Tag: Financial Planning

Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, is building a nonprofit that teaches kids ages 6 to 17 entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership by making it real. Kids launch actual businesses, sell at children’s business fairs, and then workshop what worked and what didn’t so they can iterate and grow. She traces her own entrepreneurial streak from selling five-dollar MySpace layouts in high school to running an in-home daycare, until black mold, a deployment, and the March 17, 2020 stay-at-home order forced a pivot that sparked her daughter’s first business and, by accident, the organization she runs today. We unpack what makes her program different, how she funds and scales a mission-driven nonprofit, and why “nothing about us without us” includes a junior board of directors so kids help shape the curriculum. --- Episode Resources • Society of Child Entrepreneurs (SoCE) - Leah’s nonprofit teaching entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership to kids ages 6–17. (https://bit.ly/m/SoCEHub) • SoCE Circle - SoCE’s online community and lesson-plan platform for families, homeschool groups, and programs. (https://bit.ly/m/SoCEHub • Acton Children’s Business Fair - The platform Leah uses to host children’s business fairs; also lets anyone apply to host a fair. (https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/)  • Host an Acton Children’s Business Fair - The “start a fair” page Leah referenced for applying to host anywhere. (https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/start)  • “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz - Money management framework Leah uses to run the nonprofit with tight budgeting and ROI thinking. (https://mikemichalowicz.com/profit-first/)  • Profit First Professionals - The organization Leah worked with (training accountants/bookkeepers/coaches on implementing Profit First). (https://profitfirstprofessionals.com/) • “All In” by Mike Michalowicz - Team/ownership framework Leah referenced for giving board/staff ownership over projects. (https://mikemichalowicz.com/all-in/) • “Sparks to Stars: The Story of Astra & Zeke” by Leah Ellis - Leah’s published children’s book she wrote. (https://a.co/d/i34QqFg)  • Bookshop.org - The retailer Leah recommended because it supports local independent bookstores. (https://bookshop.org/)  • Search Institute: Developmental Assets Framework (40 assets) - The “top 40 skills/assets” Leah referenced as part of the standards/research base. (https://searchinstitute.org/resources-hub/developmental-assets-framework)  • Junior Achievement (JA) - One of the other organizations Leah mentioned that teaches entrepreneurship/financial literacy to kids. (https://jausa.ja.org/)  • Lemonade Day / My Lemonade Day App  - The lemonade-stand entrepreneurship program/app Leah references (https://lemonadeday.org/mylemonadeday)  • YIPPEE Exchange - Entrepreneurship education marketplace/platform Leah mentioned. (https://yippee.exchange/) • The Young CEO Club - Another entrepreneurship-for-kids organization Leah mentioned. (https://www.theyoungceoclub.com/) 

Jesse Mecham, former accountant and creator of You Need A Budget, argues that your real money problem is worry, not math. He shares how a tiny spreadsheet he built to fix one household cash crunch became a calm, profitable business, and what he learned from building his software and methodology: YNAB (You Need A Budget) at night while working full time, botched early hires, and the moment he stopped playing small. We unpack the myths around raising money, co founders, and five year plans, how to grow slowly on purpose without feeling behind, and practical ways to feel in control of your money again. Along the way, Jesse shows how changing your relationship with money can reshape how you think about risk, work, and the life you are building. --- Episode Resources You Need A Budget (YNAB) - Jesse’s budgeting software and methodology that he created. (https://www.ynab.com) True Alignment: Linking Company Culture with Customer Needs for Extraordinary Results, by Edgar Papke. (https://www.truealignment.com/true-alignment/) “Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. This book speaks about how systems and people can benefit from volatility and stress.(https://a.co/d/hWw7TJW) “Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.” by Ron Chernow. (https://a.co/d/gUs7qXn)  “Washington: A Life” by Ron Chernow.  (https://a.co/d/bzkS3F0)  “Goals! ” by Brian Tracy. This book is a classic goal-setting and personal development book. (https://a.co/d/9wnWUi4)  “Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. A Personal finance book. (https://a.co/d/aSFlfOq)

When Chris Girbés left a steady job to start his own wealth practice, he wasn’t chasing scale. He was chasing meaning. In this episode, he shares what he’s learned from working with startup founders: the myth of the perfect exit, the danger of unclear goals, and the burnout that comes from tying your identity too closely to your business. Whether you're scaling or still scrappy, this conversation is packed with grounded insight on building a business while you build the life you actually want to live. --- Episode Resources Registered Life Planner (RLP) -  A certification focused on life-first financial planning. (https://www.kinderinstitute.com/rlp-designation/) 

When Tiffany Bailey stepped into her family’s sod farming business, she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur, just someone grinding to get the work done. But nearly two decades later, she’s redefined the company, the culture, and herself as a leader. In this episode, Tiffany shares the raw truth about running and growing a business with family: the trust, the tension, and the tough calls. Hear how she navigated succession, scaled the business, embraced B2C, and built a culture rooted in clarity and care. This is a masterclass in leadership, learning, and legacy. --- Episode Resources Check out what Tiffany is building at Bayside Sod (https://baysidesod.com) Read more about the Full Focus Planner (https://fullfocusstore.com) Learn more about the Culture Index (https://www.cultureindex.com)

In today’s episode I talk with Kelly Iannone, an experienced full-time investor who’s built a diverse portfolio across real estate, public stocks, and most recently, early-stage startups. She shares why one of the biggest misconceptions about investing is that you have to do it all yourself, how to spot a founder worth betting on, and why trusting the right people is the real key to hedging risk and achieving 10x returns. If you’ve ever wondered how to get involved in startup investing—or how to avoid the biggest mistakes—this episode is for you. --- Episode Resources Keep up with Kelly (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-iannone-waypointcip)