Nexa Wealth Planning

At Nexa Wealth, we believe managing your money is more than just numbers in a bank account – it’s about creating a life rich in choices and free from constraints. 

Here, money doesn't dictate your choices – it amplifies them. With us, you’re not just surviving; you're thriving. We're dedicated to crafting financial freedom for each of our clients, turning dreams into rock-solid plans, and plans into rock-solid reality.

Email: renee@nexawm.com for free consultation

CEO & Certified Financial Planner

Northwestern Mutual

Women are more than capable of taking control of their finances, and I'm here to help them do so. 

I'm passionate about empowering women to take ownership of their finances and achieve financial freedom. 

As a Certified Financial Planner, I help women executives maximize their cash flow, make smart investments, and develop tax-savvy strategies to ensure their money grows and lasts for years to come. 

With my help, women can confidently make financial decisions, assertively create a plan, and reduce their financial worries. 

•	Understand your financial options 
•	Create a forward-thinking financial strategy 
•	Make money decisions with confidence

If you are tired of second-guessing what your money is doing for you, and instead you want a simple roadmap to achieve the results you desire, I invite you into having a conversation.  

DM or email for a complimentary 30-minute Money Strategy meeting
📧 renee.cohen@nm.com

Certified Financial Planner™ for women executives and business owners 

Created financial literacy corporate workshops to inspire employees into financial action & eliminate money anxiety.

Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator & Speaker

Bixel Exchange

Bixel Exchange is the innovation and tech arm at the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the US, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Our cornerstone programs include Startup Launch Tech SBDC and Tech Talent Pipeline that combine forces to create an inclusive greater LA technology community.

Advisor

Fox Sports Net

Director, Corporate Partnerships

Big Ten Network

Manager, University Development

Designing Work-Optional Lifestyles for Women & Couples with Dynamic Financial Plans | Financial Consultant for Executives & Business Owners in Sports & Tech | Financial Wellness Speaker

The biggest money secret that not enough successful women know?

Creating financial security for life is actually insanely EASY.

- Dream of retiring by 50?
- Want to cover your kids' big moments?
- Looking forward to luxe vacations without needing an excuse?
- Need an iron-clad safety net for whatever life throws your way?

But it’s not just about the future. It’s about enjoying your life right now.

Financial freedom isn't just for later. It’s about living your best life now, knowing you are crafting your future while relishing today.

This is where I step in.

With all the financial advice out there, you need what works, not just noise. You need strategies that move the needle. You need results, not tasks.

My mission? To make managing your finances the SIMPLEST part of your day.  

I’m here to help you make smart choices that align with your dreams for your family and your future.

You've worked tirelessly for your success. So let’s save smartly and maximize and grow what you have. True financial freedom is more than account balances.  


I’ve partnered with many women and couples like you, creating personalized plans that balance today's lifestyle with tomorrow's dreams. This isn't about strict budgets. It’s about shaping your finances to fit your life today, while maximizing every aspect of your income and assets.

I’m more than a financial planner. I’m your partner, guide, and ally in achieving your financial dreams in the most straightforward and effective way possible.

Every plan is tailored to the individual because your financial success should be as unique as you are.

Ready to make these dreams a part of your everyday life?

Let’s unlock the full potential of your finances together. Because your money should support the life you want, now and in the future.

Send me a DM or email at renee.cohen@nm.com.

This conversation could change everything. ✨

Your journey goes beyond just managing numbers. It involves:

✨ Strategic Cash Flow & Debt Management,
✨ Tax Optimization for executive roles,
✨ Effective Navigation of Stock Options & Significant Financial Events,
✨ Personalized Retirement Planning,
✨ Comprehensive Insurance Solution

Renee Cohen, CFP®

They couldn't talk about money without it ending in silence.

Both earning six figures.
Beautiful house.
Kids in great schools.

And they hadn't looked at their accounts together in two years.

"We just handle our own stuff," she told me. “It's easier that way."

But easier wasn't working.

She was moving money to savings he didn't know about.
He was stressed about money but didn't want to seem worried.
Both were making decisions in isolation.
Both assuming the other had it handled.

I see this more than you'd think.
Successful couples who've turned money into the third wheel of their relationship.

Too charged to touch.
Too important to ignore.

So they danced around it:

She'd quietly pay for soccer camp before he noticed the email.
He'd handle the roof repair without mentioning the cost.
Both adding to their separate savings 'just in case.'

Amazon packages arrived without discussion.
Investment statements stayed unopened.
Tax time meant handing everything to the CPA and hoping for the best.

They could plan entire vacations without mentioning the budget.
Navigate private school applications without discussing the tuition.

Two successful people.
Living one life.
Never actually talking about how to pay for it.

We didn't start with a budget.
(That would've been like handing them firecracker.)

We started with one question:
"What does financial success look like for your family?"

For the first time in years, they heard each other's actual fears.

She wasn't hoarding money.
She was terrified of her mom's story repeating.

He wasn't being careless.
He was exhausted from feeling like the safety net.

Once they could see each other's why,
the how got so much simpler.

Now they have monthly money dates.
15 minutes. One dashboard. No judgment.

She texted me last month:
"We actually high-fived after paying the tax bill. Is that weird?"

Not weird at all.
That's what happens when money stops being a battleground
and starts being something you build together.

→ What's the one win you and your partner have celebrated together this year?

Renee Cohen CFP®

Financial Planner for Women | I bring your financial life together so your decisions feel easier and more intentional | CFP® + Founder, Nexa Wealth

No alternative text description for this image

The $45K question that changed my client’s life 

 

She had $194K sitting in cash.
VP salary.
All the "right" financial pieces.

But she couldn't commit to starting her own business.

"I need another year of savings first."

We ran the numbers.

$45K to launch her consulting firm today.
Or wait another year while that dream compounds into regret.

Then I asked her the question:

"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to watch 42-year-old you bet on herself?"

She went quiet.

We both knew the answer before I even asked.

Because future you isn't celebrating (all) the extra cash you hoarded.

She's thinking about the business you never started.
The clients you never helped.
The version of yourself you never became.
Wishing she could go back and shake younger you who played it too safe.

The women I work with don't have risk problems.
They have permission problems.

Maybe you've saved six months of expenses.
Maybe it's two years.
Maybe you're still building.

Doesn't matter.

We all wait for some guarantee that says "now it's safe to leap."

That guarantee doesn't exist.

What does exist:
Your ideas sitting in notebooks.
Your expertise waiting to be shared.
Your impact delayed by another year of "preparation."

She launched her firm six months ago.
Hasn’t replaced her corporate salary yet.

That takes time no matter what people promise you. 

But more importantly?

She stopped waiting for permission to become who she already was.

Because 65-year-old you doesn't care about the perfect financial moment.

She cares that you trusted yourself enough to try.

The math already works.
Future you is waiting for you to believe it.

→ What would you start tomorrow if you knew future you already knows the outcome?

Your portfolio doesn't need to be perfect to start living.


I had a client wait three years to book her dream Italy trip.

Three years.

Not because she couldn't afford it.
She had $300K invested and growing.

But she kept thinking she needed "just a little more" first.
Another $50K.
Another year of returns.
Another bonus cycle.

You know what finally changed her mind?

Running the actual numbers.

Not the scary story in her head.
The math.

We looked at what the trip would actually cost her long-term.
$15K today versus $45K in retirement (with growth).

Then I asked her:
"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to give 40-year-old you this memory?"

She booked it that afternoon.

Because waiting for "enough" is a moving target.

There's always another goal.
Another milestone.
Another reason to wait.

But your life is happening now.
Your kids are only young once.
Your parents won't always be able to travel.
You won't always have the energy you have today.

The women who build real wealth?

They don't wait for permission from their portfolio.

They plan for both:
→ The life they're building for tomorrow
→ The life they're living today

One without the other isn't wealth.
It's just postponed living.

Your money should fund your life.
Not the other way around.

→ Where are you planning to travel in 2026? 🗺️

The biggest money mistakes don’t come from bad decisions.


They come from waiting too long to make one.

From that little voice that says,
“What if I mess this up?”
So you stall. 
You Google. 
You hold.

Not because you don’t care.
But because you care too much.

And when you’re earning more, that pressure gets louder.

Every move (investments, stock options, taxes) suddenly feels like it carries more weight.
More risk. 
More room for regret.

But confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from being in motion.

From creating a plan that moves with you 
so your income, investments, and taxes talk to each other. 

When everything’s working together, you stop overthinking.
You stop waiting for “perfect.”
And, you start leading your money with intention.

Because the real mistake isn’t getting it wrong,
it’s staying frozen in fear of what might happen if you move.

→ What’s something that helps you get past analysis paralysis?

Most people think money problems come from not having enough.

They actually come from not having it connected.

You can earn six figures, max out your 401k, have investments growing...

And still wake up at 3am wondering what you're missing.

Because when your money lives in silos:
→ Your cash doesn't know what your investments are doing
→ Your investments don't talk to your tax strategy  
→ Your tax moves happen in isolation from your income

So you end up with:
Cash piling up while you're scared to invest it.
Investments growing while you pay unnecessary taxes.
Big tax bills because no one connected the dots.

Every account doing its own thing.
Like roommates who never talk.

I see this constantly.
Smart women with all the "right" pieces.
But nothing working together.

One client described it perfectly:
"I have all these accounts but no actual plan."

She was right.

When your money starts working as a team,
when every piece knows its role,
when your income, investments, and taxes actually coordinate...

That's when the noise quiets down.

You stop second-guessing every move.
You stop wondering what you're missing.
You stop feeling like you're working against yourself.

Because wealth isn't built in isolation.
It's built in connection.

→  If your accounts were roommates, would they be best friends or total strangers?


PS - To those who served and their families: your sacrifice created the freedom for all of us to build these lives we're planning. Thank you. 🇺🇸

She sat on $400K in cash for three years.

Watched the market go up.
Watched inflation eat away at it.
Read every article telling her to invest.

Still couldn't do it.

Why?

Her dad lost everything in 2008.

And even though she was earning $250K a year,
even though she knew the math,
she couldn't shake that image of him at the kitchen table.
Staring at statements worth nothing.

Her brain knew better.
Her body remembered different.

It took us six months to unpack that.

Not the investing part.
The trust part.

We didn't start with asset allocation.
We started with what safety meant to her.

Turns out it wasn't about the market at all.
It was about control.

So we built a plan that gave her both:
→ Ten months expenses in cash (not the six everyone recommends)
→ A 5 month CD she could see and understand
→ Index funds portfolio but only after she felt ready

The first investment was $15k.

She texted me that night:
"I keep checking to see if it's gone."

It wasn't.

Three months later, she moved another $50K.
Then another.

Now she's fully invested with a plan that makes sense.
Not because I convinced her.
But because she convinced herself.

Sometimes the smartest financial move
isn't following the perfect strategy.

It's honoring where your fear comes from
and building something you can actually stick with.

→ Fill in the blank: 'My parents always said _____ about money, but I've learned ____

Most people focus on the wrong part of wealth.


You’ve probably been told to:
→ Earn more
→ Find the “perfect” investment
→ Chase the next tax hack

And sure, those things matter,
but they’re only half the game.

The other half?
Getting your money to work together.
(That part’s closer to 70% of the game.)

When it doesn’t, here’s what happens:
→ Cash piles up without purpose
→ Tax time becomes surprise season
→ Every decision suddenly feels heavier than it should

But when everything starts talking,
your income, investments, and taxes
you finally see what’s working, what’s not,
and what to tweak before it snowballs.

That’s when money stops feeling chaotic.
It starts feeling led.

Because earning more without direction isn’t wealth.
It’s just juggling with nicer props.


💰 Right now, do your finances feel like teamwork or more like a group project gone wrong?

Sometimes the worst time to travel is exactly when you should.

Had a client text me her photos yesterday.
Barcelona with her family to visit friends instead of their traditional Thanksgiving plans.

Six months ago, she almost canceled it because her husband had been laid off.  
"Maybe we should wait until things are more settled."

They'd saved for this trip for two years.
Between their emergency fund and his severance, they had enough.
Not perfect "sleep-like-a-baby" money.
But enough.

The thing is, when life feels uncertain, "enough" never feels like enough.
You want to hoard every dollar.
Just in case.

But, they had the funds.
They had the time.
They had everything except permission.

I asked them one question:
"In 10 years, will you regret going or regret waiting?"

They went.

Her text yesterday:
"The kids are already asking when we're coming back."

Some moments can't be recreated.
Some windows close.
Some "next years" never come.

Your accounts will never give you permission.
That's not supposed to come from a spreadsheet.
That comes from you.

As we head into December, maybe it's worth asking:

What have you been putting off that your future self would tell you to do today?

→ What's your "Barcelona" that keeps getting pushed to next year?

"Are we missing something?"


I hear this from people who already have financial "help."

They've got investments. They've got someone managing things.

But that nagging feeling won't go away.

Had a client come to me with $2.5 million in an annuity.
She'd put in $325k twelve years ago and $40k every year after. 

"It's been fine," she said. "I just haven't looked at it much."

Twelve years.
Her whole life had changed.
New job. Kids in college. Different dreams.

But that money was still sitting in 2013.
Stuck in a product someone sold her once and forgot about.

When we looked at everything?

That annuity hadn't made sense for her in years.
Nobody was handling her taxes.
Her ex-husband was still on her estate plan.

She had money. She had investments. She had "help."

Spread across seven different logins she could barely remember.

What she didn't have was someone looking at how it all worked together.
Someone asking "what else could this be doing?"
Someone who'd catch what everyone else missed.

We restructured the annuity to actually work for her current life.
Found $32K in annual tax savings she didn't know existed.
Got her ex-husband's name off everything.

She texted me last week:
"For the first time in years, I'm not wondering if I'm doing this wrong."

That's what my clients pay for.
To stop wondering.
To know someone sees everything.
To trust that the important stuff isn't getting missed.

Because the real cost isn't what you pay for planning.
It's living with that constant question mark.

→ How many passwords did you have to reset this year?🙋‍♀️

"I'm tired of being my own CFO."

She said it on our intro call last week.

VP at a tech company.
Two kids.
Six-figure income.
Doing everything "right."

And exhausted.

Not from her actual job.
From her second job: managing money.

The Sunday account login sessions.
The 11pm Googling "RSU tax strategies."
The group texts asking colleagues what they're doing.
The constant feeling that everyone else has it figured out.

Sound familiar?

You're running a household, killing it at work, raising humans...

And somehow you're also supposed to be your own:
→ Investment advisor
→ Tax strategist  
→ Estate planner
→ Risk manager

All while making dinner and answering Slack messages.

I see this all the time.
Brilliant women treating their finances like another project to manage.

Building spreadsheets that impress their team.
But still feeling behind.

Because being smart doesn't mean you should do everything yourself.

You wouldn't perform your own surgery.
You wouldn't represent yourself in court.
You wouldn't cut your own hair.
(Well, 2020 aside.)

So why are you trying to be your own financial team?

The women who build real wealth?

They don't DIY everything.
They delegate what drains them.
So they can lead what matters.

Your time is worth more than the hours you're spending trying to figure this out alone.

Your energy is worth more than the stress of second-guessing every decision.

Your peace is worth more than proving you can do it all yourself.

The $12K question she almost didn't ask. 


She'd been sitting on it for three months.

"Is it too late to do anything about my taxes this year?"

We were on a call last week.
Six weeks left in 2025.
And she thought she'd missed her chance.

(Most people think tax planning ended in April.)

But when we actually looked?

We found $12,000 in deductions and retirement space she hadn't used.

→ Charitable donations she forgot about. Medical expenses that actually crossed the threshold. That advisor fee from January.

She thought she'd maxed out her 401k.

→ Turns out she had $8,000 of space left.

The underperforming stocks in her account became a tax strategy.

→ We sold them to offset the gains from her RSUs.
(The tax savings alone made it worth it.)

Those last two December paychecks became an opportunity.
Perfect time to fix her withholdings.

All of this disappears on January 1st.

The question saved her $4,800 in taxes.

I see this constantly in November.
People suddenly realizing there's still time.

Time to use those tax strategies that expire December 31st.
Time to top off retirement contributions.
Time to balance out investment gains.

Six weeks isn't the end of your financial year.

It's actually when some of the best moves happen.

→ You checking your stuff before year-end?

P.S. - Want to know what moves you could still make? Reply with 'MOVES' and I'll send you what I'm telling all my clients right now.

Having someone manage your investments isn't the same as having a plan.

I hear it constantly:
"I already have someone."

But then they follow it with:
"I still handle all the tax stuff myself."
"I'm not sure if I should exercise these stock options."
"We never talk about anything except the portfolio."

You have someone managing one account.
Not your financial life.

When April brings a surprise $20K tax bill, when RSUs vest with no clear strategy, when you're running private school numbers alone?

That's not in their department.

I see this all the time.
Smart women with "help" still playing CFO.

Still coordinating between:

Still coordinating between:
→ The person who handles investments (but not taxes)
→ The person who handles taxes (but not planning)
→ The estate attorney (from 2019)

Everyone managing their piece.
No one managing the whole picture.

One client put it perfectly:
"I have a team but no quarterback."

She had all the players.
But she was still calling all the plays.

Real planning connects everything.

Your investments know about your tax situation.
Your tax strategy considers your equity comp.
Your estate plan actually reflects your life today.

Because you shouldn't need a spreadsheet to track who handles what.

You need one person who sees it all.
Who connects it all.

That's the difference between having investments managed and having your life planned.

→ What would you do with your time if you weren't playing financial coordinator?

"You need a partner as your backup plan."

If you're single and tired of hearing this, you're not alone.

You smile politely. Change the subject. 

But inside, you're screaming: 'I'm not broken. I don't need fixing.

I get how this feels. I didn't meet my partner until I was 41.

The truth is, you don't need a backup plan.

Whether you're single by choice, divorced, widowed, or just haven't met someone yet - the math is the same.

Your plan needs to fit where you are now, not where others think you should be.

My single clients may need a higher target to retire comfortably.
While their married friends may split that number between two people.

And if your situation changes? We adjust.
Your plan evolves with you.
But right now, today, we plan for the life you're actually living.

The math is different.
The questions are worse.

"What does your husband think?"
Asked by the realtor. The financial advisor. Your aunt at Thanksgiving.

Each time, you explain. Again. That it's just you.

And watch them try to figure out if that's sad or brave.

"Maybe wait until you're married?"
(You've been waiting. For the house, not the spouse.)

Meanwhile, you're out here buying homes, starting businesses, and building wealth without waiting for someone to split the check.

You don't need a backup plan.
You need a bulletproof one.

Yes, there are nights when you run the numbers and feel the weight of carrying it all yourself. 

When you wish someone else could make the hard calls. When 'independent' feels like a nice word for 'alone.'

Your emergency fund does need to be bigger.
Your insurance does need to be stronger.
Your retirement does need to be fuller.

Not because you're alone.
But because you're planning for your own security first.

And that's not sad.
That's powerful.

Some of my clients stay single. Some partner up later. Some are starting over.

Doesn't matter where you are now.

What matters is having a plan that works for today and can grow with you tomorrow.


→ What's the most awkward money question someone's asked you at a family dinner?


—

BTW - if you want help building that bulletproof plan, I'm opening up a few spots in January. Drop me a 'READY' and I'll send you the details.

Ochsner Health

Provide strategic vision and executive leadership for Compliance, Privacy, Regulatory Affairs, Enterprise Risk Management, Physical Security, Workplace Safety, Emergency Management, Business Continuity, Third Party Risk Management, and Cybersecurity Risk Management.

Develop and implement organizational cultural change management to position risk-focused teams as respected business partners and solutions-oriented collaborators. 

Lead proactive risk mitigation and resilience efforts, resulting in robust and comprehensive incident response and business continuity plans, and dynamic crisis and incident management processes.

System VP & Chief Compliance Officer

Develop, lead, and execute proactive, solutions-focused strategy for comprehensive risk-focused health care division with escalating levels of responsibility.

Create and promote patient-centered risk management and resilience strategy in alignment with organization mission, vision, and values.

Provide leadership, strategic vision, and centralized system integration for Compliance, Privacy, Regulatory Affairs, Physical Security, and Emergency Management.

Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer

Established a proactive, centralized, business focused, patient-centered compliance and privacy program, including healthcare compliance, HIPAA privacy, regulatory affairs, policy management, clinical and regulatory auditing and monitoring, governmental audits, and incident management.

AVP, Compliance & Associate General Counsel

LHC Group

Responsible for enterprise-wide legal, licensure, and regulatory strategy and performance with escalating levels of responsibility.  

Directed and managed complex litigation portfolio, including defending multiple and varied federal and state government investigations and inquiries brought by various agencies.  

Provided strategic legal and regulatory advice for collaborative, cross-functional problem solving and risk mitigation with internal clients, including compliance, human resources, and risk management. 

Led and managed transactions, including initial and subsequent public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, credit transactions, and equity offerings.

Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Director of Litigation

Rayburn Law Firm, PLLC

Associate in a boutique law firm, focused on civil litigation, insurance defense, workers compensation, and employment law.

Attorney

Nemesis of No, Champion of How | Risk, Compliance, Security Executive | Navigating Intersections of Innovation and Regulation | Leadership Coach, Guide, and Advisor | Dragonslayer of Problems

In my heart, I’m a helper. Growing up with alopecia, my world view was shaped by being viewed and treated differently. As I battled relentless judgment (and self-judgment) about my appearance, I resolved that nothing and no one would get the best of me. Over the years, that tenacity transformed me into a dragonslayer of problems, a nemesis of no, and a champion of how. 
 
Now, as a risk and compliance expert, I’m known for using my tireless and unique curiosity to help others discover *what’s possible* in any given situation. Choreographing creative solutions out of “yes/no” questions and uncovering the opportunities hiding inside obstacles is where I thrive. 

Known allergies - Jerks. BS. Hypocrisy. Rules that don’t make sense. Bullies. Avocados. (Seriously.)

****************

Other things to know about me: 
+ I value curiosity, humility, authenticity, and please & thank you.
+ How we achieve results is far more important to me than what results we achieve.
+ I've never met a process that I didn't want to enhance!
+ Assuming positive intent, creating meaningful connections, and developing trusted relationships are all key components to building and leading a team, compliance or otherwise.
+ I'm the person to call for precision and deliberate calm in leading large scale crisis management, complex problem solving, and change management.
+ Crucial to a team’s success is using a consistent approach (rather than result) to evaluate and understand concerns, questions, or situations.
+ I am devoted to coaching, mentoring, and encouraging others to discover, nurture, and live out loud as the best versions of themselves.

Finally, I adore clarity. The perspectives I share here are a culmination of my own personal reflections, a lot of individual trial and error, and purposeful personal and leadership growth. While I am incredibly proud to be associated with my outstanding teams and colleagues at Ochsner Health, the opinions I share here are solely my own.

Eden Ezell

I am *overjoyed* to share that I’ve accepted an invitation to join Loyola University New Orleans College of Law as Adjunct Professor of Law!

Teaching, building, mentoring, coaching - all the things I love best - all wrapped into one new adventure! 

Incredibly grateful for the opportunity to bundle up all the things I've learned along the way and share them with my students. 

What's one piece of advice you've got for me as I start planning?

Healthcare Risk & Compliance Expert | Advising Boards on Governance, Regulatory Oversight, and Enterprise Transformation | Adjunct Professor of Law | Curating Clarity and Solutions | Dragonslayer of Problems

Honored. Impressed. Grateful. Hopeful.

Feelings that come to mind after Michelle Johnston, Ph.D. invited me to guest lecture in her class at Loyola University New Orleans College of Business.

Using Michelle’s *first* book, The Seismic Shift in Leadership, as our guide, we discussed how trust, connection, servant leadership, and culture all inform how we show up, how we lead, and how we interact with (and among) our teams. (All kinds of teams - work teams, sports teams, family teams - it all matters.)

(I was also prepared to talk about how to optimize, own, and manage your calendar! It’s one of my most favorite tasks to do, and I’m *really* good at it!) 

We discussed whether we extend or earn trust, how (or if) we can repair trust once broken, how trust and connection are inevitably intertwined, and what characteristics that work (and team) cultures need to feel supportive and engaging. 

These students are open, bright, honest, and curious. They were thoroughly engaged in our conversation, and I hope they walked away as energized as I did. I learned a lot from these young leaders - the future is bright!

Y’all. It’s here. Today is my Super Bowl. It’s been one year in the making.

The planning and training for any event like this is critical. Here’s mine: 

...Cleared my calendar 
...Bought my ticket weeks in advance 
...Avoided social media to stay in the right head space
...Watched the film on first half repeatedly (even yesterday on the plane)
...Packed the right equipment (tissues, glasses, maybe a gluten-free snack)

It’s all about setting and managing expectations - both mine and those of others! 

I’ll be at the movies later today in case anyone needs me. But please don't need me.

PS - don’t hide your magic. it's too important. 💚🩷💚

I’ve got a secret about LinkedIn  Recommendations that no one tells you - 



Recommendations are not only for employer/employee or client service relationships. You can give a recommendation for any multitude of things! 

As illustrated below (thanks Melissa Cohen!), mentoring, studying, teaching, working together, etc. (I had to put in a name so I could get to this screen - who wouldn't choose THE #dingdangdelightful Melissa Cohen?)

And I’d say that “working together” can be defined as a lot of different things.

In a community where you join sessions to learn together? Working together.
Volunteering at the same philanthropic event? Working together.
Organizing a holiday event together? Working together.
Speaking on a panel together? Working together. 

If someone knows me well enough to introduce me to a stranger, they know me well enough to make a recommendation. (Whether the want to is an *entirely* different story! 😉)

Once you get past the “how do you know them” part - the rest is super easy. Simply write a few quick sentences that would help someone know this person better. 

Here's a few ideas (you only need one!):

•	What do they do better than anyone else?
•	Describe a specific instance where they made a difference.
•	Identify one or two qualities or skills that make them stand out.
•	How would you describe their *approach* to work (e.g., leadership style, teamwork, reliability)?
•	What’s it like to work with them? How do you feel after being around them?
•	What roles, teams, or organizations would benefit from their strengths?
•	Why would you recommend them to others?

Now, with all that, here's my holiday challenge to you - can you give *one* LinkedIn recommendation before the end of the year?

Or one recommendation each week between now and 12/31?
Or even one recommendation each day between now and 12/31?

Starting today, I’m going to try for one per day. That's right. I'm gonna do my best to write 36 recommendations to close out 2025.

And I’m going to start with the ones that I didn’t even realize were sitting in my “pending” folder - so sorry to those friends (you know who you are!) 

(pro tip - you can *ask* someone for a recommendation, too!)

Please join me - Who's in for giving at least one recommendation?

Healthcare Risk & Compliance Expert | Advising Boards on Governance, Regulatory Oversight, and Enterprise Transformation | Adjunct Professor of Law | Curating Clarity & Solutions | Dragonslayer of Problems

One of my favorite holiday gifts as a kid was a new book. One that was my very own. Don’t get me wrong, I loved going to the library. So much variety and so many stories just waiting to be read. And having a book of my very own? Heaven.

I love books. Always have. Always will, I suspect. For a while, I didn’t have (or didn’t make) time to read them. And now I do. Both. In equal measure.

accordingly - in anticipation of alllllll the holiday shopping, I will spend a few posts over the next week sharing some of my recent favorites. You can “add to cart” or, better yet, visit an independent bookstore!

First up - “Simply More” by the incomparable Cynthia Erivo. The subtitle is “A Book for Anyone Who Has Been Told They’re Too Much.”

That should be enough right there.

I'm very familiar with “too much” - it has meant too nosy, too noisy, too curious, too loud, too quiet, too ambitious, too energetic, too lazy, too independent, too much all the things...

Anyone else?

And Cynthia's got it right - what if, when someone calls us “too much,” we hear “simply more” instead?

This book is a super quick read - I spent my whole day yesterday with Cynthia Erivo, reading her book and seeing Wicked: For Good. It was a glorious day, if I do say so myself. #DingDangDelightful, in fact! 

This book is part memoir, part guide for the “too much” club. It’s a FAST read, and I'm guessing an audio book, too. How glorious to hear these words in *her* voice. 

So many gorgeous passages - I’ve got tabs and highlights all over for when I share this book with my 20-year old niece. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

“Lots of people will not get us as we work to be just more. We have to let go of their perceptions and do what’s ours regardless.”

“Some people will get us. Some never will. That’s just the way it is. Don’t lose sleep worrying about those who don’t understand.”

“Be patient when you don’t see where and how all the pieces fit. Just know this: What you’re drawn to is trying to show you something important.”

and the entire Chapter 44 titled "Decide, and Let It Be So." Yes, I think it's technically a chapter and it's only one page. I'd buy the book for this one section. I'd encourage you do the same to find out what genius it delivers.

Follow along and stay tuned for more book recommendations!

y'all. a little secret about joy - we can create it, curate it, cultivate it. joy is active, not passive. let's go!

as a reminder and refresh (and an introduction for those of you new to the neighborhood), here’s the definition and backstory of #DingDangDelightful:

‘delightful’ is honestly one of my favorite words

and, sometimes, words and phrases simply fly out of my mouth, like #dingdang 

therefore: ‘ding dang’: adj., - something so ridiculously good, brilliant, and inspired that it requires two purely G-rated words to describe it

because sometimes cussing simply doesn’t fit the moment and you need something emphatic to say! 

plus, it’s just plain fun. 

more ding dang delightful content headed your way very soon - stay tuned - same bat time, same bat channel

in the meantime, what #dingdangdelightful things are y’all up to this week?

Bold leaders, unite! And get your pens ready…

Another book I’m reading and wholeheartedly recommend is “The Bold Leader” written by my very dear friend Leigh Burgess MHSA, MA, MEd, MBA. 

This is not just another leadership book. 

It’s an insightful guide with questions to consider, activities to find clarity, and writing prompts to uncover the boldness that we all have inside us. And that’s all in addition to Leigh’s blueprints for helping you emerge and evolve into the bold leader you were always meant to be. 

A few quotes that knocked my socks off: 

“Once you take action, fear diminishes.”

“The greatest barrier to bold leadership isn’t fear, it’s the gravitational pull of daily routine.”

“Your true legacy, the lasting mark of your bold leadership, will not be defined by singular moments, but by the many small yet courageous choices you consistently make.”

Also, ‘Chapter 7: Bold Conversations’ should be required reading for all leaders of teams (work, family, and community teams)! 

Run, don’t walk, and add to cart! And stay tuned for another recommendation soon (and visit my profile to see the previous recommendations)! 

PS - this holiday season, I’ll be highlighting some of my recent favorite books. I have always loved giving and receiving books as a holiday gifts. There’s something special about someone knowing you well enough to give you a book they think you will adore. I hope you'll find something in my recommendations that fits the bill!

y'all. I am deep in de-cluttering mode today. and seeking variety in my podcast listening. Criteria: entertaining and light, with notes of fun and learning. sorta like me. 😉 comments are open!

even when you think you’re planting all the same seeds, the flowers have a surprise for you


growth is the same way

no two journeys are exactly the same because none of us are exactly the same 

keep growing at your own pace - you’ll arrive where you’re meant to be. right on time.

taplio

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Eden Ezell

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taplio

The Battle

Renee Cohen, CFP®

Eden Ezell

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Renee Cohen, CFP®'s LinkedIn Performance

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