Ideal Life & Money Academy

✅ Be sure to figure these things out before you retire! AND if you are retired, it's not too late to complete the check list. 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 How to have a plan once you decide to retire!💠 Does this change your timeline? Are you able to stop working full time earlier? 💠 Are you able to cut your hours per week to just 10 hours a week? 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ Do you find you have spending regrets? Does everyone else tell you how to handle your money? What if every spending decision didn't have to feel like guilt or sacrifice? In this episode, Jason breaks down the concept of opportunity cost — and why understanding it is actually the key to spending more confidently, not less. You'll learn: ✅ What opportunity cost really means (and why it applies to every dollar you spend) ✅ The simple "two hands" visualization exercise to make smarter decisions in real time ✅ Why your value system matters MORE than what financial experts tell you to do ✅ The 24-hour rule that has saved Jason tens of thousands of dollars ✅ How to spend extravagantly on what matters — and cut deeply on what doesn't ✅ Why there's no right or wrong answer — and how to give yourself grace Whether you're choosing between a vacation and your retirement account, or dinner out vs. your emergency fund — this video gives you a practical, values-based framework to make decisions you can actually feel good about. 👉 Join the Ideal Life Money Academy: www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Budgeting & Debt Elimination Course to gain control of your money and start living your Ideal Life: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

✅ Have you ever received unexpected news that threw you off balance in your day? 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 #1 - see it as it really is! How bad is the situation? Did your spouse die? Lose a job? Or just lost your car keys while you were on the couch? 💠 Have a priority list of what needs to happen next. 💠 Find cash, cut or cancel things to keep money in your pocket/bank account.   💠 ILMA Budgeting & Debt Course 👉 www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ Easy to follow investing steps to get started today!👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 NEVER invest in something you don't understand!💠 Follow the 5 Steps of Financial Freedom💠 Invest 10-20% of your income into future acccounts (think 401k, IRA's, Superannuation)💠 Choose a brokerage: Vanguard, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab💠 Open this account!💠 Link your bank account so you can send money to your brokerage.💠 Determine how much money you want to send. AUTOMATE this!!💠 You can invest in either retirement or non-retirement accounts💠 Choose an investment by joining our ILMA Investing course 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing  

✅ Do you want to know what to do with their money AND in what order they should do things in?!?! 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Follow the 5 Steps to Financial Freedom!  💠 You will become debt free  💠 You will get a fully funded emergency fund  💠 You can invest for your future  💠 You can pay off your house early 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Budgeting Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ My Favorite word is Anticipation, here's how it helps me reduce my financial problems... 💠 I'm a planner, I like knowing what to expect. Don't get me wrong though, there is a LOT that I either can't plan for, or don't want to plan for. We all need some kind of uncertainty in life to keep it spicy! 💠 But when it comes to money, I like to anticipate everything I can. Because if I can anticipate it, I can plan for it. That's why I came up with my system for Anticipation Funds. This systematic process is how I rarely touch my Emergency Funds. 💠In this video, I walk us through how I think about this and the system I use to reduce my financial problems and hardly ever have to dip into my Emergency Fund 💠 If you need help getting organized with your money, check out the ILMA Budgeting & Debt Elimination Course and start living your Ideal Life now

✅ How do you fight loneliness? 💠 Loneliness is real for many people. But there is a difference between being lonely and being alone. But how do you know the difference and if you really are lonely, how do you fight it? 💠 In this video, I walk us through the difference and the sure way to combat loneliness 💠 If you want to get control of your money and start living your Ideal Life, check out the ILMA Budgeting & Debt Elimination Course

✅ It's not YOU, it's your THINKING! 💠 You and I are naturally bad with money because of the way we think. It's our narrative. We think about the negative things far more than any positive thing that happens 💠 So, my challenge for you is to create a Positive Financial Journal. It doesn't have to take more than 2 minutes a day, but for 1 week, at the end of each day (or throughout the day if you prefer), write down 2 or 3 positive things that happened regarding your money. Then, at the end of the week, see if you think about the negative things as much as before. 💠 It's really difficult to win with money if all you think about and dwell on is the negative. So, let's do the work to rewire our brains! 💠 If you want to start winning with money, be sure to check out our Budgeting and Debt Elimination Course

✅ A year review is always worth the time! This is financial focus and you could do this in multiple areas of your life. 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Confirms if you spent more than you earned or not. Which did you do? 💠 Did you give this year? How much money? Time? 💠How did your spending in the different categories turn? Better? Worse? 💠Spend WAYYYYY too much housing? Food? 💠How did your savings go? Put money away for your future self? 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!! ____________________________________________________________ 💠 Our goal at Ideal Life & Money Academy (ILMA) is to help you: ↪ gain confidence and certainty when it comes to handling your money wisely (personal finances, budgeting, and investing for your future!) ↪ define your Ideal Life ↪ become debt free (permanently) ↪ save more of your paycheck ↪ invest for your family's future ↪ find or create your ideal work 💠 Some people will reach Financial Freedom without help, but it takes a lot of work and usually a long time - but if you could get there years or even decades faster without having to go through all of the pain of learning on your own, would you do it? 💠 We believe everyone can live their Ideal Life and reach Financial Freedom, but we have been conditioned to think we can't create the life of our dreams. The Ideal Life & Money Academy is here to change that.

✅ You CAN live your Ideal Life! 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 You can choose to live your Ideal Life years (if not decades) sooner. 💠 Don't let fear be the factor that holds you back. 💠The money will come. Get creative on how to do the same thing for cheaper OR get paid to do that thing. Greate example: Mike and Elle got paid to live on Fraser Island for over 7 months. 💠Want to go to Japan, then go for 90 days and rent a place and be fully emerged. 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ Have you been embarrassed about your money management? If so, you're not alone! 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 It's scary. The numbers are real. Especially if you have a high income and a large amount of debt. 💠 It's embarrassing. You can have a finance degree or a CPA (accountant) you may not be on top of your numbers.  💠Coach Mike and Coach Jason still make mistakes. It happens. Just don't live there!  💠KNOW where you are today. Calculate your net worth, know your income, and know your expenses! 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!! ____________________________________________________________ 💠 Our goal at Ideal Life & Money Academy (ILMA) is to help you: ↪ gain confidence and certainty when it comes to handling your money wisely (personal finances, budgeting, and investing for your future!) ↪ define your Ideal Life ↪ become debt free (permanently) ↪ save more of your paycheck ↪ invest for your family's future ↪ find or create your ideal work 💠 Some people will reach Financial Freedom without help, but it takes a lot of work and usually a long time - but if you could get there years or even decades faster without having to go through all of the pain of learning on your own, would you do it? 💠 We believe everyone can live their Ideal Life and reach Financial Freedom, but we have been conditioned to think we can't create the life of our dreams. The Ideal Life & Money Academy is here to change that. ______________________________________ 💠 Come check us out to learn how you can give yourself a 10% raise (or more) without working more hours in the next 30-days, you've got nothing to lose and only your Ideal Life to gain! 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/raise 🔶 WATCH MORE EPISODES ✅ Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer (and how to do what the rich do) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/JLFET7L4voU ✅ Credit Card Myths that are going to make you upset! 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/Z2FQHeuRNqM ✅ When it comes to money are you Spender or Saver; Nerd or Free Spirit? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/Z022Pi4iQ5c ✅ Negotiating in everyday life (including salary) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/TMK3zht2l6o ✅ What we mean when we say investing (and you should too!) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/TN43bxT1ppc ✅ Waiting to Invest will cost you $$$ (Cost of waiting) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/kZGcECCxHYc ✅ Don't Invest $50/mo, Invest $1000/mo! How we did it! 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/zuLKa7uDaHg ✅ What would you really do if you won the lottery? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/ry6g6hfeblM ✅ Should you invest in Retirement or Non Retirement accounts? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/f3D7LtS1l94 ✅ How to properly handle an inheritance 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/H_DtFlQI4Ws ✅For more information👇👇 💠 Ideal Life & Money Academy 👉 sentinelcoaching.com/ilma 💠 ILMA Budgeting & Debt Course 👉 sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget #IdealLifeAndMoneyAcademy #EscapeThe9To5 #LiveLifeOnYourTerms #LiveYourIdealLife #StartInvesting #InvestingForBeginners #BeginnerInvestingTips #SmartInvesting #MoneyTips #Retire10YearsEarly #EarlyRetirementPlan #FinancialFreedom #BuildTheLifeYouWant #PodcastLife #GetOutOfDebtFast #ManageMoneyWisely #FinancialFreedomSteps #NoMorePaycheckToPaycheck #FixYourFinances #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #DebtFreeJourney #PassiveIncome #MultipleIncomeStreams #WealthBuilding #SaveMoreMoney #MoneyManagement #SideHustle #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessMotivation #FinanceMotivation #FIREMovement #WorkFromHome

✅ Overspending on Holidays! "Everyone" does it but you can be different. You CAN keep to your spending plan. 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Have a plan! Make changes. Having a budget. 💠 Get rid of credit cards and you can't overspend. 💠Cash envelope. When the money is gone, you're finished. 💠Don't go into debt for any holiday EVER! 💠Try it out! Try something new.  💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Budgeting and Debt Elimination Course to start building wealth years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!! ____________________________________________________________ 💠 Our goal at Ideal Life & Money Academy (ILMA) is to help you: ↪ gain confidence and certainty when it comes to handling your money wisely (personal finances, budgeting, and investing for your future!) ↪ define your Ideal Life ↪ become debt free (permanently) ↪ save more of your paycheck ↪ invest for your family's future ↪ find or create your ideal work 💠 Some people will reach Financial Freedom without help, but it takes a lot of work and usually a long time - but if you could get there years or even decades faster without having to go through all of the pain of learning on your own, would you do it? 💠 We believe everyone can live their Ideal Life and reach Financial Freedom, but we have been conditioned to think we can't create the life of our dreams. The Ideal Life & Money Academy is here to change that. ______________________________________ 💠 Come check us out to learn how you can give yourself a 10% raise (or more) without working more hours in the next 30-days, you've got nothing to lose and only your Ideal Life to gain! 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/raise 🔶 WATCH MORE EPISODES ✅ Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer (and how to do what the rich do) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/JLFET7L4voU ✅ Credit Card Myths that are going to make you upset! 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/Z2FQHeuRNqM ✅ When it comes to money are you Spender or Saver; Nerd or Free Spirit? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/Z022Pi4iQ5c ✅ Negotiating in everyday life (including salary) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/TMK3zht2l6o ✅ What we mean when we say investing (and you should too!) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/TN43bxT1ppc ✅ Waiting to Invest will cost you $$$ (Cost of waiting) 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/kZGcECCxHYc ✅ Don't Invest $50/mo, Invest $1000/mo! How we did it! 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/zuLKa7uDaHg ✅ What would you really do if you won the lottery? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/ry6g6hfeblM ✅ Should you invest in Retirement or Non Retirement accounts? 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/f3D7LtS1l94 ✅ How to properly handle an inheritance 👉 This Video Link: https://youtu.be/H_DtFlQI4Ws ✅For more information👇👇 💠 Ideal Life & Money Academy 👉 sentinelcoaching.com/ilma 💠 ILMA Budgeting & Debt Course 👉 sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget #IdealLifeAndMoneyAcademy #EscapeThe9To5 #LiveLifeOnYourTerms #LiveYourIdealLife #StartInvesting #InvestingForBeginners #BeginnerInvestingTips #SmartInvesting #MoneyTips #Retire10YearsEarly #EarlyRetirementPlan #FinancialFreedom #BuildTheLifeYouWant #PodcastLife #GetOutOfDebtFast #ManageMoneyWisely #FinancialFreedomSteps #NoMorePaycheckToPaycheck #FixYourFinances #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #DebtFreeJourney #PassiveIncome #MultipleIncomeStreams #WealthBuilding #SaveMoreMoney #MoneyManagement #SideHustle #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessMotivation #FinanceMotivation #FIREMovement #WorkFromHome

✅ What if you could retire years earlier? - Create another source of income today! 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠Most people wait until they say they have enough money in their investments to support them in retirement. How much money is that for you? Is it $500k, $1 million, $5 million? 💠What if you didn't need as much in your investments and could still retire with the same lifestyle? 💠Your retirement money is only 1 stream of income, and I recommend everyone should have multiple streams of income. If you could generate $20k, $30k, or $50k per year from other sources, you wouldn't need to withdraw as much from your retirement, allowing you to retire that much sooner. 💠I was able to retire at age 38 without millions in my retirement account because I use my side hustle as a stream of income. You can start a side hustle or a small business like I did and retire a lot sooner than you think. 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ Stop Trying To Impress People - Live for your Ideal Life 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 💠 I'm a big fan of music, especially Musicals and while I was listening to some tunes lately, some lyrics about "impressing" people stuck out. In this video, I address the longing to impress people and how that's not the way to live your Ideal Life. 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

✅ You'll never win with money if you don't follow the proper order of spending. That's just how life works. So, what's the secret? I call it "The 4 S's". 💠 We've worked with hundreds if not thousands of people who want to win with money, but very few of them start off knowing HOW to prioritize their spending. In order to win with money, you MUST spend in this order, otherwise "life" will find a way to sabotage your finances.   💠 1) Survival  💠 2) Security  💠 3) Sustenance  💠 4) Surplus  Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget & Debt Elimination course to learn more about managing your money: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

✅ No, we aren't talking about gambling. We are talking about investing in YOURSELF!!! 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ So many people focus on saving a few cents at the gas pump, or a few dollars at the grocery store. I'm all for saving money, but this won't fix your problems with money. 💠 The secret to not having to worry about money isn't the few dollars you save, but it's about getting financially stable and on a solid foundation. Then, you can choose to save some money or not even look at the price of gas if you don't want to 💠 When you build a house, you've got to start with the foundation and framing before you pick out your furniture or paint color 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA courses on: 👉 - Budgeting & Debt Elimination 👉 - Investing

✅ What happens when you cut up one or all of your credit cards? 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Coach Mike doesn't have a credit card and suggests you should cut all of yours up. 💠 Coach Jason views are slightly different. After years of discipline he has only one credit card that he uses and pays it off every single month.  💠 Your credit score may go down slightly. (Which may be a good thing if you are no longer wanting to go back into debt EVER!)  💠 Identity theft is reduced because there is one less card for someone to steal.  💠 Time freedom is increased. If you lose a card then you have to spend time dealing with that. Reduction of accounts will save time when it comes to tax time.   💠 AND when you die, it makes things so much easier when you have few number of accounts for your loved ones to find and take care of.  CHALLENGE: just try cutting up one credit card. Experience what it's like to get rid of just the one. Witness your spending over weeks or months.   💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Budgeting and Debt Elimination Course to start living your Ideal Life years sooner:   👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget  

✅ Most people want change, but don't know how to create LASTING CHANGE There are 4 key steps to creating change in any area of your life 💠 1) Create a Clear & Compelling Vision  💠 2) Have a big enough "WHY"  💠 3) Create your M.A.P. (Massive Action Plan)  💠 4) Execute or Implement this plan   If you don't do all 4, it will be extremely difficult to create any change in your life 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

✅ Is it better to put money into investments in a lump sum, or over time? What about when you take money out in retirement? 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 DCA = Dollar Cost Averaging 💠 It is a great way to invest as you get paid regularly (monthly or every two weeks). Take a percentage of your pay put that towards your investments with every paycheck!  💠 Coach Mike loves throwing the lump sum at the beginning of the year because that money has more time in the market. And he only has to make the choice one time at the beginning of the year. There is less chance to skip a month for that new thing he wants to purchase. 💠These pros and cons are also true when it comes to the de-accumulation of retirement investing.   💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing 💠 Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

✅ Are you afraid to make more money because of taxes? 👇👇 @IdealLifeMoneyAcademy 🙏🙏 Watch The Video & Don’t Forget to Like, Comment, Subscribe, & Share 🧡 💠 Filing as a single person you will pay 10% on the first $12,400 you earn. 💠 You pay 12% on the money after $12,400, up to $50,400.  Example: total income $12,500 you pay 10% on the $12,400 ($1,240) and you pay 12% on the additional $100 ($12) earned. Total tax to pay $1,252 💠 Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: 👉 https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

What to do if your life feels too full....  Decide what you want your life to look like. Is this 80 hours a week with the big pay check OR 40 hours a week with less money OR 20 hours a week with even less money?   This comes down to knowing our 5 Steps to Financial Freedom! 1) Starter emergency fund 2) Pay off all your debt (except mortgage) 3) Fully funded emergency fund 4) 10-20% savings into retirement 5) Pay off your house early Choose OFFER: Investing for beginners, start investing with our ILMA Investing Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing Be sure to check out the ILMA Academy to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

Can you invest into retirement while being self employed??? YES!  In the US, you need to opt in to the retirement options. Example, IRA or 401(k) options.  In Australia, the retirement plan is Superannuation. You can opt to not put money into Superannuation while being self employed.   The three things you MUST invest in throughout your life: #1 - Yourself #2 - Your business #3 - Other peoples business   Get started HERE: Investing for beginners, start investing with our ILMA Investing Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

We don't like being told what to do. Even if it's correct. Especially when it comes to money.   We want to guide you. We want to share what has worked for us and we know it will work for you as well.   Being open to trying something new will change your life. This is true with it comes health, wealth, food, life, anywhere it will be beneficial.   Comment below: what have you tried that was new at the time? Did it work out or not?  Choose OFFER: Investing for beginners, start investing with our ILMA Investing Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

It is possible! Money can still come in while self employed. Similar to being an employee and having paid time off (PTO), you can set up your life/business up to have income come in while you take time off.   Coach Mike has set up $2,500/month to automatically move money from the business to personal banking account. This income can come from online business (such as ILMA), being a contractor (engineering, IT work, live events worker, etc), investments paying dividents, or buying & selling things.   Be clear on your expenses! Know your numbers. This is necessary for how much money you need to bring in and how many different income sources you need to live your Ideal Life. Investing for beginners, start investing with our ILMA Investing Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

Have you ever struggled or been scared that you can't rent a car with a debit card? AKA using a credit card only. Ever heard, it's impossible? Well, it's just not true. You CAN rent a car with a debit card. May need to show a return flight if renting from an airport. Lesson learned: plan ahead and you will be okay with transportation. There are always options for you to get around in a new place!

Do you earn $50k/year? $100k/year? or even $500,000 per year!!!???  AND you still can't seem to get ahead. Feel like you make too much money to be broke....   It's all about mindset and your behaviour. Money is 20% head knowledge and 80% behaviour. Once you are in control of how you give, spend, and save is when you will start seeing your wealth grow.   The 4 S's of wealth: 1) Survival (S.T.U.F.) - @6:25 2) Security - paying of debt, having an emergency fund 3) Sustenance - upgrade phones, cars, food, etc. 4) Surplus - even bigger holidays, more into investments, bigger home, etc   If you get these out of order, then you will find it hard to grow wealth. It will continue to feel broke! Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing course to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

Don't invest your money without these principles! This is a sneak peek at one of our lessons inside the ILMA Investing Course. If you are interested in saving and investing for your future, check out the course here: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing Top 4 Principles: 1) NEVER invest in something you don't understand! 2) Avoid Debt to Invest 3) Understand your risk tolerance (how much are you able to withstand before panicking) 4) Invest for the long haul (we recommend at least 3-5+ years)

Whether you take vacations or holidays, this is for you!   Coach Mike & his wife (Elle) have been traveling for over 8 years. Started in a 4WD in Australia, then needed a break and headed to South East Asia (Vietnam specifically), and now in the US traveling around doing RV life.   You can choose to spend $20,000 on one trip that is a few weeks long or you can choose to spend $20,000 over months (even a year) to life the holiday life. What we like to call your Ideal Life. How would you define your Ideal Life?   Another idea is a Stay-cation. Stay home or stay local for a shorter time is a great way to recharge from work or being tired.   NEVER go into debt to take a vacation or holiday. Don't use credit cards to travel with friends that may have invited you but have more money than you do for that trip.   Opportunity costs are always something to consider. If you spend $10,000 on a trip and no longer have that money to save or invest. Maybe take a $8,000 trip and invest the other $2,000..... always a trade off and we believe you can do both! Being debt free is the best way to save and invest in your future. Saving 10-20% into retirement accounts will leave you plenty of room in your income to also spend 10-20% on a holiday per year. Be sure to check out the ILMA Academy to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma

Investing can be scary. We've been there!  Now we are confident when we invest and want to show you how to do the same.   #1 Just start learning. Watching videos, reading, podcasts, etc. (about investing obvisiously)   Mutual funds/ETF's are what we invest in. Now, all of our investments are inside these types of funds. We invest in both our retirement accounts and non-retirement, brokerage accounts with mutual funds, ETF's and low cost funds.  Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start investing years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

Many people waste the inheritance their parents or grandparents worked so hard to save for them. Don't be like most people. Honor those who handled money well and left you this gift! You've all heard stories about people getting inheritances and blowing it all at once, buying stuff they don't even use, or even just sticking it in savings.    Think about the PURPOSE of that inheritance. What would your loved one want you to do with it?   In this video, I walk you through the right way to THINK about the inheritance, so you can prioritize and use it to honor the person who left it to you. Choose OFFER:  Check out our Investing Course, which will walk you through what you need to get your money working FOR you  Be sure to check out the Ideal Life and Money Academy to start living your Ideal Life years sooner The ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course will teach you how to handle your money well so you have more to live your Ideal life

Investing into retirement accounts vs non-retirement accounts? It depends. (AND it's never too late!) It's always tax beneficial to invest into retirement accounts before non-retirement accounts. Coach Mike has focused only on one at a time in his 20's. Leading to his net worth to be about 50% in retirement accounts and 50% in non-retirement accounts in his 30's. Reminder, this is only once you are debt free! If you have debt or no emergency fund, then you want to focus there before investing. Rules: Minimum 10% - maximum 20% into retirement accounts. Any money after the 20% we recommend paying off your house off early or invest in non-retirement accounts. Ask: what is the likelihood that you will want access to that money before your 60's? Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start living your Ideal Life years sooner

When it comes to investing (aka money) you will want to follow these 10 Principles: 1) Never give up control of your money 2) What you focus on grows 3) Choose investments that are powerful and stable 4) Consider taxation and inflation 5) Maximize the use of your assets 6) Diversify, but don't over-diversify your investments 7) Risk catergories: conservitive, medium, & volatile 8) Multiply investments at high rates of return 9) Be on the offensive side of investing 10) Seek advice when needed Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing Here's how you create your Ideal Life and reach Financial Freedom! ►► Give yourself a 10% raise (or more) without working more hours in the next 30 days. Free Workshop → https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/raise Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

F.I.R.E. = Financial Independence Retire Early How much is enough to stop working or to retire? What does your retirement look like? Travel? Live off grid? Sail the world? Stay with friends/family and having deep connections? Then, what does it cost? Reality is that is doesn't have to cost much. Elle and I have been traveling for over 8 years and we have had multiple $20,000 years that we spent in total for the both of us. YES, that included everything, food, bills, accommodation, travel, etc. Get creative and go out and do what you love to do! You may even get paid to do it. Often, part time work will cover your annual expenses. Remember, being debt free is the best and easiest way to make the transition into F.I.R.E. Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget Here's how you create your Ideal Life and reach Financial Freedom! ►► Give yourself a 10% raise (or more) without working more hours in the next 30 days. Free Workshop → https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/raise Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

Winning the lottery is everyone's dream. But for most, it's a nightmare - Here's why Whether you play the lottery or not, you've probably thought about - or dreamed about winning. What would you do with all of that money? What SHOULD you do with all that money?    I recently saw an article that someone won the lottery, quit their job, and donated a bunch to help their community. This is what we all think we'd do, but is it?    If you were able to have enough money to sustain your lifestyle for the remainder of your life, what would you do...would you quit your job? If so, why not plan to do this regardless of winning the lottery or getting a big inheritance?    In this video, I encourage you to start planning to create a sustainable and recurring income so you can PLAN to quit your job and live your Ideal Life. Don't get trapped in the "work" game. Create your path to your Ideal Life today! Choose OFFER: Get our Investing Course to get your money working for you:  Check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course to gain control of your money and start living your Ideal Life today

Ever received a financial windfall? What would you do with it? A bonus from work, sold something large, an inheritance, or winning the lottery are all financial windfalls. Have a system in place for your money because you will receive financial windfalls throughout your life! I believe you could look at getting a pay check every week or every month as a financial windfall. He's my system no matter how much the windfall: 10% = Giving Follow the 5 Steps to Financial Freedom! - Pay off all debt - Fully Funded Emergency Fund (3-6 months of expenses) - Invest 10%-20% - Pay off home early Increased lifestyle Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

Do you want to invest $1,000/month? Yet you are only investing $50/month? These are the steps that are a must to get you to investing $1,000's. Deciding to never go back into debt AND pausing my investing of $50/month was the hardest and best thing Coach Mike did to get to investing $1,000/month! Coach Jason had to have a plan for his money. It was disappearing until he had a plan. He needed to STOP spending on the things that were not important and START spending on the things that were important (such as investing) Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course to start living your Ideal Life years sooner  Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course to gain control of your money

When the market is volatile, should you get in or wait it out? If you are a beginner investor, it can be quite scary to invest when the markets are volatile. How do you know if it will continue to drop or if it will rebound? What is the best way to invest when the news channels are telling us to "hold on"? The key to investing, even when the markets are volatile is to learn and get some experience. Then, you will be able to make a smarter and more appropriate decision. Nobody can tell you how you feel about a volatile market. Only you know. So, learn what you need to learn so you can make the right choice for YOU! A great place to start is our ILMA Investing Course where we teach you what you need to know so you can get your money working FOR you and your future!

When it comes to investing, time is your friend. But on the flipside, time can also be your enemy. You see, the longer you wait to save for your future, the harder it will be to create the wealth to sustain your lifestyle. In this lesson, we walk you through the mathematics of what it would cost you if you waited to invest. Also, you can use the retirement calculator with your own numbers to help you determine how much you can save (or need to save) in order to live your Ideal Life. What if you aren't "young" and aren't sure how you can make it through retirement? Here are 5 ways you can make sure you don't outlive your money: Work longer Reduce Expenses/Spend Less Increase income through side hustles or part time work Contribute more to retirement Downsize your home/mortgage/rent Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing  

Dictionary.com = "expend money with the expectation of achieving a profit or material result by putting it into financial plans, shares, or property" #1 rule: NEVER invest in something you do not understand! Our definition of investing is for long-term. Long-term is 5 years or more. Anything less, there is a higher chance of the "investment" going down in value before that 5 year mark. Some examples of common investments: Stocks/mutual funds/ETFs Bonds Real estate Businesses Investments are important for your wealth building so that you can create income to live your Ideal Life. Let's dive in and learn more about investing for your future! Disclaimer - we are not investment professionals and we do not recommend specific investments. Consult your investment advisor when deciding on an investment. Be sure to check out the ILMA Investing for you Ideal Life Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing  

Just like negotiating with your career/salary, negotiating can be used in many other areas. Food is my favorite thing to negotiate on as I tend to shop at markets. When I am buying fresh fruit and veg, I ask if they "would take $10 for this box" of bananas or ask "how much does $5 get me?" Those are my initial go-to's, but there are many ways to negotiate (or even barter) to get deals. Reminder: EVERYTHING is negotiable! In every country I have visited, negotiating is a part of everyday life. In the U.S....not so much. But in certain situations, we are coming around to being open to negotiation. Just because it isn't part of everyday life in America, doesn't mean you shouldn't try. What's the worst that can happen? If you don't ask, then the answer is always "NO". Keep in mind, there will be times you will have to walk away to get your deal! I know there is a risk you won't get what you want, but it's okay to be told "no" sometimes. It's also okay to go somewhere else for the win-win situation you are looking for. Play around with this tactic and see what happens for you. Other places/area to negotiate: Bank fees Buying a new to you (used) car Utility bills How much time to spend with family What holidays look like Rent Buying/Selling physical items on Craigslist, FB Marketplace, or Garage Sales Farmer's Markets/Craft Fairs Any business that is really small Department/Jewelry/Furniture stores You will be surprised how much you could save by negotiating. Try it and see. You can put this new skill to work for you when you buy/sell vehicles. Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget  

5 Easy Steps to Financial Freedom Starter Emergency Fund (min $1,000 up to 1 month of income) Permanently pay off all debts except the mortgage Fully Funded Emergency Fund of 3-6 months of expenses Save/Invest 10-20% toward your future (retirement and/or bridge accounts) Pay off your house early Celebrate reaching Financial Freedom! Steps 1-3 are done in order and before you start any investing Steps 4 & 5 are done together The above steps are how we got to where we are today (living our Ideal Lives) and we know they will work for you too. Focus on your next step because where focus goes, energy flows! If you are ready to learn how to get started in a detailed step by step process, check out our ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget Don't forget to subscribe to ILMA for weekly content to get you to start living your Ideal Life!!

I love eating out...how about you? There are so many amazing things about eating at restaurants, but there are some negative things too. The biggest thing is it's so darn expensive now. So, how can you still enjoy restaurants without breaking the bank (or your budget)? In this video, I give you a few ways to save money on eating out so you can do more of it, and get your dollars to stretch further. For more on budgeting, be sure to get our Budgeting & Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget  

Are You Investing For The Wrong Reason? Investing. Everyone has an opinion on how to do it right. But as a culture, I think we have gotten this wrong. Many people invest for the wrong reasons. What about you? Why do YOU invest your money? In this video, I walk you through the REAL reason we should invest our money and how to view these investments. Don't be like "everyone else" and invest for a big balance. Invest for INCOME so you can get to living your Ideal Life as soon as possible! For more, check out the ILMA - https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/investing

We all have natural tendencies when it comes to everything we do, even money. In this video, we are going to talk about some natural and unique ways how you spend and relate to money. Starting with: are you naturally a spender or a saver? Next, are you a nerd or a free spirit? You will be better at one than the other. For example, I am a natural saver and a nerd. I love saving money and playing with spreadsheets. AND I must exercise my spending muscle so I can have fun in life and not sit at home and count every single dollar I earn. Side note: we typically attract our opposite and that works great! If you are a spender and a nerd, then you are going to be well-balanced with a saver and free spirit. Also, know that there is no right or wrong answer. The goal is to be as balanced as possible. Action steps: What steps can you take to be more moderate on these choices? Are you currently experiencing stress in a relationship due to these money tendencies? If so, how could you approach it based on what you've learned? Be sure to check out the ILMA Academy to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma

Here is a conversation we had about the most common Credit Card Myths we run into. Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget

You've heard it before - "The Rich Keep Getting Richer?" The thing is, it's TRUE. And there is a reason for this. You see, most people with money know how to get their money to work FOR them instead of against them. So, in this video, I walk us through why that is, how it works, and how you can avoid money working against you and start getting your money to work FOR you. Don't forget to check out the Ideal Life & Money Academy to learn more about how to manage your money well and get on the path to Financial Freedom: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma  

Have you ever heard or been programmed by money myths? It was all that long ago that I believed a few money myths out there. I'm very grateful to have been taught otherwise. Now live by financial principles that prove these to be myths. In the pdocast we debunked these myths: Myth: It's inappropriate to talk about money (income or problems) FACT: We should talk about money comfortably.   Myth: The more money you have, the happier you'll be. FACT: Not always true. I have read about Billionaires killing themselves because they lost a few billion dollars in a bad deal.   Myth: Everyone uses debt. FACT: The #1 reason first-generation millionaires become millionaires is they got out of debt and stayed out of debt, including their home mortgages.   Myth: It's impossible to become a millionaire if you don't make more than $100k/year. FACT: I did it and you can do it too. I have yet to earn $100k/year and have amassed a 7-figure net worth. Many others have done the same thing. Here are some more myths floating around that you need to be aware of and KNOW they are not true: Myth: You have to have a credit score. FACT: I have a credit score of 0 in the two countries I am a citizen.   Myth: It's smart to have a credit card for the reward points or cash back. FACT: 100% of people spend more with plastic & 55% of people carry a rolling monthly balance with an average 25% apr.   Myth: The "little man" can't get ahead. FACT: People of all asset classes are winning financially around the world.   Myth: You don't need a Will or Estate Plan unless you are rich or have children. FACT: Everyone over the age of 18 needs to have a Will.   Myth: You can't travel or rent a car without a credit card. FACT: You can do both with a debit card.   Myth: I'm stuck in the "rat race" of life. FACT: You get to choose to be "stuck".   Myth: A high income makes you wealthy. FACT: I had a client that made $1M/year and filed for bankruptcy.   Myth: It's smarter to buy a house than to rent. FACT: Depends on your financial goals. Short-term renting is great while you are getting out of debt. Personally, I choose to rent as my values and lifestyle choices are to travel and explore multiple parts of the world.   Myth: You need to have a lot of money to start investing. FACT: You can start investing with $100/month. Less if you have an employer retirement plan available to you.   Myth: You need to work until you're in your 60's (or longer) before you can retire. FACT: You can "retire" or semi-retire when you are financially ready. Retirement is not an age, it's a financial number! Be sure to share any other money myths you have heard or believed in the comments below so we can debunk these. Be sure to check out the ILMA Academy to start living your Ideal Life years sooner: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilma

How To Make Quick Cash When You're In A Pinch. Let's face it, all of us get into financial trouble from time to time. This could be due to a job change, lost hours, an emergency, or any number of reasons. If you need to make some quick cash when you are in a pinch, there are a couple of ways to do it and in this video, I walk us through a couple of those. One of the biggest factors to note when you are in financial trouble is to make sure you know what your spending is. So, if you need help with budgeting and getting out of debt, be sure to check out our Course on Budgeting and Debt Elimination - https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget  

What do you feel like you should do? First, we don't like using the word STOP. Instead we use the pause. We suggest pausing investing and have laser focus on getting out of debt. We don't want you to invest $20 or $100 a month while trying to get out of debt, while trying to save for a holiday, etc. We want you to become debt free. Then have a fully funded emergency fund, and then invest 10-20% of your income which may be $1,000 or more! What will you decide today? Will you decide to get out of debt? Be sure to check out the ILMA Budget/Debt Elimination Course: https://www.sentinelcoaching.com/ilmabudget