1 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: What's up? B a Fam? It's Friday, which means you 2 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: know what time it is. It's time for the b 3 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: a qa A the b a qa? What to say? 4 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: The v a qa with manday, the v a qa 5 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: the ba qaa? What's up? B a fam? If you 6 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: couldn't tell, I am not in my usual playroom slash office. 7 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: Mommy has her own space this week. I'm feeling very fancy, 8 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: very cute. I'm actually in Houston. I don't know when 9 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: this show is going to air, but I'm here for Afrotech, 10 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: so very excited. I haven't been to afro Tech. I 11 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: was trying to figure this out. Have I been to Afrotech? 12 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Have I not been to afro Tech? If I have 13 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: been to Protech. It has been many years, but I 14 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: have known Morgan Devon, the founder of lavity, for over 15 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 1: a decade or known of her. I actually interviewed her 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: for a story when I was at Yahoo Finance a 17 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: gajillion years ago. But anyway, it's a great little full 18 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: circle moment. And if you can't tell by my Airbnb, 19 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: I'm trying really hard to hide it, but I am. 20 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: Actually you guys can see it on YouTube if I 21 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 1: pan the camera just the slightest amount. Wait for it, 22 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: wait for it. Listen, listen, listen, listen, Linda. Some things 23 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: you know, some air and some airbnb hosts just don't. 24 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: They don't photograph the entire place. They they just photographed 25 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: the three the three walls that or I guess, most 26 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: appealing to the average viewer on the Internet. And sometimes 27 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,359 Speaker 1: you just got to kick a gamble on what that 28 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: fourth wall is gonna hold. And I gambled, y'all, And 29 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: some may say I won, and about what how much 30 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: did we lose? By? Forty six percent of us may 31 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: say that I lost. It doesn't matter. I'm here, it's fine, 32 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: I'm safe, and we're gonna do b AQA. So let's 33 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: get into our first question. Oh wait, wait, wait, God, 34 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: without Tiffany here, I like, I forget our disclaimer all 35 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: the time. I'm gonna get my ass sued on myself, 36 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: but at least I remember this time. Be a fan. 37 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: Please don't sue me. Okay, please, No, this is b 38 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: a qa. We have I have God, this is so 39 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: awkward when I say we instead of I. Man, this 40 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: is b a QA, And I am not sure a 41 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: financial planner. I'm not your career coach. I am not 42 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,959 Speaker 1: your investment advisor. I am just some lady on the 43 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 1: internet that, for some reason is so blessed to have 44 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,679 Speaker 1: this platform. So take this for funzies, get your salt 45 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: shakers out, shake them on up, and let's go. Our 46 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 1: first question comes from a listener who wants to remain anonymous, 47 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: so I'm just going to call her Carrie. Carrie says, 48 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: I am thirty eight and I recently found out I'm pregnant. 49 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: I'm living in Washington, DC with my husband. We make 50 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: about three hundred thousand dollars per year. We have six 51 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: months of emergency savings and own a few rental properties. 52 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: We don't actually use that income. Okay, Carrie, come through. However, 53 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: I do not have any maternity leave at my job. 54 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: And there's the other. There's the foot dropping. My question 55 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: is what is your advice on how I should prepare 56 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: financially for baby? How much should I set aside for 57 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: my three months maternity leave while I don't have any income? 58 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 1: Is there anything else that we should consider financially? Thank you? Okay, Stacey. Wait, 59 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: that's not the name I gave you, Carrie. Sorry, I 60 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: forgot my own fake names. Carrie, Carrie, Carrie. Okay, So, 61 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: having just done this myself, I'm gonna take a guess 62 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: here and say that you probably work for yourself because 63 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: even you know, well, I'm just gonna say you work 64 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: for yourself. If you do work for an employer, they 65 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: are at least mandated to offer twelve weeks of leave, 66 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: just not paid. So maybe you are getting that twelve 67 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: weeks of leave, but you've got to pay your own way. 68 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: So regardless of the reason, that is tough. But I 69 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: fully identify with it because I've of course had my 70 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: son a little over a year ago, my second baby, 71 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: and at the time I was an entrepreneur, so it 72 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: was my first time bankrolling my own maternity leave, and 73 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: ah man, it's way more stressful because you just don't 74 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: have to calculate the finances as much into having a 75 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 1: baby when you, of course are working for an employer 76 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: and you're like, well, I'm just going to get my 77 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: same paycheck, you know, or close to it. So the 78 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: first challenge is to understand what your monthly your monthly 79 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: expenses are going to be and how much of that 80 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,160 Speaker 1: needs to be contributed from you. So it sounds like 81 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: you and your husbands have a healthy savings account, you're 82 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: going to need at least three months of that savings 83 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: right to cover your essentials over the next few months. 84 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 1: But I would also take a look at your insurance policy. 85 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: Make sure that you've got really good benefits, family benefits, 86 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: especially for those post natal care visits that you're going 87 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: to have baby well visits now because of Obamacare, Thank 88 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: the Lord, protected at all costs. There are really generally 89 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 1: good benefits for baby and moms. Let's see. But the 90 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,559 Speaker 1: early expenses of having a baby is not the baby 91 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: stuff like for at least in my experience, the early 92 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: expenses is how much of the smart, fiscally responsible things 93 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: that you would do when you're not going on zero 94 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: hours of sleep, when your partner is not also going 95 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:20,919 Speaker 1: on zero hours of sleep. You guys have the benefit. 96 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: It sounds like you this is your first baby, so 97 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: you don't also have another little one to chase around, 98 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: which can elevate the exhaustion and stress to a higher degree. 99 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: But still you're not going to be your best version 100 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: of yourself. I mean, you're going to be this brand new, 101 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: incredible mother, which is of course an amazing version of yourself. 102 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: But in terms of like the same choices that you 103 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: would have made pre baby. You'll find out on your own, 104 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: but they tend to change. We all think we know 105 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,840 Speaker 1: everything and then you have a baby and it's like, 106 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: you know what I really would like to order? I 107 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: don't know, Taco Bell at ten thirty in the evening, 108 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: even though it's like thirty dollars with fees going to 109 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: be to Tacos, Like, we just make these choices, right, 110 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: So I would leave whatever room and the budget you 111 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: have right now for like groceries, you know, the kind 112 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: of like even the types of groceries that you're buying, 113 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: just factor in more delivery. You can also go ahead 114 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: and ask friends and family instead of baby gifts, you know, 115 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 1: give you gift cards to Uber Eats or door Dash 116 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: or any of those services. Another thing to consider, not 117 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: even like, especially if you're an entrepreneur, is that three 118 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: months is not enough for like a proper give. It's 119 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: not just about bonding with the baby. Three months is 120 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: just simply not enough for us as women to get 121 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: back to our base level. It's hard to under it's 122 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: hard to understate the massive amounts of changes your body 123 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: is going through to create this human life, and then 124 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: when that human life leaves your body and goes out 125 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: into the world, your body has to recover. It is 126 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: a trauma, Okay, it is a beautiful trauma, and we 127 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: love it, right, we love it. However, you are going 128 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:10,800 Speaker 1: to need lots of time to recrup rate. And I 129 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 1: just don't I don't just mean physically, although that is 130 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: true if it's your first baby, you're still relatively young, 131 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: like you might bounce back quote unquote faster, but the 132 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 1: mental toll, the psychological toll, trying to juggle, even if 133 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: you don't run your own business, but just trying to 134 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 1: juggle a nine to five with motherhood. Childcare expenses are wild. 135 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: You live in Washington, d C. So I know that. 136 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: You know that, So I hope you have a childcare plan. 137 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: So I would say, whatever you think you need for 138 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: three months of income, I would just do fifty percent more. 139 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,439 Speaker 1: So if that is fifteen thousand dollars, then make it 140 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: twenty two five hundred. And that for me, is just 141 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: giving you extra wiggle room for the what if. It's 142 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: also giving you some wiggle room for what if you 143 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 1: don't want to get back at it after just three months? 144 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: What if you want more flexibility. What if you decide 145 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: you're not ready to send the kid to daycare or 146 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: whatever childcare you have planned. I mean to be honest, 147 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,520 Speaker 1: in an ideal world, as a new mom, I would 148 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: this may sound insane, but have a year's worth of 149 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 1: income banked. It's completely unrealistic for so many parents out there. 150 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,520 Speaker 1: I get it. But in an ideal world, and you 151 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: are a woman of means, I see what you're doing. 152 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,040 Speaker 1: You have this great income, you guys are saving, You've 153 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: got your rental property income that you haven't been touching. 154 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: If at least you know you've got it there, you 155 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: have some security and safety when it comes to making 156 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: the best choices for you where you're at psychologically, and 157 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 1: then also for your baby and spending time with them. 158 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: And you know myself, I think I've talked about it 159 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,520 Speaker 1: on the show. How I prepared financially for my three 160 00:10:02,559 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: months of leave. I set aside three months three and 161 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: a half months basically of income. However, it wasn't even 162 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: the baby that caused some issues, but I had a 163 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: lot of health crises in my family and was doing 164 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 1: a lot more traveling, and also underestimated the mental toll 165 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 1: of that postpartum period, combined with having another child to 166 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: look after who I of course, you know, love deeply 167 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 1: combined with try and write a book, combined with trying 168 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:47,439 Speaker 1: to run a business, combined with family drama. And I 169 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:51,599 Speaker 1: just wasn't able to produce at the level that I 170 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: had anticipated. So I say all that to say, more 171 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: is more, Okay, So if you have more, I would 172 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,560 Speaker 1: be setting aside at least enough to cover you while 173 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: you're gone. Oh and this is the other thing I 174 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 1: forgot to say, but if you're someone who's running your 175 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,719 Speaker 1: own business, I would double I know that again it 176 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: sounds a little aggressive, but getting back to work after 177 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: three months off for an entrepreneur some depending on what 178 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: your business is like. It's not just like turning on 179 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: a switch and all of a sudden money may start 180 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 1: coming back in. You may need to get back out there, 181 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: start warming up clients and running sales funnels or whatever 182 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: it is that you're selling, and you know, getting back 183 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 1: out there to get to where and you may not 184 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: be working full time, So be real with yourself in 185 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 1: terms of how long it will take you to ramp 186 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: back up to earning what you need minimum to support 187 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 1: your lifestyle. And then you may decide, Okay, I want 188 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 1: to have a little bit more set aside. Okay, all right, 189 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: I think that's all I got, Carrie. I wish you 190 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 1: so much luck and enjoy, enjoy and enjoy. There's nothing 191 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: like there's nothing like there's first few months as a mama, 192 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: and it just it gets different. I mean, I will 193 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 1: say it gets better in a lot of ways. Less challenge. 194 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,520 Speaker 1: I mean, it's always challenging, but I mean it's never 195 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:14,959 Speaker 1: going to be the way it is when they're just 196 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: a little bean and you can just they just lay 197 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: in your chest like a little loaf of warm bread 198 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 1: and it's just like the best feeling. And I hope 199 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: that you have a healthy delivery. I hope that you 200 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: are well cared for, be you know, get that husband 201 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,200 Speaker 1: advocating for you, and make sure that the doctors are 202 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,559 Speaker 1: listening to you and paying attention. Unfortunately, in this country, 203 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: being a black woman in labor is a risk factor, 204 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,719 Speaker 1: and I just wish, I wish the most for you 205 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 1: and that little baby and your growing family. And thank 206 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: you so much for sending in a question. All Right, 207 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 1: I will be right back with one more question. Stay tuned, 208 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 1: ba fam. All Right, VAFAM. I am back and I've 209 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,600 Speaker 1: got a question from email brand a Vision podcast at 210 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:03,000 Speaker 1: gmail if you want to get your answer your questions answered. 211 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: This question came from Crystal, who says, Mandy, thank you 212 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,480 Speaker 1: for the episode Not America. To me. It helped me 213 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: with my ongoing anxiety since November fifth. You're welcome, Crystal 214 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: helped me with my anxiety to being able to come 215 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 1: here and just pour out my heart to y'all and 216 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 1: let you know what I was feeling in the moment. 217 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: Crystal says, sometimes I feel like so many of us 218 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 1: have our heads in the sand about what's to come. 219 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: It will not be like twenty sixteen. It will be 220 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: so much worse. For the sake of my and my 221 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,439 Speaker 1: family's sanity, I really want to leave this country. You're 222 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: not alone, Crystal, so many people have been feeling the same. 223 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: Can you guys do an episode explaining what could happen 224 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: with our money and investments. I remember what my great 225 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: grandmother said about life during the depression. It wasn't a 226 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: depression for black folks. She said, we were used to 227 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: not having anything. Part of that not having was also 228 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 1: not having money in banks and stocks because we weren't 229 00:13:55,559 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: allowed to during that time. However we do now. Many 230 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: of us have our lives tied up in iras, mutual funds, banks, 231 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 1: and stocks. If those things were to crash or something similar, 232 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 1: how do we ever recover in a system that is 233 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,199 Speaker 1: against us? What do we do? Also? I can't help 234 00:14:15,240 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 1: but think about the Handmaid's Tale and how women weren't 235 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: able to access their money in banks. Can you guys 236 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: help with any guidance? Thanks for all you do, Okay, 237 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: Crystal Baby? What I love about this email is that 238 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: our email inbox. You know what I'm going to give you, guys, 239 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,120 Speaker 1: free rein because sometimes we need a place to deposit 240 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: all of our worst fears when our partners are sick 241 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: of hearing this doom scroll and dooms you know, ID 242 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 1: eight And that's really what anxiety is about. It's about 243 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: anticipating an outcome that we can't really predict and often 244 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 1: can't control. But I think it's useful sometimes to just 245 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: purge all of the what ifs. Okay, But then I 246 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: need you to just leave them over there because it's 247 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: not going to serve you, Crystal. And like I know, 248 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,480 Speaker 1: so many of us are feeling the same thing. And 249 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: when you wrote this email that was only a couple 250 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,280 Speaker 1: of days from when I'm recording my answer. And I 251 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: can feel the ache, I can feel the desperation, I 252 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: can feel the fear really behind what you're talking about here, 253 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: the handsmade tale Handmaid's Tale reference, like those memes are 254 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:28,760 Speaker 1: going crazy. They have been ever since, you know, twenty sixteen, 255 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: maybe even before. I can also feel like you're focusing 256 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: or trying to focus on something that you actually can control, 257 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: which is your finances to a certain extent, right And 258 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,320 Speaker 1: I think the best thing I can offer you right 259 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: now is a reminder of the safety the one am 260 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: I looking for the guardrails that are in place so 261 00:15:52,960 --> 00:16:00,680 Speaker 1: that your investments and your savings and your earnings arecatively safe, 262 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 1: you know, depending on what happens in the economy. So 263 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: let me just start with the banks. So I can't 264 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: imagine any of you guys are saving your money anywhere 265 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: besides an FDIC insured bank account. If you are saving 266 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:18,840 Speaker 1: your money anywhere except for if FDIC insured bank account, 267 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: listen up right now. With FDIC insurance, your money is 268 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: federally protected up to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars 269 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: per individual per account. Okay, So let's say you and 270 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: your partner have you each have a separate bank account 271 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: you're at, you know, at a institution like you both 272 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:39,520 Speaker 1: get that two hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of coverage. 273 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to post a link just to remind y'all 274 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,480 Speaker 1: of FDIC insurance how it works, how to make sure 275 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: your bank is FDIC insured. But that should give some 276 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: peace of mind now it is federally insured and at 277 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: a time when crystal for sure you ain't trust in 278 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,040 Speaker 1: this government. I will note that the cap on that 279 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: federal deposit insurance that ount has risen under democratically elected 280 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,320 Speaker 1: or democrat. They've all been democratic. What am I trying 281 00:17:06,320 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: to say? Democratic presidents of Democrats. I think it was 282 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: Obama who pushed it to two hundred and fifty max. 283 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:16,200 Speaker 1: And that's where it's been. So is there a chance 284 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:20,719 Speaker 1: that the Department of Treasury under a Trump reign may 285 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: lower that? I would say so, I don't. I would 286 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: hope not, because all those Litley economy voters who voted 287 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: for him, they did it for the economy right. And 288 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 1: FDIC insurance was specifically introduced to prevent another bank crisis, 289 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 1: and it absolutely came in handy during the two thousand 290 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: and eight crisis. I think it was at that time 291 00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: that the insurance level was raised under Obama to the 292 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:55,960 Speaker 1: two fifty, so you have that. So your investment should 293 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: be covered or likely are covered under Security Investment Protection cover, 294 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 1: which is going to protect any funds that are held 295 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:07,600 Speaker 1: within a brokerage that suddenly fails. And what I want 296 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,320 Speaker 1: to distinguish here is that no investing always comes with risk. 297 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: And the reason they say that is because even SIPC 298 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: coverage does not protect you from losses that you might 299 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: incur from swings in the market or downturns in the market. 300 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 1: Downturns in the market, however, come with the territory of investing, 301 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: and that's why having an investing strategy is so so 302 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: important and it's why here at Brand Ambition, we are 303 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: big on y'all finding a financial advisor who can at 304 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 1: least even if it's a one time sit down, based 305 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:42,400 Speaker 1: on your time horizon, based on your tolerance for risk, 306 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,360 Speaker 1: based on any goals that you have, short, medium, long 307 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: term goals. They will help you develop an investing strategy 308 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: where you're going to make sure that you're not over 309 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: leveraging yourself. You're not getting in a situation where market's 310 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: downturned and all of a sudden your shirtless and have 311 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: nowhere to live now. I highly if you're someone who 312 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: has an IRA for a one k, you know you're 313 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,040 Speaker 1: just investing, maybe in a wroth on the side or whatever. 314 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,159 Speaker 1: It's very unlikely that even with a market downturn, you 315 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: would have all your money tied up in that account. 316 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: But a financial advisor can make sure. It can make 317 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 1: sure again put in place some guardrails that you can 318 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: control that will at least give you peace of mind 319 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 1: that Okay, let's say you're really worried about the stock market, 320 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,919 Speaker 1: so you want to You're really not tolerant of any losses. 321 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 1: They will keep you up at night. You will go 322 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: into an anxiety spiral. You can't cope, so you want 323 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: to have more of your money in cash. This is 324 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: also a strategy that the older you get, the more 325 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,040 Speaker 1: the more it makes sense to have less money tied 326 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: up in the market and more money in cash reserves. 327 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: CDs like those types of deposit accounts that have that 328 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: fall under that FDIC insurance guideline and are going to 329 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:58,680 Speaker 1: be solid. So anyhow, the point is you'll develop a 330 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: strategy that is in line with your risk tolerance and 331 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: how much time you want to be investing for. But 332 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: let's if you're doing it on your own, then I 333 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: would double check your investments and just make sure that 334 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: you're not too over indexed in stocks. The goal rule 335 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:17,560 Speaker 1: of thumb is to take the number one hundred and 336 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: subtract your age from it, and that will give you 337 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: your stock to bonds ratio. So I'm thirty seven, so 338 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 1: ostensibly that means I should have sixty three percent of 339 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:31,920 Speaker 1: my portfolio in stocks and thirty seven percent in bonds. 340 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: And I personally am invested in some growth funds, like 341 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: some passive passive investment funds that are automatically shifting my 342 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: investments over time. And then I do have some accounts 343 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: that are just held in a Vanguard brokerage account. And 344 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie. I have a pretty high tolerance 345 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: for risk, especially because I'm on the I'm younger, I 346 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 1: have what thirty something years of investing before traditional retirement age, 347 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: and so I am completely invested in stock index funds ETFs. 348 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: Things like that. About the market in general, no matter 349 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,560 Speaker 1: what president has been in power. The research is clear, 350 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: the data is clear that the stock market tends to 351 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: bounce back and on the whole even with different even 352 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: with wars and different presidents at different presidencies and you know, 353 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,600 Speaker 1: all kinds of natural disasters and all of that. The 354 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 1: market does have these times when it goes down, but 355 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: it tends to go back up, down and up, down 356 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 1: and up, down and up. And it's really hard unless 357 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: it's like, if you're looking at the stock for X, 358 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 1: for example, I'm sure that has gone up and down 359 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: since Elon Musk has infiltrated the Republican Party and the 360 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 1: White House. Now you'll also see, you know, the stock 361 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: market I think surged after Trump came into office. And 362 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: like it's no question that Wall Street businesses, business owners, 363 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 1: big billionaires, big money, they wanted Trump to win because 364 00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: what they're doing is they anticipate he's going to make 365 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: taxes lower for them, that he's going to make it 366 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: easier for them to remove regulations and barriers that stop 367 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: them from doing the business things that they want to do, 368 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,680 Speaker 1: like Elon Musk building his rockets in random desert land 369 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: and national wildlife reserves in Texas and not wanting to 370 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: have to deal with regulations that say you can't knock 371 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 1: down that poor bird nest and other you know, So 372 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: a base of Jeff Bezos, for example, like this is 373 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: just an example. He may say, like, oh, under Biden's 374 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: Biden's administration, we paid this crazy tax on cardboard because 375 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 1: of how much card were we put into the world. 376 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,560 Speaker 1: So under Trump, maybe like Trump will reduce that cardboard tax. 377 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:55,240 Speaker 1: That's not a real example, it's completely made up. And 378 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:59,679 Speaker 1: so maybe the Amazon stock will surge because they anticipate 379 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: that Trump is going to make things juicier, make the 380 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:07,200 Speaker 1: profits for Amazon higher, and so they're reacting to that. 381 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,080 Speaker 1: Markets are very emotionally reactive because they are not just 382 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: driven by robots. They're driven by human beings and our behavior, 383 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: and that can go up and down and swing and swing. 384 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: So I want you to worry a little bit less 385 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:24,480 Speaker 1: about how the market's reacting in these small windows of time, 386 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: these pockets of time where a big event has happened, 387 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 1: like an election, like I said, a natural disaster, any 388 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 1: kind of like regulatory changes that may happen at the 389 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: federal level that can impact businesses or impact goods and 390 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: things like that, Like I want that to sway your 391 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: investing strategy less because you have to assume shit's always 392 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: going to be hit in the fan at some point 393 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: in America, right like, it's just how the world works. 394 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:57,200 Speaker 1: Shit gon't hit the fan, and that will impact markets 395 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:00,360 Speaker 1: in a negative way. However, you also have to think 396 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: about the other reality, which is that the data. This 397 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: is not just me making it up. The data shows 398 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: the stock market bounces back. When we are investing, we 399 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: are making a bet and we are taking the risk 400 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: that on the long term we're going to come out ahead. Okay, 401 00:24:15,240 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: I can't sit here and guarantee that you're going to 402 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 1: come out ahead. I at this point in time, have 403 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:24,440 Speaker 1: chosen to stick with the data shows, and the data 404 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 1: has shown that long term investors win. That when you 405 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 1: put your money in the market and you just park 406 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: it and you let it rock for a few decades, 407 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,000 Speaker 1: you will tend to come out on top. And that 408 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: is what we need right now. Inflation, even though it's down, 409 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: is still higher than it has been. We have to 410 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: hedge against the rising cost of goods. We have to 411 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: hedge against how expensive life is going to be thirty 412 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: to forty years from now, when we're retiring, because that's 413 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 1: when we're going to be taking We're going to be 414 00:24:54,040 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: taking withdrawals from our investment account and our money needs 415 00:24:56,840 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 1: to stretch. Okay, especially for women longer, because we're amazing, 416 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: right and we have longer to support ourselves on those 417 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: investment incomes, So longevity and stretching those dollars. That's why 418 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: people are obsessed with, you know, hedging against inflation, because 419 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: at least if I'm going to guarantee that my money 420 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: is going to grow at a faster rate than the 421 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,640 Speaker 1: cost of everything grows, then there's a good idea. There's 422 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:25,880 Speaker 1: a good chance that I will have enough to sustain 423 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: my lifestyle in retirement and I won't have to go 424 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: and cut back and you know, end up relying solely 425 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: on like Social Security checks, which are usually super small 426 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: and underwhelming. Okay, Crystal, I first of all, thank you 427 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 1: for being so candid, and thank you for your really 428 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 1: kind words about last week's episode in the wake of 429 00:25:48,040 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: the election. Thank you for putting words to I think 430 00:25:50,760 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: a lot of the fears, and I think your email 431 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: is not the only one that I got with a 432 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: similar type of question, But yeah, it really encapsulates like 433 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:02,040 Speaker 1: our fear, and I just want to remind y'all that 434 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:05,840 Speaker 1: the fundamentals of stock market investing have not changed. We 435 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: have done multiple episodes about strategies around like being an 436 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:14,040 Speaker 1: everyday investor in investing for retirement, so hopefully you can 437 00:26:14,119 --> 00:26:18,800 Speaker 1: check them with those out, I'll probably do some future 438 00:26:18,840 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: episodes just about the market post twenty twenty five, because 439 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: of course we're heading into a new year and I'm 440 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: heading into a new season of my life. Like even 441 00:26:28,119 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: here sitting talking about my investments, I'm like, well, shit, 442 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: I made these choices when I was twenty four. This 443 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:35,640 Speaker 1: is over a decade later. Maybe I should be making 444 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: some changes. So these are really good questions to have, Crystal, 445 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: thank you for sending them to me. And if you 446 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: guys want your questions answered on the podcast, feel free 447 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 1: to hit me up Brand Ambition Podcast at gmail dot 448 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: com or you can email, or you can DM me 449 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: at Brand Ambition Podcast on ig All. Right, BA fan, 450 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: I'm going to read a review. This comes from listener 451 00:26:55,920 --> 00:27:00,640 Speaker 1: Maria three Borha, Mandy and Tiffany I App. We love y'all. 452 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 1: I've been listening to BA for about two years and 453 00:27:02,840 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 1: I love all the education, laughs, community encouragement and love 454 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:09,199 Speaker 1: that you ladies bring to the table. I just finished 455 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: listening to Mandy's latest episode, and I want to say 456 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 1: that you, my dear, have put in Oh. I haven't 457 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:18,720 Speaker 1: read this yet. Oh. I just want to say that, you, 458 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,240 Speaker 1: my dear, have put into words all of my feelings. 459 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: I am grateful that this is a safe space not 460 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 1: only for you, but for all of us, and that 461 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,720 Speaker 1: you are able to articulate our sentiments. Thank you, ladies 462 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 1: for the work you both do. But more than anything, 463 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 1: thank you for just being there on my happy days, 464 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: but more importantly on my emotional days. God, thank you, Maria. 465 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,359 Speaker 1: I don't know what to say. I don't know what 466 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:50,359 Speaker 1: to say. I got a couple more I'll read just 467 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: people who've responded to last week's episode, because I just 468 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:54,640 Speaker 1: I want to say thank you because I'm literally I'm 469 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,119 Speaker 1: doing the show for y'all, so to hear that it 470 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:01,200 Speaker 1: matters is just keeps me going. Thank you you. C 471 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 1: KH says, thank you so much for your encouragement. Today's 472 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:06,800 Speaker 1: podcast was much needed. You ladies always show up for us. 473 00:28:08,040 --> 00:28:10,840 Speaker 1: Aliyah Medici says, you're the best. Mandy, thank you for 474 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: your latest episode and for your bravery and dedication and grit. 475 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: Love you love you all to b A Fam. All right, 476 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,719 Speaker 1: we'll see you next week. Coming to you three times. 477 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: We have a juicy interview with Can I say yet? 478 00:28:26,600 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: Who Are? I'll give you a hint now, if I 479 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: sing a song, you're gonna think it's one of the girls. 480 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 1: It's not one of the artists, okay, but it's someone 481 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: related to them. I'm a survive I ain't gonna live up, 482 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna stop. I'm all survive it. Yeah, yeah, bye, 483 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: b A Fam.