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

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?

Rich People Build Teams. Broke People Go Alone. | The Sean Trace Show

One of the biggest myths in personal finance is that successful people do everything themselves. They don't. Athletes have coaches. Businesses have teams. Wealthy people have advisors, mentors, accountants, attorneys, and communities that help them make better decisions. In this episode, I explore why trying to do everything alone keeps people stuck, how to build your own financial team, and why your network may be one of the most valuable assets you'll ever have. Because wealth isn't a solo mission. The people around you can change everything. #GrowingMoney #RichPeopleBuildTeams #PersonalFinance #MoneyMindset #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #Mentorship #Leadership #Networking #SeanTrace

Women, Wealth, And Power | Cary Carbonaro | Growing Money Podcast

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Cary Carbonaro, CFP®, MBA, a women and wealth expert who has spent 25 years helping women understand money, investing, financial planning, and long-term wealth building.  This conversation hit me hard as a father, because so much of what Cary shares is about preparing the next generation of women to own their financial future with confidence. We talk about the great wealth transfer, why women are expected to control a massive share of wealth in the coming years, and why the financial industry still has not fully adapted to serve them. Cary also breaks down the myths women are taught about money, why cash can feel safe but hold people back, how divorce and widowhood expose gaps in financial relationships, and why basic money skills should be taught before adulthood.  This episode is really about empowerment, education, and changing the way families talk about money. What is one money lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life?