Written by: Josh Miller

Everyone’s financial journey is different, but mine began in a place that many people can relate to—buried under a mountain of student loans and credit card debt. Today, as a financial advisor and coach, I help individuals and families achieve financial independence, and I believe that sharing my personal journey can inspire others to take control of their financial futures.

The Weight of Debt After College

When I graduated from college, I had amassed over $100,000 in student loan debt and an additional $10,000 in credit card debt. Once I landed my first professional job out of school, I was doing ok, but not great. Like many young professionals, I had dreams of building wealth, but the reality of my financial situation made that seem like a distant goal.

Rather than ignoring my debts and hoping for a miracle, I decided to take them seriously. I tracked my spending, cut unnecessary expenses, and started aggressively paying down my credit card debt while making steady progress on my student loans. I also began saving, even if it was just a small amount each month. I knew that my future self would thank me for every dollar I put aside.

Climbing Out of the Hole

Five years after college, I had eliminated my credit card debt, leaving only my student loans to tackle. More importantly, I had significantly increased my income—more than doubling it through career advancements and strategic job changes. With this higher income came a greater ability to save, and I made sure to take full advantage of it. My net worth, which had been deeply negative when I graduated, was finally approaching zero. While that might not sound like a milestone, it was a huge turning point. For the first time in my life, I was no longer financially underwater.

A Two-Player Game

Year six brought a new and exciting chapter: I got married, and together, my spouse and I bought our first home. Managing money as a team was a game-changer. We were aligned in our financial goals and made conscious decisions to live below our means. We prioritized paying down our student loans and increasing our savings rate. By year nine, we had wiped out our student loan debt completely and had ramped up our savings to over 50% of our combined gross income.

The First $100,000: The Hardest Milestone

Hitting the first $100,000 in net worth was a defining moment. Up until that point, every dollar we saved felt like an uphill battle—hard-earned and slow to accumulate. But as soon as we crossed that milestone, everything shifted. It felt like we had crested the peak of a mountain and were now cruising downhill. The momentum was on our side. Our money started working for us in a way that seemed almost effortless, compounding faster than we could have imagined. The game of building wealth had gone from feeling like a constant grind to something that was happening naturally, almost on autopilot.

From Stability to Wealth

Over the next four years, life continued to evolve. We welcomed two children into our family, while maintaining a high savings rate. We were intentional about how to spend our money and continued optimizing our investments. And then, we crossed another major milestone—we became millionaires.

The Lessons I Learned

Looking back, there were a few key principles that made all the difference:

1. Take Debt Seriously – Ignoring debt doesn’t make it go away. Facing it head-on and developing a plan to eliminate it is crucial.
2. Increase Your Income – While saving is essential, increasing your earning potential through career growth, side hustles, or smart investments accelerates wealth-building.
3. Live Below Your Means – Even as our income grew, we maintained a high savings rate. Lifestyle inflation can be a wealth killer.
4. Invest Early and Consistently – The first $100,000 is the hardest, but once you hit it, compound interest starts working in your favor.
5. Play as a Team – Managing finances with a partner requires communication and shared goals, but when done right, it can supercharge wealth-building.

Where We Go From Here

Reaching millionaire status is a milestone, but it’s not the end of the journey. Financial independence is about having the freedom to make choices that align with our values and priorities. Now, our focus is on maintaining financial security, teaching our children about money, and helping others achieve their own financial goals.

I share this story not to boast but to show that becoming a millionaire is possible—even if you start deep in debt with a modest salary. It takes discipline, strategy, and patience, but the results are worth it. My goal as a financial advisor and coach is to help others chart their own path to financial success.

No matter where you are in your financial journey, remember: every small step you take today brings you closer to the financial future you want. Your journey starts now.

Josh