Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics. During the month of July, the US typically celebrates Independence Day and I always think about financial independence during this time. There is nothing more liberating than to have choices, especially in the world we’re living in, and financial independence is the key to this. It comes in a variety of formats based on who you’re talking to, so I’m talking to my friends about their FI plans, their thoughts around saving vs. spending, and how you can find the right mix for you no matter what stage of life you’re thinking about. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode431

I get asked all the time about how someone can find a great financial planner and whether or not it makes sense to invest in a financial planner. And I always say that if you’re working with someone who’s just investing your money, I’m not sure it makes sense for you to pay for that, especially when there are plenty of great robo-adviser options for much lower fees. I do think a great financial planner not only helps an individual, couple or family determine the best road trip to accomplish all of their financial goals but also helps them prepare for the unexpected and helps avoid risks as much as possible. Risk management is a key part of great financial planning and when we’re talking about risk management, we’re usually talking about insurance. There are so many different types of insurance and it’s hard to know what types you should have and whether or not the additional expense makes sense. 

Joining me today is Yael Wissner-Levy the VP of Communication from Lemonade to talk about insurance and what types make the most sense to have. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode430

I have been working with clients now for over 10 years and something that I always find fascinating is how client behavior changes add up over time. The hardest part of a financial journey is at the beginning, especially if you’ve never done it before. But with focus and mindset shift, small changes over time literally lead to big results.

That’s why I was so excited to talk to today’s guest Ramona Cedeno, author and CEO of Fibrick because she literally wrote an entire book about it. Ramona joins me today to talk about her book Simple Choices Big, Rewards in Money and how you can make these changes in your life. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode429

These are challenging and stressful times we’re living in. With the recent decisions by the Supreme Court, I know many of you are feeling like you don’t have a voice or you’re frustrated by what’s happening around you and you’re not quite sure what to do about it. 

Well if you’re feeling like this now might be the perfect time to read the latest book from my guest today, Tanja Hester. Tanja is an author and activist and was previously on the show to promote her book Work Optional, about her journey to financial independence. Today she is here to talk about her new book Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode428

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “Financially Naked Session.” In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so that the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. Over 2 years ago now on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more and now this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hotseat today is Kat. A Financial Gym client who heard me on a podcast in college and shares how that chance listening changed the trajectory of her financial life for the better. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode427