Get Ready: Before Life Happens Podcast

Send us Fan MailEnd-of-life planning is about more than death, it’s about leaving your family with clarity, stability, and peace of mind.On this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Greg Barnsdale, death doula and author of Do Not Ignore Your Mortality about why end-of-life planning is one of the most meaningful acts of preparation we can make for our families.📝 Takeaways 🔹 Planning ahead reduces stress and confusion for loved ones. 🔹 Communication with family and advisors is the starting point.🔹 Clear wishes and documents create emotional and financial resilience. 🔹 Preparation helps prevent family conflict during difficult times. 🔹 Thoughtful planning supports meaningful legacies and charitable impact. 🔹 Insurance protects families from unexpected financial shocks. 🔹 Planning early ensures protections are in place. Tony’s Take: End-of-life planning is an act of love. When we organize our wishes and prepare our affairs, we leave our families with clarity, resilience, and the space to focus on what matters most.Connect with Greg Barnsdale:Website: https://www.donotignoreyourmortality.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbarnsdale/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donotignoreyourmortality/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregbarnsdale_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregBarnsdaleBook: Do Not Ignore Your Mortality: Practical Advice From a Funeral & Financial Insider (book website) (Amazon) Resource:Article: How and why to help your clients prepare for their passing (here) Bio: Greg Barnsdale is a unique death doula. As a licensed funeral director, Certified Executor Advisor, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Grief Coach, ghostwriter and hospice volunteer, he brings a perspective shared by few others. He successfully published a well-received book, which is thought-provoking and engaging. Shortly after publication, Greg was diagnosed with a large brain tumour. Faced with prompt brain surgery or a death sentence, he emerged with a very compelling message.He stresses that estate planning helps alleviate the stress of aging, leaves survivors more financially and emotionally resilient, and increases the likelihood of harmony and reduces the risk of contesting final wishes. More meaningful legacies and greater social capital often result. Immense pressure is alleviated from the courts, and cumulatively, the economy benefits. It's a massive win for everyone.Greg is on a mission to inspire others to speak with their loved ones about their end-of-life wishes while minds are clear & time is plentiful. Although these conversations can be difficult to have, they're far better than not having them. Greg stresses that, aside from leaving our loved ones with financial security, leaving them with proper end-of-life direction is the ultimate gift of love.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailThe best financial plans start with who you are and the life you want to live.On this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Mike Milligan, CFP and author of The One of a Kind Financial Plan Book about how to build a personalized financial plan and retirement strategy that aligns your money, values, and relationships with the life you want to live.Takeaways🔹 One-of-a-kind lives deserve one-of-a-kind financial plans. 🔹 Retirement Chi is what you want your money to do.  🔹 A clear retirement vision includes health, community, and impact. 🔹 Understanding your past money experiences helps shape future decisions. 🔹 Diversification applies to life purpose as much as financial risk. 🔹 Community and relationships are powerful predictors of happiness and longevity. 🔹 Financial planning should align money with who you are and how you want to live.Tony’s Take: Financial planning works best when it starts with purpose. When we define what matters, build a vision for our lives, and align money with our values, our plan becomes more than numbers. It becomes a guide for living well.Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP:Instagram (1.oak Financial): https://www.instagram.com/1oakfinancial/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/Website: https://www.mikemilligan.com/ 1.oak Financial Website: https://1oakfinancial.com/Podcast:Ideas By Mike: https://www.youtube.com/@1.oakfinancialResources mentioned:1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation By Andrew Sorkin (Amazon)Bio: Mike Milligan is a purpose-driven financial advisor, educator, and entrepreneur, whose career began in his family’s small business as a boy in North Carolina. Today,Mike is the founder of Ideas By Mike, and 1.oak Financial, and a leading voice in client-centered, impact-driven financial planning world.He holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®credentials and has helped thousands of clients make sense of their wealth, extend their well-being, and live out their goals authentically. Mike uses active listening, health-focused strategies, and decades of expertise to turn financial jargon into actionable steps. His belief in financial wellness comes from real life—helping both clients and students design plans that support their one of a kind lives.Mike’s teaching style focuses on clarity, empathy, and fun. Students and clients alike benefit from his ability to translate complex strategies into everyday solutions.Through workshops, courses, and speaking events, Mike continues to inspire others to make a real impact, both financially and personally.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailWhat if the next chapter of your career is an opportunity to design a life filled with meaning, contribution, and new possibilities?On this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Maria Dastur, Founder of Second Half Community about rethinking retirement and designing a portfolio life that blends purpose, contribution, and financial security.Key Takeaways: 🔹 A portfolio life diversifies multiple streams of meaning, purpose, and income.🔹 Strong networks provide support and opportunity during career transitions.🔹 New chapters often require learning new skills and perspectives.🔹 Failure and discomfort often lead to the most meaningful growth.🔹 Clear non-negotiables help guide career and life decisions.🔹 Knowing your financial numbers allows you to pivot with confidence.🔹 Retirement can become a phase of contribution, flexibility, and impact.🎯 Tony’s Take: A fulfilling life after mid-career comes from clarity, curiosity, and community. When we know our numbers, stay open to learning, and surround ourselves with people who believe in us, we create the freedom to design the next chapter with purpose.Connect with Maria Dastur, MBA:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariadastur/Second Half Community Website: https://www.secondhalfcommunity.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@secondhalfcommunityResources mentioned:Find Your Passion in Refirement! With Kathleen Rehl on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (here)Redefining Success for Women in Finance: The Power of Your Network with Cameo Roberson & Kari Ellis on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (here) Bio: Maria Dastur is an award-winning leader, career coach, and community builder dedicated to helping people break down barriers and thrive in their careers and lives. After more than 20 years in non-profit leadership, she launched the Second Half Community to help individuals realign their careers with who they are now. Maria’s mission is simple: help people create work that fits their life, not the other way around.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailAre you trading your health for money?  On this episode, I speak with Stevyn Guinnip, author of Grow Wellthy, about the idea of “health net worth,” the compounding effect of daily habits, and why retirement planning should focus on health span, not just life span. Key Takeaways:🔹 Your health is an asset that directly impacts your financial life.🔹 Retirement planning should consider health span, not just life span.🔹 Small health habits compound just like financial investments.🔹 Identifying health assets and liabilities helps reduce long-term risk.🔹 The four-step hierarchy of health includes mindset, mend, meals, and movement.🔹 Protecting your energy is as important as protecting your money.🔹 You cannot separate health and wealth, they influence each other over time.Tony’s Take: If we treat health as an asset and invest in it early, we give our future selves more options, more energy, and fewer regrets.Connect with Stevyn Guinnip:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevyn-guinnip/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growwellthy/Email: [email protected] Grow Wellthy Website: www.growwellthy.comBooks: Grow Wellthy: The Financial Advisor's 4-Step Plan to Protect Your Health Like an Asset (Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pKP8Ft)(ebook: https://growwellthybook.com)Bio: Stevyn Guinnip, MS, is an author, health coach, and international speaker dedicated to helping financial advisors and their clients live well longer. After surviving a personal health crisis, she founded Grow Wellthy™ to merge her expertise in exercise physiology with her firsthand understanding of the financial world as a financial advisor’s daughter. Today, she speaks globally, coaches advisors, and equips firms with strategies to protect health as the true retirement multiplier. Stevyn lives in Portugal with her husband and two children.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailAre you making financial decisions consciously, or being nudged by forces you do not see?On this episode, I speak with Ceres Chua, Money Psychologist and Financial Coach about the hidden psychology shaping our financial decisions. We explore how unconscious biases, money scripts, and marketing language influence the way we think about spending, saving, and sufficiency. Key Takeaways🔹 Much of our financial decision-making happens at a subconscious level.🔹 Marketing language often leverages unconscious biases to influence spending.🔹 Anchoring bias causes us to rely heavily on the first number we see.🔹 Understanding your money script helps you recognize how you think about money.🔹 Before making a decision, ask whether emotion or outside influence is driving it.🔹 A sufficiency mindset focuses on defining what is enough rather than chasing more.🔹 Reflecting on your beliefs about money strengthens clarity, peace, and intention.Tony’s Take: When we understand how our mindset, biases, and marketing influence shape our decisions, we gain the clarity to choose intentionally and define what “enough” truly means for us.Connect with Ceres Chua:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cereschua/The Money Mindset Lab Website & Mind Over Money Newsletter: https://www.themoneymindsetlab.comResources mentioned:The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life Reprint Edition by Lynne Twist (Amazon)Bio: I became obsessed with personal finance when I realized $14K a year in graduate school had to stretch far beyond what it was designed to do. I was trying to crack the code of living well on very little. That experience sparked a lifelong interest in the psychology of money and how our habits, emotions, and past experiences shape the way we make financial decisions.After 20 years in corporate, I took all those lessons—both professional and painfully personal—and was pulled toward the work behind the spreadsheets: helping women feel capable and calm about money. Along the way, it became crystal clear who I’m meant to serve: women who are thinking about starting a business or are in the messy early stages of building one—before things feel stable or predictable. Entrepreneurship is hard enough. It gets even harder when your finances feel confusing, reactive, or out of control.Now, I am building a DIY personal finance community for women solopreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. Inside, we focus on the real money questions that show up when you work for yourself—how much you actually need saved before you start, how to manage uneven cash flow and taxes, and how to plan for retirement when your income isn’t predictable. The goal is to create a community of women with confidence, clarity, and a calmer relationship with money—so money stops being a source of stress and starts to become a tool they know how to use to grow their business.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailWith the right financial plan and clear intention, your goals become achievable, not abstract.On this episode, I speak with Dr. Severine Bryan, Accredited Financial Counselor and host of The Dr. Sev Talks Money Podcast about how our money story shapes our decisions, how to process financial setbacks without shame, and why community, clarity, and a plan can help turn goals into reality.Key Takeaways:🔹 Financial success is rooted in intention.🔹 The way we were socialized around money shapes how we handle it today.🔹 A clear plan helps turn goals into actionable steps.🔹 Understanding your “why” creates focus and direction.🔹 Taking a breath before major purchases protects long-term vision.🔹 Financial setbacks require reflection, support, and self-forgiveness.🔹 Having a community reduces shame and helps us rebuild with clarity.Tony’s Take: When we approach our finances with intention, process our setbacks, and stay connected to community, we create the space to rewrite our money story and move forward with purpose.Connect with Dr. Severine Bryan: Website: https://www.sevtalksmoney.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/severinebryan-financialeducator/Community: https://www.skool.com/wealth-warriors-community-1025/aboutPodcast:The Dr. Sev Talks Money Podcast: https://www.sevtalksmoney.com/podcast/Resources mentioned:Get Ready Podcast: Redefining Success for Women in Finance: The Power of Your Network with Cameo Roberson and Kari Ellis (here) Bio: Bio: Dr. Severine Bryan is an Accredited Financial Counselor®, financial educator, and host of the Dr. Sev Talks Money podcast. She empowers women, especially those 40 and over, to rebuild after financial setbacks. Having rebuilt her own finances after divorce, she brings empathy, professional training, and lived experience to help women shift their money mindset and develop sustainable habits. Through her company, Sev Talks Money, she offers individual and group coaching as well as workplace workshops for corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses, blending the practical side of money management with the emotional side of how we relate to money. Dr. Bryan creates judgment-free spaces where women learn to use money as a tool for freedom.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailWhen control shapes financial decisions, listening becomes the most important tool we have.In Part 2, I spoke with Joy Slabaugh, CFP, about how advisors and advocates can thoughtfully respond when they suspect a power imbalance is shaping financial decisions.🔹 Financial abuse is controlling someone’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic resources. 🔹 Advisors should be curious and let clients describe their experience in their own words. 🔹 Focus on agency and access rather than labeling abuse directly. 🔹 Never explore sensitive concerns in front of a potentially controlling partner. 🔹 Separate meetings can safely surface power imbalances. 🔹 Move at the client’s timing and give options rather than directives. 🔹 Familiarize yourself with local resources so you can anchor support when needed. Tony’s Take: When we listen first and protect agency, we create a safe space where clients can find clarity and options on their own timing.Connect withJoy Slabaugh, CFP®:Website: https://joyslabaugh.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyslabaugh/Bio: Joy Slabaugh is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, licensed therapist, and educator specializing in the psychological and relational dynamics of wealth. With advanced degrees in taxation and mental health counseling, she bridges the gap between financial strategy and human connection, helping high-net-worth individuals, couples, and financial advisors navigate the complexities of wealth with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.Joy’s expertise spans wealth management, behavioral finance, and advisor training, equipping financial professionals with the relational skills needed to build trust and deepen client relationships. She also works directly with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, guiding them through the emotional and identity challenges that often accompany significant wealth.A sought-after speaker, consultant, and industry thought leader, Joy has worked with top financial firms and private clients, reshaping the way people think about money beyond numbers. Her work challenges the traditional wealth narrative, offering a more human, values-driven approach to financial decision-making. Whether through keynote talks, advisor coaching, or client consulting, Joy empowers people to align wealth with impact, ensuring their financial success creates lasting fulfillment and meaningful change.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailFinancial abuse often begins quietly, with small patterns of control that slowly reshape someone’s financial agency.In part one of this two-part episode, Joy Slabaugh, CFP® and I explore what financial abuse is, how it shows up in relationships, and what advisors and families should be listening for.Key Takeaways🔹 Financial abuse is about control, using money to limit another person’s autonomy.🔹 It often begins subtly and develops gradually over time.🔹 Many abusive relationships involve multiple forms of abuse simultaneously.🔹 Advisors should look for patterns, language, and imbalance in shared decision-making.🔹 In couples, listen for shared ownership and whether both voices are heard.🔹 It exists on a spectrum, from account restriction to hidden assets and coercion.🔹 Intergenerational financial control can carry harmful “strings”.🔹 Financial abuse can exist at any income level and in any type of relationship.📊 By the Numbers1 in 5 men and 1 in 7 women experience financial abuse in their lifetime.14% report currently experiencing financial abuse.Tony’s Take: Financial readiness includes recognizing coercion, imbalance, and control in money relationships. Listening carefully may be one of the most important skills advisors develop.Connect withJoy Slabaugh, CFP®:Website: https://joyslabaugh.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyslabaugh/Bio: Joy Slabaugh is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, licensed therapist, and educator specializing in the psychological and relational dynamics of wealth. With advanced degrees in taxation and mental health counseling, she bridges the gap between financial strategy and human connection, helping high-net-worth individuals, couples, and financial advisors navigate the complexities of wealth with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.Joy’s expertise spans wealth management, behavioral finance, and advisor training, equipping financial professionals with the relational skills needed to build trust and deepen client relationships. She also works directly with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, guiding them through the emotional and identity challenges that often accompany significant wealth.A sought-after speaker, consultant, and industry thought leader, Joy has worked with top financial firms and private clients, reshaping the way people think about money beyond numbers. Her work challenges the traditional wealth narrative, offering a more human, values-driven approach to financial decision-making. Whether through keynote talks, advisor coaching, or client consulting, Joy empowers people to align wealth with impact, ensuring their financial success creates lasting fulfillment and meaningful change.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailAI is moving fast. The real question isn’t whether it will replace jobs. It’s which skills will still matter.In this episode, Chris Heye and I explore how AI may reshape financial planning, why communication and coaching are rising in importance, and what advisors must develop to stay relevant in the next 3–5 years.🔑 Key Takeaways🔹Most technologies create more jobs than they destroy, but AI’s speed makes this moment different.🔹AI may not replace advisors, but it can replace technical skills and levels of expertise.🔹Research from David Autor suggests technology reshapes tasks, not entire professions.🔹The future of advising leans toward the consigliere model: guide, coach, communicator.🔹Clients value help during life transitions, health events, and uncertainty more than technical reports.🔹Low client satisfaction is a warning sign the industry cannot ignore.🔹Advisors have a choice: use AI to augment their expertise or risk being replaced by it.Tony’s Take: AI can democratize access to financial tools and knowledge. The differentiator becomes human judgment, empathy, curiosity, and relationship.Develop the skills AI cannot replicate. Use AI to elevate your impact.Connect with Chris Heye, PhD:LinkedIn (here)Whealthcare Planning Website (here)Whealthbot (here)Whealthchat (Whealthchat.ai)Resources:The Whealthcare Wire - LinkedIn newsletter (here) Working with AI: Measuring the Applicability of Generative AI to Occupations from Microsoft (here)Bio: Chris Heye, PhD is the Founder of Whealthcare Planning LLC and Whealthcare Solutions, Inc. He is a technology entrepreneur, writer, researcher, speaker, and product innovator with a passion for crafting solutions to the challenges and opportunities that reside at the intersection of personal finance, health, and longevity.  Chris is also a published author and frequent industry conference speaker, excelling in both internal and external communications and guiding teams and clients through change and innovation. He has a unique ability to translate complex concepts and problems into actionable plans and products. Extensive experience aligning activities, strategies, and messaging across product development, marketing, and sales teams.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailLong-term care will impact most families, the question is whether you plan for it or react to it.In this episode, Nathan Sanow breaks down what long-term care really means, how insurance works as a leverage tool, and why planning early protects both dignity and relationships.Key Takeaways🔹 Everyone needs a long-term care plan whether or not it includes insurance.🔹 Medicare and traditional health insurance do not cover most long-term care costs.🔹 Long-term care insurance is a leverage tool that transfers risk.🔹 Planning early reduces family conflict and preserves control.🔹 Long-term care planning protects dignity and the people you love.🔹 Since you usually get one chance to qualify for long-term care insurance and carriers assess risk differently, specialist guidance matters.💭 Tony’s Take: Risk management is about being prepared for life’s what ifs. Long-term care planning allows families to make decisions thoughtfully instead of under pressure.Connect with Nathan Sanow: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansanow/Mastercare Website: https://www.mastercareco.comLTC Consumer Website: https://ltcconsumer.comBio: Nathan Sanow is President and owner of MasterCare and LTCConsumer.com.  He has held senior leadership positions and provided consulting for several of the nation’s largest insurance companies.  Nathan’s focus is changing the insurance industry through technology to allow consumers, employers, and employees to choose products that protect what is most important to them.  He joined MasterCare America in 2012, a leading national Long Term Care planning firm, to bring innovation and technology to the Long Term Care industry.   Nathan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences on the future of the insurance industry and how technology will play a role in that future. In his spare time he is a car enthusiast and enjoys traveling with his wife and 5 kids.☕ Become a Get Ready InsiderSupport the mission to help more people become financially ready and receive the Financial Readiness Plan as a thank you.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailPhilanthropy is more than writing a check, it’s an opportunity to shape the world you want to live in.In this episode, Deborah Goldstein, Philanthropic Advisor and Founder of Enlightened Philanthropy, shares how philanthropy becomes a reflection of your values, your legacy, and your vision for the future.Key Takeaways🔹 Philanthropy is an opportunity to create the world you want to live in.🔹 Giving starts with your values and aligns best when it reflects who you are.🔹 Philanthropy is for everyone and can include time, talent, ties, testimony, truth, and treasure.🔹 Donor-advised funds and family foundations help structure intentional giving.🔹 Philanthropic advisors help families design strategies that maximize impact.🔹 Modeling generosity teaches the next generation how and why to give.🔹 The most meaningful gifts often reflect clarity, courage, and compassion.💭 Tony’s Take: Financial readiness includes thinking about impact, legacy, and generosity. When we give with intention, philanthropy becomes a powerful expression of who we are and what we value.Connect with Deborah Goldstein:Enlightened Philanthropy Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Instagram (here)TEDx Talk:Are you a philanthropist? | Deborah Goldstein | TEDxSantaCatalinaSchool - Watch on (YouTube) Resources mentioned:The Donor Bill of Rights: https://afpglobal.org/donor-bill-rightsBio: Deborah Goldstein, founder of Enlightened Philanthropy, is dedicated to guiding philanthropists in giving. Drawing from more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit field, she supports clients on their philanthropic journey helping them align their values with their giving so they can give with clarity and confidence. Goldstein particularly enjoys helping families give collaboratively and experience meaningful moments together as the next generation engages in this process. She is also the creator of Philanthropy Camp for Women, an opportunity for women to explore their giving and learn in community.Goldstein holds a BA in Biology from Wittenberg University and a Master’s Degree in Marine Policy with a Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. She has worked for Oregon State University, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Goldstein is a 21/64-certified consultant. She is also co-Dean of Philanthropy for the Purposeful Planning Institute. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailInvesting confidence begins with asking better questions and taking consistent action.In this conversation, Diana Perkins shares how curiosity, emotional regulation, and asking better questions can shift you from reactive to confident, especially for women who’ve been conditioned to stay on the sidelines. Key Takeaways🔹Curiosity builds investing confidence by shifting you from reacting to responding.🔹Women are often conditioned away from investing, even though they tend to generate strong long-term returns.🔹Markets run on fear and greed, so emotional control creates an edge.🔹Time in the market matters more than timing the market.🔹You can start investing with what you have and within your risk tolerance.🔹Small action reduces fear and weakens limiting beliefs.🔹An abundance mindset expands what feels possible financially.🔹Save and invest first so you can spend the rest guilt-free.Connect with Diana Perkins:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-perkins-cpa-6513498/Trading with Diana website: https://tradingwithdiana.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tradingwithdianaMentioned:Acorns: https://www.acorns.comGreenlight: https://greenlight.comBio: Diana Perkins is the Founder of Trading with Diana, a financial education and coaching platform that helps professionals build wealth through the stock market with clarity and confidence. She is a CPA with over 20 years of experience across equity options trading, management consulting, and business advisory roles, bringing both technical expertise and a practical, real-world perspective to investing.Diana works with individuals at different stages of their investing journeys who want to understand how to navigate the financial markets, make informed decisions with their money, and develop an approach to investing that feels structured and sustainable rather than overwhelming or intimidating. Her approach focuses on technical analysis, risk management, and mindset, helping clients develop a clear plan and invest in the stock market with confidence.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailMoney decisions are rarely just about numbers. They’re shaped by identity, lived experience, values, and psychology, especially for people who are highly sensitive or hold marginalized identities.In this conversation, Diana Yanez, Certified Financial Planner and host of the Highly Sensitive Money Podcast explores how understanding who you are and what you care about can help you build a healthier, more values-aligned relationship with money.🔹 Aligning money and work with your values builds clarity, energy, and purpose.🔹Highly sensitive people relate to money through empathy, overwhelm, and deep processing.🔹Community investing uses money to strengthen solidarity and shared good.🔹Knowing who you are helps clarify who you are best positioned to serve.🔹Values-aligned investing can be simple, starting with where you choose to invest.🔹Marginalized experiences shape money beliefs through both harm and resilience.🔹Self-trust is key to money confidence🔹Your worth is not your net worth💭 Tony’s Take: Financial readiness includes emotional safety and self-trust. When people understand that money is a psychological and values-based decision rather than a measure of worth, they gain permission to engage with it on their own terms.Connect with Diana Yanez, MA, CFP:LinkedInAll The Colors websiteAll The Colors InstagramNatural Investments WebsiteHighly Sensitive Money Podcast: AudioYouTubeReferenced: Impact Philanthropy Advisor program - Daylight AdvisorsHow Financial Trauma Shapes Our Relationship With Money with Rahkim Sabree on the Get Ready Before Life Happens PodcastThe Psychology of Money by Morgan HouselBari TesslerBio: Diana Gisel Yañez, CFP®, is a money coach at All the Colors and wealth manager at Natural Investments. As an individual and group coach, Diana specializes in helping women of color entrepreneurs create sustainable money systems for themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Through Natural Investments, Diana supports impact investors in aligning their values and investments. Diana is also the host of Highly Sensitive Money, a podcast that provides resources for highly sensitive people to align their money and their values. Diana earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner designation and the Registered Life Planner™ designation. Diana completed Compassionate Inquiry™ training to enhance her facilitation skills in a trauma informed way. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailRetirement today looks nothing like it did a generation ago. With fewer pensions, longer lifespans, and more personal responsibility, the real question isn’t when you retire, it’s who you become next.In this conversation, Joy Levin, Certified Professional Retirement Coach reframes retirement as an encore chapter; one rooted in values, meaning, community, and intentional experimentation.Key Takeaways🔹 Retirement is an opportunity, not a finish line.🔹 People want greater agency over how they live, work, and contribute in their later chapters.🔹 Values are the foundation of your encore identity🔹 Purpose shows up through passion and meaning🔹 Community and environment matter, because who you’re around and where you engage can either support or drain your next chapter.🔹 The encore arc includes recalibration🔹 Retirement will look different for all of us. 💭 Tony’s Take: Retirement readiness isn’t just financial. It’s emotional, social, and deeply personal. When we normalize recalibration and encourage small experiments, we give people permission to evolve with intention rather than drift into uncertainty.Connect with Joy Levin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyatallium/Gen X Encore Website: https://www.genxencorelife.comAllium Research and Analytics Website: https://www.alliumresearch.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenXExecEncore/Resources mentioned:Encore Map Starter Guide (free download): https://gen-x-exec-encore.kit.com/6055bb7f5b Bio: Joy Levin is the Founder and President of Gen X Exec Encore. In working with Gen X high-achieving professionals, she recognizes that for many, this next phase isn't about traditional retirement—it's about creating an encore that blends passion, purpose, and new opportunities.As a market research consultant and entrepreneur for nearly three decades, Joy has guided executives and business owners across industries in making strategic, well-informed decisions. Like many Gen Xers, she wants a future in which she can remain productive, explore meaningful pursuits, and build new connections. With an honest, warm, friendly and highly professional approach, she guides accomplished professionals to discover their next purpose-driven chapter, empowering them to create an encore life with confidence and clarity.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here) Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Rahkim Sabree, financial therapist and author of Overcoming Financial Trauma, about how our earliest experiences with money shape our behavior, stress responses, and sense of safety, often long before we have the language to understand what’s happening.Rahkim explains that financial trauma isn’t a personal failure or a lack of knowledge. It’s a response to real threats, systemic forces, and lived experiences that affect everyone, regardless of income or privilege. We explore how survival states influence financial decisions, why financial literacy alone isn’t always the answer, and how healing begins by addressing root causes rather than symptoms.🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 Financial trauma often begins early in life, before we have the awareness or tools to understand it🔹 Stress responses around money are shaped by perceived threats to safety, not intelligence or discipline🔹 Financial trauma affects people across all income levels and backgrounds🔹 Living in survival mode can make traditional financial advice feel out of reach or even harmful🔹 Financial trauma is not a personal failing. It reflects systemic conditions and lived experiences🔹 Building generational wealth requires shared values, trust, and collective buy-in, not just assets🔹 Community and connection are essential to healing financial trauma and creating sustainable wealthThis conversation reframes money struggles as a shared human experience and highlights the importance of community, context, and compassion in building lasting financial resilience.Connect with Rahkim Sabree:LinkedInWebsiteBooks:Overcoming Financial Trauma: How to Break Free from Guilt, Build Wealth, and Redefine SuccessFinancially IrresponsibleMentorship: The PlaybookJourney to Financial Wellness: Exploring Emotions, Money Beliefs and HealingMoney TALK$: Uncut Convos with Financial Experts on How to Grow, Leverage and Protect Your Assets (Money TALK$: Uncut Convos With Power Couples About Love, Money & Entrepreneurship)Bio: Rahkim Sabree is an award-winning Financial Therapist, Accredited Financial Counselor®, author, and keynote speaker with an emerging voice in the fields of financial therapy and financial empowerment. He is the author of the book Overcoming Financial Trauma, which explores the intersection of money, trauma, and healing. Rahkim is particularly renowned for his efforts to demystify financial trauma among underserved communities. With a dynamic background that bridges financial services, public speaking, and inclusive financial wellness, he is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations challenge traditional views of financial freedom and personal growth.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Els Lagrou, author and financial literacy expert, about why financial literacy alone isn’t enough and how financial resilience, inclusion, and wellbeing must be part of the conversation.Els explains that even people with strong financial knowledge can experience stress and insecurity if they lack resilience. We explore what it means to absorb financial shocks like job loss or divorce, why shame keeps people from asking for help, and how inclusion ensures everyone can participate fully in financial life.We also discuss the role of employers, leaders, and technology in supporting better money decisions, and why real progress starts with small actions and consistent habits.🔹 Financial literacy is knowing what to do, while financial resilience is the ability to absorb life’s shocks like job loss, divorce, or illness🔹 Even people with strong financial knowledge can experience stress if they don’t feel secure or prepared🔹 Financial stress directly impacts wellbeing, confidence, and participation in everyday life🔹 Inclusion matters because people who lack resilience often disengage or are left without support🔹 Shame affects everyone and prevents open, productive conversations about money🔹 Financial education works best when it focuses on action and habit-building, not just information🔹 Progress starts with small steps, including making regular “financial appointments” with yourself🔹 Leaders and CEO’s struggle to talk about money when they don’t have personal experience with moneyConnect with Els Lagrou:LinkedInLinkedIn (dagelijiks geld)WebsiteBook:  Waarom we meer over geld moeten praten – Dagelijks Geld Bio: Els Lagrou is the inspirator and co-founder of Dagelijks Geld . During her career in the financial sector, she worked for seven years at Wikifin, the financial education program of the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority. Her extensive expertise in financial education and literacy led her to the OECD in Paris, where she led projects on financial literacy, well-being, and resilience in seven different countries. Through the international network on financial education (OECD/INFE), she was able to gather and share knowledge, insights, and best practices with experts from 130 countries. In 2023, she founded Dagelijks Geld (Daily Money). Previously, she worked as a senior policy analyst and coordinator on financial literacy at the OECD in the Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affaires. She coordinated the work of the OECD/INFE Technical Assistance project on financial education in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org.   ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Julie Pinkerton, CEO and founder of Evozen and creator of the ClientFirst platform, about why human connection, not algorithms, drives meaningful professional relationships.Julie shares why the most effective way to grow your business often comes through peer relationships, how understanding behavioral styles improves communication, and why authenticity matters even more in a technology-driven world. We also explore how AI can support connection without replacing it, and why you don’t need to be an extrovert to be a strong networker.🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 The best way to be able to bring in new clients is to be able to work with other peers in the same industry.🔹 Networking is shaped by how people experience you, not just how often you show up🔹 Understanding behavioral styles helps you communicate more effectively with others🔹 Being cognizant of your style allows you to make adjustments🔹 Meaningful relationships are built through small, thoughtful actions, not big gestures🔹 Remembering what matters to others helps people feel seen and valued🔹 AI can support connection, however it can’t replace human judgment and trust🔹 You don’t need to be an extrovert to build strong professional relationshipsTechnology should make us more human, not less. Our ability to connect authentically may become our greatest differentiator in an increasingly automated world.Connect with Julie PinkertonClientFirst Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Bio: Julie Pinkerton, CLU®, ChFC®, LUTCF® is the CEO of Evozen, LLC. Evozen's ClientFirst™ community unites independent Rainmakers in insurance, investments, law and tax as Centers of Influence. ClientFirst™ is solving the most challenging problem these professions face - the continual need for organic client growth. ClientFirst™ is the only national, fully-diverse digital community that creates the right environment for people to connect in order to provide top service to their clients and solve their most challenging problems.  Julie is a contributing writer for U.S. News & World Report, focusing on financial topics since 2021. She is in the midst of authoring a book, "BLINK, ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Eric Blake, host of The Simply Retirement Podcast and founder of Blake Wealth Management to talk about how women are redefining retirement, decision-making, and what it means to use money intentionally.As women become the primary recipients of the great wealth transition, Eric explains why traditional financial conversations need to evolve. We explore why women often approach money through the lens of goals and family impact, how caregiving and pay gaps shape financial outcomes, and why listening, education, and partnership matter more than perfect plans.🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 Women tend to connect money decisions to goals, family, and life impact rather than benchmarks🔹 Pay gaps and caregiving responsibilities impact savings🔹 Taking an active role in money decisions builds confidence and clarity🔹 Advisors should proactively include both partners and focus on listening first🔹 Women will go to advisors who listen to them 🔹 Education-first conversations help people feel informed and empowered🔹 Money works best as a tool to support goals, not a scorecard to measure success🔹 Retirement should be a journey rather than an end pointThis conversation is a reminder that retirement is a journey shaped by intention, confidence, and alignment with what matters most.Connect with Eric Blake, CFP®:LinkedIn  (here)Blake Wealth Management Website (here)Facebook (here) Podcast:The Simply Retirement Podcast (here)(YouTube) Resource:Ultimate Guide to Women’s Social Security Success (here) :  www.womenssocialsecurityguide.com. Bio: Eric Blake, CFP® is the founder of Blake Wealth Management, specializing in helping women 55+ navigate retirement with clarity and confidence. With more than 25 years of experience, Eric provides strategies t o optimize investments, create reliable income, and minimize taxes. Inspired by his mother and grandmother's financial journeys, Eric has a personal passion for empowering women to take control of their financial future. Eric is also the host of The Simply Retirement Podcast. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Taj Chiu, divorce coach, about navigating divorce as both a financial and emotional transition, and how clarity, communication, and planning can help people move forward with greater confidence.Taj reframes divorce not as a failure, but as a forcing function that invites reflection, growth, and better alignment with what comes next. We explore why knowledge is one of the strongest antidotes to fear, how emotional and legal divorces differ, and why having a real plan for your money matters more than simply tracking balances.Key Takeaways🔹 Walking into the storm can help you move through divorce with more clarity and intention 🔹 Divorce is both a financial and emotional grief process, often with multiple stages 🔹 Knowledge and information are powerful tools for reducing fear 🔹 The emotional divorce can outlast the legal divorce, especially when there are kids.  🔹 Clear communication helps both parties get on even ground and reduces unnecessary conflict 🔹 Differences are not weaknesses and deserve acknowledgment and respect 🔹 Financial literacy alone isn’t enough, experience and application matterThis episode is a reminder that readiness during divorce comes from understanding yourself, your money, and your next chapter, not from avoiding hard conversations.Connect with Taj Chiu:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tajchiu/Website: https://tajchiu.comResources mentioned:Financial Date Discussion Cards Website (here) Check out my conversation with BatSheva Goldstein the creator of the Financial Date Discussion cards: The Power of Money Conversations: Emotions Over Dollars (here).Bio: Taj Johnson Chiu is a Certified Divorce and Financial Coach. She works with parents who are trying to keep their footing during one of the hardest chapters of their lives. She helps people sort through the choices, the money questions, and the day to day realities of separating a family, especially when they want to stay out of court and keep things steady for their kids. A lot of her work is simply helping people feel less alone while they figure out what comes next.Before she ever became a divorce coach, Taj spent more than twenty years in technical consulting and running a small business. That experience shaped the way she supports families today: practical, calm, and focused on what actually helps. She especially loves working with LGBTQ+ parents and neurodivergent families, and she cares deeply about helping people move through divorce without losing themselves or the relationships that matter most.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailWhat if learning about money felt more like running a lemonade stand than sitting in a classroom?Can a video game improve financial literacy for kids? In this episode, Mac Gardner joins me to explore how Berryville teaches money, entrepreneurship, and real-world financial habits through hands-on experience.Key Takeaways🔹 Financial literacy sticks when it’s fun, practical, and interactive.🔹 Berryville teaches money through entrepreneurship, showing how earning connects to spending and saving.🔹 Early financial habits shape long-term outcomes, often more than income level.🔹 Financial education starts at home and empowers parents to have better money conversations.🔹 Games can democratize financial literacy by making it accessible and engaging.🔹 Teaching kids to realize, recognize, and rationalize builds stronger financial judgment.🔹 Staying curious about money builds lifelong financial confidence.💭 Tony’s TakeFinancial readiness starts earlier than we think. When we make learning about money engaging and habit-based, we give the next generation a powerful head start.Connect with Mac Gardner, CFP® LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macgardner/The Four Money Bears: https://www.thefourmoneybears.comFinlit Tech Website: https://finlittech.comMNY Fraternity Website: www.MNYFraternity.orgBooks: Motivate Your Money!: Plan Spend Save Invest Gift (Amazon)The Four Money Bears - Mac Gardner (Amazon) Berryville Books Bio: Mac Gardner, a Certified Financial Planner practitioner, has served in the financial services industry for more than 20 years. Mac is the author of “Motivate Your Money!” and "The Four Money Bears" which teaches children about the four basic functions of money. Mac also serves as Founder and Chief Education Officer of FinLit Tech.  The company's mission is "Building a Bridge Between Financial Literacy and Financial Technology". FinLit Tech develops Financial Education tools to start the personal finance education journey from as early as elementary school.  Mac's passion to bring more young people into the Financial Services industry led him to create the first co-ed Professional Fraternity for Financial Planning degree seeking students.  Mu Nu Upsilon (MNY) Fraternity, helps to bring high achieving students together with industry professionals to help them along their financial career journey.☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Get Ready: Before Life Happens, I spoke with Sharan Kaur Varaitch, founder of Build and Conquer Financial Literacy, about her journey growing up paycheck to paycheck, supporting her family from a young age, and discovering how saving, investing, and asking better questions helped her build stability and purpose. 🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 Financial literacy begins with lived experience rather than formal education🔹 Starting early, even with small steps, creates long-term impact through time and patience🔹 Teachers and intermediaries need financial confidence before they can effectively teach others🔹 Talking openly about money helps reduce shame and normalizes these conversations🔹 Financial literacy strengthens resilience at both the household and community level🔹 Money decisions are most effective when they align with personal goals and values, not comparisons with others🔹 Money and prosperity are everyone’s birthrightTony’s Take: Financial literacy starts with mindset, teachers play a critical role, and open conversations about money can help break generational cycles and create a more equitable future.Connect with Sharan Kaur Varaitch:Build & Conquer Financial Literacy Website https://www.buildconquer.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharan-kaur-v-75780928b/Bio: Sharan Kaur Varaitch is the Founder and Director of Build & Conquer Financial Literacy, dedicated to lifelong financial education through a whole organisation approach. With over 15 years’ experience in Organisational Development, HR, Learning & Development, and Change Management, she blends strategic insight with a passion for financial empowerment. A committed investor for over 15 years, Sharan knows how financial literacy transforms lives. Her mission is to make financial education accessible, practical and embedded in everyday learning, helping young people, educators and adults build confidence, make informed decisions and create lasting change. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailFrances Yong, Founder of White Byte and anti-scam evangelist joined me on this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast in collaboration with the Better Money with the MAIA’s podcast. We talked about digital financial literacy, fraud prevention, and how communities can work together to create a safer and more inclusive digital world.Key Takeaways🔹 Reporting fraud quickly increases the chances of recovery🔹 Digital financial literacy includes the ability to communicate and transact safely using technology🔹 Scams can happen to anyone, regardless of age, background, or education🔹 Seniors often engage with technology differently, which requires patience and understanding🔹 Simple family check-ins can help spot red flags like unknown numbers or unfamiliar apps🔹 Open, respectful conversations with parents and loved ones build awareness and trust🔹 A safer digital ecosystem is a shared responsibility across families and communities🔹 Digital literacy expands access to financial services and opportunities for marginalized groupsThis conversation is a reminder that readiness today includes digital awareness, community support, and ongoing conversations that help everyone feel safer and more confident online.Connect with Frances Yong:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frances-yong-074703a8/Whitebyte Website: https://www.whitebyte.orgWhite Byte's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/white-byte/?viewAsMember=trueResources mentioned:The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Scammers on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (watch or listen)Bio: Frances Yong was a Fraud Risk and Cybercrime Risk professional, globally responsible for the learning strategy and frameworks for a Fortune500 multi-national bank. When her mother was scammed off her pension in 2021, she left her banking job and founded White Byte. Through White Byte, Frances promotes cyber integrity and digital inclusion; sharing her professional knowledge with a wider audience and in a customised manner to make it relatable to less savvy communities. Her vision is a cyber space that is ethical and inclusive for all users to interact and transact safely in. Frances won the Anti-Scam category in the 2025 Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIA). She is named one of Singapore's 100 Women in Tech, and honoured as MAIA’s 50 Changemakers to watch. The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org.   ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support here: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/tonysteuerSupport the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Michael Ervolini, author and active management thought leader, about how behavior and emotions shape financial decision-making and why having a simple, intentional process matters more than chasing perfect outcomes.We explore how the unconscious mind influences choices, why emotions are not the enemy of good decisions, and how slowing down helps align actions with long-term intentions.Key Takeaways:🔹 Slowing down creates space to understand why you want to take action🔹 Emotions play a central role in every financial decision, they cannot be separated from logic🔹 The unconscious mind strongly influences choices, often before we realize it🔹 Awareness helps identify when emotions are supporting or undermining good decisions🔹 A simple, repeatable process helps counter behavioral tendencies🔹 Clear processes create consistency and a platform for learning and improvement🔹 Not every money decision needs to maximize wealth to align with your intentionsConnect with Michael Ervolini:Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Books: Managing Equity Portfolios: A Behavioral Approach to Improving Skills and Investment Processes (Amazon)Skill Versus Luck: Taking the Guessing Out of Equity Fund Selection (Amazon) Bio: Michael Ervolini is a seasoned professional who now spends his time as a writer and thought leader on the topics of active fund management, behavioral finance, and decision making. Mike founded and was CEO of two fintech companies supporting institutional investors. His latest company, Cabot Investment Technology, Inc.,  was purchased by Factset Information Systems. His previous company, Charter Research LLC, was purchased by Standard And Poor’s/McGraw Hill, Inc.     Early in his career he held the positions of financial analyst, portfolio manager, and chief information officer (AEW Capital Management, L.P. and Latimer & Buck, Inc. (now a part of Franklin Templeton).  ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Lalua Rahsiad, the Money Queen, author and podcast host, about digital financial literacy, inclusion, and building financial peace in a modern world.We explore how technology can empower underserved communities, why financial literacy must meet people where they are, and how redefining our relationship with money can lead to greater confidence and well-being.Key Takeaways🔹 Financial peace starts with making peace with what you have🔹 Focusing on what you can control reduces money anxiety🔹 When problems stay hidden, you won’t get help🔹 Strong financial communities are built by including everyone🔹 Money influences nearly every part of our lives🔹 Your money journey is personal, you don’t need validation from others🔹 Prioritizing your own stability helps you better support others🔹 Financial literacy efforts are stronger when advocates work together🔹 Saving and investing are for everyone, not just the wealthy🔹 Digital tools can expand access, especially since most people have a smartphoneConnect with Dr. Lalua Rahsiad:LinkedInWebsiteMyCelik Network websiteBooks:Money Moves At WorkMoney Minds for Teens, (releasing 2/2026) Podcast:Money Talk Podcast  (YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@DrLaluaRahsiad ) (Spotify: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6BVBzG3IbCjTYyJKbDhHOZ?si=6d1b6454006448eb)Resources mentioned:The M.O.N.E.Y Q.U.E.E.N Movement: Dr Lalua Rahsiad’s Journey to Financial Literacy at WorkBio: Dr. Lalua Rahsiad, affectionately known as the “Money Queen” is a distinguished advocate for financial literacy, sustainable finance and digital inclusion, with over 25 years of experience across academia and corporate sectors in Malaysia and the United Kingdom. Her expertise covers financial analysis, investment portfolio, behavioral finance, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership.A passionate philanthropist, she dedicates her efforts to advancing sustainable investment, financial wellness and social finance. She co-founded and leads Sustainable & Inclusive Finance (SIFU), a think tank driving financial inclusion and SDGs transformation through collaborations with universities, corporations and non-profit organizations. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement.If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible.👉 Support (here)Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, Tony sits down with Linda Grizely, creator of the MeMoney™ method and host of the Real Money, Real Life podcast, to explore how women can build a healthier, more empowered relationship with money.Linda shares why putting yourself last creates long-term stress, how fear around spending can actually be protective, and why reconnecting with your personal money patterns is the key to confidence. This conversation reframes money as a tool for self-trust, choice, and readiness rather than guilt or restriction.🔑  Key Takeaways🔹 Create a “me-money” bucket that gives you permission to spend on yourself. 🔹 Think about each choice you make when you spending money 🔹 Women should stop putting themselves last when it comes to money decisions. 🔹 Talking openly about money builds confidence and reduces shame. 🔹 Feeling fear around spending is normal and can be a healthy signal. 🔹 Let go of guilt so money supports your life instead of controlling it. 🔹 Have the courage to start over when your current approach no longer serves you. 🔹 Reconnect with your power by understanding how you personally relate to money.Tony’s TakeWhen women give themselves permission to engage with money without guilt or shame, confidence grows and choices become clearer. Money works best when it supports who you are and the life you want to live.Connect with Linda Grizely:Website: https://www.LindaGriz.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizelyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizelyLinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizelyTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/lindagrizelyX : https://x.com/LindaGrizelyPodcast:The Real Money, Real Life Podcast (Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/real-money-real-life/id1831822405) (YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely)Resources: What’s Your Money Personality Quiz: https://bit.ly/MonPersQuizBio: Linda Grizely 🐻, CFP®, MSFS, CAP® turned Financial Educator and Speaker. Linda created the MeMoney™ Method, a mindset-first approach to personal finance that helps women trade guilt and shame for clarity and confidence, and stop putting themselves last. Linda is the host of the Real Money, Real Life Podcast. Support the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast at www.buymeacoffee.com/tonysteuerIf these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s financial what-ifs, please support the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast. Your support helps expand financial readiness education and resources.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailWhat changes when women decide what “enough” really looks like?On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, Tony spoke with Melissa Joy, CFP®, President of Pearl Planning and host of the Women’s Money Wisdom podcast, to explore how defining “enough” can change the way women think about money. The conversation dives into why women are capable, confident decision-makers and how judgment-free financial conversations create trustKey Takeaways:🔹 Communication is an essential skill, and human connection matters more than ever🔹 Practice courageous authenticity 🔹 You don’t need to be perfect🔹 Women are terrific with money🔹 Removing judgment creates space for more open, honest financial conversations.🔹 Advisors should ensure both partners are seen, heard, and included in every money conversation.🔹 Caregiving for both children and aging parents has real financial and emotional impacts that must be acknowledged and planned for🔹 Defining what “enough” looks like helps align money with a joyful life.Tony’s TakeWhen women define what “enough” looks like, money stops being a source of pressure and becomes a tool for purpose, confidence, and joy.Connect with Melissa Joy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissanjoyPearl Planning Website: https://pearlplan.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearlplanningfinancial/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PearlPlanningWealthYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pearlplanningfinancialPodcast:Women’s Money Wisdom Podcast: https://womensmoneywisdom.buzzsprout.comResources mentioned:Invest for Better: https://investforbetter.orgBio: Melissa Joy is a Certified Financial Planner® and founder of Pearl Planning, a wealth management firm located in Dexter, Michigan. Melissa is the host of a weekly podcast called “Women’s Money Wisdom” which is all about money talk for women.Support the Get Ready Movement at www.buymeacoffee.com/tonysteuerIf these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s financial what-ifs, please support the Get Ready Movement. Your support helps expand financial readiness education and resources.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Julia Myers, founder of Generational Wisdom about what it means to leave a legacy that lasts.Key Takeaways:🔹 Wealth without wisdom is wasted🔹 Delegated parenting is delegating your legacy, the world will teach your kids if you don’t 🔹 Go beyond your trust and will, and talk about your values 🔹 Create a written plan that defines your values and how they evolve over time🔹 Be reflective and intentional with your spending, you can buy anything but not everything🔹 It’s not taboo to talk about money🔹 Remember that money is not the goal, it’s a vehicleConnect with Julia Myers:Website: https://juliamyers.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliamyers314/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia_myers_rxFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliamyersrxResources mentioned:The 10-Minute Money Mindset Makeover: https://juliamyers.com/moneyBio: Dr. Julia Myers is an international speaker and the national expert on talking to kids about money. As founder of Generational Wisdom™ and mom of five, she empowers wealthy families to raise financially mature children without entitlement.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailAfter 250 conversations with guests from around the world, one truth stands out: money works best when we start with people, not products.Episode 250 turns the tables. Guest host Faith Teope puts Tony Steuer in the hot seat to reflect on what he’s learned from more than 250 conversations with financial experts, advocates, and changemakers from around the worldThe result is a global, human-first look at money as a readiness mindset shaped by identity, access, emotion, and lived experience rather than a product perspective. Key Takeaways🔹 Money readiness starts with mindset and curiosity, not products.🔹 Preparing before life happens creates flexibility and confidence.🔹 Money conversations resonate globally across cultures.🔹 Structural inequities shape financial outcomes, especially for women and caregivers.🔹 Shame blocks progress, while listening creates trust.🔹 Money decisions are deeply emotional and psychological.🔹 The future of financial services is human, even as AI advances.💭 Tony’s TakeAfter 250 episodes, one truth stands out: everyone’s money journey is different, and real readiness comes from understanding people first,before products, plans, or tools.Final ThoughtIf there’s one takeaway from this milestone episode, it’s this: anyone can do money, as long as they’re willing to stay curious, ask better questions, and prepare with intention.Connect with Faith Teope:Website: https://faithteope.comLinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/faithteopeYouTube: http://youtube.com/@faithteopeInstagram: http://instagram.com/faithteopeThreads: https://threads.net/faithteopeTwitter: http://twitter.com/thefaithteopeBooks: The Monster Job Book - Faith Teope (Amazon) Bio: Faith Teope is a multimedia journalist, children’s financial literacy author, and CEO of Leverage Retirement, a 40+ year-old TPA/Recordkeeper firm. She is known for being the host of the weekly podcast, Pull to Refresh: Where 401k experts get curious. Teope is the editor of The Naked Professional LinkedIn Newsletter and a contributor to Safe in Harm’s Way as a financial abuse advocate. Her new show, SAVVY, explores the systemic gaps in financial literacy and is scheduled to air in the fall of 2023. Teope's debut title is The Monster Job.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, Tony talks with Maxwell Schmitz, Disability Insurance Specialist and Co-Founder of Dingo Technologies, about why income protection is the core building block of a real financial plan. 🔑 Key Takeaways🔹 Think about your future yet worth (money you’ll earn) 🔹 A financial plan without disability insurance is not a financial plan🔹 We should reframe disability insurance as income protection  🔹 You are more likely to need disability insurance than homeowners and auto insurance🔹 Understand the full spectrum of disabilities, they are not all total and permanent🔹 Disability insurance replaces income loss, while health insurance covers medical expenses.🔹 Financial planners have an obligation to include income protection in their planning process. Connect with Maxwell Schmitz:LinkedIn:  (here)Dingo Technologies website: (here)Yetworth website: (here)Resources mentioned:Calculate your potential future earnings: whatsmyyetworth.comBio: Maxwell Schmitz, MSFS, CLTC is a third-generation DI specialist.  He is co-founder of Dingo Technologies, Inc. and President of Yetworth Insurance Solutions, a disability-focused insurance agency.  He also currently serves as President of the International DI Society, an association of the nation's top DI minds. Max also serves as the chair of his town's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. He is a sitting member on the board of The Plus Group, America's Premier Disability Insurance Marketing Organization. In his spare time he is also the father/coach of three energetic/athletic kids (ages 7, 5, and 3), husband to an amazing wife, and is a thru-hiking junkie.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, Tony sits down with Adam Koos, President of Libertas Wealth Management and host of The Retirement Fiduciary Podcast to explore why great financial planning starts with relationships, curiosity, and clarity.Key Takeaways:🔹 Ask questions to ensure that you understand. 🔹 Relationships are at the heart of effective financial planning🔹 Advisors will succeed in the age of AI by becoming better communicators.🔹 The financial services industry needs people who are better at communicating🔹 Developing a plan will help you think about what you need, what you are missing, and will keep you on track🔹 Decide whether you have the time and interest to do something or if it’s better to outsource🔹 Consider that advice doesn’t apply to everyone, and that what you read or hear may not be true.Connect with Adam Koos:Website: www.LibertasWealth.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/libertaswealthInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertas.wealthThreads: https://www.threads.com/@libertas.wealthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas-wealthTwitter: https://x.com/LibertasWMTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@libertaswealthmanagementYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@libertaswealthEmail: [email protected] Retirement Fiduciary Podcast:Podcast Youtube Playlist LinkApple PodcastsSpotifyBio: Adam Koós, CFP®, CMT, CFTe, CEPA is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, one of approximately 2,500 active Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) worldwide, as well as a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe®) through the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA), and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) via the Exit Planning Institute.  He’s been named by Columbus Business First as one of their 20 People to Know in Finance, is a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award, is ranked by Investopedia as one of the Top-100 Most Influential Financial Advisers in the U.S., and is the winner of the coveted Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics and Trust.  Adam serves his clients as the president and portfolio manager at Libertas Wealth Management Group, Inc., a NAPFA-affiliated, Fee-Only Fiduciary RIA firm, located in Columbus, Ohio.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Meghan Dwyer, CFP®, Certified Money Coach®, and host of the Money Isn’t Scary podcast, about why money isn’t scary when you understand your money story and build confidence. Key Takeaways:🔹 Stories are not facts, you get to choose what you believe. 🔹 We are allowed to have knowledge and power with our money, we don’t need permission🔹 Naming shame takes away its power and helps you move forward.🔹 Create a more intentional way of doing things, in accordance with your values🔹 Expecting yourself to balance everything isn’t possible, we need to know when to ask for help🔹 What we perceive as failure is actually learning🔹 Women who step into abundance gain confidence Connect with Meghan Dwyer, CFP®, CDFA®:LinkedIn (here)Money Isn’t Scary website (here)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneyisntscaryMoney Isn’t Scary Podcast:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-isnt-scary/id1567364775Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ncCqvBYwyg4mFUAEYqG4hResources mentioned:Why We Need Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristin Neff and Meghan Dwyer on the Money Isn’t Scary Podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-we-need-self-compassion-with-dr-kristin-neff/id1542792192?i=1000607479897Bio: Meghan Dwyer is a Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Financial Therapist™, and the creator of Money Isn’t Scary, a podcast dedicated to helping women understand the deeper emotional patterns that drive their financial decisions. Combining her background in finance with training in financial therapy, Meghan brings a unique lens to money—one rooted in self-awareness, compassion, and empowerment. She supports women in shifting from fear and self-criticism to clarity and confidence, both in their financial lives and their everyday choices.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailMajor life changes can shake your financial confidence. In this episode, Tony sits down with Chris Olofson, Founder of DIVEE Financial, to discuss how to take control of your money during transitions like divorce, retirement, or other major shifts.Key Takeaways:🔹 Think about the planning process as an investment in yourself.🔹 Know your expenses inside and out, including irregular annual costs such as gifts and insurance. 🔹 Be sure to include income-generating assets, since your portfolio will become your paycheck. 🔹 Maintain access to liquid assets🔹 Understand how each asset will impact you, including factoring in capital gains or other related expenses.🔹 Define what a successful outcome looks like for you and trust your instincts.🔹 Women should take the time to understand family finances today. 90% of women will be 100% in charge of their money at some time. 💭 Tony’s Take:The more you understand your money, the more control you have during moments when life shifts unexpectedly.Connect with Chris Olofson:Website: https://diveefi.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisolofson/Bio: Chris Olofson was raised in Oregon and Oklahoma and studied Economics at UC Santa Barbara. After graduation, I obtained my CPA license & moved to San Francisco to start a career at KPMG, one of the BIG FOUR public accounting firms.  I met my husband of 33 years during a three-month secondment for the firm in Auckland, New Zealand. Shortly after returning, I left KPMG to become a Controller and CFO for a small community bank in Marin County. From that five-year stint, my next career move was to work in the mortgage-backed securities business as VP of Operations for GMAC Commercial Mortgage in San Francisco staying there another five years through the birth of my two boys. When my youngest was 6 months old, I quit and took six  years off to enjoy being a full-time mom. When Trevor started kindergarten, I created my own financial consulting company helping companies, in a wide variety of industries, implementing financial best practices and infrastructure. After taking another year off to care for my mom, I then went back into banking with a focus on multi-family commercial lending. Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Carol Chiang, aging-in-place expert and author of Age in Place or Find a New Space, about how to take control of your aging journey with an aging plan.💡 Key Takeaways🔹 Aging is a natural process, and it can also be an opportunity. 🔹 People need to be active participants in their own aging plan. 🔹 Start planning early, while you have time, options, and income. 🔹 Be intentional about whether you want to age in place or find a new space. 🔹 Have honest and open conversations with loved ones. 🔹 Accept that aging is happening and make intentional choices. 🔹 Your choices today become your consequences tomorrow.Connect with Carol Chiang:Evolving Homes Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Books: Age in Place or Find a New Space: How to Create Beautiful Spaces That Promote Meaningful Interactions (Amazon) Bio: Carol Chiang, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP Author, Podcast Host, and International Aging in Place Specialist. Carol Chiang takes a proactive and holistic approach to longevity, shifting the narrative from reactive care to intentional living. As a former Olympic-caliber athlete and Urban Poling Master Trainer, she blends physical wellness with environmental design to help people “future-proof” their lives.Author of the Kirkus starred guide Age in Place or Find a New Space, Carol is a leading voice in the “home as healthcare” movement. She is the host of the Innovative Aging podcast and a tireless advocate for the Parkinson’s community, frequently speaking to international audiences on how to leverage technology and habit-building to maintain independence.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Brandon Lovingier, Founder of Military Money, about the tactics financial predators use and how military members (and all of us) can stay one step ahead.Key Takeaways:🔹Start with your goals, then decide if a product helps you get there.🔹 Ask questions, until you understand what you’re investing in or purchasing🔹 Understand your benefits. For example, you don’t need to pay anyone to “unlock” your VA benefits.🔹 Slow down, time pressure lends to suboptimal decision making🔹 Understand how someone gets paid and their underlying incentives. 🔹 How military members (and all of us) guard against financial predators.🔹 Be wary of pitches that lean on military status or shared connections.🔹 Learn how a Military Qualified Financial Planner can help protect you. Connect with Brandon Lovingier:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonlovingier/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@enlistedmoneyWebsite: https://enlistedmoney.com/Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/enlistedmoneyguyFacebook- https://www.facebook.com/enlistedmoneyguy/Resources mentioned:Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/Military Qualified Financial Planner designation: https://mqfp.org Bio: Brandon Lovingier, ChFC®, AFC®, MQFP®, wasn’t born into money. He joined the Army right out of high school and has served for over 20 years on active duty – including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. When he was younger, he wasted money on trucks, beer, cigarettes, energy drinks, and everything in between. At one point, he and his wife had to put rent on a credit card just to get by.Fast forward, they’re debt-free and building wealth. He established his blog, Enlisted Money, to help enlisted service members avoid the same mistakes he made. He earned his Chartered Financial Consultant – ChFC® designation in 2022 and is one of the first Military Qualified Financial Planner – MQFP® designation holders. He was awarded The American College of Financial Services NextGen Financial Professional Award for 2024. He’s been a speaker at MilMoneyCon and loves mentoring other service members on their own financial freedom journey.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Melana Carbary, Private Wealth Manager at Burning River Advisory Group and founder of enlightenHer to talk about how confidence, authenticity, and action can change the way women engage with money.Key Takeaways:🔹 Listen with intention, rather than just thinking about the next thing you’ll say.🔹 If we care enough, we will take the right action.🔹 Be authentic and focus on helping, not selling.🔹 Your history doesn’t define you, but you have to take action to move forward🔹 Work through shame or trauma so it doesn’t hold you back.🔹 Include women in money conversations as equal partners.🔹 Speak to women in ways that make them feel seen and respected.🔹 Most women will be in charge of their money at some point in their life.Connect with Melana Carbary:LinkedIn: (here)enlightenHer Website (here)enlightenHer Resources: (here)enlightenHer Coaching: (here)enlighterHer Instagram: @enlightenHerofficial (here)enlightenHer LinkedIn: (here)enlightenHer Facebook: @enlightenHer | (here)Burning River Advisory Group website: (here)Bio: Melana Carbary, CFP®, CLU®, CDFA®, grew up in a small Ohio town, the daughter of a second-generation railroading family. While extremely close with all of her family, Melana shared a special bond and relationship with her mother. Her mom’s strong role within the family led Melana to be the strong, independent woman she is today andhelped shape her career and passion for working with women.Melana strives to live simply, be a prudent steward of her money, and create a life full of meaningful experiences. Her journey is about collecting memories, not “things.”She is most proud of the role she served in supporting her mom during her battle with cancer. She is also now the proud auntie of two beautiful nieces.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Justyn Makarewycz, about how financial fluency fuels better career choices—and a more intentional life.💡 Key TakeawaysInvest in financial fluency. Understanding money helps you make smarter career moves.Clarify what matters. Define your values and long-term goals before chasing the next title.Plan backward. Start with your vision, then create the action steps to reach it.Network strategically. Relationships open more doors than résumés.Stay adaptable. Careers evolve, keep learning and adjusting.Compare offers wisely. Evaluate benefits, growth, and balance, not just salary.Keep your purpose in sight. Every move should advance what success means to you.💭 Tony’s Take Financial fluency isn’t only about budgets—it’s about making intentional choices that align your work, your money, and your purpose.Connect with Justyn Makarewycz:LinkedIn (here)Podcast:Host of the Zicklin GCMC Podcast (here)Bio: Justyn Makarewycz is Deputy Director of Employer Relations at Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business. He has over 15 years' experience in university career services, employer relations, alumni engagement, as well as contingency recruitment and staffing. His work is focused on developing and implementing employer-relations strategies that open up hiring opportunities for MBA and specialty Masters students, while maintaining the strong brand of Baruch College with employers. Before his work in university career services, Justyn worked in digital marketing on the brand, agency, and publisher sides for a decade.Justyn became interested in financial literacy from an early age when his parents gifted him The Wealthy Barber at age 11. Plenty of additional financial-literacy books later, and in his own work and research in financial topics, he has become invested in how important financial literacy is in people's lives and how much it can impact the choices they make and ideas they dream about their careers.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Annalee Kruger, President of Care Right Inc. and author of The Invisible Patient about how creating an aging plan can save time, money, and stress.💡 Key Takeaways🔹 Start the conversation early. Hold family meetings that include every stakeholder.🔹 Family members should clear on the parent’s wishes and goals are.🔹 Build the right team. Engage qualified senior-care consultants and verify how they’re compensated.🔹 Understand the true costs and safety factors of aging at home vs. facilities.🔹 Do your due diligence. Review care-facility complaint records and service histories.🔹 Make caregiving sustainable. Accept limits, share responsibilities, and give yourself grace.🔹 A clear aging plan turns potential crises into calm coordination.💭 Tony’s Take: Preparing an aging plan isn’t just about logistics—it’s about dignity. When families align on values and advisors guide with empathy, everyone wins.Connect with Annalee Kruger:Care Right, Inc. Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Facebook: (here)Books:The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers: How to Plan Ahead and Save Time, Money, and Stress (Amazon) (book website) Resources mentioned:Care Right E-Grab and Go BinderCarescout Cost of Care CalculatorBio: Annalee started Care Right Inc, a VIRTUAL consultancy, in 2011, after working in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC's) for 22 years. Annalee Kruger has devoted her career to guiding family caregivers and their aging loved ones with decisions about aging, dementia progression, the landscape of senior care, considerations of aging at home, helping outline current and future care options, helping families determine their "safety triggers" for when parents need care/more care and the aging at home care budget to prevent families from not qualifying financially to gain admission into a quality care community.She is a national speaker on aging, caregiving, dementia, family dynamics/mediation, and end-of-life. Major financial services conferences she has presented at: IWI, FPA, NAPA, NAIFA, AICPA, CIMA, Truist, D.A. Davidson, and many other conferences in the healthcare/senior care industry.She authored, The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers.Annalee also offers training packages for the financial services and healthcare industries—which include in-person, webinar, and masterminds.She also created the Aging Strategy Coaching Academy (ASCA), the first ever global coaching program that PROPERLY addresses aging, family caregiving, dementia/chronic illness, the landscape of senior care, dying, grief, and much more. Annalee also created the Elder Planning Specialist certification program, specifically for CFP’s who want to earn a certificate to better identify and address the needs of their aging book of business.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Shannon Ryan, Financial Literacy Advocate and author of Your Money Has Feelings about how to bridge mindset and money and aligning your money with your values.💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Money has no feelings, it’s just paper, however our relationship to money has feelings 🔹 Align your financial choices with what truly matters to you 🔹 Life is about purpose, not just money 🔹 Authenticity and being yourself is key to success in both life and business 🔹 Financial wounds can leave emotional scars that prevent us from financial success 🔹 Transparency between partners is important 🔹 Avoid money shaming — everyone’s journey is differentShannon reminds us that understanding your emotions around money is just as important as understanding your numbers — because how you feel about money shapes how you use it.Connect with Shannon Ryan:Website: https://shannon-ryan.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theheavypurse/  X: https://x.com/theheavypurse/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheavypurse/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheavypurse/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theheavypurseBooks: Your Money Has Feelings : Understand Your Financial Wounds to Find True Freedom (Amazon)TEDx Talks: Confronting your financial scar tissue (YouTube)Bio: Shannon Ryan is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)with over 30 years of experience guiding individuals and families through the emotional side of money. Known for her relatable insights and warm, clear style, Shannon combines deep financial knowledge with a heart-centered approach to help people move from money stress to empowerment.  She’s the author of “Your Money Has Feelings” and a seasoned media guest, having appeared on CNBC, Good Morning America, and TEDx. Shannon’s work focuses on uncovering the beliefs and wounds that silently shape our financial behavior—and showing people how to rewrite them. Whether she’s advising clients or speaking to audiences, Shannon helps others understand why they do what they do with money, and how to build lasting confidence rooted in clarity, not shame.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan Mail🎙 On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Brendan Frazier, Chief Behavioral Officer at RFG Advisory and host of The Human Side of Money Podcast, about how the future of financial advice goes beyond plans and portfolios and why the most powerful tool an advisor has isn’t a spreadsheet, but a question.💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 The future of advice is at the intersection of the technical side and the human side  🔹 Empathy and emotional intelligence are our true advantages over technology 🔹 Ask great questions — and listen with intent, empathy and curiosity🔹 A great question without listening is no longer a great question 🔹 Money is a tool that funds the things in life that are important to you 🔹 The best advisors focus on the person, not just the numbersConnect with Brendan Frazier:Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Podcast:The Human Side of Money Podcast (here)Bio: Brendan Frazier is the Chief Behavioral Officer at RFG Advisory, the host of The Human Side of Money podcast, a keynote speaker, and was twice named one of Investopedia’s Top 100 Financial Advisors. He has built global training programs to help advisors around the world learn how to leverage behavior, psychology and communication principles on the path to mastering the human side of advice.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Alison Schmidt, founder and CEO of Unconvention and host of the (un)conversations® podcast, about how being your own advocate can reshape not only your finances, but also your life and values.💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Believe in yourself — trust that you have the tools to execute 🔹 Be open to risk and new ways of working 🔹 Focus on who you want to be and how you want to serve 🔹 Take time to understand what clients truly want to achieve🔹 Build long-term relationships grounded in empathy and integrity 🔹 Respect your clients’ emotions and where they are in their journey 🔹 Embrace miscommunication as an opportunity to learn and growConnect with Dr. Alison Schmidt:Website (here) https://www.unconventionllc.comLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-l-schmidt-phd-bcc/Instagram: @alsphdbcc / @unconventionllc / @unconversationspodcast TikTok:  alschmidtphdFacebook: @AlisonSchmidt Podcast:(Un)conversations® Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@unconversations/playlistsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5xkI3Kg3e4VCUY5hXFGUaS?si=29139d32e77e427fApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/un-conversations/id1765209182Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c056dff2-e060-4852-a830-8cc4824da4ba/un-conversations%C2%AEiHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-unconversations-274225870/Bio: Dr. Alison Schmidt is the Founder and CEO of Unconvention, where she partners with elite leaders through transformative executive coaching and organizational consulting. With over 20 years of experience, she helps CxOs, founders, boards, high-performing teams drive strategic growth, navigate change, and break free from the stubborn quo.Alison is also the creator and host of (un)conversations®, a bold podcast spotlighting industry pioneers and CxO leaders who share the unconventional decisions that have shaped their lives and businesses.A passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership, Dr. Schmidt holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Alliant International University (formerly California School of Professional Psychology) and is a Board Certified Coach through CCE Global. Based in Dallas, she draws inspiration from her global travels with her wife, Norma, bringing depth and perspective to her work with clients worldwide.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Michelle Petrowski, CFP®, CDFA®, founder of Being in Abundance, about one powerful question: What if it is possible?We explored how shifting from a Do-Have-Be mindset to Be-Do-Have changes everything by starting with how do you want to be, then asking how do you want to do it and then asking what could I have?💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Abundance is a choice that we get to make moment from moment🔹 Align your money with your values and what truly fulfills you🔹 Women should dream bigger, ask what’s important to you?🔹 Step into your power, you get to choose who you want to be 🔹 We have to dream and ask what’s important to us 🔹 If you don’t have a plan, your goals are just wishesMichelle reminds us that you are more than your paycheck — and your financial plan should reflect who you are, not just what you earn.This episode was inspired by the blog post “What If It Is Possible?” (here)Connect with Michelle Petrowski:Being In Abundance Financial Coaching Website (here)Being Mindful in Divorce Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Bio: Michelle Petrowski is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and the founder of Being in Abundance, a financial coaching and planning firm for high-earning women and dual income families navigating major life transitions.Michelle is a nationally recognized voice in women’s wealth and divorce planning, featured in outlets including CNBC, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Investment News, TheStreet’s Retirement Daily, Purse Strings, and Rethinking65. She writes and speaks on the Great Wealth Transfer for Women, the financial blind spots of high earners, and the biggest mistakes women make in divorce — and how to avoid them.When she’s not advising clients or speaking, Michelle leads workshops, creates educational tools, and is currently writing her book, Next Chapter, Best Chapter: A Playbook for Women Creating Wealth, Wisdom & What’s Next.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Jose Mayora, author of Wall Street’s Blind Spot, about the principles of value investing and understanding risk.💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Always do your homework,  don’t chase headlines, do thorough research🔹 Have a long term horizon - patience is important 🔹 Be an independent thinker 🔹 Only invest in what you understand 🔹 Don’t let emotions drive your decisions 🔹 The importance of emotional intelligence  🔹 Be willing to let go of potential opportunities that you don’t understandConnect with Jose Mayora:Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Books: Wall Street’s Blind Spots: A Unique Perspective on Value Investing, Valuation and Capital Allocation (Amazon) Bio: Jose Andres Mayora is the author of Wall Street’s Blind Spots and the Senior Portfolio Manager of Divita Value-Growth Fund, a long-only public equities fund he co-founded with a focus on long-term, fundamentals-driven investing. A CFA charterholder with degrees in Business and Economics from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in Economics from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Jose blends analytical depth with a grounded, real-world perspective on how value is created—and misunderstood—in public markets.His book challenges conventional valuation frameworks and introduces a simpler, common-sense approach to understanding investment returns, reinvestment, and capital allocation. Jose’s mission is to help investors and business leaders alike cut through complexity and rethink the assumptions behind how money grows over time.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan Mail🎙 On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I’m joined by Rishi Vamdatt, the teenage creator of Easy Peasy Finance — a multi-award-winning platform making financial literacy fun and accessible for kids, parents, and beginners.💡 Key Takeaways: 🔹 Families can learn about money together — parents should involve kids from any age. 🔹 An allowance is a powerful way to teach money responsibility. 🔹 Keep it simple — use clear, everyday language. 🔹 Make money fun by tying it to daily activities kids already know. 🔹 Teachers don’t have to be experts — they can learn alongside students. 🔹 Frugality matters, but spending on happiness is important too. 🔹 Financial literacy reduces stress later in life if started early.Connect with Rishi Vamdatt:Website: https://www.easypeasyfinance.com/Teacher Resources: https://www.easypeasyfinance.com/teachers/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EasyPeasyFinance/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/easy-peasy-finance-llc/Books:Easy Peasy Banking: A Fun Banking Book for Kids (Amazon)Easy Peasy Investing: A Fun Investing Book for Kids (Amazon) Easy Peasy Money: A Fun Money & Budgeting Book for Kids (Amazon)  Kids Activity Book on Money and Finance: A Counting Money Book & Money Activity Book for Kids Ages 6-8 (Amazon)Bio: Rishi Vamdatt is a 15-year-old entrepreneur who founded Easy Peasy Finance at age 8 to make money fun, relatable, and accessible for kids and teens. Over the last 7 years, he has created 1,000+ videos, authored 4 books, won multiple awards including two Plutus Awards and the MAIA Award, and reached millions worldwide. He has been featured by CBS News, Fidelity, Kiplinger, and international media across Japan, Singapore, Canada, and Europe.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Vicki Vollweiler, founder of College Financial Prep and author of College Planning for Divorced and Widowed Parents, about how families can save money on college while navigating the emotional and logistical challenges of divorce, separation, or loss.💡 Key Takeaways: 🔹 Bring up college planning in a neutral tone—communication is critical. 🔹 Every college has its own financial formula—some are more generous than others. 🔹 Have a college budget in place before committing to a school. 🔹 Start scholarship searches early to maximize opportunities. 🔹 Include kids in the process—they’ll live with the long-term impact. 🔹 Reducing college costs requires flexibility from both parents and students. 🔹 It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about values, feelings, and goals.Connect with Vicki Vollweiler:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-vollweiler/Website: https://www.CollegeFinancialPrep.comFacebook: https://www.Facebook.com/CollegeFinancialPrepInstagram:  @CollegeFinancialPrepBooks: College Planning For Divorced and Widowed Parents: Reduce Stress, Save Thousands and Make Smart Decisions For Your Child's Future (Amazon)📘 Vicki’s book was inspired by client success stories and reminds families that they are not alone—there are proven strategies to lower costs and reduce stress.Podcast:College Financial Prep https://www.collegefinancialprep.com/podcastsBio: Vicki Vollweiler, MBA, CDC, the founder and CEO of College Financial Prep, provides a full range of college funding and college admissions services for families as both parents and students prepare to enter college.  Vicki is both a College Planning Expert and a Divorce Financial Coach helping parents to navigate financial aid, scholarships, student loans and college planning.  With her Master's Degree in Business Administration and expertise in analysis, pricing, return on investment, and negotiations, Vicki brings valuable skills to the table. She received her MBA degree from Syracuse University, where she was honored with a Full Merit Scholarship and financial stipends.Before establishing College Financial Prep, Vicki served as a Certified Divorce Coach. As clients began to inquire about affording college costs for their children, Vicki, a divorced mom herself, recognized the goal and challenge of providing the best education while minimizing expenses and reducing student loan debt. To date, many clients have successfully saved thousands of dollars, some saving hundreds of thousands of dollars, with the guidance provided by College Financial Prep.Vicki, a divorced parent, is the proud Mom of two children, one who is now a PhD candidate and one who will be preparing for college shortly.  Her fur baby, Maggie, provides joy to all.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Joseph Pach—author of Building The Investors Edge and Chief Investment Officer of Corcovado Investment Advisors—about building stronger financial decision-making frameworks by understanding risk, opportunity cost, and human behavior.💡 Key Takeaways🔹 Opportunity cost is the tradeoff behind every choice you make 🔹 Risk isn’t just theory—it’s the potential downside you must define and prepare for 🔹 Risk asymmetry helps weigh what you stand to gain vs. what you could lose 🔹 Catalysts and patterns shape market outcomes—know how to spot them 🔹 Avoid unnecessary risks by creating calm, intentional decision environments 🔹 Shrink emotional reactions—don’t confuse urgency with importance 🔹 Small, deliberate steps compound into better long-term outcomesConnect with Joseph Pach:LinkedIn (here)Corcovado Investment Advisors, LLC Website (here)The Silver Lining - Substack newsletter (here)  Book:Building the Investor's Edge: How Money Really Works—and How to Make It Work for You (at Any Age) - (Amazon) Bio: Joseph Pach is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Corcovado Investment Advisors, a California Registered Investment Advisor serving clients facing complex transitions such as divorce, inheritance, and liquidity events. He brings over thirty years of institutional experience in options trading, global portfolio management, and risk structuring.Joseph began his career as an options market maker on the Pacific Stock Exchange, then spent two decades at Mellon Capital Management (a BNY Mellon subsidiary) as a trader and portfolio manager within the global asset allocation group, contributing to strategies at a firm managing over $400 billion. He now specializes in tax-efficient structuring and tailored asset allocation for high-net-worth individuals and families. Joseph is also the author of a forthcoming book on foundational money skills and decision-making for young adults.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Cameron Huddleston, Cathy Sikorski and Neil Granger about The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Scammers.⚠️ The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Scammers1️⃣ They Trigger Emotion, Not Logic Scammers know panic overrides reason. They create fear, urgency, or even excitement so you react before you think. 👉 Pause before you act.2️⃣ They Manufacture Urgency “Act now or lose everything.” Time pressure kills good decision-making. 👉 Slow down. Nothing legitimate requires instant action.3️⃣ They Exploit Trust and Loneliness Romance scams, fake friendships, and long-game relationships all build emotional leverage. 👉 Connection is good — but verify before you trust.4️⃣ They Isolate You Scammers tell victims, “Don’t tell anyone.” Isolation keeps control. 👉 Always talk to someone — a friend, advisor, or your bank — before taking action.5️⃣ They Prey on Greed  “If you act fast, you’ll make money” or “You owe this fee.” They use emotional hooks to justify financial loss. 👉 If it sounds too good — or too urgent — it’s a trap.6️⃣ They Ask for Odd Payment or Access Non-traceable/vanishing communication channel, gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or requests to click suspicious links — all red flags. 👉 Legitimate organizations don’t demand untraceable payments.7️⃣ They Use Just Enough Personal Information They’ll share partial info (a birthday, last digits, hometown) to appear credible. 👉 Be skeptical — scammers buy leaked data to sound legitimate.Connect with Cameron Huddleston: Website: http://cameronhuddleston.com/  (here)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameron-huddleston-187b633/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cameronkhuddleston/ (here) Connect with Cathy Sikorski:Website: https://cathysikorski.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathysikorski24/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cathy_sikorskiConnect with Neil Granger:Website - http://www.neilgranger.com/LinkedIn -  Neil Granger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-grangerCameron Huddleston is the author of Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances. She also is an award-winning personal finance journalist. Cathy Sikorski , Esq. a Speaker, Elder Lawyer, Author and Media Guest unravels the complex financial and legal problems in the caregiving crisis.Neil Granger has worked with several District Attorney Offices as a member of their Financial Abuse Specialist Teams and works with the Investigative Unit of the California Department of Insurance. Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Harlan Landes, founder of The Plutus Foundation and The Plutus Awards, about building community and the world of financial content creation. 💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Media literacy helps us discern trustworthy vs. misleading content 🔹 The Plutus Awards brings awareness of the most impactful and best financial content 🔹 Recognize advantages and disadvantages- that we all come from different places🔹 You can only grow when you are exposed to stories and life experiences from people who are different than you 🔹 Diverse voices bring perspectives that expand our understanding  🔹 Community offers collaboration, accountability, and diverse perspectives 🔹Take the approach of being the CEO of your own life - make strategic decisions and look into details 📌 Why It Matters: In a world flooded with financial content, credibility and representation are essential. Community ensures that financial literacy remains durable, inclusive, and forward-looking.Connect with Harlan Landes:Harlan Landes Website (here)LinkedIn (here)Plutus Foundation Website (here)Plutus Awards Website (here) Plutus Community (here)Plutus Awards - Instagram - @plutusawardsBio: Harlan Landes has been creating and managing online communities since 1990 -- prior to the existence of the World Wide Web. He founded Consumerism Commentary in 2003 to hold himself accountable for his finances and build a community focused on important social and personal issues pertaining to money. He founded the Plutus Awards (2008) and the nonprofit Plutus Foundation (2015) to amplify underrepresented voices in the conversation around personal finance and to support creative financial literacy programs throughout the United States.Harlan also has been involved with music and arts education with a focus on the marching performing arts, volunteering at an executive and board level with several organizations in that field.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Merridith Gonzalez, the Midlife Concierge, about how we can all reimagine midlife with honesty, curiosity, and connection—while preparing for the caregiving and financial realities that come with it.💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 Midlife is a critical turning point—what served you yesterday may not serve you tomorrow 🔹 Give yourself grace and clarity about who you want to be🔹 Find a community and people that you can trust 🔹 Don’t be afraid to ask questions—curiosity leads to answers 🔹 Make caregiving (time and money) part of your financial plan 🔹 Work with professionals who listen, are open to new ideas, and act as true advocates🔹 Build a collaborative teamConnect with Merridith Gonzalez:LinkedIn (here)LinkedIn Business Page: (here)Facebook Business Page: (here) Chat Series: "Hot Flashes + Cool Chats”MG Trusted Alliance Website (here)Proverbs Financial Website (here)Mamas and Menopause (Facebook Group)Chat series: "Woman to Woman"Bio: Merridith Gonzalez is a Certified Long-Term Care Specialist and Health & Wealth Concierge who empowers women in midlife to confidently navigate their health, financial planning, and caregiving responsibilities. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and wellness, she specializes in long-term care, disability income planning, cognitive health awareness, and menopause support. Merridith connects clients with trusted professionals and coordinates essential resources to create personalized strategies that promote independence, financial security, and generational stability.Disclosure:Financial Representative of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. Proverbs Financial & Insurance Services is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Guardian. This material is intended for general use. By providing this content The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and your financial representative are not undertaking to provide advice or make a recommendation for a specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. CA Insurance License Number - 4085903.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with BatSheva Goldstein, creator of the Financial Date Discussion Cards, about why money conversations are really about trust—not just dollars.💡 Key Insights:🔹 Why money conversations are more about emotions than math 🔹 How childhood experiences shape how we talk about—and handle—money 🔹 The importance of shifting focus from dollars to the “why” behind them📌 Why It Matters: Money talks can strengthen relationships when they move beyond numbers into values, fears, and hopes. BatSheva shows us that clarity and connection—not perfection—are what truly build financial trust.✅ Action Steps:🔹 Try a values-based money conversation with your partner or family this week with the Financial Date Discussion Cards (see show notes for details)>  🔹 Reflect on what you grew up learning about money—and how that shapes your current mindset🗣 Tony’s Take: “Money is not a pass/fail test. BatSheva reminds us that real security comes from clarity—knowing what’s important and letting money serve those goals.”Connect with BatSheva Goldstein:LinkedIn (here)Financial Date Discussion Cards Website (here)Bio: BatSheva Goldstein is an investment advisor, financial planner, and CFO at Profile Investment Services. She’s also the creator of FinancialDate™ Discussion Cards, a tool to help couples have easier, more meaningful money conversations. BatSheva believes money talk isn’t just about numbers. It’s about understanding what money means to each person and how that shapes a life together.Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer. 

Send us Fan MailChanging the way we think (and talk) about money—by connecting parenting, patience, and lifelong learning.💡 Key Insights:Parenting skills and money management share the same foundations: patience, long-term thinking, and communication.Financial confidence comes from effort and learning—not knowing everything upfront.Acknowledging “you don’t know what you don’t know” opens the door to better decision-making.📌 Why It Matters: Your approach to money often mirrors your approach to life. Building patience, focusing on values, and passing financial wisdom to the next generation can strengthen both your finances and your family bonds.✅ Action Steps:Teach your kids one money value this week—start with patience or long-term thinking.Reflect on one financial lesson you learned from a family member and how it shaped you.🗣 Tony’s Take: "Whether it’s parenting or investing, focusing on the process—not just the results—creates the most lasting rewards.Connect with Rebecca Gao, Ph.D, CFA, CFP®:LinkedIn (here)Bio: Rebecca Gao, Ph.D, CFA, CFP® was born in China and came to the United States to pursue her Ph.D. in Economics.  Her journey in America began with the generosity of others—an airline ticket bought for her by a friend and a scholarship that supported her studies.  She was a senior portfolio manager at BNY Mellon for over 20 years and is now a Certified Financial Planner™.  As a mother of two daughters, Rebecca is passionate about parenting:  (1) How to talk so kids will listen and how to listen so kids will talk? (2) How to help parents and kids build a healthy financial future?  She is a speaker, a translator and an author of a parenting book.  Support the showThe Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.