BiggerPockets Money Podcast
The BiggerPockets Money Podcast offers intermediate to advanced personal finance strategies for those serious about the FIRE (financial independence retire early) movement. Hosted by Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench, the show releases new episodes on Tuesdays and Fridays. It provides practical advice and insights to help listeners achieve financial independence and retire early.
Episodes
The Best Early Retirement Withdrawal Strategy (6 Proven Frameworks)
Reaching financial independence is only half the battle, knowing how to withdraw your money in early retirement is just as important. The right withdrawal strategy can help you minimize taxes, avoid unnecessary penalties, and make your portfolio last longer.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down six early retirement withdrawal frameworks. Whe
Has the FIRE Number Gone from $1M to $2.5M?
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench tackle one of the biggest questions in the FIRE movement: Why has the traditional $1 million FIRE goal grown to $2.5 million or more? They discuss how inflation, rising living costs, lifestyle changes, and retirement planning have reshaped what financial independence looks like today.
You'll learn how the 4% rule, h
Is Investing Ethical? How to Invest Without Compromising Your Values
Is investing ethical? Can you build wealth, pursue financial independence, and still invest according to your values? Scott and Mindy tackle one of the biggest questions in personal finance, exploring ethical investing, ESG investing, capitalism, index funds, and the moral trade-offs that come with building long-term wealth. They discuss whether investing in companies like Tesla, Costco, or tobacc
The Ultimate Guide to Healthcare Costs for FIRE
Healthcare is one of the biggest unknowns in any FIRE plan. If you're considering early retirement, self-employment, or leaving a traditional job, understanding health insurance costs could save you thousands of dollars per year and prevent costly planning mistakes.
In this episode, we break down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, premium tax credits, MAGI planning, and how healthcar
Mortgage Rates Jumping from 4% to 8%: What Should This Investor Do?
How do you build nearly $1 million in net worth while working seasonally, living intentionally, and creating a lifestyle you actually enjoy? In this episode, Heather shares her remarkable journey from living in a 300-square-foot cabin to building substantial wealth through nursing, guiding, rental properties, and smart financial decisions. We break down her real estate portfolio, income streams, a
The Financial Independence Step Most People Forget: Estate Planning
Most people know they should have an estate plan, but keep putting it off.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and special guest Carl Jensen sit down with estate planning attorney Skipton Reynolds to break down everything you need to know about wills, trusts, probate, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, guardianship planning, and estate taxes.
Whether you'r
Katie Wants to Quit Her Job. Can They Afford It?
In this Finance Friday episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench analyze whether Katie can step back from work while still making sure that her husband, Jesus, can retire early at 50. They break down the FIRE math, withdrawal strategies, healthcare considerations, market risk, pension benefits, and the emotional challenges of leaving a high-income career.
Whe
What to Do When Most of Your Wealth Is in Company Stock
If you work at a startup or public tech company and have RSUs, stock options, founder shares, or a potential IPO on the horizon, this episode could save you thousands—or even millions—in taxes. Equity compensation can be one of the fastest paths to building wealth, but it can also lead to costly mistakes if you don't understand the tax implications, liquidity opportunities, and diversification dec
Reach Financial Independence Faster: Backdoor & Mega Backdoor Roth Explained
Want to build tax-free wealth even if your income is too high for a Roth IRA? In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by CPA’s Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland. They break down the Backdoor Roth IRA and Mega Backdoor Roth strategies step-by-step.
You'll learn how the Backdoor Roth works, how to avoid costly tax mistakes, how the pro-rata rule can impact your conversion strategy, a
The Fastest Path to Financial Independence Isn't What You Think | Mrs. Dow Jones
Most people think financial independence is all about cutting expenses, but there's only so much you can cut.
In this episode, Haley Sacks, better known as Mrs. Dow Jones, shares the strategies that actually move the needle when it comes to building wealth, reaching financial independence, and creating long-term financial freedom.
We discuss how to increase your income, negotiate higher pay, avo
10 Ways to Massively Increase Your Net Worth in One Year (Median Salary)
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down practical strategies for doubling your net worth and accelerating your path to financial independence. From reducing fixed expenses and increasing cash flow to investing consistently and growing your income, we cover the core habits and wealth-building systems that can dramatically speed up net worth
How to Build an Investment Strategy for Financial Independence
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Bob Haines joins hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to explain how to build an investor policy statement and create a long-term investment philosophy for financial independence and early retirement. We break down how FIRE investors can design a personalized investing framework that aligns with their goals, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and withdraw
6 Simple Steps to Financial Independence
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the six foundational principles for building wealth and achieving financial independence. From controlling major expenses and increasing your savings rate to investing strategically and building additional income streams, this episode covers the practical habits that consistently help people grow wealth ov
Ben Felix Critiques FIRE… And Then Makes the Case for 100% Equities in FIRE
In this episode, Ben Felix joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench on the BiggerPockets Money podcast to break down his thoughts on the FIRE movement, portfolio design, safe withdrawal rates, and long-term investing. We discuss how to build a FIRE portfolio that balances risk, flexibility, quality of life, and long-term sustainability — without falling into the trap of over-optimization or extreme fru
The Biggest Portfolio Mistakes FIRE Investors Make
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the biggest portfolio mistakes people make on the path to financial independence. From holding too much cash and staying stuck in accumulation mode to ignoring tax optimization, estate planning, and withdrawal strategies, we cover the investing mistakes that can quietly derail long-term wealth buildin
How Kyle Built a $4M Real Estate Portfolio Making Less Than $40K
On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench bring on Kyle Collette to discuss how he achieved financial independence and built a real estate portfolio worth more than $4 million while earning less than $40,000 per year. Through house hacking, rental property investing, frugal living, and strategic relationships, Kyle scaled from small single-family rentals to m
Your FIRE Number Is Probably Wrong — Here’s Why
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the biggest mistakes people make when calculating their FIRE number and planning for financial independence. Many early retirement calculators rely on simplified assumptions like the 4% rule or current spending levels, but real-life retirement planning is far more complicated. This episode covers how
Is Small Cap Value Worth It? Ben Felix Explains the Truth About AVUV & Factor Investing
On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Ben Felix to break down one of the most debated topics in long-term investing: small cap value investing. Ben explains the research behind factor investing, the Fama-French multi-factor model, and why investors continue to look at small cap value ETFs like AVUV and Dimensional funds as potential u
How the Top 1% Are Investing in 2026 (Real Portfolio Data)
What are high-net-worth investors actually doing with their money in 2026?
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, we break down the latest asset allocation trends using real portfolio data from Long Angle—a community of high-net-worth investors. From equities and real estate to private credit and alternative investments, this is a behind-the-scenes look at where sophisticated investo
The Messy Middle of Financial Independence (How to Stay Motivated)
The “messy middle” is the longest—and hardest—phase of the financial independence (FIRE) journey. It’s where progress feels slow, motivation dips, and burnout can creep in.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for today) break down how to stay consistent, avoid over-optimization, and actually enjoy life while building wealth. From increa
From $69K Debt to Financial Independence in NYC
Kim Hunter Borst didn’t start her financial independence journey in New York City—but it’s where everything changed.
After building a high-income life, she and her husband found themselves $69,000 in debt from lifestyle inflation. Instead of leaving NYC, they got intentional—cutting expenses, leveraging a rent-stabilized apartment, and maxing out retirement accounts.
Now, they’ve achieved financ
Paula Pant Quit Her Job with $25K (Now She’s FI in NYC)
Paula quit her $32,000 job in 2008—before she’d ever heard of the FIRE movement—with just $25,000 saved to travel the world.
When she came back, she started freelancing and made a pivotal decision: buying a triplex and house hacking. That one move changed everything. Today, she’s fully financially independent in New York City through real estate—all without ever earning more than $32K at her day
She Retired at 39… After Moving to New York City
Most people think you need to leave expensive cities to reach financial independence. Walli Miller did the opposite.
After discovering the FIRE movement in 2015, Walli Miller moved to New York City—one of the highest cost-of-living cities in the world—and still retired at 39 with her husband, on a combined income under $200K/yr.
In this episode, we break down how they made it work, from intentio
Coast FI by 30 in a HCOL City (Here’s How He’s Doing it)
In this episode, discover how Eli, a 24-year-old living in NYC, is on track to hit financial independence and retire early—despite the city’s high living costs. His strategies and mindset shift challenge common perceptions about NYC being an obstacle to FIRE.
To go beyond the podcast:
Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney
9 Things No One Tells You About Financial Independence
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Carl Jensen (our guest host for the week!) break down 9 financial independence (FIRE) lessons most people don’t discover until it’s too late.
From the hidden downsides of early retirement to spending, purpose, and relationships, this episode covers what actually changes after you reach FI—and how to avoid the mistakes that can q
How This Teacher Reached Financial Independence with Rentals
Corby Goade went from a modest teacher salary to financial independence through real estate investing—and he did it by mastering the fundamentals. In this episode, he shares how house hacking, long-term rentals, and smart leverage helped him build wealth over 25 years, even through the 2008 housing crash. Learn practical strategies for navigating market cycles, scaling a rental portfolio, and achi
Retiring Early in 5 Years? Do THIS First
Thinking about early retirement in the next 5 years? This episode breaks down exactly how to prepare—financially and emotionally—so you don’t just retire early, but stay retired. Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench walk through the critical steps to stress test your portfolio, plan for healthcare costs, optimize your tax strategy, and build a realistic withdrawal plan. Plus, they cover the often-overloo
How She Quit Full-Time Work at 27 Without Millions (Coast FI)
What if you didn’t have to grind your way to financial independence? In this episode, Alyssa shares how she reached Coast FI by prioritizing flexibility, intentional spending, and what she calls “hobby jobs” over traditional full-time work. After leaving a high-stress healthcare career, she designed a life of part-time income, travel, and freedom—proving you can build wealth while actually enjoyin
Can He Retire in 10 Years? (We Ran the Numbers)
Is a $2M net worth enough to retire in 10 years? In this Finance Friday episode, Mindy and Scott break down a real “messy middle” case study—Karl, a high-saving household navigating early retirement planning, rising expenses, healthcare costs, and market uncertainty after doing everything right.
You’ll learn how to evaluate your FI timeline using the 4% rule, safe withdrawal strategies, portfoli
How Tiffany Aliche Went from Rock Bottom to Millionaire
From $500 a month to a $10M+ net worth, Tiffany Aliche shares how she rebuilt her life after $300K in debt—and the 10 pillars of “financial wholeness” that helped her do it. This episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast breaks down the mindset, strategy, and systems behind lasting wealth, stability, and freedom.
To go beyond the podcast:
Kick start your financial independence journey with o
The Hidden Systems Great CEOs Use Every Day
What does it actually take to think like a CEO? In this episode, Scott Trench breaks down the essential “CEO toolkit”—from strategic thinking and financial fluency to culture, decision-making, and crisis management—giving you the frameworks and systems you need to lead effectively, whether you’re running a company or simply trying to make better, higher-stakes decisions in your own life.
To go be
How Middle-Class Families Can Retire On Time Without Burning Out
Building lasting wealth doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the Financial Stability Framework, a practical roadmap designed to help middle-class households achieve long-term financial independence.
To go beyond the podcast:
Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial reso
Why the Last 3 Years Before Early Retirement Matter Most
If you’re within three years of early retirement, your success depends on more than just your net worth. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Fritz Gilbert to break down the most overlooked part of financial independence: the mental, emotional, and social transition into retirement. Learn why the final years before FIRE are critical,
The 13 Biggest Financial Independence Mistakes (That Delay FIRE by Years)
What are the biggest mistakes people make on the road to financial independence? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the 13 biggest FIRE mistakes that quietly delay or derail your progress toward early retirement. From starting too late and ignoring spending habits to misunderstanding the 4% rule and overlooking healthcare costs, these
How He’ll Hit $500K by 30 (Coast FI Plan)
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Evan Lawler, a full-time engineer and content creator, to break down his plan to reach Coast FIRE with $500,000 invested by age 30. Instead of pursuing traditional early retirement, Evan is building a disciplined, automated investment strategy that allows his portfolio to compound while he focuses
The Middle Class Trap: Why $750,000 Doesn't Feel Like Enough (Financial Plan)
Are you a high earner in your 30s or 40s with a growing net worth — but somehow still feel financially stuck? You might be caught in the "boring middle" — a phase where your wealth is locked in home equity and retirement accounts, leaving you cash-poor, inflexible, and far from the financial freedom you've been working toward. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Scott Trench and Mi
Does More Money REALLY Buy Happiness? | Matt Killingsworth
What’s the real relationship between money and happiness? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with leading happiness researcher Matt Killingsworth to unpack what the science actually says about income and happiness. Drawing from real-time data collected through Track Your Happiness, Matt explains why happiness does not plateau at $75,000
From $15,000 to Financial Independence Through Real Estate
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Grace Gudenkauf, a real estate investor who began her journey at just 23 years old with $15,000 in savings during COVID. Grace shares how she built a thriving rental portfolio in Iowa by leveraging local market knowledge, living below her means, and strategically balancing renovations, new constru
Can You Reach Financial Independence on a Median Income?
Can you reach financial independence earning a median or below-median income? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down why making less money can actually be a powerful advantage on the path to wealth. Instead of chasing a higher salary, they explore how lower fixed expenses, smarter tax positioning, and intentional lifestyle choices can acc
Cruising to FIRE in Her 40s (After Living Pay Check to Pay Check!)
On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Emily Egashira to hear about her financial journey. Emily’s journey to financial independence proves that your starting point doesn’t determine your financial future. Growing up in poverty with a scarcity mindset, she transformed her life and is set to reach financial independence by 40 through discipli
AVUV vs VTSAX: Why Small Cap Value Could Outperform
On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Frank Vasquez to explore small cap value investing, factor research from Eugene Fama and Kenneth French, and how funds like AVUV compare to total market index funds like VTSAX. They discuss historical outperformance, diversification benefits, expense ratios, index construction differences, and whether s
Paul Merriman’s 4-Step Portfolio Strategy for Long-Term Wealth
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by Paul Merriman. Paul shares decades of investing wisdom and explains why simple index investing often outperforms complex strategies.
We explore the power of diversification beyond the S&P 500, the importance of bonds in a portfolio, and how glide paths reduce risk over time. Paul also breaks down
The New FIRE? Why Time Freedom Beats Early Retirement
What if financial independence isn’t about retiring early — but about controlling your time right now?
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Brian Herriot — millionaire in his 40s, now managing a $3 million portfolio, and author of Time Freedom — to talk about redefining what financial independence really means.
Brian shares how he
The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Ideal Side Hustle
How do you choose a side hustle that actually makes money instead of wasting your time? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation breaks down exactly how to find the right opportunity by aligning your skills and interests with real market demand.
Whether you're looking for low-skill options to get started or high-paying side hustles that don't require
Debate: AUM vs Flat Fee Which is Better?
In this episode of the BiggerPocketsMoney podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench host Ryan Sterling, CEO of NerdWallet Wealth Partners, to discuss the nuances of different financial advisor compensation structures. Whether you're planning your financial future or evaluating advisors, understanding these models can help you make informed decisions that align with your goals.
This Episode Covers:
How We Built a $1M Net Worth by 32 (Step-by-Step Breakdown)
Trevor and his wife reached a $1 million net worth by age 32 and are on track to achieve financial independence well before 40. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench chat with Trevor about his unconventional journey involving strategic career moves, real estate investments, and leveraging corporate benefits. Learn how Trevor went from a $1,000 net
The 4% Rule Was Never Designed for FIRE’s Healthcare Reality
The 4% rule has a major flaw: it doesn't account for healthcare costs. If you're planning to retire early, health insurance premiums will rise sharply as you age—from your 30s through your 60s before Medicare kicks in at 65. This isn't speculation; it's how the U.S. healthcare system works under the ACA.
On this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down
The Major MONEY Milestones To Hit By EVERY Decade!
Are you on track to achieve financial independence? In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench outline the essential financial milestones for your 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Learn the net worth benchmarks and financial habits that will set you up for a successful journey to financial freedom in EVERY decade. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine
The Proven Path to Financial Independence by 44
Should you retire the second you hit financial independence, or is there value in working just a little longer? Steven faced this exact decision at 40 and chose to work four more years. The result? He added $1 million to his net worth and entered retirement at 44 with $3.5 million and a bulletproof plan.
In this conversation, Steven shares his complete early retirement strategy, including why he
How to Negotiate Your Salary and Reach Financial Independence Faster | Paula Pant
Want to reach financial independence faster? The quickest path isn't extreme frugality—it's earning more. And that starts with salary negotiation.
Paula Pant from the Afford Anything podcast joins Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench to break down exactly how to negotiate your salary, whether you're asking for a raise, negotiating a job offer, or realizing you're chronically underpaid.
Paula shares he
Reached FI at 60: How to Switch from Accumulation to Drawdown with Bill Yount
You've hit financial independence—now what? How do you actually start spending the money you've spent years accumulating? Bill Yount reached FI at 60 after a 10-year journey, and he's figured out the answer.
Bill shares his complete decumulation strategy—the detailed plan he built with a flat-fee financial advisor to transition from wealth building to wealth preservation. This isn't just theory;
Broke and in Debt at 50? How to Still Retire On-Time (Step-by-Step Plan)
You're in your 50s, $50,000 in debt, and retirement at 65 feels impossible. We made this episode for you. Today, Mindy and Scott spell out the exact step-by-step plan to go from $50K in debt to a million-dollar retirement—even if you're starting over in your fifties.
Meet Nancy: a recently divorced stay-at-home mom reentering the workforce with significant debt and zero savings. Her story represe
How to Reach Coast FIRE (The Relaxed Way to Retire!)
What if you didn't have to save 70% of your income to retire early? What if you could hit a number in your 30s, ease off the gas, and still reach financial independence—without sacrificing your present life? That's Coast FIRE, and today's guest Andy Hill is the perfect example of how it works in real life.
Andy hit his Coast FIRE number in his late thirties, left his corporate job at 40, and now
How to Retire Early: A 15-Year Plan to Go from $1,000 to FIRE
What if you're doing FIRE in the wrong order? Most people chasing financial independence are following steps that actually slow them down—and it could be costing you years of freedom. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down the exact step by step order for achieving FIRE as fast as possible.
Whether you're just starting with your first emergency fund or you're already maxing ou
How to Use AI to Reach Financial Independence Faster
AI is revolutionizing how we build wealth and achieve financial independence. In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down exactly how to use AI tools to accelerate your path to FI—from automating budgets and analyzing investments to generating income streams and optimizing your financial strategy. Discover which AI tools actually work for personal finance, how AI is changing job mark
Scott Builds Four Portfolios with Four Different Strategies ($40k Experiment)
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast with Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench, Scott builds four different investment portfolios using real money, each account starting with $10,000 and employing different strategies. Scott invests in an index fund, a 60/40 stock-bond portfolio, a risk parity portfolio, and a unique actively managed thesis. Follow along as they discuss the rationale, mecha
Which Path to Financial Independence Is Faster? Sell or Rent?
Should you turn your primary home into a rental property or sell it when you move? It's one of the biggest financial decisions homeowners face, and in this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are helping Alyssa and John figure out the answer.
This couple is relocating and facing a dilemma: they have a home with a low mortgage rate that could generate rental income, but they're also craving sim
How to Set FIRE Goals and Actually Achieve Them (2026)
Episode #704
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How to Track Your Path to FI in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)
Ready to take control of your finances in 2026? Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are breaking down one of the most powerful tools for financial success: the personal financial statement. Think of it as your complete financial snapshot—tracking your net worth, cash flow, assets, and liabilities all in one place. The best part? They're giving you a free comprehensive spreadsheet to make it ridiculously
How this Couple Achieved FIRE in Their 30s (Average Income)
Sam and Carolyn reached financial independence in their thirties through frugality, real estate investing, and building side hustles that generated $10,000 per month. Then they made a bold move—quitting their jobs and briefly relocating to Canada.
This Episode Covers:
How Sam and Carolyn house-hacked their way to a multi-property real estate portfolio
The unconventional side hustles th
Financial Independence Through the Unthinkable: A Healthcare Crisis
Join Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench for a powerful conversation with Regina Moore, who achieved millionaire status before 35 through frugality and her career as a pharmacist. But when her young son was diagnosed with cancer, everything changed.
In this deeply personal episode, Regina opens up about how a healthcare crisis tested her Lean FIRE plan in ways she never anticipated. And how financial i
The Ultimate Guide to Early Retirement Drawdown (2026)
Building a $2.5 million portfolio is hard. Spending it without running out? That's even harder.
Welcome to the 700th episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast! To mark this milestone, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are tackling one of the most critical—and most overlooked—aspects of financial independence: decumulation. Most people obsess over building wealth but stumble when it's time to a
The Case for Blended (Instead of Sequential) Drawdown for Early Retirees
Are you using the wrong retirement withdrawal strategy? Sequential drawdown—draining one account before touching the next—is the most common approach to early retirement, but it could be costing you tens of thousands in unnecessary taxes.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Enrolled Agent Mark to break down tax-efficient withdrawal
If We Started FIRE Over in 2025, Here's Exactly What We'd Do
What would you do differently if you could start your FIRE journey over today?
Back in 2013, Scott was fresh out of college house hacking his way to financial independence, while Mindy and her husband were deep into their FIRE journey documenting it all on their blog. Fast forward to 2025—both are financially independent, but if they were starting from scratch today, they'd make some serious chan
Does Money Buy Happiness? What the FIRE Community Gets Wrong
What happens after you achieve financial independence? Former Facebook employee turned comedian Paul Ollinger discovered the answer wasn't what he expected—and it completely changed how he thinks about money, work, and happiness.
This Episode Covers:
Why financial autonomy beats wealth accumulation—and what that actually means for your daily life
The psychological challenges of early r
Will 2026 Healthcare Costs Destroy Financial Independence for Millions?
Will 2026 healthcare costs destroy your FIRE plan? Enhanced ACA tax credits expire in 2026—meaning health insurance premiums could DOUBLE or TRIPLE overnight. This healthcare subsidy cliff threatens millions who depend on affordable marketplace coverage.
In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench interview Matt McGough from KFF to break down the 2026 healthc
Proof You Don't Need a High Salary for FIRE (Teacher Retires at 50)
Think you need a six-figure salary to retire early? Think again. Middle school teacher Andrew Luman is achieving financial independence and retiring at 50—all on a teacher's salary. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench unpack Andrew's complete FIRE strategy, proving that early retirement isn't reserved for high earners.
In this episode, you'll le
Stay on Track to FIRE With These Money Moves Before 2026
Time's running out on 2025, and there are critical financial moves you need to make before December 31st. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy and Scott walk you through the essential year-end tasks that could save you thousands of dollars and keep your FIRE goals on track. These aren't just suggestions—they're time-sensitive opportunities that literally disappear when the cal
Should You Pay Off Your Mortgage or Invest? (Best Choice for FIRE)
Pay off your mortgage or invest? If you're pursuing FIRE, you've wrestled with this question. A paid-off house means thousands extra in your pocket each month and a lower FIRE number. But investing that same money could build significantly more wealth and get you to FIRE with a bigger nest egg. So which strategy wins?
To help you decide, Scott built a brand-new mortgage calculator that accounts f
How to Build a Tax-Efficient Portfolio (Advanced Strategies)
Most people think index funds are the only path to financial independence—and they'll get you there in 15-20 years. But what if you could get there faster?
In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench team up with John Bowens from Equity Trust to reveal advanced portfolio strategies that can accelerate your FIRE timeline.
This episode covers:
Strategic allocation across your Roth IRA, HSA
How Can Paul Fast Track to FIRE by 45? ($1.6M Net Worth)
Paul has a $1.6 million net worth at 40 years old—impressive by any standard—but he's stuck wondering: Can I retire in the next 5-6 years?
In this episode of BiggerPockets Money, Paul shares his journey from debt payoff to building substantial rental income during COVID-19. Now he's sitting on significant equity, strong cash flow, and a critical question: What's the fastest route to FIRE?
Hosts
How to Avoid (or Escape) the Middle-Class Trap and Retire Early
You're doing everything right—buying a house, maxing out your 401(k), investing in real estate—but what if these "smart" money moves are actually trapping you in your job? It's the paradox plaguing the FIRE community: you could be a millionaire on paper but can't afford to retire because all your wealth is locked up.
Welcome to the BiggerPockets Money podcast! In this episode learn what the middl
From Making $28,000/Year to FI in 5 YEARS
One rental property changed everything. Deandra was drowning—working multiple jobs, crushed by student debt, teaching full-time with no end in sight. Then she bought her first property with just $4,000, and within four years, she walked away from teaching forever.
Today, Deandra reveals the exact strategy she used to go from broke teacher to financially independent real estate investor. You'll he
How The Top 1% Actually Invest (Not What You Think)
The wealthiest 1% invest completely differently than you've been taught—and they definitely don't follow the advice most financial advisors give. In this episode of BiggerPockets Money, hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench sit down with Tad Fallows, co-founder of Long Angle, to reveal the real investment strategies of high-net-worth individuals and how they differ from the FIRE community's approach
You DON'T Need to Be "Debt-Free" to Reach FIRE
Should you pay off all your debt before investing? Or is that costing you years of financial freedom?
In this episode, we're tackling the debate that divides the FIRE community: aggressive debt payoff versus strategic debt management. We break down two real case studies to show you exactly when to prioritize debt payoff and when to invest alongside debt. You'll discover:
The interest rate th
$90K in Debt to Coast FI with $1.5M (Here's the Blueprint)
Ericka Young did what most people think is impossible—she went from 90k in debt to Coast FI with a seven-figure net worth. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, she's pulling back the curtain on how she did it.
What You'll Learn:
How to eliminate massive debt without living in total deprivation
The debt snowball method in action (and why it works psychologically)
Wh
The FIRE Movement Is Dead! (What You Need to Know)
Is the FIRE movement dead? In 2025, more people are catching on to the huge downsides of pursuing financial independence, retire early. Strict frugality, massive sacrifice, working harder than ever…is it really worth it to retire decades before everyone else? If you’re internally screaming, “Yes! Of course it is!” you’re in good company. Today, we’re talking about why FIRE is NOT dead in 2025 but
The All Out Approach to Achieve FIRE in Your 30s (Median Income Earner)
In this BiggerPockets Money episode, we break down the all-out approach to reaching Financial Independence and Retiring Early in your 30s. No tech salary required, no inheritance, no luck. Just aggressive saving, smart investing, and a willingness to optimize every dollar.
We'll cover:
The exact savings rate you need to hit FIRE in your 30’s
How to maximize income without changing ca
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Let's talk about the average net worth by every age, and how to make sure you save and invest enough money to stay on track. In this episode of the BiggerPockets Money podcast, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench break down actual data to reveal the net worth benchmarks for the median, top 10%, top 5%, and top 1% of every age.
If that isn’t enough they then highlight specific strategies that work at e
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