Jerm, the Finance Coach

06/25/2026

"Compound interest has been called the eighth wonder of the world."

Whether or not those exact words came from Albert Einstein, the principle is undeniable:

The earlier you start, the less money you have to invest to build wealth.

Let's look at 5 different scenarios. Assuming a 10% average annual return and investing until age 65:

🟢 Start at Age 18
💵 Invest: $100/month
✅ Total Contributions: $56,400
📈 Value at 65: ≈ $1,281,920

🟢 Start at Age 28
💵 Invest: $200/month
✅ Total Contributions: $88,800
📈 Value at 65: ≈ $931,966

🟢 Start at Age 38
💵 Invest: $400/month
✅ Total Contributions: $129,600
📈 Value at 65: ≈ $658,281

🟢 Start at Age 48
💵 Invest: $800/month
✅ Total Contributions: $163,200
📈 Value at 65: ≈ $425,810

🟢 Start at Age 58
💵 Invest: $1,600/month
✅ Total Contributions: $134,400
📈 Value at 65: ≈ $193,521

🤯 Think About That...

The person who started at 18, invested only $56,400 over their lifetime and ended up with over $1.28 million!

Meanwhile, someone starting at 58 invested well over twice as much ($134,400) but still accumulated less than $200,000 because they simply didn't have enough time.

⏳ Time Is the Secret Ingredient

You can always invest more money.

You can never invest more time.

The best time to start was years ago.

The second-best time is today.

Start with what you can. Stay consistent. Let compound growth do the heavy lifting.

06/24/2026

Choose Your Hard

Life is hard.

Being broke is hard.
Sticking to a budget is hard.

Having debt is hard.
Making sacrifices to get out of debt is hard.

Living paycheck to paycheck is hard.
Building an emergency fund is hard.

Worrying about money is hard.
Changing your financial habits is hard.

The truth is, there is no easy path.

The question is:

Which hard are you going to choose?

Time is going to pass either way.

One year from now, you can still be dealing with the same financial stress, the same debt, and the same frustration...

Or you can look back and be thankful you made some difficult choices today.

Every financial decision you make today is either helping or hurting the person you'll be five years from now.

Choose your hard.

Choose discipline over regret.

Choose sacrifice over struggle.

Choose the future you want.

06/17/2026

Money stress is REAL. Maybe you’re struggling with debt, living paycheck to paycheck, or feeling like you’ll never get ahead. I’ve been there. BUT, there’s a proven plan that works to turn things around. It's called the 7 Baby Steps.

These work 100% of the time when you follow them in order. No shortcuts.

Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for your starter emergency fund.
You can’t build wealth if you’re constantly borrowing money every time life throws you a curveball. Get this quick win under your belt ASAP.

Baby Step 2: Pay off all debt (except the house) using the debt snowball.
List your debts smallest to largest, attack the smallest one with a vengeance, and roll those payments into the next debt. Keep the momentum going until you’re debt-free!

Baby Step 3: Save 3–6 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund.
This is your cushion for when (not if) life happens. With this fund, a job loss, medical emergency, or car repair won’t send you back into debt. (A lot of people continue the savings momentum right after completing this step to save up a down payment on a home.)

Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of your household income in retirement.
You’re out of debt and have a safety net... now it’s time to build wealth! Max out your 401(k) match and invest consistently in good, growth stock mutual funds.

Baby Step 5: Save for your kids’ college fund.
You don’t have to take out student loans or saddle your kids with debt. Save early and let compound interest work for you!

Baby Step 6: Pay off your house early.
Imagine life without a mortgage payment. That’s financial freedom! Every extra dollar you throw at your mortgage gets you closer to complete ownership.

Baby Step 7: Build wealth and give generously.
This is where the real fun begins! You have no payments, no debt, and no financial stress. Now you can live and give like no one else!

06/17/2026

📖 Proverbs 17:18 📖

"A man lacking in judgement strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor."

That's a pretty direct warning.

In today's language, we would call it co-signing a loan.

When you co-sign, you're telling the lender: "If they don't pay, I will."

Many people co-sign because they want to help a friend or family member. Their intentions are good, but good intentions don't change financial reality.

If the borrower misses payments, the debt becomes your responsibility.

💡 A Better Question 💡

Before co-signing, ask yourself:

"If the bank doesn't trust them with this loan, why should I risk my financial future?"

That's not being selfish—it's being wise.

God calls us to be generous and help others, but He also calls us to be wise stewards of the resources He has entrusted to us.

Send a message to learn more

06/11/2026

📖 Proverbs 11:24-25

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will be refreshed."

God's economy often works differently than the world's.

The world says, "Hold on tightly to what you have."

God says, "Be generous."

Giving isn't just about money—it's about having a heart that is willing to bless others. When we live with open hands instead of clenched fists, we become better stewards of the blessings God has entrusted to us.

Generosity doesn't make us poorer. It reminds us that God is our provider, not our bank account.

06/10/2026

📖 "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth." — Proverbs 10:4

This verse teaches an important financial truth: Wealth is usually built through consistent hard work, not shortcuts.

In a world that promotes get-rich-quick schemes and overnight success, Proverbs reminds us that diligence matters. Showing up every day, working hard, developing skills, and being faithful with what you've been given are often the real keys to building wealth.

But here's the part many people miss...

💰 Making Money Isn't Enough

I've met people who earn $40,000 a year and are building wealth.

I've also met people who earn $150,000 a year and are living paycheck to paycheck.

Why?

Because earning money and managing money are two different skills.

You can work hard and build income, but if you don't have a plan for that income, it can disappear just as quickly as it comes in.

🔑 Wealth Requires Both

✔️ Work hard to increase your income
✔️ Budget every dollar you earn
✔️ Save consistently
✔️ Avoid unnecessary debt
✔️ Invest for the future

Hard work creates opportunity.

A budget turns opportunity into wealth.

💬 Final Thought

Proverbs 10:4 teaches us that diligence leads to wealth. A budget helps ensure that wealth stays around long enough to accomplish your goals.

Work hard. Spend wisely. Build intentionally.

06/08/2026

💰 Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund 💰

Most people think they need to start by paying off debt.

Not quite.

The first step is saving $1,000 in an emergency fund.

Why?

Because life happens.

🚗 Car repairs
🏥 Unexpected medical bills
🔧 Home repairs
🐶 Emergency vet visits

Without an emergency fund, every surprise becomes a crisis—and often ends up going right back on a credit card.

Baby Step 1 isn't meant to solve every problem. It's meant to create a buffer between you and life's unexpected expenses.

Why $1,000?

Because it's enough to cover many common emergencies while still keeping you focused on attacking debt.

Think of it as your financial first-aid kit.

The Goal

✅ Stop relying on credit cards
✅ Create a small safety net
✅ Build momentum and confidence
✅ Start taking control of your money

Financial peace doesn't happen overnight. It happens one step at a time.

And Baby Step 1 is where the journey begins.

Send a message to learn more

06/03/2026

💰 What Is a Zero-Based Budget? 💰

A zero-based (or zero-dollar) budget is a method where you assign every dollar a job so your income minus your expenses equals zero.
This doesn’t mean you’re broke—it means your money is fully planned with purpose.

✅ How It Works
1️⃣ Start with your monthly income.
2️⃣ Assign every dollar to a category—bills, groceries, savings, debt, etc.
3️⃣ Keep adjusting until Income – Expenses = 0

Every dollar gets a job. Every dollar has a purpose.
That’s the power of zero-based budgeting.

Send a message to learn more