Money gets messy when life changes. Divorce, loss, and career pivots can turn confident spenders into second-guessers who feel stuck. We sit down with Cindy Locker and Carol Van Fossen of Next Chapter Finances to unpack a kinder, smarter way to rebuild control: start with the real numbers, get clear on your goals, and make a plan that lets you spend without guilt.

Carol shares how she moved from managing her family’s money to feeling “clueless” after major life shifts, then back to confident through structure and support. Cindy brings an accountant’s eye for detail, translating statements and cash flow into choices you can actually live with. Together, they show how a compassionate process—gathering data, naming priorities, and scheduling regular check-ins—turns chaos into clarity. No shame. No overwhelm. Just honest math and aligned tradeoffs.

We cover what a first engagement looks like, from mapping income and expenses to identifying leaks that don’t add joy, then redirecting dollars to what does: a vacation, a safety net, a child’s milestone, or retirement. You’ll hear why starting today beats waiting for the first of the month, how frequent touchpoints keep progress on track, and how their work bridges clients to financial planners, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance pros with everything organized and ready. If you’ve ever wondered whether your spending matches your values—or wished you could feel good about your choices—this conversation lays out a path.

If this resonates, connect with Next Chapter Finances through the link in the show notes to book a free consultation. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more women find their financial footing.

For more information contact Cindy or Carol:
Cindy Locker:
614-440-2315
cindy@nextchapterfinances.com

Carol Van Fossen:
614-284-2783
carol@nextchapterfinances.com

https://www.nextchapterfinances.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556088472295

Hi and welcome to Thrive and Decide. I’m your host Sarah Thress. This podcast is intended to help women who are going through a divorce, continplating divorce or have lost a spouse feel seen, heard, understood and not alone. All the beautiful souls who share on here are coming from a place of vulnerability and a common belief that sharing your story will help others. You will also hear from industry experts on what to do and not do while going through a divorce.

Sarah Thress
614-893-5885
Sarahthressrealtor@gmail.com
Thrive and Decide Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/thrive_and_decide/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559936633799
https://www.facebook.com/SarahThressRealtor/
https://www.instagram.com/sarah_thress_realtor/

Real Estate Podcast Come To Find Out:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-to-find-out/id1704949604

Real Estate First Time Home Buyers course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/

Divorce ends a marriage, not your role as parents. We sat down with co-parenting coach and author Teresa Luse to unpack a practical, compassionate way to raise kids across two homes without burning out or blowing up. Teresa shares the mindset that changed everything for her: stop trying to repair the past relationship and start designing the parenting relationship you’ll live with for decades. That shift opens the door to calmer exchanges, clearer expectations, and a childhood your kids will remember as steady and kind.

We dig into Teresa’s core tools, including her Three Lists exercise: must agree, ideal to agree, and concede. By keeping the “musts” tight—safety, life-or-death health, and legal compliance—you lower friction where it counts and reduce needless fights elsewhere. She explains how to respond when your co-parent is hostile or even narcissistic, using concise, child-focused communication, boundaries that hold, and strategies that reduce, diffuse, and redirect conflict. You’ll also hear why collaboration doesn’t have to mean shared vacations or holidays, and how different parenting styles can actually enrich a child’s world when handled with intention.

Teresa traces her path from lived experience to two books, including Combative to Collaborative: The Co-Parenting Code, and describes her coaching approach. Sessions are virtual, practical, and forward-looking—no therapy, no legal advice—just plays that work in real life, reviewed and adjusted over time. She shares details on her small-group coaching model designed for access and safety, with topics tailored from participant surveys and strict boundaries that keep co-parents out of the same room.

If you’re ready to trade texting wars for a workable plan, this conversation gives you the language, tools, and courage to start. Check the show notes for Teresa’s books and links to connect. Enjoyed the episode? Follow, share with a friend who needs it, and leave a quick five-star review to help more parents find calm.

To find out more and connect with Teresa:

https://teresaluse.com/

Hi and welcome to Thrive and Decide. I’m your host Sarah Thress. This podcast is intended to help women who are going through a divorce, continplating divorce or have lost a spouse feel seen, heard, understood and not alone. All the beautiful souls who share on here are coming from a place of vulnerability and a common belief that sharing your story will help others. You will also hear from industry experts on what to do and not do while going through a divorce.

Sarah Thress
614-893-5885
Sarahthressrealtor@gmail.com
Thrive and Decide Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/thrive_and_decide/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559936633799
https://www.facebook.com/SarahThressRealtor/
https://www.instagram.com/sarah_thress_realtor/

Real Estate Podcast Come To Find Out:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-to-find-out/id1704949604

Real Estate First Time Home Buyers course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/

Money, divorce, and the family home collide in ways that are emotional and expensive—and they don’t have to be. We sit down with certified financial planner and certified divorce financial analyst Amy Kelly to unpack the decisions that matter most, from whether to keep the house to how to split retirement accounts without triggering avoidable taxes. Amy brings decades of experience and a calm, practical lens to a season of life that often feels anything but calm.

You’ll hear how a divorce-savvy plan goes beyond basic budgeting. We dig into document readiness, fee transparency, and why projections are the only honest way to decide if you can afford your current home. We talk marital balance sheets, child and spousal support modeling, QDROs for retirement plans, and the tax traps that can turn a fair-looking settlement into a long-term setback. If you’re in Ohio, we also touch on dower rights and what they mean for title, equity, and sale decisions. The result is a roadmap for aligning your goals—stability for kids, a clean financial slate, on-time retirement—with the numbers that have to support them.

Whether you’re contemplating divorce, actively negotiating, or rebuilding after loss, this conversation gives you tools to move forward with clarity. Gather your key documents, define your priorities, and build a team that includes a family law attorney, a CDFA, and a real estate pro who understand the stakes. Ready to make confident choices about your home and your future? Follow the show, leave a quick review to support the work, and share this episode with someone who needs a little steadiness right now.

Reach out to Amy to get started on your financial plan today!
Amy Kelly, CFP, CDVA
Amy.kelly@prudential.com
614-383-3778 (office)
614-619-3160 (cell)

Hi and welcome to Thrive and Decide. I’m your host Sarah Thress. This podcast is intended to help women who are going through a divorce, continplating divorce or have lost a spouse feel seen, heard, understood and not alone. All the beautiful souls who share on here are coming from a place of vulnerability and a common belief that sharing your story will help others. You will also hear from industry experts on what to do and not do while going through a divorce.

Sarah Thress
614-893-5885
Sarahthressrealtor@gmail.com
Thrive and Decide Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/thrive_and_decide/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559936633799
https://www.facebook.com/SarahThressRealtor/
https://www.instagram.com/sarah_thress_realtor/

Real Estate Podcast Come To Find Out:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-to-find-out/id1704949604

Real Estate First Time Home Buyers course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/