Real Money, Real Experts

In this final episode of our Real Money, Real Experts Career Series, we catch up with Rachael Bronstein and Maggie Klokkenga. Tune in as they share their own experiences in starting a private practice and how honing in on your niche can lead to a more successful, fulfilling career.Maggie Klokkenga, CFP®, CPA, and AFC® candidate is a financial coach and the owner of Make a Money Mindshift, a financial coaching and planning firm in central Illinois where she helps individuals and couples to reduce their overwhelm and shame with money. Rachael Bronstein is an Accredited Financial Counselor & financial coach for Jean Chatzky’s FinanceFixx program. Rachael also launched a company last May to help touring music professionals simplify their life & finances, called Life’s Jam.Show Notes:3:24 Rachael's journey to personal finance11:33 FinanceFixx Program14:11 Maggie and multiple streams of income16:24 Rachael's tips for small business owners18:26 Tools Rachael found helpful early on21:18 Maggie's tips for small business owners24:29 What led Maggie to pursue the AFC28:15 Guests' final 2 centsShow Note Links:Follow Rachael:Life’s Jam Website Connect on LinkedIn or Instagram or FacebookKim Kaupe's podcastFollow Maggie: Make a Money Mindshift website Connect with Brad KlontzConnect on LinkedIn or Instagram or Facebook or YoutubeAFCPE Resources:Join the Membership community: AFCPE Connections Fair: Gain Experience. Find a Job. 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.

To kick off Financial Literacy Month, our hosts Rachael DeLeon and Dr. Mary Bell Carlson speak with President and CEO of the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy, Laura Levine. Laura shares the ins and outs of her own career journey and provides listeners with ideas on how to get involved with youth financial education and the coalition’s work.Laura is a fierce advocate for financial education and she is passionate about better equipping our youth with the knowledge they need to thrive. Tune in as she shares resources and actionable steps we can all take to provide the schools in our community with more financial education.Show Notes:2:20 Laura's Career Journey to Today4:50 All about Jump$tart and its history10:35 Getting involved with the coalition and where to start 14:02 Making a bigger impact with the state coalition18:18 AFCPE's impact as a Jump$tart board member20:26 Getting involved as an organization at the state level21:41 Current state of financial education in schools27:59  Laura's final two centsShow Note Links:Email LauraConnect on LinkedInJump$tart Website/Instagram/Facebook/TwitterLaura’s TwitterLaura’s LinkedIn pageProject Groundswell / Check Your School for Financial Literacy: Jump$tart State CoalitionsJump$tart Clearing HouseCouncil for Economic Education’s Survey of the States: Join the Membership communityAFCPE Connections Fair: Gain Experience. Find a Job. April 28  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, Rachael sits down with longtime AFCPE Member, Janie Bright, AFC®. Janie is a self-described passionate credit union employee who has worked in the industry for nearly 30 years. She began her journey as a Credit Union teller, where she saw firsthand the issues that individuals and families face in relation to their finances. Today, she serves as the Vice President of Financial Inclusion and Community Strategy and shares all that she's learned along the way.In this episode, Janie reminds us about the power of mentorship – there are coaches all around you; the importance of financial inclusion – the only thing that separates us from others is our situations; and the value of doing well by doing good. Show notes:2:17 Into her career journey6:10 Working in the credit union & banking space8:42 How being an AFC® has enhanced her impact9:46 Her experience serving on a nonprofit board12:01 Symposium memories and highlights14:52 How Janie defines financial inclusion19:16 Janie's final 2 centsShow note links:Email JanieConnect on LinkedInLocal Government Federal Credit UnionJoin the Membership communityAFCPE Connections Fair: Gain Experience. Find a Job. 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 week's episode, we're continuing our Career Series by diving deep into the world of financial coaching and the ups and downs of owning your own business with Josh Escalante Troesh and Garrett Philbin, AFC®. Josh and Garrett discuss the importance of community, investing in yourself, as well as detailing the difference between licensure and certification and why they're relevant. They provide tons of useful resources, and their combined wisdom can really speak to wherever you're at in your career, making this episode a must-listen!Both Josh and Garrett are co-founders of Financial Coaches Network, a business incubator/accelerator that supports entrepreneurs in building their businesses. Garrett holds his AFC® Certification, began financial coaching in 2015 and is the founder of a successful financial coaching business and the Financial Coaches Community Facebook group with over 5,000 members. Josh is a CFP and a Tenured Professor specializing in personal finance and entrepreneurship and has been quoted in Forbes, CNBC, Consumer Reports, US News & World Report, and dozens of other media.Show notes:01:45 Garrett's journey to starting a successful financial coaching business03:47 Josh's unique start in the business and starting Financial Coaches Network with Garrett 05:34 Garrett’s pivot from the music business to the personal finance space10:08 What made Garrett decide to earn the AFC?12:32 All about licensure with Josh20:16 Is there a need for a standardized definition of financial coaching?24:44 Garrett’s insights on working in private practice 29:56 The final 2 centsShow Note Links:Garrett’s article on Kitces.com Josh’s article on registrationFinancial coaching network (FCN)Financial Coaches Community Facebook GroupJosh’s non-profit: Purposeful FinanceJosh's LinkedInGarrett's LinkedInWant 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, we are joined by Andia Dinesen, Executive Vice President for Communications and Operations for the Association of Military Banks of America (AMBA). As a military spouse, Andia shares her journey to AFC® certification through the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program. She touches on the importance of perseverance and offers great advice for AFCs interested in working on a military installation or for a bank or credit union. She also shares why having trusted partners in financial services is critical to our work as financial professionals.As a bonus, Andia catches us up on the great resources that AMBA provides – from their Veterans Banking Benefits Program (VBBP), to their collaboration with AFCPE which provides free financial counseling to Veterans, to the financial preparedness kit available to servicemembers (MilDocs) – there are lots of great resources for you to better support the military and Veteran community.Show Notes:02:23 How she got started, and how she found the AFC®04:44 The funny backstory behind her being a military spouse06:21 Advice to all aspiring Military Spouse Fellows and applicants08:07 Tips for those interested in working at a banker credit union10:04 Who else hires AFCs?15:46 How being an AFCPE member has furthered her career20:09 All about MILDOCS22:09 Andia's final 2 centsShow Note Links:Andia’s LinkedIn pageFINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship ProgramVeterans Benefits Banking ProgramPro Bono Financial Counseling:  For Veterans or for General PublicAMBA - Association of Military Banks of AmericaMILDOCSWant 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, we very excitedly welcome Karen Richel to the show as we continue our Career Series. Karen is a University of Idaho Extension Associate Professor and the Family Finance Extension educator for ten north Idaho counties. In her work, Karen caters to every age and socioeconomic group with one-on-one financial counseling/coaching sessions, classes, workshops, and simulations. In the third episode of our Real Money, Real Experts career series, Karen shares how an unexpected “pause” in her life led to a more meaningful life and career. As an avid mentor, Karen offers valuable – and unique – advice, on how being an “octopus” can set you up for career success. Regardless of your career path, she is a wealth of knowledge and resources, making this an episode that'll leave you uplifted. Show Notes:01:58 How Karen got to where she is now09:37 What she would’ve loved to know before entering the field16:12 Karen's amazing experience being an AFCPE® Mentor18:05 How her AFC® has impacted her work21:16 All about working in Cooperative Extension23:51 How to break into this career field28:07 What type of educational background do you need?29:22 The transition to virtual learning32:33 Advice for aspiring mentors and mentees for AFCPE's MentorConnect program 35:05 Karen’s final 2 CentsShow Note Links: Reach out to Karen hereKaren’s LinkedIn pageUniversity of Idaho Extension  Extension Jobs Join the Membership community to become a mentor or mentee!"Our Financial Conference" mentioned by KarenWant 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 on Real Money, Real Experts, we’re putting co-host Dr. Mary Bell Carlson in the hot seat. In this second episode of our career series, Rachael talks to Mary about her expansive career path in the Government sector. Mary is a wealth of knowledge on the variety of ways AFC professionals can work in financial counseling and education at the local, state, and federal levels, and she offers lots of great resources for our listeners to explore. Even if you aren’t interested in a government career, Mary’s passion for advocacy is inspiring and she offers great tips for career growth in any field. (Hint – it starts with building strong relationships!) As an AFC® and a CFP®, Mary has a unique perspective on the value of the AFC, making this an episode you don’t want to miss. Show Notes:01:48 Mary’s Attraction to this Field07:33 Why to Pursue Your AFC® and CFP®10:02 The Intersection of Government Work and AFCPE®11:37 All About Our Government Relations Task Force12:49 What Mary Loved About Working in This Sector15:32 Getting Involved at the Federal Level19:45 Advice for Those Looking to Pursue Similar Careers21:23 What She Would’ve Loved to Know Before Entering the Field          22:37 Mary’s 2 Cents   Show Note Links:Mary's LinkedinChief Financial MomCareer Resources:AFC CertificationCareer PathsAFCPE Job BoardSave the Date: April 25 - 29th: AFCPE Virtual Experience Hour & Internship FairJoin the Membership community!​​Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE)National Association of Counties (NACO) Treasury’s Financial Literacy & Economic Commission (FLEC)Federal Trade Commission (FTC)Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)FINRA’s FoundationGovernment Relations Task Force Military Essentials Course Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)InFre & Retirement CounselingWant 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.

Kicking off the first episode in our new Career Series, “Real Money, Real Experts” co-hosts Dr. Mary Bell Carlson and Rachael DeLeon speak with Marcy Reyes, AFC® about her career in the nonprofit space.Marcy is the Founder and CEO of The Financial Literacy Youth (or FLY) Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides culturally responsive financial literacy programming to underserved and underrepresented students; empowering youth with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to end generational poverty. Marcy has made her mark in the field by identifying gaps and working to close them... not to mention she is also the first Latina in her state to be an AFC®.Listen in as she takes us through her journey of starting a nonprofit while sharing her inspiring advice for everyone interested in working in the nonprofit space. Her enthusiasm and passion for this work are contagious, no matter what area of the field you are in!Show Notes:00:42 Marcy’s Introduction01:39 Marcy’s Intro to the Field of Finance03:45 Marcy’s Journey to the Nonprofit Space 06:33 Manifesting the FLY Initiative 07:49 The Impact of the AFC® in Her Work11:21 Marcy’s Advice for Breaking into the Nonprofit Space14:42 The Best Part of Marcy’s Job Is…          16:23 What She Would’ve Loved to Know Before Entering the Field18:49 Potential Expansion of the FLY Initiative 20:30 Marcy’s Final 2 CentsShow Note Links:Marcy's LinkedIn PageFLY WebsiteJoin the Membership communityWant 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 our first episode of 2022, co-hosts Mary Bell Carlson and Rachael DeLeon give listeners a sneak peek into what’s ahead on the 2022 season of Real Money, Real Experts. We also answer all your pressing questions about the podcast, the organization, and so much more. Whether you’re already a part of the AFCPE community, or are thinking about pursuing the AFC certification, taking an Essentials course, or becoming an AFCPE Member, this episode is for you!Show Notes:00:23 Introduction01:18 Welcome to Season 306:36 What’s new with Dr. Mary Bell Carlson08:17 How to Apply to be a Guest on Real Money, Real Experts11:57 AFCPE®s Career Center Page14:54 The Difference Between Certification & Membership18:51 Mary’s Journey into the Field of Finance20:00 Ways to get your AFC®25:25 Tips for AFC® Candidates29:04 What Makes the AFC® Unique?37:53 AFCPE®’s Essentials CoursesShow Note Links:AFCPE Career and Resource CenterBecome a Guest on Real Money, Real ExpertsFINRAs List of Accredited DesignationsAFCPEs Certification ProgramsWant 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.

Before we leap into an exciting new year for the Real Money, Real Experts podcast, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of our favorite episodes from 2021. In this episode, you’ll hear clips from a variety of guests we’ve had on the show this season as we remember the incredible stories, insights, and advice they had to share.From all of us at AFCPE, we extend a huge thank you to everyone who’s tuned in this year! If you're interested in coming on our podcast for season three, check out the Guest Application linked in the show notes. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2022!Show Notes:01:08 John Sileo’s Key to Unlocking Cyber Security03:30 Financial Therapy & Healing Money Scripts with Dr. Brad Klontz06:58 Demystifying Credit with Experian’s Rod Griffin08:35 Life Long Learning: Financial Education for All Ages with Ann House, AFC®11:59 Jen Hemphill, AFC®: Why Her Dinero Matters16:37 Going for Gold with Lauryn Williams20:07 Overcoming addiction and leading with empathy with Ambus Hunter IV, AFC®  Candidate23: 01 Show your Pride: Building an Inclusive Practice with Cait Howerton, AFC®, CFP®24:43 DataPoints: The Psychology of Building Wealth Show Note links:Podcast Guest Applicationhttps://www.afcpe.org/real-money-real-experts-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.