Journey To Launch

Generally, the goal for most working Americans is to work with a company for several years and eventually retire to enjoy life and explore opportunities that you may not have while working full-time. Today's guest, Carl Seidman explains the concept of 'mini-retirements'.

A mini-retirement is a lengthy break, months to years, from the normal course of everyday work life intended for personal development and creating new experiences. Carl's ideas, much like the FIRE movement, challenge the traditional view of retirement and more importantly, his ideas challenge the way that we view career development.

In this episode we discuss:

• The concepts of mini-retirements
• Carl's first retirement at 32
• Carl's blog post "Does a college degree matter"
• The Mexican Fisherman story
• How to fund mini-retirements and still fund your long-term retirement
• The structure and planning involved in Carl's mini-retirements
• Things to consider before planning a mini-retirement
• Carl's goals
• Carl's thoughts on the FIRE community and early retirement

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Nominate me as Podcast of the Year, Best FIRE Podcast & Community Builder at the 9th Annual Plutus Awards. Just enter in my website www.journeytolaunch.com to nominate me in the following categories at the 9th Annual Plutus Awards; Podcast of the Year, Best FIRE Podcast & Community Builder. Nominate me here

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Does A Degree Matter Anymore Blog Post
• Stanford's Article on Reimagining the Undergraduate Experience
• The Story of the Mexican Fisherman
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Carl:

• Twitter: @carlseidman
• CarlSeidman.com

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: Journey To Launch
• Join the private Facebook Group

For most people in the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) community, retiring early is less about never working again and more about having the options and freedom to live the life of your dreams without being dependent on a paycheck. The FIRE movement paints a different picture of retirement and it is one of the reasons that I made reaching FIRE one of my biggest life goals.

In this solo episode, I'm explaining the What, Why & How of the FIRE movement. What it actually is, Why everyone should be on the journey to Financial Independence and How to achieve it.

In this episode I discuss:

• What FIRE means
• How I first discovered it and what first attracted me to the movement
• What FI (Financial Independence) means
• What RE (Retiring Early) means
• Why FIRE?
• Why everyone should be on the path to FIRE
• How it gives you more options & happiness
• The How of FIRE
• How to reach Financial Independence
• The formula (increasing income, decreasing expenses and creating good habits)
• Improving your mindset
• Celebrating your wins and enjoying the journey

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Nominate me as Podcast of the Year, Best FIRE Podcast & Community Builder at the 9th Annual Plutus Awards. Just enter in my website www.journeytolaunch.com to nominate me in the following categories at the 9th Annual Plutus Awards; Podcast of the Year, Best FIRE Podcast & Community Builder. Nominate me here

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

Mad Fientist Podcast

Radical Personal Finance Podcast Stock Market Crash Investment

Join The Weekly Newsletter List

Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!

Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12

My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals

YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with me:

Instagram: @journeytolaunch

Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch

Facebook: Journey To Launch

Join the private Facebook Group

One of the best things about the journey to Financial Independence is that while planning for early retirement, it is not always a requirement to forsake your other life goals. Tanja Hester, the blogger behind the Plutus Award-winning early retirement blog, Our Next Life, set out on the journey with her husband Mark to retire at the end of 2017.

Our Next Life, places a huge focus on putting life goals first and then building money goals around them–not the other way around. In fact, Tanja Hester became financially independent at the age of 36 and retired early at the age of 38, all despite never being a super saver or even naturally good with money. Tanja has graced the show with very practical advice for all journeyers at any place on the path to FI.

In this episode we discuss:

• What caused her to start the path and how she managed to keep it a secret from her job
• What retirement actually means to her
• Health considerations for someone looking to retire early
• Tanja's blog post, "What FIRE bloggers owe their readers"
• Practical advice for people who want to start or who are on this path
• Advice for high earners vs mid-low earners

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Our Next Life Blog
• The Fire Blogger Manifesto
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Tanja:

• Instagram: @our_nextlife
• Twitter: @our_nextlife
• Facebook: Our Next Life

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: Journey To Launch
• Join the private Facebook Group

The road to Financial Independence is one that is full of different variables and it can sometimes bring uncertainty. Let's be honest–finding the right balance between budgeting, saving, and investing can be a little overwhelming. With so much information floating around, I am super excited to be able to answer several of your questions about retirement, investments, and all things personal finance.

In this Q&A Episode, I give insight into:

• How do employer contributions for 401K work?
• How do you get over the fear of action or the fear of getting it all wrong?
• When is the right time to get a financial advisor? Building off this, how do you evaluate the value of "do it yourself" versus hiring a professional?
• How do I break the cycle of spending non-budgeted money? How to incorporate family expenses into your budget when you are trying to save but also provide experiences? Ex. Scouts, swimming, ballet, gym, etc.
• Is it possible to achieve FIRE by 57-60 if you're behind in retirement savings in your mid-40s?
• What things should you consider before purchasing a home?
• How do you cut down on expenses with a fixed income?

If you want to submit questions for the next Q&A episode, email me at [email protected] or leave me a voicemail with your question at journeytolaunch.com/voicemail.

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Blog Post: What's Your Money Problem?
• Stock Market Crash Investment
• Retirement Calculator - How much you'd need to save
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: Journey To Launch
• Join the private Facebook Group

It was such a pleasure to be able to sit down and discuss financial planning with my new money friend, Shannah Compton Game. Shannah is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with an MBA and an award-winning financial strategist on a mission to revolutionize how millennials think, act, and feel about their finances. Her interest in business and budgeting sparked when she started her first business in college, a national student film festival, at only 19.

After selling her business 5 years later, Shannah became a CFP and worked at her father's firm where she learned everything that she needed to know to open her own firm. Today, Shannah is the host of the very popular personal finance podcast, Your Millennial Money, where she tackles all your burning money questions, with topics like Managing Money as a Couple, Mastering Your Budget, How to Ignite Your Savings, Dealing with Student Loans, Building Your Career, Investing, Entrepreneur Stories, Millennial Travel Spots, Music and more

In this episode we discuss:

• How Shannah became a Certified Financial Planner
• The one big money mistake that most people make
• Why we should start talking about money more
• How to start a financial plan and what factors to consider
• Mistakes to avoid when developing a financial plan
• Managing financial mishaps and insecurities that stem from your money story
• Shannah's financial mistakes and lessons learned

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Your Millenial Money Podcast
• My interview with our mutual Money Friend, Bobbi Rebell
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Shannah:

• YourMillenialMoney.com
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Bringing in as much income as possible in order to reach your financial goals is key but that doesn't mean you can't get ahead if you don't make a lot of money. Kara Perez, the creator of Bravely Go, is living proof that is living proof that as long as you're willing to put the work in, achieving your financial goals with a low income is completely possible. After taking on more than $25,000 in student loan debt, Kara, extremely unhappy with her situation, started to research ways to quickly pay off her debt.

After becoming inspired by personal finance blogs such as Frugalwoods, Kara paid off $25,302 in loans on a salary of less than $30,000, the final $18,000 in just ten months. After becoming debt free in June 2015, Kara created Bravely to help other women take control of their financial lives.

In this episode we discuss:

• How a simple Google search inspired her to pay off $18,000 in student loan debt in 10 months
• How paying off her debt deepened her relationship with others
• How her personal finance blog, Bravely Go, came to fruition
• Why women have become her target audience
• Kara's 10 financial commandments for women
• The significance of value-based spending and spending on the things that you love
• Kara's next financial and life goals

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Kara's 10 Financial Commandments All Women Should Live By
• My interview with Mrs. Frugalwoods of the Frugalwoods Financial Independence blog
• Jon Morrow's Interview about Making Significant Changes
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Kara:

• BravelyGo.co
• Instagram
• Twitter

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

There is an art to making money and developing your side hustle muscle and Grant Sabatier from Millennial Money is definitely an expert. As a 24-year-old unemployed college grad living at home with his parents with less than $3 to his name, Grant became determined to find success and reach major financial goals. He set out on a self-taught journey to learn Google AdWords as a result of a simple Google Search. While working at a Digital Ad Agency, Grant acquired the knowledge and connections necessary to build a side hustle that allowed him to leave his 9 to 5 and allowed him to reach Financial Independence within 5 years.

Today, Grant is now Financially Independent and he had used his knowledge of making money to create a blog and podcast that is dedicated the helping others build a successful business and become Financially Free.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Grant Used Google AdWords to build a successful future
• What Helped Grant to Stay Focused on his Financial Independence Goals
• How Reaching Financial Independence Transformed His Life
• Why Grant Started Millennial Money
• Why Focusing on the Present Provides More Balance on the FI Journey
• Tips to Help Propel Journeyers in their FI Journey
• The Mindset Shift Required to Find a Side-Hustle and Create More Income
• The Importance of Mentors and Connections
• The Factors of Becoming Successful in Making Money

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Grant's new book, 'Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You Will Ever Need'
• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
• My interview with Vicki Robin, the co-author of Your Money or Your Life
• Tim Ferriss' episode 'How To Design A Life' with Debbie Millman
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Grant:

• MillennialMoney.com
• Millennial Money Podcast
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Sylvia accrued six-figures of debt from law school and her life was greatly impacted by Hurricane Katrina while living in Louisiana. With discipline, determination, and the help of financial books such as Your Money or Your Life, Sylvia made the decision to take control of her personal finances. She took on a side-gig as a pizza delivery driver to bring in an extra $2,000 a month and adopted a frugal lifestyle to aggressively tackle her debt. Today, Sylvia has paid down a majority of her student loan debt, owns her own law firm, and is about 3 years away from Financial Independence.

In this episode we discuss:

• Sylvia's story of how she accrued six-figures in debt
• How she used a side-gig and a plan to pay off her student loans
• How she managed her finances and saved without an actual budget
• Why she continued to invest with a significant amount of debt
• Her big move to Seattle
• Her plans after retirement
• Her current investments
• The difference between a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) and actual real investment
• How her family has affected her decisions on the journey to financial independence

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Bigger Pockets
• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez
• My interview with Vicki Robin, the co-author of Your Money or Your Life
• Automatic Millionaire by David Bach
• The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke by Suze Orman
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Science and the experimental process have several parallels to the management of our personal finances. Dr. Maria James, also known as the Money Scientist™, spent more than 10 years in Finance while pursuing her degree in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. Now she is applying some of the skills that she had learned in the science world to teaching business owners about finance.

During her time in college, she maximized her resources and developed side hustles that brought in an extra $10,000. Since moving away from science, she has developed Pocket of Money and the Pocket of Money podcast to provide financial advice and resources for entrepreneurs and business owners.

In this episode we discuss:

• How to manage a full-time job and side hustle
• How to turn a side-hustle into a successful business
• How science can be applied to money principles
• Creating protocols to reach your financial goals
• Tips for managing your side-hustle
• Outsourcing and automation for productivity
• How to plan for business expenses and consider the return on your investment
• The benefits of networking and the proper way to find valuable connections
• The difference between passive income and earned income
• Creating Sales Funnels to bring in customers

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

(YNAB, my favorite budgeting app is giving Journeyers a 2-month free trial, no credit card required to try their amazing budgeting system, check it out here!)

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Pocket of Money Podcast
• PocketofMoney.com
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Dr. Maria on:

• PocketofMoney.com
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group

Success, whether in achieving your financial goals or advancing in your career, comes with tons of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Bobbi Rebell, an award-winning TV anchor, personal finance columnist, Certified Financial Planner, Best-selling Author, and now the host of The Financial Grown-Up podcast, is no stranger to all of the above and more.

As a communications major in college, Bobbi made her big break as a financial news TV anchor by making tough decisions and dedicating lots of time and effort. This same focus helped her to author the best-selling self-help/personal finance book " "How to Be a Financial Grownup: Proven Advice from High Achievers on How to Live Your Dreams and Have Financial Freedom,".

The book combines unique personal financial stories from inspirational leaders with targeted and relatable advice to help readers take charge of their money. It features stories from big names such as Drew Barrymore, Tony Robbins, and Cynthia Rowley. Bobbi now hosts her podcast, Podcast Financial Grown Up with Bobbi Rebell, which features several amazing guests that share their financial stories, including yours truly.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Bobbi got started in the finance industry
• Her book "The Financial Grown Up" and the featured celebrity "grown-up" financial stories
• Drew Barrymore and Tony Robbin's stories in 'The Financial Grown Up'
• How Bobbi created more time in her schedule as a wife and mother
• Overcoming Mom-Guilt
• Her new podcast, Financial Grown Up with Bobbi Rebell
• Bobbi's tips for finding deals and discounts for immediate savings and payoff

At the end of the podcast, I also talk about the waitlist to the soft launch of my monthly membership program. Get monthly tips, tools, and classes to help you launch to Financial Freedom. Click here to sign up and be the first to be notified when the doors open in Summer/Fall 2018.

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• The Financial Grownup Podcast
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• Watch me on News12 Watch my latest segments on News12
• My One on One Money Coaching Services – Get my personalized 1on1 money coaching expertise to help you reach your financial goals
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 2 month trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.

Connect with Bobbi on:

• BobbiRebell.com
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Connect with me:

• Journey To Launch Instagram
• Journey To Launch Twitter
• Journey To Launch Facebook Page
• Join the private Facebook Group