In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Lisa Linkowsky, CEO and Founder of Milestone Franchising. A Certified Franchise Consultant and former multi-unit franchise owner, Lisa helps people explore whether franchise ownership could be the right next chapter for them.

They discuss:

• What a franchise is and how the business model works
• The different types of franchise opportunities available
• What skills can help someone succeed as a franchise owner
• How to determine whether franchising is the right fit for you
• What to look for when evaluating a franchise opportunity
• How much it can cost to get started
• How prospective owners can make more informed decisions before investing

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Diana Bernal, speaker, executive coach, and author of Career with Intention. Diana helps professionals build confidence, overcome obstacles, and create intentional career momentum.

They discuss:

• Why financial freedom matters when you need a way out of a toxic or unsustainable situation
• How staying with one employer can sometimes be riskier than becoming self-employed
• The mindset needed to make a career change or move into self-employment
• How to choose a side hustle that fits your goals and strengths
• How to talk with your spouse or family about a major career transition
• Why building a financial cushion is so important before making the leap
• What surprises people most when they become self-employed

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Gerda Maissel, MD, BCPA, President and Founder of My MD Advisor. As both a physician and private patient advocate, Dr. Maissel helps individuals and families navigate complex medical care and make more informed caregiving decisions.

They discuss:

• When families should start researching care options for aging parents
• What to expect financially as a parent's care needs increase
• How to prepare for the often-overlooked costs of caregiving
• Common misconceptions about the cost and safety of care
• The most important questions to ask before hiring a caregiver
• How to research and evaluate caregiving options
• How families can avoid both over- and underspending on care

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Ray Shefska, Co-Founder of CarEdge, to discuss how consumers can negotiate smarter and avoid common mistakes when buying a vehicle.

They discuss:

• The questions car buyers should never ask at a dealership
• Why negotiating monthly payments instead of total price costs consumers money
• How dealerships use down payments and financing information during negotiations
• Why securing financing before shopping gives buyers more leverage
• Common misconceptions about negotiating vehicle prices
• Practical strategies for staying in control throughout the buying process
• How AI and real-time market data are helping consumers negotiate better deals

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Nidhi Singhvi, Co-Founder and CEO of Unvault, an AI-powered platform helping consumers discover the true value of their gold jewelry in minutes.

They discuss:

• Why Americans may be sitting on billions of dollars in overlooked gold jewelry
• Why people often underestimate the value of their jewelry by three times or more
• How artificial intelligence can estimate jewelry value from a simple photo
• What happens after receiving an AI valuation
• Common mistakes consumers make when selling jewelry
• When it may make sense to sell versus holding jewelry as a long-term asset
• How technology is bringing greater transparency to the jewelry market

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Robert Siciliano, cybersecurity expert, bestselling author, private investigator, and CEO of Protect Now. Robert has spent decades helping consumers and businesses defend against identity theft, fraud, and the constantly evolving world of cybercrime.

They discuss:

• How artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of financial scams and what you can do to protect yourself
• Practical strategies to help safeguard your personal information, finances, and online accounts
• How to recognize scam warning signs and avoid common security mistakes
• How to strengthen your passwords and account security
• What to do to better protect your Social Security number and personal identity
• Why digital estate planning should be part of every family's financial strategy
• And more!

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Andy Williamson, the CEO and Co-Founder of ONLC Training, one of the largest privately owned IT training companies in the United States.

They discuss:

• How artificial intelligence is reshaping the future of work and what professionals need to do to keep up
• Why AI fluency is becoming one of the most important skills for workers and business owners
• How individuals can start building practical AI skills without feeling overwhelmed or left behind
• Why this moment feels less like a normal technology upgrade and more like an industrial revolution happening at record speed
• The difference between using AI to replace people and using it to augment human capability
• Why the future will likely be a mix of disruption and new opportunity

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Tiana Heath, the National Apartment Association Senior Manager of Industry Relations, and a multifamily property management professional with over 17 years of experience.

Today, they discuss:

• Some simple ways renters can lower their utility bills in the summer without sacrificing comfort
• Where renters overspend the most when it comes to energy use (and where they go wrong financially in the summer months)
• How renters can balance seasonal spending, like increased utility costs and travel, with their fixed monthly expenses
• What renters should prioritize when expenses start stacking up
• What renters may be surprised to find out about managing costs
• Differences in the cost of utilities between owning and renting

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Hannah Siddiqui, the Head of Product and Operations at Solos, an Award-winning worldwide group travel company exclusively for solo globetrotters.

Today, she's sharing the benefits of having your travel experience curated by experts, how to keep things on a budget, why solo travelers should book with tour companies that don't charge single supplement fees, and what measures can be taken to ensure solo travelers feel safe and supported during their travels.

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us

In this episode of Saving With Steve, host Steve Sexton is joined by Hannah Tilson, who specializes in translating complex AI concepts into simple, actionable strategies — enabling teams across organizations to confidently adopt AI in their everyday work and build AI-first operating models.

Today, she's discussing the AI skills crisis: why businesses are unprepared and how to fix it. Hannah talks about the rise of AI-first organizations and what it means for teams, the decline of traditional skill sets and the rise of new capabilities, why so many AI projects fail + how to avoid common pitfalls, and practical steps organizations can take to start using AI today.

Learn more about the show at www.SavingWithSteve.us