Ryan made $3 million, lived in a Chicago penthouse, and had only been to three of his daughter's soccer games in 16 years. That moment on his rooftop changed everything for me. In this raw conversation with Rayn Bakke, I share why we both walked away from Big Four careers to build something that actually matters. From getting mocked by Deloitte leadership for pursuing my dream to proving I could replace my salary in just 10 months, this is the real story of leaving corporate America's golden handcuffs. I'll take you inside the moment HR gave me an ultimatum, why I paid off my house the same week I quit, and how a conversation written in a McDonald's parking lot became the framework that's helped 2,300+ families transform their finances. Episode Timeline & Highlights [0:00] - The rooftop moment that made me form my first LLC [0:28] - Why we both left Deloitte despite being on partner track [2:37] - The night at 8pm when my boss called his kids instead of going home [4:38] - Making partner means buying into social commitments you can't escape [6:39] - My 12-month escape plan: Make or exceed my $100,000 salary [7:49] - "I heard you're a big star" - When HR found out about BudgetDog [9:02] - The partner who mocked me and became my fuel [10:38] - Who BudgetDog really serves: 76% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck [11:39] - Why $300,000 earners are struggling with credit card debt [12:35] - The behavioral psychologist in our academy (because money is emotional) [14:20] - The surgeon making $1 million who can't retire (daddy issues) [16:21] - Our student who gained $129,000 in net worth in 15 weeks [17:18] - Writing the entire academy framework in a McDonald's parking lot [20:16] - Why money is so much easier than people make it

Key Takeaways The golden handcuffs are real: Making partner isn't just about money; it's buying into a social commitment that can trap you for 40 years Your identity drives your finances: Most money problems aren't math problems, they're psychology problems rooted in childhood beliefs Proof before leap: I didn't just quit; I proved I could replace my income for 10 months before walking away Doubters become fuel: When leadership mocks your dreams, let it drive you to exceed their income (and I did) Systems beat willpower: An automated financial system removes the emotion and creates inevitable wealth

Quotables "My boss said he was going to call his kids to put them to bed. I left at 11pm and called my wife: 'I don't think this is the right move long term.'" "The partner mocked me: 'I became a Budget Dog connoisseur over the weekend.' That's when I went into kill mode." "76% of people living paycheck to paycheck isn't an income problem when $300,000 earners have credit card debt." "I wrote the entire academy framework in a McDonald's parking lot with pen and paper - everything I wish I'd known from scratch." "Whether you think you can or can't, you're right." - Henry Ford (and it's my favorite quote ever) Links & Resources BudgetDog Academy: budgetdogacademy.com/yt-get-started Connect on Instagram: https://instagram.com/budgetdog All platforms: @budgetdog Free resources: https://budgetdog.com If this episode hit home, share it with someone stuck in the corporate grind who needs to hear that there's life beyond the partner track. Remember to rate, follow, and review to help others find their path to financial freedom without sacrificing what matters most.