There’s a lot of noise in the investing world, but building wealth doesn’t have to become a second job. In this episode, I share how to invest simply, consistently, and with your family’s future in mind, without stress or constant decision-making.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Blake Edwards from Georgia, who has built an $865,000 net worth by age 31. Blake breaks down how intentional income growth, living below their means, and staying aligned as a couple helped accelerate their wealth. He also shares a transparent look at his family’s assets, approach to generosity, and what generational wealth really means to him beyond the numbers.

I wrap up with a Money Quiz, testing my son Calvin on Stranger Things revenue, compound interest, and the gap between race prizes and investment returns.

If you want real-life inspiration and practical proof that calm, consistent investing works, even with a busy family and W-2 jobs, this episode will encourage you to stay the course and keep moving forward.

Chapters 🎧

0:00 Intro

1:19 Hannah's Question: Getting Started with Investing

11:49 Meet Blake Edwards

12:32 Blake's Motivation for Building Wealth

14:03 Partnership and Shared Values

15:54 Career Trajectory and Income Growth

18:58 Asset Breakdown: Where the Money Is

20:28 Getting Started: The Roth IRA Journey

23:48 Liabilities: The Mortgage Decision

26:14 Generational Wealth and Values

28:31 Future Goals and Dreams

30:04 The Power of Giving

31:25 Advice: Intentionality and Education

33:57 Building Quiet Wealth with W2 Jobs

35:29 Money Quiz: Calvin's Financial Education

Resources 📚

Own Your Time

https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money

https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Coast FIRE Calculator

https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you.

Opinions are our own.

Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation.

Marriage Kids and Money (https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.

Credits 🎙️

Podcast Artwork: Kayli Groves Johnson

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if there was a third option between grinding it out in corporate life and chasing extreme early retirement? What if you could work less, be more present with your family, and still feel confident about your financial future?

In today’s episode, I join Paula Pant on her top-ranked podcast, Afford Anything, to talk about the middle ground between traditional employment and full FIRE. We dive into Coast FIRE, part-time work, and what it really takes to own your time while raising kids. I share how my wife and I structured our lives to both work part time, stay involved with our kids, and still build long term wealth without burning out.

This conversation is part of our Best of MKM series and was originally recorded live at FinCon in Portland. Paula and I walk through my 10-step framework for owning your time, including how to reduce financial anxiety, eliminate debt, invest with intention, and design a three-day work week that supports your family and your health. We also talk candidly about parenting, identity, lifestyle tradeoffs, and how to model a life of freedom and generosity for your kids.

If you are tired of living for the weekend and want a realistic path to more time freedom, this conversation will open your eyes to what is possible.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Coast FIRE Calculator
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/

Afford Anything Podcast
https://affordanything.com

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if you could reach a point where your investments were doing the heavy lifting and you could finally slow down without falling behind? Would you keep pushing forward, or would you take the exit and design a life that fits right now?

In today’s episode, Anders Skagerberg shares how he and his wife reached Coast FIRE in their early thirties and made the intentional decision to downshift. Instead of continuing to save aggressively, they chose to prioritize time, flexibility, and family while letting compound growth work in the background. Anders explains what Coast FIRE really looks like in real life and how it gave his family options instead of pressure.

This episode is part of our Best of MKM series and was originally recorded in 2023. A short clip from this conversation took off on YouTube, so we decided to bring you the full story. Anders breaks down his Coast FIRE numbers, the accounts he uses, how he and his wife communicate about money, and why taking the Coast FIRE exit does not have to be permanent.

If you are Coast FIRE curious or wondering whether you can have both freedom today and security tomorrow, this conversation will help you think differently about what is possible.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Coast FIRE Calculator
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really mean to be “almost a millionaire”? And is that number as important as the freedom you gain along the way?

In today’s episode, Joshua Weekley shares how he and his wife built a net worth of nearly $1 million by age 35 without extreme deprivation or risky bets. Instead of chasing shortcuts, Joshua focused on consistent habits, automation, and learning how to control his money so it could support the life he wanted with his family.

This episode is part of our Best of MKM series and was originally released last year. It quickly became one of our most popular and highly viewed interviews because of its honesty, relatability, and practical approach to wealth building. Joshua opens up about growing up around money stress, learning from what his parents did and did not do with finances, and why net worth became a powerful motivator for reclaiming his time.

He also breaks down exactly where his money is today, including home equity, retirement accounts, brokerage investments, and cash. Most importantly, he explains why wealth is built milestone by milestone, not overnight.

If you are working toward your first $1,000 emergency fund or closing in on your first million, this conversation is a powerful reminder that every step forward matters.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Mortgage Free Payoff Calculator
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would your life look like if you woke up tomorrow and your home was completely paid off? How much freedom would that give your family? And how much more possibility would you feel if housing costs disappeared forever?

In today’s episode, Ken and Mary Okoroafor from The Humble Penny share how they became mortgage free in one of the most expensive cities in the world: London. They paid off the equivalent of nearly $475,000 in just seven years, and the ripple effects changed everything. Ken and Mary open up about the peace of mind they gained, how their work and family life transformed, what mortgage freedom made possible for their children, and why this choice unlocked a new lifestyle filled with flexibility, purpose, and joy.

This Best of MKM conversation is one of the most inspiring mortgage free stories we have ever featured. If you want to eliminate stress, design a more intentional family life, and build generational wealth with confidence, this episode will light a fire under you.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Mortgage Free Payoff Calculator
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/

The Humble Penny
https://thehumblepenny.com

Financial Joy Book
https://amzn.to/48jWREN

The Humble Penny YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/thehumblepenny

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what would change in your life if you finally reached the point where your investments could grow on autopilot even if you stopped contributing? What kind of freedom would that give your family? And what possibilities might open up if you did not have to hustle at 110 percent forever?

In today’s episode, Marko Zlatic from Whiteboard Finance shares how he and his wife reached Coast FIRE in their mid-thirties with over $730,000 invested. Marco breaks down the exact moves that got them there, from early investing habits to their simple index fund strategy to building a life that blends ambition with balance. He also opens up about parenting, marriage, culture, and why he believes Coast Fire is the most realistic financial independence path for families.

This Best of MKM episode earned more than 40,000 YouTube views when it first aired, and for good reason. It is transparent, motivating, and packed with actionable takeaways for anyone aiming to build wealth while still enjoying life today.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Net Worth with Empower
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower

Whiteboard Finance YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/whiteboardfinance

Whiteboard Finance Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/whiteboardfinance

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what life would look like if you designed your days around freedom instead of work? What would change if you could travel for months at a time, pick projects you actually enjoy, and still watch your net worth climb into the millions?

Today you’ll hear how Lauren and Stephen Keys, creators of Trip of a Lifestyle, built a million dollar net worth in their early thirties and used it to create a flexible, travel-filled life. They didn’t wait for traditional retirement at 65. They didn’t burn out on the way to FIRE. Instead, they created a lifestyle where they work less, live more, and let their money do the heavy lifting.

This conversation originally aired last year and quickly became one of our most-watched interviews, so it felt like the perfect Best of MKM feature for this holiday week. Lauren and Stephen share how they avoided lifestyle creep, traveled the world cheaply, took mini retirements, paid off two homes, and built more confidence with each dollar saved.

If you're dreaming of more time freedom, this story will show you what’s possible.

CHAPTERS 🎧

RESOURCES 📚

Track Your Net Worth with Empower
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower

Trip of a Lifestyle
https://www.tripofalifestyle.com

Cram Better tutoring
https://crambetter.com

Trip of a Lifestyle Financial Roadmap
https://www.tripofalifestyle.com/roadmap

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️

CREDITS 🎙️

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, we explore the power of generosity and the traditions that can help our kids grow into grateful and giving adults. We walk through five simple and meaningful family giving ideas, including Big Tip Tuesday, the Big Give, glovebox giving, and volunteer habits that bring families closer.

Then we sit down with Angela Rozmyn from Women’s Personal Finance to learn how she and her husband reached Coast Fire in their thirties and how intentional living shaped their journey. Angela shares transparent details about their investing, lifestyle choices, and the trade-offs that helped them create more time freedom as parents.

We close with a heartwarming Good Word story featuring Calvin and a Today.com piece about a baker who delivers free birthday cakes to his neighbors experiencing homelessness. It is a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

If you want more margin to live generously, check out Own Your Time at https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ownyourtimeamazon

Chapters

Resources and Links

Baker delivers free birthday cakes to homeless people
https://www.today.com/food/people/baker-delivers-free-birthday-cakes-to-homeless-people-rcna235965

Own Your Time - New book: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ownyourtimeamazon

Crew: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew

Sponsors and additional resources
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors

Disclaimer

Credits

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about money with your spouse can be hard, especially when emotions, expectations, and old habits get involved. In this episode, we explore how couples can discuss money without fighting and move toward fairness, trust, and teamwork.

Our guests, Heather and Douglas Bonaparth, are a married couple who know both the financial and emotional sides of money. Heather is a lawyer turned writer, and Douglas is a nationally recognized financial advisor and founder of Bonafide Wealth. Together, they co-authored Money Together, a book that helps couples create equity in their relationships and communicate more effectively about finances.

We discuss how to approach tough conversations about spending, why understanding your financial beginnings matters, and how to replace accusation with curiosity. Heather and Douglas also share practical advice on balancing contributions at home and work, maintaining fairness when one partner earns more, and building a marriage rooted in empathy and shared goals.

PODCAST CHAPTERS

00:00 – Welcome and introduction

RESOURCES & NOTES

📚 Money Together by Heather and Douglas Bonaparth – Learn how to create fairness and become an unstoppable financial team: https://amzn.to/3JH4tHO

🌐 Heather and Douglas Bonaparth – DoMoneyTogether.com – Explore their resources, newsletter, and more insights for couples.

💰 Sponsors, Deals & Partners – See all current offers in one place: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER

This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you.

Opinions are our own.

Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation.

Marriage Kids and Money (https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.

CREDITS

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Solopreneur Life segment, Rebecca Richardson, also known as The Mortgage Mentor, shares how she built a thriving mortgage origination business earning up to $20,000 per month while maintaining the flexibility to be present for her four kids and family.

With more than 20 years in the mortgage industry and a large social media following, Rebecca has leveraged her expertise to create multiple income streams, including coaching, consulting, and speaking, which bring in an additional $5,000–$7,500 per month.

She joins us to discuss how solopreneurship has allowed her to build a balanced life, the lessons she’s learned from market ups and downs, and how others can design a career that fits their family goals. We also cover her favorite tools, the biggest mistake she’s made on her journey, and what retirement looks like now that she’s truly “work optional.”

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction

RESOURCES & NOTES

🌐 Rebecca Richardson – The Mortgage Mentor: https://www.themortgagementor.co

💰 Sponsors, Deals & Partners – See all current offers in one place: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER

This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you.

Opinions are our own.

Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation.

Marriage Kids and Money (https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com.

CREDITS

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices