Real Money, Real Experts

Our first podcast episode to kick off with a love story! Join Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Mary Carlson as they sit down with Mike Lanway, CFP®, TSP expert, and self-proclaimed federal benefits "nerd." In this week's episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we explore Mike's unique personal and professional journey and uncover the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way.  From...

On this week's episode of Real Money, Real Experts, co-hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Mary Bell Carlson are joined by Christine Niccoli, Director in Community Impact at United Way Massachusetts Bay, and Nathalie Kallab Racimo, AFC, Senior Homeownership and Financial Services Advisor at NOAH.  In this important episode, we discuss the importance of professionalizing the financial coaching space,...

"Tailor what you're doing to the audience that you're serving."-Gilbert Rogers. On this week's episode of Real Money, Real Experts, co-hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Mary Bell Carlson are joined by Gilbert Rogers, AFC. Gilbert is the Director of Financial Wellbeing at UNC Chapel Hill. He is a national thought leader in the financial education space and has worked with the Ar...

Step into the spotlight with us as we commemorate the 100th episode of Real Money, Real Experts. In this special episode, we reminisce on the trials, triumphs, and unforgettable moments that have defined our podcast journey and look ahead to the future.  We pull back the curtain to give you a look at our podcast journey, answer listener questions, and share some of our favorite moments along the w...

Join co-hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson as they welcome Lissa Prudencio, AFC®, Founder of Wealth for Women of Color. In our latest episode, Lissa shares the power of pivoting and reminds us that investing in ourselves can help change the world. You'll learn the secret to intentionality, how to avoid burnout, and the importance of putting yourself first in your financial wellness jou...

Join co-hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson in this week's episode as they welcome Sara Lohse, AFC® and Founder of Favorite Daughter Media, to the conversation. Fueled by caffeine and unwavering passion, Sara is a master at blending storytelling and marketing to empower mission-driven brands to amplify their impact. In this fun conversation, Sara takes us on a journey into the heart of...

On this week's episode, co-hosts, Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson, are joined by AFCPE Board Member and FINRA Foundation Fellow, Lynne Patterson, AFC. Lynne's expertise and passion for fostering collaboration and resilience stem from her deep military connections. As both a service member and a dependent she has moved an astounding 35 times, providing her with a unique lens into the...

Are you ready for it? Join hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson for an engaging episode featuring special guest Amanda Christensen, AFC, Extension Professor at Utah State University, and Founder of Utah Money Moms. In our latest episode, Amanda shares her passion for empowering women on their financial wellness journey and reminds us how cultivating community can inspire women to take control...

Join hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson in a captivating conversation with special guest Amy Smith, AFC, Founder of My BPD, My Money, and Member Engagement Coordinator for AFCPE. In this enlightening episode, Amy shares her inspiring journey to achieving the AFC certification, emphasizing the transformative power of vulnerability and authenticity. Discover how embracing her true self opened...

"If you want to be a CEO, you have to start thinking like a CEO." In this episode, hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson are joined by special guest Tiffany Grant, AFC and owner of Money Talk with Tiff. Tiffany, an award-winning financial literacy expert and educator, has empowered countless individuals and organizations to achieve financial success and well-being. Join us as Tiffany...

Brent Neiser has an incredible range of work and impact in the personal finance space. Every time we connect, we learn something new! Brent started his journey as a financial planner, but his heart for service led him to a rich career in financial education. On this episode, we learn how the AFCPE community has impacted his career, why he believes in the value of the AFC, and why he calls himself...

Markia Brown is an award-winning financial educator and content creator, an Accredited Financial Counselor, and an AFCPE member with a talent for making complex financial topics accessible, particularly to younger generations. Her mission focuses on uplifting underserved communities and offering them vital tools and education to achieve their definition of financial success. She believes that its...

Every December, Real Money, Real Experts takes a break to prepare for the year ahead. As we head into the busy holiday season, we're happy to re-share a fan favorite - our episode on empathy and the art of listening with Dr. Michael Thomas, AFC.  Enjoy and happy holidays from Rachael, Mary, and the entire podcast crew! Want to get involved with AFCPE®? Here are a few places to start: Become a...

This week, Real Money, Real Experts , was live on YouTube with AFCPE Board President, Andi Wrenn. Andi, Mary, and Rachael recap all things 2023 AFCPE Symposium. If you joined us for Symposium this year, come reminisce with us. If you didn't attend this year, tune in to learn what its all about. We also get to learn more about Andi's professional journey, and she shares two times the two...

This week we welcome financial therapist, Nathan Astle, to the show. Nate is the founder of the Financial Therapy Clinical Institute, which is a collaborative practice that includes financial counselors, therapists, and planners working together to meet the needs of their clients.  On this episode, Nate shares what inspired this unique practice model, the roles that each practitioner plays in the...

Lazetta Braxton, MBA, CFP® is on a mission to create wealth for the common good. She believes in fighting for voices that have not been heard, and has built her career around making room for underserved and overlooked populations.  In this episode, we get to know Lazetta - her family history and her career path, and she shares a preview of the conversation we'll be having as part of her keyno...

Today’s guest is John McNamara, Principal Assistant Director of Consumer Credit, Payments, and Deposits Markets at the CFPB. In this episode, John shares his professional journey from debt collection to his current role at the CFPB. He talks to us about the latest research from the Bureau, and gives us some of his favorite CFPB resources - designed to support you and your clients.   We’re excited...

Dr. Preston Cherry, AFC®, CFP®, CFT-1 is the Founder & President of Concurrent Financial Planning, the Head of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Financial Planning Program, and also a keynote speaker at this year's AFCPE Symposium. Preston is passionate about the ways that storytelling and listening can help us better connect with clients, advance human lives, and inspire transformati...

On today's episode we talk to AFC candidate, Rahkim Sabree, a financial coach, entrepreneur, and thought leader on the topic of financial trauma. We discuss how personal background, cultural experiences, and mental health all play a role in personal finance, and how financial professionals can add a trauma-informed lens to your work with clients.  With the rise of one-size-fits-all, and often...

“Whether someone wants to be independent with their finances is their absolute decision…but what I don’t want that decision to be based around is the fact that someone cannot see anymore…I want to help [people] realize that there are options.” - Liz Bottner On this week’s episode, we get to know Chris Peterson and Liz Bottner of Penny Forward. Penny Forward is a non-profit organization that offers...

With the student loan pause coming to an end and a new repayment plan announced, we wanted to answer your questions. And who better to help us break down the new Student Loan SAVE plan than Ryan Law. Ryan H. Law is an award-winning educator who teaches in the Personal Financial Planning program at Utah Valley University. He’s a Certified Financial Planner, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, past...

Sarah Newcomb is an applied scientist, behavioral economist, and the Founder of the Thrive Financial Empowerment Center. Her work bridges the gap between research and practice, adapting the findings of academic research for practical use in personal financial management. In this episode, Sarah shares her own personal story and how it led to her current work - exploring the connection between menta...

Rhonda Noordyk, founded The Women's Financial Wellness Center in 2014.  Her mission is to help reduce financial vulnerability for women going through divorce.  In this episode, Rhonda talks to us about the challenges women face when going through divorce, the financial considerations, and the importance of having a support team to provide legal, financial, and emotional support. As an advocat...

Kimberly Henne is a board member and financial wellness coach for a local nonprofit, Ways for Life, an organization that works with youth aged 15 - 25 who are touched by foster care or homelessness.  In this episode we learn more about Kimberly's personal journey with the foster care system - she adopted both of her children out of foster care - as well as some of the unique challenges facing...

Today’s guest, Jonathan Walker, has spent much of his career studying American households - to better understand human behavior and figure out how to create environments where people can succeed and thrive. Jonathan is a practitioner who understands the value of research and how these findings can be translated into practice.  In this episode, Jonathan shares the three big components to how people...