Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner

Paul Fenner
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Welcome to the Emotional Balance Sheet, the go-to podcast for parents with multiple kids, especially those with twins, triplets, or more, who are navigating the maze of modern family life and personal finance. Whether you're overwhelmed by education costs, retirement planning, career transitions, or trying to define your purpose and plan, we're here to guide you with empathy, expertise, and encouragement. Hosted by Paul Fenner, Founder of TAMMA Capital, a Certified Financial Planner®, and parent to 4 kids, including a set of triplets, our podcast is your ally in the quest for financial peace of mind, proving that money matters, but family comes first. We understand that today's parents are juggling multiple financial and lifestyle priorities. That's why each episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world solutions that fit the needs of busy families. Subscribe now and join our community of empowered parents at tammacapital.com.

  1. 1D AGO

    You Can Always Make More Money

    How do you put a value on memorable experiences? After reading a moving LinkedIn post from my friend Samantha Russell, who lost her husband and is now raising three kids on her own, I found myself reflecting on my own family's journey. Our triplets started high school this year and our plus-one daughter tackles her own busy calendar. With the chaos of managing busy schedules, there is a temptation to worry about what's next, which can easily cause precious moments to slip by. To help with this chaos, I talk about a meaningful tool I use in my financial planning practice that really puts into perspective just how many summers we have left with our kids. For me, it's not about planning big, lavish vacations, but about making our time intentional, whether it's a dream trip, a simple backyard hangout, or a concert I've waited years to see. Unlike money, once a moment is gone, it can't be replenished. The number of summers left with loved ones is finite, and being aware of this helps us prioritize what matters. I hope by the end of this dialogue, you can ask yourself, what's one simple way you're being intentional with your time this week? Connect with Paul If you're a family with multiple kids who feel like your money should be working harder but aren't sure where to start, I do complimentary 30-minute financial reviews. Schedule a meeting here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn. Resources Featured in This Episode: Bucket List Items Don't Need To Be Big Samantha Russell LinkedIn Post Time is the Ultimate Planning Killer

    8 min

  2. FEB 12

    What Game Are You Playing

    Why does it feel like everyone else can afford the vacation you can't? You make good money. You're doing everything right. But your Instagram feed is full of beach photos while you're staring at a windchill warning and wondering what you're missing. In this episode, I talk about the trap of comparing your entire financial situation to someone else's highlight reel. I share a recent conversation with a family who was crushing their financial goals but felt like failures because they couldn't keep up with their friends' travel schedule. And I explore why the real question isn't "how can they afford that?" but rather "what game am I actually trying to win?" This week: Take five minutes and name your game. Write down what you're actually trying to accomplish with your money so you can stop checking the scoreboard of a game you're not even playing. Connect with Paul If you're a family with multiple kids who feel like your money should be working harder but aren't sure where to start, I do complimentary 30-minute financial reviews. Schedule a meeting here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn. Resources Featured in This Episode: Running Towards the Challenge of Why and Enough Uncovering Core Values for Financial Clarity and Emotional Balance

    10 min

  3. FEB 5

    Why Your Goals Keep Failing - Dr. Jennifer Dragonette

    Why do most resolutions fail by mid-January?   Maybe because we're starting in the wrong place. Before we can sustain any meaningful change, we need to know why we're doing it in the first place.  Dr. Jennifer Dragonette and I dig into the difference between purpose and objectives, and why confusing the two can leave you feeling empty even when you hit your goals. We talk through George Kinder's three questions, a powerful framework that uses time horizons to cut through the noise and reveal what actually matters.   We also explore the unusual eulogy exercise, the permission trap that keeps people stuck even when they have the means to act, and why retirement may be one of the most underrated transitions you'll ever face.  This week, try writing your own eulogy or obituary. Not to be morbid, but to get clear on what you want people to say about how you lived. That clarity can become the foundation for every objective you set.  Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Jennifer Dragonnette.  Connect with Paul  If you're a family with multiple kids who feel like your money should be working harder but aren't sure where to start, I do complimentary 30-minute financial reviews. Schedule a meeting here.  For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast.  Follow Paul on LinkedIn.  Resources Featured in This Episode:  Squeezing All The Juice Out Of Retirement  How to Use Emotions as Information  Are You Rich Yet? Why Families Still Struggle to Feel Wealthy

    33 min

  4. JAN 29

    Inflated Expectations: The Hidden Force Undermining Financial Peace

    Today's economy doesn't just create wealth. It creates the ability to show off wealth, and that visibility inflates expectations so quickly that even high-achieving parents often feel behind, overwhelmed, or financially stretched. Today, I break down why expectations rise faster than real progress, how that impacts family decisions, and why the small behaviors you repeat consistently are far more important than dramatic financial moves. If you've ever felt like your life looks "successful" on paper but still feels stretched or pressured in real time, you'll want to hear this episode. Connect with Paul If you're a family with multiple kids who feel like your money should be working harder but aren't sure where to start, I do complimentary 30-minute financial reviews. Schedule a meeting here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn. Resources Featured in This Episode: Getting the Goalpost to Stop Moving Uncovering Core Values for Financial Clarity and Emotional Balance You Can Do Most Things, But Not All: A Realistic Approach to Family Goals and Money

    9 min

  5. JAN 22

    Are you Rich Yet? Why Families Still Struggle to Feel Wealthy

    I came across a Wall Street Journal article about families making over $250,000, putting them in the top 10% of all household incomes in the country, who still don't feel wealthy. One family earning $350,000 (in the top 4%) owns two homes, has three kids in club sports, and can't shake the feeling that they're struggling. In this episode, I explore why modern life makes it so hard to feel like you have enough. How our standards of living have improved dramatically, but we've just created different problems. Why kids' activities drain families more than almost anything else. And how the real challenge, as Morgan Housel says, is getting the goalpost to stop moving. This week: Look back at where you started instead of comparing yourself to some moving horizon ahead. Check your household income against national percentiles. You might be surprised how far you've come. Connect with Paul Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn and YouTube. And feel free to email Paul at pfenner@tammacapital.com with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics. Resources Featured in This Episode: They're in the Top 10% of Earners. They Still Don't Feel Rich. Are You Living a Life Less Ordinary? The Gap and the Gain – Navigating Purpose

    13 min

  6. JAN 15

    Bucket List Item Don't Need To Be Big

    When was the last time you said yes to something small that mattered? Last year I checked something off my bucket list. Not a grand adventure or expensive trip, just a concert I'd been wanting to see for 30 years. The Barenaked Ladies finally made it happen, and what surprised me was how much emotion came with something so small. In this episode, I talk about why we wait for the big moments while ordinary experiences slip past us. Why music can take you back to exactly who you were. And why little adventures with the people you love might matter more than the trip you keep postponing. This week: Put one small thing on your bucket list. Something you could do this month, not someday. Connect with Paul Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn and YouTube. And feel free to email Paul at pfenner@tammacapital.com with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics. Resources Featured in This Episode: Barenaked Ladies Wealth Planning is For Everyone Aligning Personal Interests with Financial Objectives: A Five-Step Guide to Effective Wealth Planning

    9 min

  7. JAN 8

    Not All Struggles Are Due to Laziness

    What if not all success is earned and not all struggle is deserved? This week's episode digs into something we don't talk about enough: the role of luck, circumstance, and timing in how our lives turn out. When you're managing money, kids, and everything else, it's easy to believe you earned every good thing and failed at every hard thing. But that's not the whole story. I share a few stories from my generational Family Office practice, working with families across different starting lines, and reflect on what advantages compound across generations and what that means for how we judge ourselves, others, and what we teach our kids about success. This week, identify three things that went right in your life that weren't just about hard work. Not to diminish your effort, but to recognize the full picture of how you got here. Connect with Paul Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn and YouTube. And feel free to email Paul at pfenner@tammacapital.com with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics. Resources Featured in This Episode: Reflections of a Layoff While Raising Triplet Girls Funded Contentment: Am I Going to Be Okay? Experiencing Career & Life Transitions from Multiple Angles

    11 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    Money is a Number, Emotions are Stories

    I'm wrestling with a question that's been on my mind lately: Have we given money a job it simply can't do? There is a complicated relationship between money and our emotions, and how we sometimes hope numbers and bank balances will take away our fear or anxiety, even though those are emotions, not equations. Inspired by Carl Richards' book "Your Money," I talk about how our financial lives and our feelings are tangled together, especially for those of us in the thick of parenting, where there's never really an "off season." With insights from thought leaders like Morgan Housel, I explore the challenge of defining your goals and finding what "enough" really means, even as the goalposts keep moving. If you've ever wondered why having more money doesn't quite silence your worries or how your money beliefs shape your life, you're not alone. Connect with Paul Contact Paul here or schedule a time to meet with Paul here. For resources discussed in this episode, visit tammacapital.com/podcast. Follow Paul on LinkedIn and YouTube. And feel free to email Paul at pfenner@tammacapital.com with any feedback, questions, or ideas for future guests and topics. Resources Featured in This Episode: Just Wait: Fuel for Financial and Emotional Anxiety Understanding and Managing Anxiety: Practical Steps for a Balanced Life Building Healthy Habits: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety Through Tiny Changes

    9 min
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About

Welcome to the Emotional Balance Sheet, the go-to podcast for parents with multiple kids, especially those with twins, triplets, or more, who are navigating the maze of modern family life and personal finance. Whether you're overwhelmed by education costs, retirement planning, career transitions, or trying to define your purpose and plan, we're here to guide you with empathy, expertise, and encouragement. Hosted by Paul Fenner, Founder of TAMMA Capital, a Certified Financial Planner®, and parent to 4 kids, including a set of triplets, our podcast is your ally in the quest for financial peace of mind, proving that money matters, but family comes first. We understand that today's parents are juggling multiple financial and lifestyle priorities. That's why each episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world solutions that fit the needs of busy families. Subscribe now and join our community of empowered parents at tammacapital.com.

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