Paychecks & Balances

We help you navigate your finances and career so you can achieve the freedom you want. All while having some fun along the way. Listen in for a relatable approach to personal finance and career advice.

Making Money Online ft. Pete McPherson of Do You Even Blog - PB172 08/11/2020

Making Money Online ft. Pete McPherson of Do You Even Blog - PB172 Pete McPherson, the founder of , gave up the ‘American Dream’ and left corporate America to pursue his personal dream of making a full-time income from a creative career. He is a former accountant with a CPA license who now provides new and experienced bloggers with a whole host of information on how they can create a successful blog and move from a nine to five job to a more flexible way of working. Pete is also a conference speaker, and his insights have been featured on sites such as , , , and . Pete joins me today to discuss his journey from accountancy to entrepreneur via a ‘transition’ job that didn’t pan out as planned. He shares his definition of what blogging means to him and why he sees it as such an inclusive space, and also explains some common misconceptions around how bloggers make revenue from their content. Pete also gives his top tips on how to create a sustainable infrastructure for your creative endeavor to maintain your blog's forward momentum. “Start today, start small, be consistent, because you have to put the work and effort in now to be successful down the road” - Pete McPherson This week on Paychecks and Balances: How Pete became a ‘halftime entrepreneur’ How and why Pete built his emergency fund How he dealt with being laid off from his job The importance of crunching your numbers before you take your side hustle full time How Pete explains and defines blogging Signs that blogging might not be for you Why blogging doesn’t make money overnight The importance of consistency when blogging The Paychecks and Balances podcast cheat code for getting your name out there How to price your products and why you shouldn’t undervalue your work Learning to sell yourself and your expertise Three tips on how to pick a niche for your blog Actionable ways to monetize your blog Resources Mentioned: Connect with Pete McPherson: Email: pete@doyouevenblog.com Membership Community Connect with Paychecks and Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/15554459

Let's Talk Real Estate Investment Trusts ft. Andre Albritton of The Millennials Next Door - PB171 08/04/2020

Let's Talk Real Estate Investment Trusts ft. Andre Albritton of The Millennials Next Door - PB171 Andre Albritton, founder of , is a nationally recognized personal finance expert focusing on how to solve the financial problems that millennials and centennials face. His clear cut approach to personal finance helps simplify how individuals can achieve financial freedom and reframe wealth, and his website aims to show people how to make their money work for them. Andre’s work has been featured on , , and in addition to his courses and blog, he hosts . Andre joins me today to share why he pivoted his focus from insurance to investment and why he made the decision to build his side hustle into a full-time business rather than work for someone else. He discusses the factors that are holding millennials and centennials back from reaching their financial goals and how he works with people to focus in on how to take steps to gain financial freedom. Andre also shares his knowledge and expertise on real estate investing and why he is running a virtual summit to help give people a taste of how and why to invest in real estate. “There are so many flavors to investing - and there is plenty of money for all of us, we can all come to the table and get seconds and even thirds.” - Andre Albritton This week on Paychecks and Balances: Andre's experience at State Farm Insurance at the beginning of his career Why he chose to go into the insurance industry How and why he switched focus to the investment niche Why he decided to commit to The Millenials Next Door and take it to the next level His entrepreneurship mindset The most challenging aspect of building his business How he got over his shyness and got his face out there to promote his services Andre’s routine for speaking in public and how he communicates with his audience Needs versus wants - how to work towards your goal What a ‘REIT’ is, and how and why people invest in them Robinhood investing and why you should be careful where you put your money Difference between a REIT and a Real Estate Investment Fund Andre’s next finance summit focused on investing in real estate Resources Mentioned: Connect with Andre Albritton: Connect with Paychecks and Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/15462377

Investing in a Volatile Market ft. Ryan Inman of Physician Wealth Services - PB170 07/28/2020

Investing in a Volatile Market ft. Ryan Inman of Physician Wealth Services - PB170 Self-confessed 'money nerd' Ryan Inman started his financial practice specifically to help guide young physicians toward financial independence with truly unbiased, quality financial advice. A graduate of the University of San Diego (USD) Ryan has a BA in Business Administration, an MA in Accounting and Financial Management, and an MA in Business Administration, and along with running Physician Wealth Services, he currently hosts the podcast and co-hosts the podcast. Ryan uses his and his wife’s intimate knowledge of the pains, struggles, and joys that come from a career in medicine to take care of his clients while they take care of their patients. Ryan joins me to discuss why he decided to niche down his financial planning practice to helping physician families understand and take control of their money from the very beginning of their careers. He shares his professional journey and why he moved from working in large corporates where the focus was on selling financial products and attracting high net worth clients to working with people who really need clear-cut financial guidance. Ryan also shares his opinions on what has been happening to the markets in 2020 and advises on the questions to ask yourself about your investments. “You need to think about your money without emotion” - Ryan Inman This week on Paychecks and Balances: The stereotype of physicians having high net worth without considering the debt they accumulate through their years of training The importance for everyone of having an emergency fund Why you should take advantage of the student federal debt forbearance to do something smart with the saving Why being forced to cut our expenses through the Covid-19 quarantine period should make us reevaluate our spending Ryan’s perspective on investing during periods of volatility Why time in the market is more important than timing the market when you’re investing Why the market was moving so atypically during March 2020 Should you be changing your investment strategies right now? Questions to ask yourself when managing your investments Ways to manage multiple 401k accounts from previous jobs What is the backdoor Roth IRA strategy Managing your retirement investments and plans Is it best to pay down debt or invest? Essential questions you should ask when you’re looking for an investment app Why it’s essential to research the fundamentals of investments before you throw money at it Why you should check in quarterly on your investments alone or with a financial advisor Resources Mentioned: podcast podcast Connect with Ryan Inman: Connect with Paychecks and Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/15370196

Pon Da Replay: Behind the Brilliance ft. Lisa Nicole Bell 07/21/2020

Discovering Financial Independence ft. Jamila Souffrant of Journey To Launch - PB169 06/30/2020

Discovering Financial Independence ft. Jamila Souffrant of Journey To Launch - PB169 Jamila Souffrant is the creator of the blog and podcast, , where she teaches and inspires others how to eliminate debt, save money, and increase their net worth. The lessons she has learned through trial and error helped her family to save $169,000 in two years and be debt-free, and she is well on the way to becoming financially independent by the age of 40. Jamila is the resident financial expert on a weekly segment on News12 and has been featured in Money Magazine, TIME, Business Insider, Refinery29, CNBC, ESSENCE Magazine & CBS. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and three young children. Jamila joins me today to share what inspired her to give up her well-paid corporate job and pivot her focus to working towards financial independence. She discusses the factors in her background that inspired her to be a savvy money manager and how she worked hard to buy a small condo in her early 20s, which ultimately started her on the path to building her own business. Jamila also shares the values of intentional spending and how you can prioritize your spending and saving to ensure that you’re both happy in the moment and happy in the future. “Spend on what you value - there is no point in being miserable on this financial journey” - Jamila Souffrant This week on Paychecks and Balances: How Jamila started Journey to Launch with the support of her family Why she gave up her corporate job to make a life change Why she aims to be financially independent by 40 How her husband got on board with her ambitious financial goals The importance of maxing out your retirement plans Who inspires her in the personal finance space How she created her spreadsheet to map her financial freedom What financial independence means to her? Why she has switched her investment strategy in the last year The impact of working towards financial independence with a young family Her philosophy on generational wealth and planning for her children’s future How her approach to financial independence has changed in these challenging times Resources Mentioned: podcast podcast podcast Connect with Jamila Souffrant: Connect with Paychecks and Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/15023981

All Things Money ft. Ericka Young - PB168 06/23/2020

All Things Money ft. Ericka Young - PB168 Ericka Young is the founder of Tailor-Made Budgets. Here, she coaches individuals and small business owners on budgeting, saving and investing. Her passion for financial education stems from her and her husbands life experience of living above their means and having to climb out of nearly 100k in debt. This debt payoff journey changed Ericka’s life and career path. She knew she wanted to help people get out debt, so Ericka and her husband Chris went to Nashville and got trained by Dave Ramsey’s team. Ten years later Tailor-Made Budgets is thriving and Ericka is grateful for the amazing opportunities she has everyday, and how she gets to help people transform their careers, families and futures. Ericka joins the podcast today to tell her money story. In this episode you’ll learn why it’s important to study various financial teachers because there’s not one money system that will work for everyone. You’ll also learn what steps you should take before shifting careers or jumping into your side hustle full time, what to do with your money during this pandemic, as well as why Ericka discourages credit card use. Lastly, why you should always take the 401k match your company offers, because it’s FREE money. “Take bits and pieces from all of the financial experts out there, there’s a lot of valid information and you have to see what works for you” - Ericka Young This week on Paychecks and Balances: How Ericka went from being an Engineer to a Financial Coach Why many of us are keeping up appearances and living above our means The sacrifices it takes to pay off large sums of debt How to find a financial teacher that resonates with you Why you should absolutely be taking your companies 401k match How to determine what type of investments you want to make: Real Estate vs. Stocks vs. Investing in a Business How to future proof your business by moving it entirely online Connect with Ericka Young Connect with Paychecks and Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14936762

Getting It All Together ft. Mykail James of the Boujie Budgeter - PB167 06/09/2020

Getting It All Together ft. Mykail James of the Boujie Budgeter - PB167 Mykail James is the founder of Boujie Budgets and is passionate about teaching Gen Z professionals how to manage their finances without sacrificing their lifestyle. Mykail is a Certified Financial Literacy instructor with an MBA focused on accounting, and her fresh new take on managing money and finances helps people understand money concepts such as budgeting, saving, and investing. Mykail works with organizations such as the Howard University Trio Program and public schools in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia Metropolitan area to provide workshops and interactive lectures to inspire her audience to identify where their money traumas lie and take the steps to financial success. Mykail joins me today to discuss how she was inspired by her parents to take charge of her finances from a young age and how their practical lessons in financial concepts helped her understand how to budget. She dives into the benefits of fintech and how having a system to help you manage your money decreases stress and enables you to prioritize your spending. Mykail also shares the story of her own tough lesson in managing her cash and lets us in on how she built her credit score back up and how you can do the same. “If your savings are safe, and your bills are paid it really doesn't matter where you spend your money - just ensure it’s benefitting you in the long run” - Mykail James This week on Paychecks & Balances: Why Mykail is driven to help her peers understand their finances A beginners guide to opening a credit card and why it’s vital to understand what minimum payments are How she juggles her job and Boujie Budgets and still has time to enjoy life Books and podcasts she enjoys that boost her productivity and skills How a system can help you manage your finances Four basic steps that will help you manage your money How to use financial technology (fintech) to create a personalized money management system How to determine the ‘emotional goals’ for your money How to start your financial reset The secret to keeping your finances at the forefront of your mind Resources Mentioned: podcast by Daniel Pink by Tim Ferriss by James Clear Connect with Mykail James: Connect with Paychecks & Balances: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14757947

Financial Independence and Family ft. Wendy & Curtis Mays - PB166 05/26/2020

Financial Independence and Family ft. Wendy & Curtis Mays - PB166 Wendy and Curtis Mays from Hou$e Of Fi are on the show today. They’re a married duo whose mission is to help your family pay off debt, budget better, save more money and increase your income. Wendy is a retired lawyer and Curtis is a high school teacher and Football Coach. Their journey into the personal finance space started back in 2008-2009 during The Great Recession, when they lost 2 homes. Along their personal finance journey, they’ve also overcome a period of time where they were drowning in six-figure college loan debt, consumer debt and living paycheck to paycheck, all while making six figures in income! This didn’t add up and they knew something had to change. Wendy and Curtis were scared for their financial future and worried about not being able to help their kids with college. Since 2016 they’ve gotten rid of over 650K of debt. At House Of FI they share their money story, open up their toolbox and share their tools so that you can embark on your own financial independence journey and live a joy-filled life. Wendy and Curtis offer a FREE course called “7-Step Money Foundations” aimed at educating people about their personal finances. They also host the House Of FI podcast where they interview experts in the personal finance space and discuss topics such as: F.I.R.E, marriage and money, budgeting, investing, side-hustles, debt payment plans, strategies for paying off student loans and other relative money topics. In today’s episode you’ll hear Wendy and Curtis’s money story, their money roles in their relationship, how they budget and prep for the future with six kids, and the steps they took to get out of debt. What To Listen For Why married couples must determine what kind of lifestyle they want to live The cost of having flighty dreams Sacrificing things in the short term, to achieve long term goals How income and gender roles can affect your marriage – Who is the “breadwinner”? Trying to shakeoff living with a crisis mindset after a traumatic money event has taken place The importance of additional income streams Why you need a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C for your money and career How Wendy and Curtis learned from losing 2 homes in The Great Recession How to discuss money, budgeting and investing with reluctant spouses – Accepting them where they are in their money journey The financial impact of having a big family The importance of leaving a legacy for your children Dealing with lifestyle creep The debt-avalanche vs. debt-snowball payment methods Key Takeaway: Learn from your financial mistakes and plan for your future. Get educated about what you can do to budget better, pay off debt and increase your income through side-hustling. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: House of FI Website: Twitter: YouTube: Instagram: Podcast: Facebook: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14562836

Relationships and Money ft. Adam Kol - PB165 05/19/2020

Relationships and Money ft. Adam Kol - PB165 Couples Financial Counselor Adam Kol joins the show today. Adam is a finance geek who started his finance journey studying Economics at The University of Miami. While studying for his degree he landed a job at Northwestern Mutual. There, he developed a love of working with families and educating them about money. Later on, he received a “Masters in Tax Law” from NYU and along the way he also become a Certified Mediator. Adam realized early on that talking about money and finances was one of the biggest stressors that couples face. After completing his education he began coaching and providing Couples Financial Counseling to those in need. His mission is help you work through the money issues in your relationship by creating a safe place to talk about your “money story”. He guides couples through taking a financial inventory, repairing existing issues, planning and structuring your finances, and helps you choose your new future, together. Adam also specializes in coaching couples that are first time homebuyers and those who are engaged and planning a wedding. In both cases two massive money conversations need to take place. In this episode he walks Rich and Marcus through some of the techniques he uses to help couples dissect and repair their money issues, emotionally and financially. He also provides some tips on how to talk to your partner about money, how to know your triggers, how to break the traditional “money roles” between men and women and lastly, what to do when it seems like nothing is working and someone in the relationship isn’t willing to put in the work to fix money problems. What To Listen For What it was like for Adam, growing up in a homogenized city Having never paid a late fee on a credit card Adam’s love of advocating for clients The positives and negatives couples are dealing with during COVID 19 The importance of giving yourself grace Knowing your triggers and how to remove yourself from a situation The dynamics between the traditional roles of men and women surrounding money Self Awareness is the key to creating change for yourself, that will in turn help change issues in your relationship Reason’s why people don’t talk about money in their relationships and tips on how to change this Having a “Values Mismatch” with your partner Filing relationship bankruptcy and starting over Key Takeaway: By talking about money in your relationship in a safe and controlled space you and your partner and can begin to build an open and honest financial foundation and create a life that’s aligned with your values and goals. Episode Resources Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Adam Kol Website: YouTube: Instagram: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14473955

Let's Keep Stacking Benjamins ft. Joe Saul-Sehy - PB164 05/12/2020

Let's Keep Stacking Benjamins ft. Joe Saul-Sehy - PB164 Joe Saul-Sehy joins us on the podcast today. Joe is one of the hosts of the award winning “Stacking Benjamins” Podcast, where he and his co-host OG discuss financial literacy. The show has been running since 2012 and since then, Joe and OG’s goal has been to make finance fun and more approachable. There’s an ongoing joke that “ you won’t learn anything” on Stacking Benjamins, but you’ll be in comfortable setting where money conversations are friendly. Joe, OG and guests on the show often share their money mistakes in the hopes that the listening audience will learn from them. Part of the podcasts success is Joe’s booking philosophy. He has diverse guests on the show from many different types of ethnicities and financial backgrounds. He believes that everyone has a money story to tell based on the way they were taught about money growing up. It’s from these stories and personalities that we can seek to deeper understand the way money affects the people around us. Joe’s journey into finance started from his own mishandling of money in his younger years and a pivotal experience of running out of gas with his kids in the car solidified his desire to get educated about money and make a change. In today’s episode you’ll hear Joe’s story on why he started the podcast, why you need to jump in on your big idea, how your weakness becomes a part of your life’s story, how to pick the right people to surround yourself with and more. Show Highlights “Just start ugly” How your weakness becomes your story The importance of your product and feedback from your audience The struggle of deciding between short term solutions that are obvious and long term that are right Why you need to seek out knowledge through books, podcasts, videos etc… Finding the “good people” to surround yourself with Having all the questions, not the answers The importance of diversity in the finance sector Key Takeaway: Everyone has a story to tell and it’s from these stories that we can get a better understanding of why people are the way they are and how their background influences their decision making in money, but more importantly in life. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Joe Saul-Sehy Websites: Twitter: YouTube: Instagram: Facebook: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14372294

What You Should Know About Disability Insurance ft. Colin Nabity - PB163 05/05/2020

What You Should Know About Disability Insurance ft. Colin Nabity - PB163 Colin Nabity, the CEO of Breeze Insurance joins Rich today for another episode of Paychecks & Balances. Breeze is an Insuretech company that makes it easy for American workers to protect their income through disability insurance. Disability Insurance is income protection insurance, which insures the beneficiary’s earned income against the risk that a disability creates an issue for a worker to complete their job. Founded in 2019, in Omaha Nebraska, “The Insurance Hub of the US”, Breeze set out on a mission to modernize the archaic disability insurance system. Their online application process takes 15 minutes to complete with plans that start as low as $9 a month. Their automated underwriting technology allows them to offer qualified individuals a way to get quick and affordable disability insurance without the hassle of dealing with salespeople. Most folks misunderstand disability insurance, and in today’s episode Colin walks us through what it is, how it’s different from Workmen’s Comp, and why the current disability insurance system in the US is plagued by long wait times, high fees and is made unavailable by some employers or the government. Show Highlights Why Colin chose Omaha Nebraska as the hub for Breeze, instead of Silicon Valley Only a third of folks that apply for disability insurance through the Social Security Program get approved Workmen’s Compensations vs. Disability Insurance: Getting hurt on the job vs. protecting yourself from an issue or accident that may happen, outside of your job The difference between having your own disability insurance plan and getting one through your employer How disability insurance is taxed Short term disability insurance vs. long term Benefit Amount - How much you will get paid each month Benefit Period – The length of time your benefits will last Waiting Period – The length of time that passes until you receive your first payment Most policies will allow you to customize your timelines and payment amounts How the freelance/gig economy is changing the way people obtain and receive insurance benefits Key Takeaway: Disability insurance may not be something you’re thinking about right now. But for what is most often an inexpensive monthly fee, you can protect yourself financially, if you end up with an aliment or in an accident that prevents you from doing your job. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Breeze Insurance Website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Instagram: Facebook: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14283140

Have You Heard of Real Estate Syndication? ft. Lisa Hylton - PB162 04/28/2020

Tackling Financial Anxiety ft. Lindsay Bryan - Podvin - PB161 04/21/2020

Tackling Financial Anxiety ft. Lindsay Bryan - Podvin - PB161 Lindsay Bryan – Podvin is on the show today. Lindsay is a financial therapist and the founder of “Mind Money Balance.” As the first financial therapist in Michigan, Lindsay’s goal is to help you feel empowered in your relationship with money and to guide you to toward financial and emotional balance, when you think about money. She wants everyone to not only be comfortable talking about money, but to feel confident while doing it. Lindsay is the author of “The Financial Anxiety Solution,” which is a workbook that helps you interact with your money in a safe and powerful way. While you’re listening to this episode, check in with yourself. How does your bank account or investment portfolio make you feel? Once you can identify how interacting with your money makes you feel, you can change your thought patterns and behaviors around it and work on achieving greater financial and emotional balance. In today’s show, Lindsay helps define what financial anxiety is, how to address money conversations with your partner, how to change your long held beliefs about money and how to achieve greater balance emotionally when you look at your bank accounts. Highlights: The career shift from traditional therapy into financial therapy Financial Anxiety – Being overly nervous about your money, whether you lack money or have an abundance of it The different ways financial anxiety shows up in your life and different parts of your body Coping with your financial anxiety by excess spending or saving Why stress and anxiety in moderation can be empowering Expressing gratitude for what you do have Money and Infidelity – The top reasons for divorce Tips for talking to your significant other about money Our beliefs about money are solidified by the time we’re 8 years old Key Takeaway: Financial anxiety affects wealthy people and people struggling to make ends meet, equally. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Lindsay Bryan - Podvin Website: YouTube: Instagram: Podcast: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/14077346

To Be a Good Investor ft. Dr. Daniel Crosby - PB160 04/14/2020

To Be a Good Investor ft. Dr. Daniel Crosby - PB160 Today Dr. Daniel Crosby joins us on the podcast. Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of mind and markets. Dr. Crosby recently co-authored a New York Times Best-Selling book titled, Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management. Daniel’s journey into behavioral finance began when he decided that he no longer had a passion for being a shrink and working in clinical psychology. He always had a love for business and once he learned just how much psychology was baked into the world of investing and personal finance he went all-in on behavioral finance. In this episode you’ll learn about historical stock market patterns, the difference between a correction and a recession, asset allocation, why you shouldn’t invest based off the media and why you should question your own psychology behind your finances and investments. Highlights: Human tendency – What is right now, will be forever Why the media loves turmoil in the worlds financial markets Knowing enough to act in the appropriate manner with your money but not buying into the media hype Controlling the uncontrollable Bull Markets vs. Bear Markets The economy and the stock market are related but they’re NOT the same thing Headlines are a horrible way to invest It’s almost impossible to time the peak and the bottom of the stock market A 10% decline is a correction, a 20% decline is a recession The pro’s and con’s of using Robo Advisors for your finances Asset Allocation – The mix of your investments. The percentage of your money that’s spread around into different investments Key Takeaway: Making smart investments periodically, rather then trying to time the market, will yield exponentially better returns. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Dr. Daniel Crosby Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Books: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13977317

Finding Joy & Career Moves During Coronavirus/Covid-19 ft. Tiffany Southerland of the How Does She Do It Podcast - PB159 04/07/2020

Finding Joy & Career Moves During Coronavirus/Covid-19 ft. Tiffany Southerland of the How Does She Do It Podcast - PB159 As a career coach, Tiffany helps professionals and students advance by leveraging their stories and strengths. Tiffany also hosts "How Does She Do It?," a podcast dedicated to practical insights on the intersection of faith, personal growth, and professional development. Tiffany currently works as a recruiter and diversity professional. She's practiced law and worked in higher education, and thinks Haribo gummy bears are the best gummies in these streets. Tiff South returns to the podcast today. Tiff is the founder of “Four Corners Coaching”, where she helps women who feel unfulfilled in their career learn how to leverage their strengths so that they can feel confident pursing new job opportunities. Tiff teaches how to use your life experience to empower yourself and redefine success, based on your own terms. Today, Rich and Tiff kick it off by talking about the importance of giving yourself grace while in this crazy time of COVID-19. Then they jump into how to position yourself to come out swinging when this quarantine is over. They discuss the importance of your LinkedIn profile, planting networking seeds, creating a morning routine and workspace in your home, the do’s and don’ts of remote interviews and not to lowball yourself if you get a job offer during this pandemic. Highlights: It’s ok to rest and give yourself some grace during this time in quarantine Ask for help at work when you need it Setting up a dedicated work space in your home Creating a morning routine as if you were heading into the office on a normal work day Finding simple joys at home, like cooking Getting your ducks in a row and prospecting through the quarantine and recession Creating a narrative for your job search/interview Documenting accomplishments and new skills as you go through the year Tweaking your job title on your LinkedIn profile Resume tips to stand out from the crowd Remote interview do’s and don’ts DO NOT lowball yourself if you’re offered a job during COVID-19 Key Takeaway: Using this downtime to plant career seeds will put you on top when we come out on the other side of this pandemic. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Tiff South Website: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tiffsouth/ Instagram: Twitter: Podcast: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13881557

Making More Money + Conquering Debt w/ Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog - PB158 03/31/2020

Making More Money + Conquering Debt w/ Anthony and Jhanilka Hartzog - PB158 Today on the show we have Anthony and Jhanikla Hartzog. They cleared 114k in debt in just under two years. They’re going to be sharing their debt story and providing tips to pay off your debt quickly, while still maintaining a lot of the same comforts of your current lifestyle. Their journey into paying down their debt started when Jhanikla bought Anthony Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” one Valentines Day. They dove into the course together and initially didn’t have a set date in mind of when they wanted to become debt free, but after three months into the process they saw how much money they were able to allocate towards debt payments and they made the goal of becoming debt free by Jhanikla’s 30th birthday. The couple mostly focused on playing offense to increase their income and allocated all extra money to paying down their debt. In this episode you’ll hear how in addition to their 9-5 they both got side jobs at Equinox and started using Apps like “Rover” and “Turo” to maximize their earnings. It was important for them to make big monthly payments towards their debt but also maintain their current lifestyle. Highlights: Working on a mix of student loan and credit card debt Using other peoples debt stories and testimonials as inspiration for getting out of debt Breaking down the numbers and setting a budget. Before you can make strides in paying off your debt you need to know where your money is going, and exactly how much is coming in and out every month Increasing income rather than cutting back on expenses Maintaining a relationship while constantly working and having more time apart than ever before Rewarding yourself along the way when you reach a debt payment goal Setting lifestyle expectations as a couple and determining what’s important to you as a whole and as individuals Holding off on making big debt payments during this COVID-19 Pandemic Look for a side hustle that’s related to your current career or skill set Finding a side gig that you actually enjoy You MUST have an online presence if you plan on maintaining revenue during this pandemic Key Takeaway: You will inevitably need to cut some costs while trying to get out debt. But, you can also focus on increasing income and using that extra money for debt payments, so that you can maintain a lifestyle similar to the one you have now. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13766219

A Break From The Panic - PB157 03/24/2020

A Break From The Panic - PB157 Today it’s just Marcus and Rich on the podcast. They’re free styling the conversation and chatting about how they were both on vacation while the news was breaking that COVID-19 was spreading quickly and that the government declared it a pandemic. They also discuss the role that therapy has played in their decisions to stay calm during the current stock market crash and what could be the start of a recession. They reiterate the importance of making sound financial decisions and not jumping into buying stock or selling stock out of emotion. Remember, investing is something that should be part of your regular financial plan and a habit that you practice 365. Lastly, they give some tips on how to maximize your cash flow during this time, while still being strategic about paying off your debt. Key Takeaway: It’s ok to be scared, but don’t make panicked decisions with your money or things in your day-to-day life. It’s important to follow good financial habits year round so that if you find yourself cash strapped or possibly out of a job right now, you can reflect and revaluate how you can make sure you’re in the best situation possible the next time a global or countrywide crisis happens. Highlights: Being on vacation and disregarding the US media The fear of being left abroad Not worrying about what you can’t control Anxiety transfer “It’s ok to be scared” Therapy bringing out self-awareness – Making better decisions in the midst of a chaotic situation The stock market response to COVD-19 Capitalizing on fear and selling predatory products or services during this pandemic Maximizing cash flow during an emergency – Paying your minimum debt payments for a short time to keep your cash liquid Don’t make any financial moves out of fear or panic Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Books Mentioned In This Episode: Maybe You Should Talk To Someone, by Lori Gottlieb - Atomic Habits, by James Clear - The Behavioral Investor, by Daniel Crosby - /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13672862

Life Skills That Matter ft. Stephen Warley ft. Stephen Warley - PB156 03/03/2020

Life Skills That Matter ft. Stephen Warley ft. Stephen Warley - PB156 Stephen Warley joins Rich on the podcast today. Stephen is the founder of “Life Skills That Matter”. Life Skills That Matter is on a mission to help you begin to start working for yourself and create a life and career that’s aligned with your personal values. If you believe that societies concept of “work” is broken and you want to disrupt everything that society has taught you about the workforce, Life Skill That Matter can help. When you begin to set values based goals instead of monetary goals, you can start aligning your life’s purpose to the actions you take daily. What are your core values? You need to get curious and self-aware and figure them out. Some people want to be able to work from anywhere in the world, others want to work less and spend more time with family and friends. Once you figure out what’s truly important to you, you can begin to build a life that’s purpose driven. That’s where true success lies. Key Takeaway: With some curiosity, patience and the right planning you can eventually work on your own terms and get paid to be exactly who you are. Highlights: Automation disrupting industries is closer than people think What life’s like living and working abroad in Bali People in their early thirties have never been through an economic downturn Being intentional with your money and tracking where it all goes The pro’s and con’s of leaving inheritance for your children Raising kids with money Time, Energy and Attention – Your most valuable personal resources Starting a “life fund” not a retirement fund Identifying your core values and living your life in accordance to those values is true success What to do if you’re unhappy with where you’re currently at in life The importance of resting, to reflect Curiosity, Self Awareness and Connection – The three most important life skills Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Stephen Warley Website: Twitter: LinkedIn: Podcast: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13386497

The Value of Awareness ft. Kassandra Dasent - PB155 02/25/2020

The Value of Awareness ft. Kassandra Dasent - PB155 CEO of Bridge Tech Enterprises, Kassandra Dasent is on the show today. Kassandra is a member of Gen X, a financial expert, a singer-songwriter, caregiver and project management guru. Her money story started at a young age in Trinidad, where she grew up being a raised by a single mother who knew how to stretch a dollar during hard times. Her mom was a side hustler before it was popular and it was her mother’s work ethic that taught Kassandra the value of money and hard work. Her mother and her eventually immigrated to Montreal, Canada and some years later in early 2009, Kassandra found herself in 55k of consumer debt. She was ashamed and embarrassed because of the strong money lessons she learned from her mother while growing up in Trinidad. After that, Kassandra began educating herself financially and started slowly changing her lifestyle to pay off her debt. Meanwhile she was hustling in her project management career, snatching up every raise and promotion that she could get. In 2012 she became debt free! Now as a financial wellness engineer and speaker, Kassandra teaches others how to take control of their finances through a concept of “holistic wealth” with an emphasis on building and maintaining what she refers to as The Four Pillars of Wealth (Mental – Spiritual – Physical – Financial). In addition to speaking and teaching about wealth, Kassandra used her 15 + year career background in project management to build “Bridge Tech Enterprises”, a firm that provides companies with project management expertise. In today’s episode you’ll learn about how Kassandra’s background set the stage for her life as an entrepreneur, the idea of values based living, the keys to upward mobility at your job, getting your finances in order for the later stages of life where you might have to take care of family members and much more. Key Takeaway: The role of mindset in improving your finances and career is paramount for success. Highlights: The Project Management approach to life – identifying what you can realistically take on The importance of sleep Time management The process of paying off 55k worth of consumer debt Being mindful of your decisions – practicing self awareness is the only way to change your bad habits Going above and beyond at work and using a system to track your results As an entrepreneur, striving to employ and empower people in your community Getting your finances in order to take care of your parents or family members as they age Are you happy? – What baby steps can you take today to change your situation Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Kassandra Dasent Websites: Instagram: LinkedIn: Facebook: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13288892

Creating a Financial Lifestyle ft. Sarah Li-Cain of Beyond the Dollar - PB154 02/18/2020

Creating a Financial Lifestyle ft. Sarah Li-Cain of Beyond the Dollar - PB154 “Together we can turn words into Cold Hard Cash”. Finance, business and travel writer, Sarah Li Cain joins the podcast today. Sarah is the host of the “Beyond The Dollar” Podcast and founder of “Sarah Li Cain Writes”. Sarah understands how to create compelling content in the form of Articles, Blog posts and Web Copy. She’ unique in that she understands how to connect with readers and turn them into fans, which turns them into customers. Sarah can help you achieve your goals by using the correct voicing for your brand, regardless of what vibe your looking to portray. Sarah prides her self on being easy to work with, telling great jokes and being fun to be around and her client list is huge. She’s worked with some top companies in the online space, including; Bankrate, Lending Tree, Word Press, Quicken Loans and other finance giants. Sarah’s journey into Entrepreneurship started shortly after moving to the U.S from Canada and having a baby. While working too many hours at her full time job and raising a child, she realized there had to be a way to work less hours and still maximize her income. She began using her self taught financial education and writing skills to find freelance work. After building up her experience and client list, she was eventually able to triple her income in one year, all while writing from home. In this episode you’ll hear Sarah’s experience immigrating to the U.S, building credit without being able to get a credit card, why millennial’s need to stop basing their self-worth on their credit score, the do’s and don’t’s of starting a side hustle, and the importance of batching tasks and time blocking. Key Takeaway: If you can afford it, you need to invest a little bit of money in your side hustle. In the beginning it shows that you’re taking your gig seriously and trusting that you're willing to see your idea through. Highlights: Self teaching Financial Literacy Building credit from scratch by becoming an authorized user on her husbands card What are secured credit cards? Breaking down the Taboo’s around money conversations The danger of “I should” Millennial’s putting their credit score on their Tinder profiles Tying your self worth to something external The emotional connection between buying and renting Cold calling to get leads Using tools like Fiverr to outsource some of your side hustle tasks Batching and time blocking Reasons for and against freelancing Investing money in your idea Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Sarah Li Cain Websites : Instagram: Podcast: Facebook: Twitter: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13193234

Millennial Money ft. Shannah Compton Game - PB153 02/11/2020

Millennial Money ft. Shannah Compton Game - PB153 Shannah Compton Game of The “Millennial Money” podcast joins the P&B family today. Shannah is a Certified Financial Planner with an MBA. She’s also an entrepreneur, podcaster, writer and teacher. On her show “Millennial Money”, Shannah takes a deep dive into the money problems that plague Americans, with a focus on Millennials. Her goal is to help you get more in tune with your money and to know your money, so that you can begin to cut down on debt and build a budget that works for your lifestyle. Her passion for helping people untangle the mess of their day-to-day money problems is rooted in the fact that in the past, Shannah had money struggles just like you. Debt, student loans, a mortgage, all things that she at one time felt in over her head with. She’s creating a movement where talking about money isn’t a taboo, instead it’s a part of regular conversation with your family, friends and spouse. In today’s episode you’ll hear about Shannah’s upbringing and her first memories of money, working with her dad. You’ll also learn about how starting a film festival in college taught Shannah valuable marketing and budget lessons. Shannah tells the listeners about her philosophy on going back to school to get an MBA, the power of starting a podcast, and how she credits all of her success in business to being scrappy and making things happen, without a huge network. Highlights: Starting a film festival and running its marketing and finances Weighing the costs of getting your Masters Degree The lack of a network that some graduate schools promise Teaching personal finance at Cal State Northridge “Cash is still king” The importance of building a financial foundation Why you need to be earning more than 2% on your money Knowing what your spending your money on – In order to fix things you need a benchmark of data to understand Negotiating a better student loan interest rate Tackling different facets of paying off debt, while still saving some of your money Key Takeaway: Regardless of income or age, we all face similar money struggles. The numbers may look different but the problems are the same. In order to build a life you need a basic financial education and foundation to build off of. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Shannah Compton Game Website: Instagram: Podcast: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/13103819

What Should He Pay Off Next? - PB152 02/04/2020

Career Rehab ft. Kanika Tolver - PB151 01/28/2020

Career Rehab ft. Kanika Tolver - PB151 Kanika Tolver joins us on the show today. Kanika is an Information Technology Federal Government professional, Entrepreneur, Coach and Author. Her company Career Rehab LLC, focuses on assisting career transformations for students, professionals and retiree’s. She does this through coaching, events and webinars with the ultimate goal of helping others create their own “epic lives” and reach their career goals. In her book “Career Rehab” Kanika helps you strip away the fear that’s holding you back from living the life you want and gives guidance on how to brand, market and sell yourself into jobs that are in alignment with your values. Values like work-life balance, good pay and on-going self-development are at the top of her list. In today’s episode Marcus and Rich sit down with Kanika and discuss her baby steps into entrepreneurship as a resume writer, what it’s like working for the Federal Government, the power of LinkedIn, building a professional network, and how thinking of yourself as a brand will get your more opportunities in life. Highlights: Side hustling as a career coach/resume writer Building a business from home while taking care of her sick mother Balance as the key for success in business and personal life What it’s like working in Washington DC “Don’t sleep on LinkedIn” Investing in a good head shot Leveraging LinkedIn groups Employee mindset vs. being a brand Beefing up your 401k contributions at work, once you get a raise How your personal values change from your 20’s to 30’s Bringing a dose of your personality to your job The importance of prepping for work meetings A “referral is the fastest way to an interview” Key Takeaway: You have to leverage your skills and your network to sell yourself into a job that is in alignment with your life’s vision. Paychecks & Balances Website: Patreon: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Kanika Tovler: Website: LinkedIn: Facebook: Instagram: Book: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/12909986

Reflecting on a Tragedy 01/27/2020

Building Generational Wealth ft. Damien Peters of Wealth Noir - PB150 01/14/2020

Making the Leap ft. Eric Patrick of the Black Market Exchange - PB149 01/07/2020

Our Year-End Mindset Shifts - PB148 12/10/2019

Picking the Right Side Hustle ft. Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation - PB147 12/03/2019

Picking the Right Side Hustle ft. Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation - PB147 Today we welcome the host of “The Side Hustle Show”, Nick Loper. The Side Hustle Show is a weekly podcast that has been running since 2013. It explores creative ideas on how to make money outside of your day job. Nick is a side hustle enthusiast and many years ago he created a comparison-shopping website for footwear, that allowed him to quit his full time corporate job. Since then he’s had dozens of other side hustle successes and failures. Nick is a believer that with hard work, the right niche and some patience, everyone can have some success with a side hustle, and use the extra cash to save more money, pay off debt, learn new skills or try and escape the rat race. Nick is also the founder of .The site has hundreds of side hustle ideas and it showcases Nick’s success and failures as well as gives actionable lessons from other side hustle entrepreneurs. In today’s episode you’ll learn how to come up with the right side hustle idea, how a podcast can help grow your business, the importance of hiring help once you can afford it and why you have to grind daily, after your 9-5. Highlights: Using affiliate marketing Doing product reviews on YouTube Working on your side hustle after hours Living below your means “Consistency is key” Having a lot of interest in what you’re working on will keep you going when you feel like quitting, because you actually care about what you’re working on and aren’t motivated by just the money Hiring a virtual assistant once you can afford it Putting systems and processes in place within your side hustle business Service based side hustles vs. product based side hustles Key Takeaway: Starting a side hustle is a great way to make extra money, but it’s also about building a future of financial freedom and being in control of your life. Paychecks & Balances Website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Nick Loper Website: Facebook: YouTube: LinkedIn: Podcast: /episode/index/show/paychecksandbalances/id/12258347

How to Be Awesome at Your Job ft. Pete Mockaitis - PB146 11/12/2019

Stop Waiting Start Doing ft. Michelle Jackson - PB145 11/05/2019

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