In 2008, the investment banking behemoth Lehman Brothers held over $600 million in assets. For hundreds of years, the Lehman family built a massive portfolio based in ever-changing investment opportunities.

For those unfamiliar with the stock market, hedge funds, and investment banks that sustain the elusive enterprise of Wall Street, navigating the muddy waters can be confusing at the best of times, traumatizing at the worst.

Finance can sound like another language, where one misinterpretation could cost you money. Financial literacy extends beyond the Manhattan-based industry into our daily lives: which credit card is the best fit for me; how can I save money when inflation is rising; how can I best contribute to my retirement fund?

Fear not – those who know the system are sharing best-kept secrets. Vivian Tu, former Wall Street trader-turned-expert, founded the financial equity phenomenon “Your Rich BFF” in 2021. What started as a passion project blossomed into a successful blog and social media presence designed to destigmatize and demystify the rules of personal finance for non-experts and marginalized communities.

In the last three years alone, Tu has garnered nearly 6 million followers (and counting) across social media platforms and was featured on Forbes’ “Top Creators” list in 2022, and “30 Under 30 – Social Media” in 2023. Her book, RICH AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life, quickly hit the New York Times bestseller list.

Tu sat down with the DCPA ahead of The Lehman Trilogy to review some of her best personal finance tips and tricks. Here are our top three:

Tip One: Open a High Yield Savings Account (HYSA). Do some research to find which FDIC insured account is the best fit for you, then budget to place about 3-6 months of savings into the account. This is the best way to make the most of your money!

Tip Two: Make sure you are opening, funding, and investing within tax advantaged retirement accounts like your 401k, Roth IRA, or IRA. (Yes – you should invest the money in your retirement accounts). If you aren’t sure what to invest in, simple target date funds and index funds are a good way to go. There’s a video below to learn more about Target Date Retirement Funds too, which can help guide your investment decisions.

Tip Three: If you make less than $79,000 (subject to change for the 2025 tax season), don’t use just any free online tax filing software. Often, you end up paying to file things like collecting unemployment, childcare, or student loans. To find a truly free tax filing system, visit https://apps.irs.gov/app/freefile

For more money-minded tips, watch the videos below, or follow Your Rich BFF on your favorite platforms.