A lot of people are feeling financially squeezed right now, and they’re blaming everything except their car.

Transportation is one of the top three household expenses. Between longer loans, higher interest rates, pricier insurance, and cars that lose value faster than ever, owning a car has gotten way more expensive in the last few years. 

And yet most of us still treat the car note like it’s untouchable…like it just is what it is.

In this episode, we break down what’s really changed about car ownership, remind you that you’re not alone, and walk through what you can actually do if your car costs too much but you still need it to get to work tomorrow.

Need to hear this but don’t want to admit it? We get it. But this isn’t about shame…

Here’s what we cover:

• Why the average car payment is now $745 (new) and $521 (used)
• How the pandemic car bubble left so many people upside down on loans
• The real cost of owning a car: loan, gas, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation
• Signs your car is eating more than its share of your paycheck
• What to do if you’re stuck with a car that no longer fits your life
• A reminder that walking away from a car isn’t failure, it’s financial maturity

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We all want a raise, but what if you didn’t have to wait for your boss to give you one?

In this episode, we’re breaking down how to actually give yourself a raise without changing jobs, negotiating with HR, or picking up a side hustle. From canceling forgotten subscriptions to rethinking professional services, we're exposing the cash leaks hiding in plain sight and showing you how to reclaim money that's already yours.

If you’re looking for a 2025 mid-year financial review project that will have a real impact, this is it. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop paying for things you no longer use or value, including everyday services that quietly function like subscriptions
• Use AI (yes, really) to audit your spending without uploading sensitive financial info
• Revisit your debt terms to lower your interest or improve your cash flow
• Treat PTO and work benefits like the paycheck boosters they are
• Rebuild confidence by remembering you can do more for yourself if you need or choose to

Because you know what they say…it ain’t always about how much you earn, it’s how much you keep 

Links:

• Episode 177 - Choosing a Debt Payoff Strategy and why it matters how you approach it 
• Mid-Year Financial Review Archives
  • 2024 - Ep 171: Why you need a brokerage account (the Swiss Army knife of investing) 
  • 2023 - Ep 121: Mid-Year Review: Financially Conquer the Second Half of the Year
  • 2022 - Ep 67: Conducting your mid-year financial review 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

When we published our book Cashing Out in 2022, we knew we were making bold claims about work, money, and freedom. What we didn’t know was just how fast the world would catch up to them.

In this episode, we revisit our book 3 years after its release to reflect on the stories, predictions, and uncomfortable truths that still hold up in 2025. We also share what we’ve learned since, and why the book continues to resonate with people across different industries, life stages, and income levels.

You’ll hear:

•  Why Cashing Out still ranks in the Top 250 Budgeting & Money Management books on Amazon
•  Why financial independence was always about identity, not just math
•  What we saw coming with AI, leadership churn, and the collapse of “safe” careers
•  The surprising reason your first dollar outside of work changes everything
•  Why over-specialization and “career loyalty” quietly keep people stuck

We also share our reflections on the book’s impact and what we’d add if we wrote it today.

If you haven’t read Cashing Out yet, now’s a perfect time. And if you’ve already read it, it’s a great time to read it again with your 2025 eyes.

Last but not least, if you know someone starting their career or rethinking their future, it makes a great gift

Links: 

• Cashing Out Audiobook
• Cashing Out Hardcover 
• Cashing Out Kindle  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week’s episode is a rare one that we recorded the same day it’s released, because… well, life is happening fast.

After taking a much-needed break, we returned to headlines that changed the tone of the summer and the temperature of the market. In this episode, we’re talking about how to manage your investments during times of global instability and uncertainty. This isn’t advice or hype, it’s our perspective, grounded in history, patterns, and what actually works.

We’re not here to guess what happens next. Our goal is to inspire you to think better, especially when everything feels chaotic. 

We cover: 

• How market reactions to conflict usually play out (with receipts)
• The difference between bad news and uncertainty, and why markets care more about the latter
• Why mimicking “insider” trades or reacting to media spin is riskier than it looks
• The 3 big reasons why trying to capitalize on global conflict backfires
• What you can do if you’re tempted to make a move anyway

Whether you’re just getting started with investing or feeling anxious about protecting your gains, this episode is designed to keep you cool when the headlines are anything but.

Links: 

• Ep 211: what tariffs teach us about financial literacy
• Ep 188: the political divide is more than just red vs. blue
• Our investing class - Making Money Grow 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Youth sports are not just sports anymore. They’re a $40 billion+ industry and in this episode, we’re getting all the way into it. 

We’re talking about the emotional pressure, the social expectations, the team group chats, the $75 photo packages that somehow still exist in 2025, and why nobody tells you the signup fee is just the beginning. Whether you're new to the world of cleats and concession stands or already halfway through a season with three backup uniforms and a mini mortgage in gear, this episode will help you take a breath and get a grip.

We break down the four types of spending most sports parents face:

• Sign-up costs (AKA the cover charge)
• Gear and equipment (plural. Always plural.)
• Lifestyle expenses (snacks, meals, coach gifts, and “team bonding” events that cost real money)
• Development extras (private lessons, apps, camps, and the “just in case they’re great” category)

We also cover several practical tips like the importance of setting a seasonal sports budget that your kid can help manage, why used gear is your best friend and where to find it, and the right time to say no and how to skip guilt with it. 

Whether you're trying to be the "fun" parent, the budget-conscious one, or just trying not to lose your mind, this one’s for anyone raising kids in sports. 

Links: 

• Project Play survey: Family spending on youth sports rises 46% over five years
• Episode 183 - Why NIL is a game changer for young athletes

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

In this episode, we’re talking about how to know when it’s REALLY time to go. Not when your manager makes it unbearable, not when the reorg finally hits, but when YOU decide that staying is costing more than it’s worth.

We break down the three questions that have helped us walk away from “good” jobs and build a better life on the other side. We talk about what your job is teaching you (even when you’re not paying attention), how to tell if you have any say in your future there, and why asking “would I say yes to this job today?” might be the cleanest filter of all.

You’ll also hear:

• The truth about paper-pushing, middle management, and the skill sets that aren’t really transferable
• Why some jobs don’t just feel like relationships, they are emotional traps
• How to rebuild self-trust before you make your next move
• What it means to leave with your dignity intact and why that’s the real win

If you’re at a career crossroads or know someone who is, this one’s for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most money advice assumes you’re either bad at math or just need more discipline, but what if the real reason your budget isn’t working is because it was never designed for how you actually spend?

In this episode, we revisit a section from our book Cashing Out that recently got new life thanks to a great piece written by our friend Leo Aquino for Business Insider. It’s all about the three emotional spending profiles we’ve seen over and over again: Fast Spenders, Financially Insecure, and what we call "The Middle".

And no, these aren’t zodiac signs. You’re not locked in for life, but recognizing your dominant spending energy right now can help you stop fighting your habits and start building wealth around them.

We break down what drives each type’s spending behavior, what actually works for them (that they’ll stick with), and what absolutely does not work, no matter how many times the internet suggests it. 

Links:

• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away
•  Leo Aquino’s article on Business Insider - How 3 Types of Spenders Can Build Wealth 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Every year, we set aside an episode just for new grads, and this year’s version is an evolved view of last year’s advice to “Get Paid”. Because let’s keep it a buck, the Class of 2025 is graduating into a mess.

The job market is weird, AI is replacing entry-level work, internships aren’t converting, and employers say they’re hiring, but for what? Meanwhile, everything is expensive and everyone online is yelling about branding yourself by Tuesday.

So in this episode, we’re flipping the script on the typical “follow your dreams” fluff and offering a much-needed mindset shift: Get paid to learn. Not just money, not just skills. Both. Because learning is leverage and knowing how to spot a valuable opportunity might be the most important skill of all.

This one’s for grads, career switchers, freelancers, and frankly anyone who wants to learn how to assess opportunities based on what they give you, not just what they demand.

We talk about:

• Why “getting paid to learn” is the new cheat code for a strange economy
• The difference between being used vs. being taught and how to tell
• Why not every low-paying job is a bad one (and not every high-paying one is good)
• How to ask better questions in interviews that reveal the real value of a job
• How Kiersten builds her learning budget
• A personal story from Julien about how a $40K contractor role helped build a six-figure skillset

Links: 

• Episode 203 - Gen Z deserves better financial advice
• Episode 164 - The New Rules of Success (Advice for Class of 2024)

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Sometimes you need a little extra money, but what you don’t need is another boss, a second shift, or a business plan you’ll never finish. In this episode, we’re walking through some of the most overlooked ways to earn extra income. Everything from plasma donation, junk hauling, voiceovers, waiting in line, and a few others I can’t put in the description without attracting a bunch of bots. 

We’re challenging the idea that income only comes from jobs. We talk about the emotional (and sometimes physical) tradeoffs, how to spot seasonal bonuses and low-competition opportunities, and why the best side hustles don’t always look like work.

These are the kind of gigs that don’t require a résumé or a 5-year commitment, just a willingness to try something different. Whether you’re saving for a trip, refilling your emergency fund, or just need to solve a $500 problem fast, there’s something in here for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why so many people default to getting another job and what to try instead
• The emotional cost of “just one more shift” when you’re already stretched thin
• How overlooked, seasonal, or location-based gigs can fill a short-term income gap
• The surprising ways people are using their bodies, tools, and free time to get paid
• What makes a side hustle worth doing without turning into a second career
• How to think creatively about short bursts of work that solve real-life money problems

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week’s episode is about decision-making and how to know what’s actually worth it when you work for yourself.

We recorded this right after speaking at a conference in Jamaica where we walked through some of our own real-life crossroads as business owners with a group of entrepreneurs. The talk resonated so deeply, the only feedback we got was: “Can you just put this all on one page?”

This is our answer to that.

We’re talking about those high-stakes, low-certainty moments every entrepreneur, side hustler, or freelancer has to face eventually like what to sell, when to say yes, how to price your work, when to hire help, whether to spend or play it safe. And, maybe most importantly, how to move when the pressure’s on and the money feels tight (or even when it’s flowing).

We get into:

• Why emotional decisions are so expensive
• What Annie Duke’s poker strategy has to do with entrepreneurship
• The $500 mistake we made early on that cost us double
• How to protect yourself from thinking too small without blowing your budget
• And the biggest difference between people who survive in business and people who burn out early

Whether you’re self-employed, freelancing, or bootstrapping something new, your decision-making process should match the size of what you’re trying to build. If you’ve ever felt like your goals were too big or your fears were too loud… this one’s for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

It's the last Monday of Financial Literacy Month 2025, and unless you’ve been living under a rock or blissfully disconnected, you’ve probably heard the noise about tariffs lately. U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports are climbing as high as 145%, with threats to go even higher. And while it’s tempting to think that’s a political issue, the truth is tariffs effect your wallet and budget. 

In this episode, we’re breaking down what tariffs actually are, how they distort prices, and why understanding how prices are shaped has never been more important. Because if you don't understand how prices are set, you don’t really understand how money moves, and in a world where price tags lie, shrink, surge, and shapeshift every few months, that's not just an economic problem. That's a literacy problem.

We cover:

• Why it’s so hard to  just "make everything in America", even if you want to
• How companies quietly pass tariff costs onto you and how to spot it
• Real-world tools to build price literacy and become a sharper consumer and investor
• What it means to see yourself as part of the global exchange, and why that gives you more financial power, not less.

Links: 

• Kim Lewis reel on luxury prices (bonus: watch our interview with Kim here) 
• CamelCamelCamel - Amazon Price Tracker
• Google Chrome Price Tracker 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we’re breaking down bankruptcy in the way it should’ve been explained all along: without shame, without legal jargon, and without the “womp womp” energy we’ve all been taught to bring to it.

You’ve probably heard of Chapter 7. Maybe even Chapter 13. But unless you’ve filed for bankruptcy, or know someone who has, you’ve likely never learned what it actually means.

We kick things off with the viral rise of the “debt strike” trend on TikTok and Instagram, where people are publicly declaring they’re done paying back debt and explore what it says about our cultural relationship to money, morality, and relief.

Then we get into:

• What Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 actually are
• Who qualifies and how
• What a “means test” is and how it works
• What happens to your credit score and your sanity
• The real costs (financial, emotional, and social) of filing
• And why bankruptcy might more of a mental health intervention than we give credit for 

Along the way, we myth-bust the stereotypes and unpack why bankruptcy, like divorce, might just be a legal reset that deserves more empathy and way less side-eye.

Links: 

• Episode 174: A spike in bankruptcy (Topic #2) 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

What if we told you there are cities in the U.S. that will pay you to live there?

In this episode, we're following up on our popular expat conversation with a deep dive into domestic relocation incentives. We’re talking cash grants, down payment assistance, tax breaks, bikes, and even golf memberships offered by places you may have never considered calling home. Think Jackson, Michigan. Pawnee City, Nebraska. Topeka, Kansas. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yes, they’re real places, and they’re putting real money on the table.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in an expensive city, or fantasized about starting fresh but didn’t know where to start, or if you’re just tired of stretching every dollar, this episode is for you. But before you start packing, let’s talk fine print.

We break down:

• Why the U.S. is basically 50 mini countries in a trench coat (and no, that’s not us being dramatic, it’s federalism)
• How states differ more than you think, from taxes and politics to culture and cost of living
• Why moving two states over might require just as much mindset work as moving abroad
• What the actual catches are in these incentive programs (spoiler alert: it’s not free money, and yes, some of y’all might have to check in like you’re on parole)
• How to research a city’s vibe without getting on a plane, from Facebook groups to Yelp reviews to Google Maps street view 

Links: 

• Episode 205 - Expat Life: how to test the waters and decide if you should dive in
• MakeMyMove.com – Find relocation incentive programs
• Reddit subs: r/relocating, r/digitalnomad
• Zillow, CNET, NY Post listicles (search “cities that will pay you to move 2025”)

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most people aren’t neutral about the idea of living in a car, and that’s exactly why we needed to talk about it.

This week, we dig into the stigma, structure, and stories behind van life. It’s not a guide on how to gut a Sprinter or stealth-camp in a Target parking lot, it’s a deeper exploration of what it means to live differently and why that still freaks people out.

From the viral story of Dawn Robinson of En Vogue (yes, *that* Dawn) who shared that she’s been living in her car by choice for the past three years, to our personal stories of barbers, truckers, and friends navigating life on the margins of “traditional” housing, we cover the full terrain of what it means to opt out of the norm. Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.

We cover:

• Why alternative housing is still treated as “failure” unless it’s influencer-approved
• The invisible infrastructure that makes van life even possible and why it’s not always fully “off-the-grid”
• Why HUD, housing policy, and language matter more than you think
• The difference between choosing van life vs. surviving it
• How Black culture relates to nontraditional housing, and why we don’t often see ourselves in the #vanlife aesthetic
• The emotional, financial, and logistical costs of so-called “freedom”

This is one of those “sit with it” episodes. It’s not about romanticizing struggle or glamorizing minimalism, it’s about challenging the way we define dignity, shelter, success, and the American dream.

Because let’s be honest: if someone chooses to live in a van and finds peace, why does it make the rest of us so uncomfortable?

Listen in. Challenge your definitions. And maybe, just maybe, reconsider what home really means.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we’re sharing 3 of our best tips on how to live on a single income. It's a topic that might feel distant, perhaps even undesirable, but for many, it's becoming an increasingly relevant concern.

We've lived the single-income life by choice and by circumstance. It's not always pretty, but it can be done. And sometimes, being forced to tighten your belt is the exact kick in the pants you need to get your financial house in order.

Whether you choose to live on one income as some kind of FIRE-adjacent power move, or you’re forced into it by circumstances beyond your control, the real challenge isn’t just the spreadsheet gymnastics. It's the people part.

So this episode gets into the conversations, the compromises, and the potential points of friction that can arise in a partnership when resources become more constrained.

We discuss: 

• Addressing the emotional landscape: Living on one income throws all sorts of messy emotions into the mix. Who gets to spend? Who’s giving up more? Is this forever, or just until something changes? These aren't spreadsheet questions, they’re relationship questions..
• How to make negotiation your new love language: We break down how to negotiate fairly as you create a budget when the stakes feel high and everyone's nerves are shot
• Getting more comfortable saying No: Living on one income means saying "no"... a lot. To your partner, to your kids, to your friends, and maybe most importantly, to yourself. We unpack the guilt that inevitably comes with that, especially when you feel like you're letting people down.
• Strategic decluttering and selling your stuff with intention: The process of selling personal items for cash can be more emotionally involved than it appears. We talk about the surprisingly emotional process of selling your belongings and how to actually make it work, practically and emotionally.

Links: 

• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away by Julien and Kiersten Saunders 
• The Two-Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi 
• Episode 155: The FinTech Toolkit 
• Episode 149: Buying used vs. new 
• Episode 130: How to sell your stuff online 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Links: 

• Watch the 90-second trailer of Taste the Impact 
• Watch the full-length "Taste the Impact" mini-doc now
• Register for the Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures info session on March 26th 
• Become a member of Invest for Better (it’s free!)

This week’s episode is about something personal, political, and, up until recently, way too overlooked: food.

We spend a lot of time talking about food, but not nearly enough time talking about how it shows up in our kitchens, grocery carts, or dinner tables. So today, we’re changing that.

We’re introducing our latest creative project, Taste the Impact, which a short film (or op-doc, if you’re feeling fancy) that explores the relationship between investing and the food system. Not just what we choose to buy, but what we’re being sold. Because behind every recall, rising price tag, and empty produce shelf, there’s a money trail worth following.

This is an episode that sits squarely at the intersection of life and money. It’s about challenging the status quo, asking uncomfortable questions, and recognizing that our financial choices have real-world consequences. 

In this episode, we get into:

• Why we made Taste the Impact now and and why storytelling is a financial tool just as much as spreadsheets are
• What visual media can do that numbers alone can’t (and how historical social movements have always known this)
• Why “values-aligned investing” only gets real when you zoom into something specific, like food
• How systemic failures are driving the wave of food recalls
• What’s behind the rising cost of food, and why it's not just inflation

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we dive headfirst into the very timely topic of expating. Is it just a fantasy fueled by tough times or is there something deeper driving this urge to GTFO? 

In this episode, we're exploring the layers of this question. We break down the different flavors of expating, from slow travel hacks that let you vibe abroad for a few months with zero paperwork (hello, Schengen Zone!) to the allure of Digital Nomad Visas for those of us who can work from anywhere with Wi-Fi and a decent latte. We even get into the semi-permanent options and, for the truly committed, buying your way into citizenship.

Ultimately, this episode isn't about escapism. It's about options, feasibility, and the very real trade-offs you need to consider when contemplating a life lived beyond your current borders. 

We discuss:

• The rise of "Plan B" thinking in the FIRE community and beyond
• Tourist stays and slow travel: Easy ways to get your feet wet abroad
• Digital Nomad Visas (DNVs): Working remotely from paradise (with a minimum income requirement, naturally)
• Extended visas and residency pathways: Semi-permanent solutions for a longer stay
• Naturalization and citizenship: The full commitment, from marriage to ancestry to buying your way in
• The "Split Life" Model: Six months here, six months there (the best of both worlds?)
• The real costs and considerations: Taxes, paperwork, culture shock, currency risks, and that annoying "ideological accent" you didn't even know you had.
• Our rule of thumb for financial feasibility: Is it really worth it?

And if you know someone who's made the leap (or is seriously contemplating it), drop us a comment below! We're always looking for folks to interview for future episodes, especially if they have interesting stories or maybe even went back home after a few years. 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Join a Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures Circle today: https://investforbetter.org/swsf/ 

• Not quite ready for a circle? Sign up for a free membership with Invest for Better: https://investforbetter.org/membership/

Get your ticket to the Northeast FI Camp Women's Weekend: https://khbfinancial.com/northeastficamps/

• For information about future, co-ed events, sign up for their email list: https://eastcoastfi.kit.com/adab4cc93c

For most of history, women weren’t just left out of wealth-building, we weren’t even in the conversation. Fast forward to today: Women are investing more than ever, making up a record percentage of stock market participants, growing businesses, and holding more financial power than at any point in history. That’s the win.

But here’s the fight: We’re still paid less, still have less wealth, and the traditional financial playbook assumes everyone earns, invests, and retires like a man. This means even when we do everything right, we’re often playing catch-up.

So this Women’s History Month, we’re asking: What happens when we go from participating to leading?

We discuss: 

• Why the wealth gap still exists even as women invest more than ever
• How to rewrite the financial playbook so it actually works for us
• Redefining financial confidence and owning it  
• The investing strengths women already have and how to use them to win
• Using community as a secret weapon and connecting with other women like “rich aunties” who’ve been through it and have the wisdom to share. 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Are you scratching your head trying to understand Gen Z's approach to…life? You're not alone! This week, we’re exploring the fascinating and sometimes frustrating world of Gen Z finances, why traditional financial advice often misses the mark with this generation, and what actually resonates with them.

Every generation thinks they had it hard. And to be fair, most of them did. But Gen Z? They’re becoming adults in a world that looks nothing like the one we grew up in. Between AI disrupting entire industries, the attention economy turning regular people into millionaires overnight, and inflation making rent feel like a luxury item, it's no wonder their financial expectations (and anxieties) are sky-high.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why traditional financial advice isn’t built for Gen Z’s reality
• The real reason they think they need $600K a year to be successful
• Budgeting vs. Earning: We debate whether traditional budgeting advice is still relevant in today's economy, or if Gen Z's focus on increasing income is the smarter approach.
• How careers, income, and investing have changed forever
• The biggest mistakes Millennials and Boomers make when advising them
• How this approach is different from hustle culture 

And most importantly, we share what actually works: learning how to earn, invest, and live in a world where stability is no longer the default setting.

Whether you’re Gen Z trying to figure it all out, or just someone trying to understand them better, this episode is for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we’re talking about impact investing, which if we’re being honest, is a phrase we used to think was reserved for people who call their parents by their first names. Turns out, it’s one of the closest things we have to financial resistance (with receipts!).

This episode drops on the last Monday of Black History Month 2025, a month that, for once, felt less performative. Not because there wasn’t Black history being made, there was, just like there is every day of the year…but because the usual corporate spectacle was dialed down. The hashtags were quieter, the campaigns were fewer, and the message was clear. 

But Black history isn’t something we just look back on, it’s something we build. And for more people than ever, that means thinking differently about where our dollars go, not just as consumers but as investors.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why politicians keep telling us to “mobilize” but rarely mention money
• The Target vs. Costco stock story that shows how companies respond when people start moving their money
• The difference between boycotting as a consumer and influencing as a shareholder
• How everyday investors now make up 25% of stock trading and why that matters
• Why ignoring your investments isn’t neutral and what it means to be intentional with your financial power

And because knowledge without action doesn’t change much, we’re also talking about real steps you can take. Kiersten shares her experience with Invest for Better Circles, a program that changed how she thinks about money and impact (and made her rethink her own investments in the process). Plus, if you’re a Black woman looking for a space to learn about this in community, there’s a new cohort designed just for us. Link below.

TAKE ACTION:

📌 Join the waitlist for the Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures Circles for Black women
📌 Not a Black woman? No problem. Regular Invest for Better Circles are opening soon too 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Is the magic really gone, or are we just over it? This week's episode is a Quick Dip, where we're side-eyeing some old-school markers of success. We thought about calling this the "end of an era" edition but it might be too soon...you tell us! 

Think childhood trips to Disney, that diamond ring you're 'supposed' to want, and even that climb up the corporate ladder. We're wondering if these traditions still mean what they used to in a world that's changing so fast. The data suggests something is changing, but this episode is less about having all the answers and more about starting some real convos about what matters to us. 

First, we reference a recent Wall St. Journal article called “Even Disney is worried about the high cost of a Disney Vacation,” and talk about how rising costs are impacting families and challenging the park's cultural dominance. 

Then, we tackle the diamond industry and the growing popularity of lab-grown alternatives that promise the same quality at a fraction of the price. Finally, we dissect the current state of the corporate world, and talk about the current record high CEO turnover rates and what they signal about the evolving relationship between workers and employers. This episode also features leaked audio where JPMorgan's CEO, Jamie Dimon, uses explicit language when speaking to his employees.

Key Takeaways:

• Manufactured Magic is Expensive: "Tradition" often comes with a hefty price tag, and it's time to question if the returns are worth the investment
• Ethical Consumption Matters: From lab-grown diamonds to supporting companies with values that align with our own, we have more power than ever to vote with our dollars
• Authenticity is the New Luxury: The pursuit of genuine experiences and personal meaning is replacing the need to acquire status symbols

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week marks a significant milestone: our 200th episode of the rich & REGULAR podcast! In this episode, we’re taking a moment to reflect, not just on what we've built, but on the path we took to get here. 

Here’s what we cover as we peel back the curtain on the podcasting process:

• Our most memorable/favorite episodes 
• It's more than just talking; it's an investment. From the upfront costs of good equipment like decent mics and mixers to the ongoing financial decisions involved with hosting and editing, offering guidance on where to allocate resources
• Monetization strategies: We talk about why monetization isn't as simple as it sounds, and the various ways you can monetize a podcast while outlining our decision-making processes. You'll hear how we dealt with sponsored content and podcast networks, and why we passed on opportunities that compromised our integrity. 
• Even without celebrity guests or elaborate setups, why creating a podcast that resonates and makes a difference is achievable with authenticity, dedication, and a willingness to learn is possible
• We share our experiences inside podcasting communities and discuss some of the invaluable insights from networking. 

The episode is for aspiring podcasters who are just starting out or existing podcasters who are working hard to improve and grow. The important takeaways? Discoverability is HARD. Longevity requires dedication (so does building a community). And always, always remember to press record.

We appreciate all of your support, notes, comments, and ratings and reviews that help us extend our reach. We can't wait to share the journey of the next 200 episodes with you.

Links:

• Episode 172: Not just a diagnosis: A real talk about ADHD, money, and relationships
• Episode 72: Julien's vasectomy
• Episode 7: Financially Supporting a parent (our story) 
• Episode 77: The shocking cost of funerals
• Episode 128: Short term trading vs. long term investing 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week we’re talking about "late bloomers" — the "over 40, mid-life-ish, but don't-say-that-to-us" gang who are just now getting their financial life together.

This was a requested episode so we're skipping the generic "just do it" advice and getting into the nitty-gritty of what it actually takes to build wealth when you're not starting in your 20s. We're discussing the psychological hurdles, the structural roadblocks, and how to create a financial plan that works for you, no matter what age. If you're ready to say "enough" to feeling behind and start building your financial future, this episode is for you.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why people become late starters 
• The importance of accepting your starting point (no, we're not gonna sugar coat it)
• How to let go of the "what ifs" and embrace your new path
• Rewriting the rules when traditional financial advice isn’t always the most helpful
• Adapting strategies for a shorter timeline and setting goals that are both realistic and motivating
• The surprising power of community and why you should become a good neighbor
• Why automation and technology are your friends, not your enemies
• A reminder that your tax dollars can be a source of real benefits 

Take action:

• Help us out and leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform
• Join the discussion and leave a comment on any of our social platforms 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week’s episode is all about shopping bans and the no-spend trend. This month our social media feeds have been flooded with one thing: people swearing off shopping. Like, really swearing it off. 

We see everything from no-spend months, to shopping bans, and even boycotts. And we get it. After the consumerist frenzy of the holidays, that pull towards simplicity or a “less is more” approach almost feels…. revolutionary.

We've been covering this topic for years, and this "new" trend is like seeing an old friend get a new haircut and a different outfit. It looks like it’s changed, but it's got the same good bones.  In this episode, we explain why cutting off all spending has become so popular, the hidden psychology behind it, and whether it's a genuine path to financial health or just another form of deprivation disguised as wellness.

Takeaways:

• Shopping bans aren't a one-size-fits-all solution. They can be helpful for some, but can also backfire if not approached thoughtfully.
• "Abstinence-only" approaches can lead to deprivation. It’s important to address the root cause of our spending.
• We have a consumption problem. The story about the clothing donations after the California fires highlights the scale of this problem.
• It’s about being intentional, not restrictive. We share a “glass of water effect” metaphor to help you reframe your relationship with spending
• Listen to the full episode for our 3-step approach to cutting back on spending. We give you the keys to reevaluating your habits this year (shout out to “listen to end” gang! #iykyk)

If you're tempted to swear off all shopping, or even if you're just curious about what's driving this trend, tune in
 
Links: 

• Episode 95: No spend challenges 
• Episode 189: Underconsumption isn’t a trend, it’s a lifestyle
• LA donation centers are overwhelmed by all the clothing donations

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we’re dissecting the art of the modern scam. We've all experienced the subtle unease of a pitch that just doesn’t feel right, but in an era where the line between marketing and deceit is dangerously thin, it’s important to stay aware so you don’t get hoodwinked and bamboozled. 

We Discuss:

• Why we need to stop confusing charm with legitimacy
• How corporations are now using MLM tactics
• Why companies who use hard-sells aren’t actually interested in your problems.
• Why financial fraud is about to hit an all time high and what to do about it.
• Why it's important to know the history of your "expert"
• How fake reviews and stock photography can get you into trouble
• Why anonymous instructors should raise a red flag
• That sometimes the product isn’t the product and it’s a recruiting tactic instead.
• And lastly how not having a password manager is as foolish as a newborn walking in the street (or at least that’s how Julien sees it).

Key Takeaways:

• The “free speech” era will unleash more digital scammers
• Learn to differentiate between a legitimate business and a scam, and where your responsibility lies in the purchase.
• Urgency is a primary tool of manipulation.
• Overly charismatic personalities and flashy presentations are not proof of legitimacy.
• You should be able to see who you’re giving money to, not just the brand's face.
• Real testimonials are verifiable, they’re not based on stock photography and manufactured bots.
• The best defense against manipulation is informed skepticism.
• That sometimes if you can buy a product, you’re being used to recruit.
• You must prioritize password changes and offline time as a preventative measure.

Links: 

• Financial technology toolkit
• The five levels of hype 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow