Build Wealth

Katie Viola
  • 4.8 (24)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

Take Control of Your Investments—and Your Future. Ever find yourself nodding and smiling in money conversations, thinking “totally, I know exactly what an index fund is…” when you really don’t? Same, girl. I’ve been there. And I’m here to help you go from polite smiles to total confidence. If you’re a high-achieving woman ready to finally feel confident in your money, make smart investing moves, and turn your ambition into freedom, this show is for you! I’m Katie, founder of Build Wealth with Katie. I’ve been investing for 10+ years, and now I work just 3 months a year, have traveled to every continent, and get to stay home with my baby—all thanks to the financial moves I made in my 20s and 30s. Aligning your finances with your big life goals is my JAM! and I’m here to help you do the same. Each week, I break down investing basics, smart strategies, and money mindset, plus the hard stuff women face that no one talks about. You’ll learn how to match your portfolio with your ambition so your money actually works for you—leading to freedom, confidence, and peace of mind. Episodes drop weekly. Grab your free PDF guide and start taking control today at https://www.buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

  1. Sep 22

    50. How Much Should You Be Investing Every Month for the Life You Want?

    ✨ FREE THIS TIME ONLY: ARE YOU ON TRACK? MASTERCLASS You’ve mastered the hard part – earning and investing. The next step is figuring out how much freedom, time, and LIFE it can actually buy you. Could you work less while your kids are little? Buy the house you dream of? Retire earlier? Spend more today without worrying you’re sacrificing your future? In my Are You On Track? Masterclass, I’ll show you how to use YOUR actual numbers + YOUR goals to understand if you’re on track, behind, or even ahead for the life you dream of, and what you need to be investing now to make it happen. 📅 Live on Zoom: September 29 @ 8pm EST 🎟️ + replay available ✨ FREE this time only ✨ Join me! → Save your free seat here! ✨ The goal should never be to shove as much money as possible into Future You’s accounts while Present You is afraid to book the vacation, hire the house cleaner, work less, or buy the house you really want. In this episode, we’re getting into the question every woman who wants to feel in control of her financial future eventually asks: How much should I actually be investing every month? Today, we’re talking: 💸 Why “invest 15–20% of your income” might not be the right answer for you anymore — especially if you’ve already built real wealth.👀 How you could be doing everything “right” financially and still have no idea what all that investing is actually buying you.🍸 Why investing more isn’t always better — and how putting too much toward someday can be making your life today harder than it needs to be.🏡 What changes when your money needs to fund competing goals like a dream house, kids, college, career changes, time off, travel, or an earlier retirement.✨ Three women making good money with solid investment accounts — and why I’d give every single one of them a completely different answer about what they should invest next.💅 The shift that can take you from “Should I be doing more?” to feeling like you actually know what your money is making possible.🥂 And why knowing your number can give you something even better than a bigger portfolio: permission to enjoy more of your money now without screwing over Future You.If you’ve ever increased your 401k, watched the money disappear from your paycheck and thought, “I guess this is responsible?” — this one is for you. Your investments aren’t just numbers on a screen. They’re supposed to fund your LIFE.

  2. Sep 8

    49. My Husband’s Income Covers Half Our Expenses. Why I’m Still Turning Down High-Paying Work.

    If you’re wondering whether you can work less, change careers, buy the house, spend more, or make a big life move without screwing up your financial future, this episode is for you. What happens when the “smart” financial decision… isn’t making more money? For years, I was really good at building wealth: earn more, save more, invest more, watch the net worth go up. Then I had a baby and realized the life I wanted required me to start thinking about money very differently. In this episode, I’m sharing what it’s looked like to step away from being the higher earner, stop aggressively investing, use the financial cushion we built, and wrestle with whether it’s actually okay to use some of our investments to support this season of life. We’re talking about the trade-offs between more money and more time, buying the house sooner versus staying home with my kids longer, and why even a financially sound decision can still feel scary. Because sometimes the question isn’t: “Can I afford it?” It’s: “I can afford it… so why am I still so scared to do it?” ✨ Ready to finally feel confident making the life decisions you actually want without constantly worrying you’re screwing up your financial future? ✨ Book a free 20-minute call to talk it through at https://buildwealthwithkatie.com/privatecoaching.

  3. Sep 1

    48. Would You Take a $70K Pay Cut for a More Aligned Life? Let’s Run the Numbers

    What happens when the life you want starts asking for something different? A lower-paying job. More time with your kids. A move closer to family. A career change. And suddenly you’re wondering: Can I actually afford to choose the life I want without screwing up everything I’ve worked so hard to build? In this episode, we run the numbers for Rachel—a 37-year-old considering a $70K pay cut for a life that feels more aligned with the future she's craving. You’ll see how to think beyond “Is it crazy to turn down $70k?” and actually understand what your investments make possible—so you can weigh the tradeoffs, see your options clearly, and make big life decisions without that nagging fear that you’re ruining your future. We’ll cover: What Rachel’s financial future looks like at $180K vs. $110KWhy doing “everything right” can still leave you afraid to slow downHow to turn your investment balance into real-life options, not just a number on a screenThe question to ask when “more money” and “a better life” start pulling you in different directions Dying to know what options look like with YOUR numbers? That’s exactly what we figure out together in a 1:1 coaching session. We’ll turn your savings and investments into a clear picture of the options available to you—so you can make the big life decisions you actually care about without constantly worrying you’re sacrificing your future. → Learn more about 1:1 Coaching

  4. Aug 18

    47. What to Do If Your 401k Doesn’t Have a Target Date Fund And Why the Best Investment Strategy Is Kinda Boring

    If you’ve ever opened your 401(k), seen only a few investments, and thought… Wait. Is this really enough? Investing has a reputation for being complicated, which can make a simple portfolio feel almost too simple. Shouldn’t you own more funds? More stocks? More… stuff? In this episode, we’re breaking down what a strong, simple investment portfolio can actually look like — especially if you don’t have a target date fund in your 401(k). You’ll learn: ✨ The 4 things to look for in a strong core portfolio ✨ How just a few funds can give you exposure to thousands of companies ✨ What you might see in your 401(k) if you don’t have a target date fund ✨ Why owning more funds doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more diversified ✨ What to look for so you understand what you own, why you own it, and what you actually need to do next The goal isn’t to build the fanciest-looking portfolio. It’s to be able to open your investment account and think: I know what I own. I know why I own it. And I feel confident leaving my money here for the long haul. If you’ve been investing for years but still have that nagging feeling of “I hope I’m doing this right,” my 90-Minute Money Session is designed to help you finally answer that. We’ll look at your investments alongside the life you’re trying to build, so you can leave knowing: ✨ What you’re already doing right ✨ What, if anything, needs to change ✨ Whether your investments are actually supporting your goals ✨ Exactly what your next steps are Book your 90-Minute Money Session at buildwealthwithkatie.com/supportsession

  5. Aug 11

    46. How to Tell If You’re Investing in Your 401k the Right Way

    You’ve been contributing to your 401(k) for years. You know that’s what you’re supposed to do. But if someone asked you what you’re actually invested in, how much you’re paying in fees, or whether your investments make sense for your goals… would you know? If the answer is “not really,” you’re definitely not alone. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what I would look at inside your 401(k) to figure out whether you’re actually investing the way you think you are — without needing to become an investing expert. We’ll talk about: ✨ How to make sure your money is actually invested (yes, it’s possible to contribute for YEARS and still have money sitting in cash) ✨ What you’re actually invested in — and how to make sense of all those confusing fund names ✨ The investment fees that could quietly be costing you thousands over time ✨ How to tell whether your investments are geared toward growth or stability ✨ How to know if you’re contributing enough ✨ The simple thing that makes sure your investing keeps happening automatically Blindly contributing to your 401(k) for decades and hoping everything works out isn't a strategy. You don’t need to understand every tiny detail of investing. You just need to understand enough to look at your own money and say, “Yep. I know what I own, why I own it, and I feel good about where I’m going.” Ready to feel totally clear on your investments and what they mean for you? In a 90-Minute Money Clarity & Decision Support Session, we’ll look at your accounts and your goals side by side so you can understand what you own, why you own it, and whether it’s actually helping you get where you want to go. You’ll leave with clarity on what’s working, what you may want to change, and exactly what your next steps are — so you can stop wondering if you’re doing this “right” and feel confident moving forward. 👉 Book your 90-Minute Money Clarity & Decision Support Session

  6. Aug 4

    45. Renting vs. Buying a Home: How to Compare Your Options With Confidence

    Thinking about buying a home but wondering if you should rent or buy? In this episode, you'll learn how to compare renting vs. buying, the hidden costs of homeownership, and why renting can still build wealth. Instead of relying on common advice like "rent is throwing away money," you'll learn how to make the best decision for your finances and your lifestyle. We break down the numbers most people leave out, including: Why a mortgage payment doesn't tell you the true cost of homeownershipThe hidden costs of buyingHow renting can still build long-term wealthWhy "rent is throwing away money" is misleading and wrongThe framework to compare renting and buying based on the true numbers—not someone else's opinion.Whether you're thinking about buying your first home or wondering if renting a little longer is the smarter move, this episode will help you compare your options with confidence. Ready to stop wondering if you're making the right financial decision? In a 90-Minute Money Clarity Session, you'll leave with a personalized roadmap for your finances, so you can move forward with confidence instead of second-guessing every big money decision.Learn more and reserve your session here: Learn More Here

  7. Jul 28

    44. How Much House Can You Really Afford? What the Bank Won't Tell You About Buying A Home

    A bigger mortgage can impact your ability to invest, change careers, travel, start a business, survive a layoff, retire early, or create the lifestyle you actually want. In this episode, I'll walk you through the framework I use to evaluate a home purchase, including the hidden costs most buyers overlook and the tradeoffs that rarely get discussed. In this episode, you'll learn: Why "Can I afford the payment?" is the wrong questionThe true cost of homeownership beyond the mortgageHow much of your take-home pay should go toward housingThe hidden expenses that catch many homeowners off guardHow a house can impact your flexibility, retirement timeline, and future choicesQuestions to ask before buying a homeWhy the bank's approval amount isn't necessarily your budgetHow to determine whether a house supports the life you want to build 💰 Need help making a major financial decision with confidence? In a 90-Minute Money Clarity & Decision Support Session, we'll look at your full financial picture alongside your goals to understand the real tradeoffs of your options and what the numbers actually mean for your life, so you can move forward with total confidence. Book Your Session here: Build Wealth with Katie

  8. Jul 21

    43. The Investment Account You Need for Freedom (And Why Some Millionaires Feel Stuck)

    💬 Ready to get clear on what your money can make possible? My 90-Minute Money Clarity & Decision Support Session is designed to help you understand where you are, what your options are, and how to make confident financial decisions without second-guessing yourself. Learn more at: www.buildwealthwithkatie.com You can have a great income, a growing net worth, and hundreds of thousands of dollars invested...and still feel stuck. Stuck in a job that's draining you. Stuck waiting until retirement to enjoy your life. Stuck feeling like all of your hard work is building a future that always seems decades away. In this episode, we're talking about one of the commonly overlooked ways to build wealth—and how it creates something many women want even more than higher returns: Options. The option to take a career break, start a business, move closer to family, work less, or change your mind when life feels misaligned. I'll share how I started thinking about my investments differently when I realized that what I really wanted wasn't the biggest net worth possible—it was flexibility. We'll talk about: • Why some wealthy people still feel financially trapped • The type of wealth that creates freedom before retirement • How to build more flexibility into your financial life • Why your investments should support your goals—not just your future self • A simple way to evaluate whether your money is helping you create the life you actually want Building wealth isn't just about having more money. It's about having more choices. And sometimes the most valuable investment isn't the one that grows the fastest—it's the one that gives you the freedom to build a life that feels like your own.

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4.8
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About

Take Control of Your Investments—and Your Future. Ever find yourself nodding and smiling in money conversations, thinking “totally, I know exactly what an index fund is…” when you really don’t? Same, girl. I’ve been there. And I’m here to help you go from polite smiles to total confidence. If you’re a high-achieving woman ready to finally feel confident in your money, make smart investing moves, and turn your ambition into freedom, this show is for you! I’m Katie, founder of Build Wealth with Katie. I’ve been investing for 10+ years, and now I work just 3 months a year, have traveled to every continent, and get to stay home with my baby—all thanks to the financial moves I made in my 20s and 30s. Aligning your finances with your big life goals is my JAM! and I’m here to help you do the same. Each week, I break down investing basics, smart strategies, and money mindset, plus the hard stuff women face that no one talks about. You’ll learn how to match your portfolio with your ambition so your money actually works for you—leading to freedom, confidence, and peace of mind. Episodes drop weekly. Grab your free PDF guide and start taking control today at https://www.buildwealthwithkatie.com/investingessentials

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Viola
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Miss Fund Your Freedom, LLC. 2025
  • Show Website
    Build Wealth

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