Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Thomas Manetta, a 35-year wealth management veteran and independent firm owner based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Thomas pulls back the curtain on something most financial advisors won't admit - for decades, the industry was built on information asymmetry, incentive misalignment, and selling products that served the firm, no...

I sat down with Daniel Kopp, CFP and founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning, for one of the most honest conversations I've had on this show about what financial planning actually means. Daniel specializes in two groups that most advisors overlook - active duty military families and young widows, and the way he approaches both completely reframes how I think about money.  We talked abo...

I sat down with Ohan Kayikchyan, Ph. D., founder and Chief Harmony Officer of Alohana Financial, for a conversation about money, meaning, purpose, and why so many people can look financially successful on paper but still feel burned out, stressed, or empty inside.  Ohan brings a unique perspective as a CFP professional, Ph. D. in economics, enrolled agent, and registered life planner, but what sto...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Dan Allison, a 22-year veteran consultant in the wealth management space with a background in clinical and behavioral psychology, to unpack why our relationship with money is rarely about logic.  Dan opens up about selling his first company in his 20s for 8 figures, then buying Maseratis and a Range Rover chasing validation he didn&...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Linda Grizely, a certified financial planner and financial wellness speaker, to talk about why money feels so emotional, confusing, and sometimes intimidating for so many people.  We get into how our childhood money stories shape the way we spend, save, avoid, and judge ourselves financially. Linda breaks down why traditional finan...

I sat down with financial coach, educator, and mentor Alina Paula Burlacu for one of the most honest conversations I've had about money.  We dove deep into why so many of us feel trapped by our finances, not because we lack knowledge, but because we're carrying emotional baggage we never even knew we picked up.  Alina breaks down how money stress shows up quietly, in the unopened bills,...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Nathan Astle, a certified financial therapist, to talk about why money is never just about numbers.  We get into financial anxiety, money trauma, shame, overspending, couples fighting about money, and the emotional patterns that quietly shape the way we save, spend, avoid, or obsess over money. Nathan shares why so many people use...

I sat down with Chuck Failla, CFP and founder of Sovereign Financial Group, for one of the most honest conversations I've had on this show about what it really means to trust someone with your money. Chuck has spent 30 years in financial services, from cold-calling stockbroker to fully independent RIA, and the insight he brings is the kind you can only earn through experience.  We get into wh...

One of the biggest myths in personal finance is that successful people do everything themselves. They don't. Athletes have coaches. Businesses have teams. Wealthy people have advisors, mentors, accountants, attorneys, and communities that help them make better decisions. In this episode, I explore why trying to do everything alone keeps people stuck, how to build your own financial team, and...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Cary Carbonaro, CFP®, MBA, a women and wealth expert who has spent 25 years helping women understand money, investing, financial planning, and long-term wealth building.  This conversation hit me hard as a father, because so much of what Cary shares is about preparing the next generation of women to own their financial future with...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Dr. Angela C. Meyers to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in work, money, and identity right now: the rise of AI and the return of the modern polymath.  For years, people have been told to niche down, specialize, and become an expert in one narrow lane. But in a world where AI is automating specialized tasks faster tha...

We've all heard the phrase: more money, more problems. But that's not entirely true. Money can solve a lot of problems. It can reduce stress, create opportunities, provide security, and give you options. The real challenge is that money doesn't eliminate problems—it changes them. In this episode, I talk about happiness, lifestyle inflation, responsibility, relationships, the fear of...

I sat down with Logan Bennis, a financial advisor out of Dunedin, Florida, who works with business owners and families to untangle their financial lives and actually build something that lasts.  We got into the real reasons why people who earn good money still feel broke, it almost always comes back to lifestyle creep, keeping up with appearances, and skipping the unsexy stuff like disability insu...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Charles Gaudet, CEO of Predictable Profits, to talk about what it really takes to grow a business in a world where hard work alone is no longer enough.  Charles breaks down the difference between starting a business from scratch and buying into one with existing momentum, why so many founders fall into the “founder’s trap,” and how...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Anne Serrano, a CFP professional who helps the rising generation build a healthier relationship with money. We talk about why so many people feel guilt, shame, and anxiety when they look at their bank account, and why budgeting does not have to feel restrictive or miserable. Anne shares a softer, more human approach called cozy bud...

Walk through any mall and you'll see luxury brands, expensive watches, designer bags, and people chasing the appearance of success. The problem? Looking rich and building wealth are often two very different things. In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I explore why so many people spend money to impress others, how lifestyle inflation quietly destroys financial progress, and what...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Don Bennyhoff, a longtime investment professional and fractional Chief Investment Officer, to talk about why successful investing is often much simpler than people think. Don shares why so many investors get pulled in by scary headlines, financial media, market predictions, and the pressure to “do something” when fear sets in.  Wha...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Andrew Trammell, founder of Trammell Wealth, to talk about why money is never just about numbers. Andrew is a CFP, enrolled agent, and retirement income certified professional who helps retirees, Florida public employees, and medical professionals build clearer, more intentional financial plans.  We get into why smart people still...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Max Kulyk, founder and CEO of Chicory Wealth, to talk about money in a way that goes far beyond budgets, portfolios, and retirement accounts. Max shares how his own complicated relationship with money led him into financial planning, and how he now helps people think about wealth through the lens of identity, safety, freedom, and va...

Money stress never sleeps. Many people believe they'll finally relax once they earn more money, but the truth is that financial anxiety often follows us no matter how much we make. In this video, I share some of the biggest reasons money stress keeps people awake at night, including lifestyle inflation, financial comparison, tying self-worth to income, avoiding money conversations, and the be...

In this episode of Growing Money with Chandra's, I sit down with financial coach Morgan Brown to talk about what it actually takes to get a handle on your money, especially when your income isn't steady.  Morgan breaks down why financial stress isn't just a low-income problem, why separating your business and personal finances is non-negotiable, and how the income smoothing account...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Karthik Ramanan, a former Wall Street professional turned naturopathic physician and emotional health mentor, and we get into the real conversation that high-performing entrepreneurs are afraid to have. Dr. K shares how he walked away from a prestigious banking career during the Great Recession, hit rock bottom more than once, and discovered that the body and m...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with Mindy Neira, a certified financial planner and chartered special needs consultant, to talk about financial planning in a way that feels real, personal, and human. We discuss why money can feel overwhelming, why so many smart people still struggle with their finances, and why the first step is often not a massive plan but one small...

Everyone wants financial freedom. But most people are focused on the wrong things. In this video, I share the real steps I'm taking in my own life to build financial freedom. I'm not financially free yet, but I'm actively working toward it every day, and these are the lessons that have made the biggest difference for me.  We cover: • Why you need to stop waiting to feel ready  • The...

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with financial therapist and serial entrepreneur Khara Croswaite Brindle to unpack something most of us never learned, that your relationship with money is emotional first, logical second.  Khara breaks down what financial therapy actually means, how childhood money beliefs and generational trauma silently shape every financial decision...