Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money

Q&A: "I’m 26 and No Longer Motivated by Money. Am I Unemployable?”

Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money

Show Notes

#758: Joe says that if you tell an employer you’re not motivated by money, you’re unemployable. Paula says that’s exactly the person she wants to hire.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy joins Paula to answer a question from a 26-year-old whose net worth is already 10 times her annual spending. Then they take on two more: whether target date funds are worth it, and whether a dad of young kids should make a career change that cuts his income by 60%.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why not being motivated by money can make you a better hire

The two traits Paula looks for when she hires

How to tell whether a small business is a good place to work, and when it isn’t

A quick test for whether you’d actually enjoy your coworkers

When a target date fund makes sense, and when it holds you back

How to decide whether to make a big career change now or wait

Why your savings might be meant for exactly this kind of leap

If you’ve saved enough that a paycheck no longer drives your choices, this episode will help you figure out what should.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

Note: Timestamps may vary slightly depending on dynamic ad placements.

(02:32) She’s 26 and no longer motivated by money

(07:23) What Paula looks for instead of money motivation

(12:54) The hidden risk of working at a tiny company

(24:55) The 8-hour layover test for coworkers

(33:05) Why Paula put her parents in target date funds

(40:24) Joe’s 30-minute alternative to target date funds

(51:33) Why your 401(k) target date fund may be junk

(58:33) The case for target date funds as harm reduction

(01:08:01) Should he take a 60% pay cut to switch careers?

(01:13:37) Why waiting “one more year” rarely helps

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED

👉 Building your own mix instead of a target date fund? See which account each fund belongs in: https://affordanything.com/assetlocation

👉 Episode #709, planning for a child with special needs, with Keith Wargo: https://affordanything.com/709-the-financial-reality-of-developmental-disability-with-keith-wargo/

👉 Stacking Benjamins, Joe’s podcast: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/

👉 Strategic Coach, the entrepreneur coaching program Joe recommends: https://www.strategiccoach.com/

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