Does your heart drop when you think about finances or investing? Many women, especially mothers, are financially vulnerable, but there are some key things we can do to achieve financial independence.
Lisa Schader is a financial educator and the founder of Money Fit Moms, a community that empowers women to achieve financial independence by learning the basics of long-term investing.
In this episode, Lisa and I discuss the importance of creating financial independence as women. You’ll learn why being a primary caregiver can impact our earning potential, tips for managing finances in a partnership, the biggest millionaire myth, how to educate your children about finances, and much more.
Topics Covered:
- How Lisa and I met
- Becoming a certified public accountant and stay-at-home mom
- Starting her first blog and the decision to focus on finances for mothers
- How being a primary caregiver can affect career growth
- Achieving financial independence in a partnership
- Financial abuse and dependency
- How to discuss finances with your partner
- How kids can gain a financial education
- Millionaire myths and reframing your mindset
- The best investment that women can make
- Understanding opportunities costs when making spending decisions
- The idea of relying on marriage as a retirement plan
What is one step you can take to improve your financial situation? Come share with me on Instagram!
Links & Mentioned Resources:
Sign up for Lisa’s Money Fit Challenge
Listen on:
Connect with Lisa:
Connect with Nathalia:
Thanks for joining us on the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple and Spotify to help us reach even more women ready to simplify their fitness journey so they can lose weight, regain their confidence, and feel sexy AF!
More about the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast
Ever wish you had a fit and straightforward BFF with over 15 years of experience to help you filter through all the information regarding fitness, nutrition, and life?
That’s exactly what you’ll get when you listen to the Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast.
Join Former Bikini Olympia Champion, mom of 2, and fitness coach Nathalia Melo each week as she shares fitness, nutrition, and life tips to help busy working moms simplify their fitness journey so they can learn easy and simple strategies on how to lose weight and feel sexy AF.
After helping over 5000 busy working moms, Nathalia has found the blueprint to fitness, nutrition, and life success, which she will be sharing in this podcast: actionable tips that will help busy working moms be more present at work and at home.
This show is for you if you realize that nothing good comes from your comfort zone and are ready to challenge yourself to achieve great things. Follow Unfiltered Fit Life wherever you are listening to join us each week for a splash of sass, humor, and a whole lotta truth.
The podcast transcript for this episode of the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast follows
[Natalia]
Hello, hello there! I am super excited to welcome our first official guest on The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast. The only other guest I’ve had was my husband, so he doesn’t count.
Today, we have an incredible guest, Lisa Schader! Lisa, welcome to the show. Did I pronounce that right?
[Lisa]
You nailed it! It rhymes with “financial educator,” and it took me years to notice that.
[Natalia]
It’s a sign—it was meant to be! For those listening, Lisa is the creator of MoneyFitMoms.com and a passionate financial educator. She empowers women to achieve financial independence by mastering the basics of long-term investing. Lisa, did I miss anything?
[Lisa]
Not at all! But just to ease any fears—if anyone heard the word “investing” and got overwhelmed or intimidated, don’t worry! Long-term investing can be simple. I’m not a finance bro trying to complicate things. I focus on automating, using low-cost strategies, and helping people see that building wealth doesn’t have to be scary or complicated.
[Natalia]
I love that! Before we dive into all the financial gold you have to share, I want to tell everyone how we met. But actually, Lisa, I think you should tell the story.
[Lisa]
Oh, it’s quite the story. So, a friend reached out to me to let me know that someone had stolen a picture of me—a pre- and post-surgery photo of my diastasis recti repair (which is essentially a tummy tuck, for medical reasons). I had posted that picture along with an explanation to avoid shaming women or misleading them into thinking it was a fitness transformation.
Unfortunately, someone with a huge following on social media used my photo to sell her fitness program for $50, completely misrepresenting the results.
[Natalia]
And I was livid right along with you! I remember seeing it and immediately messaging you, saying, “I’m in this with you!”
[Lisa]
Yes! Your support meant everything. When I spoke out about it, I wasn’t prepared for the backlash. Her followers bullied me online, and I almost deleted my account. But people like you gave me the courage to stand up because it wasn’t just about me—it was about protecting other women from being misled and taken advantage of.
[Natalia]
Exactly. I work with women who fall victim to this kind of BS all the time, and I deal with the aftermath. I knew I had to back you up.
From Finance Nerd to Empowering Women
[Natalia]
Lisa, let’s switch gears. I’ve heard you were a self-proclaimed “nerdy kid” who earned a scholarship to a highly competitive accounting program. Can you tell us about that?
[Lisa]
Absolutely. I got my CPA (Certified Public Accountant) after earning my master’s in accounting with a tax emphasis. I was such a nerd that I carried around massive volumes of the Internal Revenue Code on campus. People literally avoided my classes after seeing those books!
[Natalia]
That’s amazing. So, after earning your CPA, what happened?
[Lisa]
I grew up in a culture where being a stay-at-home mom was the expectation. While I valued education, I felt societal pressure to marry, have kids, and put my career on hold. I worked briefly at a demanding accounting firm, but after having my first child, I became a stay-at-home mom.
Unfortunately, I struggled with severe postpartum depression and anxiety. I thought I could “achieve” motherhood the way I approached my career. But motherhood isn’t something you can conquer—it’s messy and challenging.
Why Moms Are Financially Vulnerable
[Natalia]
You’ve mentioned before that moms are particularly vulnerable financially. Can you elaborate on that?
[Lisa]
Absolutely. When women leave the workforce to become primary caregivers, they sacrifice career growth and financial independence. This creates vulnerability, especially in cases of divorce or other life changes.
Many women also face financial manipulation in relationships. For example, they might not have access to financial accounts or feel like they don’t have a say in money matters. This isn’t always intentional or malicious, but it’s a dynamic that leaves women financially dependent and powerless.
[Natalia]
That’s such an important conversation. Financial independence doesn’t mean you don’t trust your partner—it means you’re protecting yourself and your family.
Lessons from Personal Experience
[Natalia]
You’ve been open about struggling with not being the primary breadwinner and how investing in your husband’s career impacted your own. How did you reconcile that?
[Lisa]
It was tough. I mourned the career I could have had if I hadn’t stepped back. But over time, my husband and I had open conversations about balancing our financial priorities.
We agreed to separate “fun money” accounts, where we each have equal amounts to spend however we want. It gives us freedom while maintaining our shared financial goals. For me, time freedom became my ultimate goal, and it’s priceless.
Teaching Kids About Money
[Natalia]
How are you teaching your kids to make smart financial choices?
[Lisa]
We give them allowances divided into spending, saving, and giving categories. They have freedom to make their own buying decisions, even if we think they’re wasting money. For example, my son saved up for an expensive collector’s toy and treated it with so much care—it taught him the value of money better than any lecture could.
We also introduce concepts like budgeting and investing in age-appropriate ways. The key is letting them make mistakes while the stakes are low.
Final Thoughts on Financial Empowerment
[Natalia]
Lisa, you once said, “Getting married is not a retirement plan.” Can you elaborate?
[Lisa]
Yes. Too many women grow up with the mindset that their financial future depends on marrying a wealthy partner. But life is unpredictable. Divorce, death, or simply not getting married can leave women in precarious positions. Financial education is essential—it strengthens good marriages and protects you from bad ones.
[Natalia]
I couldn’t agree more. Lisa, thank you so much for sharing your story and wisdom. Where can people connect with you?
[Lisa]
I’m at MoneyFitMoms.com and on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok as MoneyFitMoms. I also have a free Money Fit Challenge, which walks you through the basics of building wealth in easy, actionable steps.
[Natalia]
Thank you so much, Lisa! This has been an eye-opening and empowering conversation.
