1545: Financial Freedom with Finance Expert Justin Buonomo

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Growing up in a “make 100K, spend 110” household, Justin Buonomo watched money chaos tear his family apart two bankruptcies, cars repossessed, even losing the family dog when they lost their home. At 18, he received an $80,000 settlement from a childhood car accident… and promptly repeated the same patterns he’d seen modeled. That painful experience plus later work on the business side of Johns Hopkins Medicine set him on a decade-long quest to understand money through a different lens: biblical wisdom, proven financial strategy, and intentional stewardship. Today, Justin is the CEO and founder of Journey to Financial Freedom, where he and his team help faith-based individuals break generational cycles, heal money trauma, and step into a life that honors both God and their goals.

In this episode, Justin shares why budgeting is not punishment but the primary tool God can use to increase your freedom, options, and peace of mind when it’s taught the right way. He explains why most financial programs fail long-term: they try to “fix” behaviors without ever addressing the beliefs and subconscious programming formed between ages 7–10. You’ll hear how childhood experiences around scarcity, bankruptcy, or “rich people are bad” scripts keep showing up in your adult bank account, why “money is the root of all evil” is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible, and how to align your finances with God’s heart instead of fear or greed. Justin also unpacks his Good Steward Program, the crucial role of accountability and community, and how mentorship can give you “wisdom without the wounds” in both personal finance and entrepreneurship.

Quotes:

“Finances that work take work. There’s no quick solution but when you’re taught by the right person with the right intentions, it doesn’t have to feel confusing or restrictive.”

“Your external wealth is just a reflection of your internal wealth. If you only manage behaviors and never heal the beliefs, the old habits always find their way back.”

“Money isn’t the problem. Greed and idolatry are. God calls us not to ignore money, but to steward it.”