APRIL 5, 2022

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Welcome to The Tilt, a twice-weekly newsletter for content entrepreneurs.

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In this issue:

• Full Tilt: Get Hold of Your Personal Finances​
• Content Entrepreneur: One Million in One Year​
• CEX: Creator Economy Expo is in less than a month, register today!​
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Many creators can earn a full-time income as they pursue an entrepreneurial journey. But if you don’t have a handle on your personal finances, you’ll not only stress about how to grow your audience but how you’ll pay the utility bill. And that won’t be good for you or your content business.

Emily Boothroyd, a wealth manager and partner at Merit Financial Advisors, offers four questions every creator should answer to keep their personal finance house in order.

1. Did you save and pay self-employment taxes? In a traditional full-time job, employers pay their share (6.2%) of your Social Security and Medicare taxes and withhold your share (6.2%) from your paycheck. A self-employed person must pay both the employer and employee shares. And you still need to pay your income tax.

Caveat: Every quarter, you must pay estimated taxes because there is no employer withholding and paying it for you. If you don’t, you could face a big tax bill and a penalty payment every April.

2. Are you ready for an emergency? So many roadblocks can keep you from earning money – from medical emergencies to an updated social media algorithm. The rule of thumb is to have six months’ worth of personal expenses saved and available to be withdrawn quickly.

“It doesn’t have to be six months of you going out to eat, getting your nails done, and all the extracurriculars you do,” Emily says. “What are your baseline, nondiscretionary expenses?” Emily says. “Use that as a basis for that emergency fund.”

3. Do you have high-interest debt? Emily isn’t talking mortgages or student debts. High-interest debt typically is accrued through credit cards. “That needs to go away,” she says.

To get rid of it, use your income, and if that’s not enough, cut expenses.

4. Is your budget sparking joy? It’s easy to get caught up in today's busy world, sliding your credit card or using Apple Wallet to almost buy things unconsciously. Document and categorize your expenses. If you’re not spending within your means, make cuts. If you are, look to see if what you’re buying reflects your financial goals. Adjust accordingly.

– Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

To get more help, calculators, and tips, read all of Emily’s personal finance advice.​
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Entrepreneur: Kar Brulhart

Biz: Kar Brulhart​

Tilt: Growing brands on Instagram

Primary Channel: Instagram (48.1K followers)

Other Channel: Website​

Rev Streams: Partnerships, online courses, digital downloads, coaching, speaking

Our Favorite Actionable Advice:

• Learn and get paid first: Kar used the knowledge she gained in traditional full-time jobs to quickly build and grow her Instagram business.
• Sell multiple things: In 2022, Kar expects to earn seven figures from her multiple revenue streams.
• Don’t fly by the seat of your pants: Develop a business plan or at least a content calendar with ideas.

– Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

​Read all about Kar Brulhart and her Instagram content business.

Know a content creator who’s going full tilt? DM us. Or email tilt@thetilt.com.

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Caught on … Twitter​

“Friendly reminder: You are allowed to take a break.” – Creator Wizard

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• ​You - The Content Entrepreneur (Content Inc.)
• ​Tech Companies as Media Companies Becoming Old Hat (This Old Marketing)
• ​10 Tips for Creating a Well-Rounded SEO Strategy (Small Business Trends)
• ​5 Ways To Start Building a Network as a Startup Owner (Startup.info)
• ​4 Pieces of Advice for Entrepreneurs Going Into Business With Friends (Forbes)

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Your team for this issue: Joe Pulizzi, Ann Gynn, Laura Kozak, Marc Maxhimer, and Dave Anthony, with an assist from Angelina Kaminski, Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, and Don Borger.

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