Real Money, Real Life ®

Real Money, Real Life® is a personal finance podcast for people — especially women —who feel behind financially and want to build real financial confidence — without shame, judgment, or overwhelm.Hosted by Linda Grizely, CFP®, financial wellness speaker and creator of the MeMoney® Method, this podcast helps you understand how to make money decisions that work in your real life — not just on paper.If you've ever wondered:How do I feel confident about money?Why don't I feel good about money even when I'm doing everything right?Where should I start with saving, investing, or getting back on track?You're in the right place.Each episode focuses on real-life financial decisions and the mindset behind them, including:Money mindset and financial confidenceBudgeting and spending without guiltSaving and investing in real lifeLife transitions and money decisionsFinancial planning basics made simpleOvercoming fear, shame, and avoidance around moneyBecause knowing what you "should" do

Real Money, Real Life ® is a education podcast hosted by Linda Grizely, with 59 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Linda Grizely hosts Real Money, Real Life ®, a education show with 59 episodes published.

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  Episode #60

  How Your Personal Brand Affects Your Income and Career Opportunities with Brooke Foley | Ep 60

  Sep 29, 202634 minS2

  How does your personal brand affect your income and career opportunities? On the Real Money, Real Life® podcast, Linda Grizely and brand strategist Brooke Foley break down how the reputation you build over time can influence negotiating leverage, pricing, promotions, and the financial opportunities available to you. Your personal brand is not just how you look online. It is the evidence people use to decide what you are good at, what they can count on you for, and what your value may be. How do you know what you are actually worth? What if other people see more value in you than you see in yourself? Linda Grizely and Brooke walk through hard power, soft power, credibility, proof points, imposter syndrome, and the role your personal brand plays in how confidently you advocate for yourself. Brooke also explains why knowing your worth is easier when it is grounded in evidence, not just confidence. Your personal brand is being built whether you manage it intentionally or not. The clearer you are about your value, your promise, and the proof behind it, the more leverage you may have when opportunities arise. We talk about: Understand how your personal brand can affect your earning power Build proof of your value before a negotiation or promotion Separate hard power from soft power in your professional reputation Use evidence to quiet imposter syndrome and advocate for your worth Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl Timestamps (00:00) How your personal brand can affect your income (02:04) Why evidence matters in personal brand strategy (03:29) How brand strategy connects to financial outcomes (05:45) What proves the value of your personal brand (06:44) Hard power vs. soft power at work (09:17) How personal brand connects to financial leverage (09:23) How your professional reputation compounds over time (12:00) Can one major career moment change your brand? (13:29) The 10 assets of a personal brand (14:29) Start with your financial goal (14:47) Why the real decision-maker may not be who you think (16:21) How personal brand creates negotiating leverage (18:23) What "know your worth" actually means (19:42) Why pricing problems can look like awareness problems (21:21) Knowing your worth when you cannot see yourself clearly (22:01) Questions to ask others about your professional value (22:48) The difference between worth and what someone will pay (24:10) How imposter syndrome affects financial self-advocacy (24:53) Using evidence to quiet imposter syndrome (26:02) How a founder's personal brand shapes the business (28:35) Where to start building your personal brand intentionally (30:04) Who Brooke Foley works with (31:13) Why personal brand is a professional asset Connect with Brooke Website: https://www.jayneagency.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jayne-agency/ Resources: https://devilsadvocatebyjayneagency.substack.com/ Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

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  Episode #59

  Medicare Explained: What to Know at 65 and During Open Enrollment with Marcia Mantell | Ep 59

  Sep 22, 20261h 1mS2

  What do you need to know about Medicare at 65, and what decisions actually matter once you are enrolled? On the Real Money, Real Life® podcast, Linda Grizely and Medicare and retirement expert Marcia Mantell break down the rules, costs, enrollment decisions, and annual reviews that can make Medicare feel so overwhelming. The first thing to know is that turning 65 does not automatically mean everyone needs to make the same Medicare decision. Your age, employment, health coverage, Social Security status, income, location, and the type of Medicare coverage you choose can all matter. What is the difference between Parts A, B, C, D and Medigap? Do you have to enroll at 65 if you are still working? And what should you review during Medicare open enrollment? Linda Grizely and Marcia walk through Medicare Advantage versus Medigap, enrollment penalties, Part B costs, IRMAA, prescription drug coverage, and why Part C and Part D plans need another look each year. They also discuss healthcare expenses Medicare may not cover, including dental, vision, and other out-of-pocket costs. Medicare is complicated, but you do not have to understand every rule at once. Knowing which rules apply to your situation, which deadlines matter, and what needs to be reviewed each year can help you make a more informed decision. We talk about: • Understand what Medicare Parts A, B, C and D actually cover • Know whether you really need to enroll in Medicare at age 65 • Compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap before choosing your coverage • Review Medicare costs, IRMAA and prescription coverage each year Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl Timestamps (00:00) What you need to know about Medicare at age 65 (01:46) Why Medicare and Social Security rules get so complicated (04:01) Medicare Parts A, B, C and D explained (06:02) Medicare Advantage versus Original Medicare and Medigap (08:41) What to consider before choosing Medicare Advantage (11:26) Why Medicare Advantage plans need to be reviewed every year (14:09) Medicare Advantage costs you may not hear about (15:16) Why Medicare options depend on your state, county and ZIP code (19:02) How much Medicare Parts A and B can cost (21:15) Understanding the Medicare Part B premium (22:53) How higher income can increase Medicare premiums (24:28) Do you have to sign up for Medicare at age 65? (28:11) Why employer size matters for Medicare enrollment (30:14) What happens if you miss Medicare enrollment (34:42) What to review during Medicare open enrollment (38:32) Do you need to re-shop your Medicare coverage every year? (38:58) Why Medigap works differently from Medicare Advantage (42:01) How IRMAA can increase Medicare Part B and Part D costs (44:34) The two-year income lookback for Medicare IRMAA (44:58) When you can appeal an IRMAA increase (47:12) How Medicare premium changes show up in Social Security (50:30) Dental and vision costs Medicare may not cover (54:35) Building a realistic healthcare budget for retirement (56:18) Medicare planning resources from Marcia Mantell (57:05) Who Marcia helps with Medicare and retirement decisions (58:03) What to remember when making Medicare decisions Connect with Marcia Website: https://mantellretirementconsulting.com/ Blog: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boomerretirementbriefs2022 Resources: https://boomerretirementbriefs.com/ Marcia shares Medicare and Social Security articles and resources on the blog, including a Medicare healthcare cost worksheet discussed during the conversation. Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources Medicare Resources: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SAZCgao4dKsLrIdKrxfZeCGI8bEMJbN_?usp=sharing ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

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  Episode #58

  How to Buy a Car Without Overpaying: Inside the Dealership with Mark Benson | Ep 58

  Sep 15, 202654 minS2

  Buying a car without overpaying takes more than negotiating the sticker price. On the Real Money, Real Life® podcast, Linda Grizely and former dealership owner Mark Benson show you where the numbers can move and what to look at before you sign. The key is to stop negotiating around the monthly payment alone. Slow the process down and look separately at the vehicle price, trade-in, financing, interest rate, loan term, rebates, warranties, add-ons, and total cost. How do you know whether the dealer's financing is actually a good deal? What should you look for when you finally get into the finance office and they are ready to move you through the paperwork? Mark spent years owning new car dealerships, and he takes Linda Grizely behind the dealership curtain to explain trade-ins, financing markups, extended warranties, GAP coverage, rebates, refinancing, cash purchases, and the pressure consumers can feel to make a decision quickly. Real Money, Real Life® is about making financial decisions with more clarity, not trying to make a perfect decision. When you understand how a car transaction is structured, you can ask better questions, slow things down, and decide what actually works for you. We talk about: • How to negotiate a car without focusing only on the monthly payment • What to check before letting a dealership finance your car • How trade-ins, warranties, rebates, and add-ons affect what you pay • What to review before signing your auto finance contract Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl Timestamps (00:00) Why buying a car can be financially confusing (02:22) Mark Benson's background owning 14 car dealerships (05:33) How dealerships structure a car transaction for profit (08:24) Check your credit before shopping for a car (10:42) Know what your trade-in is worth before negotiating (12:23) Hard credit pulls and dealership pressure (14:40) What happens in the finance and insurance department (17:06) Extended warranties, GAP coverage, and dealership add-ons (19:20) What to review before signing a car finance contract (24:03) What F&I means and what happens in the finance office (25:06) What to look for on your auto finance documents (30:22) Should you get pre-approved for a car loan? (32:56) Is paying cash for a car actually better? (34:48) When 0% financing may not be the best deal (36:22) How car rebates work and what buyers should check (40:11) Why someone might refinance after buying a car (42:22) Financing a car and then paying it off (44:28) Psychological pressure during the car-buying process (46:32) How Honest Car Payment helps consumers (48:28) Finding refunds for unused car products and contracts (49:54) Where to find Mark Benson Connect with Mark Honest Car Payment: https://honestcarpayment.com/ CarRefunds.com: https://carrefunds.com/ X: https://x.com/car_refunds LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/honest-car-payment/?viewAsMember=true YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honestcarpayment/videos TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honest.car.payment Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HonestCarPayment/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialhonestcarpayment Google Reviews: https://g.page/r/CTxfgf6Ydlb0EAE/review Resources: https://honestcarpayment.com/ offers a free credit review. https://carrefunds.com/ offers a free finance contract review for refundable items. Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

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  Episode #57

  What Should I Do With My Old 401(k)?: It's Not as Simple as You Think | Ep 57

  Sep 8, 202635 minS2

  What should you do with an old 401(k) after leaving a job? On Real Money, Real Life®, Linda Grizely explains why the answer is not automatically "roll it over" and what you need to understand before you move the money. You generally have four choices: leave the money in your former employer's plan, move it into a new workplace plan, roll it into an IRA, or cash it out. But the choice itself is not the first question. Your account may include different types of money, plan-specific benefits, employer stock, Roth dollars, loan considerations, age-related rules, creditor protections, or other features that can affect the decision. Linda walks through what to check, what you may gain or give up with each option, why an IRA is not automatically cheaper or better, what to consider before cashing out retirement money, and why the mechanics of a rollover matter too. The goal is not to memorize every retirement-plan rule. It is to understand enough to slow down, ask better questions, and make an intentional decision instead of assuming an old 401(k) should automatically be moved. Linda talks about: How to decide what to do with an old 401(k) What to check before rolling retirement money into an IRA How the four old 401(k) options differ How to move retirement money without creating an unnecessary tax problem Timestamps (00:40) What to know before moving an old 401(k) (01:49) Why rolling over a 401(k) is not an automatic decision (03:41) What is actually inside your retirement account (07:01) Rules and circumstances that can change your decision (09:04) Employer stock and net unrealized appreciation (09:43) The Rule of 55 and early access to retirement money (10:58) Required minimum distributions before a rollover (11:56) Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA five-year rules (12:54) Backdoor Roth planning and IRA balances (13:57) What you may give up when leaving a workplace plan (15:16) How 403(b), 457(b), and other plans can differ (16:14) The four options for an old 401(k) (17:08) Option 1: Leave the 401(k) with your former employer (19:37) Option 2: Move it into your new workplace plan (21:05) Option 3: Roll the money into an IRA (22:58) Option 4: Cash out your old 401(k) (25:57) The future cost of spending retirement money today (27:33) Direct rollover vs. indirect rollover (29:42) What to do after the rollover is completed (31:33) How to make an intentional 401(k) decision (32:44) The closing nugget Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

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  Episode #56

  Real Money, Real Life® Reset: An Introduction to a New Season | Ep 56

  Aug 25, 20266 minS2

  Real Money, Real Life® recently passed the one-year mark, and Linda Grizely is giving the podcast a reset for a new season. The show is for people who feel behind financially, think they should know more by now, and want to build confidence making money decisions that work in real life. Guest conversations are staying, but Linda is making more room for solo episodes built around the questions people actually ask about saving, spending, debt, investing, retirement, 401(k)s, credit, and the decisions that can feel much harder than they look on paper. Because money decisions are shaped by more than math. Our experiences, habits, beliefs, families, emotions, circumstances, and past all affect what we do with money. Linda also introduces a new way for listeners to become part of Real Money, Real Life® by sending a voice message with a money question for a future episode. If you have ever thought, "I should know this by now," ask anyway. Chances are, someone else is wondering the same thing. We talk about: Why Real Money, Real Life® is getting a reset after one year What to expect from the new season Why money decisions are about more than math How to submit your own money question for the podcast Timestamps (00:00) Who Real Money, Real Life® is for (00:40) Why the podcast is getting a reset (01:18) Why Linda is adding more solo episodes (02:00) The real-life money questions people struggle with (02:37) Why financial decisions are about more than math (03:19) How to send Linda your money question (04:30) What to expect from Real Money, Real Life® going forward Send Linda Your Money Question https://www.speakpipe.com/rmrl Connect with Linda Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely Resources: https://www.lindagriz.com/resources ℹ️ Disclosures Real Money, Real Life® is hosted & produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC. Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine Financial, Inc., an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from & unaffiliated w/ Nectarine. The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them & do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests may express opinions or discuss strategies that are their own & should not be considered recommendations or personalized advice. This podcast is provided for informational, educational, & entertainment purposes only & should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation. For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com & https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers

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