

Real Money, Real Experts
AFCPE®
Real Money, Real Experts is a personal finance podcast written and produced by AFCPE®. With an audience of financial professionals, we strive to educate and entertain with a combination of expert tips, engaging interviews, and real-life storytelling. AFCPE® ensures the highest integrity of the financial counseling profession by certifying, connecting, and supporting diverse professionals. Our comprehensive program, the AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®), represent the gold standard of financial counseling certifications. And our membership community offers a place to share best practices, solve similar struggles, and access tools and resources that advance your career and enable you to better serve your clients.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 8, 2023 • 29min
Find Your People with Andi Wrenn, AFC®
This week, Real Money, Real Experts, was live on YouTube with AFCPE Board President, Andi Wrenn. Andi, Mary, and Rachael recap all things 2023 AFCPE Symposium. If you joined us for Symposium this year, come reminisce with us. If you didn't attend this year, tune in to learn what its all about. We also get to learn more about Andi's professional journey, and she shares two times the two 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.

Nov 22, 2023 • 27min
Building a Collaborative Practice Model with Nathan Astle
This week we welcome financial therapist, Nathan Astle, to the show. Nate is the founder of the Financial Therapy Clinical Institute, which is a collaborative practice that includes financial counselors, therapists, and planners working together to meet the needs of their clients. On this episode, Nate shares what inspired this unique practice model, the roles that each practitioner plays in the practice, the fee structure they've adopted to ensure the practice is profitable but also affordable to clients, and how they are using research to measure emotional, financial, and relational change.Nate is a humble trailblazer with a heart for helping people. His practice is unique, but his hope is that more financial professionals will follow. Trust us, it's an episode you don't want to miss. Show Notes:1:14 How Nathan got involved in financial therapy... by accident!3:02 His biggest influences4:18 Mental health and finances10:51 Client testimony around financial anxiety15:01 How Nathan got started on the business side19:59 Nathan's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Financial Therapy Clerical Institute websiteConnect on Linkedin | Instagram | FacebookWant 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.

Nov 7, 2023 • 23min
Recognizing the Value of Cultural Competency with Lazetta Braxton
Lazetta Braxton, MBA, CFP® is on a mission to create wealth for the common good. She believes in fighting for voices that have not been heard, and has built her career around making room for underserved and overlooked populations. In this episode, we get to know Lazetta - her family history and her career path, and she shares a preview of the conversation we'll be having as part of her keynote presentation at this year's Symposium. We talk about the importance of cultural competency, understanding the experiences and backgrounds of our clients, and the importance of building capacity directly within underserved communities. Words of wisdom: Be courageous as you are carefully doing the work. Show Notes:2:00 How Lazetta got started in financial planning4:02 More into her exploratory and entrepreneurial path8:46 Moving around and balancing her career12:31 Expanding access to more equitable opportunities15:52 What to expect from her keynote 19:13 Lazetta's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Writer Contributor Pages #DoingTheWork Leadership MasterclassConnect with her on Linkedin or with her companyFollow on Instagram or Twitter or FacebookRegister for Symposium: www.afcpe.org/symposium 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.

Oct 24, 2023 • 22min
Facets of Consumer Protection with John McNamara, CFPB
Today’s guest is John McNamara, Principal Assistant Director of Consumer Credit, Payments, and Deposits Markets at the CFPB. In this episode, John shares his professional journey from debt collection to his current role at the CFPB. He talks to us about the latest research from the Bureau, and gives us some of his favorite CFPB resources - designed to support you and your clients. We’re excited to have John join us on the main stage later this year. To hear more, we hope you’ll join us in NOLA or virtually: https://www.afcpe.org/symposium/Show Notes:1:41 Into John's personal and professional journey9:08 Recent findings from CFPB 14:25 CFPB and FTC collaborations16:33 Resources for financial counselors and consumers17:42 John's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Ask CFPB questionsDirect contact information with CFPBWant 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.

Oct 10, 2023 • 27min
The Art of Storytelling and Story Listening with Dr. Preston Cherry
Dr. Preston Cherry, AFC®, CFP®, CFT-1 is the Founder & President of Concurrent Financial Planning, the Head of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay Financial Planning Program, and also a keynote speaker at this year's AFCPE Symposium. Preston is passionate about the ways that storytelling and listening can help us better connect with clients, advance human lives, and inspire transformation. In this episode, Preston shares the influence of stories in his own life and how they have shaped his journey. We take a look at the ways stories can increase engagement and build trust. And we talk about mentors and opportunities to build yourself as a professional and deepen your human experience. This conversation was a fun one! Tell us what you think by engaging with us on social media, and make sure you're registered for the 2023 AFCPE Symposium!Show Notes:2:25 How Preston got to where he is now6:10 How he uses storytelling with his clients9:04 How to actually go about creating stories9:48 Unpacking counter transfer12:15 Increasing connection with the client without decentering them14:45 Advice for AFCs and balancing empathy and vulnerability17:41 The importance of practice19:19 How to incorporate valuable lessons with students22:14 Preston's final 2 centsShow Note Links:@drprestoncherry on all social media platformsYouTubeWant 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.

Sep 26, 2023 • 43min
Financial Trauma with Rahkim Sabree
On today's episode we talk to AFC candidate, Rahkim Sabree, a financial coach, entrepreneur, and thought leader on the topic of financial trauma. We discuss how personal background, cultural experiences, and mental health all play a role in personal finance, and how financial professionals can add a trauma-informed lens to your work with clients. With the rise of one-size-fits-all, and often inaccurate, personal finance information being shared on social media, Rahkim shares how his perspective around credentialing has shifted and how he's been able to apply what he's learned through the AFC program. We also talk about lessons learned through entrepreneurship, the danger of comparison (we're looking at you social media), and the value of community and kindness.Show Notes:1:29 Rahkim's professional journey7:16 The term financial trauma13:01 Using your own trauma as a way to bond with clients and others22:17 How finance professionals can use a trauma-informed lens30:24 Battling imposter syndrome37:59 Rahkim's 2 centsShow Note Links:RahkimSabree.com Join his community at moneysystems.substack.com His work as a Forbes contributorPost-traumatic slave syndromeWant 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.

Sep 12, 2023 • 29min
Building Accessible Financial Education with Penny Forward
“Whether someone wants to be independent with their finances is their absolute decision…but what I don’t want that decision to be based around is the fact that someone cannot see anymore…I want to help [people] realize that there are options.” - Liz BottnerOn this week’s episode, we get to know Chris Peterson and Liz Bottner of Penny Forward. Penny Forward is a non-profit organization that offers accessible financial wellness education and counseling programs for people who are blind or disabled. Chris started the organization in 2020, and together with Liz they are “boldly and bravely” breaking down barriers to financial counseling and education.Chris and Liz share some of the ways managing personal finances is unique to someone who is blind or low-vision. They also remind us that, with all clients, it’s important to get to know each client individually - their needs, goals and aspirations. Learn how Penny Forward can be a resource to you, and the ways you can get involved and support their mission. Show Notes: 1:27 Chris & LIz's journey into this space4:06 From teaching to starting Penny Forward9:00 Liz's background and being cohost12:57 Personal finance and the blind community18:30 Advice for professionals wanting to be more accessible22:28 How can people get involved with Penny Forward26:49 Chris & Liz's final 2 centsShow Note Links:PennyForward SummitPennyForward WebsiteConnect with PennyForward onFacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubeClubhousePennyForward PodcastInterested in volunteering? Email pennyforward@pennyforward.com 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.

Aug 29, 2023 • 30min
Student Loan Repayment: What you need to know with Ryan Law, AFC®,CFP®
With the student loan pause coming to an end and a new repayment plan announced, we wanted to answer your questions. And who better to help us break down the new Student Loan SAVE plan than Ryan Law.Ryan H. Law is an award-winning educator who teaches in the Personal Financial Planning program at Utah Valley University. He’s a Certified Financial Planner, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, past President of the AFCPE Board of Directors, and also a leading expert in student loans. In today's episode we discuss the benefits of the SAVE plan, how financial professionals can support their clients during this time, and 5 things we need to do now. Show Notes:1:41 Why repayments may return2:24 The current student loan landscape6:45 How to best support your clients with these changes8:27 Who is best suited for the SAVE loans9:24 Borrowers and calling their providers10:47 Ryan's recommended payment calculators11:03 Benefits to switching to SAVE plan11:52 Interest accumulation & rollover13:26 Other elements of this plan to be aware of13:59 Student loan forgiveness14:43 The PSLF program16:12 Budgeting for payments again19:09 Other resources to look for24:30 Ryan's 2 cents for clientsShow Note Links:Studentaid.govhttps://ryanhlaw.com/student-loan-save-plan/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.

Aug 15, 2023 • 35min
Changing the Face of Financial Education with Sarah Newcomb
Sarah Newcomb is an applied scientist, behavioral economist, and the Founder of the Thrive Financial Empowerment Center. Her work bridges the gap between research and practice, adapting the findings of academic research for practical use in personal financial management.In this episode, Sarah shares her own personal story and how it led to her current work - exploring the connection between mental and financial health, particularly among our youth. We discuss the need for empowerment-based and trauma-informed financial education and how understanding the psychology behind behaviors leads to both understanding and empathy. And she shares some practical insights on the things financial counselors, coaches, and advisors can do to give their clients agency. Show Notes:1:22 Sarah's money story7:14 Utilizing academic findings for practical use9:39 Young people and their mental + financial health14:45 Empowerment-based financial education23:58 Moving away from the contamination narrative to a redemptive one (and what that means)27:47 Sarah's new financial empowerment content30:28 Sarah's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Sarah’s websiteSpeaking and further CE from SarahSarah’s book, “Loaded”Statistics:CDC Youth Risk Behavior Risk Behavior SurveyFrontiers in Public HealthThe Deloitte Global 2022 Gen Z and Millennial SurveyWant 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.

Aug 1, 2023 • 42min
Helping Women Navigate Divorce with Rhonda Noordyk
Rhonda Noordyk, founded The Women's Financial Wellness Center in 2014. Her mission is to help reduce financial vulnerability for women going through divorce. In this episode, Rhonda talks to us about the challenges women face when going through divorce, the financial considerations, and the importance of having a support team to provide legal, financial, and emotional support.As an advocate for women, Rhonda believes that knowledge plus experience equals confidence, and she understands the value of trauma-informed care. This episode provides great insights and resources to help you or your clients navigate divorce.Show Notes:2:06 Rhonda's journey into the divorce space4:29 Building her own business10:50 Her experience with divorce and founding the women's center14:50 The big challenges for women20:19 Lack of confidence around finances27:49 Best methods for women when they're going through a divorce37:57 Rhonda's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Connect on Instagram| Facebook| LinkedinDivorce Conversations for Women Podcast Your Bridge from Divorce Crisis to ClosureDivorce Resource Guide QuizJoin Rhonda for our upcoming webinar:FPA Connect: A Behind the Scenes Look at Divorce: 3 ways you can help your clients: - August 17 at 12 PM ETWant 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.