Growing Money with Sean Trace

Money Plays Tricks | Dan Allison | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Dan Allison, a 22-year veteran consultant in the wealth management space with a background in clinical and behavioral psychology, to unpack why our relationship with money is rarely about logic.  Dan opens up about selling his first company in his 20s for 8 figures, then buying Maseratis and a Range Rover chasing validation he didn't even realize he needed, and how recognizing that pattern changed everything.  We dig into the psychology of referrals, why most financial advisors are stuck waiting passively for business instead of building intentional systems, and why a great service alone doesn't guarantee growth.  Dan also shares the simple 20% savings rule his mother taught him at 12 years old, a habit that quietly built the foundation for his financial freedom decades later.  What's one money habit from your childhood that still shapes how you spend or save today?

Money Needs Grace | Linda Grizely | Growing Money With Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Linda Grizely, a certified financial planner and financial wellness speaker, to talk about why money feels so emotional, confusing, and sometimes intimidating for so many people.  We get into how our childhood money stories shape the way we spend, save, avoid, and judge ourselves financially. Linda breaks down why traditional financial advice can feel too rigid, especially when it ignores personality, habits, shame, and real life. I loved her idea of financial confidence because it is not about being rich or perfect. It is about understanding your cash flow, knowing your values, and making money decisions without guilt taking over. We also talk about her “Me Money Method,” which gives people permission to spend intentionally while still staying financially responsible.  This conversation is all about making personal finance feel more human, practical, and less shame-filled. What is one money habit you learned growing up that you are still trying to unlearn today?

Born Into Broke | Alina Paula Burlacu | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I sat down with financial coach, educator, and mentor Alina Paula Burlacu for one of the most honest conversations I've had about money.  We dove deep into why so many of us feel trapped by our finances, not because we lack knowledge, but because we're carrying emotional baggage we never even knew we picked up.  Alina breaks down how money stress shows up quietly, in the unopened bills, the low-level anxiety, the constant mental math running in the background, and how those old childhood money scripts like "people like us don't get wealthy" keep running our lives long after we've grown up.  We talked about the powerful link between financial independence and emotional freedom, why workplaces are only just starting to wake up to how financial stress destroys performance, and why women in particular face a uniquely complex relationship with money that goes way beyond numbers. What's one money belief you grew up with that you're still trying to unlearn?

Money Feels Personal | Nathan Astle | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Nathan Astle, a certified financial therapist, to talk about why money is never just about numbers.  We get into financial anxiety, money trauma, shame, overspending, couples fighting about money, and the emotional patterns that quietly shape the way we save, spend, avoid, or obsess over money. Nathan shares why so many people use financial solutions for emotional problems, and how our childhood money memories can become the beliefs we carry into adulthood. This conversation made me look at my own spending patterns, anxiety, and family money stories in a totally different way.  We also talk about how to build a healthier relationship with money by getting curious instead of judgmental, practicing self-compassion, and noticing what emotions are actually driving our choices. What money belief did you grow up with that you are still trying to unlearn?

Money Isn’t Math | Charles "Chuck" Failla | Growing Money with Sean Trace

I sat down with Chuck Failla, CFP and founder of Sovereign Financial Group, for one of the most honest conversations I've had on this show about what it really means to trust someone with your money. Chuck has spent 30 years in financial services, from cold-calling stockbroker to fully independent RIA, and the insight he brings is the kind you can only earn through experience.  We get into why financial advisors are the only professionals in the four major advice pillars who aren't required to act as fiduciaries, and why that single fact explains so much of the skepticism people feel when they walk into an advisor's office.  Chuck breaks down the most common money mistakes he sees families make: almost always rooted in behavior, not math and shares why a solid cash flow analysis is the foundation of every sound financial decision.  What's one area of your financial life you've been avoiding looking at honestly?