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After 250 conversations with guests from around the world, one truth stands out: money works best when we start with people, not products.

Episode 250 turns the tables. Guest host Faith Teope puts Tony Steuer in the hot seat to reflect on what he’s learned from more than 250 conversations with financial experts, advocates, and changemakers from around the world

The result is a global, human-first look at money as a readiness mindset shaped by identity, access, emotion, and lived experience rather than a product perspective. 

Key Takeaways

🔹 Money readiness starts with mindset and curiosity, not products.

🔹 Preparing before life happens creates flexibility and confidence.

🔹 Money conversations resonate globally across cultures.

🔹 Structural inequities shape financial outcomes, especially for women and caregivers.

🔹 Shame blocks progress, while listening creates trust.

🔹 Money decisions are deeply emotional and psychological.

🔹 The future of financial services is human, even as AI advances.

💭 Tony’s Take

After 250 episodes, one truth stands out: everyone’s money journey is different, and real readiness comes from understanding people first,before products, plans, or tools.

Final Thought

If there’s one takeaway from this milestone episode, it’s this: anyone can do money, as long as they’re willing to stay curious, ask better questions, and prepare with intention.

Connect with Faith Teope:

• Website: https://faithteope.com
• LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/faithteope
• YouTube: http://youtube.com/@faithteope
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/faithteope
• Threads: https://threads.net/faithteope
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/thefaithteope

Books: 

• The Monster Job Book - Faith Teope (Amazon) 

Bio: 

Faith Teope is a multimedia journalist, children’s financial literacy author, and CEO of Leverage Retirement, a 40+ year-old TPA/Recordkeeper firm. She is known for being the host of the weekly podcast, Pull to Refresh: Where 401k experts get curious. Teope is the editor of The Naked Professional LinkedIn Newsletter and a contributor to Safe in Harm’s Way as a financial abuse advocate. Her new show, SAVVY, explores the systemic gaps in financial literacy and is scheduled to air in the fall of 2023. Teope's debut title is The Monster Job.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, Tony talks with Maxwell Schmitz, Disability Insurance Specialist and Co-Founder of Dingo Technologies, about why income protection is the core building block of a real financial plan.

🔑 Key Takeaways

🔹 Think about your future yet worth (money you’ll earn) 

🔹 A financial plan without disability insurance is not a financial plan

🔹 We should reframe disability insurance as income protection  

🔹 You are more likely to need disability insurance than homeowners and auto insurance

🔹 Understand the full spectrum of disabilities, they are not all total and permanent

🔹 Disability insurance replaces income loss, while health insurance covers medical expenses.

🔹 Financial planners have an obligation to include income protection in their planning process. 

Connect with Maxwell Schmitz:

• LinkedIn:  (here)
• Dingo Technologies website: (here)
• Yetworth website: (here)

Resources mentioned:

• Calculate your potential future earnings: whatsmyyetworth.com

Bio: 

Maxwell Schmitz, MSFS, CLTC is a third-generation DI specialist.  He is co-founder of Dingo Technologies, Inc. and President of Yetworth Insurance Solutions, a disability-focused insurance agency.  He also currently serves as President of the International DI Society, an association of the nation's top DI minds. Max also serves as the chair of his town's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. He is a sitting member on the board of The Plus Group, America's Premier Disability Insurance Marketing Organization. In his spare time he is also the father/coach of three energetic/athletic kids (ages 7, 5, and 3), husband to an amazing wife, and is a thru-hiking junkie.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, Tony sits down with Adam Koos, President of Libertas Wealth Management and host of The Retirement Fiduciary Podcast to explore why great financial planning starts with relationships, curiosity, and clarity.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Ask questions to ensure that you understand. 

🔹 Relationships are at the heart of effective financial planning

🔹 Advisors will succeed in the age of AI by becoming better communicators.

🔹 The financial services industry needs people who are better at communicating

🔹 Developing a plan will help you think about what you need, what you are missing, and will keep you on track

🔹 Decide whether you have the time and interest to do something or if it’s better to outsource

🔹 Consider that advice doesn’t apply to everyone, and that what you read or hear may not be true.

Connect with Adam Koos:

• Website: www.LibertasWealth.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/libertaswealth
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertas.wealth
• Threads: https://www.threads.com/@libertas.wealth
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas-wealth
• Twitter: https://x.com/LibertasWM
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@libertaswealthmanagement
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@libertaswealth
• Email: [email protected]

The Retirement Fiduciary Podcast:

• Podcast Youtube Playlist Link
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

Bio: 

Adam Koós, CFP®, CMT, CFTe, CEPA is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, one of approximately 2,500 active Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) worldwide, as well as a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe®) through the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA), and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) via the Exit Planning Institute.  He’s been named by Columbus Business First as one of their 20 People to Know in Finance, is a recipient of the Forty Under 40 award, is ranked by Investopedia as one of the Top-100 Most Influential Financial Advisers in the U.S., and is the winner of the coveted Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics and Trust.  Adam serves his clients as the president and portfolio manager at Libertas Wealth Management Group, Inc., a NAPFA-affiliated, Fee-Only Fiduciary RIA firm, located in Columbus, Ohio.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Meghan Dwyer, CFP®, Certified Money Coach®, and host of the Money Isn’t Scary podcast, about why money isn’t scary when you understand your money story and build confidence. 

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Stories are not facts, you get to choose what you believe. 

🔹 We are allowed to have knowledge and power with our money, we don’t need permission

🔹 Naming shame takes away its power and helps you move forward.

🔹 Create a more intentional way of doing things, in accordance with your values

🔹 Expecting yourself to balance everything isn’t possible, we need to know when to ask for help

🔹 What we perceive as failure is actually learning

🔹 Women who step into abundance gain confidence 

Connect with Meghan Dwyer, CFP®, CDFA®:

• LinkedIn (here)
• Money Isn’t Scary website (here)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneyisntscary

Money Isn’t Scary Podcast:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-isnt-scary/id1567364775
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5ncCqvBYwyg4mFUAEYqG4h

Resources mentioned:

• Why We Need Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristin Neff and Meghan Dwyer on the Money Isn’t Scary Podcast - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-we-need-self-compassion-with-dr-kristin-neff/id1542792192?i=1000607479897

Bio: 

Meghan Dwyer is a Certified Financial Planner™, Certified Financial Therapist™, and the creator of Money Isn’t Scary, a podcast dedicated to helping women understand the deeper emotional patterns that drive their financial decisions. Combining her background in finance with training in financial therapy, Meghan brings a unique lens to money—one rooted in self-awareness, compassion, and empowerment. She supports women in shifting from fear and self-criticism to clarity and confidence, both in their financial lives and their everyday choices.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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Major life changes can shake your financial confidence. In this episode, Tony sits down with Chris Olofson, Founder of DIVEE Financial, to discuss how to take control of your money during transitions like divorce, retirement, or other major shifts.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Think about the planning process as an investment in yourself.
🔹 Know your expenses inside and out, including irregular annual costs such as gifts and insurance. 
🔹 Be sure to include income-generating assets, since your portfolio will become your paycheck. 
🔹 Maintain access to liquid assets
🔹 Understand how each asset will impact you, including factoring in capital gains or other related expenses.
🔹 Define what a successful outcome looks like for you and trust your instincts.

🔹 Women should take the time to understand family finances today. 90% of women will be 100% in charge of their money at some time. 

💭 Tony’s Take:
The more you understand your money, the more control you have during moments when life shifts unexpectedly.

Connect with Chris Olofson:

• Website: https://diveefi.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisolofson/

Bio: 

Chris Olofson was raised in Oregon and Oklahoma and studied Economics at UC Santa Barbara. After graduation, I obtained my CPA license & moved to San Francisco to start a career at KPMG, one of the BIG FOUR public accounting firms.  I met my husband of 33 years during a three-month secondment for the firm in Auckland, New Zealand. Shortly after returning, I left KPMG to become a Controller and CFO for a small community bank in Marin County. From that five-year stint, my next career move was to work in the mortgage-backed securities business as VP of Operations for GMAC Commercial Mortgage in San Francisco staying there another five years through the birth of my two boys. When my youngest was 6 months old, I quit and took six  years off to enjoy being a full-time mom. When Trevor started kindergarten, I created my own financial consulting company helping companies, in a wide variety of industries, implementing financial best practices and infrastructure. After taking another year off to care for my mom, I then went back into banking with a focus on multi-family commercial lending. 

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Carol Chiang, aging-in-place expert and author of Age in Place or Find a New Space, about how to take control of your aging journey with an aging plan.

💡 Key Takeaways

🔹 Aging is a natural process, and it can also be an opportunity.
 🔹 People need to be active participants in their own aging plan.
 🔹 Start planning early, while you have time, options, and income.
 🔹 Be intentional about whether you want to age in place or find a new space.
 🔹 Have honest and open conversations with loved ones.
 🔹 Accept that aging is happening and make intentional choices.
 🔹 Your choices today become your consequences tomorrow.

Connect with Carol Chiang:

Evolving Homes Website (here)

LinkedIn (here)

Books:

• Age in Place or Find a New Space: How to Create Beautiful Spaces That Promote Meaningful Interactions (Amazon) 

Bio: 

Carol Chiang, OTR/L, CAPS, ECHM, CHAMP Author, Podcast Host, and International Aging in Place Specialist. Carol Chiang takes a proactive and holistic approach to longevity, shifting the narrative from reactive care to intentional living. As a former Olympic-caliber athlete and Urban Poling Master Trainer, she blends physical wellness with environmental design to help people “future-proof” their lives.

Author of the Kirkus starred guide Age in Place or Find a New Space, Carol is a leading voice in the “home as healthcare” movement. She is the host of the Innovative Aging podcast and a tireless advocate for the Parkinson’s community, frequently speaking to international audiences on how to leverage technology and habit-building to maintain independence.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Brandon Lovingier, Founder of Military Money, about the tactics financial predators use and how military members (and all of us) can stay one step ahead.

Key Takeaways:

🔹Start with your goals, then decide if a product helps you get there.

🔹 Ask questions, until you understand what you’re investing in or purchasing

🔹 Understand your benefits. For example, you don’t need to pay anyone to “unlock” your VA benefits.

🔹 Slow down, time pressure lends to suboptimal decision making

🔹 Understand how someone gets paid and their underlying incentives. 

🔹 How military members (and all of us) guard against financial predators.

🔹 Be wary of pitches that lean on military status or shared connections.

🔹 Learn how a Military Qualified Financial Planner can help protect you.

 Connect with Brandon Lovingier:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonlovingier/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@enlistedmoney
• Website: https://enlistedmoney.com/
• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/enlistedmoneyguy
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/enlistedmoneyguy/

Resources mentioned:

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/
• Military Qualified Financial Planner designation: https://mqfp.org 

Bio: 

Brandon Lovingier, ChFC®, AFC®, MQFP®, wasn’t born into money. He joined the Army right out of high school and has served for over 20 years on active duty – including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. When he was younger, he wasted money on trucks, beer, cigarettes, energy drinks, and everything in between. At one point, he and his wife had to put rent on a credit card just to get by.

Fast forward, they’re debt-free and building wealth. He established his blog, Enlisted Money, to help enlisted service members avoid the same mistakes he made. He earned his Chartered Financial Consultant – ChFC® designation in 2022 and is one of the first Military Qualified Financial Planner – MQFP® designation holders. He was awarded The American College of Financial Services NextGen Financial Professional Award for 2024. He’s been a speaker at MilMoneyCon and loves mentoring other service members on their own financial freedom journey.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Melana Carbary, Private Wealth Manager at Burning River Advisory Group and founder of enlightenHer to talk about how confidence, authenticity, and action can change the way women engage with money.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Listen with intention, rather than just thinking about the next thing you’ll say.

🔹 If we care enough, we will take the right action.

🔹 Be authentic and focus on helping, not selling.

🔹 Your history doesn’t define you, but you have to take action to move forward

🔹 Work through shame or trauma so it doesn’t hold you back.

🔹 Include women in money conversations as equal partners.

🔹 Speak to women in ways that make them feel seen and respected.

🔹 Most women will be in charge of their money at some point in their life.

Connect with Melana Carbary:

• LinkedIn: (here)

• enlightenHer Website (here)
• enlightenHer Resources: (here)
• enlightenHer Coaching: (here)
• enlighterHer Instagram: @enlightenHerofficial (here)
• enlightenHer LinkedIn: (here)
• enlightenHer Facebook: @enlightenHer | (here)

• Burning River Advisory Group website: (here)

Bio: 

Melana Carbary, CFP®, CLU®, CDFA®, grew up in a small Ohio town, the daughter of a second-generation railroading family. While extremely close with all of her family, Melana shared a special bond and relationship with her mother. Her mom’s strong role within the family led Melana to be the strong, independent woman she is today and

helped shape her career and passion for working with women.

Melana strives to live simply, be a prudent steward of her money, and create a life full of meaningful experiences. Her journey is about collecting memories, not “things.”

She is most proud of the role she served in supporting her mom during her battle with cancer. She is also now the proud auntie of two beautiful nieces.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Justyn Makarewycz, about how financial fluency fuels better career choices—and a more intentional life.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Invest in financial fluency. Understanding money helps you make smarter career moves.
• Clarify what matters. Define your values and long-term goals before chasing the next title.
• Plan backward. Start with your vision, then create the action steps to reach it.
• Network strategically. Relationships open more doors than résumés.
• Stay adaptable. Careers evolve, keep learning and adjusting.
• Compare offers wisely. Evaluate benefits, growth, and balance, not just salary.
• Keep your purpose in sight. Every move should advance what success means to you.

💭 Tony’s Take
Financial fluency isn’t only about budgets—it’s about making intentional choices that align your work, your money, and your purpose.

Connect with Justyn Makarewycz:

• LinkedIn (here)

Podcast:

• Host of the Zicklin GCMC Podcast (here)

Bio: 

Justyn Makarewycz is Deputy Director of Employer Relations at Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business. He has over 15 years' experience in university career services, employer relations, alumni engagement, as well as contingency recruitment and staffing. His work is focused on developing and implementing employer-relations strategies that open up hiring opportunities for MBA and specialty Masters students, while maintaining the strong brand of Baruch College with employers. Before his work in university career services, Justyn worked in digital marketing on the brand, agency, and publisher sides for a decade.

Justyn became interested in financial literacy from an early age when his parents gifted him The Wealthy Barber at age 11. Plenty of additional financial-literacy books later, and in his own work and research in financial topics, he has become invested in how important financial literacy is in people's lives and how much it can impact the choices they make and ideas they dream about their careers.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

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On this episode of The Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast, I spoke with Annalee Kruger, President of Care Right Inc. and author of The Invisible Patient about how creating an aging plan can save time, money, and stress.

💡 Key Takeaways

🔹 Start the conversation early. Hold family meetings that include every stakeholder.

🔹 Family members should clear on the parent’s wishes and goals are.

🔹 Build the right team. Engage qualified senior-care consultants and verify how they’re compensated.

🔹 Understand the true costs and safety factors of aging at home vs. facilities.

🔹 Do your due diligence. Review care-facility complaint records and service histories.

🔹 Make caregiving sustainable. Accept limits, share responsibilities, and give yourself grace.

🔹 A clear aging plan turns potential crises into calm coordination.

💭 Tony’s Take: Preparing an aging plan isn’t just about logistics—it’s about dignity. When families align on values and advisors guide with empathy, everyone wins.

Connect with Annalee Kruger:

• Care Right, Inc. Website (here)
• LinkedIn (here)
• Facebook: (here)

Books:

• The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers: How to Plan Ahead and Save Time, Money, and Stress (Amazon) (book website) 

Resources mentioned:

• Care Right E-Grab and Go Binder
• Carescout Cost of Care Calculator

Bio: 

Annalee started Care Right Inc, a VIRTUAL consultancy, in 2011, after working in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC's) for 22 years. Annalee Kruger has devoted her career to guiding family caregivers and their aging loved ones with decisions about aging, dementia progression, the landscape of senior care, considerations of aging at home, helping outline current and future care options, helping families determine their "safety triggers" for when parents need care/more care and the aging at home care budget to prevent families from not qualifying financially to gain admission into a quality care community.

She is a national speaker on aging, caregiving, dementia, family dynamics/mediation, and end-of-life. Major financial services conferences she has presented at: IWI, FPA, NAPA, NAIFA, AICPA, CIMA, Truist, D.A. Davidson, and many other conferences in the healthcare/senior care industry.

She authored, The Invisible Patient: The Emotional, Financial, and Physical Toll on Family Caregivers.

Annalee also offers training packages for the financial services and healthcare industries—which include in-person, webinar, and masterminds.

She also created the Aging Strategy Coaching Academy (ASCA), the first ever global coaching program that PROPERLY addresses aging, family caregiving, dementia/chronic illness, the landscape of senior care, dying, grief, and much more. 

Annalee also created the Elder Planning Specialist certification program, specifically for CFP’s who want to earn a certificate to better identify and address

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.