Meet Vivian Tu: The 'Your Rich BFF' TikTok Star Urging Couples to Talk Money on the First Date
If personal finance feels overwhelming, Vivian Tu is determined to make it less intimidating.
Discover how Vivian Tu, former JPMorgan trader and creator of “Your Rich BFF,” built a personal finance empire and why she believes couples should discuss money from day one.
Widely recognized by her online persona “Your Rich BFF,” Tu creates engaging and easy-to-understand videos about managing money. Her content ranges from salary negotiation strategies to actionable advice for tackling credit card balances. Calling herself “your favorite Wall Street girly,” she has built a social media audience of 10 million followers and authored two books focused on personal finance.
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Raised in Baltimore as the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Tu often links her financial mindset to her upbringing. Her parents instilled frugality and a respect for money early in her life. However, it wasn’t until several years into her corporate journey that she realized financial education was her true passion.
After earning her degree from the University of Chicago, Tu launched her career as a trader at JPMorgan in New York. Following her time on Wall Street, she transitioned into a sales role at BuzzFeed, where she worked for a couple of years. In late 2021, she officially launched her TikTok account, which now boasts 2.7 million followers. The idea stemmed from her habit of regularly offering financial advice to coworkers.
Beyond TikTok, Tu hosts the podcast “Networth and Chill” and recently stepped into the role of chief of financial empowerment at SoFi, a fintech banking platform. Her latest book, “Well Endowed,” was released this month.
Why You Should Talk About Money Early in a Relationship
According to Tu, financial discussions are among the most critical conversations couples can have. Although discussing money may feel uncomfortable, she emphasizes its importance for long-term compatibility. Rather than postponing the topic until engagement or marriage, she advises bringing it up as early as possible.
Her philosophy is simple: start early and revisit often. In fact, she suggests introducing money talk on the very first date.
To keep the conversation light, Tu recommends framing it around imaginative scenarios. For example, asking how someone would spend $100,000 on a dream two-week vacation can reveal lifestyle priorities. One partner may envision a rugged nature expedition, while the other may prefer a luxury resort. Such differences can highlight varying financial values and expectations.
Money conversations don’t need to be heavy from the outset. They can begin playfully and deepen naturally as the relationship grows, offering meaningful insight into shared goals and spending habits.
How to Prevent Overspending
Excessive spending can derail efforts to build an emergency fund and may even lead to mounting credit card debt. To curb this, Tu advises pausing before making purchases and questioning the motivation behind them.
She suggests asking yourself whether you truly want the item—or simply want others to know you own it. Tu admits she has, at times, bought things to appear impressive or fit in socially.
Her advice is to make purchases intentionally and resist spending out of pressure to belong to a particular circle.
Buying vs. Renting: Rethinking the “American Dream”
Homeownership is frequently viewed as a cornerstone of the American Dream. However, rising costs have made buying property unattainable for many, and Tu points out that owning a home isn’t automatically the best financial choice.
Renting can provide greater flexibility and may be more affordable. She encourages prospective buyers to consider whether they are prepared to handle maintenance responsibilities—such as fixing HVAC systems or dealing with plumbing issues in the middle of the night. If not, having a landlord manage those repairs could be preferable.
While many view homeownership as a key investment strategy, renters can still build wealth. Tu recommends allocating funds toward other investments, strengthening savings, and paying down outstanding debts.
Start Investing—Even If It’s Small
For those intimidated by investing, Tu suggests simplifying the process. One solution she highlights is using a robo-adviser.
She describes robo-advisers as an ideal middle ground for beginners. These automated services assess your financial situation and goals through a series of questions, then use that information to manage investments on your behalf. According to Tu, someone unfamiliar with investing can be up and running within 45 minutes. Most importantly, she stresses that beginning today is better than delaying until tomorrow.
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