This Is Why You’re Not Rich in 2026! (how to get financially free) with Codie Sanchez

Key Points

• Financial freedom is achieved through asset ownership, not just employment, as ownership provides true freedom and security in a changing economy.
• Women should focus on building financial capability rather than physical strength, as money is gender-neutral and enables exiting difficult situations.
• Crying at work is discouraged because it can reduce respect, promotions, and earnings; emotional regulation is advised for professional success.
• Young people are encouraged to work in offices and gain experience in hard jobs early, rather than pursuing remote work or entrepreneurship prematurely.
• Entrepreneurship is often overrated; it can be pursued on the side while maintaining a high-paying job to fund future ventures.
• Women should prioritize learning the language of money, understand power structures, and avoid being turned into consumers by focusing on creating wealth.
• Showing vulnerability on social media can build relatability, but emotional displays should be compartmentalized away from professional settings.

Summary

The transcription features a conversation about financial empowerment, particularly for women, emphasizing the importance of asset ownership and the language of money. The speaker, Cody St. Charles, shares insights from her experience on Wall Street and private equity, arguing that true freedom comes from owning assets rather than relying solely on employment. She notes that in today’s economy, with AI and job market changes, nothing is safe unless you own things. Historically, 80% of Americans owned businesses, but that figure has dropped to 6-10%, highlighting a need to reclaim ownership.

The discussion addresses gender dynamics in finance. The speaker asserts that women cannot compete with men in physical strength but can excel in financial capability, as money does not discriminate by sex. She encourages women to get comfortable with money conversations and to stop listening to those who turn them into consumers, instead following creators who teach wealth-building. She also advises against crying at work, arguing it can undermine respect and career advancement; instead, she recommends processing emotions privately to maintain professional credibility.

For young people, the speaker advocates for in-office work and embracing difficult jobs early in one’s career to gain skills and network, rather than prioritizing remote work or entrepreneurship. She believes that earning on someone else’s time allows you to make mistakes without personal financial risk, and that entrepreneurship is overrated—most startups fail, and many entrepreneurs earn less than $46,000 a year. She suggests working a high-paying job while building a business on the side, using those earnings to fund future ventures. The speaker also notes that successful founders are often over 40, so there is no rush to start a business in one’s 20s.

The conversation touches on the power of social media for women to build relatability and social currency, but the speaker remains firm that emotional displays should be kept out of professional environments. She emphasizes that understanding power structures and reverse-engineering the success of the wealthy can help individuals join the decision-making class. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve financial freedom, which enables personal autonomy and the ability to exit situations where one is not respected. The speaker concludes by encouraging listeners to focus on creating wealth and pulling others up, rather than getting rich quietly.