The Journal. Podcast

Episode: Real Talk on Building Wealth: The Journal Live
Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Jessica Mendoza (with co-host Ryan Knutson)
Guests:

• Haley Sachs (“Mrs. Dow Jones”)
• Vivian Tu (“Your Rich BFF”)
• Brian Kelly (“The Points Guy”)

Overview

This special live episode of The Journal. brings together three leading financial influencers—Haley Sachs (Mrs. Dow Jones), Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF), and Brian Kelly (The Points Guy)—for a candid conversation about building wealth in today’s changing economy. Speaking before a live audience in New York, the panelists share real talk on money management, generational wealth, homeownership, crypto investing, and what it actually means to be wealthy now, especially for millennials and Gen Z. The discussion is equal parts practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a look behind the curtain of financial influencing as a business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Icebreaker: Everyday Money Habits

(04:05–06:34)
The guests play “Never Have I Ever” with a financial twist, revealing that even experts forget to cancel unused subscriptions or get caught paying for things they don't use.

• Unused Subscriptions:

  • Vivian: Delayed returning a cable box, “I just continue to pay the $25 fee on [it] for months because I couldn't bother to go to the cable box place.” (05:02)
  • Brian: Paid AppleCare for a device he no longer owns, “This thing I gave away two years ago, and I'm still paying this yearly subscription on it.” (05:22)
  • Haley: Kept paying for Rent the Runway during the pandemic, “I was paying for rent the Runway for many, many, many months after…I didn't pause, just, like, fully.” (05:44)

• Buy Now, Pay Later:

  • All panelists say they avoid buy now, pay later services, warning of hidden dangers:

    "If you ever miss one payment, you then owe everything times two. It's like a huge, huge windfall [for them]." —Brian Kelly (06:39)

2. Building Wealth: Mindset, Not Just Money

(07:29–09:43)

• Rich vs. Wealthy
  Vivian distinguishes between being “rich” and building lasting wealth:

  "The point of getting rich and then blowing it all…that doesn't bring you this overarching contentment and joy…True happiness comes from stability. It allows you to make decisions out of a place of bravery and abundance versus desperation and scarcity." (07:29)

• Generational Wealth
  Haley highlights the importance of “putting your own oxygen mask on first”:

  "If you focus so on your child and you don't care about your own finances, then they're gonna have to take care of you, which creates this really bad cycle." (09:04)
  Compounding is great, but parents must prioritize their own retirement first.

3. Wealth, Culture, and Identity

(10:12–11:44)

Vivian addresses how culture and immigrant identity shape financial responsibilities:

"So many first gen, second gen immigrants love my content…they've never heard the advice of, 'Oh, my parents retirement plan is me.' There's this Chinese phrase called 'ying kai', which directly translates to 'you should.'…Now I'm educating my parents on things that they never got the chance or the privilege of learning about. And that's like the greatest honor of my life." (10:12, 11:36)

4. Is the “Points Game” Still Worth It?

(11:58–13:45)

Brian discusses the evolution of using points and miles for travel:

“The game evolves, but I am firmly a believer that we are in the best time…the game can still be played… Anyone with the right [tools], you can be a college kid, you can get value, you can take that trip. Travel and the ability to travel the world is wealth and can give you a mindset that makes you more successful.” (12:10–13:29)

5. Defining Wealth in Today’s Economy

(13:45–16:34)

• Changing American Dream
  Haley notes the generational shift:

  “We grew up with parents who had a version of the American dream that was pretty idealized…My dad has been at his job for 40 years. Most people don't make it 40 months…Student loan debt is crazy. Inflation is out of control.” (13:59)

• What Does Wealth Mean?
  Vivian:

  “When I think about wealthy, I think about someone who doesn't have to check the price when they're at the grocery store. Someone who has enough money that finance is not the number one…factor in their decision making.” (14:49)

  Brian:

  “Wealthy is a mindset…understanding how the system works… Wealth is money, but it's also a mindset and knowledge, an understanding of the system.” (15:34)

  Haley:

  “When you have an understanding of the system, then you're actually going to take action versus things happening to you.” (16:11)

6. Crypto in Your Portfolio

(18:02–21:09)

The panel discusses if and how crypto should fit into financial planning:

• Vivian:

  “I like to think of crypto as the sprinkles…If you do not have the basics…you don't get sprinkles yet. I typically tell my audience 1 to 5% is a healthy amount…You have to be comfortable with losing every single dollar you put in.” (18:30)

• Haley:

  “I full heartedly agree with Vivian on paper…but I've also made a lot of money in crypto and so it’s very addictive…I have a very appropriate portfolio…which is hard cause I would like to go all in.” (19:34)

• Brian:

  “I’m a degenerate gambler, so I love crypto…Personally, I believe it's a huge part of the future of finance.” (20:06–20:12)

7. Homeownership: Still Worthwhile?

(21:09–23:36)

Panelists critique the traditional goal of homeownership:

• Vivian:

  “Why do you want to own a home?…My money probably would have earned me a lot more being in some sort of other investment vehicle…Too many people are buying homes for the wrong reason.” (21:33)

• Haley:

  “When you look at the numbers of rent, first buy…nine times out of 10, if you're in America renting, you're going to make more money...But…owning a home is a huge part of enjoying that ride…for a lot of people.” (22:39)

• Brian (playfully): “You can [mark your kids’ heights] in a rental home, too!” (23:30)

8. Being a Financial Influencer: Is It a Viable Path to Wealth?

(23:36–26:20)

Brian:

“I think just the word influencer has a negative connotation. An influencer is an entrepreneur, period, in a modern era…People assume influencers are just taking photos and trying to sell brands…But influencers these days…are using [their platform] to make even more generational wealth…Once you build a brand for yourself…you can monetize that in limitless ways. So, yeah, I think kids should be influencers. It's a lot of fun.” (24:13)

Vivian:

“Becoming your own brand is an incredibly lucrative opportunity if you have the aptitude for it…A lot of the people...want the influencer lifestyle. They don't want to do the work…You can't make money at something unless you're actually good.” (25:07–26:20)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On generational duty:
  “My parents’ retirement plan is me.” —Vivian Tu (10:12)
• On wealth vs. income:
  “Wealthy is not the same as conspicuous consumer.” —Vivian Tu (14:49)
• On mindset:
  “Wealth is a mindset and knowledge, an understanding of the system.” —Brian Kelly (15:34)
• On influencer life:
  “Once you build a brand for yourself…you can monetize that in limitless ways.” —Brian Kelly (24:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Icebreaker: 00:06–06:34
• Building Wealth vs. Getting Rich: 07:29–09:43
• Generational Wealth & Culture: 10:12–11:44
• Points & Travel Game: 11:58–13:45
• Defining Wealth Today: 13:45–16:34
• Crypto Investing: 18:02–21:09
• Homeownership: 21:09–23:36
• Influencer as Business: 23:36–26:20

Tone & Style

Candid, practical, and lively—panelists blend humor, relatable stories, and clear financial guidance. The discussion is conversational and audience-focused, aiming to demystify financial concepts and empower listeners at different starting points.

Summary

This episode demystifies the concept of “building wealth” by blending strategic advice with real-world context—underscoring that wealth is more than net worth; it’s stability, mindset, and the freedom of choice. The panelists emphasize the importance of foundational financial habits and holistic planning, especially for younger generations facing new economic challenges. The takeaways: understand the financial system, be realistic about traditional milestones like homeownership, and remember that influence and entrepreneurship are within reach, but require genuine work and aptitude.