Life can get heavy, busy, and let’s be honest… a little meh sometimes, right? 😬 If you're needing a spark, this episode is your dream glow-up. We’re digging deep, lighting our souls on fire, and making sure your money is actually aligned with the life you truly want — not the one you accidentally drifted into.

What we'll cover:

• The moment I realized my “dream job” was actually draining the life out of me — and how that burnout became my gateway into personal finance for women and true financial independence.
• How moving across the country with one overflowing sedan cracked me open to a new kind of freedom built on clarity, intention, and the investing basics no one teaches ambitious women.
• The exact questions that helped me rebuild my dreams during seasons of uncertainty — so you can get clear on what you want now and what you want later (without spiraling).
• Why most high-earning women still feel stuck, even with six-figure salaries and investment accounts… and the money mindset shift that puts you back in the driver’s seat.
• The art of balancing "live fully now" with "build wealth for later" — without guilt or FIRE-movement martyrdom.
• My real-life “holy shit, I can’t believe this is my life” moment — and how you can start creating those moments now, not someday.
• The sneaky money traps ambitious women fall into that keep them from their dreams — from investing without clarity, to confusing busywork with actual wealth-building… and how these tiny traps quietly delay the dream life you’re craving.
• How aligning your values with your money decisions makes financial freedom feel less like a far-off fantasy and more like a vibe you step into today.

✨ Feel Confident AF in Your Investments (free!):

Grab your copy of “3 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Investments”: my guide to understanding your portfolio, designed to be the first financial step to aligning your money with the life you actually want.

👉🏻 https://buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

🎧 Playlists + Mood Boosters (Because vibes matter):

For vibes that make your brain expand and your dreams feel possible, a few of my fave artists are: Elskavon, Roary, Yoste, Tycho, and Kygo

Come hang on the 'gram @buildwealthwithkatie

Money talks with your partner can feel like a rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for. Tears, tension, repeated arguments… yeah, we’ve all been there. In this episode, I break down how to finally feel connected about money — so you can build wealth, own your financial freedom, and stop spinning in the same exhausting money loops.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

✨ Why money fights are never really about money — and how to decode what’s really going on

✨ The Golden Money Window that makes tough conversations 10x easier

✨ Simple mindset shifts that turn money talks into team talks

✨ How to stay calm, confident, and connected, (even when emotions run high)

✨ The exact framework my husband and I used to go from defensive arguments → dreaming big together

🍷🧀 This episode pairs perfectly with Ep #2 — The Secret Scripts Sabotaging Your Money Mindset (And How to Fix Them)

📄💎 Ready to finally understand your investments? Grab my free PDF → 3 Essential Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Investments. I walk you through the top 3 drivers of investment returns and how to spot them in your portfolio, so you can stop secretly stressing about your money and start feeling like the boss lady that you already are.

📸✨ Come hang with me on IG → @buildwealthwithkatie

🎧💃 New episodes drop every Tuesday — hit follow and never miss a money glow-up!

Ever feel like your 401(k), Roth IRA, and brokerage sound like what you *should* be doing... but you’re not sure if they’re actually getting you anywhere -- or just making investing feel hard?

Today, we make investment accounts simple so you can finally understand where your money lives and why it matters for building wealth aligned with YOUR goals.

In this episode, I break down:

• Why there are so many investing accounts and how they actually help you 💁‍♀️
• The 2 levers to focus on when choosing an account: optimization vs. access ⚙️
• The 3 tax buckets (pre-tax, post-tax, no tax advantage) and why it changes everything about your growth 💸
• Which accounts make sense for W-2 employees, self-employed women, and those in a career pause 💼
• The #1 mistakes and misconceptions I see with account confusion and how to actually make it work 📈
• Action steps to take today so you feel empowered, not overwhelmed 💪

Freedom doesn’t mean mastering every investing detail, it means focusing on the parts that give you power. Clarity builds confidence, confidence builds freedom, and freedom? That’s the luxe life we’re after. ✨

Links & Resources:

• Grab your free PDF guide to understanding your investments: https://buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials
• Follow me on Instagram for quick tips, money memes, and spreadsheets that are actually fun: @buildwealthwithkatie

💸 $1,000 Investment, Broken Down by Tax Bucket

Here’s a simplified view of what happens if you invest $1,000 in different account types.

Pre-Tax (Traditional 401(k) / IRA)

• Invest the full $1,000 (not taxed yet)
• Grows 10x to $10,000
• Pay 20% tax at withdrawal → $8,000 after-tax
• Pro: You keep full earning power upfront

Post-Tax (Roth IRA)

• Pay 20% tax first → invest $800
• Grows 10x to $8,000
• Withdraw tax-free → $8,000
• Pro: All gains are yours to keep

No Tax Advantage (Brokerage Account)

• Pay 20% tax first → invest $800
• Grows 10x to $8,000
• Pay 15% capital gains on $7,200 profit → $6,920 after-tax
• Pro: No contribution or withdrawal limits, but taxes take a bite

Disclaimer:

Today’s episode is purely educational and not financial advice. I am not a financial advisor, broker, or financial professional. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy, sell, or invest. The examples we use today are simplified for illustration. This is a high-level overview, and there are nitty-gritty details we aren’t covering with each account. Do your own homework before making any money moves. 💖

Ever feel like you were raised to be a high-achieving, do-it-all woman…

and then motherhood completely rewired your brain?

Yeah. Same.

In this raw and honest episode, I’m sharing the story I’ve been searching for but could never find:

What it actually looks like to be the higher earner, feel the earth-shattering identity shift of becoming a mom… and choose to take a professional pause — without blowing up your finances or losing yourself.

This isn’t a “quit your job and hope for the best” episode.

It’s a real, numbers-meets-emotions breakdown of how my husband and I are making this season work — financially, emotionally, and logistically.

Here’s what you’ll get:

✨ How to prioritize flexibility without losing your direction

✨ How to create financial safety while reducing a primary income stream

✨ What financial breathing room looks like when life throws curveballs

✨ Real strategies for bold money conversations with your partner

✨ The key things to focus on so your big goals don’t take a backseat

💡 Ready to understand your investments and know exactly if and how they're supporting your big dreams? I got you! Grab my free PDF guide to understanding your portfolio here: https://buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

Ever feel like you’re stuck on repeat—working hard, doing “all the right things,” but not really moving forward? Or maybe you are making progress… but then you hit a plateau and start wondering, “Okay… what’s next?”

Today I’m breaking down the Seven Stages of Wealth so you can see exactly where you are, why you might feel stuck, and what moves actually move the needle.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why money is more than just numbers—it’s feelings, mindset, and momentum.
• How high-achieving women get stuck in the “too much” or “not enough” loop.
• The 7 Stages of Wealth and how to spot your stage.
• Small, actionable steps to get you to the next level.
• Mindset shifts to go from cruising, chaos, or complacency to clarity and control.
• How to finally make your money feel like it’s working for your life—not just your account balance.

You’ll walk away knowing exactly where you are AND 1–2 moves to make right now—with a fresh dose of confidence to reignite your financial journey.

Follow me for more money empowerment: IG: @buildwealthwithkatie

Download my FREE pdf guide - 3 Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Investments: http://buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

Hey dolls! Today we’re unlocking the beauty of index funds—the MVPs of investing. Understanding index funds for beginners was my ultimate “aha” moment with money — the moment the mysterious puzzle pieces of my portfolio finally clicked together.

If your portfolio feels like a jumble of letters and numbers, or if you’ve ever wondered “Am I even invested in the right things?”—this episode is for you. Spoiler: if you have a retirement account, target date fund, or long-term investments, you probably already own index funds (you just might not know it yet).

In this no-BS episode, I’m breaking down:

✨ What index funds are and how they work (explained in plain English)

✨ Why index funds vs. mutual funds vs. ETFs doesn’t have to be confusing

✨ How index funds fit into a long-term buy-and-hold investing strategy

✨ The four C’s every sparkling portfolio needs: Coverage, Cost, Clarity, and Consistency

✨ How to spot index funds in your portfolio (even if the “holdings” tab makes your head spin like it did for me)

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

💎 Confidently identify your index funds in your portfolio.

💎 Understand why you own them and how they support your long-term investing strategy

💎 Know what they track (like the S&P 500, total stock market, or international markets)

💎 Feel confident in your overall portfolio—clear on the foundation and freed from the confusion.

And because I know this can feel overwhelming at first, I made you a free guide to break it down: 3 Essential Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Investments. It’s perfect for checking your portfolio, understanding fees, and making today’s episode click even more. Grab it here 👉 buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

If the stock market has ever made your eyes glaze over like a spreadsheet from hell, this episode is your ticket to clarity. I’m breaking it down with simplicity, confidence, and a sprinkle of “yes, I got this.”

We’re covering:

• Stock Market 101: What you need to know and what you can confidently ignore
• The boring-but-powerful buy-and-hold move: Your secret weapon for long-term wealth
• Why doing LESS makes you MORE money (Seriously)
• The jaw-dropping math of starting early
• How to ignore the noise & focus on what really grows your money

📲 Resources:

• Track your net worth and investments for free with the Empower App (formerly Personal Capital)

✨ The Mind-Blowing Math That Made Me Shovel Money Into Investments:

• $500/month from age 20–30, then adding $0 after age 30 = $2.8 million by 65 (total invested: $60k)
• $500/month from age 30–65 = $1.7 million (total invested: $210k)

Translation: Investing earlier and stopping after just 10 years, can make you over $1M richer than investing for 3x longer but starting later. Yes, seriously!

⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. I’m not a licensed financial advisor, and the content here may not be appropriate for your individual situation. Before making any financial decisions, you should do your own research and/or consult with a licensed professional.

Ever peek at your investment account and think, Wait… what am I even looking at? Girl, same. In this episode, I break down the 3 things every woman needs to know so you can finally feel confident, clear, and in control of your money—without spreadsheets, panic, or finance bro energy.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Asset allocation: Why your money mix is the ultimate predictor of your wealth (hint: it’s way more important than timing the market)
• Stocks vs. funds: How to know what you actually own—and why it matters for your risk and returns
• Fees: The silent money-eaters that can quietly sabotage decades of growth
• How to actually read your account without feeling lost or frozen
• The mindset shift that lets you own your portfolio and still live your best life

🎁 Bonus: I made a free step-by-step PDF guide to go with this episode. It walks you through your account, gives you fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and even includes a copy/paste email to your advisor. Snag it here → Free Investing Guide

Track your Net Worth with a Free App: Empower by Personal Capital / Empower Personal Wealth

✨ Let’s connect & keep the money glow going!

IG: @buildwealthwithkatie

Website: www.buildwealthwithkatie.com

📌 Disclaimer

This podcast and guide are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Miss Fund Your Freedom, LLC, doing business as Build Wealth with Katie, is not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or tax advisor. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own financial decisions, and you should consult with a licensed financial, tax, or legal professional before making investment choices.

Why does money make us anxious, guilty, or like we’re falling behind… even when we’re killing it? In this episode, I break down the invisible money scripts we’ve been carrying since childhood—from family habits to cultural messaging to gendered beliefs—that secretly shape how we think, feel, and act with money. I share my process for spotting, tracing, and rewriting these scripts so you can finally feel confident, empowered, and good about money.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• 💭 What hidden money scripts are and how they show up in your spending, saving, and investing.
• 💥 The emotional side of money: why more income doesn’t automatically solve financial stress.
• 👧 Gendered beliefs start early: why even brilliant girls can doubt themselves—and what that means for your money mindset today.
• 🔍 My STAR Method: Simply Notice, Trace it Back, Ask if it Serves You, and Reframe to shift your beliefs for good.
• 👤 Real-life examples: how small scripts—from guilt over hiring help to feeling undeserving of wealth—can block you, and how rewriting them unlocks freedom and confidence.
• ✨ A reflective question to kickstart your mindset shift.

✨ Let’s connect & keep your money glow going:

IG: @buildwealthwithkatie

Website: www.buildwealthwithkatie.com

📌 Disclaimer This podcast and guide are for educational and informational purposes only. They are not intended as investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Miss Fund Your Freedom, LLC, doing business as Build Wealth with Katie, is not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or tax advisor. All investments involve risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own financial decisions, and you should consult with a licensed financial, tax, or legal professional before making investment choices.

In this episode, I break down why hustling, saving, and checking all the “adulting” boxes still didn’t get me the freedom and confidence I wanted — and how I figured out a better way. I share my own journey: moving across the country, feeling lost in my investments, and realizing that even smart, ambitious women can feel confused and behind when it comes to money. This episode is for anyone who’s done everything “right” but still wants more control, clarity, and joy with their finances.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

• 💼 Hustle ≠ freedom: why doing all the “right things” still left me stressed and behind.
• 🌴 Big moves, bigger lessons: what moving across the country taught me about owning my money.
• 😵‍💫 Confusion central: why every account, chart, and statement felt like a secret club I wasn’t invited to.
• 🧠 Learning on my terms: ditching the “finance bro” advice and building a system that actually works.
• 💃 Freedom with confidence: bold choices, travel, career pivots, and living large without guilt.
• 🤐 Why women are quietly struggling — and why it’s time we have our own money conversations.
• ✨ Mindset over micromanaging: stop stressing over lattes, start strategizing your wealth.

💌 Follow me on IG: @buildwealthwithkatie

🌐 More resources: buildwealthwithkatie.com

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult with a licensed financial professional regarding your personal finances.