Episode Summary What does financial independence look like when you're living with vision loss? And how do you build a secure financial future when the very systems designed to support you can sometimes make saving money more difficult? On this episode of The Blind Chick, Penn and Moses Street welcome Rachel Christian, journalist, financial writer, and founder of Unseen Wealth, a financial coaching business focused on empowering people with disabilities. Rachel shares her personal journey with cone dystrophy, her career in journalism, and the experiences that inspired her to help others take control of their financial futures. Together, they explore the challenges of financial literacy, the differences between SSI and SSDI, and how ABLE accounts can provide opportunities to save and invest while navigating certain public benefit restrictions. Rachel also breaks down practical financial strategies, including the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, retirement investments, and the risks of cryptocurrency. Along the way, the conversation explores the changing landscape of journalism, financial misinformation, and the importance of understanding where financial advice comes from. From overcoming the fear of losing benefits to building confidence with money, Rachel reminds us that financial independence isn't necessarily about becoming wealthy overnight. It's about education, making informed decisions, and recognizing that small steps can lead to meaningful change. Show Credits Podcast: The Blind Chick Hosts: Penn Street and Moses Street Guest: Rachel Christian, Founder of Unseen Wealth Producer: Jonathan Price Production: Aftersight Contact Information Rachel Christian | Unseen Wealth Website: https://uwcoaching.com Financial coaching, education, and information about Rachel's services are available through her website. Aftersight Website: https://aftersight.org General Inquiries: Jonathan@Aftersight.org Guest Suggestions and Feedback: feedback@aftersight.org 00:00 Welcome to The Blind Chick 03:31 Meet Rachel Christian and Unseen Wealth 04:59 Growing Up with Undiagnosed Vision Loss 11:36 Navigating College and Accessibility 13:21 Finding a Career in Journalism 15:35 Creating Unseen Wealth 17:24 Why Financial Literacy Matters 20:34 Bringing Financial Education to the Disability Community 24:16 The Changing Landscape of Local Journalism 32:06 Independent Journalism and the Information Age 35:23 Finding Truth in an Overwhelming Media World 38:17 Financial Influencers and Misleading Advice 40:50 Building Wealth Without a Wealthy Background 41:24 Understanding ABLE Accounts 46:14 SSI, SSDI, and the Fear of Losing Benefits 50:31 Breaking the Cycle of Financial Dependence 54:30 Employment and Financial Opportunity 56:06 Budgeting in a Cashless Society 59:10 Credit Cards, Debt, and Financial Awareness 1:00:57 Managing Money in Relationships 1:06:48 Taking Small Steps Toward Financial Freedom 1:07:36 The 50/30/20 Budgeting Rule 1:10:21 Lessons Learned from Timeshare Investments 1:14:09 Retirement Planning and Long-Term Investing 1:16:09 Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, and Investment Risk 1:20:41 Connecting with Rachel Christian 1:22:01 Overcoming Financial Shame 1:24:23 Community, Connection, and Finding Hope 1:28:35 Final Thoughts and Closing
