And in case you missed it, check out last week's episode of Your Money Guide on the Side where we answered the question, What Accounts do I Actually Need?
Tess Waresmith is a financial educator, speaker, and investor known for helping people reach financial independence with simple investing. She’s the founder of Wealth With Tess, where she helps women build wealth and confidence through investing. Tess has been featured by CNBC, Business Insider, and Fox 5 NY, and is a self-made millionaire focused on helping others avoid the mistakes that cost her… well let’s not go there.
📚 What We Discuss with Tess Waresmith:
🔍 03:15 — Early mistakes and financial wake-up calls — who should handle your money?
💸 06:40 — Millions lost in fees — how hidden costs quietly eat your future
📈 08:15 — “It’s not that hard” — building confidence by learning the basics
🧠 10:00 — Asset allocation 101 — understanding fiduciary duty and financial jargon
🧾 13:00 — Learned money scripts and access to real financial literacy
⚖️ 15:00 — Avoiding absolutes — why personal finance isn’t one-size-fits-all
⏳ 17:20 — The time investment of investing — and why it’s worth it
🚫 20:00 — Breaking up with your advisor — navigating the money manager minefield
🚩 25:55 — Red flags in your fees — questions to ask and answers to expect
🤫 29:00 — Your ignorance is someone’s profit — staying sharp in a noisy market
🎓 30:30 — $50K of financial education in 4 minutes — a crash course curriculum
⚡ 35:30 — Lightning round! — quickfire investing truths and final thoughts
💡 What You’ll Walk Away With
- How to spot hidden fees that quietly drain your portfolio
- The confidence to make financial decisions without outsourcing everything
- What to ask before trusting someone with your money
- A basic framework for asset allocation and fiduciary responsibility
- Why there's no single “right” way to invest
- Tools for becoming an informed investor, even if you’re starting from scratch
🧾 Resources
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Check out episode 23 with Bill Perkins — a hedge fund manager and author of Die With Zero, who explains why the best return on investment might be spending your money now on experiences that
