Growing Money with Sean Trace

What’s up everyone! In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, it’s just me today, and I’m hyped to share a huge win. I finally paid off my credit card! And the reason I was able to do it is because I started using something that completely changed how I handle money in my business: The 5 Buckets of Profit First.I’ve always been the type who struggled with managing money, but after working with an amazing certified financial planner, I started applying the Profit First method and it’s been a total game changer. I break down how I divide every dollar that comes in into five buckets: Profit, Owner’s Pay, Taxes, Operating Expenses, and Emergency Savings. Each one has a purpose, and together they keep my business running lean, smart, and stress-free.This system taught me that profit isn’t an event, it’s a habit. Paying myself first, setting money aside for taxes, capping what I spend on the business, and building an emergency cushion, it’s completely shifted my mindset. Last month I even had to dip into my reserves, but I paid them right back. Now I’m watching my debt drop and my financial confidence rise.If you’ve been hustling but still feel like your money’s running you instead of the other way around, this one’s for you. Tune in to “The 5 Buckets of Profit First” to hear how I’m making my money work for me, not against me. Let’s grow that cash flow together. 

I sit down with CPA firm owner Zee Barfoot to talk real money mindset, not just spreadsheets. We get into why driving a paid off beater can beat flex culture, how to avoid credit card traps, and the non negotiables like paying your taxes on time, building an emergency fund, and getting simple term life insurance. We jam on couples and cash, aligning goals before budgets, and why treating yourself like a business, know your numbers, track your progress, changes everything. We touch Dave Ramsey, feelings over formulas, and how purpose and legacy guide every financial move. Zee shares starting from zero, building a firm in Arkansas, and choosing the right partner and habits. If you want practical steps for self employed taxes, mindset shifts that reduce money anxiety, and a plan to grow, save, and protect your family, this episode delivers. Listen for clear takeaways on goals, cash flow, emergency funds, insurance, and paying the government without drama, plus a candid conversation about therapy, resilience, and building a life you are proud of. 

I brought on Lillian Turner, a Certified Financial Planner and Registered Life Planner, to talk about money the way real people live it. We dig into money stories, mindset, and why most of us were never taught this stuff in school. Lillian shares how growing up around money stress shaped her beliefs, how she dug out of credit card debt, and why knowledge without implementation keeps people stuck. We get into practical coaching, the EVOKE method from George Kinder, and the Three Questions that help you build a values driven plan. We riff on ROL, return on life, and how to balance enjoying your money today with funding your future. We talk abundance over scarcity, experiences over things, and why a spending plan can feel like freedom. Lillian busts the myth that having debt makes you a bad person, shows how the wealthy use tools like debt wisely, and makes the case for money buddies, accountability, and step by step action. If you want financial clarity, time freedom, and a life that actually feels good, this episode is for you.

I sit down with Paulina from Mindset Mastery Tribe to unpack how ex corporate pros can rewire their thinking, scale fast, and actually enjoy the climb. We get real about breaking old programming, using time, space, repetition to shift identity, why daily accountability beats New Year hype, and how money beliefs either block or attract clients. We riff on You Squared, the Science of Getting Rich, and the power of a true mastermind that meets every day. I share my own Ls, wins, and why feeling good is a strategy, not fluff. If you are leaving the 9 to 5 for ownership, this episode gives you the mindset of an operating system, from failing forward without losing steam to building systems that create leverage. Tap in to Growing Money with Sean Trace, meet Paulina, and leave with a simple plan to think better, move smarter, and make more.

I sat down with Austin Preece, a 28 year old planner out of Wisconsin, to talk about money the way real people live it. We started with the human side, trust first, numbers second, because if you cannot say your priorities out loud, the spreadsheet will not save you. Austin breaks it down like a coach, track your spending, actually read your tax return, know what is coming in and what is leaking out. We get into tax planning that shows real dollar value, how to avoid the classic one year Roth blow up, why donor advised funds can level up your giving, and why most of us need savings outside retirement so we have flexibility to start a business, buy a home, or just breathe. We talk latte myths, patience, and compounding, plus my favorite analogy, you cannot build the top floor before the foundation. If you want a simple path, start small, open a plain brokerage account, automate something, and keep showing up. Boring moves now, loud results later.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Certified Financial Planner Nicholas Bunio to talk about real retirement planning for real people, especially teachers, doctors, nurses, and federal workers who want confidence, not hype. Nick shares how bad brokerage advice hit his own family, why discipline beats drama, and how a written financial plan gives you calm when markets swing. We connect martial arts to money, show up on rainy days, build a strong base first, emergency funds, cash flow, and risk that fits your nerves, then take smart offense. We cover pensions versus 403b and TSP, sequence risk, why Medicare does not cover long term care, and how to think about lifestyle, taxes, and custodial care without panic. If you have ever wondered how to stay calm, stick to a strategy, and be ready for anything, this conversation will help you turn anxiety into action. Find Nicholas Bunio on LinkedIn for a free 30 minute consult, and subscribe if you want clear, practical steps for retirement readiness. 

We are back, and Money School is now co-branded with Growing Money with Sean Trace and Professor Heath’s Money Misfits. I open with a very human confession, I literally forgot to hit record on a different show, two hundred plus episodes in, which is a perfect reminder that progress beats perfection. From there we get into what actually moved my money forward this month. I worked with a financial planner, paid down eight thousand dollars toward debt, cleared my credit cards, and laid out the next steps, two emergency funds, one for life and one for business, plus getting a solo 401k and a Roth going. We talk through why I am not racing to crush my student loans at 6.7 percent when I can also start investing, and how that tradeoff works in real life.We get honest about relationships and money, the fight that happens when values are not aligned, the new phone that costs more than the plan, and how different money scripts can wreck a partnership if you never talk about them. We dig into psychology too, dopamine spending, the 72 hour pause that saves me from impulse buys, and how I am gamifying progress so the numbers going down on debt and up in savings keep me motivated. If you are waiting to have it all figured out before you start, this episode is your sign. Start with what you have, keep showing up, and let consistency do the heavy lifting. If this resonates, drop a comment with the one habit you are committing to this month and subscribe for more Money School x Money Misfits.

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Joseph Rutakangwa, co-founder of Rwazi, to unpack how decision AI, powered by zero party data, helps real companies capture market share, lower acquisition costs, and grow customer lifetime value. We get practical about starting where the problem is, from my daughter’s eraser stand in Vietnam to lemonade stand logic, and why usefulness comes before passion, margin, and scale. Joseph breaks down signals over noise, simulated outcomes, and role based recommendations that guide the next best move for sales, marketing, and product teams. We talk about pricing your value, escaping second party thinking, and why human made art still matters. If you want a clear path from being helpful to being profitable, this conversation is a master class. Listen in, subscribe for more money and business breakdowns, and check out Joseph’s book Never Stay Broke for deeper tactics.

In this solo episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I open up about my own financial journey of finally setting up my Roth IRA and solo 401(k) at 46, tackling debt, and learning the discipline I should have had decades ago. Working with a financial planner has been eye-opening, and I’ve started using the classic envelope method to regain control over my spending.I share what I’ve learned about borrowing from tomorrow, how small “justifiable” expenses add up, and why awareness, boundaries, and consistency are the real keys to financial freedom. This episode is about slowing down, getting honest with yourself, and realizing that every dollar today is either building or stealing from your future self.If you’ve ever felt behind on money or unsure where to start, this one’s for you. The best time to start was years ago, but the second-best time is today.

On this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Patrick Negado, author of The Canoe and The Current and a retirement income and wealth transfer strategist with 28 years in the trenches. Patrick explains why most people are paralyzed by noise and conflicting hot takes, and how a simple, predictable plan beats complexity for the average retiree. We break down his Canoe and Current system, where your canoe is the reliable income that covers essentials like housing, taxes, healthcare, and core living costs, and the current is your market portfolio that you harvest when conditions reward you. Patrick shares hard lessons from the “dot com” era, why chasing returns can destroy trust, and how to use modern annuity features as one tool among many to create lifetime income without locking everything away. We talk about Bruce Lee, be water, building a retirement vision statement before you quit, and crafting a family financial philosophy so wealth is stewarded well across generations. If you want clarity, confidence, and a plan that fits your life, this conversation will help you build a solid canoe and ride the current to your destination.