Looking to maximize your investments and build long-term wealth? In this episode of Money on My Mind, I break down an easy-to-follow investment framework that anyone can apply to their financial situation. A listener, Sherry, asks: “In addition to a Roth IRA, what else should I be maxing out annually?” With a $160,000 income as our example, I walk through the exact steps to prioritize investment accounts, from employer-sponsored plans to HSAs and taxable brokerage accounts.

Whether you’re just starting your investment journey or looking to optimize your existing strategy, this episode lays out the six-step investment framework to help you take control of your financial future. Plus, I share some key rules of thumb to ensure your money is working for you efficiently and automatically. Ready to build wealth? Let’s dive in.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:06] – Understanding investment frameworks and why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach

[2:26] – The three core accounts for most investors (401(k), IRA, and taxable brokerage)

[4:09] – How risk profile, age, and goals shape your investment approach

[5:04] – The first step: maximizing your employer match for guaranteed returns

[6:10] – Evaluating an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with a guaranteed discount

[6:47] – Choosing between a Roth and traditional IRA and when to prioritize each

[7:14] – Breaking down Sherry’s $160,000 income example – where every dollar should go

[9:35] – Calculating your ideal savings percentage and how to automate it

[10:58] – The power of an HSA and when it makes sense to prioritize it

[11:17] – Why taxable brokerage accounts can be a game-changer for flexibility

[12:39] – Step-by-step guide to calculating biweekly and monthly contributions

[13:51] – Key investment principles: index funds, reinvesting dividends, and long-term thinking

[15:17] – How Budget Dog Academy can help you personalize your investment plan

Links & Resources:

• https://bookwithbudgetdog.com/ped

If you found this episode valuable, share it with a friend who’s ready to level up their investments. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and keep taking bold steps toward your financial freedom.

In this episode of Money on My Mind, I dive into one of the most common (and urgent) financial questions: Is the market going to crash? One of our listeners, Stephen Lundy, asks whether he should be worried, how to secure his investments, and whether moving to bonds is the right move. Instead of focusing on fear, I break down what truly builds wealth: long-term strategy, understanding risk, and taking consistent action.

We’ll break down the Wealth Triangle, the risks of market timing, and why dollar-cost averaging is key—even in volatility. I’ll also share data on how missing a few top market days can cost you millions. If you’re unsure about investing, this episode will give you the clarity to stay the course and avoid costly emotional decisions.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:23 Is the market going to crash?

02:23 Why fear-based investing leads to bad decisions

05:21 How market volatility tricks investors into losing money

06:45 The Wealth Triangle

09:23 The importance of mental fortitude

12:24 Building an automated system to generate cash flow

14:22 The real definition of the stock market

16:37 The fundamentals of investing that you should understand

19:16 Understanding the importance of risk management

24:21 How missing the best 10 days of the market can sink your money

28:01 Why market timing does not work

30:31 Developing the right mindset towards investing

32:27 How waiting could impact your returns

https://bookwithbudgetdog.com/ped

Quotables

“The market isn’t some mystical force—it’s people, businesses, and the economy. Unless humans stop working and innovating, the market won’t just disappear.”

“If you wait to invest because you’re scared, you’re literally throwing away millions of dollars over time.”

“You don’t build wealth by reacting to fear—you build it by making smart, consistent moves over time.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

In this episode of Money on My Mind, I answer a question from one of my Budgetdog Academy OGs, Joe Sullivan, about the step-by-step process of starting a business. Whether you’re dusting off an old business idea or just getting serious about entrepreneurship, this no-fluff episode breaks down six essential steps—from finding your niche to scaling—without the distractions of logos, websites, or admin tasks.

I’m sharing hard-learned lessons on why most people aren’t cut out for entrepreneurship, common mistakes new business owners make, and what truly matters when starting out. Ready to stop talking and start doing? This episode’s for you.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:29 The harsh truth: 95% of people aren’t built to start a business—and why that’s okay.

03:28 Why your niche, product, and real results matter more than branding

07:28 Proving your concept and providing services that will make money

09:30 Making your business repeatable without trading time for money

12:13 Simple scales, fancy fails: Why overcomplicating your business is a recipe for disaster

14:02 Focusing on sales and marketing

17:41 Hiring talent from networking instead of job boards

22:12 Learning to delegate to scale your business the right way

23:14 Systemizing your business through SOPs and other tools

31:36 The importance of communication within your team

Quotables

“Ideas are pointless. Everyone has them. What matters is who takes action and gets paid for them.”

“Simple scales. Fancy fails. The more complex you make it, the worse your product probably is.”

“If you can’t sell it more than once, it’s not a business. It’s just a hustle.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

Asana

https://asana.com/

Quickbooks

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/

In this episode, I break down the five key aspects of human nature that often hold us back from achieving financial success. I dive into the psychology of money, emotional decision-making, and the societal pressures that shape how we manage our finances. Along the way, I share actionable solutions to help you overcome these natural tendencies and provide insights into creating lasting wealth through discipline, patience, and self-awareness.

Join me for relatable stories, practical advice, and a clear roadmap to help you navigate and conquer common financial pitfalls.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

02:16 The role of psychology in your success

03:34 Reason 1: The natural instinct to avoid pain

07:21 How to overcome the instinct to avoid pain

08:36 Reason 2: Survival instincts and short-term thinking

11:52 Understanding the difference between your needs and wants

13:30 Reason 3: Emotional decision-making

14:20 Logic vs emotions in wealth-building

17:58 Reason 4: Groupthink and trends

20:31 How to overcome groupthinking

24:28 Reason 5: The desire for good social standing

28:53 Starting the work with your mindset

Quotables

“Building wealth often requires embracing pain—it’s part of the process of growth.”

“If you always chase short-term gratification, you’ll never achieve long-term financial success.”

“The more self-aware you are about your psychology, the better your financial decisions will be.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

In this actionable episode of Money on My Mind, I share my step-by-step playbook for securing a raise, drawing from my personal experience of achieving a 17% raise during my time at Deloitte. I tackle common misconceptions about earning more, emphasizing that providing value is far more important than relying on tenure. I break down the critical strategies of gathering market data, tracking your performance metrics, and delivering a confident, compelling pitch.

Whether you’re looking to level up in your career or gain insight into employee dynamics, this episode is packed with powerful tools to help you achieve professional growth.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:01 Shifting your mindset to understand the difference between time and value

02:48 How you should approach the idea of asking for a raise

04:24 Gathering market data and benchmarking salaries

06:22 Understanding your role’s market demand and timing your request

08:12 Exchanging value for money

12:36 The power of tracking performance data to quantify your contributions

15:29 Preparing for the big discussion: How to structure your pitch
16:36 The value of taking the lead

19:26 Presenting yourself confidently to get your raise

20:25 The importance of having a fallback position to strengthen your negotiation

23:55 Framework recap: How to get a raise

Quotables

“Time does not equal more money.”

“If you want a raise, you need to show up with facts, data, and confidence—it’s not just about asking.”

“Leaders naturally rise to the occasion—if you want to earn more, start thinking and acting like one.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

In today’s episode of Money on My Mind, I’m sharing the shocking experience of watching my credit score drop 115 points after paying off my mortgage. Let’s talk about the mechanics of credit scores, breaking down the five key factors that impact them and explaining why the credit industry penalizes debt-free living. I’m also sharing personal stories, practical tips, and thought-provoking insights to help you navigate the “credit game” without feeling trapped by it.

Whether you’re focused on achieving financial freedom or looking to improve your credit, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you stay in control.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:26 How my credit dropped to 115

03:06 What happens to your credit when you pay off your debts?

04:19 The 5 components of a credit score

05:08 How closing credit cards can impact your credit score

07:11 Why playing “the credit game” is a losing strategy

09:26 The marketing tactics of credit card companies and how they target consumers

11:44 Being a “slave to the lender” forever

13:02 Why simplifying your financial life is the ultimate freedom

Quotables

“The credit gods didn’t like that we paid off our debt—they punished us for leaving their game.”

“The borrower is always a slave to the lender, no matter the interest rate.”

“Simplify your life, focus on what truly matters, and get rid of the noise that keeps you on the financial treadmill.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com

In this reflective and thought-provoking episode of Money on My Mind, I share why I’m letting go of traditional goal-setting in favor of a powerful mindset shift. I open up about a pivotal realization inspired by my CPA exam journey, explaining how operating with a scarcity mindset can hinder progress, even when you’re hitting milestones. I discuss the importance of trusting yourself, setting broad intentions instead of rigid goals, and embracing abundance over scarcity.

Whether you’re an ambitious goal-setter or looking for clarity in your financial journey, I hope this episode inspires you to rethink how you approach your objectives for a more fulfilling and impactful life.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

02:10 Living with intentionality

03:27 My journey taking the CPA tests: Lessons from failure and persistence

07:20 How overcoming the scarcity mindset affects your results

09:11 Shifting to a mindset of abundance and trusting innate skills

12:34 Why I decided to quit my goals this year

13:49 How changing your mindset can change the results you’re going to achieve

Quotables

“You can trust yourself to get there without stressing yourself out to get there.”

“Goals framed by scarcity can push you onto a treadmill of endless moving goalposts.”

“Shifting from scarcity to abundance is the key to operating at a higher level.”

Links

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713

Atomic Habits

https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299

Budgetdog

https://www.budgetdog.com

In this heartfelt and powerful episode of Money on My Mind, I’m sharing with you a life-changing ordeal involving mold toxicity that has left my family without a home and facing significant financial challenges. I share the emotional and financial impact of this event, detailing how we’re managing over $300,000 in unexpected expenses while caring for our immunocompromised daughter.

This episode dives deep into the importance of financial preparedness, resilience in the face of adversity, and the mindset needed to overcome life’s toughest challenges. Packed with raw honesty and actionable insights, my goal is to provide a wake-up call to take control of your finances before disaster strikes.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:11 What do you value the most in life?

02:44 Managing financial and emotional stress

05:31 The two routes when facing adversity: Fight or flight

07:59 What the mold crisis really looked like for us

12:12 How much this situation cost us

13:48 The importance of financial preparedness and living below your means

20:11 The impact of having sustainable and automated systems

22:44 Developing a mindset that can weather every storm

Quotables

“You can only lose if you give up. Resilience is the key to overcoming any adversity.”

“Life isn’t fair, but sitting in excuses won’t fix anything. You have to act.”

“Financial freedom isn’t about luxury; it’s about having the muscle to handle life’s hardest moments.”

Links

Budgetdog

https://budgetdog.com