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

    Recognizing Financial Abuse: How to Protect Yourself and Find Hope

    Send us Fan Mail Financial abuse often leaves no visible signs. Recognizing the signs can be the first step toward protecting yourself and finding hope. Sandhya Gopal, divorce financial planner joined Tony on Get Ready Before Life Happens to explore the warning signs of financial abuse and what women can do to protect themselves during major life transitions. They discuss how financial control can be subtle and invisible, the importance of access to cash and trusted support, and how small steps and community can help move someone from fear and paralysis toward clarity, confidence, and hope. Key Takeaways 🔹 Financial abuse is often psychological, subtle, and difficult to recognize. 🔹 Red flags include secrecy, gaslighting, and money moving to untraceable places. 🔹 Emotional paralysis can keep people feeling trapped and powerless. 🔹 Access to cash and a trusted confidante are critical first steps to leaving an abusive relationship. 🔹 Small, practical steps help rebuild confidence and agency over time. 🔹 Support communities, including virtual ones, can reduce isolation and restore hope. 🔹 Financial confidence grows when people realize they are not alone and have options. 🧠 Tony’s Take Financial abuse often hides in plain sight. Recognizing the signs is the first step toward reclaiming clarity, safety, and control. Financial readiness means making sure people know they have resources, support, and a path forward before life’s hardest transitions force decisions. Connect with Sandhya Gopal: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandhyagopal/Spend It Right Website: https://www.spend-it-right.com Books:   Breaking Free: Empower Your Mindset, Master Your Money (Amazon) Resources mentioned: Get Ready Before Life Happens Podcast: Connecting Wealth and Great Health With Chris Heye (here)Facebook Support Groups (search for divorce) Bio:  Sandhya Gopal is a financial advisor, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and founder of SpendItRight. After going through her own divorce, she saw how overwhelming financial decision-making can feel when you suddenly have to navigate it on your own - even if you’re otherwise capable and successful. That experience led her to start teaching financial literacy, where she noticed a clear pattern: many capable women lacked visibility into their finances until life forced them to be involved. Today, she helps women navigate financial transitions with clarity - especially during divorce, where what looks equal on paper is not always equal in reality - and supports them through the rebuilding phase that follows. Her work focuses on helping women understand their numbers so they can make confident, grounded decisions. ☕ 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.

  2. 5d ago ·  Video

    How Curiosity Helps Rewire Your Relationship With Money

    Send us Fan Mail Better money decisions begin when we slow down enough to understand ourselves. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, Tony sits down with DonJay Rice to explore how curiosity, reflection, and emotional awareness can help rewire the way we think about money. From scarcity mindset and workaholism to gratitude and values alignment, this conversation highlights how financial healing begins with asking better questions and taking one small step at a time. Key Takeaways 🔹 Take time to recognize and celebrate our wins  🔹 Our money behaviors are often rooted in childhood experiences 🔹 High achievement can sometimes mask fear and scarcity 🔹 Curiosity is a powerful tool for uncovering what is really driving behavior. 🔹 Silence creates space for truth in conversations. 🔹 Financial change happens through small, consistent improvements. 🔹 Understanding what is true today helps loosen the grip of old beliefs. 🔹 Aligning money decisions with values leads to greater life satisfaction. 🧠 Tony’s Take Money and emotions are deeply connected. When we slow down, get curious, and stop judging ourselves, we begin to shift from reacting out of fear to making decisions that reflect our values and goals. Connect with DonJay Rice, FBS: Drumbeat Of Wealth Website: https://www.drumbeatofwealth.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donjay-rice-fbs®-36950a297/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551358480000Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drumbeatofwealth/?hl=en Resources mentioned: The Enneagram Institute: https://www.enneagraminstitute.com Bio:  DonJay Rice is a Certified Financial Behavior Specialist. With that title he works with clients, couples and families to heal and create a path forward when their relationship with money becomes unhealthy. He is also a public speaker who leads audiences to discover how money behaviors impact relationships with others as well as the relationship they have with themselves. DonJay is a Certified Christian Life Coach through the American Association of Christian Counselors. A certified Enneagram Coach and a Certified Trauma Coach. He has been a guest on several international podcasts and has written articles for the Journal of Financial Planning. He holds a Masters Cert in Financial Psychology and Behavioral Finance from Creighton University. Prior to being a Financial Behavior Specialist/Coach, DonJay was a financial advisor for 28 years, developing a special niche in working with clients where money behaviors were entangled with past or present, grief and trauma. Working for a brokerage firm with over 19,000 advisors. DonJay grew his practice from zero clients, zero assets and zero leads to be in the top 2% of the firm in terms of annual gross production. DonJay also consistently scored in the top 10% of the firm in terms of client satisfaction surveys while performing several volunteer leadership roles within the organization. That is what he DOES, or has done, but it doesn’t describe who DonJay IS? So, who is DonJay Rice? His family and close friends describe him as: Kind, Optimistic, Creative, Generous, Vulnerable, and a heart filled with Empathy. 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. Jul 17 ·  Video

    Why Families Need to Talk About Money Before It’s Too Late

    Send us Fan Mail The most important inheritance conversations are about trust, context, and relationships. Emily Bouchard, TEDx speaker, founder of Family Focused Wealth, and host of the Wealth Coherence Podcast joins Tony on the Get Ready Before Life Happens podcast to talk about why families need safe, transparent conversations around money, trust, and inheritance. They explore how trust, communication, and shared values help families build resilience, prepare beneficiaries, and reduce the emotional impact of inheritance and loss. Key Takeaways 🔹 Inheritance conversations should focus on relationships before numbers. 🔹 Safe spaces allow families to share concerns, values, and expectations. 🔹 Trust is built through sincerity, reliability, competence, and care. 🔹 Beneficiaries need context and preparation, not just financial assets. 🔹 Lack of communication can increase inheritance trauma and confusion. 🔹 Understanding each other’s money stories strengthens family resilience. 🔹 Small, consistent conversations build trust and clarity over time. 🧠 Tony’s Take Money changes family dynamics the moment it enters the room. Financial readiness means creating trust, context, and safe conversations before decisions are forced by life transitions. Connect with Emily Bouchard: Website: https://emilybouchard.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-bouchard-5a9a049/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily4families/ Books:   Beginners Guide to Purposeful Prenups: Three Essential Elements for a Successful Prenup Conversation by Emily Bouchard and Emily Chase Smith (Amazon)Estate Planning for the Blended Family by L. Paul Hood, Jr. and Emily Bouchard (Amazon) Podcast: Wealth Coherence Podcast: https://emilybouchard.com/podcasts/ Resources mentioned: TEDx Talk: How to talk about inheritance (without talking about money) - (YouTube) The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni (Amazon) Bio:  Emily Bouchard is a coach and consultant to enterprising families and is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of individuals, couples and families, by guiding them through the complexities of wealth, relationships, and leadership. She is an author and speaker with over 20 years of experience coaching multigenerational families, with specializations in blended family dynamics and family business succession. As a fractional Chief Learning Officer, she designs personalized learning experiences that focus on lifelong growth, emotional intelligence, and financial acumen. She lives on 10-acres with 9 horses, where she facilitates transformative retreats. ☕ 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.

  4. Jul 14 ·  Video

    What It Really Takes to Settle an Estate

    Send us Fan Mail Being named executor is more than a title. It’s a responsibility most people are not prepared for. Julie Rains, author and storyteller joined me on this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, to talk about the realities of settling a parent’s estate and what it truly means to serve as an executor. Drawing from her personal journey, Julie shares practical lessons around cash flow, access to accounts, beneficiary designations, financial institutions, and why family conversations before a loss are one of the greatest gifts we can give. Key Takeaways 🔹 Executors often need access to cash before estate assets are released. 🔹 Court appointment and estate rules can vary significantly by state. 🔹 Beneficiaries and heirs are not the same under the law. 🔹 Financial institutions may freeze accounts or provide incomplete information. 🔹 Wills, trusts, and beneficiary designations can produce very different outcomes. 🔹 Clear family conversations about wishes, access, and responsibilities reduce stress later. 🔹 Preparing before death is one of the most meaningful gifts to loved ones. 🧠 Tony’s Take This conversation is a reminder that estate planning is not just about documents. It is about making sure the right people have the information, access, and support they need when life changes. Financial readiness includes preparing others to step in with clarity and confidence. Connect with Julie Rains: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julierains/Website: www.julierains.comInvesting to Thrive website: https://investingtothrive.comSave.Invest.Protect.Preserve Newsletter (Substack): https://julierains.substack.com Books:   Growing Wealth: Essential Money Lessons From My Garden to Yours (Amazon) Bio:  Julie Rains is a writer and finance professional with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. When she became executor of her father's estate — right in the middle of finishing her first book, Growing Wealth: Essential Money Lessons from My Garden to Yours — she found herself navigating a strange new world. Despite her background and her dad's relatively simple estate, she was astonished at the complexity involved in making straightforward claims. What began as a desire to change systems evolved into something more tangible: helping people stay sane through one of life's most overwhelming responsibilities. Julie writes about estate work and legacy at her Substack, Save. Invest, Protect. Preserve. and is working on a novel that draws on her experiences. Whether you're settling an estate or planning, Julie’s mission is to illuminate what's really going on — so you can make informed decisions, choose the right professionals, and strengthen the relationships that matter most. ☕ 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.

  5. Jul 10 ·  Video

    How Early Money Conversations Shape Financial Behavior

    Send us Fan Mail What you learn about money as a child can shape your decisions for life. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, Tony talks with Dr. Bilal Pandow about how childhood experiences shape lifelong money habits, why even highly educated people struggle with financial decisions, and how simple, consistent conversations can help build confidence and better financial behaviors over time. Key takeaways 🔹 Behavior is a central component of financial literacy, rather than just understanding concepts. 🔹 Early experiences with money shape lifelong habits and confidence. 🔹 Even highly educated people struggle without practical financial behaviors. 🔹 Children learn about money through observation and everyday conversations. 🔹 Simple, consistent habits matter more than complex financial strategies. 🔹 Storytelling helps make financial concepts concrete, memorable, and relatable. 🔹 Financial literacy is for everyone and can be built at any stage of life. Tony’s Take: Financial readiness starts earlier than we think. The habits, conversations, and experiences we have around money in childhood shape how we make decisions for the rest of our lives. The goal is not perfection. It is building simple, consistent behaviors that help people see money as a tool, not a source of stress. Connect withDr. Bilal Ahmad Pandow: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bilal-pandow-a5204a16/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financewithbilal/ Books:   A to Z of Finance for Children: https://a.co/d/01ECYihDMoney Villa: Learn to be Money Smart: https://amzn.in/d/0c0fhGou Bio:  Dr. Bilal Ahmad Pandow is an Associate Professor of Finance at Bahrain Polytechnic and a researcher, editor, and advisor working across financial literacy, financial inclusion, sustainable finance, and climate-related economic resilience. He is a recipient of the Obada Prize in Social Sciences, an international award recognizing innovative and interdisciplinary research excellence. His work focuses on helping individuals, families, and communities make better financial decisions, with a particular interest in children's financial education, policy-relevant research, and practical approaches that bridge academia and everyday life. Dr. Pandow has authored books designed to disseminate complex financial concepts to broader, non-academic audiences, particularly children, demonstrating his commitment to financial literacy. These include the children's storybook MoneyVilla: Learn to be Money Smart and A to Z of FINANCE for CHILDREN. ☕ 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.

  6. Jul 7 ·  Video

    How to Build Financial Confidence in a New Country

    Send us Fan Mail How do you build financial confidence in a new country? It starts with learning how money works where you are. On this episode of Get Ready Before Life Happens, I spoke with Bisola Tijani, the Whiz Queen, about building financial confidence when navigating a new country, learning how money works in a different system, and taking ownership of your financial future. Key Takeaways 🔹 Learn how money works where you live. 🔹 A growth mindset helps you adapt, learn, and take ownership of your financial decisions. 🔹 Start with the essentials by setting up identification, banking, and credit systems early. 🔹 Building credit intentionally expands your access to housing, employment, and financial opportunities. 🔹 Confidence grows through action by learning, experimenting, and making small, informed decisions. 🔹 Protect your money by working with regulated professionals and taking time before making decisions. 🔹 Money is a tool that supports your life, your goals, and the people you care about. Tony’s Take: Starting over creates opportunity. Financial readiness begins with understanding the system you’re in and taking ownership of your decisions. Connect with Bisola Tijani: Website: https://whizqueen.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-tijani/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiz_queen/?hl=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhizQueen/featured Podcast: The Whiz Queen Show: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhG7IsMTPnBNn2MMAoXzDal7cJR7R6jDP Bio:  Bisola Tijani, known as WhizQueen, is a Nigerian-Canadian content creator and financial educator with 150K+ followers across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. She's on a mission to make money simple, accessible, and actually enjoyable — especially for first-generation immigrants and newcomers building wealth in a new country. Through her community Smart Money Group and her education platform, she teaches investing, income building, and the kind of financial clarity that changes how people live — not just how they save. ☕ 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.

  7. Jul 3 ·  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.

  8. Jun 30 ·  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.

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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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