Financial Strides

Join hosts Kim and Emily as they guide you through practical financial wellness, from understanding investment basics to balancing today's enjoyment with tomorrow's security. No overwhelm, no judgment, just clear conversations that help you take confident steps toward financial contentment.

Compliance Kim shares real fraud cases from the firm, including one where a scammer beat two-factor authentication by hijacking a client’s landline. Kim and Emily break down the tactics fraudsters use, the questions to ask before you act, and why there’s no shame in picking up the phone to double-check.

Celebrating one year of the show, Kim and Emily go back to basics on what actually belongs in your investment account. Get plain-English breakdowns of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs, plus a no-judgment guide to riskier terms like margin and short selling, and why inflation and interest rates always seem to move together.

Thinking about hiring a financial advisor, but aren’t sure where to start? Kim and Emily walk through exactly how to prepare, what to ask, and which red flags to watch for—from confirming fiduciary status to understanding who actually holds your money and why that distinction matters. Get the full checklist for interviewing advisors with confidence.

Ten episodes in, Kim and Emily Kim and Emily swap questions they selected in secret. Hear the childhood money lessons that stuck, the financial regrets they’d undo (including one cashed-out IRA Emily’s still thinking about), the spending habit Emily finally broke, and what financial success really feels like when you stop trying to put a number on it.

From SEC registration and fiduciary duty to fee structures and client service, Kim and Emily finally answer the question listeners have been waiting for: what do they actually do? This episode pulls back the curtain on what it means to be a Registered Investment Adviser, and why that distinction should matter to anyone choosing a financial professional.

You've maxed your retirement accounts and paid down debt. Now what? Kim and Emily explain taxable brokerage accounts—the final, unlimited bucket where your post-tax dollars work for you. Discover why “taxable” doesn't mean what you think, how capital gains actually work, and why this account might be your secret weapon for early retirement, big purchases, or a European vacation.

Confused by retirement account acronyms? Kim and Emily demystify IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and Roth 401(k)s, explaining exactly how each account works, their tax advantages, and—most importantly—how these accounts work together to maximize your retirement savings. Bonus: a farmer's market seed analogy that finally makes the tax difference crystal clear.

New Year brings the perfect opportunity for a financial tune-up. Kim and Emily break it down into manageable steps. Learn how to pull your free annual credit report (the only official source is annualcreditreport.com), what to do if you find errors, and how credit monitoring services can catch problems before they snowball. Discover why your insurance review matters more than you think—especially after finishing that basement or welcoming a new family member—and why listing beneficiaries on every possible account is their obsession. Plus, learn which year-end deadlines you can't miss and why catching up on back taxes is worth tackling now.

Where does your tax bracket send you next? Kim and Emily continue their waterfall savings framework, diving deep into maximizing 401(k)s, understanding the powerful benefits of Roth accounts, and navigating tax-advantaged savings strategies. Learn when to prioritize reducing taxable income versus building tax-free growth, plus why automation is the secret to making your waterfall work effortlessly.