Doug and Carl chat with Allison, delving into her unique journey as a nanny for high net worth families and some insights & takeaways from those with wealth. Allison also discusses her path toward financial independence including frugal areas of her life, giving into the (lifestyle) creep, and finally attending an in-person FI event for the first time after being in the community virtually for so many years. Be sure to check out the new GhostBed Massage Topper . Save 50% site-wide on your ne...
Jun 18, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Doug and Carl chat with Vivi Ton who shares her bold decision to leave a stable career as an aerospace engineer to pursue her true passion in graphic design. Vivi discusses entrepreneurship & her work with Personal Finance Club, her experiences with mental health & therapy, navigating the societal pressures of leaving a high-paying job, and offers insight into the importance of finding work-life balance. Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI episode 054. Save 50% site-wide on your new matt...
Jun 11, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Doug and Carl catch up briefly on a potpourri of personal topics including challenges of managing time, updates with the lazy book, fitness updates, and upcoming summer plans. They also discuss changes in Google search, the impact of AI on search results, and the current state of SEO. Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI ) Feel bad that Carl and his kids are missing door knobs? Support us at Buy Me A Coffee so he can afford new on...
Jun 04, 2024•32 min
Doug and Carl chat with Air Force veteran & physician B.J., who shares his journey toward Financial Independence and life beyond material success. B.J. discusses how military benefits like pensions & healthcare can pave the way to financial success, the personal growth he experienced after achieving FI, and the pursuit of deeper happiness beyond owning dream items such as a Lamborghini. Post-military retirement, B.J. emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community and explores ...
May 28, 2024•1 hr 33 min
Doug and Amberly explore the intriguing reasons why many millionaires consider themselves middle class. They discuss the technical definitions of financial classes vs. the challenging societal definitions of these same classes, how both of these relate to their own views, and the psychology of wealth & self-perception among financially successful individuals. Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI ) Still confused by all these d...
May 21, 2024•1 hr 20 min
Doug and Carl work through a case study from listener Frank and also answer questions from the Facebook mailbag. Frank – Has a stressful, yet well paying job. Should he stay at his current job, which he doesn’t like so much, or move on to something else that he’s been contemplating for a while? Rich What does a typical daily meal and snack look like? If you had to change it up, what would you do to make it more ideal? What are a couple of key takeaways that you have learned by chatting with othe...
May 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Mindy and Carl catch up with long-time friend Brandon, the Mad Fientist, to discuss the balance between spending, saving, and maintaining happiness. Brandon details his journey from extreme frugality to spending experiments to purposeful spending/spending for happiness. He also discusses the indispensable role of personal development, the importance of experiences over possessions, and the influence of parenthood and life events in reshaping priorities. Note: This is a rebroadcast of episode 22 ...
May 07, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Doug and Carl chat with financial educator, investing enthusiast, and author Brian Feroldi. Brian delves into early investment mishaps, his investing philosophy (focusing on high-quality, long-term businesses), the significance of understanding the stock market & personal finance, and where to find new investing ideas. The group also discusses Warren Buffett & the role of dividend investing along with AI’s impact on productivity and stock market returns. Save 50% site-wide on your new ma...
Apr 30, 2024•50 min
Carl chats with Doug and his wife Elizabeth who recently left her career and retired early. Elizabeth discusses her introduction to Financial Independence and some of the skepticism she initially had while also walking through some of the specifics about actually leaving her job (making the decision, having a solid financial plan in place, and describing her last day at work). She goes on to share insights on adjusting to retirement, staying mentally active, societal perceptions of retiring earl...
Apr 23, 2024•1 hr 21 min
Recorded in the hotel lobby on the last day of the EconoMe conference, Doug and Carl reflect on some of the presentations and conversations they had over the weekend while also providing their own insights & observations. They discuss various topics including: the evolution of the FIRE movement from its initial focus on accumulating wealth to its current emphasis on mental health and personal development, happiness, post-FI life challenges, and strategies for dealing with anxiety and negativ...
Apr 16, 2024•51 min
Doug and Carl chat with Bob Haines who is a well-known figure in the FI community due to his frequent attendance of various FI-related events such as FinCon, EconoMe, Chautauqua, and CampFI. Bob recounts his financial journey from initially finding FI through the Tim Ferriss podcast, to discovering that he was accidentally FI already, to transitioning fully into the world of early retirement almost five years ago. Bob also discusses the changes he’s seen in the FI community over the years and th...
Apr 09, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Recorded in the hotel lobby from the EconoMe conference in Cincinnati, Doug and Carl catch-up on various topics including: a recap of their recent visit to the Culdesac community in Arizona, thoughts on e-bikes & electric vehicles, Doug’s battle with pink eye, updates to their fitness routines, and Carl’s unfortunate Facebook incident. Doug also shares an exciting announcement about his wife’s upcoming retirement, providing insights into her journey from skepticism to embracing financial ind...
Apr 02, 2024•52 min
Doug and Carl (along with special guest co-host Georgie the dog) explore the concept of stealth wealth. Each provides their personal money story & how much work it took to arrive at their current position, the pros & cons of sharing one’s financial status with others, and how this knowledge impacts social interactions & relationships. They also discuss giving and helping others responsibly, using wealth to support people in meaningful ways rather than in response to direct requests f...
Mar 26, 2024•55 min
Doug and Carl visit Culdesac, a unique car-free rental apartment community in Tempe, AZ that redefines the typical American neighborhood by focusing on sustainability, communal living spaces, and alternative transportation options. The guys are joined by members of the FI community (including Pete Adeney (Mr. Money Mustache), Paula Pant, Brad Barrett, and Chad Carson) to discuss Culdesac with co-founder and CEO Ryan Johnson. The group explores Culdesac’s aims, design, how it represents a potenti...
Mar 19, 2024•54 min
In a follow-up to MHFI Episode 187 (Fitness Madness), Doug and Carl provide an update on how they’re progressing with their original fitness goals, discuss challenges they’ve faced along the way, provide dieting & workout tips, and discuss future plans. Carl speaks candidly about Attachment Disorder and the importance of mental health. Also, don’t miss out on new sponsor oFartsic by pVisor. Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILEHIGHFI...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Doug and Carl catch up on a potpourri of topics including recent purchases, frugal hacks, investments, optimization, skepticism, and recent books & TV shows each have been consuming. They discuss over-optimizing & reevaluating perceptions in the areas of health & fitness and try to provide a balance by incorporating de-optimization. Carl also introduces a new investment strategy called the “reverse index fund” or “Hot Carl”. Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and beddin...
Mar 05, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Doug and Carl chat with Justin David Carl, a fitness, money, and life coach also known as Dragon. Justin shares his journey from being heavily in debt and out of shape to becoming financially independent and physically fit. He discusses the dramatic career changes he made, his discovery of the financial independence movement, and how coaching & accountability played a crucial role in his success. Additionally, Justin explains his coaching philosophy, ‘Fit Rich Life’, and the importance of se...
Feb 27, 2024•1 hr 15 min
Doug and Carl delve into the differences between being “rich” and being “wealthy”, discussing their own journeys to financial independence and the pivotal moments when they each felt rich and then wealthy. They reflect on pieces of financial advice, how to feel wealthy, reclaiming an abundance mindset from scarcity, and the importance of evaluating personal happiness. Both also share anecdotes about their life experiences, underscoring the inherent value in simplicity and their changing percepti...
Feb 20, 2024•45 min
Doug and Carl chat with Kim Ehardt, a firefighter from Austin, Texas, who unknowingly achieved Barista FI through careful savings and an unconventional career path. Despite her financial status and ability to leave her current profession, Kim articulates a desire to shift focus from financial security alone to personal fulfillment, purpose, and happiness. Kim’s future plans include life coaching to help others achieve their goals and potentially even starting her own podcast. Do you have a desir...
Feb 13, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Doug and Carl chat with JL Collins about the evolution of the FIRE movement, lifestyle inflation, “enough”, & envy as well as how diverse the FI community is (not exclusive to any particular income level or lifestyle). JL introduces his recent book, “Pathfinders”, which collects stories that demystify the process of achieving financial independence and highlights the different paths that people have taken, echoing the themes of intentional living and spending. Have you already found your “en...
Feb 06, 2024•58 min
Doug and Carl celebrate the 200th episode of the Mile High FI podcast, reminiscing about the past while discussing future plans. Topics include: what they've learned, what they enjoy about podcasting, the many challenges they've faced, and goals & plans for 2024 and the next 100 episodes. Carl also discusses his new podcast with Mindy. Come celebrate 200 episodes with us over at Buy Me A Coffee . Save 50% site-wide on your new mattress, pillow, and bedding over at GhostBed (coupon code: MILE...
Jan 30, 2024•33 min
Doug and Carl chat with Diania Merriam about big events in her life in 2024 (a wedding & the EconoMe conference), struggles with scarcity mindset/shifting to an abundance mindset, and how these mindsets have influenced her approach to wedding planning. Along the way she discusses her transformative experience at the Hoffman Process retreat, especially as it relates to spending. Diania also provides a preview of EconoMe, an overview of the conference goals, and highlights the importance of co...
Jan 23, 2024•1 hr
Doug and Carl reflect on their paths to financial independence and discuss the advice they would have given their younger selves. Topics include college education/career paths, early savings, retirement account contributions, index fund investing, flexibility across different investments, strong work ethic, resilience, and of course... asparagus. Do you wish that your younger self found this podcast earlier in life? Well, you can't go back to the past, but there's still time to support us over a...
Jan 16, 2024•46 min
Paula Pant and J.D. Roth join Doug at FinCon 2023 to discuss their unique sabbaticals. Paula details her year-long break from 'Afford Anything' to pursue a Columbia University fellowship, while J.D. shares his experience stepping away from finance writing to pursue art and Taoism. They both open up about the challenges of their time off and future plans while also providing tips for those considering a sabbatical. Are you currently on a sabbatical and need something to fill your time? If so, com...
Jan 09, 2024•53 min
Money Struggles, Celebrating Success, and Potential Return to Work (in the soundcheck) We discuss listeners' questions on their individual financial journeys. Topics covered include the struggle to attain financial independence, the guilt associated with spending large amounts, the decision to stay in a high-paying but unfulfilling job versus seeking a lower-paying but satisfying career, and the challenges of maintaining control amidst smaller and larger expenses. Lastly, Carl shared his thought...
Jan 02, 2024•58 min
Doug and Carl have an in-depth conversation with Barbara Zink who is a mother & wife, an entrepreneur, and a personal finance enthusiast who describes herself as a "closet FI person." Barbara shares her FIRE journey and how cutting back on alcohol consumption has not only resulted in several health benefits, but has also contributed greatly to her financial goals - the money saved from not drinking has helped fund her children's 529 college plans, helped her start an online business, and fun...
Dec 26, 2023•52 min
Carl and Doug unpack the pursuit of happiness and the winding road to early retirement. From life's unexpected twists to the importance of relationships beyond the balance sheet, they explore what it really means to live a fulfilling life post-FIRE. Listen-in for a blend of finance, philosophy, and insights, all served up with a side of personal stories & anecdotes. Note: This is a rebroadcast of MHFI Episode 006 and 088. Do we contribute to your happiness? If so, come support us over at Buy...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 43 min
Doug and Carl answer questions from the Facebook mailbag. Sam: How important were the live-in flips and other real estate ventures that you and Mindy got into impact your success and overall net worth? Patrick: With all of Carl’s DIY experience, what house projects would he now hire out (like flooring, tile, drywall, or bathroom remodels) instead of spending the time doing it yourself? Lauren: Want to know the opinions of relocating from a low cost-of-living-area to a high cost-of-living-area to...
Dec 12, 2023•58 min
Join Carl and Doug as they share practical travel tips such as the benefits of TSA Pre-check, understanding ideal travel lengths, and the importance of downtime during vacations. They also share money-saving tips like using credit card benefits and the art of negotiating hotel fees. In the soundcheck Carl and Doug talk about their weekend in Breckenridge, savoring the snowy weather over beers and spirited book-writing sessions. Listener Question: What is your best travel tip? Do you love the Mil...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 12 min
We lost a legend on Nov 28, 2023. Carl and I recorded a special live stream on YouTube. Charlie was really influential for Carl. So we talk about the time Carl almost met him in Omaha. Then, we try to guess what he might order at McDonalds, hypothetically. Carl shares his favorite quotes from Charlie. Charlie Munger Born: January 1, 1924, Omaha, NE Died: November 28, 2023
Nov 29, 2023•38 min
