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+$227k Reasons to Do a Mid-Year Financial Review
Recap. The stock market tumbled on March 2020 but rebounded by the end. It rallied through 2022, and took a nasty dive due to inflationary fears. But we rebounded through 2024. Q1 2025 was a disaster then Q2 came roaring back. You really can't time the market. Just keep buying as needed.
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How to Retire at 50. How Much We Intend to Spend Monthly in Early Retirement
With inflation, tariffs, and the changing geopolitical dominance, will this generation of Americans be able to retire? Maybe, you don’t know until you try. Most people don’t even think about retirement until they hit their mid-50s. By then, it’s harder to pull off without undue financial stress. As people approach the age of 59, they often consider transitioning into retirement with less than $200,000 saved. For most Americans, that transition culminates at 68 if their bodies don’t give out. By that time, navigating retiring successfully, will require significant adjustments to their budget and lifestyle. While every individual has different spending habits during their golden years, itโs important to note how…
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What to Focus On In Order to Build Wealth in 2025
Due to higher-than-average returns in Q4 2024, financial experts are setting their expectations low. This way, we’ll feel less frustrated the next time some exogenous variable causes stocks to sell off again in Q1 2025. Unfortunately, they were right. The Trump/Elon administration rally was short-lived. As of February 26, 2025, Tesla’s stock price is down 20%. Bitcoin is down 8%. How the mighty have fallen. Flanked by increasing federal layoffs and higher energy costs, the average American household is surviving on the razor’s edge. Instead of focusing on stock market returns, I’m focusing on boosting our cash flow. Calculating the income coming in and doing the most with what remains…
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Tracking our Investment Portfolio from Zero to $4 Million
When it comes to building an investment portfolio, start where you are. Better yet, start right now.
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Made More than $232k in my 401k. Most Americans are Making a Big Mistake.
Over 11 years, my total wealth output grew by $232,329 that's beyond my direct contributions of $183,202.
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How We Created $10,000 Worth of Wealth in December
A December Santa Claus Rally could have helped sweeten 2024 but Santa was drunk. Krampus showed up by New Year's Eve. Our stock performance bumped up 39% for the year though, and our net worth followed.
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First, Create the Foundation to Build Perpetual Wealth. Now We Staycay
Building wealth is easier when investments are booming. November 2024 clawed back nearly $3 Trillion in wealth. The Stock market has the best month since October 2024. The Post Election Rally Continues!
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The Best Quotes from the Vanguard Founder, John C. Bogle
John Bogle revolutionized the investing worldโbecoming the king of the "Index-and-Chill" movement with the creation of the Vanguard ETF. A powerful way to invest for your future.
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How to Overcome Red Halloween? A Massive Financial Surprise in October!
Financial Scares, Inflation issues and High price frights. Alas we made it through October. Just maybe we can survive to end 2022.
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Stock Market to Perform better after the Fed Rate Cuts?
Since 2019, the stock market has performed exceptionally, with a 95% gain or an average of 19% annually by 2024. Despite prior downturns, economists predict a new bull supercycle, offering investment opportunities. Staying aware of market trends and adopting a smart investment strategy is crucial for wealth growth amidst economic volatility.
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Why Financial Freedom Should Be On Your Wealth Bucket List
Achieving financial freedom necessitates a Wealth Bucket List to prepare for retirement. The author emphasizes accountability, budgeting, and discipline as paths to personal finance success. Planning for retirement includes significant financial goals, a commitment to lifelong learning, and a passion for travel and service. The aim is to create a purposeful, fulfilling life post-retirement.
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Our Net Worth Performance Was Great Until Bloody September!
The post outlines a tumultuous financial year marked by inflation, depleted savings, and high expenses. Despite challenges, there were job transitions and a move to Florida with relocation costs. It discusses the importance of financial strategies like dollar-cost-averaging, reduced monthly expenses, increased investments, and emergency funds. The net worth rebounded in September, emphasizing resilience and long-term goals, including home renovations and a new savings plan. Financial literacy and adapting to changes are key themes for achieving stability and growth.
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2024 Economic State of Hispanic Americans and its Long-Term Effects on Latino Wealth
Hispanic Americans have experienced notable financial growth over the past decades, with median wealth increasing from $10,000 in 1989 to $62,000 in 2022. This positive trend includes significant gains in equities and real estate post-pandemic. Despite challenges like high student debt and uneven homeownership rates, projections suggest Hispanic household wealth might become the second highest by 2050. Nonetheless, economic disparities remain, highlighting the need for strategic financial planning and education.
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Black Households Will Be Struggling By 2034, Here’s How To Pivot.
Blacks in America face significant financial disparities despite representing 14% of the population. Black households hold less than 4% of U.S. wealth and face median incomes trailing far behind other racial groups. Structural issues, debt, and lower generational wealth hinder financial progress. Building wealth involves strategic saving, investing, and home ownership while minimizing debt and living within means. Future wealth disparities are projected to widen without systemic change.
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Where’s Your Money Going? How to Track Your Expenses.
According to a 2024 Debt.com survey, nearly 94 percent of households noted that they have a budget. And yet, Americans are struggling with their expenses. With higher-than-average inflation, low wages, and high revolving consumer debt, it’s time to modify your behavior. Tracking and managing your expenses is the difference between barely making it and becoming wealthy. As you may know, the TNFG household reviews our expenses monthly or as often as needed. It’s a great opportunity to make cash flow changes instead of unexpected changes. Life happens. I repeat Negative Financial challenges will happen just as often as Positive ones. Know that they are coming and learn to adapt and…
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Changing the Narrative of Wealth by Valuing Time
Investment thunderstorms, repairs and vet bills. Building wealth has never been harder but we can make it through. Going beyond F.I.R.E.
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4 Tips on How to Beat Inflation. Stock Market Performance Between 2020 and 2024
As of April 2024, the stock market was down 5% and inflation is still up 3.4%. Although the market recovered since, day-to-day life has become unaffordable for most Americans. In 2024, money isn’t cheap anymore; proving that financial illiteracy is expensive. At this rate, your knowledge or financial awareness equals your family’s future purchasing power. If you want to compete in modern times, it’s now mandatory to invest. Investing $100 in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 2020, you would have aboutย $145.67ย at the end of 2023, assuming you reinvested all dividends. This is a return on investment ofย nearly 46% percent, or an annualized average return ofย 10.8%ย per year. But that’s…
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Be Rich on Any Income โ Hyper Wealth Accumulation
While the world advances toward automation and AI, it’s time to shift your finances into hyper-wealth accumulation mode. The best part, you don’t have to start rich. Narrow your focus on the goal to end up rich at the finish line. Besides it’s way better than starting rich and ending up poor. Redefining the Financial Journey Not the Finish Line Wealth is not the finish line; learn to redefine the trajectory. The most common misconception about wealth is that you must earn more income to be worth more. Your net worth isnโt compromised solely by your income. It’s a bit more complicated and way more intentional. If you want to…
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How We Made $5k+ in Passive Income for Q2 2024
The second quarter of 2024 was tight. High prices raged on and it's likely that the passive income economy dragged down. With price inflation up, some goals might not materialize this year but we will likely still land in the positive. Nearly $7k in gross passive income is still income.
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Investments surpassed $900,000. Time to Celebrate in Texas?
A small but meaningful TNFG July celebration is in order. We survived the Great Stock Rotation. We don't expect much from Q3 so here's hoping for a solid year end close out of +5% to +11% growth.
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How to Use the Kaizen Business Principles for Continuous Personal and Financial Improvement
Kaizen is the Japanese word for โgood changeโ (Kai = change, Zen = good). Typically used in Business philosophy, it describes the continuous improvement of all functions, at all levels of the hierarchy. As such, Kaizen is both a powerful and competitive strategy. Using it, you will find that each aspect of your life can work seamlessly together. From your relationships with others to your finances, the goal is to shift your lifestyle toward success. At its core, Kaizen means thatย you can always take meaningful actions. As the main character in your story, you are empowered to create, build, and improve. To do better than the last time and to…
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How Not To Let Inflation Erode Your Household Wealth
According to an article by Yahoo Finance, inflation will make these seven assets unaffordable in the next 10 years. The future is expensive.
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Tracking Our Million Dollar Investment Portfolio Since 2020
You have to have some investment if you want to excel in a capitalist system. Without capital assets, you are merely falling behind. Hereโs every single month of tracking our investment portfolio since 2020. Links are also available for the full net worth breakdown for that month. Although we started to track our net worth in 2012, we didn’t start writing blog posts until June 2020 when the website was created. Things that helped our investment grow? Never been a fan of people sharing their final investment numbers without a full context. It’s only fair to paint a real picture. For one, although my wife and I didn’t come from money,…
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Why Tracking Your Wealth Matters. Our Monthly Net Worth Since 2020
A monthly net worth breakdown can help you understand your finances and how you can increase your net worth. To calculate your net worth, you can subtract your total liabilities from your total assets: Factors affecting our Net Worth? I also wanted to add that we are a dual-income family with no kids (but a dog) living in the DMV. The DMV is a tri-state area comprised of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. It’s one of those areas where the median income is typically higher than the rest of the nation. Although we don’t have high-powered C-suite careers, we were fortunate enough to land jobs with great pay. The…
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250k Reasons Why A Mid-Year Financial Review is So Powerful
The stock market tumbled in 2022, however just like that it rebounded through the first half of 2024. You really can't time the market. Stay invested!
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The Power of Perspective and its Impact on your Wealth
Let’s talk about learning and understanding perspective. Every time I’m interviewed about how my wife and I became first-generation millionaires, I’m at a loss for words and why. We aren’t super talented, or “exceptionally smart.” Neither of us has a unique skill set, if you don’t count my wife’s streak of hyper-competitiveness with games. Though we lack, what we do have is Perspective, in abundance. Britannica defines “Perspective” as a way of thinking about and understanding. It could be a particular issue, but for me, it’s more about the angle at which you see life. You can take identical twins, place them in a room filled with 10 people, and…
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Still Not Debt Free but We are Pushing Toward a $1.5 Million Net Worth
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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How Carrying High Debt Costs You $500,000 for a Lifetime
American households are robbing their future by carrying high debt. How much consumer debt are we talking about? As of May 2024, the average household debt rose to $104,215. This includes mortgage balances, auto loans, student loans, personal loans, credit card debt, etc. According to Experian, the US average total debt balance in 2023 was $103,358. This amount is up over 3 percent from 2022. Younger Americans carry nearly $7,500 of revolving credit card debt month-to-month at more than 27.99 percent APY. At this rate, it should be criminal. Making minimum payments would take more than 311 months ( nearly 26 years) and $12,580 in interest to repay. That’s a…
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How to Minimize your Federal Taxes to Maximize your Wealth. I saw this on Social Media Regarding Taxes…
As the title suggests, I saw this social media post regarding taxes. While it wasn’t the worst thing that I had ever seen, it wasn’t good or better yet not accurate. Most Americans have no idea how the US tax system works. From tax brackets, exemptions, adjustments, etc; the system seems intentionally convoluted. Maybe that’s why a lot of people love to truncate the information into negligent but bit-sized elements. Don’t worry you will not get the tax book here, just a general understanding of why it’s better to cut down your taxes to improve your wealth velocity. What Social Media Says about Federal Taxes From casual financial education negligence…
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How to Maximize Your 401k Contributions. My 10-year Gains Exceeded $150,000, on Track to Reach Over $1 Million
If you told me back in 2014 that I would be able to reach even $1 million in investments, I would have likely dismissed it. Social media is filled with misinformation about 401ks, the proof is way more impressive.
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Real Estate versus Stocks: Which Was the Better Pandemic Investment?
Ever wonder what your best move should have been? Between Real Estate versus Stocks which was the better Pandemic Investment?
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When is the Best Time to Invest? Might be in May.
Hooray we all made it through May with flying colors on the road to $1M investment portfolio. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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Here are the Top Three SECURE 2.0 Act starting 2025
If you are over the age of 40, you will need more than $2.5 million for retirement. The SECURE Act 2.0 aims to help you build more wealth.
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How to Improve and Excel in Your Financial Spring Cleaning Monthly
We might have missed the recession, there is still, no better time for a financial spring cleaning. Every April is a great excuse to improve your personal finances.
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The ‘Millennial Dreamโ of a Condo, EV, Farmer’s Market, and Travel Now Costs $6.8 Million
From EVs, expensive homes, farmers' markets, and travel; our 'Millennial Dream' is expensive. We will need nearly $7 million.
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Breaking Down Our Strategy to Achieve a $1,000,000 Investment Portfolio
A breakdown of our household's investments as of March 2024 through 2025. Still, on track with the Net/Max Financial Plan to retire early.
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How We Improved Our Wealth Cash Flow for March
Investments moved up in March 2024, leading to the high performing quarter since 2019. While prices are high, we are still pressing on with our cash flow. It's costing the average household an extra $6,000 per year to keep up. The real question is, are you keeping up?
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Is Investing Still a Better Bet over Saving? Yes!!!
Each year comes with its share of trials and tribulations. The best part of the recent high inflation (2022-2024) is that it is over, now it’s time to realign your financial ducks in order. With the market diving in late March 2024, a few top-performing companies carried the entire economy. This presents a colossal opportunity for investors over long-term savers with cash to spare. The market priced in the losses, we are likely in for at least an 8% to 10% upswing toward the end of the year. If you are ready, it’s time to BUY low and HOLD for dear life. Buy ETFs Low, and Hold for Highs While…
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How to Rekindle Love and Wealth During an AI Bull Market
All is Fair in Love, Inflation, and Nvidia. Since we can't predict the future best thing to do now is to inflation-proof your net worth. Hopefully this is a start to an AI bull market.
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Using Whole Life Insurance for Retirement? Read the Fine Print
By now you likely heard of whole life insurance. If not, you are in luck. This is where you really have to read the fine print. If you ever run into an insurance advisor, producer, agent, or associate, just know that they are insurance sellers. They make a commission on the sale. That should be warning enough. Worst yet, they really donโt make that much annually (ref. ). This makes them very desperate which forces them to stretch the truth on the benefits of their services or products. Specifically, if you want to protect your hard-earned dollars, pay attention to the sleight of hand. Keep an eye out for the…
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How to Create a Modern Savings Plan That Scales
65% of Americans will be impacted by a financial emergency. Only 27% have an emergency plan in place. Hereโs How to Create Your Own Acid Plan
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2024 Economic State of Black Struggle and its Long-Term Effects on Black Wealth
Are Blacks in America doing better; guess we have to look at the Black statistics to see the results. Over the last 50 years, Black Americans have had substantial social and economic growth. The last four years (post-pandemic) showcased an increase in asset attainment through investing with a general concern its the long-term viable impacts on Black households. While gaining political rights has long been the predominant goal, Black Millennials and Gen-Zers are redefining these long-held beliefs and values. From the pulpit to the global media representation, Blacks in America are entering professions from which they had been blocked. And yet, income lags and net wealth remains low. The Post-Black…
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How to Invest In 2024 So We Can Catch Flights Not Feelings
Staying on top while we invest in 2024. Catching flights not Feelings!
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How to Kick-Off Your Wealth for the New Year
Coming off of a rough 2022 and a stellar 2023, we are going right into 2024. While the mental kick-off was slow, it's a relief to have at least one month of solid stock performance to set the tone. 2024 should be challenging but solid.
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We Paid $200,000 in Debt. Here are Some Wealth Tips
Sounds crazy but It's true. We were able to pay $200k in total debt repayments in 1yr. Here's our best advice for married millennials.
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The Main Reasons You Will End Up Broke in Retirement
Having a lot of money in retirement savings is no guarantee it will last the rest of your life. One of the worst things about my job is watching retirees make mistakes in their retirement plans. We recently met with a family that came to us after managing their finances during their lives like most families. They brought this retirement plan to us, and it showed that they had roughly $1.3M at the time of creation. Fortunately, they werenโt doing poorly by any means.ย They were puzzled because they were great budgeters, so the common culpritโoverspendingโwas not the issue this time. What created such a change in their trajectory? In this article,…
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The Ten Most Powerful Money Habits of Millennial Millionaires
Time to understand the Millennial Millionaire Habits. According to a 2019 report from Coldwell Banker Global Luxury and WealthEngine, there areย approximately 618,000ย millennial millionaires in the United States.ย This number makes up approximately 2 percent of the total US millionaire population and 0.2 percent of the general US population. The typical millennial millionaire has a net worth ranging from $1 million to $2.49 million. Real Estate (RE) makes up a healthy position in their portfolio. As such, wealth millennials view RE as a key way to build cash flow, leverage debt, and build wealth. While the average millennial millionaire owns three properties, they generally live near the coast in dense metropolitan hubs. These…
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With 90% Growth in 2023? How to beat the S&P with this Investment Portfolio
The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics: Financial Planning, Budgeting, Millennial Money Management, Investment Portfolio Strategies, Retirement tips, and more. The goal is to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T+E.R. goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. And, if you are into this sort of thing; the blog is PLUTUS nominated, I studied Accounting with a Specialization in Taxation, served in the US Marine Corps and now work as an Auditor. Iโm also big on Traveling and watching Anime. While often confused with Savings, Investing yields more rewards Based on news reports, the economy narrowly avoided a true…
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How to Bring in $24k of Passive Income by Q4 2023
Reviewing The Neighborhood Finance Guy's (TNFG) not so passive income and what generated $24,000 through 2023. Extra Money is Good Money! With the market slowing through 2025, time to get creative and earn more before the next super cycle.
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Hereโs The Simple Guide to Build Wealth Every Decade
Start by considering every decade of your life, as compounding seasons that lead to wealth. While stock market volatility, unemployment numbers, and CPI aren’t at the top of the societal conversation, they are important context clues on managing your money. If financial experts say that we are heading toward a downturn, it should be a mental note about your savings or lack thereof. When times are great, that’s where you should plan for when times aren’t. This doesn’t imply that you can’t enjoy the moment, however, it’s a reminder that all good things may not last forever. With the possibility of recession looming, instead of being anxious, consider your time…
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Millennials will need nearly $190,000 annually to survive 2060
Nothing erodes Wealth faster than Inflation. If the cost is $73k in 2022, it will explode to $190k by 2060. Are you making the adjustments?
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How Wealth Adds Up for Teachers ft. Crystina Cardoza
Today, we have featured guest Crystina Cardoza who is a math specialist and financial literacy educator. She shared her passion for teaching math, and encouraged others to be more confident in their math abilities in order to thrive in their personal finances.
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How to Build a More Secure Financial Future in 2024
Coming off of 2020-2021 with $200k net worth increases year over year, the market slowed drastically for 2022 and 2023. We're Tracking Still Growth over Losses.
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How We Created $30k Wealth Investments in December
Early December Santa Claus helped to sweeten 2023. Our stock performance bumped up 28% and our net worth followed.
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How to Prepare for 2024 Market Turbulence while The S&P 500 Set to Close at 5,200
Below are the newest 2024 S&P 500 forecasts. The S&P 500 price targets range from 4,250 to 5,200. This implies returns of between -8% and +12.5% from the December 11, 2023 close of 4,622. We seem to have survived the worst of the cocaine bear market (when the S&P 500 hit 3,577 in October 2022). Based on economist predictions, there will be strong income growth (amid cooling inflation and a robust job market). With the expectation that federal rate hikes have delivered their biggest hits to GDP growth in 2022 through 2023, manufacturing is set to recover in 2024. The key risks to the S&P 500’s performance include consumer sentiment,…
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If You Think It Costs A lot Today, Check Out These 2030 Estimates
Nothing erodes Wealth faster than Inflation. If the cost is $73k in 2020, it will balloon to $95k by 2030. Are you making the adjustments?
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How Americans are Getting Extorted by the Soft Life
Today the crew discusses extravagant events and super soft life. Try not to get scammed into the paycheck-to-debt lifestyle. #TreatCulture is hurting more pockets than we know.
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The Limitations of the Financial Trauma Conversation on Social Media
We are all together again. Today we discuss Lawrence's controversial tweet on Twitter about the lack of money (in Lawrence's voice) is not financial trauma.
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How $3.4 Million Became the Price of the American Dream
Based on Investopedia, the American Dream now costs over $3 million. Well, $3,455,305 but what’s an extra $450,000 between friends? See the dream isn’t dead, the reality is that it costs a lot of money over your lifetime. Against the backdrop of sustained high prices and lingering inflation, the average American is struggling to keep up with the social media Joneses. Gone are the days of discipline and measured spending, in are the days of conspicuous consumption, higher credit card debt balances, and toxic poverty porn. Surrounded by the conversation of debt crises and financial trauma, did Investopedia drop clickbait or are they unto something? We will go through each…
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Sitting on Cash Could Cost You a Lot of Money
Cash comes with an opportunity cost โ by sitting in cash, investors may miss out on the potential upside stocks could see in a soft landing, lack the protection that bonds can offer if a recession does happen, and lose out on the inflation protection that real assets have.
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First We Build Wealth and Then We Travel
Building wealth is easier when investments are booming. November 2023 clawed back nearly $3 Trillion in wealth. The Stock market has the best month since October 2022.
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Coming to the Defense of Black Masculinity ft. Ecclesiast Guerrier
Bonus Episode - A great conversation between friends on the Financial Griot Podcast about Black Masculinity in a changing world.
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We are Back for the First Time with a Millionaire
The TFG crew is BACK! Well 2/3 of us. LOL, Lawrence and Alainta catching up on life. And celebrating Mister Millionaire status (Lawrence Gonzalez) net worth. It's all joy and a bit of social critique. So what's going on around the world?
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$82,353 is the Salary You Need To Make To Obtain Millionaire Status
More People Should Build Wealth. It's Easier than You Think. Most Millennials Can and Should Consider Becoming Millionaires.
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The True Wealth of Inheritance: Cash Flow and Opportunities
Over 1 in 5 US households received an inheritance, according to the 2022 Federal Reserveโs Survey of Consumer Finances. The average American inherited nearly $60,000. While the majority will inherit zero or debt, those who will receive this windfall can expect around $266,000.
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How to Measure The Power of Marriage: Wedding Bliss and 3/4 Millionaires
The crew is together and today we discuss Lawrence's family's pending millionaire status and the significance of partnership and marriage.
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Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is a Must-Read, Here’s Why
Today the crew discusses Trevor Noah's autobiography, Born a Crime: Stories from South Africa. An amazing tour de force book with powerful lessons that we can all learn from. It's a biography of South American society as much as it is a deeply personal story of Trevor Noah's life. It is both charming and thought-provoking.
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Is Whole Life Insurance Right for Me?
The crew is together again. Lawrence discusses his recent experience on a financial panel, discussing whole life insurance vs. term life insurance. The crew dives into the financial differences and the reasons why whole life insurance does not serve our community well. Whole life insurance is more beneficial for sellers but not the families who are purchasing these financial products.
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3 things We Did to Solve the Racial Wealth Gap for Our Family
The racial wealth gap is a widely discussed and known issue in the US. While wealth gaps are prevalent worldwide, America has been on a divergent path for a while. In the second quarter of 2023, white households held north of 85% of total wealth. The median white household is hovering at $284,310 while Black wealth trails behind at less than $45,000. That’s a difference of 6.5 times. The Wealth of Two Nations: The U.S. Racial Wealth Gap, 1860-2020 did a great job summarizing how we got here. You can definitely read it for yourself. It’s filled with incredible insight into how freed enslaved people (1860) were able to converge wealth…
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How to Invest While Reducing Your Tax Liability in 2024ย
Investing for the future comes with several benefits, but one sometimes overlooked benefit is reducing your tax liability. By investing for the future in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, you can potentially reduce your overall tax bill. This works by leveraging your current dollars to structure long-term wins. With that said, taxes can become complex. Use this as a guide for a better understanding of your own goals and how to position yourself. Then, I’d recommend that you seek a licensed tax professional who understands financial planning. The wealthy don’t merely do their taxes by April, they plan ahead in November of the prior year. Here are five ways to potentially reduce your…
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Keke Do you Love me? Are You Single?
The crew is together and today we discuss Keke Palmer and social media antics. But more importantly, what can we learn from this, and how to adjust when necessary? It's not just entertainment.
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How to Harness the Power of Internal Pressure with No Room for Error
Lawrence and Alainta discuss how to harness life's internal pressure. There is a daily exercise of risk assessment that we make each day to be successful. Daily challenges and the tension we carry; we cannot afford to make simple mistakes anymore. That's the price for autonomy and independence in a modern society.
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How Much Money or Wealth Do You Need to Be Part of the Middle Class?
Is the middle class shrinking? Most want to be rich while no one wants to be poor. So most call themselves Middle Class to fit in. But how much income do you need? How much wealth do you need?
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Stocks Down 10%? Our Massive Financial Correction in October!
Financial Scares, Inflation issues and High price frights. Alas we made it through October. Just maybe we can survive to end 2022.
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How to qualify for Student Loan debt forgiveness?
This past Friday the Supreme Court struck down President Biden's student loan cancellation. The crew discusses the recent Supreme Court rulings and how these decisions will impact our lives and the entire country.
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Humanizing Our Experience with Money
Today, we break down the latest 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances. The TFG reflects on how statistics can be used as a proactive tool and how the numbers humanize the average American's experience with money.
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The Economy is Switching Gears. Important Things to Consider for Q4 2023 and Beyond
For most of 2023, investors have been switching gears in this economy against an ever-evolving macroeconomic backdrop. From the war in Ukraine to the Middle East, social anxiety is up. Even the economic growth of the top ten companies in the world isn’t enough to abet fear. Beyond that, inflation has proven to have staying power. Currently, the economic growth in the US is supported by resilient consumers. Many of them are dipping deeper into their savings and investments while also spending on credit. However, there have been signs of a rally in energy prices while consumer pessimism climbs. People are tired in 2023 and are in need of a…
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Master Daily Decisions to Make You Wealthy for a Lifetime
Have you ever heard the term, โdonโt trip over dollars trying to pick up pennies?โ In life, it comes down to four categories of decisions: our daily $100 decisions; followed by, the $10,000 decision; the massive $100,000 decision; and, the 2-part indecision. Letโs break down each so you can start financially prioritizing what matters most: Small Decisions Matter but they donโt often carry the weight Firstly, it is not to say the smaller decisions do not matter at all. However, to a point, you should be making decisions and moving on the items that carry impact. As such, each small action needs to be important enough to warrant a limited…
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How to Move Toward Proactive Money Solutions ft. Jonathan Thomas
2/3 gang is present. Today we have guest Jonathan Thomas and he shares his money story and proactive solutions for building wealth.
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Workers, Strikes and Union: The Financial Impact on Society
Today, the crew discussed the recent increase in worker strikes, their respective financial impacts, and the potential impacts on our entire society. The picket line, work freeze, and the cost of goods are taking their toll. Something has to give. Will society break or will the workers?
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Americans Spent an Extra 20 Percent. Here are the details on the 2022 Fed Survey
The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics, investment strategies, Household median income management, and retirement tips to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T+ER goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. If you are feeling poorer, you are likely spending way more than you think. Household income isn’t dropping. Prices on everyday items are going up. Join the Newsletter that can help re-balance your mind, body, and spirit. Feeling a bit stressed about Expenses? The average annual expense per median household went up from $66,928 in 2021 to $72,967 in 2022. This was an increase of 7.5 percent. Add…
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How Did Black Wealth Increase by 60%
In a surprising turn of events, median Black household wealth increased by 60 percent from 2019 through 2022. This represents a significant boost of $17,000. Ultimately, this is a great offset to the seismic decrease of 61 percent from 2007 through 2010. According to the recent 2022 Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances, the median American household experienced a 37 percent boost. This represents a (net) positive increase through the pandemic. What changed? And, will this pivot help to improve the odds of reaching racial wealth parity? Why does this increase in Black Wealth Matter? As of Q3 2023, Black households held less than 5 percent of total US wealth. In…
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The Problem with Social Media Financial Spending Plan
Conscious Spending Plan, as defined by Ramit Sethi (renowned financial author) is a short-form financial plan that accounts for savings while indulging in guilt-free spending. With that, his aim is to decouple the notion of money as either being rigidly disciplined vs living in the moment. โ…It is all about spending extravagantly on the things you love, as long as you cut costs mercilessly on the things you donโt. Itโs not about restriction. Itโs about being intentional with your money and then spending on the things you love guilt-free.โ Ramit remarks that the plan is rewarding because you get to CHOOSE how you want to spend your money AND how…
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Earning $250K Per Year, And Learning How to Not Live Paycheck to Paycheck
There is no shortage of headlines with couples earning over $100k and living paycheck to paycheck. It doesn't have to be that way at all.
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How to Create $7k in Passive Income Quarterly – Q3 2023 Recap
The second quarter of 2023 was hopeful but the third quarter was a struggle. High Inflation is here to stay. A global recession is pretty much certain for 2024. In translation, get creative and earn more.
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Where are Americans Making Over $100k in a Year?
With the median salary in the US in 2022 set at $70,784 (down 0.5% from $71,186 in 2021), where are Americans making $100,000 or more? From perfectly curated kitchens, social media has a knack for filtering “positive stories,” devoid of inflation and high prices. Nearly 61% of Americans are reportedly living paycheck to credit card debt. The US personal savings rate plummeted to 3.9% in August 2023 (down 0.2% from July). This is well below the decades-long average of roughly 8.9%, especially as debt accumulation rises to record highs. The median weekly earnings of full-time workers in the four months ending December 2022 were $1,050 (less than $53,000/yr). Any amount above…
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How to Redefine Achieving Meaningful Success through Conquering Fear
There is nothing left to fear but fear itself.
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Time to Save Again for Financial Emergencies
The stock market tumbled in September 2022, however the real turbulence came with a family health and financial emergency. Sometimes Building Wealth Takes a Back Seat.
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The Top Seven Most Productive Ways to Close Out the Year
And just like that the 4th quarter is here; it's not too late to be productive and close out strong. The goal is to set up the next year.
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Ready to Pay an extra $400 toward Student Loans Monthly?
After 3 years of Federal student loan forbearance, Americans will contend with a familiar line item in the budget. Most aren't ready for it.
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Engaging in Mandatory Wellness Checks: The Lonely Epidemic
The crew is back together and catching up. Today we discuss the lonely epidemic and the ways many of us struggle with the different levels of loneliness. And the realization of needing relationships and people. Being lonely is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, depression, and cognitive decline. The solution - Social Connection
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American Households in 2022 spent $72,967. How much did we spend?
The Average American Household earned $94,003 pre-tax and spent over $72,967 in 2022. Unfortunately, they only saved $8,742. How did we do?
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Here are the Latest 401k, IRA, HSA, and Other Contribution Limits for 2024
One of the best ways to become an automatic millionaire in your lifetime. Don't skip on the contributions.
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Putting the Lens on Black Wealth – How We Are Reaching F.I.R.E.
Investment thunderstorms and costly repairs. Building wealth has never been harder but we can make it through. We are reaching F.I.R.E.
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Important Information to get your Financial Affairs in Order Before Death
Getting your financial affairs in order before death is the best way to protect and support your family. Don't wait to get it right. YOLO
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Reflecting on How We Became Millionaires in Under Six Years
My wife would admit that becoming millionaires was always more my thing. It was hobby that wasnโt taxing, or costly so she allowed it.
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How to Avoid Falling behind Financially in Your 40s
Ever feel like you are falling behind financially? Turns out, most Americans feel the same way. New job applicants are requesting no less than $80,000 per year in entry-level roles. While most families say they need over $230,000 per year to stay afloat. Boomers are entering retirement with fewer savings than anticipated. Genx is stuck in its own sandwich generation with the likelihood of another recession. While millennials are now ages 26 to 41. Life is getting financially complicated. We are all navigating through major life transitions from the global pandemic to global reversion to the mean. All this, on top of getting married (or not), going 50/50 on expenses,…
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You Need to Buy a Home, Renting is Expensive!
The narrative that “renting and investing the difference” is always better than home ownership is oversimplified and problematic. Ramit Sethi (Author, millionaire, and financial influencer) has been on a personal crusade to encourage a generation to live as perpetual renters. Why? He is a fervent believer that most people will get rich doing this. Unfortunately, he misses the mark. Let’s break it down. Return on Investments from Renting and Owning Owning a home isn’t just about the monetary Return on Investment (ROI). It’s about having a space that’s truly yours, a sanctuary where memories are made. This intangible value is irreplaceable and can’t be measured solely in financial terms. While…
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More Fables, Myths, and Financial Lessons from Short Stories
When discussing Financial literacy, it’s important to remember that we learned a lot of lessons from short fables, stories, and folklore. By the way, I didn’t write these stories. Just resharing them here to help jog memories with aha! moments. These stories were once pivotal as warnings or cautionary tales. When I was growing up Aesop Fables and Grimm Fairytales were amazingly dark. There were rarely happy endings with a heavy emphasis on life not being fair. Yet, they offered financial nuggets that stand the test of time. The Most Dangerous Financial Lessons Trusting Your Instincts A scorpion asks a frog to carry him over a river. The frog is…
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Since You Got A Degree and Know Everything!
Today 2/3 of the gang is present. Lawrence and Alainta discuss career prospects and earning higher degrees, the false expectations of dreams, and scam lives.
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Understanding the Necessity of Ownership in real life
Today we discuss the topic of black homeownership. We derived the conversation from a relator article breakdown of homeownership amongst different races and what the numbers mean for black communities moving forward.
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The Truth about Progress in the US and the Power of Bootstrapping
The crew shares the story of being called a "Bootstrapper" and how bootstrapping has influenced their lives.
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We Hit over $950,000. Time to Celebrate in Mexico!?
A massive TNFG July celebration is in order. We reached 1 Million dollars worth of Assets. What's crazy is we started off with $0 in 2012. Well here's hoping this is a start to a solid year end close out.
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While most Podcast Fail within a year, TFG Reaches its 100th Podcast Episode
The gang is back! and today there is no topic at all. LOL catching up on what we've been binging, and what's going on in the world. And congratulation on TFG's 100th plus episode.
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Ten Wealth Soft Skills that Require ZERO Talent but Boost Your Income
Success isn’t solely determined by innate abilities or degree; a greater part is shaped by your own Soft Skills. According to MBO Partners, “Soft skills are an essential part of improving oneโs ability to work with others and can have a positive influence on furthering your career. If you are a small business owner or self-employed, soft skills can help you find, attract, and retain clients.” Why are soft skills important in your day-to-day life? Polished presentation skills, networking abilities, and social awareness can help you win make friends and win clients. The overall goal is to improve connections with others. Honing the ability to resolve conflicts, solve problems under stress,…
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Tracking Expenses from Year to Year. Where’s Our Money?
Tracking expenses is a difference better barely making it and becoming wealthy. It's easier once you move beyond the barely making it.
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Why We Need to Fix the Gender Pay Disparity!
The crew is together again, and adding to the TFG short episode is guest Anjel Mcdonald. We discuss pay disparities in financial spaces and the lack of Black representation. Do organizations owe us anything, or do we owe ourselves to show up and become the solution-makers we seek?
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Why the Stock Market and Financial Habits Align with Your Wealth
2/3 of the crew is here. Lovely and Lawrence discuss the stock market and diversifying our life's purpose.
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Here’s How To Set Up A Retirement Income Portfolio
A solid retirement income portfolio provides retirees with a stable source of income plus potential for growth based on the user's risk profile and time horizon.
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How to Become an MVP Mom. Maximize Your Career Pivot to Earn the Six Figure Salary
Today the crew discusses career trajectories and pivoting jobs for higher pay. We have a special guest, Holly Noon. She shares how she successfully increased her salary by over $65,000 in the last five yearsโand leveled up her career to her current position as Vice President of the Talent and Acquisition Diversity Data Program Management Lead.
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How We Made $5k+ in Passive Income for Q2 2023
The second quarter of 2023 was hopeful. High prices raged on and it's likely that the passive income economy dragged down. With price inflation up, some goals might not materialize this year but we will likely still land in the positive. +$5k in gross passive income is still income.
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The Crushing Weight of Poverty and its Effects
2/3 of the crew is present with another short. Lovely and Lawrence discuss the weight of poverty and how money impacts everything.
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How Short Stories Can Instruct Us on How to Interact in Modern Society
By the way, I didn’t write these stories. Just resharing them here. These are financial lessons wrapped in life lessons. They stand the test of time. The Donkey and the Tiger The donkey told the tiger, “The grass is blue.” The tiger replied, “No, the grass is greenโ.” The discussion became heated, and the two decided to submit the issue to arbitration, so they approached the lion. As they approached the lion on his throne, the donkey started screaming: โฒโฒYour Highness, isn’t it true that the grass is blue?”โ The lion replied: “If you believe it is true, the grass is blue.”โ The donkey rushed forward and continued: โฒโฒThe tiger…
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Still Not Debt Free. Grabbing the +$900k Net Worth Prize
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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Amazing Financial Advice if You Make Less than $75,000 per year
Great financial advice if you are stuck in the middle and making less than $75,000 per year. Challenges are mounting, Grow with them.
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Watching Our Wealth Grow Over $1,000,000 in 2023
Coming off of 2020-2021 with $200k net worth increases year over year, the market slowed drastically for 2022 and 2023. We're Tracking Still Growth over Losses.
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Everything Concerning Black Love, Health, and Wealth
We are bringing it back! a newbie but technically an oldie. This is an older discussion the TFG (Before we became The Financial Griot) crew had in 2021 concerning black love and wealth.
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Over 100 Quotes From Black Financial Experts and Wealth Builders
TNFG's Top 101 Motivational and Financial Quotes to Help You Build Generational Wealth and radically change your life for the better. Time to pivot toward a work-purpose balanced life.
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Discussion with Rare Bird Money ft. Ainjel McDonald
The crew is here with guest Anjel Mcdonald. She shares her story of helping people build a comfortable life with education and the personal finance platform Rare bird Money.
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Here are the 5 Expenses Destroying Your Budget More than the Latte
Turns out most American households are overspending by as much as $5,000. As inflation causes prices for nondiscretionary items like food, housing, and energy to rise, families need to reduce their expenses by any means. This will likely require a change in lifestyle too. My wife and I started eating out less. On top of that, we also started to eat less meat. Most don’t recognize that they are overspending, especially when a mild luxury outing is flanked by smaller ones. Debt by a thousand cuts. If you want to buck the trend of households living paycheck to debt or stress, take the road less traveled. Consider cutting these 5…
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How to Survive Spring, Summer, or Winter Break with These Kids
The gang is back with a short. We discuss the importance of traveling and exposure, allowing the kids in our lives to gain needed experiences of lifetime value.
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Best Time to Invest? May proved that Buying the Dip Works!
Hooray we all made it through May with flying colors on the road to $900k net worth. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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How to Find Wealth Through Faith ft. Oluwadamilola
We are back with another episode. Today we have a guest, Oluwadamilola, a full-time entrepreneur and podcast host. He discusses his journey of finding his purpose with faith and finances.
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Here’s How to Invest Your First $10,000 through 2050
You really need to invest. No matter if it's a simple ETF or a mix of holdings. Investing is now mandatory for long-term wealth survival. Hedge inflation.
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Finding Your Way Out of Poverty Through Ideas and the Quality of Your Thoughts ft. Tiffany Grant
Today we have guest Tiffany Grant (Money Talk with Tiff). She shares her money journey and helps others with financial education and counseling.
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A Better Way to Budget: Net Max Plan Live Review
We all hate the B word, but today Lawrence and Alainta discussed the foundational process of budget planning while reviewing his net max plan budget sheet (Yes, it's a tongue twister, LOL).
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Here are 7 Ways to Increase Your Income and Wealth by 20% Annually
For as much as the personal finance space talks about debt reduction and/or now financial trauma, it definitely avoids talking about the NEED to increase your INCOME. Bringing in income is a massive component of building sustainable wealth and increasing your happiness. There are but so many expenses to cut until you are living like a 15th-century monk. Beyond establishing financial discipline and developing SMART+ER goals, you will need money. Bills aren’t paid on aspirations alone. Forget what social media says, you still need real currency backed by reality. Over the last five years, my wife and I were able to travel more while scaling up our net worth. How?…
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Why it’s Important to Plan, Yesterday’s Taxes are not Today’s Taxes.
The gang is present. Today we discuss taxes, the Real cost of entering new tax brackets, and other random social tangents.
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Why It’s Important to Travel and Never Limit Your Destination in Life
The crew is back with another short episodeโa random discussion about travel; and family matters with our special guest Tammy Terrell.
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Millennial Millionaire Traits You Need to Know and How You Can Use Them
Even with the last decade of economic downturns and uncertainty, a new millennial millionaire is minted every month. According to Coldwell Banker, out of 72 million Millennials in America,ย roughly 700,000ย are already millionaires. Beyond quiet-quitting, student loans, and their love of Starbux $SBUX, millennial millionaires share similar qualities to the old guard. Thus, understanding these traits can help you modify and adapt them, in order to reach new financial heights. While I know some will go to the corner and yell, “Impossible” in four languages, it’s actually doable. Especially if you feel like your back is against the wall financially, adopting these habits will be essential to thrive in the next…
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If You Think It Costs A lot Today, Check Out These 2050 Estimates
Nothing erodes Wealth faster than Inflation. If the cost is $67k in 2021, it will balloon to $140k by 2050. Are you making the adjustments?
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Why it’s Important to do a Financial Spring Cleaning Monthly
With a Recession on the way, no better time for a financial spring cleaning. Every April is a great excuse to improve your personal finances.
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How to Mitigate the Black Tax
Instead of six-figure inheritances, Black families typically pay the Black Tax. And it's going to be costly, $2,000 per month.
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How We Became Credit Card Debt Free in 2023
We were credit card debt free before in 2021, but we are back at it in 2023. All of this while still building wealth despite the odds.
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How We’re Building On Our $500,000 Investment Portfolio
A breakdown of our household's investments in 2023. Still, on track with the Net/Max Financial Plan to retire early.
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A Health Care Plan is Important to Your Self Care
The global slowdown revealed critical issues in health care by way of social inequality. A lot of it starts at home.
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How a Great Budgeting Plan Can Help You Live Off of $112,000 Per Year for the Rest of your life
Most people are budgeting ineffectively. Fortunately, this Budgeting Plan Can Help You live off of $112K Per Year for the rest of your life.
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How the SECURE Act 2.0 Impacts Millennials and Gen-Z
From automatic enrollment to reduce administration costs, the SECURE Act 2.0 offers deep Impacts for Millennials and Gen-Z.
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Here are the Top Recession Investing Strategies For Beginners
Your household recession investing strategy should help you prepare for financial emergencies, engage in wealth protection, boost dividend income, and scale.
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How to Achieve The New International American Dream with Stephanie Gonzales
TFG crew is back with our special guest, Stephanie Gonzales, the voice behind the Womenโs Wealth Effect Personal Finance Brand. Turns, out the American Dream isn't Debt, it's International. Stephanie is a 1st generation Mexican American, born and raised in Texas. With over a decade in wealth building, she is building a brand that will become a North star to support women, in particular women of color. The goal is to build wealth and careers. This conversation is all about serving with intention and purpose to grow communities and relationships for lifetimes to come.
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How to Invest Your First $250,000 to Retire with $80,000 Annually
If you are looking to retire comfortably with $80,000 of passive income, you have to invest first. $250,000 can set you up for life.
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Here’s How to Bring in $5k Passive Income in Q1 2023
Reviewing The Neighborhood Finance Guy's (TNFG) not so passive income and what generated $5,000 to kick off 2023. Extra Money is Good Money! With the market slowing through 2024, get creative and earn more.
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New to Investing? Here’s a List of ETFs
New to Investing? Here's a List of ETFs
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How to Invest Wisely with Real Estate ft. Monick Halm
The entire crew together- yes, Lovely has bless us with her presence (LOL). Today guest we have Monick Halm (Real Estate Goddesses). She share her story from practicing law to creating a multi million real estate investing company with her husband. She provides great insight of the of the fluctuation of economy and the importance of creating multi streams of passive income.
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How to Move Away from Fake Communities and $250,000 Weddings
TFG crew is starting the New Year together. We are catching up and discussing vacations highlights, weddings and the fake narrative of "community."
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Teaching a Live Financial Literacy Workshop: Ready to Build Wealth?
The entire crew is LIVE; literally. Hosted a live financial workshop
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How to Dive into a Deeper Wealth Journey ft. Jay Stephens
TFG is together again with guest Jay Stephens (My Wealth Journey, LLC). She shares her wealth journey, real estate investing and financial nuggets in between. Wait wasn't Jay on before? Well, we do love our pre-show or after show conversation. Love these wealth chats since it feels like we are building community. Join us and get to know how a little black girl becomes a leading lady in tech. Best life activated.
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80% Pay Little to No Taxes in Retirement. Here’s Why
The ins and outs of tax law will be important to consider at least 5 years before you retire. Gone are the days, when you can feign ignorance about your personal finances. It's better to be active and engage in learning how it works. Even if it's for your own parents and ultimately for you in retirement.
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Has anyone been to Antarctica? Yep, Time to Travel More
TFG Crew is back; discussing upcoming travels. Even thought about traveling the world and seeing the 8th wonders of the world? Well Lawrence has and he also wants to go to Antartica. Why? Unlike Alainta who thinks Antartica is Alaska, Lawrence is super adventurous. Travel is his drug of choice when it comes to spending. What's yours? By the way, the average cost of a domestic vacation is $1,550 for a solo traveler, while the average cost of an international trip is $2,300. Add about $1,500 just to be safe. You know inflation. Everything costs more.
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How We Improved Our Wealth Cash Flow for March
Investments moved up for March 2023 however still down from last year. While prices are high, we are still pressing on with our cash flow. It's costing the average household an extra $6,000 per year to keep up.
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How to Find Your Voice with Toastmasters ft. Tammy Terrell
2/3 of the crew is here, and today we have an amazing guest and transformative speaker Tammy Terrell. She shares her personal story about evolving in Toastmasters, finding your voice through the hardships in your life, and becoming a better person on the other side.
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How to Find Empowerment Beyond Your Financial Trauma ft. Rahkim Sabree
Firing your boss is not an easy thing to do. And that's just the start of the story. The Financial Griot Podcast is back at it again! Today we have a special guest Rahkim Sabree (Financial Trauma coach). He is an author and on his way to being an expert on the subject. We discuss his journey from firing his boss, moving through corporate America as a Black man, and finding purpose and building legacy through his financial trauma. We also talk about life as an entrepreneur. Breaking out and building is difficult so we had to unpack.
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What You Need to Know to Grow $500,000 into $3 Million for Retirement
So you build up your coast fire portfolio to $500,000. Here's how it can grow to $3 Million for Retirement. The goal is to put your money to work for you.
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Here are the Top 10 Best Financial Resources that Helped Us Build Wealth
If you want to build wealth quickly and effectively, you need the best personal finance resources for the job. If you are new here, you stumbled on the best website that helps the average American live happily and wealthy. The Neighborhood Finance Guy is a powerful resource. We cover financial literacy topics, financial planning, Budgeting, Cash Management, Investing Strategies, and much more. We have over 400 blog posts and resources to prove it. Especially helpful for first-generation wealth builders. These resources scale from beginners making less than $40,000 per year to families making as much as $250,000 per year. I can tell you right now, if you part of the…
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101 Financial Quotes to Help You Build Generational Wealth
TNFG's Top 101 Motivational and Financial Quotes to Help You Build Generational Wealth and radically change your life for the better. Time to pivot toward a work-purpose balanced life.
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How to Redefining Work-Purpose Balance ft. Deborah Napoleon
Today we have special guest, former educator and published author Deborah Napolean (Ms. Debbie Kids corner). We discussed her transition teaching out of the classroom, that promoted her to create resources and tools to make learning fun at home; so that young black kids can see themselves not only in books but becoming great leaders of tomorrow.
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This is not Dictatorship. Stop Telling Black Women to Settle
Let's recap, the Financial Griot is as podcast that exists at the intersection of life and wellness. Sure we talk about money, as a bonus, we discuss real time issue that derives from access and community. The Financial Griot crew is back! Well 2/3 back. Lovely is absent; she is busy being the next Oprah with her tech business. Or we are figuring out that we are not the Beyonce of the group. As such, we are dissecting a toxic narrative floating on social media. In the end, can be please stop telling Black women settle for less and less. And can we start mentoring and guiding Black men to…
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Finding Opportunities in Ownership and Real Estate ft. Linda Vincent
TFG podcast is back at it again! Today, we have Real estate agent Linda Vincent (from SheMotivates) joining us to discuss the nuisance with Real Estate and the importance of securing legacy with home-ownership. Alainta pushes back at our guest and looses decorum; debate about housing opportunity and speculation; LOL it's all good. Lawrence was shocked but they know each other offline. The Real Estate beef is real. Great points are made for an important topic as mortgage rates race north of 7% for the foreseeable future.
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How to Be Rich In Real Life. Time to Move beyond Cosplaying Wealth.
The TFG gang is all here with another short episode. Wait that's a first in a while. It's a cause for celebration or our episodes run out of sequence (hint). Today we discuss how people project their issues and ideologies online. We also chat about the importance of distancing yourself while creating systems that hold you accountable. We only get one life to live, unless this is the Matrix. Since this is the only life that we are aware of, try not to squander time getting caught up into the lives and the internal issues of others. Your future success depends on it.
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Here’s a Simple Breakdown of The Silicon Valley Bank Crash
In response to the pandemic, the government stepped in to provide support and relief, pumping even more money into the market. This superheated the market, causing more retail investors to jump on board, further increasing the pressure on banks to maintain their profitability.
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How to Level Up and Boost Your Income in 2023
Today we discuss with Lovely (the resident Beyonce of the crew) about her educational pursuit obtaining her MBA while successfully running a small business. This episode of the Financial Griot covers how to prepare for a recession and how to level up to boost your income and career opportunities. Tech layoffs often predates other industry layoffs. With a recession looming, businesses will be looking to cut. It's up to you to look for ways to become invaluable to your industry.
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How to Build through Faith and Finances ft. Robert Metzger, Jr.
The Financial Griot (TFG) is back with another amazing financial top. Alainta is the only one here today but she is joined by guest Robert Metzger. Robert has a Daddy-Daughter duo podcast; Family Abide which examines coming-of-age lessons with the focus on cultivating character through conversations about Faith, Family, and Finance. Even in chaos families must endure without yielding in order to foster legacies for generational, prosperity, and wellness. Through frank discussions together and with guests we seek to achieve Abundance Beyond our Insecurities, Debts, and Entanglements. Stick around and take notes. You are sure to grow your life in abundance.
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How to Preserve and Find Your Financial Self-Worth ft. Sainte Fanie
The Financial Griot Podcast crew is back at it again. Well 2/3 of the co-hosts are present. We are playing financial musical shares. Welp, according to Brunch Hater Lawrence, Alainta is busy with dating. lol Today, we have a special guest Sainte Jean Baptiste (CPA). We discuss her financial story becoming first generation college student and a successful certified public accountant. And then going beyond that level to become a change agent in her local community. Life is truly an opportunity to be challenged, and to push through a myriad of even more challenges. The best part is that we don't have to do it alone and you can definitely…
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Figuring Out the Cost of Fitting In ft. Rahkim Sabree
TFG podcast is back with Episode #75. This is a short (pre-show) episode when our guest Rahkim Sabree ( Financial Trauma content creator) stops by. We discuss the cost of keeping up with Black beauty standards. Additionally, we cover its historical connection to our wallets as well as our minds. Beauty is Pain(ful) and costly.
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Where Money Nerds Unite! Sharing More Fincon’22 Highlights
In today's episodes, we discuss our experience at Fincon'22 in Orlando, FL. For the uninitiated FinCon is a Financial Conference. It's a great meet up with a ton of financial influencers or soon to be influencers. From podcasts, blogs and YouTubers; this is the place to be for money nerds. The turn out is incredible. It's kinda like Comicon for Money Nerds. We dish out on the positive moments and even the negatives. We will also throw in the Scammy ones too.
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How to Grieve in Peace. Probate & Estate Planning ft. Jen Gumbel
2020 hit us with a wave of change. For many, it was a brush with our own mortality. However, COVID-19 related death soared to over 1 Million. Although it's not something most people would like to discuss, it is still important to Grieve in Peace. The Financial Griot (TFG) podcast is back with another poignant episode as we entering into a new phase of Baby Boomer retirement, high inflation and a seemingly unavoidable global recession. Alainta is present with guest Jen Gumbel ( Probate & Estate Planning Attorney). We discuss planning for this side of Heaven as they say. We also talk about the after life; but not in the…
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Is the Modern Black Culture Is Toxic & Expensive?
In this episode of the Financial Griot Podcast, the hosts share their thoughts on modern Black culture, building wealth and changing priorities and narratives. Currently median Black household wealth seats at $24k. Another recession would bring that number to $12k. According to The Road to Zero Wealth report, the median wealth of black Americans will fall to zero by 2053 if current trends continue. With spending up and credit card usage bolstering lifestyle creeps on social media, is Modern Black cultural zeitgeist detrimental to long term wealth building and wealth preservation. Do we really want to have generational wealth?
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How to Build Wealth During Love and a Bear Market
All isn't Fair from Russia in Love and War. The world is getting more challenging every year. Still no reason to give up hope just yet. Get up and get out there.
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Here’s Why You Can’t Negotiate with Broke People!
Is Kanye being old Kanye or new Kanye? I'm confused right now. The Financial Griot gang is back for another short episode. Well shorter by our standards since we can talk. Today we discuss the evolving new black capitalism and the hope that we remain unafraid in the creation of wealth. We can't be relegated to victimhood and money trauma as a baseline for Black social mobility.
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Wealth and Social Mobility – Your Broke Friends Are Costing You!
TFG is back! And even Shadier than ever?! The crew discusses the impacts of social mobility referencing the research study from The Opportunity Atlas; due to economic connectedness. Economic Connectedness (EC) is based on the extent of friendship across class lines. Social capital is just as important as capital, the crew takes a deep dive into life trajectories and what happens when one interacts outside of their communities to develop a better sense of self. Turns out, keeping poor company can make you or keep you poor in the long run.
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Cash Flow, Financial Planning & Resources, FIRE Journey, Millennial Money, Money Behavior, Money Management
How to Burn the Wealth Candle at Both Ends
If you really want to elevate your wealth, you will have to learn to burn the financial candle at both ends. This is the path to happiness.
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How to Improve Your Discernment and High Vibrations ft. Jay Stephens
TFG is back! Today we have guest Jay Stephens (My Wealth Journey, LLC) we discussed low vibration social media coaches, discernment and learning through the digital spaces. This post pandemic world is emotionally grueling. Take a step back to recenter. Find balance while working on your future. Don't become a devoted follower, only to realize that you haven't moved in ages.
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How to Keep Your Investing Enthusiasm High in a Cocaine Bear Market!
With Stocks Crashing and Soaring every other day, I think we are in a โcocaine bear market.โ Buckle up, Rolling Recessions + Inequitable Recovery equal a nice recipe for losses.
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Find Out Why Budgets Are Very Sexy? ft. J. Money
TFG is back! Today 's episode the crew chats with J. Money (Budgets are Sexy). J. Money is a successful blogger and entrepreneur; one of the pioneers of financial transparency in the digital space. We discuss his journey starting his blog Budgets are sexy to owning back his time by retiring. And sharing his thoughts on the value of financial happiness. Pay close attention to how Alainta is fangirlying. Simmer down, smh. We are a professional podcast now. It's Season 2. We have more guests!
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How to Reach the New American Financial Independence Dream
Hereโs how you make the most of your piece of the new American Dream. The American dream was simple, dare we say easy. Get an education. Pass the terrible Standardize Assessment tests (SATs). Attend subtly expensive college. Make bad decisions and then fall in love or vice versa. After that, work hard at a job you hate or mildly tolerate for several decades. And if everything goes to plan, youโll eventually have enough money to buy a house with a white picket fence. The last decade has proven that the anachronistic American dream is unrealistic. Ironically, it was just always a dream while for many a waking nightmare. I’m Black.…
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How to Overcome Post-Pandemic Challenges and our Mid-Year Recap
"A mid-year review is a great way to energize your annual goals and performance, in a little-to-low pressure way." In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, the crew is finally back together. On the table, our mid year recaps from major medical expenses, new pets, inflation and looming recession; it's been a rough six months. Lovely also shares the lessons she is learning along the way. This is going to be heavy. To make this actionable, we highly recommend that you do your own midyear recap. Even invite some friends or family members. This is your opportunity to recalibrate.
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Are You Really Rich or Just Playing Expensive Dress-Up?
Between the Upper Class and the Rich who make up the majority of the top 20% of the US, they own nearly 86% of the nationโs wealth.
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How to Find Purpose at the Core of Financial Independence
Americans are overly consumed by media and purpose deficient. It's no wonder why people are struggling with crafting a real financial plan.
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How to Craft An Annual Financial Strategy with TNFG
If 2022 was challenging, just know that 2023 will be even tougher. Crafting a financial strategy is the key to growing your wealth.
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How to Kick-Off Your Finances for the New Year
Coming off of a rough 2022, we are going right into 2023. While the mental kick-off was slow, it's a relief to have at least one month of solid stock performance again. But how long will that last?
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Why You Should Follow These Baby Steps with Extreme Caution!
Financial literacy is way more than baby steps. It's a lot of challenging adult wealth-building. You will be pushed and this will change you.
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The Next Recession and Taking Advantage of the Rebound
Getting into and out of a Recession is no easy feat. On this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, the team discusses how we got to this point in which recession fears are looming and also what you can do pre-, during- and post recession to thrive. Millionaires are made during recessions. Learn how to position yourself to win.
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Why Modern Black Culture Became So Toxic & Expensive
In this episode of the Financial Griot Podcast, the hosts share their thoughts on modern Black culture, building wealth and changing priorities and narratives. Currently median Black household wealth seats at $24k. Another recession would bring that number to $12k. According to The Road to Zero Wealth report, the median wealth of black Americans will fall to zero by 2053 if current trends continue. With spending up and credit card usage bolstering lifestyle creeps on social media, is Modern Black cultural zeitgeist detrimental to long term wealth building and wealth preservation. Do we really want to have generational wealth?
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Making Sure You Benefit From The Student Loan Cancellations
TFG Crew is back! (And recording the episode again since Lawrence forgot to hit record) On Wednesday, August 24th, President Biden announced a massive student loan debt relief that directly impacts over 60 million Americans who hold an extensive amount of federal student loan debt. We discuss the groundbreaking news, the hidden details, massive opportunities to reengage in your tax planning strategy and more. Opportunities come and go. It comes down to how you play the cards to lower your expenses and increase your wealth.
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Here are TFG’s Top Ten Audible Recommendations for 2023
Finally, an episode that is simple. The Financial Griot crew is cooking up major heat with their Book recommendations. That being said, these are masterclass books that you need to get you in motion this year. Don't miss out on these life changing authors and let us know your recommendation as well.
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How We Set Our Million-Dollar Wealth Goals for 2023
While we fell short in 2022, after some recalibration we created our million-dollar wealth strategy for 2023. Here's hoping we hit the mark.
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How to Get Credit Card Companies To Pay You
Going through how we reversed our relationship with our credit card companies. Not all debt is bad debt. Leverage points and benefits. Don't hate the player, learn to play the game.
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Improving Your Cash Flow is the Key to Wealth
For starters, welcome to The Neighborhood Finance Guy website where we discuss financial literacy topics such as How to Grow Your Wealth, Building a Better Cash Flow Strategy, Investment, Retirement and more. My goal is to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T+E.R. goals with your money. As always, the information is FREE but the struggle is not sold separately. Ever Heard About Cash Flow? The first time I ever heard of the term cash flow was in Cost Accounting class. Even then, it was kinda abstract. By definition, a cash flow statement provides data regarding all cash inflows that a company receives from its ongoing operations and external…
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The Rise of the Slumlord First Time Real Estate Investor
With all the wealth building conversation centered around Real Estate Investing, the Financial Griot podcast tackles how not to be a Slumlord RE investor. Lawrence shares his journey to becoming a first-time real estate investor. His approach to investing in real estate; location, opportunity, and intentionally building wealth. Thinking ahead and investing for the future and the next generation; with the right level of help.
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How to Bring in $45k of Passive Income by Q4 2022
Reviewing The Neighborhood Finance Guy's (TNFG) not so passive income and what generated $45,000 through 2022. Extra Money is Good Money! With the market slowing through 2024, get creative and earn more.
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TFG’s Reel Rant – The Unfortunate Pursuit of Going Viral
TFG Crew is Back with another Short episode. Sweet, we are back to being consistent. Today we discuss finding REEL peace with Lovely. We baited her to rant and you get to hear the carnage. Obviously, it's a play on words. What we see might not be what it appears on social media. And sometimes it's just what you see and how you interpret the information in your own mind.
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You Can’t Build Wealth Without $15k Losses in December
December Santa Claus Breakdown is more sour than sweet in 2022. Stocks slipped 20% and our net worth followed. Almost $15k down from November.
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Watching Our Wealth Grow Over $750,000 in 2022
Coming off of two years with $200k net worth increases, we are going for $250k increase in our household net worth in 2022. Go Big!
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We Fail No Spend November Every Year. We Travel Instead!
Inflation is up +5% since September and even peaked +6% in November 2021. It's becoming a very expensive holiday season. And let's not talk about the Omicron strain. It's Pandemic 3.0
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How The Average Cost of Brunch Destroys Wealth
1/3 of the TFG crew is here. Lawrence will finally discuss his DEEP hatred for Brunch with guest Ecclesiastes Guerrier. Yes, finally a full episode of Lawrence bashing Brunch. LOL
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The Choice is Simple, Barack Obama or Going to #Fincon22
TFG crew is back with another short episode. We break down opportunity costs by referencing Lovely either attending the Inbound convention with guest speaker former President Barack Obama or joining the podcast crew at Fincon.
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All About The Expensive Secret Life of Pet Parents
TFG Shorts is back. In this episode, we discuss the cost of being a pet parent and modern pet culture. The pet market is a $200+ billion dollar industry in North America. That's Billion with a "B". The global pandemic sped up the process with even airlines adding pet restroom spaces. This is big business and Pet care is expensive. Currently 70% of US homes own a pet while pet side hustles are booming. It might be the next best thing for young adults dealing with low wages.
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Why Does Credit Rules Everything Around Me and How to Stop it
In this episode of TFG, the crew discuss how you can manage your money and specifically your credit better. With interest rates rising due to inflation, cash flow management will be key to keep your family afloat through the "not-a-recession" period. Your credit card debt is about to cost you more. So buckle up to find out what to do.
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Stocks Up 13%? Our Massive Financial Gains in October!
Financial Scares, Inflation issues and High price frights. Alas we made it through October. Just maybe we can survive to end 2022.
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The 2023 Salary to Become an Automatic Millennial Millionaire
More People NEED Build Wealth. With prices going up, it's going to be harder to coast by. The process to become wealthy is Easier than advertised. Most Millennials Can and Should Consider Becoming Millionaires.
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It’s Either the Affordable Home or Unaffordable Lifestyle, Pick One!
Home prices are up in the US. Fueled by once-low interest rates and available cash, prices skyrocketed as much as 30% in the two years since the start of the pandemic. As inflation pushes all-time highs, the Feds are increasing interest rates in as little as 24 increments through 2024. Do we want affordable housing or are we addicted to unaffordable lifestyles?
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How to Save $$$ with the Latest IRS Tax Brackets for 2023
Hello, you've reached the IRS. New Tax Rates for 2023, who dis?!
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Household Expenses Up More than 9%. Here are the details on the 2021 Survey
The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics, investment strategies, Household median income management, and retirement tips to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T+ER goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. If you are feeling poorer, you are likely spending way more than you think. Household income isn’t dropping. Prices on everyday items are going up. Join the Newsletter that can help re-balance you mind, body, and spirit. Feeling a bit stressed about Expenses? Average annual expense per media household went up from $61,332 in 2020 to $66,928 in 2021. This was an increase of 9.1 percent. Add another…
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How to Do More with a Little Passive Income in Q3 2022
The second quarter of 2022 was hopeful but the third quarter was a struggle. High Inflation is here to stay. A global recession is pretty much certain for 2023. In translation, get creative and earn more.
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Why You Need to Improve Your Cash-Flow, Today!
In this episode of the Financial Griot Podcast, Lovely and Lawrence talk about cash flow positivity during a time of high inflation and even higher prices. Most people don't know how much they spend monthly or even how much they earn. This is a good time to pause and do a mid year inventory so you can make sure your money management is up pre-recession. It's up to you to be prepared for the next opportunity.
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Why You Need to Seriously Save for Financial Emergencies
The stock market tumbled in September 2022, however the real turbulence came with a family health and financial emergency. Sometimes Building Wealth Takes a Back Seat.
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Here’s How to Invest by Age Before the Next Recession
No matter how much we fight, we will hit a recession in the near future. With inflation hitting all time highs, investing is now a mandatory requirement of your wealth strategy.
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Seven Money Principles to Grow Your Net Worth Faster
As the world prepares to enter into a new global recession for 2023, establish your money principles. It’s the only way you will be able to succeed. We’ve held the big R at bay since 2018 but it’s long overdue. “Global growth is slowing sharply, with further slowing likely as more countries fall into recession. My deep concern is that these trends will persist, with long-lasting consequences that are devastating for people in emerging markets and developing economies,โ said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Your Personal Economy Will Force You Back to Your Money Principles In January 2014, I found myself starting over from scratch. With a maxed-out $5,000…
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The 7 Highly Effective Ways to Achieve Your Goals
92% of people never achieve their goals. While that might be true for them, instead lets focus and learn from the eight percent. Back in 350 BC, Aristotle stated “Our goal in life is to achieve happiness, which comes in two varieties: the human happiness we achieve by exercising the virtues of character, and the godlike happiness we achieve when we grasp eternal truths.“ To reach this destination, the great philosopher emphasizes the importance of education and our own personal habits. Over 2,000 years later, Psychology Today agreed “Consistent habits allow us to achieve our goals.” Here are the 7 lessons to help you achieve your goals: 1. Begin with…
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How to Build Wealth Early w/ James Bowman of Gen-Z Mon-E
In this episode of the Financial Griot Podcast, Alainta and Lawrence get schooled by James Bowman of Gen-Z Mon-E podcast. He gives starting early a run for its money. We talk about his financial pivot point, how he became a real estate investor who is closing on his next property during a period of high inflation and pessimism, as well as what's next. The opportunity to get active is long overdue. Jump in here! And learn how to do more out the gate.
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Here’s the Latest 401k, IRA and Other Contribution Limits for 2023
One of the best ways to become an automatic millionaire in your lifetime. Don't skip on the contributions.
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Parents Retiring with no money? Read This Now!
CNBC penned an Op-Ed, "What millennials, Gen Z need to succeed against the economic odds?" Well the answer is simple; parents who are financially prepared for retirement. It's estimated that each underfunded retirement plan will cost kids and caregiver upward to $3,000 per month for each aging adult. By 2050, it will get very expensive. As such, the financial griot invested special guest Ecclessiate Guerrier and brings back guest host for the day, Michael Theodore to have an honest discussion on having the financial discussion with our aging parents. We share what we've experience and learned a few things along the way. Hope you enjoy. Be warned that our guess…
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How to Deal with Challenges. Sharing our Mid-Year Review
"A mid-year review is a great way to energize your annual goals and performance, in a little-to-low pressure way." In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, the crew is finally back together. On the table, our mid year recaps from major medical expenses, new pets, inflation and looming recession; it's been a rough six months. Lovely also shares the lessons she is learning along the way. This is going to be heavy. To make this actionable, we highly recommend that you do your own midyear recap. Even invite some friends or family members. This is your opportunity to recalibrate.
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Black Wealth – We Reached +$750,000 in less than Five Years
Investment thunderstorms and costly repairs. Building wealth has never been harder but we can make it through.
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How to Rollover an Old 401k and Our Investment Strategy
Most people jump ship from their job and forget about their 401k, 403b or 457 rollover options. The majority (56%) of those ages 18-34 still have an old retirement account at a previous employer. If youโre 35-44, you are part of the 40% that have also not rolled over previous retirement accounts. How much is that worth? Well Americans lost more than $1 Trillion dollars to old forgotten 401ks. Even more if we consider the compounding interest opportunity. So let’s break down what rollovers are, tips on what to look out for and what to do next once your have access to your hard earned money. And just for the…
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How to Prepare and Recover from Financial Setbacks
Learning from past financial setbacks is a tried and proven method to build a Better Future. An Ameriprise Financial study found that 75% of American experience at least one major financial setback in their lifetime. This often come at a cost of more than $50,000. For 42% of Americans, the first financial mistake starts at college with unnecessary expenditures, credit card debt and student loans. We sign up early and get roped into a lifestyle of debt. Prior to the pandemic, many were on track to default on their student loans. So much so that one out of every ten Americans has defaulted on a student loan. An average of…
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Trauma Bonding and the Importance of Therapy
In the wake of a myriad of shootings in the US, it's ok to allow people to grieve in their own way. Sometimes that grieving is messy. Unfortunately, there are times that the grieving leads to trauma stacking. In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, we discuss the need for real therapy with the goal that you end up doing the necessary shadow work. Your psyche can definitely keep you away from building wealth. Tackle it.
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How We Made $20k in Passive Income for Q2 2022
The second quarter of 2022 was hopeful. High prices raged on and it's likely that the passive income economy dragged down. With price inflation up, some goals might not materialize this year but we will likely still land in the positive. My internal compass still leans toward overall gratitude. I work from home. Additionally, I have a beautiful wife who loves to travel like I do. Our growth is proving to us that the solutions to a challenging word are merely tougher and more resourceful people.
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Crafting a Better Resume and Rebranding Your Purpose
Crafting a solid resume and brand on social media is incredibly important as the economy heads toward a recession. In this episode of the Financial Griot, we are joined by special guest Michael Theodore, a Higher Education Advisor and Mentor. As the world changes toward reopening, we tackle issues on branding and designing a path that works for you in the short and long run.
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New July Milestone – $1 Million in Assets in less than 10 years
A massive TNFG July celebration is in order. We reached 1 Million dollars worth of Assets. What's crazy is we started off with $0 in 2012. Well here's hoping this is a start to a solid year end close out.
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How to Be Present w/the Turn’t 30 Podcast Crew
Today's episode features Jay, one of the two Js from the Turnt 30 Podcast were we discuss if Men give other men gifts? Crazy enough, it's something we never considered so it had to be a podcast. While out numbered, Lawrence holds his own and shares why he believes that men don't give each other gifts. And the ladies banded together like Voltron in opposition. All in jest but none the less an amazing conversation. If you are a male listener, do you remember the last time you gave your male friend a gift?
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Dog Ownership and How Much It’s Costing Us
Pets are expensive and for some reason, people don’t tell you about the cost. My wife and I recently welcomed a new member of the family, Brownie – the morkie-poo. Engineered for cuteness sure, but this little guy is expensive. Here’s the overview of how much we spent so far and the most common costs associated with dog ownership. As a bonus, we will share in some tips on how we save and where you can save as well. And yeah, this is a far cry from my usual financial literacy info but this is seriously need to know information. Pandemic Pups, Adoption and Dognapping on the Rise Owning a…
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How Seven Haitian Americans are Establishing Black Wealth against all Odds
Building wealth is not easier being 1st generation Haitian American. These stories prove that sometimes you have to start a new business too.
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How to Find the Right Message during Challenging Times
In the wake of the untimely death of Kevin Samuels (Youtuber and Imagine consultant), there have been a lot of conversations about the importance of the messenger over the message. In this episode of the Financial Griot Podcast, we are talking why you need to fixate on the message over the messenger. The goal is to listen to the good and the bad, but most important learning to take away the key pieces. No one is perfect and no message will resonate every time, but to quote Eddie Griffith "did you get the message?" As such, did you understand the lesson and how it can affect you?
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From Inflation to Recession, How to Master Modern Economic Vocabulary
Inflation, Recession and high prices are dominating the news lately. After two years of government stimulus payments, eviction moratoriums and student loans in forbearance to fight the pandemic, prices are finally catching up. Instead of being swept into this moment of confusion, it is time to brush up on the basics of macroeconomics. Hope this serves as a one-stop shop for information as your personal economy continues to develop. You can also dive into the details on each topic via Investopedia.com Do you even know what the Federal Reserve System is? For simplicity, the Federal Reserve System is the most powerful financial institution in the world. Most people call it…
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A Romantic 4 Nights in a Castle. Exploring Old Quebec!
Our Next Adventure brought us to Old Quebec. And we weren't disappointed one bit. It was a self contained experience, suitable for romance and escape. And well tailored for foodies.
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Are You Really Single-by-Choice? A Turn’t 30 Conversation
On this special episode, the Ladies of the Turnt 30 podcast just us for a joint conversation and it gets contentious. Will they battle it out or will they come to a consensus. The topic du jour, "Being Single by Choice" while others could argue that you are simply single because you weren't chosen. Eeesh, writing that sounded harsh. However it's a great opportunity to get to know the Turnt 30 crew and their journey through adulthood.
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Still Not Debt Free, but We Paid Off Nearly $70,000 in Six Months
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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Hedge Against Recession with an Investment Portfolio that Builds Passive Income
With the stock market declines toward a recession, your next move should be your best move. Time to hedge losses with passive income.
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How to Quickly Calculate Your Wealth
Inflation raging +8%, it's all about wealth protection. While we share our Net Worth monthly, I still get the impression that most don't know.
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Here are the Most Common Financial Mistakes You Should Avoid
No matter if you pivoted from financial mistakes or barely avoided them, this is a great list for those who want to build wealth SMARTER and more effectively.
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Stocks are Down, May as well Buy the Dip!
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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Hereโs How to Boost Your FICOยฎ Score Organically
To start, Banks and Credit card lenders use several different scoring models to calculate creditworthiness, one of which is the FICO. Since its introduction, FICOยฎ Score became widely adopted by 90% of top lenders. While it is similar to Credit Score, FICOยฎโs initial goal was to improve business decisions by using data intelligently. Payment history and amount of debt are the two biggest factors in determining your FICOยฎ Scores. As such, changes in these areas can have the highest impact. The Most Effective Way to Grow Your FICOยฎ Score If you want to know how to grow your credit score organically, remember to these key ingredients. Your payment history accounts…
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A Recipe for Social Pressure: Materialism, Lifestyle and Inflation
"What I Post, Why I post and How I post about my experience is all intentional" LDG In this episode of the Financial Griot, we discuss the toxic recipe of materialism and the void of purpose that it steals. While the world enters in the late stage of our expansion with a recession looming, it's not even optional to be financial literate any more. Becoming financial literacy and materially free is not a mere act of minimalism for the gram. It's a struggle upstream from the direction of society. Turning toward your purpose changes you.
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Subscribe to the Top 5 Retirement Planning YouTubers Now
With record high inflation and recession looming, retirement planning for most Americans is on the back burner yet again. Surprisingly, seventy-eight percent of Americans surveyed stated that they were either “doing OK financially” or โliving comfortablyโ in the quarter of 2021, according to the Fedโs Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED), an annual poll of how U.S. adults are faring economically. In truth, many are struggling to keep up. Both instances can’t be right? Well Q1 2022 pulled the rug from under our feet. The rise of groceries and gas translates to an extra $5,000 of unanticipated expenses with one place to pull from, retirement savings. Either folks will…
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“I Deserve a Raise” – Working Less and Spending More
By most account, Americaโs young consumers are stereotyped as a selfish, impulsive, highly indulged bunch. Inflation is coming for us all, but it's about to hammer an "entitled generation." So says BlackRock president Rob Kapito in a recent conference of oil and gas producers in Austin, Texas. In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, we discuss what these implications could mean. And are we entitled to the results that we dream of or is the American dream dead?
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Who are You Building For? I Want to do More than Survive
"Do you want to Survive or Thrive?" In this episode of the Financial Griot, we are taking you to task as a listener and asking "Who are you building for?". Around this time of the year, New Year's resolution are a thing of the past. You are likely back to paying bills and surviving again. The question is why? Lovely, Lawrence and Alainta share their own shortcomings as an olive branch so that you can set forth and do your own introspection. The goal is to reassess your Why and gain an understanding that "although you are entitled to the work, you aren't entitled to the outcome." This is where…
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Here are the Top 10 Haitian American Financial Influencers to Help You Build Wealth
If you want to know how to live better and build wealth fast, just follow these Top 10 Haitian American Financial Influencers and Podcasts
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Almost $15k Passive Income for Q1 2022 – A Little Money Here and There
The first quarter of 2022 was rough. Winter dragged on and the passive income dragged down. Society is learning that 2022 is not like 2020 or 2021. With price inflation up, some goals might not materialize this year. My primary mission for the 2nd half is to ramp up Financial Literacy consultations and write some E-Books?
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I’m calling it early, it’s a Recession. Our Net Worth is still going strong.
With a Recession on the way, getting to the $750k Net Worth Just Got Harder. TNFG's April Net Worth Analysis and Household Expenses Breakdown.
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The Psychology of Money โ How the Rich Mastered their Id, Ego and Superego
The id, ego, and super-ego are a set of three concepts in psychoanalytic theory. They define our Wants, Needs and Goals.
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$5,000 Saved isn’t Enough. An Acid Emergency Plan is Better.
65% of Americans will be impacted by a financial emergency. Only 27% have an emergency plan in place. Hereโs How to Create Your Own Acid Plan
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Every family needs a Financial Emergency Binder. Here’s How to Create One
65% of Americans will be impacted by a financial emergency. Only 27% have an emergency plan. Hereโs How to Create an Emergency Binder
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Curating Your Space. How Your Social Circle Can Make Rich Or Poor.
In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, we talk about the importance of curating your physical, mental and virtual space. The world is getting more complicated while tasks are becoming easier, and that's not a good thing. While it might sound ridiculous, you are suppose to have just 5 friends compared to Facebook's 5,000 limit. In truth, Social scientist Robin Dunbar hypothesized that an individualโs group can extend to 150 contacts. However, each contact is layered according to the strength of emotional ties. As such, your mind is constantly trying to keep up with over 1,000 people, story lines and complications. It's no wonder why people are entrenched in…
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Why You Need to Avoid Being Morally and Financially Bankrupt
"Don't be too quick to give up your agency, time and happiness for vanity" This episode of The Financial Griot is centered around Consumption and the draining effect on your purpose. Too often, we get stuck in a never ending loop where we buy into a lifestyle only to be indebted to it for even longer. For example, the college experience is an expensive pseudo inflated lifestyle that mirrors affluent middle class. Through loans that extend beyond tuition and books, many fall victim to an expensive experience that's akin to Disney World. All fluff and payment. After 4-6 years, you end up paying for it for 20-30 years. And then…
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Breaking Down How We Made $50k in Passive Income
Reviewing The Neighborhood Finance Guy's (TNFG) not so passive income that generated over $50,000 in 2021. It was not passive at all.
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Black Spending Tops $1.6 Trillion while Black Wealth Issues Persist
Spending for Blacks in the US has gone up to $1.6 Trillion but wages and standards of living are dropping. What gives? The Financial Griot podcast crew will discuss how to manage money in a time of uncertainty and how to make a way out of no way in lieu of external circumstances such as systematic oppression and a painful history. or decades and decades, Black consumers have been regularly overlooked by companies that donโt see them as a priority demographic. Black consumers continue to be underserved in areas such as food, housing, healthcare, broadband, and banking. During the last five decades, the Black community has had limited access to…
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Turns Out, No One Ever Complained about Investing Too Much for Retirement
The Average US Household saves and invest less that 7% of their income, specifically they save under $7,000 annually. It's not enough.
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Having Tough Conversations about Social Influence and Suicide
Tough conversations are needed but often afforded. Life is challenging, many times unfairly but still very hard. We have to talk more.
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Our Investments Dropped $50k in the Red. Inflation Madness Continues!
Investments are in the red. For some, it took all of 2021 growth off the table. High Inflation and a War will do that. It's getting harder. It's costing the average household an extra $6,000 per year to keep up.
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Pandemic Investment Performance Are Up 100%! Use These Tips
Our investment grew by an astonishing +98.50% beating the S&P and most investment management portfolios. Here's how we were able to do this.
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Dating for Love and Surviving Strangers in the Meta Verse
In this episode (rant), the Financial Griot crew discusses love and money while listening to social media highlights. Alainta, Lawrence and Lovely gives their take on society at large on the lies and mirages that people cast on social media. Additionally, they drop tips and thoughts on how you can become more confident in your inner voice so that you don't end up being a victim of scams and scammers.
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Inflation is Here to Stay. Investing is Not Optional Anymore, it’s Mandatory.
The pandemic revealed a lot, Inflation and high prices are here to stay. Investing is not Optional anymore, it's Mandatory. Try this strategy
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Reading is the Best Life Hack. Here are TFG’s Top Book Recommendations for 2022
Finally, an episode that is simple. The Financial Griot crew is cooking up major heat with their Book recommendations. That being said, these are masterclass books that you need to get you in motion this year. Don't miss out on these life changing authors and let us know your recommendation as well.
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Real Entrepreneurs Scale Seven Figure Businesses. Here’s how to level up
In this episode, Lovely Merdelus is recording her first solo episode. It's going to be pure Flame. She is discussing her journey as a social entrepreneur and now as a full fledged business entrepreneur. Her journey was one of acceptance, mental shifting and purpose. In the long run, she knows that her purpose is to teach and help small businesses scale up. Her experience in big tech and growing in a company that was ultimately valued at a billion dollars, showed her that anything is possible. Listen for gems and find your purpose. Alas, since it's a solo episode, Lawrence and Alainta are sitting it out but they will be…
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Our Portfolio is up almost $15,000 in 1-day! Winning!?
How to construct an investment portfolio that thrives during an inflation. Sharing all the tips and market tricks to edge out wins.
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Learn How to Stop Coming Up Short. No Vision + Objectives = Failure
"If the vision is weak so are the results." In this episode of the Financial Griot podcast, the crew talk about how to set your atomic habits to match your grand vision and vice versa. By February, most people already failed in their yearlong resolution to change. We told you, New Year Same You. There are ways to set the tone and start anew. If you want to be above average and you want to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, the work starts in your mind. Making you wealth is easy but if you aren't ready for the work, it's a waste of time. So the choice is on…
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Love is an Action Verb. It’s a Genuine and Consistent Act of Service
To quote a great tweet from @sista_theology, "A God that co-signs everything I do, say, think and believe, is not a God; but an idol of my own making." Too often in this day and age, we relegate the work that needs to be done to others versus gaining a true understanding of our roles. We are here to serve. No man is an island, devoid of the purpose of service and being in service with his fellow man. As such, the Financial Griot podcast crew is dedicating this episode to share what really moves us, in hopes that you are moved to serve in turn. As always share, like…
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How to do a 10-Yr Challenge. Taking Lessons to Build for your Future
Hey look social media is doing a thing again and Lawrence doesn't want to participate. Sucks for him, the Financial Griot podcast is doing a full episode based on the #10yearchallenge. Alainta Alcin, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez will be talking about their financial experiences going all the way back to 2012 and the hard pivots that they had to make in order to set themselves up for success in 2022. Our goal is to force you to take action in the present that will impact your future. As always like, share and subscribe.
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How to Redefine Your Atomic Habits for a Richer Life
In this episode, Lovely and Lawrence talk about Atomic Habits by James Clear. A truly phenomenal mindset shifting book that we highly recommend. What started as a conversation on changing our identity, shifted to a pseudo book review since there are a lot of great takeaways that everyone can use. Wealth is not as expensive as we perceived but it has a cost. You have to be willing to adopt new narratives in your life and pivot toward something more. In truth, most people are subconsciously comfortable with their lives as is and struggle with changing in fear that nothing stays the same. Alas, "nothing stays the same and change…
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My Life after reaching Financial Independence and Retiring Early
made it this far if it was not for the blood, sweat and effort of everyone that came before me. Because of that, I want to do something special, something unexpected...
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How to be Successful in Dating After COVID. The Power of Attraction pt 2
Alainta Alcin otherwise known as ATL gets a bae again. I could have sworn we did this before. Fans requested the modern dating How To(s) since ATL keeps finding quality guys to go on dates with. Find out how you can set up your own power of attraction to hopefully leave this season with a new bae or at least a better version of you. As always it's all love. In an attempt to snoop around for details, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez dig up information yet again on ATL's love life and finances. Contrary to popular belief being single costs more than being paired up. To make this actionable…
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How to Inflation Proof Your Net Worth during War
All isn't Fair from Russia with War. The world is getting more challenging every year. Still no reason to give up hope just yet.
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How Future Millionaires Invest and Build Wealth in their 20s & 30s
Like is fundamentally unfair. Itโs a clear and easy understanding that we all should understand. Unfortunately, many are stuck in the fight against fairness. This is ultimately why they arenโt rich.
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Turns Out, US Household Median Income is Dropping. Here are the 2020 Stats by Age, Race and Sex.
The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics, investment strategies, Household median income management, and retirement tips to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T+ER goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. Join the Newsletter that can help rebalance you mind, body, and spirit. If you are feeling poorer, turns out you are not alone. Household income is dropping across the board while prices are going up. Every year, the US Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics compile on US Household income and expenses. This data can be filter for Age, Gender, Race and state to help us make…
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Revealing Our Investment Strategy while Inflation Hits a 30-year High
How to construct an investment portfolio that thrives during an inflation. Sharing all the tips and market tricks to edge out wins.
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How to Boost Your Power of Attraction and Improve Your Dating Potential
Alainta Alcin otherwise known as ATL gets a bae again. I could have sworn we did this before. Fans requested the modern dating How To(s) since ATL keeps finding quality guys to go on dates with. Find out how you can set up your own power of attraction to hopefully leave this season with a new bae or at least a better version of you. As always it's all love. In an attempt to snoop around for details, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez dig up information yet again on ATL's love life and finances. Contrary to popular belief being single costs more than being paired up. To make this actionable…
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MLK’s Legacy, The Civil Rights Movement and Black Wealth Perspective
Financial freedom is this generation's civil rights movement. With Black spending ramping as high as $1.6 Trillion and Net worth heading to $0
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Community, Debt Freedom Journey, Financial Planning & Resources, FIRE Journey, Millennial Money, Podcast
TNFG’s Top 12 Black Financial Podcasts That Can Redefine Your Wealth
Knowledge in action is wealth. Wealth, on the other hand is the power to live a purposeful existence. This is the list of the Best Pocast that save you money and help you invest. As wealth slips away, the American Dream turned into a nightmare. To attain your dream, try TNFG's Top 12 Black Podcasts that are redefining the narrative.
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New Year started out badly for stocks. And Our Net Worth Tumbled
For my household, the goal for 2021 is to hit $500,000 by March 2021. With the collapse of January, I am pushing back this goal to April or June again. The market is choppy and likely headed towards an instability bubble that threatens to affect those who struggle most.
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The Critical Need to Move beyond Black Girl Magic toward Real Wealth
Short of carrying the weight of the world, we demand too much from Black girls. We need to go beyond hashtags and recenter as people.
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Top 3 Best SMART+ER Goals and Wealth Books of 2022
The Best Books for a meaningful journey. Good Health and Enduring Wealth Start in the Mind. To be honest, I hate reading. It’s not that I’m unable to read vs that I find the activity kinetically slow. In 9th grade, I realize that I’m a rare combo learner: auditory, visual and kinetic. I was more in love with the human expression through storytelling and poetry. It wasn’t until Book Insights Podcast reached out to me to be a guest speaker that I was left wanting. Being a charlatan is an unbecoming trait, too often found in modern society. I wanted, better yet, needed to read more. Setting S.M.A.R.T goals (Specific,…
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How to Set Up SMART+ER Goals with 12-week Objectives
Start setting SMART+ER Objectives that meets our Goals. Too often, others quit before ever starting. Find out how to be better than average
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Debt is not Bad. Being #Debt Free is not FIRE, Invest More!
In this episode, Lovely and Lawrence talk about the growth of the #DebtFreedomJourney and how it's not always as great as it seems. Popularized by Dave Ramsey in the 2000s, Debt Freedom and #FinancialPeaceUniversity have been re-positioned as an emotional argument when in truth, money management is at the intersection of arithmetics and critical thinking. For example, local bank savings account is still going for 0.01%. An investment of $10,000 in 2021 would have yielded $1. In contrast, an investment of $10,000 in Bank of America $BAC would have yielded $14,881. An investment in JP Morgan Chase $JPM of $10,000 would now be worth $12,811. An investment in American Express…
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Getting Pre-Marital Counseling Pre-Engagement is a thing, now?
Wait isn't that just counseling? In this episode of The Financial Griot, we are introducing Doreen (Lawrence's Wife)! Yep, this is a special couple's episode where we discuss our thoughts on a social media influencer's position on getting per-marital counseling in the dating phase? We dish out our perspectives as newlyweds. It's crazy how the dating game has changed, and how challenging/expensive it's become.
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New Year, New… Nevermind. How Not to Start a New Year!
"New Year and New Me" is tired right now. Just go out and set a trajectory of forward movement. In this episode of the Financial Griot, Alainta Alcin and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez discuss their important thoughts on Don Lemon and being drunk on camera, and what not to do during the New Year. Ahead of time, we apologize for the sound issue. It is all Lawrence's fault so blame him. Alainta, on the other hand, sounds on point. However if you bare through it, you will find a lot of great gems which is why we decided to keep it. All that out of the way, happy new year. Remember, "Try…
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Childhood Trauma and How to Redefine Your Personal Worth
"The two most important days in your life are 1. The day you were born and 2. The day you find your purpose." Mark Twain For the record, this is a trigger warning for a lot of people who have dealt with childhood trauma or are still dealing with it. Part two of our discussion on disciplining a new generation and realizing that our kids will likely face different challenges. In this segment, Lovely and Alainta wanted to know the story of Baby Lawrence. Seriously It's complicated and sad at points.
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Wait You Don’t Believe in Spanking? How to Raise Modern Kids?
Raising Modern kids can be tricky. So here are some thoughts and tips on your way to being a better parent.
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Community, Debt Freedom Journey, Financial Planning & Resources, FIRE Journey, Millennial Money, Podcast
Building Wealth Made Easy. Here are My Top Five Financial Posts for 2021
Knowledge in action is wealth. Wealth, on the other hand is the power to live a purposeful existence. This is the list of the Best Pocast that save you money and help you invest.
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We Closed Out Another Year $200,000 Wealthier (Again!). Here’s How We Did It.
Omicron scare, Back Pay, Student Loan Forbearance, and another December Santa Claus rally - all in one week. All of which made us Wealthier.
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How We Crushed Our Net Worth for the 2nd Time
2020 Was a Year That We Will Not Forget. Work Smarter, Not Harder. Go Together to Travel Further. Choose Together Because the Destination is Not Moving.
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While Bitcoin Surged +104%, I lost $25k in Investments
Crypto is surging 100% YTD and leaving my household with these losses. Maybe it's time for me to reconsider my Crypto policy. Time to bet the House?
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Casting Prayers for Opportunities BUT Avoiding Change When It Comes
"Sometimes we stop our own success" In this episode, Lovely and the crew talk about rebuilding our wealth mindset: seeing and acting on opportunity. When the door opens, sometimes you are confronted with your own inaction, fear and limiting beliefs. When that happens, you would need to fight through imposter syndrome. Lawrence is ironically coming clean with his own insecurities.
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How to Start Your Personal Finance Journey and Earn Up To $2,500 for Free!
Getting started with your personal finance has never been easier. There is a fintech app for everything. You can also earn up to $2,500.
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Learn How to be Successful at Dating and Getting Married
In This episode of the Financial Griot, Lovely and Alainta bait Lawrence to talk about relationship timelines. Since social media has devolved into pure #GenderWars, allow us to set the record straight. And, allow the Neighborhood Finance Guy himself to mansplain his way out of this. By the way, a relationship is not a business. A relationship is the foundation for generational wealth. Especially in the modern day, it is important to get the timeline right so you can avoid the costly single life and the long term non married life. With that said, thanks for tuning in to the show. Leave us any thoughts, comments, and ideas on this…
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Allowing Black Women the Financial Space To Fail and Excel
TFG discussed the critical need to create financial space for Black women to exhale and excel as it relates to personal and financial growth.
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With Over 100k Travel Rewards Points on the line, Should You Get An AMEX?
We already have the Chase Sapphire Reserve aka the Travel Card GOAT. With 100K Rewards points on the line, is the AMEX Platinum any Good?
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How to Do the Internal Work to Reach Your True Worth
Learning how to do something to progress your life. So listen on how to do the internal work to grow into your purpose and true worth.
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Learning to Show Up for Others Like We Wanted Others to Show Up for Us
In Haitian creole, we call home, "Lakay." It has a certain ring to it especially in concert with Lekol (school) and Legliz (church). For Haitian Americans, it's the closest way for us to express that we are home. This home is safe place. Culture is the total wealth of memories that we carry and share with the world. It is in that culture that we (in the same token, you) are compelled to speak. It's interesting to hear from Alainta Alcin's experience of being hardly ever home, yet still finding herself. In this solo episode of the Financial Griot, Alainta gives an emotionally palpable perspective of allowing change to manifest…
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A Financial Advisor said Renting is Better but He Owns his Home?
A Former Financial Advisor told you that renting is better than owning a homeโฆ But He owns a home though? Please Make it Make Cents!
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We Spent over $15k in November. Happy Inflation Holidays?
Inflation is up +5% since September and even peaked +6% in November 2021. It's becoming a very expensive holiday season. And let's not talk about the Omicron strain. It's Pandemic 3.0
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Setting Up A Dream Investment Portfolio with over 50% Returns
Investing is the next Financial Revolution. The Barrier of entry is low and you can do it from your cell phone. Dream Investing!
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Investors are Banking on TAANG’s 1,000% Investment Growth
Investors are saying goodbye to Facebook (Meta) and welcoming TAANG as the new investment mix king with over +1,000% Growth over 5 years.
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Update Your Tax Plan for 2022. Here are all the New Brackets and Rates!
Hello, you've reached the IRS. New Tax Rates for 2022, who dis?!
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Ewww, I Can’t Date Anyone with a Dirty Home!
Would you date a person with a dirty home? Wait, are you the person with the dirty home? In this episode of the Financial Griot, Alainta Alcin and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez discuss their college relationship journeys and dishes out on how they ran into dirty people in their lifetime. It begs the question is cleanliness, a secret sign of how messy your finances are? We will dive deep on the virtues of being disciplined in how you carry yourself and how you present your image in the world. As always, we sincerely thank you for your support. We've only been out since Fall 2021 and already reached 1,000 downloads. We get…
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Investing for 4x Returns in a Metaverse Portfolio
โGoing forward, there will be many companies who try to claim they got a piece of the metaverse,โ the Mad Money host said. Invest and Hold.
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A Conversation on Haiti, Building Better Communities and Rewriting Our Destinies with KORE’M Podcast!
The Financial Griot finally got their first guests. It's feels like the Haitian Breakfast club. Let's not mess it up, right Lawrence? Since it's November 18, the celebration of La Battaille de Vertieres, it was apropos for us to bring on our first guest, Kore'm Podcast with Luther and Mac. This dynamic duo has been making wave empowering the next generation of Haitian at home and in the diaspora. This episode was a unique opportunity to get back to our roots and really have a discussion on Haiti, Financial literacy and what's in store for the future. Our history is not just Black and White, it's being painted in vivid…
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Pelosi Tracker – How to Handle Your Investments Like a Commander in Stocks!
Nancy Pelosi is killing stocks right now. While it started as a Tik Tok Meme, the Pelosi Tracker is real and it is actively beating indexes.
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Where Millionaire Senators and Representatives Invest their Money
So I guess we are talking about politicians and their investments. The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics: Financial Planning, Budgeting, Millennial Money Management, Investment Strategies, Retirement tips, and more. The goal is to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. And, if you are into this sort of thing; the blog is PLUTUS nominated, I studied Accounting with a Specialization in Taxation, served in the US Marine Corps, and now work as an Auditor. Iโm also big on Traveling and watching Anime. Summary of why you should invest like a Politician:…
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Earning Financial Freedom is a Revolutionary Act
This is one of those rare bonus conversation, all about the Financial Revolution. In the past, we have the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution Part I and Part II and in modern times, the Financial revolution. The goal is to recognize the game that you are playing. As of now, your goal is to 1. Decrease unnecessary expenses in order to live the life that's tailored to you, 2. increase your income because inflation will eat it up and only cash flow matters, and 3. Investing the difference in yourself, your family, your experiences, your lifestyle, investments, retirement, real estate ownership and finally small business. Take a breather, we know it's…
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What Are The Benefits of High Deductible Health Plans
Figuring out the costs and benefits of our Aetna High Deductible Health (insurance) Plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA).
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Jollof is just mushy tomato paste flavored rice!
Contrary to popular belief, Jollof rice is not that good, says Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez. He wanted to make that clear before all of Nigeria bans him from any future travel. Along with Ghana and Senegal, he truly deserves it. Lovely Merdelus tried to warn him but he didn't listen. However, this is still a good conversation about Finances in the Diaspora and what we all can do to learn from each other. The goal of the podcast is to expose people to the novel idea of thinking for ourselves, finding 90% of the ways we agree and accepting 10% of the ways we disagree with each other. Is Jollof just rice…
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The Millennial Worklife Crisis: Burnout and the Great Resignation
The Great Wait, the Great Resignation... #Burnout lifestyle is effecting Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z. Add financial stress, insecurity and a near endless post pandemic lifestyle; people are calling it all quits. #TFG is calling it "The Millennial Worklife Crisis." Many are "lying flat" while others are deciding that coasting while FIRE is enough. Just remember even on your best day, you can miss the mark or your goals; those who succeed are those who innovate and endure. In today's episode, Lovely Merdelus lead us into reflecting about when things aren't going Instagram right and how we can all cope during times of challenges. Along with the co-hosts,…
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Groceries up 70%. At least, Our Debt is Down $100k
Thunderstorms and natural disasters. Repairs and costly renovations. We made it through August, just maybe we can close off 2021 off stronger.
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The Black Middle-class and Retiring in a Crisis
The Neighborhood Finance Guy writes about financial literacy topics: Financial Planning, Budgeting, Boomers to Millennial Money Management, Investment Strategies, Retirement tips, and more. The goal is to help you make effective decisions and set S.M.A.R.T goals with your money. The information is free but the struggle is not sold separately. And if you are into this sort of thing; the blog is PLUTUS nominated, I studied Accounting with a Specialization in Taxation, served in the US Marine Corps, and now work as an Auditor. Summary: When White America catches the Flu, Black America catches COVID Research finds that the economic inequality and racial wealth gap continue to grow. Black and…
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A TFG Short – Why Do People Hate Lawrence All the Time?
Hate is a strong word. Let's just say severe dislike with cognitive dissonance. Can we disagree without being disagreeable any more? In today's TFG episode, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez discuss comments when posting your own opinion online. Specifically, we are going to discuss how Lawrence manages to get under everyone's skin every time. Particularly on his IG or Facebook page. Also, IG Influencer Jayne Rivera poses next to her father's open casket for likes. Do we all need to take a break from social media to reset and reconsider? Either way, always remember, "he who controls your emotions, controls you."
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How to Set Up Your Month-to-Month Million Dollar Financial Plan
An unwritten and unspoken truth about wealth; โItโs easy if you have a great financial plan.โ Financial advisors are merely paid to make the rich richer month-to-month. Hereโs how.
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How to Create A Financial Plan that Builds Generational Wealth
October is Financial Planning Month. As such, it's an amazing opportunity to level up like the rich. In this episode, Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez aka our Neighborhood Finance Guy breaks down how you can structure yourself every month of the year in order to build wealth one step at a time. Alainta Alcin and Lovely Merdelus sitting this one out but they will be back in the next episode. In 2016, Lawrence attended two Financial advisory workshops by invitation in Washington, DC. These workshops were tailored to high earners racking in over $125,000+ per year single and over $250,000+ per year as a household. To be honest, they weren't talking about anything…
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Hereโs How Much You Need to Invest by Age to Become a Millennial Millionaire
The best part about investing is that the sooner you start, the less it cost and the more you make.
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Three Apps that Make Budgeting Easier than Pen and Paper
Budgeting doesn't have to be a terrible ordeal. Here are three apps that redefine your wealth from pen and paper. They make budgeting easy.
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Why Poor People Who Buy Used Cars, End Up Rich
Turns out Poor People who buy used cars can end up rich?! Learn how to cut the luxury expense and invest the difference.
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How We Hit Our Financial Goals Every Time
Closing out Summer and Jumping right into Fall 2021. Some months you will like August and some months you're just happy you didn't lose like September. Stock market turbulence can't stop our investing goals and our debt payoff journey.
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For the Little Black Boys who Dream of Suicide
Written for a generation of little black boys who dealt with their fair share of stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.
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The Average US Home in 2020 Spent $61,334. How Much Did We Spend?
The Average American Household earned $84,352 pre-tax and spent over $61,334 in 2020. Unfortunately, they only saved $7,246. How did we do?
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If You Think It Costs A lot Today, Check Out These 2040 Estimates
Nothing erodes Wealth faster than Inflation. If the cost is $60k in 2020, it will balloon to $100k by 2040. Are you making the adjustments?
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Where You Find Your Future Spouse Who Makes Six Figures
Six Figures and Still Broke This conversation is all about Relationships and Money - Beware of the Triggering lol Alainta Alcin, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez are three first-generation Haitian Americans discussing modern day relationships. The dating scene has changed since the rise of the feminist movement. Sexuality has been unleashed and people are likely staying in the single phase way too long. Are there issues with that or should people simple try to find the Six Figure Spouse. You can find us on our IG accounts: Alainta Alcin - Blogger, Travel and Money Enthusiast @its_alainta Lovely Merdelus - Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Specialist @lovelymerdelus Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez - Federal…
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All the Wealth Secrets in 3, 2, 1
Wealth is marketed as difficult and secret but it's really easy. Save your money to make more money. Here are the trade secrets.
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Blaming Other People Even Children for Our lack of Productivity
Alainta Alcin, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez are three first-generation Haitian American discussing the Racial Wealth Gap as it relates to productivity and personal accountability. On this episode of the Financial Griot, we dish out our thoughts on we talk about being really productive and getting up out of the bed for yourself and your family. Too often the comments on social media latch unto being the victim of the day. A lot of that time would be better spent figuring out how to be the victor. This is a hard conversation for many to hear but in the end, your life and its trajectory relies heavily on your own…
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Media Says Black People are Poor… Again
Alainta Alcin, Lovely Merdelus and Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez are three first-generation Haitian Americans discussing the Racial Wealth Gap and why it keeps popping up every year. On this episode of the Financial Griot, we dish out our thoughts on the latest stats that paints Black people as poor and impoverished. The goal with this conversation is to give you actionable ideas that changes the narrative and helps move the conversation forward. The Financial Griot is all about engaging the narrative to lead us to a brighter future. Thanks for joining us as we normalize money conversation, dispel myths and provide solutions on building wealth while sharing stories. Turns out financial conversations…
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Millennial Couple Shares How They Invested over $50,000 in 8 months
Thunderstorms and natural disasters. Repairs and costly renovations. We made it through August, just maybe we can close off 2021 off stronger.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 25: Rich Beyond Limiting Beliefs
What's limiting your identity, your trajectory, your life? No matter what it is, what are you going to do about it.
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The Value of Our Priorities: Renting vs Ownership
Renting vs Ownership as the new American Dream. It all comes down to valuing your own priorities. Home Ownership is still a wealth builder.
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You Really Shouldn’t Save For Your Kid’s College
The best way to save for your kid's future is by investing in yourself. A broke parent in retirement is a bigger liability to your family
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Making the Most of Our Financial Priorities
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Bouncing back from Olympic Level mistakes is possible. You have to be willing to live, earn and overcome.
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Pay Me What Iโm Worth: a Black Man’s Journey to $100,000+
A reflection of one Black manโs journey from dropping out of Grad School, being broke, terrified and finally taking personal accountability. Written by Lawrence Delva-Gonzalez, CFE and Edited by Ecclesiaste Guerrier, SHRM-CP, DEI Paychecks and Balanced Efforts At some point, any Job will do! I’d like to start by saying, “Personal Accountability is not a bad word.” Growing up watching fictional characters, it was easier for me to attribute success with effort. The Bad guys created obstacles and the Good guys learned something along the way and defeated the obstacles. Over time, like many other Black boys transitioning to Manhood, I forgot about these stories. Better yet, I never knew…
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Intro to the TNFG Monthly Wealth Tracking Series v2
In the vein of BudgetAreSexy.com by J-Money, this is version 2 of the TNFG Monthly Wealth Tracking Net Worth Series. Learn, Grow and Track.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 23: Financial Discernment
Learning and understanding the value of financial discernment.
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Crushing Over $60k in Consumer Debt in 7 Months
July Celebrations are in order. We made it through the pandemic, just maybe. Either way, half the year is settled. Let's end 2021 with a bang.
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How to Succeed at Love and Marriage: Issa Partnership Vibe
A TNFG Weekly dose - Thinking of how Love can lead to the Above Average American household. The goal is Peace and Mental Happiness.
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Figuring Out your Net Worth from the Average
Net worth is the language of wealth builders. Here's how you figure our your net worth and how to improve it over time.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 21: Olympic Level Mistakes & Accountability
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Bouncing back from Olympic Level mistakes is possible. You have to be willing to live, earn and overcome.
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How First Generation Haitian Americans are Achieving Black Wealth
Building wealth is hard and it's not easier being 1st generation Haitian American. These stories prove that debt and wealth are attainable.
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How to Tackle Your Finance When You Don’t Make More than $45K
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. How to save and invest more on low income. Wealth is Possible
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How to Achieve Black Wealth through 10 Financial Articles
The economic state of Black America report found that 3.5 million Black families have a negative net worth. Here are Black wealth solutions.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 19: Life at the End of a Pandemic
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Getting back out into Society. Post Pandemic Changes and what happens next. Hybrid Work, Alternating days, mental health checks, etc.
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The Four Horsemen – a Monthly Dividend Portfolio Earning 10%+ Annually
The Four Horsemen of Monthly Dividends offers an investment portfolio that pays out monthly. A Tax Free consideration for Retirement? Average +10% Annual Returns with +6% dividend yield
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How We Paid Off $50,000 in Six Months While Investing
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 18: Fighting For A Better Life
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. The Grass is not always greener on the other side of wealth. Be purposeful.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 17: Wealth of an Immigrant
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Balancing Wealth and Struggles post immigration. 1st Gen Problems are as uplifting as they are stressful. However we are building.
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How We are Becoming Truly Debt Free by 2036
A breakdown of how our household is tackling debt in wave. Our end goal is to debt free by the time we retire early.
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Tracking Our $1M Investment Portfolio Growth Annually
A simple breakdown of our household's investments per year. We are on track with the Net/Max Couple plan. At our salary level, we are contributing 100% in our employer contribution plans ie 401k, as well as our ROTH IRAs, Health Savings Accounts, Group Investments and after-tax portfolio.
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Fastest Way to Avoid Taxes and Retire Rich
Looking at the stats for 2019 from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it's easy to see why American families are struggling to make head way. The Average US Household can boost their tax refund efficiency by 103%. The power of investing. The End Goal is to Retire Richer.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 16: Allowing Yourself to Win Financially
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Allowing yourself to win at the game of wealth. You would have to first define wealth.
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How to Grow Your Household’s Investment Potential by 111%
Looking at the stats for 2019 from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it's easy to see why American families are struggling to make head way. About $7,250 per year in savings and pension is no where near enough to retire. Here are three easy ways to tweak your expenses to investment more. Learn to grow your wealth by 100%.
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Want to Get Started with Wealth. Here are TNFGโs Top 10 Best Personal Finance Books
Where to Start with Personal Finance If you don’t know where to start and how this entire personal finance journey transform people into millionaires and then multi-millionaires, this is the way. These are some of the most renown personal finance books known for helping people set budget, make plans, enjoy travel; all while becoming automatically wealthy. This is a list of my favorite financial books for beginners. Furthermore, if Facebook was the last book that you read, I completely understand. For non-readers or if you have travel time to fill, check out Book Insights Podcast and the Swedish Investor for the YouTube audio. There is almost no excuse to stay…
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 15: The Money Grass is Not Greener
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. The Grass is not always greener on the other side of wealth. Be purposeful.
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Easiest Way for An American Family to Retire with One Million Dollars
Looking at the stats for 2019 from the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it's easy to see why American families are struggling to make head way. You can boost your savings by 231% and retire rich with these tips.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 14: All about Financial Heavy Lifting
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through challenging Financial Obstacles.
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Struggling to Stay Rich. Market Gains Run Empty in May
Hooray we all made it through May and the Pandemic. Just six months left to reach your Financial Goals.
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The Nouveau Rich and Non-Affluent Millennials
We are Living in the Age of the Nouveau Rich, Black Excellence, Sharper Couture, and #TravelNoire. College grads who Hope to Start at $100K.
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The Amazing International Trip Cancelled Due to the Pandemic
The Next Adventure that Didn't Happen due to the Pandemic. This Trip would have taken us back through Europe Covering Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany and going back to Portugal.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 13: Pushing Post Pandemic Spending Revenge
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc. Post-Pandemic Spending Revenge. The ultimate act of regression in 2021 is rushing back to what you used to do in 2019 when most were living paycheck to stress.
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Here are the Top 10 TNFG picks for New Financial Literacy Youtubers for Beginners
Knowledge in action is wealth. Wealth, on the other hand is the power to live a purposeful existence. This is the list of some New Financial YouTubers that save you money and help you invest.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 12: Losing Control of Your Finances
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Finding value from losing financial control. You are not the sum of jus your mistakes.
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All About Making Millionaire Money Moves
On a Millionaire Mission to pay down over $100K in Debt expenses while investing $100K while proving that we are always stronger together.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 11: The 80% Solution to Everything
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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How to Set Your Personal Finance Plan on Auto
Like Mayo(nnaise),ย let’s get right to the bread. Not sure what everyone sees on theirย Instagramย but lately I’ve been getting an insane amount of positive financial information due to the people that I’ve been following, specifically #paybalancesย andย joemoney. There is definitely power in what we consume. The ShadeRoom might seem like harmless fun, but be careful what you make your source. If you watch petty tv, you end up being pretty petty all the time. So if you are reading this, just know that I’m writing it so that you are encouraged. I’m writing this so that you seekย self-mastery over fear. And I’m writing this because I believe that we can all dream…
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Do Blacks in the US Deserve Wealth
Despite progress in educational attainment, disposable income and increasing diversity and inclusion efforts, this generation will still face the largest racial and ethnic wealth gaps on the road to equitable prosperity. In essence, this will definitely get worse sooner and last longer.
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How to go from Broke to Affluent: A Guide to the Seven Wealth Stages of Financial Freedom for Millennials
A guide to the Seven Wealth Stages of Financial Freedom. Move boldly while remembering that everyone had to start somewhere.
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How We Became Half Millionaires in less than 4 Years
Getting to the $500k Pot of Gold Just Got Harder. Millennial Couple's Net Worth Analysis and Household Expenses Breakdown.
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How to Build the Next Black Multi-Millionaires
How to Build on the Net Max Financial Plan to Transform it into the Net Max FIRE Plus Strategy for Long Term Generational Wealth.
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The Car Accident, The Root Canal and The New Job Opportunity That Changed My life
2013 was a year in transition. From car wreck, to root canal and finally new opportunities. An opportunity of a lifetime beyond the door.
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How to Beat Money Trauma. A Guide For those that Worship Money to those who Avoid Money
Stop Counting Other People’s Money. Beating The Need for Stuff and the Urge to Flaunt Last Friday, I was duped into a coffee meet-up with a financial advisor. Instead of a cold call; like some sort of supervillain, he revealed that this was a cold meetup. The betrayal was indeed real. The experience ended up burning a significant portion of my day off. I was left with two takeaways. One, always ensures that there is a firm purpose if someone wants to link up with you. If there isn’t a Return on Investment (ROI), it’s a waste of your time. Once you reach 30+, “me time” becomes a precious commodity. Secondly, always have a firm…
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Black Men and the Rebirth of the Financial Role Model
Only 17% of Black men have a bachelorโs degree. We have to change that drastically. African American males, ages 16 to 64 have a lower participation rate in the labor force (67% compared to โall malesโ 80%). It has gotten so bad that over 20% of work-eligible black men did not work for all of 2016. The usual reaction to this is, “Not me”. Iโm not here for the emotional vanity so please check your unfettered femininity at home. It might not be you. This is the reality for a lot of people that you don’t run into or communicate with, on your normal work-to-home commute. The people we actively avoid on our…
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Everything You Need To Know or You Are Forced To Know About Taxes…
Now that the IRS is back to work; time to get back to filing taxes. The deadline to get it all done is typically April 15 *However, for 2021 it’s May 17, 2021. We get an extra month with two days since it falls on the weekend. 2020 was a different type of year. At least HSAs are still dope. Try not to delay too long, evildoers are hard at work trying to file for you with the refund going back to them. Trust me you don’t want these kinds of problems. “Run and file Asap”, Once you’ve been had; it will take upward to a year to get it corrected with…
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It’s a Mistake Not to Save or Invest as Early As Possible. You only need $30,000.
To save is likely the most powerful word in modern times. But most people rather risk it all on an expensive gamble. Turns out, the Mega Wealth secrets are FREE.ย Investing early = MEGA difference. With just $30k, or about $3k annually for 10 years invest at the historic average rate of growth; you can be rich too. Waiting until your 30s, 40s, and 50s will cost you more. Waiting until you are in your 60s is a death sentence. Savvy investors understand the benefits of investing early and taking advantage of the potential gains from compound interest. The entire Financial Independence and Retire Early (FIRE) movement is based on this…
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 8.5: Healing Broken Financial Relationships
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc. This is a conversation on Healing Through Financial Brokeness.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 8: Protecting Your Financial Mental Energy
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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Setting Up The Ultimate Retirement Hack to Living for FREE
More People Should Build Wealth. It's Easier than You Think. Most Millennials Can and Should Consider Becoming Millionaires.
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How We Grew Our Wealth Through March Madness 2021!
Getting to the $500k Pot of Gold Just Got Harder. Millennial Couple's Net Worth Analysis and Household Expenses Breakdown.
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Fixing Past Financial Mistakes: a Bachelor and Wealth Builder
2018 was a year that made and broke friendship. Ultimately, it all forced me to Move my life Forward.
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The Five Biggest Money Myths and How to Fix Your Poverty Mindset
The Five Biggest Money Myths and How to Fix the Mindset that's Keeping You Poor. Time to break the narrative and build wealth fast.
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The Wealth Benefits Of The Net/Max Personal Financial Plan: From $0 to $60,000 Savings Annually
Move over Dave Ramsey, Financial Literacy “Guru”. Here’s the Net/Max Financial Plan! A way to make Personal Finances, Personal again. *Note โ This plan is tailored for a Single Individual with no kids, however, the core information is Universal. I guess everyone needs an intro. Hi, my name is Lawrence. Scroll passed my mugshot to skip the intro (Options!). I didn’t know that I was super poor. Yeah, I had a quasi-Business/Accounting/Taxation degree ($110k in Student Loans) and with grades like mine… It was rough. After struggling to find a job (which is a story for another time). I asked a recruiter to be honest with me at the end of FSU Seminole Futures (College…
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 7: Lifestyle Changes over Better Results
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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My Full Financial Breakdown from January 2012- December 2018
Full Financial Breakdown From January 2012 to December 2018. Average Millennial Dishes Out Secrets on the Road to Being a Millionaire.
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How to Prioritize Wealth Building over Baby Steps
A TNFG Weekly dose of nutritional content worth indulging. Prioritizing financial wealth building over Baby Steps to Debt Freedom.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 5: All about Family and Financial Accountability
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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The New Magic Number for Automatic Millennial Millionaire Status
More People Should Build Wealth. It's Easier than You Think. Most Millennials Can and Should Consider Becoming Millionaires.
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Rich People Already Know How Broke You Are
knowledgeable investors and real rich people, already know how broke you are. This makes it easier so that you donโt have to spend your hard earned money on pretending.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 3: โTwo Cups, Too Manyโ
Focusing just on coffee misses the point entirely. The Latte Effect applies to everything from how much we pay for TV subscriptions, gym, peloton, multiple cars in the parking lot of your home. Most families have a problem with over spending as a mean to derive happiness.
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Chocolate & Roses: How an Average Couple Added Over $10,000 in Wealth
All is Fair in Love and Wealth. There are Slivers of Real Change in How We Interact with Each Other. Valentine's Day was Personal Again.
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So You Need a High Impact Media Press Kit?!
What’s a Media Kit? First of all, once you start Blogging, Vlogging through YouTube and ultimately gaining an audience, you need to start tracking it. Every fledgling brand needs a media kit or a press kit. A media kit can be a page on your website or a downloadable package of information with the goal to summarize your reach in order to attract advertisers. Growing an audience is hard enough. Doing so without the proper Ad campaign can be costly. You want your side hustle to be a profitable as possible and as soon as possible. A media kit helps. Think of a Media Kit like a robust resume for…
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Last Minute Tax Moves Before You File for 2020
Before You Jump to File Your Taxes Too Soon This Year, Process The Implications and What You Can Still Do To Reduce Your Tax Liabilities.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 2: Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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TNFG Weekly Chapter 1: We Replicate What We Celebrate
TNFG Weekly is a dose of my favorite nutritional content and nuggets thatโs worth indulging. Sharing Financial Wholeness through Mindset, Articles, Spirituality, Health, Food, Fitness, Books, and etc.
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From Homeowner to Unemployed by New Year – Five Ways To Rebound Stronger
I Bought My 1st Home In November, and Got Laid Off in December. 2020 Wasn't Playing No Games. 5 Ways To Bounce Back.
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How to Work Smarter with a Financial Independence Plan
2020 Was a Year That We Will Not Forget. Work Smarter, Not Harder. Go Together to Travel Further. Choose Together Because the Destination is Not Moving.
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How To Build A Long-term Investment Portfolio Earning 250% Annual Return
First Investment Review. How This Black Millennial Couple Beat the Market by 10x in their First Year. Annual Return over 250%.
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How to Build a 5-Yr Investment Portfolio with over 500% Growth
The game has been US-centric but it is not going to matter much longer. 130% growth over 5 years is nice but over 500% is a bigger deal. Play with being average if you want with the advice floating on social media or learn to move beyond being average.
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Divided State of Black America: the Growing Racial Wealth Gap
Most Blacks in the Americas can trace their genealogy to enslaved ancestors, forced into the trans-Atlantic slave trade that started in the early 17th century. From microaggressions in Brazil to colorism in Haiti, vestiges of the past still layer subtext of Black Excellence. To this day, Blacks in the United States continue to face institutional barriers and discrimination, including a growing racial wealth divide.
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Just when you thought the New Year would be different: Millennial Coupleโs Net Worth Tumbles to +$7,000
For my household, the goal for 2021 is to hit $500,000 by March 2021. With the collapse of January, I am pushing back this goal to April or June again. The market is choppy and likely headed towards an instability bubble that threatens to affect those who struggle most.
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Don’t get left out of wealth: Rich People pay less taxes, you should too.
All that time could have been better spent; learning and understanding their own taxes.
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Extreme Warning! Don’t Be Average. How to reallocate $20,000 per year
The average American household brings in about $68,000 and spends $63,000. After FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax of 7.65%, the income already drops to $62,798. There you have it, the problem in high definition.
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Barely reaching the New Year: Millennial Coupleโs Net worth Skyrockets by $210,000
2020 was tough and with God's grace, humanity proved we were tougher. We have a longer road to go to build and prosper. Net max financial plan works wonders.
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5 Simple Ways to Jump Start Your Financial Independence Journey
Itโs not about the money but money does pay bills. Therefore, I am team money.
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How to make over 20% on your investments in 2021
TNFGโs Fav Five ETFs for 2021 Each year comes with its own share of trials and tribulations. The best part of 2020 is that it is over. With the market taking a dive in March 2020, only the few top tech companies seem to have carried the entire economy on their backs. This presents a colossal opportunity for investors over long-term savers. Buy ETFs Low, and Hold to Sell High While most fin-social media pundits will scream Vanguard Total Stock Index $VTI to the day they die, I rather go for a more nuance approach. In other words, if you want to succeed, it is best not to take the…
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Getting Rich Quick – Million Plus Retirement Strategy
The get rich quick fix to an abundant life starting 2021. Here is the framework that you need to have in your mind to Win at Wealth.
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The Story of a Bad Black Man: the Most Important Speech that Black Men Need to Know
What remains are your words and how you made others feel. So let your's be the story of the Bad Black Man, who saved the world from itself.
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How to Start Your Black Financial Independence Revolution
Every good decision is not binary. Investing in a 401k for example; earns you the matching contribution, tax avoidance, bigger refund, growth in mkt valuation, and even reduction in student loans. It's a smarter way to FI
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How to Beat Compounding Generational Debt with a $1,000,000+ ROTH IRA Investment Portfolio
Avoiding Compounding Generational Debt The US will be facing a retirement crisis starting with the millennial generation. While I do not like to scare people with information but this is something that you need to know and understand ASAP. The 2020 pandemic exposed a massive gap in financial knowledge and household goals. If you were relying on thing remaining the same for the next 40 years, you will be disappointed. Boomers are slated to retire in waves ended around 2035. Those were under-prepared for the transitions will become burdens to their adult children. Those millennials will struggle with their debts, lack of savings and investments, and their own kids. With…
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3 Out Of 4 Black Men Are Unemployed Or Underemployed, Is Black Debt Freedom Journey Even A Thing?
Every good decision is not binary. Investing in a 401k for example; earns you the matching contribution (if any), tax avoidance of up to $19,500, lower AGI, high tax return, growth in mkt valuation through dollar cost averaging, and even reduction in student loans based on taxable income.
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Millennial Couple Killing Their Net Worth: +$150,000 Growth
Epic news indeed. We came up $148,590 in Net Worth from January to October 2021. We will definitely cross the $400,000 by the end of the year. Nothing but the Glory of God, and investing with Faith.
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Ready to Start Your Wealth Journey? Here is the list of the Top 10 Financial YouTubers for Beginners
Knowledge in action is wealth. Wealth, on the other hand is the power to live a purposeful existence. This is the list of the Best YouTubers that save you money and help you invest.
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How My 401k Contributions Grew to over $150,000 and What You Should Do
Over 6 years, my total wealth output grew by $120,500 that's beyond my direct contributions of $98,133.
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How to Invest in your first Generational and Passive Income Portfolio
Wanna ensure wealth for your family for generations to come. Here's How to Build a Zodiac Portfolio for dividends every month, every $10,000 equals $360 per year forever.
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Millennial Millionaires Share Scariest Net Worth Break Down Yet!!
At this rate, just make it stop already. $700+ Grocery Expenses slashing away out our wealth. Stock prices dropping. Home prices climbing. 2020 taking everything.
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The Average Household in 2019 Spent $63,036. How Much Did We Spend?
The Average American Household earned $82,852 pre-tax and spent over $63,000 in 2019. Unfortunately, they only saved $7,165. How did we do?
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Learn how to start Investing in a Million Dollar Portfolio from Scratch before it’s too late
Once the market dropped in post pandemic, we were hit with a barrage of โBuying the Dipโ not to be confused with Salsa or Guacamole.
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Making Net Worth Wealth Goals FIRE for Fall 2020
Tโis the start of my favorite FIRE money season. Bustling New Budgets and Money Managing Changes to Close out the year.
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Avoiding being Broke, Fireworks, Making Money, and Millennial Investing
Our net worth climbed from the gutter of March 23, 2020 and itโs been on a rampage ever since. Up a solid 8.81%. The fiancรฉe took a much needed family break for a month to handle more wedding stuff. I, on the other hand, headed south to handle turn over for the rental property in Tallahassee with repairs.
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Tracking the Neighborhood Finance Guy’s Best Million Dollar Net Worth
What is a net worth? The nerdy version โ your Assets minus your liabilities. In simple terms, what you have (value wise) vs what you owe. This goes way beyond whatโs on your bank statement or what you see on the app.
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Intro to a Future Millionaire’s Monthly Net Worth Tracking Series
In the vein of BudgetAreSexy.com by J-Money, I figured it is time to start tracking my net worth monthly so that people can follow the bread crumbs, dissect, analyze or even hold me accountable for my numbers.
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With No Savings and No Home, There is a New Debt Crisis. My Mom Can’t Afford to Retire
Last year, my siblings and I had a heart to heart conversation with my mother. It broke my heart to say it. It broke her spirit to hear it.
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How to Increase Your Financial Awareness
From Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncรฉ, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Arianna Huffington, Ray Dalio and etc.; they all seem to have that "It factor". They mastered their financial equation. Your Financial Intelligence is comprised of three parts: Intelligence Quotient (IQ) + Emotional Quotient or Emotional Intelligence (EQ) + Adversity Quotient. Those who can quickly assess their weaknesses, mask or complement them instantly become successful.
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How to Break the Paycheck to Stress Cycle Beyond the Pandemic
Becoming More than Average According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, theย median wage for workers in the United States was approximately $45,000 per yearย for a 40-hour workweek (as of December 2018). Granted, salaries vary significantly based on experience level, occupation, educational attainment, and location. Some college graduates in professional, technical, and management occupations earned an average of $65,000 annually. Others in service-related industries earned an average of $30,000 annually. No Matter How We Spin It, We are Living Above Our Means While Generating Stress. In larger cities like New York, Atlanta, and Washington, DC, jobs tend to pay more and are often adjusted to the cost of living increases vs…
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5 Easy Steps to Boost Your Linkedin And Get Noticed
Alainta Alcin stated that I should do a “How to Improve Your Linkedin” article. For one, she is not the boss of me so “NOPE”. I didn’t want to at first. Once I began clicking around on my profile, it became clear that I had tons of gaps. My first job at McDonald’s was on there for no reason at all. Just taking up space. There were grammatical errors and job description Copy + Paste moments. Who was I fooling? It looked like a sophomoric mess. How to Improve Your Linkedin Make the changes, hopefully it makes more “cents” for you in the end. See you are not alone in…
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Understanding the Value of Your Net Worth and Avoiding Flex Culture
Ramping up on Flex Expenses 2019 ramped up the โPost to Flexโ motif to 1000%. International travel has received a massive boom in interest (largely due to Instagram) and the dollars have increased to ridiculous numbers. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, last year travel and tourism grew 3.9%, contributing to a growth of 319 million jobs and $8.8 trillion in hard smackers.ย The travel industry is becoming the second-fastest-growing sector in the world. On the other hand, โBreakfast habits are shifting to fit consumersโ busy schedules and include more snacking, less traditional breakfast foods, and eating on-the-go during the morning hours,โ perย Hannah Spencer, Foodservice Analyst. All while Brunch…
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Here are The Five Cardinal Rules of Personal Finances
โSometimes life knocks you on your assโฆ get up! Happiness is not the absence of problems, itโs the ability to deal with themโ Steve Maraboli Unemployed and Unemployable After watching Elizabeth Whiteโs desperate plea over the internet for those who are “unemployed at 55 and faking normalโ, I realized a few things. For over 25 years, she broke what Iโll dub โthe five cardinal rules of personal financesโ. Elizabeth White is a highly educated and resourceful professional who at times in her career wasย making over $100,000 per year and sometimes $200,000 per year. She was a far cry from those struggling to make ends meat. She was to all extent and purpose,ย โliving…
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How to Plan Your Next International Trip: Cutting Costs while Upping Excursions
Travel planning is just as fun as the trip. Well to me. Building a Great International Travel Plan is key So, you want to live the #travelnoire yacht lifestyle, but you don’t have unlimited funds… Worry not! This is just the strategy/planning guide for you. You can do this on your own and you might just have loads of fun planning it as well. A Whole Lot of Travel Planning for a Whole Lot of Fun In the summer of 2019, my girlfriend and I traveled to 12 countries and visited over 70 unique locations which included the Barack Obama Plaza in Ireland, tons of UNESCO sights such as the Cliff of Moher, Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge, Windsor, Bath, Westminster,…
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How Others Get to Retire Rich. You’ll Need $1.7 Million by the way.
So just Retire Rich? That sounds easy enough. Still not rich yet? Well, Summer is in full swing and you are just about to travel. Tuesday is indeed the cheapest day to fly. Or you are catching up on Stranger Things 3. Too late, this article just popped up on your notifications and you dodged it. You grab a Starbucks and mistakenly logged back into Facebook; it’s too late again. You read the headline. You’re welcome. Sorry to burst your Instagram travel life bubble, but this is the reality. Stop being aimlessly busy flexing. The more you spend now, the more you will regret it in the future. It’s true that you don’t want…
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What Every Millennial Black Woman needs to know about Money
Per the 2015 Asset Funders Network report, the median wealth of White single women was $15,640. The median wealth for single Black women and Latina women was $200 and $100 respectively. The usual reaction to this is, “Not me”. We have to settle quickly into this new acceptance phase and dig through the actual statistics because Black millennials are simply underprepared. For Black women, it’s not a just glass ceiling; it’s a thick platinum beam. Underpaid and Undervalued Given the current direction of the black community, it’s time to rely on our individual strength and “Lift as We Climb”. It is important to note that wealth in this country looks very different for white…
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Checking Up on How a 35-year old Makes and Spends $100,000+ in DC
The last follow-up to the wildly popular,ย The Budget of a 33-year old Govt. Auditor Making $78,781.50 in DC, which preceded the other popular one,ย The budget of a 31-year-old Govt. Auditor Making $64,000 in DC. Corps Backstory And How I Used to Spend My Time Little known fact, I have a tattoo on my left arm that says “Law” in Chinese… Well, at least I hope it says “Law”. Got it back in Palms Springs, CA when I was in Marine Corps Communication, and Electronic School (MCCES), way before it was cool to be tatted up. It was always incomplete and in 2020, I’ll get the tattoo of “Order” on my right…
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Millennial Newlyweds Bury Themselves In $100,000 Worth Of Debt
First things first, you never lose by marrying the right person. I don’t think there’s a value for that. After chatting it up at length with my buddy Ecclesiaste Clee Guerrier on what was probably another lighting round of social events starting from Marvel Phase 4, Marvel Phase 5, and more Marvel Phase 3; we finally started to talk about actionable goals, the American school system, politics, and wedding costs? Yep, it really happened in that order. We also talked about cars. However, this plot line was mathematically intriguing. So here’s my theory. I thinkย newlyweds are often shocked by the sticker price of their own debt after the first three months of…
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Critical Tips and Tricks That You Need to Know Before Buying a Home
When I bought my first home/condo in late October 2016, once the paperwork was signed and the keys were rendered to me, I sat on the floor and thanked God for that moment. I also proceeded to play ratchet music for the next hour. By November 2016, the 2nd-floor pipe froze and voila rain forest in the living room. I actually laughed. I wasn’t even in town so I figured that I rather go to sleep and handle it in the morning. For one, the floor was eventually replaced and the drywall was painted over once the home dried; I walked away with an important lesson. “Nothing Works All The Time…”…
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How a 33-year old Millennial Makes and Spends $79,000 salary in DC
The Follow-Up to theย Budget of a 31-year old Govt. Auditor making $64,000 Salaryย in DC. To be honest, 2015 was a rough year. Lesson learned – never break up with a girl around New Year; you will be paying for it all year. She went intoย Mad Queenย mode. I ended up having toย move 4 times. But like all things, I persisted throughout the process. In gratefulness, I was able to experience different parts of DC on a fast track from Arlington, to Columbia Heights and finally settling on the land beyond the shadows, Largo, MD. Inย Columbia Heights, I was able to live a sitcom life. Five bedrooms and two baths shared with…
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How to Avoid This Student Loan Debt Trap. I Added $10,000 Without Knowing
Full disclosure, this was my student debt experience. Your experience may vary. Yep, you read it correctly, Iย once spent $10,000ย without knowing in a span of fewer than 18 months. What’s worse is that I have proof. What could have been 2 all-expense paid trips to theย Maldives, 2 flights to Carnival (Trinidad and Rio), and/or many baller-rific nights where we would pop bottles; was merely an expense of $10k without knowing. With that said, I’m writing to spare you. As a Financial Coach, Tax Planner, and Bonafide Expert in all things poverty, I would like nothing more than for you to read this, think it over and share it with the nearest college student. Seth…
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$77,000+ is the Magic Number for Million Dollar Millennials. How?
After spending about 5 years trying to help people through resume building, financial literacy tips, articles, personal 1-on-1s; I Found out Financial Literacy can be Easier.
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Here’s the Complete Guide to Keeping Personal Finance Simple
A lot of people on social media say that they never learned financial literacy in K-12. While I tend to disagree since Arithmetic, Algebra 1 and 2, Reading Comprehension, and Economics are covered, there is no excuse not to learn today. ๐ฐย To solve things, check out this Personal Finance for Dummies guide. The goal is to simplify what you need to do up front so you don’t confuse yourself along the way. Turns out most people donโt need more income; they need aย cash flow management systemย that tells every dollar where to go. Yes, making more money would be nice too. However, if you can’t manage $10,000, you won’t be able…
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How to Build Wealth: Reviewing Our Nearly $1.4 Million in Investments
While we aren’t quite there yet, my wife and I took a step back to review our investment portfolio performance over the last 12 months. It was intriguing to see the progress. While the day-to-day news cycled through inflation fears, tariffs, market pullbacks, and even a Middle Eastern conflict, we stayed invested. It was a crash course in discipline, risk tolerance, and sometimes buying the dip while it kept dipping. In the end, our investment portfolio grew from $948,927.51 (April 1, 2025) to $1,398,505.46 (April 9, 2026). That’s a cash value increase of +$449,577.95 or +47.38%. That number is phenomenal, and the growth is solid. Being honest, too much growth…
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How to Make the Most of Money When the March Market Take Hits
The market is in full meltdown mode. Buy the dip in March 2026 but where is the end?
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A Study Found that Thriving U.S. Families Need to Make $150K a Year. Where Do You Fall?
The recent study, Measuring the True Cost of Economic Security, conducted by the Urban Institute, found that a well-off household needs to make at least $150,000 annually. The news hit social media like an expected tidal wave. This economic security threshold reminds us that the cost of living in the U.S. has ramped up dramatically. As the U.S. loses its political standing, along with the global increase in middle-class standards, the future is more expensive. U.S. households are already feeling the squeeze. Many of whom are surviving on less than $80,000 per year. Based on 2024โ2025 Census Bureau data, median household income varies significantly by race. Asian (-led) households earn the highest…
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Falling Behind: The Economic State of Black Men, 2025
Black men are often left out of the conversation when it comes to their economic and social position in the United States. As a second pillar in a household and often the primary breadwinner, their contribution shouldnโt be overlooked, but alas, I have to write this because they/we are. With over 600,000 black men entering unemployment since November 2025, some experts expect the number to climb to a million by November 2026. There is a palpable degree of financial security and stability that Black men can provide in an era of rising costs, inflation, and global turmoil. Their absence may equal a structural and sustained collapse of black communities. At…
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Retiring Early? Now What? What We Plan to Do.
Retiring soon and now what? Everything needs a well thought out plan in my opinion. I have a ton of ideas that will be tweaked.
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All’s Fair in Love, Tariffs, Stagflation and War
All is Fair in Love, Trump, Tariff Wars, Stagflation, and Nvidia earnings. Since we can't predict the future best thing to do now is to inflation-proof your net worth. Beyond that, hold tight.
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Retiring Early vs. $3 Million: Is It Better to Keep Working At that Price?
Recently, I was asked, “Why would you forgo your highest earning years in favor of retiring early?” Obviously, I never thought about it like that. The infinite wisdom of a random social media commenter truly changed my life… Nah. For one, I don’t think they understood how meticulous I could be regarding financial planning. I don’t know one person who retired and isn’t struggling financially, so I understand the caution. Being second-generation Haitian narrows the number of successful retirees to an elite few. Do Haitian-Americans retire? Sure. Maybe? Have I seen it? Not really. Do they even have enough money to really say that they retired? Nope. Most of their…
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How to Stay on Track to Reach Early Retirement
Not sure how the rest will manage working for an extra 25 years, we are out on early retirement in 6 years. At least that's the goal. Will we reach $5 million? Maybe or maybe not, at least we have a goal versus no goal at all.
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The U.S. Kicked Off the New Year with $1 Trillion in Gains!
Coming off of a rough 2022, a stellar 2023-2024, and a rocky 2025. 2026 should be challenging.
