Preschool to Portfolio: How to Raise Money-Confident Kids Before Shame Ever Enters the Room

Most of us didn't grow up talking about money — and we're still paying for that silence. Whether it shows up as financial anxiety, impulsive decisions, or a deep, nagging feeling that your net worth is somehow your worth, the roots usually trace back to childhood. And the window to change that for your own kids is earlier than you think. Have you ever wondered… - Why do so many financially "educated" adults still make decisions from a place of fear? - When is the right time to start talking to kids about money — and how do you even begin? - What would it look like to raise a child who sees money as a tool, not a measure of who they are? Susan and Sara sit down with Maggie Shih — founder and CEO of Theta Labs and creator of Satta, an app designed to build financial literacy and emotional intelligence in kids as young as five — for a conversation that's equal parts personal and practical. Maggie grew up watching her fierce, self-made single mother build a business from nothing while never uttering a word about money. That silence shaped Maggie's relationship with finances well into adulthood — and ultimately became the spark behind a new kind of financial tool for the next generation. **In this episode, we cover:** - **The real cost of money silence** — Why avoiding financial conversations at home doesn't protect kids; it makes money feel taboo, shameful, and scary well into adulthood. - **Net worth is not self-worth** — How untangling the stories we inherited about money frees us to see it as a neutral tool — and why that reframe has to start young. - **The five-year window** — Why age five is a critical baseline for financial habit formation, when kids are already building patience, delayed gratification, and emotional regulation. - **Mindset over math** — Why a child can understand how savings accounts work and still make fear-based financial choices — and what it takes to close that gap. - **Literacy vs. ability** — Why a single high school econ class was never going to be enough, and why behavioral change, not information, is what actually moves the needle. - **Duolingo meets Tamagotchi** — How Satta turns daily financial habits into a game: kids adopt a virtual pet, complete short quests, and earn gems — building real-world consistency through play. Chapters: 0:00 - Welcome & Introducing Maggie Shih 1:49 - How Maggie's Story Led to Satta 3:03 - What Financial Silence Actually Costs Kids 4:55 - Separating Net Worth from Self-Worth 6:09 - Why Age Five Is the Critical Window 7:10 - The Four Pillars: Concepts, Skills, Mindsets & Habits 8:03 - Literacy vs. Ability — Why Information Isn't Enough 9:54 - Inside the App: How Satta Works 11:51 - Maggie's Entrepreneurial Journey 14:30 - What's Next: Satta Markets & Community Events 16:12 - Who's Using the App (and Why Parents Love It) 18:08 - Practical Tips for Raising Money-Confident Kids at Home 21:52 - How to Break the Cycle — For Yourself and Your Kids 23:28 - Where to Find Maggie & Satta  📖 More honest conversations about money and life at the Sorelle Journal: https://www.sorellewealthpartners.com/blog Her Wealth: Unscripted is hosted by Susan Jones, JD, CFP®, CDFA® and Sara Gelsheimer, MBA, CFP®, co-founders of Sorelle Wealth Partners, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm serving women and families navigating divorce, widowhood, retirement, and other major life transitions, with offices in Boca Raton, FL and St. Louis, MO. Learn more at sorellewealthpartners.com. Connect with Maggie Shih: Instagram @\_maggieshih | Satta app: https://www.sattaworld.co/ #FinancialLiteracyForKids #ConsciousParenting #HerWealthUnscripted