• Money Mindset

    High Earner, Not Yet Rich? Here’s Why- And What to Do About It

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through my link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    If you’ve ever Googled ‘high earner not yet rich’ at midnight wondering what you’re missing, this post is for you.

    Let me guess what brings you to this post- you are a corporate earner with a good or even great salary. You have had professional success- job offers, promotions, etc. 

    Everything on paper looks great but your bank account tells a different story. No matter what you do, you can’t seem to get ahead.

    You’ve done everything right and somehow still feel behind.

    This isn’t a budgeting post, it’s a clarity post. We’re going to dive into what’s actually going on that leads you to feel behind and what to do about it.

    Before we jump into the good stuff, please know that I’ve been in your shoes. I am slowly climbing out of the same hole and sharing my journey along the way.

    I’ve been a six figure earner for over 3 years and still managed to amass over $35k in credit card debt. Nobody in my life knew.

    From the outside, it seemed like I was responsible and had it all together. Sound familiar?

    It’s Not a Discipline Problem

    When you earn good money and still struggle, the most common assumption is something must be wrong with you. I can tell you I’ve frequented the “what’s wrong with me” inner dialogue. 

    The reality is that feeling behind financially while earning a good income is a structural problem, not a personal one.

    High earners stay stuck for various reasons:

    1. Lifestyle inflation (“lifestyle creep”) keeps pace with income increases. In this situation, every raise gets absorbed into spending.
    2. Nobody taught us how money should actually move. We learned by watching and most of what we watched was broken.
    3. The financial system wasn’t designed with women in mind. Financial literacy has historically been a male domain.

    I can speak from personal experience around the impacts of lifestyle creep. Most notably, when I increased my salary by 30% by pivoting into project management, it’s as if the money just evaporated. Poof!

    Earning more and watching it slip through your fingers, only to be right back where you started, can feel like being on a hamster wheel. Maybe you can relate.

    What I have learned, and what I’d like you to know, is that the problem was never your discipline. The problem was the system- and nobody handed you the manual.

    The High Earner Trap

    Lifestyle inflation is the sneakiest way that increases in income fall flat. It’s easy to use a larger paycheck as justification to “treat” yourself, to upgrade your vehicle, or splurge on a vacation.

    Now don’t get me wrong- I 100% support celebrating your wins and financial milestones. The difference is this kind of celebration is planned and a one-time expense. 

    Lifestyle inflation is different because it is a sustained expense, over time. It can feel like progress to upgrade your routine or lifestyle. 

    If not carefully planned for, this kind of expense actually negates progress. 

    Using your raise to rent a slightly nicer apartment or to eat out more frequently can absorb every dollar of income growth if you’re not careful.

    The result is income goes up, net worth stays flat, and the paycheck to paycheck feeling persists even at $100k+ salary.

    The KIA That Cost Me

    I’ll share a very specific example of how lifestyle creep invaded my life. In 2024, I was on the cusp of paying off my 2019 KIA Sorento when it started making a weird sound.

    I took it into the dealership and somehow got talked into trading in the equity I had for a lease on a new model. Like what?

    I traded in an almost paid off vehicle for a $428/mo lease payment. I am still paying on this lease and rest assured, I fully plan to turn in the lease and buy a used vehicle outright.

    Looking back, I can see clearly what happened- I let the emotions of having a vehicle needing a repair weigh on me to the point of giving up an asset.

    I traded equity for convenience.

    Once I was out of my dealership- induced haze (it took a few weeks), I could see that I had made an irrational decision.

    I have kicked myself many times over this decision but the bottom line is this- making decisions that lead to financial setbacks is not a debt problem, it’s a pattern.

    What’s Actually Keeping You Stuck

    Let’s name three specific culprits that contribute to the pattern of backwards progress: 

    1. You may not have a system for how money moves. This likely looks like spending money first and saving whatever is left after.
    2. Emotional spending as stress relief could be part of the puzzle. High earning often comes with high stress and spending feels like a reward.
    3. Avoiding the numbers. When things feel out of control, looking feels worse than not looking.

    In my case, I did not have an issue with avoiding my numbers. I knew all too well what was going on with my finances.

    My experience was not having a good money system combined with the occasional emotional expenditure.

    For the most part, my emotional purchases were small/inconsequential but then I would go and you know, lease a vehicle on a whim.

    I still occasionally struggle with the lure of impulsive, large, unplanned purchases. The difference now is that I see the temptation for what it is and lean on the money system I have set up.

    An important reframe I have made for myself time and time again is that none of these behaviors are character flaws. 

    They are completely predictable responses to a stressful life with no financial framework.

    What to Actually Do About It

    So how do you get out of this cycle? Let’s talk about it. Here are three shifts that will change your experience with money tremendously.

    Shift 1: Get a system- money needs to move automatically before you have a chance to spend it. Check out my 3-account money system if you want to set up something that is simple and will have an impact right away.

    Shift 2: Know your number- what number will enable you to be financially free? Or in other words, how much money do you need invested to become work optional? 

    A simple starting point is to multiply your annual expenses by 25. That’s the invested amount that could theoretically support your lifestyle indefinitely. Most high earners never calculate this. 

    Shift 3: Stop optimizing spending and start optimizing income. There’s a ceiling on how much you can cut, there’s no ceiling on how much you can earn. 

    My Breaking Point

    Last October, I decided I’d had enough with my credit card debt and minimal emergency fund. As a single mom of two teens, this was a risk and I knew it.

    So I created a plan to pay off my credit card debt, reducing $35k to less than $20k in 9 months.

    I set up a money system to ensure that money is deposited into my emergency fund on pay day- I never even see that money so I’m not tempted to spend it. Read more about how to build an emergency fund.

    I made a decision to create a better pattern for my money.

    Conclusion

    Being a high earner who isn’t yet rich isn’t a failure, it’s a starting point.

    The gap between where you are and where you want to be is closeable, and it closes with systems and clarity, not shame and restriction.

    The good news is that with an already high income and the right system, you will make progress FAST. You are in a much better position than you may realize.

    Ready to transform your money routine? Grab the free 3-account setup guide- it’s the system I use to make sure my money moves in the right direction automatically, every single payday.

    3-account system cheatsheet

    I’ll send you a simple guide that will outline exactly how to setup the 3-account system.
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    • Money Mindset

      How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck: Try This 3-Account System Instead

      This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

      If you’ve been searching for how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, this isn’t a budgeting post. It’s better than that!

      I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started a new budget, only to have life happen and be back at square one the next month or even the next week.

      Here’s the deal- budgeting is a willpower system, and willpower will only get you so far. Money management, just like other goals, will fall to the success of your systems (or lack thereof). 

      I often ask myself this question- what could I maintain on my worst day? This applies to so many areas of life in addition to money- fitness, parenting, relationships, etc.

      My experience managing money completely changed once I adopted the 3-account system. It’s simple, automatic, and relies on zero tracking to be successful.

      Easy button? Yes please.

      Why Budgeting Fails Most Women

      Most women searching for a way out of the paycheck to paycheck cycle assume budgeting harder is the solution. 

      Now don’t get me wrong, a budget can serve a purpose. Understanding where your money is going is important and could be a one time or regular exercise that is meaningful for you.

      I personally do have a budget, with a specific purpose in mind, but it’s not the system that moves the needle on my finances.

      Budgeting as a recurring activity assumes you have time, energy, and mental bandwidth to track every dollar.

      As single moms, corporate women, caregivers- we are already running on empty. Budgeting systems require daily decisions and let’s be real- decision fatigue is real.

      If you were to peep my personal google drive right now (buried in an ‘Archive’ folder somewhere), you would find all of the budgets of past Jessica. A collection of artifacts representing abandoned decisions, optimistic intentions, and aspirational over-rotation.

      What I’ve learned and what I’d like to pass on to you is this- the problem was never your discipline. The problem was the system.

      How the 3-Account System Works

      Without further ado, allow me to walk you through the system that has simplified my finances.

      The way it works is just like it sounds- three accounts, one rule, money moves automatically into the accounts. That’s it. 

      If you’re anything like me, you have questions so let’s dive into each account individually…

      Account 1 — Bills (fixed expenses)

      The first account is for any bills that do not change month over month such as your mortgage/rent, utilities, subscriptions, etc. Account 1 should be a checking account.

      Add up all of your fixed expenses for the month and this is how much money (at a minimum) needs to be deposited into this account each month to cover your bills. Account 1 should have a fixed deposit amount.

      Now, I had a lot of internal drama when defining what I would categorize as a fixed expense.

      Depending on what corner of financial advice you find yourself in, you may see variable expenses categorized as a fixed expense. Example- groceries.

      Is it not true that food is a ‘fixed expense’ because you need it to survive??

      So the simple use for this account is only bills that are truly the same month over month. For me, this currently includes:

      • Rent
      • Utilities
      • Debt minimum payments
      • Car payment
      • Insurance
      • Subscriptions

      Account 2 — Your Future (savings/financial goals)

      The second account in this system is for money you are allocating towards financial goals. Account 2 will be a high-yield savings account (HYSA).

      Priorities will vary here but may include: saving for an emergency fund, debt payoff, post tax investing, saving for a vacation, etc.

      The reason I have this listed as account 2 (and skipped right over variable expenses) is because you have to prioritize this before spending if you want to make progress on your financial goals.

      For a long time, YEARS really, I would pay my bills, spend without a plan on variable expenses and then use whatever was left for financial goals. This was totally backwards.

      In order to start actually seeing movement on my financial goals I had to start allocating money to my goals first.

      This seems like common sense but for a lot of reasons, that I can get into in a different post, it was not. 

      So how much do you decide to allocate towards this account? If you look at your financial goals, you may see a giant amount and try to make that happen.

      The key to making this work on auto pilot is to choose a percentage of your take home pay. Choosing a percentage takes the guesswork and decision making out of this process.

      You will find varying percentage recommendations in the personal finance world. As I am not a financial planner, I will not make a recommendation to you of what yours should be.

      I will, however, share that 17% of my current take home pay is allocated to financial goals. My top financial goals right now are:

      1. Increase my emergency fund to 3 months (I’m so close to achieving this!)
      2. Pay off my consumer credit card debt

      I would love to increase the amount of money I am allocating towards financial goals and plan to do so as I pay off debt/earn more.

      Account 3 — Spending (variable expenses)

      The third account is for any variable expenses that change month over month.

      For me this includes necessities like groceries and gas. It also includes any miscellaneous spending such as eating out, going to the movies, or this month- sending my teenager kids random amounts of apple cash.

      Account 3 is a second checking account. The amount deposited in here is what’s leftover after the deposit/transfer to accounts 1 and 2.

      Having an account with spending money has been so freeing to me. There isn’t always a ton of money in here but I have zero guilt when I spend from this account.

      I know I am meant to spend this money before my next pay day. 

      How to Set It Up This Week

      Now, if you’re anything like me, it might take some time to wrap your mind around this simple system. Once you’re ready, it’s very simple to set up:

      1. List your fixed expenses and total them up
      2. Decide your “future” percentage (see further instructions below)
      3. Open a second checking account and a high-yield savings account 
      4. Set up automatic transfers on payday
        • You can either set this up from the account your paycheck is deposited OR you can set up direct deposits to each account directly with your employer (this is how my paycheck is set up)
      5. Whatever lands in account 3 is yours to spend, guilt free!

      Additional instructions- percentage for financial goals

      To determine the percentage to dedicate to your financial goals, first estimate the percentage of your take home pay going towards fixed expenses. 

      Then you know what percentage of your take home pay is available to split between financial goals and variable expenses.

      Once you have determined the percentage you are targeting, calculate the dollar value the percentage represents.

      Example:

      • Let’s say your monthly take home pay is $5,000 after taxes and your fixed expenses are $3,000
      • Your fixed expenses are 60% of your take home pay ($3,000/$5,000= 0.6)
      • This means you have 40% of your take home pay to split between financial goals and variable spending
      • You choose to allocate 10% of your take home pay towards financial goals ($5,000*.1= $500)
      • The fixed amount you will transfer to a HYSA is $500

      The one rule for this system is that the deposits/transfers to each account happen automatically each time you get paid. 

      This system works because you don’t have to think about it- the automations work for you and match decisions you already made.

      3-account system cheatsheet

      I’ll send you a simple guide that will outline exactly how to setup the 3-account system.
      ​
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        How This System Helped Me Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

        I’ve been using the 3-account system consistently for almost a year now. Prior to that, I had several different checking and savings accounts that required a lot of manual moving around of money.

        I often forgot to move money or forgot why I moved money. 

        On top of the chaos, I wasn’t really making progress on my goals. I had an emergency fund but it was not enough to cover even half a month’s worth of expenses. 

        I spent first, before directing money towards financial goals. It didn’t matter how much money I made, I was just on a hamster wheel.

        Since implementing the 3-account system last fall, I am less than 3 months away from having a fully funded 3 month emergency fund. I’ve paid my credit card debt down from ~$35k to just under ~$21k and am on target to pay it off next year, for good.

        I’ve done all of this while continuing to invest in my retirement and while enjoying my life. The best part of all of this is- I know this is just the beginning for me. You can read more about where I’m starting from here: Why I’m Starting a Blog. 

        Conclusion

        The paycheck to paycheck cycle doesn’t break with more willpower. It breaks with a better system.

        Budgeting requires willpower, while systems run automatically. It might take you some time to set up this system but I promise, it will simplify your life.

        If you take just one action from this post, I would encourage you to set up a HYSA and start diverting money towards your financial goals. Check out Ally bank as a good option.

        P.s. The other half of this equation is to earn more money- here’s where I’d start: How to Make More Money in Your Day Job.

      • Money Mindset

        How to Build an Emergency Fund in 12 Months (On Any Salary)

        This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

        We’ve all heard some variation of the fact that most Americans are one large expense away from going into debt.

        The reasons people don’t have an emergency fund can vary. For some, the number feels too big and other things feel more important.

        For high earners with steady paychecks and investment accounts, an emergency fund can feel insignificant. After all, I could just pull the money from somewhere if I really needed it, right?

        The bottom line is this- having money designated and accessible for emergencies will prevent you from going into debt, borrowing money from another account, or doing some other kind of financial kung fu you might regret down the road.

        This post breaks down a 12-month plan anyone can follow to create an emergency fund, at any income level.

        If you’ve been putting off building an emergency fund because you don’t know where to start, this is the post for you.

        I’m currently building my own emergency fund- my target is $15,000 and I’m sharing exactly how I’m getting there.

        Why an Emergency Fund is Non-Negotiable

        An emergency fund has become non-negotiable for me. Without money set aside for unexpected expenses, an emergency becomes debt (or sabotages another goal if you pull the money from somewhere else).

        As a single mom and the financial safety net for my two teens, the thought of not having a plan in the event of an emergency terrified me. 

        At the beginning of 2025, my emergency fund had $1,300 in it. While this is better than nothing, I really sat with the following questions and determined it was not enough.

        • What would I do in the event of an emergency? How would I cover an unexpected expense? How would I pay for it and where would the money come from?
        • How would I handle losing my job? How long would I be able to support our family?

        My answer to that last question was not even one month. That reality sinking in gave me a lot of anxiety. I really was one large bill away from a crisis.

        On top of that, I could see how not having an emergency fund had led to maintaining/increasing my credit card debt. 

        I knew I had to change something. I wanted to have a clear plan in the event of an unexpected expense.

        How Much Do You Actually Need

        The standard recommendation is to have 3-6 months of essential expenses set aside for emergencies. Depending on who you talk or listen to, this recommendation may vary. 

        For example, some people have a primary residence and a rental property. They may choose to keep additional funds set aside for unexpected home repairs, property maintenance, etc.

        For the sake of simplicity, we are going to assume the standard advice of 3-6 months is a good starting point for you.

        You might be wondering how to calculate your target emergency fund. Here are the steps to calculate the number for your specific situation:

        1. Add up your essential monthly expenses
          • Include things you must pay like rent, utilities, minimum debt payments, groceries, etc.
          • Leave out unnecessary expenses from this equation- example: monthly budget to visit ice cream shop (hey, this could be important to someone)
          • The assumption is that in the event of an emergency, unnecessary expenses would be temporarily paused until finances are stable again
        2. Multiply the total by 3 for a starter fund or by 6 for a full security fund. There’s your number!

        For most people, around $10,000 will be a reasonable target. This number may vary depending on your unique circumstances.

        My fixed expenses are around $5,000 per month right now. This is due to renting in a higher cost of living area (where my kids go to public schools) and due to minimum debt payments.

        One thing that has helped me build up my emergency fund, even while paying off debt, is to remember that I don’t need to magically make it appear at once. 

        The 12-Month Plan

        Once you have determined your target, the next step is to map out how you will fund it.

        Breaking your goal down into steps will make it feel more achievable. Let’s be honest, setting aside money will require that you do something different.

        Behavior change can take time and may vary over time. The steps below outline setting aside a $10k month emergency fund but can be applied to any amount of money. 

        Months 1–3: Build Your Base ($0 → $1,000)

        The first thing you will do is open a dedicated high-yield savings account (HYSA) to keep your emergency fund separate from your checking account.

        The next step is to automate a small transfer of money every payday. Even $50 a paycheck adds up. When I first started building my emergency fund, this is the amount I contributed.

        While it was small, it signaled “progress” to my brain and slowly became a habit.

        The first milestone of establishing an emergency fund is getting to $1,000 as fast as possible. 

        Quick wins make a real difference here- canceling a subscription and redirecting the funds, selling something on Facebook marketplace, etc.

        Get creative!

        Months 4–6: Build Momentum ($1,000 → $4,000)

        Once you have $1,000 set aside, it’s time to step up your effort. 

        If you can increase your automatic transfer, this is a good time to do so. 

        I have my automatic transfer set up with my employer direct deposit- $300 automatically deposits into my emergency fund each paycheck. 

        Not having to manually make this transfer has been key for me. The money comes out of my pay before I even see it.

        Another way to ramp up your contributions is to put any “windfalls” of money to your emergency fund. For example- a tax return, bonus, etc.

        Pro tip- use a percentage of any windfall on something just for you. Enjoying money while pursuing financial stability has helped train my brain that stability can be safe and fun.

        Don’t forget to celebrate milestones on the way to your goal- $2,000, $3,000 funded. 

        Months 7–9: Push Through the Middle ($4,000 → $7,000)

        The middle of any goal is where most people stall. The urgency from month one has faded. 

        If you’ve developed a habit of saving, it might feel kind of boring. This is good!

        Keep the automation running even when it feels slow. 

        Now is a good time to revisit your target number- has anything changed in your expenses that would change your goal?

        One thing to remember is this- once you reach your target goal, you can redirect the money you are saving to something else. 

        Months 10–12: Cross the Finish Line ($7,000 → $10,000)

        The process gets easier towards the end. You’re close enough to see the finish line! Use this momentum as fuel.

        Consider a one-month push to close out strong. This could include no eating out, taking on a freelance project, or doing a no spend challenge.

        Last but not least, make sure you celebrate hitting your goal once you hit it. This is a big deal!

        Where to Keep It

        The best place to keep money you do not plan to use but may need to access quickly is in a high-yield savings account (HYSA). 

        This money should not be in your checking account where you might be tempted to spend it or part of your long-term investments.

        I have had success with keeping my HYSA at a completely separate bank. I personally use Ally bank where I earn 3.0% interest and would recommend it to anyone!

        I love that Ally allows you to create “buckets” within a savings account. My emergency fund is one bucket but I have others, which allows me to keep all of my savings in one account.

        Read more about the simple way I have my financial accounts set up.

        Some things to look for in a HYSA include: being FDIC insured, accounts with no monthly minimum fees, options to easily transfer to other bank accounts.

        What to Do When You Have to Use It

        An emergency fund is meant to be used- that’s the whole point and why you need to have access to it.

        When you dip into your emergency fund, your only job is to refill it.

        Using the money for what it’s intended for is not a failure, it’s the system working perfectly. 

        Once you have stabilized your finances, restart your automatic transfers immediately. 

        I admittedly do not have the best track record with using an emergency fund as intended.

        For the entirety of my 11-year marriage, I did not have an emergency fund but rather relied on my ex-husband’s business income. That somehow worked for us but it was by no means an organized plan that I will be repeating.

        I had a sizable emergency fund established post divorce, leading into 2022. Unfortunately, $30k in unplanned legal fees, combined with lifestyle creep drained this fund.

        At the time, I didn’t realize the significance of the fund being drained while I was making lifestyle changes. Looking back, I would have made some different decisions but I can say that I learned from the decisions I did make.

        Fast forward 3 years- I can see how important it is to prioritize having an emergency fund available. It offers peace of mind, continuity, and options during instability.

        Conclusion

        I hope this post has helped you see that saving $10,000 in 12 months is achievable on any salary if you automate the savings and stop waiting for the “right time”.

        I encourage you to open a HYSA today- not next week, today. 

        Breaking the paycheck to paycheck cycle starts here- learning how to build an emergency fund is one of the most important financial moves you can make.

        Want to see exactly how I set up my accounts to make this automatic? Grab the free 3-account setup guide below.

        3-account system cheatsheet

        I’ll send you a simple guide that will outline exactly how to setup the 3-account system.
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        • Money Mindset

          The Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners

          • Comments Off on The Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners
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          The best books on financial literacy for beginners

          Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

          As I reflect on my financial journey, there are clear moments where everything shifted — not because I found a magic formula or stumbled into a windfall, but because I changed the way I thought about money. And the most affordable way I did that? Books.

          If you’re a woman who earns a good salary and still feels behind, I want you to know something important: the problem usually isn’t how much you make. It’s the money story running in the background that nobody ever helped you rewrite. Books are one of the most powerful and least expensive ways to start doing that.

          I’ve read a lot of personal finance books over the past several years — during my divorce, during the rebuild, and during the season I’m in now, actively paying off debt and building wealth on a single income. The books on this list are the ones that actually moved the needle for me. I’m sharing them in hopes they do the same for you.

          What is Financial Literacy?

          First of all, let’s make sure we are speaking the same language. Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. Now you may be asking yourself- what does this have to do with earning more? Valid question. 

          Why Financial Literacy is Important

          In my quest for financial stability, I became hyper-focused on how much money I was earning. While I will argue (to my grave) that this was the best focus for me as a single mom, I learned that earning more alone does not ensure financial success or stability. There are plenty of high earners drowning in debt or making poor financial decisions. 

          Bottom line- financial literacy is essential to navigate your new financial reality. Earning more is one thing, but knowing what to do with more money is a whole other skill. Let’s dive in…

          Short Plug for Learning with Books

          Books are one of my favorite ways to learn. They are inexpensive, accessible, and the information is condensed into an easily-digestible format, that you can come back to again and again. One thought I have around books is that I am paying $10-$30 to have access to the mind of someone who has spent a lot of time (and maybe money) to learn what they are writing about. How cool is that?

          What Makes a Financial Book Good for Beginners?

          You might note that the list of books below does not fall in line with many classic financial resources. I have probably read many of the books you are thinking about.

          The list of financial literacy books below were exceptionally helpful to me on my financial journey (as a beginner). I read them all at different times and they helped me to:

          • Change the way I think about money
          • Develop a budgeting routine that is enjoyable to me
          • Set financial goals around my values
          • Recover my finances as a single mom

          All of the books listed below are written for beginners and contain actionable tips/strategies to radically transform your financial journey.

          If you’re anything like me, you might be quick to click ‘add to cart’ on every single item. I will challenge you with this- start with ONE book that is meeting you where you are at today. 

          I read the below books (and many, many others) over the course of the past 6 years. Changing your financial picture is a marathon, not a sprint.

          You do not need to learn everything there is to learn about financial literacy today.

          You might have a different takeaway than me. You might re-read one of these books and have a different takeaway the second time. The beauty in learning is that it never stops!

          Best Books on Financial Literacy for Beginners

          Without further ado, here are my top picks for books on financial literacy for beginners…

          The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

          Focus: Making sense of how people think about and behave with money

          Why it’s great for beginners: Easy-to-read thought-provoking ideas around what money means to people

          Jess thoughts: There is a lot of interesting history in this book- for example, how financing came to exist. I found this book extremely insightful to put my money behaviors into perspective.

          I Will Teach you to be Rich by Ramit Sethi

          Focus: Building wealth through systems (budgeting, saving, spending, and investing)

          Why it’s great for beginners: Written in a conversational style with action items throughout and designed to help the reader gain control of their finances

          Jess thoughts: Ramit has a wealth of knowledge about financial decision making and there were ideas in this book that I had never thought of (like automating my paycheck- what?) This book is modern and contains information on just about everything.

          Dave Ramsey’s Complete Guide to Money

          Focus: Handbook for Financial Peace University

          Why it’s great for beginners: Direct/minimal steps (in linear order) to get out of debt and achieve financial peace

          Jess thoughts: I admittingly have graduated beyond Dave Ramsey’s teachings but I do remember how powerful it was to read this book in the peak of my divorce. If you’re looking for a simple and solid plan to achieve financial stability, the steps in this book will work.

          Money, A Love Story by Kate Northrup

          Focus: Changing your relationship with money

          Why it’s great for beginners: Written using personal examples and covers the emotions tied to relationships with money

          Jess thoughts: Reading this book was one of the first times I became aware of my relationship with money. Kate’s writing spoke to the feminine part of me that wanted to feel good about my money relationship.

          Quit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung

          Focus: A proven formula to achieve financial independence for the average person

          Why it’s great for beginners: The most thorough and simple to understand explanation of the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement 

          Jess thoughts: This is one book that I will say might not be for total financial literacy beginners however, in the FIRE world this book is very easy to understand. I will also say that I wish I would have found this book sooner!

          Best Books on Financial Literacy for Single Moms

          When I was struggling financially as a newly separated mom going through a divorce, I felt like a fish out of water. I latched onto anything and anyone that felt relatable. Below are two books that speak to the financial journey of a single mom.

          The Kickass Single Mom by Emma Johnson

          Focus: Taking your life back as a single mom

          Why it’s great for beginners: Speaks to the nuances of navigating finances in single motherhood that may be skipped or glossed over in other resources

          Jess thoughts: This book was a godsend to me in a very dark time in my life. Emma challenged me to get myself together and hope for a better future. Her focus on regaining independence after divorce was exceptionally important to me related to finances.

          My Money, My Way by Kumiko Love

          Focus: Aligning emotional health with financial health

          Why it’s great for beginners: Thought provoking questions around money values and actionable steps to take control of finances

          Jess thoughts: Kumiko is a great example of healing your financial picture. Her book really helped me connect with my “why” for setting financial goals and got me excited about my future!

          Reading about money is where the mindset shift starts — but the system is what makes it stick.

          If you’re ready to take what you’ve learned and put it into action, the first thing I’d set up is the 3-account system. It’s the money management framework I use to pay off debt, build my emergency fund, and still enjoy my life — all on autopilot.

          Grab the free one-page setup guide below and you can have it running by the end of the week.

          3-account system cheatsheet

          I’ll send you a simple guide that will outline exactly how to setup the 3-account system.
          ​
          Get the cheatsheet by subscribing below.

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            And if you’re just getting started on your financial journey, this post walks you through exactly how I stopped living paycheck to paycheck on a six-figure salary — because earning more is only half the equation.

            The best books on financial literacy for beginners
          • Income Expansion

            How to Present a Career Change on your Resume

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            Woman with resume in hand, planning how she will approach her next career move.

            Approaching a job search when you know you are pivoting into a new role or industry can feel overwhelming. Presenting a career change on your resume definitely requires a little finesse but it’s totally a solvable problem! 

            Scroll down and check out my best tips for tailoring your resume to a career change. I’ve also included a personal example of when I used the same tips in this post for my own industry pivot.

            Why Tailoring your Resume for a Career Change is Crucial

            Before we dive in, I’d like to quickly highlight why taking the time to tailor your resume to a career change is important. According to Ladders, hiring managers spend on average 6 to 7 seconds reviewing a resume. That’s not much time! Especially if they’re not seeing anything of relevance to the job they’re interviewing for.

            The main goal of tailoring your resume for a career pivot is to make your resume relevant for the job you’re applying for. While it might take more time up front, your chances of catching the hiring manager’s eye will be much higher. This is a situation where quality will definitely pay off.

            Key steps to preparing your resume for a career change:

            Below are my top 5 recommendations when updating your resume for a career change. I used all of these steps when pivoting from a role in healthcare quality to project management.

            1. Consider a functional resume format

            I’m starting with this recommendation right off the bat because it may change how you work on the rest of the steps. A functional resume is a format that highlights work experience by skills and abilities, rather than work experience by role. 

            Your brain might be a little jumbled with this idea so I will break it down. Rather than organizing your accomplishments/experience under each role, you would instead organize the same information under skill or ability. 

            The skill or ability would be something critical of the role you’re applying for. Here is an example of an actual resume I used to land a job in 2020. Some information has been changed for privacy and I’ve left the Education/Certifications and Hard Skills sections out of this image.

            The role I was in for the prior 4 years was in a different industry than the job I was applying for. I wanted the hiring manager to focus on the value I had to offer vs. what I was doing in the time leading up to applying.

            2. Create a strong resume summary

            My next tip is to craft a compelling summary at the top of your resume that highlights what you have to offer. Show off the goods! 

            This brief summary will pull out the relevant work experience and skills you want to highlight for the new role. Tell them why they should read through the rest of your resume. Bonus points here if you are able to incorporate keywords from the job description of the role you are applying for.

            3. Highlight transferrable skills

            Another critical step in making yourself marketable to a new role, is highlighting skills that will transfer well to the new role. This is where a functional resume format can come in handy. 

            Let’s use the example from above of my transition from working in the automotive industry back into healthcare. I chose to highlight ‘written & verbal communication’. This is an example of a transferable skill. 

            I pulled out examples from previous work experience where I was required to use written & verbal communication to accomplish an objective. I carefully selected the examples I used to highlight experience/terms that overlapped with the job description of the role I was applying for (see more on framing experience below).

            4. Frame previous job experience to highlight relevant skills

            Alright, I’m just going to state the (hopefully) obvious- your potential new employer does not care about the things you are doing at your current job that are unrelated to the role you are applying for. Don’t take up precious real estate on your resume with irrelevant things (even if they are impressive to someone).

            My recommendation here is to brain dump all of the work experience you have. (Side note- I make this easy on myself and keep a “master resume” document updated with all of my work experience by role.) Once you have your list, sift through it to select the things that are relevant to the role you are applying for. Include and highlight those things.

            5. Showcase any specific training, experience, certification etc. to support the new role

            Lastly, make sure you highlight any effort you have taken to close gaps in skills or work experience. In 2023, I pivoted our of healthcare quality into project management. To prepare for this pivot, I obtained a PMP Certification and wanted to make sure that was clear on my resume. Don’t underestimate how valuable it can be to demonstrate your willingness to learn new skills.

            Summary

            Pivoting to a new career path can feel overwhelming but it can also be exciting and fun! Whatever “gap” you are feeling, just remember that it is likely a gap you can bridge. I’m rooting for you. 📣

            Still have questions? Drop them in the comments below!

            Article with tips for adjusting your resume to make a career pivot.
          • Income Expansion

            Breaking into a Project Management Career: My Transition from Healthcare Quality

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            I am so excited to write this blog post. 😁 Why, you ask? Well, this is a breakdown of how I “stepped into a new room” (a new money room that is) by pivoting to a new career. I’m going to break down exactly how I pivoted to a project management career and increased my salary by over 30%.

            First off, I’d like to acknowledge that switching to a new career can be challenging. There are a lot of unknowns and sometimes obstacles to overcome. I hope this post leaves you feeling hopeful and maybe even motivated to come up with a plan to overcome any obstacles you might be facing. 

            In this post, I will outline:

            • My journey
            • The skills than helped me transition
            • Actionable steps for anyone looking to break into project management, regardless of your background

            Why I Wanted to Transition to Project Management

            Project management came onto my radar as a career choice in, what felt like, a random way. I was in a similar quality improvement role in health insurance that I had been in for 10+ years. I was starting to feel burned out/bored and I wanted to make more money. 

            My career growth options, within both the industry niche and company I worked for, were limited. I realized that getting to the salary goal I had in mind would take something else. I started to pay attention to job titles that earned $100k+ a year. 

            Once I started paying attention, all kinds of career options popped up. A career in project management felt like a seamless pivot from what I was doing at the time. I was also happy with the job prospects and salary potential with this career choice. 

            I’d like to take a moment to point out that, while I set my sights on a project management role in the summer of 2022, I didn’t actually land a new job until May of 2023. This post will outline what I was doing between the moment of deciding on a project management career and actually landing a new role.

            Transferable Skills That Helped Me Pivot

            Switching careers requires an identity shift. You must think of yourself in a different way, to be marketable to a new role. It’s likely that you already have an arsenal of skills (aka transferable skills) you can rely on that would be helpful to a pivot to project management. 

            Here are the transferable skills that I highlighted on my resume/application for my current project management role:

            • Communication/Relationship management 
            • Meeting facilitation
            • Data analysis
            • Critical thinking
            • Project management tools

            Steps I Took to Transition into Project Management

            The process I used to land a project management role is not rocket science. I basically reverse engineered the result I wanted. That’s why I’m confident you can do the same!

            Words of advice- you may find in any step of this process that you don’t actually want to pursue a project management role. I would encourage you to not pursue anything that does not align with your goals/priorities. You could, however, use the same process below for any type of career pivot (not just project management). 

            1. Research and understand the role/job prospects

            Before I spent any time applying for jobs, I made sure I was aligned with the decision to pivot into project management. What do I mean by this? I researched the role as it related to my most important job search criteria at the time: earning potential and option for remote work.

            Here are a few questions I researched/asked during this process:

            • What is the median salary for a project manager? Does this vary by state or industry?
            • Do I know anyone in this type of role that I could connect with?
            • Which companies are currently hiring for this type of role? Do I know anyone who works at any of these companies?

            Using my priority of remote work, I could have found in this step of the process that there weren’t many opportunities to find a remote project management role. In that case, I would have reconsidered this career choice.

            2. Assess my skills and experience gaps

            Next, I spent time reading through job descriptions of actual project management roles to see what companies and hiring managers were looking for. I should note that I focused on senior roles, to align with my goal of increasing my salary. In general, here is what I found:

            • A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification was often listed as a requirement or recommended
            • Companies were generally looking for someone with 5+ years of experience in project management OR industry experience
            • Many of the jos responsibilities overlapped with work I had already done, in terms of skills used versus application of the skills (think transferable skills- discussed above)

            Through this process, I identified a gap of having the project management certification. I also realized that if I wanted to pivot into a new industry, I may be at a disadvantage for not having the industry experience, especially when I hadn’t been in a dedicated project management role before. Overall, reading through job descriptions boosted my confidence in this career choice a lot! 

            3: Obtain PMP certification

            After researching job descriptions, I immediately decided I would pursue my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. I began work on this immediately, while working on the other steps outlined below. The high level process to obtain this certification includes:

            • obtaining “contact hours”, which I did through an online Udemy course
            • applying to take the exam 
            • studying/passing the exam

            I would like to note here that the exam application does require demonstration of hands-on project management experience. Fortunately, I was able to use examples from my previous roles of working on projects but this could be a gap for some people.

            4. Document hands-on experience

            If you decide to apply to take the PMP certification exam, you will need to demonstrate 36 months of (non-overlapping) project management experience within the past 8 years. That could seem daunting at first but you might have more experience than you realize.

            Take the time to outline any “projects” you have worked on in your professional career. Instead of thinking of a formal project, try thinking of any assignment you completed that had a start and an end. (Surprise- this is a project. 😉)

            Aside from documenting experience for the PMP exam, it will also be helpful to outline any/all project management experience or exposure you have for a job application or interview. 

            5: Reframe my resume and LinkedIn profile

            Once you have a good outline of your project management experience/exposure, it’s time to reframe this experience to match job postings. Make it easy for the recruiters and companies to see the value you bring.

            My best advice here is to use project management terminology (i.e. terms from the job description) to explain your work experience. Here is a real life personal example- I reframed my experience:

            • leading weekly HEDIS check-ins with regional Quality directors to 
            • managing stakeholder engagement during the HEDIS project lifecycle

            This step will require that you get a little creative and think outside of the box. Remember that it’s always important to be honest AND you likely have more to offer than you think. Both things can be true.

            Check out How to Present a Career Change on your Resume for more ideas on tailoring your resume for a career change.

            Step 6: Network and job search

            Once you’ve got a good grip on where you are entering the project management industry at, it’s time to put yourself out there. Connect with other project managers in your professional network. This could include current/previous co-workers or (LinkedIn) mutual connections. 

            Identify companies that are hiring for the type of opportunity you are looking for then target connections at that company. Do you know anyone who works there (even if they are not in a project manager role)? It is always to your advantage to be referred to apply for a position.

            Keep going on this step until you find what you are looking for!

            General advice for those looking to transition into project management

            Alright, that was a lot. If I had to sum up my general advice for pivoting into a project management role it would be to:

            • Start where you are—look for opportunities in your current job or employer
            • Get familiar with PM methodologies (waterfall, agile, scrum)
            • Earn certifications but don’t rely solely on them—experience matters just as much if not more
            • Network and connect with others who have successfully transitioned or who are doing what you would like to be doing
            • Be patient—career pivots take time, but they’re worth it

          • Income Expansion

            How to Set Short Term Career Goals in a New Corporate Role

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            I am writing this post following the start of a promotion in the Corporate world, as I am establishing short term career goals to set myself up for success. I set my eyes on this role at least a year ago. Despite taking action, nothing happened the way I thought it would. Isn’t it funny how when you detach from the how, life unfolds in the best way possible. Fast forward a year and it felt like the role just fell into my lap. That easy.

            While I have a deep desire to build something outside of Corporate, I am not someone to look a gift horse in the mouth. (I think that’s the saying?) And let’s be honest, I am not even close to leaving the Corporate world right now. 😉 At the time of writing this post, my livelihood depends on my Corporate job.

            This post outlines just what I’m doing to set myself up for success in my new role. Whether you are starting a new role at your existing company, a new company, or even starting your first role out of college, this post is for you! 

            Take the time to map out your success. Your future self will thank you.

            What this Promotion Means to Me

            Before we get into it, I’d like to tell you a little about my promotion and why I wanted it. My job title changed from “Project Manager III” to “Project Manager, Sr.”. I don’t care so much about the title but the job code comes with a ~10% pay increase, 5% increase in eligible bonus amount (increase from 15% of salary to 20%), and 5 more days of time off (for a total of 30 days per year in addition to holidays). 

            Additionally, this promotion demonstrates (on paper) that I am successfully excelling in my career pivot to project management. I’m not sure what I will do next but having a track record of proven success means something when you are positioning yourself for a (future) new role.

            Short Term Career Goals in a New Corporate Role

            1. Clarify expectations & success metrics

            This step is foundational to demonstrating success- do this first. As the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland says “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.” 

            Schedule time with your direct leader and have a conversation. Here are a few ways to approach this:

            • Ask your leader what would make this role successful in 6-12 months? Outline 3-5 clear outcomes together.
            • Pull specific objectives from the job description. These should align with the original intent of the role.
            • Many companies have an annual goal setting process; update your annual goals to align your new role. 

            In my case, I will be taking a hybrid approach of all three of the above methods. One key step to demonstrating success is to agree with your leader on how you will measure the success.  

            2. Create a 30-60-90 day plan

            Hit the ground running with a clear plan in your first 90 days. Here are few ways to focus your first 90 days:

            • 30 days- Learn people, processes, and priorities. A lot can be learned from listening. Take full advantage of the transition period to get a grasp on what’s important to your role.
            • 60 days- Get a quick win by owning a project and fixing a pain point. This is an easy way to make yourself known.
            • 90 days- Demonstrate leadership by driving an initiative or influencing strategy. Let people know what you bring to the table.

            As you get settled into your role, you may be able to develop more granular action items. The point is to map out what you are setting out to do in the first 90 days to start the job off right.

            3. Identify skills gaps & develop a learning plan

            Once you get the feel for your role and what you will be doing on a day-to-day basis, you will likely identify where you have skills gaps. Maybe there is a colleague in a similar role that excels at meeting facilitation and that is not your strong suit. Choosing 1-2 skills to learn/improve at can be an excellent compliment to your success.

            Specific to my new role as a senior project manager, I will be prioritizing learning more about the agile project methodology. There are other senior project managers in my organization that are well-versed in this methodology. I am choosing to pursue an agile certification as a way to learn/bridge this skill gap.

            4. Update LinkedIn

            This may be obvious but make sure to add your new role to your LinkedIn profile. If you are moving to a new position within the same organization, be sure to delineate your responsibilities between the two. This would be a good time to update your accomplishments in your previous role.

            5. Relationship building

            In step 2 above, you should have identified the people that matter in your new role. This may be leadership, peers, or other stakeholders around the company. Make it a priority to build relationships with anyone that will be impactful to your job. Depending on your level of interaction, this could mean: 

            • Regular one-on-one’s
            • Connecting on LinkedIn 
            • Providing positive feedback
            • Practicing clear communication
            • Attending work events

            Don’t sleep on this step. I think of relationships at work like building a community as a mom. As the saying goes- “it takes a village”. Relationships can be a huge contributing factor to future opportunities.

            6. Refresh system to track wins

            The start of a new role is a good time to determine where you will document your work performance. At a minimum, you should keep record of:

            • Progress against goals (yes, the very goals from step 1)
            • Positive feedback you’ve received a.k.a. a brag book
            • Work samples you can use for other opportunities

            Personally, I have a reminder on my calendar to update my documentation every 2 weeks. I make time to do this so I don’t have to go back and fill in the gaps.

            So there you have it- 6 steps to set short term career goals in a new corporate role. What would you add? I’d love to know in the comments below.

          • Financial Independence

            Monthly Blog Income Report

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            Welcome to another not SEO-optimized post, sharing my goals + results as a blogger. One of the reasons that I even became interested in blogging is because other bloggers shared their financial results. My plan is to update this post monthly, with real time results.

            I hope that it serves as one way I can stay accountable. Even more than that, I love the idea of inspiring someone else to take action on their financial goals. Welcome to my honest results (and troubleshooting) page!

            2026 (to be filled in monthly)

            I’ll update this at the end of each month. Come back- I’m not hiding the numbers.

            MONTHUNIQUE VISITORSINCOMEEXPENSESTOTALLIFETIME TOTAL
            July
            August
            September

            Q3 2026 Goals (July- September)

            My primary goal for the next quarter to is to practice the habit of consistency with blog work. This includes establishing a routine around when I will work on my blog. Don’t forget- I am a 9-5 er and single mom to 2 teens! I know that showing up consistently will be key for me in seeing momentum.

            Within my control:

            • Create content plan/system
            • Publish 1 blog post per week
            • Publish 1 Pinterest pin per day
            • Launch newsletter
            • Optimize website for traffic (clickability, optins, etc)
            • Start participating with affiliate programs
            • Set up display ads on website

            Results to track:

            • Unique website visitors: goal= 1,000 per month
            • Pinterest followers: goal= 100
            • Newsletter subscribers: goal= 50
            • Income: goal= $1,000

            Done! I am adding this note to the bottom of the page that this post was written by me showing up early on a Wednesday morning to meet my goal of posting 1 time this week. I know that this is my starting place and it only goes up from here.

            I hope you stick around to follow my journey!

          • Financial Independence

            Why I’m Starting a Blog

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            Well, here goes- I’m counting this as my very first blog post. Sure, I’ve created a handful of posts over the past year or so. In hindsight, those were practice.

            Practice for what you ask? We’ll get to that further down in this post. For now, I want to explain why I’m writing this very unstructured, non SEO-optimized post.

            I’ve come to realize, over the course of my financial growth journey, that how I feel earning more money is important to me. In other words, not all pathways to wealth are created equal.

            Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for “doing the dirty work” so to speak. I’m definitely in a position where paying the bills is the priority, especially as a single mom.

            Here’s the thing- my personal finances are stable-ish for the first time since pre divorce. 

            I’m ready for the next chapter of my financial earning story. I’m ready to do something new. Instead of leaning into what’s next in the Corporate world, I am starting this blog instead.

            Let’s talk about why I’m starting a blog specifically…

            1. Create an additional stream of income

            While the temptation of securing a new higher paying role in the Corporate world sounds easier at the moment, it’s important to me to diversify how I’m earning money. 

            I also understand that pursuing success in Corporate sounds easier because it’s something I’ve done before.

            There are a lot of ways to generate additional streams of income. Continue reading to see why I’m choosing a blog specifically.

            Essentially, I want to create additional streams of income to achieve my financial goals faster.

            Ultimately, I desire to free up my time and I will not do that by continuing to increase my income in a Corporate role.

            2. Set up “passive” ways to earn money

            You’ll notice the word passive is in quotations. In my opinion, this term can be misleading.

            Generating income requires an exchange of money for value offered. Value offered could be time, expertise, service, etc.

            The way I think about passive income is money exchanged for work not necessarily happening now, as in today. For example, I’m writing this post in April 2026 but you’re reading it today.

            In my analysis of ways I could earn additional money in my current situation, a blog became the obvious choice for the following reasons:

            • Minimal monetary investment
            • Multiple ways to generate income (many of which can be set up once and continue to work!)
            • Work can be on my own time vs. during certain hours

            A few examples of ways blogs generate revenue include through ads, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content. 

            All of these revenue sources can be set up to work behind the scenes to continue generating revenue.

            Pretty cool!

            3. Learn/utilize existing skills

            Okay here’s a fun fact about me: I don’t love school and I never have. I absolutely love learning, but on my own time. 

            Give me a good problem to solve and I’m all over it, so long as I have an interest in solving it. 

            Give me an assignment for something I have no interest in, with a looming deadline and I’m checked out- bye!

            I used to feel a lot of shame around this characteristic but I’ve since come to embrace my approach to learning. It’s turned into an asset for me.

            I know when I set my mind to something, I will go all in and knock it out of the park.

            Creating an online business offers the unique opportunity to learn and practice new skills in real time. I’ve heard entrepreneurship described as personal development on crack.

            I’m looking forward to learning all the things, including learning the art of hiring help for the skills that I have no desire to learn. 

            And let’s not forget- I already possess several skills that will aid well to blogging. I enjoy writing and communicating information in an easily digestible manner. 

            In my personal life, I frequently receive the feedback that I’m great at connecting dots for people. I look forward to doing that for my readers.

            4. Share my journey to financial stability/freedom

            If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past 6 years as I’ve adjusted to becoming a single mom, it’s that there are not enough women talking about finances.

            When I found myself unemployed going through a divorce during the pandemic, I scoured the internet looking for someone relatable. 

            Sure, there are several gems online that are sharing great information (so grateful) but we need more female voices talking about the realities of finances for women.

            Realities for women like going back to work after taking time off to stay home with kids, recovering financially from divorce, or the unique challenges faced by women in the workplace.

            I have a lot to say and I know that the information will be helpful to other women.

            5. Ignite passion for helping women succeed financially

            That’s a nice segue to why I ultimately chose personal finance as the topic for my blog. 

            I have a deep passion for helping other women succeed financially. 

            It’s a serendipitous feeling to realize that everything you’ve experienced in your life has led to this current moment.

            I’ve experienced many financial setbacks over the years including credit card debt, large medical expenses, unemployment and more. 

            I’ve also experienced a lot of financial privilege including affording the opportunity to graduate college with minimal student loans and having a loving/supportive family that has helped me out at the drop of a hat.

            The contrast of setback vs. privelage has shown me how important financial stability is and just how quickly being financially unstable can derail your life.

            This is especially true for women. If I have learned one thing over the past 6 years, it’s that more money in the hands of women will be a blessing for everyone.

            My hope is to be a safe space for women to achieve financial stability and more. I am so excited you’re here and I can’t wait to hear about all of your progress!

          • Income Expansion

            High Paying Career Skills to Succeed in Today’s Economy

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            One of the key principles of my Income Accelerator Method is to increase your income as a method to achieve financial progress faster. If you’re in the market for a new job, consider honing in on a high paying skill career as a way to increase your income. This post covers 10 high paying career skills that I would consider in 2025 if I were setting out to increase my salary (p.s. I personally chose to focus on developing my project management skills to pivot to a higher paying role!)

            How High-Paying Skills Can Accelerate Career Growth

            Whether you are just starting out in your career or you are looking to make a career pivot, focusing on the development of high paying career skills is an excellent way to prioritize financial progress.

            I attribute much of my early career success to a pivotal moment in college when I had to select my major. I really wanted to focus on the education aspect of public health even though I knew my job prospects after graduation would be much broader if I acquired a degree in health administration. The degrees were in separate colleges at the university I attended.

            I chose the path that would open the most doors; I’m forever grateful to my 19 year old self for having the forethought to think about future opportunities. That is what I will invite you to do here- think about the career path that will open the most doors for you financially.

            Wherever you’re at in your career, high paying career skills will address an evolving job market and ensure you stay competitive to meet market demand. If you are in a situation of desiring more income quickly, pivoting to a new role can be an excellent way to increase your income!

            10 Career Skills to Accelerate Income Growth

            1. Data analysis and visualization
            • Description: Data analysis refers to the process of extracting meaningful insights from data and data visualization is the graphical representation of information and data.
            • Why it’s valuable: Businesses and organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decisions .
            • Examples of roles: Data Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst
            • Tools to learn: Excel, Tableau, Python, Power BI
            1. Project management
            • Description: Project management is the process of using skills, tools, and techniques to plan, execute, and complete a project on time and within budget.
            • Why it’s valuable: Fast-paced organizations often have competing priorities that require management across different functions of the organization.
            • Examples of roles: Project Manager, Program Manager
            • Certifications to consider: Project Management Professional (PMP)
            1. Digital marketing
            • Description: The practice of promoting products or services through online channels.
            • Why it’s valuable: Digital marketing can be more affordable for businesses to implement than traditional marketing and is arguably a requirement for success in today’s business landscape.
            • Examples of roles: SEO Specialist, Social Media Manager
            • Skills to master: Search engine optimization (SEO), paid ads, content marketing
            1. Cybersecurity
            • Description: The practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from cyberattacks.
            • Why it’s valuable: Cybersecurity aims to protect people, financial assets, data, applications, devices, and computer systems.
            • Examples of roles: Cybersecurity Analyst, Ethical Hacker
            • Certifications to pursue: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Security+
            1. Cloud computing
            • Description: The delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence) over the internet or through “the cloud”.
            • Why it’s valuable: In the increasingly virtual world we live in, cloud computing allows users to access files remotely, instead of keeping them on their devices.
            • Examples of roles: Cloud Engineer, DevOps Specialist
            • Platforms to learn: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure
            1. Software development and programming
            • Description: The process of creating software applications, including the act of writing computer code.
            • Why it’s valuable: Software development/programming allows businesses to create digital solutions that meet evolving market needs. 
            • Examples of roles: Software Engineer, App Developer
            • Languages to learn: Python, Java, JavaScript
            1. Sales and business development
            • Description: Sales primarily focuses on closing deals and business development focuses on identifying new market opportunities.
            • Why it’s valuable: Both sales and business development are essential for generating revenue for a company.
            • Examples of roles: Business Development Manager, Sales Executive
            • Key skills: Negotiation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
            1. UX/UI design
            • Description: UX/UI design refers to the process of creating digital products that are visually appealing and easy to use.
            • Why it’s valuable: Both skills help to increase user satisfaction, improve customer retention, and boost conversion rates.
            • Examples of roles: UX Designer, UI Developer
            • Tools to learn: Figna, Sketch, Adobe XD
            1. Financial management and analysis
            • Description: The process of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance-related transactions to determine their performance and suitability.
            • Why it’s valuable: Financial analysis is used to improve business decision-making.
            • Examples of roles: Financial Analyst, Accountant
            • Tools to master: Excel, QuickBooks, SAP
            1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
            • Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the broad concept that machines can mimic human intelligence, while machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on the use of algorithms to identify patterns within data sets.
            • Why it’s valuable: Allows businesses to analyze large datasets, automate repetitive tasks, identify patterns, and make informed decisions.
            • Examples of roles: AI Engineer, Machine Learning Specialist
            • Tools to explore: TensorFlow, PyTorch

            How to Acquire Skills to Increase your Income

            If I were interested in acquiring one of the high paying career skills outlined above, here is what I would do (in this order);

            1. Research roles, salaries, and companies- This might rule out one of the options for me so critically, this is step one! Get really clear on what you want first.
            1. Identify skills gaps- Do you need a certification or a certain amount of experience to qualify for the roles you are interested in? This may also eliminate a few options, depending on the runway needed to close the skills gaps.
            1. Close skills gaps- Enroll in an online course, apply to take the needed certification, or gain hands-on experience in your current role if that is an option.
            1. Network with industry professionals- Who are you connected with already that might be able to assist you with making this career pivot? Get networking!

            Benefits of Mastering High-Paying Skills

            If you are ready to accelerate your financial progress or, like me, you are the breadwinner in your home and want to ensure financial stability in your career, mastering high paying career skills will be a great asset for your journey. Not only will you future-proof your career, you may even increase your job satisfaction, for being the boss that you are.

            A list of high paying career skills that will help you succeed in today's economy.