In this episode of Growing Money, I sat down with CFP Uziel Gomez to talk about something that doesn’t get discussed enough in personal finance, what it actually feels like to be a first-generation wealth builder. We didn’t just talk about investing or retirement accounts.

We talked about money mindset, survivor mentality, overspending versus hoarding, being your parents’ retirement plan, and the guilt that can come with earning more than anyone in your family ever has. I shared my own experience of growing up without strong financial guidance, making mistakes when income increased, and realizing that earning more does not automatically create financial stability. Uziel broke down why financial literacy fundamentals matter more than fancy strategies, why a spending plan works better than traditional budgeting, and how culture, identity, and family expectations shape financial decisions for immigrants and minorities.

If you are navigating family pressure, long-term care planning, supporting parents, or trying to build generational wealth without a blueprint, this conversation will hit home. This episode is about financial literacy, emotional intelligence with money, building wealth responsibly, and breaking cycles of scarcity so the next generation does not carry the same stress.

If your income doubled tomorrow, would your habits protect you, or would your old money story take over?

Two years ago, I recorded this conversation with Ramon Ray for the Growing Money podcast.

And then… the audio failed.

At the time, I couldn’t properly process it. The quality just wasn’t there. So it sat. Now, with new AI tools, I’ve been able to restore the audio and finally bring this conversation back to life.

Quick apology to Ramon for the long delay, and big shoutout to him. His message on visibility, trust, and building a strong personal brand is just as relevant today as it was then.

This episode is a reminder that attention builds trust, and trust builds opportunity. Whether you’re a financial advisor, entrepreneur, or creator, being known in your space changes everything.

My question for you: If someone in your industry needed what you offer today, would your name come up first?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with returning guest Sandra Park, a Ramsey financial coach, engineer, single mom, and debt free multimillionaire, to get brutally clear on what “debt free” actually means in real life.

We break down the difference between being consumer debt free versus truly 100 percent debt free, why credit card interest rates are the real silent killer, and why people with good intentions still end up stuck in the cycle. I share my own credit card payoff journey, the mindset shift that helped me stop seeing a credit limit like it was cash, and how I now use credit cards with tight guardrails for business necessities, travel, and points without sliding back into old habits. We talk about Profit First and the bucket method, how systems beat willpower, why tiny purchases add up faster than big ones, and how debt can quietly steal your freedom by borrowing from your future self.

Sandra also gives a simple, powerful move anyone can do right now, a 30 day spending audit that reveals what you actually value, not just what you say you value, so you can move toward financial freedom without going extreme.

What is one “small” expense you used to ignore that you now realize was quietly wrecking your money decisions?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Joe Moss, founder of Advisor Techbook, to talk about a problem almost everyone has but few people solve, how to charge more money without feeling like a fraud.

Joe breaks down a simple but mind-shifting idea, people invest in potential all the time, so your job is to get clear on what you are building, what you actually want to do, and how to back into the real value of your time. We get into the difference between earning what you want and becoming the person who can hold it, why distraction is quietly wrecking people’s income, and how tiny daily habits can unscrew the mess one turn at a time. I also share my own story of rebuilding after a serious health crisis, how my “why” snapped into focus when I saw my daughter’s ultrasound, and why I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep learning and teaching through these conversations.

We end with two keys Joe lives by, one spiritual and universal, one super practical for online business builders, plus a real talk moment on why relationships, friendships, and the quality of your conversations might be the most underrated form of wealth.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Asher Dahlgren, a young entrepreneur and founder of Dahlgren Social, to talk about financial independence, financial literacy, and what it actually takes to build wealth early without pretending it’s complicated.

We get into why schools still don’t teach money basics, how stigma and jealousy keep people quiet about finances, and why I believe money is just a tool, not a personality test. Asher breaks down his simple “three buckets” framework, earning, managing, and investing, and explains why getting good at two makes you wealthy, and getting good at all three can make you very well off.

I share the mindset shifts that helped me stop reacting to bills and start building systems like separate buckets, profit-first thinking, and spending based on priorities instead of guilt. We also talk entrepreneurship, compounding, budgeting at any income level, and why financial freedom is really the ability to say no, to bad clients, toxic living situations, draining relationships, and anything that pulls you off your path.

If you’re trying to start investing, build better money habits, grow your income, and create real financial empowerment, this conversation will give you a practical, motivating roadmap you can actually use.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Brian Carney, partner and founder of RiversEdge Advisors, an independent wealth management and registered investment advisory firm in Delaware, to talk about the side of money nobody can spreadsheet, the emotional, behavioral part that drives real decisions.

Brian shares how he accidentally became a financial advisor after ditching a physical therapy path, and what it taught him starting in a world-shaking moment like September 11th, that trust and relationships matter before credentials, calculations, or perfect answers. We get into behavioral finance, market volatility, investing mistakes smart people still make, and why the most dangerous words in personal finance are “I don’t know,” because uncertainty creates anxiety that can lead to panic selling and expensive, irreversible decisions. I share stories from my own life, from hiring and staying calm under pressure to learning how a good advisor helps you do the financial work with you, not for you, and Brian explains what a healthy relationship with money looks like in real life, setting clear goals, building a cohesive plan across accounts, and creating a team where your financial planner, accountant, and attorney actually communicate.

We also talk about cutting through influencer noise, why “fiduciary” is table stakes not a magic guarantee, how AI can give impressive looking plans that still create costly tax mistakes, and why the real path to long-term wealth is consistency, simplicity, and “get rich slow,” not the fantasy of timing the market or chasing a big strategic move.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Patrick, a CFP and the founder of Noor Financial Services, to talk about the real starting point for building financial security, awareness.

We get into why so many people feel overwhelmed by personal finance, especially if they were never taught money at home or in school, and how simple daily habits like checking your accounts, reviewing bank and credit card statements, and spotting hidden subscription spending can create fast “aha” moments. Patrick shares how he approaches younger professionals navigating big life changes like marriage, kids, and career growth, and why goals come first, not hype about beating the market. We talk about money mindset, avoiding the shame spiral after mistakes, and the idea that you do not lose, you learn, then you use that lesson to make the next decision cleaner. We also dig into the noise on social media, get rich quick advice, the gambling vibe creeping into investing, and how staying grounded with a clear plan, diversification, and a balance between enjoying life now and protecting future you is the real flex.

Patrick also shares why he launched his own firm, why fiduciary standards matter, and why he is hopeful about the future as more schools make personal finance education a graduation requirement.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with tax planner and financial pro Felicia Greenwald to talk about how to stop being reactive with money and start getting intentional, especially with taxes, spending, and retirement planning.

We dig into why so many people fall for viral money tips and tax “hacks,” why “it’s a write off” can still be a terrible decision, and how simple habits like actually looking at your expenses can change everything. We also get real about financial anxiety, how it hits people at every income level, and why having a trusted guide like a CFP, tax planner, or advisor can help you turn the chaos into a clear plan.

Along the way we talk Profit First, lifestyle creep, keeping up with the Joneses in the Instagram era, and how shifting your spending toward experiences and your real values can lower stress and build long term wealth without feeling deprived.