Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Today we're talking about current events that are affecting our finances...and therefore our overall mental and emotional well-being. From a record spike in auto repossessions, to the highest number of October layoffs in 20+ years, to the longest federal government shutdown in history--with SNAP benefits and health insurance access on the line--Financial Therapy is here to help us put words to the financial uncertainty and mounting hardships many of us are facing, so we can be more secure and confident in our financial decision-making, and ultimately, have a greater sense of well-being overall.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Today we'll ask our guest: What's your financial origin story? Were you taught financial literacy? Or did your caregivers rarely discuss money growing up? More often than not, we get our money mindsets passed down to us from our parents, or whoever was most responsible for making the financial decisions.Whether you were scraping by, or had an abundance of wealth (or whether either is the case right now), those early influences affect how you now view money, how you choose to earn and spend it, and ultimately, your financial health and wellness.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone--welcome to Financial Therapy! Last episode, we talked about three steps to take when creating your budget, so that you set it up as an effective boundary. Today, we're talking about how to communicate that boundary to others (and/or even back to yourself). Let's get more secure and confident in our financial decision-making, and enjoy a greater sense of well-being overall.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Welcome to Financial Therapy! Last episode, we talked about how budgets help us set healthy boundaries--and the four hard truths about why many people don't have one. Today, we're talking about three steps to take to set your budget up as an effective boundary. The goal here is to give us all ways to be more secure and confident in our financial decision-making, and to have a greater sense of well-being overall.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Welcome to Financial Therapy! Have you ever wondered why it's so difficult to sit down, get focused, and make a budget? Today we’re talking about how budgets help us set healthy boundaries--and the four hard truths about why many people don't have one. Let's change that by talking about why budgets are important in setting boundaries with ourselves and others, as well as for our mental wellness.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Welcome to Financial Therapy! In this follow-up to the Cost of Connection Episode, Andi and Lena discuss the pressure to spend for friends.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Today we'll ask our guest: What's your financial origin story? Were you taught financial literacy? Or did your caregivers rarely discuss money growing up? More often than not, we get our money mindsets passed down to us from our parents, or whoever was most responsible for making the financial decisions.Whether you were scraping by, or had an abundance of wealth (or whether either is the case right now), those early influences affect how you now view money, how you choose to earn and spend it, and ultimately, your financial health and wellness.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, welcome to Financial Therapy! Today we’re talking about money dysmorphia, and we’ve got a great guest, Crystal Zuzek, back with us to have the conversation. Money dysmorphia is a term for having a distorted perception of one's financial situation--a view which doesn't match reality. It's characterized by feelings of financial insecurity or anxiety, even when objectively one's finances are stable or healthy--and/or denial about the limitations of your finances or the consequences of your spending. It can manifest as overspending, excessive worrying about money, or avoiding spending altogether--all because you feel wealthier or poorer than you actually are. Crystal first heard about this concept via an episode from the Glamorous Trash podcast, which discussed how social media is fueling financial anxiety, and asked the question: who’s really broke vs. just unnecessarily worried about being so? This phenomenon affects many of us, so let's talk about it! Don't forget to call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763).

Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Welcome to your Financial Therapy for the week! No matter your income level, basic interactions with money might make you anxious or get you down. Let's talk about some of them, as well as possible ways to adjust your mindset for the future.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

What's your financial origin story? Were you taught financial literacy? Or did your caregivers rarely discuss money growing up? More often than not, we get our money mindsets passed down to us from our parents, or whoever was most responsible for making the financial decisions.Whether you were scraping by, or had an abundance of wealth (or whether either is the case right now), those early influences affect how you now view money, how you choose to earn and spend it, and ultimately, your financial health and wellness.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hi everyone--welcome to your Financial Therapy for the week! Today we're talking about financial abuse, which is a common tactic used by abusers to gain power and control in a relationship. The forms of financial abuse may be subtle or overt but in general, include tactics to conceal information, limit the victim's access to assets, or reduce accessibility to the family finances. Again, any time that you’re not including your partner fully as a member of the financial management team, that’s a problem. But it can be hard to recognize when behaviors are actually problematic. So let's talk about it! Learn more about financial/economic domestic abuse here:National Domestic Abuse Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/financialabuse/ Grace vs. Abuse: 7 Questions to Define the Line: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/grace-vs-abuse-7-questions-to-define-the-line/ Surviving Economic Abuse: https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Welcome to your Financial Therapy for the week! Today we're talking about financial infidelity, which occurs when a partner in a committed relationship intentionally lies to or keeps financial secrets from the other partner. This can take many forms, including hiding debts, secret bank accounts or credit cards, making large purchases without consulting the partner, or lying about income or expenses. Any time that you’re not including your partner fully as a member of the financial management team, that’s a problem. But it can be hard to recognize when behaviors are actually problematic. So let's talk about it! Learn more about financial infidelity here: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-infidelity.aspCall or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, I'm Lena Banks – a Certified Financial Planning professional and small business coach based in Austin, TX. Welcome to Financial Therapy! Today's episode is all about the 5 things the best financial advisors will do for you as their client. Listen in to be more confident making your next financial move!Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, welcome back to Financial Therapy! Today we’re closing out a two-part episode about traditional finance theory vs. behavioral finance, and the biases that can creep into our financial decision-making. This episode, we'll talk more about "4 Horsemen" affecting our financial behaviors: obligation, fear/denial, guilt/shame, and pride--and discuss how gaining an understanding about them can help us make more thoughtful financial moves in the future. Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone, welcome back to Financial Therapy! Today we’re starting a two-part episode about traditional finance theory vs. behavioral finance, and the biases that can creep into our financial decision-making. In his book, The Subconscious Mind of The Consumer (and How To Reach It), Harvard Business school professor Gerald Zaltzman says that 95% of purchasing decisions happen in the subconscious mind and are driven by emotions. We'll learn about 13 common biases, and discuss how gaining an understanding about them can help us make more thoughtful financial moves in the future. Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone! Welcome to your Financial Therapy for the week.Lena, Andi, and Pam continue the conversation about post-divorce financial realities. In Part 2 of the discussion, we talk what you may be feeling about spending on kids--as well as six practical steps you can take to give you more peace of mind on your post-divorce financial journey.Call or text to submit your feedback and questions for the show: 1-844-4FINPOD (1-844-434-6763)

Hey everyone! Welcome to your Financial Therapy for the week.Today we're starting our discussion about post-divorce financial realities. After a divorce is final, we can confront reduced income, changes in retirement and tax planning, insurance needs, and/or childcare. We have a general need for a new mindset and spending habits that reflect our new financial situation. But what about the emotional toll that comes with the changing finances--including the stress and strain that naturally comes with having less free time, less resources for self-care, and more obligations that you carry alone with respect to childcare or maintaining a home?In this two-part episode, we talk about it all--as well as six practical steps you can take to give you more peace of mind on your post-divorce financial journey.Submit your questions/comments for the show to: info@brioplans.com.

The pandemic reset our needs and expectations around 'going out'. Now, more people are turning to paid activities like social clubs; dating, dinner, and activity-based apps; and and other ways to establish and maintain their relationships--all of which can add up financially. In this episode we discuss how we invest in the activities and services that connect us to others.

Are you a minimizer or maximizer? A saver or investor? In this episode Lena and friend of the Financial Therapy podcast, Andi Cobb, cover Six Money Mindsets, and chat a bit about how they influence how we make financial decisions.

What's your financial origin story? Were you taught financial literacy? Or did your caregivers rarely discuss money growing up? More often than not, we get our money mindsets passed down to us from our parents, or whoever was most responsible for making the financial decisions.Whether you were scraping by, or had an abundance of wealth (or whether either is the case right now), those early influences affect how you now view money, how you choose to earn and spend it, and ultimately, your financial health and wellness.