Finance

Hey everyone, my name is Jorge 😁 & I’m on a mission to level up my finances and I’m bringing you along for the journey.

I want to share what I’m learning about personal finance, including budgeting, saving, investing, and building long term wealth. I'm also documenting my financial journey on TikTok, which I started to track my progress and hopefully help others take control of their finances too.

There is a lot of noise out there when it comes to money, but learning the basics and staying consistent can completely change your future. The goal is simple, make better money decisions today so you can build financial freedom over time.

If you’re interested in personal finance, investing, and building wealth, you’re in the right place. Here are some helpful links to books and topics you should get familiar with.

Over time, I’ll continue to add more links and share things I’ve found useful so you can keep learning and growing too.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich

This book is a great starting point for anyone who wants to become smarter with money without making life miserable. Ramit Sethi breaks down personal finance in a way that feels realistic and easy to apply, covering topics like saving, investing, credit cards, and automating your finances.

What makes this book different is that it is not about extreme budgeting or giving up everything you enjoy. Instead, it teaches you how to build systems that help your money grow automatically while still spending confidently on the things you truly value. It is simple, practical, and focused on creating long term financial freedom in a way that actually feels sustainable.

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The Millionaire Next Door

This book completely changes the way you view wealth and success. It explains that many wealthy people do not look rich on the outside. Most millionaires live below their means, avoid unnecessary spending, and focus on building wealth slowly through saving, investing, and smart financial habits.

Instead of chasing status or trying to impress others, the book shows the importance of discipline, consistency, and long term thinking. It is a powerful reminder that real wealth is often quiet and built over time through everyday decisions rather than flashy lifestyles.

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Atomic Habits

This book explains how small daily habits can lead to major changes over time. James Clear shows that success is built through consistent actions and good systems rather than relying on motivation alone.

It teaches you how to build better habits, break bad ones, and improve little by little each day. The main takeaway is that small improvements may not seem important at first, but over time they can completely transform your life.

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If I Started Investing In 2026 This Is What I'd Do

This video does a great job of breaking investing down into a simple, step by step approach for beginners. Nischa explains exactly how she would start from zero in today’s market, what to focus on first, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to build a strong long term strategy without overcomplicating things. I enjoy watching and listening to podcasts, and Nischa’s video really stood out to me. It’s a must watch.

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How An Invesment So Simple As The S&P 500 Builds Wealth Over Time

Have you ever wondered how the S&P 500 averages around 10% returns over time? This video explains it in a clear and simple way, breaking down why investing returns are not linear even though the long term average can make it seem that way.

I strongly believe in understanding the fundamentals before investing, especially the basics. If you haven’t started investing yet and are looking for a simple place to begin, one of the most straightforward options is the S&P 500.

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ROTH IRA Calculator

A Roth IRA is a retirement account where you invest after tax money and your investments grow tax free. When you retire you can withdraw everything without paying taxes which can save you a lot over time.

Before worrying about locking your money away, remember that you can withdraw your contributions anytime tax free but it is not recommended because you miss out on long term compound growth.

Use this calculator to see how much your investments could grow to based on your age, annual contribution and your expected rate of return and understand how time is your biggest advantage.

ROTH IRA CALCULATOR

401K Spreadsheet

I created a 401(k) contribution spreadsheet that breaks down how much you contribute and how much your employer may match based on your company’s match formula and limits. Keep in mind that employer match rates and match limits can vary from one company to another, for example one employer might match 100 percent of your contributions up to 5 percent of your salary while another might match 50 percent up to 6 percent.

It also factors in potential investment returns and future salary increases to help you project how your retirement savings could grow over time. If you want a free copy of this Excel sheet to see your potential contributions, employer match, and long term growth based on your expected rate of return, send me a DM and I’ll share it with you. Being able to see the numbers clearly makes a big difference for me, when I can see the vision it pushes me to stay consistent and work harder toward my goals.

401K Spreadsheet

Where You Can Keep Your Emergency Fund

Everyone should build an emergency fund of 3 months of living expenses or more and keep it in a high yield savings account or money market fund so it earns interest instead of sitting in a checking account losing value over time due to inflation.

I like using an Amex HYSA or a money market fund like TTTXX, which invests in cash and US Treasury bills and notes. If you are not familiar with that, a high yield savings account is the simplest no brainer place to put your money.

Here is a calculator that shows you how much interest your money can earn over time, and remember this compounds, so the interest you earn also starts earning interest, which makes your money grow faster over time.

AMEX HYSA CALCULATOR