Tag Archives: Lauren Smith

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Critical Financial Discussions To Have With Your Aging Parents & Kids (Ep.44)



Having conversations about family wills can be tough. How do you start that conversation from one family to another?

In this episode, Jeff and Lauren share some advice surrounding the later stages of life and what they entail in terms of finances. They also highlight how discussing these things, despite how morbid they may sound, is so important and will benefit everyone in the long run.

Jeff and Lauren discuss:

  • The important discussions about wills that should happen between parents and children in the parents’ later stages of life
  • The importance of uploading, saving, and giving access to financial wills to other family members
  • How medical directors can serve your best interest in the future
  • How they extend their relationships with clients and allow themselves to be a resource to many families
  • And more!

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Healthy Financial Habits To Start This Year (Ep. 42)



What does it take to make the new year different? How do you hold yourself accountable for the changes you want to make?

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith reflect on their past year at Green Financial, and they share their goals for the upcoming year. They also talk about the process of planning, not only for retirement but other financially-demanding times throughout the year. 

Jeff and Lauren discuss:

  • Healthy financial habits for all income scenarios
  • How to continue your good habits throughout the whole year
  • Planning for more than just retirement
  • Why you shouldn’t wait until you’re retired to tackle your bucket list
  • And more!

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The Green Team Holiday Traditions (Ep. 40)



Holiday traditions are very important to keep us close with our loved ones and to create memories that will last a lifetime. 

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith speak with some of the team members at Green Financial Group—Hillary, Claire, and Melanie. They discuss some of their favorite holiday family traditions and some of the fun memories they have made over the years.

The Green Team discuss: 

  • The fun tradition of elf on the shelf
  • The relaxing tradition of having an adult christmas 
  • The creative tradition of finding new recipes for baked goods
  • The enjoyable family gatherings with family karaoke
  • The tradition of watching the thanksgiving day parade
  • And more

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Sharing Your Financial Documentation with Family (Ep. 39)



You may have a pretty good handle on your finances. But have you shared that information with your family? 

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith talk about suggestions for documenting the details of your finances so your family can access this information in case of an emergency. They share tips for ways to share this information, and explain why you should be having this conversation before it’s too late.

Jeff and Lauren discuss: 

  • The purpose of the ‘family phone call’
  • The helpful resource of a cloud-based vault and the ability to designate trusted contacts
  • The importance of writing down contact information to your; financial advisor, estate attorney etc.
  • Why you should be having the estate planning conversation with family
  • And more

Resources: 

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Insights on Researching Before You Give: Charitable Giving, Part Two With Kendall Monroe (Ep. 38)



Giving comes in many forms—it can be time, talent, or treasure, but most importantly, giving should come from the heart. 

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith speak with Kendall Monroe, chief advancement officer at the Kidney Cancer Association and co-founder and director of development of The Way Home Adoption. Kendall discusses her role in each of the organizations, and how the organizations give back to help people in the global community.

Kendall discusses: 

  • How each of the organizations help the Houston community and around the world
  • How to evaluate your options for charitable gifting
  • Her job as a certified charitable financial planner
  • The most important things to look for when it comes to charitable giving
  • And more

Resources:

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Changing Young Children’s Lives through Education: Charitable Giving, Part One With Rebecca Roberts and Glenn Okuma (Ep. 37)



CYCLE Houston is a nonprofit charity organization that uses bicycles to motivate kids to reach defined academic goals. 

Their goal for 2021 is to build 10,000 bicycles—and you can help.

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith talk with Rebecca Roberts, executive director and Glenn Okuma, webmaster at CYCLE Houston. They share how their charity began, it’s mission, and how it is growing to help Houston children and students.

Rebecca and Glenn discuss: 

  • How CYCLE began and the overall mission of the organization
  • How this organization helps children reach their defined academic goals and how many bicycles they make in a year
  • How supply chain distributions have affected the organization
  • And more

Resources: 

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What to Think About To Live Your Dream Retirement (Ep. 36)



“A goal without a plan is just a dream.”

You will not be able to live your dream retirement without a proper financial plan in place.

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith discuss the important things to think about as you plan for retirement. They recommend what actionable steps you could be taking now to plan for your dream retirement in the future.

Jeff and Lauren discuss: 

  • The value of using a bucket list to live out your dreams in retirement
  • The factors you need to consider when you decide when to start taking Social Security
  • The importance of planning when deciding on your retirement date
  • Why you should use your time before retirement to focus on your budget and cashflow
  • And more

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Your Cyber Security Mindset (Ep. 35)



Our personal lives have become so entwined with the internet with online banking, online shopping and much more! This means our personal information is much more vulnerable to identity theft. 

Last year, over 14 million people were victims of identity theft––are you next?

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith share some cyber security tips you can implement to keep your sensitive information safe and secure.

Jeff and Lauren discuss: 

  • How to protect yourself against cybersecurity threats by using a private email address for sensitive accounts
  • The added level of security protection by using proper password protection––and two-step verification
  • Why and how you can avoid using public wifi
  • Tips to secure your home wifi network
  • And more

Resources: 

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When Was the Last Time You Taught Your Kids Something New? (Ep. 34)



No matter their age, your children will always look to you for advice and to learn those essential life skills that everyone should know before they’re on their own.

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith discuss some of the life skills, and financial knowledge you should be teaching your kids that will set them up for life. They share advice and their personal experience with teaching and learning these essential skills for life.

Jeff and Lauren discuss: 

  • Why you should teach your children the essential life skills like changing the batteries in a smoke detector or changing a tire on your car
  • The feeling of teaching your children how to grill, pitch a tent, camp in nature, and start a fire
  • The financial skills you should ensure your children know before they go to college
  • And more

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Meet The Team: Claire Holmes, Marketing Consultant (Ep. 33)



The team at Green Financial Group is passionate about helping those in the oil and gas sector take command of their finances. But each team member has their distinct role and specific passion, and we want you to get to know them!

In this episode, Jeff Green and Lauren Smith are joined by Claire Holmes, Marketing & Strategy Consultant and founder of Double H Design Co. and Mama Collaborative. Claire discusses how she helps the Green Financial Group team with productivity, time management, accountability, and processes behind the scenes within the company.

Claire discusses: 

  • Why time management is the key to success
  • Two of her top time management techniques she teaches to help you get your jobs done
  • The types of jobs she’s worked at––and how she ended up owning two of her own companies
  • How her interests are fulfilled through her own work
  • And more

Resources: 

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About Our Guest: 

Claire Holmes’ goal is to help others achieve their goals. Whether that is helping a company develop and execute a thoughtful marketing strategy, writing professional bios that exude authenticity, or leveraging my creativity to develop custom photo books and slideshows. She is a (Type A) Jane of All Trades who likes to get things done. A perfectionist to her core, she is extremely detail-oriented, works hard to get the job done, and is always looking for ways to add more value for her clients.