Welcome back, scholars. Today's blog is about how to elevate your income out of HS especially if you have no big goals. Everyone isn't genetically blessed or extraordinary. These are for the ordinary.
1. Income Streams (2 Jobs + Side Hustles)
Warehouse (Full-Time) → $18–20/hr avg ($720–800/week).
Fast Food (Full-Time) → $15–17/hr avg ($600–680/week).
Uber/Side Gigs → $250–400/week (flexible).
Total Weekly Income: $1,550–1,850.
Monthly: $6,500–7,400 before taxes.
2. First Principle: Pay Yourself FIRST
40% Needs → rent, utilities, food, transport, insurance.
25% Investing → stocks, ETFs, bonds, REITs, crypto (diversified).
15% Emergency/Savings → 6–12 months living costs.
10% Skills/Education → courses, certifications, licenses.
10% Play/Personal → flex money (keeps you sane).
Side Gig Rule: ALL Uber/side gig money goes to investments only. No exceptions.
3. Asset Portfolio Allocation (Age 18–25)
I'm not just about “slow drip retirement funds only.” I blend stable & aggressive assets:
40% ETFs / Index Funds → SPY / VOO / VTI / QQQ (long-term compounding).
20% Blue-Chip Dividend Stocks → Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Apple, Microsoft (pay you quarterly).
15% Bonds / Treasuries → stability + hedge.
10% REITs → real estate exposure without needing property yet.
10% Crypto → BTC + ETH only, DCA weekly.
5% Cash Equivalents → high-yield savings / money market.
4. Credit & Loan Positioning
Open secured credit card immediately → build 750+ FICO by 21.
Keep utilization ≤ 5% always.
By 22, open business credit line → LLC for side gigs.
Don’t waste credit on consumer crap → only leverage for assets (land, franchises, rentals).
5. Accounting System (Treat Yourself Like a Business)
LLC at 19–20 → run Uber, side gigs, or even online hustle under it.
Use QuickBooks / Monday.com / Wave / FreshBooks for monthly tracking.
Every month, run a profit & loss sheet:
- Income
- Expenses
- Net Worth Growth
File taxes as LLC + personal = write-offs (car mileage, phone, laptop, business meals).
6. Scaling into Assets by 21–25
Year 1–2: Build $25K cash cushion + $10K portfolio.
Year 3–4: Buy first rental (FHA loan / VA loan if eligible). Rent covers mortgage → instant asset.
Year 5–6: Franchise or clinic entry. Use credit + savings as leverage.
Year 7–8: Second property + scaling business (franchises/clinics/land bank properties).
By 25: Multiple income streams → you’re not just working, you’re owning.
7. Mental Discipline
Don’t fall into the trap of quick flex (car, clothes, luxury apartment).
Invest heavy while you’re young → let compounding do the flexing later.
Grow your circle & keep your circle tight — only link with people who push growth in not just business but winners who cringe and can't understand struggle.
Example Numbers by Age 25 (if you start at 18):
Portfolio: $120K+ (steady contributions + compounding).
Real Estate: $300–400K in assets.
Business/Franchise Equity: $150K–300K.
Total Net Worth: $600K–1M (before 25, without a degree if disciplined).
- Marriage + Prenup
Why: Marriage without legal protection is the biggest wealth risk.
Prenup = secures pre-marital assets + future business interests.
Clause Strategy: Protect business shares, investments, real estate, trust distributions.
Trust Setup
Revocable Living Trust: avoids probate, keeps assets confidential.
Irrevocable Trust: next level, for estate tax protection + lawsuits.
Layer with LLCs inside trust → bulletproofing assets.
- Spousal IRA
If your wife doesn’t work or has low income, you can contribute up to $7,000 annually (2025 limits) into her IRA using your earned income.
Benefit: Doubles tax-advantaged retirement growth for the household.
- Concierge Medicine & Legal
Concierge Medicine: annual membership w/ personal doctor → faster care, priority access, preventative health.
Concierge Legal: essentially a retained lawyer/firm → contracts, asset structuring, litigation defense on call 24/7.
- Other Economic Weapons
Umbrella Insurance Policy: covers above auto/home liability (cheap, protects millions).
529 Plans / Trust for Kids: tax-advantaged education funding.
Life Insurance (Cash Value or Term): ensures wealth transfer without tax headaches.
Corporate Structuring: layer assets under LLCs & S-Corps for tax efficiency.
Cities you should move to after complete everything:
1. Detroit, MI (Downtown / Midtown / Corktown)
Land bank opportunities, massive gentrification play.
Section 8 and urban redevelopment = cashflow + appreciation.
2. Culver City, CA (Los Angeles Metro)
Entertainment + tech crossover hub.
High demand for rentals, close to Silicon Beach.
3. Minneapolis, MN (North Loop / Uptown)
Healthcare + finance economy.
Affordable for young investors.
4. Pittsburgh, PA (Shadyside / Lawrenceville / Strip District)
Tech + healthcare stronghold.
Good for flipping & mixed-use property.
5. New York City, NY (Queens Astoria / Brooklyn Williamsburg / Manhattan Upper West)
High-entry costs but biggest networking leverage.
Luxury service businesses thrive.
6. Chicago, IL (West Loop / Hyde Park / Bronzeville)
Midwest powerhouse city, global financial + corporate hub.
Strong food, medical, logistics sectors.
7. Santa Fe, NM (Downtown / Railyard / Canyon Road)
Smaller market but wealthy clientele.
Great for boutique businesses, clinics, luxury rentals.
8. Seattle, WA (Capitol Hill / South Lake Union / Ballard)
Tech (Amazon, Microsoft), aerospace, biotech hubs.
High cost of living, but enormous income potential.
9. Charlotte, NC (Uptown / South End)
Second-largest U.S. banking hub.
Excellent for franchises and professional services.
10. Denver, CO (RiNo / LoDo / Cherry Creek)
Young professional magnet.
Strong healthcare + real estate development.
Here's how I'd operate in each city:
1. Detroit → Land Bank King
Buy abandoned homes for dirt cheap, restore, Section 8 them.
Launch home restoration + lawn care company (vertical integration).
Acquire commercial spots as the city gentrifies.
2. Culver City → Media & Luxury Clinics
Open aesthetic medical clinics (Botox, skincare, concierge wellness).
Boutique legal/financial firms for high-end clients.
Leverage LA proximity but avoid overpriced Beverly Hills overhead.
3. Minneapolis → Healthcare Expansion
Start insured clinics in North Minneapolis (public funding angle).
Open franchise gyms + rucking/cycling businesses (outdoors culture).
Position for Mayo Clinic partnerships.
4. Pittsburgh → Tech + Real Estate Flip Hub
Buy warehouses, convert into lofts/mixed-use spaces.
Partner with Carnegie Mellon grads on AI/robotics businesses.
Push into neighborhood redevelopment (Lawrenceville, Strip).
5. NYC → Luxury + Power Access
Concierge legal/medical services for high-net-worth.
Invest in micro-luxury franchises (high-margin boutique gyms, salons).
Networking + legacy wealth positioning.
6. Chicago → Franchise Takeover
Drop healthcare clinics on the South/West sides (insured money).
Buy into restaurant/food franchises near corporate hubs.
Real estate in Bronzeville → long-term appreciation.
7. Santa Fe → Boutique Wealth Plays
Wellness resorts, high-end Airbnb.
Art gallery + luxury service investments.
Target older, wealthy retiree demographic.
8. Seattle → Tech-Adjacent Services
Private security + logistics for tech execs.
Concierge medical/fitness for Microsoft/Amazon professionals.
Invest in land development outside the core city.
9. Charlotte → Banking Leverage
Open law & paralegal firms tied to finance industry.
Franchise clusters (food, fitness) in Uptown.
Real estate flips in South End.
10. Denver → Young Professional Magnet
Co-working real estate + boutique gyms.
Outdoor lifestyle businesses (rucking, cycling, climbing).
Leverage tourism market with high-end rentals.
These are areas you want to build in.
But now, you've made it without anything post high school but now to get more cultured, educated & break your ceiling. Now that you're older, I'd recommend these 8 majors then you're good.
Associates (2-Year Programs)
1. Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Management Information Systems
Focus: Intro to MIS, database design, IT fundamentals, and business applications.
Great entry into IT support, junior analyst, or transfer to 4-year.
2. Associate of Science (AS) in Computer Information Systems
Focus: Programming, networking, and systems analysis basics.
Transfers well into bachelor’s in MIS, IT, or Computer Science.
Bachelor’s (4-Year Programs)
3. Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems
Focus: Business strategy + IT systems, ERP, project management.
Roles: Business analyst, IT consultant, operations manager.
4. Bachelor of Science (BS) in Information Technology Management
Focus: IT leadership, cybersecurity, system architecture, data management.
Roles: IT manager, systems analyst, cloud operations.
Master’s (Graduate Programs)
5. Master of Science (MS) in Management Information Systems
Focus: Advanced MIS design, data analytics, cybersecurity, AI integration.
Roles: IT Director, senior consultant, data governance lead.
6. Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Concentration in Information Systems
Focus: Blending business strategy + tech leadership.
Roles: CIO track, tech strategy manager, digital transformation executive.
Doctorates (Terminal Programs)
7. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Information Systems
Focus: Research-heavy — MIS theory, innovation, organizational IT adoption.
Path: University professor, MIS researcher, policy expert.
8. Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Information Systems
Focus: Applied leadership + tech-driven business transformation.
Roles: C-Suite (CIO, CTO), enterprise strategist, global consulting lead.
Remember this:
Associate = foundation → get working + stack experience early.
Bachelor’s = leverage → take you from worker → strategist.
Master’s = execution → top-tier management roles & global mobility.
Doctorate = legacy → policy, teaching, thought leadership.
Thank you for watching.