Finding Success Through Financial Resilience, With AJ Vassar
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Release Date: 10/22/2024
Money Tips for New Parents: Navigating Costs After Baby Arrives, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Becoming a parent changes everything—your routines, your priorities, and definitely your finances. In this episode of our Know Better, Do Better: Parenting & Finances series, Certified Financial Planners Lauryn Williams and Chloe Moore break down what really happens after the baby arrives. From unexpected expenses and child-care costs to school decisions, career interruptions, and financial planning updates, this conversation is all about helping you adjust, adapt, and stay afloat in the new normal of parenting. Lauryn shares her real-life experiences as a brand-new mom—from the truth...
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Living Abroad with Kids — Redefining Stability and Success,With Linda Te
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
In this episode, Lauryn Williams talks with Linda, a world-traveling mom, teacher, and storyteller who has lived in more than 60 countries and now calls Colombia home. Born in Denver to Cambodian refugee parents, Linda shares how her family’s journey from survival to stability shaped her mindset around money, education, and opportunity. She opens up about working her first jobs as a teen, studying abroad, meeting her husband while teaching overseas, and navigating pregnancy and motherhood across multiple continents. Together, Lauryn and Linda explore what it means to create a family life...
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Preparing for Children: How to Plan Your Money Before Baby, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Becoming a parent changes your life and your finances! In this kickoff to our Parenting & Finances series, Certified Financial Planners Lauryn Williams and Chloe Moore walk through what to do before a child arrives so you can reduce stress, avoid costly surprises, and create a setup that actually supports your family. From “baby funds” and registries to leave policies, insurance, and estate planning, this episode is a practical checklist you can work through whether you’re already expecting or just starting to plan. Lauryn also shares real-life lessons from welcoming her daughter,...
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Money Mindset Reset: Shift Your Thinking to Reach Your Financial Goals (Replay), With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Welcome to a special mid-year replay from the Know Better, Do Better series! This conversation between two CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals—Lauryn Williams and Chloé Moore—dives deep into a topic that’s foundational to building wealth: money mindset. We’re halfway through the year, and it’s the perfect time to check in on your mindset around money and how it may be influencing your financial progress. Whether you’ve hit your goals or feel like you’ve stalled out, the way you think about money plays a bigger role than you might realize. In fact, it’s so important...
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Know Better. Do Better: Financial Habits to Ease Stress and Build Confidence, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Is your relationship with money affecting your mental health? You’re not alone. In this episode, Certified Financial Planners Lauryn Williams and Chloe Moore unpack how finances impact our mental wellbeing—and what we can do about it. It all starts with building healthy financial habits grounded in your personal “why” and goals that actually fit your life. Then they get into the numbers—breaking down the key financial metrics you should be tracking if you want to reduce stress and build long-term security. From net worth and debt to savings rate and housing costs, this...
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How to Avoid Lifestyle Creep and Make Smart Money Choices During Uncertain Times, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
This episode originally aired in 2023, but it’s just as relevant—if not more—today. As part of our What to Do During Times of Uncertainty series, we’re revisiting this powerful conversation between CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals Lauryn Williams and Chloé Moore. In a world full of uncertainty, flashy financial advice, and constant lifestyle upgrades, it’s easy to lose sight of the long-term costs of the choices we make. Whether you’re tempted by a YOLO trip, a new car, or you're navigating a job change, this episode helps you weigh the true impact of your...
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Know Better. Do Better: How to Navigate a Layoff, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Whether you saw it coming or it was a total shock, getting laid off can flip your world upside down. But a layoff doesn’t have to derail your financial future—or your confidence. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner® Chloe Moore joins Lauryn Williams to break down how to navigate a layoff with clarity and control. From negotiating severance and protecting your credit to preparing emotionally and financially for what’s next, they offer practical, empowering advice for anyone facing—or worried about—a job loss. If you're in the middle of a career transition or want to be ready...
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Staying Prepared: The Reality of Federal Employment in Uncertain Times, With Jessica Gray
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Lauryn Williams sits down with her cousin, Jessica Gray—an attorney specializing in employment and labor law and a federal government employee. Jessica shares her personal journey growing up in Washington, DC, navigating money lessons from her parents, building generational wealth, and why she’s staying “resume ready” in today’s uncertain economic and political climate. As the current administration reshapes federal employment practices, job security isn’t what it used to be—even in government roles once known for stability. Jessica pulls back the curtain on what’s really...
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Know Better. Do Better: What to Know Before Fleeing the Country, With Chloe Moore
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
Thinking about becoming a digital nomad or relocating to another country? Whether you're dreaming of remote work with a passport in hand or trying to escape the daily grind by starting over abroad, there’s more to it than sunshine and freedom. In this Know Better. Do Better. episode, Lauryn Williams—who has firsthand experience living abroad in Colombia—is joined by fellow Certified Financial Planner Chloe Moore, who has worked with clients navigating the ins and outs of international living. Together, they shed light on the financial, legal, and emotional realities that often go...
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Betting on Myself: Choosing Freedom Abroad, With Royal Williams
Worth Listening with Lauryn Williams
In today’s episode, Lauryn Williams talks with Royal Williams, a global traveler, educator, and founder of Yup! She Travels and Yup! We Travel. Royal shares what it really takes to build a life in a different country—from the logistics of visas and finding housing to the emotional and financial shifts that come with stepping into the unknown. From studying abroad and landing her first job in Colombia to now running two travel-focused businesses and living in Medellín full-time, Royal has created a life on her own terms. She breaks down what you need to know about living abroad—from...
info_outlineIn this episode, Lauryn Williams is joined by AJ Vassar, an entrepreneur, international speaker, and world traveler. AJ dives into how he set his “freedom date,” moved from the United States to Medellin, Colombia, and embraced financial literacy to create a life of independence. Tune in to hear about his experiences as a business owner, his season of learning while homeless, and how he has lived abroad for over six years using his "freedom date" philosophy.
Key Takeaways
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[7:30] College Life and Financial Struggles: AJ shares how growing up in financial hardship shaped his mindset and how attending college, without fully understanding the consequences of student loans, impacted his future.
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[17:34] Learning to Sell and Build Relationships: AJ explains the importance of selling and building relationships, not just for business but for navigating life’s challenges, emphasizing that success is about connection and communication.
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[20:58] Resilience Through Voluntary Homelessness: AJ discusses how a period of “voluntary” homelessness taught him resilience and the importance of staying the course when faced with adversity.
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[28:24] Setting a Freedom Date and Moving to Medellin: AJ explains his "freedom date" concept and how he planned and executed his move from the U.S. to Medellin, Colombia, using this date as a turning point for financial independence.
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[44:54] Organizing Finances as an Entrepreneur: AJ outlines practical steps for financial management, including keeping regular meetings with a tax professional, budgeting, and reviewing plans with a financial coach to stay on track.
If AJ’s story inspired you to take control of your financial future, join Lauryn at the next Welcome to Wealth Retreat! Get a customized financial plan while experiencing a life-changing journey in Medellin, Colombia. Visit worth-winning.com/retreats to learn more and sign up today!
Links & Resources Mentioned
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Follow AJ Vassar on social media: @ajvassar
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Learn more about the Welcome to Wealth Retreat: worth-winning.com/retreats
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Read AJ’s Book: Day Grades: From Homeless to Giving 5 Cars Away and Much More in Just 3 Short Years
About Lauryn Williams
Lauryn Williams is a Certified Financial Planner, Olympian, and financial educator passionate about helping people take control of their finances. Lauryn also hosts the Welcome to Wealth Retreats, designed to help individuals create actionable financial plans while traveling and experiencing new cultures. Learn more about her speaking services and retreats at worth-winning.com.
Follow Us on Social Media
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Follow Lauryn on Instagram: @worthwinning
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Follow the Worth Listening Podcast: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Connect with Lauryn on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauryn-williams