Episode 14 | Jamie Byington: Financial Literacy & Long-Term Security | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

Episode 14 | Jamie Byington: Financial Literacy & Long-Term Security | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

Most of us were never taught how money actually works — and it costs us for the rest of our lives. In this episode, Jennifer Valoppi sits down with Jamie Byington, CPA, CFP, and longtime Women of Tomorrow board member, for a plain-English crash course in financial literacy every woman should hear. Jamie spent 40+ years advising high-net-worth individuals and real estate developers at firms like Cherry Bekaert. Here, she breaks it all down — from your first paycheck to your retirement account. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • The 50/30/20 rule: needs, wants, and "pay yourself first" savings • Why you need a 3–6 month emergency fund — and where to keep it • Budgeting apps that actually work (Rocket Money, EveryDollar, Greenlight) • Credit scores demystified — and how to repair one that's been damaged • Credit cards: when they help you, when they bury you • Student loans, mortgages, and the truth about "good debt" • How state taxes (or no state tax) change your real take-home pay • The W-4 form and why you might still owe at tax time • Compound interest: why $300/month from age 20–30 beats $300/month from 30–60 — by over $100,000 • S&P 500, diversification, and dollar-cost averaging in plain English • The investment fee question your broker doesn't want you to ask • LLCs vs. S-Corps: what they protect, what they don't • Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA — which one and when • The new Trump Account $1,000 baby savings program • HSAs, term vs. whole life, renter's insurance — what to buy and what to skip • How to negotiate with credit card companies when you're underwater WOMAN NOW MICRO ACTION "Think big. It takes just as much time to achieve a small dream as it does to achieve a big one." ABOUT THE SHOW The Jennifer Valoppi Show shares honest conversations and meaningful stories about turning obstacles into opportunities — created by Jennifer Valoppi, founder of the Women of Tomorrow Mentor & Scholarship Program. SUBSCRIBE for new episodes every Tuesday & Thursday. #FinancialLiteracy #WomenAndMoney #WomenOfTomorrow #JenniferValoppiPodcast #PersonalFinance #JamieByington New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 🎙️ The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Presented by Murray Hill Press, LLC.

Episode 13 | Sarah Feil Lewin: From Hedge Funds to Philanthropy | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

Sarah Feil Lewin — Director of Philanthropy at Feil Lewin Family Office and former Hedge Fund Manager — joins Jennifer Valoppi for an unfiltered conversation about building a Wall Street career, raising over $2.5 billion in investor capital, and using femininity as an advantage in finance. A Bridgewater Associates alumna and financial leader who navigated the most elite hedge funds in New York, Sarah shares the truth about being a woman in a male-dominated industry, the script she used to land her first finance job, and why financial literacy is the most important skill for young women. IN THIS EPISODE: • What a hedge fund actually is and how it makes money • Using femininity as an advantage in finance • The "$1 billion + skirt comment" workplace story • How to negotiate your salary for the first time • The mindset behind raising $2.5 billion in capital • How she landed her first job through networking • Bernie Madoff, the 2008 crisis, and Wall Street trust • Why financial literacy must start in adolescence • Resilience, grit, and the hallmark of every successful career • Raising children with delayed gratification • AI, critical thinking, and the dumbing-down of a generation • The biggest financial mistake young women must never make • Why you should always be invested ABOUT THE PODCAST: The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast is a transformative series of influential voices sharing unfiltered insight shaping business, mentorship, and resilience. Hosted by Emmy-winning journalist and Women of Tomorrow founder Jennifer Valoppi. Learn more about Women of Tomorrow at womenoftomorrow.org Follow @jennifervaloppi on Instagram New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 🎙️ The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Presented by Murray Hill Press, LLC.

Episode 12 | Susan Summons: Hall of Fame Coach on Passion, Purpose & Resilience | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

"Passion fuels your purpose. Purpose elevates your passion." In Episode 12, Jennifer Valoppi sits down with SUSAN SUMMONS, six-time Hall of Fame inductee, international motivational speaker, author, and 35-year coaching legend, for a powerful conversation about the inner fire that builds champions on and off the court. For over three decades, Susan has coached women into their strongest, most resilient selves. From the Olympic Sports Festival sidelines to the Miami Dade College court, her philosophy is simple: get in touch with your purpose, harness your passion, and refuse to let any obstacle stay in your way. In this episode, Susan shares: • Why passion and purpose are the foundation of every great life • How to kick down brick walls when there is no blueprint • The exercise she uses to teach resilience to anyone, at any age • The unforgettable advice she received from her Olympic coach mentor: "Don't be the best at one thing, be the best at everything." • Why love and peace are the most underrated leadership tools • How to help an angry generation heal through meditation and self-acceptance • Why effort cannot be coached, and how excellence becomes a daily habit A powerful masterclass on building champions, leading with fire, and never letting the world dim your light. ABOUT THE GUEST: Susan Summons is a six-time Hall of Fame inductee, an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, author, and one of the most respected coaches in women's basketball. After 35 years as head women's basketball coach at Miami Dade College, she retired in 2026 to focus on speaking, writing, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. She was named one of the 2013 Top 50 Most Powerful African-American Business Professionals of South Florida by the Miami Herald and was honored with the 2013 Ambassador of Peace Award. The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast, where women learn from leaders. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow Jennifer: @jennifervaloppipodcast Learn more: jennifervaloppi.com Support Women of Tomorrow: womenoftomorrow.org New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 🎙️ The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Presented by Murray Hill Press, LLC.

Episode 11 | Laura Geller: From Makeup Artist to Half a Billion Dollar Beauty Empire | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

From running through Manhattan with shopping bags of makeup to building a half a billion dollar beauty empire, Laura Geller's story is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. In Episode 11, Jennifer Valoppi sits down with LAURA GELLER, founder of Laura Geller Beauty, Broadway artist, QVC icon, and one of the most respected pioneers in the modern beauty industry, for a deeply honest conversation about creating a brand from the ground up and fighting to protect it. Laura started her career as a makeup artist for television, film, and theater before realizing her true calling was empowering everyday women. In 1993, she launched her own line and built a destination on Manhattan's Upper East Side where women came to learn how to do their own makeup. As the business grew, so did the challenges. From investors whose missions did not align with hers, to a moment when new owners questioned whether she had "aged out" of her own brand, Laura refused to back down. Today, Laura Geller Beauty is a half a billion dollar company, and she has earned her reputation as the Steve Jobs of the cosmetic industry. What you'll learn in this episode: • How to turn passion and craft into a scalable business • Why empowering your customer changes everything • How to survive misaligned investors and protect your vision • What to do when others try to underestimate or push you out • Why asking for help is the lesson every founder learns too late • The mindset that carries you through humiliation, doubt, and setbacks A powerful, unfiltered look at what it takes to build a beauty empire and stay true to your own vision. ABOUT THE GUEST: Laura Geller is the founder of Laura Geller Beauty, a Broadway artist, a longtime QVC icon, and one of the most influential figures in the modern beauty industry. Her brand is celebrated for its inclusive philosophy and its dedication to empowering everyday women. The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast, where women learn from leaders. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow Jennifer: @jennifervaloppipodcast Learn more: jennifervaloppi.com Support Women of Tomorrow: womenoftomorrow.org New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 🎙️ The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Presented by Murray Hill Press, LLC.

Episode 10 | Amy Errett: Founder of Madison Reed on Entrepreneurship | The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast

What does it take to build a purpose-driven brand that disrupts an entire industry? In this episode of The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™, Jennifer sits down with Amy Errett, Founder and CEO of Madison Reed, for a thoughtful and substantive conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, resilience, and the future of building iconic consumer brands. A four-time entrepreneur with more than thirty years of business and operating expertise, Amy holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from the University of Connecticut. She teaches at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and previously served as a General Partner at Maveron, the venture capital firm founded by Howard Schultz. Earlier in her career, she was CEO of Olivia, a member of the senior management team at E*TRADE, and Founder and CEO of The Spectrem Group. In this conversation, Amy offers an honest look at: • Founding Madison Reed and disrupting a category dominated by industry titans • What it takes to build a brand that is purpose-driven and mission-aligned • The importance of product integrity and the Smart 8 Free Formula • How machine learning and artificial intelligence shape modern consumer brands • Her transition from venture capitalist to operator and founder • What she learned from working with Howard Schultz at Maveron • Why investing in your team is the foundation of a sustainable business • Building a corporate culture grounded in trust, responsibility and joy • Resilience after public failure and the moment that redirected her career • Why following your intuition is one of the most underrated leadership traits • Advice for first-time founders, women in business, and emerging entrepreneurs A conversation suited for students of business, entrepreneurship, marketing, consumer products, and leadership, as well as emerging founders navigating the path from corporate roles into building their own companies. The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ features influential women shaping today's world and explores how we can support one another in pursuit of our goals. Host: Jennifer Valoppi, award-winning journalist, longtime television newscaster, author, and Founder of the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. Follow @jennifervaloppipodcast on Instagram and TikTok. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. 🎙️ The Jennifer Valoppi Podcast™ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Presented by Murray Hill Press, LLC.