Financially Intentional

What Most Parents Get Wrong About Paying for College - Episode 168

Send a textIn today's episode, I sit down with Shellee Howard to talk about how parents can help their kids go to college without taking on huge debt. We get into college planning, scholarships, FAFSA mistakes, and why the right school is not always the most expensive or most famous one. Shellee shares how her son went to Harvard debt free, why families need to start planning early, and how to think about college costs, return on investment, and real options before it is too late.About our guest:Shellee Howard is the Founder and CEO of College Ready and CR Tutoring & Test Strategies, a Certified Independent College Strategist, two time best selling author, international speaker, and trusted consultant who helps families navigate college admissions and financial planning. A mother of four, Shellee turned her own family’s success into a mission after helping each of her children pursue college with thoughtful planning and graduate debt free, including her oldest son, who graduated from Harvard debt free, completed medical school at UC San Diego, and is now finishing an Orthopedic Surgery residency at UCLA.That personal experience led Shellee to found College Ready so other families could build a smart college plan without overwhelming debt or financial stress. She has been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and other major platforms, and is widely recognized for helping families improve admissions outcomes while keeping college affordable. Shellee’s work is rooted in the belief that every student needs a personalized strategy built around fit, finances, and long term purpose, not just prestige.Grab your free workbook hereSupport the show--- Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million. Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start Here Join the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

How Bola Sokunbi Built Clever Girl Finance and Became a Millionaire - Episode 167

Send a textWant to feel calm about money and start to build wealth? In today's episode, I sit down with Bola Sokunbi, the founder of Clever Girl Finance and the author of Clever Girl Millionaire. Bola shares how she learned the money rules as a first generation immigrant, the mistakes she made, and the simple steps that helped her save, invest, and become a millionaire. We talk about building wealth with a real budget, starting small with investing, and changing your circle of influence so better money habits feel normal. She also shares how she talks to her kids about money and why women deserve financial freedom.About our guest:Bola Sokunbi is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), finance expert, speaker, and 6× bestselling author, including her latest book Clever Girl Millionaire. She is the founder and CEO of Clever Girl Finance, one of the largest personal finance education platforms for women in the U.S., and a recipient of the 2021 Financial Education Instructor of the Year (FEIY) Award from the National Council of Financial Educators.Clever Girl Finance has earned the Distinguished Personal Finance Content designation from the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) affirming its commitment and competency in providing high quality financial education that aligns with industry best practices and research-based education principles. Bola and Clever Girl Finance have been featured by several media outlets including Time.com, Money Magazine, CNBC, Forbes, Fast Company, Essence, Black Enterprise, Cheddar TV, ABC News, Good Morning America, BBC, Fox Business, and The Chicago Tribune as well as on several finance websites and podcasts. Clever Girl FinanceBola Sokunbi BooksSupport the show--- Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million. Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start Here Join the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

The Hidden Shame That Keeps You Stuck With Money - Episode 166

Send a textIn today’s episode, I’m talking with Uma Viswanathan, cofounder of True Worth, about your money story and how it shapes the way you spend, save, and build wealth, especially if you’re a first generation wealth builder. We dig into how family, culture, and stress can create money habits that don’t match the life you want, and how shame can keep you stuck even when you’re doing “all the right things.” Uma shares a simple tool she calls the power of the pause so you can notice your triggers before you buy, people please, or say yes out of guilt, and then choose a move that fits your real values.About our guest:Uma Viswanathan is the co-founder of TruWorth, where she helps people, especially women and first-generation wealth builders, rewrite the money stories that no longer serve them. Her work sits at the intersection of identity, culture, and finance, shaped by her own experience navigating those tensions.Before launching TruWorth, Uma led more than $200 million in mission-driven investments through major foundations and collaboratives focused on racial equity, healing, and systems change. She brings two decades of experience in psychology, philanthropy, and narrative strategy to help people move out of shame and into clarity, so they can build a life that feels aligned and abundant.https://www.truworthshift.com/Support the show--- Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million. Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start Here Join the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

The smartest way to choose a college is to start with the life you want - Episode 165

Send a textIn today's episode, I talk with Bri Franklin, a money coach who helps people pick a smart path after high school. We talk about college costs and student loans, and what to ask before you sign for debt. Bri shares ways to cut student loan debt, like help money, scholarships, a lower cost school, job skills, or a trade. We also talk about loan offers that sound good but can hurt you later. If you or your kid is thinking about college and student loans, this talk will help.About our guest:Bri is a financial wellness expert and socioeconomic justice crusader redefining wealth building for the next generation.Having spent over 10 years personally experiencing the challenges of severe debt constraint, her leadership is rooted in advocacy and empowerment for those currently suffering and who stand to in the future.Known for her bold voice and countercultural approaches initially demonstrated through her time as Co-Founder, President & CEO of nationally-acclaimed nonprofit, The Prosp(a)rity Project (2020-2024), Bri is continuing her service through financial wellness education enterprise, UnDEBTfeated.Her accolades include membership in Debra Lee’s Leading Women Defined (LWD) organization and Chime’s 2024 Changemakers cohort, earning SXSW’s 2023 Innovation Award for Social Impact and being named the Visionary Women Foundation’s 2023 Rising Visionary.UnDEBTfeated SiteSupport the show--- Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million. Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start Here Join the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money

This AI Lets Families Keep Loved Ones Stories Alive Forever - Episode 164

Send a textIn today's episode, we are joined by Miles Spencer, the founder of Reflekta.ai, to talk about a new way to save your family stories with AI. Miles shares how AI can take your photos, memories, and values and turn them into a voice you can talk to, even if the person is no longer here. We also talk about how Reflekta.ai keeps things safe by using a family “keeper” who controls what gets added, and why privacy matters so this stays about real memories and not fake videos.About our guest:Miles Spencer is currently CEO and a founder of Reflekta.ai, a Soul Tech company that bridges generations through fully interactive digital legacies. A multi-exit entrepreneur, investor, and storyteller, he is the author of the Amazon bestseller A Line in the Sand, Founder of Kayak for a Cause and former co-host of PBS’s MoneyHunt. Miles has spent his career at the intersection of media, technology, and adventure and human-centered narrative. With Reflekta, he is pioneering a new way for families to preserve voice, memory, and values… turning stories into dynamic, spontaneous connections that endure across lifetimes.https://reflekta.ai/Support the show--- Grab your spot in my free Financial CPR class and learn the simple steps I used to go from paycheck to paycheck to my first million. Please join me here, and follow me on social media, Instagram, and Facebook.Need help getting started on your path to financial freedom? Start Here Join the Financially Intentional Community Oh and please subscribe and leave a review on whatever app you're using to stream this podcast. Get my book Smart Money