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In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Izidin El Kalak, associate professor of finance at Al Faisal University in Riyadh, for a deeply insightful conversation about money, academia, and global career mobility.

Izidin shares his non linear journey into academia, from growing up between Bulgaria and Syria, to working in Qatar to fund graduate school, to completing a PhD in the UK and eventually relocating to Saudi Arabia. Along the way, he reflects on how his relationship with money evolved from necessity, to stability, and ultimately to optionality and freedom.

The conversation explores practical money lessons learned early in life, including budgeting as a child, the missed opportunity of investing sooner, and the power of compounding. Izidin also offers candid insight into academic pay structures, the financial realities of the UK system post Brexit, and how compensation and benefits work differently in the Middle East.

The episode dives into important but often overlooked topics in academia, including salary negotiation, pension planning for expats, misconceptions around prestige and pay, and why moving to a seemingly lower ranked institution can actually be a smart financial decision.

Izidin closes by reflecting on why he would still choose academia even with unlimited financial security, emphasizing the value of research freedom, intellectual curiosity, and mentorship, along with a lighthearted discussion of recent purchases, including a VR headset win and the universal regret of buying slime.

This episode is a must listen for PhDs, academics, and anyone considering an international move or rethinking how money fits into a meaningful career.

If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

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In this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Oliver Schnusenberg, Professor of Finance at the University of North Florida, to explore a career path that has taken more turns than most academic CVs could handle.

Oliver shares how a German upbringing, an early interest in hospitality, and a family full of accountants somehow led him to a PhD in finance, a pioneering course in behavioral finance, and eventually a second act studying neuroscience and mental health. What began as curiosity about why people make irrational financial decisions has evolved into a passion for financial therapy and helping people untangle the emotions behind their money choices.

The conversation dives into the realities of academic life, including how disconnected research can feel from the “outside world,” the slow creep of lifestyle inflation, and why professors often struggle to implement their own financial advice. Oliver explains the three pillars of financial therapy, how attachment styles show up in money conversations, and why CFPs may need more psychology than spreadsheets.

He also reflects candidly on his own financial mindset, his discomfort with debt, and what it means to define “enough” after decades in academia. From hating a car purchase to questioning the purpose of academic research, Oliver brings humor, humility, and a refreshingly honest perspective on what it means to build a meaningful life with money instead of for it.

A thoughtful, funny, and unexpectedly personal conversation for anyone who has ever wondered whether the numbers tell the whole story.

If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

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In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Roxy Pebdani to explore what it really looks like to build an academic career across borders, systems, and life stages, while keeping money, equity, and values in view.

Roxy shares her personal and professional journey as the child of Iranian immigrants, growing up as a third culture kid, studying and working across the US, and ultimately relocating her family to Sydney, Australia, with two very young children. She reflects on the realities of academic mobility, the financial and emotional tradeoffs of living in one of the most expensive cities in the world, and why some decisions that are not financially optimal can still be deeply right for quality of life and family well being.

The conversation dives into budgeting habits, long term thinking around money, and how Roxy’s relationship with spending evolved over time, particularly around sustainability, durability, and value versus simply choosing the cheapest option. She also compares the US and Australian academic systems in detail, explaining differences in promotion structures, leadership roles, union protections, salary norms, and negotiation practices.

Roxy offers an inside look at Australia’s superannuation retirement system and contrasts it with US retirement saving challenges, highlighting how structural differences can dramatically change long term financial outcomes for academics. She also discusses gender equity in academia, imposter syndrome, career progression, and the importance of mentorship, especially for women and underrepresented groups.

Finally, Roxy reflects on why she would still choose academia even with unlimited financial means, emphasizing her passion for leadership, equity work, and creating systems where academics feel supported, celebrated, and able to thrive. The episode closes with practical advice for academics applying for jobs internationally, stressing the importance of tailoring application materials to country specific expectations.

If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.

Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.