Millie (Camille) Adrian, known as ModernMillie, never envisioned becoming a full-time content creator and business owner. After an injury forced her to abandon her teaching degree, she started working in a call center and eventually became a project manager. Despite her success, she felt unfulfilled and missed teaching and creating. By combining her project management skills with her passion for creativity, Adrian launched ItsModernMillie, a content creation company focused on teaching others how to use social media effectively. The business quickly grew, enabling her to leave her corporate job and pursue her passion full-time.

Adrian's company provides a variety of free resources for content creators, from starter kits for different social media platforms to guides for creating and selling e-books. In a YouTube video, she shared a step-by-step process for making a profitable e-book, emphasizing the importance of selecting a topic based on personal experience or a unique transformation story. She also demonstrated how to design the e-book using free tools like Canva and advised on low-cost methods to sell it through platforms such as Stan's creator store, which offers a user-friendly interface without charging high fees or commissions.

Adrian stresses the value of authentic marketing in building a dedicated audience and establishing trust. She encourages creators to share their products through consistent content, such as weekly videos, and to use social media strategically to drive traffic. She believes that success in creating passive income streams, like selling e-books, requires upfront dedication and strategic planning. By leveraging accessible tech tools, free design services, and genuine marketing techniques, Adrian has proven that it's possible to build a thriving digital business from scratch. (Full story)

Retirement planning requires a dedicated approach to building a nest egg that sustains your lifestyle and prepares for unforeseen events. Recent challenges, such as high living costs, stagnant wages, and market volatility, have impacted individuals' ability to save. Millionaire author and Netflix host Sethi shared a 7-step retirement plan to help individuals retire richer. This includes setting a retirement goal using the 4% rule, maximizing 401(k) and Roth IRA contributions for tax benefits, clearing high-interest debt, and investing in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and taxable investment accounts for further growth. Sethi suggests consulting a fiduciary financial adviser to customize plans to individual circumstances. (Full story)

Nearly 72 million Americans rely on Social Security benefits, but few realize how easily these payments can be reduced or stopped. Social Security benefits, including retirement, disability, and spousal benefits, can be lost due to various reasons such as incarceration, returning to work, medical improvement, early retirement, excessive earnings, or remarriage. Although the rules governing these benefits can be complex, it is possible to reinstate benefits in certain situations, such as after release from incarceration, if earnings decrease, or if a subsequent marriage ends. Understanding these potential pitfalls is essential to avoid an unintentional loss of benefits or to plan for potential reinstatement. (Full story)

George Kamel, bestselling author and co-host of "The Ramsey Show," discussed the rising interest in assumable mortgages, where buyers take over a seller's existing low-interest mortgage instead of securing a new one. While assumable loans offer attractive interest rates, Kamel argues they are not a good idea due to high upfront cash requirements, limited loan options—only 22% of mortgages are assumable—and lengthy closing processes. Instead, Kamel suggests focusing on increasing down payments, being flexible with location, and waiting until the time is right to buy a home to avoid financial strain. (Full story)

Shirin Tajani, a 46-year-old nurse at Mount Sinai in New York City, earns a six-figure salary but struggles to afford a home due to over $315,000 in student loan and credit card debt. After pivoting from a corporate job to nursing following a layoff in 2009, she now works six days a week and holds a second job to make ends meet. Despite reduced monthly payments under President Biden's new SAVE plan, her debt remains a significant burden amid rising living costs. Tajani’s situation reflects a broader crisis as Americans face record-high credit card debt and a pessimistic outlook on the housing market, with only 21 percent believing it’s a good time to buy a home. (Full story)