Friends Who Talk About Money

While the pandemic has brought numerous challenges and anxieties, it has also provided people with the opportunity to reset, both personally and financially. For best friends and former roommates, Molly and Ashley, NYC quarantine offered them each a chance to revisit their relationship with money, specifically their spending and saving habits. Exactly one year later, both women have transformed their financial mindsets and adopted money moves that will last beyond the pandemic.

This episode’s expert is Kara Stevens, money coach and Founder of The Frugal Feminista, a rapidly growing source for financial empowerment. Kara shares advice on how to reconnect with your money “why.”

For many families, it used to be a given that kids would attend a four-year college or university after high school. But between the rising costs of education and the changing landscape caused by the pandemic, families are reconsidering the norm. Casey, a mother of six children, was set on sending her oldest daughter, Candice, to a traditional four-year college until COVID-19 opened her eyes to alternative paths. With finances in mind, Casey and Candice said goodbye to the old school way of doing things and hello to an unconventional approach.

This episode’s expert is John Bryson, Head of Investment Consulting and Education Savings at John Hancock Investment Management. John shares guidance on how to prioritize saving for college while juggling other financial goals.

After four years, two apartments, multiple job changes and a pandemic, partners Weslie and Patrick are beginning to realize that while their relationship has gotten serious, their approach to money is stuck in the friend zone. They discuss their opposing financial attitudes, what’s holding them back and how they can find common ground.

This episode’s expert is financial writer Jackie Lam, who specializes in relationships and the emotions surrounding money. She offers tips for other couples struggling to get on the same page about spending and saving.

Since the start of the pandemic, young adults have been moving back home at record rates. And while rooming with the ‘rents is a great way to save money (and enjoy some extra home-cooked meals), it’s also a test of expectations and communication. Parents Zelda and Everett talk with their daughter, Donnis, about the emotional and financial impact of having three generations under one roof and the priorities that help them make it work.

This episode’s expert is family sociologist, Michelle Janning. Michelle breaks down the cultural values that come into play when parents offer financial support to their adult children and offers tips for families considering a return to the nest.

For cousins Desha and Tanda, the unexpected passing of their aunt and “third musketeer” was a crushing blow—but it was also a wake-up call for their family finances. They discuss the tough lessons and silver linings that accompanied their loss and how their aunt’s savvy planning and life insurance helped them stay afloat amidst a flood of grief.

This episode’s expert is Brooks Tingle, President and CEO of John Hancock Insurance. Brooks helps us understand why sometimes the hardest conversations are the most important and offers insights into the life insurance process.

Somewhere along the way, talking about money with friends became taboo – how much we make, what our financial goals are and how we can reach them. But fortunately, that’s never been the case for Candace and Erica. In fact, for these longtime friends, it’s quite the opposite. For years, they’ve talked openly and honestly about all things money in their accountability group and it’s paid off in all sorts of ways.

This episode’s expert is Tori Dunlap, the Founder of Her First $100K. Together, Tori and Claire break down the power of accountability and importance of financial education.

Linda and Jim were living large with millions in real estate equity, thinking it’d be smooth sailing towards retirement …until the recession took the wind out of their sails. After the crash of 2008, they were at sea, with no stock, no property and an empty savings account. A decade or so later, the couple is living on a 44-foot sailboat with zero cash reserves and zero retirement plans.

Zach Ciampa, a Financial Planner at John Hancock, weighs in on the changing retirement landscape, gives advice for people starting fresh financially, and outlines the benefits of getting professional financial help.

When you lose your business and your home in the middle of a recession, how do you hold it all together? Mother and son, Beth and Gordon, discuss picking up the pieces after their family’s financial implosion and how tackling their money issues as a team transformed their relationship to money and each other.

This episode’s expert is Bari Tessler, Financial Therapist and author of The Art of Money. Bari unpacks Beth and Gordon’s “money story” and offers tips for how other families can approach financial uncertainty.

Over the past few months, we’ve heard from friends, families and couples, who have opened up about their very unique money stories. We can’t get enough of these financial heart-to-hearts, and we hope you’ve been loving them too. We are excited to continue celebrating the power of money conversations, and we’re working on a new batch of episodes coming soon. Thanks for listening to Friends Who Talk About Money from John Hancock and be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already. Talk soon!

Anna, a mother of four, and Tiana, who’s expecting her first child, have been friends for over a decade. In that time, they’ve talked about anything and everything, with one notable exception: money. As Tiana’s due date rapidly approaches, she realizes it’s better late than never to tap into her friend’s vast experience and knowledge about the financial realities of parenthood.

Next, Carly Leahy, Cofounder of Modern Fertility, discusses the biggest financial hurdles for would-be parents and parallels between being proactive about fertility and finances.