Veronica Karas is the Principal of CAPTRUST, a financial advisory where she provides comprehensive financial planning services to high-net-worth individuals and small businesses. With over a decade of experience as a Certified Financial Planner™, she specializes in areas such as estate planning, retirement planning, tax strategies, and insurance. Veronica is also the author of the Money Matters book series, which enhances financial literacy. Beyond her professional endeavors, she serves as the Co-president of the CAPTRUST Community Foundation.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- [3:06] Veronica Karas shares how her family’s immigrant experience inspired her passion for financial literacy
- [10:28] The lessons Veronica learned starting her financial planning career during the 2008 recession
- [16:52] Veronica outlines the unique financial challenges women face across their life cycle
- [22:29] Why Veronica wrote the Money Matters book series and the importance of financial literacy
- [29:49] Veronica’s work to expand financial literacy in schools through book donations and partnerships
- [31:56] Advice for women to become financially literate
In this episode...
When it comes to managing finances, many women feel overwhelmed and disconnected. With outdated systems, unequal pay, and societal norms that often leave them out of financial conversations, financial literacy can feel like a foreign language. How can you take control of your financial future?
Financial literacy advocate Veronica Karas maintains that financial literacy isn’t just for experts; it’s essential for everyone. Women can understand money by acknowledging that they are capable of learning financial concepts despite historical and societal conditioning that convinces them otherwise. Veronica encourages women to leverage online resources and meet with Certified Financial Planners for personalized guidance.
In today’s episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show, Andrea Heuston meets with Veronica Karas, the Principal of CAPTRUST, to talk about how she empowers women through financial literacy. Veronica discusses the long-term impacts of financial planning, how she expands financial literacy in schools, and what she learned launching her financial planning career during the 2008 recession.
Resources Mentioned in this episode:
- Andrea Heuston on LinkedIn | Email
- Artitudes Design
- Lead Like a Woman
- Stronger on the Other Side: The Power to Choose by Andrea Heuston
- Veronica Karas: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
- CAPTRUST
- Money Matters: Everything You Should Have Learned in School, but Didn’t by Veronica Karas
- Money Matters: Merging Lives, Merging Finances by Veronica Karas
- Money Matters: Avoid Getting ‘Sandwiched’ Out of Retirement by Veronica Karas
- Financial Planning Association
Quotable Moments:
- “If a service professional tells you not to worry about it, you should worry about it.”
- “You can make it beautiful, and you can turn it into anything you want it to be.”
- “You could be keeping $1,000 more in your pocket every single month.”
- “You have to participate in your own financial life and really take control of it.”
- “It’s much harder to learn how to write a check when you’re 94 than when you’re 34.”
Action Steps:
- Start learning basic financial literacy as early as possible: Building knowledge about money management, taxes, and credit early can help avoid costly mistakes later in life. Even small steps — like understanding interest rates or reading a book — create a strong foundation for future financial decisions.
- Take advantage of free financial planning resources: Tools like the Financial Planning Association’s pro bono network connect you with certified professionals at no cost. These resources can provide tailored advice without the pressure of sales-driven services.
- Teach financial concepts to your children: Introducing kids to money through games or conversations helps normalize financial literacy from a young age. This early exposure empowers the next generation to make confident and informed financial choices.
- Don’t ignore your tax forms — learn how they work: Understanding documents like the W-4 helps ensure accurate withholdings, preventing large refunds or unexpected tax bills. Proper knowledge can increase your monthly income and reduce your reliance on tax-season “bonuses.”
- Reassess your financial plan after major life events: Divorce, death, career changes, or starting a business can all drastically alter your financial landscape. Being proactive in these moments helps you regain control and make decisions with long-term benefits.
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