Get Ready: Before Life Happens Podcast

Tony Steuer

Tony Steuer is a Financial Readiness Advocate, award-winning author, and host of Get Ready: Before Life Happens. Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience in insurance, financial education, and consumer advocacy, he helps people create their in-case-of-emergency plan, ask better questions, recognize red flags, and prepare before life happens.On this channel, you’ll find conversations with experts, authors, advocates, educators, and other trusted voices, along with practical ideas about financial readiness, life transitions, insurance, consumer protection, scams, and better money decisions.Create your own in-case-of-emergency plan when you Start your free Financial Readiness Plan at tonysteuer.com.  Support Get Ready: Help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free and support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. Become a Get Ready Insider for $5/month at tonysteuer.com/support.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Why Estate Planning Matters Sooner Than You Think

    Send us Fan Mail Life can change quickly. Planning ahead, having the right conversations, and using tools like trusts can help protect what matters most. Will Spencer, founder of Rest Easier joined me on Get Ready Before Life Happens to explore why estate planning is important for everyone, how families can protect assets from disappearing over time, and why early money conversations create more clarity and confidence across generations. Will shares practical ways to simplify planning, update beneficiaries, and help families prepare before life happens. Key Takeaways Estate planning helps protect families and is valuable at every stage of lifeMany assets go unclaimed because loved ones do not know they existEarly conversations about money create clarity and reduce future stressUpdating beneficiaries and organizing important information are simple but powerful stepsFinancial literacy grows when people openly share knowledge and support one anotherYounger generations can help start meaningful conversations around money and planning with aging parents 🧠 Tony’s Take Protecting your family starts long before a crisis happens. Simple conversations, updated information, and shared awareness can make a meaningful difference for the people you care about. That’s what financial readiness looks like in real life. Connect with Will Spencer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willspencerresteasier/ Rest Easier Website: https://resteasier.co.uk Bio: Will Spencer is the Founder & CEO of Rest Easier, a UK-based startup building "the family office for the 99%", giving employees access to estate planning, life-event financial coordination, and protection infrastructure through their employer. Will's career spans founder-led sales, investor relations, and product strategy, all focused on making financial preparedness accessible to people who'd otherwise never get it. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  2. 2d ago ·  Video

    Why Journaling May Be Your Most Valuable Skill

    Send us Fan Mail Your story is one of your greatest assets.  Jed Collins, author of Fourth & Goal: An NFL Memoir, Grit, Survival, & Stories From Inside My Helmet joined me on the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast to explore the power of journaling, why reflection helps shape personal growth, and how authenticity becomes even more valuable in the age of AI. Jed shares lessons from football, failure, entrepreneurship, and financial education, along with why capturing your story can help you better understand yourself, your goals, and the value you bring to the world. Key Takeaways Journaling helps capture experiences, reflect on growth, and develop original thinkingReflection creates greater self-awareness around decisions, goals, and personal identityAuthenticity and perspective are becoming more valuable as AI expands access to informationGrowth often comes through challenges, setbacks, and learning from failureFinancial education becomes more powerful when people can apply ideas in real lifeCapturing your story over time helps clarify your voice, values, and directionSmall, consistent habits like journaling can create long-term personal and professional growthBecome the person you needed when you were young 🧠 Tony’s Take: Your story is an asset. This conversation is a reminder that reflection helps us better understand who we are, what we value, and how we grow through both successes and setbacks. In a world where information is everywhere, authenticity, perspective, and lived experience become even more meaningful. Taking time to capture your journey helps turn experiences into insight and insight into growth. Connect with Jedidiah Collins, CFP®:  Website: https://jedidiahcollins.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jedidiah-collins/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jedidiahcollins8198 Book: Fourth & Goal: An NFL Memoir, Grit, Survival, & Stories From Inside My Helmet (Amazon)Your Money Vehicle: How to Begin Driving to Financial Freedom! (Amazon).  Mentioned this episode: Ball Four: The Final Pitch by Jim Bouton (Amazon)  Bio:  Jedidiah Collins, known as the Fullback of Finance, spent seven seasons in the NFL where he was cut 13 times before earning his place and eventually becoming one of the top fullbacks in the world. His journey taught him a lesson that now defines his work: talent may get you noticed, but resilience is what keeps you in the game. While others measured success by contracts and statistics, Jed was quietly building a different edge—through journaling, reflection, and learning from the greatness around him. Those habits helped shape both his football career and the life that followed. After the NFL, Jed became a Certified Financial Planner® and founded the financial literacy company Money Vehicle. Today, he teaches athletes, students, entrepreneurs, and leaders how to Speak Money & Act Wealthy, turning financial literacy into practical action and confidence. As a keynote speaker and author, Jed now shares his Rookie to Veteran framework to help others grow in business and life. His message is simple: success leaves clues, failure is a First Attempt In Learning, and the most important victories are the ones you choose to write down first. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  3. 4d ago ·  Video

    How Cognitive Biases Shape Your Money Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail The way we think shapes the way we spend, invest, and make decisions.  Colin Hodge, founder and author of Outrageous Startup Growth joined me on this episode of the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast to explore how psychology impacts financial decisions, why cognitive biases shape more of our lives than we realize, and how slowing down can help us make clearer and more intentional choices. Colin shares insights on growth mindset, entrepreneurship, AI, and the hidden forces that influence how we think, spend, and respond to risk. Key Takeaways Cognitive biases influence how we make financial, business, and everyday decisionsSlowing down important decisions creates space for clearer and more intentional thinkingSystem 1 thinking helps us react quickly, while System 2 thinking supports deeper analysisUrgency and fear can push people toward reactive decisions and reduce critical thinkingAdding friction to decisions can help reduce impulse spending and improve long-term outcomesUnderstanding your identity, emotions, and personal story improves self-awareness around moneyAI can become a powerful tool for learning, leverage, and expanding opportunity when used intentionally 🧠 Tony’s Take: Slowing down is a financial skill. The more aware we become of our biases, emotions, and decision-making patterns, the more clearly we can think before acting. That awareness helps turn reactions into intentional choices. Connect with Colin Hodge: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckbhodge/Website: https://colinhodge.comNewsletter: https://colinhodge.substack.com Books:   Outrageous Startup Growth: Uncovering the Secrets of User Psychology to Scale Your Success (Amazon) Resources mentioned: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (Amazon) Does It Make Sense Calculator - Gifting Sense (www.giftingsense.org) Bio:  Colin Hodge is a startup founder and national bestselling author who has led companies and growth teams responsible for over 100 million users. He currently is co-owner of DOWN, a top 10 dating app in the US with millions in annual revenue – built on the growth principles and lessons shared in this book. He achieved a successful exit for DOWN (then later reacquiring it) and 17Live, the top live-streaming video company in Asia. While chief growth officer at 17Live, Colin led data-driven initiatives in growth, global expansion, and marketing, then launched the platform in the United States as the first US CEO. Colin holds a BS in computer science from Cornell University and occasionally serves as a board member and keynote speaker for organizations around the world.  👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  4. Sep 4 ·  Video

    How to Create an Aging Plan Before Life Happens

    Send us Fan Mail Aging planning starts with conversations.  Lauren Clough, Co-Founder and CEO of bQuest joined me on the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast to explore why aging plans matter, how early family conversations create clarity, and the important role financial planners and care professionals play in helping families navigate caregiving decisions. Lauren shares practical insights on aging in place, building support systems, and creating a plan that aligns with a family’s wishes and values. Key Takeaways Aging planning begins with understanding a person’s wishes and long-term goalsEarly family conversations help reduce stress and improve decision-making laterCaregiving often evolves over time and requires different types of support along the wayAging in place requires planning around home safety, caregiving, and financial resourcesFinancial advisors can play an important role in facilitating family conversations and long-term planningTrusted professionals and vetted service providers help families navigate complex caregiving decisions with greater confidence Tony’s Take: When families talk openly about wishes, care, and support before a crisis happens, they create a stronger foundation for the future. That clarity becomes a gift for everyone involved. Connect with Lauren Clough: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-tracy-clough-13053819/bQuest Website: https://thebquest.com Resources mentioned: Aging Wishes GuideHow to Create an Aging Plan That Works with Aging-in-Place Expert Carol Chiang on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (here) Bio:  Lauren Clough is the Co-Founder and CEO of bQuest, the first Care Intelligence Platform purpose-built for the financial services industry. bQuest partners with wealth management firms, RIAs, and family offices to ensure families receive timely, coordinated support during aging, end-of-life, and after-loss transitions.   Drawing on more than a decade as a senior manager in her family’s global logistics business, Lauren brings deep operational expertise in scaling complex, fragmented systems. Her leadership is also shaped by her family’s multi-generational Alzheimer’s journey, which exposed firsthand the gaps between financial planning and aging care support.   At bQuest, Lauren is building the infrastructure that bridges wealth and health equipping financial advisors to show up for clients not only in markets, but in life’s most personal and vulnerable moments.   Her mission is to transform financial services by making longevity planning and care coordination a standard offering so that every family under the guidance of a trusted advisor has clarity, advocacy, and real support as they navigate caregiving and aging. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  5. Sep 3 ·  Video

    Better Money Conversations, Better Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail Phil Weiss, Founder of Apprise Wealth joined Tony on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens to talk about how understanding your financial situation, aligning your resources with your values, and having regular money conversations can help you navigate major life changes with more confidence and intention. Life transitions require clarity and confidence. Key Takeaways Your money story shapes how you make financial decisions.Knowing your financial situation helps you see what’s possible.Moving from your accumulation (saving) phase to your spending (decumulation) phase requires a mindset shift.Align time, energy, attention, and money with what matters most.Regular “money dates” strengthen communication and clarity.During major transitions, pause and avoid rushed decisions.Asking questions builds confidence and better outcomes. 🧠 Tony’s Take: Financial confidence grows through clarity and conversation. When you understand where you stand, align your resources with your values, and stay engaged through regular discussions, you create the ability to navigate life’s transitions with confidence. Connect withPhilip H. Weiss, CFA, CPA, RLP®: Apprise Wealth Website: https://apprisewealth.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-weiss/Blog: https://apprisewealth.com/news/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phil.weiss.330 or https://www.facebook.com/AppriseWealthYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdxgFt2cD1r5WP0-Y6LqMDg/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/phweiss11/ Resources: Caring for aging parents checklist (here) Bio:  Phil Weiss founded Apprise Wealth Management. He started his financial services career in 1987, working as a tax professional for Deloitte & Touche. For the past 25 years, he has worked extensively in the areas of personal finance and investment management. Phil is a CFA charter holder, a CPA, and an RLP®. Phil launched his own Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) business to provide financial planning, personal finance, and investment management services, as well as education, to women facing new beginnings. He believes it is a privilege to help others plan for their financial future. Please read this blog if you would like to learn more about what drove Phil to start Apprise and why he works with women facing new beginnings. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  6. Sep 1 ·  Video

    What 300 Conversations Taught Me About Financial Readiness

    Send us Fan Mail What can 300 conversations teach us about making thoughtful financial decisions and preparing for life? After 300 conversations with guests from around the world, I’ve learned that access to financial information is only the beginning. In this special solo episode, I share the Six Principles of Financial Readiness, a practical framework for connecting financial information with our goals, responsibilities, relationships, and real lives. I explore why curiosity matters, how to recognize what may be missing, and what it takes to prepare the people who may one day need to step in. Key takeaways Start with purpose. Understand what you want your money and decisions to make possible.Seek understanding. Learn about the choices, costs, risks, benefits, trade-offs, and interests behind a recommendation.Know what’s missing. Look for the unanswered question, missing document, needed conversation, or person who should be involved.Think long-term. Consider how a decision may affect you and the people around you as life changes.Protect what matters most. Prepare the people, information, relationships, and resources that support what you value.Exercise good judgment. Take a beat, verify the information, involve the right people, and choose a responsible next step.Prepare people as well as plans. Organization and communication help trusted people understand your wishes, locate essential information, and step in when needed. Tony’s Take: I began this podcast believing the primary challenge was helping people access the right financial information. Three hundred conversations taught me that information becomes more useful when curiosity activates it, context connects it with real life, and good judgment turns it into thoughtful action. 👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support the Mission: Become a Get Ready Insider and receive access to the Get Ready Library while helping support my mission to help people prepare before life happens. Become a Get Ready Insider  https://www.tonysteuer.com/get-ready-insider Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  7. Aug 28 ·  Video

    Does It Make Sense? A Better Way to Make Spending Decisions

    Send us Fan Mail A simple pause can change your financial life.  On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Karen Holland, founder of the nonprofit Gifting Sense and creator of the DIMS “Does It Make Sense?” Score Calculator. We explore how slowing down leads to better decisions, why mindful friction improves spending, and how the DIMS framework helps you evaluate purchases with clarity. Karen shares how  to understand trade-offs, avoid common buying mistakes, and build habits that support long-term financial confidence for both adults and kids. Key Takeaways 🔹 Pausing before a decision creates space for clearer thinking and better outcomes 🔹 Asking “Does it make sense?” leads to more intentional and aligned spending 🔹 Understanding full costs, including fees and ongoing expenses, improves decision quality 🔹 Buyer’s remorse often comes from acting quickly, overestimating use, and focusing on short-term excitement 🔹 Adding friction to spending decisions helps reduce impulse purchases and increase satisfaction 🔹 Teaching kids to slow down and evaluate choices builds lifelong financial confidence 🔹 Mindful spending supports both personal goals and broader impact, including sustainability 🧠 Tony’s Take: A pause is one of the most powerful financial tools we have. When you ask better questions before you spend, you make decisions you feel good about long after the moment passes. That’s how money becomes a tool for intention. Connect with Karen Holland: Gifting Sense Website  (here)LinkedIn (here) Resources: DIMS SCORE® Calculator (here)Back-to-School List Builder (here) Bio:  Karen Holland has been making learning about money immediately helpful to school-aged children for over 12 years through her early financial education Not-For-Profit GiftingSense.org, home of the DIMS - DOES IT MAKE SENSE?® SCORE Calculator (a free and safe online tool that introduces children to the habit of asking & answering simple questions about typical childhood purchases, before, anyone spends a dime) and Spending Ed (think Driver’s Ed for money!)  Karen worked for Canada’s largest bank before having a family that is now grown up. She has an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario and a Master’s Degree in Economic History from the University of Toronto. She is a Next Gen Personal Finance Distinguished Financial Educator and a MAIA Money Changer - a list of global citizens making money better for others. Gifting Sense has been recognized at the Money Awareness & Inclusion Awards three years running, in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In collaboration with The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) which celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org.   👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan  https://www.tonysteuer.com 👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here. www.tonysteuer.com/support Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

  8. Aug 25 ·  Video

    Talk About Money Now So You’re Ready When Life Happens

    Send us Fan Mail Money conversations build clarity and confidence.  On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Tricia Daniel, TEDx speaker and founder of the Starting Over Wealth Network about how early, open money conversations create confidence, reduce fear, and help families stay prepared through life’s changes. Tricia shares how to overcome shame, communicate with clarity, and build a plan that supports both you and the people you care about. Key Takeaways 🔹 Talking about money early helps build clarity, confidence, and preparedness 🔹 Money is a resource, and understanding “what is enough” supports better decisions 🔹 Small, consistent conversations make money feel more approachable and less overwhelming 🔹 Bringing money topics into the open helps release shame and build stronger connections 🔹 A shared plan gives your loved ones clarity and support when life changes quickly 🔹 Advisors and families benefit from focusing on people under care, not just assets 🔹 Taking action on what you learn helps turn awareness into meaningful progress 🧠 Tony’s Take: A simple conversation can change everything. When you talk about money early and often, you reduce fear, build clarity, and create a path forward for yourself and your loved ones. That’s how preparation becomes a true act of care. Connect with Tricia Daniel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciacdaniel/Tricia Daniel Website: https://triciadaniel.comStarting Over Wealth Network: https://sown.lifeExpanding To Enough Website: https://expandingtoenough.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@triciadaniel Podcast: The Money Over Easy Show (Apple Podcasts) Resources mentioned: Modern Widows Club: https://modernwidowsclub.org/ Listen to my conversation with Megan Kopka, Board Chair of The Modern Widows Club on the Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast (here) Bio:  👉 Start Your Financial Readiness Plan: A free, practical plan that helps you create your in-case-of-emergency Financial First Aid Kit, organize what matters, and prepare before life happens. Start Your Free Financial Readiness Plan   👉 Support Get Ready. Become a Get Ready Insider and help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free, support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. You’ll receive access to the Get Ready Library. Support Get Ready here.  Support the show The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Tony Steuer is a Financial Readiness Advocate, award-winning author, and host of Get Ready: Before Life Happens. Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience in insurance, financial education, and consumer advocacy, he helps people create their in-case-of-emergency plan, ask better questions, recognize red flags, and prepare before life happens.On this channel, you’ll find conversations with experts, authors, advocates, educators, and other trusted voices, along with practical ideas about financial readiness, life transitions, insurance, consumer protection, scams, and better money decisions.Create your own in-case-of-emergency plan when you Start your free Financial Readiness Plan at tonysteuer.com.  Support Get Ready: Help keep the Financial Readiness Plan free and support the podcast, trusted resources, and consumer-first financial education. Become a Get Ready Insider for $5/month at tonysteuer.com/support.

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