101: Building a Life of Financial Independence, Starting From Less Than Zero with Sunitha Rao

Sunitha Rao remembers a childhood of scarcity. Born to immigrant parents, some of her first memories are of her home being broken into, and her things being stolen. The only money lessons she was taught as a child were frugality and saving, because you never knew what was going to happen.

Her father had grand tennis plans for her, and pushed her into tennis. By age 9, she was playing tennis six hours a day. School was so low on the priority list she dropped out in 6th grade to pursue tennis full time.

She turned pro at age 14, but all the money she made went back into her career: coaches, travel to events, more training.

When Sunitha retired from tennis, she had nothing left. She estimates she “maybe had $1000 in the bank.” Her relationship with her father was so abusive, she sought a restraining order against him and started over, rebuilding her life at age 23.

Starting off at community college, looked up endowment programs in Boston because she liked the city, and reached out to colleges that offered scholarships. Finishing college she got a corporate job, which was her goal - until she started working there. She realized her corporation didn’t have any loyalty toward her, so she started looking for ways to generate income outside of her salary and discovered real estate.

She now owns multiple units in the midwest, and is on the path to financial independence, starting with nothing but a 6th grade education at age 23. If you’re thinking you started too late, Sunitha’s story shows that financial independence is possible - at any age.

In This Episode We Cover:

• Sunitha's journey with money
• On having a scarcity mindset around money
• How she turned into a professional tennis player at age 14
• What happened to her money being a professional tennis player
• Wanted to succeed in the corporate world
• Her journey at a community college
• How she found endowment programs
• Pros and cons about going to college at different age bracket
• Her highs and lows point being a professional tennis player
• What realization that sparks her journey to financial independence
• Had their house governed by domestic abuse
• Believed on being diversified
• Started real estate business at Indianapolis
• What her goals going forward
• On domestic and financial abuse
• How did she leave from a domestically violent relationship
• And SO much more!

Links:

• BiggerPockets Forums
• The Domestic Violence Hotline - 1-800-799-SAFE
• GRIFFIX Property Group

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