Dee Zimmerman, Personal Finance Coach

Dee Zimmerman, Personal Finance Coach Helping couples go from money tension to working well together and building wealth as a team. https://linktr.ee/dzimmermanfinance

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Sometimes the question isn’t just, “What tax bracket am I in?”It might be: What happens if I realize capital gains? Do a...
09/17/2026

Sometimes the question isn’t just, “What tax bracket am I in?”

It might be: What happens if I realize capital gains? Do a Roth conversion? Sell property? Change my income?

That’s where a basic online calculator can start to feel pretty limited.

I recently started using Catalyst Tax Insights for some of my own tax estimating. I’m still new to it, but so far I’ve found it more informative than the standard free calculators I’ve used online.

The way I think about it: somewhere between a basic tax calculator and calling my CPA.

It lets you test different “what if” scenarios and see how a decision could affect the tax picture before you make it.

It doesn’t replace a CPA or tax advice. It’s simply another tool for getting clearer before you decide.

You’ll find Catalyst in my Resources for Couples at the link in my bio.

09/15/2026

Sometimes the tax question you’re asking is a little more complicated than, “What tax bracket am I in?”

Maybe you’re wondering about capital gains, a Roth conversion, selling property, or how a change in income could affect the tax picture.

I recently tried a tax planning tool called Catalyst Tax Insights. I’m still new to it, but so far I’ve found it more informative than the standard free calculators I’ve used online.

The way I think about it: somewhere between a basic online tax calculator and calling my CPA.

Boldin helps me look at the long-term picture. Monarch helps me see what’s happening right now.

Catalyst helps me zoom in on the tax impact of a particular decision.

It doesn’t replace a CPA or provide tax advice, but it can help you test “what if” scenarios and ask better questions.

The personal version is free, and I’ve linked it in my Resources for Couples.

If looking at your finances feels overwhelming, make the first step smaller.Pull up your accounts. Grab a piece of paper...
09/10/2026

If looking at your finances feels overwhelming, make the first step smaller.

Pull up your accounts. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Set a timer for 30 minutes.

Ask:

How much came in?
How much went out?
Where did most of it go?
What surprised you?

You don’t have to fix anything yet. You don’t need a perfect budget. Just notice what’s actually happening.

If you learn even one thing you didn’t know before, those 30 minutes were worth it.

And if you want an easier way to keep that visibility going, I use Monarch to see spending, cash flow, investments, net worth, and more in one place (referral link in bio).

Accounts + paper + pen + 30 minutes.

Chocolate helps. 🍫

09/08/2026

A lot of financial stress comes from not really knowing what’s happening with your money.

So here’s a very simple exercise: pull up your accounts, grab a piece of paper and a pen, and set a timer for 30 minutes.

Ask yourself: How much came in? How much went out? Where did most of it go? And what surprised you?

You don’t have to fix anything yet. You don’t need a spreadsheet or a perfect budget. Just notice.

If all you learn is, “Wow, groceries were more than I thought,” that’s useful. You know something now that you didn’t know 30 minutes ago.

And once you want that kind of visibility on an ongoing basis, a tool can help. I use Monarch to see spending, cash flow, investments, net worth, and allocations all in one place (see bio for referral link to save 50%)

But if you’re not using an app yet, start here:

Accounts. Paper. Pen. 30 minutes.

Chocolate helps. 🍫

What if you retired earlier? Moved? Worked less? Spent more on travel? Changed when you take Social Security?Those are h...
09/03/2026

What if you retired earlier? Moved? Worked less? Spent more on travel? Changed when you take Social Security?

Those are hard questions to answer in your head.

A good planning tool lets you model different paths and see what your choices could actually change.

I’ve used Boldin for almost ten years, and it’s one of the tools I use to look ahead instead of guess.

You’ll find it in my Resources for Couples at the link in my bio.

Affiliate disclosure: I may receive a commission if you purchase a paid Boldin plan through my link, at no extra cost to you.

09/01/2026

Some financial questions are just too big to answer in your head.

What if you retire earlier? Move? Work less? Spend more? Delay Social Security?

A good planning tool lets you actually test the possibilities instead of guessing. I’ve used Boldin for almost ten years, and it’s one of my favorite tools for looking ahead.

You’ll find it in my Resources for Couples at the link in my bio.

Affiliate disclosure: I may receive a commission if you purchase a paid Boldin plan through my link, at no extra cost to you.

Saving and investing are important. But the goal isn’t simply to accumulate more.The better question is: What do you wan...
08/27/2026

Saving and investing are important. But the goal isn’t simply to accumulate more.

The better question is: What do you want your money to make possible?

More freedom? More time? Travel? Generosity? A different pace of life? The confidence to stop chasing more?

Growth gets more meaningful when it’s tied to a life you actually want to live.

This week’s newsletter: What Do You Want Your Money to Build?

08/25/2026

We can get so focused on being responsible with money that we forget to ask what we actually want all that responsibility to make possible.

More time? A different pace of life? Travel? Helping your kids? A career change? Maybe something you used to talk about years ago and haven’t revisited in a while.

Growth needs a direction.

So maybe this is a good conversation to have with your partner this week:

What are we actually building toward together?

One couple I work with recently discovered that the savings and investments they had already built could become far more...
08/20/2026

One couple I work with recently discovered that the savings and investments they had already built could become far more than they realized.

That clarity changed the conversation. Suddenly, they weren’t only thinking about what they might have to give up. They could see options.

Sometimes financial confidence comes from knowing you’re further along than you thought.

This week’s newsletter: Good News! More Than They Realized.

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