Growing Money with Sean Trace

Hosted by Sean Trace

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Episodes

199

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship Podcast with your host, Sean Trace! In this podcast, we explore a range of topics related to personal finance, business, and entrepreneurship. With Sean as your guide, we dive into the world of personal finance and learn about how to manage and grow your money effectively. From saving for retirement to investing in the stock market, we cover everything you need to know to achieve financial freedom. In addition to personal finance, we also explore topics related to business and entrepreneurship. Whether you are a seasoned business owner or just starting out, this podcast provides valuable insights on how to start, run, and grow a successful business. Throughout each episode, Sean shares his own experiences and tips, as well as featuring interviews with experts in the field. By the end of each episode, you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of how to empower yourself financially and achieve your business goals. So, whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or simply interested in learning more about personal finance, tune in to the Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship Podcast with Sean Trace.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 30, 202641 min

The Problem With “More” | Taylor Nissi | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I sat down with Taylor Nissi, founder of Pleasant Street Wealth Advisors, to talk about why so many successful entrepreneurs still feel financially stressed. We get into the reinvestment dilemma, when to keep feeding the business and when to build wealth outside of it. We also cover why 80 to 90% of a founder’s net worth is often tied up in one company. Taylor shares the Harvard Business School study of millionaires who still wanted two to three times more, and we talk about moving the goalposts, and what wealth is really for. What would “enough” look like in your life, and how would you know when you’ve reached it?

October 27, 202636 min

What Financial Freedom Actually Looks Like | Alana D'Angelica | Growing Money with Sean Trace

What if making more money isn't actually the answer to financial freedom? In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace , I sit down with financial coach Alana D'Angelica to talk about why so many high-income professionals still feel broke, stuck in corporate jobs, and unable to build the lives they actually want. After spending 15 years in the tech industry and leading teams of over 500 people, Alana discovered how the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) could help her build enough financial security to leave corporate life and start her own business. We dive into the golden handcuffs of high-paying jobs, lifestyle inflation, multiple income streams, and the money habits that can quietly hold you back. Alana also shares why saving too much cash can limit long-term wealth growth, how investing creates financial flexibility, and why tracking your expenses matters more than you think. For me, this conversation is a reminder that building wealth isn't just about earning more. It's about creating choices, freedom, and a life that actually fits you. Would you rather earn more money in a stressful job or make less money and have more freedom?

October 20, 202649 min

Why Smart People Overspend | Brendan Frazier | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode, I sit down with Brendan Frazier to explore the psychology behind financial decision-making and why knowing what to do with money doesn’t always mean we actually do it. We talk about lifestyle creep, emotional spending, impulse purchases, financial anxiety, and why even smart money decisions can be difficult to separate from clever justifications. Brendan explains why our emotions influence so many of our financial choices and how creating space before making a purchase can help us make better decisions. We also dive into practical strategies like testing a big purchase before fully committing, building habits before buying the gear that goes with them, and using identity-based change to become the kind of person who naturally makes better financial decisions. Most importantly, we talk about spending without shame and getting clear on what actually matters to you, so your money supports the life you want instead of simply following your impulses. What’s one purchase you were completely convinced you needed only to realize later that you probably didn’t?

October 15, 202643 min

The Cost of Waiting to Start Investing | Brad Williams | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I sat down with Brad Williams, CFP® from Highlands Wealth Group in upstate South Carolina, to break down family first financial planning and why solving for a life matters more than chasing a number. Brad shares his story as a first-generation wealth creator, what he learned from his mother about money, and why the cost of waiting is one of the biggest risks to any retirement plan. We talk about personal finance for young adults, how to build financial flexibility beyond a 401(k), the difference between looking rich and being truly wealthy, and why so many advisors focus on investments instead of the full financial picture. What’s one money conversation you wish someone had started with you at 16?

October 15, 20269 min

Is Disneyland Worth It? The Real Cost of Family Memories

Is Disneyland worth the money? After spending an incredible day at Tokyo Disneyland with my daughter, I started thinking about something bigger than ticket prices, expensive souvenirs, and vacation budgets. How do we balance saving money with actually enjoying our lives? Disney can get expensive fast. Between food, merchandise, tickets, and all those little purchases that add up, it's easy to blow through your vacation budget without realizing it. But here's the thing: good personal finance isn't always about spending less. Sometimes it's about spending intentionally on the experiences that matter most. In this episode of Growing Money, I share what our family's first trip to Tokyo Disneyland taught me about budgeting for family vacations, avoiding impulse purchases, teaching kids about money, and creating an experience fund. We also talk about why spending money on memories can be just as important as saving for the future. Financial freedom isn't about having millions sitting in a bank account. It's about building healthy money habits that allow you to enjoy your life and spend on what you truly value.

October 12, 202637 min

The Investment Behind The Energy Boom | Max Jackson | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Max Jackson, Managing Director at Ballast Rock and manager of its renewable energy private credit fund, to explore one of the biggest investment themes hiding behind the AI boom: energy. As data centers, AI, electric vehicles, and an increasingly electrified economy push electricity demand higher, Max explains why energy infrastructure could become one of the most important economic bottlenecks of the next decade. We talk about why renewable energy has shifted from a moral argument to an economic one, how solar and other renewables can help meet rapidly growing power demand, and why private capital is playing such an important role in getting new projects built. Max also breaks down how renewable energy private credit works, why investors may be overlooking infrastructure, and how tools like renewable energy tax credits can create opportunities for individual investors while helping finance real-world projects. If electricity becomes the fuel behind the AI revolution, should investors be paying more attention to the infrastructure producing it?

October 12, 202634 min

The Hidden Cost of Divorce Decisions | Melissa Murphy Pavone | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Melissa Murphy Pavone, a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, to talk about something that affects almost every relationship: our emotional connection to money. Melissa explains why people often avoid financial conversations until there is a crisis and how making long-term money decisions while angry, scared, or overwhelmed can create consequences that last for years. We talk about financial communication in marriage, why couples can earn plenty of money and still fight about it, and how different money values around security, experiences, debt, spending, and saving can create tension. Melissa also shares what people should understand financially before and during divorce, why keeping the family home is not always as simple as it seems, and why both partners need transparency even when one person handles most of the finances. What stood out to me most is that financial confidence often starts with something simple: stop avoiding the numbers, start asking questions, and replace fear with facts. What money conversation do you think every couple should have before it becomes a problem?

October 7, 20269 min

Bad Haircut | How To Really Get Rich

overspending, poor habits, and bad decisions usually build slowly too. In this episode of Growing Money, I use my absolutely ridiculous haircut as a reminder that big outcomes are usually created one small step at a time. We talk about building better money habits, increasing your income, budgeting, paying attention to where your money is going, continuing your financial education, and regularly checking whether your current choices are actually taking you where you want to go. For me, getting rich isn’t just about having a bigger number in a bank account. It’s about freedom. Freedom to spend more time with my daughter. Freedom to make better choices. Freedom to build a life that actually feels wealthy. So take a look at your own financial direction. What are the small choices you’re making today, and where are they taking you? Getting rich doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one decision at a time. #GrowingMoney #HowToGetRich #BuildingWealth #PersonalFinance #FinancialFreedom #MoneyHabits #WealthBuilding

October 5, 202637 min

Why Building Wealth Slowly Actually Works | Alex Sukhanov | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I used to think being good with money was mostly about knowing the right numbers, but this conversation reminded me that money is deeply emotional. In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Alex, a startup founder and personal finance coach who helps people in tech make better financial decisions. We talk about why money isn’t simply a math problem, it's also about behavior, habits, fear, relationships, and the stories we inherit growing up. We explore the difference between building wealth slowly and chasing quick wins, why fear-based financial content can push people toward bad decisions, and how financial planning is really about setting a direction rather than predicting the future. We also talk honestly about money conversations between couples, financial shame, and the importance of creating a sense of safety around money. For me, the biggest takeaway is simple: you don’t have to gamble your future to build wealth. With the right plan, consistent habits, and enough time, financial progress can become something that feels empowering instead of terrifying. What would change about your relationship with money if you stopped being afraid of it?

October 2, 202643 min

Why Your Systems Matter More Than Willpower | Laina Brown | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I sat down with financial educator Laina Brown because I wanted to get real about why so many of us stay stuck in debt even when we genuinely want out. We talked about the mindset traps that keep people broke, the "I'm just not good with money" excuse. Laina broke down why willpower alone doesn't work and why building systems: automatic savings, tracking, waiting periods before purchases, beats relying on discipline in the moment. We got into emotional spending, the "buy now pay later" trap making debt easier to fall into than ever, and how small daily choices compound just like investments do. What's the excuse you tell yourself most when it comes to money?