Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About! | Purse Strings

Hosted by Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen

Business Investing Society CultureInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

165

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

"We will never solve the feminization of power until we solve the masculinity of wealth." - Gloria Steinem. On this podcast, we're going to call out those ways that women are consistently left behind financially. But most importantly, how women can help themselves. Join hosts Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen as they help you navigate the ins and outs of financial independence so that you can be financially fearless. They'll connect you with helpful resources and compelling stories from women all across the country. Whether it's buying a house, preparing for retirement, dealing with divorce, there won't be a single question off the table. Maggie is a partner and Barbara is the founder of Purse Strings, a two-part model that's all about providing women the tools and resources they need to help them learn and understand what they need to know to make good financial decisions. And they help connect women with attorneys, financial planners, realtors, and many other financial professionals who have the expertise and desire to serve the female market. Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About can be your place for tools, resources, education and a place to ask the important questions on your mind (or even better, the - you know - you aren't talking about). Find out more about Purse Strings by visiting https://pursestrings.co/ and we can't wait to connect with you on the podcast!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 13, 2026Episode 16637 min

What Is the Pink Tax and What Does It Cost Women? With Janine Rogan

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever noticed the pink razor costs more than the blue one? A small markup at the checkout can add up to a lot over a lifetime, and it is only one of the reasons women have less to save and invest. Let's talk about why this has nothing to do with lattes, and what we can do about it. In this episode, we have Janine Rogan , a CPA and the author of The Pink Tax. After years auditing some of the biggest companies in Canada and working in tech, Janine built a business around helping women build wealth. She is also a TEDx speaker, runs an online education company and the annual Wealthy Her conference in Calgary, and is finishing a master's in economic sustainability. She and Maggie talk about what the pink tax is, why women build wealth differently, and what we can do about it with our money, in our workplaces, and at the ballot box. What is the pink tax? Janine explains it is the gender price discrepancy between men's and women's products. Walk into any grocery store or pharmacy and the pink razor is usually more expensive than the blue one. She shares an investigation in Canada that compared two bottles of naproxen: the same drug, the same dose, and the same amount, but the one with a yellow banner for menstrual cramps cost more. Sometimes the price is the same but the volume is lower, as with shampoo, and the markup shows up in kids' clothes too. How much does the pink tax cost over a lifetime? Janine says the figure in her book is $82,000 over the course of a woman's life, and that a California study published after her book put it closer to $180,000. She notes that is only what women pay more for. It does not include the gender wage gap or the grooming gap. What is the grooming tax? Janine describes the pressure on women to show up looking a certain way: makeup, hair, nails, brows, lashes, and Botox. She points to research suggesting women who look pulled together tend to do better and be paid more, and to the pressure to bring a new outfit for each day of a conference. Her conclusion is that women can never be the right age, either too young or too old to be taken seriously, so the costs add up. Why do women build wealth differently? Janine says it starts with the wage gap. The pink tax and grooming costs leave less to save and invest, and the motherhood penalty, career breaks, and unpaid care work add to it, including for the sandwich generation caring for kids and aging parents. Even networking events happen between four and seven PM, exactly when daycare pickup, dinner, and bedtime are. She calls it systemic, not a spending problem. What can women do about it? Janine outlines three areas. For individuals, get good with money, learn to invest, and negotiate early, since a $5,000 difference can become multiple six figures over a career, and she recommends the book Say Less, Get More. For workplaces, create a parental leave policy men take, pay for parents' babysitters at events, move events to better times, and run a pay equity audit. As citizens, vote for policies that support women, such as childcare subsidies and abolishing the pink tax. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! [add link] Join us for the next Money Talks, "Keep More of Your Money: Spotting the Pink Tax in Your Own Budget" Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Janine Rogan: Website Instagram: @janinerogan TikTok YouTube Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

November 6, 2026Episode 16534 min

Just Lost Your Job? First Money Moves to Make This Week with Shari Rash

Send us Fan Mail Getting laid off is not the moment to make big money decisions. It is the moment to gather the facts. Let's talk about the first moves to make the week you get the call, what you can negotiate on the way out, and the one account that gives you the freedom to choose what comes next. In this episode, we have Shari Rash, a financial advisor, founder of GWA Wealth , and host of the She's Talkin' Money podcast. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Shari works with women navigating their finances on their own, including single, divorced, and widowed women, and the "accidental millionaires" who did everything right and now want help not to mess it up. She and Maggie talk about the first week after a job loss, negotiating your exit package, the difference between a budget and a spending strategy, and why every woman needs a freedom fund. What should I do with my money right after losing my job? Shari says to give yourself a day or two to feel it, then avoid any big decisions for about three months. Start by gathering the facts: what severance, PTO payout, and bonus you are getting, whether it comes as a lump sum or on a schedule, and how it will be taxed. Treat that money as what gets you through, not as a windfall. Can you negotiate a severance package when you get laid off? Yes. Shari points out that if your bonus pays in February and you are let go in November, you can ask for the months you already worked. Health insurance can be part of the conversation too, since some employers will cover COBRA premiums for a period. As Shari puts it, they are letting you go anyway, so ask for what you deserve. Should I apply for unemployment and keep COBRA after a layoff? Apply for unemployment and let go of any icky feeling about it, because your taxes paid for that benefit. COBRA is not cheap, but it keeps your doctors and benefits the same, which is one less thing to figure out during the transition. What are the biggest money mistakes after a job loss? Cashing out your 401(k), not understanding your exit package, and acting on emotion. Shari encourages women to treat the situation as facts and numbers, use the emergency fund they built for exactly this, and avoid anything they cannot undo. What is a spending strategy and how is it different from a budget? Shari builds spending strategies with needs, wants, and wishes. Needs include real quality of life, like a monthly dinner with friends and Netflix. When something major happens, you simply remove the wants, so you know exactly what to cut without the emotion and drama. What is a freedom fund and why does every woman need one? A freedom fund is an after-tax account you can access before 59 and a half without penalties. Retirement accounts and home equity are hard to reach, so this account gives you flexibility to handle a job loss, start a business, or make a big life change, and it can still support retirement. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Join us for the next Money Talks, "I Just Lost My Job. What Do I Do With My Savings?" Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

October 30, 2026Episode 16434 min

The Invisible Breadwinner with Diana Bernal

Send us Fan Mail For years, a woman earning more than her partner was something people whispered about, as if not to offend. Today it can mean the opposite: something is working. So why do so many women still keep quiet about it? Let's talk about what it takes to stop apologizing for earning more, and what it looks like to share the load once you do. In this episode, we have Diana Bernal , an executive coach who helps high-performing women navigate growth, leadership, and high-stakes decisions. Based in Southern California, Diana writes about the Breadwinner's Shift on Substack, speaks to women's groups and Latina professional associations, and is the author of Career with Intention. She and Maggie talk about the shift in how we see women as primary earners, how to share the mental load at home, how to keep your career moving when family pulls you in different directions, and how to plan for what comes after the 9 to 5. What is the breadwinner shift? Diana explains that it is happening in two ways. The first is in the numbers: Pew Research shows more and more women are the primary earners, and many more earn almost as much as their husbands, with jobs of real consequence, big promotions, and travel. The second is a shift in mindset, as women move past guilt and fear of judgment to say they want the career and are embracing it. What does it mean to be an invisible breadwinner? Diana says women stay invisible because we do not talk about money. Years ago, a woman as the primary earner meant something went wrong and it was kept hush-hush. Today it means something is working. As the primary breadwinner in her own home, where her husband loves to cook and bake, Diana encourages invisible breadwinners to start talking with their female friends, because there is strength in numbers and fear of judgment keeps many women quiet. How do you stick to your career goals when home pulls you in different directions? Start with your values and how your career lines up with them. Diana suggests assessing what values like success and family really mean to you, and even trading places with your partner over time, such as one of you taking the bigger role for a few years before the other looks for a change. She recommends a career check-in once a year and warming up your network before you need it, and says not to wait until your kid graduates high school. How does staying in the workforce affect the gender pay gap? Diana notes that women on average make less than their white male counterparts for the same work, and the gap is a little worse for Latinas, African American women, and women of color. The longer we stay out, the more our salary stagnates and our title stays low, and it gets hard to catch up. Taking a smaller role for a season is okay, she says, as long as you stay connected: follow your industry news, invest in your own conference ticket, and keep in touch with former coworkers. How do you share the mental load when you earn more than your partner? Diana says to start with a conversation about who does what, and to lean into your strengths. In her home, her husband cooks and bakes while she pays the bills, works with the financial advisor, and monitors the retirement accounts. She also shares a client story about a husband who wanted to help at the grocery store and was asked to help with the thinking: checking the fridge and cabinets and creating the list. Her advice includes letting your partner do things their way and asking plainly for what you need, with not a lot of energy and emotion. Chapters 00:00 Meet Diana, the executive coach on the breadwinner shift 02:30 Why the invisible breadwinner needs to start talking 04:30 Stay-at-home dads, playground rules, and the bread-baking club 06:30 How to keep your career moving when home pulls you in every direction 12:30 The mental load and sharing it without resentment 18:30 Coaching, imposter syndrome, and the bridge era 25:00 Talk to yourself first, try the things, and what financial freedom means We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Join us for the next Money Talks, "She Makes More: What to Do With Your Money When You Are the Primary Earner" Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Diana Bernal: Website Instagram: @diana.bernal.inc LinkedIn Substack: The Breadwinner's Shift Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

October 23, 2026Episode 16348 min

Do You Need a Prenup? What Women Should Know Before Marriage with Deveney Wells-Gibson

Send us Fan Mail Would you sign a business deal without reading the terms? Most of us walk into marriage doing exactly that. We plan the venue, the outfit, and the guest list, but not who owns what, who owes what, or what happens to our paychecks if it ends. Let's talk about the part of marriage nobody puts on the invitation. In this episode, we have Deveney Wells-Gibson of The Prenup Queen and Love Meets Wealth. Deveney is a California attorney who spent years in divorce and family law, handling divorces, custody battles, and domestic violence restraining orders. After seeing the same story play out for women again and again, she shifted her focus to prenuptial agreements, and she still does minor's counsel work today. She and Maggie talk about why everyone needs a prenup, how stay-at-home parents can protect their future, what a cohabitation agreement does, and when to start the process before the wedding. Do I need a prenup if I don't have much money? Yes, according to Deveney, regardless of net worth. A prenup is not only about divorce. It can keep separate property clear in a blended family so assets pass to the children who are not from the current relationship, and it can protect what a couple builds during the marriage if one partner carries debt. Even with little now, most couples will build retirement accounts and wealth, and a prenup protects what is built together. Is marriage really a business deal? Deveney says yes. In California, spouses owe each other fiduciary duties, meaning a duty to act in the other person's best interest, similar to attorneys and clients or financial advisors and their clients. She explains that hiding gambling, affairs, or credit card debt can be raised as a breach of that duty during a divorce, while ordinary shopping sprees are often treated as a community benefit and split evenly. How can a stay-at-home parent protect herself financially ? Start with the conversation: does your partner value the work of caring for your home and children? From there, Deveney builds in protections such as a spousal IRA (there are contribution limits, so she also looks at a brokerage account contributing at a similar rate) and a spousal support plan with enough runway to get back into the workforce through licensing, recertification, or school. In California, marriages over ten years can lead to permanent spousal support, so couples often agree on an end date up front. What is a cohabitation agreement, and who needs one? It is for couples who live together without marrying, and it can also work for roommates. It spells out who stays, who goes, and who pays if things fall apart, and it can cover titling property, vehicles, and credit cards. Deveney shares a story of a client whose landlord came after her for the lease and how an indemnity clause helped her win in civil court. She also points out that unmarried partners are not automatically next of kin for medical decisions. What happens to a prenup after we're married? It is not a set it and forget it document. Deveney recommends updating it as life changes, turning it into a postnup when needed, such as when a home becomes the family home or when a business starts. An inheritance is already separate property, but small details can lead a court to treat it as community property, so it needs to be kept separate on purpose. When should we start the prenup process before our wedding? About 90 days out. California has a seven-day waiting period, and a rushed prenup can open the door to a claim that it was signed under duress. Deveney's Love Meets Wealth process walks couples through their state's laws, their individual and joint goals, full financial disclosures (including credit scores), a game plan, and then the prenup itself. She also has a prenup kit with the conversations to have first. - For California couples ready to start a prenup: Click Here - Free Marriage Readiness Check (about 3 minutes, anyone can take it): Click Here - For California women who want to speak with me Deveney in more depth about prenups: Click Here Join us for the next Money Talks, "The Money Conversation You Need to Have Before You Say I Do" Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Deveney Wells-Gibson: The Prenup Queen Love Meets Wealth Instagram: @theprenupqueen Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

October 16, 2026Episode 16235 min

How to Prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer Before It Arrives with Dr. Barb & Maggie

Send us Fan Mail What if the money is already on its way to you, and nobody has told you yet? Women are about to inherit more wealth than at any point in history. Yet so many of us are still being told to stay small, stay quiet, and let someone else handle the numbers. Not on our watch. In this episode, we are back on the mic together for an honest, unfiltered conversation. Together we unpack the mental load women carry every day, the boxes we keep getting pushed into, the money shame hiding behind a lot of polished lives, and the simple steps that help women prepare for the Great Wealth Transfer. What is the Great Wealth Transfer and why does it matter for women? The Great Wealth Transfer is the largest movement of money from one generation to the next in history, and women are set to receive a huge share of it. Barb explains that women are going to be in charge of so much money, and money is power. Our goal is to make sure women don't feel guilty for receiving it, aren't taken advantage of, and use it in the way that best serves them. How can I prepare for an inheritance before it arrives? Maggie's approach is to get ready now rather than waiting. That means getting your budget in line, knowing your goal numbers, writing out your goals, having your estate plan ready, and building your professional team. That way, when the money comes, it flows straight into the buckets you have already set up. How do I get past money shame and start managing my money? Barb reminds us there is no judgment here. Many women never learned what they needed to know, or they lost ground through divorce, illness, or stepping away from work to care for others. The fix starts with tiny baby steps, just like learning anything new. Maggie's tip: ask yourself what the smallest possible step is that moves you forward, and take that one. Is there one right way to budget, save, and invest? No. Barb calls out the financial industry's strict "one way" model and says it simply isn't true. Automation, cash envelopes, a buddy system, or a coach can all work. The key is finding the approach that fits you. How can women build their own financial independence? Barb shares that it looks like having your own income, your own credit card, your own credit score, and your own bank account. It also means being at every single financial meeting, being part of the conversation, and using the resources available to you. What does financial freedom actually mean? It looks different for everyone. Maggie shares that for many people it comes down to having choices, and for her, it means trusting her investments, aligning her money with her values, and supporting her community. For Barb, it means a home she loves, a solid retirement, and plenty of time with family (and tennis!). 00:00 Boys will be boys and the mental load women carry every day 03:00 Why women keep getting put into smaller and smaller boxes 07:00 Women are about to hold the purse strings of America 11:45 What's really going on behind the curtain with money shame 14:30 Tiny steps, buddy systems, and finding the money method that fits you 19:15 Our next money goals and what rich really means 26:00 The Year of Less and what's coming next for Purse Strings We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Join us for the next Money Talks, “The Money Conversation You Need to Have Before You Say I Do” Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Resources The Year of Less by Cait Flanders How to Buy a House Without a Bank Using Seller Financing with Mel Dorman Find a Purse Strings Approved Professional Financial Planning Association (FPA) Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financial concerns. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive financial tips delivered weekly here ! Explore our free guides to help you on your financial journey Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

October 9, 2026Episode 16150 min

How to Protect Your Money in a High-Conflict Divorce with Paulette Rigo

Send us Fan Mail Nobody walks down the aisle with a divorce budget. But when a marriage ends, it can become the most expensive financial decision of your life. The women who come out the other side strongest are the ones who prepared before anyone said the word out loud. Let's talk about the money side of a high-conflict divorce and what preparing for this decision should look like. In this episode, we have Paulette Rigo , CEO of Better Divorce Academy , private ADR mediator, certified high conflict divorce coach, sought after speaker, host of The Better Divorce Podcast , and author of the number one best selling Better Divorce Blueprint. Paulette lived through an eight and a half year fully litigated divorce, including a twelve day trial and four more years of appeals, and turned it into a mission to help couples avoid court and help women protect themselves when they can't. We talk about what high conflict really means, what divorce actually costs, the four money categories you need to know cold, and what financial freedom looks like after it all. What is a high conflict divorce? Paulette explains that high conflict comes down to a lack of compliance and a lack of sharing. She calls it the three E's: lack of empathy, entitlement, and exploitation. When one or both spouses refuse to share information, ignore deadlines, or want everything for themselves, the process gets forced through the courts step by step, and it gets long and expensive. How much does a divorce really cost? More than most people realize. Paulette shares that billable hours are charged in six to eight minute increments, the national average attorney rate is about $500 an hour, and an average of 10 billable hours a month per side means about $5,000 a month for each spouse. A litigated divorce typically takes 18 to 24 months. Private mediation can save couples an average of $40,000 to $70,000 in unnecessary legal fees. How can women protect themselves financially in a high conflict divorce? Work with an expert, and know your numbers. Paulette says there are four categories in divorce: income, assets, budget, and debt. If you can fill out all four completely, with the logins, passwords, and balances, you avoid paying attorneys to fight over discovery. She also recommends documenting everything, because evidence like texts, emails, and call logs matters. How do you prepare for divorce before telling your spouse? Start early and get organized. Paulette shares that 73% of divorces are initiated by women, and women spend about two years contemplating divorce before acting. She uses that time to help women get researched, organized, and prepared, interview attorneys, and build a plan, so they make decisions from a calm place instead of fear. What can you do when your spouse refuses to cooperate? Understand the process and accept who they are. Paulette walks through the five methods of divorce and the four things courts actually care about: custody, child support, division of assets and debt, and spousal support. She teaches clients how to communicate with a high conflict person so they don't add fuel to the fire, and how to prepare for the storm before it hits. How do you protect yourself in a second marriage? Full transparency. Paulette and her husband share access to their phones and financials, talk openly about premarital, non-marital, and marital assets, and worked through books together before marrying. Her advice: have the hard talks. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Join us for the next Money Talks, “The Financial Survival Guide to Divorce: What to Do, What to Protect, and When to Call Who” Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Paulette Rigo: Website Instagram LinkedIn The Better Divorce Podcast YouTube Substack Book, workbook, audiobook, and course: Better Divorce Blueprint, available through Better Divorce Academy . Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

October 2, 2026Episode 16031 min

How to Buy a House Without a Bank Using Seller Financing with Mel Dorman

Send us Fan Mail What if going to the bank wasn’t the only path to owning your home? We've been told to budget harder, cut back, and wait for someone with a fancy title to approve us. Meanwhile, millions of homes are owned free and clear by people who would happily let you pay them directly. Let's talk about it. Melissa Dorman went from dumpster diving in their twenties to building a multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio in their thirties. By combining traditional bank loans with creative seller financing, they acquired 34 rental units in just five years. A former social worker turned financial activist, Mel shows that wealth doesn’t have to flow through Wall Street to grow. As the founder of the Seller Financing Academy and author of Bank on Your Neighbor, Mel teaches everyday people how to use conventional tools and community-based financing strategies to buy property, build equity, and keep wealth circulating locally instead of allowing it to be siphoned upward to billionaires. Their TEDx Talk on creative finance became an Editor’s Pick and has reached hundreds of thousands of viewers hungry for an alternative to the corporate grind. How does seller financing work? Seller financing is when you pay the owner of a home directly instead of going through a bank like Wells Fargo or Chase. Mel explains that 4 out of 10 homes in America are owned free and clear, which means those owners can take monthly payments from a buyer, just like selling a used car to a neighbor on an installment plan. It helps older owners retire, can save them a lot on taxes, and turns landlords into lenders. How can you buy a house if the bank says no? You go straight to the seller. Mel shares that about 50% of people who qualified for a bank loan in 2019 no longer qualify, often because banks removed the loan products most people used. Renters with years of on time payments, people who just changed careers, and others the bank algorithm rejects can still buy by building a direct relationship with a seller. How do you buy property with little money down? Negotiate around the seller's real risk, not the bank's 20% rule. Mel's first seller wanted $75,000 down and she had about $8,000. She asked what it would cost him to foreclose on her ($15,000) and made that the down payment. She negotiated two months of delayed payments, leased up the vacant units, and was only $500 out of pocket on a triplex that cash flowed day one. What paperwork do you need for a seller financed deal? It's simpler than most people think. Mel says it's about a five page document made up of two pieces: a promissory note, which works like an IOU laying out the payment, interest rate, and term, and a deed of trust, which attaches the loan to the property. Unlike a bank loan, you can sometimes move that good debt to another property you own. Why doesn't budgeting build wealth for women? Because budgeting alone is about cutting back, not growing. Mel explains that women are taught to budget and play it small, while men are taught to scale, build businesses, and invest. When all your focus is on cutting things away, you never think about using leverage to scale, and that gap is a big part of why more men hold wealth. How do you get the confidence to start investing in real estate? Start with who you're becoming before you take action. Mel's advice is to build your self-concept first (a leader, a breadwinner, someone responsible, strong, and resilient) instead of jumping into hustle mode from a place of scarcity. That belief is what keeps you going when things get scary, so you step up instead of giving up. Chapters 00:00 Meet Mel, the social worker whose family crisis changed everything 02:15 Trader Joe's dumpster dinners, 2009, and questioning the 40/40/401k 05:45 How the patriarchy keeps women small (and why budgeting won't make you rich) 08:45 Love letters to your neighbor and seller financing 101 12:15 The $500 triplex that now pays $3,800 a month 17:45 Why you have to become her before you do the deal 19:45 Keeping money local, the Bank It Forward model, and what financial freedom really means We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Join us for the next Money Talks, “The Real Estate Wealth Strategy” Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Mel Dorman: Seller Finance Academy Instagram: @mel_dorman LinkedIn Seller Finance Academy on Facebook Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

September 25, 2026Episode 15938 min

Money Advice for ADHD Women with Karrie Lemansky

Send us Fan Mail You have been told your whole life to be more consistent, more organized, more disciplined with your money. What if the problem was never your discipline at all? For so many women, especially those diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the money struggle is not about effort. It is about a quiet erosion of self-trust after years of being told they do everything wrong. In this episode, we have Karrie Lemansky , founder and Chief Weirdo of Karrie Out Loud , a sustainable business growth strategist for female founders with late-diagnosed ADHD. Karrie built two businesses to six figures, burned them both down, and spent years believing she was simply bad at business, until a diagnosis at 49 reframed everything. She joins us to talk about the Self Trust Gap, the money patterns she sees in ADHD women every day, and why handing things off is not a failure but a form of self-trust. What is the Self Trust Gap, and how is it different from imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome says you do not believe you belong. Karrie says most late-diagnosed ADHD women know they belong, they have just stopped trusting their own instincts after years of being told they do things the wrong way. That eroded trust is the gap, and the good news is it is a skill you can rebuild. How does ADHD actually affect the way women handle money? Through patterns most people never name out loud: hyper-independence, impulse spending, decision paralysis, and income that rises and falls with your energy. Karrie points out that women often judge their money today based on old history that is simply no longer true. What is the first step to closing the gap? Start almost absurdly small. Karrie calls them micro trust habits, one tiny thing you repeat every day until momentum builds. It is progress, not a 30-day overhaul, that rebuilds trust in yourself. What money belief should ADHD women throw out? The idea of being paid what you are "worth." Karrie's reframe is that your worth is not tied to a dollar, but you absolutely should charge for your expertise and the transformation you deliver. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Ready to close your own self trust gap and build a business that fits your brain? Join us for the next Money Talks, “ADHD-Friendly Money Systems.” Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Karrie Lemansky: Website Instagram Podcast: The ADHD Entrepreneur(Her) Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

September 18, 2026Episode 15834 min

The $70,000 Tax Mistake Most Women Business Owners Make with Emily Bowie

Send us Fan Mail You are making good money. So why does tax season still knock the wind out of you every year? Earning more does not automatically mean keeping more. Without a strategy, a higher income can just mean a bigger, more painful tax bill. In this episode, we have Emily Bowie , CFO of Thorne Advisors , a firm built specifically for women earning over 100K in net income. A Cash Flow Strategist with more than 15 years of experience, including her time as an audit manager in Big Four accounting, Emily co-built Thorne Advisors with founder Andrea Mason to close a gap they kept seeing: plenty of tax strategy floating around, but almost no one helping women find the actual cash to use it. She joins us to make taxes make sense, from the S corp election that saved one client a fortune to the cash leaks quietly draining businesses everywhere. Why do high-earning women still get ambushed every April? Because the books get pushed to the 11th hour. When you are juggling everything, bookkeeping only happens right before taxes are due, and by then it is too late to be strategic. You are just working with whatever you have instead of a plan. What is the difference between tax prep and tax strategy? Tax prep is the filing everyone knows, due in March or April. Tax strategy is proactive and year-round: a strategist understands the code so they can help you leverage what is actually available to you. As Emily puts it, not all tax preparers are tax strategists, so it pays to know who is really in your financial corner. When should you switch from sole prop to an S corp? Emily's benchmark is netting 100K or more. That election alone can save you money, and it unlocks strategies like an accountable plan and the Augusta Rule. The goal is not to pay yourself less, it is to pay yourself strategically. One client who waited too long overpaid roughly $70,000. Why is a big tax refund not the win it feels like? A large refund means you overpaid all year and handed the government an interest-free loan. The sweet spot is landing close to even, so that cash stays in your business or your pocket where it can grow. Emily even packaged her top fixes into a free guide, 5 Cash Leaks & 5 Missed Tax Deductions . 00:00 Building a firm for high-earning women. 03:15 Why April keeps ambushing you. 04:45 The $70,000 S corp mistake. 08:15 Tax prep vs tax strategy. 13:15 Why a big refund is not a win. 17:15 The S corp unlock and the cash leaks. 29:30 What financial freedom really means. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Ready to stop overpaying and start keeping more of what you earn? Join us for the next Money Talks, “Three Numbers Every Self-Employed Woman Should Know by Heart” with Laura Ann Strobel. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Emily Bowie: Website Instagram 5 Cash Leaks & 5 Missed Tax Deductions (free guide) Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...

September 11, 2026Episode 15745 min

She Built a Business After Being Stood Up Abroad with Ally Pintucci

Send us Fan Mail What if the trip you keep waiting to take is exactly what you need? We are all guilty of it. Waiting for the right timing, the right stage of life, the right circle of friends, while the months quietly pass and the vaca never leaves the group chat. In this episode, we have Ally Pintucci , founder of The Girls Trip Series , a community of 37,000-plus women built on small, curated trips for women who hate tours. After nearly a decade in travel sales and operations, a layoff at 23, and being stood up in Portugal, Ally landed in a surf town that changed everything and launched her first trip, which sold out in 24 hours. She joins us to talk about the real cost of running trips, where pricing meets integrity, and why you should stop waiting to go. What does it actually cost to run a group trip? More than people assume. Between scouting a destination and running it, Ally can spend 10 to 15,000 dollars of her own money before a single traveler pays. The margin is not in packing people in, it is in the experience, which is why she keeps her groups small on purpose. Where does pricing meet integrity in the travel world? Ally is candid that the industry is murky. Some influencers white-label a trip that costs 2,500 to run and resell it for 6,800. She prices to reflect real value and real community, not to become the biggest travel company in the room. What money decisions do women forget when booking a trip? The ones that hit late: visas, vaccinations, currency conversion, and tipping the local team. Ally sets those expectations up front, often a year out, so there are no painful surprises at the destination. Should you wait for friends before you travel? No. 99% of the women who come do not book with a friend, and they arrive just as nervous as you would. As Ally says, not all friends are compatible to travel, and time stops for no one. We would love to hear what you thought of this episode, any questions it sparked, what resonated most, or any topics you would love us to cover next. Click here to send us a message! Ready to stop waiting and design the the life, you actually want? Join us for the next Money Talks, “Can I Afford to Reinvent My Career? Put the Numbers on Paper Before You Make the Leap” with Bill Promes. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with Ally Pintucci: Instagram (The Girls Trip Series) Instagram (personal) Want to take this conversation one step further? Join us for our next Money Talks, a free 30 minute live session where we’ll dig into a question we hear all the time from women business owners: Budgeting for Businesses to Offer Benefits. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions! Follow & connect with us! Website Facebook Page Facebook group Instagram TikTo k LinkedIn YouTube Reddit Resources Have questions? Click this to check out our expert Q&A for tips from industry experts, tailored to help women address their most common financ...