We’re excited to bring back a powerful Money Tales conversation with Cicely Gay. In this encore episode, we revisit Cicely’s journey from scarcity to abundance. As the founder of The Amplifiers and now Chair of the Board of Black Lives Matter’s Global Network, Cicely’s insights into money, mindset, and meaning are as relevant today as ever. Whether it’s the bag-lady syndrome or the fear that money will vanish no matter how much we earn, Cicely’s story reminds us that personal awareness is the first step toward a healthier financial mindset.
As the visionary founder of The Amplifiers, a pioneering social enterprise at the intersection of cause and communications, and Chairwoman of the Board for the Black Lives Matter, Cicley brings a wealth of expertise to the forefront of social justice initiatives. She embarked on her civic service journey by participating in two terms in AmeriCorps, then assumed a pivotal position as the founding director of STAND (Students Take Action for New Directions), where she empowered students by educating them on the ramifications of federal budget allocations on under-resourced communities.
Cicely’s unwavering dedication to uplifting marginalized communities is shown through her decade-long commitment to catalyzing change at The Women’s Sports Foundation. In her roles as the founding director of GoGirlGo! and later as the National Director of Education and Alliances, she tirelessly spearheaded initiatives aimed at expanding access to physical activity for millions of young women in under-resourced areas across the nation.
Her passion for mentorship and empowerment further propelled her to serve as the Director of National Initiatives at the National CARES Mentoring Movement, where she played a central role in establishing a multi-million-dollar national mentoring initiative for children, earning the financial support of the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice.
Cicley’s impact extends beyond her professional achievements. She has been recognized for her outstanding contributions, receiving accolades such as the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Obama Administration in 2013 and the Catalyst Award from the Global Center for Social Change through Women’s Leadership in 2015.
Additionally, Cicley is a proud member of the inaugural class of WEI (Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative) and has been honored as one of Georgia's 40 Under 40, awarded a SPANX Red Backpack grant for Women’s Entrepreneurship, ATL+ most powerful women in Atlanta in 2024 and 2025 and one of SUCCESS magazine’s 50 Women of Impact in 2025. She holds an honorary Doctoral degree from Trinity International University.
Her greatest accomplishment was winning “Mom of the Year '' as a mom to three sons. Cicley often says, “I spent decades intentionally preparing my sons for the world, I am now focused on also preparing the world for my sons.”
Take Action and Make a Difference
Learn how leadership, mentorship, and thoughtful philanthropy can create lasting impact—for yourself, your community, and the world.
If you’d like to explore ways to align your personal or professional goals with impact-driven strategies, including charitable giving and philanthropic planning, connect with an Aspiriant advisor here.
Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music for more stories and practical tips on purpose, money, and making a difference.

As 2025 winds down, Money Tales hosts Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder take the mic for a practical conversation packed with personal finance wisdom. This episode is all about reflection, intention, and preparation—how to thoughtfully close out the year and step into 2026 with clarity and purpose. Sandi and Cammie explore everything from the power of revisiting your financial vision and refreshing goals to nurturing open money conversations with loved ones and building confidence in your financial habits.
They dive deep into specific year-end planning opportunities, including tax strategies, charitable giving, Roth conversions, and using health care deductibles wisely. Sandi also highlights emerging client trends like cross-border planning, financial parenting, and developing a philanthropic mission. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your cash flow, deepen your money knowledge, or reset your financial mindset, this episode will leave you with actionable ideas to carry forward into the new year.
Discover how reflection, intentional planning, and open money conversations can help you close out 2025 with clarity and step into 2026 with confidence.
If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to align your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here.
Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories on purpose, money, and personal growth.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Dr. Julia Edelman. Today’s guest is a trailblazing OB-GYN and menopause specialist who turned a frugal, hands-on childhood into a purpose-driven medical career. At a time when women in medicine were not taken seriously, or given the same opportunities, Julia persevered with grit and grace, proving that passion and persistence can pave the way for lasting impact. She shares how agency, determination, and clear values shaped her life choices, especially when money and medicine collided.
About Julia Edelman: Menopause Practitioner of the Year
Julia is a Yale graduate, Columbia Medical School graduate, Harvard residency-trained physician and a nationally recognized menopause expert. A board-certified gynecologist and Menopause Certified practitioner, she has been caring for women for over four decades and is highly regarded for her evidence-based compassionate approach to women’s health.
The founder of Women’s Health and Gynecology of New England, Julia has trained and mentored physicians and medical students at Harvard and Brown medical schools. The North American Menopause Society awarded Dr. Edelman the honor of “Menopause Practitioner of the Year” after she published her first book Menopause Matters: Your Guide to a Long and Healthy Life. She followed with Successful Sleep Strategies for Women (Harvard Health Publications).
Her new book, The Savvy Woman’s Guide to Menopause: Before, During, and Beyond (Johns Hopkins University Press, October 2025) provides clear, practical guidance to help individuals navigate the physical, emotional, and cognitive changes of midlife and beyond with confidence.
In addition, Julia runs The New England Center for Body Sculpting, which offers FDA approved noninvasive antiaging treatments and functional medicine treatments for men and women with no needles, no pain, and no downtime. Some treatments build muscle, permanently eliminate fat cells, and restore collagen and muscle strength in the abdomen, love handles and other areas. The Center also offers a noninvasive face treatment that restores collagen while smoothing and tightening the skin to give a natural, more youthful appearance.  And it has an Emsella chair or “Kegel chair”, that restores urine control for men and women.

Inspired by Dr. Edelman’s journey?
Explore how values-driven conversations and clear decision-making can empower your career path and your relationship with money. Tune in to a podcast on Exciting & Creative Careers.
If you’d like to speak with an Aspiriant advisor about aligning your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here.
Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories about purpose, money and personal growth.

Money lessons don’t have to be complicated—they can start with a batch of cookies and a generous heart. In this episode our guest is Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of the nonprofit, Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF). Tim shares how real-world money moments spark big lessons about earning, saving, giving, and growing financial confidence for life.

Tim’s approach to financial education resonates with the way we think about money conversations at Aspiriant, empowering clients and their families to make informed, values-driven decisions. It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about building confidence, values, and decision-making skills that last a lifetime. Like Tim, we’ve seen how early exposure to real-world financial choices can shape a healthier relationship with money, whether it’s through a small job, a savings goal, or talking openly with family.

For more practical ways to build financial confidence, explore Four Financial Tips for Young Adults on Aspiriant’s blog, fathom, where our wealth managers share simple steps for saving, spending and investing early.

About Tim Ranzetta: Empowering the Next Generation Through Money Education

Tim is a co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance, a non-profit that believes all high school students deserve a high quality, engaging and relevant personal finance education prior to crossing that graduation stage (#Mission2030).

NGPF serves more than 130,000 educators reaching more than 5 million students with free curriculum, professional development and advocacy tools. The team’s efforts have led to 22 states passing laws that will guarantee a personal finance course to high school students with 30 states in total (76% of students) now guaranteeing the course.

Tim’s volunteer experience teaching a personal finance course at Eastside Prep (East Palo Alto) demonstrated how these lessons empowered students and their families too and inspired him to start NGPF.

National speaker and advisor coach Laura Virili joins the Aspiriant Money Tales podcast to share how intentional money conversations empower women to build wealth, confidence and long-term financial independence. A leader in financial literacy, behavioral finance and women’s empowerment,  Laura shares practical insights and heartfelt inspiration drawn from her journey—from buying her first car with cash to guiding advisors in fostering financial confidence.

Her story aligns with themes explored in Aspiriant’s Women Taking Charge—a resource designed to help women approach wealth and major life transitions with greater confidence, purpose and clarity.

In a world racing toward artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, Laura reminds us that the most powerful connections—and lessons about money—are still deeply human. From handwritten thank-you notes to her teenage determination to buy a Camaro, Laura’s story is equal parts hustle, heart and financial wisdom.

About Laura Virili: Financial Literacy Starts Young

Laura has always been a connector. While other seven year-olds were playing with dolls, she was introducing hers to dolls across the street and across town.

Today, Laura is a trailblazing force in professional development and a top-rated national speaker, coach, consultant specializing in client acquisition and retention through marketing, branding, communication and engaging the female client.

With decades of invaluable experience, Laura consistently earns the top spot as the number one speaker at industry conferences, establishing herself as a distinguished figure in her field. With decades of navigating the intricate landscape of the financial services industry, Laura’s insights are a treasure trove for those seeking marketing, training, and communication expertise within Global Wealth and Investment Management. Her hands-on experience working alongside advisors, teams, and branch managers has shaped her into a true industry luminary.

Holding FINRA Series 7 & 66 securities registrations, Laura is not merely a Wall Street veteran – she’s the trusted expert advisors turn to for navigating the evolving landscape of social media and traditional marketing with unparalleled confidence and success.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Laura is a lifelong student and passionate educator, finding joy in empowering girls through financial literacy. As a Behavioral Finance Advisor™, Laura’s approach is not just theoretical – she walks the walk and talks the talk. Her programs seamlessly combine traditional marketing strategies, social media expertise, and behavioral finance principles to help advisors acquire and retain ideal prospects and clients.

Ready to elevate your confidence and clarity around money?

Explore how meaningful financial conversations can inspire you—or the women in your life—to build wealth, freedom, and lasting confidence. Tune in to a podcast on Women's Unique Money Experiences.

If you’d like to speak with an Aspiriant advisor about aligning your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here.

Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories about purpose, money and personal growth.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Dr. Claudia Six. Money and sex are two of the hardest topics to talk about, and yet the ones that touch every relationship. Dr. Claudia Six has spent decades helping people open up about both, and what she’s learned may surprise you.
In this episode, she shares how her unique path from growing up in Paris to counseling Silicon Valley entrepreneurs has shaped her understanding of connection, vulnerability and the role money plays in our lives.
Raised in the vibrant streets of France and now a beacon of sexual health in the Bay Area, Dr. Claudia Six brings over three decades of expertise to her private practice as a Clinical Sexologist. Fluent in the languages of both English and French, yet free from the stereotypical French accent, Claudia's approach to therapy is as direct and compassionate as her life's journey from Paris to San Francisco.
Educated with a Master's in Counseling Psychology and a PhD in Clinical Sexology from the prestigious Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, Dr. Six is not just a therapist; she's a pioneer in her field. Her credentials, including board certification by the American Board of Sexology, underscore her commitment to excellence and her passion for helping individuals and couples navigate the complexities of intimacy.
Author of "Erotic Integrity" and a sought-after speaker, including a TEDx talk on 'Performance Anxiety in Women', Dr. Six has made significant contributions to the discourse on sexual health. Her practice is a haven for those grappling with a spectrum of sexual and relationship issues—from mismatched desires to the intricacies of performance anxiety.
Dr. Six's philosophy is straightforward: "Nobody is broken." She believes every sexual and relational challenge makes perfect sense within the context of an individual's life story. Her therapeutic style is candid, authentic and aimed at putting clients at ease, even when discussing the most vulnerable topics.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Six is a mother, an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, and a member of professional organizations like the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and AASECT. Her work, both clinical and academic, is driven by a profound belief that understanding and addressing sexual health is integral to one's overall well-being.
To learn more about how Dr. Six can assist in transforming your relationship or sexual health, visit her at www.drsix.net or connect with her on social platforms where she shares insights on fostering intimacy and sexual wellness.
Remember, with Dr. Claudia Six, it's never just about sex; it's about the bigger picture of how we show up in the world.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is David Adjmi. From childhood, our money stories shape the way we see the world—sometimes with clarity, and sometimes with confusion. For playwright David Adjmi, growing up in a family and a neighborhood where money was about hustle, performance, and status left him questioning what financial security and self-worth really meant.
David Adjmi’s plays have been produced at theatres around the world such as Lincoln Center, RSC, Steppenwolf, and Soho Rep--where he was the Mellon Foundation playwright-in-residence for three years. Stereophonic (music by Will Butler of Arcade Fire) is running on London’s West End after a successful run on Broadway, where it became the most Tony-nominated play in history. Stereophonic received the 2024 Drama Desk Award, New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League, and Tony Awards for Best Play. The Stumble was recently excerpted in The Paris Review, and his two-part play The Blind King is currently in development with The Public. Adjmi’s controversial hit 3C was selected as one of the top ten plays of the year by the New York Post, Time Out and the Advocate. Elective Affinities premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company and received a sold-out U.S. premiere at Soho Rep starring Zoe Caldwell (Top 10 of the year in Time Out, The New Yorker.) Other plays include Stunning, The Evildoers, and Marie Antoinette. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Whiting Writers’ Award, the Kesselring Prize for Drama, and the Steinberg Playwright Award, among others. He holds commissions from The Public, Playwrights Horizons, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, and the Royal Court (UK). His critically acclaimed memoir Lot Six was published by HarperCollins in 2020, and his collected plays are published by TCG.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Tomasina Williams. From watching the Voting Rights Act debated on TV as a five-year-old in the segregated South, to becoming the first Black girl to integrate her school, Thomasina Williams’ life has been shaped by powerful lessons about courage, opportunity, and money. In this episode, Thomasina shares how financial choices can be deeply connected to love, sacrifice and legacy.
Thomasina Willliams serves as a strategic thought partner, coach and consultant to financially successful families. She helps her clients do what their wealth alone cannot do: have difficult conversations, manage relationship tensions and navigate generational transitions.
As the first in-house “Family Dynamics Consultant” at one of the nation’s largest private banks, Thomasina guided ultra-high net worth families through the emotional undercurrents of generational transitions. One client described her as their “high beams lighting the pathway” through unfamiliar and uncomfortable territory. Thomasina’s work at the bank also included training wealth advisors to better understand family systems, so they could be even more valuable resources for their ultra-high net worth clients navigating family challenges.
Thomasina is a third-generation member of a family that lost its wealth during her parents’ generation. Learning about the shirtsleeves-to-shirtsleeves-in-three-generations proverb ignited her personal passion to course-correct for her own family and her professional mission to help other families avoid that fate.
Thomasina is the founder of Sankofa Legacy Advisors and convener of The FEW: Family Enterprise Women™, an emergent community for women in business-owning families.
Prior to her work with families, Thomasina was a nationally recognized philanthropy strategist at one of the largest private foundations in the country. Her first career was as an award-winning attorney.
During the time that one of her younger brothers was a member of her law firm, Thomasina gained personal experience with the complexities of working with family. That lived experience continues today in her role as the manager of her family’s small real estate development company.
Thomasina serves on the boards of the Purposeful Planning Institute, a community of multi-disciplinary professionals who work with financially successful families, and SIY Global, whose pioneering emotional intelligence trainings originated inside of Google.

Behind every family is a money story. The way we learn about it, talk about it and pass it down shapes both our family wealth identity and our relationships. In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Josh Gentine, a third-generation member of the family behind Sargento Foods and an advisor to enterprising families.
Josh is a family business advisor, helping multi-generational families and their leaders navigate the complexities of family enterprise ownership. Josh is accredited as both a Hogan and Gallup Strengths coach. His background as an investor, advisor, corporate director, and third-generation family business owner gives him a range of perspectives to draw from when advising clients. Josh focuses his time on helping family owners transition ownership and leadership from one generation to the next, coaching family members and senior leaders, building boards of directors, and supporting operating strategies across family organizations. Josh sits on the board of directors at his family’s company, Sargento Foods Inc., as well as a $700 million ESOP auto dealership group. Josh runs family executive round table groups for middle-market and large-cap family run companies, and he is currently a part-time instructor with the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Family Enterprise Center.
Prior to starting Bench, Josh served as a Manager at Deloitte Consulting, where he focused on mergers & acquisitions as well as supporting the design of Deloitte Consulting’s global talent operations.
Josh earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Josh returned to Notre Dame following his MBA to study philosophy and theology in the seminary with the intent of becoming a Catholic priest. Josh and his wife, Meredith, have two young children, Henry and Juliette, and live in Charlottesville, VA.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Anne Bauer. Anne once believed she was “bad with money” because she struggled with math. Now, as the CEO of her family business, she proves just how sharp she is with both money and numbers. For her, money is energy.
Anne Bauer is a Family Business Coach, the President & CEO of Racket Merchandise Company, her family’s 6th-generation business, and the host of the Legacy: Navigating Family Business Podcast. Anne is also the editor-in-chief of Legacy Magazine.
With an educational background in psychology, coaching, and energy work, coupled with over 25 years of firsthand experience in not just one, but three multi-generational family businesses, Anne brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges family businesses face. She works alongside her husband, parents, and two siblings, making her perspective both personal and professional.
In 2020, Anne founded Legacy to offer holistic support for family businesses navigating generational transitions. She helps her clients through these changes in a way that is truly unique and invaluable to multi-generational businesses worldwide. Her approach is grounded in the three Legacy Family Business Pillars -- Clear Communication, Healthy Boundaries, and Energetic Awareness -- ensuring businesses thrive while preserving their legacies for future generations.
Learn more at www.thelegacyevolution.com.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Serene Lewis Lyles. What if retiring early isn't just about having enough money, but about designing a life where time becomes your most valuable asset? Serene, a former Meta executive, shares how she planned her exit from a billion-dollar ad business to retire at age 52 and move to Portugal.
Serene Lewis Lyles is a designer. Over her nearly 30-year career, she designed digital products and marketing experiences for some of the world’s leading brands and organizations. Today, as founder of Ready to Retire Coaching, she helps people design their ideal retirement, with a focus on purpose, finances, and community.
After graduating from Northwestern University with a BS in Journalism, Serene started her career doing public relations for some of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Procter & Gamble, and eBay. During this time, she helped launch Luna Bars, NikeTown SF and TiVo digital recording, which is the foundation for streaming programming.
Serene’s career has spanned products and services around the world. While living in England, she led communications for standardized education products for the University of Cambridge. After returning to the Bay Area, she drove 60% of client engagement as marketing lead for a biotech company. And, after taking a senior director role at Epsilon (now a part of Publicis Groupe), Serene grew their small content strategy service into a core offering that generated millions of dollars annually.
In 2019, Serene joined Facebook (now Meta). As a senior director, she led the 100-person content design team behind Facebook and Instagram’s $1billion ads business. At Meta, she was also a leader of the employee resource group Black@ Design and founder of the Black@ Content Design Leads group.
After retiring from Meta, Serene founded Ready to Retire coaching. When not coaching, Serene can be found on a vineyard in Portugal, where she moved in 2024 with her husband and their Rhodesian Ridgeback. Serene’s retirement plans include learning Portuguese, long lunches with friends and making leather goods for pets and people.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Annelise Bauer. What if a rubber band ball that sold for 25 cents could hold more meaning than any other quarter you've ever seen? Annelise shares how her family of origin’s creative approach to frugality and giving shaped her journey from lawyer to nonprofit CEO.
Annelise Bauer is the CEO of SHE-CAN, which stands for Supporting Her Education Changes A Nation - a non profit organization that supports young women from post-conflict countries in accessing U.S. college education, mentorship, and leadership training so they can return home to transform their communities.
A passionate advocate for education and women’s leadership, Annelise practiced law for 21 years—18 of those at the Myers-Briggs Company—before moving into nonprofit leadership and education governance. She is the Founder and former Executive Director of Children for Change, where she led the organization for 10 years and now serves on its board. She also serves on the boards of The Bay School and Women for Women in Sierra Leone, is a member of the Leadership Council at Rise Up, and is a member of and co-chair of the Community Committee of the International Women’s Forum. Additionally, Annelise served as an elected member of the Ross Valley School Board for 10 years, shaping educational policy and championing public education in her community.
Born on the Navajo Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico, Annelise grew up with a deep sense of service before earning degrees in sociology and education from Princeton University and a law degree from Boston University. Her career—spanning law, education, and nonprofits—reflects her unwavering belief that when young people and women are given the right tools and support, they can change the world.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Lisa Merlo-Booth. Lisa grew up in a patriarchal household where money was power and control. In this conversation, she shares how that experience shaped her early beliefs—and what it took to build financial equality and true partnership in her own life.
Lisa isn’t your typical relationship coach. With over 20 years of experience as a relationship coach and trained therapist, she cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of the matter. Lisa tackles complex issues head-on with clarity, humor and a no-nonsense approach that drives real, lasting change.
Her mission is to help individuals, couples, teams and organizations create radically new relationships and cultures that don’t just survive—they thrive.
The old relationship rules are broken, and Lisa is here to rewrite them. Through her Radically New Relationships™ Paradigm, she challenges outdated norms and replaces them with a bold, transformative framework. Her approach ensures relationships are deeply supportive, powerfully connected and built to last.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Tanaha Hairston. Tahana always had a curiosity about money. But when life threw her an unexpected curve, she found herself at a financial crossroads. A former computer engineer who had stepped away from her tech career to raise three children, Tahana realized she needed to take control of her financial future. So, she made a bold move to enroll in graduate school and study finance. That decision opened a surprising door; 100 investors, all men, urged Tahana to run their investor network. What began as a personal hedge turned into a powerful mission.
Tanaha Hairston supports investors in building portfolios that reflect their values, deliver passive income, and drive measurable impact. As the founder of IIC Capital, she curates and shares private investment deals across real estate, sustainable ventures and tax-optimized private offerings that deliver both returns and purpose.
She also leads RISE, a nonprofit organization that educates private investors—especially women—across all asset classes. RISE empowers its members with community, education, and access to vetted opportunities that build both profit and purpose.
A published author (Changing the Game of Venture Capital – The Journal of Private Equity), MBA focused on Finance graduate from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering.
Tanaha brings decades of experience as an entrepreneur, impact investor, and impact strategist. She’s also a successful founder who built and exited a company before shifting her focus to building legacy through capital.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is John Dinsmore, PhD. Fear of failure can be a powerful motivator. John never intended to become a marketing expert. During college and beyond John was in a rock band called "Fried Moose." He tells us that, at the time, he was so afraid of letting his bandmates and family members down as he pursued a career in music that he threw himself into band promotion and merchandising. That fear-driven hustle accidentally built the exact skills that would later land John his first marketing job and eventually make him a professor who is focused on financial decision-making.
John Dinsmore is a Professor of Marketing at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and author of The Marketing of Debt: How They Get You.
He is regularly featured in publications such as Forbes, CIO, CBS Marketwatch and US News & World Report for his market commentary and is a frequent conference speaker at organizations such as the American Marketing Association and the Association for Consumer Research.
At Wright State, Professor Dinsmore teaches a variety of courses including Digital Marketing, Strategy and Creativity & Problem-Solving, garnering multiple teaching awards. He has provided executive training services to the United States Air Force and Speedway Corporation. His academic research primarily focuses on financial decision-making, methods of payment, and mobile applications, having been published in academic journals including Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Business Research and International Journal of Research in Marketing. He also recently wrote a chapter for the Handbook of Experimental Finance.
Dinsmore has published business cases designated at “Best Sellers” by Harvard Publishing focusing on strategy and analytics. These cases are taught in MBA programs across North America, Europe, Asia and South America at institutions such as University of Chicago, Peking University and King’s College. This Fall, he will be a featured speaker at TEDx-Dayton to discuss his research on financial decision-making.
Prior to earning his PhD, John Dinsmore worked in the marketing industry for 14 years in various roles. Dinsmore holds a BA in Political Science from James Madison University, an MBA in Marketing & Finance from University of Georgia, and a PhD in Marketing from University of Cincinnati. He lives in Dayton, Ohio with his wife, two sons, and a gigantic bulldog named Creed.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Leisa Peterson. What happens when financial chaos becomes your childhood normal—when repossessed cars and lost homes are a typical week, and your grandmother is the only thing standing between your family and complete collapse?
For Leisa, this wasn't a cautionary tale but the foundation of her life's work. Instead of letting scarcity define her, she became obsessed with understanding it. What makes some people live in fear of never having enough, while others thrive with less? Leisa shares her journey from financial survival to soulful abundance, and how she's now helping others rewrite their money stories, one mindset shift at a time.
Leisa Peterson is an author, financial educator, and money coach who helps entrepreneurs revolutionize their relationship with money. Author of “The Money Catalyst” and “The Mindful Millionaire,” Leisa was recognized by Forbes as one of the pioneering “10 Women Driving Growth in Wealth Management and Investing.”

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Filipa Lancastre, PhD. Filipa is someone who has never been afraid to do things differently. While most young adults in Portugal stay under their parents' roof until their 30s, Filipa took a different route. As a rising McKinsey consultant, she bought her own place, got her parents to guarantee the loan, and walked away five years later with a 50% return. But that was just the beginning.
Filipa is an Assistant Professor (adjunct) of Strategy at Universidade Católica Portuguesa. She holds her PhD in Management from NOVA SBE. Filipa was a senior researcher and faculty at Nova SBE and Universidade Europeia. Prior to her academic activities, Filipa worked in telecom, serving as advisor to the board at ZON and leading the customer relationship management department at TV Cabo. She was also a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Company. Filipa is an Industrial Engineer from Instituto Superior Técnico (Universidade de Lisboa) and holds an MBA from INSEAD.

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Gregory Roll. What happens when parents tell their two children they can afford to send only one of them to college—so they aren’t going to send either? Greg shares how this pivotal family moment became a guiding lesson for his future money conversations and decisions, especially within his own family. This milestone 250th episode of Money Tales is all about fairness and family dynamics.
Greg is, above all else, curious. An optimistic agent of change, he is a champion of the principle “Show, don’t tell,” and a firm believer in the power of creativity and clarity to drive transformation. Whether summiting mountains or navigating complex business terrain, Greg approaches challenges with a spirit of exploration—always seeking new paths to insight and innovation.
A passionate brand strategist, Greg believes that in today’s crowded and often commoditized investment and wealth management landscape, differentiation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. As the needs of high-net-worth individuals and families grow in sophistication and complexity, so too must the strategies that serve them. Greg is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders define and execute brand and growth strategies that set them apart and support purposeful, sustained growth.
Greg’s career has been devoted to crafting growth strategies for many of the nation’s most prestigious multi-family offices and leading RIA firms. He brings deep experience working with multi-generational families, focusing on the complex dynamics at the intersection of family, enterprise and wealth. His work often involves direct engagement with high-net-worth families to understand the key factors influencing their decisions around wealth management, investment strategy and family office services.
He has developed particular expertise in data aggregation and consolidated wealth reporting and keeps a close eye on emerging technologies and platforms reshaping the industry. As a management consultant, Greg has partnered closely with a wide range of trusted advisors, including estate attorneys, CPAs, philanthropic strategists and family governance consultants.
Greg is a frequent presenter at industry events hosted by Family Office Exchange, Family Wealth Alliance, and Worthy Circles. He also plays a behind-the-scenes role in shaping thought leadership initiatives for MFO and RIA firms launching their own events for families and advisors. He serves as an Advisory Board Member to StoryKeep and Tapestry, two specialized providers supporting high-net-worth families and is a longtime judge for the Annual Family Wealth Report Awards.