·S3 E7
Building Financial Clarity: Education, Culture, and the Long Game with Elizaveta Shafir
Episode Description
In this episode of the First Gen 101 podcast, Elizaveta Shafir, founder of Intentional Money, shares how becoming financially independent at 20 pushed her from month-to-month budgeting into long-term planning. She discusses moving from Russia to the U.S. at 27 and learning a new financial system, including how to navigate credit history, 401(k)s, retirement planning, and investing. Elizaveta explains how her interest in personal finance led her to launch Intentional Money. She breaks down education as an investment—degree, knowledge, brand, and network.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:49 Money Independence at 20
02:38 First Paycheck and Russia Roots
03:55 Immigrating and US Money Culture
07:29 Launching Intentional Money
10:24 Education as ROI Decision
17:10 Why MIT Was the Accelerator
21:00 Networking for First Gen Pros
23:52 Work Life Balance and Saying No
29:24 Consistency and Closing Thoughts
🔔 Subscribe to this podcast and follow us on:
📱 Facebook: First Gen 101
📸 Instagram: @firstgen101podcast
🎵 TikTok: @firstgen101
🌐 Website: podcast.firstgen101.com
🎤 Do you want to be a podcast guest or know someone with an inspiring story who should be on the podcast?
📧 Send an email to miguel@firstgen101.com
🙏 Thank you for listening! Please leave a ⭐️ rating and review!