AAR55 - 5 Years in Engineering: 5 Things I Learned About Building Wealth
Author: Andrew Sather, Stephen Morris, and Evan Raidt
June 23, 2026
Duration: 34:50
In this solo episode, Evan reflects on five years working in engineering (quality → design) and shares the biggest money lessons he’s learned along the way. This isn’t a highlight reel or a sob story—it’s an honest breakdown of what actually changed his financial trajectory, what mistakes he made early, and what he’d do differently if he could start over.
You’ll hear why a steady paycheck can create a false sense of security, how lifestyle creep sneaks in quietly, and why earning more doesn’t automatically build wealth. Evan also shares the moves that mattered most (budgeting, automation, emergency funds, and using tax-advantaged accounts) and the mindset shifts he’d tell his younger self to adopt—so you can build real financial security without guilt, stress, or perfectionism.
What You Will Learn
The difference between false security and true security
Why lifestyle creep is “invisible” at first—and how to catch it early
Why earning money isn’t the same as building wealth
The highest-impact moves
The mindset shift Evan would tell his younger self
Timestamps
00:00 – Background: engineering career path
04:05 – Early financial goals & evolving “why”
08:40 – Lesson 1: false security vs true security
10:30 – How to build true security
13:00 – Lesson 2: lifestyle creep is invisible at first
17:30 – Lesson 3: earning ≠ building
20:53 – Lesson 4: make the moves that matter; skip the ones that don’t
22:40 – Avoid: guilt for spending, ignoring finances, “job will handle it,” buying cheap
28:30 – Lesson 5: what he’d tell his younger self (30 minutes beats worrying)
Resources Mentioned
The Value Spotlight Newsletter: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/value-spotlight-newsletter/
Free monthly budgeting spreadsheet: https://einvestingforbeginners.com/budget/
Email Evan: evan@einvestingforbeginners.com
Have questions or want your story featured? Email the show at newsletter@einvestingforbeginners.com or comment below. Your feedback shapes the podcast!
Remember, financial freedom is built one smart move at a time. Keep it simple, keep it steady, and at any rate, we’ll see you next time.
Timestamps are generated by artificial intelligence, and are not 100% accurate depending on the platform used for listening.
Today’s show is sponsored by:
Download the Plynk app today to start building your investing confidence. https://plynkinvest.app.link/IFBpodcast
Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/0th4z72y #CashAppPod As a Cash App partner, I may earn a commission when you sign up for a Cash App account. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Bitcoin services provided by Block, Inc. For additional information, see the Bitcoin disclosures.
Go to SHOPIFY.COM/beginners to start selling with Shopify today. https://www.shopify.com/beginners
Upgrade your wardrobe with Quince to get high-quality, luxury essentials at a fraction of the cost by visiting https://quince.com/beginners
Turn your passion into profit, connect directly with eager buyers, and grow your business by hosting live, interactive auctions at https://whatnot.com/sell
Supercharge your productivity and automate your daily tasks by building custom AI agents in your all-in-one workspace at https://notion.com/investing
Interested in how your company sponsor the show? Reach us at equity@einvestingforbeginners.com
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | Tunein
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
