Wealthy After 40: Personal Finance, Budgeting, Saving, Debt, Financial Foundations
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© 2026 Wealthy After 40: Personal Finance, Budgeting, Saving, Debt, Financial Foundations
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Top 5% Personal Finance Podcast
You’ve done “the responsible things.”
You earn decent money. You’ve saved some.
And yet you still feel like there’s never enough left to create the life you actually want.
I’m here to tell you, you’re not reckless with money, you’re just missing a clear system that tells you:
→ Where your money is really going
→ How to save without feeling restricted
→ And how today’s decisions connect to your bigger financial dreams
Welcome to the podcast! For women and couples over 40 who are ready to stop guessing with money and start building a financial foundation that supports the life they want now and in the future.
I’m Dalene Higgins, money coach and retirement strategist, helping you go from feeling behind and uncertain to confident, intentional, and in control with systems that support who you are and honor the time you have.
On this podcast, we talk about:
✨ Building strong financial foundations without deprivation
✨ Creating clarity around spending, saving, and ALL priorities
✨ Funding your goals and dreams now while still preparing for retirement
✨ Simple systems that bring consistency, confidence, and peace of mind
✨ Letting go of shame, confusion, and “I should be doing better” thinking
This isn’t about extreme budgeting or doing more. It’s about knowing what matters most and how to make it happen.
If you’re ready to stop feeling like you’re behind, start trusting your financial decisions, and create a future that feels possible again, you’re in the right place.
🎧 New episodes drop weekly.
👉 Ready for personalized clarity?
Book your free Financial Clarity Call and learn how Financial Foundations Coaching can help you turn uncertainty into financial confidence.
184 Episodes
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[Ep 180] If you’ve ever wondered why you’re not making progress with money or think you’re bad with money, this episode is for you. In this episode, I talk about how managing money is different as you get older, specifically for those individuals over 40 and 50, and this may be keeping you from making progress with your money. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand why multiple priorities are distracting and how to find the one thing that will give you the greatest momentum with y...
[Ep 179] Most advice says your emergency fund should cover 3–6 months of expenses, but what if that definition is actually what’s keeping you stuck? In this episode, I share a personal turning point in my money journey and ultimately why I broke up with the traditional emergency fund. Not because emergency funds don’t matter, but because how we define them matters more. You’ll learn how redefining your savings can help you stay consistent, make clearer decisions, and avoid debt without relyin...
[Ep 178] If you’ve been trying to get rid of debt but feel like you keep sliding backward, the problem usually isn’t discipline, it’s that you’re neglecting security. In this episode, I explain what an emergency fund really is, why it matters, and how it helps reduce debt by keeping you from reaching for credit cards, loans, or even family when life throws surprise expenses your way. This is one of the biggest hidden obstacles I see with clients. They come in worried about spending habits or ...
[Ep 177] Debt isn’t just a number. It’s a commitment from your future income. In this episode, we revisit a foundational concept: what debt actually is. Debt simply means you’re delaying payment today in exchange for a higher cost later. And once you understand that clearly, your decisions around borrowing become much easier and far more intentional. I share why debt isn’t automatically bad. It can help you build credit and purchase important assets. But every dollar borrowed reduces the flex...
[Ep 176] Feeling overwhelmed by debt right now? This feeling is real. The solution isn’t simply trying harder or being stricter about paying off debt. In this episode, I talk about the two main causes of overwhelm, even when you’re trying to be responsible and pay off the debt. You’ll learn how to change your relationship with debt so your money actually starts moving you forward instead of keeping you in place. ✅ Why debt feels different after 40 (and why that’s normal) ✅ The rollerc...
[Ep 175] If you’re juggling priorities in this stage of life and your finances feel like money chaos, this episode is for you. I break down how to simplify what’s become complicated over years of managing money and explain the financial foundations that support long-term stability. You’ll also learn why being financially successful starts with four core foundations, plus the catalyst that helps everything finally click. ✅ How to identify and prioritize what truly matters most in...
[Ep 174] Financial freedom (retirement) doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t come from saving alone. It’s built through intentional decisions, a clear retirement dream, and the confidence to design a life you’re excited to live. In this episode, you learn how intentional decisions will help you shape your retirement dream. If you’ve ever thought, “I just hope it all works out,” or wondered what retirement will really look like beyond travel and time off, be sure to listen. What ...
[Ep 173] Knowing if you’re making the right financial decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when life is pressing in from all sides. As part of the sandwich generation, you’re helping parents, supporting children, and trying to stay on track for your own retirement, all at the same time. In this episode, you’ll learn why making financial decisions based on emotion alone often leads to regret, stress, and feeling stuck, and how having a clear system can help you move from “I have to” cho...
[Ep 172] In this episode, you’ll learn how a few intentional systems can eliminate the chaos, help you spend confidently, save consistently, and take control of your retirement path starting today. What You’ll Learn In This Episode: Why mental budgeting keeps you stuck (and how to break the cycle)The three essential money systems you need for retirement readinessHow cash flow systems simplify your daily spending decisionsGet the full show notes HERE! Ways We Can Work Together: 💰 Join the n...
[Ep 171] In this episode, I’ll walk you through the exact numbers to look at, what they mean, and how to interpret them so you can finally stop guessing and start knowing. When you understand your money reality, you gain confidence, direction, and a sense of control you may not have felt in years. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The simple financial numbers that reveal your real retirement readinessWhy fears often exaggerate your money problems and how to replace fear with clarityHow to ca...
[Ep 170] This episode gives you the clarity you’ve been craving so you can stop spinning, start planning, and confidently move toward a retirement you’re excited about. No more being afraid or being worried about retirement. If you’re ready for financial confidence, predictable cash flow, and a clear path toward retirement freedom, this is where your journey begins. The 4 phases you must complete to build a realistic retirement planWhy mental budgeting is keeping you stuck and the system you ...
[Ep 169] As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your progress and set yourself up for success. In this episode, we’ll help you take a closer look at your retirement journey, what’s fueling your momentum, what’s holding you back, and where you can make meaningful adjustments. You’ll learn how to review your financial wins from the past year, identify the small leaks that may be slowing your progress, and clarify your vision for retirement. We’ll walk through pr...
[Ep 168] If you’ve ever thought, “I just need more discipline with my budget,” this episode is for you. Many smart, motivated women already have a budget or money plan that works until it doesn’t. A birthday, a trip, an emotional splurge and suddenly it feels like you’ve failed. But the truth is, your budget problem can’t be solved with more discipline. In this episode, I explore why discipline is often the wrong tool for achieving consistent financial progress and how relying on it can...
[Ep 167] Are you dreaming of the retirement you truly want, but constantly caught in the what if stage? What if you run out of money? What if you can’t travel, buy that second home, or live the lifestyle you’ve imagined? Many individuals over 40 find themselves stuck between the retirement they desire and the fear that it may never happen. In this episode, I’m breaking down a practical, 3-step process to move from fear to possibility. You’ll learn how to gain clarity about your fi...
[Ep 166] If you’ve been quietly hoping retirement will work itself out, this episode is your wake-up call. Becoming retirement ready isn’t about luck, guesswork, or crossing your fingers. It’s about clarity, consistency, and having a simple plan you can actually follow. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through a practical 3-step process that takes you from uncertainty to confidence, no matter where you’re starting. We’ll break down what retirement really looks like for you, h...
[Ep 165] If you’re a GenXer wondering what the first step in retirement planning really is, this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been missing. So many of us feel retirement fear because you don’t know where to start or which numbers matter most. Before you think about investments or complicated strategies, you need to know your numbers. In this episode, you’ll learn how to start a retirement plan with five key numbers that bring direction, confidence, and a clear path f...
[Ep 164] Have you ever wondered why some people make steady progress on their retirement journey while others stay stuck, even with a good income? I was there too, budgeting, saving, planning, but never feeling confident it was enough. That's why I became a financial coach. Over my 13-year retirement journey, I learned that reaching retirement is possible, but I didn’t have a clear path, checklist, or anything telling me what to do next. What I learned on my journey is the exact s...
[Ep 163] If you're wondering how to maintain your retirement lifestyle without sacrificing what you love, this episode is for you. You're enjoying life and the thought of preparing for retirement has you feeling you will have to give up everything. Planning for lifestyle changes now actually saves you from stress, money struggles, and disappointment later. The problem isn't your spending, it's unclear priorities. When you don't know which parts of your lifestyle truly matter most,...
[Ep 162] Feel overwhelmed by debt and unable to plan for retirement? In this episode, I explore retirement and debt, and why they don't have to be mutually exclusive. The truth about paying off debt before retirement is that you don't have to eliminate everything first. But you do need help with identifying what's really causing your debt cycle. Discover how understanding what creates your debt changes everything. What You'll Learn: ✅ Why you don't need all debt paid off before ...
[Ep 161] Feeling anxious about retirement? Many people believe retirement isn’t even an option for them. But understanding your retirement timeline is the first step toward finding peace about your future. This episode will help you move from hopelessness to having a clear, achievable retirement timeline. What You'll Learn: ✅ How to identify when you want to retire versus when you can retire ✅ How understanding your retirement timeline reduces anxiety and creates motivation ✅ How...
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