Celebrating 500 Episodes with Client Number One
This month, we’re focused on an important subject for over 43 million Americans: student loan debt. Because of COVID-19, the federal government gave student loan borrowers a three-year reprieve on payments; however, this month, they are returning. Today is an extra special episode because it’s not only the 500th but also the first time we have client number one on the podcast.
Jillian started working with Shannon exactly 10 years ago this month, and the main reason she reached out was because of the student loan debt she was taking on to get her master’s degree. She joins us to share her student loan journey and her journey as a Financial Gym client for the past 10 years. We’re excited to celebrate the 500th episode with one of Shannon’s favorite people on this planet!
What are we drinking?
Jillian - Black Coffee
Shannon - Coffee
Podcast Notes
Jillian has been a prominent figure in the Martinis and Your Money and The Financial Gym community for a decade. Ten years ago, Jillian was in a book club with Shannon’s sister, who mentioned Shannon was doing financial plans.
Jillian was new to New York, getting ready to pay for grad school and looking for financial advice. Shannon’s new offering seemed like the perfect fit. She started with the Kickstarter plan, and not long after, more book club members were working with Shannon, too.
Shannon’s first three clients are still members, and since then, The Financial Gym has worked with over 14,000 people, transforming their financial health.
Jillian and Shannon had many early conversations about student loans and managing her limited income. As a 23-year-old living in New York, they had to make a small amount of money go a long way. Things were pretty smooth until the wedding season.
Towards the end of her time in New York, Jillian was in several weddings over a few years. She saved $600 monthly in her limited budget to pay for everything.
Living Abroad After a Year of Exploring
After the weddings were over, it was time to plan for the next goal. Jillian decided she wanted to participate in a program called Remote Year to live abroad for a year.
This program changed the trajectory of her life. She got to see so many places and different examples of ways to live life. Jillian is currently living in Europe.
The Remote Year program ended right before the COVID-19 pandemic got serious, so she continued living in Europe.
She decided to apply for her Italian citizenship through ancestry. The process took about a year, but she’s officially a citizen and is working on buying property in Italy.
Reminiscing on the last Decade
Jillian is the only client who saw every location of The Financial Gym.
Even if you have no idea where life will take you, being financially healthy allows you to explore.
It can be scary to go after a goal, especially if it’s different from what you thought you always wanted. Leaving New York was hard, but it drastically changed Jillian’s financial health.
Being comfortable with your finances allows you to make choices based on what you want without worrying if you can afford it.
Jillian’s financial journey, from managing several weddings to leaving New York, to pursuing Italian citizenship, demonstrates the power of financial health in shaping life choices.
Takeaway: My biggest takeaway is not really a takeaway but a feeling of gratitude. If Jillian never took a shot on me, I never would have stayed on this journey, and 14,000 other people never would have gotten the financial guidance they wanted and needed. I am so grateful to be her Best Financial Friend but also to call her friend. Every time we meet for a quarterly review (and there have obviously been many), I feel tremendous gratitude for her in my life.
Random Three Questions
What is the next big trip you’d like to take?
What is something you’re currently binging?
If this was your last meal on earth, what would it be?
If you have any topics you would like me to cover on this podcast, or if you’d like to get in the financially naked hot seat, I encourage you to email me at Shannon@fingyms.com, or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook Page, and let me know what you want to hear.
In addition to hosting this show, I’m the founder and CEO of The Financial Gym. We are celebrating 10 years of this journey, and now, more than ever, I see the importance of the work we do every day. Rising inflation, the return of student loan debt, high interest rates on mortgages, and volatile stock markets make it a time when you need a best financial friend to help you make the best choices.
At Financial Gym, you get paired with a Certified Financial Trainer, who we call your BFF. Our team has coached clients through every financial season, whether they were living paycheck to paycheck or headed into Financial Independence and retirement.
To celebrate the final season of Martinis and Your Money, listeners can get 20% off of one-on-one training services. So what are you waiting for? Head over to financialgym.com to get started today. Our warm-up calls are free of cost and judgment.