This week we welcome two guests: finance writer and author, Emily Guy Birken and host of the award-winning personal finance podcast, Stacking Benjamins, Joe Saul-Sehy. Emily and Joe join the podcast to discuss how to approach your money in a fun but effective way.  We discuss the first steps you can take to begin your financial independence journey, being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to your overall money goals and how letting your inner kid out can actually improve your financial life. Emily Guy Birken is an award-winning freelance writer in the financial sphere. Emily is the author of five books and her work has appeared in HuffPo, Business Insider, Kiplinger, MSN Money, and The Washington Post.  Joe Saul-Sehy learned about money the hard way and much of it as he was telling other people how to manage their money, as a financial advisor. After 16 years in the industry he created the award-winning podcast, Stacking Benjamins, one of the most listened to podcasts in the personal finance sphere. If you’re ready to get super-serious about your money management (just kidding), this episode is for you! In the episode we discuss: ? Why playfulness and humor are important for improving your finances  ? The revolutionary act of drawing your dreams on a timeline  ? What to look for when it’s time to hire a financial advisor in your Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) journey  ? Mitigating risk management by asking, “What's my biggest risk and how do I handle it?” + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management:  Emily’s first episode Compound Interest Calculator Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast Atomic Habits by James Clear  Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon Lighting A Candle Under Your Chance of Success Join the waitlist for my signature course, Map Your Way To Financial Independence, here. Check out my new personal website here. Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! Watch me on News12  Watch my latest segments on News12 YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. Connect with Emily: Website Instagram: @EmilyGuyBirken Facebook: @AuthorEmilyGuyBirken Twitter: @EmilyGuyBirken Connect with Joe: Website Instagram: @StackingBenjaminsPodcast Facebook: @IStackBenjamins Twitter: @AverageJoeMoney Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide