1 00:00:08,300 --> 00:00:13,210 Suze: December 14th, 2025. Welcome everybody to the Women and Money 2 00:00:13,210 --> 00:00:17,379 Suze: podcast as well as everybody smart enough to listen. And yes, 3 00:00:17,620 --> 00:00:21,180 Suze: today is another Suze School, and we're almost coming down 4 00:00:21,180 --> 00:00:25,619 Suze: to the end of another year. Last Sunday, I did 5 00:00:25,620 --> 00:00:29,659 Suze: a Suze School about a woman that we decided to 6 00:00:29,659 --> 00:00:33,180 Suze: call Susan and what happened to her in terms of 7 00:00:33,180 --> 00:00:34,979 Suze: her very good friend 8 00:00:35,389 --> 00:00:38,869 Suze: asking her to take her money from a successful financial 9 00:00:38,869 --> 00:00:41,619 Suze: adviser where she was making money and give it to 10 00:00:41,619 --> 00:00:45,020 Suze: this woman's son who was a brand new financial adviser 11 00:00:45,020 --> 00:00:48,349 Suze: just so he could look like he was doing well 12 00:00:48,348 --> 00:00:52,299 Suze: and attracting big clients and cause her son was only 13 00:00:52,299 --> 00:00:56,029 Suze: going to charge her 1% versus this extraordinary adviser that 14 00:00:56,029 --> 00:00:58,709 Suze: was charging her 1.5%. If you don't know what I'm 15 00:00:58,709 --> 00:01:01,669 Suze: talking about, go back to last Sunday and listen to it. 16 00:01:02,419 --> 00:01:08,699 Suze: Well, I have to tell you that podcast generated more email. 17 00:01:09,370 --> 00:01:10,989 Suze: In a way that I didn't expect. 18 00:01:12,199 --> 00:01:15,800 Suze: So many of you wrote and said, Suze, that happens 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,239 Suze: to me all the time, not necessarily about me transferring 20 00:01:20,239 --> 00:01:24,040 Suze: my account, but I just get so afraid. One friend 21 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,199 Suze: tells me to do this, another friend tells me to 22 00:01:26,199 --> 00:01:28,720 Suze: do that. My spouse tells me to do this. I'm 23 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,959 Suze: just so afraid. And what can you tell me about 24 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,199 Suze: being afraid? 25 00:01:35,209 --> 00:01:39,729 Suze: So, what's interesting is that I hear from so many women, 26 00:01:39,809 --> 00:01:43,529 Suze: you would imagine that, the Women in Money podcast, and 27 00:01:43,529 --> 00:01:46,330 Suze: everybody smart enough to listen. But what I love so 28 00:01:46,330 --> 00:01:50,650 Suze: much about this podcast is that really the majority of 29 00:01:50,650 --> 00:01:55,610 Suze: people that are listening are 50, 60, 70, 80, and 30 00:01:55,610 --> 00:01:56,250 Suze: so on. 31 00:01:56,940 --> 00:02:01,180 Suze: I love that, because there's not another podcast out there 32 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:06,660 Suze: that specializes in getting financially mature, financially older, the decisions 33 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:09,339 Suze: you have to make and face when you are ill, 34 00:02:09,419 --> 00:02:12,380 Suze: when you are old, you can't work anymore. And I 35 00:02:12,380 --> 00:02:15,019 Suze: remember when I was 45 years of age and my 36 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:17,299 Suze: first book was "You've Earned It, Don't Lose It, Mistakes 37 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:19,580 Suze: You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire." But what 38 00:02:19,580 --> 00:02:24,008 Suze: did I know about retirement, really? I was 45. 39 00:02:24,940 --> 00:02:28,820 Suze: Now I am 30 years older than that, and I 40 00:02:28,820 --> 00:02:32,299 Suze: know a lot about retirement. I know about getting ill. 41 00:02:32,460 --> 00:02:38,059 Suze: I know about making mistakes. I know certain things. So 42 00:02:38,059 --> 00:02:43,809 Suze: I love that I have my elderly community, and I 43 00:02:43,809 --> 00:02:47,169 Suze: love the ones that are young enough, 25, 30, that 44 00:02:47,169 --> 00:02:48,960 Suze: are enjoying it as well. 45 00:02:50,169 --> 00:02:56,630 Suze: But what is still true from so many women is this: 46 00:02:57,369 --> 00:03:01,690 Suze: regardless of your age, regardless of your income level, even 47 00:03:01,690 --> 00:03:06,049 Suze: your background, all of your stories sound the same. 48 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:11,710 Suze: That you're earning more than ever before, you're saving, you're investing, 49 00:03:11,758 --> 00:03:15,750 Suze: you're doing everything that I've told you to do over 50 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:22,579 Suze: all these years, but deep down you are all still afraid. 51 00:03:23,279 --> 00:03:27,139 Suze: And I got two or three emails about three weeks ago, 52 00:03:27,679 --> 00:03:31,350 Suze: and these women were so accomplished, and the two of 53 00:03:31,350 --> 00:03:34,919 Suze: you know who you are, because I wrote you back 54 00:03:34,919 --> 00:03:41,039 Suze: significant long emails to help you and raise you up, 55 00:03:41,279 --> 00:03:44,240 Suze: not so much from your finances, but out of your 56 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,869 Suze: fear and out of your self-doubt. 57 00:03:48,339 --> 00:03:52,210 Suze: But all of you, you're still scared, you're scared that 58 00:03:52,210 --> 00:03:55,220 Suze: the market's gonna crash. You're scared that you're gonna make 59 00:03:55,220 --> 00:03:58,520 Suze: just one mistake and you're gonna lose it all. You're 60 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:03,550 Suze: scared that somehow it's going to all slip away. 61 00:04:04,419 --> 00:04:06,020 Suze: You know, I used to call it that we all 62 00:04:06,020 --> 00:04:09,979 Suze: have this bag lady syndrome that we imagined ourselves, not me, 63 00:04:10,020 --> 00:04:13,740 Suze: by the way, that we imagined ourselves being powerless and 64 00:04:13,740 --> 00:04:16,399 Suze: penniless and living on the streets. 65 00:04:17,100 --> 00:04:19,779 Suze: And the only way that could ever happen. 66 00:04:20,868 --> 00:04:25,269 Suze: It is if you're powerless, because remember you and your 67 00:04:25,269 --> 00:04:29,579 Suze: money are one and when you are powerless you tend 68 00:04:29,579 --> 00:04:32,967 Suze: to make mistakes with your money but when you're powerful 69 00:04:33,188 --> 00:04:37,188 Suze: you always tend to do the right thing and I 70 00:04:37,188 --> 00:04:40,229 Suze: just have to be honest, you know, cause it's starting 71 00:04:40,229 --> 00:04:43,269 Suze: to get to me, for I can teach you what 72 00:04:43,269 --> 00:04:46,647 Suze: to invest in but I have to tell you, everybody, 73 00:04:46,908 --> 00:04:48,328 Suze: that's just not enough. 74 00:04:49,190 --> 00:04:53,549 Suze: But I also need to teach you about fear because 75 00:04:53,559 --> 00:04:57,540 Suze: you can have money and still not have peace, and that, 76 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,570 Suze: my dear friends is not the way to live life. Remember, 77 00:05:02,609 --> 00:05:05,440 Suze: as I just said a second ago, you and your 78 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:09,679 Suze: money are one. So if you fear your money, you 79 00:05:09,678 --> 00:05:12,420 Suze: in essence are fearing yourself. 80 00:05:13,459 --> 00:05:15,820 Suze: So, here is what I need you to get once again, 81 00:05:15,899 --> 00:05:18,940 Suze: and I have told you this before, but since this 82 00:05:18,940 --> 00:05:22,019 Suze: is Suze School, how about if we take out our 83 00:05:22,019 --> 00:05:25,059 Suze: Suze notebooks and we write this down. 84 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,959 Suze: Money doesn't erase fear. Do you remember me telling you this? 85 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:32,149 Suze: Courage does. 86 00:05:34,119 --> 00:05:38,459 Suze: Courage, one of the eight qualities of a wealthy woman. 87 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:45,410 Suze: Actually, the third quality, just so you know, courage is 88 00:05:45,410 --> 00:05:49,670 Suze: what shows up when you finally stop running from your 89 00:05:49,670 --> 00:05:55,070 Suze: finances and start standing in your power, when you stop 90 00:05:55,070 --> 00:05:57,709 Suze: running from self-doubt. 91 00:05:58,488 --> 00:06:01,409 Suze: My 2nd book that I ever wrote was "The 9 92 00:06:01,410 --> 00:06:04,489 Suze: Steps to Financial Freedom" and truthfully, in my opinion, the 93 00:06:04,488 --> 00:06:05,750 Suze: best book I ever wrote. 94 00:06:06,519 --> 00:06:10,049 Suze: And I would always say, if you can just take 95 00:06:10,049 --> 00:06:13,329 Suze: one step towards your money, which means taking one step 96 00:06:13,329 --> 00:06:16,049 Suze: towards yourself, since you and your money are one. 97 00:06:17,420 --> 00:06:22,070 Suze: You and your money will take nine steps back towards you. 98 00:06:23,209 --> 00:06:26,190 Suze: But you know, the truth is I've seen it over 99 00:06:26,190 --> 00:06:27,769 Suze: and over again. 100 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,099 Suze: Women who are brilliant. 101 00:06:31,049 --> 00:06:33,589 Suze: Women who are responsible, hardworking. 102 00:06:34,589 --> 00:06:41,700 Suze: Yet for some reason they carry this quiet anxiety about money. 103 00:06:43,250 --> 00:06:45,209 Suze: And a lot of the women that I've been writing 104 00:06:45,209 --> 00:06:48,609 Suze: back and forth with, not like they're only making 10,000 105 00:06:48,609 --> 00:06:53,690 Suze: a year, they're making 100,000 a year, 150,000, one's making 350,000, 106 00:06:53,730 --> 00:06:56,010 Suze: and she's still scared to death. 107 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:58,290 Suze: So what do they do? 108 00:06:59,140 --> 00:07:04,589 Suze: They check their accounts constantly. They second guess every decision. 109 00:07:04,980 --> 00:07:09,799 Suze: They feel guilty for spending and worried about not saving enough. 110 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:14,700 Suze: And here's the truth, the fear isn't about numbers. It's 111 00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:15,660 Suze: about trust. 112 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,630 Suze: Trusting yourself, trusting that you know what's right for you, 113 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,309 Suze: trusting that you can handle everything and whatever comes next. 114 00:07:26,630 --> 00:07:30,730 Suze: And when you build everybody that kind of trust with yourself. 115 00:07:31,519 --> 00:07:37,380 Suze: That's when your relationship with money and who you are transforms, 116 00:07:38,239 --> 00:07:43,559 Suze: because fear can't survive where confidence lives, you know, I 117 00:07:43,559 --> 00:07:45,230 Suze: just want to say this a little and then I'll 118 00:07:45,230 --> 00:07:50,190 Suze: go on with this. I have a sister-in-law, KT's twin sister, 119 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,920 Suze: and Lynn, I know you're gonna hear this, and I'm 120 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,040 Suze: so proud of her. 121 00:07:55,769 --> 00:07:58,200 Suze: And I may have told you this again a little 122 00:07:58,200 --> 00:07:59,970 Suze: bit ago because I never know what I say or 123 00:07:59,970 --> 00:08:01,649 Suze: I don't because I just kind of speak in the 124 00:08:01,649 --> 00:08:05,140 Suze: microphone and I never remember what I've said after I 125 00:08:05,140 --> 00:08:07,709 Suze: said it, so excuse me if I already told you this, 126 00:08:08,290 --> 00:08:11,209 Suze: but I'm so proud of her and her husband Tom, 127 00:08:11,309 --> 00:08:15,529 Suze: by the way, and Lynn is starting to really learn 128 00:08:15,529 --> 00:08:21,809 Suze: about stocks and feeling confident enough about deciding what stocks 129 00:08:21,809 --> 00:08:25,070 Suze: she wants to buy with their money. 130 00:08:25,859 --> 00:08:29,140 Suze: I love that. I love that. I love that. 131 00:08:30,179 --> 00:08:35,369 Suze: But here's the truth. What I find fascinating is that, 132 00:08:35,619 --> 00:08:40,359 Suze: do you know that women today, women, women control nearly 133 00:08:40,359 --> 00:08:43,979 Suze: 1/3 of all the wealth in this country? Can you 134 00:08:43,979 --> 00:08:48,650 Suze: just imagine that? And that number is growing every single year. 135 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:51,659 Suze: But still, 136 00:08:52,679 --> 00:09:00,559 Suze: Most women say they don't feel confident making financial decisions, really, everybody? 137 00:09:01,669 --> 00:09:02,309 Suze: Really? 138 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,260 Suze: But, you know what's so funny, when women do invest, 139 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:13,780 Suze: studies show that they all outperform men, because women are steady, 140 00:09:14,119 --> 00:09:17,140 Suze: they're thoughtful, and they think long term. 141 00:09:18,390 --> 00:09:21,468 Suze: So maybe we need to stop calling this and where 142 00:09:21,469 --> 00:09:25,190 Suze: everybody says, Suze, I wanna be risk averse. Please, I 143 00:09:25,190 --> 00:09:28,210 Suze: don't want to invest my money. I wanna be risk averse, 144 00:09:28,830 --> 00:09:31,929 Suze: and I keep telling them that's not what you wanna be, 145 00:09:32,429 --> 00:09:34,619 Suze: you wanna be what I call risk aware. 146 00:09:36,150 --> 00:09:40,250 Suze: Write it down. Where you are aware of the risk 147 00:09:40,250 --> 00:09:43,750 Suze: that you are taking. Is it a big risk? Is 148 00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:46,630 Suze: it a small risk? It is a risk to do 149 00:09:46,630 --> 00:09:51,869 Suze: absolutely nothing. I want you to be risk aware, and 150 00:09:51,869 --> 00:09:59,950 Suze: that's exactly what will build wealth that lasts you forever. Awareness, preparation, 151 00:10:00,020 --> 00:10:03,830 Suze: and courage. That's the real power trio, everybody. 152 00:10:04,659 --> 00:10:07,429 Suze: Those are the three things I want you to be 153 00:10:07,429 --> 00:10:11,090 Suze: now in this coming year. I want you to be aware. 154 00:10:11,349 --> 00:10:13,630 Suze: I want you to prepare, and I want you to 155 00:10:13,630 --> 00:10:14,650 Suze: have courage. 156 00:10:15,900 --> 00:10:18,108 Suze: But let's be honest, and let me go back a 157 00:10:18,109 --> 00:10:19,109 Suze: second here. 158 00:10:20,030 --> 00:10:25,500 Suze: Because fear has been following women and money for generations, 159 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:30,090 Suze: which is why I wrote the book Women and Money, 160 00:10:30,590 --> 00:10:34,750 Suze: maybe the second greatest book I ever wrote. 161 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,478 Suze: Cause you know, women, it's true, and if you think 162 00:10:38,479 --> 00:10:41,580 Suze: that we're not socialized to think this, you are wrong 163 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,119 Suze: because I know when I'm in a room with people 164 00:10:44,119 --> 00:10:46,559 Suze: and I just freely talk about money, you know, how 165 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:48,719 Suze: much was that? How much do you make? How much 166 00:10:48,719 --> 00:10:52,140 Suze: did you spend? What's your real estate commission, all of that. 167 00:10:52,719 --> 00:10:56,400 Suze: They look at me like I am nuts, and that's 168 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:57,299 Suze: because women. 169 00:10:58,109 --> 00:11:02,359 Suze: We were taught that talking about money was impolite, that 170 00:11:02,359 --> 00:11:08,900 Suze: asking questions made us difficult, that wanting independence made us selfish. 171 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,900 Suze: But I got news for you, everybody. Starting with this podcast, 172 00:11:14,359 --> 00:11:19,598 Suze: those days are over. Financial fear is not your inheritance, 173 00:11:19,719 --> 00:11:23,119 Suze: do you hear me? It's a habit, and habits can 174 00:11:23,119 --> 00:11:24,080 Suze: be broken. 175 00:11:24,690 --> 00:11:27,820 Suze: And the way you break it is with knowledge. You 176 00:11:27,820 --> 00:11:31,659 Suze: learn to plan. You take small actions, and before you 177 00:11:31,659 --> 00:11:36,809 Suze: know it, you have built confidence. And when confidence shows up, 178 00:11:36,859 --> 00:11:41,500 Suze: I'm here to tell you everybody, fear packs up and leaves. 179 00:11:42,539 --> 00:11:45,978 Suze: So, here's your courage challenge for the week, and I 180 00:11:45,979 --> 00:11:47,840 Suze: may have given this to you before. 181 00:11:48,609 --> 00:11:51,179 Suze: But if I have, you need to still do it. 182 00:11:52,190 --> 00:11:56,270 Suze: Step one, I want you to name the fear. What 183 00:11:56,270 --> 00:11:59,589 Suze: are you afraid of? And I want you to write 184 00:11:59,590 --> 00:12:02,710 Suze: it down, and I don't want you to sugarcoat it. 185 00:12:05,700 --> 00:12:09,260 Suze: Then, I want you to just face the facts. I 186 00:12:09,260 --> 00:12:12,280 Suze: want you to look at your numbers. You can't change 187 00:12:12,820 --> 00:12:15,820 Suze: what you won't confront. And the reason that I want 188 00:12:15,820 --> 00:12:18,739 Suze: you to do that is, given the women that I've 189 00:12:18,739 --> 00:12:21,619 Suze: been doing plans with who have written me that touched 190 00:12:21,619 --> 00:12:25,799 Suze: my heart, so I answered them personally, once they saw 191 00:12:25,979 --> 00:12:27,659 Suze: the numbers really. 192 00:12:28,539 --> 00:12:33,140 Suze: They weren't afraid any more. They weren't afraid cause they 193 00:12:33,140 --> 00:12:38,340 Suze: saw the truth, the truth that they weren't willing to 194 00:12:38,340 --> 00:12:38,900 Suze: look at. 195 00:12:39,580 --> 00:12:43,989 Suze: And step three, can you just make one small move, 196 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:44,710 Suze: just one. 197 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,520 Suze: Whether it's increase your automatic savings, or maybe you're adjusting 198 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:53,760 Suze: your investment allocation up to you, or maybe you're asking 199 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,799 Suze: one financial question you've been afraid to ask. 200 00:12:57,809 --> 00:13:03,809 Suze: But just take one small move and step four, rinse 201 00:13:03,809 --> 00:13:04,590 Suze: and repeat. 202 00:13:05,450 --> 00:13:10,450 Suze: Because courage isn't built in a moment, it's not. It's 203 00:13:10,450 --> 00:13:11,789 Suze: built in motion. 204 00:13:12,590 --> 00:13:16,179 Suze: And here again is what I want you to remember 205 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:18,299 Suze: from this podcast. 206 00:13:19,049 --> 00:13:23,890 Suze: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the decision to 207 00:13:23,890 --> 00:13:28,770 Suze: move forward despite it. Did you hear me? Courage isn't 208 00:13:28,770 --> 00:13:33,530 Suze: the absence of fear. It's the decision to move forward 209 00:13:33,530 --> 00:13:37,750 Suze: despite it. Remember, you don't need permission to be powerful 210 00:13:37,750 --> 00:13:40,809 Suze: cause you already are. You know I've said this before, 211 00:13:40,849 --> 00:13:45,150 Suze: that in China they say women hold up half the sky. 212 00:13:45,989 --> 00:13:49,349 Suze: And I've always said, but in the United States of America, 213 00:13:49,719 --> 00:13:54,359 Suze: women hold up the entire sky. I believe from the 214 00:13:54,359 --> 00:13:56,640 Suze: bottom of my heart that you have more power in 215 00:13:56,640 --> 00:14:00,960 Suze: your little finger women than everybody else, and I'll let 216 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:05,380 Suze: you decide who that is, have in both of their hands. 217 00:14:06,239 --> 00:14:08,799 Suze: So don't wait for the right time. I don't want 218 00:14:08,799 --> 00:14:11,320 Suze: you to wait for the right market. I don't want 219 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,179 Suze: you to wait for someone to come and rescue you. 220 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,960 Suze: You've got the money, now it's time to get the courage. 221 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:25,520 Suze: All right, a very short podcast, just 10 days from 222 00:14:25,679 --> 00:14:27,179 Suze: the holiday season. 223 00:14:28,090 --> 00:14:30,450 Suze: However, there's only one thing that I want you to 224 00:14:30,450 --> 00:14:33,250 Suze: remember when it comes to your money, and it is this: 225 00:14:33,690 --> 00:14:39,840 Suze: people first, then money, then things. Now you stay safe. 226 00:14:40,130 --> 00:14:40,789 Suze: Bye bye.