The BetterWallet

The BetterWallet

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The BetterWallet episodes

  • Jason's Story: History major to Millionaire Tech Specialist | Ep. 11

    As you guys know, the BetterWallet podcast is all about demystifying the topic of money and sharing powerful success stories of people who beat the odds and found financial success. And today, we have Jason Lee. Jason is a business owner. He's a consultant. He's a cloud technology specialist. Jason knows everything. But overall, he's a good friend, he really helped me to rethink how I ran my business in a lot of different ways. And it helped to set the stage so I could eventually leave my corporate job. Today, Jason shares how he went from 0 to $1 Million ARR in a year! 

    What's the best thing you ever spent your money on? (00:02:12)
    Jason's story (00:05:44)
    From history major to tech specialist (00:09:13)
    Takeaways from Salesforce (00:13:34)
    How to find a mentor (00:16:21)
    Putting money to work (00:20:13)
    Leaping from safety - Job to Entrepreneurship (00:24:51)
    How much OptionsSwing made in the first 10 months (00:32:34)
    What are Options (00:33:10)
    How to get started in Options (00:38:32)
    Big partnerships (00:43:55)

    Follow Jason at @ternarydevelopments and @optionsswing
    Connect with Jason on Linkedin
    Sign up for OptionsSwing for 30% off your monthly membership: OptionsSwing.com | Use code BETTERWALLETPOD

    Get your checklist now!
    Financially Bulletproof Checklist - financesincheck.com/checklist

    Follow me
    @BetterWallet on Instagram
    @BetterWallet on TikTok
    @TheBetterWallet on Twitter

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    51 min
  • Asia's Story: How dropshipping can be your next side hustle | Ep. 10

    As you guys know better wallet podcast is all about demystifying the topic of money, and sharing powerful stories of beat people who have beat the odds over the years and found financial success. Today, we have a very special person on the line. Asia is a business owner. She's a coach. She's a fellow podcaster. She's an Instagram expert and merchandise designer. Today, Asia is going to teach us how to make money on their phone.

    What's the best thing you ever spent your money on? (00:02:24)
    Asia's story (00:05:57)
    How she became an entrepreneur (00:07:27)
    Becoming an Instagram expert (00:09:11)
    How she found dropshipping (00:10:50)
    What is dropshipping (00:12:10)
    Getting started in dropshipping (00:13:18)
    Debunking a dropshipping myth (00:15:02)
    Future goals that Asia is excited for (00:17:36)
    Using Instagram Reels to grow (00:20:54)

    Follow Asia at @getrichorgetdrunktrying
    Listen to her podcast: Get Rich Or Get Drunk Trying
    Sign up for her free dropshipping training!

    Get your checklist now!
    Financially Bulletproof Checklist - financesincheck.com/checklist

    Follow me
    @BetterWallet on Instagram
    @BetterWallet on TikTok
    @TheBetterWallet on Twitter

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    36 min
  • Darryl's Story: How to buy your first real estate property | | Ep. 9

    As you guys know BetterWallet podcast is all about demystifying the topic of money and sharing powerful stories of people who have beat the odds over the years and found financial success. Today, we have Darryl Dibbs on the line, my brother, home owner, business owner, real estate investor, stock investor, and self-taught financial entrepreneur. He is a wealth of knowledge. And he is going to share his story of becoming a real estate guru and show you how simple it can be to become a home owner.

    What's the best thing you ever spent your money on? (00:01:05)
    How did you view money growing up? (00:03:56)
    How his parents impacted his journey (00:06:51)
    Darryl's real estate journey (00:10:08)
    Paying off debt (00:11:19)
    Growing his real estate team (00:13:38)
    Becoming a homeowner and getting into real estate (00:15:19)
    How can you build wealth in real estate? (00:24:59)
    What is appreciation? (00:28:56)

    Follow Darryl at: @Darryldibbs and @resgrp.homes
    Use resgrp.homes to find your next home!

    Get your checklist now!
    Financially Bulletproof Checklist - financesincheck.com/checklist

    Follow me
    @BetterWallet on Instagram
    @BetterWallet on TikTok
    @TheBetterWallet on Twitter

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    33 min
  • Haley's Story: Going from $600k inheritance to racking up $132k of debt | Ep. 8

    What's the best thing you ever spent your money on? (00:01:20)
    Going to school for Dance (00:05:00)
    Haley's view of money growing up (00:07:04)
    Why don't parents teach us about money? (00:10:53)
    Haley's husband and his relationship with money (00:13:13)
    Receiving a $600k inheritance (00:15:51)
    Racking up $10k of expenses per month (00:21:42)
    How good came from the bad experience (00:24:13)
    Overcoming $132k in debt in 18 months (00:26:23)
    Tips for paying of 6 figures of debt (00:31:30)
    If you could go back and do it over what would you do? (00:35:06)

    Follow Haley at @priceofavocadotoast
    Check her podcast at: Price Of Avocado Toast Podcast

    Get your checklist now!
    Financially Bulletproof Checklist - financesincheck.com/checklist

    Follow me
    @BetterWallet on Instagram
    @BetterWallet on TikTok
    @TheBetterWallet on Twitter

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    39 min
  • Brandon's story: From Welfare Kid to Millionaire | Ep. 7

    From welfare to football to finance than freedom, come and hear the story of Brandon as he inspires us with how he became a millionaire by doing things that most of us can do right now. No matter what your story is or who you are, or where you've come from, it is not too late. You can flip the script now and start building a life of wealth. 

     

    Marc Russell, the founder of The Better Wallet, is here to help us manage our money and build wealth. Marc recently sat down with his friend and fellow financial strategist, Brandon. Brandon is the founder of Worth  br Balance. Brandon is here to share his story and show us how to find and build wealth. It doesn't matter where you start; it's where your journey takes you that matters more, and Brandon is living proof of that. Let's listen in and hear the story of how Brandon became a self-made millionaire. 

     

    Brandon's story began when his mom was nineteen. Young and pregnant, his mom moved back in with her parents and applied for welfare to make ends meet. Brandon learned a lot about the value of money at a very young age. When his mom would take him shopping, he loved to put baseball cards in the shopping cart. But, baseball cards cost money. Brandon discovered early on that if he wanted something, he had to work for it. So he got a job working as a paperboy for a local newspaper. 

     

    Brandon's job was to collect money from the customers for their newspaper subscriptions. Brandon quickly noticed how many people would ignore his "knock at the door" to avoid "paying up." It wasn't until a later date that Brandon would have to turn in the money he collected, keeping some for his own commission. Brandon saw this as an opportunity to spend most of the money he collected, thinking he could also avoid "the knock at the door." Brandon learned a key lesson from that experience, not to spend more than you earn.

     

    From that day on, he carried that lesson with him. Brandon's next steps took him on a wild journey. He started playing football, became good enough to earn a football scholarship at his choice of college, and had big dreams of playing professionally. Brandon majored in communication until he realized that finance had more to offer. He locked his sights in on a future in finance. To break onto the scene, Brandon got a job at a bank, where he learned about loans and other financial programs. 

     

    Then from Pittsburgh to Washington DC, Brandon set his sights on having a successful career. He learned about investments, stocks, savings, and earnings and became a millionaire because of his smart and careful relationship with money. Now Brandon is here to help us make the same choices with money. Brandon's "welfare to millionaire" story is one that is truly inspiring and encouraging. Brandon reminds us that the future is still undecided, and we have no idea what it may hold. But what we can control is what we do with our money. 

     

    We all have a chance today to become financially successful. Are you ready? Do you want to learn how to live like a millionaire? In this episode, Brandon and Marc give us the inside scoop on how we can start making that happen today. You have to check out this episode. 

     

    Visit The Better Wallet now to connect with Marc, find this podcast, and build a life of wealth. Visit here to connect with Brandon and hear more about Worth Life Balance. 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    50 min
  • Dee's story: How to Hire Your Kids | Ep. 6

    Hey, do you have young kids who are eager to earn an allowance? 

    Did you know that there are other ways for your kids to earn money, whether that be investment options or straight cash flow? Do you have a business or paying side hustle? Did you know you can hire your kid to help you? Are you ready to help your child create a healthy relationship with their finances? All of this, and more, only on the BetterWallet podcast with Marc Russell. It is never too soon to begin familiarizing your kids with the basics of financial stewardship. Let's dive in and learn some ways that parents can help set their kids set themselves up for the future. 

    In this episode of the Better Wallet, Marc sits down with Dee to discuss how you can hire your kids. Dee is a Finance Instructor and CPA (Certified Public Accountant) at UCLA and the founder of Kids Money Academy. She helps parents and children learn money-smart habits and methods. As a mother herself, Dee understands how important it is to help set her child up for financial success. We are excited to have Dee here to share some of her knowledge with us. 

    When you work hard for your money, you want to ensure it's going to the right places. And when you have kids, they want your money too. But how can we help our kids earn and save money while also helping to teach them some valuable skills? The answer is simple, let's hire our kids!

     Hiring your kids can sound strange, but it's way cooler than it sounds. 

    We aren't just putting our kids to work; we are teaching them habits that they can use to become financially independent. 

    "You don't want to be in the driver's seat as a parent; they are in the driver's seat." Says Dee regarding allowing your children to choose how they will distribute their hard-earned earnings. "You want to be a lighthouse parent, which is you give the light you tell them where to go, how to go. But they are in the driver's seat." Dee reminds us that we can guide our children, but it's also crucial to empower them to make their own decisions. 

     One way to guide your children is to hire them. But why would you want to hire them? Well, it can be beneficial to both you and your child. You and your child can invest up to $12,500 in tax-free money. Whoa! Sounds cool, right?

     But hold up because if you are looking to do that, there are some things you need to know first.  

    If you have a side hustle or a business, you can hire your child to help you complete some of your many business-related tasks. But be careful because child labor laws do apply. Your child cannot be involved in anything dangerous and can't work too many hours. The assignment also must be a real business-related job, such as photography or modeling for an Instagram page. Sorry parents, washing dishes does not count. 

    "So, my job as a parent is to create opportunities for them, not like give them everything they want," Dee says. Create opportunities for your child that they can learn and earn from. Make sure you keep a paper trail as well. You can pay your child for each individual task they complete. It's a good way for your child to make money and an excellent way for you to spread some of your own hard-earned wealth.

    Click here to connect with Marc, learn about investing or money-saving tips, or help your kids and check out Kids Money Academy by visiting here. 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    52 min
  • Anjie & RJ's Story: Paying off $123,000 of debt in a year | Ep. 5

    Hey there, couples. Do you have financial goals? Are those goals similar? How are you stewarding those goals? Would you say that you and your significant other share the same vision for the future? How do you approach money in your relationship, and who makes the bulk of the decisions when it comes to money? 

     

    Welcome back to another episode of The BetterWallet podcast with Marc Russell. Whether you are married, in a relationship, or thinking about getting married, you may want to tune in for this one. This episode is about your relationship with money as a couple. In this episode, Marc is joined by Angie and RJ of Rich By Intention, a brand the couple created to help share their financial experiences and wisdom with other couples just like you. They're here to help others become rich in marriage, rich in purpose, and rich in life. 

     

    Marc asks a lot of great questions in this episode, and Angie and RJ deliver some excellent insights. Speaking from their own experience, Angie and RJ tell us that couples should start a conversation about money early on in their relationship. They also share with us the simple truth that who we are with can really "make or break our vision." Couples should have similar or shared goals or at the very least be on the same page with one another. It is proposed that couples begin discussing their finances sooner and getting a plan together before they get married. 

     

    Couples should also remember that money is a shared tool, especially in marriage or partnership. 

     


    So what about if you're a couple that is trying to get on the same page financially? How can you develop good money habits, pay off debt and live financially free? And what's the best way to get started?

     

    Both Angie and RJ agree that a budget should be your first step in your financial journey. RJ and Angie successfully paid down 123,000 in debt; one year after getting married. Whoa! Anything really is possible with the right attitude, mindset, and amount of work you are willing to put in. 

     

    Are you looking to get going? 

     

    Here are a few insights to help get you started. 

     

    "So, like, what key tips do you have in trying to get your budget together?" Asks Marc. Angie says, "I would say the first thing before you even create a budget, you need to review your spending." Start by making minor adjustments to your lifestyle and seeing where you can cut corners and save money. Then create a budget to track your spending. 

     

    "And I always say to people, like every successful business has a budget. So you should treat your money, just like one," says RJ. "And it does not restrict you, right? It gives you choices, options. Treat it like a business."

     

    It takes a lot of time and a lot of work, but couples can generate wealth and pay off their debt in no time. Couples can create a healthy relationship with money by making minor adjustments, increasing their income, networking with others, and creating habits and mindset tweaking. Sometimes, it's also about having a willingness to have tough conversations with one another.

     

    No matter what stage of a relationship you're in, whether that's marriage, partnership, or simply dating, you're encouraged to start talking about money today. If you are a couple looking to create a life that is "rich by intention," please visit to connect with Angie and RJ. Or, if you are looking to build wealth and learn some financial tips and tricks, connect with Marc and listen to The Better Wallet podcast 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    37 min
  • Leo's Story: Paying off $224,000 in debt in 2.5 years | Ep. 4

    Are you a couple who is looking to get started paying down debt and live life financially free? Are you looking to make money outside of your 9-5 job? Are you searching for a better system of accountability and goal tracking? Do you need life insurance? Step right up and listen to the latest episode of The Better Wallet podcast, hosted by Marc Russell.

    Marc Russell is a money management coach who helps others budget their money, pay down debt, and generate wealth. The BetterWallet podcast introduces us to other entrepreneurs, such as Marc, that share similar visions and ways of building wealth. And today's guest, Leo Jean-Louis, is sure to get a lot of couples excited about their futures. Leo is a friend of Marc Russell and a fellow money management coach. Leo and his wife, Faith, are the founders of the Freedom Is A Choice Movement. Today, Leo is going to answer some very important questions for couples looking for ways to pay down debt. You won't want to miss this.

     Leo and Faith come from very different backgrounds. Leo's mother worked around the clock just to make ends meet. This instilled some strong values in Leo, who started working during high school. On the other hand, Faith was fortunate enough to have parents who had built wealth, which allowed her to shift her focus towards other things such as education. Leo and Faith had two very different viewpoints towards money. Naturally, when they met, these views clashed. They were forced to answer the question many couples have, "How can we work as a team to pay off our debts, manage our money, raise our kids and build a life of wealth?" 

     Chances are, you don't want to work for the rest of your life, and neither does Leo or Marc. Leo explains some key habits and ideas that couples or anyone else can adopt to help live a debt-free life.

     Leo says, "The choices that we make today will determine the life that you live tomorrow."

     Leo reveals that couples should establish a goal first and then let the goal dictate the habits. Make the goal fun and exciting, and remember to hold each other accountable. Develop a system to keep track of your progress and give each other feedback. But also be sure not to deprive yourself of something that brings you joy. Celebrate the small wins too! 

     Also, make sure you get a life insurance plan.

     When it comes to life insurance, many misconceptions are out there. Most couples wait to get a decent life insurance plan and potentially deny themselves of much-needed assets. Talk with your spouse, and get a plan that can quadruple your income in the event of your passing. You don't want your spouse or your children to struggle with not only your loss but also massive amounts of debt. 

     So, how can YOU take that next step towards financial freedom?

     Here is one key takeaway from Leo, "I would say, don't start with the numbers. Tell them the start with their why. So, establish their why, their reason for pursuing debt freedom, their reason for pursuing financial freedom."

     Don't wait to start your journey to financial freedom. Use your why, and get started today! Connect with Marc or Leo and let them help you take your next step towards wealth. 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    33 min
  • Danielle's Story - Investing for your kids | Ep. 3

    So, you're a millennial mom, entrepreneur, or maybe even somebody with a few financial questions. Perhaps you have big dreams of finding your passion, making more money, or learning to start investing for yourself and your kids? In that case, you need to check out The Better Wallet Podcast with Marc Russell. Marc helps people like you discover ways to budget, invest and save so that your money works harder than you ever have to. In this episode moms, Marc is joined by Danielle Shirley, a financial coach and educator. She is here to share her story to inspire other moms on their financial journeys as well. You'll want to listen to this one. 

    Danielle Shirley On Investing And Managing Your Money 

    As a single mother with two kids, and an entrepreneur herself, Danielle knows that where your money goes matters. Especially when the goal is to make enough money for yourself so that your kids can get a head start in investing. But with student loans and other life expenses coming at you, money management can feel tedious. Danielle was in the same boat: "I kind of felt like I was on like the scarcity wheel. You know, like the survival mentality, the survival wheel, where I was just doing good enough to get by." As Danielle and Marc explain, most of us are trying to get by with what we have, but it doesn't have to be like that. 

    Danielle began her business like many others did, right in the middle of the pandemic. Danielle saw this as an opportunity to step into her passion for helping others manage their money: "You see, it's like, I either had to work a job I didn't like for the money, or go for a passion and take that risk, but not make as much money."

    Are You Ready To Step Into Your Passion?

    Maybe this sounds like you? Do you feel like you're stuck in a wheel? Well, don't worry, you are not alone. Marc and Danielle are here to help. 

    Marc asks Danielle, "What piece of advice would you give someone who wants to start their financial journey, or they just want to start investing for their kids?" Danielle says that the best thing to do is to first "invest in yourself" and second "just get started." 

    Don't wait to get started. Start your financial journey today by connecting with both Marc and Danielle. To connect with Marc, begin your journey to financial wellness and listen to the entire episode of this podcast, please visit here. Or, if you are a millennial mother and want to learn more about investing for yourself and your kids, and you want to work with Danielle, please visit here. You can also connect with both Marc and Danielle on Instagram. 

     Start by creating that financial freedom you long for today. 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    34 min
  • Dion's Story - Southside of Chicago to Investment Banking | Ep. 2

    In the latest episode of The Better Wallet podcast, Marc is joined by his good friend and fellow investor, Dion Boyd. Like Marc, Dion is here to share his story of financial independence and discuss some investing tips to help others build wealth. Dion's story is a unique and inspiring one. You won't want to miss out on this episode. 

     

    Dion comes to us from the south side of Chicago, a place where he also grew up. His dad was a police officer, and his mom was a nurse. Together, they put a lot of pressure on Dion to do his homework, get good grades and do well at school. After graduating from one of the best private schools in all of Chicago, Dion set his sights on getting into college.

     

    Dion was able to get a posse scholarship to help pay for a considerable part of his tuition. The posse scholarship is a program dedicated to helping inner-city youth transition into some of the country's best colleges. Dion graduated from college and received an internship with Bank of America. It was here that his bosses pushed him to be the very best he could be and learned about this thing called investment banking.

     

    What Dion realized about investment banking was that the earnings potential was massive, and it had a very high ceiling for success. Dion quickly jumped on board, learned what he needed to know, and became passionate about investing. As a young man with no kids, no marriage, and no major expenses, Dion was able to invest most of his money into paying off his student loans and making clever investment selections.

     

    Dion's story may resonate with most of us. I'm sure we all look at someone who is successful and say, "there has to be a secret to it." Well, no secrets here. Just a lot of hard work, discipline, and motivation. Dion's story is inspirational, going from inner-city life to the mountaintop of investment banking. You can do it too: "I hear a lot of people saying, I wish or dream of you know, these words. I'm like, yeah, like wish, but you know, do everything you need to do every single day to get yourself closer to that goal. And you went from the south side of Chicago to investment banking, like you know, it all too well." -Marc Russell.

     

    You have to check out this episode. Marc and Dion dissect a lot of information and make sense of the world of investment banking. You'll want to catch this episode and many more like this one from The Better Wallet podcast. You can also connect with both Marc and Dion on their Instagram pages to start building your life of wealth today. 

    ---

    Connect with Me! 

    Instagram: @BetterWallet

    TikTok: @BetterWallet 

    Twitter: @TheBetterWallet 

    YouTube: @BetterWallet


    30 min

About The BetterWallet

From the publisher's feed

On The BetterWallet Podcast, we're going to chat with everyday people who have changed their lives through learning how to manage their money. We're going to talk about their money journeys, the ups,…