“By the time I was a senior in high school, I already had 2 jobs.”

When he was in grade school, Malcolm Ethridge created a business with great economics: Buy a box of Fruit Roll-Ups for $5 and sell them individually to his classmates for $2 apiece.

While the school’s administrators disapproved, it turned out to be an early sign of the work ethic he would carry throughout his life. Now a certified financial planner, founder of the Capital Area Planning Group, and a regular contributor on CNBC, Malcolm takes a break during his work day to discuss:

• Buying a house when he was 19 so he could save money on college tuition

• The motivation behind his book Financial Independence Doesn’t Happen By Accident

• Two TV series about money he has watched multiple times

• Why there is an above-average amount of footwear in his home