A Conversation with Gloria Garcia Cisneros, CFP on Breaking Barriers to Building Wealth

A Conversation with Gloria Garcia Cisneros, CFP on Breaking Barriers to Building Wealth

Author: Next Gen Personal Finance January 17, 2026 Duration: 53:11

In this episode, Yanely sits down with Certified Financial Planner Gloria Garcia Cisneros to break down what it really means to work with a fiduciary and how teachers can protect themselves from high-fee, commission-driven products often pushed in the 403(b) space. Gloria explains the key differences between independent advisory firms and broker-dealers, why "free" advice can still come with hidden costs, and the questions educators should ask about fees, incentives, and what is actually inside their retirement accounts. They also unpack how insurance products like annuities and permanent life insurance are sometimes marketed as "investments," why that can be risky, and how to spot red flags like guaranteed returns and salesy, one-size-fits-all pitches. Gloria shares her journey from first-generation immigrant to CFP and highlights why holistic financial planning goes beyond investments to include taxes, insurance, benefits, and long-term goals. The conversation ends with mindset shifts, like remembering that wealth is often what you don't see, and encouragement for teachers to build confidence, ask better questions, and stay on a steady path toward financial security.


Behind the mission of Next Gen Personal Finance-a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every U.S. high school student takes a personal finance class-is a vibrant community of educators constantly refining their craft. The NGPF Podcast sits at the heart of that conversation. It’s a space where teachers, curriculum specialists, and sometimes even students share their real-world experiences and challenges in bringing financial literacy to life. You’ll hear practical discussions about what actually works in the classroom, from innovative lesson plans to navigating tricky topics like investing, credit, and behavioral economics. The episodes, often born from the organization's deep investment in teacher professional development, feel less like formal lectures and more like insightful coffee-break chats with colleagues who are just as passionate about empowering the next generation. Tuning into this podcast offers a direct line to the strategies and stories that are shaping financially capable young adults, all grounded in the high-quality resources NGPF is known for. It’s an essential listen for anyone invested in the practical side of financial education, whether you're in a classroom or simply believe in the critical importance of these skills for the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

NGPF Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ted Daniels on Teaching Financial Literacy to Diverse Communities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
Tim welcomes Ted Daniels, whose work has helped empower thousands of students through HBCUs and peer-to-peer, student ambassador programs. Ted shares the personal moments that sparked his mission, from balancing a family…
Empowering Financial Success with Intuit Co-Founder, Tom Proulx [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
Tom Proulx shares the story of how he co-founded Intuit and created Quicken in his Stanford dorm room in 1983 after a chance meeting with Scott Cook outside the engineering library. Proulx explains how they revolutionize…
Building Winning Cultures with Andrew Wasynczuk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:17
In this NGPF Speaker Series conversation, former New England Patriots COO Andy Wasynczuk shares how a chance connection led to a surprising career pivot into pro sports leadership. He connects early money lessons from hi…
Siddharth Tripathi's Mission to Revolutionize Financial Literacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim Ranzetta interviews high school junior Sid Tripathi, founder of the Dollar Investigators, a youth-led initiative teaching elementary students foundational money skills. Sid shares…
From the Classroom to Retirement with Kathy Cuevas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:33
In this episode of the NGPF Speaker Series, former teacher Kathy Cuevas shares her career journey into education and the real-life experiences that shaped her approach to teaching—especially serving students with disabil…
The Power of Gratitude with Walter Green of the Say It Now Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:11
This episode of the NGPF podcast features Walter Green, founder of the Say It Now movement, who shares how expressing specific, heartfelt gratitude to people who have impacted our lives can strengthen relationships and c…
Raising Money-Smart Kids with Content Creator, Lizbet Barajas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:24
This episode features Yanely interviewing Lizbet (@LizbetTalksMoney) about how she teaches her two young daughters practical money skills at home through a simple, repeatable allowance system. Lizbet recently grew an aud…
Credit Confidence & Demystifying FICO with Keon Haley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:08
In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim interviews Keon Haley of FICO to unpack how credit scores work and how to teach them effectively. Keon shares his personal journey from limited financial conversations at home to…
Julia and Philip from PBS Two Cents Share Fresh Financial Insights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
In this episode, Yanely Espinal sits down with Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson, the creators and hosts of PBS's 2 Cents, to talk about what it takes to make personal finance education engaging, relevant, and truly us…
Jonathan Cohen, Author of Losing Big [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:46
In this NGPF Podcast episode, Yanely interviews Jonathan Cohen about sports gambling in America. Jonathan unpacks how legalized sports betting exploded after the 2018 Supreme Court decision, and what that rapid expansion…