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- Gen Z & Money with Candela Larson
Gen Z & Money with Candela Larson
Let's get schooled by a 21yo Finance Expert.
Chris (Loogie) Luger
October 31, 2025
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With Candela Larson, 21yo Personal Finance Expert
Meet the Future of Finance
Most 21-year-olds are still figuring out student loans. Candela Larson already holds her Series 7 & 66 licenses, a double major in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and a razor-sharp perspective on how Gen Z should handle money, debt, and the rising tide of AI “advice.”
She joined me on The Extreme Personal Finance Show to talk about what happens when financial literacy starts early as elementary-school-garage-sale early.
“My mom was an extreme couponer. I learned to make change at garage sales before I could spell ‘compound interest.’”
The Myth-Busting Begins
Candela doesn’t sugarcoat it: your car, purse, or watch is not an investment.
She calls out one of Gen Z’s biggest blind spots is thinking ownership automatically equals wealth. Her advice? Learn what actually grows in value, and what just drains your future cash flow.
“Even a house or an education can be questionable as ‘investments.’ Personal property isn’t a portfolio.”
Debt: The Real Villain in This Story
High-interest debt is the mosh-pit monster eating Gen Z’s paychecks alive.
Candela drops the hammer:
“Avoid high-interest debt at all costs. Car loans at 15 percent? Credit cards at 25 percent? Those are wealth-killers.”
Forget the influencer flex. Real power is having no payments and total control.
Taxes, Retirement & the “Boring” Stuff
Gen Z loves immediacy, but Candela reminds us that the quiet, steady moves build the loudest results.
Taxes: Start paying attention now. “It’s one of your top three expenses.”
Retirement: “Compound growth is a beast—feed it early.”
Estate planning: Don’t overthink it yet. Just set up beneficiaries and a simple will.
No drama. Just direction.
The Reality Check on AI & Hype
Candela’s generation grew up digital, but she’s not fooled by the bots.
“AI is great at credible misinformation. It looks real, until it’s not.”
She warns that hype, clickbait, and AI-generated “advice” could fuel the next wave of pump-and-dump schemes. Her solution? Stay skeptical, stay diversified, and never outsource your critical thinking.
Privilege Isn’t a Dirty Word
Candela’s brutally honest about the role privilege plays in early wealth-building:
“If your parents let you live at home to stack cash, just do it. It’s not lazy, it’s smart.”
She’s currently eyeing house-hacking opportunities, turning family assets into a launchpad instead of a limitation. That’s strategic, not spoiled.
Candela proves financial independence isn’t about age, it’s totally about attitude.
She’s the voice of a generation that’s skeptical, scrappy, and ready to outthink the system. Stop chasing status. Start mastering the fundamentals. The most metal move you can make with money is knowing exactly what’s real and tuning out the noise.
Other Episodes
Thanks again for following along! Keep those Horns Up, my friend 🤘 🤘 And please share this newsletter with those you think would find value!