About Real Money, Real Experts

Real Money, Real Experts is a personal finance podcast written and produced by AFCPE®. With an audience of financial professionals, we strive to educate and entertain with a combination of expert tips, engaging interviews, and real-life storytelling. 

  • Covering real stories about how professionals like you are impacting their clients.
  • Offering tips from real experts on how to improve client interactions and grow your business.

 

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AFCPE® ensures the highest integrity of the financial counseling profession by certifying, connecting, and supporting diverse professionals. Our comprehensive programs, the AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®) and represent the gold standard of financial counseling and coaching certifications. And our membership community offers a place to share best practices, solve similar struggles, and access tools and resources that advance your career and enable you to better serve your clients.

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Meet the Hosts

Rachael DeLeon, AFCPE

Rachael DeLeon, AFCPE® Executive Director

Rachael DeLeon, Executive Director of AFCPE®, is co-host of Real Money, Real Experts podcast. Rachael leads AFCPE, a national association for financial counselors, coaches, and educators. AFCPE certifies, supports, and connects professionals across the personal finance field who are committed to the highest standards of professionalism and passionate about helping people with their money.

Mary Bell Carlson, AFC®, CFP®, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Bell Carlson is a financial behavior expert and is currently the President and Founder of Financial Behavior Keynote Group, a speaking and consulting firm providing thought leadership around financial behavior change. She also teaches at the University of Georgia and Texas Tech University in personal financial planning and holds both the AFC® and CFP® credentials.

Recent Episodes

Real Money, Real Experts: Amanda Christensen

Episode 96: Shake Off Financial Stress: Real-Life Money Smarts with Amanda Christensen Download the transcript or watch on Youtube! Are you ready for it? Join hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson for an engaging episode featuring special guest Amanda Christensen, AFC, Extension Professor at Utah State University, and Founder of Utah Money Moms. In our latest episode, Amanda shares

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Real Money, Real Experts: Amy Smith

Episode 95: Authenticity Unleashed: Embracing Your Superpower with Amy Smith Download the transcript or watch on Youtube! Join hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson in a captivating conversation with special guest Amy Smith, AFC®, Founder of My BPD, My Money, and Member Engagement Coordinator for AFCPE. In this episode, Amy shares her journey to the AFC certification, emphasizing the transformative

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Real Money, Real Experts: Tiffany Grant

Episode 94: Unlocking the CEO Mindset: A Conversation with Tiffany Grant Download the transcript or watch on Youtube! “If you want to be a CEO, you have to start thinking like a CEO.” In this episode, hosts Rachael Deleon and Dr. Mary Carlson are joined by special guest Tiffany Grant, AFC® and owner of Money Talk with Tiff. Tiffany, an

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Real Money, Real Experts: Brent Neiser

Episode 93: What’s Next With Money with Brent Neiser, CFP®, AFC® Download the transcript! Brent Neiser has an incredible range of work and impact in the personal finance space. Every time we connect, we learn something new! Brent started his journey as a financial planner, but his heart for service led him to a rich career in financial education. On

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Real Money, Real Experts: Markia Brown, The Money Plug

Welcome to Season 5! Episode 92: There is No “One Way” to do Personal Finance with Markia Brown, AFC®  Download the transcript! Markia Brown is an award-winning financial educator and content creator, an Accredited Financial Counselor, and an AFCPE member with a talent for making complex financial topics accessible, particularly to younger generations. Her mission focuses on uplifting underserved communities

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Real Money, Real Experts: Michael Thomas (From the Vault)

Episode 91: From the Vault: Michael Thomas on Empathy Download the transcript! Every December, Real Money, Real Experts takes a break to prepare for the year ahead. As we head into the busy holiday season, we’re happy to re-share a fan favorite – our episode on empathy and the art of listening with Dr. Michael Thomas, AFC. Enjoy and happy

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Listener Reviews

"I am excited about the Real Money, Real Experts Podcast. The hosts Rebecca and Mary have such rich and diverse background in the financial counseling and education space and they complement each other well. Usually in the first few episodes of a podcast, there is a sense of working out the kinks and getting comfortable with the format but this was a polished effort from the start. I also like the 20-min format, perfect for a listen on my morning jog or while running errands. I look forward upcoming episodes."

"Looking forward to more episodes hosted by these two great financial professionals!"

Be a Guest

If you’re doing interesting work in the field and would like to share your stories and expertise, apply to be a guest on Real Money, Real Experts! Fill out the podcast guest application and an AFCPE staff member will contact you if you are selected.

Sponsor the Podcast

We love partnering with brands that share our mission and values. Check out our media kit to learn more about our incredible community of listeners. Packages available for every budget. Questions? Email us!

Questions? Comments? We want to hear from you!

Do you have a topic you’d like us to explore, or feedback for the podcast? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us or comment below to let us know your thoughts.

8 responses to “Real Money, Real Experts Podcast”

  1. Hello! ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!! l just finished listening to Real Money/Real Experts, Pilot Episode and truly enjoyed meeting you! I was so INSPIRED and MOTIVATED that l WILL cease PROCRASTINATING and get started on reaching my next life’s goal of becoming a financial Coach/Counselor. Thank you so much for the AMAZING LEADERSHIP! Ms. Farrow

    • Thank you so much for listening! We hope you stick around and enjoy future episodes. Thanks for the feedback!

  2. How can we get FICO open access- for free for our clients instead of paying the fees associated with getting the score and the needed education/coaching? Can this not be waived for financial coaching for AFCPE members?
    Carol Ehlers
    ISU Extension
    712-732-5056 (home office/not open yet)
    712-299-3454 (personal cell)
    xehlers@iastate.edu

  3. I use the PodCruncher app for iPhone. Thoroughly enjoyed the interesting and informative first four podcasts. I’m going to listen to E5 sometime this afternoon. Terrific job so far! Thank you!

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