Happy Holidays! As the year's end approaches, it's only natural to look back and think of all that you’ve accomplished. Whether you just began your FI journey this year or are well on your way, recognizing the improvements you’ve made throughout the year is essential and worth celebrating! This episode is our 6th annual year-end wins episode, and we are re-joined by MK Williams to listen and read submissions from our listeners and celebrate the progress of our audience through different stages o...
Dec 26, 2022•57 min•Ep 417•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: using your resources to create change, your employer is your customer, identifying discrimination, and abundance mindsets. For some on the journey to FI, it may seem like you must at all cost continuously strive to meet your monetary goal as quickly as possible. However, staying in toxic and unfulfilling work environments to hold the course with your goal is not what this journey is about. This week we are re-joined by Diania Merriam to have an intimate conversation about leavin...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep 416•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: slowing down, stoicism, finding something to neglect on purpose, focusing on the present, flow states, and actionable steps. Throughout the history of this podcast we have had many guests discuss books that have offered great advice and education to them on the Journey to FI, and with the large selection to choose from we can't think of a better time to start working down the list! On today’s episode we are joined by Josue and Ginger in our new series The Choose FI Book Club. Th...
Dec 16, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep 415•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: the value of a door, the hour FIRE method, tax breaks, focusing on income, and return on hassle. Many of our listeners have tuned in to hear our guests discuss the real estate market, mortgages, and taxes as it relates to obtaining property. However, many of us on the road to FI may not realize how scaling the properties you own can actually act as a mutual fund-like portfolio. On this week’s episode we are joined by our new in-house real estate expert, author, and podcaster, Al...
Dec 12, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep 414•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: success on paper, building the life you want, therapy, craving progression, and what leads to change. When beginning and well into your FI journey, it may seem like reaching and achieving your end goal of financial independence will somehow leave you feeling happier and more fulfilled. However, reaching this end goal doesn’t automatically solve all your problems. On this week’s episode we are joined by founder of FindMoreBalance.com and host of "The Mental Wealth Show" Rich Jone...
Dec 05, 2022•51 min•Ep 413•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode; global funds, it's not doctrine, index funds, VTSAX, what is in index funds, and the opposite of active investing. If you've been in the FI community for a while now, you've probably at one point have heard of index Funds. However, whether you are familiar with this concept of investing, have invested in index funds, or are unfamiliar entirely, you may not necessarily know the mechanics and specifics of what certain types of index funds can actually do for you on your FI journey...
Dec 02, 2022•59 min•Ep 412•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: VTSAX funds, bonds, cap-weighted funds, finding your ballasts, staying the course, and the simple path to wealth. This week, we are getting back to the basics! While many of you who have been in the FI community for a while now have definitely heard of JL Collins, those who are new should absolutely be prepared to absorb the wealth of information he provides every time he decides to grace our podcast! Listen along as he and Brad review the basic information that can put you on t...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep 411•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: finding mentors, the superpower of making less, traveling while making less, rental properties, and the one percent rule. For some who begin the FI journey, it's about doing all they can to reach that FI number, but for many people the journey to FI is about the people you meet and learn from along the way! On this week’s episode we are joined by longtime listener Kelly Cronin to discuss the importance of mentorship, her interesting take that gives a new meaning to traveling whi...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep 410•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: w2 employment to self-employment, s-coporations vs self-employment, avoiding penalties, megas backdoor roths, retirement planning, and health insurance. Most of us are familiar with a W2 job, and there is a certain level of convenience that comes with working a W2 job as it relates to retirement planning and taxes. So much so that it can be daunting to want to embark out on your own journey and have to figure it all out on your own. This week we are re-joined by our “in-house ta...
Nov 18, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep 409•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: taking action, travel rewards, career progression, the mission to net zero, and value propositions for college. Whether you were raised to live frugally or if the lessons and lifestyle of FI are just now being introduced into your life, the journey to FI is full of ebbs and flow, not only with your finances, but with the knowledge you pick up along the way. This week we are joined by Audrey to talk about her journey with FI, her path to intentionality, and to discuss the power o...
Nov 14, 2022•56 min•Ep 408•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: growth during the job hunt, exploring entrepreneurship, tips for career growth, and second generation FI. It's only natural that on the journey to FI you will want to pivot. Whether it is your financial outlook or even your career outlook, it's only natural to have reservations about making a change that could benefit you in the long run. On this week’s episode of The Households of FI, we are joined by Kristi to fill us in on how her FI journey is going, as well as discuss the t...
Nov 11, 2022•54 min•Ep 407•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: taking action, asking questions, navigating information, getting to where you want to go, the reason we learn, and growth mindsets! Beginning your FI journey often means facing a lot of unfamiliar knowledge being thrown at you. With all the resources and alternative information provided, we know firsthand that it can be overwhelming. However, you should not feel intimidated to start your FI Journey! This week we are joined by an avid ChooseFI listener Josue to discuss the power ...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Ep 406•Transcript available on Metacast Nov 04, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep 405•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: income-producing assets, REITs, the 4% rule, optimal spending, saving too much, and why you will never feel rich. It is believed that in order to reach FI, cutting expenses and limited spending seems like the ideal way to your end goal, but are you missing out on ways to spend-to-earn because it feels right? Well, this week we are rejoined by friend of the show and guest host Brian Feroldi to interview Nick Magguilli, author of the excellent book Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways to...
Oct 31, 2022•49 min•Ep 404•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: balancing deprivation and happiness, making adjustments, everything is negotiable, the evolution of alignment, adjusted awareness, and intentionality in community. Five years ago, Scott and Taylor Rieckens publicly began their path to FI by creating the fantastic documentary "Playing With FIRE." The documentary depicts their life as they start out and navigate the early stages of their FI journey, which is often the period of time when we act our most frugal, cut as many expense...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep 403•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: the beauty of community, misleading expectations, doing what's best for your situation, and stress reduction. The Journey to FI is hardly linear and is full of ebbs and flows. While it may seem easier to share your wins/successes within this community, we know it can be even harder to share the moments of this journey that feel like setbacks. On this week’s installment of the Households of FI series, we are joined again by Vivian to fill us in on how her FI journey is going, and...
Oct 21, 2022•42 min•Ep 402•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: finding unknown opportunity, creating your lifestyle as you go, overcoming the down period, real estate renting, and what reaching FI looks like. Once you’ve set your FI number and put plans into action, it’s tempting to want to do everything in your power to reach that goal as soon as possible, potentially by working longer hours or cutting out expenses in your life in order to save more. But by doing this are you cultivating the lifestyle you want to live after your goal is me...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep 401•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: house hacking, benefits and compensation packages, earning extra income and side hustles, and not setting perfection as your goal. We know achieving FI doesn't happen overnight, and rarely does it happen perfectly according to plan. Life happens, changes happen, and uncertainty usually finds a way to throw you off your planned path. This shouldn’t be something to fear! Today in the Households of FI series we are joined again by Zach to fill us in on how his FI journey has progre...
Oct 14, 2022•59 min•Ep 400•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: finding purpose, misaligned values, being the product of your environment, the stock market as a source for wealth building, and modern two-player mode. We encourage our listeners that there is no wrong age to start your FI journey, but for those of you starting your FI journey as a young adult, the firehouse of foreign information can feel overwhelming. Sometimes it may even seem as if you’re too far behind to even start! The good news is, you're not! Today we are joined by Kat...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep 399•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: career changes, up-skilling, re-prioritizing, accruing debt for value, childcare, and emergency funds. The journey to FI is never linear. Sometimes we can find ourselves thinking the only way to meet our goals is to follow a strict plan, which can make adjusting said plan feel like a daunting set back. Well, our returning Households of FI guests Troy and Lindsay believe that flexibility during ones journey to FI can provide you with tremendous value! Making changes in your life,...
Oct 07, 2022•59 min•Ep 398•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: cybersecurity, password managers, two-factor authentication, safely navigating the internet, and more hot-seat questions! Have you ever considered how secure your finances are in the modern world? Within the cyber-dominated world we are all living in, it can be tough to stay on top of updates, passwords, and other necessary resources that help us keep our digital footprints safe. Well in order to provide you all with some high-level tips and tricks to stay ahead of the curve, we...
Oct 03, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: evolution, knowing the rules, making purposeful decisions, automation, and the return of the hot seat! In the advent of making money, oftentimes we can find ourselves torn between a state of over-saving through budgeting and cutting expenses, and over spending just because we have the means to. But is that what we really are looking for in our respective FI journeys? With thoughtful planning and proper action maybe we can happy medium between the two that doesn’t feel over invas...
Sep 26, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Ep 396•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: student loans, the impact of knowing, navigating the pandemic, the power of planning, and the freedom of FI! Tens of millions of people deal with student loan debt, and even with the recent news of loan forgiveness, there are still many who are left unequipped with the knowledge of the best ways to repay these debts without sacrificing from their lifestyle. Today we are rejoined by Samm, aka “The Debtist,” to get an update on how she has been navigating paying off her student lo...
Sep 19, 2022•49 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: resilience, making good choices, letting go of limiting beliefs, attracting the energy you put out, and winning at life! What would you do if you were given a terminal cancer diagnosis? While it might not be the first thing that comes to mind, if you're able, the Boyd Dunleavey option is to develop a new positive outlook on life and the energy your omitting into the world, win your fight with cancer, and then proceed to run 11 marathons. Bad news comes to every single one of us,...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep 394•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: Travel Rewards, Credit Cards, and The Value of Rewards Points. We all know that it can be expensive to travel, and sometimes the joy and excitement of taking that long-awaited family vacation can be overshadowed by the cost of taking the trip. But what if there was a more efficient way to travel that doesn’t feel like you are breaking the bank? Well, with effective planning and the right tools this is entirely possible! This week we are once again joined by Lyn Mettler who will ...
Sep 05, 2022•1 hr•Ep 393•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: Unlocking Freedom, The Optimized Path, Skilling Up, The Perpetual Money-Making Machine, and a New Era of ChooseFI. It is truly the end of an era at ChooseFI. After six years, over 400 episodes, and all the laughs shared along the way, Jonathan is taking a step away from show to explore a new chapter in his life. On his way out, he and Brad hopped on the microphones as co-hosts one last time to discuss the lessons they have learned making this podcast, some key points of consider...
Aug 29, 2022•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: student loan forgiveness, public service loan for forgiveness, and getting closer to loan forgiveness. How would you respond to finding out your looming student loan debts could be forgiven? Well for some of you that could be possible, but you need to act quickly! Travis Hornsby from The Student Loan Planner joins the show this week to discuss public service loans for forgiveness, and how a massive opportunity to tackle your student debt could be available to up to 25% of people...
Aug 22, 2022•33 min•Ep 391•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: marginal gains, prioritizing your present, purposeful living, impacting others, and goal setting. Whether you like it or not we all will eventually die someday, and when that time comes the last thing we want to do is to look back on our lives with regret. Oftentimes in life we let expectations, outside obligations, and future ambition rule over us in the present, without fully realizing we could be living our dream life in the present! Nobody understands this more than former h...
Aug 15, 2022•52 min•Ep 390•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: interpreting financial statements, utilizing financial statements, balance sheet statements, income statements, cash flow statements, and valuing a business for its purpose. Have you even wanted to learn the language of business? Not in a literal sense, by that we mean understanding the ways businesses communicate what their real value is to the general public and potential investors? Well if you have had this incredibly niche thought, you're definitely a member of the FI commun...
Aug 08, 2022•52 min•Ep 389•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode: college hacking, career hacking, the power of starting early, trade jobs, and salesforce careers. How many times in the past have you been listening to this podcast and thought, "I wish I knew about this when I was younger." Well today's guest Zach actually had the foresight to start using the lessons he learned from this podcast at the ripe age of 18, and the results may be envy inducing! It's worth noting that not starting your FI journey at the age of 18 doesn't discredit you...
Aug 01, 2022•56 min•Ep 388•Transcript available on Metacast 
