This month's topic is Risk Management. Risk management is an area of financial planning that no one wants to talk about or think about, but it's a necessary component. If you're not prepared for what could be the worst-case scenario, then you'll not only experience a personal shock like an accident or death, but you'll also experience a series of unfortunate financial surprises. You may be surprised about today's guest as the show doesn't align with typical risk management subjects like insurance.

I'm talking about having a healthy relationship with money with Kara Stevens, founder of Frugal Feminista. Kara joins me to talk about her book, "Heal Your Relationship with Money," her personal journey, and all of the financial benefits she has received from developing a better relationship with money. As much as any financial product can impact your finances, I think nothing can impact it more than your mindset. I highly encourage you to invest time in this episode and book if you don't have a healthy relationship with money.  

For more information, visit the show notes: https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode535

This final season of my show is going so fast, and I only have a little over five months left to share with you the remaining topics and guests before we say our final goodbye in October. You know that I have had a theme for months, but every now and then, I take a break from the theme to bring a voice or concept to you that I think is thought-provoking or important.   

Joining me today is James Robert Lay, founder of the Digital Growth Institute and author of the book Banking on Change. I have had multiple conversations with James Robert over the past few years and think he has a truly brilliant view of where financial institutions need to go and how many of us, as leaders and teammates, should be viewing change and how that impacts the future of our companies. This episode is a conversation I don't think you should miss, no matter what industry you work in. 

For more information, visit the show notes at  https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode532-james-robert-lay 

This final season of my show is going so fast and I only have a little over five months left to share with you the remaining topics and guests before we say our final goodbye in October. I have a number of shows this month focused on travel in anticipation for summer. I’ve been a financial planner now for over 14 years and in all those years I think every single one of my clients was always planning for some trip during the summer months and this summer is no different. Whether the trips are for weddings, family reunions, kids’ baseball games, concert events or just because, travel is something we are always planning with our clients.  

Joining me today are my longtime clients Todd and Chelsea. They’ve been on the show before and they join me this month to talk about how travel literally changed not only how they view life but how they now live their lives as digital nomads, and soon Baby Parker will be joining her parents for the digital nomadic lifestyle. I am always so inspired by Todd and Chelsea’s adventurous spirits and I hope you are too.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode531-todd-and-chelsea.

This final season of my show is going fast and I only have six full months left to share with you the final topics and guests before we say our final goodbye. I initially intended May to be focused on travel in anticipation for summer. I have been a financial planner now for over 14 years and in all of those years, I think every single one of my clients was always planning for some trip during the summer months and this summer is no different. Whether the trips are for weddings, family reunions, kid’s baseball games, concert events or just because, travel is always something we’re planning with our clients.  

For more information, visit the shownotes:

https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode530-retire-often

This final season of my show is going fast and I only have six full months left to share with you the final topics and guests before we say our final goodbye and I have devoted the month of May to discussing travel and all things travel adjacent. I have been a financial planner now for over 14 years and in all of those years, I think every single one of my clients was always planning for some trip during the summer months and this summer is no different. Whether the trips are for weddings, family reunions, kid’s baseball games, concert events or just because, travel is always something we’re planning with our clients. 

Today’s episode is my first and hopefully last replay for this final season. Due to scheduling challenges and the death of a close friend of mine, Austin and I were not able to get together to record a new episode; however, most of what we shared in this episode is still true and Austin is still continuing to work with and support people looking to travel with rewards points. I just finished working with Vinnie on booking our travel to Ireland in June to celebrate Will’s high school graduation and every time we went to use our points, I kept thinking “I should have turned this over to Austin to begin with.” Earning travel rewards is key, but more so than earning them is also spending them the best way and that’s where resources like Austin can really help you get the most bang for your travel rewards points. 

For more information, visit the show notes: https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode529-travel-af

If you're listening to this episode on the day it debuted, you're officially listening on my birthday, April 19th. For my final season of the show, I thought I would bring on the woman who was there from the beginning. Not only the woman who gave me life but also my hero, my mother, Jamie. She joins me to share family stories, especially how my grandparents built a church in Queens, NY, and relive some funny stories of my youth and what I was like growing up  (spoiler alert, I've always been a type A overachiever). I hope you enjoy hearing more about the woman who raised me and the family that inspired my journey.  

For more information, visit the show notes:https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode527-shannons-mom

We are now in April, and I only have seven more months left of new episodes for Martinis and Your Money. As sad as I am to say goodbye to this podcast, I'm equally excited about the final season of episodes I'm delivering to you every Friday. Each month of this final year is broken down by subjects that are important for anyone's financial health journey, and I'm bringing to you the best guests around each of these subject matters but also sharing with you the best tips and practices I've learned in the last 15+ years.  

April is a short month as far as Fridays are concerned, and it's also my birthday month, so I decided to talk about a subject that I personally used to hate but now I love, and that's budgeting and frugality. Joining me today is who I consider to be my OG Queen of Frugality, and that is long-time Martinis and Your Money friend, guest, and Happy Hour Co-Host, Liz Thames, aka Mrs. Frugalwoods. Liz joins me today to talk about why we both love the frugal approach and the crazy expensive purchase she recently made, and she shares her best tips and suggestions for someone new to a frugal journey.  

For more information, visit the show notes:https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/episode526-frugalwoods