Life can change in a single moment, leaving you to face roles and decisions you never expected.

How do you move forward when grief collides with leadership, parenting, and identity?

In this episode, Nicole Romito sits down with Jody LaVoie, Founder and CEO of The Grief Company, and CEO and Coach at Widows In The Workplace, to share how a sudden tragedy reshaped her life. She recounts becoming a solo parent and chair of her family’s company overnight, while navigating shock and responsibility. Jody explains how she led and later sold the business, rebuilt her identity, and learned to ask for help. She also offers guidance for widows and women stepping away from demanding careers.

Jody covers:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Jody LaVoie:

About Our Guest: 

Jody LaVoie’s mission is to empathize and humanize bereavement support in the workplace. The emotional impact of grief alters lives, and with comprehensive leadership and guidance, the grief experience can transform lives in a positive way. The Grief Company provides a comprehensive bereavement response that transforms grief into an opportunity for connection, resilience, and a culture that stands the test of time. Grief touches us all. 

As a business leader, certified grief educator, coach, and widow, Jody is uniquely positioned to elevate bereavement support that is aligned with culture and an eye on the bottom line. 

Managing money can feel manageable at first. But what happens when life gets more complex, and the stakes get higher?

In this replay episode, Nicole Romito revisits a powerful conversation with Greg Bogdan, CFP®, Senior Advisor at Private Vista, LLC, about building the right financial team. They explore when a “team of one” stops being enough, how advisors, CPAs, and estate attorneys work together, and why proactive coordination matters. From estate settlement stories to evolving tax laws and legacy planning, they share real examples of how collaboration simplifies major life transitions.

Greg shares key insights:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Greg Bogdan:

About Our Guest: 

Greg Bogdan enjoys creating lasting relationships as a trusted advisor to clients. He finds it most rewarding to help his clients think through their financial situations in developing a customized plan and path to achieving their goals. After walking clients through his process, Greg hopes that they come away feeling empowered to make informed financial decisions with the confidence of knowing how to achieve their vision of ‘financial independence’ while living a more enriched and fulfilling life.

With a busy, young family, outside of work and in between shuttling their girls (ages 7, 5, and 1) between activities, Greg and his wife, Christi, enjoy cookouts and entertaining with their friends and family. During the summer months, they’re often found at nearby parks, going on walks with their dog, Clancy, or riding bikes as a family. They most enjoy summer vacations on the beaches of Cape Cod and the shores of Michigan. In the future, My Private Vista is to explore the country and instill their love of traveling in their girls.

Retirement planning often focuses on finances, but the emotional and personal side can be just as impactful. What happens when work slows down, routines change, and relationships shift at home?

In this episode, Nicole Romito and Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC, Partner & Senior Advisor at Private Vista, continue their discussion by shifting from money to mindset. They explore the emotional side of retirement, including changes in daily routines, increased time with a spouse, and the importance of retiring toward something meaningful. The conversation highlights communication, structure, and flexibility as key factors in building a fulfilling next chapter after work.

Key takeaways:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Mike McCabe:

About Our Guest: 

Throughout his career in financial services, Mike McCabe has focused on helping clients manage their financial lives in a way that supports enjoyment and fulfillment beyond the numbers. He has a strong commitment to continued learning, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation as well as the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Within the firm, Mike serves on the Investment Committee, supports compliance efforts, and mentors the next generation of advisors.

Mike values a healthy work and life balance, which for him means finding satisfaction in his work while making time for golf, volunteering, exercise, movies, and meaningful time with his wife, friends, and family. He looks ahead to continued growth with modern technology, more travel, deeper community involvement, and enjoying life as a present and engaged grandfather.

Retirement often feels close long before the details are clear, and timing can shape how smooth the transition feels. Decisions around income, health coverage, and benefits tend to overlap more than expected.

In this episode, Nicole Romito sits down with Mike McCabe, CFP®, CPC, Partner & Senior Advisor at Private Vista, to walk through what to think about in the final year before retirement. They cover Medicare timing, Social Security decisions, and how early planning helps avoid rushed choices. The conversation also explores replacing a paycheck, managing cash flow, and why tax awareness matters as income sources change.

Key takeaways:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Mike McCabe:

About Our Guest: 

Throughout his career in financial services, Mike McCabe has focused on helping clients manage their financial lives in a way that supports enjoyment and fulfillment beyond the numbers. He has a strong commitment to continued learning, earning the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation as well as the Certified Pension Consultant (CPC) designation through the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. Within the firm, Mike serves on the Investment Committee, supports compliance efforts, and mentors the next generation of advisors.

Mike values a healthy work and life balance, which for him means finding satisfaction in his work while making time for golf, volunteering, exercise, movies, and meaningful time with his wife, friends, and family. He looks ahead to continued growth with modern technology, more travel, deeper community involvement, and enjoying life as a present and engaged grandfather.

Divorce brings emotional upheaval, but the financial uncertainty can feel paralyzing. Where do you even start?

How do you protect yourself when you haven’t managed the finances? What team do you need, and how do you begin planning for a future you never imagined?

In this replay episode, Nicole Romito revisits her conversation with Senior Advisor Delaney Orozco, CFP®, breaking down the financial side of divorce into three manageable phases. They discuss building the right support team, gathering crucial financial data, and starting to envision your next chapter. Whether you’re considering divorce or already in the process, this conversation offers practical guidance for navigating one of life’s most challenging transitions with clarity and confidence.

Delaney discusses:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Delaney Orozco:

About Our Guest: 

Delaney Orozco, CFP®, began in the financial services industry in 2015 as a service advisor. Throughout her career, she has focused on finding the intersection between the day-to-day processes of the financial world and bigger-picture planning, with the goal of assisting her clients in achieving their private vista. Delaney also has a deep passion for developing guides for her clients, helping them navigate the psychology behind finance and the numbers they see on the page. Her experience as a collegiate athlete has equipped her with the work ethic and dedication necessary to perform at a high level, which she hopes to offer her clients.

What happens after you reach financial independence? Many assume retirement means endless relaxation, but the reality is often more complex.

How do you find meaning when career obligations no longer drive your daily routine? What brings fulfillment in this new chapter of life?

In this episode, Nicole Romito revisits a conversation with Jeff Toner, CHFC®, RICP®, Partner at Private Vista, about moving beyond the numbers to discover purpose and meaning after achieving financial independence. Jeff shares insights from nearly 40 years in financial planning, discussing the evolution from solving math problems to helping clients navigate life transitions. 

He explores resources for designing your next phase, real-world examples of clients finding fulfillment, and practical approaches to climbing the “second mountain” of purpose-driven living.

Jeff discusses:

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Jeff Toner:

About Our Guest: 

Jeff Toner, CHFC®, RICP®, Partner at Private Vista, now almost 40 years into his career, has the luxury of looking backward and reflecting on the journey he has been on. Back in 1984, he didn’t know what a fiduciary was or what a financial planner did. What he did know was he wanted to help people with their finances and achieve their goals in life. He wanted to do it in a way that he wasn’t selling them a product but rather walking side by side with them as they moved toward their dreams. Jeff has been with them in moments of great joy and cried with them during their times of sadness. He has taught and educated them, but more importantly, he has been taught and learned from them as well.

Most women carry the weight of financial decisions while juggling careers, caregiving, and the pressure to simply “figure it out.” 

In this conversation, Nicole sits down with nationally recognized money expert Terry Savage for a grounded, candid look at what women need to know at every stage of life. They unpack why time is one of your most powerful financial tools, the real impact of credit card debt, how early investing can change your future, and why long-term care planning matters more than most people realize.

What to expect from this episode:

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Terry Savage:

About Our Guest: 

Terry Savage is a nationally recognized expert on personal finance, the economy, and the markets. She writes a weekly personal finance column syndicated in major newspapers by Tribune Content Agency.

She is the author of four best-selling books on personal finance. A new edition of her best-selling book, The Savage Truth on Money is now available on Amazon.com. The first edition was named one of the top ten money books of the year by Amazon.com. Her other recent book is: The Savage Number: How Much Money do You Really Need to Retire? She is also co-author of The New Love Deal.

Terry appears frequently on national television and radio programs, commenting on the financial markets and current economic events. She is featured on WGN Radio and WGN-TV in Chicago, with a weekly personal finance segment.

How does a kid from Louisiana with a 30-inch vertical jump become a leader in finance and coaching? 

Senior Advisor Delaney Orozco joins Nicole Romito for a candid, energizing conversation about the surprising ways competitive volleyball has shaped her personal and professional path.

From the sweltering heat of Southern softball fields to Virginia Tech’s Division I courts, Delaney shares how lessons in teamwork, loyalty, and grit have built the foundation for her success at Private Vista and why coaching young athletes now feels like giving back.

What to expect:

Previous Episodes of Interest:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Delaney Orozco:

About Our Guest: 

Delaney has always had a passion for coaching others. Whether that be in sports or on their financial wellbeing, she loves being someone that people can go to for advice and help through times of adversity or times of joy. Delaney began as a mathematics major at VT and had planned to teach high school calculus and coach volleyball. As a junior, she decided she might want to do something different from teaching. She knew she could always coach as a hobby, but started her search for a career where she could help people with something that always seemed like a struggle for her own family growing up: the concept of money.

Delaney began in the financial services industry in 2015 as an Associate Advisor. Over my career, she has worked on being able to find the intersection of the day-to-day processes of the financial world and the bigger picture, planning to help clients achieve their Private Vista. She also deeply enjoys developing a guide for clients to help them navigate their psychology behind finance and the numbers they see on the page.

When aging parents or loved ones need more care, families often face overwhelming choices.

How do you balance emotions with practical decisions? What resources exist to guide families through health, financial, and housing challenges?

In this episode of Dollar$ And $ense, Nicole Romito speaks with Jennifer Beach, Advanced Aging Life Care Professional at Advocate For Elders, LLC. She shares her experiences helping families manage transitions, from coordinating medical care to evaluating senior living communities, while highlighting the importance of advocacy and planning.

Key takeaways:

Previous Episodes of Interest:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Jennifer Beach:

About Jennifer Beach:

Jennifer Beach has 25 years of experience working with and advocating for older adults and their families. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University and a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Cleveland State University. Jennifer started her career working over 15 years with older adults with developmental disabilities. After additional training she soon began Advocate For Elders.

Jennifer is a licensed, insured Social Worker and an Advanced Aging Life Care® Professional. Jennifer served as the Midwest Chapter President of the Aging Life Care Association and served 7 years on the Board of Directors. In 2018, Jennifer was honored as the recipient of the ALCA Midwest Chapter Outstanding Member of the Year Award.

Jennifer is also a monthly contributor and author for Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond. IN 2022, she received first place in the Senior Issues Category at the North American Mature Publishers Association for her contribution to NE Ohio Boomer and Beyond.

When aging parents can no longer live on their own, emotions and logistics collide. 

In this powerful 75th episode of Dollar$ and $ense, Nicole Romito is joined again by her Private Vista partners, Jeff Toner and Steve Merdinger, to share deeply personal and professional experiences navigating late-in-life transitions for aging parents.

From legal blind spots to Medicare rules that no one explains, this conversation peels back the complexity and reveals how essential sibling coordination and proactive conversations really are.

What to expect in this episode:

Resources:

Connect with Nicole Romito: 

Connect with Steve Merdinger:

Connect with Jeff Toner:

About Jeff Toner: 

Over the 30 years of doing this work, Jeff has lived many lives through my clients. He has been with them in moments of great joy and cried with them during their times of sadness. He has taught and educated them, but more importantly, he has been taught and learned from them as well.

As a father of three and business owner, Jeff enjoys an enriched life. He channels his time, talents, and energy between family and friends, clients and colleagues, as well as causes that provide a path for those without the opportunities he’s had. Now that Jeff’s children are becoming young adults, he is most excited to explore new directions for the next stages of his life.

About Steve Merdinger:

Steve has been a financial planner since the mid-80s, helping people consider priorities for themselves and their families, and then working closely with them to turn their hopes and dreams into reality. Before that, he worked in his family’s business, which gave him a unique understanding of the financial dynamics of family-owned businesses, including the issues of succession planning.

As I look to my future, Steve hopes to become more involved with mentoring students — perhaps becoming a trainer with the Positive Coaching Alliance organization. He would like to carve out more time for meditating and maintaining his fitness and flexibility through Bikram yoga. And, of course, spending more quality time with his wife and two children.