What if everything you've been told about retirement is wrong—especially after divorce?

In this episode, Natalie and Diana explore why the traditional retirement model might actually be keeping you stuck in fear and financial anxiety. You'll discover how retirement is just a cultural construct from 1889 that may not serve your post-divorce life at all—and what to do instead.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why divorced women might actually have a strategic advantage when it comes to financial freedom (this will surprise you!)
• What you're really seeking isn't retirement—it's something far more attainable starting TODAY
• The shocking math behind traditional retirement that explains why you feel so much pressure
• How working longer could actually reduce your stress and create MORE freedom (not less!)
• The powerful question that replaces "Will I have enough money?" and changes everything
• Why your most valuable asset has nothing to do with your 401(k)
• The "portfolio life" concept that gives you options instead of leaving you dependent on one income source

Resources mentioned:

• Smart Passive Income Podcast Episode 897 with Derek Coburn
• Book: "Let's Retire Retirement" by Derek Coburn
• Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This FREE 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
• Flying Higher is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence in their relationships, emotional management, decision making, and self-development. Join us for live classes, coaching, Bible study, and book studies every month. Plus access to a huge library of education and coaching resources. Only $590 for an entire year of learning how to be remarkable in every way!
• Be sure to check out Diana’s podcast, Renew Your Mind!

Full show notes HERE

In Season 3, Episode 8 of the Divorced Christian Woman Podcast, Natalie and Diana sit down with Diane Wallenta, a certified divorce lending specialist with 25 years in the mortgage industry. If you're confused about whether you can afford to buy, whether you're "too old" to get a mortgage, or whether you should just keep renting, this conversation is for you.

You'll learn the truth about age limits, what lenders actually look at when you're divorced, how to rebuild your credit after divorce, and why your gut instinct about your budget matters more than what you "qualify" for. Diane breaks down the numbers without the intimidation and gives you the roadmap for making the housing decision that's right for your unique situation.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Why an 89-year-old man just got a 30-year mortgage (and what that means for you)
• The hidden reason renting might be your smartest financial move right now
• What loan officers don't tell you about the "12-24 month rule" for divorced women
• The one mistake with child support payments that could tank your mortgage application
• Why the amount you "qualify" for could be a trap (and how realtors benefit from it)

Would you like to talk to Diane about your situation? You can contact her by email: dwallenta@fbst.com or phone: 612-875-7414

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here

Related Resources:

• Feel like a hot mess after divorce? This FREE 5-Day Workshop will teach you a mind-shift tool to help you learn a powerful way to manage your thoughts and emotions in order to navigate adult decisions with clarity and peace.
• Flying Higher is my live mentorship program for Christian women pursuing increased confidence in their relationships, emotional management, decision making, and self-development. Join us for live classes, coaching, Bible study, and book studies every month. Plus access to a huge library of education and coaching resources. Only $59/month.
• Be sure to check out Diana’s podcast, Renew Your Mind!

Today we’re going to explore something you probably never expected to find after divorce: abundance. Not the kind with a big bank account. The kind that fills your soul.

You'll hear about the shift that happens when you stop waiting for heaven and start creating it now. There's a perspective change that transforms your ex from villain to... something surprising. And you'll discover why one woman says she makes poverty look good and absolutely means it as a compliment.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The difference between being financially wealthy and living a rich life
• Why your rich life might have nothing to do with your bank account
• What changes when you ask yourself one simple question every single day
• The identity shift that makes healthy habits actually stick
• How to know if something is worth the cost (hint: it's not about the price tag)

Read the full show notes and/or ask Natalie a question here