Earn & Invest

What if the best financial advice isn’t new—but simply forgotten?

In this episode of Earn & Invest, Doc G sits down with historian Joseph S. Moore, author of How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked—and Didn’t. Moore spent a decade exploring centuries of advice aimed at everyday Americans, testing which strategies actually worked—and which didn’t. Remarkably, his research led him to build a seven-figure net worth using lessons from the past.

Moore’s journey began with a personal financial scare: after taking a risky “NINJA loan” to buy a townhouse in 2005, he realized his vulnerability as the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 approached. Selling his home just in time sparked a curiosity that would consume the next decade.

One of his most surprising findings? Optimism is a powerful predictor of financial success. Research from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau shows that believing you can shape your financial future often outweighs inheritance or education. Moore argues that financial “gurus,” often dismissed for overhyping strategies, actually provide hope and practical frameworks that help people take action.

We also explore how many “modern” wealth tactics are centuries old. House hacking—renting out spare rooms to pay a mortgage—was once a standard working-class strategy, frequently managed by women whose contributions rarely appeared in official statistics. Mobility was another forgotten tactic; in the 1800s, roughly one in three Americans moved annually to chase opportunity.

Moore introduces the concepts of slow time and fast time: slow time is when we build skills, capital, and relationships; fast time is when booms, crashes, or major shifts create opportunities. Those prepared in slow time can seize advantage when fast time arrives.

We also discuss concentration vs. diversification, the myth of effortless compound returns, and why financial independence isn’t the finish line—it’s the point when life becomes flexible enough to pursue meaningful goals.

For anyone curious about wealth-building, historical financial strategies, or the patterns behind money and opportunity, this episode offers practical insights drawn from 300 years of experience.
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Every parent wants to give their kids a financial head start. But I’m not convinced that means whiteboard lessons on compound interest at age eight.

In this week’s Earn & Invest, I shared 10 things I’m teaching my children about wealth. Most of them push back against the mainstream narrative.

First, kids learn about money in three ways: didactic teaching, modeling, and experiential learning. The worst of these? Lectures.

You can explain mortgages and index funds all day long. But until a child feels the weight of a financial decision, it won’t stick. In medicine we say, “See one, do one, teach one.” Money works the same way.

So instead of lecturing, we model. My kids overheard conversations about rental properties. They watched us set up LLCs. They saw investing as something normal, not mysterious. By college, buying and renting property didn’t feel radical—it felt logical.

We also replaced weekly allowance with a $500 lump sum each January. That money had to last the year. My son ran out after breaking his phone. My daughter saved so much she skipped things she wanted. Both learned something no lecture could teach: money involves trade-offs.

I’m also wary of monetizing childhood. Kids don’t need Roth IRAs before they need curiosity and kindness. I didn’t start investing seriously until my thirties. Wealth can wait. Character can’t.

As for inheritance, I want to teach them how to fish. The ability to generate income matters more than a trust fund. The exception? College. I’ll pay for it. Crushing debt isn’t a safe learning experiment.

Above all, I want them to know money is a tool. It buys time, flexibility, dignity. It is not happiness.

Some of my best memories cost $2,000. Some expensive experiences felt empty. Joy comes from connection and meaning—not the price tag.

If my kids understand that, they’ll be just fine.

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Financial independence looks difference when you have kids. Yet, it can become a masterclass for how managing your finances well looks. We join Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung as they discuss their new book: Parent Like a Millionaire.
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Jesse Cramer from The Best Interest joins us today to talk about a study that has been circulating in financial independence circles that suggests that delaying retirement can be deadly. We breakdown the data and how not to fall for misinformation in the financial space.
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Andrew Giancola is the host of The Personal Finance Podcast. Today, we discuss how to build wealth on a small salary. While this may not be you...it might be your child, friend, or family member. Do you truly need a high income to make it today?
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