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I was super excited for an inspiring chat with PreMed Student, Sophia Donovan. Sophia also happens to be my Goddaughter.

We talk about things like....
What makes sense financially...traveling abroad or staying stateside for an internship or residency?
What makes sense financially....attending an expensive top tier med school or a modest well established med school?
We also talk about finances applicable to any college student...budgets, how much to spend on what and how to save.

As Sophia aspires to attend med school, I am including her email address to help with any access she so deserves. sophia.l.donovan@gmail.com

Sophia, thank you for always inspiring me to be the best version of myself.

#medschool #premed #personalfinance #financialLiteracy #money #finance #financialplanning

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Ever wondered what separates those who merely survive trauma from those who transform it into a force for change? Carolyn Moore, founder of Modern Widows Club, returns to the podcast to introduce us to the concept of the "super survivor" – individuals who don't just overcome personal tragedy but return to create support systems for others walking similar paths.

Drawing from the groundbreaking research of Dr. Stephen Southwick (whose book "Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges" enters its third edition this September), Carolyn shares her personal journey from struggling widow to recognized change agent. The transformation wasn't immediate or easy. Initially motivated simply by providing basic needs for her young daughters, Carolyn gradually discovered the profound impact widowhood had on every aspect of her life – physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Her turning point came during an appearance on Oprah, when she was described as "a hero who didn't know it," prompting her to ask: what if I became the hero of my own story?

What makes Carolyn's work through Modern Widows Club so powerful is how it addresses the exact components of resilience she once lacked – role models who had navigated similar losses and spaces where widows can both give and receive support. The four-stage journey she describes (choosing life, reaching out, getting moving, and giving back) serves as a roadmap for anyone navigating grief. Her latest project, "Legendary Widows: Stories of Legacy," highlights twelve extraordinary women including Coretta Scott King and Eleanor Roosevelt, showcasing their remarkable accomplishments after losing their spouses – contributions that often go unrecognized in historical narratives.

Whether you're personally navigating loss or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers profound insights into how trauma can become a catalyst for positive change. As Carolyn reminds us, "A formidable woman is a terrible thing to waste," and recognizing someone as a super survivor might be the most powerful gift you can give them. The journey from surviving to thriving begins with understanding that resilience isn't just about enduring – it's about taking responsibility for writing the next chapter of your story.

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What happens when two financial planners who've experienced profound personal loss meet? They forge a friendship that transforms both their personal healing journeys and professional approaches to helping others through grief.

In this vulnerable and insightful conversation, host Chris Dale welcomes fellow financial planner Daniel Kopp, MA, MS, CFP®,MQFP® to share his remarkable journey from Air Force officer to specialist financial planner for widows and widowers. After becoming the primary caregiver for his first wife Sarah during her illness and eventual passing, Daniel navigated his own grief journey while completely rethinking his career path.

Daniel reveals how his experiences shaped his unique perspective on financial planning, particularly around risk management and healthcare costs. "Having gone through this personal experience and seeing what it would look like when I had to step away...what if I hadn't had the capacity financially? That could have been ruinous," Daniel explains, highlighting how personal tragedy fundamentally altered his professional outlook.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Daniel discusses his current work combining financial planning with financial therapy techniques. He's developing specialized interventions for grieving individuals who suddenly become their household's financial decision-maker while struggling with emotions like money avoidance. This innovative approach addresses both the practical financial challenges and the emotional barriers that can prevent effective financial management during grief.

Perhaps most powerful is the friendship that has developed between these two advisors who found each other through shared experience. They serve as accountability partners, offering candid feedback as they navigate both personal healing and professional growth. Their relationship demonstrates how grief, while isolating in many ways, can forge meaningful connections that enhance both life and work.

If you're navigating grief yourself or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers valuable insights into building resilience, finding purpose after loss, and creating the foundations that help weather life's most challenging storms. Connect with Daniel at wisestewardshipfp.com to learn more about his work with widows and widowers.

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What does the path from financial despair to freedom actually look like? In this deeply personal conversation, Certified Master Financial Coach Elizabeth Ramos reveals her remarkable journey from accumulating $300,000 in debt as a single mother to completely eliminating it—and now helping others do the same.

Despite being naturally gifted with money management from childhood (creating budgets at age eight!), Elizabeth found herself spiraling into massive debt after her divorce when trying to build a new life for her son. The emotional weight of this financial burden created feelings of shame, regret, and isolation that many listeners will recognize from their own experiences. "I was consumed with just regret, just loneliness, just shame," Elizabeth shares, describing the dark place where financial struggles led her.

The conversation explores not just the practical aspects of financial recovery but delves deeply into the emotional toll that money problems take on relationships, mental health, and self-image. Elizabeth articulates how financial stress creates relationship strain, parenting challenges, and even health problems—a cascade of consequences that extend far beyond bank statements and credit scores.

What sets this episode apart is Elizabeth's straightforward explanation of her three-step coaching process that helped her climb out of debt and now guides her clients: understanding money habits and personal history, establishing accountability, and creating concrete action plans. She emphasizes that financial recovery isn't just about spreadsheets—it's about restoring hope and envisioning a different future.

Whether you're facing overwhelming student loans, recovering from gambling debt, dealing with pandemic-related financial setbacks, or simply want to optimize your savings, Elizabeth's message offers both practical guidance and emotional reassurance. Her approach bridges the gap between crisis management and wealth-building, preparing clients for the next stage of their financial journey.

Ready to transform your relationship with money? Visit ElizabethRamos.coach to learn how financial coaching might be your first step toward true financial freedom.

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A child drowns every day in America. The silence that follows devastates families, communities, and changes lives forever. But what if these tragedies could be prevented?

Meet Heidi Burnett, founder of Swim Sprout and a woman on a profound mission to stop drowning before it happens. With drowning being the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 and claiming 320,000 lives worldwide annually, Heidi's work isn't just teaching swimming—it's literally saving lives.

Heidi shares her remarkable journey from competitive swimmer to senior master instructor who's trained over 30 swimming instructors. Her scientifically-based methodology uses operant conditioning and reinforcement schedules to teach even infants as young as nine months old how to roll onto their backs and float—a skill that can mean the difference between life and death.

"I felt like he saw something in me that I probably hadn't seen in myself yet," Heidi reflects on her business growth, expanding from a solo operation to a team of 15 instructors across multiple states. Her story illuminates how passion combined with mentorship can transform both a business and countless lives.

The conversation takes a powerful turn when host Chris shares personal stories of his own children using their survival swimming skills, including a moment when his son fell into a pool fully clothed and executed his training perfectly. These aren't just swimming lessons—they're insurance against unimaginable grief.

Discover how Heidi's partnership with the Quentin Hunter Love Foundation is bringing swim lessons to underprivileged children and support to families who have experienced loss. Her work reminds us that while we cannot eliminate every danger, we can equip our children with the skills to survive them.

Ready to learn more about drowning prevention or find survival swimming lessons for your child? Visit SwimSprout.com and help ensure water remains a source of joy rather than tragedy for your family.

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Chris pulls back the curtain on his deeply personal grief journey in this powerful inaugural episode that sets the foundation for what listeners can expect from "Real Talk with Life After Grief Chris." With remarkable candor, Chris reveals how his life has been shaped by a series of profound losses—beginning with his mother's devastating cancer diagnosis in 1994, through years as her caregiver during her Alzheimer's battle, to losing both parents within months of each other in 2008.

Through raw storytelling, Chris walks us through the financial complexities that accompanied his grief, including managing nursing home costs of $5,000 monthly as a twenty-something, becoming his mother's power of attorney, and making critical end-of-life decisions. He doesn't shy away from the emotional toll these experiences took, describing his descent to "rock bottom" with anxiety and depression after compounding losses. Yet his journey takes a transformative turn through grief counseling, spiritual connection, and personal growth practices that helped him rebuild.

Perhaps most poignantly, Chris shares his most profound grief experience—losing one of his twin sons at birth in 2012—and how this became his family's first true experience with "life after grief" as they welcomed their surviving son Eli, followed by another son years later. Now a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Certified Financial Transitionist®, Chris combines his personal grief journey with professional expertise to guide others through the financial maze that often accompanies loss. Whether you're navigating grief yourself or an advisor seeking to better serve clients in transition, subscribe to hear Chris's unique perspective on finding meaning, making sound financial decisions, and building a life after devastating loss.

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The unexpected turns our lives take often reveal the true nature of our work and purpose. As we launch Season 8 of Real Talk with Life After Grief, we're taking a reflective journey through our most impactful conversations while sharing how grief work continues to evolve in surprising ways.

This season represents a special dedication to our most popular episodes, reimagined with video elements and deeper insights. What began as a podcast about helping clients navigate financial matters during grief has expanded into something far more profound. From facilitating difficult family conversations to supporting clients through major life transitions beyond finance, the work continues to evolve in ways I never anticipated when starting this journey.

Among our most requested episodes: conversations about losing a spouse with Daniel Kopp, MA, MS, CFP®, MQFP® preventing grief with Heidi Burnett, transforming debt with Elizabeth Ramos, and powerful discussions with organizations like Modern Widows Club. Each episode reflects our commitment to authentic dialogue about grief's complex relationship with finances and well-being. Recently, my role has expanded in surprising ways – helping a longtime client who can no longer drive after a serious accident, and even being subpoenaed in a legal matter affecting a client. These experiences continually reshape my understanding of what it truly means to support someone through grief.

Join us as we revisit these essential conversations with fresh perspective. Whether you're navigating grief yourself or helping others through it, this season offers valuable insights into the emotional and financial dimensions of life's most challenging transitions. Connect with us at LifeAfterGriefFP.com if you're seeking financial guidance during grief, or LifeAfterGriefConsulting.com if you're an advisor looking to better serve clients in mourning.

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In this final episode of the season for 'Real Talk with Life After Grief,' I reflect on a recent conference for certified financial planners specializing in life transitions. I share moving stories from two speakers, Toby and Alexi, who discussed their personal experiences with IVF and child loss. These stories highlight the profound impacts of grief and how such experiences shape financial planners to better assist clients through transitions. I also delve into the techniques and tools I use to help clients navigate these challenging periods, emphasizing communication preferences and managing expectations. Finally, I discuss the concept of a 'bliss list' to envision a fulfilling future post-grief and preview my new venture into video podcasting inspired by my sons. Join me in this heartfelt episode as we explore the emotional side of financial planning.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!!!

Cheers and See you in 2025.

#financialplanning #lifetransitions

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Did you know you can now Help Us Continue Making Awesome Content for Listeners Affected by Grief!

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