Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About! Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen
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"We will never solve the feminization of power until we solve the masculinity of wealth." - Gloria Steinem. On this podcast, we're going to call out those ways that women are consistently left behind financially. But most importantly, how women can help themselves. Join hosts Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen as they help you navigate the ins and outs of financial independence so that you can be financially fearless. They'll connect you with helpful resources and compelling stories from women all across the country. Whether it's buying a house, preparing for retirement, dealing with divorce, there won't be a single question off the table. Maggie is a partner and Barbara is the founder of Purse Strings, a two-part model that's all about providing women the tools and resources they need to help them learn and understand what they need to know to make good financial decisions. And they help connect women with attorneys, financial planners, realtors, and many other financial professionals who have the expertise and desire to serve the female market. Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About can be your place for tools, resources, education and a place to ask the important questions on your mind (or even better, the - you know - you aren't talking about). Find out more about Purse Strings by visiting https://pursestrings.co/ and we can't wait to connect with you on the podcast!
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Buying and Selling Businesses: Insights from a Business Broker with Matt Friscia
Matt Friscia is the owner and manager of Transworld Business Advisors of La Grange. With over 1,800 women opening businesses every day in the U.S., we’re excited to dive into the intricacies of buying and selling a business with a seasoned business broker. As a former business owner who worked with Transworld Business Advisors himself, Matt brings a wealth of experience to the table.
In this episode, Matt offers a realistic overview of what it looks like to work with a business broker, demystifying the process for those considering a new venture or looking to sell their business. From funding options and tax considerations to the day-to-day reality of business ownership, we learned so much from his insights.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
How Matt moved from corporate America to pursue a career in business brokerageThe role of a business broker, the diversity of businesses Matt works with + some misconceptions about buying businesses The intricacies of buying businesses, including down payments, seller financing, discretionary earnings and moreThe preparation, listing process, and emotional aspects of selling a business Funding options available for those interested in purchasing a business
Learn more about Matt
Prior to owning his own business, Matt spent 15 years in the media sales industry working with The Disney Company and ESPN. After buying and significantly expanding an in home senior care franchise, Matt successfully sold is business and is now one of the owners of Transworld Business Advisors in La Grange. He and his current team of eight brokers help clients buy, sell, franchise, and valuate businesses. Transworld Business Advisors of La Grange helps to super serve the underserved with businesses under $10M or referred to as “MainStreet” business brokerage. Matt resides in the southwest suburbs of the Chicagoland area with his wife and two children, and volunteers his time with community organizations like the Lemont Park Foundation and the La Grange Business Association. A fun fact about Matt is that he’s a musician that has played professionally for years as a drummer!
Get in touch with Matt
Matt on Purse Strings
https://pursestrings.co/professional/business-advisor/illinois/la-grange/matt-friscia/
Start a conversation with Matt about his services provided in business brokerage
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfriscia/
Transworld Business Advisor
https://www.tworld.com/agent/mattfriscia/bio/
Active Listings
https://www.tworld.com/locations/lagrange/buy-a-business/active-business-listings/
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/ -
The Ins and Outs of Mediation with Brian James
We’re delighted to sit down with Brian James, a seasoned Divorce and Family Mediator based in Chicago with offices across Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin. As the founder and lead mediator at C.E.L. & Associates, Brian brings over two decades of experience to his practice and has dedicated his career to helping families navigate divorce and domestic conflicts.
He’s here today to talk about the mediation process, highlighting its benefits, misconceptions, and how it differs from traditional litigation. Throughout our conversation, he shares some of the unique challenges women might face in divorce, the essential questions they should ask their mediators, and the importance of financial education in navigating divorce with confidence.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
What is mediation and how is it different than hiring an attorney?The typical timeframe for mediation + how Brian works with families to navigate finances during this processThe questions that women should ask when consulting with a mediatorManaging client expectations during the mediation process + avoiding emotional decisions that might lead to regretWhen is it better to work with an attorney? What working with Brian looks like, typical costs of mediation, and Brian’s advice for our listeners
Learn more about Brian
Brian James, a seasoned Divorce and Family Mediator, established C.E.L. and Associates, Inc. in 2005, serving Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin.
Brian holds a B.S. in Sociology from Northern Illinois University (1994) and received Mediation and Conflict Resolution training at Northwestern University.
For a decade, Brian worked in the Criminal Justice System, aiding domestic violence and divorcing families in resolving conflicts and facilitating healing post-life-altering events. His approach to mediation is client-driven. By aiding his clients with the resolution of their divorce issues outside of the courtroom, Brian helps create a win/win situation for all parties in a divorce.
His mediation style not only resolves immediate issues but equips clients with conflict-resolution skills for the future, emphasizing problem-solving, empathy, and informed decision-making.
Brian recently celebrated 27 years of marriage to his wife Cindy. They have two boys, Connor, age 25 forever, and Evan, age 22. Connor and Evan are the C. and E. in C.E.L. & Associates, Inc.
Get in touch with Brian
Brian on Purse Strings
https://pursestrings.co/professional/mediator/illinois/libertyville/brian-james/
C.E.L. & Associates, Inc.
https://www.yourdivorce.org/
Brian on social media
https://www.facebook.com/CELandAssociates
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-james-1336ba2/
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/ -
Understanding Your Money Story with Amy Cook
Amy Cook, MSPFP, MPAS®, CFP®, is the proud founder of Maven Lane Financial Group in San Mateo, CA. She has over 15 years of experience as a financial advisor and is no stranger to the unique financial challenges that women face. We’re so excited to have her in our Purse Strings network and on the show today to share insights from her new book, Your Money Narrative.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Forming beliefs and decisions about money based on your previous experiencesHow gender roles and societal expectations impact these money storiesBreaking free from limiting money narratives by talking about your experiences and challenging your ingrained beliefsHow we can use our money stories to inspire and empower the next generation to be financially savvy and independent Amy’s new book + choices and personal priorities in budgeting
Learn more about Amy
Early in her career, Amy managed a mortgage company branch, witnessing clients reactively approaching financial decisions. Determined to help people avoid mistakes, she became a financial advisor in 2009, driven by a passion for guiding clients to realistic, attainable goals. Now the proud founder of Maven Lane Financial Group in the Bay area, she advocates for proactive personal finance.
Amy pursued financial education, earning her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and a Master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning. With clients in various life stages and industries, Amy aims to be part of your financial team, offering guidance in the ever-changing landscape of financial planning.
Amy is thrilled about her new book, Your Money Narrative, and is a mother of two grown daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys being home with her cute cats and working on passion projects, including decorating, antiques, and a series of children’s books about collections.
Get in touch with Amy
Amy on Purse Strings
https://pursestrings.co/professional/financial-advisor/california/san-mateo/amy-cook-mspfp-mpas-cfp/
Maven Lane Financial Group
https://www.mavenlanefinancialgroup.com/
Read an excerpt from Amy’s book, Your Money Narrative
https://www.yourmoneynarrative.com/excerpt
Your Money Narrative Checklists
https://www.yourmoneynarrative.com/resources
Amy on social media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-cook-mspfp-mpas%C2%AE-cfp%C2%AE-3239199/
https://www.facebook.com/mavenlanefinancialgroup
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/ -
Taking Control of Your Financial Health with Vrinda Gupta
We’re excited to welcome Vrinda Gupta to the show. She is the visionary founder of Sequin, a financial platform designed to empower women on their journey to financial freedom. Vrinda shares her inspiring story with us today, starting with a rejection from a credit card she helped create to founding a women's finance club that challenges the norms of the male-dominated financial industry.
Listen in as she sheds light on the systematic financial challenges women face and offers practical tips on building a strong credit score, managing credit utilization, and taking control of your financial health.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
Vrinda’s experience working at Visa as a product manager and being rejected for a credit card without explanationThe importance of building a credit score under your nameThe systemic biases in the financial world that still affect women todayVrinda’s tips for putting your best foot forward when it comes to creditHow Sequin came to be and what makes it different The key differences between credit and debit cards
Click the link below to get your Sequin membership started for 40% off!
https://www.sequincard.com/purse-strings
Learn more about Vrinda:
Vrinda Gupta worked at Visa for years, launching popular credit cards. But when she applied for a credit card she helped develop, she was rejected. All her years of responsible payments on her debit card didn't show up in her credit history. To big banks, she was invisible.
If you've ever been rejected or hit your credit limit, you know the feeling. That's why Vrinda founded Sequin, to make sure women get the credit they deserve.
“There are too many hidden costs to being a woman, and credit shouldn't be one of them.”
Get in touch with Vrinda:
https://www.vrinda-gupta.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vrindag/
https://twitter.com/vrinda_tweet
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/ -
True To You: Owning Your Accomplishments Authentically with Divya Parekh
This week’s guest is a seasoned coach with a diverse background in academia, biochemistry, and corporate leadership. Today, Divya Parekh, MS, CPC, PCC, LL, helps leaders and entrepreneurs follow their dreams and take their careers to the next level. She’s here to share her insights on how women can embrace their achievements without feeling the need to conform to societal expectations or feel like they’re being “braggadocious.”
Tune in as we explore how aligning with your values can be a game-changer for your professional and personal growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, corporate professional, or aspiring leader, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration to help you shine authentically in your journey.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
The importance of authenticity and being aligned with your values as women in the workplace Sharing your accomplishments without feeling braggadocious Divya's unique approach to helping leaders and entrepreneurs align their valuesUsing storytelling as a tool to build connections and share your aspirations in the workplace
Download Divya's FREE summary, "Atomic Habits"
https://success.divyaparekh.com/atomichabitgift/
Learn more about Divya:
Divya brings over 20 years of experience in academia, corporate (managing multi-million-dollar biopharmaceutical contracts), and authentic positioning (as an executive business coach). She combines her extensive knowledge of corporate, and entrepreneurial real-world business situations and her passion to help business leaders, coaches, and entrepreneurs with a focus on authenticity, neuro-leadership coaching, and storytelling to help them uncover their value-based differentiators, reframe their life’s narrative authentically, and create authentic credibility builders. This enables them to be recognized as trusted leaders and gain the visibility to impact more people.
Divya is a regular contributor to large publications like Forbes, Entrepreneur, CEO World Magazine and more. Divya is also a bestselling author of many leadership books, including Expert to Influencer, The Entrepreneur's Garden, Leadership and Influence, Emotional Intelligence and more.
Get in touch with Divya:
https://www.divyaparekh.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/divyaparekh/
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/ -
From Passion to Purpose: Building Studio Elevate Fit with Sarah Hellenbrand
Sarah Hellenbrand is a fitness enthusiast, mom, and proud founder of Studio Elevate Fit in Libertyville, Illinois. We met Sarah at a networking event where she shared her raw and inspiring journey of opening her own business. With over 1,800 women opening new businesses every day in America, and we couldn't wait to share her story with you.
In our conversation, Sarah opens up about her struggle to finding fulfilling work in the early years of her career, and the journey that led her to finding her passion and starting her own fitness studio. We’ll chat about the incredible environment she’s created at Studio Elevate Fit, and what she’s learned throughout her entrepreneurial and personal health journey. Stay tuned to be inspired by Sarah’s story and to gain a refreshing perspective on personal development, resiliency, and business ownership.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
The challenges Sarah faced in the corporate world + the journey of opening her own fitness studioCreating a body-postive, inclusive environment at Studio Elevate FitThe importance of resilience and continuous learning as an entrepreneurSarah’s advice for women considering starting their own businesses
Learn more about Sarah:
Sarah Hellenbrand is a boutique fitness studio owner and believer that we can create a world where women can embrace the bodies they have. Having worked in the fitness industry while struggling with body image herself, Sarah is committed to delivering high quality fitness experiences while fighting diet culture and promoting self love and acceptance.
Mom to Eleanor and wife to Zeke, Sarah and her crew love cooking, outdoor adventures, and live music
Get in touch with Sarah:
Studio Elevate Fit
https://studioelevatefit.com/
Sarah on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/sarahelevate/
https://www.instagram.com/studioelevatefit/
Sarah on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/studioelevatefit
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/
Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/
To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/
Customer Reviews
Great podcast!
Loved the episode with Amy Salo on women’s rise in the financial industry! Great podcast!
Heck yeah
I am on a mission to learn more about finance and wealth. So glad I found this empowering show, currently binging all the episodes!
Love this!
I’m so grateful for all of these informative and relevant topics!! Thanks so very much! So well done.