Financial Tips Wealthy People Know: Debt, Emergency Funds, 1099s & Hiring a Financial Advisor (Part 2 with Taylor Mavrakos)
Fri Jan 30 2026
Welcome back to Guided by Third Wheel , today we’re bringing you Part 2 of our conversation with Taylor Mavrakos, financial advisor and host of the Tailored Wealth podcast.
If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. In Part 1, we talk about reorienting your relationship with money, wealth, and financial goal setting. Part 2 gets practical.
This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like financial literacy is “something everyone else knows,” especially in spaces where money conversations feel classist, intimidating, or taboo.
In this episode, Taylor breaks down:
Why financial wellness is not just for “rich people”
The core concept: your money should work as hard as you do
A simple exercise to list your debts + interest rates (awareness first)
Emergency fund rules of thumb: 3 months (two-income) and 6 months (one-income)
Debt payoff strategies: snowball vs. highest-interest-first
“Deploy your soldiers” where they’ll win: how to think about interest rates and opportunity cost
How to hire a financial advisor without shame: account minimums, what to bring, what to ask
Red flags when meeting an advisor (including pressure to sign same-day)
Why “get rich quick” investing and crypto hype often isn’t worth the time or risk
Side hustle and 1099 realities: taxes, write-offs, withholding, and why many people get surprised in April
How to know if you’re being paid like a contractor for employee work
What to consider as a social worker or public servant (including loan forgiveness tradeoffs)
We close with a Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle pull: Creature of Air (Speed) , a reminder to slow down, get aligned, and make intentional financial choices instead of pushing forward on autopilot.
Want to work with us? Visit https://thirdwheelllc.com to learn more about Third Wheel’s services, offerings, and community. Follow us for more insight, humor, and heart: @ThirdWheelConsultingLLC
Find more information on Taylor here:
https://www.youtube.com/@TayloredWealth
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-mavrakos-4b6a9672/
www.mfpfinancial.com
More
Welcome back to Guided by Third Wheel , today we’re bringing you Part 2 of our conversation with Taylor Mavrakos, financial advisor and host of the Tailored Wealth podcast. If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. In Part 1, we talk about reorienting your relationship with money, wealth, and financial goal setting. Part 2 gets practical. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt like financial literacy is “something everyone else knows,” especially in spaces where money conversations feel classist, intimidating, or taboo. In this episode, Taylor breaks down: Why financial wellness is not just for “rich people” The core concept: your money should work as hard as you do A simple exercise to list your debts + interest rates (awareness first) Emergency fund rules of thumb: 3 months (two-income) and 6 months (one-income) Debt payoff strategies: snowball vs. highest-interest-first “Deploy your soldiers” where they’ll win: how to think about interest rates and opportunity cost How to hire a financial advisor without shame: account minimums, what to bring, what to ask Red flags when meeting an advisor (including pressure to sign same-day) Why “get rich quick” investing and crypto hype often isn’t worth the time or risk Side hustle and 1099 realities: taxes, write-offs, withholding, and why many people get surprised in April How to know if you’re being paid like a contractor for employee work What to consider as a social worker or public servant (including loan forgiveness tradeoffs) We close with a Secrets of the Ancestors Oracle pull: Creature of Air (Speed) , a reminder to slow down, get aligned, and make intentional financial choices instead of pushing forward on autopilot. Want to work with us? Visit https://thirdwheelllc.com to learn more about Third Wheel’s services, offerings, and community. Follow us for more insight, humor, and heart: @ThirdWheelConsultingLLC Find more information on Taylor here: https://www.youtube.com/@TayloredWealth https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-mavrakos-4b6a9672/ www.mfpfinancial.com