In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with Kole Owen, the 22-year-old founder of Unburied Talents Financial Coaching and Career Coaching. Kole shares his personal journey into finance, which started when he got married and realized just how little he knew about managing money. That realization led him down a deep rabbit hole of financial literacy, where he discovered a huge gap in knowledge among young professionals. This inspired him to start coaching others and helping them build better financial futures.

We dive into some critical topics, including:

• Why Gen Z needs financial education early and how being young in the finance space gives Kole a unique advantage.
• The most common money mistakes young professionals make, like living paycheck to paycheck and not taking full advantage of savings opportunities.
• The importance of early investing—why opening a Roth IRA as soon as you start earning can be a game-changer.
• The dangers of unintentional career choices—why college students need to research earning potential before choosing a major and how “holding over” jobs can trap people for longer than they expect.
• The power of personal branding—how confidence, networking, and understanding perception can completely shift career success.
• The mindset shift needed for financial freedom, including budgeting strategies and the importance of finding a financial system that actually works for you.
• The "Ikigai" framework—how aligning passion, skill, societal need, and financial sustainability can lead to a fulfilling career.
• Why community matters in personal finance—Kole emphasizes how crucial it is to find people to talk about money with, whether that’s a spouse, friends, or mentors.
• Actionable financial steps young professionals can take today, like zero-based budgeting, building a personal brand, and creating multiple income streams.

Kole also shares some of his top book recommendations, including The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel and The Millionaire Mission by Brian Preston.

We wrap up the episode with a message of hope: No matter where you are in your financial journey, it’s never too late to take control, adjust your course, and work toward long-term financial success.

This is a powerful conversation packed with insights—don’t miss it!