Well Endowed: The Secrets to Strategic Spending, Building a Financial Foundation for You and Your Family, and Creating Lasting Generational Wealth – A Self Help Financial Guide

by Vivian Tu

The next book from the bestselling author of Rich AF.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Personal Finance, Money, Self Help, Business

304 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Vivian Tu began her career as a J.P. Morgan Equities Trader, where she traded Industrials, Materials, and Energy stocks, as well as Event Driven Special Situations via the Risk Arbitrage team. She then pivoted to become a BuzzFeed Strategy Sales Partner, helping brands execute multi-channel marketing campaigns. She made her first $1M by 27 and is the CEO & Founder of Your Rich BFF Media LLC. She lives in the heart of New York City and is likely chowing down on Scarr’s pizza in the Lower East Side or running (read: briskly walking) down the West Side Highway.

Reviews

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting my money up this year (to make up for buying so many freaking books. lol)

[Chrissy Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

All around sound and clear advice. Better suited for Gen Z or millennials (vs my older Gen X self) but should be required reading for those who didn’t get the financial lessons from their parents growing up!

[Mariah Hanson]

EVERYONE LISTEN TO CHAPTER 1 AND CHAPTER 5!!! After that, the chapters are pretty specific and you can pick and choose.

A little silly of me to listen to as I get ready to volunteer for 2+ years and make no money 🤑 but you’re only healthy and in your 20s once and THAT is priceless.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not helpful for a mom over 40. Sorry. This is everything I already knew about….. lots of words that say nothing.

[Tay Gibs · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

*ARC giveaway recipient*

Very approachable for a book on finances. Even without reading her first book on the subject, I don't feel like I missed any critical information starting with this book as someone who has decent financial literacy. I do think more examples of where you could find templates for things like the wills, trusts, and advanced life directives would have been helpful.

[Denisek · Rating 2 out of 5]

The audio version was soooo annoying. She does a weird annoying voice every time she is reading quotes from people. I wanted to throw my iPad every time she did it and it was a lot. This also feels like a book for college people or people with 0 life skills. If this is you then it might be okay but don’t get the audio version. For anyone else I prefer the suze orman books. Especially the women ov 50.

[Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 10 chapters were pretty basic. I was expecting much more information about estate planning and that didn’t start until chapter 11.

The book is very easy to digest and she has a great way of breaking down concepts so they are clear.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and approachable, this would make a great grad gift. Tu is very funny, and simply explains things like making a prenup, planning for kids, creating college savings, setting up trusts, making a will, etc.

I listened to the library audio because I like her voice, but I also plan to mark up the copy I bought and set myself some tasks to do to make sure our finances are in good shape. First on the list: checking in on life insurance term dates and updating our will!

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

yeah! I thought it was good! it doesn't go in too much detail, but it gives a nice overall picture and contacts l context..
I was recently asked for more information and this is what I said:
have you ever seen shorts of Vivian aka your Rich BFF? Yeah, so it's that vibe and just gives more information to increase financial literacy to help inform choices- from retirement, estate planning, and kids. I thought it was good. Less of a how to and more of generally this is how it works and what might influence those decisions.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. A really good book going ALL of the fundamentals and principles of personal finance. Lots of good reaffirming beliefs. -.5 bc it was more reaffirming, but if you need an intro into these topics in a well spoken, easy to digest way, she is great at making these complicated topics digestible and actionable.

[Evelyn Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read and, though I’m not at the point in my life where I need to be taking some of the steps outlined (wills, home planning, etc.), I’m a firm believer that even just being aware of these options helps expand your financial acumen. This is not necessarily a sequel, but I would maybe read her first book before reading this one as this expanded on basic concepts in “Rich AF.”

[Elly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is best for someone in their 20s or just starting out financially. Good review of the basics and helpful from a budgeting in a relationship perspective as well. Though my husband and I knew most of the info we did think it was well done.

[Kim Mirsky]

I feel like if you dont know much about anything and are just starting out, this is good BASIC information for you. Theres not really a lot of meat and potatoes until she gets into Estate Planning in chapter 11. This book was fine but I felt this was definitely Gen Z/Gen Alpha coded versus Gen X or early Millenial coded... which is fine but I wanted more depth of information than what I got here. Definitely read this if you have no idea about your finances as it's a great place to start from.

[Cheryl | retreatintobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, good basic personal finance advice, especially for people who need to plan for families and haven’t started planning for retirement. It’s the book I wish I read when I was in my mid-twenties. In the beginning, she starts with deinfluencing you from shopping and understanding the value of starting your investment journey early, everyone should read these chapters.

Personally, the section on setting up trusts and wills was most relevant. We never think we need a will until it’s too late but if you want to make sure your assets go to the people you care about instead of being locked in probate, it’s time to to take action.

I don’t recommend reading the book from over to cover, instead read the sections important in your current stage of life and implement her money suggestions.

Not all chapters will be relevant based on your stage in life, so you can skip those chapters. I did read the entire book but the part on pet insurance while good advice, doesn’t apply to me. I’m glad she has that in there since so many people do have pets and it’s not usually discussed in personal finance books.

[julia jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Vivian Tu—besides a girl from hs with the same name—until last week when an interview with her for “behind the business” came on my YouTube suggested with the title “you cannot save your way to rich.” Say less. Clicked it & immediately valued her vibe, confidence, & conversation between 2 bipoc women.

while I’m by no means a financial expert, I would consider myself to be knowledgeable of all the things you should do. All the things we hear about financial basics and planning of HYSA, investing, retirement, budgeting, etc. While I know I could learn more, I feel solid in those areas. What I want to know is what’s next. How much do things actually cost? What are my options? How can I grow my wealth? While Tu’s book didn’t have all the answers (& let’s be honest what ever would) it was pretty comprehensive.

I’ve never read her first book but Well Endowed met me where I’m at. From discussing how much fertility treatments can be to different home financing to setting up wills & estates/trusts, Tu explains the what and the how in a way I haven’t really see before. It didn’t go into anything too deeply because things vary for everyone but it covered a wide variety of topics. More breadth than depth, but I feel I have a better understanding of the financial landscape in life.

I audiobooked this and would recommend as her narration is engaging. I definitely think this is a book I’ll return to later in life as I reach milestones and make big decisions!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative read, super easy to digest despite all the financial jargon. It's very U.S.-specific but has enough general tips that are useful for a Canadian. I hadn't heard of Vivian Tu until this book but will def be following Your Rich BFF now!

[Quincy Schade · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are maximizing our income in 2026

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5

There was almost nothing in this book I didn’t already know but I still think Viv is the best of the financial literacy girls and I’m glad she wrote another book

[Selena S · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounding to 4
Def read if you are 22-30. If you know what backdoor IRA/401k means you are too advanced for this book.
Enjoyable to read bc it’s written with her humor and in an approachable way.

[Therese Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done book on financial planning and thinking about spending money well

[Cathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preventative care is almost always going to be cheaper than an emergency patch-up.

Having spent 20+years in Total Rewards and in the Benefits space, this is one I'll bring up in our next Open Enrollment meetings. That and maxing out on employer-sponsored benefits such as your 401k (take advantage of the employer match) and HSA (take advantage of the triple-tax features; employer seed if offered; investment options). Oh, and review your beneficiary information - or elect your beneficiary.

If anything, this book is a guide for what you should be aware of - and to keep in mind cause yes, life keeps us busy. As a current resource, definitely a read.

For something more solid about your money (yes, your money), The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness is a must read.

[GT]

Nice book, but quite basic stuff for beginners. I skipped chapters that aren’t relevant to my situation.
I’m a bit troubled by the emphasis on generational wealth though.

[ts_review · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about Well Endowed isn't the financial content of the book, which at times feels overly simplistic and left me wanting more, but in the author's ability to make readers feel empowered to change and reflect on their financial habits.

Vivian Tu does not shame you for not knowing how to play the financial-literacy game. And I appreciate that and I think that's where her book leaves the most impact with readers.

4 stars for not shaming her audience + 2 stars for content because there were moments it felt less strategy and more "here's a chunky paragraph-long glossary of key terms" = 3 stars overall

Would love to see a third book where she talks more in-depth about financing end-of-life care, will, estates, and living trusts.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

TL;DR: You're better off reading blog posts specifically about the financial topic you're interested in and consulting a financial advisor for real financial advice.

If you follow Vivian on social media, you'll recognize her tone in this book: informal and super friendly. She uses a lot of slang expressions and italics for emphasis.

I was skeptical about this book, and after having read it, I wouldn't recommend it.

The introduction was much too long. It felt like the author was looking for filler content.

The only statements that the author cites sources for are statistics. The rest is presented as fact, but in truth it's only an opinion unless you have peer-reviewed studies, experiments, research, surveys or other evidence to back it up. Having worked on Wall Street once a long time ago doesn't make you an authority on everything.

Some of the advice was too personal, or presented as THE way to do it, not "here's what's worked for me or my followers," which would at least have been based on experience. At one point the author even explained how to have money conversations with people. Last I checked, she isn't a psychologist.

I had to skip several parts because a big chunk of this book applies only to the US. Good advice should apply no matter where you live, so having entire chapters based on country-specific investment accounts (for which information is widely available online) instead of a general approach or mindset was disappointing.

Most of the chapters are based on different life stages or decisions, so a lot of the book might not apply to a lot of readers. For example, if you aren't considering having kids or buying a car or home, you won't care about a third of the book. I found myself skimming through some chapters (the fact that there's a lot of filler also had something do do with that) and reading others more closely.

In trying to cater to too many people with widely different needs, the book is catering to no one.

What's unfortunate is that each topic merits an entire book, but here we get just a quick overview. The advice isn't detailed enough to be actionable.

The book has endnotes. On an e-book, that means either jumping back and forth between chapters at the risk of losing your place, or not reading them at all. I chose the latter, which means that I missed out on whatever they said.

3.5 stars

[Skylar Yazum · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Definitely felt like a “finance for dummies” book with some nice analogies and references to personal experiences. I especially liked the chapter to-dos that prompted me to actually do something. Not every box was something I could check off, but it was fun to at least think about it or consider ways to implement it in the future. Plus, the additional resources that could be downloaded and her website are sooo helpful.

At points, content felt repetitive, even within a few sentences of eachother. Saying the same thing twice but in different ways does not make it easier to understand, rather it feels annoying like a “hey… you kinda just said that?” I’m not talking in emphasizing a certain topic, rather explaining what something is and how it works by saying the same things multiple times. While of course, this is not for every topic or point made, but it was something that I noticed.

Also, it was hard to fully connect with Viv. It was great that we got her story from childhood experiences to present. We learn that she’s not some born-rich financial professional, but someone who has grown to get where she is today. Although I cannot help but feel conflicted with the tone/writing as it doesn’t feel very “bff”-like. She kind of feels like a rich professor teaching me curriculum in a finance course. In other words, it doesn’t feel like a rich friend holding my hand and trying to help me succeed. I guess I just wish her wealth did not feel so obvious in the way she talks and describes certain things. I presume the model of “rich bff” is to help those who are.. well, not rich. So, if I’m feeling low financially, I love that my rich bff is trying to help teach me, but I don’t love that it’s very clear we live very different lives. Especially with the examples of paying for your low income friends dinners but hoping for something in exchange (they’d jump to give you a cute dress???? that was weird), and for letting a friend stay at your home but being upset when he starts sending you money every night rather than a bottle of wine that would have just felt like a nice gesture. Those just rubbed me the wrong way.

[Lili Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

There were many good points here with basic overviews of things pertaining to family building and estate planning…and it really helped me go over it all! Of course, I need to dive deeper into this, as there is so much more to do…

Notable lines:

“That, besties, is value. That is ultimately what every dollar you spend should be working toward-that sense of security, stability, and time with the people you love.”

“Time is the only resource you can’t buy more of . . . And the last thing you want to feel at the end of your limited time is buyer’s remorse.”

“The thing about lifestyle expenses is that they, too, compound over time, even if they look small and one time only at the outset.”

-preventive care is cheaper than emergency health situations

-the most important financial decision is who you marry

-not helping out your kids as parents can be a self-perpetuating cycle: “But to what end? It’s not going to incentivize them to work harder. It’s definitely not going to make them like or respect you. In fact, it’s just going to lead to their making the same mistakes you made”…or will it?? “Pushing your kiddos out of the nest with no knowledge or resources isn’t going to build their character, it’s just going to build their resentment.”

" . . . the consequences of how you spend your time and money in the first two-thirds of your life are going to be waiting for you when you wake up in your sixties."

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I wish a book like 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 had existed decades ago, when I was a young adult making big, life-shaping decisions. Written with true subject-matter mastery and incredible wit, Vivian Tu delivers a clear, approachable roadmap - not just to building a solid financial foundation, but to creating real generational security and wealth.

Vivian thoughtfully tackles the topics that actually matter across a lifetime: buying a car and a home, partnering and kids, retirement and estate planning, and even the ultimate end we all meet. It’s packed with knowledge, practical considerations, and actionable steps, making it feel less like a finance book and more like a guide you can return to again and again. If you want to really lock in the fundamentals, reading this alongside her earlier book 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐀𝐅 is a powerful combination.

What truly sets this book apart is Vivian’s voice. Her writing is 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙥, 𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮, which makes complex or intimidating financial topics feel understandable and absorbable rather than overwhelming. She has a rare talent for breaking things down without dumbing them down.

If you’re someone who wants clarity, confidence, and a true roadmap for your financial life - and beyond - this book is absolutely worth your time. Highly recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley and William Marrow for the gifted copy

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I enjoyed this! I really like how she explained things (in the book, but even in all of the many videos and podcasts and articles I’ve seen and read by her - she explains things really well). A lot of it was either for very-much-beginners, or only for Americans. As a Canadian aka non-American, I’m used to this, I guess, but I’ve read finance books that cover a lot of the world in a more general way (would 200% recommend Friends that Invest by Simran Kaur, for many reasons, but particularly because it’s not focused on just 1 country.) I did really like that this book introduced me to concepts, and things to do in life, that I knew I would do eventually, but that I hadn’t really considered for this point in time in my life - but maybe I should!

The one thing that absolutely annoyed me to the next level though, and other reviews have mentioned it - she puts on this sickly sweet fake-stupid-girl-fake-valley-girl voice whenever she’s reading out a question someone may have, that she then goes on to answer. From seeing a lot of her other content and thinking, I know this isn’t her intention - but it really made it seem like the “reader” asking this finance-related question, was being belittled. I enjoyed her audiobook reading, but literally considered quitting it the second she started that whiny voice about once a chapter, on average. So, maybe read the physical book.

[Jquick99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t know who the author was when I got the audiobook from the library.

I was initially put off during the introduction because the author refers to herself several times in the third person. Who does she think she is? MacArthur?

The author has a very sing song-y way of speaking, with voice inflection in the middle of a sentence.

I am very financially savvy, and always interested in finding books where the author is trying to educate. I mildly recommend this book if you are someone who needs financial education. This book is also for someone who is easily influenced regarding shopping and/or thinks of shopping as a hobby and/or fun activity.

I didn’t finish most of the book and pretty much stopped listening after the buying a car chapter, where she uses the example of buying a $30k car at 11% interest which leads to an $800 a month car payments. She should have informed that if your credit is so bad that your loan is 11%, you need to NOT buy a new car (and is $800/mo considered an acceptable monthly payment?) and work on increasing your credit score. She does say a car loan should be NO more than 10% of monthly pay (I assume net), so bad credit person brings home at least $96k.

Minus 1 * for attention seeking title.

[Alicia James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying I’m a loyal Vivian Tu fan , I followed her as Your Rich BFF long before this book, so picking this up was a no-brainer, and I was not disappointed.

Overall this is a solid, well-written book that is easy to read and even easier to digest. Vivian has a way of breaking down financial concepts without making you feel overwhelmed, and I genuinely appreciate that she meets people where they are in life rather than where we wish we were. That’s actually what I love most about her approach , it’s grounded in reality.

Now, full transparency : I’m in my forties, so a good portion of this I already knew or aware of. The sections on insurance, wills, estate planning, and financial planning kept me most engaged just because of where I am in my own life journey. Some of the earlier foundational content I breezed through, but I can absolutely see how impactful it would be for someone just getting started.

This book is really geared toward that 18 to 30 year old crowd who is building their financial foundation from scratch, and for that audience I think it is genuinely excellent. Strong recommend if you are in that stage of life and want something approachable, honest, and actually useful.