Journey To Launch : Personal Finance, Early Retirement & Business

The road to financial literacy can be a daunting journey, especially when you're 22 years old, $30,000 in debt, and making $18 an hour while living in the most expensive city in America (NYC). This is where this week's guest Farnoosh Torabi found herself before becoming one of the leading personal finance authorities hooked on helping young professionals navigate their finances and live their richest, happiest lives. From her early days reporting for Money Magazine to hosting a prime-time series on CNBC and writing monthly for O, The Oprah Magazine and Mint.com, she’s become a favorite go-to money expert. In this episode we discuss: How she ended up choosing to go into the money business Her long-standing career in personal finance The common themes and issues that she’s seen in finances over the years Her thoughts on the FIRE movement Why you should choose hobbies and pursue interests to help build your skill set Why she’s also now dabbling in comedy Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode

Simplicity and the concept of ‘less is more’ can be beneficial in much more than finance. The new tiny home movement has proved to be a great new option for a lot of families that are looking to live a simpler, more abundant life. This week’s guest, Jewel Pearson, is not only a tiny homeowner but she is also an advocate and community leader that shares her tiny living experiences and assists others in achieving their tiny living dreams. Over the course of a decade, Jewel worked toward downsizing her life and in 2015 she built the tiny home of her dreams in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her 360 sq ft home has been featured on HGTV’s shows “Tiny House, Big Living” and “How Are They Now” and has been featured in several other media outlets. As a proud supporter of tiny living and the simpler lifestyle that it offers, she provides support through her consulting services and workshops that she teaches around the country. Jewel has also founded the Tiny House Trailblazers; a duo collaboration of powerful and uniquely

Getting rid of six-figure debt is no easy feat but Takiia Anderson, the voice behind The Frugal Biddy, is proof that it can be done. After graduating from law school, Takiia had accrued more than $150,000 of debt. As the single mother of a 2-year-old little girl making only $34,000 a year, she knew that something had to change. Takiia went on to save over $500,000 and pay for her daughter’s college education at the prestigious Spelman College. She shares all of her tips, tricks, and personal finance advice on her blog, The Frugal Bitty. In this episode we discuss: The overall steps Takiia took to go from debt to having a large savings today The things that she gave up to pay off her student loan debt Her decision to save for her daughter's college costs while still being in debt Takiia’s plan for investing when she first opened her daughter's college saving account Why she stopped investing in retirement to save for her daughter's college education The money lessons that she taught her daughter Passing on ge

While reaching FI and building wealth could be a challenge for anyone, there may be certain factors that create different challenges for women on their journey than men. This week’s guest, Brynne Conroy, is the creator of the twice-nominated Best Women's Finance Blog, Femme Frugality and she is a huge proponent of overcoming the obstacles that women face while trying to reach their financial goals. In her brand new book, The Feminist Financial Handbook, Brynne presents a feminist view on finances relevant to a post-Recession economy that caters to women at any point on their financial journey. Also, check out how you can win a copy of Brynne's book, The Feminist Financial Handbook here In this episode we discuss: Brynne’s passion for the feminist side of finances The factors make women reaching FI different from men reaching FI How society's standards and expectation "hurt" women on this journey The different judgments and factors in being the modern day woman that has it all The concept of money not being t

(This post may include some affiliate links) Trying to manage all of your expenses, eliminate debt, and invest, all while pursuing Financial Independence can be quite tricky. For this week’s episode, I am having another listener Q & A where I answer questions to help you on your Financial Freedom journey. In this episode I answer the following: Should I focus on paying off $100,000 student loan debt even though I’m in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program or invest? Investing in pre-tax retirement accounts like a 401K, 457 or 403B plan vs a Roth IRA How to handle $1,200 a month daycare expenses on the journey to Financial Independence? Things to consider when making a big career change. Should you focus on investing more, paying off the house or saving more cash? How to determine if it makes sense to take legal action against a company to win money in a lawsuit? At the end of the episode, I also share why I believe that you should never compare your journey to anyone else's. Other related b

(This post may include some affiliate links) This week’s episode was recorded at FinCon, the world’s largest financial content expo that brings together more than 2,000 digital content creators/influencers and brands in personal finance and investing. I was very excited to attend my 2nd FinCon and I am happy to say that I had another great experience. I got to hang out with fellow money nerds, past guests and even some Journeyers who listen to the podcast. While I was there, I had the chance to speak with Chris Hogan, a financial speaker for Dave Ramsey’s Ramsey Solutions. As a former football player and business consultant, Chris found his passion in finance after he took a strong interest in the financial crises of his clients.  Chris is a dynamic speaker that speaks on financial subjects such as mortgages, healthcare and investing. It was great to be able to hear his ideas on building wealth and achieving financial goals. (Pre-order Chris' new book, Everyday Millionaires and get all the bonuses that Chris

Consumerism and the desire to accumulate 'things' can be one of the greatest threats to achieving Financial Independence. One of the best ways to combat this and the clutter that results is to lead a more organized lifestyle that is fueled by the things that bring you joy. This is the main principle behind the KonMari™ organization method. This week, I am speaking with Kristyn Ivey, the founder of For the Love of Tidy and Chicago’s first certified KonMari™ consultant. Kristyn is also on the journey to FI and she has made several interesting connections between tidiness and personal finance.  With a background in both engineering and interior design, Kristyn has made it her mission to teach families and professionals how to let go of “stuff” to attract a truly abundant life. In this episode we discuss: How becoming more organized and tidy can lead someone to focus and find their passion and pursue big changes in their lives The finance/organizing connection The KonMari method and the art of tidying up Finding

Minimalism, the practice of simplifying your life by living with fewer possessions, is a lifestyle choice that fits perfectly within the journey to Financial Independence. The concept of "quality over quantity" and "less equals more" allows you to spend and consume in ways that are in alignment with your life and financial goals.  This week’s guest is Joshua Becker, a best-selling author and the Founder and Editor of Becoming Minimalist. Joshua has become one of the leading voices in the modern simplicity movement reaching over 1 million readers every month. Through the use of his platform, Joshua inspires others to pursue their greatest passions by owning fewer possessions. In this episode we discuss: Joshua’s epiphany moment of clearing out his garage How he began to make the necessary adjustments to his life How owning less stuff leads to more time, more energy, more freedom, etc. The differences in decluttering, organizing, de-owning, simplifying The importance of de-owning How to simplify your time (let

The journey to Financial Independence can be a tough one that is full of ebbs and flows. I believe that it is so important that we share our stories to inspire others that may be experiencing some of the same challenges that we have. That is why I have started the Journeyer Profile Series where I'm talking to my listeners and the people in my community about their path to FI. In this week’s episode, I’m speaking with Lynn who suffered a massive stroke at age 43 that almost completely derailed her journey to FI and she has an amazing story to share. Take a look at Lynn’s Journeyer Profile below. If you would like to be considered to be a journeyer for the Journeyer Profile Series go to www.journeytolaunch.com/journeyerprofile   Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out the Budget BootCamp  Be featured as a Journeyer on the podcast and site Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Financial Freedom takes on several different forms and for today’s guests, Matt and Alli Owen, it means taking a mini-retirement and traveling the US in their red Sprinter Van, Clifford. Burnt out and struggling with depression and anxiety from living the traditional 9 to 5 lifestyle, the Owens decided to walk away from their 6-figure jobs and live life on their own terms. After saving 70% of their income over the course of 4 years, Matt and Alli were able to create the lifestyle that they truly enjoy. Today, Matt and Alli share their experiences on their journey to FI on Owen Your Future, their finance and personal development blog. In this episode we discuss: Life before the van life Matt and Alli’s careers Walking away from 6 figure incomes How living the 9-5 life left them feeling stuck and led to anxiety and depression How the Owens prepared financially How they saved 70% of income over 4 years Finding the courage to make such a big life change Why they chose Sprinter Van over a Camper or Tiny House or

When I first started Journey To Launch, it was primarily to chronicle my journey to launch to Financial Independence. I had no way of knowing then, that today, this very same outlet that helps me share my journey and connect with so many people would cause the biggest detour on my Financial Independence path. Being able to do something I love and potentially make a living from it has allowed me to reach my dream of freedom way earlier than I could have ever expected. While striving to reach the ultimate goal of financial independence, I’ve found a way to achieve a freedom today that I would not have otherwise have known. On today’s podcast, I’m talking about: How I came to the decision to quit my 6-figure job Why I decided now was the best time to walk away How this changes my Financial Independence journey The financial, mental & emotional things I did to prepare for this big life change Future plans for me and Journey To Launch At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft laun

As parents, the financial example that we set for our children can have a profound impact on their financial future into adulthood. Cody is the personal finance blogger behind Fly to FI and he is going against the grain and making his way towards Financial Independence as a young adult. Growing up, Cody’s parents taught him to live a lifestyle of frugality and to value saving which gave him a great head start for the future. As a high school student, Cody quickly grew to understand the value of education. He became one of the top students in his High School graduating class and he even earned college credits. He then went on to college and he pursued a degree in finance. Upon discovering The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris, Cody’s dreams to spend his life working a fast-paced finance career that would require working long hours began to change. Today, Cody is the proud owner of a disc golf company and he shares all of his financial beliefs and ideas on his blog, Fly to FI. As a young entrepreneur and blogger, C

Ideally, retirement is the event that allows for working men and women to shift their working lifestyle to a lifestyle of relaxation and enjoyment. The truth of the matter is that so many Americans, nearly one-third of those aged 55-64, have little to no savings and are unable to support themselves during their time of unemployment. Even with the median retirement account valued at more than $100,000, this is still not enough to maintain the living expenses of a person living the average lifespan of 80 years. Elizabeth White, an author and aging solutions advocate, shares this experience in hardship and has made it her mission to educate the world on the personal finance crisis. Two years ago, Ms. White wrote an online essay that depicted the financial plight of boomer-aged Americans and her story resonated with so many. The overwhelming response to the essay led her to write her book, Fifty-five, Unemployed, and Faking Normal, which tells the story of the millions of older Americans who, despite a history of

Being on the journey to Financial Independence doesn’t always mean that you have to sacrifice the finer things in life. The Luxe Strategist, a personal finance blogger, is a 30-something New Yorker that saves half of her income and still enjoys the comfort of luxury items and deluxe travel. Growing up as the child of low-income refugees, The Luxe Strategist knew struggle and hardship all too well. As an adult, she made the decision to paint her own picture of what it means to be financially savvy and successful. Today, The Luxe Strategist proudly boasts hefty savings, trips to places like Paris and Hawaii, sporting $400 sneakers, and she shares every bit of her personal finance journey on her blog, The Luxe Strategist. In this episode we discuss: What motivated her personal finance journey. Her love for and "luxury"/nice things? Having nice things and still being financially responsible How to evaluate making luxury purchases What puts her in the position to be able to make luxury purchases How The Luxe Stra

Finding the perfect resource for sound financial advice can be a challenge for people from all walks of life. 4-time Olympian, 3-time Olympic medalist, Lauryn Williams understands this challenge completely. As the first American woman to medal in both the summer and winter games, she possessed the skills that led her to be a top class world class athlete but she didn't always know how to manage her money and made some mistakes along the way. She sought the financial advice of loved ones and financial advisors but they were unable to provide the help that she needed. In true Olympian fashion, Lauryn took matters into her own hands and worked hard to gain control of her finances. Using the skills and knowledge that she gained from earning her Finance degree and MBA, Lauryn decided to use her talents to help other athletes and young professionals. Today, Lauryn has a Certified Financial Planning certification and has founded Worth Winning, a financial planning resource for young adults. Worth Winning offers virt

Talking about money can sometimes seem taboo, but not to Amon and Christina Browning. On their YouTube Channel, Our Rich Journey, they cover everything from earning to investing with the sole purpose of demystifying the concept of money to get everyone talking about it. They joined the FI community to expand their knowledge of money and how it can work for them. On Our Rich Journey, they share their money successes and mistakes with their viewers to inspire others to become creative on their journey to Financial Freedom. Today, Amon and Christina currently work and live abroad in Japan with their two little girls and they travel around the world for practically nothing–mortgage-free. In this episode we discuss: Why the Brownings decided to pursue Financial Independence Their current financial picture and financial goals Why they prioritize traveling and how they work it into their budget Travel hacking tips How they lived rent free and mortgage free for 10 years Finding work abroad Quick ways anyone can make

I am super excited because today we are celebrating the one year anniversary of the Journey To Launch Podcast! For the past year, I have been able to share my thoughts, advice and feature amazing financial experts all to help you eliminate debt, save more money and increase your net worth. Your support truly means the world. What better way to celebrate Journey To Launch’s 1-year anniversary than by discussing episode favorites with a few Journeyers? In this episode, I take a few call-ins from special Journeyers who share what their favorite episodes are and why. I talked about the most popular/downloaded so far: Episode 41-How To Change Your Mindset, Habits & Beliefs To Reach Your Financial Goals w/ Jim Fortin Episode 48- From Unemployed and Broke to a Millionaire in 5 years w/ Grant Sabatier Episode 19- The Pillars of FI & How you can Reach Financial Independence   I love all of my episodes but here are just a few of my favorites: Episode 47 -Sylvia's Journey To Paying Off 6 Figures of Law School De

Generally, the goal for most working Americans is to work with a company for several years and eventually retire to enjoy life and explore opportunities that you may not have while working full-time. Today's guest, Carl Seidman explains the concept of  ‘mini-retirements’. A mini-retirement is a lengthy break, months to years, from the normal course of everyday work life intended for personal development and creating new experiences. Carl’s ideas, much like the FIRE movement, challenge the traditional view of retirement and more importantly, his ideas challenge the way that we view career development. In this episode we discuss: The concepts of mini-retirements Carl’s first retirement at 32 Carl’s blog post "Does a college degree matter" The Mexican Fisherman story How to fund mini-retirements and still fund your long-term retirement The structure and planning involved in Carl’s mini-retirements Things to consider before planning a mini-retirement Carl’s goals Carl’s thoughts on the FIRE community and early r

For most people in the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) community, retiring early is less about never working again and more about having the options and freedom to live the life of your dreams without being dependent on a paycheck. The FIRE movement paints a different picture of retirement and it is one of the reasons that I made reaching FIRE one of my biggest life goals. In this solo episode, I’m explaining the What, Why & How of the FIRE movement. What it actually is, Why everyone should be on the journey to Financial Independence and How to achieve it. In this episode I discuss: What FIRE means How I first discovered it and what first attracted me to the movement What FI (Financial Independence) means What RE (Retiring Early) means Why FIRE? Why everyone should be on the path to FIRE How it gives you more options & happiness The How of FIRE How to reach Financial Independence The formula (increasing income, decreasing expenses and creating good habits) Improving your mindset Celebratin

One of the best things about the journey to Financial Independence is that while planning for early retirement, it is not always a requirement to forsake your other life goals. Tanja Hester, the blogger behind the Plutus Award-winning early retirement blog, Our Next Life, set out on the journey with her husband Mark to retire at the end of 2017. Our Next Life, places a huge focus on putting life goals first and then building money goals around them–not the other way around. In fact, Tanja Hester became financially independent at the age of 36 and retired early at the age of 38, all despite never being a super saver or even naturally good with money. Tanja has graced the show with very practical advice for all journeyers at any place on the path to FI.  In this episode we discuss: What caused her to start the path and how she managed to keep it a secret from her job What retirement actually means to her Health considerations for someone looking to retire early Tanja’s blog post, "What FIRE bloggers owe their