In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Limbrick, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, researcher, and Assistant Professor at Nevada State University — and yes, she’s also the woman who throws full-blown birthday parties for 59½.

Jessica shares how her early fascination with personal finance, her own lived experiences, and a pivotal poverty simulation shaped her teaching philosophy. She talks about using metaphors, milestones, and empathy to bring financial concepts to life for her students — many of whom are working full-time or caring for families while attending college.

We explore her research on college students' shifting views on poverty, the intersection of wealth and perceived intelligence, and how educators and counselors alike can better serve clients across income levels. Plus, we talk AI, crypto, and why she believes everyone should embrace their own “experiment number” à la Lilo & Stitch.

This conversation will leave you thinking differently about the role of educators, the weight of financial systems, and the power of meeting people where they are — whether they’re clients, students, or simply fellow humans navigating life.

Show Notes: 

00:51 How personal finance shaped Jessica's path 

05:41 Jessica's why 

08:03 Why educators need to utilize creativity with financial education

13:43 The future of AI & crypto in financial planning

17:20 Poverty simulation & impact on her research

30:08 Jessica's 2 cents

Show Note Links: 

Connect with Jessica on Instagram!

Connect with Jessica on Linkedin!

*The link below will ask for a donation. Please note this site is not affiliated with AFCPE. 

https://playspent.org/ 

Want to get involved with AFCPE®?
Here are a few places to start: Become a Member, Sign up for an Essentials Course, or Get AFC Certified today!

Want to support the podcast? We love partnering with organizations that share our mission and values. Download our media kit.