Her Wealth: Unscripted

Produced by PodTechs
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Investing
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Welcome to Her Wealth: Unscripted — real conversations about money, life, and the moments that change everything. Hosted by the women of Sorelle Wealth Partners, Susan Jones and Sara Gelsheimer, this podcast is for women navigating life’s transitions: divorce, widowhood, retirement, business ownership, caregiving, and second acts. We talk about the financial decisions that come with real life — with honesty and compassion. No jargon. No scripts. Just steady guidance to help you align your wealth with what matters most. Because it’s more than numbers — it’s the life they make possible. Subscribe for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

  1. 1d ago

    Dolly Parton vs. Prince: What Their Estate Plans Teach Us

    When music icons like Dolly Parton and Prince pass away, their legacies extend far beyond their chart-topping hits—they reveal crucial lessons about estate planning. From Prince’s six-year legal battle to Dolly’s intentional, private legacy, how you structure your assets today determines the peace of mind your loved ones experience tomorrow. Have you ever wondered what actually happens to your assets if you pass away without a will or trust? Are you worried that a lack of clear planning could create unnecessary family conflict or public court battles? Or are you unsure how to choose guardians, line up beneficiaries, or keep your financial privacy intact? In this episode, Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP® break down the striking contrast between Prince’s multi-million-dollar intestate nightmare and Dolly Parton’s proactive estate design. In this episode, we cover: The Privacy Power of Trusts: How avoiding public probate protects your personal asset details from becoming court records. The High Cost of Intestacy: Why dying without a will leads to multi-year legal disputes, IRS valuation battles, and massive fees. Planning Without Direct Heirs: How women and single individuals can structure meaningful distributions even without natural beneficiaries. Wills vs. Revocable Trusts: Understanding how a trust provides lifetime incapacity protection while a fallback pour-over will captures stray assets. Better Than the State's Plan: Why making imperfect estate decisions today protects your family better than state law defaults. Preserving Family Harmony: How clear estate documentation functions as a final gift to keep loved ones united. If you don't create your estate plan, the state will create one for you—and stepping up to make decisions today is the ultimate act of love for your family. Chapters:  0:00 - Remembering Dolly Parton's Legacy & Impact 5:01 - Probate & The Privacy Advantage of Trusts 7:18 - Intestacy Laws & Planning Without Direct Heirs 9:38 - Prince's Estate Nightmare: IRS Valuations & 6-Year Disputes 15:41 - Key Differences: Will vs. Revocable Living Trust 18:41 - Managing Lifetime Incapacity with a Trust 19:50 - Overcoming Decision Paralysis & Making Today's Choices 23:48 - Life & Legacy Memos: Organizing Your Estate Details 👋 If this episode resonated, give it a like, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and subscribe so you don't miss next week's conversation. 📖 Read our blog for more financial insights: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #EstatePlanning #FinancialLegacy #HerWealthUnscripted

    Dolly Parton vs. Prince: What Their Estate Plans Teach Us

  2. Sep 23

    Beyond Tax Prep: How Female Founders Can Keep More Wealth with Kimberly Tara

    Many business owners hand over a massive chunk of their hard-earned revenue to the IRS every year simply because no one ever showed them there was a proactive alternative. Are you relying on reactive tax preparation instead of a forward-looking strategy? Are you paying unnecessary penalties on your quarterly estimates or leaving money on the table by missing deductions? In this episode, Susan Jones and Sara Gelsheimer sit down with CPA and Certified Tax Coach Kimberly Tara to break down how women entrepreneurs can stop chasing revenue, take back their financial power, and build long-term wealth through year-round tax strategy. In this episode, we cover: The Engineering Mindset: How a background in chemical engineering shapes a uniquely analytical, puzzle-solving approach to the tax code. Prep vs. Strategy: Why your traditional tax preparer isn't bringing proactive ideas to the table—and how to engage the right professional. Common Costly Pitfalls: The most frequent tax mistakes small business owners make, including missed quarterly estimated payments and untracked expenses. Hiring Thresholds: Knowing exactly when your profit margin signals it's time to outsource to a dedicated tax strategist. Vetting Financial Pros: Red flags to watch out for and key questions to ask when interviewing CPAs and advisors. The Limits of AI: Why relying on ChatGPT or social media trends for tax advice can lead to costly IRS compliance risks. Stop dreading tax season and take control of your numbers to build real freedom. Kimberly Tara, CPA and Certified Tax Coach, is the founder of the Tara CPA firm. She specializes in proactive, year-round tax strategy that helps female entrepreneurs legally keep more of what they earn and turn their businesses into genuine wealth-building machines. Based in Charlotte, NC, Kimberly combines technical rigor with real-talk entrepreneurial experience to help business owners stop chasing revenue and build true financial freedom. Connect with Kimberly: https://taracpafirm.com/  CHAPTERS  0:00 - Introduction & Kimberly’s Unconventional Journey  5:37 - Tax Preparation vs. Proactive Tax Strategy  12:09 - Top 3 Tax Pitfalls Small Business Owners Make 17:03 - When Is Your Business Ready for Professional Tax Help? 19:21 - How to Vet a CPA and Red Flags to Watch For 25:42 - The Pitfalls of Using AI and Social Media for Tax Advice 31:54 - Taking Your Power Back as a Business Owner 👋 If this episode resonated, give it a like, drop a comment with your biggest tax takeaway, and subscribe so you don't miss next week's conversation.  📖 Read our blog for more financial insights: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #TaxStrategy #WomenInBusiness #HerWealthUnscripted

  3. Sep 18

    What to Do When Your Spouse Never Filed Your Taxes

    Discovering that your spouse hasn't been filing your joint tax returns is a terrifying realization that happens far more often than you might think. Beyond the immediate shock, unfiled taxes create serious legal, financial, and credit risks—especially if you're navigating a high-conflict or toxic divorce. Have you ever assumed your partner was taking care of the taxes, only to realize you have no paper trail? Are you worried that signing off on past tax returns might leave you on the hook for money you don't actually owe? Or are you wondering how unfiled returns could impact your ability to buy a house, rent an apartment, or finalize a divorce settlement? In this episode, Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP® open up about real-world client scenarios involving non-filing spouses, financial infidelity, and the exact steps you can take to protect yourself and reclaim control. In this episode, we cover: The Root of Procrastination: Why tax filing gets put off and how missing a single year spirals into multi-year non-compliance. The e-Filing Blindspot: How modern electronic filing makes it easier for one spouse to conceal unfiled returns. Innocent Spouse Relief: The strict limitations of IRS relief and why it doesn't apply if no return was ever submitted. Uncovering the Truth: How to request your official IRS transcripts online in ten minutes to verify your filing status. Joint vs. Separate Filing: Evaluating Married Filing Separately versus Married Filing Jointly during a divorce transition. Settlement Protections: How to build tax indemnity language into divorce agreements to recover penalties and interest. Every tax problem is fixable, and stepping out of shame is the very first step toward financial freedom. Chapters: 0:00 - Real Client Stories: Unfiled Taxes & Financial Infidelity 2:10 - Why Tax Procrastination Happens 5:15 - The Division of Labor & The e-Filing Blindspot 8:53 - IRS Innocent Spouse Relief Explained 10:41 - Should You Sign a Tax Return You Don't Understand? 14:09 - How to Pull IRS Transcripts & Uncover Unfiled Returns 17:44 - Tax Options During Divorce: Joint vs. Separate Filing 21:48 - Removing Shame & Taking Your First Step Forward 👋 If this episode resonated, give it a like, drop a comment with your biggest tax takeaway, and subscribe so you don't miss next week's conversation. 📖 Read our blog for more financial insights: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #TaxStrategy #DivorceFinances #HerWealthUnscripted

    What to Do When Your Spouse Never Filed Your Taxes

  4. Sep 9

    Still Listed as the Beneficiary? The Estate Planning Mistake Costing Women Everything

    Going through a divorce or losing a spouse comes with a mountain of paperwork — and updating your estate plan is often the thing that falls to the bottom of the list. But one overlooked form can mean your ex-spouse inherits everything you meant for your kids. Have you ever wondered… If your power of attorney is even valid anymore after a divorce? Whether you actually need a trust — or if an attorney is just selling you one? What happens to your retirement account if you never updated the beneficiary? In this episode, Susan and Sara sit down with estate planning attorney Tamara Block to unpack why "just sign here" estate planning fails women — and what to do instead. In this episode, we cover: The beneficiary designation trap — Why a divorce decree doesn't automatically update your retirement accounts or life insurance, and how a six-figure account can end up going to an ex-spouse instead of your kids. Estate planning for solo women — What single, divorced, widowed, or never-married women need to think through differently, from picking a healthcare agent to deciding where a legacy goes without children involved. Married couples aren't exempt — Why "I'm married, so I don't need a power of attorney" is one of the most common and costly myths Tamara hears. The AI and social media myth problem — Why viral "trust loophole" posts and DIY AI legal advice are becoming harder to fact-check, and why they're often just wrong. Why relationships beat templates — What separates a good estate planning attorney (or financial advisor) from a legal-zoom shortcut, and why understanding your documents matters as much as having them. How to actually get started — Tamara's advice for tackling estate planning without getting stuck in overwhelm. The bottom line: an estate plan isn't a one-and-done document — it's something that has to grow and change with your life. And you deserve a professional who takes the time to make sure you understand it. Tamara Block is an attorney with over 25 years of legal experience, licensed in Minnesota, South Dakota, Texas, and Tennessee. Her practice focuses on estate planning, real estate, nonprofits, small business matters, and litigation, with a particular focus on single women navigating divorce, widowhood, or life without children. Learn more at https://www.tamarablockattorney.com/ CHAPTERS 0:00 - Meet Tamara Block: estate attorney background and passion for helping women 2:06 - Tamara's story: single motherhood and the wake-up call to get her own plan in order 4:08 - Why women's longer life expectancy makes estate planning even more critical 7:56 - Why updating your estate plan after divorce or widowhood is often overlooked 8:24 - The beneficiary designation story: how an ex-spouse inherited a six-figure account 13:49 - Estate planning considerations for women without children 20:13 - Common estate planning myths: power of attorney, trusts, and "asset protection" schemes 22:37 - Why everyone benefits from a financial advisor, not just the wealthy 25:18 - Where AI gets legal and financial advice wrong — and why prompts and personalization matter 28:09 - Tamara's #1 takeaway for listeners 30:15 - How to connect with Tamara Block 👋 If this episode gave you something to think about, like, comment, and subscribe — we'd love to hear which myth surprised you most. 📖 Read more on the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #EstatePlanning #DivorceRecovery #HerWealthUnscripted

  5. Sep 2

    Ditch the Balance Myth: Building Work-Life Harmony with Amy Pierre-Russo

    Ever feel like you're failing at "balance" no matter how hard you try? What if balance was never the right goal to begin with? Have you ever wondered… Why "having it all in balance" feels impossible no matter how organized you are? Whether asking for help means you're not cutting it? How other women seem to build a support system that actually works? In this episode, Susan and Sara sit down with Amy Pierre-Russo — a work-life harmony coach with a background in HR and leadership coaching — to unpack why the idea of "balance" sets women up to feel shame, and what to pursue instead. It's a conversation about redefining support, reclaiming your time, and giving yourself permission to focus on one thing at a time. In this episode, we cover: The harmony reframe: Why "balance" assumes everything carries equal weight — and why that's a myth that sets women up to fail. Where the shame really comes from: Amy breaks down how societal norms and unrealistic expectations get quietly "adopted" as our own. Why asking for help is so hard: How jumping into new roles too fast can make us forget to pause and figure out what we actually need. The financial side of support: Why paying for help isn't a failure — it's a strategic investment in your time and your business. Building your village on purpose: The data behind why women with strong female networks earn more and hold higher-level titles. Living in your zone of genius: How to know what to delegate, automate, or eliminate — and why that's not selfish, it's smart. At the end of the day, harmony isn't about doing it all — it's about knowing what matters most right now, and giving yourself grace for the rest. Chapters: 0:00 - Welcome & introducing Amy Pierre-Russo 1:12 - Amy's path from HR to work-life harmony coaching 3:34 - Reframing "balance" as "harmony" 6:24 - Where mom-shame really comes from 11:06 - Why it's so hard to ask for help 13:29 - The financial case for buying back your time 17:13 - The power of women's networks (65% stat) 20:06 - Focusing on "one priority" without guilt 22:55 - Working in your zone of genius 26:57 - Including your kids in your work 33:32 - Amy's challenge + free resource Amy Pierre-Russo is a work-life harmony coach with a decade-plus background in HR and leadership coaching. Through one-on-one coaching and community, Amy helps women — especially moms — build intentional systems of support so they can show up fully at work and at home. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn (Amy Pierre-Russo) or Instagram (@coaching_w_amy). 👋 If this episode resonated, give it a like, drop a comment about what "harmony" looks like for you, and subscribe so you don't miss next week's conversation. 📖 Explore more on the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #WorkLifeHarmony #WorkingMoms #HerWealthUnscripted

    Ditch the Balance Myth: Building Work-Life Harmony with Amy Pierre-Russo

  6. Aug 26

    Fight, Flight, Fawn, or Freeze: What's Your Money Archetype?

    You can have money in the bank, a thriving business, and every outward sign of success — and still feel like it could all disappear tomorrow. That gap between the evidence and the emotion is exactly what this episode is about. Have you ever wondered… Why hitting a financial goal doesn't actually make the anxiety go away? Why the same advice (like a morning affirmation routine) works for one person and backfires for another? Why you hold your breath before hitting "send" on an invoice or a big purchase? This week, Susan and Sara sit down with Hailey Fernelius, founder of Hailey Ann Co and a wealth capacity strategist who works at the intersection of money, the nervous system, and identity. Hailey started out doing the numbers for female business owners — until she noticed that data and logic almost never won against someone's old money story. That realization became the foundation for a five-step process that helps women stop hustling from fear and start building financial lives that actually feel safe. In this episode, we cover: The four money archetypes — Fight, flight, fawn, and freeze aren't just relationship patterns; Hailey breaks down how each one shows up in how you spend, invest, and price your work. Where these patterns actually come from — Hailey explains why these are survival responses learned early, and why success doesn't automatically erase them. The "cookie cutter" trap — Why the exact same advice, like a daily affirmation, can help one person and quietly burn out another. Early warning signs to watch for — from pricing you're afraid to raise to snapping at the people you love, Haley shares the subtle cues that your money script needs attention. Navigating money decisions during big life transitions — divorce, loss, retirement, or any major shift — and why a dip in your account doesn't mean you made the wrong call. A 30-second grounding practice — a simple breathing technique you can use before any financial decision, no gym or fancy equipment required. The moral of this one: the goal isn't to eliminate every ounce of financial fear — it's to stop letting an old story make today's decisions for you. CHAPTERS 0:00 - Welcome & meet Hailey Fernelius 1:11 - Haley's path from bookkeeping to somatic money work 3:15 - Why women struggle with money confidence in business 5:57 - The four money archetypes: fight, flight, fawn, freeze 8:49 - Which archetype shows up most (and when) 10:13 - Hailey's five-step process to rewrite your money story 14:11 - Early warning signs your money script needs work 17:34 - Why "cookie cutter" advice — even affirmations — can backfire 20:41 - Making money decisions during major life transitions 23:06 - A 30-second practice to feel grounded before big decisions 25:17 - Where to find Hailey 👋 If this episode resonated with you, give it a like, drop a comment about which archetype you saw yourself in, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 📖 For more on aligning your money with your life, visit the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #MoneyMindset #FinancialWellness #HerWealthUnscripted

    Fight, Flight, Fawn, or Freeze: What's Your Money Archetype?

  7. Aug 19

    Stuck in Survival Mode? Janet Diaz on Healing Your Nervous System and Reclaiming Rest

    You can take the vacation, get the massage, and still come home feeling just as wound up as when you left. If rest never actually feels restful, this episode is for you. Have you ever wondered… Why some people can truly unwind while you feel like you're always "on"? What your body might be trying to tell you through chronic stress or autoimmune symptoms? Whether changing your physical environment could actually change how you feel inside? In this episode, Susan and Sara sit down with Janet Diaz, co-founder of Soul Craft Journeys and a former IT leader who spent two decades excelling in high-pressure environments — until her body forced her to pay attention. Janet shares her personal journey from growing up in a home shaped by her father's PTSD, to developing autoimmune disorders from years of chronic hypervigilance, to discovering that healing had less to do with productivity and more to do with permission to slow down. In this episode, we cover: The hidden cost of "high performing": How the same skills that made Janet thrive in tech were quietly draining her nervous system for years. What your body is really telling you: Why autoimmune disorders can be a physical expression of a nervous system stuck on high alert. The power of changing your environment: How something as simple as moving your workspace can shift your identity, energy, and capacity to think clearly. Who transformative travel is really for: Why women navigating divorce, widowhood, and empty nesting are drawn to this kind of intentional reset. Aligning money with meaning: Why investing in your own well-being is a financial decision, not just an emotional one. One small step you can take this week: A simple, low-cost way to start breaking old patterns without booking a flight. The takeaway? You don't have to overhaul your life to start feeling like yourself again — sometimes it starts with one small, intentional change. Chapters: 0:00 - Welcome & meet Janet Diaz 1:30 - From IT leadership to a life-changing pivot 4:34 - Growing up with a hypervigilant nervous system 8:17 - When the body keeps score: autoimmune disorders as a wake-up call 11:12 - Realizing success wasn't the same as wellbeing 16:10 - The power of changing your environment 20:22 - Who Soul Craft Journeys serves: divorce, widowhood, empty nesting 23:26 - Why travel resets the nervous system 27:32 - Inside a journey: grounding, releasing, reconnecting, rising 32:20 - Aligning your money with your well-being 35:41 - One small step to start this week 38:07 - How to connect with Janet 👋 If this episode resonated with you, give it a like, drop a comment about what stuck with you most, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Her Wealth: Unscripted. 📖 For more on aligning your money with your life, visit the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #NervousSystemHealing #WomenInTransition #HerWealthUnscripted

    Stuck in Survival Mode? Janet Diaz on Healing Your Nervous System and Reclaiming Rest

  8. Aug 12

    Before the Numbers: What Do You Really Want Your Money to Do for You?

    Most financial decisions get boiled down to one question: can I afford it or not? But that framing misses the real conversation — the one about values, trade-offs, and what you actually want your life to look like. Have you ever wondered… Why the "right" financial answer never feels as clear-cut as it should? Why you and your partner can look at the same bank account and feel completely different things? What it would look like to make money decisions from clarity instead of fear? In this episode, Susan and Sara pull back the curtain on the exercise that sits at the heart of their entire planning process — and why they never start a client relationship by talking about investments. It's a conversation about getting honest with yourself before you get strategic with your money. In this episode, we cover: Why financial decisions are rarely about affordability — how values, life outlook, and unspoken fears shape every "can I afford this" question. The values exercise that comes before any investment talk — narrowing 50 values down to your top five to find what truly matters. Ranking importance vs. satisfaction — how spotting the gap between the two reveals where your money and your life are out of sync. What your spending or saving style says about you — and why neither one needs to come with shame. The financial purpose statement — a real, written document (not a quiz you forget about) that becomes your guide through big decisions. Why this isn't a one-time exercise — how values shift over time and why revisiting them keeps your money aligned with your life. At the end of the day, the numbers are a tool — not the destination. Get clear on your financial purpose, and the numbers start working for the life you actually want. Chapters 0:00 - Why financial decisions feel so hard 1:22 - There's no single "right" answer 3:21 - Why we don't start with investments 4:10 - The values exercise: ranking what matters most 6:49 - What your spending or saving style reveals 8:34 - Creating a financial purpose statement 13:56 - Why values change — and why you have to revisit them 18:00 - Where to start if you're doing this on your own 👋 If this episode gave you a new way to think about your money, give it a like, drop a comment with your top value, and subscribe so you don't miss what's next. 📖 Want more? Head to the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. #FinancialPurpose #ValuesBasedPlanning #HerWealthUnscripted

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About

Welcome to Her Wealth: Unscripted — real conversations about money, life, and the moments that change everything. Hosted by the women of Sorelle Wealth Partners, Susan Jones and Sara Gelsheimer, this podcast is for women navigating life’s transitions: divorce, widowhood, retirement, business ownership, caregiving, and second acts. We talk about the financial decisions that come with real life — with honesty and compassion. No jargon. No scripts. Just steady guidance to help you align your wealth with what matters most. Because it’s more than numbers — it’s the life they make possible. Subscribe for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

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  • Creator
    Produced by PodTechs
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Produced by PodTechs
  • Show Website
    Her Wealth: Unscripted

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