Available at amazon.com | august, 2025
Learn How to Make Better Money Choices and Thrive!
Discover How Conventional Wisdom About Money Is Sabotaging Your $uccess
Finally, here’s the perfect book for people who avoid personal finance books but shouldn’t. It focuses on money habits and behavior rather than on the money itself. It guides you through discovering your money values, temperament, and learning style. And then, how to create your personal values-based and behavior-driven money strategy and plan. This should have been part of your school reading list. Surprisingly, this isn't something many financial experts know about.
Keep an eye out for it on Amazon
Available August 2025
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Conventional Wisdom About Money Is Wrong. Financial Success is About Managing Behavior, Not Money.
I've spent years working with people and money, sharing my passion for economics as a teacher, thriving as a financial advisor, and even building and selling my own behavioral Registered Independent Advisor business.
I now focus on guiding exceptional individuals like you to uncover and master your money temperament through my straightforward Money Behavior System. Let’s join forces to transform the management of your finances into a behavioral journey instead of merely buying products and services and mindlessly chasing performance.
This book is for everyone, especially those who have never explored personal finance but should. It’s an easy read without numbers, graphs, or product recommendations. It explains why the concept of money temperament is often absent from most money and personal finance books.
Jeff Morris, CEO & Co-Founder, DreamSmart Behavioral Solutions
"So read this book with curiosity, not judgment. Let it affirm what you’ve always known deep down: how you behave with money matters more than what you know about money. And then—maybe—permit yourself to rewrite your own money story, one insight at a time."
Sneak - Peek
Scroll through the Introduction to see if Confessions of a Reformed Financial Advisor hooks you like it has so many other readers.
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Introduction
I have a question. Have you ever made a quick trip to the store for a few things and ended up spending way more than you planned? Or, set out to buy someone a gift and pick up something nice for yourself. I bet you have. We all have.
I have a weakness for Costco. My planned quick stop for smoothie ingredients would often become an hour-long and expensive exploration of every inch of the store.
They redesigned the store each week. They know that my search for frozen fruit will lead to impulse buys of unnecessary stuff.
I’ve improved, but it’s difficult to pass up a one-of-a-kind, discounted, must-have end-of-season winter jacket, knowing it may never be available again.
Yes, Costco understands my spending habits and uses them to influence my purchasing decisions from the moment I walk in. They prime me with multiple mailings, targeted social media posts, and emails before my monthly shopping trip.
There’s hope.
I’m a big believer in lists; they save me a fortune. Costco’s $1.50 hot dog with a drink is now off my lunch menu; I can’t afford them (not the hot dog, but everything on sale).
It’s common for all retailers to do this across their stores, websites, social media, and emails. It’s almost impossible to escape in the modern economy.
Here’s the question: Why did this assault on my bank account happen? I’m human, just like you. When I shop, my impulsive side overrides my rational side.
I can prove it with receipts. To make matters worse, my emotions justify my spending, numbing the pain.
From my work, I’ve learned that humans aren’t naturally good at managing money. In this simple book (no charts, jargon, or product plugs), I explain why common money beliefs are false and why they hurt your finances.
I’ll share the insights I gained on about the connection between people and money during my journey of building and selling Apexx Behavioral Financial Group. I will explain why humans struggle with finances and present my Money Behavior System to guide you toward better financial decisions.
Today, I work alongside my co-founders at DreamSmart Behavioral Solutions, assisting clients in defining, analyzing, and leveraging their inherent behaviors and financial temperaments.
This book is perfect for people who steer clear of personal finance books, but shouldn’t. It’s about money habits and behavior, not the money itself. This is a book that should've been on your school reading list. Surprisingly, this isn't something many financial experts know about.
Mea Culpa...
(I'm Sorry)
I was wrong...
- I trusted what they taught me about money because they held degrees.
- I did what they told me because they had credentials.
- I worked hard and became like them.
- However, the information I received was wrong.
What I discovered...
- Humans are not hardwired to work well with money.
- Our biology, beliefs, culture, and technology limits smart financial decisions.
- Even with professional help and advice, many people struggle financially.
- Traditional financial planning and literacy won't solve the problem.
What I did...
- I emersed myself in discovering and understanding money behavior and habits.
- I launched a financial planning company focused on money behavior before products.
- I created my Money Behavior System to address how people actually behave with money.
- I co-founded DreamSmart Behavioral Solutions to improve traditional financial planning and education.
Confession of a Reformed Financial Advisor
Table of content
Forward
Introduction
Chapter 1. I Confess...
Chapter 2. Humans Are Not Hardwired to Work Well With Money
Chapter 3. Your Money Beliefs and Values
Chapter 4. Technology Is Not (Always) Your Friend
Chapter 5. Your Money Values
Chapter 6. Your Money Temperament
Chapter 7. Your Money Knowledge
Chapter 8. Your Money Strategy
Chapter 9. Your Money Plan
Appendix
What You'll Learn
01
02
03
Meet Ted McLyman, MS, MPS, BSPC
Ted is a co-founder and Vice President of DreamSmart Behavioral Solutions; he is also a retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and the Founder/CEO of Apexx Behavioral Financial Group.
During active duty, he held many vital positions, including battery and formal school commander, economics instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy, Head of Marine Corps Training Management, and Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management. He served as a Forward Observer and Weapons Platoon Commander in Operations Urgent Fury and Frequent Wind, as well as Executive Officer of the Battle Assessment Team, 2d Marine Corps Division, during Desert Storm.
Following his Marine Corps service, he worked as a licensed Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and district manager for two national firms before establishing and leading Apexx Behavioral Financial Group.
His education includes a BS from Colgate University, an MS from Boise State University, and an MPA from Pepperdine University.
Ted is an accomplished author who has written three books on behavioral finance and financial wellness. He is also a speaker, a frequent podcast guest, and a Certified Behavioral SuperPowers Coach.

