Welcome to episode 98 of The American Dream in the Eyes of Immigrants Podcast. I am your host, Heidy De La Cruz, and I am on a mission to change the narrative of immigration one immigrant story at a time!

Jannese Torres shares her powerful story of growing up as a Puerto Rican in New Jersey and how her identity, upbringing, and ambition led her to become a personal finance educator, content creator, podcaster, and now author of the best-selling book Financially Lit: The Modern Latina’s Guide to Level Up Your Dinero and Become Financially Poderosa.

In this episode, Jannese reflects on what it was like being the eldest daughter in a Puerto Rican household, her parents’ move from the island in search of better opportunities, and the deep responsibility she felt to make their sacrifices worth it. She also opens up about the educational disparities she noticed after entering college and how that fueled her to push even harder.

Jannese takes us through her journey from getting her master’s degree and climbing the corporate ladder to launching her food blog, eventually quitting her six-figure job, and building not one but two successful online businesses. She talks about founding the Yo Quiero Dinero podcast in 2019, writing her book in Puerto Rico during a major life transition, and the mindset shift that helped her break free from the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

To Jannese, the American Dream means no longer just surviving—but thriving. It's about becoming the most fully expressed version of yourself in honor of the generations who made your path possible.

With Love, Heidy

P.S. This post contains product affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links.

Connect with Jannese: 

Website: https://yoquierodineropodcast.com 

Book: https://financiallylitbook.com 

Podcast: Yo Quiero Dinero 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoquierodineropodcast 

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