How we got rich by 26 (our recession-proof money rules)

They didn’t teach this at Harvard or Stanford, so we hacked it ourselves – and hit our first million before 26. In 37 power‑packed minutes we hand you the exact blueprint, from “free‑money” beginner plays to advanced billionaire‑tier moves.What you’ll gain in this episode:The degree‑plus‑first‑job formula that 10×’d our earning powerThe 10‑second 401(k) tweak you can do todayOur 4‑bucket “guilt‑free” budget that ends scarcity brain for goodBackdoor Roths, HSAs & the zero‑cost collar portfolio move nobody tells you aboutPainful money mistakes we made (so you don’t have to)No trust fund, no secret investors – just discipline, data, and compounding magic. Watch and adopt the rich habits of the top 1% before the next market shake‑up.*Note: We’re sharing personal experience, not professional guidance, and we are not financial advisors offering financial advice. Always do your own research or talk to a licensed advisor before you move your money.------------------------------------------------------------------ 🐯👯‍♀️ Tiger Sisters Podcast | Career, Entrepreneurship, and LifeWelcome to Tiger Sisters, your go-to podcast about power, money, and love. Hosted by Cherie Brooke Luo and Jean Luo, we’re your Silicon Valley and Wall Street big sisters here to demystify the ups and downs of careers, tech, and entrepreneurship – all while staying healthy, stylish, and joyful along the way.Cherie is an influencer who has broken down the complexities of big tech, finance, and MBA programs for millions of viewers, with over 100M+ views across platforms. Jean is a tech product executive and investor, holding over 50 AI patents, who has built an impressive career in product management and institutional investment at companies like Goldman Sachs and Snapchat.Between the two of us, we’ve survived stints at top investment banks and big tech firms, founded startups, and earned four Ivy League degrees – if we’re counting Stanford! Yet, we still find time to focus on wellness, friendships, fashion, and skincare, always sharing the lessons we've learned along the way.Whether you’re here for career advice, stories about balancing life’s challenges, or just to hear our honest takes on what it means to pursue fun, wealth, and joy in all areas of life, we’ve got you covered.💛 LET'S CONNECT: ~ CHERIE ~🤳🏻 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cherie.brooke 📱 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@cherie.brooke ✍🏻 My Substack – https://cherieluo.substack.com/ 👩🏻‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherie-luo/ ~ JEAN ~🤳🏻 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/jeanluo_/👩🏻‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanluo 🎵 Music produced by Sammy Signal https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HsyknHuxhT8RoZfn5rqMS🛍️ Items Referenced:🍵Sisters Matcha & SISTERS Merch: www.sistersmatcha.com♠️ Everything else: https://amzn.to/3z0dx5b⏰ Timestamps 00:00:00 Get Rich by 26? Our 30 second origin story 💸00:00:33 The game plan (episode roadmap) 🗺️ 00:01:14 Background: choosing majors for post-grad 🎓 00:04:16 “Information = power” for first‑job salaries 🏦00:05:46 Cherie swaps pre‑med for computer science 👩‍💻 00:09:11 Freedom math: majors for max optionality 🚀 00:13:16 BEGINNER MONEY MOVES: the “free‑money” 401(k) match 💰00:15:15 Pretax + compounding = $100K → $1M explained 🔄 00:17:17 Budget mindset shift: from scarcity to strategy 🧠 00:18:59 INTERMEDIATE: A very impactful book 📖00:21:26 Money avoidant mindset → guilt‑free spending blueprint 🪙 00:27:23 Cherie’s $80 Facebook Marketplace couch 😬 00:29:58 ADVANCED: Backdoor Roths, HSAs & automation 🕳️🗝️ 00:30:33 SUPER ADVANCED: Exchange Funds for concentrated stock 📈 00:33:56 Ultra‑hack: Zero‑Cost Collar to cap downside 🛡️ 00:34:38 Learn from our 7‑figure portfolio facepalms 🤦‍♀️ 00:35:07 Key takeaways ⏳ 00:36:24 Plugs: Sisters Matcha & I Will Teach You to Be Rich links 🍵📚 00:37:05 Like, comment, subscribe, and share with a friend! 🔔