In this episode of the ‘Nuclear Families Evangelist’ (A podcast that debunks the mythologies and biology by exploring the dynamics and relationships in blended families), host Traci Dority-Shanklin (Managing Partner at Sisu Partners) talks with guests Heather Hetchler, a columnist at Stepmom Magazine, a wife, a mom, stepmom, a thought leader and a coach for blended families with learning to step at e-learning platform for blended families.
The second guest is Ed Vargo, who has over 20 years of experience in the Financial Services industry and is the Founder of Burning River Advisory Group (A Wealth Management Firm that specializes in working with women experiencing significant life events, divorce, retirement, widowhood, etc.). Ed is also the founder of ‘EnlightenHer’ (A new women’s first financial education and coaching company).
Both the guests explain what financial infidelity is, and share their tips for blended families learning to communicate honestly and effectively about finances.

Three Key Points

1. Heather says, financial infidelity explains the pain that a stepmom might feel if she realizes that her husband's been giving money to his kids or his ex and not telling her. She's already maybe feeling a little bit like an outsider. She’d encourage women to stop to acknowledge what may be going on, but not go and accuse their husbands like they’ve been financially cheating on them because we do have to sometimes stop. It doesn't make it right. But sometimes, we're all a product of our childhood of what we've been through, and many times men and we're just talking about this in the context of stepmoms and husbands but who do sometimes make choices to keep the peace.

2. ED mentions that it’s not like they haven't made money but they haven't sat down together. They've just lived their life, and next year they wake up and it's like, “Oh, I'm on the doorstep of retirement”. That's why we had this big retirement crisis because typically, we find people that make enough money, they're just not connected enough to their money to be able to good with it and so, this structure allows them to be an accountability partner for each other.

3. Ed advice to a blended family so they stay financially present. It's just a reiteration of staying connected, like starting with our values, understanding what's important to us, and then making sure we're putting that in front of ourselves in front of us on a regular basis.

Resources Mentioned

· Heather Hetchler: Instagram Twitter

· ED Vargo: EnlightenHer (Website)

Contact:
Traci Dority-Shanklin: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook
traci@sisupartnersllc.com
website: www.nuclear-families.com