Nicole Licata Grant gets accountable to her financial goals and sits down with guest Alexandra Miele to discuss real-life financial challenges, biases, and decisions that can be both obstacles and a door to the 'big life' we all want (or at least the "liberation" many of us hope for someday!) Alex is a Certified Financial Planner® and a Partner at a wealth management firm in Connecticut. Recently named one of Forbes Magazine's 2019 Best-in State Next-Gen Advisors, she has been practicing for 12 years and takes a hands-on educational approach to working with clients and serving their financial needs. So, if you are worried about understanding finances and where your money is going, or can't figure out how to take risks, even struggling with talking to your partner or still questioning those next big financial moves, then listen in to hear Alex's expert advice on how we can secure our financial present, take ownership of our independent futures, and move past what has held us back all along.  If you like jammin' with us on the podcast, b sure to join us for more fun and inspiration! Here are some options... Check out the b BRILLIANT career coaching program @   b Cause Podcast Facebook group @ We share even more crazy stuff here (you probably thought that was impossible).  Take our simple, fun and insightful "What Kind of Dog Are You At Work?" by going to  We have so much fun stuff going on...we wouldn't want you to miss out - join the authenticity movement and our community by adding your email just about anywhere @  Check out our blog for more of our no-BS career advice @ We have fun and inspiring t-shirts @ DISCLAIMER: This episode is not explicit, though contains mild swearing that may be unsuitable for younger audiences.  Tweetable Comments: "I originally found myself working with women, going through major transitions, such as divorce, the death of a spouse, a new job." "When I started I was 21, so it was quite hard to say to people 'hey let me manage your finances.'" "We are legally fiduciaries, we are held to a fudiciary standard, which is my favorite F word - there's a nerdy joke for you." "We want to be your first call when something major happens, because at the end of the day that helps me be a better advisor to you." "When I get to put things in boxes or check boxes it is like eating chicken nuggets, immensely satisfying."  "I've liberated myself of things that are tying me down, by either selling them, donating them, or blowing them up." "I don't think I've heard liberation fund yet, I might steal that." "I think there's this fear about money in general, that we're all socially trained about." "At the end of the day most people just want to know 'Am I doing the right stuff?'" "You're told your whole life to be fiscally conservative, don't take any risk, don't think about fantastic returns - be happy with what you have. But that's counter-intuitive." "When we as women are taking less risk, and we're earning less money...we're shooting ourselves in the foot." 8 out of 10 can rattle off their mortgage payments, cable bill...but can't tell me about their lifestyle expenses." "When you have a partner...You can divide the labor, but you cannot divide the responsibility of taking your financial life, understanding it, and knowing what the big picture is." "Actuarially, we live longer than the guys do...that's a homage to Erin." "What the listeners can't see is, as soon as Nicole said 'we hope everyone would do the right thing' I immediately started shaking my head." "You're not getting a wake-up call, you're getting a wake-up gut punch." "I don't want to trade my future for my present, nor do I want to trade my present for my future." "It's short-term pain, intermediate-term gain."