Episode Companion Posts

Episode Companion posts go beyond the mic — offering context, takeaways, and reflections connected to the podcast. Have thoughts? Leave a comment or send me a message — I’d love to hear from you.

 

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Episode 46 Companion Post:

 

🎙️ Trust, But Verify: Advisor Misconduct, Credit Scores, and Protecting What’s Yours

Fraud doesn’t always announce itself with flashing lights. Sometimes it’s a smile, a title, and a well-crafted pitch. In this episode of the Pink Money Podcast, Jerry explores two topics that may seem unrelated — advisor misconduct and credit scores — and reveals how both are rooted in the same thing: trust.

Your money and your identity are connected by one thread — your vigilance. This companion post breaks down what to watch for, how to protect your credit, how to safeguard your Social Security information, and the key questions to ask before hiring a financial advisor.

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💳 How Your FICO Score Is Calculated

Understanding your score gives you leverage — not just when borrowing, but when defending your financial identity.

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🧾 How to Check Your Credit Report (the Right Way)

You can review your credit reports free once per year from each of the three major bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and Transunion www.annualcreditreport.com

Keep in mind:

• Your reports are free, but your scores may require a small fee unless offered by your bank or card issuer.

• Pull all three reports for a complete picture.

• Review for:

  • Accounts or inquiries you don’t recognize

  • Incorrect late payments

  • Wrong addresses or employers

  • Signs of identity theft

If something looks suspicious, dispute it immediately and consider freezing your credit to block new accounts from being opened in your name.

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🧑‍💻 Create and Protect Your Social Security Account

Fraudsters don’t just target your credit — they also target your Social Security identity.  Creating a personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/account is one of the best ways to safeguard your records and detect misuse early.

Why It Matters

Your Social Security number (SSN) can be exploited to:

• Open credit or loan accounts

• File for benefits under your name

• Redirect your direct deposit

• Impersonate you in financial systems

By setting up your account first, you prevent someone else from doing it in your name.

Prevent and Report Fraud

According to the Social Security Administrationfraudsters use many tactics — from stealing benefits or misusing direct deposits to impersonating SSA staff or selling services the provides for free.

You can report suspected fraud to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG):

• OIG.ssa.gov

• Phone: 1-800-269-0271

The OIG investigates all reports of fraud, waste, or abuse but cannot share specific details about any resulting action, due to federal confidentiality rules.

SSA Security Tools

To strengthen protection, you can request optional account blocks:

• eServices Block: Prevents anyone — including you — from viewing or changing your information online without calling SSA.

• Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention Block: Stops unauthorized changes to your address or banking details.

Protect Your SSN & Identity

• Don’t carry your SSN card daily or say your number aloud in public.

• Be alert to phishing calls, fake SSA letters, and “fee-for-service” scams.

• Visit IdentityTheft.gov if your SSN is misused or exposed in a data breach.

• Report representative payee fraud (someone misusing benefits on your behalf) immediately — it’s illegal under the Representative Payee Fraud Prevention Act of 2015.

For more information, visit:  ssa.gov/fraud

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💼 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Financial Advisor

Starting a financial relationship should feel collaborative, not intimidating.
Try opening the conversation with something like:

“I hope you don’t mind — in today’s world, I like to do my due diligence and ask a few standard questions before forming a financial relationship. Is that okay?”

Then, ask:

1. How are you compensated? (salary, commission, or fee-only?)

2. Are you a fiduciary at all times when advising me?

3. What licenses and registrations do you hold? (Series 7, 65, CFP®, etc.)

4. Have you ever had any instances of misconduct or regulatory action, and if so, can you explain what happened?

5. Who supervises or audits your work for compliance?

6. How often will we meet or review my plan?

7. What happens to my account if you leave the firm or retire?

These questions aren’t meant to corner anyone — they’re meant to clarify roles and establish trust.
A professional advisor won’t take offense; in fact, most will appreciate your thoroughness.
If an advisor hesitates, that’s a signal worth paying attention to.

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🧠 Why It Matters

When you ask clear, confident questions, you demonstrate that you’re an equal partner in your financial future. Advisors who value transparency will rise to that level of professionalism — and those who don’t will quietly disqualify themselves.

And when you regularly monitor your credit and Social Security accounts, you’re doing the same for yourself: protecting your identity, your reputation, and your peace of mind.

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✨ Final Thought

Trust is the foundation of every financial relationship — but trust doesn’t mean surrender.
By verifying before you commit, and by keeping tabs on your credit and Social Security, you give yourself something far more valuable than a great return: control.

Educate. Empower. Enlighten.
That’s how you keep your money — and your peace — exactly where they belong: with you.

 

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Episode 45 Companion Post: 

 

🌈 My Coming Out Story:  A Story About My Grandmother 

 

Sharing personal stories like this one is part of why I started the Pink Money Podcast — to connect life, identity, and finances through honesty and humanity. National Coming Out Day is a perfect reminder that authenticity, in every form, is where real strength begins.

National Coming Out Day always takes me back to when I came out nearly 45 years ago, right after graduating high school in 1981. I’ve shared this story a few times before, but it’s one that never loses its meaning — because it reminds me of how special my grandmother was.

At the time, I was still figuring out who I was. I’d been dating a girl through my junior and senior years, and things came to a head when we went to see the 1982 movie Making Love, starring Michael Ontkean, Harry Hamlin, and Kate Jackson.

In a nutshell, it tells the story of a man coming to terms with his sexuality — falling in love with another man and finding the courage to come out to his wife so he could live authentically. I didn’t know that’s what the movie was about until we were sitting there in the theater. And let’s just say … the full weight of that realization hit me hard.

Not long after that, I was living with my grandmother for a short time. Every morning, I’d sit on the porch with the newspaper — something I really miss these days — and she’d join me for a little chat. It became our quiet ritual.

Then one morning, she looked at me and said very bluntly,

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Well sure,” I said.

“Are you gay?”

I almost choked to death. I hadn’t even fully accepted it myself — and certainly didn’t expect my grandmother of all people to be the one to call me out! It wasn’t shame I felt, exactly; it was the shock of suddenly being seen.

I asked her not to tell anyone yet because I wanted to tell my three sisters and my mom in my own time, in my own way. But … my grandmother was a bit of a gossip. She ended up doing the heavy lifting for me and told everyone before I did. All I had to do was confirm it.

Looking back, it’s bittersweet. Painful at times, yes, but also filled with gratitude. Those porch talks became a lifeline. She was my sounding board, my confidant, and my safe place to land while I was finding myself.

Things did get harder afterward — when I came out to my mom, we didn’t speak for about three years, maybe longer. She couldn’t accept it, and I couldn’t accept her not accepting it.

But fast forward to today: my mother is 86, I’m married (four years, together ten), and we all get along wonderfully. I’m grateful for my husband, my mother, and the life we share. Because I know that one day, like my grandmother, she’ll be gone too — and life will feel a little emptier. But that’s just part of loving deeply and living honestly.

So on National Coming Out Day, I hope this story inspires someone else to take their first step — or their next step — toward being their truest, most authentic self.

As I said in my most recent episode:

“It’s the best way to be.”

xx — Jerry

 

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Episode 43 Companion Post: 

 

Building Abundance on Your Own Terms with Gregory True

 

In this episode of the Pink Money Podcast, Jerry Williams, MS-PFP, sits down with Gregory True — author of Proud Wealth: Building Abundance on Your Own Terms.

Gregory’s book offers a compassionate, step-by-step approach to building financial stability and growing wealth, with a special focus on the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re working on paying off debt, improving your credit, investing for the first time, or preparing an estate plan, Gregory helps break down intimidating financial concepts into clear, doable steps.

Through the lens of his own personal journey — including the heartbreaking loss of his husband — Gregory shares how to move from surviving to thriving while honoring your values and your authentic self.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Financial basics, demystified: Gregory’s approachable guide makes tackling credit, debt, and investing less overwhelming.
• Planning for the future: The book emphasizes the importance of estate planning, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.
• Resilience through loss: Gregory’s personal story highlights the importance of taking action and being prepared, even in difficult times.
• Empowerment through knowledge: The episode encourages listeners to take ownership of their financial journey and make confident, informed choices.

🎧 Listen Now

🔗 Play Episode 43 on Buzzsprout

Or find it on your favorite platform — Apple, Spotify, or just ask Alexa to “play episode 43 of the Pink Money Podcast.”

📌 Tags: LGBTQ, Financial Planning, Wealth Building, Personal Finance, Estate Planning, Financial Literacy, Podcast Interview

📅 Date: 15 September 2025

 

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Episode 42 Companion Post: 

 

🛡️ Life Insurance: 

 

Why This Matters

Life insurance can feel complicated, even intimidating. In Episode 42 of the Pink Money Podcast (“My Life Insurance Experiment”), I shared my personal experience applying for coverage — the surprises, the frustrations, and the lessons I walked away with. This companion post is here to go deeper.

Lessons Learned 

• Underwriting isn’t transparent. Companies don’t tell you exactly what they’re looking for, but every health detail, prescription, or test can affect whether you’re accepted or rated higher.
• Insurance is about risk — not fairness. Companies want to collect as many premiums as possible before paying a claim. It’s business, not personal, even if it feels like it.
• The right policy does its job. If it pays your beneficiaries when they need it most, then the policy worked — regardless of how many years of premiums you paid.

Key Takeaways 

✅ Apply sooner than later. Age and health changes make coverage harder and more expensive.

✅ Be prepared for the medical questions. Prescriptions, doctor visits, even past issues may come up.

✅ Don’t assume one company is the same as another. Get quotes, compare underwriting approaches, and consider working with someone independent.

✅ Know your “why.” Whether it’s protecting your spouse, kids, or estate, clarity helps you choose the right amount and type of policy.

Closing Thought

Life insurance isn’t about betting against yourself. It’s about protecting the people you love. My hope is that by sharing my own process, you’ll feel more empowered to explore what’s right for the full story on Episode 42: My Life Insurance Experiment.

insurance isn’t about betting against yourself. It’s about protecting the people you love. My hope is that by sharing my own process, you’ll feel more empowered to explore what’s right for you.

🎙️ Listen to learn more on Episode 42: My Life Insurance Experiment.

📌 Tags: insurance, estate planning, LGBTQ, financial planning

📅 Date: 1 September 2025

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The Perils of Procrastination: What Waiting Is Really Costing You

We all put things off — especially when they feel complicated, overwhelming, or uncomfortable. But when it comes to your finances, procrastination doesn’t just cost time. It can cost opportunity, peace of mind, and real money.

In Episode 40 of the Pink Money Podcast, we dive into the emotional and financial toll of waiting — whether it’s writing a will, paying down debt, or finally opening that retirement account.

💡 One key takeaway? Every delay has a price — but so does every decision. Doing something imperfectly now is often better than doing nothing at all.

👉 Want to take action today? Download our LGBTQ+ Financial Wellness Checklist (PDF) and get started on your own financial wellness journey.

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**Tags:** procrastination, financial planning, estate planning, LGBTQ

📅 Date: 18 August 2025

 

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Episode 40 Companion Post: 

 

Don’t Put Things Off: Financial Steps to Take Today

 

We all procrastinate — it’s human nature. But when it comes to your money, waiting too long can cost you time, stress, and serious dollars down the road. In Episode 40 of the Pink Money Podcast, I shared why putting things off is one of the most expensive financial habits — and what you can do to avoid it.

Here’s a simple checklist you can use right now to get moving in the right direction:

✅ Financial Steps to Take Today

1. Create or Update Your Will & Estate Documents

• Draft a will and power of attorney.
• Review every few years or after major life changes.
• Especially critical for LGBTQ+ couples — don’t rely on marriage laws alone.

2. Review Your Insurance Coverage

• Homeowner’s insurance: make sure your home is properly valued.
• Car insurance: check liability limits, not just premiums.
• Flood/disaster insurance: consider risks specific to your area.

3. Start (or Restart)

• Saving Today. Even $50/month grows big with time on your side. 

• Automate contributions to a savings or investment account.

• Remember: waiting costs more than starting small now.

4. Protect Loved Ones with Proper Planning

• If caring for aging parents, review income streams and annuities carefully.
• Always add beneficiaries where possible to avoid losing value.
• Get advice from trusted professionals — not just “word of mouth.”

5. Work with the Right Professionals

• Choose reputable financial advisors and law firms with staying power.
• If possible, seek out advisors familiar with LGBTQ+ issues.
• Don’t delay meeting with a professional — it saves stress later.

Quick Action Tip

Pick one item from this list and tackle it this week. Even a small step forward beats standing still — and your future self will thank you.

✦ Listen to the full episode here: [Link to Episode 40]

✦ Want more? Explore resources, episodes, and tools at PinkMoneyPodcast.com.

 

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So why the hiatus?

Honestly? Life.

Real, unfiltered, beautifully challenging, messy life.

Behind the mic, I’m not just a financial professional — I’m also a spouse, a caregiver, and someone who’s been navigating personal challenges, including health, recovery, and reconnection. There were moments of burnout, moments of doubt, and even moments where I wondered if the podcast still mattered.

But deep down, I knew it did.

I created Pink Money because our community deserves honest, smart, and accessible conversations about money — and we deserve them from someone who gets what it means to walk through life as queer, as complex, and as powerful as we are.

Why I’m back now

Because there’s more to say. More stories to tell. More tools to share. And more moments where someone out there might hear an episode and feel seen, capable, and empowered.

Whether you’re just tuning in or you’ve been here from the beginning — thank you.

Thank you for your patience, your support, and your belief in this mission.

Pink Money is back, and I’m more focused than ever on making it matter.

Let’s keep growing together.

With gratitude,

Jerry Williams

Host, Pink Money Podcast

Date: July 2025