Career Development: Strategic Steps for a Secure Future

“If you think life isn’t about money, think again.”

Steve Lear wants to change your financial mindset from “making money” to “creating wealth.” This isn’t about managing money once you have it—it’s about how you build wealth and security through strategic career planning. The earlier you begin, the better!

Steve is actively involved in shaping the financial future of our state’s youth. As a leader in Minnesota’s personal finance education initiative, he collaborated with the Minnesota Council on Economic Education to implement a new requirement: starting in September 2025, all 9th graders will be required to take a personal finance class to graduate. The goal? Closing the wealth gap through education and strategic action.

With decades of experience in financial planning, Steve explains the benefits of aligning your career and financial goals and ensuring your actions are on target to achieve them. With this blueprint for success, you’ll be on your way to creating a secure future.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Career Planning for Wealth: Learn how strategic career choices can enhance your financial success.
  • The Impact of Financial Education: Understand why wealth creation begins with education.
  • Actionable Steps: Define goals and take steps to build lasting wealth.

FORMAT: 60 minutes

NOTE: Sponsors can choose to explore additional topics.

FEE: Please review our fee policy, explained on the SLO Services page.

“You are the expert in the room on the things you have dedicated your life to understanding and discussing…Good presentations leave you with the idea that you’d like more. Yesterday was a good presentation! I believe you are a valued resource, and I consider it a blessing to have learned from you.”

– Karl Wolfe (The Wesely Group)

 

“Thanks so much for joining our group Friday! The information and interaction were great…I thought it was a good mix of questions, comments, and answers throughout the discussion. A return visit would certainly be welcomed by our group…”

-Tom Wesely (The Wesely Group)

 

“Thank you so much for your insightful and thought-provoking presentation yesterday. I am truly grateful for all that you taught us! I look forward to working with you in the future as we find more opportunities to have you come back and continue to teach us at Crown of Glory.”

– Pastor Laura Laughlin (Crown of Glory Lutheran Church)

 

“Steve recently returned with a presentation about the Middle East and did a wonderful job! He is an outstanding speaker, and his content is excellent…He relates well to his audience and can answer their questions…We enjoyed him so much that we have scheduled him to come back a third time to tell us about his trip to Israel.”

– Marilyn Weldin (The Glenn in Hopkins)

 

“Thank you SO much for joining us last Friday to teach our students the art of having Courageous Conversations! It was the first of many Nosh & Knowledge sessions this semester, and you definitely set a high bar for the rest of them. Thank you for giving your time, expertise, and enthusiasm to help Hillel enrich the lives of Jewish students.

– Polly Lehman (Hillel)

 

“Thank you for speaking to our confirmation class last night. I think the class was expecting a more formal lecture, which is why I loved how you sat down, told stories (and a few jokes), inquired into their thoughts about God, religion, and the Jewish faith, and spoke of different ways to explore what they believe. In particular, I think your story about the babysitter and the many paths to the top of the mountain was a good umbrella for the class’s current study of different world religions – and their personal faith journeys. You made it less academic and more personal. Again, thank you for your insight and for sharing your faith with us. Peace.

– Dean Ammerman (Minnehaha United Methodist Church)

 

The delightfully positive comments continued today when people were still talking about your presentation yesterday. It was a joy to be the convener yesterday and visit with you a bit more personally. You were the perfect fit .

– Vernita at Incarnation Lutheran Church