Treat Yourself To My 2024 Faves! 🎁

It’s December 12. 

That means many of us are in a gift-buying frenzy! 

But few of those gifts actually have a good “return on investment.” Educational gifts, however, absolutely do! 

If you are wanting to learn more about money, or start/build your business, why not treat yourself with some of my 2024 favorites?

Podcasts:

These are listed in no particular order, to save myself the time and effort of overthinking it!

#1 STAY WEALTHY IN RETIREMENT with Taylor Schulte

Taylor speaks with clarity. Sometimes he has a guest, but he’s usually simply educating on a particular topic. He’s the founder of Define Financial, a financial planning firm focusing on serving those over 50, approaching or in retirement. There are valuable topics if you’re in this demographic. Go here to listen. 

#2 RETIRE WITH STYLE with Wade Pfau and Alex Murguia

These guys came up with the RISA profile to “discover the retirement income plan that is right for you.” Wade is incredibly intelligent and he and his cohort deal with some complicated, but important issues in preparing for, and navigating retirement. It can be a little heady, and I don’t resonate with their financial biz “humor,” but I’ve learned a lot. Go here to listen. 

#3 GROWING MONEY with Sean Trace

Sean started this podcast in 2024 and it’s great! Each week he has a different financial expert speak (including, ahem, me) and converse with him about financial matters in a down-to-earth manner. It’s very approachable and thought-provoking, particularly about our relationship with money. Go here to listen. 

#4 MONEY MATTERS with Allworth Financial

Scott and Pat are funny! People call in and they answer their financial questions. I’m religious about listening to this every week. I learn a lot, and am entertained with their humor! I only carefully recommend financial planning firms, but Allworth Financial is my top one if I were referring someone to a CFP. Go here to listen.

#5 COACH PONY: Get Paid to Coach

I had to make this pink because it’s a branding color of Coach Pony and I love it! These podcasts are short, practical, creative, and entertaining. They do not include guest speakers, but are on educational topics for building your small business. They’re extremely practical and useful if you’re just starting out, and want to build your business simply, and effectively. Go here to listen.

Books:

#1 THE PUMPKIN PLAN by Mike Michalowicz—A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field (Entrepreneurship Simplified)

Okay, I haven’t read it yet. But it will be at my doorstep tomorrow! Same author as Profit First (which, by the way, is a fantastic way to approach business finances wisely–I read it in 2023 so it doesn’t make the 2024 list). I think the subtitle speaks for itself. Amazon says it “...guides you through unconventional strategies…” 

#2 THE ESSENTIALISM PLANNER by Greg McKeown—A 90-Day Guide to Accomplishing More by Doing Less

I read Essentialism in 2022 and am excited to apply the planner to my work. Essentialism helps you free yourself from the “trivial” and focus on what matters most to you. The planner helps us break down our year into manageable quarters. I’m excited!  

#3 COMPANY OF ONE by Paul Jarvis—Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business

This was refreshing because I love being intentional and unconventional. It’s focused on being better instead of bigger so you have the freedom to pursue other meaningful pleasures in life, and avoid the headaches of corporate hierarchy. It’s a pretty quick read. 

#4 ATOMIC HABITS (by James Clear) and TINY HABITS (by B.J. Fogg)

I love both of these books. Although I didn’t read them for the firsttime in 2024, I keep going back to them! My main takeaway from the former is how systems, not goals, drive progress. But I keep going back to the tactics in the latter because they’re approachable and easy. 

#5 WRITING THE MEMOIR by Judith Barrington

Hey, if you dream of writing a book someday about a meaningful time and learning in your life, this is inspirational and practical! Maybe someday I will! Also, at the end of every chapter, it has suggested writing exercises which are super helpful and can help you break through writer’s block! 

I read other books in 2024 but these are my faves! You can find them all on Amazon. And I need to mention that I’m looking forward to Ramit Sethi’s book on MONEY FOR COUPLES: No More Stress. No More Fights. Just a 10-Step Plan to Create Your Rich Life Together. It comes out December 31.

Programs: 

#1 BARB (Build a Real Business, for Coaches) 😃😃😃

Pink again! I invested in this program in August. I have not regretted it for a moment! This has been (and continues to be) transformational for my financial coaching business. I had great training on the “soft side” of coaching. But I realized I needed more, to level-up and shore up the business side of things. With curriculum, video instruction, a Facebook community, and live coaching calls, the value far surpasses what I’ve financially invested. You have to check it out if you’re also a coach! Go here to check it out. 

#2 POSITIVE INTELLIGENCE

Finally, I’m so excited about this mental fitness program. Every few months, you’ll see here on LinkedIn the opportunity for coaches to go through the initial program, free. This approach to rewiring our brain for improved wellness, performance and relationships, parallels my past experience in therapy. Yet it offers an “operating system” that is practical and effective. It’s something you can apply to your personal wellbeing, or choose to integrate in your coaching practice. Read herefor more information about this Stanford factor-analysis study.

So there you have it! And a challenge…

As you reflect on 2024 and plan for the new year:

1. Think about an aspirational goal in your life.

2. Think about what you’d like to accomplish in 2025 to move towards that.

3. What are of some tangible steps you can take to accomplish those. Start with small steps that are easy and motivational!

Maybe some of the resources listed can help you move forward. 

P.S. Books and podcasts are great. But if you want more structured and intensive help with your money world in 2025, don’t forget about reaching out for coaching!