1 00:00:08,810 --> 00:00:13,250 Robert: June 14th, 2026. Welcome to the Women and Money podcast, 2 00:00:13,289 --> 00:00:16,360 Robert: as well as everyone smart enough to listen. Hi everybody, Robert, 3 00:00:16,489 --> 00:00:19,259 Robert: the producer here. Now, I know that on the last 4 00:00:19,260 --> 00:00:22,290 Robert: Ask KT and Suze Anything episode, Suze mentioned that she 5 00:00:22,290 --> 00:00:24,909 Robert: was thinking about going over her faves today. 6 00:00:25,790 --> 00:00:28,670 Robert: But see, I needed to travel this weekend, and I 7 00:00:28,670 --> 00:00:30,870 Robert: asked Suze if we could do a best of today 8 00:00:30,870 --> 00:00:32,950 Robert: as a favor to me, since I'm gonna be in 9 00:00:32,950 --> 00:00:36,229 Robert: a place with kind of dodgy internet and editing might 10 00:00:36,229 --> 00:00:39,150 Robert: be a little tough. And Suze Orman, being the best 11 00:00:39,150 --> 00:00:42,348 Robert: boss and friend ever, said that was OK. 12 00:00:42,939 --> 00:00:45,729 Robert: So what we're gonna do today is revisit an episode 13 00:00:45,729 --> 00:00:49,020 Robert: from late last year, which is also really good to 14 00:00:49,020 --> 00:00:51,740 Robert: have at the top of your feed right now. It's 15 00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:55,180 Robert: called Taking the Courage Challenge. Suze and KT will be 16 00:00:55,180 --> 00:00:58,459 Robert: back with a brand new podcast this coming Thursday. 17 00:00:59,209 --> 00:00:59,909 Robert: Enjoy. 18 00:01:03,349 --> 00:01:07,230 Suze: I did a Suze School about a woman that we 19 00:01:07,230 --> 00:01:08,550 Suze: decided to call Susan. 20 00:01:09,019 --> 00:01:12,110 Suze: And what happened to her in terms of her very 21 00:01:12,110 --> 00:01:15,980 Suze: good friend asking her to take her money from a 22 00:01:15,980 --> 00:01:19,339 Suze: successful financial adviser where she was making money and give 23 00:01:19,339 --> 00:01:21,580 Suze: it to this woman's son who was a brand new 24 00:01:21,580 --> 00:01:25,809 Suze: financial adviser just so he could look like he was 25 00:01:25,809 --> 00:01:29,819 Suze: doing well and attracting big clients and because her son 26 00:01:29,819 --> 00:01:33,339 Suze: was only going to charge her 1% versus this extraordinary 27 00:01:33,339 --> 00:01:35,569 Suze: adviser that was charging her 1.5%. 28 00:01:36,410 --> 00:01:42,669 Suze: Well, I have to tell you that podcast generated more email, 29 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:44,980 Suze: in a way that I didn't expect. 30 00:01:46,180 --> 00:01:49,779 Suze: So many of you wrote and said, Suze, that happens 31 00:01:49,779 --> 00:01:54,220 Suze: to me all the time, not necessarily about me transferring 32 00:01:54,220 --> 00:01:58,019 Suze: my account, but I just get so afraid. One friend 33 00:01:58,019 --> 00:02:00,180 Suze: tells me to do this, another friend tells me to 34 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:02,699 Suze: do that. My spouse tells me to do this. I'm 35 00:02:02,699 --> 00:02:06,959 Suze: just so afraid. And what can you tell me about 36 00:02:06,959 --> 00:02:08,179 Suze: being afraid? 37 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:13,720 Suze: So, what's interesting is that I hear from so many women, 38 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,519 Suze: you would imagine that, the Women and Money podcast, and 39 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,320 Suze: everybody's smart enough to listen. But what I love so 40 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,638 Suze: much about this podcast is that really the majority of 41 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:29,600 Suze: people that are listening are 50, 60, 70, 80, and 42 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:30,240 Suze: so on. 43 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,020 Suze: I love that because there's not another podcast out there 44 00:02:35,139 --> 00:02:40,639 Suze: that specializes in getting financially mature, financially older, the decisions 45 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,320 Suze: you have to make and face when you are ill, 46 00:02:43,399 --> 00:02:46,360 Suze: when you are old, you can't work anymore. And I 47 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,000 Suze: remember when I was 45 years of age and my 48 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,279 Suze: first book was You've Earned It, Don't Lose It, Mistakes 49 00:02:51,279 --> 00:02:53,589 Suze: You Can't Afford to Make When You Retire. But what 50 00:02:53,589 --> 00:02:57,978 Suze: did I know about retirement, really? I was 45. 51 00:02:58,929 --> 00:03:02,809 Suze: Now I am 30 years older than that, and I 52 00:03:02,809 --> 00:03:06,289 Suze: know a lot about retirement. I know about getting ill. 53 00:03:06,449 --> 00:03:12,000 Suze: I know about making mistakes. I know certain things. So, 54 00:03:12,008 --> 00:03:17,770 Suze: I love that I have my elderly community, and I 55 00:03:17,770 --> 00:03:21,160 Suze: love the ones that are young enough, 25, 30, that 56 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:22,948 Suze: are enjoying it as well. 57 00:03:24,149 --> 00:03:30,609 Suze: But what is still true from so many women is this... 58 00:03:31,270 --> 00:03:35,669 Suze: Regardless of your age, regardless of your income level, even 59 00:03:35,669 --> 00:03:40,029 Suze: your background, all of your stories sound the same. 60 00:03:40,910 --> 00:03:45,699 Suze: That you're earning more than ever before, you're saving, you're investing, 61 00:03:45,750 --> 00:03:49,710 Suze: you're doing everything that I've told you to do over 62 00:03:49,710 --> 00:03:56,570 Suze: all these years, but deep down you are all still afraid. 63 00:03:57,270 --> 00:04:01,210 Suze: And I got two or three emails about three weeks ago, 64 00:04:01,669 --> 00:04:05,339 Suze: and these women were so accomplished, and the two of 65 00:04:05,339 --> 00:04:08,889 Suze: you know who you are, because I wrote you back 66 00:04:08,889 --> 00:04:15,029 Suze: significant long emails to help you and raise you up, 67 00:04:15,270 --> 00:04:18,230 Suze: not so much from your finances, but out of your 68 00:04:18,230 --> 00:04:20,829 Suze: fear and out of your self-doubt. 69 00:04:22,329 --> 00:04:26,200 Suze: But all of you, you're still scared, you're scared that 70 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,209 Suze: the market's gonna crash. You're scared that you're gonna make 71 00:04:29,209 --> 00:04:32,489 Suze: just one mistake and you're gonna lose it all. You're 72 00:04:32,488 --> 00:04:37,529 Suze: scared that somehow it's going to all slip away. 73 00:04:38,428 --> 00:04:39,988 Suze: You know, I used to call it that we all 74 00:04:39,988 --> 00:04:43,950 Suze: have this bag lady syndrome that we imagined ourselves, not me, 75 00:04:44,029 --> 00:04:47,708 Suze: by the way, that we imagined ourselves being powerless and 76 00:04:47,709 --> 00:04:50,450 Suze: penniless and living on the streets. 77 00:04:51,089 --> 00:04:53,769 Suze: And the only way that could ever happen. 78 00:04:54,859 --> 00:04:59,260 Suze: It is if you're powerless cause remember you and your 79 00:04:59,260 --> 00:05:03,579 Suze: money are one and when you are powerless you tend 80 00:05:03,579 --> 00:05:06,959 Suze: to make mistakes with your money but when you're powerful 81 00:05:07,178 --> 00:05:11,140 Suze: you always tend to do the right thing and I 82 00:05:11,140 --> 00:05:14,178 Suze: just have to be honest, you know, cause it's starting 83 00:05:14,178 --> 00:05:17,260 Suze: to get to me, for I can teach you what 84 00:05:17,260 --> 00:05:20,640 Suze: to invest in, but I have to tell you, everybody, 85 00:05:20,899 --> 00:05:22,320 Suze: that's just not enough. 86 00:05:23,170 --> 00:05:27,529 Suze: But I also need to teach you about fear because 87 00:05:27,540 --> 00:05:31,539 Suze: you can have money and still not have peace, and that, 88 00:05:31,579 --> 00:05:36,579 Suze: my dear friends is not the way to live life. Remember, 89 00:05:36,619 --> 00:05:39,420 Suze: as I just said a second ago you and your 90 00:05:39,420 --> 00:05:43,660 Suze: money are one. So if you fear your money, you 91 00:05:43,660 --> 00:05:46,480 Suze: in essence are fearing yourself. 92 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,828 Suze: So, here is what I need you to get once again, 93 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,920 Suze: and I have told you this before, but since this 94 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:56,000 Suze: is Suze School, how about if we take out our 95 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,039 Suze: Suze notebooks and we write this down. 96 00:06:00,619 --> 00:06:04,979 Suze: Money doesn't erase fear. Do you remember me telling you this? 97 00:06:05,459 --> 00:06:06,980 Suze: Courage does. 98 00:06:08,109 --> 00:06:12,450 Suze: Courage, one of the eight qualities of a wealthy woman. 99 00:06:13,829 --> 00:06:19,380 Suze: Actually, the third quality, just so you know, courage is 100 00:06:19,380 --> 00:06:23,659 Suze: what shows up when you finally stop running from your 101 00:06:23,660 --> 00:06:29,058 Suze: finances and start standing in your power, when you stop 102 00:06:29,059 --> 00:06:31,660 Suze: running from self-doubt. 103 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,399 Suze: My second book that I ever wrote was The 9 104 00:06:35,399 --> 00:06:38,479 Suze: Steps to Financial Freedom, and truthfully, in my opinion, the 105 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:39,719 Suze: best book I ever wrote. 106 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:44,029 Suze: And I would always say, if you can just take 107 00:06:44,029 --> 00:06:47,308 Suze: one step towards your money, which means taking one step 108 00:06:47,309 --> 00:06:50,029 Suze: towards yourself, since you and your money are one. 109 00:06:51,380 --> 00:06:56,059 Suze: You and your money will take 9 steps back towards you. 110 00:06:57,209 --> 00:07:00,200 Suze: But you know, the truth is I've seen it over 111 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:01,779 Suze: and over again. 112 00:07:02,738 --> 00:07:04,118 Suze: Women who are brilliant. 113 00:07:05,070 --> 00:07:07,589 Suze: Women who are responsible, hardworking. 114 00:07:08,579 --> 00:07:15,730 Suze: Yet for some reason they carry this quiet anxiety about money. 115 00:07:17,209 --> 00:07:19,170 Suze: And a lot of the women that I've been writing 116 00:07:19,170 --> 00:07:22,609 Suze: back and forth with, not like they're only making 10,000 117 00:07:22,609 --> 00:07:27,690 Suze: a year, they're making 100,000 a year, 150,000, one's making 350,000, 118 00:07:27,709 --> 00:07:29,989 Suze: and she's still scared to death. 119 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,250 Suze: So what do they do? 120 00:07:33,089 --> 00:07:38,589 Suze: They check their accounts constantly. They second guess every decision. 121 00:07:38,970 --> 00:07:43,750 Suze: They feel guilty for spending and worried about not saving enough. 122 00:07:44,679 --> 00:07:48,679 Suze: And here's the truth, the fear isn't about numbers. It's 123 00:07:48,679 --> 00:07:49,640 Suze: about trust. 124 00:07:50,459 --> 00:07:54,619 Suze: Trusting yourself, trusting that you know what's right for you, 125 00:07:54,980 --> 00:07:59,309 Suze: trusting that you can handle everything and whatever comes next. 126 00:08:00,630 --> 00:08:04,839 Suze: And when you build everybody that kind of trust with yourself, 127 00:08:05,559 --> 00:08:11,649 Suze: that's when your relationship with money and who you are transforms, 128 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:17,519 Suze: because fear can't survive where confidence lives. You know, I 129 00:08:17,519 --> 00:08:19,190 Suze: just want to say this a little, and then I'll 130 00:08:19,190 --> 00:08:20,260 Suze: go on with this. 131 00:08:21,109 --> 00:08:24,709 Suze: I have a sister-in-law, KT's twin sister, and Lynn, I 132 00:08:24,709 --> 00:08:28,329 Suze: know you're going to hear this, and I'm so proud 133 00:08:28,339 --> 00:08:29,029 Suze: of her. 134 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,190 Suze: And I may have told you this again a little 135 00:08:32,190 --> 00:08:33,959 Suze: bit ago because I never know what I say or 136 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:35,640 Suze: I don't cause I just kind of speak in the 137 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:39,119 Suze: microphone and I never remember what I've said after I 138 00:08:39,119 --> 00:08:41,739 Suze: said it, so excuse me if I already told you this, 139 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:45,200 Suze: but I'm so proud of her and her husband Tom, 140 00:08:45,289 --> 00:08:49,520 Suze: by the way, and Lynn is starting to really learn 141 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:55,799 Suze: about stocks and feeling confident enough about deciding what stocks 142 00:08:55,799 --> 00:08:59,059 Suze: she wants to buy with their money. 143 00:08:59,830 --> 00:09:03,109 Suze: I love that. I love that. I love that. 144 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:09,329 Suze: But here's the truth. What I find fascinating is that, 145 00:09:09,609 --> 00:09:14,349 Suze: do you know that women today, women, women control nearly 146 00:09:14,349 --> 00:09:17,968 Suze: a third of all the wealth in this country? Can you 147 00:09:17,969 --> 00:09:22,640 Suze: just imagine that? And that number is growing every single year. 148 00:09:24,500 --> 00:09:30,760 Suze: But still, most women say they don't feel confident making 149 00:09:31,140 --> 00:09:34,580 Suze: financial decisions, really, everybody. 150 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:35,409 Suze: Really. 151 00:09:37,859 --> 00:09:41,239 Suze: But, you know what's so funny, when women do invest, 152 00:09:41,780 --> 00:09:47,789 Suze: studies show that they all outperform men, because women are steady, 153 00:09:48,099 --> 00:09:51,280 Suze: they're thoughtful, and they think long term. 154 00:09:52,380 --> 00:09:55,460 Suze: So maybe we need to stop calling this and where 155 00:09:55,460 --> 00:09:58,880 Suze: everybody says, Suze, I want to be risk averse. Please, 156 00:09:59,020 --> 00:10:00,820 Suze: I don't want to invest my money. I want to 157 00:10:00,820 --> 00:10:02,098 Suze: be risk averse. 158 00:10:02,830 --> 00:10:05,320 Suze: And I keep telling them that's not what you want 159 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:09,569 Suze: to be. You want to be what I call risk aware. 160 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:14,299 Suze: Write it down. Where you are aware of the risk 161 00:10:14,299 --> 00:10:17,718 Suze: that you are taking. Is it a big risk? Is 162 00:10:17,719 --> 00:10:20,598 Suze: it a small risk? It is a risk to do 163 00:10:20,599 --> 00:10:25,840 Suze: absolutely nothing. I want you to be risk aware, and 164 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:31,049 Suze: that's exactly what will build wealth that lasts you forever. 165 00:10:31,770 --> 00:10:37,809 Suze: Awareness, preparation, and courage, that's the real power trio, everybody. 166 00:10:38,650 --> 00:10:41,799 Suze: Those are the three things I want you to be now. 167 00:10:41,929 --> 00:10:44,960 Suze: I want you to be aware. I want you to prepare, 168 00:10:45,130 --> 00:10:47,049 Suze: and I want you to have courage. 169 00:10:48,309 --> 00:10:50,520 Suze: But let's be honest, and let me go back a 170 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:51,520 Suze: second here. 171 00:10:52,359 --> 00:10:57,869 Suze: Because fear has been following women and money for generations, 172 00:10:58,159 --> 00:11:02,478 Suze: which is why I wrote the book Women and Money, 173 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:07,159 Suze: maybe the second greatest book I ever wrote. 174 00:11:08,169 --> 00:11:10,890 Suze: 'Cause, you know, women, it's true, and if you think 175 00:11:10,890 --> 00:11:14,070 Suze: that we're not socialized to think this, you are wrong, 176 00:11:14,489 --> 00:11:16,530 Suze: because I know when I'm in a room with people 177 00:11:16,530 --> 00:11:18,969 Suze: and I just freely talk about money, I know, how 178 00:11:18,969 --> 00:11:21,130 Suze: much was that? How much do you make? How much 179 00:11:21,130 --> 00:11:24,549 Suze: did you spend? What's your real estate commission, all of that, 180 00:11:25,130 --> 00:11:28,809 Suze: they look at me like I am nuts, and that's 181 00:11:28,809 --> 00:11:29,710 Suze: because women. 182 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:34,770 Suze: We were taught that talking about money was impolite, that 183 00:11:34,770 --> 00:11:41,309 Suze: asking questions made us difficult, that wanting independence made us selfish. 184 00:11:41,489 --> 00:11:46,309 Suze: But I got news for you, everybody. Starting with this podcast, 185 00:11:46,770 --> 00:11:52,010 Suze: those days are over. Financial fear is not your inheritance, 186 00:11:52,130 --> 00:11:55,530 Suze: do you hear me? It's a habit, and habits can 187 00:11:55,530 --> 00:11:56,489 Suze: be broken. 188 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,239 Suze: And the way you break it is with knowledge. You 189 00:12:00,239 --> 00:12:04,080 Suze: learn to plan. You take small actions, and before you 190 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:09,159 Suze: know it, you have built confidence. And when confidence shows up, 191 00:12:09,239 --> 00:12:13,900 Suze: I'm here to tell you, everybody, fear packs up and leaves. 192 00:12:14,929 --> 00:12:18,409 Suze: So, here's your courage challenge for the week, and I 193 00:12:18,409 --> 00:12:20,228 Suze: may have given this to you before. 194 00:12:21,020 --> 00:12:23,590 Suze: But if I have, you need to still do it. 195 00:12:24,609 --> 00:12:28,679 Suze: Step one, I want you to name the fear. What 196 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:32,000 Suze: are you afraid of? And I want you to write 197 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,079 Suze: it down, and I don't want you to sugarcoat it. 198 00:12:36,369 --> 00:12:41,690 Suze: Then, I want you to just face the facts. I 199 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:44,679 Suze: want you to look at your numbers. You can't change 200 00:12:45,219 --> 00:12:48,218 Suze: what you won't confront. And the reason that I want 201 00:12:48,219 --> 00:12:51,140 Suze: you to do that is, given the women that I've 202 00:12:51,140 --> 00:12:54,020 Suze: been doing plans with who have written me that touched 203 00:12:54,020 --> 00:12:58,239 Suze: my heart, so I answered them personally, once they saw 204 00:12:58,409 --> 00:13:00,098 Suze: the numbers really. 205 00:13:00,950 --> 00:13:05,549 Suze: They weren't afraid any more. They weren't afraid cause they 206 00:13:05,549 --> 00:13:10,750 Suze: saw the truth, the truth that they weren't willing to 207 00:13:10,750 --> 00:13:11,309 Suze: look at. 208 00:13:11,989 --> 00:13:16,400 Suze: And step three, can you just make one small move, 209 00:13:16,479 --> 00:13:17,119 Suze: just one. 210 00:13:17,919 --> 00:13:21,919 Suze: Whether it's increase your automatic savings, or maybe you're adjusting 211 00:13:21,919 --> 00:13:24,020 Suze: your investment allocation up to you. 212 00:13:24,849 --> 00:13:28,330 Suze: Or maybe you're asking one financial question you've been afraid 213 00:13:28,330 --> 00:13:29,210 Suze: to ask. 214 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:36,218 Suze: But just take one small move and step four, rinse 215 00:13:36,219 --> 00:13:36,880 Suze: and repeat. 216 00:13:37,869 --> 00:13:42,829 Suze: Because courage isn't built in a moment, it's not. It's 217 00:13:42,830 --> 00:13:44,189 Suze: built in motion. 218 00:13:44,979 --> 00:13:48,609 Suze: And here again is what I want you to remember 219 00:13:49,150 --> 00:13:55,150 Suze: from this podcast. Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's 220 00:13:55,150 --> 00:13:59,690 Suze: the decision to move forward despite it. Did you hear me? 221 00:14:00,349 --> 00:14:04,630 Suze: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's the decision to 222 00:14:04,630 --> 00:14:06,989 Suze: move forward despite it. 223 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:10,709 Suze: Remember, you don't need permission to be powerful cause you 224 00:14:10,710 --> 00:14:14,819 Suze: already are. You know, I've said this before that in China, 225 00:14:14,989 --> 00:14:17,559 Suze: they say women hold up half the sky. 226 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,760 Suze: And I've always said, but in the United States of America, 227 00:14:22,130 --> 00:14:26,770 Suze: women hold up the entire sky. I believe from the 228 00:14:26,770 --> 00:14:29,049 Suze: bottom of my heart that you have more power in 229 00:14:29,049 --> 00:14:33,369 Suze: your little finger women than everybody else, and I'll let 230 00:14:33,369 --> 00:14:37,789 Suze: you decide who that is, have in both of their hands. 231 00:14:38,650 --> 00:14:41,210 Suze: So don't wait for the right time. I don't want 232 00:14:41,210 --> 00:14:43,729 Suze: you to wait for the right market. I don't want 233 00:14:43,729 --> 00:14:46,590 Suze: you to wait for someone to come and rescue you. 234 00:14:47,010 --> 00:14:51,380 Suze: You've got the money now. It's time to get the courage. 235 00:14:52,179 --> 00:14:55,059 Suze: All right, there's only one thing that I want you 236 00:14:55,059 --> 00:14:57,210 Suze: to remember when it comes to your money, and it 237 00:14:57,210 --> 00:15:03,159 Suze: is this people first, then money, then things. Now you 238 00:15:03,580 --> 00:15:05,599 Suze: stay safe. Bye-bye.