Get Ready: Before Life Happens Podcast

Tony Steuer

Get Ready: Before Life Happens brings together diverse voices, guides, and changemakers from around the world who are helping people and professionals navigate life’s what-ifs with clarity, integrity and confidence.  Hosted by Financial Readiness Advocate Tony Steuer, the show explores the insights, stories, and tools that strengthen financial readiness and reshape how we think about money, life, aging, caregiving, resilience, and purpose. Want more? Join The Get Ready Movement at www.tonysteuer.com [CLAIM:D51LCAQS]

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Why Authentic Communication Builds Better Relationships

    Send us Fan Mail It’s easier to be yourself, and that’s what builds real trust. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Derek Pollard, founder of Constellar Creative, about why authentic communication is the foundation of strong relationships. We explored how finding your voice, staying curious, and focusing on small human moments can help you build trust and communicate more effectively in a digital world. Key takeaways  🔹 Authentic communication builds trust through clarity, consistency, and relatability. 🔹 Your voice develops by saying what you mean and standing behind it. 🔹 Understanding context and nuance helps your message connect. 🔹 Small acts of kindness and gratitude strengthen relationships. 🔹 Strong connections come from knowing people, not just sharing information. 🔹 Practicing your voice creates confidence and better communication over time. 🔹 Carefully curate your network.  🧠 Tony’s Take Better relationships start with better communication. When you show up as yourself, speak with clarity, and focus on real connection, you build trust that lasts. Financial readiness is built on strong relationships, and those relationships begin with authentic conversations. Connect with Derek Pollard, PhD: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekpollard-phd/Constellar Creative Website: https://constellarcreative.com Bio:  Dr. Derek Pollard has spent thirty years editing New York Times bestselling authors and Guggenheim Fellows, helping them sound unmistakably like themselves. He founded Constellar Creative, featured on the Kitces Advisor Services Map, to do the same for financial advisors. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    43 min

  2. 5d ago ·  Video

    How Families Can Have Better Money Conversations

    Send us Fan Mail Clear money conversations help families prepare before life happens. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, Tony talks with Jacqui Clarke, author of Stop Worrying About Money, about how better money conversations help families navigate caregiving, loss, divorce, and rising financial pressure.  They explore why money is often left unspoken, how that creates risk, and what families can do to build clarity, reduce anxiety, and prepare for what’s ahead. Key takeaways 🔹 Having conversations with your spouse and family is essential for aging planning and legacy planning.  🔹 Knowing where assets are and what things cost is essential during life transitions. 🔹 Financial responsibility often defaults to one partner, which creates vulnerability for the other partner. 🔹 Many women face financial gaps due to caregiving, career pauses, and unequal roles. 🔹 Estate plans need context and communication, not just documents. 🔹 “Planet Squeeze” is real as families balance aging parents, kids, and rising costs. 🔹 Being optimistic about money can be really empowering. 🔹 Advisors have a responsibility to meet with both spouses.  Tony’s Take When families share information, understand their finances, and align on decisions, they create clarity before life gets complicated. The goal is making sure no one is left trying to figure everything out alone. Connect with Jacqui Clarke: Website: jacquiclarke.meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquiclarke/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquiclarke000/ Substack Newsletter:  Your Personal CFO: https://jacquiclarke.substack.com Books:   Stop Worrying about Money: The Award-Winning book about how you can start planning now to secure your financial future (Amazon US)(Amazon AU) (Barnes and Noble)Free sample chapter: https://www.jacquiclarke.me/book  Bio:  Jacqui Clarke FCA, FTI, GAICD, JP, author of Stop Worrying About Money, is a trusted advisor, board member, executor and veteran business executive. As a personal wealth and money management expert and over three decades of experience, 25 years at Deloitte and PWC helping high-net-worth families, individuals and business owners to build, manage and preserve their wealth. Her message is simple: with careful planning and effort, you can manage your money, so it doesn’t manage you. https://www.jacquiclarke.me/ The Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (the MAIAs) celebrate the increasingly important work being done to help people understand money better. Learn more: https://www.maiawards.org.    ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    43 min

  3. Jun 26 ·  Video

    What Happens When Financial Planning Starts With Better Questions?

    Send us Fan Mail In many financial planning conversations, the loudest voices tend to shape the outcome. Yet some of the most important perspectives in the room often go unheard. What happens when we start asking better questions and make space for every voice to be part of the conversation? On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Colleen Bowler, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of The Passport Package, about the human side of financial planning.  We explore why listening is one of the most powerful tools advisors and families have, how planning conversations can bring out quieter voices, and why meaningful financial decisions begin with understanding what truly matters to the people involved. 🔹 Financial planning works best when advisors listen before offering solutions. 🔹 Asking thoughtful questions helps uncover what truly matters to clients. 🔹 Important perspectives can be missed when quieter voices are not invited into the conversation. 🔹 More than 70% of widows change advisors after losing a spouse when they feel unheard. 🔹 Engaging the next generation helps families prepare for transitions, many next-generation heirs move on when there’s no relationship. 🔹 Retirement planning becomes more meaningful when people move toward something purposeful. 💭Tony’s Take; Financial readiness begins with understanding people. When advisors and families create space for every voice and ask better questions about what truly matters, planning becomes more than numbers. It becomes a conversation about the life people want to build. Connect with Colleen Bowler, CFP: Website: https://thepassportpackage.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-bowler-cfp®-09576796/ Books:   Generous Kids (Amazon: https://amzn.to/49zoitC) Bio:  Colleen Bowler, CFP® is an entrepreneur, speaker, and coach who transformed personal hardship — losing her father at 16, later navigating divorce as a single mom with a sick child — into a 25+ year financial planning career that took her from earning $14,000 her first year to building Strategic Wealth Partners into a top 1% Texas firm, managing half a billion in AUM. After successfully selling her practice, she co-founded C&J Innovations, LLC, where she created The Passport Package™ (patent-pending) — a proven framework that helps financial advisors grow revenue, referrals, and retention by embracing the human side of every financial decision, creating what she calls a "waterfall of impact" that lasts for generations. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    35 min

  4. Jun 23 ·  Video

    How Emotions Shape Financial Decisions and Readiness

    Send us Fan Mail Many financial decisions feel logical in the moment. Yet emotions often shape the choices we make about money. Understanding that connection can help us make better decisions and build stronger financial readiness. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Mark Crowley, author and advocate for heart-based leadership, about how emotions shape the way we make decisions, build relationships, and respond to life’s uncertainties. 📝 Key Takeaways 🔹 Financial decisions are often driven by emotions . 🔹 Awareness of emotional signals leads to more thoughtful choices. 🔹 Connection and belonging strengthen resilience. 🔹 Small moments of appreciation and trust build stronger relationships. 🔹 Collaboration and support systems help people navigate uncertainty. 🔹 Self-awareness helps us recognize emotional influences on decisions. 💭 Tony’s Take: Financial readiness involves understanding how emotions influence our decisions, relationships, and responses to uncertainty. When we build self-awareness, strengthen our connections, and approach decisions with intention, we create a stronger foundation for navigating life’s unexpected moments. Connect with Mark Crowley: Website: https://markccrowley.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markccrowley/Twitter: @MarkCCrowley Books:   The Power of Employee Well-Being: Move Beyond Engagement to Build Flourishing Teams (Amazon)Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century (Amazon) Podcast: Lead From the Heart: https://blubrry.com/leadfromtheheartpodcast/ Bio:  Mark C. Crowley is the author of “Lead From The Heart: Transformational Leadership For The 21st Century,” and “The Power of Employee Well-Being: Move Beyond Engagement To Build Flourishing Teams.” His mission is to fundamentally change how we lead people in workplaces around the globe.  Mark is a regular columnist for Fast Company Magazine and has been published in Psychology Today, Inc. USA Today, Reuters, Forbes, the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Huffington Post, Gallup, The Financial Times, and the Seattle Times.    ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    40 min

  5. Jun 19 ·  Video

    Make Your Next Chapter Your Best One

    Send us Fan Mail What if your best years are ahead?  On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Tamara Cortoos, midlife coach and founder of Midlife Crossroads Academy, about making your next chapter your best one by aligning your time, energy, and money with who you’re becoming. Key Takeaways 🔹 Be curious, follow the little signals and see where it takes you. 🔹 Small, consistent steps shape your next chapter over time. 🔹 Your experience and perspective are assets that grow in value. 🔹 As your identity evolves, clarify what matters most to you.  🔹 Financial clarity equals financial freedom.  🔹 Women should always know where they stand financially, since life can change quickly. 🔹 Your best years are the ones you choose. Tony’s Take: Midlife is an opportunity is to move forward with intention.    Connect with Tamara Cortoos: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaracortoos/Tamara Cortoos Website: https://www.midlifecoach.be/en/midlife-coach/Midlife Crossroads Academy: https://midlifecrossroadsacademy.com/Facebook: MCA - Midlife Crossroads AcademyFacebook: MidlifeCoach.beInstagram: Midlife.Crossroads.Academy Resources mentioned: The Get Ready Money Podcast with Janine Firpo: Invest In Alignment With Your Values (here) Bio:  Tamara's early forties weren't the smooth, confident years she'd imagined. Instead, they were messy, uncertain and full of hard questions that she couldn't answer. So, she wrote her own midlife survival guide and retrained as a life coach, ready to help other midlifers rethink their identity, career or purpose in life. She's also the founder of Midlife Crossroads Academy, a digital platform that offers programs around the most urgent questions of midlife. Tamara is endlessly curious about what makes people tick and how we create lives that feel meaningful and exciting. She loves deep conversations, fresh perspectives and challenging how we see midlife. If this stage has taught her anything, it’s that reinvention is always an option. And sometimes, the best is still to come. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    39 min

  6. Jun 16 ·  Video

    How Financial Resilience Protects People from Scams

    Send us Fan Mail In financial services, three voices dominate the conversation: regulators, institutions, and technology. Julia Chin believes there’s a fourth voice we need to hear more clearly: the human voice trying to make sense of it all.  On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Julia Chin, financial crime fighter and founder of JFourth Solutions why financial crime prevention must start with human understanding, how financial resilience protects families from scams, and why financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools for navigating today’s financial systems. Key Takeaways 🔹 Financial systems often focus on rules, products, and technology while overlooking the human perspective.  🔹 The PULSE framework emphasizes people, undertaking, leadership, structure and ecosystem to protect people, not just tick boxes.  🔹 Financial resilience starts with buffers like emergency savings.  🔹 Scams target vulnerability and can affect anyone.  🔹 Financial knowledge helps people recognize risks and push back when something feels wrong.  🔹 Financial inclusion and dignity help reduce exposure to financial crime.  🔹 Curiosity, caution, compassion, and creativity help people navigate an AI-driven financial world. 💭 Tony’s Take: Financial systems work best when they protect people. When we build resilience, stay curious, and understand the risks around us, we strengthen our ability to navigate an increasingly complex financial world. Financial resilience is about protecting ourselves and the people we care about. Connect with Julia Chin: JFourth Solutions Website: https://www.jfourthsolutions.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pekyee-julia-chin/Tripwire Newsletter (Substack): https://thetripwire.substack.com/The Fourth Perspective (LinkedIn Newsletter): https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7421859851661877248/ Referenced: Dignity and Financial Literacy on The Get Ready Money Podcast with Peter Kwadwo Asare Nyarko (YouTube) Bio:  Julia Chin has spent 36 years fighting financial crime , not with a badge, but with knowledge. From audit rooms to boardrooms, she's seen how financial systems can both protect and exclude the people they're meant to serve — and how financial criminals exploit that gap. Today, through JFourth Solutions, her newsletter Tripwire (co-authored with her partner in crime, Ren Chang), and The Fourth Perspective on LinkedIn, Julia champions financial literacy as protection, helping individuals and professionals ask the right questions, spot the red flags, and build the kind of resilience that survives life's shocks. Her belief: everyone has a role to play in making our financial world safer - no badge required. This episode is a 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.    ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    37 min

  7. Jun 12 ·  Video

    Why End-of-Life Planning Is the Ultimate Gift to Your Family

    Send us Fan Mail End-of-life planning is about more than death, it’s about leaving your family with clarity, stability, and peace of mind. On this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Greg Barnsdale, death doula and author of Do Not Ignore Your Mortality about why end-of-life planning is one of the most meaningful acts of preparation we can make for our families. 📝 Takeaways  🔹 Planning ahead reduces stress and confusion for loved ones.  🔹 Communication with family and advisors is the starting point. 🔹 Clear wishes and documents create emotional and financial resilience.  🔹 Preparation helps prevent family conflict during difficult times.  🔹 Thoughtful planning supports meaningful legacies and charitable impact.  🔹 Insurance protects families from unexpected financial shocks.  🔹 Planning early ensures protections are in place.  Tony’s Take: End-of-life planning is an act of love. When we organize our wishes and prepare our affairs, we leave our families with clarity, resilience, and the space to focus on what matters most. Connect with Greg Barnsdale: Website: https://www.donotignoreyourmortality.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbarnsdale/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donotignoreyourmortality/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gregbarnsdale_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregBarnsdale Book:   Do Not Ignore Your Mortality: Practical Advice From a Funeral & Financial Insider (book website) (Amazon)  Resource: Article: How and why to help your clients prepare for their passing (here)  Bio:  Greg Barnsdale is a unique death doula. As a licensed funeral director, Certified Executor Advisor, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Grief Coach, ghostwriter and hospice volunteer, he brings a perspective shared by few others. He successfully published a well-received book, which is thought-provoking and engaging. Shortly after publication, Greg was diagnosed with a large brain tumour. Faced with prompt brain surgery or a death sentence, he emerged with a very compelling message. He stresses that estate planning helps alleviate the stress of aging, leaves survivors more financially and emotionally resilient, and increases the likelihood of harmony and reduces the risk of contesting final wishes. More meaningful legacies and greater social capital often result. Immense pressure is alleviated from the courts, and cumulatively, the economy benefits. It's a massive win for everyone. Greg is on a mission to inspire others to speak with their loved ones about their end-of-life wishes while minds are clear & time is plentiful. Although these conversations can be difficult to have, they're far better than not having them. Greg stresses that, aside from leaving our loved ones with financial security, leaving them with proper end-of-life direction is the ultimate gift of love. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    26 min

  8. Jun 9 ·  Video

    Why Your Financial Plan Should Be as Unique as Your Life

    Send us Fan Mail The best financial plans start with who you are and the life you want to live. On this episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I spoke with Mike Milligan, CFP and author of The One of a Kind Financial Plan Book about how to build a personalized financial plan and retirement strategy that aligns your money, values, and relationships with the life you want to live. Takeaways 🔹 One-of-a-kind lives deserve one-of-a-kind financial plans.  🔹 Retirement Chi is what you want your money to do.   🔹 A clear retirement vision includes health, community, and impact.  🔹 Understanding your past money experiences helps shape future decisions.  🔹 Diversification applies to life purpose as much as financial risk.  🔹 Community and relationships are powerful predictors of happiness and longevity.  🔹 Financial planning should align money with who you are and how you want to live. Tony’s Take: Financial planning works best when it starts with purpose. When we define what matters, build a vision for our lives, and align money with our values, our plan becomes more than numbers. It becomes a guide for living well. Connect with Mike Milligan, CFP: Instagram (1.oak Financial): https://www.instagram.com/1oakfinancial/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/Website: https://www.mikemilligan.com/ 1.oak Financial Website: https://1oakfinancial.com/ Podcast: Ideas By Mike: https://www.youtube.com/@1.oakfinancial Resources mentioned: 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History--and How It Shattered a Nation By Andrew Sorkin (Amazon) Bio:  Mike Milligan is a purpose-driven financial advisor, educator, and entrepreneur, whose career began in his family’s small business as a boy in North Carolina. Today, Mike is the founder of Ideas By Mike, and 1.oak Financial, and a leading voice in client-centered, impact-driven financial planning world. He holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®credentials and has helped thousands of clients make sense of their wealth, extend their well-being, and live out their goals authentically. Mike uses active listening, health-focused strategies, and decades of expertise to turn financial jargon into actionable steps. His belief in financial wellness comes from real life—helping both clients and students design plans that support their one of a kind lives. Mike’s teaching style focuses on clarity, empathy, and fun. Students and clients alike benefit from his ability to translate complex strategies into everyday solutions. Through workshops, courses, and speaking events, Mike continues to inspire others to make a real impact, both financially and personally. ☕ Support the Get Ready Movement. If these conversations help you think differently about money or prepare for life’s what-ifs, your support helps expand financial readiness education and keep this work accessible. 👉 Support (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.

    36 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Get Ready: Before Life Happens brings together diverse voices, guides, and changemakers from around the world who are helping people and professionals navigate life’s what-ifs with clarity, integrity and confidence.  Hosted by Financial Readiness Advocate Tony Steuer, the show explores the insights, stories, and tools that strengthen financial readiness and reshape how we think about money, life, aging, caregiving, resilience, and purpose. Want more? Join The Get Ready Movement at www.tonysteuer.com [CLAIM:D51LCAQS]

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