Katrina Volker, Vice President of Professional Relationships at OurFamilyWizard, joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what it takes to advocate for yourself, build trusted relationships, and create opportunities for long-term career growth. Drawing from her journey from an administrative role to executive leadership, Katrina shares how asking for the job, the promotion, and the compensation she deserved helped shape her career.

Katrina, Lisa, and Precious cover:

• Asking for the Opportunity: Katrina shares how asking to be considered for a full-time role helped her pay for college and opened the door to future leadership opportunities.
• Knowing Your Worth: When Katrina received an offer to join OurFamilyWizard, she made a bold counteroffer based on the experience and value she brought to the role. The experience reinforced the importance of doing your research and confidently advocating for yourself.
• Building Trust Before the Ask: Katrina explains why the strongest professional relationships are built over time through listening, showing up, helping others, and earning the trust that makes people want to say yes.
• Growing Within an Organization: Rather than waiting for a new title, Katrina asked to take part in high-impact projects, collaborate across departments, and assume greater responsibility. Those opportunities helped her grow into an executive leadership role.
• Creating Structure During Divorce: As a child of divorce and a leader at OurFamilyWizard, Katrina discusses how structure, documentation, and thoughtful communication can help families make better financial and parenting decisions during an emotionally difficult time.
• Why Women Must Keep Asking: Katrina reminds listeners that women need to know their value, advocate for themselves, and ask for help when they need it. Financial independence creates greater freedom, flexibility, and the ability to walk away from situations that no longer serve them.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/
• Katrina Volker's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinavolker/)

Important Links for Katrina:

• Our Family Wizard Website: (https://www.ourfamilywizard.com/)

About

Katrina Volker is the Vice President of Professional Relationships at OurFamilyWizard, where she has spent more than a decade building strategic partnerships and advancing the organization's professional outreach. Since joining the company in 2013 as a Professional Liaison, she has progressed through leadership roles, including Director of Professional Relationships, before being promoted to Vice President in 2023. She holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing, Management, and Entrepreneurship and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University.

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, known as The Money Coach, joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what it takes to advocate for yourself, negotiate from a place of strength, and build lasting financial freedom. A personal finance expert, bestselling author, former Wall Street Journal reporter, and CNBC correspondent, Lynnette has spent decades helping people get out of debt, build wealth, and take control of their financial futures.

Lynnette, Lisa, and Precious cover:

• Knowing Your Value: Lynnette shares how asking Charles Schwab to write the foreword for her first book taught her to understand the value she brought to the table, even when she was the one making the ask.
• Negotiating Creatively: When a raise negotiation hit a ceiling, Lynnette asked for Fridays off to write her book instead. The experience taught her powerful lessons about advocating for herself, getting agreements in writing, and turning setbacks into opportunities.
• Asking From Strength: Lynnette explains why asking from a place of need or fear rarely works, and why the strongest asks come from clarity, confidence, and knowing your walk-away point.
• Building Financial Freedom: For Lynnette, financial freedom means becoming “time billionaires,” having the flexibility to choose how she spends her time, what work she takes on, and what kind of life she wants to build.
• Why Women Must Keep Asking: Lynnette reminds listeners that what you don’t ask for, you won’t get. No one will care more about your financial well-being than you do.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/
• Lynnette Khalfani-Cox's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnettekhalfanicox/)

Important Links for Lynnette:

• Website: https://lynnettekhalfanicox.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwx-n-uHchjtlv938l9ogdA/featured

About Lynnette Khalfani-Cox:

Lynnette, known as The Money Coach®, is a personal finance expert, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and Founder of the Financial Influencer Network. A former Wall Street Journal reporter and CNBC correspondent, she is the CEO of TheMoneyCoach.net, a financial education company helping people build wealth and achieve financial freedom. Lynnette is the author of 16 books, including the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom. She has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, and many other major media outlets.

Marcia Mantell, founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting and former VP at Fidelity Investments, joins The Power of the Ask to talk about what it takes to own your financial future. With 30 years of experience translating complex topics like Social Security and Medicare into language everyone can use, Marcia explores why women still remain disengaged from financial decisions, and how to change that.

Marcia, Lisa, and Precious cover:

• Defining Your Value: When Marcia launched her business, someone told her she couldn't charge her rate. She said, "Watch me." Knowing what you're worth and standing by it is non-negotiable, whether you're negotiating a salary or building a retirement strategy.
• How to Reframe Your Ask: The most powerful asks focus on what the other person stands to lose, a principle Marcia uses with Social Security clients who want to claim early.
• Why Rejection is Critical Data: Marcia has quit three jobs, been told she'd never earn more, and launched a business that just celebrated 20 years.
• Practicing Asking Out Loud: Before a high-stakes conversation, Marcia stands in front of a mirror and asks for what she wants. Hearing your own words builds confidence, and confidence builds momentum.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies (https://www.savvyladies.org/)
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/precious-l-williams/)
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisazeiderman/
• Marcia Mantell's LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciamantell/)

Important Links for Marcia:

• Mantell Retirement Consulting (https://www.linkedin.com/company/mantell-retirement-consulting-inc./)

About Marcia Mantell:

Marcia Mantell is a nationally recognized retirement expert, speaker, author, and founder of Mantell Retirement Consulting. With over 30 years of experience, she helps individuals and financial professionals understand complex topics like retirement income, Social Security, and Medicare in clear, actionable ways. A former Vice President at Fidelity Investments, Marcia is known for translating technical financial concepts into everyday language that empowers people to make confident decisions about their future. She is a frequent media contributor, podcast guest, and author of several books focused on retirement planning.