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Stop Feeling Broke.

By Tyler Smith

You earn more than enough—so why doesn’t it feel that way? Join 1,000+ high earners reclaiming control over their money. Real stories and simple insights from me and my clients that will change the way you feel about money—every Thursday.

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Featured Post

What $5 Million Revealed About You

Last week, I asked: What would you do with $5 million? And wow. Your responses were incredible. Some of you mapped out every dollar down to the cent like one reader who planned everything from their exact mortgage payoff amount and finishing the basement to funding a sidewalk for their neighborhood. Others had a simpler plan: Half in Bitcoin, half in VOO. But the most fascinating part? No one said they’d buy a mansion or a fleet of luxury cars. Instead, I noticed four big patterns: Financial...

about 5 hours ago • 1 min read

I’ve been watching Beast Games. Go ahead. Judge me. As I watched contestants fight for a life-changing prize, I started wondering: What would I do with $5 million? It’s more money than most people will ever see or earn. To put it in perspective, you’d have to make $125,000 a year (after taxes!) for 40 years to reach that number. So here’s my question for you: If I handed you $5 million right now, would you know exactly how to use it? Most people think a sudden windfall would solve all their...

7 days ago • 1 min read

Ever check your bank account and think, Wait… where did all my money go? You’re not alone. Most people assume their big expenses—rent, mortgage, car payments—are what define their financial situation. But often, it’s the invisible spending that’s actually draining your money. What I see most often among those I speak with isn’t reckless splurging on luxury items—it’s frequent, forgettable spending at places like Amazon, Target, and Walmart. It’s convenience food delivery. It’s random Venmo...

14 days ago • 1 min read

People say the key to financial stability is living within your means. But what does that actually mean? I worked with a client who made nearly a million dollars a year. By most people’s standards, he was wildly successful. But during one of our sessions, he admitted something that caught me off guard: “Tyler, I’d honestly rather make $300,000 and have a life. This isn’t what I wanted.” Despite his impressive income, he felt trapped—by obligations, by expectations, by the lifestyle that came...

21 days ago • 1 min read

Hello, and welcome to another edition of me writing to you on a Friday evening and choosing to ignore the fact that I could schedule this to send at a time you're more likely to read it. But as usual, I’d rather send it out while the thought is fresh. If this is not your jam, I give you guilt-free permission to swiftly and liberally smash the UN-subscribe link (https://preview.convertkit-mail2.com/unsubscribe). Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the challenge of knowing what you truly...

5 months ago • 2 min read

I used to be a money stasher. I'd put cash in little places around the house, including in books and boxes in the closet. I opened multiple bank accounts and stashed money in where I hoped I'd forget to look. I really enjoyed "finding" money later. It felt like a nice surprise, and I guess it made me feel financially secure in the back of my mind. My own little version of, "There's always money in the banana stand!" In 2014, I discovered a bank account with $4,000 in it that I'd completely...

9 months ago • 1 min read

I've worked with 74 clients since I officially opened my coaching practice 1 year and 7 months ago. That is crazy. Every single client has something in common. Not a single one of them cut back their spending. I never expected them to. And I don't expect you to, either. (Some would say it's impossible to cut spending.) Budgeting has a major branding problem. To most people, budgeting = restriction. Failed plans. Making commitments you cannot keep. Forget that. Boo, that! If I thought...

9 months ago • 1 min read

I recently replaced the home page of my website with two simple words: "Helpful conversations."* So, what does a helpful conversation look like? Here are a few I've had over recent weeks. A consultant working 60-80 hours per week realizes he'd be very satisfied making 30% of his current income in exchange for having a life to spend it on. A finance executive's stress visibly evaporates when he realizes he could be so much happier if he bought a house 10 minutes inland instead of right on the...

10 months ago • 1 min read

Hey friends, Sometimes I act like an immature brat. Unfortunately, this tends to happen in high stakes situations where it is least needed, least helpful, and most damaging. And, of course, the victims tend to be those I love the dearest. I really hate admitting that publicly, but I'm wondering if anyone out there can relate. Because I am aware of this ego-driven tendency of mine, I felt a lot of sympathy for a client who shared with me last year about his loss of faith in the religion he was...

11 months ago • 1 min read

Hey friends, All the BEST moments I have with my clients have something in common. Power. ⚡️ I experienced such a moment this week. A new client had just finished organizing her spending categories and gathering all of her bank account information. She was looking at a number that represented all of the money she had to her name in that moment. She knew the number was accurate. And then I asked the question. “What do you want to do with this money?” I live for the reaction people have to this...

about 1 year ago • 2 min read