The Voice Behind Meaning of Money®
I’m Shelitha Smodic, CFP®, a financial educator, public speaker, researcher, and the founder of Meaning of Money.
When I started my first job after college, I was completely unprepared for the number of financial decisions I had to make. The information I found online was often confusing or conflicting, and most financial advisors were not interested in working with someone who had not already accumulated significant wealth.
That experience changed the direction of my life. I wanted to become the knowledgeable and trustworthy financial professional I could not find when I needed help.
I became a CFP® professional, earned a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning, and worked as a financial advisor and Director of Financial Planning. Today, I am a Ph.D. candidate at Kansas State University, where my research focuses on family financial well-being.
My work has also included writing, speaking, developing financial education for consumers and financial professionals, and consulting with financial planning firms. Each experience has strengthened my ability to translate financial concepts and research into information people can understand and use.
Meaning of Money is a financial education company built on the belief that money decisions should support your well-being.
Financial decisions are rarely about numbers alone. They are shaped by our experiences, families, relationships, opportunities, responsibilities, values, and the stories we have learned about what money means.
Meaning of Money brings together financial planning, research, and storytelling to help you understand those influences, learn the financial concepts relevant to your life, and make decisions that reflect what matters to you.
The goal is not to prescribe one version of financial success. It is to help you develop the understanding and confidence to make informed financial decisions that align with your life today and your goals for the future.
The ALIGN Framework is the path we follow to move from financial awareness to financial well-being.
Recognize how financial values and habits are shaped by your culture and lived experiences.
Explore your financial history, beliefs, values, and behaviors while building your understanding of the financial concepts relevant to your life.
Connect what you are learning with your values, circumstances, goals, and the way you want to live.
Take intentional action, practice new skills, and make meaningful progress toward your goals.
Maintain the habits, systems, and resources that support your financial well-being as your life continues to evolve.