Money decisions are rarely just about math. They’re about fear, confidence, trust, and timing. In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we’re joined by Cheryl Hirss, owner of Sagewater Financial, to demystify what financial advisors actually do, who benefits most from working with one, and how taking emotion out of investing can dramatically change long-term outcomes. From navigating retirement transitions to managing family dynamics and building a true “financial team,” Cheryl brings a calm, grounded perspective to a world that often feels overwhelming and reactive.

We discuss:

1. A financial advisor’s real value is removing emotion from money decisions.
2. Fear and greed drive most poor financial outcomes, and having a disciplined plan helps prevent reactive buying, selling, or freezing.
3. There’s no “too late” — only unrealistic goals and lack of discipline.
4. People start working with advisors at every life stage, and progress is still possible with clear expectations and consistency.
5. Wealth is a system of pillars.
6. Investments, real estate, entrepreneurship, taxes, insurance, and estate planning all work together, not in isolation.
7. Couples don’t need identical money personalities, just a shared plan.
8. Objective risk assessments and data-driven tools can help partners find common ground without emotional conflict.
9. A good advisor thinks about the gaps you don’t know to look for.
10. From estate planning oversights to life transitions, real financial planning goes far beyond picking investments.

Learn more about Cheryl at her website: https://www.sagewaterfinancial.com/team/cheryl-hirss

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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the...

What does it look like to build a creative life over decades and make it deeply satisfying and sustainable?

In this episode, we sit down with cartoonist, illustrator, musician, and writer Todd Webb, creator of the daily comic strip The Poet. Todd shares how a project that started as a short book quietly turned into a six-year daily practice, how Substack, book collections, and pop culture art prints support his work, and why he’s more interested in enjoying the act of creation than chasing a single “big break.”

We discuss:

1. You don’t need one big income stream. Small creative trickles add up.
2. Todd’s work is supported by a mix of Substack subscriptions, book sales, art prints, conventions, and commissions. None of them are floods, but together they create enough space to keep making what he loves.
3. Make the thing you want to exist, not the thing you think will sell.
4. The Poet wasn’t designed to be a daily strip or a long-running project. It became one because Todd followed the work instead of forcing an outcome.
5. Giving your work away can be a powerful long-term strategy.
6. From mailing mini-comics to artists he admired to offering a mostly free Substack, Todd shows how generosity builds real connection over time.
7. Creative success doesn’t have to mean constant escalation.
8. Not every project needs to become a TV show, a franchise, or a brand empire. Sometimes success is simply having the time and energy to keep creating.
9. You get more than one chance every single day.
10. Missed opportunities, rejected pitches, and projects that don’t pan out aren’t dead ends. They’re material. Ideas can be reused, reshaped, and reborn when the timing is right.

About Todd

Todd Webb has been drawing the daily comic strip The Poet for the past six years. Prior to that he did a lot of other stuff like comic books and graphic novels, music, illustration, screenwriting, and animation. Find info on all of it (and subscribe to The Poet) by visiting TODDBOT.COM

Follow Todd on Instagram

Our Links

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Melissa’s website

Drip Trickle Flow Flood T-Shirts

We’ve got merch! That’s right, Drip Trickle Flow Flood t-shirts are officially here and they’re as comfy as they are conversation-starting.

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Rate and Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial...

What does Home Alone have to do with inflation, buying power, and why your money can’t just sit still anymore? A lot more than you’d think. In this episode, we kick things off with a nostalgic look at Kevin McCallister’s $19 grocery run and use it as a lens to unpack how inflation quietly reshapes everything from groceries and housing to creative businesses, side hustles, and long-term financial security. Along the way, we connect the dots between rising costs, shifting industries, and why having multiple income streams is essential.

We discuss:

• That $19 grocery bill from Home Alone would cost roughly $72 today, an easy way to see how steady inflation compounds over time.
• Inflation quietly erodes buying power by 3–4% a year, which means money sitting still is effectively losing value.
• Different industries feel inflation differently: digital products and subscription models often absorb it better than physical goods and service-based businesses.
• Small businesses that survive economic pressure tend to adapt by reducing costs, changing models, or creating new revenue streams.

Our Links

Tony’s website

Melissa’s website

Drip Trickle Flow Flood T-Shirts

We’ve got merch! That’s right, Drip Trickle Flow Flood t-shirts are officially here and they’re as comfy as they are conversation-starting.

Grab yours!

Rate and Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

https://driptrickleflowflood.substack.com/

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content discussed.