Real Money, Real Life ®

How shared housing can save money is not just a question about rent. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely talks with Annamarie Pluhar about how having a housemate can reduce expenses, create more comfort, and help adults rethink what independence really means.

Shared housing can save money by helping adults share the ongoing costs of home, from housing payments to utilities, household help, maintenance, and everyday tasks. But the bigger question is this: What if living with someone is not a step backward? What if it is a smart way to create more financial stability, companionship, and ease?

Linda Grizely and Annamarie discuss why many adults feel afraid to invite someone into their home, how privacy can still be protected, why compatibility matters more than simply finding someone who can pay, and how the idea of a "home-mate" can change the way we think about shared housing.

You'll hear how housemates can become home-mates, how to think through cost sharing without nickel-and-diming, and why the emotional benefits of informal social connection matter too.

Real Money, Real Life™ is about real life, not perfect decisions. This conversation is for adults who feel the pressure of rising housing costs, people living alone, older singles, and anyone wondering whether there may be another way to live with more financial confidence, comfort, and connection.

💡 We talk about:

· How shared housing can save money without giving up privacy · Why adults may feel embarrassed about having a housemate · How to know if someone is compatible enough to live with · What costs to consider before renting a room in your home

Timestamps

(00:00) Why shared housing can be a smart financial choice (01:00) How housemates can support cost, company, cooperation, and comfort (02:00) Annamarie Pluhar's personal story with shared housing (07:00) Why people feel afraid to have a stranger live with them (08:00) How shared housing starts with cost savings (10:00) Why adults need housemates, not roommates (12:00) How to figure out housemate compatibility (14:00) What routines, tasks, guests, noise, and bills reveal (15:00) Different ways adults can share housing (16:00) What living with a housemate looks like in real life (18:00) Hidden financial benefits of having a housemate (20:00) How to price rent without getting greedy (22:00) How to compare shared housing costs to the rental market (24:00) How privacy can still work with a housemate (26:00) Why loneliness and social connection matter (30:00) How living alone connects to social isolation (31:00) Why pride can get in the way of shared housing (34:00) Questions to ask before considering a housemate (35:00) Who should consider shared housing (36:00) Where to find Annamarie Pluhar and Sharing Housing (37:00) A closing reframe on independence and community

👤 About Annamarie Pluhar

Annamarie Pluhar, M.Div. advocates for adults, especially older singles, to have a "home-mate," someone with whom they can share a home with other(s) for the benefits of cost, company, cooperation, and comfort. She is the founder of the nonprofit, Sharing Housing, Inc. and the author of Sharing Housing, A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good Housemates. She has 30 years of experience in corporate and non-profit consulting, group facilitation, training development, and delivery. She is a graduate of Vassar College and The Episcopal Divinity School. She lives in Dummerston, Vermont with one housemate.

🔗 Connect with Annamarie

Website: https://www.sharinghousing.com Website: https://sharinghousing.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharingHousing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharinghousingcommunity/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharing-housing-inc

🤝 Free Resource from Annamarie

Sharing Housing Worksheets: https://sharinghousing.com/worksheets/

👤 About Linda

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

🔗 Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

🤝 Resources

Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

ℹ️ Disclosures

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.

Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

Women finding their financial voice is not just about speaking up. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely and Jennifer Edwards talk about how women can understand their money, ask better questions, and take ownership of financial decisions with more confidence.

The answer starts with awareness. If you do not know where the accounts are, what debts exist, how retirement is being planned, or how money decisions are being made, silence can leave you vulnerable. But speaking up does not have to mean blaming, judging, or starting a fight.

What if you want to understand more, but you do not want your partner to feel accused? What if you sit in meetings with a financial advisor and feel embarrassed asking basic questions?

Linda Grizely and Jennifer Edwards break down why money conversations can feel so emotional, why women often defer long-term financial decisions, and how money can represent safety, identity, independence, belonging, and trust. You'll hear how financial silence can show up in relationships, what financial advocacy can look like, and why a simple money date can be a powerful first step.

Real Money, Real Life™ is for people who want financial confidence without shame, jargon, or judgment. This conversation is a reminder that women finding their financial voice does not require becoming someone else. It starts with trusting your voice enough to use it.

💡 We talk about: · How women can start finding their financial voice · Why silence around money can create risk in relationships · How to talk to your partner about money without blame · What to ask when you feel left out of financial decisions

Timestamps

(00:00) Women finding their financial voice (02:22) What finding your voice means financially (03:22) Why money avoidance is often about fear (04:33) Why financial planning alone does not solve money tension (10:06) How silence shows up in money decisions (11:10) Why women often defer financial conversations (14:20) The emotional and financial cost of staying silent (18:10) How to start asking better questions (19:00) A money conversation starter for couples (20:35) Why widows need financial understanding before crisis (22:25) How financial advisors can support silent partners (24:30) What financial advocacy looks like in marriage (26:00) Understanding each other's money stories (29:05) How self-worth affects earning, spending, and investing (31:10) Why language shapes financial confidence (33:20) The fear that keeps women quiet about money (35:05) How comparison distorts financial confidence (36:25) Money and leadership beliefs women can release (37:50) One conversation to start this week (38:20) One small step toward financial advocacy (39:25) The real meaning behind money issues (40:10) Who Jennifer helps (40:50) Jennifer's Money Beliefs Inventory (42:00) Linda's closing nugget

About + Links

👤 About Jennifer Edwards

Jennifer Edwards is a Financial Wellness Specialist and Certified Financial Planner® who has guided more than 600 individuals and couples to greater clarity and confidence with money. She developed the 7 Layers of Financial Wellness framework to reveal the emotional, relational, and systemic forces shaping money behavior. Jennifer helps people communicate more clearly, understand the roots of their financial patterns, and navigate even the toughest money conversations with confidence.

🔗 Connect with Jennifer

Website: https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-edwards-cfp/ Resource: Free Money Beliefs Inventory available in the resources section at https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.com

👤 About Linda

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

🔗 Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

🤝 Resources

Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

ℹ️ Disclosures

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

How to review a life insurance policy before it quietly fails. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Tony Steuer to break down what most people never realize about permanent life insurance policies, cash value policies, in-force illustrations, and policy lapses. If you've ever wondered whether you still need life insurance, whether your policy is performing the way you were promised, or what happens if a policy runs out of money, this conversation will help you understand what to look for before it becomes a costly surprise.

Many people buy life insurance and never review it again. But life changes. Interest rates change. Insurance costs change. And some policies slowly deteriorate in the background without people realizing it until it's too late. Linda Grizely and Tony Steuer walk through how to review a life insurance policy, how to recognize warning signs inside cash value policies, and why an in-force illustration matters more than most people realize.

You'll hear how policy loans can create hidden problems, why some permanent life insurance policies lapse unexpectedly, when a 1035 exchange may make sense, and how to evaluate whether keeping coverage still fits your financial life today. This Real Money, Real Life™ conversation focuses on financial clarity, not fear, and helps people better understand the human side of financial decisions and insurance planning.

💡 We talk about: • How to review a life insurance policy • Why permanent life insurance policies lapse • What an in-force illustration shows • When a 1035 exchange might make sense

⏱ Timestamps

(00:00) Why people stop reviewing life insurance policies (02:00) How Tony Steuer became a life insurance analyst (04:30) How to evaluate whether you still need life insurance (06:00) What an in-force illustration is (08:00) Warning signs a life insurance policy may lapse (12:00) Understanding cash value and rising insurance costs (16:00) The risks of policy loans and "be your own banker" concepts (21:00) How surrender charges work (23:00) What a 1035 exchange is (25:00) Risks and pitfalls of replacing life insurance policies (27:00) Why people avoid reviewing their policies (30:00) The most important steps to review life insurance coverage (35:00) Final thoughts on protecting your policy

👤 About Tony Steuer

Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE, is an internationally recognized financial fluency advocate, award-winning author, podcast host, and fintech advisor whose mission is to change the way we think about money by addressing life's "what ifs" with integrity and focusing on the human side of financial decisions.

🔗 Connect with Tony

Website: http://www.tonysteuer.com LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tonysteuer

👤 About Linda

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

🔗 Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

🤝 RESOURCES

Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: http://www.lindagriz.com/resources

ℹ️ DISCLOSURES

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.

Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

Social Security explained in plain English. In this episode of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Social Security and retirement expert Marcia Mantell to break down how Social Security really works, what "going bankrupt" means, and how to avoid making emotional claiming decisions that could permanently reduce your retirement income.

If you've ever wondered whether you should claim Social Security early, how spousal benefits work, or whether Social Security will still be there for future retirees, this conversation gives you a grounded and realistic answer without fear, hype, or political noise.

Marcia Mantell explains why Social Security is not going bankrupt, what trust fund depletion means, and why so many people accidentally make claiming decisions based on panic instead of strategy. Linda Grizely and Marcia Mantell walk through how benefits are calculated, why your highest 35 earning years matter, how pensions and public sector work affect benefits, and what couples need to think through before filing.

They also unpack the emotional side of retirement planning. Fear, uncertainty, headlines, and misinformation often push people into decisions they may regret later. This episode of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast helps listeners understand the bigger picture so they can make retirement decisions with more clarity and confidence.

You'll hear how claiming Social Security early can permanently reduce survivor benefits, why many divorced spouses may qualify for benefits they do not realize they can receive, and how younger workers should think about Social Security as part of their long-term retirement planning instead of assuming it will disappear.

Linda Grizely and Marcia Mantell also break down common misconceptions around Medicare, public pensions, and the Social Security Fairness Act, while explaining why retirement planning is rarely as simple as "just claim at 62."

By the end of the conversation, you'll better understand how Social Security fits into your overall retirement income plan and why slowing down before making a claiming decision can make a significant difference over your lifetime.

We talk about:

• How Social Security benefits are calculated
• What happens if you claim Social Security at 62
• Why Social Security is not going bankrupt
• How spousal and survivor benefits really work

⏱ Timestamps

(00:00) Social Security basics everyone should understand (02:40) How Marcia Mantell became a Social Security expert (04:05) How Social Security benefits are calculated (09:50) Teachers, pensions, and Social Security credits (10:35) The Social Security Fairness Act explained (13:20) Full retirement age and claiming decisions (17:15) Why Social Security planning is more complicated than people think (20:05) How spousal benefits work (25:20) Claiming strategies for married couples (28:40) The biggest Social Security mistake people make (30:15) Is Social Security going bankrupt? (32:45) How to plan for possible future changes (37:00) Why your Social Security estimate can change (40:20) Divorced spouse Social Security rules (44:05) Fear, politics, and emotional claiming decisions

About Marcia Mantell

Marcia Mantell is the founder of her own small business, Mantell Retirement Consulting, which is celebrating 20 years this year.

Marcia is known for taking the complicated retirement, Social Security, and Medicare rules and translating them into language we can all better understand.

And she's the author of 4 retirement books, a long-time blogger, a media columnist, and a podcast guest. Whether writing about or talking about retirement, she takes the opportunity to share as many helpful tips and tricks as possible. It's all about making a successful transition into retirement.

Connect with Marcia

Website: https://mantellretirementconsulting.com/ Website: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boomerretirementbriefs2022 Free Resource: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/estimating-your-medicare-costs/

About Linda Grizely

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz

What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz

Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity

Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

Disclosures

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.

Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

What does it really mean to give yourself permission to make more money? On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Cortney McDermott to talk about money, receiving, self-worth, and why so many people quietly cap what they allow themselves to earn.

The answer is not just to "think positive" or force yourself into a new money mindset. It starts with understanding what money represents for you. Is it freedom? Safety? Proof that you are enough? Permission to make more money often begins with noticing the stories, stress, and fear that keep you from receiving what you say you want.

Linda Grizely and Cortney McDermott unpack why earning more is not only about strategy, why scarcity can live in the body, and how relaxation, awareness, and attention can shift what feels possible. You'll hear why Cortney says money is a form of flow, why wealth is not the same as having a high bank balance, and why the practice of doing less may actually help you access more clarity.

If you have ever felt guilty wanting more, afraid to earn more, or unsure whether you are "allowed" to receive more, this conversation offers a different way to think about money. Real Money, Real Life™ is about the human side of money, and this episode is a reminder that you do not have to shrink your dreams to be responsible. You can be grounded and abundant at the same time.

💡 We talk about: • Giving yourself permission to make more money • Why people subconsciously cap their earning potential • How self-worth shapes what you allow yourself to receive • Why scarcity is not just a thought pattern • How rest, relaxation, and attention can shift possibility

Timestamps

(00:00) Giving yourself permission to make more money (02:20) How Cortney began talking about money and wealth (04:15) What money really represents underneath the surface (07:30) Brainwave frequencies, stress, and abundance (15:25) How to move out of high-stress money thinking (19:25) Why people subconsciously cap their earning potential (23:00) Worthiness, wealth, and the story of the diamond (28:00) Moving from scarcity to possibility (32:10) Why mindset alone is not the full answer (38:25) One tiny practice to shift your consciousness (43:35) How to connect with Cortney McDermott (45:10) Closing nugget: grounded and abundant

About Cortney McDermott

"All you have to do is look into Cortney's eyes and you know she's figured something out. Her gift is helping the rest of us figure it out, too." -Ndaba Mandela, author of 'Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela'

Cortney McDermott is an award-winning author and speaker and celebrity coach.

Her work in self-development and business strategy has been featured in Inc., Women's Health, NBC, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and SUCCESS, and her talks on human potential have been shared on stages including TEDx, Mindvalley, Oxford Saïd Business School, and Richard Branson's private island, Necker.

With a Master of Science from the London School of Economics, Cortney blends academic rigor with real-world experience to help individuals and organizations reach their highest potential. Her career highlights include executive roles at Vanity Fair Corporation, Vice President at Sustainability Partners Inc., and successfully running her own businesses, where she has worked with brands such as Universal Music Group, Nike, Kickstarter, and Google.

Fluent in four languages, Cortney splits her time between Italy and the US.

Connect with Cortney

Website: https://www.cortneymcdermott.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneymcdermott Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortneymcdermott/ Resource Freebie: free meditation on website

About Linda Grizely

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz

What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz

Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity

Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

DISCLOSURES

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

How to pay off your mortgage faster without more income is something a lot of people are quietly searching for—and questioning whether the traditional 30-year mortgage is really the best path. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Ann Pells to challenge the idea that a 30-year mortgage is the "normal" or smartest way to build financial stability—and explore what might be keeping people stuck.

The truth is, for many people, the structure of a traditional mortgage means most of your early payments go toward interest, not progress. That can leave you feeling like you're working hard but not getting ahead.

So, what if the problem isn't how hard you're working—but how the system is set up?

What if there's a different way to organize your cash flow so your money works harder for you?

In this conversation on the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely and Ann Pells unpack how mindset, cash flow structure, and income strategy all play a role in financial freedom—and why the 30-year mortgage may not align with real life for many people.

We walk through how rethinking your mortgage approach could potentially shift how quickly you build equity, how flexibility versus structure impacts financial stress, and why the emotional weight of a long-term obligation matters more than most financial advice acknowledges. You'll hear how Ann's personal experience with job loss and financial pressure led her to question traditional systems—and what she discovered instead.

You'll also hear a different perspective on building income—not by working more hours, but by thinking about income sources differently—and how mindset can either keep you stuck or open the door to new possibilities.

This conversation isn't about one-size-fits-all answers. It's about asking better questions, understanding the rules you've been handed, and deciding whether they work for your life.

Because financial freedom isn't just about following the plan—it's about understanding it well enough to challenge it.

We talk about:

How to pay off your mortgage faster without increasing income Why the 30-year mortgage structure can slow financial progress How cash flow restructuring can change how your money works The mindset blocks that keep people stuck financially

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) The 30-year mortgage lie explained (02:31) Job loss and the turning point with money (04:40) How cash flow restructuring works (09:16) Mortgage vs home equity strategy discussion (12:07) Emotional impact of financial obligations (14:48) Step 2: building income through business (20:10) Step 3: mindset and financial flexibility (24:38) Fear and doubt as financial obstacles (30:02) One simple mindset shift to start

About Ann

Ann's mission is simple yet profound: to empower individuals to reclaim their financial freedom and live the life they've always dreamed of. Her journey started with a free call.

Through the Three Steps to Financial Freedom, she guides people to:

Pay off their homes in 5–7 years without increasing expenses or changing income.

Build multiple streams of passive income, including done-with-you businesses and real estate.

Gain financial peace of mind in just one hour a week while creating a legacy for generations to come.

Guest Links

www.annsplan.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@getannsplan?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/getannsplan/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582457011490

About Linda

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz

What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz

Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity

Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

DISCLOSURES

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

If you're wondering why retirement feels empty—or worried it might—this episode of the Real Money, Real Life podcast with Linda Grizely will help you rethink what comes next. Retirement isn't about stopping work. It's about having the freedom to choose what your life looks like.

👉 Retirement feels empty when you've been working toward an ending instead of building toward something meaningful.

Why do so many people feel lost after retiring? What are you supposed to do with your time, identity, and purpose?

👉 Retirement isn't the absence of work—it's the absence of needing to work.

In this episode of the Real Money, Real Life podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Eric Brotman to unpack why retirement feels empty for so many people—and what to do instead.

If you've spent decades working toward retirement, only to realize you're not sure what comes next, you're not alone. This conversation challenges the idea that retirement is the goal and instead reframes it as a transition into something new.

Linda Grizely and Eric Brotman explore how financial planning is about more than just numbers—it's about building a life that still feels meaningful when work becomes optional. Through real-life examples and experience, they explain why purpose, identity, and engagement matter just as much as financial security.

If you've ever thought, "I don't want to retire… but I don't know what else to do," this episode will help you think about retirement differently.

WE TALK ABOUT:

Why retirement feels empty for so many people What makes retirees happy and fulfilled How to shift from "retiring" to building your next chapter Why having something to move toward matters more than stopping work How identity and purpose are tied to your career What financial independence really means in real life How to start thinking about what comes next before you retire

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Why retirement feels empty (02:28) What happens when people stop working completely (05:47) Why purpose matters more than retirement itself (06:01) What financial independence means (08:00) How to figure out what to do after retirement (20:06) Identity and life after your career (27:36) Biggest fears about retirement (34:27) What to do this week to prepare

About Eric Brotman

Eric D. Brotman is Chairman of the Board and Chief Growth Officer of BFG Financial Advisors and Managing Principal of Brotman Consulting Group, LLC. He started in the financial planning industry in 1994 and launched a start-up in 2003 which has grown to over 25 employees and over $1 billion in assets under management. He's the author of three books including the award-winning "Don't Retire...Graduate!" and hosts a podcast by that same name.

Connect with Eric Brotman

www.bfgfa.com www.bfguniversity.com www.dontretiregraduatebook.com

https://www.facebook.com/BFGFinancialAdvisors/ https://www.facebook.com/DontRetireGraduate https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebrotman/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bfgfa/ https://www.instagram.com/dontretiregraduate/ https://www.instagram.com/bfgfinancialadvisors/ https://www.youtube.com/@BFGUniversity

About Linda Grizely

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.

Connect with Linda

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources / Freebies

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz

What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz

Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity

Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

How do you align your money with your life so it feels meaningful—not just optimized? This episode breaks down money and life alignment in a way that finally makes sense.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Carl Richards, Certified Financial Planner™, author, and creator of The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times. Carl shares why money is never just math, how behavior drives financial decisions, and what it really looks like to connect your financial choices to what matters most in your real life.

From simple sketches to powerful mindset shifts, this conversation strips away complexity and brings financial wellness back to clarity and intention.

We Talk About:

• How to align your money with your life in a practical way • Why financial decisions are driven by behavior, not optimization • The difference between "your money or your life" vs. "your money and your life" • Why complexity keeps people stuck in personal finance • How awareness—not budgeting—can improve spending habits • The role of emotions in financial decision-making • Why clarity matters more than perfect financial planning

About Carl Richards:

Carl Richards started The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times from the hills of Utah, crafting clear, relatable insights about money with just card stock and a Sharpie. The column ran weekly for a decade. This journey began when Carl applied for what he thought was a job as a "security guard," only to find out the ad actually said "securities." That slight misstep sparked a lifelong dedication to reshaping how we think about money.

Since then, Carl has become a Certified Financial Planner™, built and sold a successful investment firm, and spoken at financial and investment events worldwide—from Australia to South Africa, the UK, and major economic centers across Europe, Canada, and the United States. His bestsellers, The Behavior Gap and The One-Page Financial Plan, have been translated into over ten languages and continue to resonate globally.

Through his daily podcast, Behavior Gap Radio, which now has over 1,000 episodes and over one million downloads, Carl shares new perspectives on aligning our resources with what truly matters. His latest audio project, 50 Fires, backed by executive producers Chip and Joanna Gaines, explores the intersections of money and meaning with guests like Pete Holmes, David Whyte, Krista Tippett, and his favorite guest by far, his wife, Cori.

Carl founded The Society of Advice, a community of financial planners dedicated to the craft of advice. They gather for a monthly online workshop and frequent retreats in Park City, Utah.

In 2025, Carl will release a new book that, true to form, will be unlike anything seen in the personal finance section—and you better believe there will be sketches (97 of them, to be exact).

When he's not exploring ideas about money, Carl, a Wilderness First Responder, can be found navigating Utah's high mountain ridges on foot, skis, or bike. Married to Cori since 1995, they have four kids, whom they consider their best friends.

Connect with Carl:

Buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715 Bulk order: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

Instagram: https://instagram.com/behaviorgap LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinkingcarl/ X: https://x.com/behaviorgap

About Linda Grizely:

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a personal finance expert and financial wellness speaker who helps people build confidence and clarity with their money. She is the creator of the MeMoney™ Method, a mindset-first approach that helps people feel more in control of their financial decisions — without judgment or lecture. Linda focuses on blending the numbers and tactics (real money) with the human side of money (real life), helping individuals and organizations replace overwhelm with empowerment through practical, emotionally grounded financial education. She is the host of the podcast Real Money, Real Life™.

Connect with Linda:

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources/Freebies:

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz

What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz

Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity

Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

ℹ️ Important Disclosures:

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.

Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

How to lower your monthly bills without earning more or working harder—this episode breaks down exactly how it works. If you've ever wondered why your bills keep creeping up, this conversation will help you understand how to lower your monthly bills and create immediate financial breathing room.

Most people focus on earning more—but one of the fastest ways to improve financial wellness is by reducing what you're already spending. And the truth is, many people are overpaying on everyday bills without even realizing it.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Barry Gross, Founder of BillCutterz, to talk about how bill negotiation works, why "bill creep" happens, and how lowering fixed expenses can create instant cash flow without changing your lifestyle.

💡We Talk About:

• how to lower your monthly bills without changing services • why most people are overpaying on cell phone, internet, and cable bills • what "bill creep" is and how it quietly increases your expenses over time • how bill negotiation works behind the scenes • how lowering fixed expenses improves financial wellness and cash flow • why controlling expenses is faster than trying to earn more income • how service providers decide when to offer discounts • how much money people typically save by negotiating bills

Additional Note:

For individuals, average savings are $400+ per bill annually, typically across 2–3 bills.

BillCutterz works with businesses, too. Business savings are typically over $10,000 per business, with many sending 15+ bills and saving thousands on just one.

About Barry Gross: Our featured guest today is a financial veteran with a remarkable 50 years of experience dedicated to helping individuals and businesses enhance their financial well-being by generating lasting, significant cash flow. With an educational foundation that includes a Bachelor of Business Degree in Marketing from the University of Houston, Barry spent ten years of his career as a Financial Planner and Asset Manager at the premier brokerage firm, E.F. Hutton. This invaluable experience enabled him to launch two highly successful companies. He has helped generate millions for customers throughout his career and holds a powerful philosophy on wealth creation: "Navigating financial success is not rocket science, but one does need to know the fundamentals of making and growing money." Additionally, Barry said, "The difference between financially successful people and those who struggle with their finances has nothing to do with how smart they are. Successful people embrace advice and guidance from people who are successful themselves." Currently, Barry is the Founder of BillCutterz, the industry-leading bill negotiation service he established 16 years ago. BillCutterz is designed to help customers lower their rates on monthly bills without changing their plan or service. This innovative service garnered national attention and has been featured on major media platforms, including ABC World News Tonight, CNBC, CNN, and Good Morning America. Mr. Gross stated, "Everyone is overpaying on their monthly bills, and it's our job and mission to lower the rates for those who are not already taking advantage of a service like ours. BillCutterz can and does put money right back in the pockets of its customers."

Connect with Barry: https://billcutterz.com/?p=LINDAGRIZELY (this is an affiliate links, which means Linda may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.) https://www.instagram.com/billcutterz_marketing/ https://www.facebook.com/BillCutterz/

About Linda Grizely: Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a personal finance expert and financial wellness speaker who helps people build confidence and clarity with their money. She is the creator of the MeMoney™ Method, a mindset-first approach that helps people feel more in control of their financial decisions — without judgment or lecture. Linda focuses on blending the numbers and tactics (real money) with the human side of money (real life), helping individuals and organizations replace overwhelm with empowerment through practical, emotionally grounded financial education. She is the host of the podcast Real Money, Real Life™.

Connect with Linda: Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources/Freebies: What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz Join Linda's Free Community: https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

Important Disclosures: Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

Episode Description:

Investment fraud red flags are often hidden in plain sight—and most people don't realize it until it's too late. This episode will help you understand what to look for before you invest so you can protect yourself with confidence.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with James Brandolino, an expert in investment fraud prevention, to break down how investment fraud happens, the red flags investors often miss, and what you can do to protect yourself before handing over your money.

James shares his firsthand experience—from working in the financial industry to committing fraud, serving time, and now helping others recognize the warning signs. This conversation brings a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective into how fraud begins, why it's often not intentional at first, and how it escalates over time.

This episode is designed to help you feel more aware, more informed, and more confident asking the right questions when it comes to your money.

When you know what to look for, you take away the fraudster's advantage.

We Talk About:

• Investment fraud red flags and how to identify warning signs early • Financial advisor misconduct, including switching and selling away • Why investment fraud often starts unintentionally and escalates over time • What due diligence actually looks like before and during an investment • How misleading illustrations and assumptions can impact decisions • Why people hesitate to question advisors—and how to move past that • What to watch for when investing in private or alternative investments

About James Brandolino:

Today, we're joined by James Brandolino, a leading expert in investment fraud prevention. What makes James uniquely qualified is his extraordinary journey from being an investment fraudster to a fraud prevention expert. After starting as a securities broker and later managing a hedge fund, James made the devastating decision to alter investor statements and cover trading losses with personal funds for over eight years, ultimately leading to a federal conviction and six-and-a-half years in prison. During his incarceration, he studied forensic accounting and analyzed investment fraud cases, transforming his firsthand knowledge of fraudulent tactics into a mission to protect others. Now he helps investors and organizations identify critical red flags and safeguard their assets from the very schemes he once perpetrated.

Connect with James:

https://www.investmentfraudsolutions.com/james-brandolino https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbrandolino/ www.InvestigateBeforeYouInvest.com

About Linda Grizely:

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a personal finance expert and financial wellness speaker who helps people build confidence and clarity with their money. She is the creator of the MeMoney™ Method, a mindset-first approach that helps people feel more in control of their financial decisions — without judgment or lecture. Linda focuses on blending the numbers and tactics (real money) with the human side of money (real life), helping individuals and organizations replace overwhelm with empowerment through practical, emotionally grounded financial education. She is the host of the podcast Real Money, Real Life™.

Connect with Linda:

Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely

Resources/Freebies:

What's Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuiz What's Holding You Back from Financial Confidence Quiz: https://bit.ly/FinConfidQuiz Join Linda's Free Community: A space for real talk, fresh starts, and women who are done putting themselves last. https://bit.ly/RealMoneyRealLifeCommunity Useful Personal Finance Checklists and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources

ℹ️ Important Disclosures:

Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.

Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.

This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.

Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.

For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers