Making Change with your Money

Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP® | Financial Advisor for Women in Midlife Transitions
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Making Change with Your Money is the go-to podcast for women in midlife experiencing major life transitions and ready to transform their relationship with money. Hosted by Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP®—a financial advisor and Founder of True Abundance Advisors—this podcast features intimate conversations with women who have successfully navigated career changes, divorce and financial independence, retirement planning, entrepreneurship, and complete life reinvention. Every episode explores both the practical side of financial planning for women and the deeper inner work around money mindset, worthiness, and values-based living. From healing financial trauma to building sustainable businesses, from leaving corporate careers to investing with confidence, these stories provide both inspiration and actionable financial guidance. Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, managing an inheritance, recovering from divorce, or simply feeling that there must be more to life than the relentless pursuit of more—this podcast will help you use your resources (money, time, energy, and talent) to create a life of meaning and purpose. Laura brings her Wall Street experience, mindfulness practice, and financial life planning expertise to help listeners understand that true abundance isn't about the numbers in your account—it's about the freedom to live authentically. Perfect for: Women over 40, midlife career changers, recent divorcées, pre-retirees, women entrepreneurs, and anyone questioning whether they're worthy of pursuing their heart's desires. Topics include: Financial planning, money mindset, career transitions, retirement alternatives, divorce and money, women's financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, investing, financial therapy, values-based financial planning, and life reinvention.

  1. 5d ago

    I Did All the Right Things and Still Felt Empty

    Imagine you've done everything right. Good grades, good job, good friend, good daughter. You followed every rule, checked every box, never gave anyone a reason to worry. And then one day you wake up in the middle of a global pandemic and realize: I feel completely empty. At some point you've probably heard yourself asking: Is this it? I worked so hard for this life — so why doesn't it feel like enough? And what do you do when the anxiety and perfectionism you've been running on finally runs out? Allie Brooke grew up with a father who was an accountant — money was always handled, never discussed. No allowances, no financial education, just a clean household where the adults took care of everything. It was comfortable. And it left her completely unprepared for adulthood. The only lesson that stuck: make sure you have good credit. By her mid-twenties she had the career, the commute, the New York City life. She was also burning out quietly, running on perfectionism and people-pleasing with no idea how empty she'd become. COVID stopped everything — and in that stillness, she finally heard the whisper she'd been drowning out: you are made for more. She bought a microphone off Amazon and started talking. Not to an audience — just to herself, processing what she was learning in therapy, from self-development books, from her own life. The Growth Mindset Gal podcast was born from a woman who needed to heal out loud. Then came a harder decision: leave New York City, take a pay cut, and move three and a half hours upstate to a slower life near her fiancé's family. Her therapist's verdict after the first session post-move: "You are a completely different person." Her commute went from ninety minutes to twelve. Her therapy sessions went from weekly to monthly. She never looked back. Her two lessons for anyone in transition: everything is temporary — emotions, seasons, relationships, the hard stuff — so stop holding on so tightly. And be open to joy, even when fear of judgment tries to talk you out of it. Whether it's a hot yoga class or a cross-country move, little steps toward what lights you up are never wasted. GuestAllie Brooke is a veteran educator, podcast host, and certified Emotional Intelligence and REBT Mindset Coach dedicated to empowering women to overcome anxiety and build resilient mindsets. Having navigated chronic anxiety and burnout firsthand, she transformed her experience into a mission: creating a supportive community where women can connect, heal, and thrive. She is the host of The Growth Mindset Gal podcast. Connect with AllieWebsite: https://thegrowthmindsetgal.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrowthmindsetgal/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allie-brooke-a4798031bResourcesThe Growth Mindset Gal Podcast (Laura's guest episode)The Growth Method — Free Community: join at thegrowthmindsetgal.comThe Growth Method — Premium Community: $20/month (use code GROWTHMINDSETGAL for 50% off your first month)

    I Did All the Right Things and Still Felt Empty

  2. Jul 19

    I Treat My Bank Account Like a Relationship I Can't Ghost.

    Imagine going from "we're poor, we can't afford groceries" to a million-dollar payout—and back again—all before you're fifteen. Now imagine carrying that financial whiplash into adulthood, through single motherhood, through a tripled income, through a broken engagement, and two layoffs on the same day. At some point you've probably asked: Why does money still feel so chaotic even when I'm making good money? Lia Bliss grew up watching money arrive in floods and disappear overnight. Her father's dot-com startup paid out millions—then her parents split, child support came in bursts, and her mother swung between "we can't afford groceries" and spending a thousand dollars at Walmart in one fell swoop. Money, for Lia, was never neutral. It was fear, then avoidance, then chaos again. The wake-up came in stages. Becoming a single mother pushed her out of scarcity. Then a cold call from her stepmother landed her a job training 10,000 salespeople on LinkedIn during COVID—and her income tripled overnight, from $40K to $120K. She and her then-fiancé spent every dollar. When he stopped working and the relationship collapsed, and then both her jobs were cut on the same day, she was back at zero. But this time, she knew better. "I decided to treat my finances like a relationship," she says. "If I'm trying to date somebody, I cannot ghost them for months." She started checking her bank account every single day—not from fear, but from love. That daily practice changed everything. She launched Bliss Magic, her LinkedIn strategy consultancy, built it into a six-figure business, and now helps executives and entrepreneurs do what she learned the hard way: show up consistently, build trust over time, and never confuse activity with strategy. Her definition of success? Freedom. Not survival finances—freedom finances. The ability to make decisions from a place of empowerment, not constraint. And her closing message for anyone in transition: the most important thing you can do is just start. Accept the help. Admit what you don't know. The community of women who show up for each other is real. GuestLia Bliss is the founder of Bliss Magic, where she helps ambitious leaders and growing companies master LinkedIn strategy and executive thought leadership. Her signature keynote, "LinkedIn Mastery: Adapting to the Digital Age," has helped countless executives build meaningful connections and expand their influence. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, she is a sought-after speaker, sales trainer, and strategist for organizations ranging from nationwide financial firms to solo entrepreneurs just getting started. Connect with LiaWebsite: https://theblissmagic.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liabliss/ResourcesFree 30-minute consultation with Lia: https://app.usemotion.com/meet/lia-bliss/meeting?d=30 (mention Making Change with Your Money podcast)VIP Day — LinkedIn profile + 10 posts + sales infrastructure ($1,000 / 4 hours): theblissmagic.comDone-for-you LinkedIn management ($2,500/month): theblissmagic.com

    I Treat My Bank Account Like a Relationship I Can't Ghost.

  3. Jul 11

    You've Muted Your Hidden Talent

    Imagine growing up as one of seven children, watching your mother stretch every dollar until it couldn't stretch any further—and still somehow never making you feel poor. She would hand down clothes to the next sibling and simply say, "If it's still good, you wear it." No apology. No shame. Just wisdom. At some point you've probably asked yourself: What is my money actually for? Am I working to build wealth—or to build a life that matters? And what happened to the talents and passions I convinced myself I didn't have time to pursue? Those are the questions Sairan Aqrawi helps women answer. Born and raised in Iraq, Sairan learned from her mother that joy, generosity, and dignity aren't determined by income. She also grew up hearing one lesson that shaped her future: "Education is a weapon. No one can take it away from you." When she moved to the United States nearly 30 years ago with an engineering degree, she quickly realized education was a foundation—not a guarantee. She built a successful engineering career, earned advanced degrees, and even started a doctoral program before one unexpected question changed everything. After speaking to young female engineers, someone asked, "Are you a coach?" She laughed. She thought coaching was only for athletes. But after discovering business coaching, she found her calling. She became certified and never looked back—while intentionally keeping her engineering career. "I always tell my clients I'll never ask them to leave their day job," she says. "When your business creates enough income, you'll quit without telling me." Today, through her Gem Thrive Academy, Sairan helps professional women in midlife uncover the talents they've been hiding and build purpose-driven businesses alongside their careers. Her philosophy is simple: stop dismissing the gifts other people consistently see in you. For Sairan, success isn't measured by your bank account or job title. "Success is the relentless energy to progress," she says. Money should create freedom, opportunities, and a meaningful life—not become the goal itself. Her advice is simple: don't wait. Don't let your dreams stay buried until retirement. The hidden talent inside you isn't gone. It's just been waiting for you to use it. GuestSairan Aqrawi is a certified business strategist and life coach (ACC-ICF) who helps professional women in midlife discover their hidden talents and build purpose-driven businesses alongside their existing careers. A practicing engineer with a master's degree and nearly three decades of experience in the United States, Sairan brings a uniquely precise, systems-oriented mindset to business coaching. She is the founder of the Gem Thrive Academy, a 28-day clarity and strategy program, and is a sought-after speaker, writer, and mentor to women navigating career pivots and entrepreneurship. ResourcesWebsiteLinkedInInstagramFree 15-minute LinkedIn profile consultation — mention Making Change with Your Money podcast when bookingFree 15-minute Instagram business page consultation — mention the podcast when booking

    You've Muted Your Hidden Talent

  4. Jul 5

    The Year Everything Was Chaos

    Imagine you're a month away from giving birth to your second child. Your toddler is eighteen months old. Your husband is a military pilot about to deploy for six months, just three weeks after the baby arrives. Somewhere in the middle of it all, you open a spreadsheet for the first time and ask yourself: What do I actually need my money to do for me? At some point, you've probably asked: Why does money still feel heavy, even when the numbers look okay? Why do I feel anxious when I look at my finances, and just as anxious when I avoid them? How do I stop chasing someone else's definition of financial success? Maybe you've done the mindset work, read the books, and tackled your money story, yet it still isn't translating to your bank account. Maybe you've chased revenue goals that left you burnt out. Maybe you've borrowed money to grow your business and carried shame because you learned debt was irresponsible. Megan Hale grew up watching her grandmother meticulously manage money and model financial independence. She also inherited the belief that debt was shameful. So when Megan opened her therapy practice and took on business debt, she felt like a financial failure. Over time, she realized business debt is different from consumer debt. Used intentionally, it can be a strategic tool. The turning point came in 2018. With two babies under two, a deployed husband, and a business she refused to abandon, Megan created her Good, Better, Best planning framework. That became the foundation of Dream Money, a planning platform that helps entrepreneurs organize personal pay, expenses, taxes, savings, team costs, reinvestment, and giving through the Good, Better, Best framework. It also includes a 2% Pledge, showing how small contributions from many business owners can create meaningful collective impact. Today, Megan defines financial success as more than stability. It's having enough margin to enjoy life, give generously, and believe "more than enough" is possible. Guest Megan Hale is the CEO and Founder of DreamMoney™, a strategic business planning platform for solo entrepreneurs to know their numbers, map sustainable revenue plans, and build a healthier relationship with money. A former therapist, she combines psychology with business strategy. Connect with Megan Website: https://dreammoney.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreammoneyco Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/meganhaleco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreammoney.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganhale1/ Podcast: https://meganhale.co/podcast Resources Free Minimum Viable Revenue Calculator: https://dreammoney.co/mvr Try Dream Money free: https://beta.dreammoney.co Dream Money platform: $297/quarter or $997/year The 2% Pledge: https://dreammoney.co Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

    The Year Everything Was Chaos

  5. Jun 28

    We Chose to be Rich in Children

    Imagine growing up watching your mother drive past a neighborhood mansion and say: "That family has money — and they're miserable." Now imagine that lesson becoming the foundation of everything you believe about wealth. At some point you've probably asked: Is money the thing that makes life good? And if you've ever caught yourself saying "I can't afford that" — this conversation is for you. Leslie Hocker grew up the oldest of five children with a petroleum engineer father and not much room for extras. Her parents' answer to every wish: "We chose to be rich in children." That one phrase shaped her entire relationship with money. Today, when a client says "I can't afford it," Leslie redirects them: try saying "I choose to spend my money on other things." It's a small shift — but it moves you from scarcity to agency. She went on to become one of the youngest female executives in the petroleum industry, managing multi-million-dollar deals — until she realized she was working in the dark and coming home in the dark. So she opened Houston's first Pilates studio. While still employed full-time. (Her words: "It wasn't very well thought out.") The entrepreneurship journey taught her the hard truth: there's no stopping at zero — you can go way past it. She learned to say no. To protect her time. To measure success not by money in the bank, but by the choices money gives you: staying an extra day, flying home Monday instead of fighting the Sunday rush, turning every conference into an adventure. "You want to die with memories," she says. Not things. Not titles. Moments. And her closing message: be a little better today than you were yesterday. You are not too old. It is not too late. If someone else has done it — so can you. Guest Leslie Hocker has built brands, coached leaders, and helped entrepreneurs create legacy businesses across the globe. One of the youngest female execs in petroleum, she pivoted to launch Houston's first Pilates studio. A certified NLP trainer with Tony Robbins, she now mentors purpose-driven entrepreneurs with her husband, a Doctor of Pharmacology. 30+ countries. One mission: lead with heart, scale with integrity, build a business you're proud of. Connect with Leslie Website: https://LeslieHocker.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizcoach.leslieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-hocker/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslie_hocker/ Resources Free Daily Affirmations: https://LeslieHocker.comThe Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. DankoDie With Zero by Bill Perkins

    We Chose to be Rich in Children

  6. Jun 13

    Your Money Story is Running Your Life

    What happens when the financial plan is solid, but the client still can't move? That's the question at the heart of this week's conversation with Ashley Quamme, a financial behavior specialist and former marriage and family therapist who now works inside advisory firms helping clients get unstuck. Ashley didn't set out to work in financial services. She built a thriving private practice doing clinical work with couples and families, but kept running into the same wall: money kept showing up in her clients' relationships, and the therapeutic tools she'd been trained to use weren't quite reaching it. She Googled her way into the emerging field of financial therapy, went back for a graduate certificate, and gradually found herself fielding calls from financial advisors asking her to help them understand why their clients were making the decisions they were. In this conversation, Ashley shares a story that captures the real work of financial behavior change. A high-achieving husband — senior executive, frequent traveler, financially successful by every external measure — was stuck in a life that didn't feel like his own. He was missing his kids. He felt the pull to slow down. But he couldn't make the leap. When Ashley and his advisor started exploring why, the answer wasn't in his balance sheet. It was in a family story he'd been carrying since childhood: that achievement was how you earned love, and that stepping back from success meant something was wrong with you. Getting him unstuck meant surfacing that story first. Ashley describes her framework simply as think, feel, do. Understanding why we think, feel, and act the way we do around money before we try to change any of it. As she puts it, all behavior makes sense in context. The advisor's job, and the financial therapist's job, is to understand just enough of that context to help clients move. She also reflects on her own money story. Growing up in Durham, receiving hand-me-downs from a cousin she admired, and the visceral resistance to secondhand clothing she carried into adulthood without quite knowing why. Recognizing that story, she says, was its own kind of freedom. This is a conversation about what it really means to help someone change their relationship with money — and why the plan is only ever the beginning. Guest bio: Ashley is the Owner of Beyond the Plan®, a consulting practice that partners with firms to integrate financial psychology into their practice. In addition to her work with advisory firms, she is a speaker and host of Planning & Beyond™, a podcast where she explores the intersection of financial planning and human understanding, bringing practical strategies and insights to advisors and financial professionals. Resources: LinkedIn Instagram Podcast Website

    Your Money Story is Running Your Life

  7. May 31

    I Was Born Into Millions in Medical Debt

    Imagine growing up watching your mother choose between paying the electric bill or buying groceries. Imagine filing bankruptcy, losing your house, living in cars. At some point, you've probably asked: How do I break free from the money patterns I inherited? How do I build wealth when I'm starting from nothing? Maybe you've tried to outrun your financial past. You've worked hard, done everything "right." But financial trauma doesn't disappear because you get a paycheck. And for women especially, we're more likely to live in poverty in retirement, take career breaks that cost us earning potential, and prioritize everyone else's financial security before our own. Emily was born months after her sister passed away, into a household drowning in medical debt, depression, and hopelessness. By eleven, her father had abandoned the family. Her mother, unable to separate emotions from financial decisions, gave up hope. But Emily chose differently. She graduated high school three years early, started working, and at nineteen launched her first business as a virtual assistant to C-suite executives and family offices. That gateway changed everything. She learned how capital moves by working with the people who controlled it. She helped create one of the first blockchain ETFs. Today, she runs Numinous Capital—a venture capital firm investing in biotech and deep tech companies building between the coasts. Here's what Emily learned that her mother never could: sometimes debt feels more secure and comfortable than not having it. "Debt acts almost like a father that's not there," she told me. "It's on your back constantly. And it may feel secure and safe." This is the paradox of financial trauma. The very thing destroying you can feel like the only stable relationship you have. It's familiar. It's known. And letting it go can feel more terrifying than keeping it. Emily witnessed this in her mother, who stayed trapped in the cycle until she passed away. But Emily chose differently. She learned to recognize the pattern without repeating it. Now, financial security means something entirely different: nervous system regulation. "It's this sense of calm and peace that we all owe ourselves," she says. Not about buying more things. Not about keeping up with anyone. Just knowing her money's growing, knowing she has a fallback plan, knowing she's creating opportunity for future generations. Emily's closing message for anyone navigating financial hardship or transition: "You have it all already. Everything that you need you already have. Don't be afraid to take risks. Don't be afraid to take chances on yourselves." And here's the mindset shift she practices: when you hit a snag and start losing hope, try something different. Just once, say "Maybe this is a good thing. Let me make this into a good thing." That's how you bend reality. Not by denying your circumstances, but by reframing how you deal with them. Not by pretending your past doesn't matter, but by refusing to let it determine your future. Guest: Emily is the founder of Numinous Capital, a venture capital firm investing in biotech, deep tech, and capital-intensive companies building between the coasts. She started her first business at nineteen and has spent her career learning how capital moves through markets—from family offices to hedge funds to venture capital. Resources: Numinous CapitalLinkedIn

    I Was Born Into Millions in Medical Debt

  8. May 16

    I Put a Whiteboard in My Bedroom and My Husband Thought I Was Crazy

    Imagine you're sitting on the couch one evening, looking at your spouse, and suddenly the words just come out: "I'm exhausted. All we do is chase our responsibilities." At some point or another, you've probably heard yourself asking: When did life become this never-ending list of tasks? When did I start scheduling heartworm medicine for the dog on my calendar but not anything that actually brings me joy? When did I forget that life is supposed to feel good sometimes? Maybe you've tried to fix this. You've told yourself you'll relax after the next project wraps up. You've promised yourself a vacation once the kids are older, once you get that promotion, once you have more money saved. But here's what actually happens: the promotion comes, the project ends, and somehow you're just as busy, just as burned out, just as far from joy as you ever were. Because waiting for joy to find you doesn't work. The "afters" never come. And in the meantime, you're spending 90,000 hours of your life—40 years—in the workforce, showing up busy, stressed, and depleted. This was exactly where Lisa found herself. She grew up with a father who taught her that hard work was the badge of honor in their family. She learned early that if you don't have enough money, you work more. And she took that lesson into her corporate career as a healthcare executive, outworking everyone around her, believing that exhaustion was the price of success. Until the night she looked at her husband and said, "I want to put something else on our calendar. Something fun. I want to chase joy like it's my job." He looked at her confused and said, "Okay, what do you want to do?" And she realized: she had no idea. So she went to Home Depot, bought a giant whiteboard, brought it home, and asked her husband to hang it in their bedroom. He said, "Lisa, people don't put whiteboards in bedrooms." And she said, "We do." That whiteboard became the place where she and her family started building a joy list—things they used to do, wanted to do, could do. And she learned that if you wait for joy to come after everything else is done, you'll be waiting forever. If you've ever found yourself showing up to work, to your family, to your life as "busy"—if you've ever felt like you're going through the motions just to keep the wheels turning—this conversation is for you. This is a conversation about giving yourself permission to schedule joy with the same seriousness you schedule everything else. Because here's the truth Lisa discovered: joy doesn't happen to you. You happen to it. Guest: Lisa is a former healthcare executive turned author and speaker who teaches corporate leaders how to create impact while actually enjoying their lives. Her book "Joy Is My Job" introduces practical frameworks for building joy into busy lives. Resources: Joy Is My JobFacebookLinkedInInstagramWebsite

    I Put a Whiteboard in My Bedroom and My Husband Thought I Was Crazy
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About

Making Change with Your Money is the go-to podcast for women in midlife experiencing major life transitions and ready to transform their relationship with money. Hosted by Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP®—a financial advisor and Founder of True Abundance Advisors—this podcast features intimate conversations with women who have successfully navigated career changes, divorce and financial independence, retirement planning, entrepreneurship, and complete life reinvention. Every episode explores both the practical side of financial planning for women and the deeper inner work around money mindset, worthiness, and values-based living. From healing financial trauma to building sustainable businesses, from leaving corporate careers to investing with confidence, these stories provide both inspiration and actionable financial guidance. Whether you're contemplating a career pivot, managing an inheritance, recovering from divorce, or simply feeling that there must be more to life than the relentless pursuit of more—this podcast will help you use your resources (money, time, energy, and talent) to create a life of meaning and purpose. Laura brings her Wall Street experience, mindfulness practice, and financial life planning expertise to help listeners understand that true abundance isn't about the numbers in your account—it's about the freedom to live authentically. Perfect for: Women over 40, midlife career changers, recent divorcées, pre-retirees, women entrepreneurs, and anyone questioning whether they're worthy of pursuing their heart's desires. Topics include: Financial planning, money mindset, career transitions, retirement alternatives, divorce and money, women's financial empowerment, entrepreneurship, investing, financial therapy, values-based financial planning, and life reinvention.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP® | Financial Advisor for Women in Midlife Transitions
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP® | Financial Advisor for Women in Midlife Transitions
  • Show Website
    Making Change with your Money