Hey, it’s Frank, Jerry, and Zoltan from Third View Private Wealth, and welcome to the Third View Next Gen Newsletter. This newsletter is designed to simplify personal finance, investing, and wealth building for next-generation wealth holders just starting their financial journey. Hope you enjoy this month’s edition and learn something new.

Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Ever wondered what some of the wealthiest people in the world invest their money in? Or just us? 😅 Well, check out the portfolios of some of the most successful investors and CEOs.

Should you build the exact same portfolio as these guys? Well, maybe not. Your portfolio should always be built based on your unique preferences and goals.

Your teens and 20s are an incredible time because the money, career, and life decisions you make while you’re young can have a really positive impact on your life down the road. Here are a few smart money moves to start while you’re young:

Start using a budget
Whether you’re working your first job, off to college, starting your career, or wanting to save up for a house or another large purchase, your spending habits impact the rest of your financial picture. It’s a good idea to start keeping track of what you’re spending, saving, and investing every month. Send us a reply if you’d like a helpful tool for this.

Build an emergency fund
Aim to keep three to six months of living expenses in a savings account. It gives you a safety net, so little surprises don’t turn into big problems.

Tackle high-interest debt
Credit cards and personal loans add up fast and can be tough to recover from. The quicker you knock those out, the easier it is to start moving forward.

Start investing early
Compound interest is a powerful thing. Even small amounts in an IRA or a workplace retirement account can grow into something big over time. Make sure to take advantage of any workplace retirement plans or matching opportunities that are available through your work.

Use credit to your advantage
A good credit score makes life easier later on when you need to buy a car or a house. It’s a good idea to get a credit card, use it responsibly, and pay it off on time and in full every month. More on that later in this email.

Keep lifestyle inflation in check
As you start to make money and earn raises, put part of your additional income toward savings and investments instead of always spending more. And even though it’s hard, try not to get caught up in comparing your lifestyle to other people in their 20s. You can’t believe everything you see on social media… remember, everyone is running their own race.

Invest in yourself
We’re all for saving and investing, and the reality is this is also a great time to invest in yourself. That might look like taking courses, gaining new skills, getting a business coach, or building new relationships. These things can pay off BIG in the long run.

Your teens and 20s are an awesome time in your life. Don’t forget to have a bunch of fun. We don’t want you to stress too much about making the right financial decisions, so that’s why we’re here to help.

A: Yes, with the right habits. Credit cards can be a smart tool for building credit history, which you’ll need down the road for things like renting an apartment, buying a car, or even getting a mortgage. They also come with pretty cool perks and rewards that can be nice to take advantage of.

What to watch out for:

Interest: If you carry a balance, interest charges can grow fast. Think of it like buying sneakers for $100 and paying $140 by the time you’re done.

Minimum payments: Paying only the minimum might feel easy, but it keeps you in debt longer and costs you more.

Lifestyle creep: It’s easy to spend more when you don’t feel the cash leaving your bank account. Treat your credit card like a debit card and only spend the money you know you will have.

Our advice:

Credit cards should be treated as a tool, with discipline and good habits. Pay your balance in full, on time, every month. Start with one card, keep limits manageable, and focus on building a positive credit history early.

Done right, credit cards can open doors and be really helpful. Done wrong, they can put you in a financial hole that can be a challenge to get out of.

If you don’t have one yet, it’s a great conversation to start having with your parents because credit will be important down the road.

Have a question you’d like us to answer in a future newsletter? Simply reply to this email to submit it to us.

Congratulations to Third View Co-Founders Jerry Sneed and Frank McKiernan for being named Forbes Best-In-State Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors in 2025.

Congratulations to Third View Co-Founder Zoltan Pongracz for becoming an official member of the 2025 Forbes Finance Council.

This exclusive, invitation-only community of senior financial leaders is recognized for driving innovation, elevating standards, and shaping conversations that impact the global financial landscape. See the post here.

More Press

📖 The Wall Street Journal: Frank McKiernan on 4 Questions to Ask Before Buying Bonds

📖 Barron’s: McKiernan Says “Market Still Has Upside from Tax Bill, Deregulation, and Fed Cuts”

📖 FinancialPlanning: Zoltan Pongracz on Increased Access to Alternative Private Investment Markets

That’s all for this month. If you enjoyed the newsletter, the greatest compliment would be to forward it to someone you think would like it too.

- Frank, Jerry, and Zoltan

Sign up here to receive future Third View Next Gen Newsletter editions in your inbox.

Any media logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners and no endorsement by those owners of the advisor or firm is stated or implied.

Past performance is not indicative of future results. The material above has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. The investment strategy and themes discussed herein may be unsuitable for investors depending on their specific investment objectives and financial situation. Information obtained from third-party sources is believed to be reliable though its accuracy is not guaranteed, and Third View Private Wealth makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information, which should not be used as the basis of any investment decision. Information contained on third party websites that Third View Private Wealth may link to is not reviewed in their entirety for accuracy and Third View Private Wealth assumes no liability for the information contained on these websites. Opinions expressed in this commentary reflect subjective judgments of the author based on conditions at the time of writing and are subject to change without notice. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission from Third View Private Wealth. For more information about Third View Private Wealth, including our Form ADV brochures, please visit https://adviserinfo.sec.gov or contact us at (203) 408-0098.