Margaritas with Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro

June 2, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday we start the weekend off by learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Liz Simmie, Co-Founder, Honeytree Investment Management

Our Topic: Everything you need to know about ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance)

Rita asks Liz:

What is ESG? Why are investors interested in investing in ESG and impact-related products? Is ESG political? How is ESG data being standardized? What are the options available for investors looking to invest in ESG products? About our guest: Liz co-founded Honeytree Investment Management, an asset management firm focused on responsible growth based in Toronto. Together with the team, she manages Honeytree’s concentrated active investment strategies for institutional and private clients. Honeytree believes what is traditionally seen as ‘ESG’ data is just as important to assessing a company’s long-term growth and risk as traditional fundamental data – and we integrate them both equally in our investment process. We are proud to be one of the handful of women-led responsible asset management firms globally leading the conversation. Prior to founding Honeytree, she worked at Bristol Gate Capital Partners, a leading active management firm, and before that, she worked in quantitative market research for Ipsos. Liz has BA in Economic Statistics and History. Liz lives with her husband and three kids in Toronto. read more...

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May 26, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Jeff Weiss, CMT

Today's Topic: Relationship Investing — Stock Market Therapy for Your Money

Rita asks Jeff:

Why did you write your book, Relationship Investing – Stock Market Therapy For Your Money What are a few investment rules that you live by? Are there any investments don’t’ s that you adhere to? What are some non-monetary factors you consider when investing? Is there one key lesson you’ve learned after five decades of investing? About this week's guest: Ordinary has never been used to describe one of Jeff Weiss’ motivational stock market presentations. His goal is nothing less than to provide you with a stock market roadmap for the rest of your investment lifetime. Attendees to his dynamic, informative, and entertaining stock market talks have described Jeff’s presentations as charismatic, exciting, inspiring, extraordinary, unique, tremendous, funny, upbeat, and energetic. “Jeff’s enthusiasm is contagious!” remarked one. read more...

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May 19, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Credit score expert Paul Ryan

Today's Topic: Taking the mystery out of credit scores and credit histories

Rita asks Paul:

Can you explain what credit scores are? Why are credit scores and credit histories important? What are the credit score ranges, and what are some ways to establish credit? What are some ways to protect your credit files/history? What are immediate actions to take? About this week's guest: Paul Ryan is a management consultant, corporate trainer, and author. His professional background, and personal passion, include education as both a recipient and an information provider. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business management and has obtained several professional certifications. He is also a member of an advisory board of a Florida university. For years Paul was an instructor for Junior Achievement (JA) K12 school programs. In his JA classes, he taught students about business and how to manage money as well as interviewing skills. He is a mentor for students at his alma mater providing guidance on steps to take in college to prepare them for their post-graduation lives. Paul is a native of Washington DC and resides in South Florida. Learn more at creditscoresexpert.com read more...

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May 12, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Ben Miller, founder of ChroniFI

Today's Topic: Money is Time

Rita asks Ben:

Why should people think about their money in terms of time? What role does simplicity play in personal finances? What does ChroniFI do to help people make better decisions? Why did you start your company? Why is behavior such an important part of the realm of financial planning? About our Guest: Ben says, "I built ChroniFI to help people simplify their finances to make choices aligned with their goals confidently. This platform is based on the tools I used to convince myself it was time to stop chasing money and start making meaning. ChroniFI makes the complex simple by allowing you to see your entire financial picture in one place and, more importantly, to understand what it all means. With that information in hand, you can pursue a path to financial independence that you can enjoy every step of the way. My ultimate goal is to help people live their most fulfilling lives and place meaning over money on their way to financial freedom. Please join me!" Learn more at ChroniFI.com. read more...

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May 5: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Liz Davidson, founder and CEO of Financial Finesse

Today's Topic: Becoming Money Strong

Rita asks Liz:

April was Financial Literacy Month, but at Margaritas with Marguerita, we celebrate it year-round — tell our audience what it means to you to be “financially well?” Where do you see the value in financial coaching? How can financial coaching help people prepare for anything life throws? Your company works mainly with employers and employees, including professional sports associations. But you recently launched a program to support college athletes, who have been given the opportunity to make money from NIL deals in the last two years. What does financial success look like for this next generation? You recently released your second book, Money Strong, which provides comprehensive advice for individuals to achieve their short-term and long-term financial goals. What would you say is your new book's number one piece of advice? What advice from your book could listeners start implementing right now to bring them one step closer to financial freedom? About our guest: Liz Davidson is the founder and CEO of Financial Finesse, the country’s leading independent provider of financial wellness coaching. A bestselling author, her new book Money Strong: Your Guide to a Life Free of Financial Worries hit shelves on February 28, 2023. read more...

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April 28, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off right by learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Dorrit Lowsen, Co-CEO of Change Finance, PBC

Today's Topic: Understanding the impact investing equation

Rita asks Dorrit:

What inspired you to create your company, Change Finance, and what does the name mean to you? What is active ownership, and why is it important? What are some of the major issues active shareholders are working on now? What are some successes? How can ordinary investors be active owners? Why are we hearing so much backlash against ESG? Is there any truth to it? About our guest: Dorrit Lowsen has more than 20 years of professional experience across various industries, including IT, environment, and finance, and a range of modalities, including Fortune 500, start-up, government, and non-profit. Following a decade-long international career as a technology leader, Dorrit joined Agora Partnerships as COO, overseeing the development of the first accelerator program to channel investment capital to impact-driven companies in Latin America. She went on to produce award-winning work on energy and environmental policy at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing during the preparation for the Paris Climate Agreement before returning to the U.S. to join Change Finance’s founding team. Dorrit has participated in all sides of the impact investing equation – as an entrepreneur, investor in multiple deals, and facilitator through her work at Agora Partnerships. She holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business, an MS in Computer Science from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a BA from Haverford College. Learn more at change-finance.com. read more...

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April 21, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off right by learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Author Kanchan Bhaskar

Today's Topic: Leaving — How to set yourself free from an abusive marriage

Rita asks Kanchan:

Tell us about your heroic story of leaving your abusive marriage. What kept you from leaving sooner? And why is this often the worst question someone can ask a woman struggling with this decision? What is your advice to other women in this situation? What can others do to support a woman coping with abuse? You got divorced 20 years ago. What have you been doing these last two decades? And what are your plans for the future? How can people connect with you to discuss this topic with their friends and have you speak at their events? About our guest: Raised by two loving parents in New Delhi, India, Kanchan Bhaskar has always been taught that marriage means companionship, tenderness, and mutual respect—so when she enters into an arranged marriage, this is the kind of partnership she anticipates with her new, seemingly wonderful, husband. But after they marry, she quickly discovers that his warmth is deceptive—that the man beneath the bright, charming façade is actually a narcissistic, alcoholic, and violent man. read more...

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April 14, 2023: Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes each Friday at Happy Hour, we start the weekend off right by learning from industry experts how to flex our financial muscles.

Meet our guest: Rose Bakewell, founder of Mrs. Bakewell's Cream Tea Company

Today's Topic: An entrepreneur's journey to bring British cream tea to America

Rita asks Rose: read more...

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April 7, 2023: A Note from Marguerita Cheng, CFP® Pro — I invite you to tune in for this week's episode of my podcast and video show, Margaritas with Marguerita, where for 15 minutes, we learn from industry experts how to flex our financiåal muscles.

Meet our guest: Michael Hakerem, founder of Empowered Portfolios® and Glenwood Financial Partners

Today's topic: The importance of being a client advocate

Rita asks Michael:

What inspired you to pursue your career or passion? What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your work, and how did you overcome it? Can you share a success story or accomplishment you are particularly proud of? What advice do you have for others interested in pursuing a similar career or passion? Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or events you are excited about? About our guest: Michael Hakerem is a founder of Empowered Portfolios® and Glenwood Financial Partners. He has nearly 30 years of experience in private wealth management and custom portfolio design and has built award-winning financial technologies for securities research and portfolio management. As a client advocate, Michael is passionate about shaping a trustworthy, forward-thinking financial industry through client-centric stewardship and education. read more...

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