Financially Intentional

Send us Fan MailIn this classic episode, I talk with Michelle about what workers can do when the rules at work feel unfair, like confusing job contracts, “no compete” rules, and changes that can affect pay and overtime. We break down what these ideas mean in simple words, how to protect yourself, and what to watch for before you sign anything. We also talk about practical ways to earn more money, like picking up side work, asking for raises, and learning skills that make you more valuable.About our guest:Michelle Jackson is the founder of Creators Getting Paid a resource designed to help mission driven online brand builders find, strategize and grow at least one recurring income stream no matter how small.Check Michelle's website here - https://creatorsgettingpaid.comCreators Getting Paid Resource: https://michelleismoneyhungry.substack.com/Support the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailIn today's classic episode, I sit down with Zach Whelchel to talk about why budgeting can feel so hard and how to make it way simpler. Zach shares how a zero based budget works, why giving every dollar a job can lower your stress, and how to build a plan that still includes fun, goals, and real life surprises. We also talk about what it’s like to get help from a budget coach, how accountability can keep you on track, and small steps you can take today if you’re tired of feeling behind on money.About our guest:Zach is a software developer, entrepreneur, husband, and father to two young boys. Zach has always been different when it comes to money. In elementary school his friends built their own economic system in the backyard called Nutopia. In college he made over $1,000 recycling beer cups at a music festival to fund his study abroad. As an entrepreneur his passion is to help others be intentional with their finances so they can build a life that aligns with their values. Recently, he founded MyBudgetCoach to help the world fall in love with budgeting.Start your budget over at MyBudgetCoach here.Support the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I talk with Dr. Aleksandra Gajer about why so many of us feel tired, stressed, and “off,” even when we’re trying to do all the right things. We break down what’s really happening with hormones, metabolism, and aging in a simple way, including why perimenopause can sneak up on you and why your doctor might not always connect the dots. We also share practical tips you can use right away, like how to build better meals, get enough protein, sleep better, manage stress, and support your body without extreme diets or complicated routines.About our guest:Dr. Aleksandra Gajer is a board-certified physician and visionary leader on a mission to revolutionize medicine by optimizing human physiology to achieve true health and well-being. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, she founded The Gajer Practice to transform how we approach health—combining cutting-edge science with deeply personalized care that's missing in today's healthcare system.The Gajer PracticeSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailIn this classic episode, I’m walking you through a simple “just in case” money checklist that most of us avoid until it’s too late—and it’s perfect for a little financial spring cleaning right after the New Year. We talk about wills and trusts, updating your beneficiaries on things like life insurance and retirement accounts, and why you should keep a clear list of your bills, bank accounts, and key documents so your family isn’t stuck guessing. We also touch on planning for kids and college savings, plus a few real-life lessons that can save you stress and moneyUpdates and clarifications:The 529 must generally be open at least 15 years. Lifetime cap is $35,000, but it’s not necessarily “one time”—it’s limited by the annual Roth IRA contribution limit. The rollover goes to the beneficiary’s Roth IRA529 distributions for student loan repayment are limited to $10,000 lifetime per individualFeedback on "not the best time to sell right now" was made in 2023. Avoid making sell decisions based on short-term headlines and stick to your long-term plan.About our expert:Acquania is a financial coach, freelance writer, and independent life insurance producer with LifeTyme Financial Group, LLC. She is committed to helping people find financial freedom and build wealth. As a financial coach, she equips her clients with "outside the box" finance tips, debt payment plans, retirement planning, and more. With her advice clients are able to meet and exceed their financial and personal goals.Through her finance blog and podcast, The Purpose of Money, she shows women how to invest and save more so they can live a more fulfilling and prosperous life.Acquania's passion for personal finance and investing began when she was in high school and her father gave her a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. At 16 years old, Acquania opened a Roth Individual Retirement Account and has been seeking financial independence and early retirement (FIRE) ever since.The Purpose of MoneyMore of Acquania EscarneSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailDid you know that it was possible to tap into your permanent life insurance policy to buy real estate? Our Life Insurance Expert Acquania Escarne breaks down how she has been able to leverage her life insurance policies to purchase rental properties, syndications and even hotels! She shares how you can too and for far less money than you think.About our expert:Acquania is a financial coach, freelance writer, and independent life insurance producer with LifeTyme Financial Group, LLC. She is committed to helping people find financial freedom and build wealth. As a financial coach, she equips her clients with "outside the box" finance tips, debt payment plans, retirement planning, and more. With her advice clients are able to meet and exceed their financial and personal goals.Through her finance blog and podcast, The Purpose of Money, she shows women how to invest and save more so they can live a more fulfilling and prosperous life.Acquania's passion for personal finance and investing began when she was in high school and her father gave her a copy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. At 16 years old, Acquania opened a Roth Individual Retirement Account and has been seeking financial independence and early retirement (FIRE) ever since.The Purpose of MoneyMore of Acquania EscarneSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode, I’m joined by tax expert Hannah Cole from Sunlight Tax to make self employed taxes feel way less scary and way more doable, so you can stop missing write offs and stop overpaying. We walk through simple end of year moves like tax credits that are expiring soon, plus how an HSA can be a powerful savings tool and how SEP IRA vs solo 401k rules work as your business grows (including why an S corp change can affect your setup). Then we get into one of my favorite topics, how a Roth IRA for your kid can work when they have real earned income, and what “reasonable pay” really means so you stay on the right side of the IRSAbout our guest:Hannah Cole is a tax expert who specializes in working with self-employed people, especially creative and mission-driven ones. A long-time working artist herself, she’s helped tens of thousands of self-employed people skill up with accessible tax and money education, through her Money Bootcamp program, tax workshops from Florida to Alaska, and on the Sunlight Tax podcast. Her forthcoming book, Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed, is the most funny and empowering tax guide you’ll ever read. Hannah is the founder of Sunlight Tax.Sunlight TaxSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailOur Expert CFP Dr. Jay and I revisit the long term care planning conversation and what I discovered from my conversation with my parents. To say that I feel underprepared is an understatement. Dr. Jay provides resources and things to consider when taking on the responsibility of caring for aging loved ones.Have you created a plan for when you eventually need assistance with everyday activities and are unable to care for yourself for a long period of time? Do you know what you would do if the sole responsibility of long-term care for a loved one falls on you?Resource Mentioned:Aging Life CareAbout our guest:Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth®, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. Childfree Wealth is the first firm dedicated to serving Childfree people.Dr. Jay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Childfree Wealth Specialist, and author of the book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth” and the upcoming book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut.He has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In 2023, he was named a “Rising Star” by Financial Planning.Childfree Wealth Website The Childfree Guide to Life and Money: Make Your Finances Simple So Your Life Without Kids Can Be Amazing by Dr. Jay ZigmontSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailHave you created a plan for when you eventually need assistance with everyday activities and are unable to care for yourself for a long period of time? It's best to start considering long term care insurance when you're relatively young and healthy, as this will help you secure a lower premium rate. Generally, the younger and healthier you are, the more cost-effective and suitable the policy is likely to be. I was always under the assumption that I should purchase a policy somewhere in the age range of my mid-50s to mid-60s but Dr. Jay burst my bubble. He also got me thinking about what I would do about my father if he needed this assistance. Updates since the episode:Multiple states (including CA, NY, MD, and PA) have continued to study WA-style long-term care programs, but as of late 2025 no other state has fully implemented a mandatory LTC payroll tax.Medicaid and state long-term care rules change often. The examples in this episode are from early 2023 – if you’re making decisions, please check current rules for your state or talk with a qualified planner or elder-law attorney.The free February planning sessions Jay mentions were a one-time 2023 offer. You can still find his current services at ChildfreeWealth.com.About our guest:Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth®, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. Childfree Wealth is the first firm dedicated to serving Childfree people.Dr. Jay is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Childfree Wealth Specialist, and author of the book “Portraits of Childfree Wealth” and the upcoming book “The Childfree Guide to Life and Money.” Dr Jay is the co-host of the Childfree Wealth podcast. His Ph.D. is in Adult Learning from the University of Connecticut.He has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, MarketWatch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, and many other publications. In 2023, he was named a “Rising Star” by Financial Planning.Childfree Wealth Website The Childfree Guide to Life and Money: Make Your Finances Simple So Your Life Without Kids Can Be Amazing by Dr. Jay ZigmontSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailPortia Wood, Esq our Estate Planning expert joins us to discuss why estate planning is important for every adult. Learn the three aspects of estate plans that are a must. Understand the difference in using AI generated estate plans versus working with an estate planning attorney. Estate planning is an important step in making sure that your wishes for the future are clearly put in writing. That way, your wishes will be followed no matter what happens. You also want to make sure that your beneficiaries are informed and that they understand how to access your assets after you pass away.Access Wood Legal Group’s Resource Library For FREEAbout Our Expert: ​​Portia works tirelessly to help people protect their assets and provide for the transfer of resources and values to their families. She helps clients avoid probate, save on taxes, protect their hard-earned savings and preserve wealth at the generational transfer. She concentrates in the areas of Legacy Wealth Planning and asset protection planning.Support the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

Send us Fan MailIn today's episode I sit down with coach and author Amina AlTai to talk about what she calls the Ambition Trap and how it can push us toward stress and burnout instead of a life we actually enjoy. We share our own stories of chasing “perfect” success in work and money, getting sick and tired, and then slowly learning to listen to our bodies, heal old hurts, and make choices that fit who we really are. Amina explains how big goals, toxic work culture, and doing everything alone can hurt women and especially women of color, and we talk about building community, setting kind boundaries, and creating careers and businesses that support both our health and our wallets.About our guest:Amina AITai (pronounced AH-MIN-UH) is an executive coach and leadership trainer, proud immigrant and chronic illness advocate. A leading coach to notable leaders, executives, and founders—Amina's mastery is in connecting us to our brilliance and teaching us to live and lead from it each day. She is the bestselling author of The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living, with Penguin/The Open Field.Amina has partnered with progressive companies such as Google, Meta, Roku, Snap, Outdoor Voices, NYU and HUGE. She's an Entrepreneur Magazine expert-in-residence, a Forbes contributor and was named one of Success Magazine’s Women of Influence. Additionally, she's been featured in goop, Well+Good, The New York Times, Yahoo, NBC, Adam Grant’s Next Big Idea Club and more.Amina AlTai's WebsiteThe Ambiion Trap by Amina AlTaiSupport the show---Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million.Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start HereJoin the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money