When a natural disaster strikes, the emotional and financial toll can be overwhelming, especially if you're unprepared. In this episode, Mary Beth and Neela are joined by Abacus financial advisor Susan Olson, CFP®, who shares practical steps you can take to safeguard your finances.

Drawing from her experience working with clients impacted by wildfires, Susan breaks down what you can do before disaster hits, from reviewing your insurance coverage and documenting your belongings, to building an emergency fund and creating an evacuation plan.

If you’ve been meaning to prepare but don’t know where to begin, this episode can give you the tools and motivation to start.

For additional resources, information, and a full transcript of the episode, visit our website. To access our podcast disclosure information, visit this page.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• Things to consider when reviewing and updating your insurance coverage
• The importance of building a household emergency fund
• Suggestions for creating evacuation plans (yes, even for pets and children's toys!)
• Tips for digitizing your documents and organizing your accounts
• How you can involve your kids and greater community in preparedness efforts
• The power of the “do just one thing” approach to getting started

Resources Mentioned:

• Ready.gov disaster preparedness information and downloadable Emergency Supply Checklists
• Abacus Pro-Bono Financial Planning Services
• My Financial Life in a Binder PDF

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to the If Money Were Easy newsletter
• Subscribe to If Money Were Easy on YouTube
• Connect with Mary Beth on Instagram and on LinkedIn
• Connect with Neela on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Join the Abacus community by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram and on LinkedIn

Why doesn’t having money necessarily feel good? In this episode, Mary Beth and Neela explore the complex emotions tied to wealth—whether it's guilt over having more, shame around not having enough, or discomfort with financial privilege. They unpack how money can affect identity, belonging, and relationships, and share tools to help you reframe your money story, build financial confidence, and align your wealth with your values.

For additional resources, information, and a full transcript of the episode, visit our website. To access our podcast disclosure information, visit this page.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• How to understand the two sides of wealth shame: having too much vs. not enough
• How comparison, identity, and belonging may fuel financial discomfort
• The emotional and psychological effects of inherited wealth
• How to develop financial confidence and reframe your money story
• How to find purpose and impact through intentional money choices

Resources Mentioned:

• People With Parents With Money: 14 Adults Come Clean About the Down Payments, Allowances, and Tuition Payments That Make Their New York Lives Feasible – New York Magazine’s Intelligencer | February 10, 2025 https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/parents-money-family-wealth-stories.html
• Brené Brown is known for her work on shame, vulnerability, and leadership.

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to the If Money Were Easy newsletter
• Subscribe to If Money Were Easy on YouTube
• Connect with Mary Beth on Instagram and on LinkedIn
• Connect with Neela on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Join the Abacus community by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram and on LinkedIn

When love blooms later in life, so do important money questions. In this episode of If Money Were Easy, Mary Beth and Neela discuss the financial realities of dating, cohabiting, and marrying after 40.

Inspired by the idea of the "Golden Bachelorette," they explore how second (or third) chapters can bring new challenges and new opportunities for building strong financial foundations. From prenups and estate plans to blending families, tune in for thoughtful insights and real-world examples you might use to open your heart while also protecting your finances.

Whether you’re entering a new relationship, planning a second marriage, or supporting a parent stepping into a new chapter, this episode offers practical strategies to help navigate the intersection of love and money with confidence and clarity.

For additional resources, information, and a full transcript of the episode, visit our website. To access our podcast disclosure information, visit this page.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• Why traditional financial “rules” don’t always apply later in life.
• How to protect your financial independence while building a relationship.
• The importance of prenups, estate planning, and updated beneficiaries.
• Managing money when blending families and raising kids from previous relationships.
• How to have clear, empowering conversations about money, love, and boundaries.
• How assembling a strong team (CPA, financial planner, attorney) can help.

Resources:

• The Big Shift: For Older Women With Money, It’s “Yes” to Love and “I Don’t” to Marriage – The Washington Post | January 16, 2024 https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/01/16/women-separate-money-love-second-marriages/

• More couples are divorcing after age 50 than ever before. Psychologists are helping them navigate the big changes – American Psychological Association | November 1, 2023 https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/11/navigating-late-in-life-divorce

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to the If Money Were Easy newsletter
• Subscribe to If Money Were Easy on YouTube
• Follow Mary Beth on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Follow Neela on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Join the Abacus community by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and on LinkedIn