Financial Finesse
31 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratingsWelcome to the Financial Finesse podcast, where we'll be discussing tips on how to handle your money and life with skill and style. Your host, Cathy Curtis, CFP, has been helping make finance accessible and intriguing for women for almost 20 years! You'll get savvy, actionable ideas listening to her conversations with some of the coolest and smartest women on the planet.
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Episodes
6 Pro Tips for Women Buying Cars on Their Own
January 08, 2024 16:00 - 13 minutes - 9.07 MBDid you know that on average, women are offered higher list prices for cars than men - to the tune of about $200 or more? When it comes to buying a new car, being prepared is key. In this episode, Cathy shares six pro tips to help you get the best deal on your next car purchase. [02:28] The importance of doing your homework. [04:21] What you can and can't negotiate when buying a new car. [06:21] How to find out what your trade-in is worth. [07:58] Understanding your financing costs. [0...
The Art of Equitable Estate Distribution with Estate Organizer Meg Connell
November 08, 2023 18:00 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBIn this episode of Financial Finesse, host Cathy Curtis interviews Meg Connell, founder of The Organized One, a professional estate organizer focused on helping individuals navigate the challenging process of estate distribution. Meg's extensive experience and the comprehensive nature of her services provide a guidepost for anyone facing the prospect of estate organization, whether for themselves or a loved one. [03:33] Meg's journey into estate organization. [08:59] Practical strategies fo...
Mastering Medicare with Boomer Benefits Co-Founder Danielle Roberts
September 22, 2023 20:00 - 1 hour - 48.5 MBIn this episode, Cathy interviews Danielle Roberts, founding partner at Boomer Benefits and author of the best-selling book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make, about all things Medicare. Whether you’re new to Medicare or simply want to learn more about it so you can make an informed decision this open enrollment season, this episode is packed with useful information and unique insights. For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show note...
Mastering the Art of Real Estate Staging & Interior Design with Ruth Krumbhaar
July 20, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBReal estate investor Ruth Krumbhaar shares her real estate staging and interior design tips for elevating your home or investment properties. [00:04:00] Ruth shares her decorating philosophy and why she always starts with a blank canvas when designing a space. [00:14:06] Why every room doesn’t necessarily need a showstopper when it comes to home decorating. [00:20:09] How Ruth determines her decorating budget and where she shops to find cost-effective, quality items. [00:27:51] Tips and tr...
Real Estate Investing 101 With Property Powerhouse Ruth Krumbhaar
April 27, 2023 22:00 - 1 hour - 41.2 MBIn this episode, host Cathy Curtis, CFP® interviews Ruth Krumbhaar, a successful therapist, coach, and part-time real estate investor who has built a reliable source of passive income through her investments. Ruth shares the wisdom she’s gained through her experience investing in real estate to help single women who are curious about real estate investing but don’t know where to start. For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.
Here's What Savvy Donors Need to Know About Strategic Charitable Giving
March 27, 2023 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBIf you're charitably inclined and want to be a more savvy donor, this episode is for you. Cathy shares her tips for determining how much to give to charity, deciding which organizations to support with your donations, and giving strategically to maximize the potential tax benefits. For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.
Overspending? Here's How to Get Your Spending Habit Under Control This Year
February 13, 2023 17:00 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBIn this episode, Cathy shares her tips and strategies for getting your overspending habit under control once and for all this year. [02:11] What do habits have to do with spending? [03:23] Identifying your biggest spending weakness or weaknesses. [06:05] What are your spending triggers? [08:45] Setting your new budget for the year ahead. [10:32] How to find ways to support yourself in reaching your goal. [16:23] Determining your values and aligning your spending accordingly. [17:33] D...
The Unexpected Benefits of Working with a Private, Professional Fiduciary with Sara Ecklein
November 16, 2022 22:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBCathy interviews Sara Ecklein, a private, professional fiduciary and the founder of Trust and Honor, a fiduciary agency. Trust and Honor serves as a partner and compassionate advocate in managing and protecting the personal affairs, property, and assets of clients in the San Francisco Bay area and beyond. [03:45] Sara Ecklein describes the role of a private, professional fiduciary. [09:28] Sara shares why and when someone may seek her services as a private fiduciary and what her intake proc...
"The Insurance Lady" Ruth Stroup Answers Your Biggest Questions About Insurance
September 15, 2022 21:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBCathy interviews Ruth Stroup, AKA "The Insurance Lady," about all things insurance, from what it covers and doesn't cover to choosing the right policies and the obstacles that can get in the way of that. [04:02] Ruth Stroup explains what’s covered and what isn’t covered by homeowner’s insurance if your home is burglarized. [07:03] How to insure different types of jewelry, whether it’s costume, gems and metals, or fine jewelry. [12:31] What people can do to mitigate the damage if they get b...
How to Thrive in the Digital World with Susan Reynolds
August 20, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 45 MBIn this episode, Cathy interviews Susan Reynolds, co-founder of the nonprofit organization LookUp, about the harmful effects social media and digital technology can have on mental health and how she works with youths to help them take advantage of the positive aspects of tech and mitigate the harmful ones. [12:04] Why technology is so addictive and how it’s contributing to our mental health crisis [20:04] How digital wellbeing relates to self-care. [28:33] The pending legislation around di...
Simple Strategies for Improving Your Grief Literacy with Kathi Balasek
July 20, 2022 16:00 - 53 minutes - 37.1 MBCathy interviews Kathi Balasek, an educator, empathy and grief communication coach, university lecturer, speaker, and widow advocate. Kathi teaches financial professionals how to improve their grief literacy communication skills to best serve bereaved clients. She also hosts the One Well Widow podcast, helping widows process their grief and learn from one another. [08:16] What people don’t always know about grieving families, and how they can talk about death better—especially with childre...
Estate Planning with Heart with Patricia De Fonte
May 18, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBCathy interviews Patricia De Fonte, founder of De Fonte Law based in San Francisco. Patricia practices estate planning with heart and is focused on working with happy, proactive people who want to protect their heir’s privacy. In this episode, Cathy and Patricia discuss a variety of estate planning topics, including: Why everyone needs an estate plan; Why an estate plan is more than a will; The importance of choosing an estate planning attorney you trust and how to find an attorney who...
Advancing Democracy Worldwide with Your Investment Dollars
April 22, 2022 19:00 - 39 minutes - 27.1 MBIn this first episode of Season 4, Cathy interviews the management team from Democracy Investments: CEO Julie Cane, Chief Investment Officer Chris Browne, and Chief Economist Rick Rikoski. These three individuals have decades of financial services experience and unique back-stories, all of which influenced them to collaborate in creating an investment management firm that’s committed to advancing democracy worldwide. For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit ...
Can't Stick to Your Budget? Try These Money Saving Tips Instead
September 28, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBIn this episode, Cathy shares several strategies that don't involve traditional budgeting to keep yourself on track towards your financial goals. You'll learn how to be more self-aware, mindful of your spending, and intentional about where your money goes so that ultimately, you can save more and spend less. For information and resources related to this episode, check out the show notes. For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.
Sage Money and Life Advice from the Savvy Women of Season 3
August 30, 2021 16:00 - 13 minutes - 9.39 MBThe Financial Finesse Podcast features some of the smartest, savviest women on the planet. In this special compilation episode, we're sharing the top personal finance and life advice from our season 3 guests. [01:30] Liz Eshleman on Planning for Long-Term Care [03:25] Joy Lere, Psy.D. on Living Authentically [05:10] Jennifer Barrett on Thinking Like a Breadwinner [06:28] Megan Gorman on Saving for Retirement [08:25] Lis McKinley on What True Organization Looks Like [10:55] Nichole Proffitt...
How to Calm Your Mind and Experience Life More Fully with Nichole Proffitt
July 23, 2021 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBCathy interviews Nichole Proffitt, founder of Presence Mindfulness, Somatic Counseling & Coaching for Women, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this episode, you'll find out why it's so important to be more present in our daily lives; how to reduce anxiety by first accepting it, rather than trying to fight it; and how to practice mindfulness so you can experience life more fully. [04:57] What it means to be present. [07:58] The importance of being more present in our daily lives. [13...
How to Make Room in Your Life for What Matters with Lis McKinley
June 25, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBCathy interviews Lis McKinley, a Certified Professional Organizer and move manager. Lis is the owner of Let's Make Room, a residential organizing and move management company that has organized hundreds of living, storage and work areas in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. In this episode, you'll hear how mindset is the number one determinant of maintaining an organized life and how Lis helps her clients get unstuck from the bad habits that keep their homes cluttered. You may also get s...
Understanding the SECURE Act and Inherited IRAs with Megan Gorman
May 12, 2021 17:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBCathy and special guest Megan Gorman discuss how the SECURE Act of December 2019 changed the rules for certain beneficiaries of inherited IRAs. Specifically, they touch on the potential tax implications of these rules if you have an IRA or expect to inherit one. Be sure to listen to the full episode, as Cathy and Megan share their financial planning expertise on why you may want to adapt your estate plan in anticipation of these changes. Megan Gorman is the founder and managing partner of...
Learning to Think Like a Breadwinner
April 07, 2021 19:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBJennifer Barrett is an award-winning financial journalist, digital strategist, and Chief Education Officer at Acorns. She is also the author of Think Like a Breadwinner: A Wealth-Building Manifesto for Women Who Want to Earn More (and Worry Less). In this episode, you'll learn what it means to think like a breadwinner and how you can shift your thinking to make better financial decisions. In addition, you'll hear Cathy and Jennifer discuss: The financial literacy gap in this country and i...
The Link Between Self-Awareness and Financial Success
March 10, 2021 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBCathy interviews Joy Lere, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist and behavioral finance consultant with a practice in Napa, California, about the parallels between our psychology and money habits. In this episode, Cathy and Joy touch on: How setting clear boundaries for ourselves and living our lives authentically can actually improve our financial outcomes. Why spending our time and money in line with our personal values makes us happier and more fulfilled. And the psychological rea...
What Every Woman Needs To Know About Long-Term Care Insurance
February 08, 2021 15:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBCathy Curtis interviews long-term care insurance and planning specialist Liz Eshleman about the benefits and drawbacks of long-term care insurance, who should consider it, and why it's an important financial planning topic for women in particular. Episode Highlights: [04:00] Who is long-term care insurance for? [07:38] The impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on long-term care planning for those who have tested positive. [08:58] The surprising issues that may make you ineligible for lon...
Estate Planning Must-Haves For Single Women
December 01, 2020 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MBCathy discusses why it's so important for single women to have an estate plan, which documents make the most sense given your financial circumstances, and who to consider asking to execute your wishes in the event of incapacity or death. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.com/2020/12/01/s2-e3-estate-planning-must-haves-for-single-women/ For more information and resources related to this episode, please visit the show notes.
Sticking To Your Investment Plan In Times Of Uncertainty
November 10, 2020 14:00 - 8 minutes - 6.18 MBUncertainty and volatility typically go hand-in-hand when it comes to the stock market. In this episode, Cathy explains why investing in stocks is so important despite the inevitable periods of volatility, and how having an investment plan and sticking to it can save you from unnecessary, permanent loss of capital or running out of money in retirement. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.com/2020/11/10/s2-e2-sticking-to-your-investment-plan-in-times-of...
Will the Upcoming Presidential Election Impact Your Investments?
October 20, 2020 01:00 - 5 minutes - 4.05 MBIn this short but insightful episode, Cathy kicks off Season 2 of the Financial Finesse podcast by discussing the potential outcomes of the upcoming presidential election and the impact they may have on the stock market and your investments. This is the first episode of Season 2: What Keeps You Up At Night? Stay tuned all season as Cathy tackles the financial planning issues that tend to cause us the most anxiety. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.co...
The Challenge Of Running A Small Retail Business During COVID
August 26, 2020 18:11 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBCathy talks to three women who own boutique retail businesses in the Rock Ridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA: Joyce Gardner, Owner of Fit Clothing Boutique Johnelle Mancha, Owner of Mignonne Decor Andrea Serrahn, Owner of Serrahna Boutique They share their experiences operating local retail businesses in the midst of a pandemic, and how they’re tapping into their creativity to find new ways to serve their customers and generate revenue. Whether you’re a business owner yourself or looking ...
Social Media Therapy: Overcoming The Awkward and Vulnerable Feelings That Can Come With Posting
August 18, 2020 00:53 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBDo you still feel vulnerable and unsure of yourself when posting to social media? Is imposter syndrome keeping you from even getting started? If so, you're going to love this episode's guest, Courtney McQuade (@CourtMcQuade), who shares her expert advice with Cathy for overcoming the limiting beliefs so many of us have around social media and developing a successful and authentic social media strategy. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.com/2020/08/17/...
Financial Advisor Mastermind: What Advisors Do For Their Clients
August 04, 2020 13:08 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MBCathy welcomes the brilliant ladies of her Financial Advisor Mastermind Group: Maura Griffon of Blue Spark Financial, Beverly Cox of B. Cox Planning, Stephanie Bruno of Sea To Peak Financial Advisors, and Tanya Nichols of Align Financial. The women share their client success stories, giving you a deeper understanding of how exceptional financial advisors help their clients while also demonstrating how participating in a peer-to-peer mentoring group elevates the level of service they provide....
Young Women, Money and Black Lives Matter
July 20, 2020 15:19 - 1 hour - 42.5 MBCathy reconnects with four of her former personal finance students from Mills College. Tune in as Joy, Tori, Rebecca and Reshonda share their experiences and lessons learned navigating their financial lives as four independent women of color. At the end of the episode, they shift the focus of the conversation to the Black Lives Matter movement and the ladies' hopes for what it means for all minorities and people of color going forward. For show notes, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.c...
Women, Wealth and Social Change
July 06, 2020 23:37 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBCathy interviews expert guest Haleh Modasser, Sr. Vice President at Stearns Financial in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Haleh is the author of Women on Top: Women, Wealth & Social Change, which makes a case for women to leverage their wealth to propel the changes we want to see in the world while also benefiting financially. The vehicle: ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) Investing. Haleh claims that this is the real Women’s Empowerment Movement and offers compelling reasons for both adv...
The Value of a Good Financial Advisor
June 12, 2020 00:37 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBCathy chats with Melissa Joy of Pearl Planning, an independent, women-owned financial planning firm based in Michigan. Cathy and Melissa discuss a range of topics, from the types of clients they work with to their most common pain points and how they look at each client’s entire financial picture to develop and implement a comprehensive financial plan. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.com/2020/06/11/episode-2-the-value-of-a-good-financial-advisor/ F...
Life and Work During COVID-19
May 25, 2020 17:31 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBCathy interviews longtime friend and client of Curtis Financial Planning, Sally Kuhlman. Sally is Director of National Programs for Beyond Differences, a nonprofit that works to inspire students at all middle schools nationwide to end social isolation and create a culture of belonging for everyone. Cathy and Sally discuss adjusting to life during a pandemic and how they are finding balance while sheltering in place. For show notes and important links, visit: https://curtisfinancialplanning.c...