Financial Behavior Thought Leaders

[embed]https://youtu.be/lom7lF_1lV0[/embed] What if successful financial planning isn't just about the numbers, but the meaning behind them? In this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders , Mary Bell Carlson talks with Danika Waddell, CFP®, RLP®, president and founder of Xena Financial Planning and a speaker with Financial Behavior Keynote Group, about the psychology behind financial decisi...

As AI continues to transform financial planning, what makes a great advisor valuable in a world where technology can increasingly provide the answers? In this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, Mary talks with Carl Richards, creator of the New York Times Sketch Guy column and a longtime financial planner, about the deeply human side of financial advice. Carl explores why AI isn’t neces...

Show Notes What if retirement planning isn't really about retirement at all, but about helping clients build the life they want next? In this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders , Mary Bell Carlson sits down with Dan Haylett to explore why Gen X is challenging traditional ideas about retirement and what financial advisors need to understand about this emerging generation of "retirement r...

In this episode of  Financial Behavior Thought Leaders , Mary Bell Carlson sits down with Andi Wrenn to explore why so much continuing education leaves financial professionals technically certified but not actually better prepared for the conversations that matter most with clients. Andi shares her perspective on the biggest problem with most CE: it talks at people instead of engaging them. She ex...

What if the biggest threat to your clients isn't market volatility—but your own burnout? Kristy Archuleta joins us to explore why burnout has become one of the greatest challenges facing financial professionals, and what it takes to continue showing up with empathy, excellence, and resilience when you're running on empty. Kristy Archuleta is a financial therapist, educator, and internationally rec...

[embed]https://youtu.be/fVnbPK6n83g[/embed] What if the best way to overcome loneliness isn't waiting for someone to reach out—but choosing to help one person every day? Matt Halloran joins us to explore how meaningful connections are built through small, intentional acts of service, and why that simple mindset shift has the power to transform both our personal and professional lives. Matt Hallora...

[embed]https://youtu.be/JMFTDnk57T4[/embed] What if the biggest problem with your finances isn't your spending habits—but the banking system itself? Shane Walker joins us to explore why behavioral finance and mental accounting could reshape the future of banking, and what happens when financial systems are designed around how people actually think about money instead of how banks process transacti...

[embed]https://youtu.be/2sXoeEpEtyo[/embed] What if your greatest value as a financial advisor isn't your technical expertise, but your ability to uncover the story your clients aren't telling you? Tim Maurer joins us to explore why financial advisor storytelling and meaningful client communication are becoming more valuable than ever as AI transforms financial advising, and what that means for th...

[embed]https://youtu.be/UKZikbCaQAM?si=24vJLYlqOTyJZ5Jq[/embed] What if the hardest part of a financial transition isn't the money at all, but figuring out who you are on the other side of it? Dr. Meghaan Lurtz joins us to unpack why retirement, divorce, career changes, and other major life shifts hit so much harder than the numbers suggest, and what that means for anyone guiding someone through o...

[embed]https://youtu.be/mZv6AJbaNkE[/embed] What if the reason prospects choose one advisor over another has less to do with credentials and more to do with how they feel in the first five minutes of a conversation? Evan T. Beach, CFP, EA, AWMA, is a nationally recognized financial advisor, CNBC and Bloomberg contributor, and founder of Exit 59 Advisory, where he has spent years helping advisors g...

[embed]https://youtu.be/VAQi5Az6XMA?si=VoItpJKluAO8jbTf[/embed] Dr. Michael G. Thomas Jr. studies the emotional and behavioral side of money, but in this episode, he focuses on something increasingly difficult to ignore: the way AI, algorithms, and personalized digital marketing are quietly shaping financial decisions before people even realize it. This conversation is centered on a reality many c...

[embed]https://youtu.be/pMiNkdNrAsU[/embed] Ashley Quamme is a licensed therapist and behavioral finance expert, and she is one of the few people working at the intersection of mental health and financial advising in a genuinely practical way. In this episode, she lays out seven relational competencies that separate the advisors who will thrive in an AI-driven industry from those who will struggle...

[embed]https://youtu.be/Aq7gaykLsdU[/embed] In this episode of The Speaker’s Success Toolkit , Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is joined by PR strategist Allie Zendrian to explore how speakers can extend their impact beyond the stage through strategic visibility. As the founder of A to Z Communications and a former journalist, Allie brings a unique perspective on how thought leaders can turn their expertise...

[embed]https://youtu.be/14YnHs3dQBE?si=9g5rRwRceYc26gDe[/embed] In this episode of The Speaker’s Success Toolkit , host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is joined by presentation coach Justin Hunsaker to explore how visual design can elevate, or undermine, a speaker’s message. Building on the foundation of a clear, compelling talk, the conversation focuses on how slides act as a multiplier, reinforcing key i...

[embed]https://youtu.be/8s7toj0-rmU?si=O5v8HCAmPJyG1rBb[/embed] In this episode of The Speaker’s Success Toolkit , host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is joined by speaker coach and storytelling expert Deirdre Van Nest to explore what truly makes a talk memorable and impactful. Kicking off the series, the conversation centers on a foundational truth: great speaking doesn’t start on stage; it starts with ho...

[embed]https://youtu.be/nlx7sQPzSzg?si=tf8jgBhEA9JF5kFk[/embed] In this special episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, the tables are turned as Dr. Kristy Archuleta steps in to guest host and interviews our regular host, Dr. Mary Bell Carlson. As the founder of the Financial Behavior Keynote Group and a leading voice at the intersection of behavioral finance research and real-world financi...

[embed]https://youtu.be/MueccSYfft8?si=jHZcUci2XvrZyF0A[/embed] In this episode of the Financial Behavior Thought Leaders podcast, Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Danika Waddell, CFP®, MS, RLP, a human-centered financial life planner known for her unique approach to ongoing client engagement and holistic life planning. Danika Waddell brings her heartfelt story of how she entered the world of financ...

[embed]https://youtu.be/u6Xw5jyuLmY?si=tW_haFkud0jXpzsW[/embed] On this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Mary Bell Carlson welcomes the dynamic Deirdre Van Nest, renowned keynote speaker, coach, and storyteller within the financial services industry. The conversation dives deep into Deirdre’s unique journey—overcoming a paralyzing fear of public speaking to become a sought-after...

[embed]https://youtu.be/ZLRZsHOuBmA?si=51WhsjPflh8seUjI[/embed] In this inspiring episode, host Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Heather Fortner, CEO of SignatureFD and a featured speaker with Financial Behavior Keynotes Group. Heather Fortner shares the transformative journey of scaling her wealth management firm from $250 million to over $10 billion in assets—all while fiercely preserving the soul and...

[embed]https://youtu.be/CXk46Wyrj1Y?si=LXPjz6Pvs2lY1zro[/embed] In this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes the multi-talented Andi Wrenn, AFC®, MQFP®—an exclusive speaker with the Financial Behavior Keynote Group. With over two decades of experience, Andi is an Accredited Financial Counselor, military-qualified financial planner, award-winning educat...

[embed]https://youtu.be/ZgQvNTtAjLU?si=YW4FR1XZVeKxGY17[/embed] Welcome back to Financial Behavior Thought Leaders! In this compelling episode, host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson sits down with Lazetta Rainey Braxton, renowned financial planner, keynote speaker, and one of the exclusive voices of the Financial Behavior Keynote Group. Lazetta is widely recognized for her leadership in advancing cultural co...

[embed]https://youtu.be/Dux7w65UW-A?si=oPD7lNXug0fcA4M0[/embed] On this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Jonathan Ainsley, a renowned keynote speaker with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. Jonathan is known for his transformative approach to financial planning, inviting both advisors and their clients to reimagine what...

[embed]https://youtu.be/WIgAYkqbPKc?si=csaZL__zEDLNIUUu[/embed] Welcome back to Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes with the brightest minds in financial services. I’m your host, Dr. Mary Bell Carlson, and in this episode, we’re diving deep into the realities of retirement with special guest Dan Haylett—retirement well-being guide and pioneer, author of...

[embed]https://youtu.be/muKkLLiPlXY?si=5kX3LwcvUbuAd_ZC[/embed] In this episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Erika Wasserman, certified financial therapist, keynote speaker, and now the author of the soon-to-be-released "Conversations with Your Financial Therapist." Erika’s reputation for turning taboo money topics into empowering, approachable convers...

[embed]https://youtu.be/odURHWNyEGU?si=y6Omo8ZYbwrMfyXc[/embed] In this insightful episode of Financial Behavior Thought Leaders, host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson welcomes Christine Moriarty, CFP®, the founder of MoneyPeace and one of Financial Behavior Keynote Group’s exclusive speakers, to the podcast. Christine is renowned for her extensive expertise in personal finance, entrepreneurship, and the int...