Smart Mom, Rich Mom - by Kimberly Palmer (Paperback)

About the Book

Kids change our lives, adding joy but draining bank accounts. Learn from moms who have successfully become their family's Chief Financial Officer!

Book Synopsis

Ladies, this collection of stories from moms who have successfully worked full-time, freelance, self-employed, and in other ways, while also raising amazing children and providing financial freedom for their families, has room to add more--your story! Start it today!

Of all life's financial shocks, few compare to the $250,000 price tag--not including college!--of raising a child. How will you pay for it? Many mothers have agonized over that question, letting it fuel their decisions concerning careers, budgets, and families. The only thing they can all agree on is: there are no easy answers. However, there are plenty of rewarding possibilities!

Mining successful moms' experiences to uncover both career advice and strategies for spending and saving anyone can use, Smart Mom, Rich Mom includes stories, checklists, action steps, planning tools, and more to help other moms learn how to:

• Prepare financially for parenthood, as well as adding to your litter
• Balance thrift with generating income and investing wisely
• Find flexibility at work while safeguarding your earning potential
• Save for both college and retirement
• Plan for unexpected events

Smart Mom, Rich Mom explores how women today are navigating the financially challenging career/parenting years. This invaluable resource for moms everywhere chronicles women who have stayed in the game as both moms and businesswomen--full-time, freelance, self-employed, and more--and emerged more prosperous and empowered than before having children.

From the Back Cover

"Anyone who tells you women don't need financial advice specifically for them is wrong. Whether you're the caretaker, the breadwinner, or both, Smart Mom, Rich Mom will be an indispensable resource for you. -- Jean Chatzky, Financial Editor, The Today Show

"As someone who grew up in a family where money was mysteriously managed by my Dad and talked about in whispers, who was ignored by male financial advisers who talked only to my husband even as I held all the paperwork, and who's been terrified of budgets my whole life, Kimberly Palmer's Smart Mom, Rich Mom is not only a breath of fresh air, but essential reading. This is the book I needed 20 years ago. Smart. Practical. Inspiring. Palmer demystifies money at every stage of the life cycle, argues convincingly why this matters for women, and, thank God, for those of us who've made dumb decisions in the past, shows how it's never too late to change. -- Brigid Schulte, author of the New York Times bestseller, Overwhelmed

"Smart moms don't need more tips about pinching pennies or clipping coupons. They need strategies to help them build real wealth over time. They need to know how to grow their own incomes, set aside money for retirement, pay for their children's college educations and deal with the financial realities of unpaid maternity leaves and child care. In this must-read guidebook, financial columnist Kimberly Palmer offers tools, information and advice to help you create the life you want for your family."-- Liz Weston, author of The 10 Commandments of Money

"This book is the guide every mom needs to make sure she is creating wealth for family. If you want to be able to send your kids to college, retire one day and go on the vacations you want, Smart Mom, Rich Mom is essential -- and enjoyable -- reading." -- Farnoosh Torabi, Financial expert and host of the award-winning podcast, So Money.

"Most financial advice for women dwells on coupons and shoes. Not this book. Kim has created an empowering guide for moms who want to take care of their families financially and build real wealth in the process." -- Laura Vanderkam, Author, I Know How She Does It

"It's up to us moms to take care of our families--financially and otherwise--and this book shows us how. From saving for college to funding our own retirements, Smart Mom, Rich Mom gives us the game plan we need to build wealth for our families. I can't wait to give a copy to my daughters! -- Barbara Stanny, author, Secrets of Six-Figure Women and Prince Charming Isn't Coming

With the cost of raising a child to 18 estimated at $250,000 and college tuition climbing, savvy mothers know that their family's well-being depends on financial security. For many, that means protecting their earning power and strategizing to bolster their long-term financial health--not just clipping coupons.

National money expert Kimberly Palmer looks at the intriguing range of choices women are making today as they balance the reality of rising expenses with their desire for satisfying professional and family lives. Drawing on diverse experiences, Smart Mom, Rich Mom provides inspiring stories from the frontlines of working motherhood and career advice for staying in the game on your own terms.

Smart Mom, Rich Mom shares wise spending and investing strategies to build your wealth in the challenging years ahead, while keeping your family healthy, connected, and happy.

Kimberly Palmer, author of The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life, was the senior money editor at US News & World Report for nine years. She is an adjunct professor at American University, where she teaches a course on mastering social media. She has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CNBC, CNN, and local television and radio shows across the country to talk about smart financial decisions. She lives with her family, including two children, in the Washington, D.C., area. You can find her at kimberly-palmer.com.

Review Quotes

..".overflowing with hard-core advice on investing, career management, goal setting and retirement...addresses the unique financial concerns of almost all moms, whether they're working at home, outside the home or both." --Better Investing

"Even if the reader believed that financial savviness was out of her reach, this book will give her confidence to take a proactive approach to managing money immediately." --Portland Book Review

..".empowers these women with stories, advice, and most of all recommendations on how to take charge of your money, no matter where you are in your life." --Small Business Trends

..".no-nonsense, funny personal finance guide for moms offers wisdom for women in every life stage." --Financial Finesse

..".offers a wealth of interesting stories, great research and practical tips for women, especially moms, on how to take control of their financial future." --Richer Life Lab

..".practical, insightful, thoughtful...unreservedly recommended reading for any mother (or father!) wanting to plan effectively for their family's financial future." --Midwest Book Review

"Excellent book...This invaluable resource does much more than fill a niche; it bridges a huge gap." --Publishers Weekly

"For every woman who has struggled with the concept of investing or groaned at the thought of retirement funds and college tuition." --Foreword Reviews

"Her general points -- for example, that the spending and saving habits we develop in our 20s have a significant impact on our financial future -- are solid. And she is occasionally very witty." --The New York Times

"Kimberly Palmer is a mom on a mission...she views attention to a family's finances as vital as that yearly checkup for kids." --U.S. News and World Report

"No doubt about it: there's a lot to take away from reading Smart Mom, Rich Mom...packed with useable, reliable information and good advice." --Terri Schlichenmeyer, nationally syndicated columnist

"Not only are Palmer's tips insightful and relatable, but she also provides clear, actionable steps...to help you become the financially savvy, and independent woman you want to be." --Wise Bread

About the Author

Kimberly Palmer, author of The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life, was the senior money editor at US News & World Report for nine years. She is an adjunct professor at American University, where she teaches a course on mastering social media. She lives with her family, including two children, in the Washington, D.C., area. You can find her at kimberly-palmer.com.