
The Financial Independence Show
Cody Berman and Justin Taylor believe in the concept of “Financial Independence For All”. The Financial Independence Show focuses on REAL stories of individuals on their journey to financial independence. Each episode aims to include actionable insights and takeaways for listeners to implement into their own financial situation. The podcast covers topics like building wealth, entrepreneurship, investing, money mindset, small business, frugality, geoarbitrage, side hustles, real estate, productivity, travel, and so much more. Sit back, tune in, and join a community of like-minded people who are changing their lives through financial independence.
Latest episodes

Jun 23, 2020 • 54min
Mastering Passive Income with Real Estate | Dustin Heiner
Today's episode features Dustin Heiner from Master Passive Income
Dustin vividly remembers a march to the boss with kids waiting at home, knowing he was about to lose his job.
He knew from that day, he needed to build his own income streams away from traditional employment.
30 real estate properties later and he had the freedom he always wanted.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about this awesome episode.
Episode Summary
Dustin's Background
Dustin is a serial entrepreneur
Websites, pizzeria, graphic design, and even a skateboard manufacturing gig
He refers to a traditional job as "Just Over Broke"
During this journey, he stumbled upon real estate investing
His first one was profiting $350 per month and he was hooked
Dustin learned the hard way
There weren't any good courses or coaches out there at the time
He talks about how much he learned from his mistakes
Breaking Away from Tradition
Dustin also went to college just because it was what he felt like he should do
This led to a ten-year career in IT at a government agency
He walks us through the fearful moment when he realized he didn't want to rely on someone for employment ever again.
That fearful moment was when Dustin got laid off with 4 children
He did continue to work in IT but he swapped his perspective
From then on, he would introduce himself as a real estate investor
9 years and 30 houses later, he was able to step away from that traditional career
Dustin could have stepped away earlier but admits it is tough to walk away from stability
Dustin's Real Estate Investing
Dustin started out living in California
Prices didn't make sense there so he looked out of state
He was investing in Ohio, Texas, etc
Out of all the houses he's purchased, he's only traveled to see one in person
This requires a network of people you can trust
The key here is the property manager, they are the quarterback
His requirement for a house is a minimum of $250 per month profit
We also talk about renting vs owning
401ks & Real Estate Investing
Dustin talks about cashing out or borrowing from 401k to buy real estate
He actually doesn't like investing 401ks at all
This comes off his assumption that he can make so much more from real estate
So his argument isn't that 401ks are intrinsically bad
Common Real Estate Mistakes
Not accounting for paying for a property manager
Not putting back money for repairs
Buying a house with really small margins
Buying a home in an area where everyone is leaving
In general, overestimate expenses and underestimate rental income
Key Takeaways
Your Paycheck is not your value: Companies pay you just what they need to so that you stay but they're as profitable as possible.
Overestimate the bad, underestimate the good: Dustin recommends this mindset when looking at real estate.
Call to Action
Look into real estate as an investment. If your stuck on the fence, especially due to prices in your local area, then do like Dustin did and grab a property manager to invest out of state.
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
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Express VPN is one of the leading virtual private network service providers in the industry. Before I learned about Express VPN, I used to use incognito mode when I wanted to protect my information and browsing history. But I was wrong. Your internet service provider can actually still legally sell your information even if you're using an incognito browser.

Jun 16, 2020 • 43min
Building a Loyal Audience and Moving Online | Genecia Alluora from Soul Rich Woman
Today's episode features Genecia who is the creator of Soul Rich Woman.
Genecia's main goal is to empower women business owners to go from offline to online.
She's proven this over her career with millions in revenue and is sharing that with the 200k+ members of Soul Rich Woman.
You won't want to miss all her advice, especially around the love of F words.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about this awesome episode.
Episode Summary
Genecia's Background
At 18 she started with a simple thought of making more in a single hour
She was going to school, working, and teaching as a yoga/dance instructor
So she decided to build a group of instructors were she made a commission off them
Genecia attributes her success to resourcefulness and the people she surrounded herself with
After college, she entered a traditional job in a hospital helping children with learning issues
She realized that she was making way less in a 9-5 than working for herself in college
Then she transitioned to consulting
Offline to Online
In 2013 she transitioned from working offline to online
She made $100k in 3 months
And $1 Million within a year
Then she invested in a cafe retail chain
Helping other Women go Online
The group started just as "Webinar Wednesdays"
And in the beginning, there was no traffic
But she stuck with it and started advertising on Facebook
In the group, she helps instill a growth mindset
The group she started is called "Soul Rich Woman"
The group is over 200k strong!
She talks about women who love "F words"
Fabulous, freedom, financial independence, family
This education and community is available as an annual or monthly service
Genecia also really focuses on marketing and helping businesses get repeat business
Where to focus first
She says to work on your business, not in your business
This means outsourcing tedious work so you can focus on growth
Stay on top of trends
Love the customers first and then create what is good for them
Genecia walks us through a case study of a fitness instructor going online
Key Takeaways
Get Sticky: Genecia talks about retaining customers by always providing value, this makes them come back for more, aka sticky
Leverage the internet: The internet is a force multiplier for not only finding customers but also to augment with employees
Call to Action
Grab $50 and outsource something that is draining you of your time so you can be more productive in areas that really matter
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
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Check out our Partners
Sign up to Proptech Conference for a Cause hosted by igloohome. Your ticket fee will be donated to Team Rubicon for Covid-19 relief efforts.
Genecia Alluora's Information
Website: Soul Rich Woman
Twitter: Genecia Alluora
Instagram: Genecia Alluora
Recommended Book: Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki
Learn More About Your Hosts
Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog)
Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Jun 9, 2020 • 52min
How to Make Money with an Amazon Affiliate Site | Doug Cunnington
Today's episode features Doug from Niche Site Project.
Doug brings in hundreds of thousands from his affiliate websites.
These sites are those websites we all use to help us decide exactly which brand/version of a product we're looking to buy.
He started off on a traditional route in engineering but with this incredibly successful venture, he just manages these sites and teaches others how to follow in his footsteps.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Doug's awesome episode.
Episode Summary
Doug's Background
Doug's first money experience was around mowing lawns
He wanted to buy a CD player and realized there was a sustainment tail
Doug would also need money to buy the actual CDs
He ended up mowing lawns for another 7 years
But entrepreneurship didn't really take hold
Instead, he went the traditional route
Doug went to college and started his career as an engineer
Doug's Engineering Journey
Out of college, Doug was making $52k per year
He didn't have any financial or savings goals
His wife though was a real saver
She rubbed off on him and he came around
In 2013 the real changing moment happened
He stumbled on a podcast in 2013
This podcast was called The Smart Passive Income Podcast
Entrepreneurship
A month after listening to these shows he started his first gig
Doug decided to start with Amazon affiliate pages
He admits his first few sites weren't great
But after 6 months he was making a few grand per month
That's when he realized that he could quit his normal job
What is an Amazon affiliate site
We've all been searching for a product and looked for help to choose
We ultimately end up on a "Top 5 hard drive" list
Through this list, you click on a link and eventually buy one
That link is specific to that site so the owner gets a commission
You are helped out and they get paid, it's a win-win
SEO is huge to get them there but don't forget to be helpful
Doug also spends some time talking about how he manages his team and sources virtual assistants
He also offers a full course to teach others on how to do this
Key Takeaways
Affiliates are a win-win: These sites help you make an efficient purchase and put money in an entrepreneurs pocket
Keep it simple: Doug laid out his management style and how simple and streamlined it is. As he said, you can always make it more complicated later.
Call to Action
Grab some free resources at nichesiteproject.com/fishow and at least study affiliate links or maybe try to build one yourself.
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
The FI show on Android
Check out our Partners
Sign up to Proptech Conference for a Cause hosted by igloohome. Your ticket fee will be donated to Team Rubicon for Covid-19 relief efforts.
Doug's Information
Website: NicheSiteProject.com/FIShow
Learn More About Your Hosts
Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog)
Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

Jun 2, 2020 • 56min
Understanding Systemic Oppression and Solving the Marketing Problem | Julien and Kiersten Saunders from rich & Regular
Today's episode features Julien and Kiersten from Rich & Regular.
The name is a play on Rich & Famous where they talk about how they never want to be disconnected from regular people.
They share their personal and professional journey. Julien and Kiersten also share the unique challenges that face the black community and wealth-building.
Most people can think of white people who are wealthy but not famous, yet when we think of black wealth, we conjure names like Oprah, LeBron, or Obama, and Julien and Kiersten want to show that it doesn't have to be that way.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about this incredibly important topic.
Episode Summary
Julien and Kiersten's Background
Julien grew up with a scarcity mindset
This was during the crack era in 1980's Brooklyn
He knew that money existed but never saw it in real life
This led him to believe he could never be rich
Kiersten's background was very different
She grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta
Kiersten says she was comfortable and never worried about money
Julien credits mentors at all stages of his life for his ability to make it in life
He says these people would always push him further
In 2005 he was graduating from Georgia State University and spending time in Europe
This trip changed his world view and made him realize what's possible
Difference's in Spending Come to a Head
Julien and Kiersten go on a vacation to Panama
Julien expected they would really cut back on spending after returning
His focus was on getting the credit card back to zero
Kiersten was on a totally different page
She wasn't looking to slow down spending
This caused some friction but obviously they got through that
Kiersten realized she just always had income coming in so she felt like there was always more
Wealth Disparity of the Black Community
Julien highlights the median net worth of black members of the Boston community
The median net worth at the time was $8
He talks about the problems society we will see as this gap grows
He cautions that there will be violence and crime as people get restless
Julien also quotes a study that project the median net worth of black families in the U.S. will be $0 by 2053
How Do We All Help
Kiersten urges people to support black-owned business
She talks about how this allows you to vote with your dollar
This also trickles down to other families
She says that for any product you can buy at a big store, you can probably buy from a black-owned business
No FIRE Number
Julien doesn't find a lot of value in focusing on a FIRE number
Kiersten jokes that it has bounced around by 100s of thousands
Hitting that number wouldn't radically change how they operate
They're very motivated to keep that number climbing
With this money, they can make more of an impact on social activism
Resonating with the Black Community
Talking about the FI path in a non-linear way
Often times people of color don't have the benefit of predictability
Then we talk about the book The Real Pepsi Challenge
In this, it's highlighted that black people aren't just white people with darker skin
The experiences and interests there are just different
You wouldn't market to a mother of three the same way you would to a man with no children
So it should be familiar that different people need messages in different ways
Julien and Kirsten feel like they're meeting people where they are and speaking to people who haven't been spoken to
Rich and Regular Get Published
They didn't expect to be writing a book this soon
This process has involved agents and a writing coach
There were 13 different versions as they tried to pull this together
Julien describes it as part financial love story, part financial inspiration, and part an invitation to the black community to come to join the FI movement

May 26, 2020 • 53min
Regenerative Agriculture Meets Personal Finance | Eddy Garcia & Sam Schiebold
Today's episode features the most resourceful guests ever, Eddy Garcia & Sam Schiebold from Living Earth Systems.
Eddy and Sam bring a wealth of information on how to re-think how we feed ourselves.
From living on the land to growing tonnage of produce and feeding 20 people from a tiny parking lot.
They are on a mission to inspire and educate the world on how to properly grow and sustain food through plagiarizing nature.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Eddy and Sam's awesome cause.
Episode Summary
Eddy & Sams's Background
Eddy talks about living off the land as a kid in Hawaii on fish and coconuts
An experience that many would pay hundreds of dollars for
That reshaped Eddy's thoughts on wealth
He realized he could acquire more or desire less
At a young age, he also realized giving was really important to him
He never stayed at home and skipped school for surfing
Sam went a more traditional route
This included a Physics degree from a top-10 university
She quickly realized that her degree didn't mean much to her
Sam ended up finding her way to Hawaii and got into a concept of permaculture
Permaculture vs Regenerative Farming
Permaculture is the idea of making a sustainable food source much like a forest
Eddy & Sam practice something different than Permaculture called Regenerative Farming
Eddy gives a history lessons on these methods that stem back from the 70s
He says he just tries his best to just copy nature
This means not bringing in plastics and artificial fertilizers
It also means a lot less human interaction
Patagonia recently released a regenerative farming certificate
Starting Your Own Crop
Eddy calls out a potato as a great starter
These grow in warm or cold climates with little effort
Another option is radishes
Seed to radish is only a 25-day process
He also recommends different types of greens
Eddy also says you can grow a lot of things from organic vegetables
Teaching & Empowering
Eddy and Sam are producing courses and videos on growing
These tackle anything from composting to urban farming
Also helping others overcome a fear of not having a "green thumb"
These are all around a closed-loop methodology
This means not bringing in or taking out materials
That means growing is way cheaper
We also cover how this could work for busy professionals
They also teach classes and make films on-site in Hawaii
This is done on a 170-acre farm in Maui
They also have tours and farm to table dinners
Eddy and Sam are also actively bringing a portion of Maui back from being a trash dump.
Finally, there's also an intern program!
Key Takeaways
Acquire more or desire less: Eddy talks about rethinking how we look at money and how nature plays a huge part in that.
Less with more: It's amazing what Eddy is able to grow in such tiny areas, some as small as an eighth of an acre
Call to Action
Try to grow something. Potatoes, radishes, or an aquaponic system. If you really aren't ready, then find some sustainable sources of food for your next grocery run.
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
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Check out our Partners
We are completely obsessed with tracking our net worth to understand our current financial positions (you should be too). Instead of spending dozens of hours adding up all our assets and subtracting our debts, we use a free service called Personal Capital.
This free, easy-to-use portfolio management tool aggregates all of your financial data and helps to ...

May 19, 2020 • 44min
Money Coaching as a Business | Whitney Hansen
Today's episode features a real Money Nerd, Whitney Hansen.
Whitney paid off $30k of debt in 10 months. She also bought a house at 19 and got her MBA for $472.
She started out life with some hardships but that fueled her interest in personal finance.
Now she's taking her lessons and empowering others through financial coaching.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Whitney's awesome insights.
Episode Summary
Whitney's Background
Whitney's parents separated after an abusive relationship
They then moved to Boise in a two-bedroom apartment
Her mom was supporting them with $7.25 of income
This was all to support a family with six children
Whitney tells a story of how excited she was to get a mattress out of the trash
This was when she was 18
Helping Others Save
Some people think they can out-earn bad spending
Whitney's #1 point is to find the values and "why" of the person you're trying to help
Not all tactics are going to resonate with people but leading by example is a great start
She also talks about being relatable
If you only share the wins, it can seem unobtainable
Start of Financial Coaching
Whitney was $30k in debt but working two jobs
She focused and paid off all her debt in 10 months
After that people started hitting her up for advice
That's when she discovered financial coaching
Money Coach vs Financial Advisor
Money Coach's can't tell someone what type of insurance they should buy
They shouldn't tell a client to buy a specific stock
They also shouldn't try to give specific tax advice
Instead, a Money coach should focus on saving, philosophy, and just holding them accountable.
Tips to Becoming a Money Coach
It's important to understand how hard a client is willing to work
It can change how you work with them or if you should work with them at all
You also should start coaching for free or heavily discounted
That way you can see if you really want to do this before getting too invested
Key Takeaways
Pressure makes diamonds: We loved how Whitney took her circumstances and used them as motivation
Speak their language: Whitney talks about resonating with people about money. You have to meet them where they are and not just try to force them into doing things that worked for you.
Call to Action
Take and share financial tips with someone. Try some of the tips Whitney mentioned and really try to resonate with the person.
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
The FI show on Android
Check out our Partners
We are completely obsessed with tracking our net worth to understand our current financial positions (you should be too). Instead of spending dozens of hours adding up all our assets and subtracting our debts, we use a free service called Personal Capital.
This free, easy-to-use portfolio management tool aggregates all of your financial data and helps to track your spending, net worth, and investment accounts. Keeping track of your money has never been easier. With 1.6 million users and growing, this platform is becoming a leader in its industry. We have both been using Personal Capital for years and highly recommend it. Sign up for your free account here!
Whitney's Information
Her Website: Whitney Hansen
Her Podcast: The Money Nerds
Learn More About Your Hosts
Fly to FI (Cody’s Blog)
Saving-Sherpa (Justin’s blog)

May 12, 2020 • 55min
Playing with FIRE | Scott Rieckens
Today's episode features the star of the Playing With Fire documentary, Scott Rieckens.
Scott found himself saving 8% an heading towards a lifestyle that seemed unsustainable.
The FIRE movement showed him that his value/happiness was not aligned with his spending.
Scott and his wife made an amazing transformation and shared it with the world.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Scott's amazing journey.
Episode Summary
Scott's Background
His Dad was in the Navy so he picked up and move many times.
His Mom would always try to pick up a job at the new location
She also handled the bills and investing outside the pension
At a certain point, Scott realized his lifestyle wasn't sustainable
He was trying to take on more and his spending was also increasing
Then he found the FIRE community
That took his focus just from income streams to also include responsible spending
Entrepreneur Focus
Scott found himself laid off three years after college
He and a friend spent three months to put together a business plan
They raised a couple hundred thousand dollars to build an indoor golf center
But as they worked the projections, they ended up scrapping the idea
Then he goes back to the drawing board and back to the small business center for help
When Scott goes there for advice, the advisor realizes Scott has social media experience
In 2009, very few people had this experience and the advisor encouraged him to pursue that route
From then on, he's been an entrepreneur
Scott recommends the book The War of Art for entrepreneurs
Embracing FIRE
Scott recalls the Chautauqua trip in Ecuador with people from the FIRE movement
There he learned that if this didn't work, he'd just be going back to work like everyone else
That realization made him feel much more comfortable with the attempt at hitting FIRE
Scott then breaks down why everyone doesn't embrace a journey of financial independence
Not being in the right place in life or being afraid of what they could uncover
We also talk about the taboo around money
Playing With Fire
Scott's original idea was to go around interviewing people about the movement
Then it swapped to him actually going through the journey and transformation
He talks about how difficult and invasive the documentary
Scott also the moments the camera missed
Now Scott is taking the Playing With FIRE brand into a Podcast
Key Takeaways
Awakening: It's so cool to listen to someone explain the process of totally shifting your outlook on life as Scott did with his spending
Strong Minds: We love all the parallels Jed draws between his mindset and process in the NFL to be successful on the outside
Call to Action
Make a list of the 5 things that you value the most and that brings you the most happiness. Then reflect on what percentage of your budget is spent on items from this list.
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
The FI show on Android
Check out our Partners
We are completely obsessed with tracking our net worth to understand our current financial positions (you should be too). Instead of spending dozens of hours adding up all our assets and subtracting our debts, we use a free service called Personal Capital.
This free, easy-to-use portfolio management tool aggregates all of your financial data and helps to track your spending, net worth, and investment accounts. Keeping track of your money has never been easier. With 1.6 million users and growing, this platform is becoming a leader in its industry.

May 5, 2020 • 53min
NFL Star Turned Personal Finance Educator | Jed Collins
Today's episode features the former #1 NFL Fullback and author of Your Money Vehicle, Jed Collins.
Jed had realized his dream of reaching the NFL but with that first big check, came a lot of fear.
Since that point, Jed now embraces fear and shares the lessons he learned with young players and people all over the country on how to take control of their finances.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Jed's amazing ride.
Episode Summary
Jed Collin's Entry to the NFL
Jed talks about his first big check
He knew he'd already spent it all before he even opened it
The money had gone towards an engagement ring for his now-wife
Jed entered the league as an Undrafted Free Agent so the NFL wasn't a given
But Jed had an accounting major so he had a fallback
He talks about how having a fall back plan is actually looked down upon
He also admits that he understood corporate finances but didn't resonate on a personal level
Helping With Rookies
Jed goes to sessions around the combine to educate rookies on personal finance
Some of these rookies struggle with peer pressure around luxuries like cars and jewelry
But a lot of pressure is actually from families that they're now supporting
There are also things like rookie dinners were these young kids are dropping $27k on dinner
And that's for veterans who don't need anyone to buy them a thing
The Rookie minimum is almost $600k now
NFL Members Don't Comprehend What They Make
Players don't comprehend the difference between contract value and take-home pay
The money coming to you is heavily taxed
You also are not guaranteed a spot on the team for the full contract either
There is a pension system for those that make it three years in the league
But this doesn't kick in until 55
It equates to about $500 per month for every year in the league
Mindset Comparisons: Money and Football
Jed was actually cut 13 times
And later in his career, he was named the #1 Fullback in the league
That just shows how unstable it can be for a player in the league
He feels that there are a lot of parallels between someone being successful and life and sports
He also shares stories about Drew Brees that just shows how dedication and process can lead to success
5 associations of money
Jed talks about automating what you do with your money
He breaks it down to 5 money areas or associations
These (not in order) are:
Society aka Taxes
Past Decisions - Rent / Bills / etc
Present Day Actions - Day to day choices
Future Choices - Investing / Saving
Compassion - Donations / Giving
Key Takeaways
Peer Pressure: Jed talks about how powerful peer pressure is and it's obviously not just a concern for kids in school
Strong Minds: We love all the parallels Jed draws between his mindset and process in the NFL to be successful on the outside
Call to Action
Divide your spending up into the 5 associations that Jed discussed and automate where your money goes
Join the Community
We’d love to hear your comments and questions about this week’s episode. Here are some of the best ways to stay in touch and get involved in The FI Show community!
Sign up for our exclusive newsletter
Join our Facebook Group
Leave us a voicemail
Send an email to contact [at] TheFIshow [dot] com
If you like what you hear, please leave a rating/review!
The FI show on iTunes
The FI show on Android
Check out our Partners
We are completely obsessed with tracking our net worth to understand our current financial positions (you should be too). Instead of spending dozens of hours adding up all our assets and subtracting our debts, we use a free service called Personal Capital.
This free, easy-to-use portfolio management tool aggregates all of your financial data and helps to track your spending, net worth, and investment accounts. Keeping track of your money has never been easier....

Apr 28, 2020 • 50min
How to Make Money in the Rideshare Economy | Harry Campbell from The Rideshare Guy
Today's episode features Harry from The Rideshare Guy
Harry started down a very traditional path -- an engineer in a cubicle.
Then in 2014, he started moonlighting as an Uber & Lyft driver.
He started a blog and began sharing real data that helped drivers know the Do's / Don'ts and ultimately how to make more money.
Today, his blog has an insanely large following and it continues to expand into more and more areas.
He's also launched a course, Maximum Ridesharing Profits, to teach new side hustlers how to take advantage of the rideshare economy.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Harry's amazing ride.
Episode Summary
Harry's Journey to Side Hustling
Harry remembers when he realized he could sell chips from his lunch as a kid
His lesson was that when people want to pay for something you need to find a way to accept it
Harry took a fairly traditional route career-wise
He got an engineering job and worked the cubicle environment
But Harry was used to entrepreneurial ventures
From selling chips to doing laundry, and then driving Uber / Lyft on the side in 2014
Harry then goes over the moment he realized traditional employment just wasn't enough
It was realizing a fellow employee had been working in the same building for 40 years
He was also having a lot of fun driving for Uber / Lyft and making $35-$30 per hour
The pay was higher back then as fewer drivers were available
Finding a Career Via Uber / Lyft
Harry never really wanted to drive for a living but enjoyed the process
So he started The Rideshare Guy
Here he would lay out very clearly and thoroughly all the things you should consider as a driver
The blog started growing and surpassing the money he made in his regular job
It also didn't seem scary because his boss left the door open to return
Frugality and Lifestyle inflation
Harry talks about how he is reasonably frugal but not extremely
He also talks about how some lifestyle inflation is positive
Nothing over the top but things that make his life more comfortable and less stressful
Deeper info on Uber / Lyft and Rideshare Guy
It's important to keep in mind the pros/cons
One big benefit over a similar paying job is the flexibility
It also gives you good practice to balancing accounts for running a business
At the end of the day, all the things on the sites are just logistics
Getting something from point A to point B
He also talks about some of the locally specific gigs
These may pay more and even come with more traditional benefits
Getting the most out of being an Uber/Lyft driver
Harry recommends a used fuel-efficient car, imagine a ~2014 Prius
Then he talks about options that allow you to only do pickup/drop-offs along your route
So you could add this into your normal day
Then Harry talks about liabilities
Different insurances and protections to keep customers from coming after your assets
It's not worth ruining your life over a side hustle if you have a lot of assets
If you don't have much to your name, it's a little less stressful
Another good tip is driving weekend nights and workday commutes
It's also important to keep up with miles to deduct those expenses from your taxes
Check out his course, Maximum Ridesharing Profits, if you're looking for an all-in-one resource to crush the rideshare side hustle game
Beyond Uber / Lyft
Harry notes that most people only drive temporarily
He wanted to start focusing on the jobs these drivers are transitioning to
He's done a lot of coverage on transportation jobs like truck driving/taxi drivers
Then other demand-based jobs that have similar setups
But these are in completely different fields than transportation like a notary of the public
These are all covered under the "Thinking Beyond Rideshare" category
Key Takeaways
Provide Value: Harry was successful because he gave a t...

Apr 21, 2020 • 43min
Creating the Next Generation of Financially Literate Citizens | Rob Phelan
Today's episode features Rob from The Simple Startup.
Rob had an interesting childhood were he got most of his early education in Ireland.
This gave him an opportunity to be exposed to unique learning environments that don't typically exist in the United States.
Now Rob is leading by example and teaching his own students these valuable lessons of personal finance and entrepreneurship.
He has also taken it one step further by creating a workbook that can spread these lessons to everyone.
Listen, learn, and let us know what you think about Rob's amazing lessons.
Episode Summary
Rob's Upbringing
Rob feels like he had a lot of great influences early but didn't bite on the advice
In his elementary school in Ireland, he was involved in some saving focused programs
About two years ago he started getting involved with teaching financial literacy with younger kids
Rob was born in the United States but was in Ireland most of his life until age 21
He comments that you don't see the drive for FI in Ireland that he's seen here
We discuss differences in pension systems and wages between Ireland and America
How Rob Became a Teacher
He had several options to choose from between sports medicine, architecture, and teaching
Rob mostly went with teaching because he got the summer off and he loves getting outdoors
Even the subject he was going to teach just sort of fell into place
Rob actually started teaching in 2014
Taking Money to the Next Level
Rob admits his wife was better with money when they first met
That gap he was noticing drove him to take money more seriously
Within 12 months of marriage, they paid off all of their $20k of debt
After his debt was paid off, he started focusing more on financial independence
Origins of Rob's Love for Entrepreneurship
Rob's high school in Ireland offered him a gap year that is all around self-development
His business teacher made them actually start their own businesses
The kids were in charge of the full cycle
Rob says it was basically the Lean Startup Model
Finding something that can be started with resources you already have on hand
That first business was selling baked goods which sold at school
They profited about 500 Euros
The group actually had their own custom stall and custom aprons
Educating the Next Generation of Financially Literate Citizens
Rob asks his students on a skill they'd like to learn but never have
Then he challenges them to learn that skill without his help and prove their mastery of it
Something like changing the oil in a car and creating a YouTube video teaching others to do the same
Then he started a club called The Millionaires Club
This club is fully self-funded without fundraising
They get their money via business they run themselves and can keep 10% of the earnings
As he started building out resources and structures for this he decided he should build a workbook
This workbook is an actionable workbook that's very interactive and not just something you read
He calls it a how-to guide around starting your first business
It's really targeting teens and young adults
This workbook covers the full lifecycle
Finding a need, building the business, handling the finances, and pitching it to others
Key Takeaways
The Lessons are versatile: Whether it's business, personal finance, or responsibility -- these type of lessons can apply and improve lives in many areas
Think outside the box: Rob didn't let what a teacher normally does define what he was going to do with his students and is seeing the results
Call to Action
If there is a young person in your sphere of influence that you can encourage to try a project or a small business, then help push and guide them through that experience. If not, try a self inspection and consider starting up a trial run of a business with extremely low startup costs to see if it's something yo...