Nicole Lapin on the Money Habits That Made Her Millions (and Can Work for You)
“Rich people stay rich by acting like they’re poor. Poor people stay poor by acting like they’re rich.”
— Nicole Lapin
Nicole Lapin isn’t your typical money expert. She’s a former CNN anchor turned best-selling author, a financial literacy powerhouse, and someone who clawed her way out of serious financial trauma to become a guiding voice for millions. In a candid conversation with Emma Grede on the Aspire podcast, Lapin unpacked the emotional roots of our financial behaviors—and the practical systems that can liberate us.
Her story is a masterclass for anyone building from scratch. Especially for wantrepreneurs looking to replace financial fear with clarity and control.
🚫 First, Let’s Talk About the Last Taboo: Money
We talk about everything—sex, relationships, even bikini waxes—before we talk about money.
“You just told me about your landing strip and you're not telling me what's in your bank account?” Nicole joked. But the point hits hard: we avoid money talk because we equate it with self-worth, shame, and failure. Until we untangle that emotional knot, we’ll never step into our full financial power.
“Money is just a tool. You can build a house with it—or tear it down.”
🧠 Your Money Story Started Long Before Your Business Did
Nicole’s story begins with trauma: her house was foreclosed when she was a child. She bailed her mother out of jail with cash stashed under the sink behind maxi pads. She didn’t choose to love finance—she had to figure it out to survive.
Her message to founders? Acknowledge your financial past. Then write a new one.
“The first step to any recovery is admitting you have a problem. The only problem you can’t fix is the one you won’t admit.”
🛠️ You Don’t Need an MBA—You Need a System
Nicole didn’t grow up with financial savvy. She faked her way into a business news role at age 18 and learned by doing. Today, she swears by baby steps and automation.
Her financial recovery began with breaking down her $10,000 debt into a manageable $7/day payment. Why? Because the math isn’t the hard part—it’s the psychology.
“We spend more time researching an air fryer than we do automating our investments.”
Her Simplified Framework:
- Start where you are — Not with a big lump sum, but with time, which is more powerful.
- Set it and forget it — Automate savings and retirement contributions.
- Boring is sexy — Index funds, not moonshot crypto bets.
- Compound interest is your best employee — It works 24/7, tax-efficient, emotion-free.
💡 The Passion Trap: You Don’t Have to “Love” Finance to Win at It
Forget the myth of “follow your passion.” Nicole flips the script:
“It’s not passion that leads to success. It’s success that leads to passion.”
The more successful she became, the more she enjoyed finance. As a founder, you don’t need to love spreadsheets—you need to respect money as the engine that fuels your mission.
🧾 The 70/15/15 Rule: A Budget You’ll Actually Follow
Forget extreme frugality or guilt-based budgeting. Nicole reframes it as a “spending plan” that feels sustainable:
- 70% → Essentials (housing, food, transport)
- 15% → Extras (yes, even lattes and lashes—just cap them)
- 15% → Endgame (investments, retirement, wealth-building)
You can have designer coffee and a financial future—if you set limits and stick to them.
💸 The Wealth Mindset Shift: Borrowing Isn’t Bad, It’s Strategy
Lapin challenges the “debt is evil” dogma many entrepreneurs inherit. In fact, wealthy people often borrow against their assets to keep cash working in the market.
“A house is not a good investment. It’s a home. It might feel good—but don’t confuse it with a guaranteed wealth-builder.”
Opportunity cost is real. And sometimes, stocks outperform stuff (and even real estate).
🔁 Multiple Income Streams (That Aren’t Side Hustles)
Most millionaires have seven income streams—but that doesn’t mean seven jobs. For Nicole, that includes:
- Dividends from index funds
- Interest on bonds
- Royalties from books
- Business earnings
- Strategic media licensing
You can build income streams that don't require more hours—just better allocation.
💬 The Takeaway for Wantrepreneurs: Join the Conversation
One of the biggest barriers to wealth? Silence.
Nicole and Emma agree: women aren’t socialized to have “bro-y” money chats. But that’s the fix.
“Talk to your partner. Talk to your friends. Share strategies—not just shopping links.”
💬 5 Nicole Lapin Gems Every Entrepreneur Should Remember:
- Buy low, sell high.
- Automate everything.
- Stocks over stuff.
- Don’t wait to “feel ready.” Start with $100/month.
- It’s not how much you make—it’s how much you keep and grow.
Final Word: Know What “Enough” Looks Like
Nicole closed with a mic-drop reflection:
“We’ve never felt like we can have it all because we never define what all is—and we keep moving the goalposts mid-game.”
Whether you’re bootstrapping or post-exit, that clarity is your compass.
Why Lyft CEO David Risher Thinks “Inertia, Not Uber” Is His Real Competition
