Journey To Launch : Personal Finance, Early Retirement & Business

When developing a solid financial plan, it’s important to look at how you can generate the most income while being conscious of your spending. Marcus and Rich from the Paychecks and Balances podcast aim to help people look at both sides of their balance sheet, their income and their expenses. I really enjoyed interviewing Marcus and Rich as we covered a variety of topics such as how to; negotiate pay raises, pay off debt and the importance of being able to enjoy yourself while on your financial journey. This is a very informative yet light-hearted episode for those of us who want to accomplish our financial goals while not feeling guilty about spending on the things we value. Here are the main topics we talked about in the episode: Rich and Marcus Their backstory How they became more conscious of their money habits The meaning of their podcast Making the most of your paychecks The importance of understanding where your money is going Automating your savings Negotiating your salary How to negotiate

Chris Guillebeau is on a mission to help people start their own side hustles so that they can create more security, freedom and opportunities in their lives. Side Hustles are becoming more and more the norm nowadays as people look for a way to supplement their job with extra income. These hustles consist of building an asset with the purpose of providing some kind of return and benefit to a customer. Chris is currently on a 100 city tour and gives regular talks on the process of creating side hustles for people who want some extra income but don’t want to quit their day job. He is an avid traveler and a successful entrepreneur with huge experience dealing with side-hustles. I was honored to have Chris on the podcast to talk about his new book: ‘Side Hustle: From idea to income in 27 days’, his podcast Side Hustle School and his two-step process when starting a side-hustle: getting an idea and putting this idea into action. We also talked a bit about MLMs and some mental blocks people have when starting a side

The simple wealth formula can be defined as Income -Expenses = The Gap. You use the gap to get ahead in your finances by paying off debt, saving more and investing more. Essentially, you want to increase The Gap as much as possible in order reach your goals faster. But that's not all there is to the Wealth Formula. There are other silent but important factors needed in order to make it really work for you. You can call these factors, the secret sauce. Without focusing on these factors, reaching your goals is so much harder and even somewhat impossible. The Five "Secret Sauce" Factors are: Intrinsic Motivation Habits Beliefs Consistency Hard Work/Sacrifice I've since even modified the Simple Wealth Formula to include what I think is a true driving force of how fast you can reach and maintain your goals to be: (Income - Expenses) * Habits = The Gap Also, this episode is brought to you by the Free MasterClass that I’m holding Thursday, Jan 4th at 9pm EST. If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t worry, there’s stil

Now that Christmas is officially over, how did you do? Did you go over budget or stay within budget or are you afraid to even check? In this week's podcast episode, I'm talking about how to start preparing yourself for next year's holiday season right now and then I dive into how to identify which of the four common money problem(s) you have and how to fix them. Next week on January 4th at 9pm EST, I'm holding a free LIVE MasterClass/Webinar called: How To Have Your Best Financial Year Yet- Tips To Save, Pay Off Debt & Invest In 2018    Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Reserve Your Seat at The Free MasterClass: How To Have Your Best Financial Year Yet  Blog Post:  What's Your Money Problem Final 2017 Year-End Saving & Investing Update of $84,100 Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp Sign up for the 2018 Q1 Launch To Financial Freedom Mastermind Waitlist and get special early bird pricing. Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it

It’s the perfect time look back and reflect on your finances and do a year-end review. In today's podcast, I'm discussing the 4 things you should set goals around in 2018, which are: Income Expenses Saving/Investing Habits I'm also giving an update on where we ended up with our 2017 Savings/Investing goals. In my 2017 Mid-Year update, back in May we had saved and invested about $53,200. By the end of the year, we ended up saving/investing $84,100 talked about which is about $9,000 less than the $93,100 goal we set for the year. I also hint at some of the major financial changes we are making next year and give more details about the Q1 2018 Journey To Financial Freedom Mastermind. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Four Ways To Set Yourself Up For Financial Success 2017 Year-End Saving & Investing Update Grab your seat at the Budget Boot Camp Sign up for the 2018 Q1 Launch To Financial Freedom Mastermind Waitlist and get special early bird pricing. Leave me a voicemail- Leave me a

Millennials are often mischaracterized as being lazy and wanting things handed to them.  I can’t tell you how far from the truth that is, especially when it comes to Gwen & J  from the FIRE Drill Podcast who came on the podcast today to talk about pursuing FI and the different aspects of paying off debt and being financially stable. Both bloggers have their own informative and successful blogs that share their specific paths to FI and are set on inspiring others to do the same. I’m also super impressed by what they’ve been able to accomplish so far at such young ages. Gwen has saved $100k by age 25 and purchased her first rental property, a triplex, earlier this year. J has paid off nearly $100k of debt in two years and has saved over $200k towards retirement by age 28. On the episode today, we explore the importance of savings and increasing your income. J explains how essential it is to have an emergency fund after what happened to her while she was paying off debt, and Gwen talks about why she has FU m

Bola Sokunbi of Clever Girl Finance is on today's podcast sharing how investing in herself and starting her own business led her to the path of Financial Freedom. Bola is a Certified Financial Education Instructor, an expert on everything money and founder/CEO of Clever Girl Finance, a website, and business to help women manage their finances to talk about just that.  The talk I had with Bola was very inspiring, especially since I'd one day like to turn Journey To Launch into my full-time business. In this episode, we talked about the mindset involved when starting a business, the money management strategies and the sacrifices one has to be willing to take. We also discuss Bola's own financial journey and why she is so dedicated to helping women take control of their finances. This is a very informative episode for anyone thinking of starting up a business and who needs a bit of advice on budgeting, debt and overall money management. Here are the main topics we talk about in the episode:  Introduction to Cle

Today’s podcast is an interview with the amazing Hilary Hendershott. Featured in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is a Certified Financial Planner and podcaster who advises women when it comes to managing their finances. It was my pleasure to interview Hilary because I’m a big fan of her podcast, Profit Boss Radio and she really knows her stuff as you’ll be able to hear in the interview. Here are the main topics we talk about in this episode: Hillary’s financial troubles Her personal financial struggles even as a Financial Planner How she changed her behavior from pretending to be rich to being open about her money issues The importance of having the right mentality What financial integrity really means How she became responsible for her own financial future Her work with women and finance The reasons people outside the personal finance world struggle with finance Why the money conversation isn’t happening where women are The importance of taking control of your finances The 7 steps to wealt

I decided to finally record a podcast with my biggest supporter and the silent partner of Journey To Launch, my husband. Not only will you get to know me a little better because I'm giving you more of a sneak peek into my personal life but it may also help you think of ways to talk to your partner about finances. Here are just some of the things we discuss: His personal relationship with money and what he did and didn't learn from his parents about money growing up How he felt when I first told him I wanted to retire early and leave my corporate job What made him feel comfortable with raising his retirement contributions from 3% to 50% of his paycheck If he still want's to work after I "retire" His desire for a new car and if he feels our financial goals are too restricting How he thinks having a 3rd child will impact our finances If he supports Journey To Launch plus much more!   Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: The Online Budget Boot Camp - It's time for you to take back control o

What is Financial Independence and how can you reach it? Today I sit down with the guys from the Choose FI podcast to talk about the pillars of Financial Independence (FI) and the practical steps you can take to attain this goal. In today's episode with Jonathan & Brad, we talk about the following: The backgrounds of Jonathan & Brad from Choose FI and what prompted them to get off the hamster wheel Jonathan graduating with $168,000 in student loan debt and how he paid it off What FI is and how do you know when you've reached FI The Pillars of FI How can someone begin to work towards FI even while still in debt plus so much more! On last week's podcast episode, I talked about making my TV debut here in NYC as the personal finance expert on a weekly segment. Check out the preview below and watch the segment online here. If you're local in NYC, you can watch me every Wednesday on Making Cents w/ Kristie on News12 Bronx at 4pm and News12 Brooklyn at 5pm on Optimum (channel 12) & Spectrum (channel 21

Money is one of the leading causes of stress and issues in relationships. Whether you are dating or married, getting on the same financial page with your partner is crucial to accomplishing your overall life goals. On today's podcast, I'm talking with Elle Martinez from Couple Money. Couple Money explores how couples can build their finances together and just won Best Family Finance Blog at the 8th Annual Plutus Awards. In today's episode with Elle, we talk about the following: Why Elle started Couple Money and its mission How couples can merge two opposing goals or visions for the future and compromise The four different types of money date and what to do and not do on a money date The importance of building a budget together and the 3 types of budgets If all couples should merge their finances and how couples can boost their bottom line Preparing for the major milestones; having a baby and buying a home How a couple can plan to retire early together. What to do if one partner is not on board with improving

In today's solo episode, I'm sharing the lessons I learned from attending FinCon 2017 last week in Dallas. FinCon is the annual conference where all of your favorite personal finance bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers and money nerds get together to learn, share, network and grow their businesses. This was my first year attending FinCon and I couldn't be more happy with my experience. Not only did I get to meet some of my amazing past guests in person but I also got a chance to meet and network with people I really admire in the personal finance space. Also, the winners of the 2017 Plutus awards were announced the last night at FinCon. Journey To Launch was nominated as a finalist in the Best New Podcast and Best New Blog categories and while I didn’t win, I’m really amazed that a blog I only got really serious about at the beginning of this year and a podcast that I just launched in July was recognized by you my audience and my peers in the personal finance space as the best of the best. I was really up against

As a single mom, Naseema McElroy has a fascinating financial journey story. She went from owning 5 properties to losing it all in the real estate crash to pursuing a career in nursing. Eventually, her nursing degree allowed her to secure a high paying job but she was in tons of debt and still broke.  In this interview with Naseema, we discuss how she was able to forge on in the midst of financial hardships, divorce and becoming a single mom. Her drive and resilience allowed her to bounce back from her setbacks and pay off $300,000 in debt in 2 years. While her financial journey is far from over, she is sharing her story and the lessons she's learned along the way. In my interview with Naseema, we discuss the following:  Naseema's background How she first got into real estate and lost it all in the market crash How getting married and then divorced affected her journey and finances Her journey to paying off $300,000 worth of debt in 2 years  How she balances being a nurse and being a single mom Why she starte

Is early retirement possible with kids? How is it possible to live a $100,000 lifestyle on a $40,000 budget?  Through careful saving and planning, Just McCurry from the popular blog rootofgood.com is showing us how he managed to accumulate enough wealth to retire at age 33. What makes Justin's story especially inspiring and relatable is that he was able to do reach Financial Independence even though he had three kids. Now he and his family travel when they please and live a life not confined to a paycheck. On today's episode, Justin I talk about the following: How he got through college and law school with relatively little to no debt When he decided that he wanted to retire early and what steps he took to make sure that it actually happened Some of the foundational things anyone can implement to reach Financial Freedom; optimal spouse selection, good job w/ benefits, maximizing savings, not paying taxes, permanent starter home and making smart investments How he was able to keep the cost of raising kids rel

Anyone can build wealth and anyone can start with nothing and turn it into something. Nothing demonstrates that more than today's guest, Alanya Kolberg, creator of Bottom of Wealth. Alanya went from being on welfare and bankruptcy to teaching herself how to invest and now she runs a 6 figure business helping others build their own wealth from the bottom up. Her fearlessness when it comes to learning and teaching others about investing is inspiring and I can't wait to share her story with you. In this episode we talk about the following: How Alanya went from welfare and bankruptcy to running a 6 figure business Why you don't have to be good at numbers or math to build wealth The key foundation and building blocks to wealth If someone should invest while in debt Her love for Roth IRA's and why fees matter Why she doesn't just want to make her kids "rich" plus so much more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Alanya's site: Bottom Up Wealth A couple of Alanya's blog posts: Make Your Kids R

We are in the home stretch of 2017. How are you doing with your goals? In this episode, I give you some tips on how to finish out the 4th quarter of the year strong. In order to set goals you can accomplish, you must make them S.M.A.R.T: S- Specific M - Measurable A- Achievable R- Results Focused T- Timely Next, I talk about the different points you can be on when pursuing Financial Freedom. You can either be a Beginner Journeyer, Intermediate Journeyer or Advanced Journeyer. If you want to find out where you fit on the Journeyer scale, take this quiz. Lastly, I answer two listener questions from my voicemail. The first is from Ana who asks if she should take money out of her pension from a previous employer and the other is from Amber who wants to know the financial costs she should consider before going to law school. If you want to leave a voicemail question for me to answer on the podcast, click here.   Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Where Are You On Your Financial Journey Take

Investing in real estate can be very risky yet very rewarding. Learn how Kendra Barnes without knowing much, in the beginning, started her fast-growing real estate empire. It all started when she and her husband had an epiphany while playing a board game which inspired them to get serious about building wealth and they haven't looked back since.  While buying real estate isn't for everyone (as discussed in last week's podcast episode with Kristy & Bryce), if you do your proper research and invest wisely, you can eventually build a nest egg of asset producing properties that will serve you well on your path to Financial Freedom.  In this episode with Kendra Barnes we discuss the following: How she and her husband owned seven rental units by the time they were 30 years old Why and how real estate is a good or not so good investing option for people What makes someone successful as a real estate investor What are the steps someone can use to buy their very first property (especially if they don't have much

Meet Krysti Chen & Bryce Leung, two millennials that decided to invest and retire early rather than buy a home in their high cost of living area, Toronto, Canada. They retired from their jobs at the age of 31 years old by working hard, prioritizing their spending and making smart investments and now they are traveling the world and sharing their experience with us.  Krysti and Bryce decided to figure out a lifestyle that would work best for them and made their dreams of early retirement come true. In this interview, we discuss the following: The actual steps they took to retire at 31 What gave them the motivation to start saving and cutting back on their "spendy" lifestyle and how they continued to keep their expenses in check while growing their income Why they don't believe home ownership is for everyone and dismantling the thought of homeownership as part of the "dream" How they deal with operating in a society where we are conditioned to believe that what we do for a living equals our worth How they

What does someone have to go through to come from nothing, become a millionaire, lose it all, only to gain it back all again? Meet, Patrice Washington, America's Money Maven, best selling author, speaker, and money coach. Patrice is also a regular on the Steve Harvey Morning show as his resident finance expert and has also made appearances on Doctor Oz and other major news outlets where she shares her money expertise and tips.  I first met Patrice at Podcast Movement 2017. I was always a fan of her platform and she was so welcoming when I introduced myself. We hit it off immediately and I asked her to sit down with me and chat about her story and rise to become "America's Money Maven" LIVE at Podcast Movement at the FinCon booth. Patrice really opened up about her journey, the highs and lows of what it took to become the woman she is today. In our conversation, we discuss so much, including: Her childhood and how it shaped her to be a go-getter and entrepreneur How she became a real estate mogul and milliona

Money is a leading cause of stress. How you spend and manage your money directly stems from what you think about and how you feel about money. In this episode, I talk to Emily Guy Birken, an accomplished finance writer whose latest book "End Financial Stress Now" walks you through the exact steps on how to achieve the mindset of financial flexibility and improve your financial outlook. Even if you don't feel overly stressed about your money, the concepts explained in this book will help you understand your relationship with money.    Here are just some of the things we discuss in this episode: Why it's important to put a space between our finances and how we FEEL about our finances How to figure out what money means to you How to use the "Five Why's" exercise to get to the root of your money problem The emotional meaning we assign to money and how that translates into how we treat money How to rid yourself of the scarcity mindset The Four Money Scripts and how to identify which one you use in your life  Actu