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This Week In Your Wallet
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Cher Horowitz from Clueless. Regina George of Mean Girls. High school cool has always been elusive, right? Today, the math geeks are having a moment because the new idea of cool = students mastering personal finance. As The Wall Street Journal reports, personal finance classes are increasingly replacing economics requirements. 39 states now require a personal finance class to graduate, with four adding the mandate since 2024. In comparison, only 22 states require economics, according to a new report. "In a world of limited resources, state education departments are giving priority to the practical over the conceptual. The shift also extends to an emphasis on shop classes, as blue-collar jobs become more popular and white-collar hiring slows," reports the WSJ. "These days, students are having to make difficult financial decisions just as they step into the real world. Many young people are choosing to
work for themselves. Others are having to navigate financial temptations such as the proliferation of sports betting." We approve.
After decades of picturing a relaxed retirement, the final stretch can feel anything but calm – especially in a volatile market. While long-term investors can usually ride out the ups and downs, it’s a different story when you’re close to retirement and may need to tap your savings soon. That’s because selling investments in a downturn can do real damage to your nest egg. "We hate to sell positions to get money when the market is down," says Certified Financial Planner Katharine Perry. "All that does is lock in your losses." The good news? You don’t need to panic. A few smart, proactive moves now can protect both your savings and your retirement plans. Here’s how to get started.
There comes a point in the year when you realize tracking your spending isn’t enough if you actually want to change the trajectory of your budget. If you’re ready to move from looking backward to planning forward, it’s time to get more hands-on, with Monarch. Monarch is the all-in-one personal finance tool designed to make your life easier. It brings your entire financial life — budgeting, accounts & investments, net worth, and future planning — together in one dashboard, on your phone or laptop.
What we love is that Monarch doesn’t just show you where your money went — it helps you decide where it should go next. With automated tracking, clear projections, and a full-picture view of your finances, you can actually see yourself getting closer to becoming debt-free or hitting that next savings milestone. It’s the difference between hoping things improve… and watching them improve in real time. Use code HERMONEYFAM at Monarch.com for half off your first year!
Goodbye, 9-5…hello, "microshifting." This buzzy new work trend is all about breaking your day into short, focused bursts of productivity rather than one long office stretch, the AP reports. The payoff is more flexibility to handle life – everything from school drop-offs to doctor’s appointments – without sacrificing results. For microshifters, it’s not about hours logged at their laptop; it’s about what actually gets done. There are some tradeoffs. For example, experts say microshifting can mean weaker professional relationships. But the upsides are hard to ignore: better health, improved creativity and often, increased productivity. Thinking about pitching it to your employer? Oklahoma-based microshifter Shellie Garrett says highlighting how it benefits them is key. "You have to go in and say, ‘I’m willing to do whatever schedule and put my best foot forward, but if you want me to be
most productive or most creative, this is how I work best.’"
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Things That Save You Time
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Unfortunately, long TSA lines are still very much a thing (though a deal to fix things could be on the horizon). Case in point: Jean Chatzky says her CLEAR membership basically came to the rescue during a recent trip. On paper, it runs about $200 a year – but before you pay up, there are plenty of ways to score CLEAR or TSA PreCheck for free (or at least at a discount). PS: Layer on touchless TSA Pre for the win. It’s easy to do — though not available yet for all airlines — and since so few people have opted in, the lines are even shorter.
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The average smartphone user spends nearly 5 hours (!!) a day glued to their screen. If that stat makes you want to toss your phone across the room, you're not alone. A new study shows that dialing back your screen time doesn’t just free you from endless doomscrolling – it can boost your focus, lift your mood and leave you feeling a lot better overall.
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Ever wish you could fit therapy into your schedule without rearranging your whole day? With Talkspace, you can connect with licensed therapists right from your couch…no commute, no waiting rooms, no calendar juggling. It’s an easy, time-saving way to prioritize your mental health – and most insured clients have $0 copay. Get matched with a therapist here.
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💄 Investing Goes Glam
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Let’s just say our last InvestingFixx session had us staring at our makeup drawers a little bit differently.
We dove into two beauty brands we’re thinking about adding to our model portfolio: Ulta Beauty (ULTA) and e.l.f. Beauty (ELF). From who makes up their leadership teams to the companies’ latest expansions (hello, e.l.f.’s new haircare line!), we covered it all.
Now it’s time for the fun part. InvestingFixx members get to vote on which to add to our portfolio, which, btw, keeps beating the markets. Curious which way they’ll go? Join our next session on March 30th – your first month is free!
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From Terrified To Trailblazer: The Rise Of Christina Alexandra Voros
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When Christina Alexandra Voros joined Yellowstone as a B camera operator, she was terrified. "I spent the first two weeks convinced I was going to get fired because I didn’t understand the politics, I didn’t understand the scope of something that large," she tells Karen Finerman on How She Does It. "I remember calling a mentor of mine … weeping, going, was this a step backwards? I’m not part of the creative voice of the show."
Fast forward a few years and Voros became a director of photography and a director on Yellowstone, earned an Emmy nomination for the prequel 1883 and now, executive produces and directs all episodes of her latest series, The Madison, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell.
Her secret? Surrounding herself with people who are smarter and more inspired than she is. "I believe there are two kinds of people in the world," Voros says. "People who choose to surround themselves by people who are better and smarter and more inspired than they are, and those who choose to surround themselves by people who are less so, so that they can shine. I want to be the least shiny person in the room."
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Ask Jean
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How do I know if I "need" a financial advisor? I’ve become much more knowledgeable about finances over the past few years, which has felt very empowering (I took Jean’s FinanceFixx course last year, which was super helpful). We’re about 10 years out from retirement and my husband has handled things up until this point.
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This is one of the questions I hear most often: Do I really need a financial advisor? With so many options today, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Many people bring in an advisor during major life transitions, and being about 10 years from retirement is a big one. At that stage, the questions get more complex: Are you saving enough? When should you claim Social Security? How should your investments shift as retirement gets closer? And how will you turn those savings into income once you stop working?
Cost is often the biggest consideration. Advisors may charge a percentage of assets, an hourly fee, or a flat planning rate. But a good planner can often earn that fee (and more) by spotting opportunities you might miss — reducing investment fees, eliminating overlapping funds, tightening up your portfolio, and identifying tax-saving strategies.
And since you mentioned your husband has handled the finances until now, bringing in an advisor can also help get you up to speed, ensuring you’re both on the same page and equally prepared for the years ahead.
If you’re curious about what working with an advisor might look like, we’ve partnered with Willow, an advisor-matching platform that connects women and families with vetted fiduciary financial advisors. After answering a few quick questions about your goals and priorities, you’ll be matched with professionals who specialize in the kind of help you’re looking for. Take Willow’s quiz here.
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Submit your questions to Jean here.
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*This is a sponsored post
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