Every year, without fail, I find myself energized in a way that’s hard to explain to people outside this work. Not because I love spreadsheets, but because this is the time of year when the fog lifts. When I’m sitting with someone and we find something, or maybe a strategy, that they didn’t know existed.  Or maybe there’s a decision that could mean real money back in their pocket. I see it happen in their face. That moment of “Oh. Really?? I didn’t realize that!” This is exactly why I do this.

It sounds simple, but it isn’t. Life is complicated. You’re busy. The last thing you want to do is dive into the financial complexity of taxes on top of all of it. I get that. And I also know that the people who feel most behind are often the ones who are doing better than they think, they just haven’t had a chance to look clearly.

That clarity is the whole point. Confidence in your finances doesn’t mean having everything figured out. It means knowing where you stand and knowing you’re not missing something important.

If this tax season is making you anxious or you’ve been carrying a “I should really deal with this” feeling around, please reach out. We can set up a time to talk and just see where things are. That’s what I’m here for.

Betty

Thankfully I Have Smart Friends: 
The Housing Conversation You Didn’t Know You Needed with Shannon Dahman

Nobody warned us that buying a house in retirement would feel this complicated. Rates, timing, cash versus mortgage, buy before you sell, downsize or stay put. It’s genuinely a lot.

I sat down with mortgage expert Shannon Denham, and I have to be honest: this conversation shifted my thinking. The biggest surprise? Cash isn’t always the power move. In retirement, keeping some liquidity, or even carrying a smaller mortgage, can actually give you more flexibility than paying everything off. It runs counter to everything we were taught, and yet it makes complete sense once Shannon walks you through it.

We also get into bridge loans, ARMs, recasting, and the question I don’t think enough people are asking: what could you be doing with that money instead?

Whether you’re thinking about a move, already in the middle of one, or just trying to understand your options, this episode will give you the right questions to bring to any conversation with a lender or advisor.

Listen in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or my YouTube channel @bettyfinancial.

What I Read: 
Theo of Golden, by Alan Lev

This pulled me in and I have zero regrets. 

A mysterious stranger shows up in a small Southern town and starts returning pencil portraits to the people in them. Sounds simple. Somehow it’s the most quietly beautiful thing I’ve read in ages. Fair warning: you will ugly cry, and you will also immediately want to be a better human.

What I Watched: Project Hail Mary

Okay I don’t usually do sci-fi but Project Hail Mary was great. SPOILER ALERT!  Well not really. Ryan Gosling wakes up alone in space with no memory of how he got there, the sun is dying, and somehow he ends up in the most unlikely friendship of all time, with a rock crab alien named Rocky. I know how that sounds. But, it has the second-best Rotten Tomatoes audience score in Sci-Fi history. Just go see it.

As always, I am here if you need anything!

March always feels like a turning point to me. The days get longer, tax season reminds us to actually look at our finances, and somehow the new year’s intentions start to feel real.

If anything in today’s newsletter resonated with you, hit reply, I’d love to hear about it. And if you know a woman who’s been putting off getting clarity on her money, this is a great month to nudge her. Share this with her. We’re stronger when we support each other.

Disclosures: BW Financial LLC dba BW Financial Planning is an Investment Adviser registered with the State of Colorado. All views, expressions, and opinions included in this communication are subject to change. This communication is not intended as an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any financial instrument or investment advisory services. Any information provided has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but we do not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of any description of securities, markets or developments mentioned. We may, from time to time, have a position in the securities mentioned and may execute transactions that may not be consistent with this communication’s conclusions. This communication is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, accounting and/or tax advice. Should you have any questions and/or issues in these areas, please consult your legal, tax and/or accounting adviser.