Financial Wellness at Work

Financial Finesse
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Financial Finesse Financial Coaches work with people from all walks of life and have literally seen it all! They’ve supported employees and participants (and their families) through debt, cash flow, and credit challenges, buying homes, growing their families, marriages and divorces, retirement planning, and more.  Financial stress doesn’t exist in a silo – it influences everything, including mental and physical health, relationships, and productivity. We’ll dig into it all.

  1. New Rules for Your Money: Everything You Need to Know About OBBBA

    JAN 28

    New Rules for Your Money: Everything You Need to Know About OBBBA

    The passing of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has brought about a lot of changes for employees, and it’s important to discuss these things as we head into 2026. Joining us to tell you what you need to know about OBBBA are Financial Finesse coaches, Dan Andrews and Stephanie Thomas. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the new ‘no tax on overtime’ rule, how that will affect an employee’s tax refund, and what the increase in the new standard deduction means for employees. We discuss the increase in the SALT (State and Local Taxes) deduction before talking about how employees should handle the temporary phase-out perk. Finally, we touch on refundable tax credits. Thanks for listening!  Key Points From This Episode: What the new ‘no tax on overtime’ rule means for employees. A little bit about the new standard deductions. Touching on the increase in the SALT deduction. Why it is important to be aware that the phase-out perk will end. The child tax credit changes and what the refundable tax credit means.  Quotes: “Not every financial planner says this, [but you want to] have a little bit [of money] for fun. Because, you know, money is a tool to enjoy your life.” — Dan Andrews [0:05:21] “There’s actually a new bonus, it’s an additional deduction of $6,000, for seniors who are aged 65 and older – on top of that standard deduction.” — Stephanie Thomas [0:08:58] “With this new bump up of the state and local taxes going from $10,000 to $40,000 of the capped limit, a lot more people are going to start looking into itemizing their deductions.” — Dan Andrews [0:11:27] “A refundable [tax] credit can actually be money back in your pocket.” — Stephanie Thomas [0:15:04] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dan Andrews on LinkedIn Stephanie Thomas on LinkedIn One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    16 min
  2. Cracking the Benefits Code: Lessons from the EBRI Symposium

    JAN 15

    Cracking the Benefits Code: Lessons from the EBRI Symposium

    Welcome to season five of Financial Wellness at Work! In this episode, we welcome our very own Think Tank director, Greg Ward, and financial coach, Scott Stark, to discuss their takeaways from the EBRI (Employee Benefit Research Institute) Symposium as we head into a new year. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about why this event is so beneficial, what was discussed at the HSA roundtable, how the day started by touching on the affordability issue, and so much more. We delve into what stood out to Scott and Greg from the discussions before touching on the power of efficient education and leveraging technology appropriately. We even talk about what a private letter ruling is! Finally, Greg and Scott talk about how offering employees a choice on how their money is spent improves their benefit satisfaction massively. To hear all this and more, be sure to press play now, and stay tuned for more episodes where we will unpack more about the benefits code!  Key Points From This Episode: Why the EBRI Symposium is such an amazing and beneficial event. One of the main challenges the industry faces: affordability and retirement saving. What stood out from the event and the importance of auditing as a benefit manager. The importance of education to improve the financial health of the American worker. How technology can help us integrate benefits and provide a personalized experience. The power of offering employees a choice on how money is spent.  Quotes: “The affordability issue is going to compete with the ability to save for retirement so if you’re not doing both when you’re younger, – it’s hard to catch up when you’re older.” — Greg Ward [0:05:03] “There are several things that are needed to improve the financial health of the American worker [and] the first is just the education itself.” — Greg Ward [0:10:06] “All this choice and all these other efforts that employers are making to support their employees – need some support.” — Scott Stark [0:14:15] “One in three people [who] have an HSA know little to nothing about it.” — Scott Stark [0:14:27] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Scott Stark on LinkedIn Greg Ward on LinkedIn EBRI Symposium Think Tank Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    17 min
  3. Data Deep Dive: How Employees Are Really Managing Money

    12/09/2025

    Data Deep Dive: How Employees Are Really Managing Money

    High inflation may have eased, but many employees are now facing the debt that built up while their budgets were stretched thin. In this episode of Financial Wellness at Work, Julie Everett talks with Scott Stark, CFP, Senior Financial Planner and Financial Wellness Think Tank researcher at Financial Finesse, about the financial patterns that defined 2025. Scott shares how employers have stepped up with creative programs that support workers navigating lingering financial pressure. He and Julie walk through new Think Tank findings, including debt now surpassing money management as the top coaching topic, the strong connection between overwhelming financial stress and credit report errors, and how a clear debt strategy can save years and thousands of dollars. They also unpack insights on tracking habits and why spreadsheets, though common, often add stress instead of reducing it. The episode ends with simple steps employees can use to lower stress and build momentum. Tune in to hear the data and learn how small changes can create meaningful financial progress! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing guest Scott Stark, CFP, and Financial Wellness Think Tank researcher.Looking back on the shifts in financial coaching conversations throughout 2025.How employers launched innovative programs to support employees’ financial needs.Why “debt” is overtaking “money management” as the top topic on the coaching line.Reflections on why higher financial stress leads to more errors on credit reports.Actions employees can take to check and correct inaccuracies in their reports.How a focused payoff plan can save years and significant interest costs.What the data shows about stressed employees relying heavily on spreadsheets.Why simpler tracking systems often reduce stress more effectively than spreadsheets.Practical steps to help employees create quick wins and maintain financial momentum. Quotes: “During that time [of high inflation], people probably had to turn to debt a lot just to get through, and now dealing with that debt is front and center. So debt conversations have surpassed those money management conversations [in frequency].” — Scott Stark [0:03:38] “This is an opportunity for some quick wins. There are a lot of things about getting out of debt that are not fun and long-term and can be a real grind, but bumping up your credit score can really be a nice boost.” — Scott Stark [0:05:52] “If you have to sign into a spreadsheet every day or week or even month, that's a lot of work. It’s a tough thing to stick to.” — Scott Stark [0:11:19] “The option that is the most correlated with lowering your financial stress is more of an informal tracking system.” — Scott Stark [0:11:43] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Scott Stark on LinkedIn Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    15 min
  4. How to Have a Happy (Budget-Friendly) Holiday Season

    11/11/2025

    How to Have a Happy (Budget-Friendly) Holiday Season

    The holidays can be an overwhelming time financially, and today on Financial Wellness at Work, we are joined by financial services expert, Kaitlin Vangura, to discuss how you can spend smart this season so that you can be present with your family and focus on what really matters! Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Kaitlin’s approach to the holidays, how she manages budgeting without becoming a ‘grinch’, how (and when) to plan financially for this time of year, how you can make some extra cash over the holidays, and so much more! We delve into how to make gift-giving more intentional and less financially burdensome before discussing why Kaitlin doesn’t like Black Friday. We even discuss how you can avoid last-minute shopping pressure during the holidays. Finally, our guest shares some invaluable advice about letting go of perfection during the holidays. Thanks for listening in! Key Points From This Episode: Introducing today’s guest, Kaitlin Vangura. Why the holidays always sneak up on us financially. How (and when) we plan for the holidays by budgeting. Some tips for making some extra cash for the holidays. Why she loves Secret Santa and her thoughts on Black Friday.How to avoid getting sucked into last-minute shopping chaos.What to do in January if you overspend over the holidays.Kaitlin shares some advice for her former ‘grinch-like’ self.  Quotes: “I think drawing boundaries is a really good thing to do, especially if the idea of trying to get gifts for everyone is very stressful.” — Kaitlin Vangura [0:14:11] “Keeping your eyes and ears open throughout the year, I think, is a much better strategy than trying to just go all in on the Black Friday sales.” — Kaitlin Vangura [0:17:04] “Stop putting so much pressure on [yourself] to make [the holidays] perfect. It doesn’t have to be perfect!” — Kaitlin Vangura [0:28:08] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Kaitlin Vangura on LinkedIn Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    31 min
  5. My Two Paths- Health and Wealth

    10/14/2025

    My Two Paths- Health and Wealth

    We all know that financial stress can impact your health, but we often don’t consider how your health may impact your finances. Today, we are discussing the financial toll of living with a chronic health condition with employee, Alexis Lopez, and financial coach, Becca Wilton. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about Alexis’ health journey, endometriosis diagnosis, the unexpected expenses that come with the disease, and how her relationship with her finances has changed since then. We dive into some of the tools Becca gave Alexis and how they helped her become financially healthy before our guests share some advice for anyone diagnosed with a chronic illness. Finally, you’ll be reminded of the importance of advocating for your financial health. Thanks for listening in!  Key Points From This Episode: Introducing our guest, Alexis Lopez, and welcoming Becca Wilton back to the show.Becca tells us how often medical expenses come up when discussing finances. Alexis shares her story and her endometriosis diagnosis.How her perspective on money has changed since her diagnosis.Becca shares what she remembers from her first chat with Alexis. Some suggestions Becca gave Alexis and how they helped her. Alexis tells us about some unexpected expenses of having endometriosis. Personal and financial advice for someone who’s been diagnosed with a chronic illness. What financial stability looks like for Alexis going forward.Becca touches on what she learned from her time with Alexis.The importance of advocating for your own financial health.  Quotes: “I had to provide 15 years of documentation before I was even allowed to be considered for an endometriosis diagnosis.” — Alexis Lopez [0:04:35] “Financial coaches are not necessarily sharks in the water.” — Alexis Lopez [0:07:21] “Money can be nurturing, money can be empowering, and can also lift me up.” — Alexis Lopez [0:08:22] “[Financial coaches] talk to so many different people from different walks of life, so we can really help you think through some of those ways and things that you might need to advocate for.” — Becca Wilton [0:36:53] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    40 min
  6. Your Money Journey, Backed by Unbiased Guidance

    09/09/2025

    Your Money Journey, Backed by Unbiased Guidance

    What happens when you stop Googling financial advice and start talking to a real coach? In this episode of Financial Wellness at Work, host Julie Everett sits down with Megan, a healthcare professional who shares how financial coaching helped her move from uncertainty to confidence in her money decisions. Megan discusses her initial hesitation, the relief of discovering she was not “so far off” in her financial planning, and the ways her coach improved her investment strategies. Together, Julie and Megan explore the connection between financial health and overall well-being, the importance of starting early, and why everyone deserves a trusted partner in their financial journey. Tune in now! Key Points From This Episode: Discover why financial health is an essential part of overall well-being.Megan’s experience of managing money without guidance or coaching.Find out what made her nervous before her first coaching session.Hear about the moment that validated her financial decisions.Find out why she regrets not working with a financial coach earlier. How coaching gave her confidence and ideas for new investment strategies.Uncover her biggest money win since she started financial coaching.Takeaway advice on how to begin your financial wellness journey. Quotes: “The greatest joy in my life is to know that something that I have done has improved the circle of somebody else.” — Julie Everett [0:01:08] “Just like everyone should have a primary care doctor, I truly feel everyone should have a financial coach.” — Megan [0:06:24] “The biggest win is the different ways that [my financial coach] said that I could be investing that would be most beneficial for me.” — Megan [0:07:39] “If anyone is thinking about making any life decision that would impact your finances in the future, talk to someone, talk to [Financial Finesse].” — Megan [0:09:50] Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse Email Financial Finesse

    14 min
  7. Money Interrupted: Real Talk on Bouncing Back

    08/12/2025

    Money Interrupted: Real Talk on Bouncing Back

    Financial curveballs can often affect our physical well-being, but how can we learn and grow from the unexpected twists and turns that few of us are prepared for? Today’s guest experienced a sudden financial shock that forced her and her family to think fast, adapt, and make some tough decisions. She joins us today to share her story of resilience, resourcefulness, and the emotional side of money that is often overlooked. Rebecca, a Compensation and Benefits Manager and avid money saver, begins our conversation by explaining how financial wellness affects physical wellness. Then, we unpack lifestyle creep as a camouflaged concern, how to understand your needs and cut back wherever necessary, how Rebecca’s upbringing informed her astute money habits, and how to find financial help for your particular needs. To end, our guest shares more about her family’s financial recovery, why having oversight over your finances is non-negotiable, and words of hope for the future of financial coaching. To learn how to bounce back and reclaim financial health, press play now!    Key points from this episode: Rebecca explains how financial wellness affects physical wellness.How Rebecca assesses her money and savings habits before her household’s big financial loss.Lifestyle creep, understanding your needs, and learning how to trim and cut back.How Rebecca keeps track of her finances, and how she became money-savvy. The dangers of not doing what you know you should be doing, and how to find financial help.  Rebecca’s thoughts on Financial Finesse.Understanding how long Rebecca and her family have felt the effects of her husband losing his job. The importance of having complete oversight over your finances. Rebecca’s parting words of advice and hope about the world of financial coaching.  Quotes: “We had always been very particular about our home; could we afford our home on one income? If we couldn’t afford our home on one income, we couldn’t afford our home. We never wanted to become house poor.” — Rebecca [5:09] “I don’t collect things. I don’t like to collect things in my home. I also don’t like to collect things in my checkbook.” — Rebecca [5:26] “I can’t be so afraid of what I’m going to find that I don’t look at it, because I could inevitably make it worse by not choosing to look at it.” — Rebecca [10:40] “I learned how to be resourceful because [my parents] were resourceful. I remember all the things they did trying to make the money go as far as it could.” — Rebecca [15:25] “We need to be prepared because bad things can happen. They can happen at any time, and even when you’re doing all the things right.” — Rebecca [16:23] “You can make it through hard times when you sit down and think about it and put together a plan. It’s when you’re willing to face it that you can do those things.” — Rebecca [27:17] “When you don’t have that oversight over your finances, you can really lose touch quickly.” — Julie Everett [29:57] Links mentioned in today’s episode: Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse

    35 min
  8. Beyond the Budget: How Coaching Helped Me Maximize My Money

    07/08/2025

    Beyond the Budget: How Coaching Helped Me Maximize My Money

    You don’t need to love numbers to get good with money — just the right support and some clear guidance. In today’s episode, Financial Finesse coach Julie Everett is joined by Briana Oliver, a technical recruiter at a Fortune 500 company, who opens up about her five-year journey from financial uncertainty to clarity and confidence. Briana reflects on how growing up with a save-every-penny mindset left her unsure of what to do once she had “extra” income, and how financial coaching helped her shift from survival mode to a more intentional, empowered approach. She shares how overwhelming it felt to navigate terms like 401(k) and Roth IRA, especially in a tech culture steeped in financial jargon. Together, she and Julie break down the emotional side of money decisions, the power of simplifying complex goals, and the importance of finding a financial coach who truly gets you. Tune in to hear Briana’s honest, relatable story and discover why small, supported steps can lead to lasting change! Key points from this episode: How Briana’s money script was shaped by a scarcity mindset and a strong habit of saving.The culture shock of entering the tech world and feeling overwhelmed by financial jargon.Why paying off student loans gave her structure, but left her wondering what came next.How Briana’s first coaching session with Julie felt radically human and approachable.The value of breaking down complex goals, like consolidating 401(k)s, into simple steps.Why emotional clarity matters just as much as financial strategy when making big decisions.Lessons from skipping a rushed home purchase and finding the right place on her own terms.How Briana learned to enjoy life today while still planning wisely for tomorrow.The importance of filtering advice, even from well-meaning, financially savvy colleagues.Characteristics to look for in a financial coach and how to make sure you’ve found the right fit.How Briana used her experience to help her cousin take a confident financial step.Parting advice from Briana on how to find a financial coach and transform your money journey. Quotes: “I knew it was important to save, but I didn't really know what I should be doing outside of ‘put your money away’ and, like, ‘don't spend more than you make’, and just ‘save, save, save.’” — Briana Oliver [2:42] “That's what I appreciated about you, and about Financial Finesse, was that there was this very grounded approach, and you spoke to me in language I could understand. It was such a refreshing, inviting experience.” — Briana Oliver [4:21] “One small step at a time can really compound into big changes in the end.” — Briana Oliver [10:56] “My finances need to fit my life, and I need to make my money work for me; it doesn't have to be overly complicated.” — Briana Oliver [15:55] “Keep going until you find someone that clicks, that respects you, that's certified, and that can break your big goals down into small chunks. It doesn't hurt to try it.” — Briana Oliver [31:24] Links mentioned in today’s episode: Briana Oliver on LinkedIn Julie Everett on LinkedIn Financial Finesse

    34 min
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About

Financial Finesse Financial Coaches work with people from all walks of life and have literally seen it all! They’ve supported employees and participants (and their families) through debt, cash flow, and credit challenges, buying homes, growing their families, marriages and divorces, retirement planning, and more.  Financial stress doesn’t exist in a silo – it influences everything, including mental and physical health, relationships, and productivity. We’ll dig into it all.

Information

  • Creator
    Financial Finesse
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Financial Wellness at Work
  • Show Website
    Financial Wellness at Work