Financial Bliss with Kelley Long

Hosted by Kelley C. Long, CFP®, CPA/PFS

Business Investing

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Achieving financial bliss goes beyond financial planning knowledge and strategies. It starts with getting to the root cause of WHY you don't behave with money in a way that supports your bigger dreams and goals. Author of the book "But Who Will Take Care of You When You're Old? Financial Planning for People Without Kids," Kelley C. Long, CFP®, CPA/PFS is a financial coach who uses her decades of experience and work with over 3,000 individuals and couples to break down the psychological and practical barriers that get in the way of making the most of your money.

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37 recent

October 20, 202625 min

The Difference Between Being Prepared and Just Being Paranoid - E37

Kelley explores how to prepare financially and emotionally for climate uncertainty without allowing fear, doomscrolling, or an obsession with control to take over. Using forecasts of unusually disruptive weather as a starting point, she argues that genuine preparedness is not about predicting every possible disaster or buying every emergency product—it is about strengthening the financial and psychological resilience that allows you to respond when circumstances change. Kelley shares practical strategies for building that resilience, including protecting your cash reserves, understanding what your insurance actually covers, making flexible travel plans, maintaining reasonable emergency supplies, and resisting the temptation to overspend in the name of preparedness. She also examines the mental side of uncertainty, explaining how algorithms can amplify frightening content, how perfectionism can become a response to feeling powerless, and why deliberately managing what receives your attention can help prevent anxiety from spiraling. Drawing on her own experience learning to release her attachment to plans going exactly as expected, Kelley makes the case that flexibility itself is a skill that can be practiced through everyday disruptions before a genuine crisis arrives. Ultimately, she encourages listeners to replace rumination with practical action, prepare for what they reasonably can, and build confidence from the knowledge that resilience is not the ability to prevent difficult things from happening—it is the ability to adapt, make informed decisions, and keep moving when they do. Key Takeaways: • Financial preparedness and emotional resilience are closely connected when dealing with uncertainty. • Focus your attention on what you can control rather than exhausting yourself trying to manage circumstances you cannot. • Building or protecting an emergency reserve can reduce both the financial and emotional stress associated with an unexpected event. • Travel insurance can help in some circumstances, but it should not automatically be assumed to cover every weather-related disruption. • No amount of financial planning can completely eliminate uncertainty from life. • The goal of preparedness is not to guarantee that nothing bad happens; it is to have enough financial resources, flexibility, and resilience to respond effectively when something does. Key Timestamps: (02:06) – Self-Awareness, Control, and the Algorithm (09:39) – #1: Be Prepared, but Don’t Go Overboard (11:33) – #2: Build Up or Protect Your Cash Reserve (12:50) – #3: Check Your Insurance (14:26) – #4: Be Mindful of Your Travel Plans (16:06) – #5: Be Flexible (22:58) – #6: Foster Your Confidence and Resilience Key Topics Discussed: Kelley Long, Financial Bliss, Money Mindset, Financial Psychology, Money Psychology, Behavioral Finance, Financial Anxiety, Money Stress, Wealth Mindset, Healthy Relationship With Money, Financial Habits, Money Beliefs, Financial Decision Making, Spending Habits, Saving Habits, Investing Psychology, Financial Confidence, Financial Wellness, Wealth Building, Personal Finance, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Financial Independence, Financial Goals, Money and Happiness, Money and Relationships, Scarcity Mindset, Abundance Mindset, Fear of Spending, Fear of Investing, Financial Avoidance, Lifestyle Inflation, Financial Freedom, Values-Based Financial Planning More of Financial Bliss: Get Your Copy of My Book: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://financialblisscoach.com/book&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1787278536772124&usg=AOvVaw3Vv2EfFMi0OktlKwJf2C9T

September 15, 202623 min

Are You Waiting for the “Perfect” Time to Live? l E36

What’s keeping you from making the changes you know you need to make? The idea of a “growth edge” describes that uncomfortable space where fear, uncertainty, or perfectionism can keep you stuck—even when you know what you want is on the other side. Growth looks different for everyone, and what feels easy to one person can feel genuinely intimidating to another. The same idea applies to money. The best financial decision isn’t always the one that looks optimal on paper. Sometimes, the better choice is the one that supports the life you actually want—even if it isn’t technically perfect. Letting go of the pressure to “do it right” can create the freedom to take action, embrace imperfection, and move toward what matters most. If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, or the confidence to finally make a change, there may be a better way to think about what comes next. Key Takeaways: • A growth edge is the point where you begin moving beyond your familiar comfort zone toward something you know you want or need to change. • Growth edges are highly individual; what feels effortless to one person can be deeply uncomfortable for someone else. • Self-awareness means distinguishing between “I can't” and “I am not choosing to prioritize this right now.” • The best way to avoid unwanted advice is sometimes to clearly own a choice rather than frame it as an inability or external constraint. • Growth often involves consciously choosing which responsibilities you are willing to take on—and which ones you are not. • Spending more, paying more taxes, or accepting a less-than-optimal financial outcome is not necessarily a mistake when it is an informed choice in service of a person's goals. Key Timestamps: (00:00) – Reintroduction (03:36) – Stepping Out (07:00) – Commitment and Consistency (08:54) – Growing the Podcast (13:04) – Podcasting More Frequently (14:58) – Selling the Book (19:57) – Freedom and Choice (22:27) – Change One Thing Key Topics Discussed: Kelley Long, Financial Bliss, Money Mindset, Financial Psychology, Money Psychology, Behavioral Finance, Financial Anxiety, Money Stress, Wealth Mindset, Healthy Relationship With Money, Financial Habits, Money Beliefs, Financial Decision Making, Spending Habits, Saving Habits, Investing Psychology, Financial Confidence, Financial Wellness, Wealth Building, Personal Finance, Financial Planning, Retirement Planning, Financial Independence, Financial Goals, Money and Happiness, Money and Relationships, Scarcity Mindset, Abundance Mindset, Fear of Spending, Fear of Investing, Financial Avoidance, Lifestyle Inflation, Financial Freedom, Values-Based Financial Planning More of Financial Bliss: Get Your Copy of My Book: https://www.google.com/url?q=http://financialblisscoach.com/book&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1787278536772124&usg=AOvVaw3Vv2EfFMi0OktlKwJf2C9T

December 30, 2025Episode 3216 min

Why I'm Not Setting New Goals for 2026 & Doing This Instead l E35

New Year, same me... One of the primary reasons we find it impossible to stick to new habits or goals or routines, especially when they are aspirational as New Year's Resolutions tend to be, is because we forget to consider a really important aspect of what it takes. In this episode, Kelley Long gets into what it is that we often forget to factor in and why sometimes it's ok to not have ANY new goals while still feeling like you're making progress in life. If you're sick of the constant push for self-improvement or feeling like you're spinning your own wheels on working toward your goals, this episode is for you.

November 26, 2025Episode 3433 min

How to Choose the Best Bank for Your Money l E34

If you're keeping your savings at a big bank with lots of branches, there's a good chance you're losing hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars a year without realizing it. But switching banks feels overwhelming, and how do you even know which one to pick? In this episode, Kelley Long, financial coach for women, cuts through the noise around high-yield savings accounts, credit unions, and online banks to help you figure out where your money should actually live. You'll learn the red flags to avoid, the surprisingly simple criteria that actually matter, and why making the switch might be easier than you think.

October 26, 2025Episode 3320 min

You'll Never Pay Off Your Debt Until You Stop Doing This One Thing l E33

Why do so many people struggle to pay off debt—even when they're doing "everything right"? In this episode, I reveal the one habit that's sabotaging your progress (and keeping you stuck in the cycle). If you're serious about becoming debt-free for good, this is the uncomfortable truth you need to hear. It's not about budgeting harder or earning more—it's about breaking the pattern that got you here in the first place. Plus, I'll share the deeper work you need to do to make sure you stay out of debt forever.

August 26, 2025Episode 3219 min

3 Tax Strategies from the New Law You Probably Haven't Heard About Yet (That You Can Actually Use) l E32

While everyone's debating the big-picture politics of the new tax law, financial expert Kelley Long cuts through the noise to reveal three under-the-radar changes that could actually impact your wallet this year. From a surprising shift that might bring back itemizing deductions for homeowners, to new rules about car loan interest that sound better than they actually are, to a clever 529 strategy for working professionals—this episode focuses on the practical money moves you can make right now. Whether you're cleaning out your closet, car shopping, or paying for professional certifications out of pocket, these insights could be the difference between overpaying Uncle Sam and keeping more of your hard-earned money where it belongs.

July 26, 2025Episode 3619 min

The Social Pressure Tax: What Every Childfree Woman Knows But Can't Say l E31

Child-free and single women face unique financial pressure from constant wedding and baby shower gift-giving with no reciprocal celebrations. This isn't about financial hardship - it's about intentional spending choices and opportunity cost. Society places gendered expectations on women to be generous and nurturing, labeling those who prioritize their own goals as "selfish" - pressure rarely applied to men. The solution isn't to stop celebrating friends, but to set conscious celebration budgets, create boundaries around gift-giving, and establish your own meaningful milestones worth celebrating. True generosity comes from choice, not obligation, and your financial goals matter too.

June 26, 2025Episode 2723 min

3 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Finances l E30

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the personal finance advice out there. In this episode, Kelley Long breaks down the top 3 things she thinks every woman (and really, every person) should know about their own finances, bare minimum. You’ll learn what those three things are, why they are important and how to figure them out for yourself. Resources to support this episode: www.annualcreditreport.com Decoding Credit Scores 3 Common HSA Mistakes to Avoid 8 Game-Changing Facts About HSAs I Wish I Knew Sooner The 4 Ways That a Roth IRA Can Help With Your Savings

May 26, 2025Episode 2925 min

The Money Stories Keeping You Stuck (And How to Rewrite Them) l E29

Are you stuck in patterns that keep you from the life you want, but can't pinpoint what's holding you back? In this eye-opening episode, host Kelley Long explores how the unconscious stories we tell ourselves—especially about money—become the invisible barriers to our dreams. Drawing from the pioneering work of financial therapy experts, she reveals how childhood beliefs about money can sabotage our adult success, even when our circumstances have dramatically changed. Through a powerful interactive exercise featuring 30 thought-provoking prompts, you'll uncover your hidden "money scripts" and learn to identify which beliefs are keeping you trapped in outdated narratives. Whether you're the person who still feels "poor" despite financial success, or someone who can't enjoy their money even with substantial savings, this episode offers practical tools to rewrite your story. Kelley shares real-world examples of how these unconscious beliefs play out—from missing once-in-a-lifetime experiences to making automatic decisions that conflict with our true goals. Ready to break free from the stories that no longer serve you and create space for the future you actually want?

March 28, 2025Episode 2831 min

Top 3 Financial Considerations for New Parents l E28

Based on her work with numerous new and hopeful parents, Kelley Long, CPA financial planner and unbiased money coach shares the top 3 financial considerations for new parents she hears about the most. In this episode, she covers how to think about making decisions around the best way to save for a child's future, what estate planning things you need to figure out ASAP and the new expenses that tend to cause the most challenges with growing families. Resources mentioned in this episode: www.savingforcollege.com https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/mar/saving-college-new-529-to-roth-irs-transfer-rule/ https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/oct/the-ins-outs-roth-iras-for-children/ https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2022/aug/strategic-uses-roth-iras-beyond-retirement/ https://www.financialblisscoach.com/post/want-surprisingly-flexible-savings-options-the-one-account-that-can-help

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