Miss Independent

You’ve worked hard for your money and now it’s time for your money to work for you. You will never earn or budget your way into real wealth. Growing your money significantly doesn’t require starting with a lot of money. It requires a little bit of knowledge about taking smart risks and as much time as possible to take advantage of the glorious power of compound interest, which Einstein refers to as the eighth wonder of the world.

From automating your savings to easy, no-stress investing strategies, Nicole will teach you how to take your financial knowledge and portfolio to the next level and start you on your journey to your ultimate destination: true financial independence.

In Miss Independent, you will learn:

The freedom that wealth affords you, whether it’s the ability to leave a crappy job or significant other, go on the vacation of your dreams or otherwise live life on your own terms.
The best method for establishing your “number”—the amount of wealth you want to accumulate before you retire—and getting it.
The meaning of the most common investing terms, like stocks and bonds, (and some more exotic ones like REITs or cryptocurrency) and how to make them work to your advantage.
The ins and outs of big financial decisions and concepts, like taking out a mortgage, owning investment properties, and buying life insurance.

Miss Independent takes the fear out of money management and investing once and for all. Using her own vulnerable stories and her signature conversational style, let Nicole show you all the different ways and paths that you can take to become financially free at last.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with Harper Collins Leadership

Book club questions for Miss Independent by Nicole Lapin

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Check your problems: Where are you right now with your money? Do you have mindset problems or financial hardships? Are you living the life you want?

Set some goals: What are your financial goals? Do you want to get out of debt, be a millionaire, have the ability to travel whenever you want, or just retire early to spend more time with your family? The choice is yours. What kind of power do you want wealth to give you?

Choose your income streams: What additional streams of income do you need to put into place to help you meet your financial destiny?

Choose to invest: What kind of smart investment actions can you take right now that will “make your money work for you”?

Calculate your net worth: Use the Balance Worksheet in the book to take stock of what you have. Then subtract your liabilities from your assets. Was there anything that surprised you about your final number?

Develop your mindset: How does a change in mindset affect your finances? What limiting beliefs do you currently have about building wealth and taking control of your finances? What mindset tweaks can you make to correct these thoughts?

Figure out your joy rating: What are some of the things you like to do that you pay for every month? Which gives you the most joy? How frequently do you engage in these activities? How can comparing monthly costs and your joy help you be more intentional with your spending?

Keep resilient: It is the nature of investing that your investments will go up and go down as they mature. What are some ways you can ensure you’re not getting spooked by the fluctuations in the bond market and look at your investment as something that will pay off eventually?

Determine how to pay it off: If you own your own home currently or plan to buy some real estate eventually, how can the strategies and advice in this book help you pay off early and decrease the amount of money you have to pay?

Consider this last line of the book: “Money buys you the freedom to pursue happiness—and what’s more powerful than that?” Is that true? Why or why not? How can money help you reach your goals and live your best life?

Miss Independent Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Miss Independent discussion questions

“I wish I’d had Nicole’s books earlier! She makes business and finance feel accessible but does it in a sassy, humorous way.”

Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist

“What I love about Nicole is that you don’t need a dictionary to understand her advice. It’s crystal clear, straight up and spot-on.”

Alyssa Milano, actress, activist and founder of Touch by Alyssa Milano

“Lapin takes the mystery out of finance. She avoids off-putting conventional terms and empowers women to take control of their financial affairs.”

Success Magazine

“When someone calls you a ‘Rich Bitch,’ say ‘thank you,’”

Gloria Steinem, women’s rights icon

“A financial diet is like a regular diet: if you allow yourself small indulgences, you won’t binge later on. Nicole offers you a plan you can stick to.”

Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent

"Lapin's unfiltered, energetic advice speaks to anyone taking aim at their own financial destiny."

Mike Perlis, CEO of Forbes Media

"Nicole Lapin is singularly qualified to demystify money for the millennial set...with a no nonsense chic style. She is on a mission to help women get wise with money in Rich Bitch, the no-fuss personal finance guide.”

Elle Magazine

“A Financial Guru.”

Forbes Magazine

“'Nicole Lapin is someone you'd want to sit down with for a heart-to-heart.”

Real Simple