Host Meredith Lowry sits down with Sarah Catherine Gutierrez of Aptus Financial to discuss the psychology of "caveman brain" spending, the truth about "golden handcuffs," and why every person in America needs to know their personal savings rate.

• Aptus Financial’s Mission: The firm focuses on helping clients, particularly young physicians, "pay themselves first" and invest in tax-efficient ways.
• Accessibility: Traditionally, financial advice required significant wealth, but Sarah Catherine targets clients as "broke as possible" to help them avoid major mistakes early in their careers.
• The Physician Trap: Many high-earning doctors graduate and immediately inflate their lifestyles with expensive homes and cars, eventually living paycheck to paycheck despite $500,000+ salaries. This financial "entrapment" is a primary driver of professional burnout.

The "Save 10" Philosophy

• The Golden Number: Sarah Catherine advocates that everyone should know their "savings rate"—specifically saving 10% of their income—to earn the right to stop working one day.
• Golden Handchecks: This term refers to being forced to stay in a job you dislike because you are dependent on the next paycheck.
• The Power of Automation: To combat the natural "caveman brain" (basal ganglia) that wants to spend immediately, Sarah Catherine recommends "paying yourself first" by having savings automatically deducted before they even hit a checking account.

Modernizing Retirement Plans

• Language Barriers: Sarah Catherine argues that the 401k system fails many because it relies on jargon and tax codes (e.g., 401k, 403b, vesting) rather than simple language.
• The "Bucket" Concept: She reframes retirement accounts as "buckets" where employers literally put a pile of cash for the employee’s future.
• Overcoming Gender Tropes: The podcast addresses the historical exclusion of women from finance (noting that women couldn't get credit cards independently until 1974) and emphasizes that women are excellent savers once they take ownership of their money.

Tactical Advice: "But First Save 10"

• Payroll Deductions: Most payroll departments can easily split a direct deposit into multiple accounts.
• High-Yield Savings: Utilizing accounts like Ally or American Express for automated deposits helps build a "pile of confidence" for emergencies or business opportunities.
• Physician-Specific Savings: High earners often need to save 20% to 30% because they start their careers later and rely less on Social Security to replace their income.

Upcoming Books

• But First Save 10: Aimed at median-income earners, focusing on the simple move of saving 10%.
• Hi Doc, Meet Money: Scheduled for release in mid-April, this book provides a specific framework for physicians and high earners to calculate their long-term savings rates.

Host Meredith Lowry sits down with Shunqetta Cunningham, the powerhouse behind Kharis Consulting and the Over a Cup Initiative, to discuss the true meaning of power, the necessity of building community for women entrepreneurs, and her mission to elevate the economic landscape of Arkansas.

Meredith: I am so excited today to have my friend Shunqetta Cunningham with us on the podcast to talk about all the things you're doing.

Shunqetta: Kharis Consulting started exclusively as a grant writer after leaving our local municipality. My family was growing—by then, I had three of the now five kids. Grant writing turned into full consulting for nonprofits a little over 13 years ago.

Shunqetta: Connection sometimes doesn't equate to currency in business. My first client was pro bono; they received a $40,000 grant, but they did not contract with me afterward because they expected free help. Eventually, I had to rise to the level of service where I knew nonprofit does not mean "no profit".

Shunqetta: In business, "help" insinuates what that is—help—but "providing consultation" or "facilitation" reduces that question. In Northeast Arkansas, I have been able to flourish as a solopreneur, but it has not been easy.

Shunqetta: You have to create community. I have had to come to Little Rock or Fayetteville just to get a different mindset of what it is to run a business outside of my passion. I am blessed to have a supportive husband who encourages my creativity. My children see this example; if I am going to leverage influence for everyone else, I am going to first start at home.

Shunqetta: The Over a Cup Initiative (OAC) is an intentional networking connection space for Black women entrepreneurs in Northeast Arkansas. We affectionately call one another "sister bosses". I started it in 2018 so people could ask questions about business terminology—profit, loss, capital—without feeling intimidated.

Shunqetta: Three years ago, FORGE Community Loan Fund took a chance on us to launch the LEAP Academy (Leveraging Expertise to Accelerate Profit), an incubator for women. We have graduated nearly 30 women from the program. We use terms we understand culturally—"where does the money reside"—to make the process less intimidating.

Shunqetta: It has never been as much about race as it is about economics. Dr. King’s message of reconciliation wasn't the catalyst for anger; the threat came when economic justice started to be at the forefront. Arkansas industries must work together because technology and AI are changing every facet of this nation.

Shunqetta: I have a book out called When I Awake, I Decree. It is a 366-day devotional to help people reframe their conversations with positivity no matter what is going on in the world. My faith tells me that my voice matters too.

Shunqetta: I self-published, and it prompted me to release a resource guide for nonprofits called Get Off The Ask. It empowers organizations to ask for what they need, whether that is fundraising, grants, or volunteers.

Shunqetta: As Arkansans, we should be tired of leading from the bottom in socioeconomic status, health, and infant mortality. We are at a point where we are going to burst into change.

Shunqetta: You can find me on social media under Shunqetta Cunningham or Kharis Group Consulting (K-H-A-R-I-S). We also have an Over a Cup page. We meet monthly on Saturdays for women entrepreneurs. It is a space for access to information and connection where we say, "Hey, you got this, sister boss".

Join host Erica Gee as she explores the power of collaborative leadership with the team at the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, discussing their bold vision to create a hunger-free Arkansas through community trust and systemic change."

Erica Gee: I’m Erica Gee, partner at Wright Lindsey Jennings and your host. Joining me are Sylvia Blain, Tomeka Williams, and Jennifer Buie of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. These women are powerhouses in hunger relief. Sylvia is the CEO, Tomeka is the Director of Operations, and Jennifer is the Director of Development.

Sylvia Blain: I approach leadership in a collaborative manner. I like to bring everyone in on what we’re working on. If you make decisions in a silo without team buy-in, your ideas won’t go anywhere. People have to feel they have ownership.

Temeka Williams: My leadership style is to exemplify what should be done and how it should be done the right way, following our policies and structure.

Jennifer Buie: My style is trying to maximize everyone around you. Every person at the Alliance is a fundraiser. They are walking, talking billboards for the mission. Relationship building takes time and trust. It’s about the relationship with the mission: creating a hunger-free Arkansas.

Erica Gee: Sylvia, you mentioned a lofty vision.

Sylvia Blain: We have a vision to eradicate hunger in Arkansas. We are the number one most food-insecure state in the country. The Alliance was formed through a Donald W. Reynolds Foundation grant that brought together five Feeding America food banks to work together.

Erica Gee: How are you responding to shifting government funding?

Sylvia Blain: Our mission isn't changing, but funding cuts are inevitable. We are in planning and action mode. The biggest challenge is uncertainty. For example, our SNAP-Ed nutrition program is set to be defunded in September, yet we haven't heard from the government on how to move forward. We have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

Jennifer Buie: Sustainable change starts with how we view hunger. It doesn’t always look like someone in a food pantry line. It’s a mom halving formula or a senior choosing between protein and prescriptions. 49% of Arkansans are "ALICE"—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. They work every day but still can't afford groceries.

Sylvia Blain: One in five people in Arkansas is hungry. Hunger is not static; it’s inconsistent. The reason it persists is a lack of will. It is solvable.

Jennifer Buie: I wish people knew that hunger is in their community—likely even in their family line. The stigma behind getting help is alarming. To make an impact, go to our website and donate.

Erica Gee: Any upcoming events?

Jennifer Buie: September is Hunger Action Month. On Thursday, September 18th, we have our Hunger Action Breakfast. We’ll recognize 11 people around the state with "Acting Out Against Hunger" awards. Learn more at arhungeralliance.org.

Erica Gee: Any last words?

Sylvia Blain: We can always go deeper if you have another hour!

Erica Gee: I always have an hour for you. Thank you all for being here.