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Carvana Customer
Buying a car in Carvana was so easy. I was able to finance it through them. I just.
Jill Schlesinger
Whoa, wait, you mean finance? Yeah, finance.
Carvana Customer
Got pre qualified for a Carvana auto loan, entered my terms and shot from thousands of great car options all within my budget.
Mark
That's cool.
Carvana Customer
But financing through Carvana was so easy. Financed, done. And I get to pick up my car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow. Financed, right?
Toni
That's what they said.
Carvana Representative
You can spend time trying to pronounce financing or you can actually finance and buy your car. Today on Carvana financing subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Jill Schlesinger
Welcome to the Jill on Money Show. It's Tuesday, August 12th and we are here trying to help guide you along your financial journey. Mark, maybe we're just like the Sherpas. We're going to carry your emotional baggage up the mountain. Some of you start at base camp 1, some, 2, 3. Some of you get to a peak and you're like, eh, it ain't so great up here. Let me go back down. So whatever's going on in your life, why don't you get in touch with us? We would love to help you out. All you need to do is go to jillonmoney.com that is our website. And in the upper right corner there is a contact us button. When you click that button, a form will pop up and you write us a note. And if you'd like to join us live, you check the box. Mark does everything else because he's the best executive producer in the world. And oh, by the way, Mark, I forgot to tell you. I've. I volunteered you to talk to one of the producers at CBS to extol the virtues of getting a CFP designation. She asked me, well, why did Mark take the cfp? So what was the reason? You didn't have to. Why did you actually take the CFP exam? Why'd you do all the coursework?
Mark
Well, I think first and foremost I thought it would help. Help me, you know, doing what I do with you. I mean everything I do is based around personal finance. So I wanted to go A little bit deeper. And I figure, what's the worst case scenario? Like, you know, plays no role in my job whatsoever. Then I have all the knowledge for myself and my personal life.
Jill Schlesinger
What part of it did you find more difficult as somebody who was, you know, sort of more of a communications journalism major in school? Was the math part of it hard for you or not?
Mark
Yeah, 100%. That was the biggest challenge for me was the part of the. The train, the coursework. You know, there's like, I think there's five or six different topics. Insurance and, you know, ethics is one all on its own, and then there's one for just investments, and that's where they go into all these different calculations and theories and this, that. And that was the. That for me, that was completely foreign.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, so I'm gonna definitely have you talk to her, because that's what I said. I said, tell me, like, did you take calculus in college? And she started laughing. She's like, oh, I might have taken, like, intro to computer science to fulfill a math requirement. I said, okay, you'll talk to Mark. He'll hold your hand. It's okay. And you passed. So, hey, certified financial planner. Doesn't matter on the first, second, fourth, or fifth time you pass, you got the designation Mark. And I always say that we're going to keep paying our dues forever because we never want to take the test again. I, of course, am coming up on, I think, my 30th anniversary of the test, and, oh, my gosh, that's a long time. And anyway, we love the certified financial planner designation because it sort of connotes that we take an approach that is more holistic. We like to hear from you your whole story, and then try to help you with whatever is going on. Today we're going to try to apply some of that knowledge with Tony, who joins us from Pittsburgh. Hello, Toni. How are you feeling about the Steelers this year?
Toni
Oh, boy. I cannot say that I follow football. Do not tell the rest.
Jill Schlesinger
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that.
Mark
That.
Jill Schlesinger
How do you. How do you exist during football season if you live in Pittsburgh and you're not a Steelers aficionada?
Toni
Yeah, I hide.
Jill Schlesinger
All right, Tony, don't hide from us. Tell us what we can help you out with today.
Toni
So my general approach to finances is out of sight, out of mind. I tend to just let them kind of take care of themselves. And then about once a year, something happens, and I panic, and I dig in, and I become quickly overwhelmed and go back to my initial approach, which is Just to ignore it. All right, that's.
Jill Schlesinger
How's that working for you, that cycle?
Toni
That's what I'm hoping you can tell me.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay. Okay. Out of sight, out of mind, panic, overwhelmed, then out of sight, out of mind.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
Just as long as I got it.
Toni
I do work with a certified financial planner.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay.
Toni
And he's great. I believe that he understands me and my concerns and my goals. But again, the worry takes over. So after a podcast or two, you know, it's tempting to reach out and say, am I okay?
Jill Schlesinger
So tell us a little bit about yourself, Toni. How old are you?
Toni
I am 45.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
Single, married, divorced. Kids. What's going on?
Toni
Single, no kids.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
Makes it a lot easier for the planning, for sure.
Toni
It sure does.
Jill Schlesinger
Do you have parents you might have to take care of?
Toni
I do have parents. I have two siblings. I think together we all intend on taking care of our parents.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
Do you think they're okay, though, financially?
Toni
Yes, I think they're okay.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
All right. Great. And are you working full time right now?
Toni
I do. I work full time for the government.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
The federal government or the government of. Or the municipality called Pittsburgh.
Toni
State government.
Jill Schlesinger
State government.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
How long have you been there?
Toni
I've been there for just shy of nine years.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
So are you vested yet in the pension?
Toni
I am not. I have a little over a year to go.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
So. But that's cool. One year to vest. How's the job going? Are you happy there?
Toni
I love it. Absolutely love it.
Jill Schlesinger
Great. Amazing. That's wonderful. And how much do you earn right now?
Toni
About 230,000.
Jill Schlesinger
Tell us about how you're saving for retirement. I know you contribute to the pension. Do you also contribute to a 457 plan?
Toni
I do. I have a 457 plan. I just recently opened it, and I split it between a pre tax and a Roth 457.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
How much is in the traditional? How much is in the Roth?
Toni
Oh, boy. It's probably about 50 and 50.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
50 grand each.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
And what about other assets? Do you have other retirement plans from maybe old jobs?
Toni
I do. I have a 403B from a prior job that has about 350 in it.
Jill Schlesinger
And that's traditional also.
Toni
It is.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, so old 403B.
Mark
Got it.
Jill Schlesinger
Keep going.
Toni
There's like a very tiny cash balance plan, which I think is like a pension kind of thing, which is about 40.
Jill Schlesinger
It's so funny when people describe this. I'll just. I want to tell you why I'm Laughing a little bit. You're like, it's tiny. 40. Like, if I just said, oh, you know what? Here's $40,000, you'd be like, oh, my God. But when we just talk about our retirement assets, we seem to kind of downgraded a little bit, so that's great. So 50 traditional in your 457. 50. Roth. 350 in the old 403B. 40 in an old cash balance plan. Any other retirement assets?
Toni
No.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
Do you have a brokerage account or anything like that that you've started up?
Toni
I do. I have a brokerage account that has about 275.
Jill Schlesinger
Oh, that's great. Good job.
Toni
A small. Oh, my gosh. I did it again. Something with fidelity for about 20. And I just recently started doing a backdoor Roth great brokerage with my CFP, and that's about 15.
Jill Schlesinger
All right, how about just plain old boring money in the bank? Was that more of the Fidelity money or is that something different?
Toni
It's different. I feel like this is where I'm gonna get yelled at.
Jill Schlesinger
I'm not gonna yell at you. I love you. So how much money's in the bank?
Toni
About 450.
Jill Schlesinger
Wow, you're nervous.
Toni
I would like to be wrong.
Mark
Well, that's.
Jill Schlesinger
There's that. That's funny. I once said to somebody, like, talking about sort of like your DNA programs you in a certain way, and I said, I started as. As an anxious person in my DNA, it's like you pop out that way, so I get it. All right. So is that. Is any of that 450 earmarked for use? Do you need it for a house? Do you need it for a car? Do you need it for something?
Toni
Not really, no. Okay.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
And do you own your home?
Toni
I do.
Jill Schlesinger
How much would you guess that it's worth?
Toni
About 350.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
And do you have a mortgage that's outstanding?
Toni
I do. I have about 160 left on the mortgage, and it's a 3% rate.
Jill Schlesinger
Terrific. And you like the house? It's like a place you want to stay?
Toni
For now, yes.
Mark
Ish.
Toni
Ish.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, gotcha. Second home, rental property, anything like that?
Toni
Nothing else.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
How's your cash flow? Like, when you look at how much money you spend and the money you earn, do you feel comfortable, you know, month to month, week to week?
Toni
Um, I think so. I'd like to spend a little bit less. I always have those moments of, where does the money go? I probably spend about five a month, but there just seems to Always be like bigger expenses scattered throughout the year that offset that.
Jill Schlesinger
Right. So you mean like your month, a month is really five, but then there's like a house thing or maybe a nicer trip that probably adds a couple thousand a month. Probably. Like would you, was it, would you think it would be fair to say that it's like not really 5amonth, but if you factor in those bigger one off expenses that it's more like 7amonth?
Toni
I think that's spot on.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, all right. That often happens. Don't worry. It's, it's, it's, it's great that you have the, the handle on the five, to be honest with you. Now you love your job. Once you actually are vested in the pension, what's the game plan? You want to stay there? You're going to be a lifer. Like what, what are your hopes and dreams? You want to stay there for another 10 years after that? Do you want to, like, what are you targeting in your head about? Like what, what you'd like to happen?
Toni
I think realistically probably work until 60 simply because of the health insurance aspect of it.
Jill Schlesinger
Sure. Do you get health insurance if you stay till 60?
Toni
Yes.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, so 15 years will be. And so in 15 years, you know, if you stay there, you'd have about 25 years in. Do you know what your pension would be at that time? Approximately?
Toni
I think when I calculated last, it was about 130 based on my current salary.
Jill Schlesinger
Right, so your current salary going up a little bit, staying in that period of time and, and what? It factors it to about 130 grand a year. Okay, that's great. That feels exciting, right? Doesn't it? Or not. I mean, I'm, I'm excited for you. Why are you not excited?
Toni
I think it's just fear, to be honest.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, okay, I get you, I get it. It's, you know, look, it, it is a, it's one of those things where you say to yourself, gosh, you know, how could I possibly look ahead all those years in the future? I think I'll be okay, but who knows? And you know, it, it's hard. I get it. I totally get it. So I don't want you to think that we're sort of being, you know, I'm not going to be daft, as the British say. I understand that. It's a very, it's a tough thing to like even imagine. You know, I look at this and I say, okay, 15 years from now. Okay, let's just like play this out. You need seven grand a month now. So in 15 years, maybe that seven is 10, 11, maybe it's 12 grand even. I'll say that maybe inflation is going to run hot for 15 years or hotter than normal. And so maybe the $7,000 a month we need today is more like, I don't know, I'm going to say $12,000 a month, which would be very hot.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
But that means that your future pension would cover almost all of your needs. It's pretty remarkable. And so you should feel really happy that you have had that kind of a, you know, you've chosen a career that will, you know, essentially allow you to kind of keep up with your.
Mark
Needs, which at that time, you know, $4 million in investments.
Jill Schlesinger
Right. So we're, you know, when Mark and I like to do, like, little back of the envelope calculations.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
So. Meaning that if you have all this money right now, okay. And we. We just grow it at a very modest investment rate of return. And we also factor in the idea that your expenses are going to grow as well. You're going to have this pension, you're going to have a lot of money. So when your CFP looks at this, I am sure that this guy is saying you're cool. Does he say that?
Toni
I think so. I mean, last time we spoke, he said you can take an extra vacation. So I'll take that as a good sign.
Jill Schlesinger
Yeah, I mean, I would. I would certainly. If you're feeling like you're spending seven a month right now with your. All these extra things, and you say, well, I want to take a $10,000 vacation just, you know, or once a year, and it makes it $8,000 a month. I don't think I'd have a problem with that at all. Do you, Mark? Would you think, like, spending eight is a problem?
Mark
God, no. Not only can she do that, you know, she can fly business class if she wants to.
Jill Schlesinger
Yes, Tony. Do you like business class, Mark? And I like very big. I'm a fan of it. Mark's about to do a trip where he's flying business class with his family. So it's going to be. But I think you're in great shape. So what? Okay, how can we help you remove some of the panic and overwhelming feelings? Because just to be clear, at age 60, you'll almost have all of the money you need for your expenses just in your pension. You'll have plenty of money saved up. You'll pull money out when you need it, and then you'll claim Social Security at 67 or 70 and you will be fine. Absolutely fine. Now throw a wrench in my plan, tell me that you're pregnant with triplets.
Toni
And then absolutely not.
Jill Schlesinger
Okay, I'm just checking what is causing, what's the source of the panic?
Toni
No, I think this is great. I think I needed to hear that I'm fine and that it came from like a third party with like no vested interest. I think that helps tremendously. I was expecting to be yelled at for keeping too much in cash.
Jill Schlesinger
Well, I mean, that's sort of silly. We're going to get to that in a second. But like, the fact that you have that much money in cash kind of is your answer to being panic stricken and overwhelmed. I get it. That's your fix to the problem. My question to you is, have we convinced you just in this brief conversation that you are going to be okay? Do you believe that when we tell you these numbers and when you're, we're reinforcing what your, your CFP says, do you believe it?
Toni
Yeah, I do. I hope so.
Jill Schlesinger
Do you come from like a background where you were came from struggle?
Toni
My parents immigrated here. They did great for themselves. I'm very proud of them. But, you know, it wasn't necessarily easy.
Jill Schlesinger
I want to tell you, this is like Mark and I should keep, we should have a data set. Mark, on our, on our callers, when we have first generation immigrant or first generation callers who come with, come on and talk to us, we see a very particular pattern. And that pattern is I have to work so hard, save so much because my parents struggled to get me to this place and I can't count on anything. The rug could get pulled out from under me at any time. And therefore the attitude is a really, almost like an extreme saving pattern. Right, Mark? I mean, we hear this so often now to make this a more productive conversation. We're trying to, we're trying to break a cycle, right? One way to break a cycle is instead of saying out of sight, out of mind, it is more to take this issue of money is a little bit emotional for me to, when you meet with your certified financial planner, to believe the numbers, to say to this planner, hey, I'm going to work till 60, hope to get my. I mean, listen, if you lose your job in the middle of all this, we'll recalculate. But right now you got a job, you like it, and hopefully you stay there for a while. And I think that for me, I want you to feel like the accomplishment. I want you to like sort of take pride in what you have accomplished rather than spinning it and feeling panic stricken and overwhelmed. So the pride is, look at all this money that you have saved. I mean, it's incredible. There's not more to accomplish here. You have done the heavy lifting. You've done an incredible, incredible job. There is no hole in this plan. I would love it if we could encourage you to take some of that money in the bank and put it to work. Is that a possibility or is that just impossible?
Toni
I think it's a possibility. I think I would feel better about it once I become vested.
Jill Schlesinger
Fair enough. Okay, so the 450 that's in the bank, is it at least in some CDs? Are you earning interest on this money?
Toni
Most of it is in high yield savings accounts.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
I mean, I would maybe even take some of it and just pop it into a cd because if I think interest rates are going to start coming down over the next year. So if you wanted to just even take half of it and put it into a CD or 100 or whatever, but just to have a little bit of money that's like fixed and tied up, not subject to the drop in interest rates, which I presume is going to happen. I don't know if it's going to, but I just presume at least, you know, take 100 grand. The money that's in the brokerage account the CFP is managing right now.
Toni
Yes.
Jill Schlesinger
And how is that invested?
Toni
Oh, boy.
Jill Schlesinger
Funds. Is it like funds or exchange traded funds?
Toni
I honestly could not tell you.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
So I think one of the reasons you might be feeling overwhelmed, I think what happens is you, you get to this money conversation, you get the broad brush. You understand it, you know, in your head that the CFP and now Jill and Mark are saying, I'm okay. But the next level is when you start to shut down. I think. I think, I mean, it's sort of like a generalized sense I get. I really believe it would behoove you to maybe walk through these investments with the cfp or you know what, send us a PDF you can scratch out like your full name and any identifying things and we can have you come on the program and we can actually explain exactly what you have. I get this sense from many of you listening that you can really relate to Tony because some people come on the program and they're like spreadsheet junkies and they'll give you the cusip, the little five symboled name of the, the security they own. But a lot of you I know have no interest in that and I think that this would be really instructive. Right, Mark? Like, we definitely have a bifurcation of who the listener is. We have a big bunch of do it yourselfers and we have people who are just charmed by our personalities. I want to make sure that we can really break this down with you because I think if you actually understand it, I think that's how you break the cycle of out of sight, out of mind, panic, overwhelmed. Out of sight, out of mind, panic, overwhelmed. I'd really love for you to get out of that.
Toni
Me too. Me too.
Jill Schlesinger
So would you be willing to maybe send us like a screenshot or a copy a PDF of the statement and we could do that with you?
Toni
Absolutely.
Jill Schlesinger
Mark, are you game?
Mark
I'm game. I don't like people not knowing exactly what's going on.
Jill Schlesinger
It's exactly how I feel. So this is what I think we can do. So this is Toni, part one. Part two is going to be. We are going to walk you through this. What I do want you to hear is that you are in very good shape. And guess who put herself there. You did.
Mark
Okay.
Jill Schlesinger
You have done this perfect candidate for.
Mark
The Jill on money dating show.
Right?
Jill Schlesinger
Right. We need exactly. If you tell us after we get off the air, if you tell us what you're looking for. We are. Yeah, we're going to do some sort of a dating app with. Because who wouldn't want a Tony in their lives? Woman is kicking ass. So, Tony, thank you so much for joining us. We're looking forward to seeing that statement and we'll walk it, walk you through it. And I think that's where you're going to feel much better about yourself. Gang, are you relating to this? Maybe you're married or partnered with somebody who's like Tony, where you say, oh, come on, we're in good shape. And the person's like, no, we're not. Because it. You can hear this. It's an emotional issue. So some of you are going to hear this episode here. Oh, my God. What's she worried about? And what you have to understand is it's not rational. These money issues, they kind of occupy this space of an irrational thought process. And all we think we can help Tony do and maybe hopefully you is break out of that cycle, understand what's going on, and then I think you'll feel like you can really take control. So if you're like Tony or you've got a Tony in your life, get in touch with us. Go to jillonmoney.com, click the contact Us button, write us and tell us what's happening. And if you'd like to join us on the air, check the box. By the way, if Toni had just listed off her assets and said am I okay? I would have just answered it. Be like, yeah, you're okay. But hearing what is going on in her voice makes us better at helping guide her. You see, we again, we are the emotional Sherpa us. We're taking that, that baggage off of you onto us. Hey, go to Jill on money.com Sign up for the free weekly newsletter Catch my book the Great Money Reset. Subscribe to everything we do like our other podcast called Money Watch and I think you'll really like it. Okay, I think that's it man. Subscribe to us on the Odyssey app or wherever you find your favorite podcast. Try to lift someone up. Change your work, change your wealth, change your life. Thank you for listening and we'll talk to you tomorrow.
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Mark
Every week on the Moth podcast, we hear from incredible people who have found their own voice.
Carvana Representative
There's this little bit of wisdom people say all the time, you know, that you should live in the moment. Let me tell you something, there is nothing worse than being forced to live in the moment.
Mark
The Moth podcast features real people telling their stories live on stage to connect and learn from them. Follow and listen to the Moth on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Information:
Episode Details:
In the episode titled "Can I Continue to Coast?" released on August 12, 2025, Jill Schlesinger addresses the financial anxieties of listeners who, despite having significant savings and retirement plans, find themselves feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their financial future. The episode features a heartfelt conversation with a listener named Toni from Pittsburgh, who seeks guidance on managing her finances without succumbing to panic.
[04:38] Toni introduces herself:
Financial Assets:
Real Estate:
[05:13] Toni shares her financial management style:
"I tend to just let them kind of take care of themselves. And then about once a year, something happens, and I panic, and I dig in, and I become quickly overwhelmed and go back to my initial approach, which is just to ignore it."
Despite having substantial savings and a robust retirement plan, Toni grapples with periodic anxiety that disrupts her financial stability. Her approach of "out of sight, out of mind" leads to a cyclical pattern of neglecting her finances until unforeseen events trigger panic.
Jill's Observation:
“Out of sight, out of mind, panic, overwhelmed, then out of sight, out of mind.” ([05:04])
Toni acknowledges working with a certified financial planner (CFP) who understands her goals:
“I do work with a certified financial planner. And he's great. I believe that he understands me and my concerns and my goals.” ([05:13])
However, the emotional toll manifests during moments of financial stress, prompting her to reach out for reassurance and guidance.
[11:09] Toni discusses her retirement plans:
Jill and Mark's Analysis:
Jill Schlesinger and her executive producer, Mark, delve into Toni's financial details to provide clarity and reassurance.
Key Points Discussed:
Sufficiency of Retirement Funds:
Investment Portfolio Analysis:
Savings Strategy:
Brokerage Account Management:
The conversation underscores the interplay between financial security and emotional well-being. Toni's background as a child of immigrants adds layers to her financial behavior:
Jill's Insight:
"The pattern is... I have to work so hard, save so much because my parents struggled... and I can't count on anything. The rug could get pulled out from under me at any time." ([16:24])
Strategies for Overcoming Financial Anxiety:
Reallocating Savings:
Investment Review:
Enhanced Financial Planning:
Toni's Response:
“I think it's a possibility. I think I would feel better about it once I become vested.” ([18:32])
This indicates her willingness to adjust her financial strategies based on expert recommendations, signaling progress towards overcoming her financial fears.
Holistic Financial Planning: Integrating emotional well-being with financial strategies leads to more comprehensive and sustainable financial health.
Breaking the Cycle of Financial Panic: Proactive engagement with financial planners and adopting structured investment strategies can help break the pattern of neglect and panic.
The Role of Psychological Safety in Financial Decisions: Ensuring that financial decisions are backed by reliable plans and expert advice can alleviate anxiety and foster confidence.
Notable Quotes:
In this episode, Jill Schlesinger effectively addresses the common yet often unspoken fear of financial instability despite having substantial assets. Through a compassionate and analytical conversation with Toni, the episode highlights the importance of emotional support in financial planning. Jill and Mark provide not only expert financial advice but also the necessary emotional reassurance to help listeners like Toni navigate their financial journeys with confidence and peace of mind.
Listeners encouraged to engage with the show can visit jillonmoney.com to submit their own financial concerns and potentially be featured in future episodes, continuing the journey towards financial empowerment and emotional well-being.
[Refer to Timestamps for Detailed Insights Abovely]