261. "We’re in our 40s with nothing saved. Will we be ok?"

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You To Be Rich talks to Sebastien and Hope, a married couple in their forties who have been together for 20 years, married for 16, and have a nine-year-old son. They earn around $195,000 a year, have $674,000 in assets, $129,000 invested, just $11,000 in savings, and $437,000 in debt. On paper, they are not broke, but emotionally, Sebastien still feels like they are constantly scrambling, while Hope believes their personal finances are in the best place they have ever been. Both recently became business owners, with Hope running an architecture firm and Sebastien running a wine importing business, but the risk of entrepreneurship, debt, low emergency savings, and under-investing for retirement has left them stuck between optimism, fear, and avoidance. In this episode we uncover: • Why Sebastien still feels broke, even though their finances are stronger than they used to be • How Hope’s optimism clashes with Sebastien’s fear about the future • Their combined income of around $195,000 a year • Their assets of $674,000, investments of $129,000, savings of $11,000, and debt of $437,000 • Why having only one month of emergency savings puts them in a risky position • How both Hope and Sebastien became business owners after buying existing companies • Hope’s architecture business and Sebastien’s wine importing business • Why Ramit says they are talking around the numbers instead of confronting them directly • How their current retirement projection could give them only around $35,000 a year • Why Hope’s $130,000 retirement dream requires a much more aggressive investing plan • Why their guilt-free spending and fixed costs are squeezing savings and investments • How one final credit card payment could drop their fixed costs from 67% to 52% • Why their grocery spending becomes one of the first practical areas to tighten • Ramit’s math mistake in the episode and why the overall lesson still stands • Sebastien’s need for a clear business runway and decision point • Hope’s realization that she was not being fully honest with herself about their finances ⏩ CHAPTERS (00:00:53) Introduction: is it too late to be successful with money? (00:02:40) Sebastien and Hope’s financial snapshot (00:04:11) Their annual “executive household planning retreat” (00:06:01) Ramit asks if their planning system is actually working (00:08:02) Sebastien’s fear about his wine importing business (00:11:31) How they each became business owners (00:15:31) Feeling broke vs actually being broke (00:16:47) Ramit reads Sebastien’s application back to Hope (00:20:08) Assets, investments, savings, debt, and net worth (00:21:21) Ramit pushes them to say: “It’s not enough” (00:23:20) Their projected retirement number (00:25:31) Ramit points out they only have one month of emergency savings (00:33:31) Their CSP: fixed costs, investments, savings, and guilt-free spending (00:34:24) Breaking down their $437,000 debt (01:01:22) The $45,500-a-year investment target (01:15:59) Sebastien’s business plan and runway (01:24:20) Ramit’s final advice: redo the CSP and lock in the numbers (01:25:46) Hope’s follow-up (01:27:40) Sebastien’s follow-up (01:29:22) Their updates: increased IRA contributions and Vanguard investing This episode is brought to you by: Netsuite | Get the free guide “Demystifying AI” at https://netsuite.com/ramit LMNT | Get a free LMNT Sample Pack with any order at https://drinklmnt.com/RAMIT Factor | Head to https://factormeals.com/ramit50off and use code ramit50off to get 50 percent off and free daily greens per box, with new subscription only, while supplies last until 09/27/2026. (See website for more details). DeleteMe | Get 20% off all consumer plans when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/ramit and use promo code RAMIT at checkout Get 25% off my programs until Friday May 15th at iwt.com/programs with code RESET26. Connect with Ramit • Get my new book, Money For Couples • Get Money Coaching with Ramit • Download the Conscious Spending Plan • Listen to my book—now on Audible • Get my New York Times best-selling book • Get my no-numbers journal • Other episodes • Instagram • Twitter • YouTube Calling LA couples: Apply to be coached for free on this podcast at https://iwt.com/apply