Ben Watson, CPA, and founder of Fiscal Fluency, shares some of the strategies he used to earn his accounting degree without taking on any student debt. Ben also talks about beginning his career as a CPA and why losing his 9-5 job ended up being one of his best things that ever happened to him.
Show Notes:
- The first way Ben was able to limit student debt was by earning his associate’s degree from an affordable community college.
- Then for his last two years of school, he did a lot of side hustling. Ben’s favorite side hustle during his college days was working as a notary public.
- As a mobile notary public, Ben made good college money traveling to customers who needed legal documents notarized. If you’re interested in starting a notary public college side hustle, Ben explains how to get started. Learn more college side hustle ideas!
- After graduating with his accounting degree, Ben took a job at an accounting firm while pursuing his CPA certification.
- While he was “moving up the ladder” and doing everything that you’re supposed to do in a career, he wasn’t completely satisfied. He wanted to incorporate financial health and wellness to his work, but his supervisors didn’t see the value.
- So instead of giving up, Ben built up a coaching business on the side.
- And it’s a good thing too because not long after his bosses let him know that the company was downsizing and he was being let go. But that ended up being the best moment in Ben’s career because it spurred him to dive headfirst into scaling his side hustle into a full-time job.
- And about a year later, Ben had replaced his day-job income, working as a financial coach and “CPA on speed dial.” Today, Ben does what he loves, working fewer hours, and all from the comfort of his home.
- Learn strategies from Ben on how to scale a service-based business and find clients.