In this episode of Money Well Studio, hosts Julie and Jennifer take listeners on a guided tour through one of the most talked-about economic indicators: the inverted yield curve. What does it mean when short-term interest rates outpace long-term ones—and why does it often make economists sweat? From the basics of bond yields to the psychology driving investor behavior, the hosts break it all down with clarity and wit. You'll also hear the fascinating origin story of Campbell Harvey, the Canadian economist who first connected the dots between inverted yield curves and recessions. Along the way, Julie and Jennifer explore the Federal Reserve’s role, the impact of inflation and stagflation, and offer grounded advice for families looking to weather economic uncertainty with confidence and calm.

🍹 Cocktail of the Episode: The Tequila Sunrise

Just like the inverted yield curve, this drink starts sunny and takes a dramatic turn. Sip it as we dive into a conversation about shifting financial signals, investor psychology, and navigating uncertain terrain with style.

Tequila Sunrise Recipe

• 2 oz tequila
• 4 oz orange juice
• 1/2 oz grenadine (drizzled down the side)
• Garnish: orange slice & maraschino cherry

Instructions:

1. Fill a glass with ice.
2. Pour in the tequila and orange juice—don’t stir!
3. Slowly pour the grenadine down the side of the glass. It will sink, creating that signature sunrise gradient.

4. Garnish, toast to clarity, and enjoy!

✨ Episode Summary:

In this episode, Jennifer and Julie tackle one of the most underrated but life-changing money moves: budgeting! Whether you're rocking a steady paycheck, riding the waves of variable income, or just trying to tame the chaos of daily expenses, this conversation is packed with real-world advice and a lot of laughs.

The Budget template we referenced from the FTC can be accessed here: https://www.bulkorder.ftc.gov/system/files/publications/pdf-1020-make-budget-worksheet.pdf Enjoy and happy budgeting!

Our Drink Well Cocktail :The Nick & Nora Dry Gin Martini

Ingredients:

• 2.5 oz London your favorite Dry Gin
• 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
• Dash of orange bitters (optional, but highly recommended)
• Lemon twist or olive for garnish

Instructions:

1. Chill the glass: Pop your Nick and Nora glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water while you prepare the drink.
2. Stir, don’t shake: Add gin, dry vermouth, and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir for about 20–30 seconds until well chilled.
3. Strain: Empty the ice water from your Nick and Nora glass (if you chilled it that way), and strain the martini into the glass.
4. Garnish: Express a lemon twist over the drink and drop it in, or go classic with a single olive on a cocktail pick.

In this episode, we dive deep into the surprisingly fascinating world of interest ! We explore its ancient roots, the different ways it's been embraced (or banned) by cultures throughout history, and how it shows up in everyday financial decisions. From George Bailey's life lessons in It's a Wonderful Life to Bollinger-fueled wild parties courtesy of the LIBOR index, we unpack how interest can either build communities or cause financial chaos.

Along the way, we also sip on an "interesting" red wine — Battle of Toro from Spicewood Vineyards — a bold Texas blend that perfectly matches the spirit of this episode: strong, complex, and full of history.

You can buy a bottle here and sip along with us:

https://www.spicewoodvineyards.com/

- Jennifer & Julie

🎙️ Episode Title: Investing in Your Children's Future with UTMA Accounts

🍹 Drink Pairing: Milk Punch

Ingredients:

§ 4 oz bourbon

§ 3 oz Cognac

§ 2 oz crème de cacao

§ 1.5 oz Jamaican rum

§ 16 oz half-and-half

§ 8 oz whole milk

§ 2.5 oz grade A or B maple syrup

§ 1 oz vanilla paste

Stir all ingredients well with ice and strain into glass, served over fresh crushed ice. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Serve With a fun straw and into a retro milk carton. Or have the Roosevelt room make one for you in Austin, Texas.

https://www.therooseveltroomatx.com/menu

💼 Episode Summary:
In this episode of Money Well Studio, Jennifer and Julie dive into the world of UTMA (Uniform Transfers to Minors Act) accounts—what they are, how they work, and why they might be a smart choice for investing in your kids. From tax perks to teaching kids about compound growth, the conversation is packed with tips, personal stories, and real talk about when “less rules” might actually mean more responsibility. Whether you're planning for your child's future or just looking to boost your own financial literacy, this episode delivers the goods.

💡 Top Takeaways:

• UTMA accounts allow you to invest in a wide range of assets for your child.
• They’re more flexible than 529 plans and can be used for anything—not just education.
• Most importantly: UTMA accounts offer an amazing opportunity to teach kids the power of saving and investing early.

🎙️ Episode: “A Good College Try: The 529 Breakdown”

College costs got you sweating like it’s finals week? In this lively episode, Julie and Jennifer mix a little nostalgia with some serious financial know-how. From late-night Jell-O shots to late-night FAFSA forms, they explore the smartest ways to fund a college education without drowning in student loans. You’ll get the scoop on 529 plans, government incentives, and why “hope is not a strategy” when it comes to your kid’s future tuition bill.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• Why 529 plans are the real MVPs of education funding
• The student loan struggle is real (and avoidable!)
• How to make the most of government incentives
• What counts as a "qualified expense" (hint: it's not pizza)
• The difference between prepaid tuition vs. college savings plans
• Other ways to fund college if 529s aren’t the right fit
• Why now is the best time to start saving

🧃 Sound Bites:

• "Liquid Courage: The Jell-O Shot"
• "Why bother saving for college?"
• "Hope is not a strategy."
• "A 529 plan is like a financial hug from your future self."
• "Scholarships are great—but they’re not a sure bet."

🍹 Drink Pairing: Bud Light & Jello Shots - Because college prep deserves a little throwback to college days

Ingredients:

1. One box of Jell-O

2. One cup boiling water.

3. Half a cup cold water.

4. Half a cup vodka.

5. Shot Cups

Directions:

1. Dissolve the Jell-O in the hot water.

2. Stir in the cold water and vodka

3. Pour into shot cups.

4. Chill for a few hours. Done.

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this powerful and punchy two-part episode, Jennifer and Julie pull back the curtain on the financial lives of women—where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what it takes to build true financial confidence.

Kicking things off with signature cocktails (Widow’s Kiss and in part 2, the Wonder Woman, of course), the hosts take listeners on a spirited ride (pun intended) through history, data, laughs, and practical tools for becoming financially fearless.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why financial confidence is the real game-changer for women

• The surprisingly recent history of financial access for women

• Why control—not just access—is key to empowerment

• How to build your “Oh $h1t” Fund with 3 simple hacks

• The power of financial date nights (yes, even if you're single)

• The importance of transparency in partnerships—and how to start the conversation

• How to use “Observability” as a financial superpower

• Our favorite tools to get a mission-control view of your money

💬 Quotes We Loved:

“Money isn’t just about numbers. It’s about power, control, and independence.”

“A woman’s best protection is a little money of her own.” – Clare Boothe Luce

“Nothing bad happens when women have more money. But a lot of bad things can happen when we don’t have control, access, or knowledge.”

🍸 The Episode Cocktails:

The Wonder Woman – bold, complex, and full of heroic flair. Just like you.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz small batch bourbon

• 3/4 oz sweet vermouth

• 1.0 oz of Campari

• Ice

• Gold sugar rim

• Lemon twist – representing the Wonder Woman lasso of truth

Instructions:

1. Prepare the glass – Rim a rocks or coupe glass with gold sugar for that Wonder Woman shine.

2. Shake it up – In a shaker, add all ingredients at once.

3. Strain & serve – Strain into the prepared glass over a large ice cube (for a rocks glass) or neat (for a coupe glass).

4. Garnish – Add a lemon twist or a cherry for a final heroic touch.

🛠️ Resources & References:

• ⁠Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974)⁠
• ⁠GFLEC Report on Women and Financial Literacy (2024)⁠
• ⁠Global Citizen: How Women Reinvest Their Earnings⁠
• ⁠Bankrate Emergency Savings Survey⁠
• ⁠Consumer Financial Protection Bureau⁠
• ⁠Personal Capital / Empower⁠
• ⁠Quicken⁠
• ⁠Mint (by Intuit)⁠
• ⁠Financial Times article by Lindsay Cook⁠
• Financial Date Night Toolkit (coming soon to our website!)

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this powerful and punchy two-part episode, Jennifer and Julie pull back the curtain on the financial lives of women—where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what it takes to build true financial confidence.

Kicking things off with signature cocktails (Widow’s Kiss and Wonder Woman, of course), the hosts take listeners on a spirited ride (pun intended) through history, data, laughs, and practical tools for becoming financially fearless.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why financial confidence is the real game-changer for women

• The surprisingly recent history of financial access for women

• Why control—not just access—is key to empowerment

• How to build your “Oh $h1t” Fund with 3 simple hacks

• The power of financial date nights (yes, even if you're single)

• The importance of transparency in partnerships—and how to start the conversation

• How to use “Observability” as a financial superpower

• Our favorite tools to get a mission-control view of your money

💬 Quotes We Loved:

“Money isn’t just about numbers. It’s about power, control, and independence.”

“A woman’s best protection is a little money of her own.” – Clare Boothe Luce

“Nothing bad happens when women have more money. But a lot of bad things can happen when we don’t have control, access, or knowledge.”

🍸 The Episode Cocktails:

Widow’s Kiss — a nod to the women in history who found freedom through widowhood (with a side of dark humor).

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz Apple Brandy (preferably Calvados)

• ¾ oz Yellow Chartreuse

• ¾ oz Bénédictine

• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice.

2. Stir well until chilled (about 30 seconds).

3. Strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass.

4. Optionally, garnish with a cherry or a lemon twist.

The Wonder Woman – bold, complex, and full of heroic flair. Just like you.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz small batch bourbon

• 3/4 oz sweet vermouth

• 1.0 oz of Campari

• Ice

• Gold sugar rim

• Lemon twist – representing the Wonder Woman lasso of truth

Instructions:

1. Prepare the glass – Rim a rocks or coupe glass with gold sugar for that Wonder Woman shine.

2. Shake it up – In a shaker, add all ingredients at once.

3. Strain & serve – Strain into the prepared glass over a large ice cube (for a rocks glass) or neat (for a coupe glass).

4. Garnish – Add a lemon twist or a cherry for a final heroic touch.

🛠️ Resources & References:

• Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974)
• GFLEC Report on Women and Financial Literacy (2024)
• Global Citizen: How Women Reinvest Their Earnings
• Bankrate Emergency Savings Survey
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Personal Capital / Empower
• Quicken
• Mint (by Intuit)
• Financial Times article by Lindsay Cook
• Financial Date Night Toolkit (coming soon to our website!)

Cocktails and Credit: A Fun Approach to Finance

In this episode of Money Well Studio, hosts Jennifer and Julie explore the intricacies of credit scores while enjoying a themed credit score cocktail. They discuss what a credit score is, why it matters, and how it affects various aspects of life, including employment and insurance.

The conversation covers practical steps for building credit, repairing bad credit, and maintaining a healthy credit score. Listeners are encouraged to check their credit regularly and treat their credit responsibly, ensuring a solid financial reputation.

The Credit Score Cocktail

Prepared as a classic cocktail in a coupe glass.

• 2 ounces gin

• 2 ounces pomegranate juice

• ½ ounces lemon juice

• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

• 1 egg white

• Ice

• 1 ounce cava (to top after shaking and pour!)

• Garnish - mint spring or rosemary - something the color of money

In a cocktail shaker, add gin, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white.

Dry shake (that means without ice) for 10 seconds. Add ice, and shake for 10 more seconds.

Pour into coupe glass, and top with cava and garnish with something green (mint, rosemary, or even cilantro)

Where to check your credit for free?

You can check your credit for free once a year by going to:

www.annualcreditreport.com

This is the website that the government requires Equifax, TransUnion and Experian to maintain so people can see what's out there.