Nexa Wealth Planning

At Nexa Wealth, we believe managing your money is more than just numbers in a bank account – it’s about creating a life rich in choices and free from constraints. 

Here, money doesn't dictate your choices – it amplifies them. With us, you’re not just surviving; you're thriving. We're dedicated to crafting financial freedom for each of our clients, turning dreams into rock-solid plans, and plans into rock-solid reality.

Email: renee@nexawm.com for free consultation

CEO & Certified Financial Planner

Northwestern Mutual

Women are more than capable of taking control of their finances, and I'm here to help them do so. 

I'm passionate about empowering women to take ownership of their finances and achieve financial freedom. 

As a Certified Financial Planner, I help women executives maximize their cash flow, make smart investments, and develop tax-savvy strategies to ensure their money grows and lasts for years to come. 

With my help, women can confidently make financial decisions, assertively create a plan, and reduce their financial worries. 

•	Understand your financial options 
•	Create a forward-thinking financial strategy 
•	Make money decisions with confidence

If you are tired of second-guessing what your money is doing for you, and instead you want a simple roadmap to achieve the results you desire, I invite you into having a conversation.  

DM or email for a complimentary 30-minute Money Strategy meeting
📧 renee.cohen@nm.com

Certified Financial Planner™ for women executives and business owners 

Created financial literacy corporate workshops to inspire employees into financial action & eliminate money anxiety.

Financial Literacy Workshop Facilitator & Speaker

Bixel Exchange

Bixel Exchange is the innovation and tech arm at the second largest Chamber of Commerce in the US, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Our cornerstone programs include Startup Launch Tech SBDC and Tech Talent Pipeline that combine forces to create an inclusive greater LA technology community.

Advisor

Fox Sports Net

Director, Corporate Partnerships

Big Ten Network

Manager, University Development

Designing Work-Optional Lifestyles for Women & Couples with Dynamic Financial Plans | Financial Consultant for Executives & Business Owners in Sports & Tech | Financial Wellness Speaker

The biggest money secret that not enough successful women know?

Creating financial security for life is actually insanely EASY.

- Dream of retiring by 50?
- Want to cover your kids' big moments?
- Looking forward to luxe vacations without needing an excuse?
- Need an iron-clad safety net for whatever life throws your way?

But it’s not just about the future. It’s about enjoying your life right now.

Financial freedom isn't just for later. It’s about living your best life now, knowing you are crafting your future while relishing today.

This is where I step in.

With all the financial advice out there, you need what works, not just noise. You need strategies that move the needle. You need results, not tasks.

My mission? To make managing your finances the SIMPLEST part of your day.  

I’m here to help you make smart choices that align with your dreams for your family and your future.

You've worked tirelessly for your success. So let’s save smartly and maximize and grow what you have. True financial freedom is more than account balances.  


I’ve partnered with many women and couples like you, creating personalized plans that balance today's lifestyle with tomorrow's dreams. This isn't about strict budgets. It’s about shaping your finances to fit your life today, while maximizing every aspect of your income and assets.

I’m more than a financial planner. I’m your partner, guide, and ally in achieving your financial dreams in the most straightforward and effective way possible.

Every plan is tailored to the individual because your financial success should be as unique as you are.

Ready to make these dreams a part of your everyday life?

Let’s unlock the full potential of your finances together. Because your money should support the life you want, now and in the future.

Send me a DM or email at renee.cohen@nm.com.

This conversation could change everything. ✨

Your journey goes beyond just managing numbers. It involves:

✨ Strategic Cash Flow & Debt Management,
✨ Tax Optimization for executive roles,
✨ Effective Navigation of Stock Options & Significant Financial Events,
✨ Personalized Retirement Planning,
✨ Comprehensive Insurance Solution

Renee Cohen, CFP®

They couldn't talk about money without it ending in silence.

Both earning six figures.
Beautiful house.
Kids in great schools.

And they hadn't looked at their accounts together in two years.

"We just handle our own stuff," she told me. “It's easier that way."

But easier wasn't working.

She was moving money to savings he didn't know about.
He was stressed about money but didn't want to seem worried.
Both were making decisions in isolation.
Both assuming the other had it handled.

I see this more than you'd think.
Successful couples who've turned money into the third wheel of their relationship.

Too charged to touch.
Too important to ignore.

So they danced around it:

She'd quietly pay for soccer camp before he noticed the email.
He'd handle the roof repair without mentioning the cost.
Both adding to their separate savings 'just in case.'

Amazon packages arrived without discussion.
Investment statements stayed unopened.
Tax time meant handing everything to the CPA and hoping for the best.

They could plan entire vacations without mentioning the budget.
Navigate private school applications without discussing the tuition.

Two successful people.
Living one life.
Never actually talking about how to pay for it.

We didn't start with a budget.
(That would've been like handing them firecracker.)

We started with one question:
"What does financial success look like for your family?"

For the first time in years, they heard each other's actual fears.

She wasn't hoarding money.
She was terrified of her mom's story repeating.

He wasn't being careless.
He was exhausted from feeling like the safety net.

Once they could see each other's why,
the how got so much simpler.

Now they have monthly money dates.
15 minutes. One dashboard. No judgment.

She texted me last month:
"We actually high-fived after paying the tax bill. Is that weird?"

Not weird at all.
That's what happens when money stops being a battleground
and starts being something you build together.

→ What's the one win you and your partner have celebrated together this year?

Renee Cohen CFP®

Financial Planner for Women | I bring your financial life together so your decisions feel easier and more intentional | CFP® + Founder, Nexa Wealth

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The $45K question that changed my client’s life 

 

She had $194K sitting in cash.
VP salary.
All the "right" financial pieces.

But she couldn't commit to starting her own business.

"I need another year of savings first."

We ran the numbers.

$45K to launch her consulting firm today.
Or wait another year while that dream compounds into regret.

Then I asked her the question:

"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to watch 42-year-old you bet on herself?"

She went quiet.

We both knew the answer before I even asked.

Because future you isn't celebrating (all) the extra cash you hoarded.

She's thinking about the business you never started.
The clients you never helped.
The version of yourself you never became.
Wishing she could go back and shake younger you who played it too safe.

The women I work with don't have risk problems.
They have permission problems.

Maybe you've saved six months of expenses.
Maybe it's two years.
Maybe you're still building.

Doesn't matter.

We all wait for some guarantee that says "now it's safe to leap."

That guarantee doesn't exist.

What does exist:
Your ideas sitting in notebooks.
Your expertise waiting to be shared.
Your impact delayed by another year of "preparation."

She launched her firm six months ago.
Hasn’t replaced her corporate salary yet.

That takes time no matter what people promise you. 

But more importantly?

She stopped waiting for permission to become who she already was.

Because 65-year-old you doesn't care about the perfect financial moment.

She cares that you trusted yourself enough to try.

The math already works.
Future you is waiting for you to believe it.

→ What would you start tomorrow if you knew future you already knows the outcome?

Your portfolio doesn't need to be perfect to start living.


I had a client wait three years to book her dream Italy trip.

Three years.

Not because she couldn't afford it.
She had $300K invested and growing.

But she kept thinking she needed "just a little more" first.
Another $50K.
Another year of returns.
Another bonus cycle.

You know what finally changed her mind?

Running the actual numbers.

Not the scary story in her head.
The math.

We looked at what the trip would actually cost her long-term.
$15K today versus $45K in retirement (with growth).

Then I asked her:
"Would 65-year-old you pay $45K to give 40-year-old you this memory?"

She booked it that afternoon.

Because waiting for "enough" is a moving target.

There's always another goal.
Another milestone.
Another reason to wait.

But your life is happening now.
Your kids are only young once.
Your parents won't always be able to travel.
You won't always have the energy you have today.

The women who build real wealth?

They don't wait for permission from their portfolio.

They plan for both:
→ The life they're building for tomorrow
→ The life they're living today

One without the other isn't wealth.
It's just postponed living.

Your money should fund your life.
Not the other way around.

→ Where are you planning to travel in 2026? 🗺️

The biggest money mistakes don’t come from bad decisions.


They come from waiting too long to make one.

From that little voice that says,
“What if I mess this up?”
So you stall. 
You Google. 
You hold.

Not because you don’t care.
But because you care too much.

And when you’re earning more, that pressure gets louder.

Every move (investments, stock options, taxes) suddenly feels like it carries more weight.
More risk. 
More room for regret.

But confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything.
It comes from being in motion.

From creating a plan that moves with you 
so your income, investments, and taxes talk to each other. 

When everything’s working together, you stop overthinking.
You stop waiting for “perfect.”
And, you start leading your money with intention.

Because the real mistake isn’t getting it wrong,
it’s staying frozen in fear of what might happen if you move.

→ What’s something that helps you get past analysis paralysis?

A question I get often isn’t about investing or retirement.

It’s this one:

“Can I take the vacation without feeling guilty about it?”

A client of mine a VP in tech and mom of two brought this up on our call.
She was excited about planning a milestone family trip, but she kept thinking,

“Should this money go to savings instead?”

Totally normal.
And also solvable.

We made a few key moves:

1. The necessary stuff first.

→ Bills, savings, and goals? Already handled before she books.
Now she can enjoy the trip instead of doing mental math on the plane.

2. Use the right card.

→ We picked one that earns double points now and sets her up for a bigger trip next year.

3. Pay yourself for the fun.

→ She earmarked part of her bonus for travel so the memories are paid for before takeoff.

This is the part of financial planning people miss.

It’s not (always) the investment charts or the retirement projections.

It’s the confidence in your daily choices.

Knowing your “yes” to the trip, the renovation, or the time off
still keeps you on track for the bigger vision.

Because the real magic of a plan
isn’t in the charts.

It’s in how it changes the way you live right now.

My clients don’t want money to hold them back from living.

They want it to support their life. 
Now and 20 years from now.

→ Do you plan your trips around your budget, or your budget around your trips? 😅

I bring your financial life together so every decision moves you forward | Financial planner for 6-figure women navigating career, family, and legacy goals | CFP® | Nexa Wealth Founder

Most people think money problems come from not having enough.

They actually come from not having it connected.

You can earn six figures, max out your 401k, have investments growing...

And still wake up at 3am wondering what you're missing.

Because when your money lives in silos:
→ Your cash doesn't know what your investments are doing
→ Your investments don't talk to your tax strategy  
→ Your tax moves happen in isolation from your income

So you end up with:
Cash piling up while you're scared to invest it.
Investments growing while you pay unnecessary taxes.
Big tax bills because no one connected the dots.

Every account doing its own thing.
Like roommates who never talk.

I see this constantly.
Smart women with all the "right" pieces.
But nothing working together.

One client described it perfectly:
"I have all these accounts but no actual plan."

She was right.

When your money starts working as a team,
when every piece knows its role,
when your income, investments, and taxes actually coordinate...

That's when the noise quiets down.

You stop second-guessing every move.
You stop wondering what you're missing.
You stop feeling like you're working against yourself.

Because wealth isn't built in isolation.
It's built in connection.

→  If your accounts were roommates, would they be best friends or total strangers?


PS - To those who served and their families: your sacrifice created the freedom for all of us to build these lives we're planning. Thank you. 🇺🇸

She sat on $400K in cash for three years.

Watched the market go up.
Watched inflation eat away at it.
Read every article telling her to invest.

Still couldn't do it.

Why?

Her dad lost everything in 2008.

And even though she was earning $250K a year,
even though she knew the math,
she couldn't shake that image of him at the kitchen table.
Staring at statements worth nothing.

Her brain knew better.
Her body remembered different.

It took us six months to unpack that.

Not the investing part.
The trust part.

We didn't start with asset allocation.
We started with what safety meant to her.

Turns out it wasn't about the market at all.
It was about control.

So we built a plan that gave her both:
→ Ten months expenses in cash (not the six everyone recommends)
→ A 5 month CD she could see and understand
→ Index funds portfolio but only after she felt ready

The first investment was $15k.

She texted me that night:
"I keep checking to see if it's gone."

It wasn't.

Three months later, she moved another $50K.
Then another.

Now she's fully invested with a plan that makes sense.
Not because I convinced her.
But because she convinced herself.

Sometimes the smartest financial move
isn't following the perfect strategy.

It's honoring where your fear comes from
and building something you can actually stick with.

→ Fill in the blank: 'My parents always said _____ about money, but I've learned ____

Most people focus on the wrong part of wealth.


You’ve probably been told to:
→ Earn more
→ Find the “perfect” investment
→ Chase the next tax hack

And sure, those things matter,
but they’re only half the game.

The other half?
Getting your money to work together.
(That part’s closer to 70% of the game.)

When it doesn’t, here’s what happens:
→ Cash piles up without purpose
→ Tax time becomes surprise season
→ Every decision suddenly feels heavier than it should

But when everything starts talking,
your income, investments, and taxes
you finally see what’s working, what’s not,
and what to tweak before it snowballs.

That’s when money stops feeling chaotic.
It starts feeling led.

Because earning more without direction isn’t wealth.
It’s just juggling with nicer props.


💰 Right now, do your finances feel like teamwork or more like a group project gone wrong?

Sometimes the worst time to travel is exactly when you should.

Had a client text me her photos yesterday.
Barcelona with her family to visit friends instead of their traditional Thanksgiving plans.

Six months ago, she almost canceled it because her husband had been laid off.  
"Maybe we should wait until things are more settled."

They'd saved for this trip for two years.
Between their emergency fund and his severance, they had enough.
Not perfect "sleep-like-a-baby" money.
But enough.

The thing is, when life feels uncertain, "enough" never feels like enough.
You want to hoard every dollar.
Just in case.

But, they had the funds.
They had the time.
They had everything except permission.

I asked them one question:
"In 10 years, will you regret going or regret waiting?"

They went.

Her text yesterday:
"The kids are already asking when we're coming back."

Some moments can't be recreated.
Some windows close.
Some "next years" never come.

Your accounts will never give you permission.
That's not supposed to come from a spreadsheet.
That comes from you.

As we head into December, maybe it's worth asking:

What have you been putting off that your future self would tell you to do today?

→ What's your "Barcelona" that keeps getting pushed to next year?

"I'm tired of being my own CFO."

She said it on our intro call last week.

VP at a tech company.
Two kids.
Six-figure income.
Doing everything "right."

And exhausted.

Not from her actual job.
From her second job: managing money.

The Sunday account login sessions.
The 11pm Googling "RSU tax strategies."
The group texts asking colleagues what they're doing.
The constant feeling that everyone else has it figured out.

Sound familiar?

You're running a household, killing it at work, raising humans...

And somehow you're also supposed to be your own:
→ Investment advisor
→ Tax strategist  
→ Estate planner
→ Risk manager

All while making dinner and answering Slack messages.

I see this all the time.
Brilliant women treating their finances like another project to manage.

Building spreadsheets that impress their team.
But still feeling behind.

Because being smart doesn't mean you should do everything yourself.

You wouldn't perform your own surgery.
You wouldn't represent yourself in court.
You wouldn't cut your own hair.
(Well, 2020 aside.)

So why are you trying to be your own financial team?

The women who build real wealth?

They don't DIY everything.
They delegate what drains them.
So they can lead what matters.

Your time is worth more than the hours you're spending trying to figure this out alone.

Your energy is worth more than the stress of second-guessing every decision.

Your peace is worth more than proving you can do it all yourself.

The $12K question she almost didn't ask. 


She'd been sitting on it for three months.

"Is it too late to do anything about my taxes this year?"

We were on a call last week.
Six weeks left in 2025.
And she thought she'd missed her chance.

(Most people think tax planning ended in April.)

But when we actually looked?

We found $12,000 in deductions and retirement space she hadn't used.

→ Charitable donations she forgot about. Medical expenses that actually crossed the threshold. That advisor fee from January.

She thought she'd maxed out her 401k.

→ Turns out she had $8,000 of space left.

The underperforming stocks in her account became a tax strategy.

→ We sold them to offset the gains from her RSUs.
(The tax savings alone made it worth it.)

Those last two December paychecks became an opportunity.
Perfect time to fix her withholdings.

All of this disappears on January 1st.

The question saved her $4,800 in taxes.

I see this constantly in November.
People suddenly realizing there's still time.

Time to use those tax strategies that expire December 31st.
Time to top off retirement contributions.
Time to balance out investment gains.

Six weeks isn't the end of your financial year.

It's actually when some of the best moves happen.

→ You checking your stuff before year-end?

P.S. - Want to know what moves you could still make? Reply with 'MOVES' and I'll send you what I'm telling all my clients right now.

Having someone manage your investments isn't the same as having a plan.

I hear it constantly:
"I already have someone."

But then they follow it with:
"I still handle all the tax stuff myself."
"I'm not sure if I should exercise these stock options."
"We never talk about anything except the portfolio."

You have someone managing one account.
Not your financial life.

When April brings a surprise $20K tax bill, when RSUs vest with no clear strategy, when you're running private school numbers alone?

That's not in their department.

I see this all the time.
Smart women with "help" still playing CFO.

Still coordinating between:

Still coordinating between:
→ The person who handles investments (but not taxes)
→ The person who handles taxes (but not planning)
→ The estate attorney (from 2019)

Everyone managing their piece.
No one managing the whole picture.

One client put it perfectly:
"I have a team but no quarterback."

She had all the players.
But she was still calling all the plays.

Real planning connects everything.

Your investments know about your tax situation.
Your tax strategy considers your equity comp.
Your estate plan actually reflects your life today.

Because you shouldn't need a spreadsheet to track who handles what.

You need one person who sees it all.
Who connects it all.

That's the difference between having investments managed and having your life planned.

→ What would you do with your time if you weren't playing financial coordinator?

"Are we missing something?"


I hear this from people who already have financial "help."

They've got investments. They've got someone managing things.

But that nagging feeling won't go away.

Had a client come to me with $2.5 million in an annuity.
She'd put in $325k twelve years ago and $40k every year after. 

"It's been fine," she said. "I just haven't looked at it much."

Twelve years.
Her whole life had changed.
New job. Kids in college. Different dreams.

But that money was still sitting in 2013.
Stuck in a product someone sold her once and forgot about.

When we looked at everything?

That annuity hadn't made sense for her in years.
Nobody was handling her taxes.
Her ex-husband was still on her estate plan.

She had money. She had investments. She had "help."

Spread across seven different logins she could barely remember.

What she didn't have was someone looking at how it all worked together.
Someone asking "what else could this be doing?"
Someone who'd catch what everyone else missed.

We restructured the annuity to actually work for her current life.
Found $32K in annual tax savings she didn't know existed.
Got her ex-husband's name off everything.

She texted me last week:
"For the first time in years, I'm not wondering if I'm doing this wrong."

That's what my clients pay for.
To stop wondering.
To know someone sees everything.
To trust that the important stuff isn't getting missed.

Because the real cost isn't what you pay for planning.
It's living with that constant question mark.

→ How many passwords did you have to reset this year?🙋‍♀️

Angela Snyder

Founder & Digital Content Manager

Nonprofit Tech Shop

Nonprofit Tech Shop is an extension of Digital Reach, created to help mission-driven organizations maximize their impact through smarter technology, automation, and data-driven strategies.

Creative Director

SkillPop

Register for my first class here: https://www.skillpop.com/classes/13372

Instructor - LinkedIn for Beginners

Digital Reach Online Solutions

• Oversees the development, production, and final approval of all content and creative assets—including ads, blogs, ebooks, landing pages, and print materials—to ensure consistency and excellence.
• Leads the creative team in executing marketing and branding campaigns that drive innovative and impactful results for clients.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages all company events, conferences, webinars, and HubSpot User Group (HUG) virtual events, handling logistics, promotion, and execution.
• Owns the event budget, overseeing purchases for swag, booth materials, catering, and venue costs while ensuring cost-effective planning.
• Manages relationships with vendors, freelancers, and agencies for creative and event-related work, ensuring alignment with company goals and quality standards.

Initially reported to the co-founder, currently reporting to Head of Client Delivery and Strategy.

Influence by Verbatim

• Partners with brands to increase their visibility and credibility through compelling sponsored content.
• Fosters an engaged community by responding to all comments and messages; analyzes engagement metrics.

Content Creator

Illume

• Wrote LinkedIn content for entrepreneurs and CEOs, effectively communicating their expertise and insights. 
• Crafted brand messaging and copywriting strategies tailored to clients' personal brand and thought leadership goals.

Copywriter

Canopy

Role was eliminated due to company restructuring.

• Developed personalized outreach for email and LinkedIn, achieving a 33% response rate.
• Collaborated with stakeholders to understand customer needs and create slide decks, blog posts, and 1-pagers.
• Analyzed intent signals, website visitors, and email engagement to identify high-potential accounts within our ICP.
• Conducted market research to identify growth opportunities and industry gaps, leading to targeted campaigns.
• Utilized ZoomInfo and Salesforce CRM to analyze data, campaign performance, and prospect behavior.

Reported to the Head of Marketing.

Account Marketing Strategist

• Increased company's LinkedIn following by 47% in first 30 days and 186% in 6 months, resulting in increased brand awareness.
• Secured 21 guest appearances for 6 colleagues on 17 different podcasts in 6 months, positioning them as thought leaders.
• Nominated company for an industry award and secured the win; wrote and published press release.
• Increased company's visibility through storytelling; ensured alignment with brand voice and business goals.
• Developed a strong employer brand that reflected the company’s values, mission, and culture.
• Created the social media strategy, managed company profiles, and maintained a social calendar.

Initially reported to the co-founder/CTO, then to the Head of People.

Social Influencer

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Returned to AACPS after living abroad for 2 years. Left teaching and broke into tech in the fall of 2022.

Educator & Curriculum Developer

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lead

Amsterdam Social Kickball League

• Increased paid membership by 615% in less than 12 weeks through organic social media and word-of-mouth.
• Coordinated more than 40 large-scale events, effectively leading to the recruitment of 300+ active participants.
• Developed and executed social media and email marketing campaigns, managed email lists and subscribers.

Founder & Head of Digital Content

Florencius B.V.

• Achieved an 88% rise in enrollment through strategic marketing and engagement initiatives.
• Designed and implemented lead-generation initiatives, events, and partnerships to attract prospective families.
• Acted as a brand ambassador; fostered community relations through active participation and hosting of events.

Social Media & Events

• Established school and instructed first and only international class in 2018.
• Launched new international wing at a second location in 2019.
• Improved client retention, evidenced by an 83% renewal rate, leading to increased revenue growth and profitability.
• Facilitated onboarding for all new families, collaborating with HR to streamline lead-to-enrollment transitions.

Lead International Educator 

In August 2018, I took a leave of absence and moved abroad.

Instructional Team Lead

Educator

I drive engagement and growth through content, relationships, and branding | GTM | Digital marketer | Content creator | Community builder | Storyteller | Personal brand strategist | World traveler and obsessed dog mom 🐶

Hi, I'm Angela!👋🏻 I’ve been a writer for as long as I could hold a pencil. I’m happiest when I'm building relationships, empowering others, and cuddling with my dog. I’ve explored 33 countries so far and am always looking forward to my next adventure!✈️

Before pivoting into tech, I was an elementary educator for 8 years. I even established an international school in Europe! Living and working abroad really strengthened my confidence, empathy, and self-awareness.🌎

I’m a self-starter with a growth mindset and can-do attitude. I believe everything is “figureoutable”. I enjoy being creative and taking risks. My love of writing, personal branding, and community building led me to marketing. 

I’ve worked at 2 startups: one in education and one in B2B SaaS. Though I’ve worn many hats, at my core I’m a storyteller and brand strategist who believes in relationship-led growth.🤝

As a lifelong learner, I’m always eager to tackle new challenges and add new tools to my tool belt! My greatest strengths are communication, collaboration, adaptability, and perseverance. I strive to have a positive impact on the lives of others and to leave the world a better place than I found it.✨

💻Tech stack: Salesforce, HubSpot, ZoomInfo, Notion, Slack, Teamwork, ClickUp, Figma, WordPress, Contentful, Canva, Loom, Google Suite, Microsoft 365, Zoom, LinkedIn Navigator, Lucidchart

Areas: Account-Based Marketing (ABM), Content Marketing, Product Marketing, Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Sales Enablement

• Develops and executes strategic account marketing plans to drive client acquisition and revenue.
• Creates personalized and relevant messaging for outbound LinkedIn and email sequences.
• Collaborates with the revenue team to align marketing initiatives with account-based sales strategies.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with key stakeholders and prospective clients.

I saw a post this week basically saying people should accept every LinkedIn connection request they get.😳

Their argument was it “takes 0.3 seconds and costs nothing”.

And I totally get where that sentiment comes from.

But here’s something a lot of people don’t know: LinkedIn has a 30,000 connection limit.
 Once you hit it, that’s it.
No more connections. No exceptions.

If I accepted every single invite I received, I would have reached the limit a good year or two ago.

Here’s why I’m selective (and why it’s okay if you are too):

→ I want a network that’s meaningful. A network where people engage, support, collaborate, comment, share, and learn from each other.

→ If I connect with hundreds of random, irrelevant profiles that never interact or aren’t aligned with anything I do, those spots are now gone. And they could’ve gone to people who would’ve genuinely benefited from being here (and vice versa).

It’s not about being “exclusive.” It’s not about thinking you’re better than anyone else.
 It’s about treating your LinkedIn network like the limited resource it actually is.

You only get 30k of these little slots. Make them count.🎯

So no, you don’t have to accept every invite.
In fact, I urge you NOT to.
 Curate your space. Protect the quality of your network.
 Say “no” when something or someone doesn’t align.

Because LinkedIn works best when connections are intentional, not random.

So, how do you decide who to accept on LinkedIn?👀

Helping you build authority + influence on LinkedIn✨ Content creator, ghostwriter, personal brand strategist | Solopreneur sharing insights on personal branding & LinkedIn growth | World traveler & obsessed dog mom🐾

Yesterday, my amazing father turned 70 years old. My sister and I drove down to Savannah to surprise him.🥰

And last night, my mom pulled off the surprise party of the year! He had NO idea.

My sister and I read him this poem:

“Tonight we’re celebrating seventy years of you,
Our favorite guy, we’re grateful for all you do

You're one of nine, and it's a motley crew,
Smack in the middle, of course you're the glue

From caddying on the golf course to selling at USG,
Solving crosswords in the man cave is where you like to be

From Disney to Wildwood and The Great White's big thrill,
So many memories made, we're collecting them still

You’re happiest with Gina, your partner for life,
Thirty-eight years strong — best friend and wife

You're "Poppy" to Elle Jae, who loves you so much,
Golf cart rides and belly rubs — she can't get enough

We appreciate your handyman skills and financial advice,
Knowing you are always there to help is really nice

Whether you're golfing, bowling, or singing "Maggie May",
You're the life of the party in every single way

You’ve taught us humor, hard work, loyalty, and grace,
And most importantly, family always comes in first place

We hit the jackpot having you as our dad,
You're the best role model we could ever have

We’re lucky beyond measure, and blessed each year,
Happy 70th, Dad — we’re so glad you’re here!”❤️

SOOO grateful for my dad, the greatest guy I know. He always supports me and my endeavors. And I’m grateful that being my own boss means I can show up for the people who mean everything to me, wherever and whenever.🥹

Today was my 4th live speaking event since launching my own business 11 weeks ago!🎙️

I sat on an "Inside the Interview" panel and had so much fun talking about personal branding and leveraging LinkedIn to stand out and attract opportunities.

One of the biggest takeaways I shared: the interview starts wayyy before you walk into the room.🚶🏻‍♀️

Recruiters and hiring managers are checking your LinkedIn profile, forming opinions, and deciding if you're the right fit before you ever say a word.

Your online presence is part of your interview now.

Whether you want a job, client, investor, or partner — make sure your LinkedIn profile is working FOR you, 24/7!

An interview is a moment in time. Your personal brand is forever. Your presence here shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Big thanks to the UNC Charlotte Career Center for having me and to the students who showed up with great questions!🙌🏻

Yesterday, a founder and CEO posted something on LinkedIn that I couldn’t disagree more with.
...Did you see it too?🤯

They shared 5 LinkedIn actions that will “instantly disqualify candidates”.

And I sincerely hope they only posted it to get a rise out of people and boost engagement.

Because if this is actually how a founder and CEO thinks? We’re all doomed.

I won’t share all five. Three of them were just “eh.”

But here are the two that made my skin crawl: 1️⃣ Using perfect grammar in your posts 2️⃣ Having the “Open to Work” banner turned on

They went on to say two people with similar backgrounds applied to their company.
 One had the “Open to Work” banner on and wrote well on LinkedIn. The other had a three-line bio (which, I guess, we’re supposed to assume had grammar mistakes?).😅

The second person supposedly got the interview.

They ended their post by saying your LinkedIn profile isn’t a resume (true) and that hiring managers want stories and proof you’re a real person doing real work (also true).

But having good grammar and the courage to put yourself out there as a jobseeker has nothing to do with any of that.

It blew my mind that I could agree with this person on some things and disagree so strongly on others.

So if you’re job searching right now, pleaseee don’t let posts like that make you feel small.

Take every hot take with a grain of salt (or in this case, a bucket full!).🧂

There’s nothing wrong with writing well. And there’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with being “Open to Work.” 

You’re allowed to show up as yourself and still be taken seriously. In fact, that’s what LinkedIn is all about.

And honestly, if a founder’s first instinct is to judge someone for using correct grammar or being transparent about their job search, that says a lot more about THEM than it does about you.🙄

*steps off soapbox*

Three and a half years ago, I was burnt out and ready for a change. I had NO IDEA LinkedIn would change my life.🤯
 I was an elementary school teacher. 8 years and 2 degrees under my belt.

I had zero tech experience and no network outside of education. I didn't know what my options were.

So I did the only thing I could think of: I started showing up on LinkedIn.

I was still teaching full-time. Working with kids all day, then coming home and posting on LinkedIn at night.✍️

I shared my thoughts on education and the job market. I wrote about my life, my dog, and how I lived abroad and established an international school. I talked about resigning but not knowing what was next. 

I was honest, consistent, and genuinely myself. I didn't hold back or worry about what others would think of me.🤷🏻‍♀️

And slowly, things started to happen:
→ I built a network of 15K+ people in 6 months → Founders and hiring managers started reaching out → People I'd never met were messaging me about opportunities → I landed 3 inbound job offers within 100 days of leaving teaching

10 months after I started showing up on LinkedIn, I started a new career in tech and marketing. I nearly doubled my salary and went from in-person to remote.

But leveraging LinkedIn led to SO👏MUCH👏MORE👏 than a new career. 
Freelance clients. Podcast features. Speaking gigs. Paid brand partnerships.  And now? I run my own business helping founders, entrepreneurs, and execs build the same kind of personal brand that changed everything for me.

I'm not where I am because I'm special (though my mom might tell you that). I'm here because I showed up consistently, shared my story, and built real relationships.

I was myself.💁🏻‍♀️

So if you're thinking about building your personal brand but don't know where to start — trust me, I've been there.

And I can help you figure it out.

You don’t need to post every single day to build authority. Consistency > frequency.

Instead, focus on:
 ✔️ Sharing practical insights your audience can actually use
 ✔️ Engaging with other people’s posts and adding value where you can
 ✔️ Showing your personality and telling your story

The right content, shared consistently, will get you noticed WAY more than daily posts that feel forced. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.

Don’t post for the sake of posting.🙅🏻‍♀️
It shouldn’t be a box to check each day.

On LinkedIn, you can’t (and shouldn’t) write for “everyone”.
You’re writing for your target audience. Your “people”.

So keep your unique value at the forefront.
Your skills, your experiences, your perspectives.

Your story.📖

YOU are the differentiator. 
Lean into that. Own it.💪🏻

You’ve got this!!!

———
👋🏻 Hey, I’m Angela! I help leaders use LinkedIn strategically to expand reach, build authority, and grow their business.📈

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The Battle

Renee Cohen, CFP®

Angela Snyder

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taplio

The Battle

Renee Cohen, CFP®

Angela Snyder

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Renee Cohen, CFP®'s LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreAngela Snyder's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreRenee Cohen, CFP®'s LinkedIn Performance