What Do Hairdressers Do for Retirement? Anna Manukyan Has the Answer.
Over 800 hairdressers answered that question in a viral Facebook post. The responses ranged from "marry someone rich" to "we die with scissors in our hands." Certified financial educator and licensed fiduciary Anna Manukyan is on a mission to rewrite that ending... one beauty professional at a time.
Recorded live at the American Beauty Show in Chicago with co-host Geno Chapman (@genochapman), this episode is part of our live series sponsored by Serious Business (seriousbusiness.net | January 16-18, 2027, New Orleans).
Anna's Story
Anna Manukyan immigrated to the US as a political refugee at 9 years old. She quickly learned what hustle really means. Fell in love with the beauty industry working at a local salon. Signed herself up for beauty school before she could legally rent a car.
Her dad's response: "We brought you to the United States so you can cut hair? How dare you embarrass the family."
That contrast... the dream of possibility versus the harsh reality of how the world sees this industry... lit a fire that never went out. She went on to spend 20 years at L'Oreal in education and business development, leading teams of 30 artists, sitting in boardrooms, and working with beauty professionals at every level across the country.
The Money Problem Nobody Talks About
After decades in the industry, Anna kept seeing the same thing. Hairdressers working into their 70s. No retirement. No plan. Just scissors and hope. She became a certified financial educator, got her securities license, and became a licensed fiduciary... the only financial designation legally required to act in the client's best interest. Then she founded Beautiful Wealth Academy to make sure no hairdresser ends their career with a GoFundMe. Because knowledge really does equal power.
Beautiful Wealth Academy
Anna built Beautiful Wealth Academy to make financial education accessible and digestible for the creative brain. Download the Level Rewards app, find Smart Finance or License to Thrive, enter code THRIVE for a free $250 finance class. Grab the free 7-step money guide at beautifulwealth.com.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why the longer you stay in the industry without a financial plan, the less money you actually make. How inflation is quietly making you pay your clients to sit in your chair. ETFs vs. mutual funds in plain language. Why $27,000 in Starbucks could have been a $116K portfolio. How to open a brokerage account from scratch.
Free Resources from Anna
Follow Anna: @amanukian on Instagram
Learn more: beautifulwealth.com
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🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lLnEgr3UFY7lFDixapkrZ?si=36231da1a5264815
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-day-off-hairdustry-a-podcast-about-the-hair-industry/id1327156219
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hairdustry
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairdustry
