What if we told you there are cities in the U.S. that will pay you to live there?

In this episode, we're following up on our popular expat conversation with a deep dive into domestic relocation incentives. We’re talking cash grants, down payment assistance, tax breaks, bikes, and even golf memberships offered by places you may have never considered calling home. Think Jackson, Michigan. Pawnee City, Nebraska. Topeka, Kansas. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yes, they’re real places, and they’re putting real money on the table.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in an expensive city, or fantasized about starting fresh but didn’t know where to start, or if you’re just tired of stretching every dollar, this episode is for you. But before you start packing, let’s talk fine print.

We break down:

• Why the U.S. is basically 50 mini countries in a trench coat (and no, that’s not us being dramatic, it’s federalism)
• How states differ more than you think, from taxes and politics to culture and cost of living
• Why moving two states over might require just as much mindset work as moving abroad
• What the actual catches are in these incentive programs (spoiler alert: it’s not free money, and yes, some of y’all might have to check in like you’re on parole)
• How to research a city’s vibe without getting on a plane, from Facebook groups to Yelp reviews to Google Maps street view 

Links: 

• Episode 205 - Expat Life: how to test the waters and decide if you should dive in
• MakeMyMove.com – Find relocation incentive programs
• Reddit subs: r/relocating, r/digitalnomad
• Zillow, CNET, NY Post listicles (search “cities that will pay you to move 2025”)

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 people aren’t neutral about the idea of living in a car, and that’s exactly why we needed to talk about it.

This week, we dig into the stigma, structure, and stories behind van life. It’s not a guide on how to gut a Sprinter or stealth-camp in a Target parking lot, it’s a deeper exploration of what it means to live differently and why that still freaks people out.

From the viral story of Dawn Robinson of En Vogue (yes, *that* Dawn) who shared that she’s been living in her car by choice for the past three years, to our personal stories of barbers, truckers, and friends navigating life on the margins of “traditional” housing, we cover the full terrain of what it means to opt out of the norm. Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.

We cover:

• Why alternative housing is still treated as “failure” unless it’s influencer-approved
• The invisible infrastructure that makes van life even possible and why it’s not always fully “off-the-grid”
• Why HUD, housing policy, and language matter more than you think
• The difference between choosing van life vs. surviving it
• How Black culture relates to nontraditional housing, and why we don’t often see ourselves in the #vanlife aesthetic
• The emotional, financial, and logistical costs of so-called “freedom”

This is one of those “sit with it” episodes. It’s not about romanticizing struggle or glamorizing minimalism, it’s about challenging the way we define dignity, shelter, success, and the American dream.

Because let’s be honest: if someone chooses to live in a van and finds peace, why does it make the rest of us so uncomfortable?

Listen in. Challenge your definitions. And maybe, just maybe, reconsider what home really means.

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, we’re sharing 3 of our best tips on how to live on a single income. It's a topic that might feel distant, perhaps even undesirable, but for many, it's becoming an increasingly relevant concern.

We've lived the single-income life by choice and by circumstance. It's not always pretty, but it can be done. And sometimes, being forced to tighten your belt is the exact kick in the pants you need to get your financial house in order.

Whether you choose to live on one income as some kind of FIRE-adjacent power move, or you’re forced into it by circumstances beyond your control, the real challenge isn’t just the spreadsheet gymnastics. It's the people part.

So this episode gets into the conversations, the compromises, and the potential points of friction that can arise in a partnership when resources become more constrained.

We discuss: 

• Addressing the emotional landscape: Living on one income throws all sorts of messy emotions into the mix. Who gets to spend? Who’s giving up more? Is this forever, or just until something changes? These aren't spreadsheet questions, they’re relationship questions..
• How to make negotiation your new love language: We break down how to negotiate fairly as you create a budget when the stakes feel high and everyone's nerves are shot
• Getting more comfortable saying No: Living on one income means saying "no"... a lot. To your partner, to your kids, to your friends, and maybe most importantly, to yourself. We unpack the guilt that inevitably comes with that, especially when you feel like you're letting people down.
• Strategic decluttering and selling your stuff with intention: The process of selling personal items for cash can be more emotionally involved than it appears. We talk about the surprisingly emotional process of selling your belongings and how to actually make it work, practically and emotionally.

Links: 

• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away by Julien and Kiersten Saunders 
• The Two-Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi 
• Episode 155: The FinTech Toolkit 
• Episode 149: Buying used vs. new 
• Episode 130: How to sell your stuff online 

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

Links: 

• Watch the 90-second trailer of Taste the Impact 
• Watch the full-length "Taste the Impact" mini-doc now
• Register for the Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures info session on March 26th 
• Become a member of Invest for Better (it’s free!)

This week’s episode is about something personal, political, and, up until recently, way too overlooked: food.

We spend a lot of time talking about food, but not nearly enough time talking about how it shows up in our kitchens, grocery carts, or dinner tables. So today, we’re changing that.

We’re introducing our latest creative project, Taste the Impact, which a short film (or op-doc, if you’re feeling fancy) that explores the relationship between investing and the food system. Not just what we choose to buy, but what we’re being sold. Because behind every recall, rising price tag, and empty produce shelf, there’s a money trail worth following.

This is an episode that sits squarely at the intersection of life and money. It’s about challenging the status quo, asking uncomfortable questions, and recognizing that our financial choices have real-world consequences. 

In this episode, we get into:

• Why we made Taste the Impact now and and why storytelling is a financial tool just as much as spreadsheets are
• What visual media can do that numbers alone can’t (and how historical social movements have always known this)
• Why “values-aligned investing” only gets real when you zoom into something specific, like food
• How systemic failures are driving the wave of food recalls
• What’s behind the rising cost of food, and why it's not just inflation

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, we dive headfirst into the very timely topic of expating. Is it just a fantasy fueled by tough times or is there something deeper driving this urge to GTFO? 

In this episode, we're exploring the layers of this question. We break down the different flavors of expating, from slow travel hacks that let you vibe abroad for a few months with zero paperwork (hello, Schengen Zone!) to the allure of Digital Nomad Visas for those of us who can work from anywhere with Wi-Fi and a decent latte. We even get into the semi-permanent options and, for the truly committed, buying your way into citizenship.

Ultimately, this episode isn't about escapism. It's about options, feasibility, and the very real trade-offs you need to consider when contemplating a life lived beyond your current borders. 

We discuss:

• The rise of "Plan B" thinking in the FIRE community and beyond
• Tourist stays and slow travel: Easy ways to get your feet wet abroad
• Digital Nomad Visas (DNVs): Working remotely from paradise (with a minimum income requirement, naturally)
• Extended visas and residency pathways: Semi-permanent solutions for a longer stay
• Naturalization and citizenship: The full commitment, from marriage to ancestry to buying your way in
• The "Split Life" Model: Six months here, six months there (the best of both worlds?)
• The real costs and considerations: Taxes, paperwork, culture shock, currency risks, and that annoying "ideological accent" you didn't even know you had.
• Our rule of thumb for financial feasibility: Is it really worth it?

And if you know someone who's made the leap (or is seriously contemplating it), drop us a comment below! We're always looking for folks to interview for future episodes, especially if they have interesting stories or maybe even went back home after a few years. 

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

Join a Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures Circle today: https://investforbetter.org/swsf/ 

• Not quite ready for a circle? Sign up for a free membership with Invest for Better: https://investforbetter.org/membership/

Get your ticket to the Northeast FI Camp Women's Weekend: https://khbfinancial.com/northeastficamps/

• For information about future, co-ed events, sign up for their email list: https://eastcoastfi.kit.com/adab4cc93c

For most of history, women weren’t just left out of wealth-building, we weren’t even in the conversation. Fast forward to today: Women are investing more than ever, making up a record percentage of stock market participants, growing businesses, and holding more financial power than at any point in history. That’s the win.

But here’s the fight: We’re still paid less, still have less wealth, and the traditional financial playbook assumes everyone earns, invests, and retires like a man. This means even when we do everything right, we’re often playing catch-up.

So this Women’s History Month, we’re asking: What happens when we go from participating to leading?

We discuss: 

• Why the wealth gap still exists even as women invest more than ever
• How to rewrite the financial playbook so it actually works for us
• Redefining financial confidence and owning it  
• The investing strengths women already have and how to use them to win
• Using community as a secret weapon and connecting with other women like “rich aunties” who’ve been through it and have the wisdom to share. 

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

Are you scratching your head trying to understand Gen Z's approach to…life? You're not alone! This week, we’re exploring the fascinating and sometimes frustrating world of Gen Z finances, why traditional financial advice often misses the mark with this generation, and what actually resonates with them.

Every generation thinks they had it hard. And to be fair, most of them did. But Gen Z? They’re becoming adults in a world that looks nothing like the one we grew up in. Between AI disrupting entire industries, the attention economy turning regular people into millionaires overnight, and inflation making rent feel like a luxury item, it's no wonder their financial expectations (and anxieties) are sky-high.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why traditional financial advice isn’t built for Gen Z’s reality
• The real reason they think they need $600K a year to be successful
• Budgeting vs. Earning: We debate whether traditional budgeting advice is still relevant in today's economy, or if Gen Z's focus on increasing income is the smarter approach.
• How careers, income, and investing have changed forever
• The biggest mistakes Millennials and Boomers make when advising them
• How this approach is different from hustle culture 

And most importantly, we share what actually works: learning how to earn, invest, and live in a world where stability is no longer the default setting.

Whether you’re Gen Z trying to figure it all out, or just someone trying to understand them better, this episode is 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

This week, we’re talking about impact investing, which if we’re being honest, is a phrase we used to think was reserved for people who call their parents by their first names. Turns out, it’s one of the closest things we have to financial resistance (with receipts!).

This episode drops on the last Monday of Black History Month 2025, a month that, for once, felt less performative. Not because there wasn’t Black history being made, there was, just like there is every day of the year…but because the usual corporate spectacle was dialed down. The hashtags were quieter, the campaigns were fewer, and the message was clear. 

But Black history isn’t something we just look back on, it’s something we build. And for more people than ever, that means thinking differently about where our dollars go, not just as consumers but as investors.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why politicians keep telling us to “mobilize” but rarely mention money
• The Target vs. Costco stock story that shows how companies respond when people start moving their money
• The difference between boycotting as a consumer and influencing as a shareholder
• How everyday investors now make up 25% of stock trading and why that matters
• Why ignoring your investments isn’t neutral and what it means to be intentional with your financial power

And because knowledge without action doesn’t change much, we’re also talking about real steps you can take. Kiersten shares her experience with Invest for Better Circles, a program that changed how she thinks about money and impact (and made her rethink her own investments in the process). Plus, if you’re a Black woman looking for a space to learn about this in community, there’s a new cohort designed just for us. Link below.

TAKE ACTION:

📌 Join the waitlist for the Shifting Wealth, Shaping Futures Circles for Black women
📌 Not a Black woman? No problem. Regular Invest for Better Circles are opening soon too 

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

Is the magic really gone, or are we just over it? This week's episode is a Quick Dip, where we're side-eyeing some old-school markers of success. We thought about calling this the "end of an era" edition but it might be too soon...you tell us! 

Think childhood trips to Disney, that diamond ring you're 'supposed' to want, and even that climb up the corporate ladder. We're wondering if these traditions still mean what they used to in a world that's changing so fast. The data suggests something is changing, but this episode is less about having all the answers and more about starting some real convos about what matters to us. 

First, we reference a recent Wall St. Journal article called “Even Disney is worried about the high cost of a Disney Vacation,” and talk about how rising costs are impacting families and challenging the park's cultural dominance. 

Then, we tackle the diamond industry and the growing popularity of lab-grown alternatives that promise the same quality at a fraction of the price. Finally, we dissect the current state of the corporate world, and talk about the current record high CEO turnover rates and what they signal about the evolving relationship between workers and employers. This episode also features leaked audio where JPMorgan's CEO, Jamie Dimon, uses explicit language when speaking to his employees.

Key Takeaways:

• Manufactured Magic is Expensive: "Tradition" often comes with a hefty price tag, and it's time to question if the returns are worth the investment
• Ethical Consumption Matters: From lab-grown diamonds to supporting companies with values that align with our own, we have more power than ever to vote with our dollars
• Authenticity is the New Luxury: The pursuit of genuine experiences and personal meaning is replacing the need to acquire status symbols

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 marks a significant milestone: our 200th episode of the rich & REGULAR podcast! In this episode, we’re taking a moment to reflect, not just on what we've built, but on the path we took to get here. 

Here’s what we cover as we peel back the curtain on the podcasting process:

• Our most memorable/favorite episodes 
• It's more than just talking; it's an investment. From the upfront costs of good equipment like decent mics and mixers to the ongoing financial decisions involved with hosting and editing, offering guidance on where to allocate resources
• Monetization strategies: We talk about why monetization isn't as simple as it sounds, and the various ways you can monetize a podcast while outlining our decision-making processes. You'll hear how we dealt with sponsored content and podcast networks, and why we passed on opportunities that compromised our integrity. 
• Even without celebrity guests or elaborate setups, why creating a podcast that resonates and makes a difference is achievable with authenticity, dedication, and a willingness to learn is possible
• We share our experiences inside podcasting communities and discuss some of the invaluable insights from networking. 

The episode is for aspiring podcasters who are just starting out or existing podcasters who are working hard to improve and grow. The important takeaways? Discoverability is HARD. Longevity requires dedication (so does building a community). And always, always remember to press record.

We appreciate all of your support, notes, comments, and ratings and reviews that help us extend our reach. We can't wait to share the journey of the next 200 episodes with you.

Links:

• Episode 172: Not just a diagnosis: A real talk about ADHD, money, and relationships
• Episode 72: Julien's vasectomy
• Episode 7: Financially Supporting a parent (our story) 
• Episode 77: The shocking cost of funerals
• Episode 128: Short term trading vs. long term investing 

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