Real Money, Real Experts

In this inspiring episode, Rachael and Brandy sit down with Weslia Echols and Willa Williams—better known as your favorite financial aunties. As co-founders of Trinity Financial Coaching and co-hosts of Wealth and Wisdom Together, they guide Christian professional women toward financial fulfillment through their signature Five Milestones framework. Wes and Willa share how their friendship blossomed into a thriving business, the importance of aligning money with values, and why meeting clients with empathy and without judgment is essential for lasting change.Show Notes: 00:00 Meet Weslia & Willa, your “financial aunties”02:54 How they met and the five-year goal that came true05:11 From student to business partner07:26 The Five Milestones of Financial Fulfillment explained09:53 What it’s like to run a business with your best friend15:22 Becoming AFCs and the value of community16:52 Navigating the intersection of faith and finances20:43 Weslia & Willa’s 2 centsShow Note Links:Learn more about Trinity Financial Coaching!Connect with Weslia & Willa on Instagram! Connect with Weslia & Willa on Youtube!Connect with Weslia & Willa on Facebook!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, we’re joined by Derek Brainard, Director of Financial Education at AccessLex Institute, who shares how his background as a Navy trumpet player shaped his unique, down-to-earth approach to personal finance. From managing student loans to navigating economic uncertainty and the rise of AI, Derek offers insights for financial professionals looking to better support clients in a rapidly changing world. Tune in as we explore the importance of breaking down complexity into bite-sized steps, centering life goals in financial conversations, and staying curious as lifelong learners. Whether you're a seasoned AFC or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical wisdom — and a whole lot of #MoneyNerd energy.Show Notes: 01:30 Derek’s Journey: From Navy Musician to Financial Educator05:00 Learning Through Struggle: Debt, Discovery, and AFCPE08:30 Financial Fulfillment and Why Language Matters12:00 Helping Clients Get Unstuck Through Bite-Sized Wins15:00 The Coach Mindset: Listening, Not Just Advising18:30 AI, Technology, and the Human Advantage22:00 Student Loans and Economic Uncertainty: Meeting the Moment26:00 Building the Toolkit: How Financial Pros Can Keep Growing30:00 Derek's 2 CentsShow Note Links: Connect with Derek on Linkedin! Free 30-minute financial coaching service!  Check out AccessLex Tools & Resources! Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear Home | Federal Student Aid 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, 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 education13:43 The future of AI & crypto in financial planning17:20 Poverty simulation & impact on her research30:08 Jessica's 2 centsShow 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.

In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, we’re joined by Dr. Brandon Shurn, AFC®️—a mental health counselor, counselor educator, accredited financial counselor, and certified personal trainer—who brings a truly holistic perspective to financial wellness.Dr. Shurn walks us through his journey from traditional mental health counseling to founding his private practice, Empower Me Holistic Counseling. He shares how financial health, physical health, and mental well-being are deeply interconnected—and how professionals can support clients by addressing the full picture.We discuss how to help clients break free from generational money scripts, how to define your ideal client in private practice, and why time is one of our most powerful yet underutilized resources.Show Notes: 03:25 Brandon's journey into financial wellness08:37 How money scripts shape behavior—and how to reframe them12:55 Breaking generational cycles through financial empowerment18:32 Why your ideal client matters 21:29 Knowing your audience = more effective client attraction 23:40 Why time is a tool, not a barrier 25:32 Brandon's 2 centsShow Note Links:Connect with Brandon on Linkedin!Learn more about Empower Me Holistic Counseling!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.

Hannah Moore, the founder of Amplified Planning and creator of The Externship, is transforming financial planner training by prioritizing empathy over textbooks. She talks about the importance of seeing clients as people and building genuine connections. Hannah also shares her journey as a working mom, discussing the support systems that help balance her career and family life. Her innovative approach not only shapes the future of financial planning but also encourages other professionals to lead with humanity.

In this episode, we’re joined by Glen Cone, AFC®, a seasoned financial counselor with more than 15 years of experience serving individuals in estate and end-of-life planning. Glen shares insights from his personal and professional journey—including his work as a counselor for the VBBP program and Magellan Health—and invites us to explore the concept of Generation Preservation: the intentional act of documenting and preserving personal and financial legacies for future generations.From demystifying estate transitions to understanding the emotional weight clients carry as they age, Glen provides practical guidance for AFC® professionals supporting clients through some of life’s most complex financial and personal decisions. He also reflects on the importance of storytelling, values, and why preserving what matters most goes far beyond financial assets.Whether you're working with aging populations, military families, or multigenerational households, this episode offers a compelling reminder: financial counseling isn’t just about preparing the numbers—it’s about preparing people.Show Notes: 02:36 Glen's journey into the personal finance field05:15 The "why" behind Glen's work with the seasoned generation 07:47 What is "Generation Preservation" 15:02 Your guide to "Generation Preservation" as a financial professional 18:04 Why money is personal 20:10 Glen's 2 centsShow Note Links:https://www.afcpe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Generation-Preservation-Fillable-Link-1-1.pdfWant 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 week's episode, we sit down with Colleen Salchow—Marine Corps spouse, Accredited Financial Counselor, and former special education teacher—who is passionate about helping teens, young adults, and military families take control of their financial futures. With a background in counseling and education, Colleen brings a compassionate, real-world approach to financial literacy.From teaching teens the value of budgeting through real-life consequences (like trading Nike money for a new phone) to showing families how to look beyond college tuition and understand the true cost of higher education, Colleen shares stories and strategies that make money management feel less intimidating and more empowering. She also opens up about the financial lessons she’s learned through frequent military moves and why having a fully funded emergency fund is essential for any military family.Whether you're a parent, a caregiver, or someone navigating your own financial journey, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and relatable advice you won’t want to miss.Show Notes: 02:36 Colleen's financial lessons06:31 From teaching to personal finance: Colleen's "why" 10:49 How the AFC impacted Colleen's solopreneur journey 15:28 Student loan planning 10125:53 The balance between guiding your children financially & allowing them to make their own mistakes29:47 Colleen's 2 CentsShow Note Links:Connect with Colleen on Linkedin! Learn more about the National Center of Education!Click here for more resources from the National Center of Education! Listen to Smart College Buyer Podcast!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.

This week, our co-hosts sit down with Adrienne Taylor—entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Tailored WealthSaver®—to explore how building wealth is about more than just the numbers. Adrienne shares her journey from pharmacy to finance, her passion for helping millennials achieve financial freedom, and the lessons she learned expanding her business through a strategic partnership.Together, we reflect on the real challenges entrepreneurs face behind the scenes, including navigating personal transitions like divorce, and why giving yourself grace is essential to long-term success. Adrienne reminds us that financial wellness and business growth go hand-in-hand—and that with the right support, what once felt unimaginable can become reality.Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, working toward financial stability, or redefining what success looks like in your own life, this episode offers powerful insights on resilience, reinvention, and the beauty of betting on yourself.Show Notes:02:27 From pharmacy to finance: Adrienne's personal journey07:12 The millennial personal finance secret strategy09:42 How business expansion can be your biggest gain rather than loss11:54 The blessings & burdens of being an entrepreneur 19:40 What's to come for Tailored Wealth SaverShow Note Links:Connect with Adrienne on LinkedIn!Connect with Adrienne on Instagram!Read more here!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.

This week our co-hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Brandy Baxter sit down with Joanne Danganan—founder of Financial Healing and California Market Manager for Financial Beginnings—to explore how healing our relationship with money begins with finding safe spaces. Joanne shares her personal story as the daughter of Filipino immigrants, her journey into financial education, and why access to this knowledge is a justice issue.Together, we unpack the cultural shame often tied to money, and the courage it takes to simply start the conversation. From choosing the right people to confide in, to redefining what financial well-being looks like, Joanne reminds us that vulnerability is a strength—and that financial education must be rooted in empathy and inclusion.Whether you're navigating your own financial healing or creating spaces for others to do the same, this episode is a heartfelt reminder: you deserve to talk about money without fear, shame, or judgment.Show Notes:02:35 Joanne's journey into the personal finance field 07:03 Financial education resources for teachers 08:26 The "why" behind Financial Healing 11:24 How to ease financial anxiety15:06 The Five Money Languages 21:15 Why fear is the secret weapon to financial freedom23:47 How to start about money with no shame25:20 Joanne's 2 centsShow Note Links:Instagram: @financialhealing Connect with Financial Healing on Linkedin!Learn more about Financial Healing with Joanne!Learn more about Financial Beginnings!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.

After years of navigating the fast-paced world of actuarial consulting in New York City, Jon Akerman found himself burnt out and unsure of his next step. Instead of staying stuck, Jon embraced uncertainty — relocating to a new state, joining the Florida Army National Guard, and discovering his passion for financial coaching. Now, as a coach with MyBudgetCoach, Jon empowers people to break free from living paycheck to paycheck and take control of their financial futures. In this episode, Jon shares his powerful journey of transformation, his insights on making meaningful financial decisions, and his mission to guide underserved communities toward financial stability. Plus, he reveals why listening — really listening — can be a game-changer in both life and money.Show Notes: 02:33 Jon's financial counseling and coaching journey06:49 What led Jon to the AFC11:36 Bad money management does not discriminate13:58 How to make meaningful change in your financial decisions 16:52 Jon's "why" behind joining MyBudgetCoach19:50 Jon's 2 CentsShow Note Links:Meet Your Budget Coach: Jon Akerman Explore Jon's 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.