In this episode, I talk to Kim Jones, who shares her journey from a senior executive role in a Fortune 250 company to becoming a coach dedicated to helping individuals align their careers with their values and purpose. We discuss the psychological and emotional aspects shaping financial decisions and career paths, highlighting the prevalent issue of feeling unfulfilled in traditional corporate roles. Kim talks about reconciling financial stability with work that holds meaning and purpose, using frameworks like Ikigai and Clifton Strength Finders to guide her clients through transformational career changes.

Kim also shares valuable insights on the contemporary job market, discussing the biases in the recruitment process and the importance of soft skills such as resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving. She provides success stories of clients who have made meaningful career transitions, breaking through limiting beliefs, and emphasizes the importance of creating an intentional life and making important career decisions. We also talk about the essential role of coaching in providing clarity and support to individuals looking to make career changes, with personal practices like meditation and journaling aiding in the pursuit of well-being and purpose.

We Talk About:

• Career Misalignment and Burnout
• Shifting Values Over Time
• Balancing Financial Stability with Meaningful Work
• The Sole Ego Continuum
• Kim’s Transition to Coaching
• Importance of Soft Skills in the Modern Workforce
• Use of Ikigai and CliftonStrengths Frameworks
• Role of ChatGPT in Career Exploration
• Biases and Challenges in Recruitment Processes
• Success Stories of Career Transitions
• Personal Practices for Well-Being
• Recommendations for Further Resources

READ+LISTEN+LEARN:
Kim had a great list of items that have helped her in her career change.

1. Books & Resources
   • Adam Grants Work
     • Podcast - “Work life” https://adamgrant.net/podcasts/work-life
     • “Rethinking” - https://adamgrant.net/podcasts/rethinking/
   • Other Podcasts
     • Brene Brown - Unlocking Us & Dare To Lead - https://brenebrown.com/podcasts/
     • We Can Do Hard Things - https://wecandohardthingspodcast.com/
2. Wellbeing and Music:
   • 42 minute mark - morning routine meditation journaling and taking a walk , being conscious of her energy level and looking for a boost

Links & Socials

• Kimjonesalliance.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberleesjones/

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace. I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC, (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts.

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

In this episode, I talk to Erika Wasserman, Your Financial Therapist, to explore the relationship between money and emotions. Erika shares her journey from learning finances from her father to a dynamic career that included significant life transitions, such as marriage, children, divorce, and inheriting assets. Through these experiences, Erika deeply understood money's impact on personal relationships and the importance of clear financial communication.

We talk about the crucial role of estate planning and life insurance, particularly for parents with children and aging parents. Erika gives great advice about reducing spending, setting financial boundaries, and using conversation tools to facilitate healthy money discussions. She also talks about the benefits of small, sustainable financial habits and introduces innovative methods, like using conversation cards, to improve financial wellness.

We Talk About:

• Importance of estate planning and life insurance
• Communication between parents and children about financial matters
• Financial support for aging parents
• Setting boundaries in financial discussions
• Challenges in talking about finances and overcoming them
• Reducing spending and building sustainable habits
• Practical tips for financial conversations
• Aligning spending with personal values
• Creating a “Yes Plan” for financial priorities
• Importance of updating estate plans and documents
• Erika's background and journey in financial therapy
• Using conversation cards to improve financial communication

READ+LISTEN+LEARN:

Erika offered a great list of resources for helping with estate planning and money conversations:

1. Books:
   • Cash Flow Cookbook by Gordon Stein
2. Resources:
   • Let's Talk Finances, Erika's new game: https://www.amazon.com/Couples-Relationship-Conversation-Card-Game/dp/B0CZM89CZD
   • Erika's website: https://yourfinancialtherapist.com/
   • Erika's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-financial-therapist/
   • Erika's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourfinancialtherapy
   • Erika's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourfinancialtherapist/
3. Wellbeing and Music:
   • "War" by Katy Perry

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace. I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC, (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

On this episode I talk to the author of the new book "F.I.R.E for Dummies", Jackie Cummings Koski, CFP®️.

Jackie's road to an early retirement in her forties began with a wake-up call during her divorce. She walks us through her journey from conquering her fear of the stock market by joining an investment club, educating herself on the ins and outs of personal finance and eventually sharing her knowledge through writing and educating others.

We talk about...

• How life events like divorce can spur a quest for financial knowledge.
• How joining investment clubs and other communities can demystify the stock market and provide valuable insights around personal finance.
• What F.I.R.E is and isn't and how achieving an early retirement requires planning, a commitment to financial education and ACTION!
• How to take control of your finances and how to find useful resources for your own F.I.R.E journey.

And much more...

READ+LISTEN+LEARN:

Jackie shared some amazing resources during our conversation. Check them out to find podcasts to listen to, blogs to read and resources to help you along your own path toward Financial Independence and Retiring Early:

https://www.choosefi.com/
https://www.madfientist.com/
https://richandregular.com/
https://www.financiallyintentional.com/
https://www.biggerpockets.com/
https://affordanything.com/

WELLBEING:

Jackie shared that she tries to go out for a hike as much as she can. Now that she's financial independent and has the flexibility, she'll go out for a walk almost everyday.

FIND JACKIE:

Buy the Book ! : https://bit.ly/3SjbNue
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiecummingskoski/
https://www.instagram.com/finomenal_woman/
Check her podcast : https://catchinguptofi.com/

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

On this episode I am joined by Christine Hargrove, PhD candidate at The University of Georgia. Christine's work centers around ADHD, Relationships and Finances and we had a great conversation about the intersection of all three of those things.

ADHD is something that my family lives with, which in the past has sometimes made it challenging for my wife and I to have healthy, constructive conversations about our finances. Being neurodivergent can make the difficult task of managing your money even more challenging.

Additionally, being the spouse or partner of someone with ADHD (like me) requires additional thought and attention focused on things like how you will communicate with one another, what systems of support you might need to have in place and an acknowledgement that even if things are tough, you can and will get through it if you work together and remember that it doesn't have to be perfect.

We talk about ...

• What ADHD is, how it is diagnosed and the symptoms that present in those living with it.
• Executive functioning skills and how they are impacted by ADHD.
• How ADHD can impact not only being able to effectively manage your finances, but also the affects it may have on your relationship.
• Systems of support and resources available to help you understand the condition better and tips to apply to your financial lives to help you have a better relationship with money.

... and much more.

READ + LISTEN + LEARN:

Christine provided an amazing list of resources, YouTube channels and books to check out.

• The work of Dr. Russell Barkley. His book "Executive Functions" as well as his YouTube channel.

Note: The "Executive Function Jenga" image that appears in the video was adapted by Christine based on the work of Dr. Barkley.

• The "How to ADHD" YouTube channel and specifically the, "Wall of Awful" videos.
• "Love & Money: 15 Exercises to Strengthen Your Relationship", The book by Dr. Sonya Lutter.
• "Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today", The book by Hal Hershfield is also brought up, not as a direct recommendation of Christine. However, having read it myself I wanted to make sure it was listed here.

WELLBEING:

• Christine joked (but was serious) that if you live with ADHD, you should make sure you are taking your meds as a step #1 in improving your wellbeing.
• She also told us that one of her tricks to make sure she gets a good night sleep is to get herself ready for bed when her kids go to sleep. This keeps her from catching a "second wind" late at night and getting sucked into work into the later hours of the evening. Advice that I could use myself!

FIND HER AT:

• Christinehargrove.com
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-hargrove/

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

Dr. Mary Bell Carlson, CFP®, AFC®, is a financial behavior expert, well-known speaker, podcaster, and storyteller and I was excited to have the chance to talk to her about her work around Financial Biases.

We had a really wide ranging conversation in which we cover...

• Mary's extremely unique career thus far. Having spent time in Washington D.C. working with the Pentagon and lobbying Congress on behalf of the Financial Planning Association, Mary gives us a behind the scenes look at the role of the federal government and the impact it can have on financial decision making and financial behavior.
• We talk about what Financial Biases are and how they appear in our daily lives.
• She helps us understand ourselves better and gives us a lesson in Heuristics, or the "short cuts" our bodies use to help us make decisions.

And much more...

READ + LISTEN + LEARN:

• "The Book of Forgiving", By Desmond and Mpho Tutu
• "The Bomber Mafia", By Malcolm Gladwell
• "Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela"

WELLBEING:

• Mary loves to spend time in prayer, reflecting on the things she is grateful for in her life and reading to her children.

FIND HER AT:

• https://keynote.financial/mary-carlson/

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

https://www.instagram.com/modernfinancialwellness/

Creativity is something that often appears as a key ingredient in finding purpose and living a meaningful life. I find that connection between creativity and purpose to be really fascinating, which is why I was excited to have the opportunity to talk to Rochelle Seltzer.

Rochelle is an award winning designer, author and coach and she joined me to talk about her book, "Live Big: A Manifesto for a Creative Life".

We talk about...

• Rochelle's journey from business owner to coach & author.
• How curiosity and creativity help create the space for purpose and meaning to grow.
• We also take a tour around her book and some of the 'Discovery Dozen' exercises which Seth Godin said "will change your creative practice (and your life) for the better." !

... And much more

The book is easily digestible and full of great activities, thought provoking questions and ideas to help you re-empower your creative self.

WELLBEING:

• In 2015 Rochelle took a painting class which she describes as having changed her life. She has been taking painting classes ever since and draws great joy from the experience in creating on a canvas.
• She also enjoys writing.

FIND HER AT:

• https://thelivebigbook.com/

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

https://www.instagram.com/modernfinancialwellness/

Merging your finances and having joint bank accounts when you get engaged or married might seem like a good idea. But it turns out that it's actually backed by science as well!

I sat down with Jenny Olson, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business to discuss her work around all things couples and money, but specifically...

• Combining finances and joint bank accounts.
• The reasons joint bank accounts are beneficial to relationships.
• The Connubial Crucible (aka the first 2 years of marriage).
• Financial Infidelity and the impact on a relationship.

.... and much more.

READ+LISTEN+LEARN:

If you want to dig into the research and check out Jenny and her colleague's studies you can find them here:

• "Common Cents: Bank Account Structure and Couples' Relationship Dynamics"
• "Loves, Lies & Money: Financial Infidelity in Romantic Relationships"

Jenny also recommends:

• "Tightwads and Spendthrifts: Navigating the Money Minefield in Real Relationships", by Scott Rick
• "The All-or-Nothing Marriage: How the Best Marriages Work", by Eli J. Finkle

WELLBEING:

• Jenny loves "artisanal lattes and reflections at coffee shops", writing poetry and posting on Instagram (which was great to hear coming from a behavioral scientist!)

FIND HER AT:

• www.jennyginolson.com

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

https://www.instagram.com/modernfinancialwellness/

On this episode I talk with Neil Bage about Ikigai, the Japanese concept that combines the words "Iki" or "Life" and "Gai" or "Worth". Combined the word Ikigai means, "That which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose".

Finding purpose and living a life filled with meaning are important things to pursue, but these concepts can sometimes feel difficult to approach. Exploring Ikigai can be a helpful way to get started thinking about the things that are most important to you and how you want to be spending your time making a living.

During the conversation we delve into...

• The 4 key elements of Ikigai:
  • What you love.
  • What you can get paid for.
  • What the world needs.
  • What you are good at.
• How the concept connects to our financial world.
• Why balancing what we love and how we get paid can be challenging and how to reconcile some of the conflict we find in our lives.

... And much more.

WELLBEING:

• To improve his Financial Wellbeing Neil focuses on automation and using apps like https://www.getchip.uk/, to off load some of the demands of managing his finances on a regular basis.

READ + LISTEN + LEARN:

• Neil recommends the book "The Power of Letting Go: How to Drop Everything That's Holding You Back", by John Purkiss.
• Resources from PositivePsychology.com

FIND HIM AT:

• Shaping Wealth
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/neilbage

ABOUT ME:

My name is Jim Grace and I am a CFP®️ (Certified Financial Planner) and the Director of Wealth Management at Silver Pine Capital, LLC. (www.silverpinecapital.com) a registered investment advisory firm in Medfield, Massachusetts. ​

In my spare time I host a podcast and write about Financial Wellness & Wellbeing. Check out some of my other work @ www.ModernFinancialWellness.com. On the website I try to unpack each episode a little further and also spotlight any other resources I think might be helpful to anyone trying to feel better about their finances.

https://www.instagram.com/modernfinancialwellness/