FI for Kids

No new episode today, in fact I am taking a hiatus from the podcast for a while. 

One of the best things about being financially independent is the flexibility it provides.  

I have some travel planned this year as well as some other projects I want to give my time and energy, 

so it’s time to take a break from the pod for the time being.  

I am very grateful for all of you that have been listening, 

and I hope you’ve found some value in the conversations.  

Thank you very much for your support.  

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit my YouTube channel under my name, Dominic DeLaquil. https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil

Later this month, I’m wrapping up a comprehensive 

12-week video series. 

It’s a step-by-step guide designed to help families create the specific habits and skills needed to reach financial freedom.

Here’s what you can expect from the series:

Short and Actionable: Each video is only 5 to 10 minutes long, perfectly sized for a busy parent.

Family-Focused: While the principles apply to anyone interested in the path to financial freedom, this series places a heavy emphasis on helping parents build habits for themselves and their kids.

So, please head over to YouTube, search for Dominic DeLaquil, and check out that 12-week series.  

It makes a nice, practical, step-by-step compliment to the conversations here on the FI for Kids podcast. 

https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil

https://dominicdelaquil.com

Thank you again for tuning in and for building a foundation of financial independence for your family.  

Financial freedom doesn't always require a master plan—sometimes it just requires you to open your eyes to the opportunities you are already holding.

In this episode of FI for Kids, Dominic DeLaquil talks with Bart Merrell (The Side Hustle Samurai) about the concept of "Monetizing Your Mindset." Bart shares his philosophy that whenever something happens in life—good, bad, or ugly—you should always ask: "Can I monetize this?"

Bart proves this concept with his own life, sharing how he turned a tragic leg amputation into a consulting business that helps others navigate their medical trauma. He also shares a simple "3-List Strategy" that anyone (including your teenagers) can use to find their first side hustle today.

• 0:00 - Intro
• 0:40 - What Bart learned from his dad (The Pig Farmer Entrepreneur)
• 06:49 - Taking action when plans fail (The Bungee Jump Story)
• 11:11 - Why every W-2 employee needs a side hustle
• 13:51 - "Monetize Your Mindset" (How Bart monetized his leg amputation)
• 18:10 - The 3-List Strategy for finding a side hustle
• 20:24 - The importance of failing (The Snowmobile Business)
• 26:01 - The Bus Driver who started a CDL Testing Business
• 34:30 - The "Acres of Pig" Story (Don't miss what is right in front of you)

Links:

https://bartmerrell.com/

Many parents fall into the trap of thinking "more money" equals "better parenting." But what happens when building wealth costs you your relationship with your kids?

In this episode, Dominic sits down with Ian Noble, founder of RunSteady Investments. Ian shares his powerful backstory of growing up in two very different households—one wealthy but frugal, the other living paycheck-to-paycheck—and how that shaped his view on money.

We discuss his transition from an exhausted business owner working 80 hours a week to a passive investor who prioritizes time over status. Ian also breaks down exactly how to teach kids about "Opportunity Cost" so they grow up grateful, not entitled.

We cover:

• A Tale of Two Households: The lessons Ian learned seeing two different financial worlds.
• The "Zombie" Dad Moment: The wake-up call that led Ian to sell his successful business.
• Passive Income 101: How to stop trading time for money (Real Estate & Mobile Home Parks).
• The Entitlement Trap: How to teach kids that "stuff" has a cost—and why they should work for what they want.

Links:

• Website: RunSteadyInvestments.com
• Free Passive Investing in Real Estate Cheat Sheet: https://go.runsteadyinvestments.com/fi-for-kids-podcast
• Join My Passive Investor Mailing List: runsteadyinvestments.com/investor-club
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iannoble1/  
• Instagram: @ian_invests 

https://dominicdelaquil.com

https://fiforkids.com

Many families feel like "financial freedom" is a distant dream, blocked by the reality of monthly payments and the belief that debt is just a normal part of life. But what if the path to becoming debt-free was simply a math problem waiting to be solved?

In this episode, Dominic sits down with Andy Bennetts, founder of Empower Well Solutions, to challenge the narrative that you are stuck with payments forever. We explore how a "Financial GPS" strategy can help you reclaim your income and find the most efficient route to true financial independence—without sacrificing your lifestyle along the way.

We discuss:

• The "Financial GPS": A dynamic tool that calculates the fastest mathematical route to debt freedom.
• The Mortgage Math Shocker: Why a 6% interest rate actually costs you 115% over time.
• Forecasting Your Future: How to calculate if that family vacation will delay your retirement—and making the choice with eyes wide open.

If you feel stuck in the "quicksand" of interest payments, this episode provides the roadmap out.

Links:

Website: EmpowerWell.Solutions    

https://fiforkids.com

https://dominicdelaquil.com

There has been a 77% increase in teen traders, and Gen Z is entering the market six years earlier than Millennials. But are they investing, or are they just gambling on meme coins?

In this episode, Josh Fuhr (Founder of Bison Blueprint) joins us to break down the critical difference between Day Trading (high stress) and Investing (high strategy).

Josh shares his personal Hero’s Journey from corporate burnout to travelling in an RV to every national park west of the Mississippi to discover how he wanted to use his talents in the next phase of his life, and how he taught himself to read market patterns to generate massive returns without being glued to a screen all day.

We discuss:

• The Video Game Analogy: Why Day Trading is a First Person Shooter Game and Investing is a Strategy Game.
• The 90% Rule: Why most traders lose money and how to be in the top 10%.
• Technical Analysis 101: Moving beyond narratives (e.g. News) to seeing the patterns in the charts.
• Family Money: How parents and teens can co-manage a small trading account to learn financial literacy and investing and why this is an important life-skill.

Episode Links:

• Bison Blueprint Discord: htttps://whop.com/bisonbluepring (Code: Podcast50)
• Follow Josh Fuhr: @bison.blueprint



• https://dominicdelaquil.com

Most traditional financial planners focus on "Assets Under Management," which often leaves young adults out of the conversation. But while young people may lack capital, they possess the most valuable asset in investing: Time.

In this episode, I sit down with CFP Skyler Fleming, host of Financial Planning for Young Adults, to discuss how to leverage that time advantage.

We also break down what a "Financial Plan" actually is. It isn't just a spreadsheet or a restrictive budget; it is a tool to align your money with your values. As we discuss in the show, the whole purpose of money is to have "more life"—more options, more fun, and the flexibility to make choices without financial anxiety. When you have a plan in place, you don't just reduce stress; you give yourself permission to spend guilt-free on the things that actually matter to you.

Key Topics Covered:

• What is a Financial Plan? Moving beyond "budgeting" to see your money as a tool that creates options and freedom.
• The "Asset Gap": Why the financial industry overlooks young adults and why you shouldn't wait to start.
• The Rule of 72: Understanding the "5th Doubling"—why the money invested early is worth exponentially more than money invested later.
• Coast FI Explained: How to calculate the number (e.g., $139k) that secures your traditional retirement so you can take your foot off the gas.
• Cashflow & Automation: Why you should focus on automating your cashflow "buckets" so you can live your life without obsessing over every dollar.

Episode links:

Connect with Skyler:

https://www.youtube.com/@FPYApod

https://www.instagram.com/moneytalk.skylerfleming/

https://walletburst.com  (Coast FI calculator)

Connect with Dominic:

https://fiforkids.com

https://dominicdelaquil.com

https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil

Music:  https://www.reverbnation.com/douglascameron

Resolutions rarely last past February. This year, try a framework instead.

If you feel like you are standing at the base of a "new mountain" in 2026—whether that is a financial milestone, a career pivot, or a new season of parenting—you cannot use your old map to climb it.

In this New Year’s special, I sit down with Performance Coach Rob Tracz to dismantle the traditional "New Year, New Me" hype. Instead, we focus on alignment. We discuss why willpower fails, why you need to stop chasing your "past self," and how to build a family culture that hits goals automatically through lifestyle design.

If you are tired of setting goals that you forget by March, this episode provides the compass you need.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The "Rugby Lesson": Why trying to perform like your "old self" is a recipe for burnout (and injury).
• The F.L.A.G. Framework: A 4-step system (Foundational Values, Lifestyle Alignment, Aspirations, Growth) to filter what actually matters this year.
• Lead vs. Lag Measures: Why obsessing over the result (the scale, the bank account) actually slows you down—and what to focus on instead.
• Family Buy-In: How to set goals with your kids (even the reluctant teenagers rolling their eyes).

Mentioned in this episode:

• Rob Tracz: https://robtracz.com
• Rob’s Podcast: Surviving the Side Hustle

Resources for Parents:

• NEW YouTube Channel: I’ve launched a dedicated "How-To" channel for teaching kids about money. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil
• Mentorship: Ready to fast-track your child’s financial independence? Learn more about the Millionaire Habits for Families program: https//:dominicdelaquil.com

Key Quotes:

"You can't chase a previous version of yourself if you're trying to accomplish new goals. You need to step into who you need to become next." — Rob Tracz

"Goals are a lag measure. The daily habit is the lead measure. You can't control the result today, but you can control the action." — Dominic DeLaquil

Financial Independence, Parenting Teens, Goal Setting, Family Finance, Money Habits, Rob Tracz, New Year Resolutions, F.I.R.E., Atomic Habits, Homeschooling, Lifestyle Design.

https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil

https://dominicdelaquil.com

There is no new full episode of FI for Kids this week or next, as we take a short break to enjoy the holiday season. However, Dominic has a major announcement to share!

In this update:

• The Return: We are back on January 1st, 2026, with special guest Prime Performance Coach Rob Tracz to help you kick off the new year with the right mindset.
• The Announcement: Dominic has officially launched his new YouTube channel!  While the podcast covers high-level discussions, the YouTube channel focuses on the specific "how-to" strategies of teaching kids about money, investing, and financial independence.

• Coming Up: A new weekly series begins in January on YouTube covering the habits and skills needed to set your kids on the path to financial freedom.

Links:

• Subscribe to the New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DominicDeLaquil
• Website: https://dominicdelaquil.com
• 
  

Happy Holidays, and we will see you in 2026!

Should parents buy investment properties for their kids, or sell properties to them?

In this episode of FI for Kids, host Dominic DeLaquil speaks with real estate investor and coach Amelia Misenheimer about growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how those lessons shaped her path to financial freedom.

Amelia shares a heartbreaking but powerful story about collecting rent as a child (the "Go-Kart" story) that taught her the difference between having "stuff" and having security. We also dive deep into advanced strategies for young adults, including how parents can act as the bank to help their college-aged kids house hack and build equity early.

In this episode, we cover:

·       Money Memories: Growing up in a mobile home dealership and learning to negotiate.

·       The "Go-Kart" Story: A powerful lesson on prioritizing bills over toys.

·       Tactile Money: Why kids need to physically handle cash and write checks.

·       Real Estate for Young Adults: How to structure a "Real Estate Contract" to sell a home to your child.

·       3D Investing: Managing rentals overseas as a military spouse.

Whether you want to help your child buy their first home or just want to teach them to be money smart, this conversation is full of unique insights.

Timestamps:

·       00:00 Intro: Growing up in a business family

·       01:21 The "Go-Kart" Story: A lesson on values & rent

·       05:57 Why kids need to write checks & handle cash

·       11:23 Money doesn't have to be serious (The "Tool" Mindset)

·       23:32 The Nail Salon Story: Learning from overdrafts

·       26:18 Real Estate for College Kids (House Hacking)

·       35:12 How Parents Can Be the Bank (Real Estate Contracts)

·       38:45 "3D Investing": Real Estate as a Military Spouse

·       41:58 Designing your own Financial Freedom plan

Connect with Amelia Misenheimer: https://www.ameliamisenheimer.com

Episode links:

https://dominicdelaquil.com

https://fiforkids.com

Music:  Douglas Cameron:  https://www.reverbnation.com/douglascameron

            The Zoo Human Project:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kNCM6z0SHjdumOldVWLOc?si=pSnGVAAFRUaJ0xmcGYG7VA

#RealEstateInvesting #MoneySmart #FinancialFreedom #ParentingTips #HouseHacking #MilitaryMoney #RealEstateForBeginners #FIforKids

https://dominicdelaquil.com

https://fiforkids.com

Want to set your children up for life while saving money on your taxes today? In this episode of FI for Kids, host Dominic DeLaquil sits down with Kyle Beltle, a CPA and certified tax coach, to reveal the blueprint for raising financially independent children.

We go beyond basic allowances and dive into advanced money management and tax strategies that most parents overlook. Kyle explains the crucial difference between a traditional CPA and a proactive tax coach, and how the latter can save your family thousands.

In this episode, we cover:

• Entrepreneurship for families: How involving kids in the family business can teach valuable lessons and provide tax benefits.
• Investing for the future: The power of Roth IRAs for young savers and how to maximize 529 plans for education (and beyond).
• Financial Education: Tailoring money lessons to your child's specific personality type.
• Wealth Strategy: How to use UTMA accounts and alternative investments to secure your family's financial freedom.

Whether you are looking to optimize your tax strategies or simply want to give your kids a head start on financial independence, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction to Financial Independence for Kids
• 01:26 Growing Up with Financial Education
• 08:24 Practical Approaches: Teaching Kids About Money
• 14:01 Tax Strategies for Financial Empowerment
• 18:57 Maximizing 529 Plans & Education Savings
• 24:30 Hiring Your Kids: Entrepreneurship & Tax Benefits
• 32:51 Retirement Account Optimization for High Earners
• 41:30 The Difference Between a CPA and a Tax Coach