Ted McLyman, MS, MPA, Author
The Man Behind the System
Ted McLyman is a behavioral finance expert who helps people align their money decisions with how humans actually think, feel, and act—especially under stress and uncertainty.

At the center of his work is what Ted calls the Rational Spender Fallacy: the belief that we can make perfect financial choices simply by knowing the “right” math. 

My time in the Marine Corps taught me—humbly and repeatedly—that even the best tactical plan can fail if it doesn’t account for how people actually behave under pressure. That insight is what ultimately pushed me beyond traditional finance and into behavioral finance, where the real drivers of decision-making can be addressed.

That’s why Ted teaches that money is a behavior problem, not a math problem. His approach builds practical systems and decision rules that make progress easier—without relying on willpower or perfection.

Get Your 3-step Guide
Free download • Quick read

The 5-Step Behavioral Roadmap

A practical, behavior-first process that helps you make better money decisions—even when life is busy, emotional, or uncertain.

  1. 1. Financial Awareness — Notice what you do (and why) without judgment: spending patterns, triggers, and the moments you tend to go on autopilot.
  2. 2. Behavioral Clarity — Identify the few decisions that matter most and name the specific situations where you tend to drift off course.
  3. 3. Decision Rules — Create simple “if/then” guidelines (not budgets that rely on willpower) so you know what to do when stress, temptation, or uncertainty shows up.
  4. 4. Supportive Systems — Set up your environment to make the right choice easier: automations, friction for impulse spending, and routines that keep you aligned.
  5. 5. Values-Based Spending — Spend intentionally on what matters most, reduce regret, and feel confident that your money is serving your life—not running it.

This roadmap is the heart of financial self-care.

Ready to Stop the Money Math and Start the Behavior Change?

Download my 3-Step Guide to start building your own Behavioral Roadmap today.

Quick downloadPractical stepsStart today
Featured interview

Meet Ted McLyman

Purpose, mindset, and money—straight from Ted.
A quote to remember

“Your brain was designed for survival in the wild, not for managing digital money in a consumer-driven world. When you stop fighting your biology, you start winning with your money.” 

—Ted McLyman
MindsetMoney
Ted McLyman
Interview feature
Ted McLyman portrait
A candid conversation about finding purpose, building resilience, and aligning your spending behavior with your values and goals.
Publication logo
As featured on
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ted McLyman
…a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ted, we're thrilled to have you on our platform, and we think there is so much folks can learn from you. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose, and so let's start by chatting about how you found your purpose. READ MORE.



Professional Background & Credentials

Four lenses that shape how Ted McLyman teaches behavior-first money decisions.

Practitioner

A retired Lt Col, USMC, Ted brings real-world leadership experience to the way people make decisions under pressure. He also served as an Economics Instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and as an Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management, translating complex concepts into practical, repeatable habits.

Author

Ted has written extensively on money behavior. His new book is titled Money Makes Me Crazy (Yep, It's Mostly BS). His writing explains why traditional financial advice often fails: it expects "perfect" behavior from brains that are wired for emotion, habit, identity, and survival—not spreadsheets. When you account for our biology, better decisions become more realistic and repeatable.

Academic and Athlete

  • MS in Performance Technology (Boise State)
  • MA in Public Administration (Pepperdine)
  • BA in Social Relations (Colgate)
  • Runner - 5k to Marathons
  • Triathlete - half and full Ironman events
  • Pickleball - a new challenge

Entrepreneur

Independent Financial Advisor and District Manager with two national financial planning firms. Founder and CEO of Apexx Behavioral Financial Group, an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. Co-founder of DreamSmart Behavioral Solutions. Speaker, consultant, and coach.

Contact Ted

Have a question, want to book a talk, or looking for behavior-first guidance? Send a message and Ted will get back to you.

Send a message

Share a few details below and Ted will respond as soon as possible.

By sending this message, you agree to be contacted back about your request. No spam.