Personal finance advice can feel intimidating, often filled with jargon and complex strategies. Vivian Tu is trying to make those conversations easier to understand.
Better known online as “Your Rich BFF,” Tu shares short videos on TikTok about personal finance topics such as negotiating a salary and managing credit card debt.
Tu, who calls herself “your favorite Wall Street girly,” has built a large following across social media. She also hosts the “Networth and Chill” podcast and recently released a book titled “Well Endowed.” Tu was also recently appointed chief of financial empowerment at fintech and banking platform SoFi.
Before becoming a social media finance educator, Tu worked on Wall Street. After graduating from the University of Chicago, she began her career as a trader. She later moved into sales at BuzzFeed before launching her TikTok account in late 2021.
The idea came from a simple observation. She was frequently giving money advice to coworkers.
Raised in Baltimore as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, on her website Tu says her upbringing influenced how she thinks about money. Her parents encouraged frugality and an appreciation for financial stability from an early age. Tu says it was a few years into her corporate career that she realized she enjoyed helping others understand their finances.
Her content focuses on making financial concepts easier to approach. Here are several of Tu’s personal finance tips that she recently shared with the Associated Press for people looking to strengthen their financial position in 2026.
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Start talking about money early in relationships
One of Tu’s key recommendations involves communication with a partner.
Money conversations are often delayed in relationships, but Tu says it can be helpful to begin discussing finances earlier.
“Start early, start often. I always say you have to talk about money on the first date,” she told the AP.
The conversation does not need to be overly serious at the start. Tu suggests using hypothetical questions that can reveal financial preferences.
For example, she recommends asking a potential partner what they might do if they were given $100,000 tomorrow and asked to plan their perfect two-week vacation.
One person might choose an outdoor trip while another might prefer a luxury resort. Differences like that can provide insight into how people view spending and lifestyle choices.
Over time, these conversations can develop into broader discussions about financial goals.
Be intentional about spending
Overspending can make it harder to save or build an emergency fund, especially when it leads to credit card debt.
Tu suggests pausing before making purchases and asking a simple question.
“The most important question to ask yourself before you buy something is: Do I want it or do I want people to know I have it?” she told the AP.
Tu says that some purchases are influenced by social pressure or the desire to project a certain image.
She says there have been a number of times in her own life she’s purchased things to “be cool” to to make someone else think she was.
Thinking more carefully about purchases can help people focus spending on things they actually value.
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Renting is not always a financial failure
Homeownership is often seen as an important financial milestone, but Tu says it may not be the best choice for everyone.
Owning a home can involve additional responsibilities and unexpected expenses, including maintenance and repairs.
If you’re not interested in doing things like maintaining your HVAC or figuring out how to fix a broken pipe at 2a.m., then Tu told the AP you might be better off renting and leaving those tasks to a landlord instead.
For some people, renting may offer more flexibility. Tu said that renters can still work toward financial goals by saving, investing, and paying down debt.
Start investing, even if it’s small
For people who find investing confusing, Tu says there are tools that can simplify the process.
She suggests robo advisers as one possible option for beginners. These automated investment platforms build and manage portfolios based on a user’s financial goals and risk tolerance.
“What I love about robo advisers is that anybody who doesn’t understand investing can be investing in 45 minutes,” Tu told the AP.
Robo advisers typically ask users questions about their finances and long term goals before investing on their behalf.
She says starting earlier can make a difference when it comes to investing.
“It is better to start today than to start tomorrow,” she said. “The sooner the better.”
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This article TikTok’s ‘Your Rich BFF’ Breaks Down Money Moves That Could Make You Rich(er) In 2026 originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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