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?

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

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?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Dr. Angela C. Meyers to talk about one of the biggest shifts happening in work, money, and identity right now: the rise of AI and the return of the modern polymath.

For years, people have been told to niche down, specialize, and become an expert in one narrow lane. But in a world where AI is automating specialized tasks faster than ever, that advice may be starting to fail people. Dr. Angela breaks down why adaptability, curiosity, emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and the ability to connect ideas across disciplines may become some of the most valuable human skills in the next decade. We also talk about why so many people feel financially trapped, why fear can shrink your future, and why your ability to keep learning may be your greatest safety net. This conversation is about money, work, AI, reinvention, and what it really means to stay human in a changing world.

Are you trying to master one path right now, or are you building a life with multiple skills, interests, and ways to adapt?

We've all heard the phrase: more money, more problems.

But that's not entirely true.

Money can solve a lot of problems. It can reduce stress, create opportunities, provide security, and give you options. The real challenge is that money doesn't eliminate problems—it changes them.

In this episode, I talk about happiness, lifestyle inflation, responsibility, relationships, the fear of losing what you've built, and why defining "enough" may be one of the most important financial skills you'll ever develop.

Because the goal isn't simply more money.

The goal is building a life that's worth living once you get it.

I sat down with Logan Bennis, a financial advisor out of Dunedin, Florida, who works with business owners and families to untangle their financial lives and actually build something that lasts.

We got into the real reasons why people who earn good money still feel broke, it almost always comes back to lifestyle creep, keeping up with appearances, and skipping the unsexy stuff like disability insurance and estate planning that nobody wants to talk about.

Logan broke down the biggest mistakes he sees walking through his door every single day, from families with zero protection on their assets to people chasing get-rich-quick schemes online while ignoring the slow, boring path that actually made every one of his 100+ millionaire clients wealthy.

What's one money habit you wish someone had taught you before you turned 18?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Charles Gaudet, CEO of Predictable Profits, to talk about what it really takes to grow a business in a world where hard work alone is no longer enough.

Charles breaks down the difference between starting a business from scratch and buying into one with existing momentum, why so many founders fall into the “founder’s trap,” and how success can sometimes create more pressure, burnout, and dependency instead of freedom. We also talk about AI, business strategy, trust, authenticity, founder branding, and why companies need to focus less on outputs and more on real outcomes. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Charles’ reminder that the most successful people he has met are also the most curious. They do not assume they know everything. They keep asking better questions, solving bigger problems, and building businesses around impact instead of ego.

What do you think is more important for building a successful business today: working harder, asking better questions, or solving better problems?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Anne Serrano, a CFP professional who helps the rising generation build a healthier relationship with money. We talk about why so many people feel guilt, shame, and anxiety when they look at their bank account, and why budgeting does not have to feel restrictive or miserable. Anne shares a softer, more human approach called cozy budgeting, where money becomes less about punishment and more about building a life that actually feels good.

We also talk about comparison, social media, financial stress, and why smart, hardworking people can still feel overwhelmed by money. One of the biggest takeaways for me was that the first financial habit is not always about numbers. Sometimes it is simply learning how to pause, breathe, notice what is happening, and make one compassionate decision at a time. This conversation is really about money, but it is also about self-trust, future-you, and creating a financial plan that feels like home.

What is one money habit you want to make feel less stressful and more peaceful?