It's the end of a great 8+ years. Thank you to all my guests and dedicated followers of Money Making Sense. You can still listen to past episodes of this show on your favorite platforms. Below are just a few of the most popular: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-making-sense/id1142678783 https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/money-making-sense-225686 https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-money-making-sense-31013462/ https://open.spotify.com/show/00pdsYQO6Py4JWPirOaAWd To see what Heather doe...
Apr 02, 2025•7 min
Long before DOGE began implementing cuts, government leaders have been talking about making changes to Social Security. Chad Waddoups , the VP of Wealth Management at Mountain America Investment Services , breaks down how the system works now. Find out how much money Social Security is expected to pay you, here . He discusses the concerns about the program running out of money if changes aren't made and why he thinks it won't actually go away; and how to protect yourself if Social Security does ...
Apr 02, 2025•28 min
Finding yourself in debt can be traumatic; especially if you didn't know your spouse was accumulating the debt and now you're getting a divorce. That's what reporter Adam Small is going through. He tells host Heather Kelly about the panic and humility he experienced when he first found out. Find out how the debt happened without his knowledge, how he is climbing out of a $34,000 hole and why Adam isn't using a debt consolodation company. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . To se...
Mar 26, 2025•24 min
You may have spent years and decades combining your finances. But now have to separate them in a matter of weeks or months. Certified Financial Litagator Lisa Zeiderman with Miller Zeiderman, LLP says finding out if each side in a divorce is 'apples to apples OR apples to oranges' is the first step in dividing the joint accounts. Zeiderman also recommends keeping many of your accounts compeletly separate, especially if you inherit anything during the marriage. Also discover what a CDFA is and if...
Mar 19, 2025•24 min
No one should feel intimidated about filing their taxes just because they haven't done it, or aren't sure of tax regulations. Mark Steber , Chief Tax Officer of Jackson Hewitt Tax Services says you could be missing out on money you are due -- especially younger generations. He also says many people under 35 years of age now have multiple streams of income from non-standard forms of work, like social media streams, cryptocurrency investments and side-hustles. And they don't understand the Governm...
Mar 12, 2025•16 min
Entrepreneur and advisor, Sam Vadakekut says each person has their own creativity within them. There isn't one answer that will fix everyone's money woes. But he does say that "a scarcity mindset creates financial enslavement." Learn more in this episode and from his book " About my Father's Business: Enslaved vs Entrusted ." You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X ( Twitter) page. Be sure to email Heath...
Mar 05, 2025•14 min
Rock-n-roller, Huey Lewis , was inducted into the newly formed People's Music Hall of Fame in Salt Lake City. The event was created by the Professor of Rock , Adam Reader, and Grammy nominated musician Caleb Chapman . The event also raised scholarship money for the Sound Support Foundation which teaches kids how to perform musically on stage, as well as address mental health issues. Learn more about Caleb Chapman's SoundHouse school here You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . To se...
Feb 12, 2025•24 min
Adam Reader , aka - The Professor of Rock - says his secret sauce is the thousands of music books he has collected since he was a child. Reader has teamed with Grammy nominated band-leader, Caleb Chapman , to raise money for scholarships at the Caleb Chapman Soundhouse . Reader says the Soundhouse is the best music program in the country as it instills confidence in kids; teaches them to look up from their shoelaces, which they can use all their lives. Students also get a chance to perform at Ca...
Feb 05, 2025•35 min
Songwriter, producer and musician, Eric Bazilian of The Hooters, says he started his first band the day after seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show. He wound up playing guitar riffs on two of Cyndi Lauper 's best hits and was nominated for a Grammy. Learn which songs these are, which fans in which country are the most faithful to his music, and how long it took The Hooters to financially recoup their 1984 record deal with Columbia Records . Find out which band Eric considers the Alpha and t...
Jan 29, 2025•20 min
How are Jon and Kate's kids are doing after the tv show? Jon Gosselin spoke with host Heather Kelly at the Sundance Film Festival where he was the Celebrity DJ at the Music Lodge. He also discusses current events in his personal and professional life. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page. Be sure to email Heather with your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here ....
Jan 27, 2025•8 min
Death is a taboo subject in China. Filmmaker Yuxuan Ethan Wu wants to start the conversation about dying with his short documentary " Death Education " now showing at the Sundance Film Festival . Learn why some high school teachers in China now teach classes about death, including having students carry the ashes of 'unanamed' people from a crematorium to a public burial ground in this episode. Also, how long it took Wu to shoot the film and how much money it cost. You can follow this show on Ins...
Jan 27, 2025•26 min
Filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura had big shoes to fill following in his father's footsteps. So, he made a documentary about his dad, Robert A. Nakamura , the godfather of Asian-American Media. In the film, Third Act , Tadashi follows his father's footsteps from his time in a Concentration Camp for Japanese Americans during WWII to his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease. If you miss the Sundance Film Festival, you can see Third Act on PBS later this year. You can follow this show on Instagram and Faceb...
Jan 27, 2025•15 min
Funding an independent movie just got a bit easier. That's according to Hedge Fund creators Michael Perrone , Slater Wayne , and Chris De La Rosa who bring Rendezvous Cinema Center to the Sundance Film Festival as the sponsor of the interview studio, Collider . They say they they are more interested in the projects and people who take risks, than those who are only interested in how much money they can make. They put their filmmaking knowledge together with finance guy, Craig Mattus. to create R...
Jan 26, 2025•44 min
Filmmaker Loren Waters brings the story of the Native American family who started the t-shirt company " Tiger " in 1977. It was a very small operation, working 24/7 to fill orders for JC Penny in its heyday. Learn why the company went under in 1990 and watch "Tiger" through the Sundance Film Festival as well as at SXSW later this spring in this conversation with Loren. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her person...
Jan 25, 2025•13 min
In Pakistan in the Karakoram Range is a peak that has never been conquered by skiers, until now. Extreme skiers Christina ‘Lusti’ Lustenberger and Jim Morrison became the first people known to ever ski down the face of Trango on May 9, 2024 and it is all captured in this documentary. Christina also says what was not revealed in the film. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X (Twitter) page. Be sure to ...
Jan 25, 2025•9 min
Many people made a New Year's Resolution not to spend any money for anything other than essential needs, like food and shelter. Susan Speirs , the CEO of Utah Association of CPA 's, discusses with host, Heather Kelly, what a better resolution should be -- and how to stick to it. Tip #1: Put just five dollars a week into a High Yield Savings account and you can accrue interest on the your money. Tip #2: Learn how to control your credit cards, don't let them control you. You can follow this show o...
Jan 15, 2025•29 min
The producer of the FanX Salt Lake and three other comic conventions describes how he got his start in the business. Dan Farr , President of Dan Farr Productions, says the response to the first one in Salt Lake City was overwhelming. He also discusses what happens behind the scenes, how celebrities deal with the fans, and what attendees can expect when you go. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X ( Tw...
Jan 08, 2025•46 min
Having Financial Independence so you can Retire Early ( FIRE ) is achievable, if you know the right formula. Aaron Clark , owner of The Accounting Nerd, LLC says the first thing you need to do is change your mindset. Then invest in relatively safe, Index Funds. Susan Speirs , the CEO of Utah Association of CPA s, says money is a very psychological and behavorial aspect to our being. So there must be discipline in order to live a FIRE lifestyle. And do you know the difference between 'Coast FIRE ...
Dec 18, 2024•26 min
The CDC says domestic violence is the number 1 public health issue in America. Research confirms 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men are victims of abuse in their relationships. Kim Scouller , author of How Money Works for Women , says one of the first things an abusive partner does is take control of the finances so their spouse feels like they can't leave. Start by stashing away cash -- even very small amounts will help. National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Domestic Shelters -- find a she...
Dec 11, 2024•27 min
Chronic inflammation from diabetes, obesitity and other long term illnesses play a bigger role in heart disease than we realize. Dr. Andrew Freeman , the Director of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, says changing your lifestyle is much more cost effective than surviving a heart attack or dying from one. Dr. Freeman says a plant based diet, brisk exercise everyday, reducing stress, at least 7-hours of sleep each night and have a good support system aroun...
Dec 04, 2024•12 min
Having tough conversations about how your aging family members are doing with bill paying or spending before things get out of hand is much easier than having a talk after their money is gone. That's according to Nico Pesci , founder and CEO of Momemtum Wealth . He says having a fiduciary advisor is an important ally in safe guarding your parents money because they have a LEGAL obligation to work for their clients best interests. He also discusses how more family members try to take financial ad...
Nov 27, 2024•29 min
Now that we know who our next President will be, a lower inflation rate is not a guarantee. That's according to Senior Economist Robert Spendlove with Zions Bank . He says ecoomic theory dictates increasing tariffs -- which President-elect Donald Trump plans to do -- means higher inflation. He does say one of the biggest issues for next year's Congress will be taxation. Susan Speirs , the CEO of Utah Association of CPA s, says the hope Trump has is that manufacturers will return the United State...
Nov 20, 2024•25 min
If you truly want to support veterans, buy from their business or use their services. That's from Aikta Marcoulier , Regional Administrator for the Small Business Administration , who says veteran owned companies employee 5-Million people across the U.S. She says show your support using small, veteran owned business along with displaying a flag. Veterans who are transitioning out of the military have lots of resources to help them, or family members, start a business in every state of the Union....
Nov 13, 2024•24 min
Politicians on both sides of the aisle are raising campaign funds faster than ever before. Boyd Matheson , political consultant, says Super Pacs are a big part of that revenue stream. He says the pacs are where almost all the negative ads come from. Boyd says people need to be humble about what they think they know and look outside their normal sources of information in order to find out if what they are being fed is true or not. The first borometer is -- if it sounds 'out there' it's probably n...
Nov 06, 2024•28 min
Retirement is all about your cash flow. Jason Parker of Parker Financial and Sound Retirement Radio , has a formula to make sure you've saved enough for 'the golden years.' But, he says money isn't the most important item to have in order to gain wealth. Hint: It's all about your relationships. You can follow this show on Instagram and Facebook . And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal X ( Twitter) page. Be sure to email Heather your questions and request to...
Oct 30, 2024•26 min
Ticket Master/Live Nation makes $130 BILLION a year on fees selling tickets. The Ticket Act would remove Junk fees from live event ticket purchases. That's from Sally Greenberg , executive director of the National Consumers League , who also says there would be 'no more jumping through hoops on websites to see the actual price of a ticket and fake ticketing websites would go away.' The Bill already passed the U.S. House of Representatives 388 to 24. Now it goes to the Senate for a vote. Please c...
Oct 16, 2024•14 min
*After this episode was recorded, the Utah Education Association sued the state of Utah over the wording of Amendment A,* A bill to remove the state sales tax from grocery store food has been approved. But it won't go into effect unless Amendment A passes in this year's election. The brief from Gardner Institute states Amendment A would allow legislators to re-allocate where monies collected from your Income Tax would go. Phil Dean , the Senior Economist at the Kem C. Gardner Institute says lawm...
Oct 02, 2024•35 min
Too often women are made the caregivers of not only their children, but also their elderly parents. Lisa Peel , head of financial planning with Edward Jones , says this can greatly affect the amount of time they spend in the workforce, thus limiting their income. Lisa says it is important to work closely with a financial planner to maximize the amount of income available both currently and for the future. She says it is extremely important to interview 2 or 3 advisors minimum, to find the right ...
Sep 25, 2024•7 min
Does the person you voted for have a financial background? It is critical to understand how local treasurers and auditors keep tabs on your taxes -- and who wants the job. Catherine Voutaz is running for Utah State Auditor and Sheila Srivastava for the Salt Lake County Treasurer positions. Find out why Sheila says every tax dollar is hard earned. They explain why its important to have people in those offices who have financial backgrounds and what their roles are to assist the more well-known po...
Sep 18, 2024•31 min
Producer George David discusses how you can make money in the music industry without being a star. Licensing songs for tv commercials and movie soundtracks, producing others, building music studios and many other way will earn you six figures each year. Building a music studio is what led George to collaborating with the music group Train . George says singers must now get a local following first, along with a big social media presence before record labels will sign them. HACK: everyone needs to...
Sep 11, 2024•25 min
