Financial Bliss with Kelley Long

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

Business Investing

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Latest episode

Dec 2025

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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. Narrator of Calm's "Navigating Financial Stress" series Kelley C. Long, CFP®, CPA/PFS is a financial wellness coach who uses her decades of experience and work with over 2,500 individuals and couples to break down the psychological and practical barriers that get in the way of making the most of your money. Get ready to find your financial bliss!

Listen to episodes

35 recent

December 30, 2025Episode 3216 min

Ep. 35: Why I'm Not Setting New Goals for 2026 & Doing This Instead

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

Ep. 34: How to Choose the Best Bank for Your Money

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

Ep. 33: You'll Never Pay Off Your Debt Until You Stop Doing This One Thing

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

Ep. 32: 3 Tax Strategies from the New Law You Probably Haven't Heard About Yet (That You Can Actually Use)

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

Ep. 31: The Social Pressure Tax: What Every Childfree Woman Knows But Can't Say

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

Ep. 30: 3 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Finances

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.comDecoding Credit Scores3 Common HSA Mistakes to Avoid8 Game-Changing Facts About HSAs I Wish I Knew SoonerThe 4 Ways That a Roth IRA Can Help With Your Savings

May 26, 2025Episode 2925 min

Ep. 29: The Money Stories Keeping You Stuck (And How to Rewrite Them)

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

Ep. 28: Top 3 Financial Considerations for New Parents

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.comhttps://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

February 26, 2025Episode 2728 min

Ep. 27: Building Resilience: Self-Care as More Than Maintenance

The term "self-care" has come to mean everything from taking a bubble bath to getting your bikini line waxed and is an area of spending that tends to get a free pass when modern women examine their cash flow.The truth is that self-care has nothing to do with appearance and has everything to do with building resilience as an act of political defiance.In this episode, Kelley Long, financial coach and money activist, gets into the nuance of this growing multi-billion dollar industry, with gentle thoughts on where we might be able to strengthen our emotional and financial resistance, by calling this spending what it really is: personal grooming and maintenance.Resources mentioned in this episode include: The Gospel of Wellness, by Rina Raphael Outwitting the Devil, by Napoleon Hill, annotated by Sharon Lechter

January 26, 2025Episode 2624 min

Ep. 26: Credit Scores Decoded: What You Need to Know

Unpacking the mysteries of credit scores, CPA financial planner and money coach Kelley Long reveals the truth behind those three-digit numbers that can have such an impact on our financial lives. This episode explores common misconceptions, practical strategies, and insider insights about credit reporting that every listener should know. Discover how credit scores really work, what factors truly matter, and how to navigate the complex world of financial reporting. Kelley breaks down the system in a way that's both informative and actionable. This episode offers valuable perspectives that could transform your approach to personal finance, including answering the questions: Why did my credit score drop when I paid off a debt and should I be worried? What should I do with a credit card once I've paid it off? Shouldn't I keep a balance on it for the best score? What's the best way to build a long credit history that keeps my credit score up but also serves my financial wellness? Should I be worried about the drop to my credit score from the hard inquiry of opening a balance transfer card? And more Tune in to gain the knowledge that could save you money and stress. Resources mentioned in this episode: www.annualcreditreport.com FICO Score versions