A Tennessee businesswoman was worried that the bond between her and her husband would be broken after he found out during a tax meeting that she was making much more money than him.
Amy Porterfield, 47, spoke with Business Insider earlier this month about her marriage to husband Hobie and how being the breadwinner didn’t destroy their relationship, but it did require some adjustments for both of them.
The entrepreneur is a writer, online marketing expert, and founder of Amy Porterfield, Inc., who moved to Nashville with her husband three years ago.
After the two moved in, Amy and her husband, whom she called “a real alpha male,” decided it would be best for him to retire.
Difficulties arose from Hobie’s early retirement, but the businesswoman told Business Insider that it ultimately strengthened and saved her marriage.
Amy Porterfield, 47, is the breadwinner of her family and previously earned ten times more than her husband, Hobie, in his annual salary.
Hobie was a general contractor training to become a firefighter in California while Amy was getting her business, Amy Porterfield, Inc., off the ground.
Before Hobie’s big career move, he was a general contractor working to become a firefighter in California.
Amy was the Director of Content Development at Anthony Robbins Companies in San Diego, where she worked for almost seven years.
The entrepreneur told Business Insider that she was inspired to make her own decisions after Anthony invited Internet marketers to a meeting.
She realized that the business owners present at the meeting determined their work schedules and had creative freedom, which was what she wanted.
Amy created a business plan and, in 2009, founded Amy Porterfield, Inc., a social media consultancy where she is CEO and host of the podcast Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield.
The entrepreneur confirmed to Business Insider that she started making more money than she expected two years after founding the consulting firm.
Amy’s goal in starting the company was to make money her way and not be the breadwinner for Hobie and her stepson.
He realized the success of his business’s growth during its third year of operation and eventually began making more money than Hobie.
Amy noted in a conversation with Business Insider that she and Hobie don’t have children, but she does have a stepson.
Amy discovered that she made more money than Hobie during a tax meeting with her accountant.
The online marketing expert told Business Insider that her accountant shared her and Hobie’s annual salaries and surpassed her husband.
As a firefighter, Hobie had earned $100,000 a year, while Amy earned $1 million in income during the third year of running her business.
Hobie assured Amy that he was proud of her for having such a high income, but that he felt strange knowing that she made more money than him.
Amy’s salary remained higher than Hobie’s over the years, and he supported her and congratulated her on her success without hesitation.
Once the couple moved to Nashville, they had a serious conversation about Hobie’s future, which led to his retirement.
Amy and Hobie’s accountant told the couple that the firefighter’s salary was $100,000 and that Amy made $1 million in revenue during the third year of running her business.
Amy told Business Insider that she could move anywhere with her job, but Hobie’s career wasn’t as flexible.
Tennessee must recognize firefighter certificates issued by an entity accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or the National Board of Professional Qualifications, according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Despite this rule, Amy said Hobie still would have needed to rise through the ranks again at another fire station.
The couple ultimately decided it would be best for him to retire early, and Amy told Business Insider that she was initially more supportive of the decision than Hobie was.
Hobie had a difficult time adjusting to a life of retirement, uncomfortable with the idea of not earning money to support his family.
She also struggled with the idea of not having a job that gave her purpose, which made Amy fear that her husband would be upset with her for her decision.
Amy’s business continued to prosper, and due to Hobie’s difficulty rising through the ranks of firefighters in Tennessee, they decided it was best for him to retire.
Amy was honest with Hobie about her fear, which led the couple to create guidelines for what to do regarding their retirement.
While the businessman is the breadwinner who makes the money, Hobie is the man who runs the household and manages his personal life.
Hobie regularly does things like run errands, work the lawn, do laundry, and make appointments.
He is also in charge of vehicle maintenance and managing contractors and renovations.
He and Amy still manage their investments and retirement accounts together while he pays the bills. Last year, he raised a whopping $20 million for his family and published a self-help book for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Amy made $20 million in income last year and published her book, Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Wherever You Want, and Change the World.
Amy revealed to Business Insider that she occasionally felt jealous of Hobie’s free time during a stressful work day.
However, she always loved it when he said, ‘How can I make this easier for you?’ What do you need from me?’ whenever her stress got to her.
Amy’s company currently has 23 full-time employees, many of whom are women.
The entrepreneur, who is also the author of Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Wherever You Want, and Change the World, told Business Insider that she is “an example of a lifestyle that many women could have.” I don’t think it’s possible for them.
When it comes to her relationship with her husband, she insists that communication has been the key to them maintaining their strong connection as their roles in the home have evolved.