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Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life
When Vivian Tu started working on Wall Street fresh from undergrad, all she knew was that she was making more money than she had ever seen in her life. But it wasn’t until she found a mentor of her own on the trading floor that she began to understand what wealthy people knew intuitively—the secrets to beating the proverbial financial game that has, for too long, been male, pale, and stale.
Building on the lessons she learned on Wall Street about money and the markets, Vivian now offers her best personal finance tips and tricks to readers of all ages and demographics, so that anyone can get rich, whether you grew up knowing the rules to the game or not. Vivian will be your mentor, dispensing fresh, no-BS advice on how to think like a rich person and create smart money habits. Throughout the pages of Rich AF , Vivian will break down her best recommendations to help
And much more!
Rich AF will equip readers with the tools and knowledge to not only understand the financial landscape, but to build a financial strategy of their own. And with Your Rich BFF at your side, you’ll be able to start your financial journey already in an affluent mindset, making the most of your money and growing your wealth for years to come.
Building on the lessons she learned on Wall Street about money and the markets, Vivian now offers her best personal finance tips and tricks to readers of all ages and demographics, so that anyone can get rich, whether you grew up knowing the rules to the game or not. Vivian will be your mentor, dispensing fresh, no-BS advice on how to think like a rich person and create smart money habits. Throughout the pages of Rich AF , Vivian will break down her best recommendations to help
And much more!
Rich AF will equip readers with the tools and knowledge to not only understand the financial landscape, but to build a financial strategy of their own. And with Your Rich BFF at your side, you’ll be able to start your financial journey already in an affluent mindset, making the most of your money and growing your wealth for years to come.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2023
About the author
Vivian Tu
3 books82 followersVivian Tu began her career as a J.P. Morgan Equities Trader, where she traded Industrials, Materials, and Energy stocks, as well as Event Driven Special Situations via the Risk Arbitrage team. She then pivoted to become a BuzzFeed Strategy Sales Partner, helping brands execute multi-channel marketing campaigns. She made her first $1M by 27 and is the CEO & Founder of Your Rich BFF Media LLC. She lives in the heart of New York City and is likely chowing down on Scarr’s pizza in the Lower East Side or running (read: briskly walking) down the West Side Highway.
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November 30, 2023This was a seriously strong personal finance book - I'm always getting asked for book recommendations for people who want to understand their finances, investing, etc better and this is my new go-to suggestion.
February 6, 2024
I am a young white male. This book is written for “women, people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, and marginalized communities.” That being said, it felt like the book was really just great financial advice that occasionally pandered to her demographic by referring to that line enough to make them feel important. But you know, if being a girly pop is gonna get me to my goals then Hey Girl Heyyyyy!
I’ve only been attempting to become more financially literate for a couple months but honestly, the way this book is structured is really all you need. It starts with the basics of money, flows into what to do with that money (budgeting), then finishes with how you can better utilize your money (investing). It does this well and all while being extremely practical and easy to read with actionable items. And tbh it was way better than “rich dad poor dad” and most definitely gives a perfect intro to better understanding finance.
And anytime she gave her “women, poc, LGBTQ+, margins community” line I just added “and me.”
I’ve only been attempting to become more financially literate for a couple months but honestly, the way this book is structured is really all you need. It starts with the basics of money, flows into what to do with that money (budgeting), then finishes with how you can better utilize your money (investing). It does this well and all while being extremely practical and easy to read with actionable items. And tbh it was way better than “rich dad poor dad” and most definitely gives a perfect intro to better understanding finance.
And anytime she gave her “women, poc, LGBTQ+, margins community” line I just added “and me.”
November 13, 2023
It’s really disheartening to see someone whose goal is to empower people financially, steal their branding ideas from another she/her creator that also shares the same common goal.
As someone who’s taken Amanda Frances’ money course, as well as read her book, I can speak to it being more than “just a manifestation book”. Truly, what is financial empowerment if you don’t have the on going inner work present to be able to hold financial expansion before applying practical financial advice.
To label another woman’s work, under the pretense of “oh well my editors said this is okay”, also speaks to the lack of integrity this author is choosing. If it’s your creative work you’re promoting, and you are aware you’re copying another woman’s work word for word (an abbreviation is still the same as spelling something out, why this is having to be explained is beyond me), then have the integrity to do the research yourself, and choose for yourself. If you’d read or even skimmed her book, you wouldn’t need editors to excuse the choice of copying Amanda’s title and branding. There’s simply no excuse.
Change the name to honor her in the only way you can at this point after stealing her originality, and be proud of the work you’re putting out into the world by honoring your own uniqueness.
After all, we’re all our own individuals. The more you know yourself, the easier it becomes to stand apart in your own unique beingness.
As someone who’s taken Amanda Frances’ money course, as well as read her book, I can speak to it being more than “just a manifestation book”. Truly, what is financial empowerment if you don’t have the on going inner work present to be able to hold financial expansion before applying practical financial advice.
To label another woman’s work, under the pretense of “oh well my editors said this is okay”, also speaks to the lack of integrity this author is choosing. If it’s your creative work you’re promoting, and you are aware you’re copying another woman’s work word for word (an abbreviation is still the same as spelling something out, why this is having to be explained is beyond me), then have the integrity to do the research yourself, and choose for yourself. If you’d read or even skimmed her book, you wouldn’t need editors to excuse the choice of copying Amanda’s title and branding. There’s simply no excuse.
Change the name to honor her in the only way you can at this point after stealing her originality, and be proud of the work you’re putting out into the world by honoring your own uniqueness.
After all, we’re all our own individuals. The more you know yourself, the easier it becomes to stand apart in your own unique beingness.
November 12, 2023
Rich AF is Amanda Frances brand. The publishing house AND the author KNOWS this. Very disappointing. Change the name.
January 5, 2024
The title of this book is a rip off of Amanda Frances’ best selling book Rich as F*ck. Amanda’s branding was copied as well.
Update Jan. 2024: After doing a deep dive on this book, I am absolutely shocked, saddened, and horrified that this was allowed to go to print. Not only was the title and branding images stolen, but this is one of the most negative books I have ever read.
Here are a couple of direct quotes from the book:
“The American dream is dead.”
“Rich people are apex predators.”
“Rich people are entitled.”
“[investing] takes a lot of work and stress, which rich people hate.”
Vivian, girl. If you want people to be rich so badly and believe everyone should be rich... why all the negativity towards rich people? For the entire book, the author insinuated that rich people are bad, wrong, greedy, what is wrong with society, and that “poor people” have to “hack the rich people system” in order to get ahead. The author continues to state that hard work will get you nowhere, and you HAVE to do all of the homework in her book to see any type of success.
If this was the first personal finance book I had ever read, it would have made me want to give up. The author makes financial success seem so difficult and so limited, that if I didn’t know better, I would think it was impossible for me. This book flat out does the opposite of what it sets out to do - it makes you feel like there is no way for you to make it in our current world. It’s nothing but doom and gloom, competition, and a sense that you have to take opportunities and resources from others if you want anything for yourself. It makes me so angry that inevitably this WILL be the first personal finance book someone will find, and it will completely turn them off from finding financial freedom for themselves.
Aside from the all of the negativity, the book is littered with (as another review so perfectly stated) “liberal rhetoric” and weird pop culture references that feel awkwardly placed and forced. Rather than coming from a place of nuance, understanding, and relatability, it feels like it comes from a place of bitterness, resentment, and hostility that is strange for a book on personal finance.
A great step on the road to financial freedom is not wasting your hard earned dollars on this atrocity of a book. I encourage you to find content on money that feels positive, uplifting, and hopeful (Ahem… like the *real* Rich as F*ck book).
Update Jan. 2024: After doing a deep dive on this book, I am absolutely shocked, saddened, and horrified that this was allowed to go to print. Not only was the title and branding images stolen, but this is one of the most negative books I have ever read.
Here are a couple of direct quotes from the book:
“The American dream is dead.”
“Rich people are apex predators.”
“Rich people are entitled.”
“[investing] takes a lot of work and stress, which rich people hate.”
Vivian, girl. If you want people to be rich so badly and believe everyone should be rich... why all the negativity towards rich people? For the entire book, the author insinuated that rich people are bad, wrong, greedy, what is wrong with society, and that “poor people” have to “hack the rich people system” in order to get ahead. The author continues to state that hard work will get you nowhere, and you HAVE to do all of the homework in her book to see any type of success.
If this was the first personal finance book I had ever read, it would have made me want to give up. The author makes financial success seem so difficult and so limited, that if I didn’t know better, I would think it was impossible for me. This book flat out does the opposite of what it sets out to do - it makes you feel like there is no way for you to make it in our current world. It’s nothing but doom and gloom, competition, and a sense that you have to take opportunities and resources from others if you want anything for yourself. It makes me so angry that inevitably this WILL be the first personal finance book someone will find, and it will completely turn them off from finding financial freedom for themselves.
Aside from the all of the negativity, the book is littered with (as another review so perfectly stated) “liberal rhetoric” and weird pop culture references that feel awkwardly placed and forced. Rather than coming from a place of nuance, understanding, and relatability, it feels like it comes from a place of bitterness, resentment, and hostility that is strange for a book on personal finance.
A great step on the road to financial freedom is not wasting your hard earned dollars on this atrocity of a book. I encourage you to find content on money that feels positive, uplifting, and hopeful (Ahem… like the *real* Rich as F*ck book).
January 4, 2024
A solid and even fun intro to financial literacy! Definitely written for the sub 30 crowd, but don’t let that deter you. The casual/millennial writing style makes this topic more accessible and approachable compared to other books. I also appreciated the equity and cultural lens. There’s so much to learn (and unlearn) about money when you come from a marginalized community and this book made me feel seen. While it won’t answer all your money questions, it’s a great starting point.
January 12, 2024
The book starts off well and with good advice. Vivian is a good storyteller. Some I appreciated are:
1) Her discussion of rich people buying assets rather than material thing’ things to impress others.
2) Rich people live to share with each other whether that be salary information, accountants, investment tips
Unfortunately the book quickly becomes mostly for very early beginners in their financial journey.
The long chapters in things like budgeting aren’t needed and unfortunately other than the pizza example for taxes I didn’t feel like there was much new in this book.
This would not be one I recommend to others. I can think of many others that would help more.
1) Her discussion of rich people buying assets rather than material thing’ things to impress others.
2) Rich people live to share with each other whether that be salary information, accountants, investment tips
Unfortunately the book quickly becomes mostly for very early beginners in their financial journey.
The long chapters in things like budgeting aren’t needed and unfortunately other than the pizza example for taxes I didn’t feel like there was much new in this book.
This would not be one I recommend to others. I can think of many others that would help more.
November 11, 2023
The title of this book is a rip-off of Amanda Frances' RICH AS F*CK.
December 9, 2023
“Your Rich BFF” could well become our 1st Madame Présidente. 💫
As a Harvard/MIT and Brown University graduate—in an Economics class in which I earned “the only 100% ever given” by the professor, I wrote extensively about Vivian Tu for our year-long Leadership project. Most other people wrote about Elon Musk (nahh thanks).
Then, Tu got picked up on Forbes’ Top Creators under 30 for making over 3 million the year prior!
Today, I saw Musk’s biography at Costco…. Tu’s book BETTER go wholesale; y’all gotta sample these fin tips! The People truly need this knowledge. Since social (media) and the internet have revolutionized access to information, for all, let the rich games begin again.✨
As a Harvard/MIT and Brown University graduate—in an Economics class in which I earned “the only 100% ever given” by the professor, I wrote extensively about Vivian Tu for our year-long Leadership project. Most other people wrote about Elon Musk (nahh thanks).
Then, Tu got picked up on Forbes’ Top Creators under 30 for making over 3 million the year prior!
Today, I saw Musk’s biography at Costco…. Tu’s book BETTER go wholesale; y’all gotta sample these fin tips! The People truly need this knowledge. Since social (media) and the internet have revolutionized access to information, for all, let the rich games begin again.✨
February 21, 2024
honestly, think this is one of my new go to recommendations when people request a good personal finance book. the author does a great job at breaking down finance concepts into fun, easy to understand examples. i also appreciate how level-headed she is about spending meaningfully on things that matter to you now while also saving for later. investing, budgeting, and debt are all really scary for so many people, and this book does a great job at making those scary topics approachable and shame free.
highly recommend, especially if you’re overwhelmed with personal finance and want something beginner friendly!
highly recommend, especially if you’re overwhelmed with personal finance and want something beginner friendly!
November 14, 2023
I received an advance reading of this book... wow, what a refreshing approach to delivering practical financial information. Vivian uses real-world, and in most cases hilarious, examples / anecdotes to make concepts seem more approachable and easier to understand.
The challenging part about financial literacy isn't access to information... all of this information exists on the internet or in some form that most people can access, but finding ways to deliver that information in a well-informed and digestible way is a game-changer.
This book will help so many people - from those looking to begin investing to those looking to save a few extra dollars. From those in their 20s to those later in life.
Kudos to Vivian on delivering this gem - hoping there are many more works to come!!
The challenging part about financial literacy isn't access to information... all of this information exists on the internet or in some form that most people can access, but finding ways to deliver that information in a well-informed and digestible way is a game-changer.
This book will help so many people - from those looking to begin investing to those looking to save a few extra dollars. From those in their 20s to those later in life.
Kudos to Vivian on delivering this gem - hoping there are many more works to come!!
January 9, 2024
If you can get past the excessive swearing and complaining about the white guys keeping us down, you might learn something but overall this just felt too whiny.
Blaming the schools for not teaching personal finance because the rich white guys want us to stay poor is so bogus. Saying it's the school's responsibility to teach everything under the sun to students is also bogus and takes away personal responsibility as well as FAMILY responsibility. My parents taught me finance. I taught myself more finance.
Blaming the schools for not teaching personal finance because the rich white guys want us to stay poor is so bogus. Saying it's the school's responsibility to teach everything under the sun to students is also bogus and takes away personal responsibility as well as FAMILY responsibility. My parents taught me finance. I taught myself more finance.
February 10, 2024
I don’t think I learned anything new, but it was very millennial accessible
+1 to companies / corporations do not care about you
wish there had been more discussion on risk when discussing debt/investing (my main takeaway from capital markets)
+1 to companies / corporations do not care about you
wish there had been more discussion on risk when discussing debt/investing (my main takeaway from capital markets)
December 24, 2023
I’ve read a number of finance books, which I’ve found to have varying degrees of helpfulness. I think the challenge is creating content that is general enough to appeal to a wide audience, while also being specific enough to actually be useful. I appreciate that Vivian acknowledges the challenges faced by marginalized communities and that personal finance has changed over time (i.e. what worked for your parents probably won’t work for you). I also appreciate Vivian’s focus on advocating for yourself and trying to increase your income, rather than skimp in order to save. Overall, the book breaks down concepts in a way that’s manageable and helps anyone who is new to personal finance understand basic concepts. I don’t think I learned anything new, per se, but I do think this is a good read for people who are looking for a place to start.
January 18, 2024
Great easy and fun read. Well suited for those getting into personal finance!
lol @ comments and people who can’t tell the difference between Rich As F*ck and Rich AF 🥴. Two pretty distinct, different brands and people, if you ask me.
lol @ comments and people who can’t tell the difference between Rich As F*ck and Rich AF 🥴. Two pretty distinct, different brands and people, if you ask me.
March 25, 2024
Read this book cause the author’s Tik Toks are on my feed and I was interested in what she had to say in the book. Overall, the book had good points but most of it was stuff I already knew. I was tone deaf for some parts/key points because like she’s a millionaire and I’m not so it’s not as applicable to me.
March 4, 2024
Took my time with this one and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of solid introductory info included in it!
I'm not at all a numbers person, but one of my goals for the year is to become more financially literate by reading at least 4-5 personal finance books. I am frugal by nature, but I want to learn more about how to make my money work for me and the ins and outs of making smart investments. I was worried this would be too Gen-Z, and while the writing was very casual/trendy, Vivian's metaphors for things like investment strategies, tax brackets, and budget styles made things really easy to grasp.
If you purchase the book you also get access to a bunch of resources, from the type of brokerage that's best for you to comprehensive lists of credit cards with good rewards and budgeting apps. I couldn't finish the Kindle edition in time for the library loan to end so I purchased it to get access to those resources. Definitely one I'd revisit as I keep learning!
I'm not at all a numbers person, but one of my goals for the year is to become more financially literate by reading at least 4-5 personal finance books. I am frugal by nature, but I want to learn more about how to make my money work for me and the ins and outs of making smart investments. I was worried this would be too Gen-Z, and while the writing was very casual/trendy, Vivian's metaphors for things like investment strategies, tax brackets, and budget styles made things really easy to grasp.
If you purchase the book you also get access to a bunch of resources, from the type of brokerage that's best for you to comprehensive lists of credit cards with good rewards and budgeting apps. I couldn't finish the Kindle edition in time for the library loan to end so I purchased it to get access to those resources. Definitely one I'd revisit as I keep learning!
May 22, 2024
Oh, this book. THIS BOOK.
I've enjoyed the occasional TikTok from Vivian over the past six-ish months. I guess that's my first indication this was going to be a lot... I think I can only take Vivian in small doses. So, without further ado, here's what's wrong with this book.
1. Her "Monopoly anecdote" in the beginning is just wrong. I've played a lot of Monopoly, and like her friend's boyfriend, I've actually read the rules. You can't just borrow willy-nilly from the bank in Monopoly. You have to mortgage your property, which means you can't collect rent. So yes, you can strategically borrow, but you are missing out on rent if anyone lands on your property while it's mortgaged.
2. Did we really need a mention of the fake January 6 "insurrection"? That's not a rhetorical question. Did we need that? Because that added nothing to this book. Just saying.
3. Some reviewers have said she stole the title from Amanda Frances, who has a course called Rich as F*ck. I'm inclined to agree... because not only is the title literally exactly the same, but she also stole something else from someone else! In chapter 3, she says, "You can afford anything. You just can't afford everything." And that's a quote from the lovely Paula Pant, who runs a blog/business Afford Anything. Her tagline? "You can afford anything... But not everything." There's nothing I hate more than a plagiarist, so Vivian's not just skating on thin ice with me now. She's broken through the ice!
4. Her investing advice is crappy. Yes, I'm all for ETFs—but help your readers out and make some suggestions of what to look for. I know how to invest, but not everyone does.
Basically, I need to write my own finance book. I've had it up to here with bad finance books.
Edited to add: if you want to get the online resources for free, but don't want to sign up for the newsletter, here's the link: https://www.yourrichbff.com/richafresources/us
I've enjoyed the occasional TikTok from Vivian over the past six-ish months. I guess that's my first indication this was going to be a lot... I think I can only take Vivian in small doses. So, without further ado, here's what's wrong with this book.
1. Her "Monopoly anecdote" in the beginning is just wrong. I've played a lot of Monopoly, and like her friend's boyfriend, I've actually read the rules. You can't just borrow willy-nilly from the bank in Monopoly. You have to mortgage your property, which means you can't collect rent. So yes, you can strategically borrow, but you are missing out on rent if anyone lands on your property while it's mortgaged.
2. Did we really need a mention of the fake January 6 "insurrection"? That's not a rhetorical question. Did we need that? Because that added nothing to this book. Just saying.
3. Some reviewers have said she stole the title from Amanda Frances, who has a course called Rich as F*ck. I'm inclined to agree... because not only is the title literally exactly the same, but she also stole something else from someone else! In chapter 3, she says, "You can afford anything. You just can't afford everything." And that's a quote from the lovely Paula Pant, who runs a blog/business Afford Anything. Her tagline? "You can afford anything... But not everything." There's nothing I hate more than a plagiarist, so Vivian's not just skating on thin ice with me now. She's broken through the ice!
4. Her investing advice is crappy. Yes, I'm all for ETFs—but help your readers out and make some suggestions of what to look for. I know how to invest, but not everyone does.
Basically, I need to write my own finance book. I've had it up to here with bad finance books.
Edited to add: if you want to get the online resources for free, but don't want to sign up for the newsletter, here's the link: https://www.yourrichbff.com/richafresources/us
February 18, 2024
I don't even know what I was expecting from this overly hyped book with a distasteful cover—I guess I was trying to embody the saying "don't judge a book by its cover," or title in this case. However, it's not just the cover; the language, contradictions, and tone on certain matters were equally bothersome. There's nothing groundbreaking in terms of financial literacy; many books on this topic, some quite old, cover the same ground. Essentially, it seems the author has capitalized on social media and marketing, profiting from people's lack of basic knowledge and laziness. I'd give her a one-star for that.
February 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this audio book. I have followed Vivian on Instagram for a while and have found her financial guidance interesting and helpful. Financial advice and explanations can sometimes be tough to understand and I loved the way she explains things without making you feel like a dummy. Solid audio book, and it was never boring, despite the intense topic.
June 12, 2024
One of the best books I've read about personal finance. I listened to the audio through my library, but I'll be purchasing a hair copy so I have access to her digital resources.
February 21, 2024
Budgeting but make it for the girls basically
January 13, 2024
A delightful and thorough refresher of the game Monopoly, our personal big picture matters.
Read
February 28, 2024Lots of this I knew already. But it's a good reminder. It's also a fast and easy read. Vivian Tu does a lot of promoting of her website (http://richaf.club/), which I found clunk to use.
But, because of her advice, I'm maxing out my contributions on my 403B and IRA. I'm also starting with a robo advisor via SoFi. And I got my partner to get going with his HSA! So overall I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy read about finances, taxes, savings and retirement.
But, because of her advice, I'm maxing out my contributions on my 403B and IRA. I'm also starting with a robo advisor via SoFi. And I got my partner to get going with his HSA! So overall I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy read about finances, taxes, savings and retirement.
May 28, 2024
this book was a little cringe #girlboss finance but actually ended up being super helpful. i now feel like i have an actual action plan on how to save and make more money instead of just staring at it in my checking account every day feeling like im missing something. she went from very basic things (that i still needed help with) to the big questions ive been asking myself. she doesn’t assume she knows the best answer and gives lots of options. there’s also lots of free resources on her website, and the whole audiobook is included with spotify premium ! love
January 5, 2024
I enjoy reading different personal finance books. It's always interesting to get different perspectives on how to live a 'richer' life. While I thought Vivian Tu had some good advice, it was mostly at a beginner level. She has a way of coming across as an expert in many aspects of personal finance, even if her advice and/or perspective isn't necessarily correct. For instance, in her chapter of asking for a raise, I don't think she has a full grasp of how much red tape is around giving raises to employees. This can be a very tricky area to navigate and I've seen people ostracized for requesting raises they didn't deserve. Additionally, as a CPA myself, I was a bit taken back by her lumping all CPA's into tax expertise... just because someone is a CPA, it doesn't make them a tax expert. (It's similar to practicing law or medicine - there are so many different areas of expertise and most professionals, like lawyers / CPAs / doctors, are NOT a jack of all trades.) Finally, I didn't like her generalizations about people in the FIRE movement - they were very negative and she was only describing a small percentage of those people IMO. Overall, she had some good points, but definitely take it with a grain of salt and do your own research (i.e. read other books, articles, etc.).
March 31, 2024
3.75 — listened on audible. pretty good intro to finance & financial literacy for millennials. helped explain some concepts that i never understood by using her real-life examples. also, had a pretty comprehensive downloadable PDF to help explain things in further detail. wish there was more direction on how to apply learnings to each reader’s specific situation.
November 14, 2023
I was invited to a pre-read of this book by Vivian herself... I LOVED it. I'm usually not into personal finance, but Vivian made it fun and approachable. I can't wait for others to have the opportunity to read the book for themselves.
November 19, 2023
Change the book name to “Shady AF”
As someone who has benefited immensely from Amanda Frances I have to come to the defense here. Vivian you’re sick to take another’s woman’s branding. Figure yourself out. Also LOL at Penguin Random being salty AF.
As someone who has benefited immensely from Amanda Frances I have to come to the defense here. Vivian you’re sick to take another’s woman’s branding. Figure yourself out. Also LOL at Penguin Random being salty AF.
April 17, 2024
Solid financial advice, written for the Instagram/TikTok generation. I often cringed at the grammar, spelling, and acronyms, but ultimately, this book consolidated a lot of great financial information into an enjoyable and approachable experience.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 562 reviews