In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with financial coach Hannah Newberry from Map Your Money to talk about the real foundation of personal finance, budgeting, debt payoff, saving, and starting to invest without getting sucked into market panic or the nonstop noise of social media.

We break down why “confident advice” from friends or family can still be wrong, how to spot the difference between helpful guidance and loud opinions, and what it actually looks like to stay calm when your 401(k) drops or you feel crushed by a mountain of debt. Hannah shares practical ways to build financial resilience, including focusing on small wins, building consistent habits, using clear goals and visuals to stay motivated, and learning the rules of the money game, tax basics, and smart spending so you can make decisions with control instead of emotion.

If you’re trying to get out of consumer debt, improve money management, and build long-term wealth through steady saving and investing, this conversation is a reset for your mindset and a simple path forward when everything feels chaotic.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Steven Fox, a former Marine turned CFP who built, scaled, and sold his financial planning firm, and is now reshaping how financial advice works.

We dig into the uncomfortable truth behind traditional financial planning, why so many advisors are really salespeople in disguise, and how everyday people get stuck buying products they do not actually need. Steven breaks down what real financial planning should look like, why advice only models remove hidden incentives, and how to spot whether someone is truly helping you or just making money off you. We talk about money anxiety, decision making, life planning, and why most people are not as far behind as they think.

This is a conversation about cutting through the noise, finding clarity with your finances, and building a money strategy that actually fits your life.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Michigan State finance professor and registered investment advisor Steve Schiestel to talk about personal finance basics that actually stick, especially saving habits, wants versus needs, building an emergency fund, and why most people do better being consistent savers than trying to be genius investors.

We start with kid level money questions like what money is, how to save even a little, what to do with ten dollars, and how kids can earn money, then we zoom out into the real gaps in financial education, the psychology behind spending and investing, and why money behavior is often simple but not easy. I share a real dad moment trying to explain banks, limits, and saving to my daughter when she wants a gaming PC, and we get practical about budgeting rules of thumb, how much to save, housing cost targets, and why emergency funds can save a family when life hits. Steve breaks down common money mistakes like not saving early and trying to time the market, explains why low cost index investing and long term discipline beat chasing hype, and we connect it all to the casino style dopamine loops that make investing feel like a game.

We close with a clear guide for choosing a financial advisor, including fiduciary duty, fees versus commissions, credentials like CFP, and the trust factor, plus Steve’s advice to his younger self about taking smart career risks while still building long term financial security.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Steve Heinemann, a financial planner in Southern California who helps busy mid-career professionals and families create financial clarity, reduce money anxiety, and make confident decisions even when real life is messy.

We talk honestly about how chaos at home can spill into your money life, why an emergency fund matters more than people think, and how high earners still get stuck when they do not have a clear view of cash flow and priorities. Steve breaks down how to stop drifting financially by keeping things simple, focusing on values first, and using practical check ins to make sure spending matches what you actually care about. I share my own journey paying off credit card debt, using credit cards as tools, and building a system that makes money management easier instead of overwhelming.

If you want a straightforward way to build financial confidence, align your money with your values, and create flexibility for the storms you cannot predict, this conversation will help you take the first intentional step.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Ron Kmetovicz, a 78 year old dad, grandpa, and great grandpa who built his life as an engineer and entrepreneur, and now wants to pass down a simple, real-world pathway to financial independence.

Ron breaks financial freedom down into something you can actually remember and actually do, a five step process he teaches using nothing but his hand, abandon destructive behaviors, adopt effective behaviors, engage in meaningful work, invest wisely, and become financially independent. We talk about why most people feel behind, especially younger generations dealing with inflation, social media noise, and get rich quick myths, and why the real problem is usually a lack of role models and a lack of structure. Ron shares his practical definition of financial independence, minimal debt plus multiple revenue streams, and explains how to build that over 10 to 25 years without needing an MBA or fancy investing knowledge. We get into the foundation work that matters before investing makes sense, how habits compound the same way fitness does, and why his “ghost account” concept, consistent monthly investing in stable long-term funds, can become a parallel income stream that supports you later in life.

If you want a clear financial plan, a mindset reset, and a simple system for building wealth steadily, this conversation is a grounded guide to budgeting, debt payoff, long-term investing, and building multiple income streams the right way.

In this episode, I sit down with Randy Gage for one of those conversations that just goes deep: talking about prosperity, what it actually takes to build something, and the mindset shifts that change everything. We get into why entrepreneurs are really just artists, why money isn't the point (it's just a tool), and why most people are playing the money game with the wrong rulebook. Spoiler: cutting out your daily coffee isn't the strategy.

Randy opens up about his journey from poverty and failure to building multiple multimillion-dollar businesses, and we dig into how health, relationships, contribution, and mindset all tie into real wealth. This conversation is about expanding what you think is possible, unlearning the toxic money beliefs you didn't even know you had, and understanding that abundance comes from solving problems and adding real value, not from playing it safe.

If you've ever felt stuck, played small, or wondered why some people keep winning while others are just trying not to lose, this one's going to challenge how you think about money, success, and what a prosperous life actually looks like.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Adam Bruderly, founder of the 903 Collective and a former Vanguard finance leader, to talk about the question that quietly changes everything, what is your enough number.

We dig into why chasing a bigger title, a bigger account balance, or some imaginary finish line can leave you emptier than you expected, and how real wealth looks more like time, presence, health, relationships, and meaningful experiences than it looks like stuff. Adam shares how surviving 9/11 while working in the World Trade Center reshaped his entire life and made time the most valuable currency he tracks, because it is the one thing you cannot buy back. From memento mori and stoicism to the hedonic treadmill, the five regrets of the dying, and the difference between spending on things versus spending on experiences, this conversation reframes personal finance as a tool, not an identity. We also go deep on the 903 Collective’s four pillars, physical, mental, financial, and spiritual wellness, and why living your best version requires alignment across all four, not domination of just one.

If you have ever thought, when I get to X, then I will be happy, this episode is your wake up call to redefine success, protect your time, and build a life that feels rich right now.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with insurance pro Broc Buckles to talk about the unsexy side of wealth that actually keeps your whole plan from falling apart.

We get into why fee-only financial planners are such a game changer for regular people, how term life insurance, disability insurance, and umbrella policies quietly protect your future, and why “it won’t happen to me” is one of the most dangerous beliefs you can carry into adulthood. Broc breaks down, in plain English, how disability insurance can protect your income, why locking in term life insurance when you are young and healthy is such a smart move, and how a simple umbrella policy can save you from getting wiped out after a car accident or lawsuit. I share personal stories about friends and family who lost everything because they did not have the right coverage, a heart scare that changed my own insurability, and even a wild Hollywood scam that shows how “shiny object syndrome” can blind us to obvious red flags. We connect it all back to long term wealth building, Stoic thinking, and that Navy SEAL mindset of hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

If you have ever wondered how insurance really fits into financial planning, how to protect your family, or how to find advisors who are not just trying to sell you a high commission product, this conversation will give you a real world playbook for using insurance as a key part of your personal finance and long term wealth strategy.