equity? (45:32) Where to learn more from Jessica (55:13) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Runway website Preorder “Believe in You Money” by Jessica Norwood Road to Repair podcast Jessica's website Quotes:“I wanted to better my community. I wanted to support the innovators and change makers and just brilliance that I saw all around me. But I also saw that there was this gap of being able to get access to the resources that people needed, and I couldn't understand why.”“Wealth gets unequally distributed because of racial bias. And it looks like, at the time when I started Runway this was a piece of data that was so new, I want to say it was about 6 or 7 years ago, the data has since been updated. But the number then was that white people had $141,000 in wealth and Black families had about $11,000. And this was including the wealthiest wealthy that you could think of, right, on both sides of the equation. So I like to say it's P Diddy and all my cousins in that number. And it's about $10, 11 thousand. And then you've got uber, uber wealthy, wealthy folks, billionaire folks, and all your cousins in there. And still the number lays out to this disparity between almost 13 times, 14 times more than the other.” 

No one likes to talk about the worst-case scenario, but we need to be prepared for the unexpected. In this episode, Kimberlee talks with her colleague Sarah Leitzke, director of risk management at the Bahnsen Group. Sarah provides a primer on the 3 main types of insurance you should consider to secure your and your family's futures. She also answers some of the most frequently asked insurance questions, like when to buy insurance,  how to find the right policy, and what insurance will actually cover. Episode Recap: Today we're talking with risk management director Sara Leitzke (0:01:01) Mentorship is key for women in the workplace (0:05:57) What is risk management and why is it important? (0:11:03) What qualifies as a disability for insurance? (0:15:54) Whole life vs. term insurance: Which is right for you? (0:24:13) When should you buy long-term care insurance? (0:34:02) How to choose the right long-term care insurance (0:41:34) Should you purchase a joint or individual policy? (0:49:03) Long-term care is an investment for you and your family (0:51:05) Today is the best day to get coverage (0:58:00) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book The Bahnsen Group website Quotes:“I think some people think, especially when we're younger, we think ‘I set up my emergency account, I'm investing, I'm saving money, I'm good.' But we need to plan for other risks, because there are other risks in our lives that an emergency account just won't cut it. If you need to change jobs and you're maybe going without a job for a few months, your emergency account is probably going to get you there. But if you have suffered an injury that puts you out of work for a long time, if you have an illness that puts you out of work for a long time, your health insurance probably isn't going to cut it because they're not going to pay you to not have a job. So then you turn to different types of insurance. So maybe you need to buy some disability insurance to insure your income. Because your most important asset is your income.”“If you are thinking about getting coverage of any kind and you're dragging your feet — which I have done and had to snap myself out of — you're as young as you'll ever be today, probably as healthy as you'll ever be today, and all of this, every type of insurance we've talked about today, requires medical underwriting. And the best time to do it is today.”

No matter who you are or where you work, gender bias impacts every woman in the workplace. Amy Diehl has dedicated her career to understanding those biases, and in this episode, she's sharing some of the most important findings from her new book, “Glass Walls.” Amy breaks down the six types of bias that hold women back the most, unpacks the common barriers that keep women from leadership positions, and shares some practical tips for dealing with gender bias. Whether you need some extra motivation to keep going in your career or you just want to learn more, this episode is packed with valuable insight! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with gender equity researcher and author Amy Diehl (0:00:58) How did you discover your passion for gender equity? (0:02:51) No woman is immune to gender bias in the workplace (0:10:30) We're missing out on major progress when we don't give women opportunities (0:15:40) What are the six types of gender bias in your book? (0:22:02) Male privilege (0:22:21) Disproportionate constraints (0:27:25) Insufficient support (0:31:48) Devaluation (0:36:02) Hostility (0:37:55) Acquiescence (0:43:30) What are some of the critiques that keep women from leadership? (0:47:16) How can we respond to this inequity? (0:53:43) Where to connect with Amy (0:58:27) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “Glass Walls” by Amy Diehl and Leanne M. Dzubinski Why Women are Held Back from Leadership article Ageism article Amy Diehl's website Follow Amy on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter Quotes:“How many women don't persist? Because they can't. They make very rational choices to quit, or to stay where they're at, or whatever. I think about the societal progress that we're missing because we're really holding back half of society. Half of the brain power, right?  — Amy“I'm not saying we have to be confrontational or rude or any of those things, but we have to be persistent and we have to be resilient. Don't make yourself smaller, because we've already been going through that for a billion years. And to your point, Amy, if all women were able to do their job on an even playing field, not only would society be more productive, there'd be a million new inventions and things going on in the world, and our global economic   — Kimberlee

We all know debt is bad for our financial and mental health, so why do we have so much trouble staying away from it? In this episode, Kimberlee explores this question by digging into the psychology of debt. She shares several factors that may contribute to our debt struggles, from our relationships to our spending to our education, and she reminds us that managing debt is vital for our physical and mental health. And stay tuned for part 2, where we'll talk about strategies for tackling debt! Episode Recap: Today we're talking about the psychology of debt (1:02) Knowing something is bad for us isn't always enough to stop us from doing it (2:12) Debt and health are directly linked (5:52) The average American has $5,700 of credit card debt (7:47) We incur debt when we don't have a budget (12:12) We incur debt when we spend more than we make (14:14) Our debt grows when we don't have enough cash flow for interest and expenses (17:16) Marriage problems can make debt worse (20:24) We struggle with debt when we don't understand it (23:16) Don't rob yourself of future stability (25:53) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Quotes:“Don't rob yourself of future financial stability because it will affect your health as well. If you have a health problem, you go to the doctor and try to figure out how to fix it so that you can stay healthy. This is as important as going to the doctor, because if you don't, you may end up having health problems over it because you get so stressed out. So, the point of this podcast is for you to ponder the why of your debt honestly, and that is the first step to solving the problem.”“Most people fail to plan. They don't have a budget, and they rely on intuition to regulate spending. ‘Should I be spending this? Eh, well I have a little bit of room.' But they don't know because they haven't done a budget. And this is a really, really bad idea.”

How can we make the most of a system where the odds are stacked against us? In this episode, Randi Braun explains how we can set better boundaries and stop feeling so much guilt even as we're working in an environment that puts women and other marginalized groups at a disadvantage. Randi is a coach, thought leader, and author of the bestselling book “Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work,” and she shares powerful insights that you can start applying to your life today! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Randi Braun, author of the bestseller “Something Major” (1:02) Can you tell us about your journey to where you are today? (2:16) Why are we moving backwards in terms of workplace equity? (7:17) How can we find success in a system that's stacked against us? (11:56) Perfectionism does not always serve us (14:17) Are you feeling guilty, or are you afraid of validation? (19:04) Why do we struggle to set boundaries? (23:41) Here's why you should remove “imposter syndrome” from your vocabulary (29:35) What is the productivity lie? (35:25) Stop saying these things! (40:32) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Article on “The Productivity Lie” by Blessing Adesiyan Something Major Website “Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work” Follow Randi on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Quotes:“The more we focus on being perfect, the less willing we are to take a chance, to throw out that creative idea, to make an ask that could actually unlock not just impact for ourselves, but impact for the people and the teams and the organizations and frankly some of the P&L that we serve.”“Guilt is what we feel when we violate our own personal code of conduct and our values. What you're experiencing wasn't guilt from how I'm hearing it, it was a fear of not getting external validation or a fear of what other people will think of you.”

With so many different ways to invest and build wealth, how do you find the path that's right for you? In this episode, Haley Kowalewski breaks down some of the basic principles you should keep in mind when building an emergency fund, saving for retirement, starting to invest, and more. Haley is the founder of Femme Financial Coaching, where she's helping women and other marginalized groups with all things personal finance and investing. She also talks about the different ways each generation views money and work, and she shares some practical tips for finding resources you can trust on social media.Episode Recap: Today we're talking with Haley Kowalewski of Femme Financial Coaching (1:01) What inspired you to start this business? (2:55) Before you pivot, make sure you're prepared for business and personal expenses (6:01) What are some barriers that stop marginalized groups from building wealth? (16:17) Have these foundations in place before you start investing (22:12) How to get started with investing (26:33) Should you open a taxable account? (29:25) How Gen Z and Millennials tend to view money and work (34:28) How to vet financial resources on social media (41:29) Can you share some client success stories? (43:55) Remember your future self (52:44) How to connect with Haley (55:56) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Femme Financial Coaching Follow Haley on Instagram and TikTok Quotes:“Education is the way through, because the stock market doesn't discriminate. It doesn't know what gender you are, what race you are, how old you are. Anyone has access to it, so that's why it's so important to educate people around it.”“You can make changes a lot faster than you think you can. And if you're thinking, ‘I don't want to be in this same spot I'm in at this time next year financially, you might be at that point where you're like, ‘Alright, I'm ready to make a change.' And if you've tried to do it on your own and you just keep falling off, then that's a point where you can hire a coach or get some support, because that support is out there. And there's no shame in doing that.”

Whether you're preparing to divorce or about to get married, there are actions you can take today to make sure your financial future is protected. In this episode, Erica Lubans breaks down some of the most important concepts to know about prenups, state divorce laws, alimony, and much more. She shares practical advice for women about preparing for and navigating divorce proceedings, and she explains why communication around finances is one of the most important indicators of a successful marriage. Erica is an attorney at the California family law firm Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles, and she has so much expert insight to share! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with divorce lawyer Erica Lubans (1:07) Why did you decide to become a divorce lawyer? (3:17) Your lawyer is not your therapist (6:59) The way you spend money matters less than how you communicate about it (10:15) What conversations should couples be having before they get married? (13:07) How do equitable distribution and community property laws affect divorce? (16:49) What to include in your prenup (25:30) Alimony vs. Settlements: Which is better (33:21) What are the different types of divorce? (39:18) Common mistakes to avoid (51:07) How do high-profile divorces differ from other divorces? (57:01) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Divorce.com website Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles  Quotes:“In marriages, if there's solid communication about money and people are being respectful of the other person's concerns and making them feel safe, then you're less likely to end up getting divorced because of financial issues.”“Have something for yourself, whether that's a career or charity or whatever it is. Have something that is just for you during marriage, don't just devote yourself to your husband and your kids. I know that's how women are, we're always putting ourselves last and being preoccupied with other people's needs, and I've seen a lot of women that when the marriage breaks down, they are completely bereft because they didn't keep anything for themselves.”

With so many stocks to choose from, how can you find the best investments for your portfolio? In this episode, Deiya Pernas shares an inside look at the work he does as an equity researcher and co-founder of Pernas Research. He weighs in on a variety of investment topics including risk mitigation, current economic conditions, and whether or not you should invest in companies you use. Deiya also shares an example of an investment type he's especially interested in right now: consumer discretionary companies. Whether you're new to investing or you have a large portfolio already, this episode is full of useful insight! Episode Recap: Today we're talking with equity research expert Deiya Pernas (0:52) How did you end up working at Morgan Stanley? (3:56) There's a need for unbiased equity research (9:41) Characteristics to look for when evaluating stocks (17:22) Should you invest in a company just because it's something you like and use? (20:44) Where to find information about an investment (24:05) How do economic conditions affect your analysis? (30:29) A practical example of investing in the consumer discretionary space (33:44) What are the risks to watch out for and how can we mitigate them? (43:36) Top tips for getting started with investing (47:28) How did you prepare to make a career pivot? (49:31) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Subscribe to the Pernas Research newsletter Quotes:“There's not some magic spreadsheet out there or some magic research provider that has all these answers. At the end of the day, it's hard work and asking the right questions, and having the discipline to follow up and answer all your questions in entirety. And after you do that you start to form a conviction of how good this company really is.”“When you're investing in individual stocks — especially if, let's so you're a listener and you've dabbled maybe a little bit or a medium amount — number one, you have to understand risk and you have to be prepared to deal with risk. That's why first and foremost I air on the side of caution when you're investing in an individual name. And this also goes for the stuff we invest in, too. As much work as we do to try to gauge the risks to a certain company's cash flows or business model, there is no company that we ever put a buyers recommendation on that is going to be immune for a large market sell.”

How might your approach to budgeting change if you started by prioritizing your goals, instead of thinking about the things you can't have? In this episode, John and David Auten-Schneider (who you might know as The Debt Free Guys) explain how you can build a budget that works for your lifestyle, whether you're doing it on your own or budgeting with a partner. John and David also talk about the biggest financial issues facing LGBTQ Americans, the importance of a prenup, 3 things to focus on when planning your financial future, and much more!Episode Recap: Today we're talking with The Debt Free Guys, John and David Auten-Schneider (1:10) Finding the best city for LGBTQ people in each state (2:19) John and David's journey to becoming The Debt Free Guys (11:02) Debt affects so many more people than we often realize (13:47) What did your tradition from your financial services jobs look like? (17:25) Once your financial life is in order, focus on these 3 things (24:08) What are the biggest financial issues facing LGBTQ people today? (29:26) Marriage is a partnership, and prenups help you have important conversations (35:04) Tips for creating a budget with a partner (39:40) When budgeting, try leading with your goals (43:06) What concerns you most right now? (50:10) How to learn more from David and John (56:47) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Best LGBTQ City in Each State podcast “4: The Principles of a Debt-Free Life” book Debt Free Guys Website Queer Money Podcast  Quotes:“With the now 430-some plus anti-LGBTQ+ bills on the floors of state legislatures across the country, according to the ACLU, and Supreme Court Justices saying they specifically want to target marriage equality, a lot of same-sex couples specifically in the community are kind of feeling like we're going back to 2014 or even earlier again, where we had to do this sort of patchwork of legal maneuvering to protect our assets and to protect the person we live with and love.” - John“Money is not a ruler, it's a tool. And it's not a ruler to be used to judge yourself against anyone else. There are amazing, beautiful, wonderful people in this world who make 40 or 50 thousand dollars a year. That doesn't make them any less than the person that's making 4,5,6 hundred thousand dollars a year. Does the outward appearance of their life look different? Absolutely. But there are plenty of ways to enjoy and have an abundant and happy life on a lower amount of money." - David

If you want to find greater success and balance in your career, you need to get comfortable with speaking up and having hard conversations. In this episode, the “Job Doctor” Tessa White shares some of her top tips for building your career on your terms. She explains why it's so important to understand what your company values, and she gives practical advice about negotiating effectively, saving yourself some extra time, and making sure your career doesn't control you. You won't want to miss this episode!Episode Recap: Today we're talking with “The Job Doctor” Tessa White (1:09) Can you tell us your journey to your current career? (2:19) You can have it all, but not all at once (7:37) What is deliberate work, and how do you determine what's most important? (19:05) How do you approach difficult conversations with a manager? (28:11) To negotiate more effectively, understand your leverage (32:56) What is the 10% miracle, and how can we get better at saying no? (38:40) How is remote work impacting our careers? (42:52) 3 things we can do so our careers don't control us (51:42) How to learn more from Tessa (54:38) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book The Job Doctor website Follow The Job Doctor on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube “The Unspoken Truths for Career Success” by Tessa White “The Job Doctor is In” podcast Quotes:“The real job description is not the job description on paper, it's something else. And part of your job is figuring out what the company actually really does value and doing more of that and less of the things they could give a rip about.”“You can't get married and expect to have a relationship work out without ever speaking up. And part of the solution to the dysfunctional workplaces and feeling taken advantage of and feeling like it's toxic, part of it is learning to speak up, and maybe doing it in a way that isn't broken glass or a bull in a china shop, but being able to speak up and share where you're at is incredibly important. So many of my clients that feel like they're overworked and they're burned out, when I ask them, ‘Have they talked with their manager?' They haven't. And your manager doesn't have a magic ball to say, ‘This person's full.' It does require your input and your help in order for them to understand.”

There's a misconception that salary transparency will hurt businesses, but that is not the case. In this episode, Hannah Williams explains how her own career journey made her realize something needed to change, inspiring her to create Salary Transparent Street. Hannah shares her perspective on the benefits of salary transparency for employees and for businesses, and she opens up about the experience of turning a viral TikTok account into a business. Episode Recap: In this episode we're talking with Hannah Williams of Salary Transparency Street (0:00:51) Can you tell us about your background leading up to today? (0:02:20) Colleges aren't preparing people to negotiate for themselves (0:12:40) Work is a business decision for you and for your employer (22:52) Salary requirements aren't a fair metric (25:28) Why is salary transparency important? (29:03) How did you turn Salary Transparent Street into a profitable business? (36:12) What is it like to work with an agent? (43:07) There's this misconception that regulation around salary is bad (47:50) How to keep up with Hannah (1:03:59) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Follow Salary Transparent Street on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Salary Transparent Street Website Quotes:“Work was not just a business relationship, it was a business decision on both sides. There's profit and loss that comes into that. And ultimately when a company hires you, they're not hiring you because they like you. They're hiring you to complete a job, and they're hiring you to pay a certain number. They have access to the same data that I do, market research. So they would know whether or not they're paying a fair market rate, the same way that I realized I wasn't getting it. And that was really disappointing, because I trusted my employer. I liked them, I was really proud to work for them. And that changed almost overnight.”“I did an interview with a company and they asked me the question that really got me fixated on salary transparency: ‘What are your salary requirements?' And I realized, this question, I get it in every interview. And every single time I get it, I feel the responsibility to say what I think I should be paid, and whether that's fair or not is placed on me instead of the company.”

Are you struggling to find a job you're passionate about? Or do you find yourself working harder and harder without seeing your pay increase? This episode with J.T. O'Donnell is for you! J.T. is the founder and CEO of the online career growth club Work it Daily, and she shares her top tips for negotiating, working remotely, finding the right job for your current phase of life, and much more. Episode Recap: In this episode we're talking with J.T. O'Donnell of Work It Daily (0:01:07) Can you tell us about your career journey up to this point? (0:03:00) There's a difference between a job, a career, and a calling (0:10:03) Look for the common thread among companies you admire (0:22:49) What tips do you have for women about negotiating? (0:32:41) Negotiating is the way to build your net worth (0:49:50) How can women network when working from home? (0:53:28) How to connect with J.T. (1:00:48) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Subscribe to the Work It Daily newsletter Join the Work It Daily membership Follow J.T. on LinkedIn and TikTok Quotes:“A lot of people say ‘Oh, I have to do this.' The truth is you get to. Think about that. You get to do this. You get to build up your financial freedom. You get to build a career that you're going to be so proud of. You get to be able to do those things so that when you're living a longer life, you're living it the way you want to on your terms. You get to.”“How you choose to brand yourself is going to determine your value. So if you're never asking for more money, that translates into, you're not creating any new value. That's really important. Aren't you learning and growing on your job every single day? Isn't that creating more value for your company every single day? That means that you should get paid more over time to reflect that.”

The FIRE movement can sound incredibly appealing if you're unhappy in your job or wanting to spend more time in retirement. But is FIRE a viable solution when interest rates are high and people are living longer than ever before? In this episode, Kimberlee breaks down the history of the FIRE movement and the formula its proponents use to save more and retire sooner. She looks closely at the pros and cons of the FIRE movement and encourages listeners to strive instead for “Financial Independence, More Options.” Episode Recap: Today we're going to talk about FIRE, and whether or not it makes sense today (1:11) FIRE: Financial Independence, Retire Early (2:11) The FIRE movement became popular after the Great Recession (5:31) If you're not enjoying your career, maybe it's time to make a change (8:16) 3 approaches to FIRE (11:58) Here are some problems with the FIRE formula (16:36) If you want to retire early, make sure you have a bridge account (24:07) Aim for “Financial Independence, More Options” (28:52) Lessons we can learn from FIRE (31:30) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book “From Paycheck to Purpose” by Ken Coleman  Quotes:“We need to take the journey with our professional lives to explore, develop, and experience our professional goals and growth. FIRE cuts that off at a very early age. 30, 40 is very young. Like I said before, you could live to be 80, 90, or 100 years old in this time, and it's a long time to be retired. Often, early retirees are running away from what they don't like. They may not have thought about their true purpose or interests. Maybe they're at a job they hate and they just want to stop and not deal with working at all. But again, throwing the baby out with the bath water in my opinion.” “Life is now very long for many of us (hopefully it is for me). Medical costs are high. And the time of easy money with low interest rates and low inflation may be a thing of the past. So, we need to redefine FIRE. We need to now call it, “Financial Independence, More Options.” That's what I like. I think that's a better version of FIRE, and it will make sure that you can live in your extended retirement in dignity.” 

Divorce, abuse, and loss of a spouse may not be fun to think about, but it's still important to be prepared. In this episode, Stacy Francis shares her top tips for navigating a divorce, preparing yourself for a financial transition, talking to your children about money, and more. Stacy is a financial advisor and wealth manager at Francis Financial, as well as the founder of Savvy Ladies, a non-profit providing free financial education for women. Episode Recap: Get to know Stacy Francis (2:04) What inspired you to start a non-profit at 26? (5:00) Financial abuse will often escalate, and it's easy to feel trapped (12:07) Have things changed for women today? (17:25) How to talk to your kids about money (23:44) Working with attorneys on divorce cases (30:42) If you're planning for a divorce, start gathering your people and your records now (36:28) Who should be on your team when navigating a divorce? (40:25) Now is the time to learn about your money (42:45) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast Francis Financial website “Unveiling the Unspoken Truth”  “Financial Help for Widows” “Financially Ever After” podcast  Savvy Ladies website Email Stacy to get involved with Savvy Ladies “The Opposite of Spoiled” by Ron Leiber Quotes:“Once women, particularly, are married, and especially if they have children, we essentially divide and conquer. And there's nothing wrong with that, but often the dividing and conquering of all the tasks that need to be done is that he's managing certain things, which often are the investing, long-term financial planning, working with the CPA, and the accounting, she's often doing the bill paying.” "The largest population above age 65 living in poverty are divorced women, and the second largest population are women who have been married and their spouses passed away.” 

Think of budgeting like a medical checkup: even when it's tempting to put it off, you need to know what's wrong in order to treat it. In this episode, Kimberlee explains the psychology behind budgeting — including the benefits of it and the reasons you may find yourself resisting it. She also shares a step-by-step process for creating a budget and explains how this one financial tool can help you build your net worth. Episode Recap: Today we're going to talk about the psychology behind budgeting (0:56) To help build happiness, eliminate financial fear (2:08) Why do we resist budgeting? (4:43) Benefits of budgeting (6:50) What is net worth, and why does it matter? (8:48) How to calculate your net worth (11:27) 5 steps to financial flourishing (14:11) To create a budget, start by understanding your income and expenses (15:21) If your expenses exceed your income, it's time to reduce your costs (20:25) Your budget is not a one-and-done tool (22:41) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast “The Fiscal Feminist” book Bankrate Net Worth Calculator Mint You Need A Budget Pocket Guard FTC Budget Worksheet Quotes:“In my opinion, one of the main building blocks to happiness is to eliminate financial fear and the stress that goes along with that fear. So why do I think this? Because when we have financial problems, we're going to feel stressed, and sometimes we're even going to feel physically sick because of the stress we're feeling.”“To me, net worth is about the life and the experiences that you want to have, and having the freedom to pursue those experiences, to achieve the life that you want. Don't compare your net worth to others.”

If you're feeling stuck in your career or your life, you're not alone! Everyone gets stuck, but there are things you can do today to start pulling yourself out. In this episode, Ella Lucas-Averett shares some of her top tips for creating momentum, moving past fear, and learning from our failures. Ella is a founder and managing partner of The Trivesta Group, and the host of On Air With Ella, a motivational podcast about wellness, personal development, habit building, and more. Episode Recap: Get to know Ella Lucas-Averett (1:45) What was it like to start a business at such a young age? (6:31) How to find momentum when you're feeling stuck (13:32) What keeps us from taking action? (24:51) To move past fear, start showing up (27:03) How do we overcome feeling afraid of failure? (33:23)  If you don't care for yourself, you can't care for anyone else (44:01) No one has the same stack of gifts and experiences as you (52:23) Try this one thing today to get unstuck (1:00:07) Resources: Find every episode of the Fiscal Feminist podcast On Air with Ella website Follow Ella on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter Quotes:“There are so many things that I wish I had started or wish I were further on and didn't do because I was scared. And I think that anyone listening can relate to that thing they're sitting on, or stalled on — maybe they did it — or maybe they're still sitting on it, because they're not sure it's ready, or they're not sure they're ready, they're not sure it's good enough, they're not sure they want to be seen, or what would people say? And I would just say, what if you acted as if you had no choice, and you just did it and see what happens? Because sometimes action can be a hell of a lot more effective than analysis.”“If we are waiting for lightning bolt motivation to do the thing we're meant to do in life or to develop that skill or to learn that language or to start that exercise routine or to revisit our relationship with our spouse or our partner, whatever. If we're waiting for that lightning bolt, you're gonna die waiting. And I say that not to be cynical, but to say, if that were the secret, don't you think that we would have hacked that by now? Don't you think we would be doing all the things and all out here living our best life? I don't know about you, but that's not what happens for me. And the myth that you need to land on motivation, or even better, that it would land on you, that is not going to get you where you need to be. So the word I replace it with, every day of my life, is momentum.”

One of the best investments we can make is in our kids. Robin Taub talks with us about how to raise kids who have a healthy understanding of money, spending, and investing from her book "The Wisest Investment" which updated her bestselling book "A Parent's Guide to Raising Money-Smart Kids." Topics include: How did our parents talk to us about money, and what can we learn from them? Going over the statistics for financial education availability in schools, and who should teach our kids about money? Can you learn how to manage finances along with your kids, or what do your kids learn by watching you? Robin discusses the five pillars of money and age appropriateness. Where are kids looking for financial advice other than their parents? Robin's Website & Instagram "The Wisest Investment: Teaching Your Kids to Be Responsible, Independent and Money-Smart for Life" "Raising Money-Smart Kids: How to Teach Your Kids about Money and Learn a Few Things Yourself" The Fiscal Feminist - A Financial Wake-up Call for Women Fiscal Feminist Website

The podcast today is learning about the ins and outs of what it means to be a life coach, and how using the tools that life coach and podcaster Danielle McCombs has will help us to be our better authentic selves. Topics include: Using unexpected experiences to your advantage. How do you work through the feeling that “there's something else missing”? What does it mean to be a life coach and what does working with a life coach look like? How do you surround yourself with people who will be your ‘team'? Becoming a life coach and the steps and requirements involved. How complacency and the expectations of others affect you being authentic. What is the difference between therapy and life coaching? Danielle's Podcast with Kristy Olinger - @TheOppositeOfSmallTalk Danielle's Website & Instagram The Opposite of Small Talk Challenge! - Be sure to use code Challenge8 The Fiscal Feminist - A Financial Wake-up Call for Women Kim's Website

Women have unique financial issues and concerns that they must confront over the course of their lives that differ from men's. Many of our base truths about money are formed by our upbringing and the people in our lives. We are not born with preconceived notions about money, hence it is within our control to change our mindset, reprogram and secure our financial futures. We'll encourage women to get uncomfortable in the short-term by asking the right money questions and taking preventative action to secure their financial futures. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

Women have been largely overlooked in money conversations and you know the stats, we earn less, live longer, and so much more. We definitely get the short end of the equality stick a lot. So it's even more important, no, make that critical, that we as women learn how to have fiscal freedom. I'll share the must-know money lessons that every woman needs to know and holds your hand through some serious topics like divorce, prenups and postnups, and all those money topics that you'd rather hide from. My message is that you need to become the CEO of your life. Join us for this inspiring episode that feels like a fun information overload, in the best way possible, and a wild ride with Shannah Compton Game. Let's get talkin'. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

Life is always coming at us fast, and that feels especially true when you decide to write a book. You take on this huge, ambitious commitment, and suddenly a home improvement project goes sideways, a family member has a health issue, work-demands become crushing, or some other huge interruption comes along and threatens to pull you off your path. I experienced all of that and more. Listen to my talk with Maggie Langrick writer and publisher at Wonderwell Press and host of The Selfish Gift Podcast. You will learn: Why women need a “financial wake-up call.” Why taking control of your finances is one of the most important forms of self-care. The five steps to achieving financial freedom. How to balance building an author platform and writing a book while working a full-time job. How to stay committed to finishing your book when the day-to-day stress of life gets overwhelming. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

Is Crypto the way forward for women investors or is it style over substance and group think? This has been on my mind lately and I can't wait for us to dive in together! “Fear,” “anxiety,” “inadequacy,” and “dread” are words that 47% of women with at least $25,000 of investable assets associate with financial planning. Women are less comfortable managing their retirement investments and making investment decisions than men. Only a fraction of American women (26%) is investing in the stock market. Why is this the case? Largely, it's simply an issue of avoidance, fear of the unknown, and a long tradition of lack of financial guidance to, and discussions with, our daughters as they grow up. Multiple studies substantiate that when women focus on investing and leave their fears and avoidance at the doorstep, they can be effective in building their wealth through investing without taking on outsized risks and trying to get rich quick. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

In today's talk, we discuss the complex relationships that women have with money. How we earn it, how we save it, invest it, and spend it… and those relationships can get even more complex when our personal relationships — specifically, our marriages — come to an end.

In this episode we talk about: How my experience as financial advisor led her to become passionate especially about finance for women Trying parts of my life that served as financial lessons for her Unrealistic expectations around primary breadwinning and motherhood How women can shift the conversation around money by addressing finance on the micro and macro levels Why women need to be intentional with career choices and realize that good is good enough The importance of automation in your finances How I advises people that feel like they are too far behind to start investing in their retirement Rethinking retirement norms Starting the financial conversation with your parents and figuring out the best financial plan for them The psychological toll navigating your parents' finances can take

Let's kick this off with an admission: We don't have a prenup. In today's episode, I'll tell you why—and why we probably should've gotten one. We also talk with Kim Davis (former Wall Street attorney, present managing director at the Bahnsen Group, and founder of the Fiscal Feminist) about: How the “stay-at-home” spouse can protect themselves financially Why the prenup agreement is like an insurance policy for your marriage What Kim thinks about joint credit cards How much to budget for a prenup …and a whole lot more.

Financial wellbeing affects every part of our life as leaders. As our guest today, Kimberlee Davis says, ignorance is not bliss. In our conversation, we talk through practical steps that will help give you the financial stability and independence to weather the ups and downs of life without living in constant fear. We also talk about: -The first steps that you should take to improve your financial wellbeing -The importance of honing your negotiation skills -How to deal with the “motherhood penalty' that still exists in our workforce

Join The Fiscal Feminist, Kimberlee Davis, for her conversation with Coco Brown, a true visionary and role model for all women aspiring for success in their professional journey. Coco has held leadership roles including CEO, COO, President, Board Member, and advisor for Fortune 1000 companies, start-ups, and non-profits. She has delivered successful outcomes for Apple, Cisco, E-bay, and Facebook just to name a few, by accelerating multimillion-dollar growth through vision, strategy, technology, and people leadership. Currently, she is the founder and CEO of The Athena Alliance a game-changing executive firm that helps position the top 10% of executive women for advancement and board opportunities. Coco is a change agent and is working towards transforming board composition. You will enjoy this deep dive into Coco's journey, vision, advice, and discussion of how to be a bold woman leader who has scaled the heights of success while juggling being the mother of 2 children. Yours in Fiscal Sisterhood… Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

This week's Fiscal Feminist podcast revisits the complex and demanding issues facing the “sandwich generation”. Many of us are “sandwiched” between the emotional and financial needs of our aging parents and the demands of raising younger children or financially supporting to some extent grown children. Add work responsibilities to the mix and it makes for a sometimes heavy load to carry. Trevor Cummings, my partner and colleague at The Bahnsen Group, interviews me on the topic focusing on the emotional, psychological, and financial demands of elderly caregiving of our loved ones and the strategy for being prepared for it so you aren't blindsided by the impact of it. It's an honest discussion of my journey with caregiving from the emotional toll to the financial impact. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com

There has been a lot of media coverage about the “Great Resignation,” the moniker that is being used to describe the economic upheaval of the pandemic and the reallocation occurring in the economy for both employers and employees. We are experiencing a disconnected employment environment resulting from the pandemic and many are reassessing their career selections by choice or necessity. Women have been particularly affected by the upheaval from the pandemic and many have left the workforce and frequently not by choice. According to The Washington Post, in January 2020 before the pandemic, “For just the second time, women outnumbered men in the U.S. paid workforce, with their new majority buoyed by fast job growth in health care and education over the past year, as well as the tight labor market.” Progress was being made, but now women must deal with the fallout from the pandemic. There has been some job recovery for women in 2021, with the August 2021 unemployment rate for women at 4.8%, but it has been slow progress, and women's participation in the workforce remains well below pre-pandemic levels. According to the National Women's Law Center September 2021 report, as of August 2021's rate of employment for women, women will need almost 9 straight years of job gains at that rate to recover the jobs lost since February 2020! Further, reported unemployment rates do not include people who have left the workforce entirely –these people are no longer counted as unemployed. The women's labor participation rate of 57.4% in August 2021 remains well below the pre-pandemic participation rate of 59.2% in February 2020 and it has not been as low since December 1988!! If the women who have left the labor force since February 2020 were included in the unemployed, women's unemployment in August 2021 would have been 6.9%. Links mentioned in this episode: TheBahnsenGroup.com TheFiscalFeminist.com