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On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Sahirenys Pierce—financial wellness educator, author, and creator of The High 5 Banking Method—to talk about how a deeply personal family health crisis reshaped the way she approached money.

When Sahirenys learned that her son had a heart defect and would need open-heart surgery at just six months old, she realized her finances needed more clarity, structure, and resilience.

That experience led her to develop the High 5 Banking Method, a simple yet powerful system designed to help women and families organize their money, reduce financial stress, and build stability even when life throws unexpected challenges their way.

In this conversation, Sahirenys shares practical tools and mindset shifts to help you feel more confident, prepared, and in control of your finances.

• Her background and what inspired her to create The High 5 Banking Method.

• How her son's health crisis sparked a complete shift in how she managed money.

• What the High 5 Banking Method is and how it works in everyday life.

• How the method simplifies budgeting and reduces financial overwhelm.

• The purpose of the 2 checking + 3 savings account structure and how it helps prevent overdrafts and overspending.

• How to use the "Cut, Keep, or Reduce" (CKR) strategy to reset spending habits.

• The 2-Week Gap Strategy and how it helps break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

• How to run "All Hands" family money meetings to keep everyone aligned.

• Why this system works especially well for first-generation wealth builders and families navigating financial uncertainty.

• How her approach meets people where they are—even if they feel like money systems aren't designed for them.

AND SO MUCH MORE

• Instagram: @poisedfinancelifestyle

• Website: thepoisedlifestyle.com

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

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New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to pre-order now

What can having immigrant parents teach you about building wealth?

I'm sharing the powerful money lessons my immigrant parents taught me, lessons that shaped my mindset, my career, and ultimately helped me build wealth. Success doesn't always start with money. Sometimes it starts with resilience, sacrifice, and the lessons passed down from the people who raised you (Note: that doesn't only mean your parents).

My parents didn't give me a trust fund. But they gave me something far more valuable: discipline, perseverance, and the belief that financial freedom is possible, even when you start with nothing.

As the daughter of first-generation immigrants, I watched my parents break barriers, start over in a new country, and build a life through education, sacrifice, and determination.

Those experiences shaped how I think about money, success, and legacy.

What I share:

• The money lessons I learned growing up in an immigrant household
• How my parents' sacrifices shaped my mindset about wealth
• Why financial freedom is about more than just money
• The importance of building generational impact and legacy
• Why wealth is possible even if you didn't grow up with money

Whether you're building wealth from scratch, breaking generational cycles, or creating a new financial path for your family, this conversation is for you. Your background does not determine your financial future.

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Subscribe to the Clever Girl Finance newsletter for weekly motivation! clevergirlfinance.com/subscribe

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to pre-order now

In this candid interview, Fo Alexander of Mama & Money sits down with Bola Sokunbi—founder of Clever Girl Finance and author of the new book, Clever Girl Millionaire, to uncover the unfiltered truth about building wealth.

They dive deep into the excuses that keep us stuck in "survival mode," the expensive setbacks we are too ashamed to talk about (like Bola's massive 401(k) and wedding expense mistakes!), and the practical steps required to move from financial stability to serious abundance. If you have ever felt "behind" or overwhelmed by the pressure of perfect financial timelines, this conversation is for you.

FO AND BOLA DISCUSSED:

• Why your financial comeback matters more than your setback, and why you cannot shame yourself into wealth.
• Why it is never too late to start building your legacy.
• The Excuses We Can't Afford: How to pivot from fear-based saving (safety) to asset-based growth (freedom).
• The 4 Pillars of Prosperity: A realistic breakdown of Earned Income, Investing, Real Estate, and Entrepreneurship.

CONNECT WITH FO ALEXANDER:

• On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MamaNMoney
• Via her website: https://mamaandmoney.com/

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Subscribe to the Clever Girl Finance newsletter for weekly motivation! clevergirlfinance.com/subscribe

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance