Shari Rash was earning six figures, saving for retirement, and buying a home. Then a $1,000 car repair left her wondering why she felt broke.

The worst advice she ever got? “Max our your retirement accounts.”

The financial planner and founder of GWA Wealth joins Sean and JB to explain how following seemingly responsible advice left her unprepared for the life happening before retirement. They talk about the limits of generic money advice, the pressure to understand finances nobody taught you, and why a good financial plan starts with your actual goals.

The Worst Advice I Ever Got is brought to you by Smith + Howard.

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Sherry Rash
• (00:00:52) - The Worst Advice: Max Out Retirement First
• (00:04:14) - Sherry's 2008 Lightbulb Moment
• (00:06:28) - The Liquidity Trap: Rich on Paper, Cash Poor
• (00:08:45) - Emotional Toll of Money, Especially for Women
• (00:10:24) - Balancing Retirement Savings with Life Happening Now
• (00:12:41) - Building a Flexible Financial Process
• (00:13:53) - Generic Advice vs Personalized Financial Planning
• (00:15:02) - Social Media, Podcasts, and Bad Financial Advice
• (00:16:56) - Employer Match and Retirement Contribution Basics
• (00:18:35) - Getting Started: Advice for Young Professionals
• (00:20:44) - Why Budgets Don't Work for Most People
• (00:22:57) - The Case for Financial Education and Planners
• (00:24:06) - How to Choose the Right Financial Advisor
• (00:25:27) - Defining Your Own Right Financial Path
• (00:26:53) - Closing and How to Reach Sherry