
In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode, Bernadette Joy joins Theresa to dive into the deeper layers of financial wellness. This isn’t just about dollars and cents—it’s about addressing the emotional and physical toll of financial challenges. We discuss why professional guidance should be a part of your financial strategy, how societal structures like the patriarchy play a role, and the importance of prioritizing your mental and physical health as you pursue financial freedom. Bernadette shares her wisdom and practical insights, reminding us that true financial success isn’t just about a lavish lifestyle—it’s about stability and thriving in every aspect of life.
Bernadette Joy is a financial educator and coach renowned for her remarkable journey from substantial debt to financial independence. As a first-generation Filipino American, she and her husband paid off $300,000 of debt within three years and subsequently built a net worth exceeding $1 million. She is the Founder of the CRUSH Your Money Goals® system, which is now a book recognized in the top 10 books for personal growth in 2025 by Oprah Daily.
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Some key takeaways from this episode include:
Prioritize yourself first. Bernadette reveals that many people, especially women, stay in unfulfilling jobs or relationships due to financial dependency. She emphasizes the importance of ensuring your own well-being before trying to care for others.
Invest in your future self; don’t settle for shortcuts or only focus on immediate needs. Advocating for your future self requires intentional investments today that will pay off in the long run.
Maintaining hope in the midst of struggle is what we’re here for. Even in the darkest moments of financial or personal crises like divorce, there’s always hope. Clients have proven time and again that it’s possible to rebuild their lives, find love, and achieve financial stability against all odds.
The Legal Lounge podcast aims to dispel misinformation and downright bad legal information to empower anyone with questions about their family, their children, their finances, their marriage, and the law. As a team focused exclusively on family law matters, we aim to help you not only with the information you need, but also with the hope that your situation has a solution.
Modern Legal is a family law firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our Modern Legal team can help you navigate the legal system when the law and your family collide. We help turn confusion into confidence, helplessness into empowerment, and frustration into action.
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only and the information should not be relied upon as legal advice or for legal purposes.