Social Work to Wealth Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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 perform
• Retirement, injury, and performance pressure can trigger deep grief and disconnection
• Social workers can collaborate with coaches, trainers, and psychologists to provide stronger support
• Educating athletic staff is important to reducing stigma and improving mental health access
• Boundaries and confidentiality get complicated in tight-knit team environments
• There’s growing space for macro-level advocacy within sports systems

Mentioned 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.

We’re excited to share this joint episode with Catherine Moore, LCSW, host of Social Workers Rise Podcast, to get into what compensation actually looks like in this profession. Between her experience in medical social work and Taylor’s salary database with over 1,500 entries, we looked at how social workers are getting paid and why we need more transparency around it.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why salary transparency helps shift the culture of financial struggle in social work
• What the real salary landscape looks like across roles and regions (yes, some social workers are making $300K)
• How to think about total compensation, not just your hourly rate
• How to identify job titles outside the “social worker” label
• Tips for negotiating your salary

Mentioned resources:

• Salary Database – Submit or browse entries
• Job Title Resource Community (aka Wealth Society)
• Job Title Resource PDF
• Check 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, 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.

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 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, I’m joined by Amber Joiner-Hill, MSSW, a social worker and consultant who shares her story of how she transitioned from a traditional role in social work to starting her own consulting business. We get into the nitty gritty of program evaluation, setting up an LLC, pricing your services, and navigating the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own consulting business or just want a peek behind the scenes of how one social worker made it happen, this episode is for you.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. What sparked Amber’s love for program evaluation and systems-level change
2. How she transitioned from full-time work into full-time consulting (and back again)
3. Why her first paid training was $1,300, but her next contract was $15K 👀
4. The mindset shift from hourly to flat-rate pricing (and how it saved her time and made her more money)
5. How building relationships early in her career opened doors years later
6. Why your consulting journey doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to start

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. 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: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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.

How do you actually write a bill and get lawmakers to take it seriously? In this episode, we’re talking with Dan and Monique from Payment for Placements in New York, two social workers who helped draft and introduce a pilot bill to pay MSW interns in New York State. They walk us through the entire process, from gathering a team to drafting the bill language, finding the right sponsors, and pitching their vision to legislators who can actually move it forward.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Why unpaid internships are a structural equity issue and how this bill addresses it
2. What made their pitch resonate with legislators
3. Details of the bill’s structure, funding timeline, and why they focused on MSW students
4. Rolling out the bill: sponsors, co-sponsors, off-session activity, and continued advocacy
5. The balance between idealism and feasibility when writing legislation
6. Tips for social workers who want to get into advocacy or policy

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. 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: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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.

If you've been curious about consulting but unsure where to start, this episode is packed with gems! I’m joined by Christina Broderick-Royes, LSW, founder of Intention Elevation, to talk about what consulting actually is, how social workers can step into it, and why your experience is already more than enough. We get real about pricing, packaging your services, tapping into your network for leads, and navigating that awkward “how much do I charge?” phase. Christina doesn’t just talk theory, she gives actual numbers and examples of projects she’s done, so you can see exactly how this work can play out.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. What “consulting” actually means and how social workers are already doing it
2. Why starting small (and messy) is better than waiting to be “ready”
3. Real-life contract examples Christina’s landed (and what they paid 👀)
4. How to find leads through your existing network and conferences
5. Why undercharging keeps us stuck and how to start pricing with confidence
6. How to use your phone contacts and old job connections to land opportunities

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
3. Find Social Work to Wealth on: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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’re diving into salary data from over 700 social workers who filled out our anonymous income survey. We talk about who’s hitting six figures, where they live, what jobs they have, and how long they’ve been in the field. But it’s not only about the numbers... we also get into the very real barriers social workers face when it comes to increasing income: expensive licensing processes, low starting pay, and a serious lack of salary transparency in MSW programs.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Yes, some social workers make over $100K — but they’re still the minority (~14%)
2. Most six-figure earners are licensed, have 10+ years of experience, and/or work in hospitals or federal roles
3. Half of the salaries reported fell between $30K–$60K... which is unacceptable, especially for folks with master’s degrees
4. State and cost of living play a big role in how much social workers are paid
5. MSW programs need to start talking about money, not just “self-care”

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. 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: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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.

Budgeting isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we’ve had our fair share of budgeting "fails". In this episode, we’re walking through how we budget now, what systems we tried (and ditched), and what finally made a difference in helping us feel more in control of our money. We talk about fun money accounts, money dates with our partners, and the power of automation. We also chat about how our values and mindsets shaped our approach to money and how we still make space for joy even while tackling debt. If budgeting has ever felt overwhelming or unrealistic, this convo is for you!

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. The exact budgeting systems we’re using (including how many bank accounts we really have 👀)
2. Why “fun money” helps us spend without guilt or asking for permission
3. How we track spending (or don’t) and what’s actually sustainable for us
4. How we use automation to make budgeting easier and what we still check manually
5. How we align our money with our values (and make room for joy on the journey)

Mentioned resources:

1. Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
2. 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: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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.

This week, we’re diving into a budgeting convo with Maureen Paley, MSW, AFC®, a financial coach and fellow social worker who brings both financial savviness and deep empathy. With a background in investment management and social work, Maureen gets the unique money struggles of our field and is here to help us reframe how we think about budgeting. We talk about the emotional side of money, why shame is so tied to our financial habits, and tips on how to manage your budget once you've created one.

Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Why budgeting feels restrictive and how to shift that mindset
2. Why budgeting is not one-size-fits-all (and that’s okay!)
3. The power of money dates and checking in with yourself regularly
4. The importance of joy and sustainability in your financial plan
5. Why you don’t need to choose between paying off debt or saving

Mentioned resources:

1. 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: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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 conversation, we’re joined by Eva Forde, MSSW, founder of Rich Social Worker and the Social Work Wealth Conference, to talk about what it really looks like when social workers claim their worth—financially, personally, and professionally. Eva shares her raw story of financial struggle, survival, and eventually building a business that empowers other social workers to rethink their relationship with money. If you’ve ever questioned whether it's "okay" to want more—more time, more money, more freedom—this episode is for you!

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How Eva’s experience living in Jamaica changed her views on money forever
2. Why social workers must talk about wealth to create real, lasting impact
3. Breaking free from the old narratives about poverty and service
4. How building wealth can strengthen our communities
5. The heart behind the Social Work Wealth Conference and new community launch
6. Permission to dream way bigger than you thought possible

Mentioned resources:

1. 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: Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms are 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.