Former Wall Street Trader Reveals The Money Truth No One Taught You | Vivian Tu
In this episode of The School of Greatness, host Lewis Howes and former Wall Street trader Vivian Tu examine the fundamentals of building wealth and financial success. Tu shares insights about wealth-building mindsets and practices, explaining that wealth creation isn't limited to specific demographics and discussing how proper financial habits, emergency savings, and strategic investment approaches contribute to long-term financial stability.
The conversation also covers the intersection of money and relationships, particularly focusing on income disparities between partners and the importance of open financial communication. Tu and Howes address career development in uncertain economic times, exploring how employees can become valuable assets to their organizations while protecting their financial security through emergency funds and market awareness.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Nov 5, 2025 episode of the The School of Greatness
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Building Wealth and Financial Skills
In this episode, Vivian Tu and Lewis Howes explore the essential components of building wealth, focusing on mindset, practical financial skills, and navigating money-related relationships.
Cultivating the Right Mindset for Financial Success
Tu challenges the notion that wealth is limited to certain demographics, suggesting that anyone can build wealth with proper habits and mindset. She emphasizes that true wealth isn't about displaying status through expensive brands but rather maintaining a relaxed relationship with money. Tu notes that proximity to wealthy individuals can provide valuable insights into wealth-building strategies, though she acknowledges this access isn't universal.
Developing Practical Financial Skills
According to Tu, building wealth requires focusing on emergency savings, strategic debt management, and early retirement planning. She advocates for diversified investment strategies using tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Tu emphasizes the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal values and life goals, including considerations for children's education and caring for aging parents.
Navigating Money in Relationships
Tu discusses the challenges of income disparities in relationships, particularly when women earn more than their male partners. She stresses the importance of open communication about finances and recognizing non-monetary contributions to maintain healthy relationships. Tu and Howes both emphasize that mutual respect and understanding of each partner's history and contributions are crucial for relationship success.
Thriving in the Job Market
To become indispensable in today's uncertain job market, Tu recommends becoming a key contributor within your organization and developing transferable skills. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining an emergency fund while monitoring market trends and potential layoffs through WARN notices. Tu and Howes suggest that success in the workplace comes from combining technical expertise with strong soft skills, active networking, and the ability to demonstrate measurable value to the company.
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Counterarguments
- While mindset is important, systemic barriers can make wealth-building significantly more challenging for certain demographics, despite having the right habits and mindset.
- The idea that anyone can build wealth may overlook the realities of those living in extreme poverty or in regions with limited economic opportunities.
- Proximity to wealthy individuals can indeed provide insights, but it may also reinforce social stratification and does not guarantee that those insights will be actionable or effective for everyone.
- Emergency savings and debt management are important, but for some, the ability to save or manage debt strategically is constrained by low income and high living costs.
- Diversified investment strategies are beneficial, but they require disposable income to invest, which not everyone has.
- Aligning financial decisions with personal values is ideal, but not always practical in the face of financial hardship or unexpected life events.
- The emphasis on caring for children's education and aging parents assumes that individuals have the financial capacity to prioritize these considerations, which may not be the case for everyone.
- Open communication about finances in relationships is important, but cultural, psychological, and emotional factors can complicate these conversations, making them more challenging than suggested.
- The advice to become indispensable at work and develop transferable skills is sound, but job security can also be influenced by factors outside an individual's control, such as economic downturns or industry disruptions.
- Monitoring market trends and WARN notices can be helpful, but not all workers have the resources or knowledge to effectively use this information for their benefit.
- The focus on demonstrating measurable value to a company assumes a meritocratic workplace, which may not always reflect the reality of office politics or unconscious biases.
Actionables
- You can create a "wealth-building book club" with friends to share knowledge and insights on financial literacy. By reading and discussing books on personal finance and wealth creation, you and your friends can learn from different perspectives and encourage each other to develop good financial habits. For example, each month, the club could focus on a different aspect of wealth-building, such as debt management or investment strategies, and hold discussions on how to apply these concepts in your daily lives.
- Start a "values-based budgeting" practice to align your spending with your personal values and life goals. Begin by listing your core values and life goals, then review your monthly expenses to see how they match up. This could involve cutting out expenses that don't contribute to your values, like subscription services that go unused, and redirecting that money towards savings or investments that support your long-term goals, such as a child's education fund or a retirement account.
- Initiate a "career skill-swap" within your professional network to develop transferable skills without formal education. Find colleagues or contacts who are willing to exchange knowledge on different skills, such as public speaking, data analysis, or project management. For instance, if you're skilled in graphic design but want to improve your public speaking, you could offer to design a colleague's presentation in exchange for coaching on presentation skills. This barter system allows you to diversify your skill set and become more indispensable in the job market.
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Building Wealth and Financial Skills
Vivian Tu and Lewis Howes delve into the key factors and strategies necessary for building wealth, focusing on both mindset and practical financial skills.
Cultivating the Right Mindset for Financial Success
Dispelling the Myth: Wealth Is Within Reach for Anyone With the Right Mindset and Habits
Vivian Tu and Lewis Howes discuss the misconception that wealth is confined to certain demographics. Tu suggests that wealth is achievable by anyone who adopts the proper habits and mindset. She further implies that open conversations about finances can challenge taboos and lead to greater financial knowledge and success.
Importance of Proximity to Wealth-Building Strategies
Tu discusses the significant role proximity to wealthy individuals plays in learning wealth-building strategies and gaining financial advice. Having connections to affluent networks can provide invaluable experiences, though she acknowledges that not having such proximity can make it difficult to achieve financial success.
True Wealth vs. Illusion - Actions and Attitudes of the Truly Wealthy
Tu distinguishes between the truly wealthy—who are unconcerned with flaunting their wealth and instead generously share their resources—and those pretending to be wealthy—who focus on impressive brands and appearances. These behaviors underpin the mindset inherent to true wealth, as also discussed in Lewis Howes’s book, which suggests true wealth comes from a relaxed relationship with money and finding ways to make money work for you.
Developing Practical Financial Skills and Strategies
Savings, Debt, and Retirement: Foundational Priorities
Tu highlights the importance of building an emergency fund, suggesting specific savings goals based on personal circumstances. She advises tackling total debt by paying off loans with the highest interest rates first and stresses the critical nature of early retirement saving, referencing statistics indicating a lack of retirement savings among older individuals.
Invest Wisely Through Diversification and Tax-advantaged Accounts
T ...
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Building Wealth and Financial Skills
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Counterarguments
- While adopting the right habits and mindset can certainly help, systemic issues such as inequality, lack of access to quality education, and discrimination can make wealth building significantly more challenging for some individuals, suggesting that it's not always achievable by "anyone" solely through personal effort.
- Open conversations about finances can be beneficial, but they may not be enough to overcome the financial illiteracy that is deeply rooted in some communities due to longstanding educational disparities.
- Proximity to wealthy individuals can provide opportunities to learn wealth-building strategies, but this assumes that such proximity is possible or that wealthy individuals are willing to share their knowledge, which may not always be the case.
- The concept of true wealth being tied to generosity and a relaxed relationship with money may not resonate with all cultural or personal values, where wealth might be seen in terms of security or the ability to provide for one's family.
- The advice to build an emergency fund and pay off high-interest debt is sound, but it may not be practical for individuals living paycheck to paycheck or those with limited income, where s ...
Actionables
- You can create a "wealth-building book club" with friends to foster open conversations about finances and learn collectively. Start by selecting books that focus on financial literacy and wealth-building strategies. Meet monthly to discuss key takeaways, challenges, and set personal financial goals, encouraging each other to adopt the right habits and mindset.
- Develop a "generosity budget" by setting aside a small percentage of your income each month to donate or help others. This practice not only aligns with the concept of true wealth involving generosity but also helps you cultivate a relaxed relationship with money by seeing it as a tool for positive impact rather than just a means for personal gain.
- Initiate a "financial mentorship exchange" within your community or network where you pair ...
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Navigating Relationships and Social Dynamics Around Money
Understanding the Impact of Money On Intimate Relationships
Vivian Tu suggests that relationships can be strained when one partner cannot accept income differences, particularly when a man feels emasculated by a female partner earning more. Conversations around these dynamics are critical, as evidenced when Tu spoke with her partner about her higher income, which he supported.
Addressing Power Imbalances and Insecurities in Income-Unequal Partnerships
Tu emphasizes the importance of not making a partner feel bad about income differences. Using money as emotional leverage, like Venmo-ing money instead of apologizing, is deemed inappropriate. She warns against financially belittling partners, which can harm the relationship. Vivian Tu notes the challenge of dating with her current financial status and that a man needs to find self-worth not tied to income for the relationship where the woman earns more to work. Acknowledging men's contributions like care, household management, and planning, especially when they can't match the financial input, is essential.
Key Elements for a Strong Relationship: Communication, Financial Goals, Respect
Tu and Lewis Howes discuss that mutual respect and understanding of non-monetary contributions can lead to a strong relationship. Tu appreciates her partner's participation in planning vacations despite her busy schedule, stressing the significance of shared responsibilities. Howes accentuates the importance of history in a relationship with a partner, recognizing who they were before their success.
Navigating Social Dynamics and Avoiding Toxic Comparisons
Avoid the Dangers Of "Keeping Up With the Joneses" and Focus On Your Financial Journey
Vivian Tu criticizes the "fake it till you make it" culture and the pressure to display wealth through spending habits beyond one's means, like ...
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Navigating Relationships and Social Dynamics Around Money
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Counterarguments
- While conversations about income dynamics are crucial, some couples may find that too much focus on financial differences can exacerbate tensions rather than resolve them.
- In some cases, using money as a form of apology or emotional expression might be culturally appropriate or accepted within certain relationships, depending on context and mutual understanding.
- The idea that men need to find self-worth not tied to income might overlook the complex socio-economic factors that contribute to self-esteem and identity, especially in cultures where financial prowess is closely linked to masculinity.
- While acknowledging non-monetary contributions is essential, it's also important to recognize that financial contributions can carry different weights in a relationship and may need to be addressed differently to ensure both partners feel valued.
- The emphasis on mutual respect and understanding of non-monetary contributions might not address deeper issues of financial inequality that could still undermine a relationship's stability.
- The suggestion to avoid the "fake it till you make it" culture could be seen as oversimplifying the nuanced ways in which people navigate social and professional environments where appearances can significantly impact opportunities.
- Focusing solely on personal financial journeys might not take into account the systemic issues that affect individuals' financial situations and can sometimes necessitate community support or collective action.
- The idea of building personal wealth as protection against financial dependence might not be feasible for everyone, especially those ...
Actionables
- Create a "Contribution Jar" where you and your partner write down non-monetary contributions each of you makes to the relationship and drop them in a jar; review these together monthly to appreciate each other's efforts beyond financial means. This can help both partners recognize and value the diverse ways they support the relationship, such as cooking, emotional support, or managing social calendars.
- Start a "Financial Autobiography" journal where you document your personal history with money, your current financial beliefs, and your aspirations. This self-reflective practice encourages a deeper understanding of how past experiences shape your financial perspective and can help you chart a path to financial independence that's tailored to your unique story.
- Organize a "Wealth Wis ...
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Preparing For and Thriving In the Job Market
In a job market fraught with uncertainty, experts like Vivian Tu and Lewis Howes provide advice on becoming indispensable employees and navigating potential layoffs.
Becoming an Indispensable Employee
Becoming a Key Contributor and "Critical Point" in Your Organization
Vivian Tu advises making oneself irreplaceable by becoming a key point of failure within a company, possessing unique knowledge or skills critical to operations. She recommends striving to be a key contributor, such as being the top salesperson or the go-to expert in one's role, to ensure job security.
Developing Transferable Skills: Communication, Problem-Solving, and Adaptability
Lewis Howes and Vivian Tu highlight the importance of having transferable soft skills like excellent communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Tu suggests learning sales skills, recalling specifically the concept of WIIFM ("What's in it for me?"), to consider the needs and motivations of others in interactions. These soft skills are important in various situations, such as negotiations or during flight delays, and can make an employee indispensable.
Navigating Job Market Uncertainty and Potential Layoffs
Maintaining an Emergency Fund and Monitoring Market and Industry Trends
Amid economic fluctuations, Vivian Tu underscores the importance of maintaining an emergency fund and keeping an eye on market trends. She suggests monitoring WARN notices for foreknowledge of mass layoffs, which can offer insight into potential job market shifts.
Networking, Upskilling & Becoming a Valuable Asset
To justify raises and avoid layoffs, Tu suggests actively asking for raises throughout the year with the help of a "brag book" that showcases achievements and positive feedback. She highlights the significance of being likable in the workplace and participating in company social events to be top of mind. Lewis Howes endorses showing consistent positive attitude, ene ...
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Counterarguments
- While becoming a key point of failure may offer job security, it can also create a single point of failure risk for the company, which is generally unhealthy for organizational resilience.
- Being the top salesperson or go-to expert may ensure job security, but it can also lead to burnout or stress due to high expectations and reliance on a single individual.
- Transferable soft skills are important, but overemphasizing them may lead to undervaluing technical expertise or specialized knowledge that is also crucial in many industries.
- The concept of WIIFM is useful, but focusing too much on what's in it for oneself might lead to a transactional approach to relationships, which may not always be well-received or appropriate.
- Maintaining an emergency fund is sound advice, but it may not be feasible for everyone, especially those with lower incomes or facing financial hardship.
- Monitoring WARN notices can be helpful, but it may not always provide a complete picture of the job market or individual job security, as many factors can affect employment.
- Actively asking for raises and maintaining a "brag book" are proactive strategies, but they may not be effective in all company cultures or could be perceived negatively by some employers.
- Being likable and participating in social events can be beneficial, but it may disadvantage introverted individuals or those who prefer to keep professional and personal lives separate.
- A consistent positive attitude and teamwork are important, but there may be situations where critical thinking and constructive criticism are more valuable to an organization.
- Networking and building personal connections are key, but they should not overshadow merit and performance as the primary factors in hiring and compensation decisions.
- Connecting with interviewers over shared in ...
Actionables
- You can enhance your indispensability by creating a specialized manual or guide for a complex task at work that only you can perform, ensuring that your unique approach adds value and is recognized by your peers and superiors. Start by identifying a task that is critical to your team but currently lacks clear documentation. Break down the process into detailed steps, add troubleshooting tips based on your experience, and share this guide with your team to demonstrate your initiative and expertise.
- Develop your soft skills by volunteering for a local community project where communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are essential. Look for opportunities that require you to work with diverse groups of people, such as organizing a community clean-up or a charity fundraiser. This will not only allow you to practice and refine these skills in real-world scenarios but also expand your network and potentially open doors to new career opportun ...
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