Real Money, Real Experts

What if better financial outcomes started with better conversations? In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with Colin Ryan, award-winning keynote speaker, author, and expert in money psychology, to explore the human side of financial well-being. Financial decisions aren't always driven by logic. Emotions, personal experiences, fear, and sha...

We know what we're supposed to do with our money. So why is it sometimes so difficult to actually do it? Our financial decisions aren't always as simple as the numbers on a spreadsheet. Behind our spending, saving, and budgeting habits are emotional experiences, past financial trauma, and underlying needs that often go unrecognized. In this episode, we're joined by Lynn McHann , AFC...

What if the first step toward financial change isn’t a solution, but hope? On this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , we’re joined by Jamie Chandler, financial health strategist and U.S. Army veteran, and Dr. Kate Melitz (Dr. M), educator, financial counselor, and professor of practice at Kansas State University. As the opening keynote speakers for the 2026 AFCPE Symposium, themed All In , they...

What does the data tell us about the financial coaching and counseling profession; where is the field headed next? In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , we’re joined by Joshua Escalante Troesh CFP®️ | MBA and Amelie Riendl AFC®️ | PMP®️ of Financial Coaches Network to unpack findings from the State of Financial Coaching and Counseling Survey. We explore how professionals define themselves,...

What happens when financial stress becomes more than just the numbers?  In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with Dr. Kristy Archuleta, a pioneer in financial therapy and professor of financial planning at the University of Georgia. Kristy breaks down the important difference between financial stress and financial anxiety , how financial profe...

What does it take to make financial education truly meaningful and accessible?  In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , Holly Zugay, CFP, AFC, shares her journey from chemistry to financial education and the lessons she’s learned working with diverse communities, including low-income families, veterans, homeowners facing foreclosure, and individuals transitioning from incarceration. Holly di...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , we’re joined by Simi Mandelbaum, a certified financial therapist, accredited financial counselor, certified financial behavior specialist, and founder and CEO of Prosper Financial Wellness. Simi shares how combining financial counseling, behavioral finance, and financial therapy can help clients transform not only their finances, but their relationship...

Financial challenges are rarely just about numbers—they're about life, transitions, and the support people need along the way. In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with AFC®, CFP® Dedrick Curtis to discuss the unique financial realities facing veterans, military families, and caregivers. As Program Manager for the Veterans Benefits...

Career-defining opportunities often begin with a single "yes." In this episode, Jarod Taylor, AFC®, Director of Education and Community Engagement at AFCPE, reflects on his unexpected journey into the financial well-being profession, beginning during the 2008 housing crisis and evolving into a career dedicated to advancing financial education and supporting the next generation of Accredi...

What if the best financial advice starts by asking one simple question: Why? In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with newly accredited AFC® Cynthia Hudson . Cynthia shares how her unconventional journey—from manufacturing floors to financial counseling—shaped her belief that lasting financial change happens when we address root causes in...

Editor's note: Real Money, Real Experts is on a mid-summer break. Please enjoy this episode re-run. We will be back with new episodes in July! What does it mean to build true wealth? In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we sit down with financial planner Justin Chastain, AFC®️ to explore the connection between self-worth and financial success, the emotional impact of money, and the po...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , hosts Rachael DeLeon and Brandy Baxter sit down with Jack Howard, Head of Money Wellness at Ally, to discuss the evolving landscape of financial wellness and the critical role that mindset, values, and personal experiences play in shaping financial behaviors. Drawing from both her personal and professional journey, Jack shares how her passion for finan...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , hosts Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon sit down with Lisa Whitley, accredited financial counselor, and founder of MoneyByLisa LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor domiciled in the District of Columbia.  Lisa shares her unique journey as a Foreign Service Officer with the United States Agency for International Development into financial counseling a...

In today's episode, Rachael and Brandy sit down with Dr. Sonya Lutter to explore the powerful connection between psychology, relationships, and financial decision-making. From financial stress and emotional spending to couples’ communication and the growing field of financial therapy, this conversation dives into the human side of money. Dr. Lutter shares how stress impacts our ability to mak...

In this episode, we welcome Jessica Perrone, Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and founder of HerFinIQ, to discuss how financial professionals can help clients confidently navigate the world of investing. With over 16 years of experience on Wall Street, Jessica shares her unconventional journey into finance and how it shaped her mission to make investing more accessible—particularly for women...

Divorce isn’t just a legal process—it’s a high-stakes financial restructuring, often driven by emotion. In this powerful episode, Gabriella Martinelli, founder of Ever After Wealth, breaks down what really happens when money, identity, and life as you know it are all on the line. With over two decades of experience across both legal and financial spaces, Gabriella shares why traditional approaches...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, co-hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter are joined by Whitney Ramirez, founder of Diapers to Deposits and Financial Field Trips, to discuss innovative approaches to financial education that move beyond traditional instruction. Whitney shares how her experiential learning model—“financial field trips”—helps learners apply financial concepts in real...

Hosts Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon welcome longtime AFCPE member Dr. Barbara O’Neill to discuss changes in financial planning over 40 years, including increased automation and the uncertain readiness of AI, alongside AFCPE’s growing membership diversity.  O’Neill defines tax-smart charitable giving as aligning donations with income-tax benefits and highlights additional psychological benef...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , Dr. Brandy Baxter sits down with financial counselors Alicia Lawrence and Jayne Larson to explore why real financial change goes beyond the numbers. They discuss the power of motivational interviewing, empathy, and curiosity in helping clients uncover the “why” behind their money habits. From overcoming the fear of opening bills to negotiating more tha...

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , we welcome back fan favorite Ryan Law, award-winning educator, author, and financial counselor, to share something a little different: his groundbreaking ReWired Framework . Ryan walks us through his seven-step process for identifying and transforming limiting beliefs—the inner work that often determines whether we achieve lasting success. From recogni...

Money conversations are emotional for any family—but in blended families, they often come with added layers of loss, loyalty, and complexity. In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts , Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon are joined by Mikel Van Cleve, CFP® , PhD candidate at Texas Tech University and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, to unpack the unique financial and emotional dynamics of blended fam...

Is artificial intelligence here to help financial professionals—or replace them? In this special episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon kick off the new season with their very first video podcast recording and welcome back fan-favorite guest Dr. Jessica Limbrick , professor, researcher, AFCPE Board Member, and 2026 Treasurer. Fresh off her highly rated AFCP...

2025 was full of insightful conversations, and in this special episode, Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter revisit some of the most impactful moments from the year. From defining true wealth to building trust with clients, our guests share nuggets of wisdom that inspire both financial professionals and everyday money managers alike. Join us as we highlight key takeaways from Justin Chastain, Joh...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ann Lentell, CFA, AFC®️, CFP®️ — a financial professional whose career bridges equity research, nonprofit leadership, and deeply human financial coaching. Ann shares how a childhood curiosity about markets led to a lifelong passion for personal finance, and how a transformative college class sparked her commitment to helping families build savings and sta...

Join hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter live from the AFCPE Symposium for a special episode capturing the energy, insights, and inspiration of this year’s event. In this unique format, you’ll hear directly from attendees—from financial coaches to educators to organizational leaders—as they share what the Symposium means to them, the moments that moved them, and the lessons they’re taking h...