Alex Pendleton: Smart Money Moves for Creatives
In this Artistic Finance Podcast Episode, hosts Ellen and Ethan dive into personal finance strategies with Alex Pendleton, manager at Netgear’s ProAV Systems Engineering Department. Alex shares his journey from financial missteps to smart investing, emphasizing the importance of paying yourself first, cutting unnecessary expenses, and building long-term wealth.
What is the biggest financial lesson you’ve learned in your career?
Invest as much as you can. It’s important to prioritize paying yourself first before bills and expenses. Reducing unnecessary monthly costs—such as cutting cable or minimizing subscriptions—allows for more investment opportunities. Using platforms like Acorns helps automate small investments that add up over time.
Should you pay yourself first or your bills first?
Always pay yourself first. While bills need to be covered, ensuring personal savings and investments take priority secures long-term financial stability. The financial world is unpredictable, so building a strong savings and investment base is crucial.
What financial tools or resources do you use?
Rather than relying on software, I follow financial news daily, particularly Bloomberg, to identify market trends. I invest long-term in index funds instead of reacting to short-term stock market news. For young investors, I recommend setting up Acorns or Robinhood accounts early to start building wealth automatically.
How has networking impacted your career and finances?
Building industry relationships through events like LDI and NAB has directly influenced my career growth. Meeting people at these events led to business deals, promotions, and valuable collaborations. In the AV and live event industries, reputation matters, and strong connections can open new opportunities.
How should creatives approach saving and investing?
Set a “set-and-forget” investment strategy. Regularly contribute to index funds, money markets, or retirement accounts without constantly monitoring the stock market. The key is consistency—investing a fixed amount each month ensures long-term financial security without being swayed by market fluctuations.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
- Pay Yourself First
Alex emphasizes the importance of prioritizing personal savings and investments before paying bills or discretionary expenses. Building financial security starts with consistently setting aside money for the future. - Automate Your Investments
Tools like Acorns and index funds make investing effortless by rounding up purchases or auto-contributing to a portfolio. Consistency is key to growing wealth over time. - Cut Unnecessary Expenses
Small savings add up. Reducing monthly subscriptions or reassessing recurring costs can free up funds for investing or emergency savings. - Long-Term Mindset Over Market Hype
While keeping up with financial news is useful, Alex advises against reacting to short-term market fluctuations. Instead, focus on steady, long-term investments that build wealth over time. - Networking Pays Off
Building relationships in the industry leads to career growth and financial opportunities. Attending industry events like LDI and NAB can open doors to new business ventures and partnerships.
Listen to this Episode on:
Website / Spotify / Apple Podcasts / YouTube
This episode of the Artistic Finance podcast is hosted by Ellen Lampert-Gréaux & Ethan Steimel.
Editor's Note: At StageLync, an international platform for the performing arts, we celebrate the diversity of our writers' backgrounds. We recognize and support their choice to use either American or British English in their articles, respecting their individual preferences and origins. This policy allows us to embrace a wide range of linguistic expressions, enriching our content and reflecting the global nature of our community.
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