Sarah Kang is a Certified Financial Planner with UAK Diversified, a firm she runs with her husband. With a focus on the personal side of financial planning, Sarah brings her experience as a music teacher to planning in a way that allows her to break things down in a way that just makes sense. In this episode, Ben and Sarah discuss how helping people can be meaningful and how, even with uncertainty ahead, we can always create a plan, we just may need to pivot. If you’re looking for a light conversation about what it means to be a planner, this is the episode for you. Key Takeaways: How a love ..read more

Bryan Smalley is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with a BA from the University of Toledo and an MA from Bowling Green State University. With a focus on “taking the scary out of retirement planning”, Bryan helps his clients focus on all the joys of retirement. Living in New Jersey with his wife and their 4 children, Bryan brings to this episode his perspective on having a single income household, homeschooling, and how these decisions impact your financial life. Of course, there’s more to life than just money, which Ben and Bryan discuss in this episode. Key Takeaways: Things to know befo ..read more

With 9 years in the finance industry, Michael Acosta returns to the show with some insights on homeownership. Michael is driven to work for his clients with the guidance of his tag line “Prepare, Perform, Prosper”. Questions discussed in this episode include: Should you pursue homeownership? Is a home a good investment? And is renting bad? All that, and more on this episode of Catholic Money Mastermind. Key Takeaways: What makes renting is a good decision. When it can be worth it to buy instead of rent. What makes your home an investment? Why you may not want to look at your home as an inves ..read more

With over 30 years of experience as a financial planner, Lance is one of the most experienced people in the Catholic Financial Planners Network. Lance is the Founder and CEO of Nautical Star Financial, whose name echoes Lance’s time in the Navy. In this episode, Lance tells Ben how he brings a Christian approach to financial planning - even praying with clients! If you’re looking for deeper insight on what it means to be a Catholic financial planner, this is the episode for you. Key Takeaways: How your financial advisor’s perspective will affect your planning. What it means to be a steward o ..read more

Anthony specializes in holistic family planning with focus on early career and family, retirement transition, tax preparation, and real estate investing. Having always wanted to help as many people as possible, Anthony became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) helping his clients with financial literacy - regardless of their wealth. In this episode, Ben and Anthony discuss holistic life planning, expanding beyond finances to touch on mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health. If you’re looking to live a more fulfilling life and develop the financial skills to do it, this is a great ..read more

Phil joins us from Foundation Wealth Planning in Salina, Kansas. He’s also a member of the Catholic Financial Planner Network, integrating his faith with his financial practice. With 8 years experience at a large financial firm, Phil left to start his own practice about 2 years ago. One of his major focuses has been to help families and businesses break the paycheck to paycheck cycle by tackling debt obligations, living expenses, and saving for the future.  In this episode, Ben and Phil discuss how to change your perspective on your finances, a variety of budgeting solutions, and how sur ..read more

In this episode, we explore the challenging and rewarding journey of Kevin Reardon, a seasoned financial advisor who started his career in 1992. Through the highs and lows of his career, Kevin opens up about the hardships he faced during the early 2000s and how having faith, persevering through difficulties, and focusing on service can help navigate life's ups and downs in a spiritually fulfilling way. Challenges are opportunities to grow closer to God. Tune in to this enlightening episode as Kevin shares his inspiring journey of resilience and faith against all odds.  What You’ll Learn ..read more

Learn more about the Catholic Financial Planners Network on October 17th. Sign up for the webinar here: https://meet.zoho.com/6ITZHda7yO Are you looking to hire an advisor? Browse our members. Are you a Financial Advisor who is serious about the Catholic Faith? Join our network. Catholic Money Mastermind Podcast is a personal podcast meant for educational and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice, and is not prescriptive of your financial situation ..read more

Some small changes can make a big difference. Tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars are at stake in getting that one decision right like with social security. You really will impact your quality of life as these decisions start to compound. So, let’s get ahead of the decisions that’ll most drastically affect our retirement. Today, Tyler’s going to share what areas in our personal and financial lives deserve a second look. What You’ll Learn: Retiring to rather than retiring from What is Coast FI? Why retirement planning is more than just financial planning What fulfillment looks like ..read more

Ben Martinek and Charlie Horonzy talk about how to bring prayer into your finances, the insecurity that's associated with it, and the specific methods that they use. Amidst uncertainty, prayer plays a crucial role in helping us stay grounded, seek guidance and find the strength to fulfill our responsibilities. "I think God wants us to be saints.. and everything in our life is helping us to get to heaven." - Charlie Horonzy What You’ll Learn: Lectio Davina prayer and other meditation exercises Surrendering to God’s providence, especially in financial matters Financial challenges and anxietie ..read more