Ashley and Priya get real about what it takes to feel in control of your money. They unpack why traditional budgeting rarely works, how to think about spending in terms of happiness instead of guilt, and what it means to be a true financial adult. Ashley shares insights from her 30-Day Money Cleanse and Financial Adulting, along with stories about navigating money in relationships, planning for kids, and redefining what financial readiness actually looks like.

The conversation blends practical advice with real-life honesty that’s the right kind of approachable.

Takeaways:

• How to rethink budgeting as a happiness allocation instead of a restriction
• Why understanding your (and your partner’s) money story matters more than splitting hairs over expenses
• The real costs of planning for kids—and how to know when you’re actually ready
• Simple ways to track and reflect on spending without turning it into a second job
• Participants save an average of $950 in the first month using the method outlined in Ashley’s first book, The 30-Day Money Cleanse

  
  

Follow Priya Malani:

LinkedIn | Instagram | Stash Wealth

Guest Bio:

Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, CFP®, is a personal finance expert, speaker, and the author of the award-winning books Financial Adulting and The 30-Day Money Cleanse. She founded The Fiscal Femme to get women wealthy and has helped thousands of people feel financially confident, achieve major financial goals, and destress their relationships with money.

Guest Links:

https://www.instagram.com/thefiscalfemme/

https://www.thefiscalfemme.com/money-club

https://www.instagram.com/howdoyouaffordthis/

30 Day Money Cleanse: https://a.co/d/dVzsbgC

Financial Adulting: https://a.co/d/bYsUqub

The Stuff Our Lawyers Want Us to Say:

Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that's us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.

If you grew up trusting your parents’ financial advisor, you might assume you’re in good hands. But what if that loyalty is quietly costing you thousands?

In this episode, Priya Malani unpacks a real story of a “legacy” advisor who mismanaged a client’s trust fund for years, proof that what worked for your parents’ generation doesn’t work for today’s high earners. She breaks down how outdated investment frameworks can stall your progress, why blind trust isn’t a financial strategy, and what to look for in an advisor who actually understands your goals and lifestyle.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to spot red flags, modernize your money strategy, and make sure your money’s growing with you, not stuck in the past.

Takeaways:

• Outdated “family” advice can quietly cost you six figures.
• Personalized planning isn’t a luxury, it’s the only way to grow wealth intentionally.
• The right advisor builds a plan around your life, not your parents’ playbook.Blind trust is not a strategy; understanding what your want your money to do is.

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  Follow Priya Malani

• LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Stash Wealth

  
  

  The Stuff Our Lawyers Want Us to Say:

  Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that's us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.

If you’re making six figures but still feel like you’re spinning your wheels, you’re not alone. Too many high achievers obsess over the wrong financial details: tracking every coffee, juggling ten checking accounts, or chasing credit card points, while ignoring the big levers that actually move the needle.

In this episode, Priya Malani breaks down why ambitious 30-somethings get stuck in the weeds and how to shift your focus to the questions that truly change your financial trajectory. You’ll hear a real client story, insights from Ramit Sethi’s “$3 vs. $30,000 questions,” and Natalie Taylor’s framework for “impact-weighted work.” By the end, you’ll have a clear path to simplify your money, reduce stress, and start making progress that actually matters.

Tune Into This Episode to Hear:

• Why activity ≠ progress when it comes to your money
• The difference between $3 questions (skip Starbucks?) and $30,000 questions (negotiate your comp?)
• How “impact-weighted work” can help you stop overanalyzing and start moving forward
• A simple framework to consolidate accounts, automate, and focus on big levers like income, savings, investing, and protection

  
  

Follow Priya Malani:
LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Stash Wealth

THE STUFF OUR LAWYERS WANT US TO SAY: Stash Wealth is a Registered Investment Advisor. Content presented is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to make an offer or solicitation for any specific securities product, service, or strategy. Consult with a qualified investment adviser (that’s us) before implementing any strategy. Investing involves risk, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. There…we said it.