Alicia Kags

I never thought I’d agree to a $795 annual fee — but when the math works, I happily went for it.

What the fee actually got me:

✨Easier travel days — no more racing the clock trying to time arrival so the kids aren’t too antsy but we’re not sprinting through security
✨Hours saved prepping toddler meals, freezing pouches, and packing snacks for massive travel days
✨A place to actually sit, relax, and let the kids run around instead of hovering by the gate
✨$560/year saved on airport meals (lounge access replaced $40/flight × 14 flights)
✨$300 dining credit + $300 StubHub credit — for things we were already spending on anyway

$1,160 in value. $795 annual fee. We’re still up $365 before a single point gets used.

This isn’t a “get rich” card trick. It’s just math — the same math I use for everything else: make your spending work as hard as you do.

Save this for your next flight-prep spiral. Follow for more on travel, money, and making premium cards actually pay for themselves.

Here’s the exact order I’d invest my money to build wealth faster while still protecting my future:

1. Get the 401(k) Match First
This is a guaranteed return on your money. If your employer matches contributions, take the full match before doing anything else. Turning down a match is basically turning down free money.

2. Pay Off High-Interest Debt + Build a 3–6 Month Emergency Fund
Before aggressively investing, I’d eliminate high-interest debt (>6%) and create a cash buffer.
Why? Because investing becomes much easier when you’re not one emergency away debt.

My priorities here:
* Pay off high-interest debt
* Keep 3–6 months of essential expenses in cash
* Create stability before taking more market risk

3. Max Out the HSA
The HSA is one of the most powerful investment accounts available because it can offer:
* Tax deduction going in
* Tax-free growth
* Tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses
Triple tax advantages are hard to beat.

4. Max Out the Roth IRA
I love the Roth IRA because future growth and withdrawals can be tax-free.
At 35, decades of compounding inside a Roth can become incredibly valuable later on.
I’d focus on:
* Low-cost index funds
* Long-term consistency
* Automating contributions

5. Max Out the 401(k)
Once the Roth IRA and HSA are fully funded, I’d continue increasing retirement contributions through the 401(k).
This lowers taxable income today while allowing investments to compound for decades.

6. Invest the Rest in a Brokerage Account
After all tax-advantaged accounts are maxed out, every extra dollar goes into a taxable brokerage account.

Why I like brokerage accounts:
* No contribution limits
* Full flexibility
* Accessible before retirement age
* Great for building financial independence

The biggest lesson I’ve learned:
Wealth building is usually less about chasing the perfect investment and more about consistently putting money into the right accounts in the right order.

We all know my husband has zero control over me 😂

My day 19 update on my 100 brands pitch
✨it’s going slower than I expected
✨as always I’m giving you full transparency

And for the love of all that is good, please interact with this post so I can show my mother proof that I am indeed funny

Your biggest asset isn’t your income. It’s time. ⏳

$500 at birth + $100 every two weeks sounds small. It’s not the amount that does the heavy lifting — it’s the years you give it to grow.

Start at birth → $2.2M by 65.

This isn’t about being rich enough to hand your kids a trust fund. It’s about giving them options — the freedom to choose a career they love, take a risk, not feel trapped by money stress before they’ve even started.

You don’t need to be wealthy to start this. You just need to start early.

Follow for more on building wealth without waiting

Down to a science 👩🏻‍🔬 because I’m not lugging extra stuff around the globe 🌎