In this episode, Kaylee Williams interviews Joey Beech, the Financial Lit Lady, whose career has been defined by a single mission: helping people know and grow their economic power. From teaching financial literacy at Ankeny high schools to writing A Girl’s Guide to Personal Finance and leading Ankeny Angels, Joey has become a cornerstone of Iowa’s startup ecosystem. The conversation reveals what separates successful founders from the rest: it’s not perfect financial projections, but rather founders who are genuinely obsessed with solving problems they’ve personally experienced.
Joey breaks down what angel investors actually look for when evaluating pitches. While founders often give the textbook answer of a three-to-five-year exit, investors care far more about cash flow, runway, and how the founder plans to spend capital. She emphasizes that emotion is inseparable from financial decision-making—a lesson she learned from her own mistake of overspending on a car and from observing how some high earners fail to keep their wealth while others build millions from modest means.
What sets Iowa apart, according to Joey, is the state’s culture of “doers and tinkerers” who identify problems and immediately start building solutions. This hands-on mentality, combined with founders’ deep understanding of their market, gives Iowa startups genuine competitive advantages over other regions.
However, Joey’s most passionate plea is for Iowa to invest in younger people earlier. She argues that high schools are filled with talented, curious students who could be building prototypes and learning entrepreneurship now—instead of waiting until college. By connecting students with local businesses, breaking down silos between startups and established companies, and fostering real-world opportunities, Iowa can stem the brain drain and build a thriving next generation of founders.