Due to a legacy of discrimination and ongoing legal disparities, LGBTQI+ people have a variety of unique financial needs and challenges. Employment, healthcare, family planning, insurance, housing, marriage, and retirement are just some of the financial planning prioritie𒈔s that may look a bit different for LGBTQI+ people.
Luckily, there are many LGBTQI+ financial influencers (also called “finfluencers”) sharing their knowledge and lived experiences—related to money and finance—in books, podcasts, and on social media platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Because LGBTQI+ people are still not legally (and socially) guaranteed the same equality and protection that other groups have benefited from historically, they face a variety of financial challenges.
- Financial influencers from LGBTQI+ communities provide valuable advice and insight around personal finance situations specific to LGBTQI+ people.
- As with any source of financial information, it’s important to consider the qualifications and background of any financial influencer: Seek advice from professional financial advisors when possible.
There are numerous 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:personal finance influencers sharing their expertise online. As a result, there’s a wealth of information accessible to everyone. Here are six financial influencers and experts from LGBTQI+ communities who are worth learning from:
Carmen A. Perez (@MakeRealCents) is the founder of , a blog about personal finance and financial independence. She is also the creator of , a budgeting and finance management app. With a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, she focuses on teaching 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:millennials and Gen Z about money management and building wealth and provides tips on investing, crypto, paying down debt, budgeting, and saving.
Although her financial advice is not always specifically targeted to LGBTQI+ communities, Perez gave this advice in an interview: “Because folks in our community can and do face financial problems because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, side hustles are one of the best ways to give yourself a raise and bridge income loss/stagnant wages. While building a side hustle can take time, it’s advantageous to have a book of business or another stream of income you can rely on regardless of your employer.”
Daniella Flores (@ILikeToDabble) is a neurodivergent, nonbinary, and queer Latine entrepreneur who helps LGBTQI+ and neurodivergent people develop their side hustles and careers. Their podcast— "Remote Work Bestie"—launched in 2023 and interviews guests on topics like salary transparency, traveling while working full time, moving abroad to work remotely, and working with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Their financial resources focus on saving, investing, upskilling, and finding and managing passive income streams.
About their work, Flores writes, “We don’t believe in gatekeeping through manipulative ‘hustle bro’ culture. This knowledge should be accessible to anyone and everyone. Side hustles are all about creating more assets, income streams, and options—and can be an important tool when building wealth and financial freedom.”
David Auten and John Schneider (@debtfreeguys) are authors, bloggers, speakers, and the creators of the podcast "." Queer Money is a valuable resource, educating listeners about the nuances of personal finance in LGBTQI+ communities. (Auten and Schneider are also married to each other.) Their interest in providing financial advice to LGBTQI+ communities began when they accrued over $50,000 in credit card debt. After they created a system for paying off their debt, they began sharing their personal and professional experiences with debt, entrepreneurship, saving, and investment with a wider audience.
On the topic of LGBTQI+ representation in the financial services industry, Auten said in an interview, “There’s always been a struggle [...] for representation, but, beyond that, I think that there’s been a struggle with how the finances of queer folks [are] different than the general population[.] How do we figure out those nuances and serve those nuances? And I think a lot of companies are scared to do that, or hesitant to do that, or just downright don’t want to do that.”
While he's not a typical social media influencer, David Rae (@davidraela) is an established media personality whose financial advice segments have appeared on various news outlets. Rae is also an accredited financial expert, holding 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Accredit🌃e🏅d Investment Fiduciary (AIF) certifications, and he works with many LGBTQI+ clients through his financial advising company. On his website and in other publications, Rae has written on topics like retirement, savings, taxes, investing, and wealth management.
Regarding financial planning in the LGBTQI+ community, Rae says, “I don’t think investing for the LGBT community is actually a different thing—unless you’re really trying to do socially conscious investing. I think where the differences lie is really in financial planning. You build in different areas, you have different financial goals, and you have different expenses that are going to be a bigger thing for you. We have some income advantages—'澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:double income, no kids' is a big advantage for many gay couples—but, at the same time, we’re living in metropolitan areas with much higher costs of living, so it will balance out.”
K. Kenneth Davis (@TheTransCapitalist) is a Black transgender entrepreneur, financial literacy activist, and speaker who works to empower and educate LGBTQI+ people—with the goal of ending systemic poverty and economic discrimination. He holds a Master of Science in finance from Pace University, and he writes, coaches, runs workshops, and creates content around different topics, such as debt, navigating the legal system as a transgender person, and money management.
In an interview about his work, Davis said, “If you are queer, please do not let society or capitalism make you think that you cannot thrive within this world because of your gender. It is possible to live your lifestyle peacefully, have a comfortable life, and achieve any financial goals that you have. I literally started with nothing, and I built an impactful company that does fantastic work to help empower others through mindset and money training.”
River Nice is a queer, independent financial planner who runs , a remote, fee-only financial planning firm. Their specialty is working with transgender and queer individuals and families on short-term and long-term financial goals. They run online workshops and group programs, provide free online resources, and share videos on Instagram. In their content, they answer comments and questions from followers and users about money, work, financial planning, retirement, and more.
Regarding financial concerns that are specific to queer people, Nice says, “Being able to talk to somebody about money and not have to explain what hormones are, what gender-affirming surgery is, that family planning takes a little extra effort and sometimes a lot of extra money […] there [are just] those basic competenc[ies] of understanding what our lives are like.”
Unique Financial Challenges That LGBTQI+ People Face
Without the same rights and protections—related to healthcare, work, school, and housing—many LGBTQI+ people continue to experience discrimination and financial difficulty.
According to a report by the Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement and Research—called The LGBTQI+ Economic and Financial (LEAF) Survey—which analyzed findings from a survey of 3,008 individuals (2,505 LGBTQI+ and 503 non-LGBTQI+ individuals) conducted between December 2022 and January 2023, LGBTQI+ adults were more likely than their non-LGBTQI+ counterparts to report negative emotions about their finances than positive ones. The LGBTQI+ respondents reported lower annual household incomes than the average adult nationwide, and 51% of the LGBTQI+ respondents had less than $5,000 in savings (including 20% who reported having no savings at all). Finally, 11% of the LGBTQI+ individuals in this survey said they'd experienced discrimination in a banking or financial services environment.
Research has also identified an LGBTQ+ wage gap: According to a 2021 report by Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQI+ workers earn around 90 cents compared to each dollar that an average worker earns. Nonbinary individuals, transgender people, and LGBTQI+ people of color typically earn even less.
In addition, many LGBTQI+ people experience different challenges when it comes to financial planning because of their priorities and lived experiences around work, education, healthcare, family planning, housing, and retirement.
Financial Advice for Members of LGBTQI+ Communities
Although there is still progress to be made, the financial sector has begun to diversify: LGBTQI+ people can now look to allies and role models within their communities for financial advice.
Whether online or in person, many resources are available that speak directly to the financial realities of LGBTQI+ people. Finding an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:LGBTQI+-friendly bank is one important step. Improving financial literacy with free online resources and courses, such as the ones offered⛦ by the influencers listed above, can also improve the wellbeing of LGBTQI+ communities—while also increasing equity.
Opening up the conversation around money with friends and chosen family can also be a helpful starting point, whether that's sharing tips and ideas with each other or asking for emotional support.
Who Are the Most Popular LGBTQI+ Financial Influencers on Social Media?
LGBTQ+ financial influencers (also called "finfluencers”) with large followings on social media include Carmen Perez (@MakeRealCents), David Auten and John Schneider (@DebtFreeGuys), and Danielle Flores (@ILikeToDabble).
Where Can I Find LGBTQI+ Financial Influencers?
Many LGBTQ+ financial influencers have multiple social media accounts, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube, as well as their own websites.
Should I Take Financial Advice from a Financial Influencer?
As with any financial information, it’s important to check the credibility of the source of information: Consider the financial influencer's relevant experience and professional designations. Online money advice should not be considered a substitute for professional advice from a qualified financial advisor.
The Bottom Line
There are many financial influencers who identify as LGBTQI+ and who share their experiences with money and financial planning online. LGBTQI+ people may find it helpful to look to their resources for inspiration, advice, and assistance; content creators who are part of LGBTQI+ communities are likely to better address the specific financial situations that LGBTQI+ people tend to experience.
However, it is always important to thoroughly vet any information found online, review the financial qualifications and background of the source, and seek advice from designated financial⛦ profe🎉ssionals when appropriate.