In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we welcome back fan favorite Ryan Law, award-winning educator, author, and financial counselor, to share something a little different: his groundbreaking ReWired Framework.

Ryan walks us through his seven-step process for identifying and transforming limiting beliefs—the inner work that often determines whether we achieve lasting success. From recognizing the beliefs that hold us back to experimenting with small, actionable steps, Ryan shows how rewiring our mindset can create real, sustainable change—not just in finances, but in all areas of life.

Whether you’re a financial professional helping clients reach their goals or someone striving to make positive changes in your own life, this episode provides practical insights and strategies to start rewiring your brain for success.

Show Notes:

02:09 Introduction to the ReWired Framework

04:59 Why knowledge and motivation alone aren’t enough for lasting chang

08:20 How beliefs drive behavior and why focusing on inner work is key

10:51 Step-by-step breakdown of the ReWired Framework (R–E–W–I–R–E–D)

18:25 The power of small, consistent steps to reinforce new beliefs

21:09 Documenting and reflecting for sustainable growth

24:03 How rewiring your brain applies to clients and your own life

25:26 Ryan’s 2 Cents

Show Note Links:

Connect with Ryan on Linkedin!

Learn more about Sarah Newcomb!

Check out Erika Wasserman!

Learn more about Money Habitudes!

Check out Klontz Money Script Inventory (KMSI)!

Read Atomic Habits!

Read Tiny Habits!

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Here are a few places to start: Become a Member, Sign up for an Essentials Course, or Get AFC Certified today!

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Money conversations are emotional for any family—but in blended families, they often come with added layers of loss, loyalty, and complexity.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon are joined by Mikel Van Cleve, CFP®, PhD candidate at Texas Tech University and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, to unpack the unique financial and emotional dynamics of blended families.

Drawing from both research and lived experience—what Michael calls “me-search”—the conversation explores why traditional financial advice doesn’t always work for blended families, common emotional landmines around money, and how assumptions about “joint finances” can unintentionally create conflict. Mikel shares practical tools financial professionals can use, including the three-bucket money approach, genograms, money dates, and role-playing exercises, to foster communication, transparency, and trust.

Whether you’re a financial practitioner working with blended families or someone navigating one yourself, this episode offers actionable insights, empathy-driven strategies, and a powerful reminder: blended families aren’t broken or abnormal—they’re simply different, and they deserve planning approaches that reflect that reality.

Show Notes:

01:26 – Meet Mikel Van Cleve, CFP®

03:05 – How Mikel’s lived experience shaped his research

05:18 – Why blended families are often overlooked in financial planning

07:52 – Emotional and financial landmines blended families face

11:48 – Rethinking joint finances in blended families

13:02 – The three-bucket money approach explained

18:44 – Why practitioner bias matters when working with blended families

23:36 – Tools for navigating emotionally charged money conversations

26:08 – Mikel’s 2 Cents

Show Note Links:

Learn more about Mikel's work

Read Mikel's work! 

Connect with Mikel! 

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!

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Is artificial intelligence here to help financial professionals—or replace them?

In this special episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon kick off the new season with their very first video podcast recording and welcome back fan-favorite guest Dr. Jessica Limbrick, professor, researcher, AFCPE Board Member, and 2026 Treasurer.

Fresh off her highly rated AFCPE Symposium session, “Will AI Take My Job?”, Dr. Limbrick joins the show to unpack what AI really means for financial counselors, coaches, planners, and educators. Together, they explore how AI can be used as a powerful assistant—from budgeting and lesson planning to brainstorming client strategies—while also discussing its limitations, risks, and ethical considerations.

This episode dives into:

1. How financial professionals can use AI without over-relying on it
2. Why fact-checking and asking better questions matters more than ever
3. Equity, bias, and access concerns in AI-driven financial advice
4. Environmental and ethical implications of emerging technologies
5. Whether AI will actually replace financial counselors—or simply reshape the profession

Whether you’re AI-curious, AI-cautious, or already experimenting with new tools, this conversation offers a grounded, human-centered perspective on how technology and financial counseling can—and should—coexist.

Now available on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Show Notes:

01:30 – Introducing Dr. Jessica Limbrick

03:00 – How Jessica Got Interested in AI

06:00 – Using AI as an Assistant, Not an Authority

09:30 – AI in Financial Counseling: Opportunities & Risks

13:30 – Ethical Considerations & Bias in AI

17:30 – The Future of the Financial Profession

20:45 – Will AI Take My Job?

22:45 – Jessica's 2 Cents

Show Note Links:

Connect with Jessica on Instagram!

Connect with Jessica on Linkedin!

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.

2025 was full of insightful conversations, and in this special episode, Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter revisit some of the most impactful moments from the year. From defining true wealth to building trust with clients, our guests share nuggets of wisdom that inspire both financial professionals and everyday money managers alike.

Join us as we highlight key takeaways from Justin Chastain, John Ackerman, Ericka Young, Joanne Danganan, and Colleen Salchow. You'll hear about building self-worth, the power of journaling, military family money lessons, and the importance of compound interest.

 This is a celebration of learning, growth, and actionable advice to help you and your clients thrive in 2026.

Tune in to leave with your own “two cents” for the year ahead!

Shownotes:

00:04 Welcome to our 2025 round up

01:09 Justin Chastain: Wealth vs. Brand

04:57 Jon Ackerman: Helping the Underserved

08:31 Ericka Young: Financial Coaching & Building Trust

11:42 Joanne Danganan: Journaling & Money Conversations

15:47Colleen Salchow: Military Family Money Lessons

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.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ann Lentell, CFA, AFC®️, CFP®️ — a financial professional whose career bridges equity research, nonprofit leadership, and deeply human financial coaching.

Ann shares how a childhood curiosity about markets led to a lifelong passion for personal finance, and how a transformative college class sparked her commitment to helping families build savings and stability.

We dive into her decade at Compass Working Capital, where she scaled financial coaching programs for families in federally subsidized housing, and explore how culturally competent, client-centered coaching can shift lives.

Ann also reflects on her journey to the AFC®️, what drew her to AFCPE’s mission, and how raising the bar for financial education brings greater access and equity to communities nationwide. Plus, she gives us a look ahead at her vision as AFCPE’s incoming Board President.

This episode is filled with heart, strategy, and a powerful reminder that every financial story deserves dignity and high-quality guidance.

Show Notes:

03:31 – Get to know AFCPE's 2026 Board President, Ann Lentell

07:26 – What drew Ann to AFCPE

12:39 – Brandy reflects on Ann’s impact on the AFCPE board

12:58 – How nonprofits can raise financial education standards

13:37 – The role of credentials and combating misinformation online

17:11 – Why the AFC pathway matters

17:58 – Ann's 2 Cents

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.

Join hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter live from the AFCPE Symposium for a special episode capturing the energy, insights, and inspiration of this year’s event.

In this unique format, you’ll hear directly from attendees—from financial coaches to educators to organizational leaders—as they share what the Symposium means to them, the moments that moved them, and the lessons they’re taking home.

You’ll hear powerful “made for this moment” reflections from:

• Kelsea Dickey (Financial Coach Academy)
• Christine Richardson (Financial Planning Association)
• Debra Barker (Magellan Federal)
• Sean Brigham (Texas Tech University)
• Kimberly Rand (Project Equity)
• Young Mao and Tanya Brinston (University of Minnesota)

Whether you attended in person, joined virtually, or are listening from afar, this episode captures the heart of the AFCPE community—connection, learning, and purpose.

Show Notes:

00:42 Why We Were Made For This Moment

02:05 Rachael’s Symposium Highlights

03:10 Brandy’s Symposium Highlights

08:10 Interview: Kelsea Dickey

11:20 Interview: Christine Richardson

13:30 Interview: Debra Barker

18:00 Interview: Sean Brigham

20:30 Interview: Kimberly Rand

23:13 Interview: Young Mao and Tanya Brinston
 

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.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with the iconic Saundra Davis — master certified coach, financial well-being expert, and founder of Sage Financial Solutions — to explore the deeper layers of money, mindset, and human behavior.

Sandra shares her powerful journey from financial planning to financial coaching, unpacking why knowledge alone isn’t enough to create change — and how understanding our “money parts” through the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model can transform both our personal and professional relationships with money.

Together, they dive into:

1. How different parts of ourselves — the saver, the spender, the worrier, the giver — all try to protect us in their own ways
2. What it means to lead from our Self in financial decision-making
3. How to bring compassion, cultural humility, and mindfulness into client work
4. Why continuous learning, reflection, and safe community spaces like the AFCPE Symposium are vital for financial professionals

Whether you’re a coach, counselor, planner, or simply someone striving to make peace with money, this episode will leave you inspired to meet every “part” of yourself — and your clients — with grace, curiosity, and compassion.

Show Notes: 

03:24 Saundra’s Journey into Financial Coaching

06:18 The Framework of IFS (Internal Family Systems)

11:57 How to Heal Your Money Parts

28:37 A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Saundra’s Pre-Conference Session

36:37 Saundra’s Two Cents

Show Notes Links:

Listening When Parts Speak by Tamala Floyd

No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz 

Explore Sage Financial Solutions!

Connect with Saundra on Linkedin!

Connect with Saundra on Facebook!

Connect with Sage Financial Solutions on Instagram!

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.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with Erika Wasserman, Certified Financial Therapist and author of Conversations with Your Financial Therapist: Stories and Scripts to Grow Your Financial Mindset. Erika shares how her personal journey—spanning a corporate career, global travel, motherhood, and personal transformation—shaped her holistic approach to financial well-being.

Together, they unpack the emotional side of money—how values, relationships, and even shame influence the way we spend, save, and talk about finances. Erika offers practical tools for breaking money taboos, building confidence, and creating space for empathy in financial conversations.

Whether you work directly with clients or are exploring your own relationship with money, this episode will inspire you to say yes to compassion and start the conversations that lead to financial clarity and confidence.

Show Notes: 

00:00 Welcome to Real Money, Real Experts

03:13 Erika’s Journey to Financial Therapy

05:08 Why Money Fights Aren’t About Money

06:58 Breaking the Cycle of Money Shame

09:24 The Power of Compassion in Financial Conversations

10:52 How to Start Difficult Money Conversations

13:36 Inside the Growing Field of Financial Therapy

15:40 Why Professionals Must Know Their Own Money Story

18:59 Erika’s Two Cents

Show Note Links:

Grab your copy of Erika's book!

Connect with Erika on LinkedIn!

Follow 'Your Financial Therapist' on Instagram

Explore 'Your Financial Therapist' on Amazon!

Check out 'Your Financial Therapist' website! 

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.

What does financial health really look like in America today — and how can we help households thrive in an increasingly complex financial world? In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with Lisa Berdie from the Financial Health Network and Dr. Gary Mottola from the Financial Investor Education Foundation (FINRA) to uncover the latest research on financial capability, resilience, and well-being. From the Financial Health Pulse to the National Financial Capability Study, they explore what drives financial health, how major life events like job loss or medical emergencies impact households, and what behaviors can help families build stability. Lisa and Gary also discuss systemic and structural barriers, trends in credit use, and practical steps financial counselors and educators can take to empower clients. Tune in for a deep dive into data, insights, and real-world strategies to help Americans navigate their financial lives with confidence and control.

Show Notes: 

02:46 Get To Know Lisa & Gary

06:49 The Importance of Collaboration in Financial Research

08:34 Surprising Findings from the 2024 National Financial Capability Study

09:28 What’s Driving Household Financial Health?

16:13 Can Households Keep Up with Financial Complexity?

20:00 Practical Steps to Strengthen Financial Health

27:28 Lisa & Gary's 2 Cents

Show Note Links:

Connect with Gary on Linkedin!

Explore Gary's research on FINRA!

Look into Financial Health Pulse 2025 U.S. Trends Report!

Connect with Lisa on Linkedin!

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.

What do financial counseling, professional wrestling, and Hugh Jackman all have in common? 

Human connection. 

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we sit down with international keynote speaker, author, and broadcaster Riaz Meghji to talk about why every conversation counts. With over 10,000 interviews under his belt—from celebrities to changemakers—Riaz has seen firsthand the power of meaningful dialogue. He shares how valuable vulnerability, curiosity over correction, and a beginner’s mindset can strengthen relationships and transform the way we connect with clients. We also explore the role of storytelling in financial counseling, why human connection matters more than ever in an age of polarization, and how financial professionals can make every conversation extraordinary.

Show Notes: 

02:00 The Fun Fact That Started It All

05:26 From Finance to Human Connection

08:12 Embracing the Beginner’s Mindset

10:21 The Power of Co-Creation

14:21 Value-Added Vulnerability

23:25 Vulnerability vs. Oversharing

24:14 Riaz's 2 Cents

Show Note Links:

Connect with Riaz on Linkedin!

Connect with Riaz on Instagram!

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.