In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Michigan State finance professor and registered investment advisor Steve Schiestel to talk about personal finance basics that actually stick, especially saving habits, wants versus needs, building an emergency fund, and why most people do better being consistent savers than trying to be genius investors.

We start with kid level money questions like what money is, how to save even a little, what to do with ten dollars, and how kids can earn money, then we zoom out into the real gaps in financial education, the psychology behind spending and investing, and why money behavior is often simple but not easy. I share a real dad moment trying to explain banks, limits, and saving to my daughter when she wants a gaming PC, and we get practical about budgeting rules of thumb, how much to save, housing cost targets, and why emergency funds can save a family when life hits. Steve breaks down common money mistakes like not saving early and trying to time the market, explains why low cost index investing and long term discipline beat chasing hype, and we connect it all to the casino style dopamine loops that make investing feel like a game.

We close with a clear guide for choosing a financial advisor, including fiduciary duty, fees versus commissions, credentials like CFP, and the trust factor, plus Steve’s advice to his younger self about taking smart career risks while still building long term financial security.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Steve Heinemann, a financial planner in Southern California who helps busy mid-career professionals and families create financial clarity, reduce money anxiety, and make confident decisions even when real life is messy.

We talk honestly about how chaos at home can spill into your money life, why an emergency fund matters more than people think, and how high earners still get stuck when they do not have a clear view of cash flow and priorities. Steve breaks down how to stop drifting financially by keeping things simple, focusing on values first, and using practical check ins to make sure spending matches what you actually care about. I share my own journey paying off credit card debt, using credit cards as tools, and building a system that makes money management easier instead of overwhelming.

If you want a straightforward way to build financial confidence, align your money with your values, and create flexibility for the storms you cannot predict, this conversation will help you take the first intentional step.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Ron Kmetovicz, a 78 year old dad, grandpa, and great grandpa who built his life as an engineer and entrepreneur, and now wants to pass down a simple, real-world pathway to financial independence.

Ron breaks financial freedom down into something you can actually remember and actually do, a five step process he teaches using nothing but his hand, abandon destructive behaviors, adopt effective behaviors, engage in meaningful work, invest wisely, and become financially independent. We talk about why most people feel behind, especially younger generations dealing with inflation, social media noise, and get rich quick myths, and why the real problem is usually a lack of role models and a lack of structure. Ron shares his practical definition of financial independence, minimal debt plus multiple revenue streams, and explains how to build that over 10 to 25 years without needing an MBA or fancy investing knowledge. We get into the foundation work that matters before investing makes sense, how habits compound the same way fitness does, and why his “ghost account” concept, consistent monthly investing in stable long-term funds, can become a parallel income stream that supports you later in life.

If you want a clear financial plan, a mindset reset, and a simple system for building wealth steadily, this conversation is a grounded guide to budgeting, debt payoff, long-term investing, and building multiple income streams the right way.