126: Money mindset and Teacher Personal Finance with Gabbi Cerezo

Can teachers build wealth—even on a teacher salary? Or are most educators trapped by a scarcity mindset?In this episode of the Teacher Money Show, I talk with Gabbi Cerezo, a former middle school teacher turned Certified Financial Planner, about teaching personal finance, financial literacy in schools, and why so many teachers struggle to believe financial freedom is possible.Gabbi shares her journey from classroom burnout in the Bay Area to helping everyday people make smarter financial decisions—and why practical money education matters now more than ever.Why this matters for teachersMost teachers were never taught how money actually works:budgetinginvesting403(b)scompound interestavoiding high-fee financial productsAnd now schools across the country are being required to teach personal finance—even though many educators don’t feel prepared to teach it themselves.This conversation breaks down how teachers can build confidence with money and help students avoid the same financial mistakes many adults are still trying to fix.In this episode, we cover:• How the 2008 financial crisis shaped both of our money mindsets (and how to cultivate a better one)• The difference between financial advisors who sell products vs. fiduciary planners• Why high-fee 403(b) annuities hurt so many teachers• The growing movement to require personal finance education in schools• Why most financial literacy standards focus too much on jargon instead of real life• How scarcity thinking keeps teachers stuck financially• The mindset shift that helped me realize teachers can build wealth• Why hearing real money stories changes how people think about financial independenceBig takeawayPersonal finance isn’t about memorizing terms—it’s about creating options. When teachers understand money and believe wealth is possible, it changes not only their lives, but the way they prepare students for the real world.Links:Show notes: https://teachermoneyshow.com/show126Coaching: https://teachermoneyshow.com/coachingSpeaking: https://teachermoneyshow.com/speakingIf this episode helped you think differently about money, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teacher who needs to hear this.#personalfinanceforteachers #financialliteracy #teacherlife #budgetingforteachers #403b #teacherpodcast #financialindependence #moneymindset