👉 Catch us co-hosting the Merging into Life podcast with AAA Northeast! The first 2 episodes are live now, and you can listen on Apple Podcasts or here 👈

This week we’re pulling the curtain back on a topic that rarely gets talked about honestly, whether private school is actually affordable… even if you can technically write the check.

We’re not here to shame anyone’s choices. But if you’ve ever wondered whether that tuition bill is still worth it, or if you’ve been secretly thinking about pulling your kid out, we made this one for you. In this episode, we break down:

• Why the “$15K a year” number doesn’t tell the whole story
• The hidden (and not-so-hidden) social costs of private school
• How the new national voucher program could raise tuition, not lower it
• What the research actually says about outcomes in public vs. private school
• A side-by-side comparison of investing the money instead and what that could mean for your child’s future

We also get into the emotional toll of living on the financial edge “for the kids,” the illusion of networking your way into elite circles, and what wealthy families are doing differently that might surprise you.

Whether you’re team public, private, homeschool or just trying to figure it out, you’ll leave with better questions, clearer trade-offs, and (hopefully) a little less guilt.

​​Links: 

• Episode 151 - How to raise a “rich” kid
• Episode 69 - Investing for your kids

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We’ve been managing money together for almost a decade, and we’re still learning how to do it better. This episode is part relationship therapy, part financial strategy, and all the things we wish more couples talked about out loud.

We’re talking about what it really takes to handle money together in a way that works for both people. Because most couples don’t need to watch each other’s every move, they just need to feel confident that they’re on the same page, making good decisions, and able to adjust when life throws something new at them.

You’ll hear:

• Why “joint accounts” can still feel deeply one-sided
• The habits that sneak in when financial roles are never defined
• How resentment builds when responsibility goes unspoken
• Why full transparency isn’t always the solution, and what to build instead
• How to set boundaries without starting a fight
• Why interdependence is harder (and better) than independence or control

Links: 

• The financial impact of divorce and breaking the stigma of prenups with family law attorney and founder of prenups.com, Aaron Thomas

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

A lot of people are feeling financially squeezed right now, and they’re blaming everything except their car.

Transportation is one of the top three household expenses. Between longer loans, higher interest rates, pricier insurance, and cars that lose value faster than ever, owning a car has gotten way more expensive in the last few years. 

And yet most of us still treat the car note like it’s untouchable…like it just is what it is.

In this episode, we break down what’s really changed about car ownership, remind you that you’re not alone, and walk through what you can actually do if your car costs too much but you still need it to get to work tomorrow.

Need to hear this but don’t want to admit it? We get it. But this isn’t about shame…

Here’s what we cover:

• Why the average car payment is now $745 (new) and $521 (used)
• How the pandemic car bubble left so many people upside down on loans
• The real cost of owning a car: loan, gas, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation
• Signs your car is eating more than its share of your paycheck
• What to do if you’re stuck with a car that no longer fits your life
• A reminder that walking away from a car isn’t failure, it’s financial maturity

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We all want a raise, but what if you didn’t have to wait for your boss to give you one?

In this episode, we’re breaking down how to actually give yourself a raise without changing jobs, negotiating with HR, or picking up a side hustle. From canceling forgotten subscriptions to rethinking professional services, we're exposing the cash leaks hiding in plain sight and showing you how to reclaim money that's already yours.

If you’re looking for a 2025 mid-year financial review project that will have a real impact, this is it. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop paying for things you no longer use or value, including everyday services that quietly function like subscriptions
• Use AI (yes, really) to audit your spending without uploading sensitive financial info
• Revisit your debt terms to lower your interest or improve your cash flow
• Treat PTO and work benefits like the paycheck boosters they are
• Rebuild confidence by remembering you can do more for yourself if you need or choose to

Because you know what they say…it ain’t always about how much you earn, it’s how much you keep 

Links:

• Episode 177 - Choosing a Debt Payoff Strategy and why it matters how you approach it 
• Mid-Year Financial Review Archives
  • 2024 - Ep 171: Why you need a brokerage account (the Swiss Army knife of investing) 
  • 2023 - Ep 121: Mid-Year Review: Financially Conquer the Second Half of the Year
  • 2022 - Ep 67: Conducting your mid-year financial review 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

When we published our book Cashing Out in 2022, we knew we were making bold claims about work, money, and freedom. What we didn’t know was just how fast the world would catch up to them.

In this episode, we revisit our book 3 years after its release to reflect on the stories, predictions, and uncomfortable truths that still hold up in 2025. We also share what we’ve learned since, and why the book continues to resonate with people across different industries, life stages, and income levels.

You’ll hear:

•  Why Cashing Out still ranks in the Top 250 Budgeting & Money Management books on Amazon
•  Why financial independence was always about identity, not just math
•  What we saw coming with AI, leadership churn, and the collapse of “safe” careers
•  The surprising reason your first dollar outside of work changes everything
•  Why over-specialization and “career loyalty” quietly keep people stuck

We also share our reflections on the book’s impact and what we’d add if we wrote it today.

If you haven’t read Cashing Out yet, now’s a perfect time. And if you’ve already read it, it’s a great time to read it again with your 2025 eyes.

Last but not least, if you know someone starting their career or rethinking their future, it makes a great gift

Links: 

• Cashing Out Audiobook
• Cashing Out Hardcover 
• Cashing Out Kindle  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week’s episode is a rare one that we recorded the same day it’s released, because… well, life is happening fast.

After taking a much-needed break, we returned to headlines that changed the tone of the summer and the temperature of the market. In this episode, we’re talking about how to manage your investments during times of global instability and uncertainty. This isn’t advice or hype, it’s our perspective, grounded in history, patterns, and what actually works.

We’re not here to guess what happens next. Our goal is to inspire you to think better, especially when everything feels chaotic. 

We cover: 

• How market reactions to conflict usually play out (with receipts)
• The difference between bad news and uncertainty, and why markets care more about the latter
• Why mimicking “insider” trades or reacting to media spin is riskier than it looks
• The 3 big reasons why trying to capitalize on global conflict backfires
• What you can do if you’re tempted to make a move anyway

Whether you’re just getting started with investing or feeling anxious about protecting your gains, this episode is designed to keep you cool when the headlines are anything but.

Links: 

• Ep 211: what tariffs teach us about financial literacy
• Ep 188: the political divide is more than just red vs. blue
• Our investing class - Making Money Grow 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Youth sports are not just sports anymore. They’re a $40 billion+ industry and in this episode, we’re getting all the way into it. 

We’re talking about the emotional pressure, the social expectations, the team group chats, the $75 photo packages that somehow still exist in 2025, and why nobody tells you the signup fee is just the beginning. Whether you're new to the world of cleats and concession stands or already halfway through a season with three backup uniforms and a mini mortgage in gear, this episode will help you take a breath and get a grip.

We break down the four types of spending most sports parents face:

• Sign-up costs (AKA the cover charge)
• Gear and equipment (plural. Always plural.)
• Lifestyle expenses (snacks, meals, coach gifts, and “team bonding” events that cost real money)
• Development extras (private lessons, apps, camps, and the “just in case they’re great” category)

We also cover several practical tips like the importance of setting a seasonal sports budget that your kid can help manage, why used gear is your best friend and where to find it, and the right time to say no and how to skip guilt with it. 

Whether you're trying to be the "fun" parent, the budget-conscious one, or just trying not to lose your mind, this one’s for anyone raising kids in sports. 

Links: 

• Project Play survey: Family spending on youth sports rises 46% over five years
• Episode 183 - Why NIL is a game changer for young athletes

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

In this episode, we’re talking about how to know when it’s REALLY time to go. Not when your manager makes it unbearable, not when the reorg finally hits, but when YOU decide that staying is costing more than it’s worth.

We break down the three questions that have helped us walk away from “good” jobs and build a better life on the other side. We talk about what your job is teaching you (even when you’re not paying attention), how to tell if you have any say in your future there, and why asking “would I say yes to this job today?” might be the cleanest filter of all.

You’ll also hear:

• The truth about paper-pushing, middle management, and the skill sets that aren’t really transferable
• Why some jobs don’t just feel like relationships, they are emotional traps
• How to rebuild self-trust before you make your next move
• What it means to leave with your dignity intact and why that’s the real win

If you’re at a career crossroads or know someone who is, this one’s for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most money advice assumes you’re either bad at math or just need more discipline, but what if the real reason your budget isn’t working is because it was never designed for how you actually spend?

In this episode, we revisit a section from our book Cashing Out that recently got new life thanks to a great piece written by our friend Leo Aquino for Business Insider. It’s all about the three emotional spending profiles we’ve seen over and over again: Fast Spenders, Financially Insecure, and what we call "The Middle".

And no, these aren’t zodiac signs. You’re not locked in for life, but recognizing your dominant spending energy right now can help you stop fighting your habits and start building wealth around them.

We break down what drives each type’s spending behavior, what actually works for them (that they’ll stick with), and what absolutely does not work, no matter how many times the internet suggests it. 

Links:

• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away
•  Leo Aquino’s article on Business Insider - How 3 Types of Spenders Can Build Wealth 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Every year, we set aside an episode just for new grads, and this year’s version is an evolved view of last year’s advice to “Get Paid”. Because let’s keep it a buck, the Class of 2025 is graduating into a mess.

The job market is weird, AI is replacing entry-level work, internships aren’t converting, and employers say they’re hiring, but for what? Meanwhile, everything is expensive and everyone online is yelling about branding yourself by Tuesday.

So in this episode, we’re flipping the script on the typical “follow your dreams” fluff and offering a much-needed mindset shift: Get paid to learn. Not just money, not just skills. Both. Because learning is leverage and knowing how to spot a valuable opportunity might be the most important skill of all.

This one’s for grads, career switchers, freelancers, and frankly anyone who wants to learn how to assess opportunities based on what they give you, not just what they demand.

We talk about:

• Why “getting paid to learn” is the new cheat code for a strange economy
• The difference between being used vs. being taught and how to tell
• Why not every low-paying job is a bad one (and not every high-paying one is good)
• How to ask better questions in interviews that reveal the real value of a job
• How Kiersten builds her learning budget
• A personal story from Julien about how a $40K contractor role helped build a six-figure skillset

Links: 

• Episode 203 - Gen Z deserves better financial advice
• Episode 164 - The New Rules of Success (Advice for Class of 2024)

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow