Financial Planning for Young Adults

Action Item: Send me one financial planning question you still want answered at the email in the show notes, or connect with me on LinkedIn so we can stay in touch as your career grows. Summary This episode is a little different because there is no research, no case study, and no action item to write down. I am sharing some big personal news: I just started a new position as a full-time financial...

Action Item: Find one thing you do manually with your money every single month and automate it so you never have to do it again. Summary In this episode, I break down how to build a financial system that runs in the background so you can stop stressing about money every month. I walk through the core framework from one of my all-time favorite books, The Automatic Millionaire, and explain why autom...

Action Item: Run some math and build a budget around your entertainment, travel, and experience spending this summer so you can actually stick to a plan. Summary: In this episode, I break down how to keep your financial plan on track when summer is pulling you in every direction. I share some data about how our generation is approaching summer spending this year and why I think it should be a wake...

Action Item: Log into StudentAid.gov this week and find out three things: how much you owe, what type of loans you have, and when your grace period ends. Write those three things down. You cannot make a smart plan around your student loans until you know what you are actually dealing with. Summary In this episode I walk through the financial starting line for new college graduates and anyone who i...

Action Item: Find one person you trust and ask them a question about whatever financial situation you are going through right now. Then share this episode with them so you both have a foundation to build on for your new money chats. Summary In this episode, I dive into the mental and emotional side of money and why so many of us feel so overwhelmed by our finances. I walk through ten financial bia...

Action Item: Share today's episode with a coworker the next time they ask you "should I have a 401k or a Roth IRA?" Help them understand that those are actually two different questions, and send them this episode so they can walk away with the same clarity you have now. Summary In this episode I break down one of the most common questions I get from young adults just getting started...

Action Item: Log into your benefits portal this week and write down one benefit you did not know you had, then start using it. Summary In this episode, I break down why your employer benefits are worth a lot more than most people realize, and how ignoring them is quietly costing you money every month. I walk through the key benefits you need to review, including your 401k match, health insurance,...

Action Item: Pick one area from today's episode, insurance, estate planning, or psychology, and take one real step this week. Get a quote for life or disability insurance, log in and update your beneficiaries, or write down your financial plan somewhere you will actually see it. Summary In this episode, I break down three parts of your financial plan that most young adults completely skip beca...

Action Item: Write down your investing plan this week and include what you are investing for, where you are investing, how much you are contributing, and when those contributions happen. Summary: In this episode, I walk you through exactly what to do the next time the stock market goes down and why the anxiety you feel in those moments is completely normal. I break down the difference between a ma...

Action Item: Look at your most recent tax refund and divide that number by 12. That is how much extra money per month could be in your paycheck with the right withholding. Write that number down and ask yourself what you would do differently every single month if that money was already yours. Schedule a call with me: https://cal.com/earlybirdfp/chat Summary In this episode, I break down why a big...

Action Item: Find one area of financial planning from today's episode that applies to your situation right now and take one step toward it this week. Free Guide: fp4ya.com/guide Schedule a call: https://cal.com/earlybirdfp/chat Summary In this episode I put together the definitive guide to getting started with financial planning as a young adult, walking through all seven core CFP areas in a w...

Action Item: Share what you learned about financial literacy with a friend this week and have a money talk. Schedule a free call with Skyler: https://cal.com/earlybirdfp/chat Summary In this episode I kick off Financial Literacy Month by breaking down what financial literacy actually is and why it matters so much for young adults right now. I walk through some eye-opening research showing that peo...

Action Item: Figure out one goal you want to work towards over the next three months and write it down. Send it to me in an email and I will help keep you accountable as you work towards it over the next few months. Schedule a call: https://cal.com/earlybirdfp/chat Summary In this episode I walk you through exactly what to track, what to review, and how to set goals so you have real proof your mon...

Action Item: Evaluate your situation, decide whether you want to rent or buy, and start living today like that is your reality. See how it feels in your budget. Schedule a call with me: https://cal.com/earlybirdfp/chat Summary In this episode, I break down one of the biggest financial decisions young adults are facing right now, whether to rent or buy a home. I walk through the real numbers behind...

Action Item: Look at your calendar right now and pick a 7-day window this week or next where you can do a no spend challenge. Put it on the calendar, tell someone about it, and make it a game. Summary In this episode, I break down why so many of us feel like our money is slipping through our fingers every single month, even when we know we make enough. I kick things off by talking about money anxi...

Action Item: Identify one goal that needs adjusting and use today's episode to evaluate it and reset it. Summary In this episode, I break down why it's completely okay if your 2026 goals are already off track and what you can actually do about it. I walk through the psychology behind why we set goals that don't stick, introduce you to the WOOP framework as a more effective alternative...

Action Item: Ask yourself, "Why is money important to me?" and write down your answer. In this episode, I dive into one of my absolute favorite questions to ask people about money and break down why understanding your financial "why" can completely change the way you handle every money decision you make. I walk through what values-based financial planning actually is, how to bu...

Action Item: Go to annualcreditreport.com and pull your credit report to make sure it's accurate. Then you can begin working on improving your credit score using the strategies we covered today. Summary: In this episode, I tackle the biggest myths and fears around building credit. I break down exactly what goes into your credit score and show you how to build excellent credit without carrying...

Action Item: Start gathering your tax documents and save them all in one place using Google Drive or Dropbox. Name each document with its form number and account name, keep everything organized in yearly folders, and begin working on your taxes now. Summary In this episode, I break down how to make tax season simple instead of stressful. I walk you through my exact system for organizing tax docume...

Action Item: Schedule a call with me to discuss the options to save for your kids' future: https://cal.com/moneytalk/chat Summary In this episode, I break down Trump Accounts and whether they're actually worth opening for your kids. I explain how these accounts work (they're basically traditional IRAs for children), why the government is giving away free money, and the tax trap you cou...

Action Item: Find your local library and go visit it this week. If you don't have a library card, get one. If you already have a card, ask the librarian what services beyond books you can access. Summary In this episode, I break down why the library is one of the most underrated money-saving tools available to young professionals. I share how the library has saved me hundreds of dollars over t...

Action Item: Write down three financial goals you think you "should" have. Next to each one, write whose voice you hear when you think about it. Is it your parents? Instagram? Your friends? Then circle the one goal that feels like it's truly YOURS. That's where you start. Summary In this episode, I tackled one of the biggest questions on every young adult's mind: why does mon...

Action Item: Open a high-yield savings account this week and transfer your emergency fund into it, or get started with just $100 today to build momentum. Summary: In this episode, I break down everything you need to know about emergency funds without the overwhelming advice that leaves you paralyzed. I share why 54% of Americans don't have enough saved for three months of expenses and how you...

Action Item: Start tracking one financial ratio right now. Choose one from the list below, write it down in a note or spreadsheet, and begin monitoring it regularly to see your progress over time. Summary In this episode, I break down the seven essential financial ratios that act as your personal financial report card. I explain how tracking these numbers can help you finally know if you're ma...

Action Item: Subscribe to Financial Planning for Young Adults and tune in every week In this trailer, I introduce Financial Planning for Young Adults and explain why I created this podcast specifically for our generation. I share my background as a future CFP and financial planner who's actually lived through the challenges we face, including student loans, inflation, conflicting advice, and a...