Barry Simon on Finance, Peacebuilding, and UNA-USA Leadership

Financial consultant and peace advocate Barry Simon joins Christina Flach to explore how smart, values-aligned investing can coexist with a life of service. From separating market noise from signal to building Conversations for Peace and the annual Concerts for Peace on September 21, Barry shares frameworks for risk, resilience, and social responsibility, plus practical ways communities can advance peace locally while planning for the future. In this conversation: • Psychology + finance: how mindset shapes your portfolio • Long-term investing mistakes & how to avoid them • Purpose, service & staying grounded while pursuing success • What everyday people can do to foster more calm & connection • The origin of Conversations for Peace & Concerts for Peace • Travel, art & culture: opening your lens on the world Chapters: 00:00 Cold open 00:31 Host intro and guest bio 01:12 Why study business and psychology 02:04 Long-term planning myths 02:46 Risk, reward, and real expectations 03:35 Balancing returns with responsibility 04:20 From the 60s–70s to service 05:08 Why UNA-USA and global goals 05:58 Birth of Conversations for Peace 06:46 Concerts for Peace overview 07:34 International Day of Peace plans 08:22 Peacebuilding at the local level 09:10 Finance as a tool for impact 09:58 Separating noise from signal 10:48 Behavioral biases in markets 11:36 Managing fear in downturns 12:24 Staying disciplined in rallies 13:12 Building a resilient portfolio 14:02 ESG vs performance realities 14:52 Screening, tilting, and impact 15:40 Talking values with clients 16:28 Measuring what matters 17:18 Practical risk tolerance checks 18:06 Setting ranges you can live with 18:56 Communication rhythms that calm 19:44 Philanthropy and planned giving 20:32 Aligning money with meaning 21:20 Community partnerships that work 22:08 Peace education and youth voices 22:56 Storytelling that bridges divides 23:44 Dialogue formats that defuse tension 24:32 Music as a catalyst for unity 25:20 Volunteer pathways for listeners 26:08 Corporate citizenship that counts 26:58 Navigating greenwashing 27:46 Transparency and reporting basics 28:34 Small, steady actions for peace 29:22 Mentors who shaped the journey 30:10 Lessons from clients and communities 30:58 Building coalitions across differences 31:46 Conflict resolution fundamentals 32:34 Self-care for servants and leaders 33:22 Mindset for uncertain times 34:10 Reframing setbacks as feedback 34:58 The role of media and messages 35:46 Finance literacy that empowers 36:34 Teaching kids money and empathy 37:22 Case study: aligning a portfolio 38:10 Case study: convening a dialogue 38:58 Metrics of success beyond ROI 39:46 Funding arts for social cohesion 40:34 How to host a peace conversation 41:22 Sponsorships and community support 42:10 Volunteer stories from the field 42:58 What keeps Barry optimistic 43:46 Advice for new peace advocates 44:34 Advice for new investors 45:22 The next decade of UNA-USA work 46:10 Concerts for Peace call to action 46:58 How listeners can get involved 47:46 Rapid-fire: money and meaning 48:34 Favorite books and resources 49:22 Barriers to peace we can remove 50:10 Habits that compound over years 50:58 Crafting a life of purpose 51:46 Final takeaways for viewers 52:34 Where to connect and participate 53:20 Gratitude and acknowledgments 54:00 Closing credits 👉 Loved this episode? ✨ Hit LIKE if beauty, wellness, and wisdom inspire you 💬 COMMENT your favorite tip or takeaway — I’d love to hear it! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly conversations on confidence, health, and living beautifully busy Connect with Barry Simon • Conversations for Peace / Concerts for Peace:www.conversationsforpeace.com • UNA-USA:www.unausa.org • [email protected] Connect with Christina Flach • Instagram: @ChristinaFlachMakeup • Podcast: @ImTooBusyPodcast • Website: www.christinaflach.com • Show site: www.imtoobusytv.com #Peace #love #Finance #money #podcast