Podcst

275. Roadmap to Quitting Your Job and Building a Business in 2026 with Sam Vander Wielen

Financial Feminist

Her First $100K

February 24, 2026

Show Notes

If you’re thinking about quitting your job in 2026and finally starting your own business, this episode is your practical roadmap. I’m joined by lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Sam Vander Wielen, who left corporate law with multi-six-figure student loans, built a multi-seven-figure digital products company, and learned firsthand what entrepreneurship can and cannot do for your happiness. We’re talking about how to financially plan your exit from a 9-to-5, what legal steps you need (LLC, contracts, trademarks), and how to stop tying your worth to income, vanity metrics, or job titles. If you want a sustainable, smart plan for quitting your job and building a profitable business in 2026,this conversation will show you how to do it without burning your life down in the process.

Sam’s links:

Get Sam’s book: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/book/ Listen to Sam’s podcast: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/podcast

Sign up for Sam’s newsletter: https://www.samvanderwielen.com/easy-emails

To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to ⁠⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠⁠


0:00 Intro

The Happiness Myth

Why We Tie Happiness to Milestones

What a Business Can (and Can’t) Give You

Money as a Tool for Safety and Choice

Sam’s Corporate Law Wake-Up Call

The Stability Myth of Corporate Jobs

Planning a Real Exit From Your 9–5

Legal Basics for Starting a Business

Why Entrepreneurship Doesn’t Fix Your Life

Redefining Success Before You Leap

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