What does “middle class” really mean anymore?

Is it $250K? $350K? $450K??

In this episode of The Middle Class Podcast, Moshe Alpert, CFP® sits down with Shalom Becker, Vice President of Purchasing at Millennial Healthcare, for a rare and honest look at what it actually takes to build a middle-class life today — from the ground up.

This is the real story most people never hear:

Starting at $50,000 a year.

Living in small apartments.

Delaying comfort.

Asking for uncomfortable raises.

Buying a home before everything felt ready.

And slowly building toward a $300K+ household income.

No hype. No shortcuts. Just real decisions regular families face — and how to navigate them responsibly.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 — What does “middle class” really mean today?

01:55 — Why this conversation matters more than ever

04:10 — Early marriage with limited income

06:50 — Living frugally: apartments, cars, and trade-offs

09:45 — Financial pressure and growing responsibility

12:40 — The first real job: making $50K and perspective shifts

15:30 — Why asking for raises is uncomfortable — but necessary

18:55 — How to ask for a raise without risking your job

22:45 — Jumping from $70K to six figures

26:30 — Saving money while expenses keep rising

29:55 — Deciding to buy a home before feeling “ready”

33:00 — Buying with less than 20% down & understanding PMI

36:40 — Why flexibility matters more than a dream home

39:15 — Locking in a mortgage before interest rates surged

42:10 — Side hustles: adding income without burnout

45:00 — Reaching $300K+ household income

47:45 — Why financial planning matters before you feel successful

50:40 — Lifestyle pressure, comparison, and staying in your lane

53:00 — What “making it” really looks like in the middle class

📌 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

What income truly qualifies as “middle class” today

How career growth actually happens (and why it’s rarely linear)

When switching jobs makes sense — and when it doesn’t

How to ask for raises without risking your job

Why early frugality creates long-term flexibility

Buying a home with less than 20% down — and why PMI isn’t the enemy

How side hustles help break middle-class plateaus

Why financial planning matters before you feel successful

How to stay grounded amid lifestyle and peer pressure

🧠 Quotes from the Episode

“Middle class isn’t about lifestyle. It’s about stability.”

“Every raise was uncomfortable — but not asking would’ve cost more.”

“You don’t need your dream home. You need a home.”

👤 About the Guest

Shalom Becker is Vice President of Purchasing at Millennial Healthcare, overseeing vendor negotiations, budgeting, and procurement across healthcare facilities. Shalom’s career reflects the real-world path of many middle-class professionals: steady progression, expanding responsibility, and learning how to create long-term stability through disciplined decision making.

💼 About the Host

Moshe Alpert, CLU®, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, AEP®

Founder & CEO of Ceremian Financial. Moshe helps families and professionals make clear, values-based financial decisions around income growth, savings, homeownership, and long-term planning — without unrealistic assumptions.

🔔 Subscribe & Connect

👍 Like this episode if it resonated

💬 Comment below: What do YOU think qualifies as middle class today?

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📧 Questions? Email: middleclassalpert@gmail.com

🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

🎛️ Production Credits

Produced & Edited by: BIG Productions – Gidon Orman

🎙️ Contact: gi@bigprod.net

📌 Hashtags

#TheMiddleClass #MiddleClassMoney #IncomeReality

#CareerGrowth #PersonalFinance #JewishEconomics

#FinancialPlanning #HomeOwnership #SideHustle #MosheAlpert