Making $115K Teaching High School In Orange County, CA | Millennial Money

CNBC Make It

CNBC Make It

7 min, 3 sec

Jae Byun shares his thoughts on wealth, his journey to becoming a teacher and basketball coach, his financial strategies, and future aspirations.

Summary

  • Wealth for Jae is about having time, freedom, and a good quality of life to pursue passions, not merely chasing money.
  • Jae is a 31-year-old teacher and basketball coach in Orange County with an annual income of $115,000.
  • His upbringing and experiences with sports and coaching influenced his decision to pivot from finance to education.
  • Jae is strategic about his finances, aiming to save half his salary, while also investing and managing expenses like purchasing solar panels for his parents' house.
  • He values the impact he has on students through teaching and coaching and contemplates future opportunities in administration or coaching.

Chapter 1

Definition of Wealth and Career Choice

0:01 - 23 sec

Jae Byun discusses his personal definition of wealth and the reasons for choosing a career in teaching and coaching.

Jae Byun discusses his personal definition of wealth and the reasons for choosing a career in teaching and coaching.

  • Jae defines wealth as having the time and freedom to do what he loves rather than accumulating money.
  • His passion for teaching made him feel he could do it without concern for compensation.

Chapter 2

Background and Financial Values

0:40 - 39 sec

Jae shares his upbringing, the influence of his parents on his financial values, and his initial career intentions.

Jae shares his upbringing, the influence of his parents on his financial values, and his initial career intentions.

  • Jae was born in South Korea and moved to the U.S. at the age of four, growing up in Fullerton with supportive parents.
  • His parents instilled the value of money in him, emphasizing its scarcity and the need to manage it wisely.
  • Despite considering a finance career, internships led him to seek a different path.

Chapter 3

Journey to Becoming a Teacher and Coach

1:27 - 40 sec

Jae reflects on his experiences with sports, his motivation to become a teacher, and the process of obtaining his credential.

Jae reflects on his experiences with sports, his motivation to become a teacher, and the process of obtaining his credential.

  • Sports and impactful coaches during his youth motivated Jae to become an influential figure for others through teaching and coaching.
  • To become a teacher in California, Jae underwent a teacher credential program costing $15,000 to $20,000, which his parents supported financially.

Chapter 4

Income as a Teacher and Coach

2:12 - 23 sec

Jae discusses his income from teaching and coaching, including his base salary and coaching stipend.

Jae discusses his income from teaching and coaching, including his base salary and coaching stipend.

  • Jae earns $115,000 annually from teaching and coaching, with coaching providing an additional $4,500 stipend.
  • He notes the high cost of living in Orange County as a reason for the seemingly high salary compared to other states.

Chapter 5

Financial Strategy and Unexpected Expenses

2:54 - 28 sec

Jae shares his aggressive savings strategy, living expenses, and some unexpected costs he encountered.

Jae shares his aggressive savings strategy, living expenses, and some unexpected costs he encountered.

  • Jae aims to save half of his take-home salary each month while living at home.
  • His spending includes living expenses, utilities, food, entertainment, an emergency root canal, and a couch purchase for his parents.

Chapter 6

Managing Debt and Investments

3:27 - 29 sec

Jae outlines his approach to debt management and his investment strategies.

Jae outlines his approach to debt management and his investment strategies.

  • He uses a credit card for most expenses to earn rewards and has a debt for solar panels, which cost $44,000.
  • Jae has aggressive investment accounts in stocks and a ROTH individual retirement account.

Chapter 7

Reciprocating Parental Support

4:06 - 10 sec

Jae expresses his desire to give back to his parents and how he approached contributing to their well-being.

Jae expresses his desire to give back to his parents and how he approached contributing to their well-being.

  • Despite initial resistance, Jae provided solar panels for his parents' house to reciprocate their support and love.

Chapter 8

Taking on Teaching Math and Coaching Basketball

4:33 - 16 sec

Jae details how he ended up teaching math and coaching basketball, roles that complement each other.

Jae details how he ended up teaching math and coaching basketball, roles that complement each other.

  • Although he initially wanted to teach English, he accepted a position teaching math and took over the girls' basketball program at his school.

Chapter 9

Coaching Commitments and Personal Time

4:54 - 32 sec

Jae explains the demands of coaching and how he balances work with personal growth and social activities.

Jae explains the demands of coaching and how he balances work with personal growth and social activities.

  • Coaching requires Jae to be highly committed, with practices and game preparations taking up much of his time.
  • Outside of work, he recharges by reconnecting with friends and engaging in activities like golf.

Chapter 10

Living at Home and Future Plans

5:41 - 35 sec

Jae talks about living with his parents, future living arrangements, and his outlook on finances and resource management.

Jae talks about living with his parents, future living arrangements, and his outlook on finances and resource management.

  • Jae plans to move out within the next 6 to 12 months and is currently maximizing his time with his parents.
  • He reflects on societal perceptions and emphasizes his focus on providing for his parents and maintaining financial freedom.

Chapter 11

Emotional Rewards of Teaching and Coaching

6:26 - 30 sec

Jae describes the emotional rewards of teaching and coaching and his thoughts on his career's future.

Jae describes the emotional rewards of teaching and coaching and his thoughts on his career's future.

  • The end of the sports season brings emotions and memories that reaffirm Jae's choice to go into teaching and coaching.
  • Looking ahead, he considers a potential future in education administration or other coaching opportunities.

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