How much should you have saved by 40?

It’s one of those money questions that practically begs for a simple answer. Three times your salary. Check the box. Move on.

Except your financial life does not work that way.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down why common age-based savings benchmarks can be useful as a starting point — but completely misleading when they’re treated like a verdict on whether you’re doing well or falling behind.

Because someone who earned $75,000 for most of her career and just started making $150,000 should not suddenly feel like a financial failure because her “target” doubled overnight. And having $300,000 saved does not tell me nearly enough to know whether you’re actually on track.

We’re talking about what matters more than an arbitrary savings multiple, including your desired retirement age, what you expect retirement to cost, whether your money is Roth or pre-tax, your debt, your liquidity, your future goals, and how much you’re consistently saving today.

I’ll also explain why the question “How much should I have saved?” is often really asking something deeper:

Am I okay?
Am I behind?
Did I wait too long?
Can I still catch up?
Is everyone else doing better than me?

The answer is not another random benchmark.

It’s having a plan.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• why the popular “3x your salary by 40” rule can create unnecessary panic
• how a major income increase can make traditional benchmarks especially misleading
• why $300,000 in Roth money is not the same as $300,000 in pre-tax retirement money
• what actually makes me concerned when someone reaches 40
• why your retirement age and future spending matter more than a generic savings target
• how I think about saving roughly 20% of take-home pay with my clients
• why automating your savings matters more than obsessing over one perfect number
• and the questions you should ask instead of simply wondering whether you’re ahead or behind

There is no magic amount you need to have saved by 40.

The better question is whether your money is actually moving you toward the life you want.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.

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Should you max out your 401(k)? If you’re making good money, already saving consistently, and have extra cash flow, it can feel like the obvious next step.

But maxing out your 401(k) is not automatically the best financial decision — especially if most of your money is tied up in retirement accounts and you want more flexibility before age 65.

In this episode of She’s Talkin’ Money, I’m breaking down how I actually think through this question with clients. We’ll talk about when employer matching matters, where Roth accounts fit in, why liquidity deserves more attention, and why a taxable brokerage account may sometimes make more sense than immediately increasing your 401(k) contribution.

I’m also challenging one of the most common pieces of retirement advice: that if you’re not maxing out your 401(k), you’re somehow falling behind.

Because the goal isn’t to hit an arbitrary contribution limit. The goal is to build a financial life that gives you options.

We’ll cover:

• what I want to know before telling someone to increase their 401(k)
• the order I typically think about saving and investing
• why Roth money can be such a powerful part of your plan
• the difference between an emergency fund and what I call a “freedom fund”
• why net worth and financial flexibility are not the same thing
• when the tax deduction from a traditional 401(k) is actually worth prioritizing
• and when maxing out your 401(k) may make perfect sense

If you’re in your 40s, earning well, and starting to wonder whether you really want to work the same way until traditional retirement age, this episode is for you.

Don’t make yourself retirement rich and life poor.

Be sure to share this episode with a friend!

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be considered a recommendation, and listening does not create an advisory relationship. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Please consult your own financial, tax, or legal professional before making decisions based on your individual circumstances.

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Everyone’s Talkin’ Money is now She’s Talkin’ Money.

Same feed. Same host. Sharper focus.

She’s Talkin’ Money is the money podcast for women doing well on paper — women who make good money, save, invest, and still wonder if they’re making the right decisions with what they have.

Hosted by financial planner Shari Rash, the show goes beyond basic budgeting to talk about investing, retirement, taxes, cash, spending, financial independence, and the emotional side of money.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing fine… so why don’t I feel more confident?” this show is for you.

Welcome to She’s Talkin’ Money.

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You’re saving. You’re investing. You’re doing the responsible things. So why does spending money still make you nervous?

In this episode, Shari answers a question a lot of successful women quietly wrestle with: Can I afford to spend more without putting my future at risk?

Using her 50/30/20 approach to needs, wants, and wishes, Shari explains how to figure out whether you actually have room to spend more, why saving aggressively can sometimes become its own form of financial fear, and how to separate real financial risks from the endless feeling that “something could happen.”

You’ll learn how to put an actual number on “enough,” why your emergency fund shouldn’t also be your vacation, renovation, and everything-else fund, and what to do when the numbers say you can spend—but your brain still says you shouldn’t.

Because sometimes the answer isn’t that you need to save more.

Sometimes you need permission to use the money you’ve already worked so hard to build.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

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In this listener Q&A episode, Shari Rash answers three real-life money questions from women trying to make smarter financial decisions without overthinking, guilt, or one-size-fits-all advice.

First, how do you plan for holidays, birthdays, travel, school events, weddings, and family obligations without feeling like you are budgeting every bit of joy out of your life?

Then, what if you grew up in a family where money was never discussed — and now you feel embarrassed asking basic financial questions as an adult?

And finally, if you are single, own your home, and rely on one income, is a three-to-six-month emergency fund really enough? Or does it make sense to keep a larger cash cushion?

Shari breaks down how to use sinking funds for predictable-but-irregular expenses, why not knowing something about money is not a personal failure, and how single women can think about emergency funds, homeownership, liquidity, and investing with more nuance.

Because real financial planning is not about following generic rules perfectly. It is about knowing how those rules apply to your actual life.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

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In this listener Q&A episode, Shari Rash answers real money questions from women who are doing a lot right but still want more clarity around what to do next.

Should a raise be saved, invested, or enjoyed?

How much cash is too much cash once your emergency fund is covered?

What if you are saving every month but still feel guilty spending on travel?

And if you are single and managing everything on your own, should you keep a larger cash cushion than someone in a two-income household?

Shari breaks down how to think through these decisions without shame, overthinking, or relying on one-size-fits-all rules.

Because money should not just sit there, disappear, or make you feel guilty for using it. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

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A lot of the way we handle money did not start with us.

It started with what we saw, heard, absorbed, and were taught to believe about saving, spending, investing, asking for help, wanting more, and talking about money.

In this episode, Shari breaks down the money scripts many women inherit — and how those old beliefs can quietly shape financial decisions for years.

You’ll hear how messages like “good women don’t talk about money,” “security means keeping cash,” “spending on myself is selfish,” “I should be able to figure this out alone,” and “wanting more makes me greedy” can affect the way you manage money today.

This episode is not about blaming your past. It is about noticing which beliefs are still serving you — and which ones need to be rewritten.

Because money should not be managed by scripts you never chose. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most money advice is not necessarily wrong. It is just incomplete.

“Spend less than you make.”

“Save more.”

“Avoid debt.”

“Max everything out.”

“Invest aggressively.”

“You should know this by now.”

Those rules may sound responsible, but they do not always answer the real questions women are asking when they are already doing well on paper.

In this episode, Shari Rash, founder of GWA Wealth, breaks down why generic money advice often falls short for women with income, savings, investments, taxes, goals, family responsibilities, and real-life complexity.

You’ll learn:

why making good money and having a plan for your money are not the same thing

how common financial rules can keep you stuck

and what to ask instead when basic advice no longer fits your life.

Because women do not need watered-down money advice. They need advice that actually accounts for the lives they are living.

Money should not be managed by generic rules that were never built for your life. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

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“I’ll save what’s left over” sounds responsible — but it usually does not work.

Because most of the time, nothing is left over. Money without a plan gets absorbed into convenience, lifestyle creep, random spending, extra cash sitting in checking, or vague “I work hard, it’s fine” decisions.

In this episode, Shari Rash, founder of GWA Wealth, breaks down how to decide what to do with your next extra dollar before it disappears.

This is not about being rigid or budgeting every penny. It is about giving your money direction. Shari walks through a simple framework to help you decide whether extra money should protect your stability, fund something coming up, capture an opportunity, grow for the future, or support the life you actually want.

You’ll learn how to think through cash reserves, investing, taxes, short-term goals, long-term wealth, lifestyle spending, and flexibility — so your next dollar has a clear job.

Because every dollar does not need the same job. But every dollar does need a job.

Money should not just come in and disappear. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can be doing fine with money and still not feel good about it.

Maybe nothing is falling apart. You’re earning, saving, paying your bills, and making responsible decisions. But there is still one money question that keeps following you around.

What should I do with this cash?

Should I be investing more?

Am I on track?

Do I need tax planning?

Should I finally call a financial planner?

In this episode, Shari Rash, founder of GWA Wealth, talks about how to feel better about your money by the end of summer — not by fixing everything, but by closing one open loop.

You’ll learn how to identify the financial question that keeps nagging at you, separate facts from feelings, stop using research as procrastination, and choose one next step that creates real momentum.

Because feeling good about money does not mean every number is perfect. It means your money is no longer one giant question mark.

Money should not just accumulate, disappear, or sit there because you are unsure what to do next. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year is not over — but it is moving.

In part one of the Mid-Year Money Check-In, Shari looked at cash flow, cash reserves, savings, investing, retirement accounts, and whether your money is actually doing what you want it to do.

Now in part two, we are looking ahead.

Because a lot of financial stress does not come from true surprises. It comes from predictable things that did not have a plan.

Taxes. Holiday spending. Travel. Family obligations. Home projects. Insurance premiums. Lifestyle creep. Charitable giving. Year-end decisions. The things you keep saying you will deal with later.

In this episode, Shari walks through the second half of your mid-year strategy check-in so you can stop letting predictable expenses, vague goals, and delayed decisions sneak up on you.

This is not about budgeting because you are broke. This is about lifestyle planning because your life costs money — and your money deserves direction.

You’ll learn:

Why tax planning should not wait until next spring

What to review before year-end if your income, bonus, business revenue, or investments changed

How to plan for upcoming expenses before they become stressful

Why predictable expenses feel chaotic when you keep pretending they are surprises

How lifestyle creep shows up when your defaults quietly get more expensive

Why being able to afford something does not automatically mean it is the best use of your money

How to revisit your January goals without shame

Why a goal that no longer fits your life is not a moral obligation

How to choose one to three financial priorities for the rest of the year

The goal is not to fix everything in one sitting. The goal is to create visibility, make one or two stronger decisions, and stop letting the lack of a decision become the decision.

Money should not just accumulate, disappear, or sit there because you are unsure what to do next. Money should be a tool that helps you live life on your terms.

If you’re ready for personalized, judgment-free financial guidance, learn more about working with Shari. Shari Rash is the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women make confident, values-aligned decisions with their money. Visit GWA Wealth to explore your next step.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney

Shari Rash is a financial planner and Investment Adviser Representative of GWA Wealth, a Registered Investment Adviser. The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create an advisory relationship with Shari Rash or GWA Wealth. All investments involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Any references to specific investments, strategies, or securities are for illustrative purposes only and are not recommendations. You should consult your own financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual situation before making any financial decisions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices