Get Ready: Before Life Happens Podcast

Hosted by Tony Steuer

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299

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Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Tony Steuer is a Financial Readiness Advocate, award-winning author, and host of Get Ready: Before Life Happens. Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience in insurance, financial education, and consumer advocacy, he helps people create their in-case-of-emergency plan, ask better questions, recognize red flags, and prepare before life happens. On this channel, you’ll find conversations with experts, authors, advocates, educators, and other trusted voices, along with practical ideas about financial readiness, life transitions, insurance, consumer protection, scams, and better money decisions. Create your own in-case-of-emergency plan when you Start your free Financial Readiness Plan at tonysteuer.com. Support Get Ready: Help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free and support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. Become a Get Ready Insider for $5/month at tonysteuer.com/support.

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August 28, 202639 min

Does It Make Sense? A Better Way to Make Spending Decisions

Send us Fan Mail A simple pause can change your financial life. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens , I spoke with Karen Holland, founder of the nonprofit Gifting Sense and creator of the DIMS “Does It Make Sense?” Score Calculator. We explore how slowing down leads to better decisions, why mindful friction improves spending, and how the DIMS framework helps you evaluate purchases with clarity. Karen shares how to understand trade-offs, avoid common buying mistakes, and build habits that support long-term financial confidence for both adults and kids. Key Takeaways 🔹 Pausing before a decision creates space for clearer thinking and better outcomes 🔹 Asking “Does it make sense?” leads to more intentional and aligned spending 🔹 Understanding full costs, including fees and ongoing expenses, improves decision quality 🔹 Buyer’s remorse often comes from acting quickly, overestimating use, and focusing on short-term excitement 🔹 Adding friction to spending decisions helps reduce impulse purchases and increase satisfaction 🔹 Teaching kids to slow down and evaluate choices builds lifelong financial confidence 🔹 Mindful spending supports both personal goals and broader impact, including sustainability 🧠 Tony’s Take: A pause is one of the most powerful financial tools we have. When you ask better questions before you spend, you make decisions you feel good about long after the moment passes. That’s how money becomes a tool for intention. Connect with Karen Holland: Gifting Sense Website ( here ) LinkedIn ( here ) Resources: DIMS SCORE® Calculator ( here ) Back-to-School List Builder ( here ) Bio: Karen Holland has been making learning about money immediately helpful to school-aged children for over 9 years through her early financial education Not-For-Profit Gifting Sense, home of the DIMS - DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® SCORE Calculator. A free and safe online tool that introduces children to the habit of asking & answering simple questions about typical childhood purchases, before, anyone spends a dime. Karen worked for Canada’s largest bank before having a family that is now grown up. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Economic History. Gifting Sense has been recognized at the Money Awareness & Inclusion Awards three years running, in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) which celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org . 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here . www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 25, 202637 min

Talk About Money Now So You’re Ready When Life Happens

Send us Fan Mail Money conversations build clarity and confidence. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens , I spoke with Tricia Daniel, TEDx speaker and founder of the Starting Over Wealth Network about how early, open money conversations create confidence, reduce fear, and help families stay prepared through life’s changes. Tricia shares how to overcome shame, communicate with clarity, and build a plan that supports both you and the people you care about. Key Takeaways 🔹 Talking about money early helps build clarity, confidence, and preparedness 🔹 Money is a resource, and understanding “what is enough” supports better decisions 🔹 Small, consistent conversations make money feel more approachable and less overwhelming 🔹 Bringing money topics into the open helps release shame and build stronger connections 🔹 A shared plan gives your loved ones clarity and support when life changes quickly 🔹 Advisors and families benefit from focusing on people under care, not just assets 🔹 Taking action on what you learn helps turn awareness into meaningful progress 🧠 Tony’s Take: A simple conversation can change everything. When you talk about money early and often, you reduce fear, build clarity, and create a path forward for yourself and your loved ones. That’s how preparation becomes a true act of care. Connect with Tricia Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciacdaniel/ Tricia Daniel Website: https://triciadaniel.com Starting Over Wealth Network: https://sown.life Expanding To Enough Website: https://expandingtoenough.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@triciadaniel Podcast: The Money Over Easy Show ( Apple Podcasts ) Resources mentioned: Modern Widows Club : https://modernwidowsclub.org/ Listen to my conversation with Megan Kopka, Board Chair of The Modern Widows Club on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast ( here ) Bio: 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here . Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 21, 202646 min

Why Do You Feel Behind Even With a Good Income?

Send us Fan Mail You can earn a solid income and still feel uncertain about your next financial step. This episode shows how to build clarity, confidence, and momentum. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happen s , I sit down with Sandra Park, founder of Prosperous Panda and host of the Engineer Her Path Podcast. We explore how earning more creates opportunity, and how clarity, identity, and communication turn that opportunity into progress. Sandra shares how to advocate for your value, strengthen your negotiation skills, and use your income intentionally to build flexibility, confidence, and long-term freedom. Key Takeaways 🔹A higher income creates more options, and clarity helps you choose what matters most 🔹Understanding your identity helps you align your money with your goals 🔹Clear communication strengthens confidence and helps others recognize your value 🔹Small negotiation moments build a skill that compounds over time 🔹Intentional use of income through saving, investing, and career growth builds flexibility 🔹Open conversations about money support better decisions and shared progress 🔹Enjoying your money is part of building a sustainable and meaningful financial life 🧠 Tony’s Take: A strong income creates opportunity. Financial readiness comes from knowing your value, communicating it, and aligning your money with what matters most. When those pieces come together, your income becomes a tool for freedom, not just a number. Connect with Sandra Park: Website: https://engineerherpath.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/engineerherpath/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@engineerherpath Podcast: Engineer Her Path: https://open.spotify.com/show/0XksSCLpVQKsCi6fDUxE6N?si=Y94Vstc3Sv27jUio3331Cg Resources mentioned: Invest for Better website: www.investforbetter.org Check out my conversation with Janine Firpo, founder of Invest for Better on The Get Ready Money Podcast: Invest In Alignment With Your Values ( here ). Bio: Sandra Park is a systems engineer, financial coach, and host of the Engineer Her Path podcast, where she helps women in STEM turn high incomes into lasting financial freedom and autonomy. After building a multimillion-dollar net worth, becoming completely debt-free, and paying off her home, Sandra now teaches others how to align their money with their values so they can work from choice, not obligation. Through her coaching, speaking, and writing, Sandra combines technical precision with personal storytelling to help professionals rethink success beyond titles and paychecks. Her work focuses on helping women build margin, reclaim agency over their careers, and design lives rooted in purpose, not just achievement. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 18, 202641 min

What Still Makes You Valuable in an AI-Driven World

Send us Fan Mail Your value grows when you learn how to combine AI with what only you can do as a human. Nikki Barua, author, speaker and CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork joined me on Get Ready Before Before Life Happens to talk about how AI is transforming how we work, earn, and create value. Nikki shares how individuals and advisors can stay relevant by reinventing themselves, developing AI fluency and focusing on the skills that remain distinctly human. From empathy and judgment to action and accountability, this conversation explores how to thrive in an AI-driven world. Key Takeaways 🔹 AI is accelerating change and expanding what’s possible. 🔹 Reinvention is an ongoing process. 🔹 Knowledge alone does not create results, action does. 🔹 AI can expand access to tools, intelligence, and opportunity. 🔹 Empathy, judgment, coaching, and accountability become more valuable as technology advances. 🔹 Advisors evolve from experts to guides and accountability partners. 🔹 Investing in yourself creates long-term advantage. 🧠 Tony’s Take: AI amplifies human potential. You are your biggest asset. The opportunity is to use AI for what it does well while strengthening the judgment, empathy, curiosity, and relationships that only you can bring. Connect with Nikki Barua: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/ Personal Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com Twitter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/ Instagram: h ttps://www.instagram.com/thenikkibarua/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenikkibarua Newsletter: https://www.nikkibarua.com/newsletters/reinvention-roadmap/subscribe Personal Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ Flipwork Company Website: https://www.flipwork.ai/ Books: Beyond Barriers: How to Unlock Your Limitless Potential ( Amazon ) Resources mentioned: FlipFactor™ Diagnostic: https://flipfactor.ai Bio: Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on transformation. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork , the human + agentic system for workforce reinvention. For over 25 years, Nikki has helped global brands reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge. Her work spans strategy, digital transformation, and organizational change,rooted in a belief that people, not just technology are the key to future success. Nikki has built and scaled high-growth businesses as a tech entrepreneur, earning accolades for her visionary leadership and impact. Her personal journey of rising from humble beginnings has made her a sought-after voice on resilience and reinvention. Her story has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune, and Forbes. Nikki has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE, honored as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, included in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women, recognized as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, and celebrated as a Woman of Influence by The Business Journals, and Top Entrepreneur by Comerica Bank & LA Lakers. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 14, 202635 min

Every Money Decision You Make Sends a Signal

Send us Fan Mail Your money decisions show what matters most to you. Cecile Biccari, sustainable finance specialist and author of Your Money and the World , joins me on the Get Ready: Before Life Happens Podcast to talk about sustainable finance, impact investing, and how everyday choices about spending, saving, investing, and giving can influence the world around us. Cecile shares how sustainable finance connects everyday financial decisions with real-world impact. We also explore how to align money with your values, how environmental, social, and governance factors shape investment decisions, and why early money conversations can influence lifelong beliefs. Key Takeaways Sustainable finance applies to everyday financial decisions. Your spending and investing reflect what you value. Investment choices influence real-world outcomes. Sustainability includes environmental, social, and governance factors. Impact can come from money, time, and attention. Early money conversations help shape lifelong beliefs. You can align your money with your goals and values. 🧠 Tony’s Take: What stood out is that money is more than a financial tool. It’s a signal. When we align our decisions with what matters most, we create impact in our own lives and in the world around us. Connect with Cecile Biccari : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilebiccari/ Your Money, Your World / Nora’s Treasure Website: https://www.norastreasure.com Ethos education platform focuses on sustainable finance: https://ethos.hiveq-cloud.com/ch/en-GB/Home Book : Your Money and the World: How to Spend, Save, Donate and Invest Sustainably by Cecile Biccari ( Amazon ) ( Bookshop ) Resources mentioned: Impact Philanthropy Advisor from Daylight Advisors ( here ) Invest for Better website ( here ). Check out my conversation with Invest For Better Founder: Janine Firpo on the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast: Invest In Alignment With Your Values ( here ) Morningstar - Sustainable Investing ( here ) Bio: Cecile Biccari has worked in sustainable finance for more than 20 years. She started her career at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in early 2000s and then worked in the finance industry, helping investors to understand the social and environmental challenges we face, and how to incorporate these factors in their financial decisions. Along the way, she helped develop a number of training courses for investment professionals. When her children, aged 7 and 5 at the time, started asking her questions about money, she decided to write a story to explain to them the basics of sustainable finance. Illustrated by Naiade Lacolomb and published by HELVETIQ, a Swiss publishing company, at the beginning of 2024, her book combines a comic strip story and a documentary explaining the connections between money, happiness, impact and responsibility. Cecile currently works at the Ethos Foundation to develop education programs on responsible investment for Swiss pension funds. In collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) which celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org . 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 11, 202641 min

Why Financial Confidence Takes More Than Just Money

Send us Fan Mail Financial success grows when your money aligns with the life you truly want. Danqin Fang, CFP®, CFA, RLP®, founder and CEO of Wealth Beyond Math joined Tony on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens to talk about how holistic financial planning evolves through a process of awareness, clarity, and alignment. Even people who appear to have everything in place often feel held back by fear, scarcity, or limiting beliefs. This conversation explores how understanding your relationship with money helps you make more intentional decisions and build a more meaningful life. Key Takeaways Holistic financial planning is an ongoing process, not a one-time plan. People who “have it all” can still feel stuck or unfulfilled. Scarcity and fear often shape financial decisions. Core beliefs about money serve a purpose and can evolve over time. Clarity about priorities helps you make more intentional choices. Awareness creates space to pause and choose differently. Money is a tool to support experiences, impact, and quality of life. 🧠 Tony’s Take: Financial readiness grows from awareness and alignment. When people understand their money patterns, gain clarity on what matters, and give themselves permission to act, they begin to build a life that feels both intentional and fulfilling. Connect with Danqin Fang, CFP, CFA, RLP : Website: https://www.wealthbeyondmath.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danqinfang/ Bio: Danqin Fang, CFP®, CFA, RLP®, is the founder and CEO of Wealth Beyond Math, a modern, virtual, fee-only fiduciary financial planning firm based in Austin, Texas. A first-generation immigrant from China, Danqin came to the U.S. to earn a master’s degree in financial planning from Texas Tech University and spent more than 15 years working with fiduciary registered investment advisory firms before launching Wealth Beyond Math. Having advised 200+ families and over $500 million in assets, Danqin combines rigorous financial planning and investment expertise with a deeply human, life-centered approach to helping people align their money with the life they truly want to live. Danqin’s work integrates the technical discipline of comprehensive financial planning, investment strategy, and fiduciary advice with George Kinder’s life planning methodology. As a Registered Life Planner®, Danqin helps clients move beyond scarcity, guilt, and autopilot money decisions while grounding every recommendation in sound financial analysis. Danqin believes financial planning should start with life—not just numbers—so money becomes a tool for clarity, confidence, and meaningful impact, rather than an end in itself. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 7, 202633 min

Can You Learn Money in 2 Minutes a Day?

Send us Fan Mail Small, daily habits can turn financial confusion into confidence. Emily Boxall, Founder of the 2Mins App joined Tony on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens to talk about how gamification and bite-sized learning can transform financial education. From quirky characters to two-minute lessons, Emily shares how making money more approachable, interactive, and judgment-free can help people build confidence and lasting financial habits. Key Takeaways Financial education works best when it is simple and accessible. Two-minute lessons make it easier to build consistent habits. Gamification helps people engage without fear or judgment. Repetition and interaction improve long-term retention. Many people feel money is “not for them” due to how it’s taught. Confidence grows when people apply what they learn. Financial education should start early and continue over time. 🧠 Tony’s Take: Financial confidence comes from small, consistent steps. When we make money approachable, people engage. And when people engage, they build habits that lead to better decisions. Connect with Emily Boxall : LinkedIn (Emily): https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-boxall-ab3b53172/ Website (2mins app): https://microfact.co.uk LinkedIn: 2mins Instagram: @2minsapp TikTok: @2minsapp Bio: Emily Boxall is the Co-founder of 2mins, the app turning financial education into engaging, bite-sized games. Her background spans marketing, communications and journalism, including freelance writing for the Investors’ Chronicle. She co-founded 2mins with her dad, Chris Boxall, and together they are on a mission to build financial confidence through humour, creativity and fun. 2mins was recently named runner-up in the Best Fintech/AI by a For Profit Organisation category at the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIAs) This episode is a collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) which celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

August 4, 202640 min

Do People Make Better Money Decisions With Logic or Emotion?

Send us Fan Mail The best financial decisions happen when emotion opens the door and logic helps shape the plan. Bill Comfort and Maxwell Schmitz joined Tony Steuer on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens for a lively debate about whether people make better insurance and financial decisions through numbers and probabilities, or through a clear understanding of the real-life impact on the people they love? This conversation explores where emotion, logic, and lived experience intersect, and why the best planning conversations need all three. Key Takeaways Emotion often helps clients engage with difficult financial decisions. Logic and data help quantify how much a risk truly matters. Insurance decisions are often driven by responsibility and love. Statistics should inform design, not drive fear. Lived experience often makes risk feel more real than probabilities alone. Risk protection must be part of every financial plan. The strongest decisions combine heart and numbers. 🧠 Tony’s Take: What stood out in this conversation is that this is not an either-or question. Emotion helps people connect with why a decision matters. Logic helps them understand what action to take. Financial readiness lives at the intersection of both. Connect with Bill Comfort: Comfort Long Term Care Website: ( here ) LinkedIn: ( here ) Connect with Maxwell Schmitz: LinkedIn: ( here ) Dingo Technologies website: ( here ) Yetworth website: ( here ) Resources mentioned: Why Disability Insurance Is the Foundation of a Real Financial Plan with Maxwell Schmitz and Tony Steuer on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast ( watch or listen ) Bios: Bill Comfort is an independent LTC specialist agent with Comfort Long Term Care. Bill hosts the broadcast & podcast show: “Aging America Radio” with a focus on a wide range of topics supporting "successful aging". Maxwell Schmitz , MSFS, CLTC is a third-generation DI specialist. He is co-founder of Dingo Technologies, Inc. and President of Yetworth Insurance Solutions, a disability-focused insurance agency. He also currently serves as President of the International DI Society, an association of the nation's top DI minds. Max also serves as the chair of his town's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. He is a sitting member on the board of The Plus Group, America's Premier Disability Insurance Marketing Organization. In his spare time he is also the father/coach of three energetic/athletic kids (ages 7, 5, and 3), husband to an amazing wife, and is a thru-hiking junkie. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support ( here ) Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

July 31, 202646 min

How to Build a Healthier Relationship With Money

Send us Fan Mail Money works best when it supports the life you want to live. Dana Miranda, author, content creator, and money writer joined me on Get Ready Before Life Happens to talk about what it means to build a healthier, more empowering relationship with money. We explored why traditional money advice often misses the lived experiences of women, people of color, and LGBTQ communities, and how understanding financial tools can replace fear with confidence and choice. Key Takeaways 🔹 Financial products are tools, not goals. 🔹 Understanding how money works helps reduce fear and uncertainty. 🔹 Traditional advice often reflects an idealized life that many people do not live. 🔹 Your identity and lived experience shape your relationship with money. 🔹 Good money management does not have to mean restriction. 🔹 “Enough” is personal and can change over time. 🔹 Money should support your life, not become your boss. 🧠 Tony’s Take: Healthy wealth begins with self-trust. Financial readiness is not about following someone else’s rules. It is about understanding the tools available to you and using money to support the life you want to build. Connect with Dana Miranda: Website and newsletter: https://www.healthyrich.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justdanamiranda/overlay/contact-info/ Forbes Advisor Columnist: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/author/dmiranda/ Books: You Don't Need a Budget: Stop Worrying about Debt, Spend without Shame, and Manage Money with Ease ( Amazon ) Bio: Dana Miranda is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and author of You Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying about Debt, Spend without Shame, and Manage Money with Ease (Little, Brown Spark 2024). She’s been writing about personal finance as a staffer, freelancer, author, and creator since 2015, sharing her innovative budget-free approach, which recognizes the ways financial education fails to meet the needs of marginalized folks and shifts the conversation toward a better relationship with money for everyone. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support ( here ) Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

July 28, 202641 min

How Do You Know Who to Trust for Financial Advice?

Send us Fan Mail Financial decisions are becoming more complex every year. This episode explores how to find trusted expertise, ask better questions, and build confidence in the advice you follow. Tom Dickson, founder of the Financial Experts Network joined me on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens to explore why trusted expertise matters in today’s complex financial world, how advisors can better serve clients through collaboration and lifelong learning, and why understanding a person’s background and credentials is essential before following financial advice. Key Takeaways Financial planning requires expertise across many different and evolving areas Understanding a professional’s credentials and background helps build confidence in financial advice Lifelong learning is essential in a rapidly changing financial landscape Specialized expertise can help people navigate complex financial decisions more effectively Consumers should research financial professionals and understand the source of advice before acting Trusted advisors often work collaboratively with specialists to better serve clients In a world full of information, trusted expertise becomes even more valuable. The right guidance usually comes from people who understand their specialty deeply and continue learning as the world changes. Asking better questions about credentials, experience, and expertise helps people make more confident financial decisions. Connect with Tom Dickson: Website: www.financialexpertsnetwork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialexpertsnetwork/ Bio: Tom has over 40 years of experience in many sectors of the financial services industry, including asset management, brokerage, custody, trust, mortgage and fintech. It’s Tom passion for personal finance education that led to the development of the Financial Experts platform. Launched in 2008, Financial Experts has educated tens of thousands of Financial Planners with LIVE webinars that feature true subject matter experts. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.