In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we dig into a timely article on how median salaries shifted across the U.S. and what those numbers really mean in real life. From remote work reshaping entire regions to why a raise doesn’t always feel like a raise, we unpack the hidden stories behind state-by-state income data, share personal observations from Washington and Hawaii, and explore creative ways people are leveraging geography, flexibility, and strategy to build wealth. If you’ve ever wondered how location impacts your earning power (or how to play the long game with income), this one’s for you.

1. Median incomes may be rising, but cost of living often rises right alongside them, so higher pay doesn’t automatically mean more financial freedom.
2. Remote and hybrid work are quietly reshaping local economies, driving up housing costs and salaries in unexpected places far outside major cities.
3. Big employers and corporate hubs can dramatically skew state averages, creating pockets of wealth that don’t reflect the broader region.
4. Some people are strategically earning high salaries in expensive areas early on, then moving to lower-cost states to stretch savings and investments further.
5. Thinking long-term about where you work, where you live, and how you stack and deploy income can create powerful flexibility across different seasons of life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content discussed.

What happens when you stop treating income like a single lane and start building it like an ecosystem? In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we sit down with Ronii Bartles, business manager, strategist, jewelry curator, Zumba instructor, and CEO of Simplicity, to talk about how expertise, trust, and simplicity can unlock unexpected (and surprisingly easy) income streams.

From uncovering hidden value in inherited jewelry to dismantling the myth that “busy” equals productive, Ronii shares how a strong personal brand can support multiple revenue paths without burnout.

1. Expertise creates opportunity.
2. Becoming deeply knowledgeable in one area often reveals niche problems people are desperate to solve and willing to pay for.
3. Community is a revenue multiplier.
4. Ronii’s jewelry business grew organically from relationships built in her Zumba classes - proof that trust often comes before the offer.
5. Simplicity scales better than hustle.
6. Multiple income streams don’t have to mean complexity. When everything ladders back to one clear personal brand, it actually gets easier.
7. Busy is not the same as productive.
8. Activity without revenue is just noise. Ronii breaks down how focusing on revenue-producing work changed everything.
9. Different income streams use different energy, not more energy.
10. Physical movement, tactile work, and analytical tasks balance each other out and prevent burnout when designed intentionally.

Check out Ronii’s website or follow her on Instagram.

Our Links

Tony’s website

Melissa’s website

Drip Trickle Flow Flood T-Shirts

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Rate and Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

https://driptrickleflowflood.substack.com/

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content...

In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we dig into a headline that could reshape everything: women are poised to inherit an estimated $47 trillion of the projected $124 trillion wealth transfer.

We unpack what that shift means for women, and for the financial industry, financial advisors, investing strategies, and even the kinds of businesses that may thrive next. If the money is changing hands, the systems around it will have to change too… and the big question is: is the finance industry ready?

This conversation covers representation in financial services, how firms market to women (or fail to), why being heard matters as much as returns, and where women may choose to invest when they finally have a bigger seat at the table.

1. A massive wealth shift is coming, and the industry isn’t ready yet.
2. The episode highlights how women are expected to receive a major portion of the upcoming wealth transfer, while financial advising remains male-dominated. That gap creates a real opportunity (and a real problem) for firms that don’t evolve.
3. Representation matters, but so does how advisors communicate.
4. It’s not only about hiring more women (though that matters a lot). It’s also about advisors of any gender learning how to engage women clients without assumptions, including who the “decision maker” is when couples walk in the door.
5. We don’t fully know women’s investing behavior… because women haven’t always been in the room.
6. It’s hard to draw conclusions about “how women invest” when so many women have historically been excluded from the networks and spaces where investing opportunities happen.
7. This shift could change where money goes, from industries to asset classes.
8. We explore how increased female control of wealth could shape investment choices (risk tolerance, industries, goals-based planning), and even spending patterns, which can influence market trends and business opportunities.
9. This is a career and business opportunity, especially for women.
10. As money changes hands, many people will look for new advisors and a more values-aligned “money team.” We point out that finance careers (advisors, bankers, accountants, real estate investing) may become even more in-demand, and the human element will still matter.

Our Links

Tony’s website

Melissa’s website

Drip Trickle Flow Flood T-Shirts

We’ve got merch! That’s right, Drip Trickle Flow Flood t-shirts are officially here and they’re as comfy as they are conversation-starting.

Grab yours!

Rate and Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

https://driptrickleflowflood.substack.com/

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial,...