Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families

• Coast FIRE w/ $730k by 36 | Marko Zlatic of Whiteboard Finance (BEST OF MKM)

  Have you ever wondered what would change in your life if you finally reached the point where your investments could grow on autopilot even if you stopped contributing? What kind of freedom would that give your family? And what possibilities might open up if you did not have to hustle at 110 percent forever? In today’s episode, Marko Zlatic from Whiteboard Finance shares how he and his wife reached Coast FIRE in their mid-thirties with over $730,000 invested. Marco breaks down the exact moves that got them there, from early investing habits to their simple index fund strategy to building a life that blends ambition with balance. He also opens up about parenting, marriage, culture, and why he believes Coast Fire is the most realistic financial independence path for families. This Best of MKM episode earned more than 40,000 YouTube views when it first aired, and for good reason. It is transparent, motivating, and packed with actionable takeaways for anyone aiming to build wealth while still enjoying life today. CHAPTERS 🎧 0:00 Intro 0:35 Meet Marko Zlatic of Whiteboard Finance 2:09 Coast Fire Five 3:30 Retirement projections 3:58 Current expenses 4:15 How Marko started investing 5:11 When he shifted to index funds 6:20 Money dynamics in marriage 7:52 What is inside Marko’s portfolio 8:31 Pre tax, taxable and Roth strategy 9:42 529s and kids plans 11:35 His take on bonds 12:45 How Coast Fire changed his mindset 14:03 Why Coast Fire is perfect for parents 15:51 Balancing FIRE with living well 17:37 What excites Marko about the next 15 years 19:20 A life philosophy rooted in purpose 20:25 Where to find Marko online RESOURCES 📚 Own Your Timehttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Track Your Net Worth with Empowerhttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower Whiteboard Finance YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/whiteboardfinance Whiteboard Finance Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/whiteboardfinance HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️ This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation. Marriage Kids and Money (https://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 linking to Amazon.com. CREDITS 🎙️ Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson Editor: Johnny Sohl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• FIRE Millionaire Couple at 34 Years Old | Lauren & Steven Keys (BEST OF MKM)

  Have you ever wondered what life would look like if you designed your days around freedom instead of work? What would change if you could travel for months at a time, pick projects you actually enjoy, and still watch your net worth climb into the millions? Today you’ll hear how Lauren and Stephen Keys, creators of Trip of a Lifestyle, built a million dollar net worth in their early thirties and used it to create a flexible, travel-filled life. They didn’t wait for traditional retirement at 65. They didn’t burn out on the way to FIRE. Instead, they created a lifestyle where they work less, live more, and let their money do the heavy lifting. This conversation originally aired last year and quickly became one of our most-watched interviews, so it felt like the perfect Best of MKM feature for this holiday week. Lauren and Stephen share how they avoided lifestyle creep, traveled the world cheaply, took mini retirements, paid off two homes, and built more confidence with each dollar saved. If you're dreaming of more time freedom, this story will show you what’s possible. CHAPTERS 🎧 0:00 Intro 0:26 Meet Lauren and Stephen Keys 2:00 The moment that changed everything 4:15 Early moves that accelerated their wealth 5:11 Avoiding lifestyle creep 6:50 How they travel constantly without overspending 9:03 Their first six month mini retirement in Hawaii 10:42 Visiting every national park 12:17 Leaving full-time work 13:38 Life at a million-dollar net worth 15:36 Why they still choose to work 16:38 Rethinking traditional retirement 18:05 Breaking down their million dollar portfolio 19:20 Paying off homes vs investing 21:39 Looking ahead to the next decade 22:57 One step couples can take today 23:20 Where to find Lauren and Stephen RESOURCES 📚 Own Your Timehttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Track Your Net Worth with Empowerhttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/empower Trip of a Lifestylehttps://www.tripofalifestyle.com Cram Better tutoringhttps://crambetter.com Trip of a Lifestyle Financial Roadmaphttps://www.tripofalifestyle.com/roadmap HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️ This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation. Marriage Kids and Money (https://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 linking to Amazon.com. CREDITS 🎙️ Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson Editor: Johnny Sohl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 5 Family Giving Traditions to Start This Year

  In today’s episode, we explore the power of generosity and the traditions that can help our kids grow into grateful and giving adults. We walk through five simple and meaningful family giving ideas, including Big Tip Tuesday, the Big Give, glovebox giving, and volunteer habits that bring families closer. Then we sit down with Angela Rozmyn from Women’s Personal Finance to learn how she and her husband reached Coast Fire in their thirties and how intentional living shaped their journey. Angela shares transparent details about their investing, lifestyle choices, and the trade-offs that helped them create more time freedom as parents. We close with a heartwarming Good Word story featuring Calvin and a Today.com piece about a baker who delivers free birthday cakes to his neighbors experiencing homelessness. It is a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. If you want more margin to live generously, check out Own Your Time at https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ownyourtimeamazon Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the show 0:24 Five family giving traditions 9:05 Coast Fire Couple interview with Angela Rozmyn 38:30 Where to find Angela online 39:02 The Good Word with Calvin 40:55 Today.com good news story 43:45 Final thoughts Resources and Links Women’s Personal Finance (Angela Rozmyn)https://womenspersonalfinance.org/ Baker delivers free birthday cakes to homeless peoplehttps://www.today.com/food/people/baker-delivers-free-birthday-cakes-to-homeless-people-rcna235965 Own Your Time - New book: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/ownyourtimeamazon Crew: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/crew Sponsors and additional resourceshttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors Disclaimer This show is for entertainment purposes only. Be sure to seek out a professional for your specific financial situation. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Credits Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• How to Talk About Money With Your Partner Without Fighting | Heather & Douglas Boneparth

  Talking about money with your spouse can be hard, especially when emotions, expectations, and old habits get involved. In this episode, we explore how couples can discuss money without fighting and move toward fairness, trust, and teamwork. Our guests, Heather and Douglas Bonaparth, are a married couple who know both the financial and emotional sides of money. Heather is a lawyer turned writer, and Douglas is a nationally recognized financial advisor and founder of Bonafide Wealth. Together, they co-authored Money Together, a book that helps couples create equity in their relationships and communicate more effectively about finances. We discuss how to approach tough conversations about spending, why understanding your financial beginnings matters, and how to replace accusation with curiosity. Heather and Douglas also share practical advice on balancing contributions at home and work, maintaining fairness when one partner earns more, and building a marriage rooted in empathy and shared goals. PODCAST CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome and introduction 01:00 – Why money can be a sticky subject in marriage 02:00 – How our beginnings shape our money beliefs 03:30 – Common money conflicts in relationships 05:15 – The importance of curiosity and empathy 06:30 – Setting the right time and place for money talks 08:00 – Start with wins, not criticism 09:00 – Turning money conversations into teamwork 10:45 – Redefining contribution beyond income 13:00 – Creating fairness at home and in finances 15:30 – Building equity in your marriage 17:30 – Moving away from traditional gender roles 19:30 – Balancing breadwinning and identity 22:30 – Power dynamics and redefining success 25:00 – Learning from couples who do it right 27:00 – How to start small and lead with vulnerability 29:00 – The role of time, communication, and empathy 31:30 – About the book Money Together and where to learn more RESOURCES & NOTES 📚 Money Together by Heather and Douglas Bonaparth – Learn how to create fairness and become an unstoppable financial team: https://amzn.to/3JH4tHO 🌐 Heather and Douglas Bonaparth – DoMoneyTogether.com – Explore their resources, newsletter, and more insights for couples. 💰 Sponsors, Deals & Partners – See all current offers in one place: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors 📘 Own Your Time – Pre-order our first book: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book ▶️ YouTube – Subscribe to watch videos and interviews: https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation. Marriage Kids and Money (https://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 linking to Amazon.com. CREDITS Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa Editor: Johnny Sohl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Rebecca Richardson’s $20K/Month Mortgage Originator Success Story (SOLOPRENEUR LIFE)

  In this Solopreneur Life segment, Rebecca Richardson, also known as The Mortgage Mentor, shares how she built a thriving mortgage origination business earning up to $20,000 per month while maintaining the flexibility to be present for her four kids and family. With more than 20 years in the mortgage industry and a large social media following, Rebecca has leveraged her expertise to create multiple income streams, including coaching, consulting, and speaking, which bring in an additional $5,000–$7,500 per month. She joins us to discuss how solopreneurship has allowed her to build a balanced life, the lessons she’s learned from market ups and downs, and how others can design a career that fits their family goals. We also cover her favorite tools, the biggest mistake she’s made on her journey, and what retirement looks like now that she’s truly “work optional.” CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction 00:25 – Meet Rebecca Richardson, The Mortgage Mentor 01:15 – How she got started in the mortgage business 03:00 – Transitioning into a solopreneur-style career 04:30 – Balancing autonomy with company structure 05:55 – The freedom to design her own business and schedule 07:45 – Lessons from 2008 and adapting to market changes 09:25 – Staying nimble in uncertain housing markets 11:30 – How mortgage originators make money 12:50 – Building multiple income streams through content and coaching 13:45 – Earning $15K–$20K per month in mortgage income 14:25 – Adding $5K–$7.5K per month from consulting and speaking 15:30 – Running a lean, efficient business 16:45 – Learning to outsource and protect her time 18:00 – How long it takes to build income consistency as a loan officer 19:30 – Why this career path offers flexibility for parents 21:45 – Rebecca’s advice for aspiring mortgage originators 23:15 – Solopreneur High Five: tools, AI, mistakes, hobbies, and retirement 29:00 – Her best advice for aspiring solopreneurs 29:45 – Where to find Rebecca online RESOURCES & NOTES 🌐 Rebecca Richardson – The Mortgage Mentor: https://www.themortgagementor.co 💰 Sponsors, Deals & Partners – See all current offers in one place: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/sponsors 📘 Own Your Time – Pre-order our first book: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book 💼 Gusto – The payroll and benefits platform built for small business owners: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/gusto ▶️ YouTube – Subscribe to watch episodes and interviews: https://www.youtube.com/marriagekidsandmoney HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation. Marriage Kids and Money (https://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 linking to Amazon.com. CREDITS Editor: Johnny Sohl Podcast Artwork: Kayli Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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