In this special Mailbag episode, we welcome back personal finance expert Dana Miranda, author of You Don’t Need a Budget, to tackle your most pressing money questions. From navigating early retirement goals to rebuilding credit post-divorce to whether or not you can justify your boutique Pilates membership, we’re getting real about money, self-care, and financial freedom.

Mailbag Questions:

01:00 “I’m 58, burnt out, and want to retire early; is $200k saved enough?”

07:00 “Should I use my 401(k) to pay off $70K in debt?”

13:00 “Can I afford to work part-time post-divorce, or do I need to look for a full-time job?”

20:00 “I make $180k and have 2 kids, is $200 a month too much for a gym membership?”

Looking for more financial confidence?

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Do you really need a budget to manage your money? Or is it time to delete the apps, toss the spreadsheets, and rethink everything?

Today, we’re sitting down with Dana Miranda, author of the bold new book You Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying About Debt, Spend Without Shame, and Manage Money With Ease. Together, she and Jean dig into why traditional “budget culture” can be just as toxic as diet culture and a more intuitive, values-based approach we can use instead.

Looking for more financial confidence?

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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We’ve all been there: endlessly scrolling through financial headlines, absorbing TikTok hot takes, or reading investing books with dreams of becoming the next Warren Buffett. But what if all that advice is doing more harm than good?

On the most recent episode of Your Money Map, our weekly show with the Alliance for Lifetime Income, we sit down with Barry Ritholtz, host of Bloomberg’s Masters in Business podcast, CIO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, and author of the new book How Not to Invest: The Ideas, Numbers, and Behaviors That Destroy Wealth and How to Avoid Them. His mission? To help us unlearn everything that’s steering us in the wrong direction.

If you like this episode and want more, check out all of our Your Money Map episodes at protectedincome.org/your-money-map/ or tune in live every Wednesday at 12 PM ET on Facebook or LinkedIn.

🚀 FinanceFixx – Our 4 or 8-week coaching program to get your finances on track! Our next 4-week session starts May 6th, use code SAVENOW for a 15% discount.

📈 InvestingFixx – A club for women ready to grow their wealth. Your first month is completely free.

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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Climate news in the last few years has felt incredibly depressing.  Melting ice caps. Declining bee populations. Corporate greenwashing. It’s easy to feel like there’s nothing we can do that actually makes a difference. But what if you could take one simple action that not only helped the planet but also your wallet and your mental health?

This week, we sit down with Ashlee Piper, award-winning sustainability expert and author of No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet, and Your Sanity. She shares how stepping off the work-to-buy treadmill helped her save $36,000, pay off debt, and reconnect with what actually brings her joy.

Join the Challenge + Learn More:

🔗 Follow Ashlee on Instagram: @ashleepiper

📬 Get her free Substack and join future challenges

Looking for more financial confidence?

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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This week, we’re bringing back expert investor Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington for a special mailbag episode. She’s answering all of your excellent saving and investing questions—from how to start investing outside of a retirement account to making the most of a short college savings window to figuring out which account to draw from in retirement. 

Whether you're just getting started investing or reassessing your strategy later in life, Jenny and Jean break down the decisions that matter most—and remind us that successful investing is more about time in the market than picking the perfect stocks.

Mailbag Questions:

[1:30] “Is 59 too late to open a Roth IRA, and what should I invest in?”

[5:00] “We have 3 teens and not much saved for college yet. Where should we start?”

[7:30] “I'm a retiree, and I’d like to start pulling money on a monthly basis. Which account should I pull from first?” 

[11:30] “I make $150,000 a year and put $1,000 into my 401k every month. If I want to retire in 15 years, what else should I be investing in?”

Looking for more financial confidence?

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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Markets have been rocky—and if you’re feeling a little uneasy about where your money is sitting right now, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we’re turning our attention to a strategy that’s all about dependable income and peace of mind: dividend investing.

This week, we’re sitting down with Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington, CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management and author of Dividend Investing: Dependable Income to Navigate All Market Environments. 

Whether you're nearing retirement or just want to sleep better at night, this episode breaks down how you can build a dividend-focused portfolio tailored to your life and your risk tolerance. 

Resources & Links Mentioned:

📍 Learn more about Jenny Harrington

📍 Support the Council for Economic Education

Looking for more financial confidence?



Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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We’re not going to sugarcoat it, it’s been a brutal few days on Wall Street. Markets are reeling. Investors are spooked. And if you’ve peeked at your 401(k) with one eye open while sipping a very large glass of wine...you’re not alone.

That’s why we asked Karen Finerman, co-founder of our InvestingFixx club, to join us to break down what this market chaos really means, how long it might last, and what you should (and shouldn’t) be doing with your money right now.

📊 Want more financial confidence? Join Jean and Karen at InvestingFixx.com. Our investing club for women meets next on April 14 at 8 PM ET, and your first month is free.

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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Are financial advisors worth the cost? How do you know when it's time to switch from DIY investing? What exactly should an advisor be doing for you? 

In this special Mailbag episode, Pam Krueger, CEO of WealthRamp, answers all your biggest questions about working with a financial advisor. Plus, we tackle the #1 retirement fear—running out of money—and explain how to stress-test your finances to stay on track.

Mailbag Questions:

[02:00] “When is it time to move from a robo-advisor to a real human?”

[07:00] “Can someone call themselves a fiduciary but still earn commissions?”

[9:30] “I only have $100k saved. Will a financial advisor work with me?”

[12:00] “Should my advisor help with budgeting, insurance, and college planning—or just investments?”

[15:00] “How can I make sure my retirement savings last a lifetime?”

Looking for more financial confidence?

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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Finding a trustworthy financial advisor can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Today, we’re joined by Pam Krueger, an investor advocate and the founder of Wealthramp, a referral service that connects consumers with vetted, fee-only fiduciary advisors, to break down how to find the right advisor for your financial goals. We dive into the biggest red flags to watch for, the difference between fee-only and commission-based advisors, and how to take control of your money with confidence.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Looking for more financial confidence?



Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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In today’s Mailbag, we're diving into your burning AI questions with Celia Quillian, author of AI for Life: 100+ Ways to Use Artificial Intelligence to Make Your Life Easier, More Productive…and More Fun!

Whether you're navigating a career shift, streamlining home maintenance tasks, or planning a road trip, Celia shares how you can use AI to make your life easier. 

Mailbag Questions:

[02:00] “Can AI help me with a career pivot post-layoff?”

[06:00] “How can I use AI to keep track of things I need to get done around the house?”

[10:00] “What are the best free AI courses for beginners?”

[11:00] “Can AI help me plan a bucket list road trip?”

Looking for more financial confidence?

Have a question for us? Write to us (or send us a voice note!) at [email protected].  While you’re at it, join the HerMoney community! For the latest episode drops and financial news-you-can-use, subscribe to our newsletter at Hermoney.com/subscribe!

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