Journey To Launch

Nick Maggiulli, bestselling author of Just Keep Buying and The Wealth Ladder, returns to the Journey to Launch podcast to share practical, data-driven insights for building wealth at any stage of life.

In this conversation, Nick breaks down the six stages of financial progress using his new "Wealth Ladder" framework, explaining how to make smarter decisions with your money based on where you are on the ladder. From tackling low net worth to scaling into the millionaire range, Nick offers real talk on income, spending, and the mindset needed to grow wealth over time without sacrificing your life in the process. We also touch on work-life balance, the myth of overnight success, and why increasing your income is often more important than extreme frugality.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The six levels of the Wealth Ladder and how to figure out where you are
• The "0.01% rule" and how to spend guilt-free based on your liquid net worth
• Why income is the biggest driver of wealth and how to grow it
• What most wealthy people do differently
• How Nick balances full-time work, writing, and life and what he plans to change after marriage and starting a family
• Why it's more impactful to "give now, not later" when supporting your loved ones

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out Nick's book: The Wealth Ladder: Proven Strategies For Every Step of Your Financial Life
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Nick:

• Website
• Instagram: @NickMaggiulli
• Twitter: @DollarsAndData

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Jason Vitug, award-winning, best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss why money is a path to happiness, but it doesn't embody it.

Jason, once a corporate ladder climber, found himself stressed out, burnt-out and living a life he was no longer aligned with. Through trial and error… and rest, Jason discovered the intrinsic connection between mental health and money and how people can move forward to a healthier, happier path on their financial freedom journeys.

In this episode, we also discuss:

• Quiet Quitting: what it is, why you need an exit plan and taking advantage of ALL your work perks
• What happiness dimensions are, why you need to implement them in your day-to-day life + actionable steps to make that happen TODAY
• The reality of knowing yourself and what makes you happy outside of a financial number or achievement
• Why we need mental breaks, buying happiness by spending on wellness, stepping off the hamster wheel + more

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out Jason's book: Happy Money Happy Life: A Multidimensional Approach to Health, Wealth, and Financial Freedom
• Small Steps To Reach Big Dreams + Going From An Observer To Main Player In Your Life
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Jason:

• Website
• Instagram:@Phroogal
• Twitter:@JasonVitug

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Ellyce Fulmore, Canadian Queer and neurodivergent financial educator, joins the Journey to Launch podcast to talk about how she paid off high interest debt, ADHD and money, and her new book, "Keeping Finance Personal."

Ellyce is a full-time content creator and founder of Queerd Co., a financial literacy company. Her approach to finance goes beyond the conventional, focusing on the intersectionality of identities and lived experiences.

We also discuss the importance of understanding how dopamine operates in your neurodivergent brain, ADHD hacks to get better with money, what "Momentum Surfing" is, and how to figure out (and stick to) a budget process that works best for you.

In this episode you'll learn more about:

• Challenges people with neurodivergence experience with finance + how they can become better at money management
• The strategy behind Ellyce paying off debt and investing while on an inconsistent income
• Why becoming debt free isn't "the ultimate" goal for everyone
• Celebrating people's differences, the validity of self diagnosis, sticker boards + more

Check out the video to this episode on YouTube here.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Dopamenu with How to ADHD + Eric Tivers
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Ellyce:

• Website: QueerdCo.com
• Instagram:@Ellyce.Fulmore
• Tik Tok:@QueerD.Co

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch podcast, I'm joined by Lori-Sara Gauthier, a public health worker based in Toronto who is in the thick of transforming her finances and her mindset. Lori-Sara recently paid off $14,000 in consumer debt, is working on eliminating her student loans, and is intentionally charting a path toward financial freedom.

Lori-Sara opens up about her spending habits, emotional triggers behind money decisions, and the moment she realized something had to change. Through self-awareness, therapy, and learning about the FIRE movement, she's rewriting her money story and embracing the power of small, consistent actions.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Lori-Sara fell into and climbed out of $14K of credit card debt
• The emotional connection between childhood scarcity and adult overspending
• What she's doing now: building an emergency fund, tackling student loans, and investing for the future
• Why she threw a party to celebrate being debt-free, and how running helped her stay on track
• Her evolving thoughts on FI, public service pensions, and leaving room for future flexibility

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin
• Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi
• You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch podcast, I'm joined by Jackie Kasper, a fellow Journeyer who's intentionally building a life of connection and financial freedom. Jackie is a mom of two, a director of operations at a Chicago-based fintech startup, and someone who's actively pursuing Financial Independence (FI) within the next 2–7 years.

We also dive into how she and her husband are navigating the journey together (even if they're not always on the same financial page), the influence of motherhood on her long-term goals, and what reaching Coast FI means for her family's options and freedom.

In this episode, Jackie opens up about:

• How she got into the FI movement after being introduced by her sister-in-law
• The mindset and financial shifts she made to go from spending freely to strategically investing
• Buying her first multi-unit property with her brother at 25 and how real estate plays into her FI goals + much more.0

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Bill Perkins, author and founder, managing partner and head trader for Skylar Capital, joins the podcast to discuss how to live your best life no matter your income and his two decades of experience in the trading industry.

We talk about the importance of balancing your financial goals with your time-appropriate life experiences and adding joy in your life right now while being intentional with what you want to do.

Bill's book, "Die With Zero," has been featured in The New York Times, Mr. Money Mustache, Success, and more.

In this episode we discuss:

• How to enjoy your money and time now, instead of restricting yourself to the point of robbing you of your life
• Balancing optimizing your life to fulfillment and saving for the future
• Why certain experiences are useless for us at a certain point if we don't use them
• Confronting fear-based mindsets by identifying goals
• Why waiting until we die to give our children a financial foundation doesn't make sense + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• DiewithZero.com/welcome
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Bill:

• Website
• Instagram:@BillPerkins
• Twitter: @bp22

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm speaking to fellow Journeyer, Christina Cates, a pediatric surgery physician assistant in Florida who pivoted from her career as a dietitian to triple her income and build a path toward financial independence (FI). Christina first discovered the FI movement through the Journey to Launch podcast and went all in—educating herself, shifting her money mindset, and making bold career moves, including negotiating her salary multiple times.

At age 35, she went back to school to become a physician assistant, all while managing ADHD, tackling debt, and staying committed to her long-term financial goals. She shares her journey from paycheck-to-paycheck struggles to becoming a confident investor with a plan to reach a $1.5 million FI number—all while enjoying the ride.

If you've ever wondered whether it's "too late" to make a change or if you're stuck in a low-paying field, Christina's story will inspire you to rethink what's possible.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why Christina pivoted careers at age 35 and how she chose the PA path
• How she negotiated her salary increases (and why it paid off—literally)
• Balancing student loan debt with investing + her timeline to FI
• Why mindset, not age, is the biggest barrier to change

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Christina:

• Instagram:@Rosie_d108

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch podcast, I'm joined by Pat Flynn—digital entrepreneur, founder of Smart Passive Income, creator of Deep Pocket Monster, and author of Lean Learning: How to Achieve More by Learning Less. Pat shares how getting laid off from his dream job led to building a thriving online business, and how he's stayed grounded while growing multiple ventures across podcasting, YouTube, community building, and even Pokémon.

We explore the benefits of learning less, how to manage growth without losing yourself, what it takes to trust others in your business, and how to keep things fun while building a life aligned with your values.

In this episode we discuss:

• How a $19.99 PDF launched Pat's entrepreneurial career

• The mindset shift that helped him avoid burnout and delegate effectively

• Strategies to decide if an idea should be monetized or kept as a hobby

• What it means to build a business that truly fits the season of life you're in

• Why reflection, experimentation, and service are key to sustainable growth

Check out the video to this episode on YouTube here: youtube.com/journeytolaunch

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Check out Pat's book, Lean Learning: How to Achieve More By Learning Less
• Listen to Pat's previous episode on the Journey to Launch Podcast, Building a Community, Using Entrepreneurship to Build Personal Wealth & Scaling a Business
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Pat Flynn:

• PatFlynn.com
• SmartPassiveIncome.com
• Instagram:@PatFlynn
• Twitter:@PatFlynn

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this episode of Journey to Launch, I'm joined once again by Travis Hornsby, founder of Student Loan Planner. Travis returns to break down the current state of student loans, including what's changed under the Biden and Trump administrations, what borrowers should expect moving forward, and how to navigate the uncertainty with smart, strategic planning. Whether you're a recent grad or have six-figure student debt, this episode will help you better understand your options and next steps.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What happened to Biden's student loan forgiveness and SAVE Plan—and why they're essentially dead
• How the IDR account adjustment and PSLF waiver may still benefit you
• What the new GOP proposals could mean for repayment plans and forgiveness timelines
• The difference between public vs. private student loans—and strategies for managing each
• Why many borrowers should consider enrolling in an Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan now

Check out the video to this episode on YouTube here.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Book Your Custom Student Loan Plan at Student Loan Planner, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Travis Hornsby:

• Website
• Instagram: @StudentLoanPlanner
• Twitter:@StudentLoanTrav
• Facebook:@StudentLoanPlan

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm excited to welcome back the often called "Godfather of Financial Independence", JL Collins, author of the bestselling book The Simple Path to Wealth. In this episode, we dive into how to stay calm and confident in today's unpredictable market and why keeping it simple is still the most effective path to building real wealth. We also discuss the timeless power of index fund investing, how to approach investing at different stages of your journey, and why avoiding debt and living below your means are the most powerful tools for building financial freedom.

In this episode you'll learn:

• The 3 core principles of The Simple Path to Wealth and why they haven't changed
• What to do (and not do) during market downturns and volatility
• How to approach financial advisors, and when they might actually hurt more than help
• What's new in the updated edition of The Simple Path to Wealth + much more!

Check out the video to this episode on YouTube here.

The next FIRE LIVE class is on May 22nd! Get the FIRE Calc tool and save your spot for the class here. A walkthrough of the tool is available here as well.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Check out JL's book, The Simple Path to Wealth here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with JL Collins:

• Website
• Twitter:@JLCollinsNH
• Facebook:@JLCollinsNH

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide