Artistic Finance

129: An American In Paris Completely Reversed with Titou The French Magician

French magician Titou discusses how he manages his finances as a French magician living and working in Las Vegas. 
 
We discuss:
⭐️ Building credit
⭐️ Not filing French taxes
⭐️ LLCs for non USA citizens
⭐️ Green cards, O1, and H1 Visas
⭐️ Getting work by being consistent and building a work history
 
Patron outtakes include:
⭐️ Touring with Masters of Illusion--Live!
⭐️ Magician Farrell Dillon and his work in Las Vegas
 
Takeaways:
⭐️ Build credit from nothing with prepaid credit cards
⭐️ Titou has worked 12 years in the USA without citizenship
⭐️ Consistency is the key to getting work and building your network
 
Quick Links:
PATREON
BOOK CLUB
NEWSLETTER
A CAT'S GUIDE TO MONEY
LIABILITY INSURANCE SURVEY
 
Titou - Instagram @titoumagician
https://www.instagram.com/titoumagician/?hl=en
 
Titou Website
https://www.titoumagic.com/
 
Masters of Illusion – Live!
https://mastersofillusionlive.com/
 
Prepaid Credit Cards That Build Credit:
https://www.cardrates.com/advice/prepaid-cards-that-build-credit/
 
Types of Visas:
https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/types-of-us-work-visas/
 
Credit Card Rewards - with John Adcox:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/3yhjl5EJSaw25HNh8lZ6/Credit-Card-Rewards-with-John-Adcox
 
Credit Card Advantages - with Marc Santos:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/nLk98PU9fuN6iQn6VUp0/Credit-Card-Advantages-with-Marc-Santos
 
Credit Card Habits - with Tony Johnson:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/q4rn0omyiRhlNCPQATcs/Credit-Card-Habits-with-Tony-Johnson
 
Credit Card Debt - with Joe Longthorne:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/sHzGdIBq188DTPlNpJuq/Credit-Card-Debt-with-Joe-Longthorne
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel
 

128: Lighting for Theme Parks & Attractions with Matt Cooper

An interview with a lighting designer for themed attractions, Matt Cooper.
 
We discuss:
⭐️ Fiduciaries
⭐️ CPAs and CFPs
⭐️ His company SPRK Lighting
⭐️ Complications of long term projects
⭐️ The importance of understanding cash flow and tax efficiency
⭐️ Following themed attraction projects from design to implementation
 
Quick Links:
PATREON OUTTAKES
BOOK CLUB SIGN UP
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
LIABILITY INSURANCE SURVEY
 
Matt Cooper - LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattecooper/
 
SPRK Lighting - Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sprklighting/?hl=en
 
SPRK Lighting:
https://sprklighting.com/
 
Gusto - Payroll:
https://gusto.com/
 
Into The Woods - Broadway:
https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/into-the-woods-534783
 
Dollywood:
https://www.dollywood.com/resort/
 
Cashflow Quadrant:
https://www.richdad.com/the-cashflow-quadrant
 
Links From The Outtakes:
 
Pharos Lighting Control:
https://www.pharoscontrols.com/
 
Bigger Pockets:
https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcasts/real-estate
 
The Investors Podcast:
https://www.theinvestorspodcast.com/
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel

127: Financial Independence Book Club with Amy D Lux

Ethan kicks off the new year with plans for Artistic Finance. And Amy D Lux announces the Financial Independence Book Club.
 
We discuss:
⭐️ Ethan’s retirement savings
⭐️ The Financial Independence Book Club
⭐️ And what to expect for Artistic Finance in 2023
 
LIABILITY INSURANCE SURVEY:
ANSWER 8 QUESTIONS
 
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE BOOK CLUB:
January 29
9a PST / 12p EST / 5p London
Presented by Claudia Hodgson
BOOK: A Cat's Guide To Money
SIGN UP HERE for the Zoom link
FREE minus the cost of the $7 e-book
 
BOOK LIST:
A Cat's Guide To Money: Everything You Need to Know to Master your Purrsonal Finances, Explained by Cats
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole by Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista)
I Will Teach You To Be Rich Ramit Sethi
Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap (Her First 100K)
What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits by Michelle Singletary
Perfect Credit: 7 Steps to a Great Credit Rating by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
The Money Manual: A Practical Money Guide to Help You Succeed on Your Financial Journey by Tonya Rapley
Our Money Stories: A Six Week No B.S. Holistic Financial Wellness Plan by Eugenié George
 Decolonizing Wealth Edgar Villanueva 
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns John Bogle
You’re So Money  Farnoosh Torabi 
The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care--and How to Fix It
The Whiteness of Wealth
 
LGBQTIA+
FORBES: Do Your Investments Support LGBTQ+ Equality?
Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index
The Frugal Gay
Debt Free Guys
LGBQT+ FI BLOGGERS
The Transcapitalist
 
BIPOC
These BIPOC Influencers Want You to Retire Before Age 50
5 BIPOC Money Experts You Should Be Following
24 BIPOC Personal Finance Bloggers You Have to Follow in 2022
10 TOP PERSONAL FINANCE BOOKS BY BLACK AUTHORS
13 Personal Finance Books By Black Women
 
FEMME
Francis Financial
ElleVest
5 Financial Advice Books Written By Women
The 10 best personal finance books by women to read in 2022
 
REMINDERS:
BUY FROM LOCAL BOOKSTORES
BUY DIRECTLY FROM AN AUTHOR’S WEBSITE
BORROW FROM THE LIBRARY
BORROW AUDIOBOOKS
OVERDRIVE / LIBBY - DIGITAL LIBRARY APPS
CHIRP - DIGITAL LOWER COST BOOKSTORE
AUDIBLE - SUBSCRIPTION - FREE FIRST CREDIT
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 

126: Retirement Accounts for Freelancers (And LLCs Too) with Elton Lalaj, CPA

A discussion about different types of retirement accounts for freelancers with CPA Elton Lalaj.
 
Topics:
⭐ IRA
⭐ SEP IRA
⭐ SIMPLE Plan
⭐ Defined Benefit Plan
⭐ Individual, Solo, or Uni-401k
 
The discussion continues discussing types of legal entities and if freelancers should take the step to incorporate.
 
Topics:
⭐ LLCs
⭐ Sole proprietorships
⭐ S-Corps and C-Corps
⭐ DBA - Doing Business As
⭐ Multi-Member versus Single-Member
⭐ K1 tax forms and pass through entities
 
The episode wraps up dispelling myths about:
⭐ Artists using accountants to file taxes.
⭐ What type of retirement accounts young artists should open.
 
Lalaj CPA Group:
https://lalajcpagroup.com/
 
Elton on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elton-lalaj-4049aa79/
 
Best Retirement Plans For Freelancers:
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/retirement/retirement-plans-for-freelancers/
 
Retirement Plan Options For The Self Employeed:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/retirement-plans-self-employed
 
Types of LLCs:
https://www.upcounsel.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-llc
 
Carl Faber - Episode 100:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdZI-plB6aU&ab_channel=ArtisticFinance
 
Lap Chi Chu - SIMPLE IRA - Episode 90:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=hKfIr1TEt7w&ab_channel=ArtisticFinance
 
...
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel

125: Health & Fitness for Theatre Professionals with Claudia Hodgson of TheatreFit

A conversation with Claudia Hodgson, a Stage Manager turned Online Fitness Coach for backstage theatre professionals. 
Her TheatreFit program has helped backstage theatre professionals increase their energy, get fitter and drop unwanted body fat in a sustainable way to ensure it doesn’t interfere (negatively) with their career.
 
Topics:
⭐️ Finding exercises you enjoy
⭐️ Best time of day for working out
⭐️ Importance of eating 10g of fiber
⭐️ Health challenges for offstage workers
⭐️ How long it takes to establish a health routine
⭐️ Working out twice a week is better than not working out
 
What we don’t talk about is mental health. While the physical fitness is what we focus on today, it isn’t a wholesome solution unless it is paired with mental health.
 
According to the World Health Organization, good mental health is when you can:
⭐️ Work productively
⭐️ Realize your potential
⭐️ Contribute to the community
⭐️ Cope with normal stresses of life
 
Physical fitness and a healthy diet can complement a balanced life. But the mental health has to be in good shape for a sustained healthy lifestyle.
 
Claudia on Instagram @claudia.theatrefit:
https://www.instagram.com/claudia.theatrefit/
 
Claudia on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachedbyclaudia/
 
7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Audiobook - by Stephen Covey:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2RrK8jR8MM&ab_channel=AudioBookBuzz
 
What is Good Mental Health?
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/good-mental-health#:~:text=Good%20mental%20health%20is%20more,work%20productively
 
Steven Bartlett - Audiobook - Sexy Happy Millionaire:
https://www.audible.com/pd/Happy-Sexy-Millionaire-Audiobook/1529305101
 
Diary of a CEO:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDiaryOfACEO?app=desktop
 
Mother Goose - Panto with Sir Ian McKellan:
https://mothergooseshow.co.uk/
 
Richard Winkler - Lighting Designer & Producer:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Richard-Winkler/
 
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel

124: Building A Global Media Site with Anna Robb, Founder of TheatreArtLife

Anna Robb, the founder of Theatre.Art.Life, a global media site for the entertainment industry, joins the show to discuss the process of keeping the site operating and growing for more than six years.
 
Topics:
⭐️ How to start a theatre website
⭐️ The team required to maintain the site
⭐️ Challenges of publishing media in China
⭐️ The financial viability of six+ years of operation
⭐️ Collaborations involving content exchanged for ads
⭐️ The importance of mentors for different areas of the business
 
This is the last of our episodes recorded at LDI in Las Vegas. We partnered with AYRTON Digital Lighting to record these interviews.
 
If you watch this video on Youtube you can see our Artistic Finance step-and-repeat paid for with our Patreon funds. THANK YOU, PATRONS!
 
Theatre.Art.Life:
https://www.theatreartlife.com/
 
Anna Robb:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-robb/
 
AYRTON Digital Lighting:
https://www.ayrton.eu/
 
LDI:
https://www.ldishow.com/
 
Light Talk:
http://www.lighttalk.org/
 
In 1: The Podcast - Anna Robb & Cory Pattak:
https://in1podcast.com/103-anna-robb/
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel
 

123: Houston, We Have A Lighting Designer with Christina Giannelli

An interview with lighting designer Christina Giannelli.
 
Topics:
⭐️ Freelancing in Houston.
⭐️ Teaching as a retirement plan.
⭐️ Putting all contracts through USA 829.
⭐️ A good accountant will keep you on track.
⭐️ Aging parents while growing older yourself.
⭐️ Real estate as retirement plan & COVID safety net.
⭐️ Focusing youthful energy toward retirement planning.
⭐️ Having an agent negotiate contracts is well worth the agent’s fee.
 
Today’s episode was recorded in person at LDI in Las Vegas. 
 
We partnered with AYRTON Digital Lighting, who sponsored the Women In Lighting session to raise awareness and community for women in entertainment lighting.
 
Takeaways:
⭐️ If you’re a part of USA 829, run everything through a USA 829 contract. 
⭐️ Get an agent. Not to help with work but to handle the financial and contractual details. 
⭐️ Getting older. Christina didn’t shy away from the reality that YOU have less energy as you get older. Use the energy of youth to set up a financial retirement plan. 
⭐️ It is possible to be a freelance lighting designer in Houston. It’s not New York, LA, or Chicago. But Gary Archer and Christina Giannelli have both made their living as freelancers in Houston.
 
Christina Giannelli - Lighting Designer:
https://www.summitentertainmentgroup.com/designers/christina-r-giannelli
 
Christina Giannelli - LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-giannelli-4558a7b/
 
Drama Book Shop - Where Christina Picked Up A Financial Help Book:
https://www.dramabookshop.com/
 
Beer Can House - Houston Art Installation:
https://www.full.orangeshow.org/beer-can-house
 
Episode On Taxes - with Michael Farmer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3_KOK7EPVM&t=25s&ab_channel=ArtisticFinance
 
Light Talk:
https://lighttalk.libsyn.com/light-talk-episode-296-swag-wars-interview-with-ethan-steimel
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel
 

122: A Freelance Perspective - LIVE from LDI - with Marsha Stern, Amy D Lux, and Jen Schriever

A rebroadcast of our LIVE recording from LDI in Las Vegas.
 
Three lighting designers discussing finances from a freelance perspective. 
 
Topics:
⭐️ Retirement plans. 
⭐️ The cost of filing taxes. 
⭐️ Earning a living in lighting.
⭐️ How much current jobs are paying.
 
Student Worksheet:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/classroom-75213267
 
Amy D Lux:
https://loboluxdesign.com/
IG/FB/TW @LoboLuxDesign
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-d-lux-953a7318a
https://utopiadreamscape.com/category/wellness/finance/
IG/FB @UtopiaDreamscape
 
Marsha Stern:
https://www.facebook.com/marsha.stern.58/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marsha-stern-5390585/
https://heartbeatofthedancefloor.com
 
Jen Schriever:
https://jenschriever.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-schriever-26277415/
 
Women In Lighting:
https://womeninlighting.com/site/page/about
 
AYRTON:
https://www.ayrton.eu/
 
LDI:
https://www.ldishow.com/
 
Marsha’s Episode:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/m6Iv5dEgOyIAEQ65Pd2e/Lighting-Up-The-Dance-Floor-with-Lighting-Designer-Marsha-Stern
 
Amy’s Episode:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/BqCl2H3bKJNfdKxWDhnK/Financial-Independence-with-Amy-D-Lux
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel
 

121: Financial Independence with Amy D Lux

A conversation with multidisciplinary designer Amy D Lux about how she got on track to become financially independent.
 
Topics:
⭐️ Index funds
⭐️ Credit scores
⭐️ Compound interest
⭐️ Late bloomers can retire early
⭐️ Tools for budgeting and investing
⭐️ Using a Debt Avalanche to pay off debt
⭐️ FIRE - Financial Independence, Retire Early
⭐️ Loan rehabilitation - how to get your student loans out of default
 
If you think you’re too old to turn your financial life around, skip to minute 59. Amy gives a realistic timeline on how long it takes to get retirement on track.
 
Amy’s Financial Resources:
https://utopiadreamscape.com/category/wellness/finance/
 
Lighting
LoboLuxDesign.com
IG/FB/TW @LoboLuxDesign
LinkedIn Amy D Lux
 
Lifestyle
UtopiaDreamscape.com
IG/FB @UtopiaDreamscape
 
Retirement Contribution Limits 2023:
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/401k-limit-increases-to-22500-for-2023-ira-limit-rises-to-6500
 
Women In Lighting:
https://womeninlighting.com/site/page/about
 
Alphonse Mucha:
https://www.alfonsmucha.org/the-complete-works.html
 
Iran Death Toll:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63242100
 
Compound Interest with Paddy Hirsch:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/DuW0LZ00yYMPsqiwFKyH/Compound-Interest-with-Paddy-Hirsch
 
Lap Chi Chu - Lighting Designer - SIMPLE retirement plan:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/a28i0vVANKirBQ1nR324/Lap-Chi-Chu-Lighting-Designer
 
Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Audiobook:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gliZHyovI7c
 
Afford Anything - Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afford-anything/id1079598542
 
Acorns - “Round Up” Investing:
https://www.acorns.com/
 
Mint.com:
https://mint.intuit.com/
 
Index Fund Investing:
https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/index-funds
 
VTSAX - Vanguard Index Fund:
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VTSAX/
 
Debt Avalanche - How Amy Paid Off Her Debt:
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/what-is-a-debt-avalanche
 
Paying More For Utilities Because of Low Credit Score:
https://blog.risecredit.com/can-bad-credit-score-affect-utility-bills/#:~:text=Can%20a%20Poor%20Credit%20Score,your%20service%20up%20and%20running.
 
Student Loan Default:
https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/default/get-out
 
Money Mustache - Saving Chart: 
https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/
 
AYRTON:
https://www.ayrton.eu/
 
LDI:
https://www.ldishow.com/
 
Book List:
Your Money or Your Life
4 Hour Work Week
The Simple Path To Wealth
The Millionaire Next Door
Early Retirement Extreme
Playing With Fire
Set For Life
Quit Like A Millionaire
Retire Early With Real Estate
The Bogleheads Guide To Investing
Financial Freedom
Rich Dad Poor Dad
 
Become a patron at:www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel

120: Can Anybody Beat the Market? - Q2.2 Update of the Artistic Finance 6k

An update on the Artistic Finance 6k--the $6,000 of investments we made in May of 2021. We’re joined by a bond investment CEO and a data analyst to review how our investments compare to the S&P 500.
 
We discuss a new experiment! Our guests have purchased $1,000 investments of their own to see how they can do against my investments and the market at large.
 
Links & Resources: 
 
Katie Buhrman:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinebuhrman/
https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/6520240
Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maithreyi-gopalakrishnan/
https://www.liquidificorp.com/
Ebony Madry:
https://www.instagram.com/ebmadry/?hl=en
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-madry-6a9651139/
Amy D Lux:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-d-lux-953a7318a/
https://utopiadreamscape.com/author/luvlogica/
Ethan Steimel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansteimel/
https://www.instagram.com/artisticfinance/?hl=en
LDI Show:
https://livedesigninternationalldi2022.sched.com/?iframe=no
Women In Lighting:
https://womeninlighting.com/site/page/about
 
AYRTON - Our LDI Partner:
https://www.ayrton.eu/
Watch on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIYjc9svOjg&ab_channel=ArtisticFinance
 
Patreon Bonus Episode Links:
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-i-dont-want-i-bonds-11666984508?redirect=amp
 
 
Previous Episodes of Interest:
 
Cryptocurrency with Najah Roberts:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/JM5QCXLUhsqOfRDC8Dd2/Cryptocurrency-Bitcoin-with-Najah-Roberts
 
Bond Investing - with Maithreyi Gopalakrishnan:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/Ls2svcghok0FemQVcNBp/Bond-Investing-with-Maithreyi-Gopalakrishnan
 
Wine Investing with Anthony Zhang:
https://www.artisticfinance.com/episode/G7sKrzcmEwJeor6iAy4t/Wine-Investing-with-Anthony-Zhang
 
Affiliate links:
M1 Finance - Good for Long Term / Buy and Hold Investors - I don't think there is a sign up incentive:
m1finance.8bxp97.net/XxYPZg
 
Coinbase - Cryptocurrency Exchange - $10 of Bitcoin:
https://www.coinbase.com/join/steime_0
 
Vinovest - Wine Investing - 3 months of free wine storage:
https://app.vinovest.co?grsf=2p0wk3
 
Robinhood - Stock Trading - Intuitive and easy to use - Free Stock On Signup:
https://join.robinhood.com/ethans21
 
We Bull - Free Stock Trading - Design for Traders - I find it difficult to navigate - 5 Free Stocks on Signup:
https://act.webull.com/pm/do1QnByzkAhA/a3j/inviteUs/main
 
ETF - the S&P 500 index fund we hold:
IVV - iShares Core S&P 500
 
Stocks:
VST - Vistra Corp
LAC - Lithium Americas
TAP - Molson Coors Beverage (owners of Blue Moon)
SKLZ- Skillz
 
Cryptocurrency:
Bitcoin
 
Wine:
We own one case through Vinovest
Vinovest
 
Real Estate - REITS:
UBA - Urstadt Biddle Properties
SRG - Seritage Growth Properties
VICI - Experiential Real Estate - Previously MGM Properties
STAG - STAG Industrial
 
Art:
Bret Slater - Artist
https://www.bretslater.com/
 
Photos of the Painting:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/64295618
 
Full story of commissioning the piece - only accessible to patrons:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/61516832
 
Ian Dunlap - The Investor Ethan follows:
https://linktr.ee/themasterinvestor
 
...
Become a patron:
www.patreon.com/artisticfinance
 
Interview by Ethan Steimel