How do you build better money habits, overcome money shame and make smarter financial decisions? In this episode of Money Tales, money mentor Anne Lester explains why financial success isn’t about having more willpower. It’s about understanding the psychology behind your financial decisions. Whether you’re navigating your first paycheck, paying off debt, trying to save more or planning for retirement, Anne shares practical insights to help Millennials, Gen Z and anyone looking to build lasting financial confidence.
Fresh out of college, Anne thought she was doing everything right. She had landed her first job, was earning a paycheck and was building an independent life. Yet she was also carrying credit card debt, struggling to save while making financial choices that felt right in the moment. Those experiences eventually shaped a career spent helping people prepare for retirement and build healthier relationships with money. In this conversation, Anne talks about the lessons she learned from her own mistakes and why building a better financial life starts with understanding yourself.
About Anne Lester: Money Mentor and Financial Wellness Advocate
Anne Lester is the Money Mentor for Gen Z and Millennials. She is helping a generation of young adults, and those who serve and employ them, turn money shame into money power – so they can live their best life and do their best work now.
Her research for the award-winning book, Your Best Financial Life: Save Smart Now for the Future You Want, revealed that only 17% of GenZ and Millennials are confident in their money plan and on track to retire. The difference? They had a money mentor growing up.
Anne earned the 2020 Lillywhite Award for lifetime contributions to Americans’ economic security. During three decades at J.P. Morgan Chase, she launched and ran the SmartRetirement Target Date funds and Income Builder fund, and was named Morningstar’s Asset Allocator of the Year in 2014.
She’s a trusted keynote speaker, emcee, and media guest for audiences ranging from employees and professionals to Bloomberg TV, Barron’s, CNBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
Looking for more practical guidance?
Aspiriant’s advisors regularly write about the habits and decisions that build long-term financial confidence. If you’re just getting started, explore 4 Financial Tips for Young Adults for foundational advice on saving, credit and investing. You can also read The Road to Financial Wellness, which offers practical strategies for developing healthy financial habits and creating a sustainable approach to managing your money. Together, these resources reinforce one of Anne’s central messages: lasting financial success begins with small, intentional choices—not perfection.
Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.
