Green Cards To Greenbacks: Recent Episodes
Nestor Vargas
In this series, we interview wildly successful U.S. immigrants to discover how they did it. Listen in as they reveal the steps they took to quickly assimilate to American culture, avoid the grind, and get on the fast track to a thriving career and higher income. Each episode features an intimate interview with a first generation immigrant. From FBAR filing to American financial plans, discover how U.S. immigrants create wildly successful companies, dominate their careers, raise families, build generational wealth and make a positive impact on their communities.
If you're feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about your retirement plan, despite all the research and savings you've already done, then you are not alone! Perhaps you're unsure about how much money you'll need to retire comfortably or are worried about unexpected expenses that might throw off your plan. Maybe you've been diligently saving, but no matter how many retirement calculators you use, you still don't feel you have enough. These doubts and fears can be paralyzing, but they don't have to be!
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Unlock the essential elements of fruitful retirement preparation.
- Uncover the significance of self-reflection and budgeting in your financial journey.
- Learn the secret math behind effectively planning your retirement savings.
- Examine the three critical periods of retirement expenses and their optimization.
*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
Is your retirement built on a house of cards? Join certified financial planner and Latino money Man, Nestor Vargas, as he explores the dangerous territory of overvalued tech stocks and their potential to jeopardize your retirement dreams.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover the intriguing balance between risks and rewards when investing in growth stocks.
- Develop a keen understanding of tech stock assessment, focusing on underlying fundamentals and valuations.
- Acquire valuable techniques for determining your portfolio's affinity to the tech stock domain.
- Detect signs of inflated valuations and impending market setbacks to shield your investments.
- Grasp the critical role of routine portfolio evaluation and diversification in achieving financial goals.
Remember, it's really important to remain cautious and avoid getting caught up in the FOMO mentality of investing.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Use the Fidelity GPS Tool to analyze your portfolio's exposure to growth stocks, particularly tech stocks.
- Use Empower's Summary Tool to assess your portfolio's exposure to tech stocks and compare it to a more passive approach like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund.
- Consider diversifying your portfolio by investing in other sectors or asset classes, such as real estate or bonds.
- Consult with a financial advisor to help you make informed decisions about your investments and retirement planning.
- Stay informed and keep an eye on the warning signs of overvaluation in the market, such as high price to earnings ratios and excessive optimism.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
Join Nestor Vargas, certified financial planner and host of the Green Cards to Greenbacks podcast, as he explores the ultimate retirement investing dilemma: value investing versus growth investing. Discover the key differences between these strategies and why a mix of both may be the best approach for a secure retirement.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Uncover how to prevent subpar asset performance during retirement by understanding common pitfalls.
- Discover the unique advantages of value and growth investing for secure retirement portfolios.
- Determine the need for equilibrium when it comes to retirement investment decisions.
- Acquire skills to construct portfolios that maximize rewards and reduce risks for retirees.
- Cultivate resilient retirement experiences by concentrating on dependable ballast investments.
Investors can have a more stable experience in getting those market-like returns.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Value vs. Growth investing chart.
- The sequence of return risk in retirement.
- Send any questions or topics you want Nestor to talk about to Nestor@greencardstogreenbacks.com.
- Visit Greencardstogreenbacks.com for show notes and links to resources discussed in the podcast.
- Aim to construct portfolios that capture more of the upside than the downside by creating the right mix of growth, value, and dividend-paying stocks.
- Don't solely focus on investments' performance when choosing investments for retirement.
- Ensure you have a properly built retirement portfolio and an easy-to-understand income guardrail plan to reduce the risk of running out of money in retirement.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
Are you following the age-old rule of becoming more conservative with your investments as you get older? What if there's a different approach that defies the norm? Join Nestor Vargas, a certified financial planner, as he challenges traditional investing principles and introduces a strategy that empowers you to pave your own path, regardless of age. But beware, it may cost you millions if you don't listen carefully. Will you take charge of your financial destiny and maximize your experiences during retirement? Or will you risk outliving your money? Find out in this episode of Green Cards to Greenbacks podcast.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Uncover groundbreaking investment principles for retirees.
- Grasp the effectiveness of the War Chest strategy in risk reduction.
- Enhance your retirement living while ensuring financial longevity.
- Adapt investment techniques to suit your unique portfolio demands.
Imagine building a financial fortress, a war chest, if you will, that empowers you to weather any storm that comes your way.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Reach out to Nestor Vargas for further retirement investment strategy discussions and questions at Nestor@greencardstogreenbacks.com.
- Visit the Greencardstogreenbacks.com website for show notes and links to any resources discussed in the episode.
- Consider using the War Chest methodology to maximize growth and minimize risk in your retirement portfolio.
- Understand your specific portfolio needs to come up with your own stock to bond ratio or asset allocation, instead of relying on outdated rules of thumb.
- Don't be too conservative with your portfolio, as the true risk in retirement is not maximizing experiences or outliving your money due to lack of growth.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
What happens when your retirement security is threatened by unexpected events like bank failures or government shutdowns? Join Nestor Vargas, your Latino moneyman, as he discusses the impact on retirement life and shares a strategy to manage risk. But as he reminds us, the market has been resilient before, so what's the worst that could happen? Find out on the Green Cards to Greenbacks podcast, sponsored by Green Mountain Planning. But will Nestor's advice be enough to weather the storm?
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Navigate the murky waters of unexpected events in retirement, such as recessions and market downturns.
- Better understand how bank failures and government shutdowns have impacted portfolios in the past.
- Comprehend the debt ceiling issue's potential impact on the US economy.
- Understand how a "war chest" can provide better financial stability during retirement.
Stop acting surprised when the stock market drops in value. That's just part of the deal.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Visit the Show Notes at GreencardsToGreenbacks.com to access the chart discussed in the episode.
- Consider having a war chest in your portfolio with two to three years worth of expenses in more stable investments than the stock market.
- Determine your bottom guardrail to manage the risk of overspending during times of crisis or regular markets.
- Contact Nestor Vargas or Green Mountain Planning for further discussion and assistance with your retirement plan needs.
- Stay calm and don't act surprised when the stock market drops in value.
Conclusion
Financial crises and market downturns have been a part of the economic landscape for as long as markets have existed. While they can be disconcerting, history shows that the market has mostly been resilient, recovering and growing after such events. It's crucial for retirees to develop strategies that allow them to manage risk and maintain financial stability even during turbulent times. Nestor Vargas advises retirees to be prepared for drops in the stock market, emphasizing the value of having a fully funded war chest and a clear understanding of their income and guardrails. With these in place, retirees can better navigate the uncertainties of the economy, safeguarding their financial well-being and enjoying a more secure retirement.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
Are you tired of feeling uncertain about your retirement and worried about the costs of long-term care? Have you been told that simply saving enough money will be enough to cover these expenses? If so, you're not alone. But here's the truth: relying solely on your savings may prove to be disastrous for your retirement plan. It's time to take control and learn about effective long-term care planning strategies that will provide both financial and emotional preparedness. Join us in this episode and discover the myths to debunk, the costs to evaluate, and the insurance options to consider - all with the guidance of experienced professionals.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Appreciate the vital role of long-term care planning in a comprehensive retirement strategy.
- Investigate the array of long-term care costs and the multitude of coverage choices.
- Recognize the essence of customized financial planning and collaborating with a proficient financial advisor.
- Demystify popular fallacies around long-term care.
- Acquire knowledge on the best long-term care insurance options discussed by seasoned long-term care insurance professionals.
Planning for long term care is an important part of a complete retirement plan.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Visit Gentworth.com and click on the Cost of Care button at the bottom of the page to get an idea of real pricing for long-term care in your area.
- Work with an independent insurance agent to find the long-term care insurance policy that's right for you.
- Consider getting a tax qualified long-term care insurance policy with an inflation protection rider and a shared care writer.
- Use a reverse mortgage calculator to determine if this option is right for you.
- If you have less than a million dollars in liquid net worth, strongly consider getting some type of long-term care policy.
- Consult a financial advisor who is familiar with your specific circumstances before making any financial decisions.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
In this episode of Green Cards to Greenbacks, Nestor explores the power of Monte Carlo simulations and reveals the most effective and accurate approach to retirement planning, calling out a troubling error in the commonly-used method.
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Uncover the essential role Monte Carlo simulations play in crafting a secure retirement plan.
- Evaluate the merits of traditional forecasting models against cutting-edge alternative methods.
- Grasp the significance of utilizing well-calibrated financial planning techniques for long-term success.
- Discover the advantages of working alongside independent financial advisors for tailored advice.
- Learn the importance of regularly updating income plans for greater accuracy and financial security.
No forecasting model is perfect, but some models are materially better than others.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Consider using Monte Carlo simulations in your retirement planning process to estimate the probability of different outcomes and make informed decisions.
- Research and compare different types of Monte Carlo simulations, such as traditional Monte Carlo, reduced capital market assumption Monte Carlo, historical analysis, and regime-based Monte Carlo, to find the best approach for your situation.
- Consult with an independent financial advisor who can provide personalized advice and help you understand the most appropriate Monte Carlo model for your retirement planning needs.
- Regularly update your income plan to account for changes in your financial situation and ensure that your retirement strategy remains on track.
- Monitor the performance of your chosen Monte Carlo model over time, and adjust your retirement plan as needed based on the model's accuracy and real-world outcomes.
- If using an online calculator or working with a financial advisor, inquire about the type of Monte Carlo model being used in your projections to ensure the most accurate and reliable results.
- Stay informed about the latest research and developments in Monte Carlo simulations and retirement planning to make educated decisions and maximize your chances of a successful retirement.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
Here is a quick update on where the podcast is heading and what I have been up to.
Spoiler alert, this podcast will become a podcast focused on retirement planning topics.
A financial planning package for Latinos & Latinas to stop feeling anxious and overwhelmed about money.
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After years of practicing law but not feeling fulfilled, Jen Ruiz found a creative outlet in travel writing, leading to an unexpected full-time career.
"When I was sitting in my office, I guess a cozy enough office, but just surrounded by degrees and doing the same kind of thing, I didn't really feel invigorated by the perfection. And even in my worst moments of traveling, when everything's gone wrong, I still never regretted a trip. I was still there, happy that I had taken that initiative, that step that I've seen something new. I knew I never regretted those memories."
Jen Ruiz is a travel writer and influencer with over 250,000 followers on TikTok. She has made a successful career transition from practicing law to becoming a full-time travel writer and content creator.
Jen Ruiz had been a lawyer for five years, but was looking for a creative outlet. She started a blog, became a travel writer, and got her first assignment when one of her articles went viral. The assignment opened the door to comped travel, self-publishing, and monetizing her own website. Jen's enthusiasm for travel inspired her to make it her career, and she learned how to monetize her writing and content creation skills. She hustled hard, sending a high number of pitches, meeting editors and PR reps, and creating content. In the end, her hard work paid off, proving that there is no magic button to success.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
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How to transition from practicing law to being a full-time travel writer and content creator.
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Strategies to monetize writing and content creation skills.
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Tips and advice for attending travel conferences and applying for press trips.
A financial planning package for Latinos & Latinas to stop feeling anxious and overwhelmed about money.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
In episode 24, we discuss ways undocumented Latinos can invest and creates business in the United States.
Maribel, a first gen Latina who grew up in an undocumented household in the United States, strives to build financial security for herself and her community through investment and financial literacy, despite the seemingly impossible challenge of doing so without a Social Security number.
"No matter your immigration status, you can become a millionaire and retire comfortably with the right financial knowledge and resources."
Maribel is the creator and founder of Our Wealth Matters, a social platform dedicated to educating the immigrant community in the US about personal finance. She has a background in being an income tax preparer and works to provide resources to undocumented people.
Maribel was born in the United States, but her parents were undocumented immigrants. After learning about personal finance and the financial independence movement, Maribel realized there were ways to become financially independent even without a Social Security number. She researched and found companies that would accept an ITIN and began to share her knowledge with the immigrant community to help them achieve financial success. Maribel was driven by her own traumatic experience of living in the streets with her mother after her father was deported. She wanted to help other immigrants achieve financial stability and avoid similar situations. She opened a bank account and invested in the stock market, and now she helps others do the same.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
- How can an undocumented immigrant in the US partake in personal finance and wealth-building opportunities?
- What is an ITIN, and how does it enable financial opportunities?
- How can an undocumented immigrant legally earn money in the US?
A financial planning package for Latinos & Latinas to stop feeling anxious and overwhelmed about money.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advice.
In episode 23 we demystify the complexities of a tax return with Sonia Castelan
"Without those necessities I needed, I wouldn't be here right now. I wouldn't be here, you guys. I wouldn't be here having to speak about taxes."
Sonia Castelan is a first-gen Latinx tax professional with over 8 years of corporate experience. She helps the Latinx community gain financial confidence and minimize their taxes by incorporating tax strategies to keep more money in their pockets and expand their financial portfolio.
Sonya Castelan was in a difficult financial situation and was determined to take back control of her finances. She self-taught herself how to budget and started building her own sinking funds to reach her financial goals. She then came across an opportunity to become a licensed tax professional, and her knowledge of data analytics helped her transition into this role. By teaching others how to become financially successful and utilizing the same tax strategies as the wealthy, she was able to help the BIPOC community to minimize their taxes and build their financial portfolio.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1) We will use a sample tax return to break down the different areas you should be familiar with and understand.
2) We will cover how profits from a business flow through to your personal return.
3) We will also cover some common missed opportunities so you can save money in the future.
A financial planning package for Latinos & Latinas to stop feeling anxious and overwhelmed about money.
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advise.
In this episode of The Green Cards To Greenbacks podcast, Nestor Vargas, the Latino Money Man and certified financial planner, takes listeners on a journey to uncover investment strategies and techniques to reduce their tax bill, improve their portfolio, and ultimately, make those greenbacks.
Here's what I cover:
1. Uncovering strategies to reduce your tax bill while investing.
2. Leveraging capital loss harvesting and capital gain harvesting to maximize your portfolio.
3. Exploring tax distribution management to minimize taxes.
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Are you looking for ways to ensure your family will be taken care of in the future? Estate planning is critical to ensuring your family’s future is secure. Taking the time to plan ahead can provide peace of mind and help ensure your wishes are honored after you’re gone. It doesn’t have to be a complicated process either; with the right guidance, you can ensure your loved ones are provided for in the best way possible.
Here's what I cover:
1. What steps can you take to improve your estate planning approach without an actual estate plan?
2. What is a trust, and why is it important for everyone, not just the wealthy?
3. How can you implement estate planning strategies, such as setting up a trust and assigning beneficiaries, to protect your family?
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A novice investor's journey to financial freedom begins as they discover the power of the stock market, but must first navigate the risks, fees, and complexities in order to build a successful and secure investment portfolio.
Here's what I cover:
1. Types of investments.
2. Is volatility the true risk when investing?
3. What are the common investment types, costs, and considerations?
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In this episode, an experienced financial planner reveals the hidden pitfalls of engaging with the wrong wealth advisor, empowering listeners to make an educated and confident choice in selecting the individual that will help them create and manage their wealth.
Here's what I cover:
1. What do you need to know when choosing a financial planner or wealth advisor?
2. What are the differences between fee-only and commission-based compensation models?
3. What is the importance of understanding a financial advisor's investment style and fiduciary status?
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When Jannese Torres, a proud Puerto Rican Latina, rebels against the traditional "American Dream" path and instead follows her entrepreneurial dreams, she discovers the power of creating something from her own mind and the energy of financial freedom.
"You have to give yourself that permission. You got to live your life, you got to live your dreams. And whoever's going to be there to accommodate and support them, those are the people that you want to keep around. And if your job is not one of those entities, then that probably tells you something about what you should be doing when it comes to planning to be there long term."
Jannese Torres is a Latina, Puerto Rican entrepreneur and financial literacy expert. She has built an incredible business that earned over a million dollars in revenue in 2022 and has been building online content-based businesses for the past 10 years.
Jannese Torres was used to following the American Dream of going to school, getting a degree, and getting a corporate job, but she found it unfulfilling. So, as an act of rebellion, she started a food blog, and through that found her spark of creativity and making money. For the past 10 years, she has been building all types of online content-based businesses and eventually quit her job in 2021. She encourages others to start digital entrepreneurship as the cost to entry is low and to save money to give themselves a launch fund for their business. Jannese is now using her platform to promote financial literacy for the Latinx community.
In this episode, you will learn the following:
1. How to turn your side hustle into a full-time business
2. How to make money online without taking out debt
3. How to create intentional social media content that converts
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*Educational content it's NOT to be considered financial advise.
In this week's episode, we're going to talk about 2 ways to achieve financial freedom faster and the difference between net worth and self-worth statements.
Join the Latinx community at https://www.instagram.com/latinomoneyman/
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2 keys for getting closer to financial freedom:
Make sure your passive income is higher than our expenses.
Generate more income, and get a better-paying job life.
Net Worth and Self-Worth Statement:
A net-worth statement is a financial snapshot that shows your financial wealth at a given point in time. It provides a useful summary of your financial affairs. How is this calculated? Your net worth is the difference between your assets, and what you owe, minus your debt.
What is an asset? According to Robert Kiyosaki, an asset is something that generates passive income for you right now.
By the way, you can create your own net worth statement by going to https://greencardstogreenbacks.com/ archives in the upper writing corner.
Download an Excel spreadsheet.
Sign up for my financial planning portal Complimentary.
Let’s talk retirement:
Will your retirement account provide income for you to stop working at the age you want to?
I'm gonna unpack that for you. In most retirement accounts, traditional retirement accounts will not let you take money out of the account until you're 59 and a half without any penalties, and most 401k plans will not let you take money out if you're still working for that company.
Are you maximizing the growth in this account?
We as investors need to stop looking at the temporary decrease in the values of our accounts and we need to shift our mindset and look at that as an actual opportunity cost.
Let's talk about cash:
We start with our investment and retirement accounts, then we get to cash. How will I use this cash to generate passive?
You can start by having an asset that generates a pseudo-passive income.
Resources:
Download an Excel spreadsheet.
Sign up for my financial planning portal Complimentary.
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About Rebecca:
Coach Rebecca is really passionate about pursuing the truth. She's committed to activating courage and uninspired experience. She's a mom of four. Happy, successful, growth-minded human. She strives for strong-minded goal focused, intelligent clients.
Invest in your health:
Whenever I think about finances, I think about proof that if you put a little bit from your paycheck every week, what happens is it compounds and grows.
So to me, I think the first thing I wanna point out is the relationship between financial wealth and physical wealth in terms of that compounding effect. So when we can start investing in our health today, it makes our tomorrow better. And if we can put aside a little bit of time, a little bit of effort goes a long way.
Stress Management:
What are the strategies that you use with your clients to manage stress?
One, I always think about movement because stress is really like a stuck place.
Two is to find some grounding and breathing habits. So you can find a whole bunch of these on YouTube.
Also, I would say finding an accountability partner. It could be a friend, but also a coach. I think a coach can really take you to the next level and make you the thing that you want to accomplish.
What things can we do to keep our bodies healthy:
Number one is finding a form of exercise that makes you happy.
Number two, start to incorporate some kind of weight-bearing exercises.
Number three, the relationships that you have.
Things to look for when hiring a health coach:
We should look for confidence and trust, in someone who listens to us, that asks a lot of questions before prescribing something
Contact Rebecca:
https://www.thefittestme.net/
https://www.thefittestme.net/personal-training-1
https://rebecca-boskovic.mykajabi.com/c4r-consistency-for-results
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Hello everyone. Welcome back to the 2nd season of Green Cards to Greenbacks Podcast. I am your host Nest Vargas and today we’re speaking with Harry Lopez, a business coach that has helped numerous Latinos launch their business in a successful way. Today we’re going to be talking about goal-setting mind hacks for 2023… so stay tuned!
What separates successful people from unsuccess?
- Unsuccessful people plan backward and don’t set realistic goals.
- Successful people are audacious and ambitious, but also have a planning system.
- Successful people track their systems so they’re open to change and take action.
How important is Identity in meeting your goals?
It’s important to embody the identity piece of whatever it is that you desire to be now, not waiting until you arrive at the goal, but arriving at that mindset.
Really visualize, slow down, and take in. Who is that person? What is he like? How is he operating in the world? What is the vibration, his vision for the world? How does he walk into the room? How is he feeling? How do people experience him?
The embodiment work is so powerful and what the world needs now more than ever before are embodied leaders.
Psychological flexibility to meeting a goal
Your future self knows what you need to do. You just need to sit, talk to your future self, and hear.
Also, it’s key to journal every day and takes the time to think about how did this week go? What worked? What didn't work?
Ideas for Goal Setting
Know your goal-setting framework. Start with your annual goals, then your quarterly goals, then monthly goals, your weekly goals, and your daily goals.
Go granular and set aside the time in this space to really do this.
In addition, have your weekly well-being checklist where you check in with yourself on how you're doing in your ways of being, and your mindset.
My personal routine for success
I'm gonna kind of walk you guys through my routine. It takes no more than 10 minutes a day for this routine who has been powerful.
- In the morning, I start with gratitude. Before I even look at my phone, before I look at anything. I think about what I'm grateful for now, but I also think about what I'm grateful for as if I've already accomplished what I want to do.
- Then, I write down my main 3 priorities for the day.
- During the day I think, what is the one thing that I have to do that I really don't want to do? And that’s the first thing that I get done.
- I write down all the things that I can delegate.
- Remember the Richer Cox rule: 20% of the activity, actually equals 80% of the results.
Wrap up
The reality is that your identity goes beyond the conditioning, beyond the stories, beyond the hurt of the trauma.
Contact Harry
https://www.harrylouislopez.com/launchlatinx
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As a teenager in Mexico with only $200 in his pocket, Horacio Peña's stepped onto a bus to the U.S..
Through grit and perseverance, he later became the youngest partner ever at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PcW), one of the world's leading consulting and accounting firms.
He's now an internationally renowned transfer pricing expert, a top economic advisor to some of the world's largest and fastest-growing multinational companies, and a tax principal and senior economist based in New York City, the headquarter of PcW.
The Dream of Becoming an Economist
After immigrating to the United States, Horacio attended Stony Brook University in New York, where he triple-majored in economics, political science, and history. He completed his undergraduate degree in only three years. He then attended Yale University for his graduate degree at the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Living His Dream
After graduating from Yale, Horacio accepted a job in Washington DC to work as an economist for a big consulting firm focusing on innovation. He worked with many international agencies to privatize industries in countries like Estonia and Lithuanian Slovenia.
Many years of being a trusted advisor and innovation and digitization leader gave Horacio the experience he needed to move to New York and start his consulting group, where he’s helped numerous companies learn to successfully do international business worldwide.
The CID Theory
Horacio follows what he calls his CID Theory, meaning Consumption, Investment, and Distractions:
- Declare your life and decide what's going to make you successful, unique, and happy
- Be conscious about what's distracting you, being brutally honest with yourself
- Get a mentoring coach to help you develop your vision
- Focus on formulating and executing the plan
- Stay open to future change in the next reinvention
Horacio’s Lessons to Live By
You must be willing to go through the next thing, like the pandemic, to the next transition. No one knows what the next curve ball will be, so we must be ready to pivot and reinvent ourselves all over again.
1) Don't believe everything you hear
2) Don't be afraid to challenge the rules that sometimes have been made to exclude you
3) Don't get tied up in the parade. Take time to look at your life in a global manner
4) You have to be a master at your trait before you can innovate
5) It’s all about grit. At the end of the day, grit is a far more explanatory power than success than intellect, discipline, emotional intelligence, IQ, or training
Resources:
Angela Duckworth - Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
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En el episodio de esta semana haremos un resumen en español de los últimos episodios que publicamos en inglés. Hablamos con Oscar García, Jen Hemphill e hicimos un episodio especial sobre la situación actual del mercado. ¡Espero que les guste!
1er Episodio: Oscar Garcia - Las 5 preguntas que todo latinx debe hacerse para construir su marca personal.Oscar García es una persona mexicana, y le pregunté ¿Cuál es la cosa que tu has identificado que nos frena a nosotros como latinos que nos frena para seguir para adelante a subir en las carreras de nosotros? A lo que él respondió “el aguante”. Ese aguante nos ayuda, pero también no nos ayuda. Nos frena porque cuando llegamos a un país como Estados Unidos, lo que pensamos inmediatamente es que tenemos que seguir con ese aguante y que tenemos que estar muy felices y agradecidos de estar en este país y de tener un trabajo y de tener un techo, tener un carro, pero ese es un pensamiento que nos frena.
Claro que hay que ser agradecidos por la oportunidad que tenemos, pero también tenemos que saber que ya estamos acá y que tenemos que seguir para adelante.
5 preguntas que uno tiene que responder para poder crecer su marca personal:
- ¿Por qué hacemos lo que hacemos?
- ¿Cuáles son nuestros valores?
- ¿Cuál es la visión en nuestra carrera, en nuestra vida?
- ¿A dónde queremos ir? ¿Por qué queremos ir allá?
- ¿Cuál es la imagen que queremos dar?
2do Episodio: Jen Hemphill - Cómo presupuestar para una vida latinx financieramente más sanaJen Hemphill es colombiana y se especializa en ayudar a gente con cuestiones de finanzas personales y en presupuestos.
Ella lo primero que dice es que tienes que entender, si estás casado o casada, a la persona con que estás casada. No tienes que entender las deudas que ellos tengan o cuánto gastan, sino tratar de entender por qué esa persona gasta.
La segunda, ¿Cuáles fueron las cosas que funcionaron? Qué si funcionó y qué no funcionó. Y lo más importante, la disciplina.
Podemos llevar el registro de nuestros gastos en una app o con lápiz y papel.
Finalmente hjablamos de la importancia de tener a alguien que nos ayude a seguir para adelante. Que nos ayude a tener responsabilidad y que nos acuerde de la disciplina. Puede ser un amigo o un asesor financiero que se especialice.
3er episodio: Nestor Vargas - Cómo beneficiarnos cuando el mercado está bajoEn el tercer episodio yo comencé a hablar de cómo es que podemos utilizar o pensar este mercado financiero del mercado de acciones que está bajo.
Hay un truco mental que yo le digo a mis clientes con 12 años de asesorar gente y es, ¿Cómo te sientes regalando tus riquezas a otra persona? Porque eso lo que vas a hacer cuando comienzas a vender las inversiones en un mercado bajo.
Otra cosa es que hablamos de convertir las cuentas. Convertir dinero de una cuenta de retiro tradicional a una cuenta de retiro Roth.
En las cuentas tradicionales cuando uno pone dinero, el gobierno lo quita de tus impuestos, o sea que no pagas impuestos en ese dinero, y entonces te deja crecerlo
Esta situación es realmente una oportunidad.
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In this week’s episode of Green Cards to Greenbacks we talk about 3 main topics on how you can be one step ahead of the fall of the stock market. The first one, we’re going to be talking about is getting rid of the investments that you don't want. Second, how you can convert some of your money from a traditional retirement account to a Roth retirement account. And last, how to look at this particular environment as an opportunity.
Mental HackThere's a mental hack that you can use and that is to ask yourself, How do you feel about gifting your wealth to someone else? Because that's exactly what you're gonna do if you sell your investments during a down market. Someone else is gonna buy those investments for you.
Use that mental hack. I think it’s extremely helpful for you.
1st tip: Getting rid of the investments that you don't wantThe first topic I wanted to talk about during this down market is to finally get rid of an investment that you otherwise couldn't before because of the tax consequences. Because in taxable accounts that are not a part of a retirement account, every time you buy or you sell something, it triggers a tax consequence.
Don’t get stuck holding an investment that has grown tremendously, whether it be because it grew due to performance, or it grew because their company gave them stock as part of their compensation, and they know that they wanna get rid of it.
2nd tip: Converting some of your money from a traditional retirement account to a ROTH retirement account.The second tip is also related to taxes. Hear me out: there's a lot of opportunity during the down market, and this has to do with converting some of your money from a traditional retirement account to a Roth IRA retirement account.
A Roth account is where you pay the taxes now, so you don't get that deduction on your taxes during the year.
For every dollar that you convert to a Roth IRA, you're more likely converting a dollar 20 or a dollar 25 and basically getting a discount.
Why is this important? Let's say for example have a $100.000 traditional IRA and a $100.000 Roth IRA. I wanna ask you one question, Which account is worth more? traditional or Roth?
3rd tip: Looking at this particular environment as. An opportunity.So the third hack is really looking at this particular environment as an opportunity.
There's this war happening between Russia and Ukraine that we don’t know how it will impact our economy. And look, I'm here to tell you that if you invested appropriately, if you have an investment strategy, not an observation strategy, but an investment strategy, you’re going to be okay.
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Jen Hemphill is a military spouse and pride bilingual Latina. She helps the busy career-oriented woman become the reinas of her of their money. She's a Latino money expert and accredited financial counselor. An author, speaker, and host of Her Dinero Matters podcast.
What are some of the most popular Latino traumas keeping us from being able to budget?The first thing is that we don't acknowledge that in the Latinx community, trauma is within our spiritual faith and culture. We repeat every day that we have to be grateful for what we have. Although that’s true and being grateful is important, that puts a layer of guilt and trauma upon us.
How do we talk to our couple, our spouse about money?The first step in talking with our spouse is not about the bills, not about the debt we owe, but really getting to know them, their money history, and their money story.
We can start by having very casual conversations in terms of maybe something we’ve read in a book or listened to in a podcast or found in a blog post with really fabulous tips… and say, Hey, why don't we try this? I think this would be great. I heard X, Y, Z. These conversations will create the habit of talking about money where it doesn't lead to an argument or to tension. It actually creates confidence.
Because when we're talking money, a lot of people don't have the confidence. Maybe they feel guilt, they feel shame, whatever it is around their situation. So they're not wanting to talk about money and we have to create a safe place for them.
What tips do you have, and how can we re-engage in this journey?Reengaging is really looking at our accomplishments because if we're feeling bad about our finances, our confidence and there for a lot of areas in our life tend to worsen.
We really need to reengage ourselves in terms of what have done well and what are our strengths, our, money wins like “This is what I'm really strong at” and, “This is my strong suit”, and listing them down.
Yes, it's great to have the conversation, but if you have that written down it's something you can refer to later when we're not having a great day because maybe the budget failed again or whatnot. Look at that list of strengths of wins that you've had. All those things matter because we don’t tend to acknowledge our strengths.
After we talked with our couple, What resources and tools do we have at our disposal?We have to take time to try out different tools to see what suits best our lifestyle. If we try something and it didn't work then maybe think what were the reasons.
I use an app called Simplifi but there are different apps out there. Unfortunately, they tend to come and go. You can also just keep it simple with a sheet of paper or a notebook. The most important thing is to find something because it's all about consistency and patience… it takes time.
Remember that there’s the fix, the occasional, and the variable expenses!
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Oscar Garcia’s StoryOscar migrated to the United States and he still continues to live the experience as a first gen entrepreneur. Growing up with that label of being the first generation, being a minority, or a “melted pot” has led him to think it had a negative connotation. Throughout his career and even today, as he looks back, he realized that No, all these qualifications are actually positive.
Now, it’s time to own our culture.
How can we see our culture in a positive connotation?We have to honor our past. What does that mean? Going back into our personal journey and thinking about life experiences. Also, acknowledge the ugly, yucky feeling. Why? Because we want to own that yucky, ugly feeling and heal from some of that trauma. Look and uncover the positive skills, and the positive experience out of that.
There are two simple ways you can look at the past and you can think about it: one is why this happens to me, or the second one, this happened FOR me.
Is there any Latinx trauma keeping us from being able to get better jobs?We Latinxs tend to put up with things, believing that we’re not worth it.
Latino culture has many positive traits, but as anything, you take it to the other end of the spectrum and it could be a detriment.
Top five things that you feel people can do to really create a brand and land the job that they want?1. Why do we do what we do? 2. What are our values? 3. What is your vision? 4. Where are you going? 5. What is that image? What do you want people when they see you?
How can we reach a hiring manager?If you have been referred to an opportunity and the person is at a director level or higher in the organization, you have almost a 97% chance of getting hired. So 3% chance of an interview versus a very high probability of getting hired.
LinkedIn is a great way to reach out to a Hiring Manager.
What can we do if we're already within a company?We can continue to build those relationships, to really create what Oscar calls a dream team.
A dream team is made up of 5 people, a mentor, a coach, a sponsor, a close friend, a promoter.
A coach is someone that can give us some guidance on how to do our job. A sponsor is someone that knows the quality of your work, obviously knows you, and has their antennas up so that when there are opportunities come up, maybe a promotion or so forth, they’ll let you know. A close friend is someone that you give permission to be brutally honest with you and let you know when you're doing great and when you're messing up.
A good way to acknowledge what you do is to start creating a Kudos folder. If you get any awards, if you get any recognition from your manager, from a client, etc., just save those emails, those files on just a personal, maybe take a screenshot and so forth and start creating it.
How can we as Latinxs create generational wealth?Investing doesn't have to be difficult. There are so many ways to invest now in the stock market that are super simple.
You can get a financial advisor. Don’t be afraid to say to them “I understand what you're telling
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Sobre miHola, mi nombre es Nestor Vargas y soy un asesor financiero! Estoy aquí para enseñarte todo lo que necesitas saber para puedas tener independencia financiera. Yo crecí en un barrio de Colombia. Me cansé de lidiar con inseguridades financieras. Entonces, después de llegar a los Estados Unidos decidí volverme un experto en finanzas personales. Llevo 12 años asesorando clientes. Ahora essoy listo para compartir contigo todo lo que utilizo con mis clientes, muchos de ellos que tienen millones de dólares, cuando se jubilan, la identidad cambia. En este podcast vamos a hablar de esas cosas que son muy importantes.
Resumen del episodio con Antonio AlanisA los 5 años trajeron a Antonio Alanis a los Estados Unidos. Cuando le pregunté de dónd era, él me dice que es una cosa muy difícil de explicar, porque dice que es de Durango México, pero también de El Paso, Texas y del Carolina al Norte.
Antonio llegó y luego de unos años los padres le dijeron que vaya a la universidad. Yo le dije mira, hay una cosa de psicología que se considera un efecto primario, lo que dice es que uno sube o baja a lo que la gente alrededor de uno quiere que uno haga gana.
En ese viaje de la universidad de crecer y aprender, él comenzó a pensar de una forma crítica. No diciendo bueno, gracias a Dios, tengo la vida de estar en esa universidad de aprender el inglés, de aprender español mejor de crear arte. Pero, ¿voy a utilizar lo que estoy aprendiendo sólo para consumirlo y sólo para para crecer yo mismo, o lo voy a utilizar para ayudar a mi gente?
Y ahí fué cuando él comenzó a hacer un activista para la gente latina. Comenzó a ayudar a gente que no hablaba inglés a traducir documentos en la universidad, a ayudarlos a hablar con otras personas para comunicarse. Comenzó a utilizar el arte cmo una herramienta. La gente mexicana lleva muchas décadas contribuyendo a este país.
Bueno, yo comencé a leer sus cosas y me llamaron mucho la atención. Realmente es que él. Tiene una habilidad muy buena de tener como una marca personal. Cuando uno lo lee se siente cerano a la raza latina y del arte. Es muy bonito.
Me llamó la atención porque es una cosa que uno pueda hacer para hacer crecer su dinero.
Fue una conversación muy, muy buena. Si quieren buscarlo pueden hacerlo en Facebook y LinkedIn como Antonio Alanis.
Resumen del episodio con Rosi QuiñonesRosi es una muchacha peruana. Por toda la violencia que estaba pasando en Perú, decidieron venir a los Estados Unidos. El padre de ella era una persona que siempre le gusta hacer negocios. Y Rosi resultó haciendo una carrera en agricultura. Esa carrera en Perú estaba afiliado a la universidad de California que se llama Berkeley. Ella comenzó a trabajar para una organización que no tenía fines de lucro aquí en los Estados Unidos.
Entonces comenzó a trabajar con una compañía que vendía café. Ella explica como comenzó a hablar con gente de todas partes del mundo. Haciendo este intercambio se dio cuenta que en su país no iba a conseguir el estilo de vida que quería.
Por qué?Porque solo el 5% de 62,000,000 de latinos viviendo aquí, invierte en la bolsa en los estados unidos.
Hay muchas razones por lo que esto sucede, principalmente por una falta de educación financiera en nuestros paises de origen.
La verdad es que si tienes $100,
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Rosie Quinones is originally from Lima, Peru, and moved to the Bay Area in California about 15 years ago.
She studied plant sciences agriculture, and in her last year, she did an internship at a nonprofit connected to Berkeley. So she started coming and volunteering for them, where she also met who is now her husband.
She used to work in the coffee industry as a trader, and now she works at Bitwise industries, a mission-driven tech company. They try to move the variety of entry for people of all backgrounds, especially black and brown people from underserved communities, into the tech industry.
Rosi's experience in the stock market:
With the stock market, you become an owner of companies, and now you have employees. So you stop trading time for money, and now you have that money working for you.
The stock market is like a game, and if you think about it that way, it becomes exciting. Money makes money; the more you have, the more you make. It might be intimidating initially, but once you set it up, it's not that difficult.
Max out your 401k and ensure you're growing your emergency fund. And then, if you want to invest outside of your 401k, like a brokerage account, or real estate, that's when you can start taking a little more risk or playing with the money a little more if you.
If you want to start creating time, the stock market is one of the easiest ways.
Money is not a goal. It's a tool. It's a tool to help you accomplish whatever you want.
Rosi's Mission:
Rosi's mission is to help people from underserved communities.
Contact Rosi QuinonesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiquinones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacaovision/
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Antonio Alanis's StoryAntonio's story starts in Durango, Mexico. It's the northern part of the country and they migrated to the United States in search of more opportunities. His parents wanted to have educational opportunities.
They start living in El Paso, Texas. They lived there for four years and we moved to North Carolina in early 2000, where they are right now. One question he always got was, where are you from? Which is one of those complex questions that he really can't define. Telling everyone where he's from. He's from many places. He's from Durango, El Paso, and North Carolina.
He had to figure out who he was as a migrant student. Who was he in this world?
After college, he started thinking about how can he provide these same opportunities for his committing Latinx members?
Why did he continue studying?He wanted to honor his parents, his grandparents, and his ancestors who just didn't have these opportunities. It's interesting because in psychology there's something called the Pian Effect, and the pain effect is that you will rise to the standards that people have for you. That's why it's so important to surround yourself with people who believe in you, and who want you to succeed because in turn you're gonna start thinking that way. You don't wanna let people down. We as human beings wanna satisfy people.
Thinking CriticallyHe began to think critically, "Why am I here? Is it just to build knowledge, or am I here to really use this knowledge for improving conditions in my community?". He began to teach English in his local community because he wanted to use his knowledge for helping migrants find jobs, and helping them understand how to navigate the school education system.
The Importance of ArtSince Antonio is also an artist, he started to see how artists responded to social justice issues back then. That was a huge motivator for him to understand how can he use this craft, which is art, illustration, and writing for opening more doors for his community members.
Grant Writing Business
In January 2022 he opened a grant-writing and illustration business, where he also works with nonprofit organizations. You can find more information here https://www.antonioalanisart.com/grantsopportunities-resources
Contact Antonio AlanisWebsite: https://www.antonioalanisart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonioalanisart/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaXVJSzZTu1Fw5YXiUKK45w/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntonioAlanisArt/
Email: info@antonioalanisart.com
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We've heard the phrase, "Life is about balance"...yet how many of us can say we have achieved it?
Personal health balance is eating sensibly, getting adequate exercise, and having a restful night's sleep. Family balance is present in the quality and quantity with those closest to you, such as your partner, children, and extended family. Financial balance is a job we enjoy that doesn't feel like work and provides for our financial needs.
What about finding balance in your community? Is that even possible?
Stand Up and Be Counted, Fellow Latinos
There are currently 62 million Latinos in the United States. That means we have a lot of opportunities to help our community rise and strengthen our country. There are $660,000,000 of unmet demand for products and services from the Latino community here in the United States. We currently make up 17% of the US labor force, and by 2060 it will be over 30%.
How can you help?
•Go online and research Latino consumption and Latino products
•Talk to your Latino friends and talk to your family members
•Find out what the demands are that are not being met and how you can meet those demands
Who Not How
A mindset shift that has been transformational for me comes from a book called “Who Not How”, written by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan.
Instead of asking yourself, “How do I do this?”, ask yourself “Who can help me do this?”
You may be able to figure out all the pieces of getting a project done, but if you don't have the necessary skill sets to complete the project, you'll be wasting valuable time someone else can do for you.
For example: When I launched this podcast, I wanted to talk to my community and share ideas - but I didn't know how to do it. I found someone experienced in the podcast space to set up my podcast and upload them to all podcasting media platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
After a few episodes, I spent about five hours rewriting some of the content and realized I was still out of my zone of genius. I hired an experienced copywriter to take that off my plate, a social media designer to extend the reach of my podcast across multiple social media platforms, and a coach with a proven track record of creating successful online businesses.
A Full Calendar Equals an Empty Life
One thing that has been critical for me is creating space in my calendar. If you're a part of corporate America, you're likely a victim of the idea that if your calendar is open, you're not working hard enough.
"A Full Calendar, Equals An Empty Life” is a quote that has always stuck with me. If your calendar is full, you have no time for your family, no time for your health, and no time for you. Our society teaches us that our job comes first, our family, and everything else afterward. That is no way to live! I encourage you to think differently.
We live in an amazing country full of opportunity. If a seven-year-old who didn't speak any English was able to come to the United States and create what I've made, you can do it too!
For more information, visit the show notes at https://greencardstogreenbacks.com/ways-to-find-balance-with-health-family-and-community
Working since she was 10, Martha Nino went from delivering subscriptions on porches to selling high-tech cloud subscriptions globally.
Discovering Her Skills
The first job Martha learned in the US was short-lived, forming mud into molds to make ceramic lamps. She didn't have the knack for the job. Fortunately, the company's owner saw potential in Martha and asked her to work with her in the office, filing and answering the phones. Entry through that office door revealed a different world for Martha, one no one in her family had ever experienced. She learned how to do accounts payable and receivable and took a typing class in high school to learn how to generate letters, and invoices, further expanding her office skills.
Juggling school and a job were challenging. There was no time for homework, so Martha's grades and attendance suffered. On the first day of her senior year, she was called into the office and was told she could not attend high school and needed to enroll in a continuation school.
Fortunately, one counselor took the time to look into Martha's situation and helped her come up with a plan to accelerate a year's worth of schoolwork down to four months, which she did, and she was able to graduate on time.
The Art of Being Adaptable
The company where Martha worked moved their manufacturing facility to Mexico. Martha's father had recently passed away, so she felt it was best to stay with her family in the United States. Although she was now without a job, she had something that turned out to be more valuable, a support network.
One of her former co-workers got Martha a job at a furniture company building office cubicles in Silicon Valley. After a couple of years, the company experienced financial issues, and Martha was among several employees laid off. She was five months pregnant then, so she was out of work for the remainder of her pregnancy.
Her next job was through a temp agency, installing sound equipment in the identical office cubicles she had built! It seemed serendipitous. Again, not having any skills for the job, Martha learned by example and instruction.
After a couple of years, Martha realized she was at a disadvantage because she didn't have a college degree, so she quit her job and completed her degree. That investment in her education enabled her the opportunity to be hired at Adobe, Inc., where she still is today, more than eighteen years later.
Martha's Nuggets of Knowledge
- There is value in kindness, and it helps build connections to create your network
- Realize your network has value and use it
- Focus on what you know, and be adaptable and willing to learn
- Ask questions, especial those who know the business
- Do what feels right to you
- People want you to take work off their shoulders when looking for a job. Find out what you can do to make their lives easier
- Employers should treat their employees like family. When a place feels like family, your employees will want to stay
- We can't do it alone. Be humble and realize that sometimes we all need to ask for help
- Immigration and education go hand in hand. Educating the immigrant population will show them how to be successful in the US and break the cycle of poverty
For more information, visit the show notes at https://greencardstogreenbacks.com/learning-the-skills-on-the-job-with-martha-nino
Many people who retire look forward to traveling in retirement. However, there’s a growing trend where more people decide to retire overseas. What happens to your federal social security benefits when you leave the country?
It’s a Great Place to Visit, and I Want to Live There
Retirees who are US citizens are entitled to continue receiving benefits for as long as they live outside the United States. After a retired person has been outside the US for 30 days, the rules for collecting social security benefits apply. The Social Security Administration can send checks to anyone eligible for benefits living abroad, except for in the countries of Cuba and North Korea.
What About Non-US Citizens Receiving Social Security Benefits?
If you are not a US citizen and are receiving social security benefits, you may have restrictions on how long you can receive those benefits outside the United States.
The rules differ per country, so it’s important to research them on the Social Security Administration website. It’s also recommended that you consider working with a financial advisor or an expert in working with immigrants.
I Love Paying Taxes (Said No One Ever!)
Whether you are a US citizen, a permanent resident of the United States, or a green card holder, you are subject to US income tax law, no matter where you live. Your worldwide income, including up to 85% of your social security benefit, may be subject to federal income tax.
If you are not a US citizen or you are not a permanent resident of the United States, the US is going to withhold 30% federal income tax from that 85% of your social security benefits unless you meet the conditions of an income tax treaty that reduces your tax rate.
The Social Security Administration website tools has a helpful calculator called the Alien Tax Screening Tool to help you determine if your benefits are subject to the nonresident alien tax withholding or if you qualify for tax treaty benefits.
We Are Always Works in Progress
I want to leave you with a quote that stood out during my reading.
"Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished."
As we get older, we lose the ability to imagine ourselves being a different person or doing something completely different. This is how we get stuck in jobs that we may hate or get depressed in retirement with nothing to do.
If you ask someone about their retirement plans, they’ll often say, “Oh, you know, I want to play a little golf, travel a little bit, and play with the grandkids.” That’s great, but it’s going to get old quickly.
You can always accomplish something meaningful, no matter how old you are or your situation. Remember, human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished. Don’t think you’re finished. There’s always, always something to do!
Show Resources
Payments Abroad Screening Tool
Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States
Nonresident Alien Tax Withholding
As a teenager in Mexico with only $200 in his pocket, Horacio Péna's stepped onto on a bus to the U.S..
Through grit and perseverance, he later became the youngest partner ever at PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world's leading consulting and accounting firms.
This is his story of:
• Dreaming of becoming an Economist
• Graduating Yale, even though he didn't read the material
• Following the “CID Theory (Consumption, Investment, and Distractions)
Listen in to hear Horacio’s Lessons to Live By.
For more information, visit the show notes at https://greencardstogreenbacks.com/conquering-the-rules-meant-to-exclude-me
Immigrants and Social Security
Can you collect social security if you immigrated to the United States? The short answer is yes; legal immigrants are entitled to benefits from social security. However, you need to be aware of nuances, depending on how many years you worked in the United States.
There are two groups of legal immigrants. The first group is immigrants with ten or more years of work history in the United States, and the second group with less than ten years in the United States.
As of 2022, the minimum income needed to earn a social security credit is $1,510 per quarter. You can only earn four credits per year and do not have to work the entire year to reach the four credits. For example, an immigrant who earned $6,040 during the first quarter of 2022 made the full four credits needed for that year. An immigrant who has worked for ten years in the US and has earned enough income every quarter to accumulate forty social security credits is eligible for social security benefits.
US Totalization Agreements
US Totalization Agreements allow immigrants who have not earned enough work credits in the US to combine work credits from both countries and still qualify for benefits.
The countries participating in this program can be found at greencardstogreenbacks.com/can-immigrants-collect-social-security
The program will not pay for the benefits earned in the immigrant home country. Each country will pay for the benefits achieved. To apply for benefits, individuals contact the US Social Security Administration which will, in turn, engage with the social security program in the affiliated home country to verify the individual’s eligibility and start the process.
Your Future Self
I want to leave you all with a quote I believe is vital to success. This quote comes from a book called 'Be Your Future Self Now' by Benjamin Hardy.
"In 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 20 years, bearing fatality, you will become someone. The question to ask yourself is: Who will your Future Self be? That is perhaps the most important question any human can ask themselves.”
As immigrants to the US, we get to decide who we will be and how successful we will become. The resources are here. It's a matter of clearly understanding how to use them.
For more information and resources, visit greencardstogreenbacks.com/can-immigrants-collect-social-security, and subscribe to the podcast on whatever platform you use.
This is the story of my journey to the United States from Colombia, and the four lessons we all can learn from it.
Summary of my four lessons:
The first lesson: Without a clear vision of your future self, the environment around you guides what you become. I didn't have a clear picture of myself in middle school, so I went along with what my friend wanted to do, which got me in trouble.
Second lesson:. Do your best to assimilate to the US culture as soon as possible. The faster you do it, the quicker you will succeed. Watch more shows, listen to more English music, and spend time with successful people. Remember that people around you have a significant impact on who you are.
Third lesson: Ask others who are ahead of you what they're doing to succeed. If they can do it, so can you.
Fourth lesson: Once you're operating at a high level in your current career and you feel stuck, one of the best ways to move ahead is to seek mentorship from those ahead of you. Don't be afraid to invest in yourself by paying for mentorship; choose someone who has successfully done what you're looking to accomplish.
For a transcript or links to resources, visit https://greencardstogreenbacks.com
Welcome! In this short episode I tell you a little about me and the show, Green Cards to Greenbacks.
Connect with me at https://greencardstogreenbacks.com, or to be a featured guest on the show!