Why High Earners Still Feel Financially Stressed (Even With More Money)

Roth Strategies for High Earners

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558122/fan_mail/new] Roth accounts are one of the most powerful tools in a high earner's financial arsenal — but there's more than one way to get money into them, and the right strategy depends entirely on your situation. In this episode, Carla breaks down four Roth strategies from the ground up: the backdoor Roth IRA, Roth 401(k) contributions, the mega backdoor Roth, and plain old Roth conversions. She covers who each strategy is for, when it makes sense, and just as importantly — what can go wrong. You'll learn why HENRYs are often shut out of direct Roth IRA contributions, how the pro-rata rule can silently derail a backdoor Roth, why switching from traditional to Roth 401(k) contributions will shrink your take-home pay (and how to plan for it), and how the mega backdoor Roth can be a game-changer for high savers whose plans allow it. Carla also gets into Roth conversions — often misunderstood as something you do right now, when in reality they're frequently most powerful in the years between retirement and RMD age, when your tax bracket temporarily dips. Whether you're just getting started with retirement accounts or wondering if you're leaving tax-free growth on the table, this episode gives you the full picture. As always, the right Roth strategy is deeply personal — Carla recommends working with a financial advisor who knows your complete financial picture before implementing any of these.

The Truth About Alternative Investments (And Why I Stick With Stocks & Bonds)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558122/fan_mail/new] In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the world of alternative investments — including rental real estate, crypto, gold, hedge funds, private equity, and liquid alternatives — and explaining why I’m generally not a fan for most investors. If you spend enough time online, it can start to feel like everyone is getting rich through some “alternative” strategy and that simple stock-and-bond investing is somehow outdated or unsophisticated. I disagree. In this episode, I walk through: * the pros and cons of different alternative investments * why high expected returns usually come with higher risk * the hidden downsides many investors underestimate * liquidity, fees, leverage, concentration risk, and tax complexity * why “passive income” often isn’t truly passive * the role of speculation and market timing in investments like gold and crypto * and why I still believe low-cost, diversified investing is incredibly hard to beat over the long run I also explain concepts like the efficient frontier, market efficiency, and why so many alternative investments sound more appealing in theory than they often are in practice. This episode is not about saying every alternative investment is “bad.” There are certainly people who make a lot of money in these areas. But I do think many investors underestimate the risks, overestimate their ability to pick winners, and are heavily influenced by social media, marketing, and survivor bias. As always, this is educational only and not individualized investment advice.

How Much Should High Earners Be Saving? (And Why a $1M Year Won’t Make You Rich)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558122/fan_mail/new] If you’re a high earner, one of the most important—and most overlooked—questions is:  How much of your income should you actually be saving? In this episode, we break down the real difference between earning a high income and building wealth—and why those two things are not the same. Using a simple (but eye-opening) example of a $1 million income year, Carla walks through how taxes, spending, and lifestyle creep can quickly eat away at what feels like “life-changing” money.  From there, she covers: *  How much high earners actually need to save (and why 10–15% may not be enough)  *  The difference between short-term savings and true long-term wealth building  *  Why maxing out your 401(k) alone isn’t sufficient for many high earners  *  Retirement savings benchmarks by age—and how to interpret them  *  How to tell if you’re on track, behind, or ahead  *  Why a real financial plan (not just a calculator) is key to making confident decisions  She also shares practical guidance on when DIY planning tools make sense—and when it may be worth working with an advisor. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re saving enough—or if your high income is actually translating into long-term wealth—this episode will give you clarity.

Why You Know What to Do With Money… But Still Don’t Do It

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558122/fan_mail/new] In Part 2 of this series, we shift from awareness → action. In the first episode, we talked about why earning more money doesn’t automatically fix your mindset. In this episode, we dig into the harder question: how do you actually change your behavior around money? I’m joined again by therapist Ginger Houghton, and we break down: *  Why change feels so hard—even when you know what to do  *  The “stages of change” and how they show up in your financial life  *  Why most people get stuck before taking real action  *  How to make progress without overwhelming yourself  *  The role of identity, self-worth, and the stories you tell yourself about money  *  Why small, consistent changes beat big, dramatic ones every time  We also talk about when it might make sense to bring in a therapist alongside a financial advisor—especially if money brings up stress, anxiety, or deeper emotional patterns. If you’ve ever thought:  👉 “I know what I should be doing… I just can’t seem to do it” This episode will help you understand why—and what to do about it.

Why High Earners Still Feel Financially Stressed (Even With More Money)

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558122/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I’m joined by therapist Ginger Houghton to dive into something that doesn’t get talked about enough: the psychology of money—especially for high earners. Because here’s the truth…  Making great money doesn’t automatically mean you feel confident, secure, or at peace with your finances. We talk about: *  How your money story growing up shapes your financial behavior today  *  Why high earners still experience scarcity mindset (even when they’re financially secure)  *  How lifestyle inflation and social comparison quietly creep in—especially in today’s social media world  *  Why some people overspend… while others are overly frugal  *  And one of the biggest (and most misunderstood) patterns: avoidance If you’ve ever: *  Felt anxious about money despite earning a high income  *  Found yourself comparing your lifestyle to others  *  Or avoided looking at your finances altogether  …this episode will likely resonate. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. In the next episode, we’ll focus on how to actually start making changes.