Most of us want to build wealth. We want to feel secure, have options, support our loved ones, and enjoy life without constant financial stress. But no one really taught us how to do that—or how simple the path can actually be once you know what to focus on.

In this episode of the Wealth Para Todos Podcast, I break down the Wealth Building Cycle into four essential components:

• Nurturing a Positive Money Mindset
• Developing Financial Literacy
• Knowing Your Numbers
• Increasing Your Income

You’ll walk away with clarity about where you are in the cycle, what may be missing, and how to move forward con tiempo—with patience, grace, and strategy.

Why I’m So Energized to Talk About Wealth (Even While Grieving)

Before we dive into the wealth building cycle, I want to share why I was so fired up recording this episode—even though I’ve been moving through grief following the death of my Abue Ana. What gave me life this week? Watching Senator Cory Booker speak for more than 24 hours to name the harm caused by Trump’s administration. His dedication reminded me that politics and dinero are deeply connected.

We can’t talk about building wealth without acknowledging the systems that shape access to financial security—like healthcare, retirement accounts, and fair compensation. Hard work alone doesn’t equal wealth. Systemic support matters.

The Wealth Building Cycle: Four Essential Components

Let’s talk about the cycle itself. Because yes, building wealth is cyclical—and returning to it again and again is part of the journey. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Nurture a Positive Money Mindset

A positive money mindset means approaching your finances with compassion, confidence, and clarity. It’s the belief that:

You can learn to manage and grow your dinero over time.

Your worth is not tied to your income, debt, or net worth.

Mistakes are part of the learning process, not proof you’re bad with money.

Even in hard times, you can respond to your financial reality with curiosity instead of shame. In Wealth Para Todos Academy, we use tools like the Your Wealthy Mindset Toolkit, which includes nine journaling exercises to help you lovingly observe your thoughts about money.

2. Develop Your Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and apply financial skills. And no, it’s not just about math. It’s about confidently managing money and understanding how it flows through your life.

Core areas of financial literacy include:

• Budgeting & Cash Flow: Track your income and expenses to make intentional decisions.
• Savings: Emergency funds, sinking funds, and long- and short-term savings strategies.
• Debt Management: Understand how to use and repay debt wisely, including credit scores.
• Investing: Learn about retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, compound interest, and risk.
• Financial Goal Setting: Create actionable steps toward your financial dreams.
• Understanding Financial Products: Know how to choose and use tools like insurance, credit cards, and loans.
• Tax Basics: Understand your paycheck, tax-advantaged accounts, and how taxes impact your wealth.
• Protection & Planning: Learn how estate planning and insurance protect your assets and your loved ones.

Financial literacy takes time. That’s why all coaching inside WPTA happens over 12 months—to give clients time to learn and apply what matters most for their life stage.

3. Know Your Numbers

Knowing your numbers is about weekly check-ins with your dinero. It’s how you move from reacting to strategizing. That means tracking:

• Income
• Expenses
• Debt
• Savings
• Net Worth
• Credit Score

Data > Vibes. Because let’s be honest—our brains lie. Mine has said, “You’re overspending!” when I wasn’t, and “You have plenty to spend!” when I didn’t. That’s why I teach my clients to review the data, not the drama.

With your numbers in hand, you can build realistic spending plans, debt payoff strategies, and savings goals. That clarity helps you shift from financial survival to financial security—and eventually to financial freedom.

4. Increase Your Income

This is essential. You need surplus to build wealth.

There’s a limit to how much you can cut your expenses, but no limit to how much you can grow your income. More income = more flexibility, more peace of mind, and more capacity to invest in your well-being.

Increasing your income allows you to:

• Build emergency savings faster
• Pay off high-interest debt sooner
• Invest more regularly
• Support others without depleting yourself
• Outsource tasks that drain your energy
• Say “no” to jobs or clients that aren’t aligned

Especially for first-gen wealth builders supporting loved ones, growing your income can make a world of difference.

Wealth Building Is Ongoing: My Personal Examples

Throughout my life, I’ve returned to this cycle again and again. Here are a few key moments:

At 18: Building Credit and Financial Literacy

I read Rich Dad Poor Dad and a Suze Orman book, got curious about credit, pulled my credit report, and opened my first credit cards. I was budgeting, paying in full, tracking my credit utilization ratio—and teaching all my friends how to do it too!

In 2020: Saving Our Emergency Fund

I set a $30k goal, opened a high-yield savings account with Ally, and got playful about saving. Husbae and I increased our income and used lump sums from his new job and COVID relief to meet our goal. We were tracking our numbers, making intentional plans, and working together.

Most Recently: Preparing to Buy a Home

I had to overcome trauma from growing up house poor. It took journaling, therapy, and deep mindset work. Then I got serious about developing my financial literacy around home buying. I tracked everything—from down payments to furniture costs—and increased our income through job hopping and RSUs. That’s how we saved for and purchased our home.

So Where Are You in the Wealth Building Cycle?

Maybe you’re nurturing a positive money mindset but avoiding your numbers. Maybe you’ve been increasing your income but need to build your financial literacy. The good news? There’s no shame in the gaps. Just information and opportunity.

The key is to keep returning to the cycle with patience and self-compassion.If you’re ready for guidance and support, I’d love to be your money and self-care coach. I’m currently accepting applications for 1:1 coaching, which includes:

• 12 private calls
• Support via WhatsApp
• Full year access to Wealth Para Todos Academy
• We’ll co-create a personalized financial plan that prioritizes your wellness at every step.

Ready to Stay in the Wealth Building Cycle?

🌱 Nurture your mindset.

📚 Learn the skills.

📊 Know your numbers.

💸 Grow your income.

And remember—your wellness is essential to our collective well-being.

Let’s build wealth juntos.

Follow me on Instagram @WealthParaTodos and make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss next week’s episode on dinero self-care. It’s gonna be practical, joyful, and aligned.

Until then, intentionally stay inside the wealth building cycle—with lots of patience and compassion.