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Trends with Benefits #129: Shape Up Your Financial Health with Shannon McLay

06 January 2025

Listen Time 36:56 MIN

Learn how to improve your financial health by overcoming emotional spending, identifying your non-negotiable spending habits, and setting goals-based budgeting strategies.

Shannon McLay, founder and CEO of Financial Gym, returns to Trends with Benefits four years after her first appearance. In this episode, she addresses the ongoing financial literacy crisis in the U.S. and the growing challenges Americans face, including inflation, credit card debt, and the resumption of student loan payments. Shannon explains how Financial Gym coaches clients by tackling money-related shame and anxiety and teaches practical tools to help them reach their long-term financial goals. She also introduces her advisory service, FG Advisory Services, launched in 2024, to help clients grow their wealth.


Show Notes:

02:35 People’s mindsets around their finances

05:11 The return of student loan payments

06:00 Obstacles to becoming financially fit

07:40 Policymakers’ role in financial literacy

09:16 Financial Gym client journey

12:52 Overcoming emotional spending

16:07 Strategies for saving money

18:44 About FG Advisory Services

23:21 Fears surrounding investing

30:36 Long-term trend

32:00 Trend or fad

Trend or Fad

Listen for Shannon’s view on AI, “finfluencers,” bitcoin, and cybertrucks.

Follow Ed Lopez @thatEdLopez on X (Twitter).

You can listen and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube.