Does the Equilibrium You Seek Always Feel Just Out of Reach? You’re Not Alone
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 24 May 2023
If you’ve ever wished that you could completely skip sleeping and use all 24 hours of each day for productivity, chances are you’re a working mom! I can remember many times, especially when my children were very young, that I simply knew there were not enough hours in the day for balancing motherhood and a successful career in the way that I wanted to. Fortunately, I’ve learned something important since then, and I want to share it: The reality is that you can have it all; you just need to redefine what “all” means.
From Societal Pressures to Work-Life Balance, High-Earning Women Face Struggles
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 17 April 2023
In recent years, the number of women who earn more than their husbands has been holding steady at about 30%. While this is certainly a positive development in terms of gender equality and financial independence, it can also bring unique challenges for couples to navigate – especially in a society where many people still consider men “earners” and expect women to excel in domestic responsibilities. In this article, I’ll examine some of the most common challenges that women breadwinners face when they out-earn their husbands, along with helpful tips to overcome them.
How to Be Intentional About Building Financial Security for Your Golden Years
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 13 March 2023
Achieving a financially secure retirement is something that we all strive for, but this may be more difficult to accomplish for women than it is for men. This is due to many economic and social factors that work against women in intersecting ways. For one thing, women tend to live longer than men, meaning they need to save more money to support themselves in retirement. In addition, women are more likely to take time off from work to care for children or aging parents, which can lead to gaps in their employment history and lower retirement savings. In this article, we'll explore why retirement planning is important for women and provide tips for creating a secure retirement for yourself.
Tips for Navigating Money Disagreements in Your Relationship
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 13 February 2023
Each of us has our own personal relationship with money – our own values, attitudes, and story that shape how we think about and interact with finances. When we join our life with someone else’s, it’s only natural to assume there are going to be growing pains in navigating how to handle finances as a couple. Too often, however, couples fail to have the right money conversations – or any money conversations at all – and this lack of proactive and healthy communication can easily lead to a cycle of fighting about money without ever really resolving underlying issues.
If you and your partner find yourselves disagreeing on financial matters, you’re not alone. In fact, money issues is one of the leading causes of contention that couples face together. If you’re looking to find healthier ways to communicate with your partner to stop fighting about money, try these four steps.
How Your Financial Well-Being Can Impact Your Mental Health (And Vice Versa!)
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 16 January 2023
If you’ve been reading my blog or listening to my Flourish Financially podcast for a while now, you’ve probably heard me say this before: money impacts every aspect of our lives, and this certainly includes our emotions. What is also true is that our emotions can impact the financial decisions we make. In short, there is a substantial interplay between money and mental health, which can be seen in this recent article from Enrich.org linking money problems with mental health issues.
In this article, I’ll dive deeper into this topic to help you better understand how you can begin to find a path toward better mental health and stronger finances, too.
Understanding Potential Challenges Can Help You Remain Financially Secure
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 12 December 2022
Divorce is difficult for many reasons and it’s a life transition that impacts many women. In addition to the obvious emotional challenges and logistical changes involved in disentangling your life from your former spouse, there are serious financial considerations, too. In this article, I will focus on the economic consequences that often impact women more significantly than men. Unfortunately, women can face a troubling loss of both income and retirement savings, especially when divorce happens after age 50, and it’s important to be aware of this so-called “divorce gap” if your marriage ends.
Below, I’ll share more details about the divorce gap, plus what you can do about it if you find yourself exiting a marriage at fifty or beyond.
Simple Steps to Help You Make the Most of Your Generosity
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 14 November 2022
I love to share charitable giving tips at this time of year because so many of my clients are mission-driven women who make charitable giving an integral part of their financial planning. They help those in need, participate in something larger than themselves, and work to make the world a better place – one that’s more in line with their values and ideals. In fact, my clients inspire me every day with reminders that women are controlling resources that are changing the world!
If you’d like to maximize the potential of your charitable giving, both for yourself and for those you wish to serve, read the following guide. My hope is that it will help you build a charitable giving plan that is as strategic as it is generous.
How Gender Can Have an Impact on Your Financial Life
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 12 September 2022
They say money is the great equalizer and these financial planning tips for women can even the playing field and help women feel more empowered and financially secure. There are several considerations that are incredibly important for women to keep in mind: the gender pay gap, comparatively less time spent in the workforce, growing wealth, and longer lifespans, to name a few.
The world is changing and gender-based expectations are ever-evolving. So, there is all the more reason to do what you can now to ensure your financial plans are firmly in place for the years to come. The four tips below can help women plan and protect their financial futures.
Know the Subtle Signs That Can Evolve into Financial Abuse
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 15 August 2022
Is your spouse or partner a financial bully? Financial abuse is not talked about as often as other forms of abuse, yet the Center for Financial Security recently conducted a study that showed that 99% of people who experience domestic abuse also experience financial abuse from their partners. The study also found that most domestic abuse cases begin with a subtle form of financial control that escalates into physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.
Since the warning signs can be subtle and the escalation significant, I think it’s important to talk about this issue. Below, I’ll share information that I hope you will pass along, too, so that we can begin to collectively tackle the lack of education around financial abuse and bullying.
How to Have Open, Constructive Conversations with Your Spouse or Partner
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 13 July 2022
Money is a very personal topic, isn’t it? That’s what makes determining the right financial strategies for couples a challenge. Each of us has our own unique behaviors and attitudes around money – a mix of our upbringing, our experiences, and our current situations. All of this makes merging finances as a couple a complicated – and sometimes downright awkward – subject. Many couples struggle to determine how to effectively blend this portion of their lives. The truth about couples and money, though, is that there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy.
Below, I’ll explain how to get started in determining the best option for you and your spouse or partner and provide tips to help you successfully navigate the process.
Shifting Your Thought Process Can Help Solve Your Money Issues
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Improving your money mindset is a great way to invest in yourself and your future. If you’re stuck in a financial rut, read on for some simple strategies you can use to adjust your thinking in a way that pays dividends.
Use These Small Steps to Improve Your Financial Well-Being and Peace of Mind
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 18 May 2022
It’s normal to worry about money matters from time to time, but what if you’re unable to stop worrying? What if your money anxiety causes you to lose sleep or keeps you from focusing on priorities at work or at home? If you’re in a situation right now where financial anxiety is overwhelming other aspects of your life, read on for strategies designed to help you overcome the worry and develop a healthier relationship with money.
If You’re in Need of Strategies to Spend Less Money, Start with Gaining Clarity on Why You Buy
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 12 April 2022
Are you looking for strategies to curb your overspending habit? So often, we have the best of intentions when it comes to our money goals – including with our spending. We might start the month resolving to stop unnecessary spending, only to be wooed by an unexpected sale here, and a fancy coffee there. Before we know it, we’ve spent more money than we wanted to and we end the month beating ourselves up again.
If this sounds like you, don’t despair! Instead, get to the root of your overspending habit so you can begin to make a change.
Achieving Financial Security Happens One Step at a Time
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 14 March 2022
When it comes to achieving true financial freedom, what are your biggest challenges? While it’s possible that there are external factors hindering you, there’s also a chance that your personal finance habits are keeping you from meeting your goals. Too often, our mindset or our emotions get in the way of our progress. Whether it’s the feeling of being too overwhelmed by the size of the dream or if you’ve picked up unhealthy habits over the years, it’s easy to feel ill-equipped to achieve financial freedom.
However, tackling your money problems doesn’t have to be a herculean task. The journey to achieving major milestones begins with small steps and smart habits that we practice each day. Below are five personal finance habits that can bring you closer to financial freedom.
How This Cognitive Bias Can Help You Gain a More Positive Outlook
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Monday, 14 February 2022
Do you feel like there’s a lot in your life that you don’t have control over? From the stock market to elections to COVID-19, it’s easy to feel like you’re not in control of much of what is going on around you. However, one thing you can always control is your frame of mind, which is actually an important predictor of how happy – and even how wealthy – you feel.
