Social Work to Wealth Podcast

LaQueshia Clemons, LCSW and financial therapist, joined the podcast to chat about her journey paying off $25k in debt, her career, and tips for social workers on navigating their careers. LaQueshia runs a group financial therapy practice in Connecticut, one of the only practices of its kind focused entirely on the intersection of emotions and money, and she co-authored Dear Therapist, You Deserve More: A Guide to Financial Freedom, Career Growth, and Personal Fulfillment.We chat about:How LaQueshia went from $25K in credit card debt to running a financial therapy group practiceThe emotional and behavioral patterns around money she had to unlearnWhat financial therapy actually is and who it's forWhy social workers don't need to have their niche figured out right awayThe limiting beliefs that keep social workers stuckWhat LaQueshia would tell her new grad school selfResources mentioned:Wealthy Social Worker swag270+ Job Titles for Social Workers PDFDear Therapist, You Deserve More: A Guide to Financial Freedom, Career Growth, and Personal FulfillmentConnect with us!Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

We had fun recording this one! Catching eachother up (and you) on life, career updates, and everything going on with Social Work to Wealth!We talk about what's been happening in Taylor's transition out of medical social work and into financial planning, including the job search, rejections, and an exciting new role in finance! Faith shares her feelings after being in private practice for two years and the ideas she's been thinking about to expand her income and impact.We also get into what's been growing with Social Work to Wealth. From Apple Podcast rankings to CE offerings (launching May 11th!). It's been an exciting past few months for us at Social Work to Wealth! Thanks for supporting us on this journey 🤗We chat about:Taylor's journey to transition into financial planningFaith's private practice update & ways she has been brainstorming how to expand her incomeWhat's been growing with Social Work to Wealth: download milestones, rankings, and panelsThe CE application Social Work to Wealth submitted to NBCC and ASWB (!!!)End with a money moment!Resources mentioned:Social Work to Wealth CE Updates — CE only updatesSocial Work to Wealth Newsletter — Get updates on money resources, events, salaries, and more straight to your inboxJob Search Resource Community — Monthly office hours, resume help, and job title resourcesJob Search Resource PDF — A 36-page PDF with 275+ real job titles used across different industries and niche resources.Follow Jakori | LMSW 📚 on TikTokConnect with us!Submit your podcast episode idea!Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!In this episode, we chat with Shaina Siber, LCSW, who is a therapist, author, and host of the Affirming Minds podcast. This was a very refreshing and honest conversation! We really didn't want this to be another typical conversation that includes telling you to "do more yoga". (Although I know this can be a healthy practice, it can't solve all your problems.) We dive into the real systemic, environmental, and individual factors that impact burnout, including capitalism, inadequate pay, moral injury, people-pleasing, and perfectionism. This conversation is meant for social workers at all levels to notice warning signs, critically analyze the issue, and learn tips for how to manage burnout.We chat about:Key burnout symptoms, including ones that are often missed in high performersWhy inadequate pay is an underacknowledged driver of burnoutIndividual factors that increase burnout risk: people-pleasing, perfectionism, and high empathyThe six-step burnout recovery framework from Shaina's bookThe problem with asking job candidates "What do you do for self-care?"What employers and leaders can do to create burnout-protective workplacesShaina's advice for anyone currently in the thick of burnoutResources mentioned:Using ACT and CFT for Burnout Recovery: The Beyond Burnout BlueprintAffirming Minds CE PodcastConnect with us!Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Submit your podcast episode idea!Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

Welcome to our second Salary Series episode, where we bring social workers on to specifically give us all the tea about their income progression. Liz Rhea, MSW, LCSW, joined us for this episode to share about her journey to becoming a private practice owner and from earning ~$25/hr to $244k in total revenue in 2025.Liz shares the details of the income streams that made up her income in 2025 and gives insight into how she approaches talking about money with her therapy clients. We chat about licensing, making care accessible, and why salary transparency is important in the social work field. Liz is such a cool human! Even if you aren't a therapist, you'll definitely leave inspired after this conversation.Resources mentioned:Follow Liz on TikTok, Instagram, and check out her website1,500+ Social Work Salary ListProfessionalism as a Racial ConstructConnect with us!Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we talk with Michelle Bruxer, the founder of MSW Helper, a platform that helps aspiring social workers navigate writing their personal statements for their grad school applications. She shares what makes a personal statement strong, how admissions committees actually evaluate applications, and how to convey your experience that you may feel is not relevant. Whether you're applying now or thinking about it down the line, Michelle breaks things down in a way that’s practical and encouraging.Takeaways From This Episode:The two things admissions committees really want to see in your personal statementHow to show critical thinking without writing like a robotWhat not to do (like regurgitating your resume or oversharing trauma)Why your "non-social work" job may still count as valuable experienceHow to talk about a low GPA (and whether you even need to)Why getting rejected doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be a social workerWork with Michelle:Get help with your MSW personal statement at MSW Helper (Get $10 off using code SW2WEALTH)Free webinar on writing personal statementsResources:Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!In this episode, we talked with Shajuan "Shay" Alexander, LCSW, to walk us through what it actually looks like to do immigration evaluations. These evaluations are used in legal cases like asylum, VAWA, hardship waivers, and more. Shay shares how she got started, what she’s learned along the way, and what social workers need to know before adding this to their practice.If you’ve ever been curious about immigration evaluations or want to understand how social work shows up in legal settings, this conversation is a practical place to start!Takeaways From This Episode:What immigration evaluations are and why they’re needed in courtThe five types of evaluations social workers can do (and the licensing requirements)How to approach interviews about trauma, violence, and political persecution with careWhat goes into writing an evaluationWhy your relationships with attorneys matter just as much as your clinical skillsWhat to consider if you’re interested in this work but unsure where to startResources:Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!In this episode, we talk with Christine Mosher and Ros Wilson, clinical social workers and co-founders of Athlete Wellness Consultants, where they provide training, education, and clinical support focused on athlete well-being. Both bring a wealth of experience to the world of sports social work, not just in mental health, but as lifelong athletes themselves.In our conversation, they break down what sport social work actually looks like in practice, how it compares to sports psychology, and why this work is needed at all levels of sport. Whether you're a social worker curious about this field or someone already working with athletes, this episode offers insight into what sport social work really looks like and why it matters.Takeaways From This Episode:Sports social work focuses on the whole athlete, not just how they performRetirement, injury, and performance pressure can trigger deep grief and disconnectionSocial workers can collaborate with coaches, trainers, and psychologists to provide stronger supportEducating athletic staff is important to reducing stigma and improving mental health accessBoundaries and confidentiality get complicated in tight-knit team environmentsThere’s growing space for macro-level advocacy within sports systemsMentioned resources:Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we break down one of the biggest decisions for social workers considering private practice: should you take insurance, go fully private pay, or try a hybrid model? We talk through the logistics, mindset shifts, pros and cons, and the financial implications of each route.Takeaways From This Episode:Starting with insurance might make sense for stability, but private pay gives you more freedom in the long runThe real reason niching down mattersHow insurance audits, clawbacks, and low rates push therapists out of the systemBeing an anti-oppressive therapist isn’t only about taking insurance; there are many ways to practice social justiceIt’s okay to raise your private pay rate and be mindful of inflationIf you’re starting out, there’s no shame in going into private practice early in your careerMentioned resources:Private Practice Checklist DownloadCheck out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. Connect with us!Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we are doing something a little different! Faith and I are reacting to the conversation that transpired on LinkedIn after I posted: “Don’t post your job for a master’s level clinician if it doesn’t pay at least $100K.” The post got a lot of traction.... essentially went viral. Thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments, and a mix of support and pushback from folks across the field. We talk through the range of responses, including the common claim that expecting six figures is “unrealistic,” and why that word keeps coming up in conversations about social work and money. We also talk real solutions: collective bargaining, salary transparency, and policy-level shifts that need to happen if this profession is going to survive and thrive. Takeaways From This Episode: The behind the scenes story of a LinkedIn post that struck a nerve What it really means when people say $100K is “unrealistic” for social workers The importance of salary transparency and why it’s not “greedy” to talk numbers What the data tells us about shortages, turnover, and retention in social work Why “that’s how it’s always been” is not a good enough reason to settle Ideas for what a new, sustainable model of social work could look like Mentioned resources: Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter! Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/23-social-workers-should-make-100k (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialworktowealth (TikTok), https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (YouTube). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

This week, we are excited to welcome Jerrel Peterson, MSW, to the podcast! He’s the Head of Global Content Policy at Spotify, and formerly held a trust and safety role at Twitter. Jerrel walks us through his journey from direct practice in mental health to landing a job in tech. We dive into what “trust and safety” means in tech, how his team develops interventions for content-related harm, and how his social work training helps him create safer online spaces. Jerrel also shares practical advice on how social workers can break into the tech space and translate their skills. Takeaways From This Episode: Why trust and safety work is a perfect fit for social workers Why social work skills (crisis management, systems thinking, advocacy) are in demand in tech The power of policy as intervention in online platforms Negotiation tips: base salary, RSUs, sign-on bonuses, and benefits Advice for social workers exploring tech careers: networking, LinkedIn outreach, and resume rewrites Why being bold matters in corporate spaces Mentioned resources: Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/podcast/21-social-workers-in-tech-inside-content-policy-at-spotify-with-jerrel-peterson-msw (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialworktowealth (TikTok), https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (YouTube). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, I’m talking with Lauryn Williams, CFP®, and consultant with Student Loan Planner, about what’s really going on with student loans right now, especially for social workers trying to make sense of repayment, forgiveness, and all the recent changes. We break down the current repayment options, what’s happening with the SAVE plan, and how the new RAP plan is expected to work (when it finally rolls out). If your loans feel overwhelming or you’ve been avoiding them altogether, this episode will help you understand your options and what next steps to take. https://socialworktowealth.com/slpepisode (Get $100 off a consult with Student Loan Planner*) Takeaways From This Episode: Why repayment isn’t one-size-fits-all and how to choose what works for you What’s happening with the SAVE plan and why it might be time to move off it Which income-driven repayment plans are still available (and who qualifies) What the new RAP plan is, and what we know about it so far How PSLF actually works and common myths that confuse borrowers What to consider before refinancing your federal loans How a consult with Student Loan Planner works and why it could save you thousands Mentioned resources: https://socialworktowealth.com/slpepisode (Get $100 off a consult with Student Loan Planner*) Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/19-understanding-student-loans-with-lauryn-williams-2025-update (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. (This post has extra resources that were not shared in the episode, thanks to Leslie!) https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://www.tiktok.com/@socialworktowealth (TikTok), https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), and https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (YouTube). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney. *This episode may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my https://socialworktowealth.com/disclosure/ (disclosure) for more info.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ashley Stephens, LCSW-S, a social worker, supervisor, and consultant who shares how she built a career that’s financially stable and aligned with how she actually wants to live. Ashley walks us through her early money story and how she started creating multiple income streams, from clinical work to supervision, retreats, teaching, and consulting. We get into the money messages social workers still hear in school, how that messaging keeps folks underpaid and overworked, and why financial wellness is a non-negotiable if you want to stay in this field long term. She breaks down the logistics of setting up a supervision practice, managing your time across different roles, and what to consider if you’re thinking about diversifying your income. If you’re feeling stuck in your current job, curious about supervision, or just trying to figure out how to make social work sustainable, this episode is for you! Takeaways From This Episode: The harmful (and persistent) belief that wanting financial stability makes you less “dedicated” as a social worker Why diversifying your income isn’t about hustle culture... it’s about safety, creativity, and sustainability The powerful ripple effect of becoming a supervisor and pouring into the next generation of clinicians What autonomy really means in your work and how it can lead to more joy, purpose, and freedom How the Social Work Compact could expand your clinical reach without starting from scratch in every state Permission to leave a job that doesn’t serve you, just because it doesn’t serve you 👀 Mentioned resources: Check out https://socialworktowealth.com/17-multiple-income-streams-money-confidence-w-ashley-stephens-phd-lcsw-s (the affiliated blog post) for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. https://socialworktowealth.myflodesk.com/podcast (Social Work to Wealth Newsletter) — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: https://instagram.com/socialworktowealth (Instagram), https://www.youtube.com/@socialworktowealth (Youtube), https://www.facebook.com/socialworktowealth (Facebook), and https://pinterest.com/socialworktowealth (Pinterest). Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast and on any affiliated platforms are for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.