HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

When it comes to being happy at work, guess which factor matters the most? The nature of our work? No. The money? Nope. OK, it's the people we work with. And, if you’re lucky, you have a work wife. This week we’re with Erica Cerulo and Claire Mazur, work wives and founders of the popular fashion and design website, Of a Kind. They’re out with the new book, inspired by their relationship, “Work Wife: The Power of Female Friendship to Drive Successful Businesses.” We discuss why these relationships are valuable (in more ways than one), how to take a friendship to the next level (i.e., starting a business together) and how to talk money with your besties, in general. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on the concept of gender-neutral investing and where to invest and save for the short-term. And since we’re on the subject of relationships, would you break up with someone because of their credit card debt? Interesting research in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re sitting down with Emmy award-winning journalist and producer, Laura Ling. (Yes, the Laura Ling who was was arrested and held captive in North Korea for 140 days after reporting on the trafficking of North Korean women.) She’s now the host of the Everyday Bravery podcast, which documents people overcoming hardships. We discuss how to build your resiliency muscle, the power of mentorship and her personal caregiving story (a reminder that if you’re taking care of kids and your parents simultaneously, a) you’re not alone and b) you’re nothing short of amazing!). In Mailbag, we answer your questions on negotiating benefits packages and investing in real estate. Plus: Another friendly reminder to just say NO to store credit cards. Why in Thrive. The HerMoney Listener Survey: http://hermoney.com/survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How about Xer? Boomer? Having a multigenerational team at work can be a wonderful thing. The diversity of ages brings different experiences, different lenses—all of which can strengthen your company’s culture and increase your chances of success. But communication across the generations? That can be trying. Enter our guest, executive coach Lisa Lord. After today’s session — i.e. episode — you’ll have a new framework for figuring out what you want out of your job, how to interact effectively with all of your colleagues and even how to score a promotion you’re not qualified for (yet). In Mailbag, we answer your questions on where to save or invest money for a first home and financial considerations for first-time parents. Stick around for Thrive to hear the new rules of résumés. Have you taken our listener survey yet: http://hermoney.com/survey? To improve the show, we’re conducting a survey to learn more about you, what you think and what you want more (or less) of moving forward. It should take five minutes of your time. As a thank you—upon completion—we’ll enter you into our giveaway of $100 Amazon gift cards and signed copies of Jean’s new book, "Women With Money." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Valentine’s Day tomorrow, we decided to romance you with an entire show dedicated to your taxes. We shouldn’t have, right? But we did and we should, because this will be the first filing season that taxpayers see the full effects of the tax reform that was passed in 2017. And given that this was one of the biggest overhauls of the tax code in over 30 years, there will be tons of changes. Will they affect you? Let’s find out. Our date and tax expert this week is Maggie Klokkenga, senior advisor at Clayton Financial Group. Maggie is both a CPA and CFP®, and, best of all, she’s a longtime HerMoney community member, which is how we met. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on backdoor Roth IRAs, 529 savings plans, tax software and filing jointly. Plus: If you’re one of the many people who didn’t adjust their tax withholding last year—or you can’t remember the last time you did—then it’s time to do that. We tell you how. As always, thank you for listening. To improve the show, we’re conducting a survey to learn more about you, what you think and what you want more (or less) of moving forward. The survey should take five minutes of your time. As a thank you—upon completion—we’ll enter you into our giveaway of $100 Amazon gift cards and signed copies of Jean’s new book, "Women With Money." Please share your opinion here: http://hermoney.com/survey Resources mentioned in the show: IRS Withholding Calculator: https://bit.ly/2aLxK0A NerdWallet Withholding Calculator: https://bit.ly/2X0zcCk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Becoming a millionaire is not a private country club—it’s a result of many many years of hard work.” This week we’re back with retirement expert and Ramsey Personality, Chris Hogan, who’s out with his new book, “Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth—and How You Can Too.” Chris and the Ramsey research team surveyed over 10,000 U.S. millionaires to discover how they reached seven-figure status. Not surprisingly, it starts with getting in the right headspace. Oh, and Andy Puddicombe, consider Chris your competition. (If you listened to Episode 49, then you know what we’re talking about!) In Mailbag, we answer your questions on being more hands-on with your retirement investments, budgeting for childcare and retirement planning with a pension. Then, should you share your salary with your colleague—your male colleagues? We discuss in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building on last week’s episode on the FIRE movement, this week we sit down with Jamila Souffrant, creator of the blog and podcast, Journey To Launch, in which she chronicles her and her family’s experience towards financial independence. “For most people who hear about FIRE movement it seems overwhelming,” says Jamila. “I like to modify it and say it [financial independence] can mean anything you want it to mean. In my case, it meant I wanted to retire from my corporate job to do work I love.” Jamila is candid on how she and her husband increased their savings rate, modified their investments and managed their accounts together to make this happen. In fact, we all might want to take a lesson in financial togetherness (and respect) from this couple. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on maxing out 401(k)s without compromising your short-term goals, protecting your finances when buying property with a future spouse and funding HSAs. And Jamila’s story has us wondering: Do you feel engaged in what you're doing at work? If not, we discuss new research that can help in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Only you can prevent running out of money in retirement. OK, we’ll cool it with the fire and Smokey The Bear puns. This savings crisis is one we’ve covered before, but this week we’re discussing what thousands of people are calling the solution: The FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Movement. Our two experts, Jonathan Mendonsa and Brad Barrett, co-hosts of the ChooseFi podcast, explain what it is, its “simple math” and why it’s so popular: “You know, I think all of us kind of understand the golden years are the years that you're allowed to do everything that you've really wanted,” says Jonathan. “Now society has given you the permission to go do that...I don't just want my golden years right—I want my best years.” Then, in Mailbag, we answer your questions on how college students can start investing and building credit when they have none. Plus, there’s another gap—not in our favor—we can add to the list: the stress gap. Sigh, and talk solutions with us in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Double lives. Deception. Shame. Nope, it’s not an episode of “Dirty John” (though it could be)—it’s this week’s podcast. Abby Ellin, an award-winning journalist and author of the new book: “Duped: Double Lives, False Identities, and the Con Man I Almost Married,” is in the studio and does she have a story to tell! She also equips us with advice for how to be smarter even when we’re confronted with some of the most-skilled liars. Then, in Mailbag, we discuss how you can ask for more financial responsibility at home without implying you don’t trust your partner—and we answer your questions on long-term care policies for singles (plus other insurances singles should strongly consider) and the 4% retirement rule. In Thrive, staying on the theme of couples and money: Who do you think should pick up the check on a date? We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re in the second week of 2019 — and with our New Year’s resolutions fresh in our minds — we thought it’d be an opportune time to talk about abundance. Or rather, the art of abundance with Leisa Peterson. Leisa is a wealth coach, business strategist, podcaster and author, who is known for her ability to quickly identify the exact issues that are holding us back from achieving our goals. She’s helped thousands of people (including us) develop practical skills for attracting greater wealth, freedom and peace of mind. In Mailbag, we cover your questions on refinancing student debt, aligning your budget with your ethics and exploring career opportunities in the financial services industry. Finally, have you heard of the FIRE movement? We’ve mentioned it on the show before and we have a podcast dedicated to it coming up soon. In the meantime, a FIRE 101 in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year HerMoney! Goodbye 2018 and goodbye investing confidence gap. After decades of focusing on why women weren’t investing, the broader conversation is shifting to why — and how — women are growing their wealth. We’re kicking off another fantastic year of important conversations with HerMoney’s champion from day one, Kathy Murphy. She’s the president of personal investing at Fidelity, which is out with new research on women and investing. A finding we’re thrilled to hear: Over 70% of women say it’s time to demand more from their money and that they’re going to take action in the next six months. Let’s join them! Kathy tells us how. In Mailbag, Kelly and I answer your questions on Social Security, opening up a Roth IRA and buying a house in the current market. Plus: We know women are more likely to take career breaks for childcare — and now we have an idea of how much it can cost them. We discuss in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Too many of us can relate to the fact that personal finance wasn’t something we were taught growing up. It’s a big reason why this show exists and it’s also why Dina Shoman founded inherQuests, a company that creates financial education products for kids. She’s on a mission to increase financial literacy for our future generations, starting with little girls. She shares what’s working, what isn’t and how we can start talking to our kids about money in a way that sticks. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on getting out of debt, getting money in foreign countries and combining finances for newlyweds. Finally, you know we love highlighting gratitude practices, especially the simple ones, like writing thank-you notes. But it turns out if you’re writing one to a hiring manager, you might want to put away the pen and paper. Why in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re tackling the subject of aging, which, according to new research, more women are looking forward to. Excuse us? Yep, financial challenges aside, more women are excited about aging, particularly about what their lives will look like as they age. It’s rooted in the idea of, “The best is yet to come.” But the best will only come if you’re feeling your best, and that means taking care of yourself. Enter: The always-wonderful Jillian Michaels. Just days after losing her home in the California Camp Fire, Jillian spent time with us to discuss her latest book, “The 6 Keys: Unlock Your Genetic Potential for Ageless Strength, Health, and Beauty.” We run through all six and how you can apply them today, because “Aging gracefully doesn’t have to mean giving up and accepting decay,” writes Jillian. “It means keeping yourself in fantastic health, inside and out, for a hell of a long time …” In Mailbag, we answer your questions on union memberships, rebalancing 401(k)s and prioritizing HSAs. Then, if you’re like us — and many other rewards-points junkies — the allure of getting a new credit card with a big, fat rewards bonus sends your heart fluttering: 50,000 points, 70,000, 100,000, oh my! But, what then? How to maximize them in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve got the O.G. B.F.F. (best financial friend) on the show this week. Shannon McLay is the founder and CEO of The Financial Gym, a financial services company that’s disrupting the industry’s approach with women (and some men) on how they overhaul their relationships with money and work towards financial success. We discuss why women want (and need) different financial advice, what's working, what isn't and how Shannon is successfully raising capital for her company from men who can't relate. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on finding a job in the financial services industry, balancing wants vs. needs and understanding an annuity alongside other retirement accounts. Finally, because there’s so much going on in our world that’s blazing a light on our differences rather than our similarities, we thought it would be nice to focus on something we all want: happiness. Join us in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Earlier this year, America's student debt hit 1.5 trillion dollars — and guess who holds most of it? Yep, us ladies. We hold nearly two-thirds of all student loan debt in the United States. To bring it closer to home, the average graduate walked off campus with around $39,400 last year, which is up six percent from 2016. It's trending up, so what can we do for ourselves and our loved ones to lower the cost? One (big) option: 529 college savings plans. We have Abby Chao, co-founder and COO of CollegeBacker, to talk us through what they are, how they work and how you can easily get your loved ones on board. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on retirement planning for when you're out of work, credit cards for new adults and how to go from joint accounts to yours, mine and ours. In Thrive, HerMoney reporter Kathryn shares her coverage on the increase in workplace demotions. We discuss what to do and how to handle them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you texted, emailed, Slacked and DM'd with people more than you talked to them face-to-face today, then this week's episode is for you. Erica Keswin, author of the new book, "Bring Your Human to Work: 10 Surefire Ways to Design a Workplace That Is Good for People, Great for Business, and Just Might Change the World," is all about learning how to speak in a human voice, finding the sweet spot between tech and connect and meetings that won't waste your time. She's our new girl crush. And we cover it all. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on selling stock, rolling over retirement accounts and dealing with medical collections. And, in Thrive, some great news: There are more 401(k) and IRA millionaires than ever before, according to a new report from Fidelity — woo-hoo! You can be one, too. Keep listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding roommates and funding businesses are no easy feats. Ask Elien Becque. She's the founder and CEO of RoomZoom, a roommate matching web app designed to take the stress, financial risk and guesswork out of finding a roommate. We’ve covered the trend of more couples cohabitating before marriage to save money, but we haven’t discussed a similar trend of more Americans — in non-romantic relationships — choosing to room together for the same reason. Elien is our new guide for how to find the perfect match. She also gets real on the highs and lows of running an early-stage company — her entrepreneurial story is both refreshing and relatable. In Mailbag, Kelly and I talk Venmo and answer your questions on retirement: saving strategies with a pension, saving strategies without a pension and whether or not it's OK to use them for paying off the mortgage. Plus: It's Open Enrollment time. Are you set for next year? We discuss health care in Thrive. Something easier than choosing a health care plan? Subscribing to our free weekly newsletters! Just text "HERMONEY" to 888-111 to subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TGIF! To celebrate, we're taking you back to our live show at the PRX Podcast Garage in Boston. After our interview with Harvard’s Brigitte Madrian and our Mailbag (listen to both in Episode 134), we hosted a HerMoney Happy Hour. Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy 30+ minutes of women getting real about their relationships with money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a wantrepreneur (our favorite new word) or neither, the ability to market yourself is crucial. We all need to be able to create strong brands — personal and professional — and this week we get advice on how from the best. Tina Wells, CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group, an agency that creates marketing strategies for clients within the beauty, entertainment, fashion, financial, and lifestyle sectors, gives us a private consultation. In Mailbag, Kelly and I answer your questions on using life insurance plans for college savings, trusts, and credit card balance transfers. In Thrive, Fair Isaac Corp. — the creator of FICO credit score — is introducing a new scoring system called the UltraFICO in 2019. Learn how it could impact you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HerMoney recently went on a road trip to Boston for a live show with Harvard’s Brigitte Madrian at the PRX Podcast Garage. We discuss her extensive research on 401(k)s — savings rates, leakages and the possible relationship they have with credit card debt — if you were auto-enrolled into yours, then you definitely want to tune in. We also explore the idea of sidecar plans. Have you heard of them? In our live Mailbag, we answer attendees' questions on how to get more of our girlfriends talking about money, how to approach the current real estate market, how to ride the stock market (rollercoaster) and more. In fact, so much more, including a taste of a HerMoney Happy Hour (!), that we're making this a two-part special. Stay tuned for more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We (and by we, we mean the entire personal finance community) talk a lot about saving for retirement, but not enough about how to make our money last as long as we're going to. So we're going to change that. One possible solution for better guaranteeing income in retirement: annuities. One woman who's making annuities sound much sexier than they are: Elaine Larsen. At speeds of over 280 mph, Elaine has made a career out of going as fast as possible for five seconds down a straight and narrow quarter-mile track as hot-rod race car driver. However, after a major wreck in 2011, she realized she wasn’t invincible and that it was time to start planning for retirement. She shares her story and how an annuity was right for her and her family. In Mailbag — after retirement is taken care of, how should you invest an extra $10,000? We offer ideas and answer your other questions on freezing credit for toddlers and buying into CDs at credit unions. Plus: Venmo is about to get more expensive. Hear why in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With giving season upon us, we started asking ourselves how we can make bigger impacts — not just at the end of the year — but perhaps year round? We all have causes we care about, but when does it make sense to take donating money, time or resources a step further? When does it make sense to start a charity or not-for-profit organization of your own? To help us answer these questions, we’re sitting down with Scott Harrison, founder and CEO of the non-profit organization charity: water, which focuses on the global water crisis and the world’s 663 million people without clean water to drink. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on healthcare plans for people in their 50s and 60s, forgotten stocks and freezing and unfreezing your credit — which you can now do for free. No more excuses — and more details in Thrive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The loss of an identity. The loss of a paycheck. Sometimes they're one in the same. This week we're discussing how to navigate major life changes with two of my favorite women, Lisa Oz and Jill Herzig, great friends and hosts of the new podcast, "You Turns by HowStuffWorks." We love the name — and the concept. We sit down with both to discuss the good, the bad and the sometimes ugly when making personal and professional transitions (e.g. sending a kid off to college or losing your job). In Mailbag, Kelly and I answer your questions on earning extra income while on Social Security Disability Income SSDI, and how to (nicely) ask your credit card company for lower interest rates. (Yes, it's possible.) In Thrive, we discuss the new and troubling research that shows many women are opting for “intentional invisibility” in the office. P.S. If you're in Boston, come see us LIVE on 10/27: https://bit.ly/2CS1Z5o. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many of us, the tables eventually turn, the roles reverse and it becomes time to take care of the people who took care of us for so many years. Becoming caregivers for our parents is often uncomfortable, emotional and comes at a time when many of us are still revving up at work (and, yes, women are more likely to leave the workforce for this, too). Stories like this week's guest, award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien's, remind us that we're not alone in this. Soledad gets candid about her caregiving experience, her evolving relationship with money and what she's hearing from other women leading up to this year's midterm elections. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on warming up to Venmo (as a parent), accessing your free credit reports and investing $10,000 just because. And, whether you're a parent of a college student or a college student yourself, building your credit while in school is not just smart, but doable. We tell you how. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, oh my! This week we're getting hormonal with my good friend, Randi Hutter Epstein, author of the new book: "Aroused: The History of Hormones and How They Control Just About Everything" — which, by the way, includes our finances. We talk emotions (and money), birth control (and money), egg freezing (and money) and how to save, yes, money, on shopping for medical care. In Mailbag, Kelly and I answer your questions on selling stocks, protecting your newborn's identity and HELOCs. And a question for all of us: Could our friendships be holding us back at work? We discuss in Thrive. If you haven't already, please check out the *NEW* HerMoney.com — and please subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2DNigd4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fear that you'll run out of money in retirement is big and real and daunting. Which is why we're always excited to hear about it when someone — somewhere — has a new idea to help us conquer the challenges of making our money last. This week's hero: Morningstar's Head of Behavioral Science, Dr. Stephen Wendel. He outlines how a handful of modest (and specific!) changes, when made simultaneously, can amount to much bigger nest eggs. So, calm your retirement anxieties — and geek out on the research — with us. Then, in Mailbag, we’re discussing 401(k) rollovers, the 5-year rule on Roth IRAs and having a dedicated savings account for healthcare. And in Thrive, how to budget with a cash-only diet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re speaking with a woman who’s on a mission to make other women, "really f***ing rich." And who doesn't like the sound of that? Cindy Eckert, founder and CEO of Sprout Pharmaceuticals is leading this charge, while simultaneously supercharging our sex lives. Her company — which she sold for $1 billion and bought back for practically nothing — created Addyi, the first ever FDA-approved drug for low sexual desire in women. We talk hormones, big pharma, negotiations and how to handle sexism. Her strategy: "Kill them with competence." It's a must-listen. In Mailbag, we dive into credit cards, student loans and other financial trade-offs. And, in Thrive, we discuss troubling research on the big little lies we tell when women outearn their husbands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s college application season for thousands of high school seniors across the country — and the ones who love them. Whether you're up against the deadline this year — or see it coming around the corner — it's never too early to start strategizing. We sat down with independent university admissions counselor and founder and CEO of IvyWise, Dr. Kat Cohen, to talk not just about reigning in the cost of college, but the cost of applying itself. In Mailbag, we answer your questions on wealth strategies for singles, bankruptcy scores and credit cards for young adults. Then, in Thrive, meet HerMoney reporter Kathryn Tuggle! She shares her reporting on how — and why — pet insurance can be a smart move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions on retirement for investing options, the perks of making additional mortgage payments, 529 alternatives, why someone might put her home in a trust, and how to build an emergency fund and pay down debt at the same time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're getting up close and personal about our spending habits with Lindsey Stanberry, author of the book "Refinery29 Money Diaries: Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know About Your Finances... And Everyone Else's." She offers an inside look into the spending habits of women across the country. In Mailbag, credit card loyalty, balance transfers and health insurance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary discusses her quest for the perfect credit score. (Yes, she has an 850!) She dishes on spending in line with your values and how to live a debt-free life. In Mailbag, taking on significant student loans, Roth IRAs and earning money working from home. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you trust your bank? We're diving into all our feels around our country's banking system with UPenn's Lisa Servon, author of "The Unbanking of America: How the New Middle Class Survives." We discuss large and small banks, credit unions and online banking alternatives. In Mailbag, catch-up strategies for retirement savings and real estate as an investment strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Were you raised to be financially independent? MSNBC LIVE anchor Stephanie Ruhle dishes on her upbringing, her career transition, and the financial advice women need most. In Mailbag, SEP IRAs and high-interest checking accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we dig deep into the confidence gap with life coach Cara Alwill Leyba. We discuss her book, "Like She Owns The Place, Give Yourself The Gift of Confidence and Ignite Your Inner Magic," what confidence looks like, feels like and how you can get more of it. In Mailbag, what to do with a CD that's coming due, how to pay off your mortgage faster, and where to find a fee-only financial advisor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stella & Dot CEO and founder Jessica Herrin talks financial independence, home business opportunities, and saving and investing. In Mailbag, the pros and cons of using your savings to learn a new skill and checking your credit report and score for free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just like you fell for Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years, we’ve fallen for Danica McKellar IRL. Not only is she a brilliant actress, she’s also an internationally-recognized mathematician and the author of a number of books aimed at helping girls become more confident with math. We talk math phobias and why the stereotypes about women and math still linger today. In Mailbag, questions on life insurance for children, IRAs and finding an advisor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nely Galán, the first Latina President of Entertainment for a U.S. television network (Telemundo), talks strategy, sacrifice and self-control. She joins us for an inspiring conversation on immigration, building wealth, real estate, overachievers, and our ever-growing to-do lists. In Mailbag, getting your rent reflected on your credit report, and selling a home in a down market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's your definition of success? Career? Family? Both? We're tackling the question with Hana Schank and Elizabeth Wallace, authors of the new book: "The Ambition Decisions." We discuss work-life balance, motherhood, happiness and more. In Mailbag, how much to save, and getting 401(k) dollars from past employers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All your questions on tuition reimbursement programs, the pros and cons of using a 0% APR credit card, how your stellar financial habits can boost your partner’s, plus waiving annual fees on credit cards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Laurie Burrows Grad's husband died, she put her feelings into a wonderful book, "The Joke’s Over, You Can Come Back Now: How This Widow Plowed Through Grief and Survived." She gives us a window on widowhood, and schools us on what to say to friends and family who are grieving. In Mailbag, aggressively saving for retirement diversifying your retirement savings between Traditional and Roth accounts, and taking loans to pay off student loans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're talking divorce — an important topic for all women whether you’re single, engaged or married. Divorce expert Stacy Francis discusses why many women feel most confident with managing money when we're single, and offers some advice on how to deal with divorce if it happens. In Mailbag, balance transfer offers, investments for women in their 70s and how to prioritize retirement savings when paying off student debt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money, dating and relationships. This week we're with Meredith Golden, former psychotherapist and founder of Spoon Meet Spoon. We learn how matchmaking is big business in the U.S., and talk dating in the digital age, including which apps are right for you. In Mailbag, we talk marrying debt, annuities and how much we spend on skincare and cosmetics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fran Hauser, author of "The Myth of the Nice Girl," is here to talk about the conflicted relationship women all have with being nice. When you're nice, you can be seen as weak or ineffective. When you're assertive, you're bitchy. It sounds like a lose-lose, but Fran says it doesn’t have to be. In Mailbag, Roth IRAs for teens, umbrella life insurance policies for families and why you don't touch a 401(k) before retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life coach Lauren Handel Zander, author of “Maybe It’s You: Cut the Crap, Face Your Fears, Love Your Life,” helps us figure out not just what we want out of life, but how to get there — and it all starts with getting honest with ourselves about money, careers, health, relationships and more. In Mailbag, we tackle credit scores and how to ask for a pay bump when you know someone at the company is leaving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do you feel about what you're doing with your time? Do you feel like you're having an impact? That's the topic we tackle this week with Facebook's Head of Groups and Community Jennifer Dulski. Her book, "Purposeful" offers the leadership skills necessary for taking an idea from infancy to impact. In Mailbag, we discuss merging finances with partners and how to shop for health insurance when you have a disability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are many things women are better at than men, but taking care of our health isn’t necessarily one of them. We sit down with Jean's longtime OB-GYN and friend, Dr. Rebecca Brightman, to cover costs and considerations for women's health in every decade. In Mailbag, how to manage an income when a big portion of it is a bonus — and what you can do with an excellent credit score. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Executive coach Liz Bentley is here to help us think about the future of our careers, and how to ask for feedback that will help us constantly evolve. In Mailbag, how college grads can prep for the job hunt, and tax implications for hiring a personal assistant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Freeze your eggs. Free your career." That was the headline on an April 2014 cover of Businessweek featuring this week's guest, Brigitte Adams. Adams went on to found Eggsurance, an egg-freezing education site, and she gets granular on the process. In Mailbag, we talk credit freezing, SEP IRAs and student loan refinancing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about money and death can be awkward. That’s why we're chatting with Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner, authors of, "Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief. Beginners Welcome." We discuss grief, family dynamics, inheritances, wills, the importance of having good executors and what to say to people when it feels like there are no right words. In Mailbag, HSAs, post-divorce retirement considerations and prepping college grads for managing money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Does women + Investing = Fear? It might, according to research from our guest, Libby Leffler, VP of Membership at SoFi. She gives us her take on how to get more involved with your investments. In Mailbag, whole life insurance policies, how to rollover retirement accounts and how to pay down debt and build emergency savings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate White, author of The Gutsy Girl Handbook: Your Manifesto for Success, offers her advice on negotiating and how being a "good girl" can hold you back. In Mailbag, credit repair services, Facebook scams and tax deductions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices