A jar of loose change can be a financial plan, a love letter, and a blueprint for resilience all at once.

This week on Schmooze with Suze, I begin with a childhood memory that has stayed with me for decades. My parents kept one of those giant water jugs from the water machine, not for water, but for coins. Pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters collected one sacrifice at a time. That jar eventually bought their first washing machine and first vacuum cleaner.

Long before I understood budgets, investing, or compound interest, I understood something else: big things are often built in small ways.

That story sets the stage for a heartfelt and practical conversation with Kellie Smith, wealth and philanthropic advisor at B&C Financial, about financial literacy, wealth building, philanthropy, and why so many women were taught how to give, care for others, and show up for their communities, but were never taught how money actually works.

Kellie shares her own financial wake-up call after graduating college with student loan debt and realizing how easy it is to borrow money without understanding the long-term cost. Together, we explore the difference between making money and building wealth, why retirement planning is really about buying back your time, and how simple steps like creating an emergency fund, maximizing an employer match, reducing subscription creep, and utilizing high-yield savings accounts can create lasting financial stability.

We also unpack the often-misunderstood world of philanthropy and legacy giving. From donor-advised funds and endowments to planned giving and charitable legacy strategies, Kellie helps demystify how ordinary people can create extraordinary impact for generations to come.

Whether you're just beginning your financial journey or looking to align your resources with your values, this conversation offers practical advice, inspiration, and a reminder that wealth isn't just about what you leave behind.

Because wealth isn't measured only by what we accumulate. It's measured by what we sustain, what we share, and what we make possible for others.

In This Episode:

• Financial literacy lessons women often miss
• The difference between income and wealth
• Building financial confidence at any age
• Emergency funds and retirement basics
• Employer matching and investment fundamentals
• Philanthropy as a wealth-building mindset
• Donor-advised funds, endowments, and planned giving
• Creating a legacy that reflects your values
• Why generosity and financial stewardship belong together

Because wealth isn't measured only by what we accumulate. It's measured by what we sustain, what we share, and what we make possible for others.

Kellie Kelleher-Smith, CAP®

Kellie serves as a Wealth Advisor with B&C Financial Advisors in Ponte Vedra Beach. She is a registered Investment Advisor Representative and holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designation through The American College of Financial Services. The CAP® credential is a specialized designation focused on charitable planning, philanthropic strategy, wealth transfer, and helping individuals align their financial resources with their values and legacy goals.

Her professional background uniquely combines:

Wealth management and financial planning
Philanthropic advising and charitable strategy
Multi-generational wealth planning
Retirement planning
Legacy and estate-focused giving strategies
Nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience

Prior to joining B&C Financial Advisors, Kellie held leadership roles with the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida and the American Cancer Society, giving her a rare perspective that bridges both the nonprofit and financial planning worlds.

B&C Financial Advisors Contact Information

B&C Financial Advisors
110 Professional Drive, Suite 101
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Phone: (904) 273-9850

Website: B&C Financial Advisors Website

B&C is a fee-only registered investment advisory firm serving individuals, families, retirees, business owners, trusts, and charitable entities.

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