Can you pay off $300,000 in debt and become a millionaire in your thirties? Bernadette Joy did, and she’s here to tell you how.

In this episode of Mitlin Money Mindset®, Larry Sprung sits down with Bernadette Joy, CEO of Crush Your Money Goals®, to discuss her journey from corporate employee to self-made millionaire and bestselling author. 

She shares the personal motivations behind her financial transformation, her unique approach to coaching others, and the hard truths about entrepreneurship, debt, and building true wealth. Bernadette also opens up about the importance of financial conversations, especially with parents, and advocating for wealth equity.

Bernadette discusses:

• How her background and family experiences shaped her mission to help others achieve financial control and independence
• The turning point that led her from corporate HR to entrepreneurship, and eventually launching Crush Your Money Goals®
• Her candid view on the cost and value of education, and how her MBA debt impacted her perspective on money
• The critical need for early and honest financial conversations within families, especially around aging parents and retirement
• Her commitment to closing the wealth gap for women and empowering others, especially women, to confidently self-promote and lead their financial lives
• And more!

Resources:

• Mitlin Financial  
• The JOY and Productivity Journal by Lawrence Sprung 
• Download Your Free Copy of the Couple’s JOYful Money Guide
• CRUSH Your Money Goals: 25 Smart Money Habits to Save, Invest, and Fast-Track Your Financial Freedom by Bernadette Joy

Connect with Larry Sprung: 

• LinkedIn: Larry Sprung
• Instagram: Larry Sprung
• Facebook: Larry Sprung
• X (Twitter): Larry Sprung

Connect with Bernadette Joy: 

• LinkedIn: Bernadette Joy
• Instagram: Bernadette Joy
• Website: Crush Your Money Goals®
• YouTube: @bernadebtjoy

About our Guest:

As the eighth child in her father's brood of nine and a first-gen Filipina-American, Bernadette Joy understands those who feel like they missed the money memo.

Sure, she boasts two bachelor’s and a master’s, and a decade of Fortune 100 and startup experience. But her real street cred? Paying off a jaw-dropping $300,000 of debt in three years and investing her first $1 million in her 30s! 

She's also the CEO of Crush Your Money Goals®, a personal finance training company serving up education with a side of pizzazz. A top journalist featured in Forbes, CNBC, and CNET and has appeared on more than 50 podcasts, national radio shows, and TV segments.

In the past year, Bernadette has spoken on some of the biggest stages, including South by Southwest, Nasdaq, FinCon, and TEDxHouston, following in the footsteps of her hero, Brené Brown.

Her debut book, Crush Your Money Goals®, published by Simon & Schuster, is available now and was named one of Oprah Daily's top 10 books for personal growth in 2025!

Today, she coaches hundreds nationwide, sharing her 5-step secret recipe for ditching debt, mastering savings, and investing for financial peace. 

When she's not speaking, she's practicing early retirement: K-Pop, yoga, karaoke, and spoiling her nieces and nephews as their traveling rich auntie.

Disclosure:

Guests on the Mitlin Money Mindset are not affiliated with CWM, LLC, and opinions expressed herein may not be representative of CWM, LLC. CWM, LLC is not responsible for the guest's content linked on this site.