Leadership Tea Smart Money Moves for 2026: Tips to Manage Your Financial Health | S4 EP 19
Shelby and Belinda are joined by two financial professionals from the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU): Samia "Sam" Salmon (Vice President of Retail Business Development) and Josh Barrett (Manager for Overseas Operations). They share actionable, no-nonsense advice to help you get your financial house in order as we head into 2026.
We discuss how to think through competing financial priorities like paying off debt vs. building an emergency fund or making decisions about 401k withdrawals. Our guests also stress the importance of communicating with your lenders during periods of reduced income, furloughs, or career pivots.
Shelby and Belinda are both long-time customers of SDFCU. We encourage you to check out their services at https://www.sdfcu.org
In this episode:
- Why having good credit can be as important as having cash savings
- Should you dip into your retirement accounts?
- The importance of asking your lenders about hardship relief options
- Why reading the fine print of your loan paperwork could be a lifesaver
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ahkVrnEM4Eg
Join us on February 28th, 2026 at the DC Wharf for the Recommit: Winter Retreat. Get your tickets here: https://www.stirringsuccess.com/recommit-a-halfday-retreat
We publish new episodes every other Wednesday.
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