Why High Earners Stay Broke, with Rose Han

Listen to this episode from Afford Anything on Spotify. #652: What if you did everything “right”, earned the degree, landed the six-figure job, and still felt broke? That’s exactly where Rose Han found herself. Fresh out of NYU with a finance degree and a Wall Street paycheck, she had a negative net worth, mounting stress, and a sinking feeling that traditional success wasn’t the path to freedom. In this conversation, Rose shares how she broke out of that cycle and built a seven-figure business that gives her time, independence, and peace of mind. We explore how she reframed her relationship with money, learned to scale her income, and built a life that aligns with her values. Key Takeaways When a “side hustle” becomes just a second job How your uniqueness is your greatest asset The slow season that led to a million-dollar leap Resources and Links Rose Han on YouTube Add a Zero by Rose Han Chapters Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising segments. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (0:00) Rose Han’s story begins: doing everything right yet still ending up broke (5:45) The Cancun moment that sparked Rose’s financial awakening (9:12) Discovering the three types of income and why some buy freedom while others don’t (13:45) How Rose Han built her “Add a Zero” framework for lasting wealth (21:30) From employee mindset to entrepreneur mindset (25:15) The three levels of leverage and how to scale your income (28:55) Why not every side hustle creates freedom (31:45) Overcoming the fear of selling (39:16) How to build a business while working full-time (47:10) Rose’s real estate lessons and the myth of passive income (53:55) Knowing when to walk away from an investment (1:10:15) What financial freedom really means and how to find your own version Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices