We simply can’t predict what life will throw at us. But we do have options when unexpected expenses arise. Listener Rob is a young homeowner who needs to repair his retaining wall but doesn’t have access to a home equity line of credit. So, what should he do? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re discussing what to do if you’re faced with an unexpected expense. We explain the difference between an unexpected expense and an emergency expense in terms of time sensitivity and payment options, encou...
Apr 07, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 201
This episode is a bonus Queer Money to help you during this difficult time. COVID-19 is impacting all of us in many ways. We want to help reduce that impact on your finances as much as possible. Get the free checklist here: https://debtfreeguys.com/bonus1 Mentioned in this episode: Support the Queer Money podcast We love bringing you new content every week. Help us keep doing that. Click the link below to support our mission of financial empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community. Support the Queer Mo...
Apr 03, 2020•47 min•Season 1Ep. 215
As part of the queer community, we were BORN to deviate from the norm. So, why do we feel pressure to conform to societal values when it comes to spending? Members of the FI/RE community are non-conformists around money, optimizing their finances to achieve financial independence, retire early and enjoy the freedom of doing exactly what they want with their time. Curious how YOU can be a part of this special breed of unicorn? Court is one-third of Modern FImily , a financially independent lesbia...
Mar 31, 2020•52 min•Season 1Ep. 200
Do you know your partner’s credit score? Is it in a similar range as yours? Or very different? Why does it matter? And what can you do about it? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re discussing what to do if you and your partner have significantly different credit scores. We start by explaining how scores in different ranges can impact your lives together and sharing how we approach the work of improving our financial lives as a team. We also uncover the results of our Queer Money Facebook Group...
Mar 24, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 199
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in a panic because you forgot to pay a bill? Or experienced that horrible, sinking feeling when you receive the notification you’re being charged a late fee? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing our #1 tip to never miss a bill. David explains how not having a plan to pay bills was the origin of his debt story, discussing the anxiety he felt around not having enough money to do the things he wanted. We also reveal the results of our Queer...
Mar 17, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 198
Women face some challenging economic truths: They’re generally paid less than their male counterparts, they’re often the primary caretakers for both children and aging parents, and they’re targeted to spend on consumer goods by a culture that values material things over financial stability. Sound familiar to anyone in the LGBTQ community? So, how can we ALL build the wealth necessary to level the playing field? Allegra Moet Brantly is the Founder and CEO at Factora Wealth , a platform designed t...
Mar 10, 2020•46 min•Season 1Ep. 197
Feeling a little guilty when you make a money mistake is not necessarily a bad thing. It means you care about improving your financial situation. But some of us get stuck in a shame spiral that impacts our mental health and actually stops us from making progress. So, how can we learn to forgive ourselves for money missteps, learn from the situation and move on? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing our top five tips for forgiving yourself for money mistakes. John describes his own experi...
Mar 03, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 196
Have you ever heard of a backdoor Roth IRA? Yes, it IS a real thing. And no, it’s NOT something you do in the bedroom! A backdoor Roth IRA is a way to save for retirement if you want the benefits of a Roth IRA but don’t qualify for one. So, when would you want to use a backdoor Roth IRA? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing what you need to know about backdoor Roth IRAs. We review the tax benefits of the Roth IRA as well as its income limits on contributions, explaining how the backdoor...
Feb 25, 2020•16 min•Season 1Ep. 195
According to the 2018 Prudential Financial Wellness Census , only 27% of LGBTQ individuals surveyed said they were participating in an employer-sponsored retirement plan. If we want to live a fabulous life well into our golden years, it’s important that we invest in some type of retirement account—and two of our options are the traditional and Roth IRA. On this episode of Queer Money, we’re discussing the pros and cons of the traditional versus Roth IRA and helping you decide which type of retir...
Feb 18, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 194
According to the National Foundation for Consumer Credit, 77% of military servicemembers are worried about their finances. Roughly one-third say they don’t pay all their bills on time. And 58% of servicemembers carry credit card debt, compared to 34% of the general population. So, how can we help the members of our military (queer or straight) manage their money more effectively? Mike Poulin is a Certified Financial Trainer at the Financial Gym , a financial services firm that takes a fitness-in...
Feb 11, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 193
When should you start talking about money in a new relationship? We know that financial stress can have a negative impact on our relationships, while healthy money conversations can strengthen a couple’s connection—and even lead to better gay sex! But when is the best time to bring it up? On this episode of the podcast, we’re sharing the results of our couples money conversation poll in the Queer Money Facebook Group , offering our insight on why talking about finances is crucial for couples who...
Feb 04, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 192
Do you ever feel like a deer in headlights when it comes to money? You are not alone. Nearly 70% of the LGBTQ respondents in our poll said they feel financial anxiety on a regular basis. So, how do we get un-stuck and overcome the overwhelm that is holding us back? On this episode of Queer Money, we start by making the distinction between true money problems and financial anxiety, explaining what’s behind the unhealthy relationship many of us have with money. We share our own issues with money a...
Jan 28, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 191
If you’ve never done a spending analysis, there’s a good chance you’ll be shocked to find out where your money is going. (For us, it was the $800 a week we were spending on gourmet groceries and dining out!) But once you KNOW what is sabotaging your financial security, you can stop spending unconsciously and start investing in what’s important to you. On this episode of Queer Money, we’re discussing the value of doing a spending analysis to uncover what’s working and what isn’t in our financial ...
Jan 21, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 190
Are you taking full advantage of ALL your workplace benefits? Most of us don’t think we need disability insurance, assuming it applies only to catastrophic events. But what if you had to miss work for a few weeks to recover from, say, a broken leg? Or having your appendix taken out? Would you be able to go without that income? Dr. Kristin Tugman is the Vice President of Customer Analytics and Consultation at Prudential Financial . Her team helps employers and employees alike better understand an...
Jan 14, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 189
When we asked the Queer Money community about their experience with New Year’s Resolutions, not a single person reported having ‘great success’ with keeping them. And only 27% said they stick to their resolutions ‘most of the time.’ So, how can we rethink the way we set goals for the New Year? And what steps can we take to evolve into our best selves in 2020? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing three tips for turning your resolutions into a true New Year’s Evolution. We explain how you...
Jan 07, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 188
Is 2020 the year you’re going to get out of credit card debt and start working toward your big dreams? If you’re ready to achieve financial independence in the new year, we can help. In fact, we’ve got three big things on the horizon to support you in reaching your money goals. On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing the three ways we’re helping the LGBTQ community in 2020. We explain why we’re reopening the doors to our Credit Card Pay Off Plan, walking you through the benefits of partici...
Dec 31, 2019•14 min•Season 1Ep. 187
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who’s never experienced trauma of any kind. But those of us in the LGBTQ community have endured more than our share of what mental health professionals call Big-T Traumas like abuse or even physical attack. So, how do we identify the adverse experiences from the past that are impacting our lives today? And what can we do to overcome those traumas and live the fabulous lives we deserve? Nick Venegoni is a psychotherapist and certified hypnotherapist in pr...
Dec 24, 2019•53 min•Season 1Ep. 186
Wish you could live overseas for three months, but don’t think you can afford it? What if I told you it’s possible to live in Spain for 12 weeks and spend less than you would in most American cities? In fact, there are five tactics we’re using to budget for an extensive, geoliberated adventure in Europe—without spending any more than we would at home. On this episode of Queer Money, we walk you through the five strategies we’re using to live in Spain for LESS than we might spend in a comparable ...
Dec 17, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 185
As you know, Capital One is a supporter of the Queer Money Podcast and other Debt Free Guys initiatives like Money Tips Tuesday and the Queer Money Live Tour. As part of that partnership, Capital One leadership recently invited us to their corporate center in Richmond, Virginia, to speak to Costanza Castelnuovo-Tedesco and the Capital One Business Resource Group about the financial issues specific to the LGBTQ community and what they can do to help us overcome those unique challenges. In this Qu...
Dec 09, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 184
Think you’ve got to be rich to afford three months in Europe? The truth is, you CAN live a geoliberated lifestyle and enjoy extended adventures like the one we’re planning to Spain this winter. All it takes is some simple preparation. So, what are the three big things we did in advance to make our travel dreams a reality? On this episode of Queer Money, we’re sharing the three steps we took to pursue the geoliberated lifestyle that makes three months in Spain possible for us. We explain how we b...
Dec 03, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 183
Navigating the world as a member of the LGBT community gives us an advantage when it comes to creativity, allowing us to see possibilities that others may not and affording us a different way of looking at the world. So, how can you tap into that inherent creativity to grow your business and brand? How can you leverage imagination as a superpower and become a creative entrepreneur? Peter Krask is the Founder and Creative Director of The Creativity Guide , a venture that helps entrepreneurs and a...
Nov 26, 2019•48 min•Season 1Ep. 182
How much have you given back to the LGBTQ community this year? You don’t have to have a lot of money to support the organizations that provide for the most vulnerable among us. In fact, a relatively small donation of $50 a month from each of us (that’s three NYC-priced cocktails) would add up to $9B! And if you can’t spare the money, there are other ways to give. On this episode, we’re challenging listeners to give back—in whatever way you can. We discuss why the queer community needs so much he...
Nov 19, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 181
You’ve come into a little extra money. Maybe a tax refund, a bonus at work, or a check from your Aunt Mable for your birthday. Without a plan, you may be tempted to spend the unexpected cash on something frivolous, like a trip to Vegas. So, let’s think it through. What would you do with, say, an extra $5K? On this episode, we’re sharing the top answers to this question in our Queer Money Facebook group. We applaud the responses focused on financial improvement (like paying off debt, investing an...
Nov 12, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 180
Okay, you’ve made the commitment to pay off all your credit cards. You want them done and gone. Then, what do you do? You’ve got several credit cards with different balances and different interest rates – though all high-interest rates. How do you pick which credit card to pay off first, then second, then third and (well – we could go on and on)? For most people, wanting and even deciding to pay off their credit cards isn’t the problem. It’s picking which strategy to use to pay off their credit ...
Nov 05, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 179
A 2010 Met Life study comparing LGBT baby boomers with their straight counterparts found that the queer respondents were more likely to serve as caregivers to family and friends than their straight peers. Because those of us in the LGBTQ community are less likely to have children, our siblings may assume that we’ll be the ones to take care of our aging parents when the time comes. This is a huge responsibility, and it goes beyond providing physical and emotional support. Do your parents have the...
Oct 29, 2019•57 min•Season 1Ep. 178
What should I do with my life? A lot of us in the LGBTQ community seem to settle for jobs that are in the realm of easy possibility rather than finding and fulfilling our true purpose. But how do you know what you’re called to do? How do you pick a career that’s perfect for you? On this episode of Queer Money, I’m sharing my own long road to purpose-driven work. I explain how I acquired $34K in credit card debt after college and what inspired my transition from retail to a career in financial se...
Oct 22, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 177
What makes the gay rights campaign one of the most successful advocacy movements of all time? The LGBTQ community started with corporate America. We recognized our impact as an economic powerhouse and partnered with the business community to promote diversity and inclusion, leveraging corporate influence in the political sphere to further LGBTQ causes. And Capital One is among the businesses that appreciate the value of the queer community and invest in our success through a number of social imp...
Oct 15, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 176
“It’s not that I’m better than anyone, but no one’s better than me.” Growing up as the son of Italian immigrants in the Deep South during the Civil Rights movement wasn’t easy. And being gay didn’t make it any easier. But rather than taking on limiting beliefs, Bernardo Puccio eliminated the word CAN’T from his vocabulary and started visualizing the life he wanted. Bernardo became a world-renowned interior designer with a distinguished career spanning 50-plus years. After growing up in the segre...
Oct 08, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 175
“If you don’t like where you are, MOVE. You are not a tree.” --Jim Rohn Too many of us get stuck in jobs where we feel comfortable. We’re afraid to walk away from the security of a regular paycheck and try something new. But if you’re not happy or your current situation isn’t getting you closer to your long-term goals, it’s time to take action. I’ve quit my job TWICE, so I speak from experience when I tell you that it’s totally worth it. On this episode of Queer Money, I’m sharing what inspired ...
Oct 01, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 174
What does it take to be successful? One way to figure it out is to talk to successful people (LGBTQ and otherwise), find out what they do—and then do THAT. Martin Eiden is a top producer in the New York real estate space, selling nearly $1B in property to date. In 2017 alone, he sold a property every 10 days for a total of $55M in sales! With 20 years in the business, Martin is known for his attention to detail, candidness with clients and focus on excellence. He began his professional career in...
Sep 24, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 173
