Wealthy After 40: Personal Finance, Budgeting, Retirement Planning, Savings, Spending, Financial Freedom, and How to Retire f

Dalene Higgins - Money Coach, Retirement Coach, CEO
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Podcast That Helps Gen Xers Retire Up to 5 Years Sooner  Top 5% Personal Finance Podcast You’ve worked hard for decades, but now the big questions are creeping in: 👉 Will I have enough to retire? 👉  Is it too late to start retirement planning? Welcome to Wealthy After 40, the podcast for Gen X women and couples who want to feel confident and clear about how to retire, even if you’re starting late or feel behind on your retirement savings. I’m Dalene Higgins, financial coach and creator of the Aligned Money Method. I help Gen Xers take control of their personal finances by building a money system that fits their values and lifestyle, so they can save consistently, manage budgeting with ease, and prepare to retire on their own terms. Each week, you’ll get step-by-step guidance for retirement planning, smart budgeting strategies, and realistic ways to grow your savings, both your emergency fund and retirement savings, without overwhelm. If you’re ready to stop stressing about money, build a financial plan you trust, and create a future you’re excited about, this podcast is for you. Retirement isn’t out of reach. Let’s simplify your next steps with clear advice on how to retire, starting today. Your first step is a financial reality check-up inside the Retirement Roadmap Session.  Book your free Clarity Connection Call at elevatefinances.us/connection to learn how the Retirement Roadmap Session will help you make retirement possible.   Visit my website at elevatefinances.us to learn more or share with me your thoughts, questions, and challenges related to retirement at hello@elevatefinances.us

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Ep 157 | Why You Need an Emergency Fund You Can Count On

    Instead of stress and panic in most emergencies, your emergency fund can help you have a sense of peace. In this episode, I’m showing you how to build an emergency fund that doesn’t feel like a restriction or a sacrifice. Instead, it’s a tool that brings peace, freedom, and confidence so that you can handle life’s surprises without fear.  In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why your emergency fund is a symbol of wealth, not limitation ✅ The hidden mindset shift that makes saving feel rewarding ✅ The real reason saving for emergencies gives you lasting peace ✅ How clarity and planning create confidence in any financial storm Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    16 min

  2. 5 DAYS AGO

    Ep 156 | What to Focus on in Retirement Planning Right Now

    When you think about retirement, does it ever feel like everything is an urgent must-do? Should you pay off debt, be saving more, or catch up on savings for retirement? No wonder it feels overwhelming! The truth is, trying to tackle everything at once keeps you stuck.  By the end of today’s conversation, you’ll know how to cut through the noise, choose the right priority for you, and start creating a retirement plan that feels doable instead of overwhelming. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The #1 reason competing money priorities keep you stuck ✅ How to identify which financial priority matters most right now ✅ Why solving one thing at a time creates confidence and momentum ✅ Examples of how different priorities (debt, savings, retirement) shift the path forward ✅ The key question that helps you uncover your best next step toward retirement Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    13 min

  3. 7 OCT

    Ep 155 | How to Build a Retirement Plan That Lets You Thrive Today and Tomorrow

    When you think about retirement planning, do you feel pressured to give up the things you enjoy today so you can save for the future? That’s a false choice. You don’t have to live with restrictions to create security for tomorrow.  In this episode, I’ll show you how to bring balance to your money so you can enjoy life now while still building your retirement dreams. By the end of today’s conversation, you’ll know how to structure your spending and saving in a way that feels sustainable, purposeful, and aligned with what matters most to you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ Why “all or nothing” thinking keeps you stuck with money and retirement planning ✅ How to create simple rules for balancing debt payoff, saving, and spending ✅ The truth about why over-saving or over-spending leads to burnout ✅ Three steps to implement the “now and later” philosophy with your money ✅ How to use systems (not willpower) to stay consistent Related Episodes: Ep 98 - Retirement 101: Creating a Fulfilling Next Chapter, Your Retirement Ep 120 - How Do I Start a Retirement Plan? Dream It First Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    15 min

  4. 3 OCT

    Ep 154 | How I Created a Budget for Retirement (and the 3 Rules I Now Teach)

    I’ve tried every kind of budgeting and tracking system. Along the way, I discovered what truly worked for me and turned those lessons into the philosophies I now teach my clients.  In today’s episode, I’m sharing my personal budgeting journey, the mistakes I made, and the shifts that finally gave me clarity, control, and confidence. By the end of this conversation, you’ll see how a budget can be designed around you, your values, your priorities, and the retirement lifestyle you’re working toward.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The evolution of my budgeting journey (and why some methods didn’t last) ✅ Why “static but flexible” is the key to a budget that works long term. ✅ How I used budgeting to increase retirement savings little by little. ✅ Three core rules I teach clients to create sustainable budgets. Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    19 min

  5. 30 SEPT

    Ep 153 | The #1 Retirement Tool You’re Overlooking (and How to Use It Now)

    In this episode, I am sharing why a budget is important in your retirement planning. I’m breaking down what a budget really is, why it matters for your retirement, and how you can start making one work for you today. By the end, you’ll know how to shift from seeing a budget as a punishment to seeing it as permission and the tool that will help you retire.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ What a budget really is (and what it’s not) ✅ Why budgeting is essential if you want to feel secure about retirement ✅ Simple mindset shifts to stop feeling restricted by your budget ✅ Practical steps to use budgeting as your most powerful retirement tool Related episodes: Ep 124 - How to Budget for Retirement Without Sacrifices Ep 133 - How to Create a Budget and Stick to It (Even When Life Goes Off Track) Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    19 min

  6. 26 SEPT

    Ep 152 | 5 Quick Wins to Get Your Retirement on Track

    If you’ve ever found yourself waiting for a “big fix” to get your retirement on track, you’re not alone. So many people believe they need one massive change to make up for lost time, but what really moves the needle is small, consistent actions you can start today. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quick wins to help you build clarity, confidence, and unstoppable progress toward your dream retirement. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why consistency matters more than perfection in retirement planning ✅ The trap of waiting for a big, one-and-done solution ✅ Examples of simple actions you can take right now ✅ The compounding effect of small, repeatable money habits ✅ How consistency shifts you from feeling stuck to seeing real results Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    18 min

  7. 23 SEPT

    Ep 151 | The Hidden Perks of Starting Late for Retirement Success

    You might think you’re behind, but what if I told you that starting late for retirement actually gives you an advantage? By your 40s and 50s, you’ve built wisdom, clarity, and life experience that your 25-year-old self simply didn’t have. That means the money decisions you make today are smarter, more intentional, and more powerful. If you’ve been worried that you’re “too late,” this episode will show you how your late start is actually the exact boost you need to create the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Why your late start comes with built-in advantages ✅ The clarity you have now that your younger self did not ✅ How to apply life lessons to your retirement plan ✅ Practical ways to use your experience as leverage ✅ The first step to turning your late start into a retirement win Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    18 min

  8. 19 SEPT

    Ep 150 | Why ‘Too Late’ Thinking Hurts More Than Starting Late

    It’s not about when you started, it’s about when you decide to start, and the longer you wait in fear, the less progress you’ll make. Confidence begins with choosing to start today. In this episode, I will share 3 (actually 4) tips to help you make getting started late no longer a factor. What You’ll Learn: ✅ How to Embrace the Late Start ✅ The Importance of Starting Now ✅ 4 Tips For Overcoming the Late Hurdle ✅ How to Define Your Starting Point Take a short 5-minute quiz to find out if you're truly Retirement Ready!! Start your retirement journey with a complimentary Clarity Connection Call Download the Retirement Ready Checklist and map out your dream retirement Learn more about the Retirement Roadmap Session Send me your questions, thoughts, and takeaways from the podcast via email hello@elevatefinances.us OR leave me a voice message at SpeakPipe

    18 min
See All (161)

About

The Podcast That Helps Gen Xers Retire Up to 5 Years Sooner  Top 5% Personal Finance Podcast You’ve worked hard for decades, but now the big questions are creeping in: 👉 Will I have enough to retire? 👉  Is it too late to start retirement planning? Welcome to Wealthy After 40, the podcast for Gen X women and couples who want to feel confident and clear about how to retire, even if you’re starting late or feel behind on your retirement savings. I’m Dalene Higgins, financial coach and creator of the Aligned Money Method. I help Gen Xers take control of their personal finances by building a money system that fits their values and lifestyle, so they can save consistently, manage budgeting with ease, and prepare to retire on their own terms. Each week, you’ll get step-by-step guidance for retirement planning, smart budgeting strategies, and realistic ways to grow your savings, both your emergency fund and retirement savings, without overwhelm. If you’re ready to stop stressing about money, build a financial plan you trust, and create a future you’re excited about, this podcast is for you. Retirement isn’t out of reach. Let’s simplify your next steps with clear advice on how to retire, starting today. Your first step is a financial reality check-up inside the Retirement Roadmap Session.  Book your free Clarity Connection Call at elevatefinances.us/connection to learn how the Retirement Roadmap Session will help you make retirement possible.   Visit my website at elevatefinances.us to learn more or share with me your thoughts, questions, and challenges related to retirement at hello@elevatefinances.us

Information

You Might Also Like