Our Two Cents, Keeping it Professional Online, and a Spring Savings Checklist

Welcome to Work & Wallet—a newsletter where finance meets career advice.

Our Two Cents with Ally Donnelly, Video Podcast Team Lead at Fidelity Investments

We had an insightful conversation with Ally Donnelly , the host of Fidelity's new video podcast Money Unscripted. Here’s what we learned.

How would you describe the podcast you host?

It’s a simple concept. We tell personal stories from everyday people about everything from careers and caregiving to paying for college or planning for retirement. Then we bring in Fidelity professionals to share insights to help the audience make their money work harder for them. Our hope is that the audience members can see themselves in the personal stories and know that nobody has all the answers and we’re all trying to find our way. I’m not necessarily a finance person, so I’m asking the questions that will help me grow and ones I think my friends and family would wonder about. Money is such an emotionally charged topic: how much you have, how much you know, what you’re doing with it, what you’re not. What we’re trying to do really comes back to that mission of helping people.

What do you enjoy about being a host? What are the hard parts of being a host?

It’s the greatest job in the world! I get to meet new people, learn about their lives, and, with my team, tell their stories. Podcasting is such an intimate medium, and we’re honored that people make themselves vulnerable by sharing their challenges and joys. We get to talk about a variety of life experiences (both the good and the bad) on the podcast and play some small part in helping people learn more and try to do better for themselves.

You asked about the hardest part: time! Our episodes can only be so long, and it crushes me to leave anything on the cutting room floor. The stories and takeaways are so good that I don’t like losing even a minute.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start a podcast?

Hurry up and do it! I had been an on-air, broadcast journalist for more than 20 years, but I had always wanted to “try” podcasting, so I ordered a microphone, watched YouTube videos, and started my first podcast.

However, I think it’s important to define your reasons for being. Why do you want to start a podcast? Who makes up the audience? How will you serve them? What problem are you solving? And then stay true to that. Tell good stories. Ask other people (not just your best friend) for feedback, and really listen. Your audience and analytics will tell you what’s working and what’s not. But you don’t need to wait for perfection. Just focus on defining your mission, telling good stories, and honoring your audience.

What's the best career advice you've received?

“You don’t get if you don’t ask.” I’ve applied this to so many aspects of my career. From asking for the interview for a story to asking for a raise, a coffee connection, or an opportunity, the ask is everything. You might not get the answer you want, but you’ll definitely grow from the process.

If you could start a podcast, what would you talk about? Let us know in the comments!

How to keep it professional on social media

For better or worse, what happens on the internet stays on the internet. So, here are some quick tips to for staying professional when you’re posting:

• Keep your accounts up to date. Recruiters regularly search professional platforms and social media to find candidates with the skills they need.
• Audit your social media accounts every now and again and delete the stuff that doesn’t reflect you or your current values.
• Use social media before interviews to research potential employers—you might score some brownie points.
• Check out your company’s policies regarding social media best practices to make sure you’re aligned.
• Be cautious when weighing in on controversial topics—or be sure the stand you take is important to you.

Check out all of our social media dos and don’ts for social sharing.

The April save-more-money checklist

Smarter spending and saving are in season! Here’s what you can cross off your checklist this month.

Test your negotiation skills

High cable or phone bill? Negotiate your rate. Look up your provider’s (and their competitors’) promotions and prices. Call the company’s customer service line and ask for the retention or loyalty department, making sure to mention the promotions and prices. Staying polite yet persistent = potential payoff.

Find free fun

A library card might give you free museum admission, botanical garden access, musical instrument rentals, or even tool rentals if you’d rather use a rainy day to tackle home-improvement projects.

Keep grub out of the garbage

Throwing away food? In this economy?! If you don’t eat leftovers within 3 days, you can label and freeze them for later.

Set a shopping stopwatch

Endless scrolling and shopping can be a pricey combo. Try setting a time limit on shopping or social media apps.

Decide what to do with your tax refund (if you’re lucky enough to get one). We’ve got some ideas:

• Save it for emergencies
• Pay off high-interest debt
• Save more for retirement
• Splurge responsibly

Once you tackle April’s checklist, check out how you can save in May and June.

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