Steve Lear

“People say life isn’t about money. Bullshit.”

Get ready for an engaging discussion with speaker Steve Lear, who wants to change how you think about money. Steve believes everyone can achieve a secure financial future – and the earlier you begin, the better. That’s why Steve is at the forefront of a Minnesota movement to teach financial literacy skills in schools. He aims to close the wealth gap by helping students understand that wealth creation begins with education.
Attending one of Steve’s presentations is a learning experience, not a lecture. He shares personal wisdom grounded in decades of financial industry experience to help you define your goals and fund your future.

Steve’s presentation style is interactive and dynamic. He includes question-and-answer sessions because he understands that people are interested in learning; however, he is often surprised by how much he continues to learn from conversations with his audiences.

Steve is a well-known community activist specializing in financial literacy, leadership training, and philanthropy. He has been instrumental in creating the following programs:

• The Financial Matters Program (through Best Prep)
• SteveLear.org (an interactive learning center for personal finance, leadership, and generosity planning)
• NECHAMA-Jewish Response to Disaster
• The JCRC Speakers Bureau (through the Jewish Community Relations Council of MN and the Dakotas)
• The Bias Inside Us ( through the Smithsonian Institution)

In 2022, Steve Co-founded the Financial Literacy Coalition of Minnesota (FLCM). Partnering with the Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE), this group of financial service professionals worked to pass important legislation: beginning in 2025, students will be required to take a course in personal finance before graduation.

Steve has been working to improve lives as a financial planner for over 40 years. He has received numerous awards for community service and was recognized on AARP Minnesota and Pollen Midwest’s 50 Over 50 list in 2020.

However, Steve’s proudest achievement is his family. He and his wife, Sheri, live in Minneapolis, where they enjoy spending time with their seven children, sons and daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren.