Hot girl career pivot (but make it strategic)

This week a survey confirmed that nearly half the country wants out of their current career. AI, burnout, layoffs… take your pick. What the survey doesn't tell you is how to actually do it. I made a career pivot in my late 20s so you’re not alone in this.

(Actual answer at the end of the newsletter 👇)

A new survey found that more than 4 in 10 workers want to change careers this year due to fears around AI, layoffs, and burnout. But here's the twist: the quit rate dropped to just 2% in December, which was the lowest since the pandemic. People want out, but they're not moving. Experts are calling it "job hugging."

I get it. I made a career shift in my late 20s, and the hardest part wasn't just the change itself. It was the gap between knowing I needed to go and actually going. Here's what helped me start moving before I was ready:

👉 Coffee chats beat job boards (especially when you're not sure yet). You don't have to be job hunting to reach out. Find people doing work that interests you and ask for 20 minutes. You're not asking for a job, you're just getting curious. It's low stakes, and it turns a vague "maybe someday" into something real.

👉 Document your wins now, while the pressure is off. Screenshots of good feedback, numbers you moved, projects you led. You won't remember the details when you're mid-search and stressed. Building this folder now is something you can do today, without committing to anything.

👉 Build your brand before you need it. You don't have to announce a career change. Just post about what you're learning or working on. It builds visibility quietly, on your timeline, with zero pressure. People hire people they've heard of and that reputation takes time to build.

Thinking through a career shift and what it means financially? Let's talk.

The maximum Earned Income Tax Credit you may be leaving on the table

The EITC is one of the most valuable (and most overlooked) tax credits available. It's fully refundable, meaning even if you owe nothing, you can still get this money back. Eligibility is based on income and number of dependents, and the maximum this year is $8,046.

Check the IRS eligibility tool before you file, because this is one of those things worth 20 minutes of your time.

The median retirement account balance in the U.S.

If you've ever Googled "average retirement savings" and immediately felt bad about yourself, the problem might be the math. The mean balance is $334,000… but the median is $86,900. Those are very different numbers. Half of Americans with retirement accounts have less than $87k saved.

If you're near that number, you're actually just right in the middle. Focus on consistent contributions, not catching a number that doesn't represent most people.

People who could answer basic personal finance questions correctly

That means roughly half the country can't pass a basic financial literacy test. And the more concerning finding isn't the number itself. It's that it hasn't improved. Financial literacy in the U.S. has been stagnant for years, even as the decisions people are expected to make (retirement accounts, student loans, investing, insurance) keep getting more complex.

So what can you actually do? Start with one thing you don't fully understand: your 401(k) match, how interest compounds, what your credit score actually measures Learn just that for now. Financial literacy grows the same way financial wealth does: incrementally, over time, with intention.

Need to talk numbers? We can help you sort out your money.

The first ATM was installed at a Barclays Bank in London in 1967 and the PIN concept was invented right alongside it.

It was originally 6 digits, until the inventor's wife couldn't remember all 6, and just like that, the 4-digit PIN we all use today was born.