NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City native and Drury graduate Catie Hogan hopes to empower and nudge millennials toward adulthood with her new book "The Millennial's Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together."

 

Hogan, a financial planner and published comedy and satire writer now living in Atlanta, said the bulk of her collection of essays was inspired by her own struggles navigating the post-college world. 

 

"Less than a decade ago I was drowning in student loans, had no idea what to do with my life and was consistently dating people who were wrong for me," she said. "I started reading a ton of personal finance and self-help books and eventually got my act together financially, professionally and personally."

 

After finding success and starting her own financial planning firm in 2016, Hogan is on a crusade to teach millennials the necessary life skills often not taught in school — such as how to better handle finances and relationships, and how to find the right career.

 

"This book takes a new approach to the personal finance and self-help genre, and I try to limit my use of confusing industry jargon," she said. "I hope to help people build a financial foundation and become more confident in their jobs and relationships, but if I fail to teach you anything, I hope I at least can put a smile on your face and make you laugh."

 

Although the information in the book is applicable to all, she wrote it with millennial women in mind.

 

"I know my audience. Most of them drink a lot of wine and are fans of reality TV, and that's totally fine because I'm one of them," she said. "While my advice is mostly geared toward young women, I try to be as intersectional as possible. I don't think guys should be embarrassed to be seen with my book either. There's a lot of stuff in there for them, too."

 

She added that through humor, she hopes to liven up the often dry writing usually attributed personal finance and self-help books and to empower young women.

 

"I'm a big believer in using humor to convey important messages," Hogan said. "I'm on a crusade to make America more financially literate and I'm going to use bad jokes and self-deprecating humor to do just that. Learning how to be an adult doesn't have to be so serious."

 

Hogan's book can be purchased in paperback or eBook format on Amazon and you can follow @Hogan_Financial.