Financial Finesse Podcast

Episode 5: What Advisors Do For Their Clients

Financial Finesse Podcast / By / June 24, 2022

Client Success Stories From My Financial Advisor Mastermind Group

In this episode of Financial Finesse, I’m pleased to welcome the brilliant ladies of my Financial Advisor Mastermind Group:

  • Maura Griffon of Blue Spark Financial
  • Beverly Cox of B. Cox Planning
  • Stephanie Bruno of Sea To Peak Financial Advisors
  • Tanya Nichols of Align Financial

The five of us meet twice per month to share ideas, support each other in developing our businesses, and deepen our knowledge on issues that affect our clients. I’ve learned so much from this group of women, as they are all successful, independent financial advisors and business owners who go above and beyond when it comes to the work they do with their clients. 

Which is why I’m so grateful they agreed to be part of today’s episode and share their client success stories. I hope our conversation gives you a deeper understanding of how exceptional financial advisors help their clients. In addition, I believe it’s a great example of how participating in a peer-to-peer mentoring group like this one raises the bar for all of us–and ultimately elevates the level of service we provide. 

Episode Highlights

  • [04:02] Maura describes coaching her clients towards finding their life purpose and building a financial plan that supports that vision.
  • [11:00] Bev talks about the importance of holding space for her clients who have just experienced a major life change and letting them process their emotions before making any big financial decisions.
  • [19:00] Steph shares the life planning work she does with her clients by helping them design their ideal life and looking at various scenarios to get them closer to it.
  • [28:00] Tanya talks about her mission to give women agency over their finances and helping them feel good about their money and success.
  • [32:07] I share an example of how I support independent women through big life transitions--specifically, working through the emotions and decisions that go into selling the family home and downsizing.

Links Relevant To This Episode

Blue Spark Financial

B. Cox Planning

Sea To Peak Financial Advisors

Align Financial

Here's The Full Conversation

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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Episode 4: Young Women, Money and Black Lives Matter

Financial Finesse Podcast / By / September 23, 2020

My Chat With Joy, Tori, Rebecca And Reshonda

I’m very excited about this episode because I had the opportunity to reconnect with four of my former personal finance students from Mills College. As the call to address racial injustice and inequality in the United States and throughout the world grows louder and more urgent, I asked Joy, Tori, Rebecca and Reshonda to share their experiences and lessons learned navigating their financial lives as four independent women of color. I‘m so grateful for their generous contributions to this important conversation. 

During our chat, we touch on various financial challenges they’ve faced throughout their lives, from super-high interest rates on credit cards and car loans to not being able to easily open a checking account, and how an education in personal finance not only opened their eyes to the discriminatory practices of so many financial institutions, but gave them the confidence to start negotiating better terms for themselves. The ladies also talk about universal topics like imposter syndrome, learning to make better financial decisions, and celebrating wins. Finally, we discuss their hopes for the Black Lives Matter movement and how important it is to keep the momentum going, even after the world eventually returns to its pre-pandemic routine. 

Episode Highlights

  • [05:36] Joy, Tori, Rebecca and Reshonda talk about how becoming educated on personal finance changed the way they think about money and make financial decisions.
  • [11:40] Tori shares how a 30% interest rate on her credit card made it almost impossible to pay down her balance, and the steps she took to find a better rate and take control of her debt.
  • [16:20] The ladies open up about the personal challenges they faced in their financial lives.
  • [29:00] Joy, Tori, Rebecca and Reshonda use their personal stories to highlight the ways racism and racial inequality perpetuate the wealth gap in this country.
  • [41:51] Rebecca shares how she developed imposter syndrome from being told she didn't deserve to be at Stanford on merit alone.
  • [46:25] We shift the focus of the conversation to the Black Lives Matter movement and the ladies' hopes for what it means for all minorities and people of color going forward.

Links Relevant To This Episode

Links

Here's The Full Conversation

I hope you find it as inspiring as I did!

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Episode 3: Women, Wealth and Social Change

Financial Finesse Podcast / By / September 23, 2020

ESG Investing With Haleh Modasser

In this episode of Financial Finesse, I interview expert guest Haleh Modasser, Sr. Vice President at Stearns Financial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Haleh is the author of Women on Top: Women, Wealth & Social Change, which makes a case for women to leverage their wealth to propel the changes we want to see in the world while also benefiting financially. Beyond charitable giving, volunteering, and political activism, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing is an increasingly popular way for women to make an impact by aligning our investment dollars with the causes we value. 

More than ever, I hear women asking, “What can I do to help?” in the wake of a global pandemic and growing social unrest, and this episode tackles that question head-on. Haleh and I discuss how values-based investing can be a faster and more impactful way to effect change and why it’s so important for women of the Baby Boomer generation, who control the majority of the nation’s wealth, to be aware of these types of investment opportunities. 

During our conversation, we touch on both the principles and mechanics of ESG investing, and why interest in these strategies has skyrocketed since the pandemic began. Whether you’re a financial advisor who wants to educate your clients on these opportunities or a woman who wants to use your wealth to support the issues you care about, I encourage you to listen to this episode. 

Finally, if you’re a client of Curtis Financial Planning or want to work with an advisor to learn more about how to incorporate ESG principles into your investment portfolio, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Episode Highlights

  • [03:00] Haleh provides an overview of values-based and ESG investing and the progress it's made as an investment approach in the last five years.
  • [07:00] I ask Haleh to debunk the misconception that ESG investment strategies underperform traditional, bottom-line investing.
  • [10:00] Haleh and I discuss how Boomer women can use their wealth to effect real change in the world.
  • [19:24] Haleh makes a compelling case for why women should "vote with our pocketbooks."
  • [21:00] We talk specifically about the pandemic, BLM movement, and what women can do to help.
  • [22:00] Haleh offers her perspective on the best way to incorporate these principles into your investment portfolio to make the biggest impact.
  • [27:20] Haleh shares why she believes ESG investing is the wave of the future.
  • [30:53] Haleh and I discuss what financial advisors can do to educate our clients on these strategies and make them more readily available.

Links Relevant To This Episode

Stearns Financial Group

Women On Top: Women, Wealth & Social Change

Here's The Full Conversation

I hope you find it as fascinating as I did!

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Episode 2: The Value of a Good Financial Advisor

Financial Finesse Podcast / By / December 17, 2020

My Conversation With Melissa Joy, CFP®

In this episode of Financial Finesse, I have the pleasure of chatting with Melissa Joy of Pearl Planning, an independent, women-owned financial planning firm based in Michigan. Melissa and I met through an advisor peer group and have a lot in common when it comes to our careers and how we manage our financial planning businesses. I thought she’d be the perfect guest to discuss the value of a good financial advisor and what to look for when hiring a financial parter.

Melissa and I discuss a range of topics, from the types of clients we work with to their most common pain points and how we look at each client’s entire financial picture to develop and implement a comprehensive financial plan. We also touch on the role of investments in a client’s financial plan and why neither of us makes it the focal point of our discussions despite our shared interest in the topic. Finally, we discuss the progress the financial advice industry has made in terms of service and technology, but why it still has a long way to go when it comes to encouraging more diversity among professionals joining the field. 

Episode Highlights

  • [02:00] Although Melissa and I are both taking a break from drinking alcohol this week, we share our favorite cocktail hour beverages.
  • [04:28] We talk about the types of clients we work with and what usually triggers them to seek out a financial advisor.
  • [09:13] Melissa shares how she not only helps her clients address and work through their pain points, but helps them identify new opportunities to achieve their financial objectives.
  • [14:02] Melissa and I talk about why having an ongoing relationships with our clients is so important, and why we don't do one-time financial plans.
  • [18:48] We discuss our shared interest in investments and why having a straightforward, disciplined investment process is critical for long-term financial success.
  • [24:00] We touch on why every good financial planner should consider taxes when developing their clients' financial plans and investment strategies.
  • [27:40] Melissa and I geek out on technology for a bit and talk about how it's helped us scale our businesses and facilitates better relationships with our clients.
  • [33:45] We share what led us to become financial planners and why we love the profession.
  • [37:46] We discuss the profession's lack of diversity and why encouraging women and people of color to join the industry is essential.

Links Relevant To This Episode

Lynmar Estate Winery

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®)

Joel Bruckenstein

Pearl Planning

52 Pearls: Weekly Financial Wisdom

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I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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Episode 1: Life and Work During COVID-19

Financial Finesse Podcast / By / September 23, 2020

Get To Know Sally Kuhlman

In this episode I interview my long-time friend and a client of Curtis Financial Planning, Sally Kuhlman. Sally is the Director of National Programs for Beyond Differences, a non-profit organization that works to inspire students at all middle schools nationwide to end social isolation and create a culture of belonging for everyone. She is also the author of the blog Sally Around the Bay, where she shares her unique insights on a range of topics. 

Sally and I discuss adjusting to life during a pandemic and how we are finding balance while sheltering in place. Interestingly, writing has been therapeutic for both of us as we try to make sense of these strange and unprecedented times. We also discuss Sally’s book project Other Mothers, which shares the stories of women who became mothers through nontraditional routes. And of course, our conversation wouldn’t be complete without a good wine tip, which Sally delivers on early in the episode. 

Episode Highlights

  • [03:13] Sally and I discuss how we're coping during COVID-19, and how the pandemic resulted in some creative changes to one of Beyond Differences' largest fundraising events.
  • [10:21] Sally describes the important work Beyond Differences is doing to end social isolation in middle schools, including their "No One Eats Alone" initiative.
  • [19:23] Since Sally is also a client of Curtis Financial Planning, we talk about money anxiety and how she has chosen to let go of financial stress.
  • [23:46] We talk about figuring out what your "new normal" looks like, and using this time to do more of what you love.
  • [26:34] Sally gets personal about the challenges she faced as a nontraditional mother of three and why finding a community of women in the Bay Area was so important to her.

Links Relevant To This Episode

Eric Kent Wines

Picchetti Winery

Sally Around the Bay

Beyond Differences

Here's The Full Conversation

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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