Kick it Open - The Muriel Network Podcast

Everyone can benefit from this important episode on widowhood and how the wealth management industry can rise to better serve the financial planning needs of today's modern widows. BTW - the average age of widowhood is just 59 and 80% of women aged 80+ are widows. If you're a woman, a woman advisor, an advisor serving women or just have women in your life, this episode is an important one.
This episode features Kick It Open podcast host Shelby Nicholl and special guest Megan Kopka, CFP, RLP.
The episode unfolds into a heartfelt exploration of Megan's own experience of early widowhood, shedding light on the identity crisis and financial implications that follow such a devastating event. With the average age of widowhood at 59, we discuss not only the personal impact but also the broader economic strain felt during what should be peak earning years. Our dialogue underscores the necessity of supportive networks and communities like the Modern Widows Club, which offers resources and peer advice to those experiencing loss. We share stories of growth and resilience, and the strength found in the solidarity of those who have walked a similar path.
Resources mentioned during the episode:

· Kathi Balasek trains financial professionals in grief literacy and empathy. Learn more about Kathi, access course and more at: Grief Literacy and Communication Education for Financial Professionals (kathibalasek.com)

· Modern Widows Club is a national organization with local chapters all over the country. Sign up for their newsletter and learn more about the organization at: Home - Modern Widows Club.

· Wings for Widows – Provides coaching and financial education services especially for men and women who are widows. Learn more at: Financial Planning For Widows | Wings for Widows

· Savvy Ladies provides financial education to women. Learn more at: Free Financial Education & Advice | Free Financial Advisors (savvyladies.org)
About this podcast:

If you're a woman in wealth management (or any male-dominated industry), this podcast is for you.

Muriel Siebert (first woman member of the NYSE ) said, "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.” After decades of sluggish progress, it’s time for us to kick the door open on women’s success.

Produced by Shelby Nicholl. Edited by Aaron Sherman. Marketing by Sabrina Portnoy. Graphic Design by John Gallagher.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU
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As we gathered around the microphone, Stephanie McCarthy, and I, Shelby Nicholl, couldn't help but reminisce about the piggy banks and lawn-mowing gigs of our past. Our bonus episode of Kick it Open turns into an intimate affair, as we exchange tales of our financial roots, revealing the impact of our early money memories on the fiscal philosophies we uphold today. We laugh, we reflect, and we even admit to the odd discomfort we've felt discussing our own finances, despite spending our careers in wealth management. It's a paradox we're ready to unpack, and we invite you to listen in on this rare glimpse into the (our) personal side of money management.

Produced by Shelby Nicholl. Edited by Aaron Sherman. Marketing by Sabrina Portnoy. Graphic Design by John Gallagher.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU
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Melissa Reakenwalt has created a financial planning practice that represents a future for the industry and especially for the chronically underserved women clients. Her practice is in a hyper-growth mode AND she’s building that through emotion-based conversations about money and wealth. As she often says, “Women can do money. We can make it. We can save it, and we can invest it.”

In this episode, Melissa shares how she has the deeper conversations with her clients, helps them overcome their money stories and traumas, and systematically ensures her personal energy so that she can better serve her clients. Melissa is helping her clients kick the door open to financial security and wealth building.

Learn more about Melissa’s Practice EViE Financial. EViE’s values are in their name: Education, Vitality, Independence and Empowerment.

You'll be entertained by:

• Shelby Nicholl: She's a 25-year corporate vet who rose to SVP at LPL Finanical and Director at Edward Jones. She hosts the Kick It Open podcast. She founded Muriel Network in 2023 and launched the Muriel Network community app in Feb. 2024. If you're not part of the community yet, DM her on LinkedIn.
• Stephanie McCarthy: Stephanie is a former broadcast journalist who became a marketing researcher and spent the last decade listening to investors and advisors about what they wanted in their financial services firms. She loves to talk about the future of the industry.
• Melissa Reaktenwalt is Founder and leader Advisor at EViE Financial. With nearly two decades of experience, Melissa founded EViE in fall 2018 with a goal of providing accessible financial services to all. Her personal money mantra is simple: earn all you can; save and invest all you can; give all you can.

About this podcast:

If you're a woman in wealth management (or any male-dominated industry), this podcast is for you.

Muriel Siebert (first woman member of the NYSE ) said, "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.” After decades of sluggish progress, it’s time for us to kick the door open on women’s success.

Produced by Shelby Nicholl. Edited by Aaron Sherman. Marketing by Sabrina Portnoy. Graphic Design by John Gallagher.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU
Join our community
Instagram

Less than a quarter of all financial advisors or wealth planners are women. And, less than a quarter of senior leaders within the broker-dealers, RIAs, custodians and asset managers are women. Those of us in the industry need to stick together, share our wisdom and accelerate growth.
Muriel Siebert, the first woman member of the NYSE, said "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open."
After decades of sluggish progress, it's time to kick the door open on women's success.
Hosted by Shelby Nicholl, a 25-year corporate vet turned founder of Muriel Network, a company centered around a digital community exclusively for women who work in wealth management.

Produced by Shelby Nicholl. Edited by Aaron Sherman. Marketing by Sabrina Portnoy. Graphic Design by John Gallagher.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU
Join our community
Instagram

This episode starts with host Shelby Nicholl reading a text from a friend who reminded her that negotiation is a key skill for women in the workplace...and one that is often looked at with anxiety. Yet, as guest Kathryn Valentine proves, we women are amazing negotiators! Here's the text message that sets this episode into motion:
"Before I had Elin, a friend said to me, your entire life will be a negotiation from here on out. Think about what we do when we negotiate w a toddler or god forbid a teenager - women are uniquely positioned to actually be rockstars at negotiation if they just lean into what they do ALL the time, with our realizing it. The same fundamentals apply - figure out what is important to the other party (whether it be a lollipop or a funded project) and trade for it, body language (the mom glare anyone??) and the silence is legit one of the most impactful ways to gain leverage to just name a few. Rock your work life like you run the hell out of a household and you'll be fine."

During the ep, Kathryn Valentine, CEO of Worth More Strategies, shares her wealth of experience, including personal anecdotes and the academic research findings that reveal how traditional negotiation advice fails women.
We delve into the dynamics of gender in negotiation, spotlighting how women can excel, especially when advocating for others. Discover how to use a holistic negotiation strategy to enhance impact and alleviate burnout. Kathryn also offers a reframe of stress and non-promotable tasks that will change your perspective on why you SHOULD ask for resources at work.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
To access Kathryn’s courses and the “75 Things to Negotiate” visit her website at: https://worthmorestrategies.com/
Claudia Goldin’s book Career and Family is incredible! A bit of a history lesson but full of great info we should all know.

Linda Babcock, Brena Peyser, Lise Veterlund and Laurie Weingart’s collective book “The No Club: Putting a Stop to Women’s Dead End Work”

To connect with Shelby Nicholl, reach out to her via LinkedIn or at [email protected].
About this podcast:
If you're a woman in wealth management (or any male-dominated industry), this podcast is for you.
Muriel Siebert (first woman member of the NYSE ) said, "When a door is hard to open and nothing else works, sometimes you just have to rear back and kick it open.” After decades of sluggish progress, it’s time for us to kick the door open on women’s success.

Produced by Shelby Nicholl. Edited by Aaron Sherman. Marketing by Sabrina Portnoy. Graphic Design by John Gallagher.
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-roll License code: EV5ON7Y3CSESDSEU
Join our community
Instagram