Here’s our latest interview with a millionaire as we seek to learn from those who have grown their wealth to high heights.
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can chat about specifics.
This interview took place in March.
It’s a long one (which I love!) so I’m breaking it into two separate posts. If you missed part one, you can catch up by reading Millionaire Interview 470.
My questions are in bold italics and their responses follow in black.
NET WORTH
How did you accumulate your net worth?
I did not inherit anything — I’m a self-made millionaire. I grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area in a large family with five siblings and Catholic parents.
My father never earned more than $50,000 a year, and my mother stayed home. From an early age, I knew I would need to learn personal finance on my own.
Our family lived very modestly. As children, we received gifts through our church’s giving tree, were on food stamps at times, and learned to live frugally.
Some of my siblings still carry resentment about our upbringing, but I see it differently — those experiences shaped my resilience and determination.
I never imagined I would one day own a new car or a home. But I persevered. I read everything I could about personal finance and worked my way through both undergraduate and graduate school.
I consistently saved for retirement, sought new opportunities, and pushed myself to grow.
I’ve been saving since my first job. I taught myself about IRAs and investing by reading books, financial articles, and learning through experience.
I focused on contributing to employer matches and finding ways to save without feeling deprived — learning not just how to save, but how to make the most of what I had.
I’m naturally an introvert, but I’ve learned to step into an extroverted role when needed professionally, which has helped me pursue opportunities and continue growing.
What would you say is your greatest strength in the ESI wealth-building model (Earn, Save or Invest) and why would you say it’s tops?
I believe my greatest strength has been my ability to save consistently and set goals that I actually achieve. I rarely discuss my finances with friends or family, and some simply assume I earn more than they do, which has created distance at times.
But I’ve always believed in myself and my ability to try — why not?
I’ve never had a safety net beyond myself. I believe your greatest asset is your knowledge and your skills, and with those, you can create your own opportunities.
What road bumps did you face along the way to becoming a millionaire and how did you handle them?
I’ve experienced two extremely toxic manager–employee situations that deeply affected my well-being. In both cases, I loved the organization and the work, but I ultimately had to choose myself and leave.
At one point, that meant taking a pay cut from $136K to $58K and even selling my house. Later, I encountered another workplace where the environment was so unhealthy that I couldn’t ignore it.
The stress and anxiety of working in a toxic environment simply did not align with my values. Choosing to walk away was incredibly difficult, but I decided my well-being mattered more.
I told myself: you can move forward, you can rebuild, you can do this. The process came with many sleepless nights, tears, and stress, but it was the right decision.
What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your net worth?
I believe securing my new role while keeping my expenses low is a major win. My condo payment will actually be less than what I currently pay in rent, and I’ve set an even higher savings goal moving forward.
I’ve also been revisiting key personal finance principles by rereading The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins and listening to David Bach on podcasts, which has reinforced my approach. My focus remains the same: continue saving and prioritize health and wellness — your greatest assets.
Do you have a target net worth you are trying to attain?
My target is $100,000 in annual expenses multiplied by 25, which puts my financial independence goal at about $2.5 million. Once I reach that point, I plan to transition to part-time work.
I’m excited about the freedom financial independence will bring — the ability to explore hobbies, learn new skills, and give myself the grace to be a beginner.
Right now, we’re often rewarded for being highly skilled and knowledgeable, but I look forward to a future where I can simply try new things and embrace new experiences. I see retirement as an opportunity to explore new interests, travel, and fully enjoy life — with the joy, humility, and curiosity of starting something new.
How old were you when you made your first million and have you had any significant behavior shifts since then?
I was 43 when I reached my first million — it still feels surreal to say that, especially since it only happened a couple of months ago. But I believe nothing changes if nothing changes, and I’m at peace with that.
It’s incredibly rewarding to see that everything I’ve learned, read, and listened to over the years has brought me to this point.
I genuinely enjoy my lifestyle, and I’ve never felt the need for a large house or a new car. If I can reduce my housing costs, I am more than willing to do that.
What financial security gives me is peace of mind — the comfort of knowing I can handle unexpected expenses and the freedom to appreciate life’s simple moments.
There’s real joy in the small things — a cup of coffee made at home, a good book, or a peaceful walk with my dog. Someone once told me that a dog is our best friend for part of our life, but we are their best friend for their entire life.
That perspective stays with me and reminds me what truly matters.
What personal habits and/or traits have you developed that have made you successful at growing your net worth?
I think my curiosity and drive to keep learning have been a huge advantage. I work in finance and genuinely love it — the budgets, the numbers, the spreadsheets — it all excites me.
But being an accountant by training while also having a creative side creates a unique and rewarding balance.
At the same time, I keep my personal budget flexible. I never limit myself when it comes to health and wellness — investing in my health, workouts, and overall well-being is always a top priority.
What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from?
I was drawn to the idea of trading as a way to build wealth. I have a friend who became a mulit-millionaire trading PLTR, and I fell in love with the idea of quick gains.
About a year ago, I opened a Webull account (investment) and invested $7,500. It’s currently around $10,000, so it has grown — but I’ve realized I don’t have the time, focus, or discipline required to consistently try to beat the market.
Trading successfully takes significant time, strategy, and emotional control. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best path for me right now.
I’d also like to discuss leasing a car. Many people immediately say leasing is a waste of money, but that perspective often ignores individual circumstances.
As a single person, I leased three cars over nine years — each with manageable payments of about $200 per month and $3,000 down for 15,000 miles annually. For me, it provided reliability, safety, and predictability during a time when I needed stability.
After those leases, I purchased a reliable car in cash, which I still own today.
Leasing worked for my situation and set me up for success. Financial decisions aren’t one-size-fits-all — what works for one person may not work for another, and context matters.
What advice do you have for ESI Money readers on how to become wealthy?
I believe wealth is subjective. To me, it aligns more with what Arthur Brooks writes about in his work on happiness — that true fulfillment requires strength in four areas: health, finances, family, and friendships.
On the health front, I feel strong. I prioritize staying informed and proactive, using tools like Function Health to truly be the CEO of my own well-being.
I approach my health with the same intentionality and discipline that I apply to my finances.
Financially, I appreciate JL Collins’ philosophy: save consistently, spend less than you earn, and invest the rest. I’m drawn to the simplicity of that approach.
Wealth doesn’t have to be complicated — it requires clarity, consistency, and patience.
Family, for me, has been more complex. There has been sibling and family conflict at times, which can make that pillar harder to navigate. It’s an ongoing area of growth and grace.
Friendship, however, has been one of my greatest sources of strength. My friends have been steadfast advocates and anchors.
I’ve always believed that a stranger is simply a friend I haven’t met yet. I genuinely believe in the kindness of others, and that openness has helped me avoid many emotional and financial pitfalls along the way.
To me, true wealth is balance across these four pillars — not just financial accumulation, but a well-rounded, meaningful life.
FUTURE
What are your plans for the future regarding lifestyle?
Once I reach financial independence, I do plan to scale back to part-time work. When I talk about “retirement,” some people assume that means I want to stop working or be lazy, which always makes me smile. That’s not how I see it at all.
In a career, you’re rewarded for mastering skills, producing results, and continuously improving — often with more responsibility, promotions, and compensation. I value that process and have worked hard within it. But what excites me about retirement is not stepping away from effort — it’s redirecting it.
To me, retirement is the opportunity to become a beginner again. It is the freedom to explore new hobbies, learn new skills, and give myself the grace to try things I have never done before — without the pressure of monetizing or mastering them.
It’s about growth for the joy of growth.
The ultimate version of retirement isn’t doing nothing. It is experiencing new things alongside the people you love, with the time and presence to fully enjoy them.
What are your retirement plans?
I would love nothing more than slow, intentional mornings. I picture a cabin in the mountains, quiet coffee, and space to move at an unhurried pace.
I look forward to being a beginner again — picking up new hobbies simply for the joy of learning, without pressure or expectation. And most of all, I want time to be present with family and friends.
I also hope to share that chapter with a partner. Traveling the world, building memories, and having someone to experience both the adventures and the quiet midnights with — that’s something I deeply value.
Ideally, I’d love to build that relationship before retirement, so that the next phase of life is something we step into together.
Are there any issues in retirement that concern you? If so, how are you planning to address them?
It may be an unpopular thing to say, but I would truly love to meet a kind, humble, grounded man. Over the years, I have dated many people who simply didn’t align with my values, vision, or long-term goals.
When I turned 40, I ran what I jokingly call an “experiment.” I dated 40 men in one year, thinking it was a numbers game — that increasing the probability would increase my chances of finding the right partner.
In that sense, it did not turn out the way I hoped. But I would not call it a failure.
Every person I met taught me something. I learned more about what I value, what I am willing to compromise on, and what I am not.
Some relationships lasted longer than others. A few even turned into meaningful friendships. Each experience brought more clarity.
I do think about wanting someone to share retirement with — someone to build that next chapter alongside. It is a genuine desire and, at times, a quiet concern.
But I also trust that the self-awareness I have gained will ultimately guide me toward a healthier, more aligned partnership.
MISCELLANEOUS
How did you learn about finances and at what age did it “click”?
I think this started a long time ago. Maybe it was serving as treasurer my senior year of high school, or earning my undergraduate degree in accounting.
Somewhere along the way, I decided I wanted to understand money deeply — not to chase it, but so I would not have to worry about it. I wanted the freedom to live a big, beautiful life without financial anxiety.
From there, I just kept learning. I read constantly, experimented, saved consistently, and hoped that discipline would create opportunity.
Discovering David Bach early on reinforced the importance of saving and prioritizing experiences. It was empowering to realize I could take control of my own financial future, even if I had not been formally taught much about investing growing up.
My parents were very frugal, and I carry a lot of that with me — hand me down clothing, living below my means, saving first and spending thoughtfully. I believe in the “set it and forget it” philosophy.
Compound interest truly is remarkable. Over time, small, consistent decisions build something meaningful.
For me, financial literacy was not about becoming rich overnight. It was about building security, confidence, and optionality — the foundation for a life lived intentionally.
Who inspired you to excel in life? Who are your heroes?
There have been so many people who have inspired me that it’s hard to choose just one. But my grandparents have had an especially profound impact on my life.
When I was a senior in college, I would drive four hours home to see my boyfriend at the time in a car I bought at an auction for $400 — a good old Saturn SL1. I’d finish my shift at the bagel shop at 3 a.m., completely wired from the overnight energy, and start the drive.
Before anything else, I would stop to have breakfast with my grandma — eggs, coffee, English muffins, and long conversations at the kitchen table. Those early mornings with her are some of my most treasured memories.
After she passed, my relationship with my grandpa deepened. When he moved into a nursing home and later independent living, I made it a point to visit him whenever I was in town.
Even in his later years, he would offer advice and remind me that I was doing well. He believed in me in a quiet, steady way.
His story inspired me deeply. He was a former Marine who went on to work as an accountant at a steel company.
He understood discipline, saving, and long-term thinking. When he passed, he left money to each of his five children — not because he earned extravagantly, but because he knew how to live within his means and make it work.
Their example showed me that impact doesn’t come from flashiness. It comes from consistency, resilience, and love. They shaped the way I think about work, money, and family — and I carry that with me every day.
Do you have any favorite money books you like/recommend? If so, can you share with us your top three and why you like them?
JL Collins – The Simple Path to Wealth
I just finished this again this week — such a great read. I first read it years ago, but revisiting it was powerful. The message is simple and timeless: keep investing straightforward, stay disciplined, and let compounding do the heavy lifting.
There’s also a great summary discussion on The Diary of a CEO podcast that captures the core ideas well.
David Bach – Smart Women Finish Rich
This was one of the books that truly started my financial journey. It shifted my mindset early on and made wealth-building feel accessible and empowering, especially as a woman taking ownership of her financial future. (Also, recently on a Diary of a CEO podcast)
Casey Means – Good Energy
This book reinforced the idea that health is wealth. It challenges the traditional medical system and encourages a more proactive, functional approach to wellness.
Embracing the idea of being the CEO of my own health has been one of the best investments I’ve made — not just financially, but in long-term quality of life.
Do you give to charity? Why or why not? If you do, what percent of time/money do you give?
For me, charity has always been personal. It hasn’t necessarily looked like writing large checks to organizations — it’s been showing up for the people in my life. Helping a friend during a difficult divorce.
Lending money when someone needed a bridge. Buying a flight for my brother.
Supporting my parents when they needed something. That’s been my form of giving — direct, meaningful, and rooted in relationship.
I’m also deeply passionate about dogs. My current pup is a pit mix from a shelter, and he has completely changed my perspective.
I used to volunteer walking dogs at the shelter and hope to start that again once I move. It’s heartbreaking how much discrimination pit mixes face.
Ironically, my dog would likely be the first to run if there were danger — yet he’s restricted from certain apartments or cities simply because of his breed. I hope we can continue shifting that narrative and give more of these dogs the homes they deserve.
One idea I love is holiday sleepovers for shelter dogs. During the holidays, when volunteer traffic is lower, families can foster dogs temporarily.
The dogs get to experience a home environment, and adoption rates often increase. I would love to help expand or start more of those programs.
Beyond that, I’ve always wanted to start something I’d call “The Crew.” A community for singles and couples (of all ages) who want to build friendships centered around activities — not just food or alcohol.
A group focused on getting out of the house, trying new things, and simply enjoying life together. My mission would be simple: create spaces where people can feel connected, happy, and energized.
If it doesn’t exist in your city yet, maybe it should.
Do you plan to leave an inheritance for your heirs (how do you plan to distribute your wealth at your death)? What are your reasons behind this plan?
At this time, I don’t have any direct heirs. Originally, I planned for my sister to inherit my estate, but after she had her two children, I decided it made more sense to divide it between my niece and nephew. I want to be intentional about supporting their future.
I also plan to designate a portion to be donated to dog shelters, reflecting the causes that are meaningful to me.
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