Episode 430: How Christina Pivoted Careers, Tripled Her Income & Is Now on Track for Financial Independence with a $1.5M Goal

Jun 11, 2025

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This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I’m speaking to fellow Journeyer, Christina Cates, a pediatric surgery physician assistant in Florida who pivoted from her career as a dietitian to triple her income and build a path toward financial independence (FI). Christina first discovered the FI movement through the Journey to Launch podcast and went all in—educating herself, shifting her money mindset, and making bold career moves, including negotiating her salary multiple times.

At age 35, she went back to school to become a physician assistant, all while managing ADHD, tackling debt, and staying committed to her long-term financial goals. She shares her journey from paycheck-to-paycheck struggles to becoming a confident investor with a plan to reach a $1.5 million FI number—all while enjoying the ride.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to make a change or if you’re stuck in a low-paying field, Christina’s story will inspire you to rethink what’s possible.

In this episode we discuss:

Why Christina pivoted careers at age 35 and how she chose the PA path
How she negotiated her salary increases (and why it paid off—literally)
Balancing student loan debt with investing + her timeline to FI
Why mindset, not age, is the biggest barrier to change