Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families

Chris Leigh, a Michigan public school teacher and creator of Everyday Finance 101, shares how he and his wife built a $700,000 net worth by age 29. They discuss aligning finances in marriage, growing two teaching incomes, paying off debt, using teacher retirement benefits, planning for early retirement, and balancing wealth-building with enjoying life. Chris also explains why tracking spending comes before investing.

Should you invest your extra money or use it to pay off your mortgage early? In this episode, we tackle that question from Brian, a 35-year-old dad with two kids and an extra $1,000 per month. His ultimate goal isn't simply building the biggest net worth possible. He wants to work less and spend more time with his family. We walk through a practical path that prioritizes building a strong financial foundation, reaching Coast FIRE, working toward mortgage freedom, and ultimately using that financial flexibility to create more time, space and margin. We also answer a question from a 40-year-old listener with $700,000 invested for retirement who wonders: Can you actually save too much for retirement? We explore how Coast FIRE can help us determine when we may have enough invested for the future, why time has an opportunity cost too, and how pulling back on retirement contributions could allow us to enjoy more of our lives today. And to close things out, Calvin Hill joins us for another Money Quiz! We talk investing, the difference between making more money and making more time, and the surprising amount of money generated by the company behind his favorite game, Clash Royale. RESOURCES: Boldin:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/boldin Coast FIRE Calculator:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/ Nectarine (Advice-Only Financial Advisors):https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/nectarine Leave us a voicemail:https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail CREDITS: Host: Andy Hill, AFC® Podcast Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicole left her corporate career six weeks ago to launch her own skincare studio. So... was it the right decision? In this Bread & Wine conversation, we pour a glass, get honest about the emotional highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and share what it's really like when the excitement of starting a business gives way to self-doubt, marketing struggles, and sleepless nights. We talk about: Why Nicole finally decided to leave her job after years of thinking about it The surprising challenges of running your own business How social media can hurt confidence more than it helps Why promotion is often harder than creating a great product What it's like to support your spouse through a major career transition Why starting a business feels a lot like becoming a parent Whether you're dreaming about starting a business, considering a career change, or simply navigating a season of uncertainty, we hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone. Thanks for joining us for another Bread & Wine. Cheers! 🍷 *Links & Resources* Glass Skin Studiohttps://glass-skin-studio.com Follow Nicole on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/glassskinnicole The RealEsth with Nicole Hill (YouTube)https://www.youtube.com/@therealesth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer marks 10 years of Marriage Kids and Money. Back in 2016, I launched this podcast with a simple goal: help families build wealth and create more freedom. Over the past decade, we've shared hundreds of conversations about money, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, financial independence, and designing a life you love. Today, I have a quick personal update. For the first time in the show's history, I'm taking the summer off. Why? Because if I'm going to encourage you to own your time and prioritize what matters most, I need to do the same. With my kids now 14 and 12, I want to spend this season making memories with my family, focusing on my health, and creating more space in my life. Consider this the end of the first 10-year season of Marriage Kids and Money. Thank you for being part of this journey. I'll see you back here in September for Season Two. Carpe diem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Egashira grew her family’s net worth to $2.2 million by age 35. But her story didn’t start there. Growing up in poverty, Emily experienced financial instability firsthand and was determined to create a different future for her family. In this episode, we explore how she and her husband built wealth through intentional spending, consistent investing, and a shared vision for financial independence. Emily shares how they increased their household income from $120,000 to more than $400,000, paid off their mortgage in just three years, and built a seven-figure investment portfolio. We also discuss financial communication in marriage, raising a child with healthy money values, and using wealth as a tool to create freedom and generosity. If you've ever wondered how to build wealth without lifestyle inflation or how financial independence can create more options for your family, this conversation is for you. Want to build wealth and design a life around what matters most? Grab our book Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book In This Episode You'll Learn: How Emily grew her family's net worth to $2.2 million by age 35 Why monthly money meetings strengthened their marriage How they paid off a mortgage in just three years The role investing played in building a seven-figure portfolio How to balance generational wealth with raising grounded kids Why financial independence is really about freedom and flexibility Resources Mentioned: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfrienditsem TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyfrienditsem Monarch Money (track your net worth): https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney Leave a voicemail for the show: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Podcast Credits: Host: Andy Hill Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens after you reach Coast FIRE? For years, you save aggressively, maximize retirement accounts, and build wealth with one goal in mind: hitting your investment goal. But once you arrive at Coast FIRE—Coast to Financial Independence and Relax Early—a new question emerges: Now what? In this episode, we answer a thoughtful listener question from Richard, who has built a seven-figure net worth with his wife but feels stuck in a sales career that’s wearing him down. We discuss how to actually act on Coast FIRE, the four career paths available after reaching the milestone, and how to use the financial strength you’ve built to create more freedom and margin in your life today. Then, we welcome back retirement expert Jesse Cramer to discuss an important and often-overlooked topic: Social Security benefits after divorce. We cover how spousal and survivor benefits work, eligibility requirements, common misconceptions, and what divorced spouses need to know when planning for retirement. What Coast FIRE really means beyond the calculators Four career paths to consider after reaching Coast FIRE Why more money isn't always the answer How to use your wealth to create more time freedom Social Security spousal benefits explained Social Security survivor benefits explained Divorce and Social Security eligibility rules Common Social Security claiming strategies for married couples Retirement planning considerations for divorced spouses RESOURCES Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Coast FIRE Calculator: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/coast-fire-calculator Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors Podcast: https://bestinterest.blog/podcast Leave a Voicemail: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail Instagram: @marriagekidsandmoney LinkedIn: @AndyHillMKM CREDITS Host: Andy Hill Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would it feel like to never make a mortgage payment again? In this episode, we talk with Bobby Richardson from New Jersey about how he and his wife Alexandra paid off their $242,000 mortgage in just 10 years and became completely debt free on their home. We discuss the emotional side of homeownership, the desire for certainty in an uncertain world, and why becoming mortgage free gave their family peace of mind. Bobby also shares the practical strategies they used to make it happen, including increasing their income, staying aligned as a couple, and maintaining an achievement mindset throughout the journey. If you’ve ever wondered whether paying off your mortgage early is worth it, this conversation will give you a transparent look at both the math and the meaning behind becoming mortgage free. RESOURCES Mortgage Payoff Calculator: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/mortgage-payoff/ Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Barbell Financial (Bobby Richardson): https://www.barbellfinancial.com/ HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER: This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS: Host: Andy Hill Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simone Stolzoff, author and journalist who explores work, meaning, and identity, discusses living with uncertainty. He explains why our quest for perfect answers fuels anxiety. He covers how tech lowers tolerance for not knowing, building anchors and small steps to act, using low-stakes practice to grow resilience, and applying these ideas to money and career decisions.

Ben Johnson, a supply chain and industrial engineering pro and father of two, built $1.8M by 34 through high-income work and disciplined investing. He discusses paying off $80K quickly, growing household income, simple low-cost index investing, tracking net worth monthly, balancing generosity with finances, and teaching kids money values.

Coast FIRE can be an incredible milestone, but what happens when the math, lifestyle, or motivation behind it starts to fall apart? In this episode, we talk with Bo Hanson, co-host of The Money Guy Show and partner/co-founder of Abound Wealth Management, about where Coast FIRE can go wrong and how families can avoid common mistakes. Bo shares why conservative assumptions matter, how lifestyle inflation can change your Coast FIRE numbers, and why it’s important to know what you’re actually moving toward before you take your foot off the gas. We also discuss marriage, kids, tax diversification, burnout, and how to build a financial plan that supports a fulfilling life today and tomorrow. RESOURCES The Money Guy Show – Free financial resources, calculators, and educational content from Bo Hanson and the Money Guy team. Marriage Kids and Money – Connect with Andy Hill and explore family finance resources. HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products. Opinions are the creators alone. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. CREDITS Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices