Wealth vs. Rich: A Journey from Baseball to Finance | Kevin Thompson | Growing Money with Sean Trace

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Kevin Thompson, CFP, RICP, EA, for a conversation that blends his incredible personal journey with his professional insights on money and life. Kevin’s path started in Major League Baseball with the Yankees, and after an injury ended his career, he discovered his passion for finance. That journey included losing money to a Ponzi scheme, which gave him a firsthand understanding of why transparency and trust are so vital in this industry.

Kevin and I dive deep into what true wealth really means. He explains the difference between being “rich” and being “wealthy,” why guaranteed income can sometimes matter more than millions in assets, and how consumption culture has distorted our sense of financial wellbeing. We also talk about the quiet, understated wealth that often carries more influence than flashy displays, and the importance of planning not just for retirement savings, but for what life will look like on day one after you stop working.

This conversation is about more than finance, it’s about security, community, and redefining what success looks like, all through the perspective of Kevin.