Shows
He's Gone But The Money's NotInfertility, Adoption, Disabilities, and Widowhood | Interview with ChristineIn this episode, Christine shares her poignant journey through infertility, adoption, and the sudden loss of her husband, Brian, while their children were still young. Despite the tragedy, Christine reflects on the comfort they found in being prepared with life insurance, burial plots, and plans for their house. She delves into the myriad decisions that had to be made immediately following Brian's death, including essential house maintenance and remodeling.Christine also opens up about the unique challenges she faces as a mother to children with disabilities, particularly in navigating government benefits and ensuring her children's...2024-06-3045 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotFrom Caregiving to Widowhood | Interview with JoAnnThis episode features JoAnn, a music therapist who shares her experience of losing her husband after a six-year battle with cancer. JoAnn reflects on the value of the extra time chemotherapy provided despite the health challenges it caused. It allowed her husband to witness and participate in their daughter's important milestones. As a music therapist, she made the tough decision to close her business to focus on his care. Following her husband's passing, JoAnn navigated a series of practical yet emotional decisions. She discusses:Selling their home to have a better home suited for her needsPaying off...2024-06-1136 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotFinding New Normal After Losing a Husband | Interview with Author MichelleThis episode features Michelle, author of the fictional novel "The New Normal," inspired by her own experience as a widow. The book shares the emotions and complexities of grieving after the loss of a spouse. Even 20 years after his death, the grief will come back.She shares about losing her spouse during an adoption process and then being denied as a single adoptive parent, the double blow of losing her partner and their future family. Michelle was the primary breadwinner and shares about her strong desire to be independent while learning to ask for help when...2024-06-0543 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotShould You Invest In Real Estate? | Interview with Bob Aamodt, CFP®Bob Aamodt, CFP® has been an advisor for over 25 years. He has been mentioned by several widows who have been interviewed on this podcast as their advisor. Bob shares his experience investing in real estate. We talk about the pros and cons of real estate investing. Spoiler, it may be more complex than you realize.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended a...2024-04-2531 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotImproved Finances after the Loss of a Spouse | An Interview with JulieSummaryIn this podcast episode, we explore Julie’s unique path as a widow. After her husband's unexpected passing from an aortic aneurysm, Julie's financial situation took an unexpected turn. Unlike many widows who face financial challenges, Julie's finances significantly improved following her husband's death.Throughout their 15-year marriage, Julie and her husband faced substantial financial setbacks due to his spending habits and addictions. They constantly struggled to stay afloat, resulting in the loss of their house, persistent debt, and an inability to save or invest for retirement. However, si...2024-03-1248 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotJob Loss, Relocation, a Bad Economy and Loss | An Interview with KarenSummaryKaren faced significant hardships after the tragic motorcycle accident that took her husband's life. Suddenly finding herself as a single mother of six children, Karen had to navigate through various obstacles to ensure the well-being of her family. Having recently relocated from Michigan to Idaho, Karen and her husband were in the midst of selling their Michigan home and purchasing a new one in Idaho. However, her husband's untimely passing caused Karen to have to shoulder the responsibility of finding full-time employment while also finding a new place to live a...2024-02-2945 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotFinding Guidance After the Loss of a Spouse | An Interview with Chris BentleySummaryIn this podcast episode, we have the privilege of interviewing Chris Bentley, a financial advisor. Chris' journey began when he encountered a dear friend who had recently become widowed and realized the lack of resources available to support widows in similar situations. Rather than standing idly by, Chris decided to seize the opportunity to make a difference.In 2018, Chris founded Wings for Widows, a remarkable non-profit organization. Wings for Widows aims to provide invaluable coaching on financial and legal matters to both men and women who have lost...2024-01-0933 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotLosing Your Stay At Home Spouse | Interview With EmilySummaryJust one month shy of their 20th wedding anniversary, Emily was widowed unexpectedly at the age of 37 due to Covid. Emily’s husband, Nathan, was the core of their family as the stay at home dad. They have 4 children who were ages 10 - 19 at the time. Emily shares how she left her corporate job and became self-employed founding Brave Widow and the membership community to help other young widows navigate grief, heal their heart, find hope, and dream again for their future. Not having debt gave her a lot of flexibility to pivot to...2023-12-0550 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotShould a Widow Pay Off Her House?When you get a big windfall like life insurance, should you use it to pay off your house? Or if you have extra monthly income should it go to paying off your house or saving? This depends on many different factors. It can be different for each individual. Consider your priorities and situation, seek help from a professional, and don’t feel rushed to make a decision.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not ta...2023-11-2114 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotBlended Family Issues after Death | Interview with KimberlyKimberly’s husband died by suicide after being married for a very short time. They had started the process of combining finances when they first got married, including changing wills and beneficiaries. Due to this being a second marriage and such a short marriage it created conflict in the family. Kimberly had to cut her losses and make a lot of financial sacrifices to not turn it into a battle. She felt the best way to respect her husband was to work respectfully with his family. And she needed the money issues to be done so she could heal he...2023-11-0741 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotWhy Budgeting Isn’t Working For WidowsOne of the big reasons I see that people struggle to live on a budget or keep an emergency fund is because they are not planning for annual expenses. They consider regular monthly expenses in their budget but forget about the annual life insurance bill or the home and car maintenance. In this episode, I talk about how sinking funds or annual funds can help create a more realistic budget or spending plan. Many of these expenses are predictable and should be planned in your monthly spending allowance.If you would like to learn...2023-10-2518 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotThe Gift of Being Prepared | Interview with MissyMissy was in her 20s when her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor after just a few short years of marriage. Missy was able to quit her job and be his full-time caregiver. After seeing her father-in-law pass away and what his mom went through, they realized they needed to prepare for Stephen’s death. The gift he wanted to give Missy was to make sure everything was taken care of for her, such as titling the cars in her name, planning a funeral, putting the bank accounts in her name, and making his wishes known. Missy shares wh...2023-10-1142 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotOverwhelmed with the After Loss To-Dos | Interview with JasmineJasmine’s husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer while Jasmine was pregnant. There was no conversation about what would happen after he passed away. She was so unprepared for all the decisions she had to make when she was already so overwhelmed. She felt very alone, had no peers or other young widows that she knew. She couldn’t believe there was no one to help her when she felt she could not function. Years later she started her own business to be an after-loss professional, which is like a project manager or social worker to help people work thro...2023-09-2652 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotHow To Choose a Financial AdvisorMany widows on our podcast have shared how valuable a financial advisor has been in their financial journey, so how do you find a financial advisor. Summer and Nicole discuss the issues when searching for an advisor and some tips on what to look for.Here are some places to find a fee only financial advisor:https://www.feeonlynetwork.com/https://www.napfa.org/financial-planning/how-to-find-an-advisorIf you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https...2023-09-1231 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotI Have Come So Far | Interview with AnitaAnita’s husband, Jason, died very unexpectedly while swimming. She was 38 and had 4 young children. Being 4+ years out from the loss she shares all that she has had to learn about finances. And looking back at the decisions she made because of fear and how far she has come. Anita hosts a podcast for widows and so has heard what a lot of other widows have had to handle with their finances.Check out Anita’s podcast on any podcast player: Widow We Do NowOn Instagram @widowwedonowIf you woul...2023-09-0558 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotHow to Not BudgetMany people express how much they dislike budgeting and we can relate. So we share how to not have a micro budget, instead build structures and habits into your finances so you do not need to spend an hour budgeting every week. Disclaimer: Depending on your situation you may need a strict budget, if you find you need to change money habits or get spending under control. Consider finding a financial counselor or financial coach if you are struggling to not overspend every month.If you would like to l...2023-08-2946 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotSelling a Business and Real Estate | Interview with LoriLori’s husband, Jim, passed away unexpectedly leaving her with a business and several real estate holdings. Through the process of unwinding the business and selling real estate she realized all the things she did not know and learned a lot. The key was having a great team of people to help her, a financial advisor, an accountant, a real estate agent, an attorney, and others were able to help her make decisions and work through the long process.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered se...2023-08-2249 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotCredit Card Rewards, Are They Worth It?Nicole and Summer talk about how they use credit cards. The discuss that credit cards are a tool that can help or hurt your finances. They discuss reward points, budget behaviors, and some tips. Ultimately you need to do what works best for you. Be thoughtful and educated in your credit card usage.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations...2023-08-1535 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotThe Wife of a Financial Advisor | Interview with BeccaSummaryBecca’s husband died from complications of Covid at 51. He had a financial planning business and a hedge fund he ran with several investors. She shares her experience of not being on the business documents and bank accounts and needing to unwind those businesses. As the wife of a financial planner she shares from her perspective what type of advisor to look for and how valuable an advisor can be for you. And she shares how important it was that they lived solid financial principles such as having life insurance and not being in debt. 2023-08-081h 00He's Gone But The Money's NotWhat is a Roth Conversion?SummaryEach financial situation is unique, but many people have been saving into an IRA or pre-tax 401(k) throughout their lives. At retirement, this money will be taxable upon withdrawal. However, converting the money to a Roth IRA could change that. Summer and Nicole share stories of real clients who decided a Roth conversion was right for their situation. Taxes, charitable gifts, and inheritance all come into consideration when making this decision. But depending on the situation, this can be a great opportunity to lessen taxes in the future and leave more tax-free money to beneficiaries after...2023-08-0227 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotWhy Do a Roth Conversion?Each financial situation is unique, but many people have been saving into an IRA or pre-tax 401(k) throughout their lives. At retirement, this money will be taxable upon withdrawal. However, converting the money to a Roth IRA could change that. Summer and Nicole share stories of real clients who decided a Roth conversion was right for their situation. Taxes, charitable gifts, and inheritance all come into consideration when making this decision. But depending on the situation, this can be a great opportunity to lessen taxes in the future and leave more tax-free money to beneficiaries after death....2023-07-2527 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotChanging Money Habits IS Possible | An Interview with Perri AnnWhen Perri Ann’s husband passed away, she was left with major debts and barely able to afford the funeral. His prolonged sickness and care left them without income for several years. Unfortunately, he had no life insurance or employee benefits to keep them afloat. Financially, they were at rock bottom after his passing, and Perri Ann had to rebuild her life. She graduated from pharmacy school, began a career, and started saving for retirement. She changed her money behaviors from a spending mentality to saving. Her takeaway? Change is possible; there is hope if you finances are in di...2023-07-1850 min
Brave Widow ShowBW 039: How to Make it Through the Financial Forest after Losing a Spouse - with Nicole RobertsOn today's episode of The Brave Widow Show podcast I get to introduce you to Nicole.
Nicole Roberts, CFP® hosts the podcast, He's Gone But the Money's Not, where she and co-host, Summer Parry, interview widows about their financial journies. She works as a financial advisor for Rock House Financial working with business owners and widows. Nicole has been working with families and individuals to build their financial plans for 11 years.
Check out this week's episode as we dive in to all things financial planning.
You can find Nicole on:2023-07-1127 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotInvesting 101: Learn the BasicsIf you tune out or shy away from conversations about investing, this episode is for YOU. Summer and Nicole explain and discuss the basics of investing to help equip their listeners with entry-level understanding. The reality is, you cannot run away from this topic forever. Especially if you are a widow! This episode is a great first step if all the investing talk goes over your head. Education is the first step toward financial freedom. ResourcesFor the 20 Years ending in 2021The S&P 500 averaged 9.5%, and 7.1% adjusted for inflation. 2023-07-1156 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotLearning to Live in the Moment | An Interview with CindyCindy lost her husband to a sudden and unexpected heart attack. He was not yet 50 years old. They had six children, four of them were still living in the home when he passed. Shattered, Cindy relied on those around her to lift her up and helped her deal with her grief, raising her kids, and sorting out her finances. In this raw and vulnerable episode, Cindy explains how she moved forward. Her biggest takeaway? Live in the moment because life is short.ResourcesIf you would like to learn more about Rock...2023-07-0543 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotWhat Taxes Will I Pay When I Sell My Home?Many widows need to sell their home or a rental or business after losing their spouse. What are the tax implications? Nicole and Summer talk through some different scenarios and some tax saving ideas. Make sure you get that step up in basis at the death of your spouse. And keep good records on the improvements to your real estate.Resourceshttps://www.kitces.com/blog/step-up-in-basis-gifting-assets-spouses-estate-tax-unrealized-gains-separate-property-states/If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial...2023-06-2738 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotI Am Not a Victim | Interview with Audrey From Survival to ProsperityAudrey shares her story about losing her husband from cancer with 18 month old twins. She shares the journey of years of treatments knowing they had a terminal diagnosis, raising her kids, developing her career, and pursuing her goals. She talks the journey to get out of survival mode to prosperity.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/This testimonial was provided by a current client. The client was not compensated, nor are there material conflicts of interest that...2023-06-2159 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotPart 2: Social Security Survivor BenefitsSocial Security is a key benefit for widows. For many widows it is the only safety net they have when a spouse dies. For those who may have other assets like life insurance or retirement accounts, Social Security will still be a huge part of their financial plan. Here are some topics we cover:When can I get Social Security Survivor Benefits?Should I take my own Social Security or my Survivor Benefit?How much will my children get in Social Security Survivor Benefits?How long do Survivor Benefits last?If you missed Part 1...2023-06-1329 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotPart 1: Social Security BasicsSocial Security plays a very important role in your finances. It’s not the most interesting topic and can be complex but you should be educated on the basics of this system as many people unknowingly discount the impact Social Security will have on their retirement or for their survivors. Here are some topics we cover:Will Social Security be there for me?At what age can I take Social Security?What is the spousal benefit?How do I know how much I get?Should I delay taking my benefits?Check out our next ep...2023-06-0643 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotHave Your Legal Ducks in A Row | An Interview with DebDeb has had many life experiences, losing her mom at 8 years old, getting married later in life, losing her husband in her 50s, having infertility and adopting a daughter, building a career and retiring, and then getting remarried to another widower. She talks about the principles of building a great foundation with your career and staying out of debt. And how important it is to have your legal preparations done, including a will, trust, and prenup.ResourcesIf you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and...2023-05-3050 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotGet Your Life in Order | An Interview with MarieSummaryOne month after COVID-19 pandemic began, Marie unexpectedly lost her husband of 33 years. Despite this shocking loss, Marie was prepared in several ways to handle her finances and her new reality. She and Rob had completed their estate planning documents, she had a career in education, and even a list of passwords and logins put together. Her best advice to women is to “get your life in order,” because life never quite goes how you might plan. ResourcesIf you would like to learn...2023-05-1643 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotDon't know where to start saving?Saving money sounds like a good idea, but the logistics might feel daunting. In this episode, we discuss options and priorities for saving. From emergency funds to Roth IRAs to education accounts, this episode helps clarify your options for saving.ResourcesSource: Americans Can’t Cover a $400 expense from the Federal Reserve Board publication, Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2021If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/In...2023-05-0527 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotInvesting with Confidence | Interview with Becky2023-05-0335 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotShould you save into a Roth or Traditional retirement account?One benefit of putting money in a retirement account can be the tax savings. In this episode we talk about two different types of tax advantages you can elect when saving for retirement. The first is pre-tax often called traditional and the second is Roth. We cover saving into 401ks and IRAs. If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate f...2023-04-0419 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotA Tax Savings Tip: Use your Health Savings AccountHealth Savings accounts can be a great way to save for unexpected medical costs and can also provide tax savings. We discuss different strategies when using your HSA depending on if your goals are to save for an emergency or invest for later medical expenses.Check out other resources hereNicole wrote a blog: https://rockhousefinancial.com/financial-planning/health-savings-accounts/Healthcare.gov. What qualifies as an HSA eligible plan?https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/health-savings-account-hsa/Fidelity Viewpoints. August 29, 2022...2023-03-2124 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotWhy Everyone needs an Emergency FundHaving money set aside for emergencies brings huge relief and peace of mind. In this episode we discuss how much to put aside, where to put it, and when to use it.ResourcesFor high-yield savings accounts, check out NerdWallet Top 5 High-Yield Savings Accounts or Bank Rate: Best High-Yield Savings Accounts.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation...2023-03-0721 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotLearning Her New Role After an Expected Loss | Interview with BrynnMatt was diagnosed with terminal cancer after 17 years of marriage to his wife Brynn. After a long battle, he passed away. Although Matt and Brynn had many discussions and preparations regarding their finances prior to his passing, there were still discoveries and surprises for Brynn like experiencing retail therapy, buying a home, and starting a full-time job. Despite this, Brynn has persevered and worked to keep her finances in check and her family afloat after losing her sweetheart.If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see...2023-02-2341 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotWhy are Widows a Target for Annuities?Annuities are complex insurance products that have compelling benefits especially for individuals nervous about market volatility. Come learn about the pros and cons of annuities with us. Why annuities are often targeted to widows. And why it's a buyer beware situation if you are considering purchasing an annuity.Other resources:Nicole wrote a blog: Widows and Annuities: 5 Reasons You Should Think Twicehttps://rockhousefinancial.com/financial-planning/annuities-bad-for-widows/If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered s...2023-02-0229 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotHow Your Childhood Impacts Your FinancesEveryone has a background with money. How they think and feel about it depends on their experiences, starting with childhood. In this episode, we discuss these money scripts and help you to understand what your own money behaviors are and why. If you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a q...2023-02-0230 minHe's Gone But The Money's NotBe Prepared, Don't Think It Won't Happen to You: Interview with MelindaIf you would like to learn more about Rock House Financial and the services offered see our website https://rockhousefinancial.com/Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. RH Advisors, LLC dba Rock House Financial is an SEC registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed on this show do not r...2023-02-0245 min