Money Dates

Natalie Slagle and Dan Slagle

Money can be one of the most powerful tools in your household — when you know how to talk about it. Money Dates is hosted by a pair of married financial planners who have spent years in their professional and personal lives perfecting this very topic. Natalie and Dan have witnessed the benefits of having open, honest conversations about money. Each episode, they share personal stories, practical financial advice, and mindset shifts that help you grow wealth and confidence —together. Whether you're navigating joint finances or dreaming up big financial goals, these are the money dates that matter.

  1. MAR 19

    If I Die Tomorrow, What Happens to Our Finances?

    "Perfection gets in the way of good. If we're reaching for perfection, then we'll miss the opportunity to make a good decision and inevitably make no decision, which will be poor." Death is the conversation most couples never have. Not because they don't care, but because they're too busy living. Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, sit with that discomfort in today’s conversation, walking through what the financial situation would actually look like if one of them were gone tomorrow. Using Natalie as the hypothetical (because she doesn't mind talking about death) they trace the real, practical consequences when one of them passes away: business income suddenly cut in half, childcare costs ballooning without a second set of hands, and a $2 million life insurance payout that sounds like a lot until you realize it doesn't come close to replacing a lifetime of earnings. Then there’s the seemingly small yet deadly stuff. Dan couldn't log into their own bank account for a month because two-factor authentication defaulted to Natalie's phone. It took a gentle cornering in the breakfast nook to finally fix it. That's the kind of friction that's an annoyance when your spouse is alive and a genuine problem when they're not. Guardianship is another obvious consideration. Who raises your child if you both go at once? Who manages the money? Those don't have to be the same person. The weight of that decision is exactly what has stalled their own estate plan update since 2020. You and your spouse can never achieve perfection, but you both need to make a good enough decision now. Because no decision, as Natalie puts it, is the worst decision of all. Key Topics: Why Couples Avoid This Conversation (08:16)What Happens Financially if a Spouse Passes Away Tomorrow (15:38)Stock Compensation, Business Ownership, and What Stops Coming In (17:33)A Real-Life Example of Being Financially Unprepared for Loss (21:51)How Having a Child Changes Everything (24:39)Guardianship: Who Raises Your Child, Who Manages Their Money (26:45)The Password Problem: Small Logistical Gaps That Become Big Problems (29:39)The True Cost of Unpaid Labor When a Spouse Is Gone (34:02)The Three Estate Documents Every Couple Needs (38:20) Resources Mentioned: NYT Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/your-money/taxes/couples-taxes-mistakes.htmlRecommended Listen: Money Dates Episode 12: Estate Planning Essentials: Wills, Trusts, and Avoiding Probate: https://www.fyoozfinancial.com/podcasts/estate-planning-essentials-wills-trusts-and-avoiding-probate Schedule a Free Consultation: Go to https://www.fyoozfinancial.com and click the button in the upper right-hand corner Join our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest financial resources: https://www.fyoozfinancial.com/signup Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning https://www.fyoozfinancial.com/ — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit https://www.fyoozfinancial.com/

    43 min

  2. MAR 5

    Life After the Accumulation Phase with Guests Theresa + Rob

    "If I was giving myself advice that I didn't follow, it would be to take more vacation... Can't get those days back. We're making up for lost time." What does it look like when two high-achieving lawyers, each starting over after a first marriage, blend their families and build a genuinely thoughtful financial life together? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, sit down with guests, Theresa and Rob, to answer just that and share the lessons they’ve learned along the way! The pair attended the same law school, ran the same trails, and frequented the same coffee shop without ever meeting. It took Match.com to introduce them… ten years later. From the start, they were aligned where it counted. They were family-first, not flashy, and clear on what money was actually for. That clarity shaped how they raised their three kids. For instance, they built financial literacy from the ground up. They prepared vacation spending envelopes when the kids were little, then a full monthly budget exercise starting in ninth grade! Living in Pasadena meant navigating serious cost-of-living pressure. Their answer was to earn accordingly, spend deliberately, and stay the course when markets got rough. That discipline mattered most when the Eaton Fire broke out in January 2025 and swept through their neighborhood. Their house survived with smoke and ash damage, but the insurance battle and weeks of itemizing possessions demanded exactly the time and legal fluency that retirement made possible. Now in the distribution phase, Rob and Theresa admit the shift from saving to spending is psychologically harder than the numbers suggest. Learning to actually spend is a muscle they're still building! Theresa swears by living “a little below your means.” Don't inflate your lifestyle every time income rises. Rob adds, “Take more vacations.” The work, he promises, will survive without you. Key Topics: Raising a Blended Family (04:11)Teaching Kids About Money (08:29)Making It Work in California (20:24)Navigating Financial Hardship: The 2008 Crash and Staying the Course (22:55)Surviving the Eaton Fire: What Insurance Really Looks Like After a Disaster (24:52)The Retirement Shift: From Accumulating to Actually Spending (31:47)Legacy, Giving to Kids, and Not Spoiling Them (36:00)One Piece of Advice for Your Younger Self (39:20) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    43 min

  3. FEB 19

    Funding the Life You Want with Guests Becky + AJ

    "Give yourself a North Star to where you want to be in your finances and make sure that that's where your money goes." What does it actually look like when two self-employed people build a financial life together from scratch, with no safety net, no employer benefits, and two kids in tow? AJ and Becky sat down with Dan and Natalie to answer that question with radical honesty! Their story begins with $50 in savings and a contractor opportunity that changed everything. AJ saw social media's business potential before almost anyone else, which opened a door to earning more in 20 hours than he had in 40. That first taste of financial breathing room set the tone for everything that followed. From that foothold, Becky became the family's financial architect: spreadsheets, discipline, and a strategic eye on the full calendar year. Meanwhile, AJ described himself as genetically incapable of spreadsheets but utterly passionate about every client he serves. Their complementary strengths turned out to be a superpower. One of their most powerful moves came on their honeymoon, when Becky and AJ wrote down their shared financial values (home, children, hospitality, travel, generosity) in a little notebook. Fifteen years later, those values still guide every major spending decision, revisited each anniversary. Health insurance deserves its own chapter. As Rochester, Minnesota residents near Mayo Clinic, they pay a premium that would send most people back to a W2. Their response was to make entrepreneurship non-negotiable, and budget accordingly. That includes driving a paid-off 2007 Jeep and rolling medical debt at 0% interest rather than surrendering their freedom. Now, in what AJ calls their "return era" (inspired by Denzel Washington's "first you learn, then you earn, then you return"), they're mentoring the next generation of contractors and giving back to the community that shaped them! Key Topics: AJ and Becky’s Foray Into Self-Employment (02:09)How Contractor Work Changed Everything (07:23)Navigating Health Insurance Without an Employer (13:30)Spending to Your Values (21:31)Managing Inconsistent Income as a Dual Self-Employed Household (26:06)Investing in Their Kids' Passions (28:35)Business Finance 101: Staffing, Scaling, and the Contractor Collective Model (35:25)The "Learn, Earn, Return" Era: Mentoring the Next Generation (40:09)What's Working and What's Still Challenging (41:02) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    50 min

  4. FEB 5

    How to Structure Your Monthly Money Check In

    “We want money to be a tool and reason why couples stay together, not why they break apart.” Talking about money with your partner every single month sounds like a chore. And it can be if you and your spouse go into it unprepared. That’s why our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, built a framework to make it less painful! First, start with feelings before figures. Ask your partner how they're feeling about money right now, whether anything financial has been causing stress, and what they're proud of. These aren't warm-up questions. They're the whole point. Couples sitting down to review the same income and expenses can walk away with completely different emotional experiences of that reality. From there, move into the numbers: income changes, expense surprises, subscriptions that deserve a second look. But the key is to focus on patterns rather than purchases. Dan and Natalie learned this firsthand when their miscellaneous spending category quietly ballooned (mostly Amazon orders) until the category-level view made the trend impossible to ignore. In other words, zooming out turned a potential blame game into a values conversation! For the Slagles, adaptability matters more than perfection. They embrace David Attenborough’s quote, "to adapt is to live," as their own. For instance, if a goal no longer excites you, don’t look at that as failure, but as growth. As a rule of thumb, couples should ask themselves these two questions. Did anything feel unfair or unbalanced this month? And what's one small win we can aim for next? Key Topics: Why Monthly Money Check-Ins? (06:40)The First Rule: Start With Cash Flow, Not a Budget Interrogation (10:25)Why These Three Questions Set the Tone (14:55)Reviewing the Numbers: Income and Expenses (16:34)Did Anything Surprise Us Financially? (24:41)Identifying Spending Patterns vs. Policing Purchases (27:26)Checking In on Short- and Long-Term Goals (31:07)"To Adapt Is to Live": When Goals Need to Change (34:21)Did Anything Feel Unfair or Unbalanced? (36:24)Looking Ahead: Preparing for the Next 30 Days (40:49) Resources: MONTHLY MONEY CHECK-IN Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    50 min

  5. JAN 22

    Why We Decided Not to Buy a Home

    “It’s one thing to talk about the numbers. It’s another thing to actually look at the homes that you’re purchasing for that price point.” What happens when financial planners face their own home-buying crossroads? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, pull back the curtain on their decision to walk away from homeownership despite having the pre-approval, down payment, and professional know-how to make it happen. Their landlords planned to sell by June 2026, later moved up to March. The Slagles targeted a monthly mortgage of 20% of household income. But reality hit hard. Nearly million-dollar homes came with unfinished basements, century-old infrastructure, and compromised locations. Dan openly admits his MTV Cribs-era expectations didn't match Portland's housing market. Also, the competition at their price point contradicted everything they'd read about soft housing markets. The Slagles aren't anti-homeownership. Dan candidly envisioned an 18-year family home followed by downsizing near their daughter's future city. But prioritizing flexibility, financial breathing room, and intentional resource allocation won over societal expectations and professional optics. Sometimes the wisest financial decision is recognizing when the timing simply isn't right. Key Topics: Getting Pre-Approved: The Numbers (09:31)What Home Ownership Meant Emotionally (12:27)Dan’s MTV Cribs Disillusionment (19:02)Rent vs. Buy Analysis (23:58)What Renting Freed Up Financially (27:08)Non-Negotiables: Location Over Square Footage (31:46)The Turning Point: Disappointing the Realtors (33:35)Final Decision and Looking Forward (38:38) Resources: Homeownership vs. Renting: The Good, the Band, and the Budget (episode) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    41 min

  6. JAN 9

    Intentional Money Goals: What’s Worth Aiming for in 2026

    “Your goals should reflect your own capacity to hit those goals and not comparison to the rest of the world.” What makes a financial goal stick? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle the psychology behind why most New Year's resolutions fail by January's second Friday, dubbed "Quitter's Day" by fitness app Strava! The usual culprits are vague aspirations, borrowed goals from social media, too many competing priorities, and zero actionable systems. But rather than willpower, the solution is intentionality. The Slagles introduce three essential filters for goal-setting. First, the values filter asks what matters most right now. Dan chooses flexibility around their upcoming home purchase and family time, while Natalie boldly prioritizes self-care, acknowledging that taking care of herself enables her to show up better in every other role. Second, the season of life filter puts your current life circumstances in context. Are you a new parent with daycare costs? Recovering from burnout? Building a business? Your capacity differs wildly depending on these circumstances. Natalie shares her struggle with wanting to max out both 401(k)s ($24,500 each, totaling $49,000 annually for 2026) while acknowledging that their current expensive life stage simply doesn't support that goal. Third, the numbers filter grounds goals in actual cash flow, income, expenses, and reserves. Beyond these filters, realistic goals share six characteristics: specific amounts, time-bound deadlines, cash flow support, behavior-based actions (not just outcomes), emotional tolerability, and acknowledged trade-offs. That last one matters. Naming what you're not doing prevents November disappointment! The Slagles recommend one primary goal supported by complementary goals and maintenance goals. For example, building cash savings from $50,000 to $100,000 (primary), while pausing extra investing and cutting expenses (supporting), yet maintaining current retirement contributions (maintenance). Partners should separately answer: "What would make me feel more secure by December 2026?" Then compare notes and create one shared goal together, keeping it simple, transparent, and actionable. Key Topics: Why Goals Fail: Quitter’s Day Explained (04:18)Why January 1st Is Too Late (07:01)Filter #1: Values (08:29)Dan’s Goal-Setting Success System (09:21)Filter #2: Season-of-Life Reality Check (15:40)Natalie’s 401(k) Comparison Trap (18:23)Filter #3: The Numbers Don’t Lie (19:21)Six Characteristics of Realistic Financial Goals (20:59)Primary, Supporting, and Maintenance Goal Framework (25:56)Couple’s Exercise: Questions to Start the Conversation (28:19) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    34 min

  7. 12/25/2025

    Highs, Lows & Hard Lessons: Our Personal Finance Year Unfiltered

    “I feel like the goal today is really just to normalize what we've learned throughout the year, normalize financial mistakes, and also financial growth.” What does financial transparency really look like? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, open their books (literally!) to share the unfiltered reality of their 2025 financial journey. The highs were high. Their financial planning practice achieved 107% of its revenue goal, enabling them to provide meaningful employment while maintaining their own financial security. Personally, they saved $54,000 across retirement accounts, a 529 plan, and brokerage investments. Most significantly, they saved enough for a home down payment ($140,000) but chose to press pause and continue renting. Not only did this give the Slagles financial flexibility, but also peace of mind. But transparency means sharing the lows too. Dan regrets spending over $500 between two pairs of marathon shoes after second-guessing his original purchase. Natalie confesses to falling down the Amazon rabbit hole during maternity leave. Their recycling bin, now nearly empty after cutting Amazon for just one month, serves as a surprising "lagging indicator" of improved spending habits. Emergency expenses stung hardest, like Dan's $3,000 root canal redo, plus several other four-figure surprises. Through it all, they embraced the power of regular financial check-ins as a couple. They’ve learned to give themselves grace during expensive life stages (like $2,000 monthly childcare), and not lose sight of long-term wins while managing short-term stress. Looking ahead to 2026, Natalie wants to build a more confident money mindset and increase charitable giving, while Dan aims to focus less on daily cash flow anxiety and more on the bigger financial picture that’s at work behind the scenes. Key Topics Setting Up 2025's Financial Recap (05:03)Business Revenue (08:37)Personal Savings (13:16)The Home Purchase Decision and Financial Calm (14:49)Regrettable Purchases (17:16)Emergency Expenses That Hurt (24:20)The Down Payment That Wasn't: $140,000 in Perspective (26:48)Hard Lessons: The Need for Regular Check-Ins (30:39)2026 Goals: Mindset and Charitable Giving (33:49) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    39 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Why High-Income Households Still Struggle to Donate

    "There’s just this guilt that comes along with [not giving away wealth].” Why do successful professionals earning $300,000+ struggle to give charitably? Our hosts, Natalie and Dan Slagle, tackle this uncomfortable reality by drawing from their own experiences. So what are the usual barriers? The Slagles break it down by practical and psychological. Lifestyle creep consumes income through fixed expenses like childcare and mortgages, creating a scarcity mindset even at high earnings. High earners compare themselves to those making $60,000 donations and question whether their $100 monthly contribution matters. Analysis paralysis sets in when considering tax strategies like donor-advised funds versus simple cash gifts. Perhaps most paralyzing is uncertainty about choosing the "right" charity that aligns with values and uses funds effectively. Natalie admires faith-based clients who tithe 10% as a non-negotiable expense, treating charitable giving like rent: essential and automatic! They discuss practical frameworks like starting with 1% of income ($3,000 annually for someone earning $300,000) or setting fixed dollar goals spread across multiple organizations. The mechanics matter less than just starting. Options range from simple cash donations to appreciated stock transfers that avoid capital gains taxes, or donor-advised funds that provide immediate tax deductions while allowing time to choose recipients. For 2025, many will itemize deductions due to increased SALT limits, making charitable contributions tax-advantaged. Dan's personal connection (running the Chicago Marathon for the American Cancer Society after losing his mother) shows how giving becomes meaningful when aligned with values. The most important thing is to treat charitable giving as reflecting family values, not losing money. Start small, notice the feelings, and build from there! Key Topics: Why Giving Feels Hard Despite High Income (02:14)Lifestyle Creep and Scarcity Mindset (03:37)Fear of Doing It Wrong (06:58)Donor-Advised Funds as a Solution (07:43)Learning from Those Who Tithe (15:15)Percentage vs. Fixed Dollar Approaches (16:18)Mechanics: Cash, Appreciated Stock, and RMDs (18:32)Breaking Down Donor-Advised Funds (21:55)Tax Benefits of Charitable Giving (27:17)Shifting Mindset from Loss to Values (31:44)Dan's Marathon Fundraising Story (34:05) Natalie Slagle, CFP® and Dan Slagle, CFP® are the founding partners and lead financial planners at Fyooz Financial Planning — an independent firm dedicated to helping high-earning couples in their 30s and 40s confidently navigate the complexities of managing money together. At Fyooz, they specialize in turning financial stress into strategy, guiding couples through everything from cash flow and investing to aligning money with shared goals. Disclaimer: For updated disclosures, please visit fyoozfinancial.com.

    39 min
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About

Money can be one of the most powerful tools in your household — when you know how to talk about it. Money Dates is hosted by a pair of married financial planners who have spent years in their professional and personal lives perfecting this very topic. Natalie and Dan have witnessed the benefits of having open, honest conversations about money. Each episode, they share personal stories, practical financial advice, and mindset shifts that help you grow wealth and confidence —together. Whether you're navigating joint finances or dreaming up big financial goals, these are the money dates that matter.

Information

  • Creator
    Natalie Slagle and Dan Slagle
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Fyooz Financial Planning
  • Show Website
    Money Dates

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