Nannearl Brown is a user experience researcher who journeyed into the field by way of systems engineering and the social impact space. Most recently, she led the UX, product management, and design efforts for over a year as the Director of UX for the LA-based beauty tech startup, Emma Beauty. She cares greatly about creating a shared understanding of the tech industry with all, most especially with Black people and other marginalized groups. Nannearl shares her knowledge by leading design worksh...
Jun 14, 2020•44 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Chad is a non-technical team member at the quickly growing startup Career Karma . Chad made a career transition to land his role and in some ways, it's fitting as Career Karma helps users identify and review Bootcamp options to make career transitions into tech. The Fallacy of Sunk Cost Remote Work Time Management Importance of Following Up Value of Clear Goals Career Karma’s Story Income Share Agreements (ISA) You can connect with Chad using the following social media platforms. Twitter LinkedI...
May 27, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, I cover What To Do With Old 401(k). In addition to your normal options, you'll also find some new rules and strategies as a result of COVID-19. Most are for 2020 only though so be sure to listen to the end. First, you need to find your old 401(k). Then evaluate it: expense ratio, site usability, Keep it where it’s at? Roll it into an IRA (more control)? Roll into new 401(k)? Cash Out? Taxes, Penalties Special COVID Rules for 2020...
May 26, 2020•20 min•Season 2Ep. 1
With the coronavirus causing the stock market to meltdown almost overnight, I have been receiving the same question. Should I buy stock now? The stock market is essentially on sale now relative to a few months ago, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should be buying now. Listen to hear about the process I use with my clients to think through this decision to make sure you are making the smartest move.
Mar 26, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 31
If you have earned income, then you are eligible to create a retirement account (or if your spouse has earned income). Your employer may even provide one in the form of a 401(k). If your employer doesn’t offer you a retirement plan, then you still have access to an IRA account. That might seem simple enough, but where it starts to get complicated is determining whether you should choose Traditional contributions or ROTH contributions. (This article was inspired by a conversation I had on Twitter...
Feb 08, 2020•7 min•Season 1Ep. 31
It's the 2020 tax season and I'm bringing short episodes regarding important topics you should understand when it comes to filing your taxes. In this episode we cover: Deductions Increase of standard deductions Removal of exemptions Credits Phaseouts poweruptaxplanning.com levelupfinancialplanning.com
Jan 31, 2020•6 min•Season 1Ep. 30
The 2020 tax season is upon us and so I'm busy answering tax questions for clients. When it comes to your tax rates, it may be confusing because the U.S. tax system is progressive. This means you have two tax percentages to be aware of: your marginal tax rate and your effective tax rate. https://youtu.be/zjiCjgVCQoA http://poweruptaxplanning.com/ https://www.levelupfinancialplanning.com/...
Jan 13, 2020•7 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Understand the basic components of a budget, as well as advanced strategies. I cover the following: Why most people avoid budgeting The core parts of a budget The part you should focus on Common budgeting tools Budgeting tricks and tips The importance of emergency savings How to plan for irregular expenses A reflection on your lifestyle creep https://www.levelupfinancialplanning.com/how-to-be-a-baller-on-a-budget-strategy-guide/ https://youtu.be/HgpkWBzF4J0...
Jan 06, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Not all debt is created equal. In this episode we cover the different types of debt and why some debts may actually be considered good debt. Most importantly we dive into debt repayment strategies to help you take your financial confidence to the next level.
Jan 02, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In order to improve your financial situation, it is helpful to understand where you are today. That is what your net worth can help you identify. In this episode I cover: Defining net worth Calculating net worth Types of assets Bad Debt vs. Good Debt Keeping perspective when analyzing your net worth YouTube Video
Jan 01, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Kyle is 30, and a brand new software engineer using angular. He went to a sponsored full-stack web development bootcamp that was mostly about java, Prior to that he was working 12-15 hour days as a construction materials tester and studying IT support at night after his wife and 1.5-year-old boy went to sleep. Kyle's story is inspiring, we discuss the following topics in his interview: Life before a developer Living off no income The stress of Coding Bootcamp Helping others behind you Balancing ...
Dec 17, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Paul Foley is the Colorado Capital Mobilization Director for RVC, Managing Director for Denver Angels, and the CEO of SmartCapital, a software that helps manage and run angel groups. He is also a member of the Colorado Blockchain Council focused on passing regulation to help innovative FinTech companies grow in Colorado. Prior to his current initiative, he co-founded and sold a tech startup Augur to BounceX. We explore the following in this episode: Paul's roadmap to becoming an entrepreneur Wha...
Dec 15, 2019•36 min•Season 1Ep. 24
I share with you the framework needed to take your financial confidence to the next level. Identify your why and where you want to go. Understand where you are today. Fill your gaps and blindspots. Micro Goals Importance of believing you are capable of achieving your goals
Dec 11, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Stephanie Judd is the cofounder of Wolf & Heron, a company that develops experiences designed to empower leaders at all levels to be more influential. Follow her story from her tech origins to helpings leaders and team members to be more influential. Dark Side and Light Side of Influence From CS graduate to the real world How she navigated the feeling of being underqualified The 9 sources of influence power Influence pathways Relationships being the most valuable currency Why storytelling is...
Nov 26, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Do you ever suffer from impostor syndrome? Maybe you are starting a new career, maybe there is a promotion you want to ask for or a raise you think you deserve. Here are a few ways I navigate my impostor syndrome whenever it flares up. Talk about it Over prepare Recognize that you are in a position of growth/opportunity for a reason Creating a pick me up folder Playback your greatest hits Remember that it is okay to not know everything...
Nov 24, 2019•19 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Sam shares his journey of escaping from his soul-crushing cubicle job to find his way into UX. His story is great and he has a lot of great resources that will help you think of additional tips and tricks to land your job in UX. Here is what we cover: Navigating your career as a young professional Leveraging interests and experiences to create opportunities Challenging yourself to build skills and a portfolio Experiencing a layoff Utilizing a resume expert Critical steps you need to take in orde...
Nov 07, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 20
I love Employee Stock Purchase Plans. Depending on your employer's ESPP plan, you may be able to increase your annual income by 1% or greater. Here are a few topics I cover: ESPP Basics ESPP with Look Back Provision ESPP Tax Treatment ESPP Strategies Risks of ESPP YouTube Video ESPP Return Calculator ESPP Strategy Guide w/Cheat Sheet Fort Collins Fee-Only Financial Planner...
Oct 29, 2019•17 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Chris Huie shares his unique career path that found him with a passion for teaching, supporting, and inspiring the community through technology and computer science. From accounting to tech evangelist Leveraging tech in non-tech career Importance of technology acceptance Progression of knowledge to youth The new way of learning Inspiring community through technology and computer science Bridging skills and background to your next position Analyzing the impact of a business decision beyond financ...
Oct 22, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 18
RSUs are a popular form of tech employee benefits and can make up a huge portion of your income. In this episode, I cover the basics and advanced strategies: What are RSUs RSU Grants How are RSUs Taxed Risks of RSUs How to Determine Your Risk Level Strategies: New RSUs Strategies: Old RSUs Advanced RSU Strategies YouTube Link Related Resources: RSU Strategy Guide RSU Tax Calculator...
Oct 10, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 17
John Marty has had a crazy career. After starting his career as a young entrepreneur he found a lot of success. However, things changed rapidly and he was soon unemployed with no real prospects. Listen to the episode to see how he reinvented himself and is now a Product Manager at Amazon and uses his experience to empower others through content on LinkedIn, YouTube, and public speaking. We cover the following in the show. Navigating Entrepreneurship Struggling with Unemployment Asking Yourself M...
Sep 30, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Buying a house is a big deal. You want to make sure you don't get sway by common myths and know the real questions that you need to answer to begin to build a plan that gives you confidence. Do You Really Want to Buy a Home? Should I Wait Until the Housing Market Bursts? What If Interest Rates Go Down? What Can I Afford? What Do I Need? What Are Your Other Goals? What Does the Future Look Like? What Are the Real Risks of Purchasing a Home? St. Louis Federal Reserve Historical Home Price Tool Sho...
Sep 15, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Before becoming a programmer, Stephanie Ogburn's first career was as a public radio journalist covering science and the environment. Stephanie shares her experience making the career transition: Having a supporting spouse Diverse backgrounds In tech Women Who Code Challenges as a bootcamp graduate Building confidence to overcome impostor syndrome Finding her first Job Prepping for a bootcamp Avoiding student loan debt Women Who Code (Official Site) Women Who Code (Fort Collins Meetup) Fee-Only F...
Sep 05, 2019•37 min•Season 1Ep. 14
I have a really great guest for today’s episode. His name is Cory Pease and his story proves that second chances really do exist. Cory is a felon who also recently successfully started his software engineer career after attending a bootcamp. We cover the following: Inspiration for his "Daily Do Betters" Navigating life with a felony Financial literacy Transitioning careers Galvanize Bootcamp Creating your own opportunities Benefits of conferences I apologize for the sound quality. Cory was at De...
Aug 22, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 13
A common question I receive is "is now a good time to invest in the market". This episode was actually inspired by a conversation I had with a friend/listener of the show. In this episode I'll cover: Average investor performance versus the "market" 9 Human behavior biases How to avoid these biases The conversation that inspired this episode Hindsight review on past market commentary Non-market examples of growth and recessions Additional Resources: Invest Composure Assessment How Could a Recessi...
Aug 15, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Stephen actually has a background in financial services and entrepreneurship. He shares how his previous experiences inspired him to build a Startup Engine (ecosystem development system). Summary of topics covered: Drawing from previous career Accelerator Cold calling/emailing Venture capital Silicon Valley Road blocks City benefits of workforce development Minority founders Startup engine (ecosystem development system) Strengthening communities (Introduce 30,000- 50,000 jobs) Scaling Diversity ...
Aug 08, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 11
If you are in tech, you have probably heard of cryptocurrency, but should it be a part of your financial plan? To shed some light on this I will address the following: The dutch and crazy expensive tulips Invest in what you know How cryptocurrency compares to other popular investments? Understanding the risks How does cryptocurrency compare to gambling? A plan is better than a wish Focus on what you can control My thoughts generally on cryptocurrencies Sticking it to the man There are a lot of t...
Aug 01, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Sami Gardner is not your typical career coach. Her unique background and skills have allowed her to build multiple income streams while traveling the world as a digital nomad. Hold onto your seat because we cover a lot of ground in this one and practically anyone who listens should easily be able to find at least one take away. Discovering your why Being an introvert What is a digital nomad Career volatility Changing your narratives Confidence How to stay fresh samigardner.net LinkedIn Career Ki...
Jul 25, 2019•51 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In honor of Independence Day, I was inspired to record a Early Retirement / Financial Independence Podcast. After listening to the show, you'll have a better idea of what you need to do in order to set yourself up for the ability to retire early and reach financial independence. What to Do in Order to Retire Early Save, Like A lot Live as a Minimalist Debt Free (Should You Payoff Your Debt) Investments What You Should Watch Out for to Retire Early The Easy Button Inflation Medical Expenses Long-...
Jul 17, 2019•32 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Today's guest, Charles Max Wood, discusses his career path from initially thinking programming was dumb to realizing how programming can make life easier, to his aggressive goal of providing a podcast for every programming community. Layoffs Employee Vs. Freelancing Podcasts Emergency Savings Team Work Business Freelancer List of Impactful Books Business Coaches Importance of Processes Do What You Love Charles' Info https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmaxwood/ https://devchat.tv http://podwrench....
Jul 11, 2019•54 min•Season 1Ep. 7
I know how overwhelming it can be to have access to a 401(k), but be intimidated that you don't have any idea and probably not even the time to understand why you need one or how they work. After listening to this episode you'll have a solid understanding of how your 401(k) works, so that you can more confidently put yours to use. My First 401(k) Why a 401(k) is Important Power of Time and Compound Interest (link to visuals in the show notes) Benefits Traditional Vs. Roth How Contributions Work ...
Jun 27, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 6
