In this episode: downsizing, coastFI, redefining your goals, overcoming material attachments, and building community. This week Ginger is joined by community member Anne, to discuss her process of downsizing and navigating the physical and emotional attachments we associate with objects, places and people. Additionally, the pair discuss the importance of taking mini-retirements, cultivating gratitude, as well as share some podcasts and books that have helped them on their journey. We often say F...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 512
In this episode: doing the hard things, travel rewards, the gap and the gain, health and wellness, and real estate. This week we are back with another listener Mail Bag featuring Ginger. Listen along as we cover a range of topics from recents trips we’ve taken, facing and overcoming challenges, The Gap and the Gain, taxes in retirement and a realistic outlook on how much you’ll be paying, the rule of 72, as well as shout out some of your FI wins! So much to cover and much more to learn in this w...
Sep 23, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 511
In this episode: the lock in effect, renting vs buying, househacking in 2024, interest rate, and real estate investment. In this episode, Scott Trench of BiggerPockets shares invaluable insights into the 2024 real estate market, breaking down everything from housing supply to interest rates, syndications, and investment strategies. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just curious about real estate, this episode provides a window into the current state of real estate investing the FI way! 🔑 Ke...
Sep 16, 2024•55 min•Ep. 510
In this episode: surpriseFI, minimalism, frugality, emotional and psychological aspects of FI, and alternative lifestyles. We often get a lot of great ideas and questions from the FI community, and what better way to answer some as well as inspire than bring in one of our own to discuss their journey! In this special Friday episode, Ginger is joined by member of the FI community, Kim, to discuss how she found herself on her “surpriseFI” journey. Together, the pair talks about balancing frugality...
Sep 13, 2024•43 min•Ep. 509
In this episode: 5% safe withdrawal rate, the three stories, psychology and personal finance, and community. In this insightful episode of the ChooseFI Podcast, Brad chats with Frank Vasquez, a well-known figure in the financial independence community and the voice behind Risk Parity Radio. They delve into Frank’s journey from a career in law to becoming a personal finance expert, and explore topics like the 5% safe withdrawal rate, revealed preferences, and Frank’s three defining life stories. ...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 508
In this episode: overcoming fears, the importance of community, community wins, reaching FI goals, and ripple effects. This week Brad is re-joined by Ginger for another installment of the round-up, where we will be discussing topics such as new 529 plans, the importance of making connections within your community, and actionable steps for overcoming anxieties while on your FI journey! Additionally, it wouldn’t be a round-up episode without as well as shouting out some frugal wins from our wonder...
Sep 02, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 507
In this episode: entrepreneurship, side hustles, overcoming fear, community, sharing and maintaining passion projects. This week we are joined by Kyle Nolan, creator and founder of ProjectionLab, where we will be discussing how he left his 9 to 5 to pursue a passion project, some of the challenges and realizations he’s faced while creating his software, as well as the importance of investing in your interests regardless of the risk or self-doubt you may feel. The journey to FI offers many things...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 506
In this episode: debt and investing, the 4% rule, Roth 401k and traditional 401k, and total return investing. This week we are back with a listener Mail Bag featuring returning guest Rachael Camp! Together, we will be answering questions and giving our feedback on nuanced topics asked by the community! Listen along for discussions about the 4 percent rule, how taxes are factored into your FI number, investing in dividends, paying down debt versus investing, and finally a shortlist of actionable ...
Aug 19, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 505
This week on ChooseFI, Brad welcomes Devon, a 22-year-old National Guard member and aspiring mechanical engineer, to discuss the power of intentionality and personal finance! Together, Brad and Devon explore how small, deliberate actions can create a domino effect in shaping one's financial future. Devon shares his journey from joining the National Guard at 17 to discovering financial independence through ChooseFI, and how his disciplined approach to life has led him to save for his first home, ...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 504
In this episode: Roth IRA conversion ladder, starting with the end in mind, investing for growth or stability, and retirement planning. While we have covered Roth IRA Conversion Ladders on ChooseFI before, we have never in the past taken such a deep dive into the subject like we do in this week's episode! Once again, we are joined by friend of the show Cody Garrett from Measure Twice Money, as we cover a high-level-FI approach to the Roth IRA conversion ladder and ways one could approach propell...
Aug 05, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 503
In this episode: travel rewards, frugality, companion passes, international travel, intentional spending, and listener questions. This week Brad is re-joined by Ginger as together they go back to basics during our returning round-up segment! This time around, the pair will be talking about recent travels and hacks they’ve used, travel rewards tips, answering some community questions, and shouting out some of your FI wins of the week! This episode is a great way to crowd-source new tips for peopl...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 502
In this episode: travel rewards, IRA conversions, working with FAFSA, health insurance, and the FI journey. This week we are joined by community member and listener Connie to discuss the beginning of her FI journey, and the transformative steps she’s taken to further maximize her journey for her and her family. With so many resources available to learn and assist you while on the path to FI, the influx of information may seem overwhelming. Knowing how to organize the information will allow you t...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 501
In this episode: FI numbers, financial independence, approaching problems differently, and adjusting spending to accommodate FI. This week join our host Brad in celebrating 500 episodes of Choose FI, as he talks about the start of his FI journey, and highlights topics and episodes from the last few years. The path to FI isn’t just about simplifying your life, but empowering yourself and taking action to design and create the life you want to be living. And while the list is endless for how FI ca...
Jul 15, 2024•48 min•Ep. 500
In this episode: limiting beliefs, flipping the script, looking for evidence, empowering beliefs, and imposter syndrome. This week we are rejoined by Jessica from The Fioneers, to discuss the idea of limiting beliefs, from knowing how to identify and define them, to learning to work through and overcome them using her six strategy method. To put this method into practice we workshop two examples of limiting beliefs from FI community members, Samantha and Kyle. While having fears is natural and p...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 499
In this episode, exercise, sleep, nutrition, mind body activities, social relationships, heat and cold exposure. This week we are joined by Dr. Bobby DuBois author and host of Live Long and Well podcast, where we will be discussing health optimization and wellness by deep diving into each of what he calls the 6 pillars: Exercise, Sleep, Nutrition, Mind-Body Work, Heat and Cold Exposure, and Social Relationships, while also providing some actionable takeaways you can do in order to live your heal...
Jul 01, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 498
In this episode: full retirement age, earnings, spousal benefits, survivor benefits, filing for benefits, and the earnings test. This week, Mike Piper joins the show to talk all things social security and answer listener questions that arose from our last social security related conversation back in episode 474! Whether it is discussing the full retirement age, discussing when to file for benefits, and different situations and their correlating differing types of benefits, Brad and Mike cover yo...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 497
In this episode: roth versus traditional IRA, second generation FI, FI and newlyweds, and retirement planning optimization. This week we are diving back into the listener Mail Bag with our returning guest Rachael Camp to answer questions from the community! Today we will be discussing the differences between Roth and Traditional IRAs and the future variables and factors you should consider, as well as discuss the new rules and considerations surrounding 529 plans and how to best financially plan...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 496
In this episode: real estate, lazy landlording, attracting the right tenants, finding ideal situations, and traveling. This week we are joined by returning guest James Lowery to discuss his “lazy landlord” concept to streamline and simplify real estate investing as well as set processes in place that not only make your life easier as a landlord but make it easy for your tenets as well! If you are on the FI journey and curious about adding real estate into your portfolio, whether it be long or sh...
Jun 10, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 495
In this episode: financial freedom, starting your own business, you can't sprint forever, buying vs renting, and investing. This week we are rejoined by host of Financial Feminist podcast and creator of Her First 100K, Tori Dunlap, to fill us in on her journey with FI over the last few years, discuss what financial equity and the importance of building financial foundation and literacy among marginalized groups, as well as discuss how financial advice can differ for men and women. While money ca...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 494
In this episode: doing everything but not at once, building your extraordinary life, optimizing your time, and what to do after FI. This week we are joined by Alan and Katie Donogan as well as my guest co-host Ginger live from the Design Your Extraordinary Life Weekend event in Las Vegas, where we will be discussing their exercise of envisioning what an extraordinary life can look like in designated areas of your life, as well as learning how identify and overcome limiting beliefs that can hold ...
May 27, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 493
In this episode: RRTTLU, actual risk, actual return, balancing portfolios, understanding your timeline, taxes, and legal situations. This week we are joined by Jesse Cramer of the “Best Interest" blog and podcast to discuss “RRTTLLU”, an acronym that provides a framework and guide of some of the factors one should consider when they start investing. While investing on your own can seem complex with many factors to consider such as your risk tolerance, the potential tax liabilities, and returns; ...
May 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 492
In this episode: 72t, Roth 401k’s, Roth IRA’s, The Pro Rata Rule, PUQME, HSA’s, Retirement and Education, and Roth Conversions. In one of our faster update episodes ever, friend of the show Sean Mullaney re-joins Brad to follow up on the episode we published back in February, “How to Access Your Retirement Accounts Before 59.5,” as well answer some of the questions our community had around the subject. We in the FI community know that retiring is an option way sooner than we were originally led ...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 491
In this episode: events, community, travel rewards, medidations, mini retirements, travel wins, and travel points. This week we are back with friend of the pod Ginger to discuss a mixed bag of topics, such as attending FI events, travel rewards and companion passes, as well as the idea of a “mini” retirements and what that can look like while on the path to FI. However, this episode isn't titled "The Ultimate Random Show" for nothing, as we branch off in quite a few different directions as we co...
May 06, 2024•53 min•Ep. 490
In this episode: connecting points, the power of FU money, the early retirement era, and enjoying the journey. This week we are joined by returning guests, Steven and Lauren Keys from Trip of a Lifestyle, to update us on their FI journey and “early retirement era,” as well as discuss the importance of finding the courage and freedom to make radical lifestyle changes in the present. We all know that money can open up new opportunities in your life, whether it’s having the flexibility to leave you...
Apr 29, 2024•59 min•Ep. 489
In this episode: courage from community, what to do next, overwhelm, finding community, and the evolution of FI. Live from the EconoMe Conference in Cincinati Ohio, Brad is joined by Jordan "Doc G" Grumet and a room full of passionate members of our community to discuss finding the courage to take action in your FI journey. While we understand money can be a north-star for many early in your venture towards FI, what happens once money is no longer the root of your goals? Where do you shift your ...
Apr 22, 2024•54 min•Ep. 488
In this episode: survivor benefit plans, VA benefits, VSO's disability benefits, tax planning, healthcare, and blended retirement systems. This week we are joined by Daniel Kopp, founder of Wise Stewardship Financial Planning, to outline ways you can best prepare for military retirement. Together we cover pensions, navigating the Survivor Benefit Plan and additional benefits, healthcare and disability resources, as well as other financial decisions you can consider as you begin to transition out...
Apr 15, 2024•59 min•Ep. 487
In this episode: public service accounts, side hustles, making FI possible, frugality, giving yourself freedom, and side hustles. This week we are joined by Chris Travers, a New York City public school teacher and FI community member, to discuss his journey from being a natural saver to becoming a savvy investor, talk advantages and disadvantages of some of the retirement accounts provided to teachers, as well as discuss some ways he has been able to grow his net worth in the last 10 years. Frug...
Apr 08, 2024•41 min•Ep. 486
In this episode: spending down to zero, the ratcheting rule, the guardrails approach, high fee 401k's, and mini-retirements. This week we are diving back into the listener mailbag with Rachael Camp to address the pressing questions our community has! Whether it's curiosity towards the concept of dying with zero, determining whether it is a good time to take a mini-retirement, or working with high-fee 401k's, Brad and Rachael tackle it all! Listen along as YOU the community dictate the conversati...
Apr 01, 2024•57 min•Ep. 485
In this episode: wants vs needs, side hustles, tax planning, college hacking, travel rewards, mindset, and living your values. This week we are joined by Joel and Emily Allen, a married couple with children based out of Iowa who truly embody what the FI movement is all about! Not only have they seized control of their life and finances, but have also managed to start a successful side hustle, provide incredible resources to the community around them, travel the world, and so much more! While the...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 484
In this episode: building a giving framework, the giving pledge, compound impact, donor advised funds, and different ways to give. Is it better to give to charity in a lump sum versus incrementally? What are the tax implications of donating? What are the benefits of using donor advised funds? This week we answer these questions and more with the help of Rebecca Herbst and Jack Lewars as we discuss charitable donations and effective giving while on the FI journey. A large part of FI is taking act...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 483
