Book Reviews
Money at 30: “Cashing Out” Audiobook Review
It’s time yet again for another personal finance audiobook review. This month, I had the chance to check out Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away by Julien and Kiersten Saunders of the Rich & Regular podcast. Having seen this duo at past FinCon events and all over personal finance Twitter, I was excited to pick this one up on Audible and give it a listen during my latest road trip. Luckily for me, it delivered.
First, I should note that, as the authors point out, this book is particularly aimed at the Black community — of which I am not a member. Nevertheless, the information the book contains can be helpful to anyone regardless of background.
One thing I appreciated about the audiobook version of this title is how Julien and Kiersten traded off reading responsibilities for each chapter (except for a couple of chapters near the end that feature both of them for specific reasons). I really enjoyed hearing from both of them and — seeing as I was listening to this while driving a boring stretch of road — the hand-off in between chapters helped keep things fresh and keep me engaged. Plus, going back to one of the chapters where both appear, the “He Said, She Said” section felt made for the audiobook format (even though it wasn’t) and I loved every second of it.
To me, one of the most intriguing sections of Cashing Out is where the authors lay out the thesis that workers aim to spend just 15 years at their career before cashing out. That might sound a bit ambitious to say the least, yet Julien and Kiersten make a compelling case, complete with examples. On that note, bonus points to this book for featuring one of my favorite blogs: A Purple Life.
Another chapter I thought was intriguing was on community and surrounding yourself with like-minded people as a means of fueling your financial journey forward. To quote the book, “The math is the math but the magic is in the community.” While plenty of personal finance books have been known to give shout-outs to other bloggers, podcasts, etc., this is probably the first time I’ve heard such an emphasis put on this element of the FI movement.
While these specific sections stick out the most in my mind, the entire book is filled with moments that really grabbed my attention — even as someone who’s fairly well versed in a lot of these topics by now. Some examples include a deep dive into the purposes of income, a reflection on how education can only take you so far before courage is required, and more. Given the timing of the book’s release, there are also several references to the pandemic, which made the book that much more relatable for a listener in 2022.
At what’s listed at a six-hour runtime for the audiobook, Cashing Out was a bit on the short side — but also flew by while I was listening to it (in a good way). In hindsight, the book doesn’t have all of the step-by-step elements that some other books of this genre do. Personally, I think that works to its advantage as Julien and Kiersten instead spend the time laying out their unique perspectives and experiences while offering resources where readers can dive into more details.
Overall, just as I expected I would, I really enjoyed listening to Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away. Funny enough, in the book itself, the authors even note that around one-fifth of those consuming this title will do so via this medium. That might seem like just a random fact but it’s one of many details that are worked into Cashing Out and help to elevate it in my mind. So, whether you opt for a hard copy or listen to it as I did, I think you too will find something to learn from Cashing Out.
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