Journey To Launch : Personal Finance, Early Retirement & Business

Journey to Launch presents another bonus episode. This episode features, Cassandra Henry, a Journeyer paying off debt and investing in herself. From Bronx, New York, Cassandra is a first generation Dominican American. At 25 years old she is her family’s breadwinner. As a result, she quickly learned the importance of taking control of her finances and her debt. In episode 111, Cassandra shares how she eliminated credit card debt and boosted her income with side hustles. She taught herself about personal finances by reading, listening to podcasts, and surrounding herself with like-minded people in the Money Launch Club. Don’t forget to sign up for the Journey to Launch free class on August 15th! It’s a virtual meeting so you can join us from anywhere.  Learn more about the Money Launch Club here and make sure you join when doors open up again! More About Cassandra Henry Current location (city) Bronx, New York What's your profession? Teacher Cassandra we are glad to have you share your story with Journeyers tod

Courtney Richardson, the founder of the Ivy Investor, is an attorney and investment advisor who helped her mom go from bankruptcy to paying off her home and retiring with enough money to live comfortably. Through her expert advice and classes she has helped women invest and save for retirement while mastering the tax game too. Named one of 7 Black Millennial Financial Experts to Follow on Instagram, Courtney is helping women build wealth and create secure financial futures.  In episode 110 you will learn: How your finances can impact your career  Tips to get started in investing Things you can do to pick your first stock The bankruptcy process and how to get through it  Where and how to invest for retirement  Don’t forget to sign up for the Journey to Launch free class on August 15th! It’s a virtual meeting so you can join us from anywhere.  Learn more about the Money Launch Club here and make sure you join when doors open up again! Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Join The Weekly

Episode 109 is a bonus episode, the first of its kind. We are switching things up to give you more inspiring content in between regular Wednesday episodes. In this episode we feature Veronique Graves, a fellow Journeyer and member of the Money Launch Club. Veronique is a self employed sign language interpreter who is on her way to financial freedom. After becoming a member of the Money  Launch Club, she went from living paycheck to paycheck to paying off debt, saving, and investing. Listen to episode 109 to hear her story and learn ways you can get started on your journey too.  More about Veronique:  Current location (city) * Rockville, MD What's your profession? * Sign Language Interpreter Veronique we are so glad you are sharing your story with fellow Journeyers. But before we dive into your financial journey, please tell us more about yourself.* I work in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore metro area as a freelance sign language interpreter. Part time I teach Zumba for my local recreation center. Moved here fr

Bernadette Anat, also known as Hey Berna, is your Financial Hype Woman. Berna makes money fun through videos and money memes. She is your go to example of how to get out of debt and live your best life. In episode 108, Berna shares how she paid off $50,000 in debt, ditched her corporate job at Instagram, and traveled the world for one year. Now she’s back and living life on her terms as an entrepreneur.  In this episode you will learn: How to have the “get debt free” conversation with your family and friends A fun way to track your expenses—ditch the boring spreadsheets The importance of making money rules for each paycheck The impact an accountability partner can have on your financial freedom journey and why you need one Doors for the Launch Club re-open in August, click here to get on the list and get access to join before anyone else. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Mint  Clarity Money Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To L

Money Coach and Founder of The Fiscal Femme, Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, joins us in episode 107 to discuss the importance of your money mindset and her book, The 30-Day Money Cleanse. Ashley helps women build wealth by teaching you about her money mistakes and how to set yourself up for financial success. She coined her own way of budgeting called the “Happiness Allocation” and explains how your deep beliefs about money can impact your ability to make money it and keep it.  In this episode you will learn: How to take control of your finances with a 30-day cleanse Why a growth mindset is important to achieving and maintaining wealth How a gratitude attitude helps boost your finances Tips to change your beliefs and relationship towards money Practical steps to shake up your routine and drop frivolous expenses  What you can do to maximize your joy per dollar spent All about money parties and how to make finances fun Don’t know what a money party is? Listen to episode 107 now! Enter for a chance to win a copy o

Bola Sokunbi founder of Clever Girl Finance is back on the Journey to Launch Podcast! This time she is talking about entrepreneurship, ditching debt, and how to accomplish financial independence on your own terms. Bola is a certified financial educator and money expert, helping women take charge of their finances. Check out her new book, Clever Girl Finance Ditch Debt, Save Money, and Build Real Wealth, a manual about how to achieve financial freedom. In this episode we discuss:  How to adjust your mindset so you can succeed. How to define financial independence for yourself. How to prioritize and plan your financial goals. Entrepreneurship vs. a Job: How you can achieve financial independence through both. Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book by going to JourneytoLaunch.com/win and entering your name & email only! Even if you don't win, you will still win by getting access to my free resource library. Doors for the Launch Club re-open in August, click here to get on the list and get access to j

Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung left their lucrative software engineering careers to enjoy world travel and freedom. Both retired in their early 30’s with a 7-figure portfolio and have complied their secrets to success in their new book Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required. Kristy and Bryce are financially independent, self-made millionaires who hail from humble beginnings and learned along their journey how to follow the money so they could afford to pursue their passions.  In this episode we discuss:  How Kristy went from surviving off 44 cents a day to a 7-figure portfolio. How you can use CRAP (Creativity, Resilience, Adaptability, and Perseverance) to achieve success. How to cut expenses from your budget so you can maximize your income and minimize waste. How to choose your degree and career based on the math. Why your home is not an investment and how avoiding home-ownership helps you achieve financial independence sooner.  Why taxes are for the poor and how to win the tax ga

On this episode, we speak to Jean Chatzky, the financial editor of NBC’s TODAY show, an award-winning personal finance journalist & the host of the podcast HerMoney. Jean joins us to talk about how she navigated her career to become one of the most recognized and notable thought leaders in the personal finance space. She also explains the importance of taking risk and also gives different tips for saving and investing (especially if you feel like you had a late start). Topics discussed in this episode:  Finding the balance between doing what you love and earning money to pay for the lifestyle you love Discussion on the complex relationships that women have with money  How to be creative with being able to reach your goals  How to take risks to land your dream job (and life)    How someone who is older can still save for the lifestyle they want in retirement plus more Doors for the Launch Club re-open in July/August, click here to get on the list and get access to join before anyone else.  Other related

I am so excited to share this episode with you Journeyers! This is the 2nd year anniversary of the Journey to Launch podcast and with it, I’m pulling back the curtain on the hurdles, lessons and great things going on behind the scenes with myself and Journey To Launch. Hopefully, these 10 lessons/takeaways will inspire and enrich your journey too. My 10 Updates & Lessons: Say no and being ok with not pleasing everyone. (Are you afraid to say no because you think this opportunity will never come along again?) Let go of control so that you can grow and maximize your time. Be appreciative of the good things that you have in your life already. Know your worth & ask for more. Monetizing the podcast by partnering with brands that are a good fit “Talk the talk and walk the walk”-  Realize what you are really worth, and don’t be afraid to ask for more money. Invest in your own knowledge, create value and earn what you are worth. Instead of asking someone why they didn’t buy your product/service, focus instea

I absolutely Iove bringing you ideas and stories that challenge your belief of what you think you can do and allows you to think outside the box. Charlie Pioli has a passion for environmental conservation and dumpster dives for a majority of his grocery needs.  I was immediately intrigued by Charlie’s story and lifestyle which at first seemed extreme, but as you’ll learn when you listen to the episode, is a practical and smart way to save money and reduce food waste. Charlie even discusses how he is house hacking and using real estate investing as a way to reach his goals.If you think you should skip over this episode just from the title alone, I challenge you to give it a try. Even if dumpster diving isn’t for you, you will walk away with some actionable tips and inspiration for your journey.   In this episode we discuss: Charlie’s backstory and how he got started dumpster-diving His plan to take a mini-retirment when he turns 30 How’s he’s house hacking and planning to use real estate to reach his financia

Damien Peters walked away from his lucrative tech career to live abroad with his wife and young son in Spain so that he could live a life of freedom and flexibility. Damien shares how  entrepreneurship, real estate investing and saving allowed him to take the big leap and how you can make the changes you need in your life and finances to do the same. On this episode we discuss: How Damien walked away from his lucrative tech career to live abroad & how he was able to give up a stable 6 figure salary to a less guaranteed income but one that came with work flexibility. What should one consider when thinking of moving abroad and how he was able to get his wife on the same page. Damien’s entrepreneurship journey, his previous ventures and why he started Wealth Noir His real estate investing experience His journey in becoming an accredited investor and the risks and rewards associated with it becoming one Actionable tips for those ready to step up their pursuit of wealth & what you can do right now plus mo

This is the 100th episode of the Journey to Launch podcast and I am so excited about getting this far thanks to all of you who listen every week. So for this episode, I’m answering listener questions about debt consolidation, online savings accounts and so much more. Questions in this episode: Is a debt consolidation loan ever a good idea? Should you place your emergency savings in an high yield online savings account? What is a Thrift Savings Accounts, how do they work and compare to other employer retirement savings and investment plans? What to do with the money after refinancing your house? How to deal w/ family members who want you to spend money on events when it will set you back financially? + more Doors for the Launch Club re-open on July/August, click here to get on the list and get access to join before anyone else! Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answ

This episode is probably one of my top 5 favorite episodes so far on The Journey to Launch podcast! I am so glad David Neagle came on the show; he is the founder of the multimillion-dollar global coaching company Life Is Now, Inc, helping thousands of entrepreneurs, experts and self-employed professionals gain the confidence and find the right mindset to increase their revenue. After a near death experience, David changed his way of thinking to get him on the path to unlock his full potential and making so much more money.  We discuss ways to change your mindset, how to deal with fear, how to stop feeling stuck in your jobs, the law of polarity, & so much more. Find out what book he recommends that you should definitely read & study to learn about how to make money that will change your life! On this episode, we discuss: David’s overall background/story How David’s life was forever changed on a day on the Illinois River which caused him to unlock the potential within him and triple his income How sch

I’m so excited to be joined by Allison Baggerly on this episode who is the founder of Inspired Budget, a business that helps women learn how to budget, save money, and pay off debt. Allison shares with us how she and her husband were able to pay off $111,000 worth of debt on 2 teacher’s salary in 4.5 years! She gives us lots of great tips on how she and her husband stayed committed to their goals, and opens up about her struggles with anxiety and depression around money which affects many of us. Learn how to shift your focus from finding temporary happiness from spending money to finding it in saving & paying down debt! Topics discussed on this episode: - How she and her husband paid off $111,000 in debt in 4.5 years on teacher’s salaries - What steps they took to find more money in their budget - How they stayed committed to their money goals - Her struggle with anxiety and depression, especially around money - How she’s a natural spender and how she fought it to stay on track to pay off her debt - How A

This week’s guest is Ogechi Igbokwe, a financial educator, money strategist, speaker, personal finance writer and the founder of OneSavvyDollar. In our chat, Ogechi gives a lot of great tips and advice on how to get out of student loan debt, how & where to get started investing in real estate, and how to find companies that help you pay for your higher education tuition. Here are just some of the topics that we discussed: Ogechi’s background story; what she learned about money where she grew up, how those views were altered when immigrating to the US. Family views on education and how it differed in the U.S compared to Nigeria What steps she took to get out of $26,000 worth of student loan debt and tips on how you can too The challenges she faced along the way to becoming debt free Ogechi’s real estate investing experience and how she bought her first property at 21 years old Methods you can take to get companies to either pay for tuition or pay for tuition reimbursement Ogechi is also coming into the L

What does a flexible life, a life where you are in control and enjoy look like. Today, I’m speaking with Jillian Johnsrud on the podcast to learn just that. By 32, Jillian and her husband had paid off $55k in debt, lived abroad for 4 years, traveled to 27 countries, adopted 4 kids, paid cash for their home and became financially independent. She lives in Montana where she writes, coaches and speaks about creating financial freedom, intentional living and lifestyle entrepreneurship. On this episode we discuss: What a Financial Independence (FI) Flashpoint is and how it prompted her to look for a better way How to create your ideal life What she and her husband did to become FI How & Why they bought their first house in all cash What Flexible F.I.R.E is and why we should choose our own path Accomplishing minimalism with 5 children at home plus so much more Doors for the Launch Club re-open on July 18th, click here to get on the list and get access to join before anyone else Other related blog posts/links

On this episode, we are joined by Jason Butler of My Money Chronicles. He is a serial side hustler, who currently makes between $500 - $800 per month with eBay and uses that money and other side hustle income to pay off his debt.  He's gets real with us about all the setbacks, headaches and bumps along his journey that he has experienced. Jason explains how he works on his side hustles to help him pay off his debt and gives us great advice on how you can approach setting goals for getting out of debt too. Find out about how much he loves Miami but why he can’t go back just yet! On this episode we discuss: Jason’s money backstory and how he got into debt What setbacks he has had  along the way and some of the lessons he’s learned His current side hustles and how he plans to make $36,000 this year from side hustles alone How Jason plans to stick to his debt payoff goal How he makes money from Ebay and how any person can get started selling on Ebay plus so much more   Doors for the Launch Club re-open on July

I am so excited to share this episode featuring Kara Stevens of the award winning site The Frugal Feminista which helps women get their finances in order. We get some firsthand tips from Kara on how to grow and manage a profitable side hustle while juggling a full-time job and family. Kara was able to not only pay off $40,000 in debt in 3 years but also build a business on the site while managing a full time job & a family, so there is definitely much to learn In this episode we will discuss: Kara’s background, money story & journey into entrepreneurship How she paid off 40,000 of debt in 3 years. Find step by step guide here. How to balance a full-time job, your side hustles & a family How as a principal, Kara wanted to start a community based businesses Time vs. money argument. When to outsource and build a team, and how to determine where to spend/invest when you still have debt How to build a team for the key aspects of the business on a budget and the tools to support communication? Tips on

You may think that you need a traditional education to reach Financial Freedom, but on this episode, Tinian Crawford is here to tell us otherwise. He shares with us how lucrative a job in the Trades can be and why more people should be looking to a trade career and building their DIY skills to help them reach their goals of Financial Independence.   On this episode you will learn: Tinian’s backstory & his entrepreneurial journey into the world of Financial Independence What’s considered a "trade job" and how pursuing trade skills is a great alternative to a traditional college education The demand for trade jobs and the gap between skilled workers and available positions How one can get started in the trades, how to get your children started & how to pivot into a trade career How to become a trade entrepreneur in order to reach your financial goals The gender gap and barrier that women may experience when looking to get into trades but why women are needed in these fields plus so much more Other rel

On this episode of Journey to Launch, I speak to Lisa Phillips on how to get into affordable real estate investing as a way to build wealth. Lisa shares how she built her real estate portfolio and has reached Financial Freedom after losing her job and going through foreclosure. Topic talked about in this episode include: -Lisa Phillip’s background from losing her home in a foreclosure to being able to bounce back as a successful real estate investor -How to get started investing in real estate without a lot of capital & cash -Where to find affordable real estate for around $30,000 -Why rural, inner-city, and mid sized cities properties in working class neighborhoods are the best investments -How to invest in a property in another city & the key things to make out of town investing work plus so much more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Thank you to The Nav.it Podcast for Sponsoring the Episode Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Jou