Financial literacy for musicians.

Category: Tools

The music industry guide to making sound financial decisions

Money trees is the perfect place for shade.

Kendrick Lamar

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

A sustainable music business requires a stable personal financial plan.

This guide will review how to make sound financial decisions including:

  • Cash flow
  • Insurance
  • Taxes
  • Investing
  • Retirement
  • Estate planning

The music industry guide to layoffs and how to prepare for one

When one curtain closes another curtain opens.

Listen on: Apple – Spotify – Soundcloud

If you recently lost your music industry job, I’m sorry for your loss. Things will get better.

If you’re here to prepare for a potential layoff, I hope you never experience one.

How to measure your cash flow as a professional musician

Cash rules everything around me.

wu tang clan

Listen on: iTunes – Spotify – Soundcloud

After calculating your net worth with a balance sheet the next step to understanding your financial wellness is measuring your cash flow using an income statement.

This spreadsheet will map out all of your expected income and expenses throughout the year to identify shortfalls or excess cash flow.

How to calculate net cash flow

Net cash flow is what remains after your savings, debt payments, insurance premiums, living expenses and tax obligations.

Inflows – outflows = net cash flow

What you do with extra money is up to you!

How to measure your net worth as a professional musician

“Your mind, more than your actions, determines your net worth.”

robert kiyosaki

Listen on: iTunes – Spotify – Soundcloud

Before deciding where you want to go (artistic freedom), it’s crucial to know where you are today.

Your net worth is a metric to measure financial wellness.

Net worth ≠ self worth

Remember, it’s just a number. It does not represent your worth as a person or musician. 

It’s a temporary snapshot of your financial situation. Use it as information or motivation to guide the next steps toward artistic freedom.

Ep. 33: Four simple steps to save an emergency fund

Listen to Episode 23: iTunesSpotifyStitcherSoundcloud

Learn the 4 simple steps to save an emergency fund.
Follow along by downloading my free PDF:

4 Simple Steps to Save an Emergency Fund (PDF)

Topics discussed:

  • How to combat spending issues
  • What to save for
  • What is an emergency?
  • The power of insurance
  • Preparing for loss of income
  • Avoiding credit cards or loans to pay for emergencies
  • The downward spiral of debt
  • Add up mandatory monthly expenses
  • Decide how many months to set aside
  • Determine what % of after-tax income to save
  • Set up automatic monthly deposits
  • Protect your emergency fund

Thanks for listening and keep thriving!

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