How ‘imperfecttaylor’ is Turning TikTok Fame into Retirement Funds

Taylor Hayes, an influencer known by her digital alias ‘imperfecttaylor’, recently took to TikTok to reveal how she is harnessing her swelling follower count and lucrative brand collaborations to set herself up for early retirement. Unlike many influencers, Hayes boasts an impressive 141,000-strong following on Instagram and nearly 50,000 on TikTok, and juggling this alongside a demanding full-time corporate career. Her journey towards creating a profitable, secondary income stream originated a few years back when she lost her job.

After her job loss, she experimented with self-employment, which unfortunately proved to be incompatible with her career aspirations. She subsequently landed another corporate job, but her brief hiatus from professional life inadvertently led to a slowdown in her retirement savings plan. However, things took a positive turn when her Instagram garnered an additional 100,000 followers over mere four months, compelling her to seize the ‘golden opportunity’, as she calls it, to partner with brands.

Hayes is amongst an evolving wave of ambitious professionals with a side hustle. Yet, this trend seems to have risen in profile only to step slightly out of the limelight recently. As per a survey by Bankrate in June of 2025, side hustles appear to be a reality for 27% of American adults, slipping down from the 36% noted in the previous year. This represents the lowest statistics since 2017.

However, the potential economic uncertainties hinted at by the current state of the labor market combined with the looming threat of inflation could coax more Americans to consider deriving additional income from a side hustle. In the Bankrate survey, 35% of participants disclosed the necessity of the extra income generated by a side hustle to cover living expenses.

As per the study, approximately 29% believed they would always require a side hustle to make ends meet. On the other hand, 41% saw their side gig as a way to earn supplemental income for non-essential purchases. Interestingly, less than a third, 28%, earmark a portion of their side hustle income towards savings.

Hayes, however, distinguishes herself once again in how she manages her income from her side gig. She utilizes between 10% and 15% of her earnings to remunerate her manager and dedicates 30% to tax. She also consistently allocates 20% towards her retirement fund while the remaining 35-40% is deposited into a high-yield savings account with specific objectives like funding her forthcoming wedding and home renovation in mind.

Assuming an average monthly earning of $1,000 from brand partnerships, which amounts to $12,000 annually, she manages to contribute approximately $2,400 per annum towards her retirement savings. Though this might not be sufficient to retire solely on, it serves as a substantial addition to her retirement fund. Particularly, if she continues to secure lucrative brand collaborations yielding reasonable returns.

Taylor Hayes’s experience is an illustrative example of successfully managing a side hustle and capitalizing on an online presence for financial growth. However, this model is not the norm and the feasibility of its widespread adaptation is uncertain. Particularly as the results of the Bankrate survey show, a majority of Americans pursue side gigs primarily for meeting living expenses or for discretionary spending.

Hayes’s financial prudence and disciplined investment strategy offer valuable insights for individuals with a side hustle. A strategy to allocate specific proportions of income towards essentials like taxes, retirement plans, and savings, can create a robust financial safety net in the long term. This goes beyond the immediate gratification of using the additional income for everyday expenses and discretionary purchases.

While the path carved by Hayes might not be feasible for all, it poses compelling evidence supporting the potential benefits of a side hustle. Not only can it serve as a financial safeguard in uncertain times, but it can also enable one to speed up the fruition of personal financial goals. For Hayes, it helped bridge the gap in her retirement savings and fund personal projects like her wedding and home renovation.

In a changing economy with potential uncertainties looming, more individuals might consider the benefits of side hustles. The alternative streams of income can buffer against financial difficulty and help achieve financial goals sooner. As Hayes’s story highlights, a side gig’s impact can be exponential and beneficial with the right approach.

Despite the potential returns, developing a successful side hustle as Hayes did requires a certain amount of risk and resilience. Shifting economic tides, personal circumstances, and individual skill sets all contribute to the potential success or failure of a side project. Yet, Hayes’s journey illustrates that with the right approach, it is possible to leverage and grow a side gig into a significant part of one’s financial strategy.

The declining trend in Americans adopting a side hustle seen in the Bankrate survey might hint at an underlying skepticism or practicality linked to dependability on side gigs. However, stories like that of Hayes might serve as an impetus for individuals to reevaluate the potential value a side hustle can add to their financial security. Especially in an economic climate that appears to be in flux.

In conclusion, Taylor Hayes’s story is a testament to the potential financial benefits derived from a successful side hustle. Her strategic approach to managing her additional income – from catering to immediate needs like paying her manager and taxes to long-term plans like retirement savings and personal goals – provide practical takeaways. While a side hustle may not be the solution for everyone, it is definitely a potential option worth considering.

Hayes’s experience also uncovers an interesting aspect of social media influence and digital presence. The combination of a compelling online persona and a strategic approach to income management can enable one to achieve their financial goals more swiftly. As social media and online platforms continue to proliferate, there may be increased opportunities for similar side hustles for aspiring influencers like Hayes.

Moreover, Hayes’s experience exemplifies the potential virtues of strategic financial planning, something that’s applicable beyond the realm of side hustles. The disciplined division of income into essential spending, savings, and future plans can help build sustainable financial health over time. Notably, even if a side hustle isn’t feasible or appealing, such financial disciplines are universally beneficial.