enRICHed: volume 83

the girls are fighting!

Jun 16, 2024

Volume 83

Hey besties!

Did this week feel 400 years long to anyone else, or was it just me? Seriously, I thought it was Thursday on Tuesday… I guess the summer vacation brain is setting in. Speaking of vacation, I finally booked a few little weekends away for the summer. It's nothing super fancy (because of the whole me getting married thing, LOL), but I'm seriously looking forward to it. It's so important to enjoy the season and spend time with loved ones; I definitely don't do it enough. I'm so grateful for my job and everything that the besties have given me, but I definitely don't take time off as much as I should. Post-wedding, this is the summer of relaxation and recharging, at least for a few weekends. Do you have any fun summer plans? Let me know in the comments! HOT TIP: If you need a beach read that’s going to help you get Rich AF while you’re laying out in the sun - check out my book RICH AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life. You’ll be wayyy ahead of everyone around you by Labor Day!

As a reminder:

HYCU, pronounced haiku: how the news impacts you and your wallet, aka How You Can Use
The Prosperitea: think discount codes, non-boring finance articles, sales, and personal links from the week. The fun stuff 😉
We love your comments, but please remember to keep it positive! And don’t take investing advice from anyone who isn’t your registered financial advisor!

Now that you’re up to speed, let’s get you enRICHed.

Apple Getting Chewed Up For Gender Wage Gap 👩‍💻

Two women Apple employees have brought a class-action lawsuit against the company this week, alleging that more than 12,000 current and former female employees earn less than men for the same work in the AppleCare, engineering, and marketing departments.
Since 2018, it’s been illegal for employers to ask job candidates about their prior pay in California; instead, Apple has asked about pay expectations, which the lawsuit alleges that the company used to set starting salaries, which had lower pay rates for women compared to men in similar jobs.
According to the lawsuit, performance evaluations are biased against women at Apple, affecting their promotions and bonuses. One of the plaintiffs also alleged that she was forced to work next to a co-worker who had sexually harassed her.
HYCU; If this lawsuit goes forward, it’s likely that women working in these divisions could be up for a payout. The firms representing the class-action suit have previously brokered gender discrimination cases with employers, including a $215 million settlement with Goldman Sachs last year and a $175 million deal with Sterling Jewelers. If you’re also experiencing some of these similar discrimination patterns in your workplace, it’s at least a good reminder of where your agency lies within your job—if you want more tips on negotiating or figuring out the best time to quit, check out some of my recommendations.

Telehealth CEO Arrested Over Adderall Scheme 💊

The DOJ and DEA have arrested and indicted the CEO and president of subscription-based telehealth company Done Global for allegedly running a $100 million scheme to fraudulently distribute over 40 million pills of Adderall and other controlled substances—targeting “drug seekers” and instructing prescribers to prescribe stimulants to patients even if they didn’t qualify.
Shortly after their arrests, the CDC released an advisory warning about a “potential disrupted access to care among individuals taking prescription stimulant medications and possible increased risks for injury and overdose,” which they estimated might affect 30,000 to 50,000 patients ages 18 years and older across the US.
This is the first time the DOJ has charged someone with criminal drug distribution related to their involvement in a telehealth company. If convicted, the arrested executives will face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
HYCU; There’s already an ongoing prescription drug shortage in the US, and now, your ADHD medicine might be added into the mix. The CDC’s quick warning indicates that it’ll affect a lot of people, so try and figure out where you can continue accessing the medication you need. Also, if you did use Done Global, it’s probably a good idea to get a second opinion from another provider to figure out if you really qualify for ADHD medication, in light of the scheme that the executives were running. Per usual, the American healthcare system is expensive, inefficient, and in some cases… illegal.

Online Passport Renewal, Baby! 🏝☀️

Hot girls wake up! Cute boys wake up! You can get your passport renewed online! This is not a drill! The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday it is rolling out a trial service to renew your passport online, saying it will open the system for all online renewals soon. Right now, it’s a weird system where they only accept a finite amount of renewal applications during a specific time period, like some kind of artisan wine bar that turns into a bookshop at certain points.
In order to qualify for the online passport renewal, you have to be:
- A U.S. citizen or resident aged 25 and older, who’s already had an existing passport for 10 years, with the passport still in your possession;
- Keeping the following information the same: name, gender, date of birth and place of birth for the new passport;
- Living in a U.S. state or territory;
- Applying for a regular tourist passport;
- Able to upload a recent digital photo;
- And able to pay the renewal fee online with either a debit or credit card.
HYCU; As a bona fide homebody and hater of queuing inside government agency buildings, this is like the Department of State giving me a big forehead kiss. I will most certainly be using this service when it comes time, and I will be taking several photos with a ring light so I never have to have a bad passport photo again. This will save you a ton of time, and we all know time is money, honey.

Commonly asked question: Simone asks, “Hi Vivian, Does this person exist: A financial advisor for a not-at-all-wealthy (yet) person like me who wants desperately to get on track and look seriously at what's in front of me? I’m single, middle-aged, two tween/teen kids, self-employed, and often wake at night worried about my finances—what a picture. I’m ready to get on track! There must be someone out there who works with people like me. But who? Thank you so much for your help.”

Honestly, most people do not need a financial advisor! It can be difficult looking for guidance, but trust me, a financial advisor is not the way to go. The fees can be super high, between 1-1.5% of the money you have invested with them, which can seriously eat into any gains you might see while working with them. While most people don’t need a financial advisor, I do recommend that most people speak with a financial planner (yes, they are different)! A certified financial planner (CFP) can help you create both long and short term plans to help you reach your different financial goals. Typically they charge flat fees, or if you bank with certain financial institutions (like SoFi), you can actually speak with a CFP for free! My pilates instructor opened a SoFi account and was able to work with a CFP (for free) and paid down all her debt in 9 months! She now has a standing meeting with them once every 3 months to keep her on track for her financial goals. A CFP can help you get back on track and reach those financial goals while taking less of our wallet.

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Rich Tip of the Week: So you’re financially f*cked…here’s what to do!
The finale of Bridgerton season three dropped on Netflix (my Super Bowl), and I can’t stop watching every single interview with Nicola Coughlan and Claudia Jesse.
Sixteen-time reigning hot dog eating champion Joey Chestnut has been banned from the Nathan’s Coney Island Hot Dog Contest this year due to his competing contract with Impossible Foods. It’s caused real beef (ba-dum-ch) between Chestnut and Major League Eating—I have to say, even though he reps vegan meat now, Chestnut still got that dog in him.
I love the new Charli XCX album and the central theme of, “should I have children or should I go to the club?”

SEE YOU IN THE COMMENTS BESTIES