Hey there! Welcome to the Independent Money newsletter 👋 We’ll be exploring the fascinating lives of our favorite entrepreneurs. We’re taking a closer look at their backgrounds, careers, and financial journeys.

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We chatted with Ruffin Mitchener about her journey from corporate employee to entrepreneur. She shares insights into growth hacks, angel investing tips, and more!

I’m a retired Big 4 Auditor, former fintech operator, turned content creator building Brydge Club – the “How She Built this of TikTok”. I’ve amassed a following of 100K+ across socials with videos reaching millions of women each month. Brydge Club is a private community for female founders & funders working to close the $1.7 trillion financing gap. 

I also advise startups on building viral content strategies and help companies partner with content creators. I’m also an active angel investor in companies founded and led by women (more on that below!)..

Content Creation

What made you start creating content? 

I was at UCLA Business School during COVID, working on launching a proptech startup—a business that ultimately didn’t get off the ground. At the time, TikTok was blowing up. I watched as founders used the platform to build huge audiences, attract their first customers, and secure venture capital. I realized then, that building an online audience was not just a trend, but the future of building and investing in businesses. I knew that building an audience first, would open up doors to do both. 

What has been the most effective channel for initial growth and what is the best channel now for building/maintaining your community?

I initially grew my audience on TikTok, where I had early success from leaning into my experiences as an MBA student at UCLA Anderson. For a long time, I struggled to crack the code for growth on other platforms. If you haven’t heard…Instagram recently changed their algorithm to prioritize small creator accounts and Reels has been a massive unlock for growth. One of my recent Reels racked up 37 million views, which is wild and my biggest video to date by far. 

What’s the coolest opportunity that’s come from starting to create content?

Content creation has profoundly changed the course of my life and career in ways I never anticipated. It has opened up a number of exciting opportunities that I couldn’t even imagine. The coolest opportunity so far has been the chance to meet and interview Sallie Krawcheck, the founder of Ellevest and widely recognized as one of the most powerful women on Wall Street. 

Money

What’s one money tip you live by? 

Talking about money is so important. Growing up, I was fortunate to be in a household where real estate deals, the markets, and financial strategies were a regular part of our dinner conversations. This early exposure taught me invaluable lessons about personal finance that have shaped my approach to managing money and investing. If money isn’t a topic in your household, there are so many resources and communities available online today that can help you build financial knowledge. Some of my favorites include Jason Tartick’s Trading Secrets and  Break Your Budget.  

For anyone else who is also wanting to learn more about personal finance check out our resource centre.

How do you source potential angel investment opportunities?

I find Angel Investment opportunities from many sources. Here are my key strategies to find promising angel investment opportunities:

1. Inbound + Outbound DMs from My Socials: Social media has become the strongest source for my Angel investment opportunities. The ability to talk about portfolio companies on my channels has attracted lots of inbound opportunities from founders raising. I also do my own outreach, especially to founders who are crushing their own content strategies! 

2. Referrals from My Network: The next most effective way I discover potential investments is through investor referrals (i.e. other angels or VCs sending me deals). Relationships with other investors often lead to introductions to exciting startups and founders that are pitching them. 

3. Brydge Club: The female founder + investor community that I lead is quickly becoming an exciting new source of angel investment opportunities. Most founders within our community are at the pre-seed to seed stages. The community play gives me an opportunity to get to know founders on a deeper level, and we host pitch calls to feature investment opportunities when founders are raising.  Do you have a budget?

For anyone else who is also wanting to learn more about angel invest check out this resource.

What is your current savings and investing stack/portfolio (i.e any retirement accounts, emergency fund, etc)?

Here’s a breakdown of how I’m currently managing my finances:

1. Emergency Savings Fund: I keep a solid emergency savings fund in a Sofi High Yield Savings Account. This account offers a competitive interest rate and provides a financial cushion for unexpected expenses, ensuring that I’m prepared for any unforeseen situations.

2. Retirement Savings: For my long-term retirement planning, I have a Solo 401(k) account managed through Carry. This account allows me to contribute both as an employee and employer, which helps maximize my retirement savings while also offering tax benefits.

3. Angel Investments: I’m actively involved in angel investing and have put money into several promising startups. My current investments include Alinea Invest, Upkeep Beauty, August, Yardsale, Nelle Atelier, Bumo, Hey Jane. These investments allow me to support innovative companies and potentially see significant returns as they grow. This is less than 5% of my portfolio! 

4. Stocks and Index Funds: The majority of my portfolio is invested in stocks and index funds. I believe in a diversified approach, using a mix of individual stocks and broad market index funds to balance risk and reward. 

5. Cryptocurrency: I hold a very small amount of Bitcoin on Coinbase. It’s a minor portion of my overall portfolio that I originally invested in 2017. Planning to hold this for the long-term and excited to see where the value goes. 

To learn more about Ruffin and stay connected, you can find her @ruffinmitchener on Instagram, LinkedIn, & TikTok and @playbrydge on spotify & Youtube. Apply to join Brydge Club here.

What’s Happening at Carry?

Here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks

See the full list of events here. ⏰

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Think your friends might like it? Be sure to share it with them! 📩

If you want more resources on building wealth as a solopreneur/entrepreneur, check these out:

• The Solo 401k handbook 

• The Roth IRA handbook

• The Self-Directed IRA handbook

• The Guide to Paying Less in Taxes

• What is a Solo 401k?

• How to Open a Solo 401k