Millennial Money Matters just got a visit from someone who might be running the most relatable business for parents right now.

Kim Conti is the founder of Orbit Crates, a toy rental subscription that delivers curated toys to families with kids ages 0-6. Think of it like Netflix for toys. 500 titles to choose from, doorstep delivery, swap whenever the kids are done. No clutter. No waste. No more stepping on the same Fisher-Price toy for 18 months.

But this episode isn't just about toys. It's about what actually happens when you leave a corporate job to chase a dream, with three kids at home and a finite cash runway staring you down.

Kim gets into the real stuff: how she and her husband drew a hard line on business and personal finances, why she spent her first six months raising non-dilutive startup capital instead of running the business, and what it actually feels like to be the business owner who's also the marketer, the operator, and the one packing boxes in her spare room. (The kids are not allowed in that room.)

Derek and Kelly weigh in on the financial side of the founder journey: when to reinvest in the business versus pull money out, why too many entrepreneurs skip the tax professional until it's too late, the LLC structure mistakes that quietly cost business owners serious money, and how cash flow planning changes everything when revenue isn't predictable month to month.

Also: Great Wolf Lodge is basically a wet kids casino. You heard it here first.

https://orbitcrates.com/

Reach out to Kim Conti at kim@orbitcrates.com, Kelly Turner at kturner@totalmortgage.com and Derek Mazzarella at dmazzarella@mygfpartner.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Big news just dropped from the Federal Reserve—and it has real implications for your money. In this timely episode of Millennial Money Matters, Kelly Turner and Derek Mazzarella break down the announcement of a new Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh, and explain what this leadership change could mean for interest rates, mortgages, savings accounts, and the broader economy .

Rather than reacting to headlines or political noise, this episode focuses on how the Fed actually works, why independence matters, and how Fed decisions show up in your everyday financial life.

In this episode, we cover:

• Who the Federal Reserve is and what its two core mandates are

• What a new Fed Chair means (and what it doesn’t)

• The difference between Fed rate cuts and mortgage rates

• Why savings accounts and credit cards react faster than mortgages

• Quantitative easing explained in plain English

• Dovish vs. hawkish policy and why it matters

• The tension between inflation and unemployment

• Why groceries feel more expensive even when inflation is “down”

• How political volatility impacts markets and lending behavior

• What millennials should actually pay attention to over the next 6–12 months

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If you’ve ever felt like Fed news is “above your head,” this episode breaks it down in a way that helps you make smarter decisions about borrowing, saving, and investing.

Reach out to Kelly Turner at kturner@totalmortgage.com and Derek Mazzarella at dmazzarella@mygfpartner.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

It’s a new year—and with it comes new financial trends, cultural shifts, and economic uncertainty. In this episode of Millennial Money Matters, Kelly Turner and Derek Mazzarella kick off the year by breaking down what 2026 could look like for millennials, from housing and investing to spending habits and lifestyle changes .

This episode blends economic analysis with millennial culture, exploring why nostalgia is back, why stability is becoming more valuable than hustle culture, and how chaos in the world is shaping financial behavior.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why nostalgia and “comfort trends” are making a comeback

• The return of early-2000s culture and what it says about today’s economy

• Housing market realities: inventory shortages, rates, and buyer expectations

• Why a housing crash is unlikely despite online predictions

• Government policy changes and how they affect mortgage rates

• Why lower rates could actually push home prices higher

• The divide between the top 20% and bottom 80% of the economy

• Inflation fatigue, rising everyday costs, and the search for stability

• Why millennials are shifting away from risky financial hacks

• How to think about savings, investing, and diversification in uncertain times

Rather than chasing predictions or panic headlines, this episode focuses on how millennials can adapt, plan, and make smarter financial decisions in a rapidly changing world.

Reach out to Kelly Turner at kturner@totalmortgage.com and Derek Mazzarella at dmazzarella@mygfpartner.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.