She's Talkin' Money

If you’re single, your insurance needs look different than someone whose household has two incomes.

And if you’re the only person bringing in a paycheck, protecting that income may matter a whole lot more than you realize.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m walking through the insurance benefits you probably selected during open enrollment years ago — and helping you figure out what you actually have, what you may need more of, and what you might be paying for without really understanding why.

We start with disability insurance, because for many single women, their ability to earn an income for the next 20 or 30 years may be one of their biggest financial assets. I’ll explain how short-term and long-term disability coverage works, what percentage of your income may actually be replaced, why benefit caps matter for higher earners, and why the definition of “disabled” inside your policy can completely change whether you receive benefits.

We’ll also get into how to read the insurance deductions on your paycheck, when employer-provided coverage may not be enough, why relying entirely on insurance tied to your job can create problems if you leave or start a business, and whether a single woman actually needs life insurance.

I’ll also explain when life insurance does make sense even if you don’t have children, why supplemental life, accident, critical illness, and other add-on policies deserve a second look, and why your beneficiary designations may matter more than what your will says.

If open enrollment is coming up, don’t automatically click “same as last year.”

Take a few minutes to understand what you’re actually paying for — and whether the coverage would really protect you if your paycheck suddenly stopped.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

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Keep the conversation going on Instagram @shestalkinmoney

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Is $1 million enough to retire?

It’s the kind of question everyone wants a simple answer to. Hit $1 million and you’re good. Fall short and you’re behind.

Except retirement does not work that way.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down the factors that actually determine whether $1 million is enough for you — including when you want to retire, how much you expect to spend, where your money is invested, what other income you’ll have, and what “retirement” even means in your life.

Because retiring at 55 with $1 million is a very different financial plan than retiring at 67. And $1 million in Roth accounts is not the same as $1 million sitting entirely in pre-tax retirement accounts.

We’ll also talk about why your spending may be one of the biggest factors in determining how much you need, how Social Security, pensions, part-time work, consulting and other income can reduce the pressure on your portfolio, and why retiring before age 59½ requires a little more planning around how and when you can access your money.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Instead of starting with an arbitrary retirement number, start with the life you actually want.

When do you want to retire? What will it cost? What income will you have? Where will that income come from?

Then work backward.

That is how you figure out what you actually need for retirement.

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You have extra money. Should you put it toward your mortgage or invest it?

The answer is very different if your mortgage rate is 3% versus 7%.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down how I actually think through this decision with clients — because “always pay off your mortgage” and “never pay it off because you can make more in the market” are both examples of generic financial advice that leave out the most important part: your actual financial situation.

We’re talking about how your mortgage rate changes the conversation, why liquidity matters so much, and what you may be giving up when you send every extra dollar into your house.

I’ll also explain why home equity is not the same thing as cash, why paying down your mortgage does not make your home appreciate faster, and why being mortgage-free is not automatically the strongest financial position.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

You do not have to choose between “always invest” and “always pay off debt.”

The better question is: What job should this next dollar be doing for you?

Being mortgage-free can be a great goal. But the goal is not simply to have no mortgage.

The goal is to build the strongest overall financial position you can.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @shestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.

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You make good money. You’ve built a career. You may have strong benefits, a title you worked hard for, and a life that looks successful on paper.

But you’re tired.

And maybe you keep thinking: I cannot do this for another 20 years.

Then comes the next thought: But I can’t leave. I make too much money.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down what it actually takes to make a career change in your 40s without blowing up your financial life — and why changing careers does not necessarily mean replacing your current salary dollar for dollar.

We’re talking about how to figure out what your life actually costs, how much income you really need, and why your current high salary may be the very thing that helps fund your exit.

I’ll walk through how to test-drive a lower income before making a move, how to build a freedom fund, how to think about a sabbatical, and why having enough money to live on is not the same thing as having enough money to launch a business or fund your next chapter.

We’ll also talk about the parts of compensation people often overlook — health insurance, retirement benefits, bonuses, equity, PTO, and other benefits — and why comparing salaries alone can give you the wrong answer.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Career freedom does not mean having enough money to never work again.

It means having enough money, flexibility, and planning that your current job is not your only option.

Your job should not own the next 20 years of your life just because it pays well.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @shestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.

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How much should you have saved by 40?

It’s one of those money questions that practically begs for a simple answer. Three times your salary. Check the box. Move on.

Except your financial life does not work that way.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down why common age-based savings benchmarks can be useful as a starting point — but completely misleading when they’re treated like a verdict on whether you’re doing well or falling behind.

Because someone who earned $75,000 for most of her career and just started making $150,000 should not suddenly feel like a financial failure because her “target” doubled overnight. And having $300,000 saved does not tell me nearly enough to know whether you’re actually on track.

We’re talking about what matters more than an arbitrary savings multiple, including your desired retirement age, what you expect retirement to cost, whether your money is Roth or pre-tax, your debt, your liquidity, your future goals, and how much you’re consistently saving today.

I’ll also explain why the question “How much should I have saved?” is often really asking something deeper:

Am I okay?
Am I behind?
Did I wait too long?
Can I still catch up?
Is everyone else doing better than me?

The answer is not another random benchmark.

It’s having a plan.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

There is no magic amount you need to have saved by 40.

The better question is whether your money is actually moving you toward the life you want.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should you max out your 401(k)? If you’re making good money, already saving consistently, and have extra cash flow, it can feel like the obvious next step.

But maxing out your 401(k) is not automatically the best financial decision — especially if most of your money is tied up in retirement accounts and you want more flexibility before age 65.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down how I actually think through this question with clients. We’ll talk about when employer matching matters, where Roth accounts fit in, why liquidity deserves more attention, and why a taxable brokerage account may sometimes make more sense than immediately increasing your 401(k) contribution.

I’m also challenging one of the most common pieces of retirement advice: that if you’re not maxing out your 401(k), you’re somehow falling behind.

Because the goal isn’t to hit an arbitrary contribution limit. The goal is to build a financial life that gives you options.

We’ll cover:

If you’re in your 40s, earning well, and starting to wonder whether you really want to work the same way until traditional retirement age, this episode is for you.

Don’t make yourself retirement rich and life poor.

Be sure to share this episode with a friend!

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Everyone’s Talkin’ Money is now She’s Talkin’ Money.

Same feed. Same host. Sharper focus.

She’s Talkin’ Money is the money podcast for women doing well on paper — women who make good money, save, invest, and still wonder if they’re making the right decisions with what they have.

Hosted by financial planner Shari Rash, the show goes beyond basic budgeting to talk about investing, retirement, taxes, cash, spending, financial independence, and the emotional side of money.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing fine… so why don’t I feel more confident?” this show is for you.

Welcome to She’s Talkin’ Money.

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You’re saving. You’re investing. You’re doing the responsible things. So why does spending money still make you nervous?

In this episode, Shari answers a question a lot of successful women quietly wrestle with: Can I afford to spend more without putting my future at risk?

Using her 50/30/20 approach to needs, wants, and wishes, Shari explains how to figure out whether you actually have room to spend more, why saving aggressively can sometimes become its own form of financial fear, and how to separate real financial risks from the endless feeling that “something could happen.”

You’ll learn how to put an actual number on “enough,” why your emergency fund shouldn’t also be your vacation, renovation, and everything-else fund, and what to do when the numbers say you can spend—but your brain still says you shouldn’t.

Because sometimes the answer isn’t that you need to save more.

Sometimes you need permission to use the money you’ve already worked so hard to build.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this listener Q&A episode, Shari Rash answers three real-life money questions from women trying to make smarter financial decisions without overthinking, guilt, or one-size-fits-all advice.

First, how do you plan for holidays, birthdays, travel, school events, weddings, and family obligations without feeling like you are budgeting every bit of joy out of your life?

Then, what if you grew up in a family where money was never discussed — and now you feel embarrassed asking basic financial questions as an adult?

And finally, if you are single, own your home, and rely on one income, is a three-to-six-month emergency fund really enough? Or does it make sense to keep a larger cash cushion?

Shari breaks down how to use sinking funds for predictable-but-irregular expenses, why not knowing something about money is not a personal failure, and how single women can think about emergency funds, homeownership, liquidity, and investing with more nuance.

Because real financial planning is not about following generic rules perfectly. It is about knowing how those rules apply to your actual life.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this listener Q&A episode, Shari Rash answers real money questions from women who are doing a lot right but still want more clarity around what to do next.

Should a raise be saved, invested, or enjoyed?

How much cash is too much cash once your emergency fund is covered?

What if you are saving every month but still feel guilty spending on travel?

And if you are single and managing everything on your own, should you keep a larger cash cushion than someone in a two-income household?

Shari breaks down how to think through these decisions without shame, overthinking, or relying on one-size-fits-all rules.

Because money should not just sit there, disappear, or make you feel guilty for using it. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices