Financial Strides Episodes

Compliance Kim shares real fraud cases from the firm, including one where a scammer beat two-factor authentication by hijacking a client’s landline. Kim and Emily break down the tactics fraudsters use, the questions to ask before you act, and why there’s no shame in picking up the phone to double-check.

Celebrating one year of the show, Kim and Emily go back to basics on what actually belongs in your investment account. Get plain-English breakdowns of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs, plus a no-judgment guide to riskier terms like margin and short selling, and why inflation and interest rates always seem to move together.

Thinking about hiring a financial advisor, but aren’t sure where to start? Kim and Emily walk through exactly how to prepare, what to ask, and which red flags to watch for—from confirming fiduciary status to understanding who actually holds your money and why that distinction matters. Get the full checklist for interviewing advisors with confidence.

Ten episodes in, Kim and Emily Kim and Emily swap questions they selected in secret. Hear the childhood money lessons that stuck, the financial regrets they’d undo (including one cashed-out IRA Emily’s still thinking about), the spending habit Emily finally broke, and what financial success really feels like when you stop trying to put a number on it.

Kim and Emily finally explain what a Registered Investment Adviser is, how your assets are protected, why fiduciary duty makes every decision surprisingly simple, and what Kim and Emily themselves do at the firm every day, including the compliance paperwork no one else wants to touch.

You’ve maxed your retirement accounts. Now what? Kim and Emily explain why “taxable” doesn’t mean what you think, walk through cost basis and capital gains, and reveal how this unlimited account can fund a dream vacation, bridge an early retirement, or simply let your post-tax dollars work for you without government rules.

Confused by retirement account acronyms? Kim and Emily demystify IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and Roth 401(k)s using a farmer’s market seed analogy that finally makes tax differences crystal clear. Learn the surprising origin of the Roth IRA, how these accounts can work together in retirement, and why your tax bracket determines your best strategy.

Start the year organized with Kim and Emily’s essential annual review checklist. Learn how to pull your free credit report correctly, why listing beneficiaries everywhere is crucial, the shocking truth about 18-year-olds and medical decisions, and which year-end financial deadlines you absolutely cannot miss.

Kim and Emily continue their waterfall framework, navigating the critical decision between maxing traditional 401(k)s or contributing to Roth IRAs. Learn Emily’s controversial take on 529 plans, why automating your savings is essential, and discover when you’ve progressed far enough down the waterfall to need professional guidance.

Wondering where your money should go first? Kim and Emily introduce the waterfall savings method—a strategic framework for prioritizing your financial goals from employer matches to emergency funds. Learn why paying down high-interest debt counts as savings, how to maximize your 401(k) match, and discover the triple tax advantage of HSAs.

Ready to build a budget that won’t make you miserable? Kim and Emily tackle the most fundamental financial skill with honesty and practical wisdom, addressing common budget fears and explaining why restrictive budgets fail just as often as extreme diets, plus specific strategies for handling irregular income.