External factors may be impacting your financial freedom, but there's also a chance that your personal finance habits are keeping you from meeting your goals.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 07 June 2022
Achieving financial freedom – whatever that might mean to you personally – can seem like an insurmountable task. But the truth is, your journey to achieving any major milestone begins with small steps and smart habits that you put into practice each day. While it’s possible that there are external factors impacting your finances, there’s also a chance that your personal money habits are keeping you from meeting your goals. Since you *can* control your own habits, that’s what we'll discuss in this episode.
Some career transitions are exciting, while others can leave you feeling adrift.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
Life transitions often throw us for a loop, and this certainly includes career transitions. Sometimes they’re planned, but many times they are unexpected and challenging. However, when we examine how these transitions might occur, they become easier to plan for.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 20 April 2022
You might think that the level of happiness you feel about money, your work, your social life, or your relationships is derived from what happens in each of those areas of your life. But, actually, your perception of the things that happen is what truly makes a difference in your outlook. It really is all about perspective, and psychologists who study this cognitive bias call it the “framing effect.”
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 15 March 2022
So much is expected of us as modern women, and none of us can balance it all perfectly. However, many women devote so much time and energy to the other people in their lives that they can sometimes neglect to focus on their own finances. Set aside some focused time to make these five money moves and give yourself the gift of a firm foundation for the future.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 23 February 2022
According to a recent study from the Pew Research Center, roughly 38 percent of adults are living alone, and more than half are women. That’s one reason why I think it’s so important to educate women about managing their own money to ensure they can take care of themselves now and in the future. Regardless of your relationship status, the five financial strategies we’re talking about today will help you safeguard your financial future and ensure your peace of mind.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Securing financial backing for a new venture can be challenging – especially for women. Whether you’ve been wanting to be your own boss in order to have more flexibility, or you’re feeling as though you have fewer options in your current field due to our changing world, right now might be the right time to start your own business. 60% of female entrepreneurs choose to self-fund, and these are the three most common ways to do it.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 25 January 2022
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 actually begin with a subtle form of financial control that escalates into physical, verbal, or emotional abuse. Unfortunately, financial abuse is not talked about as often as other forms of abuse, and it’s because of this lack of education that many people unwittingly miss the warning signs. This episode discusses these warning signs, and also shares how to get help if you're the victim of a financial bully.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 18 January 2022
As a woman, you face special challenges when it comes to retirement. Don’t let your retirement dreams become derailed by common myths that continue to persist. When you have a strong understanding of both the financial and emotional realities of retirement, you are far more likely to enjoy this phase of your life.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 11 January 2022
It’s that time of year when many of us are reflecting on the past 12 months and planning for the future, too. If your financial health is on your mind, you’re in the right place. In this episode, we review the 10 ingredients that are essential for financial well-being.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 28 December 2021
Most of us enter a new year with one or more goals, but it’s important to realize that not all goals are created equal. If your financial health is on your mind and you want to meet your money objectives this year, you have to set the right type of goals. Using the 'S.M.A.R.T.' acronym is a helpful place to start.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 22 December 2021
Around the holidays, it is important to remember that we can experience more joy in this very busy season if we remember a few basic “rules of engagement” for communicating with our loved ones.
Having significant assets or a big paycheck can make you feel more financially secure than you really are, but building an emergency fund is essential to keeping your finances on track.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 07 December 2021
Having an emergency fund is critical to building and maintaining wealth over time. This is true even if you have a high net worth or a high monthly income. Both of these things can make you feel more financially secure than you really are, meaning an unexpected emergency expense could have a significant negative impact on your present – and future – finances.
There’s more to growing your net worth than things like increasing your 401(k) and paying off your student loans - your career growth is an important piece of the puzzle, too.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 30 November 2021
As you plan for your long-term financial goals, it’s smart to know your net worth – that is, the value of your assets minus your liabilities. It's an important number to keep in your sights, but many people don't realize that career growth is an essential piece of the puzzle, too. As you level-up your career, you'll level-up your earning potential - and your net worth, too.
In a season where it can be easy to be overcome by stress, practicing gratitude can have significant mental, emotional, and physical benefits.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
As we enter our second holiday season under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be easy to be overcome by stress, frustration, and uncertainty. It can all feel a little overwhelming, even as we approach Thanksgiving – a time when many of us try to focus more on the things we’re thankful for. If you’re struggling to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, practicing gratitude may be the key. In this episode, we discuss six ways you can start your own gratitude practice - and reap the benefits all year long.
If you're experiencing financial stress, you know that it can mean all the joy and happiness surrounding the holidays gets replaced with worry instead.
By Kathy Longo, CFP®, CAP®, CDFA®
Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Money and finances are the top cause of stress for Americans, and financial anxiety can be compounded during the holidays. In this episode, I suggest a few ways you can reclaim your holiday joy instead of succumbing to financial worries AND make a plan for living with less financial stress the rest of the year, too.
