It's officially a tradition! Jenny's back again to help Lauren break down 2021. The two cover who the listeners are (age, gender) and where they're from (we added a LOT of new places!). They briefly touch on every topic covered with high level detail, emphasizing the top 5 from the year. This episode is a great overview to see which episodes you'd like to go back and listen to. Lauren even hints at episodes to come in 2022, and talks about the other podcasts she's joined. Thanks for a great year...
Dec 21, 2021•28 min
Today, Hugo tells Lauren his story of buying a primary and turning it into a rental in California. (Turns out, even as a young person, you can invest in California.) This is the same path Lauren took getting started! But real estate isn't his only investment category, and the two discuss his entire portfolio and philosophy on investing. Hugo is a 32 year old Cal State Fullerton graduate with a degree in Radio-TV-Film and an extensive background in finance. Overcoming poverty has given Hugo a pas...
Dec 07, 2021•44 min
Lauren (AdultingIsEasy) is mostly known for investing in real estate, but she and her husband hold stocks, private equity, and crypto as well. This week, Lauren interviewed Ross (Dividend Hero) about stocks that pay dividends. Is it similar to cash flowing real estate, she wanted to know? Ross defines what stocks are, what dividends are, the difference between growth stocks and dividend growth stocks, and what he looks for when adding dividend-paying stocks to his portfolio. Lauren learned a lot...
Nov 23, 2021•38 min
Lauren interviewed Steve Cummings, the Frugal Expat, about the most basic personal finance concepts: budgeting, net worth, and the 4% rule. If you're new to the idea of becoming financially independent (FI) of if you'd like to hear Steve's take on it, this episode is for you. Steve Cummings is a 34-year-old American Expat living in Taipei, Taiwan. Living in Taiwan has allowed Steve to save money, invest more, travel more, and even meet his Australian Expat wife. The two work as English Teachers ...
Nov 09, 2021•35 min
One topic in personal finance Lauren has shied away from is cryptocurrency, but that ends with this episode! Lauren interviewed Andy. He went from nearly 6 figures in debt to becoming a millionaire in 8 years, and much of that boost came from his investments and involvement in the crypto space. Andy, who lives in Austin, TX, is a YouTuber whose goal is to correct the lies we’ve been told about wealth. His YouTube channel has over 9,000 subscribers and is currently making over $10,000 each month....
Oct 26, 2021•37 min
The book Think and Grow Rich was written by Napoleon Hill and published in 1937. It is a famous personal finance book recommended by many. On this episode of Adulting Is Easy, Lauren and Kurtis discuss what they liked and what they didn't like about this book - mostly what they didn't like. Let's just say, neither would recommend this book, and you certainly don't have to read it to enjoy listening to this one. As a matter of fact, you should never read it. Lauren gets HEATED at one point. Kurti...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Lauren interviewed Tom a.k.a. The Frugal Gay for this episode of the Adulting Is Easy podcast. Favorite quote, "I bought a crack house on eBay." Tom is passionate about living debt free, a side hustle enthusiast & an avid real estate investor. Hailing from Dallas, TX, Tom is a 37-year-old a married dog dad & founder of The Frugal Gay. The two discuss how Tom got started in real estate (selling stock), triumphs, failure (a money pit), flipping product, bringing contractors across state li...
Sep 28, 2021•45 min
Lauren interviewed Clint for this episode of the Adulting Is Easy podcast in one of the greatest comeback stories you'll ever hear. Clint opens up about his struggles, both mentally and financially. He and his family were knocked down HARD three times and have come back stronger than ever. Clint wants listeners to know there's always a way to achieve your goals. If you're looking for a final push to get started investing in real estate, this episode is for you because you'll learn that even if t...
Sep 14, 2021•52 min
This is the second half of Lauren and Stephen's conversation, where Lauren goes from interviewer to interviewee. These two discuss much more than real estate, although that's certainly still a topic. Enjoy! Bio: Stephen started investing immediately after graduating from University in 2003 and he’s always had an eye and interest for investing, wealth building, and navigating the financial markets with consistency. Stephen is a self employed IT consultant who works in the Oil and Gas sector with ...
Aug 31, 2021•34 min
Lauren is joined today by Stephen Wealthy, creator of the financial investment blog site mywealthmoney.com . Lauren and Stephen talk about Stephen and his wife's family's two recent flips, and they dive into the numbers after Stephen discusses his first steps into real estate. Stephen started investing immediately after graduating from University in 2003 and he’s always had an eye and interest for investing, wealth building, and navigating the financial markets with consistency. Stephen is a sel...
Aug 17, 2021•42 min
Episode 56's guest is Jared aka Jrod Money, and he is full of simple, straight forward, and powerful personal finance advice. Lauren and Jrod discuss emergency funds, budgets, paying down debt, investing, index funds, and retirement funds. Jared reminds us all that investing does not have to be complicated. Bio: Jared is 32 years old and married with 1- and 6-year-old boys. Jared and his wife’s money journey started about 7 years ago when they finally decided that they needed to pay off nearly $...
Aug 03, 2021•40 min
Jenny's back! Lauren came up with and wrote about 6 Money Personalities she has observed over the years, and the sisters walk through each of them. Which one are you? Did Lauren miss any? Let us know on Twitter @AdultingIsEasy or at realadultingiseasy@gmail.com. Relevant blog: https://www.realadultingiseasy.com/post/the-6-money-personalities
Jul 20, 2021•24 min
Lauren is joined by Alan Corey for this episode, and the two do a deep dive into the 6 rungs of residential real estate and also talk about concepts from his new book, House FIRE , like HELL FIRE and killing bills by buying assets. If you are considering investing in real estate and are not sure where to start, this episode is perfect for you. If you've already started and you're wondering where to go, then it's also worth a listen. Alan Corey is an Atlanta-based realtor and real estate investor...
Jul 06, 2021•45 min
On this episode, Lauren is joined by Meg Normann, and the two cover a range of topics, starting generally with Meg's story, which includes student loans, credit cards, and getting out of debt. Then, they transition to real estate: long-term rentals, short-term rentals, recasting a mortgage, and geo-arbitrage. They also discuss diversifying with different kinds of real estate and stocks. Meg Nordmann, the author of “Have Yourself a Minimalist Christmas” and host of the newly launched "Journey to ...
Jun 22, 2021•53 min
Lauren is joined by Paul, a full-time Real Estate Broker who previously spent time in the restaurant industry. Paul has a passion for all things budgeting as he had to make his first-time salary stretch a lot as rent and student loans took up about 70% of his income! The two discuss Paul's experience with student loans, mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and personal loans. Most of all, Paul provides some tips on budgeting to pay down debt. Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulDNova...
Jun 08, 2021•44 min
Lauren is joined this week by Patrick McLaughlin, a two-time House Hacker and the creator of ExaminedWealth.com — a website where he explores the balance between building personal wealth and financial wealth to help you live an authentically rich life. House hacking, in case you haven't heard, is when you turn your primary residence into an asset instead of a liability by using it to generate income, and Patrick has accomplished this twice. Lauren and her husband are house hackers themselves so ...
May 25, 2021•48 min
Lauren is joined this week by the Seven Dollar Millionaire. The two walk through the 7 stages to financial freedom as outlined in his book Happy Ever After: Financial Freedom Isn't a Fairytale . The Seven Dollar Millionaire has felt a sense of deep frustration with global education systems not teaching financial literacy since becoming an investment analyst more than 2 decades ago and realizing how much of the world was being denied some powerful, simple tools. This frustration became more inten...
May 11, 2021•36 min
This week's episode involves an interview with Lauren and the Contrarian Saver. The two talk about vacation/short term rentals. Lauren is just getting started in this area and the Contrarian Saver has been doing it for years. Bonus: he's also a house hacker! His story is unique and his properties are interesting to say the least! He also provides great tips for those just getting started or just getting interested in real estate. Contrarian Saver was a career marketer who worked for some well-kn...
Apr 27, 2021•35 min
Michael Eakman is the founder and Lead Wealth Manager at Adaptive Wealth Partners . His clients include investors who are athletes, sports and entertainment professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs. Michael’s passion to help investors make better short-term financial decisions and achieve their goals started in 2010 when he lived in his car for 6 months while going through a rough patch in life. He knows what the bottom looks like and how to build a life that you can enjoy. He also knows...
Apr 13, 2021•44 min
Lauren is joined this week by Doug, who is just starting out on his real estate journey in the expensive Boston-area market. Doug acquired his first property in 2020 and is now under contract on two additional properties. His goal is to have 5+ properties by 2024, and eventually have enough real estate income to achieve financial independence. Other podcasts you might like: AIE 24: Steps to Take When Buying a House (very popular episode) AIE 22: 8 Steps to Take Before Selling Your Home AIE 20: N...
Mar 30, 2021•49 min
This week's guest is David Lau, and he and Lauren discuss annuities 101: what they are, the different types, and why you (or your parents) might want one for retirement. David Lau is a widely recognized as an innovator and disruptor in the financial services industry. Most recently, he is Founder and CEO of DPL Financial Partners', a privately held financial services firm that specializes in development and distribution of commission-free insurance and annuities for Registered Investment Advisor...
Mar 16, 2021•35 min
The title of this week's episode says it all. Listen to hear how Jamila paid off her student debt ($83,000 worth) in just 3 years. It's an amazing story of focus and determination with actionable tips for anyone contemplating student loans or who already has them. Now student loan debt free, Jamila is working her way to increasing her net worth along with a future certification in financial planning! You can read about her story on her blog www.jamilastwocents.com . Connect with Jamila: Twitter:...
Mar 02, 2021•35 min
This week, Lauren is joined by Jessica, Co-Founder of The Fioneers , a financial independence blog focused on the intersection between financial independence and lifestyle design. Jessica is a writer and lifestyle design coach. She provides coaching and courses on career discovery and lifestyle design for people who want to take unconventional paths and design lives they love. Lauren and Jessica focus on financial independence through FIRE (financial independence, retire early) and Coast FI, esp...
Feb 16, 2021•35 min
Lauren is joined by Sarry Ibrahim this week. Lauren learns about life insurance: term, whole, universal, and the bank on yourself concept. Sarry Ibrahim is a financial planner and member of the Bank On Yourself Organization . He helps real estate investors, business owners, and full-time employees grow safe and predictable wealth regardless of market conditions using a financial strategy that has been around for over 160 years. Sarry started this journey when he was in grad school completing his...
Feb 02, 2021•29 min
In order to reach your goals and align them with your values, you first need to have a firm foundation of understanding about your finances. Amar Shah discusses the intelligence pyramid with Lauren this week. Amar Shah is a wealth manager and business owner at Client First Capital , which he founded based on core principles of transparency, trustworthiness and thoughtful leadership. A former firefighter and engineer, Amar has a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering. His interest in ...
Jan 19, 2021•27 min
Lauren is joined this week by Kristen Ricupero. The two discuss financial coaching and debunk some myths associated with the profession. Kristen is a Personal Financial Coach & Profit First Certified Coach who specializes in helping small business owners and entrepreneurs develop and strengthen their money management skills, eliminate debt, and create cash flow systems to maximize profit and ultimately build wealth. By developing specific action plans that are tailored to each client’s needs...
Jan 05, 2021•38 min
The Adulting Is Easy podcast started in 2019, so 2020 was the first full year. This week, Lauren brought Jenny out of semi-retirement to record a year in review episode. The two cover who the listeners are and where they're from. They briefly touch on every topic covered with high level detail. This episode is a great overview to see which episodes you'd like to go back and listen to. Lauren even hints at episodes to come in 2021. Thanks for a great year! And don't forget to "follow" wherever yo...
Dec 22, 2020•25 min
Lauren's guest this week, Jessie May, goes into detail about how to grocery shop efficiently in her unconventional personal finance book, Money Hacks for Metal Heads and Older Millennials , and the two discuss her tips for saving money at the store, cooking tips, and how to stock your kitchen. Jessie is an old millennial herself who's been playing music and writing about it for two decades. By day, she is a school librarian! Jessie lives in coastal Connecticut with her husband Jim and their cats...
Dec 15, 2020•39 min
This week, Lauren is joined by Amanda Cassar and the two discuss financial abuse: what it is, how to recognize it, and how to talk about it. Amanda Cassar is a financial adviser who also holds a Master of Financial Planning and runs her two businesses, Wealth Planning Partners and Trusted Aged Care Services from her office on the Gold Coast of Australia. Amanda runs a family business with both her adult children and sister-in-law working in the business, assisting clients Australia wide with the...
Dec 08, 2020•33 min
This week's guest, Jude Boudreaux, tells Lauren how financial advisors are paid, and his firm's specific philosophy around payment for value. Jude Boudreaux is a Partner/Senior Financial Planner at The Planning Center . He's been recognized as one of Investopedia's top 100 Financial Advisors , InvestmentNews' 40 under 40 , and currently serves as part of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council . Jude and his family love driving across the country and visiting as many National Parks and other off the be...
Dec 01, 2020•28 min