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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—1st & 3rd Thursdays.

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Featured Post

Elevate, Don't Inflate Your Lifestyle

You work hard. You make good money. So when you see something you want, it’s easy to think. "I deserve this." And you do! But here’s the tricky part...if every purchase is a reward, your expenses will always rise to match your income. I literally wouldn't have a thriving money coaching practice if it weren't for this apparent law of the universe. This is how lifestyle creep sneaks up on people. You get a raise, a bonus, or a higher-paying job, and without even realizing it, your “normal” gets...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Many people think managing money is about self-control. Resisting impulse purchases, sticking to a budget, and having the willpower to say no. But personal finance isn’t about willpower. It’s about decision making. Think of it like a muscle. If you’ve never actively decided how to spend your money, if you’ve never practiced weighing trade-offs and making intentional choices, then that muscle is weak. And like any weak muscle, it won’t magically get stronger on its own. I see this firsthand...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Last month I sent an email about the small, frequent, forgettable purchases that quietly drain your money. I concluded that the best way to stop the leak was awareness. But since then, I realized I don’t actually agree with myself. Awareness is valuable, but knowing where your money went after you spent it isn’t the same as stopping the leak in the first place. The real problem isn’t that spending is invisible. It’s that we don’t decide before we buy whether a purchase aligns with what we...

2 months ago • 1 min read

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...

3 months 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...

3 months 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...

3 months 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...

3 months 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...

7 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...

12 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...

12 months ago • 1 min read