Watch, Listen, Subscribe: Real Money, Real Experts Podcast
In this episode of Real Money, Real Experts, Dr. Brandy Baxter and Rachael DeLeon are joined by Mikel Van Cleve, CFP®, PhD candidate at Texas Tech University and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, to unpack the unique financial and emotional dynamics of blended families.
Whether you’re a financial practitioner working with blended families or someone navigating one yourself, this episode offers actionable insights, empathy-driven strategies, and a powerful reminder: blended families aren’t broken or abnormal—they’re simply different, and they deserve planning approaches that reflect that reality.
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.
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.
Meet the Hosts
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.
Dr. Brandy Baxter, AFC®, FFC®
Dr. Brandy Baxter, AFC®, FFC® is the Owner and Coach at Living Abundantly, where she coaches families to bring future financial goals into present reality. She’s also the owner of Envision30, a foresight coaching company, where she helps leaders identify trends that are existing, emerging, and worth exploring. Brandy was AFCPE Board President in 2025.
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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.
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!
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
Carol, we are offering a webinar with the FICO team. Register now: https://bit.ly/309NsuT
Great podcasts so far. I have listened to the first three. Kudos to Rebecca and Mary.
Thank you for listening! We’d love to have you on sometime 🙂
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!
Thank you for listening!