Why Your "Big Commission" Check Is Currently a Lie | Guest Steph Wagner

If you think your high commission checks equal wealth, you’re adorable, and probably wrong. Most real estate agents are masters at making money and absolute disasters at keeping it. In this episode of the Brilliant Podcast, Tristan Ahumada sits down with Steph Wagner, author of Fly, to explain why your "leaning out" strategy is a financial train wreck waiting to happen. We are moving past the "pink tax" and the cringey budget spreadsheets that never work anyway. Steph shares her brutal "rock bottom" moment and explains why financial independence isn't a dollar amount, but a refusal to be a victim of your own bank account. We dive into the 45/20/35 model, the dangers of phantom money, and why your emergency fund is more important than your next car lease. Stop treating your income like a refillable cup and start building a net worth that actually lets you sleep at night. Stop being forgettable and broke. Hit subscribe and tell us your "aha" moment in the comments.     ABOUT STEPH WAGNER   Steph Wagner is a nationally recognized thought leader in women’s wealth and financial empowerment whose work blends personal experience with professional expertise. After a successful career in private equity, she faced financial hardship as a single mother, a journey that inspired her mission to help women take control of their financial futures. Today, Steph serves as National Director of Women & Wealth at Northern Trust, where she leads the firm’s advisory practice for women and oversees the Elevating Women platform, a nationwide program dedicated to building financial confidence and community. She is the author of Fly! A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom and Building a Life You Love, a book that combines memoir and practical financial guidance to empower women at every stage of life. Steph’s insights on money, resilience, and wealth have been featured in major media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and more. She lives near Austin, Texas, with her family and continues to champion financial literacy and independence.   Website: https://stephlwagner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_l_wagner/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephlwagner/   Grab her book: Author of Fly! A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom and Building the Life You Want Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Womans-Financial-Freedom-Building/dp/1637747659 #realestate #wealth #financialfreedom #realtorlife #investing #brilliantpodcast #moneygoals #financialliteracy #stephwagner #fly