Is a College Degree Enough? Making Money Beyond the Degree with Elijah Barnum & Don Hopkins

What does making money look like for Gen Z when a college degree is no longer the only path to financial success? In this episode of Finance, Fitness & Finesse (F3), Certified Financial Therapist and host Jaelyn Vickery sits down with University of Illinois students and entrepreneurs Elijah Barnum and Don Hopkins to talk about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, career planning, multiple income streams, and how young adults are thinking differently about work and wealth.

Elijah and Don bring two different perspectives to the conversation. Don is studying financial planning with a minor in macroeconomics while building his entrepreneurial experience through Midnight Market Vending LLC. Elijah is a kinesiology student, certified personal trainer, entrepreneur, and creator of BodyByEli who is building experience across personal training, content creation, vending, and other industries. Together, they explore what it means to build income and experience while still in college and why Gen Z is increasingly thinking beyond a traditional 9-to-5 career path.

This conversation looks at the intersection of college, entrepreneurship, personal finance, career development, financial independence, and wealth building. Whether you're a student trying to figure out your next move, a young professional exploring entrepreneurship, or someone questioning whether a degree alone is enough to build the life you want, this episode offers a real conversation about how the next generation is approaching money and work.

Learn In This Episode

How Gen Z is approaching entrepreneurship and income differently• Why a college degree does not have to be the only part of your financial strategy• What students can learn from starting a business while still in school• How financial literacy can influence career and wealth-building decisions• The role of multiple income streams in building financial independence• How entrepreneurship, personal development, and career planning can work together

About the Guests

Don Hopkins is a University of Illinois student studying Financial Planning with a minor in Macroeconomics. He is an entrepreneur and the founder of Midnight Market Vending LLC, with interests in financial literacy, retirement planning, investment planning, and making personal finance more understandable and accessible.

Elijah Barnum, CPT is a senior at the University of Illinois studying Kinesiology with the goal of becoming a physician assistant. He is a certified personal traine