RealSmartica

Educate parents and young adults in practical money matters

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Finding Your Financial Balance

May 26, 2024 By Dina Isola

As an advisor, I’m often in the position of helping clients temper their worst impulses. It’s a delicate balance to get investors to pay enough attention to be engaged without micromanaging or being overly obsessed with the bean counting side of things. And because everyone is different, so are the pain points and blind spots. This is where an advisor can deliver the most value - giving truly personalized guidance based on a plan to achieve very specific goals, and helping to manage harmful Read on...

Why You’re Failing Miserably, and How to Stop

January 26, 2024 By Dina Isola

For decades I've been entrusted with the confessions of people preoccupied by their inability to feel adept in handling their finances. These individuals come from all walks of life, possess various levels of education, and span a wide range of household income. They are all smart and successful in certain areas of their lives, but when it comes to investing to meet their financial goals, suddenly all competency goes out the window - at least from their perspective. I say it's more of a Read on...

Mid-Year Pump

July 18, 2022 By Dina Isola

With the first six months of 2022 in the rearview, you have valuable data at your disposal that can help you plan for a stronger second half and, even lay the groundwork for a better 2023. To start – set concrete goals of what you hope to accomplish before the year is out – save more, get ahead of income taxes, reduce spending, save for college – and attach a number to that goal. By December 31 I will save $X in my retirement plan, I will reduce my monthly spending by $X per month, Read on...

Ladies, First!

November 30, 2017 By admin

A little more than two months before my due date, panic set in.  Though I had much experience as an aunt and babysitter, and in spite of my life-long fantasies of motherhood, the moment was quickly approaching where my life would change forever. Change, even joyous change, can be terrifying.  In my case, a difficult twin pregnancy kept very dire possibilities hanging in the balance.  My husband was eerily calm; if I didn't know better I would have thought he was medicated. I spoke to my Read on...

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Dina Isola

Since 2002, Dina Isola has worked closely with investors, hearing their concerns. Drawing on her experiences and challenges, Real$martica was born, which focuses on making personal finance issues relatable to women, children and families and educating investors to make informed decisions. A contributor to A Teachable Moment, she is a client relations specialist at Ritholtz Wealth Management. She also serves on Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Task Force.

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Recent Articles

  • Finding Your Financial Balance
  • The War Within
  • Give Yourself (and Your Money) Some Love
  • Why You’re Failing Miserably, and How to Stop
  • Hardwired to Help
  • Hardwired to Help
  • School Administrators and Unions Can Be the Real Heroes
  • Mid-Year Pump

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RSS College Tuition News

  • Greenville Tech approves tuition adjustment for 2025-26 academic year - greenville journal
  • College or Capital? Why Some High School Graduates Are Choosing Startups Over School - business-review.eu
  • Justice Department challenges Kentucky reg allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students - LEX18

RSS Personal Budget News

  • 9 bank accounts with built-in budgeting tools to help track your personal finances - Bankrate
  • Best Budgeting Apps Of 2025 - Forbes
  • Personal Finance: Senate takes up the Big Beautiful Budget Busting Bill - Chattanooga Times Free Press

© This content, which contains security-related opinions and/or information, is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon in any manner as professional advice, or an endorsement of any practices, products or services. There can be no guarantees or assurances that the views expressed here will be applicable for any particular facts or circumstances, and should not be relied upon in any manner. You should consult your own advisers as to legal, business, tax, and other related matters concerning any investment. The commentary in this “post” (including any related blog, podcasts, videos, and social media) reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Ritholtz Wealth Management employees providing such comments, and should not be regarded the views of Ritholtz Wealth Management LLC. or its respective affiliates or as a description of advisory services provided by Ritholtz Wealth Management or performance returns of any Ritholtz Wealth Management Investments client. References to any securities or digital assets, or performance data, are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see disclosures here.