Long term investing and saving is key to building wealth and financial independence. However, that wealth should also have meaning to you. Aligning your financial goals with a cause that resonates with you can transform your life, shifting your focus from mere accumulation to creating positive change.

That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk to repeat guest Derrick Kinney about how you can get clarity on the purpose of the wealth you are building in order to achieve true fulfillment in life.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why connecting money to purpose makes us happier in life - The benefits of using your wealth for lasting impact - How to identify a cause that aligns with your values - Practical steps you can take to reframe your financial goals around a bigger mission

Lots of people dream of owning their own business. They have that entrepreneurial itch that needs to be scratched. But most start-up businesses fail because they are hard to get started and grow.

But what if you were to buy an already thriving business? How would that work? To answer those questions I spoke with CFO and business advisor Karl Maier. He has some great tips and ideas on how to be successful in buying a business.

- How to start discussions with a potential business seller - What a letter of intent is and how it works - What critical information you should get from the seller about the business - What terms you should negotiate - Ways to get the money for the purchase

Financial literacy is an important part of anyone's education and should start before the student graduates from high school. In Episode 151, I talked with Jake Cousineau on how he teaches it to high school students.

But this is a topic that needs to be discussed more. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with Aaliyah Kissick about her efforts to promote financial literacy, especially among the Gen Z.

In this episode you will learn:

- About the Financial Literacy Diaries and how they can help - How storytelling is important in teaching financial literacy - How Gen Z workers can win at job search

Achieving financial freedom and meeting long term savings goals like retirement can seem beyond reach. This is often because the concepts of personal finance and investing can seem mystifying, or that myths out there have you thinking that these goals are beyond reach.

Misty Lynch, a Certified Financial Planner, has been helping people demystify the process and bust the myths that may be holding them back. Once I heard about her, I knew I had to have her on the show. Here is our discussion.

In this episode you will learn:

- Why having debt may be a good thing - Why it doesn't take money to make money - Why renting is sometimes better than owning - Why estate plans are for everyone

We all hope to retire some day. The thought of being able to do what you want with your life without having to worry about having the money to pay the bills is the very essence of financial freedom.

But figuring out the path to get there is often the hard part. Where (and how) do you start? When should you start (and what if you're starting later in life)? To answer these questions, I talk with certified financial planner Stephen Kates on how you should lay out your retirement plan.

In this episode you will learn:

- Where to start putting together your plan - The most common mistakes people make - How risk tolerance affects your plan - How to diversify your investments

Many people dream of starting their own business and being their own boss. It is something they built and can be their legacy. But most businesses fail at some point; it's only a matter of time.

To increase your chances of success, you need the right money mindset, not only for your business, but yourself as well. That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with Justin Buonomo of Journey to Financial Freedom about how to form those mindsets and be successful!

In this episode you will learn:

- How your money mindset impacts things other than your financial stability - Unconventional strategies for achieving financial independence - How to build a business that will support your lifestyle - How to align your lifestyle with your business goals

A big part of achieving financial freedom is having the right mindset about money. If you don't think about money in a way that aligns with your financial goals, you will find it difficult to succeed.

That's why on this episode of the podcast I talk with financial advisor Amy Cook about what she calls your money narrative and how the right one can help you achieve your financial goals and, ultimately, financial freedom.

In this episode you will learn:

• What a money narrative is
• How it influences your financial decisions
• The common money narratives that hold people back
• How early life experiences shape our approach to money
• How to reshape a negative money narrative

Social Security is still an important part of any retirement plan. It acts as a good supplement to a pension or other income from IRAs or 401Ks. But how it fits in to your particular plan and when is also important.

That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk with financial planner and Social Security guru Devin Carroll about how to make the right choices when you are a few years out and when you are ready to walk out the door and go home for good.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to decide when to claim benefits
• What you should know about benefits before retiring
• The biggest mistakes people make
• About survivor benefits
• About ex-spouse benefits

You may have heard about stock options in financial news articles, especially in the context of tech companies and startups. They act as a form of compensation or a benefit for employees. 

But what are they? How do they work, and if your employer offers them, how can you use them to your best advantage in your financial plan? To answer these questions, I talk with Landon Loveall of KB Financial Advisors on how stock options can help you with your short and long term financial plans.

In this episode you will learn:

- What stock options are - The types of stock options and their tax ramifications - How you can leverage them to your benefit - How to minimize your tax liability

Most people wait until they reach age 65 or older to retire. One of the reasons is that you can maximize your social security benefit. This makes retirement something that is far into the future.

But what if you don't want to wait that long? What if you want to have more time to enjoy it? That's why in this episode of the podcast I talk to engineer, real estate professional and CEO of Dirty Boots Capital Tony Lopes on how it can be done.

In this episode you will learn:

- How to solve the job experience to get a job conundrum - The importance of getting a Return on Life (ROL) - About building wealth with passive income - The importance of having more than one source of income