She Can Podcast by the Alabama Securities Commission

March is Women's Month! As women, we’ve often been told that we must choose between a successful career, our family, our health, our finances, or our personal wellbeing, but we can’t have success in all those areas at once. Well, we’re here with Jasmine Williams, WSFA 12 News Anchor, to debunk that myth. You CAN have it all! 

Pets bring joy, companionship, and unconditional love—but they also come with real financial responsibilities. In this episode, I’m joined by Lea Turbert, Marketing and Development Manager for the Montgomery Humane Society, to talk honestly about the costs of pet ownership and how women can plan confidently and compassionately for life with a furry companion.

As we’re ending this year and preparing to enter a new year, now is a great time to evaluate your finances and set a budget and goals for the new year. On today’s episode, we’ll walk through some end of the year financial tips and helpful resources to help you prepare for a successful financial journey in 2026!

When it comes to investing and choosing where to place your money for retirement, there are a lot of options out there. It can become overwhelming to understand all the different avenues and what might work best for you. That’s why we’ve invited Jennifer Householder, State Director of the Alabama Retire Deferred Compensation Plan, to help us understand retirement plans and other types of investments.

Selecting the right type of financial professional is critical for success in your personal financial journey. Ja’Lisa Grissom, Senior Securities Analyst with Alabama Securities Commission, will chat with us to help you determine when you need a financial professional; the types of financial professionals available to you; and what to look for when selecting the right financial professional for you.

Insurance and finances are more closely linked than you think! Lauretta Roe from the Consumer Services Division of the Alabama Department of Insurance joined us on the She Can Podcast to discuss the importance of insurance, how to shop for the best insurance for your situation, and the negative financial impacts of not having insurance.

Achieving financial stability starts with truly understanding your finances! We will chat with Cristy Andrews, Member with Warren Averett and Commissioner with the Alabama Securities Commission, on some basic tips for understanding your financial statements, budgeting, balancing your checkbook, and other personal accounting needs.

A lack of financial literacy and mismanaging your finances can impact your mental health. Dr. Kwatasian Hunt, Employee Assistance Program Coordinator with the Risk Management Division of the Alabama Department of Finance, will join us today to discuss the impact of financial management on your mental health and ways to reduce financial stress.

Your financial literacy impacts more than just you; it trickles down to your family, too! We’re excited to have Dr. Dee Bennett and Monica Anderson-Young, Co-Founders of SHORT the Squirrel – Alabama’s Literacy Mascot, to chat with us about the importance of family financial literacy. 

Romance scams happen year-round, not just during the month of love! Dorothy Dorton, Associate State Director of Outreach for Lower Alabama AARP, is here to discuss how to protect our hearts and wallets from romance scams. 

In our finale of the "Tax Talk" Series with IRS Stakeholder Liaison Nora Huffman, we talk about tax and IRS-related scams, how to best protect yourself from them, what the IRS is doing to protect you, and what you should do if you fall victim to a tax or IRS scam.

In Part 3 of our 4-Part series, IRS Stakeholder Liaison Nora Huffman will help you prepare to complete your tax return! We’ll cover:

• Deductions/credits
• Payment options
• Amending tax returns
• Tax tips
• Free IRS Resources
• How to choose the right tax professional/tax preparing service

On Part 2 of our 4-part tax series, we’ll reconnect with Nora Huffman from the IRS to discuss everything you need to know about income taxes, including:

• What income is taxed/not taxed
• Changing tax brackets
• Estimating tax withholding
• Preparing for tax return season

We don’t have to dread tax season! Nora Huffman, Stakeholder Liaison with the Internal Revenue Service, will join us for a 4-part series to discuss all things tax-related. In part 1, we’ll discuss the different types of taxes and debunk tax misconceptions and myths.

When starting a new job, it’s critical for your financial stability to understand your employee benefits, pay, and other related factors that might play a part in your financial planning and employment decisions. Laury Morgan, Director of the Alabama State Personnel Department, will help us understand those factors and how to make the best decision for your personal financial journey!

The holidays are here! While we’re spreading holiday cheer, bad actors are spreading holiday fear. Monde Donaldson, Vice President of the Better Business Bureau Educational Foundation, is here to talk to us about common holiday scams and how we can protect ourselves from them.

Learning to save and having effective savings strategies is crucial for success on our financial journeys. Glenda Allred, Deputy State Treasurer with the Alabama Treasury Department, will give us tips on saving effectively, insight into savings programs available to Alabama residents, and keys to reclaiming assets owed to us through the State's Unclaimed Property program!