Today is not only the last Friday of the month but it’s the beginning of Memorial Day weekend which is the official kick off to the summer in the US and with the beginning of the summer season, we are kicking off wedding season as well.

For the last six years, I’ve worked with clients to both plan weddings and also plan to attend and participate in weddings and as you will hear in the episode, my experience has led to some very strong opinions on weddings.

I hope you enjoy my wedding rant over cocktails.

Notes for this show as well as links to my guest's sites can be found on my blog, http://financially-blonde.com. Also, if you have any topics you would like for us to talk about during happy hour, please feel free to email me to shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @Blonde_Finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let us know. 

Until next time, take care!!

Listener Lisa asked for me to do a show on midlife career change, pivoting, reinvention...etc. 

She wrote, "I’m a full-time working mom of 2 boys, 11 & 13.  I was the first person in my family to go to college and worked 3 jobs to pay my own way.  I couldn’t wait to get to corporate America, and I have been a successful sales rep for 20 years and have learned a lot,  but as I approach my 50th birthday I feel like I need a change.   There seems to be a lot of focus in the media on Millenials, but how about the Gen-X ers?  I’m sure there are a lot of us who feel the same way and don’t know where to start (so we don’t) or what resources are available or are afraid to change for many reasons i.e. How do we translate our current skills to a new position? Can we maintain our salary level?  Do companies view us too old? Etc. and would appreciate some direction and maybe a kick in the pants to get started!"

So today I'm speaking with Dana Cowin, the Former Editor and Chief of Food and Wine Magazine and Podcast Host for Speaking Broadly. Yes, THE Dana Cowin who was at the helm for all that is great about Food & Wine. Dana and I became friends through the Bacardi Women’s Empowerment Series and she frequently discussed how she became a career guru so I put her knowledge to the test on my show. Dana has so much great information from her personal career change experience but also mentoring hundreds of people over her extensive career. This show is great for anyone at any stage thinking about making a career change. And now here’s my newest friend, Dana Cowin.

Notes for this show as well as links to my guest's sites can be found on my blog, http://financially-blonde.com. Also, if you have any topics you would like for us to talk about during happy hour, please feel free to email me to shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @Blonde_Finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let us know. 

Until next time, take care!!

Every time you meet with a client and they ask you a question, you have no idea what direction they’re leaning and all you can do is give the best advice from your personal experience, from a financially sound decision, and also from an understanding of your client.

I was recently asked by a listener to do a show about one of the most common sounding board questions financial planners get so I thought I would expand the conversation to answer other hot topic questions financial planners get. When I thought about who I would have this conversation with, the only person who came to mind, who happens to be one of my favorite and retired financial planners, Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

Joe joins me today to get thrown under the bus and answer some common financial planner questions. As usual, I loved hearing Joe’s financial advice and guidance and I hope you do as well.

Notes for this show as well as links to my guest's sites can be found on my blog, http://financially-blonde.com. Also, if you have any topics you would like for us to talk about during happy hour, please feel free to email me to shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @Blonde_Finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let us know. 

Until next time, take care!!

For most of 2017, those of us who were investing got to experience what’s called a bull market when the stock market continues to go up no matter what is happening around it.

From the beginning of early 2018; however, the stock market has hit some bumpy roads and if you checked your first quarter 401k statement from the year or watched any news outlet, you are probably concerned about what’s going on in the market and if you need to change your strategy.

Today I’ve invited Kevin Matthews, a Financial Advisor and Founder of BuildingBread.com to discuss what’s happening in the stock market recently, spoiler alert, it’s called volatility, and how you can manage your portfolios through volatile markets.

Notes for this show as well as links to my guest's sites can be found on my blog, http://financially-blonde.com. Also, if you have any topics you would like for us to talk about during happy hour, please feel free to email me to shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @Blonde_Finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let us know. 

Until next time, take care!!