Join Lisa Zeiderman and Precious Williams as they welcome Erika Wasserman, one of only 100 certified financial therapists in the United States and founder of Your Financial Therapist, to the Power of the Ask podcast. Drawing from her personal journey through divorce and reinvention, Erika shares her signature Money Mindset Method and reveals how our backgrounds, cultural influences, and past experiences shape our relationship with money.

In this eye-opening conversation, Erika demonstrates how to move beyond financial shame and fear to create healthier money conversations in every area of life. Whether you're navigating a breakup, planning for retirement, or simply want to feel more confident about your financial decisions, this episode offers practical tools and compassionate guidance.

You'll discover:

• The Foundation of Financial Therapy: Learn what financial therapy really means and why talking about money feels so uncomfortable for most people
• The Money Mindset Method: Erika's five-step framework (M.O.N.E.Y.) for having productive financial conversations in any situation
• Breaking Generational Patterns: How family background, culture, and personal experiences create our money stories and how to rewrite them
• Practical Conversation Starters: Real strategies for discussing finances with partners, family members, and even yourself
• Financial Trauma Recovery: Compassionate approaches to healing from past financial wounds and building trust in new relationships

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn

Important Links for Erika:

• Erika Wasserman's LinkedIn
• Your Financial Therapist Website

About Erika Wasserman:

Erika Wasserman, the visionary CEO and founder of Your Financial Therapist, established the company in 2019 with a mission to transform how people view and manage their financial lives. As a Certified Financial Therapist (CFT-I™)—a prestigious certification held by fewer than 70 professionals worldwide—Erika blends her expertise in finance and international economics with her passion for empowering individuals, couples, and organizations to rethink their relationship with money.

She is also the creator of the innovative Let’s Talk Finances: Financial Wellness Conversation Cards. This unique tool features 50 thought-provoking questions designed to spark meaningful conversations about money, fostering financial clarity and emotional connection.

Erika’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Florida and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Therapy from Kansas State University. Her work reflects a deep commitment to financial well-being, making her a trusted expert in financial therapy.

On this episode of The Power of the Ask, we speak with Ivette Rivera, an inspiring Afro-Latina Nuyorican from Camden, New Jersey who transformed her life from homelessness to founding Harley, a trauma-informed fintech platform dedicated to helping women escape financial abuse and build wealth.

Ivette shares her incredible journey of resilience, faith, and the bold asks that paved her path to success, including selling a domain to rapper and entrepreneur Nas and her pivotal experience with Tesla. Learn how she diversified her investments with the guidance of Savvy Ladies, turning potential setbacks into powerful momentum. This episode explores:

• Financial Independence: Ivette’s journey highlights how asking for help and clarity is the first step in rebuilding your life, even from rock bottom.
• Female Fintech: Learn about Harley, a platform designed to meet the specific financial needs of women, offering everything from high-yield accounts and robo-investing to a “diamond squad” for women-supporting-women funding.
• Cultural Entrepreneurship: Understand how cultural entrepreneurship, like Ivette’s Loiza Foods and Bodega Flavor, can be a powerful act of healing, identity affirmation, and creating spaces for underrepresented communities.
• Digital Safety: Recognize the growing need for women to embrace cybersecurity and digital safety as a core part of their financial lifestyle, protecting themselves from online scams and financial targeting.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
• Ivette Rivera's LinkedIn

Think insurance is dull? Think again! Join us as visionary CEO and turnaround expert Monica Adwani shatters myths about the insurance industry and entrepreneurship. With nearly two decades of experience, Monica shares how she built a thriving career from the ground up, empowering Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs through innovative solutions. Tune in to hear the surprising ways insurance saves lives and businesses, the truth about the entrepreneurial journey, and the vast, often overlooked opportunities within this dynamic industry.

• Insurance is Not Boring: Find out how a dynamic career in insurance has led to Monica’s greatest reward: saving lives and businesses.
• Self-Made Success: Learn how Monica built her career from “zero” to CEO, arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant with no immediate family or help.
• Industry of Opportunity: The insurance sector faces a massive workforce gap, presenting significant career opportunities for new talent.
• Cultural Inclusion & Legacy: Monica is a passionate advocate for bringing diverse, younger talent into the industry. She hopes to leave a legacy of positive impact and enabling opportunities for others.

About Monica Adwani

Monica Adwani is a visionary CEO and turn-around expert with over 18 years in the insurance and business world. As the founder of Breezy Seguros, she empowers Latino and immigrant entrepreneurs through innovative insurance solutions and business growth strategies.

Recognized with multiple honors—including the AXL100 and Top 50 Women Leaders of Massachusetts—Monica is also a passionate advocate for inclusion, a board advisor for women entrepreneurs, and the voice behind the TranscendWithM podcast. Her journey from immigrant to impact-maker continues to shape industries and inspire change.

Important Links:

• Savvy Ladies
• Precious Williams' LinkedIn
• Lisa Zeiderman's LinkedIn
• Monica Adwani's LinkedIn