How to Start Investing Simply When You’re Making Good Money

How to Start Investing Simply When You’re Making Good Money

Author: Andy Hill January 7, 2026 Duration: 47:03
There’s a lot of noise in the investing world, but building wealth doesn’t have to become a second job. In this episode, I share how to invest simply, consistently, and with your family’s future in mind, without stress or constant decision-making. In today’s episode, I sit down with Blake Edwards from Georgia, who has built an $865,000 net worth by age 31. Blake breaks down how intentional income growth, living below their means, and staying aligned as a couple helped accelerate their wealth. He also shares a transparent look at his family’s assets, approach to generosity, and what generational wealth really means to him beyond the numbers. I wrap up with a Money Quiz, testing my son Calvin on Stranger Things revenue, compound interest, and the gap between race prizes and investment returns. If you want real-life inspiration and practical proof that calm, consistent investing works, even with a busy family and W-2 jobs, this episode will encourage you to stay the course and keep moving forward. Chapters 🎧 0:00 Intro 1:19 Hannah's Question: Getting Started with Investing 11:49 Meet Blake Edwards 12:32 Blake's Motivation for Building Wealth 14:03 Partnership and Shared Values 15:54 Career Trajectory and Income Growth 18:58 Asset Breakdown: Where the Money Is 20:28 Getting Started: The Roth IRA Journey 23:48 Liabilities: The Mortgage Decision 26:14 Generational Wealth and Values 28:31 Future Goals and Dreams 30:04 The Power of Giving 31:25 Advice: Intentionality and Education 33:57 Building Quiet Wealth with W2 Jobs 35:29 Money Quiz: Calvin's Financial Education Resources 📚 Own Your Time https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book Track Your Spending and Net Worth with Monarch Money https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney Coast FIRE Calculator https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/ HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER ⚠️ This show may contain affiliate links or links from our sponsors where we earn a commission, direct payment, or products at no extra cost to you. Opinions are our own. Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional financial advice. Always seek the guidance of a licensed financial professional for your specific situation. Marriage Kids and Money (https://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com. Credits 🎙️ Podcast Artwork: Kayli Groves Johnson Editor: Johnny Sohl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Hill brings a refreshingly honest and practical voice to the often stressful conversation about money within a family. In Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families, Andy, an award-winning Family Finance Coach, moves beyond generic budgeting advice to tackle the real financial questions that parents and couples face every day. This isn't just about spreadsheets and interest rates; it's about aligning your finances with the life you actually want to live. You'll hear specific strategies for paying off debt, saving for college, investing for the future, and having those crucial money talks with your partner. The goal is to transform financial anxiety into purposeful action, creating not just stability but genuine freedom. Each episode of the podcast feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who understands that financial decisions are deeply personal and intertwined with family goals. Whether you're just starting out or well on your journey, the discussions here provide a roadmap for building security today and considering the legacy you might leave tomorrow. Tune in for relatable stories, actionable tips, and the encouragement needed to make meaningful progress with your money, all with your family's unique vision at the center.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families
Podcast Episodes
Fear Is A Great Motivator to Invest | Sam Dogen (Financial Samurai) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
Feeling uneasy about your finances in today’s economy? Learn how to turn fear into your greatest investing motivator with Sam Dogen, founder of Financial Samurai. In this powerful episode, Sam shares how fear helped him…
Can Coast FIRE Survive This Market Downturn? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:19
Coast FIRE is when you've front-loaded enough investments to simply coast to retirement without any further contributions. But with this stock market downturn as of late, is the idea of Coast FIRE dead? We'll share how o…
Paid Parental Leave and It's Life-Long Benefits | Isabelle Hau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
Paid parental leave can have lifelong benefits for families — but why is the U.S. so far behind? Isabelle Hau, author of Love to Learn and Executive Director at Stanford's Accelerator for Learning, joins the show to brea…
Preparing for a Recession: Our Family’s 5 Step Financial Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:10
A recession may be headed our way. How can we prepare? I'm walking through our family's 5 step financial plan to prepare for a recession. Second, we’re back with our Mortgage Free Family segment! This month we’re featuri…
True Wealth Is More Than Money  | Dr. Daniel Crosby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:58
Andy Hill sits down with Dr. Daniel Crosby—renowned psychologist, behavioral finance expert, and author of Soul of Wealth—to explore the true meaning of wealth beyond money. Dr. Crosby breaks down why financial success a…
Retirement Is Now Easier - Bye 4% Rule, Hello 5% Rule | Bill Bengen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
Can you really retire comfortably with a 5% withdrawal rate? Financial researcher and author Bill Bengen—the creator of the legendary 4% rule—joins us to share why his latest research shows that 5% is the new 4%. In this…
Reclaim Your Life From Work | Simone Stolzoff (BEST OF MKM) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:24
In this episode, we sit down with Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job, to explore how modern work culture has taken over our identities—and how we can break free. This Best of MKM episode revisits one of our m…
Spending Time Wisely in Early Retirement | Maggie Tucker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:05
What happens when you achieve financial independence and early retirement? Maggie Tucker joins us to share her journey of retiring at 41, leaving corporate America, and embracing a life of flexibility, purpose, and famil…
A Poor Mindset Blocks Your Millionaire Path | Dr. Brad Klontz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:00
Andy Hill sits down with Dr. Brad Klontz—bestselling author, professor, and leading expert on the psychology of wealth—to explore the power of mindset in financial success. They dive into the differences between a poor m…