Wallet Watch

Habits and Soft Skills: The Invisible Drivers of Success

Whether you’re an emerging professional or a seasoned leader, the latest episode of the Wallet Watch podcast offers practical insights on how to help you elevate how you lead, contribute to your organization and grow.

Host Jessica Rubio sits down with Jennifer Higgins leadership coach and relationship builder to explore the transferable, often-overlooked soft skills like communication, self-awareness and consistency that drive meaningful, long-term impact both professionally and personally. 

Navigating the Modern Job Market

The job market is changing fast, and many professionals are left wondering how to keep up. In the newest episode of the Wallet Watch Podcast, host Jessica Rubio is joined by Kristen Hintz, an Associate Director and Career Coach at the Russel Palmer Career Management Center at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.  Together they unpack how the job market has changed and how candidates can stand out to land their dream job.

Building a Financial Plan That Fits You

Building a financial plan isn’t about having it all figured out, it’s about meeting yourself where you’re at and getting started. In this episode of Wallet Watch, host Jessica Rubio sits down with Jeff Adams of TrulyU Wealth Management and Investment Services for a conversation about what it really means to create a financial plan that fits you. Together, they unpack why financial planning isn’t one-size-fits-all, and how things like mindset, comparison culture and past experiences shape our relationship with money. Jeff also reminds listeners how small, intentional actions taken now can lead to meaningful long-term progress.

Financial Wellness: More Than Just Numbers

Financial wellness isn’t only about numbers, it’s about peace of mind. In the latest episode of Wallet Watch, we explore the human side of money and why finances can feel so overwhelming for so many people. Host Jessica Rubio is joined by Jessica Willis, CEO and Founder of Pocketnest, for an honest conversation about mindset, emotions and the small yet intentional habits that can make a meaningful difference. Together they unpack what financial wellness really means, including the sleep at night factor, why avoidance and comparison culture are so common, and how grace can help you move forward with confidence.

Generational Finance: Why Money Feels Different for Every Age

Money looks and feels different for everyone across generations. Listen as host Jessica sits down with Andy Manthei from GreenPath Financial Wellness to explore how life experiences, economic change and even the way our brains work shape how we interact with money. From housing and debt to financial stress and neurodivergence, this conversation offers understanding, reassurance and perspective for every stage of life. Reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite your money story.

Social Media and Financial Pressures: The Unconscious Cost

Explore how social media quietly shapes our spending, stress levels, and financial perceptions. From targeted ads and FOMO to lifestyle comparisons and impulsive buying, Dr. Juan Mundel Ph.D., Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations at Michigan State University, breaks down the subtle psychological triggers behind our online habits. Dr Mundel also shares practical tips to build awareness, resist impulse spending, and protect your financial wellbeing in a digital world designed to influence you.

Financial Trauma & Family Influence: What You Did (or Didn’t) Learn about Money

Our relationship with money is personal and often reflects the stories or beliefs we grew up with. In this episode we explore how experiences, family dynamics, cultural influences, and trauma shape our financial beliefs and behaviors. We also discuss how to recognize, heal, and move beyond generational money patterns to create healthier financial habits for ourselves and future generations.

Your Brain on Money: How Mindset Shapes Financial Behaviors

Why do you save, spend or splurge the way you do? In our newest episode of Wallet Watch podcast host Jessica Rubio sits down with Dr. Quinetta Roberson to explore the powerful connection between your mindset and your money habits.  

Discover how emotions, life experiences, and beliefs can shape your financial behaviors and learn ways you can shift your mindset to create financial wellness. Tune in to “Your Brain on Money: How Mindset Shapes Financial Behaviors.  

Phishing 101: Don’t Take the Bait

The final episode of Wallet Watch Season 13 is here, and it’s all about one of the most common forms of cyber security fraud: phishing.

In the newest episode titled “Phishing 101: Don’t Take the Bait,” host Jessica Rubio speaks with Erin Landis, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) from MSU Federal Credit Union, about how phishing scams are evolving — and how you can protect yourself.

Erin shares insights into the personal and corporate risks of phishing, how AI is making scams more convincing, and the top red flag of urgency to watch for. If a message pushes you to act fast, slow down — it could be a trap.

To wrap the season up, the message is clear. The more we educate ourselves, the better equipped we are to outsmart fraudsters.

From Contact to Impact: Fraud Recovery

You just found out your identity has been compromised. Do you know what to do next? In our newest episode of Wallet Watch “From Contact to Impact: Fraud Recovery”, podcast host Jessica interviews Detective First Lieutenant Steve Temelko, Commander of the Fraud Investigations Section within the Special Investigation Division of the Michigan State Police. In this episode, Steve shares some of the common scams Michigan State Police are currently seeing and investigating, while providing ways to stay vigilant so you don’t fall victim to the threat actors trying to steal your personal information. Steve also breaks down the victim impact process from contacting the police and filing a report, to the investigation process and beyond. Steve also stresses the importance of contacting the police as soon as you realize you are a victim. The longer you wait to report the crime the harder their investigation becomes. Steve also highlights a resource page the Michigan State Police have to help victims through the process, found here. This episode is one you don’t want to miss out on. Tune in now.